Word and Wyrd - Chapter 19 - dreamofthelight (2025)

Chapter Text

“By the Eight, Sheogorath himself?” Falk shuddered in horror after Constance and Casavir had relayed what happened in the Pelagius Wing. “Tell me he’s gone!”

“The wing is purged of the Daedric infection,” Casavir said, having removed his helmet to reveal an impressive black eye and split lip. “A good scrub-down with blessed saltwater and burning of whatever tapestries and wooden furniture remain in there should banish the last traces of the Madgod’s influence.”

Falk nodded decisively. “I’ll get Styrr onto it. He’s our resident Priest of Arkay and I reckon whatever works on the undead will protect us from the Daedra. I’ll carry news to Jarl Elisif. I assume Wolfskull Cave is next?”

Casavir touched his cheek gingerly. “We’ll investigate in two days or so. It was no pleasure to exorcise the Madgod from a place he’d long held.”

The Steward shuddered again. “I can imagine. Go then to your rest. I think your absence from dinner tonight will be understood.”

Given Wolfskull Cave’s dark reputation, Constance wasn’t looking forward to it, but she knew it was part of the price for gaining Elisif’s protection. Regardless of whatever Casavir said about the Madgoddess’s redemption, the Penitus Oculatus wouldn’t believe him and would watch her like a lynx stalking a doe. Until that Thaneship was hers, she was still in danger.

Offering Falk weary nods, they made their way back to the Blue Palace’s guest chambers. Casavir was as exhausted as anyone she’d ever seen and nearly every inch of his exposed warm olive skin was mottled with blue-black bruising. Well, they said Aurelia Northstar had fists like sledgehammers, and her Daedric might could have pierced even the Aedra-forged plate-and-mail of a Divine Crusader. “Do you need a healing potion?” Constance asked cautiously when they reached his door. “I’m sure I can scrounge one up-“

“I have healing potions for when my magicka is at its dregs,” Casavir interrupted, passing a gauntleted hand over his face. They were carefully not discussing the post-exorcism embrace they’d shared because of the tension but she was still nevertheless keenly aware of it. “We need to talk.”

“Don’t we always?” she asked ruefully.

A wry flicker of a smile crossed his face. “We must make plans for Wolfskull. It is best that Kaidan and Aela be present as well.”

Constance nodded. “Of course, I’ll go get them.”

After washing her face in the basin of warm water left in her chamber, Constance used Clairvoyance to find Aela in the Blue Palace’s library. Her brief time with the Companions had taught her that the heroes of Jorrvaskr prized knowledge as a potential weapon and so all of them were literate enough to read most printed books. Much to her surprise, Kaidan was there, perusing some ancient tome with a studious expression on his face. Well, that saved her from having to find them both.

The Huntress raised her gaze from the book she was reading. “Constance,” she greeted with a nod. “How went the exorcism?”

“It went,” Constance said ruefully. “Took a vacation in Pelagius’s mind and restored a measure of sanity to him. He’s no longer haunting the place and the Madgod got bored, so he left the wing.”

“Then it was a success.” Aela set the book aside. “How are you? I could not intervene because it wasn’t a direct danger to Skyrim.”

“I’m… better than expected.” Constance sighed. “Casavir took the brunt of it.”

“That’s sort of his job,” Aela said amusedly.

“I offered to come, to pay the debt, but he wouldn’t let me,” Kaidan said, lifting his eyes from the tome in his hand. “Glad that’s over. What’s next?”

“Wolfskull Cave,” Constance told him. “And then Dead Men’s Despite, but that’s a personal favour for the Bards College to gain access to the archives and the title of honorary bard.”

“Hmm. Wise of you to get official sanction as a skald,” Aela mused. “That will give you a limited immunity, even in the Old Holds, as bards are generally sacrosanct.”

“Precisely. So Casavir wants to discuss a plan for Wolfskull,” Constance told them both. “Given he’s the expert and there’s a dark reputation, I think we should do it.”

Both of them nodded and returned the books to their shelves before leaving the library with her. Because they were in a civilian setting, both had left their armour in their room, Aela wearing a leather halter top and leggings and Kaidan wearing a much-mended shirt and breeks. She needed to find some better clothing once she accessed her savings with the East Empire Trade Company. Vittoria Vicci was likely apprised of the situation through her Penitus Oculatus contacts. Facing her former employer was going to be… fraught.

Casavir’s guest chamber was larger than the one she’d been given, befitting his status as the Divine Crusader and a knight of noble birth, and they all took seats at the table where a platter of cold meat, vegetables, fruit, bread and cheese had been left by the servants. The Paladin had drunk a healing potion, turning his bruising yellow-green, and had doffed his armour for a white shirt, black breeks and low soft shoes. His steel-blue eyes flickered between Kaidan and Aela, narrowing briefly as his mouth turned downwards. What had he seen to displease him so?

But he remained silent until everyone was seated and had filled their plates before speaking. In the time she’d been seeking them out, he’d washed himself and combed his hair, and the slightly raffish appearance of his black eye contrasted against the perfect grooming of the penultimate Colovian Knight. Was Casavir one person who could don the mask of the Divine Crusader at will or was he two people in one? She had to wonder while recognising that it was hypocritical of her to be so perturbed by it when she’d faked her own death to assume her literary identity.

“In two days, we will seek out Wolfskull Cave,” Casavir said gravely in that deep baritone. “Given Potema’s reputation as a Conjurer, I suspect we will face threats of an undead or Daedric nature. I have experience but what of you two?”

“Companions fight many enemies,” Aela said immediately. “Constance and I faced draugr on our way here when we dared the tomb of Terrfyg for the Word there. It was no great difficulty for myself.”

They’d also gone there to retrieve shards of Wuuthrad and Constance had very carefully refrained from thinking about what she learned from the Huntress. The werewolves of Jorrvaskr maintained their human intelligence and instincts in beast form, allowing them to act tactically, and that edge had allowed them to survive the Silver Hand’s ambush. But she got the impression that Kodlak wanted to change things for them, much to the happily lupine Aela’s dissatisfaction.

“Fought undead as well,” Kaidan said shortly. “Ebony breaks them like dry sticks.”

“Undead are one thing, the Daedra another,” Casavir said softly. “I will drill Constance in Restoration so that she can hold her own. I recommend that you two purchase healing potions and beneficial scrolls that will even the odds should we be facing a coven of Conjurers or even a haunting. The dragons’ return has thrown open the gates between planes of existence, it seems.”

“Got plenty of healing potions,” Kaidan assured him. “Don’t hold with magic otherwise.”

“Then you’re being foolish,” Aela observed, rolling her eyes. “Magic is a tool like any other. It shouldn’t be neglected in a battle like this.”

“I’ll handle the scrolls,” Constance said quietly. “I have the barest skill in archery, so I’ll probably be better use as the ‘mage’ of the group.”

Casavir inclined his head. “Good. Can you find Wolfskull Cave?”

“With my Clairvoyance, sure.”

“Then in two days, we shall deal with that place. Then Dead Men’s Respite.”

“Old Olaf One-Eye’s tomb?” Aela asked. “I’m guessing that’s for the Bards College.”

“It is,” Casavir confirmed. “We might as well spend a few days away from Solitude dealing with both before returning to deliver the news to the court and College.”

“Works for me. I know how to forage off the land,” Kaidan agreed readily. “Northern Hjaalmarch is rich in deer and mudcrabs.”

Aela tapped her chin thoughtfully. “If we’re up that way, we could deal with the bandits who took over the River Bridge on the border of Hjaalmarch and Whiterun. Falk’s offered a bounty because of its effect on traffic and trade.”

“They’d have good loot,” Kaidan observed. “I say we do it.”

Casavir nodded. “Very well, then we shall do so, as long as there’s no danger to Constance.”

“Pfft, after undead and Daedra, a few bandits will be easy,” Kaidan said with a laugh.

Aela rose lithely to her feet. “If that’s it, I’d best be going before all the healing potions are cleared out from the alchemist’s.”

“I’ll join you,” Kaidan said, standing up. “Leave you two alone, I reckon.”

“Ah yes, so he can ‘drill’ her,” Aela agreed, smirking. “I bet there will be much… drilling.”

Casavir gave her a frosty look. “I don’t understand what you mean by that, Huntress.”

Kaidan grinned. “She’s implying you two are going to fuck.”

The Paladin’s gaze got even frostier as Constance rolled her eyes. “There is nothing indecent going on between myself and the Dragonborn.”

“Well then, there’s half your problem,” Kaidan snickered. “Might need a good grip and some dwarven oil to remove the stick up your arse, but I reckon Constance can do it.”

Very amusing,” Casavir said icily.

I thought it was,” Aela said with a laugh as she headed for the door. “Enjoy your ‘training’, Constance. I expect a full report on his performance.”

The two of them left the room, laughing, and when the door was closed again Casavir buried his face in his hands for a long moment, allowing himself an aggrieved sigh. Constance said nothing as she knew things were tense and tentative between them still, even after today’s events.

But the Paladin recovered himself quickly, raising steel-blue eyes to her. “We shall begin with the basics for Restoration,” he said stiffly, the bruise on his cheek almost concealing the slight blush. “Unless you were taught that in the Workhouse?”

“Yes,” Constance said softly. “I know Healing.”

“That’s a start.” Casavir studied his uneaten plate. “But we should eat first. The exorcism and Renuncio were draining and I will need the energy.”

They ate in a slightly awkward silence, Constance savouring some of the best food she’d ever eaten while Casavir ate a hearty meal that suited an active warrior who wore heavy armour. Snowberry juice had been provided to wash it all down and by the time the meal was done, her stomach was almost uncomfortably full. Despite everything, she could appreciate good food.

Once the meal was done and the plates collected by the servants, Casavir looked distantly at the wall past Constance’s shoulder. “Aela is touched by the Daedric Princes,” he said finally, expression now troubled. “Do you know anything about that?”

Constance looked at him sombrely. “I don’t get involved in her religious choices, Casavir. More than that, I can’t tell you as a member of the Companions.”

“Ah. There have been… rumours.” Casavir made a face. “The so-called Silver Hand are thugs masquerading as Vigilants. It is troubling that a major institution in Skyrim has become morally compromised. But we will need their help.”

“Restoration?” Constance asked, tactfully changing the subject before he could press her for more answers about the Companions.

“Of course.” He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “We shall begin with Solar Ray, as it is a cantrip…”

For all his rigidity and self-righteousness, Casavir was an excellent teacher, and she found herself learning more than she expected from him in the hour or so they spent working on her knowledge of Restoration. For now, the tension had been set aside, though she knew it was still there from the looks they exchanged now and then. But she couldn’t tell if it was from her deception or the fact that he was a very attractive man.

Gods help her.

Word and Wyrd - Chapter 19 - dreamofthelight (2025)
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