Poor Man's Mercenary
By Queen of Nightmares
"I am Ofland, Light Armor Trainer, and owner of Nord Winds, with my wife, Skjorta." Said a finely built but thinner Nord.
Teranin studied him, but only for a moment. "Right-Wind said you could teach me about Light Armor."
"Training doesn't come free."
Teranin sighed, "I'm not really rolling in septims. Can we work some kind of deal?"
"You said Right-Wind sent you. That means you are fighter's guild. I have made arrangements to purchase a special Cuirass in the Imperial City. A Private Dealer. I highly doubt it's something I could ever personally sell, but every respectable shop in this province has a high-value item of rare quality. But I have none… It's called Dondoran's Juggernaut. It's of Dwarven make. I know some about Light Armor, but I'm not a great warrior. If you escort me to the Imperial City, and back again. I won't charge you for training…" Ofland looked at her armor, "I'll even tailor that armor of yours up a bit for free."
"I'm still of low rank, I have to inform my Porter, but I will escort you."
"Very well, let me get your measurements, so I can work on your armor before we go."
8
A couple of hours later, Teranin returned and picked up her armor. It was amazing how much better it fit her. She said, "I wouldn't mind learning some of this from you?"
"That's not really in our original deal… but I'll think about it. If you are ready… Do you have a horse?"
"No."
"You really are low rank. I'll split the cost of a rental with you, I'll get us a deal."
Teranin smiled and thanked him kindly.
8
Outside Bruma, Olfand and Teranin were ready. And started their ride south, to the Imperial City. Teranin had never been to the Imperial City at all in her life. She had been to Whiterun, Bruma obviously. Sometimes her Khajiit trade route would bring her to Chorrol, but never the Imperial City. She wondered if the head of her trading outfit, Yyzargo, had a reason to avoid the Imperial City. A bounty in the Imperial City would be enforced in Bruma or Chorrol, so maybe it was something else.
The Road was quiet. Much time to think. She was largely aimless in her life. Sure, she was working for the fighter's guild and gaining valuable knowledge, skill, and experience. But where was she going? What was her future to be? Elves have long lives. A Wood elf typically becomes considered elder, when he reaches 150. A Dunmer, more around 300. A High Elf, however, isn't really considered old until they are they reach 400, though many live beyond that. A high elf's natural magicka granted them a lot of advantages others didn't have, they regenerate and heal better, and faster, and the aging process is greatly delayed. Whereas the Bosmer, are the least connected to magic, and therefore die sooner. There are legends of Elves so old, that they saw the start of the second age.
Teranin however was 25 years old, She barely knew anything of her own people. She was so young when her parents died. She had basic facts, and little more. She sees the spires of the Imperial City and thinks about how she has never been there. She has also never been to the Summerset Isles. She didn't know if her parents had ever been there either. Maybe one day, when she was fully skilled, she would find her way to the Summerset Isles.
Suddenly a group of three wolves jumped out. Teranin dropped off of her horse with her sword ready. The first wolf jumped at her, but she swung while sidestepping the animal, and buried the sword deep in the beast's throat.
The Second wolf charged forward and scratched at Teranin. She barely avoided a bite, but she stabbed him in the side of the neck. The last wolf took off. Ofland got off of his horse with a knife, "If we skin them, we can make a little gold off of them. You killed them, so I'm more than happy to let you keep the pelts."
After that short excursion, she remounted her horse and continued south towards the Imperial City. Ofland asked, "A high elf in the Fighter's Guild is unusual. Not even that many High Elves in Bruma. Just Suurootan and Karinnarre."
"I lost my family and needed a place to stay. The fighter's guild took me in. I've been so busy, that I haven't really spoken with Surrootan or Karinnarre. I've seen them passing."
"I for one, often enjoy the company of my fellow Nords. I imagine you all, feel the same way."
"I'm sort of disconnected from my people. I spent more time with Khajiit than I did Altmer."
Olfand asked, "Why not the Mages Guild?"
"Maybe someday. I have been studying magic. Restoration."
"A noble choice."
Teranin continued, "Cirroc tells me that a lot of people study the healing spell and that it's great and all and certainly should be a spell that is mastered, but the real secret is about fatigue."
"Oh?"
"In a battle, if I feel tired, a quick cast of fatigue will give me some energy back. That could save my life. But Cirroc told me that someone who is a true master of the spell could probably run across the province, without stopping, except to eat. Fatigue and mastering it is the secret to aging. Most mages he said, spend their time and energy learning spells that frankly, border on Necromancy, to prolong their lives. They aren't willing to put the same time and energy into Restoration, but a master of Restoration, even someone with a short lifespan like a Nord or an Imperial, could greatly prolong his life."
"Sounds like he convinced you."
"I'm studying daily. One thing I knew even before I took my lessons, the more you study a school of magic, the more your magicka grows an affinity with you. You cast the key spells every day, your magicka works with you, and you can cast more, powerful spells with greater effect. Even low-level spells become more effective."
Ofland responded, "That's not so different for other skills. I can show you a lot about Light Armor, but your daily use of it will teach you much of what you will learn."
After a few more hours, they begin to reach the outskirts of the Imperial city. All along the side of the river that surrounds the city are small villages and settlements. Apparently, people even choose to live in the shadow of the Imperial City. Closer they got to the city the more she Imperial Guard she saw. This was the heart of the Empire, a place she had never been.
She was awed by the spires, and by the glistening glory of the Septim Empire. Ofland said, "It's late. It saves you a lot of money to rent a bed outside the Imperial City. We're coming up on Weye, that's where we should stop."
Weye was a smaller town, just outside the gate of the Imperial City. Because there was only one way in, and out, Weye benefited directly from the traffic of everyone who was entering or leaving the Imperial City. True that many people would just pass on through, but enough would stop. A few stalls, which amounted to little more than a farmer's market, among them a fish stale as this was a place where fishing was common.
They both entered the Wawnut Inn. Teranin's eyes fell on the Altmer that was running the bar. Teranin approached her, as the woman looked upon her. "Welcome to Wawnut Inn, I am Nerussa."
"I am Teranin, and my friend here is Ofland."
"I know him, he makes a few visits a year."
Ofland nodded, "Mead please."
Nerussa filled a quick mug.
Ofland said, "I'll be down here, drinking… a lot."
Teranin nodded, "Sure thing." She turned her attention to Nerussa. "I haven't spoken to a fellow Altmer in over a year. There are only a couple in Bruma and I've yet to find the chance to speak with them."
"I see… How can I help you?"
"Are you from the Summerset Isles?"
"My family has been here, since the 2nd age. I haven't even been to the Summerset Isles? Why do you ask?"
"I barely know my own people. My parents were murdered as a child. I know little of my own people."
"So you want to learn about them? I'm sorry, I can't help you. I care about this inn and little more. Would you like a room?"
Teranin, hiding her disappointment, dropped 10 gold, the price for rent. Then, she held up another 10… "I want to speak to someone."
"I rarely go into the Imperial City, mostly for stock, but… Palonirya runs Divine Elegance. I don't know how much she really knows, but you really are just going to have to look around."
"Thank you…" She dropped the extra coin and took her room key. She glanced at Ofland, he looks like he was going to be at it all night.