Trey in Mournhold, Chapter 6 Options

[treydog]

Although I was summoned to see Queen Barenziah, I did not immediately go to her chambers. Instead, I made some preparations. The request for my presence was not formal, after all, and did not specify a day or time. Therefore, after securing my old room at the Winged Guar, I availed myself of a bath and also carefully cleaned my clothing and gear. Those who have followed my story this far may be surprised that I took such care over a meeting with a member of the nobility, a class which I despised. And there may have been some hypocrisy in my actions, considering my generally low opinion of so-called royalty. But it is in that phrase that the reason for my attitude toward Barenziah may be found. In my experience, most nobles were anything but noble. They were greedy, stupid, arrogant, and self-absorbed- and those were their good points. But Barenziah had been a queen in truth, not just as a title. She had been instrumental in exposing and thwarting the plot of Jagar Tharn, who had impersonated Emperor Uriel Septim VII. More than that, she had always been concerned for the welfare of the common people and had done much to ease their suffering. There were additional rumors about her adventurous youth, but confirmation was hard to come by. No one, however, questioned the fact that she was highly skilled in the art of magic and more than able to navigate the dangerous world of court intrigue with grace and wit. She had lived for over 500 years, many of them during a time that all the royal families of Tamriel were at grave risk. All of that being true, I would grant her the respect that her years and her actions had earned.

I also engaged in an additional bit of preparation- a search for knowledge. My reasoning was simple: if I was to meet this great lady, I would need all the information I could find. Therefore, once I had seen to my appearance, I made my way to the bookseller in the Great Bazaar. Sanaso Sarothran happily sold me the full set of the Biography of Barenziah, which was the version of the queen’s story authorized by the Tribunal Temple. When I inquired after The Real Barenziah, she told me that no copies of that work were available in Mournhold and that it was more than her life was worth to even own those books, let alone sell them. The Temple was quite serious about suppressing that particular work, and it was one of the few things about which they and King Helseth were in agreement. While the authorized biography made for interesting reading, it had clearly been heavily edited and probably bore only a passing resemblance to reality. Perhaps if I had sought more diligently for the volumes of The Real Barenziah, things would have turned out differently. But then again, perhaps not. There are some events that must happen, and all the preparation and knowledge in the world cannot change them. As I was about to discover, Barenziah was much more than a character in a story, or a queen, or a noble. She was a force of nature. And now, it was time to meet her. I returned to the Palace and approached the door to the queen’s chambers. Upon my knock, a pleasant voice bade me enter.

When I said that Barenziah was a “force of nature,” I suppose that, for many, the phrase conjures the image of a great storm or an avalanche. But there is another force, a force that works quietly to impose major changes on the world. Think of the slow, constant effect of water on stone. Consider how the water shapes the stone over time. Such was the effect of the former queen of Mournhold. Like all elves, she was long-lived. And she was therefore able to wait patiently, to work her will slowly, achieving results after decades of subtle effort. But I only realized that long after our first meeting. At the time, I was too caught up in her sheer presence to recognize her depth. In appearance, she was typical of the Dunmeri race, with gray skin and red eyes. Her features were pleasant, and the few lines of her face appeared to be those of someone who smiled and laughed often. As befit her station, she was richly dressed and her white hair was elaborately dressed and curled. I thought it interesting that she made no attempt to disguise her great age, but rather displayed its signs prominently. Perhaps only we short-lived humans turn our vanity toward seeking the appearance of perpetual youth, while the eternal elves understand that age and wisdom are more deserving of veneration. And there was wisdom in her eyes, of that there can be no doubt. Again and again, in my memories of Barenziah, I come back to her eyes. She was reputed to be skillful in magic; perhaps she cast a spell upon me in that first moment of meeting. If so, it was of a sort that I have never encountered in all the long years since that day, for, if spell it was, it influences me still. Along with wisdom, her eyes seemed to hold a sense of fun, as if there was still an elven child lurking within and peering out at the clumsy Breton and dancing with laughter. But the laughter was not directed at me, at least not in any mean-spirited way. Instead, it was an invitation to share in the great adventure that was life. Maybe none of those impressions were real; maybe she did ensorcel me. And maybe she made me think of my own magical mother, a woman who I never knew, and yet carried with me always.

I must have spent enough time staring for it to seem rude, for Barenziah’s attendant, a no-nonsense Redguard, finally said,

“Is that how you were taught to greet the Queen? I vow that I could teach you some manners and it is a lesson you’d not forget.”

The queen waved a calming hand and said,

“Peace, Alusannah. He is merely a young man who is not used to court ways and court manners. As well to berate a fish for being uncomfortable upon the land or a bird for disliking the burrow of a badger. We are each of us fit for our own element and more at home therein. So, peace.”

The gracious speech, delivered in an amused tone, brought me back to myself and I bowed low, muttering,

“I beg your pardon, great lady. How may I be of service?”

Overwhelmed by her presence though I was, I would kneel before no one, not even the Emperor himself. In that, at least, I was still my own man. Still smiling, Barenziah gestured me to a chair, where I perched uncomfortably. After studying me closely for a time, she again spoke.

“Greetings, Trey. I’ve wanted to speak with you. I understand that you’ve performed some tasks for Tienius and you’ve done well. I believe that there are other matters you should investigate.”

I should have known by then that even a careful question could be dangerous, but my curiosity over what the queen might want with me overcame my natural caution, so I asked,

”What ‘other matters’ do you think need investigation?”

“Mournhold is a town of two minds. On the one hand, there is the monarchy, led by Helseth, and on the other there is the Temple, and the goddess Almalexia. It is hard to know whom you may trust. While there has been no open hostility between the two, there are always undercurrents that bear watching. I would like you to make yourself known to the Temple. See what you can learn. Speak to Fedris Hler. He is a powerful man in the Temple, a confidant of Almalexia. See if you can get to know him a bit.”

Because the queen had been polite, I responded in kind, rather than stating my feelings about Fedris Hler more bluntly.

“My lady, I have met Fedris Hler and I do not believe he likes me very much.”

That news did not seem to concern Barenziah particularly, as she responded,

“There is more to Hler than one would think. He hides a brilliant mind behind that gruff exterior. It is fairly widely known that he is the leader of the Hands of Almalexia. He will not respond to a charming pair of blue eyes,” she paused to smile at me again, “but he is impressed by plain-speaking. It would be a great service to me if you could discover what concerns occupy Fedris Hler and the goddess.”

I had hoped to avoid further contact with the Temple, but that plan seemed destined to fail. It was clear that the path to Helseth was guarded by his mother. Her words in his ear would determine whether he ever spoke to me or not. Those thoughts reminded me of something else she had mentioned, and I inquired:

“Earlier, you spoke of the difficulty of knowing who to trust. I would value your views on that matter.”

Her expression grew more serious as she pondered my question. At last, she spoke slowly,

“A difficult question, especially in the company of gods and kings. I am always here to answer your questions. My time in the political arena is done, and I will not miss it. I do, however, like to know what is happening to my son, and to his monarchy. I stay interested. You should also take the time to speak with Plitinius Mero, a dear friend of mine. He is knowledgeable on a great many subjects, and is always interesting to speak with. Apart we two, it is up to you to decide who your friends are.”

I recognized that last as a dismissal, couched in polite terms though it was. Barenziah had given me much to think on. Of great interest to me was the fact that she had plainly stated that she was someone who I could trust. Most of the time, such a vow is a warning that you should check your pockets. But, in this case, I had the feeling that she was speaking the simple truth.

[treydog]

The queen had described Mournhold as a city of two minds- and that was also an apt description of my condition as I left her chambers. Perhaps it might be better to say that I felt like a moth caught between two flames. Or, still more in appropriate to my career, like a thief caught between light and darkness. My desire for revenge was a fire that drew me strongly, threatening to burn away my caution, my wisdom, my very life. Meanwhile, my inborn sense for danger warned me that it was time to slip away from the flames, to return to the welcoming shadows and hide myself from the games played by the nobility. To hide would be the sane course, the safe path. How wonderful it would feel to again be obscure and anonymous! But even as those imaginings called to me, vengeance whispered its own seductive words, cloaking them in the guise of an apparent logic that defeated rationality. Vengeance questioned, quite logically, if anonymity were even possible any longer. My deeds had made me known to the powers of Mournhold, to the Temple and the Palace. Would it even be possible to walk away without consequence or query? And vengeance supplied its own answer, vowing that the only safe choice was to see it through to the end, whatever that end might be.

The fact that as astute a political observer as Lady Barenziah was concerned about the Temple was enough to give a novice like me nightmares. When I had previously sensed some sort of “wrongness” in the Temple of Almalexia, I had put it down to my usual indigestion whenever I was faced with wealth and power. And Tienius’ interest in the Temple’s attitude toward his king was logical- Helseth would have a difficult time trying to rule a divided province, especially if the Temple was in open opposition to him. But Barenziah was not the only one who had doubts about the Temple- I reminded myself that Galsa Andrano, the Temple healer, had also been concerned by Almalexia’s demeanor of late. Again I thought to myself that, despite the High Ordinators’ oft-repeated chant of “Mournhold, City of Light, City of Magic,” this city was instead a place of darkness- a darkness that stained the very stones of the streets and the souls of the residents. Even after the cleansing of the Shrine of the Dead, I had still felt that some malign power loomed over the city. What that power might be, I did not know. And even my hatred of Helseth did not blind me to the fact that he was not the source of this foulness. Whatever that malevolent presence was, it was far older and far more powerful than any petty king.

With those cheerful thoughts weighing upon me, I entered the Temple Reception Area and approached Fedris Hler. He treated me with his usual haughty aloofness, which I withstood manfully. When I asked him of any service I might provide, he looked me over carefully, then slowly shook his head, saying,

“Hmmm...I have nothing for you at this time. Speak with Gavas Drin, the Lord Archcanon. He was in consultation with the Lady Almalexia this very morning. Perhaps he has something for you.”

The Archcanon had apparently gotten over his amazement at my previous success- he waved me away irritably with the words,

“Unfortunately, I know of nothing you may do for the Lady now. Speak with Fedris Hler. He usually has errands that must be completed by the lowly. Don't let him tell you he has nothing to be done. I'm sure there's something.”

I firmly reminded myself that, no matter how satisfying, it would be neither wise nor healthy to slap the Archcanon, particularly not inside his own Temple. Muttering a barely civil, “You are too kind,” I marched back to Fedris Hler. Somehow, it seemed to me that Drin’s words had contained the quality of a person urging someone else into a course of folly, as if he were saying,

“Go ahead. Keep poking the bear with that sharp stick. I’m sure he will pay attention to you eventually.”

The last thing I wanted in the world was for Fedris Hler to pay attention to me- if I had been given a choice, he would not even be aware of my existence. There was always something in his cool appraisal that made me feel like a prime ox standing in front of a butcher.

Just because I was annoyed did not mean I had to be foolish- I was careful to phrase my renewed request for work as a message from the Archcanon. Whatever game the two of them were playing, I would act the part of a good little pawn- until I could step smartly off the board. The truth was, I rather hoped that Hler would send me away and that I could tell Barenziah that the Chief Steward was not engaged in any activity that I could discern. And, as usual, my hopes were not to be. When I again presented myself to him, the peculiar light in Fedris Hler’s eyes made me more queasy than usual. He twitched his lips in what might have been a smile and slowly said,

“I spoke with the Lady earlier today, and there may be something that one of your skill will be able to help with. The Lady Almalexia would like you to retrieve a powerful artifact -- Barilzar's Mazed Band. All I know about the artifact is that the goddess wants it returned. You'll find it in the ruins beneath the Temple. Search to the northwest in the sewers. There was a passageway in the Abandoned Crypt that had been blocked off by a cave-in, but Almalexia had the area cleared. As for the item itself, I don't really see why you'd need to know any more about it. If you must inquire, perhaps Gavas Drin can give you more details.”

The fact that Hler had admitted that he, too, had talked with Almalexia only after sending me on a useless errand was not lost on me. If she had ordered her two most powerful minions to see to this task, it was obviously something she wanted badly. And that was enough to send me back to the Archcanon’s office for the second time. Regardless of the inconvenience, I would gather all the information I could before blindly going on another “simple” mission for the Temple. Drin looked a bit startled at my inquiry regarding the artifact, but then nodded his head decisively, as if reaching a conclusion. Regarding the missing object, he said,

“Yes...the Mazed Band. Barilzar himself was a powerful mage...quite powerful, in fact. He created the band sometime in the middle of the Second Era, and soon after disappeared. The purpose of the artifact is unknown to me, Trey. All I know is that the Lady wants it. I can only assume it will allow her to better minister to her people, though I find that hard to imagine.”

While it struck me as odd that Almalexia had not told the head of her order what she planned to do with the ring, I kept my surprise to myself. One advantage of dealing with someone like Gavas Drin was that his sense of his own importance usually caused him to blab everything he knew. If he admitted to not knowing the goddess’ plans, he was almost certainly speaking the truth. Congratulating myself on having accomplished the task for Barenziah without endangering myself, I made my way back to the Palace, humming happily. Whatever Drin and Hler might believe, I had not actually agreed to retrieve the artifact.

My complacency suffered a major blow when I reported to the queen. A worried frown creased her normally clear features and she spoke in a concerned tone,

“I have heard of this thing, Trey, but I know very little about it. I've heard whispers about it, but few details. Some say it is cursed...some say it is not. I can't understand why the goddess would want such a thing. If you want to know more, I would suggest speaking with Torasa Aram at the Museum of Artifacts. She has great knowledge of these things. You might also speak to Plitinius Mero- his research has uncovered a great deal of information about Mournhold in the Second Era. Take care...some things are best left buried.”

She paused for a few moments and then added,

“Still, I think you will have to go ahead. We will just have to see what Almalexia does with the Band.”

My conversation with Plitinius Mero regarding the Mazed Band did nothing to raise my spirits- rather the opposite, in fact. When I mentioned the artifact, he paled and looked around wildly before hissing,

“You should not even speak of that cursed object! I'm sorry, friend Trey...I did not mean to snap at you. I have heard many tales of that ring, and the evil Barilzar who created it. It was to be a means of teleportation for the wizard, but it was much worse than that. That ring was said to open gates to hellish planes, releasing creatures best left in nightmare. I've heard the ring was stripped of its power, and that only a god could use it now and not be destroyed. The thought chills my bones.”

A word of advice to anyone who might have doubts- when people you do not trust offer you a job with only the vaguest details, and when people you respect warn you against it- walk away. Better still- RUN away.