Chapter XII
Strange, distant and incomprehensible voices echoed in Rontag's head. He still had no idea where he was, only that this time he caught glimpses of a beach, and what appeared to be a fancy looking ship in a dry-dock. He then caught sight of a cabin, or small house. Then it faded from view, replaced by an eternal darkness.
Then he saw the sky slowly grow bright from the darkness. The sun was setting and the large moon Masser, was rising.
None of it made sense. He couldn't quite recall where he was, or how he had gotten here. All he knew was that nothing seemed solid, and everything appeared to be constantly shifting.
He felt something grip his hand. He looked down to see another hand in his. Glancing upwards he saw an echo of Valerie as she faded away into the blackness.
"Val!?" he shouted. "Valerie!?" There was no response to his cry, only darkness and a deafening silence.
Winterhold was a cold city, or rather it was a cold village masquerading as a city. Rasha and Faldan had finally arrived in the early evening and were slowly making their way down the small snowy street, looking for an inn. There they would simply sit and wait, while Rasha observed every patron and listened intently to every conversation, picking out anything that could possibly be of importance.
Upon entering the easily found inn, aptly called the Frozen Hearth. They found it practically empty, so much so in fact that the two of them stood out because of it.
"I haven't seen you two before," a tall dark haired Nord woman said, from where she stood behind the bar. The only other patron looked around, scowled at them before turning back to his drink.
Faldan glanced warily at Rasha, waiting for her to say something. "We're just passing through," the Khajiit said, before realising that they couldn't possibly be passing through to anywhere.
"You're not going to that college are you?" the Nord asked disdainfully. "You want to be keeping clear of that place, even if you are elves." The Nord stared at Rasha for a moment, before looking at Faldan. "Or at least he is." She then gestured at her "What in Talos' name are you supposed to be?"
"I'm a Khajiit," Rasha informed her.
"Never seen a cat like you before."
"I'm an Ohmes-Raht."
"Is that what they call Khajiits who're half elf or something?"
"I'm not half elf!" Rasha scoffed, annoyed at the false and rather insulting insinuation. "Khajiit breeds are determined by the moons and their phase," she explained, hoping she could educate at least one ignorant Nord. "In native Khajiit, it's called the 'ja'Kha'jay', or the 'Lunar Lattice' in your tongue. Khajiit are bound to the moons, similar I suppose to what some books say about how the Ancient Snow Elves were bound to the sky."
"That's nice," the Nord woman said with clear disinterest. "Well whatever you are, I suggest you keep clear of that college. If you know what's good for you that is."
"We're going there to learn the art of Restoration," Faldan said suddenly.
The innkeeper began wiping down the bar with a cloth, her judging gaze looking down at what she was doing. "I suppose that's a noble goal," the Nord replied. "But I suggest you go to Whiterun and find the temple healers there," she suggested.
"Perhaps we will," Faldan replied, glancing at Rasha to gauge whether she looked angry or not. She didn't appear to be on the outside, but he still remembered all too well how she had threatened to kill him on the road up here.
The two steadily made their way over to a table and sat down on the bench. Rasha leaned over to Faldan. "What made you say that?" she asked, keeping her voice low. "I'm not mad or anything, I'd just like to know?"
Faldan cleared his throat. Making sure he kept his voice low, he responded. "Well, from my short time in Windhelm, it became quite obvious that the Nords there liked healers, so I just said it to try and get her off our backs."
"You do realise now that we'll have to probably go to the college, or else we'll look suspicious?" she whispered.
"I didn't think of that," he admitted.
She webbed her lithe fingers. "Well it's too late now," she told him. "We'll stay here for the rest of the day and see if we can find out anything on the whereabouts of this Tam." She took a long look around the inn, before focusing back onto Faldan. "Tomorrow we'll take a look at this college. Perhaps we can learn something there. Maybe she is there."
"Do you have any magical ability?" Faldan asked. "I hear they won't let you in unless you have some."
"Nothing much really. Know some basic spells such as Oakflesh, and an increase stamina spell for when I need to escape from something."
"Did you cast that in Windhelm?" he asked her. "Y'know, to get away from the guards?"
"No," Rasha said. "Didn't feel I had the time, and spells usually draw attention with the glow, especially at night." She sighed loudly, a feeling stupid. "Actually that's a lie, it was because I totally forgot about it."
"There are a couple of times I could have done with a good stamina spell," Faldan said to her, before adding under his breath. "Like with the ladies."
Rasha shook her head as a small smile crossed her lips. Her sensitive ears had easily picked up what he had said. She decided not to say anything, lest she embarrass him.
It was too late however, as he noticed her expression. "You didn't hear that did you?" Faldan asked, his face turning bright red.
"I'm a Khajiit," she pointed out. "I hear a lot of things, and can smell a lot of things. Not as well as other breeds, but still better than either man or mer."
"I'll remember that."
"I also know a better hearing spell," Rasha said "So don't think too loudly."
Faldan's eyes went wide. "You can hear thoughts?" he asked her in shock.
"No, it was a joke," she said, stifling a laugh.
"Oh," he said, feeling foolish. He went quiet for a moment, before asking, "Are there spells that allow people to hear your thoughts?"
"No idea. I don't think so."
The Bosmer shuddered. "I don't like the thought of someone looking into my mind and seeing what I think."
"Can't say I do either."
"Think someone at the college has that power?" he asked deeply concerned by the notion.
"I have no idea if that power even exists, so I doubt it," she said dismissively.
"But imagine if they did, like the Archmage or something? You could never get away with anything because he'd always know if you were lying."
"You don't need to be able to read minds to figure out if someone is lying or not," Rasha said.
"What do you mean?"
"Posture, expression. Eye-contact, or lack of. It all adds up to tell a story."
"You can do that?" he asked her, feeling rather put off by the notion. "Have you been doing that to me?"
"What, reading you by your body language? I do that with everyone, so yes."
"What am I thinking?" he asked her.
She chuckled. "I can't read your mind, you idiot. I can see how you feel, to a degree at least, or tell if what you say is a lie. I cannot figure out what you're thinking about, that's Sheogorath levels of crazy."
"You shouldn't use a Daedric Lord's name like that, it's bad luck."
"You're right Faldan, it was an insult to the Prince of Madness. No one can possibly be as mad as him."
"Not what I meant," he said. A shudder went down his spine. "Don't use his name, or any of their names. They're dangerous."
She shook her head with a smile. "You're not one of those who believes that if you stare at your own reflection in a calm lake and say a Daedra's name three times, that you'll be struck down are you?"
"Better to be safe then to not be."
"I suppose," she said, not fully understanding his fear. "Mind if I call him Sheggorath instead?" Rasha teased. "How about The Skooma Cat?"
Faldan shook his head. "Please don't. Especially not with that one. I read a book that said he once made a musical instrument out of a woman's bones and intestines."
"Yes, I know. I read that book too, or at least something similar."
"I don't want anything like that to happen to me, so can we not talk about them?"
"If you say so."
"I do," Faldan said
"Fine," Rasha accepted.
Faldan looked around the almost deserted inn. "No sign of Tam yet," he whispered.
"Be patient," Rasha replied, before she rose up from her stool. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked him.
"Just some cheap brandy or something."
"Anything to eat?"
"Yeah I do, not fussed what it is though."
The Khajiit walked over to the bar. The Nord innkeeper looked at her with a frown. "What is it?" she asked with a slight sneer.
"Do you have any cheap brandy or anything?"
"We've got nothing but the cheap stuff here," the Nord responded. "'Course we don't sell it cheap, but where you gonna go to get better eh?" She then chuckled to herself.
"Well I want two of your cheapest drinks and two of your cheapest meals."
"Sure."
A few minutes later, both Faldan and Rasha were quietly eating their meal, and enjoying their drinks.
Narsis was a strange city. While there were clear Dunmer influences, it also had more recent looking constructs that looked even more foreign in their Argonian design.
Magoza Hides-In-Trees had been in the city for around three hours or so. Hides was looking for some particular people who could help them, but it seemed they were no longer there.
"You sure they're still here?" Magoza asked him. "We've been meandering for the past half hour."
"No," he responded angrily. "It seems they are not."
"What do we do?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he turned around and began to head the other way. Magoza followed closely, unsure where they were going.
"Are we off somewhere?" the young Orsimer asked him as they turned down yet another street.
"One last lead, that may or may not still be here."
"Who?"
"Someone I don't want to talk to."
"More than the others?" she asked him.
"Yes, more than the others."
"And who's that?"
"My brother."
"Why don't you want to talk to him?"
"None of your business!" he said angrily.
"Okay then, sorry for asking," Magoza said defensively.
After a few minutes of walking, they stopped outside an old Dunmeri style of building. Hides told her to wait outside on the other side of the street, as he made his way up a flight of stairs, and knocked on the door. A few moments later the door opened, followed by what appeared to be a heated discussion, which lasted for several minutes. Then Hides-In-Trees went inside, the door closing behind him.
Magoza stood there, leant against a lantern post, listening to the wind and the sounds of the city. It seemed such a long time since she had just stood and listened, since she had really stopped and felt the breeze on her face. She knew it had only been four or so hours since she had last stopped and been able to be alone with her thoughts, but running around the city, while trying to keep out of direct sight of the guards had been quite exhausting.
She didn't know how long she had been stood there when she heard an Argonian shout, bringing her out of her reverie.
"Hey Dark-Elf!?"
She quickly looked around. Was there Dunmer around? Could it be that the Karo's were nearby?
After studying her surroundings, all she saw was a small group of young looking Argonians staring at her.
"You, I speaking to Dark-Elf!"
"What?" she asked, confused by his odd sentence. Was he saying she was a Dark Elf? Or was he telling her to mind her own business, and that he was speaking to one.
"We speaking to you Dark-Elf!" the leader of the group said to her.
"I'm an Orc," she corrected.
"Do not lie!" the leader said.
"Do not lie to him," the one to the leader's left said.
"No, I'm definitely an Orsimer," she told them. "Bit of Altmer blood in me, but no Dunmer."
"We have been told of you and your ugly faces," the leader said. "We know Dark-Elf when we see one."
"I'm an Orc, not a Dark-Elf."
"He said not to lie!" the one on the right said.
Magoza felt annoyance begin to rise inside her. She knew that the Dunmer were hated here, and they were using that as an excuse to bully her.
"You are Dark-Elf!" the leader said pointing. "You know what we do to Dark-Elf!?"
"Dark-Elves have grey or grey-blue skin. I have green skin," she told them. "Dark-Elves have red eyes. I have green eyes."
The one on the left looked at the leader. "Is that true?"
"You not one of us," the leader said. "That makes you Dark-Elf!"
"That's the worst excuse I've ever heard to harass someone!" she said angrily. "Now go away, I am waiting for someone."
"We not go away!" the leader told her. "We hurt Dark-Elf."
Magoza prepared herself. She had no interest in hurting them, as they had so callously threatened to do to her. The Orc decided a more measured, but firm approach might be needed. But what? A firebolt would be too much in this case, and casting an armour spell wouldn't scare them off. Maybe a blast of ice to chill their scales?
Suddenly, she remembered something. Two months ago, she had used a telekinetic force to throw people down, using the clothes they wore as a push-off point, or at least she assumed that was what had happened. She had done it because the two, Valerie and Tam, had been fighting. She had wanted them to stop, simply wanted it all to stop. Now, it looked like she might get the chance to use it again. If only she could remember how she had done it in the first place. She couldn't remember reading any tomes on telekinesis and hadn't read any scrolls. She pushed it out of her mind, focusing on the memory of using it. How she had felt, how she had wanted the two fighting to just stop.
The leader looked at his two comrades. "Let us remove rubbish from our street, and get fancy bow off back," he said, referring to the strange bow-like contraption she wore.
With little time for thought, she held out her hands in front of her, focusing on the dark brown tunics they each wore. With the spell forming in her mind, she pushed at them hard. The three of them crashed onto the street with a yelp. After a few moments, the leader clambered back to his feet, teeth bared. He turned to see his friends run away.
"Leave me alone!" Magoza yelled at him.
"I get guards to kill you!" He turned and quickly ran off.
The young Orc headed across the street and up the stairs towards the house in which Hides-In-Trees had entered. After a moment's pause, she built up some courage and knocked on the door, hard. A few moments passed before the door opened. An Argonian who she didn't recognise stood there, staring down at her.
"Erm, hello," she said.
"You Orc my brother speaks of?"
"Yes."
"Come in then, we were just speaking of you." She entered the house, the door closing behind her.
Upon entering the main room, which was sparsely decorated, she saw Hides looking over at her with a frown. "I thought I told you to wait?"
"Some bullies harassed me."
"Well, never mind that. I learned that your friends will be being moved in two full days."
"How did you find that out?" she asked, feeling hope begin to rise inside her.
Hides' brother walked over to a stool and sat down on it, his tail hanging off the back. "I keep head to ground," he said. "Heard that Talen had a family. Was selling them as unit."
"Where are they being moved to!?" she questioned, almost demanded.
"Argonia," Hides told her. "To Helstrom."
"Ancestors would feel shame," the brother said. "Slavery is what some went through. Never should anyone be slaves."
Magoza realised just how good Hides' Cyrodilic was. He spoke very well, but the others here hadn't. She would have to ask him about it sometime.
"We have two days to prepare," Hides said.
"What is the plan?" she asked.
"Attack as they being moved," the brother told her, "but only when they far from city." He looked at Hides. "Brother good at tracking, even if not good at choosing job. Can shoot arrow straight."
"Yes," Hides agreed. "My brother here is not so good at ranged or close up." He looked over at Magoza. "Can you use your crossbow?"
"My what?" she asked.
"That weapon on your back. It's called a crossbow."
"Oh."
Hides seemed to smile. "Well in any case, my brother has agreed to not only help us, but to let us stay here."
"That's kind of you," Magoza said to him.
"I do, as it is right. The Hist do not care of this matter, but I feel that it is right thing to do."
Magoza still had no idea what a Hist was exactly, but decided to simply smile and nod out of courtesy. For now, the Karo's would have to stay where they were in captivity. But Magoza would do everything in her power to free them when the time came.
The day had been hard, and dehumanizing for the Karo family.
At dawn, they had been awoken and led out into the yard. They had then all been forced to strip naked while cold buckets of water were thrown at them. Then after they had been 'cleaned' to get the 'horrible soft-skin stench' off of them, they were told to redress. They were then taken into the basement, where they were to be trained on how they were to behave.
While Darovin and Llandri had kept their mouths shut, their son Brendarr had spoken out and cursed the teacher. For his insolence, he had been savagely beaten before being forced to stand naked in the main hallway, in full view of everyone that entered the large Dumneri-style home. Be it those that lived there, or visitors looking to speak with the lord of Narsis, Talen.
Most looked at him with disgust, while only a few seemed to look at him with pity. No matter how they saw him, none of them so much as spoke to him, or paid him more than a single stare at first sight.
The whole ordeal was to teach him a lesson, and he knew it. He also knew that it worked. He felt embarrassment, he felt a deep shame. All he wanted was for someone to strike him down and end the torment.
After what seemed like an eternity, he had to undergo a short class on what was expected of him. If he didn't do what was expected, then he would be killed. It was as simple as that.
Brendarr was then allowed to redress, meeting up again with his parents. With only a small serving of old broth and some stale bread, they were thrown back into their cage.
That night, Darovin and Llandri pleaded with their son to try and behave. To accept that at least for now, they were stuck here.
Brendarr knew they would escape, and when they did, he would seek out Magoza. He was sure that she was the one that was behind what had happened to them, and when he found her, he would take her life. In his eyes, she deserved that much.
Updated 06/04/2014
