Part XI: Forbidden Secrets
Folgunthur. Where one of the amulet shards was supposed to be held or at least according to that book about legends and rumors. It could just as easily be a dead end, but it was on the way to Solitude. Talk about lucky. Or was it?
Technically it would have been easier to go south and then head north via Dragonbridge, but I would rather avoid too many towns with a vampire in tow and likely a bounty on my head. Serana said she could hide her appearance with magic, but I wasn’t about to test my luck.
It wasn’t uncommon for smugglers to hide boats along the riverbanks. They wait for shipments to go overboard in the dead of night, then they silently row in and pick them up.
We were casing a place to rest until nightfall when we found the abandoned camp and journal. The camp looked kind of fresh but it mentioned Folgunthur and the Gauldur legend I had read about. I noticed the amulet piece I wore hummed again when we got near the place.
I said, “Change of plans. We’re checking this place out.”
Serana said, “What about--?”
“I’ll get you home but you didn’t specify a time. Once we’re done with this, it’s straight to your place. Khash, you know the drill. The journal mentioned traps and undead so we’re in for it.”
Good thing a group of other adventurers ran in ahead of us. The corpses and blood from the triggered traps saved us quite a bit of trouble. Too bad they didn’t get far, including the guy who started the expedition. Some dark elf whose name no one will ever remember. He knew the truth about the Gauldur legend. Father murdered by three sons out of jealousy, how original. So these guys were so powerful that the High King had to send his personal archmage and an army to deal with them.
Serana didn’t ask about the amulet and I didn’t explain it. Just bringing the two pieces together I sense the power emanating from them. It was as if they were long-lost friends reunited. It felt strange.
This place also had a word wall. I wondered if there was a connection. I was also getting used to it, but I still had no clue what the words meant.
I had promised Serna we would go to her house but I so needed a bath and Solitude was right there. When I mentioned it, Serana’s face lit up saying she never saw the Solitude Windmill.
Guess now she was getting her chance.
I knew a back way into the city and it was dark so there was little chance of being spotted.
Turned out Khash wasn’t used to large cities either. Goody, I’m stuck with outsiders who probably never even kissed someone or had a friend that wasn’t a bird.
Whatever. They’re both handy in a fight so maybe I shouldn’t complain.
But now that I have a chance to sit still, I can’t help but wonder why I’m taking her home with an Elder Scroll. Why am I doing any of this? There was no coin in this and it wasn’t as if I gave a skeever’s ass about this place.
Even now, the thought of taking the Elder Croll and running off into the night leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I could easily sell that thing and be set for life.
So why haven’t I left yet?
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