Legends of Skyrim: The Sapphire Smuggler (BOOK THREE)

VII - Hard Answers

The cold air of Winterhold froze against Ji'ssa's whiskers, but still she pressed on. The city was a shell of its former self, but she wasn't here to learn its history. She entered the Frozen Hearth, and sighed in relief at the sudden warmth. The owner, Dagur, approached slowly and bowed his head. "Welcome, stranger," he gently took her by the hand, "You look frozen. Come, warm yourself by the fire. Perhaps something hot to drink?"
"Thank you." she shivered.
Sitting by the fire, she held up her hands to warm herself. A chill ran through her a little. A small bowl of goat's stew was placed on the small table beside her, and she handed over a small pouch of coins. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Dagur asked.
Ji'ssa slowly took the bowl into her lap and inquired, "I'm looking for someone, though I have no idea what they look like. Their name is Enthir."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a Bosmer look up, presumably at the mention of his name. "That's him over there, in the corner." Dagur pointed him out.
"Thank you kindly." Ji'ssa took her bowl and spoon and walked towards his table.
He stiffened a little as the Khajiit approached. "I've been sent by Karliah." she explained as she sat down.
"Karliah?" he immediately relaxed, "Then she's finally found it. Do you have Gallus' journal?"
"Yes," she gave the red book to him, "But there's a problem."
Enthir began to skim the book, before chuckling to himself. "This is just like Gallus," he whispered, "A dear friend, but always too clever for his own good. He's written all of the text in the Falmer language."
Ji'ssa shivered a little at the mention of the Falmer.

"Can you translate it?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject.
"No," Enthir closed the book, "However, I know someone who might. The court Wizard of Markarth, Calcelmo, may have the materials you need to get this journal translated. A word of warning: Calcelmo is a fierce guardian of his research. Getting the information won't be easy."
With a nod, after finishing her bowl of stew, Ji'ssa thanked the Bosmer and stood, just in time for the door to swing open. "Ah, Arch-Mage Careesilus!" Dagur announced.
Turning, Ji'ssa had only seconds to react as an Argonian woman, who stepped through the central fire, bumped into her. In the small confusion, she knew she could have taken her wallet, but for some strange reason resisted. "I beg your pardon, miss." Ji'ssa moved out of her way, still confused as to why she had not taken anything.
She felt the Argonian staring at her, but didn't dare to look back. Instead, she left the Frozen Hearth and quickly rushed to the carriage on the edge of the city. "Excuse me!" she yelled over the building whistle of the wind, holding out a coin purse, "Do you pass Markarth, by any chance?"
The coach driver nodded, took the purse, and cocked his head backwards. "Climb in back," he shouted, "And we'll be off!"
Clamouring into the back of the carriage, she held her headdress against the wind as the horses began to trot along the snow-covered cobbles. Ji'ssa found the clicking of their hoofs pleasant as she slowly drifted into a sleep. "WAIT!" she was suddenly torn from it as she saw someone rushing after the carriage.
It came to a sudden halt as the Argonian woman from the tavern rushed alongside it, waving Gallus' journal in her hand. She approached the side and held it to the sleepy Khajiit. "You forgot this, miss." she handed it back.
Taking it, Ji'ssa shook the Argonian's hand and bade her, "Thank you very much."

Markarth was known for its rich silver mines that used convict labour, which were mostly owned by the influential Silver-Bloods family. The cutthroat intrigue surrounding Markarth's silver producing industry popularised the local saying, "Blood and silver are what flows through Markarth..."
The city was located in the far west of Skyrim, in the mountains of The Reach, west of the Karth River. As a result, the city had a good natural defense, even from the skies. Being a long distance from any other major city, especially Winterhold, and with both main roads cutting through mountains, valleys, and rugged terrain, venturing to and from Markarth was one of the most treacherous trips for travellers. The city was split by a large running river and comprised two parts: Riverside, where the native Reachmen and the working district were found; and the Dryside, housing all the houses of Nord nobles and Silver-Blood ownership. The Jarl's palace, Understone Keep, was located at the top of the city and contained the Hall of the Dead, the Dwemer Museum, and the Nchuand-Zel Excavation Site where the internal parts of the old Dwemer city remained in ruins. Most of the city's residents tended to be quite unfriendly to outsiders, but Ji'ssa cared not for the looks that she was getting as she walked up towards Understone Keep. The palace entrance was a set of Dwemer gates leading to five sets of side-by-side stairs. The middle set of stairs led to a second floor, the corridor to the left towards the Excavation Base. It aimed to unearth the history and any secrets of Nchuand-Zel, a cavernous Dwemer castle carved deep into the mountain. The excavation was headed, as mentioned by Enthir, by Markarth's Court Wizard, Calcelmo, an expert on everything Dwemer, and who had also been placed in charge of curating all artefacts extracted from the ruins. As Ji'ssa walked into the room, she looked around in wonder. The base was a huge hollowed-out part of the mountain, containing the entire front entrance to the Dwemer castle.