Chapter 253: Way into the East 2

"The old city of Thalab. It’s roots stretch as far back as verifiable history would allow. It’s name etched there in the archaic books and maps of the ancient world. And even back then, the city was more often than not called the Old Merchant. A form of endearment for those who hailed the metropolis home, even to this day, while simultaneously serving as derogatory term as well, venting the envy of those who coveted it’s wealth and prestige. The title also stood as the best example for the strong mercantile spirit the city has always possessed, as well as it’s long history, which was deemed old even by the ancient people’s of the time." Nizam spoke rapidly and efficiently, as though he was reciting from a book, which he most likely was, giving an extensive overview of just about everything regarding Thalab in response to Eve’s many questions.

He also seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit as well.

"But in addition to the city’s long standing tradition of commerce, it also has another, more bothersome spirit. One as deeply engrained in their way of life as the flow of goods and Darr atop the decks of merchant vessels. Defiance. Ever since it first entered the fold of our empire during the reign of Cyrus the fifth, the predecessor of my great grandfather, the Beloved of Battle, Azrael the second; the city has been a constant hot bed for civil strife. With a riot or revolt happening in it’s streets every few years, which has led many of my ancestors to simply indulge the city every few years with whatever they wanted at the time, as long as it is within reason, since it would’ve been far less expensive otherwise. Although, this trend has been cut in recent years." He finished with a subconscious glance at me.

"How very fascinating." She muttered, her attention unflinching from his words. "And you said these so called ’merchant lords’ are the most powerful and ancient powers within the city?" She asked

"Yes and no." Nizam corrected. "They are indeed the true masters of the city, with their influence having previously been far and beyond any governor the state sent to manage the massive metropolis, but in terms of heritage they are exceedingly poor. For in comparison to the truly old houses of the world, they could be called little than some upstart nouveau riches. As unlike the rest of the empire and the wider world for that matter, which holds noble bloodlines with great regard- with the exception of the great city of Herimissa maybe, which is quite similar-the Thalaban people could not care less. Instead placing all the value on the degree of wealth one possess. In fact, it isn’t all that odd for a merchant lord family to change every few decades, whether it be due to incompetent descendants, assassination, sabotage, unification through marriage or simple bad luck in the notoriously fickle world of marketplaces."

"Though what you say is true my prince," The voice Horus cut into their conversation then, saying "you will find very few merchant lords left within the walls of Thalab nowadays. His majesty has done much to cull their numbers to near extinction after their last uprising."

"True." Nizam simply nodded, vividly remembering the day Thalab burned under his brother’s command.

"Why the sudden interest in Thalab and those snivelling vermin they hail as merchant lords?" I asked, catching a brief break in their seemingly perpetual talk.

"Your words from yesterday." She replied simply. "They alerted me that I’ve been neglecting some fairly sizeable opportunities to expand my powers. Particularly in the east."

"Oh?" I mouthed.

"I’ve been mainly focusing my efforts on Appethus these past few months, since it’s the largest and most populace settlement in the area. But even after so long, my influence remains infantile. Mostly due to how oppressive your control over the city is. Making crime a near impossibility there. But tell me, is what Nizam just described not seem like the most opportune place for my roots to properly break through the soil, comfortably implanting my influence in the area?" She said.

"And let me guess, you will take control over the eastern pirates as well?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course." She answered. "But after I properly secure my power base in the Thalab."

"They’re all yours." I shrugged. They were a useful card to have certainly, but if all goes well then the the world’s greatest naval superpower would stand by my side in this life. Besides, it isn’t as if I would be losing them if I handed them over to her.

"Thank you." She reached up and pecked a kiss on my cheek.

"My emperor, we’ve arrived." Abraham’s voice then broke our brief moment, as we rounded the final corner to behold the famed walls of Thalab.

Unlike most other cities, Thalab was not built upon a vast fertile field of green and gold, but instead built nestled in between the suffocating embrace of a small maze of incredibly tall rocky outcrops the colour of light brown.

A colour scheme that continued onto the city walls and palisades; as well as the guards’ uniforms, who we easily passed by without much trouble, since to the unobservant eye, we looked nothing more than a paltry party of vagrant vagabonds under our tattered hoods and hunching gaits.

Once inside, we bore witness to the vast cove, where the ancient city was built and carved from the surrounding stone, and it’s awe inspiring emerald waters, that were forever littered with commuting ships, too busy lugging it’s loads across the waves, to pay proper attention to the beauty around it.

And yet despite all this, the experience was immediately tarnished in my eyes, when I was figuratively assaulted by the bustle of the marketplace. Which seemed to begin right at the gate’s entrance and spread all the way down to the docks.

The surrounding topography did an amazing job to keep the city’s hustle and bustle contained, but that only served to exaggerate the deafening noise to those of us now within.

"My emperor." It was just as I was adapting to the disorienting sensations of perfumes, spices and the constant, unending heckling and shouting, that I heard a familiar voice echo from behind me in a controlled whisper.

"Isaac." I turned around to find my Grand Chamberlin and Shade Corps Commander behind me, smiling happily under the hood of a cloak much like our own.

"I would welcome you to the old city of Thalab your majesties, but I think a more quiet venue would be more appreciated?" He asked, eyeing my Eve, who’s eyebrows were tightly knit and her fists clenched so tightly they looked ready to sprout in a red bloom of blood.

I too then noticed her condition, and realized that having already lost three of her senses, her remaining two have grown far beyond the limitations of ordinary men, so this city and it’s cacophonous noise was an ill place for her to remain.

"Yes. I think that would for the best." I quickly said, grabbing her hand and quickly leading us away from the unwanted ruckus.

We swiftly abandoned the main street, departing the racket of the marketplace, which proved then to be something much easier said than done. For it seemed that through every road we hurried through, there was a new market, bazaar or fanfare stuck in our way.

Thankfully, Isaac seemed to have already memorized the city’s entire layout, as he deftly led us through the alleyways without the need to further suffer the city’s noise, until we finally reached our destination.

The Hyacinth Moon Inn branch of Thalaban.

We did not enter through the front of the establishment, and instead went through the back. Also known as the tradesmen entrance, where we sped past the kitchens and anyone before us, and up the stairs, where I then quickly entered the first room I spotted, utterly uncaring if it was already someone else’s or not, and laid her down upon the bed.

Isaac meanwhile quickly went to handle all the necessary matters with the inn, not that it needed much, considering they were our people, masquerading as ordinary employees of a chain of inns.

’I should’ve brought Yara with us.’ I lamented my decision to convince my Eve to not bring her right hand woman with us considering the risks tied to our current task, but she would be undoubtedly the most qualified person to care for her in this moment of weakness.

Yet as I continued sitting beside her, I felt a finger of hers begin to zip across my skin in intricate and deliberate patterns. She was writing, trying to convey a simple message to me without the need for further noise.

’Go. I’m fine.’

It seems her ever potent pride had been damaged that she was laid so low by mere noise, and disliked looking so feeble before me.

I merely chuckled at this, and then left after giving her a peck on the forehead.

"Is sister doing better now?" Nizam asked, as soon as I stepped out of the room.

"Yes." I quickly assured him. "She was merely unprepared to handle the degree of noise, especially after so many silent nights in the desert, and after jumping two gates at once no less. She didn’t have the time to properly adjust to her new senses yet. But she’ll be fine once she gets used to it."

"Um... brother. Can I have a word?" He said a moment after he and I, along with my guards began to make our way back downstairs, to deal with the matter at hand.

I stopped abruptly at his words, before then turning to him and placing my hand upon his shoulder and saying. "I’m going with you to aid the Yue Dynasty’s royal family. Risking life and limb in the process. So I’m obviously not about to attack your fiancée’s homeland. So you need not worry. Understand?"

"How...?" He seemed utterly stunned that I had seemed to have read his mind.

"You’re too easy sometimes little brother." I teased, before turning back around.

"Thank you." He muttered as we began to descend the stairs.

"Don’t thank me yet little brother." I said. "I have marshalled three armies, a total of three hundred thousand men, at the border with the eastern hegemon. Both to distract the Yue Dynasty and in preparation for all eventualities that may occur. A force great enough to threaten the southern half of the vast nation. And a force we are unable to afford as of this moment, so expect me to drain that damn glutton in the east of some of his wealth, understand?"

"I understand brother." He quickly nodded, offering me a wide smile along with it as well.

I smiled in return, before then turning back around as my face lost all warmth it had a second ago.

We now stood before an unremarkable and unmarked door in the back end of the establishment, near which, both Isaac and the man who appeared to be the general manager of this branch now stood with stoic masks.