I adjusted Kass’s miniature just a smidge, making everything perfect, It was time.

  Calliope was the first one to enter the Games Room, eyeing up the table suspiciously as she approached. “What’s this all about Talia?” she asked, holding up the note I’d sent to everyone. “Come to the games room at five, bring snacks,” she read before looking my way. “It’s not our regular game day.”

  “I’ll explain everything when the rest of the group gets here, I promise,” I told her, before settling into the Master’s seat.

  The others filed into the room a couple minutes later, I waited until they all settled into their seats, and dug into their snacks before I finally started answering questions.

  “So… Talia, what are we all doing here today? Kass told us you disappeared into the library yesterday, so I was expecting you to stay there until next Thursday, doing research,” Bea asked.

  “I’m not that bad,” I pouted.

  “You absolutely are. The last time you went on a research binge you needed Kass to bring you food to prevent you from passing out,” Luther countered. I blushed in embarrassment from that memory, and looked away from the polterguist’s gaze, which made him chuckle.

  While I was trying to work through my thoughts, and get things back on track, Luther leaned over the table I’d set up and inspected my work. “I see you’ve set up a Manor run, but you’ve placed a couple of the pieces wrong. I could fix them for you…” he started.

  That kickstarted my brain. “No! Those changes are intentional!” I practically yelled. The others just stared at me, eyes raised, so I stepped over to the next table over, grabbed the sheet I’d placed over it, and yanked it off.

  Kass sighed. “I know this has some profound reason that you’ve setup two separate Dungeon Delve games, but you’re going to have to explain it to some of us. Why have you set up a version of the Elder Woods too?” she asked.

  “For research purposes of course!” I said proudly. “I was just going to bury myself in research again, but then it occurred to me that the best way to both conduct research, and fine tune our defenses, is to use ‘Duel Delve!’” I declared.

  “There’s no such game,” Luther said as he floated over to the second table. “I would know about it.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “That would be true if these were official rules, but this is something I spent all day yesterday putting together,” I said proudly as I pulled a thick stack of paper out from under the table.

  Calliope glanced down at the papers, then back at me. “Why do your brand new rules have bite marks on them?” she asked.

  “Because George stole them when I was setting up, and wouldn’t give them back until I bribed him,” I explained unashamedly. “Hopefully someone brought enough snacks to share.”

  Luther plucked the papers from my hand, and started looking them over, while Kass offered me some chips. After about a minute, Luther glanced up at me. “These are very thorough, and entertaining rules. I think you could even sell this as an official supplement,” he said surprised.

  I nodded silently, my mouth full of chips, while the others passed my rules around. “It seems like an interesting idea, but why couldn’t this wait until game night?” Bea asked.

  I paused, a handful of chips half way to my mouth. “Because I finished the rules yesterday, and was excited to try them. Plus, I hate the idea of putting off research until Thursday!” I explained.

  Chelsea snorted, “You could have just done regular research until then!”

  “That would have been boring,” I replied, causing everyone to raise their eyebrows again. “I wanted to spend a little more time with you all!”

  Kass grabbed me and pulled me down onto her lap. “I told you Talia was opening up! You all thought I was crazy,” she said proudly.

  Bea sighed, “Fine, I don’t think any of us have any plans for tonight, so we can play one extra game this week, but after today you need to wait for the next game night, got it?” she said.

  “Got it,” I agreed.

  “I have two questions,” Calliope said, her nose deep in my rules. I wasn’t sure if she was aware that Toto had walked to the other side of the room, and was sneaking snacks right under her nose, but before I could tell her she asked her first question. “It says that two teams are needed, one for each dungeon. How did you plan on deciding the teams?”

  “I was thinking that you, Bea, Chelsea, and Kass could play the Manor, since you have in-depth knowledge of all the people here. Luther and I can play the Woods, because I’m familiar with their tactics, and Luther is the most familiar with the rules,” I replied. I was about to tell her about Toto when she pointed at the Manor table, without putting down the rules.

  “Follow up questions, why is there a vampire named Sylvia in the Training ground?” she asked, looking up at me for the first time.

  “Because I know most of our remaining opponents are going to study our last match, and try to come up with some tactics to counter us,” I explained.

  “And…” Calliope prompted.

  I smiled. “And Sylvia has a fairly unique skill set, and no-one will see her coming.”