Opportunities

Thirteen: What You Get is What You See

Ironically, I ran into Othrelos in Skingrad. He was at the inn, and so was the young Benirus, the fellow who had sold me the house in Anvil. I hurried to their table, embraced my Dunmer, and asked him what he thought he was doing there when we’d agreed he was going to stay in Anvil.

The corners of his mouth quirked upward. “Yes, about that. It turns out that there is a small issue with the lovely house you bought me.” He paused for effect. “It’s haunted.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I bought you a haunted house.”

“You did, in fact. With a lich in the basement.” He gestured toward Benirus. “Behind a magical door that only a blood relative can open, apparently, for which reason I’ve invited the previous owner to come back with me.” The gentleman in question looked embarrassed, and Othrelos added, “Which seemed to me the least he could do, since he knew about it when he sold the property to you.”

I laughed. “Oh, I’m so sorry. It figures, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” He hugged me again, smiling. “No harm done. It made for a rather exciting first night staying there, but it wasn’t more than I could handle. And the building is lovely, if we can just clear out the freeloaders.”

Benirus remained quiet and awkward the rest of the way down to Anvil; I got the impression that he wanted not only the issue with the house but the whole matter of his family and connection to Anvil behind him. It was Othrelos who told me why: the alleged lich was none other than the Benirus patriarch.

Did anyone ever get to have a reasonable family? Maybe not.

I’d only gotten to look at the house on the outside when I bought it. Maybe in retrospect that was an obvious mistake, but it still looked big, lovely, and even well kept as we approached it. Inside it was even still furnished, but everything was dingy and torn and out of sorts, many items also broken or knocked over. None of that was worse than I’d expected either; I’d thought that cleaning and redecorating would be straightforward enough.

I hadn’t figured on the ghosts. But here they came now, just as reported, and I was glad we’d known about them so we could have our bits of silver and magic ready. We splattered ectoplasm on the furniture and the walls. Afterward, looking around, I realized we were really just adding to previous layers of it, blended by time into the dust and cobwebs and mildew.

“You?” I asked Othrelos, looking at the old mess beneath our new mess.

“Most of mine were upstairs, I think, but maybe. The basement is this way.” He led the way through the door and downstairs. The magical door could not really be referred to as a secret door, since its glowing symbols were obvious from across the room.

The Benirus boy – I supposed that, in sympathy with his family problem, I ought to think of him as Velwyn – stepped in front of the door and started making awkward, half-embarrassed gestures. It didn’t look like he knew what he was doing, but the magic of the door was cued to his blood, not his skill: the wall cracked open before us.

Velwyn vanished up the stairs immediately. I didn’t have to worry about calling him by the right name after all.

I lit the way for us and we crept into the dank hole. On each side were tables stacked with old tomes and chests – I vowed to crack them open later. For the moment, our focus was on the crypt in the center, and the bones lying there. And the voice that echoed around us.

“I feel you,” it groaned. “You have my hand.”

I looked at Othrelos, and he nodded. “I do. I found it in the house, along with the note that told me what we were dealing with.”

“You refer to the sins of my past,” the voice said. “I dabbled in evil magic. But Cairihill defeated me, and for years I have lain here, repenting of my deeds. Waiting to be made whole so that I may pass over in peace. Please. Please bring me my hand.”

I edged closer to Othrelos and whispered in his ear. “I’m skeptical.”

He smiled just a little, without turning to look at me. “Are you really?”

We stood and stared at the body for a moment. “You have fire arrows, don’t you?” I asked. He nodded. “Then be ready to shoot. I’ll take the hand.” Now he did look at me, and I shrugged. “He could be telling the truth. And if he isn’t, it’ll be exciting, won’t it?”

He reached into his bag and gave me the hand. It was still in one piece, held together by its mummified skin. I found it disgusting on principle, even though it didn’t feel much different than a dry piece of leather. As I came closer to Lorgren’s body, I saw that the rest of him matched the hand.

Lichdom wasn’t something that just happened. People did this to themselves on purpose. I couldn’t understand the reasoning – well, and hardly anyone could. Even necromancers and vampires looked down on liches, thought they were crazy to begin the process. And even crazier after they powdered their own brains.

I put the hand down at the end of the stumped arm. For a moment, nothing happened. But when I stepped back, I saw the wisps of magicka start to weave the parts back together, and motion return to the reunified body.

“I have always marveled,” the voice said, now centered much more strongly around the undead skull of the lich, “at the gullibility of humans.”

Had he really not noticed? No: his focus was entirely on me. He had risen to a sitting position when Othrelos hit him with the first fire arrow, and I shook my head. “There, you see. Powdered brains.”

Lorgren turned to look at his attacker, raising the staff that had been lying next to him; I jumped forward and started to wrestle him for it. In my focus on gaining control of the staff I could barely hear Othrelos screaming at me that he didn’t want to shoot me by mistake.

When the lich’s grasp suddenly gave way I fell back onto the floor. I jumped up again as quickly as I could, aimed the staff, and fired. That combined with the half a dozen arrows sticking out of his torso finally laid him back to rest.

“I could have shot you,” Othrelos growled, racing toward me.

“You wouldn’t have. I trust you.”

“Hmph.” He threw his arms around me and kissed me on the head. “Well. I’m sure you want to go back and see whether those books are valuable. I’ll check out this end.”

The books were full of spells I didn’t think I’d ever want to try but would be perfectly willing to sell. I was sure the Mages’ Guild would want them – and maybe, since the books were oriented toward necromancy and lichdom, they would even pay a little extra just to make sure they didn’t end up out on the open market. Other than that, a few gems and the staff were the main items of interest. Hopefully, combined they would pay to finally fix up the house. And maybe seal up the basement.

The house above us no longer had the foreboding feeling of a haunted place, but it was no tidier for that, and we decided to rest elsewhere before tackling that issue. Velwyn Benirus was waiting for us at The Count’s Arms, relieved that we had defeated his grandfather and also still a bit guilty about his own part in the whole affair. He offered to pay to have the whole place cleaned and refurnished – the way we’d cleaned up the blemish on his family and his luck, he said.

Was it that simple? Once the evidence of one’s sordid origins were erased, could one just walk away and become someone clean and new? Or would it follow you? Or would you just become no one, like the poor Gray Fox?

Still, if he was sincere, that was fabulous. And after all, we wouldn’t be going right back to the house anyway, because Amusei was also there to see us.

“The Gray Fox is waiting for you,” he said, “at the home of Othrelos in the Imperial City.”

Othrelos and I looked at each other, and then he turned and raised his eyebrows at Amusei. “My house?”

“Oh! I didn’t know you were Othrelos. That’s kind of funny.”

I clucked my tongue. “You didn’t know this was Othrelos, but you gave me an assignment from the Gray Fox in front of him anyway. Your subtlety still leaves something to be desired, Amusei. Maybe you should consider becoming a pirate. I can set you up.”

Amusei walked away looking confused. I turned back to my secretive Dunmer. “It’s your house? I always figured it was Mandil’s, the way you tiptoed around her.”

He answered with a bashful smile. “No. I’m just a very kindly landlord.”

I stepped in close and took a playful swipe at his shoulder. “Then why didn’t you just invite me in with you in the first place?”

He wrapped his arms around my waist and touched his forehead to mine. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

Eventually we did remember that we were standing in the middle of a public place and that we were expected elsewhere. As we rode toward the Imperial City he started to get a little bit nervous, even though I told him how conciliatory his uncle had been when I’d last seen him.

It wasn’t until we were actually in the city that I thought to get nervous, about something else entirely. “O,” I muttered, tugging at his sleeve as we stood in front of his door. “I have to tell you something first, in case it gets awkward.”

His lovely eyes scanned my face and read it almost instantly. “You’ve been with him, too. The Gray Fox himself.” He chuckled a little at my discomfort. “I have to admit, I’m impressed. I didn’t know he ever let anyone that close to him.” He took my hands and squeezed them, his eyes dropping. “And… you’re quite sure it’s me you want?”

I squeezed his hands back, because it seemed more appropriate than slapping him silly. “I’m completely sure.”

He smiled. “Then I won’t let it be awkward. I promise.”

The Gray Fox was seated comfortably in a chair that sat atop Mandil’s favorite rug. He spread his hands gracefully and grinned as we closed the door behind us. “Forgive me the unexpected visit, Othrelos. I wanted the chance to see Luminara’s young man. I’m sorry it’s been so long since I looked in on you for your own work, but we discussed your – unique position then, of course.”

Othrelos nodded. “Too skilled to need direction, too related to Fathis to raise too high if we didn’t want that to become known.” He added with a shrug, “Not ambitious enough to mind.”

“And yet you’ve found a way around it, whether or not you realize it yet. You’re lucky.” He turned to look at me. “You’re both lucky. Let’s hope it holds.”

“You’ve got a job for me?” I asked.

“The job, Luminara. The one that will place you among the greatest thieves who ever lived. The one that will – do you think you’re ready?”

“Just tell me what it is.”

“You’re going to break into the Palace and steal one of the Elder Scrolls.”

I stood and blinked silently for a moment. “Yes. That will be impressive.”

He chuckled. “I’ve planned out your route for you. You’ll get in through the sewers. Once you’re in the Imperial Library, you’ll be impersonating a woman named Celia Camoran. Here, I’ve written it all out.”

He handed me the note, and I skimmed it on the spot:

1) Activate the Old Way using the Glass of Time. It is located inside the Imperial Palace. I do not know what it looks like or exactly where to find it.
2) Find the entrance to the Old Way. It is rumored to be somewhere in the sewers under the Imperial City.
3) Inside the Old Way is an entrance to the heart of the Imperial Palace. Savilla's Stone was only able to scry the two most important obstacles. For one of them you will need to use the Boots of Springheel Jak.
4) To enter the Imperial City you must use the Arrow of Extrication to unlock the final door.
5) Inside the Imperial Palace you must find the Imperial Library. On the bottom floor is some sort of viewing room.
6) I have arranged to have a particular scroll made available in the Chamber. The blind monks that care for the scrolls are expecting Celia Camoran, but you will take her place. Just find the chair assigned to visitors to the library. You must not speak, or they will know it is not her. Just let them bring you the scroll.
7) Once you have the scroll, retrace your steps and deliver it to me. Of course the chances of something going wrong with this plan are very high. When that happens, you'll just have to get creative.

I smirked at him. “Creative. I’ll have to be, if I have to shoot the Arrow. I can barely shoot myself in the foot.”

“So I’ll go with you,” Othrelos said.

“See?” the Gray Fox smiled. “Lucky. You happened to bewitch a mer who can make the shot.” He rose to his feet, looking a bit agitated.

I frowned, and unable to stop my own instincts, I stepped in closer and touched his shoulder. “What’s wrong? Don’t you think I can do it?”

“That’s not it at all. I’m so sure you can do it that I’ve finally started to think about what comes after that.”

It didn’t take me long to follow his thought. “If it works, you’re going to go to her,” I whispered. “And she might refuse you.”

He nodded, his eyes cast down. I could feel his breath. “And if it doesn’t, then I can never try.”

We stood frozen and silent for a moment, and the raspy voice that finally spoke from behind me took us both by surprise. “Go ahead, Lum.”

I looked over my shoulder at Othrelos, who was watching us with heavy-lidded eyes, his lips slightly parted. “Go ahead and kiss him,” he said. “I can see you thinking about it.”

I opened my mouth to say But I promised you I wouldn’t, but the look on his face was intent – aroused. He wasn’t saying it to be generous; he wanted to see me do it. I turned back toward the Gray Fox, and just like that, there was no more point in thinking about it. I lifted my chin and brushed my lips against his. I felt him gasp just slightly, and he leaned closer against me as he started to kiss me back. Out of the corner of my eye I saw his eyes open, watching over my shoulder, as uncertain as I was about how much Othrelos was really going to allow. Our answer was a hand on my back, sliding up to entwine with the Gray Fox’s at my shoulder as Othrelos grazed down the side of my neck.

I shivered happily and took his involvement as encouragement to go forward. I started to open the Gray Fox’s shirt, and he responded in kind; then O’s hands eased my shirt from my shoulders. I was relieved that this time, the Gray Fox seemed to be trusting me not to touch the cowl, at least for now; it would have been embarrassing to be spun around from it with a witness.

Four hands on me, the Fox’s tongue in my mouth and Othrelos’s breath on the back of my neck – it was divine. One thing with pretty pirates, but now, with partners I actually cared about –

The Gray Fox broke away from our kiss, exchanged a glance with Othrelos behind me, and began to nibble his way down the front of my body. Othrelos cradled my head in one hand and turned it to the side so that he could kiss me. I lifted one hand to stroke his hair, but then tried to break from him and look down when I felt my other partner pulling my pants down. I couldn’t move. He promptly brought his arms up between my legs and hooked them around my thighs, prying them apart, and O kept one arm around my waist and the other hand on my face, so I was pinned.

I could only watch Othrelos cast his own look downward, and could not look myself, when the Fox snaked his tongue into me. I gasped and arched back into Othrelos, and I felt him grinning as we kissed. I grabbed into his hair more forcefully, moaning at the pleasure that was dancing through my whole body. The Gray Fox dug his fingers deeper into the flesh of my thighs and licked harder, and my Dunmer continued to watch, his free hand now wandering up to my breasts. I squealed and started to shake as he brushed and pinched my nipples.

A growl from beneath me. The Gray Fox leaned back and pulled me down to kneel over him. This was what it took, then, to drive the doubt and guilt out of his face: there was nothing in it now but want. He grabbed me into a hungry kiss, and I was the one who hesitated, until I felt O’s warm hand caressing my back, again giving me his permission to continue. Then I let myself melt against my Guildmaster as he laid us down. His hands left me for a moment, and when they returned, they urged me down onto him, and he slid into me easily. He panted for me, biting his lip as I rocked my hips back and forth. Smiling, I reared up a little and dragged my nails gently across his chest. Not quite as rough as I would be with Othrelos if he were the one under me.

But Othrelos was behind me, and after a moment of silently watching, he started to stroke my skin again, and I could hear him breathing deeply. I felt one hand wander down to where I was joined with the Gray Fox, caressing us both, carrying our wetness back toward my ass.

I smiled a little, though I forced myself not to turn and ask. Othrelos? Really? But I licked my lips as I felt him press up behind me and whisper into my ear. “Slow down a little.”

The next time I rocked back, I felt him start to press into me, and I almost fell forward onto my elbows. Both men took me by the hips for a moment, slowly guiding me and each other into a rhythm we could sustain together. I let myself be led: I couldn’t see straight, and everything was trembling. But I could hear both of them panting, not much further from being overwhelmed than I was. The Fox let his hands roam over me; Othrelos grabbed into my hair and used it to keep pulling me back toward him. I clawed into the rug beneath us as if I wanted to draw blood from it. Our movement was so intense and so agonizingly slow.

It was Othrelos who broke ranks first, now holding my hips still as he pounded into me. I whined happily, and the Gray Fox sped up a bit as well: moreso when Othrelos came and there was no more need to stay in sync with him. He pulled me down into one more fierce kiss as he finished and then went wearily still.

For the first minute or so of silence, I was as happy as I had ever been. Then I started to wonder if it meant that things between the two most important people in my life were about to get very awkward.

I needn’t have. The Gray Fox dragged one hand casually up my side and smirked, “That scroll isn’t going to steal itself, you know.”

I giggled as I dismounted him. “I didn’t realize we were in such a hurry.”

“Of course we’re in a hurry! Why would I tell you to do something I didn’t want done?” But with all his usual snarling he also politely handed me my shirt. And when we were all dressed and parting ways, he looked at me standing with Othrelos and smiled. “I like you together,” he said. “Don’t mess it up.”

“Did I?” I asked Othrelos once we were outside.

It took him a few seconds to realize what I was asking. “Mess it up? No. I started it, remember.”

“And it was all right?”

He chuckled and hugged me to him a little as we walked. “Enlightening, really. I know you made me a promise, and I love you for doing it. But maybe sometimes we can make an exception if we make it together.”

I flushed at how nice a thought that was. “Really.”

“Really.” He paused for effect. “Just don’t ask me for Jak.”

I laughed. “I wasn’t going to.”