learn of this occurrence second-hand, I must say the news itself does not seem noteworthy enough to trouble you directly. Allow me to go in your stead, my lord."
Shalaron smiled. "As always, old friend, I appreciate your forthrightness, but this seems connected to threads that run darker and deeper. I will perceive the truth of the matter with my own eyes."
Halathas's expression reflected his disagreement, but he did not argue the point.
"Oversee the departure of the emissary's caravan. If anything else happens above the ordinary, inform me immediately."
Halathas bowed. "As you command, my lord Sage."
Shalaron rose to his feet and strode from the room.
***
"The rules of the game are simple." Rupu handed David a netted bat from a pile of spares. "The ball is tossed between us until a thrower calls 'Sage'. Whoever receives that throw will call out the 'Adept'. The players will then try to hit the Adept with the ball."
The ball left Rupu's hand suddenly and thudded against one of his friends' shoulders, the black-haired youth who had catcalled David. "You see? I tagged Tintal, which would award me a mark if he was the Adept. If he had caught it, then he would become Sage and choose a new Adept. If he had struck it at someone and hit them, he would get one of their marks. Once a mark is awarded, we start again. The first to reach five marks wins."
Rupu grinned at Analara. "'Nala's quite good at this game. Maybe if we ask nicely, she'll keep tally for us?"
Analara scowled fiercely. "This is absurd. He's not fully recovered yet!"
"It's all right, Analara," David said, still staring at Rupu. "I'm fine, thanks to you. Besides, this should be… fun."
Rupu chuckled.
They started out in a ring, tossing the ball back and forth. Sometimes they caught it in the net before throwing, or struck it with the bat immediately. David swung his stick a few times between throws, getting a feel for it. When the ball reached him, he hit it across the ring to a muscular young man the others called Doan. "At least he didn't drop it on the first hit," Tintal muttered.
Doan shouted, "Sage," throwing the ball Rupu's way. He eyed David with a grin before calling his name, and the other players circled around him. David had been expecting this and ducked beneath the first throw. Doan caught it and fired back. Again, David dodged. When Tintal made a lazy toss at him, David swung his stick, sending the ball flying back. It thumped Tintal's chest hard and fell to the ground.
"First mark to David," Analara declared.
The ball sailed between the players. Figuring it was better to know your enemies directly, David called Sage and threw to Rupu, preparing to spring.
"Elarneh," Rupu shouted, and launched the ball. David blinked in surprise; so did Elarneh, but he managed to dodge at the last moment. Tintal hurled the ball at Elarneh's feet, but it was deflected away. Doan dove for the ball and threw a lightning fast toss that caught Elarneh's knee. Another mark.
The game had attracted a small crowd from the marketplace, but David forced himself to ignore them. The ball moved quickly, and alliances changed at a whim as the marks piled up. He was surprised when Rupu made him the Sage, but he used it to his advantage to gain another mark off Tintal.
After several rounds, Doan was in the lead with three marks, while David and Rupu were tied at two. Again, David was the Sage; he yelled Rupu's name and sent the ball flying. Rupu dodged it before it slammed his shoulder, but a strike from behind awarded another mark to Doan. Rupu ended as Sage and called David in response. Aiming for David's face, he hurled the ball, only to have David's backswing return it. Rupu tried to block, but the ball struck him in the chest, gaining David a third mark.
A strong wind kicked dust up from the street and swirled around the players, bringing the game to a halt. When it subsided, there was a new man standing in the square. He was robed in flowing garments of dark blue
Shalaron smiled. "As always, old friend, I appreciate your forthrightness, but this seems connected to threads that run darker and deeper. I will perceive the truth of the matter with my own eyes."
Halathas's expression reflected his disagreement, but he did not argue the point.
"Oversee the departure of the emissary's caravan. If anything else happens above the ordinary, inform me immediately."
Halathas bowed. "As you command, my lord Sage."
Shalaron rose to his feet and strode from the room.
***
"The rules of the game are simple." Rupu handed David a netted bat from a pile of spares. "The ball is tossed between us until a thrower calls 'Sage'. Whoever receives that throw will call out the 'Adept'. The players will then try to hit the Adept with the ball."
The ball left Rupu's hand suddenly and thudded against one of his friends' shoulders, the black-haired youth who had catcalled David. "You see? I tagged Tintal, which would award me a mark if he was the Adept. If he had caught it, then he would become Sage and choose a new Adept. If he had struck it at someone and hit them, he would get one of their marks. Once a mark is awarded, we start again. The first to reach five marks wins."
Rupu grinned at Analara. "'Nala's quite good at this game. Maybe if we ask nicely, she'll keep tally for us?"
Analara scowled fiercely. "This is absurd. He's not fully recovered yet!"
"It's all right, Analara," David said, still staring at Rupu. "I'm fine, thanks to you. Besides, this should be… fun."
Rupu chuckled.
They started out in a ring, tossing the ball back and forth. Sometimes they caught it in the net before throwing, or struck it with the bat immediately. David swung his stick a few times between throws, getting a feel for it. When the ball reached him, he hit it across the ring to a muscular young man the others called Doan. "At least he didn't drop it on the first hit," Tintal muttered.
Doan shouted, "Sage," throwing the ball Rupu's way. He eyed David with a grin before calling his name, and the other players circled around him. David had been expecting this and ducked beneath the first throw. Doan caught it and fired back. Again, David dodged. When Tintal made a lazy toss at him, David swung his stick, sending the ball flying back. It thumped Tintal's chest hard and fell to the ground.
"First mark to David," Analara declared.
The ball sailed between the players. Figuring it was better to know your enemies directly, David called Sage and threw to Rupu, preparing to spring.
"Elarneh," Rupu shouted, and launched the ball. David blinked in surprise; so did Elarneh, but he managed to dodge at the last moment. Tintal hurled the ball at Elarneh's feet, but it was deflected away. Doan dove for the ball and threw a lightning fast toss that caught Elarneh's knee. Another mark.
The game had attracted a small crowd from the marketplace, but David forced himself to ignore them. The ball moved quickly, and alliances changed at a whim as the marks piled up. He was surprised when Rupu made him the Sage, but he used it to his advantage to gain another mark off Tintal.
After several rounds, Doan was in the lead with three marks, while David and Rupu were tied at two. Again, David was the Sage; he yelled Rupu's name and sent the ball flying. Rupu dodged it before it slammed his shoulder, but a strike from behind awarded another mark to Doan. Rupu ended as Sage and called David in response. Aiming for David's face, he hurled the ball, only to have David's backswing return it. Rupu tried to block, but the ball struck him in the chest, gaining David a third mark.
A strong wind kicked dust up from the street and swirled around the players, bringing the game to a halt. When it subsided, there was a new man standing in the square. He was robed in flowing garments of dark blue
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