Hmm, missed that, but it's sorted now. Along with another hamster on page two. I'm guessing I posted the wrong version for chapter three as the way I wrote this was how I thought it should be then worked on that one. It then gets censored and sometimes toned down for posting (which also explains occasionally clumsy dialogue) so presumably I posted the original there...

@Remko, yea I fail to include his name often, it's there somewhere near the beginning but to save you looking through it's Firen.

@haute, good effort in catching up theres a fair bit of it posted now. I'm glad you like him and like the atmosphere, I was going for the 'realistic' option which more or less implies dark and gritty, I think the original concept which spawned the character and both stories was how messed up and/or unpleasant anyone who joined the fighters guild would be.

@mALX, no idea what ETN means in this context but glad you like it.

@SubRosa, cheers for pointing those out, unfortunately the rude word filter here is a bit crazy and I tend to miss them (and it has a different definition of which words are rude than I do). I try to avoid using things like "[censored]" (I typed that as is) because they do bad things to the flow. Again glad you're liking it.

Cheers for the comments, I'll put up another part either this evening or tomorrow.

Just passed chapter 11 now. Firen is an incredibly well-rendered character. His self-loathing almost, but not quite, obscures the fundamental nobility of his soul. I really do need to go back and read Yesterday's Shadow, not because I am having a hard time following the plot, but if only for a glimpse of Firen before the events that so thoroughly changed him.

I am up to Chapter 21 now. I am not sure if it is your intent, but Firen's journey south reminds me of the journey upriver in Heart of Darkness. Every step of the way we see him slowly sink lower and lower into the pit of inhumanity. Against the backdop of his tainted soul we also view the handiwork of Renera, who makes Firen's acts of torture and murder pale in comparison. You paint a very powerful picture of the darkness of human nature.

Yet there is still some bit of decency buried deep within Firen. Hence his guilt. His attempt to escape his own darkness by letting the highwayman go. Most of all, his need to blind the eyes of his conscience in a sea of drugs and alcohol. He is not a sociopath. Which makes him a much more interesting character.

Expertly done.

The horror, the horror!

I've never read Heart of Darkness so that wasn't an intention though it is quite probably that I was influenced by similar works which may themselves have been influenced by it. And I'm glad people like (if that's the word) Firen, I wanted more ambiguity in my character than is sometimes seen.

This chapter was very hard to get right. It's quite long and I think I have it in the right form now. It's an important one in the story and needed to make its point without being too dark or brutal and thus needed heavy editing. As there is nothing actually graphic in it I think it's ok, however it is dark.


26. Past Decision

The residents of that plantation got a foretaste of the hell we sent them to. Even as I leapt the smithy wall the south was lit by fires. The call of havoc was out and though removed from the violence of the sack I felt it rise within me. The bell was my main target, not that silencing it now would be any actual use, but it was a symbol and any resistance would fall silent with it. A mer burst from his house and almost into me, I ran him through without breaking step. Keel-ha no longer fired on the guardhouse but the damage was done, the survivors were wounded or just confused. Without the leader they had ground to a halt. The oil on the forge caught with a mighty rush of air and suddenly light blazed behind me. A guard rose a hand and pointed. I charged him with an argonian warcry. He shrank from the black silhouette which bore down on him. A fatal mistake. Before his comrades could close on me I wheeled away into the shadows by the side of the manor. Let them follow. The havoc was a rabid fire in me. A madness.

The bell tolled like a panicked heart. I ran for the gantry by the river where it hung. Footsteps behind me. I ran. They gained. I flung myself round the corner at the southern wall, turned and put out my sword. He ran straight into it. The mer had been so fast because he was only half armoured. The blow which had been meant to surprise was fatal. Or at least sufficiently crippling that someone would kill him soon. I ignored his screams and ran on. The bell was directly before me now, a shadow on the glow coming from the south bank. Some guards had congregated there, I counted four, near half the number left in the compound I guessed. Their eyes were fixed south, to what I could not see. I would strike as before: fast and devastating before disappearing. If one or two gave chase - divide and kill.

Just before I made the leap I heard the thunk of an arrow hitting flesh. One guard toppled. Then I was on the gantry, I hit the first from behind. A massive blow which drove my sword clean through him. The other two turned, a dead comrade on either side. I yanked the sword. It was jammed. The first came at me. I ducked back and pulled my new knife then backed away, hoping for another arrow.

There was no intervention, but like most of the camp he was unprofessional and clearly had spent more time drilling than actually fighting. His sword licked out and I batted it away. Then his shoulder went back for a big strike. I darted forward and cut him. A lightning slash across his face. He screamed and staggered back. The other got round him and ran at me but the bell had stopped, the ringer either fled or dealing with the wounded guard. I screamed havoc again, the word bit my raw throat. Then simply stepped back off the gantry. I judged the drop perfectly and slipped away. A moment later I heard another thunk of arrow meeting flesh. I paused for breath and looked at the south bank. I could see why the guards had been transfixed, a mass of newly freed slaves milled around looking confused. Some had set fires and torn down shacks, a long shed blazed merrily by a threshing pool on the riverside. The light of arson glittered on the turgid water. To my left a group were fording the river, I ran to meet them.

The first slave out of the river went for me before I heard a rough voice shout 'wait' in argonian. Grey-tail emerged from the pool like a dark nightmare, stinking mud clung to his scaled back.

"How's things south of the river?" I asked.

"We won," he was elated, blood drunk, "All the Dres are dead and their buildings burn," he swept a hand expansively, "On this side?"

"The guard is mainly dead, and the rest is in disarray. Their leader's dead."

"You?"

"In part," I paused, "The retainers section burns but is yet to be seen to and I didn't dare try the manor alone."

"Don't bother with the retainers, I sent Tehei and Kieras with some of our more able brethren to sort them out. Hides went to find Keel-ha I think, doubtless they'll be finishing off the guard or retainers from the shadows."

"What about Hassde?"

A laugh came from my right, "It's good to be missed. I'm here human. A fine plan you hatched and no mistake." He shouted something at the slaves who had crossed with them, I think I caught he word fire, or perhaps light. I could guess the rest. "Now lets take a look at this manor." I could hear his grin.

The manor was barricaded, if any guards remained they were within it along with the nobles. The noise of the sack clamoured in the night. Screams and the scent of burning timber, and worse, drifted from the retainers' quarter. We walked round the front and I saw the inferno it had become. The slaves ran wild killing and destroying like spectres. Who could blame them? But their weapons were simple and their former masters were putting up some fight. Half the corpses were argonian, but the weight of the numbers and rage was slowly crushing the opposition. I took a moment to wander at what would likely happen to them. Was this the end of our foray? Had my huge success ruined my chances? The thoughts and sight of the confused slaves' butchery sat ill with my mood so I turned from both to the manor. A tangle of fine furniture and crates blocked the windows, the door was shut and doubtless likewise barricaded.

"Is there another door?" asked Hassde.

"Oddly no, apparently the servants used the main door," I replied, "Looks like getting in could be hard."

"What about to the roof?" asked Grey-tail.

I was about to ask how the hell I would know when I remembered seeing the nobles drinking up there. "Yes... There must be. Reckon its climbable?"

"To us? Not a chance, but maybe Keel-ha or Hides would be able to..." He waved one hand and beckoned with the other, "Copy me, if they see it they should come."

I felt stupid doing it but settled my ego with the promise that if this was a joke I'd rip the old lizard to shreds. A few moments later Hides appeared with Keel-ha in tow.

"We need to get onto the roof," I said.

They pondered for a moment. It was Keel-ha who spoke, "I could climb it, but how would you follow? Unless I opened another door once inside."

"I don't like it," said Hides, "I don't want to get stuck in there. Do we know how many are inside?" She had barked the knuckles of her right hand. A bit of blood dribbled down onto the hilt of her dagger.

"No it's not good," said Keel-ha, "What about the balcony bit round the other side. It's lower..."

"Take a look at the wall there then," I said. I hadn't noticed and, though I had a reasonable excuse, I didn't want to admit it.

It was lower, and a scented plant grew up to it. In itself this was no use for climbing, but it had been trained over a trellis so they might have well have left us a ladder. I didn't break step as I grabbed it and hauled myself up. At the top was a party just left. Bubbles still danced in the glasses imported wine, a tray of sweetmeats sat on a table by a toppled chair. I took one and looked at the door while the others climbed. It was wide and had the hinges on the outside. It was a simple matter to remove it and, unless it was heavily blocked, which I doubted, we'd be in. Already I could hear hammers and axes of the newly freed slaves at the main door. That would keep the guard occupied. I went over to the hinges and pulled my knife. A simple pin held them together, break the top off and it would thread out the bottom. I pushed the edge of the blade in.

And stopped. I knew what I was letting in by opening this door. Death. Pain. Horror. As far as the owner and any guards were concerned I couldn't care less, they'd made their choice. But what of the others, how would the servants suffer? Or even the owner's woman, yes she was most likely a shallow greedy creature but did she deserve to see herself made a widow in whatever way the argonians chose to? I knew full well what I was about to unleash. But only the gods knew if it was the right thing.

"Firen?" a voice from behind me.

I levered the knife and the top of the pin popped off. I'd made my choice already. Even if I hadn't realised it. And it was necessary that I show no hesitation if I was to influence their plan further south. A sharp pull unhinged the door, it fell forwards pulling the other from the wall and my four companions charged in.

***

We were a storm of black madness scything through the inhabitants. There was no method, no strategy beyond massacre. A couple of guards stood their ground only to be washed away in a red tide. After that they ran. Hides went to pull apart the barricade over the main door while the rest of us went back up the stair in search of more quarry. I went slightly behind, the bloodlust was in me, but not enough for what was happening. Grey-tail lashed out at a fine vase which shattered on the polished floor. To my other side Hassde hacked the head from the corpse of a noblewoman. Blood spattered leaving a darker hue in the wooden boards.

Further along the second floor a servant leapt out in front of us and ran. An arrow flashed from Keel-ha's bow. She collapsed, dead. I looked to him in shock.

"What did you do that for?"

"She was Dres," he looked at me as if I was mad.

"She was a servant, nothing more."

Grey-tail was staring at me now, I could see veiled hostility, "She served them, she was with them. We came here to kill them. All of them." I didn't reply. Ahead was the door to the private quarters. A single blow from Hassde's falchion shattered it.

They cowered in the master bedroom. The lord, his wife and both their children. Two servants huddled with them behind the bed, their hollow eyes stared. But for all their terror they were not as empty as Grey-tail's laugh. It echoed like the harsh knell of a cracked bell. The humour of nihilism. I think it was only then that I realised that whatever horrors my comrades had faced at Dres hands had gone further than forge a hatred. It had broken their souls.

They advanced, I followed. The smell of piss came from the cornered dunmer. I could see how this was going, but to oppose was too much. There was no grey in their world, just two sides. To do anything now would undo everything. I held my piece. Keel-ha put away his bow and pulled a belt knife.

I have no wish to recall the following minutes though I doubt they will ever truly stop haunting me. It doesn't matter if gods, morals or justice were on our side, there is a special place in hell for what happened in that room. I stood and watched, and perhaps that is somehow worse, knowing that, unlike my companions, I could still see right and wrong, but yet did nothing. The blood. The screams. The terrible certainty of it as each, in turn, watched their coming fate in glorious sanguine detail enacted on their loved ones. I stayed back, stockpiling nightmares, until the end.

Keel-ha rose from the penultimate corpse and wiped the blood from his belt-knife. "Firen," he said, "You're yet to join the vengeance."

"It is yours," I answered. The other two stood.

"No," said Grey-tail, "It is yours." The menace was still in his voice.

The nobles wife looked up from the remnants of her husband. Her eyes were tear-stained and shocked. "A clean end would suffice," I said.

Hassde walked up to me, "Like the clean end they give to hundreds of slaves? The clean justice they would extend to us? There are two sides in this fight. Are you for or against us?"

Black and white. A pure hate where neither side knew grey. They looked at me, their eyes windows to stone souls beneath. For or against? Right or wrong? Yes or no? Was it better to lose all I'd gained or to sell the last of my principals, to barter moral right for the desired end? There was no choice really. Perhaps if I'd been asked in Firewatch but now I'd come too far. Always just too far. I would do what had to be done. For Varnan. If this was all the means I had then I would seize them. I stepped forward. The nobles wife cowered away. She stared at me through raw red eyes I could not meet. I pulled my knife and carved myself a place within the group.

This is a hard chapter to write, I can see that . . .

Yet that makes it all the more powerful, in raising the eternal question, does the end justify the means? It's a question that can never really be answered satisfactorily.

Well done, again. Though Firen is flawed, and quite badly at that, I still like him, and want to read more of his story. The fact that he still has a conscience sits very well with me.

What Hauty said, and I'd like to add that your writing comes across as so natural that it feels like being there and seeing/hearing the events as they take place, knowing the characters - Awesome Writing!

Okay I’m all caught up.

Impressions: First, the writing. You have an admirable command of description and mood that seems to perfectly fit the tone of your story. Some of your descriptive passages are so right that one feels compelled to go back and read them again for emphasis.

My only peace of advice to you in terms of the actual writing is to not become too reliant on the spell checker. Too many times it will miss words that are spelled correctly but have no place in the context of the story. The repetition of ‘wander’ for ‘wonder’ has already been brought to your attention, but I also found this repeated in ‘that’ for ‘than’, ‘rise’ for ‘raise’, and ‘though’ for through’. These are all cosmetic considerations and they by no means take away from the overall quality of your writing, just something to remain mindful of.

Now the character: Firen resists easy classification. On the one hand I suppose that he could be considered a sociopath, especially after his actions at Firewatch. However, the classic definition:

Sociopath – n. A person whose behavior is antisocial and lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.

doesn’t really apply to Firen. He repeatedly shows a sense of moral responsibility. His unwillingness to kill the highwayman bears this out, as does his feeling of disgust over what he feels that he has become.

We can’t really call him a psychopath either:

Psychopath – n. A person with an anti-social personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse.

Firen’s self loathing which he hides in skooma addiction, and his revulsion at the idea of killing the noble Dres family at the plantation mark him as a man with both empathy and remorse.

In the end he reminds me of the type of character made famous by the late great Jim Thompson: A character filled with rage, self loathing, and moral ambiguity. A hunter turned hunted, hell-bent on his own destruction. Yet determined to sort through the rubble of a world crumbling all around him for some sense of absolution for a guilt that is never truly defined (I guess I really do need to go back and read Yesterday’s Shadow).

All in all I found myself falling further into this world that you have presented with each new chapter. Though I’m not sure that I even like Firen, I root for him and want him to succeed. I think that is the goal of any good writer, and you are definitely that.

I just finished the last chapter and all I can say is: Wow!

I truly admire how you protrait a S.O.B. and still manage to make him endearing in a way.
AWESOME!

I am finally caught up. Whew! You certainly know how to write an anti-hero. Firen is certainly dark, yet you give him the depth needed to prevent him from being a cardboard monster. We see him as human as anyone. It is just the things he does that are often monstrous. In some ways he reminds me of Clint Eastwood's character in Unforgiven, and that great line of his: "We've all got it coming."

The mood of the entire piece really underscores the darkness of Firen's character. There are no good guys and bad guys. Just worse guys and worse guys.

All in all, it is very well done.

Destri already noted what I was going to say about the misspellings, or in a few cases missing words. What I can add in the way of criticism is that after reading all 26 chapters I really know very little about Firen physically. I know he is male, and some brand of human. But that is about all. I do not know his race. I have no idea what his hair or eye color is. If he has a beard. Things like that. Perhaps you could show us some of that here and there. Not an infodump, just in occasional things like someone calling him an Imperial rather than a human, etc...


About Heart of Darkness, it is a very old novel (about a century I believe). As its name suggests, it is pretty dark. As the main character travels upriver in Africa, he comes across greater and greater scenes of horror and in simply madness. You may be familiar with its most famous adaptation - Apocalypse Now - which although transplanted from Africa to the Vietnam War, keeps the same theme of growing darkness.

True, we still don't really know what he is. I figured it's somewhere in Yesterday's Shadow soi I started reading that as well

However; looking at his name I suspect we are dealing with a Dunmer. AmIright?

Wow so many replies... No update today but I thought so many replies deserved a response.

Haute - Thanks, I think you've hit the concept/ themes I was going for quite directly.

mALX - Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you like the prose, it's nice to know the editing pays off.

Destri - I'm glad you like the character, I think it's fair to say this was character driven rather than anythign else. As far as spellchecking goes I'm afraid it's unlikely to happen, by the time it's posted I'll have read through each piece five or more times but I simply don't see some spelling errors. No idea why, but it's not for want of trying. For uni I have to have friends read over my stuff because there's always a few. However I'll try to keep a special look out for through/though and wander/wonder seeing as these seem to be the worst culprits.

SubRosa - Yes you were right then, when planning it I did have the feel and progression of Apocolypse Now floating round the back of my mind, also to an extent the feel of a lot of Eliot's poetry. I wouldn't claim to have a thousandth part of the skill of that but imitation can go a reasonable way to adding something. So yes, well spotted (and thank you it's quite a compliment that you did).

Remko (and SubRosa) - It is mentioned a few times that he's human I think but seeing as I was very much going for reality rather than 'gameiness' in this piece I neglected race. I also think it is in part just the way I think coming through, I have his character in mind but I couldn't say what he looks like - indeed I just went back and read the original notes for Yesterday's Shadow and any image I can conjour is quite different now that the original. Still thanks for pointing it out as at least in part it's written for the readers so I'll try to include something if the place appears, however being first person it's difficult. The other thiing is that by now people will (I hope) have formed some impression of who he is and my imagining might not mesh well with others' (this always annoys me in books).

Thanks for the comments all, I'll post more soon (uni just finished so I'll have more free time though don't know when I'll next be online).

Funny, I always pictured Firen Varian as an Imperial. A former member of the Imperial Legion who is perhaps a relative of Imperial Cult Oracle Lalatia Varian.

27. Bitter Dreams

The slaughter finished I plodded outside and left my comrades to themselves. Weariness smothered me like a heavy cloak. My muscles ached as my mind tied knots. I wandered the dark, corpse littered ground, slaves and their masters lying equal in death. The sack was over and the newly freed looked about with suspicion, and fear. I wondered at this but of course it was not freedom that scared them, it was choice. It was not knowing what tomorrow would bring, but knowing that their actions would decide it. I wandered how many would have truly free choices. Would we, as their rescuers, help them? Perhaps, though I hoped not. Then they would run, forced by fear of capture, always taking the best of a series of desperate choices, spiralling downward, ever nearer the darkness at the bottom but always finding more. There would be precious little choice for most.

They sat in hushed groups, or warmed themselves on the embers of houses. I sat in the shadows by one group and listened. They spoke in argonian but I understood enough. They were saying what they would do now. One, an old woman, wanted to return to the marshes but she didn't know what for. Her family and village had been destroyed. Another hoped to go west, to Cyrodiil, away from the memories. Another, a male this time, vowed vengeance. He would free more, he said, and kill the Dres. I stood and left them with their bitter dreams.

I drifted, for a time, like a moth between the warm lights of conversation but eventually I found a stone to sit on in the shadows. I had a small amount of skooma in my shirt and sat sipping it while I stared at nothing.

Before I found the oblivion I sought an argonian sat next to me. By his looks he was quite young, though there was a lot of scarring near the base of his tail. An enchanted slave bracer glinted on his wrist. For a while we sat in silence then he said, "They say the plan was yours." His cyrodiilic was fairly good.

"Most of it," I replied in argonian.

"How does the plan go now?"

"I don't know. It didn't go this far."

"You won't be able to help all of us. The bracer key isn't kept on the estate," he thumped his arm down on the rock. The metal cuff chinked.

I thought for a time before I spoke, "I doubt we'll help any of you."

He nodded. "Yes... What's you're name?"

"Firen... Firen Varian," I was a long time since I'd used my second name, "Yours?"

"Okun."

"What do you think will happen now?"

He looked surprised that I asked, "To most of them? Recapture. Punishment for escaping, as much to put off future rescue attempts as anything else. Some might manage to disappear, but it would be hard without the key, until they reach Argonia anyway," he paused, "What do you think I should do?"

The question caught me as off-guard as mine had him. I hadn't considered what might happen if we won, only the winning had concerned me. Now I wandered if I'd really done the slaves any favours at all. I sighed, "Be decisive. Decide yourself, don't be pushed by events. Hold your course."

"Some of us were thinking of running to Cyrodiil. Getting away from everything."

"It doesn't work."

He didn't reply. We sat together in silence, each with our own thoughts. After a while he said, "I think I've decided."

I inclined my head.

"I'd like to come with you."

It wasn't what I'd expected, or intended. "There's not much for you down that road."

"I know it will be dangerous, but its the best shot have at not being caught."

"It possible, likely even, that we won't be coming back."

"But you might."

"Even if we do there is nothing good after that choice. If we win, then what? Another mission? Another shot at death. Another shard from your soul. It's a trap you want to avoid."

"I didn't say I wanted to join the Argonian Defence Front, I want to go with you. You don't sound like you're planning on staying with them."

I snorted a dead laugh but when I looked over I knew he meant what he said. The bracer on his wrist glittered malice. What chance did he have of escaping? Really? What pain had I consigned so many of them to, even in trying to help. It furthered my goal. I clung to the stale promise. He saw a way out though, even if I didn't. But why him over the others, we couldn't take them all. "Fine," I said, "I hope you've made the right decision." I proffered a hand. He shook it.

***

A couple of minutes later the rest of the Argonian Defence Front found me. They were all there, though Tehei was fussing over a cut in Hides back.

"We need to get moving," said Grey-tail, "We think a couple of Dres escaped, they will bring warriors and slave hunters."

"What of the slaves?" I asked.

"They're free."

"They won't get far," it needed saying, though by his expression it had already been said.

"No, we should help them," agreed Keel-ha.

Hassde shook his head slowly, "We could, and maybe we should. But to what avail? There is no way we could get them all away, more likely the group would be recaptured as one. Us too. We have made our move, if they scatter at least it will cost the Dres time and money, some will make it."

"It is wrong," said Keel-ha, "We are responsible. If we abandon them now then the Front is ruined. The Twin Lamps already disapprove, this would tip them over to hostility."

"I will not risk being captured again." Hides spoke with such vehemence that she cut through the conversation, "And to help would cost us time. We must strike again while the memory of this night is fresh."

"Exactly," said Grey-tail, "This leaves the Dres in a panic, each will look to defend themselves. They will be divided and afraid, but only briefly. We must seize this moment. When we hit the holding pens we will release tens of times more than here, we will be the new power in the movement and the Twin Lamps will cease to matter. It is for the greater good that sacrifices must be made." Hassde and Kieras nodded their agreement, Grey-tail continued, "We go south, now."

Keel-ha looked unhappy, "I still say this is wrong. But I accept it's for a greater end. Very well."

I said nothing. I could not bring myself to speak against helping them. But even if I could not argue for it I could condone it. To do otherwise would betray my own goal. I allowed their decision to take my guilt. Okun fidgeted beside me. I spoke, "Very well. We go south, but Okun here comes with us."

"No," said Grey-tail, "We cannot help any individual, we will not be slowed."

"He comes with us." I said it quietly and stood.

"I am commander and I say we travel as before. We will not make concessions."

Slowly, deliberately, I walked up to him. He was taller but he flinched slightly anyway. "Commander," I spat, the spittle plopped between his feet, "Do you think for a moment this would have worked without me? It would not have. I have proven my loyalty to the cause in blood, my willingness to risk death, my ruthlessness in dealing with the enemy. Okun comes south with us or you go alone. I have more experience than any of you. So, commander, what will it be? Which will hamper you more? Does he come south, or do you abandon my skills?"

The challenge was set. His face was cauldron of emotion; rage and confusion stirred together. The faces behind were fascinated, waiting for the outcome. At length he answered, "Very well. If you vouch for him he may come, but he is your responsibility."

"Southward then," I said.

Really great detail, even right down to following where the spittle lands - but done with a naturalness and ease that makes it more like a scene than a read - Awesome Write!

Excellent overview of what comes after the sack, what happens to the slaves once they are freed. It is a recurring question that is difficult to address, as we learned after the American Civil War (and are still learning, in some ways). We are wrestling with it in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in many other places around the world. It is not enough to free the slaves and the oppressed. There is wisdom in the saying: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a meal; give him a fishing pole and he will feed himself for a lifetime. I really like how you address this moral question in your story without being preachy - there is no easy answer here.

The confrontation between Firan and the Argonian commander over Okun is very well done - terse, to the point, and quite realistic.

I look for more.

Grey-Tail the other Argonians certainly have passion on their side, but not much else. This chapter really underscores their lack of planning. They never thought about what to do with the slaves once they freed them. Moreover, it shows their real motivations. Helping slaves reach freedom is not what they are interested in. Revenge is. Given that, I would expect that they will not survive for too long. I can see Firen is thinking exactly the same thing. It is just a question of whether he can use them to free Varnan, and how he can disentangle himself from them afterward. If they all died in the effort to do the latter it would certainly work out well for Firen...

Okun is an interesting addition. He seems to be a reasonably bright one. Bright enough to know that he is not likely to make it on his own. Unfortunately he has hitched his wagon to someone (Firen) whom I suspect will get him killed in any case.

About the slave bracelets. I do not really know how they work, but could they not just be broken off with a hammer and chisel, like iron manacles?

nits:
I think you missed something here:
The slaughter finished I plodded outside and left my comrades to themselves.
Maybe that was supposed to be After the slaughter finished...? Or The slaughter finished and I...?

I thought it was a very clever - and logical - chapter. Well done!

That is awesome!! You are so into the personality of the character that you cannot see the outside.
This style of thinking certainly makes your writing very compelling. It drives the anti-hero.
Cool.

Firen’s concern over the fate of the slaves and his willingness to carry Okun (where do I recognize that name from?) carries him further within the province of mainstream hero. A true anti-hero wouldn’t care about the fate of Okun or the rest of the slaves. He would care only about the success of the mission, and the fact that it brings him one step closer to his ultimate goal.

The subtle shifting of Firen’s personality in the days since he decided to help Varnan has been carried off expertly. Okun’s addition should prove interesting. Is the goal so important to Firen that he is willing to sacrifice Okun to attain it?

Okun is a name from "Independance Day", played by "Data" Brent Spiner.

Thanks for all the comments again, they're greatly appriciated.

mALX - thanks, I'm glad you like it

haute - that's what I was going for, I'm glad you didn't find it preachy. I wanted to point out the problem without really suggesting a solution.

SubRosa - thanks for the comments, it's nice to know what people reading this are thinking to see if the effects I was going for were successful. Okun I think was nessesary as much as anything, he didn't actually appear in the original plan but it became clear I needed another character and he appeared. (Reading Yesterday's Shadow might make who Varnan is a little clearer and explain Firen's goal a bit more).
As far as slave bracers go I can only put it down to 'they're magic'. In game they could not be removed without a key and I decided to keep it that way.

Wolf - Thanks for the kind words. I'm not sure how much its me being ito the character as opposed to disinterested in appearance though....

Destri and Remko - thanks for the comments, I didn't realise there was an Okun anywhere else, it's a coincidence I would have avoided had I known.

Thanks for all the comments and without further ado:


28. Movements

Any fear I had that I may have lost place in the group was quickly dispelled on speaking with the others. Their awe at what they had just achieved had rubbed onto myself and helping Okun had contributed to their feeling that I belonged in the group, and nearer to the top of command not the bottom, much nearer. Even Grey-tail seemed to harbour little resentment once he realised I had no intentions to usurp him. We travelled a long way southward that night and stopped a way into the day. Shelter was scarce so far into the lands of the Dres and we had to make do with the ruin of a shack which had been engulfed by rising waters. The swampy ground had eaten the timber walls which protested as I clambered onto the roof in an attempt to keep dry. The argonians were less bothered by the damp and simply slept on the ground.

When I woke the sun was a red disk half swallowed by the distant hills in the west. A finger of fire reached over the rice paddies and fens beckoning west. A mile or so distant was a small town, the news would be there now. What were they thinking? Briefly I looked back to the north, I was glad that we had come far enough for nothing to be visible. How many had been recaptured? Were they, even now, burying the bodies. I shuddered remembering the noble family and again wandered at my actions. I could still turn away from it all. But to do so would be to fail, and it would not undo what I had done. I would follow my grail. I looked back to closer things, my six companions, and Okun, still slept from the day before. Did they dream of the horrors of yesterday or did they have greater demons? I thought of the noble's wife again and shuddered. My pack was on the ground, I dropped down and pulled out my pipe. The white smoke pushed some of the troubles from my mind.

I sat and stared at nothing. The sickly sweet taste was a comfort. The drug held me in the present, a cell to hide from both glowering past and conspiring future. After a while I heard Okun rise and approach, he moved differently from the others. I put down my pipe and tried a smile.

"Evening."

He smiled back, "Indeed. So this is what freedom feels like..." He leant on a long handled billhook he'd taken from the plantation.

"A version at least," I said, "Do you know how to use that? Where we're going you'll have to, you'll want armour too."

"Use this?" he looked at the tool, "It's longer than I'm used to, but for hedging I'd say I'm an expert. For killing? Never tried. Not a great idea as a slave."

"Pass it here," I said and took it. It was a quality tool, the heavy steel blade curved to a hooked point and was well balanced by its long handle. "I've heard of people using weapons like this," I said, "Popular among the peasants of High Rock apparently. I guess it's somewhere between a spear and an axe. Not my favourite weapons, especially the spear, but I can show you what I can."

I spent the next hour showing him how to hold the billhook, and more importantly himself. Being a fighter is as much in the mind as in the strength. Not that I hold with all the nonsense about the battle being a mental thing, but a willingness to accept that you'll get hurt and carry on, and knowing when to unleash the aggression makes the difference as much as strength or endurance. Some of these things also seem to be learnt in the plantations for they were there, at least to an extent, in Okun. The sounds of our practising woke the others and as darkness fell we continued south.

I was only a little past midnight when we stopped. The trend in the land had continued and we had spent the latter part of the night slipping along the embankments which marked out the rice paddies which streaked for miles in every direction. A good portion of all saltrice came from the south of Morrowind, now I saw why. I moved towards the front where Keel-ha led as we approached a river.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Places to sleep are hard to find. There used to be a well stocked cave dug into the river near here. I'm looking for it."

"Is there nowhere further south. We could still go a way yet."

Grey-tail spoke from behind, "There is a town nearby. We have a contact there, I want more information on the pens east of Tear and on the effects of last night. This contact will know. If you are willing to forgo some rest I would ask that you accompany me."

"Of course," I said, "But I thought there was no abolitionist bases south of Alt Bosara?"

"No Twin Lamps safe houses, but Nakuma doesn't know all as much as she thinks she does. And this is just a contact. He will help us with materials and information but that is all. And I would ask no more of him."


The cave entrance turned out to be under a weir upstream of a town. Hassde, Keel-ha and Tehei went in to check it and emerged moments later. It was undisturbed. I looked at the swirling waters than at Grey-tail. "When do we go to see this contact of yours?"

He chuckled, "I wouldn't have minded a rest but I suppose now is as good a time as any. Just a moment." He jumped into the waters and disappeared. A short time later he re-emerged with two waxed cotton parcels. Once on land he pulled them open. The first contained two large brown robes and the second some rations.

I took a robe and pulled it on, the hood was deep enough to be suspicious there was also an odd line of loops round the inside. I took a handful of rather old dried fruit, "What are the loops for?" I asked.

He flicked some river water at me with his tail in reply, "Keeps it from showing under. Are you ready?"

I nodded and we set out for the nearby town. The cloud gave us plenty of shadows to keep to. Just outside the town was joined a small track, there were no walls and the few guards who were out at the late hour weren't patrolling. I followed the argonian to a narrow lane behind a tannery. The pits of wet skins and urine choked the street in their noisome pall. Ahead I was surprised to see an Imperial Cult shrine, clearly they had suffered with Empire's withering power here. I was surprised when Grey-tail walked up to the door and knocked. A moment later a bolt shot back, it was too fast. Someone had been waiting.

The door opened a crack and a haggard imperial looked out. "Whose there?" His eyes danced with fear and anger.

"A sodden traveller."

The eyes flared, "Idiot. Get in here now," the door opened a little further to reveal a large crossbow the man held, "And avoid the doormat." I hurried in behind Grey-tail and gingerly stepped over the mat which was largely failing to hide the bear-trap under it. The man slammed the door behind us and turned on Grey-tail who lowered his hood, "What are you thinking fool. Or weren't you? And who's this?"

I pulled my hood back, "My name is Firen. I am with the Argonian Defence Front."

The man swore. "I've heard a bit about you, none of it good. Name's Vacius. I assume it was you lot who pulled off that little stunt at the Edril Plantation?"

"We struck a mighty blow against the oppressors," answered Grey-tail.

Vacius nodded, "And shot a hole in our cause. The Twin Lamps are incandescent. And now you come here."

"We need information-"

The priest cut him off, "I'll give you information fetcher. How many of the slaves there have been recaptured? Go on, guess. Of the sixty or so there over fifty were captured within the day. What did you think was going to happen? Fools. The Dres are furious, and scared," he said the last word with a bit of approval, "Their reaction was harsh, even for them. Probably something to do with rumours I heard about killing the nobles. I don't want to know. You killed twenty retainers, so they beat twenty of the captured slaves to death as an example." He fizzled out.

For a moment silence. I'd expected some punishment for them and doubtless a significant increase on the price on my head, it hadn't even crossed my mind that they might be that inhuman. Grey-tail mirrored surge of hatred I felt. He brought his fist down on the altar, "They will suffer for this. Before all the gods I make a vow now! This crime will be avenged ten-fold - by my own hand I shall execute two hundred Dres scum." He stopped breathing heavily for a few moments, "They shall be avenged, it was a necessary sacrifice for a greater good. Now I need information. We're headed for the pens east of Tear. How many slaves? How many guards? Any large garrisons due to be south of Tear in the next few weeks?"

Vacius pondered for a moment, "Yes, I can see where you were heading with this. You've hoisted yourselves though."

"How?" I asked.

"The Dres are genuinely afraid. They're not used to trouble in the heartlands so all the garrisons have been recalled to the settlements."

"That is to our advantage." I said.

"If you would let me finish," annoyance flickered in his eyes, "You did it too well. The slaves are to be moved tomorrow. To Tear itself. You'll never reach them there," he held up a hand to forestall any comment from myself, "It gets worse," he seemed almost delighted, "The area to the north is crawling with slave-hunters working their way south and because all the Dres guards are in the towns they have put an open contract on you. Thirty thousand drakes," he grinned, "Five thousand a head. The Dres are rich, an they won't tolerate the damage you've done to their business. Plenty of nobles are offering more if they get you alive," he grinned, "The Fighters Guild is the main contractor, they already have several parties out, in fact I think there's one in town now."

I couldn't reply immediately. That much money was... staggering. I realised I might be the most wanted man in Morrowind, or even the whole of Tamriel. At length I said, "What do you suggest we do?"

He shrugged, "Mix the right fungi together? Fall on your sword? It's quick."

"Piss off."

"This is bad," said Grey-tail, "Think we can get away south?"

"The Fighters Guild are coming up from there."

"What about north?" I asked.

Grey-tail answered, "I wouldn't even try to get past the Dres slave-hunters."

I nodded, "South it is. Any idea whose in charge of the Fighter's guild operation?"

"A moment," said Vacius. He walked to a shelf of books and pulled out a ledger and flicked through it, "A redguard named Alusan. Know him?"

"Personally no but I've heard enough. He's methodical but unimaginative. A conservative leader. He will almost certainly search in a very organised way, probably why he got the commission. But I could out think him, we should try going south. Do you have details of where all the groups are and their movements."

"Mostly yes," Vacius reached pulled out a loose sheet and passed me it. I folded it into my shirt.

"Thanks, he shouldn't expect us to know this. If there's an obvious strategy I might be able to counter it."

"Anything else?"

"What have you got on Tear?"

"Not a lot. I have a map but what you're thinking is insanity."

"It is." Agreed Grey-tail.

"Give me the map. And do you have a suit of light armour?"

Vacious looked troubled but handed the map over, "What do you need armour for?"

"One of the slaves has come along with us."

"I have an old set of leather but it lacks a tail hole."

"It's not hard to cut one," said Grey-tail.

Vacious rummaged in a trunk and pulled out a neatly wrapped set, "Now unless you've got anything else to sponge from me get lost before they find you here."

I was rather more nervous on the way back to the river. Grey-tail's eyes twitched like an overdosed khajit. When we reached it I was exhausted. I looked at the waters. This wasn't going to be fun. I don't like being underwater. I looked to Grey-tail.

"It's not far to the door and the air on the other side is very close," he said sensing my apprehension.

"Not far for you," I muttered and stripped putting my things in one of the waxed cloth sacks.

"That is not something I wanted to see human," said Grey-tail mockingly. He took the sack from me, "I'll take that." I passed it over gratefully.

I waded in and hesitated. I didn't want to show weakness, but neither did I like the idea of the dive. I looked again at Grey-tail, "Could you... um... help me?"

"Fine." He jumped in and took my arm, "Ready?" I nodded and took a breath before plunging into the churning waters under the weir.

A storm of battering water assaulted me. Instinctively I tried to kick up but the current pulled me under, down. I struggled against it, my heart hammering. A rough hand gripped my arm hard and pulled my down. And suddenly the rolling waters were carrying me the way I wanted to go. I forced myself to swim the way the arm was pulling. My panic quelled a little though my lungs already felt hot. My eyes burnt. Grey-tail pointed at something. I couldn't see what. He pulled me forward then with a strong movement of his tail pushed me into a narrow doorway. I pushed on, my lungs desperate for air. A tunnel not two feet across. Where was Grey-tail? I swam on. The water was still but my ears roared. I wanted to breathe. Could I just breathe? No. Onward. Surface. I made my legs kick upward, fighting the first feelings of cramp. Kick. Kick. Surface. A beautiful silver horizon. I burst though it. Air against my skin. My lungs screamed at having to breathe out before they got any fresh air. Then I took a lungful. I trod water panting for a moment.

I was in a small room, the ceiling sloped with the weir water dripped though it. At the highest point there was an air-hole. Just in front of me the floor sloped up to dryness. The rest of the argonians sat on a few bedrolls an chests there. I swam to the shore and pulled myself out as Grey-tail surfaced behind me with the sacks.

Keel-ha looked a little shocked and threw me a sheet to cover myself. His surprise was nothing to the mixed fear and loathing on Hides face. She looked away. Once I'd wrapped the sheet around myself and sat down she glanced back at me herself again.

"I think we may have a problem."

aaarrgghhh.... MORE!

Oh man, this is really starting to get good! I especially liked the description of Firen’s swim; the uncertainty, the desperate need to breathe. I felt as if I were swimming along with him.

I amend my earlier statement; I do like Firen . . . a lot.

Like Remko said, MORE!

Now we see the fallout of the raid, which Firen had seen coming before it started. Most of it at least. Now he is the most wanted man in Morrowind. Yikes! You certainly know how to tell an exciting tale. Now he not only has to free his friend, but somehow do it with every bounty hunter and hired sword in the province after him.

This was a particularly excellent phrase:
The Twin Lamps are incandescent.


nits:
I would follow my grail.
This is a good line, but it seems out of place in TES. It implies a parallel to following the Holy Grail. Unless there is one of those in TES (my apologies if there is, I am just guessing there is not), you might consider changing that to something like follow my stars instead.

I spent the next hour showing him how to hold the billhook,and more importantly himself.
you lost the space between billhook and the following comma.

clearly they had suffered with Empires withering power here.
I am thinking you meant:
clearly they had suffered with the Empire's withering power here.

A moment later a blot shot back,
This is probably bolt?

I was about to comment that swim myself. I think that stood out as the best paragraph in the chapter...till Firen surfaced nude and the Argonian's reactions - (Houston, we have a problem) - that nailed the chapter in one sentence - you ROCKED this one!

Agreed that the swim at the end of the chapter was heart-pounding. I don't think I was breathing the entire time I was reading that part!

Of course, I liked the Argonians' reaction to Firen's nudity -


followed by -


Never realized Argonians can be such prudes!

Al would say that the Argonians would only be shocked by the modesty of a human's "equipment". He would be drunk whilst saying this, of course. (Dirty-minded fellow, my creation.)

Ahem. Once again, I am deeply impressed by your work. Despite that rough business in which Firen engages, and despite the fact that you don't pull many punches while telling us about that business, this story is pure pleasure to read.

A masterful chapter. Lovely command of dialogue that swept us along as rapidly as the underwater swim. And the tease at the end. Lovely!!

The eyes flared, "Idiot. Get in here now," the door opened a little further to reveal a large crossbow the man held, "And avoid the doormat." I hurried in behind Grey-tail and gingerly stepped over the mat which was largely failing to hide the bear-trap under it. The man slammed the door behind us and turned on Grey-tail who lowered his hood, "What are you thinking fool. Or weren't you? And who's this?"
I loved this part. You know the protagonist is beyond his depth when this happens. Or maybe not in the case of Firen.

Thanks for the comments, oddly the last chapter was more of a linker I thought than one of the ones I planned to be fun to write but I'm glad you liked it.

The underwater part was largly drawn from my own dislike of water, particularly being stuck under. The idea of swimming though something to get to air sounds awful to me.

I don't think Argonian's are perticularly prudeish, what would you say if a six foot naked lizard wandered into your room and said hello?

SubRosa: thanks I changed all except the grail one. I thought about it but couldn't think of a parralel which had the same depth of connotations and which didn't seem overly contrived. Things like stars could work but have more ideas of fate attached to them and lack the implication that it is a quest he's chosen to follow and could leave. So although not perfect I decided to leave the image as is even if it doesn't fit the lore its hard to find a suitable thing which carrys the same meanings. Thanks for the comments though it is good to have to consider such things.


29. Going South

They looked stunned. For a while nobody spoke, each trying to take in what had happened, while I tried to think of a way out of the situation. I had Vacius's details of the patrols and a map in front of me. What would I do to catch us? Where was the best strategy?

"There shall be vengeance. The slaves' deaths shall serve a greater good, but each shall be repaid in blood," said Keel-ha.

"Indeed. I say we strike again tonight," Hassde said darkly.

Okun said nothing and looked at his hands. I wondered how many of the dead he'd known.

"That would be unwise in the extreme," I replied, "The more immediate problem is where we go now."

"Not north," said Kieras, "Not pass Dres hunters." There were various murmurs of agreement.

"What about east?" asked Hides, "To the sea."

"Then where? No boat would take us, except to sell us," replied Keel-ha.

"If we killed the crew..." said Hassde.

"Do you have any idea how to captain a ship?" I asked, "No? Then not East. And neither west, that just takes us right through Dres territory caught between slaver-hunters and mercenaries. If north is as bad as you say we go south. Try to pass the Fighter's Guild patrols."

"You're fighter's guild," said Keel-ha, "Couldn't you talk us past them?"

I laughed, "I was fighter's guild. They'll have thrown me out by now, if only for that money. Not even the guildmaster could stand between them and that much gold. No, if anything they'll want me more for embarrassing them."

Keel-ha spoke again, "If you think we can get through, then the run to the marshes is open."

"Yes," said Hassde, "We would be safe there. Perhaps I will eventually get home." There were murmurs of agreement.

"No," I said, "We go to Tear." The murmurs gave way to a shocked quiet. "They will not expect it, not for anything too spectacular but it would slow business a lot if a few slaves were rescued from under their noses." Varnan among them, I thought.

When the stunned silence broke it was several voices. None fully agreed though Grey-tail and particularly Okun liked the idea, not that the latter held much sway. Hides argued that we should just kill some Dres there, Keel-ha swung his arguments for making straight for the marsh to agree with her. Hassde was against it full stop. I let them fight it out, one way or another we were going to be heading for Tear. I turned to the maps. I had a strategy to find and a counter to devise. A counter which would lead to the capital of the Dres.

***

By the following evening I was well rested, if unsettled. Perhaps it was the certainty of it but the swim back out bothered me far more than the reports from Vacius. Even so they made troubling reading so I threw myself at them with vigour. There were eight patrols currently, though more were likely to arrive on the coast. The best strategy, as far as the guild was concerned, was to cut off the south and work north section by section using roads and the more open spaces against us to close us in. But our knowledge of that plan played hugely to our favour and personally I would have added some unexpected quirk just in case. But Alusan had a reputation for near obsessive method. It was a gamble but I had to work from something, and that seemed vastly more likely. The map gave it as fifty leagues to Tear where, regardless of their debate, I intended to bring them in a few days.

Leaving the lair wasn't as bad as entering and after drying myself off a little I lead them south.

"You said there was a Fighter's Guild group in town," said Hides, "Will we not run into them?"

"No," I said forcing confidence, "They will be well away by now and better think that we are not here." I half wished I'd set someone to watch for where they went but I'd been too distracted.


Midnight was well gone when I caught sight of a camp in some woods. Smoke from the damp wood glowed in the light of the embers, I had expected a patrol in the area. The first we had to slip past. I stopped the group motioning for silence. "Hides, can you sneak near enough to the camp up there to confirm that they're Fighters Guild?"

For once no one questioned, she just nodded.

"Don't be seen."

The look she gave me said more than any words.

"I should go too," said Keel-ha, "It would be safer."

"And twice as likely to be seen," I said.

"More than that," said Hides before vanishing into the darkness.

I settled to wait.

"I thought we were avoiding them," said Hassde.

"We are. But their leader isn't stupid, we have to pass them sometimes. Now is the perfect time, any watch they set will be at their least awake."

"How many more will we pass?"

"Depends on their strategy but I'd say, all being well, two, maybe three," people follow the illusion of certainty. My scheme was far from foolproof, it was merely what I judged to be most likely to work. The rest was up to luck, or whatever god pulled her strings.

Minutes later Hides reappeared, "A nord, two redguards and two imperials. They're filthy mercenaries." I nodded and didn't reply as I set a course that gave their camp a wide berth. The first pass was made.


We neared an abandoned cottage shortly before sunrise two days later. The argonians saw it as a gift from the gods, only Okun saw my grave doubts about staying there. It was a close thing between my arguments and their desire for a decent place and it was only a combination of my threatening to leave and the serendipity of stumbling over a, lucratively money-filled, smugglers' dropoff which swung it my way. The abandoned house was exactly the sort of place that would be searched. They wouldn't believe anyone would turn it down unless there was something much better and would make up time by ignoring the surrounding area. I certainly would have had I been searching. So we all packed into what was little more than a trench covered with logs. I didn't expect any patrols to pass us that night, but I certainly felt more comfortable in the mud walled pit. Even so I went to the house at dawn and put some fallen thatch against the door. Anyone opening it would have to disturb the pile.

I awoke before sundown with an uncomfortably full bladder. I stepped over Okun and went outside to take a leak. I enjoyed the feeling of the sun behind me as I relieved myself and looked across the plains. It took a moment for thin pillar of smoke to register. My stomach lurched - the smoke rose from the abandoned cottage. I looked more carefully and saw two nords drinking by its door. Away to my right I heard the sound of an axe biting wood. I dropped. Behind me Okun, Tehei and Grey-tail had already emerged from the drop-off. Like a frenzied crab I scuttled over to them motioning down. They didn't see until I was close enough to speak.

"Down, get down," I hissed.

"What?" asked Okun from a low squat.

"People are staying in the abandoned house. Fighter's Guild."

"We could take them unawares," suggested Grey-tail.

"No," I said, "It would give us away if they disappeared." I didn't add that I was far from sure we'd win. These were experienced and well armoured, not fat guards who never had to face anything worse than a drunk or cave rat. I moved to the entrance of the trench, "We need to move. Now. And grab that gold."

I drew Hides to the side as she emerged, "Any suggestions? They're close. Two outside the house, at least one cutting wood to the south, maybe another with him."

"We could risk going closer in the woods, or loop west and hope not to be seen in the open country."

"Which?"

She paused for a moment. "The woods. There's too many of us not to be seen in open country with this much light. We'll make three groups but keep close enough to watch for each other. I'll take Kieras and Hassde, they're least competent at hiding; Keel-ha will take Tehei and Grey-tail. Okun's your problem."

I nodded, "Do it."

I motioned Okun to me, "You any good at sneaking?"

"Alright, not great though. I can learn..."

"Not from me you can't. I don't like this. Come on." I hunkered back towards the tree I'd pissed against. Past that was a small wood which would hide us once we were through it. But there were two Fighter's Guild men to get past first. Okun followed close behind. I got lower and moved partly on all fours, flitting between thicker patches of trees. When I reached a deeper bit of cover I paused. Okun moved in behind me. He kept his red snout low, his otherwise greenish skin and brown leather armour was far better camouflage than I had in my black armour. I looked back. I saw Tehei's tail sticking from a bush I'd just passed through. I couldn't see anything of Hides or her group. The thunk of an axe still came from somewhere ahead. There were a few bare fungal trees before a large ivy covered oak. I tensed then moved ducking from one to the next. My heart climbed to my throat, a beating lump. My breathing was a wild stallion I tried to calm. When I reached the thicket I dropped in and tried to calm myself.

There was too great an element of chance. The skill was one I didn't have. I didn't want to be here. I didn't know what to do. Okun flitted the way I'd just come far more gracefully than I and made less noise. I only hoped the beating axe, a calm bass to my fluttering heart, covered my own missteps. He stopped behind me.

"Where's your weapon?" I asked.

"I can't sneak with a four foot billhook."

He had a point, "Here, take this," I passed him my belt knife, "This is too close." He nodded and waited. I liked to be in control... but, "You lead," I said, "You're better at this."

"Fine. Keep close, move as I do." He shot forward using the shadows to blot out our own.

I followed. I prayed. I glanced frantically about. Then he stopped. I wandered at the scant cover he chose. Then I saw. A redguard and a dunmer, clearly an outlander, were chopping a felled tree into manageable lumps. I put my hand over my sword. Okun was utterly still. The two fighters continued oblivious. Maybe we could kill them before they rose any alarm. My mind raced. Was I a match for both? A couple of years ago probably. Not now. Where was Hides? No I couldn't rely on any help except Okun. I prodded him.

So slowly he reached back and directed my pointing finger at a small but dense bush about five yards behind. He gave a sharp tug. I got the message and crept towards it desperate not to make a noise. He too moved to a patch of ground vegetation. It was a far inferior spot. I dashed the last bit and dropped down in the bush. A couple of branches cracked.

My nerves almost broke with the wood. My heart redoubled its efforts to crawl out my mouth. My breathing was ragged. My grip on the sword iron. The dunmer who'd held the piece said something I couldn't hear over my pulse and turned away. What had he heard? Or seen? Okun was between me and the dunmer, a log and some leaves all that separated them. I tensed like a coiled spring and started to draw my sword. But stopped. If I did he would almost certainly see me. But if I didn't it would cost me time. I wanted to draw. I held off. He looked. I tensed, my nerves taut as a crossbow string. The slightest hint of recognition would trigger me. How could he not see? Strangely the prospect of being found calmed me. My mind cleansed for a fight.

"Renil get your carcass back here and take a shot. This damned wood is solid as hell," shouted the nord. The dunmer turned away from us. "And keep and eye on where you're swinging it, Hagar still complains about headaches..."

The dark elf called Renil swore at the nord and took the axe. As it first fell Okun got up and motioned me past the woodcutters. I crept on and managed not to make a mess of it this time. Once the steady fall of the axe was well behind us Okun slumped against a tree.

"That was close."

"Yes," I said.

"I should have heard them, taken us round them. I was too focused on where to hide and not on where they were."

"It wasn't your fault. I made the noise." I stood for a moment recovering then put out a hand, "We'd best keep moving." He took the it and I pulled him up.

We moved faster after that, the sun was down and we were past the major threat. At a large tree at the far edge of the wood we stopped and waited. I took out a skooma bottle while Okun poked at his slave bracer with the knife. A few minutes later Hides appeared with Kieras and Hassde. I returned her nod before they sat down to relax and wait. Okun glanced over to me.

"When I cut the hole for my tail I didn't get it quite right," he said, slightly awkwardly, "There's a strap chaffing it. Could you... remove it for me..."

I nodded and took the knife. The strap didn't do much so I cut it where it left the armour. As I followed it to find the other end I brushed the pink mass of scar at the base of his tail and he shuddered. I cut the other end of the strap off. "What in hell happened to you?" I asked when he sat down.

A shadow crossed his expression. I kicked myself for asking, it wasn't my business to bring up a past which loomed too large to tell. Then he spoke, quietly so only I could hear. "I was punished." He paused again, I thought that would be all but then he continued, "When I was young, not long after I was taken from the swamps, I served a young noble. He was cruel but also larger than I... Well you can guess, there was little I could do except dress any larger injuries. It got worse but I got stronger. In the end I hit back, maybe too hard. I bit him well, mangled a hand," the satisfaction in his voice was a shade compared to the pain, "His father, the noble, prove worse than him. I think he intended the punishments to kill me, eventually. But he was in debt and was forced to sell me before then. I am grateful of that at least..."

I think he wanted to continue, to unload more. But I'd heard enough and I didn't draw it out, for all the guilt I felt my hatred of the Dres burned bright enough to illuminate that dark place. The silence lengthened until I stood looking for something to do. The look of the straight tree branches gave me just that. I cut one down and stripped it then split the end. The two side lay well along the knife handle. A wrap of the severed strap and it was secure. I passed it back, "Another spear, more a stabbing one than a hacking one but you'll get the feel of it."

"Thanks," he forced a smile and took it.

"Try wiping it in some foul smelling fungus. At worst it will pit the blade, but some of them must be poisonous."

A couple of minutes later Keel-ha appeared.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Good, I doubt we'll run into any more for a while not so we can make some distance tonight. I'd like to get south of the River Kithen. There might be a patrol there but they should be a way west and asleep." I gave them a grin and set off south confident that there would be no more trouble that night.

That was a mistake.

Huge amount of detail in this chapter, written naturally - plus the story behind Okun's tail scars - very powerful write!

I agree, very powerful. I am really growing to admire the way that you are able to give the sense of elongated time through Firen’s description. When he is hiding from the dunmer the seconds seem to stretch which heightens the suspense. That is not an easy thing to do well, but it seems like you pull it off effortlessly. Well done.

This one line stays with me the most, due to it power:
for all the guilt I felt my hatred of the Dres burned bright enough to illuminate that dark place.

A good bit of showing rather than telling in your description of Firen's fear as they tried to sneak past the FG woodcutter. You really turned up the tension with that part, as Firen broke the branch and sweated it out as it seemed the Dunmer would see him.

One of the things I particularly liked about that entire scene was that it put the spotlight on one of Firen's weaknesses - not being very sneaky. Likewise his internal musings that he was not as good a fighter as he used to be. One of the hardest things for many writers to do is show the limitations of their protagonist. But the more we see of them, the more believable and real the characters become.


nits:
I wandered how many of the dead he'd known.
I think you meant wondered here.

"If you think we can get through then the run to the marshes is open."
I am thinking that is them?

The argonians saw it as a gift from god,
Did you mean the gods? I did not think anyone in Tamriel was monotheistic.

I tensed, my nerves taught as a crossbow string
I am thinking you want taut here.

Loved it, the sneaking part was exceptionally well written! very tense.

I"m still reading and enjoying this.

This last chapter has been very tense, and brought back memories of my own sneaking around (in Oblivion, true, but-), especially at lower levels. It's such a challenge to master it, and quite dangerous, too, if you only do it when you need to do it.

Those darned pesky dry branches! Only thing worse is the leaf litter in the fall!

The tension and suspense during this portion of the chapter is heavily palpable. Believe me, I was holding my breath the entire time!

Thanks for the comments all, I appriciate them. I'm glad the tension worked, the last part was sort of an excersise in writing it so it appears I managed well enough - thanks for rating.

SubRosa - agreed on all those points, homonyms will be the end of me, I never seem to see them on redrafts. The 'then' was meant to be then but with a comma before it. Thanks for pointing them out, I had a good look though the next chapter and saw a few so hopefully I got them all.

Due to a failure to plan chapter lengths properly this is quite a short one.


30. An Old Friend

As dawn bled rose into the eastern sky we approached the river Kithen. The following evening I would be convincing them to attack Tear. The most audacious strike made in a generation, and a grave risk, but one I had to take. I allowed my mind to wander, the night had been long and we would make camp on the other side. I pondered how best to cross the river, the map showed a ford and a bridge. The former was a bad sign, to mark a ford suggested that the river was too swift and deep to simply swim across. It was a dilemma, though not a terrible one, I weighed the danger and unreliability of the ford against the indiscretion of the bridge before raising the subject.

"We will camp on the other side of the Kithen," I said.

"Yes," Grey-tail agreed.

"I think it may be hard to cross, there is a bridge three miles west, but we are more likely to cross a ford slightly to the east unseen."

"Fords are bad places," said Keel-ha, "The middle is a bad place to be when people are hunting you."

"With luck it won't be a difficult one," I replied.

"I prefer more than luck."

I nodded, it was wise, "Hides, could you scout west and look at the bridge. We'll make for the ford and if it looks difficult await you there."

"Yes, take my pack," she passed it to Okun who swung it onto his back.

"I will accompany you," said Keel-ha.

"You'll only slow me down."

"It would be safer."

"Firen says there is no Fighter's Guild here. Is there?"

"I doubt it," it was as good as saying no and meant I didn't have to lie. Alusan might have left a patrol to look west, but they should be well away from here.

"I still should," he repeated.

"No," she looked to me for support.

I didn't really want to get involved, but she didn't want his worry. He did himself no favours with it, "Stay with us." I said.

Keel-ha looked to Grey-tail who nodded, "We may need an archer." He slunk to the back of the group as Hides ran away to the right of our path.


When we reached it the river was in spate. The turgid waters churned and boiled like a stirred cauldron, folding under themselves and rearing up over rocks before thundering back down. I had my doubts about the ford and beyond the next group of trees they were confirmed. The map had been generous, the ford would barely be a crossing if the river was low. I looked at it and wanted to curse the waters. I was tired, and I didn't appreciate them proving me wrong.

We looked at the swollen river in silence until Okun cried out. He cut himself off and crouched, "Down," he said, "There are men on the other side." I looked across, he was right. Five figures walked by the rocky side of the river, it was hard to make out in the weak light but two looked more of the stature of orcs. Certainly they weren't dunmer.

"Two orcs, and three men," said Keel-ha, "I think you may have been wrong Firen."

"So it would appear. Have they seen us?" It looked like luck was with us, they were not reacting as I would have expected, rather they walked up the bank of the river on the other side, drawing level with our position. As they passed out of the trees where the light was better I caught a glimpse of their leader. An orc with a dreugh shield and glass hatchet. I knew an orc who carried those tools, and though the distance was too great for me to see his face I could not believe there was another. Loghash Gro-Ogdub, we had shared a few drinks in our time, when I wasn't feeling picky about company. The guild was, the past tense felt strange, but somehow good, a strange group; there were the half retired drunkards, like myself, waiting for an unlucky blow or bad dose to snuff our problems. Others were just greedy and wanted to get rich quick, at least initially. Then there was Loghash's sort who did it because they enjoyed it. Perhaps they were the purest fighters: it wasn't money that drove him, it was the power of smashing the life out of those weaker than him. For that type it was the guild or jail. I had killed enough people in my career, but it didn't mean I enjoyed it, not like that madman. Even the argonians served a purpose higher than blind destruction. But that he was unexpected fitted, he was the very antithesis of Arusan; impulsive, aggressive, a doer, not a thinker. His solution to any problem was a headlong charge. "I know that orsimer," I said, "They're fighters' guild."

"Great," said Grey-tail, "I don't fancy this ford."

"Which would be why they're continuing to the bridge," said Okun.

"Correct I'd say, we'll have to use the ford to avoid them," I replied.

"If they're heading for the bridge we have to warn Hides," said Keel-ha. He crouched up as if to run west.

"Why?" I replied, "She'll be coming back before they get there. And she can handle herself."

He glared at me.

"There's no point," said Grey-tail, "How would you find her?"

He looked annoyed for a moment then settled, "We should wait for her here then."

Kieras glared at him, "Why?" he moved into argonian, "Let her be, you'd do better if you gave her some space."

Keel-ha glared at him.

"He's right," I said in argonian.

We broke into silence and gave time for the fighters to get far enough away.


The ford was hard. The bottom was shallower and had been flattened but that just made the current stronger. Not even the argonians fancied being washed away. Drowning might not worry them, but being smashed to pieces still could. I waded into the waters pull and braced against it, we had nothing to anchor ourselves with so we were each on our own. Perhaps it was best that way. Fortunately it stayed only a little more than knee deep right across. Still I couldn't help but wonder what might have happened had we been a few minutes earlier, or later. I had been too confident I knew my enemy. The chance had been forced into their leader's plan by those higher up, my old and unreliable friend was that chance element which had so nearly brought it all down.

My foot slipped on a rounded pebble and I dropped a little. The water grabbed at the extra leg and for an instant I teetered. Then I regained myself. The rapid washed away my thoughts along with the piss running down my leg. That had kissed the lip of disaster. After my slip my progress was painstakingly slow. I was at the three quarter mark and still just ahead of the others when Hides appeared on the other side. "You've started... Good," she called, "The bridge has washed away... But how did you know?"

Excellent description of the ford. You vividly capture how dangerous the water is. Likewise with Firen recognizing the leader of the FG contingent there, and his reminisces of the guild.

The ending gave me a laugh, with Hides commenting on the bridge being washed away! I think that is the first laugh for me in this series!

I think the post length was fine though. I know you tend to go for longer chapters. When I write I simply make them as long as I need to be, and this was long enough to do what it needed to.

nits:
As dawn bled rose into the eastern sky we approached the river Kithen.
I am thinking rose is a leftover from a previous edit? "As dawn bled" is an outstanding metaphor, and very suited to the grim mood you have.

Awesome! The description of the river, the reminiscence about the Orc fighter, and the actual crossing itself are all beautifully written!

i didn't see any nits this time. Looks like you're doing great in that regard as well.

I see I have been ninja'd by SubRosa.

Good job!

The last paragraph is HUGE! Very powerful write!

Well seeing as the last piece was short as I wanted to break where I did and this piece is short because it cuts before a long scene I'll post a bit sooner than I usually do.

Thanks for the comments, I think you have flagged a problem in the last bit. The bridge line wasn't really meant to be a laugh... as becomes clear.

SubRosa - rose was meant to be there (as a colour rather than a plant), now you mention it the sentence does read better without it though.

Haute - no nits?! Thanks for looking

mALX - thanks, I'm gald you liked the cut there.


31. Glitter

I stopped and slowly turned. "The bridge..." I paused not wanting to know the answer, "It's completely uncrossable?"

"Yes," Hides sounded slightly confused, "It's pretty much gone. The flow..." she broke off under our looks.

The first fingernail of the red sun broke the horizon and silence was master. Even the rushing waters seemed muted in my ears. The dawn light turned the river to blood.

The moment broke, "Hurry," I shouted, "Keel-ha get back and help her. Hides get moving now. The Fighters' mercenaries will come back here when they see the bridge. Move!"

"Fighters?" said Hides.

"We saw them across the ford and hid. They were making for the bridge so we started crossing here," said Keel-ha as he forged back through the torrent.

I didn't understand the tirade of argonian which emerged from Hides, but the look it evoked on Okun's face would have been priceless in other circumstances. I turned back to the opposite shore and strode for it as fast as I dared. How long would it take the Guild party? Would they stop? No, they needed to be across the river. But Loghash was unknowable. He enjoyed his work too much, even when friends I had wondered about his sanity. I knew what would happen if they caught us in the water. I needed to push on, the danger of tarrying was greater than that of hurry. But the filthy river held its own terror. Under any other circumstances I would have taken half an hour, maybe more, over the ford. Instead I found myself on the other side in a few minutes and blessedly alive. I muttered a quick prayer to any gods who might care to listen before Hassde and Okun emerged.

"Upstream a little," I said, "Try to hide a bit and engage the party before they can hit Hides and Keel-ha in the ford." I cursed my stupidity at allowing both archers to be incapacitated.

I made my way up the bank. The guild party shouldn't get here before we cleared the ford. With luck. I glanced round, the land on the southern bank was dotted with small groves of trees. We would sleep in one. There was little to choose between them so the one closest to the ford would do. Maybe we could get there before the fighters saw us. I turned back to see Grey-tail leading Tehei and Kieras to where Hassde stood a short way upstream. Hides and Keel-ha were two thirds of the way across and moving fast. I sat on the bank and watched and prayed, my glance fluttering between the pair on the ford and the fear to the west.

I sighed relief as Hides and Keel-ha made it to the shallows. I signalled the rest to join me. "How close are they?" asked Okun.

"How the hell should I know?"

"We need a place to hide," said Keel-ha, "And soon, they could be here any time."

"There's trees," said Hassde, "They'll have to do."

"We'll lie low in a grove and hope," I said.

"If its our best hope..." said Grey-tail, "Fine."

"It's our only hope," I said, "We must trust luck a final time."

"Never name the lady," muttered Okun. I was already running for the cover of the trees.

The grass grew near head high in places on the flatlands away from the riverbanks. I let my pace fall and trudged between the high stems, my legs were bone weary after the day's walk but there was at least some cover. With only my thoughts for company I felt strangely relaxed, our course was decided. I was comfortable it was the best chance and I would follow it. The result rested now in the fall of the dice. I could do no more. As we neared the grove I began to feel better. It had been close, perhaps as close a run as I'd ever had. We had won through and slipped the net drawn about us. The welcoming trees rose and the tall grass died back in favour of low woodland plants. I glanced back at Hides who walked behind me. She gave me a grin. I nodded back but even as I did the grin fell away in black dismay.

"No..." she whispered. Looking wide eyed into the trees.

I followed her gaze. A breaking branch lead mine and in the dawn's sanguine light my hope withered. "Form up." I called. My voice a knell.

There was a harsh shout from in front and I saw death in a pink shield and the glitter of glass.

Chapter 30:
I stand in full agreement with the others. The description of the river and the ford gave the crossing a sense of danger that was almost palpable. I really like the way that you are subtly showing us Keel-ha’s growing infatuation with Hides. At first I thought he was simply looking out for a fellow argonian, but lately his desire to be with her begins to border on the reckless. Hopefully Kieras’ words of wisdom will hit home, but somehow I doubt that they will.

Chapter 31:
More vivid, suspenseful narration. Firen’s tactical thinking rings true throughout the story, but never more so than here in my opinion. Using the fighter’s guild party as a time lock is a great touch!

I did find a few nits to bring to your attention. Again, these are born more from the limitations of the spell-checker than from errors in the actual storytelling:



This sentence:

was great. Terrific ending, I can't wait to see what happens next, and I look forward to the assault on Tear.

An exciting entry, made so by the palpable tension you create as Firen & company work under the constraints of time. Ending in a cliffhanger! Like Destri, I cannot wait to see more!

nits:

He enjoyed his work too much, even when friends I had wandered about his sanity.
You will be wanting wondered there.

Loved chapters 30 and 31 forreasons mentioned above. More please

Yes, more more!!! You always seem to warm up to a peak in your chapters - the whole thing is a crescendo and the last paragraph is earth shaking !!! Really powerful writing Olen!

Thanks for the comments, I've taken a lot more time checking through this one. The second half of the story (from about the last part) was written in about ten days so is rather more error filled but I think I've caught them all. As ever it's my reliance on spellcheck haunting me because my spelling is dreadful.

Thanks for all the positive feedback, it's good to know this is enjoyed.

mALX's comment does raise a question for me - would I be better including the cresendo/ cliffhanger in a single part and making the cut after it's resolved sometimes?

This part is longer but I'd go as far as to say I'm pleased with it


32. Just Luck

Chaos reigned. We were spread in a line for walking not fighting. But so were our opponents. I think they must have been making camp for they were in no way ready. There was no time for tactics. I saw the dreugh shield and ran for it. Loghash was the leader. He was also good and I was our best. He charged when he saw me. Our eyes met but there was no camaraderie, no mutual respect. I saw hatred and burning madness in him and felt disgust that I had ever worked for the Guild.

At the final second I danced aside behind a tree. Bark flew as his wild swing met wood. I stepped behind him and slashed at his side. The tip of the blade met skin before it was turned aside by the hard shell of the shield. He was tough and the wound didn't even slow him. I sidestepped an obvious feint of his axe. I could see it was meant to direct me into a swing of the shield even before it moved and capitalised on the gap in his defence. His armour turned my sword but I severed a strap and it fell open on his right. We drew apart. A scream cut the forest. Neither of us was stupid enough to give it heed. I had never trained with him but already I knew his tactic. It was typically orcish: he knew he was tougher than almost anything else and he played to that. In a simple slogging match I would lose, and that was exactly what he was turning it into. I darted forward and parried a swing before drawing back. His loose armour was the key but it was behind a wickedly sharp glass axe. I fell back a little under a branch of an old pine. He followed, keeping to my left. I glanced pointedly over his head.

"Okun," I shouted. He wasn't there but I wanted him close.

Loghash had no choice. I didn't doubt that he knew there would be no one behind him, but who would risk it? He stepped right, exactly where I needed him and glanced back.

"Made you look greeny," I said in the most annoying voice I could muster. He howled and charged. I bent the branch down and his face met a cloud of pine needles. His roar was cut short as I pushed my sword though the gap in his armour. It wasn't noble, but fair fights are for idiots, and the dead.

I took a deep breath but there was no rest, I turned and ran for the nearest sounds. Grey-tail was fighting a massive nord who wielded a warhammer. The argonian was being pressed hard. I ran to aid him but before I got there he made a maddened series of lunges with his spear. Perhaps he'd realised he couldn't win and hoped to get lucky, perhaps it was just lack of knowledge. It left him too open though. The hammer made a sickening noise as it lifted him from the ground. The nord lifted it for a killing blow. I called a battle-cry. He swung bringing the hammer round to meet my lunge. The shock of it left my hand ringing. I backed a short way and he followed making tentative swings, testing my strength and reflexes. Then I saw Okun through the trees running towards us. I cursed. Two on one would be useful but the nord had skill, and enough sense to use more than brute force.

His eyes widened as I attacked. I offered no warning: just a sudden switch from backing away to as rapid a series of thrusts, lunges, slashes and parries as I could muster. Some were a little clumsy but anything they may have lacked in finesse or power was made up in speed. Even with simple blocks I could see the nord struggled with his heavy weapon. I had his full attention. After a few moments the nord stopped trying to counterattack and settled for just defending, no doubt content that I would tire soon. He was right, my arms already burned with the exertion. Okun was almost on him when he smelt the trap and tried to back away. I redoubled my efforts but must have given away where Okun was as the nord started to turn us. I tried to prevent it but couldn't do it without giving him an instant to look at anything but my sword.

He gave a sudden parry to try to break free. I attempted a counter parry. It was like flicking a tree trunk and knocked my grip squint. The stupidity of the technique obviously confused the nord though, and I managed to slip right in close to him. His pauldron turned a downward stroke and my already compromised grip broke and my sword fell. I grabbed one arm under his oxter and the other over his shoulder an tried to grapple him. I tucked my head in close where he couldn't hit. I and smelt the stale beer-sweat which poured from him. I tried to trip him backwards but might as well have wrestled a bear, he tried bringing the handle of the hammer down on my back but couldn't get the force to do more than bruise me. I sunk my teeth into any flesh I could find desperate to hold on, to keep him distracted. The rank salt taste of unwashed flesh filled my mouth then I was rewarded with a tang of blood. I brought my knee into his groin but found only armour. He dropped that hammer and tried to crush me with his vast strength while I tried to drive my shoulder into his throat and rake his eyes. He coughed phlegm down the side of my face. Stars danced in my vision, I craned my neck trying to bite his throat. Sweat soaked us like a mattress in a brothel. Then suddenly he stiffened and his grip lessened. Warm dampness soaked me down my right side. I felt another blow through him and he fell back from me.

Okun stood there hacking the spear into him and dragging it out like a farmer breaking hard earth. The armour had given way and the flesh beneath looked more akin to cheap sausage than the mountain of muscle I'd been near crushed by. I backed away gasping fresh air. I was covered in blood, mainly his, though I bore a few cuts and a nose which felt like it had a new kink. I shook my head clear and glanced round.

I grabbed my sword and said "Where's the rest of them?"

Okun, now kneeling by Grey-tail, inclined his head to listen, "Sounds like it's over. Keel-ha shot an orc before..." a groan from Grey-tail broke the pause, "He lives!" Okun sounded shocked, "Are you a healer?"

I went over and pulled out my belt knife to cut away the straps of Grey-tail's armour. He groaned and muttered something unintelligible. Gingerly I pulled back the front of his cuirass. It wasn't pretty, his chest wasn't the shape it should have been. The hammer blow had broken several ribs, one even poked through the skin. How many more went in to poke through other things I couldn't tell. Just then he retched and vomited. There was fresh blood in it.

"I can patch up basic things but this needs magic. Tehei is pretty good get her," I paused then in argonian shouted, "Tehei, Grey-tail needs you."

"She's dead," said Okun.

I groaned. It meant one thing. "So then, I fear, is Grey-tail." I sat back and looked at the sky. Morning shone down brightly now, the red fallen from the growing day to stain the ground below.

"Keel-ha..." said Okun then stopped.

"What."

"Him... Him too. He went in too fast... There were two of them, we couldn't reach him."

Emptiness. I think only then did I realise how much I liked the argonians. They were a little unbalanced, yes, but they were a thousand times more comradely than the guild had been. There were principals here, not just cash. I lay back and stared blindly at nothing. Was I to blame? Grey-tail was the leader. But it was I who had led them here, who had pushed southward rather than trying to find another way out. And what of the dead Guild members. Some of them might have had families, or at least someone relying on them. More added to the tally. Vaguely I wondered when I had started caring. Maybe always but I never remember regretting much in the past. Now all I wanted was to give up, to be free from the walls of duty and addiction which herded me onward. Another groan from Grey-tail roused me but there was nothing I could do. If I had a potion maybe but I'd never carried them. They encouraged carelessness and ate into profits. How bitter that sentiment seemed now. My failure, others' suffering. I seemed to have a knack for avoiding that, a hard vein of self-interest which let others fall. Or perhaps it was just luck, what more could be done?

In hindsight? Everything.

A branch breaking made me turn. Hassde limped over and crashed down next to me. "He conscious?"

"Almost, you okay?"

"Yes, you know much about patching wounds?"

For a moment I thought he meant Grey-tail but then I saw that he was proffering an arm. A deep gouge ran along it but the blade which had done it had lacked the weight to do massive damage.

"You should be glad the blade was light," I said, "Yes I can stitch simple things, though I've never tried argonian skin. The fighter's guild will have some spirit with them, it cleanses wounds well enough."

"Good, the cut got my side where the armour's thin and my leg as well. He was fast. When you're stitching push the needle though the scales, the stitches hold better and are less uncomfortable in the long run that way. I think Tehei had a needle in her bag."

I got up without a word and walked through the trees to where the other fights had taken place. A gentle wind rustled the leaves. First I came to a pack I didn't recognise, inside there was indeed some mazte. I took it but found no potions and nothing else interested me. What use is money? The sound of harsh sobbing came from my right. Keel-ha lay by the roots of a tree, Hides knelt by him. Blood covered her. I approached quietly and stood for a moment. I would have liked longer but the need of the living is more urgent than that of the dead.

"Are you hurt?" I asked Hides.

"Not physically, not badly... Why did he run on? Why was I so distant? Only now I can't have him do I realise that I did like him, that we could have been..." another set of sobs broke her off. I let my gaze rest on his corpse for a moment but could not bring myself to pray. What god would listen to me? None I would want to commend him to.

Near him the body of Tehei was also laid out, I supposed Hides had tried to stay busy. Her bag was beside her, I took it and after a moment to respect the dead hurried back to Hassde. He'd managed to three quarters struggle out of his armour and was looking at a series of long, but blessedly shallow gashes across his side. "Cut me up a bit didn't he?"

I nodded but couldn't manage to be light so sat in silence and stitched and thought.

I was halfway done when Hassde said, "Has anyone seen Kieras?"

No one had, "I'll go and look," said Okun, "Try to stop Grey-tail choking on his blood." As he stood I saw blood ran from his tail.

"You're wounded,"

"I've had a lot worse."

"Still worth stitching."

"Maybe later. What's it going to save?" his tone was black, "My tail's beauty?"

Okun returned with Hides shortly after I'd finished tending to Hassde. "Kieras?"

"Dead. Any change in Grey-tail?"

"He coughs more, and there's more blood. Where's the nearest healer?"

"None would touch him."

"I could buy a potion," I said.

"It's half a day to the nearest town. He'll die if we move him so a day there and back. He won't last that long, even now I doubt potions would be enough." Hassde was right.

"Then we are four," said Hides, "Tehei had a potion that ends pain. To drink it is death, but a better death. Sometimes it can even wake the almost dead, if briefly."

"Aye," said Hassde.

I looked at Grey-tail. Where was his mind now? Would we drag him from his final peace or revive him from the darkest pit? I left such to the philosophers, in the situation I know what I'd want. "Aye."

"Aye," said Okun.

Hides raked through the bag and pulled out a small vial. Her hand trembled as she broke the seal and poured it between Grey-tail's blood flecked lips. We sat in silence while it acted.

A few moments passed then Grey-tail stirred and looked at us with eye freed from the clamours of pain. Then he coughed and looked at the phlegm, "It was mortal then," he said and sighed, "Very well." How does one talk to someone who will die in mere minutes? What do you speak of? Love lost and morbid death already lay like a smothering blanket but the gravity of the moment crushed light words. Grey-tail answered the question, "Where ever you go now you go without me. But I should like to know where that will be."

Another silence. Okun looked to me. Hassde stared into the distance. Hides looked lost. We could escape. The way west was open, maybe. A few days could see us into the swamp, or at the western border. But that option had been open before, to take it was defeat. And I had my goal. So it was both for Varnan and for the dead that I spoke, "We must strike Tear."

Hassde looked at me as if I were mad, "With four of us, and two injured. Impossible. Suicide even."

"What else is there? Slink away to new lives elsewhere and know forever that we failed, that the audacity of our plans frightened us at the last and the dead died for nothing? Remember the Edril Plantation, at very least we shall strike vengeance and fear."

"To go to Tear," croaked Grey-tail, "Is to go to your deaths. But it was always likely to end that way. Now you've seen death a little closer you may reconsider. I always wanted to see the swamps again..."

"Put it to vote," said Hassde.

"No," I replied, "I will not have democracy. We need a single firm leader who will decide our path. What would you advise?" I addressed the final bit to Grey-tail.

"I know not. Is death so bad? Now it is so close I am nervous but also intrigued. There is no use worrying. In memory you could live forever. But in the flesh Tear is death. Much death, but to an end."

I stood, "I go to Tear, to finish what I began and in honour of the dead."

"I go with you," said Okun. I frowned. It pained me that he would follow my lead even to his death. Could I accept that? Yes, I did not intend to die in Tear, it was merely a possibility. The same chance of life existed for him. Perhaps.

"I to go to Tear, though I shall not return. With my name so to will live Keel-ha. Forever in our legends," Hides said.

"Then I follow," said Hassde, "And hope you plan is a good one."

Grey-tail grinned, "This is a strange day, a man as leader of the Argonian Defence Front. Intent on striking Tear. I would wish you better fortune than I lead us to but it would be ill said so I say this only: good luck." I nodded and for a few moments we sat in silence. The argonian's breathing became ragged then began to falter, "This is it," he gasped, "I wonder-"

He gave two shallow breaths then breathed no more. We were four, and our mission madness.

That was a very exciting battle! You showed the FG members to be skilled and professional, especially that Nord with the hammer. We also see Firen once again winning not because he is simply better, but rather he wins via being crafty.

What really impressed me however was the aftermath. I was struck by the tragedy of the deaths of the Argonians. Which is really something after what they did at the plantation. Like Firen, I found myself wondering when I started caring about them. But care I did. You have really made them seem very real and human (lizard?).


Some excellent metaphors here:
Sweat soaked us like a mattress in a brothel.
dragging it out like a farmer breaking hard earth.


nits:
He eyes widened as I attacked.
That ought to be His.


He gave a sudden parry to tried to break free.
I am thinking you want try here?


Vaguely I wandered when I had started caring.
This ought to be wondered.

NOOOOO! This is so exciting the way you are doing it! It builds the reader up, drawing them in and taking them on a ride that doesn't end when the chapter does - please keep doing it exactly as you are, this ROCKS!

The battle sequence was excellent. I was hoping that Keel-ha survived so that I could see how you developed the romantic relationship between him and Hides. Her grief over his corpse gives a tantalizing image of what might have been, and I guess that is going to have to suffice.


QFT!


I don't think this could be said any better. Firen continues to emerge before us as that most illusive of all protagonists to write well, the self-aware anti-hero.

Powerful.

I'm not sure what else I can say.

Sorry for not posting sooner.

I have read this twice, it's that good. You have done well showing the realities of combat, the individuals that make up the Fighters Guild, the variation in combat style, and the challenges of thinking on your feet while ducking your opponent's weapon.

What I really liked about it, though, is what you showed after the fighting was done. You showed the cost in lives and souls. It's a very realistic representation of what happens when an untrained group encounters an opposing force that is well-trained and well-seasoned in combat. The cost to the raw group is always high. Friendships (and romances, sometimes) are shattered, futures are lost, and dreams disappear in the spray of blood and in the death gasps at the end. The devastation here is realistic, and after getting to know these Argonians over the past several posts, I'm very saddened to see so many have lost this gamble.

The end, where Firen decides to make these deaths mean something by carrying their fight to Tear, captures well the reasons we go on in the face of insurmountable odds.

Overall, well done, and with great heart and spirit.

Thanks for the comments, so many have inspired me to start writing again...

SubRosa - correct as ever, I only wish I could see mistakes so well. Part of what I was playing with in this piece was having morally (dark) gray 'heros' but from a sympathetic point of view. I'm glad you like the argonians.

mALX - thanks, chapters will continue as before then.

Destri - I'm glad you like Firen, he's a fairly easy character to write. I somewhat agree keeping Keel-Ha could have added another dimension but...

canis - now that is praise...

haute - twice?! High praise indeed. The section after the fighting is done is the part I enjoy writing far more, it's when the characters are laid bare and you can really get at them. The fight is more a means to that than the point in itself.

Again thanks all


33. Enemy of My Enemy

We left four graves behind the following evening. A darkness hung over our souls that night and silence held sway. I pondered what could be done in Tear. The only sane option would be to attack something undefended but therefore unimportant on the outskirts. But that would not rescue Varnan. That ruled out sanity. The shadow of a plan was forming, but even though it looked as though it could work I did my best to think of other things. It was black work and would muddy my name, and many others, for all time. Could it serve a greater end? As ever my mind circled the mist between wrong and right and picked at the plan like a scab.

At midnight it was well enough formed that I suspected it could not work. Not because of any flaw but because of the resources it required. "Is there anyone who might help us this far south?" I asked. It was almost the first speech of the night.

"For basics some outlanders might. Others wouldn't, but we can steal food and other necessities," said Hides.

Problem solved, "Very well."

"There was one," said Hassde, "A breton enchantress named Mabrel. She lived a long way south, near the marshes, and would sometimes help us. But she moved close to Tear, away from us. We didn't follow."

Something in his tone made me ask, "Why?"

"We weren't sure why she helped us. She was against slavery but much in the way most humans are. They give only words. It was a hatred for the dunmer which drove her, she would only lend if it helped to kill."

"She may be of use," it was a lie. She would be ideal, "Where did she move?"

"A small town northwest of Tear, we could be there today. But that was many years ago, she may have moved again, or have died even."

"We shall try."

"What is your plan?"

"As yet? Nothing, merely ideas. Possibilities. I shall see what she says." I wasn't going to tell my plan. Not yet. Once I had the pieces they would less likely object.


We didn't make it far that night and were still two miles from the town of Nelmora when we stopped in amongst some rocks. While the others set about making camp I took off my armour and, using the reflection in my sword, set about shaving and cutting my hair which had become long in my travels.

"What are you doing?" asked Hides.

"Smartening myself up. I don't want to wait until this evening to go into town so I shall do it by day."

"But you'll be seen."

"Yes, but not recognised. They won't expect that we are so far south for a few days yet. Loghash was unreliable, he won't be missed for a while. I shall simply walk in as a traveller and look for this Mabrel. I could even ask for her if necessary."

"It's too much of a risk," said Hassde.

"It's not going to be safer with one of you accompanying me is it?"

They made no reply. In truth I didn't like it much but the nerve required would be good practice for what I had in mind for Tear.

By full light as the others rested I made my way towards the road looking, I thought, smart enough, or at least not too filthy, to pass unnoticed. The road was quiet so early and it was only close to Nelmora that I came across the first strangers. By the look of their tools they were joiners. My heart beat faster as I approached. How well had my appearance been circulated? Did all humans look somewhat alike to the dunmer just as they to humans? I hoped so. I swallowed nervously but I forced my pace to remain steady and breathing even. I made myself not to look at them, but not to appear to be doing so. Perhaps it wouldn't have fooled someone suspicious but neither dunmer gave me a second glance. Past them I breathed relief, there was a slight urge to run but I was far from the worst of it yet.

Nelmora was small and barely warranted the title of town. It had no walls and no guard watched the road. Indeed the only two I saw were stood smoking Hackle-lo in the square and seemed more interested in whatever gossip they shared than watching the populace. I had little doubt that everyone knew everyone's business here. There was no magic shop on the square but I saw a sign down a narrow side street which might once have shown a soul gem and lightning bolt. On arriving I was met with a worn door covered in peeling paint. From the outside it looked derelict, but then how many people in a village can afford enchantments? I doubt if she'd ever sold anything except the occasional intervention scroll to worried parents.

I tried the rusty handle. It turned but the door was stiff. I put my shoulder to it and with a crunch it opened. There was a tinkle of small metal bits hitting the floor. I stepped in to see fragments of a cheap lock scattered around. Good way to start. I shut the door behind me and looked about the shop. Dust lay thick on mounds of scrolls piled against the walls. A long cabinet stood against one wall, though its grimy glass front I saw some cheaply enchanted weapons and armour. Rubbish all of it. Prone to fail exactly when it's most needed.

Even the counter was filthy. It was covered in clutter with varying thicknesses of grime. There was a less dusty patch where the dark wood showed around a glittering bracer. A slave bracer no less. That was an ominous sign. Of Mabrel there was no sign, I assumed she would be upstairs asleep, and I intended to let her stay that way while I had a poke around. Everything in the shop was dusty, so where did she spend her time? The cellar, I thought, typical eccentric mage. One look at the doorhandle, gleaming through use, confirmed this. I fingered my sword making sure it was loose in its sheath before trying the door. It was unlocked. I pushed it open and stepped onto a stone stairway. Candles burned in alcoves, their jaundiced glow only highlighted the gloom and sent shadows chasing each other like nightmares cast on the dank walls. There was an odour in the basement, like old earth newly turned and the harsh tang of magic. The smell brought memories I'd thought buried by my excesses in Firewatch. The vaulted madness of the ruin and the creature. Renera. I pushed them aside, for the stench here was a breath in a storm compared to that place. I descended.

As I rounded a corner in the stair I caught my first glimpse of Mabrel. She sat at a desk working with a great tome open before her and many candles. I froze but she appeared not to have noticed me to I let my gaze wander. In one corner was a forge, the fire low but burning. A few desks lay scattered around with soul gems on them. They were unlike any soul gems I'd seen though, to say they were black in an understatement. They sucked in light so they sat in their own pool of darkness. I'd heard the stories, human souls are strong. In the corner by the forge lay the corpse of a dunmer.

"Good morning," I said.

The witch's head whirled round, "Who are you? You must die." She stood.

"I seek help for a certain group you used sometimes to aid. Our need is desperate, and what you choose to do," I glanced at the corpse, "Is between you and the law."

She lowered her hands slightly, "What group? If you're from the Twin Lamps then Dagon take you fetcher. Weak. Useless. Be gone before I get myself a decent soul to work with. It is odd that I must use these black soul gems for dunmer because they barely count as thinking beings."

"Your reputation proceeds you," I said, "I wondered why you chose to live here."

"The filthy creatures provide satisfactory souls and no more. I do my bit for Tamriel by killing a few, it's just a shame more don't follow suit. Now what's your business."

I wondered what the dunmer had done to drive her quite so mad. Still it could use it, "You will have heard of certain events at the Edril Plantation?"

"Yes," she laughed, "I wonder which splinter group did that - excellent work anyway. The Twin Lamps would be far to weak willed to try such a novelty."

"The Argonian Defence Front, were responsible. I planned it, my name is Firen Varian, perhaps you have heard of me." She went absolutely still and, I was surprised to see, the colour left her face slightly. "Clearly I too have a reputation, but I assure you there will be inaccuracies in the stories spirit, if perhaps not their detail." The look on her face chilled me, was I really that feared and hated? Though after all I'd done it was hardly surprising.

"I see, and now you seek my aid. It seems we share a passion," I tried to hide a grimace, "I will listen."

I told her of my plan for Tear. The smile that grew on her face didn't help me convince myself that I did the correct thing. But it would be for a greater good. Probably.