Behind My Shadow - Book Three

20. Places I've Never Been

"Whoa..." I breathe with amazement as Quill and Cornelius help me up from my steamer trunk.

Once we were approaching our destination, I crawled back into the trunk and the White Knights have since carried me off to the side while everyone else gets settled in their seats.

"This place is...extraordinary," I look around with wide eyes of awe.

Mountainous golden animals form the towering, concave walls of the arena. They stand in a predatory circle facing out, their huge mouths hang open to display their glittering fangs. Enormous, fiery gemstones blaze in their eye sockets and at their feet are colossal chains also carved out of solid gold. Some of the chains rise off the ground to form archways the spectators are passing under.

Despite the arena looking so impressive, intimidating and prominent, it seems as though it truly stands alone in the middle of a lush, temperate jungle. There is nothing else around for miles, I think as I strain my eyes trying to see any other sign of civilization through the dense foliage.

"Ahh, this place hasn't aged a day!" Quill laughs as he gazes up at the arena. He throws an arm around Cornelius' shoulders. "Remember when you used to take me here to watch the chariot races when I was a kid?"

Dad smiles and shakes his head. "I remember you begging me to let you drive one but I would always tell you your -"

"Mums would have your head," he laughs and claps his shoulder. "Those were bloody good times." He turns to me. "What do you think, Adara? Is this what you had in mind for your fifth Labor?"

"Honestly, no!" I laugh and hold my hands to my face as I look the arena over again with amazement. "This place is freakin' insane!"

"How are you feeling, my dear?" Dad looks me over with concern. "You weren't too shaken up during the commute, were you?"

"No, no, that was a blast. And mostly I was in the carriage with the Queens anyway."

Quill groans with exasperation. "Gods, I hope they didn't say anything embarrassing about me."

"No!" I laugh. "They were only telling me hilariously charming stories about you as a baby!"

"Gods," he hides his face in his hands. "I was afraid of that!"

I laugh again and shove his shoulder. "Hey, they were adorable!"

Dad rolls his eyes. "Alright, c'mon you two. We only have a few minutes to get settled before the Labor officially starts."

He leads us through a back passage so I won't be spotted by the crowds until I'm ready to compete. Nevertheless, I still feel uneasy as we navigate down this dusty, abandoned looking passage. I cringe as we walk past cells; piles of chains and faded bloodstains still linger within them.

"Um...what was this place?" I hesitantly ask.

Dad's eyes are downcast. "This is...where the gladiators were kept."

"Kept?"

He slowly nods, sweeping his gaze over the cages as we pass. Sunlight streams in through the cutouts across the walls but nothing can melt away this chill I feel in my bones. "Unfortunately this arena hosted a lot of other games that weren't nearly as jocund as the chariot races..."

"Yeah," Quill agrees quietly. "I can't believe this is where the Court discovered Vyndren for the first time."

"Whoa, wait! What?!" I freeze in my tracks with disbelief. "Are you telling me Vyndren was a gladiator here?"