Good to see this one back in action!

Is the raven vision supposed to be Teresa imagining the original state of the Ayleid city, or something fed to her through the channel of the raven? I'm getting overtones of it being the raven's own memories, but it works well either way.

I had to go back and remind myself how you'd adapted Jalbert to this story, as well as whether he'd remember her or not. He did get a bit singed by that encounter, but I'm still not sure if Teresa's changed enough that he wouldn't take her as being someone new. Still, if he can't see her, it's moot.

Post 100, page 5

Acadian: As I have often suggested to other writers, the player character should not be the only person in the world capable of using a detect life spell. So I made sure Teresa took this into account as well. Granted she did not consider that any of the ogres might be able to detect life. But then who would?

Given their past, Teresa needed to have that internal debate over whether or not to kill Jalbert on the spot. As you said, her good sense won out, as both she and Riveus would have been killed in the aftermath.

Thanks for pointing out the extra 'w' in caw. I did not even think about it when I was writing!


McBadgere: I have B5 on dvd as well. I keep thinking of pulling it out to watch over again as well, as it has been years since I have seen it.

It has been a long time since we read about Vilverin. That is why I put in the little rumination on Teresa's part of what happened there, to remind people. I said a long time ago that I was going to be tying up loose ends in these next few chapters. Jalbert is one of those.


Grits: Teresa is still curious about her origin as well! I have it worked out, but I do not think I will ever get to exploring it in the story. But the answers to your questions are yes and yes. The ending of The Last King Of The Ayleids might offer a clue about Teresa's white skin:
..."But still, I cannot deny how romantic it would be if the rumors were true, and somehow he slipped away into some secret valley, never to be seen again. That even as we speak, his descendants live in peace and harmony with nature, as the Arimer once did at the dawn of their rule."

Like you, to me it is Teresa's internal journey that gives me the most pleasure. The TF has always been focused on that more than anything else.


Colonel Mustard: I do not believe we ever hear an ogre speak in Oblivion. But to me it seemed likely that they could. They make clothing, and those loops around their arms and legs are purely for show, not utility, so they like adornments as well. They also use simple tools like those clubs. So to me they seem close to neanderthals. Goblins strike me as being even more intelligent, as they wear even more complex clothing, their lairs have actual kitchens, they raise rats as livestock, etc...


King Coin: While Teresa has concentrated upon being an archer, she has the makings of a shaman as well. We all know that she has a deep spiritual connection to the forest, and that when she communes with the spirits of the land she can see their history. She also has such a connection to her race, which she has not done much to foster. Her city-seeings are brief moments where her spiritual powers merges with that connection with her race, and for just an instant she remembers what it was to be an Arimer.

That was indeed ill-advised for her to sneak down there like that. But as Commander Adama was fond of saying "Sometimes you have to roll the hard six." Pappy would only have approved if she came back alive!


mALX: It has taken me a long time to start writing again because of RL as well! So do not feel bad. We will be seeing Teresa's emotions concerning Simplicia's upbringing coming to a head in just a few more episodes. It is something I have subtly worked upon for a long time now.


ghastley: I am sure Jalbert will never forget Teresa and her bottle-red hair! But as you said, thankfully she was invisible. They will have their chance to be face to face (and visible), in just a few chapters though.


Lady Saga: That is a long way back. Hurry up and read some more! Don't leave Teresa trapped in that sewer!


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last chapter saw the Fighters Guild finally preparing to leave Lady Scaurus' mine, now that its defenses have been rebuilt by the surviving miners and local peasants. Teresa and Riveus journeyed to Wenyandawik while the others returned to Bravil. They found the ruin populated by ogres, who were bringing trolls from the West Weald to turn loose on the Green Road north of Bravil. They were working for none other than Jalbert, the necromancer who had escaped Teresa at Vilverin so long ago. He intimated that their actions were just a diversion for some plan of his concerning the city itself.


Chapter 45.1 – Shadow Dancing

14th Evening Star - 17th Evening Star 3E433

Teresa stood before the Count of Bravil. She was clad in Aldariel, and Ravenfeeder was unstrung and tucked into the chitin gorytos at her hip. The green miran-talurn leaves of her armor glistened, and Teresa was glad she had taken the time to clean them of dust and grime and dab them with water. However, even as resplendent as the enchanted Valenwood armor was, she felt self-conscious standing within the center of the court.

Beside her stood Pappy, gird in his mixture of legion plate and orcish scale. The golden laurel set into his breastplate glittered brightly, announcing to all that he had earned the empire's highest honor: the Grass Crown. His legion helmet was tucked snugly in the crook of his arm, and the lobed, whalebone hilt of his nordic sword Hardrada rose from his hip.

Around them stretched out the great hall of Castle Bravil. Its ceiling floated high overhead, and the stone walls supporting it were pierced by clerestories that filled the room with the wan light of the autumn sun. Adding to the illumination were numerous wall sconces holding bright glowstones, chasing away the shadows that tried to pool around the two rows of pillars that ran the length of the chamber.

Before them sat Count Regulus Terentius. He wore blue velvet stitched with gold and silver, and an arming sword of solid black hung from his waist. Teresa's eyes were drawn to it, for it was like nothing she had ever seen. Unlike ebony, it did not reflect the light. Instead every part of the weapon was the same flat shade of black. It seemed to devour all illumination cast upon it, as if it was a sightless pit formed into the shape of a sword.

"So you claim these, ogres was it, were bringing trolls from the West Weald to turn loose upon the Green Road?" The count leaned back in his chair, resting his chin under a closed fist. His features were worn, and it seemed as if a murder of crows had left their footprints around his dark eyes. The olive skin of his nose was dotted with red flin blossoms, and his stomach protruded more than slightly from his midsection. As Teresa watched, he raised a cup to his mouth, and took a long gulp from the liquid within.

"Yes my lord," Teresa replied directly. "I heard the necromancer clearly give them the orders."

"This Jalbert fellow?" The count looked bored, and he held out his goblet while a velvet-clad servant filled it from a pitcher. "A Redguard magician of your previous acquaintance."

"A necromancer," Teresa replied, "who escaped justice at Vilverin."

An aged Dunmer stood to the other side of the throne from the servant, and leaned down to whisper something into the count's ear. The dark elf was dressed in black velvet that was stitched with gold and fringed with ermine. His short hair was bone white, and his dusky skin was lined and worn from the Time Dragon's attention. Teresa imagined that he must be many centuries old, perhaps even as old as the empire itself?

"Yes Drels, you are quite right." Count Terentius nodded as the dark elf leaned back and stood straight once more. Then his gaze moved from back to Teresa and Pappy. "We appreciate your diligence in this matter. However, you were quite mistaken in your conclusions."

Teresa blinked. What on Nirn was the drunken fetcher talking about?

"We are quite aware of the actual situation," the count went on, "and are already making efforts to rectify matters."

"What the fetch are you babbling about Terentius?" Pappy said exactly what Teresa was thinking. "You've got necromancers using goblins, trolls, and ogres to pull your troops out of the city, so they can strike right here in Bravil. What in Oblivion are you going to do about it?"

The count nearly spilled his goblet at Pappy's rebuke. His free hand fell to the hilt of his sword. Teresa's trained eye noted that while he was flabby from self-indulgence, there was still muscle underneath the sloth. She had heard many say that before his days of worshiping at the wine cask, Regulus Terentius had once been a questing knight and tournament champion. Apparently a shadow of that former man still dwelled within his frame.

Yet as soon as his hand touched the hilt of his black sword, a strange look crossed the middle-aged Nibenean's features. It was gone so quickly that Teresa wondered if it had even been there at all. Yet if she had to guess, she would have to say it had been a wince. As if touching his weapon had caused him pain.

"Based upon what?" Now the count leaned back on his throne and scoffed. "The ramblings of some half-breed bark-biter? The insistence of a commoner booted from Imperial Legion, and then booted again from champion of the thugs guild? You overstep yourself Vitellus, we know full well what is transpiring in the forest, and it has nothing to do with necromancers."

Teresa felt her skin burn hot at the nobleman's jibes. She held her tongue though, in spite of how badly she wanted to give the Nibenean a piece of her mind. Instead her gaze traveled to his Dunmer advisor, who looked quite pleased with himself. Just who on Nirn was he, and what was his agenda? Clearly he was pulling the count's strings.

"Why don't you illuminate us lowly plebeians with your brilliance my lord." Pappy's words seethed with acid.

"Now see here Vitellus," the count growled. "One more word and I'll toss the both in the dungeons and throw away the key!"

Pappy crossed his arms in front of his chest. The Colovian fighter's blue eyes were as cold as a glacier as he stared back at the aristocrat. "You go right ahead and try."

"If I may my lord?" The Dunmer spoke in a placating tone. After a nod from Terentius, he took one step forward. "I have been sent to assist his lordship with suppressing the Renrijra Krin insurgency and drug trade from across the border in Elsweyr. Thanks to my agents, we have learned that after their former trade route through Bawn was, ahem, closed off, the Renrijra Krin shifted their efforts to the north. Since Castle Black Boot had been evacuated by the legion during the Oblivion Crisis, they occupied it and are now bringing skooma across the border there."

"What your scout thought she witnessed in Wenyandawik was not a scheme of necromancers, but rather part of an elaborate plot of the rebels. It is nothing but an attempt to trick us and strip the Green Road of its defenses. Defenses needed to interdict the drug traffic now moving through that route. The Renrijra Krin would like nothing more than for us to withdraw all our guards to Bravil. It would leave them free to move contraband through the entire area unopposed."

"That's not it at all!" Teresa insisted. "I know what-"

A raised hand from Terentius cut the wood elf off in mid-sentence. "That will be all," the count said. "I will not hear another word of this fear-mongering in my city."

"But…" Teresa bit her tongue as the count took another long gulp from his goblet. Beside her, Pappy just shook his head. A single man clad in mail and the deer -emblazoned surcoat of the Bravil City Guard stepped between the mercenaries and the count. He did not say a word, but his expression made it clear that they had best be on their way.

"This is on your head Terentius!" Pappy growled. The guild commander spun on an armored heel and stomped away. "When the dung falls on Bravil, you'll be held to account!"

Teresa followed, mind whirling from what had taken place. Given everything she had heard of the count, she had not expected meeting him to be pleasant. But she never imagined he would completely ignore what she and Riveus had discovered at Wenyandawik! She could only hope that when the Imperial Forester made his own report to his superiors at Castle Virtue, they would not be so obtuse!

"So now what Pappy?" Teresa asked after the pair had exited the hall. "We have to do something about this."

"I haven't even started yet," the Colovian fighter vowed. "One way or another, I'm going to get to the bottom of his. Starting with that fetcher Drels and the imp chips he's slinging."

Teresa took a deep breath before she next spoke. "I think we should tell Baurus," she said. "He gave me a dead drop to use if I ever discovered a threat. I think this is one."

"The Blades?" Pappy shook his head. "I don't like it. You can never trust those damned cloak and dagger types."

"They scare me too sometimes Pappy," Teresa admitted. She remembered how Baurus had covered up her incarceration in the Imperial Prison. The Blades could rewrite history with the wave of a hand. She knew that they could erase people just as easily, as they did with the Mythic Dawn agent in Luther Broad's Boarding House. Without an emperor, they no longer answered to anyone. They were a law entirely unto themselves.

"What other choice do we have though?" Teresa went on. "We cannot take Wenyandawik on our own. Even if we did, that is just the sideshow. Whatever the necromancers are really after is right here. We don't even know what it is yet!"

"I know, I know," the guild commander sighed. He stared down the gilded gates of Snob Alley before them. "Go ahead, write your letter to Baurus. In the meantime I'll see what I can find out about this Dunmer whose got the count's brains up his backside."

Quoted for the awesome imagery. Superb description of Umbra there.

So, this Dark Elf fellow believes the trouble may be elsewhere, eh? I'm curious as to whether he genuinely believes this to be a plot from the smugglers or whether he's another agent for the saem Big Bad that Jalbert works for.

Of course it was!!...Cheers matey...I knew the sword was something important...



Ooof!!.. ...Ouchie...That's not nice...I no likee him...

That was a brilliant description of the count's hall, and, indeed, the count...Really brings to life the git he was in the MQ...And Grima Drels was suitably creepy...Definately looking forward to seeing him swinging from the nearest tree getting his handed to him... ...

Brilliant stuff, as ever...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Courtly intrigue!

‘Around them stretched out the great hall of Castle Bravil. Its ceiling floated high overhead, and the stone walls supporting it were pierced by clerestories that filled the room with the wan light of the autumn sun. Adding to the illumination were numerous wall sconces holding bright glowstones, chasing away the shadows that tried to pool around the two rows of pillars that ran the length of the chamber.’
A fabulous depiction of the great hall. And followed by an equally effective display of His Pompousness himself!

Red did a good job of not spinning into the lofty ceiling. She has learned, sometimes painfully, when to pick her fights. As a holder of the Grass Crown though, I see Pappy flirted right up to the edge. He is wise, but the wonderful temper that has generated more than one job change for him was on display here!

I’m torn as to whether the Count is being duped. . . or more likely that he is perhaps fully in on whatever is going on. I look forward to finding out!

Regardless, it seems true that this Drels fellow is indeed sprinkling a load of imp chips to cover something up.

Bravil’s court. I’m with Teresa, nowhere I would want to be.

The count has a very unique weapon, one that I did not expect from such a lazy ruler. Then again, he was a gladiator, wasn’t he?

"What the fetch are you babbling about Terentius?"
I think only the Grass Crown allows Pappy to be so blunt! Glad to see he takes full advantage of it!

The Blades? I wouldn’t think they would be very interested in this, would they? Wow I kind of forgot they were emperor-less. Their self-appointed role is kind of scary.

*

Gotta agree with Mustard on that being an AWESOME description of the blade! I wasn't even thinking of it being Umbra, but just floored by the description itself!

Holy Cow! You are shaking things up with this chapter! Drels - know for a fact he is whispering some lie - and most likely to cover his own butt. He must be in it up to his eyeballs, lol.

The Count is paranoid, (how Drels got his position there) - but I really am wondering about who he killed with that sword. Fathis? Gellius? GAAAAAH! Not Dro'Nahrahe!

This section was chilling, I've never forgotten what you said once about Baurus (and have never been sure if you were teasing about it):



There is definitely a mystery going on here, I am agog to find out who the players are!

The very first time Pappy has ever been wrong about something:



Terentius's brains were always in his butt hole, Drels just takes advantage of that.

Then again, I could be wrong. Drels may know who Terentius killed and be coercing him to comply with some scheme via blackmail.

OMG, I am so excited about this turn in the story!!!!!! You ROCK'd my world with this chapter, MORE !!!!! MORE !!!!! MORE !!!!!! ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY AWESOME WRITE !!!!!



*

Colonel Mustard: The count's sword is not Umbra. It is something completely original. We will be learning more about it at the end of this chapter. Good guess though, I can see where someone would think it was.


McBadgere: I was hoping that my portrayal of His Pompousness would resonate with everyone. Glad everyone hates him.


Acadian: The younger Pappy would have sailed right across that fine line and gotten into a fist-fight with the count! He has obviously mellowed out over the years of being busted down from one job to another. But he still can't keep his mouth completely shut can he? That is just his charm. At least Teresa is indeed learning to show more restraint than she used to.


King Coin: You are right, only that Grass Crown let Pappy get away with that much sass to a count. He is a genuine hero, and like the count, has friends on the Elder Council who look out for him. The count was not a gladiator, but a tournament champion. So once upon a time, he really was a man to be reckoned with. But you probably got to that part after you wrote that.

When Baurus tried to recruit Teresa, he did tell her to keep an eye out for threats, foreign and domestic. Even though they answer to no one but themselves now, The Blades are still the empire's spy organization. An attack upon an Imperial city is definitely something they want to be aware of.


mALX: Turns out you were right in not thinking it was Umbra. You are right in that the count killed someone close to him with it. Who should be evident at the end of the chapter. Everyone is right about Drels though! He is definitely up to no good.

You had me laughing about the count and where his brains usually are!


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found Teresa back in Bravil, and reporting her findings to the count along with Pappy. However, the count did not believe that it was the work of necromancers at all, but rather a plot by the Renrijra Krin rebels of Elsweyr. This idea seems to have been planted in his ear by his advisor Drels Theran. After a near confrontation between Pappy and the count, Teresa left with the guild commander, and they decided to contact The Blades for assistance.


Chapter 45.2 – Shadow Dancing

"So how does it feel to be a landowner?"

Teresa looked up from her grilled trout and smiled at Tadrose. The Dunmer was dressed in blue velvet stitched with cloth of gold. The vice-commander smiled back as Teresa reached out across the small table and took her hand. The wood elf's heart soared, and for a moment she forgot all about necromancers and Count Terentius.

"Wonderful," Teresa said. She wore her green velvet gown, in spite of how it revealed the scars that marred her shoulder. She tried not to think of how she looked, and instead just gloried in the feeling of the soft material against her skin. "It certainly took forever! I thought I was going to spend all day signing parchments at the temple. I can't wait until Simplicia sees it. She's always wanted a home in the country."

"See Teresa, you really can do anything!" Tadrose exclaimed. "So when do you plan to bring her down to see it?"

"I'd like to do it for Saturalia," Teresa murmured. She looked down at her plate and cut off a piece of trout that was slathered in butter and lemon sauce. Lifting it to her mouth, she took the time to savor the succulent fish before swallowing. Nerussa would be so pleased with her!

"But there's still so much work to do. Decimus has left it shut up for over a year. The roof needs new thatch, the beds need new mattresses, the whole thing has to be dusted and aired out. I just hope there aren't any rats…"

"Well we can help," Tadrose paused as she lifted a jumbo-sized fried shrimp to her mouth and took a bite. "My work in the forge is slowing down with the holidays coming up. So I will have time. I am sure Ancondil and some of the others would not mind pitching in to help either."

"So people don't expect to need swords and armor for Saturalia?" Teresa joked, and Tadrose chuckled softly. "Seriously though, thank you. I think tomorrow I will go out to Silverbridge and start with the cleaning. I have no idea how to put thatch on a roof though! I might have to pay one of the villagers to do it."

"Do you need money?" Tadrose asked. "I have plenty put aside in the temple. Whatever you need is yours."

"Oh I still have some leftover." Teresa sipped her glass of Tamika's. "Chance finally paid me back for his mace."

"You know you could have gotten a loan from the temple, instead of buying the house right out," Tadrose said. "That is how most people do it."

"Aye," Teresa bit her lip. "But I don't like the idea of owing them money. What if something happens, and I can't pay it? I don't want Simplicia to lose the house. Not after everything she's been through."

"She's lucky to have a daughter like you," Tadrose said as she sipped her own wine.

"I'm the lucky one." Teresa knew from the warmth spreading through her cheeks that she was blushing. "I don't know what would have happened to me without her…"

"This next song is dedicated to one of our hometown heroines, Teresa of the Faint Smile!"

Teresa's head picked up at the sound of her name. Looking across Silverhome On The Water's crowded dining room, she saw the bard on a small stage in the corner. He pointed to her, just in case anyone in the audience had not noticed. Then he set his fingers to his lute and launched into a song about her battle with the trolls outside the city's front gate. A song short on fact, and long on fancy.

Teresa stared down at what remained of her grilled trout and broasted potatoes while Varon Vamori extolled her virtues as a fearless warrior. Yet all she could see were the dead, unblinking eyes of Marius Helvius staring back at her. She remembered something that Tiber Septim had once said: "Glory only comes through sacrifice". She wondered how many sacrifices had created his empire? How many faces had he seen staring back at him, every night at dinner?

Tadrose's fingers intertwining with her own brought her back to Bravil. "Would you like to leave?" she asked. "We are almost finished anyhow."

Teresa nodded. She gingerly dabbed at her lips, being careful not to smear her makeup. In the meantime Tadrose dug into her coin purse, and left several silver drakes upon the table. The pair stood, and it seemed to Teresa that all of the eyes in the building were turned upon them. She was thankful for the gentle touch of Tadrose's fingers upon the small of her back as they walked to the door, and took a deep breath as they stepped into the chill night air.

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to spoil dinner," Teresa sighed. "But I just hate hearing that song. I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but…"

"I understand," Tadrose murmured. The dark elf slid an arm around Teresa's waist, and the forester gladly leaned into the other woman.

"So how shall we entertain ourselves, my lady fair?" Teresa chased the frown from her face with an effort of will. She put on her best impression of an upper class Nibenean accent, and lifted her nose into the air. "Shall we be off to the theater?"

"I believe we shall!" Tadrose smiled at Teresa. "We had best make haste as well, for Pride and Prejudice is playing tonight."

Teresa restrained a giggle. They walked off down the street toward The Globe, and Teresa found herself having to step with care. The high-heeled court shoes that she wore did not like the cobblestones that Silver Avenue was paved with. Every time her heel stepped on the mortar between stones, she felt herself wobble. Still, she strode tall and proud down the street, just as she imagined Lady Scaurus would.

Teresa found that Tadrose had been correct. Even though it was still early, the theater was filling up quickly. They were obliged to take seats on one side of the auditorium, as all those directly opposite the stage had already been filled. Teresa never considered the dirt-floored area immediately before the stage, called 'the pit' by most. There were no seats there, and she was not about to spend the entire play standing in her high heels. Nor was she going to chance getting that dirt on her good clothes. Instead she counted herself lucky that they were able to find seats on the ground floor, rather than up in one of the two balconies. So it was just as well that they had left Silverhome early.

Teresa gazed out across the sea of people that crowded the theater. Every facet of society was represented. There were patricians and equites in silk and velvet, artisans and shopkeepers in fine linen, and finally working-class folk in threadbare wool and flax. She found herself wondering how many of those elaborately clad folk were truly wealthy, and how many were like herself, and wearing all of the money possessed? For in spite of what she had told Tadrose, buying Decimus Rabirius' old farmhouse in Silverbridge had nearly cost her last septim. If not for the money Chance had given her in repayment for Ncharcasti, she would have been remanless.

Teresa found that did not bother her however. She had lived just fine with far less than the money she currently possessed. Unlike before, she now knew that she could easily come by more. A few more contracts, or another ancestor statue, and she would be flush with gold again. Then she could treat Simplicia to all the things the old woman had never enjoyed before, such as fine clothes, jewelry, good food, and nights at the theater…

She reached out and took Tadrose's hand in her own. She could not believe how her life had changed during the last year. If only Emperor Uriel could see her now! "You have no idea what you can do." His voice rose up in her memory, like a dragon soaring into the night sky. Had he seen this? Had he ever imagined just how deeply her life would change because of him?

Teresa smiled faintly at the thought of the old Imperial. As Morcant had said during her tarot reading, she knew that he would always be her guiding star.

Soon the play began, and everything else fled from Teresa's mind. She delighted in seeing the tale she had read about being brought to life before her eyes. It seemed a bit rushed in parts, but she could not blame the theater company. It was a long book after all! By the ending, she could feel her heart soaring right alongside those of the characters. One look at Tadrose, and she knew that she had found her Euphemia Bennetus.

Tadrose took her time as they walked back toward the Fighters Guild. Teresa found she was in no hurry to return to the guild hall either, and clung to the slightly taller elf. It was now freezing outside, but Teresa had planned for that. Two frost resistance potions chased the worst of the cold away.

Teresa found their feet leading them back to Silverhome On The Water, and lifted an eyebrow at the other woman. "I thought we might stop for a drink," the Dunmer said. Teresa smiled faintly, and followed Tadrose into the inn. Now that it was later in the night, the common room had thinned out considerably. Tadrose walked to the bar, and spoke with the high elf there in tones too low for Teresa to hear. A moment later she returned with a bottle of Tamika's and two glasses.

Teresa was about to sit at the nearest table, when Tadrose smiled. "Why don't we take this upstairs?" she said. "I took the liberty of renting us a room for the night."

Teresa's eyebrow did more than lift, it practically tried to jump off her face. "Is that the only liberty you plan on taking tonight?" she breathed softly in Tadrose's ear. The Dunmer practically giggled. She led Teresa up the flight of stairs to the upper floor, where all of the rooms were. The Bosmer enjoyed the view as the other woman's body swished back and forth beneath her velvet gown, just inches away. She could not wait to get Tadrose alone in the room.

They stopped before one of the rooms, and Tadrose handed the bottle and long-stemmed glasses to Teresa. The Dunmer fished a key from her belt pouch and opened the door. Teresa found that the interior was already lit with the warm glow of numerous candles. A veritable carpet of rose petals spread out along the before them, leading to a wide bed draped in silk sheets.

Teresa gaped. Before she could say a word however, she felt Tadrose's arms sweep her off of her feet. Teresa could not contain a squeal of delight, and clung tightly to the bottle and glasses as the Dunmer carried her into the room. It took a little maneuvering for the armorer to push the door shut behind them. Then on only slightly wobbly feet she walked to the bed. Teresa imagined that the high-heels of Tadrose's own court shoes did not make things easy, but held her tongue lest she spoil the moment. A moment later Tadrose gently laid Teresa down upon the sheets, and followed a moment later.

"I love you Tadrose," Teresa smiled.

What a lovely interlude! There was an element of completing the circle here, led by the long dreamed of house for Simplicia in Silverbridge – less than an arrow’s flight from Bravil. I remember us discussing what to name the tiny settlement that was inspired by that house mod by the talented Emma.

So many wonderful touches that tug at memories like the bardic rendition of Teresa’s fight with those trolls and the resultant physical and emotional scars. And the ghost of Marius Helvius that, like Emperor Uriel Septim, still haunts our faint smiling heroine wood elf. Damn that Varon Vamori; he should have sung the Ballad of Button and the Bear! Perhaps that would have brought Teresa a faint smile instead of a tear.

Of course her guild will turn out the following day to help their fellow guildsmer set up house.

I absolutely loved the vision you created of Teresa, in her silks and heels - wobbling along the cobblestones, steadied by Tadrose.

And sly Tadrose with her plans to finish the evening! So much of what she did would not have been necessary to remove Teresa’s silks. . . but that is why it is so romantic.

She wore her green velvet gown, in spite of how it revealed the scars that marred her shoulder.
It seems she's making slow progress here. By now, it should be just "marked". Although I doubt she'll ever get to "adorned" - the way her Orcish colleagues would see it.

And let's hope she's right about Simplicia always wanting to live in the country. A lot of people think that until they find out how far they are from the shops!

And a full smile without any trace of faintness at the end!

Blimey...I never thought of Bravil of being cultural enough for a theatre... ...

That was absolutely cool though...

Pride and Prejudice!!... ...Excellent!...

It was such a chore to imagine them in form-fitting velvet though...Blimey...Y'know...Pile the hardships on why don't you?...Pffft...

...

Oh, and a...Sweet...End to the evening... ...

Loved the idea of the farmhouse...Sounds like a lovely place...

And the reminders of Uriel Septim are always a welcome thing...

Excellent part...Loved it!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Catching up: I just love the descriptions of Teresa and Pappy in their polished up fighters’ splendor. The formal setting made Count Bravil’s careless demeanor stand out as even more offensive. I also thought the count’s sword sounds intriguing, and his wearing it in his own court seems to be a deliberate reminder to everyone of what he was rather than what he is now. I thought of “resting on one’s laurels,” with Pappy (the opposite of the expression) actually wearing his on the breastplate and demanding action while the count lounges around denying his responsibilities. Plus, that sword!!

Now here is something I had forgotten. I looked up Drels to see if we had met him before, and I found Ancondil reading Drels Alano of Suran’s Dancing With Shadows to Teresa back in chapter 27. This chapter's title makes me think, hmm.

I loved the whole Drels-count-Pappy exchange. Teresa’s “drunken fetcher” thought had me spitting out my tea.

Baurus and the Blades! Oh, this is exciting.

This update: Yay, a romantic interlude! I wonder how Simplicia will react to the house in the country that Teresa thinks she always wanted.

The dinner and theatre was just pure fun to read. What a delightful surprise from Tadrose. “I thought we might stop for a drink,” indeed!

Oh, it wasn't Umbra? Well, I look forward to seeing what it was.

This was a nice chapter; a bit of breathing room and down time after the excitement with the ogres and trying to get the Count to do something about it. And the farmhouse has finally arrived as well! Can't wait for Simplicia's reaction to that!

Great stuff, looking forward to more.

She bought the house?

Fighter’s guild house cleaning services!

Awww she didn’t like her song! And it’s off to the theater. Here I thought they were going to be doing something else to entertain themselves…

And they did it anyways! Wonderful little break form the fighting. I’m glad Teresa didn’t have to walk all the way to the bed in the high heels!

Acadian: It is hard to believe that was years ago when we first were going over names for Silverbridge! Wow, how the time flies past on afterburners.

Teresa would have preferred the Ballad of Button and the Bear much more! But it probably does not bring in the crowds like trollslayage does.

Have I ever said how much I love the term 'guildsmer'? As Doctor Who would say, simply brilliant!


ghastley: Morghak would say that Teresa is blessed with those scars! I know it is the simplest thing, but I do love being able to define Orcish culture as being different than the others even in such a small manner.

Teresa hopes that she is right in thinking that Simplicia always wanted that house too! Simplicia did say so way back in the misty dawn of time Chapter 13. But that was an old dream of hers, and things change as you live your life.


McBadgere: Even Detroit has an orchestra, and an art museum. So I do not think Bravil having a theater is too much of a stretch. Of course unlike in the game, it is a city of 20,000 people in Teresa world. So there ought to be ritzy and artsy stuff there.

I spent a lot of time working on the name of the play they would see. I wanted something that people would identify with, since I was not going to actually describe it. So I was looking at things like Romeo and Juliet, or As You Like it. Eventually I settled upon Pride and Prejudice, because I have already established Teresa as reading Juno Austenius in some of the earlier chapters.

I had a hard time with the form-fitting velvet too. That was so difficult to write. Not!


Grits: Good, I wanted the count to seem not just insulting in his words, but by his very casual behaviour as well. Hence the swilling wine during the conversation, etc... The resting on your laurels was an excellent catch on your part. That was one reason why I mentioned the grass crown on Pappy's breastplate. I wanted to clearly demonstrate the differences between the two. Both old heros, but so very different now.

The Drels from Ancondil's poetry book and the Drels in the castle are two entirely different people. Drels Theran is the guy whispering into the count's ear. He is from the game. I am not surprised that someone might confuse the two though. It had occurred to me as well, and I considered changing the second Drel's name. But in the end I decided to keep it the same as in the game. OTOH, today's post is the main reason for this chapter's title. Although it also fits some of the other things happening as well.

T&T's date was directly inspired by your question a while back of whether or not T&T had done the deed. I wanted a very clear milestone in their relationship directly in print, rather than just alluded to. A night they spent the entire night together, actually sleeping with one another rather than just sleeping with one another. I imagine that the beds in the FG chapterhouse are all singles, so while sex would work fine, trying to sleep two people in one for the night would not be the most comfortable...


Colonel Mustard: We will learn all about the count's mysterious sword in a few more posts. It figures very highly in the next chapter as well.


King Coin: I am glad more than one person instantly visualized the Fighters Guild cleaning service. I would love to show Valerius and Ancondil putting thatch on the roof, Vincent scrubbing the floor, Chance wiping out the inside of the stove, etc... But there was just no good place to put it in. So I was hoping that people could just imagine it instead.

There is an old saying about heels. They are only made to walk from the living room to the bedroom...


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode saw Teresa buying the old farmhouse of Decimus Rabirus in Silverbridge, with the intention of bringing Simplicia down from the Imperial City to live there. It also found Teresa and Tadrose enjoying a dinner out, followed by a romantic night at the theater, and finally spending the night alone together at Bravil's finest inn.


Chapter 45.3 – Shadow Dancing

Young Teresa's cheek flared with pain from where the Colovian thug had slapped her, and her stomach ached from the force of his punch. Her limbs trembled from equal measures of anger and fear, and she could barely contain the scream of outrage that wanted to tear from her lips.

"Why Simplicia?" Teresa felt hot tears spilling across her cheeks as she stumbled to the old woman. A pair of thin arms wrapped around her a moment later, but the comfort they provided was little recompense for the pain that flared through her small body. "Why? We didn't do nothing!"

"I know, I know," the old woman gasped, and pulled herself to her feet. Drawing Teresa from the street, she collapsed against the chipped white-wash of a nearby insula. "It doesn't matter. Not when it comes to patricians. They can do as they please, and got the law behind them."

"But it's not fair!" Teresa railed. "What gives them the right?"

"They were born noble, that's what," Simplicia said with a grimace. "Life is all about how you were born. We're proles, and that's all we'll ever be. Best to stay away from rich folk, and never let them notice you. Keep your head down, and you'll stay out of trouble."

That scene from Teresa's childhood ended, only to be replaced by another. Now she was standing alone in an alley, surrounded by human children.

"Tree-hugger!" The shout rang in Teresa's ears as the humans pressed in around her. A moment later a fist buried itself into her stomach, driving the air from her lungs. She fell to the hard stones of the alley, clutching her midsection and fighting for breath. "Bark-Biter! Leaf-Eared Freak! Woodworm!" The taunts rose from all around, as the human children pressed in around her small, slender form…

Then little Teresa found herself staring up at Simplicia. "Why am I an elf?"

"That is just how you were born," Simplicia sighed. "I am not your mother Teresa."

That scene faded too, and Teresa found herself being dragged across the bridge that separated the Market District from the Imperial Prison. She saw a line of gibbets standing beside the massive bronze gates of the prison. Hanging from them were half-a-dozen corpses in various stages of decomposition. Some were so rotten that she could not even tell what race they had been in life.

Rather than hanging from a noose, one figure was splayed out upon a cross. His hands were nailed to the crossbeam, and his feet to the vertical post. Naked, his legs were covered in urine and feces, and his skin buzzed with flies. As Teresa stared in shock, his head turned to her, and one eye opened to meet her own. His lips moved, but no sound came forth.

Teresa screamed, and buried her head in Simplicia's stomach. She felt the old woman's arms fall around her and hold her tight. In her ears came the sound of the old woman's voice. "Keep your head down and stay out of trouble cherry blossom, and this will never happen to you."

Again and again, similar memories of her childhood flashed through Teresa's mind's eye. Through them all she continued to hear Simplicia's telling her the same thing, over and over again. She was a nothing but a prole, and that was all she would ever be…

Teresa woke with a start, and rose to sitting position on the wide bed that she shared with Tadrose. Her limbs trembled, and her skin was slick with sweat. The candles that had once filled their rented room with light had all burned out. Only the wan light of Secunda that spilled in through the window offered any illumination. That was more than enough for Teresa's elf eyes to see Tadrose's own red orbs spring open. A moment later the dark elf also rose up, and Teresa felt one of the vice-commander's arms wrap tightly around her frame.

"What is it Teresa?" the armorer asked, "a bad dream?"

"I wish it was that simple." Teresa shook her head.

"What?" Tadrose said. "What is it?

"It's…" Teresa murmured, "hard to explain."

"You are the one who said we can face anything together," Tadrose insisted. "Even the Daedra of our past."

Teresa smiled faintly. This was what men meant about women using their own words against them! But she could not argue with Tadrose. The armorer was absolutely right. As usual.

"I am sure you have noticed that sometimes I lose my temper," Teresa explained, "and usually at the worst moments. People have also remarked that I don't give myself enough credit for the things I do. Well it's because of my Shadow. I don't mean like the shadow you cast on the ground, but-"

"I know all about The Shadow Teresa." Tadrose held up a hand to stop the wood elf. "I have been grappling with mine for the past ten years. Believe me, I know just how hard it is to face those feelings we all have, which we would like to pretend never existed. Especially when they want to reach up and throttle the life from us."

"I suppose you would.." Teresa nodded. She swallowed hard, then went on. "I have been trying to face my Shadow for months now, when I meditate in my Astral Temple, and in my dreams. I keep reliving things from my past that I thought I had forgotten. Things I had made myself forget. Now I think it finally all makes sense to me."

"What does?" Tadrose reached out with her free hand and gently took one of Teresa's.

"All of my life people have been telling me that I am worthless. That I was nothing but a beggar and a street urchin, and that I would never be anything more. Everyone treated me like dirt, because that was what I deserved." The wood elf stared down as her fingers reflexively intertwined with the vice-commander's.

"But the one person who has always said that the most is Simplicia." Teresa felt her voice start to quake "All of my life she has been telling me that I am a nobody. That I should keep my fetching head down. That it is just my lot in life, and that I should get used to it. She was my mother. How could she say those things to me!"

Tadrose's face fell. Yet still the Dunmer held Teresa tightly. "So you are angry with your mother," the armorer said, "because she betrayed you."

"Not just angry," Teresa fumed, "furious! The more I think about it, the more I just want to scream. It makes my stomach churn like… Like I don't know what."

"I know," Tadrose nodded. "I know how that feels. After what my parents did to my daugh… to my daughter, I wanted to kill them both. I mean that literally."

"But now I wonder, what would my daughter think of me, if she knew?" The Dunmer's face took on a far away look, as if she was gazing far beyond the walls of their room. Perhaps as far away as Red Mountain itself? "I lost her. I failed her. In spite of how much I love her, I saw her slip through my fingers, and there was nothing I could do about it."

"But that wasn't your fault," Teresa insisted. "What could you have done, truly?"

"Been a little smarter," Tadrose lamented. "Been less arrogant, and not so utterly blinded by my own self-righteousness. So much of what happened was my fault, because I did not think of anyone but myself. It was my baby girl that paid for all of it. I can see so much of that now, but I never could back then. I was just too torn up inside."

"Nothing is ever as simple as it seems," Tadrose said, "especially being a parent. In spite of how much you love your child, and how much you want their life to be better than your own, sometimes you just cannot see past your own Daedra. None of us can see into the future, to know how what we do today will change our child twenty years from now. So we all make mistakes."

"I know," Teresa bit her lip. "I know. I don't expect her to be perfect. But this…"

"Tell me something Teresa," Tadrose asked quietly. "Do you believe Simplicia loves you?"

"Well of course she does!" Teresa cried.

"Then why do you think she said those things to you?" Tadrose asked. "Do you really think she was being purposely cruel?"

"No," Teresa sighed. "No I don't. But that still does not change how I feel."

"Hmmm," Tadrose murmured thoughtfully. "Do you still love her?"

"Of course I do!" Teresa insisted. "How can you even ask that? No matter who actually gave birth to me, she's my real mother. She's taken care of me all of her life. She gave up her food, her shelter, her warmth, everything, just for me. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Simplicia!"

"So who are you really furious at Teresa?" Tadrose asked. "Are you mad at her? Or are you mad at yourself for feeling this way about her?"

The cawing of a raven pulled at Teresa's eyes. Sitting upon the end of the bed was the author of the sound. As she stared in wonderment, the raven opened his wings and once again cried out, as if to underscore the dark elf's words. The call of another raven answered him, and another, and another. Teresa looked around, to find that her room was filled with ravens, on the nightstand, on the wardrobe, on the small table and chairs, even behind her on the headboard of the bed. They all croaked and stared back at her.

"Teresa, it's alright to be angry. It's normal. It does not make you a bad person. You are anything but that!" Tadrose's soothing words cut through the cacophony of ravens. The Dunmer appeared to be completely oblivious to the spirits that surrounded them. "You just have to learn to forgive yourself for feeling that way, and forgive Simplicia for letting you down."

Teresa nodded and turned to look at the Dunmer. Standing behind the vice-commander rose the massive bulk of a bear. Even in the wan light of the lesser moon, the reddish tint to her fur was plainly visible. The grizzly's head moved closer, and Teresa could feel the bear's hot breath roll across her body like a cleansing tide. Teresa felt her anguish wash away with it, healing her of her self-inflicted wounds.

"I can do that," Teresa vowed. "I am angry, and I am resentful, and I feel guilty because it's all aimed at Simplicia."

"And I can forgive us both for that."

I was imagining Ancondil wearing a frilly apron and dusting with a feather duster.

Teresa is very different from that little girl that got beat up as a child. She’s in the fighter’s guild, far from the Imperial City!

This was what men meant about women using their own words against them!


Oh… I was on target with an earlier comment about Simplicia’s… bluntness.

That was really cool with the animal spirits. All this time, that raven could only be seen by her? I always assumed that the other characters would notice that she has a raven around her often.

And finally Tadrose helps put her anger to rest.

A powerful episode, where Teresa confronts her shadow head on.

Simplicia is many things. Near the top of the list is consistent. The flashbacks, although new to us, were totally in sync with everything we know about Simplicia as Teresa was growing up.

Tadrose’s counsel was wise, and I’m delighted to see Teresa (with some help from her forest friends) beginning to understand that. What Simplica taught Teresa was indeed inspired by love – but filtered through the prism of the old woman’s harsh experiences. As a low born human, violent abuse stole even her ability to make her way as a prostitute and she turned to the only thing left – begging for scraps.

Teresa, on the other hand, has overcome Simplicia’s ‘training’ and become a self made mer. She is a valuable member of the well-respected guild of fighters, has slain many foes and corrected as many injustices. The faint smiling wood elf finished among the top archers in all of Cyrodiil in the last tourney, and. . . has a smokin’ hot Dunmer who loves her!

As Teresa continues to blossom, I would not be at all surprised to see some role reversal occur in the dynamics between daughter and mother. After all, Teresa has already taken the first step by buying a beautiful little cottage for Simplicia.

Nits:
- “Well it's because of my Shadow. I don't meant {mean?} like the shadow you cast on the ground, but-"
- "So you are angry with you {your?} mother," the armorer said, "because she betrayed you."
- ‘Teresa looked around, to find that her room was filled {with?} ravens, on the nightstand, on the wardrobe, ...’

Blimey... ...Heavy stuff indeed...

Speaking as one that has a Shadow that regularly causes no end of trouble, I can absolutely sympathise with Teresa in this one...

Absolutely amazing writing...

I loved that bit at the end with the ravens and the bear...Wonderful imagery right there, that was...

Ahh, forgiveness towards parents...

Ahhhh, the joys of fiction... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

I loved this intimate scene in the dark. Tadrose is in a unique position to advise Teresa. Her (Tadrose’s) willingness to share her own vulnerability makes this feel like partners supporting each other rather than one person propped up by another.

I’m glad that you showed how T&T think of themselves as a couple now. That gives me the context for whatever complications follow. I’m particularly thinking of Simplicia. Tadrose has a real interest in what happens with Teresa’s mother, since she is also part of Teresa’s future.

King Coin: You had me laughing at the idea of Anondil in his lace apron and feather duster! You were right on about the effects of Simplicia's upbringing, for good and ill.

Most of the time Teresa's ravens and bears can only be seen by her. Except of course when she summons one. They are spirits, and are (mostly) in her head. Mostly.


Acadian: Those flashbacks were actually in previous chapters of the TF. Some go back to years ago however, so are easily forgotten. I picked them carefully, and trimmed them down a bit for brevity, in order to make sure they got across the point that you cited. Simplicia is definitely consistent. And just as you said, while inspired by love, her parenting has not always been helpful. When I started Teresa 2.0 here at Chorrol one of my primary goals was to put more focus on Simplicia and Teresa's relationship with her. Bringing that unhappy reality across was a big part of that new focus.

As ever, thank you for the editorial eye. That episode was a little rushed, and did not get as much attention in later drafts as I would have liked.


McBadgere: Forgiving your parents? Wild idea isn't it! That is one of the joys of writing fiction.


Grits: When I wrote that scene, I was very pleased that I could use Tadrose's own past with her daughter as a way to help her relate with Teresa and Simplicia. Not to mention to help Teresa look at her relationship with Simplicia from a different perspective.

T&T are definitely a couple now! That was the reason for the previous episode's 'date night' and why I set this last one in bed with Tadrose. I wanted to demonstrate the strength of that relationship. And you are right about Simplicia. Now the mother-in-law is coming! Her presence, and her reaction to Teresa's plans for a house in the country, will have a big impact upon Tadrose.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found Teresa making a major breakthrough while facing her Shadow. She has come to accept that she feels angry and resentful toward Simplicia for the old woman's well meaning, but often harmful parenting. Perhaps even more importantly, Teresa also acknowledged that she is even more angry with herself for feeling that way about Simplicia in the first place. The episode ended with Teresa vowing to forgive Simplicia, and herself, for their failings.


Chapter 45.4 – Shadow Dancing

Teresa focused on the man-shaped target across the field and took a deep breath. In one smooth motion she drew her spider silk bowstring back behind her ear. The spiraled feathers of her elven arrow caressed her jaw, and she sighted its swallowtail head in on the target, compensating for the range and the slight breeze coming off Niben Bay.

She closed her eyes and remembered what Daenlin had told her about archery. "The archer must learn to feel the flow of divinity around him, just as if he was standing in a river and feeling the water rushing past his legs," the master archer had said. "All of us are connected by the divine energy we share. Feel those strands that bind us, and you will not need eyes to shoot. Simply allow your arrow to sing along that thread."

Teresa closed her eyes and imagined the target across the practice field. She pictured its shape, and the painted straw packed tightly within the iron bindings that rimmed it. In her mind's eye, she could even see the loose fibers gently waving in the breeze.

She calmly let out half of her breath, and loosed without another thought.

Opening her eyes, she stared at the target across from her. It was a solid hit in the midsection. It was not the center of the chest, as she had hoped for, but still a wound that would disable most mortals. She reached for another arrow from the gorytos at her hip, but stopped when the sound of the yard's gate creaking open came to her elfin ears.

The Bosmer turned to see a man walking onto the practice field. To use the gate, she knew he must have gone through the alley between the guild hall and the building next door. The stranger smiled as his eyes locked upon her own, and began striding across the grass toward her.

From his sandy brown hair and short stature, Teresa imagined that he was a Breton. He was dressed in blue and gold linen that looked very fine. It was just a step down from a patrician's velvet or silk. He was clean-shaven, and looked to be a few years younger than Pappy. He did not possess the guild-commander's strongly etched features however. In fact, he looked entirely unremarkable. The only thing that really stood out about his appearance was the gold and sapphire necklace he wore, and the matching ring that graced one of his fingers.

"You must be Teresa of the Faint Smile!" The Breton grinned as he approached. Teresa was instantly put on her guard by his familiar manner, and found herself focusing the symbol for her Burning Hand spell in her mind. "Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mael. I am a jewel dealer, and am here in Bravil on business. I have it on good authority from my friends in the Imperial City that you are the best bodyguard a man could ask for."

Ah, Teresa thought, so he is a customer then. He would not be the first merchant who sought out the Fighters Guild for extra protection while in Bravil. The Breton extended his hand as he stepped up to Teresa, and the Bosmer found herself taking it by reflex. She instantly noted that his grip was not very strong, nothing compared to Pappy's iron vise of a handshake.

However, what was strong was the magicka that Teresa could feel brimming within his ring, his necklace, and his clothing. This man might look ordinary, but he was wearing a panoply of arcane equipment. Of course the forester had no idea what sort of enchantments they were. All that she could tell was that they were powerful. Mael was clearly not as ordinary as he appeared to be…

"Baurus sent me." Mael leaned close and whispered as he shook Teresa's hand. "He said you have a necromancer problem. I'm here to sort it out."

"You're a Blade?" Teresa almost gasped. If not for the enchanted clothing, she never would have imagined that the unprepossessing man before her could have been a secret agent. He looked far too plain. But then again, might that be just the most important trait a spy could possess?

"Shhh, let's just keep that to ourselves for now," Mael winked. "Don't want the wrong ears to hear you know."

Teresa looked around the empty practice yard as he let go of her hand. "Well, we are the only ones here."

"You can never be too careful," Mael said. "Never know when you might have an invisible companion after all."

"Why don't we go inside then," Teresa said. "You will need to talk to Pappy and Tadrose anyhow. Besides, it would look strange if you didn't." Teresa shot a knowing glance up at the city wall that bordered the far edge of the practice field. There in the distance a lone city guardsman paced along the battlement.

"Ah yes indeed," Mael nodded. "So far as the public shall know, I am here to hire a bodyguard for a sales trip. I must say, your vocation makes things very convenient."

Teresa tucked Ravenfeeder into her gorytos without unstringing it. She was thankful it was a Valenwood bow. If it had been an Imperial self bow, she could never leave it strung if she was not actually using it. The recurved elven bow was much more resistant to warping however, so she knew it would be in no danger.

Leading the Breton through the back door of the guild hall, Teresa glided silently down the rear hallway of the building. Stopping at the door to the dojo, she turned to Mael and suggested he wait there for a moment. Then she went inside the large chamber where the rest of her guild were practicing with their melee weapons. A wave to Pappy and Tadrose brought them over, and she took them back into the hall where Mael waited. After a quick round of introductions, the armored guild commander led them all up to his office on the third floor.

The room struck Teresa as being part office and part museum. A large, walnut desk dominated the far end of the room, surrounded by several chairs of the same dark wood. A few small, round tables stood nearby. One of those held a tall, gracefully curved decanter of wine and several glasses. The other table a supported square shaped glass that Teresa imagined must contain either flin or whiskey, and was flanked by large tumblers. A single bookshelf rose up to the ceiling nearby, and a large map of the county was pinned to the wall beside it.

Then there were the weapons and other trinkets on display that the Colovian had gathered throughout the years. There was a scimitar of Redguard manufacture, an arming sword of gleaming mithril, and still a third blade of jagged Orisimer make. A full suit of Dunmer bonemold armor stood on a rack in one corner. A mammoth's tusk stretched across a plaque on one wall, and a troll's skull graced an empty spot in the bookshelf. Here and there were smaller things, such as a horn of spiraling conch shell, and a glittering crystalline statuette of an elf clad in exotic-looking armor and wielding a bow.

"You got here pretty damn fast," Pappy remarked as Tadrose shut the door behind them. He wore his laurel-emblazoned legion breastplate, and orcish scaled greaves and gauntlets. As ever, his Nordic sword Hardrada hung from one of his hips.

"The grandmaster placed a priority on this," Mael explained. "After the necromancer attack on the Mages Guild at Wellspring Island last summer, and their recent thefts and murder at the Leyawiin guild hall, he sees a dangerous trend. He sent me down on a ship as soon as he got your letter Teresa."

The Breton reached into his tunic, and produced the very same letter that Teresa had sent to Baurus several days before.

"So does your organization have any suspicions as to the necromancer's plans?" Tadrose asked. Like Pappy, she too wore her armor. In her case a gleaming elven panoply, along with her elven greatsword Anganar.

"Wenyandawik and the trolls are obviously just a decoy, meant to draw Bravil's defenders away from the city," Mael began. "The Imperial Legion will be dealing with that."

"The Fifth Legion is almost back to full strength now," Teresa nodded.

"You are well informed," Mael raised an eyebrow at the wood elf.

"You will find that our Teresa is full of surprises," Tadrose replied evenly.

"In any case," the Breton said, "we suspect that the Mages Guild will be the necromancer's ultimate target. It is in keeping with their recent attacks upon that guild. So I will need to meet with their guild magister, and work on how we can strengthen their defenses. Perhaps we can have some of your people posted there on a constant guard?"

"Whoa, slow down here a minute," Pappy shook his head vigorously. "We don't know just what the necro-humpers are after. We need to find out before we start putting all our eggs into one basket."

"Do you have any alternate theories?" Mael asked. "I would be glad to hear them."

"No I don't," Pappy frowned. "Not yet at least."

"I suggest that you begin by speaking with Count Terentius," Tadrose said. "See if you can get him to withdraw his troops from the Green Road. Whatever they are planning, it appears that weakening the city's defenses is important to the necromancers. If we can bring those guardsmen back, they might abort their mission."

"I can try." Mael thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "But I cannot force the count to do anything. He is the highest authority in Bravil County. Only the Elder Council can overrule him. Especially when it concerns the disposition of his own city guard."

"You had better watch out for Drels Theran," Pappy warned. "He's got the count dancing to his tune."

"Who is he?" the Blade asked.

"Officially, he is an aide dispatched by the Elder Council to halt the Renrijra Krin insurgency and drug trade across the Elsweyr border." Tadrose poured a glass of wine and handed it to the Breton. She poured a second for Teresa, and then a third for herself. Only Pappy waved her off with one hand.

"Of course there are no Renrijra Krin in Bravil County," the guild commander explained. "But there is a drug trade. Teresa shut down their transfer point in Bawn a few months ago."

"How did you manage that?" the Breton asked around a sip of Tamika's.

"How do you think?" Teresa replied without thinking. She rested one hand upon the gorytos at her hip, and the strung bow within it.

"Full of surprises indeed…" the Blade murmured though a smile as faint as any of Teresa's. "So this Theran character is going to be trouble?"

"He's got the count convinced that the ogres in Wenyandawik are Khajiit rebels, and that the trolls they are dropping off along the Green Road are bottles of skooma." Pappy poured himself a tumbler of amber liquid from the square decanter. He took a sip of the drink and winced ever so slightly. Nordic Whiskey, Teresa thought. "I think he's a spy, and not for the Elder Council."

"You think he is working for the necromancers?" Mael thought aloud.

"I'll put sausages to septims that he's got a skull robe in his closet," Pappy said. "He showed up here in Bravil just before the troll attacks began. He's done nothing about the skooma trade, and he seems damned interested in keeping the city guard posted on the Green Road. I did some checking, and I found out that it was his idea in the first place, not the captain of the guard's. One thing is for sure, he's knee deep in this business."

"That will make approaching the count difficult," Mael said. "Dangerous even. If Drels is what you say he is, and he even suspects I am a Blade…"

"He'll have you killed," Pappy finished the sentence for the Breton. "He'd have us killed to, if he knew we were talking to you."

"Indeed," Mael said. "All of this must be kept in the strictest secrecy. No one must know who I am, or what we are doing. I'll try to make contact with the count tomorrow, if I can get to him when Drels is not around."

"There is something else that has occurred to me," Tadrose offered. "I have been studying Bravil's defenses. The guards at the front gate had been significantly reinforced after the trolls attacked Teresa outside of Anutwyll. But since there have been no attacks near the city since, they have been reduced to their previous level. The patrols in the city streets on all three islands are just the same as before as well."

"So where are they taking the guards from?" Teresa asked.

"From the castle!" Pappy ran his armored fingers through his graying hair. "Of course, why didn't I see it when we were there the other day. The castle guard's on a skeleton crew."

"Then that is where the necromancers will strike." Tadrose declared.

A wonderful review of Teresa’s archery is interrupted by no less than a James Bond sent by the Blades! I’m so glad Teresa immediately brought Pappy and Tadrose in on that loop. Loved the description of Pappy’s office.

You’re weaving a rich web of intrigue here as we try to figure out what the black robes’ agenda is. Dominate the drug trade to raise septims? Crush their rival guild of mages? Takeover Bravil itself, starting with the castle?

Nit: ‘Pappy ran [h]is armored fingers through [h]is graying hair.’

I love Pappy’s office! Getting a look at a character’s living and work space is tremendous fun. Neat that he has collected things from across Tamriel.

Mael is already an interesting character. His cover was very convincing. I enjoyed the way he got Pappy’s support and drew out Tadrose’s theories. He is an excellent spy!

An attack on the Mages Guild? The castle? This is exciting!

I enjoyed this chapter, and enjoyed it a lot. Mael's introduction was well-handled and the theories of what the necromancers might be up to (it's the King of Worms who's behind it all, isn't it! ) were a fun read, especially in the setting of Pappy's of; his collection of miscenally was a great way to show his experience and just how well-travelled he is.


Or alternatively, Teresa had herself a Cockney moment. 'Ave a banana!

I do like a plot and counter-plot!

After the necromancer attack on the Mages Guild at Wellspring Island last summer, and their recent thefts and murder at the Leyawiin guild hall, he sees a dangerous trend

This matches regular game history, up to the thefts being plural, and a murder. Did I miss something, or is the Kalthar incident being represented to the public in a different light?

And of course I'm confused whether Terentius knows what Drels Theran is up to, and covering his lies, or he believes what they were told. But that's probably intentional.

*

First off, I am so very sorry for the delay in getting here, really aggravating to me that it took so long because I have been eaten up with wondering what was going on with this last turn of events in the story. That is the truth, I vented my spleen to Acadian about missing this post and how I was dying to read it.



I am so proud of Teresa for this, what tremendous growth she shows in this! The bard singing a song "short on fact, and long on fancy" - ROFL! Loved that!

I love seeing how the relationship between Teresa and Tadrose has progressed into a deep love and closer friendship - Teresa has lost her awkwardness with her and has blossomed in it! LOVE that!

*

This episode was painful, poor Simplicia tryting to protect Teresa with all she knew how to survive; and maybe not cut out to be a mother but did the best she could. That it scarred Teresa is clear, bless her heart. As dear as Simplicia is, she had a past that made her what she was and she handed that legacy down to Teresa probably unknowing what effect it would later have on her.

What a touching scene, especially the ravens and bear that Tadrose couldn't see - huge scene! Teresa may have found the root of the anger in her, at least a good portion of it. Totally Awesome write, I'm in tears here and would give Teresa a hug too if I could.

*

Whoa, Mael did get there fast! Are they sure he is who he claims to be? Well, he did mention Baurus, that is a good sign. Whew! Now I'm tense, because whoever Terentius killed must be about to show up in the next episode! Awesome Write!


*

Finally I can read! I apologize for taking so long to get here.

An interesting connection the elf has with her bow. Sounds like magic of some kind helps her shoot so well.

Glad Teresa didn’t shake the man’s hand with her burning hand. Though with the recent activity around here, I am a bit suspicious of him. I’m sure the necromancers know that Bravil has a capable fighter’s guild if not a capable government. Lots of enchantments suggest he isn’t a mere merchant.

Oh so a Blade? Baurus isn’t messing around then. His invisible companion comment makes me wonder if he knows that’s a trick favored by Teresa.

In Pappy’s office, when you said there was wine there, I was thinking Really? Then you mentioned the whisky. That’s more like it; we know which is for show and which is actually used. His office makes me imagine an admiral’s office or something like that.

Well, if the necromancers wipe out the count, that wouldn’t be too bad would it? Pappy for count!

Hey! I was going to apologize for being late...*pouts*...Week from hell...*sigh*...

Aaamywho...

Another amazing chapter...

I loved how she could sense the enchantments...That was excellent...

I also loved the office, wish I could see it!...

It'll be interesting to see how they deal with Drels...Looking forward to that particular conversation... ...

Amazing stuff...Love it to bits!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Acadian: Interesting that you brought up the possibility of dominating the drug trade to raise money. Many organizations have done that in past, from Al-Queda, to the British Empire.

Thank you for the nits. Apparently Bond, Mael Bond spirited away with my H's..


Grits: Like you intimated, a character's living space and working area is a peek into their personality. So I spent some time in Pappy's office, because I wanted to make sure it was a reflection of who he is (and where he has been).


Colonel Mustard: Hold on to that thought about who is behind the necro's schemes, that will be answered in the final episode of this chapter (next week). Oh no Cockney Teresa please guvna! We get enough of that from the Dunmer in Skyrim already!


ghastley: And even more plotting and counter-plotting coming up! I hemmed and hawed over whether to use "theft" or "thefts" for Kalthar's activities at the Leyawiin guild hall, because he stole two different things from two different areas (the Bloodworm Helm from the vaults, and Manduin's Amulet from Dagail's person). I am still not sure which really works best.

And yes, it is supposed to be unclear about where the count really stands in all of this. Is he a knowing plotter? Or a hapless pawn? All will be revealed in time.


mALX: It has taken a very long time, but T&T have finally gotten to that happy place of love, trust, and commitment. Now if their relationship can only survive the Mother In Law!

Keep your suspicions about Mael. They may prove to be justified... Or maybe not. We shall see.


King Coin: It is magic that helps Teresa shoot. The innate ability all Bosmer have with archery. That was something Daenlin talked about way back in the misty dawn of time Chapter 38, when he explained Zen Bosmer Archery to her.

The Nordic Whiskey is for Pappy, and the wine for everyone else!


McBadgere: One of the things about ES is that unlike some other fantasy games, there is no detect magic spell or ability. But we always know when something is magical. So I decided to make it something that people can just feel when they get near an object that is enchanted. Of course the better a magician one is, the more they can probably tell. So Kud-Ei for example, would probably know exactly what enchantment was on Mael's stuff just by shaking his hand. Where Teresa could only sense that it was strong magic.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode saw the arrival of a Blade named Mael, who has been sent by Baurus to help with the necromancers. He met with Teresa, Pappy, and Tadrose in private, and they discussed the situation. In that talk we learned that it was Drels Theran who pushed to have the city guard placed along the Green Road, and that it was troops from the castle that were used to do it. That led the group to conclude that Bravil's castle was the target of the necromancer's plot, as it is seriously under protected.


Chapter 45.5 – Shadow Dancing

"It is hardly necessary for you to accompany me Teresa," Carandial insisted. "I do not require a bodyguard just to walk to Anutwyll!"

"That was before all the trouble with trolls and goblins," Teresa countered. She wanted to say necromancers, but was on strict orders from Mael to keep that a secret, lest word get back to the skull-robes. "I was attacked on this same road just a two months ago."

To underscore the need for caution, Teresa wore Aldariel and carried Ravenfeeder strung in the gorytos at her hip. In contrast, the Altmer mage walking beside her wore a set of ordinary russet felt clothing, along with a thick woolen jacket to ward off the cold. Teresa herself did not mind the early winter weather. Simply drawing her hood up had activated its enchantment to resist frost.

"Aye, but that was two months ago," Carandial said. "No one has seen a troll near the city since then."

"That does not mean they might not be out here now," Teresa countered.

"I have been going to Anutwyll for nearly a year now," the Altmer rolled his eyes, "nothing has ever happened."

"Until now," Teresa stopped the mage with a raised hand. She pointed to the white stones of the ruin that sprinkled the hillside before them. "Didn't you shut the door when you left last week?"

The young Altmer opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again as he stared at the half-open door to the Arimer ruin. "I did shut it," he finally said. "I always shut it, to keep animals out."

"Well it was no raccoon that opened those doors." Teresa drew Ravenfeeder from its chitin gorytos, and followed it with a swallowtail-tipped elven arrow.

Creeping forward, she stopped at the star well and reached into it with one hand. Shutting her eyes, she felt the raw magicka swirling about her flesh. Closing her fingers, she grasped as much of that power as she could. Warm energy flowed into her, filling her with so much magicka that she almost felt as if she might burst.

Teresa moved past the glowing star well and stepped to the open doorway to the vaults below. The stone double doors had only been left open by a few hand spans. But it was enough to make it plain that someone else had recently been within.

"Perhaps it was just children on a dare" Carandial offered, "or teenagers sneaking off for a romantic interlude?"

"Perhaps." Teresa looked to the double doors. "If you know a shielding spell or ward, this would be a good time."

The mage nodded, and Teresa saw him swallow hard. A moment later his hand spiked the air, and the reddish glow of a fire shield dropped around his tall, lanky frame. Teresa took her own advice as well. She drew forth a shield potion from her Thieves Bag and downed it in one guzzle.

"Stay behind me, and watch your magic," Teresa said. "If it is just kids, we don't want to shoot them. If is real trouble, I want you to run straight back to the Fighters Guild and get help."

"I can hold my own," the Altmer straightened to a height that towered over Teresa's smaller Bosmer form. "I am a graduate of the Arcane University after all."

"But not of the battlemage program," Teresa countered. "You're a scholar Carandial, not a fighter. Leave the rough things to me."

"But I cannot just leave you here alone…"

"I won't be alone." Teresa smiled faintly. Raising one hand, she gathered up her magicka into her fist and released it. A blue disc fell to the ground in front of her. A sleek black raven formed in the air behind it, and cawed once in greeting.

Teresa pulled one of the double doors all of the way open. As if on cue, the raven flew into the depths below. The archer followed, and found that the stairs and entry hallway were still lit by glowstones set into small niches in the walls. She was not sure if that was good or bad. On one hand it meant that no one had disturbed the lights which Carandial had set up so long ago. On the other it meant that she had no shadows to hide within…

Carandial's feet scuffed on the stone stairs behind her. While not loud by anyone else's standards, the mage's footfalls reverberated like thunder in Teresa's stealth-minded ears. She silently cursed the well-meaning, but inexperienced elf. If he had not been so damned male, she knew that she could have talked him into waiting outside while she did her reconnaissance.

Teresa came to the end of the first corridor, where it opened out into a gallery that ran to left and right. Beyond gaped a huge, square chamber whose ceiling was held up by massive columns. A great metal chandelier hung from the center of the room, and its roughly carved glowstones filled the chamber with light.

A dry rattle caused Teresa's long ears to perk up. Her gaze followed the noise, and she found her eyes reflexively widening when they settled upon a skeleton just a few paces away from her. It stood with its back to her, clutching a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. So far it did not appear to be aware of her presence, so Teresa considered her options as she stared at the vertebrae rising up its back.

If it had been a flesh and blood enemy, she could draw one of her daggers and kill it with a quick stab through the neck and up into the brain. But since its skull was empty to begin with, that was clearly not going to help. She could use her Burning Hand, but that would likely make noise. That left Ravenfeeder. But the composite bow was not silent either, and in any case, the sound of the skeleton's sword and shield falling to the floor would be heard for some distance.

She would have to withdraw, and return with greater numbers.

That is when Carandial bumped into her from behind. A moment later Teresa heard the high elf gasp. She imagined that was from him seeing the skeleton just a few paces away. Teresa wanted to shake her head in frustration. But she had too many other things to worry about by then.

The skeleton whirled around and fixed its empty eye sockets upon the two of them. It instantly took a step forward and swung its sword in a wide arc. Teresa shoved Carandial back into the entry hall, and felt her feet slide out from underneath her. She collapsed to the stone floor, and Ravenfeeder fell from her hand. A moment later the skeleton's blade clanged loudly into the corner of the wall above her, chipping away small pieces of white stone. Fixing the symbol for her Burning Hand firmly in her mind, Teresa scrabbled back away from the monster as quickly as she could.

A bolt of fire sizzled past overhead, and splashed into the shield that the skeleton carried. It glowed from the heat, but the creature otherwise appeared unmolested. Teresa's raven fluttered down about its head, and his talons reached for empty eye sockets. The skeleton simply ignored the bird however, and scampered forward with terrifying speed. It brought its sword down at Teresa's supine form. She rolled to one side, and once again heard the monster's steel clatter loudly against the stone just inches away.

Teresa kicked out, connecting solidly with a bony ankle. The skeleton teetered, then fell as another fist-sized ball of fire connected with its shoulder. Teresa rolled forward, directly on top of the skeleton. It raised its sword between them, but the wood elf was able to grab its wrist with one hand and immobilize it. Her other hand took a firm hold of its skull, and inundated it with an explosion of fire.

The skeleton fell apart beneath her. It did not vanish however. Teresa knew that meant it had not been summoned. Rather it had been reanimated. So whoever had created it obviously meant to stay a while.

"Jalbert, is that you?" A female voice floated up from deeper within the ruin.

"Get out of here!" Teresa hissed over her shoulder at Carandial. She sprang down the hallway and grabbed hold of Ravenfeeder. Only then did she take the time to glance back, where the guild scholar hovered uncertainly near the stairs. "Run!"

"I'll come back with help!" the Altmer cried. Finally he raced up the steps and vanished from sight. Teresa almost sighed with relief. She knew that this would be over long before any help could arrive. But at least she would not have to worry about keeping the archaeologist alive.

Teresa heard the whoosh of a spell somewhere on the gallery ahead. A moaning sound followed it, and she knew that meant a summoning. Two could play at that game however. Tucking Ravenfeeder back into the gorytos at her hip, she drew forth a scroll from her Thieves Bag. Gazing down at the single word brushed upon the page, she read it aloud.

"Grizzly." The parchment fell to dust in Teresa's fingers, and a wide disc of blue energy formed in the air before her. It fell to the floor a moment later, leaving a massive bear in its wake. He took a moment to shake his great bulk, as if to fling water from his fur after emerging from a river. Then he let loose a long, ragged bellow from his throat and started down the corridor.

His summoned counterpart rounded the corner a moment later. It stood upon two legs, and its monstrous bulk filled the corridor. It looked like a gigantic man who had been skinned, and was left covered in exposed red muscles and jutting white bones. Its eyes were solid white, and its mouth filled with small, sharp teeth. It took one look at Teresa and her bear, and charged down the hallway.

Screenshot

The grizzly leapt forward and crashed into the monstrosity. The titans fell to floor in a heap of flashing teeth and claws. Their bellows drowned out all other sounds in Teresa's ears, and they rolled back and forth as they ripped and tore into one another's flesh.

Teresa drew Ravenfeeder, and had just set an arrow to its spider-silk string when she glimpsed a hooded figure step around the corner at the far end of hall, beyond the battling giants. Without thinking, she drew and fired. The figure ducked however, and her shot flew high and out of sight into the chamber beyond.

A boom echoed through the corridor as the necromancer's hand stretched forth. A scintillating ball of frost sprang from her fingers and swept past both of the summons. Teresa sidestepped, and the spell flew harmlessly past her as well.

Nocking and firing as quickly as she could, Teresa sped another arrow down the hallway once she found an opening in the melee in front of her. Again, the necromancer dodged aside. Just as before the mage replied with a spell, and once more Teresa nimbly stepped out of its way.

This could go on forever, Teresa thought. She had to end the stalemate. Her eyes fell upon the skinned monstrosity in the corridor. She had to break the deadlock there. That would tip the battle in her favor.

Teresa stepped as close as she dared, and her next arrow drilled into the monster's head. The necromancer seemed to get the same idea, and blasted at her grizzly with her frost spell. Teresa wished for her raven. But she knew that conjuring the bear had automatically dispelled him. A mage could only command one summoning at a time after all.

Knowing that time was of the essence, Teresa stepped even closer and grabbed hold of one of the monster's arms with her free hand. An inferno blossomed from her fingers, and the creature reeled away with a roar. Teresa was thankful for the star well outside. For she knew that without the magicka it had lent her, she would have been completely stripped of energy by now. As it was, she felt enough magicka within her for one more good blast of her Burning Hand spell.

The bear followed up Teresa's attack by launching his body into the monster's, knocking it flat onto its back. The grizzly sped over the flailing creature and continued down the hall. The necromancer raised both hands and launched a tidal wave of frost down the corridor. Yet the icy cold blast did nothing to slow the bear, and he hurtled directly into the necromancer. The mage went flying, her body only stopping when it crashed into the stone railing that separated the gallery from the chamber below.

Teresa gritted her teeth as the wall of frost rolled over her. Even with Aldariel's protective enchantments, it sent agony ripping through her bones. The necromancer's own summoning appeared to be unperturbed by the cold, and Teresa remembered how Pappy had once told her that the undead were immune to frost magic. The Bosmer imagined that was why the necromancer chose to use that element, as it would not harm her own slaves.

The skinned monster rose to its feet, and settled its eyes upon Teresa. Teeth chattering from the cold, the Bosmer fumbled to draw an arrow and set it to her string. A moment later it flew from Ravenfeeder and buried itself in the creature's bulk. Yet the monster barely seemed to notice, and grinned as it barreled down upon her.

Teresa dropped her bow. She knew that she could never nock and fire again before it was upon her. Raising a fiery hand before her, she hoped that she could grab for its head before it tore her apart. Her other hand reached for a mithril dagger, but she knew that she could never draw it time.

The undead fiend was just a foot away when the triumphant roar of Teresa's grizzly bear echoed down the corridor. Just like that the skinned monster faded to nothingness, and Teresa fell to her knees in relief. Good gods that was close, she thought, far too close.

She raised one hand into the air and concentrated upon the symbol of her healing spell. With that image firmly in mind, she clenched her fingers tightly, and poured all of her remaining magicka between them. Letting go, the energy poured from her hand and washed down over her shivering body like a warm tide of water. That took the worst of the glacial chill from her limbs, and the forester staggered back to her feet.

The grizzly strode down the hallway to meet her. His fur was torn and matted with blood from numerous wounds. Yet he seemed not to mind one bit. Teresa was thankful that he was not a real bear - like Barenziah - but rather a symbolic representation brought to life by magicka. Otherwise she could never live with the terrible suffering he had endured on her behalf.

Teresa stared down the hallway beyond the grizzly. She saw no signs of movement, and heard no sound. If there were more necromancers within, they were either deaf, or lying in ambush. She knew that she was in no shape for another fight. So Teresa turned away, and climbed out of the ruin and back into the warming light of Magnus' rays.

"Jalbert, is that you?" A female voice floated up from deeper within the ruin.

I really like how much information was concentrated in that single line. We know the adversary is female, that she's a necromancer, and that Jalbert himself is not in the ruin. She's also far enough in not to have heard Teresa talk to Carandial.

I also liked the bit where you point out that her raven can't peck out a skeleton's eyes, so it takes no notice of the attempt. Character-building for the undead, yet!

Teresa was thankful that he was not a real bear - like Barenziah - but rather a symbolic representation brought to life by magicka. Otherwise she could never live with the terrible suffering he had endured on her behalf.

Did you mean "would have endured" as you're implying that he actually didn't?

And that entire affair would have no doubt been much, much easier if she hadn't had to drag that damned civvy along...

I loved this entire chapter; excellently constructed, paced and orchestrated action scene. Just out of interest, what was the big, skinned monstrosity the necromancer called up? Some kind of ultra-powered zombie, or is it a different kind of undead creature? Oh, wait, lemme guess! Flesh Atronach! Because if so I've got to be a massive pedant and say that it isn't actually undead but an Atronach made from the element of Flesh (as opposed to Fire, or Frost). And then I will shut up, because nobody likes a pedant.

I am glad to mentioned that! I forgot to put up a pic of the skinless beast. Or at least what inspired it, since the one in the story is not exactly the same in terms of abilities (as in no strength drain). Check the link back in the story.

Oh, a bonewalker! Nice touch.

It seems Pappy has some of his fighters detailed to protect venturing locals. Since they’re not going public with the necro-threat, Teresa gets stuck with a mage who thinks she’s being paranoid. How did I know this was not going to go well?

‘If he had not been so damned male, she knew that she could have talked him into waiting outside while she did her reconnaissance.’
I smiled at the truth herein. I’m glad Teresa was able to finally coax him into leaving to ‘get help’.

‘A mage could only command one summoning at a time after all.’
We learn here that this aspect of summoning in TF resembles the same limits we see in game. I agree that it makes sense.

‘The Bosmer imagined that was why the necromancer chose to use that element, as it would not harm her own slaves.’
It does indeed make perfect sense that necrodudes would favor frost magic for the same reason Teresa surmises.

Whew! That was close! Anutwyll clearly is being used as part of whatever Jalbert is up to.

‘Teresa was thankful that he was not a real bear - like Barenziah - but rather a symbolic representation brought to life by magicka. Otherwise she could never live with the terrible suffering he had endured on her behalf.’
How does one deal with the potential of ‘getting attached’ to a summon and becoming reluctant to see it harmed? Your solution for Teresa is both elegant and effective.

Nits:
- ‘Teresa drew Ravenfeeder from its chitin gorytos, and followed it with an {a} swallowtail-tipped elven arrow.’
- ‘Teresa shoved Carandial back into the entry hall, and felt her fleet {feet} slide out from underneath her.’

I like the way Teresa handled Carandial. That could have turned into quite a pissing contest. At least he didn’t charge in ahead of her.

This episode goes with my all-time Teresa favorites! The projectile dual across the summons melee was genius!

I particularly loved the grizzly, from the use of the scroll all the way to Tersea’s reflections on his nature.

Wow, this was such an exciting update!

The mage nodded, and Teresa saw him swallow hard.
Knowing what we know, I’m glad Teresa’s paranoia it rubbing off on this mage.

If he had not been so damned male…


She would have to withdraw, and return with greater numbers.
Are these fighter guild members, or sand people?

This little expedition wasn’t bad until the damn elf opened his mouth.

It was a relief when Carandial finally listened. Now that the summons are occupied, it’s time to put down that necromancer! The Well was a great touch, I hadn’t thought of Teresa’s connection and the wells.

That was too close. I was wondering what was going to happen there!

*

Carandial had me laughing arguing with Teresa! Urk, I read Grizzly and thought the screenshot would be a cute bear - that skinned creature in the screen was uuuugly!

I absolutely LOVED this dungeon crawl! With Carandial's bumbling messing her up, your descriptions, and the sheer fact that the reader genuinely had to worry with Teresa on whether she would make it out of there alive! Amazing Write, and I have to agree with Ghastley on that "Jalbert" line - that was a real freeze-frame moment, and you captured it like a genius! Absolutely spectacular episode!


*

I really enjoyed reading the last few chapters, the last chapter was very gripping.

Always liked this Ayelid ruin place...Thing...

Mind you, I like Ayelid ruins in general...Sooo pretty...

There is much to love in this part...As ever, the character stuff is amazing...The fight scenes are wonderfully rendered...Sooo much to admire...

This..



The idea of the bear shaking off the goo of that place from whence it came was goosebump inducing...

Definately a fave chapter overall...

Although...And I've never done this in your story before...

This line here...



Feels like - to me, at least - like she may as well be looking out of the page and shaking her finger as she "says" it...If, as in the games, you can only command one summoning, then it's something wouldn't need mentioning...The previous bit where it says the Raven was dispelled when the bear arrived was explaination enough, I thought...

If it's a dig at other people's overcooking their magic then fair enough... ...But that's up to them...

Otherwise, everything else is perfect... ...

Loved it!!...

Loved it I tell ya!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

ghastley: The raven unsuccessfully pecking out the skeleton's eyes sort of wrote itself as it happened. Like Teresa's musing that stabbing it up into its empty skull would do no good either.

I meant "he had endured", because the bear suffered serious injuries fighting for her. Teresa's musing is simply upon the fact that he was not a real bear plucked from some forest glade, and then sent back again with his wounds after she was done with him. Rather he is only real in the sense that he is a symbol temporarily given physical form through magic. Once the spell ended, he would lose that body, and those injuries, and return to being an insubstantial idea.


Colonel Mustard: It certainly would have gone smoother without Carandial. Teresa would have gone back to the FG, put together a posse of armored fighters, and then they all would have gone in as a team. But then again, Carandial was the only reason that Teresa was there in the first place.

I went with the Bonelord because I wanted the necromancer's (necrowomancer's?) summoning to feel really menacing. A plain old skeleton or zombie would just not cut the mustard (no pun intended!). Since I wanted a big tussle with summoning vs. summoning, something insubstantial like a ghost or wraith would not work either. So once again I looked to another game in the series for inspiration.


Acadian: I kind of imagine it was all Teresa's idea to accompany Carandial to the ruin. Though it could just as easily be Pappy's.

I originally went with the necro using frost magic simply because it tends to be the red-headed stepchild of the destruction elements. OTOH we tend to see a lot of lightning users, and fire users. It was only as I was writing it that I realized that since undead resist frost, it was the perfect element for a necro to use, since it negated the danger of friendly fire.

Thank you again for the editorial eye. I have gone over these segments a dozen times. But those little ones keep slipping by. They don't register on the spellchecker, and I have read the same text so many times I just do not notice them. Which of course is editors exist in the first place!


Grits: Carandial was fun to write there. On the one hand he does have some impressive magical credentials. Plus of course he has that manly testosterone that tells him he is a wimp and a loser if he does not fight the good fight. OTOH, as Teresa points out, he is clearly out of his depth in an actual fight.

The grizzly was fun to bring back. I went with him this time because we have been seeing a lot of summoned elemental types lately, not to mention Kiriteki. We have not seen a summoned animal since the Battle of the Imperial City. I also wanted to have that battle of the titans in the corridor, and something big like a bear was just perfect for that.


King Coin: You had me cracking up over the sand people! I can just imagine Mad Josse telling someone: "These tracks are side by side. The Fighters Guild walks in single file, to hide their numbers..."

I almost forgot about the Ayleid Well outside the ruin too. I had to go back and add it in during one of the later edits. The extra magicka worked out perfectly too, as it gave Teresa just enough to get two uses of her Burning Hand, plus one big heal at the end.


mALX: Surprise on that pic! Awww, but its a cute undead monstrosity...

I did want the battle in the ruin to keep people glued, and seem like a real threat. We have seen Teresa put down some really impressive foes lately, from gangsters to liches. Carandial's well meaning, but ham-fisted 'assistance' helped reinforce that Teresa was still vulnerable, still in danger, in spite of her now well-honed abilities.


Silver Dreamcatcher2525: Hi Silver! Thanks! This was my biggest scene of the chapter, so I wanted it to really be exciting. I also wanted to show the threat the necromancers posed. We have been hearing about the danger they pose for a while now, but have not seen it. That last scene was a way to remind everyone just how deadly they are.


McBadgere: My reasons for Teresa's musing about the reasons for one summoning per mage have nothing to do with anyone else's writing. Does someone else do it differently? If so, I was not aware of it. I gave it a few sentences to explain it to the readers. Not everyone who reads this plays the games. I get emails from folks who found the story from my Witch website, and they do not know anything about how Oblivion works. In my own experience too, I was reading Morrowind fiction years before I ever played that game, or knew the ins and outs of its game mechanics. So there were things in those stories I only understood because the author explained them.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found Teresa shepherding Carandial to Anutwyll. However, they found the ruin inhabited by a necromancer, and a ferocious duel ensued between her and Teresa. In the end Teresa triumphed, but was forced to withdraw from the ruin and wait for reinforcements before venturing deeper within. Our next segment picks up after the ruin has been cleared by the Fighters Guild.


Chapter 45.6 – Shadow Dancing

Teresa sat in a chair before one of Carandial's former work tables. Now it was covered in parchment maps of the city and castle. Looking out across the huge chamber, she watched Pappy as he looked through the barrels and sacks clustered near one of the columns that held up the vaulted ceiling high overhead. Her eyes moved away, to the two bedrolls that were rolled out on the floor against one wall. From their rumpled surfaces, and the cups and jug of wine near them, it was plain that both had been in use. Then her gaze went to the pile of rolled up bedrolls nearby. Clearly the two necromancers living here had been expecting company…

"Well, they have enough food laid up here to feed two necromancers for months. Or eight of them for weeks," Pappy said. Then he lifted a human arm bone from one barrel. "Either these are leftovers, or they were planning on making more undead."

Teresa nodded, and her eyes slid across the broken bones and rent bodies of the other animated dead they had found within the ruin. She was thankful that she had indeed waited for help to arrive. For even though no other necromancers had been present, there had been plenty of undead lurking within the ruin.

Both she and the guild commander looked up at the sound of footsteps in the gallery above. A moment later Tadrose appeared with Kud-Ei in tow. Like Pappy, the vice-commander was clad in ordinary clothing. Also like him, she carried her sword. The Argonian guild magister wore a plain blue Mages Guild robe, and her tail swished out gently across the stones behind her as she walked along the gallery. The pair vanished down one of the side passages a moment later, and Teresa knew it would take them a few moments to make it down to the main chamber where she and Pappy waited.

"We must make haste," Tadrose said when she finally did step into in the vast room. "I told the city guard that we need Kud-Ei to disarm a magical trap, but Ancondil and Valerius cannot keep them out of here for long."

"This one does not like all of this sneaking around Commander Vitellus," Kud-Ei said in a raspy voice. "If there were truly necromancers here, the proper authorities must be made aware."

"The count doesn't want to be aware." Pappy walked over to where Teresa sat, and motioned Tadrose and Kud-Ei to join them. "In fact, we believe there is an agent of the necromancers at his right hand."

"The vice-commander has appraised this one of the situation," Kud-Ei said. "But surely there are other avenues to explore? What of the Elder Council, or the Imperial Legion?"

"That would take too long," Pappy said. "We have to move fast. Teresa, show it to her."

The Bosmer handed Kud-Ei a letter that she had discovered among the other papers in the necromancer's possession.

"'O' great and powerful lord," the Argonian read aloud as her eyes scanned the page, "our asset is in place, and the operation is ready to proceed to the final phase. Once the reinforcements arrive we shall begin. By the time you read this, Soul's Rattle will be ours, and we-"

"That's as far as she got," Teresa said. "Carandial and I must have come in while she was writing."

"Now look who its addressed to," Pappy added.

The guild magister turned the sheet over, and gaped at the name she saw written there. "The King of Worms!" The Argonian's fingers tightened on the letter, and crumpled half of the parchment before she could stop herself. "And he wants Soul's Rattle? Blast it! This one should have seen this!"

"What?" Teresa asked. "Do you know what this Soul's Rattle is?"

"Aye," the guild magister nodded. "Ten years ago a band of adventurers ventured into the Crypt of Hearts, far away in High Rock. This was after the Warp in the West, when Mannimarco had ascended to godhood, either wholly or at least in part. After fighting their way through the defenses of his old lair, the adventurers found a creature within calling itself the King of Worms and slew it. Afterward they split up the treasures and went their own ways."

"Dagail went to Leyawiin, where she became the magister of the guild hall there. Until recently, she was able to keep the Bloodworm Helm out of dangerous hands. Ulliceta gra-Kogg went to Orsinium with the Staff of Worms. She disappeared a year ago after she was revealed to be a necromancer. Trebonius Artorius went to Morrowind, and in time rose to leadership of the guild in that land. He was slain in a duel with another wizard however, and the Necromancer's Amulet passed out of all knowing. The last of them was Lord Regulus Terentius. He brought a sword named Soul's Rattle back to Cyrodiil with him. Soon after his wife died under mysterious circumstances, and he became a drunkard."

"The count's sword is a necromantic artifact?" Tadrose gasped. "Sweet Mara! How could we not have realized?"

"Count Terentius has never allowed anyone from the guild to examine his sword," Kud-Ei explained, "not even his own court wizard. In fact, he will let no one near it. Not even his pages are allowed to handle it. There were many magical items recovered from the Crypt of Hearts. There was no way to know that his sword was indeed one of the King of Worm's artifacts, rather than just another enchanted blade. Until now."

"We have to get that sword before the necromancer's do," Pappy said.

"This one disagrees," Kud-Ei argued. "We must warn the count. He is in danger, and his entire court. He must be persuaded to move the sword to a safe location, such as the vaults of the Arcane University."

"He won't do that," Teresa shook her head. "We tried talking to him already. He won't listen to a thing we say. That asset the necromancers have in place has him wrapped around his little finger. But from what I've heard, he'd be just as bad without their spy pulling his strings."

Tadrose nodded along with the forester. "I agree with Gaius and Teresa. You said yourself that the count will not let anyone else near his sword. If it is a necromantic artifact, he might not be capable of parting with it. Teresa and I handled the Bloodworm Helm for just a few moments, and it was the most unpleasant thing I have ever felt. If he cannot let go of it, there must be something binding him to the blade."

"Perhaps, but what these ones are suggesting is…" Kud-Ei murmured.

"Illegal," Pappy said, "unethical, perhaps even treason. But if we don't get that sword and take it away from here, a lot of good people in Bravil are going to get killed."

"Look." Teresa lifted a stack of the maps on the table beside her. "They have drawings of the castle, with the positions of each guard marked. They have street maps too, guardhouses, troop complements. We killed a small army of undead in here. They are going to attack the castle, and it will be a bloodbath."

"But surely things have changed," Kud-Ei argued. "Now their base has been destroyed."

"One of them is still out there," Tadrose said. "He must have been in the city when Teresa came in. With the city guard standing around outside, he knows that we have taken Anutwyll by now. Teresa has faced him before. He will not give up."

"That's right," Teresa said sourly. "I know this fetcher. He'll regroup, find a new base, and go after the sword. He has to. Can you imagine going back to the King of Worms empty-handed?"

"We know he has reinforcements coming already," Pappy said. "So all we've done here is push their timetable back. We need to move while we still have the initiative and beat them to the punch. Then we'll make sure everyone knows it was stolen. That's the only thing that will stop them from attacking."

"Surely we can assist the city guard in rooting out this Jalbert and his confederates?" Kud-Ei argued.

"In a city of twenty thousand people?" Pappy said. "That will take time. Too much time. Let's not forget their spy in the castle. Anything we do aboveboard, he's gonna pass along to Jalbert. The necromancers will be one step ahead of us the entire time."

"I hope you are not suggesting that we murder this man you take for a spy?" Kud-Ei's expression barely changed, but from the way the bony ridges around her eyes rose, Teresa could tell that the Argonian was aghast. "This one shall have no part in such a thing!"

"Nay," Tadrose shook her head. "We thought of that. It would get us nowhere. The necromancers would still go ahead with their plans, and the count would probably be more convinced than ever that it was all the doing of Khajiit rebels."

The Argonian slumped her shoulders in defeat. "So what is your plan?" she finally said after long moments.

"We'll steal the fetching thing!" Pappy turned to the Teresa. "Do you think you can sneak into the castle and get it?"

Teresa turned back to the maps spread out before them. She stared for long moments, but knew the answer before she had even looked at them.

"I don't think so," she said. "But I know someone who can."

What a wonderful tale you are weaving with this necronovella, by blending aspects of the familiar with your own logical and potent imagination. And, by Mara, you have certainly jacked up the stakes here! A tantalizing theory as to why Count Pompousness turned from champion to worm. I’m fascinated, and drawn to the edge of my seat.

Nice to see Kud-Ei as a straight arrow. She’d do anything for her girls, you know. Well, short of murder and such. I’ve always adored Kud-Ei.

Stealing the sword makes sense. As far as who Teresa recommends for the task, I have what I believe to be a good guess. I shall PM it to you, and hope others discretely do the same. Once Teresa reveals her recommendation for the sneaky task, you can reveal if any of us got it right and the winner(s) get cookies! Woot!

I love the story behind Soul Rattle! Bravil’s local drama gets Tamriel-wide scale, and the count gets a lot of blanks filled in by just one sentence. That was great!

"This one disagrees," Kud-Ei argued. "We must warn the count. He is in danger, and his entire court. He must be persuaded to move the sword to a safe location, such as the vaults of the Arcane University."

I love your portrayal of Kud-Ei. I can just hear her suggesting her guild’s vault would be the safest place for a necromantic artifact.

Now who does Teresa have in mind for some thieving? Hmm…

This raises the scary prospect of your having to create a new personality for the Count, if they remove the influence of the Soul's Rattle (and he survives).

Like everyone else, I'm curious about her selection for thief. Someone she thinks is good at it? Someone she considers expendable? Hmm indeed.

Ah, looking through what the necromancers left… this would hopefully be interesting.

Ugh, they keep the body parts in the same place they eat and sleep.

Kud-Ei! I liked the Argonian voice in Oblivion. She doesn’t seem to appreciate the gravity of this situation. I like how difficult she is to read, even when she is experiencing strong emotions.

Heh, I thought Teresa could get in. She likes doing a ghost impression a lot.

Who's the thief!?

Called it!

The Guilds definitely aren't going to get no help from Count Terentius, then, seeing as the King of Worms has him wrapped around his little finger thanks to the sword and GrimaDrels. The fact that the Count himself was one of the adventurers who killed the King of Worms was a good way of showing just how far he's fallen from the hero he once was, and of placing just when the rot set in as well.

Now who will be this thief, I wonder...

Acadian: A necronovella! I had not thought of it that way, but it hits the nail on the head nicely.

Poor Kud-Ei. I bet she wishes Pappy had not brought her into any of this! Her conscience does not much like all this sneaking around and stealing things. But that loyalty of hers trumps her law-abiding nature in the end. Like you said, she'd do anything for her friends.

I believe the title of this new chapter will make it clear who Teresa's go to thief is. If not the text within.


Grits: The story of Soul's Rattle was fun to write. Especially because it uses so much of established Oblivion and Morrowind lore (all the adventurers are in the games). Like you said about the count too, it tells us a lot about why he is the dastard he is today.


ghastley: Losing the sword probably won't be such a good thing for the count. At least in the short run. But there is the old saying that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before pulling yourself back up. That might be just what the healer ordered for him. It certainly would be interesting to see him with a different personality, perhaps wiser from his tribulations?


King Coin: I forgot to mention on your pic thread, your new avatar by the DeviantArt girl is incredibly adorable.

I figure necromancers probably aren't too picky about mixing their food and working materials. I can just imagine them as being like serial killers IRL, keeping body parts in the fridge next to the lettuce and tomatoes.

Teresa is quite a good sneaker, but she realizes that a job this big - breaking into a count's castle - will take a lot more than just being sneaky. It is the top end of the thieving world, like robbing a casino IRL. She just does not have the experience that certain other people have in doing that.


Colonel Mustard: You did call it on the KOW. I was grinning when you said that before. I like when readers can figure out what is going on behind the lines. It makes me think (hope) that I am getting it right in my writing. And as you called, our conspirators are not going to get any help from the count in this! Not that he is very helpful in most situations...


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found Teresa and Pappy in Anutwyll, after having cleaned out a small army of animated dead there. They were joined by Kud-Ei and Tadrose, and revealed to the guild magister that the recent troll attacks, goblin takeover Lady Scaurus' mine, and the ogres in Wenyandawik, were all part of a plot by none other than the King of Worms himself. Thanks to a half-finshed letter they found, they also learned that the target of the necromancers was a sword called Soul's Rattle. Kud-Ei recognized it as the Count of Bravil's own sword, and concluded that it was in fact an artifact of Mannimarco, as it was taken from the Crypt Of Hearts by the count years ago, when he was a questing knight. The three mercenaries then talked Kud-Ei out of telling the count, and enlisted her aid in a plan to steal the sword before the necromancers.


Chapter 46.1 – Methredhel's Eleven

18th Evening Star - 22nd Evening Star 3E433

"Have you seen the uniforms yet?" Dynari snickered. To reinforce her words, the Imperial walked over to a box on the table and reached inside. A moment later she drew forth a black one-piece bodice and skirt and draped it over her lithe frame. Smoothing the linen down with one hand, she dramatically illustrated how far above the knee the outfit stopped.

"Irlav Jarol, you dirty old man." Methredhel tsk-tsked as she looked up from the maps spread out on the rug before her. The living room was a simple affair, dominated by large potted plants that rose in the corners, and simple, but sturdy furniture. A woodland tapestry hung from one wall, and the single, large window allowed the afternoon light to spill through the room like a waterfall.

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Now Methredhel frowned as she continued to study the tiny uniform. "There won't be much room to hide a set of picks in there."

"I still have that hollowed out horker tusk..." Dynari winked.

"That would probably be more exciting than a night out with Jair!" The Bosmer thief shook her head ruefully. "That's the last time I date a Redguard… I thought they were all supposed to be…"

Methredhel's words trailed away as a flash of red fur caught her eye. She turned her head to follow the vision, and saw her fox spirit pad to the front door of the apartment that she and Dynari shared. The fox paused there, and stared back into Methredhel's eyes. It almost seemed to wink at her. Then the spirit guide stepped forward, and vanished through the wooden surface of the door.

"What is it?" the Imperial thief asked.

"Hmmm," Methredhel murmured as she rose to her feet. She stepped lightly to the door, and a soft rap came to her ears as she reached for the knob. The Bosmer shot Dynari a look. The Imperial dropped the maid's uniform and darted to the house plans spread out across their floor. Gathering them all up, she quickly hustled off into the bedroom.

Methredhel turned back to the door once Dynari had vanished from sight. Who could it be? The safecracker that Armand had contacted was not due to arrive for hours. No one else was supposed to come to the planning session. Could it be the Imperial Legion? No, they did not knock. They would have kicked in the door instead.

Still, her fox had not given her any sign of danger. In fact, her wink had felt more like a friendly tease, that something special was coming. A second knock rang out against the frame, and the Bosmer finally turned the lock open with a click. She cautiously opened the door, and gaped at who she saw outside.

"Hello old friend."

"Teresa!" Methredhel cried. The Bosmer threw her arms around the pale forester and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I had no idea you were coming back to the city. Are you here for Saturalia?"

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Methredhel could not keep the grin from her features. When she finally stepped back, she noted that her sister wood elf was clad in her Valenwood armor, and carried her Bosmer bow sheathed in the combination case and quiver that hung from one of her hips. Teresa looked as if she was ready to leap into a battle, rather than visiting an old friend.

Then Methredhel's eyes moved to the human who stood behind the red-haired forester. She was tall for a woman. Given her long, sandy brown hair and almond-colored eyes Methredhel took her for a Breton. Her brown cloak fell open to reveal a simple, but rugged outfit of similarly colored bodice, pants, and boots, complete with built in leather padding. If not for the white staff that leaned against her shoulder, Methredhel would have taken her for a rogue of some sort. The thief stared at the hunk of crystal that was intertwined within the forks of wood atop that staff, and saw tiny motes of light floating gently from its lustrous surface. Now that is not something you see everyday, she mused, not even in Mages Guild staves.

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"This is Aela," Teresa said, following Methredhel's gaze. "She's a friend."

"The Witch from that island?" Methredhel felt one of her eyebrows rise of its own accord. She glanced to Teresa and then back to the magician. Damn, she never would have guessed that the Breton had not been born female. But now that she thought about it, she noted the broader shoulders, the man hands, and the adam's apple…

"Well, any friend of Teresa is a friend of mine," Methredhel said. Stepping back from the doorway, she waved for both of them to enter. "I am glad to finally meet you Aela. Teresa has written about you. She says you are a graduate of the Arcane University."

"Yes," the Breton replied in a soft voice. "Teresa has told me all about you as well. But not about your friend in the other room. You can ask her to join us. We aren't here to cause trouble."

"In fact, I need your help," Teresa added. Methredhel noticed that the red-head was biting her lip. That was not good, not good at all. What kind of trouble was she in?

"Aren't you the one in the Fighters Guild?" Dynari stepped up to the bedroom's doorframe and leaned against it, arms crossed in front of her.

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"Not today," Teresa replied coolly. Then her eyes turned back to Methredhel, and her voice softened. "Look, I know you're probably already planning a job for Saturalia, and I know this is all of a sudden, but-"

"I'm in," Methredhel said. "Just tell me when and where."

"Now." Teresa looked relieved. "I mean right now. The Time Dragon's claws are clicking away as we speak. It's only for a few days though. We'll have you back before Saturalia if all goes well."

"I'll start packing." Methredhel walked across the living room and passed Dynari as she stepped into the bedroom. Skirting the two beds, she walked to the dresser next to hers and threw it open. "Is there anything special I should bring?" she called back over one shoulder, "fancy clothes, anything like that?"

"I don't think so," Teresa said through the door. "Just your usual tools. If worse comes to worse, we can get you whatever you need once we are there."

"What are you doing?" Dynari hissed in a whisper. The human thief stalked beside the wood elf as she quickly threw some clothing into a traveling bag. "You can't just run out now. We've got the Jarol job in one week!"

"She's my friend," Methredhel paused briefly to look into the other woman's brown eyes. Then she went back to her packing. "That's all there is to it. Ten years from now when you come out of the blue and ask for help, I'll do the same for you. Besides, you can handle the planning. I trust your judgment. In a few days I'll be back and we'll pull it off."

"What if you're not back?"

"Then you take my place, and bring in an understudy for yours," Methredhel said plainly. "Carwen can handle it."

"Carwen?" the other woman rasped. "This is your job. It's your plan. I can't believe you're walking out now!"

"One day you will." Methredhel slung her bag over her shoulder and turned back to Dynari. She laid her hands gently on the Imperial's shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes. "It's your plan now. You can do this. You're ready. Just have some faith in yourself. Oh, and make a sacrifice to Nocturnal too. It never hurts..."

Then Methredhel headed out of the room and stepped beside the two newcomers. She paused to look back at Dynari. "Shadow hide you friend," she said.

"Shadow hide you too," the other thief sighed.

Irlav Jarol, and maid's outfits? We're going to demand that piece of story as well.

You couldn't have picked a more appropriate thief than Methredhel. How does she rank in the TF version of the Thieves' Guild? I always got the impression that she was the mistress of plans in the standard one, the way she had roles in both Cristophe's and the Grey Fox's heists and diversions.

I recall that she flies through the door of the Allectus residence without missing a step when you follow her in that quest, so her lock-picking must be amazing. And if I've never noticed her sneaking, that must mean something, too.

Oh I loved this one. I completely forgot about Methredhel! I was wondering who the thief was going to be. Her little fox spirit sounds like it has a personality of its own. Suits a thief too I suppose.

I'm sure it was heartwarming for Teresa to see Methredhel drop everything without a question to help her, without even knowing what she was going to be doing. They were friends for a long time.

Nice to see Teresa’s old friends, Methie and Aela!

As ghastley pointed out, the Irlav/maid uniforms job revealed just enough hints to tantalize!

Then, KC nailed the centerpiece of this wonderful episode by noting Methie’s unhesitating willingness to jump into Teresa’s quest before even learning what the task involves.

And a new mystery. I wonder what Aela’s role in this operation will be.

Forgot to add.

"Hello old friend." is an homage to one of the best sci-fi shows to ever air on tv. Does anyone know which one?