Chapter 8

Physically, the return to Ald'ruhn was easy- simply a matter of casting Recall. Emotionally, it was more difficult. My life had been saved, but it had also been profoundly changed. I needed to talk to someone- but what I had to say would lead to more questions and more explanations. There was only one person I could talk to, and that was Athyn Sarethi. When I first sought his sponsorship, there was a great deal about my past that I had not told him. Now, I believed the time had come to remedy that situation. And yet my fear of doing so was in equal measure to the respect I felt for Athyn. The rescue of Delyna Mandas presented no difficulty- it was in keeping with the values of House Redoran. But I would also need to explain much more, such as how I came to be at Tel Fyr. And what of the Nerevarine prophecies business? Although I still wasn't certain that I believed in the prophecies, let alone that they had anything to do with me, that was the sort of thing that would put the Temple into an uproar. And, as my mentor and friend, Athyn Sarethi was likely to be harmed by the resulting inquiry. Again I was reminded of the consequences of becoming known, of gaining prominence and position. It wasn't just about power and privilege- there was also responsibility. Perhaps I had been spending too much time around the Redorans- I was beginning to consider the ramifications of my actions instead of rushing blindly ahead.

Before going to my friend, I gave myself the luxury of a day to rest and consider. Unsure of his reaction, I also packed up my gear so I could leave on short notice if that became necessary. When I found Athyn in his accustomed spot in Sarethi Manor, he greeted me warmly and expressed his pleasure at seeing me again. I wondered if he would still feel that way when I finished what I had to say. After the exchange of pleasantries, I cleared my throat and said, "There are some matters and events concerning me that you should be aware of. You have treated me as family and it is not right for me to keep this knowledge from you."

And then I explained how I had been "recruited" by the Blades, the duties I had carried out, how I had been afflicted with corprus, and how Divayth Fyr had cured me. All that I held back was the story of my arrest and imprisonment and the insane scheme to have me named Nerevarine. The first I omitted because I felt that it had been the result of Imperial intrigues rather than my own actions. As to the Nerevarine foolishness, I refused to burden this honorable man with such a dilemma. Duty would force him to denounce me to the Temple, whatever his heart might tell him. And I would be locked up for something I didn't even believe. Throughout the telling of my story he remained silent, other than asking a servant to fetch wine when my throat grew dry. At the end of my long recitation, he clasped my arm and said, "It is good that you have told me of these things. I sense that there is more that you have left unsaid, but we will let that be. If I believed your secrets would harm Redoran, that would be a different matter, but I trust in your loyalty to your House."

Then he paused, poured more wine, and took a thoughtful sip. "As to the Blades, you must take your own counsel. The fact that you were forcibly made a member is balanced by the fact that you have since taken assignments willingly. If you had discharged the messenger duty and refused further service, there would be no question of honor. As it is...you have as much as given your word to perform loyal service and you cannot renege simply because the duty has become onerous."

He smiled to rob his words of any sting and added, "Do not misunderstand me- I do not doubt your courage. I am perhaps more aware of your deeds than you know. When you asked me for sponsorship, I sought what information could be found regarding 'Trey of High Rock.' You are better-known and more highly thought-of than you may realize- at least among those whose opinions I respect. As to the corprus, its progress is arrested and you are not contagious; it is a wonder and a miracle. I see no evil or ill-intent in this. A word of caution, though- best to keep this knowledge close- not everyone will be so understanding."

A distant look came to his eyes and tears glistened in them as he continued, "You have been of great service to my family- you brought my son back to me and saw to it that he was cleared of the murder charge. You protected me from the Morag Tong assassins at great risk to yourself. And you have been valuable to House Redoran. Nothing you have told me causes me to regret my sponsorship- on the contrary, you have made me proud. If there ever comes a time when you fear that your duties for the Blades will bring harm to your House, speak to me and we will decide how best to proceed. Now, as to Arethan Mandas...let me consider that. Meanwhile there is a matter of concern regarding Ondres Nerano's slanders of Bolvyn Venim."

Athyn Sarethi would need some time to locate Arethan Mandas- Vvardenfell was still largely unsettled, and most of House Redoran's people were scattered across the frontier. Meanwhile, there was another problem that required delicate handling. Athyn was aware that I preferred to handle things with persuasion whenever possible- an inclination that suited the Redoran sense of honor. Specifically, a Hlaalu by the name of Ondres Nerano was doing his best to spread a story about the head of Redoran, Bolvyn Venim. The story was that Venim was involved in an affair with the wife of another Redoran councilor. Because this story brought dishonor on the House, Athyn wanted me to convince Nerano to stop spreading it. He asked that I be careful not to attack Nerano without provocation- however, if he challenged me to a duel, that would be acceptable. There was a strange twist to Athyn Sarethi's mouth as he referred to Nerano's "slander." It was as if he tasted something bitter, but was manfully trying to swallow it. He seemed to be trying to convince himself even more than me when he said, "It is for the good of House Redoran."

That was the first time I had ever seen him appear doubtful. Yet, when I asked him if there was a problem, he said, "Please- do not question your assignment. We must act for the good of the House, even when we find it personally distasteful. I trust you to carry out your orders in a way that will not dishonor us. Unlike some who call themselves Redoran, you understand that rank should be accompanied by responsibility."
He would not say more, and even as I wondered to whom he referred, I vowed that I would not disappoint him.

Ondres Nerano was easy to find- he lived in one of the largest houses in Balmora. When I asked him about the rumors he had been spreading, he looked at me incredulously. "Are all you Redorans stupid? It isn't a rumor, it's a fact. Everyone knows it is true."

Remembering Athyn Sarethi's anguished face, I began to doubt. But then, I also remembered what he had said about the "good of the House." Therefore I responded, "Regardless of the truth or falsity, Hlaalu, it is none of your concern. You will speak respectfully of Redoran, or I will teach you better manners. It is not meet that scum such as you should defile the name of my House with your words."

As I had anticipated, that angered Nerano, who sputtered, "Very well, if it's a duel you want, you've got one," and slapped me.

When I had left High Rock, I had promised myself that no man would ever again lay hands on me without retribution. It took all of the restraint I possessed to keep from running Nerano through on the spot. But the words of Athyn Sarethi echoed in my head- "Do not dishonor your House." And so I found myself in unarmed combat with Ondres Nerano. Anyone walking in would have been confronted with an amusing sight- a Breton and a dark elf, both swinging with all their might and unable to hit anything. For whatever reason, I had never developed my unarmed combat skills, and it was apparent that Nerano hadn't either. Additionally, my superior speed and agility allowed me to dodge most of his clumsy punches. Unfortunately, my own understanding of actual offensive hand-to-hand fighting was nil- I had only ever been on the receiving end of punches and kicks as I grew up.

So we danced and dodged up and down the room, flailing away at one another like two fish-wives fighting over the last good vegetables in the market. As was my way, I fought silently, not wanting to waste my breath on useless exclamations. Nerano, however, maintained a constant stream of taunts and threats- all of which were ludicrous, considering that he couldn't even touch me, let alone land a decisive blow. At last, I grew tired of this nonsense and drew my sword. My intent, though, was to weaken my opponent, not to kill him. Therefore, instead of swinging the sword in sweeping cuts, I used the point and the edges as delicately as a surgeon. A feint to the eyes, diverted at the last minute to slice his cheek. A jab toward the throat, turned to nick his earlobe. Finally, I simply began to beat his ribs and thighs with the flat of the blade. It was humiliation, pure and simple- for it was clear that I could easily kill him at any time. Bleeding from half-a-dozen irritating wounds, battered and bruised, he soon yielded.

"You have defeated me. I withdraw what I said and will speak of it no more."

And so, honor was satisfied, even if I wasn't. Don't misunderstand, I was very happy that I had not been forced to kill him. Still, the whole thing left me with the same bad taste in my mouth that seemed to have afflicted Athyn Sarethi. How can it be honorable to beat someone, even an enemy, for telling the truth? Much as it pained me to admit it, the thought came to me that House Redoran needed to be set in order. And hard on its heels came another- who would be capable of accomplishing that task?

Upon returning to Ald'ruhn, I decided not to trouble Athyn Sarethi with my doubts about my latest assignment. He had trusted me when others would not, so I was willing to give him the same courtesy. And besides, it was clear that the business weighed upon him at least as heavily as it did on me. So instead, with my promise to Delyna Mandas still on my mind, I asked if there was any news of her father. Athyn replied that Arethan Mandas seemed to have disappeared and no one was certain where he had gone. There were rumors that the apparent loss of his daughter had driven Mandas mad and that he had wandered away into the wilderness. Knowing that my promise to Delyna was important, Athyn vowed to keep searching for the whereabouts of the father. Meanwhile, he had other news that touched upon an earlier investigation. He had continued to inquire as to the source of the ash statue which had entrapped his son, Varvur.

After much effort and expenditure of gold, he had traced to smugglers to a cave called Shurinbaal, which was just outside of Gnaar Mok. He explained the situation thus: "Thank you for handling the matter of Ondres Nerano so carefully. Now I must impose upon your loyalty and friendship again. As I noted earlier, I have been able to trace the leaders of the smuggling ring to a cave near Gnaar Mok. Normally, we would use Redoran guards to take care of the matter, but Bolvyn Venim will not allow it. He claims that, because Gnaar Mok is a Hlaalu town, an operation by Redoran forces nearby would be seen as a provocation. He also argues that the increased number of creatures coming out of the Blight requires that we maintain our guards closer to our own possessions. His reasons seem plausible, but I wonder if he is not simply taking another opportunity to thwart me."

He paused and, with a visible effort, regained his composure. "And so it is that I turn to you, my friend. I know how you feel about killing and I respect your attitude. But I tell you that this is a war, a war for the very survival of our House and my family. The leaders of the smugglers are Enjine and Daroder and they must be slain. If you can accomplish this and leave the others unharmed, that is acceptable. But the leaders must be accounted for. We stopped one plot- who knows what form the next attack will take? I do not ask this lightly- I ask you as a friend to defend my family as you have before."

Naturally, there was only one answer to such a request, and I promised to leave as soon as possible.

The cave of Shurinbaal was easy to find, lying only a stone's throw southwest of the town of Gnaar Mok. Upon entering the cave, I was immediately set upon by a Redguard woman with a Dwemer battle-axe and a scowl. The heavy weapon could have caused serious injury if it had struck, but I was able to avoid the blows. Soon enough, the first of my targets was dead on the floor. Of the next half hour, I will say little, except that I passed through the cavern like an avenging spirit and left no one alive. Apparently the rage that I had thought was burned out of me still smoldered just beneath the surface. I took no pride in that day's work, nor did I feel much remorse. It was just a job and I was simply the tool used to do it. The gods know that my victims were not innocent- in fact, they were as bloody-handed a bunch as I had ever encountered. No, the innocence I mourned for was my own. I have forgotten the names of most of the dead, but their faces thronged my sleep for many years afterward. Although I was never sorry that I had joined House Redoran, there were times that I wished I had never come to Vvardenfell at all. I cursed the intrigues that had brought me hence and I cursed Bolvyn Venim, whose fecklessness forced me to become the agent of so much destruction.

Back in Ald'ruhn, I was greeted with good news and bad- Arethan Mandas had been located, but he had indeed gone mad. Athyn Sarethi reported that Mandas, once a great man in House Redoran, had moved into a cave near the Maar Gan road and declared himself the "Lord of West Gash." He was demanding tribute from all who traveled the road. A few of his loyal retainers had stayed by him and a number of outlaws had joined in as well. They were all likely to defend him to the death. Athyn hoped that there might be a way to restore Mandas to sanity, and suggested that I speak to the great man's father, Lleran Mandas, in Ebonheart. This assignment, though it promised to be difficult, was much more to my liking. If I could save the life of Arethan Mandas, perhaps it would make up in a small way for the lives I had taken. And perhaps it would be possible to avoid a confrontation with the retainers and outlaws, as well. After the last two missions I had undertaken, a bloodless victory would be sweet indeed.

Aythn Sarethi had asked me to handle the problem of Arethan Mandas, who had set himself up in the Milk cavern and was robbing travelers. Mandas was no ordinary outlaw, though, having once been an important figure in House Redoran. Therefore, it would be better if I could discover the cause of his madness and find some way to cure the affliction. In hopes of achieving that goal, I made my way to Ebonheart, where the madman's father could be found. Llerar Mandas, I was told, was in the Grand Council Chamber, so I made my way there. Llerar was an impressive figure, dressed in a nearly complete suit of Dwemer armor. Despite the great weight of that outfit, he moved with grace and ease. Here then, was an elf who had physical as well as political power. It would be well for me to approach him carefully, and avoid giving offense.

Knowing that direct questions about Arethan might be considered rude, I instead asked Llerar about his background and profession. He explained that he was a House Brother in Redoran and a crusader, as well. He had devoted himself to hunting down necromancers, witches, and bandits. The goods he recovered from them allowed him to live comfortably and to equip himself lavishly. That certainly explained the Dwemer armor, but it sounded like a difficult and dangerous life. After my handful of experiences with tombs and smugglers caves, I was more than happy to let the outlaws and undead keep their loot. Of course, that reminded me of my real purpose, to find out more about the so-called "Lord of West Gash." Seeking to establish a greater rapport, I noted that I was also in House Redoran and added that Athyn Sarethi had asked me to seek out Llerar. He smiled fondly and said, "Ah, Athyn. The 'Hope of the Redoran,' he is called. A great warrior- one who should have been leader of our House, and would have been, if not for politics and his sense of honor. What can I do for Athyn?"

When I explained my purpose, Llerar acknowledged that his son had indeed gone mad and that it was a result of the news that Delyna had been captured. When I showed Llerar the locket that Delyna had entrusted to me, he wept with joy. When he had recovered, he gave me a princely gift- an ebony helm. Because of the expense of the raw material and the difficulty of working with it, there were only a handful of these helms in all of Vvardenfell. Even more valuable then the helm were the words he spoke, telling me that I had "earned an ally in House Redoran." My time with Athyn Sarethi and my growing awareness of the political divisions within my House gave me reason to know that such an alliance might prove crucial. Before we parted, Llerar asked me to convey Delyna's locket to his son.

"As word of Delyna's capture caused his madness, perhaps news of her rescue will restore his sanity. Be careful, though, for not all who are with him will be prepared to give up a life of banditry."

Unfortunately, those words proved to be prophetic- upon entering the cavern, I found myself immediately confronted by fierce and well-armed opponents, who attacked me on sight. Despite my stealth and attempts to bypass the guards, I was forced into one fight after another. A great deal of blood was spilled as I delved deeper into the cave, and much of it was my own. Time and again, all that saved me was my stock of healing potions. It was fortunate that I met most of my adversaries singly- if two or more had attacked at once, I do not believe I would have survived. One of the worst was a battlemage who summoned greater bonewalkers. Those powerful undead damaged my strength and endurance, as well as my health, while the mage battered me with spells and a warhammer. At last, a Scroll of Elemental Burst: Frost brought down the last summoned creature and the mage. The problem was, I had not come here to fight, I only sought Arethan Mandas. The guards and outlaws never gave me the opportunity to explain, though. By the time the battlemage crumpled to the floor, I was heartily sick of the irony of having to carve a path of destruction while on a mission of mercy.

At last, deep in the cavern, I found a noble-looking Dunmer clad in ebony armor. As that sort of apparel was generally reserved for the wealthiest and most powerful, I believed that this must be the elf I needed to find. I approached cautiously, for his eyes were wild and he was muttering to himself. For a wonder, he didn't attack me- a unique experience in that gods-forsaken cave. When I got close enough, I could make out the words "Delyna" and "locket" among the nonsense phrases and rhymes he was speaking. This then was Arethan Mandas, the "Mad Lord of Milk." Slowly, moving with infinite care, I pulled Delyna's locket over my head and handed it to the grieving elf. His eyes cleared and the lines on his face seemed to smooth as I watched.

"She's safe...safe. Thank you, Trey. I will stop now. The attacks on the road. Tell Athyn to visit."

He then promised me that his guards would allow me safe passage back to the entrance. That was scant comfort as I bitterly wished something as simple as an order could bring back the five who had fallen to my blade. But at least Delyna was safe, for now. And Arethan was somewhat better, if not completely cured of his madness. As I made my weary way back to Ald'ruhn, I thought long about the price one paid to be part of a family. Along with the love and the sense of belonging came the constant fear of loss. Being alone might be hard, but at that moment it seemed a thousand times easier than being a parent.

In recognition of my service to House Redoran, Athyn Sarethi promoted me to House Brother. He promised to visit Arethan Mandas and added, "He has stopped demanding tribute from travelers. I did not believe it could be done. You have made me proud this day, Trey."

Next, Athyn explained that further advancement in Redoran would require the support of at least two more councilors. He suggested that I speak to Brara Morvayn and Hlaren Ramoran. Each would probably required me to perform some service for them, but it wasn't likely to be anything difficult. In addition, Athyn noted that it was time for me to begin to build a stronghold. That last came as a pleasant surprise to me, so I inquired further as to what was involved. Athyn explained that the highest-ranking members of each House earned the privilege and the responsibility of building a fortified dwelling in some portion of Vvardenfell that had been granted to that House. In the case of Redoran, the next available location was an area called Bal Isra, which was north of Ald'ruhn. To begin construction, I would need to speak to Galsa Gindu, who could be found in the Redoran Council Hall. As Brara Morvayn also had taken residence in the Council Hall, I took my leave of Athyn Sarethi and went to seek the two women. The idea of having a home was very exciting to me- my entire youth had been spent sleeping in the stable or loft and since arriving in Morrowind, I had resided wherever I could. When I joined House Redoran, it had been in the hope of gaining some acceptance in Dunmer society; I had never dreamed that I might one day aspire to having my own home. Galsa Gindu, the Redoran architect, explained that the stronghold had to be built- it would not just be given to me. And, in order to start building, she would need 5000 drakes for labor and materials, as well as a contract from Duke Vedam Dren in Ebonheart. The gold was not a problem; my alchemy skills and the odds and ends I had "acquired" while on various missions had left me with a substantial amount of cash. Galsa explained that the contract was required because of Vvardenfell's history as a Temple preserve- only certain areas were legally open to expansion, and those were granted by the Duke. She noted in passing that the other Houses generally ignored that requirement and built wherever and whenever they felt inclined. This was simply another case where Redoran's scrupulous honesty put them at a disadvantage. Still- it was only a minor inconvenience to go to Ebonheart- after all, I still needed to go there and let Llerar Mandas know that his son had abandoned his harassment of travelers. Even though I was anxious to get started on the building, I was not ready to leave just yet. I still needed to interview Brara Morvayn and find out what would be required to gain her support. I thanked Galsa and promised to return shortly with the necessary papers and gold.

After the loss of Morvayn Manor to blight creatures, Brara had taken living quarters in the Redoran Council Hall. I entered and asked the guards if I might speak with her. They directed me to the sitting room, where I found Brara. She was a relatively young Dunmer, richly dressed in traditional Redoran colors. Her beauty was marred by lines of care and I recalled that she was a widow. When I introduced myself, she indicated that Athyn Sarethi had sent word ahead to let her know I would be calling. She promised that she would support me if I would clear the beasts out of Morvayn Manor. She had been seated on the Council when her husband died defending their home during the attack. As I questioned her further, she informed me that her husband had believed the blight monsters had been drawn to their home by a strange ash statue that they had received several weeks earlier. Here was more evidence of a concerted attack on House Redoran via the malign magical influence of these statues. Brara gave me a key to the house and asked me to retrieve the statue and take it to Lloros Sarano at the Temple and to exterminate the creatures that infested the manor. Once the statue had been destroyed, she would be glad to support me for higher rank.

Morvayn Manor lay just east of Skar in Ald'ruhn. As soon as I entered the house, I felt uneasy. The hair stood up on the back of my neck and I seemed to feel the same taint of evil as I had in Ilunibi. The feeling of "wrongness" was palpable and was only made stronger by the signs of the violent struggle that had raged through the house. Almost unbidden, my sword came to my hand and I moved on cat feet to the door which stood on the right side of the entry chamber. This door gave onto a small bedroom, the simplicity and order of which belied the horror that had taken place elsewhere in the manor. That left the second door, which was secured by a stout lock. As I approached, I could hear the snorting breaths and dragging footsteps of some creature that lurked on the other side of the door. Brara's key fit the lock and the door naturally opened onto a set of steps leading down into the basement. Why was it that I was always having to go into dark, creepy caves and basements? Particularly caves and basements that contained creatures that shuffled and groaned and bumped? Before I had much time to contemplate the unfairness of the universe, a corprus beast loomed up out of the darkness and began to drag itself slowly up the stairs towards me.

The beast that was trying to climb the steps was the type known as a lame corprus- due its monstrous shape, it was relatively slow, so I easily dispatched it. The sounds coming up from the darkness of the basement told me that the grotesque beast had not been alone, though. There was a great freedom in not needing to fear infection from corprus, but it was also well to remember that the immunity did not prevent me from being ripped to pieces. At the foot of the steps, I found the body of Remas Morvayn. It was clear from his shattered shield and blood-stained sword that he had gone down fighting. If I could succeed in clearing the Manor, his widow would at least be able to reclaim his body and give it a proper interment.

Using every bit of the shadows I could, I slipped around the stairs into the gloomy basement. The flickering light of candles and the wheezing and shuffling of the monsters strained my nerves almost to the breaking point. Movement from several places in the room caught my attention, and I decided that a Bound Longbow would be a great comfort. Using the shadows and the conjured bow, I was able to defeat four more corprus beasts of various sorts without suffering any injury myself. Although the noise the creatures made had been eerie, the sudden silence was almost worse. The candles and the arcane symbols that had been scribed in blood created within me a strong urge to run, but I fought the impulse down, knowing that my work was not finished.

One room had been turned into a Sixth House shrine, complete with candles and wall-hangings, and the entire basement had been made over into a strange temple. Finally, I found the evil ash statue sitting atop a pile of crates in a storeroom. Like the one that had been given to Varvur Sarethi, this statue had a greasy, nausea-inducing feel. My in-born sensitivity to magicka told me that this was indeed the focus of a powerful spell.

Sickened by the touch of the object, I wrapped it in a cloth and quickly made my way to the Temple.
Lloros Sarano also recognized the evil enchantment on the statue and determined that destroying it would break the spell. He promised to do so and also offered the Temple's help in cleansing Morvayn Manor. I thanked him and made my way back to tell Brara that her home was now safe. It would take a stronger person than I to go back to that house, but perhaps she would manage. In the meantime, she pledged to support me before the Council and gave me an enchanted amulet as a reward. Much as I appreciated her support, I could not forget the image of Remas Morvayn, dead in his own home, a victim of the evil that seemed to be stalking all of House Redoran.

It was becoming increasingly clear that my House was locked in a deadly struggle against the Sixth House, House Dagoth. My minor victories against Sixth House creatures and agents would be meaningless if this evil influence continued to spread unchecked. As hard as I tried to ignore and disbelieve the prophecies, I could not deny that I seemed to come into conflict with the Sixth House and its schemes wherever I turned. Whether I willed it or not, it seemed that forces beyond my ken were pushing me ever closer to a confrontation with Dagoth Ur himself.

For the moment, though, my best course was to strengthen House Redoran and ensure that it was better able to withstand the malign forces arrayed against it. And if I was to strengthen the House, I would need to wield greater influence, which meant gaining the support of more councilors. All of which meant that it was time to call on Hlaren Ramoran, who maintained a manor "Under Skar." Once I had entered Ramoran Manor, a guard directed me to the family quarters, where I easily found Hlaren. Like Llerar Mandas, he was dressed in a suit of Dwemer armor. Again, I was reminded that Redoran was a warrior House.

The task Hlaren Ramoran had for me seemed simple enough- he needed someone to collect the taxes from Gnisis. Somehow, I doubted that it would be just a matter of riding the giant flea, getting the gold, and riding back. Or maybe he was aware of my aversion to the silt striders and this was a test of bravery. Or maybe... No matter- he wanted the tax money and the only way I would discover if there was a hidden agenda was by going to Gnisis to see Hetman Abelmawia. Despite my misgivings, there were no difficulties collecting the 60 drakes and I was able to return without incident.

However, when I turned the taxes over, Hlaren asked me for another "little favor" as a condition of his support. It seemed that he wanted to find the whereabouts of a woman named Nalvilie Saren, who he termed "an old acquaintance." Her family lived in the Redoran District of Vivec, and that would be a good place to start. Then he added a message in case I found her- I was to tell her that he "didn't care what had happened in the past and that he could support her." And finally, I was to ask her to come visit him in Ald'ruhn.

As he gave me these strange instructions, I couldn't help but notice the expression on the face of one of his guards, a Dunmer woman named Nalvyna Sarinith. At the mention of the Saren woman's name, a look of pain and disgust crossed the guard's face, and she seemed to grow more and more depressed as the conversation continued. There was something here that I needed to discover before I found myself in the midst of some serious entanglement. Hlaren Ramoran's words had troubled me- for this did not sound like the conduct of a Redoran councilor and friend of Athyn Sarethi.

Taking my leave of Lord Hlaren, I made an excuse to speak with Nalvyna, asking her about some finer point of the armor she was wearing. When Hlaren's attention was turned elsewhere, I quietly asked her if she knew anything about this Nalvilie Saren. She explained that the woman had "disgraced herself" and also said, "I do not understand why my Lord would still wish to find her after the way she treated him. Sometimes I wish...but no, it wouldn't be proper..."

With a visible effort, she tore her gaze away from Hlaren Ramoran and resumed her guard stance. She would say no more about the subject. Though I had little understanding of the reasons that one person was attracted to another, even I was able to see that Nalvyna cared for Hlaren, and not just as a guard for a protectee. Even more, it seemed that this Saren woman had hurt him in the past. With my own experiences of how a woman could turn a man inside-out still fresh in my mind, I decided to try to save a fellow-sufferer.

So, attempting to maintain a casual tone, I asked Hlaren about Nalyna. He responded warmly, if not enthusiastically, noting that she was an outstanding warrior of great honor, and that she had served him faithfully. It had been my experience when working in the stables that sometimes, when dealing with a mule, you must first get the mule's attention. The accepted method for doing so is the application of a stout piece of wood between the eyes. It appeared that Lord Hlaren Ramoran had a bit of mule in his personality and that the application of an attention-getter was required. Because I valued my life, I deemed that a "verbal club" would be wiser than brute force.

"She cares deeply for you, you know," I told him, discreetly indicating Nalyna.

That certainly got his attention, even though he tried to struggle against it. His eyes opened wide and he mumbled, "She... I ... I don't know what to say. Perhaps if I were younger... If it weren't improper..."

Once you have the mule's attention, you still have to guide it- "Proper behavior didn't seem to concern you when you wanted me to invite Nalvilie Saren to come for a visit."

He had to agree that this was true and promised to think things over in a new light. Meanwhile, he agreed to support me before the Council and told me to forget all about the Saren woman. Somehow, I had never considered match-making as one of my talents. Perhaps those romance novels had been good for something after all, even if the beneficiaries were other than myself.

I had gained the support of two Redoran councilors, so all that remained was to obtain a construction contract from Duke Dren in Ebonheart. While I was there, I could also let Llerar Mandas know how his son fared. As I was still somewhat averse to the silt striders, I traveled to Ebonheart by using a combination of Mages Guild guides and Intervention spells. Even though all the teleportation jumps left me feeling as if my body was in half-a-dozen different places, it was better than being eaten. My early experience of Vvardenfell had been that most of the wildlife was quite willing to add me to the menu, given the chance. Therefore, it was in my interest to make myself as difficult a meal as possible. I just had a feeling that the striders were the Dunmer's idea of a joke- when a dark elf assured you that the giant fleas didn't eat people, it was important to remember that most elves didn't include other races in their definition of "people." Regardless, after my stomach settled, I went into the Grand Council Chamber to find Duke Dren. I was informed that he could be found upstairs with his advisors. The idea that I would soon be starting the process of building my own home made my steps lighter than they had been since my arrival. Never before had I had a place that was my own.

Duke Dren was an imposing figure, dressed in ebony armor and surrounded by advisers- I found him impressive, even if he was a Hlaalu. With him were a number of other important people in the provincial government, including a man dressed in the uniform of a Knight of the Imperial Dragon. Whether it was because he was an Imperial or something else, I don't know, but I took an immediate dislike to the fellow. And, from look on his face, Varus Vantinius didn't much care for me, either. But I wasn't there to get into fights with Imperial officials, so I turned my attention back to Duke Dren. When I explained my purpose, he expressed reluctance at first, noting that Vvardenfell was Dunmer territory and that I was an outlander. Still, he could not deny that I had sufficient rank and support in House Redoran to be granted the construction contract. Although he was supposed to be above such things as the squabbles among the Great Houses, I believe his reluctance came in part from unhappiness that Redoran was gaining a new stronghold. Ultimately, his reservations were overcome either by the realization that this was not a battle he could win or by his own sense of justice. Either way, he explained that the most important function of a new stronghold and the greatest responsibility of the title holder was the protection of the people of Vvardenfell.

Therefore, my oath that I would provide that protection was required. For the first time in my life, I actually took an official proceeding seriously. I was not speaking as a runaway thief from High Rock, I was pledging my word as Trey, House Brother of Redoran. And with my words, I was also invoking the honor of Athyn Sarethi, Brara Morvayn, and Hlaren Ramoran. The ritual completed, Dren's assistant handed me the contract, which specified my rights and responsibilities in reference to my new home. As I glanced at the wording, I realized that "stronghold" was not just a term of convenience- the contract specified "...a stronghold and village of no more than 50 persons and no more than 400 feet in any direction. Trey may hire no more than 10 Men-at-Arms and retainers to defend the stronghold." That was certainly more than just four walls and a roof. I don't think I had quite realized until then just how significant was my status in House Redoran. Somehow I hadn't shaken off the picture I'd always had of myself as a threadbare and usually hungry stablehand.

Now all that was required was to return to Ald'ruhn and hand the contract and 5000 drakes to Galsa Gindu. That was another occasion on which I was happy that I had chosen Redoran over Hlaalu. I would have thought long and hard before I simply gave that much gold to any of the members of Hlaalu I had met so far. Galsa promised that the work would commence shortly and told me that I should speak with her again in a week. My next stop was at Sarethi Manor to let Athyn know of my success. He was pleased that Morvayn Manor had been reclaimed and as concerned as I over the evidence that the ash statue plot had been so wide-ranging. When I mentioned Hlaren Ramoran and how I had diverted his interest from Nalvilie Saren, Athyn remarked, "I already had a daughter her age when she was on the arms of more men than was proper. But that is a story for another time."

He then grew serious and asked me about my plans while I awaited construction of my stronghold. I admitted that I had not thought that far ahead, having been caught up in the tasks I had been performing. His intent gaze fixed me to my chair and the Redoran Lord said, "You know that I am proud of your progress in House Redoran and most gratified that it was I who first sponsored your membership. You have done great things for us, and your loyalty and courage are well-regarded. But I would be remiss if I did not remind you of a conversation we had earlier concerning your other obligations. I am speaking, of course, of the Blades. It has been some time since you have reported to Caius, has it not?"

In truth, the question of the Blades was one I had been doing my best to ignore. There were a number of reasons, but mostly it was that I hated being a pawn in some Imperial idiocy. I still resented the way that I had been transported here against my will and thrown into what amounted to a religious and cultural war. It did not occur to me then that I would never have risen so far or so fast back in High Rock or Cyrodiil and that it was only through the "meddling" of the Emperor that I was not still in a jail cell. But then, logic was never one of my strongest traits, particularly when I was scared. And the part of me that wasn't resentful was petrified. There were too many signs that seemed to point in the same direction- that the prophecies were real and that I was inextricably caught in their web.

Here Ends Chapter 8