Being led in the column of bodies Raijens mind was trying to juggle with many thoughts. From where they were taking them, to what it is they bought them for. Trying desperately to shut his mind off, to think about something else, Raijen focused on his training. On the teachings of the masters and principles, they were ruthlessly forced to take as their own.

Yet his mind would chase those questions even more aggressively the more he observed his surroundings, almost naturally looking for escape routes and possible shadows to hide into. Wondering what the drapers would think of him as they observe his decisions.

“Pathetic! If the guards are sweeping the area, the only possible locations to hide is somewhere under or above, and I don’t mean the bloody crates. Considering your scrawny walking corpses you might get lucky if you pull yourself into the window or find a sack of hay.”

They knew all the details, all of the likely hideouts for the new boys. We learned fast that the sack of hay and stacked crates are the best way to get randomly beaten up with the stick or being thrown in the crate across the street.

Looking around trying to figure out where they were taking them, Raijen realized the look of the city started to change. From the central square where the trade was happening, with the shops and houses being crafted from the gray and yellow stone to the edge of the town. The further away from the fountain, they went the more stone gave way to the wooden walls and roofs.

The shops were replaced with workshops for planks and stone. The fruits and wine were replaced by the black bread and smell of meat, because of the war so close to the city most of them didn’t dare to leave the Merques. Raijen saw hardly half of the workshops being in use at the moment.

Running out of the stock, they must have heard about the raiding parties outside of the walls and merchants are the ones doing all the profit. As long as they have the balls to go out and get the new goods, they will keep getting richer and richer from the war, the braver the better.

Staring at the empty shops Raijen saw few children hiding inside, playing games with thin cloths wrapped around legs and palms.

Wonder how long it takes for a city to run out of the food, or I might be just overthinking it. In the end, they just bought a bunch of slaves for fun, how desperate can they really be?

If we go long enough we will probably meet the wooden shacks of the poorest.

Changing direction four times, the houses changed once more, this time giving way to the iron bars embedded in the stone foundations of the two meters high wall and then transforming into a beautifully constructed wooden amphitheater. Raijen couldn’t imagine why it was in such a style. But it didn't take long for them to be led into one of the reinforced heavy gates.

Taking the sun off of his skin and replacing it with torches, changing the fresh air into the husky and heavy smoke creeping into their lungs forced tears into everyone's eyes.

Exiting on the other side of the gates they entered the courtyard, covered in the shadowy corners under the canopy stood soldiers in the light armor, swords on their hip with spears and bucklers in the hands. They all had white sash with a yellow shield wrapped in chains around their forehead preventing the sweat from their hair to obscure their eyes.

Thirty men were training on the sand with each other or hitting dummies with the wooden swords, axes, and spears. The scene reminded Raijen of his own training in the clan, but more sophisticated, flashy.

For the masses. They are real bloody gladiators. Do they expect us to fight in the arena as well?

Raijen felt a rush of excitement run through his body, being a slave was one thing, but gladiators had to be better. From what he could remember the men fighting for the pleasure of the common people had it always somewhat easier.

As long as you please the public you should live long, maybe even get out. If they are the same as the one I remember though.

There were five men led inside the arena with him, all lining up before the terrace dominating the entrance into the building. With a similar style as most of the buildings in the mountain, pillars, and terraces on the front doors. With columns decorated by nature and animals, the depictions in front of Raijen were different from the mountains, instead of the forest, they portrayed gardens. And instead of wild lions and wolfs, these shoved horses and birds.

Is there a connection or is it just similar architecture for all the people on this continent? How small is this place?

“Master Tulien of the house Atraga!”

Bellowed one of the men with an iron sword on his hip and whip in his hand. All of the men in the yard stopped, lined up and faced the terrace. As the master of the house walked on the sun to look at them, all lowered their heads. Raijen quickly followed as the rest of the new arrivals.

Lifting his right hand with a palm towards to sky his voice carried across the arena.

“Welcome to the house of Atraga! From today on you will be given one chance and one chance only. Prove to me that your life is worth more than the price I paid for your miserable existence and you get the chance to gain something more than just a miserable life in the mines. If you can even survive long enough to get there.”

Pausing he studied each of the men for a moment, not sparing more than a second to any of them before lifting his left hand in the same manner.

“On the other hand I can guarantee you, you will get your pride back. The humiliation you suffered so far will be allowed to be forgotten in the pursuit of higher things than just yourself. You will get the chance to fight for something more than survival, for something greater than just yourself. This house.”

Putting his hands down, grabbing the railing, his smile turned dark, with black skin and narrow eyes their new master continued.

“Fail me, and you will never see the sky again, you will never feel the sun on your skin again and you will never breath fresh air again.”

All of the men were holding their breath, without realizing it Raijen let out deep breath himself, the men possessed the presence that was not to be ignored. That didn’t allow to be overlooked.

“But prove yourself, and you can have it all and so much more!”

Thirty slaves behind Raijen cheered raising hands and calling his name. By pointing at Raijens group the cheers stopped.

“You five will now fight with one of my warriors. Try not to disappoint me by dying before I finish my lunch.”

Sitting back on the chair, five female slaves went around him placing a tray with food and carafe of wine next to the dark-skinned men's left hand. Raijen couldn’t tear his eyes off of them, not seeing women so beautiful for so long stirred the blood inside of him, from a desire to lust, his mind wandered. The words of the master rang in his mind and he turned to the men who seemed in charge.

Pointing at the guy next to Raijen his voice carried for everyone to hear.

“You, against Bargos.”

Tossing the wooden sword in his direction the new slave picked it up and turned to his opponent. Getting a closer look at all the other slaves, Raijen was brought into the arena with, he realized they were much older than him. In their early twenties for the youngest and around thirty for the oldest. They all were huge with bulging muscles looking like steel and arms as thick as Raijens legs.

The idea of fighting one of them made his arms shiver.

Why the hell am I here? Do they really expect me to fight them and stand a chance? Or was I more like the new meat to be grounded and pummelled by the gladiators and let's see what comes on the other end of this?

Anger flared in Raijens guts, but he suppressed it even faster.

I fought bigger opponents, I was thought how to beat them. And one of the things that get you killed faster than anything is to get rilled up over bullshit which doesn’t mean anything to anyone.

Looking to the terrace his head tilted to the side.

They might have completely different reasons for me to be here. Or they might actually expect me to perform well.

Getting out of the way to the impending fight Raijen stood still, focusing on his breathing to calm his nerves and slow the heart that was pumping the blood into his body faster then he needed.