Chapter 44
Garen read over the note he'd received for what felt like the hundredth time. Earlier in the day, a courier had sown up at his doorstep. The man, boy really, handed him a note from Brynjolf. The contents of it were now the only focus of his brain.
The note was short and simple, but the lack of any information at all had scared him more than any information could have. All it said was that he was needed, and he was needed now.
Garen shook his head and dropped the note onto his bed and flopped down after it. The guild couldn't have any worse timing. Aela was away with Sofie in Jorrvaskr and Serana had been summoned to the College to handle some matter there.
When the three had left, Garen couldn't have been happier. Sofie had been growing into quite the woman and was now getting ready to join the legendary warriors when she came of age in just two years. Serana had felt more at home with the others at the College than she had felt with anyone other than their family. It brightened Garen's day every time she spoke to him of what happened at the College and how she brightened whenever the place was brought up. While he still taught at the College, his classes were less regular and with fewer students.
Garen couldn't help but smile whenever he thought of the College as well. The people there were another family to him, and even more so when it was revealed that his niece would soon be attending the school. It was only a year ago when Talmar and Lydia's daughter Laurana had shown signs of magical abilities. When Serana found out, she had nurtured and fostered the girl's gifts even more.
It seemed that a month had yet to go by without Laurana's bright voice and laughter filling his home for at least a week. The girl was close with his twins and often asked to visit and Talmar wasn't the type to say no to either of his girls.
Garen chuckled at thinking of how spoiled both Talmar's daughter and wife had become over the last eight years. Garen also knew that he wasn't much better in that regard.
For the next week or so, Garen finally had the chance to spend some time with his eight year old twins with it only being the three of them. While he did need to find out what was going on with the guild, he could at least make it fun for Gar and Lily.
Garen smiled to himself at the thought. He would definitely make it fun for them.
Garen smiled back to his twin children. Thankfully, Brynjolf agreed to keep their attention while Delvin filled him in on what was going on.
He shook his head with a smile on his face as Brynjolf began his tale to the two kids. Garen left the two in the very capable hands of Brynjolf and followed Delvin into the Cistern. Once they had reached the officer's room of the guild hall, Delvin locked the door behind them.
"What's going on Delvin?" Garen asked, leaning against a heavy wooden table, the only thing in the small room.
"There's been bad things 'appening along our trade lines." Delvin told him somberly.
"What? Stormcloaks or Imperials trying to take the caravans out?" Garen asked, raising an eyebrow.
The conflict between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks still waged on, even after all these years. Everyone that wasn't a complete fanatic of either side was rather tired of the whole ordeal at this point. It wasn't unheard of however for either side to attack trade caravans.
"No, those have seemingly let up." Delvin told him. For the first time since Garen had known the man, Delvin looked worried.
"Then what is it?" Garen asked, Delvin's worry beginning to seep into him.
"Something new is attacking the caravans. And If my agents are right, they're attacking towns too." Delvin told him nervously.
"What are the towns and caravans like after the attacks?" Garen asked, hoping he didn't know the answer.
"Everythin's gone." Delvin spoke somberly.
"The people are gone, the valuables are gone, the towns burned down." The Breton told him shaking his head in sorrow.
"Neva seen anythin' like it before." The Breton told him.
"Their slavers." Garen growled out.
The idea of slaves and slavers wasn't a new thing, at least not to Garen. To Skyrim however, it was unheard of. In Cyrodiil and some of the other provinces like Hammerfell, slavers were feared more than dragons were. The sick bastards that were slavers would raid and attack towns, sac them, and sell any survivors.
In Cyrodiil, slavers would sell to pitlords and arena owners. A major part of entertainment in Cyrodiil was the arenas were men would fight to the death for the enjoyment of the spectators. Garen had nearly been forced into an arena before the Legion got to him.
"I don't care if you need to hire mercenaries, but no caravan is to leave Riften without an armed and seasoned escort." Garen growled out to the Breton.
"I'd rather lose money paying for guards than to have entire shipments taken from me." Garen growled, rage and hatred in his eyes.
Delvin nodded. "You got it boss."
"Was there anything else?" Garen asked, struggling to keep his voice calm.
"Jus' one thing." Delvin told him calmly.
"My agents 'ave been tellin' me that both the Stormcloaks and the Imperials are gearing up for a full out war." Delvin told him evenly.
"We've known that for years now though." Garen pointed out and Delvin nodded.
"But back then, Ulfric didn' have a dragon helpin' 'im." Delvin told him evenly.
Garen's eyes widened. It was unheard of for a dragon to help anyone or anything unless it benefited the dragon somehow. Garen had no idea what it was that Ulfric had to give him such sway over a dragon.
"This isn't good." Garen mumbled, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"The good news is that the dragon hasn't really done anythin' yet." Delvin offered hopefully.
"What's it been doing?" Garen asked, hoping to find something that would give a reason to the dragon acting this way.
"It seems like Ulfric has the thing as a watch dog. It just patrols around Windhelm and flies between the different army camps." Delvin shrugged.
"Tell your agents and the rest of the guild to keep an eye on this dovah. If it starts doing something I want to know about it." Garen told the Breton strictly.
"You got it boss." Delvin nodded.
"Come on, I could use some sunshine on this dark day. Good thing is that I know just what ill cheer me up." Garen smiled to his friend and the Breton chuckled.
"I'll come too, neva get tired of 'earin' 'ow stupid you used ta be." Delvin chuckled and Garen couldn't help but laugh with him.
