One of the guardians raised a hand at them and boomed, “State your business here and do not attempt to enter without permission. Consider yourselves warned-if you value your lives, heed our warning and go back the way you came.'
Karven adjusted his scales to reveal his enormous body towering beside them, and lowered his head to meet the guardians on their level. “Vartan travels with me and has my permission to enter the city. His purpose is only to trade. I understand your caution, but there is no need for concern here. Please step aside and let him pass.”
The guardians squeezed their sword handles and retracted their weapons back to their original states. They both bowed towards Karven and resumed their positions.
“Great Councillor, please accept our apologies,' said one of the guardians. 'Vartan's entry is granted as an exception with your permission. There are only traders from other worlds within the city at this time, as it is not yet the season for your world’s trade festival. We hope their offerings will suffice. Will you grace the city with your presence today, Councillor Karven? Should we alert the Council?”
“No need to alert anyone,” responded Karven. “I will not be entering tonight, and will await Vartan’s return here.”
“As you wish, Councillor. We will watch over him closely to ensure his safety. No harm will befall him within our city. Please, Vartan, walk through the gate — you are safe here,” said the other guardian. He beckoned for Vartan to come inside.
The guardians both pushed on a device hidden from view in the back of the statues. The magical wall hummed as a pulsing purple slit appeared in the dome, which then widened and created an open gateway to allow him through.
The voice of Karven filled Vartan's mind. Vartan, remember that you carry with you a great deal of dragon and elven treasure. Do not waste it. How you trade is entirely up to you, but make sure it is a worthwhile trade and try not to spend too much time.
Vartan nodded in agreement, and walked through the opening to the city. As he stepped through, the sheer scale of She’Ma’Ryn came into view. Until this moment, Vartan had thought that Greenhaven was the largest city in Marithia. She’Ma’Ryn contained a spiderweb of streets crowded with both small and large buildings. Smoke bellowed from the many forges and occupied buildings. In all directions, guardians patrolled the streets. There were literally thousands of them, all of them heavily armed.
No wonder nobody ever tries to enter the city. Do these guardians ever sleep? thought Vartan.
A gate guardian turned his head towards Vartan and cocked it with curiosity. No, Vartan, we do not sleep. As we are creatures of magic, we do not require what you would call sleep. And we can hear you when you speak through your mind, just as we can hear the thoughts of anyone else who visits our city.
“I imagine that would come in handy to eliminate theft and crime?” asked Vartan.
“This is true, and we enjoy a mostly crimeless city as a result. We have zero tolerance for crimes, and theft is punishable by death.”
Vartan's face paled. “Stealing is punishable by death? That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think? What do you do to murderers?”
“The law is the law, and we serve the law, not question it. For our city to exist as a safe destination for many worlds, we need to adopt the highest levels of control. All crimes against the safety of the city or the people within the city are punishable by death. This is something that we make abundantly clear to anyone arriving here. Speaking of which, you may want to take a look at the interstellar portal. Be sure that it is only your sight that nears the building as it is off limits.”
In the centre of the city was a gigantic structure surrounded by yet more guardians. The building looked unlike anything he had ever seen. Its great doors were heavily guarded, but the building itself appeared almost like a living creature. Resembling a flower, its many metallic layers opened and closed like massive petals. It connected to the central beam of light which shot up and out of the city. Vartan stopped in his tracks and stared at it with his mouth gaped wide. 'I have never seen anything like that before.'
One of the guardians raised a finger to the building as the other turned to return to the gate. “Vartan, that is the only area you are not permitted to enter. There will likely be plenty of things here that you have never seen before. You are our guest, and as such, you are allowed to trade at any building with a raised flag. The raised flag signals to you that it is occupied with traders who are ready to conduct business. Is there anything in particular you are seeking?”
Vartan's imagination ran wild with ideas, but he remembered Karven's words. “Unfortunately, my time here is short. Where can I buy weapons and armour?'
The guardian pointed out one of the larger buildings to the north. “That is the District of Bloodshed; you will find what you seek there. You are lucky to visit the city at this time, as the traders are just preparing new stock for the upcoming trade festival. You will get first choice of their wares.”
Vartan nodded his thanks and boldly headed down the indicated path. On the way, he couldn’t help but take notice of other traders in the surrounding districts. There were beings of all kinds within the buildings. Some were human and elven, but most were clearly not from the world of Marithia. One district was alive with colour and activity. Strange music emanated from a building within, its beat making his heart pump faster with excitement.
It wouldn't hurt to take a little look, would it? he thought.
Wheeling his cart, he approached the district and took note of the flying flag. It appeared to be made of silk and lace, but it flew unnaturally slowly, as if it were in slow motion. Suddenly a tall voluptuous woman approached him. Her skin was a dark shade of grey; her hair was eerily translucent, and her eyes glowed blue. She extended a gloved hand to meet his and walked him toward the district's stores as she spoke with him. Her voice was almost a whisper. 'We don't usually have outsiders visit the District of Pleasure before the festival. Welcome, I am Madame Flarantine, and this entire district belongs to me.'
He felt a tingling as he passed the district's flag. She stopped near the smallest of buildings, with pink flames on its torches. The building appeared inviting and Flarantine leaned back on the door, extending her unnaturally long right leg from within her silky black dress. The straps of her red heeled shoe wrapped around her shapely calf and ended just below her knee.
Vartan smiled and bowed his head. 'Thank you for the warm welcome, Madame, but I am short on time and am just passing through to the District of Bloodshed.'
Flarantine pouted her blue lips and husked, 'Well, this is disappointing. I was hoping for a customer tonight. You do realise that this area is enchanted, don't you? Time slows down here. A day in the district of pleasure will only cost you a quarter of your time. After all, we can never have enough time for pleasure, can we?'
Vartan raised an eyebrow in disbelief and turned to look back. The guardians in his view were moving at a slug's pace. 'You weren't joking, were you?'
'I don't joke,” she said a grin. “It's not in my nature. Are you sure that you don't want to spend some time with me, inside?' She peered over his shoulder and her eyes twinkled. 'You know… Time spent with me would not even cost you even one of your gems. In fact, it would buy you time with me in the future. It is said that my skills are the best in our corner of the galaxy.'
Vartan blushed and began to walk further down the street.
Her voice called out from behind him, 'Your heart belongs to a lucky woman. True love is a rarity in these parts. What is her name?'
Vartan turned to her and his face paled as he watched Flarantine shake her head of hair and transform into a perfect image of Helenia.
Approaching her cautiously, he blurted, 'You can't be serious!'
'I doubt that is her name,' laughed Flarantine heartily.
Staring at her from head to toe, his eyes widened. 'How in Marithia did you manage to look exactly like Helenia?'
She cleared her throat and Helenia's voice spoke back to him. 'Well, darling, I am not the best in the galaxy without good reasons. I have an ability to look inside your mind and take the form of anyone in your memory. Whatever tempts you.' Approaching slowly, she extended her arm to lay her hand on his shoulder and slipped her other arm around him from behind. 'Don't worry; I would never betray your trust. What happens here… stays here.'
Vartan tensed as she lay her lips on his neck and whispered in his ear. 'Have you ever wondered what it
