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Chapter 26 - Skuldafn Plans

Odahviing didn't ask any questions, just leaped into the air, and almost immediately landed. Then he said, "Is something wrong, thuri?"

"I forgot about the draugr when I sent Seridur here. Could you get some Skyguard teams to help clear them out, while I check on him?"

"Of course. I will be back with them shortly." When he took off, Yssha went across the river into the main part of the ruins.

"Seridur?" she called. "Are you all right?"

"Over here, Ysmir!" His voice came from the right, the small southern tower. "Yeah, I'm fine." He emerged with a grin. "Would've been nice if you'd told me about the draugr, though."

"Unslaad krosis!" She ducked her head. "My most humble apologies. Normally I will make sure a dungeon is cleared before I leave, but here, I fear Marcurio and I were more concerned with getting to Sovngarde to battle Alduin, and we knew we would not be backtracking. I have sent for some Skyguard teams to help clear anything we missed in that quest."

"You're forgiven," Seridur said with a grin. "That tower's clear, and I've killed a few more elsewhere. I kind of enjoyed myself, actually. How've you been doing?"

"Well, thank you. And yourself?"

"Mostly exploring and making notes. I've had dragon ... uh, dovah ... help with finding food and other perishables - they seem to gather here, though I thought they were solitary ... people. Like monks."

Yssha chuckle-purred. "They are contradictory at times, yes. They tend to have private resting places and hunting ranges, but greatly enjoy tinvaak ... conversation."

"And stories, and talking about intimate relations. It's almost embarrassing, even for an ex-Thalmor who was a Justiciar's squad leader, and I've seen it all."

Yssha was kept from laughing at that only by Odahviing's arrival, with several other dragons and their teams. Franken dismounted from Dovgrahaak, grinning. "You left some behind for us, huh? My people don't usually get to fight draugr; they're underground, so the Legion usually gets them. Fire's best, right?"

"That is correct," Yssha agreed. "They are quite flammable. I do think we got most of the more powerful ones, and I know we got the only Dragon Priest, so your people should not have undue difficulty."

Franken sent his people out into the various parts of the temple complex, then asked, "Any particular reason for clearing this, Ysmir? I'm not trying to be nosy, just curious."

"When my heir is old enough to take over the ground part of Skyhold, I will move here, which Jarl Brunwulf has agreed to. I wish to begin clearing and reconstruction as soon as possible. Which it will not be if any workmen Supervisor Seridur hires have to fear draugr attacks."

"Seridur, huh?" Franken turned to the Altmer with a smile. "The one who stopped Ysmir's torture, geh? I thank you for that on behalf of the entire Skyguard - and many of us would personally thank you for the side effect, as well."

Seridur wouldn't have believed himself capable of it, but he flushed. "So you ... ah ... "

"Us, the Legion, or Tornulf's Terrors when she's in that mood, yeah. Or at least usually, we think; we don't pry."

Seridur turned to his Dragon Lady. "That ... doesn't bother you? The talk, I mean?"

Yssha shrugged. "It did at first, but Nerissa and Ungarion's flyers made it so common I soon got used to it. And Commander Franken is right; I very rarely go to non-fighters when I am in the mood for several encounters in a short time." She grinned. "You have been having tinvaak with dovah, so you should know we have few if any inhibitions."

He nodded. "Though they think vodov lovemaking is more amusing than arousing, so that was actually less embarrassing than the other."

"Back to business," Franken said. "How about a tour of the cleared areas so far? If we're going to be protecting the place, I'd like to see what we'll have to work with."

Seridur nodded. "And you'll have to tell me about any special arrangements I'll need to make for your teams." He turned to Yssha. "That goes for you, too, please. It's easier to plan for things from the beginning than to go back and re-do things."

"So my housecarl Rayya assured me when she was overseeing the construction of Lakeview Manor," Yssha replied. "I will try to do so wherever possible, but there will be some of what Nevan calls retro-fitting, as I definitely want indoor plumbing. That should go second on your priority list for my wants."

"What's first?" Seridur asked curiously.

"Security," Yssha replied without hesitation. "I plan on setting up a museum and study facilities to investigate things too powerful or too tempting to thieves to leave in a freely accessible location. I had originally planned otherwise, until I saw all the Dragon Priest masks together. Then there is the portal to Sovngarde, which must remain closed.

"So instead of opening the collapsed passageway to Mzulft, I want it sealed as tightly as possible. Then quarters for at least two dragon teams. After that, you can begin making the rest livable."

"Right." Seridur turned to Franken. "There are a couple of towers that might work for the two teams, and they're both clear. Want to see them? Or at least one; the layouts are close to identical."

"Please."

The southern tower was closest, so they went to it, and after a brief inspection, Franken grinned. "This'll do nicely, with a bit of clean-up and repairs, plus the addition of at least basic furnishings. It's plenty big enough for even a five-man team, and there are only a few of those. I'm not sure the roof is sturdy enough to support a dovah, but Divines know that's hardly a problem, given how many really great perches there are here."

"Naturally," Dovgrahaak rumbled. "This was the main Dragon Cult temple, to Alduin, so of course it has an abundance of perches. Those who perched atop the western tower, which has succumbed to the weather, could be seen from Windhelm."

"Oh?" Yssha's ears pricked forward. "That is promising, because Jarl Brunwulf wishes at least a part of Skuldafn to be visible from elsewhere in Eastmarch. Perhaps if that tower is rebuilt higher - ?"

Dovgrahaak snorted. "Let us do some sight-line checking first, Dovahkiin. It would be well indeed to allow this greatest of our fanes to be seen at a distance, and as more than the tip of a single tower."

"I agree, so please do." Yssha smiled. "It would be nice to have our creations appreciated once again. We should also clean up Bromjunaar, without devastating Labyrinthian, so trade caravans can again pass through safely."

The dovah looked surprised, but nodded. "Geh, thuri, it would. But like restoring Skuldafn, it would take much time and work."

Yssha shrugged at that, surprising herself. "Ful? Mu vojoor, ahrk Bormahu uth daar mu prinz ahrk aam."

Dovgrahaak reared back, then, slowly, nodded. "Geh. That phrases our original, and current, mission very well, thuri. Our father did indeed order us to protect and to serve. And our immortality gives us the time to carry out even the most time-consuming projects. So ... yes, thuri, it will be done. After Skuldafn."

"Pruzah." She turned to Seridur. "You have much work to do here, my friend. But I assure you, you will have all the assistance you need."

"Geh, especially after we make it known that we will look favorably on those who take on the hardships of Skuldafn to aid in its reconstruction." Dovgrahaak gape-grinned. "It is taking advantage of those not yet chosen to ride, ko vazah, [truly] but it gives them incentive, not so? And it will indeed give them an advantage, for proving their willingness to live up to our order from Bormahu."

Seridur chuckled. "Thanks. Um, as a low-ranker myself, they won't lose pay for it, I hope."

"Certainly not," Franken assured him. "And once family quarters are built, they'll have first refusal. Face it, who wouldn't want to live in Stormcrown's own capital?"

"Anyone who likes outdoor warmth," Yssha replied drily. "Heating runes will keep indoors comfortable, but weather in this area can be less than pleasant."

She turned to Seridur with a grin. "You are not a low-ranker any longer, Supervisor. As head of restoration for Skuldafn, with all the responsibility that entails, you will be paid accordingly, and I will pay the salaries of any consultants you may require. I might recommend my architect, Ragnar, when he is finished with the two places I currently have him working on."

"All right, but do you think he's up to something on this scale?" Seridur looked dubious. "Your Helgen palace is nice, but ... "

Yssha had to control herself not to Shout, since there was no such thing for extreme amusement, and she couldn't really laugh. "Test him for yourself," she finally managed to say. "It is hard to keep him restricted to things I am comfortable with. Give him free rein, and I would not be surprised to see him surpass either Skuldafn or Labyrinthian. Simply speak to him, when you have a chance."

"I'll do that, then." Seridur grinned. "Now - Commander Franken wanted a tour, and I'd like to get some initial guidance on what you may want where."

"Very well, and you can pass the information along to Ragnar, when you bring him here, if you decide you can work with him." Which she hoped would be the case; she was out of other projects for the ambitious architect.

Seridur led them into the cavernous entrance hall. "This would make a great throne room, though if you plan to bring the Mirmulnir Throne along, it could be difficult getting it in."

Yssha chuckle-purred. "No, since my vahriinne cannot enter. That will be in the back courtyard, near the portal to Sovngarde. This would make an excellent reception room for vodov visitors, however. Perhaps divide it into two, a public and a private, but you and Ragnar can decide that."

"I didn't get as far as the rear courtyard," Seridur said. "Too many draugr."

"I understand." Yssha cast Detect Dead, but saw nothing within the spell's range. "It appears the Skyguard have been here, and a way beyond."

"If you'd lead, then?" Seridur asked. "The next area looked, what little I saw of it, like a crypt."

"Because it is," Yssha said. "I have no idea what to put there, as I am reasonably sure Nords would not care to use something like that for any purpose."

"Let me get a look," Franken said. "You might be surprised, if they can be exorcised."

"I am sure that is possible," Yssha said. "The Dragon Priestess who exorcised Miraak's temple should be able to exorcise this one as well, though Miraak's was far smaller."

Franken nodded, with a grin. "Your Qolaas, you mean. Yeah, she should. And re-consecrate it for you, like she did that one."

Yssha groaned. "Thank you, no. One temple is more than enough." Though she'd promised Kraldar she'd allow a second ... "This will be a purely secular place, except for a chapel for the Nine. Which, given my zeymah, will include a Dovahkiin shrine."

"Good!" Franken exclaimed. "Skyguard would be unhappy without that - you formed us, after all, and Nords have great respect for tradition."

Yssha nodded acceptance. "I understand. But shall we continue?"

When the other two nodded, she led them onward, past another puzzle room, and into the second part of Skuldafn Temple. They ascended a grand staircase, then went up a spiral staircase and along some corridors, past a puzzle door, and into the Word Wall chamber, where she turned to Seridur.

"This, I think, is where the museum and study area should be, though it might need to be expanded, as large as it already is."

Seridur nodded. "Seems appropriate, if that's what I think it is, from what I heard on my travels. A Word Wall?"

Yssha nodded. "There was an unspoken 'but' there, I believe?"

Seridur chuckled. "Yeah, given the usual age of scholars, it's a pretty long walk from the entrance."

Yssha's ears twitched in amusement. "Not so far as you think, given that the, ah, 'back door' is off to our left." She led the way, out onto the expansive plaza where she'd first used Storm Call. Then she turned to Seridur. "This is where the Greater Mirmulnir Throne will be put, under a pavilion as it is now, though the pavilion may be smaller. The Lesser Mirmulnir Throne will remain where it is, for my descendants."

Seridur nodded. "As you say, Ysmir. Divines, but this place is magnificent! And the view might be even better from up those stairs."

"It is, but do not ascend. Excuse me." Yssha ran up the stairs to the platform above the portal to Sovngarde, took Nahkriin's staff out of its hole, and watched the portal close, breathing a sigh of relief.

Despite her orders, both Seridur and Franken had followed her. "Was that - ?" Franken demanded.

Yssha nodded. "The portal for a mortal to enter Sovngarde, yes. And yes, I would deny that access to any mortal other than those Shor or Akatosh permits."

"But why?" Franken demanded, sounding frustrated.

"Because it is ... how do I say this?" She shook her head in frustration. "The contrast between Mundus and Aetherius is simply too great. Life is a challenge, with both good and bad. So is the afterlife, but it is far more intense. In the afterlife, the bad is good, compared to the good in life ... it is impossible to describe, though I have experienced it repeatedly. It is ... not a contrast that I would wish on another, at least on one who must return."

"Umm." Franken nodded, slowly. "Then ... I think I'll try to be satisfied with what I have here and now."

Yssha smiled gently. "That would be wise. The contrast is ... bad enough that I fear some, perhaps many, would seek death afterward simply to return, and have it denied them for that reason."

Franken nodded. "Then we owe you even more thanks, Ysmir. You'll protect the Staff?"

"Of course. And if you will excuse me, I will do so now."