Out the Blue Palace, Thane Bryling and Thane Erikur went each on their way followed by their attendants.
Riding horses was not necessary for them as they lived in the manors just outside the palace and Nords don't care about such appearances anyway.
Thane Bryling kept walking down the streets of Solitude until she reached a certain dark alleyway, only one of her attendants followed her and the rest stood on watch.
"I see that you have come in time, Ania." Thane Bryling Spoke.
"Yes yes, Thane Bryling. Excuse my lax attitude. I am still on recovery." Ania, a tall and beautiful dark elven woman, appeared from the shadow.
"You guys are really good. Your Boss must be pleased to have you work for him."
"Of course, our Boss values talent more than anything. I am sorry but my ship is sailing home in an hour, is there anything noteworthy I can carry to the Boss?"
Bryling thought for a second and nodded.
"His name was mentioned a lot in today's council which is not a good thing. The High King must be on the move too and I doubt Erikur will leave your Boss alone after the last few moves he made. Tell him to be careful."
"Of course, anything else?"
"Just deliver Jon Dare my regards." Thane Bryling said and kept staring at Ania.
"And the Boss also delivers his regards." Ania put her hand in her pocket and took out a card then handed it to Bryling.
Thane Bryling took the card and her eyes lit up.
"[Ysmir Wulfharth] a champion rare card, power: 13, special effect: kills the opponent's strongest card. It is a treasure. Look at the drawing and how detailed it is."
Thane Bryling completely fell in love with the Gwent Card sent to her by Jon.
None would believe that the most prestigious and popular Thane in Solitude, Haafingar would join hands with the Thane of Winterhold for a Gwent Card. Of course, that was not completely the case. Thane Bryling has spent a lot of time evaluating Jon before accepting to meet the [Team 0] contact.
She fixed her attitude and looked at Ania again.
"One more thing, an Assembly will be held here in Solitude. Tell Jon Dare that I will be looking forward to meeting him."
***
On the other side of the main road, Thane Erikur was conversing with his attendant Melaran.
Melaran is a High Elf which is strange in the eyes of many as it is not usual for a haughty high elf to become an attendant of a Nord, especially if that high elf is a mage.
As the two reached a dark alleyway, they proceeded through it and reached a certain door. The two entered without knocking and found a person waiting for them.
"Oh! Thane Erikur, what a pleasant surprise! If Khajiit knew you would be visiting, he would have prepared some liquor and moon sugar." A grey-furred Khajiit appeared in the room.
"Dar'zino, you slimy Khajiit, watch your mouth and don't act friendly." Erikur lashed at the Khajiit right away.
"Oh! Alright alright, Khajiit knows you only come here when you have a bad day or want some new goods. That's why Khajiit suggested some liquor."
"Humph! That's not the time for whatever you want. Someone is messing with my business and this time we need to do something."
"Oh! By any chance, is it the same guy as before?"
"Yes, that orphan bastard Jon Dare."
"I see I see, Khajiit is interested too. It is proving to be a challenge indeed."
"How are your people doing in Winterhold?" Erikur asked.
"Many Khajiit's people go to Winterhold but not many returns. This one thinks Jon Dare is after their disappearance. There are other new ones who lurk in the shadow these days, really well trained and very decisive. Khajiit things they are the hidden hands and eyes of Jon Dare."
Erikur pondered for a while and nodded.
"It makes sense that he started training his own agents. Still, he is growing fast and business can't afford someone like him who broke the balance. You need to get rid of him, device a plan and make it look like an accident."
"A plan is indeed being prepared. For a big fish like Jon Dare, we need to make it feel safe and make a slip. Luckily, he is having a series of successes lately so that won't be hard. Khajiit will pull some strings to make a certain group of people put their eyes on him."
"Are you sure? You will not disappoint me again?" Erikur asked.
"Hehe! My furless friend, you don't need to worry this time. Those people I am speaking about are a spooky cult that makes the fur of Khajiit shiver. You just need to start thinking of what to do when Jon Dare is out of the picture."
Erikur's lips curved into a twisted smile.
"Once he is out… hehe! Yes, that is really amusing to think of. Once Jon Dare is out of the picture, everything he made in Winterhold will be undone. His company, his towns, all that he did… I will vent all the frustration he caused me on them."
"Fine fine. Khajiit doesn't need to hear your plans Thane Erikur. Will give me a hard time when I sleep, Khajiit has a soft heart."
"Humph! Fool, get done with that and proceed to the other business we have. How is the weapon shipments I asked you about."
"Oh, those things. An Argonian friend of mine will be smuggling some low-grade elven weapons from Black March. I reckon the Imperial Legion will buy those at a high price." Dar'zino said.
"That's the plan from the start. Find me after you finished your mission."
"Good then. This one wishes you well."
Dar'zino faked a slight bow when Erikur turned around. Once Erikur was not looking, Dar'zino threw a small paper roll to Melaran.
"From the higher ups." He whispered.
Melaran nodded and followed Erikur.
***
*Winterhold - a week later*
Jon was standing in an empty stone room alone while reading a piece of paper.
"Good job, Ania. I never thought you would actually be able to establish good contact with Thane Bryling."
"It is all thanks to Captain Jullanar's advices. Thane Bryling is a proud Nord and we had to approach her in a righteous way. The idea of giving her such a rare card was really heartbreaking but my consolation that I don't play the Nordic Deck." Ania replied to Jon.
"Hehe! Yes, and here is your promised reward."
Jon handed Ania a Gwent Card.
"By Azura… this is [Saint Jiub] a champion card, power: 10, special power: Weaken the monsters in the opposite deck. Amazing. This card is as powerful as the Almsivi cards."
"Yes. Only [Indoril Nerevar] and [The Nerevarine] cards are more powerful than them especially when the 'God Card' in use is [Azura]."
"Damn… I must gather them no matter what. I will be going home now. Thanks, Boss." Ania said and disappeared from her place.
Jon, who was standing in the empty stone room alone, turned around and walked to a door. Once he opened it, the light of day entered through and Jon saw the scene from the high building he was standing on.
He was looking down on an empty field of snow and a large terrain of mountains and glaciers. His gaze moved down the building he was standing on and saw a large number of people walking around setting structures and moving large rocks, a large furnace was being stirred by a large mechanism to prevent the Roman Cement in it from solidifying and many tents of workers and builders.
This was the project that would guarantee the safety of what Jon worked for all that time. Fort Neo Saarthal.