Story of a Breton Farm Girl from Cyrodiil, Prologue, part 6

• Posted by Eviltrain June 13, 2012 - 780 views

  Nephili followed Guard-Captain Jorundhr out of the keep and down past the Champion's Statue into the city below. The caldron's were being lit as night began to fall, and a lull fell over the streets with only a few passerby to break the quiet conversations between the evening homes. Once inside the Old Crone's house, Nephili moved through the dark to the kitchen and sat at the table. She lay her head in her arms, unable to think.

  I'm so tired. This day... ...it's all done...

   

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  Nephili awoke with a start. She looked about trying to regain her presence.

  I'm in the kitchen.

   

  Bang. Bang. Bang.

  There's someone at the back door.

  She got up to light a candle then remembered the events in the keep.

  Julianos guide me! What should I do?

  "Nephili, open the door!" It was Guard-Captain Jorundhr.

  Nephili, walked four steps and stood in front of the door attempting to understand the situation. She called out to her guest. "Guard-Captain?"

  "We need to talk. Let me in before I'm discovered."

  The Breton girl unlatched the wooden door only to have Jorundhr push it aside to enter the house. A robed and hooded figure followed him in and quickly shut the door behind him.

  "Guard-Captain?"

  He looked about before asking, "Are you alone? "

  "Y...yes."

  "Good." He turned to the hooded figure who unveiled himself. It was the elder Khajiit from the caravan.

  Nephili felt herself slowing down, unable to catch any of her thoughts. "I don't understand. What are you doing here?"

  "Khajiit welcomes you. Thiis One iis surpriised that you diid not return thiis evening. The Guard-Captain came to me to let me know why."

  "I... don't understand."

  "Yes. You would not understand. Thiis One saw from today that the contents of the pouch was not known to you; but your fate lay insiide, waitiing to be found. Your Miistress has bought you passage wiith us to Skyriim. You are to leave thiis ciity toniight to escape the Thalmor."

  It took Nephili several seconds to understand his words. She recoiled in shock at the plan, her presence of mind still struggling to catch events.. "I... I can't leave! Where would I go? And Tarerane and the Old Man, to leave them here! In their hands! I... yes, no, I mean help me! Help me save them! You must know of a way!"

  The Khajiit murmured for a moment before looking at the Guard-Captain. Jorundhr Kuld-horn spoke gently. "Nephili, you must leave. There is nothing you can do to help them. The Old Man... the Count... convinced the Officiate to allow the Old Man to heal. The Old Crone is in jail but she is fine and the Aldmeri will not get to her. She asked me to relay a message to you. You need to leave this city and head for the College of Winterhold, a mage's college. She said they will give you the knowledge you will need to get stronger, that they will help you."

  Nephili stopped herself from falling and regained her balance. This is too much. It's too much!

  "Khajiit understands you have much to deciide but tiime iis on theiir siide. The longer Thiis One waiits, the more diffiicult our journey wiill become. Please you must deciide quiickly."

  "How can I abandon them? They gave me more than I could ever return. To run away now feels horrible!"

  Guard-Captain Jorundhr nodded. "You would make a half decent Nord. The Old Crone told me something else. She had planned to tell you about your future tonight; that it was no longer safe for you to be here. She knew what would happen and had come to me seeking audience with the Count, to talk to him before the confrontation with that Mer."

  "Does that mean Tarerane will be released? What about the Old Man? Will he be saved?"

  "... ...yes."

  "How?"

  "... ...that is something only the Count and Tarerane will know. What you need to understand is that if you don't leave, her plans to save you will fail."

  "Thiis One emplores. There iis no tiime. All must leave thiis house."

  Nephili looked at the Nord's face, into his eyes, to see if any truth existed.

  "Give me a moment."

  She ran about the room to gather a few things. Putting a cloak about herself, she walked back to the waiting men and claimed her readiness.

  The Khajiit reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small bottle. "Khajiit holds a giift from your Miistress. Insiide that pouch was also thiis potiion, enough to hiide the whole caravan. Thiis one iis yours. Driink so that you may not be seen."

  Nephili felt a moment of alarm over drinking a strange potion but chose to ignore it. It's one of Tarerane's. It will be safe. She threw back the bottle and swallowed it's contents; a moment later she was invisible.

  "Thiis One wiill guiide you. Come."

  Late in the evening, two figures were seen walking to the main gate, a guard escorting a hooded Khajiit to his trade caravan, already packed and ready to leave. They left by moonslight heading north, disappearing among the boulders and scattered trees.

  The guard watched them go, then turned around to head back to the keep, to a prisoner awaiting her trial and a dying man.

  Later that night, a lone figure stole its way into a Nordic home, seeking a target. None was found.

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