The locator rune was in full effect, with all five of us glowing under the influence of the powerful magic. We would be seen anywhere we ran off to now.
'Give it up for them, folks. The only fans brave enough to wear the player costumes this year. Take a bow.'
We all did as we were told, but Sameth couldn't get up.
'Nagar, I'm pleased you move better than that during a game.' Frozna howled, with everyone else joining in. I felt for the Elf, it was one thing for us to make fun, but he didn't deserve to be ridiculed like this.
Before I even got a chance to defend him, Rasia spoke next, filling the awkward silence between us. 'For your heroism, you have each won something of a prize. Come on down to the pitch,' the commentator must have spotted our hesitation. 'Don't worry; the players won't bite... much.' She laughed.
There were more guards than before, and as we stumbled away from our seats, I was surprised to see them guiding us in the right direction. They were treating us as they would any other group of attendees, and for once, the butterflies in my stomach were making me feel more giddy than afraid.
Descending eight flights of steps saw us reach the sideline of the pitch, and my only thought was one of regret. I might have enjoyed the experience more if I wasn't dressed up as some mascot reject.
The chanting of the crowd continued to build until it became a constant roar of envy and approval. Even Frozna and Rasia had left the comfortable confines of their elevated studio to meet us in person. And I didn't have to turn around to know that Velaris and the other players were standing right behind us, impatiently waiting for the match to resume.
'Friends,' Rasia called, strolling towards us and waving at the adoring crowds as she walked. This display of excessive generosity seemed to be all part of the show; yet another form of entertainment and I couldn't help but wonder whether my welcomed sense of security had in fact been a false one.
'What are your names?' Frozna asked with a broad, fake smile.
I bit my lip, fuming inwardly at this cruel turn of fate. We'd be found out for sure if we didn't tell them who we were. 'Jake Goodwin.' I offer eventually, reaching to shake the man's hand.
Before moving on to the others, he took it, and I sighed with relief, revelling in the release of stress until Niren The (Bastard) Wise spoke up.
'Your name sounds familiar. Take off that costume and-'
Frozna's eyes lit up with fury, a most unexpected reaction from the commentator. 'We do not treat our prize winners this way, Troll, sit back down before you join your teammate over there.'
Niren was staring back at me, glaring daggers as he stopped to stand next to the still-steaming remains of Galadrin.
Had the others noticed how close a call that was? I couldn't tell, though I certainly wasn't about to bring it up again.
'Now, for your prizes. I offer you each a lifetime pass to watch Runeball. Every game, every season, and you will even have Access-All-Areas tickets for any future Outcast events that we host. What say you?'
I laughed, as did Molly. Fortunately, everyone believed we were overjoyed at receiving such an honour when, in reality, we were marvelling at the perverse sense of humour belonging to the universe. We would have once been doomed to play Runeball for life, and now we would become fans for life.
I bowed again, with the others following in suit. 'Thank you; this is an incredible gift.'
'Now, if you'll retake your seats, we have a game to play!'
I was breathing heavily, not even daring to look at the others for fear I'd let something slip. We would get back to our seats first. We climbed the flights of steps in silence this time, not even looking up, but when we reached our row, someone was already sat down, waiting.
I could only see the back of the lady's head. 'Violet?'
She turned slightly, only to reveal a bruised eye and a nasty scratch. If not for the stadium's protection against magic, well, most magic, Violet would have probably healed herself by now.
'What the hell happened-'
She dragged me into the seat next to her, with the others sitting down just as fast, but she didn't say a word, not until the locator rune had faded. 'Butland is gone!'
'What do you mean gone?'
Violet turned to face Molly next, sliding one of the stuffed pincers from the crab costume aside so she could see her face. 'I mean, he's gone. The guards caught up to us, Butland told me to climb out the carriage and hide. Then he disappeared, vanished into thin air. I had to fight off the guards and wait until the game started before the streets were clear enough to set foot in.'
'We can't stay here.' Alistair muttered loud enough to interrupt the pair.
'And, just where do you think you'll go?' Butland was standing next to us bearing a wry expression. 'Well?'
No one answered, and even Violet seemed shockingly tight-lipped given how annoyed she was with the man.
Butland exhaled heavily. 'I heard you give out your names. Don't think that because Frozna took your side, this is over. Surely you've noticed Niren talking to security down there?'
We hadn't. And now, all around the stadium, guards were mobilising and gesturing in our general direction. Even the people behind us were being told to switch seats.
'Stupid!' Butland scolded. 'I was going to show you to the nearest crossing after the game as well.'
'A what?' Sameth asked.
'There are pathways between worlds, potentially thousands of them. It's how I tend to travel, but now I can't take you there.'
I stood up, peering over my shoulder at the nearest exit. The staircase we'd just used was now filled with people being evacuated. 'There has to be another way out of this place.'
'There's not! I barely made it in here myself.' Butland argued.
'I'll teleport us-' Asher started to say.
Butland slapped the bench. 'You're not strong enough, and while you were able to use your magic earlier, the dampener inside the stadium itself is much stronger. Why do you think this contest has been so brutal? I'll tell you. If there were nothing to curtail the power of these beings, they'd be ruling over Titan's Reach themselves.'
'I can do this!' Asher insisted.
'Listen, if you fail, you could drop your friends in the Aether. A place between realms, where nothing exists. Do you want that?' Butland demanded.
'No, we don't.' I answer for him, unable to suppress a shudder at the troubling thought.
'Stand up with your hands above your heads.' One of the guards ordered, aiming a rifle at us.
'Which hands?' I ask, trying to buy us a little more time. 'It appears, we don't have a choice, Butland.'
Alistair did as the guard asked, but raised his eyebrows as he stood up. 'Go on Avrae!'
We all looked down at the pitch to see the dragon sneaking up behind Niren. Instead of killing him outright, though, Avrae proceeded to chew on the troll's legs. 'Hah, let's see you play now.' He growled.
The guards were distracted and unsure whether to focus on us or the pitch. 'Jayk, leave, now. I'm staying.' Avrae flew over to land beside Stormfall, and at that moment, I knew it was time to go.
Asher closed his eyes, channelling every ounce of magic within him into this one spell. A massive yellow and green rift appeared right next to us, swallowing one guard whole, and causing everyone else to run away, pushing each other down the stairs as they rushed to reach safety.
The portal seemed to be unstable, though, with its fluctuating energy increasing exponentially and then dwindling rapidly straight after. The chaotic reaction continued to repeat itself over and over again.
'Focus or you're all dead!' Butland screamed.
I turned to Molly, hugging her tight so that she could hear me. 'Keep an eye on them, and find Jasper.'
'Promise.' She yelled back, before darting out the way of the remaining guards with Butland following close behind.
Unable to hold back the desire to get in the final word, I winked. 'See you all soon.'
We stepped through the portal together, with everything behind us disappearing in a flash. I had faith in Asher, but one slip of the mind on his part could wipe us all from existence.