The Traveller from The Marsh - Chapter 1

• Posted by Teekus February 7, 2016 - Filed in TSC: Long Story - 1,271 views

  Quite a long first chapter here. Hope you like it. First time visitors please read the intro and prologue first to see what this story is about.

   

  Chapter 1

   

  Ji'Arsha and Han-Ei came into the lower ground floor of the three storey manor house quietly closing the door behind them. Loud grunts and snores came from the room to the right indicating that Saliith was still asleep. The forge coals still glowed heating the large dark if not slightly damp room. The lower ground floor served as a storage area and workshop for Teekus's blacksmith trade and smelt strongly of various alchemy ingredients and the sulphurous stench from the forge. Smoke rose from the coals and up into a steel tube with an attached canopy serving as a chimney leading up through the stone ceiling. The sink and washroom were up on the ground floor but going up there would make too much noise. Teekus and his wife would be sound asleep on the first floor but could awaken to any sounds from downstairs.

   

  “What about washing this mud off in the water bath for the forge?” Ji'Arsha asked.

   

  “It's as good as anything” came the answer. “See if you can find a bucket.”

   

  The Khajiit looked around the dimly lit room his cat like eyes giving him an advantage but he found nothing. He gently pushed open the door of Saliith's room and observed a slop bucket by his bed. This was time to put his stealth skills to use as he crouched down and crept into the room passing hastily discarded clothes on the floor and making his way towards the bed. The smell of argonian became stronger blown by a draught through the room. The banner above his bed fluttered slightly in the draught coming through the cracks in the masonry.

   

  Fortunately the bucket was empty but a pair of fur lined leather boots were in the way. As he picked them up to move them aside his keen sense of smell picked up their stench. He could never get used to the smell of argonian as the scent of their body odour changed depending on mood and emotion. Clothes picked up and harboured these scents and boots were no exception; worn for days on end they soaked up and stored these various scents and the combined smell was too much to bear.

   

  He gagged and pushed the boots aside remembering the saying 'it smells worse than the inside of an argonian's boot' used by some to describe an awful smell and went for the bucket silently removing it from the room. The argonian was probably too drunk to notice his boots were not in the same place as he'd left them.

   

  “Sleeping like a baby” he said as he returned to Han-Ei who had stripped off his trousers and shirt standing almost naked by the side of the forge. His well muscled body was striking no wonder he was popular with the women.

  “Quiet. You'll wake Teekus and Shahvee” he whispered. He listened for any sounds but nothing could be heard. He silently wondered what Teekus saw in that haggard old argonian; he was half her age and probably more. It was obvious what she saw in him however, anyone would be insane to turn him down. She must be good in bed he thought to himself or Teekus was desperate. Shahvee was ugly and her grating voice got on his nerves; he only tolerated her because he was his employer's wife.

   

  ***

   

  “Teekus are you awake... Teekus!!” Shahvee said loudly to her husband as she tried to rouse him. She sat up in bed and nudged him again with her elbow.

   

  Teekus grunted and rolled over. “What is it?” he answered as he looked over towards the window. He groaned remembering the heavy drinking session he and Saliith had earlier in the Winking Skeever. “It's still dark” he objected snapping his eyes into focus.

  “I saw something” she whispered.

   

  “And you woke me for that. Well, what did you see?” he said impatiently wanting to get back to sleep seeing that she was struggling to explain.

   

  Shahvee rested her hand on his shoulder. “Han-Ei and his Khajiit friend were burying a large chest behind the house. There were flashes of moonlight in whatever they were burying – weapons and metallic objects by the look of it.”

   

  Teekus looked unconcerned after all he didn't really care at that moment in time he just wished his head would stop pounding. “Ill confront them in the morning and ask what they were doing. I'm not getting dressed and going over to the inn now. It can wait.” He paused and thought for a moment. “It might be an idea to see if anything is missing when it's light” he added as he slumped back down on the bed.

   

  “No, my love I think you should go downstairs and take a look now” Shahvee added as she got up and threw a cloak over herself to keep warm.

   

  “Why? What could it possibly be that cannot wait till morning?” He objected. “Fine!” Teekus huffed angrily after seeing the look on her face and threw the bed covers aside leaping out of bed pausing then collecting an ebony shortsword hanging on the side of the wardrobe. He pulled his boots on and a mail shirt over his nightclothes and grabbed the candle Shahvee had lit lighting the others in the room as he went.

   

  The bedroom door opened out onto the upper balcony and main dining area above the manor's great hall. Dim moonlight came through the small windows and below the embers of the fire lit the kitchen where the radiant heat could just be felt. Teekus shivered and thought that the manor house could really do with a fireplace upstairs. There were no sounds but suddenly muffled voices could be heard coming from the lower ground floor.

   

  “What in oblivion are you two doing?” Saliith asked sleepily from his bedroom door as he observed Han-Ei and Ji'Arsha stood almost naked with wet clothes over Han-Ei's arm. Ji'Arsha was making some attempt to get into his spare set of pants and shirt but struggled pulling them over his wet fur. “This is not the time and place for a bath.”

   

  The argonian and khajiit looked at each other waiting to see who would speak first as neither of them could think of a reasonable explanation as to why they were washing their clothes in the forge's cooling water trough in the middle of the night. “Had an accident” Han-Ei suggested. “We were just leaving anyway” he added as he gathered up his backpack with Ji'Arsha doing the same.

   

  “That's some fine sword khajiit” he observed sarcastically as Ji'Arsha collected up the three weapons they had left on the floor as they came in. “Looks like Teekus's trophies."

   

  Ji'Arsha started to run to the door but Saliith was much faster and blocked his path standing with his arms folded. “You are not going anywhere. I've been watching you since you came into my room.”

   

  What? How? Ji'Arsha thought to himself. “You were asleep!” Saliith just gave a smirk and checked behind him to place the bolt on the door.

   

  Han-Ei quickly joined his friend and squared up to Saliith raising his fists. “We are leaving. Try and stop us.”

   

  Saliith who was not as well built as Han-Ei knew that in a fist fight he would not be able to defeat the pair of them still stood his ground. He had known these two for only a couple of months when he was employed by Teekus to replace his housecarl / steward when she was killed on the isle of Wrymstooth. Teekus however had known Han-Ei for nearly 2 years as he employed him as a bodyguard and companion whenever needed on long and difficult quests. Neither Han-Ei nor Ji'Arsha had a room in the manor and slept at the local inn.

   

  Saliith didn't trust the khajiit and although he thought Han-Ei was a self centred, overconfident, brash and clearly thought he was the god's gift to women he was okay as a companion and a good friend to have around. It didn't cross his mind that he would betray Teekus seem as they had known each other for so long but tonight it appeared he was wrong.

   

  “You're going outside in just a loincloth & boots?” Saliith observed. “Must be in some hurry. You are hiding something and you are waiting till Teekus gets here if I have to stop you myself.”

   

  “It's a fight then” Han-Ei growled as he threw a punch at Saliith who quickly responded blocking the punch with his arm. He quickly grabbed Han-Ei's wrist and fought against the strong corded muscles trying to twist it around his back bringing his other hand up to try and choke him.

  The fight was soon interrupted by a loud thundering shout with a distinct black marsh accent.

   

  “What on earth is going on here?” Teekus demanded. He cast his eyes over the weapon plaques to his right and noticed some were missing. The large chest he kept most of his jewels and gold in was missing and by the look of it had been dragged over the floor and out of the door. Muddy water was splashed all over the floor by the forge and the racks containing ingredients had been ransacked.

   

  He glared at the three over by the door and drew his sword advancing on them. “Well, anyone care to explain? He shouted waving his sword at Ji-Arsha. “You were seen out the back burying something. It appears I now know what.”

   

  “Saliith, Han-Ei. Another argonian was seen. Which one of you was it? He asked. However it was quite clear what the answer was. He knew Han-Ei and Ji'Arsha had known each other for a long time and Saliith had a hand around Han-Ei's neck. It was more likely that Han-Ei and Ji-Arsha were in league with each other.

   

  “Let him go” Teekus demanded.

   

  Saliith complied relaxing his grip and bowed before the dragonborn. “I caught them my lord. They were washing muddy clothes and boots in the trough over there.” “They have some of your swords.”

   

  “They seem to have much more than that. Did you notice by any chance the missing chest and heard them take it outside?”

   

  "No my lord.” He apologised. “I didn't notice it was missing, they must have taken it whilst we were out earlier.”

   

  Hmm. Teekus grunted. “Well you are clearly not the guilty one here. Go get dressed and look in the garden. Take the back door out.” He instructed.

   

  Salith bowed again and returned to his room closing the door behind him.

   

  “As for you two. I have never trusted you, cat” he growled putting his sword against his throat. “Tell me now why I should not cut out that lying tongue of yours.”

   

  He glanced at Han-Ei looking for an answer. He just shrugged. “I'm sorry it was my idea. I wanted to leave and go back to my previous life. Ji'Arsha here needs to get to Hammerfell and I'm planning to accompany him there. He has little money and weapons.”

   

  “So you thought you would steal from me!?” Teekus snarled. “After everything we have been through together. I thought I could trust you. I thought we were friends!”

   

  Han-Ei knew he wouldn't be able to get out of this one easily. If the dragonborn wanted to kill him then he wouldn't be able to stop him.

   

  “Come on Teekus. You don't need all that money. Most of it you have taken it from bandits so technically you have not gained it legally. You are just as much a thief as me.”

   

  Teekus's eyes went wide with fury. “How dare you accuse me of being a thief. I have gained most of my wealth legally, through payment for slaying dragons, mercenary work and my trade as a blacksmith. Some of it was yes, taken from bandits but I'm charitable and if I knew who the gold belonged to I'd return it to them.”

   

  “Really?” Han-Ei asked with some sarcasm in his tone. Ji'Arsha remained quiet, the tip of Teekus's sword was still at his throat.

   

  “Do not get sarcastic with me!” Teekus snarled removing his sword from the khajiit's neck and placing it against Han-Ei's throat. He glanced at the Khajiit. “You only had to ask if you needed gold for your trip. I would have gladly helped you out and maybe even travelled with you to the border. Now you can make your own way.”

   

  Ji'Arsha breathed a sigh of relief. He took that as a sign he wasn't going to die now. He nodded to the dragonborn and stepped away. “Leave the swords on the floor and get out. Just pray that I never see you again because if I do I will do more than rip out your tongue.”

   

  Ji'Arsha didn't need to be told twice and he promptly unbolted the door and fled outside waiting down the street to seeif Han-Ei came out - dead or alive.

   

  “Now, now what shall I do with you?” Teekus sighed. Saliith joined them and bowed to his master once more. “It's true. Your chest is buried in the flower beds in the rear garden.”

   

  “Thankyou.” he said turning back to Han-Ei.

   

  “We have been good friends for years, we trusted each other and this is how you repay me. Well our friendship ends here – I should really kill you or take you to the guards to rot in a prison cell. What will it be?”

   

  A stupid question Han-Ei thought. “Neither. Let me go and we will never see each other again?” He suggested half pleading.

   

  Teekus thought for a moment. He didn't really want to kill him but taking him to the city guard would ensure he would spend a longtime in jail. Teekus with him being the thane of Solitude had a lot of influence and could get almost anyone put to death or in jail without much proof or trial. His head was still pounding and he wasn't really in any kind of mood for nonsense but he wanted this traitor to know his place.

   

  He looked up at the ceiling and blew out a large breath and returned his gaze to his former friend. “Alright. Seem as we have known each other a long time, for your services and the way my head feels at this moment I suppose I should forgive you. But you must apologise for the insult and what you have done. Kneel.” he instructed.

   

  “Kneel?” Han-Ei stuttered.

   

  “Yes. Get down on your knees.” Teekus said angrily. Sallith looked on with interest; a wicked smile appearing on his face. He would rather see another race preferably a Nord grovelling at an argonian's feet but this would do. He remembered Teekus telling him how he & the remnants of the Empire had defeated Ulfric Stormcloak and he was made to kneel before Teekus in front of a large crowd of varying races Argonians and Dunmer included. Just before Teekus beheaded him he had made Ulfric publicly apologise on his hands and knees for his treatment towards the argonians in his city. He wished he had been there to see that.

   

  “Please don't kill me.” Han-Ei pleaded just as Shahvee who had come to see what all the commotion was about cried out “Teekus! No! You're drunk & can't think straight, think what you are doing!”

   

  Teekus shot her an angry glare. “I am not drunk. I've got this under control” he snapped. “This one needs to answer for his crime.”

   

  Han-Ei was still standing when Teekus turned back to face him. “I will kill you if you don't do as I tell you. Now kneel.”

   

  Han-Ei was quick to comply and knelt before the dragonborn bowing his head expecting a blow to the neck that would end his life. He closed his eyes and thought of happier times before his head would roll onto the floor.

   

  The blow never came. “Now you must apologise for the insult to my honour and my trust. Lower your head.” Teekus demanded lowering his sword to the back of Han-Ei's neck.

   

  Han-Ei lowered his head further.

   

  “Lower!” Teekus shouted pressing the sword harder to emphasise his point.

   

  Han-Ei's face was now just above Teekus's boots. Should he lick them? He decided not to and simply answered. “Please forgive me, I am truly sorry for what I have done. I will return any stolen goods to you if you would see fit to sparing my life.”

   

  “It's not just about the stolen goods, it's the insult.” came the reply. “I should have made this spectacle public but there's no time for that now. Ah, what use is it?” he continued backing away slightly. Han-Ei remained still and dared not to look up at the Dragonborn. “Who does he think he is? Royalty?” he thought.

   

  Saliith stood silently watching them both with his arms folded. There was a smug smirk across that purple skinned face of his. At least he had witnessed Han-Ei's humiliation Teekus thought. There was just one more thing to be done that was to finish this charade.

   

  “Teekus! Let it go” Shahvee warned in the brief silence. She was ignored by both of them.

   

  “Now I'm going to give you something to remember this by.” Teekus said as he sliced his sword down the side of Han-Ei's face. Blood gushed out onto the floor. “Your not so handsome now are you” he mocked. “Get up and get out of here” he continued grabbing one of his bone spikes and pulling him up throwing him towards the door. “If I ever hear you have healed that I will find and kill you. Furthermore if I travel to Riften and you see me it would be in your best interest to stay out of my way.”

   

  “Now get out! I hope I do not have to see you again!”

   

  Han-Ei opened the door and fled out into the early morning light joining Ji'Arsha who was waiting down the street.

   

  “Was that really necessary?” Shahvee asked.

   

  Teekus remained quiet for a few moments and then the anger began to fade from his face and turn to disappointment as he realised what had just happened. “Ah, maybe, maybe not. It's over now anyway. May as well get breakfast on the go; I can't sleep now.”

   

  “No there's plenty of time before morning. Come back to bed my love” Shahvee said softly grabbing his waist. “Ill make it worthwhile” she whispered with a slight seductive tone rubbing her hand over his groin. Teekus grinned and began to head upstairs pausing to turn round to face Saliith.

   

  “Clean up this mess” he ordered.

   

  Author's notes:-

  I figured that Argonians have to change / wash their clothes frequently due to their body scent changing depending on emotions. Due to this I assume that their feet must stink as all those combined scents inside a boot worn for months would be really, really bad. No wonder they prefer not to wear shoes / boots whenever they can. It's probably not just their sharp claws.

   

  The story will be moving to just two central characters for now but I wanted to introduce my Dragonborn character and another follower I used in my playthrough.

   

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