***WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE***
Aranni stays to the woods within a few days he is approaching the Imperil camp, as he arrives he can see they are getting ready to head north and cut off the Stormcloaks. Everything is prepared, Ulfric doesn't stand a chance. Some of the soldiers watch as Aranni enters the camp, one speaks up “Hey you there, elf, who are you and state your business.” I look over at the Nord, he is just a young soldiers, I am Legate Aranni, I am part of the Imperial Army from Valenwood here to speak with General Tullius.” “Sorry sir, I didn't mean any disrespect.” “None taken.” “The General is back around those tents there.” He points me in the direction of the General, I smile and nod and head the way indicated. I see Legate Quentin Cipius and a soldier deep in conversation. As I approach the soldier lowers his head, “Ah, Aranni, glad you are here. This is Hadvar. Hadvar this is Legate Aranni, from Valenwood.” He introduces me to the young soldier who smiles. “I am sending him to Halgen to prepare the for the General’s return there.” He looks at Hadvar “This is the list of Stormcloaks that are in the brigade we will be intercepting; please get this to Captain Flacas Ponia.” Hadvar leaves as instructed. “Where is Codell?” “Quentin, can we speak in private with General Tullius?” “Sure, right this way.” Quentin leads me towards the middle of camp where I see the General, and a few others. As if sensing me, the General looks in our direction. The General rarely shows emotion he is level headed, fair, and believes in the Empire. And, yes I like him, I consider General Tullius a friend. He dismisses some of his Captains, Rikke stays. “General, ladies, gentleman, colleagues; I have some distressing news. On my arrival to Kynesgrove the Stormcloaks ambushed and unfortunately General Codell did not make it, nor did Minnia. Their daughter Ingoknin did, she is with one of Chief Mauhulakh’s soldiers, I think it is Bagrak, but didn't want to startle them so I didn't confirm this information.” The General looks down at the map and then back up at me, “Aranni, Rikke, please follow me.” We follow the General as he walks off towards the edge of camp. Quentin walks back towards his troops. “Aranni, we had heard some rumors, but we were not sure what was mere fiction and what the truth was. I had hoped the stories had been embellished. Were you able to get the plans?” “No” I see frustration in his eyes. “But, General, I know she has them on her, I saw them in his bow.” I also know she is headed to Greir Fair-Sword. Codell was adamant that she is Dragonborn, and she will aid us in winning the war we are about to embark on.” I look over at Rikke; I sense she is hesitant to join the conversation. “I would like to follow her and make sure she gets to Gerir’s.” The General folds his arms, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath; “Rikke, I want you to head back to Solitude, we will need the recruits ready, I do not anticipate that Codell’s death will disrupt our course, we have to keep moving forward. Aranni, head off and intercept Codell’s daughter, you have to get those plans to me, we do not want them falling into the wrong hands, the fate of the Empire is at stake.” Rikke takes her leave. “General, who will send word to the Orc Strongholds? With Codell gone, who will they trust?” “I will send one of my sources, we may be down but we are not broken Aranni. The Bosmer in Valenwood are already on their way, we need to capture Ulfric Stormcloak, and he will face the consequences of his actions. Then we will surprise the Thamor, and Aldmeri Dominion with their guard down we will be able to make a significant impact.” ”I know you believe in this Nord prophecy of Dragonborn, but for now she is just a Nord, like any other one, except she has Codell’s plans; I need the plans; that is why I am sending you back out. Aranni, I mean it those plans are more important than some prophecy that may or may not be so. At all costs get those plans to me!” “Yes, General.” “Once that is done and we have Ulfric Stormcloak, then you can take her to Gerir’s, as a descendant of Macke of the Piercing Eyes, she will do well to ensure Ingoknin safety and training; until we can find any of the remaining Blades, I know some survived, it is just a matter of finding them.” General Tullius walks into his tent, our conversation is done. Now I had to back track and see if I could intercept Ingoknin, I knew she was going to Dragon’s Bridge, I should have just taken those plans while I had the chance, cursing myself I head toward a group of soldiers, looking around I see the mead barrel and some salmon steaks. I help myself to some of the fish but pull a flask from my side of Bosmer mead; I can feel the looks of the questioning soldiers, screw ‘em I don’t need to explain myself. Leaning against the table I finish my meal, taking a few more sips of my mead I head over to an empty tent, I need to sleep.
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The road to Dragon’s Bridge is usually a nice journey. I cannot tell you how many times I've taken it with Poppa. Bagrak and I decided to stick to the main road; it leaves me feeling a little vulnerable. As the day wore on we decided to find a spot to settle down for the evening. We had started out heading west and then did a little cut to the north; we thought of making it to Windhelm and staying there for the night but decided to set up camp instead. Working as a team we quickly set up for the night. “Bagrak, I’m going to bring the horses towards that clearing up ahead, I put some pheasant breast in the pot to get started. I am starving.” The horses are eager to graze; they trot over to the clearing as I walk behind them I start to reminisce over my life. I am numb thinking about my parent’s murder, I am exhausted by the last few days. Maybe tonight out under the stars I can get a good night’s rest. I can smell dinner cooking, my stomach reminds me it had been hours since breakfast. I whistle to the horses, which reluctantly come forward, Bagrak has everything ready. “Bagrak, can you please tell me more about Greir Fair-sword?” She looks at me, “You don’t know who she is Nin?” “No, I only first learned of her the other day.” “Well, Greir Fair-sword is a descendant of Macke of the Piercing Eyes. She never joined the Companions herself; she has been loosely linked to the Blades, but no one has ever confirmed that. Anyway, the Blades you know have not been around in years, but with Greir’s background Codell knew she was the one who could finish your training.” With frustration in my voice “WHAT TRAINING BAGRAK!” “This is all anyone speaks of these past few days, that dumb journal, the Chief, I swear I was being followed to Narzulbur, what the hell is going on and why do I have to wait to get an answer.” “Nin, I never asked why, I was just told. I assumed it was due to Codell’s training and him being in the Imperial Army.” “What???” “Imperial Army, what are you talking about, Poppa was a hunter, he wasn't in any army!” “Nin, Codell was a General for the Imperial Army, he was a great leader, you had to know.” “No, Bagrak, I had no idea, Momma and Poppa never really spoke of this, I thought they left Valenwood to escape the Thamor.” “Well, yes they did, but it was because the Thamor knew your father backed the Empire, he was never shy about how he felt about the Thamor. Minnia and Codell had to leave or face execution.” “You know they could have told me this, why was it so secret?” Bagrak, looks at her friend, she thinks Codell should have told Nin. “I am not sure why they choose not to tell you; all I know is that I had to respect their decision while they were alive, but now Nin, even I am confused. I do not know what to do except make sure you get to Dragon’s Bridge.” “I have a hard time seeing Poppa as a General, why would he live in our little village, why wouldn't he be with the Imperials now, if he was at least he would be alive.” “Nin, your father was involved still, remember all the times Codell and Chief Mauhulakh would go on trading business to Solitude and Halgen, well they weren't going for trading, I accompanied them a few times, and it was for war meetings, I saw General Tullius, and a few heads of the holds, but no Stormcloak and no Thamor. I would wait for hours, sometimes days, something was happening what I don’t know but it was.” Bagrak and I look at each other, the fire pops and it startles us. “Thanks Bagrak, I had no idea, sometimes I think I lived this fairy-tail hearing of Great Wars, what’s so great about a war, dumb name for it if you ask me, knowing that fighting was all around just never really touching it until last Turdas. All my training I always just thought it was for show, you know just to say hey I can do this see, never realizing that it was for real. I am not mad I just can’t understand why.” We started to clean up dinner, settle in for the night, I took out my flute and played a little Bagrak enjoyed it.
We chit chat some more about the route we are taking and decided to head out as earlier as possible in the morning.
Something isn't right, I lie still in my bed roll, and I can’t hear Bagrak breathing. A cold tingle goes up my spine… I slowly reach for my dagger under my roll… I try to look towards Bagrak, I smell blood. I swallow, and try to even my breathing, I slowly move the bed roll and reach for my boots, I grab for my bow and arrows, and they are just out of my reach. Bagrak isn't in her bed roll, where did she go. I back up against the rocks, I listen. That is when the bandit comes charging. “Where do you think your sneaking off to, you ain't go’in no where!” His sword is drawn, ready. “Where’s my friend, scum.” He laughs more like a sick chuckle and an evil grin spreads across his face. “Don’t worry about the whore Orc, we know we can good a good price for her, now don’t make this too hard [as he is speaking he moves closer towards me, his blade touches my arm and travels up to my neck, drawing some blood] on yourself, plus don’t make me scar you, pretty thing like you, will catch a real good price.” As he speaks my eyes are scanning all over, taking in everything, my one chance is to knock him off balance and ram him with the dagger. I just need to be quick. I rush forward as I do his face contorts to anger and rage, he goes to strike, I slide my feet into his shin and jab the dagger into his side, that pisses him off. He drops to his knees and spats out “Bitch, you are gonna pay dearly.” I run towards my bow I guess his friends heard our scuffle; “What the hell?” “Get her she’s over yonder.” I start picking ‘em off with my arrows, but there are too many. One gets around to my side and I feel the hit on the back of my head and nothing else. “Pick her sorry ass up and get her in the wagon with the others, before I slit her throat and leave her for the wolves.” “What about their stuff?” “What stuff that little wood bow, the bed roll; grab whatever, let’s go!” The bandit Fenrar, kicks around the stuff, looks in the packs, a few books, not worth anything, crap he thinks. Then he see the Orc’s armor, nice stuff this will catch a good price. “FENRAR NOW!!!” Sorar shakes his head, the little troll better hurry up, the woman bring the money! Wrapping some cloth around his wound and downing a healing potion, the Nord is lucky the rest of the group came back. He walks over to the wagon, the Orc beaten up and gagged looks over, he just pulls on Ingoknin hair, ripping some of it out, spits at the Orc and throws the cover over the door.
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