Worms and Love Cause Blindness

After warding her way through the various, and seemingly light, creatures, Kaisa stopped at the entrance of what appeared to be the Worm's throne room. Within the room, two women danced provocatively, catching Kaisa's undivided attention for a slight moment.

Their porcelain skin had seemed to yellow from being indoors away from the sunlight. Their faces, on both women, were captured in exquisite youthfulness. Broad shimmering smiles crossed them from cheek to cheek.

She stepped lightly into the room, checking around her and up above her. From the Princess's warnings, she did not need yet another surprise that would take her off guard. Noting that the coast was clear, she also noted that the room was full of coffins.

Kaisa sheathed her sword and approached the man levitating next to the throne chair.

"Why do you disturb me?" the voice from behind the cloak echoed.

Kaisa studied the character in front of her. His face was completely covered with a pair of beaded lights for eyes peering at her from underneath the darkness. He seemed annoyed at her presence. Swallowing her pride, she pulled out her best imitation of a courier, and nothing more.

"Princess Morgiah of Wayrest has asked me to deliver this letter to you."

"Very good! If you are not rewarded with death by the loyal servants of the barrow, give this note to Princess Morgiah, please," Mannimarco replied. "I am Mannimarco, King of Worms, and I respect that you have come here unopposed as well as not needing death. I cannot promise my servants will do nothing more to you as they are rewarded by death from the living. I encourage you to take my response to her as quickly as you can, and should you be rewarded with death, well, I will just have to find someone stronger to be my delivery boy."

Kaisa's eyebrow cocked. Her temper flared within her nostrils, but she unwillingly restrained herself. "Yes, my Lord. I should find it rather rewarding to deliver this note for you."

Before giving him time to finish, she closed her mind, shouted, "Recall!" and was instantly transported back to the doors of the crypt.

Back in the throne room, Mannimarco stared at the place where Kaisa had just stood. "I may have use for her after all."

Kaisa stood there at the entry way, breathing deeply. Grateful the spell had worked, she opened the door to crypt and hurriedly left the not-so-abandoned tomb.

Outside, Sky waited for her impatiently. He huffed at her as she walked up, patting his neck and rubbing his nose.

"I told you I wouldn't be gone long, Sky. Don't be so impatient."

Sky shook his mane and whinnied.

"Awe, were you worried for me? So sweet. Come on, let's get back to Wayrest. I swear I will get you a new bucket of oats tonight."

She mounted Sky and off they went. The trip back to Wayrest had been just as uneventful as the trip there, disappointing Kaisa slightly. Stopping at the stables, she paid the horseman to care for Sky while she was back attending the castle, and dropped a few extra Septims for oats and carrots.

As she pulled the heavy door open once again, she saw the demonic child inside the foyer. His eyes flared at the sight of her, turning into flames as the deep growl can from his inner being. Slightly startled, she avoided contact with him by walking around in a deliberate elongated route to get back to the Princess.

"That's it, stay over there, creepy little shit," she muttered to herself.

Climbing the stairs back to Princess Morgiah was becoming more of a chore to Kaisa than anything, although she had only done it once before. A gleaming smile came upon the princess's face as she saw Kaisa mount the last couple of stairs.

"It's done then!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, My Lady, the King of Worms has agreed to your proposition."

"It's done! I'll be queen of First Hold! Although I'm sure the engagement will be quite lengthy. Now I promised you information about the Emperor's letter. Follow me where we can speak a little more, privately."

The Princess turned on her heel and left the throne area quickly. Kaisa sped up her pace to keep up with the fast-moving elf, and found that they ended up in the side wall kitchen area.

"Please, sit down," the Princess said as she took a stool for herself, "The letter you seek is in the hands of Gortworq, the Lord of the Orcs. He bought it from one of the members of the Thieves Guild when one of their members stole it from Queen Aubk-I. I confess I don't know why the emperor sent it to Aubk-I. The girl is innocent to a fault and everyone knows that Gothrad is not the loyal vassal to the emperor today that Lysandus was. Of course, my own family, well, enough of this boring court gossip. If you really want to find this letter, you need to get in good with Mynisera, the former queen and Queen mother to Gothrad. Now, I wouldn't directly approach her. Start with someone of lower station. There is a certain maid, Cyndassa, who may prove useful. Now, I think I should be going, as I have kept you and the court waiting long enough. Thank you, mercenary. I'm sure our oaths will cross again."

With that, the Princess rose quickly. She left the kitchen area faster than she had come, leaving Kaisa to her own will.

Kaisa stood, half expecting to grab a bite to eat at the inn and perhaps another night of sleep before carrying forward. As she stood, she heard a crumpling of paper in her armor. Reaching where there would have been pockets on trousers, she found a note had been slipped in the crevices of her backside.

"Really, in my ass? That's how you inform me?"

Pulling the note out, she slowly uncrumpled it and read the information.

Dear Kaisa Alierius,

Greetings and Salutations. My sister Aubk-I speaks highly of you. I hope your trip was uneventful. They say that you are keenly interested in the haunting of Daggerfall. My father and King Lysandus were somewhat close. Should you come visit me, I might be able to shed some light upon recent events involving Lysandus.

Prince Lhotun

Castle Sentinel

Upon leaving the castle, Kaiser steered completely clear of the small creepy child. As she was leaving, she noticed that he didn't growl back at her. Glancing over her shoulder at him he smiled back, the flames gone from his eyes. he held his wooden sword in his hand and grazed the blade with the other.

"Wayrest is such a beautiful city. I truly wish I could stay."

Kaisa retrieved Sky from the stables. sky was not amused, and wanted to continue delving on the carrots and oats that he had been given in the stables. She patted his neck and decided not to ride him. As she was leaving Wayrest she found her way to the ferry that would carry her across the water westward to Sentinel.

"It's going to be several hours, m'lady. There's another storm brewin' out on the water today."

"That's fine. Means I can rest while we journey onward." Kaisa dropped the septims in the man's hand and led Sky onto the ferry.

"You sure to be cleanin' up after 'im, yea?"

Kaisa scowled at the little man. "No, you idiot. I'm going to smear your face in it and make you lick it up. What the hell do you think?"

The little man was not amused by her sarcasm. "Is a 500 Septim clean up fee, so be doin' yer part or I'll be packin' yer purse, yea?"

After a few hours of waiting for launch, Kaisa had settled into a corner that she was sure to be dry and out of the wind of the waves. She had just wrestled herself to close her eyes when the ship jarred and shook her awake.

Kaisa jumped up, looking about her and tossing her blanket to the side. "What was that?"

The feryman laughed. "Just a whale. Must've bumped us in passing."

Kaisa sat back down and sighed deeply. She really needed some rest, and aside from not wanting to be on yet another boat, she really just wanted to be left alone for a few hours.

After nearly a day of sailing, the boat finally came to shore just north of Sentinel. Kaisa worked her way around the boat, cleaning up after Sky and making sure the little man didn't over charge her for nonsense that she didn't have time for.

The sun had set on the desert town. Kaisa made her way to the inn, stopping long enough to pack Sky into a very quiet stable house.

Kaisa entered the inn quietly. Her footsteps were light as she approached the keep's bar counter.

"What can I get ya?" asked the turned head from behind the counter.

That voice... I know that voice.

Kaisa's eyes widened slightly as the beautiful face that turned to great her was one she knew well.

"Um, just a room and a table please."

The woman stood motionless for a moment, the plate she was scrubbing forgotten. As soon as their eyes met, Kaisa struggled to maintain her composure. The innkeeper likewise was struggling as well. After a moment she smiled warmly at Kaisa and pulled a key from her apron.

"Sure thing, it's yours for a day. Take a table anywhere. Not like we're busy right now," the innkeeper said as she slid a key over to Kaisa.

"Thanks."

"Yep."

Kaisa turned away and walked to the furthermost corner of the inn to take a table. It was dimly lit and far away from the front door. As she sat, a wench came striding over as if she were skating on ice.

"What can I get you?" her voice was sweet, almost like sugary syrup.

"Bottle of ale, bowl of stew?"

A light giggle came from the girl. "Oh course, be right back."

Within moments, Kaisa could smell the stew approaching. The bowl was placed in front of her, with a soft cooing voice behind, "Can I get you something specific? Maybe a warmed bed with a spyglass hidden in there?"

Kaisa smiled big for the first time in a long while. She looked up into a set of deep dark eyes softly taking her in. Kaisa returned the look of longing, drinking the woman down in her mind.

"It's good to see you," Kaisa finally muttered.

"Likewise. It's been too long since the border."

"I understand the pistols are black and gold."

"The hilt is well balanced while smiting as well," the woman replied with a wink.

"Please, sit down. I'm afraid you have the advantage, misses...?"

"Sariah. They call me Sariah. And you?"

"Leisha."

"A pleasure. What are you doing in Sentinel?"

"Vacation. I asked the agent for a beach, and that's exactly what I got, without water," Kaisa said, waving her hand around in a gesture to show the land.

Sariah giggled. "You always were the kidder type."

"Well, when in Cyrodill..."

"Agreed. No really. What are you doing in Sentinel?"

"I could ask you the same. Last I saw you, you were playing nicey nice with a captain's lap to get information from him." Kaisa frowned.

"Ha, that was a long time ago, wasn't it. We were the best. Not to mention you and a certain pirate."

"Are the best," Kaisa corrected her, "And the pirate wasn't my fault. I've already explained that."

Sariah laughingly cut her eyes at her. "An entire fleet though?"

"Go big or go home."

Sariah laughed hard. "Overachiever."

Kaisa laughed out loud this time, almost choking on her stew. She wiped her mouth with her napkin and picked up the bowl to slurp down the rest of the soup.

"Anyway, will you be in town long? We have so much to catch up on."

"I don't know. I have some things to handle while I am here. Maybe just tonight, maybe another. I haven't decided and won't until some other things have been addressed."

Sariah stood, taking the bowl away. "Well, you know where I am." With a wink and a turn on her toes, she bounced away.

A deep sigh came from Kaisa. Now that is one memory I will never forget.

After a deep sleep, Kaisa awoke and bounded off to the castle. Castle Sentinel Stood high among the desert sand, causing a glare in places there wasn't a shadow covering it.

Kaisa carried on. Definitely, a beach without water. No oasis here though.

As she was working out her thoughts, she heard a low growl from behind her. The demonic sound pulled her from her thoughts quickly and Kaisa drew her sword.

"That better not be you, creepy little shit child!"

Spinning around, she dodged just as a zombie hurdled itself at her.

"What in the Arkay?!" Kaisa exclaimed. With a quick jab and stab, the zombie lay there, dead, again.

Heavy breathing escaped Kaisa. "What the hell was that? A zombie? In the desert?"

She saw something gleam against its chest. As she approached, she kicked at it to make sure it wasn't coming back to life, again. Gleaming in the morning sunlight was the head of a nail that had been pounded into the zombie's chest. Attached to the nail was a note, with Kaisa Alierius written on it.

"Oh, gross! What? Why? Why can't these people use a normal fucking courier like everyone else!"