The desperate sounds of the Bull Netch were nearly heartbreaking for Ciel’nn. He found himself disgusted when the Skaal hunters had asked him to join the hunt. The young mer had declined and wished them luck with a sneer.
With a chitin bow in his hand, Ciel’nn observed the Skaal hunters, who were trying to kill a Bull Netch. One of the Skaal was already dead. He wouldn’t need to wait long before he’d get the moment and claim the big netch for himself. The mer wasn’t doing it for the sake of the hunting but for the netch jellies. It was the only reason he’d ever hurt them.
Another sound of agony was a sign for Ciel’nn to raise his bow with a chitin arrow notched on it. A careful aim would end the netch’s misery. He let the arrow fly and it struck true on the Bull netch’s vital spot. The Skaal backed away and turned to look at who had stolen their kill. The mer had the bow in his hand and then walked towards the netch. “Do you know the Netches are actually calm creatures by their nature?” He asked them with an accusing tone.
“We were testing our prowess against the mighty netch! And, you stole it from us!” The young looking Skaal woman said, throwing the mer an angry look.
“You tortured it.” Ciel’nn hissed. “It’s a pity it didn’t kill you all.” He added in a darker tone as he stopped in front of the netch, looking down at it. I’m sorry. He knelt down to take the jelly. “You better leave me.” He said to the hunters without looking at them. The mer wasn’t worried - there were only four of them left. He’d take them down if needed. N’chow savages. The Skaal hunters left muttering about another Bull Netch they might find.
While the young mer was collecting the jelly into a small pot from the netch, he caught a glimpse of a figure among the trees. It moved like it didn’t want to be seen, but Ciel’nn had already noted it. His eyes narrowed slightly while he cleaned the knife with a cloth. Suddenly he glanced to his right and the figure dove behind the tree. A smirk crept on the mer’s lips. Whoever was playing games with him would get it. The young mer was curious to find out who was stalking him.
Ciel’nn led the stalker briskly up the hill. He was aware of the stalker, who was stepping on small twigs which was followed by a rushed move to the nearest tree or a bush. The stalker didn’t seem to be a professional tracker as a few mistakes had already happened.
He caught sight of an old cottage and smirked. Now we will see who you are, stalker. He hurried towards the cottage and vanished behind the corner. Ciel’nn took an invisibility potion and chugged it down, wincing at the taste. He threw the empty bottle into another direction and waited to see if the stalker would move towards it or come around the corner.
The young mer saw his stalker coming into his view when he went to look at the smashed bottle. Ciel’nn frowned. The stalker looked like a reaver, close to his age. Not impressed! Once the stalker had his back to him, the young mer took a stride towards him when the invisibility ended as he grabbed his dagger.
The stalker put up a fight when the young mer pushed him on the ground and nearly shoved his dagger at the stalker’s eye. To Ciel’nn’s surprise, the mer was young but he had a vicious face. “You have five seconds to tell me who sent you!” Ciel’nn hissed darkly as he had his wrist over the stalker’s neck. “Speak!”
The other young mer hissed in defiance when he was pinned down, but he was more afraid of the dagger that was held close to his right eye. “No, don’t!” he panicked. “Don’t! Slitter will have me killed if -”
“Slitter, huh?” Ciel’nn murmured. I keep hearing his name. “And, why did he send you to follow me?” He demanded to know.
“To know what you’re up to! Mogrul’s looking for you.” The young stalker whimpered. “Are you going to kill me?”
“Kill you? It had crossed my mind, but... You’ll go back there and tell Slitter what I’ll tell you now.” Ciel’nn said in a low tone.
Once the stalker had gotten his message to Slitter and left, Ciel’nn relaxed and fixed his hair that which was a mess after the struggle. This is going to be interesting. A clever smirk slowly spread on his lips while he began to make his way back to the town, picking up trama roots on the way.
Ciel’nn arrived back in Raven Rock right before Milore was closing her stall. He marched towards her and showed the netch jellies he’d collected. The Alchemist was happy about the jellies and taught the mer her special recipe of a Potion of Extreme Well-being. Ciel’nn was delighted, although it wasn’t a poison recipe, he still wrote the recipe in his notebook.
The light ash fall had made Ciel’nn crave for a drink as he walked towards the Retching Netch. He was at the door when it opened and he looked straight at the bladesman, who a gave a deep sigh at the noise behind him. It was unexpected and it was hard to tell what the bladesman was thinking as he still had his helmet on as he blocked his way in. Curious. Ciel’nn couldn’t stop spreading the smirk on his lips. It’s the bladesman!
“I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” The bladesman said in a low tone.
The young mer raised his dark brow. The used tone sounded like a flirt to him, although he wasn’t sure of anything at that moment. “And why wouldn’t I, bladesman?” He asked. He has a tantalizing voice. I wonder what he looks like under the helm?
“The Orc down there is asking questions about you.” The bladesman replied in a neutral tone. He shifted as if he had no intention of letting the young mer go in. “You seem to elude them.” He added in a thoughtful tone, tilting his head.
“What do you care?” Ciel’nn asked bluntly with a slight raised brow. “You could be one of them.” He said in a tone of wariness. The Orc down there could cause problems, although I’m not afraid of him, and I only wanted a damn drink.
“A simple warning. People disappear and the Redoran Guard does nothing.” The bladesman said in a low tone and shifted in his place while he briefly eyed the chitin armor on the youngling. He got a good taste at least.
The mer put on a neutral face as he thought about it. “I’ll get my drink in another way then. See ya, bladesman!” Ciel’nn said and strolled away, but stopped shortly, looking over his shoulder, “And, you didn’t see me if they ask you.” He flashed a smirk and then resumed his strolling.
The bladesman let out another sigh and walked around the market area before heading to the pier. Wonder what that kid is on about?
The ash yam treat didn’t look very appetizing, but the young mer didn’t have much of a choice. In fact, he didn’t like them at all. Too bland. He’d pay a sum for some mud crab soup and sweetbread. Luckily he had a bottle of Sujamma left, although he didn’t tend to drink like water. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” Ciel’nn imitated the bladesman and wondered what was going on in the town, with Slitter’s litter stalkers and Mogrul - why was there was an Orc in Redoran town? So far he had avoided facing the Orc successfully.
In the early morning, Ciel’nn decided to visit the Temple before anyone would know he’d be there. He had spent time at each shrine, but he had lost track of time while he meditated at Mephala’s shrine. The mer was vaguely aware of a door opening and closing, followed by fast footsteps - his meditation was only interrupted by a fraction.
The mer heard someone falling on their knees at Azura’s shrine and began to pray. “The Reclamations! Hear me, Azura. We need help! Raven Rock is slowly dying in the hands of an Orc! Please, help us.” The voice was Milore’s.
The young mer noted the Alchemist’s tone of distress. Something was off with this town and he just heard the core problem, the Orc, and surely Slitter was helping him. The Temple door opened again which made Ciel’nn to sneak swiftly into the dark back room of the Temple.
“Milore! I saw you coming here.” A male voice said from the door and closed it shut. “There you are. It’s time we had some fun!”
Ciel’nn’s eyes narrowed. He recognized the lustful voice. Slitter… He leaned on a large crate and with a brooding scowl on his face he tried not to listen to the muffled crying, desperate shifting and flesh against flesh. By sitting hidden the young mer did a solid decision of not to intervene in the current event. His meditation had been interrupted and it had put him in a dark mood. He hadn’t minded Milore’s praying, but Slitter… Slitter was growing into a bothersome dilemma along with the Orc.
The young mer left the Temple once it was quiet. Outside he saw Galdrus Hlervu, the Temple attendant and greeted him with a prayer gesture with his hands. “Azura light your steps.” The attendant nodded. “Mephala cloak you.” He heard the attendant saying which made him smirk secretly. Ciel’nn was hungry, but he thought to eat outside the town. He went down the stairs swiftly and vanished beyond the Bulwark.
“Did you see the kid last night? Slitter saw you leaving the Inn.” The bladesman heard the Orc asking him. He coughed inside his helm. “Can’t say I have.” He’s quite an elusive mer, isn’t he? He saw the kid last night, but he didn’t know where he had gone. The bladesman glanced at Slitter, who was getting frustrated. I bet he isn’t doing his job well. The Orc turned to his guard. “Find him!”
If you find him that is.
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