Chapitre 321: The Assembly (3)
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"Which deck the creator of Gwent prefers to play with?" The King asked.
Jon smiled and walked to a chair, Torygg nodded and Jon sat down while moving his robe to the side.
"Skyrim Deck."
"A patriot? Well, I am the High King so I should represent my nation anyway. Skyrim against Skyrim… what a bad omen!" The King sighed.
"Haha! I can't even disagree." Jon felt the irony.
In the Assembly of how to prevent Skyrim from falling to a civil war, this Gwent match is being a Skyrim Deck against another.
Jon and Torygg took out their cards and put it against each other.
"Usually there is a referee." Jon said.
"Yes, Falk."
"My king."
"Would you mind if you become our referee?"
"It would be my pleasure."
Falk took the third chair and the three gentlemen nodded to each other and handed the decks to Falk to check them.
"I must say, I was quite surprised by the way you presented the problem Jarl Skald is causing. You have one-ninth of Skyrim well-monitored and under your control. Must be quiet the labor."
"I am just doing what a Thane should do, be the vigilant eye and enforce the Hold's Law as well as making sure that life is fair and people are happy." Jon said.
"So you provide them jobs under your business and make sure that no one competes with you in the hold you serve?" Torygg said in a questioning tone.
Jon smiled and replied.
"Couldn't have found any better way to take care of those folk. People get greedy when they get power and can't afford an enemy in a wounded hold that is being rebuilt. Gods know how many years will it take for the hold to be back on its feet again. That's why one should be wary of greedy people."
"And does the rule include you?"
"It includes everyone. My place and my position give me both the freedom and the limits I need."
"Ah! I see. Hahaha!"
Jon's answer was right to Torygg's worries. Jon could read the mood and Torygg could read the meaning of words. Just like any other ruler, Torygg should be worried if a force grew too much under his domain and it can't be controlled anymore. Jon answered him as he already understands his worries and gave him the clue of how to keep their relationship healthy, he is content with his position as a Thane and he took fully what he wants, more than that would be over the limits for the norm and that what assured Torygg.
Jon was not the only person who would spread his influence through an entire hold. Names like Maven Black-Briar, Thonar Silver-Blood, Olfrid Battle-Born, Torbjorn Shatter-Shield, Erikur and Bryling, all these people are the tycoons of Skyrim and now Jon Dare is the new tycoon in Winterhold. No one would have bothered with Winterhold especially for Nords who are not fond with the College of Winterhold but who would have thought the next rising star was from there. Not only was the hold wounded by the collapse but it also had low resources and unfriendly nature. Jon's rise was indeed suspicious.
Also, the problem with Jon was not only his rise but also how fast he grew and his mysterious origins. If he was supported by an enemy of Skyrim then it would make a lot of sense but Jon was very interesting to those who looked in his history. An Orphan adopted by a powerful Arch-Wizard for his talent in magic and all his actions proved to be for the good of Winterhold and his loyalty to Skyrim was unstained for now. He even showed good will by opposing both the Stormcloak faction and the Imperial faction that have already started fighting in shadows and his stand was bluntly neutral. The Empire couldn't hate him for it and neither the Stormcloaks. He made it clear that Winterhold is a wounded hold and it is going through a rebuilding phase, any conflict in the hold would bring it apart and he clearly wouldn't take that lying down.
High King Torygg was a supporter of peace and a rise of a Hold like Winterhold meant that people are busy with rebuilding rather than fighting and that was something he wants for Skyrim. For that, he wanted to make sure that Jon was 100% in the same direction as him and not planning to join either side in the conflict yet to come. He also wanted to make sure that Jon won't fall once a true challenge comes up.
"To tell the truth, we were in discussion lately here in Solitude about the Jarlship of Winterhold, we wanted to move the title to a man more capable than Jarl Korir. Our only candidate was you."
"I see, you either had to stop me or support me."
"Right, we didn't know how to stop you quietly though. The person we hoped we can use had cut contacts with us."
Torygg and Jon were speaking bluntly rather casually.
"You mean Kraldar? I killed him a long time ago."
"…" "…"
Torygg who was acting cool couldn't keep up the act and Falk who was checking the Gwent Cards froze and his eyes moved to Jon. Another hidden presence in the room showed signs of energy that couldn't escape the senses of an energy junkie like Jon.
"What? He was spying for Erikur." Jon said it as it was something really natural.
Torygg, Falk and the third presence sighed and shook their heads. Jon was as brutal as the rumors.
Kraldar was indeed a spy of Erikur. Before Jon would come to Winterhold, Kraldar was a Nord nobleman whose family fell from glory after the [Great Collapse]. He was recruited by Erikur to make connections with the College of Winterhold as Erikur was already aiming for the big fish that everyone ignored. Kraldar was to replace Jarl Korir in the game if the Imperials ever take control of the Winterhold and Jon was aware to all of that. He was also aware that if by any chance, Kraldar became the Jarl then Korir managed to come back, Kraldar will get banished to Solitude and stay in Erikur's home which all revealed Erikur's plot to Jon.
Jon threw Kraldar in the sea as soon as the latter started spying for Erikur.
"So you won't become the Jarl? You said you are okay with the limits you have but Jarl Korir is quite the burden, right?" Torygg asked.
"He is a breath of fresh air." Jon replied.
"Hehehe! You two seem to be getting along, would it be that you have something on him?"
"Why? He is my Jarl. How come I betray the man who employed me?"
"Oh! Fine, I won't pursue the subject any longer. Falk, you took your sweet time, how are the cards?"
"… I am not sure how to say this…" Falk was looking at the cards with a weird face.
"I knew it! The creator of Gwent must have all the rare Hero cards." Torygg said with a disappointed face.
"Eh… quite the opposite actually. Not that much rare cards but…"
"But what?"
"Thane Jon is playing with only 20 cards other than the God card."
"Only 20! That's the minimum." Torygg looked at Jon thinking he was underestimating him.
"It is my strategy." Jon said.
"But… 20 cards means you don't have 'Decoy Cards' or 'Weather Cards' or even a 'Horn Card'."
Jon nodded with a smile.
Gwent had many types of cards all of them were categorized as 'Warrior', 'Thief' and 'Mage' as the three major star consolations. They were also categorized as [God Cards] the ones necessary for every player and each carry a blessing, one must have one and only one, no less no more; [Hero Cards] which are the ones that has both power, ability and can't be weakened; [Normal Cards] which are not as protected or powerful but may have one of the various abilities like 'Bond', 'Resurrection', 'Spying', 'Summoning', 'Multi-class', 'Horn' or 'Scorching' or can have no ability at all; [Weather Cards] whose role is to debuff a whole raw of both allies or enemies depending on type as 'Frost' debuffs the warriors, 'Storm' with the archers and 'Rain' with the mages; [Decoy Cards] which are used to take back cards one already played; [Horn Cards] which are used to buff a whole lane of a single type and finally the [Scorch Cards] that can kill the strongest card the enemy has.
Jon was playing with only a few [Hero Cards] and the rest were [Normal Cards] with a wide variety of abilities.
"Mr. Falk, will you please." Jon urged Falk Firebeard to distribute the cards already.
"Fine, I just want to tell you, the High King is no ordinary player, he almost robbed Thane Bryling of [Ysmir Wulfharth] hero card." Falk said.
"Almost." Torygg seemed frustrated.
"Oh, that's a really good card." Jon smiled, "I am not going to lose though." Jon said.
"Suit yourself. I just want to tell you that the High King has twice as cards as you."
"Oh! How scary!"
Jon put his [God Card] on the table and so did Torygg.
"Oh! Kyne card." Torygg smiled.
"Talos Card!" Jon was taken aback by Torygg's choice.
"It is the best. I know you gave it a good effect on purpose."
"Ah! Hehe."
Jon and Torygg received 10 random cards from their decks. Falk then flipped a Septim and it was 'Heads'. Torygg was the one to start.
***
"I can't believe it!" Torygg's face was ashen.
The end result was… 281 to 89. Jon's win.
Jon played dumb and went hot on the first round making a big number very early which made Torygg decide to forfeit the first round to not waste cards. The second round was the real trap when Jon used all his 'Resurrection Cards' and 'Spy Cards' to bring back more cards and even steal cards from Torygg.
Torygg played with four 'Hero Cards' that barely made a score for him while Jon used three 'Hero Cards' that insanely buffed the Warrior lane relying on the 'Normal Cards' that mostly started with the base value around (4) and the highest one, in the end, was (32). Jon's small amount of cards were utilized to the fullest bringing back all the cards he played with at the first round and all the cards in the rest of the deck while Torygg was stuck to his nose.
"I think I can't go against the one who created the game after all." Torygg said.
"I simply recreated the idea and made the cards. The rules are not mine." Jon said as he took back his cards.
"I see. This was truly a good game. I was more focused than ever." Torygg said with a smile.
Jon was sighing from inside. Torygg was way too easy compared to Sheogorath. Sheogorath insisted that he would recreate the Shivering Isles Deck all by himself and made an unfathomable deck that can truly only be played by mad people. The deck was so funny and infuriating at the same time. Compared to that, Torygg was easy to bully.
"So, have you thought about it?" Torygg asked.
"Excuse me?"
"The Jarlship of Winterhold. It is yours if you wanted."
Jon shook his head.
"Too many responsibilities. I merely want to adventure and study magic in the coming phase of my life so I don't think I can run a hold this thoroughly in the future anyway. The Company can run itself and I created its system so I know how it works but the Jarlship requires more than just the Law of the Hold but also the Laws of Skyrim and the Empire rather than the decisions that I don't want to burden my sleep with. Jarl Korir will do just fine."
Jon declined the offer one last time.
Torygg sighed and nodded. He talked with Jon about various things before the latter left the study.
"Did he pass?" Falk asked.
"He wasn't lying." A voice replied and a woman appeared in the room.
Torygg and Falk looked at here naturally as if she was here the whole time.
"What do you think, Sybille?" Torygg asked.
"He is a bit honest about not wanting the Jarlship. He also wasn't lying about anything else."
"Whoa! Not at all?" Falk asked.
"He may look peaceful and well-natured but… he is dangerous." Sybille said.
"How so?" Torygg asked.
"He detected me."
Torygg and Falk were taken aback. No one can simply detect Sybille. After all, she is a Vampire. The High King knew that and Falk was also well aware. After all, Sybille's role was far too important for the sake of many things in this hold.
"What do you advice?" Torygg asked.
Sybille thought and sighed.
"He is a troublemaker but he is a good friend. He won't betray you first, the Firemanes always honored their words and he seemed like a typical one to me. Also, his origins check came out. Before he was to be admitted to Riften Orphanage, his parents were living outside Skyrim, the trail led us to Morrowind. It seems that they died around 4E 182 when they were doing some work for the clan. Or so the public story goes."
"Is that so?"
"There is a lot of mystery around him. I know you wanted to have him as our man but he is comfortable where he is and as he said, it will limit his authorities but widen his freedom. He will turn 18 after two months, he still has a lot of potential and we can wait. Let Erikur go wild on him and see how he solves it."
Torygg and Falk nodded.
"Fine, let's wait and see."
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Chapitre 322: The Assembly (4)
Many thanks to @Slicktrick and @DarkPriest... Also, happy birthday DarkPriest and I will see to your request!
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Jon left the King's study and returned back to the throne room where the assembly would continue in an hour. He looked around and wanted to sit in some quiet place but a palace guard came to him.
"Thane Jon of Winterhold?"
"Yes."
"A Dunmer lady says she is your Captain of Security Detail is looking for you in the garden of the palace."
"Oh! Jull is here… fine, thank you."
Jon nodded and looked around the place again until he found someone.
"Headmaster Viarmo."
"Oh! If it is not Thane Jon?"
Viarmo, the Headmaster of the Bard's College and the famous High Elf who is quite popular between the Nords, recognized Jon right away. Both of them were undoubtedly the tallest two in the meeting. Jon was a Firemane and Viarmo was a High Elf. What vexes High Elves about Jon is that he is always a tad taller than them.
"I was hoping we could talk. A mutual friend of ours sent me with regards." Jon said.
"A mutual friend between me and Thane Jon? Must be quiet the character. Oh! By any chance, is it student Jon Battle-Born or student Lynly Star-Sung?"
"No, it is neither Jon nor Svidi. Why don't we walk to the Garden?"
"Well gladly! Excuse me, gentlemen."
Jon and Viarmo acted with etiquette and walked out the throne room. Both of them were smiling at each other with total ease.
"Will Thane Jon participate in the Tournament this year? A lot of Fans are waiting for you to come and do a good show again." Viarmo said.
"Really? I would love to entertain but sadly if I joined the tournament, it would be no more than bullying. I already won once and now I won't even struggle. Also, my brothers are busy, Jon Battle-Born is newlywed and spending his honeymoon on vacation while Wulfur is on a trip to Orsinium, some sort of blacksmithing contest."
"Oh! The Annual Forge Tournament of Orsinium. Nords don't get easily invited to that one."
"So that's its name? Why so?"
"As you know, Nords and Orcs are not the greatest friends throughout history especially the Orcs of Orsinium. They have a cult of Trinimac that considers the Nordic God Shor or Lorkhan a mortal enemy."
"Oh! I see… I think Wulfur can handle some stingy Orcs."
Jon and Viarmo were both birds of a feather. They knew each other's intentions from the very start and their forces have collided many times before.
"How are the things around Skyrim by the by?" Jon asked.
"I would have asked Thane Jon the same question thinking you would know better than I?"
"Than you? Headmaster Viarmo, please don't overestimate me. Bards go where others cannot and I am sure words travel better in Haafingar than Winterhold." Jon said.
"Really? And here I thought bathhouse wenches would do a way better job than bards." Viarmo said.
"As I said, you overestimate me." Jon replied.
The two were naturally talking about their spy organizations. They were tossing words at each other because their interests went into a conflict lately. Anyway, the two of them reached the garden outside the palace and saw two women waiting for them.
"Headmaster Viarmo, let me introduce you to my Security Captain, Jullanar. And this one here is surely our mutual friend! Say hello, Lisette."
As Jon pointed to the other woman. Viarmo narrowed his eyes. It was indeed his agent Lisette, the one he planted in Winterhold a few months ago and was constantly reporting to him.
He looked between Jon and Lisette.
"How long were you captured?" He asked.
"… A few months." Lisette replied.
"Thane Jon, you captured a bard of my people. I'd love to say that the Bards' College is an official guild that has the right to protect its people in a court of law. We are in one right now and I implore you to let release my bard." Viarmo said. He offered Lisette a legal way to escape her captors.
He looked at Jon with cold eyes. Jon brought Lisette to the Blue Palace where he has no shred of power and Viarmo has many friends around the place. He was simply in a better position.
"Really? Is that how are you going to play it?" Jon understood what he wanted to do and looked at Lisette.
"Lis, tell him how many times we slept together."
"Seven."
"How did it feel?"
"Very good."
"What were the orders you took from Headmaster Viarmo?"
"To find information about Thane Jon Dare and relay it to Solitude coded in the book I am writing."
"What are the motives of Headmaster Viarmo?"
"Find out information and sell it."
"What is his allegiance?"
"No one. Headmaster Viarmo works for the ones who may do good for Skyrim and widen the network of the Bards."
"Fine, ENOUGH!" Viarmo lashed out and stopped Jon.
Jon nodded looked at Viarmo with a wide smile. The latter seemed disturbed by Jon's action but forced himself to calm down.
"By the way, Lisette lost the ability to lie. You can ask her anything and she will answer with complete honesty." Jon said with a proud look at Lisette.
"Yeah, truth… Wonderful!" Viarmo was still in a sour mood. "What can I do for you, Thane Jon?"
Jon smiled got even wider.
"I am afraid this is the wrong question. The right one is, what can I do for you, Headmaster Viarmo?"
Viarmo's eyes narrowed as he looked at Jon and tilted his head a little.
"I am afraid you will need to be a bit clearer here."
"Simple, you sent Lisette to me way before I become a man of power or anything. You saw something within me and I am also indebted to you that you took care of my friends who studied at the College. Let bygones be bygones and let's start anew." Jon said.
"… I am afraid that is not possible." Viarmo said. "Lisette is one of my people and now his mind is your hostage. Will you trust anyone like that?"
"Her mind? I am afraid you misunderstood. Lisette is completely free from any hypnosis or Illusion or any of that, she has her will intact and she can do whatever she wants. She just can't lie, that's all."
"How is that even possible?"
"The minds of us mortals have many functions that make the person seek survival. Resisting the idea of jumping off a cliff, resisting consuming harmful stuff, fearing wild beasts, telling truths that may hurt us. All I did was to simply switch off the one function that rules the thing about truths and lies. Lisette's instincts can't lie anymore… of course, I can fix that."
Viarmo was silent still. He looked at his student and shuddered from the thought of having her completely toyed by Jon. He signed up for this mission of information a long time ago knowing the risks and he was bitten by foes scarier than Jon but Jon was way too ruthless and his methods were all shady and secretive.
"I am sorry to force you to play by my rules but… that's what we both do, right? We can't win so we enforce our rules." Jon said.
Viarmo sighed and didn't say anything.
"My bard, can you please?"
"You don't even need to ask." Jon smiled and walked behind Lisette, he held her head gently and sneaked the [Skeleton Key] with his other hand. He simple undid the lock he did on her brain.
"Here you go, Lisette. You are home safe and sound as promised."
Before she could reply, Viarmo took her hand and dragged her to his side.
"Can we talk business now?" Jon asked.
"Very well. By the way, was that the same thing you did for Jarl Korir? Manipulating his brain?" Viarmo asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Jon replied with an answer that made him look guilty.
Viarmo saw Lisette off and looked at Jon again.
"Dealing with you is like walking into the Darkness, Thane Jon. What we don't know is usually what gets us killed."
"You are right. That's why people make friendships with each other rather than sending spies."
Jon's answer made Viarmo laugh.
"HA! Friends? Look around you, Thane Jon. We're all liars here. Why think people like us do what we do? Why did you use your… whatever that was on the girl? It is all the same answer in the end. Everyone is your enemy here, Thane Jon."
"Oh! What a miserable fellow you are. I already know so. I just said that you needed to know who I am and you failed and I promise you that you will always fail. The things I keep hidden are hidden for a reason and if they are open to the world then I don't want to be blamed for the actions I will be forced to make. Now, these actions will sink a lot of people in a shit hole and that includes anyone who is related to me and the whole damn Winterhold. You said you wanted your network to reach in Winterhold? Ask me… nicely."
Viarmo started thinking before talking.
"Why are you doing that?" He asked.
"Winterhold is my beautiful poem. Even though I was not born there, I love that place and it is my home. Don't think of it too much, I am a poet too. I want the matters in my hold to flow naturally and I can't be the hero every day. One day I will die, disappear, or fall into some sort of crisis that I can't survive. I don't want others to see Winterhold as a week organization without me. With your network inside, I will be sure that the information flow won't get hijacked by someone I can't deal with. The 'Thieves' Guild' control the information flow in the streets for now but they are getting greedy for politics. I want you to fill that place for me and limit their influence. Also, you too will be limited from the streets and from me and my family. The top dog of information in Winterhold is me."
Viarmo nodded.
"The [Black Pigeons] you mean?" He said.
"??" Jon tilted his head.
"It is the name of our [Team 0] in the streets." Jull said.
"Oh! I see, [Black Pigeons]! I'd have preferred cats."
Viarmo looked from Jon to Jullanar.
"I assume you are the mysterious assistant of Thane Jon."
"Mysterious? Me?" Jullanar asked.
"Of course. The Dark Elf lady that appeared with Thane Jon in Winterhold 2 years ago. No one knows where you came from or what your origins are. Thane Jon boarded the ship from Solitude alone and landed on Winterhold with you. I call that mysterious." Viarmo said.
"Didn't I say not to look after me or my family?" Jon said with cold eyes.
"Haha! No need to worry about me, Thane Jon. These are the general information we managed to get, we didn't manage to go further anyway."
"Please don't. But more importantly, do you find my terms acceptable?"
"Using us to close the gap between your personal information network and the Thieves Guild? I find it very satisfying."
Jon and Viarmo shook hands.
"From now on, let's have a healthy partnership. My security captain Jullanar, my housecarl Trudvar and my secretary Siv are the ones your people can contact in Winterhold. My Fiancee will take over my position if I wasn't available."
"Thank you, Thane Jon."
"Thank you too, Headmaster Viarmo." Jon was about to turn but he paused and looked at Viarmo again.
"I had two requests in mind."
"Well, I'll see what I can do. How can I help?" Viarmo said.
"The first is regarding the Imperial Legion in Winterhold, the ones in command right now are really a bother. I was wondering if you can introduce me to a better candidate that can serve Winerhold's 'methods' with a strong motive. A Legionary with some bad feelings about the Thalmor will do very well."
"Ah! I see. I have a close friend of mine, a Legate in the Legion. He will fit what you want really well but… you need to have an open mind when you deal with him."
"Fine by me. The second matter I had in mind is Thane Erikur."
"Ha! You are making him the second matter in your mind while he is making you the first. This will be good, what do you want to know?"
"Not much, just what is he up to now?"
***
Jon and Jull walked into the Blue Palace together once again.
"Sigh!"
"You are sighing for the next ten minutes." Jull said.
"Sorry, I am just a bit disappointed."
"In that slimy Viarmo?"
"Nope. Viarmo is good, I am talking about Erikur."
"What is there to talk about? We should kill him and make his mother wear his entrails around her neck."
"… Did you come across Sheogorath lately? More importantly, trying to defame then kill me, huh! I wish to know how he will do that."
"Just let me gut him like the stinky fish he is."
"No need. He can't endanger anyone I love and we are together. Let's see what he will do."
"You sure of winning?"
"Love always win, Jull. Once a day and twice on Sunday."
"That sounds like our sex schedule."
"It sure does."
"But do you trust him? Your new friend, Viarmo. Shouldn't we have brought Alina so that she can tell if he lies to us?"
"He is not my friend, he is not my enemy. He is both and not at the same time. I expect him to betray me and work with me. A handshaking and a hand stabbing. Expect that from Viarmo and you will know how to handle him. His motives are unclear, I don't know what he wants or what he is or what is he planning to do next. My only advantage on him is that he can't figure out my methods and I agreed to keep him close and well-monitored. He won't move a muscle in Winterhold without us knowing. I want you to learn how to deal with people like him in the future, Jull."
"Fine." Jullanar replied with a sweet and mischievous smile.
Jon walked through the door of the Throne room walked in. High King Torygg was not there yet but his arrival seemed to be announced. Everyone was looking at Jon and Korir now.
~~~~~~~~~~
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