The now Meat was pushed towards the gates in-between the guards standing near them, who checked the wooden number plates before shoving the convicts further.

Some sentry seemingly satisfied, grabbed the one they were searching for and said:

"Not your time yet mate, you a special dish for tonight in need of further seasoning, ha ha!"

With this, the supposed desert was separated from the larger group no longer being sieved through but instead thrust full force towards the giant door and their fate beyond it.

He was dragged aside towards a small alcove hidden behind a large harsh fabric resembling fur. Once forcefully seated, the guards left them with the rooms occupant after covering the entrance fully.

"There you are boy, we almost missed you and put ya through the same grinder as the rest, what a waste of prime meat would that be, ay? ha ha, ha!" - shouted the overseer seated from across.

Sprite the son of Miller, that was his name, just fumed in silence while looking towards their conversation partner

"Och common boy, do not be so gloomy, we all have little time here left. Some way shorter than others though, heh"

The overseer continued after being rewarded with an intensified glare

"Don't anger yourself to death for the amusement of your fairy ancestors. I did not put you aside if only dogs' death awaited you my friend, hell no"

"You see, the one you "wronged", grand theft och my, had a special request for you..."

At those words the boy released a growl from the gag they were put in

"I know I know, I sympathize, truly, but you see even me or those guards, all those that are lowered here will eventually die to someone's amusement. Once your explicit death is requested from the top, nobody will risk the severance of death to goods trade we have here. You will be forced to act your part whether ya like it or not"

"But you see, we received a counter-offer alongside to theirs, which seems tempting and requires a cooperation on your part my friend. Who knows, even though you will certainly die, at least, maybe, you will get a chance for revenge before you give us your last breath to trade with the outside world"

The overseer and the boy leaned towards each other to perform the rites of the deadly trade

"You see, there is an opportunity before you, by coinciding events, internal and external factors. What you can achieve with small help is this..."

***

Once the fallen from the "hunt" where dragged away from the makeshift, constantly rebuild, ancient nowadays arena (to the howling of the audience above) - Sprite was pushed in with their hands still bound and the remaining gag's presence getting itself known once falling onto the dirt.

A voice from above boomed while he was gathering himself up and the gates behind him closed:

"Welcome citizens! Welcome to our finale! This here wretch performed the grandest of thefts, he stole the noble insignias of the Probone house themselves! Let it be known far and wide what awaits those that conspire against our noblemen, who defend us from all the world's dangers!"

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

With that, a murmur overcame the crowd once two cranes became enlightened, lowering cages with two beasts inside towards the arena.

The boy, seemingly agitated, started jogging back and forth the arena.

This was an act of course, as they were instructed to look for a sharp stone left by one of the "hunters" closely to the door once they left.

Once found, they sat down and started to free themselves from the binds, all the while watching aforementioned cages coming down.

Free, they unfurled the bindings and started to take out their now slightly "upgraded" into extra holes gag. With it, they swiftly started shoving the acquired ropes and finally, they were armed with a makeshift slingshot.

One thing today's arena had a lot were stones, some even extra specifically delivered to appear normal but in fact ideal for his weapon's ammunition.

With this, he begun his salvo with wrath and a lot of force

First shot went seemingly wild, hitting the dome of the arena and the runes flared up, enlightening the audience for him.

Next one hit the battlements from which the audiences seats begun.

"Ladies and gentlemen it appears the cancerous miscreant strikes again with malice against the Imperium. We are going to see a caveman being eaten by Ghorgs!"

With this, the cranes sped up their delivery of creatures that are born with more spikes and sharp teeth than normal flesh.

Sprite then started to shell the cages, seemingly in rage and at random what awoke the so far only murmuring crowd.

Woop woops, shouts and laughter could be heard with every stone that bounced from the metal being lowered with hungry animals inside. But once the distance and angle was known, he struck onto the chain welding of the left cage as instructed before with stunning accuracy, shot after shot. Finally, It broke and the Ghorg's cage fell burying it in metal and carnage below. The crane supporting the cage recoiled and as if by said accident and leaned further into the magical dome protecting the audience. Such event deemed impossible, in fact was the promised external help.

Now the dome had an opening, conveniently placed where he had to hit a somewhat perfect shot.

Once again he begun shelling the dome to light it up and get a better view of his target, once sure he begun shooting the battlements to better judge the distance.

Meanwhile the last Ghorg was lowered into the arena and let loose. Its hunger first led it to the carnage left by its comrade, but what little was left there did not satisfy it for long.

It bounced, and sped up towards sprite himself.

He knew this was it, now or never.

He spun his sling, in ever familiar since he was a kid pattern, spun, put extra body movement into it as much as he could to give it the most possible power and shot.

The projectile sped towards the battlements and the gap created by the leaning crane. And he saw no light of the dome, but he heard the cry. The cry he hoped he would hear of the Ghiliard Probone, hopefully fatally struck by him.

All this took place as the wall of teeth reached him and consumed.

After that, it was only darkness.

***

(shortly before the event's finale, in the alcove with the overseer)

"Ya see boy, its not quite common but sometimes we get those that tried to be heroes at the wrong time. Its not your fault that the drunk you took off that girl and thrashed was a nobleman in disguise, but it brought ya a gift of an object being found in your dwelling and grand theft conspiracy charges. But that man is vile and made many enemies, some of which are willing to give you a chance. And get support for their security upgrades bill alongside while we are at it. All this with your well-known slinging gives you a chance for revenge on the man who thrashed your girl, ended your life and paraded her in front of your nose before you were lowered here."

T"here is one last thing I have for you before we let you out there, an extra honor if you will."

That said they moved towards a wall, separately guarded and not easily visible from the entrance. It was covered in many, many numbered wooden planks, even those almost fully rotten remaining undisturbed where placed.

"Ya see, while I was mean to those that went in before you, their fate is the same as mine, I did not wish them bad but me and mine want to live a bit longer. Everyone though, whether a complete wretch deserve remembrance. Those wooden planks we removed from them before they were shoved onto the arena, they are all placed here. Few of us can do so ourselves, and that honor now falls to you."

"Here take this"

And the boy now armed with a charcoal, placed their wooden plate numbered 182745 onto the prepared nail in the wall and wrote below the following:

{Sprite the son of Miller was here}

The boy did not know it, but in the arena he struck true, more true than he or anyone ever though he would.