Tharlennis set out early the next morning on the road to Balmora, stopping to collect flowers along the way for use in her potions. It was past noon when she crested a hill that startled her with what lay on its other side: a barren, stony gorge, which contrasted sharply with the pleasant green landscape from whence she had come. But for the clear blue sky, it almost resembled the dusty landscape from the dream she'd had on board the prison ship. Looking about her, she carefully descended into the gorge, and stopped to get her bearings. The innkeeper had told her of this place, calling it a "foyada," for it had ages ago been a river of fire from Red Mountain, and the path to Balmora followed it north for a short distance. "Walk along the bottom of the foyada until there's a pass going northwest," she had told Tharlennis. "The first one you see is the one you want. It'll come out near Fort Moonmoth and Balmora is just over a stone's throw from there as the racer flies, if you've got a good arm."

Tharlennis did not have to walk far in the foyada before she found the pass in question, and she saw the gray stone of Fort Moonmoth beside her as she came out between the high rocks of the foyada's ridged walls. A signpost confirmed that she was headed for Balmora, and the road veered off into a forest just as the sun began to set. She could barely see a few lights through the trees, and as she crossed a river, the adobe walls of a city came into view. The river ran through the center of town, and broad walkways were built on its banks, with several bridges connecting them. She gave a start as she heard a long, low howl from above her, looked up, and up, and saw what must have been the world's largest insect standing just outside the city's walls. She froze – it was facing away, so it hadn't seen her yet. As she was wondering what to do, and how to warn the Balmora's inhabitants that this monstrous thing was so near, a ragged female Argonian walked out through the gate, strolling nonchalantly right beneath the creature's claws. Tharlennis cried an alarm.

The Argonian laughed at Tharlennis's fright. "Have you never seen a silt strider, outlander?" she called back. "It will not hurt you."

"I've never seen a creature that big before," Tharlennis replied in wonderment. "It's really harmless?"

"Perfectly tame. This one belongs to Selvil Sareloth the caravaner. He will take you to Ald-Ruhn or Vivec City if you pay, or Seyda Neen if you have any reason to go there."

"People ride those things?"

"So many questions, the outlander has. Yes, people ride them. They are strong and fast with their long legs, and they carry cargo. Is there anything else you want to know?"

"This is Balmora, right? Can you direct me to the South Wall cornerclub?"

"I do not go there, but I know where it is," said the Argonian. "I might tell you how to get there, if I had something in return."

Tharlennis dug in her belt pouch. "Will this do?" she asked, producing a few Septims.

The Argonian looked at the coins. "It is east of the Odai River, at the south end of Labor Street," she told Tharlennis as she took them. "Thank you, kind traveler."

"Thank you," said Tharlennis. Twilight peeked through the leaves of the great trees that stood among the mud brick buildings of the city, and Tharlennis lit her lantern as she made her way across town, over the river and past a guard tower. She soon found Labor Street and followed it until she saw the South Wall's banner waving slightly in the night breeze. She checked her letter to be sure it was the right place, and went inside.

A tall, fair-skinned woman – a Nord, most likely – leaned against a wall just inside the door. "Do you know where I can find Caius Cosades, and where I can spend the night?" Tharlennis asked her.

"That old sugar tooth?" said the Nord. "I don't know where he's living right now, but you could ask Bacola Closicus. He'd know, and he'll rent you a room for the night, too. He's probably upstairs."

Tharlennis thanked the Nord and found Closicus without much difficulty. "Evening," he said with a smile as she came up the stairs. "I heard you talking to Sottilde. I'm Bacola, and I own this place. Are you new here?" Tharlennis nodded. "I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. Now, you were looking for a place to stay the night, if I heard correctly. I have a room for rent here, if you want it. Ten drakes for the night."

"That seems reasonable enough," said Tharlennis, counting out coins. "What can you tell me about where to find Caius Cosades?"

"He rents a little bed-and-basket just up the hill on the north edge of town," said Bacola. "Go out the front door then up the stairs, then left at the top of the stairs and down to the end of the street. You can't miss it. Your room is over there." He gestured toward a door on the other side of the stairs.

"Thank you kindly," said Tharlennis, and went to her room. The door didn't have a lock, but the bed was soft enough. It would do. She slept with her pillow in her arms and her backpack under her head, and her possessions were safe.

-----------------------

Caius Cosades's house was not difficult to find the next morning, following Bacola Closicus's directions. She knocked on the door, and an old Imperial man wearing only pants and tattered shoes answered. "Are you Caius Cosades?" Tharlennis asked him. "I was told to report to you if you are."

"What?" was his reply. "Yes, I'm Caius Cosades. What do you mean, you were told to report to me? What are you talking about?"

"I'm Tharlennis, and I have a package for you. Weren't you expecting me? Just who are you, anyway, and what's going on?"

"I'm just an old man with a skooma problem," Caius replied. "You have a package? Perhaps you'll let me look at it?"

"Yes. Give me a moment." Tharlennis drew the re-sealed package from her backpack and handed it to Caius.

He looked it over, gave Tharlennis a sidelong look as he saw the seal, then wordlessly opened it. He read the encoded contents as fluently as if they weren't in code at all, and looked up, his eyes sharp. "It says here that the Emperor wants me to make you a novice in the Blades," he informed her.

"The Blades? Emperor Uriel's personal elite? The Blades?" Tharlennis exclaimed, sure she was misunderstanding. "You're certainly not just an old man with a skooma problem. What's going on?"

"I'm the Imperial spymaster for Morrowind. And since I'm the ranking Blades agent in Morrowind, you'll report to me. Follow my orders, and we'll get along fine. Are you ready to follow my orders, Tharlennis?"

Tharlennis realized her mouth was hanging open, and closed it. "I… suppose," she said after a long pause. It was a damn sight better than being a prisoner.

"Good. Welcome to the service." Caius patted Tharlennis's shoulder. "Now you belong to the Blades. No, you're not a soldier – more of an agent. You can sleep here if you need to rest, but leave my things alone unless I say otherwise. You'll probably want to visit some of the Blades trainers – three of them live right here in Balmora, so they're not hard to find. What are you, a thief?"

Tharlennis kept her face still, though Caius's words struck like an arrow: he was right, though he didn't know it, and never would – she'd never been caught. "I'm a mage," she corrected him.

"Fine. That's a decent cover identity, but you'll need to play it up more than you are now. Make sure people see a mage when they look at you, and make sure you can back it up when they talk to you. Sign on with the Mages' Guild and make a name for yourself. Right now it's painfully obvious you're new here. You look a fright." He turned and opened a chest behind him. Tharlennis heard the clink of coins as Caius counted out two hundred Septims, and gave them to her. "Go get yourself a decent weapon," he told her, "and use the rest for training, and armor if you wear it. The commercial district is across the river. You can get weapons from Thorek the Nord – he runs a place called The Razor Hole – or Ra'Virr the Khajiit if you've got a bit more to spend. Meldor the wood elf sells any armor you might be after, and the folks at the Mages' Guild will teach you some useful spells if you become a member."

Tharlennis nodded. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind," she said, counting the coins Caius had given her. She hated the idea of joining the Mages' Guild and being obligated to report everything she did to her superiors; it was bad enough that she was a spy now – she would find some other cover identity, with any luck. Thanking Caius for the money, she set off across town to trade the things she had taken from the bandits for a proper weapon and clothes that didn't itch.

Ra'Virr's shop was easy to find, next to the gate. A small bell rang as she opened the door and stepped inside, and a spotted Khajiit with his whiskers waxed into a long moustache greeted her. "Ra'Virr knows why you are here," he said with a toothy grin. "You want to buy Ra'Virr's famous Daedric weapons."

So that's what Caius meant when he said 'a bit more to spend,' she thought. How in the world does a merchant like this get hold of enough Daedric weapons to say something like that? "Those would be completely out of my price range," she told him. "I'm more of a… general customer. I only have a few hundred Septims and a vial of skooma to trade, nothing like the thousands I'd need for a Daedric weapon."

"Not so loud, outlander," said Ra'Virr. "The Dunmer do not like skooma. They would call the guards if they knew – but Ra'Virr will buy it, quietly. Would the Dunmer like to see the Daedric weapons? They are much cheaper than you think. Ra'Virr has a sword, a spear, and two daggers."

"Let me see the daggers, then, I suppose," she said, and Ra'Virr picked up a pair of tanto made of what looked like steel. She picked one up and felt a buzz of magic. "What are you trying to pull? Anyone who knows what 'Daedric' means can tell this isn't."

"No, you are right," said Ra'Virr calmly. "But Ra'Virr is no liar. When you wish it, Ra'Virr's best weapons will be as sharp and tough as fine Daedric, and light as a netch air sac. Try it. Think at the blade, and it will know what you want."

Tharlennis frowned, and looked at the blade, willing it to change. Sure enough, the tanto's blade twisted into a wicked curve, and its grip settled into her hand as if it were made for her. "It does look like a Daedric dagger," she admitted.

Ra'Virr purred. "The magic lasts a short time, but long enough to punch through the toughest armor," he bragged. "Ra'Virr buys them direct from the Telvanni. You'll not find any cheaper than this one in all Balmora, but this one will protect you from lightning too."

"You deal with the Telvanni? Have you been to Sadrith Mora?"

"Ra'Virr gets the weapons there," he replied with a nod. "There is always much arguing, since the Telvanni do not like to share, even with other Telvanni."

"And is it true their houses and towers are alive?"

"It is true. Did you want to buy the dagger?"

"Yes, and let me see what clothes you have too. I'm sick of these rags." Tharlennis traded the skooma and some of the gold she'd picked up for the cheaper of the two tanto and a dress that would show off her curves while still allowing free movement. It wasn't at all sensible, but Tharlennis hated sensible clothing - and with magic on hand to instantly mend tears and pluck away stains, she could afford to be fancy. With a nod to Ra'Virr, she left the shop and went to find Selvil Sareloth and charter her first ride on a silt strider.