Dirk walked in, carrying two blue bags in each hand, and nobody questioned how he had managed to turn the doorknob like that. He was only a couple of inches taller than the others, but his considerable muscle and the way he held himself made it seem like more. He wore black pants, boots, fingerless gloves (even while grocery shopping, apparently) and a deep purple shirt. His black hair stopped about an inch shy of the sunglasses he refused to take off. He smiled at Kaye. “Oh, good. You’re here already. And you’ve saved your friends from microwavable dinners.” He walked into the hallway, making a sharp right into the kitchen.
“Why would Dirk need tips for microwavable dinners?” Kaye asked Canopus.
“Oh, he usually cooks. But it’s late tonight since he went shopping, so we usually eat something quick and easy those days,” Kyanosa said.
“Sometimes we go out, too.” Canopus put in. “You would not believe the nightlife here.”
“Isn’t it always night?” Kaye asked.
“No, just always inside. We still observe night and day here. And “the after-nine-thirty life” sounds really stupid.”
Kyanosa grinned and nodded at Canopus. “We’re finally teaching him jokes.”
Kaye chuckled. “Glad to know he’s not always as morbid as when I first met him…well in his own body anyway…”
“He’s a lot less angry, less bitter, lower kill-the-world drive. It’s much easier to loosen up when he doesn’t have to fight for his very consciousness. Though he’s still kinda off if you ask me.”
Canopus glared at him. “I’m still here.”
Kyanosa patted his head. “Yes, you are.”
Kaye heard Dirk call from the kitchen. “Didn’t leave any dinner for me?”
“It’s in the microwave,” Canopus called back. “I already put the time in. Just hit start.”
A moment of silence, then a beep and a slight humming sound. “Sweet, thanks.”
Kaye stood up and made her way into the kitchen. “Do you need any help putting the groceries away?”
“Done already, but thanks for offering.”
“I did want to thank you for the directions. I got here without any problems.” Kaye smiled.
“Thank Murmur; she looked them up. I don’t exactly walk home every day.” The microwave beeped that it was done, and Dirk removed his meal. “Come back into the living room, I have something to talk to the three of you about.”
Kaye followed him out of the kitchen, and sat back down on the sofa between Kyanosa and Canopus. Kyanosa shifted in his seat as Dirk put his meal on the end table.
He sighed and sat in the chair, looking at all three of them. “The reason I asked Kaye to come now is the same reason I’ve been training you two for the last six months. I know you two have heard of the boss, but for Kaye, I work for the Dragon of Death. He is one of nine Dragons who are this universe’s pantheon, one for each of the eight elements and one elementless one. Every four years they stage a tournament where they pit their choice of warriors against the others’, and I think that all of us should compete. All of us.” He looked right at Kaye.
Canopus actually smiled. Dirk held out three envelopes, each labeled with one of the three in front of him’s names. Kaye turned hers over as Canopus wrestled his away from Kyanosa.
“But why me? I mean I don’t really…” Kaye trailed off.
“I still have that book that details the <magical flying train> incidents and while I know your dislike of fighting in general, Miss Glenwater, I also know how well you all can use your powers. Which is how I got you those invites in the first place.”
“Hey that’s my book,” Kyanosa said.
“You be quiet.” Canopus glared at him, and then looked at Dirk with an eager smile. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow. Portal trains are running to the tournament grounds throughout the day. We’ll have to be checked in before three. You need to sign your invitation though, to commit to going.”
Kaye had opened the invitation by this time. It was a single card that read:
You have been invited to the two hundred thirty-seventh God Warrior’s Tournament by Luther, the Tempest Dragon. If you accept this grand honor, please sign below.
“Alexis? So we weren’t invited by your boss?” Canopus asked.
“No, you all are a little too…’perky’, for his tastes. You were all invited by different Dragons; ones whose elements best fit yours.”
Canopus signed his invitation, which shifted from a card to a train ticket in his hand. The transformation excited Kyanosa, who signed his as well. Dirk seemed to notice Kaye’s hesitation.
“I can’t make your decision for you, but I can tell you the rules. There is no killing allowed and well-trained healers are on site at all times. It’s not a submission contest, it’s a tournament of skill. Also, combatants stay and eat free, whereas spectators don’t. Unless you have more money than you should, you’d probably have to stay here and watch the tournament on TV.”
