Kings Game

Chapter 19 - The reaper (6)

The bell rang. It rang over and over again, reverberating through the arena. The match was over. Confetti rained down from the stands above, covering the bodies in bits of bright paper. Gladiators, hounds, even Morena began to disappear under the descending fanfare. Roran pulled his sword out of Morena's body and stepped off it.

He flicked the blood off his sword and wandered towards the center of the arena, unsure of what to do. He was adrift in a sea of dead bodies. Above him a storm of applause raged on. They started chanting, "Roran, Roran, Roran," over and over again. The sound of his own name had never made him ill before.

A shrill whistle pierced the air and Roran turned to see Kell bouncing over the barricades, making her way towards him. Nul was following after her. She landed in the center and skidded to a halt next to him.

"Knew you could do it."

Roran sighed and nodded, too weary for words. Overhead the announcer was babbling on and on about Roran, calling him a thousand different things.

"You okay?" Kell asked.

Roran shook his head, thinking of Herda, her corpse still cooling nearby. His throat closed and he couldn't force any words out.

"No worries. Just hang in there for a few more minutes. We'll deal with the King and then go find a quiet place you can recover, yeah?"

Roran nodded again.

Nul caught up with them and handed Roran a waterskin. He took it gratefully, the cool water helping to soothe his tight throat.

"They'll be expecting us soon," Nul said.

"Yeah, the announcer will finish his spiel soon, then we'll be talking to his royal shininess."

"He can probably hear you."

Kell shrugged. "I think this one is supposed to have a sense of humor."

Looking up at the King's landing, Roran saw the King moving about and chatting with one of his servants. The audience was beginning to settle, busying themselves with strips of paper. The announcer had finally gone quiet.

Finally managing to speak, Roran said, "What's going on?"

"The King is getting ready to descend," said Kell. "The announcer has the audience reviewing different titles."

"Titles?"

"Shh, here he comes."

The King's landing began descending, the servants all standing perfectly still near the edges. The audience hushed, in awe of their god. As the platform neared the ground, the King walked toward the edge. The landing slowed its descent, stopping to hover well above Roran's head. The King made a simple gesture with his hand and the ground rose up to meet him, forming a perfect staircase. The King beckoned for Roran and his companion's to climb the stairs.

When Roran hesitated, Kell gave him a nudge.

"You first. It's your victory."

Slowly, Roran raised a foot and placed it on the first step. The dirt held, solid as stone. He climbed the next few steps feeling awkward with the weight of the entire arena staring down at him. Growing bolder, Roran hurried his way up the steps, eager to get this done with. He heard Kell and Nul's footsteps behind him.

Walking onto the platform, Roran was surprised at how big it was. From below it looked like a little square floating in the air. Standing on it though was much more grand. The floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in swirling patterns. While servants encircled the platform, there was still room for tables laden with food and wine. Despite hovering in the air, the platform was perfectly still, as if set upon solid ground.

King Tasos had returned to a chair beneath a small canopy. His chair was simple and small, more of a stone bench than anything else, but Roran noticed that it seemed to shift as the King moved, as if it were made of liquid rather than stone. Beside the King stood an aide. She was tall and regal, wearing gaudy robes like his own and covered in focus markings. Unlike most people, the aide had focus markings covering her face, dancing along her lips and hanging from her eyes. They shimmered silver in the sunlight, making it difficult to look directly at her. She gestured for Roran and the others to come closer.

"Presenting Roran Aurandale of the town Millgrove." She spoke brusquely but softly, as if tired of speaking but accepting that it had to be done. "Son of Alira, Millgrove's sole courtesan, and companion to the Champions Kell, the living storm, and Nul, the worldbreaker."

Roran blinked, curious as to what else she knew about him.

"Indeed," said the King, his voice light and playful. "I see that Kell has found herself another troublesome companion. Tell me Kell, where do you find these troublemakers?"

"Right where you leave them, your majesty."

A smile tugged at the King's lips. "Of course." Turning to his aide, he said, "Always looking for trouble, this one."

"As you say," said the aide.

"And the esteemed worldbreaker, one of the best etchers the city has to offer. I'm still a little miffed that you turned down a position in my court."

Nul bowed their head and said, "My apologies, your majesty, but I am unwilling to leave Kell's side."

"Of course, of course. Tell me, how is your lady mother doing? Her province has been rather productive lately but I haven't seen her at court in a long time."

"I wouldn't know, your majesty. I haven't spoken to my mother in years."

"A pity, she is quite brilliant you know. Not quite as brilliant as you, but still a gem nonetheless. I digress, we're here to discuss the fate of young Aurandale. I must say, that was an impressive display you put on out there. Well done."

"Thank you...your majesty." Roran faltered, he wasn't sure how to speak to a King. Nul and Kell were doing so comfortably but the King appeared to know them already, by reputation if nothing else.

"Relax young man, I'm not big on formalities, we have relative privacy here. Just ignore my servants and pretend my aide is not here, that's what I always do."

"I wish I wasn't here," muttered the aide, causing the King to chuckle.

"Speak freely," said the King, "And tell me why it is you stand before me."

Roran hesitated, confused. "I uh...I survived the gauntlet to ask you for a boon."

"Yes yes, we all know that, but why. Why did you risk your life in the Crucible in the first place? Why are you fighting so desperately to become a champion? Why are you risking your life associating with these two fools?"

"I..." Roran thought back to the first time he'd walked into the Crucible, to his first death match. It had been to earn favors for his people, so they could buy food and medicine. Then he had started going back out for the chance to die in the sun, breathing the open air and staring at the sky. But that had changed along the way. Now he had friends, a new family, people he wanted to support and spend time with. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live. He wanted to do and see all the things his mother had promised to show him.

Before he could stop himself, Roran blurted out the truth. "I want to go on an adventure!"