Taking one last look at the snoring Decado she left the room, walking purposefully through the small wooden home the pikeman called home. Sliding out the front door she was greeted by bright sunlight.
The city of Duragon sprawled out around her, almost choking the air with its stone and slate buildings. Throngs of people haggled wares on street corners and the constant calls of merchant and whore alike could be heard on nearly every street corner in this quarter of the city. Tendra stepped out into the throng, making sure her hood was pulled tight as she made her way through the mass of people.
There were few beggars and soldiers everywhere. Duragon had few of the former, and to many of the latter. Most of the criminals and beggars had been rounded up years ago to be turned into fodder for the army or outright killed to save on space and supplies. The Kingdom was in a constant state of war-readiness, a state the citizens of Durogan were long familiar with.
The Kingdom of Durogan had at one point been an Empire, stretching almost the entire length of the Verleshan Peninsula. Many times in the long history of the militarily proud nation had it risen from the ashes to conquer to merely be smashed down again by misfortune, disease or magic. The past did not sit well with the proud nation, and its young men were obligated to join the army in readiness when the Eagle of the West marched again.
The current King, Decimus the Third was promising just that. For the last ten years he had been securing alliances, building his forces and silencing his enemies. Tendra herself had killed the behest of the Durogian King, and would undoubtedly will again. Her skills were in high demand, and her rates were equally as high, but well worth the price.
It was midday, and while the sky was clear and the sun sat brightly square in the sky the wind was cold and damp as it rolled in off the ocean. It was early in the year, and while the sea winds helped make the clime here warmer, winters teeth had not totally given up its grip of the land. The city was still bustling, and the cold air helped keep the everpresent smell of tanneries, blacksmiths, fish and the general fodder of so many people living in one place from being prevalent.
Tendra made her way towards the docks district, passing more stalls with baying merchants plying their wares. Westerners selling fine steel wares, a few merchants from Tauran, bundled up in their linen clothes and turbans to try and escape the northern chill selling blown glass baubles and rare gemstones. From the far north there were barbarians selling their own goods, weapons made of the finest steel, but shoddily made. From the Southeast there were Kalachians with their golden hair selling gold wares mostly emblazoned with the symbols of Auen.
Ever present were slaves, humans, orken and the bastards breeds of both. Wearing barely enough to keep warn and serving under either the leather or silk lash. Slavery was common in Durogan, with most of men being trained as soldiers they import slaves from all lands, including their own to till the fields. The nation lived in constant fear of a slave revolt, another notch in the quiver of the noble class. A constant threat of rebellion allowed for higher taxes and a stronger military presence.
Tendra passed the small Gnomish Trading Coster and saw many citizen buying and selling to the short folk. The Gnomes sold goods fine wares from all over the world, even carrying hard to find dwarven goods, as they have an exclusive contract with the largest remaining cities of the stout folk. They were guarded by lightly armored Gnomish Musketeers with their dangerous blunderbusses. Weapons of smoke and fire that the best alchemists in the west could not duplicate without magic.
The assassin considered stopping and buying some goods, she had some of the odd paper script the Gnomes used for currency but decided against it. The dark haired woman was late to checking in with her master back at the guild hall, and despite her favored status among her peers it was best not to leave the grandmaster waiting.
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