3

Riches

As Onmund stuffed into his knapsack gold coins and random pieces of jewelry from some patron's room in Candlehearth Hall, he shuddered from the memory of ice stinging his feet and his swollen shame being visible to half of the College. He shuddered with anger at Deborah and Brelyna for getting him kicked out of the College. He shuddered with the realization that he could have maybe been with her, Deborah, that night she drunk Sanguine's ale.

Sanguine had never given him the gold for the task, as it had not been completed. But the Daedra Lord was indeed amused, and made Onmund a promise: he would aid the mage in exacting his revenge on Deborah and give him one thousand gold for the task. At the time, Onmund found the idea too tempting to refuse, and agreed to the deal. This was a decision Onmund regretted, however, as after that night, Sanguine disappeared. With little over one hundred gold coins in his coinpurse, Onmund was left to fend for himself. No matter how many times Onmund prayed, Sanguine never answered.

And, so, Onmund began to steal. He stole little things at first – food, just to survive; a gold coin here or there; a few items from the small shop in Winterhold. His invisibility spell came in very useful, in the end. He knew if he re-cast the spell every so often, he could remain invisible indefinitely until he lost concentration. It was in this way he was able to hitch a ride with a courier on a horse-drawn cart to Windhelm. The ride would have normally cost him fifty gold, funds he couldn't spare.

He left the Candlehearth in the morning with a handful of stolen goods in his knapsack and headed to the Khajiit trader camp outside the city's stables. He had never traded with the cat-folk before, but he was desperate, and he knew that the Khajiit never asked questions when purchasing items.

Onmund was thankful that he was able to sell the stolen items easily. He used the gold and his haggling skills to obtain some preserved food and some new boots. Onmund was about to leave, but hesitated. He turned back to the trader. "You don't by any chance travel to Riften, do you?"

Ma'dran peered up at the mage, his human-like snout twitching up a little, revealing a large, pointed tooth. "No, friend, this band does not. The one that does is led by Ahkari."

"Oh. How long does it take to walk to Riften from here?" Onmund asked.

"About one week… less if you cut through roads," answered another male Khajiit who had overheard Onmund's question. "It is dangerous to walk alone…." Onmund noticed an odd look in the Khajiit's eyes, but thought nothing more of it. The black cat-man, with many piercings in his tall, pointed and tufted ears and a broadsword strapped to his back, approached Onmund. "If you wish, this one will travel to Riften with you… for a small fee. This one has business in the southern town, and it has been quite some time since this one felt warm…." The black Khajiit turned to Ma'dran who gave a vague flick of his wrist, indicating his indifference to the black Khajiit's desire to leave his current caravan.

Onmund considered the Khajiit's offer. "How 'small' a fee?"

The black Khajiit ran clawed fingers through a tufted sideburn. "Twenty gold. This one feels generous today, and can see your coin purse is light…." His toothy grin unnerved Onmund. "This one is called Ma'jhad, guardian to Ma'dran, but often has need of travel to Riften. For… obtaining wares, and such." The black Khajiit named Ma'jhad smiled that toothy smile of his again.

"Twenty gold seems a bit much for one who needs to travel south anyway. Make it ten, and you have a deal. Ten gold for your sword, and your directions. In exchange, I will protect you just the same, or heal you, whichever is needed." Onmund had to sell his own iron shortsword, and admitted to himself that a traveling companion would be wise.

"Ah, yes, this one recognizes the mage. Indeed, you may not need more than this one's directions to Riften. A deal, then. Ten gold. And what is the mage's name? Or shall this one just call him 'Mage'?" Ma'jhad grinned.

"Onmund," he answered.

"Onmuuund," Ma'jhad repeated. "Khajiit welcome Onmund the Mage as a friend. We shall travel the southern road together, in the morning. You are welcome to share this one's tent until then, if you wish. It shall be included in our deal…."

Onmund briefly considered his options: spend three gold to sleep in the basement of Candlehearth, or spend no gold to share a tent with an admittedly unnerving Khajiit. He then had a thought. "Is there anything I can help you with until tomorrow? As you said, I am low on coin…."

"Khajiit are not allowed inside the city walls," Ma'dran answered Onmund. "Ma'jhad and Ra'zhinda have need of certain wares the city may have. Fetch them, and we shall share our meals with you."

Onmund accepted immediately.