Chasing Echoes - Part 3

Nirythia studied Bahira closely as they shared a meal, conversing quietly about the mission to expose Jarl Elisif. She had been just as hesitant offering food to the Redguard as the Redguard had been hesitant to accept it.

The more they talked and the more Nirythia saw of Bahira, the more she knew that the woman was more than just a simple mercenary seeking the comfort of easy coin.

"How long have you been in Skyrim?" she asked, chewing absent-mindedly on a piece of chicken.

Bahira swallowed heavily, suddenly avoiding to look at her. She put down her utensils and took a deep breath. "A couple of months.." she replied so quietly Nirythia had a hard time hearing her. "Four at the most."

Nirythia arched an eyebrow. "That's not a very long time, yet you have already earned the trust of a Jarl to be trusted with such a delicate matter..?!"

Bahira wet her lips. "People usually find my company.. desirable." she answered and looked up, meeting Nirythia's gaze firmly. "That makes me easy to trust."

The elf felt her heart flutter as she noticed a mischevious glimpse in the woman's eyes, and her stomach suddenly felt full of butterflies.

What is this? she thought, swallowing heavily. What is she doing to me?!

"You mean you're a consort?"

Bahira shook her head, smiling wryly. "Nothing so fancy. I've been trained in using my charms to get what I want."

"And what do you want?" Nirythia's voice had gone cold, earning an amused glance from the Redguard.

"That you'll see in time." Bahira answered with a smile, "Right now, however, I want my former mistress to rot in a Thalmor prison."

"So you've bedded the Jarl?"

"I've bedded the Jarl." she replied with an equally amused expression. "As I've bedded kings, queens, emperors, empresses and rebelmakers."

Nirythia didn't say anything, instead she leaned back in her chair, raising her cup of wine to her lips and took a sip. She studied the Redguard closely, narrowing her eyes thoughtgfully. There were something with the woman that didn't add up, something that she did everything to hide. Something she was very determined not to let Nirtyhia to find out.

"And do you have a plan?" she asked then, noticing how Bahira seemed to squirm under her intense gaze.

"Seeing as parading into the palace and arrest her probably isn't the best idea," the Redguard said and rested her hands on the table. "I was thinking that maybe I could lure her into signing a statement that she still worships Talos.. or something like that."

Nirythia arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Well, be my guest." she said, and she couldn't help the thought that she hoped the woman would be captured. That way, Nirythia could exploit the unjust imprisonment of a Thalmor asset to look into the Jarl's business.

Bahira raised her cup in a salut, when they were interrupted by a knock on the door. The two women looked at each other until Nirythia gestured to the guard to open the door and find out what the person on the other side wanted. He disappeared for a couple of minutes and came back with a Dunmer in tow.

"What is this?" Nirythia growled in frustration, "Has the Headquarter become some sort of charity?"

The guard bowed respectfully, "I'm sorry, madame Emissary." he said as he straightened. "But this man claims to be looking for you."

The Dunmer walked forth and bowed gracefully, despite his ebony armor, and smiled slightly. "I'm sorry to disturb you, madame Emissary, but I was said to find my companion here."

At this Bahira jumped to her feet and ran over to him, throwing herself around his neck. She was aparently his companion.

"Emissary," Bahira said as she turned to her, "this is my Shield-Brother, Menlayn Rendaal.. he's going to help up with our mission. Menlayn, this is Nirythia Highor-Larenhael, Thalmor Head Investigator and second Emissary."

The man bowed his head in respect and as the sun, that shone through the window, fell upon his face Nirythia noticed how handsome he was. His dark red eyes had a mischevious glimpse to them and his black hair fell perfectly to the left, even his beard was perfectly trimmed and she couldn't help but wonder if only good looking people were allowed to become mercenaries.

"Shield-Brother?" Nirythia asked then, when she rembered what Bahira had called him.

"We are both part of the Companions." Menlayn replied with a wry smile. "And Bahira here is the best warrior you'll ever meet."

"And you?" Nirythia asked, spinning her cup in her hand. "Aren't you a warrior?" She gestured towards his shield with her free hand.

Menlayn chuckled quietly. "I might have taken the term Shield-Brother too literally."

Nirtyhia sighed heavily, gesturing towards the table. "We had just finished our meal, but I'm sure there's more if you'd like something to eat."

"No, thank you." Menlayn declined, "I just came to pick up my Shield-Sister."

Bahira picked up her scimitar and attached it to her belt. "We'll let you know when we've figured out a plan."

Nirythia nodded slowly. "Are you staying at the Winking Skeever, in case I need to find you?"

"We are." Menlayn replied. "Good day, madame Emissary."

She watched as they left the Headquarter and she couldn't help the sinking feeling she got. Why would a Redguard and a Dunmer, whom apparently were members of the Companions, claim to be mercenaries searching for a way to expose Jarl Elisif's Talos worship?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Rulindil who sat down opposite her by the table. He looked at her with an amused expression as he helped himself to some wine.

"I see you had to deal with filth today."

Nirythia scoffed. "I don't know which is worst." she said, "Jarl Elisif's Talos worship or the fact that my assests are a Redguard and a Dunmer."

Rulindil laughed hoarsely. "It could have been a Nord and an Argonian." he pointed out, which made Nirythia wrinkle her nose. That had actually been worse.

"True." she said and took a sip of her wine. "But I can't help the feeling that something's amiss." she continued after a while. "Bahira al Nazari, our pretty Redguard is too confident and too seductive, Menlayn Rendaal on the other hand.. he's too casual, I get a feeling he's here looking for something, or someone, and this is just something he's doing to occupy his time."

"You think they're hiding something." Rulindil stated with an amused smile.

"I do." Nirythia stated. "I am going to go through with this and I am going to find out what it is."

"Even if you'd risk your life?"

"Yes." she replied firmly. "What kind of Thalmor would I be otherwise?"

Rulindil shrugged and got to his feet. "Well, I wish you luck."

"That I'll need." she answered and leaned back in her chair again, absent-mindedly bringing the cup to her lips. "That I'll need."