King-Fall

IX. Roses and Briars

I strode towards the balcony and climbed atop my chamber in the rain. The adrenaline in my veins made the strain on my muscles non-existent and once at the top I screamed at the sky with my Thu'um the name,

"Paarthurnax!"

Thunder and lightning struck and boomed as I stood in the rain. My head was pounding, my vision was tunneling and by the second it grew worse. I cried out with my Thu'um again,

"Paarthurnax!"

Then as if in response a great fwoom grew closer until I spied Paarthurnax barreling in the air towards me and landing atop the Blue Palace with me.

"Zu'u hon hi, Doviikin—I hear you, Dragonborn.

Zu'u hon hi zaan, hi yah ak— I hear your cry, you seek guidance."

"I need to go to Solstheim, to pursue a Daedric Prince."

Paarthurnax gave me a cross look.

"It's dire!"

"Hi togaat unt yah deyrah—You attempt to pursue Daedra?

Deyrah folook hi, Doviikin. Hi paar yah him daan, zeymah— Daedra haunt you, Doviikin. You ambition to pursue your doom, brother."

"Paarthurnax," I begged both in voice and gesture, my hands out pleadingly, "the Daedra took my wife and son."

As if on cue sheet-lightning boomed in the air and Paarthurnax shook his head. "Tovit... togaart stin him kiim, him kul–To seek, no, to attempt to free your wife... your son." He looked away in thought, shifting his weight on the building. With a deep guttural sigh he said, "Loseri daanik, Doviikin—you're doomed, Doviikin.

Mu vosaraan stin him kiim, him kiir—We make haste to free your wife, your son.

Vosaraan, grah-zeymah—Hasten, battle-brother."

"Don't leave without me!" A woman grunted, scaling the building to my left. I ran to her and pulled Serana up while Paarthurnax turned around for launch. I practically jumped onto my dragon-friend's back and helped Serana on who grabbed my middle to brace herself. Going into the sky I used another shout to clear the way so Paarthurnax could get on top of the storm.

???'s pov

I stood in the corner of the throne room in Mistveil keep. Silent, as the day was about to close her windows and the night to open his doors wide. Jarl Black-Briar gave the judgement of her last case, some civil issue, a marriage dispute involving a divorce going how most divorces go: horrible. Once the couple left the old woman let out a deep sigh and snapped audibly.

Standing, I deactivated my invisibility spell and advanced to the place where the two worthless mules were standing earlier and I bent the knee. The Jarl of Riften smirked down on me.

"Have you news? Spymaster Ethrellden?"

"I do my lady, the spies of the Black Rose Society have heard tale that both the High Queen and High King have disappeared. As for the other assignments you requested about certain theories of controversy," I dug in my pouch and discreetly looked at her guards before going up to her handing her a notebook, "a written report of our findings."

The Jarl flipped through a few pages and smiled before turning to the guard on her left. After saying leave us she met my eyes and once the guards left us the hall was silent. "You're good for a dark elf, should the Thieves in the Ratway cause trouble you might just be my rat-poison." She closed the notebook, triumph in her voice, "So the High King isn't what he is cut out to be, is he?"

"No he is not mi'lady." I uttered lowering my hood to let my black shoulder length hair drape my shoulders. A lone braid with a cardinal feather was in front of my right eye as I said, "It appears that he has neglected Markarth on the premise of that Jarl Igmund was making deals with the Forsworn and now it has gotten to the place that the King of Rags threatens to take Markarth."

"Hmm," Maven thought a moment, hand to her lips before saying, "I need more time, send someone to make sure the King and Queen don't return. Have your spies dig deeper, I want to know what happened in Solitude, thank you Ethrellden." She patted my elbow, "Oh, and have the tax collector get your payment. You are dismissed for the evening."

I saluted her, my fist clapping to my chest and walked away.