Guild Wars_ Ghosts of Ascalon - Matt Forbeck [28]
Now, walking down the stairs into the Lion’s Arch merchant district, he saw charr for the first time in over a year: none would come to Divinity’s Reach, any more than he would go to their main base, the Black Citadel. Already he felt uncomfortable by their very presence, even though the leonine creatures seemed more at home here than he was.
The Great Bazaar occupied a low spot surrounded by hills near the center of town. Great posts were driven into the hills, and from those posts were strung rope riggings and lines, the entire web covered by sheets of sailcloth dyed blue. From above, the patchwork of sails looked like a choppy ocean, and from below the cooler, sheltered market felt like it was cradled at the bottom of a shallow azure sea.
Around them brewed and bubbled the population of Lion’s Arch, engaged in the trade that was the lifeblood of the city. There were farmers from the estates to the north and salvagers from the southern bays and estuaries. Asura and sylvari squabbled over the prices of glowing floating platforms and weapons made of twisted wood and butterfly wings. Norn roiled through the crowds like bears fording a stream. And the charr moved around, living their lives and ignoring the three new arrivals just like everyone else.
“Killeen!” came a shout behind him. The sylvari turned, and Dougal along with her. Riona hesitated for a moment, then kept walking.
Wading through the crowd was a heavyset golem, a crude creation of lumber and stone, as temporary as the rest of the city, a flat pane on its headless chest emitting a blue-green glow. One arm was much larger than the other, and both upper limbs ended in claws, making it look like a crude combination of man and fiddler crab. More important was the small asura directly in front of the golem, who became visible only as the crowds parted for the larger golem.
Clagg. In all his self-involved fury.
Dougal blinked and wondered if Logan Thackeray kept anybody in his jails anymore.
“Betrayer!” said Clagg. “You sold us out! You told the Seraph everything! For this you are going to pay!”
That definitely sounded like a challenge, and an opening appeared in the crowd with Killeen and the two humans at one end, the asura and the golem at the other. Dougal looked around and saw two Lionguard in the crowd. They were curious, but neither was stepping in to take matters in hand. As long as the disagreement didn’t threaten any trade or merchants, Dougal doubted they would.
Lion’s Arch was a good distance away from Divinity’s Reach and its vigilant Seraph.
Dougal stepped forward, hand on his sword, to stand beside Killeen, but Riona put a hand on his shoulder. “He is talking to her, not you,” she said, clearly enough for the sylvari to hear. “This is her problem.”
“I don’t see it as much of a problem,” said Killeen. “I suppose you don’t want to chat about this first?” she asked Clagg.
The asura responded with a curse and pointed at the sylvari. Emotionless and obedient, the golem lumbered forward. Killeen dropped into a crouch, and bright green motes bunched and flamed from her palms, gathering into swarms of necrotic energy.
She was too slow. The golem crossed the distance between them and smacked her hard with a limb the thickness of a ship’s yardarm. She stumbled to one side and a second arm punched her hard back the other way. Killeen lost her footing and fell to the paving stones. Golden blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Clagg had apparently chosen to invest in speed over raw strength this time.
Dougal let out a shout and, shaking off Riona’s hand on his arm, ran forward, drawing his sword. The