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Chapter 23 - Audience Day

Mid-Second Seed, 5E 3

It was Fredas, so Yssha was alone and un-armored, though wearing leather trews and jacket, when she called Odahviing. Fredas was her check-up and audience day, and for once she was looking forward to the check-up for something other than the visit with Danica. She was getting close to the point, Danica'd said last week, that she might be able to tell Yssha something of the timing to expect by now.

On the way from the Whiterun gates up to the Temple of Kynareth, she stopped a few times to chat, and left orders with a couple of merchants to have things delivered to either Lakeview or Windstad Manors. Then she spent some time under the Gildergreen meditating and praying, mostly to Kynareth.

She also made a brief visit to the shrine of Talos for a prayer, rather surprised that Heimskr wasn't there. She asked one of the Whiterun guards about that, and he chuckled. "His iron throat wasn't quite as strong as he thought - he came down with laryngitis about an hour ago. Wouldn't bother me a bit if he takes a couple of weeks to recover."

Yssha couldn't help chuckling. "I should not be pleased about a priest being unable to preach ... but it does make the Cloud District more peaceful. Meditation was much easier without his shouting."

"If you're visiting Danica, you might want to let her know - she hasn't been out yet this morning."

"I shall," Yssha said. "And yes, I am here for my weekly checkup."

The guard sounded like he was smiling, though his helmet concealed his face. "You'll let whoever's on duty know the results, please? We're all praying for you."

"I appreciate that," Yssha said.

When she entered the Temple, she saw both Danica and Acolyte Jenssen working on a single patient. She went over to see if she could help, and when Danica saw her, her expression brightened. "Can you support me? He's beyond your skill, but I'm running low on magica."

"Of course." Yssha moved into position behind the healer, touching Danica's temples with her fingertips, letting Danica draw on her magica reserves, and trying to follow what the healer was doing. Something in the brain ... and no, she herself was nowhere near skilled enough to do such delicate work. So she remained passive, as she'd learned was necessary for such support, though passivity was difficult for her.

She didn't know how long it was before the drain on her magica tapered off and stopped, and Danica straightened. "Thank you, Ysmir. Praise Kynareth, your strength let me save his life, and perhaps his mobility."

"I am glad. Who is it?"

"Olfrid Battle-born. He had a brain-attack shortly after supper last night, and Idolaf carried him down here. Jenssen and I have been working on him as much as we could since then. I was afraid that he'd die despite our efforts, or at best, be paralyzed. But now neither will happen, and he may regain close to full function."

Yssha smiled. "That is good. And I have what may be good news for you, as well." She told her friend about Heimskr's laryngitis, and got a sigh of relief.

"Like you, I shouldn't be pleased at another's misfortune," Danica said, stretching. "But if you can give me a few minutes, I'd like to take advantage of it to meditate under the Gildergreen with no shouting to distract me."

"Certainly. I will sit with Olfrid while you are gone. We are friends, although not close."

In Danica's private quarters, Yssha endured the examination. To be honest, it was nowhere near as bad as the medical exams Nevan had described his people having - those sounded like nightmares. Here, it was just Danica's hands running over her, an inch or so from her body, and wasn't bad at all, in comparison.

"Well." Danica smiled in satisfaction. "You and the baby are both doing quite well, Ysmir. Surveying his progress, I think you may begin to show around the middle or end of next month, and give birth around the middle of Frostfall. You'll return here for the birth, of course."

Yssha shook her head. "I am going to have him at home, with Greats-grandmother Ysshaya as my midwife. It is a family tradition I would prefer not to break, but if you wish to be there, you would be welcome."

"Let your watch-dragon know when your water breaks, then. I'll ask one of ours for a ride." Danica grinned. "Far be it from me to break one of your family traditions!"

Not too long afterward, Yssha was in her palace at Helgen, changing from leathers into the loose-fitting, high-waisted gowns Taarie had designed for later in her pregnancy. She'd decided they were so comfortable, though, that any time she didn't feel she needed armor, she wore them, and had several suitable to hold court in. Today she chose one in midnight blue, with silver embroidery, then went outside to the Greater Mirmulnir Throne, and seated herself to receive petitioners. Lydia and Argis were with her, as was customary.

Lydia had briefed her while she changed clothes, so she knew there was nothing urgent needing her attention - if there had been, Lydia would have sent a dragon - so she wasn't really expecting much except perhaps people wanting to talk to her. That was an advantage of ruling such a tiny Keep; it had few problems, and most were solved by the individuals involved, or by Lydia or Hadvar. So her audiences were more making herself available to chat with her people, most of whom were also friends.

There was the occasional visitor, now that it was widely known she held audiences from mid-morning to shortly before twilight every Fredas, so it wasn't terribly surprising when a dragon landed and Jarl Kraldar dismounted, approaching her with a smile. "Good greetings, Jarl Ysmir! How're you doing?"

She returned his smile. "Very well, thank you. Since you come here during my audience time, what is it I can do for you?"

"First, extend my thanks to Lord Nevan and Lady Serana for the heating runes they introduced. Winterhold may still have the worst climate for humans and most mer in Skyrim, but now our buildings are warm and not smoky. Though most of us have kept firepits and maintain stores of firewood, as well!"

Yssha chuckled. "I will be happy to pass along your thanks, of course, but I cannot imagine you came here only for that."

"No - mostly I came to tell you about some of our plans for how to redevelop the city since the Great Reconstruction, and get your permission for a couple of the suggested projects."

"I would love to hear, yes, but why should you ask permission for projects in your own Keep?"

"Because it's all tied together," Kraldar said.

Yssha turned to Argis. "Would you please bring a chair and some wine for Jarl Kraldar? I would not keep him standing for what may be a longer than usual audience."

"Of course, my Jarl." Argis went inside, returning shortly carrying a glass of wine and followed by a servant with a chair.

When he was settled, Kraldar continued. "You know Winterhold isn't really suitable for agriculture or, really, much else except snow sports. I plan to revive those, and try to spread their popularity beyond my own hold. But there are other ways of attracting visitors, and you've already opened the Sightless Pit library and temple to selected ones, although we've improved access.

"So I want to build on that. We're already deeply embedded in Dovahkiin lore, between that and you having been Arch-Mage of the College, plus a large percentage of our current population being Odmer you Restored. On the new ground, we'd like to add a Dovahkiin museum, perhaps with some things you've used or found."

"I see no problem with that," Yssha said. "I certainly have items I will never use again and would gladly donate." She thought briefly, then grinned. "You might also wish to speak to Adrianne, the blacksmith in Whiterun. I doubt it, but there is a possibility she did not re-smelt the armor I used in the Battle of Whiterun. It is in terrible shape, however."

"I'll do that," Kraldar said with a smile, then sobered. "It's the other I really think you might refuse us."

Yssha sighed. "I believe I can guess, but go ahead."

"Yes, you probably can." Kraldar studied the small Khajit. "Those you Restored worship you, and have asked my permission to build a temple. I told them I couldn't do that unless I got your permission."

Yssha bowed her head briefly, moving her shoulders as if settling a weight, then straightened and nodded. "I already have one temple, and a priestess. I have also been instructed not to refuse worship, however much I dislike it, so you have my permission. And if any Odmer feel a call to my priesthood, it is not issued by me ... but they should travel to Solstheim, and speak to Qolaas, my high priestess." She sighed. "I would ask that the temple be kept quite modest, but I fear that would be fruitless."

"Probably so," Kraldar agreed. "My Odmer subjects seem fond of massive projects. And Winterhold has the stone to support those."

"Then might I suggest a second inn, as well? The Frozen Hearth is far too small for the influx you should probably anticipate."

"Already being planned, and the Hearth is expanding, as well. Plus there's going to be a lodge for skiers on that tall mountain between Fort Kastav and Stillborn Cave. It'll have slopes for everything from beginners to experts, and instructors. Magic-powered rides to take skiers to their preferred slopes, that sort of thing."

Yssha chuckled at his enthusiasm. "It seems you are planning to turn the rigors of your climate to your advantage, by attracting travelers to various inducements to visit."

"Precisely!" Kraldar grinned. "Zenithar encourages work and commerce, and all the Divines encourage us to make the best of what we're given. Ah, would you object if the temple includes shrines to the Nine as well as to you?"

"Certainly not," Yssha assured him. Were it up to me, it would be called a chapel, and would have altars to all the true Divines." She sighed. "I do miss the Cyrodiilic chapels, with their wonderful stained glass portraits above the individual altars, but I suppose the harsh weather precludes such a thing."

Kraldar smiled. "I saw one of those once, and it was certainly beautiful. I'd ... hmm." He muttered to himself briefly, then grinned. "Sure, why not? We certainly have enough mages now."

Yssha's ears twitched. "What do you mean?"

"Stained glass by itself wouldn't survive the kind of blizzards we can expect at least once a year, that's true - but stained glass protected by wards certainly could. And something that beautiful would certainly attract visitors who can't or don't want to travel as far as Cyrodiil ... thanks for the suggestion, Ysmir!"

"My pleasure, I assure you. It will be good to watch Winterhold grow and thrive as it once did."

"And besides the visitor attractions like the Great Restoration itself, the Sightless Pit, and the College. Mostly scholars to the latter two, I'd imagine. The museum too, if we document things well enough. The scholars won't be as profitable, but they'll still need to eat and stay somewhere. And buy things like paper, pencils, quills ... hmm, maybe a store specializing in clothes with warmth spells, for skiing and just basic exploring ... "

His voice trailed off, and Yssha couldn't help purring. Kraldar was turning out to be an excellent Jarl, which pleased her. "If I may comment on something you have not mentioned? And how is your wall coming along?"

"Huh?" Kraldar returned to the present. "The wall's coming along very nicely, though it's going to have to be expanded to include the temple and museum on our new land. But what else are you thinking about?"

"Your residence." She chuckle-purred. "If you have a walled city, you must have something more than a wooden longhouse. At least so it was explained to me, and your ground area is far larger than mine." She patted her abdomen. "Also, an heir."

Kraldar looked blank, then grinned. "I suppose I do, Stormcrown. But I already have an heir, my daughter Margret. She's married, and expecting my first grandchild. Unfortunately, her mother died shortly after she was born."

Yssha sighed. "That happens all too often. You have my condolences, Jarl Kraldar."

"And I thank you for them, Stormcrown Ysmir." Kraldar stood, smiling. "You've also given me several ideas, and some new work to do, so I ask permission to go home and get to it."

Yssha stood as well. "Of course. Please keep in touch, and let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you."