Ahnaressu's Travels Ch. 8 Options

[Dantrag]

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Chapter 8

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A dunmer of about nineteen years stared at the Odai River as the wind blew his long, thin, black hair across his face. His arms were thin, but taut with muscles, a trait gained from years at the forge. He had worn black leather boots, brown pants, and a black overcoat covering his light grey shirt. His fierce red eyes took in everything around him. he watched the dazzling reflections of the trees on the surface of the water, the movements of a scrib, and he felt the presence of the mer walking towards him.

"Hello there. young lad." the elderly dunmer began. "Would you happen to know where to find a young dunmer by the name of Ahnaressu?"
"Actually, I do." said the young elf. "But might I ask why you want to know?"
The elderly mer continued. "I have need of his services. I am old, I will need help getting to my annual pilgrimage to Ghostgate."
"When do you need to get there?"
"Tomorrow."
"Meet you here at dawn. I will escort you to ghostgate then."
The old priest laughed. You had me fooled for a moment, but I knew who you were all along."
Ahnaressu began to walk back towards town and yelled behind him, "Remember. First light."

Ahnaressu had started a mercenary-like business about two months ago, having quit his old smithing job at the Razor Hole. When he started the business, he had hoped for exciting jobs from collectors of artifacts, great houses, guilds and the like, but being based out of Balmora, he usually got jobs escorting priests wanting to go to various shrines. He chuckled to himself whenevr he thought of the time he escorted a priest to the House of Earthly Delights in Suran - without revealing the priest's identity. He made more money than he did working for Thorek, and he had the added bonus of getting out of the monotony of "civilized" life.

When he had saved up enough money, he rented the top half of a house on the west side of the river. He, Cali and Relgar all shared the little house and it was a large improvement from the room in the temple, and less pressure on Ahnaressu to join the ranks of the temple doctrines.

Ahnaressu walked into the house he rented. Having only rented the top half, he always ended up carrying things up the steps for Cali.
"Ahnaressu!" Relgar yelled happily when he saw his older brother walk through the door.
Ahnaressu suddenly became a young child again when he yelled, "Relgar!" and ran towards his brother.
They ended up wrestling, the seven year old Relgar emerging triumphant while Ahnaressu played dead.
Cali laughed, just as she did every time she saw the two brothers together. She turned away from the brawl for a moment to check on the soup, tasting a sip before deciding if it was ready or not.
"Okay, boys, time for dinner."
Relgar jumped off Ahnaressu and quickly sat down at the table. Ahnaressu slowly got up and brushed himself off before seating himself.
The two males in the house rubed their hands together in anticipation of the food. Cali served them and sat down herself.

After dinner Ahnaressu went to sleep in preparation for the next day's short trek to ghostgate.

[Dantrag]

"Thank you, young man." The old priest said as he walked to the entrance of the tower of dusk. "Now for your reward..."
Ahnaressu waited patiently as the old mer searched around in his pack.
"Aha! Here it is." The priest exclaimed, holding up a huge, bulging bag.
"That is entirely too much gold for such a short trip." Ahnaressu said."
"Ah, but it is not gold. You have the choice as to what to do with this. You may sell it for gold, or do something entirely different with it."
Ahnaressu raised an eyebrow. "What is it then?"
The priest held up a green shard. "As a former blacksmith, you should know what this is."
"Glass."
"There are many more similar shards in this bag. Probably ten or twelve. I figured that if you needed the gold you could sell it, if you wanted armor or weapons, you could forge it into something."
Ahnaressu would have preferred gold, but took the glass anyway, not wanting to argue with the old man.

Ahnaressu sat at the table in his house, staring at the glass shards inside the bag. He thought of his first fight with Valnor then, the rage burning inside. He still had a small scar from where his scrolls had not healed the enormous wound properly. He decided then and there to avenge his family. He scooped up his bag of glass and made his way to The Razor Hole.

"You want to use my forge again, boy?" Thorek asked.
"That's right," Ahnaressu said.
"Alright, but only after I have closed the shop. I don't want to lose money by letting you use my anvil."
"Deal." Ahnaressu said, thankful that he had left the forge on good terms with Thorek.

Ahnaressu worked late into the night, forging a glass katana. He had not gotten very far before he became exhausted and began the short journey to his house.

"You're quite late." Cali said as Ahnaressu waled into the door.
"I'm planning on being late every night this week." Ahnaressu stated flaty.
"Well, where were you?" Cali continued, not going to let him off easy.
"Making a sword." Ahanressu answered like a boy answering his mother's probing quiestions.
"You aren't going to-."
"Yes, I am."
"When?"
"Whenever my blade is ready."
"What about me? Little Relgar? What will I tell your little brother? That you're going to go kill someone?"
"Not right now, Cali, please. We'll talk in the morning."
"Alright." Cali said as Ahnaressu turned and walked towards his bed.