Chapter 3. The hatching of a plan.
Helseth was pacing in his throne room in Mournhold. If anything had happened he should have been informed by now. And something had better have happened this day. Helseth recalled all the previous gifts and money that had been sent back by Eno Hlaalu. Each time with a polite note saying the writ could not be made, nor carried out, and never a reason given. This time, though, Helseth had sent Eno an offer he couldn’t refuse. Or so Helseth assumed anyway. He’d been anxiously waiting for these past few days, and the gift had not been sent back. Now it was the day of the council meeting and still nothing had come back, but also no messenger saying is was done. Helseth assumed it was only a matter of time.
He was proven correct as a royal herald announced the arrival of Raynasa Rethan. She was a newly appointed Hlaalu councillor, appointed by Vedam Dren just before he left for Cyrodiil, but unbeknownst to him, she’d been in Helseth’s back pocket ever since entering house Hlaalu.
“My king,” she smiled broadly, “I bring grave news- lord Nerevar has been killed.”
Helseth had trouble containing his own smile, but knew he had to. He was in the presence of the captain of his guards, a righteous man left over from the reign of the previous king. So instead of howling with pleasure as he wanted to, he solemnly replied,
“This is grave news indeed, councillor Rethan. Thank you for bringing it to me yourself.”
Out of the corner of his eye Helseth observed the captain casting a troubled look at his first man. They knew this would not make things easy in Morrowind.
“Captain, I require your man Drusus for an assignment.” The captain bowed in obedience and the king motioned for Drusus to follow him. With the guard on one side and councillor Rethan on the other, Helseth strolled back to the reception area of the palace. There he dismissed the people present and turned to look at Drusus. He took the heavy pouch hanging from his belt and gave it to Drusus.
“Take this; use it to bribe councillor Yngling Half-Troll. Convince him the only future of house Hlaalu lies in handing control over to me. When you have his support, travel to Omani and Ules manors and persuade those two hags of the same. No money is required; a stern word is more then enough to get them in line, that and the fact that two other councillors will already be voting for me. Then when you have their support, in writing of course, take all the mandates and visit Councillor Curio in Vivec. Ask leave to stay as his guest and propose he relinquish control over house Hlaalu to me. He’ll likely refuse, but that is to be expected.”
“And what would you have us do with Councillor Bero?” Raynasa asked.
“Now Dram, Dram is someone we’ll never convince. No matter how much money or lands we offer him, he won’t join us. No, I have something else in store for councillor Bero. A lesson which will teach him honor means nothing, only money counts. Go Drusus and Raynasa, and win me my first Great House.”
Helseth was very pleased with himself; things were finally moving along nicely now. It was only a matter of time now before the whole of Morrowind would be completely under his control, as it should be. For what is a king with no country to rule?
Helseth made his way to the throne room and asked his Guard Captain to send word to the leaders of the other Great Houses, that he wanted a word with them the day after tomorrow, and that he expected all of them to be there at noon.
As he was getting ready to go to his rooms for the night, a soft voice behind him spoke,
“Helseth, Helseth my dear boy, is it true, has someone killed that sweet man, lord Nerevar?”
Helseth sighed and turned to the voice, “Yes mother, someone saw fit to end his time on Nirn. But please mother, you shouldn’t be out of bed; the priests told you to rest, did they not?”
If they hadn’t Helseth would have their livers for lunch, he thought.
“Yes, yes they did tell me, but you know how they are, son. Those priests together are worse then a wet nurse when it comes to worrying over someone. I’ll be fine, son.”
Unfortunately so, Helseth thought. It seemed lately that Barenziah was becoming far more alert again. Somehow she seemed to be developing immunity against the poultices of the priests. Helseth made a note to himself to speak to them about that. It simply would not do to have his mother running around the palace asking all sorts of embarrassing and dangerous questions about the goings on.
“Come now mother, let’s get you to bed shall we?” He took Barenziah’s hand and led her to her bedchambers.
After he’d put her to bed, and was standing over her, he felt an urge to put a pillow over her head and be done with it. He was able to contain himself, though. Having the queen mother turn up dead suddenly simply wouldn’t do. Especially since she was ever so popular. If it hadn’t have been for lord Nerevar interfering that day, after Helseth had hired assassins to do the job, he would now be rid of his meddlesome mother. Afterwards lord Nerevar had hinted at suspecting that Helseth had given the order for that kill, but fortunately the one person who could have testified against him had already been dead by then. Ironically killed by lord Nerevar a week before.
That had been a blow to Helseth. After he’d gone through so much trouble to find a place to stay for the Dark Brotherhood, and gotten the Morag Tong out of Mournhold, he’d had almost a private force of assassins at his disposal. They had performed such great services for Helseth, not only securing his throne, but also making sure any nobles who became too vocal in their objections met some “unfortunate” demise. Helseth had had no way of knowing lord Nerevar was so far beyond the Brotherhood’s abilities. Twice they’d come after him, and twice he’d fended them off. Then he decided to come to Mournhold himself and, after disposing of the Brotherhood, stuck his nose in business not concerning him in the least. He had done Helseth a favour though, when he killed Almalexia. Helseth had suspected for a while by then that Almalexia was losing it, but how can you ask a Dark Brotherhood assassin to kill a god? The money it cost alone would have bankrupted Morrowind, not to mention the chance that not only might the assassin be caught, but also that Almalexia would have wrung the truth from him and come after Helseth.
Helseth shuddered at that thought. But then this lord Nerevar had come along, disposed of the god, neutralised the Tribunal temple, for the time being at least, and brought Mournhold firmly under control of Helseth. If only lord Nerevar had been more pliable, if only he’d been more open to common sense and reason, but no, he had insisted on not only pursuing the abolishment of slavery, but also wanted to battle corruption. It, unlike slavery, was something Morrowind, or at least Helseth, could not do without.
Again Helseth sighed. He hadn’t wanted to do it; well maybe he’d wanted it a little, but he’d have preferred a different way. Alas, lord Nerevar was incorruptible and inconvincible.
Two days later, Helseth was joined in his throne room by Meven Aravel, the Gahprovihn, or faction leader, of house Indoril; Orval Relarys, the Viceroy of house Dres; and Drothal Moven, the Supreme Magister of house Telvanni. While Helseth had summoned Athyn Sarethi of house Redoran as well, that noble sent word that he would not be able to make it. Helseth took this as a sign of defiance and a personal insult, but then he took most things that didn’t go his way as personal insults. He looked around the room, looking each of the men present in their eyes. He’d spent a fortune in gold, jewels and gifts on each of these three to ensure their cooperation. A fortune now, land later.
“Gentlemen, smart of you to come. I hope you fare well.” Helseth never waited for an answer when he asked that, but simply pressed on. “Good, good. Now, on to business. Meven, how are things going with that witness?”
“My king, I’ve asked and pressured everyone that was in that room, but no one was willing to testify against the Redoran. That Sarethi brat must have made quite an impression on people if they will stick up for him this much.”
Helseth cast a stern look on Meven, “So you mean to tell me out of all the guards there, none are willing to testify?”
Meven’s silence spoke clearly enough. Helseth sighed, “Fine. I will find someone. ‘When you want something done well, do it yourself,’ is how the saying goes, right? Now then, on to you, Magister Moven. How go the preparations with house Telvanni? Will you be ready?”
“My king, things are going as planned; I’m convincing the masters we should expand further, and those who oppose it I will take care of before we start.”
“Excellent, Moven.” Helseth turned around to look at Orval Relarys, “And how is house Dres? Are you ready to go to war when I give the order?”
“Ready and waiting, my king.”
Helseth smiled; he had expected it wouldn’t work out for Meven, so now by taking over the task himself, he had only made Meven more eager to please next time. Everything else was going according to plan. “Ok, tomorrow night we have the funeral. Of course we’ll all be there to offer our deepest condolences, and stand side by side with the other great houses, but three days afterwards, we’ll make our move. Now you all remember of course what you’re supposed to do. But just to be sure, let’s go over it one more time shall we?” Helseth hadn’t meant it as a question. “Ok, first house Dres will present a witness, saying he or she saw Varvur Sarethi put poison into lord Nerevar’s cup when everyone was looking the other way. Now Dres is the only house right now whom the commoners would believe; Indoril is tainted with corruption, Hlaalu has never been trusted since siding with the Empire, and Telvanni, well, they’re Telvanni. No one would believe anything they had to say.”
“So, Varvur will be taken in, questioned, he will confess in front of as many people as possible, but then sadly die as a result of too harsh questioning. Though no one will object to the murderer of lord Nerevar dying himself. Before he dies, however, he will name names of corrupt Indoril nobles, that awful Drulvan Vules first and foremost, all of his allies and retainers as well. We may pardon some, provided they pledge their lives to us, but most will die. This clears house Indoril of all taint and will severely discredit house Redoran. We will proclaim that Varvur killed lord Nerevar on orders of his father, Athyn Sarethi, and will declare house Redoran dead, with all of their lands, income and titles to be distributed among the other houses. Telvanni will join us simply to have fun killing people, and to claim some more land, Hlaalu because I order them, and Indoril and Dres to avenge lord Nerevar.”
“We will offer the Telvanni land on the west side of Morrowind, scattering them, and then proclaim them in league with the Redoran and destroy them. Even with their powers, they cannot hope to best three great houses going against them, not to mention the guilds that will join us. In the end, only three houses will survive, and we will reshape Morrowind and share it between us. And of course you Magister Moven, will get the best prize of all, the island upon which Port Telvannis rests, all to yourself as your own sovereign kingdom.”
Hah, Helseth thought to himself, if that fat pig Moven thinks he’s getting anything out of this but the pointy end of a blade, he’s a bigger fool then I assumed. After everything is done, Moven will be the last to die.
“So, is everything clear? Does everyone know what to do?” The three men muttered their agreement. “Good, then be gone, prepare yourselves for the funeral and more importantly, prepare for the days after the funeral.”
On to the next chapter
Helseth was pacing in his throne room in Mournhold. If anything had happened he should have been informed by now. And something had better have happened this day. Helseth recalled all the previous gifts and money that had been sent back by Eno Hlaalu. Each time with a polite note saying the writ could not be made, nor carried out, and never a reason given. This time, though, Helseth had sent Eno an offer he couldn’t refuse. Or so Helseth assumed anyway. He’d been anxiously waiting for these past few days, and the gift had not been sent back. Now it was the day of the council meeting and still nothing had come back, but also no messenger saying is was done. Helseth assumed it was only a matter of time.
He was proven correct as a royal herald announced the arrival of Raynasa Rethan. She was a newly appointed Hlaalu councillor, appointed by Vedam Dren just before he left for Cyrodiil, but unbeknownst to him, she’d been in Helseth’s back pocket ever since entering house Hlaalu.
“My king,” she smiled broadly, “I bring grave news- lord Nerevar has been killed.”
Helseth had trouble containing his own smile, but knew he had to. He was in the presence of the captain of his guards, a righteous man left over from the reign of the previous king. So instead of howling with pleasure as he wanted to, he solemnly replied,
“This is grave news indeed, councillor Rethan. Thank you for bringing it to me yourself.”
Out of the corner of his eye Helseth observed the captain casting a troubled look at his first man. They knew this would not make things easy in Morrowind.
“Captain, I require your man Drusus for an assignment.” The captain bowed in obedience and the king motioned for Drusus to follow him. With the guard on one side and councillor Rethan on the other, Helseth strolled back to the reception area of the palace. There he dismissed the people present and turned to look at Drusus. He took the heavy pouch hanging from his belt and gave it to Drusus.
“Take this; use it to bribe councillor Yngling Half-Troll. Convince him the only future of house Hlaalu lies in handing control over to me. When you have his support, travel to Omani and Ules manors and persuade those two hags of the same. No money is required; a stern word is more then enough to get them in line, that and the fact that two other councillors will already be voting for me. Then when you have their support, in writing of course, take all the mandates and visit Councillor Curio in Vivec. Ask leave to stay as his guest and propose he relinquish control over house Hlaalu to me. He’ll likely refuse, but that is to be expected.”
“And what would you have us do with Councillor Bero?” Raynasa asked.
“Now Dram, Dram is someone we’ll never convince. No matter how much money or lands we offer him, he won’t join us. No, I have something else in store for councillor Bero. A lesson which will teach him honor means nothing, only money counts. Go Drusus and Raynasa, and win me my first Great House.”
Helseth was very pleased with himself; things were finally moving along nicely now. It was only a matter of time now before the whole of Morrowind would be completely under his control, as it should be. For what is a king with no country to rule?
Helseth made his way to the throne room and asked his Guard Captain to send word to the leaders of the other Great Houses, that he wanted a word with them the day after tomorrow, and that he expected all of them to be there at noon.
As he was getting ready to go to his rooms for the night, a soft voice behind him spoke,
“Helseth, Helseth my dear boy, is it true, has someone killed that sweet man, lord Nerevar?”
Helseth sighed and turned to the voice, “Yes mother, someone saw fit to end his time on Nirn. But please mother, you shouldn’t be out of bed; the priests told you to rest, did they not?”
If they hadn’t Helseth would have their livers for lunch, he thought.
“Yes, yes they did tell me, but you know how they are, son. Those priests together are worse then a wet nurse when it comes to worrying over someone. I’ll be fine, son.”
Unfortunately so, Helseth thought. It seemed lately that Barenziah was becoming far more alert again. Somehow she seemed to be developing immunity against the poultices of the priests. Helseth made a note to himself to speak to them about that. It simply would not do to have his mother running around the palace asking all sorts of embarrassing and dangerous questions about the goings on.
“Come now mother, let’s get you to bed shall we?” He took Barenziah’s hand and led her to her bedchambers.
After he’d put her to bed, and was standing over her, he felt an urge to put a pillow over her head and be done with it. He was able to contain himself, though. Having the queen mother turn up dead suddenly simply wouldn’t do. Especially since she was ever so popular. If it hadn’t have been for lord Nerevar interfering that day, after Helseth had hired assassins to do the job, he would now be rid of his meddlesome mother. Afterwards lord Nerevar had hinted at suspecting that Helseth had given the order for that kill, but fortunately the one person who could have testified against him had already been dead by then. Ironically killed by lord Nerevar a week before.
That had been a blow to Helseth. After he’d gone through so much trouble to find a place to stay for the Dark Brotherhood, and gotten the Morag Tong out of Mournhold, he’d had almost a private force of assassins at his disposal. They had performed such great services for Helseth, not only securing his throne, but also making sure any nobles who became too vocal in their objections met some “unfortunate” demise. Helseth had had no way of knowing lord Nerevar was so far beyond the Brotherhood’s abilities. Twice they’d come after him, and twice he’d fended them off. Then he decided to come to Mournhold himself and, after disposing of the Brotherhood, stuck his nose in business not concerning him in the least. He had done Helseth a favour though, when he killed Almalexia. Helseth had suspected for a while by then that Almalexia was losing it, but how can you ask a Dark Brotherhood assassin to kill a god? The money it cost alone would have bankrupted Morrowind, not to mention the chance that not only might the assassin be caught, but also that Almalexia would have wrung the truth from him and come after Helseth.
Helseth shuddered at that thought. But then this lord Nerevar had come along, disposed of the god, neutralised the Tribunal temple, for the time being at least, and brought Mournhold firmly under control of Helseth. If only lord Nerevar had been more pliable, if only he’d been more open to common sense and reason, but no, he had insisted on not only pursuing the abolishment of slavery, but also wanted to battle corruption. It, unlike slavery, was something Morrowind, or at least Helseth, could not do without.
Again Helseth sighed. He hadn’t wanted to do it; well maybe he’d wanted it a little, but he’d have preferred a different way. Alas, lord Nerevar was incorruptible and inconvincible.
Two days later, Helseth was joined in his throne room by Meven Aravel, the Gahprovihn, or faction leader, of house Indoril; Orval Relarys, the Viceroy of house Dres; and Drothal Moven, the Supreme Magister of house Telvanni. While Helseth had summoned Athyn Sarethi of house Redoran as well, that noble sent word that he would not be able to make it. Helseth took this as a sign of defiance and a personal insult, but then he took most things that didn’t go his way as personal insults. He looked around the room, looking each of the men present in their eyes. He’d spent a fortune in gold, jewels and gifts on each of these three to ensure their cooperation. A fortune now, land later.
“Gentlemen, smart of you to come. I hope you fare well.” Helseth never waited for an answer when he asked that, but simply pressed on. “Good, good. Now, on to business. Meven, how are things going with that witness?”
“My king, I’ve asked and pressured everyone that was in that room, but no one was willing to testify against the Redoran. That Sarethi brat must have made quite an impression on people if they will stick up for him this much.”
Helseth cast a stern look on Meven, “So you mean to tell me out of all the guards there, none are willing to testify?”
Meven’s silence spoke clearly enough. Helseth sighed, “Fine. I will find someone. ‘When you want something done well, do it yourself,’ is how the saying goes, right? Now then, on to you, Magister Moven. How go the preparations with house Telvanni? Will you be ready?”
“My king, things are going as planned; I’m convincing the masters we should expand further, and those who oppose it I will take care of before we start.”
“Excellent, Moven.” Helseth turned around to look at Orval Relarys, “And how is house Dres? Are you ready to go to war when I give the order?”
“Ready and waiting, my king.”
Helseth smiled; he had expected it wouldn’t work out for Meven, so now by taking over the task himself, he had only made Meven more eager to please next time. Everything else was going according to plan. “Ok, tomorrow night we have the funeral. Of course we’ll all be there to offer our deepest condolences, and stand side by side with the other great houses, but three days afterwards, we’ll make our move. Now you all remember of course what you’re supposed to do. But just to be sure, let’s go over it one more time shall we?” Helseth hadn’t meant it as a question. “Ok, first house Dres will present a witness, saying he or she saw Varvur Sarethi put poison into lord Nerevar’s cup when everyone was looking the other way. Now Dres is the only house right now whom the commoners would believe; Indoril is tainted with corruption, Hlaalu has never been trusted since siding with the Empire, and Telvanni, well, they’re Telvanni. No one would believe anything they had to say.”
“So, Varvur will be taken in, questioned, he will confess in front of as many people as possible, but then sadly die as a result of too harsh questioning. Though no one will object to the murderer of lord Nerevar dying himself. Before he dies, however, he will name names of corrupt Indoril nobles, that awful Drulvan Vules first and foremost, all of his allies and retainers as well. We may pardon some, provided they pledge their lives to us, but most will die. This clears house Indoril of all taint and will severely discredit house Redoran. We will proclaim that Varvur killed lord Nerevar on orders of his father, Athyn Sarethi, and will declare house Redoran dead, with all of their lands, income and titles to be distributed among the other houses. Telvanni will join us simply to have fun killing people, and to claim some more land, Hlaalu because I order them, and Indoril and Dres to avenge lord Nerevar.”
“We will offer the Telvanni land on the west side of Morrowind, scattering them, and then proclaim them in league with the Redoran and destroy them. Even with their powers, they cannot hope to best three great houses going against them, not to mention the guilds that will join us. In the end, only three houses will survive, and we will reshape Morrowind and share it between us. And of course you Magister Moven, will get the best prize of all, the island upon which Port Telvannis rests, all to yourself as your own sovereign kingdom.”
Hah, Helseth thought to himself, if that fat pig Moven thinks he’s getting anything out of this but the pointy end of a blade, he’s a bigger fool then I assumed. After everything is done, Moven will be the last to die.
“So, is everything clear? Does everyone know what to do?” The three men muttered their agreement. “Good, then be gone, prepare yourselves for the funeral and more importantly, prepare for the days after the funeral.”
On to the next chapter