"Why don't you go find a bathhouse while I patch Roran up," said Nul.
"You sure?"
"Yes, look at his hands. He needs healing salve and a couple days to rest."
"What do you think?" Kell asked, looking at Roran.
Exhausted and out of breath, Roran only nodded and waved Kell off.
"Alright, if you're sure. I'm probably going to find some company along the way then, don't wait up for me. And Roran, I'll expect to see you everyday until the event."
Nul waved Kell off and she headed out, her spear bouncing on her shoulder as she left the training arena.
"You okay?" asked Nul.
Roran nodded again.
"Let me see your hands."
Roran held up his bloody and blistered palms for Nul to examine.
"It's not too bad. You lost a lot of surface skin but it should heal with some salve and a little time. Come on, I brought some with us."
Nul sat Roran down and produced a skin of water and a small jar of salve. They poured water over Roran's hands, causing him to hiss in pain. Then they scooped out a dollop of healing salve and plopped it into Roran's hands.
"Go ahead and rub it around, make sure you get it anywhere you're missing skin."
Pushing through the pain, Roran smeared the salve between his palms and all over his hands. The salve burned at first but then began tingling as it numbed the pain.
"Better?"
"Yeah," said Roran, his voice hoarse after all of the exertion.
"Good, let's get them wrapped up."
Sitting across from Roran, Nul produced some bandages and carefully started binding Roran's hands. They moved slowly to avoid hurting him and took the time to wrap each individual finger so he still had full mobility.
"Thank you," said Roran.
"Don't thank me yet. It will take a couple days to heal and Kell is going to keep pushing you."
"I know, but thank you for being kind. You've done a lot for me, showing me around, explaining things to me, helping with my injuries. You're a kind person."
"It's a transactional relationship. We take care of you and you help us reach our goals."
"You mean Kell's goal," said Roran.
Nul blinked at him.
"You don't really care about killing the Kings, do you?"
"Why do you say that?"
"You don't hate the arena, not like Kell."
"What do you mean?" said Nul, "Kell loves fighting."
"She loves fighting but she hates the arena. She doesn't like the audience or the other champions or the people making us fight in the first place. Kell may love fighting but she hates the arena."
Nul scowled at Roran for a moment before saying, "You do realize this is why she chose you, right? You're too observant for your own good."
Roran smiled. "My mom used to say the same thing. So what is your goal, to support Kell? You clearly care about her a lot."
Nul nodded. "To support Kell and to keep her alive. I also want to see the Kings fall, but I'm not as motivated as Kell is. I just don't like seeing people suffer the way they do in the arena."
"You're a kind person that wants to help others," said Roran, smiling.
Nul rolled their eyes. "Don't go thinking I'm a good person, I'm also a champion, I've killed people in the arena too."
Roran shrugged, "But you still help those you care about and are kind to everyone else."
"Let's get back to the apartment, you need a bath."
Roran let the conversation drop and followed Nul as they climbed to their feet and left the training arena. Back in the apartment, Nul helped Roran draw a bath. The tub was big by Roran's standards, but tiny compared to the places Kell liked to bathe.
Careful not to get his hands wet, Roran settled into the tub and relaxed. The hot water soothed his aching muscles and the salve had completely numbed the pain from his hands. For the first time, Roran felt like he was back home, back in the tub he bathed in as a child. All was right with the world and there wasn't an impending death sentence looming over his head. Closing his eyes, Roran let go of his worries and just enjoyed being alive.
"You're more muscular than I expected."
Roran startled awake.
"Karyn?" he said, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Nul said you might need some help getting out of the tub with your hands being injured and all. Apparently you've been in here a while."
"Yeah...I uh, I guess I fell asleep." The water was cool around his body and his toes were pruned and puffy from being in the water too long.
"Here, I'll help you get up and dry off."
"You don't have to do that," said Roran, suddenly self conscious. "I can do it myself."
"Don't get shy on me now. You're not the first naked person I've seen. Hell, you're not even the first naked person I've seen today. Come on, let's get you dried off."
With Karyn's help, Roran climbed out of the tub. Roran wanted to take the towel and cover himself but his hands were stiff and numb. When he tried to take the towel it slipped from his fingers.
Karyn laughed at him. "Oh stop being a baby and let me help." She collected the towel from the floor and proceeded to dry him off. "Nul had your clothes washed, so those are clean as well."
"That was nice of them."
"Yeah, Nul's a real sweetheart."
"What are you doing here?" asked Roran.
"I bumped into Kell this afternoon and she was looking for some company. We got back from the bathhouse a little bit ago and Nul asked me to check on you."
"I see."
"I heard you signed up for the Iron Gauntlet."
"The what?"
"The Iron Gauntlet, it's the event that's occurring next week. The announcer always gives it a stupid name. I'm told you gladiator types fight in so many events you never bother using their names."
Roran shrugged. "I guess not. Are you surprised, you predicted I would fight in it."
"No, I predicted that you would do well if you fought in it, though it would cost you."
Roran nodded. "I guess I'm willing to pay the price now. Do you know what it will cost me?"
"Nothing important but everything you care about."
Roran stared at Karyn. She stared back.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I read it in tea leaves mixed with bone ash and lizard poop, if you want sense go ask a scholar."
Once dried and dressed, they moved to the living room. Kell was lounging on the couch reading a book, her spear leaning against the wall within easy reach. She'd abandoned her leather jerkin and breeches for a loose cotton shirt and pants. Her hair was up in its usual ponytail, still damp from the bath.
"Did you have a good nap? You know, you could have just napped in the bathhouse, the tubs are bigger."
"I don't think he meant to fall asleep," said Karyn. "And I told you not to put your hair up until it dried."
Kell rolled her eyes and dropped the book. She sat up, as Karyn went over to her. Producing a hair brush, Karyn undid Kell's ponytail and started brushing out her short hair.
"So, you probably won't be able to hold a sword for a couple days," said Kell, "But we should still run you through some calisthenics and mobility exercises. Come back here tomorrow and we'll keep polishing your skills. On the day before the event we'll fill you up with good food and you can relax and recover. And then," Kell waggled her eyebrows, "Showtime!"
Roran nodded. "I should get going then."
"You're welcome to stay, though I intend to be busy for the rest of the evening."
"Busy doing what?" Roran asked. It was late and Kell wasn't even dressed.
In response, Kell grabbed Karyn and pulled her into her lap. "Take a wild guess."
Karyn squealed in surprise but didn't resist, settling into Kell's body.
"I'll head out for the evening. You two have a goodnight."
As he headed for the door, Kell called out, "Night, see you tomorrow." Followed by Karyn saying, "Have a good night, and ignore the broken soldier!"