U.O.T.W. Chapter 152 Circle in the Dust

• Posted by Sotek October 4, 2016 - Filed in TSC: CB Story - #Sotek  #U.O.T.W.  - 1,269 views

  “A good man draws a circle around himself and cares for those within – his woman, his children. Other men draw a larger circle and bring within it their brothers and sisters. But some men have a greater destiny. They must draw around themselves a circle that includes many, many more”.

               Tic’Tic From the film ‘10,000 BC’

   

  Aela tugged on Scarface’s arm, leading him towards the Harbinger who still remained trapped under his dead horse. As they drew near, she could tell Scarface’s heavy breathing had slowed down and his pounding heart’s beat was now steady and strong. The internal damage from his wounds healed and the burnt fur from where he fought the dragon fell away and turned to nothing but dust while new hair rapidly grew in its place giving him a perfect coat of black fur.

   

  As they neared the Harbinger, Aela moved forwards and directed Scarface to where she wanted him. She patted the dead stallion to aid Scarface’s understanding of what she wanted him to do.

  “Scarface, we need you to lift the horse. Horse, up”.

   

  He followed her to Kodlak and peered down at the hapless Harbinger, who, in return, looked up at the monstrous creature who now stood before him. Due to the pain in his leg, he grimaced, screwing his face up. Scarface, thinking the Harbinger showed his teeth in some sort of ‘threat’ display returned the gesture and curled up his lips bearing his fangs.

   

  This act earned him a slap on the arm from his mistress as she tried to placate Kodlak. She knelt down beside him and unfastened her dagger’s leather scabbard and offered it to Kodlak to bite. Despite the pain in his leg, he couldn’t help but comment on Scarface’s size.

  “Gods, he looks bigger when you’re on the ground”.

   

  As Scarface bent down to take hold of the horse, Kodlak cringed and garbled out to Aela his situation; informing her of the full extent of his injuries.

  “My leg; it’s broken”.

   

  She nodded back at him then stuck the scabbard in his mouth for him to bite on. She stayed by his side and held his hand while Scarface prepared to lift the horse.

  “Sotek can take care of that. We’ll soon get you out”. Then she called the other two Companions over to her location and gave them their instructions. “When he lifts the horse, you got to pull the Harbinger out. Don’t worry about his leg, just get him out”.

  Kodlak bit down on the scabbard and nodded, letting Aela know he was ready.

   

  All four Companions expected Scarface to lift the horse up just enough so the Harbinger could be dragged from under it. It was only now that Aela saw the true strength of Scarface. If he was supposed to simply lift the dead beast up then no one explained it to him. With minimal effort, he lifted up the whole horse and flung it fifteen feet across the ground.

   

  Kodlak yelled out between clenched teeth as searing pain shot through his entire body while Aela screamed in agony. She forgot to let go of the Harbinger’s hand which was now crushing her fingers in a vice like grip. On reflex, she started thumping his arm in quick successions as she tried in vain to free herself.

   

  Both Farkas and Vilkas were still holding Kodlak’s chest armor when they watched the horse’s body land on the pathway several feet away. They both looked at each other wondering on what to do as they were no longer needed in their Harbinger’s rescue.

   

  Kodlak had managed to control enough of his senses to let Aela go and withhold his cries of pain. He spit out the leather scabbard and gasped for air whilst cursing himself while Aela nursed her hand.

  “My fingers! You bloody stupid ox!”

   

  Scarface stretched up and started to howl as he transformed back to his Argonian form. Aela tried to bend her fingers, hoping none of them were broken until an Argonian hand took her hand in his. A warm glow soaked through her skin, dulling the pain until it was all but spent.

  “There you go”. Sotek said reassuringly before he knelt down by the Harbinger’s side.

   

  “Your wound won’t be so simple Harbinger. This is going to hurt!” Without waiting for the Harbinger to prepare himself, Sotek stuffed the scabbard back in Kodlak’s mouth and started casting his Grand Healing Spell, concentrating the effects of the spell on the Harbinger’s leg.

   

  Golden light surrounded the group as the wound rapidly healed up but as it did so the Harbinger yelled out from the pain as the broken bones bonded together. Farkas cringed as he watched the leg move by itself, straightening out as the bones bonded and strengthened.

  “Eww. That looks awful”.

   

  Aela gave him a punch in the arm and told him off for his lack of empathy. She pointed at the Harbinger who had almost passed out from the pain and ranted at her sibling.

  “Way to go moron. Think of Kodlak won’t you! He really needed to hear that”.

   

   Once Sotek had finished the spell, he turned to the three Companions and watched them bicker for a few seconds before he decided to snatch the ‘alpha’ position and take control of the situation.

  “Farkas, gather up some wood. Aela, leave him alone and make a small camp just off the path. It only needs to be a few feet from it. We’ll rest here for a few hours before heading back”.

   

  His plan and position as leader wasn’t freely accepted as Vilkas heavily contested to the whole idea.

  “We need to get him back to the temple”.

   

  Sotek knelt down at Kodlak’s side and wiped his brow with an old piece of linen which he kept in a small pocket. It was dirty and tattered but it sufficed in soaking up Kodlak’s sweat. The Harbinger softly groaned and his head rolled to the side. His eyes were closed and his lips gave the faintest signs of moving.

   

  Sotek took his flask and slowly poured some water in Kodlak’s mouth. His eyes opened but they were out of focus and seemed misty. He gulped at the water while Sotek tried to steady the flow of the liquid.

  “Easy, take sips”.

   

  Sotek could see Vilkas was right just from the look of the Harbinger’s face. However he also knew Kodlak wasn’t in a fit state to travel. The wound had been healed over so now it was just a case of time. It made no difference if they arrived back at Whiterun within the hour or that evening. He nodded to himself and prepared for a one on one with his sibling.

  “Vilkas, I agree, but he also needs rest. The wound has been dealt with but he’s in no fit state to travel. Let him have some respite from the pain for an hour or so then we’ll get him back. Rest will serve him better right now”.

   

  Without directly answering back, Vilkas took note of how the Harbinger looked. He turned to Farkas and tapped his arm with the back of his hand.

  “Come brother. We need to gather some wood for the fire”.

   

  It didn’t take them long to collect a few scraps of wood. A Flame Spurt spell was all it took for Sotek to ignite the timber and soon Kodlak was sitting on a bedroll near the camp fire. He had two furs draped over him whilst he leaned against a boulder which helped to prop his back up.

   

  He looked at the others around him and saw concern on each members face. With a few words of encouragement, Kodlak closed his eyes and rested by the fire.

  “I’m ok, just tired”.

   

  Aela tucked a smaller fur behind his head making him more comfortable. He slowly opened his eyes and took hold of her hand. She stopped where she was and felt uneasy with the Harbinger’s condition due to the weakness in his grip. As if he knew what she was thinking, he smiled and softly spoke.

  “Thank you for your prompt rescue; Aela, thank Scarface for me”.

   

  Aela smiled back at him and tenderly kissed him on the forehead. She whispered back before moving away from him.

  “It was no trouble. I’m just glad we got to you in time”.

   

  Sotek walked straight up to him and tapped his good leg with the tip of his boot.

  “Shut up and rest; you stubborn bastard”.

   

  The three Companions looked at him with shock, but the Harbinger just smiled at him and nodded.

  “Yes sir”. Then he gave a small chuckle and lay there still and silent until his breathing slowed as he started dozing off.

   

  Aela Angrily got up and punched Sotek in the chest while she quietly ranted at him, telling him off for what he called the Harbinger while she tried to keep as quiet as possible lest she disturbed Kodlak.

  “You can’t call the Harbinger a ‘stubborn bastard’ you bloody moron”.

   

  Sotek softly chuckled at her and shook his head.

  “I didn’t. I called the patient a stubborn bastard. Once he can get to his feet and tell me not to swear at him, then he’s the Harbinger again”.

   

  Now that Kodlak had settled down, Sotek switched his attention to everyone else. He pointed to his pack as he blanked Aela and instead of talking to her, he spoke directly to Farkas.

  “You guys look hungry. There’s some venison in my pack. Cut a few splits from that tree and start cooking”.

   

  Farkas eagerly jumped up to his feet and drew his sword.

  “Oh yes, real food”. In anticipation of his meal, his mouth started watering even before he reached the tree.

   

  Aela sat back a little bit away from the others and watched her siblings interact with each other. Farkas, along with Vilkas’s aid, cooked the red meat while Sotek collected fresh water from a nearby stream. Despite the morning’s events, everyone seemed content. Even Kodlak who was slumped against the rock, seemed to have a slight smile on his face as he slept.

   

  Once the venison was ready, Farkas shared the slabs of meat between the four of them. Sotek however, thanked them both for cooking it but instead of eating his share, he wrapped it up in a clean piece of linen instead. He placed it alongside the Harbinger and returned to his seat to find himself under Aela’s watchful gaze. He blurted out his reasons although such actions were self explanatory.

  “He’ll need it when he wakes up”.

   

  She understood perfectly. Nothing cures a wound faster than a full belly. Of course it’s better when it’s mead but venison is a close second. When Sotek sat beside her, he jumped in surprise when she slapped a wooden plate on his lap.

   

  Aela drew her dagger and cut her own pieces of venison in half. Without even offering, she slid an equal portion of her meal onto Sotek’s plate.

  “You need to eat as well. Scarface’s healing takes a bit out of you but at least you aren’t so thirsty this time; or is that why you collected the water just now?”

   

  Sotek half heartedly shrugged back, knowing full well she had been watching him.

  “Not as thirsty but yes, I did need water. Thanks”.

   

  As they ate, Aela couldn’t take her eyes off Sotek. She smiled at him as she spoke.

  “Anyway ssnake. Pray tell me just who put you in charge?”

   

  Sotek lifted his head up to see the Companions all sitting around the campfire. Each member of the Inner Circle was looking straight back at him. He glanced down at the Harbinger and a small smirk broke out along his jaw line.

  “The dragon did when he knocked Kodlak off his horse”.

   

  Aela leaned into him and held him loosely in her arms. Although she was cuddling him, she still gave Sotek a stern warning.

  “Well don’t get too used to it. Once he’s back on his feet he’s the Harbinger”.

   

  Sotek pulled her closer to him and held her waist in a tight grip. He laid everyone’s concerns to rest but he discovered it wasn’t as simple as he had first thought.

  “Oh I’m no Harbinger, Kodlak holds that position. When he wakes up he’ll be the one in charge, I assure you all of that”.

   

  She shifted Sotek’s hand away then moved over towards the Harbinger so she could check on him. Once she was content with Kodlak’s status, she moved between Farkas and Vilkas so they were either side of her. From her strengthened position, she confronted Sotek, hoping her two ‘brothers’ would be on her side.

  “Someone wasn’t paying attention. I never said when he wakes up. I said when he is back on his feet”.

   

  Sotek stared back at her with a blank expression strewn across his face. To the three Companions, it looked like he was smiling; until his jaw dropped down. His tongue hung out of the corner of his mouth while his tail flapped about almost randomly. He replayed the conversation but he couldn’t place what he had missed.

  “What are you on about Aela?”

   

  Aela folded her arms across her chest and started tapping her foot. Her eyes narrowed, giving her an almost wild wolf like appearance.

  “Kodlak’s wound has taken its toll. He’s not as tough as he used to be. The older we get the longer it takes for wounds to heal, especially bones. Someone will have to stand in for him while he recovers and regains his strength”.

   

  Sotek stood up and tried to face down the three Companions who were all watching him.

  “Yes, I know. He’ll take around three days until he can move about normally although the leg will be sore for around a week. So who is going to... wait a minute? I’m the newest; it should be one of you three! You’re the original Inner Circle. Aela! I’m still a whelp to some of the others”.

   

  Vilkas shot him a glance and cut his argument down as easily as he would hack apart an undead skeleton.

  “You’re no whelp; and they all know it so you can leave that crap out”.

   

  The Argonian stepped back slightly to give a bit of space between himself and the other’s. He wasn’t prepared for Vilkas’s counter and it left him feeling somewhat unsettled. His argument felt weak and he could feel the pressure piling on his shoulders.

  “That maybe; but I still think it should be one of you three”.

   

  Aela just laughed and brushed his objections aside. She knew by his tail he was caught but she allowed him a chance to escape. This was one hunt she was determined to enjoy.

  “Ok Sotek, you win. Which one of us will take over? Kodlak’s going to have to rest for a few days so who? You decide”.

   

  Sotek snapped back at her. Despite what she said, he still felt pressure and the responsibility wasn’t something he was looking for.

  “Me!! Why do I have to choose?”

   

  Aela gave him a quick wink and flashed her eyelids at him. He moved away a bit more just to have that ‘buffer’ zone between them. Aela stepped boldly forwards, and moved just in front of him, placing herself as a possible candidate.

  “Because you are the newest member, that’s why. Now, how about me? I think I’ll make a great Harbinger! I’m capable, determined, and reliable. Don’t take any shit from no one”.

   

  Sotek shook his head at her. What she said was true but he knew the Harbinger needed certain qualities which she lacked.

  “But you terrify the whelps! Not one of them feels they can approach you about anything”.

   

  Farkas looked over to her and hammered in the final nail in her coffin by readily agreeing with Sotek.

  “He has a point! You’re unapproachable. What about me though? I’m strong, reliable and easy to talk to”.

   

  Sotek shook his head in despair. He knew Farkas to be all of those things he stated but he had one massive character flaw which prevented him from taking charge.

  “Farkas, you’re a good man. I couldn’t hope for a better warrior to watch my back. The trouble is you can’t make a decision to save your life; the whelps would run rings around you”.

   

  “Ok that leaves me!” Vilkas said triumphantly. “I’m approachable, reliable and I can make decisions easily. I’ll stand in as Harbinger”.

   

  Sotek shook his head once again. He thought back to the training yard and focused on one particular problem which drove Aela to the point of insanity. He had already spent several nights listening to her rant while she let off steam over it.

  “Oh, for the love of Hircine. Aela, for the record; we have got to stop saying that! Vilkas, you can’t be the Harbinger. You know these mountains and you know your sword better than most know themselves, but outside that, all you know about is sex. There are three female Whelps in Jorrvaskr; they can’t come to you about anything. One of them even plagues the crap out of Aela, asking her to stay in the yard when she trains with you in case she gets hit upon. The Harbinger has to serve all. Everyone has to be able to approach the Harbinger about anything, if they cannot do this then what is the point?”

   

  Sotek buried his face in his hands so he could gather his thoughts. He moved across to where the Harbinger was and fell into a daze, staring blankly at Kodlak.

  “Nope, it’s no good. Ok, I give in. Tilma can have the job”.

   

  Aela laughed and pulled him towards her. She stood right in front of him and tapped him lightly in the chest.

  “Tilma’s the maid, she can’t do it. You have to; you know this Sotek. The whelps listen to you, you’re approachable, you’re honourable and you’re smart. You stand up for all of us. No more arguing; you have to take on this role”.

   

  Sotek frowned at her. He had an inclination as to why Aela was pushing for him and he didn’t like it.

  “If I was the Harbinger then I will have to respect Kodlak’s wishes and orders. I can’t say to you, ‘why yes Aela I’m in charge now so you can go out on the plains and hunt until Red's paws bleed. She can hunt every living beast that even glances on the plains’. If I take charge and I say no then its no. Do you really want me to tell you ‘no’?”

   

  Aela hit him in the chest with the palm of her hand. Her lip curled up as she snarled back at him angrily.

  “That was not why I said you. How could you think that? The Harbinger position isn’t about serving ourselves it’s about... ermmm... Vilkas?”

   

  Before Vilkas could even think of a suitable reply, Sotek held his hand up, stopping him from joining in.

  “We all know what the Harbinger does. We’ve all been there when we’ve needed his wisdom and when we’ve needed someone to talk to. The Harbinger’s positions more than that though. It’s a twenty-four hour job with no pay and no time off. Bills, contracts, negotiations and a whole hall full of problems; all needing sorting out with the knowledge that when the day is done, it all starts again from the moment you open your eyes!”

   

  Vilkas shuddered at the mere thought of it. He saw Kodlak with fresh eyes and respect.
  “I never thought about all of that. There’s no way Kodlak can carry us all”.

   

  Aela poked Sotek in the chest once more and spoke as decisively as she could.

  “He won’t have to. Will he?”

   

  Sotek hissed back at her in one last attempt to get out of the Harbinger role.

  “I can’t be Harbinger. What the hell do you want from me Aela?”

   

  Aela smiled straight at him. It wasn’t a threatening smile but a soft warm one. Whatever her reasons for it though, Sotek knew he was in trouble.

  “What I want is for you to carry out your promise to me. Do what you said you would. That is what I want. Now, you damn well step up to the mark and carryout your promise”.

   

  Sotek couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His only conclusion was that Aela had turned delusional. A case of too much sun, or Red was turning feral.

  “Aela! Think about what you are saying! What bloody promise did I ever make to make me stand in as Harbinger?”

   

  She poked him in the chest hard and answered him with a contemptuous sneer.

  “You promised me you would do what you had to do to get the job done. Deny it and I’ll call you a liar! This time you have to take over being Harbinger; that’s what is needed. Now you fulfil your oath Sotek Tail-Flaps-About. Stand up to the mark and take over! Don’t leave it up to the Harbinger, he can’t! He can’t, so you must”.

   

  Sotek glanced down at the Harbinger and fought off an overwhelming urge to kick him. Knowing there was no other choice; he backed down and admitted defeat.

  “Ok damn it, that’s enough. I didn’t mean take the Harbinger’s spot. I’ll do it, I’ll be Harbinger but make no mistake; this is just until he’s back on his feet and he is going to get back on his feet”.

   

  The three other members of the Inner Circle seemed to settle down as an air of calmness descended upon them. If Sotek wanted a moment to prepare for his new responsibilities then he never got it. Instead he found himself the centre of attention as all eyes were now firmly fixed upon him. Quickly realising the decisions now rested with him, he summed up the situation and relayed his orders. His heart felt like it was pounding and his tail slammed down, showing his annoyance. Sotek breathed in a lung full of air while he hoped that he was up to the task.

  “Right; what have we got and what do we need to do? Farkas take Vilkas with you and cut down some saplings. We need to make a sled up for Kodlak. He shouldn’t ride a horse in his state; we’ll drag him back to Whiterun like we did with the ice wolf. Aela; I need some blue mountain flowers and I’ll be needing some long deer antlers. Take one of the horses and check on the deer we killed earlier. Take it slow, the horses are shook up. Keep an eye on the sky; all of you. That dragon could still be about”.

   

  The three Companions readily complied with Sotek’s instructions without question; except for Aela who was curious as to Sotek’s request. She waited for the two brothers to set off along the pathway and she watched them trudge towards a group of trees before she enquired to the purpose of her own task.

   

  As she climbed on the horse, she patted it in the side of the neck, calming its frayed nerves before she glanced down at Sotek.

  “What are the antlers for? Blue mountain flowers are to restore his stamina. They will give him an energy boost but I don’t know about the antlers”.

   

  Sotek cast a devious smile and slapped the back of the horse, sending the stallion galloping off. Aela lightly tapped her heels into the horses side then rode off across the plains. She turned her head just in time to hear Sotek call out to her.

  “You’ll see soon enough. Get going!”

   

  Now that he could finally hear himself think, the ‘Harbinger’, Sotek, sat near Kodlak and threw the last remaining pieces of wood into the fire. He muttered to himself while he watched the dry logs slowly disappear amidst the ever hungry flames.

  “Sotek the Harbinger; aww damn it all”.

   

  He despondently shook his head and sighed pitifully to himself. After a few moments of self appointed misery, he turned to Kodlak and spoke.  

  “So, tell me you old buzzard. Just how long have you been awake?”

   

  Kodlak slowly sat up and rubbed his leg, vainly trying to aid the blood flow to his foot and with some luck, relieve the soreness of his wound.

  “Oh my leg’s stiff. Aela, bless the little bitch, is right. I cannot fulfill my role as Harbinger. I’ve heard enough to know that they need someone to step into my shoes; relatively speaking of course. We are both aware of the responsibilities of the Harbinger and none of them are up to the task. They need you to be Harbinger until I’m back on my feet”.

   

  Sotek shook his head and tried one last time to refuse the position.

  “One of them should take over from you”.

   

  Kodlak just laughed despite the apparent pain he was in.

  “You’ve been through that already, and you’re right. Aela can’t be approached. Farkas isn’t savvy enough and the girls won’t come near Vilkas. But you, they all listen to you. If they don’t understand they will ask you, then you take the time to explain to them. You’re the only one to sit up and tell a story so someone could understand something. None of the others ever did. Yes, they tell their tales of adventure, but to tell a story with a point, that’s something entirely different. I watched them all when you told your story. They all listened, and they all understood. Nope, it has to be you”.

   

  Sotek’s whole body language changed. He seemed to become overly aggressive and agitated.

  “I don’t want it. I can just about look after Aela and myself. We’re always causing problems for you and Tilma. There’s not a week goes by without us being involved in something. Yet again I broke my word. I told you we wouldn’t change outside. I can’t exactly deny that can I?”

   

  Kodlak’s features turned hard like rock and he snapped back, cutting Sotek down.

  “You said you would try. I know you can’t help it; I should never have made you swear to that”. He folded his arms and huffed. He felt angry at both Sotek and himself although for Sotek it wasn’t about what the Argonian had done, it was what he wouldn’t do.

   

  After huffing a second time, Kodak slapped the back of his hand and rebuked himself.

  “Sotek, I’m angry. I’m angry because I feel foolish from being injured and finding myself in a situation where I am helpless. There, I said it! Cast your mind back if you will to when you and Aela started being friends”.

   

  Sotek sighed as he cast a watchful gaze across the plains to Aela who he could see in the distance.

  “Those lines are blurred. Hell, I don’t know when we stopped being enemies and became mates”.

   

  Kodlak readily agreed as even he and Tilma never saw the signs until after the two Companions were deep in their relationship.

  “That doesn’t matter. What matters is at some point Aela took you under her wing”.

   

  “We don’t have wings. Fur yes but not wings”. Sotek stated with a smirk.

   

  Kodlak replied with a groan. He rubbed his sore leg and slightly bent the knee, causing a flurry of pain to shoot up the leg. In reflex he punched the ground where he sat and held both hands in tight fists until he regained control over the throbbing coming from his wound.

  “Always with the ‘wolf talk’ you aren’t you? Fine, at some point Aela took you under her fur and you took her under your fur. Now your fur needs to spread further. You need to cover Farkas, Vilkas, the Whelps; even Jorrvaskr itself. I can’t do it; I can’t stand up let alone stand up for them!”

   

  Sotek rose angrily to his feet, He felt pushed into a position he didn’t want. What really gnawed at him was the fact that the Harbinger was right. There was no one else.
  “I don’t want it!”

   

  Kodlak simply smiled back at him.

  “The gods seldom ask us what we want. Hircine certainly doesn’t. You don’t want the title Harbinger? Then I can rest easy knowing my positions safe and I can sleep peacefully knowing your choices you make are for the good of the Companions and not so to further your own ends. They need you to be Harbinger. Sotek... Sotek, I need you to be Harbinger”.

   

  Sotek hissed back at Kodlak while his tail slammed down on the stony verge of the pathway.

  “He knew you would say some crap like that. Fine, he’ll do it. Ok? He’s temporarily the Harbinger”.

   

  Kodlak gave a devious smile and pushed just a tiny fraction more.

  “No, I need to hear you say it properly. No ‘he not me rubbish’. I need you to say ‘I will’ not ‘he will’ say it!”

   

  Sotek slumped down beside him and frowned as he tried to stare a rock to death. He gave up as the rock was winning and hissed back at Kodlak.

  “Fine, I will be Harbinger until you are able to. Hsss. This however means he can... I can order you around as well; else it won’t work”.

   

   

  Kodlak sighed and slowly nodded in reply.

  “Yes that is true. I would usually point out that the Harbinger usually tries not to give orders and demands though. Then again, you know this already. I’ve seen you lead the others often enough”.

   

  Sotek laughed quietly as he thought back to his confrontation with Aela over the debate on the Whelps and hunting trips.

  “Yes, Aela wasn’t too impressed when she first realised I was giving her orders. Mind you, I’ve got an order for you now”.

   

  “Oh really and what is that?” Kodlak asked with a raised eyebrow.

   

  Sotek handed him the cooked Venison which he had wrapped up earlier. He dropped it on Kodlak’s lap along with a plate and a knife and fork. Smiling, he simply said.

  “Shut the hell up and eat”.

   

  By the time Aela rejoined the group, Farkas and Vilkas had made a sled up which Kodlak was resting on, ready to embark on their journey home. Sotek was sitting cross legged by himself staring at a patch of dry dirt. Using the tip of his claw, he had drawn a large circle and had stuck a leaf in the middle of it. Several stones formed a smaller circle, seemingly surrounding the leaf.

   

  Aela peered over his shoulder and pointed at them.

  “What’s that?”

   

  “A circle; in the dust. My fur actually”. He swiped it away with his hand and stood up so he could face her directly. “It’s nothing. Did you get the ingredients?”

   

  She gave him a funny look before dismissing him as an imbecile. Instead, she approached Kodlak with her offering of plants and antlers.

   “Hi Harbinger. How are you feeling? I’ve brought you these; Sotek said they would help”.

   

  Kodlak smiled at her and pointed back to Sotek.

  “Thank you Aela, I’m sure they will. Now, Aela, Farkas, Vilkas, Sotek’s the Harbinger for the next few days. He’ll be running things until I’m well enough to”.

   

  Aela sighed in relief. She had half expected to have to face him again upon her return so the news that he had spoken to Kodlak about it made her feel far happier.

  “So he’s finally agreed to do it? Good”. She walked up to him with a sultry swing of her hips. His new position, albeit only temporary, gave their relationship a new level of excitement.

   

  “Harbinger, I’ve brought the items you asked for”. As she spoke she started laughing. Farkas and Vilkas both gave him odd looks and joined in. Aela tittered and covered her mouth up with the tips of her fingers.

  “Sorry, it just sounds funny”.

   

  Sotek grumbled at the three of them. He wasn’t amused but he wasn’t prepared to let Aela get away with it. The fact that she had completed her task gave him such a weapon and her ignorance to this made it all the more satisfying.

  “Great! You all talk me into this then you laugh at me. Well, you know what else is funny?”

   

  Aela stopped laughing as she rested her hands on her hips. She didn’t bother hiding the fact that she knew he was up to something; after all she was his partner in crime when they got up to mischief and various shenanigans.

  “What else is funny?”

   

  Sotek snatched all the flower heads from her and shoved them in his herb pouch. The antlers he stored in his pack. All he gave Kodlak was a vial which he had in his bag all along.

  “I don’t need those ingredients at all. It was just a means to get you out of the way so I could talk to Kodlak”.

   

  Aela’s jaw dropped open as she stared into space. She turned to Kodlak but he was still chuckling to himself so she blankly glanced across the plains where she had spent the last half an hour searching for plants. Slowly, she turned back to Sotek who had his annoying look of smugness about him.

   

  Feeling infuriated as she had been well and truly out manoeuvred, Aela yelled back at him to try to hide her own embarrassment.

  “You what? You sent me to get all this crap just so I was out of the way? You bloody bastard”.

   

  Sotek waved his clawed finger at her then prodded her on the tip of her nose with his claw. He smiled broadly back at her and said.

  “Tsk tsk. That’s a no-no. There is to be no swearing at the Harbinger. Come to think of it.... no swearing, no answering back, no hitting, thumping, kicking, biting or scratching. And, especially no daggers in the leg; or arrows either”. He glanced over his shoulder at Kodlak and grinned. “You know Kodlak, I could get used to this”.

   

  Aela glared at the ‘Harbinger’ but she was lost for anything to say. Sotek couldn’t help but chuckle at her. He gave her a wink along with a cheeky grin.

  “Oh I’ll allow glaring, so you’re alright there”.

   

  While the Companions set off towards Whiterun, using the two horses to pull Kodlak behind them, Aela brooded by herself. An evil cackle forewarned Sotek that she had finally thought of a comeback.

  “Sotek, there’s something else the Harbinger won’t be getting”.

   

  Sotek walked up to her and folded his arms across his chest. His tail flapped about lazily as if Aela was no threat to either Sotek or itself.

  “And what is that?” The Argonian enquired. He knew Aela had something but he was confident he could outwit her.

   

  “Sex!!!” She blurted out the one word, sealing Sotek’s fate and denying him all the comforts a young woman such as herself would give a mate.

   

  There was nothing Sotek could do except watch her seductively walk in front. Knowing damn well that his eyes were fixed on her backside, Aela started sticking her hips out as she walked, exaggerating every curve on her body.

   

  While the two brothers were laughing at him, Sotek moved towards Kodlak and walked alongside him.

  “I have a question which I know the answer to. I don’t suppose that the Harbinger is allowed to make demands of a ermm ‘personal nature’ to certain members of the Companions?”

   

  Aela heard him easily and called back to Kodlak, warning him not to interfere.

  “May I remind you that you are not the Harbinger at the moment? This being the case, I would answer carefully if I were you. One broken leg is bad enough but to have both broken!”

   

  Kodlak laughed even more. He graciously refused Sotek’s request on the account that he had one good leg and he certainly didn’t want that one to end up broken as well.

  “Some members of the Companions are better coaxed than forced. Would you even consider forcing Aela?”

   

   Sotek watched the sly she-wolf and shook his head. His statement said it all.

  “No. She’s too violent for that”.

   

  Aela laughed all the way along the trail they were on. She still had a big grin on her face when Whiterun’s stables came into view.