2021-02-10

Always Lost, Always Hopeful (241) Gone with the Water



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SPOILER INFO
This fanfic novel is largely based on the events that occurred in an actual game of Skyrim I played. Therefore, it's inevitably a spoiler.
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previous day






4-202-04-17 05:10
Windpeak Inn, Dånstar, The Pale, Skyrim




We board the ship to Falskaar where we arrive at 8 in the evening. It's not yet completely dark, but we must hurry. Or just run a part of the way in the darkness. It's not like we haven't done it before.

This day isn't much to look back to. Essentially, we got up from the bed, boarded a ship, spent the whole day on the water and are running to Amber Creek to go to sleep again. Not very smart time planning on my part, but it's already happened and can't be undone.

I wonder if we should try to find that valuable ring for Svea right now.

I decide not to. When you search for things, you need more light. Besides, it's more important to get to hear the news as soon as possible.

Henrik's family has come out to meet the ship and we all, including Wulf, go to their house. Me and my followers are, of course, eager to know what has become of the rebellion.

In a nutshell, Jarl Agnar took over Fort Urokk, and his family is now residing there where the jarl thinks they'll be safer than in Amber Creek. They have recruited many soldiers, most of them refugees from Borvald. They have also established a base in the ruins of Borvald and the jarl shares his time between Fort Urokk and Borvald. The main roads are patrolled and more or less safe, but Yngvarr has fortified all the approaches to northeastern Falskaar and an attack on Staalgarde is out of the question.

The girls and I are amused to learn that the holocaust we arranged among the Falskaar bandits has scared them to the point that many if not most of them turned up one or two at a time in one of Agnar's strongholds pretending to be common citizens and asked to be enlisted as soldiers. Unless they looked very criminal, their requests were granted.

We thank our hosts and leave for Amber Creek.


I hope I will never have to see Jarl Agnar again. And should the topic come up, I won't be afraid to tell him in his face that he's a man of no honor.

My followers think this is a very bad idea. All right, I'll think it over.

On our way north, we meet a couple of patrols who stop us to ask who we are and where we're headed, but don't show any signs of hostility.

We reach Amber Creek after ten in the evening and sit a while with the miners north of the river. I ask what's the situation like in Amber Creek now that the jarl is away. They say the village is ruled by a committee consisting of Rangarr, Oudin and Kunnari, with Rangarr having the authority to make decisions alone whenever it's urgent.

The miners want to go to sleep. We thank them for the information and cross the bridge to the southern bank. There's a man we don't know walking on the street in front of Svea's shop. He turns out to be a bandit. Strangely enough, there's not a guard in sight. So I kill him myself. I succeed in decapitating him:

We go to the inn where everything looks like normal.

I'm glad Oudin isn't here, because I won't be able to do anything for him tonight. I'm looking forward to pleasing him tomorrow. Or, come to think of it, I don't really care. I'm quite surprised realizing I've pretty much lost interest in sex with anyone except Yrsarald. But naturally I'm not the kind of woman who would refuse sex to her boyfriend (except on certain days such as today).

I notice Rangarr the blacksmith and walk over to say hello, leaving the girls chatting with the barmaid Klara. I notice the shady treasure-hunter Harold going into one of the rooms, apparently his. I had no idea he was still here. That ring must be really hugely valuable. I'd better retrieve it so Harold won't get it. Why have I been so reluctant to let Svea have it anyway? I can no longer remember. Well, never mind that. I turn my head back to Rangarr who has just told me a hammer has been stolen from his father's grave.

A hammer? From his grave?
Yes. Rangarr's father was a legendary blacksmith and his best work was a famous warhammer. The warrior from Borvald whom he had made it for donated it after his death to be buried with him. But recently Rangarr found his father's grave dug up and the warhammer stolen.
Any idea who could have done it?
Sure. He knows who. Garant.
Wow. Tell me more about him.

The gist of that long story is this: Garant was a blacksmith who was jealous of Rangarr's father's success, and that's why he left Amber Creek, and now he has bid his time and found a suitable moment amidst all the confusion caused by the Yngvarr rebellion and has dealt a blow to Rangarr by desecrating his father's grave and stealing the amazing warhammer.
Word is Garant lives in Aspenfall Lodge southeast of here, this side of those very high Mid-Falskaar mountains.

Okay. We'll see about it tomorrow or someday, but right now I'm decidedly very tired, so I go home, leaving the girls at the inn.

view from the street to Laura's house in Amber Creek, night sky partially cloudy
My cozy beautiful house! How I have missed you!




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