Chapter Thirteen

I didn't want to get out of bed the next morning. Every muscle ached more than I knew possible. I had to snag a small health potion from my bag just to be able to sit up all the way. Once up, I slowly walked over to the curtained corner and changed into my new armor. The Orc armorer Jo'Basha brought me to the day before was not impressed with only getting to sale light armor. Nonetheless, here I was slipping myself into some leather armor.

As I finished fastening the last clasp on my armor, Mal pulls back the burlap curtain wearing nothing but cloth pants and in a gruff tone asks, "What's taking you so long? Haven't you ever put on armor before?"

"No, for your information, I haven't," I snapped back.

"By the nine, you don't even have it on right. Come here." He came behind the rugged curtain with me and began to fix the clasps that held the shoulder pieces onto my breast. I had to look up at the ceiling to keep from staring at his bare chest. "Pay attention, won't you! I won't do this for you every time. Okay, you put this strap through this and…there you go. Now, go eat some food. We have a meeting with Urzog."

Without allowing me to say a word, he grabs his armor and pushes me out of the dressing area. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. My whole life I've never become flustered over a man, and now my face becomes flushed over a thief and a rebel. Maybe I was only around the wrong kind of man? My mood deflates as my thoughts turn towards Raphelm. With all the chaos that has taken over my life, I hadn't been able to mourn for my life-long friend.

I sat down on my bed and noticed how badly my hands were shaking. For the first time since the dragon attack, it truly hit me that my village was destroyed. All of the people I grew up around were more than likely dead. The boys who kissed me. The girls who mocked me. Even the damned dog that bit me. Raphelm and his whole family. They could all be dead.

I felt someone sit next to me and heard Ormvard's voice, "Are you okay, Emi? You need me to grab Jo'Basha?" He must've thought I needed a healer.

"Have you heard about the dragons returning?"

Ormvard's face grew as ashen as mine felt. "They've been plaguing Skyrim since Last Seed. I heard a rumor some had traveled into Cyrodiil."

"It's true," I told him, "All the way to the southern portion."

"Your home?"

I nodded. He patted a strong hang on my leg and handed me a butt of bread and a wedge of goat cheese. He knew no words would heal my wounds so he let me be.

After everyone's appetites were at least partially sated – the men were still grumbling about hunger – we headed into the meeting room. We took our places at a long rectangular table. Urzog sat at one end with Jurgis parallel to him. One of the other Orcs were at Urzog's right and a Khajiit sat to his left. Jurgis had Mal to his right and Frelene to his left. Ormvard had me sit between himself and the other Orc, who smelled horribly.

"How are my troops handling Skyrim?" Urzog began with a deep, guttural voice.

Jurgis leaned forward and placed both elbows on the table. "Not very well, I'm afraid. The Khajiit are still banned from the major cities and the Orcs are not trusted anywhere. The Bretons are doing slightly better, though, finding places among the cities where rumors can find their ears. The few elves you were able to provide have done the best. It appears the Thalmor trust them in their Embassy kitchens."

"And in Cyrodiil?" Urzog turned his attention to Mal.

I wasn't surprised that Mal was a ranking official in the White-Gold Rebellion, but it caught me off guard to find out he was speaking for Cyrodiil's ambassadors.

"They're doing better than in Skyrim. The Orcs, Khajiit, and Bretons have all found work within the cities at Thalmor-frequented establishments. Many of our spies have been placed in Thalmor-friendly Count households and are in the Counts' trusted circles. One of our High Elf spies," Mal gives me a brief glance, "has come to be a ranking official over the Aldmeri Dominion's Imperial City guards, giving him the ability to determine guards hired and which rounds their assigned to."

"That's a huge advantage," the Orc to the left of Urzog nodded.

"But it's not enough," Urzog bellowed, hitting the table with his large fist to emphasize his point. "We need more spies within the Thalmor!" He turns his attention towards me, causing me to freeze and all my blood to run cold, "You! I want you to infiltrate the Thalmor."

"I…I…" I began to stammer, but Jurgis cut me off.

"She has a bigger part to play in this, Urzog. She's Ravenwood Floramers's descendent."

I could feel the change in the room as Urzog and his companions took a long look at me. "Ravenwood was a Wood Elf. You present me with a High Elf and say she is a Floramer?"

Here was more about my great- grandfather. What part did he play in all of this?

"Her mother was a High Elf," Mal interjected.

Urzog kept his eyes on me for an uncomfortable length of time before finally looking back at Jurgis. "Are you taking her to the Council?"

"Yes. They'll decide where she should be placed and what task she should be given," Jurgis answered him.

Urzog gave a grunt, "Very well then."

"Getting back onto topic," Frelene said, splaying her hands out onto the wooden table, "How do you expect us to find more High Elves who are against the Thalmor and are willing to become spies against them, and then somehow get the Thalmor to trust these elves enough to allow them into their ranks?"

"It must happen!" Urzog shouted.

"But how?!" Frelene demanded.

"The Council will decide, Urzog," Jurgis interrupted them, "It isn't our place to do the impossible. We only have control over our own soldiers and spies, and we only have a limited amount of each. The Council holds the majority of High Elves in the Rebellion ranks."

There it was again: The Council. I can only assume they are the leaders of the White-Gold Rebellion.

"So, what is it you seek, Wind-Shifter? Why do you even bother coming to Elsweyr if you're not going to listen to my ideas of strategy?" Urzog asked.

Mal was the one to speak up, "We need higher ranking officers. Only a handful, and only those who have mastered their skills. We have plenty of thugs and cast-offs willing to fall on their blade for us, but we need more leaders for the scores of soldiers we have hidden away."

"I see," Urzog grunted. "I can give you Lugrub," he gestured to the Orc next to me, who nodded with a grunt, "but no more. You've run my arms dry with your constant begging. Soon I'll have no one else to guard the city from those Thalmor-scum – not that they dare near us."

"Thank you, Urzog, I'll leave Verick with you to cover him. Your help is appreciated," Jurgis said with a solemn bow of his head.

"Lugrub will join you when you leave the city in the morning. I don't expect you back in my city until you have good news." Without a word farewell, Urzog and his group stood from the table and went down the stairs.

Everyone appeared to let out their breath when the last of the Urzog's men left the room. My questions kept piling up, every day there was at least one new one.

I looked Jurgis in the eyes and asked, "Who are the Council?"

The confusion in his face was unmistakable. "You don't know?"

"No, I don't. I understand that they must be the main leaders of the Rebellion. That much is obvious. However, who are they?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Frelene leaned forward to see my face more clearly.

"No! I don't and I would like to! Can someone please answer my question?!"

They all looked at one another, which only further aggravated me. Finally, Jurgis looked back at me and asked, "Emerald, what do you know of your Floramer ancestors?"

"I know that my great-grandfather was an adventurer…and my father was a soldier…and that's about it…"

Again, they looked at each other. Jurgis ran a large hand over his face before saying, "I promise, lass, we'll talk about this. For now, however, it is time for a meal. It's been a long day of discussions and what you're asking for is an even longer one. I assure you that you'll receive the answers to your questions."

I was sick of hearing that. 'You'll receive the answers to your questions'. I want the answers now! I stood up from the table and went into the room full of beds and sat down on the one I claimed as mine. I considered going behind the burlap curtain to get more privacy, but was afraid that it would come across childish. As I sat there, I heard several sets of footsteps go down the stairs and I guessed that everyone had went down into the tavern to eat.

I burrowed my face into my hands and tried to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. I was so angry and frustrated and…numb. Most emotions felt out of reach for me. I wanted to deal with all that was plaguing me so I would be able to move past it. I wanted it all out of my head, yet it kept evading me.

After some time passed, I heard a single set of footsteps come onto the third floor. I didn't look up as the person entered the room. I was embarrassed by the way I acted and didn't want to show my face. My body bounced as the person plopped down onto my bed. I felt strong arms reach around me and pull me to them.

"It'll be okay, I promise," Mal's voice was muffled into my hair. I could feel his cold metal armor through my leather ones.

He put a strong hand against the side of my face and pulled me to him. That's when the tears came.