Morndas, 18th of First Seed 3E 422
Lantrius returned to Balmora and found Rona waiting at the main gate.
"It's about time you've got here! We've been delaying those bandits for as long as we could. I was also about to give up on you and go by myself." She said angrily crossing her arms. Her attitude changed once she got a better view of her brother's new staff.
"Wow! That looks so cool! Hand it over!" she said trying to snatch it from him.
Lantrius sighed hand handed it to her. "Wow." She said "This is lighter than what I suspected! I thought it would've been heavier being made of stone and wood."
"Yeah me too. Now let's go." He said snatching the staff back and a deep yawn followed.
"Um, yeah. To the objective…" She gave him a concerning look asking, "Are you ok? Did you sleep any?"
"Hardly." he blandly replied "Shall we go and rescue those captives now?"
They hurried over to the ransom location finding one of the traders already dead. Lantrius whispered into his sister's ear, "Try and bargain with how much their ransom is. If it's bigger than nine hundred drakes try to lower it. I'll stay back and provide support. Any sign of hostility, give me a loud whistle."
"Got it." She walked towards the captives, but her path was blocked by the bandits' leader.
"The ransom is nine hundred drakes total. Here." she said holding out a big bag of gold.
"Twelve hundred drakes." The bandit pushed the money back.
"Nine hundred is the maximum. Now take it or leave it." Rona said annoyingly.
Why is it so difficult for her? Lantrius wondered
"How about a new counter offer?" Pulling a woman from the group of hostages, he drew a knife and held it close to her throat. The rest of the bandits also drew there weapons.
Rona gave the signal and an incredibly large fireball flew right over her head. The soaring sphere of flame made contact onto the leader. The others fled in horror, dropping their weapons leaving the hostages safe.
"That was awesome! Except for burning a few of my hairs." she gave her brother thumbs up while freeing the captivated traders.
"Gods damn. You are one strong SOB." one of the traders remarked observing the charred corpse.
"I honestly didn't know it would've been that powerful. Oh well. We should get back to Balmora soon." Rona stopped, "Really? No 'I'm sorry for singing your beautiful hair'?"
"No." he stared
Rona squinted at this and continued her attempts to unbind the merchants. Lantrius decided it would be better to help his sister instead of watching since it could speed up the waiting process. Once finished, he walked over to the Imperial woman that almost had her throat opened. To his amazement she was unharmed from his spell and still had her hands bound behind her. He cut the rope that held her hands tight and gently grabbed them looking for and injuries.
"Are you alright miss?" he asked with a comforting smile.
She stared at him a moment and she embraced him with tears of joy. "Thank you so much!" she said softly, "I was so scared for my life."
"I'm going to assume you're fine then."
"Y-yes." She let go.
"Come on. We're getting you out of here." He waved and she kindly followed him.
During the walk back to the city, he noticed her sticking oddly close. Once they arrived back at Balmora, the merchants have finally dropped off their goods.
"Mission complete!" Rona rejoiced.
"Great." Lantrius moaned with annoyance "Let's get back to Dorvayn already and check in!" he beckoned to his sister. They entered the Council Manor and found Dorvayn standing in her usual spot. This time however Dorvayn was talking with that Imperial woman that was walking real close to him earlier.
"Ah. There you are, Kinsman. Thanks to this young lady here I already know of your success."
"Awesome. Can I see the rewards-list please?" He asked, ready to go home as soon as possible. Dorvayn handed him the sheet of paper. A smile of glee grew on his face and showed it to Rona. He and she have both been promoted. Lantrius became House Father and earned a Hlaalu stronghold nearby the city. Rona had also been promoted to Kinsman.
"Congratulations, House Father and Kinsman. Before you go, this young lady here was wondering if she could stay with you.
"Excuse me?" The two siblings asked in unison.
"Um…" The Imperial woman started. "I would like to work under you as a maid, servant, or something so I can repay you for saving me." She said shyly and looked at the ground twiddling her thumbs.
I honestly could care less. Lantrius thought scratching the back of his head and exhaling deeply. "Okay. You can stay with us I suppose."
The Imperial woman looked up with an exited face. "I'm Jullecia, by the way. Call me, Jullie." She bowed
"I'm-"he was then cut off by his sister and she rudely said, "This is my brother Lantrius and I'm Rona."
"Here are the directions to the stronghold." Dorvayn handed him a slip of paper with crudely written drawings on it.
"Thanks…I guess. Wait, this is going take some time to refurnish."
"This one wasn't put to any use for a long while, so it's yours now."
Lantrius turned and started for the door, "Let's go." He beckoned once more and they followed him to their new home. They entered the mansion and found a heavy dust coving the floors and various shelves on the walls.
"How long is a 'long while' for an elf again?" asked Rona curiously
"How should I know?" he looked around "Looks like we got some major cleaning to do and we'll need more servants. Rona, you and Jullie go find some willing citizens. Their pay is seventy drakes a week… You know what? See if you can get some slaves too."
"Yeah… slaves?"
"We're in Morrowind and we're good people. They won't be treated like cattle."
"Okay…sure." she walked out the door in an instant without waiting for Jullecia. Her assigned partner hurried after.
Taking his new staff, Lantrius focused on summoning a daedra while he had the chance. Let's try something simple one. A scamp appeared and confronted him with a curious gaze.
"Umm…help me clean this place." With that, it grabbed a dusty broom and began to weakly sweep. "Well this is different."
Rona and Jullecia returned with a group of about five people. "Let's get to work now." Jullecia said and Lantrius walked around the corner to greet his new staff members. After introductions everyone began moving furniture and other stuff from the old house to the mansion. Lantrius had de-summoned the scamp before anyone else noticed it.
"The uh, slaves will be here in about a few days or so." Rona notified her brother
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" he patted her on the back.
In those few days the place was finally refurnished and about as lively a stronghold could be. Lantrius felt very proud of himself. He came a long way from being a commoner to a noble. It's not quite the way he expected it to come around, but it happened anyway and is reasonably fine with it.
Turdas, 21st of First Seed, 3E 422
Late in the afternoon, Lantrius silently sat in his chair thinking deeply. I made my goal a success, but now the next phase: Necromancy secrecy. Even though Rona did blow off the past, I don't know how she'll feel after I've decide to go back to it. Besides, necromancy is illegal in Morrowind. His thinking was interrupted by Jullecia informing him that dinner is ready.
"Thanks Jullie." he said getting up slowly and stretching his back.
"Are you ok?" she asked
"The occasional nightmares are keeping me up. It's nothing serious."
He walked for the door and Jullecia followed him out. Rona sat silently at the table waiting for him. When her brother and his "pet" entered, she kept her eyes on Jullecia and feigned a smile.
"So, how is it being both the personal maid of my brother and head of the servants?" Rona asked Jullecia who continued to stand by Lantrius.
Jullecia tilted her head with slight confusion, "I wouldn't consider myself to be only his servant. I serve you too as well."
"Oh really?" she asked with an annoyed and raised tone "It would seem that way if you weren't always clinging on to him the way you do."
Lantrius shot her a look. She huffed with frustration and walked out of the room. A few hours had passed and night had fallen. Rona laid in her bed wide awake and felt uneasy.
The next morning, Lantrius walked into the dining room and sat with the servants for breakfast. He saw the chef sitting at the table as well.
"Aren't you supposed to be cooking?" Lantrius asked
"I'm sorry my lord, but madam Rona insisted on the morning meal today."
Rona walked out of the kitchen along with a three others carrying one of her few varying dishes. "That's right." she said with a perky voice. "Enjoy!" her brother took a bite from the nearest dish. "I'm impressed! You must've worked hard on this."
"I'm glad you like it." she said with a smile.
Jullecia took a seat next to Lantrius. "Want a bite?" he asked her holding up his fork.
He's feeding her now? Rona examined.
Later through the day, Rona and Lantrius went on a mission and Lantrius invited for Jullecia to come along with them.
"Why is she coming? I thought this was something only me and you do?" Rona asked
"I thought it would've been nice to have another person go with us."
"But WHY her?!"
"Why are you getting so upset?"
She started off without the two, leaving her brother and his pet behind.
Fredas, 4th of Rain's Hand 3E 422
The House Father had noticed a slave rivaling her work with Jullecia. An Ashlander by the name of Fervyne Elass. She was a little older than him and Jullecia by three years. She behaved and work quiet nicely. Along with Jullecia, she had earned more polite smiles and thank yous.
"You seem quite devoted, Ashlander. Why is that?" he addressed her.
"I was born into it. For it is all I know."
"I see." there was a moment of silence.
"Is there anything else you wanted to ask of me?"
"No. Um... you're doing a god job and... I thank you for it."
Fervyne left the room with a bow.
Middas, 15th of Second Seed, 3E 422
Over the past two months, Rona had been acting up. They're getting so lovey dovey with each other. She thought. Granted, he's happier than ever. He's laughing and playful and really nice. Why do all those things with her and not me? I'm his sister and he's practically never this nice with me! She frowned.
Sometime in the afternoon she took a stroll around Balmora to clear her head and calm her nerves. Coincidently she heard her brother speaking around the usual store they shopped at. She peeked around the corner and saw him talking to Jullecia. He was holding both her hands. Rona sneaked in a little closer to her what he was saying, "At first, when you first asked to stay with us and I agreed, all I thought of you was a pretty girl who worked for me. Over time, I've come to like you more and more as well."
"no way!" Rona whispered to herself as she watched her brother press his lips against Jullecia's. She accepted it and wrapped her arms over his shoulders. Rona looked away and walked off without a noise.