Balgruuf realized he had let the silence stretch on too long- all three members of his court were giving him curious looks. Balgruuf sighed and rubbed his temples.
“Are you well, my jarl?” Proventus inquired.
“I’m fine,” Balgruuf snapped, waving a hand dismissively. Between his brother’s condition and debate over what to do about the fort, he’d been up until shortly before dawn. What little sleep he had gotten had been restless and troubled.
He considered for a moment longer, and then stood abruptly. “Proventus. Speak to Commander Caius, get his appraisal of the ranks., and how much patrols will need to be cut. A list of the dead, too.” Their families would have to be notified, and looked to. “Thane Fiora, we will speak of your idea further in my chambers.” Where they wouldn’t be subject to so many prying ears- it would do to keep the knowledge of the Thane’s possibele deeds and Balgruuf’s endorsement of them from as many people as possible.
His Thane and Irileth followed him back to the jarl’s quarters. Breakfast had been laid out upon the table in his rooms, and he gestured for the Thane to sit and eat. When Irileth made to take up her post by the door, he shook his head.
“Join us, my friend,” he said, sitting down as well. “You’ll be standing long enough today and tonight, and I could use your council.” A look passed between them, Irileth’s eyes flashing with stubbornness before her expression softened and she came to sit beside him.
No matter the difficulties he faced, he could always count on Irileth being at his side. He could hardly recall a time when it hadn’t been so.
“So you’ll approve this jo- my idea?” his Thane asked. She had plucked an apple from the tale and was making short work of it.
He sighed. “As little as I like it, yes.” As easy as it was to forget, this woman was the Dragonborn. If she died, the whole of Tamriel would suffer. Yet… she wouldn’t survive as Dragonborn if she couldn’t handle a few bandits. And her confidence spoke of prior experience with similar work.
“Excellent,” she said, grinning widely as she bit into another apple. “I’ll need a set of farmer’s clothes then, and a bushel or two of potatoes or apples, and a horse. Not a noble’s horse- they’ll spot a trap a mile off. A nice, strong plowhorse, worth stealing but not particular attention.”
“Will you take Lydia with you?” Balgruuf asked. The housecarl could even the odds considerably.
His Thane shook her head. “She would have a hard time passing for a farmer, even out of armor,” she said. “I’m much more convincingly ragged.”
“You’re skilled enough to kill them without raising the alarm?” Irileth said.
The Thane nodded. “I am.”
Irileth eyed her appraisingly. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She glanced over at Balgruuf. “With your permission, my jarl.”
Re: Bountry [2.1/?]
Balgruuf realized he had let the silence stretch on too long- all three members of his court were giving him curious looks. Balgruuf sighed and rubbed his temples.
“Are you well, my jarl?” Proventus inquired.
“I’m fine,” Balgruuf snapped, waving a hand dismissively. Between his brother’s condition and debate over what to do about the fort, he’d been up until shortly before dawn. What little sleep he had gotten had been restless and troubled.
He considered for a moment longer, and then stood abruptly. “Proventus. Speak to Commander Caius, get his appraisal of the ranks., and how much patrols will need to be cut. A list of the dead, too.” Their families would have to be notified, and looked to. “Thane Fiora, we will speak of your idea further in my chambers.” Where they wouldn’t be subject to so many prying ears- it would do to keep the knowledge of the Thane’s possibele deeds and Balgruuf’s endorsement of them from as many people as possible.
His Thane and Irileth followed him back to the jarl’s quarters. Breakfast had been laid out upon the table in his rooms, and he gestured for the Thane to sit and eat. When Irileth made to take up her post by the door, he shook his head.
“Join us, my friend,” he said, sitting down as well. “You’ll be standing long enough today and tonight, and I could use your council.” A look passed between them, Irileth’s eyes flashing with stubbornness before her expression softened and she came to sit beside him.
No matter the difficulties he faced, he could always count on Irileth being at his side. He could hardly recall a time when it hadn’t been so.
“So you’ll approve this jo- my idea?” his Thane asked. She had plucked an apple from the tale and was making short work of it.
He sighed. “As little as I like it, yes.” As easy as it was to forget, this woman was the Dragonborn. If she died, the whole of Tamriel would suffer. Yet… she wouldn’t survive as Dragonborn if she couldn’t handle a few bandits. And her confidence spoke of prior experience with similar work.
“Excellent,” she said, grinning widely as she bit into another apple. “I’ll need a set of farmer’s clothes then, and a bushel or two of potatoes or apples, and a horse. Not a noble’s horse- they’ll spot a trap a mile off. A nice, strong plowhorse, worth stealing but not particular attention.”
“Will you take Lydia with you?” Balgruuf asked. The housecarl could even the odds considerably.
His Thane shook her head. “She would have a hard time passing for a farmer, even out of armor,” she said. “I’m much more convincingly ragged.”
“You’re skilled enough to kill them without raising the alarm?” Irileth said.
The Thane nodded. “I am.”
Irileth eyed her appraisingly. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She glanced over at Balgruuf. “With your permission, my jarl.”