Chapter 3
Stone couldn’t believe it when his advisor, Kentner, a dark-haired Dark Fae, told him that he was from one of the packs represented there at the games, and that Rune was from the other.
He was stunned, really. He hadn’t believed he had any surviving family members, which was why he was living on his own in the glen.
But he didn’t care about the pack politics. He and Rune had never lived with their packs, so nothing had changed between them as far as he was concerned. He wondered if her advisor had told her the same thing.
He was shocked to learn that one of the goddesses of the rune stones had also saved his life. He glanced down at the sword hanging at his waist—a pearl handle with a moon carved in the hilt. It was so beautiful. He wondered if it was from Moon Gazer.
Kentner told him about changelings too, and Stone suspected their competitors already knew.
“Once a fae takes a human baby as his or her own, he or she would take them back to the fae world. A changeling would remain there, living as long as the fae do, but without their powers,” Kentner explained.
“The baby/changeling would be bound to you forever.”
Stone would never take a human baby to turn into a changeling.
“Another thing I need to mention is some aspects about humans, fae seers, and the fae, since one of the challenges will possibly involve them. You and Rune have never been to the human world. The others have, so Rune’s advisor will explain all this to her also.
You know that we have a shimmer around our person when we turn invisible. ”
Stone nodded.
“In some cases, a fae can hide their shimmer from others. It’s a neat trick to have if you are gifted with that ability.
Humans can’t see us when we’re invisible.
But humans who can see the fae when you are invisible are known as fae seers.
Some of them will attempt to put the fae in iron and then move them to somewhere that they can dispose of them. ”
“If we could fae transport, we wouldn’t have a problem.”
“Correct. Which is why you can push the emergency button and it will whisk you away to somewhere safe. Humans are clueless as to what we are. They believe we’re just like them.
When you’re invisible, you can walk right through them, and their body will feel like it has fallen asleep.
They won’t know why that strange feeling has come over them.
If you’re invisible and sit on someone’s lap, like if you were riding on a bus and you wanted to sit where they are, you will make their lap go numb.
They won’t feel you sitting there. When you’re invisible, you’re weightless. ”
Stone wondered what they were going to do that required them to interact with humans and possibly fae seers.
Then Kentner explained about sponsors to him. Stone didn’t need any sponsors. He would do what he had to do without their help.
“One other thing, you’ll be provided with clothes or other items to do the activities. Some might be upgraded if you have a sponsor who agrees to do it.”
“Will you tell the others that Rune and I are from the competing packs?”
“No. That’s up to you as to what you want to reveal to any of them.” Kentner glanced at his sword. “Nice weapon.”
Rune wondered if he would need to use the sword.
“Oh, and you can practice swordsmanship since I understand this is the first time you’ve had a sword.”
“Right.”
“The weapons practice room is to the right as you leave my office.
There you can practice archery, sword fighting, star throwing, dagger throwing, whatever you need to work on.
Also, you and Rune are unusual cases when it comes to making sure you learn some of what goes on in the human world.
For instance, you don't know how to drive a car.
You have an innate ability to read, so you're good with that. But you've never even met a human."
"Correct."
"So what we're going to do is give you some simulator training on these things. That way, you won't be so disadvantaged during the challenges."
"That would be great."
"The other fae won't know that the simulator training is to help the two of you learn the basics of things they already know. They'll think it’s just a game room to enjoy during breaks you'll have. But it would behoove you to really use the time wisely to learn what you can."
"We will." Stone knew he would. He believed that Rune would too.
"All right. I'm going to let you go, and you can practice some of the skills you'll need for the challenges."
Once Kentner finished speaking with him, Stone met up with Rune.
“I was surprised that Ondine told me we would have a way of catching up on skills the other fae already had. I’m really glad for that.”
“Me too. Did she tell you about changelings and about dealing with fae seers?”
“Yeah. The fae seers sound like they could be a problem. So what do you want to do first? The weapons room? Or the simulator room?” she asked.
“Let’s go to the weapons room.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
They walked in and smiled when an instructor started showing Rune the rudiments of swordplay. Then Vesper walked in carrying a sword also. His sword had flames on the hilt. Stone thought Rune’s and his swords were grander.
Stone watched Rune's moves and how the instructor showed her to place her feet, thrust, and move forward in attack mode. He began copying them to learn the moves at the same time.
Vesper watched for a while, then walked out. Stone figured he thought he needed private lessons. But Stone was happy to do this with Rune. Or maybe Vesper felt he didn’t need lessons at all. He might not need any.
Then Pari came into the room carrying a pouch of throwing stars and hit a target on the other side of the room. She wasn’t doing very well. Then someone came to teach her, and she didn’t act very receptive. She kept arguing with the instructor.
Stone was surprised because the game coordinator said she was skilled with the throwing stars.
Stone really liked sword fighting. It was excellent exercise, and he felt at one with the blade.
But he hoped he wouldn't actually have to fight anyone using a sword.
Especially if his opponent was trained in sword fighting at a much earlier age.
He glanced at Rune. She was concentrating hard on the instructor's moves. Stone liked watching her moves!
Caspian walked in with his bow and quiver of arrows, followed by Fang.
After nearly an hour of practice, the instructor told them they were both doing great.
Maeve entered the weapons training room with throwing stars and began throwing one at a target.
She was good at it, and he figured she'd had lots of practice.
Then Silas came in with an ax. He went to another part of the huge room to throw it at a different target.
Like Maeve, he was really good at hitting the target.
Stone guessed that only Rune and he had never practiced with weapons before.
He was glad he received the beautiful sword as a gift.
He wondered whether the others had asked for the weapons they were working with or had just been given them randomly, as he had.
He and Rune watched Maeve and Silas throw their weapons at the target and then retrieve them. "Did you request a sword?" he asked Rune.
"No. Did you?"
"No. I didn't know we would have weapons to carry with us for any of the challenges. That's kind of foreboding."
"Yeah, I know. Maeve requested the throwing stars, and as well as she does with them, I suspect everyone else asked for a particular weapon they've practiced with back home.
Like Silas with the ax. Whereas you and I have never had weapons to use.
Well, except for a knife I found on a rock that I used to clean up fish with when I was cooking them over a campfire," she said.
"Me too. I thought someone had accidentally left one there while I was sleeping or otherwise occupied, but it seemed too convenient. It was just after I shifted into my fae the first time, so that I could make a campfire."
"Thankfully, I have a little magic and can make a fire," Rune said.
"Yeah, that comes in handy. I love your sword."
"Yours is beautiful too. I love the moons."
"Your stars are grand. We have been gifted these by the goddesses, don't you think?"
"Yes, but maybe they gifted each of the fae competitors with a weapon."
"None are marked in any special way, except for Vesper’s."
"True."
Elon walked into the weapons training room with a bow and quiver of arrows. Stone wanted to see how well he did. Rune turned to watch the new competitor. Elon didn't need any instruction either, as he used the right form and hit close to the bullseye every time.
Then Rune and Stone left the weapons training room, and they saw Vesper talking to another fae.
Lolita’s blond hair fell in one long braid down her back, and she wore a short sword at her waist. It suited her petite size.
"I've made an enemy of my roommate already," Rune told Stone as they walked toward an indoor garden.
"Oh? You work fast."
"Yeah, my roommate has it in for me. Maeve? With the throwing stars? She feels that we shouldn't be here because we're lone wolves, and never in the history of the games have they had lone wolves participate."
"They've never had us here." Stone smiled. He was eager to prove to the wolves from the packs that he and Rune had what it would take to win the most challenges. “I’m stuck with Fang. He said he’s with the Thistledown Pack. He isn’t happy he got stuck with me either.”
"I agree that we're unknown forces. Though if we have to do team challenges, no one will want us on their teams. Don't you think?" Rune asked.
"That could be, but in the end, they'll have to take us. So I don't see any problem with it."
"I hope we can show them that we can come out on top."