Day Thirty-nine

To say I had just entered a large cave would be like jumping into a lake and calling it a pond. The darkness would have been overwhelming if not for enormous glowing... things that looked like living mushrooms but they were floating in the air with tentacles hanging down to the ground. They gave a off a faint crystalline hum, not as bad as the nirnroots, but still obvious. There were quite a few buildings that I can see and probably more lost in the gloom. What sort of world had we stepped into? I may have to kill Septimus after all.
We entered Blackreach on a platform and as soon as I reached the edge I saw one of the Dwarven sentries rolling towards our position. Lydia pointed out a staircase leading down to it. I followed her and was about to engage the machine using my bow when I saw two of those nasty falmer creeping up on us as well. They must have been in their element down here in the dark. A torch would be like a beacon to them.

The falmer split up their attack on me. One ran at me with a sword while the other hung back and shot arrows. I went back up the stairs a bit to stay out of the archer's sight while I battled the other. He managed to score a slice on my hand and it burned more than it should. I felt sick for a moment and realized he must have poisoned the blade. I redoubled my efforts, making sure to bash at him whenever he tries to strike. After he was dead, I meant to go after the other but the sentry rolled up on me and I had to deal with him first. I was worried about Lydia but then I saw her further back gathering her strength. My health was suffering by the time we destroyed the machine, partly due to the poison and also from the falmer archer who had found a spot from which he could hit me. Their arrows were cheap but they must be fairly skilled because each shot hit a sensitive area, though luckily not that sensitive. We tracked down the archer and he died quickly from our own arrows.

"I can see why Umana wanted to leave this place," I said, "I don't know what's worse, the glowing, floating shrooms, the damp chill, or the fact that it feels like there are a hundred falmer eyes watching and waiting to fire arrows at us."

"For once, I agree with you, Ralos," Lydia said, rubbing her arms against the cold. "I say we find this Tower of Mzark as quickly as possible and return to the land of fresh air and sunshine."

We headed out in a wide search pattern. Septimus told us what to look for but only a general direction, which was hard to keep track of in the darkness. We stumbled upon a huge nest of glowing eggs which turned out to be chaurus eggs. I knew this because one ran after us when we got near. Close behind it were four falmers. Lydia immediately summoned Kynval. He sprang into action. "I will feast on your hearts!"

I took up a position atop a tumbled structure and loosed nonstop arrows at whatever enemy was moving, starting with the chaurus. The nasty bug managed to spit poison at me, causing me to search through my pack for a remedy. I found it and returned to the fight. I also set fire to any falmer close enough using my magic. I never really tried it in combat before. It seemed pretty handy to keep them at bay while I continued firing arrows. I was hesitant to use it too much and deplete my magicka reserves in case I needed to heal.
The battle seemed to last a while since the falmer were too cowardly to stand and fight and we had to go after them, but once they were done they seemed to have done us a favor. In the distance I saw a tall tower with a glowing top that resembled what Septimus described. We cleaned our weapons thoroughly, treated our wounds against poison and infection with some healing potions, and got a quick snack before heading to the tower. This place had a lot of intriguing elements to it but it would have to wait until I was ruler and able to return with reinforcements.

We did not engage in any more fights along the way but I could see things moving around in the shadows. I saw so many things moving that I wondered if I was getting paranoid as my skooma craving had returned. I tried to ignore it and looked at the many places of interest dotting the landscape. One place even had one of those dwarven sentries but this one was easily twice as big as the ones we had fought. At least it stayed where it is. I was not even sure we could have outrun it if we needed to.

At the base of the tower, there was an open room with just a large lever in the middle. Neither of us could tell what it would do but we could find no other entrance or stairs. It took some effort but I was able to move it. It locked in place and the gate slammed shut. Steam hissed all around and the entire room began moving up. It was unnerving but I still trusted it more than magic.

The gate opened into an odd room filled with shelves and vases and dwarven chests. I found some interesting items but nothing too valuable. I opened the only door out and I was still confused. The next room contained what looked like a huge copper boiler. A ramp went up along the side so I got my sword out and slowly made my way up. My cautiousness was unwarranted as the only thing waiting at the top was a set of pedestals in front of a large dwarven puzzle, consisting of a buried sphere with supported mirrors above it.

"What in the Nines is this?" I said. "This looks more confusing than that thing Septimus was looking at in his little hidey-hole. What am I supposed to do with this thing? There isn't a door to open or a lock to pick or even a stone pillar to move. There's just buttons and mirrors."

I noticed Lydia had stopped beside me and was staring at me. "Finished?" she asked. "You sound like a beleaguered mother of ten who can't find her good cooking spoon and is sure one of her little rugrats has it."

"So what am I supposed to do with this thing, O' Genius? See? None of these buttons even work. This might not even be the right damn place."

"Calm down. What is your problem and why are you sweating? Maybe one of those falmer were diseased."

"It's hot in here, that's why I'm sweating, or haven't you noticed all the steam? Sorry, I guess this place is getting to me. I don't care for puzzles. I don't have the patience for them. I'd rather have something I could just stick my sword into."

"That much is obvious," Lydia said, not much placated by my answer. "What about that cube Septimus gave you to use? Is there anything on it?"

I smacked myself on the head then took the cube out of my pack. I turned it around but it seemed the same on all sides. "Nothing. Just etchings all around. Wait, how about this thing?"

I brought the cube over to a small stand beside the buttons with an empty square hole on its top. The cube fit right in. Suddenly the puzzle came to life. I could hear gears grinding from somewhere below.

"Look, two of the buttons are lit up now," Lydia said.

I looked at them but the only difference was the right of their pedestals. "Which one do I press?"

Lydia shrugged, "Try the bigger one."

"I knew you preferred them big," I said.

"Which could explain why we're not together."

"Nice try," I laughed, "We both know that isn't why."

I pushed the button and the rings around the buried sphere shift all at once to a new position. We waited. "Now what?" I asked.

"Push it again, see what happens."

I did so and the rings shifted again. I did it a third time to see if they returned but instead after they shifted, another button on the left lit up. Great, now I had got three to choose from. Throwing strategy to the wind, I pushed the new button. This time the mirrors above shifted. We look at each other and, since we were both clueless, I pushed the button again and the mirrors shifted again. I was about to push it a third time but Lydia stayed my arm. A beam of light bounced off of the mirrors and the last button on the left lit up. I pushed that button and the mirrors shifted so the light went away. I started cursing, wondering how to get them back the way they were. Then I noticed a cylinder being lowered from the ceiling.

"You mean I did it?" I said, "I didn't even know what I was doing."

"I knew your total ignorance of everything would come in handy one day."

"Save your sweet talk for the bedroom, housecarl. Let's grab this thing and get out of here."

On the way over to the scroll I noticed the cube was now glowing within the etched patterns and remembered Septimus swore me to bring the thing back to him. I hesitantly picked it back up. Nothing happened so I tried to give it to Lydia to carry. She said that I was the one who promised to return it so I should be the one to carry it. Coward. I put it in pack, wrapped in a linen cloth. Inside the cylinder I saw a tube with the scroll furled inside of it. I did not want to risk ruining it before I got it to Paarthurnax so I left it inside its tube and just packed it away.

"Ready to head back through the gloom?" I asked Lydia. "I don't suppose you remember the way."

"Look, over here," Lydia said, "There's another doorway and it leads to another one of those lifts."

"Let's give it a try," I said, "But if it goes down, you're going to get it."

"I'll bet you say that to all the girls."

I smiled, "As a matter of fact, I do. Let's go."

We entered the lift and I threw the lever. Thankfully as the steam hissed, the floor ascended away from Blackreach.

At the top I opened the gate to a winter gale that was blowing on the mountaintop. We walked out into an abandoned camp that I was sure we had seen before with tents set up all around. We debated for only a few moments about staying but the tents offered no protection from the elements. We headed for a lower altitude along a barely visible trail.

"So where should we go first?" Lydia asked as we slowly make our way through the rocks.

"What do you mean? We have the scroll, now we have to take it back to High Hrothgar and Paarthurnax."

"But you also swore you would return that cube to Septimus after it was altered."

"That maniacal old coot probably doesn't even remember we were there. Why should we go there first?"

"Because it's the right thing to do. Lately, I've been examining my role as housecarl and I feel I've done you a disservice."

"That's funny, I've been thinking the same thing as I've been examining you."

"Shut up and let me finish, please," Lydia said, exasperated, "I was not only assigned to aid you in your endeavors, but to also keep you focused on your duties and expectations as a Thane and representative of Whiterun. So far, I've pretty much let you run roughshod over those duties. It's time I helped you be what you were meant to be."

"I don't think I like where this is going," I said nervously. Lydia sounded way too serious.

"Which tells me I'm on the right track. Your first obligation should be to honor your sworn commitments. You told Septimus you would return with his cube, and that is what you should do. First."

"Do you know how much more walking that involves? I can't put you through that, what with carrying my burden and all."

"You have no idea. We are not too far from Whiterun, actually. We can go there, rest, then hire the carriage to take us to Winterhold, like last time. We can stop at Breezehome and unload some of our burden as well. Sound good?"

"Fine. But don't expect... hey, what's that I see?"

At the bottom of the mountain was a road with a single horse walking slowly along it. It had a saddle but no rider. I hurried to its side before it could run off.

"Destiny provides again!" I exclaimed as I swung onto the beast.

"You can start regaining your respect by finding the horse's owner," Lydia said, her hands on her hips.

"He was probably answering nature's call and got attacked by wolves or worse. You don't want to see that, do you? Well, do you? Fine, I'll look."

I turned the horse around and followed the road back but all I found were two bandits laying dead beside the road. I rode a wide circle around but find nothing and no one answered my calls. I rode back.

"Nothing but some dead bandits. Looks like Horsey here is mine. Hop on."

"That saddle is built for only one rider."

"You could ride in front of me on my lap, if you don't mind the constant bumping and grinding from me holding you close so you don't fall. Not to mention my hot breath on your neck..."

"All right, all right, you've convinced me," she said, "I'll walk."

I thought she was kidding but she started down the road headed south. I thought I was pretty convincing. Wonder what her problem was? Must be the horse.

Lydia was quite the athlete. Perhaps she got more power and stamina from her extra-full lower body than was normal. I was wisely hesitant to suggest that theory. Whatever the reason, she was able to keep up with me and my horse pretty well. It was not long before I could see Dragonsreach looming in silhouette in the distance. I encountered a wolf and I thought my horse is going to bolt so I got ready to jump. Instead it held its ground in the face of the slavering menace. I whipped my sword around and slayed the beast from the back of the horse. That was easy. The last horse I rode would have none of my weapons and I was forced to get off the animal before I could use my sword. This was much better. I decided to keep this horse for a while. I named him Stud, after myself.

Further down the road we passed in front of a farm but the road was partially blocked by a wagon with a broken wheel. It seemed to be carrying a box too large for it and the driver, some clownish character was obviously out of his element behind the reins. I barely nodded as I passed by. A moment later a rock struck me on my helmet. I cleared my sword of its scabbard and wheeled Stud around. The clown dove for cover behind the wagon, whimpering and giggling and the same time.

"Come on out, coward," I yelled, "Let's play a game of Rock-Sword-Carcass!"

"Relax, Brave Knight," Lydia said, huffing her way up to me. "I threw the rock. Where do you think you're going?"

"I was headed home until I thought I was under attack," I sheathed my sword, "Was that one of the rocks from your head, woman? Why did you hit me?"

"You see a citizen in need, do you not?" she motioned towards the fool who was peeking from between the spokes of a wheel. "As Thane you should be happy to offer your assistance."

"I would, but then he might take me up on it."

She pointed to the wagon. "Go. The Jarl is able to rescind titles as well as grant them. I don't think you want the common rabble to know you're one of them, do you?"

She had a point. I dismounted and lead Stud over to the fool. "Citizen, may I offer any assistance? You have every right to decline, if you wish."

He popped out from behind the wagon, "Well, yes!" he shrieked.
His voice made me flinch but worse, it made Stud rear up and flail his hooves to get away. One of the hooves caught me on my left shoulder and my arm instantly went numb, causing me to let go of him. He bolted, shaking his head angrily the whole time.

"Sanguine's bent staff!" I cursed. Even Lydia put her hand to her mouth over that one.

"My apologies, my Lord," the fool said, "Cicero did not mean to inconvenience you so. A thousand pardons, oh, and you were so kind to offer to help. Oh, my mother, my mother!"

I used my healing magic on my shoulder. The pain subsided but the numbness remained making it difficult to move it around. I looked to Lydia as if to say, 'See what happens when you're nice?' then turned back to Cicero. "What's the problem, fool?"

"Stuck, stuck! And then the wheel just falls off! My mother's at rest here, yet too still now. I was taking her to her new crypt but the wheel, oh! the wheel of Fate, don't you see?"

"I'd offer you a ride into town, but you scared off Stud. Is there another way I can help?"

The fool danced a jig and clapped in merriment, "Oh my, a double tragedy! But all I need can be found up yonder. The farmer, Lorieus has the tools, but refuses to help poor Cicero! Mother! If you help me I can offer coin, pretty, shiny, jingly coin! Buy another stud, or two and we'll share! Ho, ho!"

I could not take anymore of his voice. I dragged myself up the hill to the farm, cradling my arm. I found the farmer tilling his field with a hoe. I asked him why he would not help Cicero, though I suspected I knew the answer.

"It's not about the money," he told me, "There hasn't been a jester in these parts in I don't know how long. No real reason to have one now, if you know what I mean. Why should I help such a nutters character like him. Probably been sampling whatever he's smuggling in that box of his."

I was about to order him to do it but I could almost feel Lydia's gaze on my back. What would she want me to do? "As Thane of Whiterun, I plead with you, in the name of the Jarl and for justice, to do the right thing and help a man in need."

He laughed. He laughed at me and my vision clouded with red. Lydia stepped in front of me and she handed me her steel armor, leaving herself in only a light shirt that clung to her sweaty chest.

"How about you do it," Lydia said, "so we can see how... big... a man you are?"

The farmer stopped laughing but grinned lasciviously. He stripped off his shirt and pretended not to flex as he flexed. "I guess for a man in need, it will take a real man."

"Oh, you," Lydia said as Loreius jumped over the fence and walked down towards Cicero.

I stared at Lydia, "After your little speech, you get me to act like a pompous do-gooder then when that fails you flash a little, well, those at him and it works? What am I supposed to do?"

"You did everything right. I'm very proud of my Thane. But look at his wife over there. Gahh! He was ripe to do anything for the slightest nibble of a morsel like this. Doesn't mean it'll happen, but it worked."

I stood open-mouthed and stunned. I even forgot my tingling shoulder for a moment. I followed Lydia who was walking away from the wagon, and back towards Whiterun. I would never figure her out.

Once we were far enough away from Cicero's wagon, though I could hear him talking to the farmer and the farmer yelling, I tried to hand Lydia back her armor.

"I guess I can put it back on," she said, "The cool air felt good for a change."

"Yes, it's obviously very cool," I commented. "If my shoulder wasn't still hurting, I'd gladly carry it for you just for the view."

"Pig."

"M'iaq has been called many things, but never a pig. Perhaps I need to clean myself."

Startled, I nearly dropped the armor. I looked for the voice. I had not even noticed the robed Khajiit standing alongside the road. I thought I had left him near Valtheim Keep.

"Oh, I'm sorry, M'aiq," Lydia said, "I was talking to the Thane here. Sometimes he lets things other than his brain do his thinking for him. Are you on your way to Whiterun?"

"The Jarl's armor has lots of fur. This makes M'aiq nervous." He turned away from us and remained silent. I suspected someone must have laced his catnip as a kitten.

I awkwardly helped Lydia on with her armor. "Well, nice hearing your thought, Cat," I said as we left. "I'll send your regards to the Jarl's tailor."

Lydia swatted me and we continued towards Whiterun as the stars above begin to emerge and a solitary moon rose in the East. Outside of the walls of the city I stopped at a Khajiit caravan. Lydia was right beside me the whole time so I do not even mention skooma, though it was my first thought. It might have helped the pain in my shoulder, I reasoned. Instead I sold off some of the jewelry and gems I collected going through Alftand. I had not realized how much I had found. Ma'dran was out of money and I still had half of my stuff left. If I hurried I might make it to Belethor's before he closed.

I just did make it and the few weapons and armor I took to the Drunken Huntsman by Breezehome. He was always open so I saved his shop for last. It was getting late so we had dinner at the Bannered Mare, my treat, then headed for home.

"I may have to visit the Temple of Kynareth and see Danica," I said.

"I thought you said you were tired," Lydia says, "Maybe you should just visit yourself tonight and get some rest."

"Not that kind of visit, though I wouldn't object to a helping hand. I meant for my shoulder. I've done all the healing magic I can on it but it still hurts. I don't think I can use my greatsword until it heals."

"Well, we'll see in the morning how it feels. I doubt it's anything permanent."

I agreed to give it a night but something told me this was not something that was just going to go away overnight.