Chapter 2.005: The Companions
"I'm the Jarl, not a barkeep. Speak your business."
"Of course," Aela kneels, the rest following suit behind her as she removes the a parchment from her bags and hands it off to the Jarl, "We have cleared the fort of the bandits...and a dragon."
"A dragon!? You impress me Champion," glancing off to his steward Proventus, "They have earned their pay in full, see to it."
"Of course," Proventus nods as he produces 5 coin purses, and moves to the Companions handing one to each "Now take you leave of the count, the Jarl is quite busy."
"Of course," Aela nods as she rises and turns, leading for the exit.
"Hold Thane," the Jarl called, Nala pausing, "I would have words with you about these dragons."
The group pauses as Nala steps forward, looking back, "Go on, this one will see you at Jorrvaskr, yes?"
With a nod Aela leads the others out.
"What can this one do for you?"
"What can you tell me of these dragons and... rumors of dragons."
"The dragons are definitely returning. Thought that should be plainly obvious but this one has also seen something else just as dangerous," reaching into her pack she takes out a wood mask, "This one took this off something called a Dragon Priest, worshipers of these dragons, and leaders of a powerful cult."
"This is grave news indeed, do you have any idea of how many of these 'Dragon Priests' there are? Or where they hide?"
Nala shakes her head.
The Jarl rising from his seat as he starts to lead Nala off to a side room, "Come we must confer with my court wizard."
"Of course."
"Farengar! How goes your research on dragons?"
"Not well I'm afraid, if only I had a live one to study, then I might be able to get some answers."
"You may get your wish sooner then you think. My Thane informs me of a group of wizards allied with these dragons."
"Dragon Priests?"
"You knew of them!" Th Jarl says livid.
"Only rumor and hearsay."
Nala presents the mask, Farengar taking it to look it over, a reference in his voice as he looks it over before returning it, "I had thought them only a rumor."
"This is your priority now! Help my Thane locate these dragon priests and to send them to Oblivion! You may even accompany her if you wish."
"Of course my Jarl, I will get to work on seeking some clues to their whereabouts at once."
"You do that," the Jarl ends his conversation as he returns to his throne.
"So is there anything else you can tell me about these Dragon Priests to help narrow their location?"
"This one fought her first one between here and Riften at Forelhost."
"Forelhost, and you cleared it? I would like to investigate the ruins and see what information I can glean. You wouldn't have pick up any documents while you were there I could look over."
Nala nods taking a number of documents from her pack.
"I will look these over then, while I make arrangements for our trip out to the ruins. Return to me when you are ready to head out."
"Of course." Nala nods, "Is there anything else this one can do for you?"
"Well, actually, I had been meaning to deliver some Frost Salts to Arcadia, as you are heading out anyway and I have more pressing concerns would you make the delivery?"
Nala nods as she takes the ingredients, "Nala will take her leave then," as she makes her way out of Dragonsreach.
"Gotta keep my eyes open. Damn dragons could swoop down at any time."
Nala pauses, looking to the guard, "Very true."
"No lollygaggin'."
Nala chuckles, "This one understands, you have the Jarl's palace to watch over." before heading off.
"Talos the Mighty! Talos the unerring! Talos the unassailable! To you we give Praise! We are but maggots writhing in the..."
And picked up her pace to spare her ears the shouts of the priest of Talos, her eyes narrowing as a figure at the market circle caught her eye. As Ysolda cam into view in the market circle Nala picked up her pace, waving to get her attention.
"I spend a lot of time at the market stalls so I can learn the merchant's trade. I need more experience if I'm going to run an inn someday."
Nala nods, "Nala may not be able to help with owning the inn but she thinks she has something just as good."
"Oh? I'm all ears," pausing a moment as she looks Nala up and down, and blushing a moment as she take not of Nala's cat ears, "No offense of course."
Nala chuckles, before fishing a parchment from one of her pouches, "This one ran into one of the caravans on the road and was able to purchase one of their pack horses," before handing over a note, "It is Ysolda's now. She can find it at the stables, now Ysolda can carry more goods to market and even travel if she wishes."
"Thank you! You didn't have to do that, I don't know how to thank you."
"You do not need to thank Nala, Ysolda and Nala are two of a kind, yes?"
Ysolda laughs, "Still I feel I owe you something for your effort...I know I still know a few more tips about the trading business, I could give you another lesson."
"This one would love that. Thank you."
Pulling Nala behind a market stall she began her next lesson, "The second key to a good deal is to convince the merchant the items he or she is trying to sell you is worth less then he is asking. This is trickier because remember he or she had to pay a part of that price to acquire it and still needs to turn a profit. Still a clever costumer can ofter save a few Septims, and in the long haul that adds up. While it is possible to haggle down the price of an expensive item considerably if you do this often you can sour your reputation with the merchant leading to higher prices or them just refusing to do business with you. So save your serious haggling for when you have that rare item you absolutely can't live without, not just every purchase. Do this and you can save a few coins on every purchase and get that special gift at a steal."
Nala smiles, "This one thanks you again."
But an ecstatic Ysolda was already wandering off to the main gates, talking to herself.
"I'll need to save up some coin for a bodyguard before I head out on the road but I can't believe I have my own pack horse now..."
Looking around Nala kept her eyes open for one other but at the moment he was not to be found, she did find the sing for Arcadia's and made her way inside, making her way to the counter.
"Maybe a hardy Nord like you doesn't need a cure-all. Hmm? What about an invisibility potion? "
"Maybe another time, Nala comes with a delivery from Farengar."
"Ah, splendid, splendid. It's for a special brew I'm working on. A love elixir like none other. Maybe I'll test it on Farengar first... Oh, but I suppose you expect some compensation. Um... here, these potions should suffice."
Nala chuckles as she turns for the door, "This one thanks you."
"Was that all?"
She pauses and looks back, "For now, Nala has other tasks to complete but may return soon to purchase some potions or to use Arcadia's Alchemy Lab if she does not mind."
"Alright then."
Back outside she sniffed the air, following a scent before a thread of conversation catches her ears.
"I have already told you, I am not interested."
"Ah but...fine."
Making her way over Nala watches the man walk off dejected, "Does Carlotta get many overtures from men?"
She sighs, "I get a lot of attention from men in this city and half of them have proposed. However, all that matters is my daughter Mila and no man's going to get between us. But that bard Mikael keeps going on about he'll 'conquer her as a true Nord conquers any harsh beast.' It getting to be quite tiresome."
"Nala could talk to him, get him to stop pursuing Carlotta."
"If you could do that I have some coin from my latest shipment I could give you for the trouble. Mikael is the bard at the Bannered Mare if you were not aware."
Nala nods, "She will see to it."
"Sometimes I miss the soldier's life, but when I hold my daughter in my arms, I know I made the right choice."
Nala turns as she catches Amren exchanging words with a passing traveler and quickly picks up her pace to catch up, "Nala has been looking for you!" as she pulls the sword from her pack.
Amren's eyes light up as he takes it, "You found it? I've been looking for that blade for months. You took on all those bandits yourself? Thank you. Here, my father had a favorite sword and shield technique. Let me teach it to you, in honor of his memory."
"Nala prefers to fight with her bare claws but would be honored all the same."
Taking them off the main road Amren rolled his shoulders a moment as he demonstrated for Nala before placing the sword and his shield into her hands and guiding her in learning the same moves. His hand lingering on her arm a moment as they finish, "That's a fine sword arm you have there if you ever think to take up the blade."
Nala smiles, "Nala appreciates the kind words."
Tilting his head he steps back looking her over, "You tried mercenary work? It might suit you."
"Not particularly, though she is always open for extra coin."
"Then you'll want to talk t Hulda at the Bannered Mare, she is a great source of gossip, and sometimes has good work for a skilled sell sword."
Nala nods, "She will keep that in mind. Nala wonders were you born in Skyrim?"
"Hmph. No, friend, that I'm not. But I get along with your kind well enough. No, I'm a Redguard. My family hails from the Imperial Province. Ah, but I left home when I was just a lad. Been wandering ever since. "
"Nala can relate, she spent may years wandering between Skyrim and Elswyre."
"Ah I thought I sensed the wandering spirit in you!"
Nala smiles, tilting her head, "Does Amren ever regret settling down?"
"My wife's a good woman. She can be a little hard-headed sometimes, but I love her just the same."
Nala smiles and walks off, her next stop was obvious now as she made her way inside the Bannered Mare making her way to Mikael as he began to sing the 'Song of the Dragonborn.'
"Our hero, our hero
Claims a warrior's heart-"
"This one would speak with Mikael a moment."
He smiled smugly, "What can this humble bard do for such a lovely lady?"
"This one would have you stop his pursuit of Colette."
"I'm sorry, but that fiery widow is mine. She just doesn't know it yet."
"Colette is not yours. Stop this nonsense."
"What did you just say? All I heard was the sound of jealousy."
Nala clenched her fists as she took a moment to stow her gauntlets, "Then perhaps Mikael will understand Nala's fists!" before laying him out with one cross jab that sent him tumbling end over end.
The Inn got deadly silent as the patrons gave Nala a wide berth and Mikael got to his feet rubbing his sore jaw, "You know how to throw a punch, I'll give you that. You win. On my honor, Carlotta won't have to worry about me ever again."
"Nala thought Mikael would see reason," before handing him a coin, "Now please continue singing."
Mikael laughed nervously.
"I tell you, I tell you
The Dragonborn comes"
Just in time for a hand to land on her shoulder and turn her toward a woman in steel armor, "A hundred gold says I knock your hide to the ground."
"With a voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art
Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes"
Nala smirks, the crowd, and especially Mikael giving the two women a wide berth, "Nala could use an extra 100 gold."
"It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes"
"Just fists. No weapons, no magic... no crying. Let's go!" The woman says dropping into a boxing stance as Nala flexed her claws as dropped into her own stance.
"Beware, beware the Dragonborn comes"
Nala leaned back to avoid the first swing and ducked low, claws turned up as she raked them against the woman's armor. The Woman catching Nala's wrist as it came up to her chin and twisting it around, pulling Nala into an arm lock against her body.
"For the darkness has passed
And the legend yet grows"
Nala smirked as she wrapped her leg around the woman's and pulled her support out from under her, both falling together even as the grip on her wrist weakened allowing Nala to hammer her elbow into the woman's face as she rolled away and back to her feet.
"Now that's what I call a punch. You got me." she says relaxing her stance.
"You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn's come."
"Nala thinks she has earned her gold."
"You're no liar. Best fight I've had in years. There you are." the woman smiles, rubbing her nose as she hands over a coin purse, "You ever need another blade at your side, just ask. Wouldn't mind seeing how you handle a few trolls."
"Nala will keep that in mind."
"Alright then."
Smirking Nala makes her way to the bar, "You are Hulda correct, Ysolda has spoken highly of you."
"Ah yes Ysolda! I've been thinking of selling the Bannered Mare to her when I retire."
"What does an inn go for these days Nala wonders."
"If the owners like you?" Hulda smiles, "Seven thousand septims, twelve otherwise."
"Twelve thousand? Nala could buy Breezehome for five!"
"Not everyone is Thane, and we are in a time of war, the going rate of Breezehome is ten for most people, and that is just a house not a business that returns it's own income."
Nala nods, "Any rumors Hulda could share with Nala."
"Well actually, rumor has it one of the Jarl's children acting strangely."
"Oh really? Maybe Nala can help. Anything else?"
"Here." She hands a letter to to Nala, "The Jarl's men just left this here, have a look."
Nala slips it into a pouch, "More bandits she is sure, she will read the specifics later, anything else?"
"Have you seen those warriors from Hammerfell? They have curved swords. Curved. Swords."
Nala smirks, "Anything else?"
"That's it."
Nala smiles as she takes her leave, 'Nala will see how she can take care of the Jarl's child once she is done in town.'
Picking up her pace she quickly stopped in Belethor's General Goods. Opening the doors Nala froze, a man in heavy armor was at counter and he smelled of trouble, thinking quickly, she pumps her legs and quickly leaps up grabbing a hold of the rafters above and pulling herself up.
"I lost three good men to that mark, and...huh?" he turns looking around just missing Nala, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Belethor says with his normal smarmy grin.
The man turns, "Whatever, look we took the contract and I expect to be reimbursed for the loss of my men."
"There is no contract, I never agreed to anything, now get out of my store, I need to close up, I have inventory to take stock of."
The man turns, making his way to the door as Belethor follows from behind the counter, pausing a moment to look back, "This isn't over."
Once the man was gone Belethor locked the door behind him then returned to his counter, smiling as he looked up to the rafters, "Everything's for sale my friend. Everything. If I had a sister I'd sell her in a second."
Leaping down Nala slaps the contract she took off the bandits who tried to ambush her that first night on the road on the table, "Belethor can explain, yes?"
Pausing a moment he took the contract and sighed, "Where did you get this?"
"Nala was ambushed by 3 thugs carrying this note. She wants answers. All she took was an apple! An apple! And she paid for it after AND the fine!"
Belethor sighs, "Alright I'll level with you. You see no one likes a thief, and if the theft is big enough sometimes you get these mercenaries in here and I might hire a few to rough up the thief. But this guy and his men are different. I was talking to them about a real thief, one who hijacked half my stock and it slipped out about you."
"Belethor sent an assassin after this one over an apple?"
"NO, absolutely not! I made it clear to just let it go but a few hours later their boss comes waltzing in saying we had a contract and I had to pay up. That was their boss who was just in here, demanding I pay for the loss of his men. Look you have to stop this guy. I'm not the only guy he's been muscling for money, Look if you can put a stop to his little band of thugs I'll make it worth your while."
Nala sighs, "Nala will do it, but only because this man is extorting other merchants and making up fake jobs."
"Really?"
Nala sighs, "Yes. But she has some things she needs to sell. Can we at least do that first."
"Sure thing," Belethor paused, "Ah but that thug may still be outside, I'll have to let you out the back."
"Fine," Nala sighs as she sets her pack on the table and started sorting her own inventory, "Let's just get this over with so Nala can get on with her day."
Setting out the various odds and ends she didn't sell with the Caravan or that she had picked up from the bandit cave and collecting her gold Nala is lead out the back and continues along behind the store fronts until she comes to Warmaiden's. Circling around to find Adrianne working the forge.
"Does Adrianne work the forge all day?"
"Aye, that I do. I've got to, if I hope to be as good as Eorlund Gray-Mane some day. In fact, I just finished my best piece of work. It's a sword. I made it for the Jarl, Balgruuf the Greater. It's a surprise, and I don't even know if he'll accept it. But... Listen, could you take the sword to my father, Proventus Avenicci? He's the Jarl's steward. He'll know the right time to present it to him."
Nala nods, "She has business in Dragonsreach, and would be proud to deliver the sword. She would even be willing to help around the forge but has never really crafted her own arms or armor if it would help Adrianne."
"You would?" she pauses to look Nala up and down, "Well you have a steady arm and a strong will. Craft me an iron dagger, here's everything you need."
Nala nods as Adrianne steps aside, watching and offering tips here and there as Nala looks over her first work of blacksmithing before handing it off to Adrianne.
"Looks good, you have real potential. But the blades a bit dull, why don't you sharpen it over at the grindstone."
Nala nods and move over, pumping the pedal as she presses the blade to the stone sending sparks as she works carefully.
"Nala has finished."
Adrianne smiles, "Looks good. Now let's see if you can craft some leather, here's everything you need, you'll need the tanning rack."
Nala nods as she follows Adrianne guidance, at least with leather she was familiar from all her years of hunting and field dressing.
"Nicely done! Now see if you can craft me a hide helmet, he's the rest of what you need."
Nala nods as she is guided at the forge the creation of the helmet and shows it to Adrianne.
"Good, good! Now take it to the workbench and temper it, he's the rest of what you'll need."
Nala nods as she finishes the task Adrianne smiling, "Well done. Why don't you keep those, might remind you of who taught you when your making Skyforge Steel one day."
Nala's eyes go wide, "You really think Nala is that good?"
"You definitely have the potential."
"Maybe Nala will see Adrianne there beside her when she reaches that potential."
She shakes her head, "I don't claim to be the best blacksmith in Whiterun. Eorlund Gray-Mane's got that honor. Man's steel is legendary. All I ask is a fair chance."
"In that case when Nala is working the Skyforge she will repay Adrianne by teaching her the secrets of Skyforged Steel."
"I'd like that," Adrianne smiles, "Oh I had an Imperial in here earlier, Seguri, asking if I could make him some of that Padded Armor you commissioned. Told him I'd have to check with the client."
Nala smiles, "Nala has no problem with it, Adrianne is free to make as many as she likes, maybe it will draw some unique business to her."
"Really? I don't know what to say...tell you what I'll save you a cut of the sales."
Nala smiles.
"Now let me see that hide helmet again."
Nala nods handing it over as Adrianne returns to the forge, "Long as you're here let me alter this a bit to fit those ears of yours."
"Nala appreciates it." Before pausing and digging the steel armor out of her pack, "Actually while Adrianne is at it can she modify this armor, cut it down so fits more like a vest, covering her breasts and shoulders?"
Adrienne smiles as Nala sets the armor down, "You think the chain-mail will tolerate that?"
Nala nods.
"Sure, I'll finish it after the helm, if you have any business with my husband why don't you take care of it while I work?"
Nala nods and heads for the doors of Warmaiden's.
"Welcome to Warmaiden's. Now you, my girl, have definitely come to the right place."
"Nala always likes this place, and you Ulfberth."
"Now I'm a married man," he smiled, "what can I get you?"
Nala laughs, "the finest weapons and armor."
Ulfberth laughs as Nala takes out her collection of armor and weapons from her recent adventure, "I swear you're either part horse or part dragon! If I didn't have Adrianne to work the forge I'd still have more then enough steel just trading with you."
Nala laughs, as the two barter, her coin purse quite a bit heavier after she is done.
"What do you spend all your coin on if you don't mind me asking. I never see you buying weapons, and you seem quite taken with that special armor my Adrianne made for you."
"Ulfberth has met her dog Torygg, yes?"
"The phantom? Aye. What of it?"
"Torygg has an expensive diet for potions, Nala spends most of her coin on keeping Torygg well fed. That and supplies for the road and camping."
"Good doin' business with ya." Ulfberth nods as they conclude their business, "We'll have to have a pint together sometime, you and me."
"Nala would like that." but before she could turn the door opened and Adrianne enters, the breast plate and modified hide helmet in hands.
"Just in time, Nala was just finishing her business."
"Let's see how ya look in your new armor then," Adrianne smiles as she sets the plate down and slips the helmet on Nala's head, stepping back to admire the work, "Well would you look at that, fits like a charm and there's enough room for you to keep that circlet on."
Nala smiled as her ears swivel here and there.
"Not let's see about that armor eh?"
Nala nods as Adrianne hefts the armor and slips it on over Nala and steps back, "Not a fan of cutting an armor in half but it looks good. How does it feel?"
Nala bounces on her toes a moment and smiles, "It feels good, the chain-mail has no objections and at least now Nala has some protection over her heart."
"A most vital area to protect for a warrior," Adrianne laughs, before her eyes trace to Nala's bear feet. "And I think I may have an idea on how to gird your feet without it interfering with your claws."
"Nala is curious about your idea."
"For that you'll just have to wait and see," she smiles, "I must say finding a way to armor a warrior with your limitations has been nothing but a sea of one inspiration after another. You may be the start of a who new trend in armor crafting Nala. Trying to marry flexibility and open design with maximum protection. It's quite refreshing!"
She laughs, "And it all starts at Warmaiden's!"
Before waving and making her way back out, her next destination Dragonsreach. But before that she had one last task in the market circle to attend to.
"Do you get to the Cloud District very often? Oh, what am I saying - of course you don't."
"Afternoon Nazeem," Nala grumble, "And point of fact she just got back from there, and has business there later as well."
He huffs in response, "I actually advise the Jarl on political matters. My input is invaluable, of course. But this is all probably a bit over your head."
"Yes, you are probably right, what does the Thane of Whiterun know of politics and the care of Whiterun."
Carlotta chuckles as Nazeem ignores Nala.
"These fruits and vegetables are disappointing, Carlotta."
"I get them fresh from the farms daily, Nazeem."
"If you were getting them from my farm, they'd be twice as fresh."
Nala growls, "Nala is on very important business with the Jarl and she would barter with Carlotta for supplies before she goes, but Nazeem is in her way. Move aside before Nala has the guards remove you as is her right as Thane."
Nazeem says nothing but moves aside to insult one of the other stall owners.
"Thanks Nala."
"Do you have anything even remotely fresh?" Nazeem turns his ire to the meat seller Anoriath.
She smiles, "One of these days Nala will flex her muscle as Thane, maybe that would knock some sense into Nazeem?"
"I can assure you, it's all fresh. I hunt the game myself, every day."
"Hmm. As you say," Nazeem continues.
"Please don't. Ego or not he does own the best farm in Whiterun and we could all use produce if it's quality."
"Maybe you'd like to try the horker? Or some beef?"
"You don't prepare the meat with any of those strange Elven spices, do you?"
Nala smiles, "She knows. But a Nord can dream can't she?"
"Ahhhh... No, no Elven spices. Just some salt, to preserve it. You're not afraid of salt, are you?"
"I'm not 'afraid' of anything. I simply prefer quality merchandise. No, no this meat won't do at all. Too much fat, and it all smells... wrong."
Carlotta laughs, "What can I get you."
"Suit yourself, then. The woods are that way. Outside the walls, walk straight ahead. Can't miss them. Good luck on your hunt."
"Good day."
"The usual. But first Nala wanted to mention she spoke to Mikael, he will not bother Carlotta any more."
"Really? You convinced that lute player to stop chasing me?" she laughs as she wrapped up some supplies in a linen cloth, "here, on the house."
"You sure?"
Carlotta nods and Nala moves to Anoriath.
"Ah Nala what can I do for my second favorite hunter?"
"Nala has some game to sell from her recent hunt."
"Just bring Torygg around back of the Drunken Huntsman during off hours and well be more than happy to give you a fair price."
Nala smiles, "She will see to that later then," before turning for the stair of the Wind District, "But right now Nala has business with the Jarl."
"Alright then," Anoriath nods, "Oh my brother mentioned the other day about taking you out on one of the hunts, you interested?"
"Of course Nala is, and she is sure she could learn much from you two also."
"As we could from you. See you soon then."
