Walking back through the ludus, Rowan felt a great deal of relief and accomplishment. Though his arm stung from the wound, he'd survived and made a bit of a reputation for himself. The Flying Asieren would be on the lips of every man, common or rich, that had seen his feat. With this reputation would certainly come benefits, perhaps even a high station amongst the gladiators. Good food and a warm bed would be all the perks Rowan required, though, and a sharp pair of axes to cut down his enemies with. As he was fantasizing, Rowan suddenly realized that something had changed. They were to be given their own cells tonight, and that was fine, but the absense of the female gladiators unnerved him. Were they planning some kind of initiation ambush? Rowan tensed and slowed a few paces behind the man in front of him, just in case they were walking into some sort of trap.
His misgivings proved unfounded however as the female gladiators, and indeed the rest of the ludus, were waiting for them not with swords, but with food and drink. Rowan relaxed, taking a good look around the table. The men and women were laughing and eating away, in celebration of the new gladiators. Rowan felt a tug at his rags and looked down to see Durro beckoning him to take a seat with him and his mother. Rowan ruffled the boy's hair and obliged, quietly greeting the woman and respectfully acknowledging Vorgis. Rowan filled his plate and Durro's, and passed the boy his meal with a smile.
"Eat all of it, you'll need it to grow big and strong like your father." he said before taking a huge gulp of beer from his cup. Rowan bit into a strange looking fruit and let the sweet juices drip down his chin and fingers, absolutely enthralled with the feast. He found a piece of meat about as big as his two fists stacked together and went to work. In all the merriment, it took Rowan a while to realize Gaius was not his usual self. The huge bear of a man was hardly eating, or talking, or even drinking a drop. The body of a bear, the heart of a doe Rowan thought. Gaius acting so strange was not good for Rowan. He would need to find a way to cheer his fellow Asieren up quickly, before he did something rash. Rising to his feet with a leg of meat in one hand and a half empty mug in the other, Rowan addressed the table full of people with a hearty roar of laughter. His black eyes scanning the whole table and making note.
"A toast!" He roared. "A toast to the mighty Jamuhka, a fast friend and an even faster fighter!" He raised his glass and nodded at the Amon'tyr.
"And to the mysterious Belkin! You may have started as a piglet, but today you grow to be a strong warrior!" Rowan repeated his acknowledgement to the Pingla.
"And to the noble Lahar, who may have lost a brother today, but has gained so many more."
"And to Typhon, may Morgal embrace him." Out of respect, Rowan let some of his beer spill down into the dirt.
"And to Vokrash, our wizened mentor!" Rowan gave the old Asieren a pleasant smile.
"And to Gaius, may the life you live be better than the life you take." It was something Rowan's father used to tell him as a boy, and he had strategically placed Gaius second-to-last in his speech and recited the quote hoping that it would draw the man's attention and resonate with him.
"And..." Rowan's coal black eyes rested on Antonius. He gave the poor Imperial such a look as to burn a hole straight through him. Rowan's hate for the man was amplified by the beer in his body, but he restrained himself. This was not a time for hate, after all.
"And to Antonius. Every family needs a black sheep, they say."
It was the kindest thing Rowan could think to say to the Imperial, and at least he implied that Antonius was part of their "family". When Rowan had finished his toast, he raised his cup up high, sloshing some of the beer around and took a hefty gulp. Taking his seat once more, he could only hope his show had accomplished his goal.
