Chapter 1: The Long Journey
4E 201
Vardarr sat at the table, pondering about tomorrow's journey. They had made to Falkreath, but Winterhold, at their current travel speed, was at least 4 days away. A journey to one of the coldest places still inhabited, and off the shores of Skyrim, was Atmora, a cold desolate place, not known to be inhabited at this point in time. Vardarr was not looking forward to it, the cold, though the College there, seemed like an interesting place from what he had heard.
On the opposite side of the table sat Nicodemus Luken, or simply "Nico", his Redguard friend, his trained body relaxing in his chair. Beside him sat the two mages that they were supposed to escort, Jornon and Tali, a Breton and an Altmer. Jornon, a man, was the most outspoken of the two, barking out orders in his deep voice. Tali on the other hand, had been quiet most of the journey, Vardarr had trouble remembering a single time, where she he knew she could speak, at least in the standard Tamrielic Tongue. He did not think ill of those who could not and would never speak the language, he simply couldn't understand their languages, Nico could, he had grown up in a village not far off from Hegathe. One of the leaders in village had been deaf, thus all in the small village were obliged to learn the language, the deaf man wouldn't accept another individual to speak his words, and given his status in the village, the villagers obliged him.
But here they were, seated in an inn in the province of Skyrim, two of them being paid to escort the others to their destination.
Mercenaries, that would be the ideal term for them, officially recognised by the Imperial Authorities, though Imperial Authority was close to a jest in most of Skyrim, unless the Civil War was just for show. "Mercenaries."Jornon snarled. "We will be retiring to our room, you are expected to guard us." he continued.
"As cold as an automaton." Nico said, his voice trailing off, what didn't trail off however was Nico's brown eyes, he expected Vardarr to make a sarcastic remark , he always did. "You know…." Vardarr let slip, "I doubt you would even get the chance to talk. Unless were a Dwemer, they built them, so they knew how to pacify them. " Vardarr said. Nico could not stifle the smile that was emerging on his face. Nico was amused, it was not the first time he had done it, it always put smiles on both their faces.
"I think i am going to bed." Vardarr said, standing up from his seat. "I will be ready to take over for you at 1 hour past midnight." Nico nodded, "Sleep well." Vardarr smiled and gave him his thanks, and returned the nightly goodbye. "Shame we can't both sleep at the same time." He had said.
Soon after their conversation Vardarr was fast asleep, and Nico guarding their clients
The next morning Vardarr, finally of his guard duty, sat at a rented table in the inn next to Nico and the two mages, consuming a morning meal. It seemed, that no matter how many times he had woken early, as a part of being a mercenary, he never quite got used to it. Yes he would be woken by Nico, he would rise from the bed and he would dress , but when he finally got out of his bed there was always the long lanky legs . Sometimes he forgot how "tall" he was, he wasn't as tall as an Altmer, but around the average height of a Nord. His father was a Nord, his mother Imperial, though she had never been considered small, not by Imperial Standards, he seemed to have inherited most of it from his father. Though his blonde hair did not bear similarities with any of his parents.
Thinking of his parents brought back memories, of his longtime home within Country Bruma.
They had lived in the warmer area of Country Bruma, closer to the lands encompassing the Imperial City. He remembered the tours, although they were few and far between, to the Imperial City. It had amazed him, it was something of a wonder to him then. Now he was saddened by the knowledge of the recent events. Neither the Empire or the Aldmeri Dominion, were perfect, but if he had to choose, he would choose the Empire.
"How far do you think we can make it today?" Said Jornon, in his stone cold voice.
"Whiterun, if we are lucky." Vardarr mused aloud,"Whiterun!" Jornon almost shouted. Vardarr felt his anger rising to the surface,he didn't want to be angry, it was a justified the way it was spoken, with such anger, they had sworn to protect them, with their lives, maybe they shouldn't have. "Please be calm, you know we can't just march on to we reach Windhelm. You don't want us to pay for a carriage ride, because of your fear of mage haters, and i doubt we can get there faster on foot!" Nico said, his patience clearly thinning. Jornons face embodied his annoyment, but after a few moments of speculation, he decided to push aside his impatience. "We won't stop for the night, before we have reached Whiterun." Jornon said in a tone that amputated all doubt, about the days destination." Jornon was a stubborn one, that had been reaffirmed time upon time, on their journey.
Vardarr hoped they would make to Whiterun before the end of the day, he didn't think the four slow, but they could be delayed significantly by bandits or others. Nico seemed to notice, he knew him well. He smiled and said: "Don't worry, Vardarr." Vardarr nodded and returned the smile, hoping he was right in his statement.