CHAPTER SEVEN
“Ay, you gotta nasty bruise there, lad.”
Slowly my eyesight came back and I was face to face with an enormous Nord. His wild and untamed beard went from his upper lip all the way down his gigantic chin about two feet. He was kneeling down, apparently examining a cut I had sustained. When he stood straight up his body rose high over mine; he was likely at least seven feet tall. If he was drunk, like Nords tended to be, and fell on top of me I would die instantly. He certainly was a sight to behold.
“Well aren’t you gonna say somethin’”?
What did he expect? I had finally woken from passing out. I didn’t know where I was, or how long I had been out of it. The last thing I wanted to do at that moment was talk, but I suppose I didn’t have much of a choice; he was going to keep at it until I said at least a little something.
“Where am I?” I managed the mumble the words and at the sound of my voice the Nord’s eyes lit up as bright as the midnight stars.
“Why lad, you’re in the Imperial City prisons!”
I looked around and sure enough I was surrounded by hard stone walls, and on one side a set of iron bars. That’s when I remembered Mankar telling someone to throw me in the dungeon. But who was he talking to? Then I also remembered Mankar call his companion Hieronymus. He couldn’t have been talking to the Imperial Legion captain, could he?
“Who brought me in here?” I asked the Nord.
“Hieronymus Lex; that cowardly traitor!”
I still didn’t believe it could have been him. “Are you certain it was him? Why would he be on the Mythic Dawn’s side?”
“Dunno, lad, but I heard somethin’ from another inmate about how he was about to be killed by Mankar himself, and Lex then pledged his worthless life to Mankar’s cause. That’s all I know, nothin’ else.”
Well that was certainly some bad news. Why in the world would Lex stoop to such a low level? How could he betray his friends and fellow countrymen?
“Oh, sorry for not introducin’ m’self. The name’s Alfhedil, but you can call me Alf.”
I wasn’t too sure about this Nord, but he did seem friendly enough. I don’t think he’s insane or anything like that, perhaps a little…different.
“And what’s yer name, wood elf?”
I wasn’t one to give my name out to random people I don’t even know, but this Nord was harmless, I could just tell. To tell you truth I wasn’t too sure he was smart enough to remember my name anyway. Besides, perhaps he knew of a way to get out of this retched cell.
“My name is Rayden. How long have I been here…Alf?”
“The coward threw you in here about an hour or so ago. Yer head hit the floor rather hard and that’s where you got yer cut.”
I felt my forehead and sure enough there was an enormous gash, about six inches long and still a bit bloody, but not too much.
“Don’t worry about the bleedin’, it stopped about fifteen minutes ago. I made sure to hold that there cloth tightly in place,” he said while pointing to a bloody rag to my left.
“Thanks. Umm…were you one of the original citizens here when the Dawn first attacked?”
“Ya, I was arguin’ with some baker over a stolen muffin when the attack came. They were fast as lightenin’ I tell ya. It was over in now time; the Legion didn’t stand a chance,” he said with the usual Nord accent.
“Do you know how many people they have captured?”
“Not many; I’d say no more than twenty or so, mostly soldiers. They killed most of the civilians, except fer the ones who they think can fight. They’re tryin’ to get me and the like to fight fer em’. Aint’ gonna happen though. I aint no coward,” he said proudly with his big arms crossed.
He was certainly loyal to the country, but of course none of that was any use to him now. Surely in time Mankar will have him killed, along with everyone else. But I didn’t plan on being one of those unfortunates.
“There’s got to be a way out of here somewhere,” I thought aloud as I felt my hand along the walls, hoping to find something leading to a trap door.
“Your wastin’ yer time, woody. I look m’self, there’s nothin’ that’ll help ya’.”
Woody? I was starting to get annoyed now. The Nord was probably too stupid to even know what to look for. This was my profession, I’m pretty sure I know a little more than him.
“Ya better stop, woody, I can hear someone comin’ down the stairs.”
I immediately stopped what I was doing and turned around. Sure enough, a figure was descending down the stairs, accompanied by three others. It was Mankar and two Dawn cultists. Then, behind them, was Lex carrying the lone torch. They walked up to the barred door and Mankar then spoke.
“So, you thought you could fool me, Bosmer?”
I said nothing, and instead waited for Mankar to continue.
“I’ll admit to you, when I first saw you I actually thought you were Judo. But then when you spoke you gave it all away I’m afraid. I could easily tell you were faking it, yet I did not stop you, did I? I simply wanted to see if you were foolish enough to follow me, and I guess were,” he laughed. “Now tell me, why have you infiltrated my city, Bosmer?”
‘Your City?’ I thought to myself. This wasn’t his city and it never would be. Anger was definitely bubbling up inside of me, but I couldn’t let that distract my focus. I couldn’t show any anger, which would only be a sign of weakness.
“So you’re not going to speak, heh? That’s perfectly fine with me. I think I’ll let you rot in the dungeon for a couple of days. Maybe then you’ll change your mind.”
The four of them walked away and Alf and I were left alone once more.
“If ya’ ask me, that there was kinda pointless, don’t ya think, Woody?”
“He was trying to get put fear into me, Alf, possible embarrass me. Too bad I’m smarter than that.” In truth, I was lucky Mankar didn’t know the real reason why I was here.
Once Mankar and his cronies were out of sight I continued my search for a trap door. I could hear Alf sigh and sit down on a stool, likely out of frustration. He was so bent on believing there wasn’t anything to find in the walls, but I wasn’t going to give up until I was one hundred percent sure there was nothing to find. I searched on for another five minutes or so, when finally I gave up. Maybe Alf was right.
“I tried tellin’ ya’, Woody,” he announced.
I gave him a grim stare and sat down on the other stool that was in the cell. I started thinking on another way to escape, and that’s when I eyed a knife lying on the table next to me. I picked the blunt blade up and held it close to my face. It wasn’t too sharp, but perhaps just enough for me to unlock the barred doors.
I got up with the knife in hand and walked over to the cage. Alf was now looking at me with great interest. I took the knife and shoved it hard into the key hole. It was kind of hard because of course the lock was located on the outside, and I could not see it with my own eyes. I went on for about ten minutes, poking around with the knife, when finally I heard a faint click, and then the cage creaked open. Alf suddenly stood up and started yelling like an idiot.
“Woody, ya’ actually did it! I…”
I hushed the dumb oaf the raise of my finger to my mouth. I didn’t plan on getting caught just minutes after escaping. I walked out and started up the steps when I heard Alf whisper from behind.
“Pss, Woody, what about me, lad?”
I sighed heavily because I knew I was stuck. He wanted to come with me, but how was he going to do that with his humongous size? There was no way he’d be able to get out unnoticed.
“You can’t come with me. You’re just too big. I have to get of here without being captured again. I can’t explain it to you, but let’s just say I hold the key to Cyrodiil’s fate.”
I was hoping that would shut him up, but of course it didn’t. Like many other Nords, Alf was ignorant.
“Let me pave the way fer ya’,” he said with a huge smile. “I’ll cause a disturbance while you get away. I think I can handle them fer a few minutes while you take yer leave.”
I wanted to argue some more, because at first I didn’t even want to consider the idea. But, when I thought about it, it wasn’t that bad of an idea after all. The big Nord would definitely cause a stir, that much was for sure, and if all went well I would be able to escape freely. If I can remember right, outside there’s a gate, and beyond that is open land. I’d be able to get away in a matter of seconds.
“Are you sure you want to do that? Why would you want to help me? You don’t even know me?”
“I don’t know. I figure one of us should be able to get away. And like you said, I’m too big to get away unnoticed.”
And that was that. I had made a decision.
“Thanks, Alf. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, Woody,” he winked.
I turned around and started quietly up the stairs, with Alf carefully lumbering behind…
On to the next chapter
“Ay, you gotta nasty bruise there, lad.”
Slowly my eyesight came back and I was face to face with an enormous Nord. His wild and untamed beard went from his upper lip all the way down his gigantic chin about two feet. He was kneeling down, apparently examining a cut I had sustained. When he stood straight up his body rose high over mine; he was likely at least seven feet tall. If he was drunk, like Nords tended to be, and fell on top of me I would die instantly. He certainly was a sight to behold.
“Well aren’t you gonna say somethin’”?
What did he expect? I had finally woken from passing out. I didn’t know where I was, or how long I had been out of it. The last thing I wanted to do at that moment was talk, but I suppose I didn’t have much of a choice; he was going to keep at it until I said at least a little something.
“Where am I?” I managed the mumble the words and at the sound of my voice the Nord’s eyes lit up as bright as the midnight stars.
“Why lad, you’re in the Imperial City prisons!”
I looked around and sure enough I was surrounded by hard stone walls, and on one side a set of iron bars. That’s when I remembered Mankar telling someone to throw me in the dungeon. But who was he talking to? Then I also remembered Mankar call his companion Hieronymus. He couldn’t have been talking to the Imperial Legion captain, could he?
“Who brought me in here?” I asked the Nord.
“Hieronymus Lex; that cowardly traitor!”
I still didn’t believe it could have been him. “Are you certain it was him? Why would he be on the Mythic Dawn’s side?”
“Dunno, lad, but I heard somethin’ from another inmate about how he was about to be killed by Mankar himself, and Lex then pledged his worthless life to Mankar’s cause. That’s all I know, nothin’ else.”
Well that was certainly some bad news. Why in the world would Lex stoop to such a low level? How could he betray his friends and fellow countrymen?
“Oh, sorry for not introducin’ m’self. The name’s Alfhedil, but you can call me Alf.”
I wasn’t too sure about this Nord, but he did seem friendly enough. I don’t think he’s insane or anything like that, perhaps a little…different.
“And what’s yer name, wood elf?”
I wasn’t one to give my name out to random people I don’t even know, but this Nord was harmless, I could just tell. To tell you truth I wasn’t too sure he was smart enough to remember my name anyway. Besides, perhaps he knew of a way to get out of this retched cell.
“My name is Rayden. How long have I been here…Alf?”
“The coward threw you in here about an hour or so ago. Yer head hit the floor rather hard and that’s where you got yer cut.”
I felt my forehead and sure enough there was an enormous gash, about six inches long and still a bit bloody, but not too much.
“Don’t worry about the bleedin’, it stopped about fifteen minutes ago. I made sure to hold that there cloth tightly in place,” he said while pointing to a bloody rag to my left.
“Thanks. Umm…were you one of the original citizens here when the Dawn first attacked?”
“Ya, I was arguin’ with some baker over a stolen muffin when the attack came. They were fast as lightenin’ I tell ya. It was over in now time; the Legion didn’t stand a chance,” he said with the usual Nord accent.
“Do you know how many people they have captured?”
“Not many; I’d say no more than twenty or so, mostly soldiers. They killed most of the civilians, except fer the ones who they think can fight. They’re tryin’ to get me and the like to fight fer em’. Aint’ gonna happen though. I aint no coward,” he said proudly with his big arms crossed.
He was certainly loyal to the country, but of course none of that was any use to him now. Surely in time Mankar will have him killed, along with everyone else. But I didn’t plan on being one of those unfortunates.
“There’s got to be a way out of here somewhere,” I thought aloud as I felt my hand along the walls, hoping to find something leading to a trap door.
“Your wastin’ yer time, woody. I look m’self, there’s nothin’ that’ll help ya’.”
Woody? I was starting to get annoyed now. The Nord was probably too stupid to even know what to look for. This was my profession, I’m pretty sure I know a little more than him.
“Ya better stop, woody, I can hear someone comin’ down the stairs.”
I immediately stopped what I was doing and turned around. Sure enough, a figure was descending down the stairs, accompanied by three others. It was Mankar and two Dawn cultists. Then, behind them, was Lex carrying the lone torch. They walked up to the barred door and Mankar then spoke.
“So, you thought you could fool me, Bosmer?”
I said nothing, and instead waited for Mankar to continue.
“I’ll admit to you, when I first saw you I actually thought you were Judo. But then when you spoke you gave it all away I’m afraid. I could easily tell you were faking it, yet I did not stop you, did I? I simply wanted to see if you were foolish enough to follow me, and I guess were,” he laughed. “Now tell me, why have you infiltrated my city, Bosmer?”
‘Your City?’ I thought to myself. This wasn’t his city and it never would be. Anger was definitely bubbling up inside of me, but I couldn’t let that distract my focus. I couldn’t show any anger, which would only be a sign of weakness.
“So you’re not going to speak, heh? That’s perfectly fine with me. I think I’ll let you rot in the dungeon for a couple of days. Maybe then you’ll change your mind.”
The four of them walked away and Alf and I were left alone once more.
“If ya’ ask me, that there was kinda pointless, don’t ya think, Woody?”
“He was trying to get put fear into me, Alf, possible embarrass me. Too bad I’m smarter than that.” In truth, I was lucky Mankar didn’t know the real reason why I was here.
Once Mankar and his cronies were out of sight I continued my search for a trap door. I could hear Alf sigh and sit down on a stool, likely out of frustration. He was so bent on believing there wasn’t anything to find in the walls, but I wasn’t going to give up until I was one hundred percent sure there was nothing to find. I searched on for another five minutes or so, when finally I gave up. Maybe Alf was right.
“I tried tellin’ ya’, Woody,” he announced.
I gave him a grim stare and sat down on the other stool that was in the cell. I started thinking on another way to escape, and that’s when I eyed a knife lying on the table next to me. I picked the blunt blade up and held it close to my face. It wasn’t too sharp, but perhaps just enough for me to unlock the barred doors.
I got up with the knife in hand and walked over to the cage. Alf was now looking at me with great interest. I took the knife and shoved it hard into the key hole. It was kind of hard because of course the lock was located on the outside, and I could not see it with my own eyes. I went on for about ten minutes, poking around with the knife, when finally I heard a faint click, and then the cage creaked open. Alf suddenly stood up and started yelling like an idiot.
“Woody, ya’ actually did it! I…”
I hushed the dumb oaf the raise of my finger to my mouth. I didn’t plan on getting caught just minutes after escaping. I walked out and started up the steps when I heard Alf whisper from behind.
“Pss, Woody, what about me, lad?”
I sighed heavily because I knew I was stuck. He wanted to come with me, but how was he going to do that with his humongous size? There was no way he’d be able to get out unnoticed.
“You can’t come with me. You’re just too big. I have to get of here without being captured again. I can’t explain it to you, but let’s just say I hold the key to Cyrodiil’s fate.”
I was hoping that would shut him up, but of course it didn’t. Like many other Nords, Alf was ignorant.
“Let me pave the way fer ya’,” he said with a huge smile. “I’ll cause a disturbance while you get away. I think I can handle them fer a few minutes while you take yer leave.”
I wanted to argue some more, because at first I didn’t even want to consider the idea. But, when I thought about it, it wasn’t that bad of an idea after all. The big Nord would definitely cause a stir, that much was for sure, and if all went well I would be able to escape freely. If I can remember right, outside there’s a gate, and beyond that is open land. I’d be able to get away in a matter of seconds.
“Are you sure you want to do that? Why would you want to help me? You don’t even know me?”
“I don’t know. I figure one of us should be able to get away. And like you said, I’m too big to get away unnoticed.”
And that was that. I had made a decision.
“Thanks, Alf. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, Woody,” he winked.
I turned around and started quietly up the stairs, with Alf carefully lumbering behind…
On to the next chapter