[IC] Elder Scrolls: The Arcane Refugee (Azena X Midna-Phobia)

[Azena]

Ryder was getting tired. He was tired of all the fighting. Now that his brother was an enemy, he couldn't much stand for any more blood. The past few days had left him physically drained and the lack of proper rest was finally catching up to him. He didn't even bother to struggle as the mages bound Ryder's hands behind his back and set him down near the fire. He was across the camp from Ashe and he struggled for only a second. The rope was bound tight around his wrists.

"I thought I killed you back in the city." Alex stated as he walked into view. He stepped in between them and blocked Ryder's view of Ashe. He struggled a little more, even managing to rise to his feet. Alex glided towards him and punched him in the gut. Ryder was always stronger than Alex, but in his weakened state the punch was enough to put him back on his knees. After all the running and hiding, it was starting to feel like the end had finally arrived and it was brought by the person they trusted more than any.

"We trusted you, Alex. You kept us safe for years, so why do this now?" Alex laughed a little and returned his attention to Ashe.

"It took me a while to realize why Ashe was so powerful. Once I found the prophecy, it all became clear and I knew what had to be done." Alex picked Ashe up by her hair so that he could look into her eyes. He dropped her after staring for a moment and then began chanting. It was a strange language that Ryder had never heard before. He struggled to free his hands, but the binding was too tight. He settled as the mist from the capitol started to roll in. Alex only stalled his chanting for a moment to signal his men to search the mist. It was no coincidence for it to appear twice so soon. This was the work of a spellcaster.

"Ashe, we have to get free!"

[Midna-Phobia]

Ashe had given up. She was tired too. Tired of fighting. Tired of always living in fear or anger. And now that Ryder was gone, what did she have to live for? He’d died because of her. He’d saved her life and she couldn’t even repay that one debt. She saw no point in fighting Alex. That was until he came into view. Her eyes widened and Ashe let out a small gasp as she saw Ryder, rather beat up looking and incredibly drained. But he was alive. She felt a few tears come to her eyes as he struggled to his feet, only to fall back to his knees as Alex attacked him.

Her eyes narrowed, hatred seeping from them as he grabbed her by her hair before dropping her to the ground. She looked to Ryder as he told her she needed to get free. She looked down at herself and then back to him and nodded slowly. She could. She knew she could at least do this for him after she’d done so much to him. But she was so weak. After all the trying to kill herself thing she was running low on Mana and this collar. This damn collar.

Closing her eyes Ashe tried to concentrate. It was hard with the constant chanting. It was making it difficult for her to think, to focus what little magic remained. She knew Ryder had told her never to teleport, because of the dangers involved. But she hoped that this time he’d forgive her, considering the circumstances. At first nothing seemed to happen, when suddenly the collar around her neck began glowing blue and suddenly Ashe vanished, the ropes that had bound her dropping to the ground. She appeared beside Ryder a moment later and hesitated for a moment as her head spun however she used her now freed hands to grab the knife at his belt and cut the ropes that bound his hands.

[Azena]

Ryder continued his hopeless struggle to free himself. He managed to get back to his feet. The mages were too concerned with the mist to care that he had stood up. He looked up just in time to see Ashe disappear. His eyes widened and he looked up at Alex. He had the same look of surprise. It wasn't part of the ritual, which meant that Ashe was taking risks again. Given their current situation, he couldn't exactly blame her.

He felt the hands reaching around him and looked back to see Ashe working quickly. When the bindings broke, he had to fight the urge to take on Alex. Ryder knew he was too weak for a head on fight with a mage, especially without any weapons or armor. It would be suicide, and he wasn't about to let Ashe take him on by herself. As he started pushing her towards the trees, a red orb flew past them and hit one of the mages.

"You...you are trying to kill me! You always were!" The mage started shouting at his closest comrades. He raised his hands and started shooting lightning at the rest of the mages. The camp became a dizzying sight of light as spells and wards were tossed around. More bolts of light, in varying colors, shot out from the tree line. Blake ran out from their origin and started shouting at Ryder and Ashe. Ryder couldn't make out what Blake was saying. The spells were causing too much noise, but he kept motioning for them to follow. Ryder took a look back at Alex, but he was busy repelling elemental strikes from two of his own men. It was their best chance.

Ryder took Ashe under his arm, partially to protect her and partially to help steady himself, and guided her towards Blake. They entered the trees and the scene started to make sense. Isabel was hiding behind a tree as they approached. She took the chance to throw one more spell of her own before she nodded to Ryder and led them into the forest.

[Midna-Phobia]

For a few moments she waited tensely for Ryder to charge in at Alex. She was weak but Ashe would never let him face that man alone, not after what he’d done to them. Ryder wouldn’t stand a chance alone. However she began to wonder if she would either. When the fog began rolling in and spells began flying Ashe looked around in confusion as Ryder took her under his arm and began leading her into the forest. Looking up at him she could see, and feel how tired he was and the girl did her best to support him before she saw Isabel and Blake up ahead.

Looking over to Ryder she wondered if this had been his plan. If he had known they were coming. They moved as far away from the scene as possible before Ashe felt Ryder faulting, or maybe it was her. That was a big possibility. “Stop. We need to stop!” She called out to the others, who were a bit of a way ahead of them. “Please?” She lowered Ryder to the ground before sinking down next to him, breathing heavily as she turned into him, closing her eyes as she felt tears welling up in her eyes.

“I thought I’d lost you.” She said softly, trying to keep her body from shaking too much. It was a combination of the exhaustion and the realisation that she had lost him at one point. In her mind she had been dead and she had lost any will to live. She had almost killed herself on him. Ashe tried not to imagine how angry Ryder would have been if he’d found out that. Ashe made a small vow to herself that even if anything ever did happen to Ryder, if he should ever leave her she couldn’t give up again. He wouldn’t want it that way. She’d fight, even if she lost a lot of her reason to.

[Azena]

All Ryder could manage was a smile. He was just tired. At that point, he was convinced it was more than just physical exhaustion. He was tired of the running and of being hunted. Not just the past few days, but this had pretty much been his life since the day he met Ashe. He wasn't getting any younger. Keeping up with their lifestyle was getting hard. Isabel took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"We have to keep moving. My spells have worn off by now and your uncle will be after you. I'll take him." She shifted Ryder so that the weight came off Ashe and onto her. Blake came over and offered his own shoulders to support Ashe, if she needed it. Isabel looked back at the orange glow of the camp. It was brighter than she expected. The smokestack in the sky was wider than it should have been.

"Fire." Ryder whispered. He could see what Isabel was pondering. Something happened at the camp. Rogue fire spells must have lit up the forest surrounding the camp. There was no telling how fast or far the fire would spread, but it was still good news. More than likely the fire cut them off from Alex. At least, it would be distracting him for the time being. Guards would respond soon and slow down whoever they caught in the woods.

"We need to get to get back to the capitol and find a place to lay low." Isabel shifted Ryder again. He was heavier than she expected. She was surprised that Ashe managed to carry him so far on her own. Once she got a better grip, Isabel started marching towards the city walls. She didn't have a plan, she just knew they had to stay a step ahead of their enemies. It was the golden rule from her life as a bandit.

[Midna-Phobia]

Ashe looked to Ryder in concern. He just looked so tired. She was worried about how pushing him may affect him. When Isabel took Ryder from her Ashe looed to him worriedly but didn’t say anything, simply shaking her head when Blake offered her a shoulder to lean on too. She could be strong for now whilst Ryder needed her to. She could ignore her own exhaustion for just a little longer. She turned to look back at the fire and then back to the others. They couldn’t waste this opportunity, nor think they were allowed to slack because of it.

“I don’t know where we could hide in the capitol.” She said softly to Isabel. “That’s Alex’s city. He knows it better than we do.” It was her Alex was after. It would be easy to turn herself over to him and let the others escape. But that would be instantly breaking the promise she’d made to herself and to Ryder. They were strongest when they were together. She always felt so much stronger when he was there than any time she was on her own. Shaking her head quickly Ashe knew she needed to stay positive.

“The slums.” She eventually said as they entered the city. “Alex will be expecting us to head to a doctors or to one of our friends. I don’t think he’ll think to look for us in there.” She turned down a street and began leading Isabel, Ryder and Blake into the darker, seedier parts of the city. Beggars looked up at them, but didn’t move, didn’t say anything. “I’m not too sure where to from here.” Ashe eventually said uncertainly as she looked around and then back to Isabel and Ryder. She just didn’t know. She was used to Ryder making decisions about things like this. She’d even take Isabel telling her what to do right now, as long as she had some kind of direction. She just felt so lost right now.

[Azena]

Ryder willed his legs to keep moving. It was easier with Isabel at his side. She was taller than Ashe and made his balance easier to maintain. He wasn't thrilled about the idea of going into the slums, but Ashe was right. Alex would find them if they went anywhere else. They didn't have the luxury of running for a different city just yet. It was dangerously stupid, but it was their best option. Isabel let Ryder rest against a stump while they planned their next move.

"I might be able to help you there." Ryder reached for Isabel's dagger and threw it in the direction of the voice. The owner didn't move a muscle. Ryder was too dizzy and weak to get the blade anywhere near him. A Khajiit with pitch black fur and golden eyes stood in front of them. He wasn't a beggar or even poor like the rest in the area. He was actually wearing a leather garb of some kind. It was too difficult to make out the details in the moonlight.

"Khajiit knows a safe place. You follow him." Ryder was always annoyed by the cat people. They spoke in third person. Isabel picked him back up. She straightened him up when Ryder tried to resist. He didn't trust the strange cat, but Isabel did so he didn't have much say in the matter.

"Come on, he's just a Thief." The Khajiit walked to the other side of the alley and opened up the sewer grate. He knelt by it and motioned for them all to go down. Ryder instinct was to kill the cat and run, but Isabel pulled him closer and looked down the dark hole. "Ashe, take your father. I'll go down first and help him down."

"Khajiit will lead bad men away."

[Midna-Phobia]

At the sound of the voice Ashe moved instantly between the source of the noise and Ryder, feeling what little of her Magika remained flaring up protectively, despite the fact she probably wouldn’t have been able to do much. Her eyes watched Ryder’s dagger fall very short of his mark and she looked over towards the exhausted man. When he offered an escape for them Ashe jumped at the chance, despite feeling wary. She knew Ryder wouldn’t like the idea, but she also knew they didn’t have any other option at the moment. If they didn’t take his help then they had no other options at the moment.

If it turned out to be a trap… well then Alex was way too far ahead of them and there was only one option. Ashe took Ryder as Isabel sank into the hole before them and she helped him down to Isabel. She then turned to the cat as Blake followed the first two into the sewers. “I hope we can trust you.” She said softly, looking to him uncertainly. “If not…” She didn’t finish and jumped down into the sewers too. It was dark down here, dark and damp and smelly. Ashe took the chance to take a break for the first time in what felt like forever and she sank to the ground, cringing at the squelching noise.

She let her eyes close tiredly, her breathing slowing as she moved into a kind of semi-trance like state. She needed rest. She needed to concentrate. She needed to collect her thoughts and calm her emotions. Ashe suspected the others would want to press on, but she needed a minute, and she knew Ryder needed rest. “Just… give me a moment.” She asked softly, looking over to Isabel. “I just… need time to process.” Alex… how could he do this to them? To his own brother? She knew she wasn’t related to him by blood, but they were like family. He and Ryder were the closest thing she had. And he had betrayed them.

[Azena]

Isabel helped Ryder leaning against the wall. He slowly slid down and let his legs stretch out. His feet splashed up so water, or he hoped that's what it was. Above them, the grate was being grinded against the rocks and back into place. A second later and the Khajiit dropped down from the ladder. He sparked up a torch and the dark tunnel flared into life. Rats fled from the unnatural light and steam appeared from around the torch.

"Not safe here. Guild not far. We go now." Isabel frowned at the suggestion. She knew the others needed rest, but the cat was right. The sewers may have saved them from Alex, but who's to say he wouldn't search them? Who's to say he didn't have eyes in the city that saw them come down? They had to keep moving. Isable knelt down and put Ryder's arm around her shoulders. She stood him up and followed as the Khajiit started down the tunnel.

"Come on. We can rest when we're safe. Blake, help her." Isabel suggested as she marched Ryder past the kids. Her eyes shifted at every turn of the tunnels. There was more than rats in the tunnels and she wasn't about to be caught off guard. She noticed a white marking on the wall. It was a circle with a triangle attached. It formed a sort of arrow that pointed right, the path the Khajiit took. They're guild markings, so that guild members could easily find the hideout.

[Midna-Phobia]

Ashe looked to the cat and groaned in protest, but pushed herself to her feet. As Blake hesitantly approached her she shook her head firmly. “I can manage.” She promised as she sloshed through the water after the cat, Isabel and Ryder, giving one last look to the cover to the entrance of the sewers before she began trudging along in the foul water. It was dark down here, and with the sun on its decent in the sky above it was starting to get colder. Ashe began wondering just how cold it was going to get down here once night fell.

The tunnel wasn’t changing in size or anything like that, at least not that Ashe could see and she was concentrating so much on the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other that she didn’t notice how much time passed or where they were going. She found her mind wondering, trying to figure out what the hideout would look like before they got there. A few things passed through her mind, one was that maybe they had made their home within a large flood chamber within the sewers but she swiftly dismissed that.

It was too impractical. Every time there was heavy rain the hideout would be flooded. Hundreds of people would die. Her mind too fuzzy to concentrate on the task for long she eventually gave up and once again began focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

[Azena]

The tunnels seemed to go on forever. Isabel could swear the cat was taking them around in circles. She was starting to get worried. She normally wouldn't trust a random stranger that seemed to know their situation, but it was the rock or a hard place. Taking on a thief was nothing compared to a horde of pissed off mages. Finally, the Khajiit stopped and looked around. Isabel felt her magika channeling into her hand. She let it go when the cat started pushing on the walls.

"It's here somewhere...I...Ah!" The Khajiit stepped back as the wall slid away and revealed a tavern of sorts. The secret hideout of the imperial thieves and it wasn't that impressive. Isabel got the impression that it was formerly a crypt of some kind. The lingering dead felt heavy in the air. They walked across the torch-lit path and over to the bar. A few members of the guild were lingering around with their drinks, but none of them paid any attention when the strangers entered.

"So, you finally made it. Come and sit...or maybe lay down. You all don't look to hot." The barkeep, a large bald man, boomed across the tables.