(Continued from approximately here.)



Abiene in Chorrol

Eyja explained what would be needed for a complete recovery. “For the amount of metal you've been exposed to, you may need to keep taking it several times daily for at least a week, and do a restorative healing on yourself several times per day as well. The raw ingredients work better and quicker if you can stand the bitter taste. The potions are flavored, but are much weaker.”

Abiene started to reply. “I can stand the taste, but I’m sure an alchemist will be better able to…” Several times per day? She pressed her fingers against her face again, fighting down that frantic feeling. “I have patients to tend! I won’t be able to— I’m already taking far too many magicka potions just to keep up my workload. There’s nothing for it, I’ll have to ask for a leave of absence from the chapel.” She clenched her fists on her knees, anger creeping up through her fear. “Darn whoever did this!”

Eyja handed Abiene a list of ingredients. “Expect to be near an urn for a while,” she told Abiene. Then Eyja tucked her materials away.

Great, thought Abiene. I’m not going to go through a week of purging on the pot in my chapel quarters. She put that concern away for now and looked at the list.

Garlic
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Flax seed oil
Corkbulb root
Netch Leather
Scrib Jelly
Scamp skin
Kwama cuttle
Ash yam
The juice of a lemon
Dried seaweed
Charcoal

“Abiene, I need you to remember exactly how long you were at the inn, who you saw there, who brought you that tea, and if it was the same person you ordered it from,” said Eyja.

Abiene tried to clear her thoughts. “I reached the inn after dark and spent the night. There was a commotion when Irvana arrived with talk of vampires, and I ended up healing her in her chamber. I had a glass of Tamika’s last night with the stuffed mushrooms, plus a cheese plate with strawberries. This morning I ate a sweet roll and drank some kahve at the bar. A Dunmer woman was there, I didn’t catch her name. She was another guest. Lycus was sitting there, too. Yetta the cook and Lleris the hallboy were serving, but I got my breakfast from what was already set out on the bar. Bograk and Aravi were there, too. Oh, and I believe Kayla headed upstairs around the time I came down with Aravi. Honestly Eyja, I’m probably forgetting someone. I’ve been told to improve my situational awareness, but I’m not really sure what that even means.”

She hoped Eyja wasn’t too disgusted with her lack of information. She had not been paying attention at the inn because she had not been up to anything she felt she needed to hide. And Aravi’s troubles had been foremost in her mind.

“Then I got some tea from Yetta and went outside. I spoke with Dar’muktah and watched Lowren and the Argonian man cleaning up after the storm. Then I met Maxical. We sat on the bench chatting for a while. We have some mutual friends.” What happened next? “I must have been in a fog, because I can’t say how long we sat there or even what we talked about. I don’t really remember getting my things from the inn, but I must have.”

Abiene looked at the list again. “I can pick up a few of these things today at the chapel. Master Selvilo might have some of them, he’s a Dunmer. I can’t imagine why he would have netch leather, though. I’ll need to pick up my crystal ball so I can try to reach Darnand. He’ll know where Jerric is. That’s the alchemist.” She shook her head. “I hate to involve them in this.”

Abiene’s mouth went dry and her heart began to race. Perhaps that’s still the poison, she thought, gripping the bench’s edge.

*

Eyja watched the stubborn look flickering across Abiene's face and recognized it. She'd given Foxy that same look when he first gave her these instructions for her own poisoning.

"Abiene, you can continue your daily rounds if you feel safe doing so. Just don't get too far from an urn. These ingredients will purge you in more ways than one. Three times a day do your healing and then eat the ingredients. You stop for meals, don't you? That is the best time; but better to do it before you eat. These ingredients on a full stomach would not sit well, and they'll do you no good vomited out."

Eyja knew what Abiene's friends meant by needing to improve her situational awareness. By Abiene's stressed reaction she was probably so focused on her work that she saw little beyond it. The drive to heal in her must be stronger than her need for a life...love.

Eyja remembered Abiene's reactions when she'd teased her earlier that day about Jerric, and wondered if Abiene's intense focus on healing cost her a relationship or if she was burying herself in it now to escape the pain of losing a relationship. There was an underlying sadness about the girl, and her near swoon after mentioning Jerric didn't go unnoticed.

"Abiene, your reaction to needing some time to heal yourself was stress. Taking too many potions to keep up your workload means you have taken on too heavy a workload. No one person can do it all, you need an assistant that can give you some time that is your own; time to relax and have some fun while you are still young and pretty enough to enjoy it."

Eyja leaned forward and took Abiene's hand, speaking gently to take the sting from her words.

"You are young, and very beautiful now, but stress and overwork will erode both youth and beauty quickly. When it is gone you will find your life has slipped by and you are alone with naught but those patients that need you. Life, love; these things you have to reach out and grab or they'll pass you by." Eyja raised her hand to indicate her own life.

"My bed is filled every night; strangers whose dreams are their fantasies. When it is over I have their gold, but not their heart. A few years ago I met a man that was different. He knew what I did, knew everything about me and loved me despite it. By the time I was ready to love him back he was dead. You have to grab onto what you want in life and not let go until it is yours."

Eyja heard herself hailed and looked up. "Honditar! Just the person I need to talk to." Eyja didn't have to wave him over, he was headed toward them.

"Why is he walking so slowly?" Eyja let go Abiene's hand as Honditar drew near. His face was pasty white, and sweat wasn't just beaded on his brow it was running in rivulets down his face and dripping onto his shirt despite the day wasn't that hot. His eyes looked feverish.

Eyja turned uneasily toward Abiene. "Was that illness you cured on yourself contagious? Find out if he has the same thing. If he does, Maxical will be very ill and can't heal herself, would you go to Casta Scribonia's house when you finish with Honditar and check on her while I get that charcoal for you?"

Eyja stepped back from Honditar, relieved her search for Maxical had kept her from Honditar's bed as yet.

"Don't come near me till Abiene has cured you, I don't want to catch what you have."


*

Abiene

Eyja’s words cut straight through Abiene. She took Abiene’s hand, letting her feel the sincerity under the sting of unpleasant truths. Eyja spoke of her life’s love who slipped through her fingers. Abiene’s heart went out to her at the same time she felt that panic as her own pain was exposed.

She squeezed Eyja’s hand, steadying herself and hoping to express a wordless kinship. This woman saw through her so easily. Abiene had no defense against such an honest connection. She had to simply trust.

Honditar approached. His face was soaked in an unhealthy sweat.

“Was that illness you cured on yourself contagious?” Eyja asked. “Find out if he has the same thing. If he does, Maxical will be very ill and can't heal herself, would you go to Casta Scribonia's house when you finish with Honditar and check on her while I get that charcoal for you?”

Abiene reached for Honditar as he sagged to the bench. “May I?” she asked, already casting. His body smelled sour now. “Eyja, he carries the same contagion. I don’t have a name for it, but it is as recognizable as a signature even if one cannot read it.”

Eyja stepped away. “Don't come near me till Abiene has cured you, I don't want to catch what you have.”

“You must remember those with whom you have had close contact since you helped me, Honditar. Send them for healing immediately if they cannot cure themselves.”

Honditar’s eyes gleamed with fever, but he nodded comprehension. “There has been no one else.”

“Oh, that’s good news.” Abiene looked up at Eyja. “I’ll go to Casta’s next, but I should check in at the Guild hall first. I was alone with Athragar for some time. He was practicing spells on me while I was unconscious. He may be infected.” Serves him right, Abiene thought along with a pang of guilt, contrition right on the heels of her pettiness. “Maxical is surely ill by now, she must have near carried me most of the way here. Poor Maxical! So far I’ve rewarded her friendship by ignoring her and giving her a disease. Hopefully Casta will have the sense to keep her still. The mages will be able to handle their own infections, but it will help to know if and how it is spreading.”

She thought for a moment, her hands still on Honditar.

“I wonder if I got sick at the Goblet or before,” Abiene said. “I wonder if I infected anyone there. Kayla shared my meal last night and I spent some time with Aravi, but they’ve surely dosed themselves against infection by the vampires they’re hunting.” And Aravi is not at risk regardless. “Irvana had not appeared by the time I left. I hope she is not helpless in her bed, wracked with fever.”

Honditar’s eyes were back on Eyja. The Nord woman was a vision of inviting curves and crevices even as she warned him to keep his distance. Abiene couldn’t blame him for his wandering attention.

She gave his arm a little pat and pulled away. “I see you’re feeling better.” She smiled at the Altmer and then at Eyja, her confidence restored along with his health.

*

Eyja shook her head emphatically. "We don't know if Casta Scribonia has any supply of cures or healing, or if she can perform any healing on another. Those at the Mages Guild have both."

While Eyja talked she'd begun digging in a pocket of her pack. She pulled out a mandrake root and pointed it at Honditar before holding it up like a carrot and taking a bite. She talked between chews.

"He was in close contact with you this morning, that was eight to ten hours ago at the most; so you probably caught it last night..."

Eyja paused, with the mandrake root suspended in front of her mouth. Her brows drew down into a frown.

"Wait, if you were doing quick healings on yourself between patients then your own exposure could have been delayed taking hold. You could have caught it even before you went to the inn. Hannibal said..."

Eyja broke off with a flush and coughed to cover her gaff.

"I've heard that those quick healings aren't enough to kill some diseases, only enough to keep the healer from spreading it to the next patient; and that some strains can actually grow stronger when exposed to low doses of healing, they build up some kind of immunity to it."

She pointed the remaining stub of mandrake root at Honditar again. "And he is much more ill than you were." She took another bite of the mandrake, then used it to point Honditar away. "Can you give me just a second alone with Abiene? I need to tell her something about Maxical that is privileged information."

She continued to point her mandrake root stub till Honditar was all the way to the opposite sidewalk before turning back to Abiene.

"What I'm going to tell you must be kept strictly confidential, if this gets out Maxical's enemies would have an advantage on her that she could not defend. I'll need your vow that this information goes no further before I speak."


*

Abiene nodded and sat back down on the bench. Eyja was considerably taller, and this way they would be able to put their heads together and speak as if they were simply sharing a friendly chat rather than discussing matters of life and death.

Eyja’s blunder stayed in Abiene’s mind. Hannibal? Abiene did not know anyone who thought of Arch-Mage Traven by his given name, much less called him by it.

But there were more pressing matters at hand. “I will not use anything you tell me against Maxical,” said Abiene. “Nor will I share the knowledge. I swear it.”

Abiene was uncertain what ritual Eyja might require. Her own word had always sufficed. Spitting in her hand to seal the vow seemed ill-advised, considering her recent infection. She simply watched to see what Eyja would do next.

*



Eyja pounded her chest and waited till Abiene had done the same before dropping onto the bench beside her and speaking very close to her ear and in barely a whisper.

"There is something important you need to know about Maxical. When I said Maxical can't heal, I meant it literally. She can't heal at all, not even basic healing on herself. It is some kind of magic conduction disorder that gives her complete weakness to magicka, poisons, and diseases; she has no natural defenses. It is imperative no one learn of this, she has many enemies in unknown places that would use that knowledge to take her down."

Inside Eyja was struggling to suffocate the fear that had been building in her since learning Honditar‘s illness came from Abiene. A man as strong and healthy as Honditar becoming that ill so quickly; what would it do to someone with no defenses?

She fought to keep the panic from her voice as she continued, indicating Honditar with a jerk of her head.

"He is strong and healthy, and you saw how ill this made him. Maxical will be doubly ill; worse than he was, and unable to cure it without help. She could be in grave danger from the disease if Casta Scribonia can't heal or has no potions in stock, she could..."

Eyja broke off as the impact of the words she was about to say suddenly struck beyond the logic and calm she’d always shielded herself with and left her feeling raw and afraid, and vulnerable in a way she hadn’t known in decades. It would be like losing her sister all over again. Eyja strangled that thought with an effort, trying to control her voice as she continued.

"Without her knowledge, she is my responsibility. I have been tasked with keeping her alive for two years, she has been appointed...she is in the service of Cyrodiil. I'm a bodyguard that she can’t know is commissioned to protect her. To her knowledge I am just a close friend who travels with her. I’ve already failed the one that commissioned me in the biggest way possible, he is dead. If anything happened to her, it would be like letting him down...all over again.”

Eyja choked on a ragged breath at the last words, feeling control breaking loose inside her in an overwhelming rush of emotion. With her hands balled into fists so tight the knuckles showed hard and white through the thick pink of her skin she fought against the tears that threatened. In a raw voice the next words tumbled out in a rush Eyja couldn‘t stem.

"The truth is it goes beyond the task. I care deeply for her. I never meant to become attached to her, but have. She is so much like my own sister who died when she was about the same age Maxical is now...too much like her. That squabbling play between us that you saw this morning, sometimes it feels like I could close my eyes and it would be my sister there. I can't let anything happen to her, but even greater than that I couldn't stand it if something did."

Eyja stood up briskly, embarrassed by the emotions she’d never meant to express; but the worry still lingered in her eyes and mind.

“I need to get you that charcoal, and I'll see if I can get my hands on some of these other ingredients while there. If that Argonian at the Guild can be persuaded to allow Maxical inside, please bring her there. She will be well protected there, both from this disease and the assassin if he is still about."

Eyja hurried toward the gate without waiting for a reply, smacking away a tear that escaped with a curse.



*

Abiene

Abiene launched herself from the bench and made her way to Casta Scribonia’s house. Eyja’s near panic had provoked a healer’s response in Abiene, and now her mind was clear despite the danger. She cast another restorative spell on herself and popped a few fennel seeds into her mouth as she walked. Master Selvilo had warned against abusing stimulants, but this was no time to start listening to him.

Casta had soon slammed her door in Abiene’s face. Maxical had not come to visit.

Abiene drifted out into the street, her own worry rising to meet the memory of Eyja’s fear. Where did Maxical go? She would need healing. I’ll start with the chapel.

Orag greeted her as she headed through to the healing hall. “Blessings, Abiene! Have you returned to—Stendarr’s mercy! You look horrible. You should make your devotions at once!” She moved as if to yank Abiene up toward the altar.

“Blessings, Orag,” Abiene called back as she dodged the orc. “Soon, I promise. But for now I need to…” She didn’t bother to finish as she trotted down the steps. Abiene believed in honoring the Divines through her actions, and for now she had plenty to do.

No one in the healing hall had seen Maxical either. Abiene made her way to Gureryne Selvilo’s office.

“Greetings of the day, Master—” she began.

The Dunmer interrupted by shoving her into a chair and sticking his thumb in her eye, peeling up the lid. He peered down at her, frowning. “Your eyes are not supposed to be blue, young woman.”

Abiene fumbled the list out of her pocket, struggling against the urge to kick the hells out of her healing master.

The list was snatched away by golden hands. “Ah,” purred an unknown voice. “Metal poisoning.”

Superior tone, snotty accent, thought Abiene. Altmer. Gureryne let go and stepped back, arms across his chest. He took the list and glanced down at it.

Abiene spent a moment swiping tears from her cheeks and glaring at the newcomer. The high elf wore healer’s robes that must have been specially tailored to skim over her long figure. The chapel’s colors were worked along the cuff and sleeves in a subtle pattern. Abiene became conscious of her dried sweat and yesterday’s travel clothes. Money and the good taste to go with it. I think I hate her.

“That’s right,” said Abiene. “I’ll need to take potions for a week while I recover. I’ll need to cut back a little on my—”

Gureryne cut her off with a quick motion of his hand. “You will absent yourself from the healing hall during your recovery. This treatment will have you spewing from both ends. Though you do not present a danger to our patients, your presence would cause rumor and distress. You may spend the week in your quarters in study and prayer.”

Abiene gritted her teeth over a sharp retort. “There are some exotic ingredients on that list. I wondered if you—”

“Because I am Dunmer I must horde ash yams and scrib jelly?” Gureryne’s brows shot toward his hairline. “I am a Colovian Highlander, child. Have you ever seen me crunching up an ash hopper leg?”

I’ve seen you use hackle-lo in every way possible. Abiene opened her mouth to protest.

“You may take what supplies you need from our stores,” he continued. “You could use the practice mixing your own potions. Do not ignore your symptoms, Abiene. It is a foolish healer who allows herself to fall ill.”

Abiene found herself escorted toward the door. “But wait, my patients,” she objected.

“As it happens I have a candidate in mind who will be pleased to fill in for you.”

The Altmer’s smug grimace confirmed Abiene’s guess.

“So I have your leave then?” Abiene asked over her shoulder as the door closed on her rear. I’ll take that as a yes.

Abiene gathered supplies before anyone could catch up and ask questions. A sniff under her arm made her wish for the time to soak in a tub. It will get worse before it gets better, she reminded herself. The thought of Maxical lying sick and helpless put speed to her work.

She took the time in the workroom to quill letters to Aravi and Bograk.

A novice approached as she blew on the ink to dry it. “Your mail, Abiene.”

“Thanks, Elena.” Urgency fought with concern. Her affection for Elena won. “How is your elbow? Has the pain returned?”

Abiene sorted her mail as they talked. One envelope caught her attention. This can’t wait. Elena got the hint as Abiene ripped it open.

Abiene, grace and light,

I hope this finds you well. I will get straight to the point, as you know something must have occurred if I have put quill to parchment.

There has been an outbreak of fever at the Wayshrine. We are cured, but you must look to yourself if you have not already.

It seems likely that we picked it up from Yoshiko. Do not concern yourself, we are fine. However I am instructed to ask if you celebrated with any of the pilgrims? We know that is not your habit, but I must ask you just the same.

May our Lady’s blessing be always upon you,

Seruya

Abiene quilled a quick reply.

My dear Seruya,

You have confirmed my fears and quieted them all at once.

As you surmised I did not join the ceremonies in the lower circle. I have infected some folk here in Chorrol (through close but casual contact), but I expect the outbreak to be quickly contained. Forgive me for the brevity of this reply. I am presently engaged in that effort.

I hope to see you again before the snows set in, my friend. Please have care for your safety in the meantime. Fewer scars to repair would leave us more time for rejoicing.

May your strength and beauty bring inspiration in the name of our Lady,

Abiene

Searching for Maxical and completing her tasks took the rest of the day. It was well after dark by the time Abiene left the Mages Guild. Her energy was spent, but hope for Maxical brimmed in her heart.

Honditar approached her under the Great Oak, but this time he kept his distance. His face asked the question.

“I didn’t find her anywhere,” Abiene told him. “Casta hadn’t seen her. But several people said they heard a white Khajiit was seen walking out the main gate. I think she must have returned to the Wobbly Goblet. It’s likely that Eyja already found her there.”

“Who said that?” Honditar asked.

Abiene told him. “Do you want some more mandrake root?” she finished. “I’ve been handing it out all day just in case.”

Honditar’s expression was unreadable in the dark, but his voice sounded tense. “Can you get where you’re going all right?” He seemed eager to leave.

Abiene stepped closer so she wouldn’t have to shout. The knowledge that her weakened state was the result of an attempted murder had slipped to the back of her mind, but now she recalled she had reason for caution. “I’m going to the Grey Mare,” she murmured. “I’ll walk under invisibility to stay safe. I can get that far tonight on my own.” Even if I have to crawl some of the way. “Please tell Eyja where I am if you see her before I do. She’s been helping me. I… I really need her help.”

Honditar stalked off into the night.

Abiene waited until she stood alone in the shadow of the great Oak. Then she cast her spells and headed toward the Grey Mare.

*

Honditar's mouth set in a grim line after talking to Abiene. His gut instinct was gnawing at him, and he rarely ignored it.

Earana's expression when she learned the Khajiit would be under his protection hadn't been one of surrender. But he'd seen Earana in the circle by the Great Oak all day and evening, she couldn't very well be experimenting on Maxical and in the street at the same time.

Despite having seen Earana with his own eyes out and about well after Maxical would have gone missing, the feeling of disquiet continued.

Honditar knew little about Earana's experiments with the beast races. Until recently he'd believed her claims of paying them well for their services. That was before Malintus Ancrus let a few things slip one evening while he was well gone in his cups.

There was something shady about it, but exactly what Honditar didn't know. That her Orc "friend" Gaturn gro-Gonk was involved Honditar was sure of. Maybe it was time for Honditar to do a little investigating on his own.


*

At The Grey Mare

Abiene knelt over the slop bucket, retching again. The potion she had attempted to make was too much for her healer’s stomach, already aggravated by chronic over-use of magicka potions. She had time between heaves for regrets. Shouldn’t have neglected Alchemy for so long, she chided herself. Her course of study at the Arcane University had demanded basic competence in the skill, but Abiene had fulfilled only the minimum requirements. She had no aptitude for the subject and a Restoration mage’s pride in her spells. That she guzzled restorative potions to maintain her schedule was a fact she conveniently ignored. There was always someone willing to brew them in exchange for a treatment, training, or just the ease of a healer’s touch.

Her stomach muscles relaxed, and she slumped back against the wall. The shakes set in. She wrapped her arms around herself until her body would cooperate. Too bad my Weatherward ring doesn’t help against this kind of chill. The ring felt loose on her finger. Remembering that day would bring want, not comfort. She turned her thoughts in a different direction.

Darnand. I should try again.

Abiene took a moment to run a wet cloth over her face and neck. At least the water is clean. Her chamber at the Grey Mare was windowless and bare, containing only a low chest and bedroll on the floor. A single candle barely lit the space. Abiene felt grateful for the gloom as she checked her eyes in a hand mirror. Fatigue and broken blood vessels made dark circles around them, but the whites were only bloodshot from vomiting, not blued from the poison. I look like a rabid raccoon, thought Abiene. It’s not worth healing now, and I need to conserve my magicka. Someone else might have fallen ill. She put the mirror away and reached for her crystal ball.

The effort to activate it was minimal as she would only cause the other ball to show a glimmer of light at its center. If Darnand saw he would cast the spell to open the connection between them.

Be there, she silently willed him. See me.

After a time she placed it back on the chest. Tears burned her eyes, and this time she lacked the resolve to deny them.

*

Honditar's questions to the Gate Guard elicited the white Khajiit’s entry into Chorrol, but neither of them had seen her exit. Abiene’s sources had been mistaken.

The guards were about to change shifts when he arrived, and Honditar’s ears perked up when he heard the suggestive banter between them. There was no doubt they were talking about Eyja, and it didn’t sit well with Honditar that one of the guards seemed to think he had a date to spend the night with her that night. He forced himself to ignore it for the moment, but couldn't say it left his mind.

His instincts were strong, and as more time passed he was sure that Earana had done something with the Khajiit. His best course of action would be to confront Earana with some of the leverage he had on her, the things Malintus Ancrus had revealed about her and Gaturn's activities. She may trade the Khajiit for his silence.

Earana was a creature of habit, Honditar always joked that he needed no sundial since she’d moved to Chorrol. She was always in her room at the Gray Mare by this time of night, usually with her Orc paramour if he wasn‘t on a “job.” Gaturn gro-Gonk’s job was robbing people.

Honditar was on his way to the Gray Mare when he caught sight of Sabine Laul and hailed her. She hadn’t seen the white Khajiit, but when he mentioned Earana she had an odd look cross her face.

“Funny you should mention her. I saw the oddest thing earlier this evening. Earana was leaned against the boarded door of that old cave along the city wall; just leaned there wiggling as if it were a lamppost and she was working the street. Her back was to me. Well, as I came nearer I realized she was actually leaning on it for support. She was vomiting like someone had poisoned her! All the wiggling I saw her doing was her heaving, I guess. What on Nirn would she be doing at that old cave?”

Honditar thanked Sabine with a quick hug. “You’re a treasure, me darlin’.”

“You haven’t been the same since that pirate came through here, I swear!” Sabine smacked his shoulder. “Go on, Rasheda will wonder what’s keeping me.”





***



The last thing Honditar wanted to do was listen at Earana and Gaturn's door and overhear them in what Emfrid had already described in too much detail to him as their private moments; but it was a good bet if they had done something to the white Khajiit they would be discussing it in there. He signaled Emfrid not to get up and steeled himself to creep up the stairs and listen.

Emfrid sat up anyway, her brows raised. “You and Abiene? I’d have never thought it!” She gave a wicked grin. “Hubba hubba Abiene! But you won’t get far tonight, I’ve been kept awake by her wretched retching all night.” She grinned again, and pulled back her blanket suggestively.

Honditar hurried over and kissed her cheek, whispering. “As if you would, I know where your heart lays. Keep your voice down, I am here to eavesdrop on Earana and Gaturn. I think they have done something to a Khajiit that was in town earlier, one that is supposed to be a guest at my home.”

“You and a Khajiit? I’d have never suspected...”

“Shh. She is Eyja’s friend.”

Emfrid pouted prettily. “Oh. Eyja‘s back, huh? And no need being quiet...”

She broke off and held up one finger pointed toward the ceiling.

“Do you hear that? You thought I was exaggerating, didn’t you? That is Abiene, she’s been doing that since she got here! I couldn’t serve a late supper with that going on, people began returning their plates thinking my food was bad, and two vomited just in case! Not even the regulars ran up a decent tab tonight; Valus Odiil even left, and he has no where to go! Stop laughing, I am serious. Honditar, Reynald Jemane went home early. Reynald! He said he’s quitting drinking!”

“He thought Abiene was vomiting from your drinks?”

“No, he thought HE was vomiting, but there was nothing on the floor! He thought he was delirious.”

“Aw, me poor darlin’” Honditar drawled, teasing to make her laugh.

“Are you still doing that darned pirate imitation? If he hadn’t spent so much at my bar I’d honestly wish he’d never came to town. You sound ridiculous, Honditar.“

“Look at me earings, Lass; not bad for a buccaneer.”

“Stop it, or I’m going back to bed.”




***


Honditar got serious quickly when she did.

“Listen Emfrid, I’m sure they’ve done something with the girl. I may just have to break in on them and demand answers. Don’t call the guards unless Gaturn is getting the best of me.”

“They’re gone, Honditar. Abiene is in their room now.”

“Gone! What do you mean?”

Emfrid got up quickly. “It’s truth. Earana gave up her room here this morning, Gaturn packed up all their belongings while Earana paid her shot. They hurried out of here like they had somewhere important to go. They came back just a little while ago looking for Abiene, both looking green around the gills like they were really sick. They were dressed to travel overland, Gaturn had a bedroll and winter gear tied to his pack.”

“They must be heading north. I need to find Eyja right away...maybe I’d better talk to Abiene first, see if they mentioned to her where they were going.”

“It’s not like you have to wake her.” Emfrid pointed to the ceiling as the sound of retching started again.

“Shiver me timbers, the Lass is ailin’!”

“Honditar, you’ve had your last free ale from me if you don’t stop that stupid pirate talk.”

Honditar grinned and kissed her cheek, then mussed her hair. “Night, me darlin’.”

He took his time going up the steps, only knocking after the retching stopped. Nearly as soon as he knocked he heard the inn door open and Emfrid’s response.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Honditar turned in relief, knowing there was only one person Emfrid would greet that way; and if she was here, then she wasn’t spending the night with that Gate Guard. He hurried back down the steps.

“Eyja, me darlin’!”

“Oh Honditar, you remembered how much I love that pirate imitation!”

Emfrid didn’t hide rolling her eyes.

Honditar squeezed Eyja’s hand. “News isn’t good on your Khajiit friend.” He went on to tell her everything he’d learned.

Eyja paled, and was nearly hyperventilating. Honditar gripped her shoulder tightly.

“You’d best talk to Abiene quickly, find out what she knows right away. If we’re to catch them we need to leave now.”

Eyja barely nodded, stumbling up the stairs to Abiene’s room.


*

Abiene

Abiene leaned back and tossed a cloth over the bucket. Eating that scamp skin had been a mistake. It had tasted even worse on the way back out, and it seemed to have stayed down only long enough to damage her magicka. Now she was reluctant to spend any on a spell to soothe her own stomach. There was no telling what else the night would bring.

A knock sounded at her door. Abiene lurched to her feet, drawing the Absorb Health spell into her hand with a dreadful shudder. Can I do this? She hadn’t used it since she stood for her final Restoration exam at the University, and even then she’d failed to finish off her test subject. The memory made her falter.


Abiene looked down at the goblin through a red haze. Its life energy rushed in through her outstretched hand. Hot joy churned in her chest, mixed with a gibbering horror. Her victim’s last groan sounded along with a thin shriek of despair. Abiene realized the cry had come from her throat.

She broke the spell. The goblin turned its face toward her, lids blinking over empty eyes. It arms still strained against the bindings. Abiene knelt and reached for the pitiful creature, her hands filled with healing light.

A bolt of lightning sent its body spinning into the wall. Abiene wheeled around to face her examiners, fury boiling to the top of her emotions.

The representative from the University’s Destruction school spoke, sounding bored. “She fails.” Shock energy still danced across her palms.

Abiene’s advisor slowly shook his head. Disappointment clouded his face. He would not speak up for her. This had been her chance to prove herself.

Raminus Polus made a small sound, drawing everyone’s attention. He finished his notations with a flourish, then pushed the parchment aside. “She passes,” he announced. “Cyrodiil needs more Healers.”


Footsteps retreated from her door and down to the tavern level. Abiene sighed in relief.

Silly woman. Assassins don’t knock on the door. That may have been someone else who needs help.

She glanced down at herself while she attempted to fix her hair. Her linen shift fit like a potato sack, and it covered from collarbone to elbow to knee. Hardly presentable but not indecent. The sweat stains were regrettable, but the smell from the bucket should distract any visitors.

Footsteps approached her room. Abiene stepped into her quilted slippers. She did not anticipate running away, but shoes would likely be appropriate whatever the upcoming situation.

Her heart gave a nervous skip. I’m not waiting like some cornered rabbit. Abiene opened the door.

“Eyja!” The woman looked pale and distressed. Abiene strained to see around her, but there was no sign of Maxical.

She stepped back so Eyja could enter if she wished. Where is Maxical?

*


Eyja:

One look at Abiene, and even in the state she herself was in Eyja realized that nothing she said would connect. She needed Abiene to remember what Earana had said, and it wasn't going to happen with her in this state.

Eyja called Honditar while she dug in her pack. She pulled out several potions designed to ease her stomach, but only handed her one to drink.

When Honditar hovered outside the door, Eyja pointed to the slop bucket. "Get that out of here, or I'll be joining her. "

Eyja gave Abiene another potion for her stomach, then went out and picked the lock of the room next to the one Abiene was in. There was a clean single bed and a small tub in the corner, almost like one of the barrel troughs she'd seen at some stables. Eyja heated the water with a fire spell and dug out a bar of her own soap. There was no cloth to wash with, so Eyja pulled her dagger out and cut a square of the sheet from the bed. She went back to Abiene's room and all but carried her into the other guest room.

Eyja stripped Abiene's clothing off and helped her into the tub, then soaped up the sheet square and scrubbed her briskly with it. She lathered the soap in her hands and gently bathed the sweat and vomit from Abiene's hair with it, then heated the ewer water and poured it over her.

Eyja glanced around and cursed. No towels. She glanced through the dresser and found a cotton robe that she patted Abiene down with; then yanked back the sheets and helped Abiene into the bed and gave her another potion for her stomach, a very strong healing potion and one to restore her magicka.

"Abiene, Maxical has been kidnapped by Earana. Honditar says you healed Earana tonight, I need you to feel better so you can tell me everything. Honditar thinks they are in some cave, and may be bringing her somewhere in the North, I need to hear everything they said to you. Please get better quickly, every minute is one they are getting further away with Maxical. "


*

Abiene

Eyja took one look and sprang into action. Abiene found herself medicated, washed, dressed, and tucked into bed by brisk but gentle hands. She cooperated like an unusually obedient child. Honditar’s occasional presence no doubt had more to do with Eyja’s overflowing top and abbreviated skirt than Abiene’s intermittently bare state.

Then Eyja spoke. “Abiene, Maxical has been kidnapped by Earana. Honditar says you healed Earana tonight, I need you to feel better so you can tell me everything.”

The news brought Abiene upright in the bed. She started to organize the day’s events in her mind, then she realized that she should just start with Earana and let Eyja decide what was next.

“Earana and Mister gro-Gonk came to me for healing tonight. They had the same infection that I had. I’ve learned that I was the one who carried it to Chorrol from the Wayshrine. Athragar and some of the mages got it from me, but they didn’t spread it beyond the Guild hall. Thankfully it strikes so quickly and with such powerful symptoms that the afflicted don’t have much chance to infect others. Anyway I cured the two of them and they left. I asked Earana if she wanted to take some mandrake to eat in case she met anyone else who was ill. I swiped a good supply from the chapel and handed most of it out at the beggars’ camp earlier. I doubt that mandrake alone is enough to cure someone, but it should prevent a healthy person from becoming infected. Anyway she took a few pieces and asked me to sell her my cheapest Cure Disease potion. They were both chewing mandrake and giving me looks when they left. I guess it was obvious I wasn’t well.”

Abiene twisted her fingers together, pushing her worry down so she could continue.

“All day folk were telling me they heard a white Khajiit left through the main gate. They said they heard it from an orc. Eyja, I should have suspected something was amiss! I just thought Maxical had bought a potion so she’d feel better and was going back to the Goblet to look for you!”

His eyes fluttered open some hours later. It was morning. He liked mornings strangely enough. The beginning of the day after a decent rest was disconnected enough from the day before, and the promise of the new day was set before him.

Sethyas got off of the mattress, that was now bare of beddings because of a particular disposal run the night prior. Also the reason he was willing to trust and help Eyja. As much as two scorpions trusted one another, but perhaps they were the type of Predator that could hunt in packs.

She had actually stopped by to ask him for some of the more exotic ingredients from her needed list, when she intercepted a Dark Brother intent on ruining his meal and his night. As it turned out the man was here for him solely, and didn't know anything about the prior poisoning. The poisoned healer.

That meant a professional and a master alchemist were behind it. They could be one in the same, they could be two different people. Among the concerns raised by her, was that if they went to a master Alchemist it could be the one that made it to begin with and might finish the job.

Sethyas revealed that he just so happened to be considered one. At least by the Mages Guild. Their assessment of his skill ranked him at 96. That was fifty years prior. He'd been around quite a bit in those years since, seeking adventure and knowledge in the surrounding provinces with projects to keep him busy. He had taken Divayth Fyr's advice in that regard.

If you live for four-thousand years, you need a project; a hobby to keep you interested. Mine just so happens to be corpus disease.

He reminisced that that same 'disease' of which Fyr simply removed the 'negative' effects from, gave him complete immunity to both disease and age. He was biologically immortal. A steep fall, a lucky shot, a poisoned meal, and he would die. But in these last two hundred years almost, it hadn't gotten him yet.

He started taking out various wares and foodstuffs and grabbed a few things from his alchemy satchel, pondering when Eyja most likely would stop by with the ingredients for the potion.

He considered putting on a shirt, but it would be warm with the burner going.

*OOC: Just for you mALX **

*

Eyja glanced at Honditar lingering in the doorway when Abiene said that Earana and Gaturn had the same disease she had. His eye caught hers with confirmation he had come to the same conclusion from it.

When Abiene mentioned Earana and Gaturn buying that cheap Cure Disease potion, Eyja gave an involuntary moan and turned to Honditar; once again his eyes showed his thoughts concurred with hers. That was purchased to give to Maxical, meaning Maxical must be too ill to help them in whatever experiment Earana had planned for her.

Eyja felt like a taut rubber strap about to snap. If Maxical was well she could handle most dangers and there would be little need for worry. Maxical's penchant for getting into trouble usually arose from gullibility and trusting people before finding out if they deserved that trust. Where she was normally capable, in illness she was the exact opposite. Helpless to the extreme.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's all the proof I need that at least one or maybe both of them has been in close contact with Maxical; and that she is ill. Maybe Maxical got weak, and they had to help her walk like she did with Abiene?"

Honditar hesitated, then shook his head no. "Before a few days ago I might have believed that. Now I'm more inclined to think they forced her bodily to accompany them. They may have used a ruse to get her out of the guard's view, then forced her down into the sewer system."

"The sewers!" Eyja clutched the lip of the bath tub barrel, wishing there was someone she could release the rage building in her on.

"Earana was outside a cave known to be loaded with traps and bandits; but what few know is that it accesses the sewers below Chorrol. They can get in and out of the city without being seen by the guard that way."

Honditar gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. "Nermus the Mooch said there's people living down there in the sewers, if you can believe a beggar."

Eyja stopped him. "Always believe the beggars. They are everywhere in a city and no one notices them, they see things most don't. People assume their ramblings are madness, but they rarely lie except to get your gold. Give a beggar twenty Septims and you have bought yourself the best spy one could have, and cheap at the price."

Eyja's voice was rising as something struck her that Honditar had said earlier and she'd let pass without questioning it in the shock of learning Maxical had been kidnapped.

"What kind of experiments is she doing on Khajiit?" It almost came out as a scream. Eyja sucked in her breath with force before continuing.

"The beggars have to know something. Find out what Earana is doing in these experiments, where she is keeping these Khajiit, where she is going with Maxical. Give them the twenty gold first and don't ask any questions till they've offered you a blessing for it. Wait till it is in their pocket, then ask. Check every beggar in the city, some may know something another doesn't. Do you need funds?"

Honditar was already gone before she offered the funds, Eyja heard the main door bang shut before she could turn back to Abiene.

"I'm sorry, just tense over Maxical. Honditar knows me well and will understand. Abiene, can you think of anything, even something you might think insignificant that they may have mentioned? Honditar said she is using Khajiit as test subjects in her experiments, but he has never learned what she does with them."


*

Abiene

Eyja and Honditar discussed the new information. Abiene listened with growing horror as they determined that Maxical had been kidnapped.

Honditar left in a rush, and Eyja turned to Abiene. “Can you think of anything, even something you might think insignificant that they may have mentioned? Honditar said she is using Khajiit as test subjects in her experiments, but he has never learned what she does with them.”

Test subjects? Abiene took a deep breath, pushing back her exhaustion to focus on the question.

“Earana asked for a potion to protect against shock burns. I didn’t have one, but I did have a suggestion. I remembered Darnand and Jerric fooling with some old Dwemer thing they brought back from Skyrim. Jerric was working on it while Darnand made notes or something. I wasn’t really paying attention. But Jerric kept getting shocked and only absorbed it about half of the time. He got mad and gave the thing a smack. Then Darnand got annoyed and told him to sit on a Welkynd stone. I thought they were just being rude to one another, but Lildereth went and got him one. He didn’t actually sit on it, of course. He tucked it under his arm. Well anyway the point is I told Earana perhaps it would help prevent a shock burn if she held on to a Welkynd stone.”

Abiene chewed the corner of her lip. “If I wanted to get my hands on a Welkynd stone, I’d go to the Mages Guild. But there may be a collector somewhere in town. I wouldn’t know about that, but I could ask around. Whatever you need, Eyja.” Bold words for a woman who is lying limp in a bed. “Maxical is in terrible danger. My ingredients can wait. I’ll just keep healing myself until she’s back with you, and safe.”

*

Eyja thought her head would explode when she heard what Earana had been asking about.

"Maxical has complete weakness to magic! She wears rings, an amulet...her greaves; they all absorb or reflect spells, but if they've stolen them from her..."

Eyja drummed her fingers restlessly on the bureau top, staring hard at Abiene but not really seeing her. Somewhere in the back of her mind was a feeling she'd heard something about this before, but what?

"Abiene, think hard; anything having to do with shock spells you've learned in the Mages Guild; places that had some weird phenomenon. Wasn’t there some secret Ayleid dungeon they found below a cave a few years back? I thought the Black Horse Courier article about it said something about the Mages Guild losing a member because of shock traps set up. Maybe she is trying to access an ancient treasure and using Khajiit to test the trap...”

Eyja felt sick at the thought. “Ask at the guild if she purchased a Welkynd Stone, if she has to find one first that could buy us some time. I think they come from dungeons...”

Abiene’s last words reminded Eyja about the ingredients.

“Oh. I have found a Master Alchemist that has agreed to make your potions. He is at the Wobbly Goblet Inn, and can be trusted; whereas any local Alchemist must be suspect. He had all the rarest ingredients except the Scrib Jelly. While Honditar questions the beggars I’ll run the ingredients you’ve gathered to him. The potions are much milder on your system, you won’t be ill like this with them.”

Eyja took the sack of ingredients from Abiene. “Tell Honditar where I’ve gone, and any information you come across or remember. Oh, and speaking of the Wobbly Goblet, I overheard that two people have disappeared; someone named Stefania, and a little boy called Lleris. The Orc that runs the place was bawling over him. She is worried he may be ill with this contagious disease. I thought of Earana, but Honditar is sure she only uses beast races in her...experiments.”

Eyja cast chameleon and left quickly, without giving Abiene a chance to respond.





***



Eyja was surprised to see the early sun rising when she left the Gray Mare. Time was passing too quickly, it felt like trying to run in quicksand; but in the longrun it would help to have an idea where they were going other than “North.” If Emfrid was right that they were going cross country, there would be no way to find them without an idea of where they were headed. She hoped having to find a Welkynd Stone would slow them down.

Without thinking, Eyja gave the coded knock on Seth’s door that she’d always used with Foxy, he knew her knock from any other. Seth gapped the door the same way Foxy always did, just enough to say “enter” without opening it enough to say “welcome.”


"I can't stay long, I..." Eyja broke off and glanced around startled. The inn room looked like a full alchemy lab with bubbling liquids and fires under glass vented bottles held up by temporary brackets.

“Are you making the potion already? I have all the ingredients here!” She held out the sack from Abiene and the one of items he had given her last night.

His eyes flickered with wry humor at her words.

"What is it then?"



*

"This isn't for a potion." Sethyas said, putting a handful of beans into a pot.

"This is my breakfast. You really think I'm going to trust anyone else with my food after last night?" He explained, cracking a couple of eggs over a tin plate modified to serve as a pan, it stood on top of some wire legs with a burner just below it.

"Those are the rest of the items, then." he said with a nod to her items, stirring the yolk and whites together with a fork, and tossing a handful of some dried herb to the mix.

He went to another setup, and smelled the progress it was making.

"So we just need some scrib jelly to finish it up, if memory serves." He stated, and wafted some steam towards his face with a gentle wave of his hand.

"I'll see what I can't do to try and get some. It's rare out here, but not uncommon. Especially as it's one of the few imports that the Imperials actually like from Morrowind. As well as saltrice...." he said, suddenly snapping his fingers.

"That's perfect!" He exclaimed. "Saltrice is the perfect substitute!"

Eyja seemed to be be confused, and scared to ask if he meant for the potion or his food.

He grabbed a handful of it from his foodstuffs, in a neat bunch with a strip of paper holding it together.

"Saltrice is Morrowind's version of wheat, used in making their baked goods. The largest commodity out there." He started to explain.

"But--it's also one of the best ingredients for restoratives! You can make a double effect potion of Health and Fatigue with it...and as a nice bonus it will actually fortify magicka." He explained. "There's a nasty side effect where it will actually drain strength if not prepared correctly, but I know how to prepare it correctly."

He nodded his head to a table, as his uncharacteristic enthusiasm with his hobby and trade seemed to put a gleam in his eyes. "Go ahead and leave them there."

"I can have this potion ready in about an hour." He explained.

He stopped suddenly when something in his mind clicked. He didn't quite put the two together until just now.

"Did you mention that your contract involved a white Khajiit?" He asked.

*

Eyja:

The aroma of food and cooking began to fill the air, reminding Eyja she hadn't eaten anything but a mandrake root since before yesterday morning. Nords weren't made for fasting, and smelling the food was making her stomach ache and groan.

There wasn't anytime to think about eating now, and as Seth said; she wouldn't trust the food here. She'd have to grab raw ingredients off the trail as they searched for Maxical. It wouldn't be the first time, probably not the last either that she'd have to survive that way.


Being well rested suited Seth, he was talkative and energetic, even humorous. His eyes gleamed with enjoyment in what he was doing, Eyja wasn't sure if it was the cooking he was so enthusiastic about or the alchemy of it.

Either way, he was a god in his own domain with all his alchemical equipment boiling and brewing; and doing it bare-chested enhanced the image. Any other time she would have lingered and enjoyed watching him doing something he obviously loved.

There was some intangible quality about Seth, a charisma that drew one into him. She had trusted him instantly on meeting, and knew beyond doubt he would never betray that trust. There were only two others she'd ever felt that kind of chemistry with; one was the purest relationship of her lifetime; Foxy, her boss and mentor. The other was the only love of her life, who lay in an unmarked grave now. She knew where it was, but wouldn't go. She'd seen him dead, that was enough to torment her the rest of her life.

Eyja pulled herself from her reverie with a start. Seth was eyeing her quizzically.

"I...did you say...yes, she is a white Khajiit. Seth, she has been kidnapped. The woman who took her has been using Khajiit for some experiments involving shock spells. I think she is trying to bypass a trap on an Ayleid treasure of some sort and kidnaps beast races to use as test subjects and absorb the shock in her stead."

Eyja fidgeted before going on, taking a pace around the room.

"She's taken her somewhere North, but we have no idea of her destination, there are literally dozens of Ayleid sites North of here. I wouldn't tell this next but for the danger she is already in. It can go no further if she survives this, she has too many enemies that would use it to their advantage. Maxical has some disorder, she has complete vulnerability to magic, poisons, disease. A shock spell could kill her, and she was very ill before they took her. She caught that contagious disease going around the inn, the healer she helped was carrying it."

Eyja strangled her emotions back on a choke before continuing.

"I may have to leave before the hour, if so I'll insist the healer stay and wait for the potion. Right now my friend Honditar is bribing the beggars for any information he may learn of their destination. The healer Abiene is at the Mages Guild trying to learn which Ayleid sites may have shock traps. They are coming here to fetch me and we leave immediately to hunt for them. They have hours of advance on us already."

Eyja balled her hands into fists so tight that her nails dug into the skin of her palms to keep the weakness she was feeling from showing in front of Seth; but he knew. She saw the realization reflected in his eyes.

She turned away, averting her face so he wouldn't see the anguish in her eyes; giving up the pretense with a slight shrug of one shoulder. In a hoarse whisper she admitted what he had already seen.

"Our lives call for detachment, but in truth I have become attached to her. She is the same age my sister was when she died, and I see too much of my sister in her; and in too many ways. I couldn't stand it if she was lost. It is beyond the task."


*

Sethyas did what he did best. Observed and listened, drawing an assessment as objectively as he could. She may have been getting paid, or some other form of barter to protect the Khajiit's life, but she clearly would do it gladly for free now.

He also found it difficult not to personalize things along the way at times. Only the best individuals could bring out this type of reaction from him. He expected more from himself, and as such expected more from others. When the rare and exceptional individual met those expectations, he did much for them. Eyja so far had met those expectations.

"Then I may or may not have some information in that regard. I saw two individuals headed northwest. One was tall and lithe, likely Altmer as I only saw the hands...her stride suggested female; the other's stride suggested Khajiit. As well as the white tail and hands that were visibly exposed. Both were dressed in dark robes and hoods." he recounted.

He looked over the ingredients, then Eyja's pained expression.

Damn. I'm the only one that can do this for an absolute certainty right this moment.

"If you go after them..." He started, shaking his head. Something about Eyja, and her speaking of her sister. He understood all too well.

He grabbed one of the eight ancient silver daggers he had picked up from Hanin's tomb in Morrowind nearly two hundred years ago. The daggers were older than that, by a millenia or two. Whomever had enchanted them was a master. They never tarnished or rusted, and the potent poison they had was somehow part of the overall make-up.

He handed it to her. "Take this, you may need it. If anything goes wrong...use the amulet I gave you. I'll...try to catch up if I can."

He'd accepted the task of aiding her out of a sense of honor, as she had saved his life. He was just tired enough, he may have eaten the meal. Mithridatism had given him a high tolerance to poison with all the samples he'd tried with wortcraft, but he was hardly immune.

Now he was starting to identify with her adversities. Being back in Cyrodiil, his original homeland wasn't doing much to help stop that either.

*

Eyja:


"The Khajiit was walking?" Eyja felt the relief of that. They'd only bought her a very low dose of the Cure Disease, maybe just enough to make Maxical mobile to get her where they were going.

As her hand folded over the dagger's hilt the merest sliver of a silvery vaporous mist moved down Seth's arm and up her own, nearly causing her to drop the blade. She steeled herself and clutched it tightly.

"You've tamed an ancestral ghost for this; it lives within the blade, I saw it! I've heard of these, but never seen one till now."

Eyja cast a light travel armor on herself before tucking the dagger into the waistband. "What stories you must have of your travels, I would love to hear them all. You should publish your memoirs one day. Thank you, Seth."

She touched the amulet on her neck. "I'll only use this if the need is overwhelming to do so. It may be. The Altmer is a powerful Battlemage. I've never taken on one of her skill level in face-to-face in combat out in the open before, only from the shadows. And that Orc, they are not an easy kill even using stealth."

Eyja caught Seth's questioning glance and explained. "Though he may not have been with them at the time you saw them, she is traveling in company with an overly large Orc man of the worst reputation. He was carrying bedrolls and winter gear tied to his pack, so I'm sure he'll be one of the party."

She tied her travel pack tightly shut and hefted it, watching Seth already beginning to prepare the ingredients for the potion. "Was it still dark when you saw them?"

Eyja's shoulders slumped at Seth's nod and answer. It was under two hours from when they had left the healers. She had hoped they would try to obtain a Welkynd Stone before going. Maybe that's why the Orc wasn't traveling with them, he may have been waiting for the Mages Guild to open and then catch up with them. Or robbing one of the collectors in town.

"Then they still have a major advance on us. We'll need horses if we're to catch them, I'm going to talk to the proprietor here and see if she has any to rent." She thanked Seth again and hurried out, automatically turning the latch on the door before pulling it shut behind her.



OOC:

Eyja's armor can be seen in this screen:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...eenShot1051.jpg


*

Abiene

Abiene stepped out of the Mages Guild and walked into Great Oak Place. Earana was nowhere in sight, and neither was Honditar.

Alberic Litte strolled into the circle and made his way around toward the Mages Guild. He raised a hand in greeting when he spotted Abiene.

She returned the wave and moved out under the tree. She had the information they needed, and now she felt as if a target was painted across her back.

A Chorrol guardsman strode through, making his rounds. “Good day, citizen.” He gave her a wink as he passed.

Abiene smiled back when she recognized him. “Good day, Constable Meglio.” This was not the time to enquire about his carbuncle. Besides, his jaunty gait was enough to tell her it had not recurred.

Best to wait for Eyja or Honditar, she decided. Time is short, and we might miss one another if we are all running about searching. They will find me easily here.

She sat down to wait.



Screenshot

Focus. The mental command came.

Causality. You know this.

These reported events,...are like an arrow shot at my heart...that lands at my feet. I choose not to pick it up and stab myself with it.

He read, and re-read the list for the potion, and examined all of the ingredients twice over. He felt the textures between his thumb and forefinger. He felt the weight with well-trained hands, becoming a far more accurate scale than most 'honest' merchants. He smelled the ingredients with slow inhales, comparing the scents to his knowledge, especially as scent was the sense most closely tied to memory. He compared notes, and thought through the process.

Technically, three different potions. Three different batches. Two will mix together...the third would make it toxic. He shook his head over the puzzle. This was the true challenge of Alchemy. Potion and Poison were so close in words, but also in effect. Too much and a life-saving elixir would take life just as swiftly. A little salt to change the alkaline level and a toxic chemical could be as harmless as water.

Well...water can be toxic if used incorrectly.He corrected himself, realizing he had drowned Men and Mer before. Never in rage,...just a powerful sedative and they never felt a thing, and no one questioned it.

Could the third batch be separated as well? He thought, and started to dip his pen and write down the equation, trying to balance it out the pen scratching slowly over the parchment.

Twenty minutes later, he finally got it and smiled slowly.

As ever, the simplest solution is usually the correct one. He said grabbing the sack and carefully placing the ingredients next to his workstation.

Abelle Chriditte was the Master Alchemist in the book: "The Cake and the Diamond", once I thought was a work of fiction, described an aged crone who fooled some thieves out of their diamond. Her blend of Alchemy was something out of a work of fiction to begin with.

'Field Alchemy' she called it. The surprising discovery of a young-ish, vivacious apothecary living in the propylon chamber of Valenvaryon, no less. The ancient, and mostly abandoned Dunmer Stronghold on the northernmost coast of Vvardenfell proper.

The denizens were Malacath worshippers. Orcs. A few challenged his right to pass through unharmed. It was an argument they lost. Then to come across her after he had acquired the index from Nibani Maesa at nearby Urshilaku Camp, where he learned of his destiny, seemed to be that same destiny unfolding before him.

"The Orcs here are not evil. I didn't approach them like they were. That's why I can live and barter here unharmed." Abelle Chriditte had told him.

"Teach me." he asked.

"Oh, my skills are for hire." she said with a greedy smile.

Many weeks passed and his skill grew. Until she said she could teach no more.

"Than..I am a master alchemist now?" He asked.

"No." She shook her head. "But, neither am I."

He thought she had swindled him. Until she explained.

"Firstly, the Mages Guild does not know everything. They try to standardize it, but the world is a wide, open place. If I learn every flora, every fauna in Morrowind...what good does that do me in Cyrodiil?" She asked, as he nodded, finally understanding.

"I move from province to province, I learn everything that I can. I may be considered a master here, but when I go to Hammerfell, my 'score' may as well be five." She explained.

"I learned how to break a diamond down at it's weakest parts using my wit and minimal resources. I bet those hedge wizards in Skyrim and Cyrodiil don't even know that you can use one in alchemical processes!" She laughed, not knowing how right she would become.

In these latter days of his life, it seemed he held onto a lost art. Rubies, emeralds, diamonds. They all held alchemical qualities that their value had made the world forget over time. But, he was older than this current world was, and some things should never be forgotten. No matter how small.

He added the final, secret ingredient to the potion. The one unifying aspect, the keystone that held it all together in perfect balance. Rarely did he laud himself, this once he would allow it.

Even enough left over for a backup. He thought, hiding it in the upper rafters, carefully wrapped so the vial would not break, should it fall.

One can never be too careful.

*

Honditar:


Honditar spotted Abiene sitting at the circle and hurried up to her, his expression grim. "What I've learned is not good. Whatever Earana is doing with these experiments, none of the subjects have survived them. She seems to think she can harness the power of lightning into some spell is all they could tell me."

He sat down beside Abiene to catch his breath.

"There is an Ayleid site somewhere to the North she brings them, but they could give me no further description than that. Maxical and the rest were kept in a dungeon below the city itself, in the sewer system. It is no rumor, I found their lair. There is access at the lowest chamber of the Crumbling Mine. Maxical has been there, I found this pack and recognized it as the one she carried."

He held up the pack. "I brought it with me. The shirt and greaves she was wearing earlier were beside the bed, I put them in the pack as well."

Honditar nodded his head toward Nermus the Mooch, who responded by folding his hands together and bowing his head as if conferring a blessing on Honditar.

"If their blessings are carried to the gods, I should have good luck the rest of my days."

He turned back to Abiene.

"They have a wolf guard the Khajiit, you can imagine how frightening that must be for them. There is a full laboratory there of alchemical mixtures to make the subject obedient to Earana's command and dependent on her..."

Honditar broke off and gave Abiene a direct look.

"Skooma. Beside the bed was a bowl of thick cream that had been laced with Skooma. They drug the cream, she becomes addicted and will do anything for more. Those other potions will make a thrall of her, we may be fighting all three of them until the spells and potions have worn off. I hope she is not adept in combat."

Honditar bumped his knee gently against Abiene's. "I took a bottle of the cream and mixed some dispel potion in it. Where is Eyja? We'll need to leave quickly if we're to catch them, they know where they are going and we don't; unless you've learned something I haven't."


Maxical in the black robe:



http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps7ac823f7.png




The lab in the sewer system below Chorrol:



http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps6a2a14f3.png




The lair in the sewers where Maxical was held:



http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zpsc6fd6104.png




The access through Crumbling Mine:


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq67/Ma...zps66627d48.png



*

*

Eyja:

Between the lack of sleep, her empty stomach that had been groaning since smelling Seth's meal cooking, and the tension of Maxical's situation; Eyja was in no state to remember she had learned of Lleris's disappearance while sneaking in chameleon in an area of the Inn off limits to guests.

She approached the proprietor Bograk with a sympathy for one who cared about a missing child, feeling she was in the same situation and wished she could have broken down as the Orc had done.

"Has your lad Lleris been found? I hope all is well with him, I know you were greatly concerned."

Bograk's eyes widened and one brow lifted as she turned to face Eyja. Her hard look softened at the obvious concern and sympathy in Eyja's eyes and expression.

"I sent for the healer, but she couldn't be found. He's not well, not well at all. Some disease the healer herself brought, and now can't be found to cure. Inform her if someone falls ill, she said; then up and disappears like a fart in a windstorm." Bograk snorted her frustration.

Seth had given her three Cure Disease potions the night before. Eyja had thought to save them all for Maxical, but the worry in the Orc's eyes was more than she could bear. She opened her pack and dug around till her fingers touched one of the odd-shaped vials Seth had given her. As an afterthought, she pulled a Mandrake root out as well.

"Here, I was given three of these last night. My sister...my close friend has caught the same disease; a very close friend. This root is for you to eat, it will keep you from getting ill while taking care of him."

Eyja waved off Bograk's offer of Septims.

"No, no. If he is well and your worry ended, that will be my payment. My worry won't end till I'm able to reach my friend, it is the white Khajiit that was in here this morning. She doesn't fight off illness as well as others. She has been kidnapped, and the ruffians that have her were seen heading North. I'll need horses to catch them, and two go with me to help find her and take her back from them. I hoped I might rent them from you rather than the stables at Chorrol."

Bograk shook her head. "The horses belong to the guests, all but one; my mare. Tell Lowren I said to saddle up Sapphire for you. I'll loan her to you, no rent needed." She held up the Cure Disease potion, indicating that was her payment.

"I turned down an offer to rent her not hours ago. Necromancers in their black robes." She snorted.

Eyja gave a start. "Black robes? The ones that kidnapped my friend were seen wearing black robes! I hope the Chorrol stables didn't rent them horses, we'll never catch them!"

"Uuuoh, she won't fair well with that type. They come in with those black robes marked with evil, I won't even rent them a room." Bograk shook her huge head vigorously and glanced around as if looking for a spittoon.

"Bongond would sell to Dagon if he was in the market for a horse; but that's all he'll do, sell them; and for twice what they're worth."

Bograk clamped her massive hands on Eyja's shoulders and turned her by them, pointing to two armored men breakfasting at a small table.

"Those two are regulars and have a fair sized tab with us. Tell them I've asked for the use of their horses in exchange for it. It'll be up to them if they accept. We'll work out a fair settlement when you return."

She brushed past Eyja barely nodding at her thanks, then nearly thundered up the steps with the potion.

Eyja's stomach rumbled loudly as she approached the table. The smell and sight of the food was wreaking havoc with her inside; but thinking of the poisoning Abiene took, she turned down the offer to join the men in their breakfast; and was very glad she'd changed into armor from the short skirt and low cut top by the way they were ogling her.

By the time Eyja finished talking with Baurus the Kind and Silas the Brawler, she had three horses being put to in the stables. They were more than happy to accommodate when they learned their tabs would be zeroed out, and quickly ordered some ale with their breakfast.


*

Abiene

Honditar bumped his knee gently against Abiene's. “Where is Eyja? We'll need to leave quickly if we're to catch them, they know where they are going and we don't; unless you've learned something I haven't.”

“I think I know where they’re going,” said Abiene. “I went into the Mages Guild to see if anyone had purchased a Welkynd stone, and Teekeeus was in the middle of a hissing fit. Gaturn had been there already this morning. Teekeeus must know of his association with Earana, because he was ranting about her and Fingers of the Mountain. I’ll spare you the rest. Suffice it to say it has been a sore topic with Teekeeus for some time. Anyway I remember a friend’s involvement with the Guild once took him to Cloud Top on some errand for Teekeeus related to that spell. Something made Teekeeus connect the Welkynd stone with that Ayleid magic he’s been trying to restrict. Anyway I thought that was a good enough clue to stop enquiring about the stone and try to catch them on the way up! You know how to get to Cloud Top, don’t you? I’ve been trying to ask Darnand, but I can’t reach him.” Abiene patted the crystal ball inside her satchel to explain.

Honditar took the news with a grim kind of calm. Abiene felt the same way. “Where is Eyja?” he repeated.

“The Wobbly Goblet. She may be on her way back by now, that’s why I’m sitting out here. I didn’t want her to waste time looking.” Abiene lifted a bundle from the bench. “I bought some provisions from the street vendors. Eyja said the poison I drank was very rare, so I doubt whoever used it has enough to dose the whole city. They may even be out trying to find the ingredients to make some more.” Put that matter aside for now. “Honditar, I know plenty of folk who owe me favors. Given time I could surely convince a few to accompany us to Cloud Top. But I’m afraid we’re running out of time. I have a mount, and I am not always as helpless as I have been lately. Oh, and my Papa is a scroll maker.” She indicated her satchel again. “I have some scrolls. At the least I’d like to be there to help when you find Maxical. We know she will need healing.”

*

Honditar:

Honditar shook his head. "Never heard of Cloud Top. I've got some maps at my house, possible it could be marked on one of them; give us an idea where they're headed."

Honditar nodded when Abiene offered to come along. "I'd sure like it if you did. I saw the worry in Eyja, something I've never seen before in her; and I've known her decades. She'd want you there, but not put the burdon on you by asking. As far as I know, she's not slept or eaten either." He stood up.

"If you have a horse, get it saddled up. Wait at the stables for me and keep watch for Eyja. Emfrid said they were packed for overland, they probably won't be taking the roads; but just in case, you ask every Black Horse Courier that rides up if they've seen that Orc with an Altmer and one more."

As an afterthought he added, "If you've got room for some extra food in your saddlebags, I'll go by my house and get some stores for the trip; load my pack for travel. Won't take long, and Eyja will have to pass the stable if she is seeking us. If she hasn't come by then, we'll meet her at the Wobbly."

Honditar set out for his house; his mouth in a grim line, but a determined gleam in his eye. This was to be a hunt, just a different kind of hunt than he was used to. Still, he was a hunter; a good one. He could track deer, and an Orc walking in the soft ground of this area would leave a good foot trail to follow.

Honditar emptied his hunting pack and loaded it with all of the dried deer meat and dried fruits he had, and the last two loaves of tough thick bread he'd made the day before. The women wouldn't like it, but it was good for long treks to keep the belly full. Next he added two small sacks of roasted nuts.

He shoved his maps into a pocket of the pack without looking at them, and lastly tied his bedroll onto the pack. He tested his bow, then tied a second bow to his pack along with another quiver; and loaded both quivers well. After a glance around he added some fresh fruit to the pack and hurried down to the stable.


*

Sethyas strode out from his temporary lair. Refitted with his gear, he thought he may have a chance to catch Eyja before the hour closed, and to deliver the potion. He strode past underwear casually placed on a doorknob, the universal sign of 'No Room Service'.

Kids these days...and in my days...and in the days before my days. He thought wryly. His marital arrangement was an interesting one regardless. Normally folks get married to grow old together. Neither he nor his spouse did that, so it allowed for long periods of time between their actually being together.

Much as it was in the old days between them. The Archmistress of the House Redoran and the Grandmaster of the Morag Tong having an affair for years, until...

That's that the past. He thought.

In the aftermath, they eventually settled down together. The irony of it all, was that the thing they wanted most, just to be with each other was far more peaceful, and much less passionate than the yearning for it. They fought as all couples did, and made up in similar fashions. But when the years passed by and they did so quickly, his wanderlust grew and her contentment in their arrangement waned they finally agreed that missing the other was as important as being with them.

He was allowed more or less free reign. He could come and go as he pleased, other women would be 'forgiven', though he never once strayed; nor believed her. Adventures and exploration was his first love though, so perhaps in these excursions of his, he was in a sense visiting a mistress, and the leave she gave him was her permission, and his return to her accepting arms her forgiveness.

Though, she also had the same leave on his part. She never once strayed either, and though he didn't relish the thought of her in another man's arms he could not deny her the freedom and equality she granted. If nothing else, the core of their relation had always been respect.

He exited the Inn into the stables and saw an Altmer man dressed in the skins of a hunter and a focused look on his visage. He then saw Eyja in some travel armor, and smiled slightly at the good timing.

"Hail!" he cried approaching cautiously.

*

Eyja:


Eyja turned in surprised relief when she heard Seth's voice. He wouldn't have left his room unless the potion were finished; she hadn't known him long, but sensed that about him. Sometimes you just know things instinctively about people.

There was some inner aura in Seth that came across as tangibly as a sight or sound. When he was near she felt safe, that she could rely on him; an odd feeling for someone who only rarely felt fear and had taken care of herself since before she'd even reached her teens.

Eyja caught the wariness when Seth approached, and understood him not wanting to talk openly before a stranger. Honditar himself had bristled slightly at his approach, not knowing in what capacity the stranger was hailing her. Eyja poked him in the side.

"It's not what you think, Honditar."

She greeted Seth and introduced him to Honditar by his full name, then gave him a quick briefing of what Honditar had learned about the drugs they were using on Maxical.

"The healer is on her way right now, she was delayed by Bongond demanding payment before she could take her own horse out of the stables. Thanks to the proprietor here we now have four horses to follow them on. I don't know whether to leave the extra horse here or bring it for Maxical to ride home on."

Honditar pounded his chest in respectful greeting to Seth, his hackles smoothed by the lack of flirtation in Seth's eyes when he glanced at Eyja.

"Well met, Sethyas." He pulled the maps from his travel pack. "Abiene thinks they are going to an Ayleid site called 'Cloud Top'. It is not a place I have heard of before. Eyja said they were spotted heading Northwest?"

He spread the map out on top of the apple barrel and drew a line with his finger in a Northwest direction, scanning the nearby markings as he went. Honditar kept shaking his head, then finally rolled up the map.

"Nothing on this one." He grabbed another of the maps and rolled it out on the barrel. Eyja grabbed another of his maps and did the same, rolling hers out on the ground.

"Cloud Top, I've got it!" She rubbed her finger across her lips and made a smudge on the map with the dab of lipstick that stuck to her finger.

"Look, it is almost North Northwest; but Seth saw them walking cross country in a Northwest direction. Maybe they do need to get that Welkynd Stone first, or are trying to throw you off track." She pointed at Honditar, then glanced at Seth.

"They didn't have the Orc with them, they must be circling around and meeting him North of Chorrol. The Proprietor here at the Inn said they came earlier trying to rent horses, but she refused them."

She showed a winding valley leading almost directly to the mark. "You know this area here, Honditar, is it as low as it looks on the map?"

Honditar shook his head. "No, whoever made the map exaggerated the depth of the valley and minimized the height of the hills. Look, this is in the midst of the Jeralls, it has to be mountains; but do you see any drawn there?"

"You are right. I wish we could get an idea of the terrain."

At the sound of hoof clops she glanced up quickly and called out a "Hail!" Eyja turned to Seth.

"This is Abiene, the healer whose stomach your potion will save."


*

Seth's eyes flickered between the two. He inwardly smiled. He could tell that there had been a glint of admiration in her eyes when he had been bare-chested. Nor could he deny that her clothing, indeed her body was enticing.

But that was the extent of it. No doubt if any had seen her comings and goings from his room, the sight of a well-known 'lady of the night' exiting the room of a weary traveller would make a simple assumption. That served both their purposes quite well.

It's also why their trades made them assume nothing. She knew her strengths and she used them like razor-sharp weapons. That was where his true admiration came in. Not her body, but the way she used it to immediately control the perceptions of others.

As Master Andarys had taught him centuries ago, self-control granted one control over others. By predicting and controlling their perceptions, they moved in concert with your manipulations, thinking it was their idea the whole time. He didn't know if Honditar was within her webs, or not.

Either way, he would not say anything.

He replied to Honditar's greeting with an amiable nod, and slight smile.

He followed both their descriptions of the situation and the map of the terrain. He did repress a chuckle when she marked the location of Cloud Top with her lipstick. At once, logical yet uniquely her. He still didn't understand why people used daggers to stab a perfectly good map; and it wasn't like any of them had some charcoal immediately at hand.

He nodded at Eyja after she hailed the sound of approaching hooves. Turning his head to his left, so his face was hidden from Honditar he started to reach for the his pack and the potion. His eyes met hers, and they quickly flitted to his room window then back to hers, with an almost imperceptible nod. He hoped she was reading his signals correctly, and she seemed to.

He was paranoid to a fault, and wanted someone else to know there was another potion should anything happen to him. Regardless of how unlikely the situation. He'd survived plenty 'unlikely' scenarios by planning for them.

He unslung his pack, and turned around to greet Abiene.

"So, you're the one who's got everyone concerned. You have very loyal friends. That speaks well of your own character."

*

Eyja:

The idea struck Eyja to mark the location of Cloud Top on Honditar's other maps so they could each carry a map with them in case they became separated. When she unrolled the other maps she was surprised to find Cloud Top marked in different spots on each map.

The one Honitar had originally looked at showed Cloud Top due North of Chorrol. Hers showed it North Northwest. The last map she unrolled had it West Northwest.

While Seth was greeting Abiene and talking to her about the potions, Eyja waved Honditar over and showed him the discrepancy in the maps. Honditar's brow furrowed over the maps, then cleared suddenly. He pointed to the map that showed it West Northwest.

"I've seen an Ayleid structure here, but it is in ruins and almost fully below the surface of a small pond." He shook his head. "In my memory and experience I'd have said it was one of their wayshrines or fountains of magicka. The area is good for deer and I've had a few wolf pelts down there at this time of year."

Eyja clouted him on the shoulder. "Don't regale me with hunting stories now, is it the right place or not? Maybe the water enhances the shock to the person."

"Or maybe it's not the right place. See this map here? If this one is right, North Northwest; this is unscalable mountains. To reach the ridge you have to travel south at least two miles from that underwater site to the foothills and start climbing there."

He pulled out the original map he had looked at when he hadn't found Cloud Top.

Eyja pointed to her lipstick mark. "It's due North of Chorrol. What is this snake like thing? Is that a road?"

"It can't be, it isn't marked." Honditar leaned over the map. "Hold up; it is an old mountain trail, a foot path! It must be little used if it isn't marked." He ran his finger from Chorrol following the trail and stopped suddenly.

"Look here, Eyja. There is an Ayleid ruin marked on the path due North of Chorrol, Hrotanda Vale. If she is needing Welkynd Stones, here is where she would go. That footpath will take her directly to the ridge by the quickest route; once on the ridge she can walk it to any one of these markings from there."

"But she was seen heading Northwest, surely we should go where we saw her heading. Maybe we'd better ask Seth what he thinks."

Honditar's eyes flickered a quickly doused flame of anger. "You want me to track them, it takes time when it is two light women. The Orc could be tracked as fast as he walks, but these two will barely leave a trail. We need to catch them, but sometimes heading them off if you know where they are headed is the better move."

"But we don't know where they are headed, two of these maps are wrong! And truthfully, we don't really know for a fact she is going to Cloud Top, that is conjecture. What if we are wrong, should we not follow them to be sure?"

The worry and exhaustion in Eyja's eyes softened Honditar's anger. He cupped her chin in his hand. "Aye, me darlin'. We'll do whatever it takes to get your friend back. Don't you panic, we'll get her."

Eyja nodded, and brushed his hand from her chin; but did take the bar of chocolate he offered readily. "I need this, I've not eaten."

Honditar sought Seth himself, and lowered his voice when he spoke; but Eyja heard him.

"Maybe you and I had better plan this out." He hitched his thumb in Eyja's direction. "Women don't plan as well when their emotions are stirred up."

"I heard that, Honditar."

Eyja rolled up the maps and jammed them into his pack. She was too emotional to think right now. Too hungry, too exhausted, too panicked. Maybe it would be best to stay out of the planning, but what if Honditar was wrong?

The worst part of it was, Honditar did know this stuff; he was a Master hunter. Seth could have said the same thing, and she would have trusted his judgment immediately. Why had she given Honditar a hard time? He'd even done his pirate imitation to ease her tension, and she'd all but slapped his hand from her face.

Eyja signaled Abiene to her while the men talked. "Abiene, do you have any potions for bitchiness? Not to give it to me, I already have it. I think my nerves are shot. I haven't eaten or slept in too long. I don't know if you know about Nords, but if we don't eat our personalities take a nosedive."


Lowren interrupted, signaling that he had all three horses saddled and the bedrolls tied behind the saddles. He pointed to the saddle bags.

"Miss Bograk packed you some special food for your trip, said her thoughts will be with you'ns till yer return."

Eyja's eyes caught Seth's, remembering their earlier conversation about not trusting the food here. Now it was being thrust on them. He seemed to get the same joke, his eyes gleamed with momentary amusement.

Lowren moved close to Eyja and cupped his hand under her knee to lift her into the saddle. He winked at Eyja and whispered quietly, "My thoughts will be with you too, remember we've a date; you and I."

Honditar's head had raised momentarily in the Bosmer's direction. Bosmer loved to flirt, but in this instance it was Eyja's fault; yesterday morning leaving the Inn she had flirted with him; promised a date with him when her weekend with Honditar ended.

That was before all this happened with Maxical, flirting with him now was the last thing on her mind. She shook her head no at him and eased the horse toward the gate, waiting for him to open it for her.




*

Abiene at North Country Stables

Abiene lowered the stirrup and checked the girth again. She felt like a child beside Jerric’s big gelding, but she knew Kip was gentle and easy to handle. The problem was not the horse. It was her leather trousers.

Bongond stood staring at Abiene’s back, finally silent. Irritation plucked at her nerves. His hectoring tone and demands had been enough to make her almost forget her fears and worries. Can I make it? Or rather, will the stitching hold?

Abiene had spent a few moments in town gathering riding gear and adding a warm cloak to her pack. Then at the stable she raided the belongings that Jerric had left in storage there. A spare ground cloth and blankets along with a few other camping supplies went into Kip’s saddlebags. Jerric’s horse could carry a Nord in steel armor and armed to the teeth. He might hardly notice a skinny Breton on his back no matter how many sweetrolls she had on her person.

“Leg up, miss?” asked Bongond.

Kip stood like a statue. Abiene sprang up and swung her leg over his back, settling gently into the saddle. She adjusted the stirrup, then lifted up to check the seat of her pants. “No thanks,” she said to Bongond. Then she leaned forward and ran a hand under Kip’s mane. “Ready, fellow? Let’s go.”

The Black Road had little traffic. Kip carried her to the Wobbly Goblet at an easy canter. Eyja and Honditar were visible by the stable, standing with a dark-haired Dunmer man. “Hail!” Eyja called out.

Abiene dismounted near them, trying not to stagger as her feet hit the ground. Haven’t used those muscles lately, she thought. Later there will just be a little bit more to heal. Kip stood quietly as she walked over.

Eyja looked stressed. Honditar’s posture suggested appeasement. But the Dunmer quickly claimed all of Abiene’s attention. His face bore a large, black tattoo depicting an open hand.

“So, you're the one who's got everyone concerned,” he said. “You have very loyal friends. That speaks well of your own character.”

Abiene discarded her conventional greeting with an inward sigh of relief. This must be the Alchemist. Eyja’s trust in him relieved her of the burden of judgment. Abiene had been floundering over her head since yesterday. Now she felt a sense of hope.

“I’m fortunate in those who have favored me with their friendship,” Abiene replied. “They are more precious to me than any treasure.” Eyja and Honditar began to bicker. “I owe Eyja my life,” Abiene continued. “And unless I’m mistaken, I owe you for my health. Your presence here has been a boon to me in a desperate hour. I hope that you are ever met with such good fortune.” She gave a wry smile. “And I suppose I’ll be content to wonder about the digestibility and flavor of netch leather.”

Lowren brought over three horses as they spoke. Abiene wondered if they had a plan. Her untrained instincts cried out to head for Cloud Top. Tracking the kidnappers might bring them to Maxical too late to help, and searching for where they might find a Welkynd stone seemed a silly gamble.

Speak up, she scolded herself. To the Void with decorum. “Eyja, may I fortify you for the journey? I might ease your fatigue with my spells. And I know I wasn’t asked, but I think perhaps we should ride for Cloud Top. We will make better time on the road and possibly have a chance to lay an ambush. I’m no fighter, but I’ve heard lots of talk. I wish to prevent a fair fight, and certainly avoid one on open ground.”



**

Screenshot: Abiene and Kip.

A bit more that I forgot to include, sorry

Abiene rummaged in Kip’s saddlebag. She offered a parcel to Eyja. “Here, I bought this from the street vendors between Chapel Street and Fountain Gate. I doubt that our poisoner could have predicted that. And I might not even be the target.” Cold fear crept through her again. She reached up and brushed away the tickle on the back of her neck, wondering if she would soon feel a bolt or blade. Pull yourself together. The quick glance over her shoulder was pointless, but it helped.

“There’s ham and cheese on a buttered roll in there,” she continued, “plus an apple and sweetcakes. You should take a moment to refresh yourself, my friend. Even the most dedicated woodcutter must pause to sharpen his axe.” Abiene glanced at Honditar to see if he wanted a snack.

“Also I’m going to run into the inn for a moment before I go. I can catch up if you don’t want to wait. Someone inside might know where Cloud Top is, and I’d like to try to reach Darnand again. I’m certain that he knows.” She tucked the crystal ball in its velvet wrapper into the crook of her arm. “I’m a poor summoner, and I’m sure my recent state hasn’t helped. Maybe I’ll get through this time.” If he even has his with him.

Sethyas stood quietly watchful. Abiene was skilled at reading even the subtlest facial cues, but his tattoo rendered his expression unfathomable. Rather than impulsively reaching out to him Abiene clasped her hands together. She spoke in a soft tone. “As a healer it’s my hope that you will never need my services, and lately I seem to be making promises I can’t be sure I’ll keep. But if there’s ever a way I might help you, I hope you’ll let me try.” She felt like a fawn offering aid to a mountain lion. Hopefully her gratitude didn’t sound like arrogance. She managed a little smile. “Even if it’s just getting you a table at the Oak and Crosier at eight bells on a Loredas night.”

*

Eyja:


Eyja grabbed the vial Abiene offered and downed it before she'd finished speaking. "Thank you..." She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and handed her the empty vial back.

She was already mounted when Abiene offered the sandwich, but reached down to snatch it quickly. "Thank you!"

She surprised herself by managing to pause before downing the sandwich. "If you can catch up, will you check on Lleris really quickly while in there? Bograk is very attached to the boy. Once you've seen an Orc cry you don't want to see it again."

Eyja waited till Abiene was well up to the Inn before turning back to the men. She'd meant to catch Seth's eye to see which way he would advise her go; but his back remained to her, talking to Honditar as he was tying his bedroll and Maxical's and his packs on one of the black horses.

Honditar had pulled a bottle of cream from his pack and showed it to Seth, but their heads were together and Eyja couldn't hear their words.

"You're drinking milk now?" She fidgeted nervously, and Sapphire sidled with a snort as if her own tension was communicating to the mare. It probably was. She patted the mare absently and continued to watch the men, willing Honditar to move faster.

Seth's hand reached out almost in exaggerated slow motion, as Eyja watched he took the rein of the other black horse. It could have been just to tie it to Honditar's horse, but it struck Eyja with such a strong relief that she had spoken before she could stifle that feeling of relief from her voice.

"Seth, do you come too?"



*

“I’m fortunate in those who have favored me with their friendship,” Abiene replied. “They are more precious to me than any treasure.”

Eyja and Honditar began to bicker. “I owe Eyja my life,” Abiene continued. “And unless I’m mistaken, I owe you for my health. Your presence here has been a boon to me in a desperate hour. I hope that you are ever met with such good fortune.” She gave a wry smile. “And I suppose I'll be content to wonder about the digestibility and flavor of netch leather.”


“As a healer it’s my hope that you will never need my services, and lately I seem to be making promises I can’t be sure I’ll keep. But if there’s ever a way I might help you, I hope you’ll let me try.” . She managed a little smile. “Even if it’s just getting you a table at the Oak and Crosier at eight bells on a Loredas night.”

Sethyas was merely listening. Holding back was his way. He never struck until he was certain the blow was necessary and true. Rarely spoke if it weren't for a reason. Of course, he could have uncharacteristic moments as anyone could.

"Then your priorities are straight, Madame Healer. The Ashlanders of Morrowind have a parable: 'More stout than any stone wall are two true friends'." He agreed.

"There is no debt to be paid on your part, I am here to repay my debt to Eyja, as I also owe her mine." He said producing the potion.

"The netch leather is not technically digestible: remnant nematocysts survive long after death and treating for armor and the like, but as you know sometimes you need poison to cure poison." He considered the potion, and then handed it off to her, saving the rest of the lecture as a Healer hardly needed it.

The 'cure paralyzation' effect was most powerful in netch hide, and would do the lion's share of the work in healing any nerve damage.

"As far as cures go, you'll find me a poor customer. As far as pleasant company for a meal to share appreciation, I'd be happy to accept." he nodded.

He then considered Honditar, who was politely not interrupting but staring holes in them all the same.

"This is a bit of the cream that we suspect was used on Maxical to make her a Thrall to Earana's bidding. I've replaced it with a concoction of dispel, so we can free her from the skooma." he explained. Seth accepted it with a nod, and considered his non-lethal poisons.

Paralyze, Drain Fatigue, Slow, Fear, and Frenzy. He went over his mental inventory. Doubtful that Eyja, or anyone else for that matter would find the approach acceptable.

"Seth, do you come too?" Eyja called from horseback.

"As I said, my skills and blades are at your service." He called back, jumping onto the steed.

*


Eyja:


Seth and Honditar must have come to some agreement on whether they were going to follow where Seth saw the women walking or circle around to the footpath on the North side of Chorrol.

Eyja knew her decisions were based in panic; knew it would be best to let the calmer minds of the two men rule in how they should handle the search. Still, it was a relief to be on the move finally.

She shifted her weight to the right and lay the reins gently on the left side of Sapphire's neck. The mare was as anxious to move as she was, and turned to the right; reaching the gate just as Seth's horse was filing out.

Eyja fell in line behind him. As Honditar rode out of the paddock area she gave him a slight grimace and reached for his hand. She squeezed it briefly and let her eyes give the apology for her nerves earlier.

"It's all right, me darlin'. You're worried, I know it."

Eyja gave a brief smile at the pirate imitation. When she dropped his hand, she gave a slight sqeeze of her legs and moved the mare up between Seth's and Honditar's.

"Which way do we go then? I'll go wherever you two have decided is best." Eyja determined to keep her eyes peeled to the Northwest no matter which way the horses rode, though it had been so many hours now that they would surely be out of eyesight anyway.




***


Honditar:


Honditar signaled Seth with a "Hoowa" sound.

"I'll catch up, best not leave the healer without escort; she can't fight even in defense." Honditar reined his horse back and waited by the Wobbly's stone sidewalk; watching the Inn door for Abiene to come out.


*

Abiene

Curing Lleris lifted Abiene’s heart with simple joy. Color returned to his lips, and his ruby eyes opened free of pain and fever. Abiene smoothed the hair back from his forehead. Lleris blinked once and then smiled.

“I had the strangest dream,” he said.

“You were ill, but not anymore,” Abiene told him.

“Do I have to stay in bed?”

Abiene glanced at the innkeeper looming over the other side of the bed. “That’s not for me to say.”

Lleris started to speak. Bograk looked torn between relief and scolding. Abiene slipped away before the Orsimer could decide where to start.

Abiene moved quickly back through the inn and out the door. It was a relief to have honored her commitments. She hadn’t felt that weight on top of all the others until it had lifted. Now her mind was focused on the next undertaking rather than caught between worries.

She found Honditar just outside. Eyja must have left with the other horse. I wonder if Sethyas went with her.

“I’m glad you waited,” she said, checking her gear. “I still couldn’t reach Darnand, and no one had new information.” Abiene turned Kip to use the hillside to her advantage. Mounting was much easier this time.

Honditar looked tense and displeased. Abiene guessed that he was anxious to rejoin Eyja.

“Don’t hold back on my account,” she told him, nudging Kip into motion. “There’s a lot that I can’t do, but I can ride.”

Honditar:


Honditar nodded at Abiene's disclaimer and moved his horse alongside hers, urging his own into a brisk trot.

"I hope the laddie was doing better. Eyja said the Orc's tears and worry near broke her heart, it matched her own for the Khajiit. She gave the Orc a bottle of Cure Disease for the lad; the woman gave her these horses for her thinking of the boy."

Honditar turned his face to Abiene. "Don't judge her temper, Abiene. I've known her decades, never seen her like this. She's worried over Maxical, that's all. That and lack of sleep and food. Nords aren't known for doing well hungry."

He turned his head back to the front, scanning the road ahead for Eyja and Seth.


*

Sethyas lit one of his rolled hackle-los, and scanned the map with a careful eye. Based on what was being said, they most likely would need welkynd stones. There were two Ayleid ruins in the vicinity of the assumed location of Cloud Top.

Hrotanda Vale was more north of Chorrol, and he'd seen the two traveling distinctly northwest. There was also Lipsand Tarn. It was much more remote than Hrotanda Vale, but the distance between the the two in relation to Cloud Top was almost identical. Plus the side trail led directly too Lipsand Tarn.

Unless they were making a beeline for Cloud Top, and would worry about the acquisition of the stones afterwards, where keeping unseen was less of a concern and they could access either with relative ease. So if Earana was the careful sort though, she would have tried to cover their tracks by misleading the direction they were heading.

The possibilities were wide open. But there was still a strategy involved, the highest form of warfare was attacking your enemies plans.

"All right, I've thought it out. We head to Hrotanda Vale. If they aren't there but we see signs of recent disturbance, we can eliminate that area and try to track them."

"If they are there, that means they haven't gotten what they needed yet, and we can end this before it begins."

"If they aren't there, and their is no signs of recent disturbance...it definitely means they've headed to Cloud Top, or Lipsand Tarn. Either way, eliminating the possibility of Hrotanda Vale makes our path all the more clear."

Abiene

“Don’t judge her temper, Abiene,” said Honditar. “I've known her decades, never seen her like this. She’s worried over Maxical, that’s all. That and lack of sleep and food. Nords aren’t known for doing well hungry.”

“Thank you for the reassurance,” Abiene replied. “I won’t take offense. Folk aren’t themselves when someone they love is endangered. I see it in my work every day. Fear sets in and they want something to fight, only you can’t beat an injury or illness with angry words or fists. I suppose it’s a bit like that right now for Eyja. The uncertainty makes it harder. What if we’re heading in the wrong direction? What is dear Maxical suffering right at this moment? It preys on the mind. As much as we can we have to set that aside.”

Honditar looked like his mind was also troubled.

Abiene kept talking in a low pitch, hoping the chat would ease him. “I know what you mean about a Nord’s kind of hunger. I know a Nord who’ll pull a roll out of his pocket to eat while his meal’s being set on the table. He once crunched up a raw carrot right in the middle of chapel service, though it’s likely he did that to keep me from dragging him along again. I can get by for days on fennel seeds and potions. If you see me slipping my food onto Eyja’s plate, don’t think I’m up to something evil. I’m just looking out for all of us.” She glanced over to see if Honditar could tell she was speaking lightly.

They passed an ox cart and a group of pedestrians, then the road opened up empty before them. Honditar quickened their pace.

*

Eyja:

Eyja nodded mutely at Seth's plan. It did make sense to check the closest Ayleid site first.

Seth swung his horse to the northeast, climbing the hill on a diagonal to meet the road heading north.

Eyja strained her eyes staring to the northwest, but other than a few deer crossing the high fields in graceful bounding leaps there was no signs of movement as far as she could see.

She didn't have to signal Sapphire to turn, the mare automatically followed the large black stud Seth was mounted on, scrambling up the hill with a faster gait to meet his horse's long strides.

Seth spotted the white Ayleid arches through the trees and pointed them out to Eyja while he scanned the structure for a path up to it. The only path going up was slick looking slabs of a marble-like rock gleaming so brightly in the sunlight that it was almost blinding to look at them. Eyja shaded her eyes and let Sapphire have her head to follow Seth’s horse through the thick brush to the lower set of arches.

It was easier to see the structure now, just an entry into an underground cavern in the facing of the mountain. Had it not been for the reflection off the slabs and arches it would have been impossible to see it through the woods.

Seth dismounted and began preparing his weapons for quick and easy access, which took nothing at all; he merely touched each as if checking off a list of preparations in his mind.

Eyja dismounted and did the same, making sure she knew the position of every weapon and shield, potions and spell before setting out behind him.

Seth put his arm out to stop Eyja walking, pointing at an enormous footprint in the dirt, then another in a measured distance from the first. They were going in the direction of the Ayleid ruin. She didn’t need to hear Seth’s whisper of “The Orc” to realize who had made them.

As if on signal both Seth and Eyja reached for their poisons and began tainting several weapons in readiness, both moved to opposite sides of the slick marble and began closing in on the entry with weapons drawn and squatted low to the ground to make smaller targets if someone did exit while they were approaching.




***


Seth signaled Eyja to stay hidden beside the entry while he circled the structure to ensure no guards were hidden on the hill above it.

When he returned he faced the entry itself, scanning every discrepancy in the pattern carefully. He indicated the slightest darkening of the marble in one section and whispered so quietly that Eyja wasn‘t sure she‘d even heard it.

“See that discoloration? That’s from the oils in men’s hands.” He began feeling around that section of the entry; barely making a sound when he found what he was looking for.

“Found it, a hidden spring.”

There was only a quiet ’click’ sound; the stone slab’s spring gave quickly at Seth’s touch, as if it had been kept well oiled and in good working condition. Whether the Orc was still there or not, this ruin was not going to be empty inside.

The slab itself made a tremendously loud grating racket on sliding open, whoever was inside had to hear it. Still, it slid easily, as if the track had been kept well soaped. The slab must weigh enormously by the sound of it in movement.

Eyja had a minute fear of being sealed inside a tomb as the door grated closed automatically behind them.

“Maybe we should find the spring to open it from this side now, before we need it in a hurry to leave here.” Eyja whispered, trying ot see any pattern or design on the inside of the door in the darkness.

Her voice echoed eerily off the curved marble of the walls, carrying well down the corridor before them. Sound carried too well in this place, they would be lucky if the whole population inside wasn’t charging up the corridor in seconds of her speaking. Then again, they’d hear enemies coming too.

Mold covered the walls, the door; everything. There was no way to see discolorations from sweaty hands; especially in the darkness of the place.

Eyja forced herself not to cast a spell for night vision, though as pitch dark as it was she wanted to. It wasn’t just not wanting to make another sound and draw attention to their presence; she didn’t want to use up her magicka in case the enemies in this place outnumbered them and charged.

As if reading her mind, Seth pulled a small vial from a belt covered in tiny pockets; each just large enough to hold one vial of potion. He took a sip and passed it to Eyja without a word. She breathed in relief, it was night vision. He found the spring quickly and then began creeping down the long corridor.





***


Eyja followed Seth, as soundless as he was moving down numerous flights of slippery moldy steps before a central corridor led them to a huge greatroom.

Seth blocked Eyja from sliding into the room, then carefully moved to one side and pointed; first at the floor, then at the ceiling.

“Traps.” His whisper didn’t echo; Eyja didn‘t know if that was due to the larger room that absorbed the sound or if he was more adept at whispering than she was.

He took another sip from the vial and handed it to her again. Eyja took a swig from the vial and handed it back while Seth glanced over the room quickly from his squatted position beside the corridor.

Seth tapped Eyja's shoulder and pointed, sighting down his arm, then moved his head slightly as if signaling Eyja to sight down his arm. She leaned in closely and followed where his finger pointed.

“Fresh blood, recent.” He whispered; then pointed to a small cubicle on the left where a pillar was topped by a set of empty prongs. He moved his arm over and pointed to the opposite cubicle, set up exactly the same; but that pillar held a Welkynd Stone in the prongs.

“They’ve got the stone. The Orc’s footsteps were the only one’s outside; they must be meeting him wherever they are going.”

Eyja nodded, whispering back. “He can’t be that far ahead of us if the blood wasn’t dried.” Her whisper echoed eerily in the huge chamber.

“If the blood was his.” Seth‘s whisper didn‘t disturb the silence of the place, how did he do that?




***



“So we only need to track the Orc to find them, right?“ Her whisper echoed across the room like the hissing of a snake, she heard it reverberating down the row of cubicles and nearly jumped out of her skin when a loud voice responded.

“By Ysmir's beard, we've got ourselves a live one!”

Eyja’s head spun from Seth’s face to the end of the huge greatroom where a muscularly built Redguard woman was reaching onto her back. Eyja hoped it wasn’t going to come back with a bow in it.

Seth was on his feet with his bow out before the woman had finished speaking. The Redguard woman’s arm swung back over her head with a wicked looking throwing hatchet in her hands; the bronze color making it recognizable as Dwarven.

She couldn’t possibly have the strength to throw it this far, so Seth’s weapon was the only valid one in the fight. Seth was backing away, moving toward the corridor and signaling Eyja with a jerk of his head to get into the corridor first so he could cover her escape.

Eyja stood up to obey him, backing to the corridor as well with a poisoned throwing dagger ready in her hand.

As she moved into the corridor Eyja shot the woman a universal signal for what she could do with her threat, then kissed her hand and rubbed it on her rump. She blew her hand toward the woman, enraging her.

"If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!" She swung her arm back, moving forward and keeping her eyes on Seth.

Eyja turned and moved quickly down the corridor while Seth stayed in position, his bow nocked with an arrow and holding a dead aim at the woman’s chest. The woman could obviously see them clearly by her following of their movements, she must be using night vision as well.

Eyja stuck out her tongue and made another motion with her hand, even ruder than the last one.

"I'll send your bloody soul straight to Sovngarde! Uraaagh!" She was already in motion toward them.

Seth made a low grunt Eyja correctly interpreted to mean "get moving." Eyja obeyed him quickly, hurrying down the corridor and up the flight of stairs they had just descended.

As Seth barreled down the corridor toward her, an arrow still nocked and his bowstring still taut they heard it; the sound of a huge slab moving at tremendous speed and slamming against the ceiling.

The whole building shook with the force of it. They heard the Redguard woman’s scream break off into a gurgle.

Seth passed Eyja at the door, automatically reaching for the spring that set the stone slab sliding open. He pushed Eyja through first, then stepped out behind her into the blinding sunshine just before the slab grated shut.


*


OOC: I think I had too much coffee in my system, what the hell did I do? I blame Folgers for fueling me up too much. Blackie said it was okay, so go ahead and post if you are ready, Grits - sorry about this.



*

Abiene

Honditar led the way up the road at a pace that earned them warning looks from the Legion patrols. He must have taken her at her word that she could keep up. Abiene did not enjoy her home county’s traditional troll hunts, but social custom dictated that she participate. Though she could claim no kills of her own, her pride insisted that she excel in the chase.

They reined up at a crossroad. Honditar dismounted. Abiene did the same.

“Hold the horses and watch the road,” Honditar told her. He headed into the bushes.

“Which way do you suppose they went?” she asked before thinking. If he knew they would still be riding. Perhaps he needed a comfort break. Abiene decided that she didn’t need to go. In fact she was probably dehydrated.

Honditar’s reply was an irritated growl.

“I have a Scroll of Clairvoyance,” Abiene suggested.

That got the Altmer’s attention. “Why didn’t you use it to find Maxical?” His voice wasn’t quite a shout.

“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.” Abiene tried not to snap back at him. “Maxical is too far away. There are surely creeks and impassable gullies between us. The scroll would show the most direct path, but it could easily send us off in the wrong direction to get us around an obstacle that we can’t yet see.”

“Then it’s useless.”

“We’re on the road. That’s a direct path.”

Honditar made a gesture. “Use it, then.”

Abiene bit the corner of her lip. “Well, it only works for something or someone with whom the user is very familiar. I could use it to find my house keys, for example, but you couldn’t use it to find my house keys. It’s left over from one of my papa’s experiments. It turns out there isn’t much of a market for them.”

“Get to the point.”

“Well, an old friend or a lover should be familiar. I think the scroll will work.”

A series of expressions crossed Honditar’s face. “But you just met— Oh, you don’t mean... You and Eyja?”

Abiene strained not to roll her eyes. “You and Eyja. Didn’t you tell me you’ve known her for decades? I thought you could use it to find her.” She turned to reach into a saddlebag for the scroll.

Two Imperials and a Nord walked out of the bushes. Now Abiene saw the faint trail they had been using. Not even a footpath.

“Look here,” said one of the Imperials. “I sure wish we had some horses.”

Honditar moved forward. “Get behind me,” he hissed at Abiene.

Too late for that, thought Abiene. The men seemed to move more slowly as she glanced over them. She didn’t need to know much about weapons to recognize clubs, and the Nord had an axe on his hip.

“Good day,” she said. Her tone said Move along with all of the authority she could muster. She sent a Fear spell at the Nord to shake his confidence, hoping that he would be the most susceptible. Intelligence was more a factor than bravery. Her spell glittered slightly in the bright sunshine.

The other Imperial spoke up. “Yeah, I’m tired of walking.”

“Forget about it, Aldo,” said the Nord. He sounded nervous. “Not worth it.”

Abiene considered drawing fire into her hand as a threat, but it might upset the horses. Also it might escalate the situation beyond her ability to control it. Her aim was poor with elemental spells.

“Aldo,” said Honditar. “That’s funny, we just passed a Legion rider named Aldo. Do you know him?” He jerked his head over his shoulder, indicating the way he and Abiene had come. “Should be here any minute.”

Abiene pretended exasperation. “No, his name was Ronaldo,” she told Honditar. “All of those Enemies Explode spells have damaged your hearing. You shouldn’t be so quick to cast them.”

The Nord headed up the road without another word. The two Imperials exchanged a glance. Then they broke into a trot to catch up with him.

Honditar turned to Abiene. “You were supposed to be watching.”

Abiene raised her eyebrows at him. “Do you want the scroll?”

“No.” Honditar took the reins. “I found Eyja’s sign. They went this way.”

"Sometimes I wonder why the Ayleids made their own dwellings so dangerous." Seth said, reslinging his bow.

He took out another small potion. This one was a Dispel potion to readjust his eyes to the daylight, and handed it off to Eyja as he squeezed his eyes shut with a pained expression only to open them again, blinking rapidly.

"Then I remember many of them had their slave pens. Mannish 'creatures' were treated in such a cruel and degrading manner by the tell of the old stories, even the Dunmer with their barbaric practices would be aghast." he recounted, remembering the Cyrod's tales of the older days, which lead to the Slave Queen Alessia's rebellion.

Slaves were not permitted to speak, and had to communicate with signs and gestures; which was why modern Cyrodiilic was based on Aldmeris, the Men had no language of their own. They were pitted into terrible gladiatorial fights that made the Arena seem like a marionette show in comparison, and slave owners traded butchered slaves organs like currency.

Traps like these were for the cruel amusement of the Ayleid Masters. The promise of freedom so close...and now these ancient machines claimed at least one more life. He was prepared to use the arrow at any moment, but saw how quickly the Redguard woman's temper overcame her reason.

No doubt she knew the lair's layout, and still let herself become her own worst enemy.

Mephala would be pleased. He thought wryly.

However duplicitous and 'evil' she may be, he was in her sphere. Her webs to be more accurate.

As Eyja's got used too the new lighting, he started looking around for the Orcs tracks.

"All right, we've eliminated this possibility. We know they have what they came for. Now we can look for them. How much longer do you suppose Abiene and Honditar are behind us?" He asked.

"Shouldn't be long now." Eyja replied. "I left markers for Honditar to follow."

Eyja:


Eyja leaned against the gleaming marble and took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air; trying to cleanse the stench of mold from her nostrils. She gratefully took Seth's offer of the vial, taking a deep swig of the chalky potion and blinking back the stinging tears the sunlight on the night vision had caused.

Seth was saying something about the traps, Eyja could barely hear him over the pounding of the blood in her veins. That massive slab of rock pounding the ceiling; the whole ancient structure of this place shaking the way it had...until Seth pushed her through that door she had been almost frozen by the very real fear of being entombed in that place.

She who feared nothing, had crept into garrisons full of men to kill one and sneak out. She had been terrified. For all the times she had taunted and laughed at Maxical for calling it dangerous to crawl through these Ayleid dungeons, for the first time she understood.

The Ayleids were evil geniuses of torture devices. For all the murders she had committed and heard the final cries of death, that Redguard woman's final gurgle would never leave her mind and ride above all the rest in its depths of horror.

She glanced up at Seth's words, something about a Slave Queen. It wasn't registering with her. She held her hands up, one over the other and smacked them together.

"Squeeeeish. That was horrible. I was afraid the place would collapse around us." She looked over at Seth, he was as lost in thought as she had been when he'd been talking to her.

For a moment they both stilled their tongues, letting the silence and the breeze through the trees purge that place from their thoughts.

Seth was the first to pull himself back to the business at hand, checking the surrounding area for the Orc's prints leading away from the dungeon. He found them, his voice as quiet as the breeze itself called to Eyja to come look.

Eyja pushed herself back from the marble and stood, shaking and brushing the dinginess of mold that clung to her armor.

Seth had no sooner asked about Honditar and Abiene; and Eyja barely answered him when Sapphire's whinny caught both their attention. Sapphire's raised head and perked ears let them know it was a horse, but whose? They both found trees to duck behind while the sound of clopping neared and they watched in the direction of them till they saw two horses emerge.

"Honditar!" Eyja blew out her breath in a gust and hurried in a stumbling gait down the steep hill toward Honditar, her body feeling heavy and clumsy from lack of sleep.



*

Honditar:


Honditar nodded his head to Seth, calling to him. "There's a good heavy trail of footprints, the Orc came up through the woods the same way I did. He's been here."

Eyja's armor was filthy, Honditar was sure they'd already checked the dungeon. "I take it he wasn't inside, do you know if he got the Welkynd Stone?"

Eyja nodded, then mounted up; reaching for the dangling rein on Seth's horse to bring it up the hill to him.

Abiene

One look at Eyja answered Abiene’s most pressing questions. She and Sethyas were both uninjured, and they had not found Maxical. Exhaustion was evident in the Nord woman’s stumbling gait.

Honditar spoke as Eyja mounted up. Their quarry had the Welkynd stone. Eventually their tracking could become a chase.

Abiene kept her tone even and reasonable. She was in no position to start ordering people around, but she needed to be heard.

“Eyja, I know we don’t have time to rest. Will you allow me to help you with my spells? I can ease your fatigue, make you feel as if you’ve slept if only for a little while. Will you take a moment to drink some water and eat? Our pursuit will likely end in violence. Please, Eyja. Maxical will need you strong and clear-headed when we find her.”

She glanced at Honditar, hoping he would step in if Eyja resisted her advice.

*


Eyja:

Eyja nodded. "Just the spells, there is no time to delay. The Orc's blood was fresh in there, we aren't that far behind him. Seth thinks the Orc is meeting them at wherever Earana is doing the experiment. It might be Cloud Top, but three maps showed Cloud Top in three different places."

She handed Seth his horse's reins before continuing.

"The Orc knows where he is going, we'd be better off catching him before he gets there; fight one at a time. When we confront Earana we can offer the Orc's Welkynd Stone in exchange for Maxical, try to end this without killing her since Maxical may be under spell to fight on Earana's side."


*

Sethyas considered the plan. It seemed like it was a good one, and made sense. Earana seemed to be the type to send underlings out with the 'minor tasks'. Whether underling or mercenary, the Orc was definitely single-minded if his behavior's indications were accurate. Setting about finishing his task rather then tending to his wounds. But what most might consider a serious wound, Orcs would laugh at. You had to be tough to be an Orc.

He relented to Honditar's superior tracking skills, and knowledge of the area.

Unslinging his bow in anticipation, the chaotic nature of his plan was simply to have no plan.

If you wish to hear the Nine laugh, nine times: Then tell them your plans. One of the Monks was fond of saying, in the orphanage in which he grew up. It seemed to serve the situation well.

In that, until they knew the situation for a certainty they could merely act upon what little information they were able to glean. Until then, he would attack his enemies plans.

"Let's get to this Orc than. If we can take him out before he reaches Earana, she will be stuck in place." he agreed.

He only than started to notice Eyja's state. At first he assumed it was worry for her friend, and then possibly the hunger. He realized then the possibility that she still felt something at the end of a kill.

A trait that speaks well of your humanity, and poorly of your profession. You know the lines, but you can't hear the music, and I pray that you never do. He thought to himself.

He knew that whatever it was that gave him this...talent; as Master Andarys called it, was not 'normal'. He hated the thought that he could and would be equated with a heartless killer. If he examined his actions from an objective account, he was.

But, he still couldn't stand the sight of pain. He was telling the truth when he told the nameless assassin that the torture was not something he wanted to do. He still felt the familiar self-loathing over the act.

He shook his head once to clear his mind and followed Honditar on horseback, nocking an arrow as he prepared for combat, extending his senses as he had grown adept in over the years.

Their high vantage point gave them a wide view of the area, and he scanned for anything that might be amiss. An Orc trampling through the woods would certainly fit that description, and he had the increased confidence of their now-doubled party. Two Assassins, a Hunter and a Healer.

Honditar began to follow the tracks going North-Northwest. Quite fresh from their appearance, and the fact they were on horseback provided them with an advantage in terms of speed.

But not in Stealth.He thought, as a bolt buzzed past them landing two feet from his head in a tree trunk.

He glanced at it, Orc-make. he realized, as he jumped off the horse, smacking it in the hindquarters and yelling 'Hee-yeah!' to get it to trample blindly towards the general direction of the projectile's path.

He quickly took a covered position behind a tree, and drew an armor-piercing arrow.

His quick reaction took perhaps five seconds and he started to bark out instructions.

"Get behind the trees! He's got a crossbow, so that means our armor won't count for much against it."

He than began to scan for the bolt's source, tracing it's trajectory mentally.

He than saw him: Laying behind a log, using the position to effectively snipe at them. The terrain was still in their advantage however, as they were in the higher ground and had several stone pillars around them.

The Orc was preparing his next shot, and Seth then took aim. It was a difficult shot, the downhill trajectory actually working to the Orc's defensive advantage, alongside the range. Crossbows didn't have the versatility and speed of bows, but they didn't have the Archer induced errors either. Not too mention the pure power behind their punch.

He took a deep breath, and released his arrow at his exhale.

Abiene

“Just the spells, there is no time to delay,” Eyja told her.

Abiene reached out and caught Eyja’s arm. The spells to restore and temporarily increase her stamina passed between them as softly as a caress. Abiene followed them with the spell she used on the family members of critical patients. Calm and Rally combined with a charm to fortify their nerve. Folk in a crisis often had hard choices to face. She hoped Eyja wouldn’t mind.

They mounted and headed uphill. Abiene kept Kip at the rear of their group, out of the way.

Stay alert and do as you’re told, she reminded herself. Rather than look for the orc herself, she kept her eyes on Eyja and Sethyas.

It happened almost between blinks. A shout and Seth’s horse lunged ahead, riderless.

“Get behind the trees!” Seth called out.

Abiene jumped to the ground, spell in one hand and reins in the other. Kip’s bulk loomed over her. She cast a Shield spell on him as she ducked down. Her Illusion spells weren’t strong enough to turn him invisible, but she hoped the orc wouldn’t bother attacking a horse.

Hide. Save your magicka. It seemed to take an age to reach cover. Abiene drew a fireball into her hands and peeked out from behind the tree. She probably couldn’t hit anything, but most mortals flinched when they saw fire in the air. If the need arose she might be able to buy them a moment of distraction.

Honditar:

The Orc's trail was easily followed by the drying drops of blood clinging to leaves and grass in the brush alongside the pathway. Honditar was used to following bloodtrails; his mind was on the hunt rather than the prey being something other than what he was used to. Had he thought he might have realized it was too easily followed and smelled the trap they rode into.

As the horses had been climbing the hill he'd scanned for wildlife by habit; and noticed the deer were too scarce for this time of year. Honditar assumed they'd been scattered by the Orc just passing through, meaning they must be close on his trail.

The Orc being uphill of them, they'd be easily spotted if not for the cover of the trees as they rode. Honditar glanced up, and was satisfied they'd be hard to see from the criss-crossing foot trail on the mountain above them.

While debating whether the lack of deer would be worth mentioning, Honditar heard a click to his right, and immediately the bolt flew towards them; his first indication the Orc had laid in wait for them. Sethyas's quick reflexes saved him.

Honditar and Eyja both slid off their horses as the bolt lodged deeply into the tree near Seth's head with the sound of a loud 'THWACK." He thought he saw Seth nod his head to the west and agreed silently. Wolf packs take down large prey by surrounding them. With one motion he signaled Eyja to stay low and get further up the hill. She would be safer fighting from above the Orc.

Honditar dipped his arrow in poison before he nocked it, knowing even with the poison they'd be lucky to take an Orc down. They were like massive tree trunks, he'd seen one looking like a pin cushion and still walking through the gate at Chorrol.

He began darting from tree to tree to get west of the Orc, sighting the direction the bolt had come from as he went until he sighted the Orc's movement on the hill above him. A huge fallen log blocked his shot until the Orc leaned up over the log to shoot another bolt at Seth. Honditar leaned against the tree he was using for cover and let his first arrow fly; immediately dipping another arrow in the poison and readying it.



Eyja:

Eyja ducked low and cast chameleon while Seth's horse thundered past, covering the sight or sound of any magicka in the air. She moved north up the hill along the ditch to the far side of where the steel rod had come from.

Seth and Honditar were keeping the Orc's attention down on them, Seth to the southeast of him and Honditar to the southwest. She moved out on the footpath where she would make less noise and could move faster, climbing the hill till looking down she could see where the Orc was fighting the two men.

The path veered west northwest, criss-crossing the mountain's side for ease of climbing the steep grade. Eyja followed it across, stepping carefully so no stick would crack or pepple roll down and alert the Orc she was above him. When he was almost directly below her she crept to the edge, looking down the steep grade to see if she could or should get closer. Any move down to his level would expose and trap her. He couldn't move uphill easily either without heading to the road first.

The Orc wore plain hunting pants of leather, and no shirt under a fur hunting vest. Other than his crossbow and a quiver full of bolts, she saw no other weapons but assumed he had at least one dagger. What she didn't see struck her immediately. There was no Welkynd Stone, no glow from one anywhere. And he had no travel pack. The Orc raised up and fired toward Honditar, taking an arrow from Seth as he did.

She'd never seen a crossbow in action this close before. It had deadly speed and power, those bolts would easily go right through someone. She shivered, wishing there was a way to alert Seth and Honditar how many bolts he had.

Any Destruction spell from here may roll down past the Orc and strike Honditar. The only way to fight him would be to remove his weapon. Eyja dug through her spells, finally deciding on a Telekinesis spell. The crossbow may be too big to lift, but the bolts weren't.

Eyja cast, pointing the spell at the top of the quiver and lifting a bolt out. She considered holding them in case Seth took the crossbow from him, but then discarded the idea in case the Orc got the bolts from her instead. She flung the bolt with force as far to the west as she could.

The sound of the bolt cracking a tree top below him caused the Orc to jerk around and spend a bolt in the direction the sound came from. Eyja congratulated herself. Not only had she got rid of two of his bolts, but now he thought a third man was fighting him from the far west.

While he scanned hard to the west a movement caught Eyja's eye, Seth was changing positions while the Orc was distracted. She waited till the Orc was concentrated back on Seth's orginal position before taking another bolt and tossing it to the far west, this time aiming to hit the rock facing there. The Orc's head jerked around again, and once more he shot a bolt toward the sound.

Seth was in motion again, closing in on him.



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