When the bear-man attempted to stand, the entire carriage squeaked and groaned like an upset cat, making everyone aboard shout angrily at him to “Sit down, damn it” and “Stop that!” Kamnar managed to grip the bench to stabilize himself; some other weaker prisoners jolted forward unpleasantly. He traced the longing gaze of the beastman to a furry gray animal wrapped around the elven girl’s arm, its movements slow and calculated. Kamnar had never seen such a creature, but its snout reminded him vaguely of the wild boars that roam the outskirts of Hel-brok’thar. Why such an animal was here was beyond him; the past few days have been so jarring that he can barely be surprised by its presence.

Those individuals nearest to him – the bear-beastman, the Forest Thorn, the Skytalon, and the Thunderhoof – introduced themselves one at a time, whether they seemed particularly interested in doing so or not, and Kamnar made an effort to memorize each of their names. And though he did not recognize the male elf’s salute, he accepted it with a bow of his head. As for the ones whose names he did not know – the Canopy Strider, the dwarves, and the meek human – they have not gone unnoticed by Kamnar; every moment he has experienced and person he has come into contact with thus far have been molded to the forefront of his mind, stirring and crystalizing, in an attempt to avoid thinking too much about the events – and the individual – that brought him here. Surely, he thought, focusing on the elements around him would be a more beneficial way of coping.

At last, the never-ending quiet ceased as the sounds of a bustling marketplace gradually filled the mid-morning wind, traveling through the carriage’s barred windows. Their little cart-ride seemed much longer than it was to Kamnar; his muscles felt sore and he wanted nothing more than to stretch and breathe in fresh air. Orcs were not meant to be still for long periods of time. But he regretted almost immediately his eagerness to step outside; the distinct sounds of clashing steel, cheering crowds, and bloodcurdling cries hit his ears, and a dreadful pit in his stomach emerged. The cart came to an abrupt halt, forcing some prisoners, including Kamnar, to lurch without warning. His impending destiny as an Arena combatant matched the despicable eyes of the smirking, greasy lanista, who had pulled open the cart’s back door, making the slaves shield their eyes from the sudden burst of light.

[i]End of the road, my friends,[/i] the aristocrat said smugly. Kamnar hesitated at first, but stiffened himself and stood up. Being closest to the door, he followed the lanista out of the carriage and down the ramp, a nearby guard promptly slapping chains on his wrists, binding him to each subsequent exiting slave and forming a long, single-file line of future Arena fighters. He looked around at the lively, bustling city, and realized at once that this was Lairea! Kamnar had been here many times on diplomatic duties; he recalled that there was an extraordinary marble forum lined with infinitely tall pillars just a few blocks west of where they were, where he often attended political meetings. Somehow, this beautiful city which used to incite fond memories in him now seemed to fill him with unease; the domed buildings appeared to loom over him like menacing heads.

He was broken out of his brief stupor by the guards pulling his chains and forcing him to move forward. The lanista’s words echoed in Kamnar’s mind as he walked along the familiar cobblestone pathway, [i]permanently for some of you,[/i] as if this were an entirely new concept to him; he was not going to die here if he had any say in it, but he realized that if he were going to survive, then he might have to slay those he had met and acquainted himself with today. That small, incessant voice from before warned him not to become too attached, and though he knew it would be the smart thing to do, Kamnar found the thought distasteful at best. If there were any possible way to control their placement in the Arena, then he would rather see to that than face them in battle.