The Breath of Kyne - Chapter 4: Escape

  • Making his way back to the road, he wondered why Ulfric and the other Stormcloaks hadn’t come out yet. Maybe they’re just waiting to see if I survived, or maybe they’re tied up. That’s probably it, the Imperials tied them to the cart, Fjorrod thought.

    Clearing the thick vegetation of the forest, he saw very clearly why they did not move. One of the Imperials sent out to search for him came back, called by the cries of his wounded brethren. He was pointing a nocked longbow at the Stormcloaks, a very practical reason not to move.

    Fjorrod reached for his bow, cursing when his hands found nothing but air, and remembering that his bow broke in the fight with the last Imperial. Fading back into the trees, he moved into a bush, leaving just enough room to move without making much noise.

    He wasn’t the best at stealth, but he was far above average. One thing, he knew, was to never move. Even if they are looking directly at you, moving to run is what gives away most of those attempting to sneak up on an enemy.

    Fjorrod held his short sword in both hands, gauging its use. It was more of a dagger than a sword, he contemplated for not the first time. Watching the Imperial, Fjorrod performed a slow mock throw, not letting go of the weapon. Dreadful balance, Fjorrod thought, yet if I could hit him with this, it would easily put him out of action…

    Fjorrod studied the Imperial for a while, before hearing a rustling behind the other man. The soldier whipped around, drawing his bow, before relaxing it at the sight of his comrade.

    “Oh, it’s you. Thought you were a Stormcloak!” The man remarked, sounding vaguely annoyed. “Next time, don’t sneak up on me like that!”

    “What happened here?” The other soldier asked, looking around at the carnage Fjorrod produced. While the men were talking, Fjorrod saw a Stormcloak soldier ready himself to rush the man originally guarding them, while his attention was diverted.

    Knowing that the other man would kill every Stormcloak if he saw the Stormcloak charge, that they would be helpless to defend themselves even if they subdued one man, Fjorrod prepared his weapon.

    As the Stormcloak, joined by the others, let out a shout of challenge and charged the man, Fjorrod stepped forward and smoothly released his sword. He then knew, with the certainty of a man who had done it before, who had been doing it all his life, that his throw was a success.

    Charging out of the bush, Fjorrod helped subdue the Imperial not struck by his blade, briefly seeing out of the corner of his eye the other Imperial fall to the ground, taken by the fatal wound Fjorrod inflicted.

    While the Stormcloaks rained blow after blow on the other man, Fjorrod took the dead Imperial’s dagger and motioned to Ulfric. Ulfric, seeing the gesture, walked over to him. Cutting his bonds and gag with the dagger, Fjorrod gave a nod of respect to him before walking over to the still alive Imperial, and slit his throat.

    He then proceeded to cut every other Stormcloak's bonds, each one giving him a nod or word of thanks. The only non-Stormcloak besides Fjorrod, a horse thief, allowed his bonds to be cut, but then shied away, never meeting Fjorrod’s eyes.

    “Ahh, it feels good to be out of those binds,” Ulfric stated while stretching, “Much thanks kinsman.”

    Fjorrod simply nodded, stating, “It was an honor.”

    “Now that”, Ulfric began, “That was some deadeye shooting!” The men around Ulfric began nodding their agreement. “If you don’t mind me prying, where did you learn to shoot like that?”

    “Oh, I grew up in the city. As I said before, I always disliked the busy, crowdedness of it,” Fjorrod uttered, his eyes growing thoughtful. “My uncle, he took me out the wilderness, taught me how to wield an axe, how to shoot, and throw daggers. My parents didn’t understand me, said I was ‘Too foolish,” said that I was going to learn the merchant's trade even if I didn’t like it. After my uncle died, there was nothing left for me in my family. The one bright spot in my life was Angi, a relative. She wasn’t enough to keep me there though. So, I left, travelling Skyrim until I settled where you found me.”

    Nodding thoughtfully, Ulfric said, “You know, we could use capable men like yourself. You’ve seen the true face of the empire today,” he spat, his face growing angry. “We need more people like you. Would you join us?”

    Fjorrod, hesitant, said “Hmm… maybe-”

    Suddenly a roar came down from the sky, interrupting Fjorrod mid-sentence.

    “What was that!?”

    The Stormcloaks panicked, before one said “Look! Smoke, lots of it, right where Helgen is!”

    Ulfric, sensing his troops were about to panic and flee, yelled “BROTHERS! We must see what is happening. Fall into two even lines, with me at the front.”

    Grateful for someone telling them what to do, and a bit shame faced that they lost their heads, the Stormcloaks moved into two lines. Fjorrod, moving to go into a line, was held back by Ulfric.

    “Not you! I want you beside me, you are the best shot among us by far,” He said, while handing Fjorrod a bow and several iron arrows.

    “Now, let’s get going! FORWARD!” At Ulfric’s command, the two lines began to jog down the road, unaware of what they were getting themselves into.

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Comments

17 Comments
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  February 26, 2016
    Thanks, fixed it.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  February 25, 2016
    In paragraph 15 you should chance the sentence to "It was an honor."

    Messed up the buttons again.
  • Fallout Night
    Fallout Night   ·  February 8, 2016
    Oh, ok. 
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  February 8, 2016
    I'm not selling myself short, I have zero experience.
  • Fallout Night
    Fallout Night   ·  February 8, 2016
    Don't sell yourself short! I would love to see any mods made by the community. 
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  February 8, 2016
    There are indeed! I honestly think if I made a mod, it wouldn't end up good for humanity.
  • Fallout Night
    Fallout Night   ·  February 8, 2016
    Of which i don't have. But there are some very talented modders out there!
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  February 8, 2016
    I think it would be fairly easy, if one had some modding experience.
  • Fallout Night
    Fallout Night   ·  February 8, 2016
    That would be AWESOME if you were able to throw knives in the game...would it be possible to make a mod like that?
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  February 8, 2016
    Thanks! Again, a big inspiration from the Ranger's Apprentice series.