I wake up feeling 10 years younger, it's amazing what a pretty girl can do to your spirits.
I make my way downstairs to the dining room and order some eggs and mead. While I eat Corpulus tells me about the different trading stores in Solitude also about the Bard’s College and how to get to the Blue Palace.
Deciding to
start my explorations at the traders just outside the Inn I head off.
As I exit
the Winking Skeever I bump into Gisli, the sister of Erikur the Thane of
Solitude, she seems to think the world revolves around her brother, which is leaving her
in the shadows. Sympathizing with her I move on.
Passing by the
Outfitters Radiant Rainment, I don’t need any clothing just yet.
I come to
the general trader Bits and Pieces.
The woman
behind the counter is a Redguard named Sayma and she is married to the local
smith Beirand.
Sayma is
very friendly and I trade some of my items with her, we chat about the
execution as it’s on everyone’s mind.
Seems the locals are divided as to the
justice of it.
Across the
street is Angeline’s Aromatics, just the place I need to stock up on my ingredients.
On entering I meet a pretty young lady behind the counter whose name is Vivienne
Onis, she is the niece of the owner Angeline. I greet her politely and she asks
if I saw the execution, ‘Yes’ I reply, not sure if she is for or against it.
‘I think he deserved to die for helping Ulfric escape’ she
announces in return.
‘You may be right’ I reply in a non-committal way, not
wanting to offend her.
'This must be your Aunt’ nodding my head respectfully at the
older woman that was standing next to Vivienne.
‘Can I help you’ Angeline Morrard asks.
‘I need some ingredients and training if possible?’
‘I can’t assist in your training young man but I can sell
you herbs and potions if you desire’ Angeline replies.
We trade for some new
ingredients I have not seen before and I ask permission to use her alchemy
table. Permission granted I start to experiment with the new ingredients and
thankfully this time my eyebrows remain intact.
After about an hour at the alchemy bench I say my goodbyes
and leave the shop.
The next stop the smith.
I greet Bierand warmly and we exchange some news and I
deduce that he is clearly in favour of 'The Empire' running things.
I ask permission to use his forge and buy some steel ingots
from him. These I keep for later.
My next stop is the Fletcher just next door to Beirand.
Fihada another Redguard, seems to be a few in Solitude, is
the owner of the store.
After we exchange greetings he curiously asks me if I am
after some dragon-slaying arrows, declining his offer I wonder who he thinks I
am.
Does he know me perhaps?
‘Have you seen me before?’ I ask
hurriedly.
‘Never in my life’ he replies looking up from his seat to
get a better look at me.
My hopes dashed I mutter ‘I’ll take my leave then’ in return.
Outside I walk down the stone ramp wondering if I am ever
going to find out about my past. At the bottom of the ramp I see a square
filled with stalls, it must be the Market area. I head toward it.
The first stall is the Fishmonger Advarr. I discover that it
was his wife’s brother they executed; he tells me that he is focusing on
providing for his family as best he can during these tough times. I offer my
condolences and move on.
The next stall is Jala’s Fresh Produce.
She greets me by
telling me that I could do with a ripe apple because one a day will keep me
healthy.
‘I’ll take six then’ I reply not wanting to succumb to any
sudden illness.
The last stall in the market is the wine merchant.
Evette San tells me that she has a particular family recipe for spiced wine that I cannot get from anywhere else.
Intrigued I ask for a sample to taste.
‘Heavenly’, ‘I’ll take two bottles please.’
Paying for the wine Evette asks if I can help her with a problem she is having with one of her shipments down at the docks.
As I am planning on visiting the docks anyway I agree to
speak to the customs to find out what the issue is.
I say ‘goodbye’ relieved that I do not have to offer my
condolences to anyone again.
Marching off with my spiced wine firmly tucked under my arm
I pass through an archway which reveals some lovely views of the city.
I continue walking down the stone street and pass the Hall
of the Dead. I wonder if there are more skeletons down in the crypts, a chill
passes down my spine. I take solace in the sword hanging by my side and walk
on.
I pass the Bards College and continue until I come to the
Blue Palace.
It is a magnificent building and on entering I see that it
is just as majestic on the inside.
Hearing much commotion I follow the noise up some stairs and
see what must be the Jarl on the High Seat and several important people
surrounding what looks like a messenger.
I overhear the messenger tell the court about some
‘unnatural magic’s’ coming from a place known as Wolfskull Cave.
The Queen
promises to ‘send a legion to scour the cave’.
Convinced the problem will be dealt with swiftly he departs.
In my curiosity I unknowingly moved nearer the edge of the
gathering.
I see an advisor looking directly at me, as I wonder what he is
thinking I hear him persuading the Queen to send a small party to investigate
the cave to be a better option. My eyes bulge, I hope he is not referring to me!
I am not going near some witch infested cave! Backing away
as fast as possible I exit the building thanking Talos that I made it outside
without getting mixed up with that craziness.
Enough exploring for one day, I head back to the Winking
Skeever to enjoy my spiced wine.
Renting a room and ordering some roast venison to go with my
spiced wine I take a seat nearby and listen to Lisette the bard, sing my
favourite tune with that beautiful soothing voice of hers.
After eating half a roast leg of venison washed down with a
bottle of the spiced wine I am ready to hit my bed, my head feels light and
legs heavy as I struggle to coordinate then to make my way up the stairs.
Gratefully I fall into bed, another day over but still no
closer to my goal.
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