Chapter 35

Gambits

"It's a good likeness," Telepe commented as he rolled the small golden disk between his fingers, inspecting the picture that had been stamped onto the front of it. "Though are you certain that this is the only method of crafting these?"

"As far as I'm aware, yes," Sariel replied. The young Ayleid woman frowned as she turned the heavy bronze hammer around in her hand and inspected the design that she had etched onto the head of the tool. "In truth, this pales in comparison to what my master could forge. If you were to invite Lirulorne to Sancre Tor…."

"Do you know where they are?" Telepe asked as he looked up.

"Not… at present…." Sariel admitted sheepishly.

"Then this shall more than suffice," Telepe replied with a warm smile. "In truth, the quality of the sigil matters little. What's important is that we create a unique design that allows us to distinguish ourselves from the other realms." He inspected the design again, then added, "Do you have any suggestions for the reverse side?"

"What about a bull?" Inhaal suggested, folding his arms over his chest. "Or perhaps Whitestrake's portrait?"

"No," Telepe and Sariel replied simultaneously at the second suggestion, eliciting a chuckle from the Nordic architect.

Footsteps echoed outside of the forge, and Telepe, Sariel, and Inhaal turned to see Tari descending the stairs. She nodded in greeting to the trio as she stepped into the forge and strode over to them, and when she saw them huddled around an anvil, she gazed at them curiously.

"What are you all doing?" she asked, folding her hands behind her back.

"Minting coins," Telepe replied. He rested the gold flat in his palm and held it out for her to inspect. Tari frowned deeply as she stared at it, then looked up with a confused expression.

"Coins?" she echoed uncertainly. "Those are…?"

"Coins are an invention of the Altmer of the Summerset Isles," Telepe explained as he set the disk on the anvil and folded his hands behind his back. "They're a relatively new creation, and have not yet seen widespread use. In truth, even my homeland has yet to fully adopt them. However, I wish to suggest to the Paravant that we implement them as the foundation of the rebellion's economy."

"What… are they exactly?" Tari asked.

"They're a way to simplify barter," Telepe said, taking a seat on one of the stone benches resting against one of the walls. "Essentially, one takes a bit of metal and imprints a sigil into it, which indicates where the metal originated from. The coin can then be used to trade for other goods."

"But then why not simply trade the good you want for one that you already have?" Tari asked, her frown deepening. "Barter is a simple process. Why complicate it?"

"Because coins offer certain advantages when bartering," Inhaal piped up, wiping his calloused hands on a cloth. "For one, it's easier to carry around a few dozen small coins than, say, an entire shipment of hides."

"Also, allow me to ask you something," Telepe added. "If I were to offer to trade you, say, a knife for ten pounds of meat, would you consider that a fair trade?"

"Perhaps," Tari said slowly. "It would depend on the quality of the knife, though."

"And would you still consider it fair if that meat was rotten?" Telepe continued.

"No," Tari said firmly.

Telepe smiled and nodded. "Precisely. Now, imagine instead that I paid you three coins for ten pounds of meat. The coins that you were given shall never expire like the meat would, and you could then use those coins to buy other goods, rather than praying that your meat remains fresh long enough for you to barter for something else before it rots. Does that make sense?"

"…I suppose," Tari shrugged. "It still seems as though you're complicating what should be a simple exchange, though." She then tilted her head. "Besides, the Ayleids already use beads for barter. I recall that Arcanalata would occasionally trade beads for ingredients."

"They do," Telepe confirmed. "When we were in one of the Ayleid cities, I also saw Prince Dynar trade a bead for some supplies, so they are a form of currency. However, they do not seem to be widely used, and they are certainly not seen outside of Cyrod, except perhaps as a curiosity. Coins, on the other hand, are used throughout the Summerset Isles, and I know some Altmer merchants have traded them in other ports – though they are not yet universal, they are gaining popularity, since the metal itself has some value. Furthermore, beads seem to be dear, as Dynar was loath to part with even one, which suggests that they possess a high value. That makes them untenable for smaller purchases. The advantage of using metals is that one can use a cheaper metal to mint lower-value coins to trade for less valuable items. The Altmer rely upon coins of gold, silver, and copper, depending upon what they wish to trade for. You would not trade a golden coin for a bag of wheat, any more than you would trade a house for a bag of wheat, but you might trade a copper or silver coin for it." A slight smirk spread across his lips. "And fortunately, the mountains surrounding Sancre Tor are rich with metals – gold in particular. Thus, why I suggested we begin forging coins."

"Is that so?" Tari asked skeptically, leaning in to inspect the coin. "So if I might ask, then, what is this design?"

"It's meant to be the likeness of the Paravant," Telepe answered. Tari raised her head and stared at him, which made Telepe chuckle lightly. "She is the leader of the rebellion, after all. The symbols on coins typically represent something about the culture where they came from. Who better represents the rebellion than the Paravant? This is not unusual, mind you – I have seen Altmer coins that use the faces of their local leaders to indicate their origin. The reigning king is a very visible symbol of a realm, and when a new king is crowned, they mint their own coins, which also provides a date."

"Did Perrif agree to this?" Tari asked, her tone skeptical.

"We have not approached her about it," Telepe admitted with a sheepish grin. When Tari narrowed her eyes at him, he added quickly, "We wished to produce an example for her to examine before we proposed the idea to her. That is what we were discussing, in fact, when you arrived." He picked up the coin once more and absently rolled it between his fingers. "So, were you looking for us?"

"I was, actually," Tari nodded, straightening up. "The Paravant wishes to speak with you, if you've finished your business here."

Telepe glanced over his shoulder at Inhaal and Sariel, who both shrugged at him. Telepe nodded and turned back around. "I believe so. Shall we, then?"

"Indeed," Tari agreed, nodding once again at the pair hovering behind him. "If you'll excuse us? My apologies for the interruption."

"Did she mention what she wished to discuss?" Telepe asked as he followed Tari out of the forge.

"She did not," Tari replied. "It did seem urgent, however."

"Very well," Telepe sighed as they finished climbing the stairs and Tari led the way towards one of the side rooms of the palace. "And here I was worried that I might be late to start the day's lesson. I suppose that at least now I have a reason to postpone it."

"There wasn't much enthusiasm for the lesson today anyways. It's been rather cold and dreary lately, and most of the other students have been complaining," Tari shrugged. When Telepe frowned at her, she glanced over her shoulder and added, "I didn't say that I was one of them."

"No, you didn't," Telepe conceded. "Though I suppose that since you're an instructor as well, you're slightly biased in my favor, since you understand my frustrations," he chuckled. "Speaking of which, how are your own lessons progressing?"

"With Moralasil? Quite well," Tari replied cheerfully. She held her hand out, and after whispering something under her breath, a flash of magenta light sparked in her hand before running up her arm. As Telepe watched, a layer of wood spread across her arm and up her shoulder. Tari grinned as Telepe's eyes widened, and she flexed and extended her arm to show that she still retained full mobility.

"Outstanding!" Telepe exclaimed, grinning down at her with pride. "You've already mastered that spell? That was remarkably swift!"

"Well… I haven't mastered it yet," Tari admitted as the bark faded, exposing the smooth flesh beneath once more. "I haven't learned to completely cover my body. I am close, however. I believe it's simply a matter of expending a bit more magicka."

"I'm pleased to hear that!" Telepe grinned. "And what of your apprentice? How is he faring?"

Tari's smile faded, and she glanced away. "He's learning. Slowly," she replied evasively. "He can now produce a small flame, though he cannot maintain it for more than a few brief moments. I fear that the Paravant's desire for a legion of battlemages must remain a fleeting dream for now."

Telepe noticed her crestfallen look, but when he moved to squeeze her shoulder, she waved him away, and he decided not to pursue her. They walked together in silence until Tari turned left down one of the hallways and pushed open a large wooden door. Arrayed around a round marble table were many of the leaders of the rebellion – Perrif, Pelinal, Prince Dynar, Moralasil, and Edanu. They all glanced up as Tari and Telepe stepped into the room and stood in two open spaces before the table.

"Welcome," Perrif smiled as she motioned to the papyrus scroll that she had laid out on the table. Drawn on the scroll was a map of Cyrod, with most of the major settlements labeled in Ayleidoon. "My apologies if I interrupted something, but I wished to speak with you about our next campaign."

"It's no trouble," Telepe assured her with a pleasant smile as he folded his hands behind his back. "I presume that you're referring to the campaign in the spring?"

"Partially," Perrif replied as she straightened up. "However, before we can discuss that campaign, I wish to first conclude our campaign in the east. The first step in doing so is conquering Vahtache, which remains under siege. To that end, I intend to gather an army, including Pelinal, and march east from Sancre Tor in three days."

Telepe's smile vanished immediately. "Three days?" he repeated with a frown. "You intend to travel across Cyrod in the heart of winter? The snow is up to our knees, and that's an improvement over the last several days!"

"Indeed. The warmer weather we've enjoyed recently has been a gift from Kyne. While the roads remain treacherous, they're no longer impassable," Perrif agreed calmly. "There is no better time for us to travel."

Telepe gaped at her, then shook his head. "If you'll allow me to be blunt?" When Perrif nodded, he continued, "That's foolish. It would already take days to make that journey in pristine weather. The cold and the snow shall slow our progress even further, and I fear we'll either freeze or starve before we reach our destination."

"Vahtache is not as far as you might fear," Perrif replied. "I completed the trek with my knights in just a couple of weeks not so long ago."

"Very well, but… why are we suddenly attempting such a dangerous journey? Have we received word that the siege is imperiled?" Telepe asked, folding his arms over his chest. "I was not aware of that, though it's possible that I missed a message…."

"It is not. At least, so far as we're aware," Perrif replied. When Telepe scowled, she added, "However, as I've stated before, we must conquer the city before we can continue our campaign, and we shall not succeed by simply maintaining the siege. We shall never starve out the inhabitants so long as they are receiving supplies from the other kingdoms, and our few ships cannot hope to break our enemies' blockade on the Niben River. Worse, if he sees an area where we have been stymied, Umaril will undoubtedly send his army to attack it when he has the opportunity. If winter ends and our army remains at Vahtache, that is where Umaril shall unleash his army. And in truth, against the force Umaril seems to be gathering, I am uncertain if even Morihaus could prevail."

"Very well. I concede," Telepe said, holding up his hands in defeat. "Then what path would you propose our army take to reach Vahtache?"

"Here," Perrif replied, tracing along the eastern road leading away from Sancre Tor, before abruptly cutting south along the lone mountain they had passed on the initial journey to the city. She then continued along the main road for a while, and then simply dragged her finger through a long stretch of wilderness before stopping where the road picked up again west of the marked city of Sedor. "From there, we shall follow the road southeast until we reach Vahtache," Perrif added, pulling her hand back with a satisfied smile.

Telepe stared at her, then looked down at the map again. "You're traveling past a number of other cities," he remarked. "Celediil, and-"

"We are not," Perrif corrected him, and he paused and looked up. "You forget – those are the cities that Pelinal encountered while he was in the midst of his rage."

Telepe's eyes widened, and he glanced over at Pelinal, who pointedly ignored him. When he looked back at Perrif, she was giving him a sly smile. "Then…."

"There is no danger of encountering a hostile Ayleid army if we travel along this route – in fact, I'd be surprised if we even encountered a patrol," Perrif concluded. "While I do not condone Pelinal's actions, there is no reason not to take advantage of them. Furthermore, the longer we delay our departure, the more time our adversaries have to recover and send their forces to patrol the now-deserted roads once more. The only kingdoms that might pose some trouble for us are Rielle, which is likely too far north to offer any resistance, and Belda, which shall not be expecting us. That is assuming, however, that we move swiftly enough and pass by Belda while winter yet lingers."

"Perhaps… but will that not be dangerous for us as well?" Telepe pointed out, looking up from the map once again. "How much of the countryside was destroyed?" His mind flashed to the ruins of the farmhouse, and he recalled that even the fields had been blackened and burned. "If the region has been razed, then we shall be unable to forage while we travel."

"There would have been little to forage even before Whitestrake's… expedition," Edanu corrected him, glancing over at Pelinal out of the corner of his eye. "Few edible plants grow in the winter, after all. If we're to commit to this plan, we must stock our wagons well, or this caravan shall surely starve."

"Indeed," Perrif agreed. She then turned back to Telepe. "I'm also proposing this idea for one other reason. You stated that it is foolish. I concur – and because it is a mad scheme, our enemy shall not expect it of us," she stated. When Telepe continued to look skeptical, she sighed. "I admit, this shall be dangerous. This winter is particularly cruel, and we shall need to ration our food carefully. Even so, I believe it is necessary. In truth, it would not have been possible were you all not so successful in capturing and securing Sancre Tor. Between your military victories and the forging of strong diplomatic alliances, I am confident that we can safely leave the city without needing to rely upon Pelinal to guard it. Even if Umaril were to commit his forces to retaking the city, he would need to travel for months through allied territory just to reach Sancre Tor's gates, and even then, he would be hard-pressed to capture it.

"As such, I would rather focus our efforts on the eastern Niben Valley. If we can secure a swift victory and pacify the remaining kingdoms in the valley, we can then march the majority of our army back west to Sancre Tor. Gods willing, the snows in the Jerall Mountains will have melted by then, the Nords may join our war, and then together, we shall march south."

Telepe frowned as Perrif finished. "Brilliant, should it succeed. However, you are also placing a great deal of faith in the idea that all shall go according to plan."

Perrif inclined her head and held up her hand, conceding the point. "You are right, of course. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that this is our best opportunity to secure victory in the east." She then turned towards her champion. "If nothing else, I wish for Pelinal to return with me. Your strength shall be necessary if we are to breach Vahtache's walls. That kingdom has become a symbol of Ayleid resilience, and sacking one of the most well-defended cities in the east may well convince other kingdoms to capitulate as well."

"I am yours to command, of course, Paravant," Pelinal growled, inclining his head. As he raised his head, Telepe noticed the knight shooting him a pointed glare out of the corner of his eye, daring him to continue countermanding Perrif.

Perrif smiled briefly at her champion before turning to Telepe. "What say you, then?" she asked softly. "I understand your trepidation. Even so, will you join us? Should this plan succeed, your diplomatic talents shall prove invaluable in convincing the other kingdoms to yield without further bloodshed."

Telepe sighed and folded his hands behind his back. "I've stated my concerns, but if you are truly committed to this plan, I shall not refuse. Should you request that I accompany you, I shall do so without hesitation."

"Thank you," Perrif smiled, nodding gratefully. "In truth, I fear that a military victory alone shall not sway the eastern kings. We must also persuade them to surrender, and I would like to have our finest emissary assisting us in that endeavor." She then turned to Dynar. "Would you be willing to accompany us as well? Skilled as Telepe is, I feel our enemies shall be more responsive to a fellow Ayleid."

"Certainly," Dynar replied. "In truth, I've been anxious to see how my father's army is faring, so I was considering asking to accompany you anyways."

"I would like to join you as well," Tari piped up. Perrif turned to her with a politely intrigued expression as she explained, "It's difficult to explain how, but when I was reading the Elder Scroll, I was shown where I might find other canticle trees to gather more moths for another reading. There are a few such glades scattered throughout Cyrod, and according to this map, one is not too far from where you are heading."

A concerned expression darkened Telepe's face as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Can your eyes bear the strain?"

Tari smiled up at him, nudging him gently with her shoulder. "I'm grateful for your concern. However, I feel that we must know more of Umaril's designs. Of course, I might return to the glade in Ceya-Tar to collect moths, but that shall also take several weeks, and if we are already traveling east, there is little reason not to seek out this new tree."

"I concur," Perrif added, nodding to her. "Though, are you certain of this glade's location?"

Tari leaned over the map, tracing her finger along the papyrus, before pointing to a location in the northeastern mountains near the border of Cyrod. "Here," she said confidently. "If I'm not mistaken, this is perhaps a week from Vahtache on horseback, yes? Once I've finished my reading, I can travel south and rejoin you."

"Very well," Perrif nodded. "If you wish to take this detour, you are welcome to do so. I can also provide an escort if you wish." She then turned to Edanu. "Speaking of. Centurion, I feel that I must impose upon you once more, but I wish to take some of your warriors with me as well."

"It is no imposition to request your own men, my lady," Edanu replied with a deferential bow. "How many will you need?"

Perrif considered the question, then replied slowly, "No more than a thousand. Perhaps five hundred would do, as I do not wish to leave even a stronghold as stalwart as this underdefended. I merely wish to bring enough to compensate for any losses we might have sustained during the siege since I've been away."

"Do you truly believe five hundred have already been lost?" Edanu frowned.

"I'm do not," Perrif admitted. "However, I wish to err on the side of caution. Morihaus was apprehensive about this siege. He told me that even in ideal conditions, hunger and disease can quickly take their toll on the besiegers, and even moreso in the winter. Thus, I would prefer to overestimate how many men we've lost."

"I see," Edanu said slowly. He stared down at the map for a few long moments, and then he pushed himself up with a nod. "Very well. The Nordic mercenaries garrisoning the city are still being paid, and it's not as though they can return to Skyrim with the passes blocked by snow anyways. I shall retain them to reinforce the garrison until the spring. In the meantime, I can certainly spare five hundred hoplites, especially as we have trained several new warriors since the first snows fell. I can recommend two hundred veterans and three hundred fresh warriors if you are amenable to that suggestion."

"That would be most satisfactory, thank you," Perrif replied with a warm smile, nodding once. "Very well, this should suffice. As I said, I intend to depart in three days. That should allow you enough time to decide which men should accompany us. In the meantime, the rest of us should complete any remaining tasks that we have not yet seen to," she added, gazing around the table. "I know that some of us have been rather occupied, and while time is of the essence, I also wish to provide you ample time to put your affairs here in order. Are there any questions?"

There was a long pause as Perrif's eyes swept over the men and women standing around the table. Telepe glanced at Pelinal, then quickly looked away when the knight glared at him. Privately, he was worried about whether Whitestrake would be a liability in the upcoming campaign if he was seized by another bout of madness. However, with Huna gone, Pelinal had no other strong attachments to anyone else in the army, Telepe reasoned… save perhaps Morihaus, and of course Perrif herself, though if either was lost, the rebellion as a whole was doomed anyways. What's more, Pelinal had seemed sincere when he had reaffirmed his pledge to Perrif, and the knight did at least keep his word when he swore oaths to her. He supposed that worrying about it was about as productive as fretting about an upcoming storm – it wasn't as though he could do anything to stop it anyways.

"Very good," Perrif announced when the rest of the table remained silent. "I expect to see you all in three days, then. Thank you for your time."

Telepe pushed himself away from the table, only to be stopped when he felt Dynar's hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the Ayleid smiling warmly at him, and Telepe nodded to him in greeting.

"Do you have any pressing matters that you must attend to immediately?" he asked.

"Well… I should arrange for lessons for the citizens that were learning to read and write," Telepe said slowly. "And I do still need to compose a letter to the Nords and to the Kingdom of the Bjoulsae before we depart. Of course, I thought I had more time to gather my thoughts, but now…."

"I understand," Dynar nodded. "Would you mind, however, if I were to speak with you this evening?"

"I don't mind, no," Telepe said slowly, a frown spreading across his face. "Is there something troubling you?"

"Not particularly," Dynar assured him with a chuckle, clapping him on the shoulder. "In that case, I shall come find you around dusk, if you're going to be in your quarters. Do yourself a favor, too, and refrain from eating dinner."

Telepe's frown deepened as the Ayleid walked off. Tari sidled up beside him and stared after the Ayleid before looking up at Telepe quizzically. Telepe could only answer her questioning look with a helpless shrug. He would just have to wait and see what Dynar wanted, he supposed.

"I must confess," Telepe commented with a deep sigh as he leaned back contentedly, closing his eyes. "You've had many good ideas since we first met, but this is certainly among your best, Your Highness."

Dynar grinned at him as he reached over and lazily plucked a date from the silver tray lying on the marble floor next to him. "Enjoy it while you can, my friend. This is a luxury I feel we haven't taken ample advantage of, nor fully appreciated. We must do so now, as it'll likely be our last opportunity for quite some time."

Telepe didn't bother to respond, other than nodding faintly before again resting his head back against the granite lip of the pool. Dynar's suggestion, as it turned out, was to visit Sancre Tor's bathhouse one last time before they left. Of course, they were not alone – in the dead of winter, the warm baths were one of the few refuges from the bitter cold, so dozens of Nedes were crowded into the marble building, their chattering and laughter echoing off the stone walls. However, most were occupying the large central pool that was open to the public. Telepe and Dynar, on the other hand, were sharing a smaller private pool in one of the back corners of the building. The circular bath was only about fifteen feet in diameter, and a special drainage and fountain system kept the steaming water circulating so that it didn't stagnate and always remained hot – another one of Inhaal's brilliant inventions.

"I do feel a bit guilty," Telepe remarked after several long moments as he raised his head and reached over for his clay goblet, resting beside the lip of the pool. Dynar opened one eye as Telepe nodded to a Nedic boy walking by, carrying an armful of white cloth. "Even though these men and women are free, they're still serving us, toiling while we're enjoying this luxury…."

"Mm. However, this time, they're not being forced to do so," Dynar pointed out as he raised his own goblet to his lips. "They're tending to these baths by choice, and their role as servants is necessary. Besides, as the laws you've drafted make clear, they're also free to start farms if they so choose, yet they've elected to work here as laborers. And there's no shame in that! A society must always have those who perform basic tasks for it to function. However, I believe that the distinction you've drawn between servant and slave is an important one. The former, at least, can boast of his freedom and may leave whenever he pleases."

"…I suppose," Telepe shrugged finally, taking another slow sip of his wine. "In any case, thank you for this invitation. It's good to have the opportunity to talk with you again, as it's been quite a while since we last did so." He paused, gazing at the Ayleid over the lip of his cup, and then he added, "Which begs the question of where you've been the last several weeks."

"In general, I've been attempting to remain within my quarters whenever possible," Dynar admitted with a sheepish chuckle. "Between Whitestrake's rather violent execution of King Haromir and the continued presence of the Nordic mercenaries, I felt it wiser not to draw attention to myself. Allied or not, I'm very aware of how many of these men feel about mer, and I wanted to avoid provoking them if at all possible."

"I see," Telepe said, his voice tinged with regret. "Even so, you shouldn't have remained in your room this entire time. You may as well have been imprisoned, if so."

"If it were so, yes," Dynar chuckled. "But rest assured, I wasn't simply idling away my time. Whenever possible, in fact, I've been training Edanu's new centurions."

Telepe frowned slightly and tilted his head. "In swordplay?"

"Well, yes," Dynar said. "But more importantly, I've been instructing them about the Ayleid mindset – how we think, how we view the world, and how they might take advantage of the flaws in our philosophies."

"Truly?" Telepe asked, intrigued. He reached over to a handful of nuts from the silver bowl on the tray, and then he pressed, "How so?"

"Well, for instance, nearly every kingdom holds to the idea that an alliance is always temporary, and always pursued for one's own self-interest," Dynar explained. "When an opportunity arises, it is expected that one party should take advantage of it, as not doing so leaves one open to being betrayed by their former ally as soon as one of their weaknesses is exposed. In the same vein, however, it means that a united army can exploit our disunity by dispatching us one at a time – much as the rebellion has already been doing," he added with a sly grin.

"What of Umaril, then?" Telepe asked, sitting up slightly. "He intends to unite the other Ayleid kingdoms to oppose the Paravant's rebellion, and he seems to have the strength and charisma to forge a powerful alliance."

"He may. But I imagine he'll find forcing the cooperation of the various city-states difficult," Dynar replied, resting his arms on the lip of the pool behind him. "As I'm sure you're aware, an alliance forged by force and based upon hatred is a fragile thing. It's typical of our kingdoms, mind you, but I've seen its shortcomings numerous times in Nenalata's alliances and wars with Bawn and Anutwyll. Two of the kingdoms will happily attack the third, but they'll also surreptitiously attempt to undermine their ally at the same time. They'll hold back their armies to avoid expending them, they'll quietly raid allied caravans and take their supplies for themselves… and inevitably, the alliance shall break down, often long before their original foe has been subdued. What's more, said foe will likely ally with one of the prior aggressors, and the cycle beings anew. I suspect that Umaril shall find that he cannot easily coerce ancient enemies into cooperating with each other, and the rebellion can continue to exploit that division." Dynar grinned. "In fact, if you watch closely in battles where we face two or more kingdoms, you will find that they won't fight in unison. One army might hold back, for instance, which simply means that our army need only contend with a single foe at a time, when a united assault would swiftly overwhelm us."

Telepe nodded in agreement, thinking back to the Battle of the Blackwood, when Veyond had gleefully encouraged its "allies" to attack first and throw their warriors on the rebels' spears while keeping its own forces in reserve. He then tilted his head, frowning slightly. "Then… does that mean that I've was foolish to approach your king with an offer of an alliance?" he asked softly.

Dynar frowned faintly and closed his eyes, pondering the question. "I imagine that in his mind, yes, to a certain extent," he admitted. "And I suppose that the current King of Veyond felt much the same when you approached him and offered him the crown. However, the rebellion's association with its Ayleid allies is markedly different from a typical alliance. For one, it's not simply an empty pledge of military assistance, but also an economic partnership where both parties benefit from equal trade. More importantly, however, the rebellion has not yet attempted to exploit the alliance. Both parties have held to their oaths, and though my father has remained wary of your intentions, there has been no suggestion of betrayal – because there is no intention to do so." Dynar glanced at Telepe with a slight smile. "Actually, it's been a rather refreshing change, having a oath held as sacred, rather than broken at the first opportunity. I'm certain that my father was dumbfounded when he found that his most trustworthy allies to date were a horde of barbarous, rebellious slaves."

Telepe frowned and tilted his head. "Why would they betray him, though? There's no need. Nenalata has proven itself a steadfast ally in its own right, and this alliance continues to benefit us far more than annexation or conquest would."

"That's just it. Most other kingdoms – particularly those that worship the more vicious Daedra – would certainly not see it that way. When you offer your assistance to another kingdom, you're not aiding a friend – you're arming a foe," Dynar explained. "Though perhaps it's time that our mindset changed. If the Paravant truly wishes to usher in a new era of respect and cooperation, then this approach is certainly an excellent first step." He then raised his goblet in a toast and added, "In that regard, your own diplomatic efforts are praiseworthy, as you've managed to not only forge, but maintain an alliance with several naturally suspicious kingdoms. Well done."

Telepe smiled bashfully, then settled his head back against the lip of the pool again, gazing up at the ceiling as the water lapped around his bare shoulders. "Well… it's been successful thus far, at least," he murmured. "We'll see if that continues, or if I'm indeed the foolish one." His mind drifted to when their caravan had been ambushed after departing from Ceya-Tar, and he couldn't help but wonder if one of their own allies had already betrayed them. The question, however, was which one, and what could they do to prevent it in the future?

"May I join you?" a familiar voice asked, the words echoing slightly off the marble walls, interrupting his thoughts. Telepe's gaze drifted down from the ceiling to see Tari standing before them, holding a white cloth over her torso.

Telepe and Dynar glanced at each other, then Dynar turned back to Tari and smiled, motioning to a free spot in the pool between them. Tari smiled and pulled the cloth from her body, placing it on top of theirs before slipping into the water to join them. Neither Telepe nor Dynar paid her any mind as she exposed her bare body to them – the baths were mixed, and there was a casual indifference towards nudity while bathing. Telepe shifted slightly to his left to give Tari a bit more room as the water covered her up to her slender shoulders, and she let out a low sigh of delight as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the edge of the pool.

"I'm going to miss this," she murmured, letting her arms float on the surface of the water as it rippled around her.

"Telepe was saying the same," Dynar chuckled, before reaching over to the platter of food and the jug of wine. "Have you eaten yet? Or can I tempt you with a drink?"

Tari opened one eye and gazed at the platter for a moment, then she lazily reached out and took one of the bright yellow apples. "Thank you. I'm surprised that we have these available this late into winter," she remarked as she bit into the fruit. She gazed at it thoughtfully, then muttered around her mouthful, "A touch mealy, but still quite sweet."

"Inhaal has been using the cold to keep them fresh, so we're not subsisting on salted or dried food alone," Dynar explained as he took a piece of cheese for himself. "Apparently it's a Nordic technique, since ice is readily available in Skyrim."

"Is that so?" Tari asked absently. "I wonder if I should learn an ice spell next. It might be useful to preserve food when we travel."

"Speaking of, are there going to be any issues with interrupting your apprentice's studies when you depart?" Telepe asked, tilting his head at Tari. "I'm certain that you're aware that I've given the other students tasks to complete while we're away. Have you done the same with your student?"

Tari slowly swallowed the bit of apple in her mouth and sighed, looking down at the water despondently. "I've actually decided to ask if Farilel can train him while I'm away," she said.

"Indeed? That might be a wise decision," Telepe agreed, though he frowned when he noticed that Tari still seemed downcast. "What's troubling you?"

"I didn't want to have to rely upon her," Tari admitted, raising her eyes to meet his. "I'm beginning to feel as though I'm a failure as an instructor. Perrif was relying upon me to train a contingent of battlemages, yet I cannot even show one mage how to properly conjure a flame! And in truth, I'm still an apprentice myself! I've only learned a handful of spells, and I'm far from mastering any of them!" She exhaled slowly and looked away, seething with frustration.

Telepe waited until she finished, and then he reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder. "You're not giving yourself nearly enough credit," he said softly. Tari turned back around to look at him as he gazed levelly at her. "Yes, you're still quite new to magic. However, what you've managed to accomplish in such a short time is nothing short of miraculous. Most mages require years of constant schooling before their masters deem them ready to cast even the simplest spells. Myself included," he added with a sheepish chuckle. "Yet, perhaps it's spurred by necessity, or perhaps it's a product of your natural talent, but you've already learned to cast three spells in the span of mere months. And all while you're also preoccupied serving as an alchemist for the Paravant as well, and learning to read. Yet you're blaming yourself for the fact that your apprentice has not reached your level?"

"But… if I could teach more effectively…." Tari protested.

"Your student's progress is only your responsibility up to a certain point," Telepe said firmly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dynar nodding in agreement. "You cannot change how much talent they possess or how swiftly they learn. All you can do is continue to provide the tools they require and guide them in their use as best you can – which you have, admirably, especially considering all your other duties and responsibilities. Now, since you can no longer see to his lessons personally, asking Farilel to teach your apprentice instead is a good alternative. She's already proven herself an excellent instructor in her own right, after all, and Perrif does still require battlemages. You, on the other hand, have yet another task to see to – reading the Elder Scroll. No one else can accomplish that task, so you must see to it first. There is no shame in that." Telepe smiled gently and let go of her shoulder. "So, see to your most important duties first and worry about your other tasks once the former are complete. I assure you, you're doing wonderfully. I'm certain Perrif would say the same."

Tari opened her mouth, as if to protest, but then she slowly closed it and smiled sheepishly. "That cursed silver tongue of yours," she murmured in a chiding tone.

"Which is why Perrif continues dragging me all over Cyrod as well," Telepe sighed with mock bitterness, though he was unable to keep the mischievous grin off of his lips as he reached for his goblet of wine.

"I'm grateful that you have it, though," Tari said softly, sidling a bit closer to him. "If it weren't for your skill with words, I'd still be in chains. I fear that I'll never be able to fully express my gratitude to you for that."

Tari slid along the bench until her bare hip touched his, and she wrapped her arms around his left arm, pressing her cheek into his shoulder. Telepe felt heat rising to his face, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Dynar smirking with amusement and approval. Yet… despite Tari's soothing presence, something about what she had said made him uneasy. His thoughts suddenly flashed to a memory of his mother gazing adoringly up at his father, a tender smile on her lips. The thought only lasted a moment, but when he looked down at Tari, he saw that she had a similarly affectionate expression on his face, and his body suddenly stiffened.

"Th-there's no need to thank me so profusely," Telepe stammered. Subtly, he pulled away just slightly so that their hips were no longer touching, though he didn't try to disentangle his arm from hers, so as not to seem as though he wasn't flattered by her attentions. "Surely any decent person would have done the same."

Tari's smile faded as she noticed Telepe's discomfort, and when he pulled back from her, she released his arm and slid back towards her original spot in the pool. "My apologies," she murmured as she gazed down at the rippling water.

"No! No, you have nothing to apologize for!" Telepe assured her quickly. He mentally cursed himself when Tari didn't respond, and he immediately realized that there was nothing else that he could say that wouldn't make the moment more awkward. As he struggled to suppress the knot forming in his stomach, he took a slow sip of the wine and then set the goblet down with a deep sigh. "Rather, I believe that the heat and the wine are starting to affect me," he announced, pushing himself up and out of the water. "I should retire for the evening."

"Perhaps that would be best," Dynar agreed, giving Telepe a thoroughly unimpressed scowl.

Telepe shot the elven prince a glare before looking over at Tari, who was still gazing silently down at the rippling water beneath her. He cleared his throat, then added, "Of course, if either of you would like to speak with me later, my door shall remain unlocked. Feel free to join me if you wish."

"I shall bear that in mind," Tari muttered, still not looking at him. "Thank you."

Telepe grimaced and glanced at Dynar, who shook his head and waved at him lightly, encouraging him to be on his way. Telepe sighed and nodded as he collected his towel, wrapping it around his waist. "Very well. Thank you again for the invitation, Your Highness."

"Not at all," Dynar said airily. "If you don't mind, I'll enjoy the bath for a bit longer. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Telepe."

Telepe nodded and shot one last glance at Tari, who was still staring into the water. Regret welled up inside of him, though it was still secondary to his unease. As he wrestled with his emotions, he realized that he wasn't even fully sure why he was so reluctant to reciprocate Tari's obvious affection for him. It was something he would have to resolve, and soon, he decided, as he strode quickly across the slick marble floor of the baths, hurrying over to the wicker basket where his clothing was stored and struggling not to cast yet another look back at Tari.

Two days later, Telepe was struggling to finish strapping his leather bedroll to Emero's back, as the bronze buckle he was trying to latch was refusing to cooperate. His horse snorted at him and shot him a disdainful look over his shoulder, which Telepe answered with a glare.

"I know you're uncomfortable," he muttered as he twisted the roll to try and force the leather strap through the loop without twisting it. "You try fastening this while wearing mittens as thick as your hooves."

His horse responded with a pitiless huff as Telepe finally managed to set the roll of leather behind the saddle. He let out a slow sigh of relief as he did, his breath forming a billowing mist in the icy air. At the sound of footsteps approaching him from behind, he turned to see Tari walking past him, avoiding his gaze. Walking beside her was Moralasil, leaning heavily on his staff with one hand while the other rested on her shoulder, allowing her to guide him.

"Tari!" Telepe called out to her. He saw her flinch, and she seemed to consider moving on, but when she felt Telepe continuing to stare at her, she reluctantly turned to face him.

"Telepe," she murmured, glancing away from him. "Ah… I wish to apologize for-"

"I was hoping that you would like to ride with me," Telepe interrupted. Tari blinked and slowly looked up at him to see him smiling warmly down at her. "Come now, surely that's not such a surprise. We've already traveled across Cyrod together, and I couldn't imagine journeying with anyone else. Could you?"

Tari hesitated, then smiled up at him and shook her head. "No," she agreed. "And thank you."

"It's not as though you need to thank me," Telepe chuckled, feeling a weight lifting from his chest at Tari's agreement. He noticed movement behind her, and he looked down to see her dog, Sparicus, bounding happily through the snow. "You're taking him with us?" he asked conversationally.

"I felt it wise," she admitted as she watched the hound dive into a snowdrift that almost came up to Telepe's waist. The dog tunneled through the snowbank and burst through the other side, panting happily as his head burst through the surface in a shower of snow crystals. "As reading the Elder Scroll strikes me blind…."

"You wish to retain some mobility and independence. I understand," Telepe finished, nodding in agreement. "Speaking of… I know I've asked before, how are your eyes?" A moment later, he winced and glanced warily at Moralasil, but the elf didn't seem to pay his question any mind.

"Well… my vision remains somewhat clouded," Tari admitted after shooting Moralasil a furtive glance of her own. "I have a bit of difficulty clearly seeing distant objects now. However, I believe that no serious damage has been done to my eyes, so there's no need to fret. I feel that I am fit for another reading."

"…So long as you're certain," Telepe said slowly. When Tari nodded firmly, he decided not to press the issue further. While he was concerned about her, he wasn't going to prevent her from reading the Scroll. If Tari was willing to sacrifice her eyes on behalf of the rebellion, it wasn't his place to stop her. He then turned his attention to Moralasil, giving the old Ayleid a warm smile, though he knew the mer couldn't see it. "You've elected to accompany us?" he asked. "Is that wise?"

"As I've said before, I have spent more than enough time wasting away in a closed room with nothing to do but count the moments slithering away," Moralasil stated emphatically. "So, no, while it's not particularly wise, you shall also not dissuade me from joining you on this adventure."

"But what of the battlemages that Perrif wished to train?" Telepe suggested, though his tone was more curious than insistent. "Surely they could benefit from your tutelage."

"Tari mentioned that Farilel agreed to instruct them, and she is a fine teacher in her own right," Moralasil replied easily. "She does not require my assistance. Besides, I believe Tari would benefit from my experience more than the novices would. If I am not mistaken, she is already on the cusp of mastering the oak-flesh spell I taught her, and as such, I wish to be available when she wishes to continue her lessons."

"I see. My apologies. I'm simply concerned for you, since we are riding to break a siege," Telepe pointed out.

"I am not unable to defend myself, if need be," Moralasil chuckled. "Furthermore, it's not as though I shall be a liability; in fact, I can render a great deal of assistance, should your leader request it. There are spells that can batter walls and fell rows of warriors far more effectively than blades and arrows. All your rebel queen needs to do is assign me a direction and ask me to cast." His grin spread as he reached out, pawing around until he found Telepe's forearm. "What's more, you're an emissary, yes? If you truly fear for my well-being, then it is your duty to resolve the siege without resorting to battle, is it not? If so, then I would recommend you do so with all haste. You wouldn't want an old, blind mer to dodder onto the battlefield where he doesn't belong, would you?"

Telepe burst out laughing, holding his hand up in surrender. "As you say!" Moralasil matched his laughter as he let go of Telepe's arm.

"So, if I'm riding with you, may I tie this to him?" Tari asked, holding up a cloth bag held closed with a drawstring before nodding towards Emero.

"Certainly. He's strong enough for a bit more gear," Telepe replied. "So long as you can convince him to cooperate."

"What do you mean? Emero is quite fond of me," Tari said smugly as she approached the horse. Telepe scowled as Emero obediently held still for her without a single noise of complaint as she tied the bag to the saddle, then gave the golden horse's flank a gentle pat.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Telepe asked the horse sourly. When Emero snorted at him, he reluctantly chuckled and reached out to stroke the beast's mane, which Emero placidly accepted.

As he patted the horse, someone pushed their way through the crowd of soldiers milling about, their head lowered and their eyes on the ground. Telepe's smile faded as Sevri approached him slowly, moving as though a weight was tied around his neck.

"Telepe," Sevri muttered sullenly.

"Sevri," Telepe answered evenly, tilting his chin up slightly. "Is there something you require?"

Sevri hesitated, then sighed and looked up, meeting Telepe's eyes with a fierce look. "I wish for you to teach me to read and write once more," he stated firmly.

"Indeed?" Telepe asked blandly, continuing to absently stroke Emero's neck. "To what end?" When Sevri hesitated and looked away, he added, "Is this at your mother's direction?" After another pause, he continued, "If so, then there's no reason for you to approach me. As I said, I don't intend to teach someone who has no desire to learn. While I appreciate that your mother wishes for you to master a valuable skill, that means little if you don't feel the same. You have no desire to learn, and that shall always hamper your progress."

"I do wish to learn!" Sevri protested, snapping his head up to glare at Telepe once again.

"Why?" Telepe asked shortly.

Sevri exhaled slowly through his teeth, his fingers clenching. "Perhaps I have no talent for it," he muttered through clenched teeth. "However, I shall not suffer anyone claiming that I am a failure!"

"I never claimed that you were," Telepe answered coolly. "As I said, talent has nothing to do with it, save as a measure of how readily you might learn a skill. Again, you have no desire to learn, and I shall not force my tutelage upon someone who lacks that desire."

Sevri paused, then murmured, "In truth? I hate it. All we do is repeat the same letters and sounds, again and again. It's horribly dull." He then looked up again, snarling. "However, I also refuse to fail, particularly when someone is certain that I shall not succeed. Even if it's something that I despise, I hate being looked down on far more. I intend to prove to you that I can master writing."

Telepe considered the boy for several long moments, running his fingers along his chin. "You're resolved, then?" he finally asked.

"I have no intention of surrendering to you," Sevri snarled.

Telepe smiled faintly to himself, then turned to Emero and opened one of the saddlebags. He pulled a couple of rolls of blank papyrus, a bronze inkwell, and a reed pen from his bag, and then he walked over to a flat boulder, which he brushed the snow off of. Over the next few minutes, he wrote out a short poem, with simple words that rhymed with each other, and which used many of the same letters. When he was finished, he held the papyrus up to the cold breeze to let it dry, and then he rolled it up and walked back to Sevri, holding the scroll out to him.

"I expect that we shall return in the next couple of months, perhaps in late winter or early spring," Telepe announced as Sevri took the scroll from him. "That should provide you with adequate time to study what I have written for you. When next I return, I shall ask you to recite that poem. I want you to not only read it to me, but to explain what that poem means to you. If you can do so, then I shall accept that you are serious about wishing to learn to read, and you shall be more than welcome to rejoin my classes. Do you understand?"

"But… I can still barely read the runes…." Sevri said slowly.

"You are, of course, free to request help from any of the other students," Telepe assured him, his tone softening slightly. "The point of this exercise is not to punish you. If there is something you do not understand, then others might assist you. However, do not bother asking them to explain the message behind the poem. Only you can determine what it means to you."

Sevri hesitated, and Telepe noticed a cunning gleam creep into his eyes. Telepe tried not to let his disappointment show as Sevri nodded and wrapped the scroll into his cloak with a smirk. "Then I shall do as you bid," Sevri said softly. He paused for a moment, then looked away. "Thank you for allowing me another chance."

"As I said, convince me that you are determined to learn," Telepe repeated simply. "Until then, I wish you luck in your studies."

Sevri nodded and hurried off. Telepe watched him shuffle across the snow, then turned around to see Tari and Dynar – who had wandered over when Telepe was writing – staring at him with nonplussed expressions. "What is it?" he asked as he walked over to Emero to put his supplies away.

"You are aware that he shall not truly study that scroll, yes?" Dynar asked bluntly. "It's more likely that he'll ask another to read it to him, and he'll simply memorize the words."

"Most likely, yes," Telepe agreed with a shrug as he stoppered the ink and wrapped it in a black cloth that would absorb the ink if the cork came loose.

"And you'd permit that?" Tari asked incredulously.

"One of the easiest ways to learn to read is to have another read stories to you. So long as you read the scroll as well and match the words you hear to those printed, you shall begin to master the language," Telepe shrugged.

"But what's to stop him from memorizing the words without actually reading the scroll?" Tari pressed.

Telepe turned and smiled slightly as he turned and held out a second papyrus scroll. "Who said that the scroll I gave him was the one I was going to ask him to read when we return?" he asked coolly.

Tari and Dynar both stared at him in surprise for a second, then Tari took the scroll from him and unraveled it. She spent a few moments scanning the words, and then she looked up with a frown. "This is not a particularly complicated poem," she remarked.

"Not for you, no," Telepe agreed. "And the words I wrote should be familiar to any of my students that have been paying attention. Even so, the scroll that I gave him and the one you now hold have slight yet significant differences. I swapped a rune here or there, changed the order of the lines… for instance, here? Instead of 'bear,' I wrote 'boar' on the scroll that I gave him," he explained.

Dynar frowned, narrowing his eyes at Telepe. "It sounds as though you are engineering his failure," he said coldly.

"I am not," Telepe replied simply as he held his hand out to take the scroll from Tari. "I have not given him an assignment beyond what he should already be capable of. Besides, in truth, this is less about whether he succeeds or fails, and more about determining how serious he is about learning. If he asks another to read the poem to him without studying the scroll himself, then when I give him this new scroll, he shall not realize that it is different, and he will fail. If he has at least attempted to read the scroll, he will recognize that something has changed. What's more, if he has put in the effort to master the alphabet by the time we return, then the fact that I've changed the scroll won't matter – he'll be able to read this new scroll without any difficulty." He shrugged as he stuffed the scroll into the saddlebags once more. "Either way, so long as hedemonstrates that he has tried, I shall accept that he is committed to learning, and he shall be permitted to rejoin my classes."

Dynar regarded him silently with a level stare. "He despises you, you know. Are you certain that it's wise to stoke his antipathy towards you?" he asked.

"If he dislikes me, then so be it. It seems to me as though he's taking my rejection of him as a personal insult, a challenge. That, at least, I can work with," Telepe replied with a slight smile. "Anger is preferable to apathy. Anger can encourage one to succeed in the face of adversity. He wishes to prove me wrong, to prove that he is better than I insinuated. That's good. I want him to prove me wrong," he concluded.

Dynar chuckled and held his hands up. "You're a devious one. Very well. It's not my place to question your methods. So long as you're comfortable with your student hating you, then I pray that your gambit succeeds."

"As do I," Telepe murmured, glancing across the courtyard to where Sevri had taken a seat on a snow-covered stone bench and unfurled the scroll. He then turned back to his horse and finished stuffing the scroll into the bags once more. "Now then… it seems as though the Paravant is about ready to depart," he added. He hoisted himself up onto Emero's back and held his hand out to Tari to help her on as well. "Shall we be off?"