"Now, what do I mean by off-type cards?" Ismael said, over the murmurs of people all around them.
Arthur leaned forward, fascinated.
He couldn't help but think about Joy's hatching and how she had nearly died because she couldn’t link with an appropriate card.
Did that mean, on top of everything else, Legendary hatchlings were less likely to die than lower ranks?
"Let me make an example of myself and my dragon,” Ismael smiled up at them, and to Arthur it felt like a practiced, showman's smile. A smile that he had used himself while trying to bluff at the poker table. "I was a humble son of a master scholar. My father had done well for himself, and I was the first in my family to receive a Legendary card — knowledge-based, of course."
Arthur glanced around the room to check reactions. Nobody seemed outraged that someone not noble born had linked with a Legendary. They didn't even seem surprised. This was likely a known story in their circles. As usual, Arthur was out of the loop.
Ismael continued, "I wasn't an official Legendary recruit, either. Oh, I had my daydreams of linking with a powerful dragon — I am human – but on that day I was simply there along with other high ranking members of the Scholars Guild to witness the hatching. I wasn't even standing close to the egg. We were kept away for safety purposes, you see.
“It didn't matter. The first true recruits stepped up and were rejected rather forcefully." The dark shadow in his expression made Arthur guess whatever had happened had not been pleasant. "Then the egg cracked and the next thing I knew a little green dragon was galloping my way."
His face softened at this last bit. The smile turned more real.
"It's no secret that Marv’s portal power is the best in the world. He’s a Legendary dragon so that ought to be the case. But linking with my specific knowledge card allows him a well of knowledge and insight he wouldn’t have otherwise. As a result, he can now extend his portals back through time."
Arthur couldn't help himself. He shot a glance at Marion. The other boy simply sat back in his chair, looking bored.
Most people had similar expressions, as if none of this information was new.
Taking their cue, Arthur schooled his own expression into polite, interested boredom.
But not before he caught a flash of eyes looking his way. Penn was sitting a few rows down from him and had turned almost completely in his seat to see Arthur's reaction.
Determinedly, Arthur caught his gaze and nodded once as if an acknowledgment.
A frown flashed over Penn's face. He nodded in reply and then turned in his seat.
"Once again," Ismael continued, "these are all generalities. Some Legendary hatchlings prefer to reinforce their card with something of a similar kind."
"That leads us to our final myth I would like to quash for the day: Legendary dragons are often strong-willed and can have their own, specific idea of what is best. It's up to their linked riders to encourage them to wield that power for the good of the kingdom, rather than the good of themselves."
Ismael turned and gestured to the side. Another man walked up. He was heavyset with a snow-white beard. At Ismael's direction, the man turned to make a broad gesture to the front of the audience.
Light projected out from his fingers and formed a list — though the characters were too blurry for Arthur to read.
"In a moment, we will reveal a list of the Legendary recruits' current standing. Those at the top will be allowed to approach the egg first, while those lower down must wait their turn. In the event that we cycle through the entire list without the egg hatching, we will wait a week, then try again with the survivors."
For the first time, Ismael received a question. A young lady at the front center raised her hand.
He acknowledged her with a nod. "Go on."
"Are the names on that list fixed?"
"Certainly not. The hive leaders and the rest of the high-ranking administration will be watching you as a group and as individuals. We anticipate movement within the list as people put themselves forward and others fall short of expectations."
Arthur could read between the lines. The names on the list would move up and down depending on who won and lost duels. Perhaps those who sucked up to the hive leaders, too.
Considering this a competition for a Legendary dragon… The duels would be fierce. Valentina and Whitaker had chosen to whittle down their recruits using the scourge-eruption. It seemed Leader Ismael would do so with duels.
With that, Ismael nodded to the other man again.
The fuzzy words sharpened to readable detail.
2. Echo Spyglass
3. Ernest "Arthur" Kane
He stopped reading after that.
Third from the top? Had his actions during the eruption impressed that many people?
Or was he being fed to the scourge-wolves?
He half expected Marion to pat him on the back and joke something like, "Well, it was nice knowing you…"
But that was something the darker humored Horatio would do. And one look at Marion's face told him he found nothing funny about this. There was only sympathy in his eyes.
Arthur heard his own name being whispered about. Most were looking around, trying to identify him. He supposed that, being high nobles, they ran in the same circles.
He was mostly unknown, which made it easier for him to be picked out.
Ismael spoke up again, saying that he would stay back for any additional one-on-one questions, and that communication would be sent when they were to try to link the egg.
Until then, they were dismissed.
"Come on," Marion said, tightly. "We might be able to get out of here without being challenged if we hurry…”
“We?”
Arthur shot another quick look at the list and saw that Marion Amberlion was number four. People would be aiming for him, too.
They rose and filed out, though there was a bit of a jam at the door. Arthur heard commotion as some people were shoved aside.
"Hey! Ernest Kane! Or Arthur Kane – whatever you call yourself —" one yelled over the crowd.
Arthur pretended not to hear him and ducked through the door.
He pulled Marion to the side and focused on his Stealth skill. He knew he was just putting off the inevitable. There wasn't anywhere to hide, and someone with a legendary card likely had other ways to find him.
"Isn't that your assistant?" Marion asked. He had his head down and was fiddling with his card anchor tattoo — likely removing the nullify card so he’d have access to the near future.
Sure enough, Carley stood at the end of the hall looking both anxious and impatient.
Arthur raised his hand and signaled for her to come to him. He knew the moment he moved it was a mistake. It broke the thin veneer of Stealth he’d attained.
Marion groaned. "Sorry, Arthur. You’re not going to be able to avoid this."
"Avoid what—"
With a whoosh of wind, a tall dark-skinned man stood in front of Arthur, glaring down. "You’re Ernest Kane?"
Arthur sighed. "Call me Arthur."
The man straightened and said in a formal, clipped voice, "Arthur Kane – I, Hart Caddel, son of Viscount Caddel formally challenge you—"
"Arthur, I challenge you to a duel," spat a voice right behind him.
Arthur turned to see Penn. His cousin had a half smile on his face. "Sorry, Hart, you're too slow."
Hart Caddel jutted out his jaw aggressively. "Then I demanded the right to fight the winner."
"That would be me," Penn said smoothly. Then he winked at Arthur.
Was he helping him, or mocking him? Arthur honestly wasn't sure. He wasn’t a fool: He hadn’t won in the Rare duel and he had zero chance against Legendary opponents.
But the alternative was bowing out. That was unacceptable.
Marion nudged Arthur's back, which reminded him he had a role to play. "I accept your challenge, Penn. But… Uh, my assistant is waving at me."
He left just as a young woman in a shockingly tight leather dress marched up to Marion to challenge him to a duel. Marion looked equal parts intimidated and intrigued.
Carley ran up to him and pressed a tightly rolled scroll in his hands. "Sir! Come quickly, you've got important visitors — Hive Leaders sitting in your room waiting for you."
"Hive leaders? Which ones?"
"I don't know. A guy and some old lady. Maybe she's his grandmother? Great-great-grandmother?"
Valentina and Whitaker.
He didn't know them well, but he doubted they would like to be kept waiting. Thanking Carley, he told her to return to his room and let the leaders know that he would be along momentarily.
Then he turned back to Penn. It looked like he’d have to schedule getting ritualistically beat up after the meeting.
