Chapter 16: Working Respite
The return ride to Balmora was without pause and in total travel time significantly shorter than the journey from. The company left a pair of hours after noon and they reached the outer wall of the city by the first creep of late dusk. All had hoped they would be able to go immediately to the South Wall Cornerclub and gain some long deserved rest and peace. This desire ended up being delayed.
Through messenger animals and other means the news of the newly named Thrice Hortator had already reached Balmora and impregnated the mind and consciousness of the city and its people. When the pair of mounts came into view of one of the city's guard towers loud horns began to blow. When the beasts finally passed into the city itself a welcoming party of the city guard, led by its highest ranking captains, had already assembled at Balmora's main entrance ready to greet the arrival along with a mass of onlooking civilians.
The captain gave a brief but formal welcome to the Hlaalu Hortator and stated that the city guard was now, more or less, willing to serve at Zayden's pleasure. Zayden thanked the captain but then quickly asked of him only that he and his friends be left alone so he and they may prepare for the next leg of the journey. The captain agreed and, with some effort, dispersed the crowds to allow the mounts clear path across the Odai River, to Labor Street, and their intended destination.
South Wall was just as Zayden left it and a congregation of familiar faces- thieves and patrons alike- had already gathered outside the main entrance, all of them no doubt alerted by the earlier horns. Zayden barely had a moment to dismount his guar behind the establishment before being swamped by everyone cheering his return. It was a few minutes before two even more familiar faces, that of Sugar-Lips and Zeela, revealed themselves amongst the throngs of others.
Elation filled Zayden's chest as he ran to Zeela. He stepped within a few feet of her when he suddenly stopped. He took a second glance at his wife and noticed something different about her. "Zeela, you've… changed your hair. Again."
Zeela laughed. Her short, pixie hair had now taken on a deep rosewood color (another common natural hair color her people are born with.)
"Do you like it?" she asked Zayden, running a few quick fingers through it. "When I was a little girl I was always jealous of other Dunmer who had red hair. I can make it permanent any time I want with a bit of magic."
"It's not very inconspicuous compared to what it was. Might draw more attention."
"Yes, well, my thieving days are quite over for now. I have you, in part, to thank for that, Thrice Hortator. Being the wife of such a man will draw attention too- What are you laughing for?"
"This feels just like the last time we reunited. You've changed your appearance and we're already talking to each other as if nothing has changed between us."
"But would you want it any other way?"
Zayden smiled. "Honestly… no." The two threw themselves forward and locked themselves into a tight embrace, burying their faces into the other's shoulder. He felt comfort in her touch and the waft of her sent he didn't realize he missed until that moment. He tightened his hold and didn't want to let go but knew he eventually had to. When he finally began loosening his arms Zayden was suddenly pulled in closer by Zeela, the Dunmer bringing her lips close to his ear.
"If I ask why you now have two lizards in your possession," she whispered, "am I going to regret the answer I get?" she said.
"... Most likely, yes," Zayden replied. "Would it help if I said it's all Hui's fault?"
"Not a chance… But what about the other one? The ashlander?"
"He, I think, you might appreciate."
Before Zeela could ask what he meant a loud gasp came from Sugar-Lips, followed shortly by gasps of the crowd. The two turned and were met with the sight of the Khajiit practically pouncing onto the ashlander who had removed his helmet and revealed himself to be Caius Cosades. Sugar-Lips, like a kitten on cat nip, began aggressively rubbing her face against his, all whilst purring and with a giant grin on her face. Zeela, upon seeing Caius, practically tossed Zayden aside and went rushing over to embrace Caius as well.
"Jeez, I return to her and she's already forgotten I exist," Zayden said aloud to no one in particular. Zayden heard Hui laugh as he walked over to him and gave a light punch to the shoulder.
"Be thankful she's not paying any attention to Jeed-Ei," Hui advised.
"Yes, but she'll turn her attention to her soon enough… I hope you don't mind, Hui, but if she asks who Jeed-Ei is and how she's a part of our party, I'm denying all responsibility. I already told her it was all your idea."
"Fair enough. I owe you my life twice over for everything you've done for me. I'll never be able to truly repay you, but I will do everything I can."
Zeela and Sugar-Lips began taking Caius, each by an arm, leading him into South Wall. The rest of the crowd followed and left Zayden, Hui, and Jeed-Ei to catch up. Once inside and in the downstairs cantina, ale and mazte flowed like river water and both Caius and Zayden were pressured to tell their stories. Caius naturally had to keep his identity as a Blade a secret so he quickly concocted a cover story, one he agreed to tell if every listener vowed secrecy. He told the cantina that old 'friends' from back in his skooma days had tracked him down and tried to squeeze some money he still owed out of him. He handily killed his attackers, burned his home to cover loose ends, and escaped as far north as Maar Gan. The Ashlander clothes he wore, he claimed, he bought as disguise before heading east, making a wide perimeter around Red Mountain and heading back south through the Grazelands, eventually reaching Suran where, by pure coincidence, he came upon Zayden and Hui.
It was a stretch of a story, one most had trouble completely believing, but all the listeners were too happy to see Caius to object. The story's telling then concluded with Caius stating that, regrettably, he would have to be leaving Balmora again, and soon, this time never to return. He explained that he would have safety and refuge amongst the same Ashlanders he had visited many months ago that cured him of his skooma addiction and that he would depart when Zayden chose to undertake the next leg of his journey. This revelation came as a shock to absolutely everyone and the demand for an explanation came swiftly. But Caius refused to explain further, reminding everyone of their oath of secrecy, before masterfully drawing the attention of the room off of himself and onto Zayden. He poured the Imperial a fresh ale and urged him to tell his stories.
Zayden reluctantly agreed and began his retelling of events at the point of reuniting with Caius and leaving Suran by pontoon. The cantina quickly became engrossed with the new stories and, in doing so, none noticed as Caius took that opportunity to quietly slip out of the room and retreat through the door behind the bar. The patrons and thieves were particularly taken by the story of the attack by the servants of Dagoth Ur and the fight between Zayden and Archmaster of House Redoran. When all was said and done spirits were lifted higher than before and the rest of the evening was spent in further celebration.
It was very late into the night when the cantina closed and thieves retired to their quarters. Zayden, Zeela, Hui, Jeed-Ei, and Sugar-Lips eventually did the same, retreating to Zeela's quarters when they all reunited with Caius. Now in private they demanded further to explain what he meant from his earlier statements. With some effort the old man relented and gave everyone the real truth.
He began by explaining to the women and reminding Hui and Zayden of how the Urshilaku Ashlanders made him an 'honorary Ashlander' when they gave him his current garb, only to then reveal that this was not strictly the truth. The real truth was that the tribe offered a place for Caius so that he may hide from the Blades and the Empire in exchange for meeting two conditions. The first condition was that he returned to them with the ring-bearer of 'One-Clan-Under-Moon-and-Star' and the second that he formally marry into their people.
This new revelation came as an even greater surprise to the private audience. Further questions came quickly but Caius had little more to offer. All he could say of the arranged marriage was that his wife was chosen by the camp's Wise Woman, Nibani Maesa, and that the girl's name was 'Senipu.' He had yet to see nor speak a single word to her. Caius, though, seemed to express no resentment of his situation, simply rationalizing that it was necessary to do and preferable to being actively hunted by the Blades whilst in regular society. "Perhaps this way," he mused aloud, "I can live out my remaining years in relative peace." He apologised to Zeela and Sugar-Lips the most, they being friends with him long before Zayden ever arrived in Vvardenfell. They were naturally the most resentful of this news but both knew it had to be done.
Sugar-Lips poured everyone a drink and proposed a toast to Caius's departure and wished him well for the future. The one toast turned into three, one after the other, and after the third Zeela pulled Zayden aside and asked that she speak to him alone. She led him out of the room, across the hall, and into his quarters, which were kept just as barren as they had always been. Zayden could tell from the look in Zeela's eyes that she was already drunk and her previous good mood had turned sour. She locked the room door before finally speaking.
"Don't misunderstand me, Zayden," she began, "I am glad you've come back in one piece… But I'm also not happy with you."
"Because of the Argonian girl," Zayden guessed, knowing full well he was correct.
"Yes. The girl… Look, I've already made my peace with Hui. We had many days together when we first met, setting off to track you down after you were captured. I accepted the fact you two were good friends- hell, I consider him a friend myself! And I'm willing to forgive you for helping him 'escape his chains…' But how exactly did you come across this new lizard, then?"
"Like I said before, it was all Hui's doing. He knew of Jeed-Ei from Dren Plantation and knew she had been sold to a brothel in Suran. He asked that we take a long route to Vivec, passing through the town, hoping we would find her. And lucky for him we did."
"So unlike Hui- who was already on the run and you helped escape- you actively freed her and stole her from right under her master's nose?"
"More or less, I suppose. Do you not approve?"
"No, I do not," she sighed. "If you want to be an abolitionist so much, Zayden, then quit the Thieves Guild and join Twin Lamps! Abolition is not what the Thieves Guild does! We regulate crime and steal things, not people!"
"'People,' eh? Correct me if I'm wrong, but are slaves not classified as 'property,' and therefore do not legally count as a 'people?'" Zeela was momentarily stumped and Zayden jumped at the bit. "Seems perfectly within our purview if you ask me. According to your own people's customs, I no more stole a person than I stole a piece of farming equipment. Or a cattle animal. There is no difference."
"Don't you dare dictate my people's beliefs, Imperial. There is a difference!"
"Zeela, I don't understand why this bothers you. The Thieves Guild is well known for taking in slaves, former or escaped. Besides, you have never owned a slave yourself, so why do you care?"
"Owning slaves has always been a part of Dunmeri culture, Zayden, you know this. It is considered an ancient right of our people. One smart thing the Empire ever did was let us keep our slaves in the signing of the Armistice."
"And you never owned a slave before because…?"
"I could never afford one before I joined the guild. After I joined, well, Sugar-Lips would never allow it, for obvious reasons. Conflict of interest."
"Perhaps for the best."
"Hey, I've never judged your people for whatever the hell they believe! You're in no position to do the same, Nerevarine or not!" Zeela took a brief moment to steady her anger with Zayden. "But seriously, Zayden, it's not wise to act like an abolitionist in Vvardenfell. I realize your people have an innate repulsion to the practice, but yours is a minority opinion here. If you're not going to stop all this abolitionist crap for my sake, do it to prevent the native Dunmer population from turning against you and wanting your head on a spike!"
Zayden grimaced at the idea of having to abandoning such a deep-felt objection for purely pragmatic reasons, but he knew Zeela was correct in this matter. If he indeed wanted to continue to change further minds against slavery he was not going to do it alone and not by sheer force of will. His status as Nerevarine was already not a singular pillar of guidance for the Dunmer so attempting to act as such would be foolish. Change would happen slowly and in small steps, if it happened at all.
"Very well," Zayden relented with a defeated sigh. "I guess I have little choice but to temper my impulses on this matter… Please don't mention this to Hui or Jeed-Ei. I fear neither of them will be able to appreciate the position I'm in."
"Ok," said Zeela. "And I'll make sure, in the future, you don't make the same mistakes."
"'In the future'?" Zayden repeated. "Does this mean-?"
"I'm coming along this time, with you, to meet with the Ashlander tribes. You'll need some connection to their people by race- me- and I won't hear a single objection from you about it. Besides, your past actions have proven that you can't be trusted to not put yourself in further trouble with the natives. You'll need a woman and a Dunmer to stop yourself from getting killed, and thankfully I'm both."
"You'll hear no objections here," Zayden chuckled. "It feels like these past several weeks we've been apart for most of them. It always feels comforting to return to your side."
"Agreed," Zeela smiled. "Now kiss me, Nerevarine, and let's return to the others before they start looking for us."
The two stepped forward into each other's embrace and held like they did earlier that day, sharing in a single long kiss before finally returning to Zeela's quarters where everyone was still sitting. It seemed that the Khajiit was already in the process of making demands on Hui, creating a list of alchemical concoctions she wanted made in exchange for Jeed-Ei's bounty. In Zeela and Zayden's absence the Khajiit had already devised a way that the price on Jeed-Ei's head may be negotiated if both he and Zayden worked extra hard before their next departure. In a way Zayden didn't mind this. Perhaps returning to his working roots would help clear his mind of all the extra-ordinary that had happened recently.
The next morning, before Zayden awoke, Hui was already being put to work making smoke bombs, noise makers, as well as many other alchemical concoctions a thief may utilize. He both relished in his work but at the same time resented his respite in Balmora being turned into a working one. After a quick breakfast Zayden was sent with a new recruit, a 'toad' Zayden never met before, to High Town (Balmora's rich district) for a collection run. The fresh blood was a younger Redguard woman who looked still hungover from her initiation. She knew next to nothing about Zayden or the Nerevarine Prophecy which made introductions easy.
The two left a pair of hours before noon and the task at first seemed routine, the first few dues collected without incident. Trouble came when the pair went to a household whose members were of House Hlaalu. The residents quickly recognized Zayden as their Hortator and began making demands and expressing their concerns about him, namely his dual-allegiance between they and House Redoran. Zayden tried to shift away from the topic and keep to the current matter at hand but to no avail. The protection money was eventually paid but at great expense of time.
From that point forward Zayden's reputation preceded him with a number of houses and homes they visited. What was meant to be an easy collection run from a relatively easy district instead played out like a quagmire with more and more people making their distrust toward the Thrice Hortator known. The collection took hours longer than it normally would have and left a bad impression on the Toad. Zayden made it up to the woman by buying her a late lunch and a few drinks but it helped little. The two returned to South Wall by dusk with their task finally complete, the Redguard requesting a new mentor.
Hui was still working when Zayden returned, even employing Jeed-Ei and Zeela to help measure and grind ingredients. Both complained of numb hands and their fingers stained with plant and mineral dyes. Hui told Zayden that in a few days they might have a good enough amount of pocket change to aid them in the next leg of the journey but things would be tight. When Zayden asked about Caius the three had little to say, only that he slipped away again and was now renting a room in the commercial district, adding that Caius promised he would be ready to leave whenever Zayden was.
Before dawn of the next day Zayden was assigned a new task by Sugar-Lips. He would be sent back to Pelagiad to personally bring back some due money from the Halfway Tavern. Bad memories of his previous time there came rushing back and Zayden asked if anyone else could be sent instead. The request was flatly rejected and that morning the Imperial found himself upon his guar making the trip south.
The quiet hamlet was very much as he remembered leaving it. Some of the town's residents who recognized Zayden came over to greet him as he hitched his mount to a post outside the tavern. Inside the establishment was busy with its late afternoon crowd. Almost immediately a familiar patron cheered Zayden's name and much of the rest of the tavern joined in. Zayden greeted everyone back and before he had a moment to scan the room for Ahnassi he was caught by surprise by a tackling embrace from Tappius. The Imperial was beside himself with glee seeing Zayden once again. He quickly sat Zayden down at a table, snagged a bottle of Cyrodillic Brandy from behind the bar and the two began to drink, Tappius quickly demanding to hear the stories he heard about Zayden becoming Thrice Hortator.
Zayden began to recount his tales in a brief fashion and part way through Ahnassi appeared, descending from the inn's stairwell. She looked across the room, instantly locked her piercing gaze upon Zayden, and froze. Her fur stiffened and her pupils quickly dilated as if she were preparing to attack. She bared her fangs as she approached the table and emitted from deep within her throat a threatening growl.
"Zayden must wish to die," Ahnassi hissed. "That can be only explanation why he returns. Ahnassi will be glad to grant such a favor."
"Believe me, it is not my choice that I'm here," Zayden replied calmly. "This is Sugar-Lips's doing, by some cruel joke of hers. I'm here to collect last month's share of profits. Once business is settled I'll be out of both of your hair."
"Ahnassi hears rumors of you. 'Thrice Hortator.' 'Ring-Bearer of Moon-and-Star.' Ahnassi did not believe them, of course. But since you are here now…" Zayden got the hint and held up his right hand to display the ring to both she and Tappius. The Khajiit's eyes softened and betrayed her surprise. "So stories are true, then?"
"Zayden has been telling me about everything that's happened since he left," Tappius said to Ahnassi. "It's wild stuff! Telvanni wizards. An attack by servants of Dagoth Ur. A fight to the death with the Redoran Archmaster! I guess it was all for the better you left, Zayden. Things are much more dull here! Ha-ha-ha!"
Ahnassi secretly wanted to hear more but would not dare let herself act weaker in front of Zayden. "Well, while Zayden has been away," the Khajiit interrupted, "Ahnassi has been hard at work as well. Tavern grows, many brothers and sisters pass through. Ahnassi learns to sneak and steal. She is Operative now."
"So you outrank me, then?" Zayden stated evenly. "Congratulations."
Ahnassi was too angry to tell that Zayden was being genuine with his praise and took it as him being dismissive. "Ahnassi also marry Tappius," she quickly added to further drive her point across. "He is good man. Strong and dependable. Loyal to me."
"Again, congratulations," said Zayden, taking his eyes off Ahnassi and back to Tappius. "So can I expect tiny kittens running around here soon, then?"
"I know that was a joke," Tappius chucked, "because you know as well as I that that's pretty much impossible between Men and Khajiit. Though, to be honest, she works me over like she thinks she'll overcome genetics through pure strength of will."
"Shut up!" Ahnassi hissed at Tappius. "Ahnassi will get Zayden's money and put an end to your filthy talk." The Khajiit stormed off and back upstairs. Tappius and Zayden were too busy laughing to notice that she snatched the bottle of brandy from the table as she went.
"So are you trying to make me jealous as well?" Zayden half-joked to Tappius. "How have things been with you two actually?"
"I kept my word," the Imperial replied. "I take care of her and the business and she takes care of me. I'm not trying to rub your nose in it- unlike Ahnassi- but we are happy together. Besides, we both received the news that Zeela returned, so it looks like your patience paid off in the end."
"I guess it did," Zayden sighed. "Still, I wish I could tell Ahnassi how sorry I am for the way I treated her. Looking back it was clear I was in the wrong."
"But you had pledged yourself to another. Choosing one meant breaking the heart of the other, no matter what. I think deep down Ahnassi understands your reasoning, Zayden. Of course she'll never admit to it."
"I hope that's true," said Zayden, reaching for the bottle of brandy that was no longer there. "But that doesn't mean I was right."
"What is right, Zayden? Look, this may be the brandy talking, but it doesn't seem to me either one of us are anyone to ask 'what is right?' or 'what is just?' Take the tavern as an example. We tried to expel a Nord from her room, who was by all accounts of the law doing nothing wrong, which sparked a fight that killed her and an innocent woman from whom we were trying to steal her business, all to further the exploits of a corrupt, Empire-backed criminal mafia organization. Does any of that sound like the actions of people who are 'right?'"
"Asks the sword-for-hire," Zayden retorted.
"Exactly my point!"
"And so now one questions if we deserve any of the good that comes our way? An interesting to ponder, Tappius. But I haven't the answer. And I doubt anyone ever truly does."
"Spoken like a true Nerevarine, for what my Imperial-dog opinion is worth."
"At least you think I am worthy. Zeela thinks my abolition streak puts my status of 'Savior of the Dunmer Race' in doubt. It's tough to believe being on the side of ending slavery might be the wrong path to take."
"'When in the Imperial City, do as the Imperials do,'" quoted the Imperial Tappius. Zayden shrugged but said nothing further to that point.
The conversation trailed off from there until Ahnassi returned with a small coin pouch with her dues. With business concluded Zayden gave his goodbyes and made his brisk leave of the tavern, returning to his mount. Before he set off, though, he noticed attached to the pouch a small envelope. Inside was a lock of her fur and a short note.
"Zayden is still a bastard, but Ahnassi still loves him."
He returned to Balmora once again in the late afternoon, this time before the sun turned orange. The due money was passed on to Sugar-Lips and the Khajiit told Zayden that tomorrow he would have another day of protection money collecting, this time in the Labor District. She would have the same Redguard as before with him and that this time he had better leave her with a good impression.
That day of collecting was marred by Zayden's reputation yet again but this time for different reasons. Much of the dues were collected by Dunmer who, like Zeela, shared great hesitation if indignation toward the Bearer-of-Moon-and-Star. They expressed clearly and openly their concerns at the uncertain future his presence foretold. All things told the day's work ended at a reasonable time and without any violence but the whole experience left Zayden feeling like a great weight was crushing his heart and shoulders. The only further consolation Zayden could render from the day was a renewed respect from the Redguard woman, he having her sympathies.
Sugar-Lips's only orders for the next day were for Zayden to get supplies ready and regulated for his departure the next morning. She stated that Hui, behind the scenes, had been working up a storm and his efforts yielded much. Zayden quickly devised a list of tasks, Hui donated a small portion of the profits he had accrued over the last few days, and after a quick breakfast the next morning he set off from South Wall upon his guar to accomplish them. His first stop was at a leather worker so he would have made a new sheath for his new daedric shortsword. Once that was settled he made for the market to restock, replace, and replenish on food, supplies, and other sundries.
The journey to the northern coast of Vvardenfell, even by guar mounts, would take at least a week under the most ideal of conditions. Compared to silt striders, guar were not as fast and required occasional periods to rest, effectively doubling travel time. The time, as an example, from Balmora to Caldera alone- which took half a day by strider- would most likely take from dawn to dusk by guar. And after Zeela and Hui's stunt of hijacking a silt strider, the beastmasters of Vvardenfell would talk amongst themselves and quickly forbid them from hiring one in the future. This was just as well, for the price of a single party hiring a strider for many days was greatly expensive and the places Zayden and his company needed to go were places striders would not.
When Zayden thought he had purchased all he needed he returned to South Wall and began distributing the effects between the three beasts at first by himself, then with Zeela's assistance. New deep blue blankets were put underneath the saddles for the beast's comfort and while all guar had a certain share of food and drink rations and personal effects, all extra supplies were packed onto one guar in particular, leaving enough space for only one rider. Zayden correctly assumed this beast would be for Caius, with Hui and Jeed-Ei atop a second, and Zeela and Zayden atop the lead beast.
Zayden followed Zeela back into her quarters where Hui was finishing up the last of their concoctions. For their few days of work, combined with what Zayden earned, the company had roughly five hundred gold to split evenly between the five of them. It would be enough, if not spent unwisely, to last them through the next leg of the journey.
-o0o-
Zayden, to his embarrassment, was the last of the five to awake and get ready. He eventually joined Caius, Hui, and Jeed-Ei in the empty cantina to an already prepared meal platter, served up by Phane and partially Zeela. It was piled high with a traditional Dunmeri breakfast of scambled kwama eggs, mudcrab meat, and saltrice, served alongside weak mazte. Zeela, according to Hui, had already eaten and was making a final check of the guar before departure. Everyone ate their fill and once finished made one last check of everyone's personal equipment. The four said their goodbyes to Sugar-Lips, Caius's being the most heartfelt and difficult of all, before ascending the stairwell to leave the cornerclub.
Zeela was adjusting the muzzle straps of the three guar when the others reunited with her. Zeela's appearance changed once again, this time by clothing, and it nearly made Zayden trip over his own feet. For the first time, in all the years he knew her, he was finally laying eyes on her sneaking suit. Her suit, like Zayden's, was mostly of dark grays, but unlike his it was almost entirely light, breathable cloth that possessed no real armor to speak of. The focus of the suit was clearly for maximum lightness, speed, and full maneuverability with a base of a simple shirt, pants, and light leather shoes. Her forearms, calves, and chest were wrapped and bound in long strips of cloth to keep her profile as slim as possible. On her waist and hips were wide, thick belts that held many bomb and utility pouches, several thin throwing needles and pouches for throwing stars, a brown leather blackjack, and a pair each of daggers and shortswords made from bronze-colored Dwemer metal. Wrapped atop her head and neck was a similar tagelmust to Jeed-Ei, also dark gray.
"How is it I've never seen you wear this before!?" Zayden exclaimed.
Zeela turned to greet the party and immediately laughed at Zayden's reaction. "I forget, this is your first time seeing my 'uniform', isn't it?" she grinned. "You approve, clearly."
"Indeed. From where did you get your Dwemer blades?"
"From the ruin Mzahnch, in the deep southern end of Azura's Coast. Got sent there twenty-five years ago to retrieve some mining schematics after a nearby mining operation accidentally broke unto the ruins. The automations started attacking the miners immediately and they had to abandon the tunnel with all their equipment inside. Every time they went back they were always get pushed away.
So, they hired me to sneak in and get their supplies and collapse the tunnel with satchel charges once I was finished. In the end they got what they wanted, I got paid, but I personally walked away with a lot more."
"Maybe I'll finally be able to see your skills in action as well?"
"Maybe. Anyway, I packed some extra cloth away to make some more head coverings for the rest of you. We'll all need them once we enter the Ashlands, gods forbid we encounter any ash storms. Also, I bought these last night for just the same." Zeela retrieved from the nearest saddle bag four pairs of goggles similar to the ones of Caius's helm, fashioned from chitin frames and clear glass for the lenses. She passed the items out between everyone and pocketed a pair for herself.
Zayden turned to the others and asked if there was absolutely anything else that needed to be done or bought before they set off. When none answered in the affirming he declared that they leave at once. Just as Zayden planned he mounted and took the reins of one guar with Zeela sitting behind him, Hui and Jeed-Ei mounting another, and Caius by himself with the "pack guar." With a gentle kick to each of the beast's sides the company was off.
The streets of Balmora were mostly empty at this early hour so everyone's departure went relatively unnoticed by both civilian and guard alike. They crossed the Odai River and left the city from its northern archway, following the road northeast for a few hours before it connected to the same main, true-north road the striders took. From there it was a nearly straight shot to Caldera. The day began with some light clouds but as noon approached a cool breeze from the west foretold rain in the evening.
The party stopped around midday to snack on rations and allow the guar to graze on nearby grass, shrubbery, and for one beast a wild rat whose curiosity got the better of itself. After a brief smoke the five set back off to have the predicted rains come a pair of hours later. They came as only a drizzle but with high winds that drove the droplets sideways. The party was relieved to reach the town by that evening and take up a room in the local inn, "Shenk's Shovel." The establishment was Thieves Guild friendly and the party was able to have a warm rest as the winds and drizzle continued throughout the night and into the morning.
The weather finally died down just in time for the group to enter into the Ashlands by the same narrow corridor Zayden and Sugar-Lips took many months ago. New weather, however, continued to work against the five within the new region, a modest ash storm already beginning to simmer. Zeela stopped the group to retrieve cloth to teach Zayden and Hui how to make headwraps of their own. They, along with their new goggles, proved to shelter their faces from the winds and sands well, but the storm picked up and slowed forward progression dramatically. The guar were hindered by the storm and it was a very late hour when the party finally reached Ald'ruhn and the "Rat In The Pot Inn" for their second night's rest.
Aengoth the Jeweler greeted Zayden and Zeela the next morning and shared breakfast with their party. The Bosmer was quickly captivated by all the astounding tales Zayden, with help from the others, told in regards to the intervening time since they last met, so much so that Aengoth could barely believe what he was hearing. He left the party with a parting gift of a bottle of sujamma and directions to the next town, Maar Gan. The regions to the north were criss-crossed with narrow valleys that created no direct route. Aengoth further predicted the storms could continue for at least another few days, making travel that much more difficult.
Eventually the party geared and bundled back up to depart from Ald'ruhn. Even with a map provided by the Wood Elf further navigation north indeed proved difficult. The party made camp for the first time of their journey that evening in a cramped annex of rock that could barely fit their largest tent within. The soil was poor to keep the stakes in place and every large gust threatened to send the whole structure rolling. But thankfully it held, a small fire was built in its center, and everyone managed some shuteye.
The fourth day of travel proved to be just as stressful as the one before, filled with winds, stinging sand, and a displaced sense of direction that the map failed to fix. The five travelled with little pause for the entire day unaware that they made little true progress toward Maar Gan. By the afternoon of the fifth day, with the winds finally beginning to slightly weaken, the party was truly and utterly lost. They made camp that evening in the lowest spirits they had yet encountered. They hoped the next day would bring better tidings and, perhaps by fate, the next morning brought just that.
The company was awoken by the sounds of horse hooves and speaking voices whispering over the winds. Hui was the first to scramble from his sleeping roll and out of the tent to greet the passersby. The new arrivals turned out to be a hunting caravan of Nords native to Skyrim. The caravan stopped and shared with Zayden and his party, for them, a second breakfast. Over "breakfast mead" the hunters revealed that they had come to Vvardenfell on the promise of exotic game, namely cliff racers. They came by boat from Dawnstar and followed Tamriel's northern coast eastward, making a brief stop at a dock of Fort Frostmoth in Solstheim before making their final dock in Ald Velothi where they set off on their steeds. They had been in the wilds for over two months already and had many skinned hides to prove their skill.
Interestingly, in spite of them being their intended prey, the hunters had little trophies of the cliff racers to show for. They had been told the skies were filled with the winged devils but, in their many days of hunting, had only six under their belts. Zeela confided in the group that, indeed, she also noticed a decreased number of the creatures previously. Jokingly, one of the hunters offered his explanation as to why, bringing up a humorous encounter he and the rest of the caravan shared in. Apparently, on their eight day in Vvardenfell, the Nords encountered a crazed Dunmer man, nearly naked and armed with only an axe, pursuing a low-flying flock of cliff racers with an animated fury. He managed to cut two down within the Nords' sight before they went off and away, the beasts squawking with fright and the mer roaring like a madman.
Zayden told the Nords that he and his party were lost and asked if they could direct them to Maar Gan. In exchange for a hundred gold and their unopened sujamma they were happy to oblige. The two parties set off within the hour, the Nords taking point and making quick navigation for a land the people were foreign to. By late afternoon they all finally came upon the town and departed each other's companies.
Maar Gan was very much like Ald'ruhn. It was a Redoran town, its architecture primarily of animal carapaces, the town dominated by its temple, but after three days and two nights of the infernal ash storms Zayden and his party desired nothing more than a comfortable rest. They immediately sought out the town's inn and rested for the remaining daylight hours, awaking in the evening to enjoy a hot supper. The next morning Zeela set off alone to a tradehouse where she acquired a more detailed map of the region, as well as ask around for a more up-to-date location of Urshilaku Camp. From the map they decided upon a wide and dormant lava channel, Foyada Bani-Dad, that by two more days' travel would bring them to the northern coast of Vvardenfell and to the Sea of Ghosts. From there they could follow the coast east to where the camp was said to still be.
By the time of their next departure the storms had mercifully died out, replaced with clear blue skies. A main road from Mar Gan heading northeast led directly to the foyada that stretched in a very straight direction northwest. The next two days of travel were very easy going and helped lift the spirits of the group. Late morning of that second day in the foyada brought with it the smell of salt water and the sight of the Sea of Ghosts. As intended they went from there east, now keeping watchful for any sign of Ashlanders.
They rode for four more hours, passing north of a daedric shrine to Mehrunes Dagon the name of which neither Caius or Zeela could remember. Not long after passing it, though, the riding party happened upon a freshly discarded campsite. The fire had been smothered with sand but hot embers still burned beneath. It caused everyone worry but they moved on from there. It was not long after that that the owners of the fire revealed themselves.
From behind them, all at once, a group of seven guar-riders rushed toward Zayden and company. Each rider was a Dunmer clad in chitin or netch leather and armed with a tall spear. The riders quickly enclosed the five and aimed the points of their weapons at them, keeping them in their steps. After a tense moment their leader approached and began demanding orders in Dunmeri. He quickly became agitated when no one immediately replied. Then, cautiously, Caius raised his hand and spoke back in the same language. Even without knowing Dunmeri himself, Zayden could tell Caius's words were stiff and stilted. He looked over his shoulder to Zeela and whispered to her.
"What is he saying?" he asked her.
"Basically," she replied, "he's saying who we all are and where we are heading. His Dunmeri is quite bad-"
"I can tell."
"- But he is getting the message across well enough." Caius conversed with the leader for another long moment before he removed his helm and revealed his Imperial identity. At once all the riders lifted their spears toward the sky and relaxed. The lead rider then turned his attention to Zayden and brought his beast alongside his. He spoke to Zayden in Cyrodillic.
"This man, Caius, is friend to our tribe," said the Dunmer. "He claims you are the Nerevarine and you have proof. Do you, outlander?" Zayden nodded and held up the hand that bore "One-Clan-Under-Moon-and-Star." The rider recognized it instantly and barked orders in Dunmeri to the other riders. They broke their ring and took up new positions beside the three guar of Zayden's party.
"I am Shimsun," he greeted, "Guide of Tribe Urshilaku. We have been awaiting your arrival, Nerevarine Zayden. Nibani Maesa awaits your presence. Follow us."