A Warrior's Redemption (The Warrior Kind)

"Is a position of power and influence so important and honor so cheap a sentiment that to squander it all as you are, a thing worth doing? You're by this one act of treason wiping out the efforts of all your ancestors before you to be free. The noble ideals that they've fought and died for, for countless generations before you, all gone now because of you! Just so you can have a bigger piece of a pie that doesn't even exist in any context of reality!" I said, as I looked him over contemptuously wishing for a weapon so that I might slit his traitorous throat.

One guard leaned over in the saddle and backhanded me across the face. It hurt, but I smiled back at him in return. He made as if to do it again, but the traitor motioned him to stop. "Roric, if you live much longer, which I doubt, you will find out that honor has very little to do with helping one get through life comfortably and besides what would you an escaped arena rat know of honor in the first place?"

The soldiers around us laughed, as if it was a good joke, but I gave no response, which seemed to anger Lent a little because he pulled his mount around abruptly and rode to the head of the column.

They took us to Cassis. It was odd and yet highly ironic how the beginning of all the calamity that had befallen me in my life should be where I ended up in at the end once more.

I hated this city. I had come here as a boy marveling, but as a man I cursed it with my eyes. Gradually the opulence of the city encroached around us as we entered deeper into it. Buildings reached for the sky boldly trying to make up for the flatness of the plain they were built on, even as garishly colored silks flapped in the breeze coming off the sea.

They took us to the citadel located in the middle of the city. The citadel was built more for the appearance of force rather than any strategic initiative, being located in the middle of the city as it was. It was in no position to defend the city should the city be attacked, but then the Zoarinians were confident that was an option beyond the realm of possibilities, as who could face their superior numbers on the field of battle and win?

The streets were thronged with the denizens of the city, who were as colorful in attire and appearance as their city was. Rich colors and a plethora of wares for sale were to be seen on display all around us. One got the feeling that anything, and everything could be bought in this city if the price was right. I knew full well the dark hidden secrets that lay around each street corner and in the people themselves. Seeing all this again brought back the buried memories of my years spent in the arena dungeons. The memories forced their way into my consciousness and made me long for un-consciousness or diversion of some kind so that I could push away the dark thoughts swirling in my mind.