CHAPTER TEN
Trying not to look suspicious, I quickly walked up the aisle until I was a mere few feet away from the Count, Ormellius Goldwine. I knelt on one knee and looked at the ground, attempting to show my respect for Goldwine. I didn’t want to anger him before even having a chance to speak with him.
“My lord, can you spare a few minutes of your time, please?”
I looked up to meet Goldwine’s eyes, and they were still transfixed upon me, as if he was trying to decide whether to oblige to my offer. I had never met the man himself, despite visiting the city many times as a child. I’ve never even heard stories about the Count, other than Martin’s, about him not liking mages or whatever. Other than that I don’t really know what to expect.
“And why should I speak to the likes of you, Bosmer?”
He said this not with a tone of disrespect, thought it may have sounded like it to anyone else. I could tell he was at least a little curious as to what I had to say.
“I come with news of Mankar Cameron’s plans. I know what he wants with Cyrodiil. He wants to find the Amulet of Kings and eventually take control of the country.”
I had also expected this statement to catch the Count off guard, but instead he just laughed. “Is that all, Bosmer? Well of course he wants to take over the country! Why else would he invade our land? And obviously he wants the amulet destroyed so that the dragonfires will diminish. But what fools me is why he wants that. There are no other Septim heirs, so all we are left to do is ponder why he wants that amulet so much.”
I didn’t want to mention Martin’s name, for the time wasn’t right for that. Instead I went ahead and told the Count of Mankar’s plan for tonight. “Mankar is also going to attack Kvatch, this evening in fact.”
This announcement caused quite a stir within the room, and everyone began talking with one another, rather loudly I might add. They were all pointing at me, asking each other who I was and where I came from. But the Count, however, was only angered by my statement.
“How can you make such a statement? What makes you think you know what Mankar is going to do?”
The Counts attitude had drastically changed for the worst. At that point, I don’t think telling Goldwine that ‘a friend told me’ would do me any good. But I definitely would explain how I infiltrated the city. But why should I not tell him about Alf’s claim? It wouldn’t hurt.
“I just came from the Imperial City. I…infiltrated the city, but was caught by Mankar and thrown into jail. Then, when I escaped with my prison mate, he told me that he heard with his own ears, from Mankar himself, that he was going to attack Kvatch today, sometime in the late evening.”
He still wasn’t going to believe me. “And why should I believe that you, a low-life scum, was able to escape the Mythic Dawn’s headquarters? For all I know you are simply making this up and all of it is a lie. Leave now before I have you thrown into my own dungeon!”
Before I even had a chance to defend myself my arms were grabbed by two guards and they began to drag me from the Counts throne room. “Wait, you have to listen to me, I swear I’m not lying! They’re going to attack this city tonight!” But he wasn’t even looking at me now. “You’ve got to believe me! If you don’t your city will fall!”
The guards took me outside and then threw me to the ground. They walked back inside, slamming the door shut behind them. I laid on my back for a few seconds, spitting out the clods of dirt that had unfortunately made thier way into my mouth. I guess that’s what I get for trying to save a city from it’s soon destruction.
“Hey, I thought I told you stay out of there!” yelled the guard who originally wouldn’t let me inside.
I got up from the ground and walked away. Thankfully the guard didn’t come after me, but he did send me a last second message, “The next time I catch you around here I’m locking you up!”
I didn’t care what he said, if Goldwine wanted his city to burn to the ground, then so be it. Martin, Alf, and I have done all we can do to help the Count see what is really happening out there, but his ignorance has blinded him, disabling him to see the truth. It doesn’t matter anymore, the three us have to get out of here as soon as possible.
“What did he say, Woody?” Alf asked as him and Martin, who were both sitting on the same ledge as the three us had been doing before I entered the castle.
Martin knew what I was about to say, and sighed heavily as I told Alf what happened. “He wouldn’t listen to me. He called me a liar and had his guards throw me out. I tried to tell you, Martin. Now what are we supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. We’ve got to get out of here before the Mythic Dawn show up, I do know that.”
“So what happened with you and Alf? You didn’t get into trouble with the guards?”
“No, that just told us to get lost,” Alf said.
We stood in sat in silence for a few minutes while trying to decide on where to go from here. We couldn’t go back to the Imperial City; it was too dangerous to attempt another infiltration. Count Goldwine was never going to believe me, and neither was Adamus. All we could do was travel to the next city and hope they would listen to our story.
“I guess we should just travel to the next closest city. What about Skingrad? Do you think Count Hassildor would be willing to hear what we have to say?” Martin asked.
“I don’t know, I’ve never met the man before, but I’ve heard he’s one of the more intelligent rulers of Cyrodiil. What do we have to lose?”
Before we left the city we grabbed some bread from the local bakery, which was a different store from the one I worked at as a teenager, as well as a different owner. We sat outside on a bench while we ate the food and washed it down with bottles of water. I hadn’t eaten a bit since I first came into the possession of the amulet. This meal was definitely a refresher.
“So, Alf, you never really told us about yourself. What was life like before all this mess started?” I asked.
“Well,” he said taking a last gulp of his bread,” I was just a gardener fer someone in the Elven Gardens. A nice little Altmer lady, very kind, offered me the job because she was getting to feeble to take care of it herself. Don’t ask me why she wanted me fer the job, but I took it without hesitation. I knew she’d pay me well because of her wealth, and that she did. It’s too bad I spent most of me money at the Arena, where I rarely won any bets. What about you, Woody?” He asked me.
“I’m a freelance thief, if you will. Nothing else really matters I guess; it’s all I’ve ever known since I was a young adult.”
I wasn’t in the mood for going into detail, like my past, unlike when I met Martin. I don’t know…it was kind of embarrassing now that I think about it. Here lately I’ve silently been arguing with myself about what I have become. Never before did I look down upon myself because I was thief. Heck, I suppose I even considered myself somewhat of a “respectable” thief, even though that doesn’t make any sense at all. I’ve persuaded myself over the years that what I do is not wrong, only a necessity. But now…..I just don’t know. I’m starting to have second thoughts about where my life is heading, and I’m not sure whether that’s a bad thing or a good thing.
“What about you, Marty? What’s your story?”
Martin rolled his eyes at the new given nickname and explained his past, but as an extremely trimmed down version.
“I’ve been a priest for a while now. I used to be in the Mages Guild but it didn’t exactly work out for me.”
We spent another ten minutes or so eating the rest of our food and drinking the rest of our water. Then we refilled the bottles to the top, and head out towards Skingrad. Rather than travel through the forest we just used the dirt road. There really wasn’t a threat from anyone, or at least we hoped so.
“You know, Martin, why didn’t we stop at Skingrad first? We passed it up on the way to Kvatch,” I said.
“I don’t know, I guess because Alf told us they were going to attack Kvatch.”
“But wouldn’t they go ahead and attack Skingrad while they passed? Why pass up on an opportunity to strike the city by surprise?”
“I don’t know, Rayden, maybe because Skingrad’s army is a lot stronger than that of Kvatch,” he said sarcastically. “Historically Count Janus Hassildor of Skingrad has been feared by many, and I guess Mankar just thinks Kvatch will be much easier to take over, and if you ask me I think that as well.”
“How so? Kvatch is well protected by their walls.”
“That’s true, Rayden, but Ormellius Goldwine is too preoccupied with making money that he’s forgotten the army. Their numbers are weak and the soldiers aren’t very well trained.”
“But they’ve got the legion with them. Why would Mankar attack a city where the Legion commander is present? It would be much easier to attack Skingrad.”
“Skingrad has Legion presence as well. Mankar probably wants to kill the Adamus Phillida to send a message to the rest of the country: that the Mythic Dawn cannot be stopped.”
“Ay, but we plan to stop that!” Alf yelled.
“It’s not going to be as easy as it sounds, Alf,” Martin explained. The Mythic Dawn cultists are trained professionals in the Dark Arts. I know you two were able to take out several of them at the Imperial City, but it’s not going to be that simple every time. They saw you two us mere prisoners. That had no clue what they were up against. But now that they know the skills you two possess, they’ll be prepared.”
“That all makes sense, but how does Mankar even know what we are up to?” I asked.
“For all we know he doesn’t have a clue, I’m just giving you an example. But sooner or later he will find out what we are doing and he will also realize who I am and what we have in our possession. Then things are going to get a lot more complicated and dangerous…for all of us, not just me.”
Silence fell upon us for several seconds until Alf chimed in again. “I’ll never leave ya’ Marty. I’ll stand by yer side till’ the end, whenever that is.”
Alf was a good person, thought I’m still having trouble understanding why he’s so eager to help us in the first place. He hasn’t even known us that long and already he’s pledging his life to us. But I guess that’s sort of the same way with me. I’m putting my trust in Martin and I barely know the man either.
“Yes, count on me as well, Martin. I mean, what else can I do? Sooner or later there won’t be anyone to steal from if the Mythic Dawn keeps up with their plan,” I said grinning.
We walked not very long, maybe a couple of hours or so, and it was about five o’clock in the evening. We reached the edge of the dirt path surrounded by trees, and it was flat lands the entire way after that. I say this because at the edge of the forest we could see the city of Skingrad in the distance. It wasn’t too far away, maybe another hour at the most. And then, to the west of Skingrad, we could see torches, many of them. We marched towards the lights, while picking up the pace, and as we neared we realized it was the Mythic Dawn. We stood beside a rock from afar while we watched them pass along the dirt road in the middle of everything where they could be easily seen. There were so many of them, easily a thousand if not more.
“Look at them. They’re not even more than two hundred yards from the city, yet Hassildor isn’t sending out his troops to fight,” Martin said.
“Why would he send out his troops if he’s not going to be attacked? I’m sure he’s keeping a close eye on them, but from the looks of it, it seems as if your theory was right, Martin. I guess Mankar does want to send that message.”
“Either that or Hassildor has sided with the scum!” Alf said.
“No, I doubt that. I know Hieronymus Lex betrayed the country, but I just can’t see a Count or Countess doing the same thing. It just wouldn’t make sense,” Martin said.
“It does if they don’t want their entire city destroyed!” Alf shot back.
Martin didn’t argue any further, one because there was simply no reasoning with the stubborn Nord. And two Alf was actually becoming angry, and it probably wasn’t a smart thing to get an Angry Nord even more upset that he already is. Not unless you want your face smashed in that is.
After Mankar and the rest of the Mythic Dawn troops passed by the three of us continued on, this time through the forest, just so we didn’t take a chance being spotted by Mankar or his men.
When we reached the city gates we were met by about ten soldiers dressed in Skingrad uniforms, all with their swords drawn as if we were the enemy.
“Halt! Show your hands!” yelled the one soldier without a helmet. He looked to be a Redguard, but I actually wasn’t so sure. He could have passed as an Imperial, but with an unusually dark skin complexion.
“There’s not need to worry, friend; we’re not here to harm you. We’ve come to speak with Count Janus Hassildor,” Martin said in calm voice.
“And why is that?” said the guard.
“We have news concerning the fate of Cyrodiil and the plans of Mankar Camoran.”
The soldiers whispered amongst one another and the tanned guard silenced them with the raise of his right arm. Then he walked over to Martin, just inches away from his face. Then stared into his eyes for a few seconds and said, “Why should I believe you?”
“You’ll just have to take my word.”
“Words really don’t mean anything nowadays,” the guard replied back.
Martin stared back at the guard this last about ten seconds until I started to grow impatient. “Come on, Martin, just show him the amulet.”
Martin looked at me crazily, as if I had just asked him to take his clothes off or something. Then he realized we weren’t going to get into the city unless he did what I had suggested. So he reluctantly got the amulet from his robe pocket for the guard to see. The guard’s eyes lit up in amazement as the amulet twinkled in the air. Then he looked at Martin with awe, and then at Alf and I.
“Come with me, please,” he mumbled in shock.
On to the next chapter
Trying not to look suspicious, I quickly walked up the aisle until I was a mere few feet away from the Count, Ormellius Goldwine. I knelt on one knee and looked at the ground, attempting to show my respect for Goldwine. I didn’t want to anger him before even having a chance to speak with him.
“My lord, can you spare a few minutes of your time, please?”
I looked up to meet Goldwine’s eyes, and they were still transfixed upon me, as if he was trying to decide whether to oblige to my offer. I had never met the man himself, despite visiting the city many times as a child. I’ve never even heard stories about the Count, other than Martin’s, about him not liking mages or whatever. Other than that I don’t really know what to expect.
“And why should I speak to the likes of you, Bosmer?”
He said this not with a tone of disrespect, thought it may have sounded like it to anyone else. I could tell he was at least a little curious as to what I had to say.
“I come with news of Mankar Cameron’s plans. I know what he wants with Cyrodiil. He wants to find the Amulet of Kings and eventually take control of the country.”
I had also expected this statement to catch the Count off guard, but instead he just laughed. “Is that all, Bosmer? Well of course he wants to take over the country! Why else would he invade our land? And obviously he wants the amulet destroyed so that the dragonfires will diminish. But what fools me is why he wants that. There are no other Septim heirs, so all we are left to do is ponder why he wants that amulet so much.”
I didn’t want to mention Martin’s name, for the time wasn’t right for that. Instead I went ahead and told the Count of Mankar’s plan for tonight. “Mankar is also going to attack Kvatch, this evening in fact.”
This announcement caused quite a stir within the room, and everyone began talking with one another, rather loudly I might add. They were all pointing at me, asking each other who I was and where I came from. But the Count, however, was only angered by my statement.
“How can you make such a statement? What makes you think you know what Mankar is going to do?”
The Counts attitude had drastically changed for the worst. At that point, I don’t think telling Goldwine that ‘a friend told me’ would do me any good. But I definitely would explain how I infiltrated the city. But why should I not tell him about Alf’s claim? It wouldn’t hurt.
“I just came from the Imperial City. I…infiltrated the city, but was caught by Mankar and thrown into jail. Then, when I escaped with my prison mate, he told me that he heard with his own ears, from Mankar himself, that he was going to attack Kvatch today, sometime in the late evening.”
He still wasn’t going to believe me. “And why should I believe that you, a low-life scum, was able to escape the Mythic Dawn’s headquarters? For all I know you are simply making this up and all of it is a lie. Leave now before I have you thrown into my own dungeon!”
Before I even had a chance to defend myself my arms were grabbed by two guards and they began to drag me from the Counts throne room. “Wait, you have to listen to me, I swear I’m not lying! They’re going to attack this city tonight!” But he wasn’t even looking at me now. “You’ve got to believe me! If you don’t your city will fall!”
The guards took me outside and then threw me to the ground. They walked back inside, slamming the door shut behind them. I laid on my back for a few seconds, spitting out the clods of dirt that had unfortunately made thier way into my mouth. I guess that’s what I get for trying to save a city from it’s soon destruction.
“Hey, I thought I told you stay out of there!” yelled the guard who originally wouldn’t let me inside.
I got up from the ground and walked away. Thankfully the guard didn’t come after me, but he did send me a last second message, “The next time I catch you around here I’m locking you up!”
I didn’t care what he said, if Goldwine wanted his city to burn to the ground, then so be it. Martin, Alf, and I have done all we can do to help the Count see what is really happening out there, but his ignorance has blinded him, disabling him to see the truth. It doesn’t matter anymore, the three us have to get out of here as soon as possible.
“What did he say, Woody?” Alf asked as him and Martin, who were both sitting on the same ledge as the three us had been doing before I entered the castle.
Martin knew what I was about to say, and sighed heavily as I told Alf what happened. “He wouldn’t listen to me. He called me a liar and had his guards throw me out. I tried to tell you, Martin. Now what are we supposed to do?”
“I don’t know. We’ve got to get out of here before the Mythic Dawn show up, I do know that.”
“So what happened with you and Alf? You didn’t get into trouble with the guards?”
“No, that just told us to get lost,” Alf said.
We stood in sat in silence for a few minutes while trying to decide on where to go from here. We couldn’t go back to the Imperial City; it was too dangerous to attempt another infiltration. Count Goldwine was never going to believe me, and neither was Adamus. All we could do was travel to the next city and hope they would listen to our story.
“I guess we should just travel to the next closest city. What about Skingrad? Do you think Count Hassildor would be willing to hear what we have to say?” Martin asked.
“I don’t know, I’ve never met the man before, but I’ve heard he’s one of the more intelligent rulers of Cyrodiil. What do we have to lose?”
Before we left the city we grabbed some bread from the local bakery, which was a different store from the one I worked at as a teenager, as well as a different owner. We sat outside on a bench while we ate the food and washed it down with bottles of water. I hadn’t eaten a bit since I first came into the possession of the amulet. This meal was definitely a refresher.
“So, Alf, you never really told us about yourself. What was life like before all this mess started?” I asked.
“Well,” he said taking a last gulp of his bread,” I was just a gardener fer someone in the Elven Gardens. A nice little Altmer lady, very kind, offered me the job because she was getting to feeble to take care of it herself. Don’t ask me why she wanted me fer the job, but I took it without hesitation. I knew she’d pay me well because of her wealth, and that she did. It’s too bad I spent most of me money at the Arena, where I rarely won any bets. What about you, Woody?” He asked me.
“I’m a freelance thief, if you will. Nothing else really matters I guess; it’s all I’ve ever known since I was a young adult.”
I wasn’t in the mood for going into detail, like my past, unlike when I met Martin. I don’t know…it was kind of embarrassing now that I think about it. Here lately I’ve silently been arguing with myself about what I have become. Never before did I look down upon myself because I was thief. Heck, I suppose I even considered myself somewhat of a “respectable” thief, even though that doesn’t make any sense at all. I’ve persuaded myself over the years that what I do is not wrong, only a necessity. But now…..I just don’t know. I’m starting to have second thoughts about where my life is heading, and I’m not sure whether that’s a bad thing or a good thing.
“What about you, Marty? What’s your story?”
Martin rolled his eyes at the new given nickname and explained his past, but as an extremely trimmed down version.
“I’ve been a priest for a while now. I used to be in the Mages Guild but it didn’t exactly work out for me.”
We spent another ten minutes or so eating the rest of our food and drinking the rest of our water. Then we refilled the bottles to the top, and head out towards Skingrad. Rather than travel through the forest we just used the dirt road. There really wasn’t a threat from anyone, or at least we hoped so.
“You know, Martin, why didn’t we stop at Skingrad first? We passed it up on the way to Kvatch,” I said.
“I don’t know, I guess because Alf told us they were going to attack Kvatch.”
“But wouldn’t they go ahead and attack Skingrad while they passed? Why pass up on an opportunity to strike the city by surprise?”
“I don’t know, Rayden, maybe because Skingrad’s army is a lot stronger than that of Kvatch,” he said sarcastically. “Historically Count Janus Hassildor of Skingrad has been feared by many, and I guess Mankar just thinks Kvatch will be much easier to take over, and if you ask me I think that as well.”
“How so? Kvatch is well protected by their walls.”
“That’s true, Rayden, but Ormellius Goldwine is too preoccupied with making money that he’s forgotten the army. Their numbers are weak and the soldiers aren’t very well trained.”
“But they’ve got the legion with them. Why would Mankar attack a city where the Legion commander is present? It would be much easier to attack Skingrad.”
“Skingrad has Legion presence as well. Mankar probably wants to kill the Adamus Phillida to send a message to the rest of the country: that the Mythic Dawn cannot be stopped.”
“Ay, but we plan to stop that!” Alf yelled.
“It’s not going to be as easy as it sounds, Alf,” Martin explained. The Mythic Dawn cultists are trained professionals in the Dark Arts. I know you two were able to take out several of them at the Imperial City, but it’s not going to be that simple every time. They saw you two us mere prisoners. That had no clue what they were up against. But now that they know the skills you two possess, they’ll be prepared.”
“That all makes sense, but how does Mankar even know what we are up to?” I asked.
“For all we know he doesn’t have a clue, I’m just giving you an example. But sooner or later he will find out what we are doing and he will also realize who I am and what we have in our possession. Then things are going to get a lot more complicated and dangerous…for all of us, not just me.”
Silence fell upon us for several seconds until Alf chimed in again. “I’ll never leave ya’ Marty. I’ll stand by yer side till’ the end, whenever that is.”
Alf was a good person, thought I’m still having trouble understanding why he’s so eager to help us in the first place. He hasn’t even known us that long and already he’s pledging his life to us. But I guess that’s sort of the same way with me. I’m putting my trust in Martin and I barely know the man either.
“Yes, count on me as well, Martin. I mean, what else can I do? Sooner or later there won’t be anyone to steal from if the Mythic Dawn keeps up with their plan,” I said grinning.
We walked not very long, maybe a couple of hours or so, and it was about five o’clock in the evening. We reached the edge of the dirt path surrounded by trees, and it was flat lands the entire way after that. I say this because at the edge of the forest we could see the city of Skingrad in the distance. It wasn’t too far away, maybe another hour at the most. And then, to the west of Skingrad, we could see torches, many of them. We marched towards the lights, while picking up the pace, and as we neared we realized it was the Mythic Dawn. We stood beside a rock from afar while we watched them pass along the dirt road in the middle of everything where they could be easily seen. There were so many of them, easily a thousand if not more.
“Look at them. They’re not even more than two hundred yards from the city, yet Hassildor isn’t sending out his troops to fight,” Martin said.
“Why would he send out his troops if he’s not going to be attacked? I’m sure he’s keeping a close eye on them, but from the looks of it, it seems as if your theory was right, Martin. I guess Mankar does want to send that message.”
“Either that or Hassildor has sided with the scum!” Alf said.
“No, I doubt that. I know Hieronymus Lex betrayed the country, but I just can’t see a Count or Countess doing the same thing. It just wouldn’t make sense,” Martin said.
“It does if they don’t want their entire city destroyed!” Alf shot back.
Martin didn’t argue any further, one because there was simply no reasoning with the stubborn Nord. And two Alf was actually becoming angry, and it probably wasn’t a smart thing to get an Angry Nord even more upset that he already is. Not unless you want your face smashed in that is.
After Mankar and the rest of the Mythic Dawn troops passed by the three of us continued on, this time through the forest, just so we didn’t take a chance being spotted by Mankar or his men.
When we reached the city gates we were met by about ten soldiers dressed in Skingrad uniforms, all with their swords drawn as if we were the enemy.
“Halt! Show your hands!” yelled the one soldier without a helmet. He looked to be a Redguard, but I actually wasn’t so sure. He could have passed as an Imperial, but with an unusually dark skin complexion.
“There’s not need to worry, friend; we’re not here to harm you. We’ve come to speak with Count Janus Hassildor,” Martin said in calm voice.
“And why is that?” said the guard.
“We have news concerning the fate of Cyrodiil and the plans of Mankar Camoran.”
The soldiers whispered amongst one another and the tanned guard silenced them with the raise of his right arm. Then he walked over to Martin, just inches away from his face. Then stared into his eyes for a few seconds and said, “Why should I believe you?”
“You’ll just have to take my word.”
“Words really don’t mean anything nowadays,” the guard replied back.
Martin stared back at the guard this last about ten seconds until I started to grow impatient. “Come on, Martin, just show him the amulet.”
Martin looked at me crazily, as if I had just asked him to take his clothes off or something. Then he realized we weren’t going to get into the city unless he did what I had suggested. So he reluctantly got the amulet from his robe pocket for the guard to see. The guard’s eyes lit up in amazement as the amulet twinkled in the air. Then he looked at Martin with awe, and then at Alf and I.
“Come with me, please,” he mumbled in shock.
On to the next chapter