It was, as usual, freezing. Dawn was just lighting the sky in the east, and to the west everything was so dark and hazy it might as well have been lost in ink. Talon had been up for an hour. There were far too many sounds in this place, far too many people. What rest he had gotten was spotty, but after years of such things he was well able to cope with it.
One of the children had had a nightmare, and Erandur had needed to go calm them down. One of the boys had popped in and out of the room all night, snickering as if he was doing something naughty. There had been a frog with him at some point, very displeased.
Sanguine had roamed about half the night, slamming cupboards mostly, until he'd finally given up and with a burst of sound like someone had opened a door to a tavern, his noises had stopped for a few hours. He'd returned shortly before Talon had risen with a similar burst of merriment. It sounded as if he'd fallen into a bed somewhere.
Lydia had gotten up partway through the night to check on everyone, her light, steady footsteps distinct in the way she she normally walked to compensate for the heavy sword she wore and how it had altered the curvature of her spine over the years. If he'd had any doubt that she was also in a relationship with both Mercutio and Erandur, it was now gone.
Back in the Spire in Alinor, Talon had moved his room to a mostly unoccupied hall, where he only had to deal with people and their nightly comings and goings when there were high-ranking guests that brought their own retinue. Even then, people had occasionally prowled down the corridor—mostly the curious, the bored, or couples looking for a private place to meet. His door had been remarkable only in that he'd removed the knob and set it to open at the touch of his magic, and the interior had looked much the same as any of the other utilitarian guest rooms, if a bit narrower. That was also his fault; most of his belongings were hidden behind the wall he'd installed, in hidden cupboards between that and the original wall. His actual sleeping space had been concealed there as well. He'd killed too many people in their beds for him to ever really feel comfortable in one of his own. He was hardly the only Young One to have that particular problem.
Then, as now, he'd given up the fight for sleep after a few fitful hours of dozing, and taken himself quietly outside. The sounds of the lake were nowhere near as loud or obscuring as the crash of the Eltheric Ocean, but they were like enough to soothe him slightly, the familiar sound of water easing tension he'd been unable to relax out of his neck and shoulders. He could see well enough in the dark to sense the changes in light, and it was more than enough to allow him to go through sword-forms, the familiar movements finally quieting the jumble his thoughts had become in the night, even if most of those thoughts were ones that had caused tension in the first place.
One worry, at least, was put off. Once he'd located the last of the families of his former students, he'd been without a clear goal. The problem was not that he had nothing to do next, but that there were many things he could do, and at the moment, none of them appealed to him more than the others, although a few he rejected immediately. This attack postponed his need to contemplate those other roads: For the moment, his skills would be best put to use here.
Practicing still kept him warm, at least.
"Alkosh's hairy freaking balls is it cold out here!" Ama stumbled out on the second story landing, shivering in the cold. She'd rather be in bed, but she needed practice, and her dawn-rising sister already had the inside arena all occupied. She quickly shook herself out, and, facing the sun, began a series of stretches that left her looking more like a pretzel than a Khajiit.
Talon paused, glancing up at her. He wasn't quite ready to deal with anyone yet, but he felt his eyebrows twitch upwards at the sight of the white striped Khajiit. It had been a long time since he'd seen anyone able to fit their foot behind their head. Knowing what Shell would say was not helping. Tearing his eyes back down, he took a breath and returned to his practice, breath puffing out in the cold.
At least, he tried until Ama started singing.
Startled, he stopped again, simply watching her, wondering why on Nirn she was singing a lullaby this early in the morning. The answer was obvious when he saw her patterns matching up with the cadence, and he lowered his sword, sizing up what he saw automatically. She was still slightly stiff with cold, but even without using a weapon he could tell she was not unskilled. He recalled Telki once explaining that she'd gotten into the habit of singing while practicing her weapon's work, but he hadn't met anyone else that did so. He'd asked her to take it up again simply to stop the river of chatter that tended to come out whenever she was…whenever. It stood to reason that her sisters had shared her first instruction, though he had gotten the impression that her particular habits had come later, after she'd left her home.
"Dast it. I need a target. Surely she's got one around here somewhere?" Ama looked about, and then negligently dropped over the side, bending her knees to absorb the impact.
"It's down the hill," he said. She'd thought she was alone—bad idea, especially in this country. He'd seen far too many people who thought they were alone only to have to save them from something. Usually wolves. Skyrim had a ridiculous number of wolves. And bears. They had more saber cats in the west, but he'd been avoiding the Reach when he could.
Ama ducked and turned, a knife that hadn't been in her hand a moment before suddenly very much there. The startled "yeep" was utterly out of place. The knife disappeared just as quickly when she identified Talon. "Don't tell Wemie, I'll never hear the end of it," she winced, chagrined, knife whirling a bit before she sheathed it, her manner changing just as abruptly. "Care to join me?" Ama waved him to join her as she silently glided down the hill, a half smile on her face.
He considered a moment, then followed, longer legs easily catching up with her. "What is it you intend to do?" he queried.
"Practice knife throwing. I've not had a lot of time or space to practice traveling with the Sisses. I've probably gotten a tad rusty. Can't have that." Ama flipped a knife into her hand, and offered it hilt first to Talon. "One of the few gifts Telki sent over the years. Perfect balance. One of the reasons we expected to find 'Telki's Fine Crafts'…not Telki, World Savior."
Talon examined the dragonbone throwing dagger with some surprise. Telki had made this? He flipped it experimentally as they walked, found the balance was, indeed, perfect. Enchantments gleamed along the ebony and moonstone details on the hilt. Briefly, he wondered how she had time to learn to do things like this, with everything else she'd managed to fit into her short life so far. He'd known Altmer in their fifth centuries less accomplished. Handing it back to her, he said simply, "Your sister is a remarkable woman."
"I'm learning that. I always thought a lot of her, but…all this? Floored." Ama waved with both arms back at the farmhouse. "Learning the sister that used to hide baby mice in my bed is now a legend in her own right, thane of whathemany holds there are, best buds with the high king, and, oh yeah, raiding estates in Alinor is a bit much." Ama finally caught a breath. "It also tends to make me feel inadequate, but that's a load for another day."
"You are remarkably forthright about whatever you feel," he said after a moment, wondering if this was a family trait for a moment before deciding that it must be. Talon had been around spies and assassins so long that it was as refreshing as it was startling.
"Well, I don't know any other way to be. Holding all my feelings in tended to end badly, so, out they come, willy nilly." Ama handed that knife and two others back to him. "She sent a set of six. Care to see how they throw for yourself? You'll be asking her for your own set, I betcha."
"I have my own gear, but I will practice with you, if that is what you want," he said, examining them.
"I would like that, very much. I'll even tone down the chatter, if that'll make you stick around longer. You're good company." They finally arrived at the target. "Go ahead, make me feel like an absolute beginner, and then help make me better."
Tempted to raise an eyebrow, Talon merely observed, "So they have told you a bit about me," before putting all three daggers in the middle of the target in under two seconds.
"Yes, and like the nosey Khajiit I am, it was just enough to make me want to know more. No worries, I also know you're one of those private people, so I'll do my best to respect that." Ama admired the placement. "Okay, definitely want all the pointers. That is a thing of beauty." She removed the daggers, and took her turn.
Three seconds later, one dagger sat dead center, but the other two edged into the ring around the bullseye. "Almost. Dast it. Comments?"
"Try again," he said simply.
Ama grinned. "Hmm, now that certainly sounded familiar." She collected her daggers, took her stance, and tried again. This time, the second dagger edged closer to the center ring, but the third stubbornly remained just outside the bullseye. He asked her to do it once more, with similar results.
"You are very focused on your first throw, and you lower your arm slightly for your third. Also, you seem quite distracted," he said, having watched her rather than the path the daggers took. He was not loath to give instruction, and had even found himself missing it on several occasions. Perhaps that was something to consider.
"Well, I'll take any suggestions you got for dealing with surprisingly heroic sisters and super scrumptious teachers. I'll work on the arm thing."
"I am not often in your sister's presence," Talon revealed. He wasn't even going to touch her second problem. This was strangely reminiscent of instructing Shell, though by the mooning gazes of all three of Telki's sisters the night before, Ama actually meant her teasing.
"Now that's surprising." Ama concentrated on her throw, and gave a happy bounce when the third one edged that much closer to the center square.
Talon handed her another dagger. "Now try it with four."
"Yes, dear," Ama teased, gathering her knives from the target for another go. Two landed solidly in the center, and the latter two bracketed in the surrounding ring. Ama humphed in frustration.
"I am not a deer, I do not frolic in the woods," he retorted. Yes, very like tutoring Shell. He already dreaded the day she, Ama, and Telki were in the same room. He'd probably take Sanguine up on that offer of a drink.
"Pity, frolicking in the woods is one of life's greatest pleasures. Besides, you're not a Bosmer, not that sort of deer." She paused, a slow grin lighting up her face, "Heeey! You made a joke with me! I feel privileged."
"Try again," was all he said.
"Just, don't go masky on me, please? I'll shut up." Ama retrieved her daggers, and threw, raising her eyebrows in question when all four just did edge into the center circle.
"Good," he said, still contemplating what exactly she meant by "masky," "Now when you can do that consistently, you'll have gotten it."
Ama breathed out heavily through her nose, and gathered her knives to go at it again, still maintaining her silence, hoping to coax Talon into keeping company with her. After spending just these few minutes with him, she was starting to wonder if she was overdoing the flirting, then shrugged it off, deciding it was probably good for him.
He was watching her thoughtfully. "Throwing daggers consistently is valuable, but you might want to try having several targets. Few times in life will you need all your knives to hit the same small point."
She nodded. It only made sense. "Think you can help me set something up later?" There were too many kids around to just put jars on a fencepost, not with this bunch.
Talon turned suddenly, eyes narrowed at the grey sky. A swarm of butterflies appeared just after, growing rapidly closer before vanishing over the house. "I believe your sister is home," he commented, the tension of sensing someone nearing easing out of him, despite being a bit unnerved by the sight. Shell had described it to him, but he had yet to see it. He hoped he never had occasion to use it—being broken into numerous insects did not sound pleasant. "If you will excuse me, I must speak with her still," he inclined his head to her, handing over the last of her daggers.
"Telki's back? She still has to explain that whole leaving by butterfly thing." Ama tucked away her daggers, her clothing looking as smooth and unruffled as before, nary a hint of dagger showing. Talon approved—he hadn't seen many that had grasped the trick of looking fully unarmed. Most had to have at least one obvious weapon to draw the eye. "May I tag along?"
Nodding slightly, he headed toward where the butterflies had landed, finding Rommy and Telki there, very clearly not realizing they were being watched, unless he'd misjudged them and they enjoyed a bit of voyeurism. They hadn't quite gotten to the point of clothes flying, but there were definitely wandering hands.
"Sooo, were you guys wanting to put on a show, or did you miss landing in the bedroom?" Ama piped from just behind Talon's elbow.
Rommy's reaction of instantly moving to shield Telki before he recognized them was telling. Talon, not for the first time, sized him up, despite knowing that a Daedric Prince was unlikely to use physical means of fighting. Still, the man had been Grand Champion of the Arena before becoming Champion of Cyrodiil, and it still showed in his movements, as well as the signs of old injuries. Recognizing them, Rommy relaxed, standing from the slight crouch. Perhaps Talon had been hasty to discount a physical attack; that was clearly a movement to resheath something. Apparently Ama wasn't the only non-assassin to master concealed daggers.
"Right, not for public consumption," Ama took Rommy's protective posture at a glance, and her conclusion was much simpler; "don't even think it." Really, in her line of work as a counter-thief, simplest was generally best. Rommy could walk naked through the Ratway tunnels and be perfectly fine.
"Talon! Oh my gracious. It's good to see you. Um, is everything alright?" Telki took the opportunity to steal a hug, whether he liked it or not. He allowed her to put arms around him, and even gave her the awkwardest shoulder pat she'd ever received, but she was calling it a win. "Thank you. I appreciate you letting me hug you."
"I distinctly recall the prerequisite to that being that you learned to fight without chatter. I hope you are able to demonstrate." He wasn't entirely joking. It had been awhile since he'd fought someone he considered competent, and he wanted to see if his sometimes student had progressed her skills.
"Do we have time? I know you, this isn't a social visit, no matter how many times I invite you for one."
"The assassins that attacked you," he said, catching their attention instantly, "They were Imperial. They attacked the Palace of Kings as well. Fey and Tyr escaped unscathed, but they took the children. We recovered Pearl, but Blossom and Orien are missing still. Tyr requested you return to Windhelm to cast a kin-finding."
"What?" Telki fell back into Rommy, clutching him to keep upright. "Rommy, Love, we have to go. Now."
Rommy was doing some quick thinking, and he glanced back up at Talon, reading him. "You don't think they're in danger," he stated, the Weapons Master's calm state doing much to hold back the raging madness that rose like a wave at the notion that someone was attacking his family again.
"I believe they want the children alive. I would not stake my life on it," Talon replied.
Rommy took a moment to slam a few doors in his mind, though he knew he'd be paying for it later. It hardly mattered; time was of the essence. "Telki, can you tell everyone that wants to come to be ready in five minutes? I'm not waiting past that."
"Pffft, you know perfectly well all of them, including my sisters and Lydia, who usually prefers to stay behind, will want to go. No," she gazed up at him with determination in those lovely eyes of hers, "Who do you want with us, and who do you want guarding the homestead?"
"I…" Rommy thought a moment. "I'd like Gideon along—he proved effective against assassins back in Alinor. Merc should probably learn the kinfinding spell in case something like this ever happens again—"
"Don't you even dare think about going off without us!" Ama humpfed.
Rommy glanced at her, startled. He'd forgotten she was there, honestly. Looking down at Telki to see what she made of this, he shrugged. "What can you do?" he asked her.
"Are you sure you guys want in on this? I mean, you don't know the full story yet, and I'm not sure what y'all'll think once you do," Telki warned Ama.
"We don't know yet 'cause you haven't told us yet."
"You walked out before I even finished telling you about Alduin! How could I?"
"I just needed a minute to wrap my head around it all, and then you butterflied off, what's that about anyways?" Ama waited a breath for Telki to answer, and then turned her attention to Romulus. "Wemie and I work as a team guarding caravans. She comes in directly, I get 'em from the sides. I also scout. I can get in and out without being seen, usually with whatever proof I've been sent after. Nala likes to make things go boom. She is very good at making things go boom. The bigger the boom, the happier she is."
Trying to fit that with the calm booklover he'd seen so far, Rommy nodded curtly. "Fine. If Telki has no objections, you can come."
"I'll go grab 'em all," Ama offered. "I think Talon wanted to talk to you two personally. Without eager ears." Ama playfully wrinkled her nose at him, and loped off into the house to gather everyone.
Heaving a mental sigh, Talon turned to the couple and explained what he had surmised. "This won't be the last attack."
Rommy's eyes hardened. "What do you mean?"
"This was an attack for the Ruby Throne. The Nords are calling Tyr the True Emperor. Word of this has reached those in power, and they are frightened. Any Dragonborn has more claim to the throne than any candidate they have for Emperor when Mede dies. Now that they believe you know that, they will keep coming until they no longer think you a threat."
Telki shuddered next to Romulus. "So, what do we do? What about the kids?"
"Tyr's children have direct blood link, so they were the priority. I do not know if they would leave your adopted brood alone, though they may wish to be thorough." He was quiet a moment. "As to what you do…They believe you a threat; become one."
"They attacked my home, no worries, I'm the biggest damn threat they never wanted. However, I'm not naive enough to think I can kill every single idiot worried I'll want the stupid throne." Telki gave Talon a near murderous glare. "So, how do I keep them from coming after my kids?"
"For now, it is best to keep them under guard. To stop these attacks, we must convince the Elder Council or whoever else might feel threatened that you do not want the throne. Even if you were able to do that, someone might take steps to ensure you keep your word."
"Spit it out, Talon," Rommy growled, impatient. "What do you not want to say?"
The sigh was physical this time. "You have to get the Emperor to decree the attacks end. Mede is not the type of man to enforce such an edict once made."
"Welp, considering it's his munchkins on the line too, I don't think Tyr'll grouse too much about having to take the throne now. Right?" Telki looked from one worried face to the next for confirmation.
"Most likely," Rommy said ruefully, pulling her against him, "he's going to spend the first decade of the new Empire making the lives of the Elder Council miserable for putting him in the position to rush."
"They endangered my children and my grandchildren. I'll be happy to help." The evil grin was entirely too at home on the usually cheerful face.
"Never doubted that for a moment," Rommy said, giving her a squeeze.
Talon marveled at that for a moment, at this deadly side to a normally caring, friendly personality. Despite occasionally taking her exuberance to the extreme, Telki was a magnificent person to have as an ally, and he truly pitied the people that angered her enough for her to declare them her enemies. The look the Imperial was giving him told him that Rommy knew exactly what he was thinking, and approved. It was all too easy for people to underestimate Telki, and he wondered if she realized what a potent weapon that was.
"Hail hail, the gang's all here. Now what?" Ama pushed the still grooming Mercutio out the door, her sisters laughing behind them, and Gideon following behind, shaking his head at the nonsense.
Looking them over, Rommy asked, "Where's Sam?"
"I left him asleep in bed," Mercutio answered. "Tried to wake him enough to tell him what was going on. I got mumbles."
Without a word, Rommy marched into the house, returning a moment later dragging Sam by the ear as he yelped. "Ow. Ow. Ow! Not that I don't like it when you—hic!—get all dominant and sexy on me—hic!—Rommy, but I need my ears." He rubbed the offended ear when his friend released it, giving him a grumpy look up and down. "There are more fun ways to—hic!—punish me than twisting my ear."
"My grandchildren have been kidnapped and this is way too much weight to butterfly," Rommy said shortly. "You can make direct portals to specific doors; I can't yet." Chaos magic had some decidedly annoying pitfalls, particularly when the result needed to be specific, precise, or wouldn't benefit from exploding.
"Uh-huh," Sam drawled, looking more awake by the moment. "What'll you give me?"
"I won't punch you, and I won't tell the Girls not to visit," Rommy glared at him, eyes glowing faintly.
Sanguine paused, taking this in, and capitulated without a fight. Romulus was much more fun than full Sheogorath, especially an angry Sheogorath that couldn't recall what he was angry about. "One day, I will—hic!—get something out of you," Sam pouted, opening a portal to Candlehearth Hall where the front door used to be. After all, who would he pester if Rommy wasn't around? Well, mortals, but it wasn't the same.
"Oh wow. Oh wow." Nala was practically drooling, her cobalt eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I so want to learn how to do that."
Sam winked at her. "I can make a—hic!—portal to any—hic!—inn," he told her. "I'd be happy to—hic!—show you…" his voice very clearly insinuated it would cost her.
"Nononono, you teach me how to do that, and that becomes a definite possibility." Nala flicked her eyes at Merc, "As long as it doesn't make Muffin make that face again."
"You can negotiate terms later," Rommy said, stepping through and starting for the door.
Telki shuddered. "My sister negotiating herself for a spell? So not ready for that."
Talon shook his head and went through, deciding for the sake of his own skin to let the woman discover what she was bargaining with for herself. Chances were the spell wasn't one a mortal could cast anyway. The temperature plummeted another ten degrees the moment they got to Candlehearth, and they were still inside. He sighed inwardly; he really didn't like this climate.
"I have fur, and I'm cold. How do these Nords stand it?" Wemie growled, shrugging her cloak closer around her.
"Nords are naturally resistant to cold," Talon told her, eyes examining her face. She did, indeed have fur—it was so short and fine it was easily mistaken for extremely smooth skin. That, then, was another difference between Ohmes and Ohmes-Raht. Ohmes were so similar to Bosmer most couldn't tell the difference, and they often got cat-patterned tattoos to clarify their race. Ohmes-Raht didn't have that problem, having both tails and pointed, tuffed ears. He filed it away for later.
"What? They're part ice atronach?" Wemie shuddered again.
"Wouldn't surprise me," he grumbled slightly.
Mercutio leaned close to Wemie. "That's why I had Telki put heat enchants on mine." He wiggled his wedding band at her, "Works wonders."
Rommy hadn't paused to let the patrons gawk, and it seemed he had met Galmar just outside the inn and pulled the man aside to interrogate him thoroughly. Bjartr stood next to them, looking serious. After seeing Telki's children, it occurred to Talon that he looked far too serious, especially for a nine year old.
"Oh good gracious, but you're a cutie!" Ama had oozed around them all to meet the little boy, getting down to his eye level. "Hi, I'm Ama, what's your name?"
"Damn, there's more of her?" Galmar looked over the group. "There's a standing 'no ice wraiths' rule in the Palace, got it?"
Bjartr looked startled for a moment, remembered he wasn't supposed to fade into the background anymore, and puffed up with a wide grin. "I'm Bjartr, and I am fierce."
"Hopefully, not too fierce to give a hug? I seem to be short one today. Care to help?" Ama asked, opening arms invitingly.
"You remind me of Telki," Bjartr said, obliging. Hugs were rather nice, he'd found.
"That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me yet. She's my sister." Ama squeezed the little boy. "You give good hugs."
"I've been practicing," he told her matter-of-factly.
"You made it," Pearl said, materializing between Talon and Telki's remaining sisters. In her white Skaal coat over her usual dress and faint coloring, she looked like a ghost.
"Sweet skoomacat's whiskers, where'd you come from?" Wemie backed up a step, successfully fighting the urge to draw. It was just a child, not an assassin or a bandit.
Pearl looked her over a moment, taking in everything about her in a practiced way that had become second nature to her by now. "We need to get back to the Palace. Mother is frantic."
Talon nodded, following the girl around the inn without further ado. Fey would be frantic by now, though he doubted anyone but someone that knew her well would be able to see it in the increasingly still demeanor she usually adopted. Rommy noticed them walking and continued to interrogate Galmar on the move, all of them heading to the Palace.
Telki took in her sisters rather miserable faces. "Rommy, how good are you at off-the-cuff magic items?"
"Fair, why?" he asked, turning to walk backwards and regard her thoughtfully. "Unless they already exist, then slightly better."
"Merc's heat ring, think you can make three of 'em? To fit my walking ice zombie sisters?"
Tilting his head a moment, he reached into a passing brazier and stole some of the flame, pressing it in his palm, then pulling some of the snow out of the air and pressing that in too. Opening his hand, three silver bangles fell to dangle on his fingers, the light glinting off them strangely red, like a sword that burnt when it cut. He handed them to her, "I draw the line at giving your sisters rings; I'm still dealing with multiple husbands."
Telki laughed in delight, kissing him soundly. "Thank you, Love. These will do nicely." Telki turned to give her sisters the gifts only to see three dropped jaws and Nala wheeze-squealing.
"How in Baan Dar's name did you do that? Can you teach me? Please? Pretty Please?" She barely noticed Telki slipping the bracelet on her, though her body immediately relaxed in the sudden warmth. "Sweet Mother Cat above, that feels good." The other two quickly claimed their gifts, their postures and expressions revealing how well the warmth spells worked.
Despite everything, Rommy was laughing. He glanced at Talon, seeing the amusement behind the mer's eyes, and grabbed another lick of flame, this time from a torch. "Here, Talon. I like you enough to not want to see you turn into a banana-cicle." He tossed another bracelet at the elf, who caught it neatly, slipping it onto his wrist and visibly relaxing.
"Thank you, Romulus," he said with very real gratitude.
Pearl cleared her throat. "Rommy, I do not ask for much, but I demand one."
Laughter lit up the courtyard as they reached the door, Rommy pulled in yet more flame and snow, making her a bracelet that slipped over her small hand and contracted to fit her wrist. A small, perfect pearl was set into the shining band of silver. "All you needed to do was ask, bella."
"Thank you," she said, sighing happily and admiring it. She wasn't really one for jewelry, but it was shiny with magic with an understated design, and she found herself liking it immensely, not just for the warmth it provided.
"Rommy!" a familiar voice called, laden with relief, as they entered. Tyr jogged up from the other side of the room, handsome face lined with worry, red hair down and with the tie completely missing. He kept having to brush it back and out of his eyes. "You made it."
"Seriously, did all the attractive men just decide to move to the coldest province in existence, because sheesh-a-mighty!" Ama was comically fanning herself.
"I'd agree, but I'm just a little weirded out by how much he resembles my sister," Wemie observed.
Tyr glanced up, startled, then flushed. "Ah…who's this?"
Telki stepped forward like she was a showman presenting the next act, "Tyr, allow me to introduce my sisters and current banes of my existence. Wemie, Nala, and the noisy one is Ama."
"Nice to meet you," he said, blinking at them in slight confusion, then giving Rommy a teasing glance. "Cousin, you have in-laws. How happy for you."
Telki gave Tyr a long slow blink. "I think, Rommy, when I am forced to take you to meet the rest of the clan, he has to come, too."
"Oh, no," Tyr said, holding up his hands in a warding gesture and backing up a pace, "I did my time with in-laws, thank you very much. I'm looking forward to no in-laws until the children grow up and marry. And, well, Gideon, maybe."
"You're adorable. Utterly silly, but adorable. I think we'll keep you," Telki informed him gleefully. "Anyways, why don't we get this show on the road, so we can get our littles back safe and sound, hey?"
"Sounds good to me. Ulfric's already set up the room. He said this was how you found us in Alinor?" Tyr shook his head, leading them all toward the war room. "Seriously, Rommy, you have to be my mage when they throw that crown at me; no one else is going to match up."
"Have things to do, Tyr," Rommy shrugged.
"So you've told me," the Nord said, swinging easily into the war room. Fey was already there, setting out a map. The gowns she had been wearing since coming to Skyrim had been replaced with her armor, and her rose-gold hair swung free around her. She paused when Tyr came in, taking her hand and kissing the back of her fingers, holding her close for a moment.
Telki elbowed Rommy, and whispered for his ears only. "Shug, you are going to have to tell him at some point. I mean, Talon knows before your own grandyoungen. That's not fair to either of you."
"You pick the absolute worst times to bring this up," he groaned.
"Sorry, Love. Can't help when I get reminded you've been dragging your feet on this." Telki kissed his nose, and squeezed his middle with the arm still wrapped around him.
He sighed, then moved over to the table. Talon had retreated to the sideboard, arranging some things on a tray that Ulfric had apparently set out, including a small silver cup and knife, and—for some reason—a large stack of tallow dips. Now he brought the small collection of items over, and Rommy smiled his thanks, taking the small silver blade. "I may not need the rest, this time," he said. "This is my own blood—provided none of my estranged kin are somehow walking around Skyrim, the twins and Tyr should be the only ones showing up."
Talon inclined his head, setting the tray to the side, then examining Fey and Tyr. They were still together, one arm around their partner's back as their other hands clasped. Tyr was saying something urgent and quiet, while Fey listened with the utter stillness she showed only when extremely stressed. Her eyes were flat and sober as she gazed at her husband. Talon looked back down to what Rommy was doing, setting his mind on the problem at hand.
Over in a corner, out of everyone's way where she could watch, Ama noticed his gaze linger. So, that was part of Talon's problem: He'd given his heart already, but hers belonged elsewhere. She nibbled on the conundrum of how to help in the back of her mind, while still keeping tabs on the comings and goings in the room.
Rommy had pricked his finger with the dagger, welling a large drop onto the silver tip and setting the spell around that. Dripping his blood on the map over Windhelm, he watched it separate into two drops, then three, then five, the last two rolling quickly south, stopping over the crest of Riften. He frowned at the three drops still in Windhelm. "Um…Huh."
"What does that mean?" Tyr asked, only realizing that there was another drop when he looked up and followed Rommy's gaze.
"It means you and I are about to glow, and someone else is, too," Rommy said, waving his hand over the three drops, which started to glow a faint green. Rommy's skin started to glow as well, as if a faintly lit mist was rising from it.
Tyr examined his hands doubtfully and shuddered. "So, we just keep an eye for anyone else looking like they got bit by Peryite?"
"Um? Guys?" Mercutio looked down at his glowing hands, a rather startled and panicky expression smothering his face. "I'm lit up like a nirnroot."
Tyr and Rommy blinked at him with identical expression of dumbfoundment. Tyr cursed in Dunmeris, which had quite a bit more expansive vocabulary for invective than Common, most of which his father had forbidden him from ever repeating. He figured he'd be forgiven in this instance.
"Merc…" Rommy said slowly, "What's your family name?" He'd never asked before, partially because it was rude, partially because Merc never seemed to want to talk about it.
"Lerestrake." Short, clipped, oh there were definitely not fond memories there. The sour frown and furrowed brows only cinched it.
Wincing slightly, turning to lean on the table and cover his eyes with one hand, he got out, "Low nobility, unlanded, deal mostly in spices and spice-related goods?"
"How'd you guess? Magic wouldn't support a proper wife and family. That's what the family trade was for." That was an obvious quote someone'd heard too many times.
"Oh, gods, they're still at it," Rommy rubbed his head like it ached.
Tyr, seeing they were missing the point, walked over and gave Merc the traditional Nordic bearhug. "Welcome, kinsman. Shall we sit down and drink this out later after we retrieve my children?"
"Sounds good." Merc leaned into the hug. Funny he had to run all the way to Skyrim to find real family.
"I have one request," Telki looked fit to burst, with mirth or tears was hard to tell. "I get to tell Sam."
Eyes widening comically in dismay, Rommy glanced at Merc, who shuddered, asking, "How do you think he's going to take my sudden familial ties?"
Rommy shrugged, turning back to the map to see the children's drops hadn't moved, "If I had to guess? Bookend jokes. With him as the book."
"Pffft, please, I've been making the bookend jokes all along." Telki smirked, "Which is why I wanna tell him. Please? Pretty please?"
"Not to dampen your parade, but shouldn't we be focusing on the two little dots?" Wemie looked about, "And should their mother be alone at this time? She left. Ama's following her."
Talon glanced over with vague hints of surprise on his face that someone was actually able to follow Fey while Tyr cursed and rushed out the door.
"Um, Rommy, do you have a good enough lock we can play advanced troops?" Telki looked over the little map, and the dots barely moving. "Keep them busy until Fey and company get there?"
"Riften is riddled with tunnels. They could be hiding anywhere." Galmar studied the map carefully. "One reason we could never quite run the Thieves' Guild out."
"Etienne! You remember him, Rommy? " Telki bounced, hope bubbling like a spring. "He'd help us find them."
Grumbling inwardly at Sam apparently going right back to bed, Rommy stated, "I can take two other people at a time." Gauging the distance between Windhelm and Riften, he sighed, resigned. "Telki's going first; who else?"
"You're magic, she's diplomacy; you'll need a frontline fighter," Wemie pointed out.
"Then me," Gideon said, patting his hammer. "Very little can stand against Shor's hammer."
"Eh, just don't bring the tunnels down, Love?" Telki winced. She could easily see half of Riften crumbling in on itself with one good careless swing.
Gideon gave her an affronted look. "I'm always careful."
"Everyone decided?" he asked, glancing around. "Good. I'll be right back," with that, he dissolved into butterflies, grabbing Telki and Gideon on his way out. It took several minutes to get to Riften, and Rommy elected to bypass the hustle at the door by dropping them right on the door to the Ratway. "Telki, can you get us what passes for guides and safe passes while I get whoever else is coming? I should probably look for Tyr on the way back."
"Sure!" Telki found an accommodating pipe, and rapped out her favorite knock. "Etienne should be here like….now."
A familiar frizzy brown head popped into view. "Oi, of course it's you." He breathed a deep sigh of relief. "I'm betting you're here about the visitors, then?"
A wide, feral smile graced Telki's face. "How'd you guess?"
"Well, it always is, isn't it? Don' think we forgot what happened the last time you blew through here, though those Thalmor left some expensive stuff behind."
"Uh, yeah, Etienne, you remember Rommy and Gideon? We really need to get to the kids. Their mom is scarier than scary on a warpath, and we need to get them home safe. We can chat later."
"Well, there's a problem with that, see." Etienne nodded to both men, and then scratched his head as he tried to figure the best way to break the bad news. "Uh, nobody's seen any kids, though there's been talk, and all them spooky Imperial types have claimed different little nests in the Ratways. That lot could give those bloody crows a run for their money." Etienne covered his mouth with a hand, thinking hard. "Seems like they paid the Guildmaster for space, but didn't say nothing about keeping quiet-like, leastways not where I could hear." Etienne smiled as he beckoned them on into the sheltered tunnel, away from curious eyes. "I don't reckon you've heard we're under new management?"
"Oh?" Telki followed Etienne carefully, footsteps quiet in the dark, though the soft talk between Etienne and she made that useless.
"Yep, big tossup. We've now basically three bosses, and Mercer's dead as dead." Etienne stopped just before the Ragged Flagon. "Now, here's the tricksy bit. There's several nests, see, and only one li'l me. We could try to visit all of them before the others were alerted to our intrusion, or I can see if I can get some volunteers to guide each of you. Volunteers might need compensation."
"There will be more of us in a few minutes," Rommy said, leaning over and giving Telki a quick kiss. "You have this in hand," he said, heading out to get more people.
"Alrighty then, Etienne, go get our little helpers." She shooed him into the Ragged Flagon, while Gideon remained a large presence behind her back. She was rather intrigued by the increased noise coming from the Ragged Flagon. She didn't remember it being that busy last time she came through here. New Management was apparently good for business.
Etienne was back out very quickly. "That's odd. Upper brass is all gone. We should be able to bargain through Delvin, though."
"Okay, that's worrisome." Telki was tapping her teeth as she thought it through. "Gideon, ideas?"
Gideon's gaze was zeroed in on a brick across from them. He wasn't really studying the brick, Telki knew, but thinking fiercely. "Did Management seem worried about these 'spooky Imperials?"
"Nocturnal's kiss, how didn't I see it before? She were, too. Askin' questions about the lot of them." Etienne rubbed his head in thought. "Right, so, she's onto them, and I reckon you want to make sure the kids get out safe. That means we'll definitely have to split up. I'll see if any of the lads and lassies want to rumble." Etienne smiled, "Shouldn't be hard. They're right protective of our little Fox."
In short order, Telki and Gideon were ushered into the Flagon. Telki nodded to the few she knew, taking stock of the ones she didn't. She took from the slightly indulgent expressions this wasn't Etienne's usual bag.
"Right then," Etienne called, getting their attention, "we've got these bleedin' Imperials clogging up our tunnels, Fox's missing, and so's Brynn and Karliah. We've solid proof now there are kidnapped kids in the tunnel, and that's bad business for us. So, we need guides to get these people to the nests, and pronto."
"They're not just kidnapped kids, but the children of the new Dragonborn Emperor. That makes this an international incident playing out in your tunnels. I doubt the Guild needs that sort of attention," Gideon informed them in his steeliest paladin voice.
One of the women, a blonde with short hair, shivered, and smacked a bald man near her on the shoulder. "When you can sound like that, you can watch me bathe any day."
Telki could barely contain her snicker. From the talks she'd had with Etienne, she would bet money that was Vex. Just wait 'til she heard Rommy or Tyr, poor woman.
"If we're going to hit all of them, you need more people," A large man in the back with facial tattoos in brown only a few shades darker than his skin pointed out.
"More are coming," Telki assured him. "We have a mage running them in, but he can only transport so many at a time."
"I take it we're being paid for this in more than goodwill?" he persisted, this time looking at Etienne.
"I'm sure we can work something out," Delvin spoke up from where he sat, gloved hand stroking his chin, "Eh, Telki? Still have some of those Dragonbone weapons lying about?"
Telki playfully narrowed her eyes at him. "Got any dragons lying about?" she sighed when his face clouded in confusion. "If I don't already, I'll happily make you some custom. How's that?"
"One for each of these rogues leadin' ya about, should do it. Some of them might actually keep them for themselves," he commented, stretching his legs out.
"Keep my people safe an' I'll throw the enchants in for free."
"That is incentive," Delvin said, eyebrows rising.
"Telki!" Tyr called, bounding into the room with his usual vigor and unusual preoccupation. "Any sign of them?"
"Tyr, she's been here two minutes," Rommy sighed, following. Fey was glancing around the room, gaze lingering on one or two of the members keeping to the back, while Ama looked like she was still recovering from being a flock of insects.
"These lovely people are going to guide us to the 'spooky Imperial' pockets, of which there're several, and not even these lovely nosey people knows which one has the kiddles. So, we hit all of them at the same time, we're sure to get our munchkins back, right?" Telki thought she needed to talk quick, before Fey decided to settle the problem her own inimitable way. Telki didn't even know what that would be, and she didn't want to see it.
"Exactly how many more are comin'?" inquired Delvin, glancing away from Vex's mildly impressed face with ill grace.
"Um, Merc, Talon, Wemie, Nala, and then we can go smite evil wicked Impie kidnapping dobadders." Telki was patting poor Ama's back, eventually resorting to giving her a sip of sober mead. She almost didn't get the bottle back.
"Galmar's insisting on joining us," Rommy sighed, looking put-upon. He looked at Etienne, "If I just send them down without Telki, will that be alright?"
"I suppose so, she's vouched for ye all, s'good enough for me and these blokes."
Fey walked forward as Rommy left, examining Etienne a moment. "These Ratways of yours, are there many exits?"
"Um, eh, well, used to be," poor Etienne sweated and stammered. "Management's had most of those boarded up. Now there's just the Canal front, Flagon, and Dockside for Guild purposes."
Fey nodded, her eyes cutting to the members she'd been examining earlier. One of them nodded, and her stance relaxed. She made a complicated handsign and he nodded again, the three of them moving out and into the Ratway. "The other exits are covered," she told Telki, interrupting her conversation with her sister on breathing. "It seems some of my former colleagues chose a life suited to their skills."
"Alrighty then. Now, are we going to wait to hit them all at the same time, so none of them have a chance to run or port again?" Telki wondered who died and put her in charge. Somebody else could play ringmaster to this circus of monkeys. "Rommy should have the rest here soonish."
"Too late," Tyr replied, "We seem to be down a Gideon, and if he's not waiting, neither am I." He turned, looked at the thieves assembled, nearly picked one when Vex shoved him out of the way, offering to lead Tyr herself. Oblivious, he told her to lead the way.
Fey shook her head at his obtuseness and followed. Telki stayed, knowing more were coming and would need sorting, and she knew if anyone had a chance in Oblivion keeping Rommy from flipping his lid on these kidnappers, it was her. So she chatted everyone up, learning who was who, who did what, and did her charming best to make allies where they'd need them most, and waited for the next batch to send out.
Thieves Guild members always knew everyone's business. Time to see what they knew of their visitors'.
.
.
.
Hello. Long day at work, so I'll keep this short and sweet. Thanks for reading, thanks to those who reviewed, and don't forget to ask any character questions you would want to ask the characters in an interview-style setting. Usually by Vaermina, but we might need a substitute host, considering.
The Celtic Dragon: What makes you think Telki's not every bit as bad when faced with someone new? :P
areslindragon: Lid flipped. Rescuing activated. There will be entrails, though not enough time to skip rope.
afeleon276: Yay! Another Talon fan!
AnotherGuest: It's okay. They have a fluffy baby horker to protect them.
.
Next week: Some skulking about fighting do-baders.