And So It Begins

I watched the faces of the opposing team passing me by, searching for anyone I might recognise.

'Here come the Bricklelake Bobcats, Belgrin. It looks like they have somehow copied the Raiders' warding; we'll see how it works for them come kick-off time.'

I scowled at their armour and the smug looks on the players' faces as they saw me staring. I'd thought that this might happen, but not so soon. 'Skargar!'

Looking up at their recently redecorated seating area; I noticed the man already gazing back at me, laughing. He held out a glass of wine, toasting me, before turning back to the man sitting next to him.

'It's that time, folks. The players are taking their places on the field,' Belgrin said, standing up and pointing at us. 'Look at them; they're already going at it.'

'William, it's me, mom. Can't you see?' Lorna asked, taking off her son's helmet.

'Ref, come on! We're here to play Runeball, not play grab-ass.' The Bobcats' Captain remarked, sending Lorna clawing for his throat.

'What have you done to him?' She demanded, hitting him repeatedly in the nose.

I didn't want a repeat of last time, so I quickly ran over to pull her away, but before I could get there, the collar around her neck blinked red several times. She fumbled with it, trying to yank it off when it exploded, showering us all in brain matter.

I stole another glance at Skargar, but he wasn't paying attention this time, nor was he showing any signs of remorse for what he'd just done to the lady. Her son didn't flinch either; whatever experimentations he'd been subjected too, seemed to have left him as nothing but a hollow shell. The lights were on, but no one was home as the old saying went.

'Huddle up!' I called, waving the team over. 'You too, Sameth.' I had no choice but to select him; he was the next best player after Lorna, and it wasn't like we could have played with four.

'We're not losing anyone else! We need to beat this team, but we also need to up to date intelligence,' I said. 'Any chance you get; see who's willing to talk, and even help our cause.' They all nodded, exchanging glances. 'Raiders.' We chorused together at the end, aiming to throw off suspicion.

'Alistair,' I yelled, catching up to the player. 'We have kick-off. I want you to run straight for their goal; I'll have a pass coming your way.'

The young giant grinned, running off to take his position with strides that shook the ground with every step.

'Here it comes! And we have kick-off! Well, I'll be, what a strange coincidence, Belgrin. The ball has also been imbued with an 'all-elemental' warding.'

I just sighed; I should have seen it coming.

'Look at him, go! Alistair Grimwalt, a Giant like no other! Faster than the wind itself!' Belgrin was getting carried away, but even I felt the man's excitement as I awaited the perfect time to kick the ball downfield.

'The Bobcats aren't just going to let him-' Gretta cut herself off mid-sentence. 'This is too close, folks. Fenzin is the only player far enough back, but can he stop him? Giant on Giant, a one-on-one battle like no other! Here it comes!'

'What was that?!' Belgrin spat.

Fenzin lifted Alistair above his head; picking up the younger Giant with ease, and pile-driving him into the ground. I thought that would be it for the player, but he just jumped back up and kept running.

Now. I told myself, kicking the ball so hard I thought it might fly right over him. The gale-force wind wasn't helping either, seemingly blowing the ball in every direction. Alistair was sliding side to side, anxiously waiting for it to drop. But when it did, he headed the ball down with so much power that it bounced back up, hitting off the crossbar before slipping in.

'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!'

'Unbelievable, Belgrin. Unbelievable! We've only been playing for a couple of minutes, and the Rimeholde Raiders already lead one goal to nil.'

'I see a lot of goals being scored today, Gretta.'

'And, we have kick-off again,' Gretta announced. 'This time it's the Bobcats starting. Fenzin has it. A short pass to Proctor. A short pass back to Fenzin. A short pass to Kingsthorpe. A short pass back. A short pass to W. Howell. Wait, what's this? Howell has volleyed it! A long ball to Muggleswick. I don't believe it! He's breaking away from the others. Look at that Elf run!'

I had to admit; I didn't see that move coming. The Bobcat team's consistent short passing had made me complacent, and now the spritely Elf was wide open.

Belgrin cleared his throat. 'Muggleswick flips over the head of Raines, leaving her trailing behind. He sidesteps Greathoof, dodging the slower player's charge with ease, and the only player left is Goodwin. What will he show us today, Gretta?'

I could see the surprise on the Elf's face as I began to summon dozens of orbs; he couldn't take his eyes off them, both admiring and fearing what I might conjure.

Muggleswick stumbled, skidding along the still-wet ground as a massive white elephant appeared right in front of him. The Elf covered his eyes, fearing a collision with the beast when I flicked the apparition away with the wave of my hand, and he just lay there, panting, staring fixedly at the spot where it had once been.

I stole the ball back, allowing it to land on my chest. I should have learned from last time, but I hadn't, and I felt the power of every element flooding through my body before I eventually regained control of it. I knocked the ball back upfield again, this time watching as both Sameth Nooke and Alistair Grimwalt chased after the thing.

'A wonderful headed pass from Nooke, and a beautiful shot from Grimwalt off the laces of his boot, Gretta.'

'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!'

'The Bobcats aren't doing well, are they, Belgrin?'

'No, they are not, Gretta. Not at all. What they need is-'

We all started to panic as the collars around our necks began flashing red; most of the players' dove to the ground, trying to break free of the sick contraptions. I didn't want to give Skargar the satisfaction of seeing me afraid, though. I just stood still and closed my eyes as I awaited the inevitable explosion.