Challenges Read Online Free Page A

one standing right next to him.”
    “What do you think that makes
you
?” Bron commented with a snort of ridicule while Homin’s flabby chest swelled with Selendi’s praise. “Most of us were standing next to him, and I certainly didn’t even see
him
turned magically into someone important. He’s the same short, fat—”
    “Bron, I need your help,” Delin interrupted immediately, before the fool could finish insulting Homin and starting a fight. “You know we still have to talk to the group we’ll be facing in the first competition, and since you’re our leader I have to ask your advice. Will you step over to one side with me for a moment?”
    “Oh, all right,” Bron grudged, obviously unhappy about being torn away from the sport of picking on the helpless, but still willing to go. So far he’d always responded to the nonsense about his being the group’s leader, although from the sneers of derision on the faces of Selendi and Homin, Bron was the only one who still believed the lie. And would probably continue to believe it no matter what anyone said, as long as the ploy wasn’t used to extremes. Bron was truly stupid, but even the terminally stupid eventually saw the light if it was shined in their eyes often enough.
    Delin led the way to a spot a short distance away from the others, then he began to fabricate the problem he wanted Bron’s “help” with. He was in the midst of mentioning the obvious, that the first group they would face was composed of three men and two women, when an interruption came. But not an ordinary interruption, and Delin turned with Bron and everyone else to watch what was happening in the middle of the dance floor.
    At first the only thing happening was Hiblit Rahms standing there in the midst of everyone and screaming. Head thrown back, eyes closed tight, fists held up and clenched, Hiblit looked like a tortured soul in the Caverns of the Damned. His screams sent a chill through Delin, and he could see he wasn’t alone in feeling that way. All the people who had been dancing were backing away from the man, most of them with shudders of fear. The scream was like that, something to bring unknown and unexplained fear to all those who heard it.
    “What’s wrong with him?” Bron demanded unsteadily in a low voice. “Why is he doing that, and why doesn’t someone stop him?”
    Bron’s bewilderment was clear, but this time Delin felt that it wasn’t stupidity making the man say what he had. He, too, wished someone would stop Hiblit, most especially as he himself seemed helpless to accomplish the task. To stop the man one would have to go close to him, and somehow Delin was certain that even his talent would be fouled if he sent it to touch the screaming man. Obviously Kambil had been right about how tightly strung Hiblit was on the inside.
    And then others began to scream as small gouts of flame erupted to life in more than half a dozen places. Some of the places were the clothing of those people still closest to Hiblit, and the rest described a circle of sorts around the screaming man. Almost a protective circle, Delin thought, one meant to keep people from reaching Hiblit. Guardsmen had come rushing in from the hall when the screams first began, and now they stood with members of the Five’s personal guard, clearly at a loss about what to do.
    “Look at that,” Bron said, pointing to a woman whose costume skirt had begun to blaze. “The flames just went out, and the skirt isn’t even singed. It looks like
all
the clothing fires have been put out, and now the ring around Hiblit is being extinguished. Damned strong talent, whoever he is. I can feel the vibrations in the power without needing to reach out.”
    “Reaching out might be a good idea,” Delin said, trying not to snarl through his teeth. “It would help to know
who
has a talent that strong, especially if the person turns out to be a member of one of the peasant groups. Give it a try, Bron, and tell me what