DISCLAIMER: I do not own TES: OBLIVION or any characters from the elder scrolls lore.
Enjoy the story lovelies! :3
Chapter Five: Introductions
The damn Imperial still refused to give me his name as we approached the fort, and I kept my bow ready in case it was a trap for that would no doubt be my luck. "You can lower your weapon." He told me. "Mhm. Says the madman that hasn't answered any of my questions, and is taking me to a fort that from what I heard rumors is a popular bandit hideout." I informed him. He froze and looked at me in shock. "It's a what?" He asked. "Bandit hideout." I repeated. He cursed under his breath and started running towards the fort. Something tells me he and his friend were not aware of this., which is weird since the guards made sure to tell me as I was stepping out of the city gates.
I chased after him, since he did hire me as a sellsword…not paid me yet, but if he dies I won't get paid. I drew back my bowstring the moment I spotted a bandit coming towards the madman as he was trying to take out a bandit and fired the arrow at the bandit. The arrow lodged itself into her shoulder and she looked at me furiously before charging towards me with her battleax ready to strike me. I quickly drew my sword and grunted as I blocked her attack. She shoved me down to the ground with all her strength and I grunted as I landed on my back.
I kicked her in the stomach with most of my strength-since I didn't want to send her flying across the battlefield and revealing I'm not all human to my new traveling companion-to give me some space and quickly got up as I grabbed my sword. I must have still done some good damage to her because she spat out blood. She looked at me baffled, no doubt realizing something wasn't right since that normally doesn't happen to get kicked in the stomach…as long as the person who did kick you was all human or mer.
I took the moment of her distraction and thrust my sword into her stomach. I heard a battle cry coming from behind me and I was ready to cast a firebolt spell at my attacker but a lightning bolt struck him from the side. I looked over to see a male Imperial priest with medium-length brown hair and he glanced over at me. I nodded thanks to him, before casting the spell I had readied for the other bandit at another bandit that was charging for the priest. I'm not exactly sure what a priest is doing all the way here, but I'm assuming he might be the friend I was hearing about.
The priest looked over at the bandit then at me and nodded in return to me. "Alright, that's the last of them." The mad Imperial announced with a huff as he yanked his sword out of the bandit he slain. "You said the fort was safe, clearly that was far from the truth." The priest commented dryly, no doubt irked his life was in danger due to someone's lack of attention. The madman sighed and rolled his eyes. "My apologies, I haven't been in the area for a long time, I wasn't aware bandits made this place their home." He said defensively then looked at me. "I'm glad I hired you." He told me.
"And yet you still refuse to tell me anything and your name." I grumbled. The priest looked at the madman in disbelief. "You seriously just dragged this poor woman along without communicating with her?" He asked in disbelief. "I figured make introductions easily by having the three of us here so we can get a move onto the priory," the madman looked over at me," by the way my name is Espen, and this is Martin." He introduced.
"Serena." I introduced myself. "See easier! Now let's get this party on the road, we need to head to the priory." Espen announced. Martin shook his head and looked at me. "It's not too late to turn back." He warned. "Espen's lack of sanity isn't going to scare me off." I assured him as we followed after Espen. "So do you know why we need to go to Weynon Priory?" I asked. Martin looked over at me unsure and then at his feet. I would have figured Martin would be a bit more open to my questions, but clearly, I was wrong.
"It's complicated, I'm not all sure about it, but when we arrive I assure you, you can ask our mutual friend here some answers. If not you can ask the man we're supposed to meet there, Jauffre." He explained. At least it was something. I nodded and continued to follow Espen down Black Road. "How old are you if you don't mind me asking." Martin asked. I cocked an eyebrow at him as I eyed him warily. "Depends on why you want to know." I told him. Maybe I should turn back around? "You look a little too young to be taking up mercenary work." He explained. "I'm seventeen. I'm pretty sure there are a good handful of mercenaries that are in the seventeenth winter." I told him. "I didn't mean to offend it's just you look younger than that." He told me.
Right, I forgot I look like I'm only barely in my fourteenth winter, no doubt thanks to the vampire blood flowing through my veins. I guess it is going to be harder than I thought to hide that I'm not all human to my new traveling companions.
"Don't apologize, you were just asking a question and I reacted poorly." I assured him. "Good if you two are done arguing and making amends, you can focus on the situation here." Espen grumbled.