U.O.T.W. Chapter 204 A False Start

  •  

     

    It was a few hours after dawn by the time the carriage arrived at Solitude. Sotek had spent at least half the journey asleep but now he was wide awake and eager to get started. He said his goodbye to Bjorlam and flung a small pouch of gold on the seat next to the carriage driver. After taking a single bite from an apple, he fed it to Chestnut then with a wave, he headed off under the archway into Solitude.

     

    He walked past the first few shops without battering an eyelid as they held little interest to him although he did slow down when he traipsed past the alchemist’s window. He had half a mind to open the door and peek inside but he felt it was a betrayal as Aela wasn’t there with him. Feeling somewhat lonely, he sucked in his gut and strolled past.

     

    Ignoring the large archway, he headed up the ramp where the Fletcher’s shop was. He pondered about its wares and how the arrows would compare to his own but he left finding out for another day. Instead, he entered the courtyard of the barracks then proceeded towards the main garrison building where general Tullius would be.

     

    The general was discussing the current situation with a legionnaire commander. He turned around when he heard the door open and the look of surprise was unmistakable.

    “What the? Oh, it’s you. We weren’t expecting you for half a day still”.

     

    “I thought it more prudent to get started, what with the attack on Whiterun”. Sotek said as he peered down at the map of Skyrim. He tried to spot the positon of the Stormcloak camp Aela would have attacked but he couldn’t see anything remotely near where he thought she would be.

     

    “Yes, well!” The general replied as he cautiously watched the Argonian. He had read the report Rikke had sent him and parts of its contents he found somewhat disturbing.

    “You know of Legate Rikke?”

     

    “Yes, she was here when we first met, and at the battle of Whiterun”. Sotek stated. He looked around at the other officers, half expecting to see her but she wasn’t there.

     

    “Yes, she made an interesting report. I know what you are, so do most of my men. The question I have to ask is can I use you or do I kill you outright”. As the General spoke he stared at the Argonian, looking at him right in the face.

     

    Sotek gave a wily smile and openly met the general’s gaze head on.

    “I presume that you mean to use me then”.

     

    “What brings you to that conclusion? Personally, I think you should be hung”. The general almost shouted his reply and his fist lightly tapped on the table in front of him.

     

    Sotek shook his head, dispelling Tullius’s bluff. If the truth be told, he was rather enjoying the cat and mouse game the general was trying to play.

    “No you don’t, you think you can use me. If you wanted me dead, then I would have had a much more interesting time coming here”.

     

    The general gave a small satisfactory smirk.

    “Yes; maybe Rikke was right about you. Report to her, she is at the Imperial camp in the Pale”.

     

    He showed Sotek where it was on the map then passed him a folded parchment containing sealed orders for Rikke; Sotek looked at the wax seal and was quick to recognise the Solitude symbol embedded in the wax. Without a further word Sotek left then headed to the stables. As he checked over the horses to find a suitable one for his needs, a stable lad approached him from behind the paddock.

    “You’re Sotek? Of the imperial legion? We have your horse ready”.

     

    Sotek looked straight at the boy and stated his independence.

    “I’m not in the legion, I’m a Companion. From Whiterun?”

     

    The stable boy looked unimpressed and shrugged his shoulders dismissively.

    “Whatever; what’s the difference? They say fight, so you fight”. Then he led Sotek behind the stables where a courier horse was saddled and waiting. Sotek mounted up on the horse and rode out away from the stables.

     

    After several feet, he stopped the horse and looked over his shoulder to the stable boy. The Argonian hissed under his breath, then headed off to the imperial camp.

    “Thiss iss going to be a long day”.

     

    The ride to the Imperial camp was uneventful except for the one stage of his journey where he had by chance come across three clumps of Juniper berries. They didn’t taste as sweet as Snowberries but they proved to be a good substitute when he was away from the snowy climate which the Snowberries favoured.

     

    By the time he reached to the camp the sun was past its peak. As he drew near, a lookout shouted out to the camp’s commander.

    “Rider coming in!”

     

    Two guards on picket duty flagged him down then, after reading his orders, they ushered him into the camp.

     

    As he approached the quartermaster, he was met by Legate Rikke who by the looks of her, had only just got up.

    “Ahh your here and early too. Follow me”.

     

    She led him to the main tent where a soldier was standing under the awning. As he saw them approach, he pulled open the flap allowing them to venture inside. In the middle of the tent was a large table with a map of Skyrim set out on it. Red and blue flags pricked out Imperial and Stormcloak locations spread out across Skyrim.

    “I am glad your early; it will make your task somewhat easier”. She stated as she read her orders.

     

    While she was examining the letter, Sotek stuck his head outside and surveyed the camp. There were four smaller tents in a row and from what he had seen, about ten soldiers. Not a very big camp at all. The second biggest tent had a battle standard by the side of it, marking it out to be legate Rikke’s quarters. The other tent which Sotek presumed to be the quartermasters billet as he had to contend with the supplies and perishables,was square. Directly behind it was the wagon which they had used to transport the camp.

     

    Rikke spoke to Sotek like she could read his mind.

    “Most camps aren’t that big. They are easier to hide… and to move on. A few soldiers in each camp, but we have a lot of camps”.

     

    “Yes; I was thinking that myself”. Sotek stated before he turned around and entered the tent properly.

     

    As Rikke answered, she eyed him cautiously.

    “The general wasn’t sure as to whether you could be trusted”.

     

    “He said as much to be honest. Tell me, why did you convince him otherwise?” One of Sotek’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinised her. He knew where to place the general but of Rikke he still wasn’t overly sure.

     

    “He said that did he? Well there is some truth to it I suppose. It’s this simple, you fought well at Whiterun. You didn’t have to re-join the battle but you did. You didn’t have to expose your secret but you did so willingly; regardless of the risk. That sort of man the Empire needs and can use. Doesn’t matter whether it’s an Imperial, a Nord or even a werewolf Argonian and his Nord werewolf girlfriend. Oh yes, my scouts have already told me of the successful attack she took part in on a Stormcloak camp only three hours ago. They used signal flames to let me know”.Her face turned sullen, as if she was afraid of facing the truth. “I feel you’re honourable. You saved your Jarl despite great risk to yourself. You came here to help despite being fully aware that we know what you are. Yet, you still came to help with the rebellion. You should be aware that the general... he sees you as”.

     

    Sotek gave a smile and nodded back knowingly.

    “A threat? And I’ll be lucky to be alive at the end of this? Don’t worry, he’ll find out soon enough of what I’m capable of”.

     

    His reply made Rikke’s lip curl. ‘You have no idea, do you?’ For all your graces and power, you are clueless’. She thought as she studied him.

    “A threat? Don’t be so foolish. He sees you and this Alaela? As weapons; nothing else. You need to be as cunning as they say you are. You don’t seem cunning at the moment. Naive?”

     

     

    “It’s Aela, but I thank you for your warning. Now, what would you have me do?” Sotek snapped out his answer. Maybe she was right; it was too early to tell. His eyes fell upon the letter Legate Rikke had placed on the table. From his position, and due to the swirly writing, he couldn’t make out much as he tried to read the face up parchment. He gave up lest Rikke saw him trying to read it.

     

    She smiled as she pictured the Nord archer.

    “Ah yes, Aela. Now, I have information that a courier is setting out towards Nightingale Inn; its west of Dawnstar. I need you to find this courier and bring any information they have to me. They will be leaving Dawnstar soon enough. With some luck you’ll be able to intercept him”. She then showed Sotek where the inn was on the large map.

     

    Sotek marked it on his old map along with a few other locations which he thought would be of interest then preceded to head outside. Just before he left, he eyed Rikke from over his shoulder.

    “Aela. She isn’t my girlfriend”.

     

    Legate Rikke never even bothered to try and hide the confusion strewn over her face. Her mouth fell open as she looked back at him.

    “Oh? I thought you two were ermm... involved”.

     

    “We are!” Sotek said slyly. “We’re involved in a lot of things”.

     

    Having no other business at the camp, and being in a position where he had the advantage to find the courier, Sotek mounted his horse then set off towards the inn. After a few hours or so of searching the surrounding area, he eventually found the building he was looking for. Instead of entering though, he avoided the warmth of its hearth fire and chose to scout out the pathways and roads.

     

    Keeping off the actual trails, he darted between trees and rocks lest the courier came down the approaching roads and spotted him. The Argonian followed the paths until he located the route heading for Dawnstar then he carefully selected his ambush point. He decided on a rocky hillside where the path turned a blind corner. There he patiently sat and waited. He wondered how best to ambush the courier until he remembered when Farkas set off the ice trap. As he looked down at the path, he grinned broadly.

     

    Soon enough, in the distance, he saw the courier approach. The feint yellow tabard of the Stormcloak regime was unmistakable. Knowing he had only a few minutes at the most, Sotek worked with haste. The Companion moved to the blind spot then proceeded to place down a fire trap right on top of the path. Seconds later he scattered several handfuls of snow over the trap, covering any tell tale signs of the traps existence. Finally he retraced his steps and smoothed them over with a clump of Snowberry foliage. A few minutes later he peeked out from his ambush point and readied his bow.

     

    The courier, completely unaware of the trap, came around the corner and walked straight into it. Suddenly there was a devastating brilliant flash as flames roared into life. The fire trap exploded, catching the Stormcloak right in the middle of it. He cried out as his legs and torso smouldered while his hair burned. Sotek let lose a single arrow near point blank range and watched as the arrow pierced the courier’s neck.

     

    Even in death the courier held on grimly to the satchel. As the body lay there grasping the bag, Sotek cast a frost spell, dissipating the flames so he could recover the dispatches. He gave the Stormcloak a second look and noticed the armor wasn’t too badly damaged. Having decided it might come in useful, he stripped off the gloves, boots and tabard then dragged the body to some nearby bushes. He spent several minutes covering the corpse in snow lest it be discovered then when he was satisfied, he collected his horse. Before he rode off, he glanced back at the bushes where the body lay and whispered.

    “That’s all the burial you’ll be getting, sorry about that! Needs must you know. Blame Ulfric when you see him in Oblivion”.

     

    Without a second thought he spurred on his horse and headed back to the Imperial camp.

     

    Even before he had entered the camp Legate Rikke was walking towards him. She seemed ecstatic when she saw the courier’s satchel; even more so when she read the correspondence and dispatches.

    “This is marvellous! All it needs is a few adjustments. Change this location; send these off in the other direction; request supplies instead of provide aid..... Perfect. Now; all we need to do is deliver it to the general in Dawnstar”.

     

    The palm’s of Sotek’s hands shot up, cutting off any thought of sending him to deliver the message.

    “I can’t help with that! I am known there; they will smell a trap”.

     

    “Ah yes, you’re the one that had twenty men sent out from there”. Rikke said with open admiration. “A fine piece of espionage that was, if you don’t mind me saying so”.

     

    She looked outside at the soldiers and pricked one out from a group who were warming themselves by the fire.

    “You there! Come here, I have a job for you”. Once she outlined the plan to the soldier, she made a comment which made Sotek smile. “I just wished you looked like a courier”.

     

    “I can help with that”. The Argonian said as he pulled out the Stormcloak uniform which he had shoved in his pack.

     

    Rikke took one look at it and doubtfully shook her head as she muttered under her breath.

    “But it’s in an awful mess. You burned him?”

     

    Sotek laughed back at her and threw the armor into the soldier’s arms.

    “Well of course it’s a mess. He’s a courier, isn’t he? Look at your own couriers Rikke”.

     

    She turned to the quartermaster where the camp’s courier would often be found and saw that Sotek was right. The soldier’s uniform seemed no better than the Stormcloaks. With a sigh she waved dismissively at the soldier, sending him off to get changed.

    “Very well”.

     

     

    The soldier donned the uniform then headed off to Dawnstar while Sotek rested. By late evening, as Sotek was eating, A Stormcloak rider approached the camp. The guards were alert and challenged him just to find it was in actual fact their comrade who had returned from the mission.

    Rikke called him over, waving him to her tent.

    “Well? How did it go?”

     

    The Soldier glanced at Sotek and grudgingly nodded his head.

    “It went perfect; they even gave me a new uniform”.

     

    Rikke rubbed her hands together gleefully.

    “Right! Sotek, get some rest. You’ve a big day tomorrow”.

     

    “What do you have planned?” He asked suspiciously.

     

    “Let’s put it this way; tomorrow the pair of you gets to have some fun”.

     

    Sotek looked around the camp in confusion. He looked at the soldiers as he tried to work out who she had meant. With an aura of confusion, he followed Rikke inside her tent.

    “Excuse me Rikke! What the hell do you mean the pair of us?”

     

    Rikke laughed as she watched his clawed finger tap on her small draw table.

    “Really? And I thought you were supposed to be clever! You and Scarface?” She walked past him and shouted out at the camp’s cook. “Can you see to it that Sotek has provisions tomorrow? Fresh water too”. Then she retired to her tent wearing a massive grin on her face as she shooed the Argonian out”.

     

    Sotek huffed as he made his way to his own tent. He lay out on his bed and gazed up at the roof then smiled as his hand slid into his tunic. Seconds later he pulled out a piece of parchment; the same parchment which he handed to Legate Rikke when he first arrived at the camp. While she was busy calling out to the cook, he pilfered the orders under Rikke’s very nose from her own tent. Using the light of a candle he opened the letter and read it quietly.

    ‘So general, you don’t trust me hmm?’ He said to himself. ‘The feeling’s mutual. We don’t trust you either, do we Scarface?’ He then folded up the parchment and tucked it back in his tunic while he waited for the right moment to put it back.

     

     

Comments

5 Comments   |   The Long-Chapper and 7 others like this.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  August 14, 2017
    “Yes; maybe Rikke was right about you. Report to her, she is at the Imperial camp in the [P]ale”. Pale should be capitalized.



    If not for plot armor Tullius would've had you hanged, not even the Legate would've been able to stop him.
    • Sotek
      Sotek
      Ebonslayer
      Ebonslayer
      Ebonslayer
      “Yes; maybe Rikke was right about you. Report to her, she is at the Imperial camp in the [P]ale”. Pale should be capitalized.



      If not for plot armor Tullius would've had you hanged, not even the Legate would've been able to stop him.
        ·  August 16, 2017
      Fixed the error. I know I'm close to the wind with this plot. There's going to be a few parts where I feel some reader's aren't going to be sure of. It's a hard line to keep to.
  • ShyGuyWolf
    ShyGuyWolf   ·  February 23, 2017
    great job brother. also you should have said "when you see him in Oblivion" instead. 
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  February 16, 2017
    That Imperial courier must have gone through quite a bit if his uniform looks about the same as the one on a Stormcloak caught in a fireball three times his size.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  February 16, 2017
    there is now... intrigue. Interesting. Curious to see how this pans out.