Three month's had passed since the Old Man had left Nephili in Bruma with the Altmer Crone. Her life had taken an interesting and decidely better turn after she had made her decision to leave Cropsford and follow after him. Despite the uncertainty, a moment of kindness that he had shown her as a child had given her hope that he would not wrong her unlike the man she had been arranged to marry, Isahbrak Bincal.
Despite the nearly eleven months that had past, the scar inflicted on her heart still ached deeply and a smoldering anxiety had grown where once stood what, she thought the world to be. The 'world', it turned out, was a place where Isahbrak could walk about without a care or a worry while it looked upon her with cold mocking and indecent stares. Such an upheaval, she would have withstood against; but it was the shameful expressions from her three brothers and the loveless dispassion in her father that had shaken her with the greatest despair and to wonder at the real meaning of love. They had gone to the Bincal farmstead where she had expected that events would be made right. What they had done instead was to renew the bond between the two families by re-affirming their commitment to the arranged marriage. Her cheeks had burned deeply and an emptiness had crept into her soul all through that winter.
While the Old Man had come to know her only recently, his annual passing had become as immutable to Nephili's existence as the passing of the seasons. His visits had given fire to her imagination and a way to connect to the world at large. The other children had looked upon him with fear but not her. Every word and wave, and the resulting dance of the elements lit her eye's brightly. Every weapon he had enchanted at her father's forge, every healing aura he performed for the injured and the infirmed only lead her to greater and greater fantasies about what life was like as an itinerant mage. Her father had tolerated her childish passions while her youngest brother had secretly shared in her delight. Her mother, however, had disapproved greatly and worried at her fitness of mind.
Once, the Old Man had spied her crying over the death of her families grey mare. He had shown her a way to relax her mind, a kind of meditation he said before making his way out of town. In her minds eye, she had seen a swirling energy, calm and rhythmic which then swept over her body and suddenly gave her peace. It was, she later came to realize, her first taste of magic.
Nephili looked up from her book on Basic Conjuration to see the Old Crone come down from upstairs. "I need you to take this list down to the market and pick up the following items. There is also that Khajiit Caravan that's been stationed outside the city walls. Hand them this package, ask them to look at it and wait for them to give you an answer. Return, and after dinner is served, we have something to discuss." She rose to take the list and package and prepared to leave the house.
In leaving her here, certain requirements had been spelled out by the Old Man. One was, that at all times, she must act as the Old Crone's maid-servant. The other, was that the practicing of magics must not be made known to anyone outside this house. Why must it be this way she had asked? He had already taught her the Calm and Healing Spells and had encouraged their use during their two months together. Would it not be better for her to continue her apprenticeship with him? The Old Man had smiled wrily at this and said he had done all that he could do for her and it was up to the Old Crone to continue her education. She looked upon this change with trepidation for she was about to lose her savior and was essentially asked to be indentured to a sour looking Altmer. Before he left, he held her gaze and said, "We see in you a great destiny so trust in what I'm doing. In time, you will see for yourself the rightness of it. Oh, and learn how to make really good Nirnroot tea." and with that, he had taken his leave.
Outside, the chill in the air continued to cling to the day despite Midyear having come and gone. The northern climate of Cyrodiil was very hospitable to snow unlike the wetter and warmer climes of the southern end of the Nibenay Basin. Most of the residents of Bruma were Nords however and while she would bundle herself up in a cloak, most everyone else seemed to react to the weather as if it was the peak of summer.
Apart from the locals, occasional travelers from Leyawiin, Cheydenhal, the Imperial City and from Skyrim would pass through town. Just this morning, diplomats had arrived to visit the Count from the Aldmeri Dominion which sent the Town Guards into a nervous state and created unease among the populace. The Old Crone had shown little outward reaction to their arrival except to say, "Don't go near them and behave yourself."
Nephili walked down to the open market and deftly completed her shopping. The seller's always haggled but the agreed upon price came quicker, now that they knew her. She moved onto the main gates and passed by the stationed guard.
"All, kiinds of goods at faiir priices. Come, see what we have."
A camp had been set up just outside the city, opposite the stables. A Khajiit was busy tending to the cleanup of their mid-day meal around their fire. Another was busy chopping additional firewood off to the side and a third stood guard watching the passerby. Her eyes momentarily flickered over Nephili before seeking her next target. A fourth Khajiit, perhaps older or just furrier sat in front of their biggest tent and had just now turned his attention to her.
Ears turning forward, the Khajiit spoke. "Khajiit welcomes you. You have come to see our goods yes? Khajiit sees you are perhaps Breton? We carry many magiical artiifacts. Come, come, many thiings from all across Tamriiel can be shown to you."
Nephili smiled at the Khajiit as her gaze lingered over some fancy trinkets and robes on display. She dared herself to study all the magical items, even though she knew it would be frowned upon. But, who would know or care?
A particular ring caught her eye. It was silver with a sapphire setting. She could sense a pleasing energy radiating within it's lustre. Someday, such magics would be at her command. She would use it place herself in the world, bringing joy and easing the suffering of men. The world had seen enough of it in the Great War and what Tamriel needed now was love and she would be one among the righteous.
"I'm just here on an errand today. Please, my Mistress asked me to hand you this package. She asked that you look upon it and give a reply."
The Khajiit gazed at the pouch then looked again at Nephili's face with more interest. He reached out his hand and said, "Let Khajiit see what you have for us, yes?" Taking the bundle, he loosened the cinch and peered inside. His eyes narrowed briefly before he took out a piece of paper which he then proceeded to unfold and read.
A moment passed, then he spoke, "Riisha, Khajiit has need to speak with you."
The female that had been tending the fire looked up and walked over to them. "What iis iit my love? Does our Guest trouble iin some way?"
He handed her the note and spoke to Nephili. "Khajiit wiishes to know your name and who your Miistress iis."
Nephili paused with some uncertainty before responding to her waiting audience. "I... well, my name is Nephili and my Mistress is an old Altmer named Tarerane."
"Tarerane? Khajiit hearz. Tell your Miistress that Khajiit cannot giive her answer so quiickly. Allow Khajiit some tiime to... confer wiith otherz before respondiing."
Nephili looked upon the two and replied, "I was told I must have an answer before I return to make dinner. Can you not do this?"
Riisha, having finished the letter, turned to her partner. "Altmer request iis most unusual but iit iis withiin our powers yes? Iis not the payment suffiiciient?"
"The payment iis thiis." He handed her the pouch.
Riisha's ears swept back and forth upon spying the contents "Thiis One sees."
The female Khajiit spoke to Nephili. "Tell your Miistress our answer iis thiis, 'Please return thiis evening. We will have your answer.'" With that said, Riisha returned to her fire.
Nephili stood unable to decide if this would satisfy the Old Crone.
The sitting Khajiit looked upon her unease and smiled broadly. "Do not worry. Your Miistress wiill understand the meaniing of our answer. And unless you wiish to buy somethiing, Thiis One thinks you should return to your tasks."
Nephili thanked the old Khajiit and wandered back through the gate, her mind now buzzing about like a fly next to a window.
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Comments
And, I agree. In my mind, the fleshing out of ... more