If you've played 'Elder Scrolls: Skyrim', you may have noticed I've gone a different route. I didn't want to just follow events of the game, and the further this story develops, the more I'll divert. The title of this story is to suggest that, before becoming the Dragonborn, Ragnar had a past.
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Chapter 3 -- Friends and Rivals
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It was bitterly cold the next morning. In addition to the wind, the snowfall was almost blinding, but at least that covered the icy ground underfoot. Despite the early hour and drop in temperature, Windhelm was already busy, walking past a market with merchants already busy selling their wares and produce, the blacksmith at his forge, the clang of his hammer on new steel. The city was alive.
Knocking on the door of the Cruel-Sea residence, it was opened by a young man I knew not to be Torsten. So I asked after his father. Asked who was calling, I merely stated, "A friend."
Torsten appeared seconds later, motioning me away from the front door as he followed me. "I didn't realise you would come so soon."
"The Guild is trying to get back on its feet. First impressions matter." He nodded his understanding. "So, how can the Guild assist?"
He asked me to wait, grabbing a coat from inside, and we walked back towards the inn I'd stayed in. Grabbing an early drink and heading upstairs, we sat at a table in the corner before he started to explain. "How long have you been with our friends?"
"Not long."
"There was a time when the Guild stretched across Skyrim, always influential. But something has gone wrong, and slowly but surely, the Guild has ebbed away to its current position. But word about Goldenglow was spread far and wide, no doubt by Maven Black-Briar as a statement, and I thought I should send word."
"Delvin suggested you needed our help."
"Aye, I do," he said sadly, "My daughter, Fjotli... She was..."
"I understand," I said softly.
"I got the bastard who did it, but that's not the whole story. Not at all. Not only did they kill her, they stole a silver locket from her body that meant everything to her, and means everything to her family. I want that back. Before I killed the bastard responsible, he gave me a name. Niranye. She runs a stall in the marketplace."
All this for a locket? There must be more. "Is that it?"
"No, the locket is only a minor part. Because the Guild has lost so much influence, new groups have sprung up, trying to gain a foothold. There is a new group working around Windhelm, trying to spread across Skyrim. They call themselves the Summerset Shadows."
"Summerset? They're elves?"
Torsten shrugged. "It's possible they originate from there, or they all themselves to invoke fear in Nords. But they do not operate with the honour of your Guild. They must be eliminated. Do that, and you will have a trusted friend in Windhelm again."
"Where are the Shadows based?"
"That I don't know. Maybe Niranye will be able to tell you."
"Anything else?"
"No, that's about it. But if you can get me that locket back, I would be forever grateful."
"I'll do what I can."
He finished his tankard, nodded his head and departed. We wouldn't speak until the contract was now complete. I took my time finishing my own tankard, considering it was rather early, and being sat in the corner and mostly ignored, I listened into conversations taking place around me, hoping to learn a few things. Apparently there was a series of murders taking place around Windhelm that nobody could solve. Pirate attacks had increased, apparently due to both the Stormcloaks and Empire being distracted by the civil war. And an alchemist who lived in the city was apparently at death's door.
All interesting to hear, but nothing I could currently assist with, and I headed out to the marketplace. Asking one of the guards who Niranye was, I was pointed in the direction of an Altmer, a real surprise to see a high elf in Windhelm, considering I'd learn of Ulfric's disdain for the elven people, particularly after the Great War.
Sometimes I could be subtle. Sometime I found being direct put people off more. Approaching her stall, I looked at her wares as she asked, "Help you with something?"
I returned my easiest smile as I replied, "Yes, I'm here about Fjotli."
She might be a thief, but her act was embarrassing. All it took was for me to take the dagger from where I kept it hidden, laying it down, keeping a hand on its hilt. "Look, I don't have time for bullshit, Niranye. So, I'm going to ask a couple of questions and you will answer them."
"What about the guards?"
"I can be rather believable when I want to be. And considering you're an elf in a Nord city, who do you think they'll believe?" I didn't like playing that card
She noticeably blanched at the threat, knowing what I said was true. I'd learned enough in my short time in Skyrim to know elves were rather disliked in the Empire due to the actions of the Thalmor, so I'd use that to my advantage if I could. She raised both hands defensively. "Okay, okay, let's not do anything hasty."
"Look, I don't like making threats, but I have been asked for help. A girl murdered, a father heartbroken, an heirloom stolen. Tell me what I need to know, and you probably won't see me again."
I removed the dagger, hiding it again, but the fear remained on her face. She turned to another merchant and asked them to cover for her, asking me to them follow her home. Once inside, she offered me a seat at the table and started to explain. The Summerset Shadows name I already knew, but she gave me the name of their leader, Linwe. But that wasn't all.
"He's the worst of the lot. He steals valuables from the dead."
"So he murders his marks?"
"No! Linwe prefers stealing from the deceased. Digs up the corpses, breaks into the Hall of the Dead. He even stole that locket right off that poor murdered girl's body... or what was left of it."
"Fjotli?" She nodded. "So how in oblivion did you get mixed up in all of this?"
She sighed, shaking her head. "I used to fence for the Thieves Guild in Skyrim a long time ago. When Linwe moved into the area, he contacted me and said if I didn't fence for them, he'd kill me."
"Tell me where they are, and I'll ensure he won't be a problem."
"And you won't kill me?"
"No. You know that's not how we operate. But we could use a fence in Windhelm in the future."
She nodded. "Linwe is holed up at a place called Uttering Hills Cave. He's got his entire Guild there, so be careful."
"What do you know about Fjotli?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Rumour has it that she was murdered, butchered by a madman. Torsten might think Linwe or myself are responsible for Fjotli's death, but I can assure you nothing could be further from the truth."
I nodded, stating I believed her, and she sighed with relief, perhaps thinking I'd do something if she admitted being involved. The last question I asked was in regards to direction, stating I head out the main gates, to right, then head into the mountains. I'd know I was close when I ran into guards.
Figuring there was little point in delaying, I grabbed my weapons from the room I'd kept at the inn, and headed out. It was still bitterly cold, but the snow had stopped falling, the clouds parting and the sun was now out. It was quite bright, sunlight reflecting off the snowy landscape, and I soon found myself walking along an incline. Taking a couple of wrong turns, I finally found the right path towards the cave I wanted, though any idea of sneaking up ended as I stood out quite brightly against the white background.
The first guard simply charged at me, a rather stupid tactic, I might add. I slammed my shield into him once he was within range, and cut up diagonally with my sword. He was dead before hitting the ground, needing to raise my shield as an arrow was fired at me. Now it was time for me to move quickly, but I moved with thought, eyes on the archer ahead. He fired two more arrows, managing to block both of them, before he dropped his bow and unsheathed a pair of daggers. He was fast, I'll admit that, but I'd spent three years with the Fighter's Guild, and have proven to be the best. Even Corvus had admitted that fact.
Though I'd killed the two guards, I don't believe I'd broken our code, as we were allowed to defend ourselves. And considering this was a rival Guild trying to cut in our action, we could justify violence. Slipping quietly inside the entrance, I let my eyes take a moment to adjust to the gloom before moving on. Two more guards were on patrol, and despite trying to be quiet, my footsteps attracted attention, and I had to take them both down. I didn't kill either of them, but made sure they wouldn't be a problem for me again.
The cave had the remnants of what must have been an underground fort, as I wandered down a winding set of steps. Another was on patrol, who I managed to sneak up on, covering his mouth to render him unconscious. Their leader was not going to get the same treatment, trying the first door on the left, finding it empty except for supplies, but door number two revealed two people, both of them asleep. I crawled up to the first one, covered his mouth enough that he soon woke up, though didn't struggle for too long before he passed out. I was tempted to kill him but figured the message was being received by those I was leaving alive.
