After days of continuous sailing, a city unlike anything Linus had ever seen appeared on the horizon. It was surrounded not by forests or mountains, but by endless sand. It was built on a wide beach, its houses made of yellow stone, and its markets were bustling even from afar.
"This is the City of Sand," said old Nikos, staring into the distance. "An ancient port, said to connect the sea to the desert. Merchants from everywhere meet here."
The white ship approached the port, and they were greeted by a strange sight: many ships were docked, some merchant, some military, and the voices of merchants rose from the docks. The place was bustling with life, but beneath the bustle lay an underlying tension.
Linus and his crew disembarked at the port, greeted by the scent of spices and leather and the sound of bargaining among merchants. A short man, dressed in rich robes, approached them, his eyes moving quickly as if searching for an opportunity.
He said with a broad smile, "Welcome to the City of Sand! I am Seraphon, a well-known merchant here. I see that you are strangers... perhaps looking for a place to rest?"
Linus answered cautiously, "Yes, we need provisions and water, and perhaps some information about the next route."
Seraphon smiled even more and said, "Everything has a price, my lord. Come to the Inn of Sand, there you will find what you are looking for."
They entered the inn, a spacious place filled with travelers. They sat at a wooden table, and maids brought food and water. But Linus was uneasy. He felt eyes watching them from every angle.
Romulus said in a low voice, "Be careful, Linus. This city is not ruled by a king, but by merchants. And gold here is mightier than swords."
As they spoke, a huge man entered, wearing light armor and bearing a strange tattoo on his shoulder. He sat down in front of them without asking permission and said in a hoarse voice, "I heard that you have crossed the Path of Shadows... Few survive there."
Linus answered firmly, "And who are you?"
The man smiled coldly, "My name is Arkan. Commander of the Market Guard. Here, no one buys or sells without passing through me."
Linus realized that this man was not just a guard commander, but the hidden arm of the merchants.
Arkan stared at Linus, "People like you... strangers... either become allies or enemies. And the city shows no mercy to its enemies."
A heavy silence fell. Linus understood the message: if he did not submit to their laws, he would be a target.
But Romulus wisely intervened:
"We are not here to compete with you, but to buy what we need and leave. We don't want any trouble."
Arkan laughed and said, "Everyone who enters the City of Sand says so... but the sea doesn't send anyone in vain."
The man left, but the atmosphere remained tense.
That night, while the crew was resting, Seraphon the merchant secretly approached Linus and said, "Beware of Arkan. He doesn't work alone, but with the Council of Merchants. They sell everything... even secrets. And they've learned you're headed to Athens."
Linus was surprised and asked, "How did they know?"
Seraphon smiled slyly. "In the City of Sand, nothing remains a secret."
Linus felt the danger here was no less than the sea. Humans themselves could be more dangerous enemies than storms and creatures.
In the morning, the crew gathered. Linus said, "We'll take what we need and leave quickly. This city isn't ours."
But Romulus added:
"Remember, Linus… sometimes you need to leave a mark even in the places you pass through. It's not enough to always escape."
Linus thought for a long time, then said:
"Then we will leave… but we will leave as men, not as infidels."
They left the city after buying provisions, but they left behind a strong impression: this strange young man was not just a traveler, but a leader with something greater in his eyes than gold.