Hasir, Inigo and Ceralyne thundered across the grassy plains until they found themselves outside the gate of a city Inigo knew all too well. As they passed through it, he told the Argonian of everything he knew of the sandy, canyon-filled landscape of Elsweyr. As they rode toward the Rimmen stables, he heard tales of the settlements of Senchal, Annequina and the gorgeous rock crags and lush river valleys that dominated the entire continent. He also heard all about the bird, flora, and fauna of the region and a bit more of Inigo's past.
Inigo saw they were heading tolds a city that looked like it had been eaten - or half-eaten, by a snad elemental. The Argonian and khajiit passed through the gate which was manned what looked like, to Hasir, like two Sathay-raht, At least that's what Inigo told the Argonian. Hasir looked cautiosly at the six foot tall khajiit and then forgot about this when he saw the impressive looking arched buildings. They found a stable, stables their mounts and dismounted; closely followed by the elf's horse and approached an inn with a sign that named it as "The Pouncing Khajiit."
The Argonian, elf and khajiit went inside. Hasir motioned for Ceralyne and Inigo to sit down while he inquired where in Tamriel they were. Inigo smirked as the Argonian's tail slid coyly down the elf's leg as he passed.
Hasir approached the counter and rapped the wood with two scaly knuckles.
"Excuse me," He said, 'smiling', "I was wondering if you could tell me about this strange desert land." He leant against the counter, "not just that but I would also like if you know anything about Molag Bal. You see, I am assembling puzzle pieces of different cultures of Tamriel, so to speak and lastly... what do you know of Sun-In-Shadows?" He eyed several taps behind the bar, "I am not familiar with the food or drink of Elsweyr. Can you recommend everything? You see, my friends and I have come a long way and we are ravanous as wolves and we will need to moisten our throats as well."
The bartender, a brown and white male khajiit by the name of Kharanir bent down behind the counter and withdrew three pewter mug.
"Yes, this one has heard of Molag Bal. He is not part of our pantheon, however we know him only as Molagh, one of the demon princes that seek to undo the lunar lattice khajiit rever above all else. Jone and Jode, or as you call them, Massar and Secunda, told this one of Molagh's plan of supernatural supremacy. Hircine is one of our favorite spirits so naturally, we would take said against Molagh. An alfiq," He caught Hasir's raised eyebrow, "forgive this one. An alfiq is a khajiit born on a waning crsent moon in the lunar lattice. We call this phenomenon the ja'khaj'ay. Alfiq are born on a cresent moon in Secunda and a full moon on Secunda." He took a deep breth, "Forgive this one, he, like most khajiit, relishes in discussing moon births and phases." Hasir shrugged as a camel brushes of a fly. "Anyway, the alfiq told this one of how they read the moons, then told this one of forces moving from the demon's castle, Wolfthorn."
Hasir perked up at this name,
"Wolfthron, how did he? He must've read that name somewhere or at least," Something slotted in his reptilian brain, "Makes sense... the castle is rock hard as a worn is and is as dangerous as a thron."
The khajiit look impressed at the Argonian's ability to reason this out as if the answer was but a raindrop on the ground in the midst of an otherwise clear sky.
"Very good, this one had the same reasoning. the drinks we have are differnts from the ones Argonian is used to. We have no bug musk or slimy brown sludge. Take a look around, take a few if you must. As for information about Elsweyr, we have many points of interest Argonian and his friends might visit. We have, let's see, the palace of Rimmen, alot of grass land, the village of Senche which house a small sect of Argonians and Rawl'kha, a bazaar of sorts, which houses stalls of various types of goods and services." He said, counting them of on his clawed fingers.
Hasir nodded as he started perusing the drink selection.
"That's is all well and good, but you failed to mention if you know Sun-In-Shadows. I do have a follow-up question. Do you know of either a M'aig or Infinite?" The argonian thougt as he inspected each tap, "I guess I will have four... sparkle syrups, four bowls of Elsweyr fondue and four... fish bites please." He said, baring his teeth at the bartender.
Kharadir narrowed his eyes in concentration.
"My friend,, why four? There is not a fourth coming is there? Also, Elsweyr fondue is used for dipping breads in. It is not something you eat by itself. It either comes in small breadbowls - which you can use to dip the bread in - or small cups. On the first question you posed, erm... do you meann this one to dine with you? If that is the case He has work so he'll pass. I will, however, make the requested items for you. As for Infinite and M'aiq, yes, this one knows them. One was his brother and the other his friend who laid a bit too heavy on the skooma."
Hasir thank Kharamir and returned to the table with a wooden tray full of the items he ordered. Inigo and Hasir ate nearly everything - even the fish bite, which Ceralyne turned her nose up - and eyed Ceralyne in shocked amazement. Cerayne shrugged as Hasir and Inigo nearly scorched her with their gazes.
"What's wrong? Just because I won't partake in this, er, food - you think I was part of the Thalmor or something."
Inigo picked up the tray, got up and walked over to her.
"Would you like me to get anything else for you? I think they may have a mead or some nice banana pudding or banana bread?
The elf shook her head at the first two suggestion and nodded at the third. Inigo smiled and walked up to the counter. Kharanir recoiled at the sight of the blue khajiit.
"I thought you got banished. That is what your fur color means, no? Impure lunar connect which lead to banishment?"
Inigo shook his head,
"No, I don't care about that nor did my parents. I think Elsweyer would do best to forget that sorchmark on their otherwise pristine deserts. I heard from Hasir that you may know about Molag Bal and Sun-In-Shadows. I heard about her but am still piecing together the puzzle as to how her, Hasir's mother and Hasir are related."
Kharanir looked shocked and then lowered his voice so only Inigo could hear; which was quite an impressive feat.
"This one heard tell of a khajiit insider that resides in Rimmen. You will find her at the twon moons bazzar just south of here. He cannot say more but Kharadir heard that she has connections to both Molag Bal and this Sun-In-Shadows."
Inigo stared intently at the furry bartender, trying to see if he was blufffing but the khajiit did not betray a hint of untrustworhyness.
"How do you know this 'Elsweyrian insidekhajiit? You didn't tell me her name."
Kharanir sighed. He told his tail as if he'd just departed his depicted destinations merely seconds ago instead of hours.
"Alright, alright, her name is Daahin. I met her during a spending spree down in that area, er, buying this this one required for-what he bought them for is neither here nor there. Long story short he met her while she was playing songs on her Qunan when this one found her. He sat down across from her, listened to a few of her songs and even put a few septims into her tin coffer she laid next to the-"
Inigo sighed audibly. He hated when people sucked all air out of a bossa-satl before give other people a chance to try their hand, claw or whatever.
"I've heard enough. I'll be heading down that way and if I see her, I will give your the warmest of reccomendations." He smiled and set the tray upon the counter. "Warm sands to you." He said as he gathered his companions and left the inn.
They rode down the cobblestone rode east from the inn until they saw an open field with various stalls dotting the landscape. Inigo smiled as he saw a wooden sign denoting this place as two moon trading post. He, the Argonian and the elf came to a stall that sold alchemical ingredients and beheld a beautiful dark brown khajiit with shoulder-length light brown hair leaning against the west side of the stall with a keyboard-like instrument slung about her back. They dismounted and approached her.
When they got closer they could see her donned in a maroon and gold trimmed garb with white pants. They were shocked to discover she had no shoes. Both the argonian and khajiit thought she was a travelling merchants or even a well-to-do beggar playing music to earn her keep.
She walked up to themand extended her hand. Hasir went to shake it but was knocked aside by Inigo who kissed her outstretched hand. She ryebws xrimson as a bloodmoon.
"This one is charmed but she is sworn to another." Inigo huffed and asked, angrily who this would be. "Do not be mad, furred one. The one this one is pledged to is Khunsar-ri. She even made a song about him, want to hear it." Inigo rudely ripped her instrument off her back and threw it in the midst of the sparse tall grass in the desert.
Hasir looked at Inigo and frowned.
"Inigo, that was not okay. I want you to pick up her er-whatever that is," He saiud gesturing to the instrument. "I also want you to apologize once you bring it back to her. Do you understand?" He gave the blue khajiit an owlish stare Kodlak would be proud of. Inigo cowered under Hasir's gaze and retrieved the instrument and return it to its rightful owner.
The khajiit turned to Inigo and accepted his apology.
"Khajiit did not have to fly off in a rage like that. This one is glad that he did not break her Qunan." She placed it back onto her back. "It is a relic from Annequina, where she is from." She hung her head as if ashamed. "It is this one's fathers, he gave it to her as he saw bandits heading in that direction. Now every time this one plays and sings, she dedicates her songs to him." She stared off into the distance as if in meditation. " May the warm sands coat your feet, father, as you walk in the sands beyond the stars. May Jone and Jode shine upon you as well in whatever caliber you have them."
Hasir walked toward her and partly hugged her.
"I am sorry for your loss, Daahin. I am glad that you use your instrument and songs to remember your father. Speaking of which, do you mind showing us how that instrument works? I see it as a fair trade. Information for a lesson, how does that sound?"
Daahin turned around in shock. She had been not made privy on the deal. For all she knew, the Argonian could be a thief sweet-talking her out of her gold.
"This one had not heard of any deal! Why is Argonian and his friend here? If its gold you want, this one has little. She only has her father's Qunan and what little she came here with. Go elsewhere and please do not bother this one again, warmest sand to you." Hasir shrugged as if her words was a troublesome fly, "As for the instrument, this one will choose to deny you request. The qunan is quite like a bossa-satl; except with strings and chords instead of using frogs to produce musical rythyms."
Daahin cast a glance over her shoulder and shook her head.
"What is Argonian doing? This one has a perfectly suitable tent over there." She said with a jerk of her head.
The 'tent' that Daahin alluded to was nothing more than a traveiling cart. Hasir and Ceralyne looked at the cart in dismay and asked the khajiit if she perhaps lived in a much nicer house. Daahin looked a bit embarrased as she corrected them.
"This one's home suits her just fine, thank you." She gussed. "For your information, it is called a Vardo. She eyed their confused expressions. "A, er, Vardo is a sort of traveling wagon that people of early Khajiit culture had taken to living in... at least, until the khajiit ditched their mystic reading and prediction and decided it best to start living more akin to the average Tamrielian so they view us less like stray wolves and more like a pack of like minded wolves."
Hasir and the elf walked up the steps and passed through the arched doorway. The interior of the Vardo was cramped but well-orginazed. It even had a small bed in the far end of the cart. The cabinets and drawers were full of her possessions - negligable as they may be. Hasir leant against one of the counters and smirked at the Khajiit sitting on the bed.
She eyed the wondrous expressions on the Argonian's and elf's faces.
"It's not much but it suits this one's needs just fine." She said as she walked the length of the Vardo. "Her littermates look down on this one just because she lives like, as they say, a 'primitive beast.' It makes this one's fur curl.
Hasir looked at her with a mixture of awe and disappointment. He knew all too well the feeling of having his entire race shunning him for chossing the dragon over the stealthy assassin.
"Daahin, I think your place is wonderful. I think it's better than those stuffy palaces. Now that I saw your home, may we go and find out more about Sun-In-Shadows and if there is any more information about the khajiit assistance you mentioned?" Daahin deposited her Qunan in a drawe and was about to leave when Hasir remebered something. "Do you know of Kharanir by any chance? He was the one who directed me - us- to come find you."
Daahin smiled and nodded. A flood of images swarmed her brain as if she were watching events unfolding before her mind's eye.
"Kharanir and this one are close. He is actually her littermate. In fact, he is the only one who did not shun this one for having a 'primitive' home."
She told the Argonian and elf about how her gtirnfd, Kharani and Affraji found her when she was just a kitten; thrown from a moving caravan because her view of stars, mysticism and astrology, while essential to Khajjit, did not sit well with her current family. They thought that instead of changing her, they would toss the Khajiit out with the milk, so to speak.
Inigo, who stood in the doorway, strode over, his tail swaying behind him and wrapped an arm around the mournful khajiit.
"Daahin, even though I just found your Vardo - there are way too many stalls here that I could not discern it from the others - anyway, backpedaling to the sands of the present, I heard you tale; even outside of the Vardo. Great!! Now the sandstorm in my mind absorbed the thought that I was about to say leaving a dried riverbed." He said frustrated. He cast a line and caught a new though on the sea of knowing. " Oh, right, don't let anyway tell you that you are less than for being different. Fight Molag Bal's creation not your inner feelings. That only serves to create a barren inner landscape that is only fit for you to wander alone. Let the people around you help to water that barren landscape so the flowers of positive feeling can once again blossom. Don't shut the door on your newly formed garden; open the door and frolic in it."
Daahin looked at Inigo and smiled.
"Khajiit is right. This one has been a shaveskin. What he says is true; the metaphor this one means. She has to embrace the positive moments and what makes her unique and leave the fire-breathing dragons of the past behind. They may have controlled her once but she has to learn to break those shackles and breathe the new air instead of getting lost in the acrid fumes of past wrongs."
Inigo smiled, produced a leather cloth and dabbed at Daahin's eyes.
"Doesn't letting out your wolf from its cage feel good? Now, what say we go find that Argonian village?"
They all nodded, left the Vardo and mounted up on their mounts. Daahin sat astride a burly white tiger senche and rode south toward a small fishing village that Karanir had told them about, near the meadows that resided near the town of Annequina.
They stabled their mounts at a stable near the entrance to the sand-swept island in the greater desert ocean. Near the village, Hasir could see an expansive field with many different colored plants and towering cliffs and undulating canyons and, beyond the field, he saw a makeshift settlement and wondered if that was the one with the Argonians that knew about Sun-In-Shadows.
He turned to Daahin who was leaning against the wall of the stables and asked about the tiny settlement. Daahin nodded.
"That is indeed the settlement she meant." The Argonian asked her how she knew Affraji and said she was a friend of his. Daahin smiled, "She knewAffraji ever since this one was a kitten. She even showed this one her ship; gave me the tour of all of the different areas of it."
Hasir mounted his Welwa Ravager and gave Daahin a curious sidelong glance.
"Affraji's here? I had the impression that she had stayed in Windhelm as that is where most of her bounty is; gold or otherwise."
Daahin nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes. This one heard that she sailed from Skyrim to Khenarthi's Roost. Though, Affraji did not inform this one of the method that she used to travel the sea of time. As you may be aware, Skyrim is on a different time island than the Elsweyr we are in at the present moment." She shook her head, mournfully. "This one will help Altmer and Argonian find out about Sun-In-Shadows and then they will book passage to Khenarthi's Roost where Affraji's ship is moored."
Daahin told Hasir that when he sets out for the Argonian settlement she will do the same for Kenarthi's roost as she hasn't seen her friend since the sands of time ran anew. Hasir acknoledged this and was about to head out when Ceralyne got up from where she sat on the bench near the wall of the stable and strode over to the Argonian, a smile pulling at her face.
"Hasir, stay safe." She said, standing on tip-toes to kiss him and hug him. He narrowed his eyes and asked her what she'd be doing while he's gone. "I was thinking of headed back to Summerset Isles for a while to see what Aela is up to. I might also see how my father is holding up after those bastards murdered my mother." She mounted up on her horse and spurred it onward to Alinor.
The argonian smiled to himself as he watched her horse become a shadow on the horizon.
"What would I do without her?" He waved farwell to Daahin and headed eastward toward the Argonian settlement.
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