FVN Chapter 385: Chapter V: Lay of The Land
Chapter 385: Chapter V: Lay of The Land
Chapter 385: Chapter V: Lay of The Land
The house welcomes yet another member of its lower managerial staff as Stonewall has proven themselves weal- diligent and dedicated enough to earn such prestigious posting.
Such oversight will no doubt improve productivity.
That or the company soup store, either works.
And speaking of soup or the lack thereof, the house congratulates Ezra for earning their freedom from the mines with their hard work and a complete, absolute, unquestionable, utter lack of any bribery involved. May they prosper in the light of the sun, free of the toil beneath.
It was... odd, walking through the main hall of the manor, memories which were certainly mine but only ever experienced by a past self which was at the same time me and not. The nostalgia was very real though so I would simply accept that the child who grew up here was just half a soul waiting to be reunited with itself.
No point in getting into an identity crisis if I could simply choose to be both young and old Reyvin, right?
"So this is where you grew up?" Minthara asks, her eyes wandering from the guest rooms to the dining room and then to the stairs leading up to the rooms reserved for family "It feels... normal. Too normal."
"I was a pretty normal child growing up." I huff with an eyeroll "Quite bookish for my age but when your father is a renowned Legate and Battlemage all you want to do is be just like him. Shame he got offed before he could teach me anything advanced though."
She remains silent briefly, probably feeling awkward at the whole 'dead parents' thing but her curiosity gets the better of her in the end as we begin climbing the stairs "So you only knew the basics when you left for Skyrim?"
"Yup." I smack my lips "Just some basic healing, flames, and alteration. He was going to teach me firebolts soon and even gave me his notes on the spell but then the whole Thalmor thing went down and I booked it out of here before I was eaten alive."
"Seeing the so called nobles outside, I can't help but agree." She huffs "I could practically feel their gazes looking at us like prizes to advance themselves with."
I let out a dark chuckle at that "Their reactions when they realize just who you really are will be a balm upon the soul."
She says nothing but her smile would have probably traumatized a child if they saw it.
"Here is the master bedroom" I point offhandedly "I can see you are tired, and no don't try to lie to me about it." I raise a finger to forestall her to which she just pouts "Go and relax, I want to go for a walk and reminisce for a bit."
"Fiiine." She pretends to grumble, the expression shifting into a playful threat "You better join me quickly."
"But of course" I raise my hands in surrender, my voice a perfectly dead drawl "I would never dare disobey your divine majesty."
She huffs and crosses her arms "You better not."
We both stare at each other for a moment before breaking out into a bout of light chuckling.
Voice now far less derisive, I speak "I will be back quickly, just need to clear my head." And go to leave.
As I step back out into the yard I realize the feeling of nostalgia was hitting me far harder than I was initially willing to admit, especially when my gaze wandered to the trio of singed stone pillars next to the stone brick wall surrounding the entire manor.
Images of training with magic and weapons went through my head, the proud or stern, depending on my success or failure, expression on my not quite father's face as he instructed me, and the annoyed yet loving torrent of insults my mother would throw at the both of us due to her own traumas about magic...
So distracted by the memories was I that when I stepped out into the street I barely had the time to move away and summon my weapon as a rather thick piece of wood attempted to smack into where my head was the previous moment.
Unluckily for the assailant however, my hands moved in a blur and before they could even realize they had missed, a flaming sword was resting terrifyingly close to their neck while a hand crackling with crimson lightning was pointed at their stomach, their very shadows preparing to stab them if they did not desist.
"Stop right there thieving scu-!" His battle cry died in his throat as he realized the predicament he was now in "Oh..."
Narrowing my eyes at the initial words, and their obvious sincerity, I slowly moved Blasphemy away from the tall elf's throat and asked "What kind of an idiot attempts to ambush a war veteran with a stick?"
"My plan was not great, I will admit." The increasingly familiar Bosmer looks away sheepishly "But I will not let you steal from that place fiend!"
I blink, feeling more amused than anything else "And how exactly am I supposed to steal my own property you stupid git?"
"Rey?" He not quite flinches away "I.. wha?"
Letting out a snort I unsummon my sword and calm down my magic, giving my 'assailant' a once over. And there he stood, very tall for a Bosmer and with hair just a shade lighter than proper red, Voendel, one of the youths child Reyvin had grown up with, and not a terribly bright specimen either.
"Still unable to string a sentence together?" I mock with a growing smirk "I see nothing has changed in the years I've been gone."
"Shut it you smarmy cunt!" His whole demeanor shifts as he reacts to the mockery almost automatically "How in Oblivion was I to know you were ever to return in the first place?" "By listening to the news?" I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms "You know, the ones in which I was named specifically as one of the 'conquering heroes'?" I add with air quotes. "Who listens to that drivel anyways?" He waves me off as if I had just spouted something ridiculous "They always lie so what is the point?"
"Not this time." I chuckle "Anyway, attempted murder aside-"
"I was not trying to kill you!" He immediately interrupts.
I slowly raise an eyebrow, look down at the small log he dropped, then at his admittedly respectable musculature, my eyebrow slowly but surely attempting to disappear within my hairline as he grew progressively more unsure.
"A plan is already in the works." He says with a perfectly blank face, even if I can feel his smug satisfaction.
"Good." I nod in approval.
"That is it for those of greater influences." Jackal returns to his notes "The rest are those of a lesser powerbase but still enough to become an asset or annoyance should they be maneuvered properly."
"The Thieves' Guild is willing to cooperate with us." He immediately begins "For the right
price they will provide proof of corruption and information when your own cadre of agents find themselves incapable or insufficient in number."
"Pay them fairly." I note "Best not have them annoy me."
"Of course." Jackal nods and goes on "The Fighter's Guild has proven itself... reticent, in
recent times and have begun demanding greater and greater payment due to supposed increases in job hazards as they put it."
"Corrupt leadership?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"A mix of truth and lies it would seem." Jackal responds wryly "It will take us some time to
find out which is which." His eyes light up somewhat as he remembers something "I have also noted down the Synod as being in something of an alliance with the old Fighters' Guildmaster, as they have been the most active Mage's Guild inheritor and their services have
grown in demand as unrest grew."
"The Synod." I snort derisively as I remember that one group of idiots in the Rift "Bunch of
incompetent posers the lot of them. Note them down for dismantlement into a proper college when the time comes, clandestinely of course."
"Naturally." Jackal allows himself an eye-smile "The next group would be an alliance of merchants with the vast majority of them unified under the East Empire Company after the fall of the West Empire Company. They mostly seek to protect their rights and wealth in these
uncertain times and are likely to be placated by simple way of concessions or promises of beneficial policy."
"Any more of them worth mentioning?" I ask as I feel him coming close to the end. "Just the Vampirum Order, and College of Whispers." He hums lightly "The vampires we were
yet unable to contact as they have hidden quite deeply after your reception while the college
has already attempted to approach your loyal scribe." Alor "And extract information from him." The way he phrased it made me raise an eyebrow.
"Apologies were offered after sufficient threats had been delivered by your Retainer." His
eyes shift to a grumpy as all hell Edrassa "A gift of delicacies in both food and drink should be coming to the manor post haste." "Acceptable." I say idly "And of their goals?"
"Power, as most mages are wont to do." He shrugs "They could be bribed but are known for
their use of the less... palatable magicks so I would humbly recommend all dealings be left outside scrutiny." "The last group, though I would not call them such just yet, would be the faith."
"No doubt a Talos resurgence." I note "Glory hounds and traditionalists I expect?" "Indeed, my lord." He nods "Most will follow Lady Minthara out of duty but there will be grumbling. I will continue my observation of them."
"Very good." I clap my hands and get up, but before I dismiss the agent I remember a certain
cunt "Oh and do be sure to look for a certain jester-looking fellow by the name of Cicero. I wish him and the coffin he lugs about found swiftly."
"By your will." Jackal bows again though I feel his confusion at the command.
'Did you think I forgot about you you slimy cunt?' My eyes taken on a cruel gleam as I consider
how very useful a demigod's corpse in the Night Mother will be.
From the ground do stones scoop
lest you be met with fate worse than soup.
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