When War Calls(13)

He focused.

On the opposite side of the field, behind the stream that meandered through the centre, he could see his enemy. One, two … he counted the defenders on the right, behind the first bridge. Three, four … they were protecting the second bridge on the left. It was the standard defensive formation, blocking the runner at the two most obvious waypoints. They were being cautious. They knew how much was at stake.

Five…

Where was the fifth defender?

A second whistle blew. Thirty seconds remained. Jaden had to find him quickly. He should have been protecting the centre, in case the runner attempted to jump the stream where it was thinnest. Where could he have been positioned?

A flicker. Jaden had caught sight of movement at the other end, the white leg garments barely seen almost the full two hundred yards away. The fifth defender had chosen to guard the baseline.

But that can’t have been. It was foolish to take such a risk. Once a runner had made it past three-quarter field, the round was as good as won. There had been few occasions when a defender was skilled enough to take down a runner so close to scoring. It was thought of as boasting more than stylish tactical play. There had to be a reason Jaden hadn’t seen, something he didn’t realise yet, but what?

The third whistle sounded. Ten seconds.

Ardim. That stupid bull of a man was not one of the four defenders within vision. The fifth defender must have been him. Ardim, as if he hadn’t done enough to spite in the past, now appeared to be looking for the ultimate humiliation, attempting to prevent Jaden from scoring in the hardest way possible. And he was taking a very large risk in the process.

That was why the fifth defender had been hidden.

Jaden lowered his gaze to the ground, readying to run. Ardim had gone too far this time. It was not enough simply to claim victory, Ardim wanted to punish Jaden in front of someone they now both undoubtedly knew was in the audience.

Alyssa.

Now it made sense.

The final whistle sounded.

He would not let Ardim succeed.

Jaden quickly hopped into step and moved left and right, wanting to mislead the defenders as to which way he would go. Nearing centre field, he gradually drifted to the left, the two defenders that would guard that bridge becoming animated with anticipation.

Twenty yards from the bridge, he feigned a step to the left then ran to the right. The two defenders jumped into full run, chasing him to the middle. Jaden knew Ardim had put them in a precarious position, they must have been nervous. Leaving the centre so open made it almost too easy for the runner to score.

The Dynasty would be watching on in disbelief. Jaden was not following the game plan. He thought he heard Bo shout at him, but he had to take advantage of the opening. And most of all, he had to make Ardim think he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

At the bridge on the right, defence and offence had clashed and had tagged out, leaving the zone dead. No players were allowed within fifteen yards of where they lay. Jaden expected this, a loss of an option early. They had prepared for it. It was never his intention to make use of that bridge. His route was much more devious.

Nearing the stream, he readied to jump as far across the water as he could as Ardim had done earlier, needing then only to swim two or three more yards. One mistake in the water and he would lose whatever advantage he may have had, the defenders easily able to catch him as he climbed out. He had to be careful when he made the leap. But at the last moment, before he could jump, the unthinkable happened. Jaden lost his balance and slid across the ground.

Onlookers gasped, their cheers falling silent as time suddenly stood still. They began to speak to each other in hushed voices. Jaden did not get up, resting on one knee and clutching his ankle. A smile crossed the defenders’ lips as they threw up their hands in victory. If the runner was injured, the round was over. They would win by default. Those of the defenders’ camp were also celebrating, crying out as loud as they could. They had won. Finally, they had won.

Jaden turned to the two left on his team, Bo and Dion. They were coming towards him, sympathetic as much as disappointed. He stared at them hard, but then nodded slowly, causing them to stop. Without any sign, they began backing away steadily. The whistle for the game’s end had not been blown. Jaden had ten seconds to recover before it was declared. He waited until the cheers were the loudest, biding his time until they would least expect it.

Three…

Two…

One…

He jumped to his feet and ran toward the second bridge at full pace, the defenders looking shocked but only a few steps behind. Bo and Dion were at the other side of the bridge, ready to tackle the oncoming defenders. It was as Jaden planned.

The timing had to be perfect for this new strategy. If the defenders were able to pin them down before he had made it past, the zone would be dead as well as all of those within it. Jaden would be out of the game. The match would be over. It was crucial that they did not let this happen.