When I awoke I was on a cart and my hands were bound. I quickly realized my armor was gone and I was wearing rags. As I looked around my vision swam and a million small hurts assaulted me all at once. There were others on the cart, three Nords also bound as I was. One of them, who was seated across from me was bickering with another captive and introduced a third who was gagged as Ulfric Stormcloake. The name meant nothing to me but the talkative one began to panic. Apparently he was a wanted man and this meant we were probably all going to the headsman's block, I didn't really care. With Nelso gone I had no one to help me and no where to go. I didn't even know where Knifepoint Ridge was, let alone the name of her contact there.
We entered a city one of the Nords called Helgan and I saw there were about twenty Legionnaires stationed near the entrance, no doubt there would be many more inside. There seemed to be two carts of prisoners and when we stopped we were all called one by one, the little thief tried to run but took an arrow in the back. He should have realized there were too many imperials about for that to work, best just to accept the inevitable.
One of the doomed men interrupted a priest who was giving us the last rights and offered his head in some misguided act of honour or whatever, his head came off and the Imperial officer called me next. I didn't care any more, I just walked to the block and stretched my neck for the headsman. That was when the Dragon attacked. I thought I was dreaming or maybe this was death come to take me when the axe fell.
Everyone was shouting and it took me a moment to realize this was really happening, then I noticed the headsman was gone. I looked up and one of the fur clawed men beckoned me to follow him. Not knowing what else to do I ran after him. There was chaos everywhere, my blood was racing and a new vigour took hold of me. The Dragon continued to attack and I was forced to jump from the tower to a nearby building. I got separated from my new companion and one of the Guards, the one who took my name beckoned me to follow him if I wanted to live. I was still bound so even though it gauled me to do so I fallowed the solder.
The Dragon circled overhead a few times and I could have sworn it was looking straight at me. I saw a gate and ran for it but it was locked. I threw my shoulder against it a few times but the stout wood didn't budge. I could see the solder calling for me to fallow him again and with nowhere else to go I ran to him. As I drew near the dragon swooped down and nearly caught me with it's firebreath. I quickened my pace and then saw the other prisoner coming towards me beckoning me to fallow him through a door. The Dragon roared above me and I looked up to see it swooping down for another attack. The guard called to me again and as he was closest I sprinted for him and threw myself through the open door. I looked back as I hit the ground and saw fire erupt where I had been standing. With a startled curse the guard slam the door shut.
Once inside he sliced open my bonds and introduces himself as Hadvar. He told me to look around and find some gear. There was a set of Imperial armor in one of the chests, it fit badly but was much better than the rags I'd been wearing. I also found an iron sword which I strapped on. Once we were ready Hadvar opened the next door and we headed deeper into the keep. As we enter the next area he signalled for a halt and peered around the next corner. "Stormcloaks, two of them. Be ready to fight." I take out my sword slowly and once we were ready he flung open the gate and we rush through. The Stormcloaks barely have time to pull their weapons before we despatch them.
We searched the bodies and I found an axe on one of them so took it, sliding it into one of my belt loops and moved the sword around so the axe was easier to reach. I also took the gloves and boots from one of the Nords who looked to be about the same size as me. I hate wearing such light armor but they fit better than the imperial leathers and I needed to be able to move properly.
We came across two more Stormcloaks in another chamber, one of them had a greatsword which he swung in great arches keeping us back. A second man came forward towards Hadvar and their swords clashed as they fought. I focused on the Nord with the greatsword and watched him carefully. I let him get closer to me and then he over-swung. I stepped inside his reach and smash my elbow into his neck. As he staggered I grabbed my axe in both hands and spun full circle planting my axe into his chest. It sliced through his fur armor easily and he collapsed in a bloody heap on the ground. Pulling the axe from his body I turned towards the other and say he already lay on the floor, blood oozing from his mouth, eyes vacant.
Hadvar strode towards me sheathing his sword. "I heard them say something about potions before they saw us, lets look around." We found a few potions in a barrel, there was also some bread and apples on the table, a few raw rabbit legs and two bottles of wine. I took the lot, eating the bread and drinking one of the bottles of wine to calm my nerves before continuing through the keep.
We come across a torture chamber next and there were more Stormcloaks there fighting the torturer. We joined in and the fight was over in seconds. The torturer didn't seem to know or care about the Dragon. He simply give out about being attacked. His apprentice however decided to come with us. There was a dead mage locked in one of the cages, I took some lockpicks from a nearby table and popped the lock taking everything inside the cage. I also find an Iron Shield and a mace hanging on the wall so I take them too... It felt good to have a shield again.
The three of us left the old torturer to his grumblings and kept moving, trying to find a way out. There was a hole in one of the walls to the back of the prison cells and it lead into a cave. Somehow there were more Stormcloaks there but luckily they were bickering amongst themselves. Hadvar looked around the corner and opened his right hand indicating four enemies, we nodded and on his signal rushed forward.
The closest Stormcloak panicked upon seeing us and cried out only once as I planted my axe into her face. An arrow whizzed past my eyes and I turned, crouching behind my shield. The apprentice torturer ran ahead of me with his mace and had three arrows sticking out of his chest before he got within ten steps of the archers.
I heard the clash of swords behind me and then the sound of steel grinding off bone. I chanced a quick look back and saw Hadvar coming towards me. The archers saw him too and fired their arrows simultaneously. With an oath I throw myself in their path raising my shield. One of the arrows struck my shield and the other went wide. I rolled to my feet and crouched behind my shield again. Hadvar was with me then also crouching behind me.
The archers drew their bows and watched us as we approached slowly. I stepped in something slippery and almost lost my footing. One of the archers fired and the arrow embedding itself in the wooden panelling of my shield. I looked down and saw there was oil on the ground and the archers were standing in the middle of it.
I began to move back and Hadvar moved with me. Then putting my axe into my belt and saying a quick prayer to the divines as I stretched my right arm out and will fire to spout from my hand. There was an eerie silence as nothing happened but after a moment I felt a slight heat in my palm and a small fire trickled from my hand. It was all the encouragement the oil needed though as it instantly erupted into life roaring towards the archers and engulfed them in flame. They screamed in agony as the fire spread over them but It only lasted for a moment so I grabbed my axe again. As the fire began to die we ran forward lashing out and struck one of the archers in the neck, almost taking his head from his shoulders. At the same time Hadvar impaled the other with his sword.
Once we'd gotten our breath back we moved on wearily. We came to a bridge and there was daylight coming in through a crevice above us. We heard the Dragon still ravishing the keep above us and its shadow passed overhead. At the same time however it seemed it knock some rocks down the opening onto us and the bridge was smashed just as I reached the other side. Thankful there was nothing but good solid rock above us now so I felt a little safer as we carried on our search for an exit.
We walked a bit further and into a large area covered in cobwebs. Hadvar told me to be careful as it looked like the webs of a Frostbite Spider. I asked him what the hell a Frostbite Spider was but before he could answer we were attacked by about a half dozen of them. They hissed like snakes and spit some vile blueish green liquid at us. I raised my shield and the liquid squelched sickeningly against it.
One of them rushed towards me, it's large fangs dripping with venom. It moved much faster than I expected but I still manage to sank my axe into it's eyes. I yanked my axe free and the spider thrashed for a moment before scrunching up dead.
Another came at me with blinding speed. It lunged and I slammed my shield down pinning it to the ground. I bashed at it with my axe then lifted my shield and brought it's edge down heavily, crushing the spiders skull.
All of a sudden there was a much louder hissing from above and I look up just in time to see a larger spider descending right above me. I jumped back a step and saw another coming down just behind Hadvar. I called out to him but he was engaging two of the smaller spiders and didn't hear me. There was also a long gash on his sword arm and he appeared to be weakening... He may be an Imperial solder but right now he was all I had, I had to do something.
As the large spider dropped to the ground in front of me I put my axe in my belt and unsheathe the sword. The spider leapt at me bouncing off me shield, once, twice and after the third stride I lashed out with the sword hacking it's front right leg in half. The Spider recoiled in pain hissing angrily and raising it's body as it retreated. In that instant I stepped straight into it's reach and dropping my shield took the sword in both hands, I drove it up into the spiders abdomen all the way to the hilt. The spider flailed madly but I'd already moved away.
Retrieving my shield I ran at the other large spider. One of the spiders lay dead at Hadvars feet and as I charged he took out the other, driving his sword into it's mouth. The large spider had just landed behind Hadvar and still running I sheathed my sword and raised the shield in front of me. Holding it with both hands and putting all my weight behind it I slammed into the spider shoving it back. It staggered slightly, stunned by the blow and I grabbed my axe in my right hand again. Hadvar was beside me again and as one we both ran forward, weapons raised. I drove my axe down into the spiders eyes and at the same time Hadvar plunged his sword into it's mouth. It spluttered blood and blueish green venom, then shuddered and collapsed legs sprawled out on the floor. Dead.
The silence which followed was broken only by our panting. We scanned the walls for spiders but thankfully there were no more about. I relaxed a bit then and retrieved my sword from the dead spider, careful not to tough the venom dripping from it's fangs.
Hadvar sat on a rock and I went to look at the wound. "Their venom's not potent and the effects only lasts for a moment." He explained as I looked over his arm, but the gash looked bad so I gave him one of the healing potions I'd picked up earlier and he drank the foul tasting concoction. Within seconds the long gash in his arm was healed, the skin knitting itself back together like nothing had happened.
I handed him a bottle of wine I'd taken from the kitchen to wash the taste away and he took it happily. After a few swigs he passed it back, I downed the rest and dumped the empty bottle. Feeling fresher we decided to move on again.
We kept a wary eye on the walls and ceiling for more spiders but luckily we didn't happen across any more. We do however come across a sleeping bear not too fare from the spiders lair. After a quick discussion we decide it would be best if we just tried to sneak past. I'd never really been that good at sneaking but the fur boots I was wearing made almost no sound. To my surprise, Hadvar was skilled at sneaking and I would never have known he was there if he hadn't taken the lead.
Once we rounded the next corner a gust of cold air wafted into our faces. "We've finally made it!" Hadvar exclaimed loudly, then instantly clamped his hands over his mount trying to claw back the words. From behind there come a loud snorting and we both freeze, almost afraid to breath. After a long moment of nothing we begin to creep for the exit.
Finally we'd be out of this accursed cave.
Comments
To Kynareth, Ultek's fate will be long and tw... more