By Mantrid Brizon
Episode 4: Deals
The trio leave the Vivec Cantons in the dead of night, quickly walking along the road to Suran, as Jo dehki leads them. Using his night vision, he guides them along the path, avoiding obstacles and the occasional roaming Alit and Nix Hound. Within only a few hours, they approach the western lands of Suran. In the distance, they see torches surrounding the land of a plantation. Slavery is still legal, though only Khajiit are currently legally enslaved. Jo dehki and Ra Kanishu both become visibly agitated as they pass the plantation s grounds.
What s the matter with you two? Fjorn asks his companions.
You would not understand Jo dehki murmurs.
They enter the town, and quickly find an inn near the marketplace. They enter and forgo the second room, due to a lack of availability. They enter their room; Nish volunteers to sleep on the floor, using his bedroll. He sets aside his pack and retrieves the jewelry. The three sit together on the floor, sorting the considerable pile by materials and type, building four distinct piles. From a stack of golden amulets with inlaid rubies, Nish takes a single piece, pocketing it alongside his gold moonstone ring as gifts. Jo dehki claims a golden ruby ring for himself, wearing it on the middle finger of his right hand. Fjorn finds a rather modest silver chain and amulet, with a small sapphire in the center. Nish makes a conservative estimate of the value of the remaining pieces.
In the morning, this one can meet his contact. His contact may not trust him if he travels with strangers. This one will travel alone; you may wait here for his return. Jo dehki tells the men.
Fjorn stops, looking at Jo dehki for a moment, before glancing back to Nish. He is clearly disturbed by the proposition.
Ahzisse hadal-ziir jer kasash. Sajoh ransej ahziss. Nish begins. His eyes turn to Fjorn. I will honor your wish. Do not hurt me. He repeats himself, so that Fjorn will understand.
Do not fear, friend. This one would never do such a thing. Jo dehki grins.
Of course. I say that for Fjorn s benefit. Nish smiles.
They set aside the jewelry, though all three keep their drakes tucked away in their coin purses, keeping them close to their bodies. They lie down to sleep, and though Nish and Jo dehki seem to have no trouble falling asleep, Fjorn struggles; he wrestles with his own paranoia. He eventually manages to capture a few hours of sleep as the oil lamp burns out. In the morning, Fjorn awakens to see Nish packing his bedroll. Jo dehki is already gone. Nish leaves his sword and axe behind, placing only his Argonian style iron dagger on his belt. Fjorn slowly sits up in his bed.
Dras kay! That means hello . Nish begins.
Right Where s the cat? Fjorn grumbles.
Jo dehki left to meet his contact a few moments ago. Nish replies in a harsh tone.
I meant no offense. Fjorn apologizes.
I m sure you didn t So! Breakfast?! Nish grins.
Fjorn nods and climbs out of bed. They leave their room, entering the main hall of the inn. Fjorn and Nish each order meals of baked bread and netch jelly, though Fjorn orders a main dish of cooked red meat, while Nish asks for grilled white fish. They eat their meals and drink their preferred beverages while they wait for Jo dehki to return. An hour passes by as the sun creeps ever higher in the sky. Fjorn grows restless, soon taking his leave. At first, Nish seems to join him, taking his sword and axe from the room and sheathing them. They exit the inn, but Nish suddenly stops.
What s wrong? You don t want to just take a walk? Get some fresh air? Fjorn asks.
I just did No, I d better wait here. Nish replies.
His attention is focused elsewhere as he responds. Fjorn looks over his shoulder to glance at whatever Nish is staring at. Across the square, near a shop opposite the inn, is a Suthay-Raht female. Heavy iron shackles adorn her wrists, and the ankles of her digitigrade feet. She seems to be waiting for something. A younger Dunmer male exits the shop, handing the young female heavy looking wooden baskets with thick ropes as handles. She seems to struggle with the baskets as the Dark Elf whistles a pleasant tune.
Does that really bother you? Fjorn asks, turning back to Nish.
You have no idea how much Nish murmurs.
You re an Imperial, Nish Pretend for a moment that she where a Nord! Nish barks.
Fjorn s expression suddenly changes, becoming more melancholy. He looks back at the Dunmer and his Khajiit slave. The slave girl turns her head to look at the two men, a solemn expression on her face, visible even from that distance.
Maybe now you understand
Nish steps backward into the inn, returning to the same table, where he takes a seat facing the door. Fjorn rests a hand on the doorframe for a moment, before closing the front door and leaving the square. Nish sits and waits, sipping on a second mug of Honey Lager, being careful not to become too intoxicated, especially so early in the morning. After at least another hour of waiting, Jo dehki returns. He grins wide, holding a sack in his hand. He approaches the table proudly, as though he had won a great victory. He sits across from Nish, setting the sack atop the table.
Dras kay ahziss trevan. Nish speaks.
Jo dehki seems pleased by Nish s words.
Hello to you too, my friend. He nods.
How did it go? Nish asks.
Exceptionally well. This one s contact wanted everything, except for what we had kept for ourselves, of course. Your estimate was very accurate, and this one was able to push for a good price. Jo dehki begins.
So, we earned quite a bit? Nish finishes his lager.
You could say that. Jo dehki looks around and then leans closer. Sho kele zivsho jah. He whispers in Ta agra.
Nish coughs on the last of his lager, spilling it over his chin and nearly dropping the mug, which he slams down on the table. Jo dehki laughs.
This one knew you would be pleased! That much?! Nish quietly exclaims.
Yes. Jo dehki nods.
Suddenly, Fjorn enters the inn and quickly rushes up to the pair. He seems surprised to see Jo dehki sitting there.
Hey you two. Get rid of that package? Fjorn asks.
Oh yes Jo dehki grins.
How much? He asks quietly, sitting beside Jo dehki.
Sho kele zivsho jah. Jo dehki says softly.
How many times? I don t speak Khajiit. Fjorn sighs.
First, it s called Ta agra. Second Nish begins.
He holds up six fingers, then curls them. He then holds up three fingers on his right hand, and forms a circle with his thumb and index finger on his left, representing a zero. Fjorn takes a moment, so Nish repeats the gesture. Fjorn suddenly realizes the figure, his eyes growing wide.
That much?! He quietly exclaims.
The other two nod their heads.
Wow Well, it s too bad we couldn t have sold it all at full value. Fjorn comments.
It makes for nice even shares, too. Nish adds.
Well, I have good news as well. It s not as good as that, but, for what it s worth, I ve got us a job. It s honorable, fun, and it pays. Fjorn continues.
This one could go for some fun right about now. Jo dehki says.
Good! We need to go and clear out an old ancestral tomb that s been inhabited by Nix hounds. Easy and fun! Fjorn happily exclaims.
Oh. Could this one stay here and get drunk instead? I managed to squeeze nine-hundred drakes out of the deal, so that s three-hundred each. Fjorn adds.
Twenty-three hundred drakes each, in a single day. Not bad. Nish nods. Alright I m in. I could use a release anyway. I prefer a female for that. Jo dehki grins.
The three share a laugh before returning to their room. They clear out their things and divide the shares of the drakes from the jewelry sale, before leaving the inn and walking down the main road. They head southeast, out of Suran and along the road, a spring in their collective steps as they near the ancestral tomb.
You know, this will be a lot like when we first met! Fjorn chirps.
Except with hopefully less pain and suffering. Nish remarks.
May this one ask how you two met? Jo dehki asks.
Well, a pack of wolves had been terrorizing a small village in northern Cyrodiil, killing sheep, chickens, and terrorizing the villagers. I had not been there long, having only left my village in Skyrim about a month earlier. It was my first real adventure away from home, the long, uneventful trip excluded. Fjorn begins.
And that was several years ago? Jo dehki inquires.
A little over two, actually. Nish replies.
So, I approach the den and begin slaughtering the wolves. I used to fight my family dogs as practice, so I managed to avoid serious injury. Suddenly, an arrow hit my shield, and another nicked my arm. It turns out the wolves were being trained by bandits. I had never fought a person before Man, Mer, or Well I killed one, and scared the other one back into the cave, but I had taken a few licks. I was bleeding out Fjorn continues.
That s where I came in. Nish interrupts. While Fjorn went in there to prove himself, no one had asked him to do it. I had been traveling for two years already, mostly alone. I offered my services as a Spellsword to small villages and tribes, mostly to keep me fed while I explored Tamriel for fun. Anyway, that village had paid me fifty drakes to kill the wolves. I climb the hill, ready for an easy fight, my right hand holding a ball of flame, and I see Corpses. This Nord had killed them all! He laughs.
I did! Fjorn exclaims with a smug grin.
But what of the bandits in the den? Jo dehki wonders.
Well, Fjorn took an arrow to the arm and was bleeding out. He was busy using his skills as a healer to treat his wounds. I saw a bandit coming out to finish him off, so I lit him up like the sun, with a stream of fire. I went into the den, killed the other three bandits in short order, and returned. None of them were really all that skilled, nor did they have any armor or weapons beyond cheap iron axes, one bow, and some wooden clubs. I collected what they had anyway, and went back for the Nord. He told me his story, so I took pity on him. I wouldn t phrase it quite like that. More like you showed me kindness. Fjorn interjects, clearly flustered.
Regardless, I helped him back to the village, and even gave him half of the drakes they had paid me. After all, he did half of the work. Nish continues.
How generous of you. Jo dehki remarks.
I stuck around long enough to see him survive his injuries. I talked with him, and in short order, I agreed to let him follow me around. Nish says.
Okay, now you re just exaggerating. You asked me if I wanted to join you, which I did. Fjorn retorts.
However you wish to remember it. Nish chuckles.
Fascinating. Jo dehki scratches his bottom lip.
Don t worry. Nish drapes an arm over Jo dehki s shoulders. Someday we ll find a forth, and we ll get to share our story with them, and you have two encounters; three with me!
