Champion

The Tournament

Chapter 16

I wright my answer carefully on the single piece of paper I'd been given to record the questions officer Bret asks and the answers to them. I then put my quill down and blot the paper and seal it in the envelope. I sign my name across the envelope and place my hands by my side, signaling I'm finished.
I finished first, I realize looking down the table at my competition. One of the officers takes my envelope and puts it in his pocket. "You are dismissed" he says. I nod and stand to leave, but he stops me. "Please remain down here" I cross to the steps where I'd be out of the way and sit.
My palms are slick with sweat. I only had one chance to get my answers right, and I'd just sealed my envelope. This was our testing in war strategy. Since war strategy wasn't something you could fight over, we were simply given a list of questions, scenarios, that we were expected to come up with a solution for. But here's the catch, we have no way of knowing if our answer is correct, they just read it to us and make us figure it out ourselves. I'm sure mine are, but how do I know? Was there another answer? No, of course not. My solution was the only solution.
I watch the others as they turn in their envelopes and come sit by me. My eyes land on Bryant involuntarily, who's still writing. Bryant looks up suddenly and winks at me, as if he could sense I was looking at him. I smile back and he looks back at his paper, finishing his statement.
When everyone has turned in their envelopes officer Brooks calls us back to the table. "This concludes the Battle Rounds" he says. It's what everyone was thinking, but having him say it still brings a fresh wave of nervousness and I find myself fidgeting. "The Elimination is tomorrow. We ask that all of you prepare to leave today, weather or not you advance you will still be moving" to the palace, or back home. "Dismissed"
I stumble up the steps behind the boys and walk down the hall to the girls quarters. At least I won't have to share a room after I leave. I think opening the door. I was either going home, or to the palace, either way I got my own room. After eight months of sharing a room with six other girls I was starting to go mad at the lack of privacy.
There is nothing for me to prepare for my departure, my bag is already packed, all I'd really have to do is put on my coat and I'll be ready.
I lie down on my bunk and take off my boots for bed, the other girls do the same and fall asleep in minutes, but sleep evades me. I can't stop thinking about the Elimination. Have I passed? Did I do well enough to advance? I think I did, but who knows? Is it possible the officers could eliminate me for no reason other then they hate me? I did well in all battles, and I came first in sparring. But what about war strategy? How did I do in that? There's no way of knowing.
I toss and turn, trying to find a comfortable position, but I'm full of nervous energy and sleep is a long way off. I finely give up and pull on my boots, there was no way I'd get any sleep anyway. I slip to the door and open it silently, so as not to wake the other girls, and slip out into the hall. I cross to the rail and look down, searching the Den for sign of anyone else. Satisfied that's it's clear I pad silently down the steps and to the back of the room where the punching bag hangs, ready for use.
I square up to the bag and prepare to hit it.
"You couldn't sleep either?" I jump at the voice behind me.
"Bryant" I say turning to him. "You startled me" for a moment I'd thought it was an officer, finely catching me at my old sin.
He grins. "I thought I was jumpy, but you obviously have it worse" I shrug, Bryant's grin fade a little and he looks down at his hands, rubbing them together. He's nervous.
"I was hoping I'd find you here" he says, still looking down.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because tomorrow's the Elimination" he says looking up, straight at me. "I know I said I'd give you time, but tomorrow one of us might go home" he pauses, and I know what he'll say next. "And I want to know if I should come for you"
Something inside me warms and I find myself battling against a smile. He looks at me earnestly, waiting. "What do you think?"
It's strange. I'd tried to decide about him, but couldn't for a long time. But right then, when he asked, I knew my answer. We stand only feet apart, looking at each other. I cross the short distance between us and and tip my head up to look at him.
"I think this" I say. Then I put a hand around his neck and pull his head down to kiss him.
He seems to be in a daze when I pull away, then a grin spreads over his face. "I like that thought" he says.
I laugh at this, I can't seem to stop laughing as Bryant pushes me back against the punching bag, leans an arm above my head and leans in to kiss me.
But his plan is interrupted and his lips never touch mine, because as he leans against the punching bag it goes flying out from behind me and I stumble back at my sudden loss of balance. I catch myself just as the punching bag is coming back down on us; Bryant pulls me out of the way and the bag swings past my head, so close I could feel the air rushing past.
For a moment both of us stare at the bag swinging back and forth, then I start laughing. Bryant looks at me and starts laughing himself. "I don't suppose we could just forget that happened" Bryant says, still laughing nervously.
I shake my head. "Never"
He shrugs. "Well then..." He pushes me against the wall this time.