Chapter Six
I waited for a few moments for my words to sink in, and then the chorus of voices clamoring all at once hit me like a wave. It was difficult to pick out individual voices among the crowd, but I listened patiently to all the questions hurled at me.
“What do you mean?”
“What kind of competition?”
“I will win the tournament for you, Great One!”
“No, I will be the Great One’s champion!”
I shook my head in amusement before I motioned for silence once more.
“All will be revealed very soon,” I promised. “But first, we need to figure out who will be the judges.”
“You, Great One!” a voice answered loudly.
“I don’t know if that will be fair,” I argued. Plus, I didn’t want to be responsible for their failures. “What about Elrin?”
The crowd murmured noises of agreement, so I made a mental note to ask for the mayor’s assistance with my competition. The wheels were already spinning in my head, and I was getting excited about the potential for good, wholesome fun.
The mayor couldn’t be the only judge, though, so I scratched my beard while I thought of who else could perform the role. Half the Elder Council were present among the contenders, so that idea was out. Then my eyes landed on the three beautiful women who stood by my side. They’d be going with me and couldn’t compete.
I cleared my throat to get everyone’s attention, and once all eyes were on me, I spoke in a loud voice for all to hear.
“Elrin, Elissa, Eva, and Mahini will be our judges,” I announced. “But trust me, with most of the events, a winner will make itself very clear.”
“What sort of competition is this?” Jaxtom hollered across the heads of the townspeople who covered the distance between me and him.
“It’s a surprise,” I replied with a shit-eating grin, and the blacksmith shook his head with a chuckle. Then I swept my gaze over the crowd of people, but the faces all seemed to blur together as one. It was difficult to pick out individuals among the dense press of bodies, but then I made eye contact with Caelia, and I inhaled sharply.
What was the beautiful general store owner doing among the volunteers? Did she really want to travel with me to Vallenwood?
It was a bold move for one so timid, and it sparked even more curiosity about her. She would really have to come out of her shell in order to hold her own against the other townspeople, but I suddenly hoped she would win a spot on my entourage, and a self-conscious blush crept up my neck. I shook off my thoughts with a quick breath, and I mentally reassured myself that the crowd of people gathered around me couldn’t read my mind.
“Alright, alright,” I shouted. “Give me a couple hours to prepare everything, and then we will meet back here at midday to begin the tournament.”
The people grumbled for a few moments, but the crowd began to slowly disperse and break off into smaller groups before going in different directions. I made a quick mental note of who was friends with who, but there were so many unfamiliar faces present it was difficult for me to keep track of the unknown ones. While I’d been traveling all over Sorreyal, Bastianville’s population had nearly doubled, and I no longer knew every resident by name and face.
The competition would be a perfect opportunity for me to get to know the new townspeople, too, and the thought made me grin as I hopped down from my crate.
My women eyed me expectantly, but they didn’t say anything, so I flashed them a charming smile.
“Want to help me set up the best damn field day event your world has ever seen?” I smirked.
“What is a field day?” Mahini frowned. “I thought you said it was going to be a competition. How is working fields competitive?”
“Where I come from, a field day is a series of events that test the player’s stamina, agility, endurance, strength, intelligence, and heart.” I wrapped my arms around all three of the girls’ shoulders, and I led them away from the town square to the outskirts of town as I talked. “The best of the best are pitted against each other in games or races, and only the strongest come out the other side.”
“Is it dangerous?” Eva’s gray eyes were bright with curiosity. “How many die?”
“I suppose the games from ancient Greece they were inspired by could get a little dangerous,” I mused, “but the ones I performed in weren’t deadly or anything. Unless you can die of embarrassment, anyway.”
“Great O--, Er, Bash!” a voice called from behind us, and I swiveled to see the knight, Sir Cristoff, trotting toward me. “Excuse my rudeness, but I couldn’t help overhearing you speak to your people.”
“Oh, you heard all that, huh?” I laughed. “Welcome to Bastianville.”
“Your people are passionate about you,” the knight observed. “I’ve never seen that kind of reaction to a leader before. It is almost cult-like.”
“Is that a good thing?” I arched an eyebrow as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I am undecided,” Sir Cristoff admitted, but then he bowed his head. “You have an uncommon way about you I am unfamiliar with, but I would like to stay and observe the outcomes of your tournament, if this is alright with you.”
“Oh, that’s an awesome idea.” I grinned. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, Cris.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Sir Cristoff murmured, and then he bowed low before me. “I will depart shortly after the tournament is resolved.”
“That’s fine.” I shrugged. “Like I said, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. I need to be leaving town within the next couple of days myself, though, so I understand your urgency to return from your mission.”
“With the task of delivering the message completed, the only other thing I wanted to accomplish was to witness your greatness with my own eyes.” Sir Cristoff’s blue eyes were serious as he held my gaze. “I am looking forward to seeing what the results are.”
Was he accusing me of throwing the tournament before it even began? I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, so I kept my mouth shut until I had more evidence.
I knew I’d win Sir Cristoff over soon enough, though, so I brushed off my paranoid thoughts and gave the knight my most charming smile.
“Enjoy the entertainment.” I nodded my head toward the line of businesses down the street behind him. “Maybe grab yourself a snack from the candy store before the competition begins.”
“Very well.” Sir Cristoff inclined his head. “I will do just that, thank you. I bid you farewell, then, Bash. Until the next we meet.”
“It will be soon enough,” I replied, and I waved goodbye as the knight turned toward the stores of Bastianville. “Have fun!”
“What a strange man,” Mahini observed in a low voice. “He almost sounded suspicious of you, but he didn’t reveal enough for me to form a true opinion.”
“I thought the same thing,” I confessed, and I squeezed the desert goddess around the shoulders. “Great minds think alike, I guess. Don’t worry about the knight. He’ll have a blast watching the tournament and take stories of my wonderful leadership skills back to the king.”
“Why do you care what the king thinks?” Eva asked as we continued on our way to the outskirts of town. “You’re a god, doesn’t that make you more powerful than him?”
“There are a lot of people who live in Sorreyal,” I pointed out. “And I’ve only recently been summoned to this world. I haven’t had time to win over every single person yet, but the king has. He’s been a loveable monarch for years now from what I’ve seen, and everyone is really familiar with his leadership by now. Me, not so much, so it’s to my advantage to get on his good side until my power grows strong enough to take on the entire kingdom.”
“That makes sense.” The duke’s daughter frowned thoughtfully. “I suppose you have thought of everything, and I should probably just trust that you know what you’re doing.”
“That’s the idea,” I laughed, but then I jerked my chin toward the empty field in front of us. “What do you girls think? Is this a good spot for our tournament?”
The area I’d indicated laid on the edge of town near one of the gates, and it was roughly the size of a football field. It belonged to Gerulf, the farmer, but I was sure he wouldn’t mind us using it for the day.
“It depends,” Elissa said, and she strode forward to inspect the space with a sway of her hips. “What kind of competition is it, Bash?”
“Well, I was thinking we could do some fun stuff like three-legged races and egg-in-spoon races,” I said, and I tapped a finger against my chin as I thought out loud. “These people could use some fun after everything the town’s been through. But then I’d like to add in some more challenging events like horse riding obstacle courses or wrestling matches.”
“I understood some of those words,” my wife admitted with a flustered expression, but she shook her head to dispel her confusion, and she flashed me a brilliant smile. “If you think this spot will work, then I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Good.” I nodded, but then I looked to the other two for their approval.
“You will have to explain more,” Mahini said with a small shrug of her shoulders. “But I trust your judgement.”
“I agree,” Eva added with an incline of her head.
“Alright,” I chuckled. “Let’s go find Elrin, and then I’ll explain everything in detail to all of you. If you’re going to be the judges, then you need to understand the rules of the games, right?”
“Right.” Mahini nodded.
“This is going to be fun!” Elissa giggled.
“Better than the circus!” Eva squealed.
“You girls are adorable,” I laughed. “You make everything fun just by being with me.”
“Having you adore me is my favorite part of life,” my wife informed me with a serious expression on her face, and I squeezed her against my side warmly.
“I’m more than happy to adore you for the rest of time, my love,” I replied.
The four of us made our way back through town to Elrin’s house in search of the mayor, and a short while later we were all sitting around his dining room table with scrawled on pieces of parchment littering the entire surface.
“One more time, Great One.” Elrin leaned his forehead into his hands with his elbows planted on the table, and he’d grown incredibly frustrated by the seemingly complex nature of the egg-in-spoon race. “What is the purpose of this game?”
“It tests agility,” I said for what felt like the millionth time, but I took a deep breath and reminded myself to be patient. “And grit. How far will someone go to make sure their egg does not fall?”
“Half of the town is competing,” Elrin pointed out. “How do we acquire that many spoons?”
“Everyone should bring their own,” Mahini suggested with a roll of her eyes. “Obviously. But they can only be standard spoons. No ladles or anything overly large.”
Elissa stifled a giggle, but Evangeline merely raised her eyebrows in silence.
“Fair enough,” Elrin sighed. “My apologies. I have never heard of this kind of tournament, and I feel like being a judge is a massive responsibility. I want to do my part, and I don’t want there to be any errors on my accord.”
“You’re doing fine, Elrin,” I reassured my wife’s father. “Learning things from another world is challenging, trust me.”
“You make it look easy,” the mayor chuckled, but I was pleased to see some of the tension ease from his shoulders.
But it was almost midday, and we still needed to set up the field.
“We need to gather some volunteers to help with the obstacle courses,” I reminded them. “Each of you go grab one person who isn’t competing and meet me on the outskirts of town in that field I showed you.”
“You got it.” Elissa gave me a thumbs up.
“See you soon.” Eva smiled wide.
“It may be a challenge to find enough helpers to volunteer,” Mahini murmured. “Half the town is competing, after all.”
“They don’t have to be super strong or anything,” I said. “More hands will just help us set up quickly, and I want time to explain each of the events to the competitors before we start. I don’t want us running out of daylight with my entourage still undecided.”
“Very well.” Mahini nodded curtly. “You can count on me, Great One.”
Then we went our separate ways, and I trotted over to the stables to grab Dalwin. The young boy was always super helpful and receptive to direction, so I knew he’d be a good choice in setting up the obstacle courses for me. Once we rejoined the others at the field, I explained more of what was needed from my volunteers.
We gathered large, round rocks, cut down and sharpened the tips of tree branches, and sketched out maps of our longer races. All of us worked together to get everything organized and prepared as quickly as possible, and I was proud of the teamwork already being exhibited.
A short while later, the course was set up, and the competitors had gathered around the edge of the field I’d chosen for the event. I made a mental note to pay Gerulf for the damages we caused later, but the farmer had insisted he didn’t plan on using this field until spring, so it was perfect for my needs.
“Alright, so there’s twelve spots on my entourage,” I announced in a loud voice. “I figured the fair way to go would be to have half women and half men, but in the end I want the best of the best, so everyone will compete as equals. I have designed a few contests to weigh your skills against each other, so I hope you all brought your A game!”
A cheer erupted throughout the gathered townspeople, and once silence had fallen again, I began to explain the rules of the first competition. I’d chosen the three-legged race as the first test since teaming up would allow everyone to loosen up a little in the beginning.
Plus, watching everyone trip over each other would be highly entertaining.
I explained the game to the contenders, and then everyone competing broke up into pairs. Riondale and Jaxtom tied their legs together, Bellona and her husband Gwydion made another pair, and the twins, Isak and Asher, were sure to give everyone a run for their money. It was fun to see who teamed up with who, and a competitive energy filled the air like static electricity.
After everyone was broken up into pairs and given the lengths of fabric to bind their legs together, we were ready to begin. I had the contenders line up on one side of the empty field, and we’d set up a string across the far end so the winner would have to break through it.
“Each event will end with a spot on my entourage being filled,” I announced. “Once you win a game, you are no longer eligible to compete, so you’ll join me on the sidelines.”
“I’ll be there shortly,” Torya called out in a sing-song voice.
“I bet,” I laughed. Then I paused dramatically while the racers prepared to run, and when I was certain everyone was ready, I took a deep breath. “Ready, set… Go!”
It was like a bullet had been shot from a gun, and everyone dashed forward in awkward lunges. A couple teams toppled over almost immediately, and then the bickering started.
“Your left leg! Move your left leg!”
“Slow down!”
“You’re going too slow!”
“Follow my lead!”
“You’re going the wrong way!”
I laughed out loud and clapped my hands together as I watched the contenders struggle to cross the field with their legs tied together. It was a nostalgic moment for me, since I hadn’t seen a game like this played since the field day events back in grade school. I’d lost my fair share of three-legged races, so it was satisfying to watch from the sidelines where I couldn’t make a fool of myself. The people from this world had never experienced anything like it, but I had a feeling there would be recurrences of today’s events for years to come.
Riondale and Jaxtom were among the pairs struggling to work together, but I suspected it was mostly due to the vast differences in their builds. Jax towered over the lieutenant, whose legs were also much shorter, and it was comical to watch them mutter to each other about strategy while the other teams passed by them. They seemed determined, though, and grit was half the battle.
I’d hoped at least one of the two men would have earned a spot on my entourage since they were some of my closest friends, but I was highly entertained even if they did fail miserably. There would always be more adventures to take my buddies on, anyway.
Bron and Sarah suddenly got into a good rhythm, and they pulled ahead of Isak and Asher, who’d previously held the lead, so I returned my attention to the race. It was starting to get good, and both teams were gaining ground swiftly. In the very last moment, though, the married couple pulled ahead of the twins, and the former store owners whooped with joy.
“Bron and Sarah are our first winners!” I shouted, and everyone still remaining on the field groaned with dismay at their loss.
Jax and Riondale’s shoulders slumped as they turned back toward the starting line, but they both had a glint of determination in their eyes when they looked my way.
Bron and Sarah hobbled over to me with their legs still tied together and wide grins stretched across their faces.
“Is it true, Great One?” Bron asked. “Do we really get to join your entourage?”
“Why else would we be doing this?” I chuckled.
“Should we move on to the next event?” Mahini asked as she trotted over to where I stood.
“Let’s do it.” I nodded, and then I turned to Sarah and Bron. “Get comfortable, there’s still the rest of the tournament to go through.”
“I’m just relieved we won the first event and are safely chosen now,” Sarah said with a wry smile. “I don’t know if I have much more energy than what I’ve already spent.”
“Fair enough,” I laughed. Then I raised my voice for all the competitors to hear. “The next event is the sack race, so grab your bags, pillowcases, or whatever else you’re using and head to the starting line.”
This time, everyone was on teams of one, and I could feel the air thicken with ambition. The contenders exchanged heated glances at the starting line, and then they stared down the field with determination on their faces.
It seemed as though this tournament was bringing out everyone’s strongest side.
I stood where all the sack racers could see me, and then I extended my arm high into the air. “On your marks… Get set… Go!”
The competitors hopped forward with loud grunts and groans as the sacks pulled their feet together. Isak fell face first into the mud, and his brother Asher tripped over his twin’s legs. Bellona the seamstress narrowly avoided colliding with the pair, but she hopped nimbly to the side and continued forward.
Jaxtom was hot on her trail, as were over twenty other people, and I held my breath as I watched the final moments of the race. Riondale was struggling, as were Jorgen and Corvis, and the three soldiers lagged behind the crowd. It just showed how even the strongest men could have a weakness.
It was neck and neck between the blacksmith and the seamstress, and time seemed to slow down as the two approached the finish line in their cloth sacks. Bellona shot Jax a sideways glare before she heaved herself up into the air for a massive, lunging jump.
Bellona skidded across the finish line and toppled over into the muddy earth, but she was on her feet an instant later with a loud victory cry.
“Nice try, Jax!” the seamstress taunted, and she even went as far as to twiddle her thumb on her nose.
“Aye, good match,” the blacksmith chuckled with a shake of his head. He stood catching his breath with his hands planted on his knees, and the sight of the strong man being beaten by a woman half his size made the crowd of contenders burst into laughter.
The blacksmith was good-spirited about it, though, and he even joined in with the merriment. He gave Bellona a sideways hug to show there were no hard feelings, and then the seamstress joined me, Bron, and Sarah on the sidelines.
“The second event is over!” I announced. “Bellona Uriel has earned the second position on my entourage.”
“We’ll get the next event set up,” Elissa offered with a grin. “I’m super excited about the next one, it’s going to be hilarious!”
“I’m looking forward to it, too.” I grinned. “So far, our tournament is even more fun than I’d anticipated.”
A crowd of townspeople who were not competing had begun to form on the edges of the field as curiosity brought people away from their day to day lives and out to the outskirts of town. I was sure they’d heard the commotion and wanted to know what was going on, but judging by the smiles and laughter I witnessed from the watchers, everyone was enjoying the tournament.
I spotted Sir Cristoff in the crowd, and I flashed him a friendly smile. It was good to see the knight enjoying the day’s events with the rest of the townspeople, and I hoped he would have a positive report for the king. He held a bag of snacks clutched in his hand, and he wore a happy expression on his face as he munched. Add the soft bed provided by Torya at the inn to the treats he’d acquired, and I was sure the knight was having the time of his life during his trip to Bastianville.
Then I spotted the seamstress approaching me in my peripheral vision, so I turned to greet her with a broad smile.
“Ah, here’s my winner.” I reached down to give her a quick hug.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Great One.” Bellona grinned up at me with her husband Gwydion by her side. “I’ve always wanted to see the high fashion of the palace with my own eyes.”
“I am going to drop out of the competition, Great One,” the seamstress’ husband informed me in a reluctant tone. “With Bellona going with you, I’ll need to stay and mind the store.”
“That is unfortunate,” I allowed with a sympathetic smile. “You will be missed.”
“I doubt I could fight my way through these bloodthirsty runners,” Gwydion said with a shake of his head. “Even Bellona was more dedicated to the race than I.”
“Why did you volunteer in the first place, then?” I asked in a curious tone. “You don’t seem like you were very eager to travel with me.”
“I was going to give my place to my wife if I won a spot,” Gwydion confessed.
“That’s so sweet of you,” Eva observed as she joined us. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear what you said. She’s a lucky lady, sir.”
“Eva, this is Gwydion and Bellona,” I said as I gestured to the couple before I wrapped my arm around the blonde’s shoulders. “Bellona just earned the third spot on our entourage.”
“I hate to pull you away, but…” Eva bit her lip as she hesitated.
“I take it we’re ready for the next event?” I lifted a questioning eyebrow.
“The obstacle course is laid out.” Eva nodded. “Does everyone have their spoons?”
“If not, then they don’t get to play.” I shrugged. “But Deena brought all the eggs she had, so we should have enough for everyone.”
“It seems like such a waste.” The duke’s daughter shook her head. “But I’m sure you know exactly what you’re doing.”
“The amount of awesome entertainment we’ll receive will be worth a few dozen eggs,” I declared with a decisive nod. “You’ll see.”
“I eagerly await the view,” Eva cooed.
I flashed her a grin before I turned to scan the faces gathered around me. Caelia stood with a couple women I hadn’t met yet, and they talked excitedly among themselves. Riondale’s cousins, Thanor, Bryn, and Ean, huddled together near the circle of women, and judging from the sounds of laughter and red faces, they were enjoying the tournament as well.
Everywhere I looked were happy people, and the sight warmed my heart. This was the energy I wanted to always be present in Bastianville, and I knew the tournament would lift the people’s morale for weeks.
I was pretty proud of myself for my idea as I marched into a clear area to announce the beginning of the next event.
I’d managed to kill multiple birds with one competition, and soon I’d be headed to the palace with some of the best damned people in Sorreyal at my back. The thought sent a shiver of excitement down my spine, and the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up. I didn’t know what would happen at the summit of nobility just yet, but I knew I’d have people I trusted with me. Add that to my god-like powers, and I could tackle any obstacle ahead of me.
“Alright,” I called out in a loud voice. “The next event is about to start. All participants, please take your eggs and spoons to the starting line!”
The crowd of people moved and swayed as the contenders separated from the previous event winners and judges, and then everyone was where they were supposed to be. Elissa, Eva, and Mahini sat with Elrin on a bench we’d brought from the tavern, and they watched the events unfold closely just in case there was any argument over a winner.
For the most part, the races and events of my tournament were designed in a way that always revealed a clear winner, but what was a competition without some judges?
Plus, three out of four of the judges were super-hot, so win-win for me.
I checked to make sure all of my competitors were ready for the race, and when I spotted everyone placing an egg very gently into a spoon, I knew it was time to begin.
“Ready… Set…” I flashed my three beautiful women a flirtatious wink as I held my hand up over my head once more. Then I swept it down and across my body to signal the start of the race. “Go!”
The contenders inched forward with careful steps as they balanced their eggs anxiously upon their cutlery. The field was full of obstacles during this race, though, so it was extra challenging to cross the length of dirt to the finish line. This event tested agility and patience, both of which were characteristics I wanted my team to have, so I watched carefully.
The girl competitors seemed to be having a better time gaining ground since the men were all in a hurry. Jaxtom’s egg was the first to fall to the ground with a crack and a wet sploosh sound, but Hal’s was a close second. Soon, the sound of squishing eggs and groans filled the air, and the field of competition slowly dwindled down to a sparse five people.
Torya, Corvis, and Jaxtom’s apprentice, Janus, were all dead even for first place about halfway across the field, but Deena and Caelia were right behind them. Then the black-haired innkeeper veered to dodge a large rock we’d placed in the path, and her egg went flying. Janus fell into a squat to avoid the yolk-filled projectile, and his load bounced from his spoon to the ground.
Corvis lurched forward, but he tripped over another rock, and he and his egg both went flying. The poor horseman faceplanted in the dirt, and the pieces of shell crashed down next to his face. Deena and Caelia were side by side as they took a right to avoid the disaster in front of them, and I saw the heated glances they exchanged as they neared the finish line.
I resisted the urge to cheer on the beautiful shopkeeper since I didn’t want to be perceived as having any favorites, but I was really starting to hope Caelia won.
It was going to be tight, and I inhaled sharply as I instinctively leaned forward in order to get a better view of the finale. I squinted to see down the field, and every second seemed to last an eternity.
Then Caelia lunged to the left suddenly, and in the next instant, Deena went down. Some hidden obstacle had appeared out of nowhere, but the not-so-timid-anymore shopkeeper had maneuvered nimbly past it. She skipped forward into the string of the finish line, and she swiveled around with a huge grin on her face.
“Caelia wins the third race!” I announced in a loud, very pleased voice.
Cheers erupted from the judges stand, and I turned to see all three of my women on their feet and pumping their fists in the air.
I shook my head in amusement as I began to cross the field to the victor.
I hadn’t realized my girls liked Caelia so much, but maybe their reaction was just due to how tense the race had been. We’d all been on the edge of our seats during the final standoff, and Caelia had certainly earned her victory outright.
“Good job,” I congratulated with a proud smile. “You’ve earned a spot on my entourage, young lady.”
“Y-Yes, Great One.” Caelia’s face was flushed with excitement and adrenaline, and her soft brown eyes twinkled brightly as she looked up at me. “I suppose I did.”
The shopkeeper suddenly seemed to remember herself, and she shook her head briefly before dropping her gaze to the dirt at our feet.
“You did wonderfully.” I smirked as I hooked a finger under her chin and brought her face back up to mine. “Now, go join the winner’s circle and enjoy it.”
Caelia dropped into a low curtsey, and then she scurried away without another word.
I smirked as I followed her path over to where Sarah, Bron, and Bellona stood. I was already collecting quite the motley crew of townspeople to act as my entourage, and I couldn’t be happier. Now, I just needed some brawn, and my team would be complete.
I’d saved the more physically taxing events for the latter half since I wanted to give equal opportunity to the trained fighters and regular townspeople. As long as everyone could ride a horse and keep up with the pace I set, then I was more than capable of protecting a small group.
“What’s next?” someone in the crowd asked in a curious tone.
“Where’s the next race?”
“More!”
Everyone was excited and eager for more events, so I trotted back across the field to the starting line.
“Attention!” I called out, and I waited for silence to fall before I continued. “The next event is going to be located outside of the town walls. It is a short distance from here, but it will be well worth the trek. Follow me!”
With that said, I took off at a brisk pace, and I didn’t even look back to see if anyone was following me. A moment later, I heard the multitude of footsteps, and I knew without looking back that my people were behind me. We walked to the closest gate, and Jaxtom helped me push open the heavy barrier before I continued down the road.
“Where are we going?”
“How much further?”
I heard the murmurs of curiosity and doubt behind me, but I ignored them as I led everyone to the location the girls and our helpers had set up earlier. The event I had in mind required a very specific terrain, so we had to make do with what we had available.
Then I veered off the road, and I heard a few surprised gasps as the people hurried to follow me. I glanced back, and I made eye contact with Mahini, who walked directly behind me.
“They don’t even know what’s coming yet.” The desert goddess lifted her chin, and her ice-blue eyes were full of pride. “You are a genius, Bash.”
“Maybe,” I chuckled, but I had to give some credit to the church summer program I’d learned the next game from. Even though I was just a kid at the time, I’d been neck and neck with a much older teenager up until the last moments before my sweet victory. I shook my head to dispel the memories from my old world, and I returned my focus to the path ahead of me. “We’ll see how much they like it soon enough.”
That’s when we appeared before the hill where the girls and I had stretched out canvases to cover the earth. The hill was probably fifteen-feet tall, and a natural clearing had formed at the base, so it was perfect for our needs. Then we’d poured barrels full of oil down the slope until the tarp-like fabric was slick with lubricant.
I turned to the crowd behind me, and I waited until all the people had come to a stop in a semicircle around me. They stared in confusion at the scene at my back, and I smirked as I motioned for silence.
“This is the oil hill race,” I explained loud enough for everyone to hear. “First one to the top wins the race.”
“That’s too easy!”
“I’ll win this one, no problem!”
“Just that little hill?”
“What’s all over it?”
I waited until my words began to fully sink in. When I heard the word “oil” murmured by more than one voice, I knew it had finally clicked.
“Contenders, get to your starting point,” I instructed.
I jerked my chin toward Elrin and the girls, and the five of us made our way around the oil-slicked canvas and up the hill by a different route. Then we got into position at the top of the race track where we could have a good view of the spectacle playing out below.
The winners of the previous events followed our path up the hill, but they stood a little to the side away from me and the judges. I tried to catch Caelia’s eye for a moment, but she never glanced my way, so I turned my attention back to the people at the bottom of the hill.
Stryker, Niconor, and Willihard eyed the hill with derision, but Hal looked more skeptical. Riondale and Jaxtom shot each other competitive glances as they stretched at the starting line, and several women I didn’t recognize jostled for a position in the front.
One woman in particular caught my eye, and she looked to be a little older than me. She had strawberry-blonde hair that could have been red faded with gray, but it was hard to tell from the distance. The woman was tall and skinny, and she had an air of confidence about her that drew my attention. She kept her eyes on the hill ahead of her, and she ignored the jostling of the other women around her.
I made a new save point before I announced the beginning of the race so I could find out exactly who she was if she made it to the top, and then I could reset and already know her.
It was one of my favorite things to do, and I was pleasantly surprised I still had opportunities to do so in Bastianville. The growing popularity of my town would mean I always had new people to learn about.
I moved to the edge of the hill where all the contenders could see me plainly, and then I lifted my arm above my head for the fourth time.
“On your marks, get set…” I paused dramatically, and I flashed the competitors a charming smile while I made them wait a heart pounding instant longer. “Go!”
Everyone lurched forward and dashed up the hill, but they instantly began to slide back down the canvas to the starting line. Just as I predicted, shocked expressions stared up at me as it slowly dawned on people how challenging this event truly was.
Jaxtom hiked his knees up high in an effort to avoid touching the surface as much as possible, and he got about five feet up the hill before he lost traction. Torya also ate oil after only a couple of steps, and Jorgen lost his footing when she crashed into him.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Stryker cursed loudly as he ran as fast as he could but didn’t move an inch. “What kind of fucked-up race is this?”
“The most entertaining kind,” I called down the slope, and then I burst into laughter as the barkeep wiped out.
Stryker bowled into Willihard and Niconor on the way down, and the trio crashed into the crowd of contenders vying for a turn on the slope. I almost expected to hear the sound of a strike, but it didn’t look like anyone was injured at all by the fall, so it was all in good fun.
The woman I’d noticed before surged forward, dodged between tumbling bodies, and nimbly hopped up the slope like she’d done it all her life.
My jaw fell open as she neared the crest of the hill, and then she was standing before me heaving air into her lungs.
“You are the victor,” I informed her in an awed tone. “What’s your name?”
“I thought you knew everything?” She tossed her hair back over her shoulder and laughed. “I’m Adelina. My husband Rorik and I came to your town after hearing tales of your greatness.”
I knew enough to get past the victory announcement, so I reset back to my save point, and I got to watch the slippery shenanigans all over again. I laughed even harder at the bowling sequence since I knew it was coming, but I also enjoyed watching the middle-aged woman maneuver the hill like it was a total piece of cake.
“Congratulations, Adelina!” I announced loudly as soon as her foot touched the top of the hill. Then I crossed the distance between us and held out my hand. “Rorik must be so proud. You’ve earned a spot on my entourage.”
“Thank you, Great One,” the middle-aged woman panted with a relieved smile.
There were less groans from the rest of the contenders and more sighs of relief. It seemed like the majority of people were just happy the event was finally over, and we could move on to something less covered in oil.
“I can only imagine how much setting up this tournament cost you,” Adelina observed as she followed my gaze down the slope to the crowd at the base of the hill. “Between the oil and the eggs…”
“You let me worry about that,” I insisted with a sideways smile. What she didn’t know was that with the wealth I’d stolen from Arginold, I could host a tournament like this every day for months and barely make a dent in all that gold.
It seemed Adelina was shrewdly observant and willing to speak her mind, though, both of which were traits I wanted among my team, so I made a mental note to get to know the winner of the oil hill race better along the way to Vallenwood.
Since I now had plenty of people with agility and wits among my entourage, I was eager to get some skilled fighters on my crew, so I was excited about the next set of events. They were more challenging than the first few, and they would most certainly cull the weak from the contenders.
Things were about to get serious.
For the next event, we’d have to return to the empty field I’d commandeered for the sake of the tournament, so I signaled for everyone’s attention.
“Meet me back at the field for the next test of your abilities!” I grinned big enough for everyone to see. “In fact, I’ll race you there!”
I made a new save point, and then I hopped over the crest of the hill and slid down to the bottom. About half-way down, a small bump under the canvas messed up my footing, and I shuffled my feet trying to keep my balance. I flapped my arms, and a wail erupted from my throat.
Nope. Not doing that.
Chime.
I stood in the moment before I’d jumped down the hill, and I decided against it this time. No need to look like an idiot just to have a little fun. I was the God of Time, not the God of Oh My God I’m Gonna Fall. Then I ran back down the path we’d come up, and I dashed through the woods in an effort to keep up with the handful of people who had taken me up on the challenge.
Among my opponents were Riondale, Kylor, and Corvis, and the three former Bullard guards were quickly gaining on me.
“Save your energy for the competition,” I urged over my shoulder, but I pressed forward with even more energy.
“Save yourself!” Riondale taunted, and he grunted with effort as he tailed me.
A short while later, I was bursting through the gate, and I was the first one to cross over the boundary into town. A groan of dismay echoed from behind me, and I turned to comfort the people who’d eaten my dust. I didn’t stop until I reached the field, though, and then I leaned on my knees as I caught my breath.
It took everyone else a little while to catch up, and by the time they arrived, I had regained my composure. I appeared serenely god-like as I lounged on the judge’s bench and waited for them. I heard a few awed gasps and murmured questions, but the crowd seemed more subdued than they had earlier in the day.
I’d literally run them out of town and back, though, so I didn’t quite blame them. Still, it was time to put a pep in their step, so I jumped up from the bench and rubbed my hands together.
“The next event will get even dirtier,” I announced, “so make sure you’re wearing something you don’t mind washing or tossing out when you’re done getting muddy.”
A few people grumbled at this, and they moved from the contenders’ section of the crowd to the audience portion. It seemed slipping around in oil had been fine for some, but they drew the line at mud. I assumed some of the games would cause people to rethink their decision to volunteer to be in my entourage, but it was interesting to see what their limits were.
“Jump over the mud puddle to earn the next position in my entourage.” I pointed to the sectioned-off part of the field that we’d doused with water until it was soggy mud for a stretch of ten feet. “It’s simple enough, right?”
“That thing’s huge!”
“It’s impossible!”
“There’s no way!”
“I got this,” someone murmured, and I scanned the crowd to see who it could be. Niconor, the miner and son of Willihard, stepped forward with his chin up, and his chest puffed out.
Then several more men strode toward the long jump, with the former Bullard guards all among them. Jax hesitated for the briefest of moments, but then he marched after the others with an air of determination.
It seemed as though the blacksmith was determined to earn a spot on my entourage, and I wondered what caused him to push himself so hard.
Was it merely the thrill of adventure? Or the idea of traveling with me?
I didn’t want my ego to inflate too quickly, so I shook my head and focused on the event.
Niconor was the first to attempt the jump, and he stepped back away from the edge several paces before taking off at a run. He launched himself through the air, but he landed with a muddy splash about a foot short. The young man shook his head in dismay, and he slung mud from his arms and made his way over to the audience.
Jaxtom pushed to the front of the crowd of men who were jostling to go next, and they all stepped to the side to allow the burly blacksmith through. He took off from an even further distance than Niconor had, but he didn’t quite make it. The tall man landed about seven feet from the starting line, and he went down in the mud with a heavy thud.
Man after man attempted to jump across the mud, but they failed one after another until only a few remained. Riondale watched his competition with a shrewd eye, but he waited patiently for everyone else to go first. Kylor and Thanor stood by his sides, but then it came down to just the three of them.
Thanor dashed forward, and he pushed off from the edge with a fierce kick, but he failed to cover the distance. Riondale went next, but he also fell in the mud.
I was certain this would be the first event with no winner, and I wondered if I’d made it too hard.
Then Kylor turned and marched away from the starting line, and for a second I thought he was giving up. I sighed in dismay, but he stopped about twenty feet back. The red-haired axe-wielding guardsman swiveled, and he glared at the mud like it had just insulted his mother before he took off in a blur of motion. He launched himself from the edge at the very last instant, and he hurled through the air over the mud like a bird in flight.
It was majestic, beautiful, and downright entertaining as all hell.
Then Kylor landed safely with a thud on the other side of the mud, and he immediately fell to his knees on the dry dirt before he began to kiss the earth.
“We have a winner!” I announced with a broad grin.