Chapitre 414: No Man's Land (5, 6) : Enemies On Every Corner
A/n: Another Double Chapter! Happy International Cat day (that was yesterday) and Happy Big Eid (That's Tomorrow)
~~~~~~~~~~
(Part 1)
Days passed and Mournhold turned gloomier. The spring fevers made the city feel a bit sickly especially in the southern Plaza district where the refugees have their slums. The Old Woman's Tong kept making some charities here and there to maintain the order around their areas and recruit able men.
Isha and Galam were doing many runs around the city to secure the warehouses of the gang's resources while Mirren and Miranda were stationed as the Old Woman's guards. Jon's job was to secure the perimeters and handle the public relations around the Casino.
"Thane Jon."
"I'm not a Thane, Lanmas."
"Sorry, kinda a habit. Anyway, our network has detected some of the Indoril Guards around the Bazaar. Seems like trouble is coming." Lanmas said while handing a letter to Jon.
"Hmmm... Not an opposing gang this time?"
"I say it is a tip from another gang. Can we rely on you?"
"Easy. What does the old cat think?"
"She said to make it clean. We don't want a Great House to publicly hostile to us... not so soon anyway."
"You think the Indoril will prosecute the White Cat publicly? The old woman has more popularity than them around."
"They'll use an underhanded method if they involved the faction if the Temple that supports them." Lanmas said with a worried face.
"Sigh! Look at us, two Nords worrying about Dunmer politics." Jon laughed.
"Currently, Dunmer politics is our lifeline. So... how many men will you take?"
"None, let me have my way with the Indoril Guards."
"Oh! The mighty Jon Dare is showing off some moves?"
"Haha! I will just mess around."
Jon walked the street away from the Casino to the entrance of the Bazaar.
There, he found a few patrols of Indoril Guards dressed in their weird helms that represent the Hortator, Indoril Nerevar.
Jon looked closely and assessed the guard skills. Unlike the normal city guards, the Indoril Guards are elite soldiers with years of experience that outnumber Jon's age in Tamriel, taking them on while maintaining a secret identity will be a challenge.
Jon checked his stash of Transformation Potions and luckily there were many, the Normal days he doesn't need to transform, he keeps the potions in spare flasks.
Now was the time to use another. Despite being untasty, the Potion was very abusable.
Jon transformed into a Dunmer form right away with a regular height. A few minutes later, he ambushed an Indoril Guard and knocked him down taking his armor and weapon. He then walked the streets with a straight back and a haughty face until he met other Indoril Guards.
"Hey, Paul. Is that you?" Jon said waving his hand to a guard.
"Paul?" The guard looked at Jon trying to identify him.
"Yes, a few Pauls are here with you. I just ran into one on my way here."
"Who are you?" The Guards frowned.
"It's me... Steve. Don't you recognize me, Paul?"
Somehow the Indoril Guards were wary of him but realizing that he must be drunk, they changed their attitude.
"Who's your commanding officer? We should report you for lollygagging on work hours." One guard said.
"And why would I do that? I thought they only gag lollies in Skyrim."
"... Huh?"
"Never mind. Before I head out, mind telling me why the whole lot of you are gathered here." Jon asked.
"You don't even know that? Where were you last night?" The guard asked suspiciously.
"Out drinking. I have a leave for personal reasons." Jon kept the bullshit on with a normal attitude.
"Personal reasons? First time hearing that... Where did you say you are from again?"
"I didn't."
"..." "..."
Sadly, those guards were hard to trick. Even though Jon's act was somehow passable in other places, Elite guards like them deserve their title after all. The guards in front of Jon looked at each other and agreed that Jon is a spy.
"Fine." One of them spoke, "We are here for a criminal tong bust. Now, mind telling us what you are here for."
"Oh! So you are the guards on that bust thing? Are there any more of you?" Jon didn't even bother acting anymore.
"Humph! You'll know soon. One your knees."
The Indoril Guards surrounded Jon and one put a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, I hoped you'd do that, Paul." Jon smiled widely.
He grabbed the hand of the man and twisted it while kicking his legs resulting the man to fly in a whirl before falling on the ground.
"Catch him!"
The other guards were triggered right away and a fight started in the middle of the market.
Jon kicked to the back then to the front sending two guards away from him. One attacked from the side but was restrained down by Jon from the arm and got a knee to the ribs.
"N'chow! (Shit!) Use weapons."
The guards realized that Jon won't go down without lethal force and drew their swords. In an instant, Jon has closed the distance to them. He used a combination of fast punches to take down the remaining seven guards and made it look loud.
As the last Indoril Guard fell down, the market has already fallen to chaos and all the shops sealed its doors. Once the main force arrives, the place will become a bloodbath.
Still, seeing the Indoril Guards fight each other was very unusual as it seemed that one of them has gone rogue.
Heavy footsteps came from the alleyway leading to the market and the Indoril Guards flowed out in numbers. Once they saw a fellow guard standing in a pile of fallen fellow guards, their Captain spoke right away.
"Guard, report! What happened here?"
"Yes, Captain." Jon said as he ran towards the captain and as soon as he arrived...
"Reporting to your mother, you Indoril bastards owe me three months of pay and you claim to be righteous? Shame on you!"
Jon held the Captain from his clothes and carried him up in the air then threw him at the guards behind him.
"Captain!"
"What are you doing, you madman."
"Catch this idiot!"
"Stop!"
And another fight started. Different from the initial patrol, the main force was equipped with spears.
"Haha! You Indoril bastards don't want to give me my pay? Fine. Let's see how you can stop me."
Jon held a stall from the market and carried it over his head. The Indoril Guards had their eyes widened and gulped from fear.
"Hey, comrade. Let's take this one out."
"Talk my ass!"
Jon sent the stall flying at them and crashed a hole in the middle of their formation.
"Stop him before he throws anything else."
The guards ran with Jon intending to kill him as fast as possible, Jon shamelessly turned tail and ran to the other side. Whatever he finds on his path, he would trap it and throw at them. The whole Bazaar district became chaotic and the Indoril Guards lost control over the situation against one man, the people watching from the windows and from behind the doors couldn't fathom how a lone guard was able to do such a ruckus against the whole body of the Indoril Guards.
Jon wasn't merciful either, wherever he ran, he would spout shit about House Indoril saying that they don't pay their retainers and swindle people. This made the guard captains chase him with their teeth and nails to only eat his dust.
In mind, Jon's destination was to the west of the district where the castle is.
Mournhold was large, and an hour of running straight to the west wouldn't even reach anywhere but that was what Jon wanted. He rooted most of the Indoril Guards from their posts to come after him to the point where the ruckus was heard from outside the district.
This all kept going until Jon reached a certain plaza. He was confronted with Guards from every street now as his path and escape were blocked.
"Mercenary Krilon, you are surrounded." A voice called for him from atop of a building.
Jon stiffened, how on Nirn did they see through his disguise?
He looked to the rooftops and saw some men in a distinctive unique armor.
"Temple Ordinators?"
This was a bit shocking. Why would the temple send people after him when he is known as Labourer?
This wasn't simple. Those Temple Ordinators are in cahoots with House Indoril as they are mostly were raised or originated from the house, they should be tough to deal with and as Lanmas said, they should be from the Indoril faction of the Temple.
Jon carefully heightened his senses and focused on them. The bastards were having dozens of archers on their side too. Jon put his hand on the guard helm and exposed his face under disguise. He appeared as a middle-aged Dark Elf with brown hair and red eyes.
"Huh? This guy is not a Nord." A Temple Ordinator was taken aback.
"How? We were told the Nord names Krilon will make a large mess when we try and catch him. You're telling me a guard did that?" Another questioned.
"This... This is not normal. If things didn't go according to plan then we have been had." The leader of the Ordinators said.
"Kwama pile (bullshit), this scum must know something. S'wit (fool), identify yourself." Another shouted at Jon.
Jon's face became better as he discovered he is still safe.
"Humph! Ask your wife who was with her last night, she'd tell you, dimwit."
"WHA... SHOOT THE BASTARD!" The Ordinator didn't take Jon's provocation well and ordered the archers.
"No, wait..." Other Ordinators tried to stop the archers but it was too late.
*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*
Arrows from all directions were shot at Jon, he didn't just stand and found a nearby stall to hide under. Once the arrows were all shot, Jon retaliated.
A bow appeared in his hands and he took an arrow from the ground and shot it back at the guards on rooftops.
"Take cover. Bastard's got a bow."
"Who is this man? Is that really one of our guards?"
The Indoril Guards were at loss of what to do. Volleys of arrows were shot at Jon who kept running like a cat with nine lives and hides under stuff then shoots back. All his shots were at the Guard's knees.
"That's it! Kill him." The leader of the Ordinators aimed his hand towards Jon and evoked a Firebolt.
The other Temple Ordinators followed him and cast a barrage of Firebolts towards Jon.
Jon saw that and a smile appeared on his face. Under his feet, he has prepared a Fire Rune spell and overcharged it with an absurd amount of Magicka.
Once the Firebolts were a meter away from he was already hundreds of meters away by a Teleport spell prepared beforehand.
The Firebolts landed on Jon's spot and...
*Kaboom*
A large explosion shook the plaza. The people felt the land shake and some guards fell from the rooftops.
"Boethiah!" The Ordinators were shocked speechless.
"Serran! Did you cast a Fireball?" The Ordinator Captain asked the one who was dissed by Jon.
"N- No! A Fireballs can't do that..."
**********
(Part 2)
Jon left the Ordinators for their own mess and disappeared in an alleyway with [Greed] covering him. He looked at the Ordinators and frowned.
"Someone was after me. Someone knew my capabilities and tried to ambush me. Why?"
He couldn't figure out the reason but roughly understood that there was someone trying to hinder the Labourers and that is clearly House Indoril's faction in the Reclamation Temple. Only they can mobilize Ordinators which serve as Templar Knights.
If that's the case then the Old Woman of Mournhold should have made some big enemies and they are targeting her by dismantling the ones around her.
The Casino may even be in Danger but the most important thing is the Old Woman.
{Isha, act naturally.} Jon telepathically called Isha.
{Eh... nothing, just a bee.} Isha seemed to be talking to someone.
{You can reply to me by only thinking.} He said.
{Like that?}
{Yes. Where are you? What is your situation?}
{I am at Godsreach district. Galam and I are chasing someone.}
{Tsk, you two are being distracted. Try to return to the Casino fast. I was pulled away too. Seems like someone is up to something.}
{Can you explain?}
{Once you reach the Bazaar, you'll know... Also, tell Galam to keep his ugly mug hidden.}
{... Fine.}
Jon disconnected with Isha. He was somehow suspicious of Galam but looks like the two are being distracted too.
{Lanmas, you hear me?}
{Thane Jon, is that... where are you?}
{I'm just talking to you from far. Is everything alright?}
{Yes, is there anything wrong on your part.}
{No, just secure the perimeter and empty the Casino. Someone is up to something.}
{I see. Fine.}
Jon then contacted Mirren.
{Hey, cute boy.}
{Why am I heading that bastard's voice all of a sudden?}
{I am in your head, you should stop thinking of me that much, you know.}
{... Fuck! How far can your Telepathy reach?}
{Far enough. What's your status?}
{Nothing important. What's going on?}
{Someone is after White Cat, you're with her?}
{No, only sis is with her. Who is after White Cat?}
{Go back now, I don't know but all of us were lured away.}
{Dammit! Fine.}
Jon cut the connection with Mirren and tried to contact Miranda but got no response. He tried to contact White Cat or Lanmas again but that wasn't the possible too.
"Shit!"
Time can't be wasted now. Jon took out [Pride], [Krilon] and the [Ebony Blade].
"Nefertiti."
"Yes."
"Keep an eye out, tell your friends we need eyes on the city."
Nefertiti appeared on Jon's shoulder.
"Fine, some boys and girls around the town owe me some fish."
"Oh! So you've been busy too. Let's see what you are capable of, young lady."
Jon and Nefertiti split up.
He used the Elder Staff to fly invisibly while erasing his magic signal. As soon as he reached the White Cat Casino, he could already see that something is wrong.
The doors were unguarded and a strange transparent gas was coming out from some windows.
Jon put a filtering ward around him and walked in.
Everyone was out, the waiters and some customers were all lying unconscious. Jon carefully walked through the entrance and trod carefully.
He can treat those people but they will get in the way, thankfully, the gas was harmless.
The first floor's hall was dead silent but as soon as Jon arrived at its center, poison darts were shot at him from all directions.
Jon raised the Elder Staff up and 'Spatial Mirror' formed around him. Every dart that was shot was mirror- reflected at the one who shot it. Bodies fell from the balconies of the second floor and the corners of the first floor. Some staggered but all were paralyzed once they got their darts stuck to their faces, tongues and eyes.
Jon waved the staff once again and all those who fell flew from their places and gathered in a sphere of bodies floating in the middle of the hall.
This was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the skills of the Elders Staff of Power and Fate, Pride. Exciting Jon's will like that can only be described as Imagination Magic, a power worthy of the strongest sin that even exerts its control over the very Magicka.
Jon seemed proud with his work but there was no time to dally.
He cast 'Tactical Vision' with Pride and saw everything clearly. There was an underground level he is not aware of and a fight going on in White Cat's room upstairs.
Jon walked hastily upstairs and would stab with the Ebony Blade through some hidden corners to kill the assassins hidden behind them. He reached White Cat's room and heard some noise going on inside.
Once he walked in, he saw some figures hidden with invisibility magic hiding at every corner but he didn't trigger them. There was a hidden fight going on between top-class assassins in the room.
"Humph!" Jon snorted and shot Lightning bolts from his spear at every hidden assassin shooting them down in one go.
"Dammit! He saw us."
Some of them endured the spells and desperately ran towards Jon only to be sliced by his blade. He then looked around and spoke.
"Miranda, it's me."
As soon as he said so, a figure appeared out of thin air and collapsed on the ground.
"Miranda!"
He ran towards her holding her body before collapsing, he found many darts on her enough to kill an elephant.
He directed his staff at her and gave his best healing spell but without understanding the poison, he can't detoxify it.
"Krilon... downstairs."
"I know."
"Hurry."
Seeing her losing consciousness, Jon could do nothing but to transfer her inside the Cube. He put her down and took off her armor then put her in a pool of healing water provided by Alina.
"Just, hang in there. This can at least halt the poison."
The Altmer girl kept hallucinating so Jon left her to rest and jumped out of the Cube.
Back to the Casino, Jon found Mirren rushing to the first floor.
"Miranda! Krilon!"
"I'm here." Jon jumped down.
"What's is that... poison?" Mirren was becoming dizzy by the invisible gas.
"Here." Jon cast the Filter Ward on him.
"That..."
"Shut up, your sister is resting. She's okay. White Cat is down there."
"Yes but... what is that?" Mirren asked pointing at the sphere of people floating in the hall.
"Ignore the unnecessary details. Do you know these darts?" Jon passed a poison dart to Mirren.
Mirren took the dart and tasted it only to have a disgusted face. He then looked at one of the assassins and unveiled him.
"Figures! Shadowscales from the Shirt-Tail Tribe."
"Argonians?" Jon asked.
"Naga Argonians, fanatics of a lost order. I ran into them once back at Elsweyr."
"Here's the situation, there is an underground floor. I don't know where is its entrance but I'll teleport us down there. White Cat should be hiding down there and she has company."
"... Okay, I'm with you." Mirren agreed and unsheathed his sword.
Jon didn't wait and waved Pride around taking the two downstairs.
"Wha... Who's there?" An Argonian panicked.
"Daddy and Mommy. No offense, Mirren, you're Mommy."
"Very taken, man."
***
In a brass vault under the White Cat Casino, Lanmas and the Old Woman sat together. Lanmas was holding a crossbow and preparing an axe at his side.
"Boy, you don't need any of that. Just let me take care of it." The old woman said.
"My Lady, you can't possibly be thinking of dirtying your hands, this is a last case measure when I die. Also, Lord Jon Dare is on the way." Lanmas said with absolute respect more than what is shown in public.
"You spoil me a lot, kid. I don't underestimate Jon Dare or the others but you shouldn't have made them go through the trouble to protect this old woman." She said with a laugh.
"At someone has to at least be at your side when your enemies gather like that."
"Enemies? Those are long dead, my boy. I leave no enemies alive. Also, I called for my own helper to come. Don't worry about my safety, I've forgotten about defending myself than most will ever learn."
"It's never too much protection, your Maj... Wait! Is that... music?" Lanmas frowned.
"Hm? I hear it... it's quite nice." The old woman relaxed with a smile.
Some fighting Josie was heard and died down a minute later. The music came closer and someone knocked on the vaults door. Lanmas went to the breathing vents and spoke.
"Whose there?"
"Its Krilon."
"How can I be sure?"
"I saved your ass from freezing to death on Japhet's Folly."
"Oh! Thank Kyne."
Lanmas opened the vault for Jon and Mirren and looked outside.
"Nice work."
"Thanks."
"That thing is?" Lanmas pointed at the spectral gramophone floating behind Jon.
"I am a sick person who loves to listen to Mozart while killing people. It's so peaceful." Jon said and walked to White Cat to lend her a hand.
"Good job, my friends. I trust that you left some alive for questioning." She said while standing up.
"Surely, we would love to find an antidote for these needles first and see why those Indoril are luring us out and sending Argonian assassins." Jon said.
"Hm? That can't be." The old woman denied.
"What?"
"The Indoril are too prideful to send Argonians or even make them enter Mournhold. What makes you say that?" She asked.
"Well, Temple Ordinators were after me by name and Argonian Assassins are all over the place."
The woman frowned.
"No. It seems I was wrong. Our enemy is not House Indoril... not just House Indoril. Someone else is at play here." She said.
"And... why are those many people after you? You hired the Labourers from the Temple but the Indoril... I don't get it." Mirren asked.
"No, keep this to yourselves but you should know what we're were doing for the past few days, right?" She said.
"We were securing the roads between Narsis and Mournhold." Jon said.
"Yes, while transferring food and weapons to Narsis." Lanmas added.
"Weapons and food? Like war efforts?" Jon was quick to catch up.
"Yes, our objective is to support House Hlaalu in Narsis. This attack means someone is on to us. Someone is after Narsis and want to get rid of House Hlaalu by cutting its northern supply line which is us." The old woman said.
"Who might that be?" Mirren asked.
"Can be literally anyone." Lanmas said, "The Empire is a big suspect, they may be trying to get back to Morrowind again, any of the five Great Houses is also a potential enemy and the An-Xileel government of Black Marsh is an obvious answer... but the Indoril Temple Faction is involved or being manipulated. We are short on information here."
Jon and Mirren looked at Lanmas with admiring eyes, he was analyzing the situation on a vast scale.
"Good job, my boy. I want you to pull our people in Mournhold." The Old Woman said.
"Shouldn't you leave the city for a month or so until we figure things out?" Mirren said.
"No. I was born here and as my days are closing, I want to die here." The Old Woman showed a stubborn attitude.
She then looked at Jon and Lanmas.
"Can we rely on your people from Skyrim to supply us?" She asked.
"Sadar Clan was always faithful to you as our savior, my lady. We will do what we can." Lanmas said.
"I can spare an army." Jon said.
"No need for an army, my friend." The Old Woman laughed.
"Fine, I'll reach out to my people."
The Casino started to be guarded by a large militia and closed its doors to customers. The Old Woman's Tong accepted the challenge.
By the next day, Miranda was cured of the poison. Jon and Isha were patrolling the perimeter when they ran into an Indoril Guard with a wanted paper. The guard hanged it on the wall and left.
Isha frowned and looked at Jon.
"Whoops! My bad." Jon laughed awkwardly.
The wanted drawing has a certain familiar face on it. It was the face Jon used yesterday or rather, Galam's face.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
El_Don
El_Don SUPPORT THIS NOVEL!
~~~
Check out Pat/reaon
Goal: +6 Extra
pat/reon.com/eldokhmesy (remove / )
~~~
[Gift] on PayPal (+10$ = Extra)
Paypal.me/eldokhmesy
~~~
Extras by Votes: 5000 / 8000
~~~
Chat on Discord
discord.gg/gKcKva7s
Chapitre 415: No Man's Land (7, 8) : Settling Scores, Karly
(Part 1: Settling Scores)
A fancy carriage stopped at a certain building in the south of the Bazaar district, it was guarded by some intimidating looking men who secured the area around the carriage first before knocking on its door.
Jon walked out of the carriage in his Krilon appearance and extended his hand to the other passenger. The old woman went came out after Jon holding his hand and the two walked to the building.
"Sorry to trouble you, my friend. Galam seemed to have got mixed up in something mysterious lately." She said.
"Yes, I saw it. Bad news what happened." Jon made a disheartened look.
"You sure you have no idea what happened? He was gazing at you thinking you did something with Illusions." She looked at him with disbelieving eyes.
"I said it, didn't I? Anyone with a decent talent in Magic can see through a Mimic Spell."
"Then how do you explain what happened?"
"I just cast some illusions on a guard and he went on a rampage but somehow he ended up looking like Galam. Nothing I could do about it."
"Heh! I think there is more to the story I'll take your word for it." The Old Woman giggled softly and walked forward inside the building.
The place looked like a big merchant store where they sell grains and materials by big amounts. The Old Woman found her way through the workers who cleared the way for her intimated by Jon's presence. The two finally reached the other end of the building where a desk stood empty.
"Alven! I know you are here. Come out." The Old Woman called.
Jon looked around for this fellow Alven then noticed someone poking his head from behind a door. He sighed and stared at the man until he came out.
"My my! What a pleasant surprise Tong Leader. You honor us with your presence." Said the man who appeared to be a fat Dunmer.
He came in front of the woman and went on his knees trying to kiss her hand but Jon held him from his nape and shook his head.
"Excuse me, Tong Leader. Please have a seat. Mister, please have a seat too."
The fatty kept offering hospitality so the Old Woman simple walked and sat behind the desk.
"Hmm... how are you doing, Alven?" She asked.
"We are living by your boon, my lady. There is no more we can ask for." Alven said while bowing slightly.
"So you remember?"
"Of- Of course, how can I forget?"
"Hmmm... How is your wife, Alven? Did she have an easy birth?"
"Yes, thank you for asking, my lady."
"Strange! I hear she departed to Ebonheart right after birth. Why so fast?"
"Eh... Yes, she had to stay with her mother to take care of the newborn. Mournhold is not suitable in spring for the seasonal fever."
"I see." The Old Woman pointed at the chair across the desk, "Sit down, Alven."
"My lady, I prefer..." Alven was about to say something but Jon held his shoulder and forced him on the chair.
The fatty sat while sweating like a swine.
"Tell me, Alven. Do you know what I value the most?" She asked.
Alven nodded hastily.
"The most valuable money I have ever made and the priceless lesson of life. Value Loyalty above all else." She said and stood up.
She walked around the desk to Alven holding her staff.
"The prices of the grains have gone very high overnight. Mind explaining, Alven."
"Th- The last shipment was... it was not very good. Some sacks were rotten and we had to come up with a way to cover the loss slightly until another fresh shipment arrives."
"Which shipment?"
"The Silver Hills shipment. The one from Skyrim."
The Old Woman was taken aback.
"The Silver Hills went bad? Isn't that the wheat from Winterhold?"
"Yes."
The Old Woman looked at Jon and the two sighed in their minds.
"Strange! The Dare Fleet is known to have fast ships powered by demons as far as the rumor says... and those people from Winterhold are really fanatics about Quality." She said with a doubting tone.
"I... I don't know. Maybe those Demonic Ships caused the grains to be cursed."
"Good one, Alven." The Old Woman said and called for a worker, "Bring me some Silver Hills sacks. One from each corner of the building."
The worker looked to his boss but Jon was covering the screen.
"Until the grains come, tell me, Alven. What happened to the charity distribution I ordered? Word is the refugees didn't eat their fill last night."
Alves jumped off his seat.
"Those... Impossible, my lady. The distribution is going very well every day, anything but that is baseless accusations."
"No one accused you of anything, Alven..." She said.
"Oh. I see... a test."
"... yet." Jon continued for her.
Alven looked at Jon with an offended look but Jon's mask alone was intimidating as if the face behind it is a part of it.
"Here, my lady. The sacks." The worker came with a few others and put the sacks in from of the Old Woman.
"Open them." She said.
The worker opened them and then she went forward and put her hand in every sack taking out some grains and tasting them directly.
"Cyrodilic Light Grains." She said.
"No, it can't be. This is..." Alven was shocked seeing a classy lady like her recognize grains like a tact farmer.
"Krilon, my dear. We made a detour to recover something this morning. Would you mind doing the... you know... you snap thing."
"By all means." Jon said and snapped his fingers taking out some large sacks from the Cube.
Alven saw the sacks and lost all the power in his legs. The worker opened them and the Old Woman did the same.
"Hmm... It is as you can smell the snow and wind of North Skyrim. A scent I will never forget. Reminds me with year 45 of the Third Era, we were on a ship on the northern waters of Skyrim hoping to steal a map to a treasure from Dawnstar's Jarl but we had to dock on a wild shore because of a coming storm. Hiding in the ship was reckless so we landed with little food we have got, for our dumb luck, the food was rotting and no animal or village for half a day's walk. My friend Sor and I hid in a cave of all places waiting for the storm to go by the morning but as the morning came, there was no end for it. I've never seen so much rain... winds like a Daedra went mad. All we could do is wait it out but Sor... he made a run for a village. So I was there... soaking wet... alone... three days of absolute misery. And on the fourth day, I was... overcome by this incredible feeling of peace. Something about hiding there while the rest of the word is being torn apart... sigh! It was poetic. Poor Sor learned that the hard way."
"What happened to him?" Jon asked.
"He died... didn't get a few steps before the wind sends him flying to land on his skull. The fifth day when it all went down made me and the ones who lived it run to the village and bet for food like a punch of vagrants, we didn't even have enough willpower to raid a single village." The Old Woman said and approached Alven.
"Now, do you know the moral of my story?"
Alven nodded like a chicken.
"I wasn't talking to you, Alven." She turned around and looked at the worker. "I'm talking to you, young man."
"Yes, my lady." The worker said.
"What's your name?"
"Talim."
"How long have you worked in my granary?"
"Four years."
"Fine. You are in charge now." She said.
"T- Tong Leader. That can't be... I am..." Alves wanted to say something.
"If you don't want to end up being naked, penniless and crawl like a warm to your wife in Ebonheart, then I suggest you keep it down." She said with a deadly glare.
"..." Alven turned silent.
"You stand accused of betraying my trust and not showing the loyalty I expect, Alves. The goods you tried to monopolize, the prices you raised and the charity food you stole will all weight you down when my punishment comes but... I think you can spare yourself some beating, Alves. You now can tell why I withdrew all my Guards to the White Cat and that's for you and your likes to think I am retreating. I've been spending the whole morning with Krilon here and I've seen him slap some people. Let me tell you this, people have been ti Oblivion for some time after his slaps. They also make a nice echo."
Alves gulped looking at the giant behind him.
"Now, Alves. Mind telling me what I want to know?"
***********
(Part 2: Karly)
"Looks like you got yourself some answers." Jon sitting in front of the Old Woman.
"Thanks to your intimidating, it all worked fast."
"Don't mention it."
"Some celebration then."
The Old Woman took out a couple of clean goblets and a bottle of red liquor. She handed Jon a goblet and poured for the two of them.
Jon smelled the liquor before tilting his head.
"I don't know that." He narrowed his eyes.
The Old Woman grinned and replied.
"Akaviri Blood Sake."
Jon's eyes widened.
"I thought that was a myth."
"Same was said about G-spot but hey... some friends make the impossible possible, right?"
"Haha! Cheers."
"Cheers."
The two stayed quiet for a bit before Jon talks again.
"Old Cat, who are you?... Really."
The Old Woman smiled as she looked out of the window.
"From as early as I remember, all I wanted to do is to be a captain of a ship. To be out there in the middle of the night navigating by the stars. I always thought it would be the greatest life on Nirn getting lost between the sea up there and the sea down here. Heh heh... that's something to know about me." She said.
Jon smiled and became silent for some time.
"You're never going to tell more, aren't you?" He asked.
"Let me put your mind at ease, I never do." She said returning the same grin as him.
"I'll go with that."
"More Sake?"
"Sure."
"I may have told you before but I have already invited a new one to join the circus. Do get along with her." The old woman added trying to avoid the misunderstanding that happened between Jon and Galam once again.
"A her? I'm always getting along with them 'hers'."
The Old Woman smiled widely and shook her head.
The carriage stopped back at the casino and Jon helped the Old Woman down. The Tong members were guarding the place from outside and inside.
Lanmas was waiting at the door and came out to receive the two.
"Thank the Nine you're back. Going out like that..."
"Relax, my boy. Withdrawing the Tong people was just to make the rats feel the pressure off. Everything is going back as it was now."
"By your wish. I'll see to it."
"Did anyone come while we were gone?"
"Not at all."
The Old Woman sighed and went in followed by Jon. In there, Isha was playing Gwent with a black cat which is of course Nefertiti.
"Still losing?" Jon asked.
"Shut up." Isha groaned.
The rest of the team were doing their things by either sharpening their arrows, reading a book or eating an untimely meal.
"I think the lot around here is getting comfortable." Jon said.
"It should be fine. According to what we know now, you won't have any rest for the next few days." The Old Woman replied.
Jon offered her a hand on the stairway and reached her study upstairs. But somehow, his senses were felt something is not quite right.
"Show yourself." Jon blocked the Old Woman's path and took out Mehrune's Razor.
No reaction came at first but a dart was launched at his forehead. Jon just had to swing the dagger and send it back where it came from.
"No need for it, you two. Just let me rest my old bones first."
The Old Woman bypassed Jon without care and sat at her favorite place. Beside her, a Dunmer woman appeared in a mysterious way.
"Shadow Magic?" Jon noticed.
"Oh, you could tell?" The Old Woman was taken aback.
"I happen to see it a lot."
The Old Woman took his answer for it and looked at the woman who appeared.
"How have you been doing, girl? Eating well?" She asked.
"Yes, Grandma. I'm doing good." The other woman replied.
"I'll leave you two together then." Jon said and left for his business.
The two women sat in front of each other.
"That was?"
"Krilon. You should at least have heard some rumors on your way here, little Karly."
"Quit calling me that, we're not in the past century."
"Come on, you're not that old, my dear. Want some candy?"
"Sigh! Why did you call me here, Grandma?"
"Why should I have a reason? One can't look out for their grandchildren nowadays?"
The woman called Karly looked at her grandmother while narrowing her eyes.
"Fine... I'll go with whatever you say. How are you, old hag? Not planning on being a Hagraven anytime soon. Plenty of them in Skyrim."
"Tsk. And here I was going soft on you. Truly, all I raised are sluts."
""Pffft!""
The two couldn't hold their laughter much longer.
"So... How is Skyrim?" The Old Woman asked.
"Cold! Somehow, the Nords are still running wild rather than freezing to death." Karly said.
"What? Any trouble?"
"Yes, Eastmarch and the Rift are going to war with the rest of Skyrim."
"What about Winterhold?"
"Neutral as well as Whiterun. Those are the big traders nowadays and they want to save money. What about Mournhold? How are things?"
"Not very well I'm afraid, the spring is as nasty as ever killing many children. This damn fever is throwing the money all over the place."
"Want my help then?" Karly asked.
"Yes, keep your other side of the family away from mine. Tell them to respect the elders before I walk in the Grand Council again and bitch slap them all." The Old Woman said.
"The Indoril are causing you trouble? Fine, I'll cash out some favors with my cousins just for you, you old dying woman."
"I'm not dying damn you!"
The Grandmother and Granddaughter pair had a certain understanding of things.
"Have you heard about this guy, the Red Cat of Riften?" Karly asked.
"The Thief?"
"Yes, the one they call Catatoskr. He appeared in Whiterun and stole from the Jarl over there. They say he showed his face and people are hell-bent on finding him now."
"Really? How does he look like?"
"Just a big tabby Khajiit."
"Hahaha! Good luck tell Khajiit apart then." The Old Woman laughed.
"I also think the same... Hey, do you have money? A big sum!" Karly asked.
"Not now. But why? It is not like you to ask before you steal."
"Ahaha! Yes... I'm really spending a lot the next couple of years and I need some of your coffers to back me up. I put my eyes on some small meaderies, some farms, alchemy shops and honey businesses I want to send bankrupt."
"Your taking revenge already?" The Old Woman asked.
"Not revenge. Justice. You're the one who taught us that Revenge is a disease that eats the mind and poison the soul." Karly said.
"Well said... but you'll have to stay by my side for the coming couple of years until I am done with the Narsis dilemma."
"Right, I went through it but found many hidden fingers. Want me to investigate?"
"I've already done that."
"And who are we up against?"
The Old Woman smiled.
"Imperials, Argonians and Dunmer... but the one behind all that is none other than our old friends who always wanted Dasheen for themselves. House Dres."
***
A week passed very quietly. After the run-in with the Indoril Guards and the Old Woman spring cleaning her Tong from traitors. Jon and the rest spent their time training.
In his room, Jon sat while floating in the air. He was meditating in silence while equipping Wraithgaurd in his right and manipulating some red energy of a broken Heart Stone. The red energy was swirling around him in circles and he would absorb it slowly and carefully.
As he was nearing a certain limit, Jon's face turned red, green then blue... he opened his eyes and fell on his butt then spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Bleh! So nasty! Some caught up on my taste buds. Shit!"
He desperately cleaned himself and the floor from the impure blood and sat to catch his breath.
"Finally! I've been training like a fool for the past month and came this far. The Dragon Frame realm is almost over and I am back to uncharted waters... Also, somehow the path ahead seems only longer now."
Jon sighed and lied on the bed in his room.
"System, can we reach out Skyrim from here?"
<Out of Range! Empowering your Magical Signal is advised.>
"Still not enough? I just had another breakthrough... dammit."
Jon became disheartened and took out a light screen from the Cube.
"Give me a Status scan result."
<Calculating!>
==========
<< Status >>
• Name: Jon Dare
• Level: 8 Ebonblood Realm, Dragon Frame Stage
• Vitality: 3725
• Magicka: 3710
<< Powers >>
• [Nord]
- Battle Cry (Active)
- 50% Frost Resistance (Passive)
• [Firemane]
- Fireborn: 50% Fire Resistance (Passive)
- Titanborn: Beast Master (Passive)
• [Serpent Stars]
- Serpent Tyranny: All Star's Computability (Passive)
• [Ahzidal's Genius]
- Secrets of Enchanting: Ahzidal's Knowledge (Passive)
<< Blessings >>
• [All-Maker]
- Root of Power: 2500% Magicka Regeneration (Active)
• [Talos]
- Fortify Thu'um: 50% Cooldown (Passive)
• [Kyne]
- Empower Thu'um: +20% Damage (Passive)
• [Dragon Guardian]
- Dragon Affinity: All Dragon Related Creatures affinity (Passive)
- Ashen Flames (Active)
• [Sheogorath]
- Mad Warrior: 2500% Vitality Regen (Active)
• [Hermaeus Mora]
- Bardic Knowledge: Spectral Instruments for Magical Buffs (Active)
• [The Shadow Stone]
- Hide in Shadows: Better sneaking in Darkness (Passive)
- Blur: +20% Combat Speed (Passive)
==========
~~~~~~~~~~~
A/n: the reason I wasn't showing the Status was because I lost the txt file containing the notes I had about the novel. I spent the past couple of days recreating the Status, Blessings, Powers, Future Events and Characters files and here's some result. Somethings may have been missed during the story but I just added them anyway.
The [Serpent Stars] is an initial power in Jon from his birth and it grants him the power to make contact with any star constellation.
[Ahzidal's Genius] is the power of Ahzidal's set but Jon gained bit permanently by taking Ahzidal's corpse back to Saarthal... I might have missed mentioning that.
I'll keep working on the Gear of Jon (which I completely forget what it was) and the Spells (cuz God I created a ton of them).
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS
El_Don
El_Don
SUPPORT THIS NOVEL!
~~~
Check out Pat/reaon
Goal: +6 Extra
pat/reon.com/eldokhmesy (remove / )
~~~
[Gift] on PayPal (+10$ = Extra)
Paypal.me/eldokhmesy
~~~
Extras by Votes: 5000 / 8000
~~~
Chat on Discord
discord.gg/gKcKva7s
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
200+ Classement
Power Stone 
30 Power
stone Vous aimerez peut-être aussi
Commentaire de paragraphe