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Roggi sighed, and closed his eyes for a minute, frowning more.\u00a0 Finally, he nodded, as if coming to a decision. He opened his eyes and looked squarely at Dardeh.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell I guess I probably ought to tell you this. We\u2019ve come this far down this road, and I do trust you. I worked more closely with him than just being one of his soldiers. I was one of his more, well, specialized people. I, uh, how to put it – gathered information for him. For a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh couldn\u2019t believe what he was hearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you serious? You were what, a spy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEh\u2026 well\u2026 yeah, you could put it like that I suppose.\u201d\u00a0 He gave Dardeh a sheepish grin. \u201cRemember when I told you I was a good listener? Think about it, Dar. How often have you ever seen a person look twice at guys like us? Miners going for a drink after a hard day of it? Especially one who goes for a drink every single day, after work, a regular. I\u2019m good at blending in, better than you might think. I would put myself to listen for information if I could, and, uh,\u201d his eyes shifted away, \u201clet myself into places that were locked if I couldn\u2019t. Best way to know the enemy is to look at where he lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then,\u201d Dardeh said. Holy Talos. I wasn\u2019t expecting that.<\/em> \u201cI\u2019m\u2026 not sure what to say, exactly. I knew there were people who do this kind of thing, obviously, but\u2026 you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSurprised, I guess?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh blew out a breath.\u00a0 \u201cJust a bit. \u00a0I suppose I should be impressed. Every time I think I know you, Roggi, there\u2019s something else.\u00a0 Lock picking, eh?\u00a0 I\u2019m no good with that. And forget being stealthy. I\u2019ve tried that. Didn\u2019t work out too well.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi laughed, a harsh burst of a laugh that had no humor in it at all.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I am. \u00a0If we ever need to do such a thing I can do it for us. Brynjolf can confirm that for you. I actually managed to impress him with it, which when you think about it is something.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned briefly, but then frowned again.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ulfric will remember me.\u00a0 He has — a great many reasons to remember me.\u201d<\/p>\n What is this? So you worked for him and you don\u2019t like him but there\u2019s something else. There\u2019s something odd going on here<\/em>.<\/p>\n Roggi shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t want to see him, Dar. I don\u2019t know how to say it except that I hate the man. But I\u2019ll do it if that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Well then. Being in a position where you can say you not only know the possible future High King but hate him is not something I would have expected, and it certainly puts a different light on our task at hand. I guess I shall\u2026 tread lightly.<\/em><\/p>\n They made their way to the Palace of the Kings.\u00a0 Dardeh nodded at the guards, then smiled at Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cReady?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s face was a mask.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d he said curtly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not.\u00a0 But let\u2019s get this over with.\u201d\u00a0 They pushed their way through the huge doors and into the palace.<\/p>\n Ulfric sat on his throne at the far end of the room, talking with his advisors. He looked up as the door opened and saw Dardeh and Roggi walking forward. \u00a0He stopped the conversation cold and gestured toward his steward, standing on his left.<\/p>\n \u201cJorlief. I will have the room,\u201d he said, never moving his gaze from them.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that wise, my Jarl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will have the room, Jorlief.\u00a0 See to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Galmar, to Ulfric\u2019s right, was not pleased.\u00a0 \u201cUlfric, you don\u2019t know what he might be planning,\u201d his raspy voice grated.<\/p>\n He? Galmar doesn\u2019t know me, he must mean Roggi. Does he? He must.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh glanced at Roggi in surprise, then back at Ulfric.\u00a0 The two of them were staring at each other in a way he couldn\u2019t put a finger on. He hadn\u2019t expected this kind of reception.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know what it meant, but they certainly knew each other.<\/p>\n \u201cGalmar.\u00a0 Do you really think he can do anything to me?\u00a0 No, it\u2019s fine, my friend.\u00a0 Leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGalmar.\u201d \u00a0Ulfric\u2019s tone left no doubt that, while he hadn\u2019t yet lost his patience, he was about to if Galmar didn\u2019t obey.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right. But I won\u2019t be far.\u00a0 And I\u2019m leaving the door guards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt the far end. Only those two. I want them far enough away that I can speak freely.\u201d<\/p>\n Galmar and Jorlief were grumbling the entire time, but they and all but two of the guards removed themselves.\u00a0 Only Ulfric remained at the throne by the time Dardeh and Roggi reached the end of the room, and he hadn\u2019t shifted his gaze away from them once from the time they\u2019d entered the palace.<\/p>\n Ulfric smiled. At Roggi.<\/p>\n It made Dardeh\u2019s skin crawl.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a welcoming smile.\u00a0 He had no idea what kind of smile it was, exactly, but it immediately put him on edge.\u00a0 And suddenly he found himself not in charge of the encounter, as he\u2019d assumed he would be, but almost a footnote to it.<\/p>\n What is going on?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRoggi,\u201d Ulfric said.<\/p>\n Roggi nodded. He stood with his arms crossed, guarded.<\/p>\n \u201cSo. You return to my court at last. It\u2019s been a long time.\u00a0 Are you here to rejoin the cause?\u201d The corners of his mouth twitched upwards. \u201cI assure you, you\u2019ll be welcomed with open arms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 You know better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked at him in surprise. No title, no honorific, not even a name for the man who would be the High King of Skyrim. And yes, clearly Ulfric knew him and remembered him.<\/p>\n As strong as Roggi\u2019s words were, beside him Roggi was trembling.\u00a0 Rage? Fear?\u00a0 What was it?<\/p>\n \u201cDo I, indeed?\u201d Ulfric asked, smiling. \u201cAnd who is this?\u201d he added, inclining his head toward Dardeh without looking away from Roggi.<\/p>\n Gods damn it, Ulfric, address me if you\u2019re going to refer to me.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Dardeh, Jarl Ulfric.\u00a0 From just outside Markarth. You met me in Helgen.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric turned his gaze to meet Dardeh\u2019s, and smiled his unsettling smile once more.\u00a0 He is a handsome man, even as weather-beaten as he is, Dardeh thought, staring at him. But he looks just as cold and hard as he did in that cart heading to Helgen.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Dragonborn,\u201d Roggi added.\u00a0 Ulfric turned back to Roggi and stared.<\/p>\n Oh gods, Roggi, why bring that into it?<\/em>\u00a0 Dardeh sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I see,\u201d Ulfric said, peering once more at Dardeh.<\/p>\n I feel like I\u2019m being sized up for sale, like a horse or goat. Gods.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI heard the Greybeards issue a summons not long out of Helgen,\u201d Ulfric said.\u00a0 \u201cSo that was you, was it? Interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric stood and paced back and forth in front of them, running his eyes first up and down Roggi, then back to Dardeh.\u00a0 Dardeh had no idea what\u2019s going on but he didn\u2019t like it.\u00a0 He especially didn\u2019t like Roggi\u2019s reaction; he was radiating tension. Ulfric turned to Dardeh, peered at him for several moments.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Yes, now I remember.\u00a0 You were one of the prisoners. You left with Ralof.\u00a0 What business does a Redguard have with our fight for Skyrim\u2019s freedom?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh had never liked the looks of the man and this statement, the kind of assumption that had made him angry most of his life, made his temperature rise.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a Nord.\u00a0 Half-Nord by birth, Nord by upbringing. I\u2019ve lived in Skyrim my whole life. I\u2019m as much a Nord as any of you. And I\u2019m tired of seeing Nord blood spilt by Nord swords,\u201d he added, thinking once more of the bloody encounters he\u2019d seen between patrolling Stormcloaks and Imperials.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. You\u2019ll forgive me, but you don\u2019t look much like a Nord. Regardless, you have the power of the Voice. You could be a great asset to our efforts to return Skyrim to her people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the gods-damned Dragonborn, Ulfric. Show a little respect,\u201d Roggi bristled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve seen him toss a man through the air like a ragdoll. Turn a saber cat to a block of ice. With his voice. I\u2019ve never seen you do that. I thought it was just a tale.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen the Dragonborn do it first-hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric turned to look at Roggi, gave him another lingering scan from top to bottom and back again. \u201cI assure you that I have the Voice.\u00a0 I studied with the Greybeards for years. I forget, sometimes, that I never had the proper opportunity to show you. I could arrange it.\u201d He gave Roggi another of the slight smiles that made Dardeh\u2019s skin crawl. \u201cBut enough about that. You\u2019ve aged well, Roggi.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s arm twitched, as if he wanted to reach for a weapon.\u00a0 Dardeh reached out to restrain him.\u00a0 What was<\/em> this?\u00a0 Roggi had said Ulfric would recognize him, and that was clearly the case; but this was strange. He caught Roggi\u2019s eye and tried to say \u201cno, Roggi.\u00a0 Calm down,\u201d but Roggi was angry and something else that Dardeh couldn\u2019t decipher. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here with the Dragonborn, Ulfric.\u00a0 Pay attention to his<\/em> message and stop worrying about me. It\u2019s important. For all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric looked at Dardeh again, as if searching for something.\u00a0 It was a long, thoughtful look that slowly turned to a knowing sneer; and then Ulfric laughed.<\/p>\n He laughed.\u00a0 Not a laugh of amusement, but a sarcastic, dry, humorless laugh.\u00a0 He lowered himself onto his throne.<\/p>\n \u201cI see how it is, now,\u201d he chuckled, grinning at Roggi.\u00a0 \u201cVery nice. Very nice indeed. You forget that I know you, Roggi. You\u2019re a clever man. Marrying the nice, safe Nord girl after all and then, after she\u2019s gone…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d do well to hold your tongue,\u201d Roggi growled.<\/p>\n Dardeh stared between the two of them in amazement.<\/p>\n He sees how it is?\u00a0 Well, he sees part of it anyway. He just looked at me and sized up who I am and what I feel about Roggi in the space of two breaths. I can tell. There\u2019s some sort of game happening here, and I don\u2019t understand it. Roggi is facing down a Jarl, potentially the High King, and showing no respect for his position, at all. And Ulfric is \u2026 playing with him. Torturing him with something that I don\u2019t know about.<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric was staring at Roggi, grinning, and Roggi was staring back, defiant, stony-faced. I need to interrupt this, Dardeh thought, before it gets out of hand.<\/p>\n \u201cJarl Ulfric, I\u2019m here to ask that you \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric held up his hand to interrupt Dardeh, then rose from his throne.\u00a0 He descended the stairs and approached Roggi, then walked around the two of them in a slow circle.\u00a0 \u201cThe Dragonborn, Roggi,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m impressed. I knew you were an ambitious man but I never would have expected to see you reach so high,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cBut enough of that. It\u2019s good to see you, regardless. Truthfully, I thought we\u2019d seen the last of you after that unfortunate incident with the bandits. I heard that you rather\u2026 disappeared after that.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s eyes opened wide for a moment; then he turned red. The veins on his temples stood out.\u00a0 \u201cWas that your<\/em> doing, you bastard?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric laughed. \u201cMine? Truly? Oh no. Surely you know I would never have employed such\u2026 crude methods. I simply had people watching you. I wanted to know where the girl was.\u00a0 Our little arrangement was fine as far as it went but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi roared, and reached for the sword on his back.<\/p>\n \u201cFUS!\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric\u2019s Voice erupted, deep, huge, and powerful.\u00a0 Roggi was thrown backwards, striking Ulfric\u2019s feasting table hard.\u00a0 He cried out and fell to the floor, writhing.<\/p>\n Dardeh acted out of reflex, not thinking about who it was he was facing.<\/p>\n \u201cFUS \u2013 RO DAH!\u201d<\/p>\n Unrelenting Force, at full strength, with the extra power Dardeh had learned from Hermaeus Mora\u2019s Black Book. Dardeh\u2019s thunderous roar filled the keep. It moved the banners hug on the walls, overturned baskets and goblets and anything that wasn\u2019t firmly affixed.<\/p>\n Ulfric flew back, end over end, past the throne and into the doorway of the room beside it, landing beside the map table that might have caused him great injury if he had struck it.\u00a0 His guards erupted from all the doors and alcoves that Galmar had supposedly cleared and rushed Dardeh, pinning his arms. Dardeh didn\u2019t flinch, didn\u2019t move a muscle, didn\u2019t want to and didn\u2019t think it would likely matter how many men were holding him if he wanted to break free. Several of them ran to Ulfric and helped him to his feet.\u00a0 He was unharmed, at least externally, the many layers of armor and fur having cushioned his fall; but Dardeh was certain he would be sore for days at the very least.<\/p>\n \u201cPermission to cut his throat, my Jarl,\u201d one of the guards holding Dardeh\u2019s arms said.<\/p>\n Ulfric dusted himself off and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cStand down,\u201d he said, waving them off.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u00a0 We\u2019re all fine here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut my Jarl, he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said,\u201d Ulfric repeated, staring at the man, his words carrying the heavy weight of authority and power, \u201cStand. Down. I\u2019ll have no bloodshed here today.\u201d<\/p>\n Damn, Dardeh thought.\u00a0 The man looked like a great predator with his blonde mane, flashing eyes and tight, controlled movements; and his voice commanded obedience.\u00a0 When he was young he must have been a fearsome man, the Bear of Markarth, Shouting down the enemies from that city\u2019s walls, or at least that was how the legend went.\u00a0 No, that wasn\u2019t right; he was still a fearsome man.<\/p>\n The guards hesitated for a moment, then dropped their hands and set Dardeh free.\u00a0 The man who had spoken paused, then nodded. \u201cVery well, my Jarl.\u00a0 Call us if he tries anything else. We\u2019ll be near.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReturn to your posts,\u201d Ulfric said.\u00a0 \u201cI can handle this situation myself.\u00a0 Alone<\/em>. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, the guards filtered out of the audience chamber, and Ulfric returned to his throne.\u00a0 Dardeh whirled and ran to Roggi, who was just regaining his footing, grimacing as he did so.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right?\u201d He reached out for Roggi\u2019s arm, only to have his touch shaken off.<\/p>\n \u201cMmm. I\u2019m fine,\u201d Roggi grumbled, shifting his shoulders and wincing.\u00a0 \u201cHe knocked the wind out of me, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric smirked.\u00a0 \u201cSo now you\u2019ve heard me Shout, Roggi.\u00a0 I hope you\u2019re pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n Right, Dardeh thought, watching the stiff way Roggi approached the throne again. Damn it. He\u2019s hurt. He keeps getting hurt when he\u2019s with me.\u00a0 I cannot have that. \u00a0Damn Ulfric.\u00a0 He could have simply drawn his sword, called for his guards. He felt his fire rising and fought to keep his temper.\u00a0 It would help nothing at all to strike out at Ulfric again, but every part of Dardeh wanted to hurt him. He curled his hands into fists, fighting the urge to reach for his own swords.<\/p>\n Ulfric waved him forward.\u00a0 \u201cSo, Dardeh, it seems that you are indeed Dragonborn.\u00a0 You must be.\u00a0 Very strong in the Voice, and you are not old enough to have studied with Master Arngeir for decades. I\u2019m impressed.\u00a0 What can I do to convince you to join us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Dardeh said, barely able to force the word out from between clenched jaws.<\/p>\n Great Talos. I wasn\u2019t willing to join you in Helgen and I wouldn\u2019t join you now if Mehrunes Dagon himself had his razor at my throat. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not here to help kill my brothers, or even the men from Cyrodiil.\u00a0 I\u2019m here with an offer from the Greybeards, an offer to host a parley between you and General Tullius, on the neutral ground of High Hrothgar, that we might bring all this to a peaceful resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n Big words. Ma would be proud.<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric leaned back in his chair and laughed, a loud, hearty laugh.\u00a0 He looked at Roggi again and chuckled.\u00a0 He shook his head, tsk\u2019d, and smiled. \u201cI\u2019m surprised at you, Roggi.\u00a0 Why a man so strong, but who is too weak to choose a side?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stared at the floor, gritting his teeth.\u00a0 His hands clenched and unclenched.\u00a0 He took a deep breath and then spoke, quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does Galmar follow you<\/em>, Ulfric?\u201d\u00a0 He raised his eyes, slowly, and stared unblinking at Ulfric.\u00a0 \u201cWhy, exactly?\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard him say it before often enough.\u00a0 He would follow you to the depths of Oblivion.\u00a0 Is there more to it than I know?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric flushed, frowned, and rose to stand before his throne.<\/p>\n \u201cHow dare you.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi barked a short laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know perfectly well how I dare.\u201d He smirked. \u201cBut I don\u2019t honestly think there is<\/em> another reason. Galmar is a warrior.\u00a0 So are you; a great one.\u00a0 Galmar is an honorable man and he believes that you are one as well.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to give Dardeh a long look, then smiled \u2013 a grim smile — and turned back to Ulfric.<\/p>\n \u201cAs to me? I would follow that<\/em> man to the depths of Oblivion. The Dragonborn. Because he is<\/em> an honorable man. It takes real strength to strive for peace when it would be so much easier to choose one side and use his great power to destroy the other. He asks nothing of me. And so, I follow him, and I help him when I am able. There is nothing more than that, and that is all that any<\/em> man should ask.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he turned and walked away, stiffly, toward the doors of the keep.<\/p>\n Thank you, Roggi, Dardeh thought. He turned back to Ulfric, watching the great man\u2019s gaze following Roggi, reflecting something back to Dardeh that he did not understand, and he fought to contain the rage he had felt ever since he watched Roggi falling to the floor. Remember the dragon, Ulfric, he thought. Remember those flames. I have them at the ready. Maybe Ulfric is the \u201cother\u201d that my father wants me to kill.\u00a0 I certainly feel like doing so.<\/p>\n He spoke, calmly and quietly, controlling as best he could the almost undeniable urge to hurt him, trying to keep the threat from his profoundly deep tones, but knowing that he couldn\u2019t possibly keep it from his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cJarl Ulfric, I do not pretend to understand the least bit of what just happened here.\u00a0 But hear me now. High King or not, if you should ever so much as ruffle a hair on that man\u2019s head again I will see you dead on the floor in front of me, and I will mount your head on my wall along with those of any guards who try to stop me.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t have enough wall space for all the heads.<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric, to his credit, said nothing.<\/p>\n I\u2019m stronger than he is and he knows it. I\u2019m younger, and stronger, and I\u2019m Dragonborn and he is not. If not for all the guards I could kill him where he sits and he\u2019d never have a chance to act. He probably can smell it on me, the scent of all the men and women I\u2019ve killed, the part of me that wanted to rip out Miraak\u2019s throat for hurting Roggi. And he knows that I\u2019m serious about him leaving Roggi alone.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll return to you in the morning for your answer.\u00a0 I think you should consider it.\u00a0 For the sake of all your \u2018sons and daughters of Skyrim,\u2019 if not for yourself.\u201d\u00a0 He looked Ulfric in the eye and smirked.\u00a0 \u201cRoggi has too high an opinion of me, I fear. I\u2019m not nearly as honorable as he thinks I am. If you can\u2019t bring yourself to do the right thing I\u2019ll be more than happy to choose a side and force the issue.\u00a0 I\u2019m pretty sure you wouldn\u2019t enjoy the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric\u2019s face was like a stone mask.\u00a0 He nodded, curtly.\u00a0 \u201cRedguard,\u201d he said.\u00a0 It was clearly a dismissal.<\/p>\n Well that pretty much settles it, Dardeh thought as he strode out of Ulfric\u2019s keep and headed to Candlehearth Hall to find Roggi. I came in here willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I gave you every opportunity, you condescending prick. Yes, I\u2019m Redguard, part of me, and I kill my enemies.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll give you a chance to go to High Hrothgar, all right, but you\u2019ve made yourself an enemy.\u00a0 Be careful.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t think of anything I\u2019d less rather do,\u201d Roggi said as he arranged his greatsword and put on his bracers, \u201cthan go to see the Jarl of Windhelm.\u201d Dardeh sighed in frustration.\u00a0 Yes, he knew that Roggi did not like the Jarl.\u00a0 He\u2019d certainly heard all about it.\u00a0 He stuffed his feet into his … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/2-2-5-2.png\")
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