Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter LXXII - Plans and Pleas

Aeyrin almost let out a shocked squeak as the large doors moved.

The owner of the barn was probably checking in. For whatever reason, since the barn was empty. Regardless, they were likely going to get in trouble, aside from having to suffer the embarrassment of being found there completely naked. What if the owner decided to call the guards? She was probably going to be named a thane of the Hold. How would that look? Everyone in Solitude would be talking about this in a matter of minutes.

Luckily, the height of the platform, the shadowy corner, and Bishop's body kind of blocked her from being visible from the lower lever. She clung to Bishop's flank instantly, burying her face into his shoulder in hopes that she would escape the scene that was sure to follow.

Bishop didn't seem as concerned as she was. He barely made the effort to reach with his arm for a piece of previously discarded clothing nearby to at least cover his crotch. He stayed completely silent and motionless – it seemed like he was confident that their position would likely prevent their detection, but Aeyrin couldn't relax like that. She even considered reaching for Bishop's pack and looking for his invisibility potions, but that would make a noise and she definitely didn't have any time for that. She was not moving from her position – that, at the very least, hid her naked body from view.

It only took a second before the doors swung open fully and a man entered. They both watched him with bated breaths as he looked around the barn in confusion. He wasn't very visible from their angle, but soon, they noticed the familiar head of black hair and the packed leather bag over his shoulder.

Was that... a courier?

And not just any courier. Their courier.

Bishop and Aeyrin shared an inconspicuous shocked look. How was this possible? They've already kind of accepted the fact that the very same man always delivered their letters. They've had a lot of fun at times sharing their theories on the reason for it. The most plausible one was that there were many couriers out there, assigned to different people. They've seen other couriers at times after all, delivering to people in the cities. One of the more far-fetched theories included a group of at least ten brothers, all identical, running around Skyrim and delivering letters. And then there were the theories about pacts with Daedra or very powerful illusion magic.

The fact that the man, or men, could always find them, sometimes even only moments after they've arrived in a city, too early for rumors about their presence to spread, was a bit more baffling. Not entirely impossible, maybe... until now.

There was no way that anyone could have known that they were in this particular barn. Not a chance.

They wanted the letter that he was delivering. It could have been a report from Karliah. Or it could have been the much awaited answer from Master Therien. But they didn't make a sound. Shocked and curious, they stayed silent and watched the courier with palpable intrigue.

He had found them in this barn. Would he find them in their hiding place?

The man looked around in utter confusion. He even twirled in the spot to get a view of the place. He didn't look up though.

After what seemed like quite a long while, the man raised his hand. Much to their surprise, it briefly shone with a bright-yellow magic light and then, suddenly, he looked exactly where he needed to – straight at them.

Awkward silence filled the room as the courier's face visibly reddened. Aeyrin was still clinging to Bishop's side, hiding herself as much as she could with her face even redder than the man's, while Bishop only stared at him in surprise.

"Ehm..." the courier finally broke the silence by clearing his throat. He averted his eyes from the two of them diligently, but he still reached into his pack and pulled out a letter. He stretched out his hand with the letter towards Bishop, but he didn't say anything at all. Perhaps he couldn't. They didn't even know who the letter was for, but it hardly mattered.