Link to previous episodes: http://theskyrimblog.ning.com/profiles/blog/list?user=0m7tnj8g66wc2
Lucy settled into the rain gutter on the roof of the building across the alley from the Traveler’s Best Inn. She’d located the window of the second story room the Altmeri had rented, which was irregularly flashing with red and blue lights. She was just congratulating herself on finding a comfortable vantage point when she was startled by a tap on the shoulder.
“Don’t hit me!” squeaked a young girl, as she skittered up the roof. “It’s me, Zoe.”
To cover her embarrassment, Lucy whispered, “What are you doing here, Zoe?”
“Nils said to watch the inns. I got this one. I haven’t seen the dark-cloak-guys here though. Who are these guys?” she asked, indicating the violently flickering window across the alleyway.
“My sources say they were asking around about the amulet,” Lucy explained.
“Well, at least these guys are doing something interesting. I’ve been bored silly watching the front door,” Zoe complained, “and I kept wondering if we’d already found the dark-cloak-guys and no one had told me.”
“That sucks,” agreed Lucy. “In the meantime, we don’t want to lose these guys. Nils will send someone to relieve you after the meeting is over, and that person will fill you in. OK?”
“OK. Just tell them to hurry. It’s been a long night.”
As the stars were fading, Lucy slipped away to meet with Nils and Swims and the other leaders. Neither she nor Zoe noticed the shadow that followed her a moment later.
The Youth Corps never met as one big group. Where can you find a secret clubhouse that can fit several dozen children and teenagers? Instead, they met in small “troops” or “cells” (depending on which word they thought was cooler). Troop leaders met together to discuss big picture stuff. Just before dawn, Lucy met with four troop leaders, Nils, Swims-in-Shadows, M’Dar and Astrid, in a blind tunnel in the sewers, mostly blocked off by a collapsed roof. Having grown up in the Warrens, they hardly noticed the smell. They summarized what they knew:
- The Guild had contracted with someone, maybe the Altmeri, to steal an amulet.
- The Guild had acquired it, set up an exchange and then lost it.
- Five foreigners in dark cloaks had the amulet now. The Youth Corps knew about them but had no leads where to find them.
- Around 4AM, the Imperial Legion reinforced the guards at the city gates.
- The Altmeri, if they were the clients, still thought the Guild had the amulet.
That was about it.
“So as far as we know, nobody who knows about the dark-cloak-guys knows who they really are or where to find them,” Lucy observed.
“You will leave that for us,” replied a growling voice from the shadows, “and you will all go home and go to bed.” The five of them jumped. Nils, Swims and Astrid drew weapons. Lucy raised her fists. But M’Dar said, “Papa! We can’t stop now—look what we’ve already learned!”
“Nothing,” replied the black-clad khajit who stepped from the shadows. “Nothing the Guild did not already know. We’ve been watching the Altmeri all night.”
Lucy’s troop leaders put away their weapons, making dejected noises, but Lucy got a thoughtful look. “Is that where you found us? You left your post and followed us here?” she challenged.
M’Dar’s father protested, “I didn’t just leave. I was relieved.”
“And then you listened to our entire meeting before showing yourself. Admit it,” Lucy concluded, “We’re the best lead you’ve had all night.”
He growled. “I give you credit for picking up the trail from Farys’ house, but if we are truly looking for the Dark Brotherhood, this is not a cubs’ game. The Guild has hunters all over the city. We will track them now. You will go to bed.”
At the mention of the Dark Brotherhood, Swims and Nils nervously looked to Lucy for reassurance.
“Any clown can buy a dark cloak,” Lucy assured them.
“Rare is the clown that steals from the Guild and evades the hunters until dawn,” pointed out the khajit. “My son shall not be their prey. Do not make me call the doyen. He will end your pack. Go, now!”
Reluctantly, the five teenagers left their clubhouse. Swims opened his mouth to speak at one point, but Lucy hushed him. Not until they emerged from the sewers did she turn to them.
“Are we really giving up now?” Swims asked in a low voice, and the others gathered to hear the answer.
“No,” answered Lucy. “We still need to find the dark-cloak-guys. The Guild has no leads. They’ll never find them in time.”
“But we don’t have any leads either,” said Astrid.
“Something’s got to move,” Lucy mused. “We’re going to have to kick the hornet’s nest.”
Two Altmeri sat in the common room of the Traveler’s Best inn, eating the eggs and bacon. Rather, one of them ate; the other played with his food, a look of disdain upon his face.
A young tow-headed child dressed as a beggar, entered the room, walked up to the innkeeper, and in a high, clear voice, said, “Hey mister, can you tell me where I could find an amulet with a dragon on it?”
The Altmer who was eating choked on his food. In that imperious tone they have, he said, “Little boy, come here. Where did you hear about an amulet like that?”
“There were these creepy men asking for it in the market. Offered to pay three gold pieces to anyone what could find it for them.”
“What did the creepy men look like?”
“Five of them, dark cloaks with symbols on them; one was a lizard man.”
The Altmeri exchanged hard looks, stood up and proceeded upstairs without another word.
The young boy watched them go, then stepped out the door. He stopped outside and glanced at a young Orsimer girl eating a meat pie. Without looking back at him, she muttered, “Good job. Now go home and get some sleep. Don’t be followed.” The boy left.
A minute later, six Almeri dressed in wizard’s robes and carrying staffs left the inn and hurried down the street. Because she knew where to look, Lucy saw Swims-in-Shadow fall in behind them. Swims was the best sneak the Youth Corps had. She finished her pie before stretching her back and turning to wander up the street after them.
She was startled by a whisper in her ear. “What are you doing, Lucy? Didn’t S’Fasa tell you to go home.”
Lucy glanced around, but there was no one there. “Ma?” Lucy asked, quietly. She felt a soft, familiar touch on her shoulder. “The Altmeri will lead us to the dark-cloak-guys,” she explained. “We’re going to follow them.”
“Lucy, you’ve just poured oil on the fire.” whispered her mother.
“The faster it burns, the sooner it’s out. We didn’t have time to wait for something to happen. We had to make it happen. You’ve got to let the Guild know what’s happening, while we follow the Altmeri.”
“No,” argued her mother. “I’ll follow them; you alert the Guild. Then go home!”
Lucy shook her head once. “Won’t work. Swims is leaving me a trail you won’t be able to follow, and I won’t be able to find your contacts while they’re under cover. You’ve got your network; I’ve got mine.”
The silence stretched just long enough for Lucy to wonder if her mother had left. Then, with a curious tone, “Where’d you learn to think like this?”
Lucy allowed a little pride into her voice. “Everything I know, I learned from my parents.”
“No,” her mother said slowly, “No, you didn’t.” Lucy’s smile faded. Her mother wasn’t impressed; she was… afraid? “You’re in over your head, Sweets.”
“We’re wasting time,” said Lucy.
“How long since you slept?”
“I’m not sleepy.”
Comments
Nice post, as always.