24 An Unexpected Discovery IV

"Anyways, you mentioned you had some more work for me?" I say taking a large gulp of the wine.

"Yes. Originally, I planned to have you deliver this letter by yourself, but as you saw, Kasia is furious. It would be a load off my back if you can take her with you. May she consider it my unspoken apology for embarrassing her." Marcus says reaching for the wine bottle only to realize it is empty.

"Usually she would have to wear a mask whenever she travels with me outside of Jonestead… But I figured since your path is through the wilderness, it wouldn't hurt not to wear it this one time." Marcus says putting the bottle away and leaving his glass on the table before standing.

"Don't worry, Kasia will be safe with me. You have my word." I say finishing off my wine.

"Exactly what I want to hear, now… Now to tell you where you're going. Do you know of Euphoria Palace?" Marcus asks.

"I'm afraid not," I reply standing up as well.

"No problem. I'll mark it on your map. Here's the letter. Don't bother trying to read it. It's highly encrypted." Marcus says marking something on my map and handing me a rolled scroll.

"Deliver it to one of the guards at the front entrance. They'll know who it's for." Marcus continues.

"Alright, but what is Euphoria Palace?" I ask.

"It's a brothel. Now before you judge, I have business with the owners, not the courtesans. We go way back. Our friendship during these trying times will be beneficial for all. This letter is requesting their assistance. I'm going to bed to sleep this off, safe travels and remember, no cities. Oh, and lock the doors behind you." Marcus says heading off to his room.

And with that, I head upstairs to what I think is Kasia's room and knock on the door.

"Go away!" Kasia shouts through the door before I crack it open.

"You sure? I guess I could leave." I say opening the door further to see her wrapped up in a blanket on her bed.

"Oh… Hello again." Kasia sniffles, wiping her puffy eyes before asking, "Are you planning on staying a while longer? It would be nice to have some company for once." She mopingly jokes.

"I don't plan to be sticking around for long. What're you up to?" I ask entering the room and sitting in a free chair by a table of food in her room.

"Thinking about a way to get out of here. Walking out the door won't work if what dad said is true." Kasia says sitting up from her bed and taking the blanket off before saying, "Maybe stuff myself into a crate and wait to be shipped off? Bosska sends out shipments every other day. If I sneak into the warehouse during the middle of the night…" She ponders aloud before getting up from her bed to rummage through a chest in the corner of her room.

"Do you really think that would work?" I laugh leaning back in my chair while taking a bite from the apple on the table.

Kasia pauses before saying with a sigh, "If I… No, you're right. It won't. I just don't know what to do. Maybe I'm being selfish? My father needs me, I just wish he wouldn't be so paranoid about me getting hurt. Give me one chance to prove that I can look after myself! To explore Skyrim without him by my side! True freedom!"

"Congratulations, today's your lucky day. You get to come with me and my company on an errand." I say finishing the apple before eyeing the mead.

"What? Are you serious?! By the gods, what did you say to him?" Kasia exclaims in shock, before continuing ecstatically, "D-doesn't matter! I can't believe it! Thank you so much!" She jumps up and wraps me in a quick hug using both of us to blush before she lets me go and returns to rummaging through the chest.

"Let me get some of my gear! Oh, I better bring along my mask too…" Kasia says sadly looking at a mask she pulled from the chest.

"Oh, and he said you don't have to wear a mask, said it was his way to apologize for embarrassing you earlier," I chuckle.

"I… I don't know what to say! Ever since I was a child, we would always have to cover our faces everywhere we went... Again, thank you! If only you knew how long I've waited for this opportunity! Where are we going?" Kasia asks as she starts to change behind a changing screen, just blocking my sight as I heard her clothes rustling.

"Euphoria Palace, we have to hand a letter to one of the guards. But I have a lot more pressing matters to take care of, so we'll get a chance to travel a little before getting there." I say trying not to peek through any openings in the screen… Sadly it is a well-maintained wooden screen.

"Ugh… I knew this was too good to be true," Kasia groans, "My father is obsessed with that disgusting place. He always has an excuse… Delivering a letter… Checking up on an old friend… He can't admit that he's going there for… You know. Does he have no shame? I bet that letter is only to schedule another appointment."

"It's not exactly what you want, but you're still willing to come along, right?" I ask putting my chair back on the ground and drinking a glass of water I poured from a pitcher on the table.

"Yes! It's a chance to finally get out of Jonestead and see the world in a completely new way!" Kasia exclaims, "I'm not thrilled about the final destination, but the journey should be fun nonetheless. Maybe my father is turning over a new leaf? This could be his way of preparing me to leave the nest! My twentieth birthday is coming up."

"So, are you ready to go?" I ask as Kasia comes from around the screen.

"Right behind you!" Kasia calls as we make our way out of the house, through the town, and back to the main road where we begin to travel a few days before ending outside the gates of Riften.