Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 7

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    The cold sensation tried to creep in the same bed with Mogrul and he tried to keep it at bay. He wasn’t afraid of anything - why should he be? Slitter was guarding his door right now. Mogrul nodded to himself, then shook his head. Maybe he was becoming ill? Ate the wrong food? No, that couldn’t be the case. No matter how thoroughly he went through the day’s routine in his mind, Mogrul couldn’t figure out why he felt the creeping cold.

    Mogrul opened his eyes, but all he could see was darkness, the pitch black darkness. He narrowed his eyes and rubbed them. Still the darkness held him in his place. He tried to blink it off, but to no avail. “Slitter?” he called for his guard, but as it was as if the darkness absorbed his voice as fast as it came from his mouth. This is some kind of a trick! His hands fisted. I’m sure there’s a light behind the door. A step towards the door… The Orc frowned - he couldn’t see the damn door although he was sure he was looking at it, or facing that direction at least. The cold sensation returned, and Mogrul felt the creeps. Slowly and hesitating, he turned his head to his left.

    From the corner of his eye, Mogrul saw a glimpse of a dark cloaked figure. The cloak was covered with a thin spider web silk as if they were part of it and half floating in the air, giving a disturbed and dreadful feeling to whoever was looking at it.

    Hello. Mogrul.” A dark voice greeted him from behind and reached out with its black hand.

    With a scream, Mogrul woke up in his room, his heart pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer on the anvil. Just a dream. No! A nightmare. Shit. What in Oblivion was that? He massaged his forehead. Better check if Slitter has returned. He better have had done his job well, or else! He put on his tunic and the soft boots. By pushing his nightmare away, Mogrul lied to himself that it hadn’t shaken him. He wouldn’t let a nightmare take the best of him.

    The Orc stared at the empty bedroll where his guard should have been. Yesterday he had sent Slitter to kill the kid since the mercenary had stayed in the town. Mogrul frowned. He’d find Slitter and get his answers! The town was under his control, his! No one could go against him! Not the Captain, not the Councilor and not even the kid! Slitter is probably drinking with the reavers again. He nodded to himself. That must be it. He’ll show up eventually.  But, Mogrul’s confidence was threatened by a shadow of a doubt.

     

     



    From the corner table, Ciel’nn noticed the hogger asking Geldis if he had seen Slitter, but the inn keeper shook his head. The mer smirked. He had asked the Dunmer of Raven Rock to stay quiet about Slitter, so the hogger still had the illusion of the town being still under his control. Ciel’nn looked to Teldryn. They were having a ash yam and horker strew and trama root tea which was moderately tasty for Ciel’nn.

    “I had Grendis Rolovo make me this chitin armor.” Teldryn said after sipping his tea. “Isn’t it the best handiwork out there, Ciel’nn?” The older mer thought to impress his partner by his well made armor.

    The young mer couldn’t stop grinning. “Grendis is a fine mer. I have his made armor as well as this,” he took his new and still unused chitin dagger and put it on the table, without boasting. “Grendis Rolovo is the only blacksmith I ever need for the quality I demand.” He took his cup of tea and sipped it while Teldryn took his chitin dagger and examined it with care. He’s admiring it.

    “This is one damn handiwork. Are you dressed to kill, too?” Teldryn asked as he shifted his gaze to his partner. “You tell me, Teldryn.” He heard Ciel’nn replying with a controlled smirk. Damn, he’s a mer after my own heart! “I can truly appreciate a partner who knows his style.” The older mer flashed a smirk. He only hoped the young mer was good at fighting, too.

    Ciel’nn opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he noticed a shift in Teldryn’s expression. He followed his partner’s gaze. The Orc was staring at them with narrowed eyes. The young mer wanted to look elsewhere. The hogger ruins the breakfast.

    “I run the show here!” Mogrul announced with gritted teeth. “Don’t think you’re safe!” He growled, looking at everyone. “Once Slitter returns, I’ll start making examples of you!”

    “And, I’m the next Saint of Morrowind.” Ciel’nn replied in Dunmeri. He guessed the others would have laughed but they didn’t because of the hogger.

    “What did you say?” Mogrul growled as he didn’t understand. He turned to other table and gestured a guard to come over. He wanted to knock the mer over, but the kid seemed to ignore every taunt from him. Mogrul discovered it made him infuriated. He was still frustrated that the kid had the mercenary with him, otherwise getting rid of him would  had been easy, or so he thought.

    The guard hesitated but understood what the Orc wanted, when he pointed at the young mer’s table. He marched to the young mer’s table and shoved the items on the floor with a crude movement, making Teldryn to stand ready to defend his partner if he needed to.

    I guess we have discovered our first veteran reaver in a guard armor.  Not how a real Redoran Guard would act like that. Ciel’nn made a mental note how the ‘guard’s’ eyes looked through the helm gap. He stood up from his chair and looked at the guard with an expression of you are marked to die. The young mer observed the guard, who gave no sign of faltering, but stared back at him.

    “What’s going on here?” Captain Veleth asked as he came down the stairs with Ondren behind him. He eyed Mogrul as he waited for an answer.

    “Oh, nothing, Captain. We’re just having a friendly discussion.” Mogrul said with gritted teeth. He knew he was losing the control as many pointy ears were present, including the stupid Captain. He didn’t gesture his guard to follow him when he stormed up the stairs.

    Ondren had to avoid  being run over by the Orc and noticed the guard walking to his own table. The young Redoran Guard frowned and walked to Ciel’nn’s table. He nodded to Teldryn, who sat back in his chair. “Are you alright?” He asked in a neutral tone, noticing the items on the floor while he heard his Captain asking Geldis if he had a message for him.

    “I’m fine, sera.” Ciel’nn replied, smiling. “Sit down. We have dire news to tell.” He added in a quiet tone. The mer brushed his stray hair behind his ear once Ondren had sat down. “We heard the hogger has five veteran reavers in the ranks of the Redoran Guard.” Ciel’nn whispered, giving a tiny nod  towards the lone guard. The mer noted the young guard’s shocked face. “We’re trying to find them and either mark or take them out. You need to tell this to your Captain.” Ciel’nn paused.

    “Let’s hope the hogger doesn’t get aggressive before we find them all.” Teldryn said in a low tone. “This can go ugly faster than the Lusty Argonian Maiden gets fucked.” With that said he earned both Ciel’nn and Ondren staring at him and the bladesman grinned at them. He observed Ondren clearing his throat.

    “I’ll deliver the news for the Captain when it’s safer to talk. Azura light your steps.”  Ondren stood up and strolled towards the bar.

    Ciel’nn still stared at his partner. It wasn’t that Teldryn was dirty - he could stand the dirtiness, but the fact that his companion probably read the books in question were the ones he disliked. The mer did his best to not scowl, but smiling didn’t work either, so he stared. The grin his partner flashed at him made the young mer avert his gaze.

    “Are you alright, Ciel’nn?” Teldryn asked, noticing he still held his partner’s chitin dagger and put it on the table. “We should think what to do with that ‘guard’.” He said with a frown, but he was certain Ciel’nn would have a plan. What is he thinking now?

    A soft sigh escaped from the young mer’s lips. “I’m alright I think, Teldryn.” I just can’t get the line you said out of my head. Ciel’nn smiled. “Tell me though, do you read those books?” For his reply, Teldryn gave a sly smirk. I thought so. “Okay. I might have a plan.” He said in  a lighter tone. “We need someone who brings the tea for him.” The young mer saw a question coming up from his partner and Ciel’nn reached for his vial belt. He picked a vile green vial and flashed a smirk. “We poison him.” He mouthed to Teldryn.

     

     



    It was difficult to find the veteran reaver at the market area as they were using the Redoran Guard heavy chitin armor. A perfect way to blend in with the real guards. Ciel’nn bit his lower lip as he observed the guards passing by. The hogger was talking to Fethis Alor, no doubt about the debts. Ciel’nn turned his head towards the Alchemist stall where one of the guards grabbed Milore’s hand in a rough manner. The young mer narrowed his eyes as he pushed himself off the wall, and Ciel’nn approached the guard.

    “Let me go!” Milore pleaded as she tried get free from his grip, wishing someone would help her. She couldn’t shout for help because the Orc was nearby. “Mogrul wants you to go-” she heard the guard saying before a familiar voice spoke.

    “I thought the Redoran Guard are honorable.” Ciel’nn said in a judging tone as he drew a mark on the guard’s  left pauldron with a piece of chalk. It seemed the guard hadn’t even noticed when he drew the mark. He stepped close to Milore and stared at the guard. “But, you behave like a s’wit to me. Or, should I say… reaver?” The last word he uttered so low that only the guard could hear him.

    The guard grunted when the youngling had appeared to stop his attempt to take the woman to Mogrul’s room in the Retching Netch. It was as if the kid was challenging him. “Get away kid before you get hurt.” The guard snarled and tightened his grip on the Alchemist’s hand. But, the kid stayed, staring at him as if trying to make him uneasy.

    Teldryn had been surveying the situation at the market from the Retching Netch door, and he had seen his partner going for the Alchemist. To him, there was a situation going on, so he strolled over for help. Veteran reavers might be hard to convince as they are nothing but the bottom scum. The bladesman arrived in time to see how the guard smacked the younger mer, who dodged the gauntleted fist. That’s a reaver for sure. Teldryn took a few last hurried steps and knocked on the side of the reaver’s head to make him unbalanced. Then he grabbed the reaver by his arm. “Alright, I’ll handle him. You take care of the Alchemist, Ciel’nn.” With that the older mer took the reaver away, taking his sword out.

    Be careful, Teldryn.

    Ciel’nn took a deep breath as he watched his partner disappearing towards the weird stone. He looked to Milore. “Are you alright?” the young mer asked in a concerned tone as he discreetly observed for any injuries - to his relief he found nothing visible. The reaver had been a brute and stubborn as a kagouti. It was good he still had quick reflexes otherwise he’d have a black eye and Ciel’nn wasn’t sure how his partner would have reacted then.

    The Alchemist looked at him. “I’m shaken. What was that about?” She frowned as she began to arrange her shelves of ingredients. “I thought he was a Redoran Guard.” To this young mer shook his head. “No, a reaver. Me and Teldryn are going to get to bottom of the Mogrul’s charade. I promise.” Milore heard the young mer saying and smiled.  “Where is your husband?” Ciel’nn asked her suddenly with a frown. The Alchemist sighed and said in a sad tone, “Mogrul took him.” Her smile vanished.

     

     

    Back to ToC

     

Comments

10 Comments   |   Wulfhedinn and 5 others like this.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 14, 2018
    Mogrul's nightmare was nicely done and lol at Ciel and the Lusty Argonian. :D
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  May 29, 2018
    Pff, Ciel can be strangely uptight about reading material. Nothing wrong with a good bit of erotica, I say.


    Hmm. Ciel... tight... ehehehehehehehe...
  • GailOlm
    GailOlm   ·  March 30, 2018
    I loved the discussion between Ciel'nn and Teldryn about their chitin armor. :)
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  March 25, 2018
    The Mephala nightmare is damn interesting and vivid, well done there if I can say :)
    Hehehe, Teldryn has jokes. And even lusty ones :D
    And Mogrul's end is nearing, I feel it. Hope he dies in agony, yup, I really hope he does :D Looking forwar...  more
    • Wulfhedinn
      Wulfhedinn
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      The Mephala nightmare is damn interesting and vivid, well done there if I can say :)
      Hehehe, Teldryn has jokes. And even lusty ones :D
      And Mogrul's end is nearing, I feel it. Hope he dies in agony, yup, I really hope he does :D Looking forward to what co...  more
        ·  March 25, 2018
      I hope you make him die in agony, Cal, because Karves has deprived us of an agonising death for his sir mutton-chops!
      • Karver the Lorc
        Karver the Lorc
        Wulfhedinn
        Wulfhedinn
        Wulfhedinn
        I hope you make him die in agony, Cal, because Karves has deprived us of an agonising death for his sir mutton-chops!
          ·  March 25, 2018
        Agonising death deprivation. Ha! Never expected that would be a thing, but boy, hell yes! Love the ring of it. :D


        But you know the saying, no? Nothing lasts forever. :)
        • Wulfhedinn
          Wulfhedinn
          Karver the Lorc
          Karver the Lorc
          Karver the Lorc
          Agonising death deprivation. Ha! Never expected that would be a thing, but boy, hell yes! Love the ring of it. :D


          But you know the saying, no? Nothing lasts forever. :)
            ·  March 25, 2018
           Khaja haith raj'kono ahziss hejta trevan!
  • Wulfhedinn
    Wulfhedinn   ·  March 25, 2018
    Loving the Mephala imagery at the start, especially pleasing with Ciel'nn's connections as a Dunmer! Loving the story, and I hope you continue this past the Mogrul arc! I'm loving Mogrul, though, he's so interesting everyone can write him well with their own take!
    • Caladran
      Caladran
      Wulfhedinn
      Wulfhedinn
      Wulfhedinn
      Loving the Mephala imagery at the start, especially pleasing with Ciel'nn's connections as a Dunmer! Loving the story, and I hope you continue this past the Mogrul arc! I'm loving Mogrul, though, he's so interesting everyone can write him well with their own take!
        ·  March 25, 2018
      There will be more after Mogrul.  Don't worry. Though I'll be missing writing him. xD  Thanks for reading!
      • Wulfhedinn
        Wulfhedinn
        Caladran
        Caladran
        Caladran
        There will be more after Mogrul.  Don't worry. Though I'll be missing writing him. xD  Thanks for reading!
          ·  March 25, 2018
        I'll be missing reading him! Can't wait to see who's next, though? I'm interested to see if Ciel takes on Azhidal or stays with his Morrowind roots? How's he going to deal with Miraak? What's happening with the official Skaal tribe? So many questions, not...  more