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 Four

*Gnisis, Madach Tradehouse*

Jak had led Sivian to the Madach Tradehouse, a small tavern and general goods store. Despite it being on the old Gnisis side, Jak preferred because the food was better, not to mention cheaper. He and Sivian were sitting in the farthest corner of the room, away from everyone else. Luckily it was fairly crowded, being that it was noon.

“How are you doing, Jak? It’s been a while,” Sivian said softly, munching on an apple in between sentences.

Jak was eying the well-dressed Breton man with a look of curiosity. “Fine I suppose, or at least as fine as I am able to be. But drop the friendly tone, Sivian. I am not stupid. You aren’t here to check up on me.”

Sivian chuckled slightly, looking at the table rather than at Jak. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure what to say. Canctunian didn’t want him to let Jak know he was somewhat under an investigation, but apparently the Factor forgot about his former agent’s wit and wisdom. “You were always were hard to get by, Jak. It seems you haven’t changed a bit. Not that that’s a bad thing. I always did like you much more than Devin.”

“Yeah, I don’t believe that. If that were true you wouldn’t have sided with Canctunian so easily,” Jak replied angrily.

“Jak, I’m not here to dig up the past and argue about it. It matters not whether you and Devin we drunk, you both raped her and then killed her the next day when you realized what you had done. And actually…I don’t know why we let you two go. I suppose it’s because I respected you two. You two had been my best agents, and to turn you into the Imperial Legion would have been…well, let’s just say it would have been extremely difficult.”

Jak sighed and then looked out the window, shaking his heads. He didn’t like talking about the past, especially with someone who was actually involved. “I know what we did was wrong, Sivian, I really do. But the past is just that, the past. I try not to dwell upon it too much, even though I always do. You can’t possibly understand the pain I feel each and every day.”

“Good, I hope you do feel the pain, because I’m sure that Dunmer girl felt pain. Just think what would have happened if the Temple had found out, Jak. Anyways…something’s happened at our vaults in Ebonheart and Solstheim, Jak. That’s why I am here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Both vaults were broken into, but we don’t know who did it. Also, nothing was stolen, so that makes us even more suspicious. Canctunian, while he doesn’t think you had anything to do with, wanted me to ask some questions. I don’t think you did it either, Jak, but I need to find out for myself.”

“This is ridiculous, Sivian…why the hell would I even want to go back? There’s a reason why I’ve never left Gnisis, you know…”

Sivian stared him down for almost a full minute, trying to decide whether Jak was telling the truth or not. Finally, he decided he was indeed telling the truth. Part of him was worried that perhaps he was coming to a decision too quickly, but another part of him wanted to get out of Gnisis as soon as possible. Something didn’t feel right. “Very well, I do believe you. Though, I advise you to stay in Gnisis for the time being, in case something else should come up and I need to speak with you. Though judging by what you said, I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.”

“No,” Jak said, his eyes never leaving Sivian’s. “It won’t.”

“Well…good day to you, Jak. It was nice talking to you again. I just wish it had been under better circumstances.”

Sivian nodded and then left Gnisis as quickly as he had arrived.


*A small cave, slightly to the southeast of Raven Rock*

When Sirius’s eyes finally opened he was still staring at nothing, or at least that’s what he first thought. But once his eyes fully adjusted, he realized he was inside some kind of cave. He could feel the wet dampness, but he also felt something warm. Looking to his right, he saw a small campfire, the smoke rising to the tall roof of the cave. Sitting next to the fire reading a book was the silhouette of a figure, but it was too difficult to determine who it was, for the figure was situated behind the fire, the smoke blocking a clear view for Sirius to see. Sirius assumed it was the person who hit him in the head earlier and, once remembering the blow, he felt his forehead. He felt a large bump, and then a jolt of pain from within his head.

“Ow!” Sirius yelled, not expecting such pain. This appeared to have alerted the figure, who was now walking over from the fire. When the figure, a tall man, stopped at his feet, Sirius was speechless.

“Devin?”

“Hello, Sirius. How are you doing? It’s been a long time. Too long, infact.”

Devin was smiling widely at Sirius, who did not return the favor. “The last I heard you had quit your job and returned to Hammerfell. What in Oblivion are you doing all the way out here? And…hey! Why the hells are my legs and arms bound together?” he asked angrily, once he realized he was tied to some kind of tall stone-like object.

“Sorry, Sirius, but I can’t exactly tell you, other than I don’t want you running away. You’re very important to me right now, you see.”

“I’m still confused. What is going on?”

“The vaults, Sirius…the vaults. You and that fat lard of a fool Carnius have been searching for the intruder, yet you’ve never been close. It has been I! Isn’t that grand? You would have ever guessed, would you?”

“You…you did it? But why?”

“That’s a simple question, but unfortunately the answer is not. I’ll tell you this, though; it wasn’t me who broke into the Ebonheart vault. Nope, that was my accomplice.”

“Who?”

Without so much as a warning Devin slapped Sirius across the face violently. “Enough the damn questions!” Devin’s face was filled with anger, filled with rage. Sirius could see this easily, but there was something else. Sirius could also see…insanity. “If you let me finish you might learn a thing or two,” Devin said harshly, before gathering his cool and continuing. “I will not tell you who my partner is, just in case you are somehow able to escape. I wouldn’t want you telling on him, now would I?”

“So it’s a he…”

“Yes, of course it’s a he! I wouldn’t trust a female to do this work, especially since the mission at Ebonheart is even more important. And I’ll be honest with you…well, no…I won’t. Not yet at least. First I’ll have to make you suffer I’m afraid. It will hurt, but only for a second. I need something to send a message to fat Carnius, something that will really get his attention. You might want to thank Talos you have two ears, rather than one.”

“No, what are you going to do?” Sirius screamed frantically, trying to crawl away. However, the bearings were too strong for him to let loose.

Devin pulled out a steel knife with a long and slender blade. Then he smiled, an insanely smile, and reached for Sirius’s left ear.


*Ebonheart, Canctunian’s Office, two days later*

Canctunian was half-way asleep when the door to his office swung open. Sleep was hard to come by for the Factor ever since the break-in occurred. Standing in the doorway was a mage messenger, the same messenger that delivered most messages between Canctunian and Carnius. “Yes?” Canctunian asked impatiently.

“Sir, Carnius sends an urgent message,” The mage said, handing over a folded note to the Factor.

Canctunian read the note to himself, and then dropped it to the floor, his hands shaking in fear and his head shaking in disbelief. Without looking at the mage he stammered, “Tell…tell Carnius to meet me here at once!”

TO BE CONTINUED