Ark - Survivors Lost In Time Book 2- Time of Thieves

Day Thirty-Eight

It took a week but we finished the event complex in time for announcements to circulate and sightseers to fly overhead as we put the finishing touches on the buildings. Today would be the events everyone was so excited for, tribes from all over had come and been camping outside the complex gates for days awaiting the start of the games. We expected the games to last three days and were busy building previsions for everyone expected to come.

"So I suppose Paul and I owe you an apology for being wrong about the turn out," I said from the window of our small apartment at the top of the colosseum, I could see the smoke from the cook fires on the other side of the gates. I turned to look at Mejo, he lounged nude on our small bed, a grin on his face.

"Yes but I was not going to point that out," He laughed, "It has been a great week though getting to build this, did you think when we started working on those plans that it would turn out so well," He asked me, I sat down next to him on the bed.

"I am glad we ended up making the dining hall large enough to seat a hundred people like you wanted originally." I stated.

He laughed again and pulled my mouth down to his, a knock at the door interrupted his advances. "Lord Mejo?" Paul's voice came from the other side of the door, "I believe our guests are ready for opening ceremonies," Mejo groaned.

"Can we have opening ceremonies in five minutes," I slapped his arm, "Ten minutes?" He asked shrugging, I stood and straightened my tunic and went to the door, I opened it for Paul.

"I believe our Lord will be ready in a few moments, I will help you gather everyone into the courtyard," I said, I glanced back at Mejo and stuck my tongue out at him as I shut the door behind me.

"You know it could have waiting another few minutes," Paul said as we descended the stairs to the ground floor of the colosseum.

"I know but it is more fun torturing him sometimes," I said as we strolled out to the gates, the sunlight was warm, but the air was cold, I am glad that the armor I wore was thick fur to keep me warm. "Let us hope that this goes as well as Mejo is wanting it too." I said, we unlocked the main gates and pulled them open. When the screeching of the grinding wood and stone stopped we stood in the gateway to meet the eyes of dozens of the Ark's citizens. "Um," I breathed.

"Welcome citizens," Paul called, "Please follow us to the staging area, Lord Mejo will be waiting to greet you," He called, "I hope," He whispered so only I could here.

It clouds of dust and with shouts of joy, we led the crowd through the gates, many had brought animals to fight, goods to sell and most of the tribes had come with all of their valuables to be able to enjoy the time away from their territories.

Thankfully as we lead them from the gate to the courtyard before the great hall, I saw Mejo standing boldly in the large doorway, his hands on his hips, his resplendent purple armor reflecting the early morning light. As we walked I surveyed the crowd looking for any of the Nomads but I saw none. Mejo noticed my grief as I joined him with Paul in the entryway, he watched me for a moment before turning to the crowd.

"Welcome all of you, we are so glad that you all made it here to be part of this historic day. We expect the events to last at least three days, no one is required to stay the entire time, you are free to leave when you have had enough of the festivities. I know that many of you have brought goods to sell, we ask that you set your stalls up near this building so that we can keep the market confined to one area of the grounds. Those of you that have brought animals to fight we ask that you place your animals in the enclosures at the other end of the complex," He called gesturing across the crowd.

As Mejo spoke Paul and I watched the crowd, we had taken it upon ourselves to serve as security for Mejo and the other Faction leaders that had arrived the night before. I was right no one from the Nomads had come to the event, I had hoped that our Host at least would make the time to come and see what we had managed to create. A group near the back of the crowd caught my eye, a tribe of seven all dressed in matching green and black ghillie suits. While most of the crowd had their helmets removed as they listened to Mejo, this group kept their helmets on and all but their leader were watching the other members of the crowd instead of Mejo.