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Fall from High Rock	By : mistressarachnia Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Morrowind Views: 4940 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls universe belongs to Bethesda. Alyssa Elbert belongs to me. I make no money from writing about her adventures.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Chapter
34: Mutual Blackmail
Alyssa cried throughout most of the
ride home.� Edwinna held her close, resting her little sister�s head against
her shoulder as she ran her fingers through Alyssa�s neatly combed hair.� The
silt strider driver glanced back a few times, clearly perplexed, but upon
finding himself the recipient of one of Edwinna�s menacing glares, he made sure
to mind his own business.� Edwinna signed, unsure how to comfort her sobbing
sister.� Her heart ached for her, but she wasn�t sure what she could do at the
moment.
�There, there now� I�ll take care
of this for you.� You took care of me, so I�ll take care of you now, alright?�
Edwinna said soothingly, searching her mind for a solution, �And don�t think
I�m not appreciative of your concern for me.� Things will get better, you�ll
see.�
�You don�t even have a guild
guide,� Alyssa cried, �And I�m sorry to say it, but most of the Guild is
furious with you.�� Edwinna sighed sharply.
�It�s not your concern, Alyssa.�
It�s my own fault, really.� But it will get sorted out eventually.� The
needless drama just needed to stop, that�s all,� Edwinna replied, �I can get
another guild guide.� They aren�t the easiest to come by, but� it�s a good
position.� Heck, if Erranil suddenly has a change of heart, I would even
consider giving her old job back.� I just don�t want her � or anyone else for
that matter � spreading poison under my watch.� The others have calmed down
already since she�s left.� They�re just� a little overworked right now.� They
need to rest.�
�I think it�s a disaster,� cried
Alyssa.� Edwinna laughed softly.
�Well, perhaps you should take a
little vacation too then,� Edwinna replied with a smile, �It will all be better
when you come back.� People get fired all the time.� But in the meantime� you know
I�ll always be here for you, alright?� I�m your sister, after all.� You�re the
only family I have, and I love you.�� At this, Alyssa smiled, just a bit.
�I love you too, Edwinna,� she
replied as her sister hugged her closer.
�Now let�s see� what were your
options in Great House Telvanni again?� Edwinna asked, �I recall you said you
were looking for a patron?�� Alyssa sighed.
�I don�t think I want to have
anything to do with House Telvanni.� Not if it is run as Tiram says it is.� All
of the councilors I�ve met seem completely insane, or just plain� frightening,
really.� I want to stay as far away from them as possible,� Alyssa glared.
�Hmm� I thought you said that one
or two of them sounded alright?� Edwinna asked.� Alyssa shook her head.
�I thought Master Aryon seemed
pleasant enough� but� he�s Tiram�s master, I suppose.� I should have known.�
Aryon even mentioned that he spoke to Tiram on occasion and I didn�t think
anything of it.� He probably knew all about me even before I arrived at his
tower, and he didn�t let on.� And Tiram seemed to be pushing me in his
direction, too,� she sighed, �I�m so stupid.� I�ve been taking all of Tiram�s
advice without question.� Who knows what troubles I could have gotten myself
into?�� Her heart sank.� How could she have been so mislead?� She had liked
Aryon� but then� she had liked Tiram too.� She turned, glaring off into the red
sky above them.� They were nearing the ashlands � soon they would be back in
Ald�ruhn.� Alyssa was only thankful that they had not arrived in the midst of a
storm.
�Well alright, I can see how that
would be a problem� wasn�t there another though?� Edwinna asked.� Alyssa shook
her head.
�Well� I was going to visit
Mistress Dratha in Tel Mora when I was over at Master Aryon�s tower � they are
right across the water from one another, you see � but� I had to cut my visit a
little short.� So I don�t know much about her other than the fact that her
research involves necromancy and�� suddenly Alyssa smiled, ��she has no men on
her island.�� She laughed out loud.� Edwinna chuckled.
�Sounds like she might offer you
the break you need then,� Edwinna offered.� Alyssa nodded, feeling suddenly
hopeful.
�Yes, I could use a break from men,
I suppose,� she admitted, �I mean� how much trouble could I get into on an
island of women?�� Edwinna laughed.
�Knowing you� I am almost afraid to
find out.� Just try to use some common sense.� I�m sure there will probably be
some aspects which might seem a little out-of-place, but that�s only because
there are little problems everywhere you go.� There isn�t any such thing as
paradise really.� Although�� she sighed, �If things were different, I think
sometimes that I might have found it� but I had to let it slip through my
fingers.� The world is cruel, Alyssa.� You can only learn to get by in it.�
Don�t let it get to you, alright?� There is always something beautiful just
around the corner� it�s just that you sometimes have to go through dark
corridors if you want to get to it.� Never give up.�
�You mean Baladas?� Hmm, well� I
thought I had found paradise once, too,� Alyssa whispered, �But then� well�
then he went away.� He�s probably dead now.� And I�ll never even know for
sure.�
�Alyssa!� That�s horrible!� You are
talking about your mystery admirer, right?� I remember vaguely that you�d met
him but� oh Alyssa, I�m so sorry for you,� Edwinna replied soothingly, brushing
Alyssa�s tears from her eyes.
�It doesn�t matter,� she replied
coldly, �He was already angry with me when he left.� The last memory he�ll have
of me will likely be disappointment.� But even if he did come back� well, he�d
just be even more disappointed in me after this.� And I don�t think I could
take it.� I really don�t.�� Edwinna sighed.
�There were circumstances involved,
Alyssa.� I hope your lover can see that, otherwise he isn�t worth it,� she
replied.
�Anarenen said that too,� Alyssa
whispered.� Edwinna looked surprised.
�Anarenen?� she asked.� Alyssa
nodded.
�He took care of me when I came
back.� He wouldn�t let me leave for Gnisis when I arrived at the Guild because
of my� condition,� she grimaced, reaching a hand to her head instinctively as
she remembered the pain she had felt that morning, �I�m glad he didn�t let me
go.� Whatever else you say, Edwinna� he�s a good mer.� And I like him.�
�Hmm� well, I like him too,� mused
Edwinna, a little surprised, �And it is good of him to look after you.� Perhaps
when we get back you wouldn�t mind helping him out a little?� I know he�s very
busy.� Only if you�re well rested enough, of course.� I just� have a few
errands to run in Vivec, if you know what I mean.�
�Like what?� asked Alyssa
suspiciously.
�Let�s just say I have a few choice
words to share with our Archmage�s chief advisor,� she glared.
~*~
�Tiram Gadar,� Edwinna hissed.� The
dark-haired Dunmer glanced coolly to the side as he sat at a desk, carefully
inscribing something on parchment.� He smiled.
�Is there something I can do for
you, my dear?� he asked calmly.� Edwinna opened her mouth to speak, but in a
moment they were interrupted.
�Edwinna Elbert!� Hello there!� I
was just going to send a message for you,� a voice called excitedly from
behind.� Edwinna turned, startled to see the Archmage running up the stairs
behind her.
�I�ve, uh, received some rather
puzzling reports as of late.� It seems that one of your former guildmates may
have been a Telvanni spy!� You do know which one I�m referring to, don�t you?�
Trebonius asked, narrowing his eyes in excitement and anticipation.� Edwinna
blinked.
�Um� are� you talking about
Erranil?� she asked, clearly perplexed.� Trebonius laughed out loud, clapping
his hands together.
�Ah ha!� I knew it.� I knew it was
too much.� First Ranis then� well, surely the entire Guild can�t be filled with
Telvanni spies in high ranking positions!� They would have nothing to do but
spy on themselves!� So why the pretense?� Why the political struggles and
constant threat of war?� I KNEW that little Altmer was lying!� Trebonius
gushed, looking quite pleased with himself.� Tiram raised his eyebrow, shooting
a coy glance at Edwinna, who only stared, speechless.
�Well� she was stirring up trouble
in my Guild, so� I fired her,� Edwinna finally replied, still confused.�
Trebonius nodded eagerly.
�Yup!� That�s what they do!� Those
Telvanni are all alike.� I swear that none of them has the slightest bit of
common sense.� They are so� so obvious!� he gushed.� Tiram laughed softly, an
amused look on his face.
�Anyway, she came in only yesterday
with some phony report implicating YOU as a spy, but I just knew it couldn�t be
true so I had Tiram read it over first.� He found a number of holes with her
report so I had him do some background research on your accuser.� It turns out
you were right to fire her.� Several years back she was spending quite a bit of
time in Wolverine Hall� quite close to the Telvanni headquarters in Sadrith
Mora.� Too close, in my opinion.� She claimed she was only on Guild business,
but I could see right through that lie!� I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!�
Trebonius smiled triumphantly.
�Yes, it seems to be the pattern of
Telvanni spies to sew discord and hostilities within the Guild before they are
finally rooted out.� Erranil was likely aiming for your position, Edwinna, and
after disposing you with false accusations of spying for Great House Telvanni,
she may have hoped to earn herself a promotion � perhaps the guildhall in
Ald�ruhn, hmm?� With Ranis disposed of, the Great House lost a high ranking
position within the Guild � a position which undoubtedly warranted
replacement.� Accusing you was a wise move to play on our paranoia over recent
events.� But there was a flaw in this argument: as Trebonius pointed out, it
would be illogical for the Great House to replace all of the guildmasters with
their own people � it would be a waste of resources,� Tiram replied calmly,
crossing his arms pleasantly.� Edwinna only stared.
�Yes, I um� suspected this might be
the case, which is why I came to warn you,� she finally lied, trying to hide
her confusion over what she was hearing.� Whatever the truth, it appeared to be
in her best interests to play along with it.� At least for now.
�Excellent!� On behalf of the Guild
of Mages, I commend you for your services in ousting the foul Telvanni from our
midst!� I should� I should give you an award!� Yes� yes that�s it� in reward
for your services!� Um�� Trebonius glanced around quickly, reaching into his
pockets in confusion, �Tiram?� We have a suitable reward for Edwinna, don�t
we?�� Tiram smiled.
�But of course we do.� I will fetch
her something suitable for her services shortly.� I am sure you have many more
important matters to attend to.� I can take care of this.� You are the
Archmage, after all,� mused Tiram.� Trebonius looked perplexed for a moment,
then suddenly his eyes lit up.
�Ah yes!� I am in the midst of
reading some very important reports from Cyrodiil!� You understand of course.�
But if you should need anything further� I�m sure Tiram would be more than
happy to take care of you!� Trebonius replied happily, grabbing an apple from
the table and tossing it back and forth in his hands as he returned to his
duties� whatever they were.� Edwinna blinked.� Tiram stood, gathering the
scrolls in front of him.
�Will that be all, my dear?� Or is
there something else you would care to discuss?� he asked coyly.� Edwinna
inhaled sharply, unsure how to proceed.� Her name was cleared, as promised.�
Instead of being reprimanded, she found herself being rewarded.� But Alyssa�s
tears flashed through her mind, and she resolved to keep her promise.� Her
sister had gone to great lengths for her own benefit, and she would be remiss
not to return the sentiment� no matter what the consequences.
�My sister,� she finally hissed,
her gray eyes narrowing menacingly at the Dunmer mage before her.� He laughed.
�So she had a change of heart, I
see?� I figured she might.� She�ll be fine though� I did nothing with her that
she did not agree to,� he replied with a wink.� So, he would not even deny it.�
Edwinna could feel her blood boiling.� She clenched her fists.
�How could you,� she whispered,
�She�s just a little girl.� She trusted you.�
�Mmm, well, she�s more a woman than
you give her credit for.� Trust me on that one,� he said with a wink, �She
still has a bit of growing up to do, but if anything this little lesson will
help speed her along.� She just needs to learn how the world works.� You can�t
have everything for free, now can you?�� Edwinna�s jaw dropped.
�You mean you feel justified in
doing this to her?!� she spat.� Quickly, Tiram moved to grab her, covering her
mouth to silence her.
�Do you want to give yourself
away?� he whispered quietly.� Edwinna struggled, biting down hard on his palm.�
He jumped back, tearing his hand away.
�Alright.� Have it your way then.�
But not here.� It wouldn�t be good for either of us,� Tiram said, �Meet me
downstairs at the Black Shaulk Cornerclub in half an hour.�� Edwinna glared at
him.
�No.� Let�s finish this now,� she
replied coldly.� Tiram glared back, his red eyes glowing.
�You are as passionate as your
sister � and just as impatient.� Does it ever occur to either of you to look
before you leap?� If we leave together now, it will arouse suspicion.� But you
are welcome to go on ahead of me, if it so pleases you.� I will meet you there
shortly, when things will appear less� conspicuous,� he replied coolly.�
Edwinna�s blood was boiling and she gritted her teeth.
�Fine,� she replied, �But if you
don�t show� it will be your funeral.�� Tiram laughed.
�Mmm� don�t you worry.� I�ll be
there,� he replied with a wink, �In the meantime, do try to calm yourself down
some, hmm?� Your crisis has been narrowly averted� for the time being.� You
wouldn�t want to ruin that now, would you, my dear?�� Edwinna opened her mouth
to reply, then thought better of it.
�I hate you,� she finally
whispered.� Tiram laughed.
�Ah, don�t worry about that.� I�m
used to it,� he said with a wink.
~*~
Edwinna paced angrily back and
forth in the Black Shaulk Cornerclub.� Where was Tiram?� Some of the patrons
had whistled at her when she arrived, but a menacing glare, combined with some
blue sparks from her fingertips, quieted them down soon enough.� She wanted to
kill all of them.� Perhaps that might quiet her rage some before Tiram
arrived?� She smiled at the thought.� Ah, but it would not calm her desire to
kill Tiram himself any less.� Poor Alyssa� it sickened her that her sister had
gone through with this ordeal.
�Would you care for a glass of
sujamma?� a deep gruff voice called from behind her.� Edwinna spun around,
finding herself once again face to face with Tiram.� She placed her hands on
her hips, wondering how long he had been there.
�I would not,� she replied
crossly.� Tiram shrugged.
�Suit yourself,� he replied,
tossing a coin at the bartender as he poured the red liquid into a tall
goblet.� Edwinna only stared.� He did not seem the slightest bit put off by her
presence or accusations.
�Shall we?� he replied, gesturing
downstairs.� Edwinna followed him silently, finding herself in a small room
with a table and a bed in the corner.� She glared menacingly.
�You�ve got a lot of nerve.� Is
this where you have been taking my sister?� she asked coldly.� Tiram shrugged.
�I find that I am not disturbed
here and can converse freely.� Alyssa wanted accurate information on Great
House Telvanni � a topic not well received in the Guild.� I gave it to her,� he
replied, leaning back and sipping his sujamma calmly.
�You gave her more than advice,
from what I�ve been told,� Edwinna replied harshly, �She�s too good for you,
Tiram.� You aren�t worthy of her, and you never will be.�� Tiram laughed.
�You�re really upset about this,
aren�t you, my dear?� he smiled, �Your sister isn�t any worse for the wear, I
assure you.� I was only borrowing her for a bit.� No harm done.�
�She�s distraught,� Edwinna
glared.� Tiram sighed.
�Listen, I just saved you and your
sorry career� the least you can do is show me some gratitude.� I�m sorry about
your sister�s fragile emotional state � but just give it a few days, alright?�
She wasn�t as resistant as she likely made herself out to be � she was rather
good, actually.� She�ll be fine.� She�s got a lot going for her.� She just has
to accept the world as it is: neither good nor evil, simply� existing.� There
is an order to things, a give and take if you will,� he replied.� Edwinna�s
fingertips glowed red.� She could kill him.� There would be no witnesses.� Tiram
raised an eyebrow, sipping his sujamma slowly as he watched her.
�I could kill you right here,� she
hissed.
�You won�t, though,� he replied
calmly, still watching her.� Edwinna stood quickly, advancing on him
menacingly.� Tiram�s red eyes widened.
�What makes you so sure?� she
glared.� For a moment Tiram only stared at her.� Finally he gestured to the
papers in front of him.
�Because I know that everything in
these documents is true,� he replied, �And I know more than that besides.�
�That just gives me an even better
reason to kill you,� she replied coldly.
�If you kill me, who will cover for
you and your lover?� he replied, �When last I checked, Erranil was hardly your
only obstacle in the Guild.� Sooner or later others would become suspicious.�
Trebonius isn�t very bright, but I can assure you that given enough evidence he
would dispose you � quickly and efficiently.� He�s quite powerful, despite his
incompetence.� And where would you find refuge?� In the arms of� your beloved
Telvanni master?� The Guild would hunt you down � both of you.� You�re playing
with fire, Edwinna.� Sooner or later, you�re going to get burnt.�
�I don�t care,� she replied,
letting a red flame dance menacingly within her open palms, �And I know your
secret as well Tiram.� Or should I say� Master Aryon�s spy?�� Tiram chuckled.
�Did Baladas tell you why he left
the council?� Tiram replied, crossing his arms.� Edwinna�s eyes widened.
�No.� But from what I hear, you are
all a bunch of insane lunatics,� she replied, backing off slightly in surprise.
�He�s a traitor.� He betrayed the
Telvanni to the Empire.� And now� Great House Telvanni is just as aware of your
liaisons as the Guild is.� How do you think it looks for him, bedding an
Imperial Guildmistress after betraying the House to the Empire?� Furthermore
he�s a coward.� Rather than stand up for what he had done, he fled.� Why do you
think he hides in Gnisis, where the eyes of paranoid peasants are always
watching for strange activity � as far as possible from the seat of the Great
House?� A little odd for a Telvanni Master, don�t you think?� I imagine he
would have left Vvardenfell altogether were it not for his precious dwarves.�
Tiram replied coolly.� Edwinna gasped, nearly falling back into her chair.
�Baladas just wants to be left alone!�
He is a researcher � he doesn�t have time for the petty games you play!� she
replied, her eyes widening even as her voice faltered.� Tiram leaned forward, a
smug grin on his face.
�Who are you trying to convince, me
or you?� he replied coolly.� Edwinna shook her head.
�No,� she whispered.
�Believe it or not, your Baladas
was once the rising star of Great House Telvanni.� He sold them out to keep his
Dwemer research projects safe from the grasp of the Empire.� A selfish move,
and one that cost him dearly,� Tiram replied.
�Why are you telling me this?�
Edwinna asked.� Tiram laughed.
�Don�t you see?� You�ve put your
lover in quite a bit of danger over the past few months.� It wasn�t only you I
was looking after.� You see� if Baladas could be convinced to rejoin the
council, it would cause quite a stir amongst the older members.� My patron,
Master Aryon, would very much like to see this happen.� But it must be done
cautiously.� Baladas is older than he seems, and more powerful as well.� He
would make a great ally,� Tiram mused.� Edwinna glared.
�If he�s a traitor, why would you
want him back?� Edwinna asked suspiciously.
�It is my patron who wants him, not
me,� Tiram replied with a shrug, �And even I do not know what plans Aryon has
for him within the Great House.�
�He would never join you,� she
hissed.
�Listen, I know your secret, and
you know mine.� So let�s be frank.� We�re both guilty.� But you want to keep
your position, and you want to keep yourself and Baladas safe, is that not so?�
Tiram glared.
�We are not the same.� Unlike you,
I did not coerce any innocent, trusting girls into my bed,� Edwinna glared, �No
matter what else you may or may not have done for me, I will not forgive you
for what you did to my sister.�
�Hmm� but last time I checked this
report� you were having improper relations with your alchemist, and putting the
entire Guild at risk through your lust-driven research collaboration with
Baladas Demnevanni.� Not to mention the trouble you may have caused each of
your lovers through your own selfish actions.� You are hardly one to lecture me
on sexual ethics,� Tiram mused, �After all, nothing I did was illegal.� And
nothing much will come of it.� In fact, I do believe Alyssa learned a few
things � and the advice I gave her regarding the Great House is good.� As for
your actions on the other hand� well, that�s why I�m holding this report, now
isn�t it?�� He grinned.� Edwinna was speechless.
�What is your game plan, Tiram?� I
know you have one,� she finally replied.
�Hmm.� Well.� For starters I would
like to keep things smooth for our mutual friend in Gnisis�� Tiram began.
�He claimed he only met you once �
I would hardly call that a friendship,� spat Edwinna.� Tiram chuckled softly.
�Yes, and he nearly killed me when
I asked him to join the council� did he mention that?� Tiram winked.� Edwinna
grinned.
�That sounds more like him,� she
replied.� Tiram laughed.
�Very well, but I need you to
finish where I left off.� I need you to convince Baladas to rejoin the
council,� he continued.
�I will do no such thing,� Edwinna
replied, shaking her head in defiance, �I will not use him as a pawn in
whatever game you and your master are playing.� He does not wish to join the
council and I will not force him.�
�Hmm� this is unfortunate�� Tiram
mused, leaning back in his chair, �Because you see� if you are of no further
use to me, then I have no reason to go out of my way to keep either of you
safe.�
�And if you do not, then I shall
have no reason to let you live,� Edwinna replied, �I�m sure Trebonius would be
most interested to know that his chief advisor is a REAL Telvanni spy.�� Tiram
laughed.
�He�ll never believe you.� He takes
everything I tell him with a grain of sugar.� If you speak against me he will
likely only attack you in turn,� he grinned, �I could tell him anything and he
would believe it without question.� Sometimes I even play games to test him �
he trusts me unwaveringly.� And nothing you could say would ever convince him
otherwise.�� Edwinna glared, gritting her teeth.
�It wouldn�t stop me from killing
you,� she replied, �Provided you leave me no reason not to.�
�Hmm, then it seems we are at a
standstill.� Mutual blackmail, so to say.� Very well.� You are free to go, and
I shall keep your secret provided that you keep mine,� he grinned, �Not that it
will get you very far, mind you.� But I rather enjoy living, and you appear to
rather enjoy your career.� And so we are agreed.�
�For now,� Edwinna spat, her blood
boiling.� She would have her revenge� but not now, not here.� Baladas himself
advised not killing Tiram� perhaps he was right.� He did have his uses.� But
surely there was something else that could be done�� She sighed angrily.
�Very well.� Then I take it we have
nothing further to discuss?� Tiram asked pleasantly, swirling his sujamma
around in his goblet leisurely as he looked up at the guildmistress with a coy
grin.
�Oh� that we do,� she whispered
menacingly, �Don�t you dare presume to think you�ve seen the last of me, Tiram
Gadar.�
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Fall from High Rock