Page 152 of Talk Nerdy To Me
“In one hour, we’ll convene for our first round. The details of your first mission will be delivered by your assigned scribes. Take note: if you are among the few here who can’t speak Azrayan, you will be considered mute for the game rounds, so don’t break character.”
I feel like that’s directly pointed at me and possibly Dale, since he bristles and gives her a narrowed glare as she grins.
“Use this hour wisely to plan and strategize with your teams. Your princes and princesses will be waiting for you beyond the tented land,” she goes on. “And may the light serve your cause!”
“Hovehlah!” they all shout in unison while pumping two fists in the air.
I’ve heard that word on the game. I can’t remember what the hell it means though, and the helpful subtitles aren’t a thing in real life.
With just a little nudge, her horse takes off, and Harley rides off toward the tent grounds again.
Everyone starts running, and I just stare, finding myself at the back of the pack before long. Despite all the crazed commotion, I stand still. Apparently, in a bustling crowd like this, you stand out if you stand still.
Dale Sterling’s eyes collide with mine when I look over again, finding him standing still as well, and he levels me with a glare.
I’m finally going to get hit by a Sterling. Fuck my day.
“Nice tights,” he calls as he starts walking off.
“They’re leggings,” I remind him as I jog to catch up.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks like he’s too tired to deal with me right now.
“I figured that much would be obvious,” I point out, smirking when he makes a frustrated sound.
“This is serious to Britt. She’s spent months working on her numerous outfits. You’re more of a novice to this than even I am.”
“I spent twenty-eight hours making it to level-two because that game is too fucking smart for me,” I say as we continue walking down the trail, the only two lagging behind.
“They have an actual language. Harley hired a team of world-class linguists to create the Azrayan language. Half the time, you’re going to be mute. This is a pointless waste of your time, and an unnecessary distraction to Britt, who already has a horde of groupies around her tent.”
I pause, idly wondering if I’ll be assigned to her tent or not. I will owe Harley for life if so. But then his words start to register.
“Wait, what? What do you mean groupies?”
“You’re stalking Azrayan royalty. You have your groupies. She has hers. Actually, she has a lot more than you; hers are just scattered across the world,” he continues. “The vast majority of her social media following is game related. Not Sterling Shore related,” he adds as we start weaving our way through the tents. “Harley started helping her cultivate a following the day she hired her, and Britt holds the coveted record for quickest, non-programmer ascent in the game.”
A small smile graces my lips when I finally spot Britt just for a split second, seeing her red hair in intricate braids that show off her very realistic pointed ears.
A body steps in front of the little bit of her face I could see, blocking her from me.
Just as I start to head there, Dale grabs my arm very firmly at my elbow, and I turn, looking at his cold, steely eyes.
“Careful. Be very careful. I don’t think you realize the damage you did.”
I…don’t know what to say to that. All it does is annoy me that he’s still holding me back from finding Britt.
I clear my throat, glancing down.
“Yeah. I’m being careful. I’m easing off when she needs me to, but if I don’t push her, she’ll stop looking back completely. It’s what she does. I can’t let her do that to me.”
“Thirty minute warning,” Harley calls.
Dale doesn’t release me, and I don’t move.
He drops my arm and gestures around us.
“You’re about to see what a broken heart does to someone like Britt. Please remember when flashing your camera in her face to get some ‘genuine emotion’ that you’re the reason behind the sad eyes and practiced smile this time,” he tells me, definitely taking a jab.
