Ancano swirled the wine in his goblet before glancing back at his dinner guest. He’d been slightly surprised when Ondolemar had shown up at Winterhold and the Mage’s College in particular. Especially since last he’d heard, Ondolemar had last been in Solitude to visit Elenwen at the Thalmor Embassy. For once Ancano was happy to be stuck in the wintry wastes of the Mages’ College—he could happily leave that nest of vipers to his superior. What with the events at the Embassy, Ancano had already made some discreet inquiries. Ondolemar had been nowhere near the Embassy when it was burned to the ground. In fact, Ondolemar had been on his way back to his posting in Markarth. A nice bit of work if Ancano could decipher it, grinned the Altmer mage to himself. “So, my old friend, what brings you to this frozen wasteland of a college?”
Ondolemar took a sip of his wine and set the goblet on the table at his elbow. “A favor, Ancano. If I recall, you once encountered the Dragonborn, correct?”
Ancano chuckled, leaning back in his own chair, long lean fingers steepled at his chin. “Ah. Yes, Mistress Katrin—she burgled my quarters for a very fine drinking horn as I recall. I taught her the error of stealing from the college--and me--with the help of a rather pretty Dwemer artifact. Ended up invited to her wedding as a result.” He grinned. “Quite an oddly pleasant little Breton.”
Ondolemar nodded. He’d heard the story at the wedding feast in Riften when he’d attended the same wedding. And he remembered seeing Ancano there, the pale-maned Altmer hovering in the shadows. “That she is. But that leads me to my visit, Ancano.” He took a breath, his fingers playing over the condensation on his goblet. “We have a situation. What knowledge do you have of her associations?”
Ancano’s lips pursed as he thought. “According to reports, she’s the head of a resurgent Thieves’ Guild. She’s also the Harbinger for the Companions in Whiterun, though she’s passed most of the responsibility to the brothers Vilkas and Farkas, correct?”
Ondolemar nodded, motioning for the Thalmor mage to continue.
Ancano tapped his chin with his fingertips as his other hand returned to the wine. “She also holds the rank of Legate in the Imperial Army and she is the Listener for the Dark Brotherhood, correct?”
Ondolemar’s eyes widened. He wasn’t aware the other Mer knew about that last tidbit of information. “You are very well informed.”
Ancano shrugged, his smile self-deprecating as he accepted the compliment. “I must be--as your subordinate, Ondolemar. Besides, she’s a regular visitor in Winterhold, visiting both Nelacar and Enthir.” The mage lifted his goblet back to his lips, savoring the wine. It really was an excellent vintage. “Why the questions about Lady Katrin?”
Ondolemar sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Because our dear Emissary took it upon herself to act, without orders from the Dominion, to kidnap, rape and torture her with the intention of killing her.” He watched his fellow Altmer pale and nodded. “While I can appreciate tactically the value of eliminating the Dragonborn,” he allowed slowly, watching Ancano nod in agreement, “her timing and tactics leave a great deal to be desired. Even as we are talking now, wheels have been set in motion that she could have in no way imagined.”
Ancano leaned back in his chair, meeting his fellow Mer’s gaze. “I already received a missive from the Sunset Isles, as I’m sure you are aware, Ondolemar. Our superiors have named you the new Emissary and Ambassador to the Empire and Skryim.” Ancano lifted his goblet in toast to his better. “As I’m sure you expected.”
Ondolemar allowed a small nod of acknowledgement. “But since the Dark Brotherhood has burned our Embassy to the ground, I don’t think I’ll be relocating from Markarth any time soon.” He leaned towards his fellow Mer. “You, however, are going to be relocating, Ancano. I’m not convinced that having you here in Winterhold isn’t an abominable waste of a resource. I intend to send you to Riften. Arrangements have already been made for your new residence.”
Re: Any - Avenging the Dragonborn/etc. "Mostly Dead" (4a/?) F!DB/Others
Ondolemar took a sip of his wine and set the goblet on the table at his elbow. “A favor, Ancano. If I recall, you once encountered the Dragonborn, correct?”
Ancano chuckled, leaning back in his own chair, long lean fingers steepled at his chin. “Ah. Yes, Mistress Katrin—she burgled my quarters for a very fine drinking horn as I recall. I taught her the error of stealing from the college--and me--with the help of a rather pretty Dwemer artifact. Ended up invited to her wedding as a result.” He grinned. “Quite an oddly pleasant little Breton.”
Ondolemar nodded. He’d heard the story at the wedding feast in Riften when he’d attended the same wedding. And he remembered seeing Ancano there, the pale-maned Altmer hovering in the shadows. “That she is. But that leads me to my visit, Ancano.” He took a breath, his fingers playing over the condensation on his goblet. “We have a situation. What knowledge do you have of her associations?”
Ancano’s lips pursed as he thought. “According to reports, she’s the head of a resurgent Thieves’ Guild. She’s also the Harbinger for the Companions in Whiterun, though she’s passed most of the responsibility to the brothers Vilkas and Farkas, correct?”
Ondolemar nodded, motioning for the Thalmor mage to continue.
Ancano tapped his chin with his fingertips as his other hand returned to the wine. “She also holds the rank of Legate in the Imperial Army and she is the Listener for the Dark Brotherhood, correct?”
Ondolemar’s eyes widened. He wasn’t aware the other Mer knew about that last tidbit of information. “You are very well informed.”
Ancano shrugged, his smile self-deprecating as he accepted the compliment. “I must be--as your subordinate, Ondolemar. Besides, she’s a regular visitor in Winterhold, visiting both Nelacar and Enthir.” The mage lifted his goblet back to his lips, savoring the wine. It really was an excellent vintage. “Why the questions about Lady Katrin?”
Ondolemar sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Because our dear Emissary took it upon herself to act, without orders from the Dominion, to kidnap, rape and torture her with the intention of killing her.” He watched his fellow Altmer pale and nodded. “While I can appreciate tactically the value of eliminating the Dragonborn,” he allowed slowly, watching Ancano nod in agreement, “her timing and tactics leave a great deal to be desired. Even as we are talking now, wheels have been set in motion that she could have in no way imagined.”
Ancano leaned back in his chair, meeting his fellow Mer’s gaze. “I already received a missive from the Sunset Isles, as I’m sure you are aware, Ondolemar. Our superiors have named you the new Emissary and Ambassador to the Empire and Skryim.” Ancano lifted his goblet in toast to his better. “As I’m sure you expected.”
Ondolemar allowed a small nod of acknowledgement. “But since the Dark Brotherhood has burned our Embassy to the ground, I don’t think I’ll be relocating from Markarth any time soon.” He leaned towards his fellow Mer. “You, however, are going to be relocating, Ancano. I’m not convinced that having you here in Winterhold isn’t an abominable waste of a resource. I intend to send you to Riften. Arrangements have already been made for your new residence.”