Chapter 3: We meet again
It had been about a year since I hired the assassin to kill my former friend and lover.
The Shatter-Shield family never reached out to me.
Lately I had heard a rumor that Tova Shatter-Shield had committed suicide after the death of her second daughter.
While Bothela offered her sympathies for my loss, I myself felt no pain, no sorrow.
Perhaps I really am a soulless monster.
I have gotten much better at alchemy and spell casting now that I have fewer distractions.
There hasn't been much going on within Markarth, though I heard that Vlindrel Hall was recently bought.
Whoever the owner is he must be very rich.
"Muiri?" Bothela called. "Yes?"
"We been running low on several types of herbs lately.
There haven't been a lot of caravans getting through to the city due to the amount of Forsworn attacks."
I turned surprised. "You want me to go gather herbs for you?"
Bothela shrugged. "You're not a child anymore and you've progressed nicely with your spells. I would advise you to hire a mercenary to help you carry everything back but I believe that you are prepared to go out in the big bad world."
I shrugged, "Well all right if you think I'm ready."
"I do. Here is a list of all the herbs we need and here is some money to hire a mercenary. Be back within a week or I'll send out search parties."
Before I knew it, I was in the Silver Blood Inn, 250 gold in hand and looking to hire a mercenary. However it wasn't as simple as I thought it would be.
No one wanted to risk going out into the Reach for a week for only 250 septims.
"Please! I really need these herbs!" I begged Cosnach. "Sorry but I ain't looking to get killed," he said "especially when I could be drinking a pint." Great, I couldn't even the town drunk to help me. I'm such a failure.
I was about to leave and go back to the shop, when suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder.
Standing in front of me was a man dressed in head to toe in steel armor.
On his back he carried a silver great sword that was clearly enchanted with some sort of a spell.
Oh he would do nicely.
"Would you be interested in helping me gather herbs?" I asked sweetly batting my eyelashes slightly at him. That always seemed to work.
The man tilted his head, crossed his arms and began to tap his foot. I could almost see the expression on his face.
"Look ill pay you 250 septims. It's just a week and the worst you'll encounter thing you'll encounter is probably a fox or something." That was technically a lie.
"Even if we do encounter something worse, you seem like you can handle it. I would have never offered if I thought you couldn't. Besides it's not like you'll be protecting me or anything. I do know some things about fighting myself." Another technical lie, but the steel warrior seemed to be buying it.
He held out his hand, and I shook it.
"We've got a deal then. Good. Let's go, were running out of daylight."