Winds of the Ashfall: An Elder Scrolls Tale

Greg J Miller

~O~

Chapter 22

Loredas the 29th of Frostfall 4E71 Afternoon

Alaron Suvaris looked out ahead of the bow of the Zamsar. He knew that it would be his last opportunity up on the deck of the vessel before his time on that ship was done. A mild southerly breeze was blowing up the Niben from behind along that last stretch before Lake Rumare. For the past few hours, the White-Gold Tower of the Imperial City had been looming in the distance, growing ever nearer as the ship sailed up river toward the Imperial Isle.

Under the relatively clear blue skies, the breeze on the air didn't really seem quite so cool as some of those weather conditions he'd observed over the past months. Though perhaps still not quite as warm as it had been much further south, central Cyrodiil could often be pleasantly temperate that late in the autumn. That certainly seemed to be the case that year.

With the City Isle coming into clear view, Suvaris understood that he'd soon be back on dry land for good, having served his time as an icer on the Zamsar and completed his agreement with regard to his passage. After passing eight long weeks on that vessel, he was more than ready to leave it behind.

More than six weeks had passed since departing the Skyrim capital in the far north around the middle of Hearthfire. Despite those terrible weather conditions, which hounded them into Solitude Harbour and then pestered them for more than a day, the worst of that weather passed rather quickly. During the following day, though the skies remained cloudy, the persistent rain mostly cleared away and provided some tenuous promise of fairer days ahead.

With that change in weather, the vessels at port started departing Solitude during the late morning of that day. Due to that development, Suvaris didn't even have the opportunity to again speak with Travlon on that day. The Anticlere Flyer had set off from port about two hours before the Zamsar.

Even so, since both vessels were sailing in the same direction and effectively headed for exactly the same destination, he'd remained cautiously confident that another opportunity to catch up with Travlon would present itself soon enough.

After making it out to sea on that day, past those reefs near the outer bay north of Solitude's lighthouse, the sailing soon shifted from difficult to merely slightly difficult. Some threatening cloud remained in view as the Zamsar sailed about the north-east of High Rock, but nothing much had come of it. Accordingly, though the sea hardly seemed perfectly becalmed, the passage across the north had not been quite as bad as feared. Rogue ice drifts remained a threat, but the weather proved somewhat kinder over the following days.

The path of both of those long haul trade vessels did not involve approaching either of those lesser ports at Jehanna or Farrun, in the north-east of High Rock. Only a brief stop at the harbour of Northpoint was scheduled.

Since leaving the Haafingar region, the Anticlere Flyer had remained only hours ahead of the Zamsar. The sails of that other vessel could be periodically observed in the distance, sometimes dipping below the visible horizon, then again rising back into view as the reach between them briefly closed.

At that next port, the two ships had been docked together only a short time and neither remained long at all. The Flyer had been departing Northpoint as the Zamsar was still shifting cargo. On that day, there had again been no opportunity for Suvaris to catch Travlon.

Even so, both the Zamsar and the Anticlere Flyer remained only a relatively short distance apart over the following days, as they sailed around the top of High Rock. Both vessels were bound for the westernmost and southernmost tip of that province.

Only a few days after departing Northpoint Harbour, the Zamsar eventually made port at the western docks of Daggerfall. The Flyer was already docked and unloading cargo by the time that the Zamsar arrived.

With the exchange of trade cargo and the replenishing of fresh water and other supplies, Suvaris understood that the Zamsar would be remaining at port for the better part of two days. He also understood that it would be much the same for the Anticlere Flyer.

As soon as he was able to do so, Suvaris took the opportunity to go seek out Travlon once again. He soon learned that Travlon was already ashore with some other sailors, when he made inquiry at the Flyer.

Accordingly, Suvaris headed off into town to see if he could find him. Eventually, he managed to catch up with Travlon at one of Daggerfall's taverns. Upon that second meeting, the younger Dunmer appeared somewhat more receptive than their first encounter. Evidently, he'd had some time to consider the tone of their first meeting.

It was fair to observe that the younger Suvaris remained somewhat apprehensive, but at the same time, he seemed a little more amenable to the notion that the older Suvaris represented some sort of blood family, albeit somewhat removed by the passage of time.

Suvaris believed that Travlon had adjusted his earlier predisposition toward general indifference, instead taking some greater interest in Suvaris' perspective. That seemed to come out in the conversation as further detail was exchanged.

Making no firm promises, Travlon had suggested that he might make some effort to keep in contact in the future. Of course, he held little certainty over where he might be at any particular time, if he intended to continue to work the trade vessels. Even so, understanding that Suvaris could be contacted by mail sent to the Cheydinhal Fighters Guild, he suggested that he might try to send letters to that location from time to time.

Though Suvaris would not really be able to reciprocate in the same manner, he expressed his appreciation. Even if he couldn't send any communications likely to reach Travlon, he was glad to know of the ongoing well being of his brother's grandson.

That second farewell passed with greater optimism than the previous one. There'd been some suggestion that they might meet again at the Imperial City. Both of their vessels were expected to be there around the time of the Emperor's Day festival. Though it was not a certainty, there remained some expectation of remaining at port for that celebration.

After departing Daggerfall, the two vessels' paths diverged. Suvaris understood that the Flyer was headed directly for Sentinel, then off to the isle of Stros M'kai, before eventually continuing onward toward the Imperial City. The Zamsar would be sailing up Iliac Bay to Wayrest, before stopping at Sentinel on the way back. The Zamsar would not be going to Stros M'kai at all, but sailing directly for Rihad and Anvil.

Before departing the Iliac Bay region, Suvaris had the opportunity to replenish his supply of books. During the stopover in Wayrest, he'd even had the chance to acquire a proper haircut. By his own reckoning, his normally shortly cropped hair had started to grow far too long by the time he'd made it to that port.

After departing Hammerfell's capital, the next leg of the voyage took several days to complete. Even under favourable winds, the journey from Sentinel to Rihad seemed long and tedious. By contrast, the trip from Rihad to Anvil passed in less than a day.

Though stretches of the voyage did seem long and often tedious, Suvaris remained somewhat glad to have had the opportunity to see some of those western cities. In all likelihood, he would have otherwise never found reason to have visited those far-flung places like Daggerfall, Wayrest or Sentinel.

Upon reaching Cyrodiil's Gold Coast, Suvaris learned that the Anticlere Flyer had already been to Anvil and left port only the day before. That hadn't really been much of a surprise. He'd already expected as much.

Suvaris had also not been so surprised by something else that resulted from his brief visit to a dockside tavern by Anvil's harbour. In that place, he'd encountered a boisterous comrade from days gone by.

Since his retirement from Bruma's Fighter Guild, Frederick the Loud had relocated to Anvil to a small farmland home just outside the city. Though the noisy Nord made his coin from his small farm, it seemed that he delighted in spending much of it upon the local ale.

Though Suvaris might have preferred something less noisy, he accepted Frederick's invitation to sit down for a few drinks in the dockside tavern. Of course, Frederick did most of the drinking, as they caught up on matters since they had last encountered one another.

Given that he needed to back aboard the Zamsar in a timely fashion, Suvaris managed to offer a courteous farewell, before Frederick was completely drunk.

From Anvil, the Zamsar would be sailing right around Valenwood and Elsweyr without visiting any harbour. Not even the once busy port city of Senchal was on the itinerary.

Suvaris had heard that there were some other independent vessels on shorter runs that commonly visited Senchal. There were also Khajiiti run ships out of that port. However, most vessels on Imperial contracts tended to avoid ports of the southern Kingdoms of Elsweyr.

Of course before even nearing the Khajiit territories, such vessels were not at all permitted to approach any of those other ports controlled by the Aldmeri Dominion. Even sailing those straits between the former Summerset Isles and Valenwood provided for some elevated tension among the sailors.

At the very least, there was far less fear of encountering any pirate vessels in that particular region. However, observing the sails of the Aldmeri Naval patrols in the distance did provide for some nervous moments.

With all the continuing disunity and chaos throughout the squabbling Khajiiti regions, the possibility of encountering pirate vessels anywhere along Elsweyr's Quin'rawl Peninsular remained in mind. Sailing well clear of that coastline had been the order of business, until eventually turning north into Topal Bay, headed for the Niben.

Of course, the Zamsar managed to eventually arrive at Leyawiin for a brief stop, without any concerning incidents along the way. Suvaris learned that they'd just missed the Anticlere Flyer once more. Still, that meant that it was quite likely that both vessels would be moored in the harbour of the Imperial City at the same time. Soon enough, his long voyage around mainland Tamriel would draw to a close.

With the afternoon beginning to grow late, Suvaris needed to head back down below on the final approach to the harbour of the Imperial City. With the other sailors all busy above deck, he set to attending to his icing duties for the very last time. As he understood it, a replacement would be sought to take over before departing the capital city. Provided that someone was available, the office of the Imperial Trading Company would most likely be able to accommodate the need.

From what he'd heard, it was not uncommon for students of the Arcane University to sign up for those sorts of contracts. It was viewed as a good opportunity to gain experience and coin for younger mages working their way through their studies.

By the time that Suvaris had finished up with his duties and packed away his meagre possessions ready for departure, the Zamsar was fully docked and making preparations for unloading cargo. With everything else going on in the city, there wouldn't be any loading of new cargo until Morndas morning.

Before disembarking the vessel, Suvaris took the time to offer courteous farewell to Adras Rurvyn and those other few crew of the Zamsar who'd become friendly acquaintances over past weeks. Of course, that was hardly such a long list. Many of the crew remained perfectly indifferent to his presence or absence.

Just once more, Suvaris had passed on some casual advice to Adras. Of course, it was inspired by that advice that he'd received from that most unlikely source. Suvaris suggested that Adras should give some thought to catching up with his cousin Faryl and his brothers whenever the circumstance again arose. After all, it could one day be far too late. Though not quite so motivated as Suvaris, Adras accepted it in the spirit it was offered and wished him luck before they parted ways.

Dusk was almost upon him as Suvaris stepped onto the broad stone docks of the harbour. Looking about, he'd taken note of the three vessels of the Imperial Navy anchored in the harbour. Aside from smaller fishing boats, he also observed three other trade vessels at port. He'd quickly noted that one of those ships was indeed the Anticlere Flyer.

Before going anywhere else, Suvaris headed for the Flyer to make inquiry after Travlon. Without great surprise, he quickly learned that along with Travlon, most of the crew had been granted leave for the festival. Of course, that meant that Travlon could have gone just about anywhere.

After not finding Travlon at either of the drinking establishments of the Waterfront District, he turned toward the path leading to the main city. Suvaris knew well enough that the younger Suvaris could have gone to any of a dozen places up in the Imperial City. Of course, the Tiber Septim Hotel could be reasonably ruled out. Only the wealthy and influential were commonly welcome in that establishment.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Suvaris accepted that he could easily pass the entire night roaming the city and still not manage to find Travlon. Especially so, during the evening before the Emperor's Day festival.

He instead decided to follow his original intent, as had been tentatively arranged several months before. At the least, he knew exactly where to go to meet up with his former comrades at the inn over at Weye. Though it hardly represented any certainty, he hoped that he might find Travlon during the festivities of the following day. Unless he planned to pass his time holed up in taverns for the duration of his leave, Suvaris expected it fairly likely that Travlon would be spotted somewhere about the open areas where the festival activities would be taking place on Sundas. He'd just need to keep a sharp eye out as he was wandering those open spaces.

Just past the harbour lighthouse below the city, Suvaris turned off and followed the wagon trail skirting along the outside of the tall walls of the Imperial City. It was already dark by the time that he'd made it to the main road at the west of the city walls.

Along the way, he'd observed a few small encampments by the wagons parked along the trail. He'd seen the like before, during previous festivals. He also took note of the patrols of Legion soldiers keeping an eye on things.

Just by the main gates in the western city wall, it could be seen that the large stabling facilities just across the road were bursting to capacity. Again, he'd seen the like before. Since he was currently without a horse, it wasn't his concern.

Suvaris turned away from the city gates and headed off down the road toward the huge stone bridge over the narrow of Lake Rumare, leading to the village of Weye.

Though the evening was growing dark, he could see well enough to see where he was going. Masser had passed full about a week ago, so it wasn't yet in the sky. Secunda was only appearing above as a partial disk. Even so, those burning braziers along the bridge served as adequate beacon. Beyond that, he could just make out the lights of Weye on the other side across the waters. He only needed to keep an eye upon the cobbled roadway to avoid stepping in fresh horse-shit and the like.

At that time of the early evening, the traffic appeared relatively light. He'd passed only one small wagon head for the city and there was little foot traffic to be seen. It was fair to assume that mostly everyone had already made it to where they might be going before then.

There were only a few horses stabled at that rudimentary facility in the main street, situated across the road from the Wawnet Inn. That was hardly a surprise. He assumed that most people headed for the Imperial City were probably already up there. Fewer individuals would be stopping in Weye, than those that were merely passing through the village.

Suvaris observed a couple of Legion soldiers just leaving the inn as he was nearing the place. Presumably, they'd been taking a break from road patrol duties. Aside from exchanging a friendly nod, the soldiers paid him little mind as they headed across the road to collect their horses.

Suvaris stepped inside the Wawnet Inn and then made his way along the slightly cramped entry corridor, toward the oil lamp burning on the wall ahead. He turned right toward the main tavern area. At a glance, the place seemed just as it had the last time that he'd been there. Those high-set wooden shutters along the southern and eastern walls, only added during the last run of renovations, had been pulled closed to keep out the cooling evening air. During the day, those windows allowed plenty of daylight into the place. All those additional oil lamps added throughout the tavern served to make the place feel brighter and more welcoming than it had been many decades before.

There were a few voices coming from ahead, but it didn't sound as though the place was as terribly crowded as it might be on a typical Loredas. As he'd already surmised, most passing travellers were most likely already up in the city. Suvaris expected that most of the patrons in the tavern in that evening would be locals from the village.

Just as Suvaris neared the corner, the Bosmer woman behind the service counter shifted to catch his attention. Her face immediately lit up with recognition. Before saying anything, her partly opened mouth turned to a broad smile.

She'd been working there for the past couple of decades, even since before the former owner of the Wawnet had passed from the world. She'd been there since shortly after Suvaris' former comrades had rescued her from the Aldmeri border near Skingrad.

Sitting behind the Bosmer upon a shelf, the sealed burial urn remained in its position of prominence, serving as monument to Nerussa's memory.

The subdued noise of the fairly light crowd offered only mild distraction. Without yet looking about the rest of the place, Suvaris looked to the Bosmer behind the counter. He spoke up first.

"Belwen." He offered her a courteous nod. His restrained smile gently reflected her warmer expression.

"Suvaris. We've been expecting you. Well, sort of." Maintaining her smile, Belwen nodded toward a table off to her left, not so far from the service bar.

Following her gaze, Suvaris then noticed Malcolm Forester and Rena seated at the table nearest to the far end of the counter. Alex Pinewatch was sitting just next to them.

Rena nudged her husband with her elbow, prompting him to turn around. The Imperial man in his early sixties suddenly noticed the familiar Dunmer by the counter. Though he still kept his hair neatly cropped in the same style he'd worn for decades, it had faded to light gray with the passage of time. The Colovian man also still maintained his trimmed goatee beard, though it had also turned just as gray.

Forester grinned broadly. "Suvaris. We were just speaking of you, a little earlier."

With a somewhat more restrained grin, Suvaris inclined his head. "Only good things to say in my absence, I should hope?"

"Of course, of course." Forester returned a mischievous smirk and a wink of his eye, as though he meant to suggest otherwise.

Rena spoke up. "We got your message. Sent from Arvon. Saying you'd gone off to Morrowind." The Colovian woman was about seven years her husband's junior and at a glance, didn't even look quite her age. Evidently, dyeing potions were use to keep the gray from appearing in her dark brown hair.

Alex interjected. "Belwen said that Arvon passed through here recently. He said that you had been gone for quite a while." 'Young' Alexander Pinewatch hardly seemed quite so young any more. The Nord had to be about fifty by that time. Even so, given his lean frame and generally mild appearance, he hardly looked so ruddy as many other Nords of such an age. The gray was only just starting to show in his light brown hair.

Removing his ebony helmet, Suvaris returned another nod of acknowledgment. "Yes, I did go back to Morrowind for a time. In fact, I've only just returned… though not actually returning via Cheydinhal."

Forester shook his head with a slightly confused expression.

Glancing about briefly, Suvaris continued. "Is Northwind… er, Monika… not about this evening?" He still commonly thought of her by her former family name, even though Alex and Monika had been married for the better part of two decades. Since shortly after she'd taken over running the Wawnet.

Alex responded. "She just ducked out, back over to the farmhouse, to go get something… and to make sure that Nikula and Erik aren't starting any local warfare." Of course, he was referring to their two children, now aged in their mid-teen years.

Forester patted his hands upon the table. "Old friend, please… please come join us at the table. We've already eaten, but I'm sure that Belwen can accommodate your requirements, if you've not yet had the opportunity."

A brief exchange passed between Belwen and Suvaris, as he suggested that he'd be fine with whatever the others had eaten and she briefly clarified what she could provide for him.

Turning back to the table where the others were seated, Suvaris removed his gauntlets and unburdened himself of his travelling pack, intending to lower it down to the floor.

Alex spoke up again. "I am fairly sure that Monika held the Titus room upstairs for you, just in case." He turned to look to Belwen with a questioning glance.

The Bosmer confirmed. "Yes, it's the only one left."

Alex indicated the travelling pack and equipment. "I can take care of that for you."

"No need. It can wait." Suvaris set down his gauntlets and helmet upon his pack next to the chair he was about to sit on.

Forester looked to Suvaris with a curious expression. "So then, where did you just come from, if not from Cheydinhal?"

"I've only just come from the docks, at the waterfront of the Imperial City."

"Ah, so you've been in the city?"

"Well, no. Not as such."

Forester's confused expression served as enough prompt.

Suvaris continued. "Well, for the past several weeks, I've been on a sailing vessel."

Alex interjected. "We thought you were headed for Morrowind… been in Morrowind?"

Rena added her thoughts. "Arvon said you went off looking a relative over there?

Suvaris nodded. "Well, yes. I was in Morrowind… and I was looking for a… a possible relative." He paused. "Well, that pursuit across my homeland eventually placed me upon a vessel. A long haul trade vessel, sailing right around Tamriel."

"A trade vessel?" Forester still appeared confused.

"Well, yes. At the time, it seemed the best way in the circumstances. Following the person that I was looking for. And so, in order to acquire passage… I needed to trade my services, icing perishable cargo in the ship's hold."

Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Forester snickered. "As a… as a frost merchant?"

Suvaris returned a silent nod.

Forester suddenly seemed unable to contain the urge to laugh out loud.

Rena elbowed her husband, causing him to sputter toward relative quiet.

Forester held out his hands in surrender. "Forgive me… forgive me, my friend. The thought of the formidable Alaron Suvaris… in the cargo hold of… well, it's… it's…" He managed to suppress his urge to chuckle that second time, if just barely.

Suvaris maintained his composure. "It was not particularly enjoyable and certainly rather tedious work. However, it seemed the best option… in the circumstances."

"Suvaris?" The familiar voice heard coming from behind the Dunmer belonged to Monika. She had evidently just returned to the inn.

The fair-haired woman of mostly Nordic appearance was perhaps half a decade older than Forester. However due to her mother's Altmer blood, she looked possibly a little younger than Alex. Otherwise, only the subtle pointing of the tips of her ears and something of her colouring offered any outward indication that she was not fully Nord.

After an exchange of brief greetings, Monika was brought up to speed upon what she'd just missed during her absence.

Monika voiced the obvious question. "So then, did you end up finding who you were looking for?"

"Well, yes… eventually. And someone else…. unexpected." Suvaris passed a brief sideways glance in Forester's direction, without immediately addressing the reason. "Though I'd believed all my immediate family long gone, it seems that unknown to me, just one had survived… leaving behind another… my brother's grandson."

"Really?" Forester raised his eyebrows.

Rena expressed her sincere interest. "So, where is he?"

"At this moment… somewhere in the Imperial City, I believe. I hope to run into him tomorrow, at some point."

Rena briefly glanced to her husband. Then turning back toward Suvaris, she shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure I'm following all of this. I thought you had no close family… but… but now you've found this… this grandson of your brother's?"

Suvaris tilted his head. "Well, it's really something of a long story."

"But one with a satisfactory outcome?" Forester invited him continue.

Suvaris returned a thoughtful nod, pausing upon a thought. He'd just travelled most of the way around Tamriel for a blood relative he didn't even know of until just weeks before. He was just thinking that in an odd sort of way, the Fighters Guild had served as a family of sorts for the past several decades. Though it came to him as something of an unexpected revelation, he accepted the realisation that those former comrades seated about the table had come to represent a notable part of his surrogate family throughout recent years.

Glancing about those other faces around him, Suvaris spoke again. "As I suggested, it is quite a long story."

Forester responded with a warm smile. "Well, we have some time, if you want to tell us, that is."

Nodding thoughtfully, Suvaris returned a slight smile, then started to share his tale.

~O~

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Afterword: If you made it this far, feel free to pass comment (whether privately or publicly). As always, special thanks to those who provided assistance and advice with these stories, including those other writers providing comment via review or PM. Also, friends who acted as sounding-boards during development and revisions. Special mention for The Imperial Library and UESPWiki websites for providing such a wealth of useful information. And of course, the folks at Bethesda for creating the detailed universe of The Elders Scrolls.

Additionally, I do recommend checking out some other stories by other authors both in my 'Favorites list' and on the following 'community listing' on this site: "The Untold Tales of Tamriel".

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