Chapter XX: Court

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I enter the throne room of the Blue Palace only to be completely ignored by everyone but the king and his guard who eye me for a bit, but don't otherwise react. The rest are still busy shouting at each other at an ever increasing volume. I am starting to understand why the greybeards might have decided to withdraw the voice from their people...

I note a hint of recognition on the King's face so he must want to see how I will behave. Surprisingly prudent for the 'boy king'.

Taking a moment to look over those present I get a gist of what is going on here by doing what I do best, cheating without a hint of remorse.

On one side there is a group of nobles under Thane Bryling, from my understanding they are the 'traditionalist faction' of the city, well as traditionalist as one can be in the most metropolitan part of Skyrim.

They are the reactionaries to the other side, usually meaning that they don't really do anything but oppose any kind of change, which is a big no-no in my books.

On the other are the influential merchants under Thane Erikur, the 'pragmatists' as they like to call themselves, but that is usually just an excuse to exploit any opportunity to get rich, they are the Hlaalu of Skyrim, also a big no-no.

I also notice a representative of the east empire company among them which has all manner of implications.

My apparent new colleague, Sybille Stentor is sitting in her own corner, completely uninterested in what is going on reading a tome on some kind of restoration magic.

Remembering a rather important detail about her, I decide to 'look' her over... So this is what a vampire feels like? Not as dead as a lich but close, yet somehow still filled with 'life'...

Weird.

She seems to notice the slight glow in my eyes and smirks but doesn't react otherwise.

My musing is interrupted by Erikur shouting "So you want us to just do nothing and let the entire city continue to rot just to save your fragile sensibilities?!"

Bryling bristles at his words "Of course I don't want that, I just don't want you using this as an excuse to enrich yourself further by selling the people into slavery!"

He scoffs "It isn't slavery. No one would take them otherwise."

"Oh, and the nice bonus you were offered has nothing to do with your sudden willingness to help the people?" Bryling rolls her eyes.

Eirkur takes a deep breath, seemingly counts to ten, and says patiently "By the gods woman, it is merely a contract of work for five years and then they are free. How is that slavery?"

"And when the contract gets 'lost' on accident?" She snarks.

"How am I supposed to control that?" He shrugs, exasperated.

I loudly cough to get everyone's attention, it seems to work as I am currently feeling the furious gazes of dozens of nobles on me.

Naturally, I ignore them with zero shame and say in a faux-polite tone "While the debate is most riveting and my lowly self is inspired by your visionary ideas, I am afraid that my servant and I have traveled long to get here and would like to get our business done sometime this month."

The king shakes his head, and Sybille has to keep herself from laughing at my audacity.

Bryling's eye twitches, but she doesn't react hoping to get some dirt to throw at her rival, and he promptly delivers.

The wealthy Thane slowly turns his head to me in some kind of childish attempt at intimidation and asks "And who are you to force yourself into a meeting of the royal court?"

I raise an eyebrow "If I wasn't supposed to be here, do you think I wou-"

"You could be a servant and still get in." He interrupts me with a disdainful smirk.

My eye twitches and I go to ignore the literal man-child, I turn to the king and prepare to give him the customary bow, but of course, it doesn't end there when spoiled nobles are involved.

"I wasn't done talking to you!" Erikur snarls while getting up from his seat.

Ok, if you can't take the hint I guess it is time for violence.

I turn back to the fuming Erikur and whisper "wuld" appearing right in front of him and grabbing his shirt.

I look down at him with glowing red eyes and growl out slowly "Interrupt me again and I am throwing you out the window." He starts shaking in fright "Are we clear?" I ask after a moment and he nods frantically. "Good." I drop him and return to the center of the room as if nothing happened.

The king's guard gives me a bemused look but still says "No violence in the throne room, you have been warned."

I nod politely to both him and the king "But of course, do excuse my behavior. I have been traveling for a month to get here and my patience has been strained by the land's dangers."

Torygg smirks "Yes, Balgruuf did inform me of your deeds in his hold. Skyrim is lucky to have you."

"It is my honor to be of service, King Torygg." I incline my head.

"Excuse me." I hear Bryling's voice from behind me "While it is obvious that the King is aware of who you are, it would be a great relief for the rest of us if we knew who was the one speaking."

Oh, I can practically sense her own annoyance at my behavior, but she seems to have taken her etiquette lessons very seriously judging by her self-control.

I smile without a care in the world "Do forgive my lack of manners, as I said it has been a trying time." She smiles thinly, but I can feel the glare at my non-answer.

I smirk and mock-bow "Reyvin Flame-tongue, High Enchanter of WInterhold. At your service madam."

She raises an eyebrow "The tongue?"

I scratch my chin "Hmm, never really liked that title... sounds dirty."

She blanches, but I hear Torygg let out a very quiet snort. Erikur has no such subtlety as he laughs loudly at my implication.

Did he forget I just threatened his life or does he just not care?

The young King shakes his head and says "Reyvin here, has graciously accepted my invitation to serve as an extra court mage due to the turbulent times. He is renowned across Skyrim as a great battle mage and enchanter, so treat the newest member of the court with respect."

The angry gazes turn calculating in mere moments, and the place starts to actually feel like the nest of vipers that it is.

Deciding it is time to skedaddle I say to the King "Thank you very much for the introduction your majesty, but as I said we have traveled long and would prefer to get some rest before I can get to work."

He gives me a nod of understanding "Of course, Sybille will show you the way."

The court mage gets up from her seat, the book she was reading nowhere in sight, and signals for me and Davos to follow her.

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We exit the throne room and head toward the south-east of the palace, I think I saw a tower in this direction.

My suspicions are confirmed when we reach a tall blue tower, otherwise featureless, making it highly contrast with the rest of the palace with its lack of artwork.

My guide, a tall Breton woman with slightly glowing red eyes and long dark brown hair, finally speaks in a voice far too youthful for someone her age "This is the mage's tower of the palace, both of you will be staying here for the duration of your employment. Do not fear, there is more than enough space for everyone."

She doesn't wait for any response and after opening the iron door leads us up a narrow circular staircase without saying anything.

Once we are halfway up the tower she points to a small doorway and says patiently "These are the servants quarters, they were mostly left empty as I prefer to live on my own but the palace steward still had them cleaned regularly. Make yourself at home."

Davos looks at me and I shrug.

He nods and enters the room, quickly making himself at home.

We walk further and further up the stairwell.

"Please don't tell me that our rooms are all the way upstairs." I grumble.

I don't see her face as she is in front of me but I know she smirks "Then I won't say anything."

"Wiseass"

She giggles into her hand "Aww is the young mage too weak for stairs?"

"Not all of us have nigh infinite stamina woman" I snark back.

She doesn't react at all and asks as if discussing the weather "Whatever could you mean by that? Did you see something I did not?" Yup, she definitely noticed at least something.

I smile brightly and ask "Whatever could you mean by that?"

Now it's her turn to grumble.

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I throw myself onto the floor, almost hugging it while breathing heavily.

"Oh come on, it wasn't all that bad." I hear from above me.

I slowly sit up and lean onto a nearby wall "Wasn't all that bad? Woman I have enhanced myself far beyond the strength of an average person and that was the most grueling experience of my life!"

She shakes her head "Now you are just being dramatic."

"Yup." I smirk "But this tower is still unnecessarily tall."

"On that we agree..." She sighs "But it does keep the annoying sycophants away."

"A worthy sacrifice then." I nod seriously.

We both turn silent for a bit and I take a moment to look over my temporary home. There seem to be five apartment-like rooms encircling small hall. The rooms themselves seem very well equipped with everything a mage of some means might need.

I turn to Sybille "We have more colleagues?"

She seems a bit surprised by my question but quickly realizes what I am on about "Oh no, the rooms are kept furnished but I was the only resident for years now. That young Altmer, Melaran had the potential to join me but Erikur snatched him too quickly"

"Right, that reminds me... What do we actually do at court?" I ask.

She sighs "Listen to the fools bicker and then give a bit of advice when magic is involved." My face pales slightly and she smirks "Or that is what I have been doing, but with the rising tensions in the hold I expect we will be doing much more field work. Especially with the rumors of undead and forsworn rearing their barbaric heads."

"Oh yeah, fighting those might be fun" I mutter.

She hears me apparently as she asks "Fun?"

I shrug "Eh, I may or may not have gotten addicted to fighting other mages..."

There is a hint of realization in her eyes as she gives me a look of a fellow victim "Oh, let me guess. Faralda taught you?"

I stare at her with dead eyes "You as well?"

She seems to be going through some kind of episode but quickly snaps out of it and also says in a dead voice "Yes."

After a bit more silence I decide to handle the most important question here "How long have you served as court mage here?"

She humms "About twenty five-ish years, why?"

I give her a blank stare "You don't seem a day over twenty."

Her lips thin in annoyance "Is this going to be a problem?" she asks frostily.

I shake my head "Not if you don't make it one, just make sure you don't make a mess and I am not associated with whatever you end up doing. Try and show your fangs anywhere near me and I will show you how I earned my name, deal?"

She seems a bit conflicted, a part of her is very offended at the child that just dared speak to her like this, while another seems rather intimidated by my magical presence and fortunately the more rational part wins out as she sighs "Very well, it's not like I would be really changing anything anyway."

"Quite" I drawl, and then clap my hands and ask with the subtlety of a warhammer "So! Care to tell me how vamprism works?"

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