Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

For the temporary trio who had been lurking for many days, everything was just beginning. But in the eyes of the residents of Markarth, the Love Festival had already begun in the early morning.

Red, gold, and white ribbons, representing joy, love, and purity, draped the buildings lining the streets, dancing in the spring breeze. Tulips and lavender dotted the streets. A carriage laden with gold and silver stood before the gates of the Stone Fortress, its four chestnut mares pulling alongside, a testament to its owner's immense wealth.

This day is not only the Love Festival, but also the anniversary of Lord Igmund's wedding. The esteemed couple will travel through the North City in a carriage, enjoying the fun with the people. In the small square in front of the treasure room, the lord will give a speech and distribute temple-made holiday candy to his subjects.

From here, twenty lucky couples followed the lord and his wife up the steps to the mountaintop, trekking to the Temple of Dibella. They would be married under the goddess' blessing and witnessed by the lord and his wife. Such an honor is extremely rare, and the chosen ones often spontaneously express their respect and gratitude to the temple and the lord.

Aside from these lucky few, Love Heart Festival is a day of revelry for all residents. The market is no longer confined to the market area near the city gate, but spreads across half the city. Not only are the fixed stalls filled with a dazzling array of goods, but even children roam the city, selling flowers to couples.

There is no curfew on this day and the festive festivities continue until sunset, reaching their peak with the start of the temple dances.

As for public security, no one was worried. The lord's guards had completely abandoned South City. The untouchables living there worshipped a foul, evil god and were unworthy of the joy bestowed by the Holy Spirit. In North City, the private armies of the major families stood guard every three steps. How could anyone be so foolish as to stir up trouble on a day like this?

The Silver Blood Family patrol had the largest number of personnel, the best equipment, and the most relaxed expressions. This was because they had received a very firm reply from their leader, the Chanter Yingwa: no accidents would occur today.

Yingwa wasn't exactly a close confidant of the Silver Bloods, but as a senior employee, he certainly knew some inside information—though not entirely. He was almost certain that the Silver Bloods were behind the vast majority of the murders in Markarth. After all, the victims had, to varying degrees, expressed hostility toward his employer.

So, when Tonar told him he could enjoy himself tonight, the former bard immediately used his eloquence to successfully persuade the two blonde beauties to spend the night with him. The leader disappeared into a small room in the Silver Blood Inn, and the minions also took a break from their busy schedules, looking for their own encounters.

With Lord Igmund's return to the Stone Fortress, the guards tactfully returned the city to the shadows. Not everyone could afford a room in an inn, and on this romantic night, no one wanted to be observed by eyes hidden in the shadows.

True, according to the ancient Nordic tradition, inns are supposed to offer free rooms to couples on Heart's Day. However, much like the free ale on New Year's Day, this has gradually become a symbolic gesture. This "waived" fee is often paid in other forms, such as tips.

The purpose of opening a business is to make money, not to pay tribute to ancestors and gods, and certainly not for any sentiment. After all, the ancestors and gods did not pay, and those who talk about sentiment are unwilling to pay a single Septim coin for their sentiment.

As dusk fell, Aigis and others slipped out of the Hall of the Dead.

Iola had already ascertained that Nepos went to the ball every year to hunt for beauties, while Idene would undoubtedly remain at home. Consequently, they had to split up. Agis's target was the treasure chamber, so she and Iola worked together, the catgirl's excellent night vision complementing Iola's weakness. Cindy, on her own, headed to the temple to hunt Nepos.

The three agreed that, regardless of whether they succeeded or not, they would meet at the drain in the south of the city before dawn and then flow out of the city together. If this place was heavily guarded, they would return to the Hall of the Dead and hide until it was safe.

If they took the shortcut from the Hall of the Dead to the treasure room, they would have to pass through the main road in front of the Stone Fortress. The place was decorated with lights, bright as day, and there were guards patrolling from time to time. Aigis didn't dare to approach it alone, let alone with Iola in tow.

So, they chose to walk with Cindy, crossing the mountain road from the slums into the northern part of the city. However, this road was much longer, with many ups and downs, making it difficult to walk. After dodging several couples meeting, Cindy found a shadowy corner and stopped.

"The road forks ahead. I'm going to continue up the mountain to the temple to see if Nepos has arrived. Find a way to bypass this section of the road and keep going down the mountain. After crossing the river, you'll find the treasure room. The house is huge, you can't mistake it."

Cindy said this and turned up the stairs to the right, making no attempt to conceal her whereabouts. It was perfectly normal for a young woman to go to the temple on this day.

Aigis and Iola were in a difficult situation. About twenty or thirty meters to the left of their hiding spot, the mountain path was flanked by steep cliffs. This meant they had to cross this section before they could retreat back into the shadows.

Judging by the sky, the temple dance should have already begun. However, groups of people were still walking along the mountain path, in twos and threes. They were all heading up the mountain. If Aigis were to meet them head-on with her tail trailing, it would certainly arouse suspicion. But a ten-second window would be enough for them to rush over.

Every five meters along the mountain path, there was a torch, its light dancing and dazzling the little cat girl. She had no choice but to hold her breath and rely on her hearing to detect if anyone was approaching. But her eyes only closed for half a minute before opening again.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way, everyone!"

There was a chaotic clatter of footsteps and a clamor of voices at the foot of the mountain. Aigis and Iola exchanged a glance and moved closer to the mountain path.

As a hiking trail, its width was naturally limited, less than two meters at its narrowest point and only about four meters at its widest. Two burly men, arms swung, pushed pedestrians to the sides. Behind them, a group of thugs scurried along, surrounding two ostentatiously dressed figures. The display was like that of an 18th-tier actor on tour, terrified that others wouldn't recognize their status as actors.

The same pattern was embroidered on the cloaks of these people: three silver blood drops arranged in an inverted T shape on a black shield.

The two leaders were a man and a woman.

The man was a bald man with a face full of flesh, of medium build, and a full beard, mostly white, less black. His belly drooped in front of him, bloated yet not bulky. The most striking thing, of course, was his hooked nose, which took up half his face. Though clad in finery, he lacked the air of nobility; instead, he looked more like a bandit.

The woman was in her thirties, with a well-proportioned figure and striking features. Her long, flowing golden hair was gathered up, a few strands dangling around her ears. A dazzling necklace hung around her neck. The centerpiece was a quail egg-sized ruby ​​set in a butterfly-shaped silver base, its light shimmering and captivating. She wore a gorgeous purple dress, embroidered with patterns outlined in silver thread, which shimmered in the torchlight.

The relationship between these two people must be strained. The man, half-smiling, strode ahead at a brisk pace. The woman, holding up her skirt, kept a distance from him, her face stern and silent. An old maid followed behind the woman, carefully holding up the back of her skirt.

After the group walked away, Iola growled at Aigis.

"Idene, that person is Idene! Let's not go down the mountain, kitten, I'm going to kill her!"

"But I want to go to the treasure room..."

Iola grabbed Aigis's arm with such force that the little cat girl almost screamed.

"There are too many of them. Help me first! After you kill her, I'll help you find someone else."

Her single eye gleamed with a bloodthirsty gleam, and Agis, too frightened to refuse, followed her. There was only one way down the mountain, but many more to ascend. They turned in another direction, climbing up the dry drainage canal.

"When we get outside the temple, find a place with good visibility and hide there. Cindy and I will do the work inside. When the crowd rushes out, you shoot arrows to cover our retreat. The three of us will run separately and meet at the designated location. Understand?"

Aiola used her hands and feet, and her mouth was also busy.

"Why do you have to do it inside? It's easy to get blocked."

"Because she owes me an explanation!"

Aigis curled his lips. What else could be explained? Why not just walk over and stab them to death? However, they have over a dozen guards around them; they probably won't be attending the ball. Speaking of which, it's easier to approach the target in the temple. That Cindy is a professional killer. If she chose to go in and do it, there must be a reason, right?

The little cat girl decided to give up thinking. She was good at infiltration, not assassination. She would let others do the exciting things. If they were really blocked, she would slip away and head straight to the treasure room.

Despite their long detour, they arrived before the Silver Bloods. Aigis, scrambling for air on Iola's shoulders, leaped onto the temple roof in a matter of seconds. The roof was overgrown with weeds, and even a few juniper trees had taken root in the cracks of the stone. As the little catgirl vanished, Iola brushed off the shoe prints from her shoulder and pushed open the temple door.

Aigis hopped around in the shadows, choosing the right angles and cover. While she wasn't planning on going all-out, she still had to consider her own safety. Music, singing, chatter, and laughter drifted from the open window at her feet, accompanied by the sweet smell of food.

The little cat girl took a deep breath.

hmm~

Raspberries, snowberries and blueberries, and there must be apple cake and her favorite meatballs on the table...

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

Aigis slowly exhaled the aroma of the meatballs and grabbed the short bow.

Six guards stood on either side of the temple gate, while the remaining eight were busy driving away pedestrians. The bald man didn't pause, but continued walking inside. The noblewoman stopped in her tracks, lifted her skirt, and without turning back, casually instructed the old maid behind her.

"Okay, Nana, this isn't a place for someone like you. Either go back or wait for me here."

Before he finished speaking, a loud bang erupted from the south city. Everyone was startled, and several people ran out to see what was happening.

"Don't move! Or I'll kill her!"

The old maid suddenly drew her dagger and pressed it against the noblewoman's throat. The guards surrounded the two, but dared not advance. The bald man, who had already stepped into the temple, turned and walked out again. He frowned as he studied Idne, his right hand gesturing behind him. A guard near the foot of the mountain quietly turned and prepared to leave.

The sound of a bowstring was heard, and the man was hit by an arrow in the knee. He screamed and fell down the mountain.

"Good shooting! Is that you, my little Kaye?"

Idene hadn't expected to have help, and immediately felt elated. The little cat girl didn't respond, silently shifting to another position. From this vantage point, she could see the temple entrance. A crowd had already gathered there because of the explosion, and now with the kidnapping, even more people had flocked out to watch the excitement.

Aiola was among them, following the crowd and pushing against the Silver Blood Guards standing at the temple gate. The bald man, instructing his men to maintain order, shook his head and sighed as he walked over to Idne.

"You... never mind. I don't care which tribe you're from. I just want to ask you, is it worth it to work for Maidenach?"

Idene took a step back while holding the hostage.

"To die for my king is far better than for you, Nepos, to serve as a dog for the Nords."

"You're talking nonsense! In terms of merit, no matter who you are, you can't compare to me! But how did Maidenach treat me?"

The bald man took two steps forward and cursed.

"You call me a Nord dog? What do you think your respectable king thinks of me? And what do you think he thinks of you? Do you know why so many tribes stood by and watched us being besieged? Bah! Foolish woman, you know nothing!"

Idene stared at him closely, carefully keeping a safe distance.

"Maidnach is a selfish, poisonous snake! He enjoys wine and women in his palace, but he expects others to fight his battles for the rest of his life. Open your eyes and see what the Nords have given me. If Madnach could be so generous, how could he have been defeated?"

Nepos pressed on, and Idene retreated repeatedly. Finally, her foot caught the hem of the noblewoman's skirt, and she lost her balance. The dagger slashed past, and blood splattered everywhere.

"She killed Mrs. Betray! Kill her!"

Nepos rushed forward with a speed unbelievable for a fat man. Though unarmed, he was incredibly ferocious, knocking Idene's dagger away with just a few strikes. Old Deng sneered, transforming his fist into a claw and clawing at his opponent's face.

Two tongues of fire shot out from Idene's palms, licking Nepos's beard. Old Deng lashed out, hitting himself a dozen times before extinguishing the flames. The distance between the two widened again.

The guards rushed forward. Aigis, without hesitation, unleashed a barrage of arrows. It didn't matter which of the two targets was right or wrong; the little catgirl simply had to deal with the minions. But she was a beat too late. Although Idene pushed back the enemy on her right, she was still struck in the left arm.

"You thief! How dare you burn my beard!"

Nepos bared his fangs and claws, and his fat body soared into the air like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

A graceful figure appeared out of nowhere between Nepos and Idene. Cindy leaned forward, plunging the 15-centimeter blade of her dagger into Olden's stomach, creating a deep, long gash. The ghost woman stomped Nepos's body and, with a backhand, severed his head.

"Dear Sister Iola, how long do you want to watch the fun?"

Aioula woke up as if from a dream, took out a dagger and stabbed it into the heart of the guard beside her.