Ake...#95

Bit of a tease here really. Not as much of a "...and so it begins." as I was intending on, but it is a start.

Akasha

Entry 8

Markarth puzzled me slightly. Not because it was an unusual city really, but because it was a Dwarven city. In use. Obviously not by the Dwarves themselves, but rather it was the capital of the Reach. I found it interesting, since, well...even if I had not visited Skyrim's other cities, this one certain had a first impression that I do not know if the others could possibly beat. What would this be?

A sign of some serious political corruption. Not the kind that you have people gossip about, and perhaps is not the problem it is made out to be, but rather the kind that it takes a mass of fools to not see what is really going on. Which Markarth may just be, I cannot say for sure.

One of the men standing in the small market in front of me suddenly pulled a dagger, and walked over to a woman near a different stall. He proceeded to stab her in the back, shouting something I heard before. About the Forsworn. While a small panic ensued because of this, the guards quickly cut the man down. Only, after this, they rebuffed the claim that a woman made, that the Forsworn were here in the city. I did not doubt the possibility, since I had seen them, or at least knew they took over a mine very close to the city. I dealt with that problem myself, but the one here? Somehow, I am not sure if I want to get involved.

On my way past one of the guards, which was not exactly the first time it happened, since the guards here seem to be overly fond of making small talk, even if it never becomes a real conversation. Either way, one of them mentioned something about the Dawnguard. Apparently a group of Vampire hunters that were recruiting. The guard did mention Vampire attacks as well, which I had seen little to no sign of. I did certainly hope it was not referring to any of my actions in the Reach, but then, most of it was not near any villages, or the like, so I do not think so. None of it was within Markarth either.

I questioned, though only to myself, if perhaps this was something to look into. I had very little business in Markarth, and really, even with a few other things I wanted to take care of, none of it was that pressing. So after trading with the cities' blacksmith, I left the city, speaking to the Carriage driver.

The only two questions he asked were rather obvious, only that he questioned me on both the area of Skyrim that I wished to travel to, and exactly where in that...oh, sorry, hold, I wanted to go. As I was told, I wanted to go to Riften, since the mentioned location was southeast of the city.

I climbed in the black, and pulled the hood of my cloak over my head. Even with the sun being perhaps not the danger that I've heard it is for other Vampires, I still find it irritating. I had little idea of how long this was going to take, and even with the few bottles of blood that I have, I would rather not exactly have to waste a few once I arrive in Riften.

~

“You think I am done with you? Ha. Ha. Well, perhaps. It's just that, I looked into things, and, I am impressed.”

I looked up, and once again stared into a face with mismatched eyes. This time much closer than before, considering the carriage. “What do you mean?”

“Some aspects of order I like. At least one I kept in a hollow at knifepoint. The information is useful. Especially for things that are beyond my mortality – even if none is left. But that so called prophet. Clearly, he was wrong. Or you made him that way. I know it was not me.”

He smiled, though I almost think he can't do much else. “I won't tell you why things went wrong. Mostly because you already know. But what I will, is that not everything from that life is gone. You, for instance. Also, I think that high one is still around somewhere. Will you encounter her? Or will she be a bystander, that you never look twice at. Huh? What is that? Nevermind.”

I sighed. “If you mean that Kana survived, then that is great. Though I don't know if I would want to run into her. Having to explain all of it, even if most of it she knows, I'm not sure if I want to.”

“Then that is the choice you make. You don't want to see her again? Then you won't. Sometimes fate is not about being written on some scroll, but rather what you want it to be.”

I shrugged. “I do not know. Most I am going to do is see about the Dawnguard, but beyond that I do not know.”

He smirked, but even still looking slightly heartbroken for a moment. “Then no dra...ah well. I did say that it is your choice. Plus I am not the one dictating your fate. You are. I would simply mention that perhaps you should think about what it is that you want, and weigh that against the way things are. Would you wish a return to royalty, or perhaps would you simply wish to etch out a place for yourself, royalty or not? You know what you will do, as always, consider the situation – no matter how enticing one side may be. Still, you have accepted serenity before, perhaps you should continue to do so.”