Caius answered the knock at his door and ushered the hooded, robed figure into his cluttered apartment. "Been wondering when you'd stop by," he said with a wry grin. "Word around town is that you've got good reason not to visit too often anymore."
"So I've heard," Alanya said sourly, doffing her robe and sitting on a bench. "I don't suppose you've any assignments dealing with eliminating the Tong, do you?"
"Afraid not, Alanya," Caius said, his tone growing more serious. "I've already got as many people working on the Tong situation as I can afford to spare. I wouldn't get too worried, though; a week or two more and the Tong's temper should cool. It was just bad luck that you happened to get seen by one of their more reactionary members after he had had too much to drink."
"Bad luck," Alanya snorted.
"Yes, bad luck," Caius insisted, his eyes hardening. "And you can't let this bit of bad luck weigh you down; you've work to be done for Emperor and Empire, and your Empire needs you in top form."
Alanya sighed. " ... Patriotism doesn't take the sting away form my mistakes," she said quietly.
Caius's tone softened. "That's actually a good sign," he averred. "Still - like soldiers, we need to pick ourselves up and keep forging ahead, even when times get tough. Fortunately, your next assignment shouldn't be too hard."
Alanya looked up at Caius. "What would that assignment be?" she asked.
"You're taking a trip to Vivec," Caius grinned. "The grandest city in all of Vvardenfell. You'll see many wonderous sights, meet lots of interesting people - and get information from three of them regarding the matters you've been investigating for me so far."
"Three people?" Alanya said, frowning. "Um, that will mean three little favors, the likes of which often send me gallavanting through ancient ruins and musty tombs, right?"
"Well, maybe," Caius said. "But given the situation in Balmora, a little extra time spent on this mission wouldn't hurt anyway ..." Seeing Alanya's look, he quickly added "I don't actually expect you to have to go to such lengths with these people, Alanya; this should be a comparatively easy mission for you."
"Who am I to meet?" Alanya asked.
"Here; I've written up some notes and directions for you," Caius said, passing Alanya a sheet of paper. "Mostly directions; Vivec's an easy place to lose yourself in, if you don't know where you're going. To summarize though: Addhiranirr, Khaijiit, Thieves Guild member and close confidant of mine; keep that in mind please when you're talking with her, and don't get on her bad side. Huleeya, Argonian, Morag Tong member, and scholar; a rather nice fellow overall considering his vocation, very learned and well-spoken. Finally, Mehra Milo, Dunmer and priestess; nice enough but a tad on the nervous side. Still, if the rumors about the way the Ordinators run things when no one's looking are true, I can understand her nervousness."
Alanya read over the note, noting the complex directions and wishing she knew Vivec better; she resolved to remedy that failing while on this mission. "Anything else?" she asked.
Caius shook his head. "Nothing else, other than feel free to take your time on this one; it'll give the Tong here a chance to forget about you. Take the scenic route to Vivec, tour the city a bit. It'll come in handy for whatever other missions I'll have for you there."
"Just what I was thinking," Alanya said, folding the note and slipping it into her belt. "I've ... got a couple of little things to take care of, before I head out - if that's okay."
"Little things?" Caius asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes," Alanya answered. "My enchantress tells me that I should get a hold of some better armor for my current order, and the rest of the items will take a day or two to finish."
"Moving up in the world, are we?" Caius murmured. "I think we can let you take some time to get better equipment; saves me the worry of having to requisition you any later."
"... We can requisition equipment?" alanya asked, blinking.
"Oh, we can - we just won't get any," Caius said lightly. "Hence my preferance for my agents to supply their own, you see. Self-reliance is an admirable trait anyway ..."
" ..." Alanya frowned at Caius, but gradually, her frown turned to a smile. "Has anyone ever told you you're a very strange man, Caius?"
"I've lost count," Caius grinned back.
------
"A stronghold ?" Galbedir gaped as Alanya showed off Hlormaren. "You own a stronghold now? Just who did you kill to get this?"
"About a dozen bandits and a few rats," Alanya answered abesently, happy to have gotten out of that itchy robe.. "The location seemed hard to beat; middle of nowhere but near enough to Balmora and Gnaar Mok that I could get anywhere I want. Not to mention there's some really great hunting grounds around here ..."
"I'll take your word for it," Galbedir said. "Alanya, this is crazy - in a good way, but still crazy. How are you going to keep up a whole stronghold?"
" ... I'm still working on that," Alanya admitted. "But I thought I might start with asking you if you'd ... well, if you'd like to share it with me."
Galbedir blinked. " ... That's moving into Summer quite a bit," she muttered. " ... You sure about that?"
Alanya sighed. "I do a lot of travelling," she said quietly. "I've got some things in Vivec I need to tend to, for example. I miss you a lot when I'm travelling and it's not always easy to travel back to Balmora to see you when I'm on missions. I thought, this way - whenever I come home to rest, we'd be together ..."
Galbedir was quiet for a while, looking over Hlormaren. " ... How long will you be gone in Vivec?" she asked.
" ... About two weeks," Alanya answered.
"Hmm ..." Galbedir murmured. " ... Two weeks ... I think I can do something with this place in two weeks."
Alanya looked over at Galbedir, who smiled back at her. "What? I am an enchantress, you know, and I've got friends in the Guild I can convince to help me spruce this place up ..."
Alanya grinned, but she demurred " ... I was hoping to keep this place quiet - just you and me for now, until things quiet down ..."
"Oh don't worry - no one outside of those we tell will know of this place," Galbedir smiled. "I've got something in mind that I was wishing I had used on my apartment in Balmora, but that would have made the city fathers a bit unhappy; here though, I can cut loose ..."
Alanya meeped. "Just what are you thinking, love?"
Galbedir laughed. "Don't worry; for right now though, show me what the bedrooms are like in this place ..."
The day after Galbedir moved into Hlormaren, Alanya and Galbedir made their way to Gnisis to shop at the legendary Violet Femme Boutique. The details of their day are in the Side Story Travel and Shopping.
(This Chapter is not yet complete)
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