"I searched throughout the city, focussing particularly on previous murder sights... Believe it or not, I am a skilled tracker, so I eventually followed the traces to the Orphanage... I entered, and as soon as I did and laid eyes on the Matron, I knew she was the one responsible."
"Excuse me, but how could you possibly know such a thing with a glance?" Proventus asks sceptically, his emotions mirrored by others.
Michael just nods however, "Because, I saw what was behind her... In the pantry, was an infamous blade, one that pushes its users to butcher their friends and families. Ask this, who were the murder victims to the Matron? Were they close?"
Balgruuf's eyes widen in realisation, "T-they... No, they weren't all that close, but... They had adopted children from the Orphanage..."
Farengar speaks up, not minding his position and instead focussing on the blade that was spoken of. "What of this blade? If it's what I suspect, where is it now?" he glances to the guard, "What happened to it?"
"The accused... Hid it away with a... Book?" he says, sounding more confused the further he explained it.
Michael nods, "I sealed it away to prevent anyone getting harmed by it... If it could enhance the Matron to such a degree, I feared what would happen if a warrior got a hold of it... Worse yet, one of the Companions..." he trails off, a few nodding at the sheer chaos that could've been caused.
Balgruuf squints in annoyance, "Just what is this blade!? Farengar, enlighten us!"
It isn't the Court Mage that answers however, but the Jarl's Housecarl. "The Ebony Blade of Mephala, the Spider God." she utters with both shock and fear.
"A Daedric Prince!?" Balgruuf all but shouts, clearly surprised by the revelation. Upon receiving a nod from his Housecarl, he slumps in his chair and clutches his face, hiding his roiling emotions from all in attendance.
"My Jarl?" Proventus tentatively asks.
Balgruuf just shakes his head with a dull chuckle, "A Daedric Prince in my home, how could this happen? Do the Gods have no sense of justice? W-what of Huldth's fate? I've heard tales of such artifacts, none of them good."
Irileth looks down solemnly, "Her soul was likely devoured by Maphela upon her death."
...
Michael stands there awkwardly for a bit, allowing the Jarl and his retainers to grieve. Soon enough though, the Jarl recovers his composure and looks back at him. "So, you recognised the Blade? Then what?"
"She grabbed it and charged me, seeing me as an enemy... I fled to get the woman away from the children, and get help to restrain her... I believe that I'm strong, but not strong enough to restrain a woman enhanced by a Daedric Prince. After the guard died, I decided to not risk any more lives and ended her quickly with a spell... I regret that it came to that, but I didn't really have any other choice." he glances at the guard, "You saw her, I doubt anyone but the Companions could've fought her and lived.", the man in question giving a shuddering nod.
...
Balgruuf lets out a sigh, "So you claim to have done it to defend the people of Whiterun, is that right?"
"No, not the people of Whiterun... People in general." Michael corrects, not really caring to be particular about it.
Balgruuf slowly nods, a hint of respect in his eyes, "Then, I relieve you of all charges... But this matter is not yet over, we have to discuss the fate of the blade responsible for all of this. Farengar, Irileth, what should be done with it?"
...
The duo stands there in thought for a moment before the Court Mage speaks up, "My Jarl, forgive me but, I doubt my ability to be around such an artifact, let alone seal it for any significant amount of time... Mephela is the Daedric Prince of lies, murder, and manipulation. The Blade's very presence could alter the way people around it think, at least, that's what everything I know of it suggests."
Irileth chews the inside of her cheek, "We still don't know for what purpose it found its way into our city. This could be yet another scheme, or, it could be a complete accident... What I want to know is how Huldth acquired it in the first place."
"And we'll begin investigating as soon as possible. But I'd rather not do so with a clearly dangerous artifact in our midst." Proventus presses with crossed arms.
Balgruuf focuses on Michael, "What of you, the Blade seems subdued with you, whatever you did to it... What do you suggest?"
...
That is indeed something Michael had been thinking about himself... He'd been wandering around Skyrim picking up Daedric Artifacts as if they were club fliers... The Vessel of the Hunt by Hircine in Falkreath, Nocturnal's Skeleton key in Riften, and now the Mephala's Ebony Blade here in Whiterun.
He truly hoped he was just getting lucky... Or unlucky depending on how you looked at it. For if it wasn't, then a grander scheme was probably in play. After all, he doubted that the Daedric Princes would be fine with him possessing so many of their artifacts.
As for what to do with the Ebony Blade? He refused to try and use it, even with his Mental Defences and Magic Resistance, there was only so much you could do against the influence of a god. How long would it be until he was cutting down Tiffania and Charlotte to empower the blade?
The Book of Heroes seemed to be able to seal it just fine, but he was wary of relying on it too much... What if the Blade corrupted his book? The thing was almost integral to his being at this point, so he shuddered to think what the effects of such a possession would be.
Still, it wasn't just himself he had to worry about. If he gave the blade to Whiterun to have it sealed, what would happen if the Dragonborn discovered it in the future?
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
If you like my content or want to read ahead please go to : https://www.p.atreon.com/Nagross, I'd appreciate it.
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
ShinAmazake
Kingsprovince
JayJonnaJamison
Jack Allen
Faruk Ereng
The Dragonborn would already be freakishly strong, but while corrupted and enhanced by the Ebony Blade? That was potentially apocalyptic shit.
Michael shakes such thoughts from his head and focuses again on Balgruuf, "The Blade is currently sealed, and I think it will remain that way unless people start tampering with it. As you already know, I am a fairly strong magic user, so I think I can keep it safe until we find a more permanent way of dealing with it... While you might not know my character much yet, please believe that I wouldn't dare put my family at risk by trying to use it."
...
Balgruuf lets out a long sigh, "Where is it sealed, show me, let Farengar see if what you saw is true."
Michael nods, holding out his hand and making a show of materialising the book, causing Farengar to lean forward in interest. The man bounces from his position and quickly makes his way to Michael, looking over the book with keen eyes.
Michael refuses to allow the man to hold it, but it seemed that looking at the book alone was enough to 'slake his thirst'... For now at least.
"This... W-what... Is this?" the Court Mage mutters, conjuring a spell in his hand to analyse the magic contained in the object, only for his hand to be repulsed away.
"What is it?" the Jarl asks, curious at his Mage's findings.
...
"Farengar?"
"I-. I don't know, my Jarl. My magic suggests that the object we are seeing isn't even there. As if it didn't exist in the first place. Where did you acquire this, Michael Tahlin?"
Michael shrugs, "You could say I was born with it. I was just suddenly able to summon it..." he smirks, "Maybe I was blessed by the Gods?"
...
The others at Balgruuf's side glance at Michael in confusion, not because of his words, but because Farengar wasn't quick to dispute his claims. The Court Mage was well known to dislike things with no clear answer, claims of the Gods influence was a particular pet peeve of the man as people used this answer to solve both the mysteries of the universe, and that one time they forget their keys in their other pants...
"Perhaps." is all the Court Mage could muster at Michael's words, resting a hand on his chest and letting out a breath, "Could I perhaps, persuade you to stay here longer so I could look over this book again? I am sure, with enough time I could unravel its mysteries..."
Michael shakes his head, "And risk disturbing the seals on the Ebony Blade? I'd rather not. I understand my book well enough, and I don't need outside interference to tell me more of it." he explains, clapping the book closed and allowing it to dissipate away.
The Mage gives a reluctant nod and steps back up beside the Jarl, the man giving a brief, 'non-explanation' over what it was.
The Jarl and his retainers hold a brief discussion over what they should do, before eventually deciding to just allow Michael to continue to hold it. No one there was an expert concerning Daedric Artifacts, and no one wanted to be responsible for trying to contain it... So, leaving Michael to hold it and all the responsibility that would imply suits them well enough.
With all that decided, Jarl Balgruuf stands from his throne and looks down at Michael, "You have done my people a great service, Michael Tahlin. And while a good friend of mine perished, many more were saved. I entrust to you the duty of keeping the Blade sealed, I name you Blade-Bearer. Your position will be kept secret, and everything heard here today will not be allowed outside of this hall to prevent cultists from targeting you... But, if that thing should see the light of day, I will assume the worst and have men sent for you... Do you understand and accept?"
Michael nods, "I do."
The Jarl nods and gestures to Proventus, "For your feats, I will have Proventus award you a thousand gold. You have done us a great favour, know that you are a citizen of Whiterun now and one of my people... The lockdown will also be lifted, go with the guards and retrieve your family and rest, today has been trying for us all." he ends with a sigh, waving Michael off.
Michael gives a slight bow and leaves Dragonsreach with the guards, headed straight for the gate. Unfortunately, his actions under the Gildergreen had already spread through the city like wildfire. Most people sent him looks of derision or disgust, while others held their opinions to themselves for now. The fact that Michael hadn't been executed and wasn't sitting in prison lent to his innocence. Not that people particularly cared about that...
Outside, he meets up with Tiffania, Charlotte, Illococoo, and Maria, helping them inside the city and getting them rooms inside the local inn, The Bannered Mare. Medresi also comes along, but quickly separates to try and find some way to make use of her gold... She couldn't just drag around sacks of gold wherever she went, not if she wanted to keep it.
Michael also decided to stay at the inn despite having a bed in Jorrvaskr. He wasn't sure about the rules of the Companions, but he was sure they didn't force people to sleep there... Right?
The inn owner Hulda, almost sent him away packing as she'd seen his fight with the crazed Matron, luckily he managed to explain the situation, allowing him to stay with the others for now.
The girls themselves were semi-surprised to hear about what he'd done, but it wasn't like similar things hadn't happened in the past...
With everything sorted, Michael lets the girls explore the city while he heads to the Skyforge, finally deciding to get his two sets of Draugr ebony armour looked at.
Hope you bois liked the chap, if I missed anything please let me know. Thanks!
Also, thanks to my patrons for their support :
ShinAmazake
Kingsprovince
JayJonnaJamison
Jack Allen
Faruk Ereng
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC