Ch.15

[Fredas, 16th of Sun’s Height, 4E: 221]

“Well, my day has been interesting.” I groaned and rubbed my lower stomach, still feeling Da-Jah’s hot seed swirling about in me. Thank goodness he gave me those contraceptives or I’d definitely be having eggs.

“You started it with being a victim of assault and attempted murder at the hands of the Skinner.” Neethsi wryly snorted with a shake of his head. “I’m going to have to increase your awareness through training. He may have been using invisibility potions to get around, but you should’ve been able to hear him since he wasn’t using any muffle spells or enchantments.”

“I was still half-asleep, Neethsi.” I huffed and looked at the door of our freely lent room. Keerava and Talen-Jei believe that had I not slowed the murderer down by needing to be dealt with before Dar-Jah, then their son would have died this morning. They immediately refunded the rent Neethsi had paid for the room and thanked me profusely, but I didn’t do anything. I was just...ugh, in the wrong place at the right time. I seem to have a talent for that.

“And on wobbly legs.” Shade chuckled and patted my tummy. “Am I going to have brothers or sisters?” I felt my tail whip against the bed and Neethsi hissed in a reptilian snicker.

“No. I took contraceptives like a mature person.” I leered at Neethsi and he simply shook his head in amusement.

“Aw, but after my unborn siblings were taken I was hoping…” Shade mewled and pain spiked in my heart. I pet her head between her horns and tried not to let the agony show.

“I understand hatchling. Don’t worry. You will have your siblings back.” I swear it, I will find them.

“But I never got them. How can I get back what I didn’t have?” Shade asked and the pain increased. Right. They weren’t even born when...are they even alive then? No. Julianos said they were here and he had confidence I’d encounter them. I just hope it’s not in some twisted horrific fashion where I have to kill them as enemies, that might be the end of me.

“Meen-Rei. Your daughter is more argonian than you. Pardon if that sounded cold, but stillborn clutches of eggs are a thing, if rare and even rarer is the case where all of the eggs even hatch, rarer still for them to all survive into adulthood unless they’re reared outside of Black Marsh.” Neethsi informed me and I took a breath to steady myself. Right. She didn’t get her siblings yet and she probably figures they’re gone forever, so she was hoping I’d be pregnant again.

“Then, whenever I do have eggs, I don’t want to have them in Black Marsh. Especially since I have more than enough sap to nourish them.” I’m a bit disappointed by this. Black Marsh, despite its deadliness, seemed wonderful to me, but that may just be my argonian nature speaking for me.

“Ah, sorry, I mean in the traditional nesting sense. We usually put our eggs in Hist Hatching Pools, but despite the beliefs of the majority of the Saxhleel, argonians in layman terms, we can be born just fine in nearly any environment. I’ve seen argonian mothers lay here in Skyrim and only have their own sap to offer their hatchlings. They’ve grown up just fine, have souls, everything. The Hist may have created us, but they do not have us on a leash. Unfortunately, the majority of my kind will never understand this.” Neethsi sighed in resignation and I felt reaffirmed in my decision not to have children in Black Marsh.

I’d rather my children form their own identities away from the social pressures of such traditions. *knock, knock* “Are you doing okay in there?” Dar-Jah’s voice asked through the door and Neethsi immediately opened it up to reveal the young man was in clean clothes and the blood had been washed off. “Now that I’m done with being declared a hero, paid a bounty and praised for defending myself, I just need to make sure Meen-Rei is alright before I can rest.”

“You need not be concerned. As you can see, Meen-Rei is fine, now go to sleep. It is not everyday you have your first kill and your first taste of the flesh of another sapient creature.” Neethsi insisted and Dar-Jah looked shaken again. “Yes. It was disturbingly toothsome, rich in flavor. I’ve had to do it in the past to survive, but don’t dwell on it. That way lies the depravity and the dark clutches of Namira.”

“I can’t forget it. It was a struggle just to end it and not keep chewing…” He shuddered and hugged himself, his eyes haunted. “I know we’re built for protein-rich diets even if we’re omnivorous, but it was so good…”

“Eat some raw pork. The flavor is quite similar and is a wonderful substitute.” Neethsi advised as he clapped the shorter man on the shoulders. “You can get through this. The first taste is always the strongest, but so long as you temper yourself and eat some raw meat, you’ll get over it.”

“Th-thank you sir. I’m going to lie down.” The black and yellow male shivered and went down the hall as Neethsi closed the door.

“Argonians are subject to cannibalistic tendencies?” I asked in concern, knowing we had these sharp teeth not just for show or combat.

“As are khajiit. They have it worse actually. Felines are naturally dependent on meat for their diets. Khajiit don’t have this complete reliance, but they still have a powerful affinity for it. Namira is a worthless wretch of a blight on Mundus, so never give in to the Mistress of Decay.” Neethsi warned me and I nodded, never even having considered it.

“Before we get too far off topic...are there any other things I should know about maturing argonians?” I asked as I looked at Shade, who blinked up at me with a tilt of her head.

“Yes. We mature similarly to other races if left to our own devices, but we also have other quirks. Our bodies instinctively desire to Change, to take new shapes, colors or even swap genders. Little Shade may stay a female or she may instinctively decide to be male. Or, in an incredibly rare case, a hermaphrodite. These changes are not exclusive to puberty however. For instance, I have...been female for a good century.” Neethsi admitted sheepishly and I gawked at the hunk of manliness that is the naga Neethsi Nagnaresh, unable to envision him as a woman.

“Okay, that’s, wow.” I said as I blinked, wondering if such a Change might happen to me, turn me male again. Not that I’d care to, I’ve been female long enough to enjoy being a woman, I don’t think I would want to go back after all I’ve experienced.

“So I might turn into a boy instead of being pretty like mama? I don’t want that.” Shade mewled and I pet her head again to calm her back down.

“The Change is something that happens to all of us. I wasn’t always this massive. I’m particularly large even for a naga. I won’t complain so long as I do not become as small as I was in my youth. I always hated how small I had been.” Neethsi muttered and gestured to the room. “Well, take today to rest if you want. I won’t warp us to Markarth until you feel grounded.”

“Thank you.” I sighed before hugging Shade who mewled and rubbed my tummy.

“So no siblings?” Shade asked in disappointment and I nuzzled her between the eyes.

“Not for now hatchling.” I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes to get some rest.

📜

“Eugh...will it get less intense with time?” I groaned after vomiting the moment the teleport finished. At least this time the place he set up the teleportation runes wasn't in a sewer.

“Oh yes. When I first used the Guild Guide service in Morrowind between the Mage Guild halls, I tossed up my breakfast of nix bacon omelets made with kwama eggs and sage. It was twice as spicy coming up as it was going down.” Neethsi chuckled as he carried me over his shoulder again, Shade was in the Haven Bag, likely tossing her cookies too. Thank gosh we didn’t eat the food Keerava packed for us before we left.

“That is disgusting.” I gagged, not at the food he’d eaten, but with the image it spawned.

“Most people would say the same before they tried traditional dunmer cuisine. It’s very spicy and sour-sweet in general, but with Red Mountain dumping liquid Ebony and ash all over Vvardenfell, it is harder to enjoy things when so many native species have gone extinct, but nobody will complain about the disappearance of the Cliff Racers. Praise be to Saint Jiub The Eradicator.” Neethsi intoned and I feebly raised a hand with a weak ‘yay’.

When we emerged from the door hidden in a niche of the cliff faces surrounding Markarth, I sighed at the crisp air filling my lungs and he set me down before carefully walking me down the barely visible natural staircase. It was harrowing and the gusts of wind through the canyon helped me understand why a random person wouldn’t just stumble across Neethsi’s teleportation anchor.

We eventually reached the bottom, which was in a niche between what I think were the tunnel into Cidhna Mine and the door to the Hall of the Dead. “Paranoid much? Why not do what you did with Riften and just do that illusion over the door?” I asked and he looked at me as if disappointed.

“I know we haven’t had more magic lessons, but what made you think those stones were an illusion?” I blinked in confusion and then gaped at him, which caused him to wink. “I am perhaps one of the greatest Masters of Alteration on Nirn. My abilities are legendary. Where do you think the bridge connecting the narrowest part of the Inner Sea between southern Vvardenfell and Morrowind’s mainland came from? Nobody could have built such a thing, but the superstitious believe it was Vivec’s last gift to the ash-besieged citizens of his holy city.”

“Holy shit. What’s keeping you from just building a new Tower?” I asked and he opened his mouth, only to pause and hum.

“Hm...that is an idea. I’ll consider it.” Neethsi looked off into the middle-distance and became thoughtful while I shook my head and looked down into the canyon. Markarth was bigger than I remember from the games. Actually, the same went for Riften now that I think back on it. Despite that though, I could see people toiling away at the smelters as the mines still continued to pull silver from the earth.

“Say, Neethsi, this mine has been running constantly for several decades right? How does it still have silver?” I mean, the sheer abundance of a single type of ore just geologically makes no sense, but this isn’t Earth or some other physics-bound reality.

“Ah, a good question. Logically that can’t be possible, but then you must question the Earth Bones why they settle in one place instead of moving about when they weren’t composed of logic in the first place. To question reality is to entreat risks to sanity and soul, so most people simply ignorantly accept things as they are presented. In layman’s terms, there will never cease to be silver here, because the collective subconscious of the people here believe it will always have silver, so the Earth Bones provide.” Neethsi enigmatically lectured and I rolled my eyes. If I was going to achieve CHIM or Zero-Sum, I’d have done it already because I know the Truth.

“Plate tectonics makes earth move and quakes!” Shade blurted out after poking her head out of the bag like some cute handbag goblin.

“Perhaps in some alien realm not of Nirn. The land here is static and unmoving unless compelled into motion. Indeed earthquakes and shifting landmass are known here, but they have always been the act of a god or the collective effort of a great many people. For instance, Yokuda, west of Hammerfell, sunk into the sea from a cataclysm sparked by a rogue Sword Singer attempting a forbidden sword stroke. That is in no way natural. The same goes for the sinking of Thras; the homeland of the vile Sloads.” Neethsi went on to provide examples and I had to wonder what was up with Nirn and it’s obsession with sinking land under the ocean.

“Oh, okay.” Shade acknowledged and retreated back into the bag.

“I hope she doesn’t do that while people are around. Having a portable living space would draw unwanted attention.” I muttered and adjusted my full suit of armor that while assembled in Black Marsh, wasn’t too out of place for Skyrim aside from the chitin helm.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll just tighten the drawstring.” Neethsi did so and he led us through the industrial half of the city, avoiding the residential half and thus a lot of foot traffic. I didn’t fail to notice a lot of nords giving us suspicious leers and heard one or two mutter about ‘lizards’. Geez, we’re just walking through and they can’t help insulting us behind our backs? Talk about racist pricks. At least they aren’t openly attacking us.

We thankfully left through the main gate with no trouble, the guards likely pleased to see us leave even if they didn’t notice us enter the one-gate city. Huh? Are those Forsworn shopping at a caravan camped outside of the city walls? “Hey, Neethsi. What’s with the Forsworn not attacking everyone in sight?”

“Hm? Ah, the Forsworn were given an ultimatum when Vartine became the High King two decades ago. ‘Cease thine savagery and conduct your worship of your pagan gods in a civilized manner or be put to the sword by the combined might of all the Holds of Skyrim.’ Half of the Forsworn clans submitted for registration and allocation of unsettled land in the Reach, while the other half chose to die in one last attempt at sieging Markarth.” Neethsi casually informed me before climbing up the steep slope after passing a small farm on the left side of the road.

“Well, that’s one way to deal with a small nation’s worth of disgruntled and violent people.” I muttered, wondering who Vartine was. If the Empire won the civil war, then why wasn’t Elisif the High Queen? Or is she and she took a husband who was a more skilled politician than her? Vartine sounds like an Imperial name too. How did the Jarls come to agree on that?

“Hm, no bears or sabercats. This area is a favorite hunting ground for them.” Neethsi muttered while we neared the Lover Stone that was atop the small mountain that we’d climbed just outside of Markarth. I’m not even winded. I think taking the Atronach sign is helping my body adjust to all of my massive reserves. Do I have a Trait that converts overflow magicka to stamina? That is so cool if so. “Come on out now Shade, we’re at your stone.”

“Mmph!” The drawstrings bulged and Neethsi chuckled before he loosened them and my daughter emerged from the bag with a pout up at him. “Meanie. So, uh, how do I use the stone? Do I just put my arm through the hole? It’s too high.”

“No, just lay your hand upon it with the wish to accept it as your sign.” I told her and she quickly did so. Moments later, the hollow in the stone filled with light as the constellation on it shone the same color before a beam of said light fired into the late afternoon sky. “There. That’s one minor adventure done. Shall we head home? I’ve had enough of Skyrim.” It wasn’t too cold given it was summer, but I also didn’t care for the people here aside from the caravaners and the local non-nords or Hold Guards. Wow, nords are the worst, aside from supremacist Altmer.

“Don’t be too harsh. Skyrim is a beautiful place like anywhere else, it’s just that her people are distrustful. You will find the same in nearly any land in these times however. You simply have the benefit of being an argonian in Black Marsh.” Neethsi scooped Shade up, causing my little girl to giggle as he casually slid her back into the Haven Bag and I enjoyed when he hefted me onto his shoulder again.

I didn’t enjoy the teleport even if I avoided puking this time. The transition from dry and cool air to humid and hot air was less welcome than I anticipated, but the humidity eased the unnoticed dryness in my throat and gills. “I’m surprised you don’t get some sort of shock going between such intense climate differences.” I groaned as Neethsi set me back down on my boots.

“I have my own personal climate from an enchantment of my own making. I never feel too hot or too cold or either too wet or dry. When you become skilled enough in Enchanting, I’ll share that among many other enchantments with you.” Neethsi said moments before the door burst open and Twilight glared at us.

“I know I said I gave you permission, but please learn how to refine your teleportation spells to leave less volatile arcane resonance.” Twilight growled before slamming the door shut.

“Now I see why you didn’t just teleport us here before. This was with permission.” I shook my head in disbelief for how genuinely angry Twilight had been at us. “Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be working on the ritual?”

“Yes, but knowing her; she can likely pick up where she leaves off in the middle of it. She’s that sort of specially talented.” Neethsi praised the secret alicorn as he led us out of the room.

“Oh, okay then.” I muttered as I looked at the rune array that Twilight was magically carving in the circular concrete sidewalk that surrounded the empty plot of tilled soil in the center of the university’s central courtyard with her also lecturing students on runework. “I’m going to explore the city if I’m not needed.” I said as I casually retrieved Shade from the Haven Bag.

“Sweets?” My daughter asked with a wide smile as Neethsi waved goodbye while watching Twilight work her literal magic.

“Only if you behave.” I told her before we left the campus. That was when an ebony coin fell from the sky and resonated loudly next to us. I blinked before leaning over to pick it up since Ebony, even if more common from what I understand, was still worth plenty of-.

“Against all the Evil that Hell can conjure, all the Wickedness that Mortalkind can produce. We will send unto them, only you. Rip and Tear, until it is done.”

I felt a jolt realizing this was a Token and one of a Doomguy Displaced. It made a wave of nostalgia flow through me as I stared at it, wondering if I should summon such a powerful ally. I’m only shopping with my daughter, I don’t think summoning what would amount to a Demigod would be needed for that.

I almost pocketed the Token before Shade snatched it from me. “Wha-? Shade, why did you do that?” I demanded, feeling a little peeved that my little hatchling would take something from me.

“Berserker?” Shade mewled at the coin and I felt oddly bemused.

“...Who is this and how do you know me?” A familiar voice responded, catching both of us off guard if both of us taking a step back meant anything.

“Shade and I’m with my mommy!” Shade squealed excitedly and I warily looked around before feeling relief that nobody was watching my daughter talk at a coin that could be mistaken for a Daedric Artifact.

“Shade…you sound familiar, yet I can’t remember for the life of me. Why?” He questioned and I grabbed the coin when some people were getting closer.

“Look, I’ll contact you when we’re someplace private, I can’t exactly treat this casually.” I quickly pulled open my tunic and put the coin in my cleavage before a trio of mage students got too close and took Shade’s hand before guiding her towards the market.

“I get the feeling I know you too. Please contact me when you have the time so we can figure this out. Stay safe.” Berserker said, his voice echoing from my hidden cleavage and making me glad it was muffled enough not to be heard by the mages.

“Damn it. It was only a matter of time.” Displaced shenanigans, I’m surprised it took this long to catch up to me. At least I have myself more-or-less set up here by this point.

Next Chapter: Ch.16 Estimated time remaining: 16 Hours, 59 Minutes