aeronwen

10th of Heartfire, 427 3E

It's official; Mebestian Ence is indeed something of a criminal. Granted he's not on the level of the Cammona Tong, but he is involved with things that are illegal. What's worse, is that he doesn't have a problem with trying to get his innocent, unsuspecting shop assistant involved. At least he didn't until today. Hopefully he won't try such a thing again.

When I entered the store this morning Mebestian appeared to be on the verge of having a panic attack. I came through the door to find him sitting in a chair wailing, "Oh! All my worst nightmares are coming true!"

I inquired warily, "What's the matter?"

Speaking quickly, he explained with widened eyes, "I'm going to have to talk to Ygfa the healer! She should be able to confirm whether or not it was the frost salts that killed Ton'ii!"

As he got up and began to frantically search for something beneath the counter, I replied, "I'm sure she'll discover that something else caused his death."

I started to add that most alchemists made sure that their shops only supplied the very best ingredients, but then thought it might not be a good idea to remind Mebestian that I was the one who had purchased the frost salts in the first place. At least, not until more was discovered about exactly why Ton'ii had suddenly died.

After finding what he was looking for, Mebestian stepped toward me with three scrolls as he said, "In the meantime, could you deliver these flyers to the rest of the shops in Pelagiad? I need one at the Halfway Tavern, one in Uulernil's store, and...put one in the main area of the fort. Try and place them somewhere visible so that lots of people see them."

Accepting the flyers, I inquired gently, "What nightmares have you had? Have you been worrying about your business failing because of this incident with Ton'ii?"

Frowning, he shook his head and answered, "No. I have nightmares about these...things...I see their beady eyes watching me...staring. They lie in wait, ready to pounce, ready to bite and suck out the blood. Just like they did to my mother."

"What?" I exclaimed in surprise.

He resumed wringing his hands as he explained, "Filthy creatures. One of them attacked my mother. That's why she got sick. Why she died."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I replied sympathetically and thought I had a better understanding of why Mebestian tended to be nervous and a little paranoid. Dealing with loosing his mother would have been bad even under normal circumstances. Loosing her because she had been attacked by a vampire would have been a far more difficult thing to accept. Resolved to try and be more patient with him, I added, "I'll see to it that these are in places where visitors won't miss them."

Once I was outside the shop, I looked at the flyers and read;

Have you ever wanted something that's not just good, but better?
Something that's not just nice, but it also has that little extra something?

Here at Mebestian's we understand what it's like to want quality goods at low prices.
And we want more. That's because we're different.

Mebestian's; Not just a trade-house, a Great House.

Quickly making my way around Pelagiad, I did as Mebestian asked and placed the flyers on the bar at the Halfway Tavern, on the counter at the armory, and one on a table near the entrance to the healer's office. Unfortunately I couldn't help hearing the gossip from the locals who were gleefully passing along to travelers that Mebestian was likely involved in the death of a visiting Khajiit.

When I returned to the shop, Mebestian seemed much calmer. Pushing his lank hair away from his face, he said, "Ygfa was just here. She assured me that Ton'ii died of natural causes, so that's something of a relief at least. Hopefully the whole thing will die down after a couple of days. Anyway, I have another task for you."

Figuring he was about to ask me to unpack his newest shipment of clothing and place the items on the shelves, I replied, "Of course. What is it?"

Taking a Dwemer goblet from a nearby crate, Mebestian explained, "Shadbak gra-Burbug is a friend of mine. She is the armorer at Fort Pelagiad. I need you to deliver this err...water...to her. Yes. Apparently she gets quite thirsty during her long shifts. I'll just pour the water into this goblet so you can carry it to her safely. Take care not to spill it."

Not touching the goblet, I asked warily, "Isn't there water at the fort?"

He stammered, "Ah...umm...yes, but...it's all holy water. Shadbak hates the taste of holy water."

That was obviously a lie. I know for a fact that there are water pumps around the fort. Raising an eyebrow, I pointed out, "With all due respect, it seems a little silly to pour the water into that Dwemer goblet when you have a selection of glass bottles. Why not pour the water into one of those?"

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he answered nervously, "Well, err...the bottles are merchandise, you see. I can't use them."

Forgetting my earlier resolution to be more patient, I stated sharply, "Mebestian, I know what you're trying to do! You're trying to use me to smuggle that artifact to her!"

Becoming defensive, he quickly set the goblet on the counter, splashing the water out of it in the process, and snapped, "Oh, all right! I'm sorry I tried to get you involved!"

I admit that what I did next was a little manipulative. Although being his assistant is not my dream job and I doubt that I'll be working in his shop for much longer, I'm not ready to quit just yet. Turning my back on him, I said softly, "I don't care that you're a smuggler. I'm hurt because you tried to lie to me."

I followed this statement with a couple of sniffs, and brushed my fingertips over my eyelids to remove non-existent tears. Mebestian's tone immediately changed to one of remorse as he said pleadingly, "Oh, I'm sorry, Aeronwen! I'm just a bad, bad man! Ever since my mother died things have gone downhill for me! I'm such a wretched excuse for a Breton! I have no friends, no family, and I am not even any good at magic! All I have is this stupid shop!"

After pretending to wipe my eyes again, I turned toward him and replied, "I forgive you, but please don't try anything like that again."

He replied, "Oh, I won't, I promise! Take the rest of the day off."

Now it was my turn to feel guilty. Turning to face him, I asked, "Are you sure? Aren't there other things that need done?"

Mebestian shook his head and answered, "I insist. You've worked hard enough today. Go out and enjoy the sunshine. I'll see you tomorrow. And don't worry; you'll be paid for the whole day."

"Well, if you're sure..." I replied warily before heading out of the shop. I certainly didn't mind leaving early but this is starting to become ridiculous. With the way I am always being sent home Mebestian will likely sooner or later realize that he doesn't really need help running the store. This means that I cannot rely on the job giving me a long-term income.

At least today I left the shop fairly early in the day so I decided to venture over to the Bitter Coast and do some hunting. Since the mudcrabs had been left alone for a while they had a chance to replenish themselves, making it easy to make my quota. As Rey and I were searching the wilderness a short distance from Seyda Neen I was startled out of my wits by the sound of a person screaming. With widened eyes, I looked up and saw that a person was rapidly falling out of the sky!

Fate had to be involved here, because in spite of how startled I had been by the scream, and how stunned I was at seeing a mer falling from the sky, I rapidly dug into my satchel. My hands seemed to have a will of their own as I pulled out a Slowfall scroll and used it on the area below the falling mer.

When the mer, a male Bosmer in wizard's robes, entered the newly cast Slowfall zone, his fall was abruptly slowed until he reached the ground. He must have been stunned by his experience, for his legs gave way, leaving him sitting on the ground with a wide eyed look on his face.

Cautiously stepping toward him, I asked, "Are you all right?"

The Bosmer looked up at me and inquired, "Am....am I dead?"

"No, you're not dead," I assured him. Extending my hand toward him, I continued, "But I am not certain that you weren't hurt. Try to get up, but slowly and carefully. If something hurts just stay still until we get a healing potion into you."

He took my hand and did as I advised, moving slowly to make sure that no bones were broken. When he was on his feet, he said softly, "Thank you, my dear."

I asked, "Are you hurt at all?"

"Just my pride," he answered ruefully. Looking up at me, he sighed and continued, "Thank you, friend. My name is Tarhiel, and I'm eternally grateful that you were here."

Seeing that he did indeed appear to be physically unharmed, I said, "I'm Aeronwen."

Placing his hand on his chest, he said, "Thank you, Aeronwen, for saving me. I was testing a new spell of my own creation when I found myself in an uncontrollable fall with no way of stopping myself. Now I am safe thanks to you. All that is left for me to do now is figure out how to fix my spell. I know it can be done, I’m just missing something. Once I have that, I'll show them, I'll show them all."

Glancing upward, I inquired, "So this wasn't the result of a levitation spell expiring before you were ready?"

Following a slow shake of his head, Tarhiel explained, "No, the spell I used is new and of my own design. I have spent many years working on it. Everyone laughed at me, told me what I was trying to do was impossible, but I know that’s not true. Even this failure means nothing! I'm one step closer to finding the answer, I know it. I just need something... Oh, how was it that you saved me, anyway?"

I explained, "I used an area effect Slowfall scroll. Lucky for you I happened to find one not long ago in a crate that I had washed up on shore."

Crossing his arms, he pondered a moment before replying slowly, "Slowfall, you say. Yes, that's what I need in order to complete my spell. I should have thought of that before!" Looking around, he asked, "Where are we anyway? This looks like the Bitter Coast."

Gesturing toward the village, I told him, "It is. At least it's the south tip of it. Seyda Neen is right over there."

Peering in the direction of Seyda Neen, he stated, "Oh. I haven't been back here in ages. Not since I traveled to the territory of House Telvanni. I believe I will head over there and see about getting a drink."

As he was walking away, I noticed that a journal was lying on the ground. Picking it up, I said, "Wait, I think you dropped this."

Returning his attention to me, he raised his brows as he exclaimed, "My journal! You found it! I had thought I’d never see it again when I dropped it, you know. You see, I had decided to test writing in the air while I was testing my spell, but as I pulled out my journal to write in it, the wind tore it away from me."

Offering the journal to him, I said, "I'm glad it wasn't lost."

As Tarhiel took the journal, he looked at me thoughtfully and said, "I suppose I should reward you for saving me."

I assured, "Oh, you don't have to do that. I'm glad I was at the right place at the right time."

Tarhiel gave a brief nod of acceptance before saying, "Know that I am eternally grateful to you. Now for that drink. Do you happen to know if there is anywhere to stay within Seyda Neen?"

I answered, "The owner of the tradehouse has a house that recently became avaiable to rent, assuming someone else isn't staying there at the moment."

"Then hopefully I will have a place to rest after my drink. Safe travels to you, Aeronwen. Know that you have a friend in the lands of House Telvanni. Farewell."

Wanting to do a little more hunting before calling it a day, I watched as Tarheil headed toward Seyda Neen with a purposeful stride. It was amazing to me that he could just pick himself up and go on with what he was doing after almost falling to his death from a great height, but as I returned to hunting mud crabs, I reminded myself that if Tarheil is a member of Great House Telvanni, that would explain his resilience. The Telvanni take nearly everything in stride.

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