Kings Game

Chapter 20 - Home (4)

Roran returned home and found Nul sitting at the table, reading a book and drinking some tea.

"No Kell or Karyn?" Roran asked.

Nul shook their head.

"Don't feel like enjoying the festivities?"

"Do I ever?"

Roran shrugged. "I thought you might relax from time to time. Guess I was wrong."

"I do relax, just not by going out and getting drunk in large crowds."

"I see. Question for you: were you here the entire time?"

Nul looked up from their book, an eyebrow raised. "What makes you think I left?"

"So you hid from Karyn to avoid the Queen's Hunt?" The thought of Nul hiding from Karyn made Roran smile.

Nul shrugged. "Not my thing. It looks like you had a successful hunt. Meet anyone interesting?"

"I did, a girl by the name of Alsarahnia. I'd met her once before in the Crucible. Does that name sound familiar at all?"

"No, should it?"

"I don't know." Frowning, Roran hesitated. "Nul, do you know what a Talyrian Priestess is?"

"I do not, why?"

"It was just something that Sarah—Alsarahnia—said. It doesn't matter."

"I've never heard the term before, but I'll keep an eye out in case it comes up again. Are you going to retire for the night?"

"Probably not. I think I'll go look for the girls, if just to get out for a while."

Nul nodded and went back to their book. Roran took his lantern up to his room and carefully placed it inside his trunk. He was slowly starting to collect keepsakes again. He'd had a nice collection when he was little, but those had all been left behind when he was forced out of his house after the war. It was possible that they were still there, just sitting in his room waiting for him to come home.

It occurred to Roran that he could go home. He was a Champion now. He had the same rights as a citizen and then some. Nobody would stop him if he decided to go visit Millgrove. He could walk out of the city and go on an adventure, just like his mother had done.

On his way out of the room, Roran paused to refill his pockets with coin. He had an ample supply now and was getting in the habit of keeping his pockets full. As he pulled coins from the bags on his desk, he saw the letter from King Tasos's aide.

Inside was an address, his father's location. According to the aide, Roran's father had been living inside King's City this entire time. The aide had collected some of Roran's blood and used that to track down his father, so Roran was inclined to believe that the information was accurate. He just hadn't acted on it yet. The whole word was sitting there, waiting for him, and he was sitting around moping in his room.

Roran shook his head and laughed at himself. His mother would have scolded him and told him to get off his butt and go do something. He decided to do just that.

Returning downstairs, Roran found that Kell and Karyn had returned, bringing the buzz of excitement with them. Kell was scowling while Karyn was grinning from ear to ear and clinging onto Kell's arm.

"Hello," he called cheerily. "How did the hunt go?"

They both answered at once.

"Great!"

"Terrible!"

"Okay?"

"Our lanterns somehow got tangled," said Kell. "They landed on top of each other."

"It means we already found what we're looking for!" Karyn grinned and leaned into Kell.

"As if! It was just a coincidence."

"Was not! My charms are impeccable. Our lanterns were meant to land together. It was a sign for us to stop looking and enjoy each other while we can."

"I'm not the type of person that does all the romance stuff. You don't want a relationship with me."

"Then why did you participate in the Queen's Hunt, if not to find your own queen?"

"I did it because you two dragged me along. Besides, I was only looking for someone to put up with all my obnoxious behavior."

"I already put up with your obnoxious behavior, so I'm perfect for you. All you have to do is cherish me until the day I die!"

"Fine, whatever!" Kell snapped, giving in to Karyn's incessant charm. "Just stop being all weird and stuff."

"No."

Roran glanced at Nul, who only shook their head.

"It sounds like you two had an eventful evening," Roran went on. "Did you want to go out and enjoy the festivities?"

"Yes," said Kell, "Gods know I need a drink."

"Did you have a good hunt?" Karyn asked.

"I did actually," said Roran. "I met a strange girl named Sarah. She's a little awkward but nice. I'll probably see her again soon."

Karyn lit up at the new bit of gossip and abandoned Kell's arm to latch onto Roran.

"Tell me everything. Is she tall? Is she cute? Do you know her from anywhere? What does she do? Is she cute?"

"Yes, yes, sort of, she's a historian, and yes."

Karyn bounced up and down, still clinging on to Roran's shirt. "She's a historian? What does she specialize in?"

"I don't know, though she did know about your runes. Do you know what a Talyrian Priestess is?"

Karyn shook her head. "No idea."

"Oh, okay. Well she knew about your sigils, I'm sure you two would have a lot to talk about." Roran started heading for the door. "I'll tell you more at the tavern."

"Oi, don't leave me behind." Kell hustled after them, her spear bouncing on her shoulder as she went. Pausing at the door, she turned and yelled, "Coming Nul?"

Nul hesitated, pondering over their book for a moment. Sighing, Nul snapped the book shut and rose to their feet. "Sure, why not. Where are we heading?"

"Well," said Kell, "There's a band playing a few streets over. I think there's a tavern in the area doing contests of strength. I can show off how amazing your focus markings are."

Nul perked up at the idea. "I suppose that would be a productive use of our time, I would like to see how well your strength markings hold up against larger, sturdier opponents."

"Are you saying I'm not sturdy?"

Roran smiled as the pair followed them out the door. When he'd been forced out of his childhood home, Roran had given up hope of ever reclaiming it. What he'd done instead was find a new home, one full of people he cherished. Walking out onto the street with Karyn asking a hundred questions about his new acquaintance, and Nul and Kell bickering behind them, Roran felt that he was truly where he belonged.