68 Chapter IX: Companions, Traders and Innkeepers

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Our return to Jorrvaskr was met with great celebration by the regular companions, and with great trepidation by the circle.

After the usual great proclamations following a successful quest one might expect when returning to an order of rowdy warriors, we were quickly led toward the Harbinger's rooms.

We all took our seats and I looked at those present. There were five more circle members than I remembered from the game, but that was to be expected after all the changes I noticed in the rest of Skyrim.

Of the circle members I remembered all were present: Kodlak, Vilkas, Farkas, Aela, and Skjor.

Davos and I stood out like sore thumbs in this sea of renowned warriors... and furries.

After Farkas finished explaining the events to Kodlak things turned silent for a time, before the oldest companion exhaled a very tired breath.

He looked at me, gratitude visible in his eyes, and said "You have honored the companions with your aid today. If you ever need our help do not hesitate to ask." the rest of the circle members nodded along his words.

I incline my head "It was my pleasure."

The old man smiles patiently before he turns serious again "Now what is this about werewolf hunters I hear? Farkas told me you had quite the theory."

I shrug "I will tell you the same thing I told them. It was far too convenient for a band that called themselves the Silver Hand to be waiting in a very well prepared ambush, armed to the teeth with weapons obviously meant to kill your kind, at the exact spot where you were sending a circle member."

Kodlak scratches his white mane, deep in thought before nodding "Yes, that does sound awfully convenient." He looks at me once again "Do you have any knowledge about this Silver Hand?"

I shake my head "Nothing that might be of any help to you I am afraid. The Silver Hand is known as a reliable mercenary company across Skyrim that specialize in hunting the undead or feral werewolves, they have been operating for some years now from what I have heard."

I take a moment to think before I go on "They might just be after you all due to your lycanthropy, or it could just be as basic as an excuse to remove competition."

One of the unknown circle members asks "But how could they have known that we are all werewolves?"

I give Kodlak a comical look and the old man winces slightly before explaining to his comrade "Any highly skilled mage can detect Daedric influences on a person. All it would take is one meddlesome wizard of some power and we would be discovered."

Some of the circle members are stunned, some just don't care, and a couple glare at me for whatever reason. I of course ignore said glares because I am a very magnanimous lord, and petty vengeance is below me.

Pfft! Of course not, the moment one of them dared to glare at me I pulled the chair from under his ass with telekinesis.

Everyone's heads jerked to me as he fell on the floor and I said with an annoyed sneer "I am literally here helping all of you and he thought to blame me for being a mage, sorry if I dislike people judging me for no reason."

There is some grumbling but after a moment they all agree to not be idiots and get back to discussing the current issue. Skjor asks me "If you are so certain that they are hunting us, why are you risking your neck in helping us openly?"

I shrug "Eh, I honestly don't care one bit about most of you. But they would probably target my friend in the future and that is not acceptable."

I hear Farkas laugh at my words, and most of the circle members seem to accept them at face value.

In truth, I just prefer to have the companions in my debt in the future. They are after all an honorable group of warriors and having their loyalty is never a bad thing. Kodlak seems to see through my intentions to an extent, even with my blessing, but he says nothing and merely nods.

We spend an additional hour discussing the Silver Hand, with me providing everything I knew about them, which to be fair was not all that much as they were the antagonist of the faction I rarely played in the game.

After the 'debrief' Vilkas and Farkas invite me for some drinks upstairs as thanks for my help. Naturally, as any respectable alcoholic, I accept immediately and we engage in the time-old Nordic tradition of telling tall tales after a battle, gathering quite the crowd with our retelling.

Not long after we finished bra- *cough* telling our tale, we were joined by Durrak, who after grabbing a drink for himself asked me in a curious voice "So Reyvin, what were you looking me for anyways?"

I take a long sip of my drink and answer "I was planning on raiding another tomb before I hired a carriage to get me to Solitude. While I was passing near Jorrvaskr I remembered you and thought you might be interested in bashing some undead with me."

He doesn't hesitate for a moment and says "Count me in."

I raise an eyebrow "Not even going to ask me about the location or loot distribution, are you? How very naive Durrak. "

He snorts "Oh please, you are too proud to cheat me out of anything and it is obviously close if you were making preparations in Whiterun."

I blink slowly, genuine surprise in my eyes "Who are you and what have you done with Durrak?"

The massive orc blushes a tiny bit "Fuck you Reyvin I can use my head when I want to."

"Well, this is the first I am hearing of it" I snort and the Nord brothers laugh at the sputtering orc.

We spend the rest of the evening drinking and joking around.

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We get up early the following morning, and after Durrak said his goodbyes we leave the city and head toward Riverwood.

The walk takes us almost the entire day so I spend it sharing stories with Durrak.

He mostly spent his time beating people up and hunting wild beasts. When I told him about the Falmer expedition his expression was priceless.

As we were nearing Riverwood in the evening, my friend finally asked "And what exactly are we doing in here? Couldn't we have just gone straight for the tomb? We already have all the supplies we might need."

I raise a finger "Firstly, I don't want to sleep outside if I can help it." I raise another "Someone in the village might have scouted the mountain out" and then another "And finally, I heard that the local trader has a claw-key that might open the hall of stories in the tomb itself."

"Oh, and where did you hear this?"

"That is for me to know and for you to wonder about." I snark, much to the chagrin of my orc friend. Davos on the other hand has gotten mostly used to my usual shenanigans so he just rolls with it.

I tell them to book us some rooms at the Sleeping Giant inn, and head toward the Riverwood trader.

The shop seems to be doing quite well when I enter, Lucan Valerius greets me with a smile "Welcome to the Riverwood Trader traveler. How can I help you?"

I think how to play this for a moment, but quickly just choose the direct approach "I have heard that you are in possession of a certain golden claw, I was wondering if it was for sale?"

He loses his smile "I am afraid it is not."

I press on "I am in great need of it, if it is not for sale could you borrow it to me for a couple of days?"

He looks at me like I am an idiot "Really? That usually work for you?"

I roll my eyes and summon my full robes, exchanging them with my plain travelling outfit. This takes Lucan by surprise and while I have him on a back foot I say In a chilling tone while subtly casting fear "That claw is the key to something I am looking for, I do hope you won't be as foolish as to suggest I am some kind of petty scam artist."

He shakes a bit before muttering "Sorry about that sir, my mistake."

I remove the hood and scoff "Don't worry, I am not trying to rob you or take your heirloom. I literally need it to unlock something and will even pay for the privilege."

He gathers whatever bravery he had left and asks me "And how can I be sure you will return it to me?"

I deadpan at him and summon a well cut diamond, placing it at the counter "This will be the collateral." and then add in a threatening tone and add just a bit more Magicka to my spell "Do. not. lose. it."

He nods fearfully.

"Now, on a more cheerful note." I clap my hands "I will pay you three hundred septims for borrowing it, that fair?"

He just nods gain, probably not even listening to me.

Am I really that intimidating ? goooood....

I take the golden claw from Lucan's shaky hands and head back to the Sleeping Giant.

When I enter the iconic tavern I see that my companions have already made themselves at home, I order a bottle of mead for myself and join them.

"You got that key you came for boss?" Davos asks.

I nod "Yeah, took a bit of convincing but he agreed to lend it to me."

Davos gives me a deadpan look that tells me he already guessed what I did, but all I give in return is an innocent smile.

Durrak groans "I hate it when people do that, just say what you want to say and stop with the subtle messages."

My fellow Dunmer and I share a laugh at the unfortunate orc.

Davos quickly informs me that he managed to get a map of the mountain area from a Bosmer hunter living in the village.

A bit later into the evening, the most annoying person in Skyrim after Nazeem graces me with her presence. Delphine approaches our table and asks in a 'curious' tone "One has to wonder what one such as Reyvin Flame-tongue is doing in a small village like this."

Dear god when you know who she is this sounds so bloody fake.

I turn from the conversation I was having with my friends and raise an eyebrow at her "And how exactly is this any of your business?"

She gives a 'shy' smile, almost making me shiver "It is the business of any tavern keeper to know things."

I will just play along for now "Oh, and I didn't know I was so renowned that people could recognize me on sight."

Once again she shows a placating smile "But of course, one of your name is already well known through the land. The only tongue beside the greybeards or Ulfric will draw many eyes."

I roll my eyes "Okay, stop that right now I am not an idiot. What do you want?"

She drops the persona and chuckles "Honestly I was just curious at what you were doing here, that is all."

"We are just going to ignore how you knew who I was then?" I scoff.

"I won't tell if you don't" She winks.

Oh I am going to be so happy when you search for the dragonstone and find it missing.

I sigh "We are going bandit hunting."

"Oh? I wasn't aware one needs a claw key to hunt bandits."

I narrow my eyes "What. do. you. want?"

She shakes her head "Nothing, don't worry about it. Enjoy your evening." She leaves us abruptly, almost as if she got her answer somehow.

"What was that all about boss?" Davos asks.

"I will explain later." I wave him off and grab the bottle of mead "For now, I need a drink."

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