The small port town of Seyda Neen found itself suffering from a day of bad weather and particularly heavy traffic. Little did it know, the best and worst of new company had yet to arrive.
As the morning passed to the afternoon a ship bound from Cyodil docked. "So this is Vvardenfell eh?" Two passengers hit the docks with unmatched enthusiasm.
"The one and only." They passed through the census office and out into the streets.
"So you're telling me I left the comforts of my very nice little villa to come here…with you none the less, to pillage, plunder, and generally steal until there's nothing left to steal? And this little slice of swamp heaven houses enough treasure to make both of us richer than the emperor?" The figure looked down at their shorter companion who nodded in response.
"That's what I've been told."
They stopped and turned back to look at the ship. "Uh huh, you have fun with that, I value my sanity never mind my life Merco."
Merco snatched the corner of his companion's shirt. "Saris, I can't do this without you. You're the best female thief out there."
Saris planted her feet in the mud which sent Merco stumbling forward. "And you promise me this isn't some strange in born instinct that's telling you're little Bosmer head to come and commune with nature?"
"Had that been the case I think I would have brought another Bosmer, not a Breton."
Saris cocked an eyebrow at her muddy companion. "Aww Merco I always thought you had a thing for tall brunettes?"
He glared at her before stocking off. "I do, just ones of the same race who don't have smart mouths."
They started for through the town. "Hmmm…that's too bad I always had a thing for shorter men with high voices." Saris picked up her pace leaving her companion a few feet behind. She was a tad bit taller than most other Bretons with a pale complexion, dark hair and magnificent green eyes. She also carried herself with an almost masculine air. In her position she found it was sometimes better if her opponent thought her a man instead of a woman.
Unless of course there was a man to be seduced, then she was more than happy to flaunt her figure. The two had found in their profession distractions were quite useful at times. Merco was a genius with a lock pick. The master thief also found his size could be more of an advantage than a disadvantage. However unlike his companion, his bluntness had never won him any brownie points with the opposite sex.
He was of average height for a Bosmer male with eyes black as coals and thick blonde hair that fell down into braids. He was dressed in a long coat with a dusty shirt and trousers to match. He had decided early on to look into the more pricey fashion Vvardenfell had to offer. For what was the point of stealing if one wasn't to live well?
"A…Arrille's tradehouse," The Breton woman pushed a loose hair out of her face. "This looks like a good place to start don't you think?"
Merco shrugged. "Depends on whether or not Arrille is a man or woman. But we do need coin to get around and that's definitely a good place to start looking."
Saris turned the crank and pushed the door. Nothing happened. "I think it's stuck."
"No you just have no muscle let a man give it a try." Merco took the handle and pushed. Again the door did nothing.
"All right both of us at the same time then." Saris leaned into the door. "On my count…one…two…three!" The two pressed all their weight into the door and again nothing happened. Exhausted they slid down the wood and fell into a heap. "Maybe it's enchanted." The woman said at last."
Merco pushed himself to his feet. "No, if it was enchanted I'd have felt it. I've opened some of the most impossible doors in my lifetime. Why I can't open this one is beyond me.
Saris leaned against a wood post and considered the door. "Did you see any other stores or tradehouses or the likes on our jaunt through town."
"No, and I looked too."
The two shared a silence for a moment and watched as a dark elf woman proceeded up the stairs. Her graying hair was tied back in a bun and her deep red eyes were piercing as they glared down at the Breton and Bosmer.
"Damn outlanders," she said at last. "It's not bad enough that you pollute your own land, you come over here and loiter ours."
Merco and Saris exchanged glances. "Well the trip started nice but the locals seem to have little tolerance for tourist it seems Merco my good friend."
The woman scowled at them. Saris returned her glare with her own angry gaze. "Sorry to spoil your land love, but in the mean time why don't you go do yourself a favor and get rid of whatever bug crawled up your bum."
The woman's jaw dropped in shock. "How dare you! What rudeness." She turned her back and placed her hand on the door. She gave it a good tug yanking it open before pulling it shut behind her. Saris couldn't help but laugh.
Merco frowned. "Saris, did you try pulling open the door?"
"Nah I thought you had."
Merco decided that continuing any form of conversation about a door to a tradehouse would not only waste time but cause a rather unwanted headache. An eye on the prize was his motto. Despite her silliness, he knew Saris shared his feelings. She stood next to him her heart beating in anticipation of what was to occur in the next few hours.
The sun hung low in the sky but there were still a few hours until dusk, plenty of time to stake out the tradehouse and seduce or sweet talk the owner…if he was a he of course.
Merco dusted off his clothes and opened the door unaware that another boat had arrived from his home. A man stepped from the boat and looked around the small port town. He could admit that it was better than prison but had doubts as well.
He looked at the papers the Imperial man had handed him moments early. "One minute they arrest you, the next you're their errand boy." He caught site of the tradehouse and stopped short of completely leaving town. "Well it would be good to buy some proper clothes and a blade before starting off. He folded the papers and headed forward. He gave the door a good yank and stepped inside.
End of Chapter 1
A&E/N Alrighty, hello all if you're reading this that means you read the fic and for that I thank you. Any who, these characters aren't mine (except in the way they act and their names) and nothing else is mine. I usually don't write fanfics but Morrowind left me so many options I jumped at the chance to do one. Reviews, comments criticism or just dropping a friendly line is all appreciated.
AA