The Vessel Games by E.J Eden

Author:E.J Eden [Eden , E.J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fifteen

Now that the competitors and the Vessels had been introduced to New London, it was time to train for the Ranking—once the boys were ranked, the rounds would begin. Will tried not to think about the fact he’d die on these sands. He studied tiered grand-stand seating where spectators would watch him. His eyes fell on the large screen where the cameras would get their close-ups; it made his stomach turn.

The rest of the boys jogged toward the weapons—all of them wooden, of course. The previous year, some contestants killed some of the stronger or more popular competitors while they weren’t prepared for it in the training ring. The ones who survived got punished. Some were still in the Traitor district. Well, what was left of them anyway.

Will jumped when the gate behind him swung open again with a loud creak. Twenty rough-looking, older men entered, assessing the sparring with a wild intensity that made Will frown. Some had tattoos etched over their powerful arms, whilst others looked smaller in stature, but all moved through the fighting with a stealth that made Will shiver.

These must have been the coaches.

Coaches had the power to make or break a competitor’s Games. For an obscenely large fee, anyone could coach a competitor, even a woman. If you wished to train a specific competitor, to give them a greater chance at survival, it was no problem.

Provided you could pay up.

Coaches chose whomever impressed them most, but it often depended on their masters. Masters might have bet a large sum of money on a boy and wanted to increase their chances at winning. The Masters were the ones who truly controlled the Games. Gambling on who wins the Games was a common past-time, and some men took it to ridiculous heights.

The thought of the boys being bet on like horses made Will cringe. No one cared who paid the price if people were profiting from it. Most of the boys had already paired up, so Will pushed himself into action, trotting toward the weapons station. He assessed the wooden weapons for something that might give him his best chance. Before him: spears, swords, shields, and even tridents.

Will snatched up a sword and shield.

One competitor near him looked queasy. “Hey. You got a partner yet?” Will asked. The boy shifted from one foot to the other and shook his head. “I’m Will.”

“C-Cameron.” He stuttered. Cameron had sooty, black hair and hazel eyes. Just looking at his shy demeanor and tiny frame, Will thought the kid didn’t have a chance in hell.

“I’m Craftsman Caste.” Will smiled in a way that he hoped was comforting. “How about you?”

“F-Farmer Caste.”

“Why’d you compete?”

“D-Dad said it is an honor to serve our country. He said he’d disown me if I didn’t, that I’d be kicked out and become a Traitor Caste.” Cameron wrinkled his nose in distaste. “I’d rather be dead.”

Will’s fists tightened. He thought of Karina, of her guarded, intelligent eyes. Of her kindness and her bravery in helping his mum.

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