Uther I

The White Company had been fighting its way through Tamriel since the Warp in the West. Supposedly founded by the man behind the reshaping of history, the White Company was a company of men and women who could fight like warriors or sneak like thieves depending on the job. It was currently headed by an Imperial named Cassius. He served as the master of the free company. It was his job to set up any contracts. It was his fault we were on this job.

Irnskar and I were escorting some lord's kid to Chorrol. The boy was around eight and was fascinated with everything. While I am normally great with children when I am around them, I don't like being hired as a babysitter. I didn't sign up my sword to one of the largest mercenary companies in Tamriel to watch over some kid. Granted we were getting paid a king's ransom to make it to Weynon Priory with the kid in tow.

I was busy telling the kid about some of the missions Irnskar and I had been led on over the years. Cassius always gave us the random, off the wall jobs. Many of these jobs where the suicide missions that we were not supposed to walk away from. We always managed to somehow, but we had the scars to show our work.

Irnskar and I had fought our way to the top of the ranks in the White Company. He was second only to Cassius and I was behind Irnskar. The story I was telling the boy was of the mission that cost Irnskar his eye. We had been paid to bring down the Great Company, a mercenary company in High Rock that had turned on the citizens. Our work had went well at first. We joined the Great Company as though we had left the White. For months we had been sending reports of plans out to Cassius. He would arrange for the Great Company's men to be ambushed. Eventually the Great Company's leaders caught on that someone was sending the letters out and began to watch for traitors.

One night they caught me paying a courier to take a letter. They killed the courier and captured me. I was strapped to a rack and had my back whipped. Scars line all down my back to this day. The Restoration mages did not make it in time to heal the wounds. Irnskar had been brought by the leaders to test his loyalty, they were going to make him torture me. When he couldn't do it they began to torture him instead. They gouged out his right eye and began breaking his fingers at each joint.

We had been tortured like this for weeks when an army lead by King Varen of Wayrest assaulted the keep we were being held in. The torturers were in such a panic to escape that they left us in the chamber. It was one of the many times Inskar had shown a weakness for me.

Irnskar had taken me in when I first left home. My father had died during the Great War when I was a small boy, and my mother died when I was fifteen. At sixteen every male in Cyrodiil was required to serve three years in the Imperial Legion. I was left sending money to my sister back home in Bleaker's Way while I served. When I returned from service I found my sister had married someone in Bruma and my money had been spent on their new home together. I was welcomed into their home, but I was discontent to live under their roof. I left to become a hedge knight, traveling Cyrodiil with only my sword and armor. I ran into Irnskar and the White Company in Kvatch on a job. He took me in and taught me to read, write, lead men, and count coin. He taught me about the Divines, of Talos. He thought it was blasphemous that I, a Nord, did not grow up hearing stories of the Man God. He was like a father to me. Through our adventures we were never lacking in gold for a place to sleep, food to eat, or a girl on our arms.

I finished my story and turned to look at Irnskar in time to see a shower of crimson jump from his neck. A golden arrow was sticking out of his throat. He fell from his horse, dead before he hit the ground. I was diving off my horse, pulling the boy off with me, as an arrow flew past. I pulled us into the woods to try to get away from our attacker. Whoever they were they were good. No trick I had learned that I knew of through my attacker off. The question was, who was attacking us?

The boy began to whimper. We were already past Fort Ash, if I could make it to Weynon safely he would be okay. I needed to get him to stop crying. No matter happens to me. He had to stop crying so I could get us away.

Another arrow crashed through a thicket near us. I had to hold my hand over the boy's mouth he was getting louder. "Listen, I need you to shut up for just a little while. I know this is scary, but if you don't stop then it will get a lot scarier." I tried my best to whisper. His eyes began to water even more when he looked at me.

"Okay, that didn't work." I said to myself. "Do you remember all those stories I have been telling you about?" He nodded. "Alright, after today you are going to be in those stories. I just need you to be quiet so we can get out of here, okay?" He nodded his head again.

The large Odiil plantation was up ahead with the Priory just over the hill. We were so close. I picked the boy up in my arms and burst into a full sprint. I just needed to get him to the Priory. Then I felt it. An arrow tore through the back of my thigh. I stumbled and began to fall. I turned as I fell so I did not crush the boy beneath all of my armor. I stood and began to hobble towards the Priory. Another arrow caught in the back of my shoulder. I could see armored men running towards me. Divines, Talos, Akatosh, please let them be on my side. The boy began crying loudly in my ear. The men in front had drawn their weapons. I saw their armor. It looked similar to the armor of the Imperial Legion, but there were more than a few differences. I made my way to a man sitting on a large horse in front of the Priory.

"I assume this boy belongs to you, sir." I sighed. I nearly dropped the kid as all my energy left my body. I slumped to one knee, sitting the child down.

"Arcturus." The man barked. I just looked up in confusion. "Sir?"

"Sir, the men killed one of the cats. Carried a note calling for the death of this man here and the man he travels with. Whoever it is wanted the Kahjiit to bring your son to an old Ayleid ruin." A voice came from behind me.

"Well, send the men. Kill the people responsible." The commander told his man. The he looked down on me.

"You are in need of a healer." He dismounted from his horse and helped me up. He was careful to not to touch the arrows or move my body in a way that would make things worse. We entered the monastery with the boy following at our heels. "Who am I to thank?" He asked.

"Uther." I grunted as I passed out

I woke up days later to one of the brothers taking care of me. "Ah you are awake. You passed out when you entered the Priory. Whoever shot you used a very potent lingering poison. You have been asleep for days." He walked over to a table where a rucksack was laying with a letter. "The bag is your pay. I am sorry for your loss, the brothers have your friend prepared in the undercroft in the chapel. We didn't want to bury him without you, but we were beginning to worry when you would wake up."

I began to read the letter as the brother began sorting through the room.

To the man who saved my son,

I cannot think you enough for rescuing my son from the assassin. I have heard him talk constantly about what happened. I am sorry for your loss. I know the gold doesn't replace your friend, but I gave you a bonus to help cover whatever you need for a funeral. I know it is unnecessary as you have the full amount instead of having it divided between the two of you, but I did not feel right just paying you half. I have sent reports to Cassius telling him what has occurred. The people responsible for this attack have been dealt with.

Tulius Mede

I had saved the life of the Emperor's grandson…

I looked up at the monk. "Can we set up a funeral pyre?"

He just gave me a look as a response.

"My friend was a traditional Nord. He would want the cremation given to warriors, then I would take him home." I explained.

"To Skyrim?" The monk asked.

"To Windhelm." I answered.