Once, I had been close to him in an adjacent holding cell, before the onset of a series of arena games. He was sitting calmly, as one who was at peace with the world on his bunk biding his time until his match started, when he noticed me examining him. He had turned my way and stared me directly in the eye. My eyes had locked with his and I had looked deeply into them searching for answers. At first there had been a flat glassy nothingness, which was disturbing in and of itself, but then his eyes had started to gleam as if from some unholy fire from within. I had felt like I was being seared by fire from the inside out. I'd had to break my stare and look away.
I had been soaked in sweat, as if I had just come through a grueling ordeal. My actions had seemed to amuse him and he had started to laugh in an inhuman squalling cackle that was nerve jarring. He'd cackled insanely the rest of the time that remained before his match began.
Coming back to the present I continued studying the hooded figure within the room, noticing the similarities I felt that he shared with the crazed arena fighter from the past.
Suddenly, he spun in my direction seeming to sense my study of him somehow. I ducked below the window sill, and even though I was sure that I hadn't been seen by him I still felt exposed to the whole world, as I clung to the side of the citadel beneath the window.
A pain filled cry emanated from inside the room, "Run Roric! Save yourself!"
After a brief moment of hesitation I flung myself recklessly back down the way I had climbed up the side of the citadel vowing to myself to avenge Treorna's suffering, if it was the last thing I ever did. I leaped onto the remaining horse and raced out the side gate moments before it clanged shut.
I had barely made it thirty yards past the gate, when I was almost knocked from my saddle by a blow to my back. Holding onto the pommel of the horse, with one hand to keep from falling I reached back and felt for what had hit me. An arrow shaft was lodged deep in my side.
I couldn't do anything about it now. I had to get away from the city first. The whole citadel had suddenly come alive like someone had kicked over an ant hill.
I made my way rapidly out of the city following the same route I had taken into it earlier in the day, only this time pursuit was close behind.