The Twilight Warrior

Chapter 3

Kazhad-dar awoke to the stable doors smashing wide open and a familiar voice outside shouting orders. He sat up wondering what was happening and before he had time to get up the door to his lodgings swung open.

An old man entered, a look of rage upon his face. He was Imperial and the lines upon his face clearly showed his old age. He had long grey hair tied in a ponytail and a long but well groomed beard. He wore the dark red robes of a diplomatic Imperial envoy with gold streaks sewed into the satin. His name was Lucius Tharn, father to Saerus Tharn and master of the manor. Two guardsmen stood behind him, swords drawn.

"Get them up," he ordered.

El-Ja was now awake and had no idea what was happening. She tried to fight as one of the guards dragged her from her bedroll but Kazhad glanced over at her and she soon calmed herself as the Imperial soldier bound her hands.

"What is going on, master?" asked Kazhad. "What is the meaning of this?"

Before Lucius could answer Saerus burst into the room, out of breath. "Father!" he yelled. "What are you doing?"

"I know what happened with one of my men but only a week ago," Lucius replied. "I heard what these two caused out in the fields," he said, looking coldly over in El-Ja's direction. "This lizard burned one of my men to death. I have plenty of witnesses that can confirm it!"

El-Ja looked to Saerus, a look of confusion on her face. "No sir, that isn't what happened. Tell him Saerus!"

"Silence!" Lucius snapped. "Lock them in the cellars until I decide what's to be done with them. You're lucky I don't kill you where you stand."

"Father, wait a moment, you've got it all wrong. These two had nothing to do with the death of that man," Saerus exclaimed. "I killed him."

Lucius stared at his son, a look of grave concern on his face. He shook his head. "Are you really going to try and protect these lesser beings? There is no need for you to try and save them. They made their choice when they murdered that man. I will hear no more of this from you."

Before Saerus could reply, his father was out of the door.

~

 The manor's cellar was usually a place Kazhad-dar would come to steal some fine wine or empty a barrel or two of ale, but this time he wouldn't be so lucky. The two friends had been locked in a cage in the deepest part of the cellar. The smell of damp filled their nostrils to the point of them tasting the dank, unpleasant air.

"What will happen to us, Kaz?" asked El-Ja. "I'm scared."

Kazhad placed a claw on his friends' scaley arm. "Don't worry, El-Ja. I'm sure Saerus is working things out with his father. Lucius is a reasonable man, and a diplomat. This one knows that we will be fine."

"You might be fine," she replied, her voice cracking. "But I remember what Saerus told me when I first arrived here. He said his father hated my kind. Why would anyone blame me for that mans death? He deserved everything he got."

"The Imperials are a proud race," Kazhad said. "This one wagers the incident in the fields was seen by some of the other guards. They would not turn on their own kind, especially not on Saerus."

El-Ja didn't reply. She rolled over and tried to sleep, desperately trying to keep her sobs quiet. But Kazhad could hear her, and he held on to her hand until she cried herself into a deep slumber. She was awoken by footsteps approaching and squeezed Kazhad's hand, her heart racing.

Kazhad tried to make out who was coming but due to his blindness he couldn't see so well in the dark. A figure emerged from the darkness carrying a flaming torch, it was Saerus.

"How are you two doing?" he asked, a hint of sympathy in his voice.

"We are fine," Kazhad replied. "What are you doing here, Saerus? Did your father listen to you?"

Saerus stared at the floor and shook his head. "I'm afraid not. He refuses to believe that I was capable of such an act."

Kazhad sighed.

"What will happen to us?" he asked.

"I'm not sure just yet," replied Saerus. "I'm trying my best to resolve this situation before my father makes a decision that I cannot reverse."

Kazhad nodded and turned to his friend. "Don't worry, El-Ja. This one will not let them take you. Go back to sleep now, you are safe with Kazhad-dar here."

Saerus took a knapsack from his shoulder and offered it to the Khajiit. "Here," he said. "I brought you some food and a few water-skins. It's not much, but it should keep you going for a little while."

"This one thanks you, Saerus," Kazhad replied as he took the knapsack. "Will you stay a while? Kazhad-dar would like to talk."

"Of course," said Saerus. He walked to the side of the makeshift prison and sat against the wall, the bars the only thing between him and the Khajiit.

"This one always wondered about you, Saerus," said Kazhad between a mouthful of bread and cheese. "You are kind in your heart, yet you act like the other high-borns of your kind on the outside. Why is this?"

"I am a Tharn," replied Saerus. "I have my name to uphold. Sometimes I wish that I wasn't born into this family, but other times I realize how lucky I really am."

Kazhad nodded in acknowledgement, taking a gulp of water.

"This one was born into no family. Tell me Saerus, what happened on that night that you found me as a weeping cub? You have never told Kazhad-dar the full story. As this one is probably soon to be executed, I ask that you explain."

Saerus cleared his throat and glanced at the Khajiit, who was starting at him intently.

"As you probably know, before Elsweyr, your land consisted of sixteen independent realms. Pellitine, a realm to the south, was one of the first to trade with our Imperial City. After the Thrassian Plague, the sixteen kingdoms collapsed and only two remained, Anequina to the north and Pellitine to the south. These two kingdoms waged war on each other for years, and Pellitine eventually requested aid from the Imperials. We acknowledged their pleas for help and helped them fight."

Kazhad-dar was listening with earnest, eager for more.

"Twenty years ago, my father sent me to Pellitine with a squadron of Imperial's. Battlemages, Knights and soldiers alike. We ambushed one of Anequina's regiments, and I won't lie, it was easily won. The Khajiit are brave warriors, but they didn't stand a chance against their southern counterparts who had brought an Imperial army with them."

Saerus paused and bowed his head.

"I found you in what looked like a General's quarters, a large tent at the very top of the hill. I don't know who your father was, but he wasn't there when I arrived, I can only assume he was killed in the battle. Your mother was dead when I found you, I think she suffered complications giving birth to you."

He paused again. "Should I continue?" he asked and looked to Kazhad-dar.

The Khajiit nodded.

Saerus took a deep breath and carried on.

"I was going to leave you where you lay, crying in the dirt. But something came over me, I don't know what it was. But something told me I couldn't leave you in there to die, so I carried you across the battlefield and back to the Imperial flagship. And then here we are." 

Kazhad-dar was silent for a short while, and then he looked up at Saerus. "This one thanks you," he said. "For telling me the full story, and not just the smaller details."

Saerus smiled and took a swig from his flask. "Despite our differences, you are like a brother to me Kaz. I do not see you as a lesser being, just a more unfortunate one. I will try my best to make sure no harm comes to either of you."

"Thank you, Saerus," replied Kazhad.

With that, the Tharn stood and took his leave, leaving the two companions his burning torch. Kazhad closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.