Chapter XLI: Stirring The Dawnguard

(General POV)

"Davos, was it?" His lord's guest asks, her voice carrying a hint of dangerous intrigue.

'Really should have asked Boss just who in oblivion this is exactly.' Davos grumbles internally before offering the woman a disinterested shrug "That's the name."

"Oh, I've heard so much about you!" Mephys squeals just loudly enough to catch a couple of passing glances from the guards but not enough to draw actual attention "A mer born in the lowest dregs of Windhelm's elf prison only to join the local guild and then rise to the position of a Great Lord's right hand. Truly an inspiring tale!"

'Why does she know that?! I made sure that no one talked about me!' Davos panics slightly but keeps his expression from changing "You know much."

"Too much some would say." Mephys winks and lets out a peal of mildly unnerving 'Ufufu' laughter.

"Right." Davos furrows his brows as his mind goes into overdrive attempting to connect the dots, one question bothering him far more than anything else 'Why does she feel familiar?'

"So cautious" His charge tuts "That is no way to treat a lady, what would your lord think?"

"Well, you've said it yourself, I am a filthy gutter rat." Davos carefully keeps up his careless facade as his mind keeps listing through all the faces and voices he has heard throughout his life.

"How dull." Mephys sighs dramatically "One would expect that spending so much time at Reyvin's side you would have gotten at least a bit more of his cheek."

'This is growing more uncomfortable by the second' Davos suppresses the urge to start questioning her then and there "Someone has to watch the kid's back." 'Wait, why the fuck did I just say that?!'

"Is that so?" The stunning woman... no, the stunning lady gives him a curious once over before gently tapping his back "How dedicated."

A shiver of... something runs down his spine and he thanks all of the gods when they reach their destination only a few moments later "There you go lady. Enjoy your stay and know that dinner is served in about two hours so make sure not to miss that." His voice was audibly tense now.

"Time passes so quickly when you are having fun" Mephys pouts before offering him a bright smile "Well, it isn't like we don't all the time in the world. Enjoy your day, little Davos."

Still a bit out of it, Davos only nods and turns to leave before he stops moving altogether 'Little Davos?!' The short Dunmer's brain short circuits as his entire mind is overtaken by the memory of a certain night in the Blue Palace's mage tower "Oh no." He says with despair clear in his voice.

Finding himself unable to move he can only stare at the wall as two dainty hands coil around his shoulders from behind as 'Mephys' takes a deep inhale right next to his ear and ecstatically whispers "Oh yes~"

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(Reyvin's POV)

Scorch and I both let out a loud synchronous wheeze as we observe Davos having a small mental breakdown while literally being embraced by his patron deity. I knew Mephala wouldn't do anything to him as that wasn't her style but a small part of me did still feel bad 'I really should get that man something nice for all the trauma he gets from serving me.'

'One should maintain one's farm tools properly, young master.' Scorch points out pompously and disappears before I have the time to smack him.

A subdued knock saves the bird's life as I telekinetically open the door, letting in a mature Nord woman wearing a mix of robes and light armor into my study. Though it wasn't the clothes that drew most of my attention, it was the ridiculous amount of leatherbound books she had attached to nearly every conceivable spot of her outfit.

The wind enchanted bow hanging off her back was also worthy of some note.

"Katria, I presume?" I ask while pushing a chair forward and allowing her to take a seat.

The woman almost topples over from the weight of her cargo but rights herself just in time, almost as if she had practiced the movement prior, and directs her eyes toward me "Aye Flame-tongue. Dwemer scholar and historian Katria, at your service." She attempts to offer a slight bow but hearing the chair creak she settles on an inclination of the head.

"I hear you have an offer for me?" I ask and she nods enthusiastically, just as she is about to begin her tale, her excitement obvious, I raise a forestalling hand "Why don't you make yourself comfortable first?"

One sheepish look and one ungodly stack of books later she begins her tale... and she keeps going... and going... for the entire hour. I felt like stopping her at multiple points but I had to admit, the woman could spin an enticing story and I simply let her keep spinning, even if I knew that at least a third of what she said was bullshit.

"So, to summarize" I say as she finally finishes her tale "You claim to have written the book 'The Aetherium Wars' a rather well known work at this point, and the credit for writing said book was then stolen by your apprentice, one Taron Dreth, yes?"

She nods enthusiastically.

"And you want me to help you find the fabled aetherium of the Dwemer... so you could prove to be the original author?" I ask with some incredulity.

The nodding continues, before she recognizes the doubt in my voice "Oh, you don't need to worry about compensation. I only need the proof, you can keep the aetherium for yourself after we are done."

I blink slowly 'is she that hyperfocused on her dispute or just plain stupid?'

'Why not both?' Bird boi quips.

"I see." I frown "Your offer is..."

She covers her mouth with both hands, fear evident in her eyes "Oh please don't tell me I've travelled all the way from Falkreath to be ignored, I need proof of my work Divines damn it!"

"...acceptable" I finish while giving her a slightly exasperated look.

She at least had the decency to look sheepish.

Before she can grow too excited I add "Though I will be unable to personally aid you with the search, I will send one or two of my own along with a few guards. Is that acceptable?" I was obviously going to arm them to the teeth and drown them in automatons but she didn't need to know that now.

"Yes!" She squeaks in surprise "That is far more than I expected, truth be told."

'Does she really not know the value of the aetherium?' I pointedly do not raise an eyebrow as genuine bafflement bubbles within my mind. Instead I telekinetically ring a small bell outside of the room, causing a guard to open the door and pear inside.

"Call Edrassa and Eldor." I say simply.

The armored Dunmer bows deeply "At once, my lord."

'Ah, I can't wait to see her face when I tell her she is about to be trudging through caves for months to come.'

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Edrassa's face was indeed priceless but only for a brief moment as she understood that as much as this was a challenge it was also an opportunity to madly enrich herself and build something of a powerbase within the house if she played her cards right.

She was not stupid enough to try and hide her ambitions from me, so I allowed it.

Before Davos could find me and start threatening my poor innocent hide, I quickly found Serana, who was engrossed in some reading at her usual spot in the library, and invited her for a visit to the Dawnguard.

My bullshit senses were tingling and Harkon's goons have been quiet for some time now, no doubt the Moth Priest was already wondering Skyrim and I would get news of his location soon enough.

As for why I wanted to bring the literal vampire progenitor to a den of vampire hunters? I simply did not care to tiptoe around the situation just so people could be comfortable. No one would be dumb enough to stir shit up too far in my presence anyway.

Well, if they valued their lives anyways.

And so, just as Davos was about to barge into the library with a panicked look on his face, I grabbed Serana by the shoulder and tugged on my connection with the bar of silver sitting at the center of Fort Dawnguard.

A blink later we found ourselves standing in the center of the vast circular keep at the heart of the old fortress, a startled young Nord jumping away from us with a shrill "Eep!"

I simply stared at him wordlessly until he got uncomfortable and ran to fetch Isran.

Serana, who had become a fair bit more expressive since her time in Markarth, gives me an amused look "And this is who they wanted to send to hunt us?"

I shrug "Kid can probably point a crossbow well enough."

"Kid?" Serana raises an eyebrow "Are you not of a similar age yourself?"

I make a shushing gesture with my finger and wink "Now that would be telling." 

Before the confused vampire can even process my words, the ever intense leader of the Dawnguard barges into the central hall, his eyes immediately zeroing in onto my companion and the scroll hanging on her back.

Then something completely unexpected happens, instead of attempting to cleave her head from her shoulders with a blunt object he merely grits his teeth and turns to me before grinding out "Come with me."

A couple of curious glances are sent our way by those Dawnguard grunts present in the fort but as they see us walking about with Isran they soon return to their jobs, completely ignoring the glaringly obvious vampire in their midst.

"Fresh recruits?" I ask conversationally.

The large Redguard allows himself an amused grunt "Yes."

We finally step into a private room and the moment we are out of sight of anyone else Isran rounds on the two of us and glares at me "What in the gods' name are you thinking?!"

"That cooperation is vital and that dancing around the subject would just make us less efficient." I list off dryly "What, did you think I brought her here simply to fuck with you?"

That immediately earns me a look of doubt, but he doesn't voice it and instead looks to Serana "And why would you fight your own kind?" He is still full of hatred but my display the last time I was here gave him an excuse to mellow out a little bit, as I was far above him in power and he could just blame me for everything.

"The leader of the clan is insane." Serana answers coldly "What he wants would bring an end to both vampires and the mortals."

I snort "As if his little attempt could stop the sun for long."

Both of them give me surprised looks, Serana being completely stunned by the revelation "It... isn't permanent?"

"Of bloody course it isn't" I snort "It would still last long enough to massively damage society but it wouldn't be a true apocalypse."

"True apocalypse or no, the threat must be stopped." Isran says firmly.

"And I am not disputing that" I nod in assurance "Merely pointing out Harkon's arrogance."

"Hmmm, an arrogant foe is one that can be trapped" Isran muses, but his focus quickly returns to the present "Why are you here exactly?"

"See the glowy scribble on Serana's back?" I ask and take Isran's scowl as confirmation "Her father is under the impression that she has returned into the fold with it, so he has spread rumors about the scroll in an attempt to lure a Moth Priest into the province and capture him."

"And you wish to use him to read it for us instead?" Isran asks.

"I already have a vague idea of what it contains but some additional confirmation will be useful, even if we will probably have to find multiple." I sigh at that last bit. Going to that place was not going to be fun.

"Is there anything certain about its contents that you can share?" The Redguard questions, earning me a curious look from Serana as well.

"The bow of Auri-El will either curse the sun or protect it." I say with finality, though internally I was already prepared for a couple of workarounds if the Daedra got creative. I did have the sword of ultimate nope with me after all.

"Auri-El's bow?" Isran mutters "Such a weapon would definitely be useful in our situation if anything."

"The bow of a god?" Serana asks almost at the same time "Something like that is still on Nirn?"

I flick Magnus' staff into my hand and raise an eyebrow, causing the vampire to look away in a brief flash of embarrassment.

"So you need to find the Moth Priest." Isran puts the conversation back on track "What must we do?"

"Nothing" I shrug "Just keep patrolling against vampire attacks. They have been growing in frequency but your people have already gotten some renown in hunting them down."

A brief beat of silence passes before Isran voices a firm "No."

"No?" I tilt my head "And why exactly not?"

The Redguard frowns "You have been doing the hardest work yourself, the more skilled among us are starting to get frustrated by relying on you to do everything for them, we need a victory." 

I cup my chin "Hmmm... A fair point." I finally say "Send them to Whiterun and I will contact them whenever I find the priest's relative location. Who will be leading them?"

"I will." Isran's eyes burn with determination.

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Ho ho ho

to the mines you go.

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