18
The next afternoon, I march up the front stairs to the Ryder mansion. My goal? Convince Myla Lewis to attend the Autumn Tournament. I’ve no illusions this will be easy. If anything, convincing Myla to watch the tourney will be more of a siege warfare than a hot battle. Some folks require time and patience.
When it comes to Myla, I have plenty of both.
The mansion’s front door opens before I even reach the top step. A tall woman with pale skin and a monkey tail stands on the threshold. Her appearance is remarkable in being perfectly average: not too tall or short, fat or thin, pretty or plain.
“Madeline Ryder,” I say. “So good to see you again.”
“Please, call me Maddy.” She smiles, and the grin transforms her appearance from average to astounding. Maddy is a perfect fit for a diplom
