Chapter 16- Slayer Scrolls
Chapter 13- Chrissy/Borazon and Samuel
Day 9 evening – Wolf in human guyize
Deadman's Drink Falls Creek
The wooden door to the Inn slowly opens with a loud creaking sound causing everyone to stop in mid action as the dark figure of a sneering Chancellor Bogroll. Bogroll stands in the entrance for a few moments while no one dared to even flinch until he stocks in towards the fire pit. Several of the town's folk inch away from the door as he enters. While the Chancellor was watching some of the towns folks' others surreptitiously pulls out the small bags of wolfvane. Yet others make sure that the silver rings and amulets they wore were very visible. All took note of his wounds, but no one dares to a move towards him as they all had been warned by the Priest what might happened if anything should happen to him.
"Bar Keep." Bogroll calls out as he approaches the bar.
"Yes." Valga answers as she stops kneading the bread dough she was working on and picks up a large marble rolling pin.
"I wish to know where the one that took the werewolf on is." Bogroll says as he tightly grips the counter between them causing the wood to slightly crack beneath his hands.
"I don't know." Valga answers as she holds the rolling pin like it was a sword in a guard position.
"Isn't he staying here?" Bogroll inquires as he sees she is not even flinching.
"No."
"This is the only Inn."
"Yeah, but he is gone."
"That quick."
Valga just shrugs her shoulders.
"Really." Bogroll growls out causing a few of the patrons to grab for their weapons but none draw them.
"Yeah."
"Where is the room he was in." Bogroll inquires as he carefully eyes each patron.
"It was that one, but it's empty now." Valga says as she indicates which room with a nod of her head all the while not flinching under his cold gaze.
He goes over to the room and sees that there is nothing left. Bogroll angerly kicks the chair that was in the room into the wall. The chair breaks into pieces but does nothing to calm Bogroll. Several of the patrons get up and move away from the room as quickly as possible while one or two slip out the entrance of the Inn.
"Do you know where he is?" Bogroll barks as he stomps out of the room and up to the bar.
"No." Valga snaps back while she silently orders the others to stand down as some had risen to attack him when he went into the room.
"Do any of you know where he is?" Bogroll demands as he turns on people in the room.
"He who?" Someone asks in the dark of the shadows.
"The one who took on the werewolf what was his name." Bogroll retorts in with flare nostrils.
"We all took it on. And you know who we are. The stranger is gone." Another town folk states and takes a drink.
"Really what of his animals."
"Guess you'll have to go there and find out. We don't keep track after they leave." Valga replies.
Bogroll sneers a little at her but turns and heads to the stables to see for himself.
Once Bogroll had slammed the door behind him the towns folk started to talk but Valga stops them.
"Just eat and drink no talk his kind have good hearing." Valga warns.
"He should just…" Someone goes to say.
"No... You heard what was said." Valga orders.
"But we can't just let him."
"If we do anything they will come down on us and the empire will help." Valga informs them.
"But he's."
"Yes, we all know what he is and that is why we can't do it."
"Why?"
"I said you just drink and eat for now." Valga orders this time in a tone of voice that left no room for argument as she eyes the door.
Falls Creek Stables
Graffnar is putting away Ember while Zira is just putting her own horse away as Volkana unloads her cart when Bogroll stocks in bellowing. "Where is he?"
"I am right here what do you want?" Graffnar snaps as he saw who came into his stable.
"I don't want you."
"Then why are you here?"
"I want to know where the stranger who took on the werewolf is?"
"This is a barn you know where animals rest not people so he's not here." Graffnar snaps back as he grabs a pitchfork and begins shoveling shit and dumping into the cart right next to where Bogroll was standing.
"His goat where is it?"
"I got this old nag here. That is Zira's horse but no goats. I don't know what the Jarl's stables have." Graffnar loudly snorts as he drops a fresh pile of horse shit into the cart. "I have been thinking about getting one. Lod wants a dog."
"I might take both. If I can find one as brave as that goat." Lod remarks as he comes in and drops off a box of horseshoes.
"So, he has come back?"
"Who?" Lod asks as he puts down the box and pulls off an battle axe from his back.
"The stranger who took on the werewolf." Bogroll says as he eyes the axe that Lod had just removed from his back.
"Yeah, the old man is gone." Graffnar answers while dumping another pile.
"What was the strangers name?"
"Kid's name was Samuel the old man he calls gramps." Lod answers as he stood off to the side with his axe in hand.
"Is there a reason you people have your weapons drawn. Could it be you are afraid of me?"
"As you know there was a werewolf attack, and it wasn't under the full moon but about this time of day. There were also three vampires that were killed nearby." Lod answers as he too shows his own axe. "That is why."
"Vampires killed?"
"Yeah, about four or five days ago."
"How do you know that three vampires were killed they supposedly turn to dust?" Bogroll smugly inquires.
"Well, the stranger sold me the armor." Lod answers. "I just made this axe out of it."
"Why?"
"It was too burned to ever be used as armor again. The stranger and his axe inspired me to turn it into an axe."
"Really so an old man killed them and took on a werewolf I find that hard to believe."
"Never said he killed them. He said that he found it on his way here." Lod answers
"Did he say where he was going?"
"North I think." Lod says.
"I thought it was south." Graffnar barks out.
"I heard East." Zira says.
"Nah I heard West." . Volkana injects with a smile as he knew they were messing with the elf and he wanted in.
"Where is the herbalist?"
"I am here." Zira replies from inside of her horses' stall while she hides one hand behind her back as she begins to prep a spell.
"The stranger what was his name?"
"The boy called him grandpa."
"You people are not being helpful."
"We haven't lied to you and told you what you asks." Zira tells him.
"Do you know where he is?" Bogroll demands with a growl causing the horses to spook.
"Chancellor Bogroll. What are you doing out of bed?" The voice of the healer calls out in a voice that of a father scolding a child as he comes through the barn door.
"I..I came to see the one who.. I don't need to explain myself to you." Bogroll snaps back.
"That is where you are wrong. You see I am the healer sent by the High Council and if I were to send back a report on your injuries and how you refused to listen to my orders how long do you think you would remain here?" The Healer warned.
"You are a human." The elf snaps back.
"I am a healer who by your own law and the orders of the High Council you must listen too when you are injured like you are. Now you will return to your bed chamber and rest. I will continue with your healing when I too have rested. If I hear you have left that chamber other than to bathe, eat, or use the privy I will send for another Chancellor and Inquisitor immediately." The Healer warns than turns to Nenya and says, "I am ordering you to have a guard placed on his door since he doesn't want to listen."
"Yes sir." Nenya answers as she comes in behind him with four guards close behind her.
"Really little sister you think you have the right to."
"She may not but I do. Now go." The healer barks.
"Fine but I want to know where the stranger is."
"I had him leave." Nenya answers.
"Why?"
"I didn't want trouble." Nenya tells him as she removes his sword.
"So, he is trouble?"
Nenya only just indicates that he needs to leave by having the guards surround him with their weapons drawn. Bogroll begrudgingly follows them out the door.
"Damn I hate that shit head." Volkana remarks as he watches them leave.
"You and everyone else in this town." Graffnar interjects then asks Lod. "Why the hell did you bring those here I didn't order any."
"Needed a reason to come over." Lod answers
"Why?"
"Just in case that shit changed."
"Thanks"
"No problem."
"So that Axe is really from the armor?"
"Yeah."
"Why are you guys scared of him he is only one elf?" Volkana snaps.
"You saw his injuries?" Lod asks.
"Yeah. So." Volkana remarks back.
"Those are the exact same injuries that the stranger caused to the werewolf." Graffnar says as he makes sure not to use Borazon's name.
"So, someone kicked his ass just like…." Volkana starts to say when realizes what they were telling him. "By the nine he has some set on him for coming here after what he did looking like that."
"He knows that even though we know what he is and what he has done, we can't touch him cause if we do the empire will back him." Graffnar retorts.
"Then what the hell can be done. He can't get away with killing that poor little girl." Volkana demands.
"We prep for his attack." Zira tells them.
"All I have is this old mace for protection."
"I can add some runes on your stable doors to keep him from entering." Zira offers.
"Thanks, but couldn't it just go through the walls."
"We place the runes on all the sides of the building, and it should work overtime. If you haven't noticed I have them all over my shop."
"Wont it drain you."
"No, they are runes draw their power not from the caster but from different sources."
"What source?"
"Time."
"Huh?"
"The longer the time object has the runes on them the stronger the barrier becomes."
"What does it barrier from entery?" Lod asks.
"The unnatural. So, it should work against not just the werewolf but the vampires. But remember it won't stop them when we first put it on."
"What will it do to them?"
"I think it will be like a slight headache to start but the longer the runes are on the more painful it will be for them. In time them will not even dare to come near."
"Will it work on weapons?"
"Couldn't hurt."
"I got this knife can you add some runes on it too? I'll sweep your shop for a week." Volkana barters.
"Okay. What do you need?" Graffnar agrees.
"Lod I will need your help for the weapons."
"Forge is still hot."
"Good lets go over there and I'll add them it shouldn't take long."
"When you have time, you can add them to my doors if you like. For payment I won't charge you for the stall for a month."
"Okay."
Jarl's Lodge
"We can only keep him locked in the bed for about a week." The healer quietly remarks to Nenya as they follow the guards to the Jarl's lodge.
"I have already sent word to the High Council of what has happened." Nenya tells him.
"As if they will do anything." The healer remarks.
"Well if they hear from you and me."
"An inquest requires three to speak against him."
"I am sure the Jarl will send word."
"I am not sure that will be enough."
"True but what else can we do?"
"Nothing I will heal and then I will continue." Bogroll sneers as he goes into the bedroom and slams the door.
"Yes, you will heal, and you will stay there until I say otherwise." The healer barks through the door.
The guards remain behind while the healer and Nenya heads back outside. Once the guards were sure no one saw them each pulls out a pouch from their necks.
"Wish we had more than these." One quietly mutters while the others just nod their heads.
Outside at Lod's Forge
"Are you sure that this will do anything?" Volkana loudly asks.
"No but it is better than what we have now."
"What is going on here?" Nenya asks as she comes up the steps to Lod's Forge.
"We are adding runes to our weapons." Lod answers.
"That is a great idea. Might I send a few guards over at a time so that they too can add them to their weapons?" Nenya asks.
"I am sweeping her shop and Graffnar is letting her horse stay free for a month." Volkana coldly tells her.
"Would 5 gold per weapon you add a rune too be fair?"
"Yes."
"She is putting them on my stable too." Graffnar informs her.
"Can you teach others these runes?" Nenya inquires.
"Yes, they are very basic."
"I will pay you 10 gold per guard you teach these runes to." Nenya offers.
"Why?" Volkana demands.
"Very simple the more who know the more who can have weapons and buildings with these runes on them." Nenya tells him. "I am also willing to pay you a monthly stiffen of a free bath at the bath house and 5 gold a month if you will plant and tend to wolfvane all around the outside of the wall."
"15 gold a week. I'll think on the bath." Volkana retorts.
"5 gold a week and you must agree also a bath a week." Nenya affirms.
"10 gold a week and maybe one bath a month."
"I will agree 10 gold a week and you must take a bath every other week or no deal."
"Fine I can rinse myself off."
"No, a real bath with soap, hot water and clean clothes." Nenya counters
"I don't have any other clothes."
"Then I suggest with your first 10 you get another set."
"If I agree you pay for at least one private time a month for me."
"10 gold a week and a bath every other week which will be prepaid for you in turn you will plant and tend the wolfvane all around the wall."
"Fine."
"Zira, I would like to speak with you privately for a moment." Nenya says.
"Go ahead it will take a few moments to heat this blade but stay close." Lod tells her.
The two females head off to the shadows where they spoke quietly.
"Do you have anything that will cause my brother to sleep. It must work quickly, and he shouldn't be able to smell or tell what it is." Nenya says.
"I have been thinking on that and you can thank young Samuel that I have some. He picked and found some Naco berries. We add them to his wine it should keep him asleep for about a day. But we cannot do it every day we will have to change it up.." Zira says.
"Do you have something else as powerful as the Naco berries?"
"Not quite. I think instead of sleeping make him sick."
"How?"
"With this." Zira answers as she shows her a small glass bottle containing some fine reflective powder.
"What is it?"
"Don't get mad it won't kill him, but he should get very sick."
"What is it?"
"Your jarl had Lod sharpen a sword and that knife you wear, and this is the filings from it."
"I don't know."
"It won't kill him it will just make his other side very sick." Zira affirms to her.
"Okay we cause him to sleep one day while we change him to being sick when he wont sleep. We keep it going as long as we can or until another Chancellor and or Inquisitor shows up." Nenya says.
"How long will that take?" Zira asks.
"I don't know I sent word as soon as I saw him today."
"I don't like having another Chancellor here but why asks for an Inquisitor? They are nothing but trouble."
"It is best as an Inquisitor can overrule both Chancellors and they have the authority to kill another elf without worry of retribution."
"What if they take his side?"
"As long as we can prove he is what we think he is they won't. And if you are asked if you supplied this. You know nothing." Nenya says she walks them back to the forge.
That last comment surprised Zira greatly but she quickly schooled her face as not to reveal it. "Send me two guards at a time."
"Lod I will pay you 10 gold per guard too for your time on the weapons." Nenya says as she leaves to send the gaurds.
Runil's Hut Next to the Hall of the Dead
Runil stood next to the door with a knife in one hand while his other hand start to crackle with soft light when he heard a soft knock. "Who is it?"
"It's Rimeneer." Is the answer causing the Runil to open the door slowly. When he just sees a guard he raises an eye until Borazon steps from the shadows and he opens the door enough for them both to enter.
As they enter, Borazon quickly scans the room that was lit by a small stone fireplace that doubled as a cooking area. While he notes a small table fill with food and a couple of chairs next to it, but what really caught his attention was his grandson sleeping in a bed next a whole wall that was a bookshelf stocked full of books and scrolls. Borazon goes over and checks on Samuel. When he approaches the bed, he sees that on the other side was his own belongings.
"You should be good here." Rimeneer tells Borazon just before he turns to head back out the door.
"You should stay a few just in case." Runil interject to the guard.
"Not a good idea. Nenya has a plan, and she needs all guards at their posts."
"Good."
"By chance have you had a chance to spell anyone's weapons?" Rimeneer asks.
"Just his sword." Runil says as he indicates Borazon.
"Well, us guards were hoping you might be able to get ours as soon as possible with what's going on."
"The steward and I have contacted the Valguard and asked for them to send some of their people."
"Who is that?"
"Werewolf hunters."
"When do you think they'll come?"
"Hopefully soon."
"Say a prayer for us." Rimeneer asks as he leaves.
"I have already but I will again." Runil says as he closes the door.
"Thank you for taking care of him." Borazon quietly tells the elf.
"It is no trouble."
"Not even with Bogroll here?"
"If you are worried that he may come looking for you here. You need not. He never has had reason to come to the hall of the dead or my hut." Runil tells Borazon as he fixes the large, tired man a plate of food.
"Why are so many helping us?" Borazon asks as he takes the food and sits down at the table to eat.
"No one here likes Bogroll plus you and yours took on a werewolf. That says a lot about you." Runil says as he sits down next to him. "Would you like me to say prayer or do you wish to say one to Talos?
"You know?"
"Yes, and if he is or isn't one of the divine it's not for me to judge." The elf tells him as he says a silent prayer over his own food while Borazon did the same with his food.
The two ate in silence for a short time until
"Aren't they afraid?" Borazon asks.
"We are a strong people."
"As soon as Samuel is ready, we will leave."
"There is no hurry in fact I believe the towns folk would prefer to have you hear until the werewolf is dealt with."
"I can't do much to protect anyone if I am hiding here."
"Just having you close putts many of the town folks at ease."
"So, tell me about this Bogroll guy."
"Bogroll as you more than likely know is Nenya's older brother. Bogroll and Nenya are children of tailers and didn't have much. That didn't stop Bogroll he always wanted power. Nenya became a scribe for the Norable family when suddenly he went from being just a soldier to captain in just a few short years. Now less than a year later he is a Chancellor." Runil informs Borazon between bites.
"Wait you don't mean the Norable family who lost almost every single member of their family in a fire? From what I understand they were quite a powerful family."
"You know about that?" Runil asks in surprise.
"Many Stormcloaks celebrate the death of any elves no matter how." Borazon regretfully informs him.
"Yes. The only survivor was their second son Jamueal who just happened to be at a party when it happened." Runil explains.
"Just because he has a perfect alibi doesn't mean he wasn't involved." Borazon says as he finishes his food and goes to light up but stops. "With the way you say that Bogroll rose in power he might have made a deal with the son."
"True. Go ahead I enjoy a good smoke myself." Runil says as he takes out an old well crafted ivory pipe that looked like a dragon.
Borazon followed the elf's example and pulls out his gift from Samuel and lights it up.
"Nenya was for short time consider a person of interest as she was supposed to have been there, but she wasn't. In fact, she had been coming back from somewhere when the fire was being put out. She was about to be arrested when Jamueal the only son convinced the guard that she was not involved."
"So, she was going to be the scape goat, but they found a better use for her." Borazon remarks after a moment of thought.
"You are smart."
"Do you know where she was?"
"Rumors says she was seeing a lover."
"The lover never came forward?"
"No."
"Do you know who?"
Runil just smiles a knowing smile to which Borazon just nods his head too.
"So why is she and he out here?"
"The High Council has a prime interest in seeing this little bit of in fighting continue."
"We weaken ourselves then they come in and take us over." Borazon remarks.
"For some reason this area seems key for the High Council to keep to it's self."
"Well…. Those mountains almost make it impossible for the stormcloaks to attack the territories of the High Council."
"True. But it would be the fast way to attack either way. "
"Going over would be too limited but if one were to dig through that would take years and it would be best if they controlled the area to start."
"This is true."
"But what can be done to stop them?"
"Someone started."
"How?"
"Well I heard legends of vampires living in those mountains and with this graveyard is a nice deterrent as Most elves religious believes keep them from entering the places of the dead for fear of becoming the undead and loosing their standing with their Divine."
"That kind of fear only goes so far."
"This is true but now there is the werewolf menace."
"So, you are saying that they wont attack until it is stopped."
"They will more than likely let the werewolf kill off most of the people and then they will come in and take over this area."
"Either way we are screwed."
"Maybe."
"Why do you say that?"
"The dragon born is a problem they will have to face and she maybe what can unite both the empire and the Storm cloaks against the High counsel."
"I have met Chrissy and as brave as she is I don't know that she would want to go get involved."
"Why?"
"She just wants to go home."
"Where is she from?"
"Not around here." Borazon says as he looks up to the ceiling and beyond.
"That is interesting."
"Why?"
"Because it was written that the original dragon borns were not of our world and only their blood could truly take the dragons power."
"Why is this all happening now?"
"I am not sure but I think that this is just the beginning."
"Maybe she came here because we needed her." Samuel quietly says from the bed.
"How long have you been awake?" Borazon asks as he turns to him.
"Since you came in."
"Sneaky little."
"Where is Nelly?"
"When I last saw her she was sleeping next to Lavinia's mother in the hall of the dead."
"Why are we here instead of the Inn?"
"Because this Bogroll guy will make it hard on the towns folk if he finds us."
"Why?"
"You, your grandfather and your goat stood up against a werewolf thus proving you are strong."
"I don't understand."
"He will try to make an example out of us to so that the towns folk will fall in line with whatever he wants."
"So, we should leave."
"You are still hurt and to go on the road this soon may cause trauma. Then there is Ember isn't ready for a long haul."
"Will he hurt Ember?"
"No. Graffanar is claiming she is his until I return for her."
"I don't like this Bogroll."
"Trust me my son no one in this town does."
