The couple of days the trip to Windhelm should have taken were turned into an entire week when, as soon as Tiberius and I reached Bjarnstead a massive snowstorm decided to appear out of nowhere and lasted for three entire days.
I was joking about jinxing myself, but the world apparently didn't like that and hit me full force anyways. Even if I was forced to spend some time in the small Nord settlement it wasn't all that bad, I did some light reading and healed a couple of people while just relaxing the rest of the time we were forced to wait.
Finally, after being forced to slog through the now very deep snow, the two of us reached Windhelm, and Tiberius was forced to explain his lateness to two very worried legionaries that were sent here to pick him up by his father.
We said our goodbyes and promised to meet once more when the situation permitted, he even invited me to his family estate in Cyrodiil. Who knows, if I still have time before the whole end of the world thing I might even take him up on it.
I decided to wait for the evening instead of entering the city immediately, it was better for wealthy Dunmer to not be noticed these days. So I waited until midnight and, while wearing some simple grey robes, just levitated across the river and snuck through the dock entrance into the city.
I immediately made a beeline toward the gray quarter and quickly found myself once more entering the New Gnisis Cornerclub.
As soon as I opened the patchwork wooden doors everyone inside went quiet and turned toward me, tensions were very high these days so the slight hostility in their looks was unsurprising, especially since I was completely hidden by my clothing.
I quickly summoned my robes without the hood, much to everyone's surprise, but before people could start asking questions the owner, Ambarys Rendar seemed to recognize me and greeted me "Ah, Serjo Reyvin! It is a pleasure to see you here once more, please come in I have some top shelf mazte if you want to try it."
The other patrons took the hint and returned to their own business, I approached the owner and gave him a thankful nod "Evening Rendar, I hope I didn't interrupt anything"
He shakes his head "No, they are just jumpy because of the recent tensions"
I nod "Yes, you did mention that in the letter."
Ambarys seemingly just remembering that whole business asks "How are they all doing? We didn't really write to each other after you set up shop and I have people here asking about their loved ones."
I hum "Most of them are satisfied with the work I gave them, those three lads you sent seemed to have some potential so I decided to train them up as household guards."
He gives me a very surprised look "Household guards? You say that as if you were some kind of noble" and then shakes his head and says in an apologetic tone "It isn't my business anyways, I am just glad they have a future now."
I roll my eyes "Oh please, you run a tavern of course you would fish for information."
He gives me an awkward chuckle and shrugs "Well if you feel like sharing do tell me"
Smirking I say "I am indeed a noble of high rank, but that is all you are getting"
"Can't blame a mer for trying" He shrugs again "But even if you weren't a noble, the tales of Winterhold's newest hero and enchanter are enough to assure me of their good fortune."
"Quite" Previously I might have gotten annoyed at how everyone seemed to know everything in these lands but at this point, I was getting used to the gossip and rumor mill that seemed to run Skyrim more than the Jarls did.
We turn silent for a while and I take my time sipping the strong salt rice wine, from what I remember it was usually considered the poor mer's drink, but there were some brands that could take it to new heights here and there.
After finishing my drink I get down to business "I've heard some rumors about a certain Master Nurelion looking for some kind of alchemical artifact, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"
Ambarys humms for a couple of seconds while scratching his chin "Weeell... I may or may not have heard something along those lines" he gives me an expectant look.
I roll my eyes and summon a small garnet from my storage and place it on the counter.
He swipes it quickly and smiles "A pleasure doing business with you! I have indeed heard about Master Nurelion making some kind of breakthrough with his search for the artifact known as the white phial, but he suddenly turned very sick and is having issues even standing much less actually searching for it."
"Hmm, thank you for the info. I will be leaving now, have a prosperous night"
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As I exit the corner club and unsummon my more flashy robes, my locket suddenly starts giving me that odd feeling again, almost as if it was guiding me somewhere.
'I hope Mephala didn't suddenly decide to play a prank on me' I think as I start following the feeling.
It leads me deeper into the grey quarter, down winding cramped streets. On my way to my presumed destination I am surrounded by what can only be described as a wall of poverty, almost everyone I see seems to barely have food to survive and lets not even talk about clothing.
As I keep walking I notice a malnourished Dunmer child begging at a corner, I wordlessly summon a loaf of bread and some jerky I had in my inventory and give it to her. She gives me a restrained thanks and runs off without looking back.
'That is some respectable paranoia you have there kid, it will lead you places.' I shake my head and move on.
I finally arrive at the spot Mephala is leading me to, at the end of an empty alley stands a small iron door. Looking around with my magic sight just in case I notice the doors have an alarm enchantment but no traps.
I knock a couple of times and wait, the place around me suddenly becomes completely silent and I sense a bit of tension in the air. I activate my third eye just in time to sense something behind me and quickly summon my robes while turning around and casting a telekinetic push at whoever was behind me.
The presumed attacker is launched into a nearby wall and slumps down, still conscious but disoriented.
I walk over and look down at the young Dunmer "Is this how you greet your guests you little fetcher?"
He shakes his head and goes to get up, but I channel my fear spell and he wisely decides to remain seated "I will ask again, why exactly did you try and sneak up at me?"
He takes a shaky breath "Others aren't supposed to know about this place"
I blink "And you didn't think for a moment that there might be a reason I was able to find it?"
He gives me a blank stare before his eyes widen a bit, he raises his hands in a placating manner and slowly gets up "If my hunch is right you will want to speak with the boss then"
I raise an eyebrow, not that he can see that "Oh? And what is stopping you from ambushing me once we enter?"
He snorts "Oh please, you speak as if you couldn't blow the entire place to bits"
"Riiight" I point at the door "Well in you go and no funny business or I am going to test your theory"
He shrugs and leads me through the door. The room inside seems to be some kind of tiny storehouse with a bunch of empty bottles arrayed on wooden shelves, but my new guide leads me to the one on the left and removes a specific bottle, making the shelf move to the side and open up a passage.
He leads me deeper in and we soon enter a wide room that seems to be a mixture of a tavern and some kind of hideout, there are about a dozen Dunmer inside but seeing as I am being led inside they ignore me after a bit of staring.
'So this is some kind of rogue guild, and judging by who led me here I guess they are either Morag Tong larpers or an actual guild branch.'
I am shown into a side room inside of which I see a familiar face talking to someone wearing some very well enchanted dark leather armor, I cannot even sense their aura fully even with my third eye.
The masked individual turns to me "If you are quite done with your staring Dagoth I think it is high time you told us why you are here"
Everyone else, including me tenses up at the individual's words but after no one does anything I shrug and take a seat opposite said masked mer "I am not even going to ask how you know that, it is far too much effort at this point"
I remove my hood and turn to the other mer in the room "Long time no see Davos"
He blinks slowly and then his eyes light up in realization "Ah, well if it isn't the bleeding heart himself" and then his eyes suddenly narrow "Wait, why the fuck did the boss call you Dagoth?"
I look at him like he is an idiot and he just stares back.
The 'boss' ends our little staring contest with a cough "As I was saying, would you kindly inform us about the reason of your presence here?"
I simply pull out the locket and place it on the table without showing any emotion.
The leader stills for a second before letting out a short breath "Well why didn't you say so immediately Serjo, how may the quartermaster's guild be of service?"
Davos looks at his boss and then at me and repeats this a couple of times before throwing his hands in the air with some frustration and grabbing a drink.
I raise an eyebrow "Quartermaster's guild? Really?"
I think I see the boss smirk under their mask "It's just a bit of wordplay, but we both know what the guild really is don't we?"
"Judging by our shared patron I may have a guess or two"
Davos raises a hand comically "If I could just cut in a bit here?"
We both turn to him and wait.
"What the fuck is going on here?"
The presumed guild leader lets out an exasperated sigh and says in a tired voice "The young lord here is favored by the Webweaver, who led him to us so he may get acquire some professional help"
Davos looks at me like I grew a second head "How did a softie like you get their favor of all Daedra?"
I shrug "Shanked a Telvanni master that wanted to mindrape me"
He raises a finger to call me on my presumed bullshit, but my look tells him enough and he just slowly lowers it and returns to his drink.
The boss starts impatiently tapping the floor with their foot and I give them an apologetic look "Right, sorry about that. The reason I am here is that I need some as you call it 'professional help' but not for anything specific"
I think I can sense a raised eyebrow so I go on "I want to hire one of your agents on retainer for some time, I am heading into Solitude and having someone to gather information or end someone for me when needed would be very useful."
The boss seems to mull it over for a bit before speaking "This can be done, but you should know even with the blessing you carry it won't be cheap"
I shrug "I am ready to pay a premium for professional work, either money or enchantments, whichever you prefer"
The leader seems satisfied with this and turns towards Davos "Congratulations, you just got a new job."
Davos looks like he just swallowed a lemon but sighs and nods.
I chuckle for a bit before we start haggling.
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I exit the guild base with Davos now following me, fully equipped for travel and looking quite done with life.
I smirk at him "Why so dour Davos? We are going on an adventure!"
"That is what I am afraid of" he grumbles and jogs after me.
My next destination: The White Phial store.
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