Into the Ratway

I found Jenassa at the smithy called the Scorched Hammer. She waited patiently as the burly smith worked the grinding stone to sharpen her sword which I just noticed was of elvish design. Sparks flew occasionally from the damp stone until the blond blacksmith was finally satisfied with the look of the edge. He took a strip of fabric from his belt, carefully wiped the blade down with it, then sliced a thin piece off in one motion. He tossed the piece into his forge then handed the weapon back to Jenassa.

"Good as new," he said. "It's a pleasure to work on such a quality sword."

"My thanks, Balimund," she tossed him a coin. "It is a family heirloom with little worth outside of my attachment to it. I do not like to think about what I would do if I had to retrieve it."

I stepped forward. "That makes two of us."

Balimund gave me a sour look. "I've other work to tend to," the smith said. "Go in peace, friends."

Jenassa gave him a nod then turned to me, "I don't see you looking over your shoulder so I assume Brynolf's scheme went off smoothly?"

"Of course," I said smugly, "Was there ever any doubt? Your friend seemed miffed at my arrival. Was I interrupting something?"

The dark elf grunted noncommittally, "Have you made any further plans for the night?"

I let my question go. I was in no mood to pry. "Actually, Brynolf was so impressed by my skill he offered to meet me later to discuss some more lucrative ventures."

"Not some dark alley behind a brothel, I hope?"

"No, a tavern. Some place called the Ragged Flagon. Ever heard of it?"

Jenassa shook her head.

"Hmm. He said it was beneath the city. Perhaps they've taken over some catacombs. It was in a place called the Ratway."

"Ugh," Jenassa said, "Let's hope that's only a name."

"Help me search for a tunnel or something leading down."

"There are stairs going down over there. Sometimes the best hiding places are in plain sight."

I shrugged, "We'll take a look. It can't be that obvious though. Lead the way."

I followed the sellsword away from the smithy to a rickety set of wood stairs leading down to the water. I pulled up short before I reached the upper landing, however.

"What is it, sera?" Jenassa asked. "It looks safe enough to walk on. You do know how to swim, do you not?"

"Actually, I do not but... it's just, this place. Honorhall Orphanage. It seems..."

"Places such as these always appear during times of war and strife. A damn shame."

I don't know why the sight of the orphanage stopped me in my tracks. I had certainly never been there before. I could remember my parents. Nonetheless, my heart raced and I found myself absently rubbing at my wrists. I forced my gaze away from the dark double doors.

"A damn shame indeed. Let's go." I pushed past Jenassa, eager to be away.

The stairs lead directly to the surface of the water which lapped unnervingly over some parts of the walkway. The odor of fish and rotting wood was stronger down here. I noticed an archway to the left with candles in front and a few barrels on either side of a metal gate. There was a ramp that lead downwards. I took out my lockpicks but found the gate unlocked. I suppose if someone had a tavern they would not want people kept out by a locked gate. I motioned for Jenassa to follow me through the gate and through another wooden door.

Inside was a damp stonework tunnel dimly lit by more candles. I stepped over a discarded axe then silently crept down the ramp. I paused to peek around a corner but it turned out to be just an alcove with a grate in the floor overrun by moss. There was another on the other side. I froze at the sound of voices. I signaled for Jenassa to stop while I listened. There were two men arguing. Sounded like they were planning to ambush people going through. At least one had some sense. How long did they think that ploy would last until they were taken out? And if you were planning an ambush, you might want to pay attention.

"We'll take them out quickly and quietly," I whispered to Jenassa.

"What was that?" one of the men said, "Who's there?"

Damn. "Or maybe just quickly," I said and unsheathed my sword.

Jenassa rushed past me, her sword already out. She yelled as she charged, eager for blood. She stepped into the guard of the first man before he was ready and elbowed him in the face. He staggered backwards and tripped over a chair, nearly falling into their fire. The second man got off one shot with his bow. It narrowly missed the dark elf as she threw herself against the wall to dodge. That gave him enough time to arm himself with a sword. I crept closer as they fought in the confined space.

"You'll pay for that!"

I looked over to see the first man rising from the floor. His face was a mask of blood oozing from a broken nose. He kicked the ruined chair out of his way.

"Do you know who you are up against?" he asked.

I retreated a step, holding my sword in front of me. "I suppose the world's worst fighter is too much to ask?"

Broken-nose actually chuckled. "Not even close."

In the narrow tunnel, overhead swings were impossible, which was fortunate for me. Swordplay was not my forte. The man bore down on me with vicious swipes and jabs. I glanced at Jenassa for help but she was engaged with the other thief and had her back to me.

The man forced me back up the ramp. My hands were getting numb from our weapons clashing in the cold, damp tunnel. Finally one sudden back slash knocked my sword out of my hand. He jabbed me in the arm as I tried to recover it. I stumbled back to avoid incurring another wound. I hit the floor hard, my face nearly smacking against the axe I had avoided earlier.

I grabbed the axe handle with both hands and spun around onto my back just as he closed in for a final blow. Instead of getting skewered, I knocked the sword to the side. His momentum brought him in close enough for me to bash the butt of the axe into his already bloodied mouth. His sword clattered to the floor as he flopped backwards, his hands covering his mouth.

I snatched his sword off the floor and lunged just as he sat up. I buried the sword in his chest. The point burst through his back. He spasmed once then gurgled close to my ear. I let him fall backwards, his sword still in place.

"How's that for close, friend?" I said.

I healed myself of the stab wound he had inflicted on me. I searched his pockets but found nothing. I retrieved my sword as Jenassa came around the corner.

"I saw how you were able to finish that one off," Jenassa said, "Who taught you how to fight?"

"No one," I said, catching my breath, "I taught myself."

"That much is obvious. That is like a fish teaching a bird how to fly."

"Never mind my lack of skill, Jenassa. This is why I hired you. This troll nearly killed me while you were off dueling."

Jenassa's voice became as chill as the tunnel. "You hired me for protection, not to kill whoever you point at. I don't do that kind of work. I don't mind a challenge but not when the challenge is keeping my employer from getting himself killed."

"That's definitely not my plan, believe me. But I needed help and you were not there."

"I injured one and killed the other. It was not pretty, but you managed to defend yourself. Shall we move on, or have you bitten off more than you can chew? Perhaps take the night to reconsider your options?"

If this were any other day, I probably would have left. I have only sought out danger when I was sure I had a way out. But after all those years of running and playing it safe, what did I have to show for it? A pocketful of coins and a clock ticking away my only chance at happiness.

"I'm in this for keeps," I growled, "Just stay close. Maybe you could find the time to teach me a few tricks with a blade so I can better defend myself?"

Jenassa nodded. "There are no tricks to a blade. But I can show you how not to lose your weapon in a fight, or stab yourself by accident. Deal?"

"Deal. Let's move."

By the thieves' fire I spotted a small sack of coins and stuffed it into my backpack. The passageway led us past the other ambusher's corpse (I noticed he was missing an arm and half his skull), to a ledge where a drawbridge had been lifted up cutting us off. I could see the controls on the other side.

"Rats," Jenassa said.

"Exactly. Why would they leave the bridge up?"

"No, actual rats. Can't you hear them down there?"

I glanced down off the ledge. It was not a big drop but I could not see where it lead. I saw no rats. "I hear nothing, but my ears aren't as big as yours."

The dark elf gave me a dark look.

"You know what I mean. On you they look good, beautiful, even."

"Oh, shut up, Lokir."

She nudged me off the ledge.

I pinwheeled my arms then dropped less than gracefully to the floor below. I heard a quick squeak. I lifted my foot to reveal the remains of a large rat, it's head and hairless tail all that was left recognizable.

"Eww." I showed it to Jenassa as she dropped silently beside me. "There's one less rat, anyway. Got a knife I can scrape this off with?"

"Get that away from me. You'll not be using any knife of mine. I can't stand such filthy vermin."

I banged my foot against the stone wall until the mess dislodged itself. I dragged my boot over some hay piled on the floor. "I just bought these boots," I mumbled then pressed on.

The only way forward was through another tunnel wide enough for just one of us at a time. The air was stale and reeked of a mixture of sweat, rotting meat, and something else I could not quite place. As I took the lead and reached the end of the tunnel, I saw what the smell was: oil. The tunnel opened into a chamber that for some reason had puddles of lamp oil on the floor, along with a few dead skeevers. I wondered if they had died from drinking the oil mistaking it for water. I stepped over the puddles to check out a room straight ahead. It appeared to be a larder of some sort, but the supplies were minuscule and old at best.

As I left the room, Jenassa held her finger to her lips then pointed into an adjacent room. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I spotted a figure curled up in front of a gate.

I whispered to her, "Do you think he's-"

A loud snort from the room cut me off. The figure rolled over then continued snoring.

"Never mind. Do you think we could sneak past him? That gate looks like the only way forward."

"No sense killing if we do not have to, I suppose. I will follow your lead. I am the shadow at your back."

I nodded then crouched as I entered the room. The big man's snoring covered our light footsteps. The reek in the air was so intense I could taste it. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from losing my dinner then froze. My rat-besmirched boot hovered dangerously over an open bear trap. If I had not been gagging, I never would have seen it in the darkness. I pointed it out to Jenassa. She nodded then pointed out others scattered about the floor. Her sight was better than mine for sure.

I reached the gate and tried the handle. It was unlocked. I breathed a sigh of relief as the man snored on. Though the clothes he wore were mere rags, the sleeper's hairy arms were corded with muscle and his thick neck was as wide as my leg. I'm not even sure my knife would have cut it. I opened the gate and its rusty protest set my teeth on edge.

A huge gloved hand slammed the gate closed. "Where do you think you're goin'?" asked the gatekeeper.

He backhanded me in the head, but he might as well have been wielding a hammer. I fell sideways to the dirty floor. I forced my body to go rigid as my face fell within inches of triggering a bear trap.

Jenassa leapt to take my place. The brute proved surprisingly agile, sweeping his long leg to trip her up. The elf was agile as well and dodged by cartwheeling backwards. I saw all of this in a blur.

"Two of yas, huh?" Brute said, his speech a drunkard's slur. He cracked his knuckles. "That's just twice the punchin'."

Though my vision had yet to clear, I saw his big frame move to stand. "Since you smell like a bear," I said, "this must be for you."

I slid the trap from beneath my face across the floor to where he stood. He took an initial step back then staggered towards Jenassa. The trap clamped onto his leg.

"Son of a fuckin' falmer!" he cursed.

Jenassa's sword rang from its sheath. She swung for his head intending to end this. Brute, however, ducked in a half circle and came back up with a right cross. His fist caught Jenassa over-extended and smacked into her jaw. She managed to turn with the blow but it still spun her to the back of the room. And further from me.

My foot touched another trap. I was lucky it did not snap shut. Instead, I pushed it towards Brute.

"As for you, you little-" Snap. The trap closed on his other foot. "Cunt of a hagraven whore!"

I carefully regained my footing and drew my sword. "You're going to make me blush with such language."

Brute bent over to pry open one of traps. "No one will notice once I shove your head up your narrow-"

Jenassa's sword flashed. The brute's head flew from his body and rolled-snap!-into another trap.

I blinked at the sudden end to the fight then straightened up. "Aw. Now I'll never know what about me is narrow."

Jenassa wiped her sword off on Brute's ragged shirt. She looked behind me. "It certainly could not have been your buttocks. They are quite round."

"You think so? Wait, was that a complement? Are you flirting with me?"

"I was simply making an observation," she slammed her sword into its scabbard. She put a hand to her jaw and moved it around a bit. "Let us leave this foul room."

"I've heard workplace romances never work out. We should keep it platonic. Some innuendo maybe..."

Jenassa's hand crept to her sword.

"Moving," I said, "I'm moving."

I hurried through the door to a well lit stairwell. The fact that they led up was a welcome sight. I ran up them taking two at a time.

"Be careful, sera," Jenassa said, "There may be more-"

Something clicked beneath my foot. I glanced up in time to see a beam of wood hurtling towards me. But not soon enough to avoid it. It thudded into my chest, lifting me off the floor and into the air. Into Jenassa.

We tumbled back down the stairs, all flailing limbs and curses. I ended up on my back, feeling like someone was standing on my chest.

Jenassa reached from beside me and turned my head towards her. "Traps!"

I let out a groan and applied Healing magic to my undoubtedly broken ribs. I felt the last one knit back together just as my mana depleted itself.

"You dying so soon after hiring me would be bad for my reputation. Be more careful."

"Next time, talk faster," I said.

"Walk slower," she countered, "I thought thieves snuck around. Give it a try. You could use the practice."

"I could not."

"Please, you clomp around like some drunk with bear traps for shoes."

"Really? Wherever did you come up with that?"

We stared at each other until we finally broke out laughing. I crept achingly slow back up the stairs until I heard Jenassa loosen her sword, then walked normally to avoid getting a prod in the posterior.

The next room seemed out of place. There was a tree trunk in the middle with vines and moss dangling from the ceiling around it. A bright beam of sunlight shone down upon it. Butterflies flitted in the warm sunlight.

"What do you suppose this is here for?" I asked as Jenassa entered the room.

She surveyed the scene. "It is symbolic as well functional. The beam of light is meant to show the way to whatever afterlife they believe in after."

"After what?"

The warrior bent down and picked up a battleaxe I had not seen lying in the grass. She grinned wickedly as she brought the axe down onto the stump. The blade sunk deep into the rotted pulp. "After they behead the traitors."

My throat constricted as I suddenly fought the urge to run. Would I never be rid of Helgen? I rubbed at my neck. "That's not funny."

"It wasn't meant to be."

I turned my back on the hideous tableau of death. I crouched as I entered another dark tunnel. The feeling of impending danger I had experienced at Helgen settled on me once again. This time it paid off.

The next chamber was occupied. Fortunately for me, the person was preoccupied at a table in the middle of the room. He appeared to be reading, of all things. I had not expected that. Probably just a picture book. No matter. This time, there would be no fight. I pulled out the dagger I had taken from the old lady, another memory of Helgen. I crept up behind the lowlife. Before he could react, I grabbed him by his hair and slid my knife across his throat. His shout of surprise came out as only a gurgle. I shoved him away into a corner as his life fountained through his trembling fingers.

Jenassa approached as I put away my weapon. "Messy, but effective."

"Who says I can't sneak around?"

"That's true. You could surprise everyone if you could get them all to read while you did it."

"You know, nobody likes sarcasm."

I checked the book the dying lowlife had been reading. It turned out to be a rather instructive text on how best to relieve a man of any coins stashed in his boot. Fascinating.

"Here, sera," Jenassa said. "You've reached your goal."

I looked at the sellsword. She stood by a staircase with a door sporting a small plaque saying 'The Ragged Flagon'. A dreadful thought occurred to me.

"Yikes. I hope that guy was not a doorman or something like that here to greet us. If anyone asks, he attacked me. All right?"

Jenassa folded her arms, obviously not on board with the lie.

"Fine, then if it comes up, just remain stoically silent."

Jenassa made no acknowledgement.

"Yeah, like that. Perfect. Now let's go see what trouble I can get into, and how I can profit from it.