A.N It's been a long time since i started this fic off on here but i think i've finally written enough to merit making another post. Thanks for the review silver....im so sorry i've forgotten, your name got lost in my inbox clearout but if you're reading this you know who you are. And also thanks to Joe and Bx for your reviews given in person. I can't tell until i've uploaded how this compares in length to the last three chapters but i think it's a little longer. R&R please.
Disclaimer Durgaz, Lydia, Boroja and Ozul are mine, all else is Bethesda's/He left the houseman looking bewildered and climbed the stairs to his quarters. Eydis and Lydia stood to greet him.
"I wondered where you'd got to," he said embracing the nord woman.
"Ugh I'm too old for all this excitement shit." She smiled. "Run into any trouble?"
"Two journeymen in the guild when I went to look for you so not particularly."
"No injuries then?"
"Well one of them broke his friends heart and then started to lose his head so I helped him out."
"Jokes like that are in poor taste Durgaz, you know perfectly well I meant you."
"Sorry Eydis. Now, why are you suddenly declared a traitor to the guild, why was I forced to kill two perfectly good guild members and to what end does Ms. Boran grace us with her presence."
"Well to answer those questions slightly out of order: Somebody must have overheard me talking to you about the Cammona Tong business. Shortly after you'd left somebody came down and was threatening me until Lydia stepped in, which also goes to explain her presence. If you'd gone to hide the bodies in the cupboard you'd have found what she left of him. And finally you killed them because they know you're with me and either they were in on this business or they've been convinced we are traitors. Either way it's bad."
"The question is what do we do now?" Up till this point Lydia had been silent.
"Now," replied Eydis, "we hear what news Durgaz brings from the thieves guild." Durgaz nodded and told them of his conversation with Boroja.
The three of them sat in thought for a few moments. Finally Eydis spoke.
"It seems we won't be welcome at the guild for quite sometime. I have some other contacts that can help us in this business. I suppose all that's left is to await contact from the thieves."
"Will the two of you be staying? I can have guest rooms made up if you wish," asked Durgaz.
"Yes thank you Durgaz. May we have something to eat?"
"Of course. If you wait in the dining room I'll send someone along to attend to you." The three of them stood and Eydis and Lydia left for the dining room. Durgaz showed them out and then returned to his desk. He didn't use it much; his people weren't exactly the paper-pushing type. But there were several documents a book and an inkwell.
He picked up a small bell and gave it a shake. A Kajhit servant appeared at the door.
"Yes my lord?"
"Have someone attend to my guests in the dining room they require food. And then have two guest rooms made up. When they are ready show them to their rooms."
"Will that be all my lord?"
"No, if anyone from the thieves guild arrives alert either myself or Madam Fire-eye and show them to the rec. room."
"Very well my lord"
Durgaz watched the elderly cat-man leave and then sat down smiling. Things were looking interesting again.
It was three days later when the wait was finally broken. Durgaz, Eydis and Lydia were breakfasting when a guard appeared at the door.
"Begging your pardon my lord but there are two men at the front gate claiming to be from the thieves guild, one of them is bleeding quite badly." Durgaz said nothing in response but rose from his seat and followed the guard down to the gates. He entered the gate house and was greeted by a short woodelf in leather armour.
"Boroja sent us my lord, we have intelligence that the fighter's guild are planning a hit on the South Wall this afternoon." Durgaz beckoned to the guard.
"Send for my two guests and then have my armour brought down. And also get some medical attention for this mer's friend." The guard saluted then left. "Tell me what u know Bosmer."
The woodelf took a breath and began. "We were on a routine job, me, him, Boroja and one other. We had to lift some potions from a house in town. While we were there I found some documents detailing a building plan of the south wall, annotated with weak points to attack and a date scribbled in the top corner… today's date." He glanced at his friend and continued. "Me and him were to come and tell you whilst Boroja and the other went back to warn the south wall."
"And how did he sustain his wounds?" asked Durgaz.
"We was attacked on the way out of town. A dunmer guy with a shortsword caught us unawares. I managed to hold him off awhile before he changed his mind and headed back into town. I think it's safe to say they know that we know."
Just as he finished speaking Lydia, Eydis and two servants carrying his armour and a Altmer healer entered.
"What's wrong Durgaz?" asked Eydis.
"Trouble in Balmora. The South Wall is getting hit today."
"Are we going then?" asked Lydia.
"If you're coming as well then yes we'll be setting off right away." He took the Daedric mail off his servants and began to put it on with practiced speed. Lydia had already put on her armour before she came down so she stood and waited for him by the door.
"Are you coming back with us Bosmer or would you like to rest here with your companion," asked Durgaz.
"I will wait here sir if that's okay."
Durgaz turned to the guard. "Anything else like this is to be reported to Madam Fire-eye. Consider her in charge until I return."
They left the estate and set off at a run up the river towards Balmora. It only took them two hours to complete the journey but non-the-less by the time they paused for breath by the city gates they could hear the clash of weapon on weapon on the other side of the river.
"Come on," Lydia called as she set off again, "we're late". Durgaz staggered after her. It had been a long time since he'd run that hard and already he was tiring, not an ideal postion for someone about to enter combat with an unknown number of enemies but, he reminded himself, they were after all only Cammona Tong thugs.
As they were crossing the river a kajhit staggered through the arch that led to the South Wall clutching an arrow in his chest. Behind him were two large dunmer raising their swords for the kill. "Oh no you don't you Guar filth," thought Durgaz and lobbed his axe through the air towards the nearer of the two. To say the axe had never been designed for throwing it held true and lodged in the elf's chest. His companion faltered as he realized what had happened and Lydia, closing the distance in no time hacked his leg off at the knee.