Blood and Trust
Chapter 6
Raema shifted in her chair and sighed impatiently, wondering if Crassius Curio would return to continue their discussion sometime before the sun went down. This was not the first time she had met with the Hlaalu official, nor the first time he had been called away for business during their meetings. He had never left her alone this long, however. Usually he was quick to return, and apologetic for making her wait. The man was a lecher and a fool, but also a prominent figure in House Hlaalu, and he knew how to do his job.
After another minute of waiting, suspicions began to crowd into her mind. She stood, hand reaching for her dagger, when the door opened and Crassius entered, looking startled to find her standing with a blade in her hand. He raised his hands in a placating gesture.
"My apologies, darling," he said smoothly, with a smile. "I did not intend to keep you waiting for so long. Please, sit down, and we can continue. I've made arrangements not to be disturbed, so we can finish without interruptions."
Raema eyed him expressionlessly, an unnerving trick she had picked up from Assurjan, before returning to her chair and slipping the dagger back into its sheath on her boot. "Next time I won't be so patient, Curio," she said. "I have more important things to do than wait on your convenience."
Crassius sat down across the table from her, seemingly unperturbed. "Of course you do, my dear," he said, sounding as if he believed nothing of the kind. "Now then, where were we? The terms of agreement between Hlaalu and the Juraene clan?"
"Yes," Raema said shortly, through clenched teeth. She had determined not to let his patronizing manner bother her, but her patience was wearing thin. "You mentioned that you wanted clarification on some items."
"Ah. Yes, the provision regarding the non-aggression between our two groups... I am concerned that it can easily be confused, since it is impossible to tell a Juraene from a Berne vampire, or a Hlaalu from a Redoran citizen, simply by sight."
Raema nodded. "True. When you and the Ancient are in agreement about the alliance, and have finalized it, we can devise a password of sorts. Any Hlaalu under attack by a vampire may use the word, and a Juraene vampire will be bound to do them no harm. And the same would apply to any Hlaalu who are foolish enough to attack a member of Juraene."
"A good plan," Crassius said. "Of course, only the higher-ranking members of the House will be informed of this password; the less people who know about this alliance, the better."
"You may tell whoever you want, but Juraene clan will not be held responsible for the deaths of any Hlaalu who are not told the password. That will be your responsibility."
Crassius settled back in his chair. "That is fair enough," he conceded. "I do believe this alliance may be quite profitable. But before I can agree, there is one other thing I would like to have from you, dumpling," he added.
Raema resisted the urge to roll her eyes; she had a pretty good guess what he was after. "And what would that be, ser?" She asked. He leaned forward, a gleam in his eye. "Is it so hard to guess, my dear?" he asked in a low voice, with a wink. It was all Raema could do not to reach across the table and black his eye.
"Councilman, I am...flattered," she managed, hoping she did not sound as disgusted as she felt. "But I do not see how...sharing your bed...has anything to do with the alliance we are discussing."
"No?" Crassius smiled. "I have things your Ancient wants- money, trade, a legitimate standing with the government of Morrowind...and he has something that I want," he added, staring at her intensely.
"Regrettably, I am not free to give you everything of the Ancient's that you want, ser," she said, hoping she could get him to back off. He was their best chance at a Hlaalu alliance, and she knew Assurjan would be displeased if she alienated Curio this close to their goal. "I am still a slave, and my body is not mine to promise to you."
"No one need know," he murmured softly. "My servants know not to disturb me; you need only tell your master that our negotiations lasted longer than you thought, but I...conceded, in the end." His tone made it clear that he expected her to do the conceding.
Raema's sword swung in a flashing arc from her scabbard, halting against the side of his neck before the smile had time to leave his face. Alliance or not, she had had enough.
"You're trying my patience again," she snapped, enjoying the look of utter shock on his face. She wondered if anyone had dared draw a weapon against him before. "The agreement stands as is. You can't always get everything you want, Crassius; every alliance has its compromises."
Crassius glanced sideways at her sword, and back at her face, tried his charming smile again. "A compromise requires both sides to give up something, my dear," he pointed out.
Raema put a little more pressure on his neck, making him wince, and leaned forward to glare at him. "I am compromising by not killing you for your disrespect," she snarled fiercely. "I am the Hand of the Ancient, not a whore, and you will treat with me accordingly. I will give you three days to decide before we take our offer to another Councilor who is smart enough not to mix business with pleasure."
With that, she stormed out, knowing he wouldn't follow. She ignored the stares and attempted courtesies of the rest of Curio's household as she left his manor.
The plaza of the Hlaalu compound, where Curio's home stood, was crowded with merchants and shoppers. Raema gritted her teeth as she made her way through the crowds, and tried to diffuse her anger. For an instant, old habits took over, and she found herself eying the richer people in the crowd as if she were still a thief, looking for pockets ripe for the picking.
Her stomach growled suddenly, loudly, causing a nearby Breton woman to glance at her in consternation. Raema ignored her and made her way through the throng to the nearest tavern, the No Name Club in the corner of the plaza. She hadn't eaten since breakfast, but luckily Assurjan had been providing her with some coin to spend outside the lair now, and she knew better than to attempt the long return trip on an empty stomach.
Inside, the club was blessedly quiet after the noise of the crowds outside. She purchased a small bottle of sujamma and a bowl of stew from the owner, Brathus, and settled at a table in the corner to eat. She had nearly finished, and was still stewing over Crassius Curio's behavior, when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"This is almost becoming a familiar sight," the Redguard said. Raema squinted up at him, trying to decide if she knew him. "Have we met?"
"Not completely," the man said with a smile, and sat down across from her, uninvited. "In Balmora some months ago. Jole Devan, as you may have forgotten. But you have me at a disadvantage; I'm afraid I didn't get your name."
Thinking back, Raema did remember him, from that first errand that Assurjan had sent her on. "Of course; my apologies," she said politely. She hesitated briefly, not entirely sure that it was a good idea to introduce herself. Something in her relented, though; even if only to make an acquaintance that was not undead. "My name is Raema."
"A pleasure," Jole said warmly, and proceeded to strike up a conversation. Halfway through it, Raema realized with some surprise that she was enjoying herself. Jole's relaxed manner put her at ease, even made her forget her anger at Crassius Curio. The Redguard was easy to talk to, and despite having to make up a background for herself- luckily she remembered that he thought she was a mine guard- she delighted in the conversation. How long had it been since she had spoken at length to anyone about something not related to vampires or vampire business? Too long, she thought, pushing back her empty bowl and gathering her things to leave.
"Sadly, I must be on my way, Jole," she said. "But thank you for a wonderful afternoon. It's been a long time since I had that much... fun."
Jole smiled, his teeth gleaming white in that dark face, and didn't move to stand. "Oh, come now," he said with teasing disappointment. "Surely you're not leaving without telling me who you really are?"
Raema froze, a shiver of startled fear making her heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?" she asked, hoping she only sounded confused and not cautious.
Jole Devan leaned forward, his dark eyes intense. "I'm not stupid, Raema... or whatever your true name is. You are not a guard in any mine. I'm very intrigued by you, and I had rather hoped that after getting to know me a little better, you would be more willing to confide in me about yourself."
Raema stood abruptly, doing her best to appear offended. "And I thought I was simply enjoying a pleasant meal and conversation with a new friend," she said coldly. "I guess we were both mistaken." Without another word, she turned to stalk away. She heard the legs of his chair scrape on the floor as he stood; then he laid his hand on her shoulder. "Wait-"
She whirled, catching his hand and twisting the way Talintus had shown her, fast and strong, a little extra pressure with the thumbs, just so... the table jolted, making the dishes clatter as Jole backed into it. His other hand was still free, but he simply stood still, grimacing at the pain in his wrist and waiting for her to speak. The rest of the club's patrons had gone completely silent, watching.
"I don't really care if you believe me or not," she spat. "All you really need to know is that I am not someone to trifle with." She let him go suddenly. Someone would call the guards soon if she didn't end this, and that would be more public attention than she needed. Without a backward glance, she left.
After the door shut behind her, the other customers returned to their own conversations, and life was restored to the club. Not someone to trifle with, she had said. Jole smiled to himself at the challenge. "Neither am I, Raema," he murmured, rubbing his sore wrist absently. "Neither am I."
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What is happening to me? Raema thought, almost frantically, making her way homeward through the sunset-lit trees. Twice in one day, she had threatened someone, promised violence to make them cooperate with her. As a thief, she would never have had the need; as a slave, a real slave, it would have been unthinkable. Of course she had threatened people before...but violence had never been her first reaction, her first instinct. Today, she was acting like... like...
"Vampires," she whispered to herself, stopping in surprise. She was acting like a vampire, using her strength and power and other people's fear like tools, weapons. Bloody Oblivion, she thought, entirely unsure how she felt about that revelation.
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Some hours later, the sun had set completely, and only the stars lit her way along the coast. She always carried a torch in her bag, but she preferred not to use it; she knew her way well enough by now, and torches really were no good for travelling. They made it all too easy for others to see the holder, but impossible for the holder to see beyond the torch's circle of light. So Raema walked for some time in the dark, listening carefully and watching the almost-imperceptible shadows warily, until something made her halt.
She reached automatically for her sword; something was wrong. She crouched in the darkness, listening intently, but all she could hear was the rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the faint, far-off rush of waves on the sea. Then what is making my skin prickle? She wondered, rubbing at the bumps on her arm. It was a warm night, and seemingly calm, but the feeling of wrongness persisted.
After a long moment of waiting, Raema rose from her crouch and crept forward cautiously, reluctant to draw her sword for fear the noise would give her away. One silent step forward, two, three, and the feeling of unease lessened-
A black figure burst from the night, a shadow that leapt at her, driving into her chest. Raema fell to the ground with a yell that cut off sharply as the creature landed atop her, driving the air from her lungs. Raema swung a fist wildly in the dark, feeling her knuckles connect with flesh. The figure snarled at the blow, a distinctly female voice, and an answering backhanded strike felt as if it knocked loose a few of Raema's teeth. Dazed, she sagged limply, unable to resist as the other woman caught her wrists in an iron grip and ground them into the dirt beneath her.
"You are Raema of Juraene?" the unseen attacker asked in a many-layered hiss. Raema blinked, struggling to fight off the haze that seemed to fill her head after the blow. She realized with a start that the woman's eyes were glowing now; in the complete darkness, they were like candles, illuminating golden skin and glistening fangs.
"Who?" Raema asked foggily, hoping to buy some time. The vampire moved with sudden quickness, dropping her face to Raema's neck, and she tensed, waiting to feel fangs sink into her skin.
But the vampire only shuddered -with suppressed hunger, Raema guessed- and her tongue found the pulse below Raema's jaw, traced the blood flow upward as if tasting it through her skin. "I have orders to spare Raema of Juraene clan," the vampire hissed into her ear, almost seductively. "Are you she, or not?"
"Yes," Raema said, willing herself not to flinch away from the vampire's ministrations, not to show any fear. "And you are from Aundae, I would guess?" She was quite obviously a High Elf, and Aundae was the only Altmer vampire clan on the island.
The Aundae vampire gave a feral grin, teeth gleaming. "I bear a message from Ancient Dhaunayne to Ancient Assurjan," she said, sounding as if several voices were layered over each other, a sign that she was more than ready to feed.
Raema shifted uncomfortably. "Do you always deliver messages this way?"
"I am very hungry, Bosmer," the vampire snapped impatiently, squeezing her wrists so hard that Raema was sure her bones ground together. "Tell your master that Quarra and Berne have joined together against him. My mistress declined to join them, but now they are against her, as well. She offers an alliance with Juraene, for together we can stand against them better than apart. She wants to meet with your Ancient, alone, at the Odai Plateau in five days' time, three hours past sunset. Do you understand?"
Raema nodded. "I will tell him."
"Good," the High Elf said, though she sounded disappointed. "Then I hunt." After a last, hungering glance at Raema's throat, the vampire rose and vanished into the night without a sound.
Raema stood slowly, brushing dirt from her clothes, and realized that was the first time she'd met a vampire who was not from Juraene clan. Could have been worse, she thought wryly, and continued on her way, wondering how the Aundae vampire had known her name.
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"You are sure she was Aundae?" Assurjan asked, frowning thoughtfully.
"Yes, my lord. She was an Altmer."
Assurjan closed the book he had been reading before her arrival, pushed it back onto the shelf in the library. "This is better news than I had expected," he mused, almost to himself. "I never anticipated an ally among the other clans..."
He didn't seem to expect an answer, so Raema remained silent, content to simply watch him. Almost two weeks had passed since the kiss, and they hadn't yet spoken of it; he had left her to recover from her punishment in peace, and then she had spent several days outside on errands for him. Assurjan acted as if nothing had happened, although sometimes she sensed he was watching her, the way she watched him now. His slender fingertips trailed across the spines of the books as he scanned the titles, and a thought came to her unbidden, how those fingertips would feel against her bare skin-
She pushed the thought away, along with the memory of that single kiss. Foolish fancies, of course; if he had really meant anything by the kiss, he would have mentioned it by now. He must have just been feeling guilty, or-
"You handled Curio well," he said, startling her. "He is our best chance at a Hlaalu alliance, but I will not be sorry if we must court another Councilor instead."
"Neither will I," Raema said, with feeling. She saw the corner of his mouth twist into a smile. "My lord, will you meet with the Aundae Ancient?"
Assurjan found the book he wanted, pulled it out and opened it to scan its contents. "It would be extremely rude of me to refuse."
"I don't like it," Raema said, carefully. "What if it's a trap? One single vampire overpowered me with ease, tonight... I'm not ready to defend you against any, if it comes to that."
"Then it is fortunate that you will not be going," Assurjan said. He closed the book with a decisive snap and strode away, leaving Raema standing among the bookshelves, taken aback.
She hurried to catch up to him as he left the library with those long, dangerously graceful strides. "My lord, I thought-"
"Dhaunayne Aundae requested that we meet alone. That is not a request that one Ancient can refuse another. It would be better for me to decline her offer outright, than to accept and arrive with you or anyone else."
Raema frowned; she was missing something. "I don't understand." She had managed to catch up and matched her pace to his, walking at his side, where he preferred her to be. He glanced at her sideways.
"It is rare for two Ancients to ever meet in person, Raema. When we do, it is a gesture of good faith to meet without guards, or slaves, or Hands. To arrive at a meeting like this accompanied by you or anyone else would be a grave insult to clan Aundae."
"Why?" Raema asked, genuinely curious. This was not anything she had learned about under Silweyn's tutelage.
Assurjan was silent for a few moments as they walked, almost hesitant, as if he was deciding how much to reveal to her. "It is a matter of trust... among other things," he said finally, as they rounded a corner and neared the lair's audience chamber. "I certainly have no wish to insult a potential ally, which is why you will remain here, to lead the clan until I return."
At his words, Raema stumbled in the doorway to the chamber. He didn't seem to notice. "What? My lord?"
"Do not be so surprised," he said over his shoulder, climbing the stairs to his room overhead. "You are my Hand, Raema; it is customary for you to fill my place in my absence."
Raema followed him up the stairs, head swimming. One thing at a time, she told herself. If he doesn't go at all, there's no need for me to be in charge of the clan... "What if it is a trap?" she asked again. "She could be trying to trick you, or..."
Assurjan turned suddenly, at the top of the stairs, startling her. "I am very happy to know you are so concerned about my safety," he said, with an odd smile on his face.
Was he teasing her? She felt heat rise to her face. She was standing several steps below him, making him tower over her; and she suddenly didn't like how he always seemed quietly, smugly amused at her. "My life depends on your survival," she said defiantly, lifting her chin. "You told me yourself, if you die, I will not be far behind. My lord."
Something changed in his expression, but she couldn't place it. His smile didn't waver. "Of course," he said quietly, and moved deeper into the room, out of sight from the stairs.
Raema slowly climbed the last few steps. He had sat down at his desk and opened the book, seeming to forget she was there. She went to stand nearby, thinking the conversation over, but he spoke again after a moment.
"You are right to be suspicious, of course. It could very well be a trap, and I have no way to be sure. However, I cannot pass up a chance to be allied with one of the clans. Raxle Berne has a very deep hatred of me, and a clan that is far more powerful than my own. He will be- he already is- merciless in trying destroying me. If he is truly allied with Quarra, we have a very small chance of survival...unless Aundae is on our side. This is a chance I must take, if Juraene clan is to last."
Raema was silent, mulling over this information. "I still don't like it," she said finally, and wished she didn't sound so childish. "If it is a trap, and you're there alone...I should go with you. At least I can... watch from a distance, maybe, and -"
"Your place will be here, Raema, taking my place until I return. I promise you, I will do my very best not to die."
Now he was certainly teasing her, but she had no reply this time. He returned his attention to the book that lay before him. "Go rest and eat," he ordered, without looking up. "I will need you to return to Vivec and get Crassius Curio's answer before I depart."
"Yes, my lord," Raema replied, almost eagerly. Compared to the task of leading the clan in Assurjan's absence, paying another visit to the Hlaalu lecher sounded nearly enjoyable.