Dragon's Archon - Ch. 6 - Nubia - Alpha (Patreon)

When I put on the gauntlets, my understanding of the magic within was instantaneous. It felt like someone had flipped a switch in my head. And wielding them felt as natural as throwing a baseball. However, when Cartha triggered the amulet to cast the teleportation spell, my whole body lit aflame.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. The spell coated me in an uncomfortable heat, like someone had opened an oven that was a few hundred degrees too hot. I tried not to blink so I could get a better understanding of what was happening, but it all happened so fast.

The amulet turned red, and darkness expanded all around us within a microsecond. It pulled us inside, our bodies stretching and spinning in thin unnatural tubes. By the time it retreated into the amulet, we were in the middle of the desert.

I stood petrified, unsure if I would fall apart if I moved a muscle. But my legs twitched, and I stumbled forward in the loose sands. I came out of it rather unscathed. Cartha and Yda stood hunched over, coughing and panting. Sweat dripped from their bodies.

“Are you two okay?” I asked.

“Get this thing off of me,” Cartha groaned, pulling on the chain. She tried to snap it but no matter how hard she tugged, it didn’t break.

“Here, let me,” I said, stepping behind her. Normally, when I wore gloves, doing anything that required dexterity like taking off a necklace would be a problem. For a reason I assumed was magical, I didn’t have that same issue wearing the gauntlets. They felt as an extension of myself.

After unclasping the amulet from Cartha’s neck, I hooked it around my own. The redness of the gem had muted, and I didn’t feel the same magical tingle from when Yda had put it on me prior.

As I waited for the pair to catch their breath, I tilted my head above. I’d always been fascinated by the stars above. Something about the call of the adventure and the endless possibilities of what could be out there spoke to me. And this one was no different.

The beauty of the galaxy above was in full bloom. With the lack of any light pollution, I gazed at the cosmic clouds as they swirled in every color. Just from the lack of the Big Dipper and Orion’s belt, staples for my own sky, I couldn’t deny I was on another world. If it wasn’t for our needed urgency, and the draw of completing my own goals, part of me wanted to just fall back into the sand and spend the night staring at the sky. But that would have to wait.

As I glanced everywhere around me, golden waves of sand crashed against each other. They spread endlessly in every direction. The reflection off of the planet’s rings and moons above provided enough light to illuminate the sky with a soft blue.

After turning all the way around, I spotted our destination. Nubia felt different and familiar at the same time. A city of the Sands, I’d assumed I’d see giant pyramids and obelisks. However, there were none. What I got were massive walls, colossal statues, and buildings composed of sandstone. A lone blackened tower with sharp crowned points stuck out near the center.

The city sprawled in a vastness that surprised me. From my history classes I’d recalled medieval civilizations and cities being on the smaller size with many having a population in the tens of thousands, at max the low hundreds. Nubia looked large enough to hold several hundreds of thousands and made me question whether the other cities on Talis were of a similar size. I could barely contain my excitement at wanting to go in.

“Are both of you ready to go?” I asked, looking back at my companions.

“I—I think so,” Yda said, shivering. “The sooner we get in the better.”

It was clear from her quickened breaths and flushed face she was still feeling the effects of the spell. Her sweat in the desert's coldness likely wasn’t helping either. I would have offered to carry her if I wasn’t worried about falling and dropping her. Instead, I ripped up my tattered cloak to create a makeshift blanket for her and draped it over her.

She looked up at me with a beaming smile and said, “T—Thank you, your Holiness. But what about you?”

“I’m fine,” I said, wrapping her as tight as I could with her pack in the way. “You look like you need it more than me.”

“I wasn’t expecting it to be so cold.”

“The desert nights always get like this,” Cartha said, straightening up. “We’ve got a bit of a walk until we get into the city. We should get a move on.”

“Is there anything I should know before we approach the city?” I asked.

“There will be guards stationed at the entrance. They will ask us questions about who we are and what we will do while we’re there. We’ll have to pay a fee to enter and exit the city.”

“We have to pay a fee to get in and leave?” I asked with a puzzled look. “Is that common?”

“For the majority of the kingdoms, yes. It’s another way for the kingdoms to control the populace.”

“Good to know. We should also keep things more casual. I want you both to call me Devon or sir.”

“What of your family name?” Cartha asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask about that. You two seemed perturbed by it, and so did the inquisitors. Why is that?”

Yda and Cartha both glanced quickly at each other before the priestess let out a nervous laugh. “Why don’t we hurry and head inside? I’m freezing!”

Without waiting for a response, Yda marched forward. There was definitely something she wasn’t telling me, but for whatever reason she didn’t want to tell me, I knew I would coax it out of her eventually. Cartha and I followed closely behind.

The unevenness of the ground made it difficult to do anything other than concentrate on my steps. I’d thought walking on the dirt path was tough, but I wasn’t prepared for sand. It was like walking on a wet floor, each step threatening to send me face first to the ground. After my first tumble, I reassured my companions not to worry about me as I slid to the bottom.

When we reached the pit of the current dune, I used the hammer as a walking stick, stabbing it into the ground and pulling my steps upward. My pride waned as my companions looked at me with looks of pity and confusion. I didn’t blame them. It would be hard to look at someone in my situation flapping around on the ground and assume that’s supposed to be your ultimate protector.

Thankfully, once we got closer to the city, the ground compacted. It gave me a stable surface to walk on. I approached the city’s entrance like an old man hunched over his cane.

An arch of sandstone ascended above the towering walls, creating a gap for two stone doors with carved visages of half-snake humanoids crawling up their surfaces. The doors stood open with six soldiers guarding the entrance, standing near a lit pyre. When they saw us approaching, four of them split from the group and walked toward us.

A thin white cloth etched in gold wrapped their bodies in a thin underlayer. Shemaghs made from the same material donned their heads, only exposing their eyes. Their armor looked more decorative rather than protective.

It covered the upper half of their chests, leaving their stomachs exposed. Their lower half was more of a decorative skirt with stronger patterns of greens, blues, and gold. Metal grieves connected to leather-wrapped sandals protected their feet.

They slammed their spears in unison before the one with cow horns protruding from his head spoke. “By order of the serpent queen, Queen Sekhet, state your business.”

As I leaned up, I could see a half-dozen soldiers standing on the wall with bows ready to rain death should we give the wrong answer. When I glanced at my companions, they both looked to me to answer. I smiled, appreciating their trust.

Part of me wondered if I should straighten completely, revealing my height, or if I should stay hunched over. Without the cloak on, it was easier to see the full length of my body. The thought of walking around, hunched over, the entire time we were in the city wasn’t all that appealing. And seeing that the horned guard was nearly as tall as me left me feeling a bit better about forgoing the ruse.

Straightening to my full height, I said, “My companions and I are looking to enter into the city. We wish to acquire lodging, visit the local market, and make an offering to the Sect of Ikkala.”

“What are your professions?”

“I’m an explorer by trade. The beautiful woman next to me is my wife Yda, and next to her is our bodyguard, Cartha.”

The priestess squealed and covered her mouth. Her cheeks were as bright as the nearby pyre. I let out a short laugh as I waited for the guard’s response.

“From where do you hail?”

My initial thought was Muckbrooke. But I didn’t want to say anything near where we’d last come from in the off chance we were already wanted and word had somehow got down this fast. I assumed neither of the guards would know every small town and village on Talis, so I thought a ruse was safe. I just needed to make sure there was enough truth in it so they wouldn’t pry too deep.

“Cherrywood,” I said. “It’s a small village near Harkwood.” For a reason I didn’t understand, both men glanced over at Cartha before the horned one nodded.

“Very well. You may enter the city pending you pay the defined toll.”

“And how much is that?”

Both men looked at each other before the one said, “One silver per person.”

I wanted to roll my eyes. Only a few hours in this world and I was already getting shaken down by guards. Talis was feeling too familiar from back home.

“One silver!” Cartha snapped. “That’s ridiculous! Last time I was here, it was a copper!”

The horned soldier glared at the huntress. “You can pay the toll or fuck off back to Cherrywood, elf.”

“Cartha,” I said, holding up my hand. “Please do not speak for me.” I turned back to the guards and pointed at my tattered clothes. “Now gentlemen, as you can see by the wear on my clothes, I have been traveling quite a long time. I’m accustomed to many tithes and tolls all around Talis, including the city here. Never in my years have I seen such an exorbitant price to enter a kingdom. However, as a man of the people, I understand the long and arduous hours one sees as a guard. So, how about this—”

I reached into my bag and pulled out two silver coins. “One silver for my companions and I to enter the city, and the other for you fine gentlemen to have your next meal on me.”

Both men glanced at each other. The creases along the edges of their eyes were telling enough of their smiles. After clearing his throat, the horned-guard nodded. “Very well.”

I handed the soldier the coins, and they quickly pocketed one of them. They waved us by and followed closely behind us as we walked forward. Flapping wings pulled my attention to my side.

Small buzzards fought over small bones that still had morsels of flesh still attached. It was when I saw the bone that I noticed the hundreds that littered the outside walls. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the fate of travelers who couldn’t afford the entrance fee.

When I stepped beyond the wall and into the city, I pulled at my face. It felt as if I’d walked through a spider’s web that was covered in static electricity. My whole body tickled as I walked through whatever it was. I turned and looked back, but couldn’t see anything there. When I waved my hand in the same area, I couldn’t touch the strange film.

“Is something wrong?” Yda asked.

“Did you two feel that?” I asked, pointing over my shoulder.

“Feel what?”

I glanced back a moment before I walked forward and shook my head. “Nevermind. Let’s head in.”

Behind the walls, the streets were cleared of any sand, leaving flat stones for the street. There was a lack of hills or unevenness, unlike the surrounding area. Each street and alley were meticulously aligned, allowing me to see for what felt like a mile down the principal thoroughfare.

The buildings all seemed perfectly constructed. The lines and edges of each building were smooth and sharp, as if cut with a laser. Multicolored fabric awnings hung above doorways. Exotic smells lingered in the air from burned incense that stood from wooden holders lying along windowsills. Names and images that represented the business were carved into the walls near the entrances.

Even in the late hours, people roamed the streets. Small shops with open exterior walls served patrons drinks and food as they sat on stone tables and benches out in front. Locals played board games carved from small rocks on a hex grid that reminded me of chess.

I don’t think I’d ever smiled this wide as I looked at all the different species. There were men sliding around with snake-like bodies. There were women brushing their long fox tails. A group with cat, dog, and mouse-like features all drank together while they soaked their feet in buckets of water. The variation and diversity were both exciting and intriguing. I’d never been one for photographs, but I wished I had my phone with me.

“Wow, can you believe all this?” I asked, pointing around me. “This place is awesome!”

“Awesome?” Yda asked, looking up at me with a pointed brow.

“Amazing!” I shouted.

“Oh,” Yda giggled. “Yes, I could see how it is… awesome.”

“There’s just so many people out and about.”

“That’s what Nubia is known for,” Cartha said in an almost annoyed tone. “It’s known as the kingdom where one day becomes many.”

“Do you mean where you lose track of time?” I asked.

“Yeah. Because of the heat, many people spend a good amount of time indoors. For the… services buildings, it’s not uncommon for their patrons to lose days inside.”

“When you say services, you mean what, exactly?”

“Lounge rooms, brothels, bathhouses… pretty much any vice.”

“I know what a brothel and a bathhouse is… is a lounge room used for smoking?”

“Yes, and used for other drugs. Many have caretakers that will take you on hallucinogenic journeys. They also staff healers that specialize in detoxing your body should you push yourself too far.”

“Ah, I get it now. Not really my thing, but good to know.”

As we continued forward, the density of the buildings opened up right before we reached a perpendicular thoroughfare. Along the corners stood small polls of stacked sandstone. Little icons and arrows pointed toward down the streets. I’d already noted a dozen places I wanted to peruse.

Before I could ask where they wanted to go, I turned and saw how far ahead of the pair I was. Even with my slow pace, I stood several feet ahead of Cartha and Yda even further back than she was. The heavy bags under their eyes and slouched shoulders were telling enough that they were exhausted.

Once they caught up with me, I asked, “Where can we stay while we’re in the city?”

“It depends on how long we’re planning on staying,” Cartha said, adjusting her bag. “If we’re staying a few days or a few weeks, a tavern would probably be the best choice. If we’re going to stay longer, a bunkhouse would be a better option. If longer term, then it might be worth looking into leasing or purchasing a home.”

“Let’s do a tavern for now and see where things take us.”

Cartha pointed further down the road. “Then we should head into the trade and sage quarters. The lodgings will be better there.”

“It’s not that much further, is it?” Yda asked with worried eyes.

“Just a ten-minute walk past the military and stockade area.”

“Okay…”

“I’d carry you if I could walk straight.” I said with a grin.

Yda giggled and blushed. “No need to debase yourself for me your—sir. I’ll manage.”

The remainder of the trek was silent as I took the city in. We passed large warehouses full of stocked goods and supplies. Creatures that reminded me of bison with the twisting horns of goats pulled wagons transporting buckets and crates. Small formations of troops marched from their barracks with high knees and taut backs.

The streets opened up beyond the tall storerooms, revealing a street market. Dozens of stalls lined in multiple rows. Those that were open displayed their cheapest offerings on diagonal patterned rugs and their most expensive items behind glass lockboxes.

Everything was on sale. Vendors sold food, jewelry, handcrafted baskets, and even weapons. And just like every vacation I’d ever been on, the hagglers and hasslers were in full effect. Some enticed us with offers of the best prices in Nubia, while others whispered insults as we ignored them.

Beyond the street market, more established businesses took up residence in one of the many stone buildings. The shops in this area were spread further apart, with many having multiple stories or their own walled yards behind them. They were also larger to accommodate front showrooms. Every interior was lit, allowing me to gawk at what they offered.

With Cartha in the lead, we passed several taverns I assumed because of the noise. Laughter, singing, or live music echoed out into the street from the open doors and windows. When the noise faded into the distance, Cartha entered our temporary residence, The Desert Pearl.

The layout of the tavern was about what I’d expected. The main floor was full of circular tables and chairs with booths running along the left side. Further back, a small goblin woman stood behind a fully stocked bar that opened into a kitchen. To my right, a staircase led to a second floor, which I assumed was where the rooms were.

Few customers filled the room with most sitting at the tables drinking or playing cards. Cartha weaved us through. The feeling of someone staring pulled my attention to the booths.

A woman with golden blonde hair sipped out of a silver goblet. It wasn’t just the ornate, eyeless mask or catlike ears that caused her to stand out. Her vibrant red, black, and gold dress with the feathered collar that extended from her shoulders around her back was unlike the nubian clothing customs I’d passed along my way here.

I stumbled forward after stumbling over an outstretched chair. When I looked up, I locked eyes with the goblin woman who licked her hand and combed her thick black hair with it. She looked at me with a hunger in her eyes that both scared me and slightly aroused me.

As I approached, she brushed off her white dress that was stained brown from all the spills and quickly wiped the counter. When she spoke, her voice was deep and throaty, like she’d spent the last twenty years smoking twelve packs of cigarettes a day.

“Welcome to the Desert Pearl, big ’un. Name’s Kissa. What can I do for you?”

“We’re looking to stay in one of your rooms.”

“How long?”

“Let’s start with a week.”

“I can fit you in one of the common bunks, or set you in a private room.”

“What does a private room entail?”

“Two large beds, a pitcher of water and basin which we refresh daily, and a copper discount on meals.”

I glanced back at my companions, and they both nodded. “We’ll take the private room.”

“Eight silver for five days will be forty silver or four gold.”

Interesting, I thought as I reached into my pouch. I’d wondered if their weeks were the same as back home. I’ll need to make a mental note if anything is time sensitive. Also, the conversion of currency seems to be what I’m used to. Ten-to-one.

I pulled out four golds and set it on the counter. Kissa scooped it behind the counter into something before hopping off a stool she was standing on. She pulled a key off of a hook mounted on the wall behind her.

“Gretsch, watch the bar!” Kissa shouted. “I’m taking guests to their room!”

“All right!” a worn voice shouted from the kitchen.

We followed the goblin up the stairs and into a hall of doorways. The wooden doors did little to shield the noise from behind them. Muted snores and animalistic shrills echoed into the hallway from the doorways. Kissa looked back and smiled at me when we passed the one where a couple was clearly having the night of their lives.

After unlocking the door with a metal key, our guide stepped to the side and allowed us inside. The room was rather small and basic. Two wooden beds with what looked to be fur or cotton stuffed mattresses sat against each wall. Two small dressers sat in between them. A basin and jug sat on top of one, and a melted candle sat on top of the other.

Kissa entered the room and grabbed the empty jug before stopping at the doorway. “Breakfast is at dawn and dinner is at dusk. If you want something in between, just come on by the bar. If there’s nothin’ else, I’ll be back with your water.”

“What about a bath?” Cartha asked.

“Bath’s down the hall that way,” Kissa said, pointing. “Just pay the fee at the bar and we’ll set it up for you. It’s a copper for the bath. Three if you need a towel and soap. If you need an extra set of hands, it's 5 copper per thirty minutes.”

The goblin elbowed me and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “But only three for you, big ‘un.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, laughing.

“Well, I’ll let you to it, then. I’ll be back with your water should you need anything.”

“Thank you,” Yda said with a slight wave before closing the door when the goblin walked off. She and Cartha dropped the bags in front of a bed and began readying for bed.

While part of me wanted to stay and watch, the other was too excited and wanted to explore the city. When they jumped in bed, fully exhausted and fully clothed, the second option won out.

“I think I’m going to go check out more of the city,” I said, pointing my thumb over my shoulder.

Yda groggily leaned up, her eyes already half closed. “What?”

“To be honest, I’m not tired at all. You two can stay and rest. I need to get my own supplies and a new set of clothes if we’re going to be traveling a lot, anyway. It will give me time to explore a bit and get more accustomed to things.”

“It’s not safe to travel alone at night,” Cartha said, not looking up from the arm that crossed her eyes.

“I can take care of myself and here—” After counting ten gold pieces from my pouch, I dumped the remaining contents on the table. “I’ll leave the rest of our coin with you two in case something happens.”

“Okay… if you’re sure…,” Yda said, sliding back to the pillow.

“Don’t go too far and get lost,” Cartha said, waving.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, opening the door. “I’ll be back before morning. You two sleep well.”

“Have fun,” Yda groaned.

As I closed the door behind, my hands twitched with excitement. Only I didn’t realize this would be our first and last night at the Desert Pearl.