Chapter XXIV: Marco

We leave the Bard's College and head toward the less extravagant part of the upper city.

"So, Mark was it?" I ask my new punching b- *Cough* follower, damn well knowing it wasn't.

"It's Marco!" The very annoyed young Altmer exclaims with a red face.

"Riiiiight" I drawl "So Maro would you care to recommend some of the interesting sites in the city while we walk?"

"It's -Never mind." He sighs "I am guessing you have already been to the palace?"

I nod "Yes, it was quite the sight. Though it did feel a bit over-decorated."

"What do you mean over-decorated? The Blue Palace has been a monument of art for the entirety of the Septim dynasty! It has works from all over Tamriel." His words carry both insult at my own and pride for his city.

I wave it off like it is the least important thing in the world "Eh, it at some points feels like a bunch of thrown together pieces that are there just so people can say that they are and not for any tasteful decoration."

He huffs "And what would you know about art?"

I smile conspiratorially "There is only one art that I need to know of for my opinion to matter more than yours."

Davos chuckles but goes otherwise unnoticed.

"Oh? And what is this art?" his voice turns disbelieving.

Did he genuinely think there was some secret here? I shrug "Why the art of killing people of course" He balks and I go on "Kill enough people and even Kings will give you the time of day."

"But..." He seems shaken "But that is barbaric!"

I nod sagely "Indeed it is, but it is also true." before he can sulk further I interrupt "Now come on I don't have the whole day and want to see as much of the city as possible. I have to deal with stuffy nobles in the evening." Now it is my turn to sulk.

"R-right" He stammers and composes himself "Well then, follow me!"

He leads me to the Temple of the Divines, then proceeds to explain the history of the building, the one who financed its construction and so on. The young mer is surprisingly knowledgeable... Maybe he can still be salvaged after all.

"I do have to admit" I mutter as we walk through the main hall of the temple, he perks u and I go on "The lack of the Talos shrine is rather jarring."

His eyes widen and he asks carefully "And why is that?".

I smile "Why because it destroys the symmetry of course! Look at them, it totally doesn't add up with how they are arranged. What did you think I was going to say?"

He looks supremely uncomfortable and shifts his feet for a bit, then seemingly gathers his courage and asks "Are you sure you should be saying that in the open? You know what happens to those who say such things."

"Awww, we just met and you already worry for me." I cackle quietly and he glares, indicating his seriousness.

I raise my hands placatingly "Fine, fine. The reason I don't fear mentioning Talos is because first I am a filthy Daedra worshiper from Morrowind." He winces and I hear an old priest cough loudly from nearby, completely ignoring the old man I say "Secondly, remember my earlier argument about killing people."

Marco sighs "So it is always might makes right for you?"

I shake my head and raise my finger "No. It is like that for anyone with said might."

His shoulders slump "And what about the rest of us? Do we just crawl while you all kill who you wish?"

I laugh loudly at this, earning multiple glares from the temple-goers. Pretending to wipe a tear I say "Of course not you dolt." The face he makes earns him another laugh "When you feel like the world is oppressive you don't lie down and accept it, you become strong and fight against it."

"You say it like it was easy."

I shrug "Things worth doing rarely are."

He seems deep in thought and an older voice cuts into the conversation "Wise words young man."

A bearded Nord priest approaches us.

I incline my head slightly "Good day to you elder, sorry for the noise."

He chuckles "Oh no need for that, I am just happy that the temple is so lively today. Have you come to pay respects to the Divines? All are welcome in the house of the gods, even if you are a 'Filthy Daedra worshipper'" he adds jokingly.

I smirk "Just one of them I am afraid."

The old man smiles "Of course, I will leave you to it."

I walk over to the shrine of Kynareth and summon some coins and flowers, placing them on the offering altar.

I return to my followers and we leave the temple. As we walk Marco asks "So Kynareth eh? I'd have thought you to be more of a Julianos worshipper with how much everyone seems to talk about your magic."

I raise an eyebrow "Oh? So you did hear about me and still decided to be a brat when we met?"

He shrugs "I was looking for any excuse not to be taken out of my comfortable life, I meant no offense. Besides I didn't expect you to do something as crass as dangling me in the air for five minutes."

My smile is all teeth "Well now you know me to be crass and won't make the same mistake will you?"

He shrugs again "The risk I took was calculated, but I never was good at numbers."

I snort at the familiar expression "To answer your previous question I pay tribute to Kynareth, or more precisely Kyne because she blessed me when I started using the thu'um. I generally don't do worship, but paying my respects when I can find the time is good."

"So you really can do it?"

"Do what exactly?"

"Use the thu'um of course!"

I blink "You actually know of it?"

He rolls his eyes "Of course I know of it, basically any old Nordic tale or ballad has some tongue or another battling a great beast with his mighty voice, it would be weird if a bard didn't know of it."

I give him an appreciative nod "Hmm, I am honestly surprised that none of you tried to learn it. After all, every bard worth his salt is an adventurous person, right?"

His response is as enthusiastic as you would expect "Yes if one is to be a proper bard they should experience the world and not hide in their libraries." His enthusiasm dims "As for learning shouts, well the last time someone tried they blew out their own throat and no one was as brave since."

He sees me wince slightly and I explain what happened when I first used a full shout.

"So you are telling me..." He starts in a disbelieving tone "That you almost burned yourself to death on your first attempt?" I nod "How in oblivion did you survive?"

I shrug "Eh, I had potions and both my colleagues and I are healers."

He stares at me "I thought you were a destruction mage?"

I chuckle "The official title is 'High Enchanter' but I am at least adept in every school except illusion, making me everything from a battlemage to a mystic."

"Well, shit." He just now seemed to realize who he came close to offending.

"Quite" I choose not to tease him further.

We spend most of the rest of the day walking around. We visited the renowned Winking Skeever inn and perused the different shops on the streets. I tried some street food and surprisingly it was pretty damn good for the time period.

I left the upper city while receiving dumbfounded looks from both Davos and Marco after I stuffed my inventory with roasted mystery meat. What can I say, I missed my greasy fast food.

The industrial district was a lot more colorful than I first thought. Most of the houses had some kind of color scheme going, usually being a combination of white and some brighter color like red or blue, and the people seemed quite well off. Though unfortunately the stench of the slum was not warded off here but it was at least bearable.

I visited the ironsmith's section and ordered a sizeable shipment of different animonculus parts I designed recently to be sent to Winterhold. I spent a year perfecting the spider design and would like to start experimenting with more potent models as soon as I set up my teleportation circle.

Next came the docks, and they were exactly what you would expect from the meeting place of rowdy sailors and wealthy merchants. I met some of the captains that stayed at my inn and they were all very welcoming and introduced me to their friends, once again netting me some contracts.

As I thought all those months ago, presentation really was everything.

Evening approached and we found ourselves looking at the entrance of the slums from atop the walls of the common district.

"You aren't going to go down there to sightsee are you?" Marco asks cautiously, his face a bit green.

I shake my head "No. Until I am forced to enter this mass pigsty I am not going anywhere near it."

He winces "Do you have to be so crass about it?"

"If it smells like one and sounds like one..."

He sighs but doesn't press.

"Now then, what is it that you actually want to learn from me?" I finally ask.

He claps his hands excitedly "Oh, I would love to be able to call down lightning from the heavens, it would make for such a great song!"

I stare blankly "Not even I can do that at the moment."

He goes from energetic to dejected in half a second "Oh..."

I snort "Well you've got to start somewhere, so sparks it is." I raise a hand crackling with lightning.

His eyes are filled with barely hidden awe "Ho-how do I do that?"

I dispel the magic and say "Firstly you will need to learn how to draw upon your Magicka." He listens with rapt attention so I explain further "Before you go to bed, I want you to search deep inside and find something that will feel to your mind like a puddle of something thick and immovable. After you do I want you to draw on the feeling and will it to make a light in your hand."

He nods vigorously and I force him to repeat all of the instructions, the enthusiastic bard even writes the whole thing down. Extra points to you then brat.

Davos pipes in "Is it a problem if I try it as well boss?"

I give him a blank look "If I didn't want you to hear this you wouldn't have heard it."

He smiles sheepishly and goes back to whatever it is he was doing.

"Well it is high time we head back to the palace." I say after a minute of silence "I have to get ready for that banquet Torygg forced me to attend."

"We?" Marco asks.

"Yes, we."

"But why do I need to go to the palace?" He stammers.

"Because dear Marco, I need an errand boy."

His face is ablaze once again and he is just about to explode, but forcefully calms himself and turns to Davos "Isn't he your dogsbody."

Before I can respond Davos smirks "No, I am Serjo Reyvin's personal assassin."

Marco pales and we head up without waiting for him, he notices and starts running after us.

I hear Davos let out a quiet cackle "You were right, this really is fun to do."

"Heh"

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Can I please have a crumb of stone m'lord?

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