It was dark by the time they left the tavern. Roran's stomach had finally settled and he felt satiated for the first time in months. Up above the city, the stars twinkled in the night sky. Roran took a long slow breath, savoring the sweet, clean air. He would be heading back below ground soon enough.
"Think about my offer, yeah?" said Kell.
"I will," said Roran.
He wasn't sure what else to say. Even if he wanted to say yes, Kell had required that he kill someone as part of the agreement. He'd never killed anyone before, he'd never even thought about it. In all his years, killing someone wasn't something Roran had ever anticipated he would do. He also hadn't anticipated being a refugee of war, living in the dungeons of an arena waiting to die.
"Shall I take you back?" Kell asked.
"Where else would I go?"
"You could try to run, see how far you get. If you're lucky you might even make it out of the city without the guards trying to identify you."
"What would happen if I was caught?" asked Roran.
"They would either beat you and send you back to your dungeon, or they would kill you on the spot."
"I kind of assumed as much."
They walked slowly back towards the Crucible. The small capillary streets widened and turned into veins that wound their way back to the center of the city, back to the arena that was the beating heart of the entire kingdom.
"What if I can't kill anyone?" asked Roran.
"Then I'll just assume you're refusing my offer."
"And if I do kill someone?"
"Then I'll know you're serious and do what I can to train and arm you so we can get you out of the crucible and into some real fights. That can all wait until after the next crucible match."
"And if you die in the process?"
Kell shrugged. "If I die I won't have to worry about any of it anymore, will I?"
They took a turn off the main road, veering away from the King's Arena and to the smaller coliseum that was the Crucible. Back where they started, Kell turned on Roran.
"Listen, the choice is yours. I won't judge you either way. For what it's worth, I think you have what it takes." She stuck out her hand. "It was good meeting you Roran."
Roran took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "You too Kell."
"I'll see you in the next Crucible." She turned and left, the butt of her spear thumping the ground in time with her steps. Roran watched her go. Once she was out of sight, he stared up at the sky, watching the stars drift by and listening to the soft sounds of the city at night. He didn't want to go back in, back below into the dark dungeons with people who disliked him.
With no one around to bother him, Roran sat down and leaned his back against the wall. In his childhood, his mother would sit with him after dark. They would spend hours in the yard staring up at the night sky. She had taught him the various constellations, their names and legends, and how to navigate by them. He located the north star and smiled to himself.
Before she had gotten sick, Roran's mother had promised to take him traveling, to show him the various places she had visited and introduce him to the people she had met. His mother had loved travelling and shared that love with him through the various stories and lessons she had collected over the years.
"I miss you mom," he said under his breath. "I wish you were still here."
In the back of his mind he could still hear her voice, talking to him. "Wishes are fine, but don't let them get in the way of life. We can wish all we want but it's our actions that make them come true."
He wondered briefly if gods could bring back the dead, then shook his head, stood up, and opened the door leading back into the Crucible.
The hub was quieter now, with only a handful of clerks and wardens attending the myriad desks along the wall. Not sure how to get back to the dungeons below, Roran headed towards the nearest warden, expecting to ask for directions or an escort, when he was cut off.
"Well holy shit, you actually survived." A tan warden with a lopsided grin stepped in front of him.
"Chase!"
"Good to see you again kid."
"Thanks for your help," said Roran, "I think I would be dead if it wasn't for you."
"Glad I could help. I wish they gave us more than five minutes with you kids before sending you out into the arena but hey, we work with what we've got."
"It was enough, thank you." Roran grinned up at Chase. The strange warden grinned back. He had soft gentle eyes that helped Roran relax. They were neither judgmental or cruel. Chase wasn't like the rest of the wardens, he seemed like an individual person rather than a faceless guard. "Oh, here's your coin back." Roran fished the little coin out of his pocket and handed it over.
"Oh that!" Chase laughed. "I was kidding, that's just a normal coin."
"What?"
"It's just some pocket change I happened to have. You can keep it." Chase clapped Roran on the shoulder. "Now it's a real good luck charm."
"I...um, thanks."
"Don't worry about it. So what are you doing out and about?"
"A gladiator took me out, wanted me to help them with something."
Chase grabbed Roran by the shoulders. "Hey, that's great! Getting scouted by a gladiator could make your career."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it happens more than you'd think. If a titled gladiator is trying to butter you up I'd say go for it. You might actually be able to make it out of the Crucible."
"Thanks, I'll think about it. I have until the next Crucible fight to figure out my answer. I guess I'll just be down in the dungeons until then." Roran's face fell. The last thing he wanted to do was go back below.
Chase stared at him, scowling at Roran's gloomy expression.
"Well," said Chase, "you'll have to go back down eventually, but I could use your help with something before then."
Roran perked up. "What's that?"
"Tell me Roran, do you like dogs?"