Page 133 of The Last Syphon

“I’ve never played before.”

He swished a hand through the air. “It’s easy. I’ll teach ya.”

She hadn’t played a game since she was a youthen. “Sure, why not?”

“How about you?” he asked, looking at Prince Walder.

Inara thought she’d probably pushed the prince far enough for the night. She’d managed to convince him to come to the markets—somewhere he felt totally out of place. She didn’t want to push him any further. “He’s probably not interested, but I have a friend up at the palace who would probably love to play. I can go grab him⁠—”

“I’m in.” Prince Walder grunted, stomping down the hill without a glance back.

Inara blinked, staring after him. “Ah. Okay.” She chuckled awkwardly, looking at the man. “Looks like we’re playing.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Inara and Prince Walder stepped onto the field. Despite the fact that it was nighttime, the field was bright and well lit, thanks to the balls of light being suspended above them.

The man who invited them to play was called Thaso. He began to explain the rules of the game to them.

“It’s called Six Kings,” he started, dropping to a crouch and stretching his legs. “Each side has six players, and the object of the game is to get the ball to the other side, while the other team tries to stop you.”

“Seems simple enough.” Inara unbuttoned her floor-length coat. “What are the rules?”

“There are only a few. See the markers on the field?” he asked, pointing.

Inara looked out and saw what he was referring to. There were four white sticks positioned on the field. Two of them were roughly 100 feet apart at each end of the field, while the distance between the other two was far larger, at roughly 200 feet.

“They indicate the start of the different zones. We’ll start at one end, in our zone, and the opposing team will be in their zone on the far side of the field. We have to get the ball from our zone into theirs.”

“And the big zone in the middle?”

A devilish smirk turned on his lips. “That’s where the real fun begins. You are only allowed to use your powers in the middle zone.”

Inara blinked. “Say again?”

“The end zones are strictly magic-free. Once you pass into the end zone, you must not use your powers under any circumstances. To do so gives the opposing team the point.”

“But—” Inara looked at the field again. “I’m assuming we have to get the ball into the goal at the end of the field, right?”

“Correct.” Thaso nodded.

“The goal is 100 feet in the end zone. We’re just supposed to get there without using our powers?”

“While people try to stop you,” Thaso added. “Did I forget to mention this is a full-contact sport?”

“Meaning?” Prince Walder grunted.

“It means they can try to stop you by any means necessary.” Excitement bubbled up inside her. “Pushing. Tackling. Pulling hair. You name it.”

“Ah, so you have played before,” Thaso said, eyes dancing.

“No. But I’ve played similar games before, at home.” Suddenly, she realised a pretty significant problem. “Uhh, maybe you should sit this one out,” she said to Prince Walder, shuffling closer to him and lowering her voice.

“What? Why?” he asked, confused.

“People get hurt in these kinds of games. Seriously hurt. My job is to keep you safe. This would be doing the opposite.”

He shrugged uncaringly. “That’s what Healers are for.”