Cargon came with powerful consequences. The winner, deemed highly intelligent, took the place of the loser. If the loser came from lower status, he was further shamed and deemed less competent. Likewise, a winner of higher status was further honored and more likely to test those above him. What surprised and frightened Eve was the tendency of spouses to shift with the results as though their status, unchanged, kept them with the elite of that position. The practice, although well documented, made no sense to Eve. For all her intelligence, she would never claim to ‘think’ like the elite.
After dinner, she lingered, watching the High One tend the board. It was strange to Eve that the highest among them would assume such a menial task, but she did the same every night. Eve was gobsmacked when, for the second time, the High One addressed her.
--note: the first was just before Eve started attending classes intended for the Elite.
Unrelated, I have another title re-releasing soon.
What if Ground Hog Day included zombies?
On one such rescue mission, the zombies get lucky and Cassandra is their victim. Instead of dying, though, Cassandra wakes up in her own past, days before the outbreak of the virus that turned all the adults to mindless monsters.
She has one chance to stop it all. Well, maybe more than one.
Nook:
Kobo:
Even though it's just a game, it sounds like the results can be pretty brutal.
ReplyDeleteThey are. Games are not initiated lightly.
DeleteInteresting how much winning the game can change one's status. I wonder if Eve will end up playing.
ReplyDeleteAs you've probably guessed, she does!
DeleteThe worldbuilding is very interesting here, enjoyed the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I tried to create a recovering post-apocalyptic society.
DeleteYou are unique, my friend. Interesting story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI'm intrigued to see more of what "tending the board" looks like. Is she setting out the pieces, cleaning & polishing them, something else ... ? You've piqued my interest.
ReplyDeleteMore the latter than the former. I have a few other mentions of the chore.
DeleteI found myself empathizing strongly with Eve's situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad! I worry sometimes. She isn't often emotional, relying on logic. It makes her cold...
DeleteInteresting game. Switching spouses? The consequences of losing could be disastrous. Great snippet.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! As Eve soon learns, their marriages aren't like ours.
DeleteI agree with Eve. That's a terrible way to think.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. She will adjust to it, somewhat, but never completely.
DeleteIt sounds like a very intense game, with serious consequences.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Lives are won and lost.
DeleteInteresting game, but not one I would want to lose. :D
ReplyDeleteAnd why some people rarely play it.
DeletePower is everything, right? And the chance to get more power is intriguing for some.
ReplyDeleteYes! This is so true.
DeleteInteresting game. Warped, but interesting.
ReplyDeleteTweeted.
The switching spouses doesn't surprise me since it often happens in our world when job displacement/termination occurs to one partner. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteYou have created a very intriguing world, Kimberly. The real-life parallels are very interesting. Excellent job
ReplyDeleteYou have created a very intriguing world, Kimberly. The real-life parallels are very interesting. Excellent job
ReplyDeleteThis game sounds rife with pitfalls. Interesting system to build a society on.
ReplyDelete