Something in Ruby relaxes at that. Probably the fact that the Archmage didn't turn him into a skeever on the spot. He shakes his hand.

"We found a few interesting things there and Tolfdir thought I should tell you as soon as possible."

Savos sighs. "Please don't say another one of the Apprentices has been incinerated. I have enough on my plate right now."

Just how often do mages die, goodness. "We found a massive artefact down there, intensely magical. Tolfdir did not recognise its make, and it was protected by—and an energy source for—a powerful warding spell. He speculated that this could be the reason why the Falmer attacked Saarthal, thousands of years ago." Technically it was Onmund but Tolfdir agreed, so.

"...interesting. If Tolfdir thinks so, it must be a remarkable artefact indeed. And he wants my personal attention, yes?"

"Indeed."

"Very well. I shall join him on the morrow. Hmm, and won't you do me a favour? Tell Urag gro-Shub about this, see if he can't dig up any references to whatever this artefact could be."

"There was something else. This draugr was sealed in the same chamber as the artefact, and his seal named him Jyrik Gauldurson." Ruby offers the Archmage the seal and the amulet.

"Gauldurson, you say." He accepts the seal and the amulet, reads the text of the seal, then peers at the amulet. "Well, won't you look at that..."

"Tolfdir said he hadn't heard of him."

"Yes, he wouldn't have, he isn't so interested in ancient legends except as they pertain to magic he can learn. And the High King Harald's campaign to erase all records of Gauldur and his sons was most certainly a near success.

"A near success because, of course, historians will not leave well enough alone, and a myth such as that of Gauldur and his sons is sure to pique their interest. I believe Urag gro-Shub will be able to enlighten you some more." He offers Ruby the amulet back. "I believe this is one of three fragments of Gauldur's legendary amulet that gave him great power. After all these years they will be greatly diminished, even should you find out how to combine them, but they would nevertheless prove very useful to you, I believe, Dragonborn."

"—wait, you knew?"

The Archmage merely smiles. "Do ask Urag about this artefact under Saarthal and about Gauldur and his sons. Now leave me, for if I am to join Tolfdir in the morning I should wish to sleep soon."

"—yes, Archmage. Good night."

Bastard.

Urag is still awake, as bookworms often are while engrossed in a tome. And he is not irritated by being disturbed by Ruby—until, that is, Ruby mentions what it is he seeks.

"I don't have what you seek. Not anymore."

"'Not anymore'?"

"An Apprentice before your time, Orthorn, was seduced by a group of Conjurers and their promise of power, and he stole a number of books and fled, presumably to join them. Or so I surmise, anyway."

Sigh. "Another group of crazies?"

"Surprisingly enough, no. At least not last I heard. They just wanted to conduct experiments that are forbidden by the laws of both Skyrim and the College, so of course they are now one of the little beacons for other mages who feel similarly stifled by our policies."

"...why does the College even allow these groups to exist? I, uh, I've run into some mages, and they aren't that hard to take down."

"The crazy ones aren't, but by a similar token they are not much of a problem. The ones that aren't crazy are much more difficult to deal with, and the truth of the matter is that neither the College nor Skyrim have enough manpower to spare to deal with these threats. At least until they become large enough that the cost of ignoring them is higher than the cost of dealing with them."

"...not very promising."

"Indeed not. But if you wish to find those tomes, that group is in Fellglow Keep, in the mountains to the northeast of Whiterun."

"...don't suppose there's another copy of them that isn't being safeguarded by technically not crazy mages that took over a fort."

"No. Many of the library's tomes are unique, and although we do make an effort to make copies of them just so that this kind of situation doesn't come up, there are thousands of volumes and we have to prioritise.

"Well, I tell a lie. We did have more than one copy of one of the books Orthorn took; he just happened to take them all. If you find him, please make sure to make him hurt before you kill him."

...wow, Ruby doesn't think he's ever seen the librarian this mad. "I'll... see what I can do.

"There was this other thing..."