Chapter 576: Coins in Question

Chapter 576: Coins in Question

Alex and his friends moved from display to display, taking a look at the coveted prizes for the Games of Roal.

On a raised platformbehind magically reinforced glass guarded by squads of Watcherswere wonders that glittered in the morning light.

Or at least, what had seemed to be wonders.

There were multiple suits of full plate armour inlaid with gold and precious jewels on display as prizes for combat events; like the sky-joust and the grand melee. There were swords with jewelled hilts, weapons bearing glyphs with strongand deadlyenchantments on full display. Magical items like cloaks that kept one protected from harsh elements, and boots infused with glyphs of running enhancement, were there to be presented to the winners.

Crowds moved around the platformaudience members and competitors aliketrying to catch a good glimpse of what the winners would be taking home this year. Their eyes shone with excitement and hopeand Alex was sure that hed looked the same last year.

Now, though?

Is it just me or do these look a little less Theresa looked around, lowering her voice. You know

Spectacular? Alex offered.

Yes, thats it. Its not that they look like theyre of lesser quality. But, I remember thinking last year that what we could win were like treasures that dragons hoarded in their caves in legends and songs.

And now they seem unimpressive to you? Isolde gave her a knowing look. They seem about the same to me.

It was true: last year, Isolde and Khalik had been very unimpressed with the selection:

Oh holy shit, I am so glad I entered these Games, Alex had said, barely resisting the urge to press himself against the glass.

Hm, Khalik had said. I thought there would be more. Some prize purses in the past have been much greater.

Truly, Isolde had sniffed. Even last year the prizes were superior.

Thundar and Alex had looked at each other.

You two really need a better idea of what average wealth is, the minotaur had snorted, This is a hell of a lot. Like a hell of a lot.

Agreed, Theresa had gaped.

Yeeeeah, Alex had muttered.

Alex cringed at the irony of the memory.

Now, he was the one with a better idea of what great wealth was, which had changed how the prizes looked in his eyes; each of the items on display were well-crafted and radiated magic, to be sure, but by no means were they legendary artefacts that belonged in a dragons hoard.

He remembered the first time hed stepped into the Whetstone Tavern and experienced the blinding auras of power surrounding the items in the barroom. Kyembes sword and hellfire-spewing ring, Ezeraks curved blade and Guntiles stones had all blazed brighter than most prizes here put together.

Then there were the weapons his friends owned. Claygons war-spear, claimed from a greater demon and held comfortably in one hand as he examined a set of armour through the glass displaywas far more deadly than any weapon on offer here. Theresas Twinblade definitely outclassed all the prizes here.

The sign below it showed the amount of coin in the chest.

22,500 gold pieces, a fraction of his regular income. He remembered asking if such an amount would have been enough to buy a castle last yearnow, he was almost a little embarrassed hed asked that question in the first place, but only a little. He was growing; hed come to Generasi to learn, build his magic, power and fortuneafter allbut hed been very naive back then.

Khalik and Isolde had said it would barely be enough to afford a townhouse in Generasi, but nowbeing an owner of a townhouse in Generasihe knew they were absolutely right: hed only gotten his place at the low price that he had by way of blackmail and outwitting a bastard.

Last year, hed told himself that he had to focus on acquiring the kind of wealth that the Watchers had on display here to impress the Generasi authorities. The more taken they were with himand the more prominent of a figure he wasthe less likely theyd toss him in a ship hold if his secret came out.

Now hed actually outstripped what hed hoped for, and even the tournaments grand prize wasnt impressive to him any more. Sometimes, he even wondered ifalreadysome folk in the city would step forward to defend him if the Thameish church demanded that he be returned to Thameland against his will.

But it paid to be cautious, at times, and he wasnt quite ready to be exposed as the Fool of Thameland.

On a shelf above all the other prizes, was another chest holding fifteen thousand gold pieces. Rising from its centre was a wizards staff. The haft was pure platinum covered in glyphs, with a massive ruby, as big as one of Selinas fists, fixed in a scrolling setting sitting on top. Alex examined the glyphs, finding enchantments for Fireball spells, Lightning Bolt, Cone of Frost, Wall of Stone, Flame Wall and Flame Scythe spells all built into them.

It was an expensive object, without question, costing more than the grand prize from the previous year, but it still didn't match an aeld staff made from the living enchanted branch the aeld tree had granted him. His staff was custom and customisable, and would bloom and grow well into the future.

Hey Theresa, whats the top prize for the Grand Land Hunt? he asked her.

Pretty much the same as last year: a quiver that never runs out of arrows and a hunting horn that can only be heard by people you want to hear it, to everyone else, its silent. And whoever hears it sees a clear image of whatever the person blowing the horn sees.

Thats actually not bad, he said quietly, that's something worth getting, even if we dont win this year.

She gave him a fierce look. We will win.

Yeah, with all the practical training we get, youre right. We will winand Ive got a plan for Wolud this year, his eyes sparked.

You know whats real funny? Thundar whispered. Kybas is going to help us make more coin than these prizes are even close to being worth.

Isolde rolled her eyes, but Theresa shook her head, astounded. Its incredible how much things can change in a year.

Yeah, you got that right, Alex said, thinking about their deal with Kybas.

Hed staked twenty thousand gold for betting, a sum that would hurta littleif he lost it, but could potentially explode into a fortune if he won. It was worth taking the chance. With enough winnings, hed be able to advance his plans for the shipping business, and speed up the timetable for buying another building.

Hed wanted to stake more, but twenty thousand was the betting limit for each event. Khalik had definitely grumbled about not being able to bet more, but Thundar and Theresa were nervous about losing that sum, so theyd only bet ten thousand gold apiece.

This year's Games would be a nice way to go out.

Thisll probably be the last year well be competing, he thought. Next summer, Isolde will have graduated and the rest of us will be getting ready to go into fourth year. Ill probably be looking for information in the Irtyshenan Empire and well be even more focused on the Ravener: so I doubt well have time for the Games. And if we did enter and won, wed be taking prizes from people who theyd mean a lot more to. Besides, its better if gambling doesnt become a habit. Do it once? We probably wont get caught. Do it again? People might start asking a lot of questions.

Well, I shall enjoy seeing the lot of us take a win. Truly, to me, the competition and honour will be worth more than the gold at this point, Isolde said. Winning the Grand Battle will be a most glorious crown jewel to my final summer as an undergraduate. So, come, let us enjoy some of the grounds before we meet up with Khalik.

Can we go see our stall first? Selina asked. You kept saying it was a surprise, Alex.

Yeah, thats because it is. He grinned. Its spectacular, and I didnt want to ruin the surprise by revealing it before it was ready.