Chapter Ten: Rescue from Mistwatch
Galmar handled the news as well as expected. I was changing in the upstairs room when I heard the Nordic shouting match from the main hall. The words were muffled by the stone walls, but the reverberation of anger and appall could be felt with every syllable. I was curious to know what was being said between them, but I knew better than to listen in on their not-so-private discussion.
I unlatched the buckles that held my armor taut against my body, sighing in relief as I was able to breathe fully again. I pulled the top half off, glancing in alarm as the door opened. Kaita quickly stepped inside, closing it behind her. Reassured that it was just her, I continued undressing, asking, “You didn’t want to stay down there and listen to them argue?”
She smiled. “Oh, no. Galmar is the only person on Nirn who can argue with Ulfric and it not be considered treason. Once the two get at it, things heat up rather quickly.” She plopped down on the bed in the corner, laying back and resting her hands on her stomach.
“I knew he wouldn’t take it well,” I told her, slipping out of the rest of the armor and pulling on the new, fur-lined officer uniform. I adjusted the leather and metal pieces carefully, making them fit to my smaller body. The armor was made for a bigger Nord, but it was the smallest one available. If I had time, I would have to take it to the blacksmith to improve the fit.
She sighed, “It’s not his decision. Let Ulfric talk to him a few minutes. He’ll come around.” She looked over at me from the bed, smiling as she admired our matching attire. “I think you’ll make a fine Stormblade.”
I smiled slightly. “I’m not that great at ordering people around.”
She shook her head. “It’s more than that. You’ll be doing the same missions as usual, but any soldier you come across with have to do what you say. It’s less giving orders and more being a leader.” She looked me over before cocking a brow. “Where’s your helm?”
I pulled on my bracers, tightening them as I spoke, “I wasn’t given one. I think there weren’t any available. I’ll just use my other one until I get one.”
Kaita smiled, giggling slightly. “Usually the helm is made from the head of the animal you killed on the hunt. Did Ulfric not tell you that?”
“I didn’t actually kill anything,” I admitted, frowning.
“How were you permitted to be Stormblade, then?” She sat up in the bed, pulling a strand of red hair from her eyes.
“It’s complicated,” I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’ll have to tell you everything some other time. For now, I should probably see if Ulfric and Galmar have stopped arguing. He wanted to see me before I head back to Dragon Bridge.” The faint, muffled arguing through the door let me know they weren’t nearly done debating, but I couldn’t wait hours for them to stop.
As Kaita rose from the bed, she stretched out her arms and yawned. “I’ll walk out with you.” I nodded in thanks, putting my sword into the new sheath and the bow and quiver on my back. She walked to the door ahead of me, asking, “Did I hear Ulfric right when he said you encountered the Dark Brotherhood?”
“Unfortunately,” I started, frowning as she opened the door. “They’re after me and my kin, so they’re willing to kill anyone necessary to get to us. Ulfric thinks it’s best if we travel in groups because of it. I think no one should risk getting hurt because of me.” The argument grew clearer as we headed down the steps. “Dragons, war, and now assassins; I don’t see how things could get any more dangerous.”
Kaita hummed. “Don’t say that. Things can always get worse. Ulfric’s right, though. I don’t think you should travel alone either. We would protect any other Stormcloak under a death threat. I don’t see why we should treat you differently.” I shook my head, but didn’t argue. The Nords were more stubborn that I was. They would have their way no matter how much I disliked it.
I reached the bottom of the stairs, stopping and taking a deep breath. I hesitantly peered around the corner into the main hall, looking at the two arguing Nords. Jorleif stood between them, wordlessly glancing between the two as each one spoke. He seemed to enjoy himself well enough, probably welcoming the action into his normally mundane life. Ulfric sat on the throne, appearing bored more than he was angry. Likewise, his voice was a gentler tone compared to his friend’s. The booming raspy voice of Galmar was all I could hear for the most part. He stood in front of Ulfric, arms crossed in defiance. “I find it hard to believe you found her worthy of leading our men when she couldn’t even make a kill.”
“She passed the trial and that’s all I asked for. We’ve never required an actual kill for promotion before,” Ulfric reasoned.
“It’s tradition,” he grumbled. “Then again, everything this woman does questions tradition.”
“She’s trying, Galmar,” Ulfric sighed. “You can’t expect an outsider of our country to come in and know everything right away. She has to be taught, and she’s willing to learn.”
“That’s my point. I don’t expect anything from outsiders,” he scoffed, stepping closer to the throne. “We are at war with an empire and you think we should accept its children into our ranks. It’s madness.”
“Talia is not a child of the empire any more than we are,” Ulfric replied. “She fought for them, yes, but so did we. She came to see the same errors we have and wants to help bring about justice. I can’t see how that makes her different than us.
“She’s an Imperial-“
“-With the heart and mind of a Nord,” Ulfric cut him off, leaning forward slightly. “Can you look beyond race and towards deeds? I think she’s more than proven herself.”
“You can all a thief a warrior all you like, but you can’t change the fact they’re a thief.”
“Talia hasn’t stolen anything.”
“Except the heart and resolve of our king,” Galmar stated, crossing his arms back over his chest. There was a long silence in which I found myself holding my breath. Guilt tied my stomach into knots as I waited for someone to break the dreaded silence. I felt Kaita lean over my shoulder behind me, peeking into the room as well. She gently held onto my shoulder, trying to provide comfort in the little way should could. I looked up at her, seeing her smile that reflected both joy and sympathy. I shakily released my breath, looking back at the men at the far end of the room.
“So that’s what this is about,” Ulfric stated, finally understanding what Galmar was upset over. When Galmar didn’t respond, he continued, “You think I’m so weak-minded I would let a woman influence my resolutions?”
“She has, Ulfric,” Galmar muttered, his tone less invasive than before. “Ever since Helgen there has been a shift in you. You’re not the same man you were. You’re…” He tried to think of a word.
“Open? Compassionate?” the Jarl asked, taking a deep breath. “Would you rather I remain cold for the rest of my life?”
“If you want a woman on your arm, you have a country of willing Nords at your beckon call. You don’t need to seek attention from an Imperial that wanders onto your doorstep like a mangy dog.” Ulfric became visibly annoyed, tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair. He remained silent, allowing Galmar to think about the words he had spoken. The second-in-command uncrossed his arms with a sigh. “I suggest you consider the consequences of courting an Imperial. How will it look to have a high king that can’t even stay loyal to his own race?”
The guilt made me feel sick. Perhaps it was selfish of me to allow Ulfric so close. I had no right to love him when so many of his own kind were fighting for the chance. Besides, I needed to have more on my mind than childish love. There was a war going on, and people who needed both of us level-headed and ready to fight for them. There was a sting of tears in my eyes, but I ignored it as I pulled away from the wall, nearly knocking Kaita off balance. I apologized, not letting her catch my eye as I walked into the main hall and towards the throne. I heard her call my name, but I didn’t turn back.
The Nords’ attention was put on me as I walked past the dining table. Galmar frowned at me, but couldn’t hold my gaze. Ulfric read me just as well, knowing I heard what they said. Still, I saluted him, faking a small smile. He sighed, looking me over. “The armor suits you well.”
I responded, “Thank you, sir. I need to get it fitted soon.” I heard Kaita walk up behind me, but didn’t turn to look at her. “I should be heading back to Dragon Bridge. Gaius can buy me some time, but he can’t keep lying forever.”
“It’s late, Talia, so you’ll be traveling in the dark,” Ulfric told me with a frown. “Why don’t you rest here for the evening and head back in the morning?”
I shook my head. “I’ve been too much of a bother here already.” I glanced over at Galmar as he scoffed. I looked back at Ulfric quickly adding, “It’s better if I head home until you need me again. If you have no further need of me, I’ll dismiss myself.”
“Talia,” Ulfric started, his tone stern. He looked away from me as the doors to the Palace of Kings flew open. Serlyn Drolik ran into the palace, breathless. He was trailed by some guards who were trying to stop him from entering unannounced. Kaita hurried to meet him, wrapping her arm around the dizzy elf to steady him. Ulfric rose from his throne, dismissing the guards and walking to meet the dunner. As Kaita helped him sit at the table, Ulfric instructed, “Get him some water.”
“I’m… fine… My Lord…” Serlyn panted, his accent heavy with fatigue.
Kaita shook her head. “I’ll be right back.”
I walked over and knelt beside him as she hurried to the kitchen area. He looked over at me, smiling weakly through his heavy breathing. He patted my head again, “Good to see you again, sera.”
“I’m sure you have a good reason for barging in, elf,” Galmar grumbled. “Let’s hear it.”
The dark-skinned man nodded. “The camp has been attacked. Legionnaires came in and stormed the place. Bjorn held them off as long as he could, but they were far better prepared than we were. I took the refugees that were able to move farther into the mountains, while those that could fight helped Bjorn.”
My shocked expression met Ulfric's and Galmar's. “He shouldn't have known. I've done everything to get him to avoid Mara's Eye.” Another wave of guilt flooded over me, but I wouldn't allow myself time to mourn. Ulfric understood and nodded slowly.
Kaita came back with a flagon of water, handing it to him. The elf drank gratefully as Ulfric asked, “What happened? Where’s Bjorn?”
Serlyn shook his head as the cup left his lips. “They killed most of the soldiers. We went back to the camp after they left and found everyone dead, even the wounded in the medical tents.” He frowned. “We didn’t find the bodies of Bjorn or a few other officers. We’re assuming they took them hostage and are escorting them to a prison for questioning.” As he spoke, I could see the tears stinging his eyes. I wanted to provide comfort, but I didn't have anything to say.
Galmar hummed, nodding in understanding. “Are the refugees at the camp again?”
“I had them move what they could salvage farther into the mountains, but yes, sera.”
“I’ll send men there to help immediately. We can’t have them unprotected if the Legion comes to finish them off.” Galmar looked at Ulfric. “We can use the rations from the Korvanjund trip to help them rebuild.”
The jarl nodded. “Take enough men to defend the wagon and the camp.” He looked at the Dunmer. “You did well in coming here, Serlyn. I’ll let you decide if you will rest here or head back to camp tonight.”
“I need to be with the people, My Lord,” he told him, gulping down the rest of the water. “They don’t have a leader. Hopefully they’ll trust in my guidance until we can get Bjorn home.”
“Right.” Kaita asked, “Who are we sending after the captives?” There was silence to answer her. “Galmar? Are we sending anyone after Bjorn and the others?”
The Nord sighed. “I don’t see how we can. We are down on men and have no idea where the Legionnaires could have taken them. We don’t even know if they are alive. We can’t spend resources on something that won’t turn a profit. I don’t like the idea of leaving them to the Imperials, but there’s nothing we can do.”
The Dark Elf’s expression faltered, his face turning to look at the ground. He rubbed his neck, muttering, “If I have to, I’ll go after him alone, sirs. I... I can't let Bjorn go like this. I have to know what has happened to him.”
Galmar shook his head. “You said yourself that those people need a leader. They are used to seeing you working in and around them every day. They need you to run the place. Besides, we don’t know where to go. They could be half-way to Solitude by now.”
“Mistwatch,” I muttered, rising to my feet and looking at Galmar and Kaita.
“What about it?” the male asked, raising a brow.
“It was a bandit hideout, but I think it was one of the places the Imperials were trying to set up camp. I wrote to you about it, remember?” I looked at Ulfric who nodded, disappearing into his command room to find the missive to confirm the location.
Galmar frowned. “Even if they are there, we still don’t have men to send.” He looked over at Ulfric, taking the paper from him with a small nod.
“Send me,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest. “You don’t have to expend any extra resources then.”
“You think you can break into a fort and liberate our men on your own?” Galmar asked, looking at me curiously. “You’re promoted and suddenly think you’re invincible.”
I frowned at him, taking a deep breath. “No, sir. I just don’t care to let our men die when there is a chance for their freedom. If I succeed, you have them back. If I’m caught, you’ve only lost one more person. You aren’t losing either way.” My tone was slightly more annoyed than I meant it to sound.
Galmar scoffed. “You think I think your life is worth nothing?” I didn’t respond, instead just staring up at him. He looked at Kaita and then Ulfric, neither one of them offering an answer either. Even Serlyn looked up in silence, detecting the resentment Galmar had for me. The Nord frowned. “I’m not going to ask you to walk into a suicide mission, Imperial. I might not like you, but I recognize you’re talented and somewhat important to us.”
Ulfric nodded in agreement. “We can’t let you go alone. It’s risky, but we can spare some of the city guard to help you. We’ll just have to pray to the Divines that a dragon doesn’t decide to take our city tonight. I’m sure Kaita wouldn’t mind lending a hand either.”
I shook my head slightly. “That would be putting too many people at risk. The city needs defenders more than I do. I’ve seen the layout of Mistwatch before and think I can get in and out without detection. Once I free the other officers, they can help me fight if need be.”
“I’m still going with you,” Kaita insisted. “You need someone to watch your back, Sister.” She smiled sweetly, forcing me to smile as well. When I nodded she looked back at Ulfric, “Expect us back by morning. We shouldn’t be longer than that.”
Galmar looked at her with a soft expression. “I’m going to ready the wagon and gather up some men. The two of you can head out whenever you’re ready.” He motioned to the elf at the table as he turned. “Come on, Dunmer.”
Serlyn rose to his feet, bowing slightly to Ulfric before following after Galmar. As they reached the door, Ulfric called out, “Talos guide you, Galmar.” The doors shut and he put his attention on Kaita and me, his emotionless expression changing to concern. “We need to talk about what you heard before you leave.”
I shook my head. “Every moment we waste is a moment those men get closer to dying. It has to wait.” He started to argue but I muttered in a soft tone, “I’m fine, Ulfric. It can wait.”
He hesitantly nodded, looking away from me and walking towards the command room. “I have something for you.” I glanced at Kaita and started following. She followed close behind. We entered the room and I walked over to the center table where a huge map was spread out with pins marking strategic locations. I was happy to see my notes from the many ventures into Tullius' office were also laying about. My attention went back on Ulfric as he opened a chest, taking out an object from inside.
He handed it over and I ran my fingers along the smooth wooden surface. The carvings in the wood were hollow and worn, letting me know the object was old. The back side of the piece was smoothed and fit perfectly into the contours of a face. I could feel magic pulsing within and examined the faint blue-grey glow the mask emitted. I looked back up at him asking, “What is it?”
“It’s supposedly the mask of a dragon priest. Krosis is the name of that one, I believe. Kaita says that Rikke recognized you in Korvanjund. If you wear the mask, no one will know the difference between you and another Stormcloak,” he told me, crossing his arms as I hesitantly put the mask on.
The slits for eyes would take getting used to, but otherwise it fit flawlessly. “Where did you get this?” I asked pulling the hood up to cover the rest of my head.
“An adventurer came through here a few weeks ago. He offered to give me the mask in exchange for the carcass of the dragon you slain. I don’t know what he did with it, but he had better use for it than I did.” He walked around the table towards me, adjusting the front of the hood for me. “Just like you will have better use for the mask than I.”
“Thank you,” I told him, tilting the mask up, but leaving the hood on. I smiled faintly as I told him, “I don’t feel restricted to where I can and can’t go now.”
He nodded, returning the weak smile. He looked over at Kaita. “You two keep each other safe. I’m expecting you both back unharmed.”
The red-head nodded. “Of course, Jarl Ulfric.” She saluted him quickly, adding, “We’ll bring our boys back home to you.” As Ulfric nodded in return, I felt her firm hand on my shoulder. “I know the road to Mistwatch; it’s on our hold’s southern border. Once we get there, I’ll let you take the lead. You know your way around from Tullius’ outline, right?”
“Yes,” I started, turning towards the door. “I think I have a plan as well.” I paused when I reached the door, looking back towards Ulfric. “I’ll see you in the morning, sir.”
“Talos guide and protect both of you,” he told us, frowning slightly. Kaita walked through the door ahead of me, but I lingered to stare at him a moment longer. The corner of his lip turned upward in reassurance as he motioned me out of the room. I hesitantly nodded and followed after Kaita.
Kaita smiled sweetly back at me, whispering, “You’ll have to tell me what happened on that trip while we head to Mistwatch. I’m dying to know what Ulfric thinks of you.” She giggled a little, picking up pace as we left the doors of the great hall.
I pulled the mask down over my face to hide the small amount of embarrassment in my expression. I looked up at the starry sky through the slits in the mask as I sighed. “Nothing happened between us,” I lied, walking beside her. “I’ll tell you about the bear and the Dark Brotherhood, but if you’re expecting to hear anything about Ulfric, you’re going to be disappointed.”
She hummed curiously, her fingers brushing through her long hair as she pulled it back to tie it up. “I think you’re lying.” I was silent. “You were so excited when you got back to the Palace of Kings, more excited than you should have been from just getting a promotion. Besides, your attitude only changed when you heard Galmar fussing at him.”
I shook my head under the mask. “It doesn’t matter what happened, Kaita,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice unwavering. “I am not letting Ulfric get close to me again, and I am not allowing myself close to him.”
“Did he hurt you?” she asked quickly in alarm, grabbing my shoulder and tipping up my mask to see my face. The concern in her expression made me smile faintly. The look she gave was of a woman ready for war. If I said yes, there was no doubt in my mind she would have stormed the castle on her own and confronted him. I was relieved to know someone other than Ulfric cared so deeply for me.
I quickly shook my head, taking her hand to reassure her I was fine. “No, he did quite the opposite, really.” I smiled sadly, looking down. “He fought for me against the Brotherhood. He swore he’d protect me. I… I think he loves me.” I hesitantly started walking again, pulling the mask down and pushing open the city gates.
Kaita followed, frowning in confusion. “I don’t see a problem then. There’s no reason to be pushing him away if you feel the same.” She walked beside me on the bridge, pulling her snow fox helm on her head to keep her warm. “It’s not fair to either of you.”
“It’s not fair that I am given love and have nothing to give in return. I’m not royalty, I’m not a Nord. I have nothing he is worthy of. Galmar is right. He has nothing to gain by loving me, and everything to lose. It’s just better if we distance ourselves now before we let things get out of hand.” We were about halfway across the brigade when I finished talking and felt Kaita’s hand grab my arm and turn me towards her. I exclaimed out of fear when she shoved me, nearly pushing me over the short wall of the bridge and into the river below. She caught me as I leaned over the edge, her fist holding the fabric of my uniform. I looked at her through the mask, shaking slightly as I tried to keep my balance on the ledge. “What are you doing?!” I asked, worried.
“Are you done whining?” She asked, threatening to let me fall. I quickly nodded, grabbing onto her hand for support. She huffed, pulling me from the edge and crossing her arms. “I’m tired of you talking like this. You know how ridiculous you sound?” She looked towards a guard near the end of the bridge that had gotten distracted by her outbreak. She frowned and lowered her voice. “Who cares if you’re royalty? Who cares about your race?”
I started to reply, my voice shaking, “Galmar thinks-”
“To Oblivion with what Galmar thinks!” she exclaimed. She reached out, grabbing my shoulders. Her voice lowered again, “It wouldn’t matter if you were Nord, Breton, or Khajiit. Neither of you can help that you fell in love with each other.”
“It’s fine, Kaita,” I muttered. “We don’t need to bother ourselves with it anyways. There’s a war to run and dragons to slay. We both need to be concerned with real issues.”
She shook her head. “This is a real issue,” She smiled sadly. “We used to think Ulfric would never get over Rikke. We’ve tried setting him up with so many women in the past, but he’s always been closed off and cold. Then you came.” She removed her hands, walking ahead of me. I followed as she continued, “I don’t think being in love will affect the outcome of war. Galmar and I will still love each other while we fight against the empire. Why can’t you and Ulfric?”
I shrugged, taking a deep breath. “What will people think if they see him with me?”
She smiled sweetly at me, “They will wonder how he got so lucky.” I looked over at her, sighing in defeat and hesitantly smiling. She giggled weakly, “He’s strong, Talia. He can handle whatever opinions people have. When Galmar realizes he’s not going to change Ulfric’s mind, he’ll accept you too.”
I nodded some, walking towards the stable. Glaer nickered when he saw me, the noise drawing the attention of the other horses as well. Straw hung from the side of his mouth as he chewed. I pulled off the mask and smiled at him, hugging onto his neck as he leaned over the stable door. I took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the horse and letting it lull me into a more relaxed state. I muttered, “I’ll try to stop grumbling, Kaita. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head as she walked up beside me, clucking to Valk in the stable beside my stallion. She rubbed the animal’s nose and unlocked the gate. “It’s fine, as long as you make it up to me by telling me what happened.” She smirked over her shoulder. I rolled my eyes as I looked at her, giving a faint nod. She giggled and took her animal out of the pen and climbed on.
I wasted no time in unlocking Glaer’s gate as well, leading him towards the road after Valk. I grabbed onto the saddle and pulled myself up. Valk anxiously pawed the ground as she waited for me to get ready. As I nodded to Kaita, she spurred the horse down the southern road. Glaer took off after the mare, riding alongside her, matching her speed and stride.
I quietly told Kaita about the hunt, not leaving out much detail. My Shield-Sister listened quietly, though her smile spoke volumes. She was more than supportive of me and my interests, and that was something that I lacked around most people. Besides Gaius, I had no other person I could talk to that would support me wholeheartedly. Kaita was different than most though. From our short expeditions together, we had grown close. I supposed war did that to people, but it was unlike any relationship I had before. She was more than a friend; she was like family.
My story took a while to tell, but neither of us minded much. It was welcomed to help us pass the time. As the snowy landscape became more lush and green under the light of our moons, I realized we were nearing the edge of Eastmarch hold. Kaita led us away from the main road and down a path. The dirt road eventually turned to grass as we reached its end, and we slowed our horses to a walk.
It wasn’t much longer before we reached the wood line beside a large stone structure. In the moonlight, I could make out three standing towers within a stone wall. A fourth tower was built into a surrounding hill, further fortifying the camp. We climbed off our steeds, tying Glaer to Valk and turning them loose into the forest. Kaita and I crept towards the single entrance in the brush. Not surprisingly, we found a small squad of Legionnaires guarding the opening. Their shiny metal armor made easy targets at even our distance, but we didn’t make a move. Instead, Kaita looked at me for direction. “Alright, Stormblade, what’s the plan?”
I quietly counted the soldiers I could see outside and around the entrance. “Well, we aren’t getting in this way.” I told her sliding the mask over my face again. “We’ll go through the back way.” I pointed to the tower built into the hill. “We can climb the rock face and enter through the top of the tower. It’s going to be harder, but we won’t be seen.”
I started sneaking past the wall making my way towards the hill. Kaita followed and I heard her ask, “What about after we get in?”
I muttered, less confidently, “I’ll let you know if we get that far.” I heard Kaita laugh weakly. She knew as well as I did it wasn’t a joke, but I was thankful she was trying to keep the mood light. I stood up when I was confident we were far enough away from anyone to be seen. I hurried to the hillside, climbing the rocky grade. I was careful to keep my body close to the ground to avoid drawing too much attention. I glanced down at Kaita who was faring just as well as I was. I decided not to stop again until I reached the top of the hill. Looking down from that height alone was dizzying.
At the apex, I reached down to help Kaita. She nodded gratefully and joined me in scouting the area. In addition to the squad at the entrance, there was one scattered around the camp’s center, dispersed between two campfires. I reasoned there was at least one more squad making up the occupants in the four towers. I sighed softly, motioning with my hand. I signed, “three squads altogether”. She nodded, pointing to each tower. There was one scout per tower, each holding their bow as they scanned the area. She started down the steeper part of the hill that overlooked the tower just meters below us. I followed, keeping my eye on the scout that had his back to us.
I wasn’t willing to take a shot at him and risk not killing him immediately, so I trusted Kaita to sneak up and make the kill before he sounded the alarm. The red-head slipped to the drop off of the hill, looking down at the man below. She made sure he wasn’t going to move before jumping from the hill and landing on top of him. He started to call for help, but her hands clamped around his neck. He struggled beneath her for several moments before growing still. I watched Kaita gently close his eyes before waving up at me. Hesitantly, I jumped from the hill as well.
Kaita whispered, confident no one would hear us, “We’re in.” She smiled a little. “That was a good plan, but we don’t exactly have a way out now.” She looked up at the hill that loomed above us, the ledge just out of our reach.
I nodded. “I figured when we rescued the others, we might stand a better chance of fighting our way out. That, or we can find some crates to climb on and try to reach the hill that way.”
She laughed weakly, “So this is an all-or-nothing mission, then?” I nodded faintly. “I guess it was from the beginning though.”
I sighed softly. “The captives have no chance if we don’t follow through with this. I expected to come home with them or not to come home at all.”
“I’m with you regardless of the outcome, Shield-Sister.” She walked over to the edge of the tower, looking down. She then pointed to the two towers to our right or left. “Alright, Tali. Where’s our boys?”
I walked over to her. “In both of those towers, if I remember correctly.” She frowned as I continued. “The schematics showed prison quarters in both the east and west towers. This tower is the supply towers since it’s the most heavily protected, and the tower across from us is the sleeping quarters.”
“I take it we’ll be avoiding that tower then?”
I smiled with a nod. “Unless you want a bigger fight than we already have.” I looked up at the moons and estimated the time. “It’s late enough that most of the prison guards will be asleep. They won’t be expecting an attack after such a successful day. I think we can each handle a tower on our own.”
She agreed, heading to the trap door that led inside the tower. “What do we do about the soldiers? Are we taking them all out?”
I hesitated, frowning some. It didn’t seem very fair to kill the sleeping ones, as they had no chance against us. I shook my head as I followed. “If they’re armed, engage them. If they’re asleep, let them be. Just try not to make noise when you kill them.”
“On your orders,” she told me, opening the door and peeking inside the room below us. She slid down the ladder, waiting for me to do the same. Around us were crates and bags full of rations from Cyrodiil. She dug through an open bag, pulling out a carrot. “Huh,” she muttered, tossing the root aside. “These Legionnaires are pretty well off, aren’t they?”
I nodded with a sigh. “Cyrodiil isn’t experiencing any shortage of food, so the surplus comes here to Skyrim to support the war effort.” I looked over the stash, humming as I got an idea. “It would be shame if something were to happen to the supplies after we left though.”
Kaita looked at me with a smile. “Yeah? Like what?”
I pointed to one of the torches on the wall. “If the place caught fire, the rations couldn’t be saved. After we get the captives out of here, maybe one of us can make sure the torches are knocked loose.”
She giggled a little. “We’ll see. Let’s just get Bjorn and the others out of here first.” I nodded, taking the lead from the store room to the stairs. We snuck quietly past other rooms on the way down, none of them containing soldiers much to our fortune. As we approached the exit, I motioned for her to stay quiet while I crept closer to the door. I pressed my ear to the wood, listening for voices on the other side. Not hearing any, I hesitantly opened it, looking around.
I looked back inside at Kaita and whispered, “No one’s guarding this tower. After you free everyone from the west, we’ll meet back here and decide if we can make it up the hill or not.”
She walked over to me, checking the outside for herself. She pointed at the campfires, counting the men at each one. She frowned before nodding. “Keep an eye on their movements. They’re probably celebrating a victory now, but they could wise up if they hear any noise from our prisons.”
“I will,” I muttered, pushing open the door slightly more to squeeze through. I waited for her to come out as well before shutting it silently. I motioned to my tower, giving a salute in dismissal. She returned the gesture, hurrying through the moonlight to the building opposite of mine.
I snuck past the group as well, listening to their drunken chatter and tales of adventure. I didn’t pay them much mind after I was a safe distance away. The only obstacle I faced before entering the tower was a lone guard. The Imperial was distracted with thoughts of sleep, his eyes shutting for moments at a time before he jerked awake. I approached at an angle, using barrels and crates as cover. I heard him yawn softly as I drew my small dagger from my boot. I looked over the crate I leaned against before sneaking closer. His eyes were closed by the time I came up to him, but they flew open as he heard my footsteps. He started to draw his blade, but I was already on him by the time he grabbed the hilt. I covered his lips with my hand as I quickly cut his throat. His eyes slid shut as he fell to the ground.
I looked behind me at the camp to make sure no one had seen me move in. Satisfied, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The stench of blood in the prison was overwhelming. The mask did nothing in helping me breathe through the odor. I grabbed a clean linen from off a nearby table to clean my blade as I looked around the dark room. There were several bloody objects lined on a table, but there was no sign of guard or prisoner. Curious, I headed up the stairs to the next level.
Before I reached the top, I heard Imperial voices. I stopped walking, listening in to their words. “Are the Thalmor really coming tomorrow?”
“That’s what Legate Cistus says,” the other voice replied. “I don’t see why they should though. We can handle these Nords ourselves.”
“They want the priestess, I reason.” There was a sigh and I continued walking up the stairs. “Elenwen told the General that the Thalmor have claim to all the religious quacks devoted to Talos. They think they’re the real troublemakers in this war. Without Talos, the Nords have nothing.”
I pressed my back to the door frame, peeking inside the room. Two Legionnaires stood near the center of the room, their backs towards me. They were staring at a man in rags, bound to the wall by shackles and gagged with a piece of cloth. There were other prisoners in the room as well, though they were kept behind metal bars with their hands barred behind them. One of the men caught sight of me as I peeked in, and I quickly motioned for him to stay quiet. He nodded faintly, whispering something to the prisoner in the cell beside him.
I cautiously drew my sword, the sound of the unsheathing metal catching the guards’ attentions. “What was that?” One asked, starting to walk towards the door. I waited in the dark for him to draw close. He saw me only a moment before I shoved the blade through his chest, breaking skin on the other side. The other Imperial drew his blade, eyes wide as he rushed at me. I withdrew the blade, blocking the hit. He called out in fear, “Who in Oblivion are you?!” I didn’t answer, stepping closer as he backed away.
Our swords collided several times, each of us deflecting the other’s attack. He continued backing away, the mask intimidating him. He nearly backed into the man that was bound to the wall. The Nord lifted his leg, shoving his heel into the tender backside of the Legionnaire’s knee. The man collapsed, giving me the opportunity I needed to end his life. I brought my blade down faster than he could block, slicing him neatly across the neck and chest.
As he withered to the ground, I carefully put the blade away. I approached the gagged Nord, gently removing the fabric from his lips. He immediately whispered, “Gods be praised.” I smiled under the mask, turning to the dead man on the ground and searching for a key to unlock the restraints. “Who sent you?”
“Serlyn came to Windhelm after the attack,” I told him. “He wanted to come after you, but Galmar told him to take care of your people. I and Kaita Snow-hare volunteered to come in his stead to take you home.”
He smiled weakly. “Serlyn’s alive then?” He sighed in relief. “I was worried he didn’t make it and we lost the whole camp.” I shook my head, digging a key from the pocket of the Legionnaire. I started to unlock his restraints as he asked, “You said Kaita’s here, so who does that make you?”
“Talia,” I told him, propped back the mask to get a better look at him. He was a young Nord, probably just as old as I was. His hair was a dirty blonde and kept cut just above the ears. He kept his facial hair just as well trimmed. He was built like an average Nord and shared the same brown eye color. I rightly reasoned he was Bjorn, as he was kept away from the other officers and given unequal treatment.
When he was free, I stepped away to let him have room to breathe. He sighed in relief, rubbing his wrists. “Talia Maro?” he asked, smiling when I nodded. “Serlyn told me about you: all good things, I assure you.”
I smiled weakly before pulling the mask back down. I handed over the key. “Will you help the others out of their cells? If you can, find your gear and weapons as well. We’re meeting Kaita and the others at the supply tower. I’m going to see if I can find the priestess.”
He nodded quickly, taking the key and examining it. “I think Aslaug is in the level above us. They kept her separate because the Thalmor were going to take her in the morning.” He frowned, walking to the cell closest to him and unlocking the door.
I nodded, searching the other Legionnaire for his key. Finding it, I looked back at Bjorn. “I’ll meet you in the other tower. Try not to be heard or seen. We’re severely outnumbered.”
“How many men did you bring?” He asked, cocking a brow as he turned to look at me.
I smiled under Krosis. “I told you, it’s just me and Kaita who volunteered.” He looked alarmed, but said nothing as I headed up the stairs to the next level.
I didn’t hear speaking as I neared the top of the next flight of stairs, but I was cautious just the same. I hesitantly approached the doorway, sticking my head around the frame to look inside. Against the far wall, I saw a familiar, weak form shackled in a cell. Aslaug still wore wrappings over her eyes. She was clearly incapable of defending herself, but the Legionnaires had her bound like a dangerous criminal. Her hands were chained together, mounted above her head to a nail in the wall. A gag dug into the corners of her mouth, drawing blood that soaked into the linen. It caused a pain in my chest to see the defenseless woman treated so poorly.
I entered the room, my grip tightening around the key. I pushed it into the lock, flinching as the sound of grinding metal mixed with a loud snore. I turned, spotting a large-bodied orc laying on a cot across from the cell. He slept soundly for the most part, turning his back towards me as he adjusted himself to get more comfortable. I tried to be even more quiet as I turned the key the rest of the way and pushed open the door to the cell.
I knelt in front of woman, whispering near silently, “Priestess Aslaug?” Her head tilted slightly, towards me, her body shaking in fear of the unknown. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to rescue you. There’s an orc guarding the door, so we have to be quiet, all right?” She nodded faintly, and I removed the gag from her mouth. The dripping rag revealed they had done more than bleed her lips. I hesitantly asked, “What have they done to you?”
Rather than answer with words, the priestess whimpered, shakily opening her mouth. I wiped away the drops of blood that formed on her lips with a gloved hand, my heart sinking. Her tongue had been cut from her mouth. Blood still seeped from the cut, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been. I tossed aside the rag before removing a glove from my hand. I began to heal the wound, doing what I could to stop the bleeding and alleviate the pain. I knew I wouldn’t be able to restore her tongue, but I didn’t need to tell her. She was wise enough to know.
With my free hand, I unlocked the shackles on her wrists, careful not to let them hit the ground and wake the guard. She slowly pulled her hands free to prevent rattling the chains. She reached out for me, her light fingers finding my face beneath the mask. I smiled weakly, as she mouthed the words, “Young Talia”. I nodded, taking her hands in my own as I rose to my feet.
“I’ll get you out of here,” I whispered, turning to the cell door, and opening it the rest of the way. She followed close behind me, her head tilted down as she listened to the world around her. I hurried to the door that led to the stairs and started silently creeping down. She tried to whisper something to me, but I couldn’t understand the slurred words. I turned to look at her, and from the corner of my eye a saw a large shadow following us from the room. I cried, “Duck!”, pulling her out of the way as a heavy mace swung at us. The woman exclaimed but did as I said, covering her head with her hands. The mace chipped the stone wall where we once stood, but we were unscathed.
I drew my sword, placing myself between Aslaug and the orc. He pulled the mace out of the wall, growling as he looked down at us in the dark. The torches reflected off his dark eyes and the points of his teeth. I told Aslaug, “Follow the wall until you reach the door. I’ll meet you there when I take care of him.”
Aslaug nodded, as the orc laughed mockingly. “I’ll kill you first then. The Thalmor will just have to take what’s left of the both of you.” He swung the mace as he walked towards me. I jumped backwards to avoid the hit, tripping on the step below me. I regained my balance, but realized quickly how disadvantaged I was. The orc had higher ground and greater strength. I would have trouble both offensive and defensively. I knew I wouldn’t fare well in the fight and struggled to come up with a plan.
I managed to block a few hits, but the force from each one had me reeling. The orc chuckled as he continued his approach. I continued backing down, unable to get ahead in the fight. I finally backed into the room where Bjorn and the others were held. It was empty but at least there the odds were a little more even. I blocked another hit, trying to return the attack. He took the hit, not reacting other than a small growl. He anticipated the swing of my blade, and as I started to retaliate, he brought the mace down on me.
The force was directed at my head and was strong enough to knock me to the ground. I felt the blade slip from my hand. I dizzily felt around for it, but was knocked even farther from it when the mer drilled my stomach with the toe of his boot. I slid into the door of one of the cells, slamming it closed. I struggled to catch my breath, coughing beneath my mask. The orc wrapped his free hand around my throat, pulling me from the ground and lifting me into the air. My toes barely touched the ground as I struggled in the male’s grasp. My coughing turned to wheezing then gasping as he tightened his grip. He chuckled, “Men are so weak. Just like your god.”
I wrapped my hands around his wrist, trying to pry his hand from my throat. I could feel myself growing light-headed and the blood in my body pulsing. The orc dropped his mace, using his other hand to pry up my mask. He took joy in watching the light leaving my eyes. I kicked at him, fighting hard to stay awake. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of killing me. As he pulled off my mask and dropped it to the floor, I saw movement at the door behind him. Bjorn walked up the stairs and into the room, his blade fully drawn. I couldn’t help the relief that flooded my strained face. The orc cocked a brow and started to speak again. He suddenly gasped as the Nord forced the blade through the male’s uncovered torso through the back.
The orc’s grip loosened and I fell through his fingers and onto the floor. I gasped heavily, still fighting off unconsciousness. I looked up teary eyed at the orc, noting the blood that dripped from the sword’s tip that protruded from his chest. Bjorn pulled the blade out, emotionless as he shoved the orc away from me and watched the mer fall near the center of the room. The Nord looked back at me, picking up the mask from the floor. He knelt in front of me, holding it out. “It looks like I came in just in time.”
I smiled weakly, coughing into my arm. “Thank you,” I croaked. He shook his head as I took the mask. “Aslaug?” I asked, sitting on my knees as I tried to stable my breathing.
“She’s fine,” he told me, smiling slightly. “I told her to wait by the door while I checked on you. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell something was wrong by the way she looked.”
“They cut out her tongue,” I told him, coughing again.
He frowned, glancing back towards the door. “Of course they did. They can’t stand the thought of her speaking on Talos anymore. She would have prayed for his mercy on us while we suffered here and ask that he send rescue. The Imperials couldn’t have that,” he growled in anger.
As my breathing slowly returned to normal, I put the mask back on. “We’ll make them pay for it, Bjorn. We need to get the others to safety first.” I held out my hand to him as I stood up. He took it, getting to his feet.
“What did you have in mind?” he asked, curiously.
I picked up my sword from the ground, sheathing it. “We’ll burn their supplies. They won’t be able to stay here without another caravan bringing extra rations. We can monitor the roads for the reinforcements and take those as well.”
“That doesn’t seem like enough damage,” Bjorn told me, cleaning his sword on the fabric the dead orc wore. “I think we need to slaughter them like they slaughtered my camp.”
I frowned under the mask at the idea, looking over at him with a sigh. I knew I wouldn’t be able to quell his anger. He was right to call for their blood in retribution for those lives that were lost at Mara’s Eye camp. They killed without prejudice there. It was only fair to return the favor. Still, I knew we wouldn’t be able to pull it off without losing the lives of more of our men. “We lack the numbers, and I doubt those of you here are at top form after today's events.” I adjusted my hood, glancing at the door. “The most we can do for now is destroy their reserves. After we get everyone safe, I’m sure Galmar will be happy to lend you the numbers to take this place.”
He sighed, frowning slightly. “I suppose you’re right. It’s not fair of me to ask the officers to risk their lives again.” He took a deep breath. “I will be back, though. They aren’t getting off so easily.”
I nodded. “It’s the right thing to do. Save your wrath for the right moment.” I drew in a deep breath, relieved at being able to breathe again, and turned towards the door. “Let’s get our brothers and sisters home.” I heard him mutter in agreement as I walked out of the room and down the stairs.
I walked into the first room of the tower, smiling faintly as I saw Aslaug sitting by the door in the dark. She listened intently to the silence to try and figure out who was coming. Bjorn called out, “It’s just us, Priestess. We’re safe now.” She smiled widely, rising to her feet. She felt her way through the dark, walking towards his voice. She found him, with his help, and hugged him in thanks. He chuckled, returning the hug. “You’re welcome. I would be thanking Talia, though. I wouldn’t have gotten out without her.”
She reached out towards me and I took her hand. She tried to speak, but the words were incomprehensible. She whimpered slightly as she covered her mouth with her free hand. I frowned, muttering, “It’s okay, Priestess Aslaug. We’ll figure something out. Let’s just worry about getting you back home, right?”
She nodded hesitantly, slowly removing her hand. I looked a Bjorn as he walked ahead of me, checking the outside of the door. He nodded and opened it more for me and Aslaug to walk through. I nodded gratefully, leading the woman outside. I kept my eyes on the nearby Legionnaires to make sure they didn’t see us. We hurried to the supply tower, being greeted by the officers Bjorn had released. We walked inside, stopping at the main room in the base of the tower. The three officers looked to Bjorn for direction, but he shook his head. “Talia’s leading this rescue mission. Take orders from her.”
I blinked a few times in surprise as they looked at me expectantly. I hummed in thought before motioning to the stairs. “I know we need to find a way back onto the hill at the top of this tower. We can start by stacking crates until Kaita comes.” They nodded and started up the stairs. I stopped Bjorn. “Will you please take Aslaug? I’m going to stay down here and wait for Kaita.”
The man saluted me with a bow. “Of course.” He looked at the woman, taking her hand gently. “This way, my Priestess.” She smiled faintly, nodding to him and following up the stairway. They were out of sight, but I heard him ask, “Want me to carry you?” Silence answered him as I assumed she frowned at him. He laughed, “I was just asking, miss.” I giggled to myself. I felt for her, but I knew she wouldn’t give up. She was a Nord- a fighter.
I didn’t have to wait long for Kaita to bring her half of the officers to the supply tower. I held the door for them, counting the men and women who entered. I asked softly, “Is that everyone?”
Kaita nodded, looking over her group. “I believe so. How many did you get from your tower?”
“Five including Bjorn and Aslaug,” I told her. “They’re already on the roof getting ready to go.”
She motioned her men to head up the stairs as she walked beside me after them. “That makes nine. That should be everyone.” She smiled widely. “We did it.”
I smirked. “Oh? Did you doubt me?”
She grinned with a giggle. “No, no. Of course not,” she teased, “I had full confidence in you.”
When we reached the top room, we found the officers passing up empty crates through the trap door. Kaita and I hurried up the ladder when there was a break and went to the roof. The Stormcloaks had stacked the crates about four high and Bjorn stood on the highest one, barely reaching the hill above him. He called, “We need one more level.” He looked back at me and Kaita, smiling brightly. He climbed down the crates they had stacked as stairs and hurried over to her, nearly tackling the woman in a hug. Kaita giggled, returning the hug. He muttered, “Thank you for coming after us. Thank both of you.”
Kaita shook her head, squeezing his shoulders. “We weren’t about to leave you, Bjorn. I would have gone myself if no one else wanted to go. Luckily, Talia cares just as much as I do.”
I nodded and smiled under my mask. He looked over at me gratefully before cupping Kaita’s cheeks in his hands. He pulled her forward, kissing her forehead. “I owe you.” He hesitantly pulled away, going to help the others finish the crate stairs.
I looked over at Kaita, humming softly. “He’s a sweet one, isn’t he?”
She giggled. “He has a kind-heart which makes him a great leader, but he’s young. Galmar and I took him under our wing a few years ago, looking after him until he came of age. He volunteered to lead the Mara’s Eye camp so we let him. He’s done well until this point.”
I nodded. “That explains why he’s so fond of you. I think he did well in defending his camp. Anyone would have done the same in his situation.” She nodded, watching him place the last crate and climb to the hill.
Bjorn hoisted himself onto the rocky face, balancing on a stone and checking its stability. He looked down at us, nodding. “It’s safe to leave now, Stormblades.”
The officers muttered happily amongst themselves, quickly climbing the crates and helping each other onto the hill. I helped Aslaug, who was standing nearby, and Bjorn took her when she reached the top crate. I motioned Kaita ahead of me, turning to go back down the trap door. She frowned at me, “Where are you going?”
“I promised Bjorn we’d cause some damage as retribution. I’m going to start burning their supplies. I’ll be back in a minute, promise.” She didn’t look convinced, but hesitantly nodded. I watched her reach the top of the hill before climbing the ladder back into the tower.
I hurried down the stairway, grabbing a torch as I passed by one on the way down. I went to the first room that held supplies, which happened to be the second floor. I went inside, humming softly as I tilted the torch downwards, sprinkling the ashes onto the dry cloth bags. As the flame licked the surface, the material started to burn. It was a small enough fire that would give me time to leave the room before it enveloped the lanterns and caused the entire floor to light. I walked to the door, closing it behind me to further slow the flames.
I stopped walking as I heard the door below me open and voices whispering in the dark. “We counted eleven of them go in here. Be ready for a fight. The Stormcloaks don't give up easy.”
My eyes widened as I realized we had been seen. I held my breath as I dropped the torch in my fear, hoping to disappear into the shadows as I began sprinting back to the top of the tower. I blamed my own incompetence for this situation. It would have been enough to rescue the Stormcloaks and leave. I just hoped they hadn't decided to wait for me.
“I hear them!” one of the soldiers below me cried out upon hearing the torch hit the ground. Their overly confident taunting was barely audible over the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears, “Where are you going to run to, Stormcloak? You've just made this easy on us!”
I was halfway up the ladder when I felt a hand grab my leg. I yelped I was was jerked backwards, hitting the ground face down. The lead Legionnaire had caught up to me, sword drawn and ego inflamed. He smirked widely as he sliced the blade towards me, cutting into my forearm as I raised it to block the hit. Through the slits in the mask, I focused in on his face. It sickened me to see his expression. The massacre at Mara's Eye only fueled his bloodlust as opposed to quenching it.
He went to bring the sword down on me again, but a sound above us caught his attention. He had no time to react as Bjorn jumped from the ladder, slamming into him and knocking him over. As he got back to his feet, the young Nord grabbed the nearest object, an empty crate, and broke it over the Legionnaire's head. The Imperial didn't make a noise as he fell over, unconscious. Bjorn called out to me, “Get up the ladder!”
I got to my feet as quickly as I could, responding, “There's more of them!” He nodded, grabbing a couple oil filled lanterns and tossing them down the stairwell. I climbed the ladder, trusting him to cover me until I was safely at the top. As I reached for his hand, I saw the last part of his plan. He lit the last lantern and tossed it towards the approaching Legionnaires. It shattered and exploded, in turn lighting the lantern nearest to it. It worked perfectly to burn and slow our would-be assailants, but above their screams I heard an unsettling noise.
The tower began to moan and shake as the old structure couldn't withstand the explosions within it. Bjorn quickly took my hand and climbed out of the tower, practically sprinting up the crates. I was right on his heels as we half ran- half slid down the hillside to were the rest of the officers and Aslaug were waiting for us.
The entire tower was threatening to collapse and take the hillside with it. Our small band of Stormcloaks moved further away as we reached them, retreating into the trees before stopping to watch the camp at a distance. We could see a billow of smoke against the clear night sky before brilliant flames began peeking over the apex of the hill. Above my breathing I heard the cries and shouts of Legionnaires on the other side as they tried to fight of the spreading flames. There was nothing they could do to help, and it brought a smile to our faces. I looked over at Bjorn to find a smile on his face as he described in detail what was going on to Aslaug, making the mute priestess grin as well.
We all waiting in silent anticipation for what felt like an hour until the tower finally grew weak and collapsed on the other side. Our small band cheered at its defeat, making Bjorn laugh softly. The look of anger he had before had subsided, and I felt a small sense of pride. I had helped him get even.
We waited in the forest for a few moments after before Kaita whispered, “We need to get moving before they start looking for us.” I nodded and she looked over at the male as well. She smirked softly as she continued, “Are you satisfied for now, Bjorn?” He simply grinned as he helped Aslaug to her feet, following our group into the forest.
When we were far enough away, I whistled for our horses, waiting for the thunderous hooves to break the quiet. Valk pulled Glaer through the trees towards us, unaware of the chaos behind. Most of us would have to walk, but we let Aslaug and one of the injured officers ride the horses while we marched farther down the road. The entire way back to Windhelm, the Stormcloaks sang songs of thanks to the gods and to each other. I felt right at home among them, oddly enough. It was the first time I didn't feel entirely out of place or judged in the presence of other Stormcloaks. Part of me wanted to attribute it to the mask Ulfric had given me, though. I thought it helped them forget I wasn't a Nord.
Drunk with joy, I heard Bjorn call out above the others, “Praise be to Kaita Snow-Hare, Stormblade of the West!” The others cheered, applauding her name.
Kaita bowed playfully, accepting their cheers. She then called out, “Praise be to Talia Bear-Tamer, Heir of Cyrodiil!” They cheered again, making me smiled and giggle under my mask. I bowed like Kaita did, waving at them.
Bjorn walked over to me, taking my hand and holding it in the air with Kaita’s. “May their deed tonight be forever sang in Sovngarde!” They cheered louder, chanting our names in reverence.
I lifted my mask up, looking over our group with a content smile. I waited for him to release our hands and begin leading the band of Stormcloaks in another Nordic folk song before walking a little closer to Kaita. She hummed along with the singing but stopped when she noticed the smirk I gave her. “Heir of Cyrodiil, huh?”
“It’s the first title I could come up with,” she teased, her eyes scanning the group to make sure no one was left behind. “It could be true though. Who is to stop you from sieging the Imperial throne? You could be the next Empress.”
I hummed in amusement. “That’s a bit ambitious.” I placed my hand on Glaer’s side as we walked. “I’m content being a soldier for now. I don’t see myself as a ruler.”
Kaita simply smiled, putting her attention back on the singing Nords. As their songs rose into the night, I let myself relax with my fellow brothers and sisters. They taught me praise songs and prayers as we walked, teaching me how to talk to Talos. I enjoyed every moment, not even noticing the green forests that had changed to snow until Glaer began to slip on the icy road. By then, the new rays of Mundus were peeking over the mountains in the east. I smiled when Windhelm finally came into view and the once-condemned Stormcloaks cheered in excitement. We had made it home.
<< Chapter Nine ~ Chapter Eleven >>
Replies
Another Long Chapter. I'll make it up to y'all. :)
Finally was able to finish reading this long chapter (you and another friend of mine would get along insanely well, with how long you and she have chapters :P). Cutting out a priestess's tongue... a new low and something my lizard would torture the person over. Good to see our favorite Imperial enjoy the spoils of her rescue operation.
I also managed to find 2 spelling errors: I nodded with a sigh. “cyprodinil isn’t experiencing any shortage of food,..." I can guess what you were going for here :P
I'm glad you enjoyed it, though. Chapter Nine should be shorter and pick up speed. Everything is about to go down hill. Mwahaha.