Chapter XXVIII: Subtlety, what is that?

(General POV)

The Lord of Dagoth sighed a tired sigh and grumbled inaudibly to himself while the Jarl and his Housecarl were staring at him. Balgruuf looked about to start asking questions but Reyvin interrupted by raising a hand tiredly "Let us just go somewhere private and sit while we talk, I promise to tell you most of what you wish to know."

The blonde Nord looked at his protector questioningly, and while she was unconsciously gripping her sword so hard her grey skin turned white she cautiously nodded in response. 

They led Reyvin to the great viewing platform to the palace's north, on the way they tried to invite Farengar but the Dunmer sorcerer demanded that as few as possible be present, he was already annoyed with Irileth's presence but understood that at least that much was non-negotiable.

Some suspicion was naturally had due to his request but Balgruuf had by this point grown to trust the elf so against the better judgment of his protector he gave him the benefit of the doubt and they left for the platform under the curious glances of the rest of the palace's guests and inhabitants.

As they took their seats Reyvin lazily summoned a cup of coffee from his storage and rapidly heated it with some precise pyromancy, the relaxed act served to calm the still cautious duo much to his relief.

"Alright then, ask your questions." Reyvin finally grumbled after a couple of calming sips.

Balgruuf was the first to speak "What was that thing and why did it disappear the moment you looked at it?" His tone was firm but he held back any accusation.

"A Daedric artifact." Reyvin responded bluntly "One of the primary ones as well."

The Jarl shivered lightly "And it was just there... sitting in my palace for Divines know how long?" The implications quickly turn his usually pale countenance red as he grows furious at the risk he and his children have been for so long.

The mage nodded easily "That it was, I know not how long but it was a while at least."

"Which one?" Irileth finally interjects, grim determination in her eyes.

Unable to keep his usual snark at bay Reyvin quips "Which one which?"

The Jarl barks a light laugh, momentarily distracted from the grave situation, while the Housecarl holds back a facepalm "The Daedra and the artifact." She grits out.

Reyvin raises his hands placatingly "No need to get so tense Housecarl, as for the answer" He looks at Balgruuf "Are you quite sure you wish to know? Sometimes ignorance can be a blessing."

The Jarl sighed and much like before he chose to confront his problems head on "Speak."

Reyvin snapped his fingers and a long and thin ebony dagger appeared in his right hand, he held it pointed upwards as to seem as unthreatening as possible, a wise choice considering Irilets barely held back aggression at the aura it released "This is the Ebony Blade, modified for my personal use."

Balgruf's eyes widened for an instant before his brain got to work and he quickly made his conclusion "You are a Mephalan." He accused with finality.

Reyvin shrugged, unsummoning the blade in the process "I was unaware Dunmer were forbidden from practicing our faith in the open?" He asks, still completely relaxed.

"It is one thing to offer worship" Irileth interjects with a mix of awe and caution "It is entirely another to have a token practically handcrafted and reforged for your use." She was currently unsure how to act, on the one hand, the Daedra were universally dangerous and thus threatened her charge, on the other a literal divine emissary stood before her.

Once more the sorcerer shrugs without a care in the world "You caught me, I am indeed the chosen of Mephala, whatever shall I do?"

"Why?" Balrguuf asks tersely.

"Why what?" An eyebrow is raised in response.

Balgruuf sighs "Why tell us all of this if you could have easily spun a tale to deceive us?"

"Because Balgruuf I do not care to deceive you" Reyvin responds easily "Out of all the Jarls of this province you are the one that I respect the most and the one I do not wish to lose the friendship of. You will be needed in what is coming and I can't have you being suspicious of me at every turn." Then he quickly adds "And I trust you are not as closeminded as to end our fruitful relationship just because I follow a different creed."

The Jarl seemed genuinely flattered by his words but still frowned after a moment "And what does your... patron make you do to keep its favor to such an extent?"

At this, the elf laughed humorlessly, surprising both of them "I don't bloody know" He grasped his head comically "The madwoman seems far too interested in me and whatever I do, and even as I completely and utterly refuse to sell myself to her she keeps heaping gifts upon me." He slumps into his seat "I swear it is almost like she is obsessed with me."

The Nord grabbed a bottle of mead from the table and took a deep gulp while shaking his head.

Irileth on the other hand was far too busy gaping at Reyvin to do anything else. Was this blasphemy? Or was it divine favor? Her brain was short circuiting and she was unable to reboot.

"Aaaah, that is the stuff" Balgruuf sighed happily as he finished the whole bottle "So you've been tangling with the Daedra even when we purged Rorikstead, eh?" He shakes his head "Rorik did tell me it took one to know one."

"Patently incorrect" Reyvin immediately cuts down the misconception "All it takes is good magic sense and I am by far the leader in that field."

Reyin's eyes take on a mischievous glint as Balgruuf grabs another bottle and starts drinking in a more subdued fashion "Is it too late to tell you I am also a Lord of a great house?"

The Jarl's spit take was one for the records.

(Reyvin's POV)

As the mead is launched all over the table I hold back a smirk of satisfaction. One might think that telling Balgruuf my secrets so blatantly was a terrible idea but I had a deeper understanding of his character, both due to knowing him for so long and due to my blessings and sight.

He was at the end of the day an opportunist, not in the negative sense but something more along the lines of being wise enough to use every opportunity to prosper. He is not someone who openly disdained having connections to the 'underworld' and the 'dishonorables' but had to present himself as such so finding useful contacts was near impossible for him.

So seeing the opportunity I easily inserted myself into that potential position. Not that I had to, as he said I could have easily danced around the question, however getting him on my side with the truth while downplaying my connection to Mephala would no doubt earn me a much firmer alliance.

Balgruuf coughed loudly as his throat expelled the potent drink before glaring at me "Why must you vex me so? This isn't the time for you to play around."

I shrug "You are just jealous I timed it so perfectly."

His eyebrow twitches in admission but he continues glaring at me "Which house then?"

I look away from him and straight into Irileth's eyes "Dagoth."

This time she does pull out her sword.

Before she can attack me however I pull another item from my storage and she stops in her tracks as she stares at the damaged star of Azura "You wouldn't want to damage this further now would you?" I ask teasingly.

The poor Housecarl looks just about ready to shriek in frustration at my behavior but her discipline stops her from such reactions and she merely sheathes her blade while grabbing the bottle out of Balgruuf's hand and downing it instead.

The Jarl stares at his empty hand dumbly before giving me a look of pure respect.

Moments later Irileth realizes what she has done and looks completely horrified, quickly depositing the bottle back on the table.

"Irileth, maybe you should go and relax a bit" Balgruuf looks at her seriously, she goes to interject but he shuts her down with a huff "I will be fine Irileth if he wanted to do us ill he would not have wasted his time with all this."

She looks at me for a while, very unwilling to leave her Jarl with the literal 'spawn of satan' before her but finally relents and leaves.

As the doors close Balgruuf lets out an amused bark of laughter "Hah, I haven't seen her that uncomfortable or unsure about something since we met in the great war." He chuckles off before turning serious "Now then, you wouldn't have told me all that if you didn't want something?"

"Indeed" I agree "I would like to propose something of an alliance between us."

"And what would this alliance entail?" He crosses his palms under his chin and looks at me appraisingly.

"We would go through the details later but in essence, I would deal with the magical and shadowy business within the province while you provide the more open action and resources when needed." I list off before adding "We need to be ready for what is coming."

"And what is coming that would make you reveal your secrets to me?" He asks while pointedly leaving his bottle on the table.

Dammit, he is learning.

"I have already started weakening Ulfric's powerbase for the war" I begin and he nods in approval "But the greatest issue will come during the conflict, a rather grim subject of an ancient Elder Scroll."

His expression turns stony as he hears me, the subjects of an Elder Scroll were more often than not of a very grim nature "What is it?" He asks slowly.

"Dragons."

I can practically see his soul leave his body and ascend beyond this mortal coil before he yanks it back and stares at me with bloodshot eyes, he grabs me by the shoulders "Tell me everything!"

------------------

I spent the entire night first calming Balgruuf down and then plotting everything out with him. By the time we were done he had almost completely forgotten what happened yesterday and looked like his soul was sucked out of his body.

I did get his promise that he would give his all to help us when the time came, even if he cursed me every couple of seconds while doing so.

As we were leaving the palace I went to check out Jorrvaskr and see if my old friend was there but he had apparently gone to Deepholm with a couple of his shield siblings in search of wealth and adventure so I was unable to meet with him.

At least I was satisfied with the knowledge that he had not yet joined the circle of furries.

Nightshade and I left the city of Whiterun and headed east, searching for a mountain passage near Windhelm that would lead us to our destination. It took us a bit over a day to find the damn thing but a couple of Nords sneaking their way to a hidden statue of Talos had unwittingly led us forward.

We were unfortunately forced to leave our horses behind, a small household near the mountain's base eagerly accepted to house them for some meagre payment. I made sure to remember their faces and auras, just in case they chose to do something funny.

And so we ascended the mountains. Nightshade was completely fine with the autumn cold, and treated the snows as if they weren't even there. I on the other hand was too busy thanking all the stars that my robes and clothes were enchanted to high heaven because without them I think I would have probably started burning myself alive just to not freeze to death.

After a bit over a day of hiking we passed an arch of chiseled stone and emerged onto a small mountaintop. Before us stood a modest but well built temple and above said temple loomed an altar to Azura, the massive statue of the Daedra looming over it imposing and protective at the same time.

Naturally, the moment I stepped out into the clearing before the temple I felt the stony eyes focus on me and an otherwordly weight slammed onto my shoulders.

----------------------------------

Azura sure has some stones to be posturing right about now.

If you want to support me directly and get access to 30ish chapters (Just under 60k words) in advance visit my patreon page patreon .com/Rastislav156

If you want to discuss the story or just meme about join my discord server: https://discord.gg/v6NG7JS7aY (link has been refreshed)