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 - Final

Mira smiled weakly at me as I headed towards the door. “I have a question, Sera. May I join you in your goal to speak to Nartise?” Her soft voice was eager, but I didn’t want to risk being captured. I nodded quickly, however that didn’t mean I wasn’t prepared to hide.

“Do you happen to have any other clothes, Mira?”

“This is my only outfit.”

I opened the door to see the ash flying through the air. “Mira, do you have idea how we’ll get to the Clothier’s Shop in this hellish weather?” I asked.

I watched her whisper quietly. “I have used a spell that will protect me from the storm if we move fast,” she stated. “It’s a weak spell, so I most likely will end with a body as red as a dreugh’s.” Without a second’s wait, I opened the door and sprinted for the place where I bought my outfit only less than an hour before.

She followed close behind, but I could see her pale skin getting more and more battered by the small grains of ash beating against her. When we reached the yurt, Mira darted inside. The Dunmeri woman greeted, “Hello, Breton—and didn’t I just see you, Dunmer?”

The woman reminded me of an Ashlander Wise Woman a little too much. “Do you happen to have any clothes for me?” Mira asked. “I need some Redoran clothing.”

“Fifteen drakes and I’ll give you an entire outfit.”

“I have no money; I’m a recently freed slave. Please, out of the kindness of your heart?”

The Old Dark Elf pointed to a mannequin and said, “Very well. Remember that those clothes are to be taken care of, many days have been spent tailoring them.” With a mild sense of dubiousness, Mira undressed in front of me. She stood there and looked at me; I wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or simply shy, probably both.

I stripped the mannequin of the clothing and handed them to my Breton companion who dressed herself hastily. The only part of her skin that was visible was the bridge of her nose and her eye-lids. “Are we ready to go speak to Nartise?”

“Indeed.”

We ventured towards the colossal crab shell. Two Redoran Guards in bone-mold armor stood at the door. “Why do you seek to enter?” one asked with a scratchy voice.

“We wish to speak to a Redoran Councilor.”

“They’re too busy to waste their time with you, Commoner. Perhaps you could speak to Neminda, though. She’s who you can talk to about joining.”

“Very well,” I grumbled as I shoved open the door. Mira followed closely behind me. Inside the shell was a lot different, at least fifteen oval doors led to different places. In the center was a crater with a ramp down into it where several shops were located.

A sign was by three doors “House Redoran Council House”. Surprisingly, no guards were nearby. The door opened silently, but inside guards were everywhere. A Redguard woman stood across from the door and asked, “Who are you?”

Mira honestly said, “We’re seeking to speak to talk to Nartise Arobar.”

“She’s in Arobar Manor, not the Council House. It’s to the left as you exit.”

I grumbled and we turned around. After about thirty seconds, we reached the door on the left and opened it. “Master Arobar isn’t seeing anyone at the moment, Commoner,” one of the many Redoran guards stated.

Mira muttered under her breath and the guard spoke again, “Actually, I’m sure Master Arobar can make time for you, Madam.” I raised a brow, but I didn’t complain because the guard let us pass.
For several minutes, we walked through the extravagant, subterranean manor. It was beautiful, giant tapestries lined the walls detailing things such as the war between the Dunmer and the Nords or Nerevar killing the treacherous knave, Voryn Dagoth.

Finally we reached the bedrooms, but we overheard a conversation, I peaked around the corner to see a Dark Elf in ebony armor with a matching honoured user sword in hand talking to a dervish looking Dunmer in midnight-black “Is it true, Assassin? Does he lay dead?”

“Galos Omayn, Master of the House Hlaalu is lying in a pool of his own blood. Now about the payment,” the Assassin responded.

“Did you leave a signet ring of House Telvanni?”

“Of course I did, Master Arobar. Now then, you promised you’d pay for this ‘grey writ’, because Galos wasn’t known to be a criminal.”

Arobar dragged a trunk over. “Four-thousand septims are in the chest, count them if you like. I have another duty for you. Deliver this note to the Duke declaring a House War between House Hlaalu and House Telvanni, its ‘signed’ by the Archmagister Gothren himself.”

Why was a Redoran Councilor so concerned with House Hlaalu? What did they have to do with anything? “I’ll deliver the note, but I’ll expect a hundred septims for my work. The duke may take it as a threat from me leading to my execution.”

I made a hand signal telling Mira to follow me to a bedroom nearby. Inside sat a girl in elegant clothing with a skooma pipe in hand. Arising from it was smoke and she rapidly said, “Want some? Its good. You should share some.” Skooma ruined too many people, I hated that about it. A Redoran Noblewoman though? She was maybe three years older than me, but still. She could have anything she wanted and she chose skooma?

“We’re here to speak to Nartise, do you know her?”

“She’s my sister,” the girl said as she inhaled from the pipe. “Her room is across the hall, but unlike me she’s a bit of a ‘good girl’.”

We thanked her and walked across the hall to the bedroom. A young girl with dark brown hair that was groomed neatly in a bun smiled. “Can I help you?”

Mira removed her face-wrap and pleaded, “Can we please come in?”

Nartise allowed us entrance into the luxurious room. Bookshelves filled with books lined the walls, but unlike her sister, she wore commoner’s clothing. “Why don’t you wear clothing fitting for your title, Sera?” I asked. “Like your sister—err—what’s your sister’s name?”

“Ghandosa is her name. Unlike my family, I prefer to live a life of humility. I am no better in the eyes of ALMSIVI so why should I pretend to be? A question, what do you want with me?”

“We require a book—The Old Ways, it’s about the Psjiic Order if I remember correctly.”

“The Old Ways, what a wonderful read. I would love to give it to you, but why have you come to me for it?”

“I’ve a scholarly int—,” I managed to say before I was interrupted.

“We need the book for our employer,” Mira truthfully explained. “We figured you could give us the book, because you have a reputation for being of a noble heart as many Redoran do.”

Nartise smiled, “Okay. I’ll grab it for you.” She walked over to one of the many book shelves and pulled out a leather-bound book with pages that looked like they were made when Saint Nerevar was alive.”

We walked outside and walked trying to disguise our true fear of being discovered by Master Arobar with a false sense of calmness. We finally found the exit to Arobar Manor and I think we were both saying prayers of thanks to our gods.

Redoran Guards stared at us as we walked away nonchalantly. We walked out of the Manor District and headed to the Rat in the Pot, eager to get my reward. The storm had stopped, fortunately for us. Once we entered, Arinith was sitting near the door drinking a glass of Flin. “Have the book?” he asked. “I’m sure the client is eager for it.”

I pulled it out and handed it to him, “My reward?”

He pulled out a small, overly full bag of septims. “Here you go one-hundred drakes. I’ve no more work for you at the moment, so get some rest.” His voice was slightly tainted by the alcohol in the Flin; he slurred some of his words.

I strode to my room and sat on the bed. Mira quickly followed. “If you always lie Naïlo, how will anyone know when you tell the truth?” she asked.

“I guess they’ll just have to hope,” I replied. The truth was I did lie a lot. Maybe too much, but it was part of my life. I had to, because if I didn’t, I didn’t get the job done and I didn’t get to eat. It was a way of survival for me.

“I don’t want to just have to hope,” she whispered.

“Then don’t stay around me,” I sighed. “I’ve never had a choice but to lie and steal.”

“Then perhaps you should come with me, I can help you…”

“Do what? Turn my back on my family?”

“Listen to what your heart, Naïlo... What do they tell you to do?”

“I don’t know what it beckons for me to do, Mira, but eventually I’ll find my answer,” was what I said as I laid down on the bed. I closed my eyes and let my mind drift into the land of sleep.