Nighttime slowly encroached, shedding its darkened blanket over the Gold Coast – Aderyn and Romiskeld, a bulky pack of nine different pairs of clothing strapped to his back, used the darkness' cover to safely traverse their way towards Gweden Farm. Though, hoping their plan would work relied solely upon Aderyn's gifted magicka. The pressure for success straining in his mind, aided by an enthralling presence of concern for his ancestors' spirits – angered spirits in general were the last thing on his list to encounter – set him slightly on edge.
"Breathe" Romiskeld constantly reminded him. Urging him to stay calm, to not think about the consternation of failure, only assisted in worsening the anxiety – his mind relentlessly contemplating the results of a worst case scenario. To help, Aderyn repeatedly reassured himself, 'I can do this. The plan is a shoo-in. Nothing will go wrong.'
At last, after what seemed no less than an hour, Gweden Farm loomed before them – figuratively speaking. In spite of its single leveled appearance, knowing what witchery went on inside gave the farm a menacing look. That and perhaps the unkempt flora towering about the house, drooping over like vicious claws ready to snatch up their next victim.
"Before going in there," Romiskeld started, a gleeful look in his eye, "just remember – the plan greatly resembles that of our troublesome childhood years – we being the troublesome children of course." They chuckled, remembering their childhood together, using the magic Aderyn had learned to greatly confuse the town guards. "It's just on a larger scale" Romiskeld said, particularly pointing to himself.
"Right." Aderyn started off in the house's direction, casting the appropriate spell that would potentially save their skin. Though, a hand held him in place, and Romiskeld's voice echoed out, reminding him one last time, "breathe".
--
Dark wooden walls, accented by cherry red linens strategically draped over them, reminded Aderyn of his younger years spent in town. His grandmother, Aldrina, the kindest woman he ever knew, was more like a mother to him. After his parents passed from the realm of Nirn, their death a tragic murder back in Morrowind, she brought him into her home. He was too young to remember the ordeal, only being two years in age, and didn't even remember them except from stories told by Aldrina.
Even so, every time he visited their tombstones in the crypts beneath he felt he had known them his entire life. But now he wasn't even sure their bodies remained. For all Aderyn knew their graves could be desecrated, their unearthly spirits released back into Nirn to exact revenge.
Startled by a sudden tap to his shoulder, Aderyn quickly spun around, looking Faustina Cartia, the imperial woman, directly in the eye – her name etched onto a golden amulet dangling from her neck. A fine red gown, vexingly draped over her rosy, slender body, gave the appearance of being ready for a "fun night".
"You're here early" her delicate voice rang throughout the depths of his male-confused mind – steadily growing hazy and unsure. Shaking his head, trying to relieve the misty cloud forming in his mind, he realized what she was doing. A charm spell trickled up and down his spine, increasing in strength as her voice grew softer and more inviting.
Using his own magic, Aderyn silently repelled the enchantment with a spell of his own – Resist Temptation, a spell crafted by him during his studies back in the Summerset Isles. Pretending to appear entranced, Aderyn played along as she continued speaking, not wanting to give her the appearance that she had failed in enticing him.
"Oh, you look like you're ready." She pulled him closer to the bed, bordering the edge of the southern wall. "Let's relieve you of those clothes, shall we?" If now was the time to unleash his plan, it certainly appeared as a gilded opportunity the closer they inched towards the bed.
"No" he calmly stated.
"What? Come on. Don't be shy. I thought you wanted a bit of fun?" She pulled at his shirt, lifting it upwards and nearly relieving him of it. Quickly he jerked away and glared at her. "What are you doing?" she demanded.
"I've not come here to experience your wiles, Faustina." Furiously, she glared at him – her nostrils beating wider and wider as she realized her spells had failed. Steadily she backed up to a doorway leading down to the basement where the other two remained in wait.
"Ok, girls" she cried, only to be muted by a powerful silence spell thrown her way. Grasping her throat, unable to speak, she turned to pound on the door – her hand, however, frozen in place right before it. Glancing around, only her eyes seemed to be moving, she watched from the corner of her eye as Aderyn walked into view, a grimace forming on his face.
Unaware of what had befallen their companion, Signy and the Khajiit, Tsarrina, burst into the room, daggers drawn. A hard thump from behind frightened them and, turning around to see Faustina collide with the wooden floor, they rushed towards the mer, their blades wailing about. Easily had Aderyn avoided their daggers, leading them towards the front door and eventually outside.
Once beyond the threshold of the house and well out into the field, Aderyn sent the signal for Romiskeld – all ten of him – to appear. For the spell he cast before entering the house, a temporary duplicating spell, conjured up nine other forms of the Nord, each garbed in a different outfit to give the appearance they were all different men.
Terrified beyond compare, the two women dropped their weapons, surrendering to the men surrounding them on all sides – graciously offering their wrists in submission, preferable over offering their heads at knifepoint. And once their wrists were bound, Mealona and Gogan, garbed in guard's uniforms of Anvil, thanked the men – all of them – and took the three prisoners off to serve their time. Chuckling over the terrified faces of the two women, Romiskeld and Aderyn accepted the amount of gold offered to them by the guards and went inside to investigate the remaining house – gathering all stolen items, returning them to their respective owners when the sun once again arose.
