Page 82 of Infala: The Bonding Games
Ziana didn’t take the bait. “I think it is you who will be losing. See the scoreboard? It’s a tie. Winner takes all. No pressure.”
Dorrin glanced up, a nervous look in his eyes but remaining silent. She would either win or she would lose. It was as simple as that.
“Well, let’s go, then,” Flagro replied.
They launched into the game, both playing fast and aggressive, not throwing caution to the wind, but each pushing the other to move quickly in hopes their opponent might make a mistake in their haste. They captured pieces, swapped control of the board many times, until Ziana finally cornered Flagro with a daring attack.
“Gotcha!” she exclaimed.
The smile that spread across his face made her stomach sink in a hurry.
“Thank you,” he replied, calmly reaching out and moving a piece. “You stepped right into my trap.”
Ziana realized what had happened before the officiant even announced Flagro’s victory. She’d played an amazing game. One of the best she could have imagined, even. But the elite prick had simply outplayed her. She turned to Dorrin, expecting him to take the loss with a shrug and a quip about coming back for the next games, but his face was one of barely hidden despair.
“What is it?” she asked. “Don’t worry, we can try again in another three years. I’ll do my time, but we can do it again.”
Flagro laughed, evil in his eyes. “Oh, he didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Only a free individual can enter the games. No servants are allowed to make the application.”
“Right. And he’ll just do it again next time,” she shot back.
Dorrin shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ziana.”
“Sorry? Sorry for what?”
Now it was Galla’s turn to unleash her wrath. “He’s sorry that he’s our property now.”
Ziana spun on the officiant, rage in her eyes. “What does she mean?”
The man stammered a moment. “You were allowed to play, as it is not expressly prohibited by law. But the games have an old rule on the books. Ancient, actually. For a player to swap position in the final event, they place their freedom on the line. To lose is to become indentured.”
Flagro rose, waving to the crowd, victorious. “And now you arebothour servants. And that means neither of you can apply to the games. Rest assured, I will keep youverybusy in our service.”
Ziana turned to Dorrin, tears in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He looked absolutely heartbroken, his own gleaming with despair. “You would have worried.”
“You’re damn right I would have worried.”
“And it would have put your game at risk. You had to take chances. To play without restraint.”
“And look where that got us.”
“It got us closer than any commoner has ever come to victory. I will always love you, Ziana. This does not change that.”
Galla laughed, cruel intent in her eyes. “How sweet. You two actually hope for happiness together? That’s not happening. In fact, I think one of you should serve at our family’s estate on the other side of the planet.”
A loud roar erupted in the crowd, drowning out the prior reaction from Flagro’s victory. That was an uproar, but this? They were going absolutely nuts.
“What is that?” Flagro demanded. “What’s going on?”
The officiant touched his ear, information piping to him directly through his tiny earpiece. “Oh. Oh my!”
“What is it? Speak, damn you!”
