Morrowind Memories, Athlain's Childhood Exploits Options

[treydog]

So- this story kind of came out of nowhere- which is as good a way of describing my mind as any... And it does not fit into Blood on the Moon, but it really wanted to be told. And so, here we go. Before Athlain became "Athlain of the Imperial Legion" (trumpets sound dramatically), he had a childhood on Vvardenfell. I am not sure how many of these stories will appear- more, I hope. Anyway- as ever, thank you for reading...

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Athynae was away, visiting the Ashlanders with her mother. Serene had maintained close ties with the Ahemmusa for all the years following her elevation to head of Great House Redoran; she was determined that the House Dunmer and the Ashland Dunmer would not be divided as they once had. Father had a similar relationship with the Urshilaku, but his was much less formal. Mostly, that was because of his nature, which was to avoid formality whenever possible. But mostly, the difference had to do with Athynae herself, or perhaps better to say, Athynae’s existence. The best way to illustrate it would be by noting that the Ahemmusa name for Serene’s eldest child was “Yan-Ti.” It came from the Ashlander word for “One,” and literally translated as “Small One.” But its true meaning was “First.”

Whenever I felt myself chafing at my father’s disinterest in world affairs, I considered Athynae’s situation and decided I had nothing to complain about. No one expected me to go and visit the Ahemussa on my 11th birthday, or show up at official functions (except just a few, or the ones ‘Thyna dragged me to). My father wore his role as a Redoran Councilor lightly. I do not mean that he did not take the position seriously, just that he refused to take himself seriously, Councilor or not. And he did not allow it to spill over onto the rest of us any more than he could help. Beyond that, he spent the majority of his time writing or working on alchemy. Better still, whenever he could, he brought me with him to the outdoors or the laboratory, gathering ingredients and preparing them. His attitude toward potion-making was… relaxed. If I suggested a formulation, his invariable response was, “Let’s try it and see what happens.”

He was more cautious with the results of those experiments, some of which he would not even tip down the drains, remarking, “Even the cave rats don’t deserve that.”

But, on this particular day, he was away at a Council meeting, and Mother was deep into a new painting. When she was in her studio, she disappeared from this world and entered the one from which her images came. What all of that meant was this was a perfect opportunity for me to go out and harvest some fresh ingredients. Maybe I could go as far as the Bitter Coast. That would be useful when Athynae got back and made an issue of the fact that she was now 11 and I was still “a child” because I would be 9 for another few weeks. She sometimes wielded that difference in age like a club.

I definitely wanted to get past the barren hills that lay west of my house. The plants I sought only grew on the far side of those hills, where there was more rain. That reminded me- I should take along a couple of water bottles. What else? A small knife, to make the harvesting easier and also to cause less damage to the donor plants. That was one of the places where my father was firm.

“Never take all of anything and do as little harm as possible with what you do take. These plants are a gift to everyone who might pass this way. It is wrong to take more than you need.”

I considered bringing along a staff, but shook my head. I didn’t want to look like a pilgrim, and besides, I just could not see it as a “real” weapon. Anyway, I wasn’t hunting mudcrabs or slaughterfish, and a spear or net would be better for those, anyway. And a kagouti or alit would just use the staff for a toothpick after it ate me. Of course, if Athynae were coming along, she would have carried enough weapons to outfit the entire X Legion. Well, maybe not the whole Legion. But at least a century’s worth. Whenever I asked her about all the darts and stars and daggers, she just said, “You never know.” She didn’t explain what I “never knew.” She could be so annoying, sometimes.

But anyway, all that was silly. I was just going for a walk, to gather some supplies. I wasn’t going to poke around any caves or tombs. Which she would have- with that same not-an-answer if I asked her why we needed to go into one of those places. “You never know.” Yes I did know. Nothing good ever came out of caves, and tombs were for dead people, some of whom had apparently not been told that they were dead and therefore should not be up walking around. Athynae had never yet seen a fire that she didn’t think needed poking or a cave that didn’t need to be explored. After some of the trouble she had gotten us into, I was beginning to believe “not knowing” might be a good thing. Some of the time.

The Expedition (as I thought of it) was harder than I had expected. The hills between Bal Isra and the coast were steep and unforgiving. But trying to go around would have delayed me too much- and put me on well-traveled paths, where someone might see me and ask what I was doing out by myself. I thought wistfully of the rows of potions in the laboratory, especially the ones sealed with purple wax and marked with Father’s symbol for levitation. But it had seemed silly to take potions when my purpose was to harvest ingredients. And my parents had rules about the use of potentially dangerous potions- like levitation. Still, I did pick up a few useful things from the dry lands, like trama root. After I had crested the third or fourth hill, the burning in my legs caused me to reconsider my definition of “silly.” In fact, I was beginning to think that my whole plan qualified for Athynae’s favorite word. I could almost hear her saying, “Well- that was stupid.”

But then I could see the green of the Bitter Coast just ahead, and the sun glinting off the sea beyond. I had not come for the view though, so I hurried down the final slope to search among the trees and pools. The buzz of insects filled the air, and the humidity was like a heavy blanket that seemed to weigh down my limbs. The abundance of ingredients made it all worthwhile though- mushrooms and swamp flowers, all the plants that grew in profusion on the coast. In addition, I harvested bark from the trees, the emperor’s parasol and Vvardenfell cypress. The cypress bark was fibrous and peeled away in long strips; that of the mushroom trees came loose in palm-sized flakes. No one had ever noted any alchemical properties from those substances, but maybe they just had not done enough research.

I saw a few mudcrabs, but they were small and easy to avoid. Father told me that the Council sent patrols along the coast every few months to look for sign of the big crabs that sometimes threatened the guar herds. The trees provided concealment from gliding cliff racers, but I still kept an eye on the sky and was careful crossing clearings. The density and height of the trees was so different from the land around Ald’ruhn and Bal Isra, and I had to remind myself to watch where I was putting my feet, instead of constantly staring upward. The patterns of light and shadow shifted in the breeze, reminding me of the pebbled hides of alit or kagouti, both of which could be found in this area. The creaks and hums of the insects seemed to take on a more sinister tone, which only heightened my thrill of fear when a low, barking cough sounded behind me.

[treydog]

@haute- Thankee, mistress. He spent a lot of time with two outstanding alchemists (Serene being the other)- and those lessons actually ‘took.’ And poor Trey was quite torn between wanting to express his pride in his son for being so clever- and the impulse to let Baria wall him up in his room… I seem to recall seeing that expression on someone’s face once or twice… just cannot recall when.

@McBadgere- The thing about Our Boy is that he tends to assume “anyone can do” the difficult things he does. And then he frets over the things he CAN’T manage…. Eh… Fathers and sons… what can I say? I was more fortunate than many- as is young Merle…

@SubRosa- Athlain does not know it, but he reflected his father’s experience- falling into being overly-analytical when faced with danger… You know, I had not considered sending him to the mainland to teach spear-crafting… hmmmm. All of your commentary has me laughing, which is a very good thing indeed. Thank you. And that is another truth- boys may seek their fathers’ respect… but they are most fearful of their mothers’ tempers.

And now, a different snapshot of the life of young Athlain. Better Mischief through Alchemy or Rah and Athlain’s Alchemical Adventure. Be excellent to one another!

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“Mistress Athynae is not available to visitors at this time.” The houseman at the door to Sarethi Manor was new, and judging by his accent, fresh from Cyrodiil. He was so stiff, he appeared to have swallowed a poker, and his inclined head gave me a view of his nostrils I could have done without. As I sidestepped him to get into the main hall, I wondered how long he would last in this particular house. Aunt Serene would not mind his stiffness, and Uncle Athyn treated everyone with courtesy… but ‘Thyna? Not to mention Rahvin.

Meanwhile, Ser Officious was trying once more to assert his authority. “If the young master would be pleased to wait in the antechamber….”

I waved a hand dismissively. “That won’t be necessary; I can find the kitchen without assistance.”

He opened and closed his mouth several times, looking like a beached slaughterfish, only less attractive; his determination to carry out his “duty” at war with his inability to deal with someone who refused to play by the rules. I pondered the implication of the fact that none of the other staff had bothered to tell him that our families were in and out of each others houses so much it was hard to tell who lived where. And it was also a good bet that “Mistress Athynae’s” unavailability had something to do with His Pomposity. At any disruption of the “social fabric” of Ald’ruhn, everyone’s eyes automatically went to wherever ‘Thyna was standing. Just as, whenever anything exploded or caused clouds of noxious smoke, we looked for her brother, Rahvin. That gave me an idea. No- not blowing something up- finding Rah.

Rahvin was probably doing something fun in his lab, and he would know what trouble ‘Thyna had caused. One benefit of doing alchemy experiments with Rah was that he tended to be less… stuffy… than my father when it came to testing the results. He was careful with poisons, but more than willing to try non-toxic substances.

* * * * *

“She threw him to the floor when she found him dusting her weapons. Mother pointed out that he was wearing Redoran livery, but you know NayNay. She decided to be offended that anyone would think her weapons needed ‘dusting.’ It went downhill from there. Hand me that bottle of muck sponge.”

I did as he asked and noted, “She has a point. There isn’t a dust speck on Nirn that would dare to light on her gear. Now if it had been her school books….”

He grinned back at me, but then his expression became thoughtful. “That’s just it. She doesn’t trust him. And I think she’s right. Now, the wickwheat.”

Rah was one of those people who could carry on a conversation while his hands went about something else entirely.

“What do you mean? About not trusting him?”

“Now we need to add essence of comberry and let that heat just under a boil for ten minutes.”

Rah stared at the flame of the naptha burner while he considered. “Well… besides the fact that ‘Thyna is always right…. He really did not have any reason to be in her room; he was hired as a houseman, and Kausha is Athynae’s maid.”

He picked up a mortar and began grinding dry ingredients as he continued meditatively. “And then there’s the fact he’s here at all. Cervicatus Superbus. What is an Imperial servant, straight from The City itself, doing on Vvardenfell? Even a servant with impeccable references? In fact, especially one with the glowing recommendations that brought Ser Superbus to us? He should be working as a butler in one of the mansions in the Talos Plaza district.”

I tried to consider the problem carefully, a practice my father had suggested might prevent me from making “quite so many mistakes.” While I thought, Rah was reducing his second mysterious compound in the calcinator.

“Um. I will admit all that is suspicious, but it is hardly proof. He could have left The City for any number of reasons- a family squabble, a desire to see the provinces, a failed love affair….” I stopped there, laughing along with Rahvin. The idea of Pompous Maximus having a love affair with anyone except his own image in the mirror beggared belief. “Fair enough then- not that. But still, we have no proof.” I wanted to be fair, after all. Just because I thought the new servant resembled the northern end of a southbound scrib was not enough to convict him of… whatever we suspected.

“Exactly,” said Rah with a smile. “And that is just what we are going to get. Proof.” He waved a hand at the bubbling, fizzing, and smoking substances on the laboratory table. “With this.”

“Oh,” was all I could think to say.

He lifted a clear, odorless liquid off the burner and let it cool before he decanted it into a small flask, which he then corked. “The thing is, we need to prove beyond question that he is trying to gain access to places he shouldn’t. After ‘Thyna tossed him to the floor and pinned him, he has avoided her rooms. We can’t just follow him, not even using invisibility. First, because Mother has forbidden it,” he looked embarrassed. It appeared that Athynae was not the only Sarethi to have fallen afoul of the new servant. “And second, because he has an uncanny ability to detect anyone who tries. He’s probably using a detect life item or spell.”

Rah removed a fine powder from the calcinator and poured it into a paper packet, which he folded and sealed. “So, we will catch him with Science.” I could hear the capital letter as he pointed proudly to the flask and the packet. “By themselves, these substances are inert and undetectable.” He brought his hands together, intertwining the fingers. “Combined, they will allow us to catch a spy!”

I wanted to stand up and applaud; when Rah started talking about alchemy, he exuded a surprising charisma. It was a trait all the Sarethi children shared; it just manifested in each of them in different ways. Caught up by his enthusiasm, I asked, “What can I do?”

“Two things. Distract him while I sprinkle Mother’s confidential files with the crystals. Then you need to find a way to get this,” he held up the flask of clear liquid, “onto his gloves. You can’t let him see you do that part, in case he changes into a different pair. The liquid is the activator. It is essential to make the crystals work.”

My tasks proved to be simplicity itself. I stopped by the kitchen to see if anything was baking; Cook would have been sure something was wrong if I didn’t, and besides, plotting to catch a spy worked up an appetite. So, while I was happily working my way through a fresh berry tart, Cook and the laundress talked about the newest addition to the staff.

“As if I don’t have enough to do. And as if I haven’t been doing the washing for Sir Athyn and Sera Serene for all these years. But, oh no, Ser Nose-in-the-Air has the gall to give me instructions on his laundry. The gloves too.” Her voice changed to imitate one of the “posh” characters from the plays that came through Ald’ruhn every now and then.

“‘Hot water only, you understand. And kept separate from anything with dyes or tints.’

I’ve a mind to dump the basket of washing over his swelled head!”

And that was the opening I needed. “Why don’t you stay here and talk with Cook? I can carry the washing to the servants’ quarters for you.”

“Bless you, Athlain. The man just aggravates me so. I’m afraid of what I might do if I have to see him again.”

Meanwhile, Cook beamed at me and wrapped two more tarts in a towel. “Now one of those is for Rahvin- mind you give it to him.” She knew he would forget to eat when he was working on his experiments, and she trusted me to deliver the food to him. It was a test of my honor, though.

I stopped out of sight of the kitchen and treated all of the white gloves in the basket with the mysterious liquid, which soon dried and left no trace. Then I went to Ser Pompous’ room, where I delivered his laundry, along with an insincere apology for my actions earlier in the day. He accepted both with ill grace, but I managed to drag the apology out long enough that Rahvin could have gone to Balmora and back. I just hoped he didn’t get lost in his thoughts and forget his part of the plan.

When I got back to the lab, Rah gave me a nod and I did the same. Then I swept clear a place on the lab table and opened up the towel with the tarts. Rah’s disappeared as quickly as mine; but I am not sure he actually tasted it; he was deep into another experiment. I started to ask if it mattered that I had spilled some of the liquid on my hands, but then remembered he had said both parts were necessary for a reaction and quit worrying about it.

With school the next day, Mother had given me permission to stay overnight, rather than walk all the way back home, so I was curled on a pallet in Rah’s room when a tremendous knocking sounded on his door the next morning. It was followed by Aunt Serene’s voice, which held the unmistakable air of command, even though it was not loud.

“Rahvin Sarethi and Athlain Treyson! I want both of you out here- this instant!”

Usually the only person who got that tone was Athynae, so we practically tripped over each other getting up and out the door.

Along with Serene were two armed Redoran guards and the new houseman. Serene was clearly furious, her face pale except for two spots of red high on her cheeks. Her eyes should have set the woodwork on fire and I just hoped I wasn’t any more flammable. Meanwhile, the unfortunate Cervicatus was purple. I do not mean he was enraged, although he probably was. I mean his face, his hands, every visible inch of skin- was covered with vivid purple… fuzz.

Athynae stood across the hall, just inside the door of her room, watching everything but keeping quiet. Aunt Serene’s voice dragged my eyes back to her.

“As you know, I expect proof before I accuse someone.” She paused. “But in this case, the guilt is literally all over your faces.” She pointed a condemnatory finger at Rahvin and me. Wait. What? “Our faces?’ I looked at Rah and he looked at me. I reached a hand to touch my face… and felt … fuzz. I was sure it was the same purple that afflicted Cervicatus… and Rahvin.

“The tarts,” he whispered. “They were made with comberry, weren’t they?”

I nodded. Aunt Serene had folded her arms and was tapping her foot, giving us the raised eyebrow look I knew so well- except that usually Athynae was on the receiving end. She spoke once more. “I am glad to see that a lengthy interrogation will not be necessary. However, I do have one question- is anyone else likely to be affected?”

Rah had a peculiar expression on his face- well, even more peculiar than that caused by his visage being covered in purple fuzz. It was composed of equal parts satisfaction that his experiment had worked and chagrin that it had caught us as well as the supposed spy.

“Well?” How Aunt Serene managed to put so much into that one word, I don’t know, but it snapped my attention back from ‘Thyna, who had been making the signs for “run” and “hide,” only to finish with a shrug that clearly meant- “too late; you are on your own.”

Rah’s eyes turned up toward the ceiling and his voice took on his “scientist” tone as he said thoughtfully, “Only people who have been exposed to comberry juice, and…,” his eyes came back down to stare at the fuming Imperial houseman. “And who have also touched the powder I sprinkled over your confidential files, Mother.”

‘Thyna’s dagger appeared in her hand as if by magic, and she started to take a step forward. But Aunt Serene’s magic was even stronger, a magic that only mothers possess. The Arch Mistress quelled her eldest child with a gesture that Ser Pompous Purplus Maximus could not see. And, since Athynae was standing behind her, and Serene did not turn her head, and especially because Athynae actually stopped- it had to have been magic.

Aunt Serene turned to face the fuzzy purple house slipp man and shrugged elaborately. “Ser, I find myself in a difficult position. It is obvious that you are the victim of a plot, arranged by two foolish boys. However,” she nodded to the guards, who each took one of the man’s elbows. “It is it also obvious that you would not have been victimized if you had not been somewhere you shouldn’t. I hope that lesson will be taken to heart by certain others present. Take him away.”

The guards’ footfalls had barely receded when ‘Thyna bolted from her room to stand in front of Aunt Serene. “I want it recorded, signed, and witnessed that I had nothing to do with this!”

Serene sighed and shook her head. “Please Athynae. Let me deal with one problem at a time.”

Rahvin spoke up, “But Mother, this means NayNay was right! He is a spy! My experiment proved it.” His expression was one of injured pride.

Serene rounded on him. “Of course he is a spy!” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “I knew that before he ever got here. I planned to use him to feed bad information back to the Hla…. Never you mind. Now I have to see what I can salvage.”

She started to follow the guards, but turned back to us. “You two- get ready for school.”

I stammered, gesturing at my empurpled visage, “But… but… ah, Aunt Serene… we… you… we can’t…”

Her smile was wintry. “Oh yes. Yes you can. And you will.” I will have Galviso escort you, so you do not lose your way.”

She started away again, only to be confronted by Athynae. “I still want that document, stating that this was not my fault!”

Serene looked at her and nodded. “Yes. A written statement will be just the thing. In fact, two written statements.”

So Thyna got her document, embossed with Serene's own seal. And Rah and I got to go to school, wearing placards that read- "This is what happens to boys who are too clever for their own good.'"