dariantravels

 

            The Wine Archipelago

SELNAR CITY

 

            The Wine Archipelago

I set out from the city of Isfahan, in the Shendi region, a place I knew very well, when, as a child, my brother Orlando and I were taken to the city of Korat by a slave and rescued. I had been invited by Lady Sabayna, who had returned to Isfahan after a period of study in the Pani cities at the foot of the Sardar Mountains, for her usual Friday reading. It's an event I've followed with interest for several years, with various inhabitants of that great city, once an oasis, taking turns reading their stories. In truth, there weren't many participants, but just a large, interested group.

From Shendi, we would reach the coastal city of Baku. There, I would board my ship, the Argo. We would reach the Cos archipelago to buy wine and take the opportunity to meet Sir Balrough and his friend Macha, a slave dancer among the dancers of Tyros. During my journey through the Tahari Desert, I had also attended the meeting of the Gorean Merchants' Company. I was there representing my Oasis of the Seven Palms, even though mine is a small oasis lost in the Thassa Sea. We trade with our products and imports.

As soon as we arrived on the island of what was once the home of the Tyros dancers, everything had changed. The theater no longer existed, nor did Balrough and Macha's house. I asked some citizens, and they told me that the Dance Company had moved to the great city of Olni, up the Worsk River, then up the tributary Thentis River, and then the Olni River. The city had offered them the opportunity to exploit some vacant lands where the TucHucs had previously lived. I remember that place well. I was a suitor of the queen's daughter, but that was many years ago. I remember living in the large house near the Lighthouse outside the city walls. I have many beautiful memories of it, but also some negative ones, due to the murder of the Slave by the Commander of the city, Lady Lucy's son. But I put that past behind me after Lady Lucy's death; I no longer had the desire to return.

While I was in Tyros, I learned about the new renovation of the city of Selnar (Cos), so I decided to extend that trip to visit it. On the way back, we would load up the wine at Degalbi, from there we would sail down the Thassa Sea to the Oasis. We reached the island in a short time, a few days' sailing. I disembarked from the ship docked at the quay of the large port, introduced myself to the Commander of the guards at the port, and was escorted up the long stairs to the residence where the city's Ubara lived. Alice, that was her name, welcomed me with respect and admiration. He had heard about my Gazette of Moons. When I proposed the possibility of writing an article on that modernized city, he was immediately very enthusiastic. While we talked, I drew a portrait of him, which I would hang on the wall of the Gorean Gallery.

SELNAF FROM SKY

Then he left me to his work, ordering a guard to escort me through the streets of the city so that I could capture the best views for my article.

During my stay, I had the opportunity to speak with high-ranking officials, the Captain of the Guard, some scribes I met in the Caste Palace, and other kind and welcoming citizens. Once my work as an editor and journalist was finished, I set off again for Degalbi, loaded up on wine, and finally set off for Oasi7palme. I reserve the right to add photos of the best places in that city called "Selnar."

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