Hello wonderful people!
I'm sorry that it's been awhile! I decided to make a few changes to the story (future events) and I had to remake the timeline. I think that the changes will be much better so I hope you all enjoy them! After some planning and reworking, I determined that we have A LONG way to go in this story. My guess is that we're almost halfway through. So buckle up peeps! I do apologize that I have not been posting as often, I am currently going through some health issue but I will continue to update as much as I can. As usual, I hope you all continue to love the story. I REALLY appreciate all of the feedback that I've been getting. Please feel free to let me know what you think! Thank you all again! 3
-Sh4d3r
Recap:
"This is my friend Kari, and this is my friend Ashe." Ryne said, motioning towards us. I turned to greet his friend and my body froze when we locked eyes. "Ashe this is…"
"Impossible…" The woman gasped. Her violet eyes widened.
My heart stopped.
"Karliah?" I whispered.
Chapter Start:
It was hard to determine which one of us was more surprised. I didn't know why it hadn't occurred to me that Karliah could still be alive. Dunmer could live for centuries. As an Imperial, I shouldn't have been alive.
"I don't understand, how can this be?" Karliah was at a loss for words.
Without hesitation, I stood up and pulled her into a hug. She gladly received it.
The consequences of our reunion were unpredictable, but all I felt at that moment was bliss. This whole time, I thought that everyone I knew was either dead or out of reach. Just one look at Karliah completely eliminated the loneliness that had been lingering over me since I had arrived.
"I take it you two know each other." Ryne said curiously.
When we broke from the hug, I took a moment to examine her face to make sure she was real.
"Yes…" Thankfully, Karliah had taken note of how Ryne had addressed me. "Ashe...Is a very good friend of mine. I haven't seen her in years." Her eyes returned to me. "You haven't changed in the slightest. I thought you were dead."
"Yes, well, we have a lot to catch up on." I smiled.
"Why don't we do that in the Cistern." Karliah said, motioning for us to follow.
"Karliah, are you certain they can?" Ryne whispered, motioning to me and Kari.
"Ashe is as much of a member as you are. I trust her more than anyone else in Tamriel. As far as your friend, if you both vouch for her, I won't question it." Karliah glanced at Kari. Ryne and I both nodded.
We followed her back.
"So how exactly do you know each other?" Ryne's brows furrowed in deep thought.
I didn't have to time fabricate a lie, but luckily, I was in the presence of the best.
"We've worked together on a few Guild jobs." Karliah replied. She wasn't wrong. It was clear that Ryne was hoping for more detail than that, but he didn't have time to press before she changed the subject. "I'm happy you're all here and I'm assuming it's for Bjorn."
"Yes. Juunei-Teegla showed up at the cabin, looking for me-…"
"I know. I'm the one who sent him. I thought it would be best to involve you." Karliah replied, cutting Ryne off.
"Do you have any leads?" He asked.
"Yes, just one, but you're not going to like it." She frowned. "Maro Hex."
"Shit." Ryne muttered.
"What's wrong?" My brows furrowed.
"Maro Hex is a mercenary for the Black-Briars." Ryne replied.
"The Guild clearly has strong ties with them, what's the problem?" I pressed.
"Correct. We happily conduct business with the Black-Briars, however, we avoid business with Maro. He tends to bring us more trouble than coin." Karliah frowned.
"Do you know where we can find Maro?" Kari asked.
"My bet would be on the Meadery." Karliah responded.
"Well then, let's go." Ryne said.
"Of course. I'll join you, but if possible, I'd like a moment with Ashe." Karliah requested. Ryne looked slightly suspicious but nodded.
We both stepped away, being sure to distance ourselves from any potential eavesdroppers.
"I can't believe it. Please tell me this isn't some illusion." Karliah gasped.
Based on her reaction, she had been holding in her disbelief for the sake of my discretion.
"No, it's me. It's Ember." I smiled.
"How? What happened to you? Serana told us that you disappeared. We searched for months…years." She frowned.
"I'm...I'm sorry. She was right." My brows furrowed as I replayed the events in my head again. Karliah didn't respond. She waited patiently, but eagerly for my explanation. "I have yet to find who is responsible, but someone sent me here...to the future." Her eyes widened. "The night that I spent with Brynjolf and the others, that was when it happened. When I woke up, I was here. That was nearly a month ago for me."
"Why would someone do that?" She frowned.
"I don't know why, but they know who I am and they do not have good intentions." I clenched my fists.
"I take it that you've had an encounter with them."
"Yes. I was attacked by men wearing a sigil of Alduin. They seem to be some kind of cult. We killed them, but I doubt that the one in charge was among them. They will likely strike again."
"That explains the fake identity." She began to piece it together. "And Ryne?"
"The night I arrived, Ryne and Desmond took me in. I've been helping them track down Ysara. I think this cult is connected to the Hjaalmarch disappearances."
"That's troubling news. How much do they know?" Karliah motioned towards the others.
"Kari knows everything. Ryne...doesn't know."
"He's a good man. You can trust him." She reassured.
"I know. We've been nearly inseparable for the last few weeks. If not for him, I doubt I'd be standing here." I bit my lip and glanced over, catching his gaze.
Karliah followed my eyes.
"I see…" She smiled.
"What?" I muttered.
"The way you look at him...It's the same way that I looked at Gallus."
I opened my mouth to respond, but I didn't know what to say. Lying to her was pointless. She would see right through it. Knowing Karliah, she could see through the lies that I told myself.
"When I find out who brought me here, I'll return to my time and…" I began to choke on my own words.
The obvious goal was to find out who was behind the disappearances, eliminate the threat, and return to my time. It was where I belonged...but was also easier said than done. The more time I spent here, the less I wanted to go back. I swallowed hard and bit my tongue.
"I see. It seems you have a difficult path ahead of you." She frowned sympathetically. "We should get back to the others. We'll talk more later." Karliah said, changing the subject on my behalf.
I nodded and followed her over.
"Alright, let's head to the Meadery." Karliah said to the others.
We followed her lead out of the Cistern. As usual, Ryne's curious and concerned gaze was burning its way into the side of my head.
The Black-Briar Meadery had taken over what used to be the Pawned Prawn and extended even further outside of the city walls. It had nearly doubled in size. As expected, they had also doubled in business.
When we walked in, there were people everywhere. Karliah and Ryne scanned the rooms as we made our way through. After a few minutes, they pointed at a man sitting in a private area, surrounded by his friends.
The man was large, buff, bald, and wore a higher tier of mercenary armor. He looked up at us and grinned.
"Ryne, to what do I owe the pleasure? Were you ready to take a job for me?" His voice was deep and his tone, cocky.
"Where's Bjorn?" Ryne jumped straight to the point.
"Bjorn? I have no idea. I haven't seen him in months."
"We know he took a job for you Maro, and he has yet to return. Just tell us where he is and we'll be on our way." Karliah's brows furrowed.
"I told you, I don't know where he is." Maro insisted.
I gritted my teeth. Bjorn had already been missing for days and to be honest, I was not in the mood to deal with this guy. I stepped in front of Ryne and looked down on Maro.
"Cut the bullshit. Where is he?" I glared.
"Back off Sweetheart. Leave this to the businessmen." Maro mocked.
"Tell me where he is." I seethed.
"I don't know. Perhaps a little coin could refresh my memory." Maro and his men chuckled.
I stepped forward again, looking him right in the eyes. Maro got to his feet and stood his ground. Ryne gently grabbed my forearm and tugged.
"Ashe, just leave it. We'll give him the coin, get the information, and be on our way." Ryne said calmly.
Maro seemed pleased with this. I cursed under my breath and snapped my arm from Ryne. Giving in to men like this irked me. Karliah didn't look surprised at my actions, she almost looked amused. Even so, I did my best to see this as Guild business and headed for the exit. I didn't make it very far before I felt a hand slap my ass.
"Good girl." Maro vexed, pulling his hand back.
"Oh shit…" Ryne said under his breath.
My nostrils flared and I swiftly turned around. Maro's eyes widened when I paced towards him and kicked him in the diaphragm. He flew back, threw the wooden wall, and slid across the ground of the other room, holding his chest.
His men scrambled and surrounded us but Maro raised his hand, stopping them in their tracks.
"You have no idea what you just did. Do you know who I am? The Black-Briars could end their business with the Thieves Guild for this…" He didn't have time to finish his sentence when I lifted him off of the ground by his collar and slammed him into the wall.
"Don't threaten me with the Black-Briars. Do you think that they would take kindly to you throwing their name around for your personal arrangements? You gave Bjorn the job, so as far as I'm concerned, our business is with you. Now tell me what I want to know." I demanded, tightening my grip.
"All right!" He surrendered.
I released his collar and backed away, waiting patiently for Maro to compose himself. He glared and signaled for his men to back down.
"What was the job?" I crossed my arms.
"A guy came to me a couple weeks ago. He said that he wanted me to raid a tomb and get him some artifact, called the Staff of Wraiths." Maro said. Kari cursed under her breath.
"What is it?" I asked her.
"The Staff of Wraiths is a very powerful, very dangerous artifact. It's not to be toyed with by thieves." She lectured Maro. "No offense." She said softly to Karliah.
"None taken." Karliah replied.
"Do you have any idea what that staff is capable of?" Kari frowned at Maro.
"Yeah, I do. That's why I hired Bjorn for a lower rate. He was to get the staff on my behalf and I could hand it over to my buyer."
"You're a gem in the rocks, aren't you?" I scoffed. Maro ignored my sarcasm.
"Where is the staff?" Kari asked.
"Snow Veil Sanctum. You're wasting your time, that fool is long dead by now." Maro taunted. I grit my teeth and planted my fist into his face. Maro cried out and looked up at me with thick streams of blood running from his nose. "You little bitch! You broke my nose!"
"You better pray that he's still alive. If not, you'll have more than a broken nose." I hissed.
Maro's men backed up as I walked passed them and out of the Meadery. The others followed me outside of the Riften gates and to the lake.
I kneeled down and washed Maro's blood from my hand.
"Well that didn't go well." Ryne pointed out.
When I turned, his arms were crossed and his expression was one of disappointment.
"Don't blame me. I tried to walk away. He provoked me." I bickered.
"I personally enjoyed it." Karliah chuckled.
"I second that." Kari replied.
"Don't encourage her." He pleaded.
I dried my hands and looked up at Ryne. He was trying to be the responsible one, but I knew that he had the same burning desire to knock Maro on his ass.
"Kari, what's the deal with this staff?" I asked.
"The Staff of Wraiths was created by one of Azura's former followers. The man became blinded by his thirst for power. He left Azura, and forged the staff to win Prince Boethiah's favor and become his champion. The staff supposedly holds the souls of over 1,000 victims of torment and tragedy." She frowned.
"Why would anyone want something like that?" My brows furrowed.
"Because it holds immense power of Illusion. It causes hallucinations, death echoes, nightmares; It makes you relive your darkest memories or shows you what you fear most. It was made to destroy the mind. I thought that mages of the College had obtained the staff and locked it away. Apparently, I was wrong." Kari said.
"Well, that's just great." Ryne groaned.
"Snow Veil Sanctum it is then." I replied.
"Just like old times." Karliah smiled at me. I returned her smile and nodded.