Ghosts of the Old Tower Content . — Listen now , O Estimable Vizier , to a tale of a haunted tower . — A haunted tower ? Do you speak sooth ? Many and more are the tales of ghost - haunted towers , until it seems there must be hardly a tower that has not its spectre . Has the Songbird ' s well of stories at last gone dry ? — Nay , be but patient , one - who - governs - with - wisdom . For the tale of the Old Tower of the Fallen Waste is unlike any you have heard before . — Say on then , O spellbinder . I will withhold judgment until I have heard the tale . — Patience as well as wisdom ! Truly you have earned all the accolades that are laid at your feet , Honorable Vizier . — On with the story , Songbird . I get enough honeyed words from the lickspittle dogs at court . — As you command . There was , high atop a pinnacle in a lonely corner of the Fallen Wastes , a tall and ill - favored tower that had stood there long and long . In the days when the Redguards warred against the Tusked Folk , a scout of the Bergama Gallants was commanded to take possession of this tower , thereupon to post himself as observer and sentry . And his name was Abadaman of the Three Scars . — And there at night this Abadaman was visited by the sorrowing ghost of a nubile maiden ? Or did the shade of his long - dead father appear to deliver a timely warning ? Ah , but wait , I have it : The spirit of a murdered man moaned in the gloaming that he could not rest until his killing was avenged . — Nay , none of these haps did eventuate . Yet a haunting did occur , and strange to say , it took place in the golden light of noon . It happened in this wise : Abadaman of the Three Scars had done his morning devoirs , which consisted of climbing the many steps to the top of the Old Tower , peering to every point of the compass , and making note of what he saw , which was nothing of import . So went he for a walk in the desert , for this Abadaman liked to think , and when he thought he liked to walk . On this day of days his wandering took him down to the arid flats beneath the towered pinnacle , and there his thoughts were interrupted for his eyes beheld a wonder : beneath the bright noonday sun stood a coterie of ghosts , gazing about as if awaiting an imminent event . — Intriguing . This accords with no tale of haunting I have otherwise heard . — Yet I assure Your Munificence , it was so . The ghosts were eight in number , and though they were difficult to perceive clearly in the shimmering heat of daylight , their presence was undeniable . They were young Redguards all , and were clad in the armor of soldiers , like that of Abadaman , yet unlike as well . He took one of these ghosts , who had a commanding presence , to be the officer of the others . When the officer - wraith turned his head and locked eyes with Abadaman , the scout , though stout of heart , cried out in surprise . — Even I might do the same , I do confess it . — Perhaps , though you must give me leave to doubt it . At the scout ' s cry the ghost spake in a voice of echoes , saying , " Well met , scout . Though the device upon your breast is unfamiliar , I see you are one of our soldiers . Are you he who will mete out justice to the one who betrayed us ? " — Ah ha ! A story of revenge . Did I not say so ? These ghosts are all the same . — You are correct , Your Efficacy — and yet you are not . Shall I say on ? — Such is my will . — I hear and obey . At these words the brave Abadaman was filed with wonder , and was moved to reply , saying , " I know naught of what you speak , spirit - from - across - the - great - river . Yet I would hear more . " " I am Captain Fayda , " said the spirit , " and these are my soldiers , slain by treachery . We seek justice upon the traitor , yet we are confounded , for though dead we are unborn , and though murdered our killer has not harmed us . " — A riddle , by Tava ' s shining eye ! And what said the scout to that ? — He said , " You speak in enigmas , O Captain , which as yet I cannot fathom . Tell me of how you were betrayed , that I might know more . " The ghostly captain nodded and said , " That I may do . We were ordered to garrison the Old Tower , though we have not been so ordered . Unbeknownst to us , one of our number was beholden unto our enemies the invading Imperials , though none have invaded . He did secretly admit them through our defenses and we were undone , though no such event has occurred . And the traitor ' s name was Amil Red - Hand . " — Ah , I see now . The ghost is mad , and cannot speak words of sense . — Nay , for the words abruptly made sense to Abadaman , and he reeled back as if stricken . " Alas ! " he cried . " All is now clear ! You are dead though unborn , for your life and death are both yet to come ! You speak of a treachery that has not yet occurred , but it will many years from now . You appear before me , O lamentable haunt , because I and only I am in a position to mete out justice to your betrayer . But this I will never do . " — How can this be ? Explain forthwith ! — Alas , my Vizier , a tale is like a river and flows only as it will . But this one nears its end . " That you will never do , though you are an honorable soldier ? " moaned the officer ' s ghost . " Wherefore ? " " Wherefore the name of my infant son is Amil , born with a red mark upon his hand . Therefore away , importunate ghosts , for I shall not help you , and you cannot escape your fate . " And then Abadaman of the Three Scars turned his feet back up the trail to the Old Tower .