My annoucement in the chamber of the Jarl brought everyones attention on me. Falk eyed me for a moment. Hesistantly he replied to my offer
"Are you sure Larz? I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you. You have already done more than enough for us. But if your sure have a word with Sybille the Court wizard. Oh and Elisif has asked if you would speak to her before you depart."
"Thank you for concern Falk, but don't worry about me. I've had a fire lit in my belly hot enough to drive me to get back to my family. Thank you again. Is it ok to approach Elisif now?" I queried. I may of made a mark with the Jarl and her entourage but I still wanted to stay respectful.
"Of course she is waiting now."
Elisif sat as resplendant as ever on her throne, the shaft of natural light beaming down from the stained glass skylight, kissing her flesh to give her a warm glow. I bowed low as I approached her.
"Please Larz thats not really required" gesturing for me to rise and greeting my gaze with a warm smile.
"Falk has kept me informed of your actions in preventing Potema to ressurect herself. Be assured I'am eternally grateful to you but I have one last request and I fear it may be too much."
"You are too kind m'lady. I only do my best and would be honoured to offer my assistance to you."
She smiled again laughing quietly
"If only there were more men with your honour left in the world Larz."
I dipped my head at the compliment.
"What was it you need me to do m'lady?"
Elisif beckoned me closer. She was more beautiful up close than could be imagined and her fragrance reminded me of my beloved. Sweet like honeysuckle.
"Larz, My late husband prayed to Talos everyday. Now that he has joined him in Sovengarde I wanted to honour them both. With the Empire banning Talos worship I can't be seen anywhere near a shrine. I was hoping you would be able to go and place my Toryg's Horn on the shrine near Whiterun."
She reached behind her throne and brought an ancient ivory horn with iron bands around the tip. It was excellently crafted. I couldn't believe she was willing to let a piece like it go.
"My lady even though I'm a citizen of the Empire I will take the Horn to the shrine. They don't know I survived Helgen yet I will go unnoticed. Rest assured I will return."
Bowing I turned stepping down from the raised plinth. Luckily the court wizard was stood talking to Falk and throwing some questionable glances at me. I hadn't seen her before from the look of her robes she spent most of her time rustling through dusty tombs in her lofty tower. I made my way over to the pair as Falk introduced me.
"Ah! Larz excellent I was just telling Sybille here about your offer to help the hold. Sybille meet Larz D'Ovakine." With that he nodded to us both and moved into conversation with Elisif.
Sybille was arrogant like most wizards and mages I've met. I don't know where it comes from but I find myself irritated by them within minutes of meeting them. Sybille broke that record. Her opening gesture was to call me what was it now oh yes!
"This is the best they send and old coot past his best, no more magical or capable than the very stone floor upon we stand."
I didn't rise to the bait. I calmly asked what service it was she required. This seemed to infuriate her more to my delight. She sarcastically stated.
"A nest of Vampires has been building followers nearby in Pinemoon Cave they need eradicating if that's not to hard a request?".
I didn't retort other than to say
"We shall see." I walked away and down the stairs and out into the sunlight of the Blue Palaces courtyard.
Things were starting to fall into place. I had a ship albeit unseaworthy. I had started to build some renown and reward with the tasks I had completed for the Jarl of Solitude. I needed to build it bigger and quicker. I needed to recruit someone to spread the word of my adventures. Maybe then I might get to my goal quicker. Meandering down the street towards the castle in a world of my own I bumped into a bard singing on the steps of a building. Of course!
The bard directed me inside the Bard College of Solitude. On entering an elf immediately introduced himself as Headmaster Viarmo. I asked if I could join and told him my story. He stood enthralled and when I finished he stayed transfixed for a moment until he burst back to life shaking his head repeatedly saying unbelievable over and over. I broke his moment of disbelief asking to join again. He told me normally applicants would do tasks for the college as part of the process. Viarmo went on to tell me the Jarl had stopped the Burning Man Festival and wanted me to find a copy of King Olaf's verse to convince her to allow the festival to go ahead. The only copy he knew about were in the ruins of Dead Man's Respite. If I could bring that back I could join and he would get to hear more of my "story". Bards!
I did the rounds of the merchants letting slip little morsels of my next tasks to get the rumour mill working. I would have people eating out of the palm of my hand and bathing me in septims. My years in the Imperial City seem to have made me into a cunning diplomat. Checking my map on the way to the gate I noticed Pinemoon Cave was my closest destination but I wouldn't get there before night fall. There was no way I would take them on at night. We learnt that lesson back in Cryodill when the whole guild was called to help a massive Vampire Hunt. We entered a nest at night and only a few made it out alive myself included. Dragon Bridge was close by to the Cave so I set out for the small hamlet.
I rose early and ate well I knew I would have a long day. Leaving Dragon Bridge behind me I turned up the mountain path off the road back to Solitude. Not strides off the main road I felt a huge gust of wind and the Shadow flash over me making my horse startle. Above a Green Dragon swooped back on itself letting out a almighty roar. It wasn't as big as the Black monster that attacked Helgen but still fearsome. It seemed to home in on me!
Why was I such a draw to these ancient beasts? It had to have something to do with this "Dragonborn" theory. But I didn't have time to mull things over as the Dragon spread its wings and landed nearly on top of me on my horse. I managed to stay in the saddle as the horse bolted out from under the looming dragon talons. I yanked hard and left on the reigns forcing the mare to turn sharply as the jet of flame erupted from the Dragon. We barely made it behind cover as the Dragon took to the air again. I drew my bow and sent volley after volley up into the under belly of the beast. This time rather than landing on me it went for my horse. I don't know if it was courage or stupidity but the Horse stood up to the terrifying predator. It took a full blast of flame which I thought would cook him for sure. But he still carried on fighting as I charged at the Dragons unprotected flanks. With my Great sword drawn I made sure I swung hard and true cleaving massive gashes in the animals side. Until I lunged forcing the tip of my sword through the mass that was its chest piercing its heart and sending it into a kreening death song.
As with the Dragon at Whiterun the flesh seemed to evaporate of its bones and turn to light rushing into my very being in a flash of visions similar to the first set I experienced but not exactly the same. More amazingly my horse survived the flamed gorging of the encouter. He definitely earned my respect and from now on he shall be regarded to as Drago for he is as fierce and brave as the very dragons themselves. I patted Drago on the neck as I returned to the saddle.
Pinemoon Cave didn't take long to find, crossing the snow line, I went off the path until I reached a pond. I tied Drago up on the edge of the pond and made my way up the hill through the trees bow drawn. My decision to tackle these villains of the night during the day proved to be the right one. I caught sight of the outcrop of rock with the cave entrance in a clearing. A circle of benches was in the clearing that if approached at night would no doubt have members of the clan guarding.
The cave entrance lead to a tunnel down into the dark. Moving as quietly as I could I drew my Bow when I heard it further down the tunnel. The howl of the Vampire Guard Wolves. I drew the arrow back to its biting point and continued down the dark stone passage. Light ahead illuminated a large chamber with four natural stone pillars patrolled by two wolves. They moved in and out of the beam of natural light radiating down from the hole in the the cavern. Again my good eye proved itself the first wolf fell striking it in the sweet spot, instant death. The second wolf barely had time to sniff at its pack mate before I sent it down with a shot to its neck.
I moved round the edge of the chamber sticking to the shadows. I would make these blood suckers pay for that night I lost so many guild brothers. Fast and brutal I didn't want to give them a second to react. At the back of the chamber another tunnel led further into the cave. I made sure to keep light on my feet. Cursing myself every time my armour clinked or rasped on the stone. One aspect of Vampires is that they like the dark so sneaking down to the next chamber wasn't a problem. This time as light poured in to the tunnel I spotted a young vampire stood looking out over the chamber ahead.
Without thinking I saw the arrow fly from my bow. Again my luck prevailed as it caught her unaware in the side of her throat. Silencing her as she fell into the dark. I crept forward until I could see the expanse of the space in front of me.
A slope led down into a huge cavern. On the right hand side a massive natural stone altar had a make shift podium on. Two torches either side of blood soaked wooden table. Lower down on the main floor rows of benches stretched back from the altar like a church to the left hand side where a make shift store had been set up. The Master Vampire was a sturdy looking armoured Orc walking around on the altar of stone. Two more Vampires rummaged through the barrels and crates at the back of the chamber. On the far side of the cavern an opening led into another tunnel.
Still bathed in darkness I tried to line up a shot on the female vampire searching the crates. I let an arrow go but it only struck her in the knee and she spun round searching for the source of the pain. Light glinting off my armour must have given me away for she alerted the whole cave to my presence. In a rush I let my bowstring do the talking. Scoring hits on the women and the Master Orc. In my focus I didn't notice the third vampire casting a spell. To my horror the vampire I struck down in the throat began to rise from the ground right next to me. Bubbles of blood gurgling out of the recently reactivated corpse nearly made me lose my nerve but the memory of my guild brothers seemed to rally me and that shout erupted out of me once more. The force of the shout rippled out just as the Master Orc reached me on the slope. Dazing both zombie and master alike.
I drew my sword bringing it down in a fluid motion catching the arrowed vampire head to toe sending her into an explosion of ash and fire. My sword sparked on the stone as it ploughed through the ash of her corpse. Jarred by the clash of rock the Master Orc came round and sent his axe swinging into my side. Dazed I staggered backwards feeling my very essence syphoning away from me. I deftly swallowed a potion bringing me some relief as I countered another blow. Using all my will I forced the Shout from my body once more giving me the opening to close the gap and render him like a spit boar.
A sharp pain at my throat as the final vampire leapt on me from behind sinking his fangs into my flesh. I tossed him over my shoulder to the ground. Raising my sword I impaled him through the heart before striking his head from his neck like the ash of a match.
Panicking as my vision blurred, that damn creature had given me his curse I knew it, I frantically searched my pack. I knew I had one then finally I grasped it. I threw the elixir to the back of my mouth and felt my heart rate drop in moments. The cure disease potion was expensive but worth every coin. I rested for a moment catching my breath. I made quick work of taking anything valuable and made my way back out to the clearing. The Sun was at high noon, I still had most of the day to make my way to Whiterun and find this Shrine of Talos.
I ate lunch at the side of the pond, before rinsing off and climbing onto Drago's back.
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I also liked how a casual comment about want... more