novelnext Chapter 116: Chapter LVII: The Reachmen Strike
Chapter 116: Chapter LVII: The Reachmen Strike
Chapter 116: Chapter LVII: The Reachmen Strike
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"-cher!"
Ugh, who by Dagoth's unwashed loincloth is yelling so loudly in the morning?!
"Teacher!" the voice resounds once again, now closer.
My eyes snap open and I sigh in annoyance, only to blink rapidly as I see Sybille, who up to that point was snuggled against me, barely holding herself back from launching a massive blizzard in the voice's direction.
I take a deep breath "What do you want so early in the bloody morning Marco?"
Said elf enters the room we were in, takes a second after seeing us, and turns around with surprising speed "Sorry!"
Sybille interrupts my response as she growls "You will explain to me in great detail why you thought waking me up so early was a good idea or I will turn you into a popsicle."
Marco winces slightly and clears his throat "I hum... there was a commotion in the palace, something about raiders or something, I didn't quite catch it all but they sent me up to get you two."
Sybille groans in exasperation "Of course they would." she stills then "Wait, how did you even enter my rooms?"
He simply points behind him and not a moment later Davos peaks inside "Mornin' boss."
I wave lazily in greeting "So is there really a commotion or are the two of you trying to be smart?"
Davos shrugs "Apparently the Reachmen went a bit wild" he pauses and shrugs again "well wilder than we expected so they are calling for an emergency meeting."
Sybille slumps back into a lying position "Fine, now get out."
Marco seems just about ready to say something dumb as he is one to do, but Davos drags him outside before he can commit suicide via angry vampire.
I get up and start putting my clothes on, a thought strikes me and I ask "You wanna bet the Thalmor are behind this?"
I hear a light snort behind me "That would be a fools bet."
I let out a mirthless chuckle and get back to pulling on my pants.
(General pov)
The Blue palace looked as serene as always with its gardens perfectly groomed and its halls without a speck of dust, the early spring air wafted through the widely opened windows as the army of servants prepared for yet another peaceful day.
Unfortunately the day soon turned everything but peaceful as multiple riders wearing the insignia of Imperial scouts started dismounting and rushing inside, bringing grave reports to the groggy High King and his stoic Steward.
Soon an emergency meeting was called for and all the higher dignitaries of the city and hold were gathered in the throne room.
The two established thanes both seemed disinterested in the situation and were busy looking at the reactions of others, likely scheming about potential gains they could get out of the situation.
The King looked half asleep, but was awake enough to give everyone the feeling of his own alarm and despair at whatever news he received.
As the Court Mages made their appearance an impatient Sybille Stentor immediately looked to the Steward "Falk if you don't tell me why I was forced to get up so early right now I swear I will kick you out the window."
Falk merely gives her a challenging look and remains silent.
Legate Rikke, who was forced to attend court for the first time in months much to her chagrin, looked just about ready to say something when her eyes met with the other Court Mage's who gave her a narrow stare, to which she merely rolled her eyes and remained silent, who returned the favor by kindly asking his colleague to be patient.
Not long after Thane Helm and his brother Bolvar arrived from the sprawl and Falk finally spoke "Thank you all for coming here on such short notice." He pauses for a moment "We have received some very unfortunate news this morning, large bands of Forsworn raiders have invaded the western hold and if the reports are to be believed two villages have already fallen and Haraldstead has been put under siege."
"Were we not scouting for this exact reason?" A scowling Reyvin interjects.
Falk frowns "They came far faster than was reasonably expected, and the reports also mentioned that they were equipped far better than expected."
"How much better?" Rikke asks immediately.
"Nothing too outrageous, but there were reports of them wearing some armor and being armed with some steel weapons." he responds patiently.
Reyvin cups his chin "Better than the bone sticks they tend to use, that much is certain. I am guessing that we don't have any kind of idea where they got the weapons from, any hidden armories they might have raided?"
Falk looks ready to responds but an annoyed voice interrupts him as Erikur speaks up disdainfully "They are just a bunch of barbarians, no amount of weapons will save them from actual soldiers."
"Those barbarians" Reyvin frowns "Have managed to fight the Nords off for centuries now, you would do well not to underestimate them."
The Thane hesitates for a moment, remembering how unwise pissing this particular elf is and tensely questions "You cannot seriously tell me that you think them our equals in battle?" "Of course not" The elf scoffs with an eyeroll "I am just saying that they have other strengths, something I have already informed the steward off months ago."
Everyone turns to Falk and he nods "I was indeed briefed on the Forsworn's capabilities and unfortunately the Court Mage's words do have quite some merit, as the Reachmen have numerous lesser mages within their ranks."
"I take my Daedra hearts temporally frozen" Reyvin quips immediately and before anyone
can respond he looks to Rikke and Falk "Just make sure you don't dawdle too long, the two of
us might be good, but we are not army-killer good just yet."
"Of course Reyvin, do not worry." Falk nods.
Rikke on the other hand seems stuck in a nostalgic memory as she gives him a respectful stare
"You really are your fathers son kid."
Reyvin scoffs falsely "Oh please, I am so much better than him."
The sound of running steps interrupts them as a guard barges in "Sorry to interrupt m'lords
but two mage-lookin' blondes just arrived at the Palace gates, said something about a Flame-Heart clan or somethin'"
"Let them in quickly" Reyvin says before anyone can process the news, this earns him some
very confused stares but he only smirks in response "I may or may not have forgotten to inform everyone that I have called in some professional assistance for our little Reachman issue." the doors open just then and a pair of twins walk in, Reyvin without looking at them
goes on "Allow me to introduce Bor and Brienne Flame-Heart of Dawnstar, my colleagues from Winterhold and skilled Battlemages."
Torygg seems stuck between glee and annoyance, something shared by Falk and Rikke. The
Thanes on the other hand seem completely lost.
"Ah there you are Reyvin!" Bor greets him jovially "Finally decided to share some of the
glory, eh?"
His sister sighs in exasperation "Ignore him, he was so giddy when he received the letter, he
even forgot to pack food."
A crisp cough from Falk interrupts them, and they both snap their eyes to Torygg and immediately bow "Forgive the disrespect my King" they say in perfect sync. Torygg takes a long, tired breath "Even if your friend here" He glares lightly at Reyvin, but
there is no heat behind it "Forgot to inform me of your arrival, any help is gladly welcomed in these difficult times."
"We are honored to be here." Bor immediately responds "What he said." His sister snarks.
Reyvin claps his hands "Well, we are going to need to get moving if we want to get to Haraldstead before it is a nice pile of ash and blood, so if you will all excuse us." "Wait, where are you off to?" Bor interrupts.
"Oh you know, just going to heroically hold off an army while the rest of you trudge through
the hills and forests, you know the usual." Reyvin drawls in response "That is..." He pauses
and looks the twins over "Unless the two of you got a mode of fast transportation in the past couple of months?"
They both frown and shake their heads.
"Oh well" The Dunmer shrugs "Come with me then, we might as well catch up as we pack up."
"Sure" Bor nods and follows after him, Brinne at least has the decency to send an apologetic look to the highest nobility of her homeland as she follows them.
Sybille naturally doesn't care in the slightest and simply disappears from the room as if she
was never there.
The mundane dignitaries of the Palace turn completely silent as they are left there, no one knows what to say until Falk grunts in annoyance "Gods damned mages..."
And for what might be the first time in the history of Solitude, everyone agreed on something.
Converse with great warriors and even meet royalty, only in Cidhna mine!
Get to work prisoner!
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