Wuuthrad
My morning training felt dull. Something had been gnawing at my mind for the last couple of days, something I could't put my finger on. I could only describe it as a feeling of discomfort…
Well I had sweated enough. And lunch ought to be done.
Tilma always complained that ¨those who are late for lunch are late on time, and time doesn't leave lunch behind.¨One of her many ¨old hag¨ sayings. It sounded simple enough, and in her own way she did contribute to the discipline of the Companions. Even thou she wasn't a member herself. One could call her a housemaid, a cock, a steward or simply an old lady, maybe even a hag. All were true, and even more true was that the companions would fall apart without her. She was truly the "mother" of Jorrvaskr.
As I entered the mead hall the atmosphere was as energetic as always. Njada complaining about Athis's slow arms, Torvar complimenting the mead, Vilkas and Vignar swapping stories over a table, though Vignar more so than Vilkas, and in the muffle of it all Ria said something about a bear.
Farkas acted his own self, behaving like a statue, at the table. And of course there was Kodlak, the Harbinger, in his honor seat, at the middle of the table, calmly awaiting his food.
I watched the life of the hall work it's ways, as I removed my vambraces, gloves and chest plater, and set my gear and sword against the backrest of my chair and took my seat. It didn't take long for the rest to settle down at the dinner table as well.
Tilma bagan handing out plates of pork-soup, bread and sliced gourd. Indirectly asking us to send it to our next. Same way she always did.
Vignar hadn't even begun complaining about the watery soup before the front doors opened, drawing a gust of wind through Jorrvaskr, causing the fireplace to reawaken and a gush of air sent fiery sparks of embers dancing through the air.
I looked up as Skjor and Aela entered Jorrvaskr.
They had been on a hunt all night, though it seemed their luck had run short since they had no game on their shoulders. Aela took her regular seat between Njada and Skjor. Skjor, who usually sat next to Aela, surprisingly sat down next to me...
He had handled my training for months and so I felt i knew the man. Yet he had always treated me with distance, like a strict parent constantly disappointed in his child. with judgemental looks.
He was a strict, disciplined and a hardened man, who rarely acted without intent, with no room for jokes in his life. So why had he now, after all these months chosen to sit next to me?
I looked down at my reflection in the spoon resting in my watery soup, supposedly holding pork and potatoes. I didn't feel nervous, but the mirrored image I saw told me otherwise…
Kodlak rarely told stories of his youth, but Vignar had non-the-less spread stories of his bravadoes and battles. And those battles were nothing to take lightly. Kodlak had surely been a legendary warrior in his prime. But his prime was no more, and his stories nothing more than legend past. But the stories of Skjor reached a magnitude rivaling that of Kodlak. Every companion had heard the story of Kodlak and Skjor against the one hundred Orc berserkers. But unlike Kodlak, Skjor was not yet an old man, who favored wisdom over arm-strength. He was without a doubt the strongest of the companions.
"Were it up to me, you would never had set foot in Jorrvaskr" a whispering voice echoed in the back of my mind.
Those were the very first words Skjor had told me. And I doubted his opinion had changed during the last few months, he was that kind of man. He turned towards me and as I returned his look he spoke.
¨Last week a scholar came to us, he told us where we could find another piece of Wuuthrad.¨ he said, as if he expected me to know what he meant.
What? I thought… He was speaking to me?.. He sure as hell was looking at me.
¨What do you mean?¨ I asked
¨He seemed a fool to me, but the honor of the companions demand that we seek it out.¨ He finished with an expression.
I didn't understand how or why this discussion had started. But then again, I didn't understand why he had taken a seat next to me in the first place.
¨What does this have to do with me?¨ I asked confused.
Skjor instantly answered me as if he had expected that very question.
¨This is a simple errand, but the time is right for it to be your Trial. Carry yourself with honor, and you will become a true companion. Farkas will be your shield-sibling in this venture, whelp… He'll answer any questions you have. Try not to disappoint. Or to get him killed…¨
Trial? "True" companion? Farkas? What?
I had to admit my nervous self, had turned into pure confusion. I wasn't sure what he meant,.. I hoped Farkas could explain better, or perhaps not, Farkas being Farkas. Though I figured it wasn't a suited dinner-table topic, and so I finished my dinner before seeking out Farkas.
Some time had passed and the sun was now low enough that the light no longer came in through the smaller windows of the basement, and so Tilma was already setting fire to the candles in the hall and basement, creating flickers of lights dancing with the shadows across the rooms.
The door to Farkas' room was already open as I approached. Being in the cellar the dim candle lights barely lightened the room. Farkas was polishing his Wolf Armor cuirass as I entered his room. upon notecing me he stopped and looked up towards me with is usual dead expression.
¨What?¨ he asked in his usual manner.
¨Skjor told me to find you.¨ I said.
Farkas lifted his eyebrows in confusion which quickly changed as he realized something he had forgotten, and so he regained himself.
¨I hope you've readied yourself.¨ Farkas said, still behind his half polished armor.
¨You're going to be my shield brother?¨ I asked. I wasn't sure what skjor meant by it all, but he had mentioned Farkas being my shield-sibling.
¨So I'm told, let's see if you impress.¨ He said with his usual grumly voice, like rocks grinding under mud.
¨Why did Skjor call this my trial?¨ I asked bluntly. Rather be straight to the point, like we companions usually are. Men of actions, rather than words.
¨I watch to make sure you are honorable. If you are honorable and strong, then I can call you brother.¨ Farkas answered just as bluntly. I always appreciated that trait in him. That straight-to-the-point attitude was something we had in common.
¨We are leaving at sunrise for Dustman's cairn, some old tomb left behind by the ancient nords. Tilma will wake us. You ought to get some rest. About a day's walk from here.¨
Farkas lifted his distinct graysteel chestplate, worn by the inner circle, and placed it on the one big table in his room that wasn't overrun by honeybrew mead or pieces of leather and pelts. He had spent all this time polishing it yet it seemed to me as gray and dull as ever.
¨You ought to prepare yourself before sleep, you won't have time in the morning.¨ Farkas said and glanced at me in his doorway.
¨Yeah… I'll get my rest.¨ I said as I turned away from Farkas' room and entered the corridor leading to the shared bedroom of the Companions, only the inner circle had their own rooms.
I spent the next half hour strapping my traveling gear to my backpack, and filling it with what I felt was a one day adventures necessities. Furs for a makeshift tent, traveling cape and extra clothing, in case of bad weather, some bandages and three healing potions I had gotten from Ysolda, oil and a small grindstone for weapon- and armor-care and some dried venison, bread and water. By the time I had finished, all the others were already loudly asleep in their beds.
I åöaced my backpack against the foot end of my bed, causing a slight thud-sound. Torvar let out a loud snore and turned to his side in the opposite bed.
¨I'll have to wake up early for weapon and armor preparations.¨ I thought to myself.
I went for the water barrel outside the room and filled an ale mug with water and gulped it down,.. another,.. and a third. Hopefully I'll wake up, before Farkas, with the need to take a piss. That will give me time to finish the last of my preparations.
Lying down on my bed I stared at the roof, hands behind my neck. It all finally started to sink in. This ¨test¨, ¨True-Companion¨, ¨Wuuthrad¨ a mission with a shield-sibling from the circle. This must mean more than any earlier contract or mission I've had. I felt excitement as it all felt like a step forwards,.. a step towards recognition,.. and power. Working this right might lead me one step closer to fame, and one step closer to the Circle.