Ok, after a month of being messed around we have net again. See my lj for the full story if you care. I can only aplologise again and upload the next couple of chapters quickly. -D
Winterbell's swing went wild and the hammer thumped into the cavern floor. The Dunmer started and went for his shortsword but stopped when Ilmeni stepped into the light.
"Ilmeni!" His voice was recognizably that of Marayan's. The slave behind him gave a joyful mewl.
"Do you have the key to the slave bracer?" Ilmeni asked urgently. From further down in the cave shouting began to issue; the guard had woken up.
"Not for the slave, she's from a different base. I do have the one for- is that really you under there, Winterbell?" Marayan fumbled for the key attached to his belt while staring at what appeared to be a Dark Brotherhood assassin with a Sixth House weapon.
Winterbell pulled off her helm and shoved her hair out of her face, "You'd better believe it," she said tiredly.
"We've been spotted!" Ilmeni yelled, as the pockmarked Dunmer ran back into the bowels of the cave, yelling for help. Marayan fitted the key into the slave bracer and Winterbell was downing a potion before it had had time to hit the ground.
"Give me you bow," the slave rather timidly held out her hand. Winterbell raised an eyebrow, but handed her the weapon and unslung her quiver. "Thank you, mistress,"
"We keep going up until we get to a cavern with some stairs, turn right and we're free." Marayan was casting a shielding spell on Ilmeni and on the slave.
Winterbell grinned viciously, "Just give me one free shot." Magicka was already beginning to build up around her hands.
The Tong had regrouped, and arrows started whizzing around the group, a couple fizzing against Marayan's shielding spell. Winterbell's hands blazed with magical glow. Marayan began leading the others upwards through the cavern, but glanced back to see the result of Winterbell's spell.
The spell finally left her hands, a ball of frost almost as wide as the cavern itself hurtled towards the Group of bandits. In its wake ice gleamed on the walls of the cave. The Tong ducked, but in vain. As the spell burst on an outcrop of rock the blast radius filled every nook and cranny with magical cold. Screams accompanied the blast of cold air that followed the fleeing party.
"Wow," Ilmeni stared at Winterbell, who was slugging back another potion such was the cost of the spell she had cast. The slave fired arrows behind them, more to discourage pursuit than to actually hit anything.
Marayan led the party through the twists and turns of the cavern, his shortsword drawn and gleaming in his hand. The remainder of the Tong between them and the exit had heard the commotion below, but were not prepared for four armed people barreling through them. Those who avoided Marayan's blade, swung much more skillfully now, Winterbell noted, met either Ilmeni's dagger or Winterbell's frost. The foursome didn't stop to fight, but ran on, the slave's bow discouraging pursuit.
"Boss!" Marayan skidded to a halt in surprise.
"You! Traitor!" The boss wasn't actually a Dunmer, but an Orc. He skillfully parried Marayan's sword with a wicked looking axe. The slave gave a yelp of fear. Magicka was dancing around Winterbell's fingers, but Marayan was faster, his other hand came up and lightning crackled around the Orc's head. He recoiled instinctively, and Marayan grabbed Ilmeni's hand and pulled her on.
"I guess a reference is out of the question?" he called back. Winterbell chuckled and swung the hammer as she and the slave hustled past. The Orc took the attack on the arm, and there was a crack of breaking bone.
Marayan kicked the cavern door open and beckoned the party on. Winterbell paused, and with a flourish, magically locked the door behind them. There was a slam as someone ran full tilt into it.
Gasping for breath, their pace slowed to a jog, and Marayan lead them along a roundabout route through the swamp. Winterbell had reclaimed her bow and was taking down any cliff racers that might have called attention to their location.
"Lady Dren," the slave groaned and suddenly fell to her knees, clutching her stomach. Ilmeni ran to kneel beside the Kaijit, and the slave muttered something in her ear.
"She needs medical help," Ilmeni looked up pleadingly.
"What's wrong with her? Was she hit?" asked Marayan. Winterbell scowled impatiently.
"She's a mule. They made her swallow bags of moon sugar for someone in Balmora. We need to get her to the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart."
"There's a boat to Ebonheart from Gnaar Mok, stopping at Hla Oad," Winterbell reported. "Where the hell are we anyway?"
"Gnaar Mok is that way," Marayan pointed, "I was going to try and get us to Balmora, but it would be quicker to take a boat."
"We'll have to lay low until the boat is ready to leave though, the Tong will be looking for us."
"There's an abandoned shack to the south of the town. We can watch for both the Tong and the boat from there. Ilmeni," Marayan turned to his niece, "you accompany...uhh..."
"Rabinna, master Dren," the slave supplied.
"You accompany Rabinna to Ebonheart and stay there. I know you aren't on the best terms with your father, but I think it would be the safest place to be."
"But the Tong. Surely you know that they're dealing with the Sixth House."
"I know. And I agree something has to be done. But not by you, it's too dangerous. Both Winterbell and I have risked our lives for you already."
Ilmeni looked rather miserable, but nodded her agreement nonetheless.
The party moved much more slowly, Ilmeni staying at Rabinna's side to offer support if necessary. The sun was setting by the time Winterbell was satisfied that the shack was safe. There was a boat docked at the tiny Gnaar Mok wharf, but it appeared to be waiting for the tide before it could leave.
The shack was rather crowded when all four of them trooped in. Ilmeni insisted that Rabinna lie down on the rather mouldy hammock. The abolitionist started going through crates in an attempt to find something to eat. Marayan took a seat at the cluttered bench and looked up at Winterbell who was watching the gathering dark.
"Thank you," he said. Winterbell looked back at him. "For looking after my niece," he explained.
"Ahh, well," Winterbell gave a rare smile, "she looked after me as well."
Ilmeni looked like she was going to burst with pride.
Winterbell said that it was much too crowded in the small shack, and that she was going to brave the insects and keep an eye on the boat from the verandah. She wandered out and collapsed tiredly into an old chair that creaked alarmingly under her weight.
The final orange streaks of sunset were fading from the sky above the western mountains when Marayan wandered out with some bread and herbs.
"You're not asleep, are you?" he asked quietly.
"Not quite." Winterbell stirred from her reverie and took one of the plates.
"There was some scuttle in there too, but Ilmeni wants Rabinna to have it." He perched on a barrel next to Winterbell, the plate balanced rather precariously on the railing.
"She's a very impressive young lady."
"And you're a very impressive…uhh…slightly older one."
Winterbell chuckled, "The word you want is old, Dren. I'm not afraid of it."
Marayan pulled off the dragonscale helm with obvious relief, "I've been wearing this horrible thing so long I almost forgot about it," he said, pulling his hair back into its customary ponytail.
"I can't say I'll be sorry to get rid of this," Winterbell gestured down at the Brotherhood armour she still wore.
"Where did you get that anyway? Or don't I want to know."
"Don't worry; I merely bought it from a local smith."
Marayan scratched at the stubble on his chin. His face was grimy and a bit thinner, and Winterbell noticed that he wore his armour easily.
"You've changed quite a bit," she noted.
"I'm in disguise as a bandit, what do you expect?"
"That's not a disguise, Dren. I saw the way you handled your blade, that's quite an improvement."
"Uhh, thanks. I've been practicing. With all that's been happening…I felt I needed to."
"You won't beat your brother, Dren. He's been a fighter all his life."
"Maybe not with just a sword. But I've seen you fight with magic, armour becomes a hindrance when fighting you."
"So Estir was right? I'm the one encouraging you to become an adventurer now?"
"This isn't about fighting for fun, or money or glory. It's my duty as a Dren."
"You're starting to sound like your niece."
"Winterbell, what's your family name?"
Winterbell's face closed down, as if a mask had been placed over it. "I don't remember," she said flatly.
Marayan bowed his head, "I'm sorry. I had no right to pry." He picked up his plate and walked back inside.
A while later Winterbell thumped on the side of the shack. "Looks like the boat's leaving soon," she called. The others walked out, Rabinna stretching gingerly.
"Are you coming with us?" Ilmeni asked.
Winterbell shook her head, "I have business in Balmora."
"And I need to talk to Ranis," Marayan said, without enthusiasm.
"Well, thank you, thank you both." Ilmeni reached up and hugged her uncle, who hugged her back with a paternal smile.
"Stay safe," he said.
"And Winterbell, "Ilmeni hovered rather uncertainly in front of the mage, "thank you so much, I know I've been a burden-"
Winterbell stretched out a hand, "You held your own, kid. You held your own."
Ilmeni stretched out her hand, and then changed her mind, instead bending down and giving the surprised mage a hug. Marayan hid his smile at the look on Winterbell's face as she uncertainly patted Ilmeni on the shoulder.
"Uhh…you'll miss your boat."
"Oh, right."
"Lady Winterbell-" Rabinna began.
Winterbell held up her hand, "Thank her, don't thank me."
"Go," Marayan said, "I'll see you soon. And watch out for the Tong."
The elder Dunmer watched the pair leave, weapons close in case the Tong tried anything, but Ilmeni and Rabinna boarded without incident. Winterbell watched the boat pull away with a sigh of relief. She started chuckling, and Marayan regarded her curiously.
"What's so funny?"
"All of this. Ilmeni gets kidnapped, you go off to rescue her, but she doesn't need rescuing because she's already helped by the thieves guild. We charge off to rescue you, even though you're doing fine as part of the Tong. We get caught, I assume you were off to Balmora to get help, but we rescue ourselves, all the time assuming you're a prisoner in another cavern. It's just so…funny." Her laughter had a hysterical edge to it, and Marayan looked worried.
"Winterbell-"
"All right, I'm all right." Winterbell rested her head on the verandah railing, "I'm just very tired. If you don't count being knocked out I haven't had any sleep in three days."
"What's been happening?"
"All kinds of things. Ranis is making an attempt to get rid of me, a friend of mine has discovered that I killed his former flame. Wonderful things."
"What! Winterbell, how do you get yourself into these messes?"
"I have no idea." Winterbell seemed about to go to sleep right there on the verandah.
"Winterbell, do you still have that mark spell cast? You need to get some sleep, and it's not safe here."
"I know," Winterbell dragged herself to her feet, "Do you have everything?"
"The helm can stay here. Let's go home."
Winterbell raised her hands, preparing to cast, "Hang on."
Marayan hovered around her awkwardly for a moment, trying to work out how he could hang on without messing up the spell. Eventually he stepped around behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Winterbell inhaled sharply.
"Like this?" he asked next to her ear.
Her eyes narrowed, "That'll do." Then the world lurched sideways.
Winterbell staggered slightly as they arrived on her hearth rug, but Marayan held her up. He looked around the room with an approving nod,
"You've really got some nice stuff."
"Thanks." Winterbell stood stiffly, waiting for him to let her go. He didn't.
"Winterbell, do you remember the first night you came to the Mage's Guild?" He smiled, "You fell asleep talking to Estir. I ended up carting to you a bed."
"I'm not asleep now, Dren," Winterbell replied tonelessly.
"Right." He stepped back, "I'm going to get some sleep. I'll face Ranis tomorrow."
"Good luck." Winterbell sat down and started tugging off one of her mud encrusted boots.
Marayan looked back from the doorway, "Goodnight, Winterbell, and thank you again."
"Goodnight."