A Disputed Prophecy

[Aqua-chan]

Nels had taken Sietsuna to the far side of the cave, right past all of those snarling dark elves once more, and began walking down a narrow tunnel. This way through the rock wasn't natural like the rest of the cave, but had rather been dug out from the rock. At the end was a wooden gate and an armed guard.

When they neared the guard opened the door with a key and let them through. Instead of just pushing her inside, Nels followed Sietsuna into the tiny prison area. The gate closed behind them with a clang.

"Who are these people?" she demanded almost immediately. The one torch in the damp cell was insufficient lighting and her eyes strained to see Llendo's face. "What is going on here, bandit?"

The rogue shook his head and shifted his weight to one foot. "It's very important that you don't cause any trouble here. Have you ever heard of the Comonna Tong?"

To this, Sietsuna shook her head.

"This is one of their bases. They're a... a syndicate," Nels explained quietely, checking to make sure the door keeper hadn't overheard, "I've had a bit of a row with them recently-"

"It sounds like you swiped a coin from the wrong person."

"Nevermind it," he said sternly, but without the same arrogant superiority he had displayed in the past. In this place, she realized, he had power over nothing and knew it. "I've just got to do a little business for that n'wah Relam Arinith or else I'll be swimming with the slaughterfishes."

"Given my disposition towards you, to me that sounds like a good idea," Sietsuna growled, "So you're selling me to cover the difference, then?"

"Hardly. Arinith does this sort of transaction all the time. Those who need to bide their time leave compensation with him. He keeps it for two days, and if the owner doesn't show up he... uses the item however he likes. Sells it, trades it."

"Oh, really?" Sietsuna asked in a sarcasticly innocent voice, "So, what should I be bracing myself for in two days, then?"

The eerie silence that followed made the dropping of cavern water seem unbearably loud. Twice Sietsuna saw Nels open his mouth to reply and then shut it abruptly.

Instead, he clutched her upper arms in his hands tightly. "I'll be back before then," he promised. At that moment he seemed quite sincere, but reality returned to Sietsuna. He was a con man; a manipulator. She shook off any trust she had in an instant.

"Please, understand that does not reassure me in the slightest bit, you filthy, lying bastard."

He continued holding her arms in a vice for a short while before finally letting her go. In the dark the look in his eyes, however false the expression was, conveyed serious desperation and a need for trust. Oh, he's good, Sietsuna inwardly admitted.

"I'll come back as soon as I can."

"I understand. It would sure be a shame if you lost your prize slave to a concubine ring leader."

"No, that... That isn't what he would use you for," Nels finally said, but refused to divulge any other information he knew. Sietsuna, frowning, was somehow more worried about what other purpose a slaver could have. Was this Comonna guy a depraved sadist?

On the far side of the dark cavern the two elves caught a quick movement. The two, caught unaware, jumped when they realized that they weren't the only occupants in the tiny dwelling.

"Who's that?" the Bosmer asked, not really expecting Nels to know. She caught a glint of red on the stranger's forearm.

Nels turned back to her and said "Some one who was left here for more than two days, I suspect."

"You leavin' or not?" demanded the door guard through the spaces in the wood. Nels regarded him briefly, then moved to Sietsuna's side. The reason for this change of place was unknown to the wood elf.

With his back now to the door Nels was able to slip the Firebite dagger out from under his tunic and into the waistband of Sietsuna's slacks. The assassin was perplexed.

"I'll be back before two days are up, but just in case," he muttered as an explaination. When the weapon was entirely hidden beneath her clothing Nels turned and headed towards the gate. With a sneer the armored Dunmer on the other side opened it as though the task was a great hinderance to him.

The rogue bounded up the tunnel and was gone in an instant, hastily setting to his task. Sietsuna watched him go, her brow still furrowed, and again unaware of the other prisoner in the holding pen. What had just happened? He'd armed his property in case a third party intended to sully it? Sietsuna released a hiss of air through her teeth and cursed, "Damn ash-skin."

When she tired of standing Sietsuna found a ledge on which to sit and did so, ignoring the poking of the dagger in her slacks and the knife she'd stolen from Llendo's sack in her boot. The torch was slowly burning out, and she could adjust the painful objects when it was extinguished and the room fell entirely dark.

Not to sure of the idea that involved her sleeping in a dark pit with a complete stranger, Sietsuna tried to speak with the other inhabitant.

"So... who are you?" she asked the black lump a few feet away. The response was it curling into an even tighter ball, whimpering in fear. Sietsuna sighed dramatically: two days with this company would be just lovely.