Another slow day in Riverwood. Damn.
Bishop was starting to lose hope of finding someone to help him rescue Karnwyr. He leaned back against the wall near the Inn's doors and considered his options once again. Not that it would help him much.
He couldn't afford to hire a Companion right now so that one was out. There were a couple of people here who might have been able to help him - Faendal for example - if only he hadn't been so damn rude to the elf and his pathetic attempts to woo Camila Valerius the first time they met. And those drunkards by the wall were not even worth considering, he doubted they'd be able to hold a sword in their current state.
That was it. Those were his options. He cursed once again.
Bishop didn't want to try and take on a whole den of bandits on his own, not even with a rescued Karnwyr at his side, but it looked like he won't much of have a choice. Not unless we were willing to abandon Kanwyr, the only being he loved and trusted in this whole cursed world, to die in the Pit. Which he wasn't.
A deep sigh escaped him as he decided to risk it alone after all. All he needed to do now was pack some provisions for the journey and he'd be on his way to Cragslane Cavern.
That was when he heard it.
The now-quite-bark, not-quite-howl of his faithful friend. He turned around, astonished to see Karnwyr making his merry way towards him.
"Karnwyr! You mangy ball of fur, where have you been? I was so worried about you!" Bishop crouched down to let Karnwyr sniff at him and welcomed him back. "And how on Nirn did you get away from the Pit, boy?"
When he lifted his head, he was met with a terrifying sight. A tall figure, dressed head-to-toe in thick, heavy-looking male mage robes and, he was forced to admit, a terrifying metal mask. He stood up to get in front of Karnwyr, in case this person tried anything.
But he did not need to worry. The figure only looked back at Karnwyr and spoke to him in a calm voice, slightly muffled and distorted by the mask, "So you found your person. Karnwyr, was it?" Bishop had the distinct impression that the person smiled under the mask. "Good on you, boy. You are a talented tracker to have found him so quickly."
Bishop had heard about this person before. Who hasn't? But why the legendary Dragonborn would involve himself in a small matter like this, he didn't know. Was he expecting a reward? If so, he'll be disappointed.
"Heh, decided to stop hunting dragons to start rescuing wolves, Dragonborn?" He couldn't help but snark at him. "That's quite a career change. I doubt there's enough money or fame in it for you."
The legendary Dragonborn crossed their hands behind their back. A conciliatory gesture from a mage, as if Bishop was the one threatened. Which he probably was, dammit. "Not quite. The dragons are more or less pacified, so I mostly hunt humans nowadays."
Bishop felt an involuntary shudder run down his spine.
"Bandits, thieves and murderers, mostly. Thalmor, sometimes," the figure continued and Bishop relaxed a fraction, more grateful than ever before that he decided to give up banditry while he still could. "About Karnwyr. I've heard that the pit fights started up again, even though I wiped them out before, so I decided to end them once more." The Dragonborn gestured towards Karnwyr, "Found this little guy trapped in a cage, didn't attack me when I let him out. He even helped me take down the organizers. And, well, once we were done, he looked like he had someplace to be, so I decided to escort him to wherever he was going. After all," this time Bishop could hear the smile in their voice, "Skyrim can be dangerous for a lone wolf. Better to have some company."
Bishop shook his head. "You... decided to follow a wolf, because he looked like had somewhere to be? What are you, bored?"
The Dragonborn cocked his head. "Well, yes."
An awkward silence ensued.
"Hm. Maybe I can do something about it." It was just a vague idea when Bishop spoke, but he was starting to like it the more he thought about it. "I don't have much to pay you with, for helping Karnwyr, but I could keep you company on the road. You may need the help of an experienced tracker on your side. Discover something interesting you'd have missed otherwise. And have some help in a fight, too. After all, Skyrim can be dangerous for a lone wolf," he added with a smirk.
The mask cocked to the side again the same way Karnwyr's did when he was listening closely and Bishop felt that he was really starting to get the hang of interpreting the Dragonborn's emotions.
"...Why not? After all, it's not like I had anything better planned. Your company may yet prove interesting." The muffled voice sounded amused. "Very well, ranger, let's get on the road."
"That's what I like to hear. Riverwood was starting to get boring," Bishop grinned. "Name's Bishop, by the way."
Not two hours later, Bishop was glad to be in such a good physical condition, because otherwise, he'd never be able to keep up with the masked man.
They were on the road to Whiterun, to resupply at the inn before they'd make their way to Windhelm. According to the Dragonborn, he needed to drop off some ingredients at the White Phial that he promised to gather for the owner.
"I've put it off long enough," he said when they briefly paused to skin a deer the Dragonborn dropped with a single spell. "We need to get there before the Jazbay Grapes rot and all my work will be for nothing."
"Is this what you usually do? Play delivery boy for anyone who asks?" Bishop groused.
"Hmm, if the person who requests it is interesting, or the job is, why not? Quintus wants to try and brew some nice booze out of it, despite Jazbay being so bitter. It would be nice to be drunk and strengthen my Magicka at the same time." The Dragonborn washed his hands in the stream and continued with a smirk that Bishop could feel even from behind the mask, "And please, call me a delivery dragon, at least. I'm not a boy, in any way, shape or form."
"Hah! I can see it. You'll call yourself The Dragon Delivery Service and drive the Black-Briars out of business with your Jazbay Wine."
The Dragonborn chuckled and stood up. "Well then, ranger, let's go, or the first ingredients of our famous wine will ferment in my robes."
"'Our' wine? Heh, I like to sound of that. We'll be the legendary heroes of Skyrim for delivering them quality booze at great prices. Bishop and the Dragonborn, here to save Skyrim from the dryness of throat. You have yourself a deal, your lordship. As long as you're the one doing the delivery."
"'Lordship'?" The Dragonborn repeated incredulously.
"What? Don't like your new title? Too bad," Bishop shrugged with a provocative smirk. "I heard about all your titles, Thane of almost every hold and Slayer of Alduin. Lordship's kinda fitting."
The Dragonborn stared at him for a moment, then his shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter. After a moment, he composed himself and warned, amused, "I'm going to laugh at you so hard when you figure it out."
Bishop narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what that meant, but he'll get to the bottom of it soon, he was sure.
Whiterun, Bannered Mare, later that day
"My name is Neeshka. Do you think I'm pretty?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Bishop saw the Dragonborn shrug and continue inside towards the counter to order some dinner.
"I think you're a pest. We need one room, bartender." No sense wasting coin on two beds. Not like they couldn't share a big room, right? It would be much safer that way, too.
"Sure thing. The room's yours for the day."
"You could share with me instead, I'd keep you warm," the waitress leaned into him, trying to be seductive.
"Go away, flea." He turned to the bartender. "We'll take it. Are there multiple beds?"
"Just the one, sorry. But it's a big one."
Eh, they'll survive. Not like they won't be sleeping next to each other in their bedrolls on the road soon enough. "I'll take it, with a reduced price for the inconvenience. Can the room be well secured?"
"Yes!"
Bishop saw the Dragonborn finish packing the supplies for the road, then stretch uncomfortably and scratch at their robes. That gave him an idea. "Do you have a bath?"
"We sure do. Water's still warm, too, only been used twice."
The flea jumped in, "You don't need her, big man. I can wash your back for you."
That gave him a pause. "What are you talking about, flea?" He shook himself. "Nevermind. I already told you to get lost. Don't make me tell you twice."
The waitress blinked at him. Then looked at the Dragonborn, who shrugged back and seemed to be laughing again. Then looked back at Bishop. "Oh."
He had the distinct impression she was amused as well.
The bartender interjected before things could get too tense, "Ummm... Ok then. Let me show you to the baths."
Bishop shook his weird premonition off and followed the bartender together with the Dragonborn to the baths. "Great. No one's getting in here, not without making a lot of racket and waking everyone up. I'd say it's safe enough. Grab your things and go take your bath. You can go first, I'll wait outside the door."
He heard the Dragonborn start to undress when he noticed the annoying waitress approach the baths. He was really sick and tired of that one. "Get out, flea."
"But you are what I desire in a man. And you aren't even spoken for, so why not try me?"
"Not interested. Now get lost."
That seemed to finally get to her as she lost her temper. "What are you, impotent? You're not interested in me. You don't even notice her. So who catches your fancy? Or is your wolf the only one you want?"
Aaand that was enough for Bishop as well. "You come into this room again, I will slit your throat!"
"Fine! I'll just go then! I don't know how she can stand you!" The waitress turned and left in a huff.
Bishop breathed a sigh of relief but felt there was some point he was seriously missing here. He backed a bit into the bathing chamber and called out to the Dragonborn, "Hey, lordship, do you know what she was talking about?"
He heard some muffled snickers behind him, then the Dragonborn spoke and turned his world-view upside down, "Probably the fact that I'm a woman?"
"What?!" Bishop turned his head so fast he got whiplash. The Dragonborn was still dressed but the robes hung even more loosely around his... her? frame than before, if that was possible. "No way!"
The Dragonborn snickered again. Then opened the front of their robe to reveal-
"Gods, woman! You'd rather show your tits than your face to convince me?! What the hell!"
The Dragonborn was openly laughing at him now. Bishop watched, bug-eyed, as it made the rather nice pair of breasts jiggle in their cloth wrap underwear. "I guess you have to change your nickname for me. And you should probably ask the bartender for another room, ranger!"
Bishop couldn't help it. He felt himself turn red from embarrassment. Both from his mistake, and the half-undressed legendary woman in front of him. How could he have missed this? Why did no one ever mention that the 'Savior of the world' was a goddamn wench? So many stories, so many tales of victories and accomplishments, yet no one bothered to mention it?
He turned around to go back to his position at the door. Looked like he had even more of a reason to protect... her. Damn.
"Oh, and ranger?" Came the no longer muffled and definitely female voice behind him, "Name's Hildur, by the way."