Leech

Incredible.

A sandstone monolith, the city surges from the scorched desert earth, clawing toward the sky. Winding towers of brickwork stand tall like spears, gold-capped tips visible from afar as we gaze atop a dune on the city outskirts. Setting sunlight bathes the dusty desertscape in sweet, pink dusk. The metropolis of Sa’arre is grander than Caio and I could have ever imagined.

An imposing wall surrounds the sprawling city-state, an aggressive signal of strength and distrust. Along the perimeter rests an expansive, glassy oasis. Jade-green palm fronds sway in the gentle breeze as we look down on the sole source of life in this otherwise inhospitable hell.

It’s impossible to hide my relief as we begin our descent. The past few days have been particularly rough—exhausted, parched trekking through the sand, wondering if we were moving in the right direction. Neither of us fully appreciated how treacherous this terrain can be, and supplies are running low. On more than one occasion, we considered turning around and returning to that awful little settlement, Vero.

“Finally…” Caio whispers as we approach the towering gates of the city.

The massive wooden doors stand open, welcoming in throngs of visitors. Even at this late hour, merchant caravans flow in and out—a testament to this nation’s status as a commercial center.

We push through, delving into the city. Packed with people, the streets are alive with electrifying excitement. Merchants call out to the crowds, selling fine and exotic-looking silks. Elaborately dressed nobles stroll leisurely along the pathways, small armies of servants following in their wake. Disheveled peasants sit in the dusty gutters, eyeing them enviously and begging for coin…but the nobles look right through them, ignoring their existence. I’m reminded of what Helzor, the court sorcerer, said about this place:

“Unfathomable greed and lust are the driving forces behind every decision in Sa’arre. You must understand this. Leave your morals at the city gates if you wish to blend in.”

I realize how clearly Caio and I stand out. Our garb is foreign and gives us away easily. Already, I can feel curious eyes moving upon my skin. We had best get to work quickly.

“So where is this informant we’re supposed to meet?” Caio turns to me.

“His name is Maleo—the king gave me his address before we left Elrus.” I pull a tattered piece of parchment from my pocket, reading off the numbers scrawled in messy handwriting.

Moving deeper into the city-state, we struggle to orient ourselves. With each turn onto a new, sprawling road, the sun sinks ever deeper behind the horizon, shrouding the city in darkness. As we move beyond the main thoroughfares, the city becomes…stranger. These dark alleyways are in an obviously older region—buildings with ancient, cracked sandstone facades emit an unsettling aura. The area is still packed with people, but they aren’t your typical townsfolk. Outside the buildings, women stand naked, save for thin, translucent veils draped down their bodies. Calling out to the crowd, they offer a shockingly explicit array of sex acts for sale. Well-heeled men parade past us, flanked on both sides by multiple women. It's clear we’ve entered a truly debauched place.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” A fully nude woman approaches us. Extending a slender arm, she runs her long, crimson-painted fingernails through Caio’s soft hair. “I’d love to take the blond for a ride…what do you say, handsome?”

I swat her hand away, my body temperature rising.

“He isn’t interested.”

“Hmph!” The prostitute flashes an annoyed look before moving on toward a larger group of men.

“Heath…are you jealous?!” Caio stifles a snicker.

“No! We just have important work to do!” My face flushes and I storm off, eager to find our destination. Maybe he’s right though…why did that bother me so much?