[h3]From Beneath[/h3] [i]a collab with the sexy [@Leidenschaft][/i] [hr] [i]13th of Midyear - Gilane Morning[/i] “What do you mean you don’t have Spider’s Eggs?” She said impatiently to the merchant behind the desk - her voice a low hiss and her eyes expressed a heightening level of frustration. “I… should have more this afternoon,” was the timid, wide-eyed response. “Blue Butterfly Wing then? Frost Salts and Lavender too please…” Raelynn rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly as the merchant collected the goods and held them out to her. Her handmaiden, Rhoka, took them and began placing them into the basket that was hung over her arms. Rhoka had noted that this had been Raelynn’s first excursion out of the house since she’d arrived late some nights ago. Her sudden willingness to step outside may have had something to do with her Gentleman caller. She had seemed much happier this morning. “Where to next Miss?” Rhoka asked Raelynn after she had paid the merchant, “a few more stops. But these crowds are agitating me… There’s too many people around.” She tensed her body as a crowd of children ran past the stalls, squawking and squabbling amongst themselves. “Come on, let’s get this done as quickly as we can. I don’t want to get caught amongst the lunch crowds,” while there was a restless bite in her tone, Rhoka didn’t feel that there was any real malice, and so the two of them continued their journey around the market, Raelynn was gripping the shopping list in her hand tightly - every now and again she would look back upon it and nod. [hr] “I like it.” Latro said, nodding with an appreciative frown as if he was appraising a painting. “I never asked for an opinion,” Sevari said, tugging on his new coat and staring at himself without his beard in the mirror. “Would you recognize me in a crowd?” “Perhaps not.” Latro said, sitting next to where Sevari was standing, “I like it.” “Again, whether or not you like it has no bearing on whether or not I keep the outfit. It’s light, practical, I like it.” Sevari nodded. The Ohmes-Raht was bedecked in buckskin chausses over light pants, tucked into curve-toe boots of Redguard make. He wore his tunic and his dark brown coat was sitting on the chair behind him, along with his hat. A wide-brimmed Colovian ranger’s hat with the left side of the brim pinned up with a moonstone charm. He forwent the Dwemer carbine and instead kept his pistol holstered on his belt, on which also was kept a bone-handle messer. He’d hidden away his more iconic and exotic weapons to further separate himself from the man that survived the attack on the prisoner transfer convoy. “Are you ready?” Latro asked. Sevari nodded. With that, they made their way back out on the streets of Gilane new men. Well, in a way. Latro had opted to do the same thing he’d done when he and Sevari first met. He was dressed in the flowing silk robes of the people of Hammerfell as well as painting his face like the women and letting his hair flow freely. It was an advantage to looking like he did, no one immediately ever able to tell if he was man or woman until he was lounging shirtless at camp and plucking his lute. Speaking of lutes, or the givers of them, it hurt to remember that Sora was still trapped in the high tower of the Governor’s Palace. They walked the streets for some time until Latro stopped, peering into the crowds. Sevari noticed and immediately, his hand was on the hilt of his blade, “What is it?” “I know her.” Latro said, still keeping his eyes on the woman a ways away in the crowd. “Yes, that’s… Raelynn!” The beaming smile on his face stayed all up until he stood a few paces away from the woman he hadn’t seen in quite some time. Sevari was just getting to Latro with a frown that contrasted his demeanor. “We can’t get separated, fool.” “... I thought you said that there was an apothecary around here, Rhoka? Have we gone too far?” Raelynn asked tersely, her eyes flitting across the crowds as if she were cautious of who could be around. “I… I… thought there was Miss,” Rhoka answered nervously, her fingers gripping the basket tightly. “Excuse me, miss?” Latro said, pitching up his voice behind Raelynn, “Miss, can you point me to the nearest tailor’s?” She was right to have been cautious, a voice behind her gave her quite a start and she turned around swiftly, not knowing what to expect - but wanting to give whomever the voice belonged to an angry rebuke. As she swivelled on her heel, she took a glance at the stranger behind her, starting from their feet all the way up to their face. She [i]knew[/i] this person. It took her until she met his eyes. She would know those copper eyes anywhere. “Latro…” she breathed, her eyes widening with something between joy and shock. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and her head shook while her eyes just moved up and down, left and right just to fully take him in. She smiled. “Latro..” she repeated, assured now. “God’s above, what are you doing here?” Her hand came up to her mouth, a finger curled over her lip while the others gripped at her chin. Speechless. She was completely speechless. She reached back and patted Rhoka’s arm, clutching at the fabric of her shawl. “Rhoka, take those things back to the house… We’ll finish it later…” Her voice was quiet, and was only half concentrating on the words, Raelynn was still gawping at Latro, [i]was he wearing make-up?[/i]. She didn’t notice her handmaiden take her leave. Finally, she broke her stance and lunged toward her fellow Breton, her arms wrapping around him, fingers gripping into his back. She realised it was probably too much and she immediately pulled away, almost awkwardly. “You’re back… How did you?” She had [i]so many questions.[/i] It wasn’t until a shadow formed over her that she turned her eyes away at last, following the imposing and tall figure of Latro’s companion, he was [i]so tall[/i] and the hat he wore cast a shadow over his face - his… strange face. She couldn’t put her finger on who this man was - but perhaps instinct told her. He must be the other one. “Latro…?” She said once more, her tone a confused question now - her eyes locked onto those of the Ohmes-Raht, but her hand was reaching out to touch the Breton in front of her. Latro’s expression changed from happiness to confusion until he realized. Sevari was with him. The last time they talked, he was telling her of his and Sevari’s fight. He cringed to Sevari, who was already frowning and looking at the ground. Sevari himself spoke first, “Miss, I…” he trailed off, a look of regret upon him as he fixed his hat, deciding to take it off and offer his face uncovered by shadow, “I mean you no harm. Latro and I are companions now, as odd as it may seem.” He held up his hand before any conclusions could be jumped to from his first words, “He does not serve the Dwemer, no. If I may offer the truth, I do not either, not truly.” He said, “I am… I apologize for…” He sighed, not knowing what to say. Latro touched Raelynn’s shoulder and nodded, “It’s all true, Raelynn. He’s a friend.” “My brother did horrible things and no apology from me will mean anything, I know that.” He said, voice low and heavy. [i]Companions? Friends?[/i] Just what had been happening in the days since she had seen Latro last exactly? She knew that Sevari had helped Jaraleet and Meg... She knew that much about him. But wasn’t he also the one who beat Latro to a pulp? She knew why he could barely look at her, and she tucked her hands behind her back nervously, saying nothing back to him even if her mind was full of all the things she wanted to say. This wasn’t the place or the time for that, and she settled for balling her hands into tight fists behind her back. It was crass for him to do that - to just bring it up, to bring up Zaveed. He didn’t have to say his name but Raelynn knew and Latro knew, and it made her feel vulnerable in a puzzling way. Here and now, in public of all places and still she had no seething remark to chew him back with. Yet. Raelynn sidestepped away from him slowly, her eyes not leaving his even if he could not look at her. There was something burning behind that gaze of hers. She took her place at Latro’s side, letting him stand between the two of them. A sickly feeling hit her stomach, but she tried to smile it away, “well, I don't think I'm in a position to quarrel with you over that,” she said quietly. He may have found some kind of friendship with Sevari, but she had saved the life of her abuser. Who was she to judge it, really? Did they know that? Did they know anything at all? Her eyes darted to Sevari once more before she looped her arm through Latro’s, holding him tightly. As if she were protecting she and him both. [i]Of course![/i] “Latro, where is Sora? We must find somewhere quiet to talk, I feel there's much to catch up on...” Raelynn almost felt guilty for not having asked about Sora, for not even thinking about Sora sooner - but, seeing Latro was enough. Latro looked away from Raelynn at the mention of Sora. There might have been something in his eye, but he wiped it away, careful not to smudge his eyeliner. “Come, walk with me. We’ll find a tea shop or somesuch to talk.” Once they’d made it to one, Latro sat, gesturing for Raelynn to do the same. Sevari took his seat next to Latro, refusing to meet Raelynn’s eyes the entirety of the trio here, and even now still. Latro places his hands on the short-leg table they were seated at, sitting cross-legged on fine pillows as was the tradition of Redguard tea and hookah shops. It took a while for him to begin, mouth working at the words, tongue wondering just how to frame the news to Raelynn. “I know you and Gregor left the Three Crowns some time ago, it isn’t my business.” He began, “Sora was… was captured. Parades through the streets like a monster. I wanted to save her, Raelynn, I would’ve cut the crowd down around me if they so muched as shifted a finger to stop me.” His voice was quiet, seething rage at the memory, “That fucking pig had her there and they caught me too. I couldn’t have made it to him before he sprayed her brains over the street with his pistol.” Latro scowled, “I surrendered, just to be with her, offer her my protection or my presence, at least. I managed to get out of the Palace but she’s still there.” He gestured to Sevari, “This Khajiit is why I made it out, why I’m still alive.” She hung on Latro's words - the presence of the Khajiit playing on her mind - her eyes flicked back to him after Latro explained how he'd escaped, and briefly she remembered Zaveed cutting through her ropes too. It didn't add up, but she left those thoughts to the side for now. She leaned in to Latro and wanted to place a hand on his, but she let them sit in her lap instead, one leg crossed over the other. All she could do was nod, interject with a quiet hum between his words. It was a horrendous story, and hearing his words brought her back to her own part in it. “I'm sorry…” were the first words that she said, turning her head away. Tears sitting in the corners of her eyes. “I could have done more… Fought back. I could have tried. Maybe he wouldn't have taken her if I could have done [i]anything[/i].” Her hands came up from her lap and her elbows hit the wood of the table with a quick slam, her face falling into her hands. “I could have used magic, I could have called for help. But I was powerless - again.” She sighed and tried to compose herself. She hadn't spoken much about that night, and being here with Latro just shot her with guilt over not having come for Sora sooner - they had told Meg and Jaraleet, but should it have been her? “I didn't come to my senses for hours. Roux was dead and there were guards there.” The memory of the sound of the Chain Lightning made her wince, she shut her eyes tightly, fingers gripping around the strands of hair they touched. “I killed them…” she admitted, defeat rolling off her tongue into the silence that sat around them. “If I had thought about it sooner then I could have helped her. I could have [i]helped[/i].” “Stop.” He said, quietly, sympathy in his eyes as he held her gaze, “Don’t do that to yourself, Raelynn. You did what you had to, you did what you could. That’s enough, you did enough.” “None of this is your fault. Don’t make it seem that way in your head.” He said, offering his easy smile, “We won’t let them win. We’ll stick together through this. All of us.” He was right, there was no sense in that way of thinking. She placed her hands flat onto the surface of the table and smiled back at him. “I know, I know. This whole thing has been a disaster, hasn't it? Do you think there will be a reprieve from this soon?” A small laugh escaped her lips. “We'll get her back.” It was doing no good to dwell on the situation, at least not to keep treading over old ground and picking at raw wounds. Raelynn looked to Sevari - who had been silent for the time being. “So you… You helped Latro, and Jaraleet too.” For a moment she thought to reach out to him and place her hand on him, her fingers just strummed across the wood of the table instead. “I don't know why, or need to. Things are difficult enough I think. Are you going to help us get Daro'Vasora free,” her eyes moved to Latro again, before she turned to Sevari. “Are you with us now?” “Truth be told, Miss.” Sevari still held his gaze on the grain of the table, remembering everything that’d happened so far. It pained him, but now was not the time, nor were these the people to show it to. He just shrugged, speaking heavily, though he tried to keep the weight from it, “I’ve got nobody else [i]to[/i] be with. Latro, Jaraleet…” He sighed, “I think they’re the closest thing I have to friends right now.” Nodding, continued, “So, yeah. I’ll help Latro. I’ll help Sora. I’ll help you.” “Well, when you cavort around making yourself known with violence, it’s not hard to find yourself in such a predicament.” Her words were harsh, but she knew they were true. Her fingers stopped strumming, and she straightened herself up. “Look at me,” she said in a demanding tone, waiting for him to finally look up from the spot on the table he had been so fixated on. He lifted his gaze from the table, a slight frown, but his eyes held hers. He didn’t want to, but he did anyways. It wasn’t even him that did what had been done to this woman, but it still pained him that it was someone he loved that did. Even still, Gregor’s words about leaving Zaveed behind echoed in him. That he wasn’t the person he once was. Sevari himself wasn’t either. So, he wouldn’t. Though that didn’t mean part of him didn’t want to. Raelynn’s eyes bored into his without her trying or not, but this wasn’t the first difficult thing he’d done, nor would it be the last. “You have shown yourself to be an ally to us, and so I thank you for that,” she began, but there was a cold edge on her words, “your brother [i]did[/i] do horrible things, to Daro’Vasora, to Roux, to me.” She lifted her hand up to the light, turning it to show both sides - where the scar sat. Her face curled to a sneer. “But you are not your brother. Do not apologise for him.” She sighed, Raelynn could see that Sevari had witnessed so much, he carried that on his face - something regretful was emanating from him right now. It would be so easy for her to cut him down to nothing right now with little more than her words, but he looked as though he had already done it to himself, she could not bring herself to start conflict in Latro's company, either. She had to let this one go. “Zaveed is....” her voice began to crack, it felt wrong to discuss this, but it was a weight that had been holding her down for too long, she needed to be free of it. “I gave Zaveed a second chance, and I add that to his debt to me. It would be wrong of me to deny you the same thing. Do not fail us.” There was a heavy seriousness in her voice, but she felt lighter, and in the spirit of that she placed her hand on Latro’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I imagine you’ll be heading to rescue her with the group… I will be of no use to you, and Gregor can not fight, but anything I can provide in the meantime that may be of assistance - you need only ask. I have resources at my fingertips right now.” She smiled at him with warmth in her eyes. “You too,” she said to Sevari, “if you need anything… I, well… Just ask.” “Anything, Raelynn. Anything at all.” He said, frowning, “I’m taking Sora away from here whether she wants it or not. There’s nothing for us here now.” “Alright, well I am expecting my father to return today - I will send our bodyguard, Zhaib in Gregor and I’s stead. I can assure you that he is a fearsome warrior and will fight alongside you at your command, or escort you through the palace. Whatever use you can find for him, he is yours.” She raised her hand to her mouth, thinking about it all. Her brows dipped in concentration. “I can make some potions too, and we have Restoration scrolls to spare. My father has no use for them, I’ll send them with Zhaib when the time comes.” “Good, I appreciate it.” He said, nodding, “We could use another fighter. I hope Gregor recovers soon. It has not been a restful past couple of days for me or Sevari.” “No.” Sevari muttered. “Gregor is in my care now, he’s doing well.” She said, matter of factly, eyes drawn back to Sevari. “You must love your brother very much, is that true?” “I love what’s left of the man I knew,” Sevari nodded, “We’re family, perhaps not by blood, but by bond. Gregor is a good man, Raelynn, and I’ve learned that no matter the crimes done, there’s perhaps good men under them. Zaveed is no better than me, no better than Gregor.” “Gregor and I are perhaps of a kind. Old soldiers. I respect him. I only hope to bring more of the man I once knew in Senchal to the surface in Zaveed. I’m getting there, I hope.” Sevari said, “I don’t know what roads we will go down in the future, but I hope yours are steady as they can be in these times.” She smirked at the mention of Gregor, she did not like how his name sounded rolling off the tongue of the Ohmes-Raht. “Zaveed is beneath Gregor, beneath me. All he can do now is climb back up to his place. Time will tell whether or not he does, or if he will let his shadows devour him.” “I don’t know you enough, Sevari. I am sure you will prove who you are in the coming days. But we are good people, each of us. Zaveed will need your help if he is to change... “ She looked down at the table, at her hands - the fingers splayed out against the wood. “His pain will be excruciating, I’ve no doubt… Give him essence of Blue Dartwing, Blisterwort, and Mountain Flower. It will weaken him momentarily, but his pain will cease. More than it will from a Potion.” She shouldn’t have said it, she didn’t owe anything more to him, but this was for Sevari. “We’re good people, and we were never your enemy.” “Maybe,” he said, “There’s always good people on either side of a question. If only it was so easy to tell.” “Well, I think we’d better part ways. The city isn’t the safest for either of us and you being caught in our presence might bring you trouble.” Latro rose and gave Rae his easy smile, “Until we meet again.” With that, they made their way back to the streets, back to their business. Raelynn watched the two of them leave and still she couldn’t shake a feeling of uneasiness over Sevari, and yet if Latro was able to trust him, shouldn’t she be able to? She gave them a few minutes before she too stood from the table and made her way back out to the streets. She had things to collect from her room at the Hotel, perhaps Daro’Vasora’s things too. Had anyone else thought to? She couldn’t help but notice a feeling in the air, that everything was about to happen, and it was happening soon.