Riding back to Solitude my mind was racked with images of my dreams from the previous nights. In fact I didn't realise I was in the city till a Courier broke my contemplation. "Larz D'Ovakine?"
"Yes thats me?" I replied.
"I have a message for you from Falk Firebeard. For your eyes only. Your a hard man to find." With a small bow the Courier handed me the note and went on his way. Unfolding the smart note, the paper edged with gold scrolling, was addressed directly to me. Falk went on to say that there had been some unsettling developments with the ritual I disrupted in WolfSkull Cave. He wouldn't put the details in the Letter but asked me to see him straight away.
Folding the note away I decided to off load Olaf's Verse first before going to the Blue Palace. Entering the Bards College I found Viarmo sat in the college library. "Ah Larz you have returned I hope successfully?" Viarmo greeted me his eyes glinting with eagerness.
Pulling the old book carefully I handed him the Blue backed book from my pack. His face lit up and he immediately started flicking through it. Muttering as he went his face screwed up in consternation."No, no this is no good. The pages have deteriorated in places, large portions are illegible."
"Well could we not just fill in the gaps ourselves?" I wondered aloud. Viarmo shot a glance at me "I suppose I could copy the style but what would we put?"
Many hours later Viarmo was satisfied the completed verse would please Jarl Elisif enough for her to allow the festival to go ahead. Both Viarmo and myself headed to the Blue Palace. This worked out brilliantly not only had I got one step closer to joining the Bards but I was heading in the right direction back towards the Palace.
Falk nodded a hello as Viarmo and I reached the Throne room. Viarmo approached the Jarl and recited the now complete King Olaf's Verse. It went down a storm people were thoroughly entertained much to Viarmo's delight. As he finished Elisif rose to quieten the applause and thanked Viarmo for the rendition concluding that the college would get a moderate reward for our work. Bowing Viarmo thanked her and turned to face me. "Excellent work Larz the festival can go ahead the only thing left to arrange is the Effigy, go speak to Jorn he was responsible for preparing it." With that he excused himself from the court as Elisif walked out down to her chambers.
I followed after her "M'Lady" I called as I approached her. She smiled "It's always a good day when your around Larz, What can I do for you?"
"I returned to inform you that your husbands Horn now rests on the Shrine of Talos."
"Thank you Larz again you have performed a most noble task to the Hold of Solitude in reward I will allow you buy property in the hold, also if you continue to help the people of Solitude I will name you my Thane."
"Your to gracious m'lady it would be an honour." With that I left her chamber and headed back to the court to speak to Falk.
Falk seemed quite anxious to start a conversation, he made a bee line for me as I returned to the main court. "Hail Larz, You got my note I hope? Potema is still risen. Styrr one of the court monks has felt her presence in the catacombs. He thinks she is only in Spirit form but she is still a great threat. Please could you go see Styrr he will give you the key to the catacombs. I feel you are the most suited person to this task Larz please will you continue to protect the people of Solitude?"
"Of course Falk I said to whatever end didn't I? I'm a man of my word and seeing as I was the one who interrupted the Ritual I feel kind of responsible." Falk smiled placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I never doubted you Larz, one more thing before you leave. We received a letter from the Imperial city by Falcon this morning, addressed to you my friend." Falk handed me the Letter "Good news I hope, come see me once you have put an end to Potema for good." Shaking my hand I left slowly walking back outside with the note held tightly in my hand. I needed a drink for this.
The Winking Skeever had been a second home on many nights already in my time in Skyrim. I had bent Corpulus Vinius's ear a number of times and we had become good friends. The bartender already had a mead on the bar as I sat down on the stool.
"Afternoon Larz, You're in here early, not like you."
"Afternoon Corpulus, Yeah but I got a Letter from home I needed something to steel my nerve." I smiled back sliding the note onto the bar. I hadn't really paid much attention to the man sat on the stool next to me as I entered but now over my shoulder he introduced himself.
"Are you going to read it then? Shorry but I overheard you and I'm intrigued I love a myshhhtery. My name is Sham Gue....Guevenne hic". We both looked at him with a questionable expression. I excused his interruption noticing the number of empty bottles surrounding him and the stench of ale on his fetted breath. I pondered for a moment before responding "Well it's not that simple really". This seemed to bring some renewed composure to Sam smiling he asked "Well tell me everything I love a good tale. Here have one of my meads but careful they are Shhtrong." Sliding the bottle down the bar I took a swing and went about telling him how I ended up in the Winking Skeever. Many meads later Sam mentioned a staff he had that might help my situation. I'd completely forgot about the letter until he tapped it with his finger "Well are you going to open it then we can find out if my staff will help?" I nodded "Yessh I think it'sh time I retired to my room to read thishh on my own. Shham it'sh been a pleashhure talking with you but I mushht depart". Sam rose from his stool with a wobble "Please Larzsh have one more drink on me before we part wayshhh." "If you inshhishht....." Gulping down another mead the world slipped into blackness.
"Excuse me....Hey you wake up you drunken lout.....Wake up!" A kick to my side prized my eyes open. My vision still blurred, my head was spinning, I ached all over and as my eyes cleared I was faced with an angry looking priestess dressed in orange robes.
"Where am I?" I questioned holding a hand to the back of my head it felt as though I had been whacked by a Giant's Club.
"Your in the Temple of Dibella in Markarth don't you remember? Look at the state of this place. You barged in here demanding to be married, ranting about some goat paying for it before you went mad and wrecked this place. You proceeded to then pass out!"
"Where? A Goat? I don't know how I got here?" I scratched my head. I had no memory of how I got there. I didn't even know of Markarth.
"Well your helping tidy up before you go anywhere!"
"How did I get here and want to be married to goat?" I questioned. The Priestess obviously saw my confusion. "You mentioned something about a Sam and a staff in Rorikstead." I thanked her whilst tidying up the mess I had supposedly caused. Stepping outside was like drinking a keg of mead my head swam and I was still dizzy.
Markarth was an impressive hold built on the ruins of an ancient dwemer mine. The carvings I recognised but they were much older than Markarth itself. Waterfalls fell and rivers of cool, fresh mountain water ran through the streets. The tall mountains cradling the city blocking much of the sky as they towered around. I didn't have time to admire the architecture, only once I was outside did I realise the Letter was gone. That snake Sam had led me on a merry binge then stole the very thing most precious to me at the time. I had to find him and get it back. I might just take that staff as well for good measure I didn't like being cheated or stolen from.
By the time I had staggered out of the Main gate of Markarth my head had begun to clear. I studied my map, I knew where Rorikstead was, tracing my finger I picked some mountain tops as reference points and figured out where I was. With Drago still in the stable at Solitude it would be a long walk to Rorikstead. The steep valleys and gorges offered great protection from the elements but I felt I was being watched all the time. I didn't come across much in the way of trouble. The usual bandits and wolves although I did catch the end of a battle of some Imperials raiding a Forsworn Camp. I don't know much about them but to my eyes they seemed like tribal barbarians nothing more.
Walking up the main road into Rorikstead my attention was caught by a man brandishing a Hoe in the adjacent field. Running towards me he shouted "Hey you, yeah you thought you could just turn up here again after what you pulled?"
"I'm sorry I don't remember anything, did I mention anything about a Sam and a staff?" I answered as he caught up to me.
"I'm not telling you anything until you bring back Gleda unharmed." The farmer argued.
"Gleda?" I shrugged showing no sign of recollection.
"My prize goat you stole her and sold her to that Giant on the hill." He shouted prodding me in the chest going red in the face.
"OK I'm sorry I really have no memory of what happened if I bring her back you will tell me what you know? I pleaded.
"Yes, yes just get her back unhurt, she should follow you smelling like that it's just like her favourite fermented mead."
The Giant wasn't far away up on the hills surrounding Rorikstead. I went higher up the hill so as to get better angles on the huge man. The first shots got away without him spotting me but the hill was bare of any real cover. I made sure I kept a good gap open while continuing to fire arrow after arrow at him. As he began to labour I closed the gap striking out with my sword until he went down on one knee I raised my blade in a finishing strike worthy of any Dragon neck never mind Giant. Gleda was tied up down the slope, she seemed instantly drawn to me. I lead her back to Rorikstead where the farmer embraced the animal on her return.
I apologized again for the trouble and he told me I had mentioned something about Ysolda in Whiterun. Other than that I was too insensible to make any meaning. I said farewell and started the long walk to Whiterun once again.
Comments
@Ky I didn't mean this part to be a 3 parter but the more I wrote the more I knew I would need a part to reconsile him getting the letter back. This part was inspired primarily by you and Im gla... more