A Difference in Treatment, especially one seen as Unfair

Passing the threshold, I step through the open gate with Jesha. Said gate closes rather quickly once we've reached the other side.

The guards on this side actually look like what one would expect of proper city guards, almost like those of a game. They wear a plate and chainmail combination but still remain on the lighter side in terms of armour, clearly still needing some mobility.

They each have a short sword at their belts and a polearm in hand. The tip of said weapon looks like something akin to a two-pronged fork with spikes inside. I think that kind of weapon's called a 'man-catcher'.

Interestingly enough, that kind of weapon isn't made to kill but rather to restrain opponents, catching them alive. They want their criminals or escapees apprehended alive, it seems...

Jesha holds his hand out to me, waiting for me to take it. He gives this proposition an extra flourish, lowering his knees slightly, making the whole scene seem like he's actually asking me for a dance or something like that. If it weren't for this stupid shackle around my neck, one could assume this to be a touching reunion between a father and his long-lost daughter.

Oh well, if a docile, sweet little lass is what he wants from me right now, he will get just that. I'll find a way to make his life a living hell sometime later...

Thus, with my escort holding my hand, we venture forth into the streets of Lun'roco. Our destination is clear: the residence of the one administrating this entire city. Since its highest tower can be seen from even inside the walls, we just walk towards that familiar tower.

As we pass through the streets, the disparity between what I've come to know my entire new life thus far and what I see now is rather bleak. Every building here is constructed of solid material, most likely sandstone. And they are currently also in the process of adding even more.

Every second of those buildings is currently draped in scaffolding, either currently under construction or being made prettier in some way. This entire city seems to have been built for utility first and is only now getting a makeover to make it presentable. Seems like Zareth certainly needs to impress whoever is coming to see him.

"What do you think of the city Master Zareth has carved into this corner of the desert?"

My escort, who's been surprisingly quiet thus far, starts speaking. Based on that question, he wanted me to take it all in first before asking me the decisive question. Now that I think about it, he matched my speed all this time we were walking, despite him insisting we had to hurry. Jesha, you snake!

Those past two months, both our masks started to slip, with him clearly being aware I was faking being just a stupid kid. I should be honest with him now; anything else would only cause him to annoy me further.

"Master Zareth desperately wants to impress someone."

"100 points! Everyone in this world answers to someone. You answer to me; I answer to Zareth. But Zareth, he's part of the highest stratum of the Guild, the Council of Coin. He only needs to show others of the same rank his worth, that they'd be fools to try and replace him with one of their subordinates."

He nods in self-satisfaction.

"So he decided his best way of showing off his strength would be adding unnecessary flourishes to every building his adversaries might see. Implying he has so much money even he doesn't know what to do with it besides beautifying his mining city."

His dissatisfaction with that approach is rather clear, based on the way he talks about that issue.

"So imagine you were in his shoes; how would you navigate that conundrum? Please answer seriously; I know when you are being obtuse on purpose. For every satisfactory answer you give to my questions on this excursion, I will increase your pay."

That annoying grin of his will get him killed one day; if I won't do it, someone else will. But very well, what's an answer that will satisfy him? He is a man of efficiency, not morals...

"Just kill all of them."

Isha's stance on the matter is clear, but that's not the right answer here.

"I'd kill one of my adversaries."

He smirks. Isha reacts with surprise at my exclamation.

"Why just one, pray tell?"

"If this Guild of yours isn't just filled with pushovers, those at the top must have some kind of merit. If the Guild is to grow, they are necessary."

He again nods to himself, clearly enjoying this conversation thus far. I starchily believe he already has gotten the gist of my argument but still wants me to continue for his amusement.

"But if they have merit like you say, why kill one of them at all?"

"They need to be afraid of what I am able to do. If the only one who ever opposed me is found dead in his own bed, they'll all think twice before trying anything."

"Do you think you could do something as outlandish as kill one of them in the heart of their empire, the place where they are safest?"

"I would either succeed or die trying..."

"Spoken like a true viper, you'd go far in the Guild. Remind me to not get on your bad side, kid!"

It's way too late for that, Jesha, way too late. Even such small attempts at humour will not save you from what's coming...

We reach the centre of the city, the promised oasis. On the other side across the water lies our destination. Now we just have to walk around it.

"And that building over there, that's where we treat our sick."

The central ring of the city is filled with the crucial locations anyone living here might need. Jesha is currently pointing at them one by one, explaining to me which is which.

I can't deny that is exactly the kind of information I had hoped to gain here. It's even the main reason I agreed to accompany him here. The money, medicine, and sweets are nice bonuses, but only secondary to furthering any plans of escape.

But him just stating it like that makes me worry I'm about to fall into another proverbial trap of his.

"Why are you telling me all this?"

He looks at me like he's just been waiting for me to ask.

"I said I would increase your pay if you answer my questions to my satisfaction. There are different currencies one can pay his workers in. I thought you might appreciate this kind of reward even more than those crude sticks of iron."

He certainly isn't wrong with that assumption of his. But that only makes him even more suspicious. Why does he help me, and what the hell does he expect from me in return this evening?

Having now seen quite a bit of the city and now perusing its liveliest spot, the humans here appear to live in comfort. All around the oasis are market stalls in every colour, with merchants just as vibrant peddling their wares from all over. Every one of them is wearing a ring with the symbol of a gryphon, just like Jesha wears. Logo of the Guild, most likely.

In these stalls one can find basically everything, from lots of food to even luxury items. Seeing as even the most average of Joes still buys his food from here, this city really doesn't have anything besides water, salt and a suitable location for merchants to stop while travelling the desert. While recuperating, they try to sell any excess stock here. The residents are entirely dependent on the merchants' food.

Based on the number of people at each stall, spices and unique alcohols seem to be the hottest things around here. Silk and jewellery also see a good bit of demand. At the stand selling books and scrolls, however, I can only see other merchants. Being able to read must not be that common, even among the humans.

I see an elven woman walk up towards one of the food stalls. I could count the number of elves I spotted on our way here on one hand, even when I include her. All of them, of course, wearing an immaculately polished iron collar and dressed in rather fine robes. They are all sickeningly beautiful to boot.

Trophy slaves, in the most literal sense. The humans around me regard me as though seeing me were the most ordinary thing to happen to them this week. To them I am probably just Jesha's newest pet.

Though on a positive note, I can now objectively proclaim: I am pretty enough to be kept as a trophy...

"Did you know that your mother once walked these streets? Wearing a collar just like you did. She was rather pretty after all, so it came as no surprise she would be bought by someone before they could send her to the mines. Though once her would-be owner grew tired of her, she too was put beyond the wall, like all the other less fortunate slaves."

The way he called them less fortunate pisses me off. Though being sent to die in the mine is clearly horrible, to quantify which fate is worse just feels deathly wrong to me. His assumption that he can quantify mothers' suffering away reveals just how arrogant he is.

While living among the humans here is certainly easier physically, I highly doubt Mother had any say if she wanted to have me or not. That anguish she had to endure here has to count for something...

"Does that enrage you? I get the feeling you are trying very hard right now to suppress your hatred. The fact that your face doesn't even betray a sliver of that is rather impressive..."

Once again, this irksome man is right on the money. I am overflowing with anger at all of this. Isha's even worse in this regard, her anger too flowing into me.

Thanks to Isha's feelings flowing into me constantly, I've learnt to keep a calm head and not let those emotions cloud my judgement. Jesha's a dreadfully perceptive man; him gleaning beyond my facade is to be expected. Lesser men, however, shouldn't be able to read me too easily, I hope at least. I still need to improve on that front.

"Giving me the silent treatment, eh? Well, it's fine; we are almost there anyway. Are you ready to receive your orders for the evening?"

We are rather close to the manor by now. We are finally getting down to business, eh? Suits me just fine, better than listening to his grating voice any longer.

"Yes, Master Jesha."