“No, can’t say he does.” Chortled the other guard. He was a short, fat man with a bristling moustache and a vacant expression. “Can’t say he does at all.”
I sighed deeply, sensing where the conversation would be headed next. “Gentlemen, I’m sure we can come to some agreement.” I reached down and slowly pulled the coin purse from my belt, fishing through it carefully. “Maybe we can all agree I’ve gone out for a stroll, and my goods have already been delivered inside?” My fingers felt the familiar coins within the pouch, but a realization froze my hand. This isn’t the currency of this world. I don’t even know what an appropriate bribe would be. I settled on two silver coins, drawing them slowly from the bag and handing them to the tall guard.
A grin quickly flashed across his face, and I knew I had guessed correctly. He turned the coins in his hand, and after a moment of observation, the grin disappeared as his brow furrowed. “This isn’t Imperial currency...” Squinting, he eyed me more closely. “Where you from, boy?”
I smiled pleasantly, hiding my growing disdain as best I could. “Far away from here, friend. Though, I have to say, silver is silver, no? I’m sure a discerning man such as yourself would know where to spend it.”
“Aye…” The guard leaned down close to his companion to share a series of whispered words and facial expressions I couldn’t quite read. He handed a coin to the short man, who admired it eagerly with a large, toothy smile. Eventually, the tall guard straightened, a wry grin on his face. “Aye, we could do that. But it would be well out of our way to do so, and losing valuable time...Well, I’m sure you understand our predicament.”
I stood a moment in silence, choking back the bile I felt rising in my throat. Not five minutes in this damned world and I’m already being gouged! “Of course, of course.” I reached into the purse and withdrew two more silver coins, handing one to each of them. “It’s been a pleasure chatting with you, but I really must be going. I have trade affairs to attend to, and people to meet.”
The short man laughed stupidly. “Right, right. ‘Spose it’s time for you to head in.” He reached back with the butt of his spear and banged the gate twice. After a short pause, the wicket gate creaked open. “Nice meeting ya.”
I nodded silently as I pushed between the two men and headed to the entrance. I will not forget your faces, assholes. “Enjoy yer stay in Yoria!” The tall guard called after me, laughing. I grimaced. Your face, especially.
Past the gate, a cramped street extended out in three directions. To my left and right, a narrow road with dozens of stable stalls followed the curve of the wall. Ahead, the main road through the gate ran only forty or fifty feet before making a sharp turn and disappearing behind a slightly askew three-story building. The rough cobblestone road was uneven and broken in multiple places. Though I heard the sounds of a large crowd of people, I seemed to be alone at the entrance aside from a young boy sweeping a nearby stall and a single guard sitting disinterestedly on gate duty. Curious, I slowly began to follow the main road towards the noises ahead of me.
The buildings that lined the road on either side were crammed together in a haphazard manner, as if they had been constructed on top of one another whenever the need arose. Many were in a state of disrepair with broken windows, tattered shutters, and extremely faded paint. It would seem the city of Yoria is not the bustling metropolis I had hoped it was, I thought to myself in disappointment. I guess I’ll just find a place to sleep, get information on where the real capital of this place is and leave as soon as-
As I rounded the corner, I was taken aback by the source of the noise: An enormous open-air market sprawled out in front of me, filled with thousands of people. Stalls of all shapes and sizes were aligned on what looked like a rough grid made of dark blue marble tiles. Small pop-up stands comprised of a single counter and an awning, wagons unhitched from horses and used as storefronts, and more permanent half-building like fixtures with display cases and lock boxes all commingled together, continuing on as far as I could see into the distance. The market spread all the way up to the city wall to my left, and to my right…
My breath hitched in my chest in surprise. As I exited the alleyway into the market proper, I was finally able to see what the tall line of buildings had hidden from me until now. The city expanded for miles in an enormous circle, all seeming to surround an imposing fortress on top of a distant hill. From where I was standing, I could make out lush areas of greenery, sections of lovely multi-colored houses, and even a decently sized lake. More of the city was, I assumed, hidden behind the keep at the center. The sight was truly beautiful and not at all what the ramshackle buildings at the entrance had implied. Huh. Never judge a book by its cover, I suppose.
***
2. FIRST ENCOUNTERS
As I wandered through the crowd, I was impressed by the total diversity of the market. The foods for sale had a rich, smoky aroma, with plants and animals I couldn’t recognize prepared over roasting spits or chopped up for stews. Random trinkets, clearly imbued with some sort of
