The Prophet 5: Ironline

• Posted by Clement Bilhorn August 30, 2013 - 871 views

  The road to Falkreath bodes ill.

  

  As usual, a brisk run from one end of Skyrim to the other isn't my favorite thing, but it's not too draining either, even with the sun up. Perversely, it's my concern for Serana that gives me speed. Fai'mar, to his credit, and my relief, manages to keep up.

  "Bodies here," Fai'mar says. "And Fai'mar can smell more further in."

  "Yeah, me too," I say. That, and smoke. I don't like it. 

  But the town isn't empty.

  

  I'm pretty sure these aren't Falkreath's original inhabitants. I've been here a lot.

  

  Fai'mar says my thoughts, and more. 

  "These ones have come for the Favored," he says. "They are on his trail. But I don't know them."

  I ask if he had expected to know every one of the "murderous degenerates" coming up from the south, but before he can answer, I'm already attending to the new arrivals.

  

  I don't mince words. Or waste time. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

  

  The silence hits me harder than their stares. This goes on for almost half a minute, while all I can hear is the pines, the wind, and the flies. 

  Finally, the tall one speaks. "Quite bold, stranger. I could ask you the same but I already know the answer."

  

  "The Favored," I say.

  "Correct. As you can see," she continues, "I and my soldiers have beaten you here, thought to what end I'm not sure...

  

  ...the town was a graveyard when we arrived."

  

  "But were there flames?" I ask. "I've seen the Favored's handiwork before. He's a mage."

  "Indeed? Perhaps you are not so far behind as I thought." She offers her hand, which I take--I still don't like the looks I'm getting from her associates, but at least a hand in mine is one less on a weapon. Of course, that takes a hand away from me, too, but I can kill people with my voice. 

  We shake. "Zoya Sechi," she says. "Captain of the Ironline. And yes, there were flames. And bodies. More than what you see here. We put out the fires and began cleaning up some of the dead before you arrived."

  "Yeah, sorry to interrupt," I say. "But I've got good news for you--I'm not here for the bounty. I'm here for my wife."

  

  "Oh? You had me fooled, stranger."

  "Stranger?" Zoya's friend says. "This is the Dragonborn. A legendary hero in these parts."

  

  "More than legendary," I say. "Try real. Now where's my wife? Did you see her? The Favored came here for her."

  "I'm not going to tell you," Zoya says. "If you really are the Dragonborn, then I've no doubt you intend to find the Favored and kill him."

  "I'll give you the bounty," I say. "I just want your help."

  "You don't understand. The Empire wants a hero, and much comes with that status--money, land, prestige. Immortal fame. The Ironline seek all of this. The money is beside the point."

  "You're joking." There's a shuffle of metal from all sides. "You know who I am, and you're still going to get in my way?"

  

  "I know a threat when I hear one," Zoya says. "But do you know a threat when you see one?"

  Now, I don't like the sound of that.

  

  "I wait for your word, Captain." 

  Strange as it is, I really don't feel like fighting these people. I'm not entirely sure what I'm dealing with, that's for sure. Foreigners, well-equipped, utterly fearless...and rather indifferent to the fact that I'm the Dragonborn. Serana wouldn't like me risking myself  like this. Besides, if they're not going to put me on the Favored's trail, then maybe I'll just wait for them to start following it.

  In the meantime, there's still the fact that I'm the Dragonborn and they're threatening me. 

  

  So I've made another dozen enemies--more, if the Ironline's bigger than this--but at least I'm still alive. I'll find Serana, one way or another. If I have to kill this Favored, or let him come to me, or I just come in and pick up the pieces after Zoya and the other hunters kill him...I'll still win.

  Suddenly, Fai'mar reappears while I'm heading out of town. "And where were you?" I ask.

  "Looking around," he says. "And now Fai'mar has something to tell you."

  

  I tell him it can wait until we get a safe distance out of town. Satisfied that Zoya isn't following--I'm sure they can't catch us with all that armor, anyways--I bring us to a stop.

  "What is it? Is it Serana?"

  He shakes his head. "Fai'mar saw no sign of her. But you know that this is also a good thing."

  "Maybe she got away."

  "Perhaps. There is another thing. Not all those bodies' wounds were from fire." I stare at him. "Perhaps this Ironline is not so different from your other enemies after all."

  "What?" I say. "Why didn't you say anything?"

  

  "Because Fai'mar did not want to die in a fight. Not this one, anyways. There was no money in it."

  "No money? It's money you want?"

  "Of course. Have you already forgotten why Fai'mar follows you?"

  For a very long few seconds, I'm really not sure what I want to do with him. Fortunately, in this instance, my mind wins out over my heart. "It's money you want? Here's a deal, then. I give you money, you do what I say. You go follow those people."

  "A smaller sum of money," he muses, "but without the risk of a violent death. Fai'mar approves. And where will you be going to, then, with no trail to follow?"

  "I'm going to go send a message."