Trumpets greeted them as they landed on the docks. Seagulls glided in the breeze, for once being the most populous thing upon the dockyard now that the normal citizens had been evacuated to make way for Prince Achmed. He did not change from his cleaned but haggard garb, though a servant rushed over to don a pointed sarik upon his noble head. Behind him, guards in lamellar armor with sheathed scimitars stood in line, flanked by dozens upon dozens of what Markus could not tell between servants or slaves. 

With a click of his tongue, Achmed gestured for Markus' crew to remain upon the ship, which didn't immediately register with the crew. Once Sketti scoffed, Markus motioned for them to follow what he said and stay with the ship. He gave a subtle wink to the disappointed faces, indicating he'd see them rewarded, and both Calliope and Markus would step off and onto the cleared docks. Even now, the sun baked the rock and timber they stood upon. 

Another set of trumpets sounded, and then something bellowed. A bestial sound, though very imitative of the trumpets the slaves used. Markus and Calliope would see a massive beast, twice the height of a man at the shoulder and easily twenty times a man's weight trotting towards them with a resplendent carpet upon its back, and a small hut with two chairs. It almost seemed like it was a beast from another world. It had two massive tusks swirling out of its face, and a trunk that slithered like a snake, as if it had a mind of its own. Markus had heard of the exotic 'Elephant' before, but he had never seen one. Behind were creatures just as strange, though he had seen their like before. Three camels were strutting down the sand infested streets like performers who danced to a very slow, mellow beat. 

Two eunuchs in nothing but loin wraps walked the beasts, their sun blackened skin shining in the intense light, their eyes dead and focused, as if they were broken as infants to serve their betters. They approached almost mechanically, and then graciously bowed to the Prince. Or it seemed as if they did, until Achmed stood upon their backs to mount the elephant. Once inside, he waved with boths hands. "Come, come! The Lady Calliope, please join me, yes?" he asked her. One eunuch rose, and took the reins of a camel, the biggest with a golden saddle, bringing it to Markus. 

"Well, at least I get an honorable mention," he deadpanned, mounting it and taking the reins. He gained control of it as soon as the Elephant turned, with Soldiers all spinning and beginning to march in unison. Their feet tramped the ground as loudly as the Elephant's, though it would soon be drowned out by the milling throng of commoners in the streets that were kept back by even further guardsmen. 

Up close, Markus could see the men and women, exotic and darkened, though obscured in mostly rags, watched in awe at their princes return. Still others seemed better off, in curious looking blue and purple robes, some even having guards of their own. Women stood upon the balconies and rooftops, calling for the Prince's hand in marriage. Some even took off their tops and pressed their breasts together to draw the eye. Kids simply waved, and old men displayed weaves of silk, hoping the Prince or his guests would stop to buy. 

Even during such a procession, some entertainers still worked. A man swallowed swords, his body so bony and thin Markus was surprised the swords could even fit within him, but he performed without pause. Another man in a red and white garb of satin played a flute as a voluptuous beauty coiled and uncoiled a massive boa constrictor across her scantily clad form seductively. Markus was both taken aback by the odd culture, yet also painfully aware that a man in his position could benefit greatly for even docking here, much less being a guest of the Sultan's Son. 
[@Penny]