It had been several seasons since he had visited his fellow students from the Arcane Academy. His ascension to demigodhood had changed his magic away from what he could strengthen without Safrin's blessing, and his rift with Evie after the Midwinter Conference had been compelling reasons to withdraw from the school, but he had missed the company of those he had once trained with. When he had learned that Alys was visiting Torchline he had taken the time to send her a note, requesting a chance to meet and catch up.
And in the course of that meeting, he had learned of her quest, and a task that he could assist with.
They had scheduled a training at the Rainbow Road, where Hadama had set out four coconuts on piles of many-hued stones in a rough, wide circle. There was a small basket at his feet, holding thin-walled sacs of water dyed with food coloring that would temporarily stain whatever they burst against. For the moment, however, his hands were empty as he waited for Alys to give him the signal that she was ready to start.
She had to knock each of the coconuts off their pillars, while avoiding getting hit by the Mer King's ammunition. Hadama could not leave the flat rock at the center of the formation he currently stood on, and he could only hold one balloon at a time... for the first twenty seconds. After which he would start throwing two balloons.
Alys would need to be fast to avoid him, but the stones of the road and the steamy waters would not make it easy. Then again, the steam might also make it harder for Hadama to aim if a geyser exploded at the wrong time. "Ready?" He called to the Seer.
And, at her agreement: "One... two... three..." he began to count, while stooping swiftly to scoop up a balloon - a green one - and throw it after her.
And in the course of that meeting, he had learned of her quest, and a task that he could assist with.
They had scheduled a training at the Rainbow Road, where Hadama had set out four coconuts on piles of many-hued stones in a rough, wide circle. There was a small basket at his feet, holding thin-walled sacs of water dyed with food coloring that would temporarily stain whatever they burst against. For the moment, however, his hands were empty as he waited for Alys to give him the signal that she was ready to start.
She had to knock each of the coconuts off their pillars, while avoiding getting hit by the Mer King's ammunition. Hadama could not leave the flat rock at the center of the formation he currently stood on, and he could only hold one balloon at a time... for the first twenty seconds. After which he would start throwing two balloons.
Alys would need to be fast to avoid him, but the stones of the road and the steamy waters would not make it easy. Then again, the steam might also make it harder for Hadama to aim if a geyser exploded at the wrong time. "Ready?" He called to the Seer.
And, at her agreement: "One... two... three..." he began to count, while stooping swiftly to scoop up a balloon - a green one - and throw it after her.
