85 Alex (1/2)

As Will walked away with Maya, Alex watched them with slight hesitation. Though he knew the prince had done him a favor which he would never be able to pay, he still felt like it was dangerous to be holding onto such a wealth of gold. ”He didn't even take back his crystal.” He looked down at the swirling crimson vortex within the stone.

Alex put the gold in his pocket and walked out of the arena. He could feel the announcer's greedy gaze fall upon him as the crowd finally departed. The show was over today, and they needed to gossip with the rest of the city about the fight between the Crimson Dawn and the Crimson Prince. He knew he would be hearing of it for many months.

”Kid! Come here!” The announcer boomed from his own seat. Alex obediently followed his order and walked to the announcer podium. ”I know the prince gave you something,” he brought his hand out expectantly. ”What is it?”

Alex put his hand in his pocket and took out fifteen of the twenty gold coins. ”This will be enough to buy me and my sister out of your service, right?” He gave the fifteen coins to the announcer.

”I believe I said fifteen gold coins, yes.” His eyes shined with the amount of gold one fight produced. ”If you want, you can leave immediately, but your sister will have to produce fifteen gold coins herself.”

”That wasn't the deal.” Alex complained. ”You said fifteen gold for the both of us!”

”I did.” The announcer stroked his beard. ”I meant both of you give me fifteen gold to end your contract.” A greedy smile spread on his face as he looked down on Alex. ”You could always stay and help her pay off her debt, or we can always hire her out to some of the young lords for a while. I'm sure she will follow you soon.” He chuckled as he saw the young man's face pale.

Alex thought about the young lords and what it would mean to have Lucy sent to them. It was as bad as saying they would send her to a brothel. His anger surged forth, if the announcer were to pay attention, he would see red sparks coming from the young man's eyes.

'Stay for now.' Alex almost jumped out of his skin as he heard a familiar voice within his mind. 'You won't be there for long, I promise.' Alex could feel the anger resonating within every word within his mind.

”I'll stay to work off my sister's debt.” Alex resigned himself to his fate. Perhaps the prince would buy the both of them out of servitude. He couldn't help but remember the look of interest he saw within the young royal's eyes as he fought with him.

”Good, good!” The announcer boomed with enthusiasm. ”You brought in quite a crowd today! Not many can go toe to toe with the Crimson Prince and gloat about it!” He smacked Alex on the back. ”You did good today!”

The announcer put the fifteen gold coins in his coin purse, then produced twenty copper. ”Take your sister out and get her some new clothes.” He handed the copper to Alex. ”When you return, make sure to give your lineage weapons to the quartermaster before dinner.”

'Get your sister and go to the Crown Embassy. We will talk more there.' The voice spoke within Alex's head again. He bowed to the announcer and left the arena.

'What do your days look like most days?' The prince asked. 'Do you always fight?'

'No,' Alex spoke through their connection. 'Most days he has me fight, but others I'm used for manual labor.' He walked down the street towards the busy part of the city.

'Do they train you to use the crystals?'

Alex shook his head, then remembered that the prince was nowhere near him. 'No.' He thought. 'They put us in a cage with a bunch of other people, then use us for a free for all. We train with these battles, many people don't survive. The ones who do go to the arena.' He thought back to the many battles he had within that cage. The announcer would put his sister with him for the free for all as incentive for him to win. He knew that Alex would always protect Lucy.

'Don't worry, your days of fighting in a cage are almost over. As for your sister, you both can stay in the embassy with me and Maya. We have just finished unpacking and it seems too large for the both of us.' Alex felt a rush of excitement along with a hint of nervousness.

The walk back to his living quarters consisted of a lot of twists and turns within the main roads of the city, but then turned to the alleyways. Alex made his way through the maze of alleys and stopped alongside what seemed to be an emergency shelter from the weather.

He knocked three times and waited a moment.

A panel slid from the door revealing two eyes from the other side. ”Crystals.” A voice sounded as another panel slid open underneath the first. A hand appeared upturned, waiting for the crystals.

Alex emptied his pockets as he had a hundred times before. He put the many rings from his fingers in the hand, followed by a few stones he had just in case. He looked at the hand and his eyes widened. He had completely forgotten that he had put the storm crystal in with the others. He saw for only a second the crimson cyclone within the stone before the hand closed and disappeared within the door.

'Don't worry too much.' He heard Will within his mind. 'That crystal isn't worth more than you or your sister's lives.'

Alex sighed as the door swung open and an old man climbed out from the shelter. ”Your sister is waiting for you in the sleeping quarters.” He patted Alex on the back to motion him forward. ”She's been waiting for you to take her for some food.” His kind eyes beckoned him forward.

”Thank you, Mister Amory.” Alex bowed to the old man and went into the shelter.