The depressed mer was sitting at the cooking pot. He was staring into the horker and ash yam soup like it would give him answers. His luck hadn’t changed since Mogrul had taken his money. He’d lost all that he had. Now he would spend his life cooking dishes for the visitors of the Retching Netch. Drovas frowned at the soup and let out a heavy sigh. “The damned soup is ruined!” he muttered.
Everything had gone wrong for him that morning. Drovas had awoken with a headache, then he had stepped into a bucket, resulting him falling on the floor with a ruckus. Geldis had complained about missing ash yams and lack of Ashfire mead. It did not help that the new Redoran guards demanded better meals, too. It all poured down on poor Drovas, who was responsible for the food and drink supply.
Ciel’nn had been observing the mer for a short time and he could tell that he was bothered by something. He tilted his head and wondered if Drovas would take the role as Tel Mithryn Steward. Everyone else it seemed had it going well enough since the death of the Orc. Well, it’s a worth to try. The young mer approached the mer. “Hey! Drovas! Geldis said you would be here.” He began in a neutral tone. “What’s troubling your mind?” Ciel’nn leaned against the nearby table.
Not hearing the young mer approach, Drovas let out a gasp. “Oh, Ciel’nn. Can’t you be more noisy and not startle people when you approach?” He sighed. The young mer wanted to know what bothered him, but Drovas felt already miserable. “It’s nothing. Everything is going wrong today and I’m doomed to work here for all eternity.” The mer frowned. “Better leave me alone, kid.”
“I guess you don’t want to hear about a job,” Ciel’nn looked away, biting his lower lip, “ working for a Telvanni wizard. He pays well, too.” “He’s a bit—”
“You kidding me? He pays well you say?” Drovas nearly shot up from his chair, looking at the younger mer. “You talking about the Wizard at Tel Mithryn?” This can’t be real! Could my luck actually turn for the better?
Ciel’nn nodded with a smirk. “That’s the mer at Tel Mithryn. Are you willing to do it?” The mer seemed to be enthusiastic about the prospect of getting a job.
“You bet, kid! After what that pig took from me… I have a chance to get back what I’ve lost.” Drovas beamed as he stood up. “You know what, Ciel’nn? I’m going to prepare my leaving right away. Can you tell Geldis I found a better job? Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
“You tell Talvas, the apprentice, my greetings, too.” Ciel’nn nodded as he straightened up as he watched the mer rushing out of the Inn. Good Luck, Drovas. You’re going to need it. And, also, you’re crazy. The young mer smiled and returned to the downstairs. He’d join his partner for a breakfast now.
Teldryn had been waiting for his partner to share the breakfast. He broke into a smile when Ciel’nn walked down the stair. The young mer caught him looking at him and flashed a smirk before heading toward their table. Teldryn found himself watching how Ciel’nn carried himself across the floor. Not only that it was care-free, but also… an eye catcher if you watched closely. The older mer swallowed slowly as if he felt his throat dry.
“If you keep staring like that I might start thinking you’re undressing me. In your mind.” Ciel’nn said with a tease before he sat on the other chair. He couldn’t wait to find out what training they were doing later. It’s going to be more intense, I bet.
The older mer shook his head to clear it. “Would you want that?” He shot back in a low tone. His partner looked to him mysteriously, but said nothing. The look was unreadable, but Teldryn promised to himself to find out what it meant. And, I thought I’d drove him away from the bedroll. Teldryn grabbed his cup and took a swig.
The lovely scent of grilled ash hopper in the air could only mean Geldis was coming with their breakfast. “There you go, sera.” He laid the tray on the table. “Oh, Drovas ran away.” He heard Ciel’nn saying. “Why?” The Innkeeper asked. “He went to serve the Telvanni wizard.” The young mer replied to him before taking a bite into his breakfast. “Ciel’nn! You thug! You drove my assistant away!”
That word again. Ciel’nn shifted in his chair and smirked at the Innkeeper. “You say it like you like thugs, Geldis.” He flashed a wink and watched how Geldis stared at him stunned for a brief moment before he marched away. The young mer resumed eating his breakfast.
“You’re in a good mood today.” Teldryn mused as he eyed his ash hopper leg. It was delicious - Maybe Geldis was having a good day, too? Until Ciel’nn told Drovas about the job. Ah well… He didn’t care how Geldis felt at all. His concern was his partner - as long as Ciel’nn was in a good mood - perhaps his darkened state stayed dormant? But, what if it’s a part of him permanently?
“I have a reason to be, but I think you know why.” Ciel’nn replied before he brought the cup of tea to his lips. Trama root tea helped his mood as well as staying sharp for the half quarter of the day. “What are we training today, Teldryn?” He looked to his partner casually. He seemed to be thinking of something, but the young mer let it be.
The older mer drank the last bits of his tea before answering. “Attacking strongly. If you’re ready - we’ll head out.” Teldryn put down his cup and straightened his back. “Hopefully we don’t run into the Redoran soldier.”
He watched the Skaal hunters trading with Fethis Alor. It was a good thing in Ondren’s opinion. Raven Rock will endure the times to come as long as the Redoran maintained the order. It meant no more mistakes. The young Redoran guard frowned. Though, I don’t think I like the Lieutenant. If he gets to be the new Captain… He caught Ciel’nn and Teldryn coming out of the Retching Netch and walked toward them. When Ciel’nn was close to him, Ondren whispered, “I have left a message for you at the Temple.” With that he headed toward the Bulwark.
Ciel’nn frowned after the young Redoran guard. The mer wouldn’t leave a message unless he really needed his help. I wonder what’s going on? He grabbed his partner’s arm. “We need to visit the Temple first. Come.” He heard Teldryn sigh, “Lead the way, but after that we’ll train even if an army of Golden Saints ascents from the sea.”
They hurried to the Temple passing by a few Redoran stationery guards, and greeted the Elder Othreloth once they had closed the door. “Azura light your path, child.” He said to Ciel’nn and resumed to read his book. The two mer went to see the Shrine of Boethiah and the young mer searched behind the shrine for a note. He stood up once his hand touched the scrolled paper and shifted closer to the brazier, his eyes focusing on the written text while he was aware of his partner looking at the paper next to him.
“Ciel’nn,
We have a problem. I don’t know how you view Captain Veleth, but I think his post is in danger. There is a Lieutenant by the Idros Sulenien in town and the Captain thinks he’s here to cause trouble for him. I cannot do a thing about it - we’re all being watched since the Officer arrived. We want to keep our old Captain in the town. So, if there something were to happen to the Lieutenant…or to stain his reputation for Officer Aroa, he might be sent back to Blacklight. I know I’m asking a lot, but I hope you can help… somehow.”
“I knew he was trouble the moment I saw him.” The older mer rumbled quietly. “I don’t like the Lieutenant either, but it’s not really our problem.” He took a step back to let his partner ponder it over. If Ciel’nn decided to help the young Redoran Guard - Teldryn wouldn’t dare say no. It was always amusing to watch one stumble while trying to gain prestige. He didn’t like the Redorans much.
It wasn’t their problem for sure, but Ondren was his friend and, Ciel’nn was inclined to help, although indirectly. The Lieutenant would cause problems for everyone. He loathed the mer and something need to be done. “I’m doing it for Ondren if nothing else.” Ciel’nn finally said, putting the paper into the brazier and he watched it caught flame. His eyes shifted to his partner.
The older mer nodded. “Alright, Ciel’nn. How are we going to do it though?” Teldryn tried to read Ciel’nn’s face. It stayed neutral until changed — it shifted into a scheming smirk under the playing shadows that the braziers cast around the Temple. And, the mer’s gaze was intensive while he looked at him. You’re so alluring.
As if Ciel’nn had heard his partner’s thought, the young mer shifted and smiled at the older mer - a smile that was meant only for Teldryn. “We need help from Geldis.” He said quietly. “But, we can talk about it later.” His eyes remained on the mer for a moment longer before Teldryn gave him a nod, and they headed outside.
The short-haired mer stared at the fire while his band of reavers did their daily preparations around the camp. They had brought a deer that they had hunted down and collected some ash yams for the meal. The mer’s female companion and his second-in command was skinning the deer and at the same directing the younger reavers for something. Other male reavers kept watch. Sildras smiled to himself - they were like a family. The only family he had. There had been a fiancee once, but fate hadn’t been kind to her, and Sildras had become bitter. His eyes shifted on the younger reavers — they weren’t the brightest lot, but it was better to be in his gang than the ones in the north.
Sildras was going to sharpen his two-handed blade when his outrider arrived to the camp. He looked to him with questioning eyes. “Well?” He asked as the outrider hesitated.
“The gangs will be gathering at your chosen place, Sildras.” The exhausted outrider replied and sat down on the wooden trunk. He reached for a bottle of Sujamma. The last crate of Sujamma threatened to be empty soon. Shit! And, others in the camp didn’t know how to be waste-less. They just wanted to be wasted like there was nothing to worry about. Luckily, the outrider had his own stash nearby, where he had five bottles in storage. One must have reserves when things turns into Oblivion. Now If only I could remember the Red Mountain Drinking song…
“Good.” The reaver murmured in a low tone, and a wicked smile spread on his lips. Things were going better than he thought. Now that Mogrul was out of the picture, there were a lot of things to be done — in the way Sildras wanted. A bold idea had been blossoming in his mind since the kid had said he’d take care of Mogrul.
Of course, the kid will try to stop him if he’d find out about his plans, but Sildras wasn’t worried about it. What can one child do to the league of reavers? He was alone, wasn’t he? No, he wouldn’t let one ex-Hlaalu brat ruin his plans. The only thing that mattered currently was that the northern gangs had agreed to meet him.
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