Chapter 4: Mashti Kaushibael
Mashti Kaushibael
Day 49
We had made the long trip
from Ghostgate to Vos via the Mages Guild in Sadrith Mora. Fast travel
was never my style as it made me dizzy, but Julan didn’t seem to mind.
“You know its funny, Anni. This island has ways to transport all
its people from one place to another in an instant, yet my people go barefoot
and without food.”
I nodded. "Ironic—and sad. Julan, I think one day
you will do great things for your tribe—for all tribes.” Somehow I knew that was true and not just words spoken to comfort.
“You have great faith in
fools, Anni,” he said softly.
“I’ve been told that
before. I like to call it confidence,”
“Whatever you call it,
it’s good to hear. I hope’s its true.” I smiled.
We stopped quickly by
the Gateway Inn and spoke to Angaredhel, the Prefect of Hospitality in Sadrith
Mora to get hospitality papers. They were necessary in order to conduct
business of any kind in Sadrith Mora and not be arrested. I certainly
wasn’t going back to jail over a silly piece of bureaucracy. After
getting the papers and three boat transfers later, with the stars out in full
force, we landed in Vos, a small farming village in the Grazelands. I
decided we should stay at the Varo Tradehouse for the night as I was not
familiar with the area; though Julan clearly was.
“Right. There’s a trader
called Lleris Amyrn who normally hangs around here. He buys and sells
ingredients, potions and magical items and Mother does a lot of business
through him. He might have something she likes. Oh…wait…there he
is…Let’s go talk to him, shall we?” Julan bounded off towards his old
aquaintance. I noticed how much more at
ease he was now, his nature open and warm. I had never seen him before like this before. Perhaps it was his proximity to home and
family. I hadn’t had either of those
since I was little. I was a child of the
wind; going where ever fate blew me. I
had no family to speak of except those I had chosen to create—friends really,
nothing else. I think I was a bit
envious.
“Why Julan, hello!”
Lleris said immediately. Julan
greated him with a warm embrace and smile. “I haven’t seen you in a long while!
How is your lovely mother? And who is your new friend? Can I
get you something?”
“Hello Lleris. This is
Annika.” I smiled, Julan continued, “It’s good to see you too. I’m just looking
for something Mother might like.”
“Ah, a present for the
esteemed Mashti, is it? I just obtained a rather powerful item—a
Twilightbalm amulet. Might that suit the lady? Only 1000, gold.” It
was a beautiful amulet, and would serve her well in this part of the world.
“It’s perfect!
She’d love it…But..ah..I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Yes, Julan you do,” I
knew that Julan by right should have at least half of what I had earned.
“You’ve hit the tombs and caverns as hard as I have and have earned at
least that. I could not have done my work without your help. Take
the money and get your mother that amulet. Make her happy.” Julan smiled
at this acknowledgement and took the money.
“Thank you, Annika Blue.
Eh, I hope this helps get back on her good side,” Julan said, paying Lleris
then putting the amulet in his pocket. “And I think its time I told you
the whole story about myself and my mission, if you still want to know.”
“I do, actually.
Let’s go to the bar and talk over some Mazte.”
We sat down and ordered
our drinks, and Julan began to spill out his story, “Well, the first thing you
should know is that Mashti is not actually my mother by birth. No one has
any idea who my real parents are. Azura sent my mother a dream, in which
she told her to follow a black Kagouti into the Grazelands," he stopped for a minute, "you've seen those, right?"
"Things with the large tusks and funny waddle?"
"Exactly. Anyway, and when she did what Azura bid andfound me as a baby, in the shadow of some rocks. Azura told her that
it was her task to raise me to be a great warrior, and that I had an important
destiny.”
“Wow.” I didn’t believe
it but let him continue. “Was she already an outcast at that this time?”
He nodded. “Yes, but it
had only happened just before. Azura told her that it was her fate to be
an exile, in order that she be left alone to concentrate all her energies on my
upbringing.”
“She sacrificed much, but Julan, why was
she exiled by the Ahemmusa?” I was
curious about this and wondered if it had anything to do with his birth.
He paused for a second,
and I knew he wasn’t going to give me a straight answer. “Oh, well it was
all before I was born….Tribal politics, I guess. She had upset some
important people, though if you really want to know, you should ask her
yourself, though she really doesn’t like to talk about it.”
“I imagine not.”
He sighed, “She gets upset
because of all the lies they tell about her at the Ahemmusa camp. There are
some very vicious and untrue rumors.” Immediately, my heart went out to this
woman. She had endured much and raised as son that any mother would be
proud—and yes, protective of.
“Ok, Julan. Let’s
get back to the part about you being Nerevar.”
“Ah. Yes—that. Look, you
know who Indoril Nerevar was, don’t you?” My eyes stared blankly at him. “The
great Dunmer war-chief from long ago, who united our people against the Nords
and Dwemer?”
“Err…well….”
“Oh, Anni…It was in
Sharn’s notes,” he said exasperated and shaking his head. “Look, I guess
it doesn’t matter whether you do or not. Go and read a book, if you care.
What matters is that he was murdered by Tribunal of Vivec, Almalexia and
Sotha Sil, the false gods that the great houses of Morrowind and Vvardenfell
worship.” I nodded at least knowing that much. “Anyway, Azura foretold that
Nerevar’s spirit would one day be reborn to avenge himself and set things to
rights in Vvardenfell by destroying Dagoth Ur and whatever profane sorcery the
Tribunal used to steal their false god-hood. In the prophecies, this
reincarnated Nerevar is known as the Nerevarine.”
“And you think this is
you?” I asked.
“I know it sounds…well,
unbelievable. I find it hard to believe myself, sometimes. But…it’s
true. Azura has revealed her will and explained what must be done.
I know I have a responsibility to fulfill and however impossible it might
seem I have to try. Who could oppose Azura?” he grinned. Gods he was
charming—when he wanted to be. “I trust her to know what my destiny hold,
and what I am capable of.”
“So Azura speaks to
you?” I asked incredulously, taking a gulp of Matze.
“Not personally, no.
She speaks to my mother through her dreams and visions. That’s why
I need to go home and consult her wisdom. She’ll know what to do, because
Azura will advise her.” He seemed confident in saying this—I was less so. Hopefully he’d prove my inner skeptic wrong.
“We best go then,” I
said looking at the small clock in a dusty corner of the bar. “We’ll head
out a first light. Finish that Matze, and don’t ask for another. I’m not
bringing you home to momma hung over,” I laughed.
“Anni?’ he gazed at me
intently, taking my arm. “Yes, look, I know I’ve been very secretive
about all this but I do have good reasons. If they knew about me, the
Tribunal and their Temple followers would hunt me down and destroy me. So
would the Emperor, come to that, since the Nerevarine is also prophesized to
free Vvardenfell from the foreign invaders. So I must ask you to keep my
secret.”
“Very well. I
won’t tell a soul—not even Ence,” I laughed. “And for what it’s worth Julan, I
believe you.” I believed in him, though not the story…not for a minute.
“Thank you, Anni.
But I’m not asking you to believe me,” he said surprisingly—and
reasonably. “I’m asking you to keep my secret, and maybe…um…,” he paused
staring into his Matze. “Well, it’s like this…You’ve been a good friend
to me and I…I’m not accustomed to asking anyone for help. It’s always
been just me and my mother. But if you...if you...”
“I want to help you in
any way I can, Jules. And I will.”
Julan stared at me for a
long time after that, then smiled wickedly and said, “One of these days Annika
Blue, I swear I’ll do something you can thank me for…” His voice was like
a hand between my legs.
 |
| Anni dreaming of Chorrol |
Day
50
At dawn we
headed out. As we crossed the Grazelands plains and moved toward the coast, I
found myself drifting off, remembering Chorrol. The Grazelands were beautiful
with fields of wicker wheat and soft rolling hills and a sky that stretched on
forever. I ran my hands over the fields of wheat and closed my eyes; for a
second I was a child, back at the abbey playing in the surrounding
fields.
“Anni, you
look lost in though.”
“I was
thinking of Chorrol,” I said before I could catch myself.
He stopped
walking and motioned to an outcropping of rocks; we sat and rested. “What was it
like? You know I know nothing of your life, before…before prison.” Julan said
hesitantly.
“It’s a
sad story. Are you sure you want to hear?” Please say no. Please say
no.
“Yes. I
think its time.”
“Well,
then….” I said softly and started my tale. “In the winter of 407 a heavily
pregnant woman stumbled on the grounds of an Abbey west of Chorrol. She was
terrified of something though she never said of what. The servants, priestess
and priest decided to nurse her back to health. Within four days, Anais—that
was the name she gave the servants—went into labor. Early that forth morning
she gave birth to a girl—me. A week later she was gone. She left without a
trace….and left me behind.”
“Gods..Anni,”
Jules said quietly.
“I was
raised until I was ten by a Khajiti governess or servant.. I’m not sure which.
I called her Kat—everyone did. Her name was Kat Azshle. She was kindness
incarnate and I loved her dearly. I can attribute at least part of a happy
childhood to her.”
“What did
she look like--your mother, that is?”
“Kat
always said that my mother ‘had eyes like the sea after a storm’. She had long
blond hair and a face much like mine, though Kat always said my features were
sharper.”
“But did
you ever find her or find out why she left?”
“No. At
sixteen I left in search of my mother—and a way out of the abbey. I guess I was sick of
leering priests and Kat had passed six years before.” I leaned against some
rocks and took a deep breath. “I hitched my wagon to a local farm boy and we
headed to Anvil.” At this I saw Julan look away. “The farm boy was gone in three
months and I was on my own.”
“You never
saw him again?”
“I
never cared to, either. He left me, Julan. And gods, if you only knew what I
had to do to survive—please don’t ask.” My head instinctively jerked, as if
wincing from the memory.
“I won’t.
You’re a hell of a thief and warrior. Because of you I’ve gone further than I
ever thought possible,” Julan said softly, placing his hand against my cheek…“I
told you before I would not hold your past against you—and I meant it. We will
not discuss it further as I see those unshed tears in your eyes and it pains me
too to think of what you had to do. Whatever it was, sera, I promise you—it
will never happen again.”
I turned
my head letting his hand drop. “Let’s get moving.” I wanted to stop
remembering. We walked in silence for awhile, moving close to to the shore. I
smelled the salty air in the calmly drifting winds. Off in the distance I saw a
tribal camp and a stunningly beautiful Dunmer female. Instinct told me to “stop
by for some supplies.” I asked Julan if he wanted to go.
“This is
the Ahemmusa Tribe….Remember what I told you?” he asked, looking bitterly in
the direction of the encampment. “In truth Anni, I’m not sure I’d be
welcomed…But you go and get some food. I’ll wait right here.”
“All
right, Julan. But know this—I won’t let anyone treat you like an outcast. I
don’t understand why you’ve been exiled too. I thought it was between the tribe
and your mother.”
“No. I am
her son, so the state of being an exile applies to me too. But…I just…well…its
painful and embarrassing. They all call my mother a liar…and worse.” He
stopped and looked off in the distance. I knew the conversation was over, “Oh,
Annika the Brave…go be brave and get us some food. I’ll wait right
here.”
“I will,
but we think we should speak about this later.” I headed straight toward the
girl with long flowing red locks. My instincts were correct, this was Shani. A
woman knows.
 |
| Shani |
“What do you want
Outlander?” She was haughty—and very beautiful. I had hoped otherwise.
“A trader, actually.
I’m with my friend Julan Kaushibael...” Why did I say that?
Well, I was a woman…and they are thing fiercer than Daedra.
“What?!? Julan!
You should mind yourself—and keep better company!” She stormed off
before I could get information about a trader, though she looked back at me and
then looked toward the hills. She still loved him—and that knowledge cut
me to the quick as my presence cut her.
“Are we ready? Did you get some supplies?” He asked smiling
as I came over the ridge.
“No. The first person I met was Shani. I told her who
I was…and who I was with.”
“Oh, Anni…why?” He was visibly angry.
“It was luck.” I didn’t mention the gut instinct.
“I’m sure she was none to pleased,” he scowled.
“No, she wasn’t. I’m sorry Jules. But when we get the
chance, I think you need to talk to her. I sensed hurt.” I said
this knowing full well that Shani would always be a shadow I would have to
contend with if I didn’t nip it in the bud now.
“I’ll talk to her later,” Julan said, distracted. “I see
mother’s yurts from the distance…we should go.” We walked the short
distance to Mashti’s yurts. I looked to Julan as he was about to enter.
“Anni, let me do the talking. You’ve already enraged one Dumner woman
today…” As we entered, I saw a slight, beautiful, not to mention visibly
angry woman…I hadn’t even spoke…
“Who are you?!” She shouted at me. “What are you doing here
with my son! I warn you, if you dare—.” I guess she wasn’t impressed with
my new dress.
“Mother! Calm down and let me explain. Anni, would you mind
leaving us alone for a minute. Why don’t you go like the fire in
the…um…the guest yurt and make yourself comfortable. You’ll be sleeping
their tonight.”
“As you wish.” I said and walked out. After walking into the
guest yurt, if you could call it that, I heard shouting. She was furious,
so was he. I also knew at that moment that everything Julan had been fed
by this woman was a lie. The resemblance was clear—the coal black hair,
sharp, defined cheek bones and those eyes—those magnificent eyes, like pools of
fire. I’ve heard tales of orphans who begin to look like their adoptive
parents, but did I ever resemble Kat? No. This woman had lied.
To what end, the gods only know, but eventually I would find out.
I stared at the fire for a few hours and finally there was no
noise. I went in to Mashti’s yurt and was greeted by a tense silence.
Julan spoke, “Ah, Anni, Mashti and I have talked everything over, and
we’ve…agreed that Azura should be consulted about what I should do next.
While mother is not exactly happy about your involvement, she agrees that
you may be able to help. But we shall seek Azura’s guidance.”
“Ok.” He didn’t give me up.
“Mashti is going to conduct a ritual tonight to summon Azura in a
dream. She will make certain prayers and incantations and then she will receive
a dream-vision from Azura.”
“How convenient,” I snarked. Julan just went on.
“I should stay here and help her prepare, but you can do what ever
you want. You can sleep in the yurt—you should get some rest. I’ll
see you in the morning.”
“Fine.” I glared at Mashti and she returned the stare. “I’ll
see you on the morrow.” I then went in the “guest yurt” and took off the
dress—no point in it getting ruined. I laid down and stared at the fire
and thought of what it must have been like to be raised by that woman.
I woke in the middle of the night to someone sitting down beside
me. “Julan?” I asked groggily.
“Um, Annika, are you awake?”
“Am now,” I smiled. Boy was I glad I made that choice in
underwear. “Did you want something?”
“Um..No,no…I just…,” He looked frightened. This is not what
I expected with Julan stealing into my yurt at this late hour.
“Are you alright…You look like hell.” It was the truth.
“I…no, I’m not. Not really. I…I think I may be going mad.”
“Huh?” I sat up. “What do ya mean?”
“I had another dream. It was…horrible. Worse than any
I’ve had before. I wasn’t on the mountain this time. I was in a cavern.
And there were those Ash Priest things there watching me, standing all
around me. And they started whispering things…horrible things. And they
spoke, my skin started rotting and my flesh was becoming monstrous.”
“Ugh.”
“It felt like they were trying to crawl into my head, and change
who I am and everything I believe in…into something horrible and depraved.” He
turned away. I moved his face back until he was looking at me. “Annika,
to eat away at my identity until I have nothing left; except what they want me
to have….And then…even after I woke up I kept seeing them…just in flashes..out
of the corner of my eyes…the Ash Priest things, and others…worse…but when I
looked again…there was nothing….I thought I was losing it.” Julan grew quite
for a moment. “I had to get out of there. I had to see you.”
“What are you going to do?”
Julan looked toward the fire. “I can’t talk to Mashti.
She has enough to worry about. And maybe it’s nothing.
Although it didn’t feel like nothing. But…I ...I…just felt so alone, I
suppose. I had to talk to someone. I hate to admit it, but I’m
scared. Because I don’t know how to fight it,” he stoked the dying coals
of the fire, then turned towards me. “How do you fight something like
that?”
“I don’t know, Jules. I honestly don’t.” I paused for a
second, I had no idea hat he was going through and didn’t want to give him any
canned encouragement. “Look you’re strong and I have faith in your
ability, and most times your sanity… though really it comes down to you.”
“I hope you’re right. I…I don’t want to go mad. And if
Dagoth Ur wants me just to give up my mind to him….well, I won’t come quietly.
But what,” he paused looking down at his legs, “what if I’m not strong
enough?”
I looked at him gently and brushed the hair out of his face.
“You will be Julan, and I’ll be there with you.” Julan moved closer
to me and I wrapped my arms around him, blankets falling around my waist.
Slowly, he began to relax in my arms.
“Feel better?” I smiled.
“Yes…,” he sighed deeply. I then felt his lips on my neck.
I paused for a second, moving back slightly.
“Um…sorry, I got a little carried away there...” Julan said.
I turned slightly to him whispering in his ear. “I didn’t
say you should stop…” I felt his hot breath on my neck. We then gazed at
each other, for what felt like an eternity, both of us silently deciding how
far to take it, as we both knew once we started there was no going back to
trainer and protégé. Suddenly, he grabbed my face kissed me intensely.
I felt shockwaves run through my body. I felt his hands move across the
confining corset. Arching my back, I moaned and pulled him on top of me.
Our bodies moved together in time; I felt his breaths quicken as his
mouth moved across my breast.
Abruptly, he pulled back. “I think we should stop,” his
voice gravely. “I should let you get back to sleep.”
“What? You could sleep here, Julan.” Lust driven wench.
He leaned over and kissed me deeply. “Annika, I’d love to.
Believe me. In fact, that’s why I’m going to leave now, because if
I carry on kissing you any longer, I won’t be able to resist. But I
really don’t want rush things with you, and spoil it—I have done so in the
past. So, goodnight Annika the Brave. I’ll see you in morning.”
Impulsively, I took his hand and kissed the inside of his wrist.
“Good night.”
 |
| Good Choice in Underwear |
Day 51.
I actually woke up happy, that is until I realized I would have to
speak with Mashti. Well, Annika the Brave, its time to meet with that
marbigash—though I thought I might get Julan first. I’m not that brave.
I walked into his yurt. It was a disaster—potions, books and
cheap armor strewn everywhere…and I had no idea what that thing was in the
corner…. “I was about to get you…Sorry about the mess,” he said, blushing. “I
was beginning to think it would never be morning. Come on, let’s go and
find out the results of my mother’s visions.”
The sky was overcast. I did not want to go in, but go in I
must and did. Mashti addressed me immediately. “Outlander, I have
received Azura’s guidance, and I would speak with you now.”
“Speak.”
“I have spoken with the Daedra Prince who guides me in all things
concerning my son. She has informed me that you may be trusted, and that
you may yet be important to the fulfillment of the prophecies. My son has
chosen to disclose the secrets of his mission to you. As an Outlander,
you cannot hope to truly know its importance to this land, but I hope you will
try, for your own sake. The gods deal harshly with those who would stand
in the way of destiny.”
I stared coldly at her, “Continue.”
“I understand you have been training my son. In faith, I
myself can see improvements in his skills. Perhaps you have truly been
sent to aid him on this difficult journey. If this is so then I give you
a choice. You can continue to support him as he carries out the work of
his destiny, in which case you will be rewarded with all the gifts the gods can
bestow…”
“Or?”
“Or betray him and I shall call down the curses of a thousand
vengeful ancestors upon you and we shall hound you, waking and sleeping, to the
end of you brief miserable life.”
“Hmmm. I see” I replied as tartly as I dared. I did not like
this woman, and I would be damned if I backed down to her.
“This is no joke! I hope we understand each other, Annika
Blue. For the present, continue to train. Show Julan the world, as
he has no experience—I see by your look you can offer this. I will
contact you when the time is right. Take this ring, I have given another
to Julan. I will allow him to communicate with you via spiritual link and
travel to your location. Now go.”
“We will talk again, Mashti.” I said and walked out of her yurt.
Julan was outside smoking a rolled up hack-lo leaf. “Didn’t know
you smoked.”
“Didn’t want you to. It’s a terrible habit for a future
savior,” he laughed.
“Does you mother know?”
“Are you kidding? Gods, can you imagine? I think she’s
the one who drove me to it. I guess you disapprove too.”
“Yep, terrible…now give me a drag.” He smiled at that and we
walked arm and arm sharing a smoke along the beach.
“So, this is great. Azura thinks you’re ok, does she? And
now we get to go adventuring together! So, what should we do? You
must have something you should be doing now.”
“No. Not really.”
“Nothing?”
“Well, as you know I’m working for Cosades.”
“Oh that, s’wit.” Those two would never be friends.
“Oh, he’s a bit eccentric. Secretive, you know. I’m
collecting information for him, mostly.
“About?”
“Oh, all sorts of things. Maybe he’s writing a book or
something. Like I said, eccentric.”
“I guess we could go see him, or find some Daedric sites—clearing
out those around the camps are helpful to my people.”
“Also lucrative.
Jules we have to go to Vivec and then I’ll take you to see a special
friend.”
“Really, wait…Well,
whatever. I’m just happy to have a little freedom for once!”
“I bet. Let’s go
help some Ashlanders. I see that Daedric shrine from here.”
We hit the Daedric shrine of some demigod or another, and started
back to Vos, though I had to rest as this particular shrine had been difficult.
I had been hit by Frost Ancronach; one of the monsters created by the
cultists running around the place, and had been badly hurt. Julan tended
to my wounds. I saw the Ahemmusa camp from the distance. I knew we
needed some fresh water.
“Julan. You’re going into that camp. We need water and
I’m not going to have you skulking around. There’s Shani. Go make
peace with her.”
“Anni.”
“Now Julan!”
“Fine. Oh Shenogorath, here she comes.”
“Julan,” Shani said, not unpleasantly, “They told me you had gone
to the Red Mountain. I see you’ve changed your mind—I’m so glad.” Julan
just glared at her. “You have changed your mind, haven’t you? Please
tell me you’re not still a complete idiot?”
“Hello, Shani, pleasant as ever, I see. And no, I haven’t
changed my mind. I’m just training some more first. Oh, stop
looking at me like that.”
Shani pounded her feet, like a spoiled child. “Look, I know you
won’t listen to word I say, so just go away!”
She then turned to me. “Can’t you make him listen, whoever you
are?”
“You’re the one who doesn’t listen!” Julan raged. You never
did!”
I inserted myself into the conversations as we started gathering a
crowd. I figured I would break it up before they both started a
full on riot. “Annika Blue,” I said politely, “I don’t think we ever got
to introductions the last time we met.”
“I’m sorry about that Outlander…I mean Annika,” Shani said
considerably contrite.
“Well, we’re looking to speak to your trader,” I said directly.
Shani stared at me momentarily then spoke. “Her name is Lanabi.
She’s in the yurts by the Gulakans, but,” she said turning to Julan, “you
knew that.”
“Thank you, Shani. It was a pleasure.” Julan curtly
nodded at her and spun off in the opposite direction. After that mess, we
went to the trader, got some potable water and made our way to Vos.
“Same old Shani,” Julan said as we walked away. “Why can’t she
listen? You listen, don’t you? Sometimes I don’t know what I saw in
her at all.”
“She’s lovely…and spirited. I can see it.”
“Well, it’s done.
As if I needed reminded of that.”
“Let’s just get to
Balmora.”
 |
| Kaushibael Compound |
