Chapter 9: The Strangers' Hunt

The party had been riding...

The party had been riding for hours now. According to the map that Galeven had been reading, and some guesswork, they were somewhere between the Old Bridge and a shrine of sorts to Tiber Septim. They now sat, relaxing in the chilling night air, the quiet chirping of the insects and birds all around them. At this place, beside a small bay of the Lake Rumare, they made camp. The were strewn about the camp, all thinking to themselves and pondering their new gifts.

Galeven was performing on the edge of the bay, practicing his swordsmanship. He had been very cautious at first, even holding it. However, having been practicing for about half an hour, he had found that the light in the hilt was actually not flame. However, the streak of heat and fire flowing behind the blade as he sliced and lunged was very noticeable. And, to test her shield's durability, Eisida had agreed to help him spar. As promised, Spellbreaker was quite capable at taking the blows from Dawnbreaker. Eisida had found that even the heat produced by the blade was seemingly captured and absorbed by the shield.

Unlike all the others, Kataia had been apprehensive about taking her gift. Even still, she had kept the book bound and in the saddle-pouch of her horse. She sat by the fire, looking out over the bay, thinking. The Ohgma Infinium. Book of the Demon of Knowledge, Hermaeus Mora. Multiple researches into this particular prince had led to a few theories as to him. The first was that he was a helpful, yet dangerous lord. He guards all knowledge of the worlds, and will grant it to those who prove themselves. Adversely, the next suggested he was a callous and cruel demon, as he horded all knowledge he could find, going as far to kill anyone else who knew a secret he particularly cared for. The third was a sort of middle ground, suggesting that he was neither good nor evil, simply there. He has the capacity to act aggressively, but mainly makes choices dependent upon his curiosity.

Galeven and Eisida concluded their sparring, and Galeven came to sit next to Kataia as she thought. He rested his head upon his hand, and for a moment the two just sat quietly. The fire they had set up in front of them was beginning to dim slightly, and needed more logs. The setting sun highlighted the grand skyline of the Imperial City in the far distance, upon the lake now burning orange-yellow in the light.

Kataia was the one who decided to break the silence. "I mean... All the other gifts, they make sense. Two relics literally built to destroy monsters, and a shield from the Taskmaster. Not exactly harmful or evil. But... That." She motioned toward the pack.

"Well..." Galeven interjected. "We've looked into Mora constantly, but we still don't really know much. Only that he is known to..."

"Drive people mad with the spoils of his domain." She finished his concerned thoughts.

Eisida came to sit at the fireside now. "Still unsure about the book?" Her question was met with silence. "Right... Hey, should we get more wood for the fire? Night's coming."

Kataia nodded. "Right. Hey, where's Renmar?"

Galeven laughed. "Good to see you see the giant-slayer as a pack mule. Well, he went to go practice with his bow. Probably went somewhere into the forest."

Somewhere into the forest...

Renmar took another shot with the bow. It flew free of the string and struck its target, the middle of a well grown tree. He turned the bow around in his hands, once more admiring the beauteous craftsmanship. He went to the tree to collect twelve of his arrows. He then began shuffling through the underbrush for the thirty or so he had missed. (Though one had stuck a rabbit, so there was his dinner sorted.) He had stumbled upon the twenty-fifth when he heard a rustling in the bushes not far from where he was. Thinking it was probably another creature, he strung an arrow. He didn't draw it, instead placing a tree between himself and the noise. He was glad he hadn't prepared to let fly, since the next noise was of a sword crashing through the brush, and Eisida marched through.

The two of them managed to find the rest of the arrows (and another meal), and began collecting some firewood. As they did this, the sun continued its descent, and darkness began to fall. The two chatted about the quality about the quality of their gifts, and how they now had a prophesied way of destroying the dragon. This conversation continued until both had gathered a sizable pile to take back to the camp. As they walked along the newly carved path through the forest, they continued their hopeful conversations. Suddenly, Renmar stopped. "Get down, quickly." He threw down his pile and threw himself to the forest floor. Eisida followed suit, and they sat quiet.

Sure enough, Renmar had heard something. Footsteps, moving quickly toward them. Someone was running through the forest. Farther away, but only a small while, there was the thundering of hooves. As the sounds grew closer, hollering could be heard, along with the desperate panting of whomever was on foot. Suddenly, the running figure rushed past them, adorned only in leather trousers. However, he threw to his side a metal boot, seemingly trying to loose any excess weight. An arrow came streaking past, and stuck itself into the tree just above where Renmar lay. The man continued bolting through the wood. Not half a minute later, two horseman leaped and bounded after him. After another minute, and once the hooves had died down, the two rose slowly to their feet. They drew their weapons, and crept in the direction they had moved.

The two finally reached a line of bushes at the top of a small incline. In a small clearing, there were two large statues atop a pedestal. The first was of a wolf, seemingly mid prowl. The second was of a man the head of stag, holding a spear. At the foot of the statues, lay the man they had seen running. In the newly-risen moonlight, they could now make out that he was an Orc. The two who had pursued him had tied their horses to a nearby tree, and now stood over their captive. They were adorned in full suits of Orcish armor themselves. However, when one turned to throw the prisoner's weapons away, they could see he was actually a Nord.

The weapons crashed as they struck a rock, obscuring something the Nord had said. But obviously it was in poor taste, as the Orc groaned and hung his head. The other armored figure, also an Orc, let out a laugh. "Hahah! Yes! Oh, now we have to. But not yet." He kicked the prisoner once, who folded to the blow, and then turned back to the Nord. "You would have done well as an Orc, blood-kin." The nord drew a long, rough dagger. He knelt down, and pressed it against his captive's throat. "Aye, and I'd 'ave loved to be one. Now then, exactly what have you been running from, flanker?" The armored Orc spit down at the prisoner at that. "Not while I'm down 'ere, if you wouldn't mind. We've a need for what you stole. Chief liked it on 'is mantle, and it's not like it'd do you much good." He motioned with his free hand toward where the weapons had landed. "I see you're smart enough not t' use it for one of your rusty blades."

The orc in armor suddenly drew his sword, facing away from both the statues and the pair of silent observers. "You there! What are you lookin' at. Move along old man!" The Nord rose, and made sure to slice up the prisoner's face. "Aye. We're on private business here. Nothin' more than a dispute between friends." Eisida leaned as far as she could, eventually catching sight of who they were talking with: The man who had brought to them their Elder Scroll. He seemed completely unafraid though, and, she now noticed, was laughing. The Orc called out. "What are you laughing at?"

Once more, he spoke in that voice that seemed to soothe even the winds, as the breeze fell still. "Simply the wonderful chance of it. You hunt your quarry all the way south from Orsinium, and end here, at the foot of the Prince of the Hunt." The insects hushed, and the prisoner's face rose to look to the stranger. He gasped, seemingly stunned. The man simply continued laughing. The Nord's expression slowly turned from a confused scowl to a smile, as he laughed along. "I'll give you that 'n, that's damned perfect." The Orc too began to chuckle. The man continued to speak. "Truly, it would be a shame to end the sport now. There seems to be no worthier a prey for you two." The two were nodding slowly. Their prisoner looked in awe and confusion from his captors to the stranger. Once more, the stranger spoke. "Why don't you two go and prepare yourself for the next part of the hunt. You've had experience with the hunt, surely you can track him. So, my associates..." Eisida startled, as he made a swiping motion along the treeline in which Renmar and she hid. "Will unbind him, take what they need, and tomorrow you can once more hunt down your target."

Eisida stared at the two armored men, wondering as to what they were thinking. "Aye, it'd be a shame to put 'im down now." His companion nodded. "Yeah... Ushargol didn't say we couldn't have fun, so long as we got it back." The two huddled, and whispered to each other. Eisida turned to see what the stranger thought of this, and grumbled in annoyance to see he had disappeared as before. The Orc then spoke up again. "Alright flanker, consider your arse saved. We'll be after you at... Sunrise?" He turned to his friend. The Nord shook his head. "Nah, we'll get some food 'fore we head out after 'im." The two nodded, and then started to walk off, chatting about the hunt.

Renmar and Eisida slid down the hillside. The Orc turned to see them descend, mouth hanging open, still in the middle of processing what exactly had occurred. Renmar knelt down, and began to cut away the ropes binding the Orc's hands. Eisida helped him to his feet as Renmar made to check if his captors had genuinely left. He returned, and simply shrugged, at a loss for words. The Orc now spoke up. "Thank you for your aid. But... Well, do you know somewhere I might sleep? I think I may have been running too long... The hallucinations have already started."

End Chapter 9

Subsequent chapters in the works will be added upon their completion & revision. All critique & feedback is encouraged.