The storm settles
The cell had become Kari's home in the few months she had been in there. It was nearly always dark, the only light coming through the window far up the wall in the cell. There also was no good way to stay warm because of the prison rags, other than clinging the bed blankets. The only food she got was a tasteless gruel that tasted worse than the 'mudcrab' surprise from the refugee camp (The surprise being it was only the mudcrab shells). They never let her out of the cell incase she got her bracers off and the only contact she got with the outside world was the occasional talk with the guard. The only other time she talked was when she gave her evening prayers to the Daedra and occasionally to Julianos, god of Magic. She didn't think about much during the day, she just hugged into her mattress and cried every time she thought of her mother, which didn't take much. The sight of her blood soaked cloak, her struggling for breath and the hollowness in her eyes when her soul slipped from her body haunted her dreams every night and no matter how much she screamed, no one came to comfort her. She was all alone and damned to live the rest of her life in this prison cell.
Over a thousand miles away, in the tropical Summerset Isles, an experienced middle-aged Altmer glanced up from the desk he was working at. He took in a breath of the blossom soaked air and glanced out of the window over the rolling green meadows. He hated travelling from this place. But She had commanded him too, so he didn't really have much of a choice in the matter. He pulled on his black robes, the ones with the gold embroidered edges and put on his face mask over his golden skinned features. He pulled his hood up over his light brown hair and moved from the window, going over to the small stone altar that rested on the ground. It was a simple circle with a few Daedric runes engraved in it, designed to be linked with others of the same type. He stood onto it and closed his eyes. There was a soft thump and he felt the air around his become colder. He opened his eyes and saw grey stone looking back at him. He looked around and saw the familiar back street of Solitude's market. He stepped off the stone circle and concealed it with a simple spell, enough to ward off the simpletons.
"Someone here to see you Kari", came the gruff voice of the prison guard that Kari never bothered to learn the name of. She looked up from her knees as a tall man in a dark robe, wearing a face mask that simply obscured his face with a blank sheet of metal, he spoke in a voice Kari instantly disliked.
"You will be coming with me, young one". The voice was monotonous, but carried with it the tone of someone who believed themselves above most men. Or mer in this case. Kari narrowed her eyes at the man and slowly shuffled further back on the bed. Her voice was hoarse from days of disuse and it did little to hide her distrust for the man or conceal the lie she told.
"I am quite happy here". The Tall Man laughed and stepped into the cell, Kari could smell some kind of planty smell on him. She smirked at the thought of this intimidating man wearing perfume.
"You could've fooled me Karinia Ashamane. You have made some... Interesting allies. Well... More like observers. Allow me to introduce myself". The Tall Man removed his mask, revealing the face of an Altmer male with piercing and judging blue eyes. And Kari could've sworn she saw black spots in the whites of his eyes. But she was more concerned about how this man knew her name. "Huntrek Redmane".
"H-How do y-". She was cut off by the man's disarming smile. A subtle movement, but powerful none the less.
"I know enough about you Karinia to know that you would prefer anywhere but here. I am offering you a simple choice. Come with me and be free. Or stay here and rot". The young Dunmer didn't take long to slowly nod. She got off the bed with caution and rubbed her arm.
"The food here was crap anyway. How are you getting me out?".
Huntrek put his mask back on and clicked his fingers. Kari's rags shimmered and changed into a more common looking set of clothes. Huntrek nodded approvingly. "Stay quiet and let me do the talking". Kari nodded and followed the posh Altmer, looking at the ground.
After some silver-tongued talking from the black-robed Altmer, Kari found herself standing on a weird looking stone circle in a backstreet that looked very familiar. She looked up at the sky and saw the grey clouds drift lazily overhead. Huntrek stepped onto the stone circle after muttering a few words. He closed his eyes and recommended she did the same. Before she could ask why, she was almost blinded by a flash of white light. She let out a shout of pain before being restrained by Huntrek to stop her knocking over his various relics. He had the idea that this was going to be a long month.
"What d'ya mean I look different? I look exactly t'same!". Sheogorath was still saying that his mild appearance 'hiccup' was because of his recent Greymarch, something to do with order invading the land, going different to usual. Malacath clenched his fist around his hammer after the Mad God mentioned the 'fish-stick' again. The others were meant to be here, but the god of Righteous Vengeance was stuck with this bafoon. Above the two squabbling Daedra, the engraved dome of stars twinkled to one another in conversation, concerned in their own affairs. The god of Magic, Julianos, was lost in his own thoughts, his stars looking down on the world. It was his night to watch over the mortal realm again and he found himself watching the little girl that had prayed so dearly to his moon a few months ago. He was worried for her, but he had given up on the Mer folk a long time ago.