E'ermore; Inexs, Second Entry

• Posted by Lucid June 6, 2015 - 953 views

  The Rebel Leader was brought back to the Imperial encampment at sword point, walking hunched over like a beaten dog. His hands bound before him and mouth gagged. He held a cruel look in his eyes and a furrowed brow to match. The Imperial soldiers who had captured him kept their swords on him as they pushed him forward with their hands making him stumble over the uneven terrain of roots and stumps and rocks. Inexs watched the man as he was loaded into the back of one of the wagons with his wounded comrades who had survived the violent onslaught when the Thalmor released their volley of arrows.
  
  "You." A soldier of the Imperial Army approached Inexs and cut him free of his post. "Get to your feet. We're moving."
  
  Aching of stiffness and busted ribs, the Breton was pushed along and loaded into the wagon that held the Rebel Leader. Other captives were divided up between the carriages as the camp was torn down and packed away.
  
  The sky was changing color from the dark dead of night to a milky pink as the sun began to creep on the horizon and chased away the stars. The light of it casting long shadows from the east to west as morning broke a new day and put an end to the bloody night. The soldiers began their march up the road and into the mountains to the east as the horses pulled the guarded carriages at the rear. The air grew crisp as they made their way higher into the pass. Inexs grew colder as he was under dressed for the journey through the high hills. The thought of freezing to death up here terrified him and he contemplated trying to make a run for it back the way they had come from, but his carriage was too heavily guarded with the Rebel Leader on board with him. Shivering from the cold with nothing to warm himself, Inexs grew exhausted for fighting to stay warm, his body gave into sleep as the wagon slowly moved through the bumpy roads of the mountain pass.
  
  When he woke he found he had been covered in an Imperial Soldiers's cloak and they had cleared the mountain pass traveling most of the morning. The sun was nearly overhead now and they were approaching a town with low stone walls.
  
  "Hey, you. You're finally awake." One of the captured rebels said to Inexs as they bumped along the rough road. "You walk right into that Imperial Ambush, same as us and that thief over there?"
  
  "No," Inexs shook his groggy head. "I was captured days ago back in Morrowind by a farmer who turned me over to these Imperials."
  
  "Just the same, you're here now." the man said face to face with Inexs. "It seems one of the soldiers figured you were worth keeping alive though. Was decent enough to cover you in his cloak when you started going into convulsions."
  
  Inexs looked at the cloak that covered him now. "Seems so. Or they didn't want to unload dead weight from the carriage."
  
  "Either way," The rebel continued, "I'd rather freeze to death that have that emblem draped around me."
  
  Inexs sat up straighter and shrugged the cloak from his shoulders letting it fall to the bench behind him.
  
  Sitting across on the opposite bench another captive spoke hastily. "Damn you Stormcloaks. Skyrim was fine until you came along. The Empire was nice and lazy." He made sure to draw out and relax his last few words. "If they hadn't been looking for you I could have stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell." The man in rags looked over to Inexs. "You there. You and me, we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants."
  
  "We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief." The rebel said in a low droll voice.
  
  "Shut up back there." The Imperial carriage driver hollered over their commotion eyeing the rebel as he looked over his shoulder.
  
  "What's up with him huh?" Questioned the thief pointing with his face, nodding at the Rebel Leader. Bound and gagged.
  
  "Watch your tongue, that's Ulfric Stormcloak the true High King." The rebel spat at the thief.
  
  "Ulfric, The Jarl of Windhelm?" The thief spoke in urgently in astonishment. "You're the leader of the Rebellion! If they've captured you... Oh Gods, where are they us?"
  
  The Stormcloak soldier replied in a sullen tone, "I don't know where we're going, but Sovngarde awaits." 
  
  "No this can't be happening. This isn't happening." The thief stated panicking as though saying it again and again was going to make their situation any less real.
  
  "Hey, what village are you from, Horse Thief?" Questioned the Stormcloak.
  
  "Why do you care?" The look of life fading from the thief's face as he looked to the floor of the carriage.
  
  "A Nord's last thoughts should be of home."
  
  The deep voice of the soldier had the horse thief pick up his head as he answered looking the man next to him in the eyes, "Rorikstead, I'm- I'm from Rorikstead."
  
  "General Tullius, Sir. The Headsman is waiting." A voice in the distance shouted as the carriage neared the gates.
  
  "Good, lets get this over with." The General responded to a High Elf in dark robes.
  
  "Shor, Mara, Dibella, Kinareth, Akatosh, Divines, please help me." The horse thief from Rorikstead chanted. A puddle of piss dripping from his seat under his darkened wet pants.
  
  "Look at him. General Tullius, the military Governor and it looks like the Thalmor are with him." The Soldier across from Inexs said bearing his teeth. "Damn Elves, I bet they had something to do with this."
  
  The wagon bumped along as the Imperial caravan passed under the gate and around the tall central tower made of large wooden beams and giant blocks cut of grey stone.
  
  "Ah, this is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here." The soldier continued as he reminisced, "I wonder if Velod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny when I was a boy Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe." 
  
  A the sound of a young boy's voice could be heard from behind Inexs. "Who are they daddy? Where are they Going?"
  
  "Run along inside boy." His father told him, knowing full well were the men on the wagons were headed.
  
  "Why? I want to watch the soldiers"
  
  "Get inside the house. Now." His father urged him before the wagons could halt.
  
  "Yes Poppa."
  
  "Get these prisoners out of the carts. Move it." A woman's voice cut through the air.
  
  "Why are we stopping?" Questioned the thief.
  
  "Why do you think? End of the line." The Stormcloak stood up. "Lets go. Shouldn't keep the Gods waiting for us." He continued.
  
  "No wait. We're not rebels." The horse thief pleaded with the Imperial woman, pointing with his head between Inexs and himself.
  
  "Face your death with some courage, Thief." The Stormcloak urged in an angry tone.
  
  "You've got to tell them, we weren't with you. This is a mistake." The thief was nearly on his knees begging.
  
  "Step towards the block when we call your name. One at a time." The Imperial woman called to the prisoners.
  
  "Empire loves their damn Lists." The Stormcloak rebel said pointedly.
  
  "Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm" A man in uniform standing next to the Imperial Captain holding a roll of parchment, read.
  
  "It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric." The Stormcloak continued, bowing his head at the Rebellion Leader as the man in the blue cloak stepped forward.
  
  "Ralof of Riverwood." The talkative Stormcloak rebel that shared his carriage stepped forward at the call of his name.
  
  "Lokir of Rorikstead." The man with the list of names called out.
  
  "No, I'm not a rebel. You cant do this. You're not going to kill me" Lokir panicked and ran for the gates of Helgen, hands bound and bare foot. He wasn't in his right mind. Even if he had escaped, he wasn't about to make it far in the wilderness of Skyrim.
  
  "Halt! Archers!" The Imperial Captain called out. "Anyone else feel like running?" She finished after Lokir took two arrows in the back and fell to the ground.
  
  "Wait, you there." The man with the list looked down at his parchment, his eyes scrolling down the list of names. "Step forward. Who, are you?" He said looking at Inexs.
  
  "I am nobody. Turned over to the Imperial Forces back at the Morrowind border for allegedly stealing something I had never seen before." The Breton spoke to the man addressing him.
  
  "Yes, but what is your name?" 
  
  "Inexs."
  
  "Inexs of? Where are you from boy?" The man pressed the Breton looking at him as if the prisoner before him was slow in the head.
  
  "I live off of whatever the Divines deem fit to grant me. I've no lands to work, I've no home to rest, I've no family to love me. I told you already, I'm nobody but a wanderer of Tamriel, surviving off the land."
  
  "Then may you find a better comfort in your gods, Breton."
  
  Inexs was grabbed by the arm by a soldier and pushed to the block before the Headsman. A sharp pain in the back of his legs brought him to his knees. The Imperial scum had hit him with the flat of his sword. A foot pushed Inexs forward onto the Headsman's block. Balof's head was still before him, his dead and lifeless eyes finding his own. Panic stricken, the Breton tried to push himself up from his knees, but his hands were bound before him and the large soldiers foot was still pressing on his back.
  
  "Any last words you wish to say?" the Captain of the guard asked of him.
  
  Inexs was stone faced with fear as his miserable existence was about to come to an end. Eyes wide and jaw quivering he blinked away the tears in silence. 
  
  Something high in the sky caught his eye for a moment and disappeared just as quickly. There was a roar of thunder that quaked the earth. The Dragon landed hard and was perched upon the central tower of the small town and looking down at people occupying the courtyard. It gave another echoing boom as it took wing once more. The soldier who had his foot upon his back fell over with the force of the shout. Inexs rolled away from the Headsman as he brought his axe down onto the block, narrowly missing its target. Hands bound, he was slow to get to his knees but others around him were still on the ground. Once he found his feet, Inexs darted around the scattered bodies and made straight ahead for a second tower, others that were nearer were already inside and about to barricade the door as he made his entrance. The Stormcloak that was on the wagon with him was there, as was his leader, Ulfric Stormcloak.
  
  "Ralof, are you hurt? Can you continue?" his leader asked of him.
  
  "Yes, yes. I'm fine. Was that a, dragon?
  
  "Aye, 'twas. Come with me, we've got to find a way to get out of here." Ulfric continued as he managed to cut away his bonds.
  
  The great black winged beast broke through the heavy stone wall of the tower nearly two floors above before scorching what he could. Ulfric ran up the spiraled stairs and pulled Ralof behind him. 
  
  "Jump. Through here and onto that Inn over there." the Rebellion Leader commanded of his soldier.
  
  Ralof looked over his shoulder at Inexs. "Come on, you first. You've escaped death once today. Think you can do it again?"
  
  Inexs ran up the stairs to join them and looked out through the shattered wall of the tower. The Inn was ablaze, it's straw roof was on fire and its structure didn't look as though it was going to hold out much longer.
  
  "Just try to aim for the hole in the roof." Ulfric said looking at the Breton and placing a hand on his shoulder.
  
  Inexs walked to the edge and looked but he couldn't bring himself to make the jump. The next thing he knew he was falling to his death. Pushed from the tower by Ulfric Stormcloak. He landed on his side, his ribs screamed at him in agony. The pain meant he was still alive. He was on the wooden floor of the second story of the Inn as the structure gave way. Again he fell, surrounded by fire. Ashes rose into to the air, the smoke was billowing around him, fire was everywhere and he couldn't breath. Inexs heard talking but he was too disoriented to comprehend it. He opened his eyes again to a black leather boot at his face when suddenly he was being dragged to his feet. His arms were around the shoulders of Ulfric and his man and they were dragging him out of the fire and across the open yard. The Dragon was spewing flame as he dove at the soldiers and townsfolk alike. Everything was burning. Half of the town was now rubble. Inexs turned his head just in time to see an Imperial guard get picked up by the beasts gaping maw. Poor bastard, was all Inexs could think. The three of them were nearly to Helgen Keep. The Imperials limp body fell from the sky as his shattered body exploded in a mess of flesh and blood not ten feet from where they were. Ralof opened the door and barred it from the inside.
  
  "Sovngarde will have to wait. I do not plan to die today." Ulfric said looking at his brother in arms and the Breton they supported him between them.
  
  "Lets see those ropes, Breton. What's your name?"
  
  "Inexs. My name's Inexs." he replied rubbing his wrists where the ropes had chafed them raw. Beads of sweat formed on his brow from worry and terror.
  
  The Imperials had scattered from the Keep when the Dragon had appeared. Each man calling for glory whilst trying to slay it with arrows. In turn most of them were burned alive while others witnessed the horror and ran for cover, most of which was then engulfed in flame trapping them inside.
  
  "We're less likely to meet our fates in here, but we must remain vigilant. We know not what hides here in the shadows." Ralof said as he began to lead the trio through the corridors of the Keep.
  
  "Gunjar." Ralof rushed forward as he found his friend and comrade dying, propped up against the leg of a table. He was clutching a wound in his chest. Blood covered his padded armor and ran red over his hands. Next to him was a piece of folded parchment spattered in his own blood. He reached for it.
  
  "Ralof." The wounded soldier groaned, air hardly escaping his mouth. "I'm so sorry."
  
  Ulfric looked down at the dying man and picked up the letter the dying man was reaching for. He read it, a scowl crossing his face as he did. Ulfric bent over and slowly reached for the small hilt at Gunjar's belt and pulled it from its sheath. The self-proclaimed High King pressed the sharp iron blade to his throat looking the man in the eye.
  
  "Traitor." The blade crossed the soft flesh of the Imperial spy's throat as it ran red with blood. "Take his weapons, we'll need them." He said to the two men standing over him as he continued to watch the last remnants life fade from Gunjar's eyes.
  
  Ralof snatched the letter from Ulfric's hand to read it. Normally a man would be punished for such an action against his superior, but Ulfric let it go. The dead man was his friend and had just been accused of being a traitor to his people.
  
  Inexs looked upon the dead traitor and contemplated taking his boots. They looked like they might fit. 
  
  "Those are traitor's boots boy. You don't want those, lest you end up walking the same path as he." Ulfric said, grabbing Inexs' wrist stopping the Breton from undressing the corpse before them.
  
  Inexs picked up Gunjar's axe and rose under his own strength still clutching his ribs with his left hand. Ralof grabbed his sword and they continued through the corridors seeking an alternative route to escape the Imperials and the Dragon. Voices were heard coming from a nearby room and they were drawing nearer. The three set up an ambush leaving Ulfric in the open, visible through the door. Ralof and Inexs to either side, armed and ready. A brute of a man wearing imperial steel drew up his greatsword and charged the Rebel Leader with his weapon drawn high. As he came through the door Ralof took one swing caught the soldier under the bicep. Blood sprayed across his face as he connected, his blade ran deep. The brute dropped the massive sword from overhead, it fell behind him and Ulfric put the dagger he was clutching into the soft spot between the mans gorget and helm. Withdrawing the dagger the man fell to his knees choking on his own blood as it filled his mouth, his eyes wide with terror over what had just happened. The other Imperial soldier charged Ralof who was now exposed from his position, her sword drawn on the level, elbows out as she went to run him through both hands on the short hilt. Inexs made a sweeping cut down low and took out her unprotected knees. She dropped to the ground and the trio hacked at her like savages until she was lifeless. Ulfric armed himself with the steel greatsword dropped by the brute.
  
  They entered the room that the Imperials had emerged from and found the guard barracks. They took the time to better arm themselves against attacks. Ralof and Inexs each finding a buckler to protect themselves. Ulfric and Ralof were still wearing their light Stormcloak dress from the previous nights siege, Inexs had to pilfer what he could in terms of armor from the barracks. He managed to find a pair of boots with greaves and studded leather gauntlets that fit well enough. The leather cuirass was a touch large for him however so he picked up a tunic that had been folded neatly on a dresser next to one of the beds and put on the extra layer. Ralof assisted him in tying up the cuirass as tight as it could be so as to make it fit as best as possible. They exited the round room and continued through the dimly lit corridor. The Dragon's assault could still be heard outside. Screams of terror were only muffled by the collapse of buildings. The ground shook and a blast of grey stone exploded into the hall filling the air with a heavy grey dust as the Dragon hit the Keep. 
  
  "This way." Ulfric shouted over the blast of crumbling rubble as it settled, putting his steel pauldron through a nearby wooden door.
  
  As they made their entry, they barged in on the Captain of the Guard who was discussing tactics with her lieutenants. Startled by the intrusion and caught unawares, the escaping prisoners had the upper hand. Weapons already drawn and rushing the room, the two lieutenants were cut down quickly in their leather and chain armor. Ulfric charged the Captain in his imperial plate and brought down his greatsword against the Captains large tower shield, her sword still upon the weapon rack hanging next to her lieutenants. Ralof, finished with his target and turned to the rear of the Captain. A sword across the soft unprotected back of the knee brought the Captain down on one knee screaming out in pain. Shield still held high against the vicious two-handed attacks of Ulfric Stormcloak, she required both arms on it to fend off his strikes. Inexs struck the Imperial Captain in the back of the helm with his shield, its edge catching the steel plume and knocking it to the floor. His momentum carried through and his right hand brought the iron axe down to find the back of the Imperials neck, the force of the blow severing the head from the shoulders.
  
  "You'd make for a damn good Stormcloak, Inexs. If the Divines let us leave here alive this day, you're welcome to join us in our cause against the Empire." Ulfric spoke to the Breton who stood in shock of what he had just done, the Imperials warm blood spattered across his face, her head rolled on the floor at his feet.

  
  ***

  
  "Consider my offer to you, Inexs." Ulfric said solemnly as he and the rogue took each other arm-in-hand. "Just don't go joining up with the Imperial scum. You've seen what they're capable of today."
  
  "I've been their prisoner for the past week, Ulfric." Inexs replied. "I don't think that is something either of us need worry about."
  
  "That's High King, to you." Ralof interrupted.
  
  "Today, I think I can make an exception to Titles, Ralof. This man is an ally to us." He spoke in his deep voice directing his hand at Inexs.
  
  "I'm certain we'll see each other again." Inexs said with a slight bow before Ulfric and his man.
  
  "Fair thee well and may Talos guard your path, Friend." Ralof said taking the Breton arm-in-hand before they parted ways at the fork.
  
  The Stormcloaks continued down the path in the direction of Riverwood, their chatter fading away in the distance. Inexs stood there in his Imperial armor, unsure of where to go. The sign at the fork said Falkreath and pointed west. The clouds overhead were building and the air smelled of rain. The night was going to be a cold and wet. He decided to follow the road west and see what he could find for shelter.

  
  ***

  
  The sun had fallen and the temperature in the air had dropped dramatically. The rain was coming straight down in heavy droplets, but Falkreath was just ahead. His dark hair matted to his head in strings of black as the rain pasted it to his scalp. The water from it washing over his face removing all traces of blood from the episode in Helgen. His Imperial armor was soaked through and sent uncontrollable spasms of shivers coursing through his body. To his left he could see the silhouettes of the roofs of the houses over the low lying grassy hills in the small town. He stuck to the road as it's ruts collected the rain water in puddles and ventured into the dark vale. There were Imperial soldiers standing around the braziers under the stone arch guarding the towns gates and wooden walls. They let him in with a nod but not so much as a word, accepting him as one of their own and not wanting to make idle chit-chat in the open downpour. Inexs knew he had no money and nothing of value to trade to the Innkeeper for a nights shelter, so he did the next best thing and sought out the monastery. Every town kept one and he had slept in worse conditions in the past.
  
  The short, dark-haired Breton approached the small building next to the cemetery, to either side of the door were shrines to Arkay. It was the towns Hall of the Dead but there was no crypt within. Just a table near the hearth and two single beds, both of which were occupied. Neither of the occupants awoke to his entry. Inexs crouched low and silently slunk back outside into the rain closing the door quietly behind him. The lightning flashed across the clouded sky illuminating the scene around him accompanied by a clap of thunder, its echo rolling across the Hold. For a brief moment a waterfall could be seen falling high from a sheer rock-face up the hill as it fed a stream that moved quickly with the added rain water passing by an old looking sawmill on the edge of town. Up beyond the waterfall was a solitary pine tree standing sentinel on a high point in the terrain. Its trunk, he guessed, must have been nearly six feet across and its boughs created a wide canopy. Plenty of dry ground there. He thought to himself as he crossed the cemetery passing between the many dilapidated headstones. There were a number of dry branches and dead twigs that scattered the ground beneath the tree, but with no way to light them he wouldn't have a fire to keep warm on this cold and dreary night. He leaned back against the tree and brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them to hold in what warmth he had, wincing in pain as his ribs ached in his chest. He rested his head on his arms and waited for the rain to stop. He hoped morning would come soon.