Not even an hour later, I was sitting on an outside bench on the deck in front of The Waxing Crescent tavern/inn, my few personal belongings packed neatly in the bag at my feet.
Through the thin, poorly constructed walls I could hear the dark elf musician inside playing his lute and singing 'Blood for the Pact'. It was a strange choice of song considering this was Aldmeri Dominion territory, but no one seemed to object. He didn't sound half bad, especially when compared to some bards I'd heard in other cities the size of Rawl'kha.
But then again, Rawl'kha couldn't really be compared to these others. For example, judging from the position of the moons I guesstimated the time to be 3:30 am. Most inland towns of this size would be in full slumber right now, but in this aspect Rawl'kha was more akin to a large port city such as Daggerfall or Windhelm at this hour.
I should be hearing nothing but the wind shaking the tree leaves, maybe the rustling of grass as a skeever or two darts by trying to hide from the scent of a senche that the wind may carry.
Certainly not singing, general laughter and conversation from the tavern patrons, still awake and going strong, and one male voice heard above the others-
"You remember those bandits? The ones in the fort?
Someone came through and rousted them out. Returned the artifacts to the Arkay clergy.
Impressive, I guess... I'm certain that I could have done it! If I wasn't so busy."
A high elf of course. I didn't need the ability to see through walls to know this. Their vocal pitches varied, but they all had that same posh and uppity accent with attitude to match.
"This one is buying, selling, trading!" called out a Khajiit vendor in the market area. Even in the middle of the night, most shops were still open for business and the locals still wandered around.
Guess that's one way to guarantee your store doesn't get robbed. But I suppose it makes sense. The main inhabitants of Rawl'kha, the Khajiit, are naturally nocturnal people, even putting great importance on the moons in both their lives and religion.
Next door to where I sat, I could see a few tables still had candles burning on them in the open rest area of the Fighter's Guild. The guild members hanging about were much quieter than the tavern crowd, most likely discussing jobs they had done and potential work to come.
Yes, it seems that many were still out and about. Except the one person that I wanted to see.
Where is Viro anyway? I could've sworn when we parted ways to collect our things that he said he would meet me in front of the tavern in an hour's time. How much things could he really have to pack anyway?
Despite the noise coming through the walls, I heard the soft footsteps directly behind me. Quickly rising to my feet, I turned to face not Viro- but instead a set of glowing blue eyes and a flash of white fangs.
"Friend and observer from Hew's Bane! This one thought it was you sitting here all alone." The solid black coated khajiit practically purred.
It was Ak'saz, a lower ranking member of Alex's crew and the only one who was absent for tonight's meeting. From the way he swayed slightly on his feet, I knew I was right about him being on another skooma binge. Drinking too, as I noticed the bottle of white-eye whiskey in his hand.
"Hello Ak'saz." I answered, perhaps a bit coolly. I actually had nothing against the cat personally, but I did find his unprofessionalism to be irksome. I couldn't believe that Alex didn't feel the same.
"Missed you at the meeting tonight." I couldn't help but add.
He looked down for a moment, shaking his head slowly before raising it again.
"This one earlier notified Master Alex along with his most sincere apologies that he could not attend. There was other business to be done, more interesting business than that which happens in land of snooty elves."
"Hmmm…" was my response. I hated to admit it, but as cloudy brained as the cat was right now, I could see his point.
"Besides, the high elves are very unkind to khajiit," he continued. "They are cruel and call it 'humor'. They throw lightning bolts at this one's feet and make bets among each other on how high he can jump from them. And they think it fun to pull one's tail... hard. They have no respect for any who are not their own.
This one does not care to do business with such a hateful people and feels bad for poor souls that Master Alex selected to go."
He did indeed sound sincere. I sighed.
"I'm going." I informed him.
The cat's eyes momentarily widened with surprise. "You? This one did not think Master Alex would send one who is not a member to take care of his business? Most interesting, is it not?"
"Well, I won't be going alone. I'll be accompanying Viro… and Rune is going as well, although separate from us."
He took a long swig from his bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he nodded.
'That makes more sense. Though this one now wonders if he underestimated the importance of elf business if Master Alex thinks it necessary to send his two highest rank officers there.
But still... this one can not say he is very sad to be free of Master Rune, even if only for a short while. That one has a very sharp tongue."
I nodded my agreement.
He's really not a bad sort. It's just a shame he doesn't realize that he's wasting his potential and that he might actually be considered for a long overdue promotion if he ever sobered up…
"So then, it is Master Viro you seek at this late hour, yes?"
"Yes, have you seen him?"
He nodded. "This one has seen him just minutes before he seen you. Master Viro is nearby to the refuge entrance just below the lizard's house. If you hurry, you may catch him."
The lizard's house? He has to be talking about Hears-the-Wind's house, directly across from the Rawl'kha bank. Hears was the only argonian I knew of to own a house in Rawl'kha, and I remembered that there was an entrance to the refuge right below it.
Is it possible I misunderstood our meeting place? Perhaps Viro has been there all this time wondering why I was taking so long to arrive? No matter, I'll go to him now.
I grabbed my bag and hoisted it over my shoulder.
"Thanks Ak'saz, you have a good night." My voice was a bit warmer now than it had been when he first arrived.
"You as well, friend from Hew's Bane. I wish you a warm and safe journey." He smiled showing me a glimpse of his fangs again.
I returned the gesture and started to head down the stairs to the path that led to the argonian's house, when I heard Ak'saz call out to me.
I turned and noticed the smile was gone, and a more somber expression had replaced it.
"Just one thing. Do not let snooty elves pull your tail… or anything else."
"I won't." I assured him with a smile.
With a quick wave, bottle still in hand, the cat then started to make his way unsteadily towards the tavern door.
I headed down the path.
Or anything else? What did that mean?
Probably just added it as an afterthought when it occurred to his skooma addled brain that I didn't actually have a tail to pull. It meant nothing.
But if it meant nothing, why did it feel like it did?
Ah, never mind. It's nothing, there's more important things to think about. There's the argonian's house. The refuge doorway should be hidden somewhere in the weeds below.
As I approached, my eyes scanned the shadows and darkness for Alex's desirable, but yet untouchable, second in command.