Chapter Five:
- “So your skymother is Kynareth?” Nozama asked Regina.
“An aspect of her, yes.” answered the Imperial.
“Why the bird‘s head?”
“The statue was broken when this place was discovered. We managed to steal the head from a Legion fort. Seems only right. Take her to the tent.”
The two Forsworn obeyed and escorted Nozama toward a large tent near the center of the camp. Inside it was dimly lit and smoky from the roaring fire pit and oddly enough, the interior was divided by a gold colored curtain. Probably the sleeping area. Nozama couldn't tell for certain from where she was standing but the curtain seemed to be of satin and that it looked fairly new.
An old Breton woman was sitting on a bench near the fire. She turned around and Nozama saw that her eyes were milky white.
“Ah, a visitor. This is she?” she asked hoarsely.
“Yes, Seer.” one of the Forsworn said.
“Good, good. Leave us and stand guard outside.”
“But, Seer.....” the other protested.
“Do not be so foolish, boy. She is unarmed and even if she tries to attack me, she‘ll come to regret it. Besides where in Oblivion is she going to anyway?”
“Yes, Seer.” With a final glare at Nozama, the Forsworn left them alone.
“You were expecting me?” asked Nozama as she rubbed her bruised arms.
“My visions gave me an idea about your location.” the old woman said smugly. “Be as it may, your coming was foretold.”
“So you had your thugs kill two dozen people and brought me here by force because of a vision?!!” the Redguard said incredulously.
“You make me sound so evil. That is what they are supposed to do. They need no command from me to attack and slay. The caravan was operated by the Silver-Bloods, correct? ”
“You‘re very well informed.” Nozama did not like where this was going. “These ‘visions’. Its a sham isn‘t it? That and the skymother, its all rubbish to keep these madmen in line?”
The woman merely gave a wide toothless smile and called out. “You can come out now. It won't do to have a stranger lingering about a woman's bedchamber. Might give people the impression that we're married.”
The gold curtain shifted and a young blond haired Nord stepped out from the other side.
Nozama crossed her arms to her chest. “Bormyr Silver-Blood” she sighed. “I should have guessed. Only you would arrange to raid your own family‘s caravan. The Forsworn gets half the loot and the blame while you... ”
“Have you right where i want you.” Bormyr interrupted. “You had this coming for a long time, harlot.”
“I am sorry about that but your cousin, Thongvor made me a better offer. At least he doesn't talk during sex, rather he saves it for the court.... ”
Bormyr rushed forward and slapped Nozama. She staggered and wiped the blood from her mouth.
“Now, now.’ cackled the old woman. “There is much at stake than male pride and jealousy. We do need her."
“Another vision, Agni?” snapped Bormyr.
“You and the Redguard deserve each other. Mock me if you wish but don‘t ever question my powers. You have been a useful partner thus far but you‘re not indispensable. Your relatives won‘t accept any ransom but it is not past them to pay for your death.”
Bormyr paled but said nothing.
“Now then, Bormyr Silver-Blood wants to kill you for spurning his advances and bedding his cousin. Normally i don‘t care but my visions had never fail me before. They are real, i assure you, Redguard.”
Nozama glared at the pair. “Then what do you want of me?”
“This camp is unlike any other Forsworn encampment you may have come across. We don‘t bend knee to the hagravens and the Briarhearts they created. But there is one hagraven who is causing trouble for us. And we want this obstacle removed.”
“I get your part in this but why Bormyr wants her out of the way?”
“Once the hagraven gets her way, then he has no allies among the People of the Reach.“
“So i kill this hagraven and i get to leave.” Nozama scoffed. “Two holes in your plan. One: what makes you think i won‘t run off and Two: i‘m not the Dark Brotherhood, i am a bard.”
“Who said anything about killing her?” Bormyr answered. “I know you‘re useless in combat, Nozama. If you do have the guts to slay her, then alright. We only want her to leave the camp be.
And in answer to your first point you made: you won‘t be alone. There will be a raiding party of Forsworn escorting you.”
Every instinct in Nozama was screaming ‘SETUP!!!’
No way in Oblivion, was Bormyr letting her walk out this mess alive even after doing his dirty work.
It would have been better just have him rape and kill her right here and now.
Not that she will ever give the swine the satisfaction.
“Alright, i agree.” she said reluctantly.
(To be continued)
