XI: Comeuppance

I spent a few minutes sitting astride my horse on top of a hill, watching the carriage shrink in the distance as it carried Lydia and Sofia to Whiterun. I kept scanning the sky for dragons, but eventually I realized I was stalling. There were no dragons in sight. Gritting my teeth, I turned my horse away from the receding carriage.

Sofia had been so happy when I had told her I was adopting her. I tried to stay focused on her joy as I began the journey back to Riften. It kept my mind off my misgivings about what I was doing.

It sounded like this Grelod was a monster, a child abuser. I couldn't look the other way now that I knew what was going on. If nobody else was going to stop her and protect those children, I would.

On the other hand, this was different from the other lives I had taken. Most of them had been the result of defending myself in life-or-death situations. And the bandit leader I hunted for a bounty, well, that was sanctioned by the jarl. What I was doing now was different. Unlike all of my other kills, this was going to be a murder.

But I was protecting the children. They had not come to the orphanage by choice and could not leave until they came of age or were adopted. It wasn't right to force them into the care of someone who was so cruel to them.

But it was still going to be murder… Or was it just taking justice into my own hands when nobody else would do it? If being a good person in the eyes of the law meant I had to look the other way when children were mistreated, then I was quite fine being an outlaw.

I arrived back at Riften uneventfully as the sun was about to set. I headed around the city walls to where the stables were located to drop off my horse.

I froze when I saw the horses already stabled there. They were the most beautiful dapple gray horses I had ever seen. During my caravan days, I had seen many horses on the road, and this color had always been my favorite. I had sworn to myself that I would have a horse like that one day.

I bounced my coin purse in my hand and gritted my teeth in frustration. I could tell by its weight that I didn't have enough to buy the horse.

I turned away from the horses reluctantly, knowing that I would be hugging them if I didn't stop myself. The jarls had plenty of standing bounties on bandit leaders and dragons, I'd heard. Once Grelod was dead, I would take on bounty hunts until I had enough to buy that horse.

There were two guards standing by the city gates. One of them stepped in front of me and asked, "Where do you think you're going, Khajiit?"

"I'm a thane of Whiterun and I'm allowed here," I snapped. "Ask your jarl if you don't believe me."

"Hey, I didn't say you couldn't go in, you just have to pay the visitor tax first."

"Visitor tax?" I asked suspiciously. "Are you trying to shake me down?" Just a few weeks ago, I would have gladly paid to be allowed into a city. So much had changed since then.

"Everyone has to pay it or they don't get inside," the guard said. I could tell by his body language that he was lying.

I crossed my arms. "Oh, really? If I asked the stable hands over there, would they say the same?"

I don't know how he would have answered, because just then, we were interrupted by the sound of a dragon roaring nearby. A few seconds later, it flew over us as it circled the city. It looped around and flew back over the city walls, and I heard and felt a heavy thud as it landed inside.

"Gods, it's attacking the city!" I shouted. "Let me in!"

That was probably the last thing the guard expected me to say, but he obediently unlocked the gate for me.

I found myself on a wide cobblestone path between two rows of stone buildings. The dragon had landed further down the path, right where it opened into the main part of the city. It was breathing fire on a group of guards in front of it.

I drew my sword and approached the dragon from the left, planning to rush in and attack its flank. As I was scanning the area and readying for the charge, I happened to notice the sign above the door to the building on the left.

Honorhall Orphanage.

If I didn't take this dragon out quickly, it could attack the orphanage. An idea occurred to me, and I was desperate enough to try it.

Sheathing my sword, I sprinted forward and leaped as high as I could. I crashed against the dragon's side and dug my claws in, climbing up onto its back. It reared up slightly and tried to shake me off, but I held on. Its head snaked around to face me. I did the only thing that came to mind and used Unrelenting Force. My Shout hit the dragon full in the face, whipping its head back around and making it stumble.

For just a few seconds, I was able to balance on the dragon's back as it recovered from what must have been like a solid punch in the face. I released my grip with my hands and drew my sword. I raised it up over my head with both hands and plunged it down into the back of the dragon's neck

The dragon's body went limp, and I just managed to leap to safety as it fell heavily onto its left side. I darted back to pull my sword free. Just to be safe, I ran up to the dragon's head and repeated my action, this time stabbing it into the back of its skull. Almost immediately, the flames began spreading over its body.

As the flames and the wind dissipated, I wearily regarded all of the astonished faces looking at me. "Dragonborn," I heard some of them whispering.

"Yes, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but I'm the Dragonborn," I said reluctantly. "What you saw happen after the dragon died was something only the Dragonborn can do. But there was nothing special about killing the dragon. I just got in a lucky blow. Any one of you could have killed it. Remember that."

"There isn't anything you want for saving us?" one of the townspeople asked. "That dragon could have torn down the orphanage!"

"Well…" I said slowly. "If you'd all treat me like a fellow Nord rather than a Khajiit, I'd consider us even." I braced my foot against the dragon's skull and tugged my blade loose. "And maybe you could point me to the nearest grindstone…"

"Here, let me take care of that for you," a Nord said, coming forward to take my blade. "I'm Balimund, the town blacksmith. I'll make it good as new for you."

"Come to the Bee and Barb when you're ready. Supper will be on the house," an Argonian said.

"Thank you," I said. "Have you by any chance seen a Nord named Lokir? He would have arrived yesterday."

"He stayed at the inn last night," the Argonian said. "Looked like he was discussing something serious with Sapphire and Brynjolf. They have ties with the Thieves Guild. He left a message for a Khajiit named Ra'wati that he should be back by morning."

"Yeah, that's me," I said. I glanced back at the orphanage. "Isn't someone going to check on the children?"

"There are no scorch marks on the building."

"Yes, but… It's just my nature to be concerned about children. I can't sit down to eat until I know they're okay. I'll come to the inn in a few minutes."

I wasn't sure it was a good idea to let someone know I was going to the orphanage, but I saw no way around it. There was only one door I could see into the orphanage, on the main road, and no windows. There might have been a second door behind a tall stone wall topped with metal spikes, but it was too conspicuous to try climbing. I thought it was perfectly reasonable to enter the building on the grounds that I wanted to make sure the children were safe.

I might not have to kill her, I reminded myself. Maybe we can talk this over and solve the problem without violence.

I held that thought in my head as I opened the door and stepped inside, after which my nonviolent resolve quickly shattered.

"Those who shirk their duties will receive an extra beating," I heard a woman saying from a room down the hall on the left. "And there will be no more talk of adoption. Nobody needs you. Nobody wants you. Is that clear?"

I walked down the hall and looked in to see an elderly woman talking to four small children. As she made them thank her for her kindness, I fought to keep calm. I was in danger of taking her out right here and now, with the children watching.

Grelod walked into another room and I cautiously approached the children. "Everyone okay in here?" I asked.

"No. Grelod's the meanest person I've ever met. She can't be all human. I bet she's part hagraven."

"You look kind of scary, but nobody's scarier than old Grelod."

"She was really mad when Aventus ran away. She gave us double beatings that day."

"We heard the dragon, but she wouldn't let us out to watch. She only lets us out once in the morning, in that little yard, and she stands there and watches us the whole time."

"And nobody stops here from mistreating you?" I asked.

"Constance tries, but it's not enough."

"She takes us out to walk around the town sometimes."

"And she gives us extra snacks. Grelod only gives us one meal a day, late in the afternoon."

I suppressed a growl. "Someone needs to have a word with her."

A younger Nord woman came into the room and looked me over quizzically. "Can I help you?"

"I just helped the guards kill a dragon in front of the orphanage. I needed to make sure none of the children were harmed before I went on my way."

She nodded. "We're all fine. You really should leave now. Grelod has decided not to allow adoptions, and it's cruel to get their hopes up. Besides, Grelod hates visitors."

"Why wouldn't she want them to be adopted?"

"I don't know. She's old and set in her ways. These children need love, and I do my best, but…" She shook her head and repeated, "You really should leave."

"Does she let you take them outside?"

"Sometimes. Why?"

"I thought they might like to see the dragon. It's right outside, reduced to a skeleton."

The children turned to her. "Please, Constance? Just for a minute?" they all started whispering.

Keeping her voice down, Constance said, "Oh, all right. Just for a few minutes."

I led them back outside and showed them the dragon bones. I watched for a moment as they excitedly clambered over the bones and chatted with the other townsfolk who had come to look at it, then quietly slipped away.

I walked around the side of the orphanage. The ground changed to a wooden walkway with a railing overlooking the water a full story below. Riften appeared to have been built on the edge of a sort of small cliff overlooking the water, with wooden walkways and platforms built out over the water. But I wasn't concerned with what was below me at the moment.

Glancing back to make sure everyone was still fixated on the dragon bones, I climbed over the railing. The platform the orphanage partially rested on extended a foot or so beyond the building, just wide enough for me to creep across. Being a giant cat had its advantages. From there I dug my claws into the building's log wall and climbed up onto the shingled roof. Pretending I was stalking an elk, I climbed up to the peak of the triangular roof. Down below, I could see into the small yard enclosed by the stone wall with iron spikes on top. I crept down the roof and dropped silently to the ground inside the yard.

I slipped inside the door and found myself back in the room where Grelod had been addressing the children. I held still and pricked my ears, listening for the sound of her breathing, but she suddenly appeared in the room.

"What are you doing in here?" she snarled. "Get out!"

"I was just checking on the children…" I began.

"Well, there's no need to. Now get out before I call the guards!" She turned away from me and walked over to the soup pot in front of the fireplace in the room.

I slowly walked up to her. I noticed a pair of double doors on the wall on her left. They were opened slightly, and I could see a set of wrist shackles mounted on the wall, low down, just the right height to use on a small child.

I reached for my sword, then remembered I had given it tot the blacksmith to be sharpened. I quickly felt around in my pack. The only other weapon I had was an iron dagger. It would have to do.

I walked up behind her. "Those children don't deserve to be treated that way," I said softly.

"What do you care? You have no business here."

I took a deep breath. "Actually, I do. Aventus Aretino sent me."

"Aretino? Well, you can tell him I'm coming for him, and when I find him, it will be the beating of his miserable life…"

I reached around with my left hand, grabbed her around the jaw and jerked her head to one side. She barely had time to make a sound before I had plunged the dagger into the right side of her neck. I shoved her forward as I backed away. I managed to avoid getting any blood on myself, other than what had gotten on my right hand. I quickly wiped it off on her dress.

As the heat of my anger cooled off, I realized that maybe I shouldn't have killed her out in the open. She'd be found almost as soon as Constance returned. I considered dragging her into that room with the shackles, but then noticed the blood pooling on the floor. No, there was no point hiding the body. I needed to get out of here.

I slipped back out the door into the walled yard and climbed back onto the roof. Everyone was still looking at the dragon bones and discussing their mysterious return. I climbed up over the top of the roof, started down the other side, then realized I might have a problem.

Walking along that narrow ledge was one thing, trying to land on it was another. One slip and I'd be in the water below.

I crept over to the corner and looked down at the railing. That might be easier to get my feet on. I turned around, laid down on my stomach and slowly slid back off the roof, stretching my legs down to find the railing.

I relaxed as my feet touched the railing. I paused to steady myself, then slowly turned around. There was a break in the railing to accommodate stairs leading to the level below, then the railing resumed, leading to a bridge leading across the water and encircling a raised wooden platform in the center of town that housed the merchant stalls.

I wonder how much of the town I could reach by walking on the railing, I thought mischievously. I hopped across the gap and landed nimbly on the next section of railing.

"Hey, what are you doing up there?" a startled guard called.

I turned my head quickly in mid-stride to look at him and lost my balance. I spent a second swaying and waving my arms, trying to regain my balance, before falling over backwards off the railing. I hit the set of steps below, bounced off, landed halfway on a wooden fishing boat and slid off into the water.

I dug my claws into the side of the boat to keep my head above the water as my vision clouded, each breath seeming to make it worse. Next thing I knew, several people had grabbed me and pulled me out of the water. Then they were healing me, and my vision cleared enough for me to tell that they were Riften guards.

"Sorry about that," one of them said sheepishly.

I shrugged. "Narrowly escaping a dangerous situation always makes me want to do childish things."

They helped me to my feet. The fall had given me a fair amount of bruises, but no serious wounds, so I thanked them for their help and headed back up the stairs to find the blacksmith.

I collected my newly-sharpened sword from the blacksmith and sold my surplus gear, then headed to the inn. I was a bit surprised to see it was owned by an Argonian. Maybe Riften would open up to my people soon.

"Well, if it isn't the Dragonborn!" the owner said as I walked up to the counter.

I gritted my teeth involuntarily. "Yeah, that's me," I sighed.

"Something wrong? Did you not want everyone to know?"

"No, I don't mind, I just… I'd like people to see me as a Khajiit first. I'd like to see my people allowed in the cities like everyone else."

She nodded knowingly. "Keep saving us from dragons and maybe the Nords will come to their senses. For now, I hear you were promised a free meal tonight."

"I'm more than ready for it," I said. "Have you seen a Nord named Lokir? I heard he stayed here last night."

"Yeah, I remember him. He's supposed to be back in the morning."

"I was supposed to meet up with him, but I forgot to run an errand while I was in Windhelm. I'm heading back there once I've eaten. When you see him, could you tell him I'll be back by dusk tomorrow?"

She agreed, and I sat down and waited for my supper. I wanted to eat it leisurely and take a nap afterwards, but I needed to let Aventus know Grelod was dead, and Lokir wouldn't want to come to Windhelm to do it. So I wolfed my food down and left.

I noticed Constance and the children were nowhere in sight as I crossed the bridge beside where I had fallen. Then the door to the orphanage burst open and Constance came running out, screaming incoherently, followed by the children, who were laughing and cheering.

One of the guards ran over to talk to them, heard they had found Grelod murdered inside, then turned to me suspiciously. "Weren't you just in there?"

"No, it wasn't her," one of the boys said. "We saw her the whole time. She didn't go near Grelod."

"It was the Dark Brotherhood!" a little girl shouted gleefully. "Aventus Aretino said he was going to summon the Dark Brotherhood to deal with her, and he did it!"

The guard nodded, looking uneasy. "If it's the work of the Dark Brotherhood… Maybe we should stay out of this."

I watched the children skip off gleefully again. "They don't look like they just found their caretaker murdered," I observed. "What did she do to make them hate her so much?"

"Hey, I know what you mean," the guard said casually. As I turned to leave, he leaned over my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Hail Sithis!"

I looked back at him, equal parts startled and confused. He just gave me a knowing smile and turned away.

I didn't know what that meant, but something told me he suspected I had done it and was letting me get away with it. I decided I should leave before he changed his mind.

I headed back outside and collected my horse. As I began the trip north, I noticed smoke in the air. It appeared to be coming from a large island in the middle of the lake on my left. I could see the glow of several fires on the island that looked too big to be campfires. I briefly wondered if it had something to do with Lokir, then turned away. It wasn't likely to reach the mainland, so it was none of my concern.

SOUNDTRACK: "The Wrong Side of Heaven" and "Bulletproof" by Five Finger Death Punch, "Just A Job To Do" by Genesis, "Let This Go" by Five Finger Death Punch, "Old Friend" by Disturbed, "Bully" by Shinedown, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" by Fallout Boy

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was physically abused almost daily throughout my childhood by my sociopathic half-brother, so I actually loved the quest to assassinate Grelod the Kind. I didn't want anyone to kill him, but I wanted so badly to get away from him, and nobody would protect me. Living vicariously through video game quests, y'know.

I had a similar reaction the first time I saw the horses at the Riften stables. Dapple gray is one of my favorite horse colors.

I've always had a tendency to stumble if I turned my head to the right too fast while walking, and sometimes to fall over if I did it while standing up. I just thought I was clumsy. Then last year I read about a study where two-eyed, one-eyed, and blind people had their balance tested. The study included people who had been blind or one-eyed for years and had fully adjusted to it. (Tangential pet peeve: Scientists who think studying people immediately after they lose an eye or having two-eyed people cover an eye for the study will give them meaningful results about how people with long-term stereoblindness see the world.) The study suggested having one eye has a negative impact on balance, and being blind impacts it further. So it's possible my clumsiness is caused by my monocular state.

In light of this, I've decided to give Ra'wati my balance issues. I wasn't going to, because I despise the way the media portrays one-eyed people as clumsy solely for comic relief. (Didn't their parents ever teach them not to mock disabled people?) But I wanted to show what it's really like to be one-eyed with depth perception, and this is something I actually have to deal with. Bumping into things, no; minor loss of balance associated with rapid head-turning, yes.