U.O.T.W. Chapter 10 A Stranger No More

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    Sotek’s first stop when he and Bjorlam arrived back at Whiterun was to visit the blacksmiths; mainly because all the armor Sotek had to carry was weighing him down. It was also a matter of convenience as the blacksmiths was the first shop he came to. The woman, who Sotek saw when he first arrived, was working outside tanning some leather. As Sotek approached her, she greeted him warmly.

     

    “Welcome to the War Maidens”. She said cheerfully as she introduced herself. After returning ‘Adrianne’s’ warm welcome, Sotek dropped all the armor on the ground. A rumbling clang of metal rang out which resonated in the air for a few seconds before Adrianne picked up a sword and examined it. Going straight to business, she started sorting through the armor to see exactly what Sotek had for sale.

     

    After a few moments of silent contemplation and several seconds of staring at Sotek as a means of weighing him up, Adrianne finally nodded to herself.

    “Tell you what... Give me all these bits of armor, and whatever you class as armor. I’m not being funny but damn your chest piece is in a state. Then you can help me make a new set of iron armor for yourself, a nice new set. We’ll even see about having it match”.

     

    Sotek’s eyes fell upon his old iron chest piece which was dented. Traces of rust formed along the edging while one worn leather strap dangled helplessly due to finally snapping when he fought the dragon. He ominously glanced across the yard where his gaze settled on the forge.

    “But I don’t know how to”. He mumbled feeling a bit unsure of himself.

     

    “Oh don’t worry about the how to part”. Adrianne assured him as she brushed off his objections. “All you need to do is learn”. She then handed him a stack of iron ores. “First off, smelt these iron ores for me”.

     

    Sotek watched with interest while Adrianne worked the irons and leathers. He rapidly learned the art of smelting different ores, working the various animal skins and creating leathers for crafting. Adrianne then proceeded to make a dagger before letting Sotek bind the handle. When she felt he was ready, she allowed him to hammer the iron ingots until gradually between them both, his armor took shape. A few hours later, there on the table was a complete set of iron armor.

     

    “Here we go, finished”. Adrianne said as she wiped her sweaty brow with an old dirty piece of linen.

     

    Sotek eagerly tried on the armor, boots and greaves. Compared to the old armor this set fitted far better and his tail swished happily side to side.

     

    The blacksmith stood back away from him and gave him a quick once over examining their craft work. Nodding to herself, Adrianne smiled as a warm sense of pride filled her when she admired their handy work.

    “There; now you look the part”.

     

    Sotek moved around a little, feeling the fit of the iron against him. His face broke out into a big beaming grin as he readily agreed.

    “It’s perfect; thanks for showing me and for the use of your forge”. Sotek couldn’t help but feel a hundred times better, and more protected.

     

    Adrianne smiled warmly as she started to sort through the weapons he had given her.

    “Thank you for the pieces of armor and swords. If you get any more items like these, come to me”.

     

    Sotek quickly nodded at her but then he remembered the other items he had to sell. Taking the blacksmiths offer of friendship a stage further, he produced the gem and scroll from his pack and asked her about them.

    “Yess, I’ll come to you firsst. Do you know where I can ssell thesse?” He hissed as he showed her the gem, scroll and ring that he acquired earlier.

     

    She smirked as her eyes fell upon the gem which twinkled like a tiny red star.

    “Oh that’s an easy one, Belethor’s general goods always buys gemstones and oddities like the scroll. As for the ring though, you’re much better off going to Farengar in...”

     

    Sotek interrupted as he turned towards the Wind district where the stairs leading to the Jarl’s hall were.

    “Dragonsreach; we met before…”

     

    “Yes I heard about that”. She didn’t say as to how or even what she had heard but Sotek never had any reason to doubt her. With a knowing smile, she waved goodbye then began tanning a pile of skins.

     

    The Argonian said his farewells and headed along the path to the small market where the general store was. As before the market was busy, even though it was quite small. The first to notice him was the hunter who was selling various cuts of meat from the game he had killed early that very morning. He lifted his hand up and gave Sotek a friendly wave.

    “Hello there”.

     

    Instantly the other stall holders turned towards him and greeted the Argonian as if they had seen him on an almost daily basis. Some gave slight nods while others greeted him with formal but friendly ‘hello’s’. The less vocal residents of Whiterun simply smiled before returning back to their daily routines. Sotek returned their warm welcomes then stood outside Belethor’s general goods store and wondered if this was the same place he had first entered a few days ago.

     

    He opened the door of the store and entered into what seemed to be the Nordic version of organized chaos. He quickly learned that ‘General Goods’ was an understatement. There were baskets in one corner whilst boxes were roughly stacked in others. Gemstones and soul gems littered the shelving in various display cabinets. There was no system of storage or layout; it was as if items were placed in random locations. Nothing was in any sort of grouping but instead they were just thrown together regardless as to the nature of the stock. Clothing and bits of armor hung in wardrobes which had their doors removed. Sotek presumed it was so customers could see what was hanging up until he noticed a part of the door was in the lit fireplace.

     

    Different sized weapon racks were scattered around the shop and each one was filled with a variety of swords and axes; most of which seemed worn and the craftsmanship struck Sotek to be of a dubious quality. He was certain these were not made by Adrianne’s hands. In the middle of the floor was a table full of plates, cups and candle holders. Some of which were piled up in sets while others were just slung together. On the bookshelves were books, scrolls and a few alchemy ingredients thrown on top of everything else.

     

    The owner, a reasonably broad Breton man, was seeing to a customer. He quickly glanced up at Sotek as he entered the shop and gave a quick passing comment.

    “Be with you in a minute”. His attention went straight back to the man at his counter as he continued the sale.

     

    “Second hand shoes? Hmmm… Ah, I got these in yesterday; hardly been worn you know; only fifteen septims”. He bent down and disappeared from view behind the counter and seemingly commenced a haphazard search for them. “Now where did I put them?”

     

    After shuffling out of view for about twenty seconds, he stood up and put two shoes on the counter. The man gave them a quick going over then paid the fifteen gold coins. He took his own shoes off and replaced them with the ones he just bought before thanking Belethor for the new shoes. Leaving the old pair behind on the floor, he happily whistled to himself as he exited the shop. As soon as he left, Belethor came around the counter, picked up the old shoes and put them on his bare feet.

     

    The Argonian blinked heavily in surprise as he watched the man before him. Not entirely believing what he saw, Sotek felt a pressing need to ask for confirmation on what his own eyes told him.

    “You sold your own shoes?”

     

    The Breton never even tried to deny it. Instead, he exuberantly shouted out his shop’s logo.

    “Belethor’s General Goods; everything’s for sale!” While he tied up his laces, he enquired on Sotek’s own visit to his premises. “Now what can I do for you today?”

     

    “Well actually, I want to sell these”. Sotek said as he eagerly placed the scroll and the gem on the counter so Belethor could see what he had to offer.

     

    The Breton initially picked up the scroll and briefly examined it.

    “Fireball, I’ll give you forty gold for it. Now, this little beauty here”. As he picked up the gemstone, he held it over his eye as he tried to look through it at the fire. “Thirty gold and if I had one I’d throw in my sister. Do we have a deal?”

     

    “Yes that’s acceptable”. Sotek replied, readily agreeing to the price although he wasn’t too sure what the Breton’s sister had to do with anything.

     

    “Right! Now what can I sell you?” Belethor said as he looked around the shop for anything he might be able to sell to the Argonian who stood before him.

     

    “I don’t wish to buy anything”. Sotek stated.

     

    Belethor stopped dead in his tracks then dismissed Sotek’s unwillingness to contribute towards a sale.

    “But everyone buys from Belethor’s General Goods. Now over here, baskets for your home? No? Ok. Plates, cups, silver candle holder?”

     

    “I have no home”. Sotek stated politely, informing Belethor of his situation. As the trader shuffled around his shop, Sotek stayed in the middle of the room and watched as Belethor scuttled from one corner to another in his desperate search to find something which would spark Sotek’s interest.

     

    “Oh I see how it is, you’re one of them”. He said smiling.

     

    “One of what?” Sotek asked. He felt a bit confused as he wasn’t entirely sure what the man was referring to.

     

    “You’re a ermm… a challenge. Well we like challenges”. He then examined Sotek more carefully, thinking to himself as he did so. ‘Armor? damn good condition, sword aww seems ok… lock picks? Oh yea’. Abruptly he blurted out to the Argonian excitedly. “How about some lock picks?”

     

    “I got some”. Sotek replied as he lent back against the counter. His mind turned to the rapidly disappearing day and yet the shopkeeper’s intent on selling something gave Sotek reason to smile.

     

    Belethor on the other hand was getting desperate. He cast a quick glance across the shop and saw what was left of his lunch. The sight wasn’t lost on him though; he had an idea regarding Sotek’s own supplies.

    “Good, good, ermm… provisions? Food and the like?”

     

    Sotek shook his head as he watched the man with a quiet fascination to his ramblings.

    “I live off the land”.

     

    Belethor smiled politely but inside he was silently impressed.

    “Damn you’re good”. Belethor looked around the shop at everything he had to offer; now he was nearing the end of his tether and he saw his gold rapidly leaving the shop in the Argonian’s pocket rather than going in Belethor’s money draw.

     

    More in desperation than anything else, Belethor pointed to a stack of spell books.

    “Do you practice magic?” He asked vainly hoping he could find something which Sotek might buy.

     

    “Only a little”. Sotek stated. He quickly ran through the few spells he knew which seemed to turn Belethor’s darkening mood to one of a near ecstatic embrace.

     

    “Got ya!!! Oh yea!!!” Belethor shouted out slamming his hand on the counter making Sotek jump. Practically running over to a bookshelf he grabbed some spell books and flicked through them. “I got sparks, fireball and basic healing ermm”

     

    Sotek’s eyes lit up. His sudden interest stemmed from a single word.

    “Fireball?”

     

    Belethor immediately thought to himself ‘Oh yea, sold’. Without any hesitation he told Sotek all about the book.

    “Fireball, not your typical flame spell this one. Fires a ermm fireball… Stronger than the basic flame spell and with a much greater range. It’s only sixty gold”

     

    The Argonian wasn’t used to wealth and the few gold he had certainly wasn’t going to do him any good by keeping hold of it. He eagerly handed the money over along with a swift reply.

    “Deal”.

    Taking the book in hand, Sotek promptly learned the spell on the spot before pocketing the ten gold which was all he had left.

     

    Despite knowing that Sotek was near destitute, Belethor handed over another spell book.

    “It’s the same as the flame spell but uses ice instead; only fifty gold. Give it to me when you got it”. He waved the book at Sotek forcing him to take it just as a different man entered the shop.

     

    The Nord walked straight over to Belethor, taking his attention off Sotek and stated his ‘problem’.

    “I need a second hand pair of trousers; these have a tear in them”. As he spoke he pointed to a tear below the pocket.

     

    Belethor looked at Sotek and grinned broadly before he turned back to the man.

    “Belethor’s General Store, everything’s for sale”

    Sotek rapidly said goodbye and headed out as quick as possible without appearing rude as Belethor disappeared behind his counter yet again.

     

    Near the general goods store was the Alchemist shop ‘Arcadia’s Cauldron’. Filled with curiosity and the fact that he had plenty of ingredients in his herb pouch, Sotek decided to see what the shop was like. As soon as the Argonian entered the premises he couldn’t help but notice the difference from the general store. This time the shop was far more organised and a lot neater. Display racks containing items were properly sorted out while cabinets stored set out ingredients. Even the bookshelves which were being used for bowls of ingredients were set up nice and orderly. Upon seeing him enter, the shopkeeper called out and bid him to approach her.

    “Oh my, you look pale... It could be Ataxia, here!” The woman behind the counter placed a green bottle on the counter before holding out her hand. “That’s twelve gold please”

     

    Sotek took a step back from her in surprise.

    “I’m an Argonian; I don’t get diseases”. He explained.

     

    “So you are dear. Don’t worry, I always tell people they are ill. It’s surprising how many potions I can sell that way”. With that simple statement she cast him a knowing wink. “Now what can I do for you?” She smiled pleasantly and introduced herself as Arcadia.

     

    “I see you’re a bit of an Alchemist”. She exclaimed as she pointed to Sotek’s pouch of herbs and plants. “Well place them up here; let the cat see the skeever…” She tapped on a large silver tray as she spoke.

     

    Sotek placed all the ingredients, plants and the Alchemy items he collected onto the tray. Arcadia gently shoved him out of the way then promptly looked over the plants and specimens as she scrutinized them.

     

    “I can see you’re a bit of a beginner, but no matter we can sort you out”. She then started separating the plants into three piles. When she was satisfied with the different groups of plants, she promptly picked up the first pile and threw them in a waste basket.

    “These ones are useless”.

     

    She tutted under her breath but her disdainful attitude quickly changed when she then picked up the second pile and smiled greedily.

    “These however are mine”. Without any further ado, she placed them under the counter. Sotek was taken aback with her brazen attitude but all he could do was look on as she gathered some plants from behind her and added them to the third pile.

     

    Walking around the counter, Arcadia made her way towards the Alchemy station and pointed to the silver tray.

    “Be a dear and bring the plants; hurry up now”. She stated rather bluntly.

     

    Sotek took the tray over to her although he wasn’t overly sure what was going on, but he was happy to let events run their course. Arcadia took the tray and placed it down in front of her before she started mixing some plants together. While she worked away at the alchemist’s table, she questioned Sotek about several of the different plants and their properties.

    “Blue mountain flower with wheat, gives you a...?”

     

    She paused as she waited for Sotek to respond but he just gazed back at her blankly. She gave a slight shake of her head then continued.

    “Healing potion”. She mixed up the two ingredients, boiled them before bottling the liquid which she collected. Finally she stuck on a label marked ‘Health’.

     

    Arcadia moved out of the way of the table before shoving Sotek towards it.

    “Now you have a go”.

     

    Sotek copied what she showed him and successfully made a few healing potions.

    She chuckled as she nodded her approval.

    “Oh well done. Now remember the three rules”. She then explained the fundamentals of Alchemy. “Rule one; only plants with the same properties will mix. Rule two; most plants have four properties but there are many ingredients out there so you will have to experiment”

     

    “Rule three... Eat this”. Arcadia thrust a plant in Sotek’s hand and shoved it towards his mouth. After eyeing her suspiciously; he gave way to better judgment and ate it then immediately felt weak and tired.

     

    “Feel that? It’s damage stamina… Now eat this one”. Then she handed over another plant. Sotek watched her nervously then he examined the plant that she gave him. Although he wasn’t sure about it after the last sample, he ended up eating it after she goaded him on a bit.

     

    As soon as he had eaten it he started to feel better, like he just awoke form a good sleep. “That’s restore stamina”. She then smiled as she watched his tail flap about.

    “Rule three... Eating an ingredient will teach you its first Alchemy effect. As you get more proficient, your potions will become more potent and you can learn more from the ingredients you eat. However, I warn you… Some are poisonous so do be careful”

     

    Sotek spent the next hour trying out and experimenting with various ingredients. By the end he had a few health, stamina and mana potions stored in his pack. As Arcadia led him to the door, she gave him an open offer to return to her shop.

    “If you find anything you’re not sure about come and ask me”.

     

    He thanked her and bade her farewell.

    “Thanks for your time, if I do find anything I will”

     

     As he turned to leave after saying goodbye she called out to him.

    “You’re welcome to use my Alchemy table anytime”. She then looked down at the waste basket and shook her head disapprovingly at the plants Sotek picked up which she had thrown away.

     

    The last stop for Sotek was Dragons reach itself. The Jarl immediately called Sotek over to him when he saw the Argonian enter the hall.

    “Sotek! Come here lad. Step up, step up, I can’t talk to you from over there can I. So, how are you finding Whiterun? Everyone being nice and friendly I hope?”

     

    “Yes thank you… Everyone is being very helpful”. Sotek said smiling.

     

    “That’s what happens when you got friends in high places”. He then gave Sotek a wink. A second later though his voice turned a bit more serious. “I’ve had some words with the Harbinger, Kodlak of the Companions. He’s waiting for you lad. Well don’t just stand there off you go”. Before Sotek could say a word he found himself dismissed.

     

    Sotek turned around and headed out to Whiterun. As he walked up the steps towards the doors of Jorrvaskr, he couldn’t help but think about what Bjorlam said about the Jarl.

     

     

Comments

21 Comments   |   SpottedFawn and 2 others like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  February 26, 2020
    Changed pic... Don't bite..  
  • Aela The Huntress
    Aela The Huntress   ·  February 26, 2020
    And yet again you showed me a different picture.... Want to change the file picture or have me bite you? Your choice...
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  August 1, 2018
    Updated the picture
  • SpottedFawn
    SpottedFawn   ·  August 16, 2017
    XD Belethor selling the shoes off his feet was so great. It really painted him into a colorful character.
    Saw a little error in this sentence below, (I think you meant motto instead of logo. A motto is a saying, a logo is an image, right?)
    " I...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  March 29, 2016
    I'm glad you are finding the writing is getting easier to read, I know the first few chapters are a bit of a struggle. I hope throughout my story, you don't find any section too dull or boring. If you do then please, by all means tell me so I can look at ...  more
  • Relycs
    Relycs   ·  March 28, 2016
    First I thought it would take way too long and get boring to explain the trip to High Hrothgar and learning the different skills, but now I think you did a great job in speeding things up. And like Karver already said, it's getting easier the more you read.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 2, 2016
    I  appreciate the difficulties within the first section. If you happen to see anything specific which you feel would help then please, don't hessitate to point them out.
    The short stories are a perfect example of my latest work. I had a great time w...  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  January 2, 2016
    If I was on your place, I probably wouldn´t change it too. While it´s little bit difficult to get throught the first chapters, with more you read, it´s getting easier and easier. I´m looking forward to reading much later chapters (like your short stories ...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 2, 2016
    It’s great to see you reading this Karver, a big moral boost for me I can tell you.
    Throughout U.O.T.W. readers will ( I hope) see an improvement in my writing as you have pointed out.
    I have often regretted not having Aela in the beginning of...  more
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  January 2, 2016
    So I´ve been reading this today and I´m glad I finally convinced myself to read again. It took me long enough, and I keep my promises. 
    It´s quite interesting how you can notice how´s your writing slowly improving. Also I´m surprised Aela still isn´...  more