U.O.T.W. Chapter 185 Betrayal of an Oath

  •  

    Salma opened the chest to find a few gemstones and a strange looking black gem. Not having seen such a large black crystal before, she showed it to Aela.

    “What is it?”

     

    Aela took it off her and held it up to the light. It took on a dark opaque purple as she looked through it. Having no idea herself, she shook her head.

    “I don’t know but it’s not natural. I don’t like it. Sotek have you seen this before?”

     

    Sotek shook his head and moved further back. He started chuckling as he held his hands up defensively.

    “Oh no; I’m not falling for that”.

     

    Aela looked across at him; he had a massive grin on his face as he shook his head at the three girls. She looked straight at him then said just two words.

    “Full Moon”.

     

    The smile on Sotek’s face disappeared in a flash. He boldly moved forwards, entering the alcove to see what Aela had to show him. The Whelp noticed the change in him immediately. She wasn’t sure what the two words meant nor could she grasp their significance but the change in his attitude however was so apparent that the Whelp had to ask him about it.

    “Ermm, pardon me for asking but what does ‘Full Moon’ mean?”

     

    Sotek spoke as he peered over Aela’s shoulder.

    “It’s our safe word so we know it’s no longer a game or anything. No matter what we are doing, one of us says ‘Full Moon’ and we know it’s serious. Aela, what is it you have?”

     

    Salma pointed to Aela’s hand. The Huntress held out the black gem for Sotek to see. He easily recognised it for what it was and his eyes lit up. Without meaning to, he almost snatched it away from Aela.

    “This is the exception I was talking about. Sorry everyone; its mine. I’ll compensate you all with gold”. He then took it from her and stored it in a side pocket in his pack.

     

    Salma was taken aback from his disposition but she didn’t say anything about it. Aela thought was far from done. She lightly hit him in the chest with the flat of her hand and demanded an answer.

    “Well moron, what is it?”

     

    “It’s a black soul gem”. Sotek bluntly replied. He hoped that the name of it would mean little to the Redguard and the Argonian mage for he knew such gems were worth a great deal but the actual price of them was lost to him. He had no intentions on cheating them but that being said he didn’t want to be cheated either. Having no idea of its actual value meant the Argonian, Beem-Ja could explicitly demand two thousand septims to be shared out between them all and Sotek wouldn’t be in any position to Argue.

     

    “What’s one of them?” The Whelp asked with her usual childish inquisitiveness.

     

    “It traps souls” Sotek stated. He went on to explain the specifics of the gems.

    “Unlike the other soul gems however, this can hold black souls. Ermm, sentinel souls? You know, Nord, Imperial, Khajiit or even Argonian ones as well as white souls”.

     

    Aela grabbed his arm, forcing him to turn around and face her.

    “I don’t like it, it smells funny. Is it evil?”

     

    “Oh Aela, no not necessarily evil but they are used a lot by necromancers. Yes, they are illegal and their use is frowned upon. Farengar would have a heart attack if he saw it. Fortunately they are extremely rare, but also extremely potent”.

     

    Aela demanded to have a second look at it. Something burned in the back of her mind and she couldn’t let it go.

    “I’ve seen one before... Where the hell was it? Everyone shut the hell up; I’m trying to think”.

     

    She walked back the way they came from for several yards to clear the air around her and she sat down cross legged while she searched her memories.

    “Damn you! You had it! In Jorrvaskr! Sotek what the hell do you want with them? They are bloody evil. Get rid of it, now!”

     

    Sotek shook his head defiantly and refused to budge.

    “I can’t. I have a need for it. Aela, think back; really think! I used that one in Jorrvaskr. It’s filled with a soul. Come on you; think!”

     

    Aela gasped in horror. She almost ran at him and slapped him across the face as she yelled.

    “No! No, you haven’t. How could you do that to someone? They can never find peace if they are trapped. Tell me that soul isn’t suffering?”

     

    Sotek sighed and lowered his head. He knew she would condemn such an action but he also knew she would agree such a prison for the one who he had trapped. Sotek knew the soul could never be released.

    “They are conscious and aware. It’s an eternal prison; he’ll never be free of it”.

     

    Aela screamed back at him; she felt the whole thing was unholy and a blasphemy against everything she believed in. Above all she was afraid. One thought shook her to the core. ‘What if she was trapped inside one?’ She would never see the Hunting Grounds. Such a though she kept to herself but her face betrayed her. Everyone could see she was near terrified.

    “There isn’t a single being that deserves that! Let them rest in peace; please!”

     

    Sotek shook his head a second time and began walking away lest the argument turned into a fight.

    “No; never!”

     

    Aela pulled his arm, preventing him from getting away. She spoke softly yet she felt anger build inside.

    “Tell me who? What crime has he done that was so dark, so evil to deserve this fate?”

     

    Sotek turned around and held her in his arms. She tried to push him away but he fought back and refused to let her go. He whispered one name, causing Aela to tremble in fear.

    “Greymane!”

     

    She stopped fighting and clung on to him. Now she understood. If Greymane were ever to escape the black soul gem then he would be free to enter the Hunting Grounds and extract revenge on Sotek by killing him and carrying out his threat; claiming Red for himself.

    “Can he get out? Can that bastard escape?”

     

    Sotek shrugged. He hoped to be able to say ‘no Aela, he’s trapped forever’ but he wasn’t sure.

    “I don’t know. This gem gives me a chance to capture him again should he ever find a way out. I don’t know; my mother knows more. One day we’ll meet her and ask her what we can do”.

     

    He gave her a hug but he could see she wasn’t overly happy. He kissed the top of her head then led the group down a long, wide domed corridor.

     

    Aela slowly came to a stop and stayed perfectly still except for her nose that twitched like a rabbit’s would. Salma thought she was still upset over the soul gem but Sotek knew better. He leaned forwards and sniffed at the air.

    “Skeevers?”

     

    In one fluid motion Aela drew her bow and pulled out an arrow. With lightning speed she launched the missile past Sotek and watched it disappear down the corridor. A high pitched squeak alerted two other skeevers. Their eyes shone in the darkness as a scurry of paws ran towards the group. A second arrow flew down the corridor, claiming a second kill. The third skeever was too close now. Aela stepped forwards and raised her bow. As the skeever leapt up, Aela swung the bow out in an arc, slicing the skeever’s maw wide open on the bow’s ‘dragon teeth’. As it fell to the ground Aela dropped to one knee, pinning the vile creature under her leg. She drew her dagger, giving the skeever a quick death.

     

    Sotek gulped then tentatively offered her his hand, helping her up.

    “I hope you aren’t still pissed off with me”.

     

    Aela turned away from him and shrugged. There were times when her own emotions overwhelmed her and she didn’t know how to control them. It was like trying to extinguish a fire with oil. She shrugged her shoulders as a way of answering.

    “I feel like a hypocrite. I don’t know what to think. Let’s get this over with. That bastard deserved everything he got! I’m glad ok? I’m glad that bastards suffering!”

     

    She walked along the corridor ignoring the three skeevers altogether, not even bothering to retrieve her arrows from their bodies. Sotek pointed at them although he never spoke. The Whelp understood his meaning and retrieved two of the Dragonbone Arrows which she held on to until Aela seemed in a calmer mood.

     

    The Huntress followed the twisting passageway until it abruptly ended at a single doorway. Without waiting for the other party members, she pushed it open and walked over the threshold to find herself on a long thin narrow walkway. Several feet below her was a small rectangular room. She could make out another door in the corner which was nothing more than two hinged grills. The only way down that she could tell was via an old log ramp situated at the far end of the causeway. Beyond it was a smaller room which seemed to be some sort of store room. Various shelf units were lining the back wall as well as a large table.

     

    The feint orange tint of the Whelps torch grew stronger as she approached Aela’s position so the Huntress waited for her before crossing the walkway. On one of the shelves, Aela found some candles and sat them on a stone table which the Whelp lit with her torch. This extra light gave them an opportunity to search the area more thoroughly.

     

    Beem-Ja seemed interested in one particular shelf. Sotek noticed his tail flap about so he knew the Argonian had his eye on something. The Companion came alongside the mage and looked at the shelving to see what drew the Argonians attention. On the top shelf, just out of reach was the distinct bluish hue of a grand soul gem which the mage eyed greedily.

     

    Sotek pulled out an arrow from his quiver and started prodding the gem, allowing it to fall into Beem-Ja’s eager hands.

    “There you go!” Sotek said. He waited for a few seconds to see if the Argonian would respond but he just smiled as he put the gem in his bag.

     

    Finding nothing further of interest, the group headed down the ramp to the room below. This section was sparse and void of any furniture. Having little to see or examine, Sotek pulled open one of the grill doors and made his way through the short passageway to the room beyond.

     

    This room was circular but the roof consisted of a large hole cut into the rock above them by a good several feet. At the top, the hole was covered by large metal bars, forming a grill. He recognised the room above them to be the one where they killed the two draugrs earlier.

     

    The only way forwards was to go through a narrow passageway which was so tight that they could only traverse it in single file. It opened out into a wider passage with several small alcoves on either side. In front of them, by a sealed solid looking metal door was a pedestal with a Steel Helmet on it. Sotek carefully examined the pedestal and noticed some small holes around the base.

     

    “Hey! You lot; have a look at this”. They came over to him and looked at where he was pointing. “It’s another trap. By taking the helmet off the pedestal, we’ll will open the door but also release the trap at the same time”.

     

    “So we quickly grab it?” The Whelp suggested.

     

    Sotek smiled at her and moved out of her way.

    “Sure, as long as you don’t trip up in your haste!”

     

    Her eyes popped wide open as she watched everyone back away. Cautiously she reached out for the helmet until Sotek called out to her, giving her a second option.

    “I do have a better idea. Why don’t you stand back and knock it off?”

     

    The Whelp paused and cursed herself over her foolishness. She began looking around the floor of the tomb for something. Aela scrunched up her face as she watched the Whelp scurry about like a rat shifting through trash.

    “What are you doing now?”

     

    “I’m looking for a nice stone to throw”. The Whelp stated in simple manner more fitting for a child.

     

    Sotek started laughing and he shook his head.

    “Why a nice stone? Can’t you throw nasty stones as well? Ask yourself a question”.

     

    “Huh? Nasty stone?” The Whelp replied. She looked up at Sotek and said.

    “What question?”

     

    Sotek walked over to her and offered her his hand. Once she was up on her feet Sotek pointed to Aela.

    “Ask yourself what would Aela do? Come on you; start using your head. What would the Huntress do?”

     

    The Whelp turned back around and glanced at the helmet. She slapped herself in the forehead for being so silly.

    “A stone? I’m an idiot. Aela would shoot the bloody thing”.

     

     She pulled her bow off her shoulder then took aim. Moments later a single arrow slammed into the helmet, sending it spinning off the pedestal. Spikes shot upwards, causing the Whelp to jump but her shriek soon turned to a cheerful hum as the door opened, allowing them to continue.

     

    Aela nudged her in the ribs with her elbow and slowly clapped her hands.

    “Show off”.

     

    Beyond the passageway a draugr was attracted to the door opening. It slowly came into sight to be met by a series of fireballs cast in a rapid succession by Sotek. The undead cried in a sickly manner and collapsed as flames engulfed its body.

     

    Beem-Ja looked a little confused and he turned to Sotek for answers.

    “I didn’t think Companions used magic”.

     

    Aela answered him categorically, leaving no room for doubt to the Companions views on spellcasting.

    “We don’t. Only cheating underhanded Argonians do”. She then glanced at the sheepish looking Beem-Ja and chuckled. “No offence to you Beem”

     

    Sotek laughed as he watched Aela stroll past him.

    “That’s a bit harsh”.

     

    Aela stuck her tongue out at him in such a way that Beem knew she was only on about Sotek.

    “But true! You slimy reptile”.

     

    Sotek looked over his shoulder at Beem-Ja and Salma as he rolled his eyes but Aela had just managed to see it so she reprimand him

    “Don’t do that to me you git; I hate that”.

     

    He flashed his eyes at the Whelp and done it again then received a slap across the back of his head. Aela shouted out straight afterwards as she held her hand.

    “OWW, damn you! One day I’m gonna cut those bloody spikes off”.

     

    She then went to give him a kick but he moved out of her way then headed off through the newly opened chamber while Aela yelled out at him.

    “Come back here you coward”.

     

    They turned a corner to find a heavy looking door barring their way. Beem-Ja seemed exited and hurriedly examined it as he mumbled under his breath.

    “Gathrik awaits us… so many years… now….” Without pausing, he pushed it open and hurriedly stepped inside.

     

    They found themselves in a large chamber which consisted of a wide platform that ran around the left-hand side of the room. It followed the wall, forming an even bigger ledge on the far side of the chamber. In front of them, a massive stone staircase ran downwards to what seemed to be a lower level.

     

    At the base of the stairway a single skeleton prowled the floor in its eternal patrol of the tomb. It easily detected the party as they were still using their torches. A single bony finger pointed up the stairway as the skeleton approached them in deathly silence.

     

    The Whelp drew her shield and Ebony Sword then confidently moved towards it. Sotek however beat her to the punch. He double cast a large swirling fireball and launched it straight at the skeleton. The ball of fire exploded, smothering the entire area in an inferno.

     

    Now feeling at a loss, the Imperial girl looked back at him in surprise and she started to complain about his interference but Sotek had other issues to deal with.

    Opposite them, on the far side of the walkway, was a chair carved out of black rock. Sotek had recognised the axe attached to the back of the chair as the one he was after. It fitted the poor description Farengar gave him and it seemed to shine with barely contained magical energies.

     

    The trouble was that its current owner wasn’t prepared to give it up. The draugr warlord moved off its seat and pulled the battleaxe from the chair. He swung it around in a large circle with ease, giving Aela fresh reasons to be concerned.

    “That the axe we’ve come for?”

     

    “Yes”. Sotek said as he drew his bow. He lined up his first shot and fired, scoring a direct hit on a stone block just behind the warlord’s head.

     

    Aela fell back and watched with fearful eyes. She couldn’t break her gaze from the axe as it swayed about.

    “You’ve got that soul gem. If he kills us we’re trapped aren’t we?”

     

    Sotek fired off a second arrow and smiled in satisfaction as it penetrated the warlord’s armor. “Not if we kill it first. Aela, I know you’re afraid. It’s ok to be scared but for all that’s holy and for the love of the Hunting Grounds can somebody please start bloody shooting?”

     

    As one the two other Companions drew their bows and started firing off arrow after arrow at Warlord Gathrik. Although it kept bursting into flames from Aela’s bow enchants it still came at them. Now that Sotek could see it for what it really was he shuddered. The Warlord stood over two feet higher than himself. He silently cursed at the Whelp and their new friends. If it was just him and Aela, Scarface would have torn Gathrik apart; with Red’s help.

     

    Alas that wasn’t an option so Sotek drew his axe and shield then stepped into the breach and charged forwards.

     

    As the Companion closed in, he swung his axe up, catching the draugr in the chin, throwing its head back. Seizing his chance, Sotek spun around, whacking it in the side of the torso. It stumbled backwards but all too quickly it found its feet. A searing pain smothered Sotek’s body as he fell backwards to land on his backside. Feeling dazed he looked up to the warlord peering down at him with dead vacant eyes.

     

    Sotek’s armor smouldered from the flaming enchant and he seemed to glow with a bluish haze. Guessing it was the actual axe that had hit him, Sotek growled and renewed his attack.

    Instead of retreating like Aela had when she was in a vulnerable position, Sotek summoned two ethereal swords and scrambled to his feet. He moved forwards, hacking and slicing with both bound swords in a flurry of motions, trying to make some headway against such a titanic foe.

     

    Aela and the Whelp resumed firing off arrow after arrow while Beem-Ja let rip with his lightening spells. Sotek happened to notice the mage wasn’t duel casting but rather using single bolts of lightning. He snapped back to reality when the shadow of the warlord fell upon him.

     

    Sotek dismissed his blades and rolled to the left of the warlord to retrieve his shield. The Dragonbone axe wasn’t far away and he was quickly reunited with it.

     

    Warlord Gathrik swung the battleaxe in a wide arc, forcing Sotek to back away. Having decided the axe was too much of an advantage, Sotek tried a dragon shout. He yelled at the top of his voice, hoping to tear the axe away from its master.

    “Zun”.

     

    The disarmed shout wrenched at the axe but the warlord was too powerful and fought against it. If Sotek had the three words of the shout or even maybe the two then he might have succeeded but just the one by itself was useless.

     

    At least that was what Sotek initially thought. The enchanted axe came crashing down into the stone floor, missing Sotek by a whisker but it now seemed sluggish in the warlord’s hands. Sotek stepped on the axe head and ran up the shaft of the weapon. He swung his Dragonbone Axe at Gathrik’s neck, hacking a chunk out of it but the blow did little to affect the outcome of the fight.

     

    Now he was behind the warlord, Sotek swung his shield in a savage ark, slamming the edge into the warlord’s knee. Warlord Gathrik fell down to his knees but he still fought on. Twisting around, he threw the axe straight at Sotek, hitting him full in the chest.

     

    The force of such a blow sent Sotek reeling backwards, dropping his own axe and shield as he was hurtled over the edge.

     

    Aela looked on in horror as the winded Sotek fell down to the lower level and slam into the rock floor in a heap. He groaned in agony as he tried to see but he was too dazed. The Huntress had no idea how badly hurt he was until golden light smothered him from his healing spell giving Aela cause to sigh, knowing her mate was conscious. She had however inadvertently stopped shooting.

     

    Looking back at her target, she saw the warlord start to crawl as the Whelp had kept on firing her Nordic Bow. The lightening attacks had ceased though, making Aela think the mage was out of manna.

     

    Salma stepped in Sotek’s shoes and tackled the warlord. Swinging her mace through the air, she bashed the warlord in the face, throwing his head to the side. One of his hands grabbed her by the throat. She was wrenched upwards and dangled in the air by three feet as warlord Gathrik throttled the life out of her. She gasped and gargled for breath as she tried to pull herself up to ease the pressure on her neck and screamed as the image of him breaking her neck filled her with a horrifying dread.

     

    The warlord suddenly fell to his knees a second time as the Whelp thrust her Ebony sword into its knee. She twisted the blade, shattering the joint, bringing the warlord down to the floor.

     

    Salma gasped for breath and looked on as the Ebony sword sliced downwards, cutting off Gathrik’s head in a single well aimed blow.

     

    Aela moved to the top of the stairwell and glanced down at Sotek who was lying on his back with his arms and legs spread out. He tilted his head to the side to look up at her and he gingerly raised a hand.

    “I’m still here... I think”.

     

    Aela chuckled at Sotek’s response. He had a daft expression on his face as he twisted around so he could crawl to the steps like a wolf on the prowl.

     

    Now the fight was over, Salma and the Whelp examined the warlord’s body while Beem-Ja recovered Salma’s mace. A muffled ‘thump’ was followed by a chilling scream from the Redguard girl as the Whelp slumped over the draugr’s body. Beem-Ja swung the mace a second time, catching Salma full in the face sending her to the floor with a single blow.

     

    Aela pulled up her bow and snatched an arrow from her quiver but she was too slow; the betrayal was totally unexpected. The Huntress screamed out as she lit up from the double cast lightening spell which wracked her body. As she lay there thrashing about, Beem-Ja spoke in a cruel sadistic manner.

    “I knew the girl wasn’t strong enough but when you three appeared I knew I had my chance. Now I need one more thing from you. Blood! This will be easier if you don’t fight back”.

     

    Sotek, being aware of the danger, ran up the stairway despite feeling giddy. He duel cast his ward spell in an attempt to block Beem-Ja’s lightening spell from hitting Aela but the Huntress had other ideas.

     

    Aela shrieked from the pain and red fur swarmed over her body, covering her in less than a second as Red ripped control from Aela’s shattered mind. Beem-Ja looked on in shock and fear as Red bound up off the floor and charged towards him like a red furred beast from hell. She howled out for all her worth, not caring in the slightest who was around or who could hear her. Beem-Ja screamed as he ran down the passageway in desperation to get away.

     

    Sotek, having no other choice, burst through the doorway and scrutinized the passage beyond. Having satisfied himself that the Argonian mage had fled deep within the Barrow and Red was well out of sight having chased the Argonian, Sotek returned to check on everyone before he could even think of pursuing them.

     

    Salma was on her side in the foetal position, doubled up and moaning so Sotek blanked her completely. His immediate concern was the Whelp who was neither moving nor making any sound. Blood dripped from her head wound but to his relief she was breathing. Salma’s face was smothered in blood and her jaw was clearly broken. Having little choice, Sotek concentrated and cast his Grand Healing spell which caused Salma to scream out in agony as her jaw bound together. The Whelp’s own breathing became more regular and the colour filled her cheeks and the blood flow came to a rapid stop.

     

    Sotek cast the healing spell three times, causing Salma to shake and cry out as her wounds bonded, causing her excruciating pain. She fell limp half way through but Sotek refused to falter. When he finally stopped, the Whelp’s eyes were open although she had a faraway stare. She rolled on her back, and gazed up at the ceiling. Her breathing was heavy and rapid and she seemed to be on the edge of a traumatic breakdown.

    “What... What happened? Where’s Aela?”

     

    Sotek knelt beside her and held her waist with one hand just so she knew he was there. She tried to sit up but he held her down, refusing to let her move. He appreciated her concern for her sibling but the last thing he needed was for the Whelp to run smack into Red. He looked back at the passageway and frowned. Aela should have known better than to change. They both took risks but this was close to extreme.

    “Aela’s ok. She’s gone after Beem-Ja. Why I don’t know but he betrayed us. He betrayed us all”.

     

    “Salma! She’s with him! The bitch! I trusted her. I liked her...” The Whelp’s eyes swelled up as she fought back tears. She hated being played and used. This whole set up stank of it.

     

    Sotek calmed her down and gently tilted her head to the side, showing her that Salma was with them. The girl was still out cold but she was breathing normally.

    “He betrayed her too. He hit you two then attacked Aela; his mistake!”

     

    “Follow them. We’ll be ok. Go! Don’t let Aela face that treacherous bastard alone”. The Whelp pushed Sotek’s hand away then proceeded to sit up once more. Her head was pounding and everything seemed surreal and blurry but she was determined not to be a burden when Aela was in need of back up.

     

    Sotek checked on Salma then headed down the corridor looking for Red and the Argonian. He held both his axes tightly in his hands but he wasn’t sure which one he would meet first. He never saw Red in that temper before and he silently hoped if it was Red then that she would be calmer and more willing to listen to him rather than attack out of hand.

     

     He didn’t have to go far though. Beem-Ja was crouched over the pedestal covered in bloody rags. Sotek cautiously approached him just in case he wasn’t dead but it was soon apparent that the Argonian died in the spear trap.

     

    Aela was sitting on a stone block nearby. She wearily called out to Sotek; fearing his response to her and Red’s actions.

    “He ran into it. Just ran blindly into it. I couldn’t save him; there was nothing to save! Red didn’t touch him Sotek. She didn’t...”

     

    “I know”. Sotek stated. He knew Red would have fed if she killed him. Fortunately her temper seemed placated with his death; she didn’t need to do anything else. Aela though; she looked tired as if the transformation drained her. Sotek knelt down and held the Huntress in his arms so he could gently rock her to and fro while he spoke.

    “You need to rest, we all do to be honest. We’ll have an hour’s respite then move on. We have to talk about you and Red. Aela, you just can’t go changing...”

     

    The she-wolf seemed sated and docile, drawing Sotek to false conclusions. He thought she was sorry and somewhat ashamed at her own actions but that wasn’t the case. Aela shoved him backwards and pounced like a wild animal. A heavy weight pushed down on Sotek’s chest where Aela pinned him down with the one knee, keeping him on his back. He looked up into all of hell’s fury; at least that was how it felt when he stared into Aela’s eyes.

     

    Her words sent a chill down the Argonian’s spine to the tip of his tail which coiled round to protect itself.

    “I never changed. It didn’t happen. You so much as think of it and I will cut out your lying tongue and tear out those beautiful green eyes! I don’t care who you are or what you mean to me! You say one word and I will blind you! It didn’t happen”.

     

    All Sotek could do was gulp and stare wide eyed at the Dragonbone Dagger’s tip which was pressed against his throat.

    “Never happened... Hssss!”

               

    Aela didn’t answer him; she looked along the corridor where she heard voices and footsteps. Just as Salma and the Whelp came around the corner of the passageway, Aela sheathed her dagger and stepped away from Sotek, leaving the Argonian panting on the floor in shock.

     

    Aware that the others were closing in, Sotek lifted himself up just in time to hear Salma as she dropped to her knees over the sight of the Argonian mage.

    “Beem! Why? Father… he never trusted Beem. I always thought he was being over protective. Beem looked after me for years. Why would he do this? It’s this place; it did this to him. I don’t want anything; I wish we never came here”.

     

    The Whelp held her shoulder and went to give her a compassionate hug but the Redguard pushed her away.

     “Get away from me! I shouldn’t have come here... Don’t you understand? I don’t want treasure, I don’t need it. I just wanted adventure, not death!”

     

    She turned around and ran back the way they come, leaving the three Companions alone.

     

    Sotek considered calling back to her but he remembered her talking about an inn which was close by. He couldn’t recall the name of it but he guessed she would head there. Instead he turned his attention to those closer at home; those being the giddy Imperial Whelp and the psychotic Huntress.

    “Let’s get back to this warlord. There’s no point leaving the axe behind; that was the whole point of this expedition after all”.

     

    The Whelp nervously passed by the dead Argonian and risked a peek at his pack. She wondered whether to say anything but she figured there wasn’t anything to lose.

    “What about Beem here? Do we leave him where he is? He has that Grand Soul gem in his bag”.

     

    Sotek mulled over the Argonian’s fate then looked at the pillar where the mage was impaled by a multitude of spears. The trap had reset itself now and the body was slumped forwards over the post, dripping blood on the floor.

    “Forget him; he would have left us all in here to rot. Leave his pack; it’s his share after all. Maybe Salma will gain some courage and come back for him. Or at least take his share”.

     

    Leaving Beem-Ja where he lay, Sotek, Aela and the Whelp headed back along the passageway to where they fought Warlord Gathrik.

     

    The draugr was where they had left him, not that he was in any position to move. Sotek picked up the two handed steel axe and weighed it in his hand. The axe head seemed to shimmer in a dull blood red as it reflected the light.

    “This is it; this is what we are after”.

     

    Aela ran her finger along the top of the axe head and watched it shimmer in the torch light. One thing she wanted to know was if the whole trip had been worth it.

    “Does it have fire damage and soul trap as a single enchant?”

     

    Sotek eagerly confirmed the axe’s potential, stating just how powerful the enchant was.

    “Yes! With some luck I could add this enchant to another one, say Ice damage, so it would do both fire and ice damage as well as trapping a soul. No wonder Farengar wanted it so badly”.

     

    Aela dejectedly looked at her bow, but Sotek saw her and glanced at it as well.

    “Oh don’t worry; I wager the flame damage isn’t nearly as potent as the one on your bow”.

     

    “But it’s still worth having though?” She asked.

     

    “For me, but I rather prefer you doing raw damage. Trapping souls and the likes just isn’t you”. He then gave her a small hug which she happily returned.

     

    As they talked, they forgot about the Whelp. She was busy checking out knick knacks and clay urns. When she approached the far end of the upper level, she gave out a screech.

    “Ohhhheee! There’s one of those word wall thingies! Look!”

     

    Aela shoved Sotek towards it like he was an experimental skeever. She kept prodding him in the back, forcing him inevitably closer to it. He had to speed up his pace so he wouldn’t fall over from all of Aela’s shoving.

     

    As he approached the wall, a word came to life and glowed. It crackled with magical energy as trails of blue mist streaked towards the Argonian.

     

    Aela and the Whelp watched in fascination as Sotek absorbed the dragon shout. When the blue hazy mist dissipated, Sotek seemed to stagger; just for a fraction of a second then he regained his feet.

     

    “Well?” Aela asked as her small measure of patience disappeared.

     

    “Well what?” Sotek replied. He smiled back at her and shrugged his shoulders. “’Fade’ become ethereal. What the hell does that supposed to mean?”

     

    The Huntress couldn’t help but laugh. She found Sotek’s disgruntled attitude towards being the Dragonborn amusing. Most would die for such an honor; not that she understood it. She was happy being a werewolf. That was enough for her; she was glad it was enough for Sotek too. She didn’t like the thought of sharing his wolf spirit with a dragon.

     

    Shaking her head at his apparent lack of knowledge, she gave him a shove before heading down the stairway.

    “We’ll ask Farengar about it. Hey, Whelp; we’re moving out”.

     

    “Oh so you’ve been here before then?” Sotek asked, throwing Aela off track.

     

    She stopped by the doorway on the lower level and peered back at him.

    “No, why?”

     

    “Well” Sotek stated as he gave the Whelp a wink. “If you haven’t been here then how do you know that way leads out? It could lead deeper in...”

     

    Aela paused and looked beyond the grilled door. She thought about what Sotek had said and tried to counter it but she couldn’t come up with anything. Not being prepared to face defeat and allow him to win, she fell upon the only thing she knew.

    “Well, if you move your blasted tail then we would know wouldn’t we? Either that or I stamp on it and get you moving that way. It’s your call”.

     

    The Argonian carefully walked past her and rapidly sped up as he passed through the doorway. He followed a short passage which ended in a tiny round room. A wooden spiral stairway led upwards as it coiled its way up inside the round shaft.

     

    Following the only route they had, the three Companions finally came across an icy doorway. Sotek ended up having to barge it open to reveal a short icy corridor. Even behind the heavy metal door in front of them, they could hear the howling of the mountain winds.

     

    Looking forwards to the cold yet refreshing chill of a mountainous breeze, Sotek opened the final door to find himself standing on a small ledge. Below them, the shear drop of over a thousand feet came to a stop where jagged rocks and a painful death awaited anyone should they fall. Aela saw a narrow pathway to the left and pointed towards it.

    “I guess we go that way”.

     

    Before any decision could be made, a large black shadow flew over them causing Sotek to sound the retreat.

    “Run! Back inside!”

     

    The Whelp just so happened to be closest to the entrance of Ironbind Barrow. She spun around and ran straight into the door and nearly bounced off it. Pounding it with the back of her fists, she shouted back at Aela who was now by her side.

    “It won’t open!”

     

    Aela shoved her aside and shoulder bashed the door but it resisted her attempts all too easily, leaving them to the mercy of the dragon.

     

     

Comments

8 Comments   |   A-Pocky-Hah! and 8 others like this.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  January 3, 2017
    Well that was intense. Sotek shows some serious skillz here. 
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  December 5, 2016
    Aela (though) was far from done. She lightly hit him in the chest with the flat of her hand and demanded an answer.



    “Unlike the other soul gems however, this can hold black souls. Ermm, (sentinent) souls? You know, Nord, Em...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  November 29, 2016
    Thanks for that Karver. You backs up what Harrow stated and yet you always manage to introduce a certain fear factor.
    Saying that though.... You do give me a perfect opportunity to sort out something I've been planning for UOTW.
    • Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Thanks for that Karver. You backs up what Harrow stated and yet you always manage to introduce a certain fear factor.
      Saying that though.... You do give me a perfect opportunity to sort out something I've been planning for UOTW.
        ·  November 29, 2016
      My pleasure, mate. As always :)
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  November 28, 2016
    Black Soul Gems can trap any soul. Their capacity is just much larger than Grand Soul Gems, which allows them to trap souls of Men, Mer and Beasts. But...


     If the gem is not precisely the size of the encased soul, small bits of ...  more
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  November 28, 2016
    According to the Elder Scrolls wiki, black soul gems can hold both white and black souls. I also recall trapping petty souls in black soul gems before, and since the souls of sentient beings are all classified as 'grand' in Skyrim, I'm reasonably certain ...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  November 27, 2016
    See I thought this as well but I clearly remember having to 'drop' Black Soul Gems to empty them when they had white souls trapped within. Now you got me thinking it was due to some sort of mod.
    I'll give it a test tomorrow and get back to you. more
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  November 27, 2016
    “Unlike the other soul gems however, this can hold black souls. Ermm, sentinel souls? You know, Nord, Empire, Khajiit or even Argonian ones as well as white souls”
    I may not be an expert on souls, but I'm pretty sure black soul gems only trap black souls.