After we heard her leave through the door, Vorstag whirls at me, demanding answers. "What are you doing?" He whisper yells, still afraid the cannibal was within earshot.
"She's a daedric worshiper," I say, crossing my arms. "I thought this is what we do."
"Yeah, I figured that out," he scowls, "but we could have killed her then and there. Why did you stop me?"
"Weren't you listening to what she said?" I accuse, sounding a little more condescending than I mean it to be. "There are more of her kind out there, and according to her they all dine together in this one place. If we keep this ruse up we could get them all."
"And how do you know we aren't the intended meal?"
"She thinks we are like her." I say with a shrug. "I don't know why, but I have this gut feeling she truly wants us to join her. Maybe it's a subconscious guilt thing that drove her to show herself. Maybe she convinced herself we were like her to justify her confession. Seriously, anyone who feasts on the flesh of others is pretty crazy. Who knows what she's thinking."
A moment passes and he says nothing. I'm about to suggest we head out when he finally speaks, breaking eye contact and looking over his shoulder.
"They dumped them out." He says solemnly.
"What?"
"My parents' bodies." He says, pain lacing the severity in his voice. "They dumped them out of their coffins. They of course were just skeletons by now so they didn't try…eating them. But they dumped them out. They defiled their peace. I don't understand how Arkay—,"
"Hey," I say quietly, reaching out to him and placing my hand on his stiff shoulder. His eyes snap to me upon the touch. I don't understand what I see there so I quickly remove it. "Arkay doesn't have control over peoples' actions," I continue, "But he does know what's going on, and I know he doesn't like it. Why do you think we're here? Arkay knows we have sworn to kill Daedra so he knew we'd take it upon ourselves to end the evil happening here. And that's exactly, thanks to my brilliant plan, what we're going to do."
"I thought we were leaving Markarth." He snarks, crossing his own arms.
"And miss a chance at purging the daedric worshiping cannibals here?" I say loudly, waving my arms about. "I think not. Now let's tell that priest the hall is safe."
XXX
"You've returned!" Verulus exclaims, extremely relieved. "What happened in the Hall of the Dead?" His eyes flicker between me and Vorstag, and I'm sure he can tell it wasn't anything good by our disturbed expressions.
"The hall is safe now." I say with a queasy smile. "Don't worry about it anymore."
"Divines preserve you—you're a hero." He says, grabbing my hand and shaking it vigorously. Then, with a glance at Vorstag, "We'll reopen the hall right away."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that— yet." I say with a secretive smile. I couldn't help myself.
"No, you really are." He says, staring at me all worship like. "What you have done could possibly bring peace back to Markarth." He reaches his hand behind his back and unclasps a chain. "Here, take my amulet as a reward. I wish I had something more to offer you. Perhaps if you come back again sometime I might be able to."
It's quite rude to pass up a gift in Skyrim, so I have to take it. For formalities sake. He lets it coil into my open palm, a variety of wooden beads with a red sun amulet dangling at the end. An Amulet of Arkay, enchanting the wearer with good health.
"Thanks," I say, awkwardly stuffing it into my pocket.
"Saber, let's go." Vorstag says gruffly, nodding at the shining priest. I give the golden robbed man one last tight smile and chase after my partner, lengthening my strides to match his.
"Arkay protect you!" He calls after us as we ascend the stairs from the hall and open the large bronze doors, flooding the crumbling palace with gray light, and head back into the city.
XXX
"You're not going to put it on?" Vorstag says suddenly as we stroll through the streets, planning our next move. We can't just run head on and meet Eola at Reachcliff Cave. We need to restock and gear up first.
"Um, should I?" I say, giving him a sideways glance. "We are talking about the amulet, right?"
"I don't see why not." He responds gruffly. "It enhances health, and it's not like you're wearing any other jewelry."
"It's a weak spell," I say, pulling it out of my pocket. "I mean, I could buy something better. But I never really like the idea of enchanted items." The daedric dagger flashes across my mind, its red power swirling, my father's dying voice screaming in my head to let him go. I blink hard, jolting back to reality.
"Then sell it and buy something better." He growls, fidgeting with his own coin purse.
"What, no!" I say, clutching my hand as if he's going to snatch it from me. "It was a gift. I mean, it'd be rude to just sell it. And maybe it can strengthen our bond with Arkay."
"Then put it on." He says, temper flaring.
"Okay, okay!" I say, clasping the wooden beads around my neck. "Seriously, what has come over you recently? You've been acting—,"
"You there, pretty lady." The meat merchant yells. "Need some fresh meat for your family? Cook a nice meal for your husband there! Just look at the blood coming from this cut..."
"Oh! He's not—um," I stammer, my thoughts flying from me. "No, I think we're fine."
"What's wrong? Look how fresh it is! How delicious." He shoves the bloody meat in my face, wiggling the cut about. "The blood is what tells you the quality of the meat."
"She said she didn't want any!" Vorstag growls, slapping the man's hand away. The meat falls upon the dirty stones, splattering its juice.
"Oh!" the man says, reaching for it, but it's completely soiled. He straightens himself and bares his teeth. "You're going to pay for that! Literally." He sticks his hand out, demanding coin.
"You sure about that?" Vorstag growls back, hand on his sword.
"Do I need to get the guard involved?" the merchant says, glancing at the posted guard. She washes us from a distance, hand on blade in case she needs to get involved. "Ten coin."
Vorstag grunts angrily as he pulls out the coin and slaps it into the man's hand, so hard he loses grasp and the coins spill about. He stalks off once again, and once again I chase after him.
"Really?!" I huff, catching up to him, panting slightly. "That's the second time you almost got yourself thrown in jail today! Are you that desperate to get away from me?"
He glares at me, obviously not hearing the joke. "I'You're my partner and I'm not leaving until you tell me to."
Caught off guard, I falter for words. "Well, then," I say after a moment, "Partner, I suggest we restock our supplies and head out. We don't want to keep Eola waiting."
XXX
Vorstag's mood improved considerably once we got out of that forsaken city. I for one was not planning on returning anytime soon. Ever, in fact, if I could help it. The high walls and depressed atmosphere did things to people, slowly driving them insane. I don't know how we lasted as long as we did before we started our quest.
The land was hilly and open, so it was fairly easy to navigate our way to Reachcliff cave. It was only about six hours south east of the city, and we got there in good daedra hunting spirits.
I almost stubble down into it, for the ground slopes dramatically towards the cave entrance. Vorstag grabs the back of my armor and helps me right myself. I give him an embarrassed smile for, though I'm the light one on my feet, almost falling to my death seems to be recurring problem for me. There are large stalagmites sticking up around the entrance, in almost a ritualistic kind of way. I gulp down the fear they look like teeth and slowly work my way into the hovel, Vorstag trailing behind, ready to steady me again if needed.
Eola is waiting for us at the dark entrance. There is a small coal fire buring at the mouth of the cave, sending large shadows of teeth in the twilight. Her face seems darker and sunken in. But she couldn't look happier.
"You've come." She says with vigor. "The draugr infesting Namira's sanctuary are inside. Let us rid the temple of their filth."
I glance at Vorstag to see what we should do. Ask her to stay here or help us? I question.
"You can wait here while we clear it out," Vorstag says, sizing the small, yet scrappy, woman up. "No offense, but you don't look built for this kind of brute work."
I resist jabbing him in the gut. He relishes in provoking people. "That's quite alright. I did ask you strong folk for a reason." She says with a shadowy smile and tilt to her head. I feel as if she's reading our minds. I quickly try to think about cave trolls over killing the cannibal cultists. "And I do enjoy…other means to my end. I'll see you there."
We smile at her as she wishes us luck. I can feel her hungry eyes on our backs as we are swallowed into the darkness.
sorry if Vorstag was a drama queen. i love writing guys but it can be a challenge sometimes! they feel so many emotions at once but reveal so few...comments welcome! :)