The tallest of the soldiers stepped forward and swept his hand across the map.
_ –
‘The thieves of Sanctuary drift with wind like the garbage they are,’ he began.
‘Zaibar!’ the Prince admonished. ‘Just give the report without asides or
opinions.’
‘Yes, Your Highness.’ The man replied bowing his head slightly. ‘But there is a
pattern here which follows the winds from the east.’
‘The property values change because of the smells,’ Kadakithis reported. ‘You
can say that without referring to the people as garbage. They are still citizens
of the empire.’
Zaibar nodded and turned to the map once more.
‘The areas of least crime are here, along the eastern edge of town,’ he
announced, gesturing. ‘These are the richest mansions, inns, and temples, which
have their own defences and safeguards. West of them, the town consists
predominantly of craftsmen and skilled workers. The crime in this area rarely
exceeds petty theft.’
The man paused to glance at the prince before continuing.
‘Once you cross the Processional, however, things get steadily worse. The
merchants vie with each other as to who will carry the widest selection of
stolen or illicit goods. Much of their merchandise is supplied by smugglers who
openly use the wharves to unload their ships. What is not purchased by the
merchants is sold directly at the bazaar.’
Zaibar’s expression hardened noticeably as he indicated the next area.
‘Here is a tangle of streets known simply as the Maze. It is acknowledged by all
to be the roughest section of town. Murder and armed robbery are commonplace