Wow so many replies... No update today but I thought so many replies deserved a response.

Haute - Thanks, I think you've hit the concept/ themes I was going for quite directly.

mALX - Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you like the prose, it's nice to know the editing pays off.

Destri - I'm glad you like the character, I think it's fair to say this was character driven rather than anythign else. As far as spellchecking goes I'm afraid it's unlikely to happen, by the time it's posted I'll have read through each piece five or more times but I simply don't see some spelling errors. No idea why, but it's not for want of trying. For uni I have to have friends read over my stuff because there's always a few. However I'll try to keep a special look out for through/though and wander/wonder seeing as these seem to be the worst culprits.

SubRosa - Yes you were right then, when planning it I did have the feel and progression of Apocolypse Now floating round the back of my mind, also to an extent the feel of a lot of Eliot's poetry. I wouldn't claim to have a thousandth part of the skill of that but imitation can go a reasonable way to adding something. So yes, well spotted (and thank you it's quite a compliment that you did).

Remko (and SubRosa) - It is mentioned a few times that he's human I think but seeing as I was very much going for reality rather than 'gameiness' in this piece I neglected race. I also think it is in part just the way I think coming through, I have his character in mind but I couldn't say what he looks like - indeed I just went back and read the original notes for Yesterday's Shadow and any image I can conjour is quite different now that the original. Still thanks for pointing it out as at least in part it's written for the readers so I'll try to include something if the place appears, however being first person it's difficult. The other thiing is that by now people will (I hope) have formed some impression of who he is and my imagining might not mesh well with others' (this always annoys me in books).

Thanks for the comments all, I'll post more soon (uni just finished so I'll have more free time though don't know when I'll next be online).

Funny, I always pictured Firen Varian as an Imperial. A former member of the Imperial Legion who is perhaps a relative of Imperial Cult Oracle Lalatia Varian.

27. Bitter Dreams

The slaughter finished I plodded outside and left my comrades to themselves. Weariness smothered me like a heavy cloak. My muscles ached as my mind tied knots. I wandered the dark, corpse littered ground, slaves and their masters lying equal in death. The sack was over and the newly freed looked about with suspicion, and fear. I wondered at this but of course it was not freedom that scared them, it was choice. It was not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but knowing that their actions would decide it. I wandered how many would have truly free choices. Would we, as their rescuers, help them? Perhaps, though I hoped not. Then they would run, forced by fear of capture, always taking the best of a series of desperate choices, spiralling downward, ever nearer the darkness at the bottom but always finding more. There would be precious little choice for most.

They sat in hushed groups, or warmed themselves on the embers of houses. I sat in the shadows by one group and listened. They spoke in argonian but I understood enough. They were saying what they would do now. One, an old woman, wanted to return to the marshes but she didn't know what for. Her family and village had been destroyed. Another hoped to go west, to Cyrodiil, away from the memories. Another, a male this time, vowed vengeance. He would free more, he said, and kill the Dres. I stood and left them with their bitter dreams.

I drifted, for a time, like a moth between the warm lights of conversation but eventually I found a stone to sit on in the shadows. I had a small amount of skooma in my shirt and sat sipping it while I stared at nothing.

Before I found the oblivion I sought an argonian sat next to me. By his looks he was quite young, though there was a lot of scarring near the base of his tail. An enchanted slave bracer glinted on his wrist. For a while we sat in silence then he said, "They say the plan was yours." His cyrodiilic was fairly good.

"Most of it," I replied in argonian.

"How does the plan go now?"

"I don't know. It didn't go this far."

"You won't be able to help all of us. The bracer key isn't kept on the estate," he thumped his arm down on the rock. The metal cuff chinked.

I thought for a time before I spoke, "I doubt we'll help any of you."

He nodded. "Yes... What's you're name?"

"Firen... Firen Varian," I was a long time since I'd used my second name, "Yours?"

"Okun."

"What do you think will happen now?"

He looked surprised that I asked, "To most of them? Recapture. Punishment for escaping, as much to put off future rescue attempts as anything else. Some might manage to disappear, but it would be hard without the key, until they reach Argonia anyway," he paused, "What do you think I should do?"

The question caught me as off-guard as mine had him. I hadn't considered what might happen if we won, only the winning had concerned me. Now I wandered if I'd really done the slaves any favours at all. I sighed, "Be decisive. Decide yourself, don't be pushed by events. Hold your course."

"Some of us were thinking of running to Cyrodiil. Getting away from everything."

"It doesn't work."

He didn't reply. We sat together in silence, each with our own thoughts. After a while he said, "I think I've decided."

I inclined my head.

"I'd like to come with you."

It wasn't what I'd expected, or intended. "There's not much for you down that road."

"I know it will be dangerous, but its the best shot have at not being caught."

"It possible, likely even, that we won't be coming back."

"But you might."

"Even if we do there is nothing good after that choice. If we win, then what? Another mission? Another shot at death. Another shard from your soul. It's a trap you want to avoid."

"I didn't say I wanted to join the Argonian Defence Front, I want to go with you. You don't sound like you're planning on staying with them."

I snorted a dead laugh but when I looked over I knew he meant what he said. The bracer on his wrist glittered malice. What chance did he have of escaping? Really? What pain had I consigned so many of them to, even in trying to help. It furthered my goal. I clung to the stale promise. He saw a way out though, even if I didn't. But why him over the others, we couldn't take them all. "Fine," I said, "I hope you've made the right decision." I proffered a hand. He shook it.

***

A couple of minutes later the rest of the Argonian Defence Front found me. They were all there, though Tehei was fussing over a cut in Hides back.

"We need to get moving," said Grey-tail, "We think a couple of Dres escaped, they will bring warriors and slave hunters."

"What of the slaves?" I asked.

"They're free."

"They won't get far," it needed saying, though by his expression it had already been said.

"No, we should help them," agreed Keel-ha.

Hassde shook his head slowly, "We could, and maybe we should. But to what avail? There is no way we could get them all away, more likely the group would be recaptured as one. Us too. We have made our move, if they scatter at least it will cost the Dres time and money, some will make it."

"It is wrong," said Keel-ha, "We are responsible. If we abandon them now then the Front is ruined. The Twin Lamps already disapprove, this would tip them over to hostility."

"I will not risk being captured again." Hides spoke with such vehemence that she cut through the conversation, "And to help would cost us time. We must strike again while the memory of this night is fresh."

"Exactly," said Grey-tail, "This leaves the Dres in a panic, each will look to defend themselves. They will be divided and afraid, but only briefly. We must seize this moment. When we hit the holding pens we will release tens of times more than here, we will be the new power in the movement and the Twin Lamps will cease to matter. It is for the greater good that sacrifices must be made." Hassde and Kieras nodded their agreement, Grey-tail continued, "We go south, now."

Keel-ha looked unhappy, "I still say this is wrong. But I accept it's for a greater end. Very well."

I said nothing. I could not bring myself to speak against helping them. But even if I could not argue for it I could condone it. To do otherwise would betray my own goal. I allowed their decision to take my guilt. Okun fidgeted beside me. I spoke, "Very well. We go south, but Okun here comes with us."

"No," said Grey-tail, "We cannot help any individual, we will not be slowed."

"He comes with us." I said it quietly and stood.

"I am commander and I say we travel as before. We will not make concessions."

Slowly, deliberately, I walked up to him. He was taller but he flinched slightly anyway. "Commander," I spat, the spittle plopped between his feet, "Do you think for a moment this would have worked without me? It would not have. I have proven my loyalty to the cause in blood, my willingness to risk death, my ruthlessness in dealing with the enemy. Okun comes south with us or you go alone. I have more experience than any of you. So, commander, what will it be? Which will hamper you more? Does he come south, or do you abandon my skills?"

The challenge was set. His face was cauldron of emotion; rage and confusion stirred together. The faces behind were fascinated, waiting for the outcome. At length he answered, "Very well. If you vouch for him he may come, but he is your responsibility."

"Southward then," I said.

Really great detail, even right down to following where the spittle lands - but done with a naturalness and ease that makes it more like a scene than a read - Awesome Write!

Excellent overview of what comes after the sack, what happens to the slaves once they are freed. It is a recurring question that is difficult to address, as we learned after the American Civil War (and are still learning, in some ways). We are wrestling with it in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in many other places around the world. It is not enough to free the slaves and the oppressed. There is wisdom in the saying: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a meal; give him a fishing pole and he will feed himself for a lifetime. I really like how you address this moral question in your story without being preachy - there is no easy answer here.

The confrontation between Firan and the Argonian commander over Okun is very well done - terse, to the point, and quite realistic.

I look for more.

Grey-Tail the other Argonians certainly have passion on their side, but not much else. This chapter really underscores their lack of planning. They never thought about what to do with the slaves once they freed them. Moreover, it shows their real motivations. Helping slaves reach freedom is not what they are interested in. Revenge is. Given that, I would expect that they will not survive for too long. I can see Firen is thinking exactly the same thing. It is just a question of whether he can use them to free Varnan, and how he can disentangle himself from them afterward. If they all died in the effort to do the latter it would certainly work out well for Firen...

Okun is an interesting addition. He seems to be a reasonably bright one. Bright enough to know that he is not likely to make it on his own. Unfortunately he has hitched his wagon to someone (Firen) whom I suspect will get him killed in any case.

About the slave bracelets. I do not really know how they work, but could they not just be broken off with a hammer and chisel, like iron manacles?

nits:
I think you missed something here:
The slaughter finished I plodded outside and left my comrades to themselves.
Maybe that was supposed to be After the slaughter finished...? Or The slaughter finished and I...?

This post has been edited by SubRosa: Mar 29 2010, 04:50 PM

I thought it was a very clever - and logical - chapter. Well done!

That is awesome!! You are so into the personality of the character that you cannot see the outside.
This style of thinking certainly makes your writing very compelling. It drives the anti-hero.
Cool.

Firen’s concern over the fate of the slaves and his willingness to carry Okun (where do I recognize that name from?) carries him further within the province of mainstream hero. A true anti-hero wouldn’t care about the fate of Okun or the rest of the slaves. He would care only about the success of the mission, and the fact that it brings him one step closer to his ultimate goal.

The subtle shifting of Firen’s personality in the days since he decided to help Varnan has been carried off expertly. Okun’s addition should prove interesting. Is the goal so important to Firen that he is willing to sacrifice Okun to attain it?

Okun is a name from "Independance Day", played by "Data" Brent Spiner.

Thanks for all the comments again, they're greatly appriciated.

mALX - thanks, I'm glad you like it

haute - that's what I was going for, I'm glad you didn't find it preachy. I wanted to point out the problem without really suggesting a solution.

SubRosa - thanks for the comments, it's nice to know what people reading this are thinking to see if the effects I was going for were successful. Okun I think was nessesary as much as anything, he didn't actually appear in the original plan but it became clear I needed another character and he appeared. (Reading Yesterday's Shadow might make who Varnan is a little clearer and explain Firen's goal a bit more).
As far as slave bracers go I can only put it down to 'they're magic'. In game they could not be removed without a key and I decided to keep it that way.

Wolf - Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure how much its me being ito the character as opposed to disinterested in appearance though....

Destri and Remko - thanks for the comments, I didn't realise there was an Okun anywhere else, it's a coincidence I would have avoided had I known.

Thanks for all the comments and without further ado:


28. Movements

Any fear I had that I may have lost place in the group was quickly dispelled on speaking with the others. Their awe at what they had just achieved had rubbed onto myself and helping Okun had contributed to their feeling that I belonged in the group, and nearer to the top of command not the bottom, much nearer. Even Grey-tail seemed to harbour little resentment once he realised I had no intentions to usurp him. We travelled a long way southward that night and stopped a way into the day. Shelter was scarce so far into the lands of the Dres and we had to make do with the ruin of a shack which had been engulfed by rising waters. The swampy ground had eaten the timber walls which protested as I clambered onto the roof in an attempt to keep dry. The argonians were less bothered by the damp and simply slept on the ground.

When I woke the sun was a red disk half swallowed by the distant hills in the west. A finger of fire reached over the rice paddies and fens beckoning west. A mile or so distant was a small town, the news would be there now. What were they thinking? Briefly I looked back to the north, I was glad that we had come far enough for nothing to be visible. How many had been recaptured? Were they, even now, burying the bodies. I shuddered remembering the noble family and again wandered at my actions. I could still turn away from it all. But to do so would be to fail, and it would not undo what I had done. I would follow my grail. I looked back to closer things, my six companions, and Okun, still slept from the day before. Did they dream of the horrors of yesterday or did they have greater demons? I thought of the noble's wife again and shuddered. My pack was on the ground, I dropped down and pulled out my pipe. The white smoke pushed some of the troubles from my mind.

I sat and stared at nothing. The sickly sweet taste was a comfort. The drug held me in the present, a cell to hide from both glowering past and conspiring future. After a while I heard Okun rise and approach, he moved differently from the others. I put down my pipe and tried a smile.

"Evening."

He smiled back, "Indeed. So this is what freedom feels like..." He leant on a long handled billhook he'd taken from the plantation.

"A version at least," I said, "Do you know how to use that? Where we're going you'll have to, you'll want armour too."

"Use this?" he looked at the tool, "It's longer than I'm used to, but for hedging I'd say I'm an expert. For killing? Never tried. Not a great idea as a slave."

"Pass it here," I said and took it. It was a quality tool, the heavy steel blade curved to a hooked point and was well balanced by its long handle. "I've heard of people using weapons like this," I said, "Popular among the peasants of High Rock apparently. I guess it's somewhere between a spear and an axe. Not my favourite weapons, especially the spear, but I can show you what I can."

I spent the next hour showing him how to hold the billhook, and more importantly himself. Being a fighter is as much in the mind as in the strength. Not that I hold with all the nonsense about the battle being a mental thing, but a willingness to accept that you'll get hurt and carry on, and knowing when to unleash the aggression makes the difference as much as strength or endurance. Some of these things also seem to be learnt in the plantations for they were there, at least to an extent, in Okun. The sounds of our practising woke the others and as darkness fell we continued south.

I was only a little past midnight when we stopped. The trend in the land had continued and we had spent the latter part of the night slipping along the embankments which marked out the rice paddies which streaked for miles in every direction. A good portion of all saltrice came from the south of Morrowind, now I saw why. I moved towards the front where Keel-ha led as we approached a river.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Places to sleep are hard to find. There used to be a well stocked cave dug into the river near here. I'm looking for it."

"Is there nowhere further south. We could still go a way yet."

Grey-tail spoke from behind, "There is a town nearby. We have a contact there, I want more information on the pens east of Tear and on the effects of last night. This contact will know. If you are willing to forgo some rest I would ask that you accompany me."

"Of course," I said, "But I thought there was no abolitionist bases south of Alt Bosara?"

"No Twin Lamps safe houses, but Nakuma doesn't know all as much as she thinks she does. And this is just a contact. He will help us with materials and information but that is all. And I would ask no more of him."


The cave entrance turned out to be under a weir upstream of a town. Hassde, Keel-ha and Tehei went in to check it and emerged moments later. It was undisturbed. I looked at the swirling waters than at Grey-tail. "When do we go to see this contact of yours?"

He chuckled, "I wouldn't have minded a rest but I suppose now is as good a time as any. Just a moment." He jumped into the waters and disappeared. A short time later he re-emerged with two waxed cotton parcels. Once on land he pulled them open. The first contained two large brown robes and the second some rations.

I took a robe and pulled it on, the hood was deep enough to be suspicious there was also an odd line of loops round the inside. I took a handful of rather old dried fruit, "What are the loops for?" I asked.

He flicked some river water at me with his tail in reply, "Keeps it from showing under. Are you ready?"

I nodded and we set out for the nearby town. The cloud gave us plenty of shadows to keep to. Just outside the town was joined a small track, there were no walls and the few guards who were out at the late hour weren't patrolling. I followed the argonian to a narrow lane behind a tannery. The pits of wet skins and urine choked the street in their noisome pall. Ahead I was surprised to see an Imperial Cult shrine, clearly they had suffered with Empire's withering power here. I was surprised when Grey-tail walked up to the door and knocked. A moment later a bolt shot back, it was too fast. Someone had been waiting.

The door opened a crack and a haggard imperial looked out. "Whose there?" His eyes danced with fear and anger.

"A sodden traveller."

The eyes flared, "Idiot. Get in here now," the door opened a little further to reveal a large crossbow the man held, "And avoid the doormat." I hurried in behind Grey-tail and gingerly stepped over the mat which was largely failing to hide the bear-trap under it. The man slammed the door behind us and turned on Grey-tail who lowered his hood, "What are you thinking fool. Or weren't you? And who's this?"

I pulled my hood back, "My name is Firen. I am with the Argonian Defence Front."

The man swore. "I've heard a bit about you, none of it good. Name's Vacius. I assume it was you lot who pulled off that little stunt at the Edril Plantation?"

"We struck a mighty blow against the oppressors," answered Grey-tail.

Vacius nodded, "And shot a hole in our cause. The Twin Lamps are incandescent. And now you come here."

"We need information-"

The priest cut him off, "I'll give you information fetcher. How many of the slaves there have been recaptured? Go on, guess. Of the sixty or so there over fifty were captured within the day. What did you think was going to happen? Fools. The Dres are furious, and scared," he said the last word with a bit of approval, "Their reaction was harsh, even for them. Probably something to do with rumours I heard about killing the nobles. I don't want to know. You killed twenty retainers, so they beat twenty of the captured slaves to death as an example." He fizzled out.

For a moment silence. I'd expected some punishment for them and doubtless a significant increase on the price on my head, it hadn't even crossed my mind that they might be that inhuman. Grey-tail mirrored surge of hatred I felt. He brought his fist down on the altar, "They will suffer for this. Before all the gods I make a vow now! This crime will be avenged ten-fold - by my own hand I shall execute two hundred Dres scum." He stopped breathing heavily for a few moments, "They shall be avenged, it was a necessary sacrifice for a greater good. Now I need information. We're headed for the pens east of Tear. How many slaves? How many guards? Any large garrisons due to be south of Tear in the next few weeks?"

Vacius pondered for a moment, "Yes, I can see where you were heading with this. You've hoisted yourselves though."

"How?" I asked.

"The Dres are genuinely afraid. They're not used to trouble in the heartlands so all the garrisons have been recalled to the settlements."

"That is to our advantage." I said.

"If you would let me finish," annoyance flickered in his eyes, "You did it too well. The slaves are to be moved tomorrow. To Tear itself. You'll never reach them there," he held up a hand to forestall any comment from myself, "It gets worse," he seemed almost delighted, "The area to the north is crawling with slave-hunters working their way south and because all the Dres guards are in the towns they have put an open contract on you. Thirty thousand drakes," he grinned, "Five thousand a head. The Dres are rich, an they won't tolerate the damage you've done to their business. Plenty of nobles are offering more if they get you alive," he grinned, "The Fighters Guild is the main contractor, they already have several parties out, in fact I think there's one in town now."

I couldn't reply immediately. That much money was... staggering. I realised I might be the most wanted man in Morrowind, or even the whole of Tamriel. At length I said, "What do you suggest we do?"

He shrugged, "Mix the right fungi together? Fall on your sword? It's quick."

"Piss off."

"This is bad," said Grey-tail, "Think we can get away south?"

"The Fighters Guild are coming up from there."

"What about north?" I asked.

Grey-tail answered, "I wouldn't even try to get past the Dres slave-hunters."

I nodded, "South it is. Any idea whose in charge of the Fighter's guild operation?"

"A moment," said Vacius. He walked to a shelf of books and pulled out a ledger and flicked through it, "A redguard named Alusan. Know him?"

"Personally no but I've heard enough. He's methodical but unimaginative. A conservative leader. He will almost certainly search in a very organised way, probably why he got the commission. But I could out think him, we should try going south. Do you have details of where all the groups are and their movements."

"Mostly yes," Vacius reached pulled out a loose sheet and passed me it. I folded it into my shirt.

"Thanks, he shouldn't expect us to know this. If there's an obvious strategy I might be able to counter it."

"Anything else?"

"What have you got on Tear?"

"Not a lot. I have a map but what you're thinking is insanity."

"It is." Agreed Grey-tail.

"Give me the map. And do you have a suit of light armour?"

Vacious looked troubled but handed the map over, "What do you need armour for?"

"One of the slaves has come along with us."

"I have an old set of leather but it lacks a tail hole."

"It's not hard to cut one," said Grey-tail.

Vacious rummaged in a trunk and pulled out a neatly wrapped set, "Now unless you've got anything else to sponge from me get lost before they find you here."

I was rather more nervous on the way back to the river. Grey-tail's eyes twitched like an overdosed khajit. When we reached it I was exhausted. I looked at the waters. This wasn't going to be fun. I don't like being underwater. I looked to Grey-tail.

"It's not far to the door and the air on the other side is very close," he said sensing my apprehension.

"Not far for you," I muttered and stripped putting my things in one of the waxed cloth sacks.

"That is not something I wanted to see human," said Grey-tail mockingly. He took the sack from me, "I'll take that." I passed it over gratefully.

I waded in and hesitated. I didn't want to show weakness, but neither did I like the idea of the dive. I looked again at Grey-tail, "Could you... um... help me?"

"Fine." He jumped in and took my arm, "Ready?" I nodded and took a breath before plunging into the churning waters under the weir.

A storm of battering water assaulted me. Instinctively I tried to kick up but the current pulled me under, down. I struggled against it, my heart hammering. A rough hand gripped my arm hard and pulled my down. And suddenly the rolling waters were carrying me the way I wanted to go. I forced myself to swim the way the arm was pulling. My panic quelled a little though my lungs already felt hot. My eyes burnt. Grey-tail pointed at something. I couldn't see what. He pulled me forward then with a strong movement of his tail pushed me into a narrow doorway. I pushed on, my lungs desperate for air. A tunnel not two feet across. Where was Grey-tail? I swam on. The water was still but my ears roared. I wanted to breathe. Could I just breathe? No. Onward. Surface. I made my legs kick upward, fighting the first feelings of cramp. Kick. Kick. Surface. A beautiful silver horizon. I burst though it. Air against my skin. My lungs screamed at having to breathe out before they got any fresh air. Then I took a lungful. I trod water panting for a moment.

I was in a small room, the ceiling sloped with the weir water dripped though it. At the highest point there was an air-hole. Just in front of me the floor sloped up to dryness. The rest of the argonians sat on a few bedrolls an chests there. I swam to the shore and pulled myself out as Grey-tail surfaced behind me with the sacks.

Keel-ha looked a little shocked and threw me a sheet to cover myself. His surprise was nothing to the mixed fear and loathing on Hides face. She looked away. Once I'd wrapped the sheet around myself and sat down she glanced back at me herself again.

"I think we may have a problem."

This post has been edited by Olen: Apr 3 2010, 02:30 PM

aaarrgghhh.... MORE!

Oh man, this is really starting to get good! I especially liked the description of Firen’s swim; the uncertainty, the desperate need to breathe. I felt as if I were swimming along with him.

I amend my earlier statement; I do like Firen . . . a lot.

Like Remko said, MORE!

Now we see the fallout of the raid, which Firen had seen coming before it started. Most of it at least. Now he is the most wanted man in Morrowind. Yikes! You certainly know how to tell an exciting tale. Now he not only has to free his friend, but somehow do it with every bounty hunter and hired sword in the province after him.

This was a particularly excellent phrase:
The Twin Lamps are incandescent.


nits:
I would follow my grail.
This is a good line, but it seems out of place in TES. It implies a parallel to following the Holy Grail. Unless there is one of those in TES (my apologies if there is, I am just guessing there is not), you might consider changing that to something like follow my stars instead.

I spent the next hour showing him how to hold the billhook,and more importantly himself.
you lost the space between billhook and the following comma.

clearly they had suffered with Empires withering power here.
I am thinking you meant:
clearly they had suffered with the Empire's withering power here.

A moment later a blot shot back,
This is probably bolt?

I was about to comment that swim myself. I think that stood out as the best paragraph in the chapter...till Firen surfaced nude and the Argonian's reactions - (Houston, we have a problem) - that nailed the chapter in one sentence - you ROCKED this one!

Agreed that the swim at the end of the chapter was heart-pounding. I don't think I was breathing the entire time I was reading that part!

Of course, I liked the Argonians' reaction to Firen's nudity -


followed by -


Never realized Argonians can be such prudes!

Al would say that the Argonians would only be shocked by the modesty of a human's "equipment". He would be drunk whilst saying this, of course. (Dirty-minded fellow, my creation.)

Ahem. Once again, I am deeply impressed by your work. Despite that rough business in which Firen engages, and despite the fact that you don't pull many punches while telling us about that business, this story is pure pleasure to read.

This post has been edited by canis216: Apr 3 2010, 08:14 PM

A masterful chapter. Lovely command of dialogue that swept us along as rapidly as the underwater swim. And the tease at the end. Lovely!!

The eyes flared, "Idiot. Get in here now," the door opened a little further to reveal a large crossbow the man held, "And avoid the doormat." I hurried in behind Grey-tail and gingerly stepped over the mat which was largely failing to hide the bear-trap under it. The man slammed the door behind us and turned on Grey-tail who lowered his hood, "What are you thinking fool. Or weren't you? And who's this?"
I loved this part. You know the protagonist is beyond his depth when this happens. Or maybe not in the case of Firen.

Thanks for the comments, oddly the last chapter was more of a linker I thought than one of the ones I planned to be fun to write but I'm glad you liked it.

The underwater part was largly drawn from my own dislike of water, particularly being stuck under. The idea of swimming though something to get to air sounds awful to me.

I don't think Argonian's are perticularly prudeish, what would you say if a six foot naked lizard wandered into your room and said hello?

SubRosa: thanks I changed all except the grail one. I thought about it but couldn't think of a parralel which had the same depth of connotations and which didn't seem overly contrived. Things like stars could work but have more ideas of fate attached to them and lack the implication that it is a quest he's chosen to follow and could leave. So although not perfect I decided to leave the image as is even if it doesn't fit the lore its hard to find a suitable thing which carrys the same meanings. Thanks for the comments though it is good to have to consider such things.


29. Going South

They looked stunned. For a while nobody spoke, each trying to take in what had happened, while I tried to think of a way out of the situation. I had Vacius's details of the patrols and a map in front of me. What would I do to catch us? Where was the best strategy?

"There shall be vengeance. The slaves' deaths shall serve a greater good, but each shall be repaid in blood," said Keel-ha.

"Indeed. I say we strike again tonight," Hassde said darkly.

Okun said nothing and looked at his hands. I wondered how many of the dead he'd known.

"That would be unwise in the extreme," I replied, "The more immediate problem is where we go now."

"Not north," said Kieras, "Not pass Dres hunters." There were various murmurs of agreement.

"What about east?" asked Hides, "To the sea."

"Then where? No boat would take us, except to sell us," replied Keel-ha.

"If we killed the crew..." said Hassde.

"Do you have any idea how to captain a ship?" I asked, "No? Then not East. And neither west, that just takes us right through Dres territory caught between slaver-hunters and mercenaries. If north is as bad as you say we go south. Try to pass the Fighter's Guild patrols."

"You're fighter's guild," said Keel-ha, "Couldn't you talk us past them?"

I laughed, "I was fighter's guild. They'll have thrown me out by now, if only for that money. Not even the guildmaster could stand between them and that much gold. No, if anything they'll want me more for embarrassing them."

Keel-ha spoke again, "If you think we can get through, then the run to the marshes is open."

"Yes," said Hassde, "We would be safe there. Perhaps I will eventually get home." There were murmurs of agreement.

"No," I said, "We go to Tear." The murmurs gave way to a shocked quiet. "They will not expect it, not for anything too spectacular but it would slow business a lot if a few slaves were rescued from under their noses." Varnan among them, I thought.

When the stunned silence broke it was several voices. None fully agreed though Grey-tail and particularly Okun liked the idea, not that the latter held much sway. Hides argued that we should just kill some Dres there, Keel-ha swung his arguments for making straight for the marsh to agree with her. Hassde was against it full stop. I let them fight it out, one way or another we were going to be heading for Tear. I turned to the maps. I had a strategy to find and a counter to devise. A counter which would lead to the capital of the Dres.

***

By the following evening I was well rested, if unsettled. Perhaps it was the certainty of it but the swim back out bothered me far more than the reports from Vacius. Even so they made troubling reading so I threw myself at them with vigour. There were eight patrols currently, though more were likely to arrive on the coast. The best strategy, as far as the guild was concerned, was to cut off the south and work north section by section using roads and the more open spaces against us to close us in. But our knowledge of that plan played hugely to our favour and personally I would have added some unexpected quirk just in case. But Alusan had a reputation for near obsessive method. It was a gamble but I had to work from something, and that seemed vastly more likely. The map gave it as fifty leagues to Tear where, regardless of their debate, I intended to bring them in a few days.

Leaving the lair wasn't as bad as entering and after drying myself off a little I lead them south.

"You said there was a Fighter's Guild group in town," said Hides, "Will we not run into them?"

"No," I said forcing confidence, "They will be well away by now and better think that we are not here." I half wished I'd set someone to watch for where they went but I'd been too distracted.


Midnight was well gone when I caught sight of a camp in some woods. Smoke from the damp wood glowed in the light of the embers, I had expected a patrol in the area. The first we had to slip past. I stopped the group motioning for silence. "Hides, can you sneak near enough to the camp up there to confirm that they're Fighters Guild?"

For once no one questioned, she just nodded.

"Don't be seen."

The look she gave me said more than any words.

"I should go too," said Keel-ha, "It would be safer."

"And twice as likely to be seen," I said.

"More than that," said Hides before vanishing into the darkness.

I settled to wait.

"I thought we were avoiding them," said Hassde.

"We are. But their leader isn't stupid, we have to pass them sometimes. Now is the perfect time, any watch they set will be at their least awake."

"How many more will we pass?"

"Depends on their strategy but I'd say, all being well, two, maybe three," people follow the illusion of certainty. My scheme was far from foolproof, it was merely what I judged to be most likely to work. The rest was up to luck, or whatever god pulled her strings.

Minutes later Hides reappeared, "A nord, two redguards and two imperials. They're filthy mercenaries." I nodded and didn't reply as I set a course that gave their camp a wide berth. The first pass was made.


We neared an abandoned cottage shortly before sunrise two days later. The argonians saw it as a gift from the gods, only Okun saw my grave doubts about staying there. It was a close thing between my arguments and their desire for a decent place and it was only a combination of my threatening to leave and the serendipity of stumbling over a, lucratively money-filled, smugglers' dropoff which swung it my way. The abandoned house was exactly the sort of place that would be searched. They wouldn't believe anyone would turn it down unless there was something much better and would make up time by ignoring the surrounding area. I certainly would have had I been searching. So we all packed into what was little more than a trench covered with logs. I didn't expect any patrols to pass us that night, but I certainly felt more comfortable in the mud walled pit. Even so I went to the house at dawn and put some fallen thatch against the door. Anyone opening it would have to disturb the pile.

I awoke before sundown with an uncomfortably full bladder. I stepped over Okun and went outside to take a leak. I enjoyed the feeling of the sun behind me as I relieved myself and looked across the plains. It took a moment for thin pillar of smoke to register. My stomach lurched - the smoke rose from the abandoned cottage. I looked more carefully and saw two nords drinking by its door. Away to my right I heard the sound of an axe biting wood. I dropped. Behind me Okun, Tehei and Grey-tail had already emerged from the drop-off. Like a frenzied crab I scuttled over to them motioning down. They didn't see until I was close enough to speak.

"Down, get down," I hissed.

"What?" asked Okun from a low squat.

"People are staying in the abandoned house. Fighter's Guild."

"We could take them unawares," suggested Grey-tail.

"No," I said, "It would give us away if they disappeared." I didn't add that I was far from sure we'd win. These were experienced and well armoured, not fat guards who never had to face anything worse than a drunk or cave rat. I moved to the entrance of the trench, "We need to move. Now. And grab that gold."

I drew Hides to the side as she emerged, "Any suggestions? They're close. Two outside the house, at least one cutting wood to the south, maybe another with him."

"We could risk going closer in the woods, or loop west and hope not to be seen in the open country."

"Which?"

She paused for a moment. "The woods. There's too many of us not to be seen in open country with this much light. We'll make three groups but keep close enough to watch for each other. I'll take Kieras and Hassde, they're least competent at hiding; Keel-ha will take Tehei and Grey-tail. Okun's your problem."

I nodded, "Do it."

I motioned Okun to me, "You any good at sneaking?"

"Alright, not great though. I can learn..."

"Not from me you can't. I don't like this. Come on." I hunkered back towards the tree I'd pissed against. Past that was a small wood which would hide us once we were through it. But there were two Fighter's Guild men to get past first. Okun followed close behind. I got lower and moved partly on all fours, flitting between thicker patches of trees. When I reached a deeper bit of cover I paused. Okun moved in behind me. He kept his red snout low, his otherwise greenish skin and brown leather armour was far better camouflage than I had in my black armour. I looked back. I saw Tehei's tail sticking from a bush I'd just passed through. I couldn't see anything of Hides or her group. The thunk of an axe still came from somewhere ahead. There were a few bare fungal trees before a large ivy covered oak. I tensed then moved ducking from one to the next. My heart climbed to my throat, a beating lump. My breathing was a wild stallion I tried to calm. When I reached the thicket I dropped in and tried to calm myself.

There was too great an element of chance. The skill was one I didn't have. I didn't want to be here. I didn't know what to do. Okun flitted the way I'd just come far more gracefully than I and made less noise. I only hoped the beating axe, a calm bass to my fluttering heart, covered my own missteps. He stopped behind me.

"Where's your weapon?" I asked.

"I can't sneak with a four foot billhook."

He had a point, "Here, take this," I passed him my belt knife, "This is too close." He nodded and waited. I liked to be in control... but, "You lead," I said, "You're better at this."

"Fine. Keep close, move as I do." He shot forward using the shadows to blot out our own.

I followed. I prayed. I glanced frantically about. Then he stopped. I wandered at the scant cover he chose. Then I saw. A redguard and a dunmer, clearly an outlander, were chopping a felled tree into manageable lumps. I put my hand over my sword. Okun was utterly still. The two fighters continued oblivious. Maybe we could kill them before they rose any alarm. My mind raced. Was I a match for both? A couple of years ago probably. Not now. Where was Hides? No I couldn't rely on any help except Okun. I prodded him.

So slowly he reached back and directed my pointing finger at a small but dense bush about five yards behind. He gave a sharp tug. I got the message and crept towards it desperate not to make a noise. He too moved to a patch of ground vegetation. It was a far inferior spot. I dashed the last bit and dropped down in the bush. A couple of branches cracked.

My nerves almost broke with the wood. My heart redoubled its efforts to crawl out my mouth. My breathing was ragged. My grip on the sword iron. The dunmer who'd held the piece said something I couldn't hear over my pulse and turned away. What had he heard? Or seen? Okun was between me and the dunmer, a log and some leaves all that separated them. I tensed like a coiled spring and started to draw my sword. But stopped. If I did he would almost certainly see me. But if I didn't it would cost me time. I wanted to draw. I held off. He looked. I tensed, my nerves taut as a crossbow string. The slightest hint of recognition would trigger me. How could he not see? Strangely the prospect of being found calmed me. My mind cleansed for a fight.

"Renil get your carcass back here and take a shot. This damned wood is solid as hell," shouted the nord. The dunmer turned away from us. "And keep and eye on where you're swinging it, Hagar still complains about headaches..."

The dark elf called Renil swore at the nord and took the axe. As it first fell Okun got up and motioned me past the woodcutters. I crept on and managed not to make a mess of it this time. Once the steady fall of the axe was well behind us Okun slumped against a tree.

"That was close."

"Yes," I said.

"I should have heard them, taken us round them. I was too focused on where to hide and not on where they were."

"It wasn't your fault. I made the noise." I stood for a moment recovering then put out a hand, "We'd best keep moving." He took the it and I pulled him up.

We moved faster after that, the sun was down and we were past the major threat. At a large tree at the far edge of the wood we stopped and waited. I took out a skooma bottle while Okun poked at his slave bracer with the knife. A few minutes later Hides appeared with Kieras and Hassde. I returned her nod before they sat down to relax and wait. Okun glanced over to me.

"When I cut the hole for my tail I didn't get it quite right," he said, slightly awkwardly, "There's a strap chaffing it. Could you... remove it for me..."

I nodded and took the knife. The strap didn't do much so I cut it where it left the armour. As I followed it to find the other end I brushed the pink mass of scar at the base of his tail and he shuddered. I cut the other end of the strap off. "What in hell happened to you?" I asked when he sat down.

A shadow crossed his expression. I kicked myself for asking, it wasn't my business to bring up a past which loomed too large to tell. Then he spoke, quietly so only I could hear. "I was punished." He paused again, I thought that would be all but then he continued, "When I was young, not long after I was taken from the swamps, I served a young noble. He was cruel but also larger than I... Well you can guess, there was little I could do except dress any larger injuries. It got worse but I got stronger. In the end I hit back, maybe too hard. I bit him well, mangled a hand," the satisfaction in his voice was a shade compared to the pain, "His father, the noble, prove worse than him. I think he intended the punishments to kill me, eventually. But he was in debt and was forced to sell me before then. I am grateful of that at least..."

I think he wanted to continue, to unload more. But I'd heard enough and I didn't draw it out, for all the guilt I felt my hatred of the Dres burned bright enough to illuminate that dark place. The silence lengthened until I stood looking for something to do. The look of the straight tree branches gave me just that. I cut one down and stripped it then split the end. The two side lay well along the knife handle. A wrap of the severed strap and it was secure. I passed it back, "Another spear, more a stabbing one than a hacking one but you'll get the feel of it."

"Thanks," he forced a smile and took it.

"Try wiping it in some foul smelling fungus. At worst it will pit the blade, but some of them must be poisonous."

A couple of minutes later Keel-ha appeared.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Good, I doubt we'll run into any more for a while not so we can make some distance tonight. I'd like to get south of the River Kithen. There might be a patrol there but they should be a way west and asleep." I gave them a grin and set off south confident that there would be no more trouble that night.

That was a mistake.

This post has been edited by Olen: Apr 7 2010, 11:21 AM

Huge amount of detail in this chapter, written naturally - plus the story behind Okun's tail scars - very powerful write!