"For some, it is not a matter of the acquisition of resources.
Some are willing to sacrifice a thousand souls for something as petty as pride"
-Malcus Hordo, General turned priest
Bann-Je smirked a wicked smile despite the three voices in his head competing for dominance. He was still in control, whoever was the actual dominant force that dictated what actions he did. However, he had to do it listening to the constant squabble of the three voices. It was irritating but the adrenaline and focus demanded by sparing with a weapon helped him to ignore them, or rather focused all three voices on a singular task that they all were at least interested in. It was better than dealing with other tasks where inevitably at least one if not two of the voices would either complain or grow bored with it.
He and Sibylla were practicing their sparring while Do'Ravier and Sylva were outside. In the spirit of being absolutely thorough, the Khajiit was practicing his aim, Sylva tossing discarded pottery fragments while he fired spells at them. Somewhere in the middle, resting behind the counter and sipping a warm cup of tea, Claudia watched all of them. She noticed with some reflection that Bann-Je seemed to be improving by the minutes. It could have just been her personal opinion but she was under the impression that Bann-Je seemed a little more ragged as far as sanity went when they first arrived. The lizard had been sparring, parrying and dodging around Sibylla all day already he appeared to be becoming more "all together." She wondered if his grasp on sanity, or his ability to keep it's illusion, was directly related to how often he came in conflict. A year of being "lord of a tower" and the quiet life that came with it, seemed to do more damage to his psyche than all the years of madness and horrors they saw working together or assassinating for the Morag Tong.
That did not mean there were no consequences. Bann-Je still seemed a little twitchy and erratic at times, spending just one moment too late to pause and analyze Sibylla's attacks before just barely denying them at the last possible instant. He was still holding his own but it was a haphazard affair of whether or not he would reacted instantly or just a little too slowly for Claudia's liking. Then again, it was only his first day back to training and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.
"Are you just going to keep circling around me smiling like that?" Sibylla laughed hoarsely from behind her helmet, a warning swing of her ax further keeping the Argonian back.
"I'm just getting back into my steps. It's been a long time since I attacked something as imposing and heavily armored as you. Bedouins are lighter." Bann-Je smiled wickedly.
"If you don't follow up you'll get run down."
"It was always my job to make the illusions." the Argonian laughed just as Sibylla swung her ax heavily forward. It was only when her arm had already committed her to the movements that she realized what Bann-Je did. Her arm went forward and the wily lizard skittered to the side out of her field of vision. She brought her shield up to block him but like some ravenous phantom she felt him squirm up her back felt his claws and arm clamp around her helmet.
"Check. Dead." Bann-Je pronounced. Sibylla knew better than to protest that possibility.
"You win again, lizard." Sibylla admitted with a good hearted chuckle, removing her helmet as Bann-Je hopped back to the floor.
"Yes, but it is still not quite right yet. Again?" Bann-Je asked excitedly.
"That's enough for today. We've been training since morning and it's almost time for the evening meal." the Nord panted.
"Oh! Quite right! I've lost track; let me go prepare food." the Argonian announced in near panic, frantically scrambling off for the larders.
Sibylla shook her head, amused at her old friend's antics before dragging herself back to the counter to rest on a stool and take a long drink of the mead she bought from Sticky. The Nord drank slowly, savoring every flicker of the flavor and each scorch of the burn of the alcohol, something she still enjoyed despite the heat of the desert.
"I'm surprised, you waited four whole days before cracking open that barrel." Claudia chided her, from the opposite end of the counter.
"When you're on your own you learn that you need to get your act together or you'll die far too young. Sometime after I got the ebony armor but before bumping into you, I figured out I still could make something of my life. It's hard to do that if you stop breathing, even more a pity if you died from miscalculating from an mead addled brain. Besides, it's more enjoyable with friends." Sibylla snickered.
"Some things never change, huh?"
"Nope."
They looked over when they saw Do'Ravier and Sylva returned from outside, both laughing over some whimsical silliness that occurred outside. The Khajiit dusted off the last bit of sand on his robes before waving Sylva off as she went to return to some last minute studies.
"Let me go get Zelphia, she likes to be out at night when we don't have any visitors." Do'Ravier announced.
"You're going to let her out?" Sibylla sputtered in disbelief.
"She seemed to be a bit hostile the last time you let her out." Claudia added.
"Yes because she's learned to not like unexpected visitors, or any visitors for that matter, after some three hundred years or so. Besides, we've spent a year with her and haven't ended up bled dry and I can't treat her like some animal. Had too many people treat me like that to know it's not pleasant." the mage replied before continuing up the stairs.
The two shrugged as the Khajiit left momentarily, sipping their drinks. At this point, they had to trust Do'Ravier's judgement on the matter. If he insisted he and Bann-Je had lived with the vampire for a year, they had no choice but to believe them and they and seemed to be in their right minds rather than thralls.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question about, you know...your...situation?" Sibylla murmured furtively to Claudia. The Imperial sighed despite her smile.
"I suppose you're curious. Go ahead."
"Okay, please don't take this the wrong way..."
"I'll be understanding, what's your question?"
"Okay, out of the three of us...who would you eat first?" Sibylla asked bluntly.
Claudia looked at her aghast at first but Sibylla's grin and frank countenance showed that she meant no harm in the question and for hypothetical if bizarre reasons, was truly curious. And now that she was thinking about it, Claudia realized that she was not sure herself. Treating it as if it purely theoretical, Claudia tried to guess.
"Well, now that you brought it up..."
"Yes?" the Nord asked excitedly.
"You." Claudia shrugged.
"Wha- me?"
"Yes, you. Do'Ravier is too skinny and I don't think he'd have much in him. I don't know about you but I'm quite certain Argonian blood might taste funny. That leaves you and you're the tallest out of them so that makes you a little bigger." the Imperial shrugged frankly. Sibylla scoffed.
"Pah, see if I ever stand next to you again." Sibylla muttered.
Do'Ravier returned with Zelphia in tow. Under the artificial light of the Dwemer lanterns, Claudia could get a better look at her. The ancient vampire had pale skin which was usually the case with vampires. Zelphia also had sharp features despite a certain youthfulness on her face, her black hair and eyes a stark contrast to the ivory of her skin. The vampire eyed Sibylla and Claudia suspiciously.
"They're safe?" the undead woman asked the mage.
"No less safer than Do'Ravier or Bann-Je." the Khajiit murmured back, taking his place at the counter.
"Hmph, that's not saying much. You're both a danger to yourselves as well as others." Zelphia grumbled.
"Oh hush."
Bann-Je may have served up a warm meal of roast goat, potatoes and greens within the hour but Zelphia noticed the food eaters remained silent as she stood in the doorway of the tower regarding the moon. She did not care. If her presence unsettled them, or at least some of them, she could not care less. After three hundred years and a certain level of preternatural ability over regular mortals, you gained the ability to ignore them most of the time. Ostracization, while understandable, only served to reinforce that attitude. That was when she detected footsteps behind her. She turned to spot Claudia approaching her.
"After some thought I think it would be safe to say we didn't get a good start in introductions. I'm Claudia and I hope we don't have to be enemies." the Imperial offered her hand while looking her straight in the eye.
"Hmph. You'd best not. I'm the closest thing you'll have to a mentor in a short while."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Claudia demanded, a little offended.
"You understand, I'm exactly what you're going to be very soon and unless you plan on losing your mind and becoming a ravenous creature, something your friends will have to put down, I'm the best thing you have to a fall back plan."
"E-excuse me?" Claudia sputtered, her voice indignant.
"It's true."
Claudia felt both angered and that she was grasping at straws. "What about you? What about those rare vampires that actually try to live among people? There were rumors that one count in Cyrodil was-"
"They're rare, Claudia. Just like you said. It takes a special personality that overcomes the darkness and even then there's still that hunger. I assume it's a little different for you because you're in a half state. The path to vampirism is never consistent and then never manifests it's consistently either. The bottom line is that you can only pray you're one of the lucky ones. If not...your friends will have to put you down like an animal. But enough of that. I'm locking myself up for the rest of the night." Zelphia announced with a wave of her hand.
"Is she always like that?" Claudia asked once the vampire was out of earshot, looking over at Bann-Je and Do'Ravier.
"Yes." the Argonian replied without looking up. The Khajiit nodded, not even turning his attention away from the food.
Claudia had a hard time falling asleep that night. Had not Stendarr told her to find this mage? Wasn't it the right thing to do? She understood she always had that possibility to just walk away but that just would not seem right, if anything because who else was going to stop a rogue daedra worshipper who seemed to have no qualms slaughtering innocents in the name of his dark god. But if this was her duty, if this was something the Divines had sent her on...why would she also be cursed with this steady encroaching vampirism?
She rolled over again, still not able to settle her restless mind. She wished she could talk to someone wiser than herself on these matters. Alas, this was not High Rock or the old cathedral and so she could not track down venerable Archon Tacitus even if it was some unholy hour of the night. Either she would have to go without an answer or decipher it herself. The heavier details of theology was sadly not her field so, though far from content, she continued to lie awake at night, hoping that sleep would take her soon. It did not come as quick as she would have liked it.
The next day came and went without anything special. Bann-Je was becoming more of shadowed lightning that he was before last year. It was getting to the point that Sibylla was no longer enjoying the sparring, seeing the lizard's propensity to effectively check her with her barely being able to respond. Do'Ravier was also feeling comfortable again, his spells landing with deadly efficiency while his spear work had not atrophied as bad as he thought it would. That evening, as they all ate while Zelphia lurked nearby, Claudia believed that the two were feeling better about the prospect of their adventures. She decided to ask but with caution since she did not want to give the impression that she had little consideration for their feelings of self preservation.
"You two have progressed very well these last few days." Claudia started, sipping the tea she had.
"I suppose we have." Do'Ravier assented, demolishing the roasted chicken in front of him.
"How sanguine are you feeling about your chances now?"
"Haha, I see what you did there, Claudia." Sibylla chuckled.
"You know what? Sure. We can get started tomorrow. We'll just leave instructions for our blacksmith, Muraat on how to keep things going in our absence but he's a smart man, I'm he'll manage. Sylva will help." Do'Ravier nodded.
"Must. Clean. This. Stain. Oh, and yes, I will come too." Bann-Je blurted, scrubbing furiously at some spot on the counter that seemed glossy immaculate to everyone else.
Claudia breathed a sigh of relief before smiling. "Thanks. All of you. I know I can't offer you anything other than the knowledge that we're doing the right thing."
"Yeah, yeah, that's what it always was about anyway." the Khajiit murmured, now surveying the edge on his spear with a investigative eye while Sylva busied herself with oiling his armor.
"Are you sure? Remember that one time you got separated from the rest of us and made a hefty sum when you found a vein of ebony?" Sibylla jibbed.
"Ah yes, the same reason why my one ear is forever lopsided on my head. And Do'Ravier thought you were in it for the mead." the Khajiit shot back with a toothy grin.
"I don't see a problem with this."
Noticing a movement in the shadows, they all looked up to see Zelphia glare at something before slinking further up the stairway. In a moment, they saw why just as Claudia picked up the spare heartbeats. They had visitors.
"Ah, welcome. Nevermind the weapons, we are just preparing for a journey but you may be served this evening." Do'Ravier greeted the travelers.
Standing in the doorway were three Bosmer judging by their frames and the style of their facial tattoos. All three were shrouded in cloaks and hoods, most certainly to shield them from the chill of the desert nights. With their hoods over their heads, the only real distinguishing mark between all of them, other than heights and gender, were the colors of their skin ink. The two women had green and black colors, the male red.
"We only require beds to sleep in. Please, we are tired. Separate rooms." the male announced.
"Are you sure? We could cook something small and bring it to your rooms." Sylva offered.
"That is not necessary." Green replied.
"Well...all right. Follow me." Do'Ravier conceded with an uneasy shrug. Claudia noticed he still had not let go of his habit of intentionally butchering his accent to make himself appear more simple in front of strangers. As the Khajiit led them off, Bann-Je hopped excitedly in front of the stove and accompanying cauldron. The grin on his face suggested he was waiting for someone to order something else.
"I'm fine for now, lizard." Sibylla shook her head.
"Since when did you learn you liked to cook?" Claudia asked with a bemused look.
"Ever since I figured out it requires exacting measurements." the Argonian explained.
"If you four are going to be charging off, I better go out and tell Muraat about the changes to be made." Sylva announced, the idea coming to her as she stood from her stool and straightened out her robe.
"I'd ask if you knew how everything should be run, but you've been around Do'Ravier and I too many times that you probably don't need to be reminded." Bann-Je murmured as she left.
"Do'Ravier more than you, but you're right." Sylva smirked as she left to go visit the blacksmith and his wife in their ancient storage house.
"...Is something going on between her and him?" Claudia asked furtively while beckoning her head in Do'Ravier's direction.
"Possibly but they're keeping it quiet or going slow if they are. Might have something to do with the fact that she's a Redguard and he's a Khajiit. You should see it when she scratches the back of his neck though in playfulness. He gets all happy and then wakes up a few seconds later, not knowing what has happened. Very amusing." Bann-Je chuckled.
"Did I miss anything?" Do'Ravier called, bounding down the steps.
"No!" Sibylla replied loudly over her shoulder.
"Oh."
Just as Do'Ravier was sitting down, Sylva returned leading Muraat. The blacksmith heralded a unique and not necessarily pleasant aroma. Most of it could not have been helped and admittedly, Sylva had caught him before he could take his evening bath. The beefy if stout man smelled of charcoal, bitter smoke, sweat and body odor.
"Sylva tells me that you will be taking off tomorrow and that I am to help overlook the workings of the tower." Muraat said simply, using a rag to clean the sweat from his bald head.
"Yes." Bann-Je nodded.
"This I can do for free. But do not leave in the morning before first seeing me. I think I'd like to hand you all some supplies before you leave." Muraat announced before leaving.
The next morning Do'Ravier drowsily padded down the steps early before the sun rose. Judging from the sounds of kitchen utensils moving around, he decided that Bann-Je had also gotten off to an early start. It made sense. The whole reason he was up early himself was because today was usually one of the busy times where merchant traffic reached a peak. While he may have been leaving that day to go on whatever adventure Claudia had for them, he and Bann-Je might as well have taken care of a few last details that they handled well. Judging by the shadows cast on the floor as he descended the stairs, he could see they already had visitors. Two in fact.
"Welcome." Bann-Je murmured, looking up at the much taller and clearly more muscled stranger.
Despite the both of them wearing heavy desert robes and turbans that made them look for all the world like piles of walking cloth, the taller one could be easily surmised by the way he composed himself. Even the scimitar on his hip, clearly well used even by the wear marks on its handle, could not have been wielded by a lesser man. This was in stark contrast to the shorter visitor who seemed like a mere dwarf to his body guard. However, it was the shorter one who did all the talking. If his bodyguard did any talking, it was merely confined to very quiet grunts.
"My name is Sticky and I'm in a bit of a hurry, we do not have much time and time is a very important thing for an important merchant as myself. Alas, this thing is too heavy on my conscience hence why I did this myself while taking my best bodyguard, Magar." the shorter man sniffed from under his turban.
"Hm?" Bann-Je grunted, vaguely reminded of the name. It sounded like one Claudia mentioned earlier when telling her stories.
"Are there three Bosmer elves here or a woman named Claudia perchance? Hopefully not together, Sticky prays." the short merchant waved Bann-Je and Do'Ravier close to him so he could tell them some grave secret. When his spoke, his voice was scarcely over a whisper. Do'Ravier even had to swivel his one good ear closer to the man.
"Sticky thinks those three are agents working for the Aldmeri. They often use Bosmer for their dirty work where a bunch of Altmer would be too suspicious, you know."
When Do'Ravier and Bann-Je's glances met, it was clear that the color had already drained from Bann-Je's scales. The same was probably true for Do'Ravier but it was hard to tell due to his coat of fur. The Argonian's tongue flicked once in a display of nervousness.
"Where were their rooms?" Bann-Je hissed.
"Next to the two." Do'Ravier sputtered.
"What is wrong?" Sticky butted in.
All of them glared overhead when they heard a shrill screech followed by screams. Magar's hand fell to his scimitar but Sticky was already high tailing out of the tower sputtering something about how danger was hazardous to his health and that he was very fond of his health. Magar looked at the two beastmen with conflicted motivations. The Argonian made his decision when he pushed the giant in the direction of his employer. The two then took off and began bounding up the steps. It was too late for the Khajiit to grab his spear and settled for generating arcs of electricity that billowed out of his claws. He hoped it would be all he needed. Bann-Je already had his ethereal blades summoned but was unsure how this situation would play out. Judging by the last chorus of screams which had probably woken every occupant in the tower, he did not believe he had the jump on the situation anymore.
"How did we not see this?" the Argonian hissed angrily.
"Nevermind, lets just hope we can correct this."
They nearly tripped over Zelphia who had somehow zipped down the stairs and intercepted them.
"What are you doing?"
"Zelphia, out of the way!"
"Bann-Je, Do'Ravier, stop. It's too late." Zelphia warned quietly.
"No, no it's not!" Do'Ravier protested.
"It's not what you think." the vampire retorted.
They looked up once again in horror when they saw bodies falling from the staircase. Following the movements, they saw Claudia cruelly impaled with three shortswords still grasping the male Bosmer from last night. The two bodies hit the tower landing with a heavy slam and for a moment did not move. The only thing Do'Ravier and Bann-Je could do was stare on in shock.
"Let me handle this." Zelphia whispered.
That was when they watched Claudia get up, oblivious to the blades that had run her through. Curiously, her wounds did not bleed despite the red smears around her lips. There was a pause before the Imperial looked down at her attacker. There was no way of telling if he was still alive, at least not from where Bann-Je, Zelphia and Do'Ravier were looking. It soon became irrelevant where Claudia bent down, sank her teeth into the Bosmer's throat and tore it out in a savage motion.
"She's turned." Zelphia hissed.
Author's Note: First off, thanks to those who are still reviewing or following this story. Those little numerical supports called "hits" help. Second, classes and work are about to kick up again and while I have a vague idea on where to go with the rest of this story, I need input. This is where I'm asking you, the audience, to remind me of any loose ends or ideas you'd like to see before I send this story off on it's final act.