Lucian stepped back from the pit's edge and let the noise wash over him. The place reeked of sweat and blood, but energy pulsed through every corner. Desperation had been compressed into this single space, creating a raw current that moved through the crowd.
People who lived in shadows during daylight hours carved out their existence here. They gambled their last coins on fists and mud.
Among them were the ones who mattered. The ones he needed to notice him.
Lucian adjusted the strap across his chest and found his footing in the crowd. Quenya hovered close, her gaze sweeping the room for threats.
The pit below filled with attendants preparing for the next fight while the crowd's voices rose again, hungry for more violence.
"Why are we here?" Quenya's voice cut through the chamber's roar, reaching his ear with practiced precision.
Lucian's mouth curved into a grin. "Why else? To fight, of course."
