Excellent update, minque! Great display of various emotions and characterizations. Serene's kind and caring manner is shown really well and Varvur's jaded outlook on life is as well.

I hope we get an update soon. We got a bit of al cliffie on our hands right now!

I particularly enjoyed the very complicated emotional state you described in Varvur. It really emphasized his incredibly disturbed emotional state, and Serene's chat with him really added some marvelous depth to the Sarethi family and his place within it. I am looking forward to learning about this idea that Serene had; it will take an incredible idea to resolve this situation.

Unfortunately I can't find anything else that Jack, Treydog, MM, or Mplantinga haven't already brought to light......... curse them!

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 5 2006, 03:49 AM

yeah, don't worry Revan, this is what it's like to get the third, fourth post.... there isn't much left to say to save yourself from sounding repetitive....

Anywho, I too loved how you wrote the scene, the perfect balance of anger, sorrow, etc. IMO. I love it, please continue, I'm dieing to find out what Serene's idea is.

Oh dear! To high expectations I´m afraid, the idea is really very simple!


Naturally I would have to speak with Athyn first about sending his son away, for that was my intent…to send him to my friend Imsin the Dreamer at Fort Buckmoth. Not for military training; that would not be appropriate for a young man like Varvur, but there are other tasks to be done at a training-camp and by just being there he might get some more confidence in himself and maybe feel somewhat needed. He had told me he was good with figures, so maybe Imsin could find him a suitable position. Besides, he would be out of the way of the Archmaster, which would be a good thing, considering the situation.

I sat with Varvur until he’d finished his second mug of warm sweetened wine, which in fact affected him somewhat, his stiff posture eased and he calmed down considerably.

“You do care about Father quite a bit don’t you?” he asked me, putting the empty mug on the table beside the bed. I nodded; I didn’t want to go deeper into that matter because I was afraid my face would reveal more than I wanted it to.

“Well then I do apologize for breaking down like this, and I feel better now than I’ve done in weeks; maybe I had to let it out…and to a complete stranger! You really are some kind of a witch aren’t you?” He even smiled faintly at me, taking the sting from those words.

“It’s OK, Varvur,” I replied “But I’m not a witch, just a Redoran kinsman, like you, who happened to be there at the right time.”

“Then tell me why you had me fall apart and tell you all that stuff, I’ve never done that before...not to anyone! You must have cast some spell at me…. ”

I just smiled; it would have been easier to admit I really did bespell him but that wouldn’t do him any good, so I just shook my head.

“Now I’ve got to look after your Father, so you go and take that bath and then come for dinner; you’ll feel a lot better”

I found Athyn in his private chambers, sound asleep. No fever or anything had complicated his state, so I decided to let him sleep a bit longer.

I proceeded into the kitchen-area to see if I could find something to eat. I was starving after the encounter with Varvur and I guessed both Athyn and his son could use a bite as well. The Manor was eerily empty; I didn’t see a single soul, not a guard, no staff at all. I felt a tickle down my spine; there was something wrong in this house, but I couldn’t tell what. Varvur joined me after half an hour, looking quite good, clean shaven and with decent clothing; a red Redoran shirt and brown trousers. He seemed somewhat embarrassed to see me, so I didn’t talk directly to him. He took out some bread and a bottle of Flin and with a faint smile he went away, probably back to his room.

I prepared some food for Athyn which I brought to him on a tray. I also made a mug of warm sweetened wine for him; I thought it would do him good as well.

He sat up in his bed as I entered and gave me a hearty smile.

“You spoil me, Serene,” he said quietly. My heart pounded, and I just handed him the wine, telling him to drink it while it was still warm.

“I need to talk with you…about Varvur,” I said after he’d finished the simple meal I’d prepared for him. I vaguely noticed I hadn’t eaten anything myself; I simply forgot about it. He leaned back and looked at me, and I wished he hadn’t done that, for it was hard enough to focus on what I was about to ask him.

“You want to send him to Fort Buckmoth? To the military camp over there? Why, is that really something for Varvur?” Athyn sounded doubtful.

“No…no, I’ve got a friend there, Imsin the Dreamer, she’s a kind of high commander in the Legion, and I think she can find something useful for him to do! The thing is he needs to be recognised by you, he wants you to be proud of him….” I stopped; maybe I should have told Athyn in more detail about the conversation I had with Varvur, but then again I wouldn’t want to give the young man away, and I would certainly not want to tell Athyn about the real reason why Varvur was captured by Archmaster Venim!

“But…I am proud of him as it is!” Athyn exclaimed. “He’s intelligent and kind and keeps track of the household’s accounts!”

“Have you told him that?” I asked.

Athyn sighed and shook his head; “Maybe I haven’t been as clear about it as I should have.”

We agreed that I should write a letter to Imsin, telling her about Varvur´s situation, and then asking her if she’d agree to giving him some kind of suitable job.

I meant to ask Athyn about the total absence of staff or guards in the house, but I was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Domesea Sarethi, who burst into the room with an air of someone with a guilty conscience.

“Oh my darling!” she shouted, “I heard there was some kind of problem this morning, but our dear boy, Trey sorted it out! How lucky we are to have him, aren’t we dear?” Domesea flung herself at Athyn, hugging him vigorously, I noticed the pain it caused him, but he didn’t complain, just murmured something and patted her back.

Then she noticed me…

“Oh my! Sera Catraso is it? What, may I ask, are you doing in my husband’s bedroom?”

I could have asked her were she’d been that morning, but of course I didn’t. I just smiled politely at her and told her I had healed her husband’s injuries from the attack and was checking on his progress.

“Well you have completed your task so there’s no reason for you to be present anymore,” she snapped at me.

“Domesea, please! Be nice to our guest, she did a great job healing me, and I think she has a solution for poor Varvur as well.” Athyn sounded tired and he put his hand to his forehead as if he had a headache.

I decided to leave, as I didn’t want to upset either of them and I had better things to do, such as talking to Varvur and writing that letter to Imsin.

“Are you out of your mind woman?” Varvur yelped, when I told him about going to Fort Buckmoth. “It is not the place, nor the time for me just going away like that!”

I spent nearly an hour trying to convince him that this was the best thing he could do as the situation was.

“You’ll be safe, damn it!” I barked “Nobody would imagine you, Varvur Sarethi- the coward, dwelling at a place like Fort Buckmoth, an Imperial Fort and a military training-camp.” I was utterly tired of this young man, always opposing me, when all I wanted was for him to be safe and get a life!

“Besides, my friend over there will be told of your special abilities, so she will find a proper spot for you, and YES, I’ve spoken with your Father, and he thinks it’s a good idea!” I added.

As I returned to my room at the Mage’s Guild that evening I was exhausted. I still wore the clothes stained with Athyn´s blood and I hadn’t eaten during the whole day, so I let Edwinna take care of me – as usual!

Before I went to sleep I wrote the letter to Imsin. I had to rewrite it because of the tears of exhaustion and frustration that flooded down my face and ruined the first one.

Dear Imsin
I write to you because you are my friend and I need to ask you to do me a favour. The young man who delivers this letter to you is the son of Serjo Athyn Sarethi, Councillor of the Redoran High Council, who is also my benefactor as he has adopted me into his house and family. This young man, Varvur, has angered the Archmaster of Great House Redoran in such a way that he fears for his life. The reason for this I will not mention to you, but I am sure Varvur himself will, if he thinks he can confide in you.

Varvur Sarethi is an intelligent man, skilled in reading and mathematics. He is not a fighter, but I am sure you could make good use of him. The important thing is that his whereabouts are not revealed, not to anyone, or his life will be at risk. He will be going under a pseudonym for his and your safety.

I sincerely hope you will be able to help out, Imsin, it would mean a great deal to me, and I’m asking this of you because you are my best friend and I will always love and cherish you.

Wishing you all the best

Serene

The next morning as I entered Sarethi Manor, Athyn seemed totally recovered, and he embraced me and held me in his arms just a bit longer than was appropriate.

“Are you alright, my dear? You look worn out, have you had enough sleep?” His voice was dark and tender and I tried a reassuring smile, while looking around afraid that Domesea would appear wondering what on Nirn I was doing in her husband’s arms!

I told Athyn I was OK, a bit tired but OK…

Domesea wasn’t at home as it turned out, so Athyn, Varvur and myself made the necessary preparations for his departure to Fort Buckmoth. Domesea was informed about the plan and had no objections; maybe she even felt good about getting Varvur out of sight for a while, that would make it easier for her to keep her trysts with Archmaster Venim. I didn’t show my wicked thoughts, but I couldn’t resist thinking them.

It wouldn’t be safe for Varvur just to walk to Fort Buckmoth; he would need an escort of some sort. Naturally I could walk with him, but Athyn didn’t like the thought of the two of us being out there alone.

“I care too much about you two, so it’s out of the question,” Athyn stated, “but I know of a good reliable man, a kinsman in our House, his name is Sethyas Velas and I’d gladly trust him with my son’s life.”

“I’m sure he will agree to escort Varvur to Fort Buckmoth,” Athyn continued.

With Varvur gone, I felt I had no reason to hang around in Sarethi Manor anymore, so the following week I buried myself in studies at the Mage’s Guild.

“Do come and see me again, Serene. I’d like to show my appreciation for your deeds in a proper way!” were Athyn´s parting words to me…

And I’m glad I actually did….and that I didn’t wait too long to do so.

Hmm..... I see you've mentioned Black Hand's character, interesting. If there was some forshadowing of the outcome that was hidden in your chapter then I have no idea what it is!

Your stories are classics on these forums (at least it seems that way to me........). Keep the posts coming Minky!

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 6 2006, 11:11 PM

Excellent dialogue in this update! You really bring out the human characteristics to your characters amazingly well, minque, I love it! And now we'll see a cameo from Sethyas, goodie!

I am definitely looking forward to the next update.

More Sarethi goodness. Oh, what can I add that hasn't been said before? Maybe that Sethyas is very capable as an escort?

Well, bravo, I love it Minque, please continue.

Another update so soon; be careful or you'll get our expectations up and then we'll become very impatient!

A very unexpected solution to Varvur's situation; I can understand why it took a lot of convincing to get him to go. But I have great confidence in Serene's feelings, and I'm sure things will turn out well. As for Athyn's "proper way" for showing his appreciation, I do hope he doesn't do anything dishonourable. Of course, he is Athyn Sarethi so we don't really have any reason to expect anything like that, but the way you phrased the end of this installment made me a little concerned.

Ok....another one, with a nice cliffie down at the end! .Give you something to think about....
.............................................................................................................................................................

Against my initial intentions, I decided not to visit Sarethi Manor again. It wouldn’t lead anywhere; I could not stand being under the same roof as Athyn and not “having him”. It would be too painful, so I tried my best to forget about the Sarethi family. I had accomplished my task of curing Varvur, or at least I had made a decent try, so it was time to get on with my life.

The sad thing was that I had no idea what I wanted to do with it!

After more than a week of wavering, one rainy morning I found myself heading towards Under Skar, pretending I just was going to see Neminda because it had been a long time since I last visited her. I did go to the Council Hall at first. Neminda was glad to see me but did seem a bit astonished that I still lived at the Mage’s Guild.

“I thought you were living with the Sarethi family by now, you did such a good job with Varvur, and Athyn, I’ve been told!”

I hesitated; it didn’t feel right to tell her why I chose to remain with the Mages, so I just shook my head and smiled.

“I think I’ve got to tell you there have been a lot of rumours among our Councillors lately, quite a few dark events have taken place during the last six months, and the Archmaster isn’t acting like he should. It’s common knowledge that he’s a womanizer, but some says he’s now gone too far!” Neminda said slowly. “Naturally there’s no real evidence he’s done something really illegal or even unethical, but the rumours flourish nevertheless.”

I felt a cold wind blow through the small chamber in which we were sitting. I was glad Varvur was out of the way, but I also felt a rising rage against Bolvyn Venim. I knew the rumours were most certainly true but I wouldn’t dream of getting Varvur back as a witness; it would probably just cause his death, and deadly hurt to Athyn, which was the last thing I wanted.

“What kind of events are you referring to?” I asked carefully, “I am no particular friend of Archmaster Venim, on the contrary I’d say, but could you tell me more?”

“Since his wife died in childbirth, about 20 years ago, Archmaster Venim has literally had an incredible number of women, inside and outside our Great House. Naturally he’s been very discreet about it, but those things tend to get out anyway, despite how thoroughly you try hiding them.”

“There are also some men who mysteriously disappeared, and their wives have been ’taken care of’ by the Archmaster.” Neminda continued. “Then some of our nobles have been threatened by assassins, and there have been at least two murder-attempts on Athyn, but you know that already!”

I nodded, “Trey of High Rock saved him twice, as far as I know…”

“Yes!” Neminda exclaimed, “He truly is a loyal and righteous man, and also most certainly Lord Nerevar Reborn…But he now has a difficult task before him= he’s applying to be the Hortator of House Redoran.”

“A Hortator?” I asked “Excuse my dumbness but I haven’t the faintest idea what that is.”
“It’s a war leader. He will unite our troops and lead our Great House in war,” Neminda smiled, “And it’s not a dumb question at all, the problem is to get all of the councillors, including the Archmaster, to vote for him at the next Grand Meeting.”

I pondered all that information, and tried to get a structure of it…

Archmaster Venim was playing some kind of wicked game here, probably to strengthen his power. He also obviously used, or rather misused women, for his own benefit. I knew for certain he had a tryst with Domesea Sarethi, and probably also with Fathasa Llethri. And as far as I understood he had some dark connections to the Sixth House Cult, which the incident with Ash-Statue indicated.

He was also a murderer….and would not hesitate to murder again….

Then there was Trey of High Rock… He would be an excellent Hortator and Archmaster, but how he would get the votes from the other stubborn Redoran Councillors, I really didn’t know.

“I think I’ll have to discuss a few things with…” I began, and then Neminda immediately interrupted:

“Athyn! Why of course you have to, he’s your sponsor and benefactor in House Redoran!”

I blushed; really I shouldn’t need an excuse like that to visit Sarethi Manor, but it felt better to have an important errand to discuss before going there.

Neminda noticed my red cheeks and gave me an amused smile.

“Go see Athyn immediately!”

I didn’t go…then …and I still regret it in some ways, even though it probably changed my life for the better.

Instead I went to see Mistress Brara Morvayn, who lived in an apartment in Under Skar.

Her husband was dead, murdered from what I understood, and her home infested with corprus monsters after some issue involving an Ash-Statue. I thought this was too much of a coincidence not to be investigated a bit further.

Mistress Morvayn was an impressive woman, probably in her early fifties, but as far as the Dunmerii race is concerned you can’t be absolutely sure of their real age. Her hair was jet black with only some minor white stripes in it and combed in a complicated style. Well dressed she was in a purple and blue robe with silver embroideries.

She received me in her library, a rather large room where the walls were entirely covered with huge book-shelves. Two comfortable-looking armchairs were standing in a corner and between them a table, with some pitchers made from that green glass said to be found in mines on this continent. They were really beautiful, and I vaguely remembered seeing similar ones at Arvs Drelen….
“A good day to you Sera Catraso,” she greeted me, “I have heard some interesting things about your skills. Words travel fast in Ald´Ruhn you know!” she smiled and gave me her hand.

It was a delicate hand, a hand of a noble woman who obviously never had done a day’s work it her life… I took it and was astonished at the firm grip. This lady had strength and sincerity, I could almost feel it.

“A good day to you too, Mistress Morvayn,” I replied, “I’ve come to present myself to you as newly adopted kinswoman in Great House Redoran.”

Mistress Morvayn turned out to be a really nice acquaintance, bold, determined and humorous, despite her great loss.

“He’s a very insecure male,” she said about Archmaster Venim, “He needs to be recognised…all he time he needs to put his attractiveness to the test. That’s why he courts everything that wears a skirt…except for me of course!” she chuckled.

I must have made quite a face because Brara immediately added:

“I scare him to death! I do not look at him with those doggy-eyes that that little wimp Fathasa Llethri does...or ’Domi’ Sarethi, for that matter!”

I sat silent…Brara shook her head and took out a bottle of ancient Cyrodiilic brandy from a small cupboard behind her armchair.

“Let’s have a drink… May I call you Serene? You can call me Brara by the way.”

She poured the drinks, and I admired the beauty of the golden liquid in those magnificent green glass-pitchers, and wondered how this conversation would continue. Brara obviously knew quite a lot about the Redoran Councillors and the Archmaster.

“And then there’s Athyn! Poor stupid man but ever so nice and too kind for his own good. He believes that there’s some goodness inside everybody, and that will lead to his death, trust me!”

I must have made a sudden move, because I noticed Brara raising an eyebrow and then she gave me a satisfied nod, as if I had just confirmed something she had suspected. I would have to remember to never play cards against this woman!

“Nevertheless, my dear Serene it’s a pleasure to talk to you, or actually it’s been me who have done most of the talking, but you’re an excellent listener, my child!...Oh and I must admit I’m much more positively disposed towards outlanders since that nice young Breton cleared out my old house after the attack.”

Then she told me the following story:

“Thedryn, my late husband, acted strangely the last six months, ever since that evening he was called to the Grand Council for an urgent meeting. Yes, he used to be a councillor at that time! He never told me what it was about, but he brought a parcel with him that he immediately locked inside the chest of drawers in his study. His strange behaviour escalated; he barely spoke to me, and he used to go out late at night and was very angry with me if I dared to ask him why he had to spend so much time somewhere else and not telling me about it. So one evening, about three months ago, we were sitting having dinner , when a bunch of unbelievably grotesque creatures just came bursting in! I flung myself under the table but Thedryn just tried to negotiate with them!”

“Can you imagine such stupidity? How could he imagine it was possible to even try to talk to monsters like that?” Brara sounded bitter now, and I could fully understand that.

What I couldn’t understand was that she was sitting there, just three months after the murder of her husband and telling me all this, like it was a story or something! That woman really was one of a kind.

“So it turned out I was the sole witness of the murder of my husband, because their answer to his negotiation attempt was a severe blow on the head, followed by the most cruel slaying of a man you could imagine. He didn’t have a single chance to defend himself, and I was sitting paralyzed under the table. In fact I remained there for more than six hours before I even dared to come out.

I finally got out and dragged myself to Under Skar, where I happened to meet Athyn, coming from the Apothecary heading home. He naturally took me with him and I spent a couple of weeks in Sarethi Manor to recovery, until eventually Neminda got me this apartment.”

During her story Brara had taken several sips from her brandy and it was obviously affecting her now, her eyes glowed with fire and her voice had gone somewhat thick. I was hardly affected at all, despite the fact that I’d been drinking quite a lot as well, but her story, or rather the way in which it was told, frightened me a bit.

I suggested that I’d go out to buy some food, that it would sober us up a bit if we had something to eat, then Brara laughed :

“Ah sweet Serene! I don’t want any food! I want to be drunk; it’s been so long since I have had a chance to really talk to someone, who else would listen to an old widow?, So let’s celebrate that you’re a Redoran and I bid you welcome to the House; you’re a refreshing change from all the old geezers here!”

“You know…Trey…Trey cleared out the mess in my house, yes he did, but I can’t face moving back…not yet!”

Brara closed her eyes and leaned back, seeming to fall asleep, so I took the delicate pitcher out of her hand and prepared to leave, when she suddenly sat upright and grabbed my hand fiercely:

“He killed him, you know, and he will do it again!” Then she fell back, snoring heavily.

I put a blanket over her and left.

Outside the Council Hall I felt a sudden chill, as a familiar voice came to me, and the world went dim:

“Serene! Go home, there might still be a chance, but you must go home now.”

I didn’t have to ponder what Azura meant this time, so I turned around and headed for Sarethi Manor with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. The last few yards I actually ran and slammed the sturdy door open.

The stench! The metallic stench of…blood! As I hurried down the hallway I noticed the carpet was pushed aside, the floor was slippery with dark brownish grime.

Then I saw it…

“NOOOOOOOO!” My scream echoed between the walls….and I fell to my knees…

Ahhhh!!! Cliffhanger!! Who could it possibly be!?

Great work minque! Your conversations between characters are always a treat to read.

Mallet beat me to the cliffhanger remark! And looks like you're starting to post machine it up to Minque! Keep it comin!

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Dec 9 2006, 07:11 PM

Minque, how you can make such huge posts is beyond my comprehension. Serene is certainly an interesting character, and her story is magnificent! Give us more!

NOOO!!! a cliff hanger! gah, Please, please, please, update soon, i'm practically on the edge of my seat. Great story Minque (I keep trying to type in Serene as your name...)

:rofl: That is certainly a problem, hmm......... I think we need corrective brain surgery to cure that!

Oh jeez....thank you for all nice comments! And for huge posts...well the problem is when the inspration comes to me I can´t stop writing! And when it doesn´t come....I can´t write at all...

But stay tuned....another update is coming soon in a thread near you!

Nice joke, Minique. Can't wait to see... erm read it!

Two excellent posts, their length matched only by their depth of emotion and human interactions. These both show your strength in taking things that the game only hints at (or ignores) and making them integral to the story- so much so that it causes me to smack my forehead and say, "Of course that's what was going on!"

Excellent psychological descriptions and portrayal of the evolving relationship of Serene and House Redoran.

Oh crap, another assassin? Or Corprus creatures? Or flying strawberries? Or purple Cliffracers? What could possibly be so bad that Serene breaks down? I need to know!