Chương 676: Imposing

"When I accepted his offer, I hadn't actually thought things would go this well... I was ninety percent sure I was getting tricked but, this-," she gestures at the peaceful seen before them, "Was worth it." Tsunade says, sipping a small ochoko filled with sake. While she had massively cut down her drinking, she still liked to reward herself every now and again.

"I have to pinch myself every hour to make sure this isn't just a dream..." Tsunade mutters while smoothing over a red mark on her forearm.

"How is Nawaki? Is he still upset about leaving the world? About never 'becoming Hokage'?" Tiffania asks, knowing that this was a big issue when they first arrived

Tsunade smiles to herself, "Not anymore... He's changed his focus, from becoming Hokage to becoming the 'Jarl' of Winterhold."

"Hm? Ennura might have some competition in a few years then." Tiffania giggles, "What about you? Any plans? Or will you retire?"

Tsunade crooks a brow at her, "Retire? I'm sure that isn't an option with the contract I signed..."

Tiffania huffs to herself, "Michael will let you retire unless he wants to start sleeping outside."

Tsunade laughs, "A mighty threat to a god... It must be hard though, your man dating someone other than you?"

Tiffania shakes her head, "It's fine, Saeko's tolerable and it isn't like he can't handle both of us... With all his powers, I'm pretty sure he could split or clone himself if he wanted to..."

"Clone himself? How scandalous." Tsunade drawls, causing red to flash on Tiffania's cheeks.

"N-not like that!..."

*DOOONNNNGGG!! DOOOOONNNNNGGGGG!!!!*

Tiffania, Tsunade, and everyone look up as the low sound echoes across Winterhold, causing some who didn't know what it was to begin panicking...

"What is it?"

"The bells... It's not the emergency ones though..." she thinks for a moment, trying to remember the meeting when Ennura introduced them. "Surtr's coming?"

"Surtr? The king of Skyrim?"

Tiffania nods, "You should head inside, this might get messy..."

Tsunade shakes her head, "Dan, Shizune! Go with Nawaki to the house, I'm going with Tiff!" she orders, deciding to accompany her Master's lover. It was technically stipulated in the contract, so Tiffania couldn't argue against it.

...

"You can order me away but if anything happens to you, me and my family are dead." Tsunade states as she stands, tucking the bottle of sake in her kimono. "Are we going or not?"

Tiffania sighs, "Yes, let's head to the gates."

---------------------------------------------------

The duo join Ennura and her entourage at the gates, Anti-Mage and Wei were also present along with Medusa, all waiting and watching atop the wall as a large line of soldiers slowly makes their way towards the city.

Above them was a single dragon flying circles around the area, with Surtr at the very front of the procession dressed in his now famous Dragonbone armour, his two Wuuthrads strapped to his back.

"Did you know they were coming?" Tiffania questions with a glance at Ennura.

The Eredar Jalr shakes her head, "No... We received no word, no letters. It doesn't look like they'll be attacking us either."

"Surtr knows better than that. Trying to attack this place with Michael's tower still up is suicide." Irarus remarks to the acknowledgement of everyone else.

"Why's he here then?" Tsunade wonders aloud, her mind immediately heading to subterfuge and to the methods ninjas of her world liked to use. She shakes her head however when she recalls just where she is. The 'Honourable' Nord King wouldn't dare do something so blatant, especially since Winterhold was technically 'ruled' by him.

"Who knows? Let's go ask him... Open the gates!" Ennura orders and begins making her way down to meet the Dragonborn, everyone else following not far behind.

Surtr departs from his army and steps forth seemingly unafraid of any attack. "Jarl Ennura, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." he looks over towards Winterhold, "You must have been busy, ignoring my summons for the Jarl meet..."

The tendrils around Ennura's neck wriggle in irritation, "Not everyone has as much free time as you, High King. What, may I ask, is the reason for your visit?"

"I have come to see the progress of Winterhold's navy, these men are here to support your assault on Solstheim and the traitors that live there." he says, gesturing at his army behind him but pausing when he spots Ennura's entourage stood by the gate. Particularly, his eyes are drawn to Medusa, who looks nothing like any native creature of Tamriel, which meant only one thing... This was a Daedra from Michael's realm of Oblivion. "You've acquired more 'allies' too, I see?"

Ennura nods, "We accept people of all colour, race, and creed here, as you know, High King. I would ask that next time you visit in armour, an army at your back, and dragon flying overhead, that you send word beforehand. I'm almost certain this is a breach of both Ancient Nord etiquette and law?"

Surtr chuckles, "Hah? You talk about the law with an undisclosed Daedra standing before me? Watch your tongue, Jarl." he grouses.

Ennura loudly hums in thought, "The rule of disclosing Daedra was introduced by the Empire during the Oblivion crises... I wasn't aware we were still following Imperial laws? So which is it High King? Do we ignore Nord laws and traditions or ignore the Empire's past influence upon Skyrim?" she asks, her words reaching the frontlines of Surtr's army behind him.

Surtr scowls under his helmet and shakes his head, "Enough of this. I have yet to meet this 'Admiral' in charge of the navy. If I'm attending the invasion I should know who'll be under me." he states.

"You're coming?" Ennura questions, her glowing light blue eyes squinted with hesitation.

"Aye! What kind of King would I be if I cowered behind my men!?" he calls out, getting a loud "HEAR! HEAR!" from his men. "Now let's get inside, it isn't getting any warmer!"