None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free -Johann Wolfgang von Geothe
Chapter 21: Message Delivered
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The massive doors of the Palace of Kings were swung open. In came a small messenger boy, running to Ulfric, but stopped by his advisor. "Message from Whiterun!"
He said proudly.
"Go on."
said Ulfric. The boy pulled out a familiar scroll, one Ulfric had seen before. He gulped with dread as he remembered the parchment on which the message had been written. It read:
Torygg Highest of Kings, Jarl Ulfric, O' Highest Liar
You, by code of law, are required to accept any challenge given by any jarl of the holds of Skyrim. I, Ulfric Stormcloak, challenge you to a duel to the death. I will arrive, with personal guard, at the sunrise of Morndas.
The Jester
-Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm
-The Jester, Newly Appointed Jarl of Whiterun
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The messenger re-rolled the scroll and handed it to Ulfric, who sat motionless with an awe-struck expression painted on his face. Everybody in Ulfric's court was silent and watching. Galmar grunted in question. "Shall I prepare the Front-Court for a duel?" "It has become apparent to me that Whiterun has turned against us. Thane, what say you?" He asked a man in stormcloak armor, donning a horned, iron helmet. "We attack." He replied, bluntly. Ulfric nodded. "We attack." He said with conclusion. "I want an army marched into the Whiterun Hold in two days' time. I also want a battalion of troops guarding Windhelm and her peoples." "Yes, my king!" Galmar shouted.
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The Jester rose from his throne. He removed the Jagged Crown from his head, and left the Great Hall of Jorrvaskr, dropping the Jagged Crown at the door. A single sentence escaped from his lips to Balgruuf. "Prepare, Jarl, you'll need more than a simple House-Carl." He said, leaving the warm abode and moving towards the Sky-Forge. He ascended the steps and received dirty looks from the men and women below. The old man, Eorland greeted him grudgingly. "You've got guts to roam Whiterun like this. If it was my say, I would have a Sky-Forge sword between your eyes." "I come to this Sky-Forge for it's perfect metal, and for the honor, in which you mettle. So without confrontation, we will hopefully settle. I need your skills, not your mind, if you won't help me, another I will find! What I need is actually quite simple, but the metal shall be without imperfect dimple. Only your best, I want in my hold. And in return, limitless gold." Eorland pressed his temples against The Jester's rhymes. "You're right to say I honor my craft, but I don't have to help you, Jester."
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The Jester grinned darkly. He recalled a poem Cicero had told him regarding the Companions, Eorland's employers.
"So 'Time to Die!' says the beast, and came to me in search of a feast, until his strength had ceased. When Mr. Beasty's attacks had ceased, old Cicero's pace increased, and when the Wolf's life-force had decreased, Mr. Beasty had become deceased. A certain friend of mine had said 'a Companion has been found dead!' and then I realized whose blood had been bled. A hero's blood I had shed, in defense of his people to whom he was wed! The story's moral is truly it's boon, never walk Whiterun under a full moon." The Jester said, accusingly. "You are no man. A coward is what you are." "Oh, I'm offended!" The Jester mocked, raising a womanly hand in defense. "What do you want, you child." he grunted. The Jester leaned in, but Eorland backed up in defense. The Jester put a hand to his mouth and whispered in Eorland's ear. "Impossible! That would take more than a few days to finish!" He yelled. "I'm sure you'll say otherwise when you see your pay." The Jester grinned. "Better get started." He said as he turned and walked away.
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He exited Whiterun and walked to the carriage-driver. "I'd like to hire your carriage, sir." "Where to?" The man asked. "The giant's camp North of town." The Jester said. "Don't worry, I am on good terms with them." "That's what the last fellow said, but I suppose I could take you." He said. The Jester hopped in and dropped a coinpurse onto the man's lap. The Jester thought of Adeline, the oracle. He planned visit, but concluded that there was no time to waste. "Wait until I'm finished, and you'll get more gold." He said, ensuring the driver's loyalty. They arrived at the giant's camp, and received suspicious looks from the large men before hearing one call out "Ab Gyang Na!" Before long, all of the giants began to cheer at their king's return. The Jester gathered the giants to his throne and he stood on the seat. He spent hours trying to translate his message to them, but after countless attempts, they understood his plea. They conversed amongst themselves with incomprehensible gargles. They bowed before The Jester, and again, he felt immense power. He loaded as much of the giant's gold as possible into a sack, and had one of the giants carry it to the cart. The Jester gave the carriage driver a solid-gold egg. What the giants needed this egg for was uncertain, but the poor cabby appreciated it. "Back to Whiterun, I suppose?" "Yes, my good friend, yes."
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The Jester dragged the gigantic sack of gold through the streets and called to Eorland to help him unload when he reached Jorrvaskr. They began lugging it up the steps to the Sky-Forge. "What's in here? Rocks?" "No! Metals!" The Jester called back. Sunset was approaching fast. "Take a look. Will this be enough to cover the expenses?" Eorland opened the neck of the sack, and almost fainted when he laid his eyes upon the gold. "I want the project to be finished by tomorrow night." The Jester said. It seemed nearly impossible for any human to accomplish. "Good, then I will hire many men to accompany me!" He laughed. "Go. Return tomorrow night." He said, turning to his forge and cracking his knuckles.
Meanwhile...
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Cicero returned from a long hunt to Rorikstead, a deer slung over his shoulder with a clean knife cut along it's throat. Several stab marks were visible along the animal's abdomen, a poor attempt to release anger and frustration. He walked into Grandma's house and laid the animal on the table. "Hello dear!" she called. "Peyton wanted me to tell you that he was heading to Whiterun. And a lizard came to town earlier today. He said he was looking for you. Oh, Cicero, You must be very popular!" she said softly, obviously unaware of the danger. "Did the lizard say where he would be?" "Not exactly, but he said he would be at his childhood home, but that's all. If you don't mind me, I've got some errands to run. Help yourself to anything you find!" she said. Cicero grinned, grabbed an apple off of a nearby shelf, and wandered South. He approached the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, where he found that the dead imperial's bodies had disappeared, and the only figure there was an argonian man, laying on the hollowed log. "Veezara" He said. "I knew you would come." the man replied. "Why did you call me?" "The Jester. He's digging deeper. He'll be going after Ulfric soon, from what I see. My friend in Whiterun told me that he had taken the Jarl's throne just to send a message to him." "I don't care. Me and him are finished." He said, sounding surprisingly sane.
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"What do you mean finished?" he asked. "Don't you see? The Jester is the reason for all of this! Why do you care?" "Because he spared me when he had no reason to. Believe it or not, Cicero, this man has honor." "Oh, please!" Cicero cried. "Honorable is not a word to describe this man!" he lashed out in a crazed tone "He is an animal! He kills with no remorse and only cares about his revenge!" "Is revenge a bad thing, Cicero?" "No, I don't suppose so." he said, defeated. He hated The Jester and wanted him dead for being a means to the Brotherhood's demise, but knew that it was unreasonable. "To be honest, he is more honorable than I am. He at least has the courage to seek vengeance." he said, pouting. "Cicero, what is that supposed to mean?" "It means I'm nothing but a coward! I will avenge mother. Whether I have his help or not!" "Help him first, Cicero. Your anger blinds you." "Why help him? You said yourself that revenge isn't bad!" "Brother, if Ulfric is not dealt with first, the empire will be in defense. If Ulfric is dead, then the empire will attack, focusing all it's attention on one goal. That is the time to strike." he said. Darkness rose and took over the night sky, while Cicero and Veezara travelled to Whiterun.