Chapter 15

"Where were you?" Lilaena demanded with dramatic anger, grabbing both of his arms and shaking him. "You scared me, Ri! How could you do this?"

"I found them fighting on the roof of the Cornerclub," the guard spoke up.

"What?" Lilaena gasped, her gaze finding Nilsie, who looked genuinely afraid.

"We were having a laugh, Mum," Rioghnan explained.

Lilaena looked horrified. "What were you doing up there?" She kept glancing at Nilsie. "Who… who made you do this?"

A sarcastically incredulous chuckle escaped him. "Nobody made me. I did it …because I wanted to."

Nilsie's eyes darted to her partner in crime with an expression of surprise.

"Ri… I was so scared. How could you do this to me?" Lilaena continued, sniffing.

Rioghnan took a deep breath, thoroughly mortified by his mother's behavior. "Come on… let's go home. We can talk about this at home." He turned to Nilsie. "I'll see you later."

"Er – yes, alright," Nilsie stammered, nodding her head. She smiled coyly.

"Miss Travyn, you should go home as well," the guard warned Nilsie. Clearly this was not their first encounter. "Your father's shift starts in less than an hour. He'll not be pleased to find you here again."

Nilsie gave him a dismissive smirk. "He doesn't care." But she still turned on her heels and strode off, looking back at Rioghnan repeatedly until she had to round a corner out of sight.

Rioghnan waited until she was gone to walk away. He stayed a few paces in front of his mother the whole way home.

As soon as they were inside the flat, Lilaena began sobbing again.

Rioghnan swallowed his automatic guilt and regarded her stoically. He was sure he was being manipulated and it made him furious, but it just wasn't in him to raise his voice at her. "Mum, listen…"

"I thought you were dead," Lilaena cried. "I don't understand why you would…"

"Mum. We're not doing this again."

"Why, why would you just leave?"

Rioghnan waited in silence for her to relent.

She carried on for a bit longer before she noticed he wasn't responding. "Ri?" Lilaena stared up at him, suddenly seeming a bit uncertain.

"Are you quite finished?" He inquired. He maintained a calm tone and expression, in spite of the turmoil he felt inside. He just kept clenching his jaw over and over.

"I just want to you to be safe," Lilaena sniffed.

Without a word, Rioghnan turned around and headed for the door, pulling his cloak off the hook as he passed.

"No – Ri – where are you going?"

"Out." He pulled the door open.

"Don't leave. It's the middle of the night, where will you go?"

Rioghnan shrugged and stepped out.

"Wait. Wait! Rioghnan, I'm sorry. Don't go," Lilaena pleaded. He proceeded down the first few steps, and she dashed after him.

"Don't leave… Ri. What do I have to do to get you to stay?"

He paused and looked back at her.

"What do you want me to do?" She repeated.

"I want you to let me grow up. I'm fourteen; not four. I deserve at least a bit of freedom."

Lilaena agreed and begged him to return to the flat for the night. After a bit of negotiating, she begrudgingly granted him permission to roam the town alone – only during daylight hours, of course, and he was to share with her his intended plans for the day. In return, she asked that he assist her in caring for the numerous rental flats she still managed for the Hlaalos. Rioghnan had absolutely no issue with this. However, he refused to believe his mother would actually stand behind her promise until he witnessed it himself.

The following morning, he decided to test the waters a bit and after breakfast, informed her he was planning to do a bit of exploring.

"Oh dear. Where will you go?" Lilaena responded, her face suddenly a mask of desperate concern.

"I'm going across the river to the shops; that's all. Just for a bit. I'll be home by midday." He began to pull on his boots in preparation.

The tension in the air was palpable. Lilaena appeared agitated. Rioghnan was certain she was trying to hurriedly formulate some reason as to why he shouldn't leave. He nearly bolted for the door, hoping to outrun any impending diversion his mother might throw at him.

"Bye, see you in a bit," he called over his shoulder, not intending to stop moving for even a split second.

"Wait-" Lilaena surged forward.

Rioghnan felt his heart drop. Much to his relief, she simply requested a kiss goodbye and his word that he would remain in Balmora and steer clear of any dangerous situations. No visiting the Cornerclub or messing with the stilt strider. No jumping into the Odai River – it was teeming with deadly slaughterfish. No talking to strange men or mer as they could be Camonna Tong or necromancers looking for their next test subject. He agreed with whatever she asked, and with that, he was off. This town is mine, he thought, elated at the prospect. He had to stop himself from literally skipping down the flagstone path away from his home.

He had no idea where he should go now that he was on his own, so he did as he had told his mum and went across the river to browse some of the local vendors' wares. It was not as if he had any money to spend, but the activity itself was entertaining because it made him feel as though he was doing something productive. He imagined which pieces of armor he might select; which skillfully carved staff or shining blade he could wield when the time came for him to go adventuring on his own – something he fully intended to do one day. It seemed an eventuality that lurked quite far ahead into his future however, which gave it a romantic quality as he daydreamed of it. He might become a brave warrior, or a skilled mage, or maybe a merchant seaman or traveling alchemist. One day, he would find adventure and glory in some far-flung corner of Vvardenfell, or maybe even a distant province of Tamriel. Certainly he had no intention of living out his life safely and pointlessly within the city walls of Balmora.

Rioghnan stopped to observe a group of robed mages' apprentices practicing their craft outside the local guild, working his way to the front of the gathering spectators. They seemed to be performing some sort of theatrical display on this particular morning. He sighed inadvertently at his mother's voice playing in the back of his mind, admonishing him of the evils of the magical arts. He found it all quite intriguing. He had secretly tried many times to conjure a small flame or burst of electricity between his fingertips and had actually succeeded once or twice, only to be scolded and shamed by Lilaena for even attempting such things.

He realized he'd been gaping at the mages' apprentices for an inordinately long time. Slightly embarrassed, he looked away from the light blue gaze of a richly costumed older Altmer mage who studied him from behind the apprentices. At the old mer's right hand stood a fair-skinned high elf girl, perhaps a few years older than Rioghnan. She appeared rather unimpressed at the present goings-on. Her hair was long and straight and glinted like flame in the midmorning sun. Rioghnan tore his eyes away from her slinky form and slipped back into the crowd of spectators the moment he saw her head shift slightly, lest she take notice of his interest. He knew he'd never seen either of the two before, and the latter was quite intriguing to him.

He was attempting to covertly observe the Altmer girl from between two bulky, armored town guards when he was startled by a sudden slap on his backside. He nearly let out a shriek as he spun around to see Nilsie grinning up at him. "What're you doing here, ya s'wit? Escaped from your mum again?" She teased.

"Gods, you nearly scared the piss out of me," Rioghnan replied, feeling mixed emotions at her appearance.

"Good, I meant to," Nilsie retorted. "I wish you'd actually pissed though. I would've literally died laughing."

"You'd still peg it if I pissed now? Cos I'm fairly certain I could conjure some up for that."

"Ha, ha, fuck off. I'll piss on your foot, aye. Arsehole." Nilsie glanced downward before taking a cheerful tone as if she hadn't just issued both an insult and an idle threat. "So, what shall we do today?"