“Yeah come on. Won’t be the same without you,” Kyanosa said throwing his arm around her shoulder.
“Well I suppose if it’s just for sport…,” Kaye said. “I’ll go.”
Canopus handed her the pen, which she used to sign the invitation and soon held a train ticket as well.
Dirk smiled. “Thanks. I wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t something like this.”
“I trust your judgment. Hasn’t been wrong yet.”
“I like to think that.” He darkened a bit. “The prize this tournament is very good. We fully expect that many people will join who have little intent of using it for truth and justice. With four of us going for it, we have about a one-in-sixteen chance of making sure those kind of people don’t get it.”
“A prize? Oo, what is it?” Kyanosa asked eagerly.
“A ring that grants three wishes.”
“Awesome.”
“Wow,” Kaye said.
“Are you sure we can’t go tonight?” Canopus asked.
“We can go. But we sleep outside, don’t eat, and can’t fight anybody.”
Canopus muttered under his breath.
“So yes, the stakes are such that we are very interested in getting the ring ourselves, or at least making sure somebody we like does.”
“So who else is going to be there? Anyone else we know?” Kaye asked.
He smiled again. “I was waiting for that. Yes, there will be. I personally know about thirty of the people coming into the tournament. You guys should know some. Mister Ebask, one of the people on the <magical flying train> you might remember from when you two were revived, is getting work leave to attend. And Mister Renil was granted a temporary revival, so he’ll be there.”
“Ultra peachy keen,” Kyanosa said with a grin.
“Any other questions?”
The trio all shook their heads.
“Alright then. We won’t leave until around one tomorrow, so do whatever you want until then. Feel free to sleep in tomorrow or whatever. Miss Glenwater, you sleep in my room tonight. Now, I get dinner.” He retrieved his plate from the table and started eating.
“I can’t turn you out of your bed,” Kaye said.
“You can stay in my bed,” Kyanosa said.
“I don’t want to turn you out of your bed either,” Kaye said.
“Who said I wasn’t sleeping in my bed?”
Kaye reached over and tickled him. “You nut.”
Dirk just sighed and kept eating as Kyanosa tried to wiggle out of Kaye’s grasp while laughing for her to stop. Canopus was heard muttering something about immaturity before disappearing into his bedroom.
