@DragonSong Steel manacles gripped the wrists in front of him, a sturdy chain connecting the heavy bracelets. His ankles held the same fate, the linked metal ensuring a run would become a shuffle if Boreas tried anything funny. He wouldn't though, he was wiser than that. Attempting an escape now would be practically suicide with the four guards in the room and the many others posted around the small arena outside. No, he had been in chains for almost 5 years, he wasn't about to screw up an escape again from being antsy.
Boreas looked up from staring at the dirt covered floor, hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees. He was sitting in a holding area, where they kept the slaves and prisoners that were forced to enter these tournaments. Currently there were only a few others in the small room, sparsely dotting the benches along the walls, and every one of them were looking down. He didn't blame them, there was a solid chance many of them might die today. There was a solid chance he could die today. He shook the thoughts from his head and returned to staring at his feet. He wouldn't die because he couldn't yet, it was as simple as that.
I'll find you. He thought,
I'll get out of this and find you eventually. Not moments later a guard walked down the steps and entered the room. Boreas's heart quickened.
Is it time?"Frendal Greenwood!" he called out. A rather large man across the room stood abruptly. His eyes were hardened and continued to stare into the ground as he rolled his shoulders. "Time for a show," the guard smirked. Frendal waited patiently as two other guards walked over and unlocked his bindings. He stretched and bulged his muscles silently before moving to the doorway. Grabbing a scimitar from the nearby weapon rack, he walked up the steps and out of sight, the guard following him closely while keeping a hand on his sword's hilt. After a few moments Boreas heard a voice yelling, he made out the name Greenwood, then listened as the crowd erupted into cheers. Boreas closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, letting the sounds of the battle outside drain from his mind. He needed to relax, and he needed to focus, because soon there would be a guard calling
his name...