The last few hours of their journey to the city was blessedly uneventful. They passed through farmland that gradually turned into sporadic villages and then into denser housing.
“I thought there would be a wall around the city.” Kedryn observed, his eyes trying to take in everything.
“What would make you think that?” Glade asked, giving him a curious expression. From his studies in earth history, the beginnings of the city looked exactly like he thought it would. The outskirts were for those of less fortunate means, where homes of mud brick and sod roofs were the norm. There were few stone buildings around at this juncture, but the closer they got to the center the better it would be.
Though he could have done without the muddy roads and the stench of human waste.
The caravan drew a crowd of onlookers who made way without complaint. Most were poorly dressed and grubby, the children running alongside them in dirty rags as they cheered at the impromptu parade.
What fascinated Glade and Kedryn was that there were more than just humans. There were humanoids that looked like lizards while others had animal-like features such as fluffy tails and ears.
Helmund had covered Lun’Svet and a few of the other horses with blanket hoods and neck covers to mask their identity, though the additional 30 guards that had met them on the outskirts of town kept anyone from outright bothering them. Not that it deterred the children any.
“It's just what I read in books,” Keryn replied, eyeing the little wash of waste water running through the middle of the road in disbelief. “I also thought they would have sewers.”
“It gets better the further in we go,” Cirea explained as they walked beside the horses. “House Corrip controls this area of Asylum and hasn’t been able to get off their lazy backsides in the last hundred years to make any difference. I would have preferred it if we could have gone through the Western entrance. House Lensher is one of the wealthier houses and it shows in how they maintain their area. Cobbled roads, running water, and almost honest guards. Alas, we came from the East and it wasn’t worth the extra day of travel to go around.”
“The houses control certain areas of the city?” Glade asked, intrigued. “How does that work?”
“Horribly,” Cirea said with a shrug. “But it's what the Elvish Empire propped up hundreds of years ago when they conquered the human lands. Houses with power take over the more profitable areas while less influential ones are responsible for the outskirts. Each is supposedly charged with enforcing the laws and maintaining the city as directed by the city’s council.”
“Sounds like you're not a fan,” Glade said. He wasn’t either. Over the long years of military service he had been to some areas of Earth similar to what he was seeing here. Warlords vying for supremacy. He was impressed that the city wasn’t in complete ruins with criminal gangs running rampant.
“It’s honestly not all bad,” Cirea replied. “The elvish ambassador and his garrison keep the city’s houses in line. There are occasional house wars that vie for territory, but they don’t last long if they interfere with Elven interests.”
“Do they bother Helmund much? The Houses I mean,” Kedryn asked.
“There are only four entities within Asylum that are considered neutral,” she explained. “The Elvish ambassador, who keeps everyone in check. The Hall of Houses, where the top eight houses enact laws and vie for political power. That is also where Helmund will go to cash in those bounties on the devourer queens. Then there’s the auction house. By edict of the Elvish Ambassador, Helmund has the only license to operate freely of any of the other Houses’ influence.”
“How did he pull that off?” Kedryn asked, surprise evident in his voice.
“It was Holo’s idea initially. He convinced Helmund to use his elvish contacts to bribe the Ambassador,” Cirea explained with a nonchalant shrug. “They created the business to import Elvish goods for auction, lining the Ambassador’s pockets along the way. He gave them a permit endorsed by the Empire, which trumps the Hall of Houses authority.”
“That’s why the other houses tried to push Holo out,” Kedryn speculated aloud. “It was the only way they could gain a foothold in that market.”
“They did more than try,” Cirea growled.
Glade glanced at the bailiff who was gripping the hilt of her great sword.
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“You mentioned there were four entities that were neutral?” he asked, interrupting Cirea’s thoughts. “You only mentioned three.”
“Oh,” she responded, her eyes lighting up. “I should have mentioned this one first. The last is the Sands! Also known as the arena. It's where the best of the best come to pit their skills against each other at all levels! They say that there are only two arenas in Asylum where the houses can vie for power. The Sands is where they flex their physical strength and the auction house is where they flex their economic might. Legends have been born in both places, but the Sands is more to my liking.”
“So the Houses sponsor fighters?” Kedryn asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes and no. Anyone is allowed to fight, but usually those with backing win.”
“Why would anyone else want to fight then?” Kedryn asked. “If they have to go up against others who have backing, why take the risk?”
“The Sands controls the entrance to Asylum’s Labyrinth, which can grant immeasurable wealth or power for those who enter. The Empire controls access by allowing those who win eight bouts access. There are other ways to enter, but access is strictly controlled.”
“And those who have backing and win give up their access rights to their houses.” Glade surmised.
“Naturally,” Cirea responded. “It gives the illusion that anyone has access, but in the end it's those who have the means.”
“Naturally,” Glade sighed. It was a tale as old as time. Those with power stay in power.
They walked quietly through the outskirts and eventually came to a more prosperous area, where buildings were made more of stone and the roads significantly improved. Before he knew it, Glade and the others were passing by a partially constructed wall that was at least 40 feet high and immaculately put together. Everywhere he looked there were statues, intricate designs, or towers that were as stunning as they were practical. What surprised him even more was that the wall and all its decorations looked like it had been carved out one giant piece of stone.
“I see the Hall of Houses still haven’t finished the walls!” Cirea called over to Grant.
“Nope!” the caravan captain called back. “The Aarden the council purchased from the slave guild have mostly died out. Worked the poor louts to death if you ask me. I think there are only a handful left.”
“Aarden?” Glade whispered to Riya, wondering how that was relevant to the wall.
“Aarden are a race of half giants that can grow stone into any design,” Kedryn replied back with a smug expression.
Glade stared at Kedryn in surprise. “How did you know that?”
“I learned about them when we first arrived here,” he winked.
“Aye, the lad’s right,” Bragden interrupted, eyeing the wall with something akin to reverence. “This be Aarden grown. It be absolutely criminal if’n what they say is true and they worked ‘em to death.”
Gent nodded along, also caught up in looking at the stone wall.
Glade was about to ask for more details, but was distracted further as they passed under the gates and into an immaculate area. Stone buildings with real glass windows lined a cobbled road that led deeper into the wealthier district. They passed compounds with several mansions and open grounds, as well as various stores and homes. Despite the late hour, several richly dressed people were out and about.
Before they knew it, the caravan had rolled into the very center of the city where they found a massive open air colosseum guarded by what looked like elves if he wasn’t mistaken. Close by was another enclosed compound, but instead of stone places it was filled with nothing but trees that Cirea explained as the residence for the Elvish Ambassador.
Another building made entirely out of dark gray stone that looked as if it were sucking in the dying light of the day drew his attention.
“The Hall of Houses,” Cirea nodded toward the daunting edifice before spitting to the side. “Lousy good for nothing bleeders.”
“Where’s the auction house?” Kedryn asked, looking around.
“Just a bit further,” she replied, spitting once again toward the dark structure.
They turned a corner and, much to Glade’s surprise, found a large wooden building straight out of a fairy tale. It was a palace that stood four stories tall with hundreds, if not thousands, of interwoven beams of the most vibrant wood he had ever laid eyes on. There was an open and inviting courtyard with large windows. But instead of looking out of place in a sea of stone buildings, it radiated a majesty and beauty that felt warm and welcoming.
“Welcome to my home!” Helmund exclaimed proudly. “Now, I know it has been a long journey and I am certain you all would prefer to rest, but we’ll need to put everything in the vaults tonight and secure the horses in the stables. If you want our protection for your goods, I’d recommend you inventory them with my chief steward tonight. If not, I can’t guarantee their safety.”
Before Glade could answer, he felt a hand slap him on the shoulder.
“Good luck with that,” Kedryn said, smiling broadly. “I’m going to go check out the arena with Cirea.”
“Now wait just a moment,” he began, but was interrupted by Gent.
“I’ll join ye lad!”
“I’m staying with Lun’Svet,” Riya said, warily eyeing the elvish guards near the colosseum.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do the inventory with ye,” Bragden said. “But after that, I’d like to find where the dwarvish consulate be. We have some business there I need to take care of as soon as possible.”
“Fine,” Glade sighed, watching the others leave. “Let's not take long though. I’d like to see the arena for myself.”