Chapter 11: The Rift

Clear sunlight bathed my body when I finally opened my eyes. It was much later in the morning than I had hoped but, much to my gratitude, the snow storm had passed over in the night.

"I saved this for you." The bandaged man rolled a red apple to me from his hay pile. "Shipment's finally arrived."

I brushed the dirt off the apple and rubbed it on my undershirt.

"So, is this camp permanent?" I asked biting into my apple with a loud crunch.

"Probably for me."

"Don't say that!" I countered as bits of apple fell out of my mouth.

I left the tent with a groggy stretch, winding my arms and pulling my pack on. My shoulders were awfully tight and my knees, quite stony. Like a rock…

"You look a little rough around the edges." The quartermaster called out from her workbench. "Feeling alright?"

Now that she mentioned it, I did wake up as stiff as a sleeping draugr and it required a great deal of effort just to push myself onto my hands, though I attributed it to yesterday's rough journey.

Mudcrab was hunched over by the fire, snapping his pincers at a roasting chicken. "Keep away from me." He snarled. "You'll get me sick."

"It was probably from the rabbit." I quipped before turning to Thorygg's tent.

"Leaving?" The commander spoke without looking up from his map.

"I want to thank you for your warmth and generosity." I smiled at him, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face.

Thorygg didn't return the smile. "These are hard times. I ask that you tell no one of your stay here."

"Consider it done."

A fresh layer of snow hid the stone road from me as I proceeded down the hillside. Water dripped off the icicles from the post sign ahead. The mountain walls surrounding me bounced billowing clouds back and forth. A Redguard hunter approached on a palomino horse.

"Excuse me," I began. Hunters were generally harmless but I gripped my dagger underneath my long fur armor. Maybe I could get a stab in and run.

The hunter turned to me and pulled back on the reins. "Yeah?"

"Are you selling any potions?"

"Do I look like an alchemist to you? Get lost kid." The hunter shifted in her saddle and cracked her reins.

Great. Now I'd have to make my way to Riften in the early stages of Rockjoint. At least nothing was pouring on me from the sky.

Whatever gods were above me were surely having a blast. It was just my luck to fall into Skyrim during winter. Sun's Dusk, I soon discovered, was a horribly unforgiving month. By the time I reached Ivarstead I was already soaking wet.

I stopped at the Inn for the night and hung my armor to dry by the fire. Bassianus, an arrogant Nord who I purposely avoided upon entering the Inn, sat on a barstool with a tankard of mead in his hands. He tugged at his deep red beard and peered into my room, not bothering to hide the fact that he was staring as I climbed into bed. What ideas must have been running through the builders head when they didn't include doors for the inn bedrooms? In my best attempt to ignore his stares, I pulled the blankets over my head and called it a night.

When I wasn't being chased to death by the indigenous wildlife, bandits included, Skyrim's landscape was quite beautiful and soothing. The Rift was certainly a change from the icy, green, pine forests I had passed through in Whiterun and Falkreath. Blades of amber grass waved in the breeze while golden leaves danced to the ground and stained the waters reflection.

The walls of Riften came into view. A few boats had left on their fishing routes and were sailing off in the distance. Dappled grey horses stood in their stables munching on carrots and hay stacks as I slowly approached the gate. If only I had enough coin for a horse. Traveling would be so much easier.

"Hold there." A guard in a purple tabard grumbled folding his husky arms across his chest. He turned to the guard at the other side of the city gate.

"Before we let you in, you need to pay a visitors tax."

"What for? That's ridiculous."

" For the privilege of entering the city." He snarled. I was glad he had a helmet over his head. I placed my hands on my hips and cleared my throat.

"I'm getting into the city. This is obviously a shakedown." I objected, holding my head high.

"Well we can't have you go blabbing to the other guards about this now can we?" The guard signaled to his accomplice and the two Nords drew closer. "Why don't we give you a little incentive to keep your mouth shut."

Clearly, My speech skill was lacking.