Adeena

"Oh, stranger … what have you done?"

What do you mean? "The woman you are escorting … O wayfarer, she is not my sister. The Daedra, Anexiel, has taken control of her. Can you not see it?"

Explain yourself. "Yes, I'm sorry. Forgive me. When my sister heard that I'd been taken by a Daedra, she came to rescue me. I was possessed for … I don't know. Hours? Days? Weeks? My memory—it's nothing but screaming and dancing shadows."

Go on. "It's all so foggy … muddled. She drew the creature out of me and into herself. She was gritting her teeth, and screaming. Oh, it was horrible! She said she was going to put up wards before the creature overtook her. To keep the monster out."

To keep the ritual from taking place? "Yes! Yes, wayfarer, just so. Don't let it win!"

I have been misled.

"Listen to me. Wayfarer, please. That is not my sister—not anymore. You can't believe its lies. It's … it's manipulating you!"

Why should I believe you? "Because what I'm saying is true! Oh, I've never been good at … speaking my mind. Please, stranger, think of what you've done!"

Is there any way to prove you're telling the truth? "If there was, I would have told you already!"

If I believed you, what should I do about Izzara? "What's that in your hand? Is that her talisman? In my trance I heard a voice. When it wasn't screaming, it whispered about a talisman. A talisman just like that. If you use it on my sister it might draw the creature out."

I'll consider it.

"Tu'whacca's breath. What have we done …."

What happened? "I don't know. I thought it needed me. But Izzara was my twin. We were bound by blood. That must have been enough. Tu'whacca be kind."

I won't let it leave these ruins. "Yes—it might still be weak from the summoning. Onsi protect you. I'll … see to my sister."

I'll do what I can.

"Did you kill that thing?"

It's over, but something spoke to me. "That sounds like an ill omen."

It claimed to be Mephala. "Mephala spoke to you? The Daedric Prince? I hope for your sake that it was something else. Let's get out of here. I can't bear to stay here any longer."

All right. Let's go. "Have you seen my husband, Najan? We should go to him."

What will you say to him? "In all our long years together, I never raised my voice, or called him out on a lie. I cooked his food, I cleaned his shirts, I minded his goats when he was away. I did all of this gladly. But no longer."

But you'll see him? "Yes. I want him to know about the suffering. My suffering and my sister's. For once in my life I want him to truly see me, so he'll know what he's done."