Act I: Burning Stars
-Taruck-
I grunted loudly, in hopes of catching Lady Elenwen’s attention. Sure enough, she reared her devilish face.
“M’lady,” I began,”I don’t think you understand. This boy, Petyr it was, has stolen thousands of gold septims, in jewels, from the Thalmor Embassy. What I am suggesting is that I lead a small group of our soldiers to where he was last spotted, Falkreath Hold. I’ll return with our gold, and our enemy.”
Elenwen’s nostrils flared,”Watch your tongue with the word ‘our’ Osrimer, remember you are no more Altmer than you are Tullius. As for your ‘suggestion’ i’ll have to think about.” She finished her sentence by lazily gazing out past the large balcony, watching down the fields of wheat with her eagle eyes.
“If you do not answer soon, he will have escaped my grasp, Lady Elenwen. Please, this is for yourself, not for me.” I urged her further.
She frowned, as the damnable High Elves often did in my presence,”Fine, you can borrow my platoon of seven. They already know your title, no doubt. I trust you know where they are stationed, per my visit?”
“By the stables, no doubt.” I answered with a pique of cockiness.
“Good. I expect word from you within two weeks time. They must be captured by then. If not, i’ll see someone else to this matter.”
I nodded, and thrust my wolf cloak backwards as I exited the balcony. Twas a pity to leave, the balcony of Dragonsreach could be a truly majestic location.It was almost as elegant as Elenwen, if she wasn’t an elf, that is.
I sighed, walking down the stairs, my black leather doublet boasting the sigil of the Thalmor, pushed far forward, as I walked with my shoulders behind me, and my chest puffed up. It was important to keep a fine and tasteful appearance around the elves, lest’ you wanted to be taken for an idiot, like the average Nord.
Two rows of gleaming golden cloaked soldiers stood in front of the door, leading all the way up to the Jarl’s steps. The first few held an elven shield and sword, on each of their shields a different letter had been painted in the Ayleid alphabet. Supposedly it was supposed to represent the single soldier, as part of unanimous nation. Although from what I could gather, it was really just for show. I strided past them confidently, picking up a tall glass of wine on my way out.
When I exited Dragonsreach, I tightened the broach attached to my cloak, shivering from the bitter morning air. I descended the steps taking sips of wine every few paces. The city was looking much better than before their attack. Guards of gold stood attentive at each corner, with more discipline than the drunken and disputed Nordic men. When I approached the city wall, I dropped my glass, listening to it shatter across the floor.
I arrived at the stables faster than I expected, perhaps because I always imagined Whiterun… larger. A platoon already stood next to the horses, each soldier with a specially made helm with the head of a Summerset Hawk jutting forward. I passed by them slowly, observing their weapons. The first three held long two-handed spears with an ornately decorated wooden shaft about five feet tall, and a head of ebony glass made up of four decorative hawk skulls, with their beaks blending together at the tip to form another foot for the weapon’s height.
Two others held sword and shield, nothing particularly spectacular about them, they were nothing but the standard issue weapon to the Thalmor soldiers. The final two, stood with not a single weapon in their hands, but they donned a unique armor made of pale green glass, much like the color of my own skin.
I chuckled at the thought, and stared deep into their eyes. Unsurprisingly, i found nothing of interest.
“You are the soldiers ordered by Lady Elenwen to accompany me, correct?” I inquired with a bold tone, to attempt to win them over.
The tallest of the pair in glass stepped forward with a stern expression,”You have been informed correctly. We stand at the ready to hunt your foes, Ser Taruck of-”
“Camlorn,” I interrupted him,” Lady Elenwen always says I hail from Wayrest, but she is mistaken, I am a native of Camlorn,” I paused to see if I still had their attention before continuing,”We are headed to Falkreath Hold, to locate a man who goes by the name of Petyr. He is a youth by all means, and is a professional thief. As any decent thief, he may even have a silver tongue, be sure not to kneel to the bribery of this half-witted Nord. Now, I’ve not a steed, so we shall travel by foot. You will obey my every command to the letter, am I understood?”
The soldiers nodded obediently, and followed me on the walk south. For about two long hours we encountered nothing peculiar, until we found the wagons.
“Hail, travellers!” I shouted.
They were a queer group, a young girl, no older than eleven, an woman with blonde hair that flowed just past her shoulders, and a Saxhleel tall as they might come. Just behind those three, was an older looking Redguard, carrying a coffin in his wagon. The others carried large boxes, but I could not spy what lied within.
The travellers stopped at my command, I grinned at myself, and continued forward. I ordered my men to form a semi-circle around them, with myself standing at the head of it, as i asked questions.
“State your name and purpose for travelling the road in such abundance.”
The woman spoke first, pulling down on her onyx robe as she spoke,”We are merchants, my good sir. Our destination of choice is Dawnstar. This is the quickest route.”
I pointed at the crates they carried on each wagon,”Truly? You know, I find merchants to be the best kind of person. You know, they may lie to you, and cheat you, they might even kill you, but never is there as good a salesman as a merchant. And I’m sure you understand how important it is to be a good salesman…”
The woman nodded eagerly, with a faux expression of tranquility in her face, but her furrowed brows and piercing eyes gave her away. She said not a single word, and neither did her companions, so i continued,”Tell me, merchant of the south, are you fond snakes?"
She shook her head with a puzzled expression, so i elaborated,” You see, no one enjoys the snake in the grass. For what does the hidden serpent do? It strikes when you least expect it. It leaves a horrible scar as well, assuming it’s venoms don’t kill you. That is why, the common farmer, soldier, and i’m sure even a merchant such as yourself loathes the snake. Although, it does have one redeeming quality…” I paused and looked her in the eyes,”It’s scales can never truly match the grass, making it easy to spot, to the trained eye,” I laughed loudly, and encouraged her to join in, but she simply stood; uneasy.
I scratched a thin layer of stubble just under my jaw, and gave a signal with my hand, that my soldiers immediately understood. They kicked the travellers to the ground, pointing their weapons steadily and dutifully.
I loosened my cloak, and reached behind my spine, pulling out an intimidatingly large warhammer with the sigil of the Empire carved in it. I swung at the air once, and made sure to stop about an inch above the woman.I heard a shriek from someone else, likely the younger girl, but the blond-haired one remained silent.
Not a single person moved, and I was starting to enjoy this a bit too much. I needed to do something less suspenseful. I walked over to the Redguard and picked him up, placing him just beside a large rock wall.
“Woman, please stand up, if you’d be so kind.”
She immediately stood up and watched me with eyes full of malice.
“Now woman, who are you really?” I asked with a bitter undertone.
“Merchants.” She insisted.
I smiled,”Very good. Where are you going and why?”
She swallowed,”We are headed to Dawnstar for-”
I cut her off, smashing my warhammer directly into the Redguard’s skull, crushing and disfiguring it horribly. Wisps of his blood covered beard and some of his skin, had unfortunately stuck to my weapon. My arm remained tense from the strike, as his body slid to the floor, and a trail of blood as well.
I sighed loudly,”Did I tell you to stop talking?”
She shook her head in shock.
“Then why did you? Please, continue. You were just explaining why you were headed to Dawnstar.” As I spoke, I methodically picked off pieces of the Redguard from the war hammer.
She stuttered as she spoke, I’d finally gotten to her,”I..we… were going to take a… ship to Windhelm… for war sales..”
“That’s not what you said the first time…” I stroked my clean shaven cheeks as i spoke,”Guards… you and you. Make sure she is not armed. If she is not, you can have her,” the guards rushed over to her almost immediatly. There had to be something wrong in what i’d done… but she was a criminal.. anyone could tell,” The rest of you… take off your robes, so we know you have no weapons. My soldiers will make sure you are safe, and when you are. We will leave.”
It was a good two hours before we could get nearby town guards to arrest them, and for my soldiers to be... finished with their jobs. Although I knew as well as they did, we had to make haste and Falkreath Hold, so we did.
I refused to stop for any other possible criminal, Petyr was my only concern.
Soon enough, we reached Falkreath Hold to find it relatively empty. There’d been rumour, but nothing concrete. He’d escaped my grasp, or perhaps, he simply hadn’t wandered into yet.
