PLEASE NOTE: This story contains settings, races and other scenery elements created by BETHESDA and the brilliant artist and writers in their employ. They retain all rights to the ELDER SCROLLS universe they created, I am but a humble story weaver.
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While Liliah was curling up beside Corellion and drifting off to sleep, Jo'Zan-Virr was two towns back up the road in the direction of Balmora and calling it an evening also, shooting a mild look of annoyance at his new travelling companion, and wishing she would go somewhere, anywhere else. He sighed, forcing himself to show patience, and admitting the only reason he had any problem with her was simply because she wasn't Liliah.
His timing had been off, and he had returned to Balmora with the intention of buying the handmaid's freedom almost a week after Corellion and Lili had already departed. He remembered marching straight to the Hlaalu mansion with great zeal and determination, only to be met at the gate by guards whom had informed him that Korinne would not be at home until later in the day after the bath house had closed. When they had asked if he wished to leave a message, he instead inquired as to the location of the bath house. He gave the mer a tip for the information, and had gone straight there, feeling even more determined and adamant about seeing things turn to his favor.
The moment he walked through the door of the bath house, spotting Korinne but not Lili, his heart sank and his stomach knotted, the look on Korinne's face doing little to ease his apprehension. He had scanned the interior briefly, then scowled at the Dunmeri woman demanding, "Where is Liliah?"
Korinne snorted softly, scowling back at him, "Oh, hadn't you heard? She grew tired of waiting for you to return and sought her freedom through other means Sir Khajiit, you are too late." She gave him a narrow eyed look, and made a dismissive gesture with her quill as though attempting to shoo him away, muttering shortly "Unless you are here to buy services, I ask that you see yourself out, I have work to do."
Zan narrowed his feline eyes at Korinne, his ears flattening back as he felt the fur on the back of his neck stand on end in agitation. He growled softly, stepping closer to the counter menacingly, placing his large furry paws on the counter as he leaned in closer, his voice low, "What do you mean she has sought her freedom through other means. What have you done with her?" Korinne looked at his furry hands on her counter as though a spider had just walked up and sat down, looking back up at Zan with a look of annoyance, rolling her eyes slightly,"You say this as though I had any say in the matter and in fact made no attempt to convince her not to leave. I didn't see you here whispering sweet nothings to her convincing her not to run off with Lord snobby Altmer," She sneered, giving him a contemptuous look, "Perhaps if you had returned and tended the lusty little beast instead of leaving her here to pine and mope, things may have turned out differently."
Zan dropped his head, realizing with shame that it had already been more than a month since their encounter. He had not even thought to quill a letter or note to leave for her, something to remind her he was still intending to return, and that his words had not been empty. He sighed heavily, his temper fading and he shook his head slightly, explaining, "This one did not realize...He was working, earning gold drakes, so that Khajiit might return with enough to purchase her freedom..."
Korinne gave a humorless chuckle shaking her head, "Well, it's worth roughly naught, but had you returned and she had agreed to go with you, I would have allowed it. As it is, I'm sure she is well on her way to Summerset. Her new employer thinks to teach her academics and train her in magic use, and marry her off to a wealthy suitor...Quite the little fairy tale."
Zan peered at the Dunmer suspiciously, wondering why she was telling him all of this. She looked thinner than when he had seen her last and as though she'd had little sleep recently. Standing up straighter, he'd asked her the only question that was burning in his mind "How long ago, how far ahead are they?"
Korinne smiled at him, a sympathetic sort of smile, telling him, "Six days ago. You should likely know though, she has her eyes on a new prize and will not be easily distracted...go after her if you like, but you may be better served cutting your losses and finding a nice Khajiit girl to settle down and raise a family with,"She steepled her fingers on the desk resting her chin on them and looking utterly disinterested. Zan gave a derisive snort, replying cuttingly "And you have been able to so easily replace her yourself yes?" Korinne shot him an annoyed scowl, snapping, "What is it that you want from me? She is not here, and I have told you what I know about where she has gone. Aside from that, if you are not interested in company
other
than hers,
I
can't help you." She gave him an impatient look, then smiled suddenly, giving Zan a cunning look. "It does seem rather unfortunate that you should have gone to all this trouble to simply leave here empty handed, perhaps we could yet prove of some value to one another?"
Zan glared at the Dunmer, lifting a brow expectantly, "This one is listening.."
Korinne gave a shrewd little grin, rising to her feet suddenly, and bowing her head slightly, "Wait here.." she said, and Zan had watched her go to the far back room off the bath house, speaking in soft tones to coax out the girl in the room, putting an arm around her shoulders to steer her towards the counter. She was entirely white from head to toe, with longer than normal fur on her tail, and black markings around her large sky-blue eyes. She peeked up at him shyly, her ears flattened back, and her tail twitching nervously as she stood there quietly, waiting.
Korinne sat back down at her desk, looking at Zan's reaction as he looked at the Khajiit girl, leaning back in her chair and nodding at the girl as she said "She hasn't been here long, and nobody has been able to even figure out her name, all she does since she has come her is cry incessantly. She is still pure and untouched, but I seem to recall you are able to handle that without much problem, and she's truly no use to me here. An impulse purchase i suppose, she is undeniably lovely, but entirely despondent. Perhaps if she would rather go with you than stay here...we could negotiate a fair price," Korinne flashed him one of her sharp cunning smiles, waiting for him to speak as he looked again at the Khajiit girl. As Korinne had spoken of sending her with Zan, the girl had given the Mer a look of surprise, her mouth falling open, then she had looked up at Zan with an almost pleading look.
Zan glared at Korinne "What sort of game do you play Dunmer?"
Korinne shrugged slightly as though it made little difference to her either way, "No game, and entirely up to you."
"And...if this one refuses?"
