The Imperial Auditor - Chapter Six

  • “Ah, the Jarl thinks you may be of use to me? Hmm, you’re not the usual brute he sends my way,” Farengar muttered, going back to his papers.


    Brute? What on Nirn did this mage have planned for me? Wait, a mage? If I recall correctly that was a bone of contention between the local administration and the Imperial Treasury, this would require investigation even though I was in dire need of some true rest.


    “Sir, if you don’t mind, could you explain why I am here?” I leant on the back of a chair, my ankle again making its presence known.


    “Here? Who? Oh, you?” Farengar looked up, almost as if he was surprised that I was still there. “Ah yes, my research.”


    I carefully pulled the chair out from under the large softwood table and sat down, I suspected that this may take some time. “Yes, your research?”


    Farengar looked at me, narrowing his eyes, “Dragons and the rumours of dragons, though I feel it may be more appropriate to send you to Winterhold to speak with Urag, they may have some old tomes there that may be useful.”


    “There are no dragons! There probably never were,” I replied, rubbing a hand over my forehead.


    “No dragons? Of course there were, we have evidence of them all over Skyrim,” he leant on the table in front of me. “My associate believes that they are coming back, there have been rumours of dragon attacks at small farm holdings. It’s truly amazing, and I must have more information to establish what is happening.”


    “Have you been touched by Sheogorath? Dragons are a myth! There is no evidence, just a few crumbing ruins and fragments of old stories, the ancients believed all sorts of things.” I shook my head to clear it. “Tell me why I should believe you, a Nord mage in Skyrim? Really, if you were in Cyrodiil, your professional choice would have some credence, but in Skyrim? The Empire had to force the Jarl’s to even consider holding a position for a court mage after the Oblivion Crisis and the Mannimarco affair.”


    Farengar straightened, “You dare suggest that I, a mage affiliated to the College of Whispers, trained by Dalami Aren herself, is speaking falsehood?”


    “Really, Dalami trained you? If this is the case why are you not registered as the holds court wizard?” I was beginning to to lose patience with this absent minded fool, although I must admit, as our tempers failed us he became much more coherent.


    “Enough!” he roared, marching over to me. The next thing I knew I was being hauled from the seat.


    “You have seen the dragon skull in the Great Hall, belonging to Numinex, entrapped by King Olaf One-eye himself and you still deny their existence?” We were nose to nose.


    He then dragged me into the Great Hall itself, the room falling silent.


    “Farengar, what is the meaning of this?” Ireleth blocked our path, which seemed to lead to the supposed dragon skull itself.


    “This Imperial is questioning my authority on the subject of the dragons, and as a mage. I will not stand for this lack of respect,” Farengar continued on to the Jarl's throne.


    “He’s not the only one waiting to be convinced,” Ireleth muttered as she stepped back allowing him to pass.


    “Hrongar, come here please,” Farengar and I had reached the Jarl’s throne. “Get up.”


    “The Jarl’s throne?” I asked incredulously, I was sure at any moment Jarl Balgruuf would return and my head would be back on the block.


    “Are your ears full of tundra cotton suddenly? Up!” Farengar gave me a push closer to the throne.


    I slipped off my boots, and carefully lifted a foot onto the seat of the throne, while leaning on the back for support.


    Farengar sighed loudly, “Hrongar, damned Imperials are too short, could you lift him up so he can touch Numinex.”


    “Touch Numinex? Farengar, the skull has not been touched in...” began the larger Nord.


    “Of course it has, or it would be buried under dust, hurry man,” the wizard was looking more stressed by the minute.


    Hrongar lifted me up off of the throne and I reached towards the skull, my vision blurring as I neared it.

     

     

    I awoke in a cool room, laid on a bed and a concerned looking wizard standing in the doorway.


    “Well, that was unexpected,” he muttered walking towards me.


    “What do you mean?” I had a splitting headache and closed my eyes again.


    “There is no known record of any man or mer fainting in the presence of bones, dragon or otherwise. Most intriguing,” he continued. “But back to business, when you are recovered, I need you to recover something for me. Then we will get to the bottom of this fainting.”


    I groaned loudly, “You have the wrong man, I’m here to conduct a census, you need a mercenary.”


    “Jarl Balgruuf is not to be argued with, if he believes you will be useful, useful you will be. You will be given time to recuperate and to prepare, then you will be expected to, how shall we say, delve into an ancient ruin with all manner of creatures and traps.”


    “You are not reassuring me Farengar, now humour me, how is it you are an unregistered mage in Skyrim?” I squinted at him, trying to keep as much of the limited light from my eyes.


    “Simply because the Jarl wishes it so, he strives to keep Whiterun independant from the war that rumbles around it, should it be widely known that the hold has a mage, by either side, he may be placed under unwanted pressure. I cannot remember the last time I wandered the city, though I am mostly caught up in my work, I do miss being able to obtain my own alchemy ingredients.”


    A dark haired young woman appeared at the doorway in a guard’s uniform, a stern look upon her face, “Farengar, I have spoken with Hulda, she has agreed to two nights, after that he pays.”


    “Ah, Ireleth sent you? Yes? Good, good,” Farengar nodded to the woman, “When I am done with him, he can be shown the way.”


    The woman turned to leave, Farengar paused for a time as if to ensure that we were alone again.


    “The war has put a great strain on the Jarl, he thinks I do not see, but what he does not need is the additional pressure of another danger to Skyrim. If the dragons are returning, I must know as much about them as I can, if it is something else as you believe, then we must know the origin of the threat,” Farengar leant against the end of the bed. “Firstly, I need you to seek out a stone tablet which my associates believe will help, its last known location was Bleak Falls Barrow.”


    “Where is this place?” I asked, the pain having subsided slightly.


    “It is on the mountainside near Riverwood, there has been word of bandits in the vicinity, but I am sure you will be resourceful,” Farengar stood again. “Now do you feel up to standing?”


    I leant on my elbows and slowly lifted myself into a sitting position, after a short dizzy spell my vision cleared again and I carefully moved to the edge of the bed. I stood carefully, leaning on the end table.


    “I seem steady enough,” I replied cautiously. “When are you expecting me to leave?”


    “Jarl Balgruuf indicated you would need longer than a Nord to recuperate from your initial injuries, with the fainting as well… I’d say six days,” Farengar turned to the door. “Come, let us find a guard to take you to the inn.”

     


     

    The inn, or The Bannered Mare as I found it to be called was located on the lowest level of the city, and it was very late when we had arrived, the moons were high in the sky. Hulda seemed to be a friendly enough sort, reminding me of the Nords living in Cyrodiil, but not in Bruma, they were exceptionally Nordly. Though to be honest, the majority of the patrons of the inn were as Nordly as in Bruma, but that I suppose, was to be expected.

     

    Hulda gestured for me to take a seat in the corner near the kitchen area, the guard nodded to me and then left the inn, his task complete. As I took my seat I was approached by a Redguard woman who quietly left a small meal of soup and bread on the table, along with a tankard of ale.

     

     

    TIA: Wax Seal

     

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Comments

5 Comments   |   Karver the Lorc and 3 others like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  June 24, 2018
    Sorry it took so long to read Meli.
    I love the way everyone has their own take on the meeting with Farengar and this is no exception. A great chapter Meli.  
    One line stood out beyond the rest...
    “Jarl Balgruuf is not to be ...  more
    • Meli
      Meli
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sorry it took so long to read Meli.
      I love the way everyone has their own take on the meeting with Farengar and this is no exception. A great chapter Meli.  
      One line stood out beyond the rest...
      “Jarl Balgruuf is not to be argued with, if he...  more
        ·  June 24, 2018
      Balgruuf is also a very strong character in my mind, I'm looking forward to their next meeting. There will be many more Farengar chats.


      Thanks for reading Sotek :D
  • Paws
    Paws   ·  November 26, 2017
    How embarrassing. To be shouted at and hauled around like a sack of crap by Farengar of all people, is just salt in the the wound when compared to fainting in front of a hall of people. He's been in Skyrim a scant few days and has already given Imperials ...  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  September 20, 2016
    Ha, he fainted. I love it. If he's going to be a Dragonborn..gods save us all. Maybe he could save Skyrim by counting all the dragons? Having so much fun here.


    But I have no doubt there's some inner strength in this puny Imperial. I'm...  more
    • Meli
      Meli
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Ha, he fainted. I love it. If he's going to be a Dragonborn..gods save us all. Maybe he could save Skyrim by counting all the dragons? Having so much fun here.


      But I have no doubt there's some inner strength in this puny Imperial. I'm counting with him...  more
        ·  September 20, 2016
      Glad that you're enjoying it :-) I have so many plans for him, it's hard to keep track, I just get impressions of how different npc's will react to him and my brain goes off on a whole new chapter lol