Burning Today Options

[Olen]

Some of you probably remember my last piece, Yesterday's Shadow and that it had a rather unsatisfying ending. I spent the summer rectifying this and now have a sizeable sequel/ completion to it which is itself now finished. It would probably be better to read Yesterday's Shadow before this as it would make more sense, however you should get by without it. If anyone wants I'll put a synopsis here, though Yesterday's Shadow isn't very long so you could just read it here (enough plugs yet?)

Anyway without further ado:

Burning Today

Prologue

Dervas wore boots while he worked. Shoes didn't last long in the decaying mixture of blood, vomit, drink and drugs which floored The Black Guar. The dark man had finally passed out and for the first time Dervas dared look at him. A worn man with a broken soul. Who are you? The Black Guar didn't get passing trade – the mixture of pushers, heavies and racketeers who made up most of his patronage didn't appreciate strangers. In the first hour the man, who now lay face down on the table, had knocked two out cold and broken another's arm. They left him alone after that and he them. Dervas wiped the remains of a line of sugar off the bar and nodded to the bouncer who went to move the man to his room.

Someone knocked at the door. Dervas ignored it. They knocked again, for longer this time. He cursed and went to tell whoever it was where to go. It was late an he didn't need any more trade. He pushed open the door, a curse dancing on his tongue. A sack crashed to the ground, gold clinked within. A Breton in black clothes stood in the doorway.

“What's his tab?” There was no need to ask whose.

“Sixty.”

The Breton showed no surprise, and counted out the gold. “Listen,” his tone offered pain if Dervas didn't, “You keep giving that guy drinks, drugs, whores, whatever he asks for okay? For him happy hour doesn't end, tabs never have to be paid. Push as much as you can into him. Don't worry - I'll be round a couple of nights a week to pay you. That sack,” he kicked disdainfully at the one he'd just dropped, “Contains a thousand drakes, payment enough I'd say. If he asks don't tell him, just give him more drink. Understand?”

Dervas nodded, his mouth was dry.

The man disappeared into the night.

Dervas walked back into the bar. He looked towards the dark man's room. Who are you? he thought again, And what have I gotten into?

[Olen]

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