Author's note: As many folks have mentioned, Balmora ought to be much more crowded than the game engine allowed at the time. Going further, it's logical that the "east side of town" ought to be darker, seedier and much more dangerous. Strangers are not advised to travel alone.

Muthsera is a greeting used to those of lower or common rank, or from an adult to a child. Sera is a shortened version and both forms are used for both genders. The closest American equivalent would be 'Goodwife' or 'Goody'. The plural is Serani. Serjo is a greeting or title used for those of higher rank, and it is rarely used in plural. The closest American equivalent would be 'Lord' or 'Lady'.

Lastly, it looks like this is a good place to end this part of Tallis' story. Weird. I never anticipated finding an end-point. Rest assured that I'm not done with her in terms of fanfiction.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own Morrowind, or any of the other wondrous creations of Bethesda Softworks, however I certainly lay claim to misspellings, mistakes, tweaks and characters of my own creation. Mods used in story will be credited. Characters are mostly credited, but I am way behind forwarding requests to the Fanfiction folks to expand the Elder Scrolls character lists.

~~The Bad Part of Town~~

Tallis stood uncertainly on the western side of one of the many wide stone walkbridges that crossed the Odai, and would carry her to the east side of Balmora. Labor town as Ajira had told her it was called. From where she stood, the buildings in Labor town looked taller. And more poorly built. The upper stories were much more rickety in construction and occasionally connected by what was probably supposed to be walkways of some sort. She would definitely never consider walking on them.

She could see furtive movement near the sides of buildings. People walking looked wary, or angry or both. It wasn't anything like any part of any town she had ever been. Or really wanted to see. But Sellus Gravius had told her to find Caius Cosades, and according to the Balmoran caravaner, Labor Town was where he was to be found.

Surely a knight errant of the Imperial Legion wouldn't send her anywhere too dangerous? She recalled that he had addressed her as 'mage'. So if there was any sort of danger, he thought she was up to the challenge. She stood just a little bit straighter at the thought.

She walked about halfway across the bridge and stood there. The hairs at the back of her neck were prickling, and it wasn't from the way Tickle kept shifting about. Someone in a full suit of gold-colored armor walked casually past her. For a moment she wondered if it was some kind of plate mail, but the person was moving too easily for it to be that heavy, and the sounds of his or her armor were different. More quiet than metal.

"Move along, outlander." Even though she couldn't see the dunmer's face behind the covered helmet, she could certainly hear the sneer.

She flinched a bit at the nearness of the harsh voice. The guard continued walking, and she trailed along in his wake, trying to look like she was walking with him. Or maybe just following him. Unfortunately for that plan, he was walking much faster than she could.

By the time she reached the other side, the guard was already across and partway down another street.

Tallis could feel that people were looking at her. Now on this side of the river, she could smell sharp pungent odors. Unwashed men and mer. Chemicals; the scents of leatherworkers, and things much worse. The rusty smell of old blood.

She wanted to run back across the walkway, but she needed to stay. She needed to do this. She needed to find Caius Cosades. She was on an official mission. Sort of. She took a deep breath.

Someone touched her right shoulder.

Tallis jumped and made a sound that was halfway between an "Eep" and a squeak. Tickle and Blossom both reared up on her shoulders, hissing and making high pitched growling sounds. Blossom, who was perched on Tallis' right shoulder, made raking gestures with her claws.

She saw a tall dumner. Well of course he was tall, all the dumner seemed to be really tall. He was wearing a patterned blue long sleeved shirt with some embroidery on it. His leggings were of the same blue. His boots were some sort of pale material that looked a little like shiny leather, and he had ornaments in his dark brown hair. Tallis thought they looked like some kind of mother of pearl.

Had she seen him when she first came to Morrowind, she would have thought his outfit very fine. But having met T'rheel, and more recently Ranis Athrys had shown her what real quality garments looked like here. What this mer was wearing was an imitation, and not a very good one.

"You look lost my dear," His tone was overly affectionate, and his uncertain glances at Blossom told her that as uncomfortably close as he had come, if it wasn't for the Nix-hounds he would be even closer. She was very glad she had them. He added. "Can I be of some assistance?"

Well, just because she didn't feel trusting towards him was no reason he couldn't be helpful. "I'm looking for Caius Cosades. Someone told me he could be found at a Corner Club?"

He smiled at that, and though it was probably meant to be ingratiating, even to herself she could only describe it as 'icky'. "Why muthsera, I can certainly be of help to you in finding that fine establishment."

She made a mental note that whatever it was like, it was probably worse than she'd initially imagined. But she didn't want to just wander around lost, so she decided to accept his directions.

Slightly against her preference, she extended a hand to shake. "I'm Tallis D'Artagnan."

He took her offered hand in his own, and bowed carefully over it. To her great relief he did not actually kiss it. "My name is Ernil Omoran." Looking her in the eye, clearly trying to do his best to ignore the two Nix-hounds, he said. "I'll be happy to escort you there. I think you will find it an interesting place."

She followed him past two poorly garbed Orisimer who broke off their conversation to stare bluntly and appraisingly at both her and her escort. Then into a narrow alleyway, which started her shoulder blades itching. Blossom and Tickle turned round and round on her shoulders, raising up and lowering down, pedipalps reaching and clicking softly.

She found herself wishing for some sort of scary-looking showy magic. Gaspar would call it rude, but really, this place wasn't as nice as the Imperial City. The golden garbed guards seemed mostly to stay on the west side of the Odai. Well maybe she could come up with some helpful magic a little later.

They turned right, south, she was pretty sure, and walked past grimy buildings, trash littered gutters, sewer grates clogged with filth and worse. Some of the people she passed were sitting against buildings, eyes half-closed or focused in the distance. They didn't look drunk exactly and they had a sharp odor. At least two were asleep, judging by the snores. Tallis's shoes started making little mucky noises. She didn't even want to know what sort of ick was on the streets here.

A half-grown dumner girl with sickly looking skin, brittle hair as pale as Ernil's boots and hollow looking eyes watched them silently. Tallis wished she dared to say something to the girl. Anything.

Then a rough voice called out. "Errnil! Errnil, please."

Tallis' caught the most momentary flash of irritation in the dunmer's expression, and then his hand was extended toward this newcomer.

A young khajiit girl, her fur patterned with orangish light and dark stripes approached with slightly shaky strides. Tallis could see that her skirt and blouse had once been quite nice, but showed grime in wrinkled patterns that said she wasn't taking care of herself very well. Her fur was a little matted, as if she had been sleeping outside. Her pupils were so dilated that Tallis couldn't tell the color of her eyes. Somehow that seemed to make it worse.

"Ernil, this one needs-" The khajiit caught sight of Tallis, and abruptly stopped. She brushed at the dirty fur on the side of her face. "Um."

Ernil seemed to glide forward. "Muthsera, you seem in some distress." He patted her hand. "I was just showing Tallis here, the way to the Corner Club where she is looking for someone. Perhaps you would like to join us and we shall ... talk ... once we get inside."

From the way Ernil glanced sharply at the young khajiit as he paused, and the way she suddenly looked hopeful and grateful, Tallis was pretty sure that she'd missed part of their conversation. She also had a strong suspicion that if she knew what it was, she wouldn't like it.

"Oh, this one thanks you, Serjo."

Tallis noticed that she was shivering. Cold, or maybe excitement, the Breton couldn't tell for sure.

He nodded to the khajiit, and then to Tallis. "Tallis D'Artagnan, may I present my friend Tsiya."

Tallis noted that the dunmer didn't encourage them to shake hands, and kept himself between the two of them as they walked.

She also noted that Tsiya didn't appear to pay any attention to the two Nix-hounds who were not quite settled down yet.

As they walked, Ernil commented, "This is a rather unorthodox part of town, but it does have its own charms. I'm sure you'll find it memorable, Tallis."

Tallis was sure that she would have at least one nightmare.

The South Wall Cornerclub wasn't actually part of the south wall of Balmora. It wasn't really in any sort of corner either. Tallis wondered what the name really meant. It was a low-slung building that couldn't be more than two stories high at most. As they got close, she noted a sweetish smell that itched her nose. Once inside, the air was heavy with smoke. There were old sour smells underneath the sweetish smoke.

Maybe along with the showy scary magic spell, Tallis thought to herself that she should maybe consider some sort of spell that kept all the bad smells and smoke in an area away from someone. Well, no, sometimes smelling something could be important. There had to be some way to address this.

Ernil led them down a dark corridor, past stairs that went up. The corridor turned sharply, and in the corner was a small round table where two people were playing cards. Or maybe just holding cards while they watched the corridor. One was a heavyset muscular looking brunette who sat along the right wall, facing where ever the corridor was going to. She was wearing brown robes and no visible armor. Sitting casually near her was a double-bladed axe resting head down, hilt near enough for easy reach.

Sitting at an angle to her, facing the door they'd just come in was a khajiit. Her coloration was a similar orange pattern to Tsiya's, but her fur was luxuriant and healthy. She wore armor that made Tallis think of the golden-garbed guard, but hers was a pale color. The same as Ernil's boots. Which probably meant his boots were a great deal sturdier than Tallis had originally suspected. She also had dark brown leather bracers on both forearms, and judging from the thickness, there was a blade in one, probably in both of them.

Ernil led the way, greeting the two. "Sotillde," he nodded to the brunette, "always a pleasure. I believe we need to talk later."

She raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "My standards are high."

He answered her with a smirk, and nodded to the khajiit. "Sugar-lips Habasi."

The khajiit gave a noise that could have been a purr, but Tallis rather thought it was a growl. "Ernil Omoran. This one too awaits conversation."

He seemed to pause for a moment, and then brightened again. "Let me present Tsiya."

Sugar-lips made another sound and it was definitely a growl this time.

Sotillde cut him off. "Yes, we've met." She swept her gaze past the young khajiit, who fidgeted uncomfortably and looked down at her feet.

Then the Nord looked at Tallis. "And you would be?"

"Tallis D'Artagnan," it only took her a moment to decide that since it was so obvious she was new here, that she might as well admit it and get that over with. "Originally from the Imperial City, but most recently from Seyda Neen."

Sotillde shrugged and went back to looking at her cards.

Sugar-lips' right ear twitched slightly, and she said. "So has this Breton met anyone interesting so far in her explorations of Vvardenfell?"

"In Seyda Neen I met a very friendly young mer named Fargoth." From the way that Sugar-lips' posture absolutely didn't change, Tallis was sure that the name was familar to the Khajiit. "After I finish my business here, I had hoped to look up some of his family."

The Khajiit lifted a curious eyebrow.

"Right now I'm looking for Caisus Cosades."

Sugar-lips turned her attention back to her cards.

Sottilde gave a snort. "That old sugar-tooth?" She made a point of tilting her head and considering. "This is definitely the place to find him most nights. He's probably already been down there for hours."

Tallis didn't know what to say to that.

"You are more than welcome to escort him home. That is if he can still walk." The Nord chuckled and picked up her cards again.

"Shall we continue on, Serani?" Ernil put an overly affectionate arm around Tsiya.

Tallis inwardly thanked her Nix-hounds for the fact that he didn't try the same thing with her.

But what was an Imperial Agent doing in a place like this? Sure, maybe arresting someone was the first thing that came to mind, but you don't lurk in the basement for hours and days to arrest someone. And anyway weren't the dumner mostly in charge here, even if it was technically an Imperial province?

Tallis bit her lip as they headed down a set of stairs. The farther into this place she got, the worse was the sickly sweet smoke. Tallis was getting a little bit of a headache. And she felt a little dizzy. And her eyes were burning.

Maybe she needed a spell to let her see easily in dark places. And another one to make smoke not hurt her eyes.

Eventually they came out into a big room. On the left was a very long very tall table with people sitting on stools, drinking. Most of them were just drinking right out of fairly large bottles. On top of the sweetish smoke, the place smelled like alcohol. Tallis remembered her drinking lesson from Fargoth. It looked like most of them were drinking sujamma.

On the right was a set of stone shelving that looked to be sort of carved out of, or maybe into the wall. There were a lot of slender bottles, and a quite a few things that looked like chunky teapots. Sitting almost primly on a high stool near the shelving was another Khajiit. She had dark patterned auburn or brownish fur, and she wore black or something dark. Tallis wasn't sure if it was robes or a tunic and wide legged pant-type things. She perched on her seat, seeming to watch the whole room at once.

Beside Tallis, Tsiya stared longingly at the row of slender bottles and gave a soft whimper.

The more that Tallis saw of this place, the more she just wanted to get out of it.

Everyone she could see seemed to be either drunk or worse, and the only two exceptions were Ernil, who was just creepy, and this dark-garbed Khajiit, who seemed dangerous. Actually, come to think of it, as she scanned the various patrons at the bar, there were a lot of belt-knives visible. Ernil, Tsiya and herself were getting a lot of narrow-eyed looks. Quite a few of these people seemed dangerous. Maybe being intoxicated made them more dangerous.

Itching with the desire to do something, anything, find Caius Cosades and leave as soon as possible, Tallis stepped forward and spoke firmly to the Khajiit. "I'm looking for Caius Cosades."

A ripple of whispers and subtle changes in position seemed to go through the room. An argonian in robes that reminded her of Ranis tilted his head thoughtfully at the name, but didn't move from where he was seated against the back wall of the room.

"He may be slightly indisposed, my dear Tallis," Ernil pointed out. "so perhaps we might have some refreshment while we await him."

The dark garbed khajiit gave Tallis a curious look. "Is he expecting this one?"

"Well, sort of," Tallis stammered. She hadn't really thought that far ahead, and Sellius Gravis had been pretty clear that the letters were to be given only to Caius, and weren't anyone else's business. "I mean he doesn't know I'm here, now, today, but-"

The khajiit gave a rather cruel smirk, "an unexpected adventure, perhaps?"

An Orisimer at the bar elbowed his companion, and said a little too loudly, "So, he likes them young, eh?"

The ebony skinned R'gatta beside him took a long pull of his drink, and turned speculative and then appreciative gaze on Tallis.

She felt like he was licking her with his eyes, and she wanted to smack him, or maybe just run away. Far away. Tickle and Blossom were holding on tighter than usual, feet gripping her, and pedipalps pressed into her neck. They didn't like this place either.

The R'gatta spoke in a voice that was a pretend whisper clearly meant to carry. "She is young. Maybe old Sugar Tooth was active … in his youth."

Chuckles echoed from around the bar.

A curtain that blocked off the corner of the room opposite the khajiit's row of equipment and bottles, parted, and a grey haired imperial wove his way into the doorway. More sickly-sweet smoke billowed into the room all around him.

"Eh?" He gazed bleary-eyed around the room, not really seeming to focus on any of it. "S'mon lookin' f'r me?" His words were slurred enough to be barely understandable.

Tallis stared at him for a moment. Then she burst into tears.

Caius took a staggering step forward, almost falling on his face. He tilted his head, squinting at her.

Sotto-voice, the Orisimer said. "Five septims says he talks his way out of it."

The R'gatta muttered. "Done." Then took another long pull on his sujamma.

Tallis stared at the rumpled unsteady man that Sellus' instructions had brought her to. "Uncle," She burst out, "uncle, you promised!"

He waved a hand in her general direction. "S'not waddit looks like, Tilly."

"Tallis!" She was shaking, fists clenched at her sides. "You aren't supposed to be … here." Tears ran down her face.

He staggered slowly forward, correcting his direction at least twice in the twenty feet or so it took to come to her. "Tallis. Right. I know that. See, this" He waved his hand about, indicating the whole room and nearly knocking himself into the Orismer who had bet on him. "Meetings. Y'see, adult stuff."

Tallis bit her lip and brushed at her eyes with an angry fist. "You're, she waved her other hand in the general direction of the bottles visible behind the bar. "Drunk … or something." She wasn't even sure what the word would be for whatever he'd been using … doing.

"May .. have had a few," Caius admitted, swaying slightly. "But 'm perfectly arright. 'n I was goin' home anyway, so I'll…" He stared past her and then stopped talking. Slowly a beatific smile appeared on his face. He just stood there.

Tallis took a step forward. Then another one. She reached out hesitantly. "Uncle?"

He didn't react.

She grabbed his shoulder. "Uncle?!"

He slowly turned and started at her as if pulling his attention away from something fascinating. Slowly he frowned. "You shouln' be here. No place for a young little-" He paused. "Wait. I know you."

"Tallis." She said firmly.

"Tallis." He echoed it. He patted her uncertainly on the shoulder. "I'll take care of y'just fine."

"Uncle lets go home."

"Right. I'll jus' take you home then." He staggered forward and nearly fell. Tallis ducked under his right shoulder, Tickle scooting over to burrow into the Breton's hair.

"'s late," Caius muttered affectionately, "Nice girl like you, shouldn' be up this late."

"Uncle, let's just get you home."

It took a lot of work to get him up all the interminable stairs. The whole way upstairs, behind her there were chuckles and sarcastic comments. Finally they made it to where the Red-gold khajiit and the Nord were still sitting, not really playing their card game.

Sotillde raised an eyebrow.

Before she could say anything, Tallis spoke defiantly. "I'm taking my uncle home. And he's not coming back here."

"Don' be so hasty." Caius squeezed her slightly with his right arm, "I tole you this is business. Adult stuff." With his left, he made an encouraging gesture to the nord.

Sotillde said. "Well,"

"Tallis." Put in Caius.

"Tallis," Said Sotillde, "Your uncle does do a lot of … business here."

Caius looked exasperated and gestured again.

She added, "and sometimes it's important to properly celebrate some well-done … business."

Tallis objected. "He's drunk. Or … something."

"Yes, well, most men don't hold their liquor like nords," her tone was halfway between matter of fact and mockery. "But if he didn't give it a good try, no one would respect him."

Caius drew himself up to his full height. He was taller than Tallis realized. "I c'n hold my … he staggered, and almost knocked Tallis into a wall. "My anything." He stated flatly. Then shaking a finger at the nord he snapped, "don' you be givin' her ideas."

He tugged Tallis upright. "We are goin' home." Casting a dark look at Sotillde he added, "can' hold … bah I can hold anything … more than …'m jus fine."

Once outside the corner club, Tallis felt like she could finally breathe again. Unfortunately the streets were wider than the corridors had been, so this gave Caius a lot more leeway to veer off in different directions.

It was now full dark out. The moons were both up, but between the tall buildings and the rickety walkways, not much light from the stars and moons made it down into labor town. If she'd felt watched before, it was much worse now.

And it was colder.

"Where are we going?" She asked in a hushed voice.

"Goin' home," Caius answered, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He staggered to an intersection, then led her in a circle that brought them facing the street they'd just come out of.

"We just came from that way."

"Naw, we didn'"

He staggered back a few steps, near to a building. Tallis could almost swear that she saw someone in the shadows move near him on the side opposite her. She was seriously considering trying some sort of magic, but she wasn't sure what to do.

Suddenly a scream, and a young dunmer scrambled back from Caius, slammed into the building. He was whimpering in pain, holding his right hand, or what was left of it, in his left. Even in the dim light Tallis could see that he was bleeding badly.

"Getcher fingers outta my pouch." Grumbled Caius. Then reaching into his belt pouch, he took something out, and held it up. Two things. They were dripping.

He held them lower, wiggling them in front of Tallis. "'s fingers were in my pouch." He threw them at the still wailing dunmer.

"Fingers 'n my pouch!" Caius cackled, and then it grew into a full belly laugh. "Keep your fingers to yerself' sera."

He chuckled for at least a block and a half, apparently highly amused by the whole thing.

Tallis just did her best not to throw up, and not to let him tip over or crash into anything.

He paused at the stairs to a small door with some numbers on it. "You hav' a Nix-houn' in yer hair." He informed her.

"Two of them, actually."

He frowned, bobbed his head to check that there actually were two, and then nodded, as if satisfied. "Thas' all right then."

He staggered up the stairs to the little door.

"Is this your home?" Tallis asked hopefully.

"Home sweet home, Tallis. You'll be fine here." He fumbled at the door and eventually opened it.

The first thing Tallis noted about the room inside was that the floor was covered in bottles. The second thing was that even as Caius was shutting and locking the door, someone else was turning up a lamp on the small table in the right hand corner of the room.

It was a small room. A bed along the wall opposite to where she stood, and at the foot of the bed, right across from her was a chest. Over the chest was a shelf with three smaller bottles, one on it's side, clearly empty. A small locked box sat next to the bottles.

The table to her right was small and round. Sitting on it was an oil lamp, two more bottles and a pretty blue bowl with a cover on it. There were four chairs around the table and two of them were occupied. Sitting in one of them was a young Imperial with a blade across his lap and a very serious air about him. Sitting in the other was a familiar argonian.

"Gold Heart?" Tallis was so surprised she didn't really notice it as Caius' stepped away from her.

"Ssomehow," The argonian smiled as he spoke, "I am not surprissed that the hatchling has found her way to thiss place."

"Yes," Said Cauis in an absent sort of voice that was completely devoid of intoxication.

Tallis turned sharply to him. His posture was completely different as he leaned against the wall, unfolding the letter Sellus Gravius had given her. He seemed taller. He did not seem intoxicated.

Glancing up from the letter, he nodded to Tallis. "The fourth member of this little group is Attrebus Varrio." Giving the letter one last glance, he folded it back up and put it in his pocket. "Well done back there, Tallis. Good job."

She stared up at him. "You're okay? I mean you aren't really-" Tears welled up in her eyes, which was ridiculous because everything was all right now.

"No, I'm not really." Cauis' voice came from right in front of her.

She wiped hastily at her eyes.

From over near the table came another voice, which must have been Attrebus'. "Are those … Nix-hounds?"

"Yes they are." Caius answered before Tallis could. Then he put a gentle, almost paternal arm around her and guided her to the bed. "Sit down, young Tallis."

When she did so, he grabbed one of the chairs from near the table, and sat down in front of her, giving her his whole attention. Something about him was comforting rather than intimidating, and she found herself thinking of the visit she'd had with His Wisdom at her little garden.

"I have to ask you something rather important." He said softly. "I want you to think about it seriously before you answer me."

She nodded.

"I am the Imperial spymaster for all of Vvardenfell, and head of the Blades on Morrowind. At the behest of Emperor Uriel Septim VII, leader of the empire and my liege, I ask you to take up service to him as one of his blades."

Tallis' mouth hung open for a long moment. Finally she said. "But I'm just … me."

"You saved the lives of two little ones out of sheer compassion." He gestured to where Tickle and Blossom were peeking out of her hair at him. "You worked to find an old man and get him safely back home when you didn't even know for sure who he was. You are one of the most promising students the Arcane University ever had, according to Gaspar Stegine. You would make a fine Blade, and His Wisdom, who remembers you fondly, assures me this is the case."

Tallis felt like she was floating. His Wisdom remembered her? Fondly?

"Me?" She said faintly.

"Will you, Tallis D'Artagnan, serve our Empower as one of his blades?"

She tried twice before she could finally get the word out. "Yes."

He took her right hand in both of his. "Welcome Novice Tallis." Then he loosed his right hand, and pulled a surprisingly clean handkerchief from somewhere. Reaching out, he gently wiped her cheeks. "Welcome to the Blades. His Wisdom has work that needs your hand to do it."

Tallis didn't know what to say.