Han lu Urshar.
Blue had left his bracer off for the last couple of hours to let his magic recharge. He slipped it back on, explaining, "Let's play a joke on the guards." The bracer would slowly drain his magica, but he would have enough for a couple small spells during the next hour. He reached his scale covered claw tipped hands out towards the heavy wooden desk beyond the bars. The charismatic lizard had somehow convinced me to teach him a telekinesis spell over the past month. I'd dragged my feet, trying to remain in my pool of misery, but the Argonian would have none of it. Despite myself, I was glad for his company.
The air shimmered between Blue's hand and the desk and the piece of furniture scraped loudly against the stone floor as if Blue had tugged on it with a rope.
A guard rushed to the room to investigate, his armor causing a racket. The door burst open and he advanced inside, sword drawn and tower shield raised. He scanned the room and was surprised to find the desk moved despite the two prisoners still locked in their cells with their bracers on.
"Who moved the desk?" He barked in a voice of command.
Blue pointed at the opposite door. "There was a hooded Khajiit. He ran that way!" The guard gave Blue an incredulous look. "Hurry, he's getting away," Blue insisted!
The guard burst through the next door to search the warehouse. My mask of seriousness cracked as I chortled, desperately trying to muffle myself by pressing a balled fist to my mouth and slightly shaking my head. Blue made a mocking bow, rising to full height just in time for the guard to return with Caius' Nordic agent.
"Show me your bracers, now," he commanded! Blue and I both extended our silver gilded arms through the bars, presenting them for inspection. The Nord grabbed one in each of his hands, giving each a solid tug. Blue must have bunched up his muscles, because his bracer stayed as secure as mine. When the Nord was sure the the pieces were secure, he gave a mighty heave on each of our arms, pulling us to crash violently against the bars. "If that desk moves again I'll have you both whipped. I don't care if you had nothing to do with it, I don't care if there was a thief, I don't even care if it's the ghost of Tiber Septim. Are we clear?"
We both nodded enthusiastically. The Nord released us with an aggressive jerk and righted the heavy desk with a mighty shove before leaving us be again. I rubbed my forehead where a stinging red welt had formed. "Great plan you comedian."
Blue grinned sarcastically, but fell quiet for a time, allowing me to get some sleep. I didn't awake until the Nord, Sjorvar, returned to the room and sat at the desk, granting us a couple of glances. We watched him as he got comfortable and opened a number of letters with unbroken wax seals. He read each one looking bored.
Blue lost interest rather quickly, but I noticed a faint peculiarity in Sjorvar's behavior. At first I was unable to figure out what it was, but I continued watching, sitting up against the back wall to get a better view. The longer I watched, the more I noticed that Sjorvar moved just a little too deliberately. 'He's putting on an act,' I thought. 'Caius wants us to see whatever Sjorvar is doing right now. Whatever it is, Sjorvar was the wrong choice. Nords aren't known for their subtlety and he made a poor play actor.'
Now I watched intently, trying not to blink as the Nord went from letter to letter. Upon reading one of the letters, Sjorvar's eyes widened just a little too dramatically. He straightened in his seat and finished the letter with a serious look. He then tucked it back into it's envelope and left the room in a hurry.
'That letter must be important, but it's obvious that Sjorvar was told to make it look like it was important. Why?' I didn't move for the better part of an hour, arguing with myself. 'It could be a trick. Caius wants to see if we have a way to get the letter. They wait for us to bring it into the cell and barge in. They see the letter and Caius knows we have access to magic.'
This line of thinking forced me to wait, one hour, then two, fully expecting someone to peek through the door. I strained my ears, thinking I'd catch the ruffle of armor or clothing or even the scuff of a boot on the floor as an agent waited on the other side of the wall, staring at the letter through a crack. I found no sign of observation. Finally, I could stand my curiosity no longer. I knelt next to Blue, who had fallen asleep and placed my hand on his shoulder to wake him. He stirred and I whispered, "Get me that letter."
Blue had to once again slip off his bracer and wait a half hour before he was confident he had a large enough pool of magic to do the spell. Finally, he motioned as if beckoning the letter towards the cell and it jumped off the table, onto the floor. I had to reach through the bars, but I pulled the letter from the envelope and pored over it.
"All agents are called from their current assignments for a priority one operation. The fugitive Virisa Urshar has been confirmed to be hiding somewhere in the region of Tel Vos. Sources say her father, Master Aryon of Great House Telvanni, is granting her refuge and keeping her hidden in his territory. Taking Virisa into custody is our number one priority. She is not to be killed or wounded during capture. Virisa is known to be skilled in combat magics and resourceful in avoiding and evading authorities. Please keep in mind the delicate relationship between the Great Houses and the Empire, however some political damage may be unavoidable."
The letter went on to give instructions for different agents at different posts, but none of it was relevant to me. Blue watched me read the letter with an anxious look. "What does it say,' he prodded curiously?
I finished a few mental calculations. "It says that all the Blades agents have been called away from guarding us to something more important. I'd say it's time to escape."
Blue nodded slowly, thinking carefully. "Do you think it could be a trap."
I sighed. "It's the best kind of trap. The kind I have to step into even though I know it's a trap." My friend groaned and I empathized, patting him on the back. "Welcome to my life."