Old Debts

Night had descended upon the region around Marbruk, bringing a welcome respite to the drizzle that had blanketed this area of Greenshade most of the day. It had been well past sundown when Alyssia had ridden into the area, pushing Thunder-mane to the point of exhaustion. She hated having to do it to the steed, his considerable bulk was not made for long thundering rides down muddy roads at maximum speed. He was trained for battle. Not marathons.

By the time she had reached the ridge overlooking her target's estate, her beloved friend's huge black chest heaved, skin steaming in the damp as the stallion's taxed muscles twitched beneath her. Clucking her tongue, the woman slid off the saddle, boots sinking a good inch into the mud when she landed. “There now boy...” She cooed, rubbing the side of his neck gently, running her fingers through the snow white mane that had earned him his name. “Rest up... Only one more ride after this an' then I'll leave ya to field for a couple days to recover.”

Thunder-mane snorted appreciatively and nudged her with his nose, causing her to smile and rest her forehead gently against the broad expanse of his own. Then, she backed away and started creeping through the brush over the ridge towards a hidden overlook that would give the warrior a bird's eye view of her target's defenses. She didn't bother to tie the battle steed's reigns to a tree. He would not leave his post. He would wait patiently forever if he had to. Alyssia smiled slightly to herself in the darkness, amused at the fact that the only thing she trusted in the world...was a horse.

After a few moments of winding through the foliage, careful to place her feet as solidly as possible on the treacherous path, she stopped and crouched just on the outskirts of a small opening in the brush. It revealed a jagged rock formation marking the maw of a small and shallow cave in the side of the mountain. She waited silently for a few seconds...

“Took you long enough...” The whispered words were that of a woman, sounding only slightly agitated.

“I 'ad to come from Woodhearth...” Alyssia grumbled, “Took me a few hours.”

Alyssia settled down beside her companion, staring down at the dark estate grimly. “How long ago did he go in?”

“This afternoon... Broad daylight. I was surprised.”

Alyssia turned to look at the smaller Bosmer woman who crouched beside her. It was a fond look, if not a bit loving. “Thank you...for doin' this... You don' 'ave to go in there wit' me you know...”

Lindrial Trinthe, known as Lindi to those few who she was close to, smiled over to Alyssia with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. “And miss the fun? Never...”

With a soft laugh, the Breton nodded and looked Lindi over. Dressed in dark leathers similar to Alyssia, with two wicked daggers on each hip and a bow upon her back that she used with deadly precision...there was not much that Alyssia had ever seen her not be able to handle. She was a better shot than the warrior would ever be. “There's no one I'd rather have with me...”

“Well we are married. There's no one else you better have with you...” It was a joke, sort of. Technically they were married, though neither of them really remembered much about that night. It had started in a tavern with Alyssia merrily drinking away only to have this little auburn haired Bosmer lass start chatting her up. They laughed and drank together but Alyssia wasn't stupid, nor was she too drunk to see what was happening. She was being cased. It had turned into quite the little game between them, without Lindi even realizing it. The warrior pretended to be stupid drunk and after some time carousing, she had made her way to a rented room. Only instead of passing out on the bed, she had shoved the pillows under the blankets and positioned herself behind the door to wait patiently. A half hour had passed with nothing and, thinking that perhaps she had made a misjudgment, was about to go to bed when she heard soft footsteps in the hallway. Freezing, she waited as the tumblers rattled and clicked softly in the lock. Sure enough the door swung open just enough for the woman to slide into the shadows of the room. Lindi had made her way half way to the bed before the woman was stunned by a hand snaking around and clamping over her mouth. Alyssia had the tip of a dagger pricking the flesh of her throat with the other hand as she held the struggling woman tightly against her chest.

It didn't turn out how either of them had expected... The smaller elf had surprised Alyssia with her agility. Then again after getting her foot stomped on and her forehead smashed by the back of the woman's head as she had freed herself pushed it into an all out free for all. The pain had enraged Alyssia so much that they tore up the room in the ensuing fight. Briefly the innkeeper had banged on the door asking if Alyssia needed help, to which both woman snapped at him to “GO AWAY!” just before Lindi had smashed a chair over the warrior's back.

One thing led to another and they ended up on the bed struggling with one of the thief's daggers. In that moment both women just sort of stared at one another before their lips met in a scorching kiss. After that, a new kind of battle ensued... It included sex, more alcohol, a few bowls of Skooma and both of them waking up the next afternoon outside of a temple wearing wedding rings...

They had been traveling together ever since that day. Though technically they were married, trying to reign in Alyssia had been much akin to trying to break in a wild Kagouti. She knew Lindi probably would prefer they be exclusive but...the warrior's nature wasn't so easily tamed. She put no rules upon Lindi and asked for none in return.

Lindi would rather have rules.

Taking out her spyglass, Alyssia extended the metal tube and peered down at the large house. “Two guards at the gate...”

Lindi nodded, “There's another two that wander the yard...they meet up every half hour. One at the front door. One at the back.”

Lindi knew that Alyssia was hoping to corner Khelendrose. The reason they were here. Alyssia had been tracking the lunatic sorcerer's movements through the Dominion for months now. Trying to find out what he was doing there. Knowing it was nothing good. "He hasn't come out.”

“But the question is...” Aly murmured, “Why is he here...? I knew Garrik lied to me when he told me he'd had nothing to do wit' Khel... But wha' does the bastard want from the Thalmor?”

Lindi shrugged lightly, “Information? Garrik's worked for the Thalmor for how long you said? Fifty years? He surely has information to sell...”

Alyssia spit on the ground in disgust. She held an unnatural hatred for most of the Thalmor. Especially after they had imprisoned her and her former partner Jaime on trumped up charges of conspiracy. She had listened to them torture her lover for weeks before he had died hanging from shackles in their filthy prison. Somehow she had endured it and escaped. But the rage was there burning in her breast every moment of every day.

Garrik wouldn't survive this night. She had vowed to end his life for his lies. It had been him who had allowed her to escape from Thalmor clutches in exchange for information and a future payoff. He was on of the few Thalmor she had trusted enough to occasionally do business with.

He would get his payoff tonight.

The two women began making their way silently down to the wall of the manor. It took them a half hour work their way carefully down the ridge. Luckily, the light of the moons was blanketed by a thick cloud cover and they faced no alarm or resistance by the time they reached the twelve foot barrier. Pulling a small grappling hook from her pack, Lindi spun her wrist and it sailed up to secure itself to the top, both women cringing a bit at the sound. They crouched there silently for a moment, waiting to see if anyone had heard it.

After a few moments, they scrambled up the rope and landed in the garden. The women watched silently as the guard on this side of the estate made his sweep past the garden and into the side yard. Using the shadows to their advantage they crept quickly up to the side of the house and hid near a wood shed.

In the dim light, both women began signaling to one another...fingers flying in mute conversation via the complicated thieves cant used widely by those of the underground. Nodding in agreement, Alyssia held out her hands and Lindi stepped up into them, launching herself to the top of the shed. Alyssia followed quickly, jumping up and catching herself on the edge of the roof and hauling herself upwards. They saw their target. A half open window on the third floor that Alyssia knew to be Garrik's private quarters. No lights burned there, it was past three in the morning and he wasn't a young man. They knew he would be sleeping soundly. And after all the times Alyssia had been in his house, she knew every inch of it.

The women stopped, holding their breath as the guard came around the corner of the house. He walked idly, whistling some silly tune that he obviously barely knew. Lindi cringed at the sharp piercing sound emitting from the man's lips but Alyssia grinned to her and nodded. They used the cover of his shrill warble to creep slowly towards the lattice work that allowed Garrik's precious ivy to climb up the sides of his home. Alyssia had laughed once and told him that it was a pretty blaring security oversight to have a pre made ladder on the side of his house. But the haughty elf just dismissed her comment and told her that some sacrifices had to be made in the pursuit of culture.

The Altmer's arrogance would be his undoing.


(To be continued...)

They hid in the shadows until the guard had ambled around the corner and scrambled up the wooden lattice quickly. Half way up one of the wooden bars snapped beneath Alyssia's boot and she almost lost her grip. Stifling a curse, the woman quickly regained her footing and nodded to Lindi who looked down at her with slight concern. Not for her well being. More over the noise it had created. They continued to move upwards towards the window. Luckily for both women it, the humidity was enough that Garrik had opened it pretty wide to allow as much air flow as possible.

They both crouched now in the Altmer's darkened study, eyes flicking to and fro...holding their breath and hoping that no one had heard the slight scuffle as they had climbed. It was a somewhat large library. Shelves of books lined the walls, framing a fireplace on the north end. The coals burned low, their orange glow helping to cast odd shadows about the room. Alyssia's eyes fell to Garrik's desk in the center of the space. It would be her first stop.

But someone had heard them.

Their ears picked up the jingling of weapon belts and movement below the window, causing both women to cringe. Soft voices filtered upwards in the damp air. “they're poking around the stable...” Lindi whispered breathily.

“Shit...” Alyssia growled. “Let's move. It won't take much time for 'em to figure this out...”

Lindi grinned slightly, “Too many moon sugar cookies...”

“Hush..” the warrior snapped in agitation before sneaking towards the desk, motioning the Bosmer to follow her. “I need ya to pick the lock on this drawer...quick now...like a bunny...”

Lindi cast her companion a smirk, “I'll show you 'like a bunny'...”

“It's why I know yer capable...” Alyssia drawled wryly as Lindi pulled out her picks and began manipulating the small lock on the desk. Just as the drawer popped open, the sounds from below became louder as more of the guards began to gather and discuss the possibility of an intruder. “It's only gonna take one o' those nitwits to look up...we 'ave to 'urry...” With that, she fished around in the drawer and pulled out a small silver box. “There we are...”

It was small, etched with silver figures of hunters parading through the forest in search of a stag. Upon the top of the lid stood the creature in full glory, leafed with gold and set with tiny rubies for eyes. The container itself would fetch a pretty penny, but the woman cared little for anything but what the box held. Yet another key. Only this key was to Garrik's personal safe. The woman could feel the delicate haze of magic that sealed the container tightly. Her sensitive eyes could make out a slight haze over the object... Her gift allowed her to see and feel the energy it put off.

Just then, they heard a cry and commotion as the guards realized what had happened.

“Aly...”

“Shh I know...” Closing her eyes, the woman focused on the object in her grasp and whispered a soft incantation. She was no mage or sorcerer, but her innate abilities were fueled by magic. It was sort of like knowing how to play an instrument but not really understanding or truly being able to read the music. The fact that she had 'accidentally' overheard Garrik sealing the box one day didn't hurt either. As she spoke, thin tendrils of azure electricity snaked down her arm and swirled around the box, flooding the existing enchantment with her own energy and overwhelming it's feeble resistance. With a click...it popped open in her hand and revealed a short silver key. She opened her eyes, they glittered brightly in the dim light...the emerald almost drowned out by the same electrical sparks swirling before they drained away leaving only the natural color. She shook the feeling off. “Come on. “

More concerned with speed now than stealth, they stood and rushed to Garrik's door. With a snarl, Alyssia kicked the door inward. This whole time something nagged at her sub conscious and as she had tapped into her abilities it became glaringly obvious... Khelendrose wasn't in the house. She couldn't feel him. If he were here...she would be able to tell... Her anger began to rise. Somehow he had escaped. Probably magic...

The elder elf sat upright in his bed, sleeping cap falling from his head. “Guards! Help! Help!” He cried, cowering before he even knew who it was. Garrik had never been a particularly brave man. More of a paper pusher for the Thalmor. Combat of any type really wasn't his style.

Alyssia immediately stepped up onto the bed and jumped him, straddling the frail man beneath her and placing one hand over his throat, choking him silent. “Shhhhh.....” She snarled. “I don't like it when men cry...” Garrik immediately recognized her, eyes widening at the flash of teeth as her face twisted in rage at actually seeing him. He could no longer speak...and could barely breathe. But he more feared what else she could do with that hand and thought strangulation would be a more merciful death.

Lindi, for her part...stood not far from them with her bow nocked and aimed at the door. Knowing that any second they would be rushed.

“If you yell, I will tear out your tongue...” Alyssia sneered, her thick accent turning more into a calculated lilt as she enunciated her words. “If you move, I will break every bone in your body before I kill you.” Slowly she released his throat so that he could speak. “Where is he...”

The elf sputtered, gasping for air and reaching up to rub his bruised throat. “W...who...!?”

His answer was Alyssia's fist slamming into his jaw. “MY BROTHER!”

Lindi winced as the sounds of booted feet came up from below. Alyssia's sharp cry only served to tell them exactly where the intruders were.

Garrik cowered in the bed, starting to whimper pathetically. “Gone!” the man cried, “Gone! We met and he left by portal hours ago!”

Grabbing the man by his clothing she lifted his upper body off the bed and put her face against his, snarling. “I knew you had contacted him... Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I didn't know you were plannin' on betrayin' me!?”

The door to the study burst open and armed men began making their way through the portal. Immediately one fell to Lindi's arrow, blood gurgling from the man's mouth. The Bosmer nocked another with lightning speed and let it fly. A second man stumbled and fell face first to the floor, the arrow in his chest actually being shoved almost completely through his body as his weight fell upon it. The bloody head and shaft sticking out of his back like a ready made grave stone.

Seeing his men begin to fall, Garrik began to plead pathetically. “No! No...! He contacted me! He...he wanted information! Please...he threatened me... My family! Told me he'd sacrifice me to the Worm Cult if I didn't tell him what he wanted to know! You have to believe me...” The man sobbed.

Alyssia ignored the guards, trusting Lindi to keep them safe. Garrik had never hired particularly smart muscle. And it was obvious they hadn't realized that running into a bottle neck while under fire by an archer wasn't going to get them the results they wanted. They had slowed however and now were taking cover behind various pieces of furniture.

“Call off yer boys...” Alyssia growled, taking him up again by the throat and dragging him from the bed. “Call off yer boys! No point in everyone dyin'....an' they ain't gonna be able to keep you alive! Call 'em off or I search out an' murder every fuckin' person you ever loved!” The woman raved, dragging the struggling man along the floor and dropping him unceremoniously before a place that looked to be bare wall. “DO IT!”

He knew the threat was real...

“GET BACK!” He cried brokenly. “Please! You can't help me...! Go!”

“Tha's right boys...!” Alyssia mocked, calling out to the confused guards. “Ain't no point in dyin' tonight! Jus' step down stairs an' 'ave yerselves a nice cup of tea while I deal wit' daddy...”

Apparently, they weren't listening. One broke off and rolled to the outer door, scrambling through faster than Lindi could get a bead on him. “That's trouble...” She muttered.

Snarling, now completely enraged, Alyssia grabbed Garrik's arm and bent it back, leaning down and whispering in his ear. “Open the safe...”

He cried out in pain, feeling his bones bending at the unnatural angle. “It...it needs the key!”

Pulling the small key from her pocket, she held it before his eyes with her free hand. “Open...the fucking...safe...”

Just then, the three remaining men rushed the bedroom door in an attempt to overwhelm the archer. One fell quickly to an arrow but they were on her before she could get another ready. Blocking the swing of a short sword with her bow, the woman spun around the guard and used the now blunt weapon to knock him to his knees. Lindi barely had time to dodge another blow from the second, she dropped the bow and pulled her daggers. One sharp blade plunged into the attackers belly as she ducked low. Then, tearing it out at an angle the Bosmer spun again and buried the other in his back. He collapsed with a shriek, entrails slipping out the gash in his gut. The floor, now slick with blood...made for precarious purchase. The last remaining guard grabbed Lindi's ankle and yanked it out from under her. The woman fell hard, gasping as the air was knocked from her lungs.

Seeing her partner in distress, Alyssia released Garrik and rushed to her side. She pulled Havoc from it's sheath and with a loud snarl rushed the man before he could harm her lover. The silvery blade of the single edged broadsword pulsed with magical lightning as it swung through the air. The guard, not realizing as he reared up to make the killing blow that his doom was impending...raised his weapon. Lindi, seeing Alyssia coming to her rescue...shoved her boot against the man's groin and kicked hard. He yelped, staggering back and doubling over in pain.

It was in that moment, in a perfect position, that he lost his head. Alyssia's sword bit into the back of the man's neck , blood spraying over the electrified blade and causing a burning stink to fill the room. The only sounds were the crackling of energy and the dull thud of his head falling to the floor. It rolled serenely over near the cowering elf, causing him to become sick.

Holding her hand out to Lindi, Alyssia hauled her up. “He went to get the city guard.” she said to the Breton with some urgency. “We can't fight them all.”

With a grunt, the warrior stomped back to Garrik. Ignoring the vomit that now covered him, she took his arm again and promptly snapped it in half at the elbow. The old elf screamed loudly, sobbing as she shoved that hand against the bare wall. “OPEN IT!”

He half choked, half screamed the incantation and suddenly the illusionary magics fell away revealing the heavy metal safe set into the wall. Taking the key, Alyssia shoved it into the lock and turned. The heavy door swung open revealing sheaves of papers. Bars of gold. And a small crimson purse. “What did he want...? What did you tell him??” Alyssia asked as she started pulling out papers and folding them quickly. As she shoved them into a large map case she had hanging from her belt for just this occasion. She didn't really know what it all was. She would go through it and look for important information at a later time. In the meantime...it was just leverage.

“S..skyrim! He wanted intelligence about a particular set of ruins in Eastmarch!”

This caused Alyssia to pause. She furrowed her brow and turned to glare at him. “Wha' the hell does he want in Eastmarch?”

Garrik stuttered, “We had gotten intelligence! That a ruin...ancient...held some sort of weapon of great power. But our agents investigated it and found nothing! He wanted the location!”

Lindi shrugged at Aly, “If they didn't find anything...”

“Obviously he thinks they're idiots.” Alyssia snapped. “They just missed it.” She pulled out the crimson purse and held it in her hand. She could feel something...traces of him on the bag. It had been in Khelendrose's possession. “He pay you wit' this?”

The elf just nodded mutely, staring at her with watery blue eyes.

She opened it, turning it upside down and letting the contents slip out onto her palm. It was a platinum necklace with a delicate chain. Hanging upon it was a small twisting platinum dragon with a Sapphire set within it's jaws. The woman stared in shock at the piece of jewelery, eyes glittering feverishly as she saw small flecks of dark crimson staining the chain and what hung from it.

Lindi saw the look on her lover's face. Pain...torment...absolute shock. “Aly...?” She whispered.

With an inarticulate cry, chain still gripped in her fist...Alyssia leapt atop the old man and took him by the throat once more. There were tears in her eyes, but not all was from her rage. There was a deep grief that radiated from them as well. Lindi wanted to rush to her, but was suddenly afraid...

“DID HE GIVE THIS TO YOU!?” Alyssia lifted him by the neck and squeezed, causing his jaw to open, drool and spittle streaming out as he tried desperately to breathe...to speak.. “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO THIS!!!!” Her free hand dangled it before his bulging eyes. “This...belonged to my mother....” The woman choked on her grief. “DO YOU SEE THAT!?” As she swung it to and fro before his gaze. “The blood...” Leaning in closely to his face, she hissed. “She was wearing it the night he murdered her...”

The elf made a gurgled wheeze as his attacker's eyes once again swirled with azure sparks. She had lost her mind. The tenuous thread of sanity having snapped as lightning exploded from her chest and wove down her arms like hungry snakes. Still gripping the necklace in one hand...she now pressed it against his neck as both gripped his throat...strangling him. The energy shot through her hands and into his body... His eyes, already bulging ...nearly popped out of his head. The man's body was wracked with spasms, contorting as the electricity twisted his muscles. Blood began to seep from his mouth and the flesh around his throat began to burn.

“Aly...!”

Vaguely she heard Lindi's cry behind her. But nothing mattered. Nothing mattered but the death of the traitor beneath her. Teeth gritting...tears trickling from her eyes, the pleasure of the energy release battled with the renewed grief she now felt as visions of her parent's deaths danced in her mind.

“ALY! STOP!”

Something about the second call snapped her out of it. Desperation. Maybe a bit of horror. Looking up with wide, frantic eyes...Alyssia saw something that stopped her cold. The energy was pulled back into her body, causing her to shudder hard. The man below her twitched and choked...barely alive. His throat burned and muscles still spasming. Blood poured from his mouth...he had bitten his tongue...

Standing in the doorway...amid the broken bodies of the guards...was a little girl. Dressed in a night camisole and clutching a small stuffed bunny tightly to her shaking body, she just stared at Alyssia in terror. Blood seeped into the hem of her gown, making for a strange visual as the golden haired girl stood frozen and transfixed. “Please don't kill my grandpa...!” she sobbed.

“Wha' the fuck...!?” Alyssia jumped off of the man and paced around the room, hands in her hair. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She had no idea Garrik had a grandchild. She'd never seen the girl before! Why of all times would fate have the girl be visiting now?!

Garrik looked up weakly, still unable to speak. He pointed at the girl and looked to Alyssia with pleading eyes. ”Please don't hurt her...!” his look screamed.

“We need to get out of here!” Lindi hissed, “I heard an alarm...the city guard is going to be crawling over this place any minute!”

“I know! I know! Just...shut up!” The warrior's mind whirled frantically. She finished emptying out the safe and, taking a deep breath...calmed herself. Alyssia looked down at the necklace in her grip and closed her eyes. Nothing but pain there. She never wanted to see it again... Quietly, the woman walked over to the little girl.

The child backed up...whimpering in terror. It was like a punch to the gut for Alyssia. This was not what she wanted. The thought of the lasting effect this would have on the girl was terrible to think of. She knew. She had the same scars. “Shh shh li'l one...I promise I won' 'urt you..” she tried to coo gently. “There now...”

Lindi watched on sadly, occasionally looking out the window and towards the walls of Marbruk. Garrik lived outside the city wall but not far enough that they had much time.

Kneeling down before the child, Alyssia looked at her with gentle eyes. “I am sorry you 'ad to see this. No li'l girl should 'ave to see this...” Looking down at the necklace in her hand, Alyssia whispered. “I want you to 'ave somethin'...” She slowly moved to clasp the necklace around the shaking girl's neck. “This belonged to my ma'...” The words made the woman choke slightly. Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself and added with her voice only slightly wavering. “Wha's yer name, child?”

“La...”

Alyssia tilted her head, “La...?”

“Aly we have to hurry... I don't feel like getting hanged tonight...”

The warrior held up a hand to Lindi, “I know...jus' one more minute...”

Taking some courage in Alyssia's sudden gentle demeanor, the little girl stood up straighter and answered again. “Laya. My name is Laya.”

Smiling softly, Alyssia nodded to the girl. “Laya. Tha's a beautiful name. Listen Laya, I want ya to know somethin'.” She looked at Garrik, who was staring after them in pain and fear. “Yer grandpa is a very bad man. He's done some very bad things. An' I was gonna kill 'im for it tonight.” She then looked to the child very seriously. “But you saved his life. Tha' was very brave of you. Never let him forget it. And never let anyone take tha' chain from yer neck. It is a mark o' yer honor. I trust this gift to you in 'opes tha' you will remember this night. Remember wha' 'appens to those who do 'arm to good folk. Who take blood money...” Casting a seething glare to the broken elf, Alyssia then stood. “Let it make you a better person than he ever was...”

The little girl just nodded, wide eyed. “Y...yes ma'am...”

“Come on, let's go.”

The women made a hasty exit from the house, retracing their steps out the window and down the side. They could hear horses in the distance, hooves thundering down the road towards the estate. They had barely made it back to the base of the ridge before the guards entered the estate.

They retrieved their horses...Thunder-mane and Lindi's Palomino, Scout...who she had waiting not far away.

They rode in silence as fast as they could along hunting trails through the forest...heading back towards Woodhearth. Lindi knew better than to try to engage her partner in conversation this night. The darkness was a better companion for Alyssia at the moment.

On they rode, the elf worried about pursuit and Alyssia cloaked in her grief.