Page 115 of First Ritual

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Page 115 of First Ritual

I’d spent seven hours staring at my quipu. “I’m sure I’ll get used to the echo soon enough.”

Winona’s face softened. “I’m certain you will. Our team leaders have assigned you to follow me around this week in Caves. We’ll rotate you around the various attack, defense, and ploy teams until we find a great fit for your abilities.”

Banishing my tray to the wash pile first, I stood and smoothed my apron dress. I usually preferred clothes that didn’t get in the way of my legs, but feeling vulnerable always made me want to cover up. I’d paired the dress with a high-neck and long-sleeved navy top.

“You look lovely today,” Winona said.

I summoned a smile. “Thank you.” If the decision had been mine, I would’ve chosen to be part of Varden’s team. I felt more connection to him than Barrow and Winona. At least Frond wasn’t in Vero. “What are you in charge of?”

She gestured ahead, and we walked from the eating area and into the west tunnel. “Attack.”

Whoa. Didn’t see that coming. “Fun.”

“I think so. We like to keep things fresh in Vero. Unlike Fertim. We look forward to seeing your new perspective on Caves.”

My perspective was simple. “I should have some notes as we go along.”

Winona’s brows shot up. She schooled them, then faced straight ahead again. “I see. We weren’t sure how much space you’d had to interpret the game.”

None. But my quipu and the magical juju had. “There’s a lot for me to learn.”

That appeared to appease her pride.

Winona led me to the far-west quadrant, then to the esteemed wing in the very corner. “My quarters.”

Varden’s quarters were filled with books. Birch’s with ancient weapons. Winona’s esteemed rooms were a twinkling array of chandeliers, crystal goblets, and gleaming trinkets. Interesting. And not displeasing at all. I felt as though I’d earned a glimpse into who she was outside of the council and Caves and her possible connection to Barrow. Someone who valued beauty and caring for fragile things.

I took a breath. “I like this a lot.”

Her answer was quiet. “Thank you. It’s my happy place.”

Attack members in Vero had already filled the elegant armchairs and sofas. More than were present at Birch’s ploy meeting. Rooke, part of the Vero defense team, told me that the defense and attack groups were always largest.

Sven waved from across the room, jerking a thumb at the empty seat beside him. I ignored him and summoned a wooden stool in the shadow of a cabinet at the back.

“No, no, Miss Corentine. That won’t do.” Winona moved my stool to beside her gilded chair smack-bang in the limelight. “You’re under my wing today.”

The suspicion that I was being paraded around like a mascot tickled my senses. The new shiny beacon of hope for a win?

Great.

I perched on my stool beside her chair and met the seventy or so gazes of magus that ranged from curious, awe-filled, suspicious, to hostile.

“We begin our Tuesday brainstorming session for this week’s mission,” Winona said. Everyone quietened, and she continued, “Vero’s mission is to seize two territories.”

A slight groan went up.

I spoke to the man on my other side, one I’d seen speaking with Sage and Delta a lot. “Why the groan?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Rare to succeed in seizing two territories. Always feels like we’ve failed before we begin.”

My mind drew forth the patterns on my quipu braid concerning Caves. Too balanced. The game didn’t allow for anyone to get ahead.

Winona waited for the groans to stop. “Both sides have been victorious in this mission in the past.”

“Two territory slide of ’72 and the Double Decker of ’02,” the man breathed.

I threw him a grin. Then considered what he’d said. A team won this mission in 1972, then this mission was won again in 2002. No wonder the magus were groaning. Thirty years between wins.




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