The Order:Down the Path of Darkness (chapter 3, part 2/2)

• Posted by TOPS Theodore December 12, 2013 - 453 views

  WELCOME TO SKYRIM

  

      Amadeus slowly opened his eyes to the dim lit room, lying in the warm bed he had rented the night before. The bedside table still had a bottle of ale and two glasses. Small talk and inn preparations for yet another day of work could be heard from below. The sheets on his right side were disturbed, suggesting someone also lying there recently left. Saadia, Amadeus remembered, enticing the memories of their last night together. The girl had lived up to his expectations, after all. As he stretched his body, he remembered that he was supposed to meet Lydia this morning, in Dragonsreach, and finally be off to Riften.  He quickly got off the bed, and stood up to put on his clothes, that were lying on the floor at the left side of the bed. After he was dressed, he put on his boots, fixed his sword and dagger in his belt, as well as that brute Nord's throwing dagger in his boot, and made his way to the lower floor.

     The inn keeper was standing behind the bar on the left and was writing down something in an account book, not paying attention on her surroundings.  And Saadia, at the right side of the inn was preparing a table for the soon to come customers. When she heard steps from the staircase, she lifted her eyes while still using the duster on that table, and smiled at Amadeus. The latter smiled back blinking his right eye to her and discreetly sending her a kiss. Her smile then widened. Then, Amadeus turned to the innkeeper, who was still lost in the account book.

     "Good morning, Mrs... Hulda if I am not wrong". The innkeeper greeted back never removing her eyes from the book.

     "I trust you had a good night's sleep, sir?" She asked vaguely.

     "Yes, my lady. But now I must bid you farewell."

     The innkeeper casually nodded, while still processing the book. Amadeus gifted a last smile to Saadia, and left the Bannered Mare.

     He then made his way up to Dragonsreach to stumble on Lydia herself, right outside the palace's entrance. The girl was wearing a leather dress, below some leather light armor on her shoulders, and ribs. She had a short sword fixed in her belt, a dagger in the other side, and a bow with it's quiver were resting on her back, right above her cloak. Amadeus noted to himself that she probably had a similar combat style with him, the only thing remained to be seen was if she matched his skill too. She was also holding a couple of light travel packs.

     "Good morning, sir", she greeted with a smile and always in the heavy Nordic accent, as she was handling him one of the back packs. "I was expecting you earlier, I was just on my way to seek for you at the inn."

     "Good morning. Well, I guess I slept heavy" Amadeus lied, while both of them fixed the packs in their backs, carefull to not disturb their bows and quivers positions. "So, miss Lydia, are we ready for my escord to Riften? I have to meet my employer, for some accounting" he replied hinting the last word. Lydia smiled back, and nodded him to continue to Whiterun's gates. 

     "Did you rest well, miss Lydia?" Amadeus asked while the were descending the stairs of the palace.

    "I can't complain, Markus sir. See, yesterday we were fighting bandits all afternoon, just outside the city, after we found out they had established a hideout just north of here, in an abandoned ruin. So, we managed to send them to oblivion, but it wasn't easy... when you first met me I had aches all over my back, ribs, legs and feet."

    "Nothing.. broken, I hope. Yes, that astounding company of yours, I remember."

     "Oh well, you know how Nordic men are, full of pride, to the point of stupidity. They thought that mocking a stranger would make them look more bad ass that they already believe they are." Lydia added, while the were passing by the Bannered Mare. " I trust you spent the night here, sir?" She suggested while nodding towards the inn.

     "Indeed, miss. A most comfortable inn, I could say" Amadeus replied while enticing last nights memories once more. "So, how are we supposed to reach Riften, miss?" Amadeus asked while the were crossing the market, with Whiterun preparing for another morning of working, trading, another morning of living in a city, with people moving around for various daily tasks.

    "We will walk east, to Valtheim Towers, and abandoned ruin nowadays, and continue east, along the White River, to fort Amol,until that river divides in a fork.Then, we continue to the south path, following the Darkwater river, always in the main road and riverside." Lydia laid the plan before Amadeus, as they passed by the blacksmith, with a Nord man dressed in Imperial military outfit arguing with the woman owning the blacksmith about some sword issue. "And once we reach Darkwater Crossing, we keep east along the main road until we reach Shor 's Stone, a local mining village. Then we are just a few paces north of our destination."
  

    Darkwater Crossing. Amadeus shivered at the memory of the disaster there. He could have finished that mission there, before even starting. Who know what rewards the Order would have in store for him... But then the Imperials showed up from nowhere ruining everything, nearly costing his own life, and moving him so much further west, to Falkreath..

    Two Redguard men were having a disagreement with the entrance guard. Two men, wearing similar outfit, a traditional Hammerfell one, from what Amadeus knew about their culture, with curved swords in their waists. One of them approached Lydia and Amadeus as they were preparing to leave the city. As accustomed in Hammerfell, the Redguard spoke to the man of the group. "Excuse me, gentleman. We are looking for someone,a Redguard woman we believe is here in Whiterun. A woman with a double scar to the left cheek. Have you seen one fitting such a description?"

     Amadeus recalled the double scar Saadia had. There was always something off with that girl, he thought. A hammerfell refugee? Chossing the frozen Skyrim after living all her life at the warm desserts? "No sir, I am afraid I haven't."
  

    "Damn!" the Redguard spat as he was leaving Amadeus.

     After Amadeus and Lydia finally exited Whiterun, and passed by the stables, Amadeus stopped a boy that was running around playing tag with himself.

     "Hey boy, want a septim?" Amadeus asked in a playfull manner to the kid.

    "Why, oh yeah sir!" the boy replied with eyes open wide.

     "Go to the Bannered Mare. Ask for the waitress. Tell her that curved swords are looking for her". After Amadeus had the boy repeat exactly what he should do, he handled him a septim, was on his way, much to the puzzled gaze of Lydia.

     The duo were passing by some farms outside the city, as they were leaving Whiterun, to the east. The sun was high in the sky now, struggling to suspend the chill of Skyrim. They were following the White River, as Lydia suggested, with their first checkpoint, Valtheim Towers, on sight over the horizon.

     "Sir, mind you that we are leaving the neutral ground Balgruuf keeps, and we are entering Stormcloak territory. Expect to meet Stormcloak patrols, and maybe even Thalmor, at least until we reach deep Stormcloak land." Lydia explained as they had moved away from crowded space. "What are our instructions for such encounters?"

     Amadeus recalled the contents of the Breton's letter. Targets of opportunity. "If the circumstances allow, and our cover is not jeopardized, we eliminate them." Lydia nodded in acknowledgement. Amadeus had barely finished his  sentence, and a trio of high elves dragging a man in rugged clothes appeared many yards ahead. Moving towards Amadeus and lydia, along the main road. A meeting was imminent. Irony, Amadeus thought, as he decided to see Lydia in action first hand.

     Amadeus nodded Lydia towards the elves approaching from the east. Lydia nodded back, and both put on their cowls, moving towards them as well. "Follow my lead", Amadeus whispered. As the High elves approached a bit more, Amadeus studied them meticulously. Two light armored , a male and a female, with no obvious weapons other than a mace each, and another male one, one with robes and a cowl, with no weapons at all. A caster, Amadeus concluded. This one will have to go down first, and fast. All their equipment was made in the High Elven craft, with the gold color dominating over the entire Thalmor design.  As they crossed paths, the mace carrying two reached for their weapons, but without unsheathing them. The man they were dragging was hand cuffed, and clearly recently and repeatedly beaten. A Nord man at his late fifties, with one eye unable to open, due to the heavy bruising inflicted on him.

     "Back off....citizens", the robed one demanded in an authoritative manner, mocking the last word. "This does not concern you. State you business and identities immediately, in the name of the Thalmor!" The other two were combat ready, holding their weapons hilts.

     Amadeus pretending to be somewhat scared, replied. "I,.. I am Markus Dias, accountant of Maven Black - Briar, on my way to my employer. And... And a loyal citizen of the Empire, gracious elves...."

     The robed one, clearly the superior of the trio, seemed to buy it, when Amadeus threw in the powerful name of Black-Briar. "Ah, maven, of course. A friend of the Thalmor, understanding what is good for all Man..." And then turned to the cuffed man. "See, you filthy pest?!" and slapped him in the wounded eye, with the Nord letting a scream of pain. And then turned to Amadeus again. "And what credentials do you have to support your claim.... citizen?" 

     Amadeus was startled by this, he did not actually had any credentials. He thought that was it, and was about to unsheathe his blades and attack, but before moving a muscle, Lydia steeped in the conversation. "Here, I have them." And quickly removed some paper from her backpack, and handled it to the Thalmor officer. Amadeus was pleased by her initiative, but the Thalmor grew suspicious.

     "And who might you be, woman? Another accountant?" he asked Lydia.

     "I am in the service of Jarl Balgruuf, ordered to escort this man safely to Riften."

     The Thalmor read the paper. The Black-Briar seal was there, above the identification and purpose of a man named Markus Dias. "Very well, on your way then." the Thalmor pointed them the opposite direction, slapped the Nord once more, and the other two High Elves left their hilts, and everyone was on his way.

     After a few paces increased the distance between the two groups, Amadeus whispered Lydia. "Can you snipe the officer?". Amadeus could now tell he was a spell caster, and had to go down first and clean, as this would make the approaching fight very easy, or he could still stand, making the same fight very difficult and unpredictable. Lydia touched her bow on her back, making sure of its position, and then gazed at Amadeus, with an icy cold look.
  

     "Like taking a sweetroll from a baby".

     Amadeus nodded, and as they were walking east, they both turned around west, Amadeus from the left, and Lydia from the right. Now tailing the unaware arrogant Thalmor, Amadeus unsheathed his blades. "I ll run to him, at the last moment, shoot. To kill."Amadeus knew the importance of the caster going down fast, and hoped Lydia understood it as well. The  latter drew out her bow, and readied an arrow, aiming at the Thalmor's upper body. Amadeus, sword in right hand, and dagger to the left, charged.

     But not like that Einjard guy charged at him the day before, no yelling, screaming, cursing. That was a different kind of charge. The kind including sprinting without making a sound, a silent messenger of death. A charge of darkness. Amadeus run up to the caster, and as he was within stab reach, he heard the sound of a bow cord. 

     Lydia's arrow gloriously pierced the back of the Thalmor officer's neck, letting out a splash of elven blood. The other two quickly drew weapons and turned around, to witness Amadeus leaping above the falling corpse, landing a flying kick to the male one, knocking him to the ground, and before landing on his feet, slashing with his sword aiming for the female's neck. But, to Amadeus astonishment, she was quick enough to block the hit with her mace. The other male quickly stood up again, mace in hand. Two versus two, Amadeus thought. The Nord was clearly in no shape to fight.

     The male Thalmor, charged to assist his partner, performing a vertical strike aiming at Amadeus' head, but the latter blocked by raising his blade above his head. When mace and sword were hugged in sparks of metal, Amadeus kicked away the female one, and using the same foot, kicked the male off his back. Now both Thalmor charged at him, with Lydia missing a shot at the female. Amadeus rolled a few steps back, a moment before getting hit, landing on his back. Jolting his legs in the air, he landed once again in them. The two Thalmor were now between Lydia and Amadeus.

     Lydia had to drop her bow, and grab her melee weapons, as the Thalmor decided to neutralize the ranged attacker first. They both tried to strike at her, but mimicking Amadeus' earlier dodge, she dived at her right side, landing with a roll, and getting closer to Amadeus. "Quick learner" the latter noted to him self, and with both groups pointing weapons at each other, he spoke to the elves. 

     "Really, Mer? An accountant? Did I really look like one to you?"  
  

     The female responded while catching her breath. "All Men look alike to us, worm. Soon you will look dead. For the Dominion!" And with this war cry, both Thalmor charged at Amadeus and Lydia. Amadeus put his left foot under a stone, and launched it to the charging female one, hitting her face. The sprinting speed of the Thalmor, made the hit even more painful. She was stunned for a moment, due to the cracking sound of her nose, but the male one charged nonetheless. A fatal mistake. He once more lowered his mace in a vertical strike, aiming Lydias head, but Amadeus who read his movement, blocked his mace with his sword,leaving him briefly exposed in the torso, giving Lydia the one millisecond she needed, to pierce his belly with her dagger.As the male Thalmor tried to fold onward in pain, exposing his back, Amadeus turned around him , and being now back to back with the Thalmor, he lowered his dagger with the left hand to the back of his neck, instantly killing him.

     Amadeus now moved to the right side of the female who had just recovered from the stone's hit, and Lydia, moved to the left of her. The female Thalmor, as if knowing that she now stood no chance, pointlessly charged at Amadeus , preparing a horizontal strike with her mace. Amadeus quickly reached for his left boot,  stabbing his dagger to the ground and picking his throwing one, and launching it to the charging female. She made a moaning sound as the dagger Amadeus won from the Companion Nord viciously plunged itself in her stomach. She tried to perform the strike anyway, though much weakened due to the blade in her. Amadeus just grabbed her armed hand with his now empty left one, locking her in stillness. The female elf, with tears in her eyes, looked at his eyes as she was falling in her knees in a gaze combining hatred, fear, and agony, whispering something in the elven language. She clearly had no more strength, and just gave up, standing on her knees, with Amadeus still holding her elbow awaiting her fate. 

     Amadeus then fell on his own right knee, picking up his dagger from the ground, and preparing to pierce her neck with the right hand, ending her misery. Just as he was about to deliver the killing blow, a woman's right hand appeared in the elf's jaw, and a left hand holding a blade pierced the exposed neck ending the Thalmor's life. Amadeus launched himself back in order to avoid blood stain, and heard Lydia's voice.

     "No sir, the bitch is mine"   

     Amadeus met Lydia's cunning gaze for a long moment, admiring not only her beautiful face, but also her initiative, and the skill to adapt and read a fight he just witnessed. Then, after snapping out of it, he picked up his weapons, and turned to the cuffed Nord.

     "Hold on sir, i'll set you free". With his dagger, he cut the ties on the Nords hands.

     "Gods bless you good man" the nord mumbled in pain.

     And Amadeus made a crucial question. "Why were you held captive, my good man?"

     "Because I believe in freedom. Because I believe in Ulfric Stormcloak."

     Amadeus face darkened in the hearing of this, but the Nord continued. "I was halted by them near fort Amol, and when asked I defied their rule and told them I was on my way to join the Stormcloaks, then I ..."

     Amadeus shaked his head and interrupted him. "That was not the answer I had hoped to", and with the same dagger he used to set the man free, he also cut his throat, in a fast move. The Nord was dead in a few moments. 

     Amadeus then turned to Lydia, who had just picked up her bow. "Let us continue,the sound of the clash of metal tends to travel far and fast."

     "Of course, sir", Lydia replied, and with that said, the both walked further east, reaching the Valtheim Towers after some time.

     As they moved below the Towers, great commotion could be heard from above. And as they looked at each other, they realized that another fight was taking place above them. Screams of agony and pain were head, along with battle cries, and metal striking metal. "Bandits and bounty hunters" Lydia suggested. This abandoned site is sometimes used as hideout from criminals and such.

     "Then let's just ignore them and be on our way, Lydia" Amadeus replied. They both then fastened their pace, following the White River, to Fort Amol.

     After an hour or two, the fort could be seen.

     "This fortress is Stormcloak occupied, sir. As we are now deep in rebel territory, I would suggest we keep an even lower profile, because the rebels here are in large forces." Lydia said while opening a flask of water to drink.
  

     "That goes without saying, Lydia. So, nice performance back there. Ididn't imagine you were so good until I saw with my own eyes." Amadeus commended her, with Lydia's expression becoming clearly pleased on the approval.
  

     "Thank you sir. This guide I offer you in Skyrim, I think is my test in becoming a member of the Ord.... of our society." she tried to hide the word. they were now passing the fort, and Stormcloak soldiers could be seen on the walls, observing the two travelers.

    Amadeus wanted to ask her how was she picked as a candidate for the Order, but such questions were expressly forbidden among non Officers, for some unknown reason. "So, what do you think of our society,Lydia? Have you been involved in other plans as well, so far?"

     Lydia's eyes sparkled in interest. "Well, I understand that our society's ultimate goal so far has been the protection of Men over Mer, especially nowadays when imminent war between Empire and Dominion is a common secret. That is noble enough for me. I also admire how well connected the society is to powerful individuals, politicians organizations merchants and such. As for your second question, I 've been involved in minor plans and missions, more tests that operations I would say. I think I 've done quite good so far, seeing that I was chosen to be your guide in such a grand operation."
  

     "Well, Lydia, you keep performing as well as you've done so far, and you 'll be a full time member in no time." Amadeus assured her.

     "I would love nothing more, sir."

     After a few more hours, they were at Darkwater Crossing. Amadeus shivered in the flashback of what happened here. "Sir, this is Darkwater crossing. A mining site. I suggest we stay here for the night, as it will soon get dark, and there is nowhere safe to camp between here and Shor's stone. At least no place  I am aware of."

     Amadeus thought funny the idea of camping in the place where he almost lost everything, including his life. Irony was strong indeed. "Well, you are the guide, Lydia. Let's settle."

     They both unfolded the sleeping bags from their backpacks and laid them besides a huge campfire. The locals were surprisingly welcoming, and after eating and drinking some ale with them, and sharing stories, some true, some not, they finally laid in the sleeping bags, with blankets given to them by the miners, and thanking for the warm campfire the had.

     "Goodnight Lydia. Get some rest for we move first thing in the morning"

     "Goodnight, sir" Lydia whispered and closed her eyes.

  

     In the morning, after feeling rested from the night's sleep, they packed up, and moved further east. An hour's walk from Darkwater Crossing, they came across an abandoned cart...with the two horses still attached to it. The cart itself was empty, without cargo. Lydia moved closer, to examine the scene. She noticed some blood stains, and showed them to Amadeus. The latter quickly came to the conclusion that the cart was robbed. Bandits who probably met resistance, killed the driver and any passengers, took off the goods and left. That would explain the empty cart. He shared his thoughts with Lydia, to which she seemed to agree. He then noticed that the whole thing was still in good operating condition nevertheless. He climbed to the driver's sit, and offered his hand to Lydia on the other side.
  

     "Do you need a ride somewhere, fine lady?" he jested to Lydia, with the latter eager to reply.

     "Why yes, fine gentleman..." she answered taking his hand and climbing to ride shotgun next to him. The both agreed that it was a nice change not having to walk anymore. They could have hired a carriage from Whiterun of course, but the carriages in Skyrim came with the driver always, another pair of ears, and they wouldn't be able to talk freely about their subjects. As Amadeus stroke the reins, the horses started to move as if they were waiting for someone to use them.

     After a few hours for riding and talking to each other, Shor's Stone watch tower was seen at the distance.

     "Well sir, looks like our journey is coming at an end.. You make a nice company, if I dare say.." Lydia announced.

     "Well, Lydia, The pleasure of the company of a beautiful lass such as yourself, will always be mine." Amadeus added, not trying to hide his cunning smile. "The journey might end, but you are still my guide. I might need...excessive amounts of tactical support in the coming days" he added in a clearly suggestive manner. Lydia rewarded him with a cute smile. 

    "I am always happy to serve you, sir"

     Amadeus decided they had enough with formalities, and while releasing his right hand from the reins, he moved closer to Lydia. "Come on, after all this time, please call me by my name when there's only the two of us". The two shared a long moment's cunning look. Amadeus moved even closer to the welcoming sight, when a roar pierced the skies.

     Both of them turned suddently above, to witness a huge shadow in the sky.

     "What is this" Lydia asked. "A giant... bat or something.."

     But Amadeus had seen such a creature before. A darker one, but this one had the same characteristics. A dragon.

     Then the flying creature moved towards their cart. With thundering voice, it roared a word that pierced their ears...

  YOL!!!
  

     Amadeus had heard this word before, in Helgen, and knew how devastating results it had. He prayed the next word would not be...

  TOOR!!!

     He screamed at Lydia "Take cover!!!" and he leaped off the cart from the left side, while Lydia did the same from the right side.

  SHUL!!!

    Flame descended like wrath from the sky and turned the cart between the two of them to ashes. Lydia taking the advice of Amadeus moved behind a huge rock. "Prepare you bow!" Amadeus instructed doing the same himself. He found it hard to believe he had to go through this again. The dragon circled around them, with Lydia missing two shots against him. "Wait untill he is still, and go for the wings!"
  

     The dragon the moved further from them, only to return, and roar more cursed words. "Fus, Ro, Dah!"

     Thunder got out of his mouth, sending the now ablaze cart flying, and breaking to pieces the rock Amadeus was covering behind. The latter started to run, looking for a different cover point far from Lydia. He wanted to give the dragon two separated targets, instead of one.

     The beast the took a pause in the air, preparing his next attack. "Now! tear his wings to shreds!"Amadeus yelled to Lydia, while was firing arrows at the dragon's wings. Lydia did the same. Missed one, got the second and the third through the dragon's right wing, opening two holes, while the dragon screamed in pain. As he was gaining more height, too have another aerial assault on them, Amadeus pierced one more hole through his already wounded wing. 

     The beast screamed, and his right wing was now ineffective, only wounding it more as he desperately flopped it up and down. The way it was standing high above was now somewhat funny, as the dragon was dipping on the right side. Then, he landed, huge jaws and claws at the ready.

     Amadeus yelled at Lydia to move on it back and harass it, while he was shooting arrows from the front. The dragon menacingly started moving towards Amadeus, with the latter firing arrows in hopes of causing any damage possible. Lydia did the same from behind. Amadeus then spotted another rock behind him. No. Not a rock. A ruined tower, thirty feet tall. He rushed to use it as cover. The dragon was bleeding, but seemed quite combat effective yet. Lydia pierced it two more times, with the beast screaming in rage. It threw another fire wave at Amadeus, who barely had time to cover behind the tower. A fire wave, not as strong as the previous one. And then, another arrow pierced the dragon's rear left foot. The beast turned to Lydia.

  Lydia, who cause more damage to the beast than Amadeus, now had the attention of the beast. As the dragon turned the back on Amadeus, the latter saw the opportunity he longed for.After leaving the bow for his blades, he sprinted quickly towards the beast's back, keeping in mind it's menacing tail. He then leaped on it's wounded leg, hoping the arrow's pain would cover the sense of his weight on the creatures foot. And then jumped on the back of the dragon, plunging his sword on the body, using all his strength.

     The sword was indeed deep in the creatures flesh, becoming a reliable handle for Amadeus, who now wielded his dagger with the left hand, repeatedly stabbing the creature. He pulled his body closer to the sword, in order to be able to hit closer to the neck. Lydia had completely stopped shooting, because there was a high danger of hitting Amadeus.

     The beast roared in rage and agony, as Amadeus was now landing his dagger on the neck. One, Two, Three more stabs, and the beast was emitting a sound like panting. Three more stabs, and the beast laid on the ground. Amadeus then unscrewed the sword, and put it deep in the creatures closing eye, and poking it inside the giant skull, where the brain was supposed to be. After a few moments, the beast was dead.

     Covered in dragon's blood, he approached Lydia, who was astonished by the dragon's attack. "So, the legends were true..." she mumbled to the panting Amadeus. "yes... they are....." the latter struggled to add while trying to catch his breath.

     "Here, have some water" Lydia offered her flask to the exhausted Amadeus.

     "Looks like we'll walk again" Amadeus said while still trying to breath.

     Let me help you si.. Amadeus" Lydia offered her shoulder to help him walk. And she did, until after several yards, when Amadeus was able to walk on his own again. After an hour, the where at Shor's Stone, where people were talking about some roar like sounds heard on the far horizon. And after a couple more hours, Amadeus and Lydia were gazing at the gates of Riften,   the Thieves' city,   the City of Sin.