I drifted off to sleep, but the respite was short-lived—a steady procession of visitors soon invaded my cell. The first was a servant with a fist sized chunk of bread, a block of yellow cheese about half the size, and a pitcher. He placed it on my bedside table. "I was asked to bring this up for you immediately and take a dinner order."

I sat up, grimacing as my knee shifted. No amount of pain would keep me from the food and I snatched up the bread, followed by the menu.

Taking a bite, I found the bread held the warmth and freshness of being recently baked. Like a fluffy, yeasty marshmallow, it was the most beautiful thing I could ever remember eating.

As I swallowed my first bite, I thrust the menu back at the server. "I don't know what any of that shit is. Do you know what a pie is?"

"I do, sir."

"Right, well, I doubt you know what steak is, but are you familiar with oobel?"

"Familiar, yes, but there are no oobel on this world. We have Anian herds, which would be the closest match for taste and texture."

"Right. Well I want Anian pies and beer. My stomach thinks my throats been slit, so however many pies you'd think someone of my size would need normally, double it. Do the same for beer… but triple it!"

"Very well, sir. Your meal should be with you within the hour."

He hurried out of the room, and I tucked into the food again washing down the bread with the contents of the pitcher. Cool, tasteless water. Disappointing for such a fancy pitcher, but still welcome. I drained half with my first drink, my body demanding I didn't stop until my stomach couldn't hold any more. Then I set a much slower pace with the bread and cheese until the water worked its way through. The cheese was sharp and smelled like feet, I doubted I would have eaten it if I hadn't been starving, but beggars can't be choosers. I pulled off small pieces of each to eat together until my second visitor arrived.

Spider-dude, or Tanl as Onlan had named him entered the room without knocking. That irritated me, but I was more curious he was here at all.

"I thought you died back there," I mumbled over half chewed bread.

"Oh no," he replied, coming closer, appearing to float over the floor, long cloak covering spider legs. "I've survived a great many worse situations than that. If I don't want to be seen, I won't be seen."

"I bet, with those sneaky spider skills. You were injured though, right? You went down screaming loud enough."

He patted his cloaked arm. "All healed up. You'll be glad to know Harbinger Onlan has some of the finest healers on his staff. They're needed in our line of work."

"They're gonna have to be damn good to sort this knee out. I'm hoping to get a visit from them soon."

"We were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Your evening meal." Was shouted from the other side. "

"Right you are. Come in then."

The same servant had returned pushing a trolly with around twelve bottles of beer and four large pies on a platter, my eyes widened half as much as my grin. I pointed at him as he pushed the trolly over. "You are my new favorite person."

I tried to check his stats, but like the servants in the arena he had none available. "What's your name?"

"Er… it's Calo, sir. But I didn't do anything other than carry your food. Thank the Harbinger, or even the chef, but not me."

"Bullshit!" I said gesturing with glee at the feast in front of me. "I was vague on numbers, but this is perfect. You nailed it, Calo. Fucking nailed it."

I grabbed a bear, and drained half the bottle. Letting out a rip snorter of a burp that set my nose to twitching and my eyes to watering. I chuckled to myself. Moments like this were what made life worth living.

The bewildered servant backed off, smiling nervously. Tanl gave a nod of approval at the steaming meal. "I'll leave you to recover and enjoy your meal, Earl. It'll be some time before I see you again as I have my own missions to attend to. But it's good to see you here safely."

Before the door even closed, I dug into the food, devouring it as fast as my mouth could chew and my throat could swallow.

I expected my stomach to rebel after so long without proper sustenance, yet my increased Toughness rose to the challenge. The warmth of the beer and the hearty pies seeped into my bones, and after the plate was empty and I was six beers deep, my eyelids grew heavy and sleep dragged me under once more. I knew I had more guests to come, but sleep was the one thing I never tried to fight.

A loud knocking brought me back what felt like seconds later. Through bleary eyes, I peered at the door. A figure who looked a lot like Onlan made their entrance with a bouncy, overconfident walk that suggested he was going to be a knobhead.

Name: Irian Palan

Title: ---

Level: 26 Class: Tradesman

Once in front of me, he pulled a neatly folded list from a leather folder and handed it over without a word. I was comfortable with silence and scanned through the contents—armor specifications and gear details:

Heroic Grip

Level Requirement: (14)

Price Range: 50 – 90 Unitols

Attributes:

Durability – 400Dmg. 100%)

Comfort – 55 of 100

Special:

20% increase in hand and forearm strength

Rugged Gauntlets

Level Requirement: (15)

Price Range: 80 – 130 Unitols

Attributes:

Durability – 900Dmg. 100%

Comfort – 50 of 100

Special:

Extraordinary Durability rating for price range

Swift Grip Gloves

Level Requirement: (15)

Price Range: 90 – 140 Unitols

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Attributes:

Durability – 600Dmg 100%

Comfort – 60 of 100

Special:

Offers a 10% bonus to arm speed

Runes:

Level 1 Rune of Agility: Grants a 10% bonus to arm speed for 1 minute (Cost: 30% of Mana Pool)

I couldn't believe the shit I was seeing. I scanned to the bottom of the list to see if they were ascending order. If they were, then the summit of that mountain was more a gentle rise.

Gloves of Chaos

Level Requirement: (16)

Price Range: 100 – 150 Unitols

Attributes:

Durability: 700 – 100%

Comfort: 71 of 100

Runes:

Level 2 Rune of Confusion: Generates a wave of confusion with each active strike making it difficult for opponent to react to incoming strikes. 1 minute active time. 2hour recharge time. (Cost: 20% of Mana Pool)

The last one gave me pause, except I couldn't use fucking runes so they were still all but useless. I'd explained to Onlan the situation and this was what he sent down for me to look through. I felt my anger bubble through the tiredness and stared daggers at Irian. "This list." I began crumpling it up in a ball. "Is a fucking insult."

Irian's tone was placid yet laced with subtle mockery. "Yet it's all we have for you at the moment."

I pelted the ball of paper of his forehead and his big owl eyes looked like they were going to fall out of his lumpy gray head.

"I was promised decent gear. I want decent gear."

"This is excellent gear which all of our ascended Spears are offered. If you don't want to replace your gloves, that's fine. We will move on to the armor."

I pulled off one of my gloves and threw that at his chest. He managed to catch it and clearly thought he was a hero for managing that.

"I joined the Siroth because you promised better gear than what I had. So I want you to provide a glove at least three times stronger than that one or we're going to have a big old problem."

He clearly identified it because I saw his eyebrows rise. "This is a nice piece. And an incredible lower end price."

"I was told you guys had money. That you could get me what I needed. Right now it's looking like I was lied to."

"Hardly lied to. I think you just have an inflated opinion of your worth."

I folded my arms, mainly to keep them pinned before I lunged for the twat. "Is that armor list as shit as the gloves?"

"It is a fine selection for our ascended Spears."

"So it's shit. Leave it on the bed and fuck off."

He did as I said and laid out another bundle of papers at the bottom of the bed. "I suggest you choose soon."

I chuckled. "Choose? Nah, I'm going to use it to wipe my arse and then I'm going to throw it in Onlan's face when he comes back tomorrow. We had an arrangement and I expect it to be honored."

He snatched the papers back up and stepped away. "What is wrong with you? For a Siroth advocate you have a funny way of showing it."

"Advocate? The hell are you babbling about? I was promised the best equipment. That's why I chose you over the Archons."

At that, his brow furrowed in anger. "You support the Siroth. That much is known. That's why we brought you here."

I hedged my bets. "I support the Siroth because of how honorable they are. This is making me suspect my trust was misplaced. Come back with something better. Something much, much better."

His expression soured further, and he stormed out of the room clutching the papers like a life raft.

I lay back on the bed and smiled. I was gutted about the armor, but I did love annoying jackasses.

My final visitor that day was from the healers. Four of them came in uncertainly, led by a Velorian. His likeness to the Able was uncanny and it sent my alarm bells ringing.

Name: Sizal Saruc

Title: ---

Level: 34 Class: Mage/Tradesman

I glared at him. "Why are you here?"

His face darkened. "Do you know me?"

"I know of your kind," I said, mulling my options to kill him. "The Monarch and the Able of the Velkyn Arena were Velorian. They didn't give me much reason to trust your people."

He laughed, a rich, resonant sound that filled the room. "We are a wide and far-reaching race. One of the oldest in the cosmos. You cannot judge an entire race from just one isolated encounter. Especially when that encounter was with arena owners entrenched in the slave trade. Your assertion, Master Earl, is preposterous and I assure you I mean you no harm." He gestured to the others. "We are here to examine your injuries. Apparently, your healing resistance is the stuff of legends?"

Another of the healers, orange skinned, and bloodshot eyes that looked as though he'd been on a weeklong bender, stepped forward:

Name: Nosarra Taralentis

Title: ---

Level: 28 Class: Mage

"According to your stories at least. You will have to prove this before an credence is given to the assertion."

With an extended index finger I singled him out. "You should definitely keep quiet for the rest of this meeting."

He laughed. Tinny and hollow but still full of self-belief. "You are a level fourteen wretch. If you've had a warrior class for longer than five cycles I'd be surprised. I may be a healer but do not confuse this kindness with weakness. I could end you with a click of my fingers." I grinned so wide it hurt. "Please…" I slapped my hand on my chest. "From the bottom of my tiny heart, try it. Go on. Do it."

Siza put his hand up. "Enough. We are here to help, Nosarra. Remind me. What is the first law of Healing?"

The pink-eyed bastard looked sullen. "Put your patient at ease."

"Exactly. I suggest you consider that more fully in future. Now, refrain from any further antagonizing remarks."

As Nosarra retreated sullenly, I looked back to Siza. "Is that enough of the getting to know you session? I've gotta say, I'm beyond ready to be healed. I've been limping around like a cripple for over a cycle now."

One of the healers was of the same race as Onlan and she stepped forward.

Name: Maya Rin

Title: ---

Level: 26 Class: Mage

"May I try first, sir?" she asked.

The Velorian mage nodded, and I lay back, grateful I might finally get some proper relief from the pain. She leaned over me, massive eyes that mesmerized. I smiled at her. "You're the third person I've seen today of your race. What are you?"

She looked puzzled for a moment, as if I'd asked her to solve an unsolvable equation, then smiled. "I am of the Baranax."

"The Baranax?" I echoed.

"Yes. We were the first race to successfully rebel against the Archons during the first Xeo wars. That's where the Siroth movement began. On Baranax."

"Is that so. Then perhaps you can help me with something."

"Yes?" she prompted.

"My knee—it's fucking killing me."

The healer's puzzlement deepened, but soon a gentle chuckle escaped. "I fear you mock me, Earl Henshaw."

I sighed and lay back, closing my eyes. "It's one of life's few pleasures."

I obviously didn't see what happened next but I felt that familiar tingle as healing magic tried to coat my body. Nothing happened. Not entirely unexpected. I cracked open an eye just in time to see her hands increase in brightness. The sensation over my body increased, but nothing happened to my knee.

A few seconds later her hands grew almost blindingly bright, until the Velorian placed his hand upon her shoulder. "Stop there, Maya."

She did, stepping back, looking flustered and exhausted.

"What did you discover?" he asked.

"Very little, truly," she replied softly. "He tells the truth—I can barely feel his injury."

Another healer, thin, and green, and sour faced, stepped in front of her with enough abruptness to deserve an elbow to the temple. I didn't even bother to check his identifier. I already had too many names rattling around in my head that I was certain to forget.

His hands flared brightly, then he sagged a moment later and huffed to Maya. "I apologize for my doubt."

The Velorian leader smiled warmly at me and moved closer. "Would you like to tell me exactly where it hurts? We generally cast full body healing as it's the most effective. But in this case we will make an exception and attempt to heal your major wounds."

I pointed at my right knee with a frustrated gesture. "This bastard knee. It's busted all to hell."

He placed his hand firmly on my knee and as his healing magic enveloped the injured joint, I saw the familiar wince on his face. The same wince I'd seen on the Able's so many times before. I couldn't say why, but it filled me with inexplicable joy. He pushed on, gritting his teeth and intensifying the glow of his hands until my pain began to subside. Finally he gasped and pulled away well before my knee was fully healed. Wiping sweat from his brow, he murmured. "Incredible. You are a true anomaly and one that I'd very much like to study more."

He turned to the others, "As for you all, I have focused in on the issue with his knee. The cartilage is severely damaged. If each of you can focus specifically on that it should help Earl substantially. If we can get it repaired, whoever is left, can focus on the ligament damage around the same area."

One by one, the remaining three healers set to work with a calmness I appreciated compared to the chaos of healing in the arena.

By the time they finished, my knee was tender but felt healed. No more shooting pains, grinding or burning.

They cleared a path as I swung my legs of the bed, planted my feet ad stood. Apart from general soreness it was grand. I offered Sizal and Maya a thumbs up.

"You guys are pretty fucking good. Not perfect, but good enough for me."

Sizal chuckled. "You are an odd one Earl. Now you just need to look after yourself."

"Yeah, I don't know about that," I replied. "Onlan's taking me to the Foundry tomorrow, and I'll be in there as soon as I can."

I noticed Maya's horrified expression as she watched me. "You'd actually look forward to such a thing? Have you even seen the Foundry Pits before?"

I shrugged. "No, but I can't imagine them being much worse than some of the things I've seen. We had some decent unlicensed fights back home. I always liked the atmosphere."

She shook her head. "I will never comprehend the love of violence some people seem to have."

I sat back down on the bed, smiling. "You only get one life, Maya. Might as well spend it doing what you love… Unless it's something really sick and depraved."

As the horrified healers backed away from me, the more Stoic Sizal, patted me on the shoulder. "You should rest, Earl. I imagine you have a busy schedule ahead of you and still much healing of your own to do."

I gave him another thumbs up and settled back onto my pillow as they left. Drifting off to thoughts of what the Foundry might promise.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.