Horoth nodded along, took his time to reply and catch his breath. Dal was not wrong. Being chosen was a privilege and Horoth was grateful for it but he was lacking in a lot of the basics. He did not even like to wear chainmail. It was too heavy.
Riding too, he was terrible at it. Horses were wild and unruly to him and he preferred the good earth under his feet anyway yet to hear Dal speak of certain victory troubled him a bit. Perhaps there were many things to learn but in his experience even a fresh faced novice could land a crucial blow on a veteran. Luck was always in play.
Horoth kept the thought to himself, now was not the time to argue instead he answered Dal.
"To be honest, it was terrible. Yes the arena and all its splendour and the crowd cheered when I came out. Cheered louder when I felled my opponents but..."
How did you explain what being on the inside was like to someone who had not seen it?
"It wasn't a life. There were days, long days of darkness and fear, broken by the sun and the crowd before going back into it."
Nice as the view was he could only appreciate it in contrast to the years of seeing nothing but dark walls and what images were painted on it by himself and other gladiators, other slaves.
"We had our pleasures of course. The food kept us strong and there were games, dice mostly and they couldn't starve us, no show in that and when we did well there were other rewards, women, men, that sort of thing. All slaves themselves. Sometimes others spoke of nobility paying to have us but if they ever came to me they did not let on and even now I wonder if I really enjoyed even that much."
Leaning forward he propped himself on the brick with his hands and looked down at Dal.
"But to answer your question. I was last in the arena as we broke the gates."
Somewhere in his mind he heard a different roar, triumphant and painful.
"It was quiet when we left. There was no more fighting done in that place. I expected us to cry our victory to the skies then and there but we didn't, each one of us stayed quiet until we made our way to the shore and saw the ships waiting for us. The pirates from Sonshan had wagered we would not make it but we did and when they turned to collect us we cheered. We cheered so hard and so loud the sand shook beneath us."
Horoth's eyes misted as he remembered the long weeks that followed and he smirked half to himself.
"I discovered then what freedom was... and seasickness."
Kicking his leg over he looked down the shaded side of the wall. It looked farther down than up. A magic of the mind that held no purpose but to caution he thought.
"And now I have to free myself from this wall of yours!"
His voice tinged with a laugh at his momentary feeling of helplessness.
"Self improvement is all well, but right now I think I'd rather a rope!"
At the last word he jumped, letting himself fall to the earth with a heavy thud that landed in his knees.
@Dal
Riding too, he was terrible at it. Horses were wild and unruly to him and he preferred the good earth under his feet anyway yet to hear Dal speak of certain victory troubled him a bit. Perhaps there were many things to learn but in his experience even a fresh faced novice could land a crucial blow on a veteran. Luck was always in play.
Horoth kept the thought to himself, now was not the time to argue instead he answered Dal.
"To be honest, it was terrible. Yes the arena and all its splendour and the crowd cheered when I came out. Cheered louder when I felled my opponents but..."
How did you explain what being on the inside was like to someone who had not seen it?
"It wasn't a life. There were days, long days of darkness and fear, broken by the sun and the crowd before going back into it."
Nice as the view was he could only appreciate it in contrast to the years of seeing nothing but dark walls and what images were painted on it by himself and other gladiators, other slaves.
"We had our pleasures of course. The food kept us strong and there were games, dice mostly and they couldn't starve us, no show in that and when we did well there were other rewards, women, men, that sort of thing. All slaves themselves. Sometimes others spoke of nobility paying to have us but if they ever came to me they did not let on and even now I wonder if I really enjoyed even that much."
Leaning forward he propped himself on the brick with his hands and looked down at Dal.
"But to answer your question. I was last in the arena as we broke the gates."
Somewhere in his mind he heard a different roar, triumphant and painful.
"It was quiet when we left. There was no more fighting done in that place. I expected us to cry our victory to the skies then and there but we didn't, each one of us stayed quiet until we made our way to the shore and saw the ships waiting for us. The pirates from Sonshan had wagered we would not make it but we did and when they turned to collect us we cheered. We cheered so hard and so loud the sand shook beneath us."
Horoth's eyes misted as he remembered the long weeks that followed and he smirked half to himself.
"I discovered then what freedom was... and seasickness."
Kicking his leg over he looked down the shaded side of the wall. It looked farther down than up. A magic of the mind that held no purpose but to caution he thought.
"And now I have to free myself from this wall of yours!"
His voice tinged with a laugh at his momentary feeling of helplessness.
"Self improvement is all well, but right now I think I'd rather a rope!"
At the last word he jumped, letting himself fall to the earth with a heavy thud that landed in his knees.
@Dal
