Chapter 20
When Dealing With The Undead…
When Rahm-Ku woke up the morning after the Nethrend Incident, he intended to get some work done. Fix the town's wall, study the spell books Farengar gave him a while ago, practice his magic, and fixing up his store. He was even making plans on reviving Emeralda since only he, his new siblings, and their dragons were the only residents. If Emeralda was going to be their base of operations as Dragonborn, they needed to revive its economy.
What he was not expecting was walking to Morthal with J'Kiir.
It all started with breakfast. With Renee barely keeping anything down without the aid of Namira's Ring for the meat after quitting the cannibal diet, J'Kiir went to work on making tonics for her stomach while Hiccup took over Bane's care. This left Rahm-Ku with preparing meals. And while he was looking at their larder, Rahm-Ku could only grimace at the sight of bare cupboards and any food they had was covered in mold. All he could find was some leftover meat, just enough fish to feed the dragons for two days, and only a picnic basket of produce from their personal reserves.
After cooking the meat and making a vegetable stew, the Mage informed his brothers of their food situation while Renee remained in bed.
"It's not good. We need food and ways to preserve it. If we're going to stay here, we need our larder to be full."
Surprisingly, J'Kiir nodded in agreement.
"It wouldn't hurt to acquire some livestock, either. Chickens for eggs, cows for milk and beef, and pigs for pork. A large garden can't hurt, but seeing as it's the start of autumn, we'll have to buy our produce from town unless we can find a way to grow food even in winter. Not to mention my ingredients garden needs care if we are to keep up with our potions and Renee's tonics."
Hiccup had to agree with his brothers. Ever since they entered Emeralda, all the work was divided between him teaching Renee how to be a Dragon Rider, Renee hunting and providing meat when she was double-cursed, J'Kiir making their potions, and the Khajiit and Rahm-Ku working around the clock on the town wall. Not to mention adding defenses and fixing up buildings to house their dragons.
The gold they retrieved from Dralsa's caves would keep them in the green for a long while, but it won't last forever. And who knew when the Jarl of Whiterun was going to send aid with rebuilding the town. Not to mention they still needed to get to Ustengrav and complete the Greybeards' test.
In other words, they were swamped.
"Ok… We can probably work on a plan for the gardens. But with Renee down, Toothless and I are our strongest defense against bandits and those unfriendly dragons like back in Helgen and Whiterun. And Bane's wing is still on the mend." Said Hiccup, trying to figure out an idea for their food situation.
J'Kiir sighed as he leaned back on one of the forge's corner beams.
"It would take a couple of days to walk from here to Whiterun. And even longer with a wagon of food and no horses to pull it."
Hiccup returned to his house to get the map of Skyrim. He nailed it on the wall, giving him and his brothers a view of the parchment.
"Are there any towns near here?"
J'Kiir was quick with his response, pointing to an image of a shield with three swirls on it.
"There's our closest town next to Rorikstead. Morthal. The capital of the Hjaalmarch hold. Rorikstead is only three buildings with only a tavern as a business. If we need to buy food without any mounts or dragons, I say Morthal's the place to go."
Rahm-Ku had to agree. In comparison, Morthal would be the closest town with a possible general store. And it was in the direction of Ustengrav. He looked to the northwest and frowned as he saw the wolf icon.
"If Morthal doesn't have everything we need, then we would have to trek through swamplands to get to Solitude. It's Skyrim's capital city and it has a port for the East Empire Trading Company. If Morthal doesn't have a place to buy food, then we'll have to win the favor of Solitude's jarl if we want our dragons to approach the city or we will have no choice but to invest in horses and wagons."
Hiccup wondered what the jarls of Morthal and Solitude were like. It would indeed make things easier for them if they could gain their favor. It was then J'Kiir pointed something else out.
"Unfortunately, both Morthal and Solitude are Imperial territory. And with Solitude being the base of operations for the Imperial military in Skyrim, it may gain the attention of the Stormcloaks. If luck is against us, then the Stormcloaks will have reason to believe we have joined the Imperials in this damned civil war. Not to mention the chances of the Thalmor roaming around."
In all honesty, they had forgotten about the civil war that was currently tearing Skyrim apart. With all of their traveling, they have yet to encounter a full-scale battle between the two warring factions of Skyrim. Rahm-Ku frowned further.
"I don't know which is worse: the war or the Thalmor."
While Hiccup had questions concerning the Thalmor, his thoughts returned to the topic at hand.
"Then what about winning favor with a hold that belongs to the Stormcloaks? That way, we can keep equal favor between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks without the other faction coming after us."
For the first time that day, J'Kiir gave a mischievous grin.
"Why, Hiccup. I had no idea you have aspirations to becoming Skyrim's High King."
For once, Rahm-Ku laughed at J'Kiir's joke while Hiccup gave the Thief a glare.
"I-I don't! I'm already the son of Berk's chief, I don't need to become High King of Skyrim!"
Much to J'Kiir's surprise, Rahm-Ku added in his own joke.
"Then maybe become the Emperor of Tamriel?"
The Khajiit burst out laughing as the Viking turned his glare to the Argonian.
"You too?"
Still laughing, the two beast-folk brothers mocked-worshipped Hiccup.
"All hail Emperor Hiccup! Ruler of Cyrodiil. Ruler of Tamriel!"
It was then Hiccup got an idea for revenge on his brothers. With a sly grin, Hiccup folded his arms and addressed his laughing brothers.
"Alright then. As future 'Emperor of Tamriel,' I hereby order you two to go to Morthal and get supplies. And if you have to, go to Solitude."
The brothers stopped laughing as they stared at Hiccup in shock.
"Uhh…" they both replied.
Still smirking, Hiccup gathered two large baskets and handed them to the pair.
"I recommend going now. And fill up your coin purses. Who knows how much everything is going to cost."
And this brings us to the present. Having crossed the border into Hjaalmarch, the Mage and the Thief kept silent as they walked the cobblestone path. From the moment they've met, Rahm-Ku and J'Kiir rarely, if ever, saw eye-to-eye. Even though they were related due to the fact that they were Dragonborn, all Rahm-Ku saw was an arrogant, smart-alec thief while J'Kiir saw a prissy know-it-all merchant's son-turned-mage. The silence was both a blessing and a curse. Neither wanted to speak to each other, but the silence was both unnerving and boring as Oblivion.
Of course, they kept themselves busy with the occasional Frostbite Spider, skeever, and wolf pack. Heck, this provided them with more items to sell from spider venom to wolf pelts. Even skeever hides and tails held some value to alchemists and cooks if the skeever wasn't diseased. Though when they pressed on the cobblestone path, they found themselves in Skyrim's most abundant element: snow.
"If there is one thing I dislike about Skyrim other than the crap we have been experiencing, it's the snow."
J'Kiir broke the ice (figuratively) as he rubbed his upper arms for warmth. Even with fur, it was still cold to the Khajiit.
"I know what you mean. Sure, we had cold fronts back in Murky Glen, but Skyrim truly has a harsh climate." Rahm-Ku agreed, trying to warm his scales and hoping he wasn't as cold-blooded like normal lizards.
"Let's hurry and get to Morthal. The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be thawing at an inn." Rahm-Ku told J'Kiir, hugging himself to keep warm.
J'Kiir didn't need to say anything to let his agreement be shown. They increased their walking speed down the cobblestone path, praying to the Divines that shelter would be in sight when they spotted the roof of a tall building just around a hill.
Breaking into a run, the beastfolk brothers followed the hill until they found themselves at the edge of a small town with a familiar three-spiral symbol on a pair of banners on the tallest building.
They were in Morthal.
"Thank Akatosh! I'd thought we would freeze to death back there." J'Kiir called out as he reached for the skies in grateful prayer.
Rahm-Ku nodded in agreement as he struggled to keep warm.
"Come on. Let's find an inn. The sooner we get to a fire, the better."
"No protest here." J'Kiir agreed as the two entered the town.
But as they were making their way into town, they noticed a large crowd in front of the Jarl's longhouse. Curious and not wanting to get into trouble, the Mage and the Thief listened in.
"What's the Jarl going to do about it?"
"How are we supposed to feel safe in our own homes?"
The man who stood at the steps of the longhouse spoke in both annoyance and a slight plea as he tried to quell the disruption.
"Enough already! I have told Idgrod of your concerns. She'll look after you all. Please go about your business."
But the two men who were voicing the people's concerns were not convinced.
"We have no need for wizards in our midst!"
"Morthal has enough problems as it is!"
Finally, one of the men exclaimed in contempt.
"Bah, it's no use. Let's get back to it, then."
As the crowd dispersed and the man on the steps entered the longhouse, Rahm-Ku and J'Kiir looked to each other in confusion.
"What was that about?" Rahm-Ku asked.
J'Kiir, however, shrugged his shoulders.
"Who cares? Let's just find an inn, already."
Rahm-Ku rolled his eyes as he approached one of the two men who spoke earlier. Clearing his throat, he gained the man's attention.
"Unless it's about the mill, I don't have time to talk. Too much to do." The man replied, looking somewhat surprise to see an Argonian talking to him.
Ignoring the look, Rahm-Ku proceeded to ask his question.
"My friend and I have just arrived here when we saw the commotion. What's going on?"
The man scoffed as he spoke as if Rahm-Ku sounded more ignorant than he should.
"What's going on is that the world's going mad. And our Jarl does what? She hides inside with her 'visions'. We need a leader, not some mystic!"
Confused, Rahm-Ku asked, "What isn't the Jarl doing?"
Looking at where they came from, the man pointed to an area behind him.
"See that inn there?"
"Yes! Thank the Divines again!" J'Kiir all but cried out in his head as he fixed his gaze on the inn while the man continued to speak.
"Next to that inn is a house that just recently burnt down. Peculiar business, that was. And that's on top of noises from the marsh in the night, tales of monsters, and now this wizard in our midst. What's a man to do if he can't look to his Jarl for help?"
"I take it that the Jarl isn't exactly social?" Rahm-Ku asked.
The man laughed as he walked to the nearby mill.
"She never speaks to us. She's allowed this wizard, Falion, to love in our midst practicing gods-know-what."
As soon as the man was gone, Rahm-Ku looked to J'Kiir, who was still fixated on the inn.
"Come on. Let's get inside."
As much as Rahm-Ku wanted to protest, his freezing scales reminded him he was no longer in Black Marsh or Cyrodiil. So he relented but kept the conversation in his mind as the two brothers entered the Moorside Inn.
As soon as they entered, a voice spoke up in a perked up, but still dull voice.
"Finally, someone comes in. Kick of your boots, stay awhile. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with. I got nothing but time these days."
The pair turned their heads to find the innkeeper, a Redguard woman, hailing them. J'Kiir was quick to stoke the fire pit in the center of the inn to warm himself up while Rahm-Ku took a seat next to him. They ordered two bowls of vegetable soup, a loaf of bread to split, and two bottles of Black-Briar Mead to fill themselves before Rahm-Ku took out the gold they needed to pay for the meal and a room for the night.
As he handed the innkeeper the gold, the earlier conversation came back. He looked to the innkeeper with a curious eye.
"Excuse me, Miss. Is business slow here?"
"Slow? No. It just ain't there at all. Few enough reasons to pass through Morthal before the war started. Now… Well, let's say the front door doesn't get much use."
J'Kiir heard this and made a mental note about how to attract customers to the Emerald Eagle Inn back in Emeralda.
"It may take a while before news of Emeralda's cleansing reaches the right people. Maybe I should look into some advertisement."
It was then an ungodly sound reached the brothers' ears. It sounded like rocks beating each other senseless and crushing a pond full of frogs. J'Kiir's ears closed as he moved towards his brother and away from the creator of the sound: an orc.
"Interesting…composition…" Rahm-Ku strained to speak, though he thought his ear holes were going to bleed.
The innkeeper sighed as she waved a signal at the orc. This made the orc play quieter, but still awfully.
"Sorry about Lurbuk. He fancies himself a bard. He pays, so I let him stay. If I had any customers, I'd be worried about him annoying them. But, well… Look around."
"Emerald Eagle Inn Note #2: Find a bard who ISN'T tone deaf!" J'Kiir practically hissed in his mind.
Wanting to change the subject, Rahm-Ku decided to bring up another subject.
"So… Uh… What is the story behind the burned-down house?"
Hearing this, the innkeeper became interested.
"Hroggar's house? It burned down not too long ago."
Her face became sorrowful as she continued.
"It's a real pity about his wife and kid. The screams woke half the town. Most folk won't go near it now for fear it's cursed."
Now J'Kiir was interested and that interest did not miss Rahm-Ku's gaze. He gave the Khajiit a raised "eyebrow" as he thought to himself.
"Now he's interested? Not a minute ago, he was far from interested. But now…" He then looked to the innkeeper. "Something she said must have triggered something in him. But what? What could possibly interest a thief other than coin?"
"How did the fire start?" J'Kiir asked, cutting Rahm-Ku out of his thoughts.
The innkeeper shrugged her shoulders.
"Hroggar claims it was a hearth fire. Some folks say Hroggar started it himself."
J'Kiir's fur bristled, again noticed by the Mage. "With his wife and child inside?"
"That's what they say. See, he's living with Alva now. That started the day after the fire."
She folded her arms in thought.
"It ain't right movin' in with a new love the day after your kin die like that."
Now both brothers were on the same page and were equally suspicious. They weren't natives of this town and already they felt something was very off. Why would a man who lost his family one night and then move into a new love's house the next day. Nothing seemed right. Nothing that didn't point to foul play, that is.
"And, of course, no one can prove he murdered them." Rahm-Ku added his thoughts aloud.
Seeing the interest in the pair's eyes, the innkeeper leaned forward from behind her counter.
"Aye. Our Jarl would sure like to know if he did, though. Might even pay to find out."
After they finished paying, Rahm-Ku and J'Kiir stepped outside, taking their room keys with them. Once they were outside the inn, the two began to discuss the mystery before them.
"Did any of that make any sense to you?" Rahm-Ku asked.
J'Kiir folded his arms as he fixed his gaze to the house.
"About as much sense as Sheogorath does. I say we pay the Jarl a visit."
Rahm-Ku nodded.
"I agree, but leave the talking to me. Got it?"
J'Kiir didn't care. His thoughts were resting on the situation at hand.
Taking his silence as a yes, Rahm-Ku led his brother to the Longhouse and entered. Thankfully, the Jarl was sitting on her throne at the moment.
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone was an elderly Nord with greying black hair and a mystical energy that Rahm-Ku was able to sense. Her steely gaze caught the two Dragonborn with intrigue.
"So, life has brought an Argonian and a Khajiit to Morthal, and to me. What purpose this serves, we will no doubt see. Welcome."
Remembering their manners, the brothers bowed before the Jarl as Rahm-Ku proceeded to speak.
"My Jarl. I am Rahm-Ku. And this…is my…brother…J'Kiir."
At this point, Rahm-Ku was unsure if it was right to call J'Kiir his brother. Not when the two had been adversaries ever since Helgen. Still, there was the matter of the dragon's blood in their veins.
Hearing the names, the Jarl's interest grew.
"I have heard of you two from a courier from Jarl Balgruuf. You and two others defeated a flock of dragons near Whiterun and are revealed to be Dragonborn. I have also heard of rumors that you and the others have decided to settle the ruins of Emeralda. Tell me. Why are you here?"
Biting his tongue about the rumors of the Jarl having visions, Rahm-Ku was at least relieved that she had heard of them. At least about Whiterun. Wanting to clear the mystery, Rahm-Ku proceeded to speak.
"Our initial intent was to find a place that sells food to restock our larders. But then we heard about the house fire and that you are looking for someone to investigate it."
Jarl Idgrod raised an eyebrow at the mention of the incident.
"Hroggar's house fire? Well, he lost his wife and daughter in the blaze. My people believe it to be cursed now. Who am I to gainsay them?"
Not wanting to be kept silent any longer, J'Kiir spoke up.
"And what did Hroggar say happened?"
The Jarl leaned back on her throne as she spoke.
"Hroggar blames his wife for spilling bear fat in the fire. Many folk think he set the fire himself."
"But why would he do that to his own family?" J'Kiir practically demanded, earning an elbow jab from Rahm-Ku.
"Be quiet!" he hissed quietly.
Still, despite J'Kiir's reaction, the Jarl answered.
"Lust can make a man do the unthinkable. The ashes were still warm when he pledged himself to Alva."
She leaned forward again, this time with intent.
"If you two wish to solve this mystery, be my guests. But do not go accusing anyone unless you have solid proof. Got that?"
The brothers nodded as they left the longhouse.
As soon as they were outside, J'Kiir made a sharp left turn, leaving Rahm-Ku to run up to him and grab him by the upper arm.
"Let go!" J'Kiir hissed.
But Rahm-Ku refused to relent.
"What is the matter with you?! As soon as we left Emeralda, you complained about nothing but the cold. You did not even acknowledge the crowd in front of the Jarl's longhouse until after we settled in the inn." Rahm-Ku scolded as J'Kiir ripped his arm out of Rahm-Ku's grasp.
Before the Mage could grab the arm again, the Thief bolted to the ruined house. Frustrated, Rahm-Ku followed, finding him digging through the ruins for who-knows-what.
But before he could speak, something caught the corner of Rahm-Ku's eye. Turning to the left, he sucked in some air, causing J'Kiir to turn around. But instead of arguing with Rahm-Ku, he focused himself at what he was seeing.
At the corner of the ruin was the apparition of a little girl. Rahm-Ku bit his tongue as the girl spoke in an ethereal, slightly fearful voice.
"Who's there? Is that you, Father?"
J'Kiir, his fur smoothing out, got to his knees and, much to Rahm-Ku's surprise, spoke gently to the spirit.
"We are not your father, little kitten. But we are friends. I am J'Kiir. And the lizard here is…my brother…Rahm-Ku. What is your name?"
The girl gave them wary looks until she saw the gentleness in the Khajiit's eyes.
"Helgi. But Father says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."
She then looked to both brothers again. This time out of curiosity.
"Are you strangers?"
Rahm-Ku remained speechless as J'Kiir shook his head and once again spoke gently.
"No. We're friends. If I may ask, Helgi. Do you know what happened to your house?"
Helgi's expression shifted to uncertainty to sorrow as she recounted the night she was last alive.
"The smoke woke me up. I was hot and I was scared, so I hid. Then I got cold and dark. I'm not scared anymore. But I'm lonely."
She then looked at the brothers again, this time with a hopeful look.
"Will you play with me?"
Rahm-Ku wanted to protest, but J'Kiir held up a hand, stopping him. Once again, the Khajiit spoke gently to the spirit.
"If we do, can you tell us who set the fire?"
Hearing this, Helgi nodded happily.
"Ok. Let's play hide-and-seek. You find me, and I'll tell you. You have to wait for nighttime, though. The other one is playing, too. And she can't come out until then."
This caught their interest. The other one? Who was that? When J'Kiir asked, Helgi, she shook her head, though a fearful expression escaped her face.
"I can't tell you. She might her me! She's so close! If you can find me first, I can tell you."
But before they could ask any more questions, Helgi disappeared. Frowning, J'Kiir stood up.
"Looks like we'll have to wait until sunset to play her 'game.' Better head back to the inn and get some rest."
But before he could move any further, Rahm-Ku blocked the exit.
The Argonian Mage was mystified at how the Khajiit Thief handled the situation. How he handled talking to the spirit of a dead child. What's more, his expressions were sincere. No trace amount of deceit or hidden agendas behind them. What's more, he saw this before. Back when they were tending to Dralsa's "Gems," J'Kiir would voluntarily tend to the children. Back then, Rahm-Ku thought he was interested in the gold. But was there something else?
"What you have said to Helgi. Was that…true?"
J'Kiir bit his lip as he averted his gaze. "I don't know what you are talking about." Rahm-Ku folded his arms and gave him a look. Not one of contempt or annoyance like he would normally give J'Kiir, but one of understanding and interest.
"You like kids, don't you."
J'Kiir's fur bristled, giving Rahm-Ku the answer.
"You do, don't you."
J'Kiir folded his arms.
"So…so what? You have two younger sisters. What about it?"
Rahm-Ku held up is hands in defense, but also to try to calm the Khajiit down.
"Relax. I am not judging you and I don't want to start a fight. If we're going to find out how Helgi died, then can't we at least find some common ground to stand on? Especially since we went through with Renee's revenge for her town's demise."
J'Kiir wanted to storm off to get some sleep, but Rahm-Ku had a point. If they were going to continue traveling together, then he should at least throw him a bone.
But why did it have to be that bone?
Hissing in frustration, J'Kiir relented as he sat on the remnants of a stone fireplace.
"Fine! I like kids! Happy?!"
Rahm-Ku kept silent, waiting for the full story. It was a tactic he would often use to get information when his little sisters got into trouble. The silence would grate their ears until they relented. And once again, the tactic worked for his brother as he continued.
"I was orphaned at a young age. My parents were killed trying to protect the Mane from assassination. They failed and Elsweyr fell into war. I was living in the streets of Torval as an urchin, stealing what I could to survive."
His eyes softened as more memories appeared.
"I wasn't the only kitten to be a victim of the war. There were dozens of others living in the sewers where I took refuge. I stole what I could so not only I would survive, but all of the little ones, as well. Still, many of us were failing due to disease and starvation and where it not for one fateful encounter, the sewers would have become a massive grave."
He then showed Rahm-Ku his sun-and-moon charm he had hidden around his neck. Rahm-Ku was amazed by the beauty of the charm that he almost failed to continue to listen to J'Kiir's story.
"One day, I saw this charm around the neck of a Dunmer traveler. I figured if I could get that charm, I could sell it and make enough coin for the next month.' But before I could grab it, the Dunmer grabbed my hand and asked me what I was doing. I froze, having been caught. The elf looked like he was going to kill me until he saw me.
"I was a mess. I had been giving my meals to the little ones and I was starving. He saw how desperate I was to survive. And do you know what he said?" Rahm-Ku shook his head, allowing J'Kiir to continue. "He said 'If you are going to be a proper thief, you should have a bath. I could smell you from across the city.'"
Rahm-Ku had to stifle a laugh right there, earning a glare from J'Kiir as he continued.
"He took me to a nearby bathhouse and gave me a bath. I protested, of course. But he didn't stop there. He called upon the staff to bring us a king's feast. Told me to eat my fill. Every time I took a bite, I felt guilty about the others in the sewer.
"He noticed this and asked me why did I steal and why did I look so guilty eating. I didn't know what made me trust him, but I told him about my predicament and about how everyone was doing in the sewer. And do you know what he did?"
Rahm-Ku shook his head.
"He told me to gather everyone, bring them to the bathhouse, and tell them they were given baths and meals. He paid, of course. You should have seen the amount of gold he had given to the management. I thought he was the Emperor of Cyrodiil for a minute. After everyone was bathed and being fed, I asked him 'Why did you do all of this? For a group of nothings?' And what he said next surprised me.
"He said, 'I started out as you are right now. I survived with nothing to show for it after the eruption of Red Mountain. I made a living as a master thief, making more gold than any of the Houses of Morrowind. Then I made the foolish mistake of accepting a Dark Brotherhood offer. I took three contracts before I came across one that made me feel so guilty I thought I was going to set the Dark Sacrament on myself. I killed a farmer and his wife. But the job said he wanted the children to be left alive. I saw the fear in their eyes as I slew their parents. That fear struck me hard.
'When I returned, I have discovered that the contract was made so that the client could take the children and sell the son as a slave and make the daughter a whore. I was filled with so much rage that I left the Dark Brotherhood and killed the client. I got there to save the son, but not the girl. She was violated upon capture and her mind was shattered. Since then, I refused to let children suffer such horrible fates again.'
"I was speechless when he told me the story. I thought I had it bad, but I couldn't imagine what the elf had suffered. Let's say if the client wasn't dead, I would have skinned him alive, myself.
"The elf continued to give us kindness until everyone went to good homes. Save for me. I was the eldest at the time. He introduced himself properly as Nibarr Arendu and, much to my amazement, the elf adopted me. Me."
J'Kiir looked to his silent Argonian brother, almost amused at how stunned he was.
"That elf became my new father and I learned the trade of Larceny and Assassination from him. But I also held my morals. I do not steal from the poor. I do not kill unless necessary. I kill and steal from those who deserve it. And I also could never pass up a child in need."
Hearing this, Rahm-Ku managed to speak.
"You want to express the same kindness Nibarr gave you."
J'Kiir nodded.
"So now you know my weakness. A thief with a heart of gold. A laugh, huh."
Rahm-Ku shook his head.
"On the contrary, I think it is a good trait."
Now it was J'Kiir's turn to be confused as Rahm-Ku continued.
"As a merchant's son, I grew up to be wary of thieves. To see one have such integrity is a nice change. And believe me. When you told me Nibarr's story, I wanted to strangle the client, myself."
He then held out his had to J'Kiir.
"It seems you have cleared a barrier with me. Shall I return the favor and help you solve the mystery of Helgi's death?"
J'Kiir froze. Rahm-Ku, the annoying Argonian he had been at odds with, was giving him a sign of peace between them. As much as he wanted to laugh, the telling of his story made him humble at the moment. And seeing that Rahm-Ku's gesture was genuine, the Thief smiled as he shook the Mage's hand.
"Very well. But let's get some sleep, first. It may be a long night before we find out who 'the other one' is."
Rahm-Ku nodded as he walked alongside J'Kiir back to the inn.
"Indeed, brother. Indeed."
Meanwhile in Emeralda…
As Rahm-Ku and J'Kiir rested up for the night's event, Hiccup was in the process of cleaning his Skyrim home. It was evening and Renee returned to her house with Bane resting in the stable the two siblings built for him. They had rebuilt the stable so that not only would it have four walls that would repel stormy weather, but an opening between the house and the stable was made so that Renee could walk into the stable without going outside.
Basically, it was a barn attached to the house.
Hiccup and Toothless had to go back to Whiterun to buy some fresh hay. Unlike Toothless, who preferred his stone slab, Bane preferred sleeping on softer things. So Renee asked the Viking to buy some bedding hay while they waited for their brothers to return. They also built a couple of troughs for food and water for the Juggernaut, which the dragon did not complain. By the time they were finished, it was nearly dusk. Renee ate produce while Hiccup ate a side of beef he had also bought that day. The dragons were content with their fish, but it was going to be a while before Renee could even look at another slab of meat with hunger again.
This brought Hiccup's thoughts to Namira's Ring, which Renee kept on her finger. He hoped that it was helping Renee, but he wasn't sure. After the Dralsa Nethrend incident, Renee had shown him and the others the ring and told them what it did. It helped the wearer tolerate the taste of the flesh of its own kind. In short, it helps a person swallow down human meat when the necessity was needed. It was also the only thing killing Renee's gag reflex.
All Hiccup could do was hope that the ring was helping Renee flush her system of the vile meat.
He was lost in his thoughts when he lifted a rug and discovered something. It was a trap door leading to what may be a cellar. The placement of the trap door was at the other side of the house, near Toothless' slab. Curious, Hiccup grabbed a lantern and lit a candle in it. With Toothless watching, Hiccup carefully made his way down the ladder. As soon as he touched bottom, Hiccup lifted up the lantern until he found some wall scones. He looked back up to Toothless and called up.
"Toothless! Send a stick down here. I can light this cellar up."
The stick was hardly specific to the dragon as he picked up the broom in his mouth and dropped it down the hole. Seeing the broom, Hiccup sighed.
"Well, it's not a stick, but it'll do."
Breaking off a couple pieces of straw from the broom, Hiccup proceeded to light the scones until he could see the entire cellar. Setting the lantern aside, Hiccup began to snoop around the various chests. Each one held smithing materials and tools. Some, he was familiar with like iron and steel. He found two different green metals that weighed differently. Remembering Renee was familiar with a forge, he'd figured that he'd talk to her about them in the morning.
Feeling the night weigh his eyes, Hiccup decided to head back up the ladder. But before he could even touch it, he spotted a rusted safe behind the ladder. Curiosity spiked again, Hiccup knelt in front of the safe and examined it. J'Kiir had told him about these iron chests and how they needed a combination of numbers to open.
Thankfully, a decade of rust was coating the safe, so all he had to do was smash it in order to get what was inside. Thinking quick, Hiccup grabbed a smithing hammer and started banging at the hinges. It took several strikes before the hinges broke off and Hiccup was able to pry the safe open.
Inside the safe was a white jewel the size of a large pumpkin. It was beautiful, yet something was off about it. Cautiously, Hiccup picked up the jewel. His heart practically flew out of his chest as a white light flashed and glowed from the jewel as a commanding female voice beckoned him from nowhere and everywhere.
"A new hand touches the beacon. Listen! Hear me and obey! A foul darkness has seeped into my temple. A darkness you will destroy. Return my beacon to Mount Kilkreath, and I shall make you the instrument in my cleansing light."
As the voice fell silent, Hiccup cursed himself.
"Great. Another Daedric Prince. I wonder what this one does."
Taking the beacon with him, Hiccup climbed out of his cellar and made his way to Renee's house. He pounded on the door until the sleepy redhead opened it.
"I'm up! What is it, Hiccup?"
Hiccup gulped as he held up the jewel. Her eyes widened as she realized what this jewel was.
"Where did you get that?"
"I found it in my cellar inside a rusted safe. When I touched this crystal, a voice called out to me, telling me to take it to some place called Mount Kilkreath?"
Hearing the name, Renee groaned.
"Meridia. Of course."
Hearing the name, Hiccup's questions grew.
"Meridia? Is she…?"
"A Daedric Prince? Yes." Renee replied as she allowed her brother inside her house.
Taking a seat at her table, the two siblings gazed at the crystal. Renee then proceeded to explain to Hiccup about the new Prince.
"Lucky for you, Meridia is considered a benevolent Daedra to us. She is the Prince of Life and the Lady of Infinite Energies. Namira's polar opposite, to put it simply. Question is, why does she want you to go to her shrine at Mount Kilkreath? Aside from returning her beacon, that is."
Hiccup raised his hands in uncertainty as he recounted what Meridia had told him.
"All she told me was that something foul is in her temple. Something that I have to destroy."
Renee cringed, remembering what Hiccup had told her about Bthardamz.
"Since it's Meridia, chances are it is something related to the undead. Meridia absolutely despises the undead and those who affiliate with them. But, legend says she rewards greatly to those who slay such creatures."
Hiccup groaned as he slammed his head on the table.
"Great. I guess that means we'll have to leave a note for the guys when they come back."
It was Renee's turn to cringe.
"Sorry, Hiccup. But you are on your own for this one."
Raising his head, Hiccup looked at his sister with surprise and shock.
"What?! What do you mean I'm on my own?"
Her answer was simple: she held up her right hand, revealing Namira's Ring. Remembering Namira and what she made Renee do, Hiccup cursed himself for his insensitivity.
"Sorry. As I said, Meridia despises the undead. This ring not only helps me with my cannibal-nausea, but it is also proof that I am Namira's champion. Believe me. Considering the other Princes, you're lucky to have a chance to win Meridia's favor."
In short, the only companion Hiccup will have was Toothless. Looking at Renee's steel sword, he sighed.
"I guess I should prepare myself for what may lurk at Mount Kilkreath."
Renee nodded before she yawned.
"We'll make you some leather armor and weapons in the morning. Right now, I'd like to get back to bed."
His own weariness making itself apparent by the added weight to his eyelids, Hiccup bid Renee farewell before returning to his house and falling asleep in his bed.