The apprentices made me proud. They got everything I had asked for and then some. I had a copper or silver ring on each of my fingers and thumbs. Although it was not as extensive a selection as the staff offered, it was still good. I had some others in a bag in my robe pocket, but it would take too long to fetch them out unless I had time before the final four…if I lasted that long.

  I was especially proud of the opening moves I had planned. However, there was a lot of randomness in the free-for-all, so even the best-laid plans…

  I filed through the Arena halls, providing my Mage Guild letter and proof of identity with my cognito necklace. When I came out into the light, I discovered that all the assembled guild champions were standing together in the Arena near the northern “Assembly Gate,” appropriately enough.

  There were technically fourteen guilds under each of the four hero guild categories as created by the archmage and tradition. In the Arena today, we were told there would be ten mages, nine priests, ten warriors, and eight thieves. That made thirty-seven of us, total. And while there should be fifty-six, some were missing because guilds had been banned, disbanded, or simply did not have an officially sanctioned hall in Keelwell. A public hall for assassins or necromancers, for instance, might not last very long in Keelwell. However, I heard that there was a public hall for assassins in Nox, to the northwest. However, that city was dark in many ways, so that should not come as any great surprise.

  I was not surprised that only around half of the thief guilds were present. In a way, I was surprised that anyone from their vocations showed up at all, except maybe bards and tinkers, who were semi-legitimate.

  A poster on the wall at the entrance listed a grid of the guilds present, although it did not include our names. It read:

  All in all, it was a pretty even split across guilds.

  I knew Connor would be representing his elementalist guild, but there were a couple of people here I did not expect.

  Bido made his way over to me, grinning from ear to ear. “I knew you would be here, of course.” He said as we clasped arms.

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  I laughed. “I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here, either. Thanks again for a copy of your book. I brushed up on some riddles before walking over. I figured that would be one of the knowledge tasks.”

  “It usually is.” A third voice added as Steven walked over.

  I gave him an embrace, despite the offered hand. “Thomas told me that someone else would be the guild champion for the clerics!”

  He lowered his eyes. “Well, it should have been Paulina, but she had a death in the family and was called away home to Marshadder. We expect her to be gone for a few days. She deserved to be here.” He said, eyes downcast again.

  “I’m sorry for her family’s loss,” Bido said. By our bond, I knew he truly meant it.

  I put my arm on my good friend’s shoulder. “But we are glad to have you here. Even if you won’t make it very far.” I added with a serious look on my face.

  Before Steven could rise to my teasing him, a giant bear hug pulled me and Steven into an embrace as a very familiar voice called out, “As if a couple of robe wearers could take out a holy man. Even if it is Steven.”

  I looked up into the grinning face of my best friend in the world, Biff.

  I punched his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were voted champion?”

  “Well,” he began slowly. “I didn’t hear that you were chosen, and I didn't want to hurt your feelings.”

  We all laughed.

  “Too bad Wilma and Addie aren’t here,” I added.

  Biff got more serious. “To be honest, I’m kinda glad Wilma isn’t here. These can sometimes get pretty dangerous. Apprentices have been known to die in the games, you know.”

  After a pause, Biff added. “I’d appreciate it if you didn't tell her I said that. She was pretty bummed. She made the top three, but didn’t get the votes, I guess.”

  “I promise to keep your secret. Probably.” Yet another voice said from off to our side.

  Standing in his plain brown robes was Simon, lifelong friend of Wilma’s and a monk with more physical skill and personal humility than anyone I knew at our age.

  “Sneaking around again, eh?” Biff said, straightening up and towering over all of us. But he quirked a smile and clasped arms with Simon.

  Almost all of my personal friends and our planned adventuring group were assembled here as champions of their guilds.

  I looked around to see if I recognized anyone else. I didn’t, but I did notice an unfamiliar barbarian who sported a golden cognito like me. His name was “Gluteus Maximus.” We made eye contact, and he nodded toward me.

  He didn’t smile.

  I felt my grin begin to slip away at his intensity.

  Trumpets blared, and several of us jumped in surprise. We settled down and all turned to the lowest level of the Arena bleachers located above us, where several masters had assembled.

  I had heard that the master of ceremonies for today’s Guildfest was the Bard Guildmaster, Master Daniel Heartstrings. A name predestined for a bard, if it wasn’t a stage name. Given their odd guild, it's possible that the name was an alias.

  Master Heartstrings had a musical quality to his voice, and it carried to all of us even though he seemed to be talking in a normal, conversational tone. I didn’t know if it was his own bardic magic or an enchantment, but at least we could all hear him clearly.

  “Welcome, apprentices,” he paused with his hand over his heart in what to me seemed a feigned apology, “I mean, Guild Champions, to this year’s opening events for Guildfest!”

  There was applause from around the mostly empty Arena at these words. Still, several hundred people attended, probably friends and family.

  I noticed my mother above and to the left of where the guildmaster was speaking, settled among mages and other guild members. Her presence gave me a slight lump in my throat. Dad was not with her, but given his work I was not surprised. She waved and cheered for me.

  My guess was that there was probably an even split across friends and famil, as well as guilds. In fact, by number it seemed like apprentices made up the majority of those in the seats. I may have underestimated the total numbers, given the size of the Arena. I had a section of maybe a hundred yellow-robed adepts and apprentices, and we were not the largest of the guilds.

  The guildmaster continued. “Along with welcoming you, it is my task to remind you of the rules and to explain the nature of this year’s setup.” With the last words, he motioned out toward the large open space of the Arena ground,s where large sections were magically darkened so that nobody could see inside. A range of guilds’ masters stood around its periphery so as not to be in the magical darkness. By their attire, they had to represent most, if not all, of the participating guilds today. As usual, the mages were easiest to spot based on their colored robes.

  “First, the rules. No guild champion is permitted to use any spells or skills during the first five rounds. We are testing your mastery of Agility, Endurance, Knowledge, Vitality, and Strength. To ensure your honest participation, a ward has been cast over the Arena grounds that will identify anyone who breaks this rule. Breaking rules means disqualification from all subsequent tasks and removal from the Arena and Guildfest grounds.”

  He paused to look at us seriously. “I trust that you all understand the importance of your own guild honor in this regard.”

  Several people shuffled their feet. It seemed like he was looking at each of us, and there was an intensity there that reminded me, as a guildmaster of an influential guild, that he was not someone to trifle with.

  Even if I did not exactly know what his guild did other than entertain people.

  But I knew there was something, there.

  He continued with a bit more of a lightness in his voice.

  “The sixth round tests magic for any who possess this attribute, regardless of guild. If a champion lacks magic, which is rare among guild champions but means you have earned special recognition despite that drawback, you are permitted to demonstrate your top three skills. There is a lot of flexibility, and sometimes mayhem, in this round. So be careful and enjoy!”

  The crowd applauded again.

  He looked around the Arena, smiling as if the applause were all just for him. He soaked it in and then turned back to us.

  “Now, we have rules which each of you is no doubt better aware of than even I am. But for the sixth round, magic, and for the free-for-all, no guild champion is permitted to cast a spell or use a skill above the third level. This includes the use of skills or spells by an object you might have with you. There are no exceptions to this rule, and we have additional wards to identify these uses as well.”

  I knew that my own master, Master Glimmerblade had been involved in Arena security and ensuring rules were not broken. He did not disclose specifics, but if he was involved then I knew that cheating was unlikely.

  “That brings us to the free-for-all!” He ended the sentence by raising his hands, and as if on cue, the audience erupted in more and louder applause. The free-for-all was hands down the most exciting and interesting part of the opening event.

  “Each guild champion will be placed at a randomly numbered location on the battle platform with one exception, which I will get to shortly.” He once again motioned with his hands, but this time a large section of the Arena’s middle grounds lit up. Instead of being cloaked in darkness, it was surrounded by a series of very bright, colored globes of light high above it. There was no doubt that this was the main event.

  There was even more animated applause and cheering.

  He continued as the noise began to subside, “After the six rounds, guild champions will go to their assigned positions and battle until just four remain. Those four will be given a slight intermission to recover.” He paused and looked around at the crowd. “And you all can get some much-needed refreshments.”

  The applause turned to laughter.

  “And then, the final four will face off. The last man, or woman, standing will be crowned Guildfest Champion!”

  This was met by the loudest applause of all.

  “To ensure the safety of our champions.” He paused for dramatic effect. “For the most part.” There was some scattered laughter. “Each will wear a magical totem that will transfer damage received from the games to it. Each will be primed to the champion’s own vitality, and will be received when they reach that particular event station. If the damage received by the champion equals their vitality, the totem crumbles and a brilliant yellow flash of light alerts judges that the champion is to be removed from the free-for-all.”

  If the totem was linked to vitality, that means it was lower than the actual health points we each had, which was based on a combination of vitality and endurance. I guessed that the difference was to maximize safety for the apprentice since we would still be taking damage. The totem did not protect us; it just measured when we took damage that would harm us. And that is why everyone wore some kind of physical or magical armor.

  Or both.

  I used one of my rings to cast Mage Armor on myself before I departed the guild hall. It was the standard, magical armor, and not one of the more powerful. Both wizards and elementals had better armor. I was unsure about the other guilds. My own guild tended to enchant physical armor more than create a straight magical armor. I never thought to wonder why until this moment. Which, unfortunately, was too late to make any difference.

  Since priests, thieves, and warriors could wear physical armor, it was within the rules for mages to cast magical armor on themselves. In fact, the other guilds could do this as well. As long as the spell was not greater than third level, it was permitted.

  Once more the guildmaster contuiued. “Points are granted at each of the first six events based on time or mastery. These points are tallied and are used to determine Mage Champion, Priest Champion, Thief Champion, and Warrior Champion. Separate awards will be given to each. Winning these awards allows the champions to choose their location on the platform. All others will be placed randomly.”

  The bard turned slowly around with his hands raised high. It was then I noticed he held a rod in one hand, which we could not see from where he had been standing behind a podium. The rod must give him the power to speak to the crowd. I seem to recall seeing a similar device at other Arena games. It could be the same one, for all I knew.

  “And now my friends, it is time to get this Guildfest started!”

  More loud applause met these words.

  The guildmaster leaned down to us, but his voice still carried across the Arena. “You will travel with your fellow guild types to each event. While you will all be in round one to start, you will be at different stations. Mages will proceed to the knowledge station, warriors to the strength station, priests to the vitality station, and thieves to the agility station. Each station will inform you where to go next, but we will basically rotate you in a clockwise fashion.”

  He stood back up and announced loudly, “As master of ceremonies for this year’s Guildfest, I proclaim the events OPEN!”

  There were more loud cheers and applause, but like all the others around me, it began to get drowned out as background noise as blood started pumping and I got a ringing in my ears.

  The darkness spells around four of the events were lifted, and it was easy to tell where we were to go since the masters had all moved from where they had been standing to their event stations. I went to the location the mages had gathered…