The hour was around midday when Kinetrius and Eradros finally made it into town. The city was buzzing with life and excitement from the Companions triumph over the giant. Kinetrius had never seen such a thing. The Companions were celebrated like celebrities and well respected by most of the towns people. The town was much bigger than the ones he'd seen prior. Each road was paved in stone, with stone walls separating the pathways and houses. In the center of town lay a tree with the most beautiful colors. There was a man-made river flowing from the Jarl house all the way down to the tree, and then out of the city. It was almost too much for Kinetrius at first, but the liveliness of the people gave an air of comfort to him. He and Eradros walked the roads alongside the Companions for a while, stopping every so often as Aela showed him the sites. They were at the base of the Jarl house when they heard a woman's voice call out.
Woman: Eradros? By the Twelve, is that really you?
Eradros turned to see a woman, full clad in steel plate armor. She stood on the steps midways up to the jarl house. Eradros paused for a moment. It seemed he was not expecting to see a familiar face in Whiterun. The look on his face told that he was not very thrilled about it either.
Woman: Well, don't just stand there staring at me. Aren't you going to say something?
Eradros: Minevi…it's been a while. Definitely wasn't expecting to bump into you here of all places.
Minevi was a Nord through and through. Tougher than most men and as beautiful as she was strong. It was apparent she and Eradros had history together. A history that Eradros was not likely willing to talk about. Kinetrius decided to sit back and listen. He didn't know much about Eradros despite him being the only person he could trust at the moment. This was a perfect time to learn a thing or two about the man. Despite Eradros's weary expression, she seemed happy to see him. To the extent that she seemed oblivious to his less than warm reception.
Minevi: It's been cycles since last I saw you. And you have a child with you…what, prey tell is this all about?
Eradros: It's a long story. And i'd love to share it with you but we already promised it to the companions later on. Me and the lad need to speak to the Jarl…immediately.
Minevi: Sorry my friend…the Jarl's busy with politics and the like. Doesn't wanna be disturbed at the moment.
Eradros: Wait, wait… You're working for the Jarl of Whiterun now? Last time we spoke you were a grunt in the Imperial Army.
Minevi: I'm here on Imperial business actually. The Empire wanted to extend a hand to Whiterun…maybe help with protecting the borders and trade routes.
Eradros: You mean control them…
Minevi: Its not like that… Do you still not trust them?
Eradros: I trust the Empire to be the empire…
Minevi: They only wish peace for Skyrim, Eradros… Why do you think I joined?
Eradros: For an excuse to prove your strength to men who wouldn't fight beside you, maybe…but what do i know?
Minevi seemed frustrated with his response, but she was used to this behavior from Eradros. They both seemed like polar opposites and yet, like they were also childhood friends. She walked to the bottom of the steps to get a good look at him. She eyed him like a mother does her child after a day of roughhousing. It was almost unbearable for Eradros. As far as he was concerned; her gaze was the sun, and he was the uncomfortable vampire.
Minevi: I'm not going to ask you to trust the empire, love. But I would like to think that you know I only want what's best for Skyrim.
Eradros: I'm not the one who needs to know that. Its all the Nords that get trampled in their wake that might benefit from hearing it. You know what, Minevi? I really don't have time to argue politics with you. There is a much bigger problem facing Skyrim right about now!
Minevi: Eradros…My apologies. It wasn't my intent to get into all of that with you. Prey, what manner of problem has got you so worked up?
Eradros took a moment to calm himself. He did not mean to snap at Minevi but this was clearly not the first time they've had this disagreement. Minevi moved closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
Minevi: Talk to me, Eradros. If it is truly that detrimental then out with it. Maybe I can convince the Jarl to hear you out.
Eradros: (sigh) A few days ago…in Helgen…there was an attack.
Minevi: We received word of that just yesterday. The locals even say they saw a dragon of all things flying away from the area. Can you believe what people will come up with?
Minevi looked at their faces for a moment, waiting for a response. What started out as something to laugh about had now given her pause. She then noticed that Kinetrius was all bandaged up. He clearly had suffered great injuries but surely it couldn't have been from a dragon, she thought.
Eradros: I'm afraid the locals aren't making this up, Minevi. The lad and I… well we were there, you see. It was like nothing I'd ever seen…the destruction and carnage it caused.
Minevi: Eradros you don't actually expect me to believe…
Eradros: What else could have destroyed an entire town in minutes? I saw it with my own two eyes, i did. Even faced off with the creature for a moment to save the kid. I don't know how…or where it came from… but its as real as you and I are right now. WE NEED to see the Jarl. The neighboring towns are vulnerable to another attack. Surely he can pull his head out of the Empire's ass long enough to hear the plea of his people.
Minevi saw the conviction in his eyes. She then looked at Kinetrius. He too, had a serious look about him. The relationship between her and Eradros was unclear, but she trusted him enough to take him at his word. The air around them grew deadly serious. The towns people still live with celebration had no idea what had unfolded or what this meant for all of Skyrim.
Minevi: If what you say is true….then this matter cannot be ignored.
She then stepped to the side, signaling the two to go up the stairs toward the Jarl house.
Minevi: Im sure the Jarl will want to hear about this…and if he doesn't…we will make him listen.
Eradros: Are you sure about this? The empire wouldn't like you stirring trouble and ruining relationships.
Minevi: I joined the Imperial Army to help bring peace to Skyrim. If they prove a hindrance to that end….then they're just in my way. Let's go.
The three of them began walking the steps to the Jarl house known as Dragonsreach. It was a very tall, castle like building sitting at the highest peak in Whiterun. The stairs were many but they made their way to the top and into the building.
Near the entrance of town, the blacksmith's shop run by a woman named Adrianne Avanicce was visited by two peculiar strangers. She was inside tending to the store when the two men walked in. She was so busy that she spoke out before even looking at them.
Adrianne: Just one moment! Putting some things away, I'll be right with you.
Stranger 1: Oh take your time deary…we aren't going anywhere until we get what we're looking for.
The man feigned being polite but it was obvious his intent was of ill nature. Once she heard his voice she stopped what she was doing and stepped out to the front counter. Once she laid eyes on them she knew something was wrong. They were both dress in orange robes and wearing masks covering their entire faces. Worry began to flood her face as the second man started to walk around the shop as if to be shopping.
Stranger 1: No need to trouble yourself too much love. My companion and I would simply like to ask you a question or two. I hope you would indulge a couple of wayward strangers, hm?
Adrianne: Is this some kind of joke? How did you get into the city dressed like this? Where are the guards?
Masked Man: Oh you shouldn't worry yourself with them. They're much too busy with all the commotion going on in the city at the moment. Now about my question…
The second masked man began running his fingers along the wooden shelves on the shop walls. Shortly after small flames started pouring from his fingers, setting fire to the shelves as his hand waved over them.
Adrianne: Wait! What are you doing?!
The first man snapped his fingers aggressively and began raising his voice.
Masked Man 1: I need you to focus my dear! The question i'm about to ask you is a matter of life or death you see. I'm looking for an adolescent Redguard child in the company of a Wood elf man. Have you seen them in town by chance?
Adrianne began to panic. She was a fine blacksmith but not much of a warrior. Her shop was being set on fire right in front of her. She had no idea why these men were here.
Adrianne: Why are you doing this?
The second masked man began spreading the flames more aggressively. Spreading them in every direction in the shop as to hit anything that would burn.
This frightened the woman. She screamed and tried to run for the back door behind the counter but tripped over the box she was just moving. She fell into the corner between the door and the counter. She could only see flames rising from each side of the store. Soon the entire store was covered in a wall to wall blaze. The guards outside had noticed smoke coming from inside and had began banging to on the door.
Guard: Mrs. Avanicce are you in there!? Please, if you are in there open up we can see there is a fire inside! Mrs. Avanicce!
They banged on the door as hard as they could, even throwing their shoulders into it every so often. But the masked men had barred the door preventing entry for any potential witnesses. The man then began walking around until he was right in front of her. He kneeled down slowly and held out his hand in front of Adrianne. Gradually, small ice particles were accumulating around his hand into the form of an icicle with the sharp end pointed at her throat.
Masked man 1: I'm a bit short on patience, love. I'll ask once more…Wood elf man,…redguard boy…have you seen them?
Adrianne: I…I did…earlier today…they came into town alongside the Companions after one of their hunts.
The guards were banging even harder now, using their weapons to splinter the wood of the door. The Cultist man stared at Adrianne intensely with the icicle slowly rotating right above his hand, still pointed at her neck. He watched to see if she was telling the truth. But her shop was right by the entrance of town. If anyone for sure saw them come in; it would've been her. The heat from the flames all around them caused the icicle to melt ever so slowly. Enough to drip extremely cold drops of water on her chest that then ran down into her bosom. Each drop making her flinch as she struggled to be still.
Masked man 1: Much appreciated…
The man stood up slowly and looked to his partner to stop spreading the flames. He then dispersed the icicle into tiny ice shards and waved his hand around. This sent the ice shards flying across the room and covering everything they touched in ice. Instantly the fires were out, and the inside of the store was now incased in ice. With sharp ice dagger like sickles that now hung off of everything that was caught in the blast. The very next moment after, the door and the wood placed in front were sliced through. Two guards barrel through the door to see every surface in the store covered in ice.
Guard 1: Mrs. Avanicce! Are you unharmed? We saw smoke and…
Adrianne stood up from behind the counter still shaking from the event. The guards looked around in confusion. What they thought was a burning house now looked like an ice cave, and the men who started it were gone. The only person in the store…was Adrianne.
Inside of Dragonsreach Kinetrius and the others found a lavish hall with tall pillars on each side. They stretched high into the ceiling with engravings all over them. Further into the main hall was a large dining area with two long tables on each side, and a fireplace that burned on the ground in the center of the room. Kinetrius was not a stranger to lavish buildings. He almost expected someone to come collect their coats, but they were there on urgent business. As they moved closer they were approached by a dark elf woman.
Dark elf woman: Halt! Minevi, what is the meaning of this?
They saw the jarl sitting on his very decorative thrown that had the skull of a dragon hanging right above it. He was talking to his advisors when they were interrupted by Kinetrius and the other's entrance.
Jarl: Minevi…was i not clear about not wanting to be disturbed? By the twelve…I let the empire into my house for a moment and they're already overstepping my authority.
The dark elf woman looked serious. She even had her weapon brandished while walking toward them. Minevi immediately dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
Minevi: My apologies your excellence, If it could not wait I'd have spared you this intrusion. But this is a matter of upmost importance. If you would allow us to approach, we would like to make you aware of a great problem now at our doorstep.
The jarl sighed. He had been bickering with his advisors for hours on end and was not keen to hearing more bad news. But despite his aggravated demeanor, he was able to display some patience with them.
jarl: You may approach…but make it quick. I've important business that needs attending.
Minevi: My lord, are you aware of the events in Helgen?
Jarl: My men informed me of its destruction just days ago. We're still looking into the matter but the only answers we're getting are preposterous ones. The people in the nearby towns are claiming a dragon was the cause.
Minevi: I assure you your excellence, the rumors are true. The men behind me were there the day of the attack and can attest to everything.
Eradros and Kinetrius both stepped forth. The jarl took a look at them for a moment, noticing that Kinetrius was bandaged up. He then looked to Eradros.
Jarl: She says you were there at Helgen. And you saw this…dragon? Tell me…what were you doing there that day?
Eradros: I…was there to rescue the boy.
Jarl: From the dragon attack?
Eradros: No I…
Kinetrius: He was there to rescue me from my execution…
This statement gave the jarl pause.
Jarl: You are certainly forthright about your criminal past…that's for sure. But how am i to take the word of two strangers I've never seen before.
Eradros: I had hoped this would suffice as proof…
Eradros reached into one of the pouches on his coat and pulled what appeared to be a scale from the dragon. He walked it forward and handed it to the man standing next to the jarl.
Eradros: I collected this from the scene once it was all over.
The jarl's advisor took the scale with great interest. He pulled out a glass from his inner coat pocket and examined it thoroughly. After a few moments of looking it over his eyes grew very wide.
Advisor: This is…this is the real thing your excellence. By the gods…the most I've ever seen of dragons were their bones. Never have i laid eyes on a genuine dragon's scale.
Jarl: So the rumors are true then? There really is a dragon loose in Skyrim…This is a grave turn of events indeed.
Minevi: Your excellence, we fear the near by towns are vulnerable to another attack should the dragon return. They have all requested you send what men you can spare to ensure the safety of the people.
The jarl buried his face in his hand and let out yet another sigh of fatigue.
Jarl: If only it were that simple…With this war going on…I just don't know if i could spare the man power. Or if it would even do any good against the beast.
Eradros: So you'd just leave them to die if that thing comes back?
The jarl was frustrated by Eradros's outburst. He'd been locked in politics all day, and here it was another person telling him what he should do without knowledge of his position. But before he could answer, two guards stumbled in through the front door. The men were both breathing heavily as they called out to the jarl.
Guard: Urgent news Jarl Balgruuf!
Jarl: This day just gets better by the second…Out with it then.
Guard: Something strange happened a few moments ago…The blacksmiths shop…it appeared to be on fire. But once we made it in…It was covered in ice, sir. We ran in to rescue lady Avanicce. She said there were two men that caused the destruction and…
The guard took a moment to catch his breath. He clearly had more to say, just not the breath to do so. The jarl was at the end of his reserve of patience. The dark elf woman saw this and walked up to the guard. She placed a hand on his back and arm to help him stand straight.
Dark elf woman: Hey, Jarl Balgruuf's extremely busy. We need to know what's going on so take your time and be clear.
The guard took a moment more, then proceeded.
Guard: She said that they were looking for someone…A wood elf and a Redguard.
Kinetrius's eyes went wide as heard the news. He looked up at Eradros. He too had gone tense by what he had heard. He knew who the men were and what they wanted. They had finally come for him after all these years.
At this moment he considered his choices. He didn't want to run this time. He was going to get answers for everything he thought. He looked at Eradros once more. He was clearly worried for Kinetrius. He knew what the boy had been through and had no immediate plan on how to deal with this eventuality.
Eradros: Look lad…we-
Kinetrius: I want to go after them….
Chapter End-