“Brynjolf here's an old friend of mine with extensive experience of infiltration and retrieval,” Delphine continued. “There was no one else I trusted with the job and after finding out what was at stake, he's decided to join up and give us a hand. Brynjolf, this is Jarl Elisif, as you know, although only between us. When we're among outsiders, she goes by the name of Maia and is just a humble mercenary.”
“Not terribly humble in that get up,” Brynjolf said, looking her over. “That gear's rather nice, and as for that glowing sword...” He actually whistled. “Nice piece of kit you've got there, lass.”
“Quite,” said Elisif tersely. “But it's the only gear I have so it stays.”
“Oh, I wasn't suggesting you give it up,” Brynjolf said, looking thoughtful. “Only it's likely to attract attention if you walk around populated areas.”
“What, like thieves, you mean?” Aela said, remembering where she'd seen armour like Brynjolf's before.
“It's not the thieves that bother me,” Elisif said, shivering as she remembered that Argonian assassin.
“Nor should it be,” said Delphine, calling them all to attention again. “We've all got bigger problems than petty thieving to worry about. Aela, welcome back. Good to have you back with us. Is your presence likely to be temporary or permanent?”
Aela leaned forward, resting her hands on the table opposite Delphine. “Let's just say I think Elisif is going to need my help for a while longer, and I'm not sure I want to leave her alone with these two strangers when I don't know who they are.”
“In that case, we're glad to have you aboard,” said Delphine, lips quirking in a smile. While it was clear she didn't entirely approve of Aela's reasoning, it was also clear they needed all the help they could get. “Brynjolf, Esbern, this is Aela the Huntress, one of the Companions. I've already introduced Brynjolf, but Esbern here is an old friend of mine from... from before. He's the greatest dragonlore expert the Blades had and he's who the Thalmor were trying to find. Fortunately we got to him first. Esbern... this is Elisif. The Dragonborn.”
“The Dragonborn,” Esbern breathed, stepping forward into the light so Elisif could see him clearly for the first time. Nord, like her, must be in his sixties if not older, clearly having had a rough life if the state of his clothes was anything to go by. He must have been on the run from the Thalmor too. Elisif felt a wave of sympathy for the man. Not easy being on the run for anyone, but at his time of life, he deserved better.
“Is it true, what Delphine says? You can really Shout? Really take a dragon's soul?” Esbern was gazing at her in awe, as if she was the answer to his prayers. Elisif nodded, smiling herself at the genuine delight on his face.
“It's true. I really can,” Elisif promised. “If we run into a dragon, I'll show you although I hope we don't.”
“I hope so too, although I fear it will be otherwise,” Esbern sighed. “But never mind that, you're Dragonborn! This is marvellous news! The world isn't doomed! There is hope! Young lady, you can't even begin to understand what this means for us all.”
“Here we go,” Delphine sighed, rolling her eyes. “Elisif, you'll have to bear with him, he's a little... well, he's got some odd ideas, that's all.”
“You won't be quite so flippant when I'm proved right, and so far I have been,” Esbern said, reaching into his pack for some books. “Here, the prophecy in the Book of the Dragonborn. Once something all Blades knew by heart, although in recent years it appears most of them have been pre-occupied with other matters.” This was followed by a pointed glare at Delphine, and Elisif decided she liked this Esbern. She sidled over, looking over his shoulder at the prophecy he indicated.
Re: The Wolf Queen Awakens 10.2
“Not terribly humble in that get up,” Brynjolf said, looking her over. “That gear's rather nice, and as for that glowing sword...” He actually whistled. “Nice piece of kit you've got there, lass.”
“Quite,” said Elisif tersely. “But it's the only gear I have so it stays.”
“Oh, I wasn't suggesting you give it up,” Brynjolf said, looking thoughtful. “Only it's likely to attract attention if you walk around populated areas.”
“What, like thieves, you mean?” Aela said, remembering where she'd seen armour like Brynjolf's before.
“It's not the thieves that bother me,” Elisif said, shivering as she remembered that Argonian assassin.
“Nor should it be,” said Delphine, calling them all to attention again. “We've all got bigger problems than petty thieving to worry about. Aela, welcome back. Good to have you back with us. Is your presence likely to be temporary or permanent?”
Aela leaned forward, resting her hands on the table opposite Delphine. “Let's just say I think Elisif is going to need my help for a while longer, and I'm not sure I want to leave her alone with these two strangers when I don't know who they are.”
“In that case, we're glad to have you aboard,” said Delphine, lips quirking in a smile. While it was clear she didn't entirely approve of Aela's reasoning, it was also clear they needed all the help they could get. “Brynjolf, Esbern, this is Aela the Huntress, one of the Companions. I've already introduced Brynjolf, but Esbern here is an old friend of mine from... from before. He's the greatest dragonlore expert the Blades had and he's who the Thalmor were trying to find. Fortunately we got to him first. Esbern... this is Elisif. The Dragonborn.”
“The Dragonborn,” Esbern breathed, stepping forward into the light so Elisif could see him clearly for the first time. Nord, like her, must be in his sixties if not older, clearly having had a rough life if the state of his clothes was anything to go by. He must have been on the run from the Thalmor too. Elisif felt a wave of sympathy for the man. Not easy being on the run for anyone, but at his time of life, he deserved better.
“Is it true, what Delphine says? You can really Shout? Really take a dragon's soul?” Esbern was gazing at her in awe, as if she was the answer to his prayers. Elisif nodded, smiling herself at the genuine delight on his face.
“It's true. I really can,” Elisif promised. “If we run into a dragon, I'll show you although I hope we don't.”
“I hope so too, although I fear it will be otherwise,” Esbern sighed. “But never mind that, you're Dragonborn! This is marvellous news! The world isn't doomed! There is hope! Young lady, you can't even begin to understand what this means for us all.”
“Here we go,” Delphine sighed, rolling her eyes. “Elisif, you'll have to bear with him, he's a little... well, he's got some odd ideas, that's all.”
“You won't be quite so flippant when I'm proved right, and so far I have been,” Esbern said, reaching into his pack for some books. “Here, the prophecy in the Book of the Dragonborn. Once something all Blades knew by heart, although in recent years it appears most of them have been pre-occupied with other matters.” This was followed by a pointed glare at Delphine, and Elisif decided she liked this Esbern. She sidled over, looking over his shoulder at the prophecy he indicated.