As I wrote in my last post, I have planned to start a “blog story” in my blog. Generally speaking it will be a first draft, uploaded one piece at a time, and I don’t know where I’ll go with it or what it will be about. So any input or ideas are always appreciated, although generally I tend to go with my own 
I will update the title once I have one. 
Section 1 – The marketplace
Seyan walked through the gates to the marketplace at a brisk pace, pushing past fat merchants and worn-out housewives. He did not even cast an annoyed glance to the beggars or the people selling flowers and worthless trinkets for the poor. His business was not here, and his business could not wait.
In Achinan the market was made up of four sections. The boundaries between them were invisible, but strict. The main market, which you entered first, was the busy part, where food was sold and housewives and servants came to shop. The second section was for the rich. It was open only once a week as the merchants had stores elsewhere in town. On market day they would offer discounts and sell goods that normally were not sold in the store. Normally this was because the stores were not allowed to sell valuables of questionable ownership or origin. Once a week, at market, this was relaxed, so that the merchants would not start a civil war – they had a huge profit on these goods. Also the most valuable of all goods were sold here, as they typically arranged for them to be delivered on market day. Goods of this value could not be kept around, and even if they sold it with a hefty discount it was still more than worth all the hassle. The menacing guards standing by every booth were making sure that there were no unexpected losses.
The third section was for many people the most exotic one. Of all the cities in Ayamar, Achinan was the one where the most cultures came together. As there normally would be in all cities there were merchants from the neighbouring countries and areas. But while Achinan officially was sceptical of foreign things, it was a haven for all things exotic and strange. Traders came here from all parts of the world, even from the other continents, and with all kinds of goods. Southerners, elves from all the tribes, northerners, even folks from the North Continent – from everywhere they came to trade; and the third section was truly a marvellous place for those not used to it.
As a native Achinanian, Seyan had seen the ever-changing market countless times before. Normally he would take a look not only at the goods but also at the female merchants and serving girls, as he was a ladies’ man, but today he was heading for the fourth section with undivided attention.
The fourth section was the one with the least customers. It was the only area to be surrounded by a large fence, and it was impossible to stroll leisurely into it by chance. It was in some ways a shame, as there were truly amazing things to be found here. Still it could be a frightening and intimidating place for one not prepared for it. It was the section where magic goods and services were bought and sold, where adventurers were hired and where deals that should not see the light of day were agreed to. Shady business, in many people’s minds, so one might wonder why the authorities never shut down the place. It was no secret that the shady business more than once in a while was on the wrong side of the law. But if this place was shut down that kind of business would be forced into the streets where it could be a danger to innocent people. Besides, the old saying said never to provoke the magicians, and it was no secret that a lot of the city treasury came from the magic trade.
Seyan knew what to expect, as it was not his first time here; but still, as a man who had no magical powers, he entered the place with caution. It was perhaps the one place where he would be unable to defend himself against any threats, and for a man like him that was a scary thought.