The great clock in the clocktower strikes four.

I’m waiting by the citadel. The afternoon sun is warm and the crickets are chirping. The citadel is a square building in the middle of campus that houses indoor sports.

My heart is going pitter patter in my chest. Why does Gabe want to meet me here? He slipped me a note and then went off without a word of explanation. My palms are sweaty. Dare I hope…?

I’m trying out a new look. I’ve reshaped my squishy, green face into a heart shape with full lips and round cheeks. And it’s not the only way I’m going to impress. I’ve been reading up about Coltbridge. Perhaps I can impress him with my knowledge.

“Hallo, hallo, hallo, the Masked Maiden has arrived!” Emenar comes striding up to me. He’s a curly haired guy from Coltbridge, one of Gabe’s best friends.

I smile at him with the lips of my mask. “Are you trying to make that nickname stick to me?”

“Nickname? ‘Tis no nickname, but a title. Those of us from Coltbridge believe titles are special.”

Abruptly he turns as he sees the other Coltbridge guys, Urorin and Gabe coming up. Emenar waves at them, seemingly forgetting about me. I’ve almost forgotten Emenar too. I’m gazing at Gabe as he comes striding up in his tight fitting, blue sports gear that shows off his athletic body. The vest is tight fitting, showing off his muscular arms, and the shorts are tight too… And the colour of the sports kit matches his deep blue eyes.

Oh my stars, I’m getting overwhelmed again by the beauty of his face. He looks sun-kissed today so that his cheeks have a rosier hue, and he even has new freckles! He smiles and dimples show. Such a warm smile! He’s starting to grow stubble and it’s really suiting him. If only I could caress his bare arms and run my fingers through his wavy dark brown hair. I’d like to rub my cheek against his jaw and feel his stubble too. Would I be able to feel it through my mask?

“Maiden of Mystery, good to see you again.” He smiles at me.

For a second I’m speechless and just gawp, but then I pull myself together. “I – I – Hi…” I stutter. The way he talks with that Coltbridge accent… so hot. The Coltbridge accent is always sounds pretty cool, but I’m really excited by the way he talks.

“You’ve been wondering about the warrior code, I’ve no doubt?” Says Gabe.

Yesterday the Coltbridge trio were telling me how Coltbridge reveres militarism. Well I know a lot about it now. I’ve researched.

“Yeah, yeah. I know about the Coltbridge religion with the god Xymldir and how he chooses the bravest warriors who die in battle to live in his hall. Well all the ancient texts say that he will only accept either four hundred thousand or half a million. So statistically he must have nabbed everyone he wanted to already. So even according to the religion, you might as well avoid battles.”

“The Masked Maiden can pick holes in ancient texts when viewing them with a modern lens. How droll,” says Emenar smirking. “Pray tell, are you worried Gabe is going to charge into battle?”

I glare at Emenar. If I wasn’t wearing a green mask, I bet the guys would be able to see my cheeks flushing pink. “What’s wrong with you?” I snap. “Don’t you care about your friend? You’re fixated on the idea of him going into battle. It’s nuts.”

Urorin grins, showing off his perfect white teeth. “That Masked Maiden. She’s a spitfire.”

Emenar tsks. “But battle is a wonderful thing. Is the idea of young men falling on the battlefield not glorious?”

I put my hands on my hips. “It is not glorious. Killing is never glorious.”

Gabe touches my arm and I’m surprised, but also thrilled. My heart begins beating faster and I relax my posture. Maybe he’ll take me by the hand?

“You have made your point masked one.” He does take me by the hand. His grip is pleasantly firm. (But my palms are sweaty. Oh dear.) “You may disregard Emenar. We’re upholding Starfields’ values now. They include avoiding bloodshed. I brought you hear to show how we honour your values.” He lifts my hand in the air. “Let’s raise a cheer to bloodless battles where no one dies!”

I was feeling giddy, but now I feel a bit deflated. Why did I think he wanted to meet me?

“Huh? Is that why you asked me to come? What’s the solution to bloodless battles then?”

“It lies in here.”

He leads me into the citadel and Urorin and Emenar follow. We go down a corridor to an indoor pitch with a springy surface. There are other guys in tight fitting sports gear. I think they all look pretty fine in their gear. They’re all in great shape, although Gabe has the prettiest face of them all.

“Here is where we play the Game of Life!” says Gabe, gesturing with his other hand. “The game that is a battle, but with no bloodshed.”

The other guys surround the four of us in their tight fitting sports gear. The scents of their colognes and body odours mingle.

“Yo Gabe!” says a guy with blond curly hair. He’s kind of cute, with a crooked nose and a mole on his cheek like a beauty mark.

“My friend, you must call him Captain,” says Urorin. The light from the windows overhead gleams off Urorin’s muscles. Has he oiled those muscles for the game? I can see his coppery skin is glistening now I look close. If so, why?

“I do not insist on you calling me captain,” says Gabe. “Think of me as your friend first.”

“You’re really trying to fit in at Starfields,” says Emenar, rolling his dark eyes.

“Thanks for sharing your great game with us, Gabe” says the blond guy. “Coltbridge people have cool ideas.”

“You are too kind,” says Gabe, giving a small nod of appreciation.

“The masked one had better get off the pitch. The Chief is coming,” says Urorin, pointing to the other end of the pitch where there is a stern looking older guy.

“Chief?” I’m puzzled.

“In Starfields, his proper title is ‘coach,’” says Gabe. “We would only say ‘Chief’ when in Coltbridge.” He waves at a door opposite us across the pitch where a dark haired girl is standing and gazing at us. “Hey Sabina. Would you please show Carly to the spectator stands? And get her something to drink?”

Sabina comes up, gazing at me with liquid black eyes. “Come.”

I let Sabina lead me though the door to the stands. How do I feel that I’m not actually going to be doing anything with Gabe? I can’t help but feel disappointed.

The stands are rows of benches that overlook the indoor pitch from high above.

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“What would you like to drink?” asks Sabina.

“Strawberry milkshake, please.”

I notice there’s a row of girls sitting on the bench gazing down at the pitch. I smile at them with the lips of my mask. “Hello. Is there a match on? Is that why you’ve come to watch?”

“No, this is practice,” says a girl with braids. “Why’re you wearing a green mask?”

“Um…” I’m not sure what answer I want to give.

Sabina arrives with a strawberry milkshake. She touches my arm. “I think your mask is kind of cool.”

I touch her slim brown hand in appreciation. “Thank you.”

I sit by Sabina and sip the milkshake.

“Most of us come to see Gabrith if you’re curious why we’re here,” says Sabina.

I give a little start and accidentally get gooey milkshake all over my face, although I can’t actually feel it through the mask.

“Oh, you’ve got that all over your mask. I’m going to help you.” Sabina has a wad of tissues.

I dab at my mask. “Gabe asked you here…?”

“No, no one asked us here, anyone can watch the practice. Gabe’s worth seeing. He’s hot. Just watch.”

The Game of Life is something I’ve never seen played before. A procession of stick mannikins swarm over the pitch, moving with jerky insect like twitches. The guys are knocking them all flying with wooden sticks.

“Is that the aim of the game? Knock the mannikins over? They’re animatronics, right?”

“Just watch, the captains have to wrestle next,” says Sabina leaning forward.

Oh! Gabe and Urorin are stripping off their vests, revealing their muscular pecs. I forget about trying to understand the game and stare down with wide eyes.

The Coltbridge guys are wrestling, Gabe’s creamy, freckled body rubbing against Urorin’s dark bronze body. It’s like they’re embracing! Urorin’s so lucky to get that close. If only Gabe’s body were pressed against mine.

The other girls are cheering. My heart is beating faster and I’m sweating and feeling all tingly. Urorin has his face close to Gabe’s gorgeous, freckled face. Oh my stars, I wish I could switch places with Urorin right now.

Then Gabe pins Urorin down and declares: “I win!”

The game is not finished, but there’s no more wrestling. My excitement fades somewhat.

At the end of the practice game, my mind is racing. If the other girls came without being asked, then I was the only one Gabe asked. Was there a reason? I must know.

I go downstairs, Sabina following close behind. The pitch is empty now. “Where are the guys.”

“Down there,” says Sabina, pointing at an archway at the far end of the pitch. I run through the archway and come to a set of double doors. There’s a spotty guy there still in blue sport gear. He bars my way. “Get out of here, crazy chick.”

“Please don’t call me that.”

“You’re wearing a green mask and you’re trying to invade the guys’ changing rooms. What does that say about you?”

“Oops. Sorry.” I forgot they must be changing.

I hang around. The guys start filing out, already changed back into their normal clothes. Where is Gabe? I start tapping my foot and finally the Coltbridge guys emerge.

“What do you make of the Game of Life, masked one?” asks Emenar.

“I got pretty excited,” I admit. “So, um, Gabe, you er… wanted me to see it…”

He touches the tip of my nose lightly with one finger. “Indeed. The Game of Life is a battle where there is no bloodshed.”

I trot to keep up with the three of them. I’m hoping Gabe will hold my hand again.

“That proves his point to you, Masked Maiden,” says Urorin. “The game is the symbol of a battle. It demonstrates the Warrior Code.”

“Uh huh. The Warrior Code. Got it. So… you guys have any big games coming up?”

“Indeed,” says Gabe. “We will be playing the Mirewater Team. The match is coming up.”

“The citystate of Mirewater is the big rival of Coltbridge,” says Urorin.

“We’ve had a lot of battles with them historically,” says Emenar. “Perhaps we’ll have a real battle with bloodshed, not a symbolic battle. What do you think of that, Masked Maiden?”

“Cease this passive-aggressive nonsense of yours, Emenar,” says Gabe.

“Yeah, if it was meant to be a joke, it wasn’t even good the first time,” I say.

We’re leaving the citadel now.

“But your old enemy and rival will be playing, Captain,” says Emenar, giving a mock salute. “Melvin the Miff of Mirewater.”

“What? Melvin the Miff? Is this another of your jokes?” I ask him.

“No masked one, Melvin the Miff is all too real,” says Gabe. “He’s full of nasty tricks.”

We turn down the path leading out of the school grounds. As we pass an alley, a strange guy leaps out in front of us. He’s dressed in a patchwork of black leather armour and he has sunken eyes and waxy skin that make me think of a ghoul from an old horror movie. He rubs his hands together.

“Ho there – my enemies!”

“Speak of a villain and he shall appear,” says Gabe. “This is Melvin the Miff of Mirewater.”

“Ready to see Mirewater lose the upcoming match?” asks Emenar.

“I come to even the odds,” says Melvin.

Wait… Melvin’s hiding something behind his back, but what. Now he brings it into view. It’s a stick with a ball and chain attached. He waves it in the air and I realise with a cold feeling of horror that he’s going to fling it at Gabe. Without even thinking about it, I leap into the way of the ball, trying to yell a warning, but my voice comes out in a strangled squeak.

Then the ball collides with my face.

A blinding flash and I’m on the ground. I can hear the guys yelling and heavy footfalls running away.

There are strong arms around me, lifting my bodily up.

“Oh great shelf of the slain…!”

I recognise Gabe’s voice and smell his heady scent, but everything’s blurry. I rub my face and now I can see. Gabe’s freckled face is close to mine and his blue eyes are wide.

“Masked Maiden, Masked Maiden…” he exclaims.

I smile up at him. “That’s my nickname. I guess it’s going to stick.”

“Your face – your face was flattened like green pastry, but when you put your hand to it, it snapped back into shape. Your features are just the same shape as they were the first day I saw you… but still covered in a layer of green, of course.”

“My mask can do weird things and change my face into any shape. It absorbed the blow then. Hold me tight.”

“Of course, of course… Mervin the Miff… that evil rogue! Smashing a maiden’s face. He is a low and filthy coward. I hope Urorin and Emenar will catch him, but I’m staying with you. You have been badly hurt. We need a physician.”

I actually don’t feel badly hurt. I put my arms around his shoulders so our faces are really close. So close I could count the freckles on his nose right now. We gaze into each other’s eyes. His are twin pools of deep ocean blue. I’m feeling warm and tingly. I’m breathing harder.

“There’s more to you than meets the eye, Masked Maiden. You are full of surprises. I was right to give you the title Maiden of Mystery. But surely you need the most skilled healers in Starfields…”

“No I don’t. Please just take me home.”

“I will drive you.”

Gabe sounds uncertain. As he carries me, my cheek rubs against his, but I can’t feel his stubble because my mask is in the way.

We reach a little blue car and I reluctantly relinquish my grip on him so I can sit in the seat beside him.

“Coltbridge has a proud military tradition, but I have to admit something…” says Gabe.

“What is it?”

“I would not even tell Urorin, because it embarrasses me. It would supply Emenar with jokes at my expense for six weeks.”

“You can tell me anything.”

“Well a military tradition is a tradition fraught with danger. I worry that danger follows me.”

“No, you’re a good guy! You’d bring any girl good luck.”

I would like to add that I’m not crazy about the military tradition of the rest of Coltbridge, but that might sound culturally insensitive.

My home isn’t far at all. When the car stops I step out.

“You can walk?” says Gabe.

I can, although I’d quite like him to carry me again. I beckon to him. “Do come in.”

Indoors, I lead the way to the kitchen. “Make yourself at home.”

Gabe scratches his freckled nose and gazes at me with his mesmerising blue eyes.

“Yes… I had better stay until your mother returns. You have had a head injury, after all.”

“Yes, please stay with me.”

Gabe sits at the little table. I make hot chocolates with a layer of cream on each of them and put them on the table before sitting down so that I’m facing him.

I gaze at him and he gazes back. After we gaze into each other’s eyes for a few moments, I break the silence. “This rivalry between Coltbridge and Mirewater. Is it always so intense that there are lunatics like Melvin around every corner.”

“It is intense, and that is why I fear I would bring you bad luck if you have me in my life.”

“Please let me decide that for myself. I want you in my life, whether or not Mervin the Miff exists.” I take a sip of the hot chocolate and then look him full in the face. “Do you think I’m mature enough to decide for myself?”

“Masked Maiden, you have cream on your nose,” says Gabe.

Oh bother. I can’t actually feel the cream on my nose through the mask.

“Here.” Gabe hands me a silk handkerchief patterned in all the colours of the rainbow and with little dragons around the edges.

“That’s a nice handkerchief. I don’t want to get cream on it.” I get a tissue to wipe my mask instead. Great. I get cream on my face just when I wanted to insist that I am mature.

There’s something I’m still curious about. “Emenar says titles are special in Coltbridge. Was he serious? It’s difficult to tell with him.”

“We give titles to those whose stories are memorable, or else may well someday have stories that are remembered.”

“Ah. That’s flattering. I guess I’m the ‘Masked Maiden’ then.”

A small smile plays around the corners of his cherry lips. “Or Maiden of Mystery.”

“Hm, with two titles, do I get two stories?”

“I hope so, masked one.”

I reach across the table and touch his hand. “Want to be part of my stories?”