Aaaaaannnnnd... It's time for a new chapter! School's been keeping me busy. Or more to the point, my arch enemy homework is. I've actually been trying to break some old bad habits and do it this year. Especially my maths. I never seem to do it. I only have to do 20 minutes a night but it just never gets done. Oh well. This chapter is filled with pesky ideas that wouldn't leave me alone. It's like when you give ulfric back the axe and him and Galmar start disscussing the attack on Whiterun. He says: "Whiterun is only a means to an end." Same with most of the ideas in this chapter. They're a means to get Echo where her and I want her to go.
As soon as Echo woke she knew some wasn't right. She cautiously pushed the blanket away from her eyes. Aela was asleep by the fire. Storm was quietly nibbling the grass. Everything was where she remembered it being the night before. She sniffed the air. No predators. Echo sighed with relief. It must have been the remains of a dream. She dug around in their bags until she found some bread and cheese. It was at least half an hour before dawn so it wasn't really a surprise that Aela was still asleep. She'd been tired most of yesterday too. Echo packed up what she could of the campsite and put it in a pile near Storm. She fed the horse an apple and looked around for something to do. Echo climbed into one of the trees surrounding the camp and perched carefully on a branch. She rocked back and forth gently before jumping to another branch. She deliberately jumped lower than she should have. Echo hung from the limb and worked up enough momentum to swing herself to the next tree. She went round the campsite until the sun came up. When Echo felt the warm light on her cheek she stopped and looked down at Aela. Should I wake he up? We've only got another day to Riften and I'd much prefer a day's ride with a happy Aela than a grumpy one. Give it another half hour maybe. Echo decided. She went back to flinging herself from tree to tree. The half an hour flew by in a blink. Before Echo knew it, the sun had cleared the tree line and light was reaching the forest floor. Better wake Aela now or she'll have my ears. Echo fingered her ears thoughtfully. As she looked down at her friend, a cold, hard feeling in the pit of her stomach made her gulp. As she climbed down the same feeling she'd had when she woke up came back. Aela was lying on her side, facing the fire and Echo. She had pulled a blanket over herself before she slept.
"Aela? Wake up. We need to go." Echo said cautiously. Aela groaned but didn't wake. She shook the woman's shoulder. She groaned again and shook Echo off but didn't wake. Echo pulled the blanket off her and recoiled in shock. Aela's arms, legs and chest were covered in red welts. Echo checked Aela's back and shoulders. They were covered in red marks as well. Any skin not covered by the welts was pale. Echo laid a hand against her forehead. It was warm. Too warm. Echo shook her again, harder this time.
"Wake up! Aela! This isn't funny!" Nothing happened, not even a grunt this time. Echo carefully ran her finger across one of the welts and sniffed it. Frostbite spider poison! The same poison the ones in the mine covered us with! Echo thought. She wiped her finger on the grass and began to pace. Echo ran plans through her head as another voice pointed out the flaws in them.
"I need to get her to Riften and a healer." She suggested to herself. She found a flaw in it immidiately. You don't anyone in Riften, Echo. Let alone what the city is like.
"Maybe one of the potions in Aela's bag will help? They have labels written on them." You can't read. You'll only make it worse.
"I could ride back to Whiterun and fetch someone." Echo began to tie the bags to Storm. They didn't have much. Only the bedrolls, weapons and a bag each. Aela will probably be dead by then, from the poison or one of the many predators in these parts. Not to mention bandits.
"Aela can come back with me! That'll work! We can make it!" She said desperately. The voice inside her head laughed. Aela won't be there to help you fight off predators and bandits. You'll never make it back alive or on time. Who knows how long she has left. It can't be very long. Give up on it girl. You broke the rules. You made a friend and now she's paying the price. She's going to die. You'll never make it. The voice said with a taunting false sweetness that made Echo gag.
"Maybe we'll find someone along the road who can help?" She cried. Weren't you listening? You'll never make it. Aela's only held out this long because of all that drink. She'll die and it will all be for nothing. You're a child. What can a child do? It's a wonder you survived this long. The tears dried at the corners of her eyes as the look on her face hardened.
"I have to try." Echo clenched her fists and took a shuddering breath to steady herself. She searched for a coil of rope. Finding it, she hauled Aela away from the fire. Aela coughed weakly.
"Echo? What are you doing?" She rasped. It nearly broke Echo's determination but she pressed her claws into her palm and concentrated on the pain.
"Going to Riften."
"What's wrong?" Aela asked as Echo pushed her onto the horse. If Aela had still been unconscious it would have been an impossible task for someone of Echo's small size and strength. She was about to speak when her first night at the companions came flooding back to her. She gasped and began to tie Aela to the horse as she began to fight unconsciousness.
"What are you doing?" Aela asked.
"Making sure you don't fall off." Echo growled. Aela directed her on how to do it properly. Satisfied with her work, Echo kicked dirt over the fire and pulled herself onto Storm. She kicked the horse like she'd seen Aela do. Storm, sensing something was wrong with her mistress, obeyed without a second thought. Any predators they encountered flew by in the blink of an eye. Aela slipped in and out of consciousness. Echo knew when she was awake or unconscious because her grip around Echo tightened or loosened and slipped. The tears came back and threatened to overwhelm her but Echo kept going. The only thing that mattered now was getting Aela to someone who could save her. Suddenly, stone walls loomed in front of them. Echo nudged Storm off the path and into the trees. She made sure they couldn't be seen and untied Aela.
"Stay here. I'll be back." She promised the horse and cautiously approached the gates. At the gates, the guards told Echo to halt. I really don't have time for this. She thought, barely keeping it together.
"Before I let you into Riften, you need to pay the visitor's tax." The guard told her.
"Why?" Echo asked with no small amount of annoyance.
"For the privilege of entering the city of course." He scoffed. Echo growled and considered her options. She could put a dagger to the man's throat and see if he let her in then, she could slit his throat, take the key and enter the city, pay the tax or try to convince him otherwise. She decided on the last option.
"This is obviously a shake down." The guard looked alarmed and glanced around hastily.
"Alright alright! Keep your voice down. Do you want everyone to hear you?" He said quickly. He unlocked the gate and let her through. She took in the city. There was a market in the centre. If Echo wanted to find a healer, what better place to start. She cautiously moved through the market, listening for any helpful information.
"Running a little light in the pockets, lass?" Someone behind Echo said. Echo whipped around, drawing her dagger.
"How the hell could you know that?" She hissed.
"It's all about sizing up your mark. The way they walk, what they're wearing. It's a dead give away." The stranger said.
"None of your business."
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, lass. Wealth is my business. Maybe you'd like a taste?" Echo shook her head at the enticing offer.
"Not now. My friend's hurt. I need someone who can help her. Know anyone?" Someone like this was more than likely to have a few contacts.
"Afraid not." An annoyed look crossed Echo's face.
"You're kidding? A man of your... type, is bound to know someone who can help. I can pay. You and whoever your contact is." This caught the man's attention.
"When you put it that way... Yes, I might know someone. Follow me." Echo stayed put.
"No. I don't trust you. Meet me outside the city by the gate with your contact." Echo held out a handful of coin.
"More where that came from if you show up." She said with a sneaky smile. The man smiled back.
"Now you're speaking my language." He said and walked off. Echo went back out through the gates. She leaned against the wall, partly concealed by the trees. She had a perfect view of the gates. She could see anyone exiting and entering the city but they couldn't see her. Echo waited for the man from the market. He took his time. He exited the city, followed by a two women. One was a young Nord, early twenties. The other was a Breton, probably mid twenties. Echo let them look around for her and move down the road a bit. She followed them. She stood in the middle of the road behind them.
"Looking for me?" She said. The young woman jumped and turned around but the man and the Breton acted as if they were expecting it.
"I was wondering how long you would follow us for lass. This is Ingun Black-Briar. She's an alchemist." He motioned to the nord. Black-Briar. Aela had said they had a lot of power in Riften.
"Who's that?" Echo asked bluntly with a nod toward the Breton.
"This is Maria. She knows a thing or two about healing. Where's your friend lass?" He asked. Echo tossed him and his accomplices a handful of coins each.
"I don't trust any of you, especially you." She said to the man. He didn't move.
"Means you're not coming." She told him. The man shrugged and walked past her. Echo motioned for the other two to follow her.
"I never got your name!" The man called.
"And you're not getting it." Echo replied. She made sure he had entered the city before turning off the path.
"What happened to your friend?" Ingun asked. Echo decided giving to much information may not be wise.
"We were exploring a cave. We stumbled into a nest of frostbite spiders. They weren't the usual ones you find in caves either. They were much bigger for starters, and the colour of dried blood. The poison they spat was different. My friend drank a lot of mead and ale after the fight, if that helps." Echo said politely. If this person had power then she could easily have Echo killed.
"How long ago was this?" Maria asked.
"Two days. She was tired most of yesterday but perked up a little in the evening." Echo said as they reached the place she'd left Storm and Aela.
"That's her." Echo said and went to lean against a tree next to Storm. The two women knelt by Aela and examined the welts.
"How long has she been like this?" Maria asked.
"I woke up this morning and I didn't think anything was wrong. When I tried to wake her, I couldn't. Then I saw the welts."
"Did you get any of the poison on you?"
"Yeah."
"Do you have any similar welts?"
"Not that I know of. She covered me in some sort of potion. Most of the goo I got hit by got washed off in the river afterwards. She didn't clean herself like I did. I didn't think she got that covered." Maria came to stand by Echo.
"What's your friend's name? It's obvious I'm not getting yours."
"You're not getting hers either." Echo growled. Maria shrugged.
"Where did you get hit?"
"I was covered but washed it all off. Cleanest I've been in weeks." Echo shifted the armour over her right shoulder. The skin there felt itchy and irritated. Maria caught the movement.
"Armour off." She ordered. Echo did as she was told. The fur down Echo's right shoulder and arm was tangled with blood and fluid. The skin underneath was red and dry. Echo knew she was in for it.
"Ingun, do you need help?" Maria called.
"Not yet, no. You deal with the girl." Ingun called back.
"Sit. It's a wonder you're not the same as your friend." Echo found an obvious answer to this.
"Easy. She's got more welts." Maria shook her head as she pulled bottles from her satchel.
"You're smaller and younger. You should be feeling the effects as well." Maria said as she wiped the blood away. Echo flinched at her touch. Maria selected one of the bottles rubbed the contents into the cleaned fur.
"You're lucky you came to us today. A day later and you wouldn't have been much better than your friend." Maria told her. She spotted the teeth marks on Echo's chest.
"They're infected." She said as she tapped one of the marks. Echo snapped at her fingers and growled.
"Careful. You don't take much care of yourself, do you? Who is it that lets you do this and leaves it untreated? Is it her?" Maria pointed over her shoulder to Aela.
"It's not infected. It was. It's not my friend. I'm just too curious sometimes. Curious people get hurt." Echo said with a growl. Maria raised an eyebrow but backed off.
"How old are you anyway?" She asked. Echo growled again.
"Curious people get hurt." She repeated. Maria left to help Ingun. Echo pulled on her armour and stood up. She tried to see what they were doing to Aela but couldn't. Echo cursed and scaled a tree. She moved through the branches to sit above where the two were working. They didn't see or hear her.
"Where were... Oh. She's gone." Ingun said as she looked over her shoulder. Maria shook her head.
"She's not. She's in the trees somewhere. I heard her go up and move around but I don't know where to. I think she went into the forest for a while." Echo grinned.
"She's good. Wouldn't be bad in your line of work." Ingun commented. This got Echo's attention.
"Not bad at all. A bit young though. The boys would never let her in. Give her eight or so years and they might consider it. Poor thing." Maria said sadly.
"Why?"
"She has some infected wounds on her chest. They've been there for at least a month and, by the look of them, not a lot has been done about them. Abuse, perhaps." Echo stopped herself form making a sarcastic retort. She reminded herself she was trying to stay hidden.
"Not... whoever this is?"
"She said no, but whenever you ask most children her age if someone has hurt them like that, they deny it. She wears armour, Ingun, armour. And she looks like she knows how to use those weapons. Why would they let a child fight like that? It's horrible." Echo decided she wanted answers more than to remain hidden. She hung upside down from her perch so Maria and Ingun could see her.
"I wasn't lying. I fight because I want to. If they didn't let me I'd leave them and fight anyway. It's either let me fight or don't and I run away and do it anyway and probably get myself killed. Like I said, curious people get hurt. People like you. And what's this... line of work?" Echo asked.
"Curious people get hurt." Maria said with a warning smile.
"Curious people get them selves killed just as often as they get hurt." Echo countered.
"So stop asking questions before you become one of them." Maria retorted. Ingun ignored them as if she heard this type of thing everyday. Echo couldn't come up with anything and swung back up into the trees. She dozed off as the two worked.
Echo woke with a start as someone shook the tree. She threw a dagger at the offender without thinking.
"That wasn't very nice." Maria said. She held Echo's dagger. Echo glared at her.
"What?"
"We need to take your friend back to my house in Riften. It's obvious you don't exactly want people to know you're here. Most people will be inside at this hour of the morning. You can come or stay. I don't care what." Echo looked around for Ingun.
"Where's Ingun?" She spotted someone else standing in the trees.
"What's he doing here?" Echo growled. It was the man from the market.
"I need him to help me carry your friend back. Ingun went to brew some potions I need. Other than that, I don't need her help any more. Come or stay?" Maria said again. Echo climbed down and snatched her dagger back. She shouldered her pack and told Storm to wait for her.
"You getting the rest of your things?" Maria asked.
"Later." Echo said as she handed Maria a small coin purse and led the way back to the path. She let Maria and the man lead form there so she could keep an eye on them. There were no guards at the gate. Echo suspected the Nord had something to do with it. Maria unlocked the house. Echo followed them in, dagger out. They put Aela in a small room in the bottom level of the house. The bottom level was underground. When Maria and the Nord had left the room, Echo went in and crouched by Aela.
"Don't go. Stay, I need you." Echo whispered. Aela's eyes flickered open.
"Where are we?" She asked. Echo hissed in relief.
"In Riften. The spider poison from the mine did something to you. Two people called Maria and Ingun Black-Briar were taking care of you. Maria and the man who brought them to me brought you to Maria's house. Ingun's brewing some potions. After that Maria says she doesn't need Ingun's help. The man's still here. I don't like him or Maria much." Echo told her. Aela caught the meaning off the words and nodded. Echo heard footsteps coming down the hall as Aela began to drift off. Echo thought of something.
"Where's the crystal?" Echo hissed. Aela pulled it from her pocket. Aela lost consciousness and it slipped from her fingers. Echo's hand flashed. She caught it, ignoring the burning sensation. She pocketed it just as Maria and the man entered the room.
"Who were you talking to?" The man asked. Echo rolled her eyes.
"The only other person in the room, dumb arse." Echo shot back.
"What did she say? Did she act like she was here or somewhere else?" Maria asked.
"She asked where we were and what happened. She was here." Echo replied bluntly.
"What's your name, lass?" The man asked.
"Depends. What's yours?"
"Yours first." He replied.
"Not-"
"Take it outside. I'm trying to work here." Maria growled. The man obeyed. Echo followed him out.
"So, what's your name?" He asked. Echo snorted.
"Not gonna happen until I get yours."
"Why can't you just tell me your name?" He said with impatience.
"Because I'm stubborn and don't trust you even half as far as I could throw you. And I probably can't throw you at all. Get my meaning?"
"You're not new to this game are you lass? Brynjolf. How would you like some of that work I offered earlier?" Echo's eyes lit up.
"Echo." Brynjolf looked confused.
"Echo? What kind of answer is that?"
"My name, stupid. About that job..." Echo said. Brynjolf smiled.
"I've got a bit of an errand to preform but I need an extra pair of hands. And in my line of work, extra hands are well paid." Echo was giving Brynjolf her full attention by this point.
"What do I do?"
"I'm going to cause a distraction. You're going to steal Madesi's silver ring from his strongbox. Once you have it, I want you to place it in Brand-Shei's pocket without him noticing." Echo cocked her head curiously.
"Why plant the ring on Brand-Shei?"
"There's someone who wants to see him put out of business permanently. That's all you need to know." This was a phrase Echo knew well. She rubbed her hands together.
"Meet me in the market tomorrow during the day. If you're up for it of course."
"I'm in." Echo said without a second thought. Brynjolf left. New city, new people, new places. Time to do some exploring. Echo grinned. She dropped her bag in the small bedroom and left the house. She looked around for anyone watching and scaled the wall. She dropped down near where she'd left Storm. Echo retrieved the rest of the bags and climbed back into the city. Maria heard the door opening and looked up as Echo entered the bedroom.
"Where were you?"
"Getting the rest of our stuff. Am I a prisoner or something?"
"No. It's just... Oh never mind. You can sleep in here if you want." Maria said as she left the room. Echo pulled her helmet from the bag and moved it around until she felt her ears stick out. She exited the house. She heard voices from near the gate.
"I had another run in with the thieves guild today." Echo crept closer.
"Be careful Mjoll. The guild has Maven Black-Briar at her back. You could end up in jail. Or worse." Echo cautiously crept around the corner. The pair didn't seem threatening.
"You said something about the guild." Echo said cautiously.
"Aye. Cut throats and thieves, the lot of them." Nord woman in steel plate armour said darkly. Half of her face was covered in dark grey war paint.
"What do you know about the guild then?"
"I wouldn't exactly call them a guild. More disorganised rabble. They make their home in the sewers beneath Riften. You can get in by going through a door along the canal. Why do you ask?" The woman asked suspiciously. Echo decided this was Mjoll.
"I just know what places to steer clear of." Echo said and walked off. She went down to the canal. Echo saw Ingun enter a shop. I'll have to remember that place. She thought. Echo walked along the wooden walkway until she came to a gap in the rock wall. It was cover by bars. There was a door behind it. Echo pushed the gate open and entered the sewers. It was dark but she had no trouble seeing. Echo heard voices and pulled her bow out. She listened. They were discussing something about taking down the guild. Echo listened to their schemes for a minute. She smiled. They were pitiful schemes that would never work. Echo decided to put them out their misery. She peered around the corner and shot one of the men in the back. He fell as his partner talked.
"What the-" Echo shot the second man as well. She looted the bodies and took anything of value. Something whistled past her ear. Echo turned around and shot. Someone grunted. Echo shot again. The archer fell. She moved forward. She came to a section of the tunnel where the floor dropped away. Their was a bridge on the other side. The only problem was that the bridge was up. Echo looked around for a leaver or release of some kind. When she didn't find one she tried to see past the gap between the bridge and the wall. There was an object attached to the wall that could have been a lever.
"Smart." Echo heard a scrabbling sound and looked down. She pulled her bow out.
"I hate skeevers." She said as she shot the rat-like creature. Echo jumped down and stepped over the dead skeever in disgust. Echo turned down more gloomy tunnels until she came to another room with more voices. These ones were complaining about things. A lot of things. Echo shot one and drew her daggers. The second was painfully easy. This room had multiple tunnels leading branching away into the gloomy darkness. Echo looked down them all. One led to the bridge. Echo pulled the leaver and the bridge fell into place. She went down the last tunnel. Echo picked the lock on the door and went in. She was in a circular room. The centre was filled with water. The end furtherest from Echo was well lit. She could see people moving about, looking her way. Echo hid behind some barrels.
"What was that?" Said a female voice.
"Someone came in. Not a guild member either." Said a male voice. This one sounded as if it's speaker had had his nose broken a few times.
"Probably nothing." Said another voice. Echo heard something whistling through the air behind her. She pulled her daggers out, but before she could make a move someone hit her over the head.
I'm excited. A few days ago my pickpocket went up to 100. Now my lockpicking is at 99. That means one happy Arrow. I would be very grateful if you take a few seconds to review this chapter and tell me what you think of it. I want to know what works, what doesn't work, what I should include more of and what need to improve. Good and bad criticism welcome. Thanks to everyone who has previously reviewed too.
Arrow out