Four Heroes - Chapter 4

  • As Destri and Hjor trudged back along the cobbled path to Whiterun, Neeshka seemed rather humbled after the whole ordeal, and Destri, sensing she must’ve felt rather awkward in their presence, tried to offer her something to eat; At least it might make her feel at ease, he thought.

    “Here…er, Neeshka – I’ve still got a bite to eat if you want something, I don’t suppose you’re particularly hungry after that, though, are you?” Destri joked sheepishly.

    Neeshka shook her head and mumbled something both Destri and Hjor didn’t quite catch. Destri politely stuffed the half loaf of bread he offered her back into his knapsack.

    Destri piped up again, eager to make her feel the slightest bit welcome in their company. “So…where you from….er, Neeshka?”

    Neeshka didn’t answer immediately, but when she did, it was nothing like the bellowing thunder of ferocity they’d heard earlier. Instead, it was almost like it was a completely different person. Her voice was soft, and slow – Destri readily admitted to himself it was almost…angelic.

    “I was born in Camlorn….one of the coastal cities in High Rock…I only travelled to Skyrim because I wish to train more with my sword…and my shield; I’d love to join The Companions some day, truly.” Neeshka replied.

    “Yer’ll be wantin’ ta’ stay away from the Silverhands then, lass – especially if yer’ want to join The Circle.” Hjor said matter-of-factly.

    “What are the Silverhands? And The Circle?” Neeshka asked inquisitively.

    “Destri was part o’ The Circle once – ask ‘im.” Hjor responded; He didn’t want to go into detail, especially when she didn’t even know who they were.

    Destri partially raised his hand lazily at waistheight towards Neeshka as she looked at him to signify that he did not wish to talk on the matter either.

    The three of them were far too tired to talk anymore after the day’s events. They wandered up through Whiterun’s Gates and all gesticulated silently to each other to rent a room at the Bannered Mare.

    Hulda acknowledged them as each of the three slung a coinpurse on the mead-soaked bar and headed upstairs without saying a word to the drunken hoard sloped around the fireplace signing along to Mikael’s highly-strung lute.

    The three of them were asleep before you could say ‘Matilda the Shield-Maiden’.

    * * *

    They awoke by early afternoon by Hulda scrubbing the stairs and the tables noisily. The smell of incense wafted up towards the bedroom balcony, along with the freshly roasted beef Saadia had prepared for the evening inn-goers and stall-owners that drifted in and out this time of day.

    As Neeshka, Hjor and Destri all clattered downstairs in single file they clambered over the benches and sat down; Groggy from an early awakening – despite the fact it was well past the morning. There wasn’t a soul about, however, apart from Saadia and Hulda, of course; Even Mikael wasn’t about – much to the trio’s relief.

    Extinguished candles and a natural, incandescent glow through the rafters replaced the kindling fire and raucous laughter from the hours before. It was quite a while before any of the three uttered a word. When they did, it was Hjor who spoke up.

    “Y’know, Neeshka – you still didn’t tell us why that Orc grabbed yer’” Hjor voiced deeply, but casually.

    “If you really must know…I had a spare invisibility potion, so I thought I’d put it to good use – and make off with some gold in the meantime…and the closest place for a good haul like I was after was Valtheim Towers….” Neeshka responded acutely.

    “Well, how’d that Orc get hold of yer’ then?” Hjor pressed to her – almost too eagerly. Destri leaned in, not wanting to miss a good loot story.

    “Well, I kinda had that particular bottle a bit too long – and it must’ve self-diluted. Probably why it was so cheap. Well, since I wasn’t *entirely* invisible, that damned Orc caught me in the act….and, well…you know the rest.” Neeshka exhaled longingly, almost as if she was experiencing the entire thing again.

    Then Destri had his chance to ask a question that seemed to have been bugging him for some while. “But, why did you want to loot the place? What was so…(Destri lowered his tone) ..*valuable*… in there?

    * * *