Chapter 6
Location:- Road to Rorikstead
Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas 12th.
By the time Volk had finished digging
at the bottom of the well and pulled out a large plain lead sealed
chest it was mid morning. The funeral pyre they had set alight was
now blazing away with black greasy smoke billowing up in a column
that rose high up into the clear blue sky. Volk and Johan heaved the
chest over the well wall and set to chiseling off the lead seal.
Johan stood and watched in silence after helping Volk haul it out of
the well. With the last part of the seal removed Volk threw open the
lid to the chest, the sun glinted off polished metal and gold within.
Johan gasped in shock at seeing the wealth inside as Volk dug in and
pulled out a chainmail coat and leggings.
"I keep these for reserve and the
money is my savings." Volk said in way of an explanation "I
bury them to keep them safe from bandits and thieves"
"Now I know where to look."
Johan replied with a grin on his face.
Volk laughed and shook his head "I
will move it when we get back."
"Found your axes Volk, and the
gold from your payment from the general." Delte interrupted the
two men.
Volk nodded and closed the lid to the
chest once more, with the items he needed removed from its contents
he shoved the chest once more over the well wall and let it sink back
down into the mud at the bottom of the well.
"Sort out the horses while I get
my armour on. Then we will be off." Volk said as he headed back
to the house.
"We only have two horses left
Volk." Delte shouted after him as she ran to catch up.
"I know that, and that is why you
and Johan ride together until we reach Whiterun stables." He
said and then shut the door to the house.
Delte turned around and scowled at
Johan who instantly looked at the ground still unsure of the dunmer
female.
"Bloody n'wah." Delte spat at
Johan "Why do I have to ride with him?"
"Now now Delte," Paws said as
he came round leading the two horses "you are lighter of frame
than myself and Volk. Less of a strain on the horse, and Volk and I
can take turns to ride my mount."
Delte snatched her horse's reigns out
of Left-Paw_Alight's hand and started to checks the harness.
"Fine but he puts his hands
someplace I don't like they are coming off at his elbows." Delte
continued her rant.
Left-Paw-Alight chuckled as he checked
the harness on his own horse. "Don't worry Johan, Delte can be
rather charming once you get to know her." He said hiding behind
his own horse as he tried not to laugh.
"Shut it Paws." Came the
reply from Delte
This proved to much for Left-Paw-Alight
who couldn't hold the laugh in any longer, Delte realising she was
being wound up tried not to laugh which only resulted in a huge smirk
spreading across her face.
"Damned lizard." Delte said
as she tried not to laugh.
"That's me." Paws replied as
he regained his composure.
Inside the house Volk chuckled at the
loud conversation going on outside between Delte and Left-Paw-Alight
as he put on the chainmail armour. Over the coat of chain he wore a
tabard that had a yellow wooden shield being spliced in twain by an
axe of white set on a dark blue background. On top of this he had a
set of thick leather straps that held his weapons in place, his twin
axes now back on his hips and in easy reach, a large two handed sword
sheathed on his back. As Volk turned to leave his home he stopped at
a small shrine dedicated to Shor and knelt before it with his two
handed sword drawn. Hands resting on the pommel he bowed his head and
prayed to the dead god of war of the nord people.
"Shor grant me the strength of
Ysgramor and his five hundred, so that I may find my wife Gresla and
child safe."
With his prayers said he stood up and
sheathed his sword once more and left the house to join his
companions for the ride to Whiterun.
Location:- Whiterun Stables
Date:- Date:- 2E 581 First Seed Turdas
12th.
Delte and her companions took a steady
ride from Volk's farm so as to not cripple their remaining two
horses. Volk and Paws would take turns in the saddle during the
course of their journey. Starting to feel more at ease Johan began to
tell them what had been happening in Skyrim since their departure to
Cyrodiil. He also went into more details of the night his village and
farm was raided by the cultists.
It was dusk as they arrived at the
stables of Whiterun. The farmers had already vacated their fields
after a long days toil, the air was filled with a scent of freshly
turned soil and manure. In the distance a windmill turned its creaky
sails as a cool wind blew down into the grass plains. The sound of
barking could be heard coming from the city as packs of stray dogs
roamed the streets. Delte shivered and pulled her cloak round tighter
to try and keep the chill out, from living for the past couple of
years in Cyrodiil and earlier in Elsweyr for most of her childhood.
Volk stood at the door to the stable house and gave it a sharp knock
with his mailed fist. Muffled voices could be heard inside along with
the scraping sound of a chair being pulled along the wooden floor.
Slowly the door was pulled open and a gruff voice said “We are shut
go away or ye' taste my club.” Then it slammed shut again with a
bang.
"I am a son of Skyrim in need of
two horses with good gold to pay for them both." Volk shouted at
the now shut door.
The door opened again and was quickly
filled by a rotund man with rosy cheeks and a grin, wearing a simple
outfit of a green woollen tunic and leather breaches which a rope belt
attempted to keep them held up and maintain the mans dignity.
"Two horses and gold you say?"
The man said to Volk with a cheerful grin.
Volk nodded and patted a pouch of gold
on his belt with a smile.
"Name is Olson, and I am the
stable master." He said as a way of a greeting to Volk and shook
his hand.
"Good to meet you," Volk said
"I am Volk Shatter-Shield."
Olson grinned even more recognising the
name of the local Thane's son, and looked towards where the rest of
the group stood. "Who are the horses for my lord?"
"Myself and Johan there."
Volk replied pointing his finger at Johan.
"Follow me I may have what you
need." Olson said as he walked to the stable block.
"Delte while I get the horse and
harnesses I want you to go to the Jarl." Volk said "Tell
him all that has transpired, he needs to know and we may even get
some help."
Volk followed the stable master into his
house to finalise the sale.
"Why me?" Delte protested as
she mounted her horse."He doesn't even know me, why would he
take my word?"
"He doesn't like me that is why."
Paws said in answer to her protests "Last time I met him I
insulted his court mage and the jarl had me physically thrown out."
"What did you do to his mage?"
She asked with a smile knowing Paws would not often put a foot wrong
in the matters of politics.
"Another time Delte," Paws
waved her off "best get going. Knowing Volk he will want to make
tracks till midnight which doesn't leave us much time."
Delte set her horse off at a trot
towards the large gates to Whiterun, Johan stared at Left-Paw-Alight
with his mouth open, Paws looked back at him and shrugged.
"The court mage is an idiot, I was
just pointing out the fact to the Jarl." Paws scratched his chin
as he thought back to the event "He was implying that Volk and I
were skooma smugglers and that only select individuals could work
magic, also beast races don't have the ability to work real magic.
When in fact anyone with the aptitude to study and learn can work
magic. Even you Johan if you applied yourself."
Delte approached the large wooden gates
to the city, torches burned brightly in their wall brackets on either
side. On the ground large iron braziers gave off their heat from
raging fires that burned within them to drive off the chill night
air. Two guards stood either side of the gate while a third stood in
the middle of the road his right hand resting easily on the hilt of
his long sword in his other hand he held a shield with the same
emblem as the two guards at the gate. The symbol was that of a strong
looking horse painted in black lines on a yellow background.
"Halt traveller." The guard
in the road addressed Delte "State your name and purpose."
Delte threw back the hood of her cloak
and looked at the man in the eyes. "I come to appraise your jarl
on events that are going on in his realm. My name is Delte and the
news I have is urgent. Now let me pass."
The guards laughed at her reply, the
one who stood in front of her apoke again. "I am sergeant Brant
of the guard, and I can not let you in to see the jarl because today's
court is closed to petitions. If you could come....."The
sergeant was cut short in his reply.
"Listen and listen well n'wah. The
jarl has Molag Bal cultists roaming his land. They are killing his
subjects and taking away slaves for daedra rituals. You will either
let me in now or I will go through you." Delte raised her voice
with one hand on her dagger.
The guard sergeant looked back into her
violet eyes unsure if she was telling the truth or trying to scare
him and his men, those cold alien eyes told him nothing of what was
going on in the dunmer's mind which sent a shiver down his spine.
"Fine the horse stays here though,
and I will escort you to him." the sergeant said as his
underlings opened a small door in the middle of one of the gates.
Delte dismounted her horse and tied it
to the fence rail and then followed the sergeant into the city.
The gate slammed shut behind them and
sergeant Brant walked by Delte's side. The first thing Delte noticed
was the stench of the city, a open sewer ran along the wall down the
hill towards the main river. Stray dogs ran in packs down deserted
roads and alleyways looking for scraps of food that had been left
from the days market, or from people throwing out their rubbish. In
the darkness rats could be heard scurrying about. Delte put her hand
over her mouth and nose to try and disperse the smell, while her
escort seemed to be unaffected by the smell.
They passed an inn called the Bannered
Mare singing could be heard coming from inside, along with the smell
of roasted hog which now mingled with the stench of the city. Regardless Delte's stomach growled at the smell reminding her of the
lack of a real meal over the past few days. Brant explained the
districts to her as they went up a stone flight stairs into the Wind
District. It was then they passed by the gildergreen tree in full
bloom, Delte dropped her hand and gasped at the sight. Brant puffed
his chest out as some home pride swelled in him.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Brant
said as they passed it by. Delte nodded as they carried on towards the
castle of Dragonsreach in the Cloud District where the Jarl held
court.
At the doors to Dragonsreach sergeant
Brant walked up to a man in the same colours as his own uniform but
this one had a large two handed axe and better quality armour and
spoke to him about Delte's request. She soon learned that the other
man Brant was speaking to was his captain who then dismissed Brant
back to his post at the gate.
"Follow me please miss." The
captain said as he opened the doors to the large hall of the jarl.
The first thing that came into view as
Delte crossed the threshold was huge wooden pillars carved with
nordic runes and sagas. They in turn supported a high vaulted ceiling
with huge wooden beams that spanned across the whole building. Stone
steps lead up to another level where voices and music could be heard,
and a strong smell of more cooking wafted down to her. As she and the
captain ascended the steps her stomach growled again, she gave a
wince and glanced over at the captain who smiled.
At the top of the stairs the interior
of the castle opened out into a huge courtroom. The centre of the
room was taken up by a fire pit, servants on either side turned
roasting spits with hogs impaled on each one. A row of tables were
placed length ways down the pit with people sat facing the fire pit.
At the far end opposite Delte was another table where a man who wore
a circlet of gold on his head sat with a woman on his right eating
their evening meal. A large burly man dressed in platmail and furs
stood behind the seated man at the head table. All eyes in the room
looked at the her and the captain and followed her as she walked
between the fire pit and tables. Delte looked up at various hunting
trophies as she made the long walk towards the head table, animals
from all over Skyrim and even beyond adorned the walls. The people
sat at the tables noticed that as she walked past the fire pit the
flames seemed to move towards her as if sensing her dunmer heritage
and affinity to fire. She looked at the nobles all sat at the tables
and felt out of place in her dusty and scratched armour, she took a
deep breath and increased her pace.
The man who stood behind the jarl held
up his hand and with a thick nord accent spoke "That is far
enough dunmer."
Delte stopped and looked at the man sat
before her, his hair was red in colour shot through with grey. It was adorned with coloured wooden beads. Steel grey eyes looked her over
as a bearded chin and mouth chewed a bite of roast hog. In his right
hand was a bone that had been recently picked clean, draped over his
shoulders was the skin of a sabre cat, its front paws over each
shoulder had clasps attached to them and into his armour breastplate.
"Jarl Hulderic of Whiterun."
Delte addressed the man sat in front of her "I have news of
cultists roaming your lands and raiding villages and farms for slaves
and sacrifices. My companions and I are on their trail, but require assistance."
A hushed murmur went around the tables
with gasps of shock, the jarl nodded as he listened to the request.
"Pray tell me your name and those
of your companions." jarl Hulderic said.
"My name is Delte and I travel
with Volk Shatter-Shield and an argonian shaman called
Left-Paw-Alight." She replied, a man to her right snorted in a
laugh which drew her attention. He was dressed in fine red velvet
robes with silver and gold embroidery. His hook nose the most prominent feature on his thin lean face.
"Sire you would take orders such
as this from a vagabond dunmer who travels in the company of known
criminals?" The man said in a aloof tone.
"That was never proven you cur,
and that is my son you are accusing." A large old nord pointed a
meaty finger at the hooked nose man in robes.
"QUIET! All of you." jarl
Hulderic shouted "Sorry Delte please explain yourself."
"We arrived at Volk's farm last
night. What we found was a small group of bandits had taken
residence. They attacked us on sight, so we made our escape."
Delte explained the details of the previous night "Next morning
we formulated a plan and attacked to take back the farm. We killed
seven of the bandits and took one prisoner which we questioned."
The whole room had now gone silent,
even the servants turning the roast hog had stopped to listen to the
events.
"The bandit told us they found the
farm deserted and a boy of about eleven had been killed and left to
rot in the courtyard. He also told us of a rune painted in blood on
the door which they had washed off." Delte continued her report
and then drew the rune on the table cloth with the blackened piece of wood from the fire for the jarl to see. The man in the red
robes got up and walked around to look over the jarl's shoulder at
the rune.
"Never seen it before, she is
obviously lying trying to gather soldiers away from the city for an
attack by her comrades who are probably the bandits she mentioned."
Hook nose remarked "She has no second name, that means she is an
outlaw of her own people or an ashlander. Either way they are classed
as criminals."
Delte's hand curled around the hilt of
her dagger, but the large armoured nord caught her eyes and shook his
head as a warning.
"Insult me or my friends again and
you will die." Delte addressed Hooks Nose.
"What is this rune?" jarl
Hulderic asked Delte "You obviously have more knowledge of it
than Valkor here." the jarl pointed at Hook Nose, Delte smiled
as the mage shifted uneasily at the statement.
"Its an old chimer rune for Molag
Bal. A cult in the 1st Era used it as their symbol."
Delte continued her explanation "We thought the cult to be dead,
but if they are active now in Skyrim we need to move before they can
gain more support and power."
"Why would they need slaves and
sacrifices of such magnitude?" Volk's father asked.
"So they can open gates to
Coldharbour in Oblivion." She turned to look at him, in his eyes
she could see a resemblance to Volk.
"How many soldiers do you require?" Jarl Hulderic asked.
"Twenty if you can spare them."
Delte said in reply without hesitation.
"Not a chance." the captain
of the guards said he had been following the conversation from the
back of the room "Since the troubles in Cyrodiil we are short
handed as it is."
"Don't trouble yourself captain
Karlof. My son will go with them and report back to the jarl."
Volk's father spoke again and turned to a young man he gave some
whispered orders to a young man on his left. The young man stood up
and bowed to the jarl then walked out of the hall.
"Thank you thane Shatter-Shield,"
captain Karlof said to Volk's father "with your sons report we
can better determine the course of action."
"Is that it?" Delte said in
an exasperated tone "One boy?" I come here to inform you
that your lands and people are in danger and you give me a boy as
help."
"He maybe a boy but I know my
son." Thane Shatter-Shield said "As you may know Volk they
were both trained by me and my second. Come let me walk you back to
the city gates."
The thane stood up and took Delte's arm
as her own father would of and walked her to the large doors in
silence. Delte was fuming inside she had been insulted and laughed
at by these humans who had no knowledge of the danger they were in.
The thane seemed to sense this and kept a tight grip on her hand was
they walked.
Once outside her temper cooled in the night air and the
old thane walked at a slow pace back down the steps towards the Wind
District humming a tune. He stopped and sat down on a bench under the
gildergreen tree.
"Lovely night," the old thane
said as he breathed in deeply "I also know of the cultists you
speak of. What I didn't know was the attack on Volk's farm, and that
saddens this old heart more than you know."
Delte sat down by his side and let out
a huge sigh.
"Thane Ulbert Shatter-Shield."
He said with a smile as he gave his full title and name "Now let
me tell you what the three of you have walked right into. There are
people in court here that are working against the jarl. Its my job to
protect him and find these vipers."
"Well that is just great."
Delte said and looked up at the branches of the tree "Skyrim is
being over run by daedra cultists and the people in charge are making
power plays for crowns."
Ulfbert chuckled and shook his head
"The vipers are the agents of the cultists, and some of them
were sat in that hall we just left. Jarl Hulderic commissioned me to
root them out."
"If you know who they are why not
remove them now?" Delte enquired as she looked around the
square.
"No hard evidence and you just
can't go around accusing nobles without hard facts." Ulfbert
replied "You and Volk need to find Gresla and her child before
it is to late. Let me worry about the vipers here."
Delte stood up and bowed slightly to
Ulfbert, this show of respect took the old thane by surprise. He
stood up and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Tell Volk I love him."
Ulfbert said to her and then turned to head back into Dragonsreach.
By the time Delte had returned to Volk
and Paws the new horses had been bridled and ready for the journey.
Volk and his younger brother had been reunited which seemed to of
lifted his previous black mood as he beamed a huge smile as he talked
and joked with his sibling. Left-Paw-Alight seemed to take joy from
seeing the boy again, and to of grown into a young man during their
time away. Johan stood to one side shuffling dirt with his boots not
knowing where to look, now and again Volk's brother would scowl at
Johan as Volk recounted their meeting with the bandits at his farm.
"Delte this is my younger brother
Brom." Volk said with a grin as he introduced him to the dunmer
female "Brom this is Delte the lady dunmer I wrote to you
about."
Brom grinned and held out his hand as a
way of greeting Delte.
"Nice, so are we going to move or
stay here chatting?" Delte said as she looked Brom up and down
and then mounted her horse.
Delte trotted away on her horse, Brom
looked at Volk and shrugged "What did I do?" He said.
"Nothing mate she just doesn't
know you that is all. Don't worry you will know if you upset her."
Volk said as he mounted his new horse.
They made their way to the main road
Volk rode alongside Delte and listened to her account of what had
happened in Dragonsreach, and of her chat latter with his father
Ulfbert. Left-Paw-Alight, Brom and Johan rode behind them, Paws and
Brom chatted between themselves about the events in Cyrodiil and in
Skyrim. They made camp around midnight just off the main road to
Rorikstead. A campfire was quickly built to chase away the night
chills. Johan looked around the camp as they ate supper, he noticed
Delte was staring at him with her violet almond shaped eyes. The
firelight seemed to make her eyes glow with a inner energy and this
made him feel uneasy from the attention he was getting from her.
"Can you shoot a bow Johan?"
Delte asked.
"I can kill a deer at eighty
paces." Johan replied pleased that she had broken the silence.
"What about a man or a woman?"
She asked.
"If my life depended on it I guess
I could shoot someone." Johan replied as he looked over to Volk
who just shrugged.
Delte stood up and walked over to her
horse, she gently patted its flank to calm it down and pulled out a
long package wrapped in soft leather. Delte walked over to where
Johan was sitting and gave him the package.
"Its my bow I want you to have
it." Delte explained to the puzzled Johan "If we are going
up against these cultists we are going to need all the people we can
get to help."
"So you are not afraid I will
shoot any of you in the back with it and run?" Johan replied.
"A misplaced arrow by you could
spell your own doom, a cultist will not care who you are they will
kill you because you are not one of them." Delte explained with
a smile "But a well placed arrow could help turn a battle or end
a fight."
"I am not a warrior though."
Johan wailed "I am a coward remember."
Delte nodded "That is why I am
giving you my bow. Treat her well and she will look after you. The
four of us are going to be in melee most of the time, you can stay
back and shoot the enemy."
Johan unwrapped the bow stave and
gasped in amazement at the quality and design. Gems sparkled along
the handle and runes inlaid with gold had a magical glow to them as
an unseen energy pulsed along the ebony limbs.
"I can't accept this."Johan
said "Its worth more than anything I have ever owned or ever
will own."
"It's priceless." Delte said
as she sat down on her bedroll "I made it two years ago, but I
feel it would serve me better in your hands. Take vengeance Johan for
the family you have lost to these cultists. Blood for blood make your
ancestors proud."
"Thank you Delte." Johan said
as he wrapped the stave back in the leather covering. "I won't
let you down."
"That is all I can hope for."
Delte said to him "I will take first watch if that is alright.
Oh and make sure not to build the fire to high."
"Why?" Brom asked.
"Why what? " Delte turned her
gaze to the young nord.
"The fire, why not build it up?
Its going to be a cold night otherwise." He said as he defiantly
threw a new log into the flames.
"Because I don't want to fend off
a rampant male troll looking for a mate." Delte said to Brom.
At this Paws started to choak on some
bread he had just bitten off and Volk put his head in his hands and
gave a muffled moan. Brom started to laugh along with Johan.
"Well I don't see what is so funny
about being out in the wilds during troll season." Delte said
with her arms crossed.
"Troll season?" Brom howled
with laughter "Who told you that pile of shit?"
Delte gave a scathing look at Volk and
Paws and stomped away from the fire to begin her watch. Paws regained
his composure and shook his head.
"Bugger I had forgotten about that
one." Volk explained "I had told her that because she kept
stopping to pick herbs and plants for her alchemy. So I made it up to
try and speed our journey up."
Volk stood up and dusted himself down
of crumbs "I had best go and make amends with her."
He left the circle of firelight to look
for the dunmer female.
"I don't understand her problem."
Brom said "She doesn't have a sense of humour."
"Oh she does Brom," Paws
answered "its very subtly and dry though. Remember she is not
like you or Volk, she is a dunmer a dark elf. Very different people
from those you know of in Skyrim."
"Always the teacher Paws."
Brom said.
"It's not done you or Volk any
harm though now has it?" Paws replied with a wink.
During the trip to Rorikstead the
company made good time, even though they had to bypass some giant
camps along the way. Delte gave instruction to Johan on how to shoot
the bow better and the two brothers went out to hunt the next night
for small game to save their provisions.
On the second day of travelling they
rounded the foot of some hills and their view into the small town or
Rorikstead was unobstructed. The scene that lay before them was of
devastation and death. Fires blazed away out of control through the
squat wooden buildings and thatched roof tops. Magical lighting
arched between two figures in the town square as some of the men were
trying to fight off the attackers.
"Kyne's breath." Brom swore
at the sight he beheld.
Volk pulled out his two axes and dug
his heels into his horses flanks. "For Shor and King Jorunn."
He shouted as his horse entered full gallop.
Brom pulled his sword out and gave
chase after his brother with Delte right behind him.
"I got to string my bow."
Johan complained to Paws who was still with him.
"Learn to do it on horseback
Johan. Come on do you want to live forever?" Left-Paw-Alight
said as he sent his horse hurtling down towards the burning town of
Rorikstead.
"Madness they are all raving mad."
Johan said to himself as he unwrapped the bow and strung it.
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