Herrel! Herrel! Wake up! Wake up! Someone shakes my shoulder and shouts in my ear. "Go way" I slur, trying to roll away from the shaking. Herrel! Great gods man! Help me get him up! More shaking, then someone is lifting me under the shoulders to stand me on my feet. Come on Herrel. Can you walk? Here, help me. Let's take him to my place.
My head pounds and I think I'm going to throw up. I can hear sounds in the background and the light is extremely bright here. Groaning I roll over and try to sit up. The pain is excruciating and the world starts to spin. My stomach feels like it's on a free fall ride to the bottom of the abyss. Squinting, I look around to see where I am.
I don't recognize this room. I need to get home before the servants realize I'm missing. I can probably sneak in the back way if the room will stop spinning. Standing up I stagger a few steps towards the open doorway. My foot catches on the rug and down I go with a loud crash.
Someone exclaims in the other room and footsteps come pounding my way. Grunting, someone lifts me up off the floor and lays me back down on the cot. Stay here Herrel, at least until the hangover goes away. You've had too much to drink. We'll talk about it later. Groaning, I close my eyes and pass out.
The growling of my stomach and the need to relieve myself finally wake me up. It's evening now and the chill of the night flows in through an open window in my room. I can see a softly glowing forge somewhere down the street and the faint sounds of a hammer on an anvil in the distance. Sitting up, I look around. I'm in a small room off the back end of a hallway. Faint sounds of people emanate from the front of the building. Cautiously, I stand up. The room stands still. Thank the Gods.
At the end of the hallway is a common room. A gentle light comes from the fireplace. Two people sit at a table off to the side. I cannot quite make out who they are from my position in the hallway. My need finally drives me out into the room. Both of them turn to look at me. Their faces are both in shadow, but I recognize one of them. It is one of the warrior preceptors, Kalsten. The other I do not know. Preceptor Kalsten looks at me, disappointment and anger written on his face. He stares at me, not saying a word. I feel like an idiot and his continued silence makes me fidget with anxiety.
"Stand still boy!" "And look at me when I talk to you!" Flushing I raise my eyes to meet his. They pierce me through to my soul. I feel as though I have been cataloged and found wanting. "So" he says to me. "You are Lord Hyron's younger son." "Yes sir." "Not much to look at, are you?" "I...I guess not sir," I whisper. "I can't hear you boy!" "Speak up! And stand up straight!" Stuttering I answer, "ye ye yes sir." At that moment my stomach decides to add to my embarrassment by growling loudly. Flushing again, I look down at the floor to ashamed to ask if I can go.
Startled I jump when a soft hand is laid on my shoulder. "Leave him be Kals." "Can't you see the poor boy needs to eat?" She takes my hand and leads me over to a private alcove. "You can take care of your needs here. Wash up and then come back to the table." She leaves me to my ministrations and I am grateful to her.
*** back in the common room***
"Geez Kals what was that for?" "You scared that boy half to death. I was sure he was going to faint dead away." "Ella, that boy is a mess and it's a damn disgrace." "Do you know where I found him?!" "Lying in the damn bushes outside of Lenor's house!" "A Lords son lying in the bushes!" He gets up and paces angrily. "He's lucky I came by and found him before the guards did. Otherwise he'd be spending his time in a cell!" "Calm down Kals," she says gently. "Let him eat first then find out what happened." "Come, sit and I'll get you something to eat." She puts a soothing hand on his shoulder and plants a kiss on his head. Smiling she walks back to the kitchen to get food for her husband and Herrel.
***Alcove***
I relieve myself and wash my hands and face. Looking at myself in the small mirror above the sink I notice that my hair and clothes are totally awry. I run my claws through my hair, trying to straighten it out some. Wiping at my clothes I straighten those as best I can as well. Taking a deep breath I walk out and back to the common room.
Preceptor Kalsten looks up as I enter the room. He waves me over to the seat across from him. I take a seat, afraid of what he will say to me next. A young lady comes in laden with plates of food. My stomach growls again, and I flush with embarrassment. She places them on the table and Kalsten indicates I should help myself. Taking a plate, I fill it. Head down, I slowly begin to eat, not sure how my stomach is going to take food. Kalsten watches me, not saying anything for a few minutes.
"Eat boy. You are going to need the food and drink. You are dehydrated and hung-over." Blushing, I continue to eat slowly. So far my stomach hasn't disagreed with me. Thank the Gods for that. After we finish eating and the plates are cleared away, Kalsten leads me into his study and closes the door. "Sit down boy, you and I are going to have a talk." Sitting down behind his desk, he looks at me gravely. "So, tell me how you came to be laying in the bushes outside of a ...'House of ill repute?" "A what?" I ask confused. "I found you outside of Lenor's house." he says. "She has a bad reputation boy, and you have no business being there!" "I um...I ah...don't know who that is." "You reek of it boy, so I know you were in there!"
Hanging my head again I said, "I just don't remember." "I just...I just want to ...go home," I whisper. "Too bad boy!" he says. "You can't go home in the shape you're in!" "You're a mess!" "If any kid of mine came home looking like you, he'd not sit down for a month!" Looking up at him I said, "My father doesn't hit us." "He won't even notice that I'm gone." "He won't be home anyway." Sighing, I lean back in my chair. Memories flow over me as a small child trying to get my father's attention and getting brushed aside.
"I hear you want to be a gladiator?" I jump at the change of topic. "Yes...yes sir...I do." "Not much to you," he leans back in his chair musing. "Are you serious about this boy?" "Yes...yes I am sir." He looks at me considering. "Becoming a gladiator is hard work boy." "Your time won't be your own." "You'll work from sunup to sundown." "You'll not be allowed a moments rest." "No drinking, no whoring, no whining." Indignant I sit up straight. "I don't do those things!" "Oh really," his voice drips with sarcasm. "I'd call you a liar boy, if I didn't already know your history." "What happened last night!" he barks.
"It was my birthday. My brother and his friends dragged me out to a tavern." "I didn't want to go, but you don't say no to Halse, not if you want to keep living pain free." Kalsten snorts. "Go on boy!" "They just kept buying me drinks, and I guess...well I've never drunk before." "I don't remember much after that." "Just arguing with Halse, then hazy flashes of ...ummmm." Blushing again, I fight to keep those memories hazy. I remember female laughter, perfume, gentle hands pulling at my clothes. I remember...I blush to remember...warmth, pressure, release; then more female laughter, then falling. I sit there quietly, furious with myself for being so weak.
"So..." Kalsten drawls. "You remember enough to be ashamed. "Good boy, good." "You're less likely to be that foolish again." Taking a piece of paper, he writes something on it, and then hands it to me. "Be there at 0500 sharp boy!" "Now, get out of here!" "Go home and sleep." "It's the last good night's rest you're going to get." Taking the paper, I get up to leave. "Yes sir."