[Aqua-chan]

Back in Balmora things were not running as smoothly for Sugar Lips Habasi as she had hoped.

“Word of your little incident got here long before even you did,” Feldrelo Sadri started, snarling with an air that only a priestess of the divine could muster, “Four Imperialists dead, and one of them was a knight in the Legions! Do you have any idea as to what kind of hell this is going to raise?”

The lowest level of the temple had been emptied out solely for this meeting, and it was unsettling how Sadri’s voice echoed off the walls and still retained its sharpness. Habasi kept up a strong, if false, demeanor. Behind her, however, the two Nord brothers and Agridle weren’t as successful at hiding their discomfort.

“Legion men will get angry, blow smoke for a while, and then get back to their duties. They won’t discover your participation in this plot. They won’t even be able to figure out that our Guild was involved. The blame will eventually fall on the Commona Tong.”

“From what I understand that won’t be happening. Apparently, your little troop left the bodies of two Bretons and a Redguard. All of them outlanders! The Imperialists aren’t stupid. They’ll put the pieces together eventually.”

Habasi was beginning to lose her disposition. “All things aside, your prophecy men are here, even if the circumstances weren’t ideal.”

Sadri calmed at this and examined the Nords for a moment, scanning them carefully over with hawkish eyes. Then, much to everyone’s curiosity, she clasped her hands and bowed her head in prayer for a good length of time.

Agridle whispered to Habasi, “She didn’t say anything about them killing that other Argonian. Do you think he’s alive?”

“Quiet,” she scoffed, “Don’t say anything to Sadri. If the Argonian lives and there is a chance that the Imperials captured - or even may capture him - then we’ll never hear the end of it from Sadri."

By the time their little interlude was finished Feldrelo had ended her prayer and approached the Nords. The expression on her face was that of pure anger, and in her hand was her ever-present staff which now shook with her rage.

“Yes, you’ve done quite well at making a mess of things, Habasi. I’ve sought council with the divine and they tell me that you’ve brought me the wrong men!” The priestess stepped forward daringly, separating the thieves from the outlanders and stared the captives down. “I see through your treachery, Nords. Speak and come clean, and do not lie because I will catch it.”

“I speak only the truth!” Reykiln quickly defended himself, but the panicked shrill in his voice gave him away. Habasi squeezed the bridge of her nose between her finger and thumb.

“Really?” the dark elf sneered, “So, then I am mistaken when I say that you are not who you claim to be, and that this man here is not really your brother?”

“You must be, lady.”

“So, you were not actually born under the Lady and lied to our elven friend here when he asked your birth sign?”

“No, prieste-”

“And your name is not actually Hrolin?” she said definitely, and the Nord knew he was caught. There was no point in trying to keep up the façade any longer, and with a dismal glance to his partner in crime, “Irviin”, the man shook his head and gave in. Feldrelo sighed, angry and somewhat confused herself. “I’m afraid you’ve made yourself quite a hell of trouble, then. I will, of course, be turning you into the authorities. The Ordinators, probably, as we can’t risk letting you louts tell the Imperials about everything you’ve learned from this encounter. No, you’ll be going to Ministry of Truth with all of the other deviants. If you’re lucky you won’t be executed on the spot. We’ll have to see.
“Meanwhile, Habasi,” the Dunmer narrowed dark eyes at the Khajiit, “There still is this little problem about finding the correct subjects of my premonitions. Your guild has been paid, now I expect you to perform the required work. Understand that if you back out now then I will have no choice other than to employ the Commona, and who knows what kind of strength they would gain with my funding.”

“All people on the ship that night are being held in Fort Pelagaid until the culprits are caught, Habasi knows. Guards can be bribed, prisoners can be liberated."

“You make sure that they are, Khajiit,” replied the elf, “because let me tell you now, in case you haven’t already figured; this operation isn’t just about getting paid. For you, it is now about staying alive. Get to it, outlander, and this time I better not hear news of your escapades gone wrong.”


---

“You’ve brought me a pair of descent sleepers, my cousin,” Miun-Gei said just above a whisper so he wouldn’t disturb the two wood elves sleeping on his small bed, “And what of you? What ordeal has sent you this way, battered as you are? This place is far out of the way of Sadrith Mora.”

“It is not a tale that can’t wait to be told until morning. However, I would like to know now if you’d be willing to house the three of us until I am able to set these women up to where they can handle themselves,” said the pilgrim. With that the two Argonians went upstairs to the main level to discuss the situation.

“What illegal Guild trouble have you brought to my doorstep, Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh? It’s clear you’re going into hiding, and while I will help you in any way I can I do not like the idea that I harbor criminals in my home.”

“This has nothing to do with the Guild. Not anymore - I believe that all this is much bigger than originally thought. But you are right on the fact that we are laying low, cousin, as these women are wanted by the Imperials and, eventually, will likely be wanted by the Temple.”

“Why? What crimes have they committed?”

“None to my knowledge. It may be a simple matter of who they are that will get them in trouble. Or, I should say, who one of them may be.”

“You speak cryptically, Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh. You would seek sanctity in my walls and not tell me why?”

“You truly wish to condemn yourself by getting involved with this?” Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh replied in turn, staring at his cousin in an apologetic and foreboding way. Finally, Miun-Gei just shook his head and sighed.

“Very well. You have your good father’s wisdom, so I know you will let me in on your troubles when the time is right. For now you three may stay here, but I expect compensation. There are chores I would have them do if they are to live here, and only as long as they keep out of trouble.”

“Agreed. I know little of these elves but they don’t seem to be deviants."

“Regardless, I hold you to your word, Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh. I will house you, but should the Ordinators come knocking at my door I will not lie to protect them. I still have a business to run and no business runs with a bad reputation.”

“I said do not worry yourself with it. I doubt we will remain here for very long. It would seem that we are still within the Legion’s reach, so we’ll likely have to go elsewhere.”

“Ah, but the Legion reaches far. Where will you go?”

“Balmora, most likely. I’ll need to find Sugar Lips Habasi and report to her on all of this. Once my part of this is over I will return home."

“Not wise, dear cousin,” Miun-Gei interjected, “The Duke himself is going to Balmora to find out the current status of his House. Undoubtedly the city will be swarming with Imperialists.”

“Well... I guess I could take them to Suran or Molag Mar, but then what? It’s not as though I could just leave them to defend themselves.”

“Well, what’s your hurry to return home?” the enchanter asked is a somewhat accusing manner.

“I am obligated to be at my post at all times in case of trouble!” snapped Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh, his pride overpowering his composure. “I am a warrior of the Guild and I can not spend my time babysitting-“

“Then leave them,” Miun-Gei said curtly, “Go back to your Thieves to do some menial work and feel guilty about leaving these women right in the view of those who would capture them. This is what you want, no? It is what you’re implying.”

Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh didn’t reply, but instead took an unnecessarily large swig from his earlier opened bottle of sujumma. Miun-Gei, realizing the conversation had been dropped, began snuffing candles out about the room until the cramped quarters were lit only by the blue light of a luminous russula arrangement in the corner.

“Miun-Gei, has the Temple released any news of what they are going to do with the Prophet Child?”

“You mean Peakstar?” the wizard Argonian stopped for a moment to straighten out his green robes uneasily, “The Archcannon says that she will likely be confined to the Ministry like others who preach of the Nerevarine, but we know better. Peakstar claims she is the Nerevarine. The Temple will not let this slide with simple imprisonment. Anyone who says they are Nerevar reborn has an instant death sentence on their head.”

Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh nodded, finished his drink, and gave his statement without even looking to his cousin. “I think we will only stay here for a couple days. I will try to find Addhiranirr and have her relay a message to Habasi that these women and I are going to Suran until the authorities calm down. We can fit them for armor in the morning and I’ll see about your payment then. For now I would do well to just rest for the evening.”

“I’ll pull a couple of bedrolls out for us, then.” Miun-Gei disappeared back down the stairs to retrieve the blankets, leaving Dwells-In-Thick-Marsh alone in an eerie silence. He didn’t notice the strange calm, however; his mind was too scattered with heavy thoughts about how his life was going to be turned upside down by this mess he’d gotten himself into.