47: Checkpoint

The gates of Leyawiin loomed before me, and the warm breeze that stirred my hair had a bit of the sea in its smell. I pulled my hood down and ran my hand through the wispy strands that populated my head. The muggy heat was alleviated by the breeze, but only slightly.

A line of people stood outside of the gates, and there seemed to be some sort of checkpoint where guards prodded and poked at people. I approached the back of the line and overheard a wealthy looking Dunmer complaining about the checkpoint.

“Fetchers! Why are they keeping ME out here with these peasants?” The woman fumed. Her companion, who was apparently a manservant, removed a handkerchief from a small bag and handed it to her. She took it and mopped her brow, “Me! The first child of a much respected family!” She continued about her connections to house Hlaalu and how she knew the Nerevarine “personally.” Something made me doubt the truth of her statement, and I ignored the rest of her complaints. Another of her servants returned from the front of the line, and I grew interested in what he had to say.

“I’m sorry my lady,” the servant said, “but there has been some sort of disturbance in the nearby woods, and the guards are checking everyone for signs of some contagious disease.” The rich woman harrumphed and covered her mouth with the handkerchief. I rolled up my sleeves and moved to the front of the line, where I offered my services in helping anyone who was sick. I did not know any spells to cure diseases, but I had collected a number of herbs and potions that could alleviate the symptoms of anyone suffering until a healer could be found.

“I understand there has been a breakout of some disease?” I said to a guard who looked to be in charge of the checkpoint. He did not look up from a piece of paper he was reading, but he mumbled something.

“I’m sorry?” I said, not understanding him.

He looked up at me, sized me up with his eyes, and then cleared his throat. “Yes and no. The disease is not directly contagious, neither is it incurable, but it is a terrifying prospect. So far no one is sick, but we have to be sure.” He said wearily, clearly not enjoying this assignment very much.

“What is the disease?” I said, curious.

He looked at me again, apparently judging whether I needed to know or not. He sighed and said, “Porphyric Hemophilia. Your surprise indicates you know what that means. We have had reports of a vampire den in the area, and are checking everyone for signs of being bitten or infected. With the amount of traffic this city gets, we’ve had to pull every guard off the streets and get them to check points. It’s really just a big mess, but in my opinion we are avoiding the main problem.”

“Clearing out the den itself?” I interjected.

“Precisely. We know the general area, and it wouldn’t be such a big deal to clear out, but the captains are afraid of losing men, and they don’t want to hire the fighter’s guild to work on it either. Penny pinchers is what they are.” He looked back at the piece of paper. “The one good thing that’s come of it is that we’ve caught seven smugglers and two skooma dealers.” He said, reading the figures off the paper. He shrugged and looked back at me. “So the checkpoint’s not gonna stop for some time, I’m afraid. You’ll just have to wait in line with everybody else.” I nodded, and began to turn to get back in line, when his eyebrows narrowed in recognition. “Wait,” he said, “Aren’t you that mage who retook Kvatch?”

“Yes…” I said with surprise, “How did you recognize me?”

“It’s me: Berich. I was stationed at the chapel the night of the invasion. You came and killed the beasts holding us in the chapel, and then you came back and needed the key to the guard house. Remember?”

I remembered it vividly, and I was embarrassed that I didn’t recognize him. “I’m sorry… I didn’t recognize you without ash and blood caked all over your face.” I smiled and shook his hand. He had to get back to the checkpoint, but he told me to look for him at the guardhouse when the whole ordeal with the vampires’ den was over. He also told me that the checkpoint at the other gate didn’t see much traffic and that I could get in faster that way. I thanked him and made my way to the other checkpoint.

I made it into the city in a very short time, though I neglected to mention I had been traveling with a vampire for almost two days now. However, once I was inside, I didn’t know what to do. Dar’Kasha was apparently still hunting, and I had no idea when he’d be back or where to meet him. In his haste to find blood he had also neglected to tell me where I could find another Blade to speak to about my assignment.

The Staff glowed, and the Dark One said, “Try a tavern. Blades are soldiers: they like to get drunk.” I thought it a bit early in the evening for spirits, but it was as good a guess as any, and I began searching the streets for a tavern.