Episode 3: An Invitation

  Chapter 2

  "Let's see how this works out," came Dad's voice from the kitchen. "A hearty Skyrim recipe with exotic Morrowind ingredients!"

  Daria sniffed and caught the scent of fish mixed with local herbs. Mom paid her husband no heed, her eyes intent on a legal document she'd taken to the table with her. Quinn, meanwhile, chattered on about her friends.

  "... and I told Satheri that she looked really good in blue, but that she'd look way better if she added some gold trim."

  "Oh, for goodness sake!" Mom exclaimed. "It's like the guild still thinks we're in Cyrodiil. I have half a mind to go down to Mournhold and tell them what we're dealing with up here."

  "The secret," Dad said, "is to use just the right amount of hackle-lo. Too much, and you can't taste the fish anymore. Too little, and you only taste the fish!"

  Daria wondered when she should bring up the invitation. It wasn't something they expected of her. Quinn would go right into it without hesitation, any invitation just one of many to be considered and weighed like a new outfit for her ever-growing wardrobe. Best for Daria to follow suit.

  She opened her mouth to speak.

  "By the way," Quinn said, "I was talking to Serjo Briltasi Talori, you know, of the Talori family, and she invited us to this big party she's having on Loredas. It sounds like everyone's going to be there, so it'd be great for me. And the rest of you, of course. Maybe not you," she finished, looking at Daria.

  Dammit so much.

  "The Taloris? They’re an important family here," Mom said, finally putting down the papers.

  "Not that important," Daria said. "They don't even show up in the Yellow Book." Quinn had already stolen her glory. A bit of snark was the least she could do.

  Mom rolled her eyes. "Nonsense, Daria. The Taloris might not be the most influential, but they are at least connected to everyone in Balmora, and they work closely with outlanders. Jake, did you hear that?"

  "I sure did! That's why I added in a dash of russula. Really adds that Morrowind-y flavor—"

  "Jake! Are you paying any attention at all?"

  "I am!" Dad rushed out of the kitchen. "Um, I totally approve of what you said."

  "Quinn just informed me that the Taloris have invited the family over to a banquet on Loredas evening. I think it'd be a great opportunity for all of us."

  "The Taloris? Sure, that's a great idea!"

  He vanished back into the kitchen.

  "It'd be a particularly good opportunity for you, Daria. You could meet a lot of potential employers at this party," Mom said.

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  Daria feigned a thoughtful expression. "I don't know. I hear that Daedric cults are hiring a lot of savants right now. We're the only ones who can keep track of all the pesky details that go into a good ritual summoning."

  Mom sighed. "Don't embarrass us. Like it or not, we need to make connections here."

  Later that evening, Daria walked up to her room to find Quinn practicing the steps to an Imperial minuet. She hummed as she glided back and forth in the constrained space, visions of grand ballrooms and handsome suitors doubtless flitting through her mind.

  "By the way, Briltasi invited me, too," Daria said.

  Quinn stopped mid-step and stared.

  "Is this some kind of joke?"

  Daria kept at it. "Normally, I wouldn't care enough to bring this up, but does Briltasi know we're sisters? Since I remember Synda being less than happy about you denying that. Dunmer take family relations very seriously."

  "Of course, I told Briltasi!"

  "So why did she invite me separately?"

  Quinn tapped her cheek with an index finger, eyes intent. "Oh, probably because I didn't mention your name. I just said I had a sister and that she'd be coming along."

  Daria let herself relax. "Good."

  "Why would Briltasi invite you? You don't know anyone. Except that one girl."

  "I gave Briltasi access to my extensive network of loyal assassins. Already she's climbing to the top of the Hlaalu hierarchy, a trail of dead bodies in her path."

  Quinn shook her head. "You are so weird, Daria."

  With that, Quinn returned to her dancing. Daria watched for a while, trying and failing to remember the nimble steps. She'd have to practice, but was too tired to even consider it that night. Another thing about parties she hated. Did Dunmer even dance?

  One thing was sure: She needed to get Jane to that party.

  *********

  Briltasi found Daria early the next day.

  "My dad said he'd be happy to have a lawyer's family at the banquet, so you're in!" she squealed.

  Daria inclined her head slightly, the world feeling slightly surreal. "Thank you," she said. After giving it some thought, she decided it'd be best for Briltasi to know the truth. "Did you also invite Quinn yesterday?"

  "Sure! She's really popular, and she said her mom was a lawyer. Huh, kind of like yours. Are your moms friends?"

  "In a manner of speaking. Quinn and I are sisters."

  "Ohhh, so you're the sister she mentioned," Briltasi said. "Wow, you two don't look alike!"

  "Well..." Daria wanted to finish her line. To say: "... we used to, but we had to hire a wizard to alter her face after going into witness protection."

  But she couldn't. Because, like it or not, Quinn was an asset for the family and for Daria's future well-being. Everything depended on who you knew, and the world was a vast prison of gossip and backslapping and flattery. Undermining Quinn would make things worse.

  "Quinn got a lot luckier in the looks department," Daria blurted out, knowing it was true and completely believable. Cheeks burned at the admission. Gods, this was humiliating.

  "One more thing," Daria said, steering the conversation to a new subject. "Would it be all right if I brought a friend?"

  Briltasi frowned, like someone asked to do something not entirely legitimate. "Maybe. Who?"

  "Jane Llayn."

  "I don't think so, Daria. Her family's not reputable. I don't even know if she has a family."

  Daria thought about it. "You'll have servants at the party, right?"

  "Of course!"

  "So would one more menial really matter?" Didn't feel right to call Jane a menial, but it was technically true.

  Briltasi made a frustrated sound, halfway between a hum and a squeak. Maybe it was best to drop it. Dealing with a boring party wasn't worth risking Morgendorffer status. Except that Synda would be there, cruel and ruthless Synda, connected to the Cammona Tong and all of Morrowind's barely hidden violence...

  "Here's the thing," Daria said, speaking faster than she normally did, wanting to say her piece and see if it worked so she could stop worrying. "My family wants to commemorate being invited to your fine, uh, party. And I thought Jane could paint a picture to capture the event."

  A hell of a lie. But now she was sweating. Would Jane be all right with this?

  Briltasi thought about it for a bit. "I guess it's okay if you bring her as a menial. But she should only talk to other outlanders."

  Perfect. Those were the kind who'd give Jane business, anyway.

  "Fine, I'll let her know," Daria said hurriedly, exhausted from the effort of the lie. "And thanks. I appreciate this. I mean that."

  Musical Closer -