The Forbidden Compass Trilogy: Book One- Caged
Chapter 9

Krade watches warily as they enter the arena through an underground tunnel lit with torches. They stop with a jerk, and the Hunters lead them roughly out of the cage to a group of pedestals. Krade is tempted to burn the entire place down but holds back. They are stood on the pedestals and chained with blood iron at the ankles and wrists. Mahna goes ghost white when they attach the iron to her wrists. The metal stings a little, but not as much as the cage, which was most likely stronger. The Hunters stand together as servants flutter around, cleaning them up, washing the blood off his wings, Irelle’s leg, and Fenn’s hands. They are forced to stand there like statues as the arena keepers inspect them, only allowed to talk when asked their names. Irelle tries to refuse, but one of the arena keepers whispers something in her ear. She turns white and relents, reluctantly. When they come to him, he answers, keeping his voice and face blank of emotion. Luckily, he’s had a lot of practice.

The arena keepers exchange hushed words and coins with the Hunters, and the Hunters go on their way. They are unchained from the pedestals and shackled at the wrists, and Irelle around her neck. She looks pained and angry at being cut off from her connection to water. I hope she doesn’t do anything stupid. Whatever the arena keeper had said must have shaken her because she doesn’t fight back. They also clamp down his and Mahna’s wings with heavy irons so they don’t try to fly. He doesn’t think he could fly anyway, the tunnels being so narrow and his wings so new.

They are lead past cells, some empty while others occupied by hollow occupants. Krade sees a few elves and fairies, some dwarves, and several moskeys; woodland creatures with dangerous teeth, large, comical ears, and sharp claws. Draci and nymphs are the most common. There is only one dragon, a female, her hateful expression reminds him eerily of the only other dragon he’s met. Many are scarred or wounded. Most of them are devoid of emotion, after killing so many; many who had been their cell neighbors or friends.

They are placed in cells, Irelle and Mahna across from Krade and Fenn. The cells are made of blood iron bars that allow the occupants to see their neighbor. The guards remove their restraints and lock them in their cells. Krade stares after them, feeling his hands heat with anger. He looks down and sees that they are on fire.