Chapter 15: Exterminate!
Zacharius sighed before taking a sip of water. "I think that the next thing I should talk about is Errick's and Isobel's mission in Whiterun. It was interesting, to say the least. You probably wouldn't know it looking at Isobel now, but she literally is the personification of everything I had heard about from thieves in Cyrodiil."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean she stole from and possibly slept with every race in existence. I can also confirm she stole from my family, but there might have been more to that story even I don't remember, seeing as I was knocked out by the smallest Breton I had ever seen at nineteen years old."
"You're saying she knocked you out?"
"I know she did. What I don't know is what happened beyond that. And with a soul like Isobel Woodwing, it's better to leave that in the past."
*Brynjolf had walked down near the main gate of Whiterun. The morning was rather quiet and he enjoyed it. It was something that was nice about this small city. Riften was normally quiet as well, but Whiterun was the nice kind of quiet. The only noise he currently heard was the ringing of someone hammering metal into a weapon or piece of armor that would be used in another bloody battle on his homeland.
Brynjolf looked over to see that Errick was the reason for the noise.
The Imperial was hammering away on a molten piece of metal, turning it into a sword of moonstone. Isobel was standing near him, laughing about his little elven sword that he was crafting. Errick simply retorted with a broad smile and stated he wanted a silly weapon for a silly job, and that he wanted to kill rats while yelling human beings were the superior beings of Tamriel. Brynjolf couldn't help but laugh at that, and even pictured the new Imperial member of their misfit family quoting a Thalmor executive.
Isobel looked at Brynjolf a short second later, and the Nord froze. He didn't expect her to have noticed him standing there, but then again, he should've walked away by now to let them pull off their job. Wanting to limit the awkwardness of the moment, he simply nodded in her direction. Isobel smiled and nodded back, and Brynjolf turned around, exhaling at how the moment played out. After a lot of the tension between them before her heist of Ulfric's amulet, he hoped that Isobel was less angry with her.
He walked with the sun on his back, gazing almost enviously at the well-built, sturdy houses that didn't have a single loose board or cracked window. He had spent so much time in Riften he almost forgot about how cities weren't normally so poor, the mere fact that Whiterun had sunshine and no gray, dilapidated shacks made him feel out of his element.
Ysolda had been pleasant enough. Brynjolf definitely needed to increase his persistence once they were alone, for Ysolda and started to second-guess herself, but once he placed enough rough kisses on her neck and threw the "love" word around she finally succumbed to him. And although she had no idea what she was doing, what she lacked in experience she made up for in beauty, and her soft, untainted body sufficed enough for Brynjolf and his needs.
However, being around Isobel seemed to make him tense and on guard, and if her behavior the previous night hadn't have been difficult enough, having to listen to her whimpering in her sleep really topped it off. Did she really suffer from chronic nightmares? It didn't seem to fit her, she seemed so free spirited and free of burdens.
Besides, he kept wondering about a phrase Isobel had said the night before; "She won't let you leave in the morning...I've been with her type." Whether she meant clingy men or clingy women he wasn't sure, the tone in which she said it had been so ambiguous and he found himself pondering whether or not she was the type to engage in same-sex relations. Regardless of anything and everything that happened last night, Brynjolf knew he had to make sure he and Isobel weren't already feuding again, he didn't think he or the Guild could handle anymore drama.
Suddenly three children, dirty and breathing heavily, ripped around the corner of a home, nearly knocking Brynjolf off his legs as a young boy collided into him.
"Sorry mister!" He cried, the expression on his face expecting Brynjolf to scold him.
"C'mon Battle-Born, you milk-drinker!" One of the others called and the boy took off. Brynjolf couldn't help but stop and watch the children continue to sprint down the lane, laughing and screaming at each other. The only contact he had with kids for years was over a stone wall and through iron barbs, and seeing others run freely made him feel even more foreign and (strangely enough) homesick. He thought travelling to the Nordic village would be refreshing and good for him, but between Isobel and kids, all he wanted was to go back to Riften and to Honorhall and see the orphans he had been neglecting.
Brynjolf continued his walk until came upon the largest, most extravagant home he had seen so far. He walked up the stone steps to the broad wooden doors and knocked. Within seconds the door flew open and Brynjolf saw the aged face of someone he hadn't seen in a long time. Olfrid Battle-Born.
"You're here. And not a moment too soon!" The man said curtly as he shut the door behind Brynjolf. "If anything should happen to Arn there'll be hell to pay." Olfrid beckoned Brynjolf through the large, luxurious living area and through a door leading into a small study.
"Just give me the details and I'll work things out, Olfrid." Brynjolf said calmly as he and the old, finely dressed man sat at a small table.
"Let me get this straight." Olfrid snapped. "The only reason I decided to hire your services again is because I heard about Ulfric's break in and knew it had to be one of your people. If someone could break into the Palace of the Kings, then Dragonsreach should be no problem. So where is the boy?"
"The...who?"
"The boy! The man! Whoever stole from Ulfric! I asked Delvin for them specifically!"
"She's out on another errand." Brynjolf said, his pride slightly hurt. Delvin said the job was for him. "You'll have to settle for me. Oh come now, I may be getting older but I haven't lost my touch." He said with a charming smile. Olfrid didn't relax though.
"I am missing an exclusive tasting party at Honningbrew Meadery as we speak because you couldn't come sooner!" Olfrid shouted. "And now I don't even get the thief I asked for?!"
"Yeah well, something tells me you're going to be glad I was late." Brynjolf muttered. "If you're so frantic for whatever reason you hired us, then let me do the job."
"Yeah, after the last time I hired from the Guild?" Olfrid scoffed. "You think I'd just ask for anybody? One of my closest friend's life is on the line!"
"Who is he?" Brynjolf said, trying to cool the agitated old man down.
"My friend, Arn!" Olfrid pleaded. "We fought together on the battlefield during the Great War, now it's up for me to save him one more time...this time, from the executioner's block in Solitude!"
"Okay, Olfrid. Go on." Brynjolf soothed.
"The city guard in Solitude is seeking Arn for murder. When he fled here, he was arrested for drunken behavior. Can you imagine!?" Olfrid said with disbelief as he banged his fist on his desk. "Fortunately his identity isn't known to the authorities in Whiterun, so there's still a chance to save him."
"You wanted the lass that stole from Ulfric to do a prison break?" Brynjolf raised an eyebrow critically.
"This is more than a prison break. I want Arn's name stricken from the record books permanently. I'm setting him up with a new identity, it's the only way to throw the guards off his trail for good." Olfrid leaned closer. "First, steal a letter that was sent from Solitude warning Whiterun's guard to be on the lookout for Arn. Second, change Arn's name in the prison registry to Fenrik, his new name..."
"Sounds easy enough." Brynjolf said with a smile as he stood up.
"If it was easy I would've hired thugs instead of a professional!" Olfrid retorted and Brynjolf couldn't help but chuckle.*
Errick looked at his newly fashioned Elven Sword and smiled. "If I end up using this on a Thalmor, do you think his friends will call it friendly fire?"
"I don't know. Maybe if you throw it at a Thalmor and stick him to the wall."
"If I do that, I'll make sure to have a good catchphrase ready." He slid the sword into his holster and tied it to his belt. "How far to Honningbrew Meadery?"
"Not far. It's walking distance, so we'll be able to get there, clear out the rats, poison the mead-"
"That poor mead." Errick joked.
"-and get back to Whiterun for lunch."
"Sounds like my kind of day. Let's get to it." Errick walked over to the entrance and opened the large door, holding his arm out. "Ladies first."
"The only time I ever want to hear a guy say that is during sex." Isobel retorted, walking through the gate. Errick shook his head and saw one of the guards staring at him.
Errick simply shrugged. "At least she knows what she likes." He closed the door and walked along with Isobel on the road. "So, you kissed your mother with that mouth?"
"Not with this mouth. Back when she died, I was the typical little girl that you would see around here. But I don't regret who I am today."
"And just who are you today?"
"Your partner-in-crime. Who else?"
"I don't know. Maybe a tavern wench."
Isobel punched him in the arm.
"Okay, maybe a court jester."
Isobel made an attempt to punch him again, but this time he caught her hand without even looking.
"Don't do that again."
Isobel squirmed to release Errick's grip on her wrist, but the man held firm. "Let go of my hand, jackass."
"I've been called worse by the mothers of all of the girls I fucked. You're going to have to do better than that." Errick grinned.
"Seriously, let go!" Isobel struggled and finally pulled free of Errick's grip, landing on the ground.
"Well aren't you having a rough morning, Issy." Errick laughed. He held out his hand to pull her up, but the fiery Breton slapped it away.
"I don't need your help." Isobel scorned. "I can take care of myself."
"All right." Errick smiled as he continued walking towards Honningbrew Meadery. "Just one question: when you end up fighting against four giant warriors with nothing but a lockpick, who's name do you scream for help?"
"You seriously doubt I could defend myself with nothing but a lockpick?"
"I do indeed, minx."
"I'll scream for no one's help, and I'll kill them with a lockpick."
"Not unless they capture you and do some... 'Bandity' things. Then I'd come to your rescue and take them all down in a heartbeat."
"With what? Your little Elven sword?"
"With any weapon, actually." Errick noted as he opened the door to the meadery. The owner was pacing around impatiently, only stopping when the Imperial thief stepped in. "Hey, we're the exterminators your assistant contacted!"
The man looked at the two of them, obviously puzzled. "Since when does an Imperial use an Elven sword?"
"I use it for foreplay, mostly. The Justicar interrogating the naughty prisoner, you know? However, since my squire here" Errick gestured towards Isobel. "lost my Ebony blade before we could leave, I have to make do. It'll take care of your rat problem real good, though, so just ignore it or pretend it's a Steel sword."
"Uh-huh." The man spoke unimpressed. "Well, I need you to go down to the basement and poison their nests. You'll get paid when the job's done."
Errick looked at Isobel before looking back at the owner. "You obviously don't realize that you are hiring some of the best pest control operatives in all of Tamriel! I've wrestled a mountain lion to the death with my bare hands and performed an aerial assassination on a saber cat attacking Rorikstead. And do you know why I performed my duties like that? Because the ones paying me for their troubles paid half up-front. So if you want this job done today, you'd better give me half of the payment before I walk out of here and yell to all of Whiterun about the rats shitting in your mead!"
"All right!" The owner cried, raising his hands. "Here's half the payment already! Get it done before the guests arrive."
Errick took the coin purse and the rat poison offered and smiled. "Thank you. Let's go, squire. The rats aren't going to clear themselves." He walked towards the basement with Isobel in tow, who wasn't amused at his act.
"Squire? Really?" She crossed her arms as Errick opened the basement door.
"What? I wanted to seem professional."
"You better give me half of that money."
"I will, once this mission is done." Errick smiled, crouching down as he saw three giant skeevers walking around the basement. He slid his sword out and struck the closest one to him, killing the other two as silently as the first one. "You know, I knew a Dark Elf in Anvil who kept skeevers around as pets. Crazy bitch screamed bloody murder when I broke into her home and slaughtered them all."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she even came at me with a knife. Luckily, since Anvil was my staging ground, I was wearing a mask to conceal my identity. She never suspected that the Imperial that lived in Benerus Manor was the pest control specialist that removed what other people in town considered to be a real problem. She also screamed about how all the work that Breton warrior had done protecting her babies from mountain lions was undone by some sick monster."
"Did she ever suspect you?"
"Nope. I never spoke, so she had nothing on me."
"Damn."
Errick looked at the large, door-sized hole in the wall. "Well, now we know where they're coming from. Let's get to work." He walked through the hole and pulled a lantern from his jacket. "Got a light?"
Isobel simply flicked a candlelight spell over her head.
"Ha-ha, minx." Errick put his lantern back into his coat. "Fine, we'll do it your way."
Isobel smirked and walked ahead of him, guiding them through the tunnels. "So, since we're alone, I'm dying to know all about your conquests."
"When you say conquests, you mean 'conquests', right?"
"What other conquests would my dirty mind be referring to?"
"Good point. Well, I've bedded an approximate total of five-hundred and twenty-three women all across Tamriel, and out of all of those women none of them were from Skyrim. I also know that I have about six illegitimate children. I have tried occasionally bonding with them, but it always ends the same. Either the mother chased me away or the baby just wouldn't stop crying."
"Have you bedded all of the races?"
"By the zero, no! Kahjiit are too animalistic, Altmer are too snobby, and Argonians remind me too much of snakes." Errick shivered. "Those damn snakes."
"What about the other Elven races?"
"Only if they're hot."
Isobel smirked. "You ever sleep with men?"
"No! I'm a womanizer to the bone, minx. I don't have sexual thoughts about men at all. Why? Are you trying to say you've been with-"
"Women? Yes. I've been with both sexes of all races at all age ranges and have done multiple orgies and-"
"Okay, I get it!" Errick snapped. "It's not a competition, woman."
Isobel laughed. "My, my. I thought the great Errick Entius had done everything involving sex."
"Hey, I'm a gentleman thief. That means while I may steal from the women I fuck, I at least make sure they cum first and pass out feeling very blissful. I'm not gonna go all hardcore or something."
"Have you done oral, then?"
"Yes."
"Anal?"
"No. No one wants that."
"Have you ever fucked a woman like an animal?"
"I've tried pretty much any position that can be done with a man and a woman."
"Well if there's one thing I do not like, it's getting fucked from behind."
Errick cocked his head. "Why's that?"
"Because I like to be in full control of a situation. Getting claimed that way takes away my power, and the Nord that tried that paid the ultimate price for calling me his bitch."
"This is probably one of those moments where a guy sitting on a bench crosses his legs, right?"
"I shocked his cock until it combusted. My hair got pulled out during my escape, but the bastard lost his cock for good. The healers were forced to amputate it."
"Note to self: no animal positions when it comes to Isobel Woodwing." Errick joked.
But it is your job to conquer your enemies!The Lion roared in his thoughts.
"Will you shut up, you fucking prick?" Errick spoke out loud, catching Isobel's attention.
"What'd you say?"
"Huh? Nothing. I wasn't talking to you."
"Then who were you talking to?"
"No one. No one at all."
Don't try to ignore me, Errick Entius! You know you can't escape my rage!
Hush now, buffoon. The Spider spoke. Isobel Woodwing knows nothing of our existence. Stop speaking to him before you embarrass him in front of his girlfriend.
Errick seemed to blush in embarrassment at the Spider's statement. Obviously the daedra were convinced that he was captivated by Isobel, when in actuality he was only a friend. "Let's keep moving, Isobel. That nest has to be around here somewhere." He walked by Isobel, leaving her confused.
"Is there something you're not telling me about your sanity or something?" She asked, only to not get a reply from him as he turned around the corner. She frowned before turning along the corner he traveled. "Hey! I asked you a que-" She suddenly stopped at the sight of what Errick was looking at.
There was a crazy man in fur armor petting a bunch of skeevers over in a corner of a small cave. He had a hood on that likely signified he was a mage, and he looked at the two intruders in his home. He stood up and snarled.
"Kill!" He commanded, directing the rats towards Errick and Isobel. Errick pulled his sword from his sheath and looked at Isobel.
"I'll kill the lunatic, you get the rats!"
"What?!" Isobel yelled as Errick charged, jumping over the skeevers that tried to bite him. Isobel pulled out her knife and a fireball spell, attacking all of the pests that jumped at her. Isobel lost count at how many had jumped at her, but not a single one sunk their teeth into her. The situation would probably be a lot different if she was being shipped back to Cyrodiil in a box of these things, but Isobel knew that with Errick around that wouldn't happen.
As the last skeever was killed, Isobel turned to see that Errick was still fighting the crazy man that they found. Apparently, he was just running around shooting lightning bolts at the gentleman thief while he kept yelling to stop jumping around. Isobel couldn't help but laugh at that.
Errick, however, was not amused at all. What he had figured would be a quick swish-swish-stab was turning out to be a wild goose chase. Worse, the man was flinging lightning at him. It was perhaps the most annoying fight he has ever been in. And he has been in many fights that have been just as comical.
"Stand still, you piece of crazy-ass shit!" Errick kept swinging at the delusional man to no success. He decided to take a shot and throw his sword straight at the guy. The sword went straight into the man's shoulder.
That didn't stop the guy as he immediately pulled it out and ran towards Errick.
"Are you shitting me?!" Errick yelled as the man ran straight at him, ready to stab him with his own blade. Errick caught his opponent's wrists and struggled to keep himself from getting stabbed. He looked over at Isobel, who had her arms crossed with a smirk on her face. "Aren't you going to help, minx?"
"No, you look like you got everything under control." Isobel joked.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me, Isobel." Errick turned back towards the crazy guy, trying to regain his sword. This guy, however, was not giving up so easily on the grip of his sword. The tip was getting closer to Errick's belly and he knew he needed a plan fast. However, his only option was one he didn't want to take.
But he unfortunately knew this option had been forced on him already.
"Fuck it." Errick pushed the crazy man away before reaching into his boot, pulling out a long black sword. In a second he had immediately thrusted towards his opponent, stabbing the man straight through the heart. However, after the action had been performed, Errick immediately felt the effects of the cursed blade kicked in, and he found himself collapsing alongside his slain foe.
Isobel's first reaction to the moment was confusion. If he had a blade already, why did he have to make one? Her confusion quickly changed after Errick stabbed the man, only to have fallen down right next to him. She immediately ran over and looked at the gentleman thief. He was breathing, but he appeared to be unconscious. Isobel shook him to try and wake him up, but he wasn't getting up.
Isobel then looked at the longsword shoved through the man's chest. It looked daedric in origin and had three silver ornaments attached to it in some kind of mechanical fashion. These ornaments were shaped in the form of a spider and the heads of a lion and a snake. Out of curiosity she stretched her hand out for the handle.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!"
Isobel jumped at Errick's reaction. He was awake and his eyes were open wide in what Isobel figured was horror.
"Errick, what the fuck were you doing laying down on the ground like that?!"
"You can't wield the Thief's Way. You're not worthy."
"Like hell I am!" Isobel reached for the handle again before Errick immediately jumped up and grabbed her wrists.
"Don't you fucking listen to people?! If you touch that sword, you'll die! Only I can wield it because I am worthy."
"And just what defines you as worthy?"
"The fact that the three fucking daedra that possess it talk to me! But if you can't hear them, touching that sword is a death sentence. And I think we both know you love living."
Isobel was about to call bullshit, but the look in Errick's eyes was one if honesty, which was something one would not expect from a thief. She growled before giving up. "Fine, I won't touch your fucking evil sword. Let go of me."
Errick let go of her wrist and pulled the sword out of the lunatic's chest.
A fresh soul! The Lion shouted. Finally, you do what needed to be done!
Sssssssso what? The Snake replied. Do you not remember he refusssed ussss a prettier ssssoul?
Snake, he is not going to sacrifice his girlfriend to us.
"Okay, you three. First off, Isobel is just a friend and will never be sacrificed to you. Second, shut the fuck up, snake. You're still creepy."
Isobel crossed her arms. "Are you talking to the sword?"
"I'm talking to the assholes that inhabit the sword."
You're stuck with us, Errick Entius! Deal with it!
"The three daedra that reside in the sword are called Lion, Spider, and Snake. Lion is the conquerer that uses lightning against his foes. Spider is the seductress that burns her conquests. And Snake... Snake is a cold asshole."
"Let me guess, he's frost?"
"Dead on. All three of them were specific daedra from the planes of Oblivion. Lion's a Xivilai, Spider's the obvious Spider daedra, and Snake is a fucking Daedroth."
"Okay. So why'd you collapse after you stabbed the crazy guy?"
"Well, no matter what, the sword is going to kill you over time. Whoever's worthy will at least die slowly, and depending on the souls offered to the sword it can prolong the user's life. Anyone who isn't worthy dies instantly, and their souls are absorbed into Oblivion in quite a display."
"If the sword's killing you, why not get rid of it?"
"You don't think I've tried?! The sword is bound to me unless I give it to someone worthy permanently. Anybody who is worthy can use it even if I'm bound to it, but unless I officially give it away I'm stuck with it for life. There's no other way to reverse the bonding process."
And we wouldn't want that to change. Your soul is as black as the ancestor of yours that once wielded it.
"Right, Spider. That oh-so-secretive ancestor of mine you never actually talk about." Errick sighed. "Let's poison the nest before poisoning the mead." Errick slid his black sword back into his boot, grabbed his Elven sword, and pulled the rat poison from his jacket before sprinkling half of it into the nest. He appeared to stumble for a second before Isobel caught him.
"Gods, you're heavy."
Errick laughed weakly. "Yeah, well I do drink quite a lot of alcohol. The blade drained me a bit, but I should be fine. Sometimes the effects are immediate and only last a few seconds. Other times, I could end up in a coma for a few days. That's why I prolong exposure to the sword as much as possible."
"Okay, then. Try not to lose your sissy Elven sword again."
"It may be sissy, but it can still chop your fingers off."
"Try it and I'll cut off something more important to you."
"You can try, but you'll lose to the greatest duelist of all time."
Isobel chuckled as they made it into the brewing room. "I'll poison the mead." She held her hand out for the bag, which Errick handed over.
"Fine. Don't fall in, minx."
Isobel stuck her tongue out at him as she climbed up the stairs and opened the top lid to the mead vats. The poison was poured in and Isobel closed the lid, smirking as she ran down the stairs. "All done. Let's get moving."
As the thieves were clearing out rats, Stryger and Brelyna had been clearing out undead in the Midden in order to get to the Augur of Dunlain. Both of their heads had been pounding from the amount of alcohol they had drank last night. They had woken up cuddling next to each other in Stryger's bed, which was immediately broken off when they realized this. Brelyna asked if they had done 'anything' under the influence, to which Stryger replied that if they had he wouldn't still be wearing his fur boots.
The last skeleton standing between them and the room that had to possess the Augur fell to pieces at Brelyna's ice spike, and Stryger smiled.
"Good job, Brelyna. I think you would do your ancestors proud. Hopefully your parents are proud of you, too."
"My parents are a bit stuck up and everything, given their heritage. I should hope they would at least care enough about my progress in my education."
"Maybe once this whole Eye of Magnus business is done, we can send them a letter to let them know about your progress."
"That would be nice. Hopefully, they'll actually reply."
Stryger smiled as he opened the last door, covering his eyes from the bright light that emitted within. When he felt that his eyes had adjusted enough, he looked directly at what he figured was the Augur of Dunlain. It was a glowing ball of etherial energy, swirling around a small magic pit that was used to light the College as newcomers arrived.
"So you're the Augur of Dunlain?"
"I am that which you have been seeking. Your efforts are in vain. It has already begun. But those that have sent you have not told you what they seek. What you seek."
"And just what is it I am seeking?"
"You seek that which all who hold magic seek. Knowledge. You shall find this: Knowledge will corrupt. It will destroy. It will consume. You seek meaning, shelter in Knowledge. You will not find it. The Thalmor sought the same thing, and it shall lead to his end as it has so many others."
"Thalmor?" Stryger's tone grew to be harsh. "You mean that fucking tart Ancano was down here?!"
"The one who calls himself Ancano." The Augur seemed to agree. "He seeks information about the Eye, but what he will find shall be quite different. His path will cross yours in time, but first you must find that which you need."
Stryger huffed, but he calmed himself down so he could speak kindly. "What do I need?"
"You, and those aiding you, wish to know more about the Eye of Magnus. You wish to avoid the disaster of which you are not yet aware. To see through Magnus's Eye without being blinded, you require his staff. Events now spiral quickly towards the inevitable center, so you must act with haste. Take this knowledge to your Arch-Mage." As the Augur finished his message, he suddenly disappeared right before their eyes.
"Well, now we know what we need to find." Stryger smiled. "I'll report to Savos. Can you see if you can pack up some food and supplies in our satchels before we head out?"
"Okay." Brelyna nodded. "But what about Ancano?"
"I'll warn Savos about him. If he ends up causing trouble like the Augur of Dunlain warned about, I want the whole College ready."
"All right. One last question?"
"Go ahead."
"Are we gonna investigate those weird daedric artifacts down here soon?"
Stryger chuckled, remembering how Brelyna had stumbled across a daedric gauntlet and some kind of crafting table. "Soon, okay? Let's hurry."
Barely a half hour later, Isobel and Errick were leaning against an empty wall, watching the crowd slowly accumulate within the lobby, all with excited looks of their faces and engaging with enthusiastic conversation. The targeted audience Sabjorn had aimed for was great, they all looked important. Upper classmen, business men, proprietors, all were present and busting at the seams with septims.
The door leading to the storage barn burst forth, showing a sweating Mallus rolling an enormous keg towards the bar, his breath ragged and strained. Not to Isobel's surprise did any of the wealthy guests give the struggling laborer a second glance. Once the keg was in place, Sabjorn addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am so very honored that such a large crowd has come to the grand revealing of our latest creation...the Honningbrew Reserve!" Sabjorn called dramatically as Mallus started to fill tankards of the golden fluid. Even with the poison it smelled good. "I think you'll find it quite pleasing to the palate...and as of next week the Reserve will be in full production and shipped all across Skyrim!" The crowd applauded, anxiously awaiting their chance to taste the exclusive drink. Sabjorn continued to work the room, describing the pain-staking process of distilling the wheat seven times to achieve maximum smoothness, getting the properly tainted brown bottles so the sunlight won't ruin the flavor, and compared his honey to "none of that sludge they sell at Goldenglow."
Mallus started to hand out drinks, carrying a dangerously large tray as he weaved through the crowd, all sticking their noses in their cups as they swirled the amber liquid inside. When Mallus handed Isobel her own she gave him a reassuring smirk, wiggling her eyebrows playfully as Mallus beamed back.
"Please, everyone! Enjoy!" Sabjorn cried as everyone took a swig at once. Isobel brought the tankard to her lips and pretended to swallow as she watched the room above her mug, waiting for the tell-tale signs of pest poisoning. Errick simply held the drink offered in his hand, waiting for the resulting chaos. It was a bald Reguard in rich looking red robes that gagged first.
"What's in this?!" He yelled, as if on cue a woman Isobel recognized as the owner of the Bannered Mare vomited. One by one the faces of the crowd turned green, people collapsing into chairs with their head between their legs or puking the mead back into their tankards. Sabjorn looked as if he was still having trouble comprehending what was going on.
"I...What's wrong?" He asked, his proud face now dumb and in shock.
"Sabjorn! You said this place was clean!" A muscular man in Whiterun guard apparel bellowed.
"No, please...I don't understand...this must be a misunderstanding..." Sabjorn stammered, completely devoid of his previous charisma. Isobel had to move as a red-headed Bosmer fell to her feet and began retching.
"I'll...I'll see that you spend the rest of your days in Whiterun...prison." The guard strained the get the words out as he clutched his stomach painfully.
"There must be a mistake. This would never-"
"Shut up! I'm an idiot to...to trust this place after its been riddled...with such...such filth!" The guard coughed up some mead that dripped down his chin. As if humiliated at his regurgitation he unsheathed his sword, making several people in the crowd jump back. "I, Commander Cauis, Captain of the Whiterun City Guard, place you under arrest, Sabjorn. Now follow me to Dragonsreach, we'll see how quickly your memory clears in the city's prisons."
"Please! I beg you-"
"NOW!" Sabjorn was shaking as he raised his hands and stepped from behind the bar. "You." Commander Cauis nodded to Mallus. "You're in charge here until we figure out this mess. I'll send for some guards and healers to help clean this place up and take care of the citizens." A crooked grin spread across Mallus' face as Commander Cauis pointed his sword into Sabjorn's back and guided him out the meadery doors.
"Farewell, Sabjorn..." Isobel heard Mallus whisper under his breath. Slowly she sauntered over to him.
"Congratulations on the promotion." She said quietly. "But it looks like you have to do one more final clean up before you're off the hook." She gestured her head to the vomit covered floors and groaning patrons. Mallus snickered sadistically. "Listen, I'll help clean up, but first I need to sift through some documents. I-"
"I know." Mallus interrupted. "Maven wants to hunt down Sabjorn's private partner. You're welcome to look around Sabjorn's office, he keeps most of his papers at his desk."
"You mean your office...?" Mallus' dark eyes sparkled at his realization.
"Yes, my office. It's upstairs through the storage barn." Isobel made to turn away but Mallus' bony hand stopped her. "You don't need to clean up, you've done enough. I'll put in a good word for Maven...truly, thank you."
"I'm just an instrument, Mallus." Isobel said. "It was you who took initiative."
"Tell the Guild they've got a new fence in Whiterun." Mallus whispered, making sure none of the sickly occupants heard him. Isobel was about to head up to the office when Errick's hand landed on her shoulder.
"You know what, Issy, why don't you head back to the Bannered Made and get us some lunch, along with the best mead they have for sale. Here." Errick pulled out the half-payment they got and gave her the half he promised. "Use it or don't use it. I said I'd give you half and I have. See you in twenty minutes."
"Are you sure you want to search alone? Even after what happened down there?"
"After killing a few rats and a crazy lunatic, taking care of paperwork is all right with me. Go on."
Isobel shrugged and walked towards the exit, leaving Errick and Mallus alone.
"By the way, why didn't you mention anything about that lunatic down there?"
"I thought it'd be better than trying to get someone to handle it afterwards. Sorry for the deception."
"Uh-huh. How about you pay me the other half of the reward Sabjorn owed me and I'll let it go." He grasped his head. "Maybe an extra hundred for a headache remedy."
"Sabjorn had a safe full of gold upstairs. Take whatever you wish. Just please leave enough to keep this place going."
"You have my word, seeing that you'll be working with the guild." Errick smiled, walking around the trail of puke made by all of the unhappy guests until he reached the stairs to his office. After walking up he scanned the second floor, finding the office door and unlocking it. There was a bunch of documents lying on desk, along with a golden decantor that Errick immediately grabbed and slipped into his jacket. Once he was done with that, he sifted through the documents until he came across what he thought was exactly what they were looking for.
"Oh, heeelllooo!"
Isobel entered the desolate Bannered Mare after the short walk back from Honningbrew. She sat at the bar only to remember the proprietor was probably throwing up in the Temple of Kynareth and sighed. She wanted more smoke. Hopefully it would push Brynjolf from her thoughts. It seemed she couldn't get him out of her head, even when she shoved her dagger into a skeever's throat she was reminded how Brynjolf did the same thing when he found the creatures in her crate. She pulled out the amethyst she still held in her pocket and gazed into its purple depths, begging for answers as though she were scrying for truths.
'You better not be going soft, girl...'
"Shut up!" Isobel said aloud and slapped her cheek, her craving only stronger as she shoved the gem back into its compartment.
She leaned over and checked behind the counter, smiling as she found the dusty cigar box. Taking an empty coin purse from her belt she tipped the entirety of the box's contents into the cloth sack, scanning the rest of the bar for a pipe before a few townsfolk entered the tavern, to which Isobel hastily pocketed the tobacco and stood up. Cursing under her breath she made her way up the stairs to her and Brynjolf's room, maybe she could do some stretching while she waited for him to come back from wherever. She opened the door into their suite and took a few steps forward before she heard a gruff voice speak out.
"Miss?" She turned sharply. A Whiterun guard stood behind her, closing the bedroom door ominously as he stared at Isobel. "I have reason to believe you were involved at Honningbrew this morning. Care to explain here or in the prisons?" Isobel felt her gut drop leagues beneath her before the guard made to grab her. Instead of backing away Isobel stepped forward and under his arm, reaching for the door knob to make a run for it. But the guard grabbed her waist and tackled her to the ground, his heavy hands pinning her down. Isobel knew she had no choice if she needed to get away and reached for a dagger.
But a large hand that was holding down her biceps brought up the helmet to reveal a grinning Brynjolf.
"No need for weapons, lass." He said slyly. Isobel's breathing was still hysteric as she stared up at him. "I had to do some paperwork at Dragonsreach, thought I'd steal the gimmick you used for Windhelm."
A few heartbeats passed before Isobel's body went limp, her armed hand dropping her dagger to the ground next to her as she burst into laughter. Above her Brynjolf joined in, the two of them cracking up until they resembled themselves a few nights earlier on Isobel's bed. And like that night, it symbolized the tension between them evaporating yet again. To Isobel, Brynjolf's prank meant he had forgiven her for trying to cock-block him. Besides, having him on top of her while emitting his rich laughter was pleasant as it was.
That is until Errick walked into the room.
"Foreplay?" Errick asked, knocking both Isobel and Brynjolf back to reality as the large Nord stood up, letting Isobel off of the floor. "I could come back if you guys-"
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Errick." Brynjolf interrupted. "Tell me you got something."
"Yes." Errick held out the opened letter he found. "You're not going to like what it says."
Back in Ivarstead, Zacharius and Lydia exited the inn quietly. After they had gotten some sleep, Wilhelm had prepared them a large breakfast of eggs, sweet rolls, some fruit, and bread. Once their bellies were full, Zacharius and Lydia packed their gear and promised to stop by again sometime. Now they were quickly looking for the man that asked for help with delivering supplies to the Greybeards.
Thankfully, Zacharius immediately spotted him at the entrance to Ivarstead, and walked over to talk to him. Once he noticed the warrior approaching, Klimmek turned to face him.
"So, did you manage to deliver the supplies to the Greybeards?"
"We did." Zacharius replied. "Why weren't you at the inn last night?"
"Apologies, but complications arose in my home. I ended up forgetting to stop by the inn after all of that. Here." He held out a coin purse that Zacharius took. "You deserve payment as promised."
"Thank you. I don't think I mentioned it, but my name is Zacharius."
"Klimmek."
"Well, I hope to see you again, Klimmek." Zacharius offered his hand, and Klimmek shook it in return.
"May your battles lead you to victory or Sovngarde."
Zacharius and Lydia immediately went back on the road and continued on their quest to Morthal, which was the closest town to Jorgen Windcaller's tomb. From there, they would rest before heading for the tomb in the morning. Lydia, however, had a concern.
"You know, it may be easier for us to get to Morthal if we had a horse."
"It costs about a thousand gold for a horse in Skyrim. I would rather walk to the destination right now. Maybe if a passing carriage is heading towards Morthal we can ask for a ride."
"I hope the Nine will be kind enough to grant us that." Lydia groaned, gaining a chuckle from Zacharius.
"I think destiny might be kind enough to give us that. I think that a carriage will be passing us soon enough."
"How do you know?"
"I have an amazing intuition for these kind of things. Don't worry. We'll get to Morthal one way or another."
"Okay, but I hope we get there soon. These bags are getting heavier for travelers like us."
"Perhaps we can get some kind of home to drop off things."
"The Jarl did offer you a place in Whiterun that you could buy."
"Yeah, but when I got to Skyrim, whatever money I had was taken by the Legion. I need to rebuild all of my income. We'll sell things when needed, but for now, we're on our own."
Lydia sighed. "Well, I am sworn to carry your burdens."
Zacharius ended up laughing out loud. "That is the best thing you've ever said."
"You're joking."
"Am I?" Zacharius joked. "How do we know?"
Lydia scoffed. "Are you always this smug?"
"No, there are times where I'm very serious. You should have seen me at meetings with my parents either in the Imperial Palace or the Barracks."
"So why are you cracking jokes if you're a stalwart warrior now?"
"Good question. Perhaps I'm just trying to make this misadventure enjoyable."
Lydia smirked. "Well, I guess that makes sense with the dragons about."
A roar could be heard above them.
"Well, speak of the deaedra." Zacharius spoke before taking his bow out and preparing an arrow to hit his target.
"So what happened then?"
"We killed the dragon, I took its soul, and then we left for Morthal again. A passing caravan offered to give us a ride a few hours after the dragon had been slain, and we accepted."
"So you actually knew that a caravan would be passing by?"
"I had a feeling, Torygg. I never actually knew. Just like I had a feeling you two would arrive on my doorstep."
"What exactly are these feelings you have?"
"They're just instincts. You sense that something might happen, but you only have a guess. I guessed the caravan would arrive, and it did. I was rather good at it. Although I could never predict everything that came around during our adventurers, but I can't tell you any of that right now. It's still too far into our story, and we've barely scraped the barrel."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, guys. I've slacked long enough on that last segment. Errick's segments literally took over nearly the entire chapter, so I had to cut down on content. Next chapter's gonna contain Akira, Jornada, Stryger, a bit of Scarlai, and perhaps end it off with Errick.
Now, if you guys noticed, some paragraphs from SpiritofJazz's story are in here except edited to contain Errick. In case you were unaware, SoJ doesn't have a problem with this, and I send her any segments that have been altered so that she can either approve or recommend changes. One of the future segments is actually a very important scene from her book modified to have Errick come in to take on an infuriated Brynjolf with his words because of something that happened. But really, I can't say anything about that because it's way too spoilerish.
Shoutouts to Admiral Anderson, SpiritofJazz, MasterAssassinScrolls, and TheGreatJabberyJamie. We're approaching the end of Part 1, which will go back to the Present with Zacharius, Ronan, and Torygg for a chapter. Also, one of the old characters will arrive at his manor. Go ahead and take a guess if you want.