In rapid succession her world went dark, the floor shook, and the sound of wood grinding against stone filled her ears. The ship had sailed up the narrow sea and had finally snuggled itself against the stone pier of its berth, the high walls rising above the catholes to block out the only source of light for the lower decks. A low cry of despair went out through the hold, as the darkness fell.
The heat in the hold rose terribly. They sat for what seemed like hours in the dark, humid, musty hold. Sweat beading and dripping down their mostly naked bodies. They could hear the crew bustling about above them, the crank of the crane as stores and other merchandise were hauled about. Loading and unloading occurring simultaneously on the gently rocking ship. Each hour the unrelenting desert sun beat down on the deck of the ship. The sea breeze, that had blown through the catholes and cracks when the ship was at sea was stifled and the slaves teetered on near delirium.
Finally, the door to the hold opened and the sailors swarmed in. They had already been manacled, one by one the cage doors were opened, and the slaves marched out up the stairs and out into the blinding painful sun. As soon as Amiko hit the outside, she gulped down the fresh outside air taking instant exalting relief ignoring the slight acrid tang. She stood near the front, the sun painfully beating down on her bare shoulders. Like many she was near naked, her bare breasts out in the open. Some had stripped their clothes when they became uncomfortable, a practical reason. Amiko knew salt was the cause. The slaves' clothes were washed in the salt water brought in from the sea and the salt built up along the fringes and hems causing the garments to chafe. In her mind she theorized that It may have been an attempt to sabotage the girls into stripping or perhaps they just didn't feel like wasting fresh water on doing laundry for the merchandise, She did not know. For others the purposes had been less practical, as they had indulged the sailors in their perverted games, Amiko did not wan to recall want she had been willing to do and put it behind her. Now she stood in just a skirt. Some stood in even less.
It did not take long for the slaves to begin their march after that. The sailors bid them a farewell of lustful looks and quick gropes as they marched down the gangway and started their journey through the streets of Shar-e-Bar. They trudged along in a double line, chained together. On either side, purple vested thugs stood watch on either side of the double column, scimitars at their side. The finely dressed alchemist led the way. Amiko could smell the cinnamon he used as a perfume coming off him as she stood barely a stride behind.
Her earlier exaltation had disappeared as she took in more of the city. Belching smokestacks, gray in colour turning to almost black around their mouths, spewed black, and other coloured, smoke into the air. These had been the source of the acrid tang that had before been a hint, but now hurt the lungs as they got deeper into the city and took more and more breaths of the poisoned air. It was tough to tell if the city had more minarets or smokestacks.
The city seemed large though few walked the streets. Of course, why would anyone want to be outside in a city such as this. All that Amiko could see where the beggars that lined the soot blackened streets, themselves seemingly grey skinned from the constant exposure. One beggar extended flabby arm, loose skin swaying off his bones. His face seemed to be melting off his face and one eye was shrivelled black, no bigger than a grape and it rattled around in his socket.
The alchemist did not even look at him as he passed by.
The streets of Shar-el-bar were narrow. In Xaros or any other city of this size, this street would have been no more than a side street, barely more than an alleyway, but in in Shar-e-bar, it was a main street, only once or twice did they cross over another street that seemed to be larger and almost every other street was tiny and tight. The street was winding as well, with onion shaped doorways that stood open along the across the street. It was a labyrinthian city that would trap and confuse like mouse in a maze. The tall buildings on either side blocked out the sun and dripping rags of laundry stretched out from window to window, the warm droplets of water offering a pleasant tingle. But more so they gave the streets a dark and oppressively humid feel, like being caught in the esophagus of some great beast.
A tall, black marble building suddenly appeared around the corner. Massive chimneys and minarets covered the massive buildings roof and a kaleidoscope of multi coloured smoke billowed forth. A small courtyard nestled amongst the surrounding buildings lay in front of the entrance and many men, dressed very similar to their purchaser, came and went through the ebony wood doors. The alchemist waved, laughed, and smiled at several of the coming and going confreres, exchanging greetings, quips, and other friendly comments. Amiko had thought this must be their destination, but still he led on and walked past the massive building. They did not walk much farther. Another courtyard, much more modest this time, and with only a single, red smoke expelling chimney, stood up from the four-story building. A wide double door was opened by another set of purple vested guards and the slaves marched in out of the smoke-filled streets.
--End of Canon--
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