Chapter 35: What Lurks in the Sewers

"Who in Oblivion are you?" A voice called from above me, fearfully rousing me from my slumber. I responded promptly in the only way I deemed reasonable.

"Horax! Horax, help! Help me, Horax!" I shot up and immediately began running down the short and narrow hall. The stone floor was slippery from the moist condensation and strange green and blue fungus growing in between the bricks. Footsteps followed swiftly behind me and I could hear the thief's around me awaken with a few gasps and groans. I wasn't running long before I felt myself wobble across a particularly slippery stone. With my sudden loss of balance and a rather forceful push on the back, I just as soon found myself face first in the murky water running through the cistern.

I remained submerged beneath the water, taking in the fact that I was wallowing in what I understood to be a sewer, until a hand grasped my shoulders and tugged me to the surface. " Get off of me!" I screamed and swung my arms erratically. "Horax! Horax!" My wet hair clung to my face and the furs I was wearing hung loosely on my small frame. I gasped like a fish in between all my screams and continued to splash in the water.

"What is it?" I heard someone whisper.

Horax came running in from the Ragged Flagon followed by a brawny figure in dark armor. My captor tried her best to keep me in the sewer, every now and then cursing at how much I splashed her. My flailing arms finally caught a grip on the woman's belt and with a strong pull on my part, she came crashing down with a splash. Several of the watching members gasped and "oohed." A few chuckles emerged from the far corners.

"Horax!" I spewed as I brought myself to my knees, nearly in tears from my lack of breath. The elf hurried to the ledge of the pool and plucked me up in a swift movement. He wrapped an arm around me to keep me still and brushed my wet hair behind my ears while I spit the foul taste from my mouth. Wiping the blood at the corner of my mouth away, he rotated my head, inspecting for any other dents or cuts.

"Vex!" A bald man rushed into the sewer water and attempted to help the imperial up from where she sat.

"Don't touch me!" She cried, swatting his hands away. She stood to her feet and gave the man a fierce shove before quickly stomping straight toward Horax and I. Vex raised her hand and I buried my face in the elf's cloak. "What in the hell is going on?" She shouted, shoving Horax's shoulder. "And who in Oblivion is she, and what is she doing here?"

The guild members gathered around us, whispering to one another and sharing confused and intrigued looks. Several other members crawled in from the Flagon and settled in behind the others. I peeked out to see Vex with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her blonde, almost white, hair was slicked back against her head and dripping murky water. Horax turned me around so the whole guild could get a look at me. Their eyes glistened in the dim candlelit room like small gems. I shriveled back and clutched Horax's arm to shield me from them.

"This is Leles." His voice echoed throughout the stone chamber. All eyes were on him for a brief moment. "She and I have a great deal of history together and she is to be treated like any other member of the guild."

"She isn't a member!" Vex cried.

"Vex, Horax is speaking!" A gruff voice shouted from among the crowd. I was surprised at how much respect he commanded. Then again, they were a bunch of cutthroat thieves and Horax was one of the most savage men I had met.

"Like I said, she is to be treated with respect. You don't have to be welcoming or warm, she is used to being an annoyance," Gee thanks. "but she is very-uh, dear to me and if someone has a problem with having her around, they will speak now or forever hold their peace."

Vex let out a grunt, rolled her eyes, and stormed off towards the Flagon.

"Now, go on and change before you get brain rot or something. Brynjolf," The Nord approached promptly, offering a welcoming smile and handshake. He would have crushed my hand if he squeezed much tighter. "I'd like to continue with our conversation."

I stared ahead of me to find the rest of the members glancing over me before diverting their eyes and stumbling off in different directions. "And where do I find clothes?" I asked only to find that Horax had already left, leaving me dripping in a puddle.

The other members kept their distance, talking quietly to one another and sipping mead while I hung my fur cloak and leggings over a fire pit. I huddled closer in my loose and wet undershirt and wrapped a blanket offered to me by Brynjolf around my bare legs. I glanced around the cistern, wondering why no one bothered to ask me who I was or how I knew Horax. I wondered who else the elf must have brought down here. But to be fair, I did wake them up screaming to high heavens in Gods know what hour of the morning it was.

"Do you mind if I boil some water in here?" Finally someone approached me.

"Oh.. of course. Let me move my things." I stood to my feet, grabbing at me blanket awkwardly.

The man chuckled "Don't bother. It's fine." He took a seat on a nearby bench.

"Leles, was it? That's a Breton name."

"Yeah, it is." At least that was what I was told. "But I'm an imperial, just in case you were wondering."

"I was actually!" he laughed and waved over at the men across the cistern. "A couple of the guys over there were betting on what race you were. It'll be great to let them know. They're always sore after losing money. I'm Rune, by the way."

"Oh, very nice to meet you Rune. What are you making in there?" I motioned toward the kettle he had hung over the fire.

"Some water for tea. Would you like some?"

I nodded my head. Although it wasn't particularly cold in the cistern, tea was always a welcome comfort.

The tea, a snowberry infusion, turned out to be quite delicious. The two of us sipped, happily chirping away at whatever came to mind. Rune explained to me how he got his name and I fabricated a tale of how my mother abandoned me, leaving me to be raised by my Breton grandmother. It was quite believable and rather compelling, so I decided that I might as well stick with the story if anybody else should come to ask. Most of the other members went back to sleep after stopping by briefly to introduce themselves. I got some rather strange comments and questions from Vekel and Thrynn regarding how "dear" I truly was to Horax. It appeared that they were slightly confused by his attachment to me considering I didn't quite match the description of his previous female companions. It was quite apparent that Horax had an affinity for well-endowed women.

"How long do you figure you'll be staying?" Rune asked over his second cup of tea.

I sighed, folding my hands in my lap and shrugging my shoulders. "Till Horax decides to go elsewhere, I guess."

Rune smiled and laughed to himself. He shook his head and shielded his eyes with his hand.

"What?" I demanded. "What's so funny?"

"So you and Horax aren't..."

"Aren't what?"

"Come one! You know how it is. When a boy and a girl- "

I recoiled, scrunching my face in a mixture of shock and horror. "Oh God! Never!" He laughed loudly this time, tea spilling at his feet.

"I'm sorry!" he continued to chuckle. "I wasn't the only one thinking it. It's just- well you know Horax."

"Oh yes," I replied, pulling my knees into my chest. "I certainly do."