Chapter XXXVII: Rest And Rambling

Still palming my pace I let out a long exhale before sitting up properly and forcing myself to appear 'lordly' "No matter. Even with your... blunder" Nightshade twitches slightly "You did still complete your mission." My soldiers visibly relax at my words "Did you manage to get the priest as well?" I add, almost forgetting the Arkayan due to the day's excitement.

"We did." Davos nods immediately, all too happy for the change of topic "He was a little banged up but since it was nothing life threatening we just left him at the local temple, the acolytes should be good enough to nurse him back to health."

"If you think so" I shrug and look back to the soldiery "Speaking of, any one of you lot need a round of healing? No reason to suffer needlessly even if it is a minor thing."

A couple of them perk up and nearly push each other out of the way as they inform me of any bruising or some other irritant that wasn't potion worthy. Instead of bothering with healing them one by one or dealing with their apparent eagerness I simply snapped my finger, forming a golden circle the size of the entire room under me and sending out a pulse of highly charged positive Magicka and immediately getting rid of whatever minor problem they had.

This also included the nausea apparently.

My presence was likely the only reason they did not fall upon the food in front of them like rabid beasts and instead contented themselves with simply eating quickly but politely.

With that done I looked back to the duo of leaders, who were also eyeing the food with some eagerness "You can relax for the day, even if there might be a scuffle later on our target is going to be either corrupt guards or traitorous merchants so there should be no issues in dealing with them."

"Thanks, boss." Davos says in relief while Nightshade nods wordlessly.

"In any case, I am off to see the Jarl." I say, slowly getting up "Make sure that the rest are not about to make a mess and send someone to inform me the moment Serana wakes up."

"Sure thing, boss."

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The halls of Understone Keep were inured with a heavy sense of tension as I stepped inside, many eyes immediately fell upon me as I passed but then swiftly returned to their duties. Absently I noted that a good third of the guards were not wearing their usual armor and instead looked to be more in line with the housecarls of the landed Thanes of the city.

Even a pair of Evermor squires could be seen patrolling the halls.

Replacing the corrupt ones already? Either he is a fool or is baiting the Silver-bloods. I certainly hope it is the latter.

My thoughts are interrupted as I stop walking and look to the right, just as Calcelmo hobbles out of his little museum. The moment his eyes land on me his hurries expression shifts into a glare of not quite hatred, it was cutting it close however.

"Master Calcelmo." I greet politely, pretending not to notice his expression.

"Master Reyvin." He grits out "Would you kindly follow me to my study? I have things we need to discuss."

I raise an eyebrow at this, though I was pretty certain what he wanted "Truly?" I ask with faux eagerness "Lead the way then."

We pass by the many guards without saying anything else, whatever was simmering within the old Altmer was definitely not something he wanted overheard or maybe he was just being polite about it.

Finally we stepped into his little Dwemer workshop/excavation center and after he made sure his nephew wasn't about to blow something up he led me toward a carved out room housing a small library and many scattered Dwemer parts.

'Definitely alteration made.' I note, noticing the too smooth walls. Calcelmo takes a seat at his table and offers me one as well. After being seated and waiting politely for the elder to gather his thoughts I speak up "Well then, what did you wish to discuss?"

He pours himself some kind of shimmering wine no doubt made through dubious alchemy and takes a short swig "You noted the sudden influx of new guards, yes?"

"I did indeed, and I have to say I am still on the fence between being impressed or disappointed." I nod, taking the cup he offered me. The wine was surprisingly good and even had a bit of fizziness which brought back memories.

"So you do know something." Calcelmo narrows his eyes "I wondered why the Jarl sent guards from many different units to help me guard the damned shrine but to think he sent them there to be culled..."

"Pretty smart of him, if he can pull off the aftermath." I hum approvingly while twirling the shiny wine cup.

"Bah!" Calcelmo huffs, his accent turned almost comically Nordic before he composed himself "The boy styles himself a wise strategist, a complete delusion no doubt but he can have his moments... Shame about the couple of loyal ones he had me bring."

"Yet something tells me you are unhappy with him..." I say leadingly.

"Of course I am!" The old elf puts down his cup a bit too loudly "The boy realized what you were doing and didn't think to warn me!"

I let his words settle for a moment before deadpanning at him so hard I swear I could see a minute flinch "You didn't even consult him, did you?"

He tries to look confident but after my trademarked long stare of disappointment he looks away and huffs "He hadn't needed me for over a decade and I am too focused on my own research. We generally don't even talk with each other."

"And this is where I cut you off and tell you to deal with your own interpersonal issues on your own time." I say without even a tiny bit of hesitation "What do you want me to do here?"

He seems slightly irritated but doesn't press, instead his earlier glare returns as he points at me "You sent me against a bunch of vampires!"

"And?" I fold my arms while tapping a finger on one of them for the sake of looking impatient.

"I am an old man, I am not supposed to be fighting a Daedra's rabid dogs!" He hisses.

My eyes narrow "You are also the Court Wizard of Markarth, and if you did your damned job properly you would have never had to fight them in the first place."

"Not all of us are as insane as you madmen from Winterhold!" He snaps, though his voice remains low "We have lives beyond simply showing off our magical might just so that we can feel proud of ourselves."

"I see..." I tap my finger a couple more times before exhaling and unfolding my arms "Your cowardice aside" I begin and his eye twitches "I will admit that my standards of what a true mage should be may be a bit high. So, Calcelmo, what is it that you want?" My voice hardens.

He must have seen something in my eyes and immediately looks away, probably rethinking his original demand and after a bit speaks "There is a giant spider blocking any further excavation efforts of Nchuand-Zel. I want it gone."

"Just that?" I ask, genuinely stunned but how little he decided to ask. He must be really rattled with how little of a shit I gave...

Calcelmo scoffs "I assure you it is not so simple, the damn thing is massive and still as fast and agile as the rest of its kin. The blasted cowards who I sent to deal with it even gave it a bloody name."

"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Indeed, damnable spider goes by Nimhe now." He drawls "Now I trust you will prepare a proper hunting pa-" He suddenly turns completely silent as he feels a shimmer of power covering a vast portion of the excavation.

Still staring Calcelmo dead in the eyes I spread my senses through the cave system, my metaphysical eye swiftly landing on a truly giant specimen of frostbite spider. It only took me a tiny mental nudge to have the massive beast scurrying toward a hidden cave outside of the city "Done." I declare suddenly.

Calcelmo blinks slowly, and upon realizing that I was not in fact fucking with him loses even the tiniest hint of his earlier haughtiness "Truly?" He rasps.

"Indeed." I nod, treating the whole thing as unimportant "I trust that was everything?"

"Y-yes." He nods hesitantly.

"Excellent." I clap my hands and get up from my seat "It was truly a pleasure working with you, Master Calcelmo."

He stares at me with disbelief before letting out a heavy sigh and forcing out a "Likewise."

Thought you could extort me you old fart? Ha!

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

The Jarl ushered me toward his own private study the moment I stepped into his throne room. The man looked outright giddy at finally getting back at his uppity vassals and the large number of nobles sitting around in the throne room were also visibly eager for the no doubt massive pie that was about to be made from the flesh of the Silver-bloods.

And I immediately regret making that comparison, considering what was crawling through these halls not so long ago I really should not be making such metaphors.

"A reason to celebrate, Jarl Igmund?" I ask as the man practically skips through the palace.

"Why would I not celebrate?" He smiles, genuinely happy "I am finally about to be rid of those upstarts."

"Only to replace them with others, no doubt." I quip and his countenance dims only slightly.

"Bah" He waves me off "They will know to be thankful for a while at least, enough for me to secure my position against any other Silver-blood wannabes."

"Prudent" I voice neutrally "But better to deal with our resident upstarts before celebrating."

"In that you are completely right." Igmund agrees easily "Your agent has been invaluable and gave me so much dirt on the entire clan that I could bury them alive in it."

"Yet you wish to be truly rid of them." I note.

"I do." He nods eagerly "I want all the leaders dead at my feet and the rest banished from the city in shame."

I hum for a while before shrugging "As long as you do not wholesale slaughter them I believe that that is acceptable."

"I won't turn them into martyrs by killing children." His eyes darken "I know why you would say that but it still doesn't sit well that you felt the need to."

"Nobles will always be nobles, no matter their kin or creed." I shrug carelessly.

"I guess you are right in that." He sighs "Now then, I have some ideas on how to deal with the bastards but your input will no doubt be helpful."

I offer him a slight inclination of my head "I am at your service."

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Hours later, with the sun already setting once more I made my way back to my residence. Throughout our long conversation I learned that Igmund really could call himself something of a strategist, even though Calcelmo was right in the sense that he wasn't quite that good.

In the end we settled with a plan and all it would take was a couple of days to spread false news and rumors to bait the Silver bloods into openly revealing their hand, the nobles and even the Breton knighthood would waste no time in ripping them to shreds once that happened.

I just hope that any Stormcloak supporters in the city weren't stupid enough to try and commit suicide by way of angry Igmund once the commotion started.

With quiet steps I made my way toward my room and lit a bright candle atop one of the smaller tables in the corner, a large canvas spread out on a wooden board appearing in my hands followed by a brush but a moment later.

Hours more passed as I immersed myself into painting the landscape I sketched during my journey to Markarth, my highly enhanced memory easily allowing me to keep an almost perfect mental image of it in my mind as I did my work.

I was so immersed with my work in fact, that I barely heard the creaking of the door once someone quietly entered, it did not take me long to realize who it was.

"A fine evening for a midnight stroll, no?" I ask as I get up and dismiss my painting equipment.

The very distraught visage of Serana shifts slightly, though I fail to decipher why, and she nods quickly, already turning toward the exit as she did.

Time to see just how far the power of the sword goes...

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Bless my tired self with your stones of potence!

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