Chapter 5 Chats
Taking back the town happened quickly, the rearmed marines supported by the a few townspeople were strong enough to clear the market and force the remaining offenders out of the area, they fled towards north, vanishing in the distance.
Elenwen had to take a bad pile when finding out her own father was a part of this Veiled Heritance and responsible for killing his own people. She made a quick choice when taking over as the new Cannonreeve of Silsailen to undo the damage her father has done. No more words were spoken about the betrayal, the rest of citizens accepted the takeover and returned to some kind of routine when checking the actual situation of their attacked home.
A few of the buildings had been unburned and untouched so the townspeople gathered in the former inn to make up plans for repair and rebuilding the houses.
In order of her support, Deri had been invited to stay for the night and rest, so she agreed and a took a place at the fire talking with the left survivors.
"Your actions won't be unnoticed, I make sure..." Captain Tendil promised before leaving for a report to Vulkhel Guard.
In Deri's opinion he could spare her mentioning, but she planned to move on next day, no more troubles.
Ilemin took the chance for a banter, siting down next to her side. "Thanks to Auri-El you passed by..." she said gratefully. "No idea how it could have been ended.."
"Just a lucky stroke of fate.." Deri lay despite the fact she had been sent there, she wasn't in the mood for talking about the mage guild and her presence on this island. No need for answering uncomfortable questions.
"Lucky for us." the elf smiled back. "Since the death of king Hidellith, the isles have become unrest, unstable. The latest return and crowning of the queen eased the situation little but still everywhere is trouble. "she went on.
"Well... as long as you have a new monarch.." Deri remarked, only wasting a second about thinking on politics and kingdoms, her favorite topics.
"It's not that easy..." Elenwen interposed from behind and joined the two by the fireplace. "Normally Naemon should have acceded to the throne... The princess vanished many years ago and some people say, she was a pure layabout in whole Tamriel, having fun and not caring about her people. Not forgetting this dominion thing, a few conservatives don't approve."
"Yeah imagine her sudden return to claim her birthright and to take everything then showering the stiffened royalty with reformations." Ilemin laughed dearly. "I would have paid gold to see the face of Naemons's wife Estre. The kinlady wanted to become queen, for sure.." Ilemin was no fan of this ominous Estre.
"Naemon is a good one, he truly believes in traditions and is more like his father...king Hidellith...he was a good ruler." Elenwen insisted. "He also did the whole matriculation in the Sapiarchs' Labyrinth in order to get prepared for the throne."
"I didn't negate that, but he's henpecked to the kinlady." Ilemin shot back. "Also there would be no reformations now. Imagine the consequences for you..."
Elenwen's eyes became pretty wide, revealing this topic wasn't meant for public ears.
The sudden silence when both altmer starring at each other was embarrassing, so the vestige took the floor again. "What are those reformations about, anyway?" Deri inquired while nibbling on the piece of meat, she got offered. She never had waste any thoughts on the social and political on goings in the two other alliances, cause there was no need to know that stuff. Secretly she believed Vanus sent her to this place exactly for this purpose an she didn't like it. When you fight, you only need to know who your enemy is and no more, otherwise knowing to much cant cost your life when hesitating. Those things make it complicated, she closed her eyes, breathing hard once. A few memories of fought battles, fights passed through her mind, remembering faces, blood and death.
The questions she always asked herself, was the sense for of all this decease. This world had been violent and marked with wars since the first era ever, but why could things not change and become better. Kingdoms rise and fall, daedra influence development, gods fight with each other. And now Molag Bal was knocking on Tamriel's door, benefited by the wormcult and its master Mannimarco, hunkering down at the capital city, celebrating the daedric cult in all its facets. And to all abundance, all of the acting leaders had decided to be the one with claim to occupy the throne and to rule everybody in Tamriel.
In the meantime most of the remaining citizen had finally sat down to rest and eat while a few first Auridon Marines guarded the building and went out to patrol the town.
"All races of the dominion should be equal, bosmer, kajiit and altmer, equal next to altmer...all together for the ruby throne..." Elenwen explained in short. "But some of the elders and others doesn't get along with it, they want all not-elves to leave the isles again..this idea of equality doesn't fit in our traditions, of course."
Of course? Racism or what?
"Elenwen, these traditions are outdated as you should know by yourself. It's not suitable anymore." the younger altmer directly pointed out. This was some issue of dispute between the two woman and Deri just followed the conversation, preferred to remain silent.
The new canonreeve objected. "Look I'm not for total dominance of high elves but you can't deny the superiority of our race in many things.." she sighed then admitted. "But I see no reasons why we all can't live together peacefully..." another pause before she changed the conversation to another topic. "...We're gonna need help to rebuild the town, perhaps some of the new arrived swagman can be hired."
Ah...that sounds better...
"Half of Silsailen is down and burned in the fires. We need a lot of lumber, best is to hire no bosmer for tree coping..." Ilemin muttered to herself.
"Why not? " Deri let out confused. One thing that really scared the vestige since the beginning of this conversation was the fact, that Elenwen didn't care or mention her father anymore she suddenly recognized. It seemed the elves had no need to make this a topic again. Elenwen was distant and emotional cool concerning this family business and was more busy in reconstruction, which wasn't wrong of course, but Deri had expected this betrayal should affect a family member more visible.
But perhaps that's the way a elf deals with it... a blunted affect? Or bad daddy-relationship?
"Well according to the Memo of Thalmor it's a bad idea...Wait..." Ilemin began to search for something then fished a letter out of her pants..."Ah here it is... Look! These were given us by a Thalmor a few weeks ago.."
Deri took over the piece reading the content:
"Regarding our friends, the Khajiit:
Do NOT refer to them as "Cats."
Do NOT serve them food intended for pet cats.
If you own a pet cat, do NOT call Khajiit by your cat's name.
Do NOT attempt to grab their tails unless permission is granted.
Regarding our friends, the Bosmer:
Do NOT ask the Bosmer about adding vegetables to their recipes.
Do NOT cut down a tree in front of a Bosmer.
Do NOT ask how Bosmeri flesh tastes.
Do NOT ask how to cook a Khajiit.
Our newfound friends in the Dominion stand beside you as comrades and they deserve a measure of respect. Please speak to your local Thalmor representative if further clarification is required. "
Deri finished reading and handled the paper back to its owner.
Oh dear..instructions for better togetherness...
"At least the ministry of race-purity is out of work now." Ilemin shot out, giving Elewen a triumphal look. "According to our majesty we are all comrades now..."
Pardon me? Race-purity?
"Lets quit this Ilemin, I don't want to argue, we have better to do now." The new cannonreeve sighed in an attempt to finish the discussion. "Also our guest will get bored by this...let's wait and see what will happen, as long as the war is going we'll be stay here and rebuild the town."
Deri thanked for the information then preferred to have some time on her own. Luckily the young altmer didn't have any objections, they continued to make plans for resources, constructions and possible craftsman, while the evening passed by. In the corner of her eye she noticed the new Cannonreeve later disappearing with a definitely non-altmer behind a corner, Deri smiled and grinned, now understanding the the remark given by the other young woman at the fire before.
Ah..so we are not emotionally lost yet...Daddy didn't approve for sure...
Deri retreated to find herself a quiet place for the night. She remembered the leather book given by the kajiit and decided to have a little bedtime reading. She opened the gift starting to read:
Written By Nuulehtel
"Loyal citizens of Auridon! I have the pleasure of being an advisor to Her Royal Majesty Queen Ayrenn the First, Eagle Primarch of the Aldmeri Dominion, High Queen of the Summerset Isles, Overfriend of the Royal Camoran House of the Wood Elven people, and boon companion to the Mane of the Khajiit.
As Royal Advisor, I have penned this brief account of Queen Ayrenn's life and history. Read, that you might welcome our Queen into your hearts.
Her Majesty spent early days as many children do in the Isles. She trained in blades beside her father. She rode horses in the surf along our golden beaches, and memorized history and sonnets beneath soft pink petals.
Over twenty years ago, your forward-thinking King—His Royal Majesty King Hidellith of Alinor, may he be ever honored in Aetherius—gathered with the royal family at the Crystal Tower in celebration of Her Majesty's passage into the Labyrinth. This time of intensive study had been required by all Summerset rulers in the past, and Her Majesty was to step into that period with arms wide. As the hour approached, however, the then-princess was found missing!
While a long search was begun, in truth, Her Majesty had claimed her own destiny. Her Majesty had stolen away to the Isle of Balfiera, to live with the Direnni at the Adamant Tower. The members of that clan trained her in the art of war. They turned her simple noble swordplay to lithe and seasoned blade-dancing. Her beachside rides became forced marches on horseback, and her singing of sonnets beneath the trees of her homeland gave way to the study of the arts most arcane.
Much has been made of our Queen's adventures in Tamriel by bards and common broadsheet scribes. Yes, it's true that she once rode a bear. That she hunted the frost trolls of Skyrim, delved into the depths of a Dwarven ruin, and crewed with a pirate captain of Cyrodiil. Her Majesty once flew upon an enormous kite on the winds of the Alik'r Desert, and danced with Nereids in the Illessan Hills. These adventures were not the larks of a wanton, but instead a deliberate process. The tempering of a blade!
And when His Majesty King Hidellith passed away, when it looked as though our remote isles would be left to flounder in the swell of history, Princess Ayrenn returned! Her Majesty plucked the crown from where it had fallen in the dust. She took up her father's sword, and led us out into the world.
Led us into the world to find new allies waiting just off our shores! The Queen's connections to the noble Wood Elves and fierce Khajiit enabled us to form the mighty Dominion that now stands astride our corner of Tamriel, poised to strike at the dark heart of Cyrodiil and ward off the depredations of the warmongering alliances of the north.
Though she has her detractors, and cowards defame her courage from behind a veil, Queen Ayrenn is the living, beating heart of the Dominion. Our fortune and prosperty depend upon her."
Deri closed the book with a grin
Such propaganda...tzz...tzzzzz
She should return to mage guild.