The work day at the Bunkhouse started earlier than usual, Haelga waking Svana at the crack of dawn to clean her tryst room early for company. The dawn started off quiet, the light from the waning moons and rising Magnus casting a dim glow into the main lobby of the Bunkhouse. Most of the residents hadn't even woken yet, Grelka being the first to wake, eat her breakfast and head out to the plaza to start her business day, leaving behind her shell of a meal for Svana to pick up. The next few to wake did the same thing and after Svana had cleaned Haelga's chambers, she proceeded with collecting the remains of food and cleaning the tables, making sure no sticky or crumby residue was left. By the time she was done with this, dawn had passed, heralding a new morning for the people of Skyrim.
Svana wiped sweat off her brow as she finished making the last of the beds from the residents of the Bunkhouse, making sure the furs were positioned neatly on the straw that made up the mattresses. It was still early in the morning and she wanted to have breakfast. Deciding it was time for a break, she ambled downstairs, careful not to trip over her feet as she went down. Noises coming from the room made her squirm uncomfortably, realizing her aunt didn't have someone who could cast a simple muffle spell on the door to make it quiet. She made her way to the kitchen before a different idea took form as she looked back to the door to Haelga's room, then to the main door leading out to the plaza. Deciding it was worth the risk and undoubted punishment later, Svana opened the main doors, sliding outside. Today she would enjoy Riften for a while before heading back to do her aunt's chores.
Marise gave Svana some fresh bread and some smoked salmon to eat as she slowly made her way around town. Svana paid for her small meal and proceeded to inspect wares sold by the townspeople. Madesi caught her eye, selling a garnet pendant to Nivenor, both of them parting ways, Nivenor immediately putting the pendant on and strutting away from the stall, head held high in pride. Svana unconsciously reached for her own, a gift from Madesi a couple weeks prior. It was gorgeous and she kept it on ever since, the sapphires catching nicely in the sun's light, along with the much larger amethyst. She decided she'd walk up and strike up conversation before doing anything else for the day.
"Madesi." She greeted, smiling widely as she approached his stall. He heard her and the brow ridges above his eyes rose, indicating surprise. The returned smile told her he was glad to see her too.
"Svana. To what do I owe this honor?" He asked, leaning over the counter, arms crossed in front of the other.
"Just passing through. Haelga is...otherwise preoccupied and I decided to take a break. How's business today?" Svana inquired, taking a bite of her salmon. Marise had great food available, which was something that Svana hadn't discovered for herself until that very moment, the fish cooked to tender perfection. Until now, Svana had figured that Marise just simply sold produce and raw meats instead of anything fully cooked. Perhaps it was leftover from her meal and she just gave it to Svana because she was willing to pay for it?
"It's been fair. Nivenor is my first and will probably be my only customer of the day, as usual. But, the last group of travellers made off with some of my rings a few days prior. And altogether, business has been a bit better. I think Brynjolf is trying to concoct some kind of new scheme, so I'm enjoying the increased business, however small it may be while he's on hiatus." He replied, wiping a smudge from his case made by an onlooker's messy hands earlier that morning. He remembered her well enough. Tall Nord woman with long raven black hair and eyes that screamed greed, green and alight with mischief. He would need to take his wares with him when he went down to Beggar's Row tonight, just in case. He didn't want anything to come up missing and the last place a thief would think to look for jewels is where beggars hunker down for the night.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad." She seemed at ease to hear he was doing well, which made him feel a bit happier.
"And how about you? Have you been faring well?" He couldn't help but ask. This was a regular occurrence for him now, to check up on her and see if she was alright. After hearing what went on in the Bunkhouse some few weeks ago, he decided it'd be better to bother her with checking up on her now and then rather than to keep to himself and wait for her to come to him. It wouldn't sit right with him. Sometimes she'd have little to say, while others he'd lend an ear to another rant. At least she had an outlet for her frustrations now. Today she looked about the same as she usually did, with the same indigo crescents stamped under her eyes and with that telltale worn look to her even though the day had just barely begun.
"Same thing, different day." She shrugged, biting into the bread. It was only about a day or two old, and still moist and good to eat. "I'm sure to get reprimanded when I go back, but I'm enjoying a little time off for the day. I think I might go see Sibbi." She mulled over thoughtfully, her thoughts vocal. Svana failed to notice how Madesi's smile faltered and took on an appearance that was more scowl than smile.
"Oh?" He asked, reeling in his distaste for the spoilt man before she noticed. "Well I wish you luck on your endeavor." He returned to inspecting his case, not wanting to look at her besotted, doe eyed face at the moment. Not when it was filled with thoughts of that murderous fiend. He preoccupied himself with procuring a cloth from behind the counter and polishing the hinges on the case until they gleamed. She seemed oblivious to his displeasure, eating some more of her meager breakfast before making her leave.
"Thank you. Good luck with business today." She departed, none the wiser. Approaching Mistveil Keep, Svana scarfed down the rest of her breakfast, dusting herself off of crumbs and trying to fix her hair before entering the prisons. She adjusted the pendant on her neck so it sat better, settled right above her chest, as it should've been. Right as she was about to close the distance between her and the door to the prison, a woman, Nord came out, hair a straight bolt of jet black, extending past her shoulder blades. A jagged pink scar stretched from the apple of her left cheekbone to the space right above her left ear. She wore a lavender tunic, black cloth breeches and black leather boots, folded down to her ankles and sported a small pack strapped around her hips. She caught eye of Svana and smiled, nodding politely as she tried to make her way past. Svana had never seen her before. Naturally, she wanted to strike up conversation. Svana herself would probably never venture outside the city walls, but maybe hearing stories from someone else about the rest of the province as of late would sate her curiosity.
"Hello." Svana greeted, the Nord woman halting, looking a bit bewildered having been stopped.
"Greetings." The woman said formally, straightening her posture.
A biting form of curiosity took hold of Svana at the moment, wondering why she was in the prisons of all places? Did she escape? Did she have a friend there? The latter didn't seem likely. Svana knew all the residents of the city, and she didn't recall anyone here in the prisons having friends or lovers of the sort. Perhaps she was wrong, but she doubted it. She decided to ask despite her doubts.
"If I may ask, who were you visiting?" Svana noted how the Nord's lips thinned slightly, indicating displeasure with her questioning. A small narrowing of her eyes also told Svana she was suspicious. "I'm going to see my love." Svana explained, not being able to help the blush that rose to her cheeks. At this, the Nord's face regained her composure, now straight and almost expressionless, save for the look of merely one who was observing. She was watching Svana. She'd seen that look on Maven before. It always made her uneasy.
"I actually just visited a man, asking about rumors I had heard about him throughout town. Mjoll told me about his family and I wanted to do some investigation." Her head raised, chin jutted out, making her appear proud. "This wouldn't be the man you're going to see, would it?" Her eyes softened, betraying her proud demeanor for something a bit more concerned. Svana's eyebrows knitted together, a frown forming on her features.
"You're not referring to Sibbi, are you?" Svana asked, despite herself. She felt a rush of lividity fill her when the Nord woman nodded, the movement formal and precise.
"The Black-Briar boy, yes. That one. He's the one you've got your sights set on?" Svana gritted her teeth, straightening herself out as well, ready to set this woman straight. How dare this woman take it upon herself to meddle in Sibbi's affairs!
"I'll have you know, that the townsfolk have no idea what they're talking about. Sibbi is a good man. A romantic at heart, to be sure. He'd never do something like that without a reason. I believe what he did was out of self defense, if it even happened at all. People around here love to gossip, and I'm afraid the information given to you was false."
To her displeasure, the woman simply nodded, her eyebrows raising, and lips pursing in a manner that told Svana that she didn't believe it for a minute. She didn't apologize, didn't walk away, nothing. Just stood her ground and kept that air about her that was beginning to get under Svana's skin.
"With all due respect, miss, I think you're the one who has no idea what she's talking about. I think he's hiding something from you. He just spilled everything to me." The woman spoke, polishing her fingernails with the front of her doublet, looking them over, a bored expression overtaking her features for a moment as she did so. Svana opened her mouth to speak, to argue, before the Nord woman interrupted her. "If you're so sure of his innocence, then perhaps you'll join my friend and I on a trip to Ivarstead? Although, I think you'll find I'm very much right." Svana mulled it over right as the mystery woman retrieved a vial of blue liquid from her pack and gulped it down in merely a couple mouthfuls, smacking her lips, nose crinkling in distaste afterwards, flinging the empty vial haphazardly over her shoulder.
Could she go? How long would the trip take and how mad would Haelga be when she returned? Furious, no doubt, but it was something she could handle if it put this smug woman and everyone else in town in their places. It was worth whatever risk she'd be taking. But what about this woman's intentions? She couldn't honestly just be after proving herself right, could she? Was there some ulterior motive? There had to be.
"What's the catch?" Svana raised an eyebrow, studying the woman with absolute scrutiny and suspicion. The woman only offered a small smirk, hand reaching out to rest on Svana's shoulder.
"I just want you to see the truth with your own eyes. Nothing more. Since you'd believe anything that man told you, I'm going to take you to hear it from someone else's perspective. Someone who isn't even here. Someone who experienced what he did firsthand." There was no way Svana was buying into that.
"I'm supposed to believe that?" Svana tried to shrug off the woman's shoulder, but her grip remained firm. Svana could feel her blood begin to race. The woman let out a barking laugh. Mocking, almost.
"You believe that that man is completely innocent, so yes, I expect you to believe this someone, you gullible girl." Svana tried yet again to shake the woman's hand, but instead felt a calming, soothing, and almost warming rush come over her, stemming from her shoulder, held by this strange Nord. Her anger quelled and she could feel her blood begin to cool with calm. "Just come with me and my partner. We'll set you straight. Alright?" She asked, a kind of expectant smile overcoming her as Svana was unable to help her nod in response. She didn't want to argue. She wanted to go along with whatever this woman was saying. She wanted to come with her and her partner to Ivarstead. Although...she couldn't place why the sudden change of heart.
The woman led Svana by wrapping an arm around her shoulder, hand firmly gripping the exposed skin, not wanting the redhead to wander. Svana faintly noticed the strange looks she was being given by some but paid no further mind. The woman led her around the plaza, taking the outer ring of the city, weaving through travellers and residents alike, easily being able to navigate. She was being led to the Bee and Barb, presumably to meet up with her friend, whomever she was. She wanted to ask what her name was and what she was doing here in the first place. She didn't believe for a second that rumors alone or simple travelling was her reason any longer. She believed there was a more nefarious reason but she just couldn't find the motivation to be nervous or angry or anxious. She only felt calm and collected as the inn doors swung open, the scent of strong booze, freshly cooked meals and smoke from the fireplace filled the area. Perfumes from the wealthier families hung in the air with the rest of the scents and people were in high spirits this morning.
The Nord woman led Svana to a table occupied by a lone Breton woman, with hair of brilliant copper woven into a braid almost reaching the middle of her back. She wore a turquoise quilted doublet, black cloth gloves, doeskin breeches, and light brown boots, coming up over her knees. She saw Svana and the woman and her expression became irritated, spinning her tankard on the table idly, finger hooked around the lip of the container, twirling it on its base. The Nord woman pulled up an extra chair for Svana to sit herself, which she did without question while the Nord turned hers around so she could rest leaning forward against the back of the chair, legs draped off to the side, crossed elegantly.
"Who's she?" The Breton asked without preamble, motioning with a nod to Svana, who merely looked between the two of them as they conversed.
"A new friend. Mjoll was right about Sibbi. He's bad news. Unfortunately for our little scullery maid here," The woman motioned to Svana with her thumb before relaxing again. "She doesn't believe he is. So I told her she could come with us to investigate." The Breton woman's eyebrows shot up for a moment before her jaw worked in anger. Her voice was kept low as she replied, the tankard now in place on the table.
"You went ahead and took this on without consulting me? Going to question him and then tangling her into this?" Svana noted how the Breton's grip on the tankard became harsher, fingertips white with effort, though her face showed no signs of stress. Only irritation at her friend. "I didn't want to get involved in affairs with any other people here, Kilrika. You know that."
"Would you relax?" Kilrika replied almost flippantly, holding out her hands in an effort to placate the woman across from her. Svana began to feel her nerves return to normal. The calm she had before began to ebb away, leaving a biting anxiety and nervousness. A desire to be back at the Bunkhouse and away from these women replacing the serenity she felt earlier. Kilrika's gaze flicked to Svana for a brief moment before she reached a hand out to clasp over her shoulder and the calming effect was back, easing Svana back into her seat.
"You hypnotized her." The Breton stated, her face suddenly deadpan. Unamused. "You used your calming spell and hypnotized her."
"Oh I did it to him too. He sang like an eager little birdie when I did. As far as she goes, it was the only way to get her to come along willingly. Otherwise she'd still be blubbering about how great of a guy that murdering cheater is. And besides that, I've done it countless times before so what's the big deal now?"
"Instead of convincing her to come along, you should've let the whole thing drop so we could do what we needed to do without further hindrances." The Breton woman stood her ground, leaning back in her chair, arms crossed firmly across her chest. Svana saw an amulet of Dibella hanging around the Breton's neck and almost wanted to cringe. Almost. Haelga had one just like it.
"Rhiannon please. You know why this kind of thing is important to me. She told me that she loved that bastard and I just..." Kilrika trailed off, eyes rolling off as if searching her mind for something before returning her gaze back to Rhiannon, letting out a sharp sigh. "I couldn't let her keep thinking he was good for her. It...was all too familiar to me. Please understand." At this, Rhiannon let out an exasperated sigh, hand coming through her hair before dragging down her face.
"I do understand-"
"Then please let me do this. Help me out, here." Kilrika's eyes pleaded with Rhiannon, who pursed her lips, shaking her head in resignation before letting out a long breath through her nose, hands raising in surrender before reaching for her tankard.
"Alright. Fine. We'll head out to wherever as soon as I'm done drinking." Rhiannon hoisted the tankard to her lips and took in a healthy drink, wiping her mouth with a gloved hand afterwards.
"I think it might be that bard from Ivarstead. Last time we spoke, she mentioned having family here in Riften at one point in time. Sibbi mentioned his betrothed had long black hair and it just so happens that the bard's roots were starting to show. She's not a natural golden haired beauty. I think we should start with her."
Rhiannon let out a sound of acknowledgment, taking another long drink before setting the tankard down with purpose, standing from her seat slowly. Svana was able to see just how short the woman was, probably being dwarfed by most other Bretons and possibly some Bosmer as well. Kilrika hoisted Svana up gently, a guiding hand under her arm. The movement was fluid and easy.
"Think we should suit up for this?" Rhiannon asked, rolling out her shoulders, a perfectly shaped eyebrow raised, waiting for a response.
"No. It should be easy enough to make off with items of value without the extra help from the armor. I don't even think there will be any, to be honest. We cleaned the place out decently last time we visited." At this, Rhiannon's lips pulled downward, indicating her displeasure. Kilrika sighed. "I know, I know. Let's get going. Sooner we get this over with, sooner we can get back to business." Rhiannon looked as if she were about to snap back with a retort but shook her head, deciding against it. She reached down, grabbing a pack, and waited for Kilrika and Svana to stand and join her. It seemed as if Rhiannon ran whatever operation this was. Kilrika did stand and ushered Svana to do the same, resuming wrapping an arm around her, clasped firmly on her shoulder to keep the dazed girl from falling or wandering. With that, the three women made their way to the Riften Stables right outside the city walls.
Rhiannon retrieved the two horses while Kilrika cast another Calm spell on Svana, who felt her nerves simmer down yet again to a near nonexistent state. It was about noon and Haelga would definitely notice she were gone by now. Oh well. The air outside was nice. A breeze picked up, light and feathery and felt just cool enough to give Svana goosebumps, but not enough to elicit a shiver. A blue butterfly flitted around, eventually fluttering out of sight. Rhiannon mounted her own horse, a paint stallion. The other, a flea bitten stallion, must've been Kilrika's.
"Come on, miss. You're riding with me." Kilrika prodded gently, giving a light shove on Svana's back. Due to her current state, the young woman wasn't expecting it and stumbled forward the few steps between her and Kilrika's steed. She mounted the horse and waited for Kilrika to join, arms encircling her, grabbing the reins. "Now sit tight." Kilrika's voice held a slight flirtatious inflection as she shook the reins, urging her horse onward. Rhiannon urged her horse into action not a moment later, trailing slightly behind.
Madesi didn't know what to think when he saw Haelga burst from the bunkhouse, tearing through town, straight to the prisons. Looking for Svana, no doubt. He himself hadn't even seen her since that morning when she told him she was on her way to visit and it was past noon by now. She must've lost track of time and took a longer break than she had intended. A pang of bitter jealousy coursed through him as he went back to tending to his stall. He had made another sale earlier, about an hour ago to a young man looking for a ring for his betrothed. Lucky man. At least bhe/b gets to be with the woman he desires. Meanwhile, his was head over heels smitten for the Black-Briar man sitting behind bars.
Maybe he should try to let go of her. It would probably be for the best. He should focus on saving enough to finally leave Riften, and perhaps make his way to a different province altogether. Hammerfell? Redguards had an appreciation for fine jewelry, so maybe he could make a decent living there. Or maybe just cross the border into Cyrodiil? He could meet a lovely young lady wherever he landed himself, move on and let Svana be happy here. He didn't want to of course, but he also didn't see the point in hurting himself either.
Not even ten minutes later, Haelga approached his stall, palms slamming down on the surface of the stall, drawing the attention of a few passersby, but the attention was soon dropped as they continued about their business. Her expression was stormy, eyes flitting this was and that, searching his own face as her cheeks were flushed with anger, jaw working back and forth rather obviously.
"Can I help you?" He asked slowly, not knowing why she would bother to visit him with just about anything. What she said next, he wasn't expecting.
"Svana is gone. I have no idea where she is and she wasn't in the prisons. Do you know where she went? You tell me the truth or I swear to every one of the Divines I'll-"
"Svana's gone?" He asked, cutting her off, earning a confused frown from the woman.
"Don't play that game with me, lizard. You're the only other person in town whom I can think of that she speaks to regularly. So where is she?"
"I really don't know, Haelga, I'm sorry." Maybe she finally couldn't take it anymore and decided to leave? Madesi frowned with that explanation. No, that didn't sound like Svana at all. She wouldn't just leave on a whim. She would want to say goodbye first. And besides that, she'd definitely want to take her beloved and he was still stuck here below the keep. So that leaves the question of where she would've gone. She wouldn't have wandered anywhere else in the city. If she did, Madesi would've seen her by now, wouldn't he?
"Alright, let me close up shop and I'll help you look." He spoke as he put himself to action taking inventory, gathering it together and putting it in its strongbox under his stall and locking it up tight. He'd have to worry about that potential thief later.
"You mean you really don't know where she is?" Haelga stood up straight, studying him as he worked.
"No, Haelga. I'm generally not a liar so when I said I didn't know, I meant I didn't know." He shot back, not caring to hide the bite to his voice as he spoke, gleaning a scowl from the woman. He didn't care. He took off from his stall at a quick pace, making his way to the Bee and Barb, hoping for a lead there, not bothering to see if Haelga was following or not.
He didn't pause to carefully open the doors to the inn, surprising a few people standing nearby who let out alarmed sounds or curses in his direction. He kept his pace all the way to the counter, waiting for Keerava to turn her attention to him. Was it him or was she taking longer than she normally would've?
"How can I help you?" Her raspy voice sounded less rehearsed than usual, perhaps taking his tense stance and expression into consideration.
"Svana is missing. Have you seen her lately? Has she been here?"
"Earlier, yes. She left with two other women. I don't know where they headed though." She looked irritated upon responding. Madesi pressed on.
"Do you know who they were?"
"I wish I didn't. The raven haired one extorted money from me for that wretched Thieves Guild. Nord. Smart mouthed one. She was with a redheaded Breton." This didn't help him in the slightest and he made it clear.
"This isn't very helpful. I need to know where they headed." He countered.
"And I told you I didn't know. I'd love to help you, but I have an inn to run. Either order something or leave." Curt and firm, it was clear she didn't want anything to do with the search and left it at that. Letting out a breath of frustration, Madesi left the counter, regaining his quick pace, marching right past Haelga who'd been there for an unknown amount of time. She followed him without preamble.
"Any luck?" She asked from behind him.
"No."
If Svana was really with two other women, surely the other townspeople would've seen her with them and would be able to identify where she was, or at the very least who the women were. He went to work asking different people, from residents to travellers about Svana and the other two. He finally had a lead some hour afterwards, Ingun being more helpful than anyone else he had asked, having just come back into town from gathering ingredients for her experiments.
Apparently Svana had taken off with the two women on horse a while back. She went with them willingly, from the looks of it. They could've been anywhere by now. Haelga was beside herself, and whether from anger, worry, or annoyance, he didn't know. He didn't care much. In all honesty, he blamed Svana's disappearance on the older woman. If she hadn't been so harsh or so careless with the poor girl, then she would still be here and she'd be much better off than she was now, instead of the exhausted thing she had always been since arriving here. He had half a mind to turn around and tell her just that, but once again not wanting the confrontation to possibly get out of hand and land him in the prisons right alongside Sibbi, he held his tongue. He bit it hard enough to taste blood, in fact.
He could go out and look for Svana, but where would he start? Would he be more likely to find her or his own death out there? He wasn't by any means a warrior. At least with two others accompanying her, she had a better chance of survival. She wouldn't have gone anywhere with two strangers willingly if she had even a doubt that they were up to no good. Then again, it's not as if she were always a great judge of character. He didn't know what to do. An itch materialized on the back of his neck, which he took care of with perhaps a bit more force than necessary.
He decided to the Void with it and to go out and look for her. He caught back up to Ingun, grasping her shoulder to grab her attention.
"Madesi. Something else you needed?" She asked, same sweet sounding voice as usual.
"Do you remember which direction the women headed?" He asked, jaw set, waiting for an answer.
"Last I saw, they headed off towards Ivarstead. Your best bet would probably be there." With that, she departed, heading off towards Elgrim's Elixirs to resume her work for the day. Armed with his new knowledge, Madesi stormed towards the stables, Haelga following in tow.
"Where are we going?" She demanded as he pressed on through the city gates, setting himself into a jog up to the stables. He didn't pause to answer her, looking for Shadr.
"We aren't going anywhere. I'm going to look for Svana while you go back to the Bunkhouse and wait." Finally finding Shadr, he opened his mouth to negotiate with him only to be cut of by Haelga.
"Like the Void you are. I'm her aunt. Her blood. If anyone should be out looking for her, it should be me."
At this, Madesi couldn't hold his tongue anymore. He thought he'd be able to, but he couldn't. Perhaps it was the worry or stress, or just anger at the woman in general. Either way, it came out before he could stop it, and honestly, he didn't know if he would've bothered to at this point either.
"Have you ever stopped to consider that it's your fault that she went off with complete strangers in the first place?" Haelga opened her mouth to retort, but stopped short as Madesi spoke again. "No, of course not. You were too busy making her run herself ragged trying to keep your filthy bunkhouse clean. Perhaps if you had been easier on her, she would still be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"How dare you!" She began, eyes wide with lividity, approaching Madesi within a few paces. "You have no idea. Whatever she's told you-"
"She didn't have to tell me anything. I'm there often enough to see how you treat her with my own eyes and it's disgraceful. If you're so concerned with her being your blood, you should take better care of her, not less." Haelga's mouth clamped shut, but she still looked pissed, for lack of better wording. She scoffed, turning on her heel, all but stomping back into the city. With that, Madesi turned back to Shadr, who looked uncomfortable over what he'd just seen.
"Apologies, Shadr." Madesi tried to calm himself down, dragging a hand down his face in vain. The other man cleared his throat.
"It's no trouble. What can I do for you? In the market for a horse?" The Redguard man asked, his face regaining his usual sunny disposition. Madesi let out a weary sigh and answered.
"I need to borrow one. I don't have the money to buy one. Not yet, anyway. I will bring it back, at the latest, tomorrow, but I need one to go look for Svana. She's missing." Shadr looked a bit awkward, perhaps not knowing if he had the authority or sanction to just lend an animal, even if it were for just cause. "Please." Madesi added for good measure. Shadr gnawed on his lip for a moment before leaning back and forth uncomfortably.
"I don't know, Madesi. Hofgrir would probably have my hide if I let you do this. The only way I could see him being alright with this at all is if you offered collateral of some sort. Would you be willing to part with some of your merchandise? It's nothing personal. Just business. It'd be returned to you when you got back, provided the horse was still in good condition." Madesi let out a groan in frustration. "I'm sorry, Madesi. If you don't want to do this, why don't you just hire the carriage?"
"It'd take far too long and he doesn't take patrons to villages like Ivarstead. Wait here, I'll be back with your collateral." Madesi replied, exasperatedly before heading back into the city walls. Just a little longer and he'd be on his way, looking for Svana. He just hoped she was still in one piece.
The most recent Calming spell had worn off quite some time ago, and Svana had been beside herself for the better part of half an hour, Kilrika and Rhiannon explaining the situation to her, informing her on what had happened since being put into an hours long Calm induced trance. There weren't many people at the Vilemyr Inn, the din of the building at a low, even though by now, it was early evening and people should've been delving into their cups. Svana sat perched on the edge of the bed in the room the two women had taken her to, while Kilrika sat on the chair, ankle crossed over her knee, leaning back nonchalantly while Rhiannon leaned against the wall, one foot resting flat against the wall behind her, the other holding her weight while she relaxed with her arms crossed over her chest.
"So as soon as I hear what she has to say, you'll take me back to Riften?" Svana asked, eyes darting between the two women. She doubted anything she'd have to say would change her mind about Sibbi. Although a twinge of doubt circulated through her mind. Would these women really take her all the way out here to Ivarstead if they believed they had any reason to be wrong? She decided she wouldn't dwell on it. She still believed they were wrong. She believed people had gone to greater lengths to prove their points and their so called facts before, only for them to be proved false in one way or another. These two would be no different.
"Of course. Although, we could eat first, if you'd rather. Then we could waste absolutely no time getting you back." Kilrika offered.
"Yes. We'd be back in the city and we'd be able to conduct our business like we'd originally intended." Rhiannon added on, shooting a pointed glare in Kilrika's direction, to which she responded by petulantly making an exaggerated face.
"No. I'd rather get this over with." Svana said resolutely, standing from the bed, beginning to make her way to the lobby of the inn. She was stopped by Rhiannon, who put a firm hand on her shoulder, walking her back to the bed and shoving her down with just enough force to make her sit back where she was.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Rhiannon stared Svana down. Her glower was intimidating, earning a small gulp from the Nord woman, despite being much taller than the woman looking down at her.
"I'm going to hear her out." Svana replied simply.
"Oh no. You can't just do that. You're going to have to be more careful. She won't just openly admit what happened around a group of strangers. We need to be smarter about this than just simply traipsing up to her and asking her what happened in broad daylight." Rhiannon countered, wagging her finger scoldingly. Svana felt a prickle of embarrassment come over her. She didn't even think about that.
"Instead of charging in, we're going to use a simple Calming spell, just like I used on you. You're going to pretend to be asleep while Rhiannon goes to get supplies. If she still won't talk, then I'll just work my magic. Literally." Kilrika grinned, thinking herself very clever. Svana noted this even gleaned a small smirk from Rhiannon. Out of amusement from Kilrika's plan or her behavior, she wasn't sure. "If I have to use my spell, I want to let you know right now that anyone on it has absolutely no reservations about telling the truth. They're calm, and at peace. They temporarily see no harm in spilling their guts. So if and when I cast it, be ready to hear things about your little lover that you don't want to hear."
"Alright." Svana conceded, idly playing with the apron on her skirt, nerves getting the better of her.
"Good. Now, you go ahead and make yourself comfortable while Rhiannon heads out and I go and get our little songbird." Kilrika commanded, positive and friendly, but still left no room for argument. Svana laid down, back towards the other two women and made herself relax, closing her eyes for good measure. "Perfect. You're a natural." Kilrika encouraged, both her and Rhiannon leaving the room. She heard the door to the inn open and shut shortly afterwards while Kilrika's voice could be heard faintly in the lobby. Soon, she was leading Lynly Star-Sung back into the room. Svana focused all her attention on listening to the conversation.
"Alright. Here, go ahead and have a drink. Can't have a decent break without a drink, can you?" Kilrika joked, adding a small giggle afterwards. The other woman let a more uncomfortable one out in return and Svana could hear her sit down in the chair.
"You can't be in here unless you rent the room. You haven't, unfortunately, so I can't have a drink. Not here anyway. If you like, this room is actually vacant and only ten septims a night." Lynly argued. Svana listened, wondering how Kilrika would keep her in here.
"Actually, if I'm being completely honest, my friends and I are only here illegally for a short while longer. we'll pay here in a little bit, I'm sorry. My partner is out selling some of our goods that we've acquired along the way for money to pay for the room, if that's alright. My other friend here was too tired so she simply decided to rest a bit. Please understand." Svana was both appalled and impressed. Appalled at the ease of Kilrika's deceit and how quickly the lie came to her and impressed that it was believable enough for Lynly to lower a bit more of her guard.
"I suppose that is alright." Lynly responded, letting out a small sigh afterwards. "If that's everything, I have to get back to work."
"Actually, there is one more thing." Kilrika stopped her. Lynly let out a curious hum, staying to hear Kilrika out a bit longer. "Your real name is Svidi, isn't it?"
"I-I don't have any idea what you're talking about. You're mistaking me for someone else. I really must be getting back to work now." Lynly's response came out hurried. Worried. Scared. Svana frowned as she listened.
"It's perfectly fine. You have nothing to hide from me. I'll keep your secret safe." Kilrika prodded gently.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Lynly responded immediately afterwards. Svana could hear her stand from the chair, presumably to make a run for it. Kilrika must've grabbed hold of her. "What're you doing? Let go of me!" The bard's voice began to raise as she became more and more frightened.
"I guess I'm going to have to use my magic." Kilrika announced, for the sole purpose of Svana being informed. It was only a moment later when Svana heard someone sit back in the chair and no more sounds of struggle issued from the two of the other women. "Alright. Why don't we try this again? Your real name is Svidi, yes?" Kilrika asked gently.
"Yes." Lynly responded, her voice level, as if she'd just spent the day unwinding in a hot spring and was completely at ease.
"Why don't you tell me what happened between you and Sibbi? Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." Kilrika inquired, letting Lynly speak freely now.
"Sibbi's been spreading lies about me, I just know it. We were supposed to be married. To live together happily forever. I found poetry addressed to him from Svana, that wretched maid from the Bunkhouse." At this, Svana's lips pursed in anger but she kept quiet, listening further. "When I confronted him about it, he threatened to have me killed." Svana's heart skipped a beat. Not Sibbi. Not her Sibbi. He wouldn't. He couldn't.
"I was terrified and told my brother Wulfur about it. He was worried about me and went to set Sibbi straight. He went over unarmed. Sibbi murdered him in cold blood. He didn't even have a weapon and he went over to defend me. Sibbi killed my brother and began telling people I was a whore and a liar. I fled when I found out. I've been here ever since." There was a pause. "And now you're going to tell him where I am." Her voice lowered to where it was just barely above a whisper but Svana heard her.
"Of course not. I just wanted to hear the other side of the story. He won't hear a thing from me, I promise." Kilrika assured. There was another pause before a patting sound could be heard before Lynly stood up from the chair once more. "Now go, resume your work. You have nothing to worry about." Kilrika gently led the other woman out of the room, leaving Svana by herself. A moment later, Kilrika came back to the room and prodded Svana to turn back over to face her.
"There you have it. Poor woman was crying despite the spell. This impacted her that harshly." Kilrika sat down on the edge of the bed with Svana, careful not to sit down on any part of her anatomy. "Hope that's clarification enough."
Svana couldn't believe it. Everyone else had been right. She was wrong.
Sibbi. Her Sibbi. Her love and the man she held so dear was a murderer.
A/N: So I'm sorry it took so long to get this updated. I finally buckled down and got it out there though, and I hope it was worth the wait.
A Dragonborn and her friend/travelling partner were introduced here. I hope they are well recieved. :)
Thank you to my readers and reviewers for sticking with me even through my inconsistency. I love you all and I love that people enjoy my work. I hope to turn out a lot of projects in the future that people like. Fingers crossed, right? :}c
The third and final chapter is in production.