to believe, isn’t it? I never even got in a dumb wrestling match back at home, let alone a fistfight. But that was a lifetime ago. I had recently been hardened by the tough physical regime that Loor and Alder put me through, and by fighting for my life more times than I like to think about. Challenger Green had no such training. The fighting skills I had would help me in so many phases of the Grand X, there was no way Challenger Green could compete with me. I was sure of that.
Nevva walked me through many of the possible events. There were hundreds to choose from-far too many for her to cover all of them, but I got a pretty good overview. The Grand X wasn’t just one game, or battle, or race. It was a series of five contests. Nobody knew what the actual games would be until the day of the event. They were chosen by Veego and LaBerge. Nevva explained that sometimes the Grand X was a huge spectacle, with each event a team sport that pitted several challengers against one another. But usually there were two challengers who battled to Win each event, because the loser would be given a handicap! for the next stage, or the winner an advantage.
Here was the kicker; the Grand X ended if either of the challengers was killed, or injured so badly that he or she couldn’t go on. Nevva told me that many Grand X’s never got past the first event. That was a grim thought. I had no doubt that Challenger Green would not only try to beat me, but once he realized how good I was, he’d try to hurt or kill me. So the Grand X was not only about winning, it was about staying in one piece.
“So how do you win?” I asked Nevva.
“The champion is the challenger who wins the most events. Which means the Grand X might only last for three events if one challenger wins them all.”
“So it’s possible to lose the Grand X and still survive?” I asked.
Nevva hesitated.
“Tell me the truth,” I said.
“Yes, of course it’s possible, but only if you lose the Grand X within the first four events.” “Why’s that?” I asked.
“Because if it goes to the fifth event, the tiebreaker, it’s usually a game where, to win, you must kill your opponent.”
Oh. That gave new meaning to the phrase “sudden death overtime.”
I won’t go into the details of the possible events, because I’ll describe the actual events to you when I write about the competition, but I will say this much: After spending roughly three weeks training in the catacombs of Rune, I was ready. Mentally and physically. As we got closer to the Grand X, I felt that my biggest problem would be overconfidence.
There is something else I need to mention. An odd thing happened during my time with the room that wasn’t much better than a cell. But it was comfortable, so I didn’t complain. One night while I was sleeping, I had a visitor. At first I thought it was a dream, but then I recognized her as the old woman I had met on my trip to see Mr. Pop. The one who showed me the children’s portrait gallery for inspiration. Remember her? She knelt down by my bed and woke me up by stroking my hair. You’d think I would have jumped in surprise, but I didn’t. There was nothing frightening about her. Just the opposite. She had this calm air that made me feel as relaxed as if I were still sleeping.
“You are a very brave young boy,” she said softly. “We are all very proud of you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You said you were looking for inspiration?” she said, and held up a dark necklace made of stone beads. It wasn’t fancy, the only unique thing about it was a single gold bead that was slightly larger than the rest. I’d say it was about the size of a large pea. “This once belonged to someone who sacrificed everything for what he believed in. I wish you would wear it. For luck.”
I reached for the beads, but the woman gently pushed my hands aside and put it around my neck herself.
“Who was it?” I asked.
The old woman put her hands over my eyes to close them. She didn’t answer, and I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I thought for sure it was a dream. But when I touched my throat, the necklace was there. I had no idea who that old woman was, or whose necklace this was, but I had no intention of taking it off. I needed all the luck I could get.
Finally, after so many weeks of hard work, the day came to take the next step. I had just finished a megalong run through the mall, when I got back to the department store to see Nevva and Tylee waiting for me. They looked tense. I didn’t have to ask why.
“It’s time, isn’t it?” I asked.
Nevva was carrying a sack. She reached inside and pulled out something I hadn’t seen in quite a while. I hoped I would never see it again, but as things turned out, that wasn’t meant to be.
It was a red shirt with five black diagonal stripes-the jersey of Challenger Red. My uniform. “Get dressed,” Tylee said.
Soon afterward I was in the back of a car being driven through the streets of Rune. The older man whose name I hadn’t learned was driving. Tylee was in the passenger seat. Nevva was next to me.
“The campaign has been incredible,” Nevva said. It sounded like she was talking about my run for class president or something. “The anticipation is huge. Everybody wants to know when you’ll reappear. The mystery has only helped build excitement.”
“It’s going to work, Pendragon,” Tylee said. “We’ve positioned you as being the first challenger to compete on your own terms. You’ve stood up to Blok, and now you’re going back voluntarily. That’s never happened before. I almost want to say that it doesn’t matter what happens with the Grand X. You’re already being spoken about in awe, all over Quillan.”
“So what you’re saying is we’re in a no-lose situation. Depending on what happens I’ll either be a hero… or a martyr.”
Tylee looked at me, debating about how to answer. She knew she had to be honest with me. I was too smart. “We’d much prefer you to be a hero.”
I smiled. “Good answer.”
“I’ll be there the day of the Grand X,” Nevva said. “In case…”
She didn’t finish. I knew what she meant. She was going to be there in case I was killed. She would do all she could, as a Traveler, to bring me back.
“It won’t come to that,” I said defiantly.
Nevva nodded.
I added with a smile, “But try to be there.” “I will,” she said.
“So when does this big doo-da begin?” I asked.
“Soon,” Nevva said. “I’m sure Veego and LaBerge are going to want to show you off a little and whip up some excitement. They have no idea that the entire territory is already primed and waiting.”
“Are they expecting me?” I asked.
“No, of course not,” Nevva answered quickly. “But the trustees have promised them that they would bring you back. Or should I say, Mr. Kayto made that promise.”
Nevva and I exchanged looks. Saint Dane knew I’d be back. He knew I’d compete. I hated his confidence. I just hoped he was ready to live up to his end of the bargain.
“We’re almost there,” Tylee said. “Get out quickly. We don’t want to be seen.”
“Got it,” I said. “Just slow down enough so I don’t break my leg. How stupid would that be?”
The old man said, “We’re proud of you, Pendragon. And more grateful than words can say.”
“Good luck,” Tylee said. “I’d say we’ll be watching, but that’s a pretty big understatement. Millions will be watching right along with us.”
“Good thing I’m not camera shy,” I said.
Nevva touched my arm in a show of support. I winked and said, “I’m doing this for Remudi, too.”
She smiled and nodded.
The car slowed and Tylee shouted, “Go!”
I threw open the door and jumped out. My feet barely hit the road when the old man hit the throttle and sped off. As I watched the car disappear into traffic, I felt very much alone. For a quick moment I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I had the sudden urge to take off into the city and disappear into the crowds. It didn’t last. I
