Читать книгу Sinbad: Rogue of Mars - John Garavaglia - Страница 17

Sinbad made it all the way to the gateway of the arena. His escorts tended to each door and opened them to reveal Zhar Akhdar’s coliseum. Without hesitation or being forced onward by his oppressors, Sinbad walked into the battleground.

The arena was impressive and filled with grandeur. However, no matter how magnificent it was for the dignitaries and spectators it was also terrifying. The entire structure was formed all over the caves. The viewing terraces resembled honeycombs in a buzzing beehive. The ground floor was surrounded by numerous doors and gates with at least two guards stationed in front of each and every one. Sinbad and the rest of the gladiators knew what was at the other side. Only a lucky few had survived to tell the horrifying tales of what savage beasts that been collected all over the planet. Only to be summoned again to encounter another bizarre monster again to gratify Akhdar’s bloodlust.

Like a merciless child, Zhar Akhdar, treated his prisoners like insects trapped in a bell jar. Watching sadistically how long they could survive without any air. And how he relished pulling the wings off them in order to prolong their suffering.

Sinbad lifted his head to the royal balcony to see Zhar Akhdar accompanied by his lovely sister Aella, several alien notables, robed courtiers, advisers, and bodyguards stood in attendance. Akhdar was tall and slender with light green skin. He wore the traditional attire of his regal family, including many valuable golden rings adorned on his thin claw-like fingers. They were drinking wine and eating very rich delicacies native to the Thulian culture. Towering marble columns supported the high ceiling. Carved Martian hieroglyphs embellished the decorative cornice running along the tops of the walls.

Akhdar enjoyed being the center of attention. He just couldn’t get enough of it. In all the evil he has done, his

JOHN GARAVAGLIA

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