The Prophet 6: Shout

• Posted by Clement Bilhorn September 7, 2013 - 806 views

  I give Fai'mar a few hours to get moving after the Ironline head out of what's left of Falkreath. As much as I hate those bounty hunters, if they've got the Favored's trail, then I need them. And to get that trail, I need Fai'mar. I know I'm skilled enough to follow Zoya, but if I lose the trail from there...

  

  So that's why I'm working on a backup plan. If I can't track the Favored, maybe I can make him an easier target. Maybe I can even get him to come to me.

  I know that I have no leverage on him, none yet that I can think of, but I do have my allies, and powerful ones at that.

  Although it occurs to me that I've been a bit neglectful of them. Since I last saw the Greybeards, I've been to Sovngarde, Elsweyr, the Soul Cairn, and a bunch of places in between. 

  

  I wonder if they know what happened to Lisin. Suddenly, I feel a bit guilty that I didn't tell them; Lisin was one of theirs, but it's not like they would've heard about her death unless they've got powers I don't know about.

  

  On the bright side, dim as it may be, avenging Lisin's of the same order as finding Serana. So now the Graybeards should be motivated to help me. I explain my situation to Arngeir, and he takes the news with the same implacable resilience he's always displayed. Part of me envies his stoicism, but if I were a stoic, I'd probably have given up on finding Serana already.

  So I tell him what I need: a way to be heard. I've got the Voice, but it's limited. I can use it as a weapon, but me trying to speak in it would be like the babbling of a toddler.

  

  Arngeir says it's simpler than that. "Mere words may ride the Thu'um, and be carried aloft by its strength."

  "Great," I say, and head for the courtyard.

  "But your words will not have any power," he says. "You cannot shape the world with your words. Only with the Thu'um."

  "Just watch me."

  

  I take a breath. The other Shouts, I've memorized. This is something different, but choosing my words is just as important. But by the moment I'm ready to speak, I realize I don't even need to think about it. My soul tells me.

  "FAVORED!

  

  Listen to me.

  

  I know nothing about you but this: you know who I am. And you still come after me. 

  

  You killed my friend. You kidnapped my wife. You destroyed half a town just for this.

  

  If you wanted to make me mad, then congratulations. You've done it. And now I'm coming for you.

  

  Maybe that's what you want. Fine. You aren't the first to challenge me so openly.

  

  But you will be the last.

  

  In all of Skyrim, there is no fort great enough, no pit deep enough, no power strong enough to protect you.

  

  Because, Favored, I am that power.

  Consider yourself warned."