Ciel'nn scowled at the fact that Raven Rock had been an Imperial settlement once. The Imperials had been everywhere, poking their noses in where they didn't belong. He was very aware of the fact of the place belonged to the Great House Redoran. Still, he focused on watching the people doing their daily business while he leaned against a barrel near the middle path to the pier.
Ciel'nn came in over the night with the trade ship and slept in one of the abandoned buildings while there had been a commotion by the Bulwark. No one knew about his arrival until in the morning when Adril Arano had spotted him coming out of the door. The older mer had demanded to know of the intentions about his visit, and Ciel'nn as politely as possible said, "I'm just checking out this place. I'll be moving on soon enough, if I'm bothering you,sera." He had put on his neutral face, but Ciel'nn couldn't stop the smirk that crept on his lips. Adril had nodded and muttered that the Redoran Guard will watch his movements before he left, but it didn't bother the mer. Although, he wondered why Arano was taut as a fishing line.
If it's the politics, then n'chow! I don't want any part of it.
The alchemist seemed to open her stall, so Ciel'nn shifted from his place and strolled towards it. He had a soft smile on his face when he approached the Dunmer woman, who looked at him. Ciel'nn gave her a polite nod before stopping in front of the stall. "Sera." The woman was worried, but she managed to smile back.
"You must be new here. I'm Milore Ienth the local alchemist. Are you interested to buy potions or ingredients?" Milore Ienth asked with a small smile. Such a young and polite mer on these parts.
"Yes, I'd like to see your wares. Do you have anything rare?" The mer asked, still smiling while he knew of what was happening around him.
"Oh, I have the Well-being potions and poisons, but I'm missing some netch jelly. Those are difficult to gather when it's dangerous after the Bulwark." Milore frowned at her stocks.
Ciel'nn's smile sifted into a thoughtful look. He would help the alchemist if he'd learn something useful from it. Besides, being curious, he'll travel beyond the wall that had seen more promising times. "I'll buy a few of those Well-being potions and your poisons. Also I can get the netch jellies for you if I can learn your special recipe?"
The alchemist, who had become bewildered, brightened up. "Really? You'd do that for me? My special recipe? I can do that. It's nice to meet a fellow alchemist in these parts." Milore reached for the items the mer wanted to buy and handed them to him. "Thank you so much, sera. Travel safe."
The potions and poisons were neatly packed with straws and a piece of cloth in Ciel'nn's backpack when he looked around the market area. The ash yam stall was appropriately next to the alchemy one. Somewhat further was a general items stall. His eyes stopped on the Retching Netch Inn; an older Dunmer male in some worn chitin armor walked out, looking around the market. They exchanged glances and Ciel'nn had a feeling. He felt the threat that the mer in chitin armor carried around him as he narrowed his eyes. The older mer gave him a calculating glare. You can't intimidate me,s'wit! Ciel'nn's expression shifted into a darkened defiance of glare, but it didn't put the older mer off balance. Why do I even bother? The young mer picked up his way towards the Bulwark, hoping the older mer wouldn't follow him. Boethiah help you, if you do!
Out on the ash wastes, Ciel'nn was more exploring than hunting a Bull Netch. He had heard a warning from the Redoran guards at the gates before leaving the town. He couldn't leave much further away before saw a Redoran guard fighting some creatures. Are those ash spawns? He had heard about them and it seemed to be a menace here on Solstheim. So, the last night's ruckus was about those? He mused to himself with a slight frown as he watched the mer losing the fight.
The young mer drew his blades out and joined the Redoran guard for a desperate battle against four ash spawns. He first slashed out on the one that was attacking the guard, only to realize they were hard to kill. "Old mer shouldn't be out here on their own!" He shouted between his breaths and slashed before he turned to the other three ash spawns.
"I'm not that old!" the guard shouted back and groaned when his arm was hit and making him stagger backwards. "By Azura! Where are these coming from? We should run back to the town -"
"I'm not running away! You can if you want, old mer!" Ciel'nn hissed in a darker tone than he intended and finished the ash spawn that was facing him. In truth, he didn't care if the old mer would run away or died. It wasn't his business. They finished the last ash spawn and the Redoran guard turned to him, breathing heavily.
"I'm Captain Veleth… of the Redoran Guard. I'm very grateful for your help, youngling." The older mer introduced himself, frowning. "You're damn brave to wander over here in the wastes alone, sera…"
Ciel'nn took a deep breath as the fight had made him somewhat tired already. Stupid ash spawns! A Captain of the Great House Redoran? He flashed a smirk. "Ciel'nn Sarion." Of course, he would have said ‘freelance assassin' or ‘wandering alchemist' and by no means he wasn't a blade for hire. And, there was a chance the Captain would guess he's an assassin or a night blade by his fighting style. He also doubted the Redoran had heard of his family house that didn't exist anymore. In truth, Ciel'nn was the last scion of the house Sarion. "I'll be going now."
"Wait! Can't you help more? We need to-" Captain Veleth shifted when the young mer moved on.
"Listen, Captain, I'm not a hired blade! So long!" Ciel'nn cut him short, nearly hissing, being annoyed now and, then he wandered off. The Great House Redoran indeed. What would have happened if I'd let him dead? The Fall of Redoran Guard on Solstheim?
The young mer advanced in the wastes, but he remained close to the beach line. Some Bull Netches were floating nearby, but Ciel'nn didn't want to engage in battle with them. Instead, he stopped to look and admire them a little while. The mer listened to their sounds. A shame for that needed jelly for alchemy, otherwise they should be left alone.
The ship with a palisade on the beach side drew Ciel'nn’s curiosity as he approached it and stopped within a safe distance to observe it. He weighed his options if to go and look at it, or do it later. But, the fact was as it was getting late and he he'd need to return to the town so the netch jellies had to wait for another day. The mer began to walk back to the town.
At the Retching Netch, Ciel'nn was coming down the stairs when he heard the Captain talking to someone else, and he stood to listen in curiosity. The other person was a bladesman in chitin armor along with the helmet as well as having a low and rough male voice that caught the mer's attention.
"Can't you even consider?" Captain Veleth pleaded the bladesman in chitin armor. "They might -"
"Look, Captain," the bladesman said with a sneer, "if you want my help, you must pay me. And, that's twice more than the last time - otherwise I won't bother." The last words he said with some finality.
"What? We don't have enough money to pay you, and I don't have the man power to send a patrol." The Captain groaned. "The ash spawn might come here next."
"Pity." The bladesman said and turned to leave. He looked to the young mer for a brief moment and walked towards the stairs. When he passed Ciel'nn, he said in a low tone. "Don't bother with the Captain", and he walked up the stairs with an attitude.
Too late. Ciel'nn watched the bladesman marching away. He discovered that he liked the warrior's rough and low voice. It had been a while since someone had caught his attention like that. Hmm, curious, but then he might be a mercenary who'll move on soon. The mer shifted to go the counter.
"Here's the mer who saved my life!" Captain Veleth let everyone know, and they clapped their hands together. Ciel'nn just didn't care the slightest about it. He came here for to drink and rest.
Ciel'nn headed towards the counter, nodding to the Inn keeper. He remembered Geldis from his first time in here. That had been a quick visit to buy a Sujamma bottle and off to Skyrim with the next trade ship. It seemed like ages ago now.
Geldis greeted him. "Long time no see, stranger! What can I get you? Sujamma like the last time?" With Ciel'nn's nod, he grabbed an earthen cup and poured the liquid in it, then handed it to the younger mer.
"Who was that bladesman that was talking with the Captain?" Ciel'nn wound up asking while he took his cup, frowning to himself. Why am I even asking?
"Now, that was the bladesman - Teldryn Sero. Quite a personality, hasn't he?" He grinned as he began to clean the mugs.
Ciel'nn looked up from his cup. "Never heard." He chirped and took a sip from his cup. He hadn’t had his favorite drink for a long while and it tasted refreshing. The kick in the taste made him scowl though. A bladesman, huh.
"Don't mind. You've been else where for a long time. But, tell me now. How long are you going to stay this time?" Geldis asked as he nodded to another customer, who arrived down the stairs. "And, how was Skyrim for you?" He continued, being genuinely interested as he had a feeling the young mer was a loner.
"I don't know, Geldis. The truth will surface eventually." The young mer replied idly and he stared at his cup again. "Skyrim was… hostile and cold." Ciel'nn fell quiet for a moment before he spoke again. "I'll take another seat. It was good to see you, Geldis." With that he moved over to a dark corner and sat at the small table and leaned against the chair. He wanted some quietness and alone time before facing anyone else. Above all he didn't want attention.
The Inn fell quiet as an Orc and the mer with the chitin armor marched down the stairs. The Orc eyed the place with a cold glare. "So, has anyone seen the dark elf kid?" The Dunmer of Raven Rock were quiet. Nobody spoke. Even the Captain was quiet, and the blacksmith, who was sitting near the counter. "Slitter, have a sweep for the place." The Orc said while he stared at Geldis. "I'll find out soon enough."
Slitter, the mer in the chitin armor, shifted and his eyes swept around the Inn, observing every corner until his sight came onto the corner where the young mer was sitting, but all that he saw was a dark corner with an abandoned seat.
Slitter… So that's your name…
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Comments
Hehe, already having someone catch his attention, eh? Ciel must like his... rough boys...