"Listen, lad," Casalus sat on a barrel, counting coins one by one without lifting his eyes. "From today the fight won't be like yesterday's."
Lucian leaned against the booth's wall, arms folded. A smile plastered on his face as always as he spoke. "In what way?"
"In every way. Yesterday was nothing more than a common bout. Nobody would have remembered it."
"You did though."
That earned him a glance. Casalus looked up at last, his grin spreading, crooked teeth on display. "Because I'm different. I'm the chosen one."
Lucian gave a dry chuckle. "Yeah. And I'm the heir of a high noble family."
Casalus broke into loud laughter that filled the cramped booth. Lucian let out a smaller laugh of his own. A rough pat on the shoulder came with it, an acknowledgment of good humor.
