U.O.T.W. Chapter 308 All For the Want of an Acorn to Grow

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    Moments after Kul-et ran inside, Aela and the other Companions heard Kul-et shouting out.
    “You fucking bastard”.

     

    They burst through the doors and saw Kul-et yelling at Sotek.
    “You bastard! Why the hell did I have to go alone? The Harbinger gave me my ceremony, but guess what? Go on, guess? I couldn’t have it, because no one was there to witness my bravery. I went alone, and no one could vouch for me. Why? What was the point?”

     

    Sotek dropped his pack on the floor and buried his face under his hand. Groaning, he trudged past her and slumped down on his step. He wearily looked up at Kul-et’s chest as if the strain to lift his head up any further was too much of a burden to bear and muttered back at her.
    “You’ll regret yelling at me before the moons descend”.

     

    Kul-et simply turned away from him and went off to Veezara who had entered the hall along with everyone else.

     

    Aela came up to Sotek and sat beside him. She looked over towards Kul-et then quietly spoke.
    “Kul-et was going to have her ceremony, but she can’t because no one was there. You made me swear that I wouldn’t follow her, so I didn’t. Now her ceremony’s ruined”.

     

    Sotek closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths then his eyes opened and blankly stared in Aela’s direction. His voice seemed quiet and drained as if he had the life sucked out of him.
    “It’s never easy to admit you made a mistake, and to ask forgiveness. It’s even harder to face friends and family and admit you were wrong and you messed up, especially when your actions cause others pain. Yet this is what has happened, and it needs to be rectified”.

     

    Aela took his hand and held it to her chest. She held it tightly, and verbally placed herself by her mate’s side.
    “Whenever I screwed up, you’ve always been there for me. But this? Oh, this is a mess. Just say sorry, and we’ll sort it out. We’ll sort it out together, ok?”

     

    Sotek smiled at her then nodded.
    “Thank you. The trouble is though, it’s not me that needs to say sorry”.

     

    Aela’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
    “You bloody what? Don’t you dare blame us”.

     

    “Who? You and Kul-et? Oh no, I blame someone else… Ebony? Ahh… There you are. Get your backside over here”.

     

    Ebony looked stunned then held onto Farkas tightly.
    “Me? What did I do?”

     

    Sotek softly smiled at her.
    “It’s what you didn’t do, but I’m not angry about it. To be honest, it’s been somewhat amusing, and yes Kul-et, you will be having your ceremony”.

     

    Ebony cautiously walked over to Sotek, but he just remained sitting next to Aela on the step. He strained his neck and looked up at her face as he spoke.
    “Are you wondering what all of this is about?”

     

    “Yes”. Then she gulped loudly. Everyone could see she was nervous.

    Sotek was tired, it showed in his voice which was drained of his usual energy. As he spoke his words were long and drawn out.
    “Well, I have a question for you, and I want you to answer nice and clear. Ok?”

     

    “Yes”.

     

    “Did you, Ebony of the Companions, give the Harbinger my message?” He asked as he stared back at her.

     

    She turned to him and looked at him right in the eyes. Her mind fell blank as she tried to think over the last day, but nothing came to mind.
    “What message?”

     

    Sotek smiled at her then threw a wink at Kul-et.
    “About Kul-et’s ceremony?”

     

    Ebony’s eyes went wide as she suddenly remembered. But then, she felt like an escape goat as she never saw what linked them together.
    “Aww fuck. Wait no, that wouldn’t make a difference, you can’t blame me for this”.

     

    “That’s the one!” Sotek said with a grin. “Do you think you could give him it now? Please?”

     

    Ebony slowly walked over to the Harbinger. She found herself whispering so low that even she couldn’t hear herself. She cleared her throat then spoke louder.
    “Harbinger, Sotek requested that you don’t give Kul-et her ceremony until he returns to Jorrvaskr”.

     

    Feeling totally confused, Kul-et looked towards Ebony and asked for an explanation.
    “What? Why?”

     

    Sotek walked over to her and whispered in her ear.
    “It’s simple, Kul-et. As I’m now in Jorrvaskr, ask the Harbinger for your ceremony”.

     

    Kul-et eyed him with suspicion, but her anger with him dissipated. Instead, she found herself feeling somewhat nervous and afraid.
    “What’s going on?”

     

    “Ask him”. Sotek repeated, forcing her hand. “Come now, don’t be shy. Earlier, you entered a temple full of shades, and you faced the horrors alone. Look over there, at the Harbinger. Go, ask for your ceremony. It’s your right after all… Isn’t it?”

     

    Kodlak gave her a way out and summoned everyone to follow him.
    “We’ll start again. Can everyone come outside and form a circle please?”

     

    Sotek slowly lifted himself up off the floor then headed towards the Undercroft.
    “I need to fetch something”. But the moment he entered his room, he just collapsed on his bed. Ten minutes went by but Sotek had yet to appear in the yard.

     

    Leaving Kodlak to keep order, the maid, Tilma, checked on Sotek’s room to see what was keeping him. When she returned to the training area, she beckoned Kodlak towards her.
    “Kodlak, you had better go see him. He’s looking pale”.

     

    Aela stopped talking to the others who were all sitting in the yard while they waited for Sotek to come back upstairs. But then she saw that Tilma was actually concerned. As Kodlak got up, Aela did as well and followed him downstairs. As soon as she looked at Sotek, she knew Tilma was right. She went up to him and sat by his side.
    “What the hell have you been up to?” Sotek opened his eyes and tried to focus on her but then his head felt too heavy to hold up and it fell backwards into his pillow.

     

    A few hours later he awoke to see his armour on the small table. He lifted himself up, but he ached all over. Despite this though, he forced himself to sit up. He took a flask of water then drank it. Aela, who was sitting in the chair in the corner of his room, came over to him.
    “The Harbinger thinks you’re physically exhausted. What the hell have you been doing? What happened?”

     

    “Aela, he needs rest, not questions”.

     

    Aela turned around and saw the Harbinger standing there in the doorway. She looked back at Sotek and shook her head at him. She leaned over him and gently kissed his forehead then got up and walked out the room. As Aela talked to the Harbinger, Sotek laid there and listened.
    “What the hell has he been doing? He’s exhausted. I’ll tell the others we’ll have Kul-et’s ceremony in the morning”. Then Sotek heard Aela’s footsteps, as she headed back upstairs.

     

    Kodlak called out to him. As he spoke, Sotek turned his head and looked over towards him.
    “Get some rest then come upstairs and eat something. Don’t worry about Kul-et’s ceremony, I’ll work something out”.

     

    As the Harbinger started walking away, Sotek said something which made him stop in his tracks.
    “Kul-et’s ceremony? It’s already sorted”.

     

    He stood there for several seconds then after trying to work out what Sotek had meant, he headed up stairs. It was now pitch-black outside and even he was feeling tired. Kul-et though, after eating a meal, was in better spirits. Soon afterwards, Sotek walked back upstairs and sat on the step. Aela sat at the table as did everyone else, but she watched him with some concern. Tilma picked up a plate and gathered up some fruit, then passed it to Sotek.

     

    As he looked up at her, she gave him a slight smile.
    “Eat something, you’ll feel better for it. I don’t know what the hell has gone on and right now I don’t want to know. Eat, don’t make me force feed you. It’s not a pretty sight, and it involves my mop”.

     

    Sotek gulped then picked up an apple. Once however, he started eating, he soon found his appetite. Kul-et just sat there watching him, but Veezara gently pulled her face away.
    “Let him be, you’re back and safe. Come on, tell us what happened?”

     

    “Oh, Veezara where to start? Initially it was just scary. Aela came in with me but Hircine sent a spectral wolf against her. She left the temple. I can’t blame her, she had no choice, he made her swear an oath”.

     

    Sotek started sniggering which Aela found very annoying.
    “I fail to see what’s so amusing. She was there alone and bloody scared. But despite that Kul-et, you did it, so well done to you. Come on, let’s go outside, show us that sword”. Kul-et took Veezara’s hand and led him outside where the others all followed suit. Leaving Sotek, the Harbinger and Tilma alone in the hall.

     

    Sotek smiled sarcastically.
    “This would be funny if I had the strength to laugh”.

     

    Kodlak looked over to him then at Tilma, who called over to Sotek.
    “Well, Aela wanted to help Kul-et but you stopped her. Can I ask why?”

     

    “Why? Because Kul-et’s had a lot more training than the others. Simple bandits weren’t enough, she needed to be pushed. Was she pushed too hard though? That’s the vexed question”.

     

    The Harbinger got up then walked over to him, then sat beside him on the step.
    “And what’s the answer to that question?”

     

    “The answer? That’s out there in the yard”. Sotek stated as he pointed at the double doors.

     

    The Harbinger glanced over to Tilma then he looked back at Sotek.
    “Sorry Sotek, I’m confused”.

     

    Upon hearing this, Sotek snorted.
    “So is everybody else I'm betting". He sighed then went on to explain. "Harbinger, it’s simple. We all get pushed every so often. If Kul-et is outside right now, in Veezara’s arms, crying her heart out, then she was pushed too much. But, and I expect this is the case, if she’s out there telling her tale of adventure, smiling and showing off her new skills, then she was pushed hard, but not too hard”.

     

    “What new skills?” Kodlak asked with a curious look strewn on his face. He hadn’t heard of any skills from Kul-et, just the trip and her account of what happened inside the shrine.

     

    Sotek cast a glance at the Harbinger. It was his, ‘I know something you don’t’, look. The Harbinger sat there wondering about it when Sotek got to his feet and headed downstairs.
    “I’ve got to get something, I’m going to be needing it”.

     

    The Harbinger turned to Tilma, as he watched the Argonian walk away.
    “He’s done something, but what? I’m getting too old”.

     

    “What makes you think he’s done something?” Tilma asked.

     

    “He’s calm, like he has a plan. Something he’s been working on that hasn’t born fruit yet. Something that hasn’t been completed”. Kodlak said as he thought about Sotek and where he had been.

     

    “True enough, he is like that isn’t he? Despite all this he has that confidence. But what makes you think you’re old?”

     

    He cast a pitiful look at her then shook his head.
    “That’s an easy one. I can’t get up”. He said as he looked down at himself, sitting on the bottom step.

     

    Tilma laughed then came over to him and helped him to his feet. Then they both stared at the double doors where the others were. They both heard some cheers and shouting, so they decided to investigate.

     

    Kodlak was ready for most things, but he certainly wasn’t ready to see Aela and Ebony standing on the tables, looking over Farkas’s and Vilkas’s heads. But what really took his breath away was Kul-et’s Flame Atronach in the training area. It glided across the yard and rolled around in the air as its flames lit up the training area.
    “Kul-et? When did you learn that?”

     

    She beamed as she looked over to him.
    “Today, in the temple. I found a book with the spell in it. What do ya think?”

     

    He watched the flame elemental turn and twist around a few times, then he answered.
    “She’s impressive, and quite agile isn’t she”. Suddenly a feint memory came flooding back. “Wait… You found a book?”

     

    “Yes, a spell book”.

     

    “A red book?” Kodlak asked as he stared owlishly at her.

     

    Kul-et walked towards him with a puzzled look on her face.
    “Ermm yea! How did you know it was red?”

     

    The Harbinger’s shoulders dropped as he turned to Tilma.
    “You sneaky, bloody, bastard”. Then he turned around and headed back inside. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Sotek standing there with a pack on his shoulders. “She’s going to be livid when she finds out. You know that don’t you? Why?”

     

    “Like I said… She needed to be pushed. This gave us an opportunity to do it”.

     

    “They all feel you let her down somewhat, all of them, but you didn’t, did you? Come on, it’s time to sort it out”. With that the Harbinger headed outside with Sotek following just behind him.

     

    The moment Sotek stepped out in the yard, everyone fell silent. Kul-et and Aela both looked over towards him, but even in the poor light Aela could see he wasn’t a hundred percent well. She went up to him and gave him a slight hug then kissed his cheek. Sotek held her loosely then pointed to Kul-et.
    “Go with her, she’ll need a friend”.

     

    None the wiser, Aela walked over to Kul-et and stood by her side.
    “This is a waste of time”.

     

    The Harbinger simply shrugged then looked at Kul-et. He motioned for silence then spoke loudly, so everyone could hear.
    “Brothers and sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This woman has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valour. Who will speak for her? Who will stand witness to the courage of the soul before us?"

     

    Sotek smirked at Aela then replied.
    “Aela can”.

     

    Kodlak sighed then turned to him.
    “No, she cannot. She never went in”.

     

    Upon hearing this, Sotek started laughing.
    “But she did. The trouble is though, she ran back out”. Instantly Vilkas and Farkas joined in laughing, until a glare from Aela shut them both up.

     

    Aela then turned her attention to Sotek.
    “Yes, but that doesn’t count. Stop messing her about”.

     

    Sotek started laughing again then shrugged.
    “Ok then, I will. I can vouch for her bravery”.

     

    Aela stood there too stunned to react but Kul-et wasn’t. She reached over and grabbed his arm.
    “You? Why are you messing with me?”

     

    Sotek gently held her arm and smiled at her before leaning over her and kissing the top of her head.
    “I’m not. The trouble with you, Kul-et, is you’ve had much better training than the other Whelps. Basic bandits aren’t enough to test your mettle. Veezara himself said you killed two wolves before he could even draw his weapon. So, I ask you all. What test would it be to ask Kul-et and one of us to take out three, four bandits? It would have been a waste of time”.

     

    “That may be true but there was no us. I was alone”. Kul-et replied angrily. She felt she was being strewn along in some sadistic game.

     

    Sotek took her hand and held it tightly and reassured her of his intentions.
    “But I was there. I was there when you entered the temple and cursed my name. I was there when you fell and hurt yourself because you were too busy running than to stand and fight. I was there when you turned around and fled, when you curled yourself up in a ball and begged Aela, Veezara and the Harbinger to come there and save you. I was there”.

     

    He then let her go and stepped back a few paces and lent against the perimeter wall. He gazed upon the ground, studying the marks and scuffles from where members of the Companions had trained.
    “I was there. But then, I was also there when you healed yourself. When you felt your anger and fired off a fireball down the corridor. Actually, I was down the bloody corridor. That fireball just missed me as it happens. I was there when, after you were so scared that you just wanted to flee, that, you picked yourself up and carried on. When you fell, and the shade was almost upon you. When you killed a shade by shooting at it and the shade that came up behind you”.

     

    “No, no way. You couldn’t have been there”. Kul-et gasped as she watched his face.

     

    For the first time since Sotek had got back, he smiled wickedly then pointed to Kul-et’s pack.
    “No? he has an idea. Why don’t you give Ebony the gift you found her?”

     

    “I can’t, I lost it. Ebony, I’m sorry. I found a dagger, an Ebony one, I was going to give it to you...” Kul-et paused and looked back at Sotek in disbelief. “Wait… How did you know about that?”

     

    Sotek’s simple reply was to throw a pack at her feet. He demanded that she opened it there and then.
    “Tip it out on the ground. Right here!”

     

    Kul-et opened the pack then emptied it upon the floor as requested. All the while she had a sickly feeling rise in her gut. Rings, gems and over three hundred gold septims fell out and spilled upon the ground, along with the dagger and a grand soul gem. Kul-et recognised it immediately.
    “Oh, Kaoc! You were there? All that time?”

     

    Sotek reached down and picked up the dagger. He inspected its workmanship and quality of the blade, then he walked over to Ebony with it in his hand.
    “When Kul-et realised that her ceremony couldn’t take place, she shouted at me in the face. Aela felt I let Kul-et down because of Kul-et’s ceremony being cancelled. Look at me, I’m exhausted. I really didn’t need Kul-et shouting at me”.

     

    Ebony looked around the courtyard, she suddenly felt conscious of everyone watching her. Yet despite what Sotek had said, she didn’t understand.
    “None of this is my fault”.

     

    Sotek shook his head slightly then placed a chair in the middle of the circle. Then he sat down and started speaking to everyone.
    “Ebony, your little slight, and let’s be honest here everyone, all in all, it was a little slight on Ebony’s behalf. Your absent mindedness will one day have tragic results. Have you heard the tale of the bag of acorns? No? Then I will tell it to you. Once, there was a wide, open field. A village was supposed to have been build there but the people who were going to live there trusted a small job to a girl. You see, a bag of acorns were planted. The mage was going to make them grow overnight into tall strong trees. The girl? She was supposed to water them, but she forgot. As there was no water, the acorns never germinated. As they never germinated they didn’t sprout. With no sprouts, came no saplings. No saplings meant no trees. No trees meant no timber for a wall or for houses. No walls or houses meant no protection for the people from nature and the elements. No protection meant the people couldn’t stay there. They had to move away. All because a girl forgot to water a bag of acorns”.

     

    He sat there for a few moments then approached her once more. He gently held her by the shoulder and looked right in her eyes.
    “Aela felt she let Kul-et down, Kul-et felt I let her down. I was shouted at. All because you didn’t give the Harbinger one… Lousy… Message”. He then handed her the dagger, but she just loosely held it unable to speak, she couldn’t even break eye contact. Instead she just stood there staring at him.



    Sotek then walked over to Kul-et. He stood there for several seconds weighing up his words before he spoke.
    “Your looting skills are very sloppy, but we will fix that. Do you really think that pedestal unlocked all those doors? That spell book? I put it there with the potions, but you walked right past it, so I threw a stone at the stone shelf. That made you turn around and that’s when you saw the red book. The truth Kul-et is this, you needed to be tested to your full. That’s what I did, I tested you to the full. The fact of the matter is that you can thank me or hate me, I don’t care either way. You were tested, and you passed. You done bloody well Kul-et… But, don’t you dare think for one minute that you were alone. You were never alone, and you never will be. Now, I’m tired and hungry, I’m going inside. Oh, Aela? One more thing, for you, my mate”.

     

    Aela was now sitting on the ground, too stunned to think straight. What surprised her the most though, was the dryness in her mouth and the lack of strength when she spoke.
    “What?”

     

    “Hircine, he wants a word with you about an oath”. Then Sotek cast his familiar spell. It walked towards her then howled out, just like it did in the temple.

     

    Aela slowly climbed up to her feet, yet again her voice was barely a whisper.
    “You son of a fucking bastard. That was you?”

     

    Aela didn’t know what to do, but before she could think of anything, Sotek picked up a second pack then sat at the table overlooking the training area.
    “Kul-et, there’s something I want you to do for me”.

     

    Kul-et walked over to him then stood just in front of him.
    “It would seem I misjudged you. I’m sorry. What is it you ask?”

     

    Sotek smirked once more.
    “Aela can you give me a hand please? And leave the threatening glare where you are…” Aela came alongside him and sat next to him. He glanced across to her and could see she was confused. He knew he would pay the price when the confusion fermented into anger which it usually did. He passed Aela his pack then asked her to empty the contents on the table. He then turned to Kul-et. “Kul-et, I want you to... Strip”.

     

    “Pardon?”

     

    “Strip. Get that armour off. Here’s your new armour”.

     

    Kul-et’s eyes fixed on the Armour Aela started placing on the table.
    “My armour? It’s thick fur”.

     

    Sotek shook his head at her.
    “No, it’s far more than that. Eorlund helped me make it. Actually, I helped him. It’s enchanted with fortify destruction and restoration. With this, both schools are stronger, more bang for your destruction and better healing spells. Look after it”.

     

    “I don’t know what to say”. She said as she examined the warm fur. She could tell just by the feel of it that it would offer far better protection from the environment and it was of a sturdy quality.

     

    “Simple, just say you’ll be here tomorrow”. He replied with a hint of sneakiness to his voice.

     

    Kul-et and Aela looked across at him. Both were equally confused.
    “Ermm, where?”

     

    Sotek looked straight at Kul-et then his face screwed up as he snarled.
    “Out here, in the training yard. Oh yes, thanks for shouting at me. Companion Kul-et… Tomorrow… You’re training with me. Hiss”.

     

     

Comments

6 Comments   |   Karver the Lorc and 4 others like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 19, 2018
    Because I have the organisation of a hurricane and the sublty of a Bloodmoon hunting party.... 
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  August 19, 2018
    Haha, you are dreading it? I wonder why.  Well, at least this got a tidy resolution. 
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 19, 2018
    Although he was supposed to start here, I tend to agree. Not sure how to go about changing it. For the moment, I 'm going to carry on with it. Maybe later things will become clearer where I can even it out more. Knew this woould be tough to do. Not going ...  more
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  August 19, 2018
    Yeah, the Dragonborn soul is a bit in the way behind here. Sometimes it feels like it was thrown in there for the hell of it, it has no real purpose so far.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 18, 2018
    Awwwooo Karver...   
    I come back to that in a few chapters. I will be honest. It is taking time as I want to get this right. Proving difficult. Scarface was easy. There is a boundry between him and sotek. The dragonborn isn't so simple.......  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  August 18, 2018
    Good. Sotek fixed it. An interesting tale too. 
    But I'm still wondering about that dragon. Didn't he like literally crave the Dawnbreaker? So... Where is he hiding?