{"id":1401,"date":"2022-01-04T15:52:10","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T22:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1401"},"modified":"2022-01-15T22:56:55","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T05:56:55","slug":"chapter-10-harald","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-ii\/part-i-past-and-present\/chapter-10-harald\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10 – Harald"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/p>\n

Harald knew exactly where Little Vivec was, of course. He\u2019d been past the entryway with its tattered but colorful banners many times on his way to visit Dardeh and Roggi, but he\u2019d never gone into the town. He\u2019d had no reason to, and it looked like a private enough place that one shouldn\u2019t enter unless invited.<\/p>\n

Well, he\u2019d been invited. By someone else, not by the citizens of Little Vivec; but he had a valid reason to go there now, and so go in he would. It wasn\u2019t just that, either. He had to admit that he was tremendously curious about what he might learn there.<\/p>\n

It was beautiful when he passed the Guardian Stones, but off against the horizon he could see clouds moving into the mountains, threatening cold and damp later on. He made good time down the shoreline. Nobody wanted to challenge a large man with a nasty-looking shield strapped to his arm, and he had to thank Roggi for that bit of insight. It would, after all, serve as a first line of defense if something attacked before he could get his sword drawn and his helmet in place.<\/p>\n

And hugs are not what I\u2019m looking for out here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Little Vivec had been built atop a group of small islands in the middle of Lake Ilinalta, with long, curving boardwalks connecting the shore to the islands and the islands to each other. They weren\u2019t large islands at all, each barely big enough to serve as a foundation for a single structure. The largest of them had a small farm patch next to the home there; but as Harald approached, taking in the layout of the place, he couldn\u2019t imagine how such a garden plot could supply the needs of whatever community was here. They must do a great deal of trading with Riverwood and Falkreath for their staples. What they traded he could only imagine. The thing in most ample supply here would be fish.<\/p>\n

The first building he came to was two stories tall and had a general store sign hanging outside. Perhaps he\u2019d been wrong about needing an invitation to visit; after all, stores didn\u2019t stay in business unless business came to them. He knocked lightly on the door and made his way inside.<\/p>\n

He then took a moment to become thoroughly confused.<\/p>\n

A Dunmer woman was busy dusting the shelves and arranging wares. A young Nord boy and a shaggy dog played in the corner.<\/p>\n

A Dunmer runs the store?<\/em><\/p>\n

Harald stopped short for a moment, as it dawned on him how thoroughly he had managed to miss the completely obvious. And then he was embarrassed at himself.<\/p>\n

Of course she\u2019s a Dunmer. Of course. It\u2019s Little Vivec, named after the former city in Morrowind. Or maybe named after the former god Vivec. Either way it\u2019s Dunmer. How could I be so stupid?<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She looked at him and smiled, clearly undisturbed by having such an obvious Nord in her establishment.<\/p>\n

Well, it would be silly of her to be visibly distressed, wouldn\u2019t it? She needs to make coin like everyone else. <\/em><\/p>\n

So much for being noble. It seems as though I managed to make the same kind of racist assumptions that my father is accused of. Dardeh would tan my hide for that. Or at least he would if Roggi didn\u2019t get to me first.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to Selyse\u2019s Tradehouse,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald smiled back. He couldn\u2019t take back his unfortunate first reaction but at least he didn\u2019t need to make things worse. \u201cWell for one thing, I\u2019d like to know more about this village. I\u2019ve never visited before. I guess I thought it would be rude. But I have no idea about the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking for gossip, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n

He started to protest that he got most of his gossip up at the other end of the lake, but wisely stopped himself. He simply nodded. \u201cMore or less.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d she said. \u201cwhat would you like to know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is this place called Little Vivec? I can guess, but I\u2019ve been known to guess very wrongly.\u201d<\/p>\n

She grimaced. \u201cUgh. By Azura. You had to ask, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026I\u2019m sorry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s alright. Just hearing the words gives me a headache. You can thank Belvadyr for that one. He just thought it was so clever. Everyone else hated it, but he pitched such a fit about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald couldn\u2019t help but respond to the long-suffering humor in her voice. \u201cYou\u2026don\u2019t get along with Belvadyr, I take it?\u201d<\/p>\n

She grinned. \u201cNobody gets along with Belvadyr. We take him about as seriously as a mudcrab.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald laughed. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019ve met some pretty feisty mudcrabs. They can look really cute all hunkered down next to the water until they nip off a finger \u2013 or at least try to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Not quite as seriously as a mudcrab then. At least they have claws.\u201d She smirked. \u201cEven his wife thinks he\u2019s a buffoon. I guess she doesn\u2019t mind, and neither do the twins. Yes. Both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho else lives here? It didn\u2019t look very busy from outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides Albert and I? There are the twins, Taren and Toren. They handle a lot of our labor. There\u2019s Bal-Ran, who hunts, fishes, and protects the village. Velyna\u2019s\u2026around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interesting. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Belvadyr struts around like a Jarl,\u201d she continued, \u201cwhen if we had a leader at all it would obviously be Bal-Ran. Bal\u2019s too shy to admit it, though.\u201d She laughed. \u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry. I mean \u2018strong and silent.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Harald said with a grin. \u201cNobody else? Nobody like, say, a visitor from another province?\u201d<\/p>\n

Well let\u2019s see how obvious I can be. Also, I\u2019m intrigued. Albert over here is definitely not Dunmer. And she calls this Bal-Ran \u2018Bal.\u2019 She\u2019s also very pretty.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019d best not let Qaralana anywhere near that thought. I do value my skin.<\/em><\/p>\n

She smirked. \u201cI\u2019d run a pretty unsuccessful business if I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed. \u201cYes, I had that thought on the way in. I\u2019ve never come here before, and it never occurred to me that I could. And yet here you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes narrowed a bit. \u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking for someone. He\u2019s described as someone powerful and dangerous, though that doesn\u2019t give me a lot to go on. It could describe half the people in Falkreath.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice changed. She was much more formal as she said \u201cI\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t help you. Sorry. I have a strict policy of customer confidentiality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald sighed. \u201cOf course. I can respect that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d she said, her tone almost cold. He winced. It had been so pleasant chatting with her before he\u2019d opened his mouth about his task.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just hoping for a lead, that\u2019s all. I hope I didn\u2019t offend you.\u201d A thought occurred to him. She\u2019s going to see through this like the glass in a window, but I have nothing to lose. <\/em>\u201cListen, I didn\u2019t mean to pry. Let me make it up to you. Is there anything you need help with?\u201d<\/p>\n

One of her shapely eyebrows rose.<\/p>\n

Yep, she smells a skeever, alright.<\/em><\/p>\n

She may have seen through him, but apparently he didn\u2019t smell nearly as skeever-like as he\u2019d feared. She pursed her lips for a moment and then nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a matter of fact, I could actually use some help in restocking some supplies. What do you say, want to make some quick gold?\u201d<\/p>\n

As he had in the Sleeping Giant, Harald needed to stifle the urge to refuse the money. It wouldn\u2019t do \u2013 it seriously wouldn\u2019t do \u2013 to let on that he was the High King\u2019s son and didn\u2019t need it. Nor would it do for him to offend her further by refusing the task he\u2019d offered to do. I\u2019ll just agree to do the job, and we can talk about funding later.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly. I have to continue looking for this man anyway, and I can keep an eye out for your supplies as I go. I\u2019d be happy to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat! Give me just a moment.\u201d She stepped over to the counter and looked around, eyeing her supplies as she took notes, and then handed him a paper. \u201cHere\u2019s a list of what I need. Bring me those and you\u2019re three hundred septims richer. Plus a bonus for quality.\u201d She started to leave and then turned to grin at him again. \u201cAnd don\u2019t even think about haggling. I\u2019m overpaying as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald laughed. \u201cYes ma\u2019am. Or no, ma\u2019am.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cNo haggling. I\u2019ll come see you again soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh,\u201d she snorted. \u201cI can tell you\u2019re young, but ma\u2019am? What a way to tell a woman she\u2019s old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d he started to protest, worried that he\u2019d offended her again.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it\u2026 well, I\u2019d add your name but you didn\u2019t tell me what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Harald, ma\u2019am. Er, miss. Ahhhh, I\u2019m just making it worse, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Selyse\u2019s turn to laugh. \u201cIt\u2019s fine, Harald. And I\u2019m Dunmer. Of course I\u2019m older than you. Don\u2019t fret.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stepped outside to look over the list. It was lengthy. \u201cTen each of lavender and tundra cotton, five nirnroot. That\u2019s pretty easy,\u201d he murmured to himself. \u201cFive wolf pelts shouldn\u2019t be too hard, either. Stupid things are everywhere. But venison?\u201d He scratched his head. \u201cI\u2019m not the hunter, Chip is. Well, we\u2019ll see what can be done.\u201d He peered up at the sky. \u201cAnd I guess we\u2019re doing it in the rain if I don\u2019t get moving. Those clouds look heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he left Little Vivec, though, he wanted to see whether he could learn anything from any of the other citizens of the place. Across a short walkway he saw two Dunmer of a similar shape and size, just outside the lone house that fit on that island. Selyse had mentioned twins. This had to be them.<\/p>\n

One of the men was leaving the yard, so Harald intercepted him. \u201cHello,\u201d he said. \u201cI just came from speaking to Selyse so I\u2019m guessing you\u2019re one of the twins she mentioned. And which one are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is the uncanny thing about Dunmer, he thought. A person can\u2019t tell how old they are unless they\u2019re tremendously old! This could be a boy or a middle-aged mer and I can\u2019t tell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Toren. The useful Darrosa twin. So if you ever need to tell us apart, just go \u2018which one is actually being productive?\u2019 Then you\u2019ll know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald tried not to snort as he laughed. \u201cYour brother isn\u2019t really that lazy, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Taren had his way he\u2019d lie in bed all day and be doted on by naked human girls. So yeah. Pretty damn lazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald snickered. \u201cI suppose a guy can dream. Listen\u2026 has anyone unusual passed through here lately?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSelyse\u2019s shop gets pretty good traffic, and Bal-Ran memorizes every face that glances our way. If you\u2019re looking for someone, you should ask them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. I already spoke to Selyse but she couldn\u2019t help me with that. I guess I\u2019ll go find Bal-Ran.\u201d He looked down at the list in his hand, and then back at Toren. \u201cI\u2019m going to be all around the area collecting some supplies. Do you have anything that needs doing? I\u2019ll be coming back anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSelyse sweet-talked you into being an errand boy? Well as it happens I could use a hand. I need some more lumber but I don\u2019t have time to run to the Riverwood Mill myself. Mind dropping off an order there for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. I\u2019d be happy to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat!\u201d Toren said, fishing in a pocket. \u201cI already have the order written up. I just need you to drop it in the chest there by the mill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext time you\u2019re here, I\u2019ll have some septims for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald just smiled and nodded this time. Maybe he could donate the septims to a good cause when he was finished.<\/p>\n

He decided to check with the other Darrosa twin just for good measure. From behind, it could have been any Dunmer, but when he turned his head at Harald\u2019s approach, Harald nearly jumped. They were in fact not just twins, but identical in every respect.<\/p>\n

Except for the fact that this one has empty wine bottles all over the place and both volumes of \u2018Lusty Argonian Maid\u2019 at his feet. Hmm. Maybe Toren wasn\u2019t exaggerating.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re Taren, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight. I\u2019m Taren, the older, better-looking Darrosa twin. So if you ever need to tell us apart, just go \u2018hey, which one is more handsome?\u2019 Then you\u2019ll know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald couldn\u2019t help but chuckle. \u201cYou, um, look exactly alike to me. And not just because I\u2019m a Nord and you\u2019re a Dunmer. I know how to tell people apart. And you\u2019re the spitting image of your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taren sighed. \u201cI can already tell you\u2019re going to be no fun at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas anyone unusual passed through the village lately?\u201d<\/p>\n

Taren kicked at one of the empty wine bottles. \u201cProbably. Can\u2019t say I remember all of them. Though there was this one merchant caravan with this Imperial girl who was just<\/em>\u2026\u201d He paused for a moment as if remembering a particularly delectable meal. \u201cWell, you really had to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald chuckled. \u201cWish I had been. Your brother mentioned something about human girls. So let me ask you this: do you need any help?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be a question for the less-handsome Darrosa. He\u2019s the doing-things guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Harald said. \u201cGood to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald walked past Toren, who was industriously chopping wood, and crossed in front of their house. There was another wooden bridge leading to a tiny cabin with a campfire outside. Walking across the bridge had his sights directly in line with Ilinalta\u2019s Deep, the old sunken Imperial tower. It was also definitely getting darker, and not because of the time of day. They were in for a soaker.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There was no door on the front of the tiny cabin, so he peeked in as he passed its front. A simple bed covered in pelts had a chest at its foot and a beautifully-mounted saber cat head on the wall just above. A few more pelts warmed the floor nearby. A side table held a few personal effects and a shrine to Azura, backed by a colorful banner like the ones in Windhelm\u2019s Gray Quarter. But that was all there was. Harald couldn\u2019t help feel every inch of difference between this modest shelter and his own relatively-opulent cabin in Windhelm.<\/p>\n

When he turned back toward the lake he found himself being watched very carefully by the Dunmer who had to be Bal-Ran. There wasn\u2019t any point in pretending that he hadn\u2019t been snooping around, so he just walked over to the mer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Harald,\u201d he said simply. \u201cAre you Bal-Ran?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d he said, rising from the plain wooden chair on which he had been sitting.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you tell me about this village?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can,\u201d he answered. His voice was very quiet, and very deep.<\/p>\n

Harald waited for a moment for Bal-Ran to continue. He didn\u2019t. He just stood there, observing Harald for what felt like a very long time.<\/p>\n

Harald started to chuckle. He answered my question. That is what I asked him, after all.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOk,\u201d he snickered. \u201cWell done. I\u2019ll ask a more meaningful question, in that case. Why is this place called Little Vivec?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we are a village of Dunmer on the water. And some found it\u2026 clever, to name it after another village of Dunmer on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm-hmm,\u201d Harald nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what I figured. Do you find it clever?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not,\u201d Bal-Ran said simply. \u201cIt is a village founded by the descendants of Dunmer refugees, yes. We tired of our treatment in Windhelm, and moved south.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald felt as though he\u2019d been slapped across the face, hard, though Bal-Ran\u2019s words had been offered without any sort of rancor \u2013 just simple statements of fact. But he was talking about Harald\u2019s father, of course.<\/p>\n

He has to recognize me. He must know who I am. <\/em><\/p>\n

They moved here to get away from us. To get away from Father, and Mother, and Galmar and Jorlief and\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026and all those old men who shout things at them in the streets. And Elda, who is the worst of all with her snide comments. She\u2019ll take your money and make you feel like you don\u2019t deserve to pay her.<\/em><\/p>\n

This cannot stand. Father is not the monster they make him out to be. He isn\u2019t!<\/em><\/p>\n

He can\u2019t be. I won\u2019t allow it.<\/em><\/p>\n

He was certain he must have had whatever color previously existed there drain from his face. He fought to keep his expression neutral, and flailed about for something to say that would not reveal how distressed he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo besides Selyse, who offers goods or services for trade in this village?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can teach you the way of the bow,\u201d Bal-Ran said. \u201cThat is all, I\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that\u2019s nothing to sneeze at,\u201d Harald said. \u201cI\u2019m a pretty terrible bowman, myself, and I really need to learn. Maybe when I\u2019m done doing errands I\u2019ll engage you as a tutor for a bit! That would be really helpful, actually!\u201d<\/p>\n

I probably sound like a babbling fool at this point. I\u2019ve just been too surprised, too often, in too short a time span. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cOh, wait, I wanted to ask you something else as well. Have any visitors passed through the village lately?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bal-Ran nodded. \u201cYes, but few of note.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho was \u2018of note\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald could tell Bal-Ran was getting suspicious \u2013 or possibly more suspicious, if he actually did recognize him. \u201cA curious question,\u201d he said. \u201cMore curious from a stranger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald sighed. \u201cI understand. I\u2019m just trying to help someone out. Another Dunmer, as it happens, though I don\u2019t think that\u2019s of any particular significance. Maybe. I\u2019m not sure. So I\u2019ll ask you, too: do you need help with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bal-Ran peered at him through narrowed eyes for a moment before speaking. \u201cNeed, no. Desire, perhaps, if you think yourself a warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald smiled. \u201cI do. A young one, to be certain, but a warrior nonetheless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA group of bandits has been plaguing the woods nearby for weeks, sniffing for weakness. I made sure they found only arrows. Still, they linger. I cannot leave the village and hunt them if they are watching, but you could, in my place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider it done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. You have my thanks. I\u2019ll mark their last known location on your map. Their leader wears an Orcish helm. Bring it to me as proof. I will know if it is his.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course! I\u2019ll be back.\u201d Harald turned back toward the Falkreath shoreline, looking at the location Bal-Ran had marked.<\/p>\n

I know right where that is. It shouldn\u2019t take me too long to get there. Who knows, maybe I\u2019ll run across some wolves on the way. <\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to show these people that not all Nords from Windhelm are bad. This is my chance. I can\u2019t make up for the things they\u2019ve experienced there: clearly it was bad enough that they felt they had to leave, and that\u2019s horrible. They should never have been made to feel that way. I\u2019m going to do what I can to make some small amends. <\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It rained.<\/p>\n

It started raining almost the instant he was back on the mainland. He\u2019d intended to turn left, to visit the bandit camp before heading toward Riverwood. Instead, he darted to the right, looking for the slight shelter of the outbuildings at the nearby lumber mill and hoping to wait out at least the lightning, if not the entirety of the storm.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame this isn\u2019t an active mill, he thought as he scurried toward the open-fronted outbuilding. It\u2019s so much closer to Little Vivec than the Riverwood mill is. As far as Harald knew, the former owners had been killed, quite a long while ago in fact. And yet, he noted as he stood gratefully beneath the shed\u2019s roof, it looked oddly well kept. There wasn\u2019t anyone splitting trees, but there were several very fresh pieces of venison atop the table.<\/p>\n

Someone is using the property, that\u2019s obvious. I can buy these shanks of meat for Selyse. I won\u2019t make any money from them but that\u2019s not the point anyway. Then I\u2019ll just have to hope I can take down a couple more deer on my own. <\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019d darted across the way to the house, and pounded on the door for quite a long while, but nobody came to answer and he got thoroughly soaked. After thinking about it, he decided to take the venison. It was still very fresh, but it wouldn\u2019t be for long if it just sat there. He left septims on the table, lots of them, hoping that whoever had killed the deer would be just as pleased with coin as with meat.<\/p>\n

He bypassed Roggi and Dardeh\u2019s house, even though he was cold and wet. He\u2019d imposed on their hospitality too often, lately, and they would likely make him stay until the weather cleared. He needed to get this set of tasks done. Instead, he\u2019d begun a long trek along the lakeshore, back onto the road and down into Whiterun Hold, and then all the way east to the river.<\/p>\n

He travelled all the rest of the day and through the night. Along the way he gathered all of the lavender and tundra cotton Selyse had asked for, as well as most of the Nirnroot she\u2019d requested. Wolf pelts had been surprisingly easy to gather; not only did a small pack of them attack him, but farther along the road another group had attacked some merchants. He\u2019d approached them to be certain they weren\u2019t taking the pelts for themselves, and not only gotten their permission to skin the beasts but also purchased from them the remaining venison he needed. The rest of the Nirnroot called to him at intervals along his remaining trek to Riverwood, where he dropped the lumber order off as requested.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now he was sloshing through the rain in the early morning light, toward the bandit camp on the hills beyond. He\u2019d long since given up any notion of staying dry; but this close to his goal he didn\u2019t want to stop for a toweling-off or a mug of warm spiced wine. He crouched down when he got close enough to survey the camp, expecting to be challenged at any moment. But he saw no movement of any kind.<\/p>\n

A good-sized fire still burned in its pit near the collection of tents. Harald frowned. For it to be burning in this downpour meant it had been stoked recently; and that meant people still had to be nearby. He inched closer. There was still no motion, no voices, nothing at all. Then he got close enough to see the pools of blood and the pile of still-melting ice where some extremely powerful mage had frozen a bandit solid. Another bandit lay on the ground next to her warhammer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Someone got to these people before I did. I wonder who killed them. I wonder whether I can prove it to Bal-Ran.<\/em><\/p>\n

It was a large camp, stretching between one of the mountain pools that ran downhill to join the lake and an old mine tunneling into the mountainside. He wandered through the camp, checking for signs of life but finding only signs of a very recent skirmish. And finally, as he reached the tent just outside the mine\u2019s wooden doors, he found a corpse dressed in full plate mail and wearing an Orc-made helmet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Harald examined the body and its armor carefully. The helmet had a deep dent in it, perhaps acquired in the battle that killed its owner. There was no real way to know; but it was the only Orcish helm in the place. He sighed, removing the helm gently, and started downhill back toward Little Vivec.<\/p>\n

Selyse greeted him from upstairs as he entered her store, grateful for the warmth that enveloped him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m soaking wet and dripping, Selyse,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine. You can\u2019t hurt anything here with water, as long as you don\u2019t get near the books or scrolls. Come on up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selyse was having a meal with the Nord boy. Harald desperately wanted to ask about him; but no question he could formulate in his mind sounded anything but blatantly racist so he kept his curiosity to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gathered all the things you asked for,\u201d he said, putting his pack down on the floor and taking out all the carefully-wrapped plants, pelts, and meat. \u201cI hope the flowers didn\u2019t get too damp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Selyse smiled as she examined her new goods. \u201cFantastic! Let me see. Ohhh, very nice,\u201d she said, running her hands through the furs. \u201cThese pelts are exceptional. Here,\u201d she added, handing him the promised gold and a necklace. \u201cI palmed this off an Imperial soldier awhile back. You may find it useful with all the stuff you carry around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald examined the necklace. He could feel that it was enchanted, but his skills with magic were such that he could only guess at the enchantment. Probably a strength spell judging from her words.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, but you really didn\u2019t need to\u2026\u201d Selyse held up a hand to stop him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you, a little extra bonus for quality. That\u2019s the bonus. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald rubbed his chin, slightly embarrassed to be so obvious about his attempted bribery but unable to think of a better way to approach the issue. \u201cWell, I am still trying to locate this person who might have come through here and I hoped we could work out a deal\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Selyse frowned and shook her head. \u201cI told you. I have a strict policy. I\u2019m a merchant, not a mercenary. Everything I have for sale is on the shelf \u2013 no more and no less.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald sighed, and then grinned at her. \u201cOk. I can respect that. Well, you can\u2019t blame a guy for trying. I\u2019m glad all these materials passed muster. It\u2019s been good to meet you, Selyse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she said with a small but still cautious smile. \u201cSorry I can\u2019t help you out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s fine. I understand. I have to respect a person who stands by their principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald waved and left to find Bal-Ran. The fighter was outside his cabin, standing over his cook pot, in the pouring rain. Harald would have been surprised except for the fact that at this point he was so thoroughly wet that it didn\u2019t matter anymore. He was sure Bal-Ran must feel the same way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBal-Ran,\u201d he said, pulling the Orcish helm out of his pack, \u201cI found what I think is the bandit leader\u2019s helm. It was strange, though. The camp was mostly destroyed, and all the bandits were dead. One of them was wrapped in a huge chunk of ice. I think whoever got to them must be a powerful mage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bal-Ran took the helm and examined it, turning it over in his hands to see it from all angles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is indeed the helm. It carries the dent I gave it. He was already slain? Curious. Could it have been\u2026 him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald perked up. Him? The Dunmer he was looking for, maybe? Finally it felt as though he might be getting somewhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know something about the person who did this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bal-Ran looked suspicious. \u201cI may, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s consternation must have been obvious. He was so close to finding an answer and here the man was, hesitating again. Bal-Ran shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. You tried to do all of us a service. You have a right to know. A warrior passed through here, wearing armor from Morrowind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes! Finally!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA powerful man. And honorable. We discussed much. I mentioned the bandits to him, but I did not ask his aid. He must have offered it anyway. Those poor fools. They never would have stood a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded. \u201cBut do you know where he went? Please, it\u2019s very important or I wouldn\u2019t be asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he was seeking a Dwemer ruin called Kagrenar. It\u2019s far to the east, near the Morrowind border. I cannot say more. I am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald grinned. Not only the information I was looking for, but the place I\u2019m going is a Dwemer ruin? There\u2019s my bonus!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to apologize. That\u2019s the best news I\u2019ve had all day! Thank you so very much!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bal-Ran nodded. \u201cYou are welcome. I do not know why you seek him, but if you find him I urge you to think before you act.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded. \u201cAfter seeing that block of ice, you\u2019d best believe it. I\u2019ll be very careful. And thank you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He turned back toward the shore, excited to have another reason to explore a Dwemer ruin. He needed to report to Taren that his lumber order had been delivered. After that it would be time to return to Windhelm, to tend to his armor and weapons, and to prepare for the delve.<\/p>\n

And to dry off.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   Harald knew exactly where Little Vivec was, of course. He\u2019d been past the entryway with its tattered but colorful banners many times on his way to visit Dardeh and Roggi, but he\u2019d never gone into the town. He\u2019d had no reason to, and it looked like a private enough place … <\/p>\n

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