Regal Of All

Chapter XI

To take my mind off of that it was the evening before the Games started, which lasted four days, I chose to examine my surrounds. The setting was just as glamorous, but still the same as the feasting tables for the Welcoming Banquet. The three of us sat in silence, Acacia in the center with me and Leonora flocking her sides. In my boredom and feeble attempt to not worry about the future; I decided to analyze my friend's outfits, which would be the ones we'd wear for the Games.

Lea dressed in an exquisite hunting-cut skirt. It was actually a pearly-white dress with tight-fitted sleeves and came up to right above the knee. Silver lined the hem, which was cut into triangular pattern. She wore clouded-leather hunting boots (an older-style, to be appreciated when seen) with white leggings. She had her hair braided into a single long rope the went just past her leather belt, it was encrusted in gold. A thick wool shawl draped over her shoulders to be fastened with two brass buttons. She sat with her delicate, white-gloved hands under he chin, waiting for the announcer-lady to come up to speak.

I turned my attention to Acacia. She wore simple yet somehow fierce battle-ready pants that came in the shade of battleship grey. Along with solid hunting boots she sported a ruby-red long sleeve shirt with a heavy hunter green jacket that fell to the small of her back where a black belt wrapped around her waist. But it was the boots that were most noticeable. They were made of a good leather that was of an off-black color and they were lined in various shades of white and black around the top and crossed like an X on the leg. I'm sure they're just as warm on the inside as they look. They came up to about an inch below her knee. They weren't new, I'd bet they'd been worn for a while, but in a good way. By some chance, somehow seeing them in this pale dreary candlelight, they now give me an ever-lasting feeling of dejection.

I caught Lea's eye as we shared the same look. Oh, how boring is this? Acacia was lost in thought thinking about something with a faraway look in her eye. And about what that I can only guess, but I decided simply it's not my place to.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!" I heard the women speak. Everybody's heads flipped to see the golden-haired women standing at the podium, her mere presence commanding a routine presence. I relocated my attention out of my ever-lasting dynamic mind to her instead.

"Warriors, you all know tonight you will be receiving your pairings for the Games. Remember, only one team can win, just two people," she let that settle for a moment, then pulled out a cherished box; made of Hickory wood with the lid glistening granite rock. "Now we begin." Oh my goodness. Just hurry up! Tell us- tell me at the very least! I sometimes have patience, but the rest of the time I'm a little aggressive in my impatience.

"Conner Larkey and Alexander Moorko. Sean Jenkley and Colin Appericer. Niko Anders and Ginnifer Capascet. Jake Sheltio and Taylor Sokolist. Acacia Sumners and Kayelana Crystalbrook. " Yes! That's great. But think I thought of Lea, oh dear, every ounce of empathy I could feel drained to her. It's happening, my fears have come true. Only two can win- a single pair, there's three of us, and two are on one team. Is this what it feels like? To be teetering on the edge of a cliff, not sure to face a hungry pack of wolves or to leap for the ocean? Decisions are tiring, which would explain why I can tire myself out if I don't beg for sleep or excitement. 

The announcer was still talking as I slipped into my daydreams again. "Leonora Consco and Nixon Slyskiran......" Really- they gave her Nixon? He's such a jerk, she's way better than him.

Us three leaned back into our chairs, I licked my lips, casting a look to Acacia then a glance to Lea. Well, if I really had to be the one to talk first...

"So... this color tablecloth is such a lovely shade of pink. It reminds me of cherry-blossom trees in the summer. It's ever so fragile and tender, and yet so pretty. But summertime, don't you know, is very bittersweet. Like, a summertime sadness?" My voice fluttered upwards at the end.

Acacia chuckled lightly, even though there was nothing funny.

"I really don't like him, at all. I really really do not like that guy. He's obnoxious and spiteful and thinks he owns the world, such a..." Lea told me.

"I know, I'm sorry for you. He's no good, and you're better than him in every way. I so don't like him either."

"Well, neither do I." Acacia spoke up, doing a hair flip.

"Ew." I sighed.

The announcer finally finished listing off the pairs. "That concludes this meeting, warriors. As you leave everyone take a watch, when it is time you all will be called back for further details about the Games. You are dismissed." She ended with a beaming smile. All of us got up and inch towards the great big double-doors. I snatched up a watch-device and slid it on my wrist. I'd never heard of anything like this before.

We chose to go out for some fried rice and some fancy dish called sushi to a lovely restaurant titled Cinbum. Now, sitting in the back beside a small window, I began to twirl my cinnamon-pineapple drink in the seafoam green glass- fascinated by the changing in colors. Then a young girl and boy walked up to our table, they both shared the same light brown eyes and auburn hair.

Acacia looked up from her sushi, Lea and I were engaged in light conversation. Acacia said, "Hey."

"Hi." the girl spoke. Then the boy followed up with, "do you have any coins or bars we could borrow?" 

"Do you promise to spend them well? Not on silly things?" she said in all seriousness.

The girl's eyes shone bright, the boy look really surprised but delighted, too. "Yes, we promise."

"Well, let me see then," she rummaged through her handbag and opened her palms and there appeared 16 coins, enough for either a snack or two big drinks. She slid them into the boy's cupped hands.

"Thank you. Thank you so much!" The little girl quickly threw her arms around Acacia's neck. "My name's Cecile."

The boy bowed, "Merci beaucoup, mademoiselle. You are very generous. Also, my name is Leo."

She smiled pleasantly in surprise, "You're welcome. But really it was nothing." The children pranced away in glee. For a brief moment in time it felt like the world stopped and I almost envied them. Then time went back to normal.

All of a sudden our watches began flashing red, yellow and orange simultaneously. It's like they're blinking in sync, I thought. Uhh, why are they doing that?

"That was seventeen times for all of us." Acacia said.

"Do you think it means, like seventeen... minutes or something?" Lea suggested.

I nodded. "That sounds right."

Acacia said, "Well, the announcer said that there would be another meeting tonight."

"We'd be 'called back'." Lea finished.

"We should get back to the Hall in seventeen minutes, or in however much time we have left now." We all gathered up any belongings we had, left some coins on the table and left.

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We were told to to be at the foot of Mt. Petram (the more "welcoming" side of it, which was closer to this town, Lugebit) which was in the middle of the Forest Silvis. We were to be there with our partner at 7 a.m. so then the Games will begin.