The Brothers Moonborn

Three

We'd made it to Windhelm before sunset, but with the sun dipping lower to the horizon, we'd decided to get a room for the night while we were here. While we could've started our search, we wouldn't be able to get far before having to set up camp in the wilderness. This would give us more time to formulate a strategy for finding our mother.

"Well, I'll be," murmured the innkeeper, Elda Early-Dawn, as we strolled into Candlehearth Hall. "Haven't seen you boys in ages. Where's Ylva?"

"At home, I'm afraid," I answered while I slapped the appropriate number of septims for a room and two hot meals in front of her. "Just my brother and I this time."

"You on Companion business, then?" Elda counted the coins out before sliding them into her hand to stow behind the counter.

"Personal. We're only staying here for the night."

"Best keep on your toes while you're here." Elda produced a key from under the counter, then moved around to walk us to the room. "There's been a string of murders lately. Some people are even saying we have a serial killer on the loose. I ain't ever seen anything like it here in Windhelm."

"Murders?" asked Farkas. "Inside the city?"

"Yes! You'd think we were Markarth for the way the blood has been spilling!" She unlocked the door on the far end of the hall, then motioned for us to step into the room. "I'll bring your meals to you when I get back. I had to send my barmaid home earlier this afternoon because she was scared of walking home after dark. I told her that I understand. We can't be too cautious these days." With that, she handed me the key and left the room.

"Sounds like the guards need help, eh?" I murmured, a stone sinking in my gut. I knew better than to get wrapped up in all these details, but how could I curb my desire to help?

If our mother is out there waiting for us, then maybe she could wait a few more days.

"Seems like it," agreed Farkas while he tossed his pack onto his bed. "This we can spare the time?"

"I can't walk away, not when I know these people are in danger." I sat down on my own bed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "We'll ask around for some more details, even go to the Palace if we need to. The guards are bound to know something."

"And they'll be eager to help us."

"But not now." I shrugged my pack off my shoulders, setting it at the foot of my bed, while I began to take my armor off. That carriage ride had been rough on us, though it beat walking all this way. Before Farkas and I got roped into solving any local crimes, we'd need a chance to breathe, eat, and rest. Any information about these murders could wait until morning.

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Or so I thought.

In the middle of the night, a scream woke me from my slumber.

I shot out of bed before I even remembered where I was, grabbing my sword and my boots on the way out of the room. Farkas was close behind me, judging by the sounds of his heavy bare feet slapping the wood. I only took a moment to pull my shoes on before we left the inn, the other patrons stirring around us as we left the building.

The crisp morning air slapped me in the face, knifing through my tunic and breeches as though I were naked in a blizzard. While I may have the Nordic resistance to cold in my blood, my life lived in Whiterun made me soft to the frigid winds and snow. I gritted my teeth as I dodged patches of frost left on the cobbles, following the sound of the commotion all the way to the graveyard near Windhelm's marketplace.

A handful of guards had gathered around the headstones, torches burning while they tried to shoo the horde of civilians now surrounding the murder scene. The guards tried to use their torches to push people back, but the citizens of Windhelm would not be swayed, though most didn't even seem to want to look upon the gore behind the guards' backs.