The Venerate Order

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Strafe

Dripping in sweat and gasping for air, I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night. I couldn't fall back asleep, with the image of his scarred face etched into my mind's eye. This was getting scary.

Everyone was wondering what I'd been doing up so early. I lied and told them I was too excited to sleep. When Captain Cali woke up and Rousseau came out of his room, I went in there and told Captain Cali about my dream and the warning the boy had told me.

"Blimey me, boy, ye've been in the rum I see!" Captain Cali said with a mouth-full of cornbread.

"I've seen this boy before, and he warned me about Dhenfen'Ce before it happened. Whoever this boy is, he's trying to save people from dying," I retorted.

"Listen 'ere Strafe. I respect ye, for what ye've done for me friend, Rousseau, and for volunteering to make me a lot of money, but, the Tourney ain't to be stopped by the likes of yours truly. The King's Court 'ould be laughing in their soft, well-pampered skins to the death before it be changed. I'm sorry, me boy, but there's too much loot for the city involved. 'Tis best ye just take it for what it be, a reminder to stay far 'way from the liquor before bedtime," Captain Cali explained.

"I'm begging you, please. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious," I asked of him. He nodded, patted me on the back, and sent me out to a pancake breakfast.

Even in the daytime, this tent's wonders still didn't cease to amaze. People were flying and jumping through the air performing their chores while making breakfast. I had to constantly dodge people running through the place with stacks of dishes and ingredients piled up past their eyeballs. Most of them were still wearing their make-up, too, which added to the charm.

I made my way to the line of circus people waiting for breakfast. I chatted with them and even with some of the other players on the Brave-Ball team. I was having such a good time I almost forgot to grab the huge buttermilk pancakes that we had been waiting in line for!

I saw Rousseau eating with a few other pirates and Roya sitting with a few girls she had befriended. Zon was nowhere to be found, though, so I just sat down next to Brutus and ate with him.

After we had some time to digest our incredible meal, Captain Cali himself corralled the team and brought us out to the field. He told us to put on the team uniforms and apply some face-paint. When Roya asked him about the face-paint, he told her it was to help us get used to the colorful sweat that would be pouring down our faces when we played. It was a new experience for me, so I didn't mind.

When we were all finally ready, Captain Cali blew a whistle and ordered us to stand on the mid-field line while he gave us instructions.

"Arr ye scurvy dogs! Top o' the mornin'! Hmmm, where be ye friend with the slick black hair?" he noticed while looking at his player list.

"I don't know, I haven't seen him all bloody morning," Rousseau told him.

What are you up to Zon?