Ahodans head was pounding. His eyes were heavy, and his hands moved on their own accord to grab hold of the knife given to him as easily as a seasoned warrior. It was an alarming sight, for this was always the part that he never truly recalled or understood. The fog would eventually come and take all his conscious away but not today it seemed for there was this unusual feeling withing him a bright light that seemed to keep the darkness of the purpose of the ink at bay.

He blinked.
Once.
Twice.

He couldn't stop. These weren't his thoughts - he could hardly utter a sound, but it was as if his voice box had decided to close. It was an awkward squeak, leaving him making him more uncomfortable and embarrassed than before.

Lord Derain looked on gazing, contemplatingly at the boy. The original party had settled by now, and the cheers resounded across the vast space. Boots stopped on the ground while others leaned into the ring to see what was inside.

For a moment Aodhan did not understand what they were looking at before he realised, he was the one in the arena and he the one boy isolated from the rest of the children with a knife in his hand and a intention for hurt that was not his own.

It , the sole voice he could claim as his ever-present-sometimes-not friend, had suddenly made a reappearance and began to instruct Aodhan what to do.

The imposing gates at the opposite end of the vast space opened, hinges creaking and screaming as they slowly opened to reveal a dark looming figure.

It was not a being he had faught before, inducing a shiver to run down Aodhan's spine. His hands instantly tightened on the knife. Small as it was, Aodhan knew the only time he could defend himself would be during a close-range fight moment when his flight senses had fled.

The creature stood on four legs, which ended in paws endowed with sharp pointed claws, while its hide was a mixture of fur on the body and feathers as part of its wings. scales covered its neck and belly as it strode into the space layer before it. Chains of iron wound around its body and scares marred the beautiful emerald green scales that once shone like dying embers. Now, it was a pale and unworthy comparison to its former self.

Its head flung back as the chains unwound and recollected at the base of its feat, changing it to the wall with a lone feeble link of chains, allowing it more mobility. Its jaws opened in a loud bone, shaking roar as it cried in fury.

Aodhan widened his stance and waited as the beast charged at him. He had seen its suffering as many had tried to kill it, and none succeeded apart from winning themselves eternal sleep in the welcoming arms of spirits above.

The creature charged. Aodhan froze. It took control.

Dodging to the left to miss a swipe of the animals claws he rolled to the left narrowly missing a wing glazed in razor sharp scales. Strong enough to cut through stone which would have surely killed him as easily.

The knife felt heavy in his grasp as he fought to stay in balance taking a thwarting hit from its swinging tail of fur and membrane. Grabbing hold of the shield left discarded at the corner Aodhan ran as fast as he could until the creature was almost on top of him. The fur that covered its flank was long and rough under his hands as he latched on the end and began his assent up wards. The creature sensing the invasion threw his head up, rearing like a frightened stallion and continued to shake the being of itself.

***

King Zoricus frowned as he watched the gruesome sight before him as the young boy he had involved in the plan slashed and fought in an attempt to secure safety against the creature know as a Detoria. Found in the extreme south of the capital in the desert lands. Its harsh climates ensured the beasts were savage and uncontrollable. The scales were impenetrable and released cooling substances to the body to prevent heat exhaustion while their beady eyes missed no movement. Judging from the scars and the fading red of its colour, Zoricus knew that this creature was old and tired. It had not been treated well here, and it deserved respite from the endless torture.

The boy was doing surprisingly well, dodging and managing to keep alive. However, it wouldn't be too long till an inevitable and  fatal wound would be delivered. They had to move fast and in the most efficient way possible.

Zoricus swept his eyes across his organised group, he silently commanded a small group of 3 to loop around the magician and lord Fusigil to secure any escape from the back and further instructed the rest to strategically surround them from all sides leaving the direction of the arena unguarded. He would let the Detoria have its revenge.

With a final glance at the boy Zoricus glanced at Fravien and smiled. A fearsome smirk filled with promise .

"Work your way inwards from the outer circle keep the deaths silent and quick. I want Fersugil and Derain to be the only ones standing."

Fravien nodded "they don't deserve a quick death."

"They also need to be tried by the sword of immortals so the kingdom knows of their crimes and will forever be remembered for the pain they have caused instead of their noble status." King Zoricus answered.

****
Slowly, the others crept placing each rouge soldier to eternal sleep with hardly a sound. Of course, there were a few. The fighters who struggled were quickly silenced. Lord Fersugil and Derain were too engrossed in the happenings below within the arena to take much note of their surroundings. Their time in position had not worked in their advantage as they focused  more bathing in luxuries than honing their combat skills.A pity really as Zoricus would have loved a last duel with Fursugil if only to watch him bleed for him crimes. 

A few minuets later Fravien sped back into the alcove and waited for Zoricus to finish his own task of securing the exits with his earth magic.
"It's done," Fravien informed when Zoricus was back.

"Fravien get Edward to weave an allusion to seem as if there fallen are still alive. Make it believable, I don't want them to panic before I've got the whole of their plan. From their mouths,"

Zoricus nodded again, and with a slap on the back walked forwards.the shadows he had hid in disappeared taking with them any reflection of his uncertainty. 

"Hmh, what do we have here? I wonder. " Zoricus took slow calculated steps towards the arena and shortly glanced at the scene below. The boy was doing well, but tiring fast. Bleeding from a dozen small wounds he swayed on his feet.

Lord Fursugils face flashed in horror while Derain watched impassive his a mask of aloof superiority.

"Oh, hello, Your Majesty. Are you lost. Perhaps I can escorted you back to your chambers where of cause you will be much safer." Derain answered coolly moving to block me from the arena.

My face darkened. He shook his head. "No, I believe that will not be necessary". With a practied flourish I threw the memory shard as high as I could and whispered the capture spell " El cant pressentra" The crystal glowed a brilliant white before dimming and flowing gently down to float in front of me. I grabbed the piece and shoved it in my tunic just in time to draw my dagger and launch it at the chains binding the dome-like metal cage. With the severance of the main link the other chains groaned. The cage slide from its bound place and slid to reveal a gap in the chain. The monster instantly seezing the opportunty to escape swung its might ail one last time at Aihdan and leapt through the whole charging at Lord Fersugil.  

A piercing scream reverberated across the cavern as it sliced through his arm and growled a low menacing rumble. With a wave of his hand King Zoricus cast a retraining spell while Fravien opened a  portal to take the creature back. With the entrance open the creature recognising the scent of home bounded towards the portal with new hope of peace. 

The metallic smell of blood filled his nose as Zoricus gazed at the whimpering fool next to him, Dorain had run and was currently being detained. 

He dismissed them as little threats knowing his brother would watch his back and moved to the edge of the arena and looked for the boy who was curled up in a ball smaller than he would have thought possible. With astonishing gentleness he lifted him out with his magic and cradling him to his chest slowly walking away from the carnage throwing behind him " Fravien escort them to the prisons, secure them with iron and meet me in my chambers. The rest of you see to the injured and captives".