AN OSTENTATIOUSLY DECORATED carriage lead a long line of wagons filled with cages concealed within crates. They wound their way up from the docks of the Western Empire’s capitol of Golden Mount to the sprawling estate of Shurakh Arln. What the high walls of black stone did not conceal, massive looming trees did. Workers carefully unloaded a large crate in the middle of the private gladiatorial arena on the property. Two men approached Alimar, glancing at it.

“Why do you need me here, Master Alimar?” the burly woodsman asked, irritation blunting his words. He crossed his arms. “My duties to you are clear. I hunt. I capture beasts for your private events. I have nothing to do with them once they come to your arena.” He waved a hand at the crate as slaves worked to dismantle it. “Zuneer is the one that trains them for the arena. Whatever you brought back is his responsibility to train.”

Zuneer snorted. “There is no training wild animals, Urbin. The most I do is assess their temperaments to prepare my gladiators so they live long enough to make it worth the while of Master Alimar’s guests.” Both men stared as servants removed the panels to reveal the pair of children. “What the hell…?”

Alimar, having patiently let the two men quibble, stated, “I want you to train them.”

“Train them?” Urbin exclaimed. “They are babies! Barely old enough to—”

“Did I indicate you had a choice?” Alimar questioned, his voice chill. The men fell silent, averting their eyes. “You stated repeatedly the specimens I brought before were too old and set in their ways. Young mature quickly in the Southern Wildlands by necessity. They may be perhaps seven years of age, but I assure you, they are quite clever.

“Their youth should make them malleable enough to allow you to train them to serve me properly.” He pointed at Doom. “The gromek is to be trained in your arts, Urbin. Once he is grown, I expect him to be capable of handling the larger beasts that daunt you.” He added, “Include healing in his instruction. His other responsibility is ensuring she remains mended. You have seven years to make him productive.”

“What am I supposed to do with her?” Zuneer demanded, hands on his hips. “It takes me years to develop an adult into a passable gladiator, and that is if they want to be a gladiator from the start.”

“I will allow you five years to see to it she is turned into the best fighter alive.”

“Five? Even seven is barely enough, but five is too little!” Zuneer crossed his arms. “I have my limitations, no matter what you threaten me with, Alimar. Why only five for this one?”

The sorcerer looked at the girl glaring up at him. “I intend to use her to attend to my failed experiments as well as serve as my bodyguard when I go out once she is matured.” He smirked. “So make certain she is good enough not to deface herself too much. The paradox of deadly beauty is an effective distraction when dealing with my other business associates. According to those who tended the slave cages on the ship, they will answer to Tiwaz and Doom. Those names amuse me.”

Zuneer and Urbin traded troubled looks, then nodded, stating in unison, “Yes, Master Alimar.” Each man took their new charges by the arm, starting to lead them away in different directions. The youthful pair grabbed each other’s hands and held fast to one another. No matter what the men did or threatened to do, the pair abjectly refused to be parted.

Alimar smirked at the show of defiance to him and loyalty to each other. “House them together. Use their loyalty to each other to enforce their obedience.” He looked over his shoulder at Zuneer. “And do not break the girl. I reserve that challenge for myself.” The sorcerer turned and strode out, leaving the children to their trainers.

Urbin and Zuneer regarded the pair, crossing their arms to stare at the children who, once released, linked their arms and sat on the sands. “I’m open to suggestions,” Urbin stated after a drawn out silence. “I don’t even have children of my own, much less know how to deal with…that.”

Zuneer considered the two. Finally, he crouched down to be more on eye level with them. “We won’t lie to either of you. You are not safe here. Once Alimar owns you, there is always the risk of punishment. Even when you have not done anything to warrant it.” He reached into a pouch and pulled out a piece of jerky. Doom snatched it out of his hand, sniffed it, then tore it in half, offering part to Tiwaz. She looked away, refusing it despite her stomach’s loud growling.

“You need to eat,” Doom murmured. “This is safe enough.” She shook her head, remaining silent. “Tiwaz, I don’t care if I’m beaten for anything you do or don’t do, but you must eat to be strong. I do not want you hurt because I could not convince you to eat.” After some time, the girl took the offering, eating it with the tiniest of bites.

Zuneer watched the interaction with sharp eyes. “Ahh. I see how it is,” he muttered. He looked at his counterpart. “Suppose the first thing to do is get them penned. I know just the place to keep them. Be easier for you to avoid the rest of my business.” At the other’s quizzical expression, he explained, “The beast stalls along the outer wall of the arena. You frequent them already and it’s away from my lot.”

Urbin grunted. “Surprised you don’t want to toss her in with the rest of your gladiators.”

The man snorted derisively. “Half of those numbwits don’t have enough brains left and Alimar does not give them enough females to sate them. Sure way to break her spirit is letting them louts get on her before she can defend herself.”

The woodsman studied the girl. “Given the look in her eyes, at least two or three will lose their nads before they’d learn once she is trained.”

Zuneer shook his head, amused at the observation. “No doubt. Besides, the beast stalls are bigger. If the gromek grows to even a fraction of a size Alimar’s told me about his kind, he’ll need the space.”

“Fair enough.” Urbin took Tiwaz by her free arm and pulled her after him. Doom growled, dragging along as he held onto the girl while digging in his heels. “Lead the way.” Zuneer nodded, letting the woodsman handle the pair. He picked up one of the torches as they entered the arena’s main structure and pulled open a heavy door that led into darkness.

The newly lit torch illuminated the corridor. Heavy doors and ceiling-to-floor bars lined the wall opposing the arena. Zuneer stopped where the bars met a half wall. He opened the solid wood door, letting Urbin shove the pair inside. The thump of the door closing echoed ominously.

The arena master went to the wall, lighting the wall torch across from the pen. “There. I have an extra key for this stall in my apartment upstairs. We need to discuss how to work this.” Urbin looked at the two youngsters with a frown. “I have northwatch mead. Won’t wash the taste of what Alimar wants from our mouths, but it’ll help.” The other man looked up with a grateful expression and followed him, leaving the pair alone.

Doom prowled the space they found themselves. Save for the door and bars on the outer wall, it was nothing but smooth, bare stone from floor to ceiling. Once done with his search for any possible exit, Doom looked back over at Tiwaz. The girl huddled in the darkest corner. She hugged her knees to her chest and hid her face in her arms.

Crouching in front of her, the gromek put his hand on her arm. “You cannot give up now. You must stay strong and fierce.”

“I do not know how.” Her muffled voice sounded small and frightened.

Doom looked down for a time. Raising his eyes again, he stated, “I don’t, either. I just know we must.” He looked towards the door. “They want to teach us things. If we do what they want, they won’t hurt us as much.” He took her hand in his. “I will be strong for you. You be strong for me. One day, we will be free. I promise you.” She nodded, leaning against him as he sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.