Rodrick found himself back in the arena. This time felt different. The seats were all empty, but he could still hear the roar of the crowd. The atmosphere felt hazy. He tried to speak but he couldn’t even hear himself over the crowd. He looked around blankly, for any sign of what was going on. When he turned behind him, he saw The beast staring him down. It’s pained eyes paralyzing his mind, and making him unable to move. Rodrick unwillingly dropped his weapons, as the beast slowly inched his horn towards Rodrick’s neck. Rodrick stood there helplessly as the horn pressed on his throat. Then with one quick thrust, The beast stabbed him.

The attack made Rodrick burst his eyes open and jerked upwards in a sitting position. Cold sweat was running down his forehead and he was breathing heavily.

“Take it easy son!” Someone said as they pressed him to his back. “It was only a bad dream.”

Rodrick’s eyes finally adjusted and he realized he was on a bed. He looked over at the person who was tending him and saw it was Haytham.

“Where am I?” Rodrick asked.

“You’re in one of the palace guest rooms.” Haytham answered.

Memories of the victory against the monster flooded his brain. Pain from his wound followed. Rodrick clutched his shoulder and noticed it was bandaged up.

“How long was I out?” Rodrick asked.

“Two days. You were the last one to wake up.”

“Where is William?” Rodrick asked as he looked around his big room, only to find fancy furniture.

“He’s been spending a lot of time with our king.” Haytham said, a small hint of jealousy in his tone.

“He’s recovered alright?”

“I am good at what I do.” Haytham answered. “I gave him some of the medicine I made him and he should have a fully functioning arm in another day or two.”

Rodrick gingerly pushed himself up onto a sitting position. “And Gjörn, what about him?”

Haytham’s face turned grim. “I’m sorry to say that Gjörn has taken very ill.”

“What?” Rodrick asked, loudly. He then began to push himself off the bed, but the pain was overwhelming him.

“No, you need to get some rest.” Haytham objected.

“I need to see him!” Rodrick pleaded.

Haytham just rolled his eyes. “Fine but drink this first?”

He handed Rodrick a clay bowl with some clear liquid.

Rodrick just stared at it suspiciously. “What is it?”

“Some medicine that will help your arm heal.”

“I don’t get it.” Rodrick said. “How do you know so much about medicine, I thought you were just the grandmaster of the arena.”

Haytham just smiled. “And our king loves arena fights. So he made me, his personal Magi advisor, in charge of them.”

“Oh, you’re a Magi.” Rodrick said. He then looked back at the liquid. Reluctantly, he drank the bitter medicine down. His pain immediately began to recede.

When he got to Gjörn’s room, the first thing he noticed, was the smell. A putrid stench of rotting flesh assaulted his nostrils. The sight was even worse. Gjörn’s battle wound not only hasn’t healed, but looked infected. Pus filled skin was gathering along the edges of his gash. His caretakers were to busy shooing flies away instead of bandaging his wound.

“By the gods!” Rodrick said in horror. “Why isn’t he healing? I don’t understand!”

“I don’t know.” Haytham said worriedly. “I studied Orc anatomy for a good while. This should have been healed a long time ago.”

Rodrick heard Gjörn grunt, as he slowly moved his head over to face him.

“How are you feeling, boy?” Gjörn asked with a sickly cough in between words.

“I-I’ll be alright.” Rodrick answered. Tears forming on his eyes.

“Don’t start weeping for me yet boy.” Gjörn said weakly. “I’m not dead yet.”

“Has William come to see you yet?” Rodrick asked, choking on his tears.

“No. Why? Have you seen him?”

“No. I only just woke up.”

“If you see him, can you tell him to stop by? I have something to tell him.”

“Of course.” Rodrick said. Wiping the tears from his face.

___________________________________________

“So what do you plan on doing after your friends wake up?” King Bravos asked. Both him and William were sitting on his balcony that overlooked the palace garden. The sun was setting now. The orange and red colors never ceased to impress Bravos by it’s beauty. He looked over at William who seemed unamused.

“Don’t you mean if they wake up?” William answered coldly.

“Don’t think like that. Haytham is the best healer in the kingdom. I’m sure they’ll be fine under his care.”

“Speaking of which, I didn’t know Haytham was a Magi.” William said. “Does he have any spellbooks I could read? I’m in need of an upgrade.”

Bravos just amused. “In all my years, I didn’t know of a regular person using magic. I thought it was something only the Magi could do.”

“That’s what they’ll have you believe.” William said.

“William?” Someone called out

They both looked behind their chairs and saw Rodrick behind two guards. He had an anxious look on his face.

“It’s alright, let him in.” Bravos ordered.

“Squire!” William greeted. “I didn’t know you were awake.”

Rodrick glanced over at his arm. It was on a sling but looked as if he was able to move it relatively well. Haytham’s medicine was no joke.

“It’s Gjörn, he’s awake.”

“Has he healed yet?”

Rodrick’s eyes began watering again. “He’s really bad. I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

“And what about you?” William said. Seemingly ignoring Gjörn’s state. “I-I’ll be alright. But Gjörn, he wants to see you.”

“Does he now?” William asked. “I hope he has some good news for me.”

William excused himself and followed Rodrick over to Gjörn’s quarters. The smell hit him as well, and he audibly let everyone know his discomfort.

“Wow Orc!” William exclaimed. “You look like shite.”

“You should see the other guy.” Gjörn answered, prompting a smile to form on William’s face.

“Is he going to make it?” William asked Haytham.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen an Orc in such a state.” Haytham shrugged his shoulders. “Time will be the biggest deciding factor.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time.” William answered. “How long before the squire is fully healed?”

“I’d say a week, at most.”

“Alright Orc. You have a week to recover, or the squire and I leave without you.”

“What?” Rodrick objected, loudly.

“Um, I’m sure it will take longer than that my lord.” Haytham interjected.

“Consider it done.” Gjörn answered.

“Gjörn, don’t Listen to him. We would never leave without you.”

“Shut up Squire.” William ordered. ”I can’t spend any longer in this kingdom with a target on my back.” He began to walk away, but Gjörn gripped his arm.

“I will heal.” Gjörn said, with a look of determination in his one eye. “Back in Hera, I was ready to die, but then you came and saved me. I lost everything back home on Thalmüd. I have nothing else.” Gjörn pulled William closer until they were eye level. “I’m going to help you on your journey, and I’m not gonna stop until you have a crown on your head.”

Rodrick’s eyes widened in amazement. He had no idea Gjörn was so devoted to helping William. He then looked at William to see his reaction, but his face was a blank as ever.

“Then you better be ready to leave in one week. If not, you’ve exhausted your usefulness.” William then shook his arm free and walked out of the room.

Gjörn just turned his head and coughed until he closed his eyes.

“He really needs some rest now.” Haytham said, leading Rodrick out of the room. “You should get some too.”

___________________________________________

“I can’t believe you!” Rodrick screamed as he stormed into William’s quarters. “After all we’ve been through together, you’re willing to leave him behind, like he hasn’t saved our arses multiple times? We wouldn’t even be alive right now if it weren’t for him.”

“What would you have me do?” William asked, getting in Rodrick’s face. “Wait around for the Orc to die? So Reiner’s assassins could pick me off? I’m not about to let this small setback prevent me from being king.”

“Oh so that’s all this is to you? A setback?” Rodrick started getting even angrier. “Our friend is dying. But we were never really friends were we? Just pawns on your little chessboard?”

“That’s exactly what you both are!” William answered. “Pawns! Well, maybe in the Orc’s case, he was a rook.”

Rodrick became enraged. Without thinking, he punched William as hard as he could on the mouth, knocking him down.

“Maybe we were before, but not anymore.” Rodrick said, boldly. “You can go start phase two of your plan, alone.”

William held his hand to his lip and noticed it was bleeding. He gave off a little chuckle. “It’s hilarious that you think you have a choice in the matter.”

“I’m done being your little tool.” Rodrick declared. “We can put on our gear and have a rematch if you’d like. This time, you might not win so easily.”

“That won’t be necessary.” William said as he got up while rubbing his hands. Electricity started stemming from his fingertips, but by the time Rodrick noticed, it was too late.

William shot a blast that knocked Rodrick out of the room and into the hallway. Rodrick slammed against the wall, and fell on his side. His eyes blurry from the pain.

William walked up to him and pressed his dagger against his neck. Rodrick’s face froze in fear.

“Ahh that’s the Squire we all know.” He said with a devilish smile. He then noticed blood was starting to seep through Rodrick’s bandaged arm. “Congratulations, you earned the Orc another day of recovery.”

With that he eased his blade off Rodrick’s neck and went back into his room, closing the door behind him, and leaving Rodrick on the floor.

@cbishop

Is this the Krusty Krab?

@mikesterman: I'm behind, man. I'll get caught up in the next week or so. Focused on something at the moment.

@cbishop: William needs his butt kicked a little more.