I stumbled into the Ragged Flagon after fighting my way through the Ratway and beating some information out of a certain bodyguard. I was certain that one of the urchins who made their living down here poisoned me, but I wasn’t sure what he’d got me with. With no way to cure me and too far to go back, I pressed on.
I attracted some strange looks as I passed through the small tavern, although no one questioned me; they didn’t even seem to care that I was hurting. I blasted through a wooden cabinet, revealing a passageway.
“What do you think you’re doing!?” the barkeep called out.
“Finding my friend, that’s what!” I barreled headfirst through the blazing remnants of the cabinet and found myself bursting through another door, much to the astonishment of those on the other side.
“You’re not supposed to be down here,” one said. I looked up to find 5 thieves surrounding me armed with daggers, swords and bows.
“Neither are you, last time I checked,” I drew my war axe and did my best to not look phased. “Now that I’ve found you, though, I’m looking for a certain somebody.”
“It’ll cost you to get that out of us, you know.” The thief smirked under his brown hood. I surprised him by tossing him a very heavy coin purse. A split second later the group parted to let me through. The thief smirked. “Let’s do business, then.”
A few minutes later I was sitting down at a table, reflecting on the past 2 days. All in all, Riften was a terrible city: disease-ridden, rotting, ruled by crime. I hated being in this damnable slum, and the sooner I could get out the better. What I hoped for most, though, was an antidote to the poison that was coursing through my veins; it was truly starting to get to my head. I scowled as Admetus stepped forward to sit at the table with me.
“It’s been a few days, Admetus. Nice to see you again.” I said, feigning amiability.
“The same to you, friend. May I ask-“
“You damn well know why I’m here, Admetus. Three nights ago I was travelling to Riften with two companions,” I drew my war axe. “Now you’re going to tell me what happened to them, or I’m going to make sure you never speak again.” I could feel rage building inside of me, boiling up unwanted.
“Ah, yes,” Admetus said, looking calmly at the blade. “Your friends are quite safe, I assure you. I believe you were more interested in the female, though; a vampire, yes? Quite a beautiful woman-“ I slammed my fist on the table, my head pounding from rage and poison.
“Damn it, Admetus! Tell me where they are, or so help me-“
“You’re going to slit my throat, yes? I find that unlikely: I am the only one who knows where they are. You aren’t a cold-blooded killer, friend. You’re a kind, gentle person. You only resort to violence when necessary.” The words took me aback; he was right. I put away my war axe and smiled.
“Right again, Admetus. You’re too smart for your own good.”
“As are you, my friend,” he said, smiling back. His eyes flicked toward the open wound in my side, seeping poison. “You appear to have met Ben’s blade, my friend; not many have survived him, and it doesn’t look like you have too long left. Come; let me treat your wound.”
I clumsily followed the Khajiit towards a depression in the wall, doing my best to keep the pain in my side from getting any worse. Admetus pushed a stone in and the entire wall lifted, revealing a cabinet stocked with all sorts of potions and tonics. Admetus selected a blue one which glowed in the low light.
“Drink,” he said, and I did so. Immediately the changes were noticeable: my wound sealed itself, and the darkened skin around the wound was restored to its original color. Of course, I felt a nearly crippling pain as this was happening.
“You didn’t have anything to ease the pain?” I said, groaning and smiling simultaneously.
“You didn’t ask, did you? That poison was very strong; I couldn’t risk diluting the antidote.” Admetus was grinning like a fool. “Now, where were we?”
I frowned. “Admetus, stop fooling around; you know I’m looking for Claudia and Wulden. And if you won’t tell me where they are-“
“Yes, I know: the slitting of my throat and the like. If you would be quiet for a few moments, I would be happy to show you where they are.”
My heart leaped into my throat; show me? What had he done to them? I prepared myself for the worst.
“By all means, then.” I said as emotionlessly as I could.
Admetus nodded, and then silently led me from the small cabinet to the other side of the cistern. He leaned over a massive table with a map sprawled across its entirety; it depicted all of Tamriel on its surface.
“What’s this, Admetus? I thought you were showing me to Claudia.”
“I am showing you where they are, friend; to do what you ask would take much longer than I have.” I didn’t like where this was going.
Admetus pointed to an area just north of Solitude, a tiny island labeled Castle Volkihar. The name sent chills through my spine. I grabbed Admetus by the throat.
“You’ve got some explaining to do…” I said, never tearing my eyes away from the map.
To be continued…
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