Feyland: The Complete Trilogy

by Anthea Sharp

  “Shall we play something, while we wait?” she asked. “Blade-X?” The fast-paced racing sim would be a nice distraction - take her mind off the tangle of problems they faced.

  “I don’t want to be in-game when Lassiter comes.” Tam set his hand on the back of the blue sim chair. “By the way, I don’t recommend ever playing the blue system. It has severely slow response on the gloves.”

  “You wouldn’t give me a handicap to even things up? How generous.” She grinned at him, though they both knew he was the better gamer.

  Not that she was wretched - far from it. Before she’d met Tam, she’d known maybe two other kids who could top her simming skills. But Tam was flawless.

  He just shook his head, a half-smile on his lips. “Come on - I bet our tea’s ready.”

  Back at the counter, Zeg slid a couple mugs of sweet-smelling liquid at them, followed by a plate that held four crumbly cookies.

  She perched next to Tam on one of the stools, and took a sip of tea. It was warm and minty - a cozy contrast to the screens and consoles surrounding them.

  “Have a cookie,” Tam pushed the plate toward her.

  She took one. It tasted like butter and cinnamon.

  “This is good. Does Zeg make them?”

  “His wife does – she’s more the domestic side of the business, no matter how Zeg acts. He’s the tech guy, though he just likes to pretend to be a teddy bear.”

  Jennet glanced toward the man, who had moved to one of the netscreens and was helping a boy get unstuck in some game.

  “He does it well,” she said. “Any kids?”

  “Nope. The sim-café is his baby.”

  Tam looked like he was about to say more, but a cold blast of wind pulled their attention to the open door of the café.

  Standing there like he owned the place was Roy Lassiter.

  CHAPTER FIVE - THE BRIGHT COURT

  Tam scowled, a possessive jolt going through him - even though getting Lassiter here had been his idea. An idea that seemed worse by the second, especially when the other boy’s eyes skimmed over him and fixed on Jennet.

  There was a cluster of girls behind Lassiter. Tam blinked when he saw that Marny was one of them.

  “This is my uncle’s sim-café,” she said, sounding breathless. “Some of the best players in town hang here.”

  “So I hear.” Lassiter set his hands on his hips. “Not that Crestview’s best is anything to brag about.”

  He smiled, looking totally fake, and started toward the counter. Dislike curled through Tam, and he shifted closer to Jennet. For a second he wished he had his in-game sword strapped to his side. He’d gladly use it on Lassiter.

  “Jennet Carter,” the other boy said, his voice dropping into a huskier register. “Nice of you to message me. I’ve been wanting to meet you, too.”

  He stared at her a little too long. Tam took a gulp of tea, trying to wash the bitterness from his mouth.

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come,” she said. “Do you sim?”

  “Of course I sim. Although I’m used to far better than this.” He waved his hand, encompassing the warm shabbiness of Zeg’s.

  Jennet nodded, clearly playing along. “I bet you have some pretty flawless gear at home.”

  How could he not? Lassiter’s mother was the freakin’ CEO of the top gaming-tech company in the world. The question was - had he gone into Feyland? Had he actually beaten the Dark Queen in battle?

  “Nothing can beat my sim equip. Or me.” He turned, fixing Tam with a look as cold as a snake’s. “Is this the local who thinks he can outplay me?”

  Marny stepped up. “This is Tam Linn, Roy. He’s one of the best.”

  “Yeah?” The other boy eyed him up and down. “Don’t look so special. Are you sure you can play with the pros?”

  Tam slid his stool back and got to his feet. He was an inch taller than Lassiter, and glad of it.

  “Yeah,” he said. “I can take you.”

  Lassiter let out a snort. “You won’t know what hit you. At least it will be over fast, Exie.”

  Jennet stood abruptly, shoulder-to-shoulder with Tam. “I’ve simmed with Tam, and I’ve no doubt he’s as good as you, if not better.”

  Her defense took some of the sting out of Lassiter’s words. While it was true the taint of the Exe clung to Tam - in the clothing he could never quite get clean, in the shadow of poverty that haunted everyone in that part of town - he was the best player in the region.

  But how good was Lassiter, the boy who grew up in VirtuMax’s pocket?

  “Heh.” Lassiter narrowed his eyes and stared at Tam. “We’ll see about that. The equip here isn’t what I’m used to - but it’ll be enough to put you down. Ready for a sim-duel?”

  “You’re on.”

  They had Lassiter right where they wanted him. Too bad it didn’t feel very satisfying. Tam hoped he could wipe that arrogant smirk off Lassiter’s face, instead of being the one to eat dirt. The adrenaline of upcoming battle fired his blood, and he curled his fingers into his palms.

  Marny looked at him, wide-eyed. “But, Tam. This is Roy Lassiter.” She said Lassiter’s name like he was president of the galaxy. “Do you really think you can beat him?”

  They’d know soon enough. The key was to show no weakness. He nodded, projecting confidence.

  “The sim-systems are in back,” he said to Lassiter. “Come on.”

  The group moved forward, the girls whispering excitedly. Lassiter was probably strutting like a rooster, but Tam didn’t care to watch. He glanced at Jennet. She had her lips pressed together in that anxious way of hers.

  Lassiter stopped beside the blue sim chair. “Leet gear,” he said, the contempt in his voice clear.

  “If you’re not up for it…” Tam shrugged.

  “Oh, I am.” Lassiter reached for the blue helmet.

  Jennet shot Tam a wide-eyed glance. For a half-second, he was tempted to let the other boy choose the slow system. But that wouldn’t be a fair test, would it?

  “I’ll use that one,” he said.

  “Tam…” Jennet widened her eyes and shook her head at him.

  “Uh huh,” Lassiter said, with a mocking smile. “I see what you’re up to. Trying to take the best gear for yourself, aren’t you? I think blue’s my color.”

  “Stop it,” Jennet said. She pulled the helmet from Lassiter’s grasp. “I’ll use this system, to watch the fight. All the others are equal, ok?”

  He looked at her. “If you say so, blondie.”

  Tam could hardly wait to pound him.

  Zeg ambled into the room. “Everything all right back here?” he asked in a deceptively quiet voice.

  “We’re good,” Tam said.

  Though Zeg seemed mild-mannered, Tam had seen him throw trouble out on its ear. If things got nasty, the owner would step in.

  “Hm.” Zeg glanced at Lassiter, then back to Tam. “I’ve just installed the new sim-version of Rumble. That might be what you boys are looking for.”

  “Perfect,” Lassiter said, giving the owner a toothy smile. “I’m in the mood for some player-versus-player action.”

  “If you want, I’ll put the feed up on the flatscreen, so everyone can watch,” Zeg said.

  “Good.” Both Tam and Lassiter spoke at the same time.

  Jennet wrapped her arms around the blue helmet. “I’m still going in as a spectator.”

  “No problem,” Lassiter said. “I appreciate the support. It’ll be nice to have you with me, blondie.” He put his hand on her arm.

  “Stop calling me that.” Jennet twitched away from his touch and slid into the sim chair. She looked up at Tam. “See you in there.”

  “Listen, Exie.” The other boy faced him. “I know you might be a decent player, but you don’t want to beat me. Really, you don’t.”

  There was an odd light in Lassiter’s eyes. Tam’s ears itched, like something was buzzing inside his skull. He blinked, then shook his head, trying to clear it.

  “Right.�
�� He meant the word to be sarcastic, but somehow it came out as agreement.

  “I knew you’d see it my way,” Lassiter said. He winked at Tam, then settled in the red sim chair and pulled on the gloves.

  Whatever. Tam let out a deep breath, then took the yellow system on Jennet’s other side. No matter what Lassiter said, there was no chance Tam was going easy on him.

  In-game, Tam flicked through Rumble’s fighter avatars and chose his favorite: Sascha the marksman, who was equipped with jet boots and two gigantic swords for close fighting. Just for fun, and because he thought it would throw Lassiter off, he switched up the gender.

  Now, instead of a tall, muscled man, Sascha appeared as a buxom woman in scanty armor. Not that it changed her fighting abilities one bit, but her appearance could be a distraction. Anything that might unbalance Lassiter was good with him.

  The challenge summons rolled across his helmet screen, and he accepted. The game would place him and Lassiter in a random battle arena. Depending on which one, there would be various traps and pitfalls, as well as items the fighters could use to their advantage.

  A red flash of the visuals signaled that the fight was about to begin. Tam took a deep breath and entered the game.

  Sascha materialized on one side of a paved courtyard ringed with columns. The place looked vaguely Roman, and was one of the barest arenas Tam had ever seen. There was no time to check out his surroundings, though. Lassiter’s character appeared across from Sascha, and Tam almost laughed out loud. From dozens of possible fighters, his opponent had also chosen Sascha - though he’d stayed with the male version.

  A flutter of black cloth caught his eye, and he glanced up to see the character Jennet had chosen. Nika, the ninja assassin. Her avatar was in spectator mode, suspended above the arena and able to see everything, but prevented from interacting with the environment in any way.

  “You have good taste, Exie.” Lassiter’s voice sounded smug through the helmet’s speakers. “Although, it’s not going to save you.”

  Tam didn’t waste time answering. He drew Sascha’s gun and sighted for his opponent. Just as he squeezed the trigger, Lassiter activated his boots and flew up into the air. At least the guy wasn’t a complete noob.

  He saw Jennet move out of the way, taking her character to hover by the edge of the combat zone.

  Now Tam was the target. Did those columns offer any protection? He sprinted for the side of the arena and tucked himself beside a column. Shrapnel exploded, stone chips flying past his shoulder, but Lassiter’s shot didn’t touch him. Tam crouched and fired off a quick volley, back along the trajectory of his opponent’s bullet. He heard Lassiter curse under his breath, but his character seemed unharmed.

  There wasn’t enough cover in this arena for a sniper shootout. Time for a change of tactics. Tam flexed his fingers inside the gloves, and Sascha leaped into the air, drawing her double swords. Keeping her jet boots at max speed, Tam steered her through the air, straight toward Lassiter.

  The other Sascha fired, and Tam somersaulted out of the way. Then he was on Lassiter, swords flashing.

  “Hey,” the other boy said, voice strained.

  Lassiter drew his blades, too, but he was surprisingly slow, as if Tam had taken him unaware. As if he’d expected less of a fight.

  Still, he managed to deflect Tam’s first assault. The two Saschas danced around one another, feinting and lunging and parrying. There was something about Lassiter’s play-style …

  Tam watched closely. Ah, right - the other boy moved his character in a linear way, playing as though he were standing on a floor, not floating in three dimensions. Time for the kill. Tam cut the power to his boots, dropping suddenly toward the pavement. He heard Jennet gasp.

  Before Lassiter could react, or re-target him, he turned the boots back on and surged forward, angling to come up behind his opponent. A stab to the back, another quick slice across the neck, and the male Sascha gave a gurgling cry and slumped over, dead.

  :GAME OVER: The words blinked red across Tam’s field of vision.

  “Rematch?” he asked.

  “Nah.” Lassiter sounded like he’d eaten something nasty. “Another time, maybe.”

  The dead Sascha disappeared as Lassiter left game.

  “Nice job,” Jennet said. “I don’t think he was expecting you to beat him.”

  “Me either. I mean, he was a competent player, but he didn’t really push.”

  “I got that feeling, too.” She sounded thoughtful. “Well, see you out there.”

  Tam pulled off his helmet and gloves, then stood. Roy Lassiter was already at the door, the cluster of girls around him making sympathetic, cooing noises. Even Marny. When she noticed Tam was off the system, she narrowed her eyes at him, then pointedly turned away.

  Nice.

  “Don’t let it bother you,” Jennet said from behind him. “Marny’s not herself.”

  “Well then, who is she?” He hadn’t realized how much he’d counted on the big girl’s friendship, until it was gone.

  “We’ll find out.” There was steel in Jennet’s voice.

  She headed over to where Lassiter was holding court, and Tam trailed behind. The other boy turned his attention to Jennet, again completely ignoring Tam. Jerk.

  “So, blondie, want to come see me play on a real system?” Lassiter asked. “I only live a few blocks from you. Tomorrow afternoon’s good. What say?”

  The other girls pouted, and Tam could tell Jennet was considering saying no. He poked her in the back.

  “All right,” she said after a pause. “I could come over after school.” Her words were reluctant, but Lassiter didn’t seem to notice - or if he did, he didn’t care.

  “Great.” He grinned at her. “I’ll be counting the hours.”

  “Right,” Tam muttered.

  “You know it, Exie. Why would she hang with you, when she could be with me? The choice is so obvious.” Lassiter turned to his admirers. “Come along, ladies. We have fun waiting for us - elsewhere.”

  The door slammed closed behind the Viewer and his entourage, and Jennet let out a low breath.

  “I don’t want to spend any more time with that walking ego,” she said. “Especially if he keeps calling me blondie.”

  “You have to go.” Tam shoved his hair out of his face and gave her a serious look. “We didn’t find out nearly enough about Lassiter’s playing abilities. And if there’s a way to stop Feyland from being released, becoming friends with the CEO’s son could help us find it.”

  “You’re right. How about you become his buddy, then.”

  “Other than the fact he hates me for beating him? He’s a Viewer and I’m from the Exe.” Lassiter had made sure to pound that point every chance he got.

  She folded her arms. “So? I’m your friend.”

  Against all the odds, really. He tried not to think about the distance between their lives, but it was hard, with Lassiter in the way.

  “Then you can go be Roy Lassiter’s friend, too. Admit it - it will be a lot easier for you. You belong in his world.”

  She made a face. “Fine. I’m not thrilled with the idea.”

  Neither was he. Pushing Jennet at Lassiter was the last thing he wanted to do - but he had no choice.

  CHAPTER SIX- THE BRIGHT COURT

  Jennet rode her g-board slowly up the flagstone drive that led to the Lassiter’s front door. The place was the biggest mansion in The View, no question. Impeccable landscaping framed a building that could easily, in a different setting, be a 5-star hotel - all gleaming glass and sharp angles.

  Her dad might be the lead project manager for Feyland, but Dr. Lassiter was VirtuMax’s CEO - and clearly wanted everyone to know it.

  The entryway was designed to make people feel small. At least, that’s how Jennet felt, standing in front of the huge double-doors. There was no need to knock. Security cameras had swiveled onto her the moment she’d entered the wrought-iron gates out front. The system had probably scanned her wrist-
chip within seconds.

  “Miss Carter,” a metallic voice said from a hidden speaker by the door. “You are expected. Please enter.”

  Definitely a House-Activated-Network-Assistant, though her own HANA had a better voice program than the Lassiter’s interface. But maybe they liked it that way - cold and impersonal.

  The doors swung open to reveal Roy Lassiter, aiming his even-toothed grin at her.

  “Welcome to the palace,” he said. “Come on in.”

  He reached for her arm, but Jennet strode past him into the foyer. Inside, it was cool and hushed and dim. How many empty rooms did this place have? The tomblike silence was broken only by the distant hum of a robo-vac.

  “Thanks for the invite,” she said, propping her board in the corner.

  “Anytime, blondie.” He glanced at her g-board. “Nice ride - though not quite as prime as my Quell. I’ll take you out and show you some real tricks sometime. You’d like that.”

  “Um, yeah.”

  She didn’t like him, or the assumptions he made. Still, she had to at least act friendly.

  “Maybe next time.” He winked at her. “Today you get to see an expert simmer at work.”

  If his head got any bigger, he’d fall over from the weight. Jennet folded her arms.

  “I sim, too, you know,” she said.

  He laughed. “G-board, simming… I didn’t figure you for such a techie girl. Not with your looks.”

  That statement was so full of wrong, she barely knew where to begin. “Just because I have blond hair doesn’t mean I’m stupid - about tech or about gaming.”

  “Hey.” He held his hands up in mock surrender. “It was a compliment, get it? But whatever. The theater is this way.”

  Without looking to see if she was following, Roy headed down the tall corridor to his left. Sconces along the walls shed a faint illumination, and she felt like she was walking into a deep canyon.

  “The theater?” she asked. Her voice echoed hollowly off the glass and polished stone. They had a media room at her house, but it couldn’t be called a theater by any stretch.