Jerric's Story, A Nord's Adventures in Cyrodiil Options

[King Coin]

What? The gate closed on its own? I’ve never heard of such a thing. And Jerric getting stranded there… Ugh. I don’t want to imagine what that would be like. A rare moment of brilliance from Jerric I see.

Odiils are gone? So much for a good bed then.

Lildereth!!

As SubRosa said, more mystery. I wonder what it is? I’m happy that they are staying together though. They’ve all really grown close.

[Acadian]

The Oblivion Gate closing before they arrived means one of two things: Either someone else closed it and left the area or it somehow closed on its own. Although Jerric’s theory is intriguing, I would tend to think the former unless I had actually seen it close with no sigil stone-bearing adventurer emerging. I’m quite sure I’m mistaken but, nevertheless, I have visions of Lildereth closing that gate; I have no doubt she is capable of doing so then melting right back into the forest. I wonder if her pack is buzzing?

‘The blanket of decaying leaves on the road muffled the horses’ footsteps.’
This was just a perfect touch of detail to remind us of the scene, season and even sounds of their surroundings.

And another mystery as it seems the Odils have abandoned their farm.

So the homely nurse says to the attractive one, “Did you know the patient in bed number four has the word ‘Swan’ tattooed on his. . . member?”
“Nah,” replies the attractive nurse. “It says Saskatchewan.”
Seriously, sometimes Jerric is brilliant. His idea to opt for a joke instead of attempting to either question or comfort directly was wise indeed. Lildereth is a perfect (and deliciously frustrating) blend of wonder and mystery. These four (okay, I’m including Ulfe) are wonderfully compelling and endearing characters. For a change, Ulfe smells worse than Jerric!

I’m delighted to read wherever you take me, but I’m sort of hoping for an appearance in Chorrol by Abiene?

Nit? ‘It made no different to Jerric.’
Although I suppose you could have intended some literary license, did you perhaps mean ‘difference’?

[mALX]

I always love to hear Jerric and Darnand muse on the way things work, their discussion on the Oblivion gates was a perfect example.

Poor Lildereth! I wonder what had her so upset? But she came to her friends in her grief, even though she had to drug herself on Fennel seeds to get there, lol.

Jerric's trauma over whether she and Darnand would sleep together had me laughing - how many times did he sleep with women in Darnand's hearing? ROFL !!

Very touching ending to the chapter (minus Ulfe rolling in dead deer, ROFL), but leaves me wondering why Lildereth was crying

Awesome Write !!

[haute ecole rider]

As for the mystery of the closed Oblivion Gate, I have to agree with Acadian here.

Ingame, the only Gates that closed were the ones I closed myself as the PC; none 'mysteriously' closed without any input from me. Ergo these Gates must be deliberately closed by someone on the 'outside,' i.e. Nirn.

In fiction, of course, we can write anything we want, including spontaneously closing Gates. But as that would be inconsistent with the logic of Mehrunes Dagon and his cohorts, such would clash with the TES setting of the story.

In science, we have a saying - the simplest hypothesis in explaining the most confounding events is often the true one. Therefore I side with Acadian - some other character, seen or as yet unseen, closed the Gate here. Surely Jerric can't be thinking the's the only one who can close Gates! Could he be that egoistical?

[SubRosa]

In science, we have a saying - the simplest hypothesis in explaining the most confounding events is often the true one.

I believe they call that Occamnor's Razor in Tamriel...

[haute ecole rider]

And the Steelyard on Arbre. (okay, I'm currently reading this.

[haute ecole rider]

EDIT: double post!

This post has been edited by haute ecole rider: May 11 2012, 06:21 PM

[McBadgere]

Don't wish to get into this old chestnut here, but...

In fiction, of course, we can write anything we want, including spontaneously closing Gates. But as that would be inconsistent with the logic of Mehrunes Dagon and his cohorts, such would clash with the TES setting of the story.

Which is, in itself, a fiction... ...

Depends which laws (or lores) the Jerricverse hold dear... ...

Aaamywho...Loved it...

Dunno if I was misinterpreting things...But did the pair (Jezza and Darnand now) seem...Slightly distant?...As if the thing with Lildreth had driven a wedge between them?...Could be just my reading of it though... ...

Absolutely loved it...

Shockingly enough, I'm totally okay with whatever you do with gates, lorefully or otherwise...I loved the idea of opening them simply to get from one place to another...Makes sense to me...But then again, it would wouldn't it?... ...

Poor old Chillrend... ...Hadn't gotten to that bit yet...*Robert is sad*...

Loved the reappearance of Lildreth and Ulfe...Love that dog...

Love this story!!...So much...One of these days I'm so gonna be able to read the rest of it... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

[Olen]

Wow there was a lot in that piece.

So someone else is closing gates, whether thats the Mythic Dawn to relocate them or another character? Who knows, though I do wonder whether Lildreth might have been involved, and whether it might be connected to her upset.

And the Odiil's are gone. If the door is boarded up someone must have done it though, perhaps we'll meet them in Chorrol. More mysteries.

Then Lildreth. Again the character interactions are spot on, we haven't really seen how Darnard will react, and I suspect whether things are awkward or not will depend mainly on him. I do wonder what has her upset though. Most intreguing...

Great part, and plenty hooks to keep me interested (as if that was needed), more? Please?

[Grits]

SubRosa: I’m glad that Mythic Dawn activity seems like a plausible explanation for the Gate mystery. The game gives us a few maniacs jumping on the PC’s sword, but I think there must be a lot more going on that the player just doesn’t see. Three is a fun number to work with, as any two left alone often can’t resist talking about the third. Thank you, SubRosa!

King Coin: The horror of getting stranded was what I wanted to emphasize, I’m glad you pointed it out. Now he has risks to weigh before he jumps through another Gate, rather than giving in to blind impulse. Thank you, KC!

Acadian: Indeed, someone closed the Gate and just wasn’t seen. I’m delighted that you thought of Lildereth, as she is both capable and under enough stress to take that kind of risk. Her quest will come to light eventually, I promise. We will also soon rejoin Abiene’s company. She has been pacing and fretting lately, as my drawn-out posting schedule has made me skip her interludes. Thank you for appreciating how Jerric really got it right with Lildereth this time. Thank you also for your eagle eye. I corrected that nit.

mALX: I’m glad you enjoyed Jerric’s discomfort as he anticipated his friends getting it on without him. As you said, he is usually the offender in these situations, so he deserves every second of cringing! You are exactly right about Lildereth, she pushed herself until she found them. Thank you, mALX!

haute ecole rider: Yep, some mortal’s hands closed that Gate. In the game, Random Oblivion Worlds 5 and 6 both have two Gates. When the PC enters one and takes the stone, the game only closes the Gate that the PC entered most recently, leaving the other Gate open to a different world if you re-enter it from the Cyrodiil side. That sounds like a mistake to me. So in Jerric’s World, taking the sigil stone closes both Gates. One Gate would close leaving a sweaty adventurer clutching a sigil stone in its ruins (or a Mythic Dawn agent clutching a mysteriously humming satchel), and the other would simply close. The point was what you said: unlike the game, Jerric is not the single player in the story. Thank you, haute!

McBadgere: You spotted the Lildereth wedge between the fellows, slight but definitely there. You know that Jerric won’t be able to leave it there much longer! Thank you for your support, McB! Your TES Knights-verse is such a huge inspiration, it’s made me think of things in very different ways than when I started this story. So many possibilities!

Olen: Exactly, someone closed the Gate and someone also boarded up the Odiils’ doors, so the answers are out there. The Jerric and Lildereth part gave me fits this time. Eventually I realized that I had present-day Jerric and future Lildereth in the same scene. The whole story is happening in my head all at the same time. I need some help from Akatosh! The reaction from Darnand that you have been anticipating is coming up next. Thank you, Olen!


Where we are: Camped out by the Black Road south of Weynon Priory. Jerric and Darnand discovered that the Odiil family was missing, probably after some violence. Lildereth and Ulfe rejoined the men. This is a short part, but at least it didn’t take me three weeks to post it this time.




Chapter 15: Chorrol, Part Three


Jerric woke gagging on a stench that was not his own.

“Argh!” he choked. “Ulfe!” He elbow-crawled out from under her and staggered to his feet. “Breton!”

Darnand looked up from where he was crouched over the packs. “Good morning.”

“Yeah.” Jerric blinked around at the misty dawn.

“I have balanced these for your approval. The rest of the kahve is for you. We are finished with the fire.”

Jerric picked up the kahve pot before he drowned the last embers. Darnand got busy shifting Jerric’s gear out of the tent, stepping over the sprawling Ulfe.

“Where’s the elf?” asked Jerric. Their tankards and wooden bowls were nowhere in sight, but a short stack of travel biscuits perched on a stump. He drank kahve directly from the pot as he picked up his breakfast.

“I estimate that she left nearly an hour ago. We are instructed to look after the dog. Lildereth intends to join us in Chorrol.” Darnand straightened and pushed the hair out of his eyes.

Ulfe had rolled over onto her back sticking halfway out of the tent. At Darnand’s words, she contorted her head into an upside-down version of her pricked-ears expression.

“Ulfe,” Jerric called, “come on. Papa’s working.”

The hound lurched to her feet and stretched from tongue to tail. Jerric dunked a rock-hard biscuit into the kahve pot. He watched Darnand pack up the tent while he tried to swallow it. They would need to set the tent back up outside the guild hall in Chorrol so it could dry in the sun. His bedroll could also use airing.

“You have a bard’s haircut,” Jerric observed.

Darnand tossed his head so that he could shoot Jerric a look with his unobstructed eye.

Jerric took that as encouragement. “You should have cut it short or let it grow long enough to tie back. Now it just gets in the way when you’re casting.” He dunked another biscuit. “I guess Imperial City barbers don’t think about these things.”

“I did not think of it,” said Darnand. “I was concerned with making a good appearance in Chorrol.” His fingers went to the back of his neck.

“The trouble with short hair is that you have to keep cutting it,” said Jerric.

Ulfe trotted over, bright-eyed and grinning. With his hands full, Jerric did a hopping dance on the cold leaves to keep her nose away from him.

“I struggle to imagine you with long hair,” Darnand said.

“Oh yeah, I was vain about it. Until I cut it for a prank. Another guard on my route was worried about going bald. His hair was about this same yellow. Anyway I cut mine off and saved it. A couple of weeks later I started dropping some on his bedroll every night after he fell asleep. Just a few strands at first, then a little more each night until he noticed. One of the drivers caught on and opened a book on when he’d snap. When he did, it was ugly. I felt bad enough to let him give me half a beating before I knocked him out.” Jerric shook his head. “Those were happy days.”

Ulfe had ceased her attempts to nose Jerric and now sat gazing up at him. Her eyes flicked between his face and his breakfast. Jerric held out the last biscuit. She took it gingerly in her front teeth, then dropped it as if he had given her a hot coal. Her face took on an expression of deep reproach.

“Short rations, girl,” Jerric told her. “Anyway, you still have deer breath. I’m sure you’re not half as hungry as I am.”

“Our early start will soon elude us,” said Darnand. He nodded toward Jerric’s pack.

“I guess Lildereth didn’t sleep much.” Jerric walked over and shook out his leggings. “Did you two—”

“Couple in the dirt while you slept?” Darnand snapped. “No, we did not.”

“—talk about what was upsetting her?” Jerric finished, eyebrows climbing.

Darnand pressed his fingers against his eyelids. “Forgive me. I am out of sorts.”

“Yeah.” Jerric stepped onto a flat stone while he dressed to keep wet leaves out of his clothing. Darnand would talk when he was ready. He kept his silence until Jerric was buckling his greaves.

“As you know, Chorrol was my home,” Darnand began.

Jerric shrugged into his leather cuirass. He gave an encouraging nod.

Darnand appeared to gather himself. “After my parents were killed, I went through a time when I was… uncivil. Teekeeus took me in when I would have been on the street. He gave me work at the guild hall and a pallet in the basement. All strictly by the book, of course. Every night I locked myself in the summoning chamber and practiced until I was empty. The day I turned eighteen, I joined the guild and moved up to the common quarters. That was the first day of this part of my life.” He met Jerric’s eyes.

“And you think the whole city is still judging you,” Jerric guessed. “You must have really been uncivil.”

“I was wronged and grieving. It may come as a surprise to you, but I have never had a wealth of friends, though I am still well-connected through my family’s name. I suppose I wish to reflect well upon Teekeeus in my father’s absence.”

Jerric watched him for a moment. “You didn’t cut your hair to impress an Argonian.”

“No. And my recent folly compounds an existing one.” Darnand looked miserable.

Jerric eventually guessed his meaning. “There’s a woman! The someone special you were guarding your loins for.” He controlled his urge to jump on the Breton and shake the details out of him.

“Indeed,” said Darnand, sighing with relief as if he had just made some confession. “And I thank you.” He headed toward the horses, Ulfe trotting by his side.

Jerric’s curiosity threatened to overwhelm his last shred of respect for Darnand’s privacy. I’ll get it out of him eventually, Jerric thought.

“For what?” he called after Darnand. “Let’s get going. Gods, you’re a talker. We’ve nearly spent the morning.”

[haute ecole rider]

Lildereth remains a mystery, as she should. I find her one of the most fascinating characters out there.

Darnand with a bard's cut? I'm trying to picture that!

Jerric is his usual male boisterous self. I loved this description of his morning ritual:

Jerric picked up the kahve pot before he drowned the last embers.

That about sums the man up!

Ulfe is her usual charming doggy self. I could smell her all the way here! Yikes! She needs to be aired out along with the tent and Jerric's bedroll when they get to Chorrol, if you ask me!

[mALX]

*

Ulfe's antics were perfectly written to bring visuals to anyone who has ever had a dog - including the "after rolling in dead animal" extra loving they always want to "share" with their special people - LOVED that part !!

Darnand's idea of how to give a detailed confession and Jerric's inner vision of shaking details out of him had me rolling!

Now I hope Darnand's special someone wasn't Abiene, ROFL !!! AWESOME WRITE !!!!


*

[King Coin]

Loved the opening, Jerric stumbling out of his tent and just yelling Breton!

No elf? Glad she’s planning on joining them in Chorrol at least. What’s she up to though? Wouldn’t surprise me if she just wanted some time away from those two.

Ulfe is a delightful dog, but I’m glad I’m nowhere near her. Jerric’s pranks are always a fun read, but I really liked learning a little more about Darnand. Darnand? Uncivil? I bet ‘uncivil’ is putting it lightly. He seems to be under some pressure.

Whoa! I think Darnand is going to be very unhappy when he finds out Abiene and Jerric have been together already. I’m under the impression he never knew.

[SubRosa]

I found a pic of Darnand in his new Bard's haircut

It was nice to hear some more of Darnand's backstory. So he was a wild teen rebel! And Teekeus straightened him out? Interesting. I wonder if the girl he is talking about is Abiene? Or if there is someone else from before? Only time will tell...

[ghastley]

Lots of loose ends developing in the last two installments. Chorrol will be busy!

[Acadian]

As mentioned several times (deservedly so), dear Ulfe wiggles, worms, noses and stinks her way seamlessly and delightfully through this entire episode. I laughed when she rejected Jerric’s biscuit as unfit for canine consumption. Perhaps she’ll find a dead bird on the road baking in the sun on the way to Chorrol.

Loved Jerric relaying his joke about stoking the other fellow’s fear of losing his hair.

It hit me like a bolt out of the blue- Oh course, Darnand has feelings for Abiene! I can see where his critical self-analyzing could cast his own disfavor upon himself in regards to coupling with Lildereth.

The elf, of course, remains a mystery. She’s gone again! Like a leaf in the wind.

[McBadgere]

Oooh, bless Darnand...Bet it's the bookish wench... ...

Brilliant chapter...Loving the backstory thing...Looking forward to seeing what goes on in Chorrol...

And yes, Having had Lildreth in the party for the length of time I've been here, It's kind of cool to have her come and go all mysterious like...Me does like her muchly, looking forward to much more of her...

Also looking forward to seeing if you fill in the blanks at some point... ...

Loved it...Even if the gate answer was straightforward after all... ...

Love the deer breath doggie... ...

[Olen]

Darnard is certainly the nieve one. When he finds out that Abienne and Jerric have been at it, and that she isn't that bothered by Jerric's... proclivities, I suspect he will not be a happy bunny. I'm sure it will be interesting to read.

His being out of sorts was more noticeable and I suspect worry about facing the past in Chorrol is the least of it. He's anxious about meeting Abienne, I think, and feels guilty for some reason about his fling with Lildreth but moreso he wanted to again and didn't get, and feels he shouldn't want to. At least that's my reading of his morning mood. Brilliantly rich characters that I end up reading so much into a couple of lines.

I look forward to Chorrol.

[Grits]

haute ecole rider: Darnand has 1990s Robert Downey Jr. hair, when it was wavy and long on top. It's not a battlemage approved style. Jerric is indeed a mighty beverage processing unit. I’m glad you enjoyed Ulfe and Lildereth. Writing the doggy parts makes me smile. Thank you, haute!

mALX: I was thinking of you and grinning when I wrote about Jerric’s reaction to Darnand’s “confession.” A little more information, please, Breton!! Thank you, mALX!

King Coin: They might not see Lildereth again until someone washes the dog. Your impression is correct, Darnand never caught on to Jerric and Abiene. Carahil and Thaurron did, though. And I don’t think Darnand would be happy about it, either. In the first sentence of the whole story, Darnand is thinking wistfully about Abiene. Thank you, KC!

SubRosa: Nice pic for bard hair, thanks! I had a tough time coming up with a term for it! Darnand was a dutiful son until his parents died and his older brother threw him out. Then he was an angry teenager. He and Jerric talked about it ages ago (our time). That’s how he knew what to do with Jerric post-walkabout, and why he bothered.

ghastley: Very busy, and I’ve already forgotten to include some small things. You should see my frantically scribbled notes! If anything needs more detail, I can always go back and fill in. Thank you, ghastley!

Acadian: That is so Darnand!! And that’s exactly why he has not been on a tireless quest for a second round with Lildereth, no matter how much he thinks about it. I may have been involved in a similar prank, but of course I was not fool enough to cut my own hair. Thank you, Acadian!

McBadgere: Thank you, McB! I think Lildereth should get her own episode soon. She really has been busy, but the boys have no idea. We’ll fill in some blanks, but there are always more questions. And of course I sometimes forget to check my notes.

Olen: Oh my gosh, that was exactly Darnand’s morning. I am absolutely delighted that you understand what’s on his mind, because all Darnand could say about the whole mess was, “I am out of sorts.” Thank you, Olen!


Where we are: Jerric, Darnand, and the four-legged friends are on the way to Chorrol via Weynon Priory. Lildereth has flitted away again.




Chapter 15: Chorrol, Part Four


The sun had not risen above the trees when Jerric and Darnand rode into the courtyard of Weynon Priory. The grounds appeared tidy but nearly empty of life. A Dunmer knelt at work by the sheepfold gate. The only other motion came from the foraging chickens.

Jerric dismounted and turned the horses over to Darnand. Ulfe romped up to wipe her mouth on his leg, and then she trotted along at his side. He recognized the shepherd Eronor as he approached the sheepfold.

“Hail and good morning!” Jerric called.

Eronor scowled with recognition. He quickly glanced behind Jerric, then around over his own shoulder. Jerric recalled the violence of his last visit to the priory.

“Nord,” said Eronor.

Jerric decided to keep this conversation brief. “Do you have a new prior?”

Eronor jerked his chin toward the priory house. “He’s away. You’ll want Brother Venco.”

“Where’s Brother Piner? I’d like to speak with him.”

Eronor’s face became a mask. “He rests in the bone yard with Prior Maborel and the others.”

Jerric’s breath caught in his chest. “When? Wha— How did he die?”

Eronor turned back to his work. “I expect he was screaming.”

The shadows had shortened when Jerric looked up from Piner’s grave. Grey winter wrens from Skyrim made soft chirps and rustling noises, searching for tiny seeds in the dry grass around him. Ulfe still sat quietly with her chin cradled in his palm. He could hear Eronor working on the gate. The footsteps behind him must have pulled him from his thoughts. He felt Darnand’s hand low on his shoulder.

“Go on to Chorrol,” Jerric said. “Take Flash and Ulfe. I’ll see you at the guild hall if I don’t catch you on the road. Leave word there if you have to get us a room at an inn. I need to find out what happened here.” He kept his face turned away from his friend.

Darnand stood beside him for another moment without speaking. Then he made a coaxing sound and walked away with the dog.

Now they’re all in danger, thought Jerric. Every moment with me is a risk they don’t know they’re taking. I should leave them. All of them.

After a time he made his way to the priory house.

A middle-aged monk met him in the entry. His dark coloring and high-bridged nose marked him as an Imperial. “Well met, Jerric,” he said. “I am Brother Venco.”

Jerric wasn’t sure how to greet him.

Brother Venco didn’t wait for him to figure it out. “I am under instruction from your uncle,” he continued. He gestured toward the stairs. “Will you accompany me?”

It took Jerric a moment to remember their code. His uncle meant Cloud Ruler Temple. “Yeah.” He headed up the stairs to the right toward Jauffre’s office loft.

Venco surprised him again by opening the secret panel behind the bookshelves. The hidden chamber now contained a small desk, cupboards, and two chairs. In one of the chairs, rigid with tension, sat Darnand. His face told Jerric that he was completely confused and ready to defend himself. Jerric tried to cover his own dismay and reassure him with a look. He took the other chair while Venco closed the door.

Jerric was too upset for formalities. “Why didn’t Baurus tell me about Piner?” he asked Venco.

The Imperial seated himself behind the desk. “I have the same question. At best, my message did not reach him in time.”

Jerric didn’t want to consider the worst. “What about that Gate along the Black Road? What about the Odiils? Do you think any of that is connected to me coming back to Chorrol?”

Venco blinked. “Who are the Odiils?”

Jerric filled him in.

“Do not enquire at the castle,” Venco said thoughtfully. “Some folk will know you by your old name. That cannot be helped. Identifying yourself to anyone new is an unnecessary risk.”

“My old…”

“You must leave Jerric of Kvatch behind along with your armor. Kjellingson of Anvil is a name that will not cause you to stumble and will not be readily connected to your past. You are already known in Chorrol, but in your further travels you should use your surname. I see that you have already eliminated your most distinctive scar. Perhaps you might repair your nose with the help of a skilled healer.”

Jerric and Darnand exchanged a look. “I know one,” said Jerric. “What are you saying about my armor?”

“Rasheda has your new plate at Fire and Steel in Chorrol. It was made for you by the smiths who crafted your Blades armor.”

“Garond and Mahvash,” said Jerric. He glanced uneasily back at Darnand. His hope of keeping the Breton out of this was quickly fading.

Venco nodded. “You must leave everything that connects you with Kvatch, the Blades, and Lord Martin.”

“Wait—” said Jerric, throwing out his hands as if to stop Venco’s words.

“There is another Septim,” Venco said to Darnand. “He is safe with his Blades, thanks to the actions of Jerric Lionheart. Our Lord Martin of Kvatch is Emperor Uriel’s last surviving heir. He alone might relight the Dragonfires and renew the seal against Oblivion. Yet the Amulet of Kings is in the hands of the enemy. Our only hope is to find it.”

Jerric wanted to cut Brother Venco down in his chair. Instead he watched Darnand, sickened and hopeful at the same time.

Darnand leaned forward, utterly calm. “What is my part in this?”

Venco placed his palms on the desk. “I would ask that you aid our agent Jerric. You are familiar with his assignment?”

Darnand shot a glance at Jerric. “I suspect there is much that I do not know.”

Jerric calmed himself while Venco briefed Darnand. His friend did not betray the parts that Jerric had already told him.

“So your goals remain the same,” Venco finished. “Travel to the Mages Guild chapters. Learn your spells and earn your recommendations. Search for the remaining Mythic Dawn Commentaries. The only difference is that Kjellingson will travel as your hired guard.”

“He is known by the Mages Guild,” Darnand pointed out.

“Raminus Polus will be made aware of the slight deception. You need not fear discovery. Jerric Kjellingson is his true name.”

“Why drag Darnand into this?” Jerric interrupted. “Why not assign me to some other agent?”

“We may never learn who betrayed Emperor Uriel. Perhaps they even perished under the prison, while pretending to help his Majesty escape the assassins. You who had the opportunity to aid the enemy but did not are above suspicion. At present, you and Baurus are our most trusted agents in the field. Penoit could not have known to meet you prior to the assassination, and Baurus assures me that he has not been converted since.”

“I guess you can add Brother Piner to your list of the trusted,” said Jerric.

A shadow passed across Venco’s face. “May Arkay guide his journey.”

Jerric nodded at his friend. “I notice you didn’t ask him to join up.”

“Your invitation was far out of the ordinary. The gods brought you before the Emperor at the very hour of his death. Divine intervention circumvents our recruitment process.”

Jerric didn’t know what else to ask first. “What happened to Piner?”

“He was ambushed by Mythic Dawn agents outside Chorrol. They questioned him briefly. He did not survive.”

Jerric dried his palms on his thighs. Piner’s skill with the katana had surpassed his own. His death was a personal loss, but also a blow to Jerric’s confidence. “Grandmaster Jauffre told me not to get taken alive,” he said. “I don’t really have a plan for that. I can’t count on a killing spell. I might absorb it.”

Venco made a steeple with his fingers while he considered the question. “You are an alchemist, are you not? I suggest a strong poison.”

“Fast acting,” said Darnand. “On a short blade.”

“Perhaps your Bosmer friend might advise you,” said Venco. His eyes were as still as a snake’s.

Darnand stiffened at his side. Jerric began inwardly cursing.

“I have questions about the nature of your relationship,” Venco continued. “Has she tried to win your affection, or bind you to her in any way?”

Jerric recalled her soft voice in the night, the time she let him see her tears, and every glimpse of her naked. Hells, he thought. She even humped the Breton.

“No,” said Darnand.

Jerric shook his head. “No.”

“You do not have the luxury of trust,” Venco told them. “Her arrival in Anvil coincided with your return.”

“She could have killed me a hundred times,” Jerric objected. He looked to Darnand for support.

Darnand cleared his throat. “Brother Venco wonders if she might be waiting for you to lead her to Lord Martin.” Darnand’s face showed that he harbored a doubt. Jerric hated to admit to his own uneasy feeling.

“She’s going to notice if I change my name,” Jerric said to Venco.

“Then I suggest you craft a convincing tale or end your association.” Venco moved to a cupboard and retrieved a large, round shield. “This shield is Akaviri work. The enchantment will fortify your ability to turn blows with your shield and heavy armor. It also carries an enchantment that should increase the strength of your steel plate to roughly that of Dwarven material, without the added weight. I cannot explain the nature of the fortification, but you should not carry it when you are wearing light armor, such as your leather.”

“Or my mail,” Jerric said warily.

“You will leave your Kvatch mail, Wolf shield, and Blades helmet here.” Venco’s lowered brows did not invite argument.

Dammit, thought Jerric. “My helm carries a strong fire shield enchantment.”

“This is not a negotiation. We must still find the Amulet and return it to Lord Martin. Then he must reach the Temple of the One to light the Dragonfires. The gods gave Emperor Uriel a vision of you at Lord Martin’s side. Only Akatosh knows why he chose you, but he did. Now we must deal with it. You will have contact with the enemy, so you must not be identified. Our plan does not include losing you at this early hour.”

Jerric scratched a hand through his hair. “What about my katana? I’ve been training with it. I’d hate to leave it behind.”

“In your new armor you will appear as a successful mercenary who has an appreciation of Akaviri style. That is the reason behind the shield. It is called the Tower of the Nine. You purchased it from Viator Accius of Stonewall Shields in the Imperial City.”

Jerric turned his attention to the shield. Its age was evident in the cracks around the edges, but the elaborate enameled designs were largely intact. The red jewel at the center had no chips or cracks. He took that as evidence of the shield enchantment. It felt good on his arm. Heavier than his Wolf shield, and far more sturdy. His experimental bashing motion made him proud of his conditioning. He bounced on his toes a few times, letting out some stress.

“It is close enough in style to the Blades’ shields to cause confusion,” said Darnand. Jerric and Venco gave him their attention. “If anyone speaks of Jerric’s Blades helm and katana, Kjellingson’s ownership of an Akaviri shield and katana will cast doubt upon the rumor. The incorrect information will suggest that any connection is a mistake.”

Venco nodded. He placed a heavy coin purse on the desk in front of Jerric. “The Blades do not expect you to fund your own missions. This will offset your expenses, such as the purchase of another horse.”

Jerric got his meaning with a sinking feeling. “No,” he groaned. “Not Flash!”

“His markings make him unique,” Darnand said softly.

Venco’s look was both calculating and approving. “Darnand Penoit, I thank you for your cooperation. On behalf of the Blades, and in the name of his Lordship Martin Septim.”

“I look forward to the honor of meeting him,” Darnand replied. Jerric was impressed by his cool tone. The Breton had taken in quite a lot of new information.

The two of them left the priory house and headed around toward the stable. Jerric wondered if Darnand was angry at his past deception. A single look reassured him.

“That was a smooth lie,” Darnand said. “About the elf.”

“I managed one word that time. I must be getting better at this agent business.” Jerric stopped him under the portico. “I took the Amulet of Kings from Emperor Uriel and delivered it to the Grandmaster of the Blades, here at the priory,” he said quietly. “Jauffre told me where to find Martin. That’s all of it. I would have kept you out of this, but now I’m glad you’re in it.”

“You are an agent for the Blades,” said Darnand, as if he still didn’t quite believe it.

“Yeah. I’m the first to admit I make a poor soldier. Though when I think of my heroes, they’re generally in some kind of uniform.”

“I suppose that makes me an asset.”

Jerric wasn’t sure any of that mattered. “Don’t forget, now I’m working for you. Boss.”

Now Darnand’s expression was unreadable. “Let us hand over your gear and make our farewells to Flash,” he said. “And by the Nine Divines, say nothing about the dog.”



.

This post has been edited by Grits: May 22 2012, 01:55 PM

[SubRosa]

Ahhh, so its Downy Jr. hair. I think I like the Leon hair better. But at least Downy hair does not cause lazy eye...

One soul knelt at work by the sheepfold gate.
Necromancers!

Return to Weynon. Jerric does not appear to be very welcome. At least not in Eroner's eyes.

Well, it seems the beans are well and truly spilled now, at least where Darnand is concerned. And Jerric is going undercover, so to speak, to sneak under the Mythic Dawn's radar detect life. And the Tower of the Nine is part of his new identity. Brilliant of you to work in one of the special items from the game that way. Too bad they could not get him that Akaviri Sunderblade too...

So no more Flash, and no more Lildreth. I can't wait to see how they explain things to her! Though granted her disappearances could be attributed to her checking in with her Mythic Dawn control agent... I loved the final line by Darnand. One mention of Ulfe and she would be whisked away too!

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 21 2012, 07:15 PM