THE TASTE OF DEATH
The Listener
He's sitting where he usually is, playing a drum and keeping his eyes closed to feel the beat of the music. He always hit just the right notes. I guess he never was instated as the true bard of the Inn, but he was as good as any.
I wonder if I should creep around the corner, jump out from the shadows to surprise him…but that might be too soon. Instead, I settle for barreling around the bar at warp speed.
"Oof!" he huffs when I run into him.
"You're alive!" I pull back from the quick bear hug, "I didn't know what happened with you until Mjoll told me all about it. Sounds like you've been busy?" I can't get the words out fast enough. I had wondered what happened to my old friend and the vampire girl who helped me with Harkon.
"Eve." He breathes then pulls me into another very long hug. I hear a throat clearing and pull away in time to see Bryn off to the side. Assessing us.
I swallow uncomfortably but I made it known long ago to Vorstag that we were strictly friends. "Bryn this is Vorstag. He's helped me through a lot." I want to say he's helped me when I needed someone the most but talk about a way to plunge the knife deeper.
Bryn nods curtly, "Good to finally meet you, I've heard some things about you."
"And as have I," Vorstag bows his head, "I am happy to know you both are safe. I got the letter from Mjoll a few days ago, although she never told me exactly where you were."
"Well, you wouldn't have known, I've been running around Skyrim these past few weeks. Need to get all the Artifacts."
Vorstag's brows raise. Right. I never got into that with him.
"Long story, but we have some time. We're meeting up with the werewolves soon. Care to sit and we go over everything?" I hold my hand out to the bar. It's best to occupy the seats now before Gabriel finishes getting the carriage to the stables.
"I would be delighted." My old friend smiles. I see those familiar fangs peeking out, and immediately feel remorse. I caused that. I got the noble warrior dammed to an existence of bloodsucking like a leech. But then again, without my Daedric friendships he might not even be here.
An hour later we're all sitting around the bar. Vorstag heard the whole story, said he'd help where he can and began singing along with the other bard in the house. They went over every song in the book except for Dragonborn Comes. Still kind of a sore spot.
Now, I peek over my mug at the interaction Vorstag and Gabriel are having. This is interesting.
"Friend, you see, one of my mothers had the same affliction you do. Did you ever try a healing potion to aid you?" He leans over the bar to get in Gabriel's face. The poor man was beginning to have a breakdown.
"I haven't." He grumbles.
Vorstag shoots me a look, I just wince. Forgot that might help. Probably a better tactic than just controlling what we drink around him.
"Here." The kind man pulls out a potion and hands it to our driver, "Drink and let me know how you feel. The trick is this, in the world you are going to come across what tempts you most many times over your lifetime. You are in a bar right now! The drink tempts you, does it not?"
Gabriel nods and takes the potion as directed. "Good. How does that feel?" Vorstag asks.
"Better. A bit better." Gabriel smiles somberly.
"Here take another one then." Vorstag hands him yet another bottle.
"Is this a good idea?" I ask across the table. Vorstag gives me the evil eye over his shoulder.
I figure it's a good a time as any to shut up, so I do. "Good, now you feel better, how is the temptation?"
"Not as bad. I guess." Gabriel leans back a bit in his chair, "It's just hard with all the bad things going on. The dragons, the Night Mother. All the terror and fear."
Vorstag's face crumples into anguish. "I know. Trust me, I know. We all do. We all have our vices to get through it but let me tell you that this is more likely to kill you before any dragon does."
Gabriels eyebrows shoot up. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it nearly happened to my mother. Those potions will help, they will ease the burden. My best advice," He glances at me and I catch that sparkle in his eye, "Is to put that anger and fear into something else. Did you ever learn how to fight?"
"No, not really." He grumbles, "I'm just a carriage driver."
"Well, why not be a carriage driver and a swordsman? I can give you training!"
Damn this guy is good. His attitude is infectious. I feel pretty bad I couldn't get to Gabriel like this, I mean, this is the help he needs. Bryn rubs my shoulder. "He's with a good man now. Look at how excited he is."
Bryn is correct, across the way Gabriel lights up to the sound of all this. "Wait…I can be a swordsman? Swing a blade as good as the girl does?"
Vorstag is all shiny white teeth, and fangs, "Even better. I'll make you the best warrior Skyrim has ever known! But we start tonight."
"Alright." Gabriel takes the last sip of the potion and gazes longingly at the mug the bartender is just wiping down.
"First, I need to show you something. Tell me, what is your favorite drink?" Vorstag asks. I clutch my mug tighter. This might be headed in a bad direction.
"Honey ale." Is the driver's immediate response.
"One honey ale please." Vorstag lays a few coins on the bar and is soon handed a mug, brimming with the drink I have in my hands.
"Here, friend. This is another trick. If you keep yourself from it forever, the temptation might be too much am I correct?"
Gabriel's eyes are all for the mead in front of him, but he just nods. "Now take this." Vorstag says, "Have two sips, savor in the flavor, and tell me how you feel."
Gabriel does as directed. "By Talos." He whispers, "I forgot how good this was."
"You are drinking for the taste, not the effect, understand?"
Gabriel goes back to staring intently at the warrior. "How do I keep from going overboard?"
Vorstag strokes his chin. "A good question. Know your limit. It's a treat instead of a crutch. You have a few sips then we set it down and go for some sword training. Sound good?"
Gabriel smiles then does just that. I feel my chest tightening with pride when he sets that mug down and follows Vorstag outside for a bit of training.
"Sad to see him leave like that." Sanguine leans against the bar where Gabriel just was, "He was the best drinking buddy around!"
"Still have me." I say and raise my glass. Sanguine raises Gabriel's and downs it, "That I do."
"Now what, lass?" Bryn murmurs behind me.
I look around the Inn, lots of humans and Daedric Princes, just no werewolves yet. "Wait for the others, then receive our next directions."
No less than twenty minutes later the room is becoming crowded with werewolves. "Sorry for the delay, it took longer than we thought." Mjoll sits next to me, I raise a brow and she holds her hand up.
On it sits the ring of Hircine. A beautiful silver band with a wolf head at the center. "How is that Artifact treating you?" I ask.
"Very well, I feel invigorated after changing back, not tired and spent like I sometimes do." She raises a hand for the bartender.
"She's now ready to go." Hircine says from behind the bar, he's right next to where the bartender is, getting a mug of mead for Mjoll.
"Saw that. Thanks for the Artifact, I'm guessing you didn't have to kill anyone innocent for it?" I take another sip.
"No, no one innocent." Mjoll seems mildly offended. Wait till she sees the next quest we have. Hircine breaks into laugher.
"Finally, there you are! Were you getting lost?" Mjoll turns to him…her boyfriend or whatever.
The guy, a fairly good-looking Nord in wolf armor smiles, excitement in his eyes. "Gabriel the carriage driver is outside, he's getting a few good licks in with a practice dummy." He leans over us to grab his own mug and promptly turns to go watch the show.
Mjoll has that same look of excitement. "I would very much like to see this." I can't interject when she leaves so I motion to Bryn to follow. Looks like we're having our next meeting outside.
Gabriel misses, but then he slashes! Vorstag goes down with comic effect, acting as if the wooden sword to the shoulder was too much for a man of such strength. "Good one! Very good! Try again and hold the blade a little tighter, you don't want your wrist to be so limp!" He stands and I realize we have a little crowd around us.
Yep, we're out in the open by the stalls near the front. This is usually where the murders happen. But with the five of us warriors and the warrior in training, Markarth has nothing to fear. "Gabriel! Swing it around the body like this." Mjoll gets into the fray and uses her sword…Grimsever as an example. "Like this." She swings it just so it gracefully flies around her body then swings it back as an example of another hit.
Gabriel tries but apparently its not to her satisfaction. She tries to reposition his arm. "Maybe the man needs a two-handed weapon? Sometimes easier to control." Vilmer or Vilkas, whatever his name is, steps in and pulls out his weapon.
I sit and watch for a while. Waiting for someone to show up. When they don't, I can't help it. Gabriel keeps looking around in confusion. "I don't understand, it's so heavy! How do you even control this?" He holds the blade out like it will bite him. Vilkas goes back to teaching him but I step in.
"Want me to show you some moves?" I grin when he lights up.
"Yes girl! Show me how to even use this thing!" He's got Vilkas's sword held out in front of him.
"Hold it like this." I pull out the Ebony Blade and hold it firmly in front of me.
Gabriel follows my lead and holds it out. "Good. Hold it a little tighter like this."
He repositions. "Ok, swing it like this." I hold it above my head then bring it down swiftly but gracefully, swinging it around and slashing it downwards.
"You make it look easy, but here we go." He holds the massive sword above his head and brings it down, very clumsy. I leap out of the way so my leg doesn't get slashed.
"Good try." Vorstag moves in to take over for me.
"It's so heavy though, maybe I should try her blade." Gabriel nods towards the Ebony Blade.
Good idea…but knowing how the Artifact works, by taking innocent souls…it might be a bad first choice.
"Take mine." Mjoll pulls out Grimsever and trades Gabriel for his sword, "It is a one-handed sword, but you can use it as a two-handed, for practice."
He nods and holds it in two hands. I smile my thanks to the Lioness, she didn't have to give her precious sword as target practice, but it will help. "Go again, I want to see you swing Grimsever like a nasty draugr is after you!" Mjoll cheers him on.
"Or a jester." He chuckles. He holds it above his head and brings it around. He's good on the downsweep but smacks it into the ground a little too hard. "Ooops…"
"Here let me show you." I hold the Blade up and begin showing my moves. Swipe down, then left then right, then once again overhead. Then the Blade comes down and nearly impales Nocturnal through the skull.
I yelp and drop the thing. It goes clattering on the ground. "Are you ready? You've been fooling around for enough time." Her tone is serious, but her expression is amused.
"Yeah, one sec," I retrieve the Blade and nearly take Grimsever in the shoulder. "Woa, buddy!" I yell to the driver.
He pulls back and sheepishly hands it back to Mjoll. "Sorry girl got carried away, this is more fun than I thought!"
Mjoll chuckles, "Keep that up and Grimsever might want a new home with you."
Here we are at the bar again and listening for clues to the next Artifact. "In the Hall of the Dead." Nocturnal says. She's covered in a cloak to remain anonymous while addressing us all.
"What's there?" Mjoll asks.
"Namira's cult. They…eat the dead." Nocturnal wiggles her nose.
Gabriel looks like he might throw up. "Might be a little over our heads." I mention.
"I will admit, Namira is the most…disgusting of us all and that is even comparing her to Peyrite. It shouldn't take long though." Her hooded eyes take inventory of the bar. No one to watch out for. I've checked twice. "I am sorry to admit but the Princes are having another meeting soon. The Night Mother is on the move and we need to find out what she has taken so far."
There's a brief moment of silence, everyone is mulling over the fact that another Hold might be gone soon. "We'll hurry." I say for the team, "Let's go."
"Eve," Vorstag says, "I wish to join you but Serana will be here soon. I need to hear what she's found out."
Right, she was alive and well just sent out for scouting missions around the Castle. I deliberate, it would be nice to have him on my side but with Serana in the mix we get two warriors at once. "Got it. We'll be back sometime. You know where to find me now."
He grins, "Honeyside. Never thought someone would actually buy that plot of land. It's beautiful but Maven tends to scare people off."
I laugh, "She's the least scary thing I've seen. Fun to antagonize as well. Take care, Vorstag, we'll meet again soon." He pulls me into another hug before I direct the gang to the door. Thankfully, everyone leaves whatever they're drinking or eating and follows right away.
"Sorry the Hall of the Dead is closed, you can't go in there." A snooty priest says. Looks like he drew the short stick and has to stay outside to guard.
"We know you have the equivalent of a human sized Skeever infestation." I push. Based on Nocturnal's tone we need to get in there, now.
He tilts his head, "Say again?"
"Something's eating your dead and we are here to help." Vilkas says. Everyone is on edge. I thought about leaving Gabriel and the Igor guy outside but thought better when I saw all the shifty eyed fellows crowding near the Keep.
The Priest's eyes widen, "If you insist on helping, I would be grateful. If you can get to the bottom of this, the Priesthood of Arkay will reward you. Take my key and be careful." He passes over his key to Mjoll who immediately unlocks the door.
"Thanks for the help." I mummer when I pass him. My eyes are only for the room ahead now. It is quite a fancy place to bury your dead, elaborate stone walkways and burial chambers abound. But I only have a moment to look around with the gang when the voice booms from above.
Her voice is as soft as silk, "Not many would walk blindly into a crypt, smelling of steel and blood, but not fear. I feel the hunger inside of you. Gnawing at you. You see the dead and your mouth grows wet. Your stomach growls."
"Wow, mine sure does but not for this kind of meat." Igor says.
I can't help it. I break out into a fit of full-on belly laughs. I have to hold onto a stone pillar for support. "Something I would say." I gasp, "But I mostly gave up that carnivore life almost a year ago."
"A year was it?" He stops to stand next to me. He looks really good now that he's in his wolf armor and got rid of those rich-boy prissy clothes. "Come a long way then."
"Thanks, it's been rough, but I think I got the hang of it now…"
The others begin to talk amongst themselves when the voice grows impatient. "You have no fear, do you mortals?"
"Immortals," I correct her, "Mostly. And nope you're just one of the many other quests we have on our bucket list. Honestly, it would be scarier if I saw someone getting eaten and not hearing the poorly written romance novel-like lines on cannibalism."
I can feel her hatred simmering in the room, but I am a band of steel. Takes more than that to take me down now. "It's all right. I will not shun you for what you are. Stay. I will tell you everything you have forgotten."
Her voice fades out and a new one comes in. "You were young when you first tasted human flesh, weren't you? A brother or sister had died? An accident, of course. Then the hunger set in. Curiosity. What's the harm in just one bite?"
I turn and find behind the gang is a woman about my age. All decked out in bandit armor and dirt all over her face. She sure didn't look like one of the Princes. But then again, neither did Peryite.
"It's okay now. You've found a friend who understands you. You can let go of your guilt." She crosses her arms.
"Yeah, I felt bad about that one time with the Argoninan, then again with some bandits. But I got used to it." I shrug.
"This is not the Prince." Mjoll brushes past me and whispers in my ear along the way.
Well, duh, I can hear this woman's heart a mile away. "I know. Play along. I don't think she'll like it if she knows we aren't cannibals." At least, I think. We could kill her here after her admission of that crime and I could fess Namira out…but I already pissed her off.
"Come again? I forgot the question. Needed a little pow wow here over which body to go for first." I step forward and take the reigns for the disgruntled group.
"A lot of our kind black out the memory of their first meal. The shame is too much. But you don't need to hide anymore. Namira, the Lady of Decay, accepts you for what you are. She has a place for us, where we can sate our appetites without judgement." Her eyebrow raises. An invitation.
That's probably right where the Artifact is. "Got it. We sure are hungry. Where is this place?"
She smiles, "It's inside Reachcliff Cave. But the dead have stirred from their slumber recently, and I was forced here. Meet me there. We will fight our way to Namira's embrace together. Until then, tell the people of Markarth that their dead won't be disturbed anymore. We have bigger plans ahead." She waits for no answer and goes up in a puff of smoke.
"Huh, maybe she is Namira after all, I don't know any spells like that, do you guys?"
"Nope and I've been studying as much as a mage in Winterhold these past few weeks." Igor says.
"Ah, Aerin, whatever would we do without your magic wielding?" Mjoll teases him.
Aerin. Airhead. Got it. "Lass, is this still a good idea?" Bryn gets in my view, "Can you see her at all? Try and talk with her?"
I shrug, worth a shot. "Okay you caught us red-handed Namira. We're here for the Daedric Artifact. The weapon to kill the Night Mother. Nocturnal sent me here, if you don't know already, I'm Eve." I wait.
No one says anything back, so I continue, "…also known as Daedric pain in the ass…"
Nothing. Mjoll and her boyfriend are smirking at me. "Girl." Gabriel keeps looking around as if a corpse might jump out at him at any moment, "I might need to sit this one out, wait outside."
I hold up a hand, "Will do, we need to assess the situation first."
A few more minutes and no swan song from Namira so I round the gang up to get us on our way to the cave. The Priest gives me a wide-eyed look when we return, prolly because we don't have meat in our teeth.
"It's all clear, they won't be coming back. Might want to have someone disinfect the place, it was smelling a bit mangy." I hand him the keys and move us on as fast as possible.
"I, wow, thank you. Arkay guide you." He calls after me.
"You too." A dog bumps into my leg, "Oh, hey Barbas, how's the meeting going?"
Bad, real bad. More yelling and in fighting. He speaks into my mind. And no bones this time. Can I tag along?
I swallow. "Of course," I say, "As long as you help me get us in and out quickly, that update doesn't sound good."
Nope not at all, Clavicus is going to be really grouchy today…
"And then…Mehrunes says he never had a popsicle stand in the Deadlands! Like we all knew that, but Sheogorath just always has to get his nose in everyone's business. We wasted a good two minutes talking about where a good ice cream parlor should go when Molag Bal lost his entire shit on us!" Clavicus Vile sits across from me and next to an unwitting Aerin. Barbas has been going from his lap back to mine the whole way.
"Okay, and? That's irrelevant. How long was the talk on the Night Mother, what have they said about her?" I stroke Bryn's hair. He's been really good, looking away from the empty seat across from me to give me my space. No one can see the Prince right now, but I can tell everyone is listening to the half conversation.
"Irrelevant?" The Prince of deals sputters over his honey nut treat he begged for. Thankfully, Gabriel had a spare. "Why, it's not irrelevant when it's all we'll have to think about shortly! The Night Mother is getting closer, and I'd bet my bottom septim that she'll have us shut out in a matter of weeks."
Ice fills my heart. "Why is that? What is she doing? Has she taken more Holds?"
Now all eyes are on us. "Might want to show yourself." I whisper and nod to the crowd in the carriage, even Gabriel was looking back from the road.
Clavicus Vile sighs, "Fine." I feel Bryn flinch when he reveals himself. Aerin damn near drops the deer leg he's feasting on. Good thing he caught it, not sure how much more blood we can scrub out of this carriage.
The Prince of Deals ruffles his snowy white hair and crosses his legs, the elaborate green robe cascades over them and down the seats. Dare I say I see a few sparkling diamonds here and there. Clavicus Vile was bathing in wealth. "She's not after Holds right now. The Brotherhood is but right now she's with a member of the Blades. Running around and trying to figure out the dragon crisis."
"So? That's good, it means she's distracted. That's what Nocturnal said about the dragon crisis." I mention.
"Yes, but she's close and based on how mad she is we know she'll be able to blow those dragons to kingdom come! This woman is very deliberate and intelligent in her actions. All the pieces are put into place before she strikes. It's why we've had such a hard time tracking her." He grumbles.
Right. I remember that. I didn't even think her end game could be resurrection when I was carrying her around in my head. Now, the plan is 20/20. The pieces had been set up all along…I just didn't see it. "So, there's a method to the madness, if you get someone to tail her…well then you'll get all the info and we'll be one step ahead."
He sighs in frustration. "Again, you're being so dense! We tried that. Sheogorath even sent some of his insane followers but that jester keeps hacking them apart, it's like a sport!"
Cicero. I hadn't thought of him in so long. I was actually wondering if he finally ended up in a ditch or canal somewhere. But it seems like she had some use for him. At least for the time being. "So, what's your plan of action with her?" I ask.
"'Monitoring the situation', that's how Nocturnal put it. Molag and Dagon are itching to go tear the witch's head off and be done with it. I wouldn't be surprised if they snuck away. Well, Molag at least."
"You think he would?" I ask. Molag Bal confronted me and the Night Mother once, but he didn't get far. All it did was turn her sights to banishing them from contacting me.
"He's reckless but not stupid," Clavicus sneers, "At least we think. He knows there will be consequences if he goes after her alone. That's why she told me to hurry you up." He gives me a pointed look.
Yeah, I was wondering about that… "Why not send everyone here to egg me on?"
"They're going over procedures for what to do with their realms if they get shut out from this plane." He groans, "The Fields of Regret don't need much upkeep right now so I'm the first to be babysitter." He gives a tight smile and holds out his hands to present himself.
"Girl, is this it?" Gabriel gives me a fearful look. Right, the cannibal cave. I peer over the edge of the carriage and find the strange woman from the Hall of the Dead standing there. Watching us.
"Yep. This is it. Care to join, Clavicus?"
He gives the cave a weary glance, "No, I've had enough of my sister for the day."
I smile and hand him a box filled with teabags, some mugs, and sugar. "Good, stay with Gabriel and if he requests it, make him some tea. There's a stream over there." I point behind him.
"I don't get enough payment for this…" He begins but I hop off the carriage and walk away confidently. Straight to the cannibal woman to find her merry men.
Cicero's Journal Entry
11th of Sun's Height, 4E 202
So excited! We are so close to smiting all the dragons. Mother agrees, she feels our excitement…but Cicero is a little worried. Ever so slightly, the Redguard, he was tense this time. A little too sweet when talking to him. Is Cicero being paranoid? Seeing things where there are only shadows? HA! It wouldn't be out of the woods for me…Cicero is mad after all…