Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CXLVII - Bloodlet and Bloodied

There wasn't much time.

It was the third of Rain's Hand. Aeyrin was still angry about Siddgeir's timing and how he forced her to wait until the morning. Every second counted right now. She was getting increasingly worried by the minute, if that was even possible. He said that she would be back by the evening – this Bloodlet Throne keep wasn't too far. But what did he know? He didn't seem to count on her encountering any trouble at all.

She tried to get ready. She tried to get some sleep, some food, to make sure that all her equipment was in order. But sleep didn't come easy, food still had no taste and she couldn't even concentrate on whatever she was doing. She kept chastising herself that she should focus, but it was no use. She felt like a ghost, drifting through this place with all her thoughts jumbled.

She asked to see Bishop, but Siddgeir wouldn't let her even do that. She couldn't reassure him, she couldn't see if he was alright. She was so helpless, only at the mercy of the Jarl's whims.

She kept hovering around the inn, waiting for the steward to make an announcement. Maybe Siddgeir wouldn't be too happy about that – she was being awfully conspicuous. But she didn't care. She didn't know what else to do. Why was that woman taking so long? Couldn't they give her a little courtesy and allow her as much time as possible? Not to mention to make sure that the people in the vampire's grasp wouldn't have to suffer unnecessarily long.

'I want them traumatized, not dead'.

Siddgeir's words rang in her head. Monster. He was no better than that 'menace' that'd been terrorizing his Hold. Whatever their intentions were, political or some twisted needs, they were both doing the same thing – making innocent people suffer for their own agenda.

This was not the kind of 'full circle' she had been wishing for. Not one that would have her deal with another one of these awful people who were so unconcerned about anything but what they wanted.

She even felt bad for that Dengeir person. She kept thinking if she should help him somehow instead of Siddgeir, but that was too risky. She needed to save those people and she needed to save Bishop. And she had no idea if she would be able to do any of it by stabbing that horrible Jarl in his back.

No. This was his show and she had to perform. There was nothing she could do about it.

Finally, she spotted the Altmer woman making her way towards the inn, ushering anyone she met along the way to follow for an important announcement.

Aeyrin shuffled her feet impatiently right there, waiting until the woman and the small crowd of people arrived. One of them rushed inside the tavern to call everyone outside. Soon enough, the people were gathered and the steward addressed them at last.

"My dear citizens," she spoke somberly, but loud enough for anyone there to hear. "I know that things have not been easy for our town lately with the threat on our border. It breaks my heart to bear you more bad news today."

The crowd began to whisper among themselves with palpable concern. If only they knew. If only they knew who was at fault here. That their 'leader' was the reason for all of this.

"Several of our citizens were reported missing. We have no information on their whereabouts, but a larger group disappearing at the same time is a cause for concern for our Jarl and we suspect ill play. I urge you all, please, we cannot launch an investigation with our forces strained, but if anyone has any information that could help us make sense of this disappearance, let us know."

There were many murmurs around the crowd again, some disgruntled. It was no wonder. What use would information be when the leadership didn't have the manpower to do anything about it? This was ridiculous. Was this how Siddgeir approached all problems that befell his city? No wonder Thorn found this Hold ripe for the picking.