The Connivers Options

[redsrock]

Short, I know, but it's only the introductory chapter. Expect the remaining chapters to be about two times longer, perhaps a bit more. Anyhoo...enjoy!

Also, I won't be writing Hunting the Hunted, at least not for a while. My inspiration from FO3 has been temporarily severed.

Chapter One

*Ebonheart, East Empire Company Hall, Factor Canctunian Ponius’s office.

“If you are unable to at least tell me who you believe has stolen our property, Sivian, how do you propose to solve the matter?”

Factor Canctunian’s tone was getting more impatient by the second. Like tears from the sky paint the ground, his anger would soon fall down upon Sivian if he wasn’t careful. He knew angering Canctunian was the last thing anyone would want to accomplish. But at the same time, Sivian also knew that he could not just stand pat while company vaults was being broken into, whether or not he had any leads on whom the perpetrator was.

“I don’t know for sure, sir, but my own agents are telling me the Camonna Tong may have something to do with the break-ins. And-“

“The Camonna Tong?” Canctunian yelled, his fist pounding upon the long wooden table he and his agent were sitting at. “Do you realize how outrageous an accusation this is? Orvas Dren and his minions wish us dead as it is! Why would you want to anger them even further when you have no evidence to prove your allegation?”

It was true that the Camonna Tong hated the East Empire Company, for several reasons. One, and most importantly, they were foreigners. And two, the Imperial-originated organization was reaping the benefits of Vvardenfell’s natural minerals; and this includes items such as raw ebony, raw glass, and Dwemer artifacts, just to name a few. Not to mention other trade goods such as flin and other alcoholic beverages.

Trying to keep his cool, though he was finding it rather hard to do so, Sivian replied with a gentle, “Your majesty, this is simply what my men are telling me. I am not accusing anyone of anything just yet. It’s only an idea.”

“And what an idea it is! What exactly has been stolen, Sivian? You’ve yet to address the specifics of the theft.”

“I suppose I wasn’t clear enough in the beginning, because we’ve lost nothing. Nothing was actually stolen.”

“Then way are you wasting my time?”

“Please, let me explain. Our vault at Fort Frostmoth in Solstheim was broken into as well, but nothing was stolen there either.”

“What?” The Factor asked, his anger starting to dwindle, and instead curiosity beginning to sink in. “Are you suggesting there is a conspiracy going on? Someone is trying to find something that we hold?”

“Precisely, sir. I realize Fort Frostmoth and Ebonheart are far away from each other, but I don’t think this is simply a coincidence. Do you?”

“No, not at all. Not now. How do you know our offices in Solstheim have been broken into? Did you speak with Carnius?”

“No, sir. Carnius sent a mage to deliver the message, a note written by Carnius himself detailing what I have just told you. It’s the same thing that’s happened here I’m afraid. The vault there was broken into, but nothing was taken.”

Canctunian stood up from his chair and began pacing around the small, cramped room. “Is the messenger still here?”

“Yes, sir. Just outside the room, waiting for his next orders.”

“Tell him to inform Carnius that I want to meet with him this evening, so that he and his own agent can discuss matters with us face to face. That gives him the rest of the day to make arrangements for Deputy Falco Galenus to take his place during his leave. You’re dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” Sivian nodded, and then left to give the mage his orders. Afterwards, once the mage had left and was on his magical-way back to Solstheim, Sivian poked his head back into Canctunian’s office, to find the Factor sitting in his chair, with his head in his hands. “Is there anything you wish for me to do while we wait for Carnius’s arrival, sir?”

Canctunian quickly looked up, and gave a disturbed, “Nothing in particular. Just be sure that your men are on the lookout for anyone suspicious. Also, double check and triple check to make sure nothing was stolen. I find it strange that someone would leave empty-handed if they didn’t absolutely have to.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll do that at once.”

“And close the damn door behind you!”

********************


*Fort Frostmoth, Carnius Magius’s private chamber.*

“A meeting? This evening? Why, it’s almost noon already!”

“Obviously, but do you really have the time to whine and complain? You heard what the messenger just said. We have to go. Besides, this is important, uncle. I know none of your precious gold was stolen, but if our vault in Ebonheart was broken into as well…”

Carnius Magius, the Fort Frostmoth-based Company Factor, gave his young nephew a snarl. “You’re attitude will be the end of you, nephew. Mark my words. If I hadn’t promised your mother to look after you, I’d have thrown you out already.”

“I’m sure, uncle, but again, this doesn’t matter. Shall I inform Falco of the situation?”

“Yes. Go!”

Sirius gave his uncle a smile and a nod, and then left. The end of me? he thought to himself once he was outside in the cold and snow. He should try directing that statement to himself. That’d make more sense at least…

The horse ride to Raven Rock, a tiny mining colony northwest of Fort Frostmoth that dug up raw ebony in the underground mines, took only about a half an hour. There, Sirius went straight for Falco’s house, which was located just inside the city’s southeastern gate, to the left. He knocked on the door, and Falco answered within seconds.

“Sirius!” Falco exclaimed cheerfully, happy to see Sirius and not his uncle. “How are you this beautiful day?”

“I’m well, thank you. But unfortunately for you, I don’t think you’re going to think this day so beautiful once I give you a bit of bad news.”

“Oh? What’s wrong?”

Sirius explained the situation quickly, and then told Falco that he was needed at Fort Frostmoth to act as an unofficial Factor until Sirius and Carnius returned. “Fine, just let me pack a few things, just in case you two are gone for more than a day.”

“I don’t believe that’s necessary. Everything you’ll need my uncle office will have. Besides, today you don’t want to keep him waiting any longer than required. He’s grumpier than normal it seems.”

“And that’s certainly saying something, isn’t it?” Falco asked playfully, ruffling his long, brown beard with his right hand.

“Yes,” Sirius laughed…a real laugh. Something he hadn’t done in a while. “It sure is.”

[redsrock]

Chapter Two

New Gnisis, near the town watering-well.

The swirling winds of the oncoming storm howled around his body, lifting the leaves from the ground and tossing them every which way, some of them hitting Jak in the face as if to tell him to get inside his house before he too is picked up and carried away. Jak didn’t care though, for if he could survive his sister’s nagging then he could survive anything. At least that was what he told himself time after time. Besides, he enjoyed sitting in the middle of a thunder storm. As long as it didn’t begin to rain, he had no immediate plans of leaving anytime soon. Unfortunately his sister had other plans.

“Jak, it’s about to storm! Come inside!” She called from the open doorway of her and Jak’s small Imperial home.

New Gnisis-- a small expansion to the already standing Fort Darius, an Imperial Fort in the old Dunmer city of Gnisis--was constructed and finished roughly two years earlier as an accommodation for the many Imperial folk that had found their way into the once Redoran Dumner-majority city. Some would think it odd for House Redoran to allow such as a sizable Imperial presence in their city, when they are well known for their hatred of foreigners. But alas, gold sure finds itself useful in many occasions.

As mentioned, the expansion was a mere addition to what was already established. Roughly twenty or so small Imperial houses, and a tavern, a few tiny shops; and then the Meeting Grounds, where people came to discuss and gossip, which was something Imperial liked to do quite often. This was the place Jak was resting at, for he found this position a place where he could think. He could not do such a thing inside his house, unless of course his sister was not around.

Jak Nuncia had learned that the hard way.

“Leave me alone, Viana,” he replied, though mostly to himself.

“Dammit, Jak, you’re a fool! Get in here!” When Jak did not answer, Viana shielded her face with her right hand and ran over to her brother, who was sitting at a bench by himself and reading a book, large, looming trees to his left and right. In fact, they were both by themselves, for everyone else was locked inside their homes until the storm had subsided. Thus far it was only thunder and a tiny bit of lightening, but the people of Gnisis were rather careful when it came to storms. Their fear was almost as great as Jak’s obsession.

“Are you even listening to me?” She hollered at him.

Jak didn’t even look up from his book. “Would it upset you if I said no?”

Viana shook her head in disgust, her mouth and chin trembling from the anger building up inside. “Fine, be the foolish boat that everyone in town makes fun of! I don’t give a damn anymore! If you don’t care, I don’t care!”

She started to walk away, but then Jak looked up from his book and simply stared in front of him, looking at nothing in particular. “You know, Viana, it’s funny you mention that.”

Viana stopped in her tracks, and then quickly wheeled around on the heels of her silver-silk shoes. “What did you say?”

“I said…I think it’s rather amusing that you see me as…what did you call it? The town boat? I believe it’s quite odd for you to judge me when you don’t yet understand me. I’m your brother, Viana, but do you really know me?”

“You’re…you’re just so damn strange, Jak!”

“Strange, huh? Strange because that is actually what I am? Or…strange because you don’t understand me? If it’s the latter, don’t be afraid to say so. Ignorance is a deadly plague, little sister. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re sick, just like the majority of this sad, confused world.”

She balled her fists angrily and shouted out with anger. “Why must you be so difficult, Jak? Mama always said you were a strange one. And when they were killed that night, seven years ago just last week, you said you’d always be there for me! You said you would never leave my side! But what did you do? No more than a few months later you left! You left me!”

“Dear, sister I had no other choice. The East Empire Company-“

“Is a prestigious order, compiled of only the finest and shrewdest of diplomats,” she interrupted, mocking her brother. “I know, Jak, you need not to repeat it! Over the years it seems you don’t care for me like you used to. I fear that I am beginning to share the same feelings.”

“Are you trying to say you don’t love me, sister? If so, get it over with now.”

“I do love you, Jak, but…you don’t make any sense half the time! All you did is sit out here and stare at who knows what! And you read, and you write! You hardly ever come out of your room, and when you do it’s only to grab something to eat and then go back to whatever you do in there! I am not even allowed to get into your room because it’s locked!”

“Ah, so I see you’ve tried to break into my room? Yet another bead of trust has been severed. I’m not surprised, dear sister. You always were nosey.”

“I broke into your room because I’m worried about you, Jak! It’s been, what, five months since you finally came home? You won’t tell me a damn thing! Why won’t you tell me what happened in Ebonheart? Why won’t you tell me why you quit? Did you really quit…or did something else happen?”

By this time, tears were streaming down Viana’s smooth face, and this greatly saddened Jak. For a split second he thought about telling her everything. He thought about giving her the information she wanted, because deep down inside he knew she deserved an answer to every one of her questions. He had left her by herself for a little more than four years, with the only communication between them being notes written off and on. It was true that they never did get along that well, but Viana had felt so very hurt when Jak left. Even if it was for business purposes, and the gold from his job kept coming back to Gnisis, she was still sad. As the old saying goes, wealth cannot truly make a person happy.

“My private matters are none of your concern, Viana. I’ve made plenty of wealth during these years, yet you don’t seem to appreciate any of it. Just look at yourself. You’re covered in the most comfortable of garments and silks! What else could you ask for?”

“I want love, Jak! I want you to at least acknowledge my existence! Ever since you came back you’ve done nothing but hide from me and everyone else in the city! I’ve been doing my best to keep a roof over my head, while you sit in your room and do nothing!”

Jak closed his book and stood up from the bench. He was a good two or three inches taller than Viana, and he was now looking down upon her, the calmness from his eyes slowly departing, beginning to be replaced by that of annoyance and anger. “You are wrong, Viana. Where do you think I get the gold to pay for the food we eat, the house we live under, and the beds we sleep on? Can you tell me that?” he yelled, his voice louder than what he wished it to be.

“I don’t think…I don’t think I want to know.”

“No, you don’t! But at the same time you want to ask question after question after question! Don’t worry about me, Viana, worry about yourself!” He paused, and then tried to continue in a gentler tone. “I know what else you do to make a living, Viana. It’s not just selling vegetables from the garden! Some of the soldiers in the garrison are lonely during the daytime, but they sure aren’t at night. That much is certain!”

And without giving her a chance to respond, Jak marched angrily past her, heading for their house. The storm had by now slowed down to nothing more than a heavy breeze sweeping the city. It appeared that the dark clouds, thunder and lightning had passed. But for Viana and Jak, the sun would never shine.


*Back in Ebonheart*

Many thoughts were circling through Canctunian’s mind, but the one that was greatest was the one that he could not answer even in the least. One bit of good news was that he and Sivian had been able to rule out the Camonna Tong’s involvement, because apparently one of Sivian’s own agents had simply gotten too excited, and really had no evidence to prove the accusation.

Suddenly the door to his office open, and bustling in was Sivian, followed close behind by Carnius and Sirius Magius from the Fort Frostmoth outpost. “Good evening, Carnius, Sirius,” Canctunian offered. “I apologize for having to meet on such short notice, but as I’m sure you understand, it is worth the hectic rush. I also apologize for having this meeting conducted in my small office, but I do not wish to inform the Duke or Emperor of anything just yet. Now, please, have a seat in the chairs I’ve brought in for you.”

Carnius, mumbling something under his breath, sat down in the chair closest to the wall, beside of a painting of Canctunian and the Emperor side by side. Looking at the work of art, Carnius could help but feel a strong jealousy towards the picture. Someday that’s going to be me up there. Carnius thought to himself. Some day…

Sirius sat down in the chair beside his uncle. Sivian shut the door, and at the orders of Canctunian, locked it as well. Then he stood there in front of the door, rather than taking a seat as his and Canctunian’s guests had done.

“Do you have any leads yet?” Carnius asked as soon as Canctunian had sat down in his own chair.

“Unfortunately, no. Just this morning we ruled out the possibility of the Camonna Tong being involved. Other than that, we are clueless. Tell me in your own words what happened yesterday when you realized the vault had been broken into.”

“Well,” Carnius begin, with a tone of impatience. “As you know, Sirius is my only agents, and for several reasons. It is not wise to have too many men working at your side. It only creates confusion, and trust is often too hard to come by. And because Sirius is my only agent, Captain Falx Carius allows me to use three of his own Legion soldiers to guard my vault.”

“What? And how long as his been going?” Canctunian interrupted. “The soldiers of Fort Frostmoth are convicted criminals. Why in the name of Talos would you trust them to protect something so important? And why was I never made aware of this?”

Sirius shifted nervously while he looked at his uncle in the corner of his eye. He knew his uncle was never someone to trifle with, let alone yell at. It was true that Factor Canctunian technically held a higher rank than Carnius, but he was still surprised to see the Factor raising his voice so harshly, especially when the two of them knew how dreadfully hostile Carnius could become during an argument.”

“Excuse me, Canctunian, but I did not know that I had to report to you every time I break wind!”

Rather than take the bait of argument, Canctunian took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, massaging a headache that was starting to creep up. “I did not call for you here so that we could squabble back and forth. However, it is not wise for you to hire former criminals to protect your vault. I understand Sirius is your only agent, but the decision to enlist those soldiers was very unwise.”

“They were cheap, Factor, and you’ve told me countless times not to spend more gold than I have to. And I have abided by those words, not that I’ve received any thanks from you or the Emperor himself. But that is beside the point. The soldiers were not the intruders, for they do not have keys to the vault. Besides, they aren’t even intelligent enough to devise such a plan. And anyway, that doesn’t explain why the vault here in Ebonheart was broke into, now does it?”

“No, it does not. But this doesn’t help us, for we are still far away from coming to a solution. Sivian searched through the vault and the entire building, not to mention the city as well, and he cannot find anything that suggests the intruders are still in the city. He also did not find anything dropped behind by the burglars either. Have you found out any useful information, Sirus?”

“No, sir I have not. But quite honestly, I haven’t had the time. It’s been rather hectic you see.”

“I would imagine,” Canctunian said. “Very well…there is nothing for us to talk about right now. I want you two to keep an eye out for everything. And I realize you think nothing is wrong with your vault-guards, but I still want Sirius conduct a small investigation. Have him ask around the fort, especially the very people that guard your vault. Speak with the Captain as well, but be sure that he knows not to talk of this mess. We don’t want the Emperor panicking before we know what exactly is going on. Tell Falx this request comes from me. He and I go way back to early childhood living in the Imperial City.”

Carnius sighed and rolled his eyes. “May we leave now, Canctunian? The longer I am away from the vault the less I can do to protect it.”

“Yes, you two may leave. But I would like Sirius to report back in five days to report his findings, if any at all.”

Sirius nodded, and then he and Carnius left the fort, traveling back to the snowy island of Solstheim by means of the company’s transport-mage. Once they were gone, Canctunian asked Sivian to sit down himself. “There’s something we need to discuss, Sivian.”

“Yes, sir?” he asked, sitting down as he was told.

“Neither Sirius nor Carnius knows what happened several months ago, correct?”

“You mean with Jak and Devin? Of course not.”

“Good. I fear the two of them may be involved with this. Neither left luxuriously or happily, and I have a strong feelings that they are perhaps trying to seek revenge. After all, and especially in Jak’s case, they don’t take too well to embarrassment, do they?”

“No, sir, they do not. But I’m afraid I am still confused. You think they are responsible for the break-ins? This seems unlikely. Why would they do such a thing after this much time has passed?”

“I don’t know, but it’s just a feeling, I assure you that. I don’t even know if they’re communicating with one another. I doubt it, but then again I’ve seen stranger things happen. Devin is in Hammerfell I believe, but where I do not know. But Jak went back to Gnisis. That was very foolish indeed, because this way we have been able to keep tabs on him all this time. I think you should pay him a visit and inform him of what’s happened. Make it look like you’re just checking up on him to make sure he’s okay, but try and figure out if he’s up to something. Snoop around his house if you have to, but make sure not to make it obvious what you’re really there for. Understand?”

“Yes, sir, I do. Would you like me to leave now?”

“I would. The sooner the better, as they always say. I don’t really think Jak nor Devin is involved with the break-ins, but it’s better to be safer than sorry, and I’m sure you can understand where I’m coming from. May Talos guide you, Sivian.”

Sivian nodded and then left the office, preparing for his upcoming mission.