Jon and Lydia arrived near the ruins of Ustengrav in about a day over a week. They weren't riding particularly hard, but keeping a superior pace all the same. Since they were cutting across back mountain passes, and through the ice fields, it was certainly faster than taking the main road, which would have been a week just to Whiterun. Other than to clear a few bandits here and their for the shelter their small holes provided, the couple stayed away from kicking hornets nests over, and causing a side track.
They were at the edge of the swampy fjords just east of Solitude, North of Morthal. He eyed the dragon city in the distance with a respectful awe. It was massive, and clearly the reason why Skyrim held an out sized influence in Imperial affairs, before even becoming one of the last provinces. The city started at the base of the hill, at ground level beside the river, and stretched up the side of the mountain, before rounding at the Dragon's-Bridge, and expanding out along with the massive foot rising from the bay to the ocean, itself falling off into the fjords. It got denser and denser at it rose towards the blue keep situated on the hill that rose up into the edge of the footprint. Jon could see were the city was expanded, in an obviously planned manner.
Main city walls segmented the stone buildings, like the Imperial City according to Lydia. The one at the bottom of the hill wasn't as densely packed, and was in all likelihood the last expansion of the city, before it started truly rising upwards, the average building not yet reaching five stories. Construction was ongoing there, he saw. There were taller keeps, but they were mostly so from the geography of the massive natural wonder. The city on top was a man made wonder. 400 thousand people lived here, easily, with a fully functioning water system, and not just a simple sewer and bathhouse system, outhouses here and there that lead into it.
What in the fuck was Ulfric thinking, Jon thought. He never would have taken this city, just like they never would have taken his, if smaller. Even if the Empire was driven out, the blood had been spilled in a most dishonorable way. That's a blood feud. A Nord one. Jarl Elisif may have been ditzy, from word, but Jon doubted she would ever surrender the city to Stormcloak forces, and again from word, she was loved by practically everyone that met her, which was a lot of Solitude given that she took regular trips though the markets to shop. Even if the Empire was gone, the city besieged, they would still get plenty trade as a new Imperial proxy, rather than capital. It would be well supplied by Imperial ports in High-Rock. The Stormcloaks wouldn't have anywhere near the navy to stop them, and would likely still be blockaded.
All he had to do was talk to Torygg and Skyrim would have left united. It was a power play pure and simple, because he had the power to carry it out. He wanted to be High-King above all else. Even if he was a true believer in his cause, it was still a convenient mask for his own ambitions. He was also stupid to think it would ever work. Too stupid to live, by Jon's reckoning. He and Lydia talked a lot by pheromones now, she could almost Divine his thoughts, and she returned with her own pleasantness. She stood with him in that endeavor. He would only need a single duel to end the cause, and turn their fury towards the real enemies of Skyrim.
They left their steeds to roam as the approached the entrance to the ruin on foot. Their steps were quiet, even with the overall weight of them. Their Muffle was augmented further by a cast, and Jon was working his Illusion enchantment all the while. They took a kneel just far apart enough to be considered tactical. They smelled corruption ahead.
Jon would usually have his second off further away, attacking from a different angle on his signal, but his Lady standing with him meant she actually had to stand with him. He didn't have to worry about his capabilities compared to his anymore. He knew hers, and she was superior. The necromancer combing though a small bandit camp would not know what hit him, nether would his casts when they dispelled on his death. Lydia's cast and string was quick, as was his death.
They waited for a few moments, and no other threats presented themselves. Moving up to the camp, they took what meager provisions they could. They left the food, but found some coin, a couple soul gems, and alchemy ingredients in the enchanted pouch of the mage. The dug in barrow was further down the path, and it rose up in a mound fell again. Jon peaked over, with bow drawn and Lydia watching his back. There were a couple more dead bandits in the dug in construction, but no live threats.
Before they entered the ruin, he fired the bodied of the bandits. They deserved death, a quick one, not ultimate corruption. He understood the stigma with it, even if he kept the policy of his College. Summoning a ghost is one thing, but raising the dead like that is a true dark art, even if the spell is only a tome away. He hoped charring their corpses to ashes would give them some kind of peace, preventing them from being used like that. They probably had their souls trapped, and they're in the Soul Cairn.
Jon and Lydia cast their party favors in earnest. They made sure they had a full load out of spell before they left. They both had Ebonyflesh now, preferring Expert level spells over the Master level Dragonhide. The Master level spells weren't a problem for Jon, but even he needed a near ritual to make the cast. It was just baked into the nature of it. It had to be charged, so the power of it could burst. Ebonyflesh for Lydia was only an augment, and Jon could work his alteration enchantment to make it even more powerful than a Master level spell, and it could be cast by him with barely a thought. They recast their muffles, their bows, Jon working those respective enchantments as well, and used detect spells to Divine the other side of the door. There were no threats.
The breached the door, bow in their off hands and main hand spells at the ready. The initial steps down were clear, but the hall opened up to a wide entrance cavern, with tall support post holding up the cave roof of the place. They knelt in the shadows, casting invisibility, and took stock of their situation. Past the post and rubble, a few mages were milling about. They were outside of the detect range of their spells.
They would prove no quandary. The couple slowly crept up to the large center post. They had no patrol though this cavern, and it was big enough to warrant one if you wanted to keep your position secure. They a pile of bandit bodies, and one by one the one mage was casting his corruption on them, and practicing his spell work against the zombie. Another was watching the affair, as if a teacher, and confirmed that fact when she began offering advice to the offending mage and his offensive companions also watching.
Her words were cut off by Jon's arrows, and then quick pulled by both ended the other Mages before the even knew what hit them. The last mage had just turned around when the last arrow hit him center face, and exited out of his brain stem. All were dead before they hit the floor, bits of viscera and blood beginning to wet the ancient stone. The stone seemed pleased with this offering.
Jon only worried about their coin and ingredients for his loot. The offering overall was meager, and he would simply let them and their possessions rot, as they deserve. Near the back was steps further down into the crypt. They took a moment to recast their spells, leaving the invisibility off that dispelled as soon as they fired.
Descending down further, there was a dead mage on the step. It was far enough down that those up top wouldn't hear the commotion, especially if they didn't have regular check ins and patrols.
"Shit!" Jon and Lydia heard to the cracking of coffins and waking of Draugr. He heard the mages cast their own spells in response.
He dispelled his bow, and drew Dragon's-Bane. Lydia followed with her own enchanted steel. The rushed forward a little faster, getting to the bottom of the steps, and rounding the corner. There was another dead mage, a couple Draugr around him. There was another corner that lead int other melee currently take place. When they finally got eyes on, there were four mages and half a dozen of their enemies. The mages were spell casting, on foolishly using frost magic, and also slowly backing away. The Draugr didn't want to get too close to the casters, being warded off by the superior spell-fire coming their way.
Jon and Lydia charged in, and the battle ended not long after. They were both sill muffled, so the mages knew not what approached them. Jon went right, Lydia left. He simply shoved his sword into the back of his first target, and activated his enchantments.
When stabbing someone in the back, they don't usually scream. They instinctively try to inhale, futilely if the person stabbing is good. With the power of the enchantments on his sword, they were dead near instantly anyway. The only thing that tipped off his second target was the spell-fire coming to a halt. He had just brought his spell hands around when Jon brought his sword down hard, bisecting the man and spilling his cauterized entrails onto the stone. He had a few black soul gems, and now they were filled.
Lydia simply took her first target's head, and then the second's before they had time to react. Now that the spells had stopped, they had just begun their charge forward when Jon lifted his hood, revealing his dragon eyes. They hesitated, coming to a slow halt, unsure of what to do.
He pointed his sword at his enemies, now dead at his feet, Dragon's-Breath falling from his tongue, "hokoron do dii hokoron dii fahdon drem fahdons"
They took only a moment, as word was backed by deed. By every right he was their god, but he called them friends, proven by sword, and offered them peace. They took their offered peace, ever weapon clattering to the ground, each hoping they would go to Sovngarde.
Jon and Lydia stepped over the bodies of the mages, and carefully around the Draugr. The room led into more passages, and it eventually took a turn to a larger room. There was a small set of stairs to the right as they passed, but this place need not be looted through. There would probably be some treasure at the end of it, anyway, like the horn he could keep for a time, before returning it.
As the entered the room, bows ready for the not insignificant distance, Jon could smell the coffins that would crack open, the corruption ever present. He cast a detect spell, able to combine both living and undead though his power and enchantment, and saw just over two dozen coffins ready to burst open with Draugr.
"FUS" And every coffin cracked, their corpses shuffling to life.
They paused a moment after taking steps from their graves. They stepped slowly closer, especially those at the far end of the room, so they could peer into the eye's of the one who challenged them with Thu'um. Dovahkiin like the one standing next to him had come before, one even felled by the host in glory long ago, but never a god. They offered themselves to test Dovahkiin, at the request of a god, but he never returned. And now one did return. They were unsure what to do. Would they kneel? Test him and his Dovahkiin like they volunteered to do?
Jon ended their their thoughts, whatever left of their souls trying to process what they were seeing, "drem fahdons"
The friend had offered them peace, and they willingly took it after so long of testing, and being tested themselves.
At the back of the room, there was a stone stairway that circled back around to the upper level of the place. They rest their support spells as they did. Lydia was now a powerful caster in her own right, despite being blessed by the warrior, due to the boost she now had from her natural physiology. As she practiced on the road with Jon, she only got more powerful. Her spells would still dissipate regardless of how long they lasted, and Jon didn't want to test his powered enchantments in a tomb, were one of his spells failing at the wrong moment would him seriously injured.
He certainly had an easier go of it than on Earth, most engagements being a joke, but there were foes who could match him, that fact proven. If he didn't have the Thu'um, Ancano would have won their duel. His hands were charred black and permanently scarred from the battle, while the Thalmor suffered no such injuries while channeling the power. It was a close run thing, and Jon would keep his wits about him, no matter how easily he stepped though his enemies. There would be those he could not step through.
On the second level of the room was a stone bridge. Before they crossed it, they took a look at the small alcove for gathering and eating, so they could gather and eat some. There were a few ruined books there, but a restoration tome as well. It must have been lost knowledge, because they would have read it on their comb though the library and Arch-Mage quarters. It contained the methodology for using a ward to not just block magic, but absorb some of the power of the spell. After a few bits of pemmican and cheese, they took a few moments to test the theories with low power spells.
They finally stepped across the bridge, and it turned back down some stairs to an iron door deeper in the dungeon. A quick cast of detect, and there were no threats behind it. Jon and Lydia slowly crept though it, silent by enchantment, spell, and skill, and it lead into another hallway. There was also a rush of air, and the smell of nature coming though.
A few steps further down, and they looked out into the cavern that made the majority of the Ustengrav Deep. There was a near forest down there. Trees rising up in vain towards the open ceiling of the cavern. There were carved stone posts that did however, and they had all the sings of residential accommodation. There were also paths and corridors set into the walls of it, with more living and meeting space. Dull light from the near perpetually overcast sky above the few openings fell though and outlined the whole of the place to their dragon eyes.
"It's a sight. Another Wonder, as you call it." Lydia whispered so low only her Divine could hear.
Jon returned the hush, "Yeah. I Keep seeing them. There were only seven wonders like this in the ancient world. A few more further on. Most of them were cultural or artistic, architectural, didn't come close to the scale of what your people built so casually long ago. A few, yes, but not entire dug in cities as a national housing policy. I guarantee many from the past would worship Azurah if they saw her shrine, or the dragons if they saw theirs. They must be powerful gods to have such powerful monuments to them. I bet some of your people would pray to Helios if they got whisked away to Rhodes, or Zeus if they pilgrimaged to Olympus, converted to Christianity in Rio de Janeiro."
Lydia smirked, "They would find themselves disappointing when they aren't granted the boons our powerful gods grant us."
Jon shrugged, "Fuck, at this point, if our gods were ever real, they were space aliens like the your pantheon. They cant be the same gods, because their power in Mundus is centered around the hole Magnus blew though spacetime. Fuck, Nirn could literally be the center of the universe for all I know, knowing what I know. Shit. I know how the universe was created in the first place.
His eyes darted, his tone slightly more frantic, but still not even a whisper, "Big fucking bang is right, Mundus is more than just here and now, this time, place, models off by orders of magnitude. Planes are still the Planes, some, most, non euclidean, but Mundus is an eleven dimensional fractal Plane. Shaped unlike any other. Starting at a point, and spiraling outward and in on itself, using the branching flow of time as a basic structure to wrap around. Always more deeper and further down and out, in just as fine a detail, always expanding bigger and smaller at the same time."
His eyes darted more frantically, "One constant is the same everywhere, even in stranger parts of Mundus, forms the backbone of the temporal geometry, 1.6180339...Golden ratio, of course you sneaky bastard. Hid your prints right in the math, like the Old Masters thought you did. It was simply the most energy efficient geometry to use, so you used it. An Intelligent Design. Did a little architecting, modeling perhaps, set it off, and let nature take it's course. Earth is in Mundus, this part of it, even if I still don't know where exactly. Give me a second, a lot of knowledge catching up to me now that I'm thinking about it. I can't stop it, hitting me at once. The man was the Mathematician first, the Mage second, Architect of all that is Mundus third."
Jon got lost in his thoughts for a few moments, taking heavy breaths as he did. He understood infinity, and that caught up to him past being an off hand joke. He still didn't fucking understand it, and ironically that is how you have to understand it. Jon did understand the hand of comfort Lydia was giving him. Both metaphorical, and the spell she was casting.
He finally came too, but still with a hint of madness, "The field equations, they still apply."
Lydia said, "The Faraday ones?"
Jon said, "Maxwell actually, the precursor, more general. I was focusing on a specific inquiry to filter the knowledge, apply it to my own. Try to slow down and control the flow. It kind of worked. There's still a lot in there, and I don't want to touch it if I can help it. Its like a never ending line of sucker punches on my mind. I would be dead now if I were lesser than."
Jon was still taking deeper controlled breaths when she said, "And what does that mean, the equations still apply."
Jon said, "Magika is an EM field. Off the spectrum, on a new one entirely, and the fourth branch of the Standard Model. You have to be biologically predisposed to see and feel it, or take a blessing at the Mage stone like me, to induce the changes required. Navy is what you see everyday, lower on the spectrum, blue-white higher the power of gods, sky even more, orange above all, red-white like the Worm a corruption of orange."
Lydia knew her Thane liked to talk, and he needed to process though this. She said, "I understand some, but I'm not clear on the science."
Jon said, "Nirn can do everything Earth did, and more. Easily. Using magika to power it, entire species that want to have their souls harvested for fun. That's all our technology was. Mechanically or chemically inducing EM fields, lightning, to power it all. The only reason you haven't advanced is because of things well outside your control that set development back, and some math you need. Far more than petty war, because we advanced often through war, if for no other reason than to prepare for the next one. You don't even have an issue with food like we did, except to store it. The shit grows so fast. Conclusion, you should be exploring the stars right now, with magically powered rockets and ships."
Lydia said, "Nearly every new age was declared at the end of a Great Crisis. Or major war if there was none at the time. And there will always be another Crisis. Like the Eye, that was a small one, not Great. What if someone else found it?"
Jon scoffed, "How many are out there, doing this, right now. For honor, coin, glory, love of the game. How many out there save the world, and Mundus, in their own ways, with most none the wiser. Unsung heroes, they are. Someone would have stopped Ancano, someone would have risen to the Worm. I refuse to believe otherwise. All of Whiterun rose in war against their ancient enemies without hesitating, over a few words."
Lydia said, "If Ulfric was right about one thing, it's that there are many brave souls in Skyrim. In all of Tamriel and Nirn. And I also know in the rest of Mundus, thanks to you, Patron of Adventurers."
Jon smiled with intent, "Patron of Adventurers."
They didn't hear the lighting crack in the distance. Warriors, wizards, couriers, patrolling and deployed guard, army, seamen, archers, thieves, explorers, dastardly bards, and all manner of rousty and rowdy Adventurers felt a new perk in their step after the unseen and unheard Divine power dissipated. It was humble omen, one of silent and determined courage, the refusal to even speak of odds let alone submit to them. Indomitable will was backing them henceforth, and granting it's inner strength. It hit those in their own trials all at once. More than a few eyed their companions with curiosity, then smirks. They nodded and continued their tasks, some of which the fate of the Nirn rested on.
Many never spoke of it, but all gave a bit of thanks to the one they knew was out there, standing with them for death or honor, coin, glory, love of the game. It was nothing more than a small boon, but every once in a while a hushed whisper at an inn or tavern would make a new covert to the unspoken cult of Adventurers, heroes many do not sing about. They knew not who gave it, and they didn't care. An Unnamed god stood with them as they were, for what they were, their own Patron, and that was enough for some quiet praise.
Jon huffed, ready to continue, but he didn't feel like dealing with the Draugr. If this place was meant to test, then it would test him. He never truly gave his full power, save his first shout hampered by inexperience. Always measured once he learned how to control it. It was mostly in Saarthal where he mastered fine control of the Thu'um. Any time he shook the walls or quaked the ground was by accident, momentary loss of fine control. Now he would see what he could really do. Nothing would stand before him, as the Graybeards said.
"FUS RO DAH" and the roots covering the opening to the wider cavern dissolved in front of him.
The force of the shout carried though, and as it charged in the air, the ground and walls shook in it's wake. It ended before it the wake could cross the support pillars rising up to the ceiling. The sound itself still carried, and echoed once or twice though the main hall, and back and forth though the passages leading into it. Debris would spend several minutes falling and shuffling around.
He gave a few moments for the Draugr to orient themselves around what the heard. A wrathful god, high in the Pantheon, maybe a rival to The Dovah's-Drog himself. Some wandered out from their holes, trying to see, and some were shuffling slowly up the stairs to kneel before their god.
Jon wouldn't let them. He had to assume the dragons wouldn't build and staff a specific proving grounds for a Dragonborn. These people likely volunteered for it. Maybe even following a traitor dragon, their personal deity, one ordered around by Kyne perhaps. He smirked, Master Arngeir omitted some things, and that was his prerogative as Puppet-Master of the Order.
"DREM KOS AHST DREM DII FAHDONS BO WAH SOVNGARDE FUL TINVAAK FIN DOVAHKIIN FUN NIIN ZU'U BO" And the walls of the cavern shook in response.
There would be no more Draugr to bother the couple. They were told to go to Sovngarde, deliver word on behalf of the Dovahkiin, and that is what they would do. Peace from their friend, once the false god was dealt with. As they were pulled though the barrier once again, life not had started being returned to them. The host of Shor's-Cave near doubled that night, each one boasting of their friend the Dragonborn, and giving his word to any who would listen, or hear over the shouting, fighting, fucking, and revelry.
The Mad King simply pleasured himself furiously upon his throne at the sight on the rapidly forming orgy, with those long incapable of such things. It was a new development at court, a welcome one, and a gift from the Dragonborn. However, none would touch him except Fair Elisif, and no man nor maiden offered themselves to him, knowing this intuitively.
Lydia said, "I bet they had a party when that guardswoman took boast back to King Torygg."
Jon said, "And what kind of party will they have when the get boast from me. I hope that worked like I wanted it too."
Lydia said, "It did, I know it."
They still didn't give up caution entirely. The recast their support spells, and still crept though quietly, properly clearing every passage and room. It was a proven fact that not all got the memo. One that could also shout refused to submit, and continued his charge. Jon could respect that, if nothing else.
They came to a mead hall with several Draugr strewn about, at peace. One was sitting on the throne overlooking the court. Jon could tell by the disturbed dust that the woman in full ancient plate had gotten up and taken a few steps, before halting in her tracks. She had obviously sat down, rather than falling down, this particular Draugr seemingly having more life than others. She had a faint smile on her face, the rest of her oblong and arrogant. Obviously the Jarl of this city, not daring to present her corpse to the Dovahkiin on the floor, but proudly upon her throne. She was ready to take war to the Worm in Sovngarde with her people, Jon knew.
If it it was like the last room, then up to the second level and across the stone bridge would take them to the next part of the city, deeper into the cavern where he could feel the word wall.
The path along the cave wall went straight down to the floor, and to their destination. One of the areas carved into the wall still had corrupted life dwelling within. It looked like an area for sermons, going by the throne and pews below it. There were skeletons there, roused but unaffected by the Thu'um like the Draugr were. Jon and Lydia quietly pulled their bows. Any archers they saw went first, then the rest. Four archers total went down, and by the time they realized where the attack was coming from, it was too late to stop the eradication of their number. They had no semblance of tactics, and charged ahead into quick bow pulls. Piles of bones littered the sermon area, and a trail of them ended far from their shooting positions.
They decided not to test walking over their bones, and simply continued down the path to the now chanting word wall. The forest making the center of the massive living hall wasn't very thick, and easily to traverse. A few smaller critters when from here to there in it, a few foxes and birds of pray to keep their numbers in check. There was a waterfall and a pool beside the wall, a few broken benches beside it.
It was clear to Jon this forest was intentionally planned as an underground park, adding to the wonder of it. The words on the wall giving up it's power to Jon wasn't an epitaph like others. Simply a reminder to live with courage and honor, lest they be forgotten.
"FEIM"
"Wow, you look like the Tutor did before. Less gooey though."
"Give me a love tap with the flat of you sword."
"Whoa, passes right though."
"Try an angry swipe"
"Nothing"
"Why the head?"
"You said angry."
"And you take heads in anger. Quick, efficient. Fair enough, my Lady."
The first word of a shout was never relatively powerful, under any circumstances. The shout dissipated a moment after the end of the back and forth, but one could always get more out of it with practice and understanding. Jon wondered if he could use his illusion enchantment to empower it. It was all just magic, after all. Maybe alteration would be a better bet, he thought.
Jon said, "That ledge by the skeletons is just high enough to cause some harm, but not kill. Hairline cracks for us, breaks for others, heal in a couple hours. The window at the top would break us, kill others, heal in a day with some food and sleep."
Lydia said, "You want to try what the Graybeards said."
Jon said, "Might as well. It's a perfect proving grounds, almost like it was planned from the start. I'm going to guess when Kyne ordered whoever the traitor was, she did so well in advance, so his personal congregation could build this. Akatosh Is the Lord of Time."
Lydia nodded, "A traitor dragon, of course. Divines almost never take forms. Someone had to teach the Thu'um to Man. Picking a Champion, even a dragon, is well within their MO, as you say. Also for Akatosh to send others to act in their stead. They're The dragon, that gave Thu'um to their children in the first place."
Jon chuckled, "Maybe that's why they had Kyne grant the boon. Didn't work out so well for them the first time. She was also the wife of Shor, and Man are his favored lessers. She might have even convinced them in the first place to let her, taking sympathy like the myth says."
Lydia said, "Probably both, more than one thing can be true. If I've learned anything from our adventure, gods are people in the end. Like us in a lot of ways, so such drama isn't above them."
Jon smiled, "Exactly. They aren't so enigmatic. The people of Nirn were created in their images, after all. That means they can be figured out. Never forget that if we face cosmic hostiles, like I know we will."
She met his smile, and removed her helmet for a kiss. She said, "I give you leave to try, Jon. Your Lady will not be pleased if you are hurt."
Jon said, "I wont be, Lady."
He took off to his perch, his Lady getting position to watch, and be ready with healing spell, if that was required.
Jon took just enough of a running start to get some distance in between him in the ledge wall, "FEIM"
He arced on a ballistic path for a moment, and quickly bled off forward momentum, transferring it all to downward velocity due to gravity. He slammed into the ground, rolling though it on instinct alone. He still felt like he had mass in the fall, calculating roughly the same acceleration of Earth, but he was completely unharmed by hitting the ground, not feeling that at all. He came up from the roll only a few feet away from his Lady. She looked pleased, and he was pleased. They silently let each other know what they thought, when Jon's shout dispelled a moment later.
Lydia said, "You're going to Jump off the mountain are you."
She read his grin from a mile away with her dragon eyes. Jon said, "Only if you're not opposed. I wont do something like that without asking."
She smiled, "I'd like to see that. We would have to plan it thought, unless you wa-"
Jon said, "A plan is fine, Lady. I wouldn't dare let you traverse those steps without escort."
She gave her Thane a hungry look, and then remembered they were in a dungeon. She said, "You're Housecarl recommends we continue, my handsome Thane."
They took off on a stroll down the forest path, still a wary eye out. Jon said, "I don't remember him being here to make that recommendation, Lady."
Lydia said, "He is your well muscled Steward, remember? I am your Housecarl."
Jon said, "Yes, Housecarl."
She said, "And you must still collect your bounty from Falkreath, Thane."
The way she subtly spit his title gave a twitch where Jon liked to twitch. She had enough dragon-blood in her to to feel the same way about this. There's no distinction between combat and conversation to a Dovah, nor sex when one of the participants is a strong maiden like her, guiding the conversation towards it.
"Of course, Housecarl." He said just dejectedly enough to twitch her.
They continued up to the back of the cavern, where one of the posts lead to a bridge into the side of the cavern. Behind it was a longer stone bridge that lead further into the dungeon. The bridge to the side obviously lead to the bridge across.
Once they came to the next room, ending with a set of gates to deeper in, a test meant for the Dragonborn. Three stones sat on either side of a straight path into and though the three gates they were tied too. As Jon passed the first one, the first gate was opened. The solution to the puzzle was obvious. Sprint though the gate triggers, then shout your way though with what the Graybeards taught you. He hopped they would be willing to each Lydia what they taught him. She was sure she could do it just as easily, if not as powerfully. It would be another offering he made to his demi-goddess.
She said, still hushedly, "This is obvious. Then again most tomb puzzles are. Like they were meant to keep Draugr in, not others out"
Jon shrugged, "That's what I figured, at least for most others. If for no other reason than for future generations to wake the dragon priests when their gods returned. That Lich was still all there, and I expect one of the Worm's mortal lieutenants, with a personally blessed mask. I cant tell though for certain. It feels like a normal powerful enchantment-"
"Why would the dragons give them something truly powerful. They're still morals, however loyal. The Lich would have taken over the world with the staff. He was well and truly rouge. Maybe even from the start-"
"He could have just used the prevailing structure to find the staff. Worshiping dragons was a resource pool from him, nothing more. No dragon is getting into his or any's place of power, they're too damn big. Not that hard to plot right under their noses-"
"Then he becomes a priest, because he's such a loyal follower, and it gives him exactly what he needs. Immortality, to wait for someone to find the Eye-"
"Then a party comes along, actually traps him because he apparently wasn't the smartest person in the room-"
"Then you come."
And Jon nearly did, grunting in pleasure as he fought to control himself. Each interrupt in the line of deduction caused another twitch, in both him and her. She won, with the final word being a near order. He walked right into it, and Jon supposed it was easy when her orgasm wouldn't necessitate a change in robes like his would.
They both smiled and chucked while Jon took position to clear the trap. He sprinted though the path, each enchantment glowing red, and opening a the gates one by one. Jon was a fast sprinter, and waited until he got to the first gate before he made his play.
"WULD" and he was carried like the whirlwind thought the gate trap. He passed other enchantment on they way, activating in the wake of the Thu'um, and it locked the gates up in their housings.
Lydia stepped though to her Thane, smiling all the while. She said, "Your Housecarl is pleased, Thane."
Jon took a centering breath, "I am pleased you are pleased, Lady Housecarl."
Lydia dropped the pretense, and chucked merrily. They continued up the steps, and they lead to another hall, formed mostly from the natural contorts of the cave. On the floor of the hall, was pressure plates. Any with any kind of sense knew they would spit fire when stepped on. Lydia and Jon were both protected from such things. Her helmet had its ancient enchantment, plus her scale, and Jon could put power into his own resistance enchantment.
They simply walked over any flames that tried to vex them. Jon figured the test was that a Dragonborn was supposed to Wuld their way though. There were safe points through the winding cave. They were simply the cave floor, near the walls, that hadn't been turned into a trap. The idea, he thought, was for fine Thu'um control. Wuld without splattering yourself into the wall. The threat of fiery death completes the trial. Saarthal had already tested him in that way. This was an obligation.
The walls of the cave belayed Frostbite Spiders, as they continued on. They cast their bows, and a few of the beasts crawled forth to meet them. They weren't actually heavy enough to trip the pressure plates of the trap floor, but that didn't matter. A couple pulls from Jon and Lydia each ended their threat.
The way though was blocked by webbing, and a quick cast of sky-blue Flames opened the door behind. Behind it was a gate tied to a chain. They descended down the steps in anger. As they crossed a stone bridge across a pool, dragon totems rose from the water at an angel, and completed an arcing sweep up to form an archway across.
They could both see the problem immediately, with their dragon eyes, as soon as they entered the final room. In place of where the horn was supposed to be, a hand making an offering, framed by smaller dragon totems, was a letter instead. Jon huffed with power. Treasure priceless beyond measure was stolen from him. Stolen from the Graybeards.
"Who dares." He angerly whispered, Dragon's-Breath falling from his lips.
He picked up the letter and it read, "Dragonborn, I need to speak to you urgently. Rent an attic room at the Sleeping Giant Inn, and I'll explain. A friend."
Lydia said, "This so called friend better have a good reason. The horn is a holy artifact. Not meant for them."
Jon said, "Sleeping Giant Inn. Riverwood. We will make it there, and find them. I don't think it was that barkeep. Someone else must own it. You are right, Lady. They better have a good fucking reason."
The actual last room of the crypt was behind another door. It of course had the treasure one got for clearing a place. They picked up the coin strewn about, and raided the chest of its goods after denying themselves the rest of the loot out of respect for the place. There was also plenty of gems and jewelry to go with their hall, split evenly of course. Lydia still had her own growing hoard, which Jon offered to keep safe in his account for her, thus combining hoards. She replied that she didn't trust the banks,
and he said, "Neither do I, which is why I'm carrying most of my treasure, so fair enough. How about in own mutual vault? We'll need one, for sure."
Lydia said, "I have no problem with that, Thane."
There was just enough aloof venom in her words to get Jon going again.