U.O.T.W. Chapter 117 Fires of the Mind

  • While Vilkas was still feeling bitter over the lost bet with Sotek, Aela and Farkas proceeded onwards and moved through the threshold of a doorway and entered a dingy passageway that was cut through the hillside. Moss and algae clung to the rock face giving the underground ecosystem a dampness which seemed to hover in the air.

    All was going well and they made good progress through the various tunnels and catacombs until they turned one particular corner of the tunnel. It unexpectedly opened outwards almost as if it was once a cave. To the side stood a few wooden barrels stacked up together. Nearby sat at a table were two Silverhands. One of them, a young woman was going through the motions of drinking from a bottle of mead while she chatted to the young man sitting alongside her. He was working his way through half a loaf of bread when he recognised the Wolf armor. His mouth fell open as he spat out the half munched bread and pointed straight at Farkas.

    “Companions!!”

    The girl reacted quicker than what either Aela or Farkas expected. She threw the bottle of mead straight at Aela before she had a chance to draw her bow. She twisted around to avoid the missile and held her hand up defensively to protect herself. The bottle however was off target and smashed into the wall, spraying Aela with glass and mead.

    She cried out as her bow dropped to the floor. Her eyes stung and her face was sticky from the honey based drink. Glass fragments cut her cheeks and stuck in her hair. All she managed to do was add to the cuts and scratches as she tried to wipe her eyes with her hands.

    “I can’t see! Farkas!”

    Farkas drew his sword and raised his shield as he side stepped to move himself between Aela and the two oncoming foes, protecting his shield sister from any further assault. A shaking hand reached out and accidently touched his backside. Aela had intended to reassure herself in knowing he was still there despite her wolf senses easily picking up his scent.

    Farkas brushed her hand away and stepped forwards so he was out of her reach.

    “Get off my ass girl, what you doing? Just wait there”

    Aela growled and scowled as she found herself unable to do much else. She knew the two opponents wouldn’t be much of a match for Farkas so she held back the urge to change form. Instead, she knelt down and gingerly started pulling out shards of glass from her face.

    “Make them suffer!”

    The young man attacked first, clearly showing the youngsters lack of experience. If they were wiser, then they would have fought together. Farkas simply presumed the ‘boy’ was trying to show his prowess to impress the girl, a feat beyond his capabilities.

    Knowing Aela was hurt, albeit not badly, Farkas decided there and then to end the fight before it could really begin.

    He deliberately relaxed his guard thereby opening himself up and presenting an easy target. The Silverhand, completely fooled by this move, charged forwards and swung his sword in an arc, fully expecting to land a devastating blow upon Farkas’s torso.

    Farkas pivoted on the spot and swung his own sword down at the boy’s shoulder. The blade struck just below the leather pauldron and shattered the humerus, hacking the limb off. The lad screamed as his eyes fixed wide open on his arm. Blood spurted upwards and smothered Farkas’s shield as he bashed the boy aside, sending him sprawling on the ground in shock from his wound.

    The girl screamed and tried to flee but in her haste she fell to the floor. Her dagger span across the rocky terrain and disappeared in a crevice. She started crying pitifully while the boy’s screams and yells filled her with dread.

    A brutish hand grabbed her by the hair and yanked her upward, causing her to shriek even louder as she was pulled to her feet. All she could do was try to hold on to the arm with her hands in a vain attempt to release the tension in her neck while her eyes were transfixed on Farkas who held her up, lifting her off the ground.

    Farkas threw her towards the boy and yelled at her, causing her to obey out of pure fear.

    “Sort him out. Tie that arm off lest he dies. Get out of here you stupid bloody kids. You’re pissing off the wrong people!”

    Terrified, she crawled to the lad and set about her task of tying the bloody stump off. Helplessly she screamed back at Farkas, completely clueless and out of her depth.

    “What do I do? Help me!!”

    Aela yelled back at her and shut her up within seconds. Her eyes had now cleared somewhat although everything was still a blur.

    “Help you? You fucking bitch! We ought to kill you. Here, use this. Tie it tight. Farkas shut him up”.

    Farkas lumbered over to the boy and grabbed him by the collar. He wrenched the lad up and delivered a haymaker punch in the side of the temple, knocking the unfortunate boy out cold. Without bothering to lay him down, Farkas simply let him go and dropped him to the floor. Shoving the girl to the side, he took the cloth Aela had thrown over and tied it around the stump of the arm cutting off the veins so the Silverhand wouldn’t bleed to death all the while he vented his anger at the girl.

    “Don’t ask why I’m doing this; all your kind do is kill without mercy. Should leave you both to rot. When he wakes up, fuck off before she can see”. He pointed to Aela who was now back on her feet. “If she gets hold of you, don’t expect me to stop her. I’ve half a mind to help her. Scat!!”

    While Farkas pulled out the last few shards of glass from Aela’s hair, she watched the girl who was still crying as she knelt down by the stricken boy.

    Farkas tipped Aela’s head back and poured his flask in her face, washing out the mead from her eyes. Trickles of bloody water washed down her neck and streamed along her back. She vigorously shook her head side to side like a dog shaking off excess water from its fur then set about pulling out a healing potion from her pack. The moment she started drinking it the cuts healed and bonded leaving her face unscarred. Her final act was to reapply the three painted lines on her face using a small clay pot which she had always carried around with her.

    As she walked past the girl, Aela lurched forwards a few steps, causing the girl to shriek in terror. Aela maliciously laughed and goaded her as she carried on her way.

    “Cowardly bitch!!”

    From the far side of the catacomb, a third Silverhand, a brute of a Nord came screaming towards Farkas with a gigantic Warhammer poised to come crashing down upon anyone foolish enough to get in his way. Just behind him was yet another Nord wielding a short sword and shield.

    They drew their weapons then charged across the ground, closing in fast. Aela snatched her bow off the floor and quickly notched an arrow while Farkas raised his shield up to meet the two foes head on.

    The Warhammer met the shield dead centre, causing Farkas to stagger backwards. Fortunately, his strength and fortitude held and the energy from the strike resonated along the Warhammer, forcing the Nord to revaluate his attacks.

    Having blocked the first attack easily, Farkas prepared for the second strike. He parried the sword as it swung towards him with his own weapon then he countered with his shield, effectively forcing them both backwards giving him space to move. His sword arced through the air and slammed into the side of the second Silverhand. Despite the pain from the blow, the Silverhand gripped Farkas’s sword hand, dropping his own weapon in the process.

    Blood ran down his arm but he wouldn’t release his grip. These two foes weren’t the kids Farkas had faced moments ago, they knew how to fight and the consequences should they lose.

    Farkas tried to pull his Skyforge steel blade back but he couldn’t, the man’s grip held and he pulled back just as hard. His strength seemed an equal match to Farkas’s own, probably due to the adrenalin coursing through his veins.

    The first Silverhand saw his chance and attempted to bring his silver Warhammer down hard in an attempt to crush Farkas’s head with a single blow. Aela, who up to this point could only watch, had other plans. Plans which involved her bow and an arrow. She pulled back the drawstring and released the shaft. It took flight and whooshed past Farkas’s head to strike the Nord in the temple. He burst into flames, scorching Farkas, forcing him to recoil. The Warhammer fell behind the Silverhand as he toppled over.  

    Before Farkas could recover, he fell dazed to the floor from a blow he didn’t even see. As he backed away from the flames, the second Silverhand bashed the side of his helm with a silver sword, knocking him to the ground.

    The sword was now poised with the tip pressed against Farkas’s neck. Despite the bleeding arm, the Nord held Farkas in a tight grip and spoke through clenched teeth to Aela.

    “Back off bitch… or say goodbye to this scum! You got ten seconds to make up your mind”

    Aela moved closer while she held the drawstring back with an arrow resting in between her fingers. She didn’t flinch what so ever but instead, she slowly moved forwards, closing in on her prey.

    “Let him go, and we’ll let you go”. She stated coldly. “You got three seconds to decide. Live, or die?”

    Aela’s opponent started to feel dizzy. He knew the blood loss was severe and he could feel his strength fading fast. Having no other choice, he threw his blade to the ground in defeat. He could kill Farkas but at the loss of his own life. He wasn’t prepared to pay such a cost.

    He finally dropped to his knees and clutched hold of his arm. Farkas crawled to the side and staggered to his feet. Turning around, he felt some surprise when he saw Aela who was still holding the drawstring taught with a notched arrow aiming straight at the Silverhand.

    “Hey let him go! You gave your word”.

    Aela’s eyes blazed with defiance and hatred for her enemy. This man on his knees before her wasn’t some dumb kid. He was the enemy, a worthless creature to be despised and condemned to death.

    “I’m sorry, I can’t. I can’t let him go”.

    Farkas held her by the elbow in an attempt to draw the bow away from its target. He made sure his words were soft lest he push her into acting rather than listening.

    “Can’t? Or won’t? There is a difference”.

    The Silverhand looked up towards Aela's face. He saw not a trace of mercy in her burning, silver eyes, only a carnivorous hunger. The man watcher her for a few seconds before speaking.

     “You’re Red. We knew you would come, but you’re too late!! We’ve been watching, he’s ours. Soon… soon enough he will be dead, you fucking whore”.

    Farkas grabbed him by the collar with both hands and forced him up off his feet. His legs dangled in the air and he gasped for breath but there was still a menace in his features. A wicked grin foretelling of evil treachery and condemnation. Farkas shook him vigorously, making his limbs flail about like he was a life size rag doll.

    “Who will be?”

    He turned towards Aela and spat out his contempt for her and her kind.

    “Your fucking boyfriend, Scarface”.

    Aela calmly wiped off the spittle from her face with her hand then scraped it against the Silverhand’s chest armor.

    “That is disgusting! Anyway, just so you know, I don’t even know who ‘Scarface’ is. None of us do”.

    Farkas unceremoniously dropped him to the ground although he still kept an iron grip on his collar so he couldn’t get up. Despite the fact that he was facing imminent death, he never lost his nerve nor the goading tone in is voice.

    “You lying slut, we know you’re with him. We’ve seen you run with him, at Gallows rock!! He came to fight with you, you both ran together. I know, I was there!!  You’re together, but not for long”.

    Aela grabbed him by the hair and forced his head up, nearly tearing a chunk of hair out in the process. She moved her face right next to his ear and hissed out in a threatening manner. Her voice seemed to be far more deserving of a female Argonian rather than a Nord, a fact Farkas couldn’t help to notice.

    “You are sso wrong. I wass there too but I am not with Sscarface… Sso there!”

    The man tried to turn his head but he couldn’t. He was held fast. All he could do was whisper back at her and await his death.

    “We saw it for ourselves..... Greymane confirmed it. He told us, he told us Sotek is Scarface. Your secrets out and he’s dead… Hahaha”

    Aela grabbed hold of the Silverhand’s throat and she squeezed with one hand. Blood started to seep through her fingers as her fingernails broke through the soft skin. She kept up the pressure, her strength fuelled by her anger. The man gasped for air as his windpipe was crushed. With a tearing of flesh, Aela tore out the man’s throat then shoved him backwards and left him to die as a pool of blood formed around him.

    Farkas stared wide eyed at Aela’s hand which still held the remnants of the Silverhand’s throat.

    “Ermm how the hell did you find out you could do that?”

    Aela threw the contents of her hand to the ground and wiped her hand on her chest, ignoring the bloody smear which she had caused.

    “Sotek showed me. We practiced on bandit carcases. It’s not as hard as you think, given the right incentive and motivation”.

    Farkas glanced over his shoulder to where the two youngsters were but they were long gone. Turning back to Aela, he gulped loudly as he prepared a second question. One which he was far more nervous for asking after what he had just seen her do.

    “So… you and Scarface, how ermm.... long has that been going on? And does Sotek know about it?”

    Aela pointed her finger at his face. He rapidly blinked as the still bloody fingertip was within two inches of his eye.

    “You bloody listen to me!! I got no bloody idea who the hell Scarface is! I’m not with him, I haven’t been with him. Fuck off!!”

    Suddenly a thought occurred to her, one which until now she overlooked. “Oh Hircine no!! Sotek, they think he’s Scarface!! He won’t stand a bloody chance”.

    Aela ran blindly through the alcove into the next chamber to be confronted with a massive portcullis blocking her path. The overly large iron ‘gate’ separated a massive hall like room in two halves. She and Farkas was on one side, but on the other side were no less than nine silver hands looking back at her.

    The Silverhand leader, a female Nord who went by the name of ‘Skinner’, walked casually up to the bars and wickedly smiled at Aela.

    “Well, well… I wasn’t expecting so many visitors. No matter, I’m sure we can accommodate you. Oh my, if it isn’t the Red she wolf, Aela the Huntress. What an unexpected honor. Oh, and we seem to have Farkas as well. Such a brute of a man. You’re such a… beast!!”

    Aela inadvertently started pacing around like a wolf in a cage. Every few seconds she glared through the portcullis at the contemptuous woman.

    “It won’t be much of an honour after I feast on your bloodied corpse”.

    The Skinner rested her hands on her hips as she bellowed with laugher.

    “Oh please, that’s not very lady like! You should have some manners and stop acting like a common dog. Oh yes... how could I forget, you are a common dog... Bitch!! The others will be here soon, and then you can beg for his life. I don’t suppose being on your hands and knees will bother you. A bitch like you should be used to it”.

    Farkas angrily grabbed hold of two of the bars of the portcullis and violently shook it causing small specks of rubble and dust to fall from the ceiling.

    “Who’s life?”

    The Silverhand leader leaned into the grill, barely a foot away from where Farkas was standing. She looked across to Aela and pointed a finger right in her face. Every word the Skinner said sent Aela’s mind reeling in shock.

    “Who’s life? Whose do you think dumb ass!! Scarface’s, but you all know him as Sotek!”

     

     

Comments

10 Comments   |   Hasir likes this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 12, 2016
    Thanks for all your comments everyone. I've added a screenshot to it. Need to take more.
    As it stands the numbers are certainly stacked against the Companions... 
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  April 11, 2016
    NoOne already beat me to the typos.

    Wow, the Forsworn, Silverhand, and Greymane working together. That is an odd combination.
  • Ben W
    Ben W   ·  April 11, 2016
    Hey, I recognize my contribution 
    Nice work Sotek
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  April 11, 2016
    Greymane, Silverhands and Forsworns working together? 

  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 11, 2016
    Well spotted NoOne. I've made the changes you stated. Thanks for taking the time to point them out. Fixed...
    Well everyone can guess what Aela's feeling at the moment... Brain numb...
  • NoOneIsHear
    NoOneIsHear   ·  April 11, 2016
    This is getting tense, I noticed a few errors as well
    "She pulled back the drawstring and released the iron shaft" I dont think a arrow made of iron would be very practical at all.
    "He knew the blood loss was server" This just makes no sense I...  more
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  April 10, 2016
    So Greymane/Silverhands/Forsworn alliance? Now that's a mix
    I fear how a mission would end letting Aela run solo.She's straight up savage!
  • Lyall
    Lyall   ·  April 10, 2016
    I have one thing to say: Wat
  • Justiciar Thorien
    Justiciar Thorien   ·  April 10, 2016
    Whoa! Something went wrong in Sotek's plan? Or there's a misunderstanding?
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  April 10, 2016
    Oh GODS!! The suspense!! *holds breath until next chapter*