Winds of Change: An Elder Scrolls Novel

Greg J Miller

~O~

Chapter 21

Tirdas the 1st of Sun's Dusk 4E50 Early Morning

It was hardly surprising that Alex was the first one up in the morning. He didn't know what time it was as he rose. Only that it was probably still some time before the dawn. Though he still felt rather sluggish, he was feeling like he'd had more than enough rest. In fact, he thought that he'd probably slept far too much and was feeling just a little worse because of it.

Since everyone else appeared to sleeping soundly, he made an effort not to disturb anyone as he quietly made his way for the bathroom facilities located at the rear of the guest suite. Even though he'd seen the like of it before, the general opulence of what passed for such facilities in the guest quarters of the Imperial Tower still made him feel somewhat awkward.

Back in Chorrol, he'd be making use of a chamber pot at that time of the morning and he'd need to go take that out to the sewer drain later on. Even the downstairs facilities at the Wawnet Inn, situated over the sewerage drainage pits were nothing special.

Of course though more ordinary, the facilities in places like the Merchants Inn of the Market District of the city seemingly employed the same general principal, yet somehow the facilities in those tower guest suites seemed far too decorative and indulgent for the purpose.

After attending to immediate requirements, then washing his lightly stubbled face in the water of the ornate brass washbasin and running his fingers through his hair, Alex quietly returned to the main space of the guest suite. He then made his way for the sitting room area to find a comfortable chair to sit down and think in the tranquillity of the morning.

Only a small oil lamp burning a low wick provided some lighting to that part of the suite. In the relative quiet, he just sat there silently gazing at the flicking flame.

During the previous evening, just a short while after that Chief Inspector had departed, a Breton woman had arrived at the guest suite with a cart bearing the hot meals, as had been promised. As well as the plates of hot food, she'd also brought two carafes of wine and an enormous metal teapot with fine ceramic cups.

Though everyone was still quite tired at the time, the arrival of steaming hot meals easily overrode the interest in immediately returning to resting. The prepared food consisted of grilled fresh fish and a selection of hot vegetables. The unusual combination of aromatic spices made the meals seem uncommonly intoxicating to the senses.

As they were enjoying the hot food, Rena had passed a comment. She'd mentioned how unlike around the Imperial City, the availability of fresh fish was fairly uncommon in the Skingrad markets. She said that it had been much the same back when she lived in Kvatch. Of course some dried fish or brine soaked barrels of fish would periodically arrive on transports from Anvil, but anything fresher than that was a rarity and generally far more expensive than seemed reasonable.

Even though the upper reach of the Strid River was not located so far from Skingrad, the fish were not so plentiful around there and the waters were not so easily accessible from the steep banks and cliff faces of the northern side. Those unfavourable factors generally discouraged fishermen in that area. Added to that, just across the far side of the river lay the Valenwood, representing the border between the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion. Even the smugglers had grown wary of that stretch of the river over the past few decades.

Of course being even further from such bodies of water, the availability of fresh fish in Chorrol was just as much of a rarity. Still, Monika and Alex visited the Wawnet Inn often enough that they actually had the opportunity to enjoy some sort of fresh fish with fair regularity.

Reflecting upon his days back in Falkreath, Alex noted that he probably eaten far more fish taken from Lake Ilinalta back then and sometimes even more often than he might have preferred. Though he also conceded that the freshwater fish were generally prepared in a more simple fashion back in southern Skyrim. It was certainly nothing at all like those spicy meals they'd been provided with in the Imperial Tower.

Even after they'd all finished with their meals, the topic of conversation remained light and inconsequential and did not really last so long at all. Everyone was still feeling far too weary from the activities of the past day or so.

The wine from the carafes had been only mildly disturbed. The wine was very good and probably very expensive, but the desire to properly enjoy it seemed rather low.

Avoiding the wine, Alex had been the only one to sample the tea. It seemed like something imported from High Rock, but he couldn't really tell. He passed no comment, not even finishing it. He liked the tea well enough, but had been feeling far too tired as the hot food settled in his belly.

Before long at all, each of the Guild Fighters had surrendered to the pressing call for proper rest. Ras'Dar had actually started to nod off at the dining table. It could not have been any later than eight in the evening by the time they were all giving in to the siren call of slumber and seeking the safe harbour of comfortable beds.

An odd noise from the sleeping Khajiit briefly drew Alex's attention away from the flickering flame of the oil lamp. Ras'Dar had yet to wake, but those noises seemed an indication that he would probably be stirring soon.

Sitting there in the dimly lit guest suite, bordered upon all sides by walls of stone, Alex thought it strange that people might choose to live in places like that. Without question, it certainly seemed fortified and safe, but far too closed in for his liking.

Alex idly wondered how Treb and his family managed in such a place. Without someone actually informing him, there really seemed no way to know what time of a day it might be. He considered that perhaps the royal suites located up above had proper windows to the outside world. After all they had to be so high in the tower that they hardly needed to be sealed off from the outside world.

Alex's silent musings were again distracted by something. That time it came from another subdued movement in the guest suite. Forester had quietly risen from the larger bed and then proceeded to pad across the floor to the bathroom facilities.

Several moments later, Forester emerged from the back area. He paused briefly, then made his way over to where Alex had settled. He was wearing only the long tunic and undergarment that he normally wore beneath his mithril armour. Though adequate to provide cover of modesty, it seemed far more informal than his usual preference of presentation.

Instead of immediately taking to a seat, Forester stepped over toward the cart by the large table. He paused to consider the large metal teapot, noting that it seemed heavy and full of liquid. He sniffed at the opening of the raised pouring spout.

Alex kept his voice low. "That would be cold."

Forester cleared his throat, trying not to be too noisy. "Yes, I expect so."

Without explaining his intent, Forester placed both hands near the metal teapot. He closed his eyes and he whispered his spell. For a somewhat prolonged moment, a pulsing glow emanated from about his hands, engulfing the metal receptacle. After he'd stopped that activity, he noted a gentle wafting of steam rising from the spout. He gingerly tapped the side of the metal pot in a manner that confirmed that it must have been too hot to touch. Cautiously testing the handle, it seemed that it was safe enough to use.

Looking back toward where Alex sat, Forester's unspoken suggestion seemed clear enough. Alex returned a polite nod. Forester proceeded to pour out two servings of tea into the fine ceramic cups provided for that purpose, then brought them both over to the sitting room area. He handed a cup of steaming tea over to Alex, before settling into a second chair.

After briefly savouring the aromatic steam rising from the cup, Forester took a cautious sip of the hot tea. He seemed to find it satisfying. Doing the same sort of thing, Alex's expression appeared to declare a similar opinion.

Since not everyone was up, Forester sought to keep his voice restrained. "I thought it might have been somewhat colder in here, once the fire had burned out."

Alex only returned a subdued grunt of acknowledgment as he glanced over toward the small fireplace set into the stone wall. Though the ash might still have been hot, the flames had obviously subsided some hours before. The stonework probably held onto some of the heat as well. It was fair to assume that it was probably quite cool outside at that time of morning, but not so inside the tower. At least, not in that guest suite.

Taking a second sip of his tea, Forester looked to Alex again. "If I might observe, you have not seemed quite yourself. Not since we returned from beneath the city."

Alex only silently shrugged. He did not return eye contact, instead focussing upon the cup he was holding.

Forester took another sip of tea before speaking again. "The Ancient… the vampire… that ordeal was rather… unpleasant. Still, that's all behind us now."

Without looking up, Alex murmured. "We were not good enough. Not good enough, by far. Only lucky… lucky enough to be spared… or just used as part of a bargain…"

Forester maintained an even tone. "Well, no. Our skills as Guild Fighters did seem inadequate in response to that particular adversary. Of course, our additional skills had also been neutered or countered, or else just not adequate to challenge someone like that. There really wasn't much that we could've done."

Alex's expression did not reflect any improvement in his mood. It might not have been the case that he expected to emerge unscathed from every danger that he faced, but he liked to think that proper training and skill, along with proper caution and determination should generally place him in a better position than that one they had escaped.

Forester softly cleared his throat. "You might think back to what transpired beneath the Arena of Sentinel. With the rest of us enthralled by the effects of that misappropriated artefact… well, none of us were well placed to deal with the circumstances." He paused on a sigh. "You were the only one present in that locked room during that fleeting encounter with Malacath. Well, the only one alive, I should say. Malacath could easily have torn you to pieces upon a whim… but he didn't. In the face of Daedric Princes or even Ancient Vampires, we must remember that we are only men."

He waited a lengthy moment, but Alex offered no immediate response. Forester maintained his even tone. "I'm perfectly confident of our ability to deal with common vampires and the like. However, that ancient vampire could hardly be considered common. Not common at all. All in all, I'm quite glad of our good fortune."

Alex released a heavy sigh. "You are right, I suppose. It… it was all just so frustrating. We were meant to be getting those assassins. Instead, we just ended up being… being held by that vampire."

"Well, we did play our part in capturing the assassins. Perhaps not in the way we might have reasonably expected, but the task was achieved nonetheless. If nothing else, keeping the Ancient somewhat entertained… and somewhat on side… well, that was something of an achievement as well. After all, he did follow through with keeping to his word and he did not harm us unduly."

Alex sighed again. "That was all on you. Not me."

Forester nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps. However given his uncommon civility, it was not really so difficult. Perhaps added to that, your apparent reluctance to appear at all cooperative… well, that did serve to make me appear me all the more cooperative."

Alex shook his head, seemingly struggling with conflicting thoughts. "If… if he was not a vampire, I might almost have thought… well, he almost seemed like… like he wanted to be a decent sort of person… or something like that… but he IS a vampire."

"Well yes, he is a vampire. Though perhaps once like us, he is no longer like us."

Alex still appeared to be searching for some rationalisation. "He seemed to care about the big things… and the future of things… like the Empire and a peaceful Tamriel, but not people… not individual people."

Forester nodded again. "Yes well, I expect that he's no longer accustomed to caring about individuals. Nonetheless, the circumstances of the day played out in our favour. The assassins were captured. Some local vampires that might have caused further trouble have been eliminated. Added to that, the Ancient is likely to have slipped away without causing any further trouble for anyone else at all. All in all, a favourable outcome."

Alex took a quick sip of his tea before speaking again. "I suppose. Still, it… it just hardly feels like we did our job… like Fighters Guild. It makes me wonder… wonder what we are doing… what I'm doing… wonder if I am really up to the job."

Forester returned a look of concern. "You're not thinking of…?" Even without completing the query, his meaning was clear enough.

Alex sighed again. "No, not really. People still need help. People rely on my… on OUR help… as Guild Fighters. The Fighters Guild can do what falls beneath the notice of the Imperial Legion. The things that do not even seem to matter to the Penitus Oculatus. Helping ordinary people."

"Yes, quite." Forester took another sip of tea.

What Alex had said was nothing that Forester didn't already know well enough for himself. He might have offered something similar, if Alex hadn't said it first. Still, it sounded more like Alex was trying to convince himself.

In truth, it was actually a variation of things that Alex had heard Monika say to others before. It held the tone of arguments she'd utilised back in Wayrest when trying to convince members of her family of the worthiness of remaining with the Fighters Guild.

A lengthy moment of silence continued to pass between them.

Though unlikely to have easily overheard much of what had been said from across the far side of the suite, the relatively subdued noise of conversation had disturbed Ras'Dar's slumber. The Suthay Khajiit had sluggishly rolled over and risen from the smaller bed where he'd been sleeping. After orientating himself, he disappeared off to the bathroom for a few moments. At that point, both Monika and Rena still appeared to be sleeping.

Returning from the bathroom, Ras'Dar briefly fussed with checking over his steel armour, before deciding that he didn't really need to think about wearing it just yet.

Still, the noises that Ras'Dar made served to disturb Monika's sleep. In turn, Rena was also brought around to consciousness, if not motivated to actually get up.

Soon enough, everybody was up and about, though all remained quite uncertain of the hour. It was also a fair observation that each of them felt somewhat groggy after such an extended period of sleep. The rest was certainly needed, but the after-effects of taking it all at once did tend to leave each of them feeling less than energetic.

That pot of tea that Forester had reheated quickly proved a welcome and popular remedy. Fortunately, the large pot contained enough to go around for everyone. Though it didn't seem like the kind of tea that Ras'Dar generally preferred, he did seem happy enough to be drinking it.

After everyone had finished their tea and some of them had picked at the previously untouched sweetbreads that no one had noticed the night before, effort was made to get dressed in their respective attires. For Alex, Monika and Rena, that meant the plain clothes they'd worn into the city upon the day of the festival. For Ras'Dar, that meant his custom steel armour, except for the helmet, which he'd left in the lockup back at the inn.

Forester was soon wearing his mithril armour over his undergarments, almost appearing as he might usually be seen in public. However, he was rather openly agitated by the absence of his boots.

After checking with the guard posted outside the door, Forester was pleasantly surprised to learn that his boots had already been cleaned and returned. Before that, he was thinking that he might have needed to wait much longer. Or even need to make further inquiry or be escorted to the location of the appropriate smith. However, the boots were back and quite obviously properly cleaned. In fact, he remained just a little suspicious that they might not be his boots, since he'd not previously seen them looking quite so clean since they were new. He was more than a little curious what methods an Imperial smith might have utilised to achieve such a result.

From the guard, Forester had also learned that it had yet to pass the hour of seven in the morning. Before that, he really held little idea of what time it might be.

Along with Forester's boots, the guard had also passed on a satchel, which contained potions for them. Of course, the potions were intended as treatment against any possible infection from contact with the vampire. Only Forester and Alex had endured any extended contact with the Ancient and he was confident they were unaffected. The other three had experienced even less contact. Nonetheless, if only to be perfectly sure, all the Guild Fighters took the potions. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Though they'd been told they were welcome to stay in the guest suite throughout the evening, none of them were interested in remaining there any longer than necessary. It seemed like any further extension of their stay might feel like an abuse of the hospitality.

Alex had quietly suspected that the Prince might pay them a brief visit, but hadn't been really expecting it. After all, he understood that Attrebus must have far more serious concerns and responsibilities on his plate. Added to that, the Prince had already extended generous courtesies for their benefit.

Once the Guild Fighters had gathered up their things and were ready to go, Forester again troubled the guard outside to see if they could take their leave and be escorted from the Imperial tower.

After making their way back down from above, the Guild Fighters emerged from the ornate doors of the White-Gold Tower and then onto the steps down to the elevated platform encircling the towering structure. When they last entered the Imperial Tower around noon of the previous day, the skies overhead had been mostly clear.

A moderately mild early winter morning wasn't an unreasonable prospect. There was perhaps some fair expectation of a slight chill in the air, competing with the milder sunlight of a Sun's Dusk morning. However, it seemed that the weather had again completely turned during their time inside.

A blanket of gray cloud had rolled in, covering the visible firmament from horizon to horizon. Though not quite so cold, the air remained cool, with little promise of any sunlight to bring warmth to the bleak day ahead. At least it wasn't windy. That would have made things seem far worse.

Looking out across the space of the central district, there were still a few signs of some temporary structures left in place from the festivities of two days before. However, it seemed that all the loose rubbish and the like had been cleaned away.

The relatively empty space of the Green Emperor Way appeared as a stark contrast to how crowded it had been during the day of celebration. Even upon the pathways below, there were few people to be seen about that morning.

Just near the steps from the elevated platform down to the path below, a boy with messy brown hair sat perched upon the low stone wall, leaning against a support column. He shifted with a start, seemingly in reaction to the appearance of the Guild Fighters. He climbed down from the wall and headed directly for them.

The freckle-faced boy was rather poorly dressed and looked fairly grubby. He might have looked to be around fourteen or so. At a first glance, he seemed like he might be a beggar looking for coin.

Drawing near, the lad looked directly to Monika with an expectant expression. "It's me. Jonus."

Monika looked back to the boy, trying to place the face and name.

Alex thought he recognised the lad. "Is he, ah… Livia's…?"

"Oh, yeah… ah, Livia." That seemed enough to jog Monika's memory. She realised where she'd seen him before. He was the eldest boy of Livia, the washer woman who helped out at the Wawnet Inn on a part time basis. She'd seen him once or twice helping his mother with bringing deliveries from the city.

"Me mum sent me to go find ya. Said she heard from soldiers that Fighters Guild went chasin' after the ones what tried to attack the Emp'ror an' the Prince. Figured I might find ya, if I waited 'round the front of the palace tower."

With a bewildered expression, Monika shook her head. "Why?"

Scratching his neck, Jonus shrugged. "Said to tell ya that ya needta get back to the Wawnet, soon as ya can."

Monika responded with a heavy frown and a sigh. "Why? What's it about?"

Jonus shrugged again. "D'int say. Just that ya needta get back there."

Alex looked to Monika with a concerned expression. A few thoughts crossed his mind, but they remained unspoken.

Clearing his throat, Forester spoke up. "Yes well, returning to the Wawnet Inn was on the agenda for today, whether directly or otherwise."

Monika glanced at the gray sky overhead, trying to gauge whether it looked like actual rain on the way or just the idle threat of rain.

Rena offered her opinion. "Might as well all head back there. Not the best weather for wandering about the Market District anyway."

"Yes, I agree." Forester added his voice.

Ras'Dar remained perfectly silent, seemingly quite prepared to go along whatever others suggested.

Jonus fidgeted, looking at his feet. "S'pose that means I got no excuse ta keep me from goin' to the schoolhouse today?"

Alex responded. "No, you do not. You should go do that."

Jonus sighed. "Righto then. You'll tell me mum I went?"

Alex returned a nod. "We will. Off you go, before you are late."

With a hangdog expression, the lad turned about and headed off.

Monika released another heavy sigh. "I s'pose we ought get moving then, before it starts to rain on us."

~O~