The walk to Solitude was uneventful giving me ample time
to admire the city located on a peninsula which in turn was based upon a stone
arch reaching out over the wide Kath River. The majority of the city was
located on the west shore right next to the mountain ridge I descended from
most of it not betraying itself to my view until after I made the complete
descend to make an 180 degree turn up the path towards the main city gate,
across the river at the very tip of the peninsula the blue palace I had heard
much about lay gleaming in the sun, its sapphire roof glistering as if it were
to be the crown of the city. Any majesty one would assign to the city though quickly
gets diluted by the smell of fish and rotten eggs coming from the harbor
district located below the stone arch, a labyrinth of docks, warehouses and
taverns, dirty laborers in constant motion between the three.
Local guards at the tall entrance gate were stopping the
occasional adventurer or merchant from entering and leaving the city,
investigating their knapsacks and asking their basic inquisitive questions. A
nasty glance I got by one of them was all the hindrance I had to deal with
while passing the stone wall protecting the city.
White brick walled buildings with red bricked rooftops
were a far cry from the composition I had gotten used to during my short time
in Skyrim, a province which seemed to pride itself in its straw roofs and
wooden foundations. To my surprise the situation within Solitude its walls was
not too different from that outside, there were quite a few people about
seeming to go about their business on this sunny morning, groups standing in
chatter, merchants yelling what products they were offering, the town crier
equally loud in delivering the latest news, but the general atmosphere appeared
a relaxed one, the civil war did not seem to reach this far west.
Elenwen her directions were easy enough to follow,
passing the city square which was filled with various stands selling meats,
vegetables, spices and linens, Castle Dour was easy enough to spot with its own
inner wall which was taller than the one protecting the entire city blocking
most of the castle from actual sight, passing a couple of Imperial squads
practicing their swordsmanship and archery on the scattered straw practice
targets.
Making my way up the stairs carved into the side of the
eastern wall located next to the mountain I made my way up towards the tall
tower, two Altmer a male and female in moonstone colored elven armor stood in
front of the entrance into the tower, their angular faces hard to characterize
below their helmets.
“Greetings, do you have any business with the
ambassador?” The guard his voice speaking the words clear, but roughly,
betraying his education not to be from Alinor itself.
“The emissary has send me to assist Orondil with his
local affairs.”
“Ah yes, the messenger who brought news of your arrival
just left, you are free to enter.” The female said lowering her shield from her
chest.
Once inside I was acknowledged by a wizard sitting in the
entrance hall, looking up from a spell tome he was reading. I would have
guessed his age to be in the high 200s, his cold stare slightly softening into
a look of inquisition before being lowered once again surveying the contents of
the tome in his hands.
Walking into the main chamber it was easy to see the
resemblance between these Solitude headquarters and the embassy. The almost
identical colour stained windows provided most of the illumination in
the room, making the white walls dance in shades of green, yellow and red. The
room felt a bit cramped with the half dozen of high elves simmering around.
Three of them looking like regular Justiciar soldiers in elven armor one of
them a female with prominent scarring around her neck, two others dressed in
typical Thalmor robes were positioned around the table in the center of the
room bend over a map of a domestic area unknown to me, they were flanked by the one Altmer that stood out in the
room for he was wearing a bronzed gambeson overcoat not too different from the ones I saw various
Nords outside wearing before I entered the headquarters. It was this person I
spoke to.
“I was send by the emissary and told to meet with
Orondil.”
“Speaking.” The long haired mer said as he looked up
from the map. “You must be our beloved new colleague from the south?” His tone
friendly and warm, fitting his equally soft dark yellow almost brown eyes.
Unable to suppress my smirk at the mer is
friendliness, I answered in equally silky tone. “That would be correct. Lady
Elenwen has told me you are in need of assistance?”
Orondil scoffed at the remark. “Hah. You tell them you
see an opportunity, and they feel you are incompetent for not seizing the
opportunity by yourself. Since when is elven supremacy about physical superiority?”
He said while walking up to a bookcase located in the back of the room, pulling
out a letter.
“This is a letter I received from Falk Firebeard
personal steward of High King Torygg. He has requested help with the situation
of illegal black soul gems being exchanged around the local docks. The Imperial
legion has tightened patrols and seized a bunch of shipments, but have been
unable to locate any distributor or specific clients.”
“And you think this would be an opportunity for us to
show some… Thalmor cooperation?” I interrupted him as he handed me the letter.
“Exactly.”
“Where do I begin?”
“Best to speak to the man himself. He works in the
blue palace from eight in the morning till eight in the evening, just like the
rest of these Nords.”
“I shall pay this Firebeard a visit then.” I said
while interchanging the letter in my pocket with the one Elenwen gave me.
“This is from the emissary, as to make my position as
new head of affairs in Solitude official. Obviously it will not interfere with your
diplomatic duties.”
Orondil sighed. “Gladly. Just make sure to watch
yourself, many have come to replace Elenwen after she got promoted and just as
many have left.”
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