The Story of Trey- Chapter 6 Options

[treydog]

Chapter 6

From the perspective of so many years later, I understand that trying to solve things with violence is futile. If you create a power vacuum in the criminal world, plenty of people will be glad to fill it. Even worse is what you risk losing. Not only is there a physical risk, but the risk of spiritual death. The answer to almost any problem becomes, "Kill it." It is a path of madness and despair. I know, because I came very near to walking that path for a time.

The Camonna Tong in Balmora was crippled, most of its members dead at my hands. I had given Larrius Varro his bloodbath; I had bought the Thieves Guild some breathing space. And it wasn't enough. The blood of my enemies had not put out the fire of my anger, it had only fed the flames. In fighting the monster that was the Camonna Tong, I had become monstrous myself. I had decided to become a hunter, determined to track down and destroy whatever trace of the Camonna Tong I could find. Vengeance sang in my brain and my muscles trembled with the need to strike down all who opposed me. I would seek them wherever they laired and cast them into the darkness. I already knew that Hla Oad was considered Camonna territory; I would start there. I sharpened my blades and prepared my potions and spells. A shadow had fallen across my heart and I could not see any light except that cast by the fires of my rage. Our fates rest on such small things, often unseen and unremarked. You take one path instead of another, never knowing that you have avoided an ambush. You decide to eat at home instead of at the corner club on the night of a devastating fire. Or you stop to talk to a man you have vowed to kill, because of the fear in the eyes of a Khajiit slave.

My sources had told me that most of the Camonna in Hla Oad worked in a smuggler's den underneath Fatleg's. A hidden entrance from the sea allowed them to load and unload boats under cover. So it was that I found myself descending through a trapdoor into a vast cavern underneath the humid little village. Although a part of me simply yearned to begin a berserk dance of death more suited to a Nord warrior, the small amount of control I retained counseled caution. Before I started my vendetta, I should locate all of my opponents and determine if there were any hidden exits. Therefore, I bypassed Llemisa Marys, who never knew how close death had come. Deeper in the cavern I found Relam Arinith and also discovered just how evil my sworn enemies truly were. Standing near Arinith was a Khajiit slave, who seemed to be in the grip of a terrible fever or else overwhelmed by fear. Still, despite her constant trembling, her eyes held mine for a brief instant of mute appeal. Arinith obviously thought I was someone else, for he asked me if I had come to "escort the slave to Balmora." Sensing an opportunity to hit the Camonna Tong where it would really hurt, in the pocketbook, I decided to play along. "Sure, I just got in. What's the deal?"

Arinith told me, "This slave, Rabinna, is my payment for a bargain I made with Vorar Helas in Balmora. Take good care of her- she's not much to look at, but it's what's on the inside that counts."

Here was a chance to free a slave and hurt Camonna all at the same time. I could always come back for Arinith later and, even better, he had just given me a name I hadn't known. Once we got out of the hideout, I could see if Rabinna knew anything, and then send her on her way. Perhaps I could even give her a little cash to make her escape easier. And then I would be free to continue on my planned path of mayhem. After we had exited Fatleg's, I tried to speak to the Khajiit, but she seemed paralyzed with fear. Her eyes were locked on the blade that I had forgotten was still in my hand. Hoping to calm her, I sheathed the sword and tried again. Her fright lessened enough to allow speech, but Rabinna still moaned that her "fate was sealed" and that there was no chance of escape. I asked her what she meant and she revealed the true extent of the evil of which the Camonna Tong was capable. She had been forced to swallow a great many packets of moon sugar, wrapped to prevent their dissolving in her stomach. Once she reached Balmora, Vorar Helas would kill her and cut her open to recover the drugs. When I promised that I would not take her to Balmora, Rabinna was grateful, but pointed out that she could not get far wearing a slave bracer. Anyone who was so inclined could capture her and turn her in as a runaway. And her death would follow in short order. But perhaps, she said, there was a chance.

It seemed that someone named Im-Kilaya at the Argonian Mission in Ebonheart worked to return slaves to their homelands. If only she could reach him, she had a chance. How strange are the fates and how narrow the chances that save our humanity. The choice was before me- save this single life or continue on my quest of death. Ultimately, the life, in truth the soul I saved, was my own. For at that moment, it was the desire of this Khajiit for freedom, for life, that turned me aside from a road that would have led to my damnation. I agreed to take her to Ebonheart. Getting to the Argonian Mission was simply a matter of taking the boat from Hla Oad and making our way through the fortified city. As soon as we got inside the mission, Rabinna thanked me and rushed to the side of a richly-dressed Argonian. When I spoke to him, he identified himself as Im-Kilaya and promised to see that the former slave reached safety. He also gave me his thanks and 400 gold, saying, "Perhaps it will help in funding other missions of good will."

Sanity had returned, and I trembled in reaction to what had nearly become of me. How ironic that my hatred of the injustice of slavery had overcome my determination to exterminate a group I had believed I hated even more. Although I had no doubt that the Camonna Tong "needed killing," I was equally certain that administering that justice was reserved for someone else. For a brief, chaotic time, I had believed myself to be the instrument of divine vengeance, the bringer of destruction. Now I knew that I was just myself, Trey of High Rock- no more, no less. And that was enough.

There was something very interesting going on at the Argonian Mission, but no one there seemed inclined to say much about it. They were polite, but it was clear that they didn't completely trust me. As one who had his own secrets, I respected their caution, but I did wonder what they were up to. As I left Ebonheart, I realized that I was at a loss for what to do next. Before I had briefly lapsed into insanity and planned to exterminate the Camonna Tong, I had made sure there were I had no outstanding obligations- I had not believed I would survive. Now, no one was expecting me to go anywhere or to deliver anything- it seemed that I was free to choose my own path. That momentary vision of freedom and free will came to a sudden stop when I reached up to adjust my collar and felt the chain I wore, the chain that held the Emperor's "gift." Very well, then. I had not seen Caius for some time; better for me to visit him than have him come looking for me. No doubt he would have some sort of "go see this person" job in mind. But that was agreeable- he seemed to know some interesting people.

This post has been edited by treydog: Mar 5 2023, 10:27 PM