Shadows of the Past
Chapter 11
It took Edna a day and a half to alter the dress she'd found in Movarth's cave, but when she was finished, even Kaidan had to admit she looked very good in it. She elected not to wear it while traveling the next day, and as Lydia had predicted, the trip to Solitude took all day and then some as the carriage's wheel broke somewhere north of Rorikstead but south of Dragon Bridge. Two burly mercenaries walking along the road offered to help Bjorlam swap out the wheel, and while they were thus occupied, Edna and Kaidan found themselves investigating a cave called Chillwind Depths, at the suggestion of one of the mercs.
"Average travelers aren't safe on the road," he said. "People have been going missing, and no one knows why. I heard a few brave souls were going up there to check it out, see what's in that cave, but that was a month ago, and they never returned."
It soon became apparent that Falmer had established a hive inside the cave. It was littered with the remains of people and animals that had fallen prey to the degenerated creatures, and guarded by frostbite spiders and chaurus. By the time Edna and Kaidan had cleared the cave and returned to the wagon, the wheel was nearly fixed, and the mercenaries promised to pass the word along about their service. It was well after midnight by the time they rolled into the Solitude stables, and the auroras blazed overhead, partially hiding the stars and moons.
"Shall we head into the city, then?" Kaidan asked, reluctant to leave the awesome display of nature.
"I think we can camp out here for one more night," Edna allowed, following his gaze. They headed back down the road far enough for Kaidan to find a suitable spot to put up his tent, then headed inside to warm themselves by the fire that mystically always seemed to be lit.
In the morning they packed up and walked back up the road to Solitude's main gate. In the daytime, with the sun streaming over the marshlands to the east, the buildings and towers and windmill of the town were tinted rosy pink as they stretched out along the natural rock arch spanning the Karth Bay that flowed out into the Sea of Ghosts beyond, to the north. The wind was bitter cold, however, in spite of the rising sun, and Edna quickened her steps up to the gate. To her right, just outside the wall, was an encampment of Khajiit, but it was not Ri'saad who sat in front of the tent.
"This one is Ma'dran," the tiger-striped cat introduced himself. "I work for Ri'saad. "He hired the others and paid for my goods. I am allowed to run the caravan, but I pay Ri'saad a percentage of my profits. I say this without bitterness, for it was Ri'saad who saved me from a life of servitude aboard a trading ship. I am grateful to have the life that I do now. It is a far cry from my days as an orphan on the streets of Corinthe."
"You mentioned others?" Edna inquired. "Are there other caravans, then?"
"Ahkari runs the trade route from Dawnstar to Riften," Ma'dran explained. "I work the route from here at Solitude all the way to Windhelm. Ri'saad himself runs the caravan from Whiterun to Markarth."
"But you don't have one for Morthal, Falkreath, or Winterhold?" Edna asked.
"Sadly, no," Ma'dran replied. "Years ago we did have a route from Morthal to Falkreath, but the pass through Labyrinthian became too perilous, so it was not considered cost-effective. Ri'saad would certainly like to re-establish that line, if he could be assured it would remain safe to travel. Talk to him, if you think you can help."
"Thank you," Edna smiled. "I might just do that."
"Just how do you think you're going to manage that, Dragonborn?" Kaidan hissed as they left the camp.
"I don't know yet," she admitted, "but it won't hurt to look into the matter. Perhaps after our current mission."
Kaidan sunk into brooding silence. This 'current mission' of theirs worried him no end. He hated every aspect of it. How was the Dragonborn supposed to go poking around inside the Embassy if she was expected to be at this party? Worse, what would happen if she was caught. He knew the answer to that all too well, and it made him feel sick to his stomach.
As they approached the gate, the guard on duty straightened and spoke up. "If you're here to join the Legion, best speak to Rikke at Castle Dour," he advised them. "If not, best keep your nose clean, or you'll end up like poor Roggvir."
"Who's Roggvir?" Kaidan asked.
"He's the one who opened the gate and let Ulfric Stormcloak escape, after he murdered High King Torygg," the guard said. "They're executing the bloody bastard today."
Neither Kaidan nor Edna could say anything to this, so they turned their steps towards the interior gate and passed through. Immediately to their right, they could see a raised platform with three men waiting. One in rags – clearly Roggvir – one wearing armor indicative of a guard captain, and one wielding a long, single-bladed battleaxe – a headsman.
"I don't want to watch this, Kai," Edna muttered, and cast her eyes down the street. Thankfully, the Winking Skeever was a short distance away on their left, and Edna made a beeline for it, with Kaidan following closely behind.
"I was never a fan of public executions," she said in a shaky voice once they achieved the quiet calm of the inn's interior.
"Can't say as I've seen many," Kaidan admitted, "but I'm no fan of them meself."
Edna grimaced. "I need a stiff drink, and I know it's far too early for that!"
"Oh, I don't know about that," Kaidan grinned, hoping to take her mind off what they had nearly witnessed. "I think any time is the right time for a pint of ale."
Edna gave a slight chuckle, as he hoped she would. "Of course you'd say that," she said wryly. Sobering, she looked around. "I don't see this Malborn person I'm supposed to meet," she observed. "Perhaps it's too early in the day yet. I'm not even sure what day this party at the Embassy is supposed to be."
"Did you say a party?" the innkeeper asked, coming up to them, smiling. "Corpulus Vinius is my name, and rumors are my claim to fame. If you want to know anything at all going on in the city of Solitude, I'm your guy. Now, what's this about a party?"
Edna eyed him shrewdly, but put a smile on her face. "I was supposed to meet someone here," she replied. "A wood elf named Malborn? He's supposed to have my invitation to a party I'm attending."
"Malborn, is it?" Corpulus mused. "I know I saw him in here a few days ago. He works up at the Thalmor Embassy. Haven't seen him since then, but I'm sure he'll show up soon. Until then, if you need food, drink, or a room for the night, I can provide you will any or all of those. Just let me know."
"I think I'll reserve a room," Edna said. "Just in case he doesn't show up today. Without that invitation, I'm afraid I can't remember when the party is supposed to be."
"Well, if it's the one up at the Embassy, that Ambassador Elenwen is hosting," Corpulus said, "that won't be until this coming Fredas, the 28th. You should have plenty of time to sight-see and shop and get to know our city. I hear the Bard's College is scrambling to put together a performance this Middas night, since they can't hold the Burning of King Olaf Festival."
"The…Burning of King…Olaf…" Edna said slowly. Puzzlement must have registered on her face, because Corpulus rambled on as if he hadn't noticed.
"Oh, yes! It's quite the celebration here in Solitude. They perform it at least once every year."
"They have a festival to celebrate burning a king?" Kaidan scowled. "Is that a reason to celebrate?"
"Oh, absolutely!" Corpulus replied. "You see, way back when, King Olaf was a bad king who did some bad things, so the people rebelled and they burn him in effigy every year. You'll have to talk to Viarmo over at the College to learn more."
"We'll think about it," Edna hedged. "For now, I think I'd like to see our room."
"Oh, yes! Of course!" Galvanized into action, Corpulus led the way upstairs, talking the whole time. "It's so nice to see new faces around here. The whole town's been on edge since High King Torygg…well, you know. That's why Elisif – 'scuse me, Jarl Elisif – banned the Burning festival, because she thought it was in bad taste. I can understand why, to some point, but I mean, after all, we aren't burning her late husband in effigy. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see what the Bard's College can do in the meantime. Well, here you are. A room with a view, so to speak. Let me know if you need anything else." He hovered near the door for a few moments until Kaidan scowled at him, before he retreated downstairs.
Of all the inns and taverns Kaidan had been in, he had to admit this was quite the nicest room he'd ever had. Situated on the corner of the inn, the windows looked out over the streets and rooftops of the buildings across the way. Not that far away stood the iconic windmill of Solitude, just past the market stalls, its red vanes turning briskly in the winds coming off the Sea of Ghosts.
"Have you ever noticed," Kaidan mused out loud, "that the windmill doesn't actually mill anything?"
Edna laughed. "No," she admitted. "I have not. But then, this is my first time in Solitude, so I wouldn't know."
"We've got a couple of days before we can expect this Malborn to show up," Kaidan said thoughtfully. "What would you like to do?"
"Get some new armor," Edna declared immediately. "I think Adrienne back in Whiterun is a fine smith, and Eorland is a better one, but they don't really seem to have much in the way of light armor that would stand up to a dragon. Hopefully the smith here has something. I don't intend to keep wearing this Morthal guard armor forever."
"No," Kaidan agreed. "As soon as the shops open, we can have a look. That gives us an hour to break our fast and get a mug of ale in us."
"You can drink ale at breakfast," Edna commented, a pained look on her face, "but I think I'll have a cup of Nordic coffee, instead."
This led to a debate about the virtues of bitter-tasting non-alcoholic beverage versus bitter-tasting alcoholic ones, but neither side budged an inch on the issue, and they good-naturedly agreed to disagree.
After breakfast, they explored the town, avoiding the area where the execution had taken place that morning. A trip to the alchemist's shop resulted in Edna have a long, delightful conversation with Angeline Morrard, the proprietor. When the old Breton woman asked Edna about her daughter Fura, who had been stationed with the Legion in Whiterun, Edna promised to try and find out more information for her. But the news wasn't good, and Edna held the grieving mother as she sobbed her heart out upon learning her daughter had died.
Kaidan waited respectfully outside, turning potential customers away, until one woman snapped, "Look, I'm Vivienne Onis, and Angeline is my aunt, so you'd better let me inside if you know what's good for you!" Kaidan let her in. Edna rejoined him soon after.
"I always hated that duty," she murmured sadly. "I had to do it too many times when I was in the Legion."
"I thought that job was left for captains and commanders," Kaidan said.
"Usually it is," Edna admitted, "but after the Great War there were just so many…casualties…and not enough officers to go around. And I think they also gave that job to those of us who had demonstrated a measure of empathy. Some just weren't fit for that kind of duty."
She was sober for the rest of the morning as they traded off some unnecessary items to Sayma, at Bits 'n Pieces, and to Fihada, the fletcher whose shop was next to the blacksmith's forge. Kaidan bought some arrows of elven make; they weren't any better than the An-Xileel they had been using, but they were more readily available, and Fihada had plenty in stock.
Beirand, the Nord smith, was apparently married to Sayma, the Redguard owner of Bits 'n Pieces, and he boasted he had armor for 'getting' and weapons for 'giving'. Edna liked him, and since it was a slow morning, she and Kaidan talked shop for over an hour with him. Beirand was impressed with both Kaidan's armor and weaponry.
"I haven't seen anything like that since the Great War," he declared. "That's Akaviri-style armor there. You can tell by the overlapping plates of steel and the curved nature of the blade. Gives it some additional tensile strength, to help cut through the toughest opponent. I once saw, back twenty-some years ago now, one of the Blades from Cloud Ruler Temple, before the Thalmor smashed that place. He had armor like this, and wielded a sword like yours. It sliced through a whole pig like it was cutting through butter."
"A pig?" Edna echoed. "Not a straw dummy?"
"No," Beirand said. "They used pig carcasses because the density was similar to slicing through a man."
"Really?" Edna murmured thoughtfully. "Did you get a chance to wield it?"
"Aye," Beirand smiled. "He let me test it out. I'm afraid I couldn't cut through a pig, but that was only because I was holding it wrong. The weight of a Nord sword is more forward on the blade, if that makes sense, so as you swing it, the weight of the blade carries it through. But with a nodachi like that, the weight is in the grip; it gives you more control over where the blade is going. And where that blade goes, it kills."
Edna nodded. She'd seen Kaidan in action.
"What have you got in the way of light armor?" Edna asked. "I've borrowed this from a guard in Morthal who died during a dragon attack, but I'd like to return it to her family and get something more suitable for myself."
They spent another enjoyable hour going over what Beirand had versus what he could make between now and the time they might be leaving Solitude. Depending on how things worked out at the Embassy, Edna privately felt that might be Loredas or Sundas.
Sadly, there wasn't much Beirand had in the way of light armor that wasn't Legion-issued regalia, and Edna didn't feel right about asking for a replacement set. One suit of armor on a nearby table caught her eye, however.
"What is this?" she asked, gently stroking the steel armor set with glowing runes.
"Ah, that," Beirand glowed proudly. "I just traded a mercenary for this set. He called it 'witchplate' armor. It's supposed to be heavy armor, but it feels as light as leather. Would you like to try it on?"
"Well, I don't know…" the Dragonborn demurred.
"Go ahead, Dragonborn," Kaidan encouraged. "I'd like to see you in it."
"Dragonborn?" Beirand breathed, his eyes wide. "I've heard that the Greybeards summoned one to High Hrothgar. But…you?"
Edna didn't know whether to be amused or offended, but amusement won out.
"Surprised the daedra out of me, too," she chuckled. "But alright, let's see how it fits."
A half-hour later she was completely encased in the steel armor, and Beirand gave a low, appreciative whistle. "It looks like it was made for you," he commented. "I don't think I'll have to do very much to make it fit proper."
"It looks great on you, Dragonborn," Kaidan grinned.
"It feels pretty good on this end, too," Edna smiled. "I do like the open hood."
The hood was actually a steel reinforced helmet under the runed cloth covering. The same blue-on-black runes were scribed across both pauldrons, and down the greaves that covered her legs. Her upper arms were bare, but spiked gauntlets protected her hands, while the flared-top boots tapered down to the ankles, and were adorned with more of the glowing blue runes.
"What are the runes for?" Edna asked the smith.
"Well, now, that's an interesting story," Beirand admitted. "I asked the previous owner, and he said they were just for decoration. But just to be sure, I took it up to the Blue Palace and asked the Court Mage, Sybille Stentor. At first glance, she agreed the runes were just decoration. Maybe some minor glamor, she said, that made the runes glow. But when I insisted she take a closer look she finally admitted she'd never seen anything like them before, but she thought it might be why the armor feels lighter than it should."
It was a beautiful set, and very comfortable. It was heavier than she was used to, though not as heavy as it should have been for the amount and type of metal from which it was made. Edna felt certain that, given time, she could get used to wearing it, and it would definitely protect her better than the guard's armor she had been wearing. Perhaps Kaidan would be willing to give her some pointers on moving about in heavy armor.
"I'll take it," she announced, and only winced a little at the price tag.
"I'll need to make a couple of adjustments," Beirand told her. "You know, take it in on the sides a bit, but you can pick it up tomorrow. I'll get to work on it right away."
"What will it take to repair it?" Kaidan asked.
"Quicksilver," Beirand replied.
Kaidan exchanged glances with Edna. "I don't know how to work with quicksilver," he admitted.
"Neither do I," Edna said, "but if worse comes to worst, I can bring it back here for Beirand to fix it up for me, until I become a better smith."
"Aye, Dragonborn," the Nord replied readily. "I'd be happy to repair anything you need done."
Leaving the forge, with a promise to return the next day, Edna and Kaidan wandered around the marketplace, seeing what sort of merchandise was available in a city as large as Solitude. Most of the goods for sale were locally grown fruits and vegetables, and the butcher had mostly fish pulled up from the fjord that morning. The wine merchant sold a delicious spiced wine, and Edna purchased a few bottles to take back to Whiterun with them.
"Is your spiced wine made from a secret recipe?" the Dragonborn asked.
The merchant, Evette San, rolled her eyes, and there was no doubt about the irony in her tone.
"Oh, yes. A secret family recipe. The only good thing my father Octieve ever did. In fact, it's so good, no one else in Skyrim even tries to make any. Hey, if you see him around town, stay clear. He'll only ask you for money or mead."
"I'll keep that in mind," Edna replied, hiding a smile.
"Say, you wouldn't have a few minutes to run down to the docks, would you?" Evette asked, hopefully.
"I might," Edna allowed. "What do you need from the docks?"
"I've got a shipment of spices that the East Empire Company is holding up…again. I need someone to convince them to release it, and you look like someone who very good at convincing people."
Now it was Kaidan who hid a smile while Edna blinked. "How very…perceptive of you," the Dragonborn faltered. But she swiftly recovered after shooting a glare at Kaidan who was trying very hard not to laugh out loud. "I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises."
"Oh, thank you!" Evette sighed. "Come back when you're done and let me know what they said, and I'll give you something for your time, regardless."
The trip down to the docks, to the East Empire Company office, took over an hour. The wind was still biting cold, even though the sun was warm enough to melt some of the patches of snow still lingering on the rocks and cobbles of the street.
The head of the East Empire office in Solitude was Vittoria Vici, who seemed to have her head in the clouds as Kaidan and Edna approached, but soon resumed her shrewd businesswoman manner when asked about Evette San's spices.
"Ah, yes," the Imperial woman purred. "If she wants to pay the two thousand gold tariff, then we'll be all set."
Kaidan made a choking noise in his throat, but Edna merely smiled. "Come now, Miss Vici," she persuaded, "you know as well as I do that Evette can't afford a tariff. She can barely afford her stand. Can't you make an exception in her case?"
"Well…" Vittoria hesitated. If she released the spices, she'd be out the two thousand septims from the tariff. On the other hand, if she insisted on payment, and Evette couldn't pay, she wouldn't get her spices, and she wouldn't be able to continue to make that delicious spiced wine which Vittoria still needed to order for her upcoming wedding. "I supposed I could make an exception," she continued slowly. "I do like her spiced wine." She was going to have to cook the books, but fortunately she'd made a profit off the Stros M'Kai rum the Steward had ordered. She could make this work. "Fine," she relented. "Tell Evette San her shipment will be brought up to Solitude shortly."
"Wonderful!" Edna beamed. "I'll be sure to let her know."
They left the office, and Kaidan snorted. "Vittoria's outlook is fine, but poor folk are treated like swine. If you've got the money, she's sweeter than honey, with a weakness for Evette's spiced wine."
Several heads turned their way as Edna's cackle rang up and down the docks.
"Did you just make that up on the spot?" she grinned.
Kaidan shrugged, but he was clearly enjoying himself. "It's a gift I have," he admitted. "I like making up rhymes about people."
Back in Solitude, an hour later, Evette was delighted with the news and insisted on giving the Dragonborn a few of her hard-earned coins for her help, in addition to a couple more bottles of her spiced wine.
"I feel bad about taking her money," Edna frowned later, as they headed back to the Winking Skeever for a midday meal.
"You would have insulted her if you hadn't," Kaidan pointed out. "I've noticed that about the people who live in Skyrim, even if they aren't Nords. They feel this need to repay a service done, even if it was something minor, with a bit of coin or other kind of reward. To not accept that reward makes them feel as though they're a charitable case or a source of pity, and they're far too proud for that."
"You make a good point, Kai," Edna admitted, "though it still sticks in my craw to accept coin from those who can ill afford to give it."
Malborn did not show up at the inn that evening, and the next day was bleak and dreary, with rain that drizzled down from the skies in a uncomfortable, soaking manner. There wasn't much either companions could do to occupy their time, though Edna did make a trip back to the smithy to pick up her new armor. Beirand's skill was worth the price she had paid for the armor, as it fit her like a glove. She and Kaidan practiced some limited kata, or 'practice with swords', that Kaidan told her he used to do nearly every day when he was younger and being trained by Brynjar.
"We used to practice with wooden swords when I was a boy," he explained, "because the point of the practice was to teach me how to properly wield the blade. When I got older, though, and he gave me my first sword, we trained with a live edge."
"Isn't that sword your first one?" Edna asked. "The one that belonged to your mother?"
"This?" Kaidan echoed. "No. Brynjar gave this to me right before he…before he died. I think he knew even then that he wanted to end it all." The closed look that came over his face told Edna very clearly that Kaidan didn't want to discuss that part of his life right now.
"I'll show you how to defend against a greatsword attack without your shield," he offered, and they spent all morning on blocking techniques with only a one-handed weapon. By the time they quit for a midday meal, Edna was all over bruises, but felt she had received some valuable instruction.
"I don't know that I'll ever use a greatsword," she told Kai as they headed downstairs to the common room. "I'm more comfortable with the sword-and-shield technique, but this was certainly an eye-opener."
"Just let me know if you want any other instruction, Dragonborn," he grinned. "It's all about getting you stronger, you know."
That afternoon, Edna insisted that Kaidan take some time off to do whatever he felt like doing. For her part, she headed up to the Blue Palace with a small satchel full of odd enchanted jewelry she had picked up in their travels. If the Blue Palace had a court mage, as Beirand had said, there was likely an enchanting table there that she might be able to use.
As she climbed the steps up to the receiving hall, where the Jarl held court, Edna realized she had walked in on Hold business in progress. The Jarl, Elisif, was a young, red-haired girl who couldn't have been older than twenty. Standing next to her on her right was a burly man in plate armor that Edna guessed must be her Housecarl. Every Jarl seemed to have one. On her other side, a woman of indeterminate age in robes, and an older man with a bright red beard and fine clothes hovered nearby. Other people lounged in the background, but were paying close attention to the proceedings. A man of middle-age approached the Jarl and began to speak, and Edna hung back at a respectable distance so as not to interfere, but close enough where she could still hear what was being said.
"I swear to you," the middle-aged man said, a pleading tone in his voice, "unnatural magics are coming from that cave! There are strange noises and lights! We need someone to investigate!"
The Jarl, Elisif the Fair, spoke with enthusiasm. "Then we will immediately send out a legion to scour the cave and secure the town. Haafingar's people will always be safe under my rule."
An entire legion? Edna snorted to herself. I can't imagine that will go over very well with whomever is in command here.
The woman in robes spoke up from the depths of the hood which shadowed her face. "Your eminence, my scrying has suggested nothing in the area. Dragon Bridge is under imperial control. This is likely superstitious nonsense."
There was something about the woman that raised the hackles on the back of Edna's neck, but for the life of her she couldn't find fault with her logic. She wondered if this might be Sybille Stentor, court mage, whom Beirand had mentioned.
The man with the bright red beard interjected, as if to smooth any hurt feelings the young Jarl might have at being publicly reprimanded. "Perhaps a more... tempered reaction... might be called for?"
Now there speaks a man with sense, Edna approved.
Crestfallen, Elisif seemed to rally. "Oh. Yes, of course you are right," she replied, but anyone could see she was embarrassed at being countermanded in her own court. "Falk, tell Captain Aldis I said to assign a few extra soldiers to Dragon Bridge."
The petitioner spoke up again. "Thank you, Jarl Elisif. But about the cave..."
It was clear to Edna at this point that the man with the red beard, Falk, must be Elisif's Steward. "I will have someone take care of the cave as well Varnius," he promised. "You can rest easy. You're dismissed."
Though it was clear to Edna that Varnius, the petitioner, wasn't completely satisfied, he nevertheless made a polite bow to the court and turned to leave, heading down the curved stairway that led to the foyer below.
Seeing her chance, Edna approached the court mage, who was already headed towards a side passage off the main reception hall.
"Excuse me, Miss…Stentor, is it?"
"Be quick," the mage snapped. "I have little patience for mundane concerns."
Oh, we're one of those kinds of people, are we? Edna thought, half amused. Well, my dear, I know how to deal with people like you.
"Please forgive me for taking up your valuable time," Edna smiled, keeping her tone completely neutral. "I only wondered if I might borrow your arcane enchanter? I have a few items I need to disenchant."
Sybille looked the older woman up and down, clearly trying to decide if there was some guile or ulterior motive. Unable to find one, she shrugged. "I suppose it would be alright. Come this way, please, and be quick. I'm a very busy woman."
"I'm very grateful for your time," Edna assured her.
She followed the woman into a separate chamber that was clearly her private quarters. The arcane enchanter was set in one corner, near the bed. The frosted and stained-glass windows would have looked out over the Sea of Ghosts from this angle, but it was impossible to see now through the panes.
"Here's the enchanter," Sybille said, waving her hand towards it. "Please try not to break anything."
"I wouldn't dream of it!" Edna exclaimed. "Er…have you been with the court long?"
"I was a member of the court during the reign of Torygg's father, Istlod," Sybille replied, as though the words were dragged from her, "but it was Torygg who appointed me to this position."
"So you and High King Torygg were close, then?" Edna inquired.
"Very," Sybille answered, a faint smile crossing her face. "I helped raise him, in fact, after his mother passed away." Her smile deepened, and Edna noticed it was a close-mouthed smile. "Oh, I could not have been prouder to see Torygg on the throne. He made a fine king…a fine king…" Her voice trailed off and her expression was sad.
"Oh, my," Edna murmured with empathy. "Were you there when High King Torygg died?"
Sybille hung her head. "I was, to my shame. The whole court was in attendance. I've seen much in my time, but that was a gruesome day."
"If you don't mind my asking," Edna ventured, "why was Torygg killed?"
Sybille's tone grew harsh. She raised her head, and from beneath the hood the Dragonborn noticed pin-points of orange, glowing eyes boring into hers. Involuntarily, Edna shuddered as Sybille gritted out, "Because Ulfric needed a symbol! Someone he could defeat that represented the Empire, the White-Gold Concordat, the banning of Talos worship. Torygg's father, Istlod, had held Skyrim together for nearly twenty-five years. When he died, Torygg became that symbol."
"I see," the Dragonborn said softly in understanding. "So the war started when Istlod died."
"No," Sybille contradicted. "Even after Istlod died, the moot voted to make Torygg High King of Skyrim. But Ulfric was at that moot, continually talking about Skyrim's independence in terms just sky of treason. I don't think Ulfric knew how much Torygg respected him for that. If Ulfric had asked Torygg directly to stand up, to declare independence, Torygg might have done it."
"So why didn't he?" Edna asked.
Sybille scowled, and again a chill ran down Edna's spine. "Because the Dominion is a sleeping beast that Skyrim cannot slay alone. Because many Nords are part of the Imperial army even now. Because the food and resources we get from the Empire are important to our people. Because even if we can't openly worship him, Talos the god was once Tiber Septim the man, and this is his Empire. And Torygg wasn't ready to let it fall apart!"
Edna digested what Sybille said, as the mage seemed to be preparing herself for a nap.
"If you don't mind my asking, please," the Dragonborn began again, "how did it happen? I know what the rumors have said, what the guards and the common folk all say happened, but I'd like to hear from someone who was there."
Sybille sighed as she sat on the edge of her bed. "I'll tell you what I know," she replied. "You seem like a level-headed person, not given to fancy or hysteria." She sighed again, looking beyond the woman across from her into some point in the past. "Ulfric showed up at the gates of Solitude requesting an audience," she said. "We thought he was here to ask Torygg to declare independence. By the time we realized he was here to challenge the High King…it was already too late."
"Too late?" Edna echoed. "Why?"
"By Nord custom," the mage explained, "once the challenge was issued in court, Torygg had no choice but to accept. Had he not, Ulfric would have had cause to call a new moot and a new vote for High King. Torygg had some martial training, of course, but it mattered little that day. When Ulfric's lips parted, when he unleashed the power of the Thu'um…that Shout, that ancient and terrible tongue…ripped Torygg asunder."
She hung her head again, as if grieving for the loss of king, but also her lack of intervention that day.
"I'm very sorry," Edna murmured.
"And now, if you'll excuse me," Sybille announced, "I'm very weary. I need to rest. I'm sure you can show yourself out." She lay down and rolled away from Edna, who still stood awkwardly at the enchanting table. But the Dragonborn saw the shaking of the mage's shoulders, and the quiet huffing of muffled sobs.
"I'll come back another time," Edna said quietly, gathering her things. She exited the room, conflicted with feelings of pity for what the mage had lost, and wonderment at why no one in the court seemed to realize they had a vampire in their midst.