{"id":1079,"date":"2021-08-26T11:24:51","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T17:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1079"},"modified":"2022-07-02T12:01:48","modified_gmt":"2022-07-02T18:01:48","slug":"chapter-19-harald","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-1\/part-ii-starlight\/chapter-19-harald\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 19 – Harald"},"content":{"rendered":"
Home<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Harald nearly collided with the smug Orc woman guarding the first of two cage gates. He turned to glare at the guard who\u2019d pushed him. It was bad enough that they\u2019d taken everything he had and put him in rags; there was no need to shove him as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cEyes front, prisoner,\u201d the Orc said. \u201cYou\u2019re in Cidhna Mine now, and we expect you to earn your keep. There\u2019s no resting your hide in a cell, in this prison. Here, you work. You\u2019ll mine ore until you start throwing up silver bars. You got it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d he said calmly. There were a great many other things he\u2019d have liked to say, but he didn\u2019t. \u201cSo when do I get out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t,\u201d she sneered. \u201cThe Jarl has ordered a life sentence for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cFor asking questions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she snapped. \u201cFor killing Nepos and his people.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time, Harald felt fear creeping up his neck where before there had just been annoyance. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet in there! And be grateful we didn\u2019t toss you out to deal with the werewolves.\u201d She sneered. \u201cAlright, open \u2018er up!\u201d she yelled to the guard behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWerewolves?\u201d the guard asked, swinging the gate open.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. There were attacks the other night, out to the south. Might have been a bunch of \u2018em from the looks of what was left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure it wasn\u2019t just a pack of regular wolves?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m sure. No wolf I\u2019ve ever seen eats as much of a body as that. This guy would have made a tasty snack for \u2018em, I\u2019ll bet.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pushed Harald through toward the second gate. The guard opened it and followed her example, shoving Harald forward onto a broad wooden platform.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah,\u201d the man said. \u201cWe need this one to mine. He\u2019s got some muscles on him. At least for now.\u201d The two guards laughed as though that was the funniest thing they\u2019d ever heard. Harald winced as the gate clanged shut behind him.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He looked around, dismayed. A life sentence was ridiculous. Nepos and his men had attacked him; they\u2019d been dead when he returned. He was just going to have to wait it out until his father pulled strings.<\/p>\n

Surely he\u2019ll do that, yes? He has power over even the Jarl of Markarth.<\/em><\/p>\n

If\u2026 he ever figures out that I\u2019m here.<\/em><\/p>\n

Great. Just great.<\/em><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t bother telling them that he\u2019d taken care of the werewolf problem already. He\u2019d encountered three of them, prowling along the shore of the marsh near Morthal; and he\u2019d helped some local guards deal with them. They would find the pelts in amongst his things.<\/p>\n

And probably confiscate them. Along with anything else valuable. Damn it all, how did I get myself into this? All I did was walk into the city to try to learn something about Father.<\/em><\/p>\n

There was nothing to do but to go down into the mine. This large cave was like the hub of a wheel, with mining tunnels fanning out like spokes. One was blocked by another cage door and guarded by a sizeable Orc painted up like a skull. A skinny Breton sat on the ground near the firepit. Harald wandered over to the seated man.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello,\u201d the Breton said. \u201cI\u2019m Uraccen. What are you in for, new blood?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d Harald said. \u201cI was looking for information to help someone out. I\u2019m innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uraccen snorted. \u201cInnocent? So was I – for the first one. The other murders were all me, though. My advice? Serve your time with a pickaxe and get out. You don\u2019t want to end up getting a shiv in the guts over a bottle of skooma.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald frowned. \u201cA shiv? What\u2019s that?\u201d As soon as the words left his mouth, Harald groaned internally. I\u2019m not exactly conversant with prison terms. This guy\u2019s a killer. And now he knows I\u2019m really green. Good for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Uraccen grinned knowingly at him. \u201cSmall blade. Easy to hide. I mean, sure, you could just swing a pickaxe into someone\u2019s face, but people tend to see that coming. Got a problem with a prisoner? Get a shiv. I hear Grisvar\u2019s got a spare, if you could get him to part with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Harald nodded, and looked around. It was oddly quiet, aside from the clunking of pickaxes from down one of the tunnels.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh. Where are all the guards?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey come in once a week. Clean out the bodies, grab any ore we\u2019ve mined and beat down the troublemakers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I should expect a visit from fists,\u201d Harald murmured.<\/p>\n

Uraccen chuckled. \u201cOh yeah, that\u2019s the only time we get food, too. And if there\u2019s not enough ore mined up, we don\u2019t get any.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were several pickaxes on the ground near Uraccen. Harald bent down and picked one of them up. \u201cBoth of my uncles were miners, and they showed me how. I\u2019ll do my part to make sure we don\u2019t starve. So why are you in here? You don\u2019t look especially dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uraccen smirked. \u201cA Nord nobleman I served was stabbed in the night. Wasn\u2019t me, but I knew I\u2019d be blamed. So I ran. Joined the Forsworn, started killing, got caught. Now I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why did you join the Forsworn?\u201d Harald asked.<\/p>\n

Uraccen\u2019s tone became harsh and angry. \u201cBecause life was better under the old ways. No Nords and their laws. One day the Forsworn will paint the walls of Markarth in your kinsmen\u2019s blood. Best you not be there on that day, Nord.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald gulped. He wanted to protest \u2013 they weren\u2019t his<\/em> laws, after all. But they were<\/em> his father\u2019s laws. Not many people were more obviously Nord than he was. But he couldn\u2019t let them know who he was or he\u2019d be one of the bodies the guards would drag out on their next visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cSo tell me something else. Where\u2019s Madanach? I want to talk to him. He\u2019s more or less the reason I\u2019m in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re asking, that means you\u2019re the new lifer.\u201d Uraccen snorted. \u201cTough luck, friend. Those guards sold you out good. No one talks to Madanach, I\u2019m afraid, without getting past Borkul the Beast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald glanced over at the Orc standing near the cage door. He was solid. Healthy-looking. Something tells me he doesn\u2019t miss a meal regardless of what else is going on in here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Borkul?\u201d he asked quietly.<\/p>\n

Uraccen nodded. \u201cMadanach\u2019s guard. Heard he ripped a man\u2019s arm off and beat him to death with it. He\u2019s old-fashioned like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Thanks for all the information.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uraccen sighed. \u201cI left behind my daughter Uaile when I was taken,\u201d he murmured as if to himself.<\/p>\n

Harald froze. Uaile? I know that name. <\/em>He frowned as his mind raced, trying to place her. She was\u2026 the maid? At Nepos\u2019 house? And now she\u2019s dead.<\/em><\/p>\n

He stepped away from Uraccen, moving toward the Orc. He couldn\u2019t afford to say anything. Not only was he a Nord, but he\u2019d been directly involved in the fracas that killed Uaile. He\u2019d definitely be dead meat if he spoke.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Borkul was smirking at him. He was a good bit taller than Harald, but now that they were side-by-side Harald thought he might actually out mass the Orc by a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new meat,\u201d Borkul drawled. \u201cSo soft. Tender. What was it like killing your first one, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026 not a murderer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLiar,\u201d Borkul spat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, believe what you like,\u201d Harald answered, annoyed. \u201cI need to see Madanach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borkul crossed his arms and sneered. \u201cYou wanna talk to the King in Rags? Fine. But first you gotta pay the toll. How about you get me a shiv? Not that I need one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve heard,\u201d Harald answered. \u201cBut I don\u2019t have a shiv.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo find one,\u201d the Orc growled. \u201cYou serve your time by digging. So dig.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald stared at him for a moment trying to imagine how to talk his way past, but it was clear that wasn\u2019t going to happen. He nodded sharply and headed for one of the tunnels. There was an outcropping of silver ore right in the middle of the floor; so he spent the next few minutes digging it up. There were more small deposits here and there as he investigated the area. He dug those up too. It seemed the least he could do for himself at this point. If he helped ensure that they all ate properly, maybe it would help offset the fact that he was the son of a Nord\u2019s Nord.<\/p>\n

Down one dead-end he found a couple of partially-uncovered stone columns, long since toppled over. These must be in some way connected to the same complex as the ones he\u2019d seen while going to find Nimhe. It made sense, given the place\u2019s history. He stood staring at the carvings for a moment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If there are Dwemer ruins here, and ruins there \u2013 maybe there\u2019s a way to tunnel through to the other exits? Maybe?<\/em><\/p>\n

What am I doing? Planning a prison break before I\u2019ve been in here an hour?<\/em><\/p>\n

He shook his head and continued down the tunnel to where a short, stocky Reachman was leaning on a pickaxe, staring blankly at the wall. He looked up as Harald approached and shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther prisoners get suspicious when we talk to each other, so keep your voice down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, sure,\u201d Harald said quietly. \u201cHow long have you been in here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYear seven, I think. I\u2019m Duach. Surprised I haven\u2019t cut my own throat out by now, but something keeps me going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have they charged you with?\u201d<\/p>\n

He rolled his eyes. \u201cCharged? I\u2019m a Forsworn. One of our raids went bad, and I got captured. Would have been fine dying for the Reach with my kinsmen, but the Silver-Bloods want their ore mined, so they threw me in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded, and pointed to the silver node the Breton had been staring at. \u201cI\u2019ll get this one. Have yourself a break,\u201d he said, taking a stance and starting to break the rock.<\/p>\n

There was something about the man\u2019s last statement, in particular, that really bothered him. He\u2019d heard Ulfric speaking with Galmar and others about how important the silver was to Skyrim. He\u2019d heard it many times, and hadn\u2019t given so much as a second thought to where the silver came from, or how. Roggi had worked in a malachite mine. Dardeh had mined silver, but presumably from one of the smaller mines that dotted the Reach; neither of them had ever mentioned prisoner labor. But the man in the Warrens had said the only reason the beds were there was to keep people alive enough to work the mines and the smelter.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And the Jarl said \u2013 what did he say? The Forsworn were where they were supposed to be, \u201cin the mines, bringing us wealth.\u201d And he knew who I am. <\/em><\/p>\n

Harald took a particularly savage swing at the last obvious chunk of silver in the vein, and broke it out of its surrounding matrix. No matter how he looked at it, there was something fishy about this silver operation. He didn\u2019t quite understand, not yet, but he didn\u2019t like the feeling he was getting from it.<\/p>\n

I have to talk to Madanach.<\/em><\/p>\n

He wandered, frowning, back out into the main cavern and down another of the side tunnels. Not too far in was a pair of very tired-looking men staring forlornly at another silver vein. He approached the first of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you Grisvar?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man nodded. \u201cYeah. The Jarl decided that I was too much of a problem. Threw me in here with the Forsworn. First it was for six months. Then a year. Then two years! Now I\u2019m in for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald frowned again. \u201cWhat in the world did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time was thieving. The second time? Thieving. The third time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThieving?\u201d Harald asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of keeps going like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded. \u201cUm, I need a shiv. I was told you might be able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, so you need protection! I can get you what you need,\u201d he said, dropping his voice. \u201cBut maybe you could do something for me, first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. What do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDuach has a bottle of skooma. I\u2019m shaking just thinking about it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald was taken aback. Skooma was a thing that wasn\u2019t approved of in his family, as far as he knew. He\u2019d heard his mother and Chip\u2019s talking about it in disgusted tones before. It did help explain why Grisvar had kept thieving \u2013 or trying to, at least. Harald wasn\u2019t going to help feed someone\u2019s addiction.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. I don\u2019t think so,\u201d he told Grisvar.<\/p>\n

Grisvar looked resigned. \u201cAll right. But if you change your mind\u2026 It\u2019s not like we\u2019re going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man standing beside Grisvar had been tossed into the prison after being accused of killing someone and had joined the Forsworn later just to make things easier. At the far end of the tunnel, a surly Reachman told Harald he didn\u2019t want to talk about why he was there, and when Harald asked him how long he\u2019d been in the mine, said \u201clong enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald sighed. He had to see Madanach. He was going to have to try Borkul again.<\/p>\n

The Orc sneered at him as he approached. Harald did his best to sneer back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, Borkul. I\u2019ve mined up all the silver the rest of these guys were just staring at. It\u2019ll keep us fed for another week. I need to see Madanach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borkul looked unimpressed. \u201cReady to pay the toll? One shiv.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t have a shiv. How about I fight you for it?\u201d I beat the pulp out of Nepos\u2019 thug messenger. How hard can it be?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Orc smiled, revealing a large expanse of tusks. \u201cThat\u2019s what I was hoping you\u2019d say. Come on! Let\u2019s see what you\u2019re made of!\u201d He raised his fists, and Harald raised his.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Harald had in fact beaten Nepos\u2019 thug fairly easily. His muscles were as large as Borkul\u2019s. But he was completely unarmored now; and even worse, Borkul had solid-looking gauntlets \u2013 the only thing he wore besides his ragged prisoner\u2019s pants. Borkul beat on Harald\u2019s face, his ribs, his arms and even his kidneys. It took only a minute or so before a solid hit drove Harald down to one knee, gasping in pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so tough now, are ya?\u201d Borkul laughed, walking away.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw,\u201d Harald whispered, trying to catch his breath and a little of his dignity. That was one of the dumbest things I\u2019ve ever done. I guess\u2026 I guess I need to go see Duach after all.<\/em><\/p>\n

He stood, slowly and painfully, and shuffled his way across the space to the tunnel where he had met Duach. The beating he\u2019d taken had him trembling; he must have looked perfectly miserable by the time he reached the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 hear you have some skooma,\u201d he mumbled shakily.<\/p>\n

Duach glared. \u201cYou give me one more look, and I cut you open. That skooma\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d Harald said. \u201cIt\u2019s important. I need it badly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Duach\u2019s expression changed to one of sympathy, and he looked Harald up and down. \u201cGetting the shakes, huh? I\u2019m sorry. Alright, take it. Old Gods keep you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He reached into a barrel next to them and rummaged around for a moment, at last pulling out a small bottle and pressing it into Harald\u2019s aching palm. Harald wanted to be sick. He\u2019d never had such a thing on his person before, had never desired it, and in fact didn\u2019t want to be near it. But the man had been so kind, thinking that he was in pain from addiction, that he could do nothing but clasp his hand with both of his own, shake them, nod, and whisper \u201cthank you\u201d before leaving to climb back out of the tunnel.<\/p>\n

By the time he found Grisvar again, he was truly angry. He\u2019d learned from his father, though, that anger was best contained until you had as complete a picture of the situation as possible. He didn\u2019t have that, yet, and wouldn\u2019t until he talked to Madanach. Still, he found it hard not to hiss at Grisvar. The man had gone back to work digging for silver. He looked at Harald and sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I ever get out of here, I swear I\u2019m giving up thieving. Really.\u201d<\/p>\n

No you\u2019re not, you piece of dirt. You\u2019re an addict and you\u2019ll keep stealing other people\u2019s things to pay for your habit<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Harald almost reconsidered. But then he thought about his parents in Windhelm, and his uncles in Falkreath, and his cousins in the Rift; and the words \u201clife sentence\u201d crowded into his mind like a dark storm cloud.<\/p>\n

I have to get out of here. I can\u2019t do that to them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s your skooma,\u201d he whispered. \u201cNow give me the shiv.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grisvar snatched the bottle away, eagerly, and pressed something not quite as small into his palm in exchange. Harald looked down at it. It was, as Uraccen had said, a small blade, wickedly sharp but easily concealed. He nodded to Grisvar and scurried back up to where Borkul stood, smirking at his approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s your bloody shiv,\u201d he said, passing it to the Orc after checking around for guards. \u201cNow open the damn gate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d the Orc said amiably as he opened the gate. \u201cHead on in. But don\u2019t try anything in there. Madanach is smarter than you think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald snorted. \u201cI don\u2019t have an opinion about Madanach one way or the other. But you\u2019ve got the shiv now, and I don\u2019t. Given how sore I am right at the moment,\u201d he said, wincing as he shifted his shoulders, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of trying anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Borkul chuckled and stood aside.<\/p>\n

Madanach had his own private area, down a long, twisting tunnel. Harald passed the toilet alcove, and another with a locked gate behind which a headless skeleton sat in repose. Then there was Madanach\u2019s quarters. There was a real bed, situated on a raised platform covered with a rug, and a chest, and a table. There sat an old Reachman with fading blonde hair; he continued writing in a ledger and didn\u2019t look up at Harald\u2019s approach, but he did clear his throat and speak.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, well. Look at you! Your kinsmen have turned you into an animal, Nord. A wild beast, caged up and left to go mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Well as it happens, I\u2019m plenty mad already.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madanach chuckled. \u201cSo, my fellow beast, whaddya want? Answers about the Forsworn? Revenge for trying to have you killed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do have a lot to answer for,\u201d Harald said as calmly as he could manage.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I? What about you? What right did you have to meddle in my affairs? Kill my people?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald made a sound that was nearly a growl. \u201cYou keep saying that, all of you! I killed nobody! I tried to run away when Nepos tried to kill me! <\/em>All I was doing was trying to find answers to help out a guy who asked!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas it worth it, your truth?\u201d Madanach asked. \u201cYou\u2019re one of us now, you see? The boot of your kinsman stepping on your throat! Maybe if you understood that I could help you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand what, exactly?\u201d Harald asked. But inside, he was beginning to wonder whether he really wanted to find out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a man named Braig inside these mines,\u201d the old man said. \u201cBesides me, he\u2019s been here the longest. Tell him I sent you. Ask him why he\u2019s here. I want you to know how widespread the injustice of Markarth is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald sighed. He\u2019d already seen the Warrens, and if that wasn\u2019t injustice he didn\u2019t know what was.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, I will. But I want to know about Thonar. The guards said something about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

He snorted. \u201cI had<\/em> Markarth. My men and I drove the Nords out. We\u2019d won! Or so we thought. Retribution was swift. I was captured, quickly tried, and sentenced to death; but my execution never came. Thonar Silver-Blood stopped it. He wanted the Forsworn at his call, so that I would point their rage at his enemies and spare his allies. And I have. Humiliating at first, but I knew he would let his guard down eventually, that he would come to trust that I was under control.\u201d<\/p>\n

And it didn\u2019t hurt having his brother put on the throne at the end of the war, and thus a strong tie to the new High King. Shor give me strength.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cYou were right about one thing,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cI do want to know about the Forsworn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was our land,\u201d Madanach said. \u201cWe were here first. Then the Nords came and put chains on us. Forbade us from worshipping our gods! Some of us refused to bow. We knew the old ways would lead us back to having a kingdom of our own, here or in the west. That is who we are. The Forsworn. Criminals in our own land! And we will cut a bloody hole into the Reach until we are free.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the entire time they\u2019d been speaking, Madanach had not once looked up at Harald, and for that Harald was glad. He had to have known Father, from when he and Galmar were here. Must have. If he took a good look at me he would know who I am and I would be as good as dead.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe he knows already, and that\u2019s why he never looked up.<\/em><\/p>\n

He walked slowly back, toward the place where he\u2019d encountered the surly Reachman before. His mind and heart were roiling.<\/p>\n

So the Nords came and caged them. That means Father and the Legion, way back when. I\u2019ve heard the tales, and I still can\u2019t imagine Father doing such a thing, caging the Reachmen.<\/em><\/p>\n

He stopped almost in mid-stride, clenching his hands into fists.<\/p>\n

Or can I? Look at how the Dunmer are treated at home! And the Argonians. \u201cMaybe you are just what they say you are,\u201d Mother told him. Is he?<\/em><\/p>\n

But\u2026 what Madanach just said. They \u2013 the Forsworn \u2013 just wanted to rule themselves. To be free to worship their gods in the old way. Isn\u2019t that exactly the same thing Father and Galmar fought for, against the Thalmor? Isn\u2019t it? Isn\u2019t that why I have chosen Shor instead of Talos?<\/em><\/p>\n

Is there really anything all that different between what Madanach and Ulfric wanted, other than names?<\/em><\/p>\n

He found himself running across the main chamber, with both Borkul and Uraccen staring at him with raised brows.<\/p>\n

I have to know. Too many people have died already, just since I\u2019ve been here. I have to know whether it\u2019s right to help set these people free or not.<\/em><\/p>\n

He found Braig where he\u2019d left him. The man looked up as he trotted toward him and said \u201cDon\u2019t pull a shiv around me, or we\u2019ll both regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In spite of the gravity of the situation, Harald couldn\u2019t help but laugh as he stopped. \u201cBorkul\u2019s got the shiv, no need to worry. Listen \u2013 I just came from speaking with Madanach. He wants you to tell me your story. And\u2026\u201d he heaved a heavy sigh. \u201cI really want to hear it. I\u2019m very confused right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy story, eh? Let me hear yours first. When was the first time you felt chains around your wrists?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Never, until they threw me in here,\u201d Harald said. I\u2019m the prince, the heir apparent. Why would I ever have felt chains?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then you know what it\u2019s like to have your life in someone else\u2019s hands. Why should they get to decide? Isn\u2019t judgment for the gods? Do you\u2026 have any family?\u201d<\/p>\n

It suddenly occurred to Harald that in fact his entire life was controlled by other people, and always had been. He was destined to be High King after his father, and that was all there was to it according to his family and friends. There was very little that he had in common with these people in the prison but that \u2013 that one thing \u2013 was something they shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I do,\u201d he answered quietly, although he would not say who they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a daughter once,\u201d Braig said. \u201cShe\u2019d be, oh, thirty eight this year, married to some hotheaded silver worker or maybe on her own, in the herb trade. I might even have had grandchildren. The Nords didn\u2019t care who was or who wasn\u2019t involved in the Forsworn uprising; I had spoken to Madanach once, and that was enough. But my little Aethra didn\u2019t want to see her Papa leave her. She pleaded to the Jarl to take her instead.\u201d His voice quavered, and his eyes grew damp. \u201cAnd after they made me watch as her head rolled off the block they threw me in here anyway to dig up their silver!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s mouth had been sagging open as the tale unfolded; now he stood, stunned, trying to think what to say next. What had happened here was an inexcusable tragedy, but there was one thing, one tiny thing that Harald\u2019s mind latched onto as if it was a lifeline in a flood.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t Father, who killed the people who shouldn\u2019t have been killed. It wasn\u2019t! It was the Jarl. The old Jarl, the one Uncle Dardeh told me about. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026 I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he finally managed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy daughter is the one who deserves your pity,\u201d Braig snarled. \u201cI\u2019m just a poor Forsworn whose only regret is not killing more Nords before I was locked up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald once again found himself with his mouth open. \u201cYou would have just killed Nords, indiscriminately? Do you think we\u2019re all alike? Do you think your horrible story justifies all that murder?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not Madanach!\u201d he cried. \u201cI was never a leader of the Forsworn! The only anger I can justify is my own. But every family in the Reach has a story like mine. There are no innocent onlookers in this struggle: just the guilty, and the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald turned on his heel and stomped angrily back to where Madanach stayed. Every family in the Reach, indeed. I\u2019ll have to ask Dardeh about that, some day. He was from here. Did he have someone who was guilty? Or dead?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re back,\u201d Madanach said when Harald reached him. \u201cHave you done what I asked?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he said sharply.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Imagine hearing a story like that over and over. Each time a different family. Each time a different injustice. Your meddling above ground reminded me of how removed I\u2019ve been from the struggle. My men and I should be in the hills, fighting!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh spare me,\u201d Harald snapped. \u201cYou\u2019re an old man, just like my father and his people, always going on about the great battles they fought and won, or lost, so long ago that I wasn\u2019t even alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madanach stopped what he was doing, for just a moment, and chuckled. \u201cYou know, I\u2019m almost starting to like you,\u201d he said. \u201cBut you haven\u2019t earned your way out of here, yet. Have you met Grisvar the Unlucky?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald snorted. \u201cSadly, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s rightly named. He\u2019s also a thief. And a snitch. He\u2019s outlived his minor usefulness. Take care of him, and then we can leave Cidhna Mine for good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake\u2026 care of him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. And if you can\u2019t figure out what I mean by that you don\u2019t deserve your freedom, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald drew a deep breath. It wasn\u2019t as though he hadn\u2019t needed to dispatch the odd bandit here and there to keep himself alive. Galmar and Roggi \u2013 as well as his father \u2013 had insisted that he learn how to take a life when it was necessary. He needed that strength for self-preservation, because as they\u2019d all told him his entire life, he was the next High King, and he had to protect his life for the sake of Skyrim itself. But this. This was cold-blooded murder.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But if Grisvar gets out of this place, he\u2019ll just go back to thievery in order to support his skooma habit, and who knows what else he might do. He\u2019ll be nothing but a dead weight on society. Can I do this, in order to get out? In order to protect my own existence? In order to have the chance to make something better, later on? Can I do that? Will I have the strength to do it?<\/em><\/p>\n

His father would have laughed at him for having any doubts. So would have Galmar. From everything he\u2019d ever seen of him, Chip\u2019s father Brynjolf would have done what was necessary for the sake of a greater good. Roggi had, as far as he could tell, a killer\u2019s instinct and would have had no qualms whatsoever about removing Grisvar. And Dardeh\u2026<\/p>\n

What would Dardeh do?<\/em><\/p>\n

He thought for a moment about all the tales he\u2019d heard of Dardeh, all the talks he\u2019d had with the man over the years. Dardeh had done difficult things, hard things, in order to save the world, or so they said.<\/p>\n

Well, this isn\u2019t that kind of decision. I\u2019m not that important. I can Shout, just like Father can, but I\u2019m surely no Dragonborn. But I do think I can be of better use to Skyrim if I am free than if I am dead in Cidhna Mine. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t take care of Grisvar with my bare hands. Borkul saw to that. I need a shiv.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madanach chuckled again. \u201cAh, so Borkul muscled one out of you on your way in? Fine. Take this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again, Harald found himself with a small but deadly sharp blade in his hand. He kept his pickaxe in the other. He trudged slowly down the tunnels, loosening his shoulders, taking stock of his aches and pains, and pointedly ignoring the stares of Borkul and Uraccen as he walked forward into the grimmest task he\u2019d ever had to undertake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Home<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Home Previous \/ Next   Harald nearly collided with the smug Orc woman guarding the first of two cage gates. He turned to glare at the guard who\u2019d pushed him. It was bad enough that they\u2019d taken everything he had and put him in rags; there was no need to shove him as well. \u201cEyes … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Chapter 19 – Harald”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":653,"menu_order":19,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1079","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1808,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1079\/revisions\/1808"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}