The score was then two to one. The Pioneers were to make the next run. Jaden guessed early that it would be Ardim with the runners’ band, and Bo agreed to double team him. It was a gamble that paid off, as the round was over very quickly, leaving Jaden with the runner’s band for the final play.
‘Which way do you want to go this time?’ asked Bo.
‘I don’t know, something’s not right,’ said Jaden.
‘What?’ asked Konnor.
‘Ardim, his heart isn’t in this,’ Jaden explained. ‘He might be stupid but his timing is good. That last round shouldn’t have been so easy. He came out from the trees too late.’
‘You’re right,’ said Bo, ‘but why?’
‘His life is on the line,’ added Corey, ‘maybe he can’t handle the pressure.’
‘Now that you mention it, I don’t like that idea either,’ said Dion.
‘Just make the tackle, you’ll be fine,’ Bo comforted and then turned to Jaden, ‘look, we only have a few more seconds, just say which way you want to go and we’ll do the rest.’
‘Right bridge, I’ll fake left and outrun them.’
‘Everyone got that?’ asked Bo. ‘Good. We only need one more point, boys, let’s do this.’
Jaden jogged slowly to his position as the team broke apart, still troubled by Ardim’s behaviour. Even to a bully like him, this was too much. The thought of going to war, especially as a result of the game they all loved was heartbreaking. And it was all Kobin’s doing. Jaden had always been suspicious of Kobin, but he did not think a friend of his father’s would be capable of this evil. Could he have twisted this enough in his mind to really believe it to be righteous? After the speech he gave earlier, Jaden was starting to believe it.
The whistle sounded and Jaden began his sprint. As he had said, he faked going for the left bridge, allowing Corey and Dion to take down the two defenders far from the right bridge. They knew the defenders would drift toward the middle in case Jaden made another run at the stream. This now meant that the right bridge was free. The defenders from the left bridge were giving chase, but Bo and Konnor quickly caught up and held them, creating a second dead zone and leaving Jaden to run against Ardim for the victory. Ardim was jogging up to the centre as Jaden made his way over the right bridge, but just as Jaden was preparing for the sprint of his life, he saw Ardim stand completely still, watching him.
Jaden turned slightly once he reached the three quarter mark. No matter what he would not stop completely, so he began jogging backward toward the finish line, watching Ardim stand perfectly still where he was near the stream. Jaden made it easily across the line, and both players remained locked in a stare.
The Dynasty were declared winners, Jaden’s teammates coming up to congratulate him and themselves on a good effort, but Jaden showed no emotion. His attention was still focused on Ardim, who was now walking toward him as he was escorted from the field.
‘Dumb move, runt,’ Ardim sneered at Jaden as he passed.
Jaden followed Ardim with his eyes and then turned back to his friends.
‘What?’ he asked.
Bo shrugged. ‘Who cares, we won!’
‘Let’s go to the winners’ circle and watch the rest of the matches,’ said Konnor, who almost seemed excited by the matches now that he had been running around on the field and no longer had to fear going to war.
‘Corey, what did you make of that comment?’ asked Jaden as they began walking to their designated area.
‘It’s as cryptic as he’s ever going to get,’ said Corey. ‘Either he’s going to come to get you later for winning or he’s up to something we can’t even guess at yet.’
‘I’m not favouring either option.’
‘Nor am I,’ said Corey, and both walked in silence the rest of the way.
The remaining matches followed a similar pattern, with many of the teams proving too strong while the others caved under the pressure. It seemed some were to be given a second chance, however, as Kobin announced several more games for the losing teams. Many cheered as they won and were moved into the winners’ circle, while the others let their shoulders slump as they returned to the losers’ area.
As the afternoon began to draw to a close, all matches had been played, and several large trucks were driven in through the Gates of Callibra, ready to take the new recruits away from the village. Many of the families were gathering around the losers’ circle to say goodbye to their loved ones, in tears and looking hatefully at Kobin, but Kobin was making his way to the winners’ circle where Jaden was waiting.