[Story] pt.26. In and out.

Part one is here Part 25 is here

[...]

The next morning when we come down for breakfast, Vilja complains about how scruffy the place is, and some nice new curtains would make the place look better. This immediately puts Sofia's back up, as she is the putative mistress of the house, and not the upstart farm girl. If anyone is going to be picking out curtains it's going to be her. After a few pointed remarks, Vilja goes quiet on the subject.

Looking at the map it appears Redoran's retreat is a short journey across Whiterun plain, so we make the rounds to sell our loot, it seems cloaks are far more valuable than armour, Something to bare in mind in future. Then we set off for the stables to pick up the horses. We might get lucky and find an elk on the way out.

Outside the weather's is a bit hazy with low cloud cover over the mountains, still visibility is fairly good, so we set off in high spirits.

[...]

On the way past the Western watchtower we approach a large Orc in full plate armour, he standing by the corpses of two large sabre cats. In talking to him it appears he is waiting for a good death, but he doesn't mind us taking the pelts. I try to goad the old Orc into following us, saying he's unlikely to find any kind of death on such a well defend stretch of road, but he doesn't bite. Shame, he still looks in excellent shape to me. His armour alone must be worth a small fortune.

On the way past the fort as it begins to get dark we spot a couple of elk, but we're already weighted down by the sabre cats so we let them go as we're almost there.

[...]

The retreat when we find it is set back from the road and underground, it appears to be a mine. Complete with a few barrels outside.

Inside it looks very much like a mine too. So we draw weapons and go silently. There is a doorway of sorts and through it we can see a man and a dog. The dog could be an issue as it will alert everyone, I don't really want to kill it, but I probably don't have a lot of choice.

[...]

I take the dog clean in one shot, and shortly afterwards, the bandit too. Sneaking does have it's advantages. I guess we'll push deeper in and see what we can find. I'm sure that won't be the last of them in a place this size. As usual with bandits the only thing worth taking is the beer. I pop a chest for 50 Septims but the rest is worthless.

Down through a narrow passage, I can hear two people talking, from the corner I take out a female bandit with one shot, and draw a line on the more heavily armoured of the two. I get one shot off before he steps closer, then Sofia nails him with a couple of ice bolts while Vilja goes in with a blade. He goes down after a couple of salvoes. After a quick scout about they appear to be the only people here.

A quick search throws up lots of food a few beers & potions, a barrel full of scrolls, and a chest with some nice gear. I give most of this to Vilja, including a reasonably decent sword, she may as well have it, as it won't be worth much if sold.

[...]

We exit the cave, call the horses, and ride back in the dark, apart from a passing militia patrol the road is empty, and the sky clear. Via torchlight we see the Orc, still waiting for death, we nod at him, and pass by.

We drop the horses back at the stable and walk back, as we get close to the gate we see that the Khajiit are back in town, but the camp is dark when we pass, time to go home and sleep.

[...]

Sofia is extra passionate the next morning, which is a welcome if puzzling change, but then much else about the woman still mystifies me. We get up and eat breakfast, Vilja is looking wistfully at the alchemy nook, and asks if we can't at least move the table.

It takes us some time to move the junk from under the stairs out of the way, but then we move the alchemy table in. It sort of fits.

That done it's back out into the world, to make the rounds and head up to Dragonsreach to see how little they will offer this time. We're not far of 10 thousand Septims at this point. The sabre cat meat was essentially worthless, but in such abundance, it brought in a fair few Septims on its own. That allied to a bit of armour, and some odd metal ingots and we'll soon be ready for bigger things.

[...]

On the way past we give the orphan girl Lucia a gold piece and two green apples, she thanks us and runs off.

We manage to get an audience with the steward straight away, 300 Septims, not bad, Sofia is pleased too, she suggests we "go to the tavern and get so drunk we do something we'll regret."

"What, like having children?"

She shoots me a mean look, I smile back.

We overhear the Jarl arguing with his housecarl, about the Jarl going out for a beer alone, shame we missed him.

Since we've turned in a few quests now we ask the steward if we can go to the dungeon to speak to a prisoner, He nods and tells us to report to the desk guard and mention his name. "They'll let you in"

Vilja asks the elf housecarl if she'd like to play "rock, paper, scissors" but she bristles and touches her sword. I don't think she plays those kind of games. We leave and head around to the dungeon.

[...]

Inside it seems more brightly lit than last time, The desk guard takes our names and waves us in. The orc we brought in a while back isn't resident, but then I never expected him to be. Most of the cells are occupied, though in one of them the guy is either dead, or reaching for something through a grate in the floor. I mention this to a guard he just shoos me out of the way. "Move along citizen"

We ask another guard about Nerida and we are directed to a cell, we call the name, and a small woman with dark curly hair in ringlets looks up. I don't know what I was expecting, but she's not it. I motion her to come forward, and ask what I've been told to ask, about how she intends to repay what she owes and what became of the item she went in to get, she demurs.

I tell her that we have need of a thief, and ask if she will work for me if I get her out, she says she expects a decent cut of any loot, but agrees. She's not sure when they will let her out, as she says that she's not been formally charged, she just there for questioning.

[...]

We leave and head out for the day. But not before being accosted by a mercenary looking for his father's sword, might be worth it if we nothing better to do one day

The weather is great today, bright, and clear enough to see the sun glinting off the snow on the barrow. We pass the caravan stop, but it's empty again, they must only have been in town for a day, we can catch them next time

We've been doing too much riding of late so I figure we're about due for a walk across the plains. We may get lucky.

[...]

The old Orc is still waiting for his death, we leave him a beer and an apple, fighting is thirsty work if nothing else. He's still in no mood to chat.

It seems fairly quiet out to be honest, so we climb up a small rise close by and scan the surroundings​, Sofia takes this as a opportunity to sit down and eat. She's developing a proper appetite that girl.

In the distance towards, Rorikstead, we can make out a large object wheeling through the sky, rather them than us I reckon.

[...]

There isn't really much to do, but a day out under the sun never hurt. Vilja waves to every passing traveller, a few stop by to chat. Later in the afternoon, the old Orc approaches us and asks if we have anything to eat. We share another beer, and what remains of the food that Sofia hasn't already eaten. The Orc is grateful for the food, but vexed by all the waiting. The two sabre cats that he took as a sign to wait, are beginning to smell and attract flies. I tell him that I don't pretend to know the mind of his God, but perhaps he was just meant to go with us?

"Perhaps" he says, and wanders back to continue waiting, but up wind of the animal carcasses.

[...]

I spot one deer, almost got the drop on it, but it sees me at the last moment and bolts. Nobody is any mood to give chase. Sofia finds a spot to lie down and sleep for a bit. Vilja is making daisy chains This idyllic scene is only interrupted by a guard who wanders over to see what we're doing and to remind us about "no lollygagging" so we rouse Sofia and wander back to Whiterun. We toss the Orc another apple on the way past. We even get what may have been a smile, though with those tusks it's difficult to tell.

We stop off at the house to get out of our armour, it's a warm evening, and we don't need to go tooled up. Then after a quick bite to eat we wander up to the mare for the evenings entertainment.

[...]

Part 27 is here