Chapter 45: Interlude twelve

[4E 526]

The three adolescent brothers had managed to sneak up into the attic once more, and quickly they had retrieved the second volume of the old diary from its hiding place.

"It has been too long since we last read a few chapters" Alander, the Bosmer, complained.

"True, but we need to be careful" Jomund, the Nord, replied. "If the adults see that, they will claim it for them selves."

"And if the girls find out" Bha'jhan, the Khajiit, added, "they will nag us continuously and we won't have any peace of mind any longer."

"You think it's going to be that bad?"

"With the girls, maybe not. Sooner or later they will find out anyway, and maybe we should share with them regardless."

"True, probably. But, let's open the book now! Where were we?"

"Fiona has spent several chapters to tell Balu what she had done."

"Yeah, and then they had this long expedition to Raldbthar."

"Sure, and there this night with Ferwen."

Everyone chuckled, remembering what this had been about, and for a few minutes they all kept silent while reading the next chapter, line by line and page by page. Some time later the next comments came up, of course:

"So, Irene is now a full Companion. Bha'jhan, do you know if she was the first member who had focused on magic?"

"No, I don't know. But, remember that she was capable with weapons, too; otherwise Vilkas would have complained much more."

"True, I guess. So, one of those notes writers also is happy about Irene getting there: 'Yay Irene! Good for her being part of the Companions now! (Won't she be surprised when she learns about the Lycanthropy) '."

"What is 'Lycanthropy'?"

"This is something I know – it's the ability to change into a big wolf form, what some people call being a werewolf."

"Like some Companion Circle members? Isn't that supposed to be a secret or so?"

"It was, actually, for a very long time. In the last couple of centuries, though, the concept has been well known at least in this hold. After a serious incident the Harbinger at that time, about 180 years ago, had decided to make the information public, hoping to make the concept better accepted."

"Did it work?"

"Mostly, yes, I think."

"All right. Now, what's that? Off to another field trip already?"

"Hamvir's Rest, as it seems. Hey, where is that place?"

"Northwest of the city, about half a day away.

"How do you know?"

"I was allowed to join a group of interested people for a tour last year."

"Wow – what did you see?"

"Not telling; let's first see what that Balu guy writes about it."

Jomund smirked, but kept silent, and his brothers were unable to get anything out of him; thus, all there of them were soon reading on. For some time there silence all around, only occasionally interrupted by the wind blowing outside. Eventually they needed to talk again:

"So, they just started to dig and find something?"

"Remember that they had some kind of treasure map."

"True. What about that odd attempt – Balu tried to say 'friend' to open the door? And 'mellon'? Why does he think that this might work?"

"No idea. Maybe something in his own language?"

"He does not explain. But, this is getting interesting – an Ayleid ruin instead of a Nordic crypt or a Dwemer place?"

"Yeah, I thought that they were mostly in Cyrodiil."

"But that,the time when the Ayleids lived and ruled, was such along time ago – First Era, right?"

"Looks like that. There is a note on that, too: 'While there aren't any official records of the Ayleids settling in Skyrim, theoretically it's not impossible. After the Alessian Rebellion, the Ayleids fled all throughout Tamriel, and one of the main places they settled was High Rock. It's not much of a stretch to assume that a few of them might have risked settling in Skyrim, though with how xenophobic the Nords were at the time, they likely wouldn't have lasted long.'."

"Somebody gave it a lot of thought. Maybe one of the ecologists will find out more?"

"Archaeologists, bro, not ecologists."

"This is hard to speak!"

"Yeah, somebody must have had fun creating words which are hard to say."

"Or maybe on of those mage brothers they've met."

"Yes, and it's kind of funny, isn't it? Each of the three focused on one type of magic?"

"Maybe they hoped that they could always complement each other?"

"Excellent point" Alander replied. "You know, it's not that easy to become proficient in a large number of spells. It's not that you're good at destruction spells and that enables you to cast flames, frost and lightning all with top efficiency."

"No?"

"No, not at all; you have to practice each one individually."

"But one of those who commented states: 'Ennac, Ennoc and Ennic are exactly what Faralda meant when she said that it's good to focus on learning more than one element – in case of running into an enemy that's strong to one (if they all knew flame spells there wouldn't have been such a strain on Ennac)'!"

"Yeah, sure, but my point stands."

"Hmph, for those ghosts they have to fight, normal weapons don't work?"

"It appears so, and also, Hanni and Nanni fail to do any damage to them."

"So that's a situation where magic really is useful!"

"Maybe so, but enchanted weapons also work."

"True, but enchanting is also some kind of magic."

"Yes, but this is a rare situation; there aren't many Ayleid ruins in Skyrim, and those ghosts aren't anywhere else, right?"

"I don't know. Anyway, for me, it feels good to know that I can do some magic. That does not imply that I'd be totally helpless without – after all, I practice archery."

"Of course you'd say that, Alander. For most enemies, though, I still believe that the direct approach is the best – good armor and superior sword fighting."

"So typical for a Nord!"

Enjoying the friendly bantering, they all laughed, and Bha'jhan suggested:

"Now, let's see what happens next!"

A few minutes later Jomund started to chuckle, and when the others looked at him, he explained:

"I was just reading this: 'Heh. Well, my familiar died again, but at least she didn't mind! That got a chuckle out of me.' - and promptly that made me chuckle as well."

"But this is a good point: Do familiars feel pain when they get wounded or die?"

"I have no clue; I know, though, that they always show up in perfect health and without any injuries when they are summoned, even if they just got killed seconds earlier."

"This is strange, isn't it?"

"Maybe so, and maybe a master wizard knows more about that – I don't."

"More important than that might be what those skyshards are good for; none of the groups seems to know really."

"But one of those comment writers may have known better and in more detail: 'Skyshards in Elder Scrolls Online are bits of energy that come from Aetherius, from Anu and Lorkhan especially – and can allow Soul-Shriven to be able to re-enter Nirn from Coldharbour by granting them Anuic properties again.'"

"Elder Scrolls Online? What is that?"

"A line to think along? No, I guess not."

"For me, the concept of Dwemer metal is the most fascinating part of the expedition." Jomund stated. "I like smithing, and maybe that's going to be what I do when I'm all grown up; I seem to have some talent, as I've been told."

"Yeah, that makes sense; you are already growing quite some arm muscles."

"I do, don't I? Should also help to impress girls, I hope. About the Dwemer metal, I've learned that the recipe is known nowadays, but the smiths keep it a secret and don't tell outsides."

"Look, one of the not writers seem to have some ideas: 'I'm almost certain that Dwemer metal is an alloy of some sort. If it was natural, one would think someone would have discovered a vein of Dwemer metal by now. Plus, the Dwemer were the undisputed masters of metallurgy, so it stands to reason that they'd prefer to create an alloy than rely on inferior natural metals like iron.'"

"That makes a lot of sense."

For a few minutes there was silence in the attic, as the three teenagers proceeded to the next chapters. Eventually Bha'jhan exclaimed:

"Wow! I had not idea that Fort Greymoor has such an interesting underground area!"

"And I also did not know about the background of the animal symbols, but one of the comments mentions that: 'An interesting fun fact about the Animal Symbols in the Nordic Ruins: the wolf, moth, dragon, whale, owl, snake, bear, and hawk actually represent the Nordic pantheon of the Divines! (Wolf Mara, Moth Dibella, Dragon Akatosh/Alduin, Whale Stuhn, Snake Orkey, Bear Tsun, Hawk Kyne) '. Really?"

"Hey, there's so much to learn, that nobody but a scholar can know all of this."

"True, but interesting nonetheless."

"So, what has been going on in Whiterun while Balu was away?"

"Not much, I guess; what can happen, after all?"

"Fiona can happen."

"What do you mean?"

"Look there, she's getting a letter."

"Oh yes, from Delphine, with an attitude."

Jomund chuckled and mentioned:

"One of the comment writers also doesn't like her style; look at this: 'Honestly, Delphine should go to Belethor's Shop and buy herself a new personality'. Couldn't have phrased it any better!"

"Belethor?"

"Yes, he used to own the general store in Whiterun, a long time ago, before his sister arrived and there was a major dispute between them."

"Ah, yes."

"Now, what about that Ragnar guy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does he really have a good plan for The Reach and the Forsworn?"

"I guess that his intentions may be good, but I recall from history lessons that there was unrest in this area for a very long time."

"I guess so, and one the comment writers seems to have a specific opinion about that, too: 'Never in history has "partial independence" been a viable solution for long, as both sides feel they're being cheated. Only if one side accepts submission – such as the French inviting the Normans to become subjects – does that work, and I highly doubt the Reachmen would agree to submit to the Nords.'."

"But, who are the 'French' and the 'Normans'?

"They are using strange words again, and did not even bother to explain."

"And look, there another comment on the way Balu considers training his spell casting: 'That gave me a funny thought, shouting the word 'refrigerator' and then unleashing fireball spell'."

"Refrigerator?"

"Yeah, Balu used the same word and did not explain."

"Must be something cold, though."

"I guess so. The idea to shout a word for something cold while casting a fireball or so isn't a bad one, though."

"No, that could totally confuse others."

"Say, do people get better and faster in preparing spells by using keywords?"

Alander took that:

"Indeed, I have been told that this works for many, and I have also started. For now, I am using the spell words, like for a fireball spell I say 'fireball'. Maybe I could vary that later on – sounds like fun."

"If you say so, sure. Now, what do you think about those saber cats, Hanni and Nanni? They are growing larger, aren't they?"

"Of course they are, and people are getting worried. At this time, I assume, having saber cats around was not common at all."

"No, definitely not. Look, one of those comments fit nicely: 'When the Saber Cats are fully grown they'd make for excellent pillows, for sure xD but dangerous. I pity any thief who would try to break into Balu's House though, to be honest. Imagine entering an unsuspecting property and finding two Snowy Saber Cats inside.' Right!"

"Well, of course, and same here, in our house."

"Yeah, but we have had saber cats around for a long time, maybe even centuries."

"Wow, do you actually believe that our saber cats have Hanni or Nanni as an ancestor?"

"No idea, but maybe. Somebody told me that having saber cats around has been a tradition here for a very long time."

"Yes, and they group with us and are like family. Another one of those comments fits well: 'And now I'm envisioning two half-ton cats trying to cuddle up to Balu in a bed. With their fangs at his throat. That's going to be awkward.'"

"True, we cuddle with them more when they are younger and smaller and don't have their large fangs yet."

"Yep, and I really like having them around; they are part of our family. But hey, look, Balu and party are traveling again!"

"Indeed, getting up to High Hrothgar once more, if they actually get there."

"All right, yes, they explore this bandit place first, White River Watch."

"And they free that caged wolf – makes sense, as the animal would likely starve in there without anybody left to take care of it."

"Right, and one of the comment writers likes this part: 'Also kinda funny watching the wolf consider fighting, seeing Fiona's wolf, and deciding to book it instead.'"

"But that make sense – Fiona's direwolf is already larger and more intimidating than a normal wolf; thus, the caged wolf prefers to run."

"Well, I believe that time is over for today. We better get ready for dinner before somebody starts to miss us! Next vist to High Hrothgar will have to wait."

With those words the three carefully placed the diary in its hiding place again, and when they were done, they opened the door and left the attic. Just when Jomund, who was last, was about to close the door, somebody jumped out from behind the next corner and shouted:

"Gotcha!"

The three brothers were startled, and when they recognized who that was, Alander asked:

"Irzaba, what are you doing here?"

"Maybe that's a question you three should answer instead?"

"Why? We just spent some time cleaning up the attic."

"Sure, and I was wiping the floor here. Don't try that with me – I know exactly how dirty one gets when doing cleaning in the attic, and you all look way too smooth for that. Now, spill!"

"What?"

"We have known for some time that you guys are doing something secret in there, but if you're not going to tell, we'll just tell some adults about it."

"No, don't do that!"

"Okay, then you're coming with me, and you're going to tell my sisters and me everything!Whatever it is, we're in now, or else…"

Alander, Bha'jhan and Jomund had a vague idea what that 'or else' implied. They looked at each other, and the Khajiit suggested:

"Hey, maybe the girls can help us understand some parts better. Better sharing with them than with some of the adults."

Jomund and Alander nodded, and slowly the four of them made their way to the large room the three oldest girls lived in.

[Author's Notes: Looks like they're going to share the secret now. Let's find out later if this is good or not so good.]