The Ebony Renegades (Skyrim)

Chapter twenty six

" You don't need to repeat what you told my nephew, I heard everything and I appreciate you clearing those buggers out it'll make the retrieval groups job to recover their bodies all the easier you have my thanks, I usually pay researchers for their efforts whenever they exit the ruins but I don't think they'll be needing it anymore." The elderly high elf said handing Gentu a large coin purse which the dwarven armored breton respectfully declined and insisted on that money being used for their burial plots and whatever was left to go to the deceased families to which the elderly high elf nodded which was one of the things he respected about Gentu as a mercenary he was a man of honor and he was not money hungry. Calcelmo put the coin purse back in his robe before gesturing the dwarven armored breton to come closer as he had deciphered the journal that he had brought from the dwarven tower. " This is very unlike dwemer behavior we have seen thus far, usually the instructions in their writings are direct and detailed this one is the most cryptic writing I've ever seen from dwarven hand here I will read it." Calcelmo said before rubbing his finger over the translated text that he had on a separate piece of parchment before speaking as he read from the translation with Gentu reading along next to him upon reading it the elderly high elf rolled up the parchment and handed it to his long-time friend along with the lexicon regarding the dwarven pickaxe schematic that was now completely translated. " Consider this my way of saying thank you for all you've done for me up till now, when you get that unique project done you will bring it to me so I can see it net time your in Markarth won't you?" Calcelmo asked with a toothy grin to which the dwarven armored breton gave a grin in turn before nodding as the two shook hands. Still, before he left he kept his word and quickly drew up a map of the layout and marked where the bodies were and also places to watch out for dwarven automatons being activated before handing it to Aicantar who took it with a teary smile. " May the nine watch over you my friend." Aicantar leaned in and whispered into his ear due to the thalmar agents nearby the dwarven armored breton giving his two friends away before leaving understone keep. He walked down the stairs and passed a snobbish nord who arrogantly demanded tribute which Gentu didn't even acknowledge his existence which only enraged the nord more. " Hey, you dare ignore a member of the Silver-blood family!? You will pay for insulting the most powerful family in the reach!" Gentu ignored the entitled nord's behavior and left Markarth not even dignifying the entitled nord's obnoxious attitude by so much as looking at him. As he exited Markarth he had the gut feeling that nord was watching him so he headed out of sight knowing Severin had eyes on him he used another silent hand signal making a fist and then pointing to his eyes and then back towards Markarth which meant check behind me and drop any threat. The dark brotherhood assassin used an invisibility spell and crept up the side and watched as he tapped his tail three times as three silver-blood mercenaries were on Gentu's trail just as the mercenaries were out of sight they were dropped dead at Gentu's feet as Gentu threw they're bodies in the river after taking they're gold and casually using an invisibility scroll to cloak himself as he made his way to the cave under the waterfall. " How'd it go Gentu, any problems along the way?" Ebon-shi asked as he walked over to Gentu as Severin spoke. " He had a few hired hitters on his ass and I dropped them like wingless birds." Severin said as Gentu nodded and spoke. "My friend Calcelmo's researchers went missing in Nchuand-zel and he asked me to go find them sadly they were all dead but I eliminated all the falmer in there and brought back their journals and apparently Calcelmo's nephew Aicantar's fiance was one of the dead researchers so I drew him a map so he can send in a search party to retrieve their bodies." Yamma walked over and put a comforting hand on Gentu's shoulder who looked up and gave his smith brother a grateful nod before continuing what he was saying. " But on a more positive note, Calcelmo translated the journal and the lexicon while I was doing that so we are much closer to the making of the dwarven pickaxe." Gentu said before Myra walked over proposing an idea since she was low on silver bolts to visit Karthwestern to both mine more silver ore to make more silver bolts, and to visit her hometown. " Oh speaking of silver, some entitled nord demanded tribute from me and I ignored him then he said something about me paying for insulting a member of the Silver-blood family." Gentu said as Myra's eyes narrowed at the very mention of the Silver-bloods. " Those backstabbing scum bags haven't changed a bit, they will pay for their treachery, I'm gonna tear them apart!" Myra's eyes held nothing but absolute hatred for the nord family for reasons the group didn't know except for Tully but he respected Myra's wish to keep it a secret and stopped his cousin from going on a murder spree. " Alright Myra, we will head to Karthwestern to get you some more Silver ore to make more silver bolt's and so you can settle whatever personal vendetta you have." Ebon-shi said as he patted Myra's shoulder as the imperial woman in Blades armor gave him a grateful nod as the gang sealed the cave with illusion magic and made their way along the road to Karthwestern passing a few stray chickens and a kahjiit trader caravan making a mental note to pay them a visit on they're way back. As they got closer they came to a path that led up to a gold ore mine guarded by three Reachmen in animal furs and strange weapons as they spotted the group they ran over to attack before Gila walked up her boots and gauntlets matching the armor the Reachmen had "It's you, the Bosmer who rescued our king from Cidna mine." the Forsworn spoke as they lowered their weapons. " And how is madinoch these days?" Gila asked as she spoke to them, soon they let the group pass and watched their backs from anyone tailing them due to the forsworn owing their king's safe return to Gila. " I got involved in a conspiracy with the Silver-bloods and the forsworn and got thrown into Cidna mine, and by releasing the king of the forsworn I dealt a critical blow to the Silver-blood's control so the forsworn know me and now they know you so we don't need to worry about the forsworn." Gila said as Myra laughed hysterically at the Silver-blood's misfortune at Gila's hand. " Hahaha I hope they were crying like the bag stabbing little whelps!" Myra laughed as they passed a cave on their left a the crossroad came into view they turned around and walked up the hill path as a party of four nords were blocking the miners from entering the mines " Guys go around and flank them, if they draw their weapons, kill them ." Myra said coldly as the rest of the group circled around Myra walked up to the small group who was harassing the miners and preventing them from mining to earn a living. As Myra got closer she could hear the conversation and her fists clenched around her blades katana. " We will stay here until we've determined that there are no forsworn here." Said the lead nord wearing full carved nordic armor with a nordic shield and sword. "And when will that be I wonder, when I sell my land to the Silver-bloods?" The village elder said as the Nord laughed in his face. "The Silver-bloods have offered you a generous amount for this patch of dirt, they are the most powerful people in the reach so you better wise up, before they send someone to 'take' this land." The nord threatened as he turned and walked towards the mine before a rock hit the back of his helmet as he turned. " Who dares assault a Silver-blood mercenary!?, I'll have your head on a pike for that!" Myra stood in front of the elder her eyes glaring daggers at the nord. " The treacherous Silver-bloods made their offer, now here's mine, leave this land alone, or I send every last Silver-blood to Oblivion like the filthy pigs they are.." Myra said as the Nord drew his sword and approached her. "How dare you slander the Silver-bloods, I ought to cut out your slanderous tongue!" The nord shouted. "Then bring it on!" Myra yelled as she drew her blade's sword in a flash and her sword strike slashed the nord's throat wide open he fell to the ground dead as she slowly looked up to the three other Silver-blood mercenaries. "Who's next?" Myra asked as the three drew their weapons The rest of the gang surrounded. The three Silver-blood mercenaries laid down their weapons and surrendered as Myra walked toward them and pointed her sword at them. " Because of you being associated with those pigs in nord skin, I should butcher you like common swine. But instead, I'm going to allow you three boot lickers to live just to deliver a message to the Silver-bloods, you tell them that treachery always has a price and karma always comes." She growled as she motioned for them to run one of the survivors in order to stay in her good graces decided to give Intel about a shipment of silver and other stuff being delivered on that road that would be passing soon led by the youngest member of the Silver-bloods and that if she wanted to seriously hurt them to strike and steal their shipment. Myra gave a nod before letting them run and told them to take their leader's head to their boss as a warning. " Woah Myra, it's usually Tully who's the ruthless one. but you had those guys pissing themselves!" Sabrina said as she laughed as the elder walked over and pulled Myra into a hug. "Heiress, your alive." Myra hugs the middle-aged breton man. " Indeed I am uncle, unfortunately, im the last." Myra said as the breton had a solumn look in his eyes. "We're so sorry, we couldn't do anything when." The breton began as Myra silenced him and went into the mine to dig silver ore so she could make more silver bolts leaving the rest of the group outside. When the group offered to go in with her she asked them to stay behind and for them to sweep the place. As she went into the mine the group swept the area as Yamma and Gentu went into the other mine to collect iron ore for Asadelf to transmute into silver ore as Tully came around the corner they saw the burned and tattered remains of a large manor that was in ruins. " Forgive me for not properly welcoming you travelers, but as I'm sure you all saw we were having a situation, my name is Ainethach." the breton man said as Ebon-shi walked up and shook his hand. " Would you mind explaining what those hired thugs were doing here?" Ebon-shi asked as Ainethach nodded and sat across from him. "If the Forsworn aren't attacking my town, the nords are trying to force me off it."  Ainethach vented as the dark elf removed his ebony helmet and nodded to the breton to continue."My family has owned Karthwasten for generations. rare for anyone in the Reach who isn't a nord. Not that it does me any good, nords think I'm working for the Forsworn. Forsworn think I'm working for the nords." Ainethach said as Ebon-shi lightly patted Ainethach's shoulder. "The Silver-Bloods already own half of the reach, and they won't stop until they own all of it." Ebon-shi sat there listening before the sight of the ruined homestead drew his attention. " Earlier Myra called you her uncle, are you related to her?"  Ebon-shi asked as the breton had a solemn look creep up his face. " Yes, my sister married her father and had Myra I'm also Tully's uncle-in-law, but. I know what you really want to ask, You want to know who burned down house don't you?" Ainethach asked with a knowing look as Ebon-shi nodded " You see, Myra is not just an ally in this group, she is a most trusted friend, and when it comes to the subject of the Reach, or more specifically the Silver-bloods I can tell its a sore subject. I know the look of vengeance well and whenever that family is mentioned her aura completely radiates hatred and resentment so I'm worried about her, we all are."  Ainethach sighs and nods as he walks with Ebon-shi over to the crumbled homestead remains along with three gravestones at the base of a grand apple tree with apples as red as rubies. " To know Myra's pain, you need to know the source of the pain." Ainethach said as Ebon-shi looked at him and nodded listening intently.