Traversing the Ashland felt somewhat uneasy for Nerius; it was the complete opposite of the climate he was used to. He was in the desolate heart of Morrowind along with the Dragonborn, just as lost as him despite his attempts to hide it. Worst of all, encountering argonians was a wake-up call for him. It made Nerius realize that this was not a friendly exploration trip, not the adventure of uncovering new lands. They were amidst a nation torn by war, the war waged by his kin. These scars do not heal, and he should expect no welcome here.
Luckily, it wasn't long before Nerius and Rialyn finally found civilization. It was a city amongst withered lakes and scorched earth, yet compared to its surrounding, the place itself looked relatively novel. Its houses were simple, made of stone and wood, and all were similar in size. Two armored guards stood at the city entrance; Nerius felt uneasy.
"Do you know where we are? I know you studied the map."-argonian asked, looking at Rialyn.
"These are Redoran guards, and we are farther to the south than Gnisis, so this should be the city called Balmora."
"Redoran? Isn't that one of the great houses? You really have studied the history…."
"Not so much. I met their kind on Solstheim, far from the worst, but who knows these ones…."
They approached these guards, and one of them raised his sword.
"Halt, who are you?"
Nerius saw Rialyn turning his head towards him. The argonian could not see his face behind the helmet, but Rialyn's demand was apparent. Stay out while he handles this. The elf took his helmet off to show the guard that he was a dunmer. Nerius noticed that he looked rather pale; this was strange considering the warm climate around them.
"We are travelers from Skyrim. I come from the grey quarter of Windhelm. I left Morrowind years ago searching for a better life, but I decided to return…To see my home again."
Guards looked at each other, then at Nerius. He felt their distaste for him. They looked at him as if he was the scum of the earth, a lesser degenerate. In Riften and Windhelm, dunmer and argonian people shared a plight. Both were refugees in a hostile land, which made them more accepting of each other. Here, the tables have turned.
"And what about the argonian? Do you expect us to just let him in?"-One of the guards asked.
"He is my friend, and I can vouch for him."
"You think too highly of yourself if you believe your vouch means anything, traveler."-The guard responded, but the second one joined.
"There were no reports about argonians on Vvardenfell; it's unlikely that he is with the invasion."
"Whatever…If you want to let him in, I'll leave the consequences to you."-The first guard said before leaving. The other one looked at Rialyn.
"What is your goal here?"
"Here? Nothing, we head for Vivec. Is there any transport nearby?"
"There is a carriage on the other side of Balmora; it's quite cheap."
"Ah, about that…"-Nerius began, but Rialyn finished for him.
"We have no money whatsoever."
"Then what do you expect? For us to make an exception for two strangers?"
"I have a history of earning money by being an errand boy for people in need. Surely there is something here."
"Go to the tavern if you want some dirty work done, or maybe the bookseller; she was looking for an assistant, if I remember."-The guard said before leaving for his patrol route. Nerius and Rialyn were left in the middle of a city where the only people outside were guards. There were no civilians in sight.
"They really do have an animosity…"-Nerius said, looking at Rialyn. The Dragonborn quickly put on his helmet, not allowing Nerius to catch even a glimpse of his face. "That sight alone made my scales shiver."
"I imagine it could be worse. Much worse."
"Still, the feel is just…."
"Let's focus on getting the money first. I think we should split up…."
"What, why?"
"To get as much as we can soon, or do you want to stay in this place longer than we need?"
"Fine, fine. No argument here. Will you go to the…Did he call it cornerclub?"
"No, I thought about the library. I might glimpse some good books on Morrowind's history."-Rialyn replied, slightly breaking his monotonous pattern. Nerius smirked at this.
"Really? I never imagined the Dragonborn as…."
"Someone who reads books?"
"Well, no, everyone who is literate reads books…It's just I thought you would choose to run around with an ax hunting dragons and shouting your Fu…ra'doh".
"That too, but everyone has a life outside of their occupation."
"Yes, true…I'll go to the club then. It sounds like it's a much simpler time earning money."
"I'll meet you there. And remember not to trust anyone."
They separated; Nerius walked to the southern part of the town while Rialyn headed north. The argonian felt worried walking around these guards; they looked at him like vultures circling around their prey, with no pleasure in feeling like this. Maybe it was a good idea to stay with Rialyn…
No, it was not. Nerius held himself together and tried to toss his fears away. He agreed to undertake this journey, knowing the risks full well. He considered himself capable and believed that he was destined to be more than a simple thief. What was he even doing here if he couldn't even go to the inn without the Dragonborn at his back? He should just be careful, and that will be enough.
As Nerius entered the club, he already began to miss the silence outside. He heard dunmer voices all over the building; they sat at the lower level where the bartender would give out the drinks. The room had about seven guests, all of them dark elves. A couple of them talked to each other. Others sat in silence, thinking to themselves. All of them noticed Nerius; he noticed that the guests were surprised and even appalled to see him enter. To see an argonian enter this place so freely…Nerius wondered if they were old and if any of them owned slaves.
"Don't mind me, I just…"-Even the argonian himself heard the weakness in his voice. He could not allow being seen as easy prey in front of them. "It just so happens that I'm out of money…So I came to the most obvious place to get a job. Does anyone need help with…Well, anything?"
"You've come to the wrong place."-The bartender responded in a hoarse voice. Nerius ignored him and looked at dunmer sitting around him.
"Anyone?"-He asked.
"No."
"Go find someone else."
"Stay away from me!"
It did not go well at all; Nerius was unsure whether he was wasting his time. That was before one of the guests, a Dunmer woman, made her intentions known.
"Well, I need some help. If you undertake it, I'll pay you a good sum."
"That's what I hoped for…."
"Come here."-She said in a commanding tone of voice; Nerius approached her, forgetting his doubts and what Rialyn told him about not trusting anyone. He could finally help someone and earn money for himself and Rialyn. It would be a small repayment for the Dragonborn saving his life, but it would be a start.
"I am listening."-Nerius said.
"My house has been infested with rats recently…They are taking over the basement, and I am no fighter."
"I'll put that blade to some good use; where's your house?"-The dunmer woman seemed a little puzzled, but Nerius ignored that.
"Let's go…I'll show you."
…
As relieved as Rialyn was that Redoran guards allowed them into Balmora and did not ask too many questions about his evident "sickness," he would instead not show his face to Nerius for too long. Considering that he barely stopped himself from drinking his blood, knowing the truth would drive a wedge between them.
His interest in books, however, was genuine. The library of castle Volkihar was beyond his reach now, and any opportunity to enhance his worldview, specifically regarding Morrowind, was welcome. Rialyn quickly found the bookseller, a house in the northernmost part of the city. Whoever the owner was, they would not appreciate a fully armored warrior walking in and asking for a job…That was what he expected, but worth a try. If people of Morrowind bore any similarity to those in Skyrim, there should be no shortage of things to do.
As he entered, he noticed two mer women talking to each other. One was behind the stall, a shop owner most likely, while the second one stood at the other side and was quite enthusiastic in her discussion; he noticed that her skin was relatively light for a dunmer…
"You are too kind, Heleria…"-The owner said.
"Don't mention it. I have a few copies of this book, and besides, it's quite contradictory to works of many other historians."
"I think my buyers would love it."
"Ahem."-Rialyn made them notice him, and two women looked at him. He didn't hear the shopkeeper's name, but the one she talked about was named Heleria. As she turned around, Rialyn finally realized what caused his suspicion, as she was truly not a dunmer but an altmer. Her bright yellow skin, white hair, and height that exceeded both his and the shopkeeper made her very distinct.
Rialyn caught her curious emerald eyes directed at him but didn't pay much attention, looking at the shopkeeper instead. He hasn't met many altmer in his life, but Elenwen and Ondolemar were enough to make him a little suspicious.
"Are you the owner?"-He asked plainly.
"Yes, Dovesa Delan, and you are…."
"Rialyn, a mercenary of sorts."-He could see that the shopkeeper wasn't impressed and was outright suspicious of his antics, while the altmer woman looked at him with interest.
"We were in the middle of something here; if you could wait…."
"That's fine. I'm in no rush."-Heleria responded, which caused Dovesa to sight and look at the Dragonborn.
"I'm out of money and really need some passage to Vivec. So, if you want any help with books, I can offer."
"Why would you think I need any help?"
"The guard said it, so I decided it was worth a shot."
"Oh, you are a little late, then. I needed someone to find some books for me, but my friend has already brought all of them here."
"Well…Anything else, then?"
Dovesa shook her head; this was getting increasingly awkward.
"Maybe you could take a look at some of my books?"-Dovesa asked; Rialyn noticed that the book they were discussing was the same he read in the castle, "Tribunal's Fall."
"I don't have any money to buy them, anyway, maybe I'll come back once I have anything at all…A good book, by the way. I read it recently."-He said before leaving the bookstore. Yes, finding a job at cornerclubs would definitely be a more direct way; reading books can be saved for later.
"Wait!"-He heard a familiar voice from behind; as Rialyn turned around, he saw the altmer woman following him, Heleria.
"What?"-The Dragonborn asked.
"You are not from Morrowind, are you?"-She seemed pretty certain when saying this.
"Quite rich coming from an altmer in Balmora."
"It's your accent. It sounds very Cyrodilic, is that where you are from?"
"Eh…Yes. And what's it to you."
"It's not often you see outsiders from Morrowind mainland, much less so from other provinces; I am taking an interest."
"Well, I'm not that interesting, so excuse me while I try to get some money."
"I am from Vivec myself. This was a visit to a friend that's almost over; after that, I'll travel back home, and I can lend you some coins to come."
Rialyn looked at her suspiciously; this didn't seem right.
"I don't believe a stranger would be willing to lend me aid. What do you want?"
"Nothing that will inconvenience you, I promise. Don't worry about it; for now, I believe I can help you get to Vivec, and we'll figure the rest from there."
It would be foolish to deny this opportunity outright…Rialyn would have to be on his guard.
"Fine, but before any of that, I need to find my friend. If you would be fine with lending him some coin too…."
"I see no problem."
"Whatever it is you want…Ah, forget it, let's just find Nerius for now."
…
Soon the woman led Nerius to her house on the outskirts of Balmora, the place infested with vermin he would get rid of. Even if there are many of them, rats are no match for a fighter. He entered her house. It was as simple as it seemed from the outside. One living room with a table and a carpet, little else of note. However, he immediately noticed the trapdoor to the basement. The woman pointed at it.
"They're there…I can't even check on my basement without fearing for my life."
"Don't worry, they are as good as dead!"
"Thank you…I always knew locals judged argonians too harshly."
Nerius couldn't help but smile; he felt very appreciated. Soon he descended into the basement; it was very dark in there, and he couldn't see anything. The smell was surprisingly pleasant, with no stench expected from such a number of rats. Nerius searched for a while but found no trace of the vermin. This did not add up…Perhaps they left earlier today?
The argonian was about to go up into the living room.
"There are no rats in…"-But before he could leave the basement, Nerius saw someone blocking the way. Another dunmer, this time with an ax in his hand.
