Tavern Tales: Skyrim, Volume two (Legend)

[JaxiusTharn]

PREVIOUSLY ON TAVERN TALES: SKYRIM

Jack had stopped pacing and was now sitting alone at a table with a view of the door with two soldiers guarding it. Presently it opened, and the Thalmor came out with Rimat in tow. She waved to him brightly.

 

Jack frowned. “So, your friend was Thalmor. You could have mentioned that. Everything all right?â€

 

“Everything's great. I'm heading on to Solitude with them now. At first I was worried, but they turned out to be exactly as reasonable as you said.†She gave him a brittle smile.

 

“That's good to hear. I have to go rescue Jayn, I've already delayed too long.†He gave her a relaxed salute. “I guess this is goodbye then. Maybe I'll run into you again.â€

 

She shook her head. “Probably not.â€

 

“Yeah, big world I guess. Still, you never know.†And with that he was out the door.

Rimat sighed. “Idiot!â€

 

The Thalmor mage came to stand by her side. “He seemed keen to leave. He's likely a heretic.â€

 

Talrin shrugged. “Leave that to the Justiciars.†He turned to Rimat. “It's time to leave.â€

 

She smiled.

 

 

Indeed, she kept smiling all the way out of the gate and down the road towards Dragon's Bridge. Her cheeks were beginning to hurt. Through the discomfort it occurred to her that on the whole she didn't tend to smile much, but she kept up the pretence anyway.

 

She had a little experience with caring for horses as a servant, but riding them was not for people of her low caste. It was just as well really that she was seated behind the soldier and not at the reins, even though it was uncomfortable being bumped around.

 

She had no doubt that her escort planned to kill her. She supposed though that there was a chance that her execution might be delayed if she appeared oblivious. In the mean time she would keep her eyes open for an opportunity to bolt. A lot of hope had been placed on Jack, but he had been too much of a dolt to understand her hidden plea.

 

As the passed over the Dragon's Bridge, and the small accompanying village, she looked at the faces of the people and guards about the single street. Their eyes were just as hostile upon her as her escort. There was no help here. Any attempt to flee to find justice with imperial law enforcers could easily be met with an accusation from the Thalmor, and then she would be theirs again. She realised that she had only two friends in all this land. One was likely dead. The other was certainly an idiot, and far gone.




“Here's a good enough spot,†The mage said. “Dismount!â€

Rimat slid of the horse's rump, landing on her feet and stretching. “What's up?â€

 

“We're, ah, setting up camp. Get a fire going over there, will you?â€

 

Rimat looked up at the sky. It was barely past midday. Set up camp? Yeah, sure. “No, this is the part where you kill me, isn't it?â€

 

The Thalmor mage tilted her head and looked at her. “I suppose it is.†She was silent for a moment, then, “I was going to sneak up behind you and...†She placed two fingers at her temple and mimed casting a lightning spell. “You wouldn't have felt a thing.â€

 

Rimat slumped her shoulders and rubbed her forehead, as if this were an annoyance. Her heart was pounding; she wondered at how was she behaving so nonchalantly. “Why?â€

 

“Loose ends. Maenam was supposed to die before making it to Skyrim, and that's how it's going to be. Your version of events is... problematic.â€

 

Rimat groaned. “Don't you get it? I don't care! I just want to go home, I've got nothing to do with all this... ugh, I guess you don't care.†She sighed. “I request a death by fire.†It had just occurred to her that she had a chance- a tiny chance- that if she could get the mage to attack her with a spell, she might absorb it's power. And that might be enough to escape her captors. It was a slim chance but she was out of time and had no other ideas.

 

The mage's eyes narrowed. “Very traditional, for Dunmer. I have no small experience with burning people alive, and I've got to say it may be the worst way to die.†When Rimat merely shrugged, she continued. “In any case, I already promised Talrin he could eat you.â€

 

Rimat coughed. “What?â€

 

Talrin flashed her a smile that made her skin crawl, and she felt her plan of escape shrivel away.

 

“Yes... he's a traditionalist too you see. You wouldn't believe the things people get up to in Valenwood. I can't say I agree with it, but... Well, he's as much part of the Dominion as me.â€

 

Rimat nodded calmly. “Alright but first-†And without warning she bolted, and took off, sprinting hard down the road.

 

The mage glared at the soldier who had been standing next to Rimat. “Were you going to grab her? That would have been great.â€

 

The soldier shook his head to clear it. “Sorry, wasn't expecting that.†He gestured down the road towards Rimat. “I mean, there's nowhere to run. No cover save for some rocks, and we have horses.â€

 

“Well, I don't know! What would you do if I told you I was going to feed you to that creepy little bastard?â€

 

“I'm right here you know.†Talrin interjected.

 

“Quiet, you! And you-†She rounded on the soldier. “Stop the back-chat and get after her! I swear to Magnus, you'd better hope I never bother to remember your name.â€

 

 

 

Rimat's feet jarred as she pounded along the cobbled road stones. Already her muscles were burning; she was tasting bile from exertion. She wondered how far she could get before she collapsed. At this rate, not far. It was stupid, stupid! There was no way she could outrun them. But what else could she do? Run. She was powerless, but she could run.

She shifted her weight as the road wound around a large, rocky outcrop. As she desperately tried to see some possibility of survival, her flight was brought to a halt as she slammed into Jack's back.

He stumbled, and Rimat hit the ground rolling. In a moment she was up, and before she knew what she was doing she was up on his horse. “You're late! Come on, hurry up!â€

 

Jack righted himself, and indicated the rope trap he was stringing at rider height over the path. “Could you have waited? I'm not ready yet.â€

 

She shook her head. “No time-â€

 

And then with clattering hooves, the Thalmor soldier rounded the corner and was upon them.

Jack was quick though. He leaped to one side, pulling the rope taught and catching the elf in the gut with it, knocking him off the horse. Jack was yanked off his feet. Both men scrambled to their feet. The elf made to draw his sword, only to find it gone from it's sheath. Jack grinned and punched the elf on the nose. It was a lucky thing, as the soldier's helmet covered all but the face, but the blow dislodged it.

Rimat had also reacted, and was already holding the soldier's sword. “Jack!â€

 

Throwing it was stupid, she realised too late, but somehow Jack caught it by the handle, righted himself, and swung it with both hands. It lodged deep in the elf's side, biting into the golden armour and sticking fast. He let out a terrible, choking gasp, grasping at the sword. Jack let go and drew his knife.

It was not finished in any way that could be called “cleanâ€. Jack flicked his arms to get the blood off, and Rimat managed to stop herself from throwing up. She had seen some nasty things before, murder included, but that didn't make it much easier. “Come on,†She croaked. “The others will be here soon.â€

 

Jack nodded, panting slightly. But he knelt down to cut the soldier's purse from his belt.

 

“Seriously?â€

 

He winked. “Get used to it. He won't need it.â€


It was a few hours before the rest of the Thalmor caught up with them. Jack and Rimat had a head start, but having two to a horse slowed them down. The trees were less sparse here. Rocky mountainside had partially given way to the yellowed grass of the tundra, and the sun was well into it's descent.

Jack spurred Galleon on, leaning forward in the saddle to curse the the horse eloquently in it's ear. Galleon put up a brave effort but it had been a long day of hard riding. Their pursuers closed in. Rimat looked behind them to see the mage lift her hand.

 

Suddenly she and Jack were thrown forward off the horse. Galleon collapsed bonelessly to the ground, skidding to a halt in the dirt. By some miracle Jack and Rimat were unharmed. Jack scrambled over to Galleon to see what was wrong. The horse's limbs were locked up in some enchantment of paralysis, and the poor animal blinked and snorted at Jack helplessly.

 

“Jack, come on! The rocks!â€

 

Jack nodded. There was nothing to do for Galleon for now. He patted the horse's head consolingly, and ran after Rimat for the cover the boulders could afford them from a mounted attack.

 

The three Thalmor soon arrived, dismounted, and advanced. Jack had his back pressed against the boulder shielding him from their view. He saw Rimat was doing likewise nearby. He felt for his pistols, counting their odds. He had two shots, and there were three of them. He doubted Rimat would be much help. This was exactly the kind of situation he'd promised himself to stay out of.

 

Three enemies, two shots. He had been lucky with that first soldier. This one wasn't going to be taken by surprise. He'd kick Jack's arse if Jack let the bastard get close enough. Alright. The soldier dies first. After that, he would have to take what opportunities presented themselves. Maybe he could bluff his way out. After all, there weren't many people in Tamriel who had seen weapons like these before.
 

Jack exhaled. Then suddenly the pistols were in his hands, and he spun around, out of cover, raising them to shoulder height. The soldier was closer than Jack had expected. He had a second to raise his shield...

 

And suddenly, Jack's right had jerked upwards in a wreath of smoke. There was a boom of thunder, louder than any spell Rimat had heard. As one, the birds took off from the trees from miles around in a great cawing flock. And the soldier's head jerked back, and he hit the ground, dead.

 

In the stunned moment that followed Jack levelled his second pistol at the black-eyed Wood-Elf's head. The elf was unarmed, hands splayed, watching Jack intently. Jack began to squeeze the trigger, and-

 

Wait. Where was the mage? The air suddenly whooshed, and Jack only managed to leap aside just in time as an explosion of fire rocked the ground. In another instant a second followed, and it was all he could do to scramble back behind his boulder.

 

The barrage of fire was relentless. Soon the air was choked with the smell of burning grass, and chips of rock were blasted about, scoring light cuts where his skin was exposed. Any time Jack tried to get a glimpse of where his attacker was, he was met with a startlingly accurate bombardment. He turned to see how Rimat was faring. Perhaps, if she could provide some distraction, he might get a shot off-

 

Oh gods. What was she doing?

 

She was crouched, tense, waiting for the next spell to impact. She was whispering something under her breath, he couldn't catch it. Was she counting, or praying? With a boom, the next spell hit. Rimat was caught by the edge of engulfing air but she didn't seem to mind.

 

Then she stepped out from cover, and stood as if to catch the next spell in her arms.

 

The fireball struck her in the chest. She was flung off her feet to hit her back against a standing rock face. Her head was whipped backwards to strike the rock. Dazed or unconscious, her knees gave way and she slid down, but it wasn't long before her senses returned, and she cried out at flames licked along her skin.

 

There was a lull in the barrage. Knowing it was now or never, Jack vaulted onto the boulder and brought his remaining pistol to bear on the mage.

 

But not fast enough. Seeing him and his pistol drawn, the mage flung her hand forward, and the air shimmered with the haze of a magical barrier. The other hand pulled back, flames swirling around it. She threw the spell directly at Jack.

 

Once again, Jack's pistol spoke thunder. Rimat saw the ball of flames rushing toward Jack unwind and dissipate, and the fire on her skin went out. Galleon struggled to his feet, freed of the paralysis.

 

Jack trained his first pistol at Talrin, whistling for Galleon. Something about the way the Bosmer was standing told Jack that letting him get close would be very unwise. But Talrin didn't move, and simply glared at Jack unblinkingly.

 

Rimat got to her feet, and ran to get on Galleons back. Jack leaped down in front, taking the reins. Suddenly understanding, Talrin snarled. With freakish speed, he leaped at them, hands splayed to tear them down from Galleon's back. But he was met instead with Rimat's boot heel, catching him in the solar plexus and knocking him to the ground. And with that, Galleon picked up speed and they were off.

 

Talrin stood, running after them. Gone was his cool demeanour- he looked monstrous; his face pulled into a snarl, pointed teeth showing. His scarves had fallen back to show horns jutting from his brow. His black eyes were furious. “I'LL FIND YOU!†He screamed after her. “YOU CAN'T HIDE- THERE IS NOWHERE YOU CAN SLEEP -†his voice followed them, but grew fainter, and then was gone.

[JaxiusTharn]

I am not a fan of the sun. It's nothing personal, I just can't be in the sun. My name is Jaxius and I am a Vampire Lord, take it up with Molag Bal. Long story short I entered a tomb over 200 years ago that was also acting as a crypt for a Vampire Lord. Divines it's been so long I can't even remember his name, but that's not the point, the point and the question is, why would I walk in the day when it makes my whole body feel like it's on fire!? The answer is simple, I heard a noise. A noise that sounded like a crack of thunder yet it is a clear sky. I pushed my way through the bushes to find a most curious sight.

"What in Oblivion?" I looked at the corpses in front of me, Thalmor, good riddens.

"What could have killed you?" I looked at the holes in them, it punched right through their armor, I stood up and tapped into my vampiric power revealing the trail of a escapee. "Time to find out what happened." I sprinted off into the wilderness after my prey.

[DarkRider]

Welcome! We only start a new volume in a tale when the current volume reaches 200 posts and is locked. You can continue the Skyrim Tale in the current volume

You don't need to quote posts when you add, just add your bit, and make sure you aren't referencing characters who are already somewhere else.

Most of these games are a little dusty now, but we're just starting a new game set in Morrowind if you want to stop in and say hello, new folks are welcome!