Traveling through The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

The wheels rolled over the uneven surface of the official road, causing the carriage to sway violently. Fortunately, the old ox pulling the cart was strong and steady, so it wasn't too uncomfortable. I drove the cart alone, cracking the whip, while the two ladies chatted idly in the back.

Maggie was a very talkative person, chatting with Irina the whole way. She said that her family originally lived in Riverwood, and like the other Nords, they were farmers. She had shown magical talent from a very young age, with an extremely strong affinity for fire, sometimes even able to ignite firewood with just her will.

This was not good news for the farmers. Little Maggie was seen as an outsider by her peers, often ridiculed and ostracized, and her parents couldn't afford to send her to the College of Winterhold to properly study magic. At twelve or thirteen, a sensitive and competitive age for girls, she secretly practiced magic, wanting to respond to the humiliation and discrimination by becoming self-taught.

Unsurprisingly, her magic went out of control, burning down the lumberyard's warehouse and most of its inventory.

The family, already struggling to make ends meet, faced astronomical compensation claims. The perpetrator was nearly beaten to death by his own father. In the end, Maggie's parents were imprisoned, she and her siblings were sold into slavery, and all their property was confiscated.

The man who bought Maggie clearly hadn't carefully read her file; he was simply eager to taste this unripe fruit. And so, another fire broke out, reducing the old lecher to a mere two feet long, charred black like ebony, crisp and crumbly like sugar. With just a gentle pry from Maggie, he snapped in two with a crack.

A servant murdering his master is an indisputable capital offense.

Of course, if the person is not caught, then there is no basis for a charge.

Maggie escaped. She instinctively approached Riverwood, only to suddenly realize this was no longer a safe haven. Not far west of the town lay the Blackpine Forest of Falklands. According to Skyrim legend, the nine territories were independent of each other, and a wanted criminal from Whiterun could live a carefree life in Falklands. Then, she met her mentor there.

At that time, the young Esmeralda had not been away from the territory of Reich for long, and had only gathered five or six disciples around her. Most of them were apprentices with outstanding talent but no connections or wealth, while others were unfortunate souls who had been rescued by their teacher after being driven to desperation. Maggie was the youngest and became the darling of the group. It was from then on that this woman learned to laugh and began to enjoy laughing.

Before becoming a Blackwing Witch and settling in Orphan Rock, Esmoridae led her disciples on a long journey through southern Skyrim, their footsteps reaching the eastern part of Falkreath and the western part of Riften. Some joined, some left; Maggie knew most of them, including the leader of the Blacklight Tower Witches.

That person had followed the teacher the longest, so she could be considered the eldest sister. Four years ago, under the teacher's guidance, she transformed into a Blackwing Witch, greatly increasing her magical power. After that, she led several junior sisters to the Blacklight Tower to establish their own sect.

"I've heard that the Blackwing Witch's transformation ritual requires the sacrifice of a person with high magical power."

"That's how it is according to traditional methods."

"Oh? From what you're saying, Ms. Esmeralda knows unconventional methods?"

Maggie, like a diligent squirrel, searched diligently inside the tin can. Finally, she smiled and held up her spoils—the last pine nut in the can.

"Wow, this is really delicious, but there's not much of it. I wonder if they sell it in Falkriss City."

Irina's face fell. Last night, while we were setting up camp, she secretly complained that Maggie was greedy and had eaten most of the nuts she had prepared for me. But she had offered to share that tin can; as a baroness, she should value her word over material possessions. If she asked for it back, wouldn't she be disgracing her husband's family?

"It's unlikely. There probably won't be any left this season. Pine nuts will have to be harvested during the months of the Fire Moon and the Frost Moon. If you like them, you'll have to save up for half a year. These little things aren't cheap."

"Oh dear! I ate them all, I'm so embarrassed."

Maggie seemed to only then notice Irina's unhappiness, and hurriedly apologized, promising to bring back honey from the Rift Valley as compensation. After this charade, none of the three of us brought up the topic of the transformation ritual again.

Aside from the minor unpleasantness caused by the nut incident, Irina was in a very good mood. The last time she went to Falkriss, she walked along the southern shore of Lake Irina Tower, through the north gate of Howling Wind Ridge. To avoid her painful memories, I chose to travel south from Half-Moon Mill through the Black Pine Forest.

The forest air is fresh in spring, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers; the earthy aroma is as soothing as fine wine. Such scenery is incredibly appealing to those who live in the city.

The oxcart moved along, stopping and starting. Whenever she saw a flower she liked, Irina would get off to pick it and weave it into a wreath. Sometimes she would chase after fluttering butterflies, flitting among the lush green grass; other times she would stand quietly under a tree, gazing at the furry squirrels.

"Lord Locke dotes on his wife. If you were traveling alone, you would probably be in Helgen by now."

Is this letter urgent?

"No, that's not it. But, Your Excellency, you must have noticed by now, haven't you?"

"Tonight is their last chance. We can reach Falkriss Watchtower tomorrow morning."

Behind the tranquility and peace far from the hustle and bustle, lurked a band of about ten robbers. Maggie and I, both experienced adventurers, had long suspected we were being followed, while the naive Irina was completely absorbed in the joy of our outing. However, we always used magic to start a fire when setting up camp, and I even summoned a fire elemental while on night watch.

The other side probably realized that we were a tough opponent, and ultimately chose not to take action.

Although Irina wasn't very willing, she left some money for Maggie so she could wander around town for a day. The two of us went to visit Donna.

There were a few more people in the house. According to Donna, the lady of the house had visited with her son, and seeing that only the two of them lived in the large villa, she sent three servants over the next day. One of them was a mother and daughter; the mother was the cook, and the daughter was the maid. There was also a female servant of similar age to her, who not only took care of her daily needs but also provided conversation.

Donna was reluctant to employ so many people. But Rigel warned the three of them in front of her: if anyone stole chickens or didn't serve diligently enough, resulting in the old lady kicking them out, she would beat them to death. The little saber-toothed tiger's appearance was quite frightening when he uttered such threats. Who dared to test whether he meant it?

Donna was delighted by my and Irina's arrival, especially noticing how much closer we had become. To avoid worrying the old lady, I simply said we were going to visit Eric. Donna then sent someone to fetch a bundle containing gifts she had prepared for Angie, asking us to take them with us. Since the pregnant woman was mentioned, she naturally brought up the topic of pregnancy, urging us to hurry. Irina blushed and agreed, saying she was trying.

For the next half day, Irina stayed to keep Donna company, while I had to attend to social engagements. I had to visit people like Rigel, Danger, and Nanya one by one.

The next day, when we left, Donna had her dark elf maid, Savilla, ride with us on the oxcart.

“I’m not so old that I need so many people to wait on me. This girl is well-behaved, knows a few words, and is honest. What future could she have with me? Perhaps she could be of some help to you.”

The journey from Falkres to Helgen involves a gentle ascent along a mountain road. Near the town at the summit, there is still some unmelted snow. The transition between winter and spring offers a unique and charming experience.

Maggie accompanied us to visit her father, and then stayed at Helgen Fortress. Two of Esmeralda's disciples lived there, and she was finally being supported by acquaintances. Meanwhile, at the grand inn south of town, Eric and Eddie, the two couples, hosted a welcome dinner for Irina and me.

The renovation is now complete. The first two floors retain the stone architecture of the Nords and the wild style of the Rich people. The ten private rooms on the third floor are named as follows: one symbolizing the frozen north is called "Ice Storm"; another representing the snow-covered tundra is called "The Distant Horizon"; another depicting the towering mountains and deep valleys of the Rich territory; and yet another representing the desolate desert landscape of Hammerfall Province. And so on and so forth.

Not only did the interior decor fit the theme, but even the chef was a local hired at a high salary, all in pursuit of authentic flavors. Eddie named it "Home Inn," meaning that guests from all over the world would feel at home here. The intention is good, but I always feel it has a bit of a budget hotel vibe.

It's easy to imagine that doing this would be expensive. But Eddie said he was following the instructions of the Argonian Gulu to seize the mead market in Rift Valley, which led to further investment from them. In addition, the Ruichi tribe's continuous supply of juniper berries reduced his brewing costs by 20%, increasing his profit margin, so he wasn't short of money.

So, Eddie and Murray, who weren't short of money, got married a week ago. They kept it very low-key, with only Elendor officiating and a few close friends as witnesses. Only after the ceremony did they send letters to Rigel and me separately. The guy who went to inform me has probably just arrived in Granite Village.

Irina was somewhat embarrassed. Eric and Eddie, though not nobles, were prominent figures in the area and were my equals. One's wife was pregnant, the other was newly married, and she hadn't prepared any gifts. In her opinion, this was extremely impolite. Fortunately, Angie and Murray weren't pretentious, and the three women quickly mingled together, chatting and laughing.

At the other end of the table, the three of us men were chatting in very low voices.

"Oh, right, you told me about Hawkes last time. He's gone home to pick up his sick brother. If you're lucky, you might even run into him in town."

"I don't know the exact location of that Black Light Tower, but I estimate it would take about half a month to make a round trip. If they come back early, you can keep them here for a few days; it's easier to talk here than in Granite Village."

"That old woman from Nigada is tough to deal with, isn't she?"

I shook my head and smiled bitterly.

"It's a bit of a problem, she's really stubborn. And I can't just bypass her and contact Hawkes and you directly."

"Hey Locke, you've got a lot of business and resources now, why are you doing this kind of thing yourself? How about I go with you?"

"No need, it's just delivering a message. We're allies."

Eric rolled his eyes and pulled a rose from his pocket.

“Irina lives here, and our two families are looking after her, so you can rest assured. Take this with you, be careful, go and come back quickly, and don’t meddle in other people’s business or cause trouble on the way.”

Blood Rose. This thing was lent to Lund, but it didn't serve any purpose, and now it's in my hands again. Eddie saw Eric's serious expression and knew that this trip was not as simple as he had made it out to be.

“Brother, why don’t you stay a few more days? People in Ivastead Town drink our gin now. You can go there with the next batch of deliverymen.”

"You're kidding me. The delivery truck would be incredibly slow if it took the Hosga Trail. By the time I get back, you'll be a father."

Eddie rubbed his bald head and grinned.

"I try my best."

"Let's encourage each other. But don't forget, whether it's sunset or night, take some time to visit me in Granite Village. I have something good for you."

The Twilight Moon is November in the Nord calendar, by which time the soybeans I planted in Lund will be harvested. Even if there's not enough time to brew soy sauce, making some soy milk and tofu shouldn't be a problem. When I see Hawkes, I'll ask him if he can get some brine. As for plaster, it's available in Falkriss territory and very cheap; the Nords use it to whitewash walls.

Having worked in the restaurant industry for years, Eddie understood that what I taught him wasn't actually Brighton cuisine. Such unique skills are not something even masters and apprentices, or fathers and sons, would readily share. Moreover, everyone's talent is different; whether someone is willing to teach, and how much one can learn, is also a variable. Eddie has always been grateful to me for this.

In a way, we're quite destined to meet. Eddie is a real talent for cooking; he doesn't have any special tricks, he just practices diligently. Sometimes, I just tell him the recipe, and he has to figure out the seasonings and cooking time himself. Don't think it's easy; that old clam with a pearl inside probably ruined hundreds of fish.

I still have some fresh ingredients here, which was expected by Eddie. He cherishes the culinary skills I taught him. Apart from making dumplings, which requires a lot of manual labor, he hasn't shared the other dishes with anyone else. He even removed some of them from the menu of the Home Inn and only sells them at the Helgen Hotel, where he personally cooks. And since we share this hotel, it's not like he's taking advantage of us.

It wasn't that I intentionally kept things from them; it's just that conditions in Tianji are harsh, and many ingredients are unavailable. Commonly used items like soy sauce, sesame oil, chili peppers, and ginger are things no one has ever seen before. While soy sauce can be made at home, agricultural products like chili peppers and sesame seeds are simply unavailable. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent Hayou and the others back to their hometown to buy seasonings.

There's another place that might hold the answer: Ruichi Territory. Hailji's mother's generation named their children after spices; for example, Annis means star anise. So I suspect they definitely know these things. But this matter can only be addressed after we recapture Loristed Town and Snake Cliff Ridge; there's no point in rushing it now.

The following morning, I again declined Eric's suggestion to come along. Irina held onto my sleeve and walked me all the way to the east gate of Helgen, looking reluctant to part.

"Good sister, go back now, don't get cold."

I pinched her reddened nose. Whenever Irina heard the word "sister," she would become very obedient, and this time was no exception. But just as she finally made up her mind and turned to leave, I remembered something important.

This woman is nothing like her usual serene self; in fact, she's quite jealous. I only mentioned Hergi's name, and she turned on me and threw off the covers. If she goes away for a week or two and brings back Iya, won't she drown me in a vat of vinegar? I need to give her a heads-up.

"Sister, please trust me. No matter who I meet or who I bring back, I will always be your husband."

"I know... Honey... Be careful on the road."

I cupped Irina's face in my hands, gently kissed her red lips, and turned away as gracefully as possible—

Then they saw Maggie looking shocked.