Chapter 2
The three walked through Seyda Neen until they reached the Silt Stider.
"It's an enormous flea!" said Luril.
"It's one of the few transport means here in Morrowind, if you don't want to take it you can always walk to Balmora among rocks, strange beasts, bandits, dust, cliff racers…" begun Virien.
"Ok, I come…"
The taxmen got on with difficulty (they were squeezed like sardines) and Silt Strider begun to move.
"I have a question…" said Darthel "What are we going to do in Balmora?"
"Well…we'll first stop at the Mages Guild and ask information about a certain Caius Cosades who will be able to say us something about Dagoth Ur's six houses…or five, I don't know."
The Strider arrived to Balmora in the evening. The sky was purple and a gentle breeze was flowing through Virien's hair. The city was big but also empty.
"There isn't anybody here…"
The three descended the stairs of the Silt Strider and reached the door of the Mages Guild.
They were greeted by an intense incense scent and robbed people that looked them with superiority.
The taxmen said only "Good evening" and were immediately stuffed with enchanted scrolls of all sort, useless bottles of potions and more useless books.
Luril asked about Caius Cosades to an altmer mage and had to buy a Scroll of Summon Silver Saint (those of Golden Saints were finished) to know that he lived almost next door.
The sun was setting when they arrived to Caius' home, they knocked on the door that was opened by a recently released slave that joined few minutes before the Blades.
"Yes?"
"Good evening, we are looking for mister Cosades."
"Can I ask you why?"
"Well, we must speak with him…now."
"And about what?" asked the freed slave blocking the entrance.
"Dear…" begun Virien with a sweet voice "If you don't let us enter immediately I'll make you regret to be born!"
Virien knew how to be convincing.
The taxmen entered the house: it was filled by a white smoke and a strange smell. They found Caius (half naked and half conscious) playing with a soul gem on a bed.
"Who's there?" he asked with a dreaming voice.
"We are of the Census and Excise Office of…"
"Ehm…wait a moment please. Nerverine, can you go to the Fighters Guild to speak with Antabolis?"
"Of course, boss." replied the freed slave and exited the house.
"He's strange that one…" mumbled Darthel.
"So, can I help you?"
"I hope you can tell us something about Dagoth Ur's Houses…"
Caius whitened, coughed, mumbled, coughed and mumbled again.
"So?"
"Well, you know why we call him the Devil, right?"
"No."
Caius begun to tell a very prolix story…
Dagoth Ur wasn't only a tax evader, he had been (in the past) the "reliable companion" of Lord Nerevar Indoril (or Idronil, big producer of pills against stomach-ache). Nerevar was also a famous hero and the head of the Tribunal, composed by Vivec, Almalexia and Sotha Sil. After a not important war they found the Heart of Lorkhan and the divine tools "Kinig" and "Sondar". Nerevar left them to Dagoth at the Red Mountains for a certain time. Obviously when he came back with the others to destroy the tools he was attacked by an army of Corprus beasts commanded by Dagoth Ur (who thought that they were a gift and he could became a god if he wished). The Tribunal won the scuffle (although the Corprus beasts outnumbered them of 200 to 1). During the battle the only one to die was Nerevar and Dagoth Ur escaped. Almalexia and the others thought that was a bad idea to throw away the Heart and decided to make themselves immortal, breaking the vow made to the goddess "Axura" who changed the aesthetic aspect of the Chimer…who became Dumner…the ones that hadn't amything to do with all the story.
After that Dagoth Ur took back the Heart and retired in the Red Mountain…his fifth house.
"Ah, ah?" yawned Luril.
"A very interesting story…but, I can I say it? Where's he now?" shouted Virien.
"Perhaps in one of his five houses."
"Do you know where are those houses?" asked without patience Luril.
"Uhm…no, but I know where's his first house."
Silence. Caius looked the wall.
"You can tell us."
"What? Ehm…of course, the house name is Ilunibi."
