Chapitre 23: THAT TIME OF YEAR
After a quick bath. Joda made his way to the dining hall. He was greeted with the sight of Orion and Bello sitting behind the large dining table which had different full-course meals arranged on it. Joda always wondered what happened to the rest of the food that was always left over after each and every meal since neither Orion nor his wife and Bello ate much.
"Joda my boy, you finally made it. Take a seat." Orion welcomed Joda with a smile. He was always so polite and Joda found himself liking him more with each passing meeting they had.
"Thank you," Joda said as he slipped into a chair opposite Bello's.
"Bello told me you had something to tell me here. I hope it's nothing bad?" Joda asked as he eyed the food spread Infront of him. He was starving. Training all morning had sharpened his appetite and he was ready to blunt it again.
"Oh, it's nothing bad. I promise. Let's eat. I'll tell you everything as we dig in." Orion motioned for Joda to eat, to which he wasted no time complying to.
They dug in for a few minutes before Orion started talking again.
"I have registered you for the yearly Gladiating tournament, Joda."
Joda stopped chewing his meat and looked up at Orion as he heard this.
"So soon?" He asked.
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I believe it is the right thing to do. It has come to my notice that you far excel the strength level I pinned you at and I think it a waste to continue wasting time on your training when you don't even need it." Orion shrugged whiles Joda almost choked on his food.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, please. We're not stupid. Also, I'm not blind." Bello spoke.
"Our training these past few days has revealed to me that you're far more skilled than you let on. You're never serious in the training hall during training, yet you always manage to make every attack and defense look so alluring. I am a soldier. One of the best. I was trained by my father personally, and he's the best. Yet, you always manage to make me feel like a complete beginner when we train. So I agree with my father. You don't need our training." Bello finished.
"Er...if you think so. But why a tournament? Why not just let me fight random dudes?" Joda asked with a little worry. A tournament sounded pretty big. He didn't plan on making his presence known at all.
"Oh, you'll fight random dudes alright but you'll fight them as part of the tournament. There's no other choice." Orion answered.
"There's no other choice?" Joda asked.
"None" Bello answered.
"Why?"
"Because there will be no other fights during this time of the year except for the tournament fights. All gladiators who fight during this time are involuntarily participating in the tournament. The king also seems to be interested this year. He has rescheduled the next raid for after the tournament. Everyone will be watching since the time of planting has passed so there's lots of free time, and every slave owner will be participating as well. This is the best chance for me to rack up some profits from your fights." Orion said truthfully.
"The king?, What will he gain from being interested in a gladiating tournament?" Joda asked in surprise.
"This isn't just some gladiating tournament, Joda. It's tradition. A highly profitable and entertaining one. It also serves as a recruitment ground for the top families. The slaves who do well are recruited into the army and their masters are compensated handsomely. Not counting all the profits they make from betting." Bello informed Joda who was beginning to look worried.
"But I have no interest in joining the army. I just want to be free." Joda pointed out.
"Oh. Well, my father is one of the generals in the army. I'm sure he can do something about that." Bello shrugged before going back to his food.
"He's right. If you're not interested in the army, then I'll make sure no one bothers you about joining." Orion assured Joda who nodded in acknowledgment.
"Also," Orion continued. "You should be prepared to face all sorts of people in the arena, Joda. The master has a habit of springing the worst of surprises on the fighters. Be alert." Orion advised.
"Okay. So when is this tournament starting?" Joda asked.
"Next week. It will span over a whole month since the fights will only take place on weekends, starting from Friday to Sundays." Bello answered. "It's fun and bloody. For the spectators at least. Try not to die, Joda."
"I'll keep that in mind," Joda said seriously.
"Also, since I am officially off formal training, can I go explore the town?-don't worry, I don't plan on escaping. I like this house." Joda said as he saw Orion hesitate for a second after his request.
"Sure. You can go check out the town but my guards will have to go with you. Not that I don't trust you but it pays to be cautious in life." The royal Trainer informed his new servant
"Sure. They'll make good guides." Joda shrugged and went back to eating his food. He had a deal with Orion and he had no intentions of breaching his side of the deal. He enjoyed being free on the right side of the law. Thank you.
As the three men ate their lunch, far away in a big colosseum that looked dejected, a big man in an expensive robe with scars all over his face and who spotted a bushy red beard sat in a sheltered booth high up from the sandy arena.
Men stood all around him as he read through the names of 'voluntary' contestants on his scroll. "Interesting," he says as he clicks his tongue.
"The number sure has gone up this year. Looks like the deal with the king is paying off. Good, because now I can prepare my big surprise for these fools. Lil brother, please call the cleaners over. It's time we started our arrangements." The bushy-bearded man said to a young-looking man with blonde hair, brown eyes, and an incredibly handsome face. The same face Joda had seen bidding for him on his first day in the Viking kingdom. It was the young Merchant.
"Yes, brother. I'll make sure they get the news. It's that time of the year again." The young merchant said with a humorless smirk.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone