Edovan noticed immediately that something was different about this room. Something... unnerving. His eyes were taking longer than usual to adjust for some reason, and he felt strangely cut off and isolated somehow, though through the gloom he could see the room was a cozy size, with comfortable and well crafted Nord furniture, decorations and accoutrements. It was dark for the most part, only candles and few old fashioned lamps lit the room, and even then, not very well. No magical illumination. And it appeared at first glance to be completely devoid of any of the magical runes that had covered the outside of the building, or that had filled the entryway.
He looked behind himself again and noticed that this side of the large metal doors was blank, as well. He held out his hand and tried to summon forth Candlelight, a very rudimentary alteration spell that even the most neophyte mages could master. Nothing happened. He felt the word of power pass his lips, but then it just disappeared into nothingness, the sound never even reaching his ears. It was then he realized that even the large ornate jewel on his staff wasn't giving off any of its customary dark ruby light.
He was staring back and forth between the door and his staff in disbelief when he heard a dusky and seductive but strangely familiar female voice.
"What's the matter little mouse? Scared of strange, dark places? Hmmmmm?" It purred from somewhere directly behind and well above him.
Edovan whirled around quickly and found himself face-to-leather-clad-crotch with the owner of the sultry voice. He backed away unconsciously, as his eyes finally began to adjust to the darkness. She seemingly materialized in front of him as if from the shadows themselves. She was tall, long of leg, well proportioned, and tightly packed into skin tight black leather breeches and a reinforced leather bodice that reminded him a lot of Yagaritte's working outfit, except for the fact that these were armored in tiny black shiny scales that shimmered under the soft flames of the torches, candles and lanterns that were scattered through the room in a futile attempt to light it properly. If anything they only seemed to increase the shadows, if that was somehow possible.
His gaze swept upward, past her considerable bosom, to her face... and his heart leapt. That strong, but feminine chin! That confidant, if not somewhat predatory, smile... It had to be...
"Yag-" he started to call, but cut himself short as she stepped forward into the glow of a nearby lantern's light, illuminating her just enough for Edovan to distinguish her features more clearly.
It was as if Yagaritte had aged twenty years somehow. Same face, still beautiful, but lined with years of wisdom, and much colder and hungrier. This woman's long luxurious hair was also silvery white and braided down her back, and her eyes were a cold blue grey, like winter storms or icebergs, and though smiling, seemed to be giving off just about as much warmth. This was not Yagaritte, but she must be some kind of close kin for such a striking resemblance.
Edovan could feel the iciness of her eyes seeping into his spine. He shuddered. "Ah..." he intoned. Once again, unsure of himself and having zero idea of what was happening in his life.
"Are you...?" he trailed off.
"Yes. I'm the Commander," she said matter of factly, and slowly came down on one knee in front of him, those ice cold eyes still boring through him, and now from much closer.
"And you must be the "Little Mouse" I keep hearing so much about." Her voice was dark and throaty, with the barest hint of a growl, and now from this distance, he noticed her teeth seemed brighter and sharper somehow and her mouth was larger. It was almost as if Yagaritte had been turned into some sort of sentient humanoid sabrecat.
Even down on one knee, just like Yagaritte, she towered over him, his head being eye level with her bust. She reached out her hand and lightly, but firmly, grasped his chin, turned his head slightly side to side, staring intently at his face. He did not resist her. Lizard brain was gleefully pointing out that her ample cleavage was now just inches from his face, and though it was not quite as ample as Yagaritte's. it was certainly ample enough to conjure up that memory of when they had first met, and she had pinned him to the wall. Logical brain was certain that if THIS woman had been there that day instead of Yagaritte, he wouldn't be standing here today.
Yagaritte, for all her scariness, could be warm, soft and inviting, both in voice and body. This woman appeared to be ice, ice... and... more ice. Her face was cold, glacial, unreadable to him.
She released his chin and grasped his ears, slowly rubbing her thumb around the inside curves in a way that made him flush red, sending shivers down his spine, and then squeezing the pointed tips. What on earth was she doing? He finally got up the courage to say something.
"Ma'am... I..."
She cut him off, her hands dropping from his ears to grasp his arms through his coat.
"Where are you from, Little Mouse?" She said, squeezing his forearms, and then his biceps, experimentally with her strong hands while staring intently at him with those iceberg eyes.
"Wayrest... in Highrock." He'd blurted it out, without even thinking. Not a cover story, not a hastily thought up fabrication, but the truth. He'd spoken the truth. Curse the Nine...
"Interesting..." was all she said in response. Her hands moved from his arms down to his chest. She poked him. Lightly at first, but then harder.
"And you are full Bosmer?" she questioned.
"Ow. Yes ma'am." he nodded.
Her hands continued their examination down his body; poking, prodding, occasionally squeezing. Eventually drifting down to his hips. Gripping him tightly on either side, she pulled him a little closer to her, so close that his face was actually between her prodigious bosoms, but without touching them. He stood, frozen in place, daring not to move lest he brush into them. He had no idea what she was doing. Was it some kind of physical exam? Much to lizard brain's disappointment, there didn't seem to be anything sexual about her touch, and though he did feel somewhat violated, as usual, he had no ability to resist.
