Chapter Ten

I woke up with a thin sheet draped over me. It took me a moment to recall that I actually did cross into Elsweyr and it wasn't a dream. I sat up, allowing the sheet to fall from me, and stretched out my achy limbs. My stretch quickly turned into a defensive stance, however, as I noticed a huge –larger than any wolf I had ever seen – black cat with barely visible white stripes.

"By the gods!" I shouted.

The creature recoiled at my outburst. Zaynabi came sprinting into the room just as the large cat slowly showed itself out.

"This one heard a yell?" Zaynabi questioned, watching the last flick of the cats tail.

"What was that?!"

"This one forgets elf is from Cyrodiil. Empire does not allow Alfiq into lands so they must stay in Elsweyr. Alfiq are Khajiit. Worry not for Alfiq are nice and polite. Much more polite than Ohmes-raht," she let out a comforting purr. I allow my muscles to relax as I rub my hands on my face. I can feel the grime that has built up on my face.

"Is there anywhere for me to wash up? I would like to have a moment to get my thoughts together before we begin to speak on why I am here."

"Zaynabi knows why elf is here. Matters not for bath is this way," she gestured her paw towards the stone wall behind the rock pillar. After giving her a blank stare, she walked over to it and gave a pull chain I hadn't seen a tug. A section of the wall lifted to reveal a door with the sound of running water inside.

I slowly rise off the bed, feeling every achy muscle, and walked into the dark room. I used this as an opportunity to use my candlelight spell. Inside I found a stream of steaming water coming out of the rock-face and into a pool carved into the stone floor.

"Thank you greatly," I said, smiling at the Khajiit.

"Zaynabi shall fetch you some clothing, and then we shall all talk," she purred and then wandered off.

I stripped of my dirty, raggedy clothes quickly and sighed with relief as I slipped into the hot water. I bathed my body and my hair and then soaked until the pain eased from my muscles. When I finally pulled myself from the water, I found a simple cloth dress next to the stone doorway. After sliding on the dress and braiding my hair into an elf braid, I headed into the room with a fire pit.

Zaynabi stood over the fire and stirred a pot of stew. Sprawled on a rug, basking in the heat of the flame was the Alfiq. Scattered through the room were mostly Khjiit with some other races mixed in. Most were in mages robes, but some were dressed in everyday garb and some were even in armor. I humbly nodded towards all the eyes that were weighing heavily upon me.

A wide-jawed, blonde Nord stood up and cleared his throat. He was wearing a basic lace-up tunic over a white shirt with dark linen pants, though I can tell his frame was one that was accustomed to bearing the weight of armor.

"Miss Floramer, I presume?"

I nodded and gave a small smile in greeting. "Yes, and you?"

"Jurgis Wind-Shifter, and this is my wife," he gestured to a small Nord woman with dark hair, "Frelene. We are ambassadors for the Rebellion."

For once, I would like to be able to have a conversation in which I'm not blindsided and left standing dumb stricken. I glance over at Zaynabi and see her peek and me through the side of her angled eyes. I finally start to put the pieces together. This is why Alyssa wanted me to come to this specific town. It's not a way point – it's a meeting of a secret society.

"Rebellion. Similar to the rebellions that have been occurring in Skyrim?" I asked, hoping not to sound too ignorant.

"Similar, but the Nords of my homeland are wrapped up in something much smaller. The Lady Greensley has obviously enlisted you in something without you knowing. The symbol you presented to Zaynabi on your arrival showed that you are here to give your services to the cause."

"Before Jurgis here enlists you without your consent, maybe you would like some explanation of what we are?" An Imperial man said from my left. I could tell by his eyes that he was young, but thought different at first glance due to his long, rugged, black beard and hair. "We have enough young kids volunteering and ruining our missions and dying without taking on another. Besides, look at her!" He gestured to me while turning his attention to Jurgis, "She's one of them! Gods help us, we have a High Elf in the room with us!"

Jurgis gave the Imperial a stern look and simply said, "Malpenix! Get a hold of yourself! She's a Floramer for the sake of the gods'!"

The Imperial's rude demeanor made me recoil. Curious as to why my family name was a defense to my character, I look back to polite Jurgis and say, "Yes, please, I would like to hear more."

Jurgis sits back down next to his wife. He puts one arm around her and the other hand goes to his belt as if in habitual search of a blade hilt. "Please, sit. As you know, the Aldmeri Dominion invaded the Empire and forced the White-Gold Concordat on us all. Before that they broke Elsweyr in half. Yet, besides a few groups in Skyrim, most of the citizens of the Empire have stayed quiet. And we want it to stay that way…or, at least, seem as if it is going to stay that way. We are the White-Gold Rebellion. Our mission is to dissolve the Aldmeri Dominion's hold on the Empire from the inside out. We are connected with several people from high nobles to lowly beggars. We only have a few safe places within the Empire to have large meetings, so most are done outside of it which is one reason why we are here. The Lady Greensley knew of our meeting, and I assume that this is why she sent you."

I could understand, now, why she sent me. I never told her about my great-grandfather and his evidence of Talos or that I wanted to honor his beliefs in some way, but she knew and she has provided me a path to take.

"I would like to be able to help in this, however, I'm not sure how I could. I have a few skills, but nothing you can't find mastered in someone else," I admitted.

A grin spread across Jurgis's face, "You have something that no one else has: You're a Floramer."

"What does that have to do with it?"

All eyes turned toward me. Zaynabi stopped stirring her stew. The room was dead silent.

"What in Oblivion? She doesn't even know who she is! How do you expect she'll…" Malpenix began again, but was cut off with only a look from Jurgis.

"You are the descendent of Ravenwood Floramer, are you not?" Frelene asked with a throaty voice.

I nodded silently and looked from person to person. It appears that great-grandfather Floramer has had more adventures than he let his family know. What was my grandfather involved in? What did I not know?

"Tell me what you need me to do." I had to know why my name made me important, but I wanted to find out myself.

"You can't be serious! Why would you want to help us? You're…" Malpenix yelled, standing up from his wooden chair.

Jurgis mirrored his movement and cut him off by shouting, "Out!" Malpenix did as the Nord ordered, his heavy armor clanking as he exited the room. Then he turned to me and asked, "I do, however, have to ask: Why do you want to be a part of us?"

"My father fought the Thalmor and was in one of the soldiers who fought to reclaim the Imperial City during the Battle of the Red Ring. My brother and I were raised to believe in the nine, Talos included. Also, I've seen how the Thalmor treat citizens suspected of Talos worship." I thought back to a few years ago when a handful of Thalmor soldiers came through Gweden Village and beat a man to death who was caught with an amulet of Talos. "I want to see the Empire set right again."

"Then this is the right place for you, girl," Frelene smiled.