Leaning over the port bow of the Storm Chaser, misty sea foam sprayed upon his face, and the morning air filled his lungs. The distant sun, his focal point at the moment, reminded him of home on the eastern shores of Morrowind – how the sun rose beyond the horizon, greeting the day with warmth and comfort. Though, this sun appeared brighter, felt hotter, and made everything stickier. Sweat formed across his brow, dripping down his nose and into his mouth, bitter and salty. At least it helped to cool him down.
He had just left Summerset Isles not quite two days before and already he could see the mainland of Cyrodiil, his destination. The Gold Coast, home of Anvil, and providing the largest port in Cyrodiil, all were too quickly coming into view. Red shingled crowns, it seemed, peeked above the great stone walls – the homes and workshops of men and women alike. Yet, dreary and loathsome did he first glance over the city. He couldn't fight back the emptiness trying to fill his heart.
His grandmother, the only remaining family to him, had just passed away. Originally living in Anvil, she wished to be buried in the family crypt, housing her forefathers in the bowels of Gweden Farm – the home of the blessed – outside of town, and his birthright passed down to him from his grandmother. He vowed to honor her dying wish and do as such, then would move in and eventually settle in for good. Still, he could not help but feel that her death came by other means than that of a natural ailment.
"Aderyn," came the austere voice of the captain, stirring him from the reverie, "get your lazy arse over here!" His fair skin glistened in the sunlight, and almost seemed too bright for Aderyn's eyes. The captain, a hulking Nord – Roamstorm was his sea name as he always said – required Aderyn's assistance in docking the ship. Only a handful of men dotted the upper deck, mostly Redguard mercenaries hired to help defend the ship from pirates, and the few others, swaggering Nord sailors like Roamstorm. And, after several harsh commands shouted to the group by Roamstorm, the Storm Chaser moored in Anvil.
"You know, Romiskeld…" Aderyn started only to be cut off by the Nord.
"Bah! I hate that name!" Roamstorm or Romiskeld – his birth given name – blared in retaliation to the hideous moniker, as so he thought.
"Fine… Roamstorm" Aderyn mocked, smiled, and then nudged the grouchy sailor.
Roamstorm faked a smile, slightly glared while giving his attention to Aderyn, and growled in a half joking, half serious tone (more serious than joking though), "Yeah, wuddya want?"
"Well, I was going to say that you need to lighten up. We're not out at sea anymore. Relax. There's nothing left to be tense about." Roamstorm only glared slightly more, but Aderyn knew it was not directed at him as Roamstorm looked off into the distance, obviously deep in thought about something else.
"It's not the sea that I'm worried about, Aderyn" he said, finally breaking the silence. "We're on land now and other events plague my mind. It's…" gulping loudly, he drew in a deep breath, "it's my wife."
Aderyn couldn't help but burst into laughter at his initial thought. "Vigdis? Why, is she too tough for you?"
"Of course not!" Roamstorm growled, just thinking about that possibility made him angrier.
"Then what's wrong with Vigdis? She isn't seeing someone else, is she?" Aderyn looked at him in earnest, hoping to the gods that she was staying true to Roamstorm. Contrary to the hefty appearance that would surely lean you towards believing that he had no sensitive side to him, the tender Nord wouldn't be able to bear such a loss.
"No, that isn't it either. It's just…" the Nord sighed; lowering his gaze, obviously embarrassed about his feelings, hiding them had never done him any good except when out at sea – away from all other troubles. "She's so concerned about everything lately. She always talks to me as if I'm a child, you know?" Aderyn looked at him somewhat confused. Roamstorm sighed again. "She tells me how to run my ship… I'm the sailor for crying out loud! And then when I come home later than expected she automatically assumes me to be having an affair!"
"Well, have you asked her if there is anything going on? Why she is having these thoughts?"
"No, not exactly." Aderyn shook his head at the reply. "Every time I've tried she just stormed off, upset with me. Maybe it hasn't helped that I have been away for six months, eh?" Roamstorm leaned against the hull of the ship; they had both walked down to the docks and halted at the front of Storm Chaser.
Aderyn placed a hand on his shoulder and offered, "Maybe I can pay her a visit? See how she is…" Aderyn trailed off, knowing the fury of a Nord woman. Roamstorm nodded his head in appreciation, thanking the mer for risking his own hide in light of Vigdis' heightened moods. The two had been friends ever since they were only children and helped each other out whenever possible – Aderyn always stated this when Roamstorm found his way into trouble – jokingly instigating him into trying to, at least once, avoid it. Though, the thought of an angered Nord woman made his hairs stand on end.
--
The inner halls of the Fighters Guild accommodate many brave and talented souls – the prided warriors taking up the cause to better the land of Cyrodiil. Of course, they require modest donations – particularly in the form of monetary value. Still, their cause benefited all. Though, in recent times work had been all but scarce.
The head of the Anvil chapter, Azzan, a swarthy Redguard and an excellent fighter, stood in the doorway blocking Aderyn from coming in. With a glowering stare he peered forward into the pale blue eyes of the mer. To anyone else the locked gazes would have sent shivers down the spine of even the most stalwart warrior. But to these two men it was all about competition.
Minutes went by and still no sign of breaking could be seen on either's face. That is until a small butterfly landed on the tip of Aderyn's nose. Trying his best not to give in, a small smirk had formed on Aderyn's lip, causing him to bite down harder on his lip to keep himself steady. Yet, fortunately for him, the amusing sight sent Azzan into a laughing fit where Aderyn immediately followed.
"Oh! My friend, it is good to see you." Azzan embraced the mer in a large man to man bear hug. "It's been far too long!"
"Seven years to the day" gasped Aderyn, trying to escape the firm hold of Azzan. Only after had he been put down was he able to breathe. "If it were only on better circumstances, my friend."
Azzan heard about the recent loss of the respectable family member. "I'm sorry for your loss, Aderyn. Aldrina was a good woman to the end."
"Don't be sorry. She lived a great life. And, had she not fallen to the illness so soon, she would have told you just the same if she were here." Aderyn tried to keep himself from losing control of his emotions. Sometimes he wished for a way to control them entirely. Such is the existence of mortals.
"Gods bless you, Aderyn, for your determination in life. But it's good to let your emotions flow freely sometimes."
After several somewhat awkward moments, Aderyn finally broke the silence. "Where is Vigdis? I need to speak with her."
"S-She's at home." Aderyn sensed there was a little more to be told by the way Azzan avoided the question at first. He prodded for a little more information. "Look, Aderyn…" Azzan sighed, "If you want the whole story you'll have to talk to Vigdis." He then muttered under his breath something semi-audible, "Or at least see her."
"What do you mean?" Aderyn narrowed his stare, almost glaring to instigate a further explanation. But Azzan would answer no more than, "Go see for yourself."
As he walked along the cobblestone path, Aderyn pondered what could be going on with Vigdis. Furthermore he wondered how he could gather any information for Roamstorm. But what he saw of Vigids revealed the truth behind her worrying over Roamstorm and the constant anger displayed to him – a fear on her part of being left alone in life, with life still to take care for.