Day Seventeen

Apparently I refused to eat the two days I was in Danica's care. All of the mind-wrenching pain and dizzying nausea may have had something to do with that. I was famished when I left the temple and spent a whole two hours at the Bannered Mare eating. While filling my face, I noticed that I felt more relaxed and less paranoid about who was around me. There was something different in me now, though, that I could not quite put my finger on. There was something missing, like a painting with a tear in it. I tried not to dwell on it while Lydia talked about what I was going to do next.

"I think you should look more into the dragons," Lydia said, "You obviously have a connection with them and more and more reports of them attacking cities are coming in. If you gain control of them, you probably won't even have to conquer anything. The people may just hand everything to you once you put a stop to the attacks."

"That is what I am leaning towards," I said, barely able to think after eating so much. "I should focus on what sets me apart from the common rabble, as Balgruuf put it."

"So where to, then?"

"You're still going to follow me?"

"I didn't put up with your crap just to stay and clean house now that you're mind is right."

"Fair enough," I said, "Though Breezehome could do with a dusting and my clothes should be better organized according to color and occasion. No? What exactly is a housecarl supposed to do then?"

"Protect you and all you own, as I said when we first met. You can lock up Breezehome so I have only you and what you're carrying to protect. I can't do that with a dustrag and a ladle. I'll get someone else to clean while we are gone. Now, where are we going?"

"Fine, I guess there's no getting rid of you." I belched, long and loud.

"Kynesgrove. Delphine had more information about the dragons and their whereabouts so we'll go there and try find out where she went."

We went back to Breezhome to ready our packs for the trip. On the kitchen table I found the Sapphire Claw I used at Shroud Hearth Barrow. Lydia was upstairs gathering supplies and I just sat at the table, transfixed by the claw. The jewels in the fingertips were like distant sirens calling to me. I could not stop gazing into their depths. They made me feel whole again since Danica's treatment. The void was gone. I reached into my pack and search until I found what I remembered was there - a ruby. I held the large, blood-red gem and I wanted to laugh. The joy I got from holding it and learning its secrets was incomparable. I was giddy. Even skooma paled to its hold.

Why was I ever going to sell these? They were mine, they longed to be mine, and only I understand their true value and appreciated them as they should be. I took the claw and the ruby and locked them away in a cupboard but it did not feel right. I could not see them. They might vanish if hidden away too long. If they were stolen I would never know they were gone. There was a corner of the downstairs in Breezehome off the kitchen with only straw and cobwebs. I cleared those away and started a small, neat pile in the middle of it. That felt right.

"What are you doing?"

I spun quickly, sucked back into reality by Lydia's voice.

"I was..eh..redecorating, before we leave."

"Redecorating? And here I was wasting time packing food and potions. It is very pretty. I think you've found your true calling - jewel stacker."

"It was just something I needed to do, Housejoker. Are we ready?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think those curtains go with that rug? What do you think?"

"I don't know, do your curtains match your rug? Let's just go."

We headed back to Kynesgrove past Valtheim Keep and down the hill to the river. I was feeling better than I had in years and my sense of adventure got the better of me. I knew from our last trip that this road wound around a mountain but that was long and boring. Instead, I saw a path through some rocks on the other side of the river so I headed that way.

"Where are you going, Ralos," Lydia asked.

"I've been down that road," I said, "If I'm going to rule this land I should see more of it. What better way than going cross-country away from the roads?"

"Well, according to our map, there's a giant camp that way called Cradlecrush Rock. Doesn't sound too inviting to me."

"We don't have to eat dinner with them. You following or not, follower?"

"Lead on."

The giant camp was right over the hill. It seemed small for one of their camps and was easy to go around. He spotted us and made a couple of threatening gestures towards us but stayed by his fire which at the moment was roasting an entire cow. I spotted a chest in the camp but with him standing in front of it there was no way to reach it. As we went around I tripped over a stick near a boulder. It made an odd sound and when I checked it out it turned out to be an arm bone. No doubt one of the giant's throw aways.

"I see they crush more than cradles," Lydia said, pointing down at the base of the boulder.

A skeleton was lying half exposed beneath the rock with pieces of clothing and armor visible. I also saw a grey knapsack. I reached for it and the giant did not try to go after it so I assumed he either did not want it or did not know about it. Inside I saw a few odd items of little interest but then my eyes lit on a circlet of gold with three sapphires in the middle. I ran my fingers over them to see if they were glass but they turned out to be real. I glanced over my shoulder to see if Lydia was watching me. I closed up the knapsack and after a brief struggle managed to pull it out from under the rock. I slung it over my shoulder.

"What are you doing with that?" Lydia asked, "What's inside it?"

"Stuff, not much. It's a quality bag, though, and seems a shame to leave it here."

"You should at least scrape the dried blood and whatnot off of it."

"Later. Let's get going."

We were just on the fringe of the camp when I was suddenly hit with a gout of scalding flames. Not again, I thought. I didn't even know giants could use magic.

I turned to look and I saw the giant looking up into the sky waving his club. Lydia had her bow out looking up at the sky also. Then I heard it. A dragon roared as it passed by again, spewing flames over the entire camp as well as us.

I got out my bow then ran into the nearby woods as the giant started running towards me. I was about to shoot at him but instead of attacking, he ran past me into a clearing just off the road. A moment later the dragon swooped low then landed right next to him. For some reason I thought they are going to conspire against me, perhaps to reclaim the circlet I just found. They could not have it, it was mine. Then they started battling each other, the dragon spewing flames and the giant bashing him with his bone club. That worked for me. Lydia and I started flinging arrows into the dragon. It flew away but a moment later landed in the same spot and continued his fight with the giant. After a while I could tell the dragon was weakening so instead I started launching arrows into the giant. I timed it perfectly to where the dragon died and then a few arrows later, the giant fell down next to him.

"That couldn't have worked out any better," I said to Lydia, "Looks like Destiny is smiling on me more than usual, now that I've bested my demons and been tongue-kissed by goddesses."

"Thanks to me," Lydia said as we headed back to the giant's camp. "You didn't mention any kiss before."

"Didn't I? Huh. You may have had a hand in my ascension," I admitted, "I'll be sure to tell the bards to include you somewhere prominent."

"You're too generous, O' Thane."

"I know. I'm working on that, too. Let's have a look at what that giant was protecting."

We went back to the chest nestled against some rocks. I took two potions that were lying on top of it as well as the coins inside but that was all there was. I told Lydia to look around and she found a leather helmet next to the crushed skeleton. It had an odd look to it so I assumed it had some magic interweaved with it. I kept it to sell. We had a quick snack from the roasted cow then inspected the giant and dragon for loot. The dragon must have lunched on a warrior because I found a pair of bracers that had a similar look to the magical helmet I just found. They would be worth a lot more if they were a matching set. The giant yielded a large garnet from a hidden pocket. I admired it for a moment then snuck it into the knapsack.

From Cradlecrush Rock we journeyed through the woods until we come to a small pond. Beside the pond was an alter with a statue of Talos. These seemed to turn up in the oddest places. Some tributes were left on the alter. Along with weapons and flowers was a book with the strange title '2920 Midyear V.6'. Browsing through it I learned how better to lace my steel boots for better coverage against smaller creatures. I spotted a chest nearby and had to pick the lock to see inside. It was worth it though because I found another glorious ruby as well as a silver and moonstone circlet. Lydia reached in and grabbed the circlet then put it on her head.

"I love moonstone," she said. "Look at me! I'm Princess Moonbeam! All hail my moonyness!"

"Have you been in the Alto again?"

"No, just in a good mood. You were right, it is more fun getting away from the road. Mind if I keep this?"

I nearly reached out and snatched it off her head, but I get a hold of myself. "I'll keep it in here for now. You should probably keep your helmet on in case something comes up, like that dragon, right?"

"I guess, just remind me when we get back."

"Sure thing," I said and I caught the circlet as she tossed it to me. I cradled it for a moment then placed it in the knapsack along with a silver ingot I also found in the chest. I was sure I could make something nice out of that. Lydia picked up a pair of steelplate gauntlets from the alter and tried them on. She took them and left her other ones in their place. We moved away from the pond.

The forest grew thicker and since there was no trail, we had to pick through the brush and trees. That was why I did not see the elk charging at me until it was too late. The animal simply ran and put it head down, running into me with its antlers. I finally got my sword out but it had run off. The audacity of some animals. Before I could give chase I heard a familiar sound, a buzzing. I glanced to my right and I saw a spriggan coalesce from a swarm of bees. Not again, I thought. I shouted Frost at it then laid into it with my sword. I saw Lydia move behind the creature. I stepped back so I did not accidentally hit her with an errant swing. Between the two of us it went down quickly. The ones in the sanctuary must have had extra power from being by the Eldergleam. There was still the matter of the elk.

"It was probably possessed," Lydia suggested. "Spriggans can do that to animals. Just forget it."

I sheathed my sword. "Fine. The next elk I see though is getting an arrow in the butt."

We made it down the side of a mountain and finally reached an area that looked familiar. Too familiar. I got out my sword and Lydia readied her axe.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Did you hear something?"

"No, this is where I sent that bear flying into the river after leaving Kynesgrove. I'm getting prepared in case he made his way back."

Luckily, there is no bear waiting but the other bear, the one we avoided inside the cabin on the other side of the river was still there. I wanted a look inside that cabin so I told Lydia to see if we could scare that animal away. From the river bank we started needling it with arrows. It took a lot from the both of us before it finally took off running. We crossed and started searching through the cabin. Before we could find anything good, however, the bear made a return. Despite its animal rage at being wounded, it was too far gone to put up much of a fight, especially after I shouted it with Frost. I was really liking these shouts. I wondered if I could control it enough to simply shout at a few bottles of ale to get them nice and frosty. I was going to have to find out some more from the Greybeards.

In the cabin I found the bloody remnants of the occupant so I decided to help myself to his stuff. The only thing of real interest, however, was a treasure map locked in a chest. Neither of us recognized the location. All that was drawn was a single tall keep atop some rocks. I would ask around and keep the map just in case.

We continued to Kynesgrove and as luck would have it I found Delphine standing by the inn.

"You haven't been waiting here the whole time, have you?" I asked her.

"Of course not," she said, "I have a life too, you know. There's someone I come to see when I'm nearby. They don't call him Kjeld the Bigger for nothing."

"I thought it was Kjeld the Younger?" said Lydia.

"To some maybe." Delphine grinned.

"Really?"

"Really."

"If you ladies are done with your girl talk," I said, "I actually have something of interest to discuss."

"Sounds like someone doesn't like another rooster in the hen house," Delphine said.

"He killed the last one, claiming self-defense," Lydia said.

"Really?"

"Really."

"That's it," I said. "When you girls are done, I'll be inside getting something to eat." I left to a chorus of clucking. Damn hens.

I was almost finished with my venison stew by the time they decided to join me. I told Delphine that I was still interested in gaining control of the dragons, since according to legend I was one of them through blood. I asked her if she knew where I could find Alduin.

"No one knows for sure," Delphine said, "But someone has got to be interacting with them and coordinating these attacks. I think it has to be the Thalmor."

"Why them?" I ask, "Why would the dragons follow their lead?"

"Think about it? Ulfric is captured and the Imperials are about to win the war which would end it. With the war over, they could focus on repelling the Thalmor influence. So, Ulfric is freed by a dragon and the war is still on, weakening the Empire. The only ones who benefit from that are the Thalmor who want the Empire to bleed itself until they can just walk in and take it."

"So because the dragons helped keep the war going," I said, "They must be in league with the Thalmor? What if it was just coincidence? To be honest, I think Alduin was there to free me, not Ulfric. I mean, I am blood and all."

"That is a possibility, I suppose. There is one way to find out. I know from our spies that the Thalmor have secret plans hidden in their embassy. If you could sneak in there and retrieve them, we would have some answers."

"I don't think Ralos here could pass for a Thalmor," Lydia said, chewing on a heel of bread. "A Falmer, maybe, but not a Thalmor."

"Ha, you're so funny, Lydia," I said, "I suppose we could put an apple in your mouth and wheel you in disguised as the main course."

Lydia and I both laughed but then jumped up with our daggers drawn.

"All right, children. Enough!" said Delphine, banging her tankard on the table. "I'll think of a plan to get you in, Ralos, but you may have to go alone. Two Nords together would be too suspicious. Unless of course you want to go as a married couple. You'll have to be convincing, though."

"Alone," we both said.

"Fine. Give me time to think of something. Meet me in Riverwood in the cellar room. By the time we meet, I should have something worked out."

"What are we supposed to do until then?" I asked.

Delphine shrugged, "I think they need help here. See if you can lend a hand."

Lydia laughed, "In the mines? Yeah, I can see Ralos swinging a pickaxe for ten hours."

"Mines?" My mind reeled at the thought of what I might uncover. Raw gems like sapphires, rubies, amethysts, even diamonds. My hands were starting to shake and I could feel sweat forming on my brow.

"Are you all right?" Lydia asked, "You're not having a relapse, are you?"

"What? No, no, I was just thinking... how I could... make a name for myself here... let the lowly, dirty people know I'm one of them... briefly. I'll do it. I'll help in the mines."

"Okay. Talk to Kjeld. He's in charge and I'm sure he'll show you what to do. Until then, I'll see you in Riverwood."

It was not hard to find Kjeld. He seemed to be lurking around every corner. I mentioned the mines and he quickly asked me to help clear out some of the malachite. I acted surprised then agreed, if I could keep anything that I might happen to find other than the ore. I told him my Thanedom required I charge a bit for my out of town services. Kjeld grumbled but my title shut him up and he said I could take whatever I found from mine.

"I thought you'd see it that way," I said.

"Be careful, in there, Thane," Kjeld said, "Wouldn't want a beam or boulder to come crashing down onto your head, spilling your brains all over rocks for the skeevers to eat and forcing me to throw your carcass to the wolves, that is assuming a necromancer doesn't find it first and use it for expanding his carnal knowledge. Enjoy." Kjeld walked away.

"Kind of specific, wouldn't you say?" I asked Lydia.

"You're the one taking his gemstones, you tell me."

I ignored her as usual and entered the mines. On the first table I saw I found a book titled, 'Catalogue of Enchantments for Armor. Skimming through it gave me a headache so I just left it, though I did feel a bit smarter for some reason. Lydia complained of a twinge in her back and decided it would be best if she sat down and waited. I almost commanded her to help but seeing her sitting there, sharpening her axe, she looked so content I did not have the heart. Plus, I could pocket all the gems I found without worrying about her finding one and taking it.

I stripped down to my smallclothes and left them with her at the table. She feigned disinterest in my near nakedness. It was damn hot in the mine and with no air coming in, I was already sweating. No sense ruining my clothes.

I spent the next couple of hours banging away with a pickaxe, gathering malachite ore here and there to keep Kjeld quiet, but really focusing on finding raw gems. Unfortunately, they must search for them first, because all I found was a garnet. It appeared flawless but I was hoping for at least a pocketful instead of just one.

Back at the table I found Lydia talking with Kjeld the Younger.

"Why, yes," he said to Lydia, leaning back in his chair, "it is quite long and I am very proud of it. How did you happen to hear of it?"

"Really?" I said to Lydia as I approached, "I'm gone for a short time and this is how you spend your time? I'm surprised you don't grab a lantern for a better look."

"I was asking Kjeld about the history of his family's mine. Pig."

"Yes, I don't mind saying the competition was stiff and hairy at times. But the walls of the mine were thick with many veins running through them, just waiting for someone to bang out its riches."

"Oh, my," Lydia said.

"Now, with our pickaxes," Kjeld continued, "we bang away all day, sometimes long into the night until, sweaty and exhausted, we pull out and rest, only to go right back to it the next day."

"Oooh, my," Lydia said again, fanning herself with her hand.

"I think this history lesson is over," I said, "We should probably get going."

I grabbed my clothes in one hand and Lydia's arm in the other and headed for the exit.

"Wait, don't you want to hear how we handled our competitors? It took a firm hand but we eventually licked them."

"Oh, yes," Lydia responded.

I kept us moving until we were out in the cool air. Despite not having having done any work, Lydia seemed to be hotter than me as she chugged a tankard of water while I dressed. Probably a woman's thing. I left it alone and we headed to the inn for dinner and drinks.

On the way to the inn I saw the older Kjeld and I sold him all the malachite ore I mined. He thanked me but his eyes are locked on Lydia as she walked towards the inn.

"Aren't you married?" I asked him, mostly to stop him from drooling.

"My wife's a good woman," he said, "but every man needs a little variety, eh?"

Must be a family trait, I thought, and left him to his thoughts. After dinner Lydia and I decided to stay over and leave early the next morning. I locked the door to our room, partly to make sure nobody went in or out without me knowing. There were more hormones bouncing around this town than snowflakes on the ground. Also, I did not feel quite safe carrying these gems around. I was sure I could handle anyone in town, but what if more thieving assassins came after me while I was sleeping? I slept with the knapsack under my arms.