A/N: Before the story proper, I'd like to thank a few people. It's like a short list of acknowledgements, so feel free to skip this part.
To ClaireDuhBear, for being an amazing Beta and putting up with all my crazyness while retaining her sanity, more or less. Your excited feedback means a lot to me.
To PhantomX0990, for being the first one to tell me to keep writing and showing interest in this idea. I hope you return to the writing scene soon, Phan. You are sorely missed.
To Zero121, for making me think, "Hey, I can write one too," with his own story. First story I ever read on this site, actually.
To El Stormo, for the words, "You write stories, don't you? So you're an author, no matter how successful you are." Helped when I had little faith in my writing skills while writing this chapter. I still don't have much faith, to be honest, but it's not as bad as it once was. Thank you, Coach.
All great authors by their right, these people. If you happen to read this author's note, give their stories a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
And so without further ado…
Chapter 1
"Cast aside the illusion that there is a beginning and end to the story. The story has no beginning. And it has no end. All there is, is a performance of people connecting, living, influencing each other, and departing."
Kai
He disliked being summoned. It made him feel like he was a dog on a leash, wagging his tail while waiting for his master's orders.
For him, those days were long gone. Yet he still had to put up with their crap. Was he being nice, or was he just gullible? What was the difference between the two, anyway? It was a fuzzy line, at best.
"As you can imagine, the situation has gotten out of hand," Falk Firebeard continued his speech as he paced the room with his arms firmly behind his back.
He knew where this was going, knew all too well.
"Twenty-one people in ten months; this cannot and must not be allowed to continue."
"Why pick me?" he asked, curious. "There are better and more skilled hunters out there. Why not commission them?"
"You're the only one we can trust completely," Falk replied.
What that statement actually meant was that since he was the biggest sucker they had at their disposal and because he was expendable, they had no reason to look any further. Knowing all this, he wondered why he still felt the need to help this man out. Whatever he did, he never got any recognition, fame, or acknowledgement. Not that he cared about such things. He had grown up without them and was perfectly content with being who he was now. But there were times when he wondered what it would have been like had he stuck with the Legion. He could've had everything that he had ever wanted; he wasn't cut out to be a dog of the military though, and he knew it. He wanted to do what he felt like doing, not being handed assignments by some stuck up steward who thought he was better than the rest. There was always the next assignment, after the big fat coin purse of course.
All he had to do was say 'no'. How hard could it be?
"I'll do it," he said with a sigh as his mind screamed at him to take back his words and say otherwise.
But words once spoken cannot be taken back. He would know.
"Excellent!" Falk positively beamed at him. "Right, so you'll leave-"
"Wait up, mate." Kai held up his hand, effectively shutting up the other man. "Give me details. I can't work with just a few incoherent words coming from a steward who paces around like he's suffering from constipation."
Ignoring the remark and still keeping a straight face, Falk cleared his throat before continuing, "As I was saying, you'll head to Mistveil Keep. Maven Black-Briar has everything you need neatly piled up for your perusal."
Riften, huh? He saw that one coming, too.
"If you're so chummy with Maven, couldn't you just have her deliver the documents here? It'll take time to go to Riften, read all the stuff and then backtrack all the way to Ivarstead." Kai said as his right hand pinky dug into his ear. "If the situation is as dire as you say, time is of essence, no?"
The utter look of irritation and disgust Falk sent his way as he pulled out his finger and flicked away the ear wax greatly satisfied him for some reason.
"It is a risk we are willing to take." Falk answered, his voice measured. "Besides, was it not you who used to say that knowledge is the greatest weapon a soldier can hope to possess? I thought you would be eager to know all you can about your target, Kai."
He resisted the urge to punch Falk's face in right then and there.
"That's your problem, Falk."
The redhead blinked. "I have a problem? What problem?"
"I'll tell ya later," Kai yawned. "Anyway, knowledge about your enemy only helps when you're strategizing to take targets out. It does shit in the wild when you're hunting man eating animals. All you can rely on is your skill and sheer dumb luck."
"Uh-huh, I'll take your word for it. Anyway, you're taking this job, correct?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll do it. Kill a man eating sabre cat, right? Sounds like a bundle of fun." Kai replied, running a hand through his jet black hair. "When do you want me to leave?"
"Tomorrow. I'll have a coach ready for you."
"Fine by me. Is that all?"
"That is all."
Nodding curtly, Kai spun on his heel and proceeded to walk out of the parlor when Falk stopped him.
"There is… another thing that I have to say."
"Then I'd advise you to say it," Kai said and glanced at Falk over his shoulder.
"This is probably asking too much after what you did in Wolfskull cave and later against Potema, but-"
"If this is about the Thane position, you can save it, Falk. I want no part of it."
"But why not?" Falk pressed, "You'll be able to walk with pride and with your head held up. Even the Legionnaires will honor and respect you."
"Look mate, I'll be honest with you." Kai wheeled around and faced Falk. "I don't give a skeever's ass about what the blasted barnacle clusters have to say about me. They can take all their superiority complexes and stick it up their asses for all I care. And besides," he stopped for a breath, "Being a Thane is too much work and I don't get paid enough as is. So yes, I refuse."
Both men stared at the other as a wave of silence fell over them.
"By your leave, Falk," Kai said and turned his back on Falk before marching out of the parlor and the Blue Palace.
"Come, eat at Little Elsweyr! We serve fish. It's good, it's cheap and you won't drop dead after eating it, no matter what other people have to say! Long time no see, mister; want fish?"
Amused, Kai watched as the Imperial man ran away from the Orc, who simply resumed trying to draw in customers for the restaurant.
"Ah, Captain! Long time no see. Want fish? Fish good. Fish very good; you'll like it. I'll give you a discount."
"Not today, Ghorbash. I'm broke," Kai refused politely. "Once I get a job and some cash, I'll definitely come; unless it's free today."
The Orc violently shook his head. "No way! If I give away free fish, I'll drown in the seaweed of Skyrim tundra!"
Chuckling, Kai patted his shoulder. "That's not exactly seaweed, but it sure looks the part. Anyway, is Omiq in?"
Ghorbash nodded, "Yes, he's in. Omiq's cooking fish. Go right in."
"Thanks, mate. You keep at it; you'll get customers… one day." Kai muttered the last part as he opened the door of the restaurant and walked in. as he closed the door, however, he heard the Orc's voice calling out to potential customers, "Come, eat at Little Elsweyr. It good, it cheap! We serve fish, not human. Not even on half price day!"
"And you wonder why you don't get enough customers," Kai grinned and occupied a bar stool.
"At least Ghorbash tries. That's what matters, nya," Omiq's voice called from the back. "This one will be out in a minute. Omiq wishes Kai to make himself at home, nya."
Snorting, Kai looked around the place. As usual, it was completely devoid of any customers. Ten tables, each with four tables, lined the wall.
"Make myself at home he says… this was my home to begin with…"
Indeed, this was his home, a gift from Elisif upon successfully thwarting Potema's resurrection. Once known as Proudspire Manor, the building was now a restaurant called 'Little Elsweyr' run by Omiq, a crafty Khajiit and Ghorbash, a scary looking Orc who, not so surprisingly, scared everybody away.
Kai had never been a person to be confined by walls. He preferred the outdoors, the wilderness… and shivering to sleep in a bedroll…
"This one thinks that Kai likes what he sees, nya."
Facing the Khajiit, Kai chuckled. "I'll hand it to you; you two have done a bloody good job with this… whatever it is."
The Khajiit laughed before lowering himself into a seat across Kai, "Yes, it does look nice. This floor is the main restaurant and kitchen. The top floor serves as living quarters, nya. This one has even saved a bed Kai. The basement serves as a temple; this one worships Arkay while Ghorbash can worship Malacath, nya."
"Daedra worship is against the law, you know."
"So, nya?" the Khajiit raised an eyebrow.
Kai couldn't help but laugh at that. "Well, I'm glad you could put it to use."
"This one is happy as well. Does Kai want something to eat, nya? Fried fish and curry with a loaf of bread, perhaps? Cyrodiilic spadetail is today's specialty, nya."
"I'll pass, Omiq. I just came to ask you a few things."
It was at this moment that the door opened and a group of four men entered, talking loudly amongst themselves and occupied a table in the corner. They were clad in leather armor, steel swords and axes hanging at the waist. One of them even had a longbow and a quiver of steel arrows on his back.
"Blasted Nord mercenaries, nya…" Kai heard Omiq mutter under his breath, "This one will be back after taking their order."
As Omiq busied himself with the task, Kai couldn't help but wonder how in the blue blazes Ghorbash managed to convince the party of mercenaries to dine at the place.
"Bring us the best mead you've got, cat!"
Ah. So that's what they were after.
"No Cyrodiilic spadetail, then?" Kai smirked as Omiq shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen before emerging with four bottles of mead.
"And now this one is at Kai's service, nya." Omiq said as he returned to his former position opposite Kai.
"Drop the accent. I know you can speak normally," Kai said, placing his elbows on the counter and supporting his chin on his palms, "It's difficult to keep up with it."
"But-"
"As your former superior, I hereby order you."
"Yes, Captain. Your wish is my command." Omiq said slyly, "So, what did you want to know, nya?"
"Heard of the man eating sabre cat of Ivarstead?"
The Khajiit grinned ear to ear. "Oh, so that's what Falk has asked you to do, is it, nya?"
"You nailed it." Kai chuckled, "How do you know everything?"
"I don't know everything," Omiq answered, glancing at the bunch of Nords laughing loudly among themselves. "I just know what I know, nya."
"Sure, I believe ya." Kai replied, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "So, what of this man eater?"
"That information will cost you twenty Septims, nya."
Grunting, Kai said, "You're going to charge me?"
"Standard rates apply to all, irrespective of whether I know the client or not, nya. And besides," Omiq interlaced his fingers and rested his chin atop them and leaned forward on his elbows, "You wouldn't want me to ruin the surprise, now would you, Captain, nya?"
He sighed. "It would've saved me the trip to Riften, that's all."
"You're going to Riften? That's your hometown, right, nya?"
"Uh-huh."
"I, for one, thought you'd be thrilled, nya."
"I am. Can't you see? I'm jumping with joy at the prospect," Kai deadpanned.
Omiq opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it and closed it, instead moving his head slightly to the right as an empty mead bottle came sailing through the air. "Rowdy bunch, eh, nya?"
Kai craned his neck and surveyed the group. The burly leader-looking fellow was busy telling the others a clearly exaggerated account of how he took down two Trolls with nothing but his axe. "Yeah, and they're pissing me off."
"Temper, Captain." Omiq chuckled. "One must always keep one's temper, nya."
"It's hard Omiq. I haven't been in a brawl in ages," he complained. "I'm itching for a fight!"
"Falk said something he shouldn't have, didn't he, nya?"
Kai raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to retort but his voice was drowned by the four Nords bellowing simultaneously for more mead.
"They need to quiet the fuck down," Kai growled and clenched his hands into fists. Omiq sighed and shook his head at his friend's childishness before going back to fetch some more mead for his unruly customers.
Left to himself, Kai tried taking deep breaths and counting backwards from ten, clenching and unclenching his fists as he repeated the exercise over and over. He considered himself a very patient person, though people who knew him would often tell him otherwise. In fact, many went as far as to say that he had the shortest fuse they had ever seen. But Kai still considered himself a very patient person.
"What in the two moons are you doing, nya?"
He looked up to find his friend staring down at him with an overly amused expression plastered on his face. He was holding a tray containing four more bottles of mead.
"I'm trying to-"
But he never got to finish that sentence.
"Cat! What is taking so damn long?"
Kai desperately tried to recall whatever was written in 'The Lusty Argonian Maid.' Thinking about that particular piece always quelled his temper. Unfortunately for him, his memory failed him after he had successfully recited the first paragraph in his head. Now, the incessant blabbering of the mercenaries bore into his mind, blotting out all thought. He rose from his seat. Pulling the crossbow off of its resting place on his back, he placed it on the counter. It was soon joined by his knapsack, the pouch containing crossbow bolts and his sheathed katana. "Give me that tray."
Well, he tried to be patient most of the time.
Omiq, who had had been watching him curiously all this time finally understood what he was about to do. He reluctantly obeyed his former superior. "Just don't break too much furniture, nya. Prices are rising. My level of income, on the other hand, is not, nya."
Without a word, Kai marched to the table occupied by the loud Nords and placed the tray on the table with a loud thud, effectively shutting them up.
"Now that I have your attention, I want to make something clear to you miserable molecules of mildew." Kai snarled, "This is a restaurant. You eat here. So do others. As such, I would like to tell you that you dunderheads are ruining my conversation with my pointy-eared, furry friend over there," he flicked his thumb at Omiq, "And I don't like that. So why don't y'all stuff your mugs with mead like gents and give us some peace and quiet, huh?"
"Oh boy, nya…" Omiq muttered.
There was a moment of silence as the men glanced at each other before breaking into a hearty laughter and rose to their feet.
"Boy, you should learn to mind your own business," the leader looking Nord said, taking a step in Kai's direction. "And place a rein on that tongue of yours. It'll get you into trouble one of these days."
Kai responded with a smirk. "Funny you should say that. I was going to say the same thing to you."
It might have been because Kai was too busy getting in the leader's face, or it could be because he wasn't expecting the thugs to make the first move, but for some reason, he didn't sense the archer creep up behind in. So it wasn't a surprise that he never saw the empty mead bottle being swung at his head. The glass bottle shattered against his skull, sending him stumbling forward a few steps towards the burly Nord, who met him halfway with a punch to the gut.
Kai collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach. He was winded. His scalp had been split open and blood flowed freely along the side of his face. Then came the kicks and the insults. Kai curled up on the floor in a fetal position, shielding his head with his forearms. After about a minute or so, the stomping stopped. He felt the warm liquid trickling down along his cheek. It had been a while since he had bled; too long, in fact. Sticking out his tongue, he tasted his blood. It was metallic and disgusting, just like he remembered. Head wounds were always troublesome; they bled too much. He grinned. The first condition had been met.
"You aimed for my head…" Kai muttered as he placed his palms on the floor and pushed himself to his feet, wobbling slightly.
This surprised the thugs, who had by now seated themselves again.
"You have to know, a blow like that could kill a guy… right?"
His voice sounded calm. He was surprised himself; the mercenaries even more so.
"And this means you were intentionally trying to kill me… right?"
"So you want some more, you crazy bastard, huh?" the leader bellowed and got to his feet again.
Grinning like a maniac, Kai finally cracked his knuckles. "So then, whatever happens next is what you deserve, right?"
The Lightning Bolt spell caught the leader right on the chest, lifting him off his feet and slamming him into the far wall. As he slid down and landed on his butt, Kai turned his attention to the others, "A soldier prefers haste over cleverness. Strike quickly and you'll end it quickly too."
Omiq chuckled and called out to Ghorbash. The fun was just beginning.
One of the men tried to punch him, but was way off course on account of being drunk. Kai tilted his head to the right, allowing the gauntleted fist to sail by only inches from his left ear. He then countered with a hard right hook, catching the man under the ear. Then he grabbed the man's outstretched appendage and hurled him over his shoulder and into a nearby table. The table broke under the man's weight and he lay there, unconscious.
"Three hundred Septims, nya…" Omiq shook his head sadly.
Before the third could even make his move, Kai raised his right foot and planted it across the man's face, sending him stumbling backwards. The mercenary, clearly dazed, supported himself against a wooden column, seemingly having forgotten about the danger he was in. Taking advantage of that error, Kai launched a round kick at the man's head and squashed it between his shin and the column. He waited as his latest victim slid down along the column and landed with his butt on the floor before turning to face the last one. "You're the one that thumped me over the head, weren't you?"
The man faltered for a split second before drawing a dagger and charging. The sudden charge caught Kai off guard and he couldn't completely dodge the swing. The man managed to slash him diagonally across the chest, though the cut was shallow.
Kai looked down at his now torn vest, then up at his assailant, "You son of a bitch! That was my last piece of decent clothing! I don't have money to buy new clothes! Who's gonna pay for this, huh? Your in-laws?"
As he was ranting, the man saw his opportunity and charged again. This time, however, Kai caught the man's outstretched wrist with his right hand and sidestepped, causing the man to stumble forward due to his own momentum. Using this to his advantage, Kai wrenched the arm behind the man's back, causing him to stab himself with his own dagger. The leather armor absorbed much of the impact, but the dagger was still able to puncture the skin, though it wasn't deep enough to be fatal. As the man cried out in pain, Kai released him and drove his elbow into the back of the man's skull, effectively knocking him out. "That's how it's done. If you can't take out your opponent with the first blow, they have a nasty habit of coming back and biting you in the ass."
"That's impossible! You shouldn't even be able to stand!"
Kai turned and looked at the leader, who had by now recovered and was slowly staggering to his feet. The look of utter disbelief on his face was quite possibly caused by the sight before him. Kai couldn't blame the man. One moment, they were ganging up on him and the next, they were knocked out. He smirked. "All war's a deception; you think your enemy has a weakness and that becomes his greatest strength."
"Fuck you!" he cried out and drew his battleaxe and held it above his head, trying to throw it at Kai. However, he found himself unable to do so. Iron-like fingers had wrapped themselves around his wrist, making any movement completely and utterly impossible. Trying to determine the owner of the fingers, the Nord looked up and came face to tusk with an Orc.
"Fighting always bad," Ghorbash said, squeezing the man's wrist hard enough for him to relinquish his grasp on the weapon, "Now you'll become fry and curry."
The man gulped audibly.
"Don't take your eyes off your opponent, pig-head!"
The mercenary turned his head towards the direction of the voice, only to have a fist collide with his nose, breaking the cartilage with a loud snap. The man choked on his own blood and was barely able to put up a decent fight anymore.
"How does it feel like to be ganged up on?" Kai spat out blood and clutched his stomach, wincing a little. The assault earlier had been remarkably thorough. They had stomped on every part of his body they could get their boots on. In fact, he wouldn't be exaggerating if he said he looked like shit at the moment. However, he had recklessly pushed himself too far. Sensing this, Ghorbash placed one hand on the Nord mercenary's throat and the other on his stomach before lifting him over his head and flinging him out of the window, shattering the pane of glass.
"Four hundred and seventy-five Septims, nya…" Omiq sighed deeply.
"Pig-head?" Ghorbash inquired as he helped Kai limp back to his bar stool and take a seat. Kai shrugged. "I'm not creative enough."
"Don't we know," Ghorbash muttered.
Kai frowned at the Orc as Omiq chuckled. "Clean up the trash, Ghorbash. I'll look after our injured soldier here, nya."
Grinning, Ghorbash began collecting all the limp bodies and robbing them of their gold before picking them all up and throwing them out.
"Very effective…" Kai said, casting a basic Restoration spell on himself.
"You want me to bandage your head, nya? Wouldn't want whatever brains you have to leak out, now would we?" Omiq offered, placing a healing potion on the counter.
"No. I hate those fiddling bits of parchment… they get on my nerves," Kai shuddered and uncorked the little bottle before taking a sip.
Omiq chuckled. "I see your temper is as volatile as ever, nya."
"Disgusting!" Kai made a wry face before looking back at the Khajiit, "Even if you stand on a new stage, it's still the old you that's standing on it, Omiq."
"That's the smartest shit I've ever heard you spout, Captain. Are you sick, nya?"
"Must be the blood loss," Ghorbash said as he gathered up all the shards of glass and proceeded to inspect the broken table.
"Maybe he's right," Kai smiled and took another small sip of the potion. "If it's all the same to you, I'll have that meal now. This potion has killed my taste buds."
"I thought you were broke, nya? I'm not treating you for free, even if you are my friend." Omiq crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'll pay you back with the money I get after completing the quest, all right?" Kai relented. "I think I need a more permanent job, you know?"
"Well, you won't get a job as a waiter. That's a certainty." Ghorbash chuckled and made his way back outside, dragging the broken table with him.
"A true statement if I ever heard one, nya." Omiq chuckled as Kai scowled at the Orc. "As for the quest, it won't be easy, mind you."
That caught his attention. "How so?"
"That information will cost you twenty Septims, nya," Omiq said and held out his paw.
Kai grimaced. "You're evil."
Omiq clapped his hands happily as he rose, "You noticed! I'm flattered, nya."
"Don't get smart with me. This is my house, after all. I can have you kicked out."
"I quiver with fear, nya," the Khajiit smirked. "Fry and curry with bread and ale, yes?"
"And I'll be staying the night as well."
"Yes, your majesty," Omiq's voice came from the kitchen. "Bedding costs are extra, nya."
He hated that cat with a passion.
"Beautiful view isn't it, nya?"
Kai was inclined to agree with Omiq, though he said nothing.
"It is," Ghorbash nodded.
The three of them occupied a table on the patio, enjoying the cool night breeze, the fantastic view the spot offered, mead and each others' company.
"They say each time of day brings out a specific shade of the Sea of Ghosts, nya…" Omiq mused as he casually sipped from his half empty bottle.
"I believe that tidbit of information." Kai said, allowing his gaze to wander over the horizon. The sea was drenched with the silvery light of the moon. It was a serene moment… an amazing experience.
"That piece of information will-"
"Oh, shut up Omiq." Kai and Ghorbash said simultaneously.
"Fine. Whatever you two say, nya." the Khajiit said in mock surrender, raising his hands.
A comfortable silence fell between the three friends as they consumed their beverages and gazed out at the sea.
"How long has it been, do you think?" Ghorbash asked.
"Since what?" Kai asked right back.
"Since the formation of Orchestra," the large Orc replied.
"Four years," Omiq replied without skipping a beat, "Almost two years since we disbanded, nya."
"Two years…" Ghorbash whistled. "Hard to believe, isn't it, Captain?"
"I used to believe dragons were legends, Ghorbash." Kai laughed bitterly, "I don't know what to believe anymore."
"You're not the only one," Ghorbash said and stood. "Well, good night to you two. I'm off to bed."
"Sweet dreams!" Omiq and Kai called out after the Orc who waved over his shoulder and went inside.
A chilly gust of wind caused them to shiver.
"It's getting colder." Kai remarked.
Chuckling, Omiq finished his bottle. "It's the middle of Heartfire, what did you expect, nya?"
"Yeah, silly me; the winds are changing… it's almost time for the northerlies to start blowing, bringing the cold from Atmora," Kai mused quietly.
"The Burning of King Olaf is in two days," the Khajiit said. "You won't stay for that, nya?"
"Call of duty, Omiq. Who am I to oppose that?" Kai replied, "Besides, the money matters too. I'm broke, you know."
"Ha ha. Touché friend," Omiq threw his head back and laughed before stopping abruptly. "You know, I've been thinking, nya…"
"About?" Kai asked, bringing the bottle up to his lips.
Omiq reached out, making a motion to wrap his fingers around the moon. "I want to re-form Orchestra, nya."
Kai choked and spat out what he could, thumping his chest and entering a coughing frenzy.
"You seem surprised, Captain, nya."
"Do you even know what you're talking about?" Kai managed to force the words out somehow between coughs.
"Of course I do, nya. That's exactly what it is, though," Omiq sighed and rose to his feet, "Just a thought."
Walking over to his friend, the Khajiit thumped Kai on the back, bringing his coughing to an abrupt end. "I'm turning in for the night, Kai. If we don't meet tomorrow morning, I'll say this now: May Arkay watch over you, friend, nya."
After the Khajiit had retired to rest, Kai placed his feet on the table and sank down on the chair, getting comfortable.
"Re-forming Orchestra, huh?" he asked nobody in particular as he closed his eyes and allowed himself a grin, "What a joke."
The sound of the waves crashing into the shore acted as a lullaby for him. The wind ruffling his raven hair wasn't helping him fight off sleep, either.
Forcing his eyes open, he tilted his head to the side. In the distance, outlined against the starry sky, he could see the College of Winterhold. It always came off as a sinister place to him.
"I wonder what that bastard is doing there right now…" he muttered before yawning.
He could always pay a visit later, right?
Deciding it would be unwise to fight the heaviness of lids any longer, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
He had a long trip tomorrow.