Chapter 3(Loyalty And Lessons)
An'wyn followed Gittel silently, the pair moving between shadows until they reached the gate. Gittel spoke softly to the guard, a secretive smile tugging at her lips. The man said something in return and the dark haired girl gave a nod. They were out the gate in only a few moments.
"How did you do that?" She asked, unable to hide her surprise when they followed the docks down to the water.
Gittel chuckled softly as she unlaced her tunic. "A woman's most powerful weapon is her body. You'd do well to remember that, girl," she said as she slipped out of her clothing. She piled it neatly at the edge of the water.
An'wyn cocked her head to the side, her ears flattening slightly as she thought about that. "That makes no sense," she sighed, her clothes piled neatly beside her friend's. "A body is flesh and blood, this one does not see how it can be a weapon?"
Both girls shivered slightly as the cold water of Honrich danced around their ankles, slowly claiming more of their bodies as they waded farther in. Gittel tipped her head up to stare at the moons. Jode hung full among the stars while Jone was only half full tonight.
An'wyn took the opportunity to study the other girl. Average height for a human girl, she was a bit on the lean side with more than a hint of blossoming curves. She'd let her mahogany hair loose and it hung down her back in waves. The chores of the orphanage, and likely the new job she'd gotten with a seamstress, had helped to tone her muscles, but there was still nothing spectacular. No scales like the lizard men, or thick skin like orcs.
"See anything ya like?" Gittel asked with a chuckle.
An'wyn frowned and shook her head. "This one doesn't mean to stare," she protested weakly.
The older girl laughed again and sighed. "I know, you're still confused about the body as a weapon comment."
An'wyn nodded quickly. "You are very soft," she stated, her gaze traveling over Gittel again. "How can you best a foe with that?"
Gittel chewed her lower lip, wondering how to phrase it delicately. "That softness is my weapon," she started, cupping her hands and bringing some water to her face. "Men enjoy the softness of a woman, enjoy the pleasures a woman's body offers. If you know how to play the game right, your body can get you things, can even get you to places that would normally be off limits."
Her gaze seemed distant suddenly, as if she were looking through everything to something completely unseeable by her companion. "Too often you will find that there are bad people, who simply want what they want and will take it when that chance presents itself," she whispered. After a few moments she seemed to return to the lake and current events. She shook her head slightly and smiled, but there was a bitterness to it. "It is better to give on your terms, than to be taken and forced into the terms of another. Remember that." Her gaze was hard as it met the Khajiit's.
An'wyn kept her face a blank mask, nodding her understanding. She was shaken by the fierceness of Gittel's outburst. In the months she'd been working with Gittel and the boys, she'd never learned much more about any of her partners. Now she wondered what it was that had stirred such passion. "This one's terms," she agreed.
Gittel seemed to relax. "I'll race you to that shore over there?" She suggested.
An'wyn cocked her head to the side. "Why?"
"For fun?" Gittel sighed. "Ready, set, go!" She cried, diving under the water. She came up at least five feet away from the cub.
An'wyn giggled softly and dove in. The water was cold as it seeped through her fur. These trips to the lake at night were starting to pay off. When they first started coming, she could hardly keep her head above the water. Now she was able to swim easily. She'd almost caught her friend when she felt the bank rise up to meet her.
Gittel pulled herself onto the shore, laughing softly. "You almost had me that time, girl," she chuckled.
"It would have been a tie if this one had a fair start," she teased, pulling herself onto the bank beside the other girl. She rolled to her back, staring at the stars in the inky sky.
Comfortable silence stretched on for a while as they both stared up at the sky. An'wyn felt the familiar ache in her chest as she allowed herself a moment of memories. Many days, months even, had passed since that fateful night, yet the cub didn't think about it often. It was all she could do on most days to just survive, she wasn't sure she could manage even that if she thought about her mother.
Now the thoughts came, unbidden and unstoppable. Sitara would have loved this moment. She'd have had some story about the gods, or perhaps a memory of her time as a child, that would have been shared. It would have been a wonderful evening, she thought. She wrapped her arms around her chest as the ache became white-hot pain that threatened to consume her.
She jumped as Gittel placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I heard the priest telling Grevca your story when you came," she said softly. "I'm sorry you lost your family, but I'm glad that you're with us now."
An'wyn smiled sadly as she turned to look at the other girl. "This one is glad to have found you," she agreed.
"This one is unsure of this plan," An'wyn whispered. She glanced around the dark alley, her ears flat and her tail twitching with anxiety. "Stealing from a temple does not seem like a smart idea," she insisted.
Gittel sighed softly. "You'll be fine, girl," she encouraged. She'd never seen the cub so worked up about a little trinket. It was like she'd been asked to pickpocket Mara herself. "Dun has already swept the area once, there's just the one priest in the upstairs library. In quickly, grab the brush and back out. We've done more complicated things in more secure areas."
Dun snickered softly. "You think the goddess is going to smite you or something?" He taunted. "Ouf," he grunted as Gittel lodged an elbow in his side.
"Mother told An'wyn that the gods know all, they remember our misdeeds," she said softly, looking at the ground.
Gittel stomped on the boy's foot before he could so much as sneer in the cub's direction. "Listen, An'wyn," she started calmly. "Mara is the goddess of home and love, right?" She waited for the cub's nod before she continued. "She has made us a family, do you think she would be upset that we are trying to keep our family together? Gaul and I will have to leave the orphanage soon, this job could make it so we can take you with."
An'wyn would never admit the fear she felt at the thought of being stuck at Honorhall without Gittel. She sighed softly thinking that perhaps the other girl was right. Wouldn't Mara be able to look past a small transgression if it meant keeping her new found family together?
She gave a curt nod. "This one will do it. But only this one time, yes?" She looked to Gittel, satisfied when she gave a serious nod and smile. "An'wyn will meet you near Talos when she is done," she said with a soft sigh. She watched her companions disappear then turned to her task.
The corridors were silent and dark, sconces lit only every six feet or so. There was the subtle hint of wood burning from the temple itself, the fire no doubt. An'wyn paused just outside the large open room, her ears twitching as she listened for any sounds of life. For a moment, the feeling of deja vu was so strong she could almost smell the hoarker stew simmering. She shook her head and crept to the door directly across from her.
Once inside she worked quickly. Dun had assured her the brush was in the nightstand farthest to the left, in the bottom drawer. Silently she crept across the room. It was right where she'd been told and she breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing around quickly she closed the drawer and headed back out. A large, ornate chest sat at the foot of the bed and she felt an instant curiosity. She glanced to the door once, then back to the chest.
There were no sounds as she knelt in front of the chest but she hesitated. Another glance at the door assured her no one was coming so she lifted the lid, surprised that it wasn't locked. At first glance she realized why. A few robes and some old books were all that was inside. She rummaged for a moment until her hand brushed against a smooth box.
An'wyn pulled the box out, running her fingers along the smooth, blank front. It wasn't very large, perhaps a jewelry box? Her head tipped to one side with interest as she lifted the lid. It was an amulet of Mara that looked worn with age. She sniffed it slightly and recognized the scent of the priest who'd brought her to Honorhall. After a moment of staring at the amulet she silently slipped it into the pocket of her cloak.
She replaced the box and backed out of the room. Again, she paused to listen before continuing to her exit. Oddly, the added weight of the amulet was comforting as she weaved through shadows on her way to Talos. When Gittel asked, she turned over the brush without any word of her extra loot.