Chapter 11: So Sudden!

Nightshade walked along in intense silence, her sword to her side in its hilt and her brown leather armor made no noise. Ice seemed awkwardly silent as well, while Crow was just plainly confused, but he wasn't going to be the one to break their silence. They hadn't spoken all morning, except for simple questions like, "What's for breakfast? Are we going now? Ready?"

Ice looked up to see the tall tower of the Palace in the near distance. He pointed and made a futile attempt for conversation. "Look, we're almost there." Crow looked at him, but Nightshade didn't stop walking.

Her eyebrows were knitted together in thought. D.L.? She knew no one by those initials, but that was barely the tip of the iceberg. Who wanted her dead besides the Mythic Dawn? They were assassins, why couldn't they do it? No, this was someone else, someone that truly hated her. But who? And why? She knew no one she had ever upset personally. And what about that anger she flew into? She had never acted like that before. Why did she get so angry at a cut in Crow's side? Why was she so angry at Ice for not letting her attack D.L.? She probably would've done the same thing if it were him, so why was there anger?

Her thought process was interrupted when Ice said, "Uh, I think we shouldn't go into the city."

Damn, she had forgotten about the city. She didn't feel ready to enter her prison again, so she nodded. "Let's go around, then."

They hiked for about an hour. Nightshade decided it was best not to think about it for a while and started to talk to Crow, who merely nodded. He seemed even quieter, which was odd.

"Hey, look!" Ice was pointing at a bridge above them. "If we can climb up this cliff we can reach the Arcane University."

Nightshade noticed how they were at sea level, while the city, including the Arcane University, was all elevated and above them. She frowned, not feeling up to rock climbing, but it was better than going through the city.

They climbed for several minutes before Ice, being the first to climb, reached his hand upward and heaved him up onto the final ledge. The other two behind him, he looked down and waited. Nightshade grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. "I can do it myself."

"Well, then, why didn't you?"

She glared at him and looked out across the bridge where the city gate was leading to the Arboretum. If she had turned all the way behind, she would've seen the large gate that led to the Arcane University that was just right there, but she stopped midway when she saw the person sitting on a self-made stone bench of rocks. She looked up from her book and smiled.

"Elyon, you're alright!" She ran to her to hug her in the affectionate way friends do. Ice was contemplating on doing the same, but instead he waved and said, "Hi!" Richu, whom had been lying on the ground barked in recognition.

Elyon laughed. "Well, well, took you long enough. Where'd you go, The Black Marsh?"

"We had to get a recommendation so Ice could go in. We didn't know you'd be here. We even made a new friend—Elyon, this is—"

The Wood Elf was already staring at the Dark Elf, whom was taller than her, with a shocked expression. She ran at him, and for a moment Nightshade thought she was going to attack him, but instead she embraced him so hard he made an "Oomph" sound.

"Hi…Elyon…" he wheezed between breaths. Ice stared, bewildered.

"By the Nine I thought I'd never see you again! How are things? Why are you in Cyrodiil? How come you never visited? What happened—"

"You two know each other?" Ice stupidly interrupted Elyon's babbling.

"Yeah! You didn't tell him about me?"

"Well," Nightshade scratched the back of her head nervously, "I thought you might want to remain inconspicuous…"

"Might I ask how you know each other?" Ice couldn't quite grasp the concept.

"We were in Solsthiem together. I remember he was really rude, but he was my friend's partner in the East Empire Company. We haven't seen each other in years!"

Crow seemed paralyzed in place, but sort of loosened up after a while. Why was Elyon talking so nicely about this ex-necromancer?

"I see you've been in Cyrodiil for a while," Crow interjected. "What have you been doing?"

"I came here a few months ago to be a traveling merchant, but now I'm helping to save the world. You?"

"Went back to Morrowind for a while, and then came here about a year ago."

Ice's face went from astonished to annoyed, which for some reason got rid of Nightshade's dislike for him. "Uh, yeah, I like nice little reunions as much as the next guy, but we have to get those books for Martin, people!"

"Right" Elyon turned to Crow. "Only Ice and I will be able to enter the University itself. What will you two do?"

"I need to get ready to head back to Bruma and get some food and stuff," Crow looked at Nightshade questionably, almost worriedly. "I'll just wait here."

"Ok, but don't blame us if we take too long," Ice grinned devilishly.

By the Nine, she hated it when Ice was right.

She had been sitting on that wooden bench for about half an hour already and she was bored stiff.

They had entered the lobby and talked to the rather mean lobbyist, a sour-looking Wood Elf that leered at them from behind her odd-looking instrument she called, "Glasses" (Nightshade had asked rather ignorantly and made a bad first-impression). Then she was left alone.

The lobby was made of wood and was circular. There was a small, round platform with a large rune and glowed purple. To the right of it were three doors, all in a circular row, and to the right of those was the desk with the sour bosmer and to the right of that was the way in. In the center of it all were two wooden benches where Nightshade sat, feeling lonely and deserted. However, it gave her more time to think.

Solsthiem. Elyon had described the creatures there when she first met her, but never really told her much about it. So she decided to try one last time to be friendly to the bosmer lobbyist.

"Do you know where Solsthiem is?"

"Let me guess: you're going to tell me," she didn't look up from her book.

Confused, she said, "No, that's why I asked."

She sighed and looked down at her from her desk. "Solsthiem is a snowy province north of Vvardenfell but it's considered part of Morrowind. It's famous for housing Skyrim Nords since the second era. It's also the mother of the Canis Lupus disease. Any other questions?"

"No, thank you," the annoyed tone told Nightshade not to bother her anymore. The Wood Elf turned back to her book.

Now officially bored, the adolescent lied down on the bench, knees bent, and stared at the ceiling, her red hair falling back and touching the ground slightly. Her armor made it a little uncomfortable, but she endured it.

It was so sudden Nightshade almost fell off the bench. The middle door had swung open very loudly and violently to show a very angry, female Dark Elf. She had dark gray hair and blue skin that was barely daunted with wrinkles. Her robes were shiny turquoise with purple trimming and gold design. She wore thick, red gloves and her matching eyes were on fire. But the one thing that truly surprised Nightshade was the fact she held the Exploding Stone under arm.

"Who the hell sent me this?" she stomped up to the slightly surprised bosmer, who pushed her glasses further up her nose and looked at. "No idea, ma'am."

"No idea? Shall I read you the note?" Before she could reply, the dunmer pulled out of her robe a small, crumbled-up piece of paper. "'Dear L, I want you to examine this for me. It's from Oblivion. Handle with care. Please send it to the Arcane University. E.' Who in Azura's name is E.? I know too many people with the initial E.!"

E…. Elyon. But Nightshade was amused by this.

"Please, ma'am, I know nothing of this," the lobbyist was very calm despite the fact an angry lady was yelling in her face.

"Fine, I'll go up to Arch-Mage Traven and ask him!" It was at this point Nightshade intervened. "Excuse me, I know—"

She didn't finish her sentence, for the Dark Elf had fainted.

Muttering incantations, the lobbyist Wood Elf had revived the fainted Dark Elf that was now lying on the bench Nightshade had been sitting on. Nightshade noticed that the newcomer looked about forty or so, coming into middle-age. She murmured something inaudible and squinted up at them.

"Feeling better now?" The bosmer inquired. "Now, I know nothing about that stone or anyone with the initial E. Good day." She walked out of the door to the far left and disappeared.

"Are you ok?" Nightshade helped her up. She nodded and looked depressed. Nightshade decided to ask, "Why did you faint?"

"Oh, I thought you were someone else. Clearly, you aren't." She looked at her. "I'm Elyza Black, but I'm better known as Lyze."

"I'm Nightshade. That's an odd name for a Dark Elf."

She laughed. "No stranger than yours. It's Imperial, that's why I changed it. Lyze sounds better, no?"

She had the ever-so-slightest trace of an accent that Nightshade could barely pick up. "I know who sent you that."

"You do?" Lyze suddenly looked happy.

"Yeah. Elyon did."

"Elyon!"

"Yeah. She knows a lot of people."

"Elyon. God, I haven't seen her in years. How is she?"

"Fine. She just recovered from a serious burn."

She suddenly scowled. "Ah, that's why I was angry. Do you have any idea what this stone can do?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I was there."

"You were? God, how did you survive?"

Confused, she tilted her head. "What happened?"

She suddenly exploded: "I received this stone via teleportation (all Mages Guild Halls are linked together) and told my apprentice to open it, but he burned himself so I took it, saying it wasn't that hot, but his fingers were red, so I healed them for him, and then I read the note and knew what to do. So at about eight o'clock I go to a tavern to ask someone I know about it and stayed there for a few hours, and then at about two in the morning there was a loud boom and the whole city shook, so I went outside to see the Mages Guild in ruins. Luckily, no one died," she added.

"Really?" Two o'clock. That sounded like the time when she attacked D.L.

"Yeah, so I came stomping here after I was done there. Mind now, that there's an hour time difference from Morrowind and Cyrodiil."

There was a pause. "So, what did you find out?" Nightshade asked.

"Perhaps I should just tell Elyon that," It was clear Lyze didn't fully trust her.

"What do you do?"

"Pardon?"

"What's your profession in the guild?"

Lyze grinned. "I'm an Alchemist. I taught Elyon all she needs to know about making potions. That girl is a healing genius. What do you do?"

"Nothing, really," If Lyze wasn't going to trust her, she couldn't trust Lyze.

"How do you know Elyon?"

"We met a few days ago while we were going to Chorrol. She helped us."

"What are you doing here?"

"Elyon and Ice are in the library. I'm not allowed in, not being part of the guild and all."

There was silence after that. Lyze looked at her. "Bored, eh? Here," she pulled out a small brown book that was burned off in the corners. "That was the best book they could salvage. I want you to have it."

"Thanks," Nightshade took it cautiously and opened it. Destruction Spells for Beginners it said.

"Well, I'm needed back in Balmora. Here are the notes I took on the Sigil Stone. Good-bye, Nightshade. Oh, have you no last name?"

"No."

"How peculiar," Lyze said, and went back out of the middle door, Sigil Stone in her hands.

Nightshade, now completely alone, felt compelled to read the notes. She opened them—

The Oblivion Stone—properly called the Sigil Stone. Made of matter and magic from the mortal and immortal realms. Used to keep the immortal realm of Oblivion in the mortal realm. Is used as a sort of anchor and defeats the magical barriers that keep Oblivion away. Warm to the touch—makes one feel faint or burn. Possible energy absorption. Explodes unexpectedly.

Energy absorption? How odd. She read it again and suddenly grew curious about how she found all these answers. However, a beaming Ice and an amused Elyon came back. Ice had a new staff which caused Telekinesis ("Is that cool or what?"). Elyon had the books, both titled, "Commentaries on the Mysterium Xarxes."

"Lyze came by to drop off the notes for you," Nightshade handed them over to Elyon.

"Really? Wow, I can't believe I missed her," she smiled sadly. "Did you tell her anything?"

"Not really."

"Did she tell you anything?"

"Just that it exploded again and burnt down the Balmora Mage's Guild."

"Oh," she opened to door and almost ran into another Dark Elf, whom Nightshade didn't recognize.

"Are you—" she looked at an envelope—"Nightshade?"

"Yeah…" she looked cautious.

"Well, this is for you," she handed over the envelope. "It's from a friend."

She opened it with the other two looking over her shoulders and reading the context.

Ice suddenly gave a gasp. "By the Nine, you've been invited to the Thieves Guild. Lucky!"