Cloak and Dagger, A Fan-Fiction Options

[Zalphon]

Prologue

3E 420

“Naïlo,” the Hlaalu Guard asked. “Did Stacey give you the package?” I opened the satchel at my hip and pulled out the box of drakes. I handed it to the Dunmer in Bonemold Armor. He reached for it and nodded.

“Now then, the Hlaalu Guards will turn a blind eye to the Thieves’ Guild activities in Balmora?” I asked. “That is the deal.” The deal had been in place for five years, ever since the Raynil Orayn became the leader of local Hlaalu in Balmora. The truth was simple: he was like every other Hlaalu, a corrupt, greedy thug.

I walked towards the bridge to the South Wall Corner Club. In the alleys, Skooma-addicts smoked away their money. This was Balmora, the real Balmora. It wasn’t uncommon for an outlander to disappear or a Skooma-addict to sell everything he owned down to the clothes off his back for another bottle of those precious crystals.

Habasi smiled as I crossed the bridge. “Did they receive the ‘package’?” she asked inquisitively. With a nod, I saw that smile grow from ear to ear. She patted me on the back and opened the door for me.

“Good job, Naïlo.”

“Sugar-Lips, it’s my duty to the Guild.”

“Sugar-Lips thinks you’re a good kid, Naïlo,” the Khajiit stated as we walked down the stairs. “Stacey would like you to see you, Ashborn.”

I strode over to the door with a sign: “Private Room” and knocked. When the door opened, a Redguard in exquisite clothes answered the door. He had light brown hair that was combed back. “Naïlo, you’ve been with the Guild for a few years now.”

“Y-yes, S-sera,” I stuttered. “I-I have been with the G-guild for some time.” This was the first time I had ever seen Gentleman Jim Stacey in the flesh. I had once received orders from him to deliver a package to the Hlaalu Council House, but only once.

“Relax, kid. I’ve got some good news for you. I’m officially promoting you to Wet Ear.”

“W-what are you serious?” I asked.

“Yes and with your new rank, I’ll need you to travel to Ald’ruhn to take orders from Relam Arinith, our ranking member there. He has needed someone to help him out with a few jobs,” Stacey grinned. “You think you can handle it, Kid?”

“Y-yes I can,” I nodded like an obedient child. “Can you pay for me to take a silt strider to Ald’ruhn?”

The human looked around for a moment then he finally came to a conclusion. “Tell him Stacey said if he gives you free passage to Ald’ruhn we’re even,” he ordered. “The next silt strider to Ald’ruhn is in the morning, so rest up.”

I walked out and the bartender tossed me a loaf of bread. “Have a good trip, Naïlo.” I had to walk forward to grab it; the Imperial never was a good judge of distance. With a hefty bite out of it, I made my way towards my room. The room had a cloth rug, a pillow and a blanket.

I lied down on the rug and put my head on the pillow. “Finally a member of the guild,” I whispered to myself proudly…

[Zalphon]

Chapter One: Ald'ruhn, City of Untold Mystery - Continued

“I was sent by S-Stacey,” I managed to say. I had never had someone so strong actually pick me up by my throat. He released his grip on me and I fell to the ground. Thump was the sound my rear made as it slammed against the hard, dirt floor.

“Gentlemen Jim Stacey sent you? When did he do that?” he probed inquisitively. “And why would he send a youth here.”

“You’ll have to ask him, I’m here to take orders from Arinith.”

“Downstairs.”

Obediently, I stepped down stairs. A Bosmer smiled at me. Unlike most of the thieves here, he didn’t wear a commoner’s or a noble’s. He wore a linen shirt with an emerald vest over it and tan, linen pants. A Dunmer motioned for me to come closer; I had to assume it was Arinith.

The warmth of the fire made it much more comfortable, but something really unnerved me. A Breton female, around my age with a collar and leash around her neck walked over. Sad eyes looked into mine; they were begging for me to help.

“Get back over here,” the one who I assumed Arinith growled. He pulled hard on the leash sending the Breton crashing down on her butt.

“Why did you do that?” I hissed. “She didn’t do anything, just walked over to me.”

“She’s a slave. She was an old experiment of a Telvanni Lord; one that failed quite miserably, so I was able to buy her rather cheaply,” He explained. “By the way, I am Relam Arinith, your new boss, Naïlo.”

The red-haired girl wiped the tears from her eyes and sat on her knees. I didn’t know why, but she felt—different, as if somehow I needed her. “How much did you purchase her for?” I was inclined to ask. “The way you treat her, she was probably little more than fifty drakes.”

“Why do you care? Do you want to buy the Outlander?”

“I’d love to have a pet,” I lied. “How much do you want for her?”

Arinith grinned. “Head to Codus Callonus’ Book Shop, he has a book that a contact wants. The book is called ‘The Vampires of Vvardenfell, Volume I’. Get the book and you can have the S’wit,” he offered.

Without a second thought, I walked out of the Rat in the Pot. Where was this book shop? “Madam,” I tapped a woman’s shoulder. “Could you tell me where the local book shop is?”

“Across Ald’ruhn, by the large Emperor Crab Shell,” the woman politely replied.

The ash started pelting. I was glad I had the thick clothing of the Redoran people. I did my best to get across town, even though it was barren save for the Redoran Guards; it was still hard to see. I opened a door to a shop and a paranoid Imperial drew his blade. “Who’re you?” the alerted Imperial scowled. I looked around to see bookshelves lined up next to each other full of books of all lengths, heights, and bindings.

I had an idea, but if it didn’t work, I’d likely end up in Redoran Prison. I did my best to impersonate a female, “I’m a Redoran Noblewoman. I know you’ve got a contraband book, the Vampires of Vvardenfell. Give it to me and I may not alert the Temple that you have it, Criminal.”

I saw the look of panic in his eyes, which sent a feeling of relief throughout my body. “F-fine, just take it. Don’t tell the Temple, I don’t want to end up as a prisoner. P-please don’t, milady.”

When he handed me the book, I tucked it into my knapsack and stated, “Very well, perhaps I won’t have to alert them, Outlander.” The word “outlander” didn’t feel right as it escaped my lips. Most Dunmer said it quite often as an insult, but it felt like an old, xenophobic insult at that.

With a nod, I walked back to the Rat in the Pot. When I opened the door, the masculine Dark Elf didn’t grab me by my throat, but just chuckled as I removed my face-wrap. Down the stairs I went with the book in hand. “Arinith, I have your book.”
The Mer rose a brow when I handed it to him, but he didn’t make it known that he expected me to fail. “She’s yours, Naïlo,” Relam said as he let me take her leash. “By the way, the last room on the left is for you, Footpad.”
“Already another promotion,” I thought as I led the girl to my new room. “That’s surprising.” When I entered the room, I eagerly found: a bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a basin.

“What are you going to do, Naïlo?” she asked nervously. The girl had pale skin and straight, fiery crimson hair that fell to her shoulders. Her blue eyes were bright, but I could tell that they were afraid of me.

I pulled out my lock-picks and used my knowledge to unlock the metal collar. “There, what’s your name?” The collar was heavy once I finally managed to pull it off of her, but she still wasn’t completely comfortable around me. I couldn’t blame her after watching what Relam did to her.

“Mirabelle, but I prefer Mira,” Mira whispered. “Any other questions or shall I to silence myself?”

“What kind of experiment were you exactly?”

“I’d rather not talk about it, if that’s okay, Master,” the Girl sighed. “Are you to remove my slave bracers or am I to keep them as a symbol of my inferiority?”

After a few minutes of fiddling, I managed to unlock the bracers and she weakly grinned. “I am a mage, an apprentice but a mage nonetheless if you wish for me to help you.” Mira was modest.

“Mira, if you want, you can leave. However, my duty is to the guild.”

She shook her head, “Naïlo, I owe you my life for freeing me from my slavery. I shall gladly aid you.” Her voice sounded sincere, but I couldn’t be sure. Why would a former slave want to help the one who freed them? I didn’t do anything; I just did what my heart told me to.

I walked out and so did the long-haired Breton. She was still wearing a tattered, grey skirt that reached to her knees and a matching blouse that looked as if it was made for an Orc. “Ah, you freed my—your little pet already?” Arinith asked.

“H-he did,” Mira quietly said. “W-why does it matter?”

“Naïlo, if you want, I have another job for you.”

“What’s the job, Muthsera?”

“Nartise Arobar, the daughter of Miner Arobar has a book that we’re seeking—The Old Ways is the name of the book.”

“How do you propose I get it?”

“You got the other book; you can get this one, Naïlo.” In other words, he was planning and actively hoping I’d fail. I wasn’t quite sure what this meant, but I did know that I needed to get that book to make a point. I was ready to leave and I hoped Mira would come with…