RECAP: An orphan boy in Cyrodiil City grew up in its impoverished quarters. By making counterfeit coins over the span of years, he was able to amass a sufficient fortune for all the trappings of nobility, country estate included. The arrival of a renowned weapons master at his estate ushers in the new phase of his plan.
I do not own anything you remotely recognize, since those probably belong to Bethesda Softworks, the company that made Morrowind. The unnamed character is my own, and that's about all I own.
Note: "He" in ambiguous circumstances generally refers to the main character, unless it is clearly not so from the context.
In the chill air of the early morning, he stamped his feet on the frozen ground to produce warmth. The Argonian weapons master told him to meet in the courtyard at the first hour past dawn. Here he was, but where was that old lizard? As he waited, anticipation churned his innards. Today at last, he shall cross the threshold into completing his scheme. Long ago he had learned to adorn himself in the proper attire and to use the Imperial intonations in his speech, but he had yet to find someone willing to train him in the method of the sword. Only then could he fully take on the guise of a nobleman, raised in one of the finest houses of which the Empire could boast.
"You are here," a raspy voice intoned. "Good."
"Morning," he replied, turning to face the Argonian. "How would you like to be addressed?"
"Illustrious master, perhaps," the Argonian cackled at his own humor. "But for everyday usage, you may call me Twice-Eyed."
"Twice-Eyed?"
"Blind I may be, but my senses are as good as though I had regained my sight. So too shall you be if you heed my teachings. If you do not, you will become like my cousin Nine-Toes."
"What do you mean?"
"He's only as good as a man with nine toes. Throws off your balance, you see? We Argonians are fortunate to have our tails to compensate for such accidents as—"
At this the Argonian took a swipe at his trainee's feet, and he only jumped out of the way in the nick of time.
"Not bad, not bad," Twice-Eyed muttered. "You may yet have a bright future. Let us commence."
After a wearying day filled with drills and calisthenics, he slowly lowered himself into the warm bath, relaxing his muscles and examining the various bruises forming on his legs and arms. Performing one hundred lunges was a feat in itself, but to undertake such an endeavor while avoiding a club-wielding giant lizard was a herculean effort indeed. He would need many more days to become adept at that particular skill. Despite his aching limbs, he allowed a smile to briefly flit across his face. The sun was rising on this new chapter of his life.
These days, he found he needed very little sleep to refresh himself. Perhaps he was growing stronger and improving his endurance. Whatever the cause, he had found ways to occupy him in these newfound hours of the day. He would go on nighttime excursions to explore the nearby foothills, while in the daytime he either trained or hired himself out for short freelance missions, anything to give him opportunity to hone his skills. He was making preparations for one such mission now.
Two days ago he had met a lady standing at a crossroads, obviously out of place in her expensive dress. He approached her to see if he could help, and she commenced her tale of woe.
"Three years! Three years I have paid and clothed that scum, and this is how he repays me?" she cried. "Never trust a servant again!"
"What happened?" he inquired.
"My trusted servant," she replied sarcastically. "He and I were traveling from Cyrodiil City to my husband's hometown. All was well when we reached this crossroads. Suddenly, he dashed off with all of my possessions and left me stranded here to fend for myself. So much for loyalty in their kind, the n'wah…"
"Which way did he go?"
"Why does it matter?" she retorted. "All is lost. Wait! Will you look for my servant and bring him back here? I can reward you handsomely if you do."
He hesitated. What kind of situation was he getting involved in? On the other hand, this could be the beginning of an adventure, one he was very ready to have.
"Certainly," he agreed. "Tell me which direction he was heading, and what he was carrying. He couldn't have gone far if he was carrying much."
She told him that the servant went down the eastern path and carried all her books, clothing, potions, food, and jewels. The servant himself was nondescript enough, dressed in common clothes and a pair of cloth bracers.
"I will find him, or what remains of him," he promised. "Would you like a place to stay in the meantime?"
"No thank you," she said. "I will stand in this same exact location in case he comes back in remorse."
He had set off on the eastern path, sweeping his eyes from left to right to more easily note anything out of the ordinary. About half a day's journey into his search, he found a Khajiit with cloth bracers standing by a small pond, looking quite disheveled. The woman never mentioned her servant's race, so he wondered if this beast was the servant. He decided to approach cautiously.
"Good day," he greeted the Khajiit. "What brings you to these parts?"
"Would you like to hear my story?" the Khajiit said in reply. And not waiting for a response, he continued. "My name is J'Dzan. Three years ago I left my homeland and my beloved sister in order to find a living on the mainland. I have done well for myself working for a noble family, but trouble struck on this journey I was taking with my lady. We came to a crossroads close to here. We sat down to rest and I went to find some roots nearby when, all of a sudden, a cliff racer arrived and took off with my lady's pendant, which she had laid on a rock. I chased after the bird to this pond here, where the bird dropped the trinket into the water. Many times have I dived into the water to recover the jewel, but I could not find it. Now I fear my lady believes me to be a traitorous thief."
At this J'Dzan sighed and looked once more over the water.
"Why could you not find the pendant? The pond looks exceedingly shallow to me," he questioned.
J'Dzan cocked his head. "That is what I cannot understand. I can nearly see the pendant from here, and yet when I go into the water, the bottom is never-ending. I believe there is some witchcraft involved here."
To verify J'Dzan's claims, he peered at the pond. Indeed, one could make out the pendant resting at the sandy bottom. He waded in, the water reaching only to his calves. When he reached his hand into the water to pick up the pendant, the sand beneath his feet shifted and he found himself plunged in over his head. Paddling swiftly to the surface, he gasped for air and discovered he was standing in shallow water again.
"I told you," the Khajiit commented. "Witchcraft."
That was two days ago. He had left J'Dzan at the edge of the pond, promising to return with supplies to retrieve his mistress's pendant. Then he headed for his home, trying to think how to recover the jewel without meeting his end in a watery grave.
Now he sat at his table, alchemy ingredients and books strewn across the surface. He had carefully measured out the required amounts of kwama cuttle, pearl powder, and the last of his remaining stock of luminous russula. Mixing the ingredients together and allowing them to simmer for a full day, he was confident the resulting potion would allow him to complete this quest. He poured out the sludge into two small bottles for the purpose and tucked them into his satchel. Next, he girded on a thin one-handed blade in case he met with any trouble.
"Salutations, good master," J'Dzan exclaimed when he approached. "It has been two days."
"Yes, I know," he said. "It took some time to prepare the potions. But no matter, we will soon have your mistress's pendant in hand."
With that said, he took out the two bottles and held one in each hand. He waded out to the pond again and uncorked one of the bottles. Each potion gave him a quarter of a minute underwater, so he would have to act fast. He glanced one last time at the Khajiit and then swallowed the contents of the bottle, at the same time reaching his hand toward the jewel. The water engulfed him like before, but he was ready this time. He swam deeper to the point that the light from the sun was growing dim. Where was the bottom?
He had resolved that he would only go as deep as the first potion would take him, for he would need the second potion for the return trip to the surface. From what he could tell, the bottom was truly never-ending. In frustration, he extended his hand as far as they could go. There! His fingers brushed past something. He fished for the object again and came up with the gold link chain holding the pendant.
Just at that moment, he felt his breath running short. He quickly brought the second bottle near his mouth, uncorked it, and tried to drink the potion without swallowing more water. Oxygen returned to his lungs and he swiftly kicked his way towards the sunlight.
Meanwhile, J'Dzan was worriedly watching the bubbles on the surface of the pond. He was overjoyed to see a head emerge, and even more exhilarated to see the pendant dangling from a hand.
"Thank you, thank you, kind master," the Khajiit effused. "If you ever have a need, please let J'Dzan know. And I have a nephew, a very good merchant, by the name of Ra'Virr in Morrowind, should you ever chance to travel there. Tell him I sent you."
"I will keep that in mind," he said. "Now let us together return to your mistress and hope for a kind reception."
J'Dzan grew quiet at the thought and they traveled wordlessly together to the crossroads, where the lady still waited.
"Here is your faithful servant, my lady. He was recovering your pendant," he said.
After more detailed explanation, the lady was sufficiently convinced that her servant was indeed not stealing away with all of her belongings, but was in fact safeguarding her possessions.
"Thank you for your services," she said. "Here are 100 coins to compensate you for your troubles. Now J'Dzan and I shall be on our way. Farewell."
"Farewell," he waved as they continued on their journey. He returned home and dipped his quill into the inkpot, adding this adventure to his journal which he kept for this purpose.
What do you think? Is this story worth continuing?
I haven't written a chapter in years, so please give me feedback, especially if the story is confusing. Comments, questions, suggestions are welcome.