Chapter 15
Sitting on his bed, he had no choice but to listen to how Maltrys complained to his mother about how things were. He had taken some Greef and became mildly drunk. The complaints were long, half gibberish and threats of punishment of Boethiah – whatever that meant. His mother tried to make Maltrys stop drinking. There was the sound of a harsh slap and a person falling on the floor.
Ciel’nn stared at the Chitin dagger in his hands, his finger gently tracing its surface. He was breathing slowly while he felt he should do something, but what could he do? What could he possibly do?
“You’re looking for a Nord that went crazy after the Thalmor attack?” a farmer called Sonva asked. “No one has seen him for months now. To be honest, I don’t know where I would point for you to go.” she continued with a frown. Sonva turned her face towards Forelhost. “It’s like he disappeared. Well, good luck to you. I need to go back to work. Leonara wants it to be done before sundown.”
“It seems he’s hard to find, like Sinmir said.” Rangalen sighed as he glanced at the Dunmer. “He could be dead for all we know.” The young warrior felt the mission had become impossible. What if the man didn’t want to be found? Was he in any condition to train him anyway? Rangalen hoped the Dunmer would have some ideas.
Seeing the Nord was losing hope by the looks of it, Ciel’nn briefly shook his head. “We won’t give up now. I didn’t come to the Rift just to give up.” he said. “Come on, let’s circle around that damn old fortress.” he added with a smile. “Maybe he is nearby.” The Dunmer started to stroll towards the Forelhost area.
On the path they encountered a few bears and a troll, but it wasn’t anything that the young warrior couldn’t handle. The bear meat was suitable for food later. Other than that, there wasn’t much activity.
Ciel’nn felt something wet on his cheek and he brought his hand to touch it. His eyes shifted at the sky, “It’s going to rain soon.” he said as he wiped the rain drop from his cheek. “Maybe we can make a camp over there.” he added, pointing towards a space between bushes and rocks. Ciel’nn wanted to be away from the rain. He had a feeling this rain would last a while.
“Alright, I’ll set the camp up.” Rangalen said after he had surveyed their surroundings. He didn’t want any uninvited attention while the Dunmer still had his sore shoulder. The priestess had warned them about fighting and that the closed wound would probably open again if… Well, he would made damn sure there would not be fighting. He’d taken the enemy on his own… The young warrior hurried to set up the tent before the rain would pour down over them.
They were sitting inside the tent while the rain changed from a light drizzle to a heavy downpour. Rangalen was reading a book, but he couldn’t concentrate very well. He glanced at the Dunmer, pondering if he could ask him something. Ciel’nn looked somewhat sad and he wanted to know why. Putting the book back in the backpack, the young warrior asked, “Ciel’nn,” he started carefully, “what are your nightmares like?”
What are my nightmares like? Ciel’nn thought about those – they only gave him misery and anguish. They usually were about his father if nothing else. He took a deep breath and glanced at the Nord. “They are about my family. Mainly the damn N’wah who tormented me and my mother. He worshipped Boethiah…” The words when he said that about his father were like bitter poison. “He… he… did a lot of terrible things.” Ciel’nn’s voice cracked. He couldn’t say anymore.
The young warrior frowned and he worried he had asked too much. Seems they had both suffered in their fathers’ presence. He shifted close to Ciel’nn and he took him into his embrace. “It’s alright. You don’t need to tell me anymore.” Rangalen comforted quietly as he noticed the Dunmer was shaking slightly. “It’s going to be alright. I’m sorry I asked, but if it feels better you can always tell me when you need to.”
It felt good to tell someone, even a little of his past. He could tell Rangalen was fond of him by now. The way he held him. The Dunmer only wished nothing could threaten their friendship as he had lost friends even before coming to Skyrim. He hadn’t had many though.
Ce’vale had gone missing and was nowhere to be found. Celani was dead because of him and it still stung badly. It felt like someone or something had something against him and took all and everything away from him. Ciel’nn wasn’t sure how he would react if Rangalen was taken away from him.
And, of course there was still Sarade but she was always busy with the Dragonborn business and what not. The Dunmer let out a heavy sigh and he felt the young warrior stroking his hair – that was a habit now – Ciel’nn knew.
“My father took it hard when I told him I wasn’t going to stay and help Jarl Ulfric. I wasn’t going to stay for the army either.” Rangalen said when Ciel’nn didn’t say anything for a while. “I wanted to see more of Skyrim, and help people if I needed to.” He went on while he held the Dunmer.
“So, you skipped your training in the army, huh?” Ciel’nn teased as a smile curled on his lips.
The Dunmer’s joke caught the young warrior off guard a bit, but he gave a soft laugh. “They don’t train warriors. Most of them lack the needed strength and vigor.” Rangalen felt Ciel’nn shifting and looking at him.
“Not even Ulfric’s vigor is enough to cheer them?” Ciel’nn studied the Nord for a brief moment. “I say they might need someone who has a spirit of a real fighter and will of an old God.” he said, smiling mysteriously. In fact, the Nord would be perfect for such a thing – he was young, full of that fighting spirit and hated the Imperials as much as he did. And you’re so beautiful, too. Maybe he’s the special one?
“No, don’t even think about it!” the young warrior said as if he knew what the Dunmer meant. He watched Ciel’nn chuckling heartily and it was really adorable to see. At least he was back in good spirits. “Seriously, Ciel’nn, I’d rather travel with you than return to the army.” Rangalen said casually.
Nightfall wasn’t far off when the rain stopped so they decided to cook some food. Ciel’nn wanted to have steamed mudcrab legs so he showed the young warrior how to make the most of it over the fire. They didn’t have enough ingredients for a proper meal and it was the Dunmer’s favorite thing to complain about. Skyrim food was always too tasteless and bland. Still, Ciel’nn made some potato soup for Rangalen.
“It tastes good, Ciel’nn.” the young warrior said as he tasted the soup.
“Nah, it tastes like a rotten Kwama egg!” Ciel’nn said and he sat down on his bedroll with his steamed mudcrab legs. “If I had Sujamma, I’d try steaming these with it,” he murmured as he took a bite. Maybe they would find a river or a pond later so he could catch more mudcrabs.
The night passed by as Ciel’nn slept close to and under the protective arm of the young warrior. His sleep had been restless, but not as much nightmarish as before. It was just restless. The comfort that the Nord provided for the Dunmer was invaluable sleep time. Even if the night had been chilly Ciel’nn didn’t feel much cold because he was wrapped up in his fur cloak.
After eating a light breakfast of cabbage soup and apples along with water and mead, they were ready to continue the search of Skawulf. There were mist everywhere in the Rift, and Ciel’nn decided that they needed to proceed with caution. He’d had had a few unpleasant surprises when he travelled alone. A big cave bear was one of them.
Ciel’nn was walking swiftly down the path until he saw a group of bandits lying on the ground, a short distance away. Frowning he looked at the young warrior. “Come, there’s something.” he said in a low tone and crept closer to the bandits. It seemed they were severely injured or dead.
Except for one of them who was lying on his back with an excruciating painful expression on his face. “Make it stop… the pain… I didn’t…” he was rambling between the pain spikes that he felt.
“Oh, one is barely alive!” Ciel’nn said aloud and turned to the dying bandit. “Didn’t what? What happened here?” he asked in a neutral tone. By the looks of them these were the normal road bandits. His wounds were beyond any healing.
Rangalen stepped closer and knelt down next to the dying bandit. Usually he didn’t feel pity for anyone, but no one deserved to die like this. “Who did this to you?” The sight reminded him of what had happened to Shor’s Stone. He felt a cold shiver going down his spine but the young warrior tried to shake it off.
“Who…are you?” the bandit groaned in pain. “Bear armored bandits…They killed everyone. Said…we aren’t… worthy.” he gasped. “I shouldn’t have left home…” with that he died.
“Trolls’ blood!” Rangalen gasped. “If they are killing everyone, then no one is safe.” He observed how Ciel’nn studied the bodies in a calm manner. How could the Dunmer be so calm about this?
“They might be forming that raid that the guards are dreaming of these days. It just might be too big a bite for them. It will be a – “Ciel’nn said while he looked for a few septims or gems that the dead bandits might have.
“A massacre!” the young warrior finished the line as if he was in a shock. “There will be more bodies, right? We have to do something about it!”
Ciel’nn turned around to see the Nord and he stopped over the few dead bandits. “Listen! I know you want to help the people, but this is beyond our abilities. I for one don’t want to do anything with the brutish bandits. We don’t know how many of them there are.” He lowered his voice for a serious effect. Clearly the young warrior was in a slight panic.
“We could alert the cities!” Rangalen pressed on.
“We can’t run to every city and warn the Jarls. You told the Jarl of Riften about Shor’s Stone, right? Well, we can hope she sends a courier to another Hold.” he paused and placed his hand on the Nord’s arm. “Rangalen,” Ciel’nn looked directly at the young warrior’s eyes, “this is beyond us. I hope you can see this. I’d rather not lose you for something we don’t have the power for.” he said in a softer tone, hoping his words would be heard by his friend.
He’d rather not lose me… Slowly, Rangalen calmed down and finally realized how eager he was to rush across the land just to die by one of those brutish bandits. Or he might encounter Tellik and die by his axes, too. How irrationally he had been thinking. The Dunmer was right. “It is beyond us.” He nodded.
But Ciel’nn tilted his head. “Promise me, you won’t go running off alone.” He really didn’t want to see that happening – not when the Nord’s training was incomplete. He wasn’t going to move anywhere until he’d heard what he wanted.
“I’ll promise, Ciel’nn.” the young warrior said seriously as he placed his hand on Ciel’nn’s. “I won’t leave anywhere without you.” And, that was the truth. He wouldn’t leave the Dunmer alone even if he would be able to defend himself. I already care so much for you. Rangalen smiled. “Come, let’s move on and find that man.”
Coming around the pond, they saw a fur tent a short distance away. Ciel’nn wondered whose tent it might be as they approached it carefully until a weathered man came to view. He had a worn armor set on him that was covered with dried blood.
He was sitting at the campfire and mumbling something. Hearing a crack behind him, the man stood up abruptly and turned around, looking wildly around. “Thalmor! You won’t get me!” he hissed in battle stance. “Praise mighty Talos!” He was reaching for his sword.
“We aren’t Thalmor!” Ciel’nn replied in half panic as he wasn’t sure what to do. However his hand went to the hilt of his dagger as a natural move. He caught the man looking past them. Something was wrong.
“Thalmor!”
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