Seden breathed heavily into his tightly cupped palms, desperately seeking the fading remnants of heat in his lungs. He roughly wrapped his fingers around his soft fur coat, embracing the warm pelt and looked out across the water as his ship glided across the sea and came in to dock. It was a truly magnificent sight and even the cold, miserable Argonians that worked the docks allowed a rare smile to touch each and every one of their scaly faces as they stared at the shining wooden haven. It was built of the finest wood, freshly oiled and cleaned; giving it a majestic shine, and along the bottom it was reinforced with steel plating to allow the mighty ship to break through the cold, hard ice, Its sails sat at half-mast; the beautiful silver fabric hung loosely in the light wind, like a sliver of moonlight against the cloudy sky, Ulfric would be angry that they weren’t wearing his colours as they’d promised they would, but it wasn’t as close to such a beautiful sight with those ragged Stormcloak banners along the ship and Seden’s crew liked to give the Argonians some moral.
As the sails were pulled in and the ship came level with Seden he looked up at the name on the side painted on in the same silver colour as the mast, The Floating Viper; Shawk had use to call Seden ‘Viper’ because of Seden’s love of the throwing knives he preferred to use that went by the name of ‘Flying vipers’ and after that all the Witch Hunters had forced him to adopt the nick name, so when Captain Lonely-Gail had given him a ship it had only felt right to name it in respect for the Witch Hunters. Especially Shawk.
Seden threw off his fur coat; forgetting about the freezing temperature, and bounded towards his ship like a young Breton sprat on Saturalia. “Looking a bit eager there Seden, you’ve only been on land for a month you’re not sick of me already are you?” Turning around Seden saw Bormir Lonely-Gail staring longingly at The Floating Viper with a sad smile on his face.
“Not of you Bormir, of the city.” Seden said reassuringly, “Windhelm’s a cold place old friend and I’m not talking about the weather.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you. The elves thank you for teaching Rolff a lesson last night by the way.”
“I didn’t do it for them, he challenged me and well I’d drunk a good amount of mead at this point…” Seden said sheepishly.
“You mean the mighty Seden actually got drunk, by the eight weren’t you telling me just last week about how it was impossible to get you drunk?” Bormir bellowed with laughter.
“I’d allow you to have your laugh if you didn’t have the smell of a meadery about you.”
“Well we’re not all ale drinking vampires like you, now quit whining about who drinks what or you’ll miss the boarding.” Bormir said slapping his friend on the back.
Seden turned slowly and watched as the crew worked rapidly, tying long, thick robes to the docks, submerging an iron anchor in the icy waters, fastening the silver sails in tight and rolling out a wooden plank to connect the ship to the docks and allow people to walk on and off the vessel. A muscular female Orsimer stepped onto the plank and stared down at those on the dock, she was dressed in simple sailors clothes with a crimson leather privateers cloak attached to her outfit at the shoulders. Seden smiled warmly at her as she picked him out amongst the crowd; however she had a disturbed expression on her face and didn’t return the smile. “Captain you’re going to want to see this.” She called down to him. Seden frowned and beckoned to Lonely Gail to come with him as he pushed through the crowd.
Reaching the plank he looked up at the Orc towering above him, “What is it Garog?” Seden asked quietly.
“Follow me sir, we found a body.” She said whilst turning on her heel and walking back onto the ship, Seden shared a nervous glance with Bormir before the two of them strode onto the ship in pursuit of the Orc.
Garog led the way to the rear of the deck where three sailors stood guard around a motionless grey form on the planks. “Found him no less than an hour ago sir, floating in the waters.” One of the sailors briefed him quickly eager to impress the captain.
Seden pushed past the sailors and looked down at the body on the deck; the corpse was that of a young Dunmer, he was a pale blue colour from spending time in the icy waters and his skin was wrinkled, Seden guessed he’d spent a whole night in the sea looking at the effects that had taken hold of his skin, he wore a dirty white tunic that had been torn open and stained red with blood, the source of the blood was apparent as beneath the ragged tunic he sore three deep incisions expertly placed at each vital organ in the poor Dunmer’s ribs, the blood had washed away in the sea leaving the dark holes behind. “Fished him right out the sea like this, should we give him over to the guards.” A fresh faced sailor said eagerly, he was yet to know how Seden worked and Garog fixed him with a stern look.
“Alistair!” The Orc warned. “The man’s a Dunmer, its likely these very guards are the ones that butchered him and threw him into the sea.”
“No, whoever did this was a professional, they knew what they were doing and where trained to do it.” Seden said quietly, “how far out did you find him?”
“Not far, about forty minutes up.” A sailor quickly replied.
Seden looked at the current, it was going outwards towards sea, “The killer didn’t walk far, they snuck out with the body walked for about ten minutes then dumped it in the water, the tide took it out further and then you found it…Bormir do you know who this man, I recognise him but I can’t think where from.”
Bormir examined the Dunmer carefully, “I’ve seen him up at Candlehearth Inn a few times, quiet man, keeps himself to himself.”
Seden rose from his crouched position and shivered slightly; he’d been too distracted to notice the cold, “Bormir stay with the ship. Garog...” He nodded at the female Orc, the first mate of his ship, “You’re with me.”
Bormir was hesitant to let his friend go off alone after the killer at first but after looking at the stone faced vampire and the giant she-Orc at his side he realised he’d be little help if a fight broke out, besides he missed running a crew of sailors.
Retrieving his coat from the docks Seden slid three flying vipers into view from beneath the blue sash around his waist. Garog smiled at him, baring her tusks slightly, “Is there ever a time you don’t carry those?” She grunted.
“Only if I’m in the presence of a lady.”
Garog clutched her heart adopting a look of hurt, “Captain your harsh words bring pain to my soul.” She wept, using her best ‘fair maiden’ voice.
Seden slapped her hard on the back before dragging her up the stairs and out of the docks.
The two of them walked through the quiet streets, most the town was at the docks to see the arrival of The Floating Viper, a nimble pickpocket lay shivering on a doorstep dressed in nothing but rags, several Dunmer moved quickly through the city careful not to get caught out in the open by the Nords’; the city was a place of fear and depression, even the grey bricked buildings drooped overhead like they hadn’t the energy to stand tall. Pulling his fur coat tight around him he looked to his first mate; Garog gar Atan, He’d rescued her from a slave ship and she’d pledged her allegiance to him serving as his second at sea and on land. “You know what’s strange sir…” Garog began, “Why this Dunmer stayed at Candlehearth inn instead of going to the corner club, surely he would just face bullying at the hands of the Nords staying there?”
“True, maybe he was just defiant; I mean he’s the only Dunmer that goes to the inn other than… the bard. I knew I recognised him, how could I have missed it!” Seden yelled, obviously frustrated.
“Captain what is it?”
Seden looked to his friend and smiled, “I saw the Dunmer last night ‘talking’ to the bard, last I saw of them later she was leading him off to her room. It’s the bard!”
Throwing his fur coat from his shoulders in the direction of the freezing beggar he raced off towards the inn; Garog at his side.
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