Ever since recruiting Dax the Argonian, Ashav had been prowling the streets for more information and potential recruits. On the 17th, the Thane’s ship was the only one making port. Two days before, the volunteer ship returned unexpectedly, its complement fearful of the weather. The EEC ship went for Morrowind. As for the Courtesan and the mercenaries, the Thane said it had been lost and presumably sunk. Ashav’s throat went dry, all this hard work from the Reach to Windhelm, battling against Reachmen and eastern snow demons just to be drowned. He tried to remain hopeful for a few days, at the very least, he should wait it out a bit before telling Jorwen that his daughter was gone. Still, it wouldn't hurt to start looking for new personnel.

The soft crunch of leaves was the only sound Elmera had heard for the last couple of hours.  No matter how many of these cities she visited, she never felt safe from the eyes of other people.  They were on her back, trying to peer under her cloak, or certainly ask her about her origins.  Sure, it was cold, but still she wasn’t deep in the mountains and the snow for once made her feel at peace, if only because it didn’t feel as frozen as the nearby mountain range.  Of course, she’d been to Dawnstar before, if only once.  This time it was the recommendation of a travelling bard who said that there was a group of mercenaries who were currently in the Pale.  The thought of joining a company had never occurred to her, but the more she thought about the smarter it was for a move.  It meant protection and a certain degree of anonymity.  Acting in a group meant that she would not be taking a large amount of responsibility for anything, so her name would not circulate so long as she didn’t speak it.  Furthermore, the dunmer realized, mercenaries were hardly the chummiest of folks - if she said she didn’t want to talk about something, that would be that.

She figured Dawnstar was the best place to start.  If there was news in The Pale, no doubt a port city, even if rather small, would be the best place to ask around.  She pulled her cloak tighter around her body as she approached the gates.  The dunmer glanced down to her shaking hand and cursed under her breath, stepping off the road as she looked around.  A twig snapped and she jumped, “Who’s there?!” She asked in a hissing whisper.  It was only then that she realized she had stepped on it.  Stupid, her mind chided as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch.  The powder fell lightly onto her grey-skinned hand, just below her index finger’s knuckle.  She had to keep her hand from dumping the substance into the snow as she leaned in and focus inhaled through her nose - harshly.

After shaking her head and pinching one nostril shut to clear the other, she put the pouch away.  A few deep breaths and she felt remotely normal again.  After all, it wasn’t a full trip, it was just something to maintain her social appearance so that she could give a normal first impression to whoever she met.

The dunmer woman passed the gates, pulling her hood back as her eyes raked the town before her.  She didn’t need to look at the guards to know they were less than approving of her just waltzing in.  On the other hand, there was nothing they could do to stop her short of harassment, so the woman just continued past them with a dignified, even step.  First thing was first: to the docks, that’s where all information circulated, right?  Argonians weren’t known for loose lips when it came to their own affairs, but the affairs of others were a whole different story.  Maybe it would take a drink or a few coins, but they always came around if you showed them you meant business.

The Argonians were talking alright. Considering they were being expelled wholesale from Dawnstar, the talks were obviously not cheery ones. It was late morning, just hours earlier, Jarl Skald ordered his guards to evict every single Argonian within town boundary. These lizard folks were being marched to a growing tent cluster just west of the city. Some went defeated, while others were dragged away screaming and kicking. Out of the few dozen Argonians, many still passionately wished to heed the hist call, to join their brethren in Black Marsh against the Akaviri invasion. 

“Keep moving, this is none of your business.” A faceless town guard told the Dunmer woman. He and his colleague were dragging away a knocked out Argonian. As they moved away, another lizard took their place.

“Filthy ash skin, here to put us down like the Nords.” This Argonian literally spat at Elmera. Before long, he was locked in a fierce brawl with a guard. Both of them tumbled to the ground, limbs grappling each other in a way that started to choked the air out of both parties.

“Hey, break it up, break it up!” A Redguard emerged to pull the fighting parties apart. He attempted several useless pries before turning to the Dunmer for help. “You there,” the Redguard barked, “lend a hand, will you?”

Elmera’s fist clenched as she heard a slur thrown her way.  She sneered and pulled her hood back, glaring daggers at the reptile.  Dared she mention that it was his kind that invaded her home?  No, she didn’t have to as a guard intervened and began to grapple with him.  The Dunmer took a ready stance back to let them brawl before a Redguard came over in an attempt to break up the fight.  She furrowed her brow, at this rate both of them would pass out.  Or worse yet, the Argonian would be able to slither away.

She reached down and grabbed the scaled man, prying her arm beneath his shoulder a she started to separate them.  “By the Nine…”  She muttered in frustration, “Pull!”  Finally, the two broke free of one another’s chokeholds, though they still clung for the fight, trying to keep going.  “Would you two calm down?!”  The woman shouted, pivoting on her foot and pressing it into the Argonian’s back in an effort to pin him down.

It was too cold of a day to be dealing with this shit. Jorwen approached the brawl at the head of some of the company that stayed behind. He’d heard a newcomer in the town was fixing to fight all the Argonians here, a knife-ear, and his first thought was that Vurwe had turned up. Despite their differences- vast differences- Jorwen was a little excited at that. It was a shame this had to happen on the eve of the Whaler’s Festival. Some of the stalls were being erected and travelers and adventurers were trickling into the town to partake of the festivities.

It was a shame the Jarl thought the Argonians were too much of an eyesore for the town during the festival, and didn’t want the Lizardfolk ruining his town’s meager reputation. To somewhat of his disappointment, Jorwen found that the mer was not Vurwe. She wasn’t even an altmer. Still, though, she had her foot on the small of one Argonians back while a guard watched on. Jorwen sniffed and spat to the side, “This what you call good first impressions, girl?”

“Jorwen.” Ashav acknowledged the Nord. It was indeed a shame for Skald to go such extremes, but Ashav had no choice other than helping. “You heard what Thoring said about us? He wanted the company barred from the city.” That was an hour ago, when Ashav was summoned to the longhouse. “Skald said we could stay if we help his guards.”

Switching his gaze to Elmera, Ashav scratched his head. “She with you?” He asked Jorwen.

“Stay and help funnel good-meaning folk outside the walls?” His lip rose in contempt, “I’m not doing that kind of work, Ashav. The rest of these whelps can help you, I’m not.” He looked Elmera up and down, taking her measure, “She is now. The tavern. Let’s get you away from this shit.”

“Damn it, Red-Bear!” Ashav barked. Ever since his recruitment, Jorwen’s been following his own command over Ashav’s. Independent, yes, but also skirting the line for insubordination. “You don’t understand,” Ashav took a breath to calm himself, “Thoring asked for guards outside of his place, and they won’t let us in unless we have the jarl’s favor.”

Ashav pointed to the Argonian, who was now being restrained by the guard. “We don’t push them back to their slum, then we might as live in their slum.”

“I’ve done far darker work in my life for worse reasons than this, Ashav. I’m not going down that road again.” Jorwen narrowed his eyes, “I’ll take the lashings, Talos knows I’ve had worse done to me. I’ll stand by and watch if it makes you feel better.”

“You, out of anyone, should know the necessities.” Ashav shook his head. “We honor contracts and we get paid, that’s how it always worked. I might not be the one issuing orders, but I know it’s for their own good too.” He referred to the Argonians. Speaking of that, another pair guard was calling for help against a particular feisty lizard. “There’s been fights and thefts ever since they started coming. People don’t trust each other, and there will be blood sooner or later.”

“If that’s your choice, then suit yourself.” Ashav dismissed Jorwen.

“Listen,” Ashav said to Elmera, “I can offer you work, if that’s what you are after. Join me and you take his pay; fifteen gold, enough to cover several days of room and board.” If not Jorwen, then this elf woman would do for now. She looked capable in Ashav’s eyes and aged enough to have some sort of experience. The question was, was it the right type of experience. 

“You test the limits of my honor, Ashav.” Jorwen’s fingers curled into fists, “Where is this Argonian?”

“Honor in this business is your results.” Ashav refused to let Jorwen get the better of him. “Which Argonian do you speak of? That is the troublemaker.” He gestured towards the arm-flapping lizard. “Or the bounty hunter I recruited? He earned a well deserved day of rest, because he follows order with professionalism.” Ashav emphasized the last word.

“He’s a fucking scaled lap-dog is what you mean. I joined the Company to fight, not push around Lizardfolk, Ashav. Give me an enemy worth fighting.”

Elmera released the lizard under her foot to give the guard a handle on him and looked to the man who had approached.  Based on his skin and burly appearance, she figured he was one of this land’s self-righteous Nords.  She sucked on the inside of her cheek as he quickly began ignoring her presence to speak with the Redguard who had requested her assistance.  The woman waited with a slightly impatient, exasperated expression before finally clearing her throat.  He had at least a foot of height on her and more hair than even she ever remembered growing herself, but that didn’t stop her.

“I consider it a great first impression, considering this town’s guards seem to have less training than your average bandit.  Furthermore, I figured helping… Ashav, here,” She said, making sure to remember his name, “To break up the brawl was more priority before we had two unconscious people on the ground.  Thirdly,” She started, holding up three slender fingers as she stood mere inches from him, her chin barely making it to the top of his chest, if that.  “I’d keep my mouth shut and help or go get a drink if you’re just going to stand there and blather on about your past, because you’re interfering with official orders from the Jarl.”  She was bluffing, she had no idea what kind of situation she’d walked in on, but from what she could tell, this much was true, Ashav had mentioned it himself, so long as she had understood well.

“So, Jorgen… was it? Jorwen?” She asked, furrowing her brow, “I’d walk away…  Or hit me, at least, for insulting your precious Nordic honor.”  The words were venom on her lips - how dare he question her ‘impression’ as though she was here to harass Argonians in the first place.  The Argonian had spat at her first and then proceeded to cause an issue, not the other way around.  Furthermore, this beast of a man had stepped forward to stick his nose where it didn’t belong.  “And please… Oh, be my guest to make a spectacle of yourself in the middle of Dawnstar with everything that’s going on right now.  Really, I’d love to see it.”  The dunmer narrowed  her eyes, her fist tensing and relaxing as she waited for his reaction.

Jorwen chuckled while the mercenaries behind him waited with wide eyes and watched the exchange between Jorwen and Ashav. Now the girl seemed eager to please authority if it meant gold, she'd fallen far from his favor. He'd met many like her, none he liked, “It looks as if you've a fine underling here.” He spoke to Ashav first, disregarding the Mer, “What would my reputation gain by striking you, little lass? Far be it from me to interfere with you bending over to be fucked by Jarl Skald because it's his official orders.”

He turned away from her and walked away, slowly, “You'll make a fine addition to the Company. I just might get a drink.”

The Dunmer woman’s lip curled back in contempt and she looked to the Redguard before crossing her arms.  “So, you said it’s his pay?  I would gladly accept it then, and take the work.  In fact, it’s the exact work I came here to find.”

“Enough, man, off you go.” Ashav shooed Jorwen.

“Come, let’s sort this sort out and get paid.” Ashav led Elmera towards the Argonian that ran around like a headless chicken. “You already know my name, and how I lead a mercenary company.” Ashav introduced. “What about you? I assume you came from Morrowind?” With a cautious glance around the scene, he continued. “Our company, including Jorwen over there, barely escaped Windhelm. Do you know what happened to that city?”

Elmera couldn’t help be feel a minute sense of satisfaction as Jorwen was dismissed and nodded to Ashav.  She pulled her hood back up to keep the cool air from nipping her ears, “Aye, at least…  Bits.  I wasn’t near the city during the attacks, but I heard it was a real shitstorm, to put it lightly.  What I did hear was mention of a company that had been involved in quite a few major happenings as of late, but I didn’t catch any names.  Truth be told, if you’re that very company, I came here seeking you; seems as though you found me first.  Elmera,” She stated with a dignified, though only slight bow.

The woman offered her hand, to be shaken.  Dodging questions was sketchy, but she felt uneasy about outright answering them as well, “Yes, I was born in Morrowind…  Though I’ve been here so long that I haven’t considered in home since I was but a child.”  This much was truth, Morrowind hadn’t been her home in quite some time, nor had she realized how naïve she was for thinking that she could truly make a difference there.

The handshake felt genuine to Ashav, though the explanation felt anything but. He scratched his bandana covered head and narrowed his eyes. There was more pressing matter of catching this hooligan Argonian at the moment, but later, it would certainly a longer chat before Ashav fully signs on Elmera.

“The situation is bad east of here.” Ashav responded to the handshake, voice grim and raspy. “We’re there ten days ago and was under siege from Kamals; the snow demons of Akavir. I don’t know where you were then, but count yourself lucky to be away from Eastmarch.”

“But first, we need to tie this one up.” Ashav took in the troublemaker running in circles, waving around what appeared to be a fishing pole. Only one guard kept a perimeter, seeing the other had to be evacuated following a hook to his eye. “You get on the opposite side and funnel him to me.” Ashav proposed, readying a set of ropes. “Try not to kill anyone.”

“That’s certainly more than I had heard indeed,” She replied, furrowing her brow, “But no, I certainly was not there.  I was traveling from Solitude around that time, as a matter of fact, along the Northern roads, haven’t heard much but bits and pieces the past several days.”  The woman heard the order and nodded, “On it.”

She moved as he had instructed, moving to the opposite side in order to direct the erratic Argonian toward Ashav.  “Not kill anyone?  I am the absolute posterchild for murder restraint, thank you very much,” She stated, helping to restrain the reptile for the Redguard.

Elmera’s presence turned the Argonian towards Ashav, who was unable to get any closer before the fishing rod and sharp hook swung in a dangerous arc. The Redguard went close to roping the Argonian, only to be forced back by the hook tearing a gash on his shirt. If only he had his armor here. 

“I bet you are, poster girl.” Ashav snorted dryly. What’s with the recent candidates and witty remarks? Ashav shook his head and briefly wondered if crises made smartasses out of normal people. “It’ll be even better if you could get rid of his stick.”

“Don’t bother talking, this fool’s too high on his sap thing.” The guard from earlier suggested to Ashav. “Hermann did and the crazy lizard hooked his eye out.” Pulling Ashav back from a strike, he shouted to Elmera on the other side. “You know magic? Maybe you could zap that pole out; the other one was also scared of lightning.”

Elmera watched the exchange, ducking the hook as the crazed Argonian ran about like a chicken missing its head.  “Oh, I thought we were practicing restraint on all fronts,” She said as the guard asked if she had magic.  “Yes, I do, as a matter of fact,” She replied, opening her fist and focusing for a moment.  Her hand lit up with blue sparks which coursed over the extended limb as she stepped back and held it forward.  The magical electricity formed in her palm as a small, conjured mass of the power focused itself.  The Argonian was a fast target and she didn’t want to hit anything behind him if she missed  Finally, when she released her Lightning Bolt, the reptile stepped right in the way of it, his hand receiving the full force of the shock at first, though he would certainly feel it all over.  Luckily for him, this was Elmera’s weakest spell that didn’t launch a continuous stream of power into him.

Shocked and dazed, the Argonian dropped his fishing tool turned weapon. Ashav seized the moment and immediately dashed forward, taking the Argonian down by his waist. One hand pinning his opponent’s chest, the other hand worked the scaled body over so that both hands could be roped. While Ashav wrangled, the guard stood watch from a few steps away, directing other guards as they cleaned up the remaining commotion. 

“Keep him flipped over, if you don’t mind.” Ashav told Elmera. Once he finally secured both hands, Ashav got another rope for the legs. Because this one was thrashing for all his worth, letting him walk on his own was just too much a risk.

“Good, let’s carry him to…” Ashav looked the guard for answer, as he lifted one end of the troublemaker and waited for Elemera on the other.

Elmera naturally fell into place, taking hold of the Argonian with a solid, professional grip.  She kept her eyes peeled, but for the most part had no worry for danger here - these rabble rousers, while clearly quite confused and rowdy, were little more than a nuisance.

“Jail.” Came the guard’s frown.

Seemed like this individual wasn’t the only person going to lock-up; a half dozen fellow agitators were jailed with him. They were all Argonian, and each one with more hatred (especially for Elemera) than the last. “Don’t mind them,” Ashav advised, “lot of them fled from Windhelm, and been thrown around like dirt ever since.”

“Couldn’t care less,” She noted, feeling a sneer now and then.  She returned each glare with one of equal hatred, “I’ve my own things to worry about.  If they hate me for trying to prevent them from murdering peaceful citizens, then so be it.”

Continuing on, Ashav went up the guardhouse steps. “If I remembered correctly, Black Marsh was also invaded by Akavir.” The Redguard recounted the reports. “They say the Hist could affect the the minds of devout Argonians, sending them message to defend their homeland. There’s a few Argonians in the company, but they probably are not too connected to show symptoms.”

“Anyways.” Ashav returned after tossing their mark inside a cell and exchanging debriefing for coins. “Thought you’d know magic, and you don’t seem to be a stranger handling rough folks either.” Pausing temporarily upon exiting the guardhouse, Ashav picked out half of the gold for the Dunmer. “Truth be told, my men supposed to return from their mission today, but I worry that they’re lost. I’m going to need extra hands no matter what, and I think you could use a well-paid job.”

“Yes, it’s rarely found one of my kind in Skyrim who doesn’t have something to offer, I’ve noticed.  On the other hand, getting us to agree to follow anybody but our own whim is rare.  I’ve handled a fair number of dangerous folks - you have to in Skyrim when you’ve charcoal skin, the Nordic folk don’t take kindly to Mer, especially their neighbours to the East.”  She shrugged, “That’s life here, though.”  She accepted her pay and nodded, “I came looking for the job, I’ll accept it and you shan’t be disappointed, Ashav.  On that promise, I can certainly deliver.”