Chapter 2
The Dar'kir Brothers
6 years earlier - Mournehold Docks
"Mafala blesses us brother, soon we will carry favor with many of the noble houses - not just the Hlaalu." Tolan spoke the words with his characteristically broad smile plastered on his face.
The white furred, black spotted, kha'jiit always maintained such grins. Ri'shai had once considered Tolan the happiest kha'jiit to grace Nirn. However, now she realized that he simply held the grin to manipulate those around him.
"Maybe you, this one will never truly be accepted." Faradin frowned.
"Jyessss, executing Mafala's will may not be the best way to make friends" Tolan said.
The two kha'jiit were a study of contrasts. Tolan wore many lavish overlapping cloaks, the tip of his white tail poking out the backside of his dunmer cut duster. Faradin wore a simple sleeveless jerkin in the kha'jiit style. His black-furred tail swaying back and forth. While Tolan's hair was cropped short, Faradin's hair fell in thick woven locks.
Sometimes Ri'shai could hardly believe they were really brothers. Each of Tolan's deft hands were accented with oversized baubles. Faradin's hands were adorned with sleek leather gloves. A single extravagantly beautiful garnet piece descended from around Tolan's neck. While Faradin wore a simple white crescent moon necklace.
"What do you think Ri'shai?" Tolan said, turning to meet her gaze.
Ri'shai hadn't been listening to their banter. She gave Tolan a shrug.
"Jone and Jode have been kind to us, no yes?" Tolan said, oozing charisma.
Ri'shai knew that Tolan had recently been recognized by the Great House Hlaalu. They considered the kha'jiit a purveyor of fine goods. From what she could piece together, Tolan managed to gain the respect of the house's more influential members, and was now considered a representative of the great house.
"Ri'shai will feel better after a nice meal, has Jone and Jode provided such?" Ri'shai said, eyeing the passing crowds so common here in Mournehold. "If so, then yes, Jone and Jode have blessed us."
One dunmer, clothed in extravagant orange robes, a light blood red cloak thrown around his shoulders, was passing by. The man was holding out his fingers, seemingly counting in his head.
Tolan strayed from their side for a moment, knocking gently into the passing dunmer nobleman. The dunmer lifted his head startled. Scoffed at the sight of Tolan - as if the mangy cat was not worth his time - and continued on his way.
Tolan shifted naturally through the crowd, returning to Ri'shai and Faradin. "You see!" Tolan said, displaying a magnificent ring in his already bejeweled hand. "There are many blessings to be found in Mournehold!"
Faradin started, "This one thought you might be more cautious now Tolan. The Hlaalu has placed their faith in you. Mafala! That man was wearing a Telvanni sigil Tolan."
"Mafala, in her wisdom, has gifted us so that we may prosper Faradin! Why fear to use our power?" Tolan Said, smiling broader.
Faradin Scoffed, "We have Ri'shai to think about now Tolan."
The words hung in the air a moment. Ri'shai had only been with the pair for a short while.
Tolan frowned, putting a hand around Ri'shai's shoulder. "Come Ri'shai, has Tolan told you of the argonian Casts-With-Blades?"
Ri'shai was bed-ridden for a moon after Faradin saved her from Velek manor. Each night Tolan had told her tales of many heroes whom he had met in his travels. Tolan enjoyed collecting the lives of others. Always meeting new people, trying to determine what it would be like to walk a day in their fur.
"No, I don't believe you have," Ri'shai said. Ri'shai could see the dock's approaching in the distance.
She wasn't sure she wanted to hear such a story right now, but Tolan would probably tell her any way. Once he says the heroes name.... Ri'shai prepared herself to hear the story.
"Ahhhh It is a fine tale, of intrigue and excellence." Tolan began stroking his prominent goatee. The kha'jiit often used the black tuft of fur to conjure his memory. "Yes, Casts-With-Blades, if you hadn't guess already, he was an argonian. Spikey head and all. Tolan met him while traversing Deshaan. Yes the outskirts of mournehold can be a harsh place for an argonian, but he was not afraid."
They stopped walking, Tolan posted against a stone wall outside of a pub called "The Mudcrab." From their vantage they could view anyone coming from the docks. Ri'shai could smell the cooking crabs inside of the small dunmer pub. Apparently so could Faradin, the dark-furred kha'jiit shared a nod with Tolan before entering the pub.
Ri'shai watched him go. She suddenly felt uneasy. She pulled her cloak up around her head.
"He was quite skilled with small blades - daggers, shortswords." Tolan said, inspecting the passing crowds. "He told me he had lived in deshaan for cycles, helping argonian slaves escape the clutches of their dunmer masters. Tolan believed him, the scars that ran up and down the argonians arms a testament to his life's work."
Ri’shai kept her head down, hiding her face beneath her hooded cloak. If anyone noticed her she may be taken back to her Velek masters. A life of pain. A life devoid of hope. Memories of Velek slave handlers tightening irons around her neck. Feeling the metal bite against her throat, wrists, and ankles. The fear of stepping out of line, of displeasing the so easily to displease masters.
"His egg sister had been taken in her youth. It drove Casts-With-Blades to new heights. He was a powerful sorcerer, using his magic to enhance his speed. He would appear in a flash of lightning, saving lives, and disappearing in similar fashion. Eventually he found what he was looking for."
Ri’shai could still feel the chains around her throat. Her chest began to swell with despair, she blinked away tears, fighting back the sudden fatigue that fell over her. She had to be strong. Strong like these two. Memories of mistress Velek Malavothe’s shredded corpse came to the fore-front of Ri’shai’s Mind.
Tolan continued his tale, oblivious of Ri'shai's growing tension. "Casts-With-Blades saved countless of his kin. Surviving in a foreign land, thriving on the refuse of dunmer society. He always helped the helpless, protecting them on their journey southward. Until the day, while assisting an argonian return to Greenglade, he found his egg sister."
Faradin stepped out of "The Mudcrab" carrying a few steaming crabs in a iron-wire basket. Ri’shai lifted her head, looking into the eyes of Kha’jiit who had broken her chains, and presumably murdered an entire dunmer noble house and house-guard. He looked... Cold.
"The argonian had searched for cycles for his baby sister. Only to find her living deep in the heart of Black Marsh. Casts-With-Blades found that his sister did not even remember him." Tolan chuckled softly, graciously taking one of the steaming crabs from Faradin. "This is the way of the world, no yes? To search and search, and never find what you were looking for."
Faradin and Tolan shared another nod. Faradin turned to pass Ri'shai a steaming mudcrab. Ri'shai looked up at Faradin with fearful eyes.
Ri'shai could still see the bodies strewn about, illuminated by the light of Jone and Jode. A part of her was horrified by the memory, to know that Faradin was capable of such destruction. Another part of her was grateful, realizing for the first time that it was highly unlikely that anyone would recognize her as the slave of house Velek. As they were all dead.
Tolan gave Ri'shai a nudge with his elbow. He broke open the claw of the mudcrab exposing the white meat beneath."This one assures you, they taste great!"
Faradin gave Ri'shai a curious look, holding out the Mudcrab. She lifted her arms to take the morsel. "Thank you, Faradin"
Faradin simply nodded.
"Thank you... for everything." Ri'shai kept the flood of emotions locked behind her eyes.
Faradin furrowed his brow, nodding once more.
Tolan cleared his throat, "It seems my contact is ready. Stay here."
Tolan strode down the dock, heading toward a medium-sized Altmer-style ship. Leaving Faradin and Ri'shai alone outside of "The Mudcrab". Ri'shai broke into the crab. It was actually quite good.
