From the Shadows

Volume I

It was once said, that if you step on the cats tail, expect such cat to retaliate. In this case, the tail was more than stepped on. It was crushed, beaten and tortured. It was a dark night, quiet with the sense of fear and anger. An old legion fort, nestled in a small low valley on the border between Cyrodill and Elswyr lay abandoned, with the exception of a small group of bandits. The fort was falling apart, the old stone walls crumbling as vines slithered their way up the face of the stone. Within these walls screams pierced the darkness of the depths of the old dungeons.

The screams sounding as horrid as a banshee wailing before it saps the life force of some unwary traveler. Through the entrance of the fort, continuing down its labyrinth corridors and down the steep stairs the screams grew louder and ever more painful joined with the sick laughter of bandits and the raised voice of a nord.

“I was told a cat has nine lives, how many do you think will cover your debt?” The nord gave a slight grin and nodded, soon following the rough sound of an old rope wheel and then more screams from a half-naked Khajiit laying on the wooden table, feet and hands bound by separate ropes pulling and stretching him in both directions. “How many cat? Four? Six? Maybe eight?” The nord rubbed his chin, his fingers scraping across the rough stubble of a beard and grime. “I’m usually a fair man, but you have upset me. I offer you money for your family and your skooma, even gave you a fair time frame to pay me back. I also offer to protect you for a fair price. But I get no thanks, no praise and no payment in return?” The nord scoffed and waved his hand in the air eye height and the Dark Elf operating the torture device stopped and pulled a lever loosening the ropes.

The Khajiit’s screams lowered to painful grunting and a sigh of relief. He coughed and spat the blood from his lips. The nord now ran his hand across his bald head and smiled wickedly.” I’m a reasonable man, so I’ll give you a chance to pay your debt. I have a surprise for you.” He walked to a door that was in eye sight of the Khajiit who was now on his knees rubbing his aching joints. The nord opened the door and out fell a Female Khajiit holding a bundle close to her bosom. “Khi’Larha! No, please I’ll get you the money just leave my mate alone! I’ll do anything!” The Khajiit male gave a wine as the Dark Elf knocked a club to the back of his head. The Nord smiled.

“Relax Fha, I didn’t say I would hurt her. That choice is up to you! I know how important family is. Look around I have a giant one here!” The men in the room cheered and some chuckled. “But I also know you like your skooma, but I don’t know how much. So here is the deal, I’ll let you go free with your companion, if you tell me where your special ring is, or I kill her and end your debt. Your choice Fha.” Fha rubbed the back of his head and looked to his mate thinking about his situation. Even if he told this nord where his ring was and goes home loosing somewhat of a family heirloom and face the wrath of his mate, or watch her die for his addiction. He looked at her, his eyes watered. He gave a quick sigh. “It’s in a satchel hidden in a hollowed out tree by the river next to my home.” The nord stared at Fha for a moment and smiled. “Let them go, Ghib take Ja’mha and get the ring. And Fha, nice doing business with you.” The nord chuckled and stepped aside as Fha rushed to Khi’Lara and helped here to her feet and helped her up the stairs.

“Yer really letting them go boss? What if they go to the Guards and tell them where we are?” The Dark Elf expressed concern and curiosity to his leaders plan.

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A gesture of Humble Quality

The sun was beginning to fall during the season of Suns Height. A gentle warm southern wind blew over the planes as the golden milk grass whistled gently. In this gentle meadow there was one single hill, of which perched a single Figure who’s fur was black with silver stripes on his belly. His face was pure black with a silver mask surrounding his bright green eyes. On his nose as plain as day was a pink scar running diagonally from the corner of his left eye to his right nostril, his ears garbed with golden ear rings, his head donned dreads that ran from his ear line to his shoulders.

This Khajiit was at peace much like the land around him as the sun crept downwards until finally it sunk into the horizon. As the light disappeared he opened his eyes and scanned the road that lay just a quarter mile away. He slowly gathered his gear and dressed himself in his dark leather armor pulling the hood over his head. He focused his eyes still watching the road until finally his prey finally appeared from behind the tree line coming in from Cyrodill. “It is time.” He said now picking up his belt and sheathed his ebony daggers to his sides.

After taking in a deep breath his body jolted as he ran forward in a dash, prowling like a saber cat as he sprinted unnoticed towards the rich trade caravan. Behind him was two other Khajiit, one with lighter colored armor, a female with brown fur, the other with grey fur and a bow in hand. They halted their advance behind a bush and waited for the two wagons to pass. “You were right Tajira, this ones barely guarded. Only four guards, this will be easy pickings.” The grey Khajiit said with praise. Tajira eyed the rear wagon and scoffed.

“The last wagon is carrying an Imperial ambassador.” Tajira pointed out an Imperial garbed in fine clothing and a sash with the symbol of the empire. “This is curious, only mere guards for escorts? And so few of them.”

“What of it? It is easy pickings for us, easy gold. Even a ransom, we could get almost two thousand drakes with him.” The female stated, eager to start looting the treasure mound that lay before them. Tajira growled lowly, he turned his head to face his female counter part when his ears twitched to the sound of a soft crack and he quickly turned his head. His eyes focused and made out a large group of bandits approaching on the road weapons drawn. “What are the Silver Tongues doing here?” The female asked almost unsuprised.

This is the fourth time this month we can’t let them just take this! The grey one was quick to draw his bow arrow in place. Quickly Tajira flashed his hand and grabbed his arm.

“No! Let us wait and see.” The two looked at him with confusion. “Let them raid the caravan and before they can kill any of the guards we come in to the rescue. We’ll be rewarded nicely and we can also part them of their expensively encumbering goods.” Tajira turned to them and smiled and led them closer to the ambush spot. The caravan approached and the raid started. The caravan stopped and the guards approached. The two sides exchanged words, the imperials ordering the raid party to stand aside and the raid party refusing, and eventually a battle broke out. “Now we go.”

The group moved swiftly Tajira with daggers in hand leading the charge. As they got within range the whistle of an arrow by his ear signaled his target. The arrow hit one bandit in the chest piercing through the thin cloth armor instantly felling him and Tajira leaped forward digging a dagger into the back of another whilst behind him the brown female engaged in martial combat dodging gracefully between sword strokes and following up with a finesse of claw swipes and kicks. The battle was over quickly with the remaining bandits retreating from the surprise counter ambush of the trio.

It was a quick clean up, Tajira helped a guard to his feet as the ambassador approached rms opened in praise. “Thank the nine you arrived in time before any casualties on our side. I told the General we needed more men with how bad the roads are getting with this war! If it isn’t Dominion patrols or the wildlife it’s bandits and highway men! John!” The ambassador waved his arm to a young man who rushed over with a sack of gold. Tajira smiled and looked to his companions.

“Oh no ambassador I could not accept such a wealthy gift from you, It is reward enough to have saved the life of a diplomat.” Tajira expressed a smile, but in his mind he was laughing.

“No please I insist, and if you want to earn more, you and your two companions could escort us to a small village not far from here. I’m meeting with Delegates from the Dominion and Hammerfall there to discuss peace.” Tajira’s eyes widened, maybe they could gain more wealth from this caravan than he thought. Tajira looked back to his group and then smiled.

“We would be pleased to escort you but only for three hundred drakes, the roads are dangerous out here.” The ambassador looked at Tajira with shock and looked back to his wagon and quickly thought.

“Yes of course fine, fine. I guess that would be reasonable. Seeing as we are going to be camping here for the night. We’ll be on our way again as soon as the sun shows in the morrow.” The ambassador gave a smug smile and walked back to his wagon. The guards started to unpack camping equipment and set up on the side of the road. A little later as everyone in the caravan was getting settled and guards began their rotation of night watch, the trio watched from a small distance. Tajira yawned as is ears twitched.

“So what is the plan Taj? What is this one thinking?” The female asked as she pulled something to eat out of her satchel.

“We’ll escort them to the village and when they aren’t looking we take the valuables to sell ourselves and some more of their gold, It’ll be easy to off what goods we can find off those wagons in the village quickly and leave.” Tajira sat down and got comfortable. “Mah’Ji you take the first watch.” He stated to the female, who nodded and walked off. “And of course Jen is asleep already…” Tajira shook his head at the now sleeping archer of the trio.

(Stoping here getting late for me will pick it up again sometime tomorrow)