A heavy silence hung in the air of Jorrvaskr, one which had the capacity to linger and taint any and everything it touched. The funeral which Aela had hoped to have on behalf of Omega seemed beyond her reach; the mornings repercussions had shattered any opportunities of the event taking place.
Tilma however was far older and wiser. She knew of life’s capacity to cause disruption and she had spent the main stay of her years fighting against it. She wasn’t about to stop now.
“Aela! Get three Whelps and start clearing the tables. Farkas, Vilkas, there’s a pyre which needs to be built”.
“No!”
Tilma’s finger hovered in the air, pointing straight at Sotek who sat defiantly on his step.
“Don’t tell me ‘no’ young man. This is going ahead, you will all be there and you will enjoy it! Do I make myself clear?”
Sotek’s tail started flapping about while he lifted his chin up so he could see her better. The tail thudded on the floor as it danced about until it settled in a long playful curve.
He gave a slight chuckle as he replied.
“We will enjoy it? Tilma, it’s a funeral!”
Tilma was taken aback by his response and glanced around the room at several grinning faces. Even Aela managed a small laugh which done wonders to the atmosphere around them. Tilma tried to recover her bluster but Sotek had outshined her and all she could do was admit defeat.
“Yes, well, oh shut up. What do you mean no anyway?”
Sotek’s tail shifted position from the curve which took all the space behind him to a more deceptive snake shape. He rose to his feet and pointed towards the training area.
“I need some time alone, I’ve some working out to do. I’ll be in the yard. I only need a few hours. Tilma, please?”
Tilma and Aela’s eyes met. They watched each other for a few moments before Tilma nodded, granting Sotek’s request.
“On one condition, you stay in the yard. Aela and everyone else will stay in here but you stay in the yard. You best be there when I come and get you Sotek!”
With a somewhat unexpected ‘bound’ in his steps, Sotek scurried across the hall and literally flew through the doors, leaving everyone confused with his erratic behavior.
Once the doors swung back together with a soft ‘thump’ Tilma began her task of commanding what she referred to as her ‘rabble of misfits’.
Around mid afternoon, Kodlak headed upstairs to find the hall was already prepared for the evening’s remembrance. Extra flasks were laid out, along with trays for food and jugs of mead were spaced out for the extra guests they were expecting. He gave himself a slight nod of approval. ‘Tilma always had an eye for details’. He thought to himself as he noticed the Jarl’s seat was next to his own. It even had a cushion placed upon it and Tilma’s finest silverware.
All the Companions and the Whelps were outside setting up the courtyard, except for Sotek, who was sitting on the lowest step by the fire pit, patiently waiting for the Harbinger. The Argonian had returned to the hall just as Tilma was adding the final touches to the centerpiece. She gave him explicit instructions to leave the bowls of fruit alone. The maid needn’t have worried though, every time Sotek looked at an apple, his stomach turned.
Ignoring the young Companion, Kodlak headed straight towards the training yard. He wasn’t ready to speak with Sotek yet and he certainly wasn’t going to repeat himself. When Kodlak walked away from him, Sotek to leap up to his feet and dart across the floor in an attempt to intercept the Harbinger’s route.
“Harbinger! I feel you should have some explanation of this morning’s events”.
Kodlak blankly stared at the handle of the doors and took hold of it. He slowly twisted it round, sliding the bolt free of its confines.
“No. You do not come to me and explain when it suits you. I come and get you and then you explain”. He pulled the door open and yelled out at the group who were busy arranging several small burners which would undoubtedly give some much needed light during the evening ahead. “Aela! My study, now! And take Sotek with you!”
The Huntress knew she had messed up and badly but she also knew Sotek had little choice. She was damned and accepted her fate but she wasn’t prepared to take Sotek with her. Brazenly she headed straight towards him.
“Fine! Sotek, come with me”.
She entered the hall and led Sotek towards the Undercroft stairwell but was stopped in her tracks as a fourth person entered the hall. Kodlak raised his hand as a way of barricading the route to the stairs but Tilma was a force not to be trifled with.
“No Tilma. You cannot interfere with the running of the Companions. Please, leave this to me”.
Tilma rested her broom against a table and swatted Kodlak’s hand aside.
“I have no intentions of interfering. As long as you do what I want! Sotek, step; sit. Aela, outside and help the others. You touch one thing on those tables girl and I will tan your hide with my hand brush. Kodlak, study”.
Aela span on the spot and hurriedly vacated the hall lest Tilma’s broom found its way in the maid’s hands. This single act sealed Sotek’s response. Following the Harbinger was now pointless so he headed to the step and waited, leaving Kodlak under the scrutiny of the maid who took a ‘note’ from Aela’s book and started tapping her foot.
Sotek found himself staring at the stairwell while he waited for the Harbinger and Tilma to return to the hall. Worry was one of Sotek’s nemeses. It drained him, sapped his strength and energy. All of a sudden he was roused from an uneasy sleep from a boot which lightly tapped his leg.
He lifted his head up from his folded arms and uncrossed his legs to see the formidable stocky build of Kodlak gazing down at him.
“Sotek, we need to talk. I mean talk, not shout. Please, join me at the small table”. He then stepped back, allowing Sotek the space to get to his feet.
As they headed towards the table, Sotek noticed Kodlak’s whole demeanor had changed. He didn’t know what Tilma had said to Kodlak, but whatever it was it did the trick and that was something Sotek was thankful for. In less than a minute of the two of them sitting down, Sotek found out what it actually was.
The Harbinger poured out two flasks of water and slid one across to Sotek using the back of his hand. The Companion gratefully took the cold drink and eagerly gulped down half the contents of his tankard before resting it back on the table. Kodlak slowly turned his flagon around using a single finger which pushed on the handle while he gathered his thoughts.
“I’ve spoken to Tilma. Rather Tilma’s spoken to me… I swear that witch has her way with words as surely as she does with her mop and bucket”. He chuckled as an image of Tilma flying around the rooftops riding her mop filled his head. “I didn’t know the two Shadowscales were out there. I left Tilma here in the hall where it was supposed to be safe. The hall of Jorrvaskr is supposed to be safe but it’s not! I should have been more careful. Farkas told me what had happened. You saved Tilma, or rather Scarface did. I thank him for that. I know Red and Scarface killed them. I know all about you both feeding off the bodies too…”
Sotek cringed at the half vacant memory of the two werewolves gorging themselves on the scaly flesh. He wanted to deny it. He so desperately wanted to be able to say the Harbinger was wrong yet he knew such an act had taken place. All he could do was admit the truth. Scarface and Red had lost control.
“Yes we did, ermm they did. I couldn’t stop him... couldn’t stop Red. This wasn’t my first choice. I tried to beat them first but I couldn’t”.
Kodlak reached out and held Sotek’s wrist. He could see the Argonian was struggling with everything and the signs of regret lay heavy in his features.
The truth was his face looked no different to the normal expression Sotek had. It was his tail which betrayed his emotions. It lay between his feet in a straight line, a clear sign of his regret and remorse.
“Yes, well. It was a smart move to get the Whelps out of the way. I applaud you for that as well as saving Tilma”.
Sotek hissed back angrily, although his temper was directed more to himself.
“You don’t thank someone for endangering everyone else! I should have dealt with it and I didn’t. You’re right, the hall was supposed to be safe, I brought them here. I endangered Tilma and the others. I didn’t intend for this to happen”.
Kodlak nodded and smiled back at him.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. At least we agree on something though. So, the next question is this. What are we going to do about it?”
Sotek’s head titled to the side as a sense of bewilderment cooled his temper.
“Do about what?”
Kodlak took a sip of his flask and tapped the tips of his fingers on the table.
“The shadowscales. Are there any more assassins or is that likely to be the end of it?”
“Aela interrogated him. He said they are from the Dark Brotherhood from a sanctuary near Falkreath. He confirmed that no others have been sent”.
“So they are from the Dark Brotherhood. And here in Skyrim? Well, I don’t approve of you both changing here but you know that. It’s problematic at best and if the Whelps found out then the results could, and indeed would be disastrous. But I can understand the need at the time. Don’t let it happen again, it’s bad enough that you both go out on the plains together hunting. Don’t look at me like that and please don’t tell me I’m wrong either. I know full well she finds the call hard to resist”. For a moment the Harbinger paused, he moved from his chair and paced around the hall until he turned back to Sotek and sadly shook his head.
“No, that’s wrong. She doesn’t try to resist it at all. Aela lives so easily with the she-wolf inside her, and it’s obvious that you’re the same. Not entirely as she is with her wolf spirit, but you’re rapidly turning to her path. Sotek, my path is different. I will ask something of you in time, many moons from now. Aela will not approve, she won’t understand, but I feel you do”.
Sotek sat up in his chair, giving Kodlak his full attention.
“This is about the cure? You’ve found out something?”
“Yes, the Glenmori witches. They are the ones who first cast the spell and it would seem they know what is needed to undo it. Now isn’t the time for this though. Other things need to fall into place first. In time I will ask for your help. But that is later, much, much later. In fact I’d wage you will even forget this conversation took place before we speak of it again. Now though, we have a ceremony to get ready for. The hall looks great”. As he spoke he examined the various decorations and flower chains which hung from the rafters. Even he had to admit the Imperial girl’s handy work had its uses.
Sotek readily agreed although he knew their initial attempts fell rather short to how the hall looked now.
“Yes it does, it took a woman’s touch to do it mind. We set it up then she came in and screamed at us. An hour later, under her yelling, here we are”.
“Aela organized the hall? You have to be joking”. Kodlak gave him a second glance and tried to read his features lest he was being tricked.
Sotek laughed at the thought. The very idea caused his tail to slide out from under the chair where it was currently hiding.
“Aela? Hell no, she can’t be feminine for anything. It would be covered in straw and furs with an open fire if she had her way. Not to mention stags and does prancing about the place”.
“And if you had your way?”
Sotek chuckled although with the current situation he knew it was inappropriate, he just couldn’t help himself.
“Well to be honest with you, now I said it, it does sound rather cool. Anyway, no, Tilma organized it all. She’s outside in the courtyard probably yelling at Aela at this very moment. Aela’s not very ‘girly’ when it comes to decorating, well with anything to be honest”.
The Harbinger smirked and gave Sotek a sly nod of his head.
“Nor is she when she’s eating but lest said about that the better. There’s one more thing. I know you both go out hunting across the plains. You swore to me you wouldn’t. We sat at the camp at Greenspring Hollow and you swore you both wouldn’t. Just because I know you both go hunting, it doesn’t mean I approve of it. You need to stop it”.
Sotek looked at him hard and rose out of the chair.
“I know we’ve given you cause to worry and we’ve been somewhat wild but this isn’t something we can simply switch off. You’re asking for water to run upstream. What you ask is against our very nature, you know this Kodlak. Sorry, Harbinger. You have been a werewolf for years so you do know of what you ask from us. You must have wanted the hunt as much as we do? Both Farkas and Vilkas as well?”
The Harbinger had a look of understanding. He knew for himself and the brothers it was easier. He was fully aware that with Aela and now Sotek as well, the truth was that they just simply couldn’t stop. There was no switch, no controlling it.
“Yes, I do. But we have to remain a secret. What if you are spotted? We couldn’t stay here. We would all have to run. Here’s the crux Sotek, where would we go? Werewolves are hunted as it is”.
Now it was Sotek’s turn to pace around. He felt like a trapped wolf in a pit that could do nothing except look up at the distant moons and await the hunter’s arrow.
“He will tell Aela we have to stop. She isn’t going to like this one little bit. Harbinger, there are nights when it’s so hard. He’s broken his word before but he would ask that you accept it again. We will try. He… ‘I’ sorry. I cannot offer more than that. We will try”.
With that the Harbinger nodded then opened the door and headed outside, leaving Sotek alone once more. He couldn’t help but worry about how Aela was going to handle the fact that they wouldn’t be able to hunt anymore as Scarface and Red. His head thumped with stress but there was no release. He knew she loved the hunts on the plains, he knew she wouldn’t stop either. She would go by herself if she had to. He was damn sure he wouldn’t let her have all the fun. Yet such thoughts meant breaking his word.
Aela entered the hall to see Sotek crouched over the table with his head buried in his arms. She stroked his back but her touch failed to get any reaction leaving her the task of talking to him directly.
“Hey? What’s up? The Harbinger said you needed a word. I guess it’s about this morning”.
He reached up and held her hand then tugged her arm so she would sit next to him. His face seemed tired and stress lines adorned his forehead. Even his tail had seemed to exhaust itself and lay still as if it was asleep. Wearily Sotek lifted his head and replied.
“The Harbinger knows Scarface and Red have been hunting out on the plains. We have to stop, they can’t go hunting anymore”.
Aela’s face filled with dread. It was as if her very existence was now threatened with extinction.
“What? How did he find out?” Her mouth fell open while she tried to think of something but her emotions clouded such thoughts leaving her gaping jaw with nothing to do but open and close like a fish.
Sotek was facing the opposite doors, the ones which led to Whiterun although in reality he was looking across the plains.
“Maybe we got sloppy. Someone noticed? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter ‘how’ does it? We can’t anymore; it’s over, no more hunting trips”.
With an overwhelming sense of panic, Aela pushed her chair back away from the table. Her whole life became threatened and she wasn’t about to let it slip from her fingers without a fight.
“Let me talk to him”.
Sotek took hold of her arm, pinning it to the table top, preventing Aela from moving.
“It won’t do any good. He’s worried about everyone finding out and with good reason. We can’t anymore, that’s it, finished. It’s over; we’ll just have to keep our hunts to caves, tombs and other places damned in darkness. Please, don’t argue Aela, that’s how it’s got to be. Do you understand Huntress? You know what’s at stake?”
Aela glared back at him while her heart pounded in her chest. She felt an anger at being called ‘Huntress’ yet such a name suited her well. She knew the real reason for her rage, the fact that Sotek was right. She grabbed the back of a chair and slammed it down on its legs with a loud ‘bang’ then dropped her backside on it, hard.
“I’ve never felt so free as when Red ran the plains with Omega. With Scarface it’s even better. Yes, she prefers Scarface, who bloody wouldn’t? What are we going to do? Sotek? Damn you and damn Kodlak! My father went to Solstheim because of this! I haven’t seen or heard from that arrogant bastard for years. I don’t want to leave, but I need to hunt. Red needs to. You know this, you feel the same”. She rested her head in her hands and yelled out in her two palms, stifling the scream.
“I’m sorry I’m an arrogant bitch. Ok. There, I’m calmer now. Look, you’re clever; you’re smart, bloody smart, yes? You can fix this. You got to fix this”.
Sotek’s shoulders dropped as he looked at the girl who sat in front of him. He could see the tears build up in her eyes. Not tears of a spoilt child or a woman who was hurting but tears of a way of life being stripped away from a pack. A way of life being utterly destroyed and wiped from history, from its very existence.
“How the hell does he fix it Aela? Kodlak forbids it. Kodlak knows we go off hunting, he knows where we go, he knows when we go! How the hell does he fix it? Tell me and he’ll do it, he swears to you and Red right here! But you need to tell him because he doesn’t know!!”
Aela screamed back at him right in his face.
“She doesn’t know either but she wished to hell she did! Gahh!! You and your backward talk!”
Aela angrily shoved the table out of her way and slumped down on his lap, straddling him. She rested her head on his shoulder and threw her arms around his torso.
“Hold me”. He did as she requested and lightly stroked her back, causing her to rub her head into his neck as she whispered. “Sotek, tomorrow night. Can we go on one last hunt? Red and Scarface? There’s something Red needs to do”.
Sotek hated himself for it but he found himself agreeing far too readily. Once again he broke his word yet such an oath meant little for deep inside he could feel Scarface’s desperation just as much as Aela could feel Red’s own need for running free.
“Tomorrow then that’s it as far as the plains go. Come on, let’s join the others. I will try to find a way but I will need time. Can you give me that?”
Aela nodded and kissed him on the cheek.
“Don’t stop your backwards talk either. I’m sorry I shouted”. She moved off him and pulled his arm, helping him to his feet before tucking her arm around his waist as they went off slowly towards the courtyard.
As they walked through the hall, Sotek changed the subject to try and take Aela’s mind off the hunting situation.
“Tilma’s got a good eye for setting up the hall. How’s it going out there?”
“Oh she gave Farkas and Vilkas their orders, shouted at my attempts then left them to get on with it. She checks on them every so often”.
Sotek looked a bit surprised at her words and questioned her about it.
“What do you mean left them to get on with it? What about you?”
Aela looked down at the floor and came to a stop.
“She shouted at me and told me to stop helping”.
Sotek burst out laughing at the pathetic looking she-wolf.
“I said to the Harbinger you haven’t got a feminine bone in your body. If it was up to you there would be piles of straw and furs scattered around, with deer running around the hall”.
Aela laughed at the suggestion then punched him in the arm.
“That’s a load of crap and you know it! The piles of straw and deer would be in the courtyard not inside, thank you”.
Sotek gave her a hug and sniggered back at her.
“Piles of deer, yep sounds about right. With a big open fire in the middle of the yard”.
“Hell yes, and furs scattered around it. Both the moons would be full, smothering the yard in moonlight with a cool summer’s night breeze blowing through Whiterun”. Aela’s eyes went wide and flashed excitedly just at the thought of it.
Sotek gave her another hug along with one last thought.
“We could always move out and find a cave we can call home”.
Aela held him tight, tighter than he expected. Her voice seemed timid yet every word clung onto a distorted reality as if she would actually carry it out.
“If we can’t hunt and I can’t handle it, we might have to”.
He kissed the top of her head and replied, knowing full well that one day it might not be so far reached as they presumed.
“To be honest, I don’t think I can handle it either. What the hell are we going to do?”
Aela wearily sighed and trudged towards the doorway.
“I’ll show you what we’ve done with the courtyard. I don’t want to think about this tonight. This is Omega’s night, I don’t want it tainted”.
Sotek decided she was right and quickly lifted her spirits with a nudge from his shoulder.
“Oh right! So that’s why Tilma told you to stop. It’s because you were tainting everything”.
The next second Sotek doubled up from the punch to his stomach. He groaned as he held her by the hips to support himself.
“Your quite violent for a peace loving werewolf, you know that?”
Aela poked him in the chest and snapped her jaws together for emphasis.
“I will bite you; you do know that don’t ya?”
Sotek chuckled as he saw the maid’s broom which she had inadvertently left behind earlier.
“I’ll get Tilma to protect me. She’ll tell you off for bullying me”.
Aela laughed as she shoved him towards the yard.
“She’s not out there so she can’t”.
Sotek cast a puzzled look around the hall then turned back to Aela.
“I thought she was organizing things out there? Where is she then?”
Aela shook her head dismissively.
“Like I said, she gave her orders then she went off. I’m not sure where she is at the moment”.
With that they both opened the doors then entered the courtyard.
As soon as they left the hall, Tilma came out from the stairwell where she spent the last half hour listening in on their conversation. She had an armful of tablecloths for the tables in the court yard. She shook her head at the two young Companions and followed them outside.
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