NABC Chapter 212: Chapter XVI: Trust
Chapter 212: Chapter XVI: Trust
Chapter 212: Chapter XVI: Trust
(Reyvin's POV)
My internal celebration ends as swiftly as it began as I feel a sudden lack of power, whatever Magicka high induced bender I was about to indulge in was ruined utterly by the sudden feeling of being metaphorically splashed by a barrel of freezing water.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Feeling one's veins bursting with power only for them to suddenly feel completely empty was not a sensation I would ever enjoy but the massive power spike made it all worth it so it was just another thing I would add to the list I dislike doing but still must do, the same place talking to nobility is now that I think on it.
The tiny fact I had magic drugs on hand to help me deal with all of this childish whi- *Cough* rambling was just a happy little coincidence of course.
One lit stick of whatever the fuck Hakan had cooked up back in Winterhold later and I was feeling much better than a couple of seconds back, the equivalent of magical dehydration swiftly squashed by the influx of new power.
Naturally, I was not left alone long enough to enjoy it as the sound of armored boots rushing, though not running, toward me drew my attention. Soon enough Zarok stepped out of a nearby tower, followed distantly by a curious Serana.
The orc saluted "Sir, do you require assistance?" His eyes were filled with a mix of dread and awe, with a small undertone of worry.
Unsummoning my crown, and noticing a couple of the legionaries around me visibly relax, I raised an eyebrow "No? I think that I will be fine with just a bit of rest."
The orc blinks in surprise but swiftly hides it "If that is what you believe sir" Cheeky fucker couldn't stop himself from questioning me after all "Do you want the after-battle report?" I sigh tiredly before waving for him to 'get on with it.'
He nods and starts talking, the long and short of it being that we lost another twenty three soldiers to the enemy while three of the tower-mounted scorpions were heavily damaged in the night raid. Enemy losses were estimated to be at around one hundred and fifty at the wall itself and an additional three hundred in the field of glass as I now privately called it.
"All in all a successful and productive evening!" I voice with only a hint of mockery, much to the chagrin of the nearby legionaries. Without a care for their perceived offense I got up and started walking toward the camp "Come on then, we might as well celebrate our success. Not like the dumbasses will dare attack again after all that." I say the final part a lot more quietly but it is loud enough to reassure some of the soldiers around me.
Then, feeling like a complete dumbass I stop and ask "Any wounded in need of healing?"
A couple of dozen healed wounds later I was sitting in front of a large bonfire, the legionaries enjoying some food and drink from my personal stock, a small reward for their admittedly impressive performance during this short siege.
The fact that they looked at me like I was an angel descended from the heavens when I summoned an entire barrel of premium black briar was also a nice bonus.
It might seem foolish for me to give them drinks but I had good reason to believe the siege to be over as we were about to get reinforcements while the enemy had lost a massive amount of their local veteran forces. Such losses no doubt crushed morale among their greener troops and not even the Stormcloaks were dumb enough to throw boys into the meatgrinder that is the fortified pass.
Simply put, I had just bought the legion weeks of unmolested operation within Falkreath Hold, much more than enough for me to make a big move without the Stormcloaks being able to do a thing about it.
"Thinking about the war?" I hear Serana ask quietly enough not to be heard by anyone but myself. Zarok had discretely given me a report on her performance during the battle and it seemed that she simply settled on battling the enemy magi, not showing even a hint of her vampiric powers either magical or physical. The men were all in all grateful for her presence seeing as she was under no obligation to help them and still did.
Funnily enough, no one bothered asking her name or anything about her for that matter. The soldiers knew to keep their noses out of the business of nobles and Serana looked like the quintessential noble.
I shrug "A rather obvious conclusion, I have to capitalize on this massive victory or all we have done would be some relatively minor casualties."
Seemingly losing interest in the small talk she jumps straight to the real reason she is talking to me "I knew you were powerful, but that spell..."
I give her a blank look and ask with a hint of mockery "Did magi in your time openly advertise their full power?"
She gives me one in turn "Don't pretend to be an idiot, it does not suit you."
The legionaries tensed as the force of Nords approached, even with their victory and celebration they were all still very tired and paranoid due to the deaths of many of their friends and comrades.
I naturally cared not for such things and stepped out to meet the men of Whiterun, swiftly recognizing the two men leading them I rose my hand in greeting "Ho there Grey-mane and
Battle-born!"
Adar Grey-mane squinted at my approach "Let me guess Flame-tongue, you already had all
the fun without us?"
Ungrim Battle-born rolls his eyes at his friend's words "As if a bunch of sweaty Windhelm cuckolds would succeed where a Daedric Prince did not."
The duo of Whiterun housecarls guffaw at the man's joke while I look at them with amusement "I am afraid that I did in fact take all of the fun, you get to sit your asses down while whatever remains of the legionary garrison goes for some paid leave."
Surprisingly it is Zarok that speaks up "Sir, with all due respect we can't le-"
I look at him with a smile that was most assuredly not a smile and ask "I am sorry Quaestor,
but did I stutter?"
The orc shivers at my tone and looks away "No, sir."
"I thought as much." My smile widens fractionally, looking all the more terrifying "You lot have earned some rest and you will need to be properly reinforced and reequipped, if you thought I wasn't going to reward you lot for surviving that then I would be rather insulted."
Zarok stares at me unblinkingly while his brain resets.
"I do believe this is where you thank me." I drawl with great amusement.
He snaps at attention as his mind finally reboots "Yes sir, um thank you sir!" "Right then." I turn back to the duo of Whiterun housecarls "You two can take your time
setting things up as the rebels won't be moving about for some time at least, but I need another thing from you before you do."
Adar raises an eyebrow "What do you need lad?" many a legionnaire gawks at his term of address but seeing as I ignore it no one speaks up.
"I need a map imperial operations within Falkreath, as well as the position of the command center." I rub my hands while my smile turns slightly feral "I have a city to conquer after all."
A lack of stone to me is an impediment
thus I ask of thee a toll in sediment.
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