Disclaimer; I make no effort to claim that I own The Elder Scrolls Four; Oblivion. The rights and ownership belong solely to Bethesda; I am simply one of their many players :) Lethia, however, is mine :3
-x-
Shink.
Lethia sheathed her katana, looking down at the body in front of her with confusion. It was Jearl, a soft-spoken Redguard who preferred the company of horses to men and mer. She had attacked Lethia the moment she came into view of the runestone, and had been dispatched rather easily, considering her lack of combat experience. As Lethia knelt and closed Jearl's eyes, she noticed the bulge in the Redguard's side pouch. Withdrawing two keys from the corpse's pocket, Lethia turned them over, recognizing the first as a house key and noticing an engravement on the other that read 'basement key.'
"Looks like it's time to pay your house a little visit," Lethia muttered, half to the corpse and half to herself.
The walk back to Bruma would have been beautiful if Lethia had paid it any attention. The sun burned low on the horizon, the actual star obstructed from view by the jagged edges of the Jerall Mountains. The tall trees reached up into the sky, scrawny but defiant to the chilly tundra. Patches of snow littered the ground where the afternoon sun had not reached, but the light snowfall promised to cover them by morning.
As the heavy north gates opened to admit Lethia, her fingers tightened around the two keys held in her hand. She knew Jearl lived near Erline Lirrian and Ongar, but she didn't know which house. Walking purposely down the street to the 'residential hook' as the people of Bruma called it, Lethia picked a house just past Ongar's, making her way up the snowy cobblestone and up onto the wooden porch. Pushing the house key into the lock, Lethia sent a quick prayer to Kynareth, giving the key a twist.
With a click, the door opened, and Lethia released the breath she had been holding. Quickly stepping inside, she closed the door before allowing herself a look around.
Like any other small, cheap house, it was just a vague square-shape with a small step down on the far left side where an alcove suitable for a single bed to be set up in. There was a small table with a few chairs clustered around it in the center of the room, and the coals of a dead fire glowed softly. A couple dirty rugs were scattered around the cold stone floor to liven the place up, but the torn fabric did little to do so. Wandering around, Lethia found nothing unusual about the house; a small shelf cabinet leaned against the wall near a salt barrel, and a few scattered candles still held flames. In other words, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
At least, a normal mer would think so.
Lethia's keen eyes knew they were searching for something hidden, and when they caught the irregular way one of the rugs was laid out, Lethia tugged it aside to find a trapdoor, held shut with a single lock. Lethia awarded herself a small smile as she unlocked it and lifted the heavy oak, easily dropping into the space below.
It was a small basement; just a hall and a small cubby to store crates and barrels, but at the end of it, a single dying candle was flickering in a lantern, and Lethia saw a single book and a scroll lying the table beneath it. Making her way over to it, she unrolled the scroll, quickly scanning the document.
Jearl -
The Master was pleased to hear of your activities outside of Chorrol. The more gates that we open, the nearer we are to the glorious Cleansing.
The Master has chosen you and Saveri for a most crucial mission, a sign of your advancement through the ranks of the Chosen. We have learned that the Septim heir has gone to ground at Cloud Ruler Temple, the lair of the accursed Blades. The Master has made its destruction the top priority of the Order, and Lord Dagon has committed whatever resources are required.
Pending your report on the Septim's activities at Cloud Ruler Temple, and your assessment of Temple defenses and possible routes of escape, we plan to open a Great Gate in the open ground before Bruma as soon as possible. Remember: the first three Lesser Gates represent only the preliminary stages of Great Gate Deployment. Do not in any way compromise your cover in defense of these gates. New ones can be quickly and easily reopened. And once the Great Gate is opened, the fall of Bruma is assured. Cloud Ruler Temple cannot stand long after that, and the Septim will be caught like a rat in a trap.
We would welcome any further details you can offer concerning the Dunmer agent who rescued Martin from Kvatch, but again, we caution you... do not risk a confrontation. This individual is not to be trifled with.
The Dawn is breaking,
Ruma Camoran
Lethia closed the scroll shakily, unbelieving at the information within. So the Mythic Dawn plan to do the same to Bruma as they did to Kvatch? Lethia felt a deep rage building inside her at the thought. Bruma wasn't just another town; it was her home, and if Camoran was daft enough to believe that Lethia would just stand by at watch as he desecrated Bruma...
"Well, he will be sorely disappointed," Lethia finished aloud, folding the scroll in half and tucking it in her bag. Turning to leave, Lethia noticed a door out of the corner of her eye, and when she faced it fully, she realized where the musky scent had come from.
A rickety wooden door slouched on its rusted hinges, and Lethia could see a cave tunnel through the large cracks in the rotting oak. It wasn't even closed completely, and Lethia needed only to tap it with her boot to send the groaning door swinging inward.
The small entrance opened up into a larger chamber, scattered stalagmites curving up like fangs. Lethia followed the tunnel, her way lit by scattered lanterns that were lit by magic. The only resistance she met were two scrawny rats, and they were easy enough to dispose of.
When she reached a fork, she peered out both directions, one leading to a door and the other leading further in. Exploring the second side found only a dead end; nothing but a few rotted-out crates and barrels ridden with cobwebs. When she opened the door on the other side, however, she came out into a rocky outcropping slightly southwest of Bruma, making the Dunmer wonder just how much — or little — the Bruma guard knew.
Lethia sighed as she began making her way up the road, bypassing Bruma and heading for Cloud Ruler. As grim as the news was, Jauffre and Martin needed to know that the Mythic Dawn had found them again.
-x-
"This makes for grim reading, Lethia," Jauffre sighed, rubbing at his wrinkled forehead as he pored over the letter. "It didn't take long for our friends to discover Martin's hiding place here." Directing his full attention to Lethia, he gave her a hard look. "This spoke of two agents. Did you not feel the need to dispatch of the other?"
"No, Jauffre," Lethia explained, bristling at the condescending tone the old master's voice had taken on. "I figured that this information was crucial to get to you so you could better prepare. I was going to take care of the other one after I had delivered this to you. As the deed is done, and I do not seem welcome here, I'll take my leave. Send Fortis down to fetch me when you decide that you need me." Lethia turned on her heel and stormed out of the Great Hall, annoyed with Jauffre's scolding. She was nearly as old as he, and yet he treated her like she was some school child who had cracked her slate.
"Damned n'wah," Lethia muttered darkly as she stole down the steps two at a time. It was dark and snowy, but Lethia hardly noticed it as she cut through the uneven terrain and made for Bruma.
-x-
Despite the late hour, a few townsfolk still mulled about the lanes, and as she wandered through the city, Lethia wondered how she should go about discovering the second spy. Saveri Faram was an alien name to Lethia, and the guards were just as clueless, as per usual. Lethia's hand brushed against the pocket where she kept two hundred septims, and as her eyes fell on a scruffy-looking beggar, Lethia smiled inwardly.
"One more coin and I could get a pair of shoes," he smiled hopefully as Lethia approached, displaying a row of chipped, yellowed teeth.
"See any strangers in town lately?" Lethia asked, getting straight to the point. The man pretended to think, the ritual very familiar to Lethia.
"Nothing comes to mind, I'm afraid. My memory just aint what it used to be." Lethia just rolled her eyes and smiled, almost missing the times when she asked beggars for information on a near daily basis.
"Memories can be persuaded, no?" Lethia held out a one-hundred septim coin with her question.
"Ah, it's coming back to me now," the beggar grinned as he snatched up the coin. "Yeah, seems I saw someone lookin' out the window at Jearl's house the other day. Someone I'd never seen before. When Jearl wasn't home. You see what I mean?" Lethia nodded and thanked the man, watching him happily pad down the slight hill to Olav's Tap and Tack. Shaking her head, Lethia strode over to Jearl's house, stopping on the porch to test the door latch, which gave way almost immediately.
Lethia cracked open the door, peering in at the room. The fire was lit and dancing merrily, sending shadows dancing around the darkened room. Stepping in, Lethia pressed the door closed, holding her breath as it clicked shut. When no figure robed in crimson flew at her with a conjured mace, Lethia sighed and stood up.
And immediately froze.
A Dunmer woman with ash-colored skin and fiery orange hair was sleeping on the old mattress against the alcove wall. She was simply dressed and appeared to be fast asleep, but as Lethia approached, she sat up straight.
"Saveri Faram, is it?" Lethia asked, her body tense and ready to leap aside if a spell was sent her way. The other Dunmer simply stared at Lethia for a few moments before calmly standing, brushing off her skirts and flattening the creases in her clothes. Thrown off, Lethia relaxed slightly, and the other Dark Elf was quick to react.
"For Lord Dagon!" She cried, flying at Lethia with a mace suddenly in her hands. Lethia ducked and struck out her foot, catching Saveri in the knee and sending her tumbling down. A sharp crack echoed against the stone and wood walls, and Saveri Faram was still. Blood pooled around her head from where she struck the stone, and her tunic was stained red from where the handle of the conjured mace had been forced through her abdomen. Her eyes were the same color as the liquid that oozed from her wounds, and they stared straight ahead, unseeing.
-x-
Lethia was almost asleep when she was jolted awake by insistent pounding on her front door. Grumbling about how she needed her sleep, she stumbled up the stairs and managed to unlock the door, peering through a tiny crack to see who she was going to punch in the face.
"Lethia?" The Dark Elf sighed and opened the door fully, too tired to care about her disheveled appearance.
"Hail, Fortis," she greeted tiredly, her left eyelid drooping. "Is Jauffre still pissing around?" The Imperial chuckled, amused by Lethia's lack of a filter.
"Not anymore, no," he smiled. "He heard from Captain Burd that you took care of the last spy and wants you to come back up."
"Fetching n'wah," Lethia slurred, supporting herself with the door. "Fine, I'll be out in ten." With that, she closed the door on her foot, cursing in Dunmeri before the door clicked shut. Fortis merely grinned. It was nice seeing Lethia act like a normal mer for a change.
-x-
After profusely apologizing to Fortis for her behavior — and him shaking his head and assuring her there was no need — Lethia managed to get to Cloud Ruler in good time, despite her fatigue from lack of sleep. When she arrived, she was greeted by a more cordial Jauffre, who asked for her forgiveness in coming off as demanding. After he sent her to go see how Martin was coming along with the Mysterium Xarxes, she heard him muttering about how he was used to only working with Blades.
As Lethia neared him, Martin seemed unaware of her. He was entirely absorbed in the runes of Dagon's book, and Lethia felt the evil radiating from the pages.
"Martin," she greeted, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. "How is it going?"
"I've deciphered part of the ritual needed to open a portal to Camoran's Paradise," he revealed, sounding somewhat robotic. "The Xarxes mentions four items needed for the ritual, but so far, I have only deciphered one of them; 'the blood of a Daedra Lord.' In fact, daedric artifacts are known to be formed from the essence of a Daedric Lord, from whence they derive their great power. Not an easy thing to come by, obviously, but we will need a daedric artifact. Bring it to me when you have acquired one." When Martin didn't say anything further, Lethia knelt beside him, worried for his condition. Up close, Lethia could see the shadows that hung beneath Martin's eyes and the pallor tone of his skin.
"Martin," she repeated gently, her hand still on his shoulder. "Martin, look at me." The priest's eyes darted across the page over and over, as if he hadn't heard her. With a less than gentle shake, Lethia grasped Martin's other shoulder, physically breaking his concentration on the Xarxes. His pale blue eyes fluttered around a bit before they came to rest on Lethia.
"Ah, Lethia, welcome back," he smiled warmly, the color returning to his eyes. "I trust you're well?" When Lethia didn't respond, he seemed to notice the worried look she was giving him.
"Whatever is the matter, Lethia?" The Dunmer's gaze fell to the book in Martin's hands, and he looked down at the pages as well.
"Ah, the deciphering is going well," he smiled brightly, looking back at Lethia and managing to catch her eyes. "I've actually found out what one of the four items that we'll need to open a portal to Camoran's Paradise it."
"Yes, Martin, you've told me," Lethia said slowly, looking back and forth between Martin's right and left eyes.
"I have?" A puzzled look crossed over Martin's face, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Martin, let's go outside for a moment." When the priest didn't move, Lethia picked up the Mysterium Xarxes and closed it, placing it on the table in front of him. "Come on; you need some fresh air." Helping him stand, Lethia let Martin lean against her shoulder as they hobbled out the Great Hall doors.
-x-
Well, that's about it for this chapter, guys! I hope you all enjoyed! :D