General Veldam Arendu of
House Telvanni sat at his oak desk the day after the battle. Light
from the mid morning sun streamed in through the tall glass window
and fell across his desk illuminating the battle reports from the day
before. A fire roared away from a huge granite stone open fireplace heating up the
room while it gave off a sweet smell of pine sap. General Veldam
dressed in jade green silk robes and leather britches, a small beard,
neatly trimmed, adorned his chin and upper lip. Under his left eye a
white scar ran along the top of his cheek bone. Veldam picked up a
glass of Colovian Brandy and took a sip as he sat back in his chair
while he read a report from the scouts he sent out shortly after the
enemy had routed from the field of battle.
A log spat and crackled in
the fire as three sharp knocks rattled on the door to his office.
General Veldam sighed as he put the glass back on the table. “Enter.”
The door opened to reveal
a Nord wearing a leather jerkin, at his side hung a bearded ax. His
long black beard nearly obscured the chain of rank he held. The Nord
closed the door behind him and stood to attention.
“M'lord Bondsman Volk
Shatter-Shield, the Argonian Shaman Left Paw-Alight and Delte are
here to see you as requested.”
“Best send them in
sergeant Khalan.” Veldam said.
“As you wish m'lord.”
Sergeant Khalan spun on his heal and strode out of the office.
Shortly after the door
opened again and the three guests walked into the office and stood to
attention before the general's desk.
“Please, all of you sit,
no need for ceremony.” Veldam said in an annoyed tone.
As they sat down he got up
and shuffled over to a drinks cabinet that stood in the corner of the
room.
“You're hurt.” Delte
said in a concerned voice, a frown crossing her face.
“Bah just a scratch from
yesterday. Took an arrow to the knee during my cavalry charge down
the left flank. The physician cleaned the wound and has given me some
ointment for it.” Veldam said with a dismissive wave.
“Anyone want to sample
this Colovian Brandy with me?”
“Aye I'll have some.”
Volk said with a grin spreading across his face.
“Is it not a bit early
for drinks?” Delte said.
“Nonsense its never to
early for drink.” Volk replied.
“Paws?” Veldam asked.
“No sir, thank you all
the same.” Paws replied with a smile.
Delte got up off her chair
and walked over to join Veldam by the drinks cabinet.
“Why didn't you come to
me for a potion?” She whispered in his ear.
“After our last
conversation I didn't think you would want to see me.” he whispered
back.
“Shut up and go and sit
down you fool. I'll deal with the drinks.”Delte said as she ushered
him back to his chair.
Volk and Paws looked at
each other in a uncomfortable silence as the tension in the air
started to tighten between Delte and Veldam. The general sat back
down the pain in his face eased as the weight off his wounded knee. The only sound in the office was Delte pouring the brandy.
Paws gave a polite cough and spoke.
“Volk and I are here
about our three year oaths to you.”
“By Azura has three
years passed already?” Veldam said with a chuckle. “I remember
the day when I asked you both in that Whiterun tavern seems as though
it was just yesterday.” Veldam looked at them both. “Can I ask
you for another oath of three years?”
Delte handed Veldam and
Volk a glass of brandy each and sat down again crossing her legs as
she did.
“No, I have a wife and
two children. One of which I have yet to see back at my farm.” Volk
said as he downed the brandy in one gulp.
“I understand Volk.”
Veldam said as he opened a draw in his desk and pulled out a sealed
scroll. As he handed it to Volk he said. “Take this to the
quartermaster, he will pay you the full three years service and a
bonus.” He also handed one to Paws with the same instructions.
“I also wish to leave.”
Delte said as she fidgeted with a gold chain around her neck.
Veldam sighed and turned
his red eyes towards her. “This is about the writ I served you
before the battle?”
“Huh don't flatter
yourself. You know why I need to leave. We spoke of it the night
before the battle, before you gave me the writ.” she said crossing
her arms.
Veldam decided not to
pursue the issue with the present company. Volk stood up and offered
his hand to Veldam who accepted it in a warriors handshake. Paws
stood up and bowed his head and they both nearly ran over each other
as they tried to leave the office.
The door slammed shut
behind them and Delte spoke. “You used me as a weapon Veldam. Who
in Oblivion told you I am Morag Tong?”
Veldam didn't say anything
and just handed her a letter with a broken Morag Tong wax seal. Delte
took it off him and started to read. Veldam sat back and took a sip
of brandy and waited for her to finish reading the missive. The
minutes it took her to read seemed to stretch into an eternity for
him, as he hoped it would calm her down from the argument they had
the night before the battle.
Delte placed the letter
back on the desk. “Bastards!” She said. “Why didn't you tell me
you had been asking for a blade from them for so long?”
“I didn't know you was a
blade for the Tong until that letter.” he replied as he took the
letter and locked it back in his drawer. “You read it yourself, they
knew you were here which is why my requests went unanswered.”
Delte stood up and walked
to the window, in the street below she saw stall holders hawking
their wares to potential shoppers. A patrol of the city guard milled
around a small group of prostitutes trying to get them into their
beds for free. Directly across the street Volk and Paws loaded up
their horses for their journey through Jerall Pass and into Skyrim.
“You could have shot me
down mid rant, but you didn't. Why?” Delte said quietly.
Veldam pulled himself out
of the chair and walked up behind her, he put his hands around her
slim waist and gently kissed the nape of her neck. She leaned back in
his embrace and tilted her head to one side as he kissed her. Deltes'
scent and warmth of her body quickened his pulse. He pulled his head
back and whispered in her ear in a deep resonating voice.
“I don't want you to
leave. Stay here and marry me.”
Delte turned to face him
and kissed him on his lips, her arms came up and dropped over his
shoulders.
“I have to, if I marry
you now without a House name or proof of my bloodline questions will
be asked.” Delte purred in between kissing him.
Veldam pulled away from
her with a frown. “I don't care what those n'wah think.”
Delte chuckled and shook
her head. “No you may not, but I do. I do not wish them to think I
am some Ashlander or vagabond looking to marry into money or power.
Your bloodline is strongly tied to the original Telvanni line. That
is why I need to get my name and Ancestors' Favour back.”
“I guess you're going to
Morrowind via Skyrim?” Veldam said.
Delte nodded her response.
“It makes sense to travel with Volk and Paws. You'll worry less
this way.”
Veldam chuckled and placed
his forehead to hers. “Yes your right. Just promise me you will not
take any unnecessary risks.”
“I promise to be a good
girl.” Delte cooed and then kissed him passionately.
Slowly the town of Bruma
awoke around Volk and Left Paw-Alight as they checked their horses,
supplies and equipment. Stall holders shouted their advertisements
hoping to attract buyers, stray dogs ran up and down the street
looking for scrap food left on the ground from the previous night and
early morning. Paws finished checking his bridle on the horse and
reached into one of the saddlebags, with a smile he pulled out a
small phial. In the morning light a red liquid moved lazily within.
The phial was bound up in what looked like a bow string. Volk paused
checking Delte's horse and watched Paws as he held up the phial and
checked the wax seals that held the string in place. Each wax seal
had a different rune of magicka seared into it.
“What's that?” Volk
asked as he continued checking the bridle straps.
“Uh oh well... You know
that Altmer mage from the battle?” Paws said with a grin.
“How can I forget when I
saw him cast that fire spell on the lancers. So what about him?”
“Well I've got some of his
blood in here and used a binding spell mixed in with sympathetic
magicka.” Paws explained as best he could to the large Nord. “This
stopped him from casting more harmful spells, and as long as this jar
and its seals stay in tact it will handicap him for much longer.”
“So that's why he never
managed to cast more fire spells?” Volk asked in amazement at Paws.
Paws grinned and nodded.
Volk laughed and said. “ Your one crafty lizard Paws, and one hell
of a mage.”
“Shaman”. Paws
corrected Volk. “And than you Volk”.
“So what are you going
to do with it?”
“Not sure really, I was
going to bury it some place along the trail to Helgen.” Paws said
as he carefully placed the phial in a small cushioned case and put it
back into his saddlebag.
“Why not hold the Altmer
to ransom with it?” Volk said with a grin.
“Thought did cross my
mind to be honest. Or I could leave it in the ice flow or a mountain
glacier in Skyrim. It would last a few years and frustrate him more.”
Paws chuckled at the thought of the Altmer mage trying to light a
simple candle with the hex in place.
“That is cruel, just
remind me never to anger you Paws.”
Delte opened the large
oakwood door to the front of Veldams' house and office and walked out
into the street. Her black fur lined cloak billowed out as she walked
across the street to where Volk and Paws were standing with the horses.
Her long red hair blew about in the slight breeze catching the
sunlight as it did. Strapped to her right leathered thigh was a
stiletto dagger on the other thigh were straps with small glass phials
filled with alchemical potions and poisons. The body of her armour
was a black leather corset with ruffles of silk poking through from
underneath. A silver clasp held her cloak on around her shoulder.
Smouldering violet eyes endlessly watched the street as she walked
across it.
“So are you coming with us?”
Paws asked in a way of greeting her.
Delte nodded and looked
back up at the window she was looking out of a couple of minutes
earlier. Veldam was standing there watching her, Delte smiled and blew
him a kiss then mounted her white gelding. Veldam waved back and then
disappeared from view. Paws and Volk mounted their own horses, Volk's
was a pure bred Skyrim stallion with a thick brown fur hide. Paws
horse was a Colovian breed with a tan hide.
“We get past the
watchtower and make the Jerall Way Tavern by nightfall. Then on to
Helgen. From there we are a days ride to Whiterun and my farm.”
Volk said as they rode out of the city gates.
