The Shakedown

Tal'lek quickened his pace down the sloped, alabaster-paved road, readjusting his heavy knapsack so it didn't hurt his shoulders. Tal'lek looked down at the road and wondered how it remained so white despite many people having walked on it. He couldn't come up with an answer by the time he reached the two guards at the porticullus that facilitated passage into the city.
"Halt. What's your business here?," asked one of the guards.
"My name is Tal'lek, and I'm a traveling merchant that hopes to sell my wares."
"We're going to have to take a look at that bag."