We continued our way through the city, walking casually and chatting idly as we did so. What felt like a strange date if only in name, I showed her around the few portions of the city that I was familiar with. The first years within the legion were mostly spent within the Legion Fortress that took up the majority of the surface buildings of the Imperial Prison Complex. My time within the training cohorts for the first two years had been limited for time spent within the city proper to reduce the chance of desertions or unrest caused by fresh, rowdy recruits spilling into every brothel and taphouse available. We made our way through the Arena District, managing to make our way inside for a handful of bouts and satisfy not only Viconia’s curiosity but also her bloodlust at the sight of the reigning champion eviscerating a pair of opponents with ridiculous ease.

  Afterwards we found ourselves in the sights and colourful maze of the Market District, and I watched Viconia’s expression closely as she marvelled at the riot of colours, goods, items and individuals making their way through the press. Perfumed and silk wearing nobles strode about, each more and more gaudy than the last and jugglers, fire breathers and other assorted entertainers practiced their crafts to the amusement of the hundreds walking between the market stalls. Somewhere I had managed to procure a few choice pieces of food, munching away on a long string of taffy as Viconia voraciously devoured a Sweet Roll with all the grace of a starved Argonian. Within minutes she had managed to acquire a collection of various treats and snacks from the stands where their freshly made goods were on display before wolfing them down one after another with obvious pleasure.

  Everything was new and alien to her and she was slowly beginning to realise that the lightless realm of the Underdark had left her devoid of experiences that she now found herself practically drowning in. We entered theatres, strolled through Green Emperor Way and entered each of the chapels of the Nine within the Temple Quarter. Even the enormous Temple of the One we found ourselves inside and Viconia wandered around the interior, studying the carvings in the marble and looking over the enormous unlit brazier. With a voice filled with awe she simply stated that the entirety of Menzoberranzan’s house of worship dedicated to Lloth could fit inside with no hindrance, before leaving with her curiosity sated.

  From place to place, and street to street she was soon leading me on in her overwhelming desire to know and experience all that she could during the short stay within the City. For the better part of three days we roamed and explored, our collection of coins noticeably dwindling as she sampled anything and everything that she locked eyes on. For the first time since meeting her she was relaxed somewhat and no longer as highly strung as a lute string. The change was incredible to behold, turning the beautiful, but deadly Drow into a creature of pure radiance that eclipsed all around her with her vibrant intensity. The darkness clouding her soul remained however, and she remained quick to slight and to anger, venting her frustration openly and viciously at the first hint of it appearing in her yellow eyes.

  But otherwise the days and evenings were uneventful, and by the third day we were both talking freely compared to the days and weeks since meeting at Bruma. As night began to fall we found ourselves back within the Boarding house once more, seated at one of the dozens of tables and talking about everything we could think of. I told her of my time in the legion, the patrolling of the ashlands and the various tribes vying for independence and the way they lived. She absorbed all that I told her, listening intently and asking questions about everything from the rites the ashlanders and dunmer practiced around death, what they ate and drank, what equipment they used, gods they believed in, the Corpus diseases and the monstrosities that it created. With great detail I described great battles of the Legion from throughout history, the tactics used, the equipment utilised in regions like Blackmarsh, describing everything from the correct use of a bow to how the Dunmer brewed their beers and other alcohols.

  She regaled me on stories of her home in the Underdark, the petty houses, city-states and the overall matriarchal authority of the Drow’s society. She spoke about the culture, the civilisation built upon the backs of the hundreds of thousands of slaves toiling in the depths of the world and the blood that was constantly spilled by the whims of a spider goddess. Tales of blood and death that seemed oddly enough to match those of mine of years in Northern Vvardenfell were shared and she told me of the beasts and inhabitants of her world. The horrific mind-flaying Illithids, the grim, cynical Duergar, the untrustworthy kuo-toa and the great beasts of the dark. Her tales of the great wyrms of the depths were met with a little scepticism despite my knowledge of the long extinct dragons of the north, but I was highly interested in her stories of ancient, long abandoned cities in the highest caverns and tunnels. While never seeing them for herself she had heard stories of cities and structures of pipes and cogs, pistons and steam in the upper levels that could only be reached through journeys several days long through some of the most treacherous of terrains. I had little doubt that she spoke of the long since vanished dwemer but her tales of what lengths had to be undertaken just to reach such places allowed me to gain some understanding how our worlds had remained apart.

  We continued our stories, finishing our evening meals and sipping away at our flagons as we spoke. Viconia never seemed to have the same drink twice, trying and sampling every one that she could and obviously taking note of the ones that she enjoyed. I stayed with Cyrodiilic brandy, but not once harbouring the thought of attempting to keep up with her. She seemed to have an unnatural ability to drink prodigious amounts of alcohol before its effects could be felt. This was a fact that had won her a significant amount of coins on the second evening at the boarding house after her orcish opponent had to be taken to the healers afterwards.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “So,” she said after finishing a story of how she had bested a Haszak mindflayer with such graphic descriptions that two of the nearby patrons were looking somewhat nauseous. “Has there ever been anyone special in your life? A thief of your heart?”

  I choked on my brandy somewhat, brushing at the front of my leather shirt where it had spilled. “What?”

  “Don’t play coy.” There was a hint of amusement in her voice that was filled with her typical disdain. “You know what I ask.”

  I shook my head. “It’s a legionary’s lot in life to have little in the way of relationships or family. Most usually wait until after they complete their service before settling down.”

  Motioning with my flagon in her direction where she sat, legs crossed on top of the table I continued. “I would ask you the same thing but it seems the Velmer don’t believe in love.” My tone was sarcastic but she didn’t take offense.

  “It’s not something that exists in our world. Relationships are… different in the Underdark.” There was a moment where she chewed her lip thoughtfully. “I would almost say that they are more business arrangements, but that would be inaccurate and suggest a balance of power in such a situation. Females choose their partners, and it is not uncommon for particular males to have a few Drow women seeking them.”

  “From what you have told me that doesn’t sound like the contentions of suitors for a husband.”

  “Indeed, it is not. Men are nothing but slaves, no different from a good rapier or fine clothes. Sure, some may rise to overseers of the rest of the slaves, or perhaps the lowest rank of cleric in the temples. However, for any male to show their attraction towards a woman was more than enough reason to eviscerate them.”

  I struggled not the smile at the sudden twitch of movement of a handful of those seated at the other tables around us. Most of the regulars had learned not to cross the beautiful dark elf I had as a companion, and at her words all those who had been glancing in her direction now made active attempts not to anymore. “Men would be claimed, used for whatever purpose desired and then discarded once no longer useful. It was a simple, natural order of things.”

  “Discarding doesn’t sound pleasant.”

  “It isn’t.” Her eyes glowed with the unusual intensity as they always seemed to do when her thoughts turned to darkness. “For those men who find themselves desired by more than one woman? That’s a great deal worse in comparison, especially to the ways of the surface. The women would compete, the stronger would be the victor and then once she had gained her fill or the male had outlived his usefulness she would provide the loser with the leftovers.”

  The darkness behind her eyes grew even more intense. “The accepted way of such a process was to drop the male off at the lesser woman’s lodging. Usually bereft of skin.”

  Where there had been little interest by those around us there was absolutely none remaining now; a fact that was not lost on Viconia as her lips curled in a savage grin.

  It was at this point where I was beginning to feel more and more like prey to the gleaming-eyed Drow that Baurus made his first appearance in the past days. Almost like a shadow he emerged from the crowd and gave us a welcoming smile despite his unease around Viconia.

  “You two got a moment?” he asked, nodding towards the stairs and with a serious expression.

  We nodded, both standing and following him up after leaving little of our drinks remaining. Once more we found ourselves inside his hidden room, safely behind wards of muffling and secure to talk freely.

  “Tar-Meena finished her studies on the books early this morning.” He said simply as we had made ourselves comfortable. “She’s quiet pissed off about it all though.”

  “Pissed off? What happened?” I asked, watching Baurus grin wearily.

  “The trick to the books is remarkably simple, and she has spent the last three days looking for some cryptic cypher or riddle within the pages. As a result she failed to notice the most obvious message of them all.”

  Viconia looked perplexed. “Which was what exactly?”

  There was a chuckle from the young Blade. “Every few paragraphs have the first letter stylised and decorated.”

  “You’re kidding me? That simple?”

  “Yep.” He handed me a note that I quickly looked over before handing it to Viconia. It simply read; Green Emperor Way Where Tower Touches Midday Sun.

  “That’s ridiculous.” Viconia muttered as she looked over the note before handing it back to him. “Are they simple-minded?”

  “Unfortunately not. If it was too difficult for potential recruits to find their main lair, then they wouldn’t have been able to recruit such numbers as they have. The trick to it all is only when you have all four books together and by thoroughly reading each one do you find the message. The exact location of their base is only found by being at a specific place at a specific time.”

  “Which we have to go find tomorrow.”

  “Ha! I like your initiative but I’ve already done the legwork for you.” He pulled out a separate piece of parchment when he had hurriedly scrawled out a surprisingly accurate map of Cyrodiil. A cross in the eastern province towards the border of Morrowind was easily visible. “That’s your copy. I’ve already sent a report back to Cloud Ruler containing the original so expect that the Grandmaster will deploy some Blades to meet you.”

  “What about yourself? Will you be joining us?”

  There was a moment of disappointment that creased his face. “Unfortunately no. The Old Man had sent orders that once the location of the cult had been found that I was to tidy up any loose ends in the city and return to Cloud Ruler. It appears as though most Blades within Cyrodiil are being ordered to return to defend the Heir.”

  “But don’t worry.” His face broke out into a grin and he laughed. “As much as I want to see this through to the end, I’ll be nice and comfy and thinking of you both while you go wandering around County Cheydinhal.”

  “It would’ve been good to have your sword with us.” I admitted honestly, before turning and looking at Viconia. “Guess we’re leaving tomorrow then.”

  “Lovely.” She replied, looking somewhat less-than-pleased.