XIMaster Owyn stepped towards the tall, dark-haired boy standing next to Finn. He pinched the fine hair at the boy's ear between thumb and finger and lifted. The boy's delicate skin stretched painfully. He cried out and tried to balance on tip-toes to reduce the tugging.
“I said, do you understand, boy?”
“Yes, master. Yes.”
“Better. From now on do as I say, yes?”
“Yes, master.”
Master Owyn released his grip on the boy. They stood in an eight-sided open space, the Octagon the master had called it, deep inside Engn. They'd marched for hours from the gates to get there. Finn's head throbbed from the terrible rush and noise of it all.
He'd have no chance of reaching the gates if he tried to retrace his steps. He could recall only an endless maze of clanging metal walkways, around and bet
