U.O.T.W. Chapter 113 Wait For The Signal?

  • About an hour before daybreak, a solitary Argonian started to prepare breakfast for his fellow Companions who in a matter of minutes would undoubtedly start waking up. Sotek quietly and efficiently set about his tasks. Water was on the boil for the Harbinger’s soup, the hot plate was heating up ready for the thick slices of venison, leaving one task left. Farkas was always one for a large fire and now the wood pile was all but spent.

    Sotek decided to wake his ‘aid’ and gave Aela a gentle shake in an attempt to rouse her from her slumber.

    “Huh? Err, oh crap it’s time”. She gave out a big yawn then stretched out along the length of the bedrolls. “I’m tired”. She wrapped her arms around Sotek, then started to fall asleep again. After a few minutes, Sotek gave up trying to wake Aela up and left her sleeping.

    He whispered to himself and pulled a fur over Aela’s shoulders. She curled up in a ball and disappeared under the few layers of furs.

    “We’re having a late morning then”.

    Once he removed the kettle and hotplate away from the burning cinders, he threw the last remnants of the wood pile on the fire before deciding to head out away from the camp to collect more firewood. On the distant horizon he saw a stag slowly moving across the plains, he could smell it. He lifted his head and closed his eyes, like he saw Aela had done when they hunted the hawks. That was months ago, but he remembered the night well. The cold icy touch of the nearby mountains tormented Aela while she slept, until he placed one of his furs over her. He smiled to himself as a few words of wisdom from Quentarii, his ‘mother’, ran though his head. ‘Flames of friendship spark from the simplest of gifts’.

    He listened as hard as possible, he could almost hear the stags heart beating. He snapped out of the trance and made his way to the copse of trees and gathered a few pieces of wood before heading back to the camp where he built the fire up.

    A few hours after dawn Aela awoke with a start. She crawled on her side and pulled herself up despite the grogginess she felt.

    “Oh damn it. Why didn’t you wake me up? We should have left hours ago”.

    Sotek was sitting nearby and smiled as he watched the half asleep Nord fight off the drowsiness.

    “I did but you were tired. You just couldn’t keep your eyes open, so I let you sleep. Come on, help me sort out the food. The others will wake up soon enough”.

    The moment Sotek started cooking the venison from the stags they killed two days before, the camp started to come to life. Over the course of a few minutes everyone was awake and sitting around the fire awaiting their breakfast. Sotek gazed across the camp to the Harbinger and laid out his apologies while he slowly stirred the pot of vegetables.

    “Sorry, I was going to wake everyone earlier but I had a rough night. We’ll pack up in half an hour then head off for the Forsworn base. Harbinger, dare I presume you will be heading back to Jorrvaskr?”

    Kodlak hungrily watched the steam dissipate from the soup. He could smell the different vegetables and the chunks of venison which Sotek always added. Sotek called it soup but the Harbinger knew it as stew. He didn’t really care what it was called. It was hot, tasty and filled the pit of his stomach.

    “Yes, I’ll be heading off once you all set out. I’ll take the gear you both collected and leave it at the Warmaiden’s for you to sort out”.

    Sotek raised his eye brows at the suggestion causing the small bone spikes above his eyes to point upwards. With everything that had happened, he forgot all about the armor he and Aela collected.

    “Thanks that would be a help. Is there any last intel on the camp?”

    The Harbinger shook his head and smiled as his bowl was filled to the brim. While he ate, he gave them all a few final words of caution.

    “No, just what you already know. They have numbers, however Aela, remember… outside there’s to be no Red and no Omega”. The Harbinger then looked sternly at Sotek, singling him out. “Make sure you bring everyone home”.

    Vilkas and Farkas held their now empty bowls and stared at Sotek as he and Aela ate several slices of venison. Aela was the first to notice their gaze and she found herself having to swallow a piece of meat so she could find the cause of such unwanted attention.

    “What?”

    Sotek chuckled and pointed to the pot with a simple wave of his hand. Such a gesture wasn’t missed and the two brothers helped themselves to a second serving of soup, stew, whatever it was.

    The camp exodus was a smooth operation. Aela rolled up the furs and bedrolls along with Vilkas while Sotek and the Harbinger set about taking the tent down. Aela gave Farkas the job of washing the pots and bowls on the grounds that it’s sexist to make her do it and she isn’t ‘girly’.

    Once the camp was packed up, the Harbinger said his farewell and wished the four Companions luck. They headed out, leaving the Harbinger to return the laden horses which carried the looted armor, weapons and the remains of the tent along with all the camping gear.

    As the four Companions trudged onwards across the plains, Aela fell silent and kept herself to herself. Sotek mistook her mood to be regret from the day before but the reality was such that she was in deep thought over her dream and what Hircine had told her. It was a dream; she knew it but at the same time she also knew it was real. That’s how Hircine spoke to her, in her dreams. Unless there was a great hunt, a Blood Moon.

    The moment Sotek entered her life things changed. So many things changed… When Sotek gorged on her blood even Red’s world transformed from her solitary life to one of wonder and passion. From that moment on Hircine was more prone to revealing himself around them. Her lord and master had singled them out. For what purpose she didn’t care, she had Hircine’s gaze upon her and she reveled in it.

    She walked up to Sotek and lightly punched him in the arm to gain his attention. A soft ‘hsss’ was quickly followed by a snigger as he rolled his eyes at her. She whispered softly to him so the two brothers couldn’t hear her.

    Thanks for earlier. You shouldn’t have said it was you who had a bad night though”.

    Sotek scanned the terrain which lay before them and softly said.

    “I don’t think telling everyone you had a bad night would help. Besides, the Harbinger worries about you. I dont want him going back with concerns. You’ve got to make peace with the others”. Sotek gave her a slight squeeze with his good arm then he turned to the group as a whole. “I’m going to scout ahead. I’ll be back in an hour or so”. Without waiting for any confirmation, he went off leaving Aela to sort out the previous night’s events.

    Aela timidly walked up to the two brothers. She had no idea what to say or how to put it. Tilma always said to her ‘when you’re struggling to find the right words, say anything. The words will come to you quick enough’, so she just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

    “I’m sorry for hitting you both but you bastards asked for it”.

    The two Companions carried on walking past her, totally ignoring her apology. She stopped but they both carried on walking off, they never even said a word to her.

    “Hey, I’m trying to say sorry. Stop you bastards! Damn it all, what’s the bloody point”. She sped up her walking and barged between the two of them, pushing them to the sides.

    “Hey, watch it!” Farkas called out at her as she went past.

    Aela snapped, she couldn’t help but shout at them both.

    “Why? Why the hell should I? You both knew you were getting me right pissed off, but you both carried on regardless. Now, I’m bloody sorry I hit you both, but what the hell do you expect?”

    Vilkas shouted back at her with just as much anger as she felt.

    “We expect you to say bloody sorry, damn it!!”

    She could have screamed at the two of them. Her teeth clenched tightly shut as she yelled back.

    “I was saying sorry”.

    Vilkas couldn’t help but holler at his shield sibling.

    “Well that’s alright then isn’t it! As long as you’re sorry, that makes everything fine and bloody dandy!!”

    Aela shoved him in the chest for yelling at her while she screeched back at him.

    “Good… that’s alright then”.

    Farkas gave up with the whole situation. He stopped where he was and sat on the grass. His shield was laid to rest beside him and for some strange reason, he burst out laughing.

    “Well I’m so glad that’s cleared the air”. He turned to Aela and pointed to the ground beside him. “We owe you both an apology as well, the Harbinger gave us a right dressing down when Sotek took you off to calm you down. You got to admit Omega’s one short ass though isn’t he?”

    Aela knelt beside him and in a moment of weakness, her head rested against his chest. When she felt a loving hand rest on her shoulder, she lifted her head up and studied the horizon where Sotek was scouting ahead.

    “Farkas, do you think he’s a killer? Omega I mean…”

    The two brothers shared a confused glance between them both. Vilkas managed to put his thoughts to words and sat in front of the other two, joining them on the ground.

    “A killer? The troll runt? He can kill, that we know but a killer? There is a distinction between the two, you know this”. He got to his feet then offered Aela his hand. She gratefully took it and was pulled upwards. Vilkas gave her a much needed hug then held her by the arms a few feet away from him. His eyes looked sternly back at her as he spoke. “He’s tough for a small guy, but I can’t say he’s a killer. We’ll help you keep Sotek out of trouble”.

    She gave him a weak smile then she broke away and carried on along the path. Vilkas just stood there waiting for Farkas to catch up. When Farkas got to him, Vilkas spoke in a whisper.

    “Shes really worried about him”.

    Farkas sighed in agreement.

    “Hell can you blame her? Sotek’s arms fucked. He can’t handle close combat. His werewolf form isn’t much either… he’s in trouble, she knows it”. With that they both hurried along to catch her up.

    After an hour or so Sotek came into sight as he traversed the brow of a hill. He seemed happy and had a quiet air of confidence about him.

    “Not much in the way of problems. We’ll be there in a few hours then we can watch them for an hour or so and form a plan”.

    Aela however was anything but. As she passed him, her hand reached out to hold his hand but she stopped and moved away. She rested her foot on a boulder and leaned on her knee. Looking back at Sotek, she tried to sound happy and calm yet her voice gave it away all too easily.

    “We’re getting close then…”

    Sotek paused momentarily to give himself the opportunity to sum up the three Companions emotions. He nodded back at Aela then took point and led them towards the Forsworn base. After a few steps he stopped and asked the group directly.

    “You all ok?”

    Noticing Aela had yet to move, Vilkas lightly tugged her by the collar, pulling her away from the rock before he wrapped his arm around her. He gave Sotek the simplest of nods then beckoned Farkas to tag along.

    “Yep”.

    Within the hour the four Companions came to the base of a hill. Sotek held his fist up, signaling to the rest of the group that they were actually close to the Forsworn’s territory. They silently crept up the slope and saw the base for the first time.

    Large wooden platforms of various levels and dimensions were built on supports over the river. Different sized huts and small buildings, mostly made of logs and sticks, were scattered around, effectively forming nothing less than a village in its own right. Each level was connected with walkways interlocking with each other.

    Sotek started counting the Forsworn who were seemingly scattered around with no order or structure to their deployment. He stopped counting once he got to twenty. The Forsworn’s armor he didn’t go much on. It seemed to be basically loincloths. Their necklaces consisted of bird and small animal skulls and their hair was adorned with feathers and what looked like animal bones. None of them had hardly any protection at all. However, they certainly had numbers.

    Farkas gasped as he examined the base.

    “Oh wow. Harbinger wasn’t joking… it’s a bloody army!”

    Sotek sat by the stump of a tree to break up his silhouette lest they were spotted by anyone cautious enough to glance upwards at the crest of the hill. Aela moved next to him and sat by his side. She watched the sentries for any prospective targets but she couldn’t see a single one.

    “I can’t see any one separate enough to take out. Where do you want me?”

    Sotek smirked as he gazed across the hillside to a small overhang. He jumped when Vilkas lightly smacked him on the back of the head.

    “Get your mind out of the bedroom Sotek…”

    Sotek gingerly glanced back at Aela and grinned.

    “Ermm…”

    Vilkas rested his hand on Aela’s shoulder and told her what they all knew. It was just a matter of someone saying it.

    “There isn’t. Everyone’s in contact with each other, it’s like they are on alert”.

    Over the next few hours Sotek watched the sentries, every quarter of an hour or so they signaled to each other. Within a few minutes the signal returned to the guard who started it. The other problem Sotek realized was that the guards seemed to start the signal at random. Different guards started the chain giving Sotek no real sense of who was the Headman.

    “Damn it, the moment we start the attack we’ll have everyone on top of us”.

    As he studied the layout of the platforms an idea started to form in his mind. One which he knew would bring a wave of protests and yet he also knew it was their best chance. Daring to draw breath, he turned towards Aela and laid out his plan.

    “You’re not going to like this… none of you are. I’m going in alone, stay here”.

    “Like hell you are!!” Vilkas snapped. “You know you can’t handle close combat; we go together”.

    Sotek gave Aela a hug with his good arm, but she pulled right away from him, easily breaking what grip he had.

    “You’re not going alone. You can’t even hold me!! Forget it that’s just bloody stupid”.

    Sotek shook his head and glanced down the hillside towards the base.

    “No, its guerrilla warfare. This is what I do… Aela stay here, there’s good cover and you have a good line of view. I’ll be coming down the river at the far end. Vilkas, Farkas, do you see the forge in the hillside? Watch my signal. Only when I signal, attack the Forsworn around there and any overlooking the main base”.

    Farkas added to the argument, brazenly trying to enforce Kodlak’s orders.

    “The Harbinger said we stay together”.

    Sotek cut him off before his point could seed the other Companions minds. Leaving no second spare, Sotek began to move down the hillside as he whispered to Vilkas.

    “The Harbinger’s not here, I am. Vilkas, Farkas, move… You haven’t got long”.

    Then without another word Sotek slipped off and headed up stream.

    Aela cursed as she watched everyone move into positon. She hated the fact that Sotek wouldn’t explain things. He just ran off halfcocked and would never divulge any information.

    “Sotek, you stupid bastard… wait for the blasted signal? That’s just great! Crap!! What ‘is’ the bloody signal anyway?”

     

     

Comments

11 Comments
  • Orlando,Taz
    Orlando,Taz   ·  April 2, 2016
     He nodded back at Aela then took point and let them towards the Forsworn base.
    and this typo let to led
  • Orlando,Taz
    Orlando,Taz   ·  April 2, 2016
    cool chapter buddy spotted a  typo . Vilkas just stood there waiting for Farkas to catch up. When Farkas got to him he spoke in a whisper.
    “She’s really worried about him”.
    Farkas sighed in agreement.    Farkas  to Vilkas
     
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  March 30, 2016
    Hahaha
    Yea, he does go off like that don't he.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  March 30, 2016
    She hated the fact that Sotek wouldn’t explain things. He just ran off halfcocked and would never divulge any information.

    This just about sums Sotek up, lol. Why you no tell us?! Blasted lizards
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  March 29, 2016
    Much better Sotek.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  March 29, 2016
    I had a few days off and Aela went visiting family. Got some seriouse writing done.
    *Ebonslayer....... Aww Rats...
    Paragraph 13....
    “Sorry, I was going to wake everyone earlier but I had a rough night. We’ll pack up in half an hour then...  more
  • Justiciar Thorien
    Justiciar Thorien   ·  March 29, 2016

    Wow, you're seriously on a roll this week. You got some time off or something?





    He shifted into the werewolf writing machine mode
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  March 28, 2016
    In paragraph 13 could you fix the following phrases so they sound better? "We’ll gear up in half hour" and "I presume Harbinger you will be heading back to Jorrvaskr?”

    In paragraph 17 capitalize this. "is there any last intel on the camp?”more
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  March 28, 2016
    Wow, you're seriously on a roll this week. You got some time off or something?
  • Justiciar Thorien
    Justiciar Thorien   ·  March 28, 2016
    He always does)) Hope he's thought this all through though))))