"And here I was hoping we would arrive first" Minthara greets as her group nears us, a light skip in her step and the distinct tinge of eaten dragon soul around her "You manage everything you wanted?" She doesn't stop said skipping until she is leaning onto me and smiling happily.
"Yup" I nod happily while drawing her into a light side hug "Got two books and the old fart in tow, even shot down a dragon."
I feel Neloth's gaze trying to burn into my back.
Her eyes brighten in predatory satisfaction, and so do Serana's "We got one as well, poor idiot didn't feel like negotiating against his 'master's' orders."
That he bothered to speak at all was rather telling when my own opponent was silent...
'Or you just killed him too quickly.' Scorch deadpans.
Or that.
"Hmmm" I make a distinctly neutral noise at that "Well you can fetch your treat later" She nods rapidly "Any other trouble on the way?"
"It was almost eerily calm after the dragon." Nerevar cuts in, completely calm even as filth covered as he was "Feels like our enemy decided to bide his time after his failure."
"Mildly troublesome but unsurprising" I note after a bit of thought before shaking my head "We best go greet our hosts now, their Elder Shaman should have managed to calm them down by now."
"My father is well?" The shaken Nord woman whom I'd have probably forgotten if I were capable of the act snaps awake.
"You Frea?" I ask and she nods "He is perfectly fine."
She exhales, all the immense tension she no doubt built up on her quest leaking out of her, and promptly rushes into the longhouse where the vast majority of the Skaal currently were.
Just as I am about to get to introductions, Neloth decides to be a bit proactive "You." He narrows his eyes at Nerevar.
"Me." Moon and Star deadpans "Been a while, Neloth."
The Telvanni scoffs "I should honestly not be surprised to find you here, what offer did he make to make you follow him around like a lost puppy?"
"Honest work." The armored elf shrugs, utterly uncaring for the disdain.
"Honest work?" Neloth parrots disbelievingly before letting out an uncharacteristic snort "Honest work? You? The same bastard who went through five damned towers and looted everything within just so he could get his title back?"
"Their defenses were shit." Nerevar just shrugs again "They were practically asking for it."
The Telvanni narrows his eyes and grinds his teeth for a good while "I will be watching you."
His target says nothing, not even acknowledging his words.
"As our dear unnamed fellow here said" I point my thumb at the old fart "This here charming lad is Neloth, he will be the designated help when it comes to all things Mora we need."
Ignoring the bristling of the man I very nearly called a fetcher (a slave to the less civilized), I go on with the introductions, getting everyone up to speed as both sides shared their experiences and confirmed that both myself and Minthara could in fact cleanse all of Miraak's efforts without any great trouble.
That Miraak sought to taunt her into meeting him was quite different from what I remembered, which meant he either needed her for some manner of ritual to free himself or Mora was pulling his strings without him knowing...
Potentially even an attempt to draw me to them before I was ready?
An arrogant thought indeed, but not one without basis in reason.
Sadly, before we could really get into the meat of things, the doors of the longhouse opened once more and Storn stepped outside, his eyes widening fractionally as he noticed the fresh arrivals but only or a moment before he met my gaze.
"Everything in order, Storn?" I ask.
He nods "Aye, my kinsfolk are calmed and I thank you for your patience. Frea told us of her own quest and we would be honored if all of you would join us for a small celebration so that we may thank you properly for your deeds." He smiles contentedly "Our mead may not be Thirsk but I'd swear on my honor it is some of the best you will ever taste."
And that was all it took to drag us in.
---
The longhouse was large and cozy, built to last and to hold as much heat in as possible while still remaining at least somewhat comfortable by rural Nordic standards. A good number of the Skaal were still awake and talking to each other as we entered, though the majority of them were sleeping off their bone-deep exhaustion.
Miraak may have had them rest but only so much that they didn't damage themselves permanently.
The hubbub died a rapid death as we came into view, and all of those that could rose from their seats as one and gave us nods of thanks or raised their tankards in greeting, though surprisingly the usual ruckus one may expect form a bunch of Nords remained absent.
"Flame-Tongue, and Dragonbane." The close to middle aged woman who was obviously the leader of the lot of them greeted "Tales of your deeds have long reached our halls, and we are twice-indebted, both for the slaying of Alduin and the freeing of our minds from Miraak's thrall."
"Admittedly a byproduct of our own aims." I ever so slightly bob my head in greeting "But a happy one non the less."
"What my dear husband meant to say" Minthara clutches my shoulder just a tiny bit too tightly and I pretend to wince "IS that we were more than happy to help!"
The Skaal leader snorts and nods "Your reasons are your own and we thank you all the same. I am Fanari Strong-Voice, and I welcome you and your companions to our village for as long as you need to stay."
"You have our thanks" Minthara grins "Now I do believe someone mentioned something about mead?"
The Skaal all cheer and soon we are finally greeted in the proper Nordic fashion, with hearty food and strong drink.
The Skaal all take turns meeting us and sharing a few words of thanks, both in their own names and those of their fellows currently too weak to attend and even as we enjoy their hospitality it is inevitable that a good number of them trail off to have a bit of rest for themselves while an invisible line is drawn between us the visitors and the rest of them.
A truly organic way to give us a chance to plot and scheme indeed!
"So" I lean in as I cast a ward around us "You got it?"
Storn and Fanari, both of whom were wordlessly invited to join us raise their eyebrows.
"Yes" Minthara ignores them and pulls out the massive Black Book "Damn thing has been whispering into my mind for hours."
I snap my fingers and lock the little shit into a nice and tight ward before waving for Akulakhan to approach "Place it with the rest."
"And that makes three" Savos mutters "Only four to go... But what then?"
"Gathering Herma Mora's books seems... unwise." Storn interjects.
"Potentially" I give the old man a dismissive shrug "But I wouldn't necessarily agree."
"Another one of your 'cunning plans'?" Minthara's lips quirk upwards.
"Indeed" I nod 'sagely' "For you see!" Neloth sighs "I perceive two paths before us."
"Path the first" I raise a finger dramatically "We wipe out any mention or artifact of Miraak's, strike down his temples and erase him from history while doing much the same to his patron and his own agents." I clear my throat to forestall reactions "This would be a stopgap and we would be leaving the problem for someone else to inevitably deal with."
"Sounds to me like you'd be rid of the both of them for some time" Neloth drawls "Recovery of such influence would take them many, many centuries."
"That" Minthara points at him "Or they would simply redirect their efforts elsewhere. Mora may even be tempted to let Miraak loose where we don't expect him and that is asking for a pain in the neck."
The Telvanni shrugs "A possibility."
"That sounds like the secure option" Savos hums and then gives me a flat stare "You don't do secure options."
"Yes, far too sanitary for the likes of the 'Great Flame-Tongue'" Marwyn joins in "Go on then, tell us of the outlandish idea you already decided on."
"Flatterers the lot of you" I fan my face.
Returning to the topic at hand I go on "Path number two" I raise a second finger "We proceed as we intended, hunt down any hostiles on the island and cleanse it of all tomfoolery before using the Black Books to rip Mora and Miraak a new one, preferably while heavily weakening the former and slaying the latter."
The sound of sudden choking draws my gaze to the local Telvanni "Only weakening one of the most powerful Daedra?" Neloth asks "Simplicity itself, no?"
"I nearly managed to cut Bal's arm off." I deadpan.
His mouth clicks shut, but not before a good five seconds of gawking.
"Loath as I am to agree with the impertinent skeleton" Savos smirks as Marwyn glares at him "He does have a point, I've never known you to do things halfway and as my new granddaughter said" Minthara beams "It would solve nothing in the long run and even make things harder."
"Just thought to put things out there" I shrug "Set the cards on the table as it were."
"We are dealing with them now" Minthara speaks before anyone can comment "We have other things to worry about, and we've already invested time, effort, and manpower into coming here."
"True" I nod along "A semi-permanent solution is what I was leaning towards anyway."
Many, many dry looks are directed my way.
"Right then" Minthara taps the table "Neloth and Savos, the two of you should start gathering information on the remaining Black Books, Marwyn you can join them as well." All three nod easily enough.
"Serana and... you" She looks at Nerevar "You will return to Raven Rock and help direct the troops there to clear out the island from the more mundane threats."
"Fine by me." Nerevar shrugs while Serana grumbles a bit before agreeing.
"Oh" Minthara snaps her fingers "You three should take Akulakhan as well, so he can keep everything warded."
Junior directs me with a questioning look and I shrug "Very well."
"And what about the two of us?" I ask.
"Why we will hunt down the books, cults, and dragons of course!" She grins.
I deadpan at her.
"I don't hear you disagreeing?" She smirks.
Shaking my head, I merely let out a warm chuckle.
We go over some minor details of our newfangled plan, mostly the actual direction every group would take, and soon our path is set for good or ill.
Storn seems to disagree however as he spoke up in a grave tone "If your companions could retire for the night, I would speak with only the two of you"
There is some grumbling but soon only Minthara, myself, Storn, and Fanari are left within the ward.
"You both said that you fought and slew dragons on your way?" Storn cuts through the silence "Dragons that seemed to serve someone else?"
"Yes" Minthara nods "And one of them referred to Miraak as its master."
"It is as I feared then." Storn closes his eyes and I feel him war with himself for a long while before he opens them once more and nods to himself "It is said that Miraak attained a powerful shout that allowed him to challenge the dragons in ages past."
"Probably why he sold his soul to Mora in the first place." I scoff.
"Quite." The Shaman nods with a tinge of morbid amusement "The old tales speak of a place in the north of Solstheim where one such shout lay upon a word wall, said to give the user power over others."
"The way in which he enthralls them" Minthara narrows her eyes.
"A mighty power" Storn exhales "Terrible but mighty."
Minthara meets my eyes with a hint of suspicion within before she looks back to the old Nord "And why would we need this if we can already contest him?"
"The knowledge would protect you, or so the knowledge passed down to me by my ancestors tells" The Shaman answers bluntly "I am unsure of how his power would work against whatever protections you already possess but I feel not preparing as best you can would be the greatest folly."
"Aye" Fanari grunts her agreement "You are both known to be honorable" She directs a look my way "In your own ways" Much amusement ensues "Not many others are as deserving of the trust we would put in you."
"And where is this word wall you speak of?" Minthara leans back in her seat.
"Saering's Watch" He answers simply "An old minor temple of the dragons, once conquered by Miraak and then taken back by Vahlok the Jailor." He pulls out a map made of goatskin of... middling quality and marks the spot "You will find it atop its peaks, and beyond its many dangers."
Minthara closes her eyes and begins tapping the table "Leave us."
The two Skaal seem confused for a moment before promptly scurrying off as the pressure in the air builds up.
She remains silent for what for most would be an uncomfortably long moment before she speaks "You were aware of this?"
I don't even bother pretending otherwise and instead offer a cheerful "Yup!"
"And you didn't see fit to share this with me?" She opens her eyes and I see a fair bit of annoyance within "Why?"
"You know my stance on mindfuckery of that kind" I shrug, not backing down one bit "We are capable of dealing with everything without it and I don't want the temptation in the back of my head, nor yours."
"Is that really for you to decide?" She snaps but I feel it has no true heat from her.
"Yes" I deadpan "It is a rabbit hole I don't wish to have opened, and I wouldn't be the one to direct us at it, especially with the alternatives we already have."
She huffs even as her frustration slowly dissipates "And what if it is the only way to protect ourselves? What if all it takes to take full control over us is just getting clipped by the shout? What then?"
Well at least she is irritated out of concern and not greed.
"Point" I point at her "But also highly improbable. He is no god, and both of us are higher than him on the divine scale anyway."
"You really are sure of that, huh?" She asks after some silent thought.
"You completed your purpose and I became the exemplar of my people" I shrug "Look, if you want us to go and get the first word of the damn shout we can do it, but we aren't touching more than that."
She narrows her eyes and seeing me once more not back down she sighs "Fiiiine..."
"Oh don't be like that" I grin and lean in "Come now, what tribute may this poor Mer offer to assuage the great dragoness' wrath?"
Her expression turns thoughtful as she looks me over "I can think of a few things."
Talk about a rapid shift in mood...
-------
Moods are one thing
I personally prefer a rapid shift in my stone stockpile.
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