It's not the first time he's heard of the place calling itself the 'Citadel', but it is the first time he's been interested enough to come. As refreshing as the sparring at the arena had been, walking back afterward he'd kept thinking of when he'd first learned the sword, kept finding himself trying to imagine his old teacher's face if Cort had seen how clumsy Roland had been. It doesn't sit well.

So when he sees the Citadel, he follows a whim and goes inside. Roland's never been in it before, knows little about it, but he's sure if he looks around long enough he'll find someone.