Shinbira: Journal of a Survivor, Chapter 16
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Posted by Idesto - 1,174 views
Faendal and I find our Inn! 'The Bannered Mare'. As soon as we walk in the proprietor, Hulda, welcomes us and offers us food and drink: an offer we don't refuse. As she's serving us she gives us some gossip from around town; she seems a friendly Nord, and all seems well. Then I ask her where I can learn magic...
"Huh. I should have guessed as much. Your kind sticks to that college in Winterhold; you'd never think to learn from a Nord like the Jarl's wizard."
The man who'd only just told me he's no good at teaching. At teaching 'grayskins', maybe?
" 'Your kind'?" I reply slowly
I feel my fist clench. And Faengal's hands gripping my arm again.
"Careful, brother!" I tell him, through gritted teeth "Don't push your luck.
"I'll save her for later."
One more for my list....
We take our ale and find a table far away from the hater. I want to study my new spell tomes while my head is still relatively clear.
I'm a quick learner, and it doesn't take long. We share a few more drinks; I take them from my pack this time. I'm not going to give Hulda the Hideous any more of my gold if I can help it!
After a few ales I decide it would be a good idea to practice my new skills. 'Clairvoyance' makes a big blue line along the floor with a great 'whoosh / swish' sound. The 'Candlelight' glows and crackles in the air, hovering just above my head and moving as I do.
The patrons definitely find all this very interesting. The more drunk ones - which, to be fair, is most of them - just stare at the light saying "Ooh, what lovely colours" "It's all glowy!". From the more uptight ones I just hear "Go take your fancy magic somewhere else!". That would be Hulda, of course.
For the first time since Helgen Keep I'm having fun, and this time no-one has to die! Probably. Not yet, anyway. Even killjoy Hulda - yes, that is who I meant - can't spoil my mood.
Now I'm even enjoying listening to everyone telling me their boring stories.
"I want to buy the Inn from Hulda one day"
"Thatsh nishe"
"I like the Khajit"
"Yeah they're great, I love 'em too!"
"Faendal, what'sh a carjeet?"
"Could you get me a mammoth tusk?"
"Mammot tushk? Shure, eashy!"
"Want something?"
"From you? Yeah, I can think of shumthin!"
"Faendal, why're you grabbing my arm?! I told you 'bout that!"
"I ain't done nothin'!"
"Yeah, you and me both, friend! Hey - you shtink!"
"Listen, there's a big bottle of Argonian ale out the back, the good stuff! Why don't you go get it for me!"
"Argol.. ergoni - lizardy ale? Shure, why not?"
"That Mikael is a pest: he won't leave me alone! I don't want a man, and certainly not one like him!"
"Right!"
"Lishen, fanshy man, put your lute away, right, and leave, um, leave her over there alone, alright?"
"Carlotta? She's just playing hard to get! She'll give in to my charms eventually - they all do!"
"Right, you shee thish? Thatsh a fisht that ish. And itsh about to meet your fache!"
This time Faendal is not only not stopping me but is ready to join in - maybe Mikael reminds him of someone?
"Alright, alright: I'll leave her alone!"
"Good boy." I think I patted him on the head.
"You don't have t'worry bout him anymore, merdekh ikalam*. Will you marry me?"
"NO!"
This time the Bosmer pulls me away.
"I can beat anyone! 100 gold says I can take you on!"
I seem to be in a fist-fight with a very large woman.
She's on the floor so I must have won. "B'ek!"
And I've made a new friend!
The three of us then probably talked (and drank) for a while, but I don't remember.
All I know is that I've woken up the next morning in an upstairs room.
With a large bottle of odd-looking ale in my pocket.
My head really hurts!
I decide now is as good a time as any to update this journal...
*'pretty lady'
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