Chapter 18

Ragnthor

2 and a half weeks later, Ragnthor was walking toward the farm. As he was turning down the lane he the thundering of hooves and the crack of a whip. He turned and saw a small band of horses being urged forward by a man on horseback. Ragnthor waved as he hurried and opened the gate to the pasture. He hollered and every came out of the house.

"Help guide then into the pasture! I don't want to spend the next few hours getting them out of the forest!"

They made a line in front of the house. The horses trotted down the lane, led by an older paint mare, foal by her side. She balked at the sight of that many people and tried to push the band back down the lane. The man pulled his horse to a stop and cracked his whip, causing the horses to start milling as they slowly grew more wild.

Ragnthor shouted as he walked toward the stable. "Lucia, get back! I don't want you catching a hoof from one of them!"

Ralof snorted as she backed off. "What, you don't care about us?"

Ragnthor laughed as he walked back holding a length of rope. "You're a big strong man, take it." He turned to the horseman. "Which one?"

The old man shouted over the snorting and stomping. "Try and snake your rope over the old paint mare or her colt. She's the one they all follow." His voice was deep and strong despite his age.

Ragnthor decided to chose the lesser of the 2 evils. He walked forward and waited until the mare came around the outside then threw his rope. It settled right around the thick part of her neck. As he pulled it tight, she reared and squealed. She tore down the lane, dragging him with her. The old man put his horse in her way, causing her to stop. She stood there, quivering, as Ragnthor walked closer. She turned to face him as he held his hand out.

He smiled as she sniffed it. "Easy there old girl. You remember me, don't ya?"

As he started to rub her head she calmed down. He pulled on the rope and, after a few moments, she followed. As he lead her and her colt through the gate and slipped off the rope, the rest of the band followed. The last one through, a red roan stallion, took a kick at him.

Ragnthor laughed as he shut the gate. "Still as ornery as the day I got you." He shook his head as he turned to the man. "I would have though you would have killed or left him by the time you got here."

The man laughed as he swung off his horse. "I still find myself wondering the same thing. He was a pain in the ass on the trail. Almost always on the prod. But he sure can fight and I figured you would need a fighter up here."

He walked over and they shook hands. He was a Redguard, short with bowed legs that told of a life in the saddle. He had a head covered in thick, grey hair and a neatly trimmed beard to match. He carried a thin bladed scimitar and a small horseman's shield slung over his back.

They laughed as they shook hands. "It has been a fair while Waynek. I hope the last 2, 3 years have treated you well."

Waynek laughed. "As well as a man my age can expect. Though I am thinking of selling the ranch and moving back to Hammerfell. The heat of the desert would feel good on both of our old bones." He gestured at his horse.

Ragnthor nodded. "Well if you do sell, let me know first. If I live to be as old as you, my old bones might want to move down to Cyrodiil."

Waynek laughed as Ragnthor shook his head. "It's no joke, I like living in places I know."

Waynek nodded. "I will think about it."

They walked over to the fence and looked at the horses. "So who's foals are they?"

Waynek rubbed his beard. "Well I know at least half of them are from that palomino stallion of mine that you took a fancy to. The rest I would have to say take after that swamp stallion of yours."

Suddenly a voice popped up beside them. "What's a swamp stallion?"

Ragnthor walked over and rubbed Lucia's head. "That's just where I found him. He's the horse that tried to kick me when he went in. I was heading into Argonia and I saw him. The moment he saw me he took off into the swamps. I spend 2 days tracking him before I caught up to him. He was a wild horse and was a hassle to break." Ragnthor looked over a Waynek. "And I would wager he hasn't been ridden in 2 years."

Waynek nodded. "That's right. He is just too much fight for a man my age." Waynek looked over at Lucia. "And who are you?"

Lucia looked up at him. "I'm Ragnthor's niece."

Waynek looked at Ragnthor. "It true. My brother died while I was off wandering the land. Me and that lass I told you about heard she was still alive and begging. We found her and offered her a place to live."

Waynek nodded. "Where is that girl?"

The smile left Ragnthor's face. "She's gone, left me."

Waynek put his hand on Ragnthor's shoulder. "It happens to all of us."

Ragnthor looked up into the sky and saw there was still over half a day left. So much work. And for once so much time.

Ragnthor looked over at Waynek. "We still have time to start marking today. So how bout you climb on the old horse of yours and let's get to work." Waynek nodded and Ragnthor turned to Lucia. "I need you to go up to my room and the package I brought home a month ago." Lucia nodded and tore off toward the house.

Ragnthor walked around the back of the house and filled his arms with as much wood as he could carry. He dropped it in the corner of the pasture and got another armload. Then he climbed over the fence and built a fire. He stoked it until he had a fair amount of red hot coals. Soon Lucia ran out with the package. Ragnthor opened it and pulled out a long piece of iron. At the end it had R-L. He stuck it on the fire and used a log to cover it with coals.

He stood and looked at Lucia. "Do you want to help?" Lucia nodded. "Ok, then keep this fire nice and hot."

Ragnthor walked over to the fence. "Ralof, get over here!"

Ralof walked over to the fence. "What do you need?"

"You ever branded anything before?" Ralof shook his head. "Ok, then when ever me or Waynek brings over a horse, take the iron out of the fire and press it on its hip for 5 to 10 seconds." Ragnthor dropped his voice and walked closer. "And try to block as much as you can from Lucia. The first time can be a bit scary. And bring Brasella to help Lucia."

Ralof nodded and called to Brasella as he climbed over the fence. Ragnthor walked over to the band and tossed his rope over the first foal he saw. It was the paint mare's. He led it over to the fire and held it with one arm around its neck and the other just under its hip, almost like you would hold a lamb. It squealed as Ralof laid the iron on it. The smell of burnt hair burned in his nose. After it was done Ragnthor walked him in a circle and rubbed his head.

He called out to Waynek "Is this one by your stallion?"

Waynek nodded and Ragnthor slipped the rope off of his head and watched as he ran back to his mother. Then Ragnthor walked back to the herd and caught another foal. There were 8 foals to do. The last one was another colt. Ragnthor took a knife and cut a large chunk of his mane off, marking him to be sold next spring.

As Ragnthor let him loose, Waynek lead over one of the full grown horses. He handed Ragnthor the rope and, pulling out another, roped the mare's hind legs and pulled them out from under her. As she hit the ground Ragnthor put a knee on her neck and motioned Ralof over. She fought as he laid the iron on her. As soon as he was done, Ragnthor stood and Waynek loosened the roped and she lunged up and back to the herd. They did the same for the next 7 mares.

Soon the only one left was the stallion. He had retreated to the far side of the pasture and was standing there, staring at them.

"You might want to mount up for this one Ragnthor. I don't think we should even try to do him like the mares."

Ragnthor nodded and whistled. Ahearn walked over and Ragnthor put a saddle on him and they rode over to the stallion. They slowly herded him back near the fire. When they got there, Ragnthor caught his front legs. As he whirled around to kick, Waynek caught his hind legs and pulled, throwing him to the ground.

The moment he hit the ground, Ragnthor yelled "Now Ralof!"

Ralof ran forward and laid the iron on his hip. The stallion screamed, trying to bite and kick him. As soon as he could, Ralof lifted the iron and left.

Ragnthor had to shout to be heard. "Everybody, Get Out! It Won't Be Safe Once He Gets Up!" Everyone hurried to get out.

Ragnthor held up his hand and counted down, when he reached one they moved their horses forward just far enough the stallion could kick his feet free. He surged to his feet, shaking his head and looking for something to fight. His nostrils flared and he started snaking his head toward Ahearn. Ragnthor motioned for Waynek to leave then loosened his cinch and slid off taking the saddle with him. He threw the saddle over the fence and hurried after it.

They were 2 very different horses. Ahearn was a classic war horse, standing almost 6 ft at the shoulder, deep in the chest and packing lots of muscle. There was hardly a scar on his blood bay coat. He weighed over 1,500. His eyes were intelligent and you could see the fire in them. As he approached the other horse he moved free and easy, his smooth coat dancing. The swamp stallion was a brush horse. He was shorter, standing only 5 ft at the shoulder and weighing a good 500 lbs less. The wilderness had shaped him into a mass a lean muscle and you could see in his eyes a sheer willingness to fight. His deep red roan coat was covered in scars, from other horses and other things. As he snaked forward, his rough coat rippled.

They walked close to each other and touched noses, squealing and striking out. They backed away and stood there, staring at each other. Ahearn arched his neck and started pawing at the ground. Suddenly the stallion charged, screaming. Ahearn reared up, hooves flailing, and struck down. They met in the air, biting and striking at each other. This continued for a few minutes, leaving them both bloody. Suddenly Ahearn dropped and spun, kicking with his hind legs so hard it knocked the other back. Ahearn whirled and bit him on the neck, swinging his head and kicking with his forelegs. The stallion tore himself away, leaving hide and hair in Ahearn's jaws, and tore off to the far side of the pasture, chased by Ahearn. Ahearn broke off half way there and went back to the rest of the horses, neck arched and trotting.

Ragnthor shook his head. "Well I'm glad that's out of the way. It would not be fun to hear that in the middle of the night."

Ragnthor looked over at Lucia and saw that she looked scared. He walked over and put his arm around her. "Are you all right, little lass?"

She looked up at him, eyes wide. "What just happened?"

Ragnthor smiled. "When 2 stallions meet, they fight to determine who is in charge. That is why, on a whole, you don't have a herd with more than one running stallion. I want 2 because I plan to turn them loose for the summer and 2 of them looking out for the herd is better than one."

She nodded. "Can I go and pet the little ones?"

Ragnthor laughed. "Sure, let's go out there. I need to check on Ahearn and try to check the stallion as well."

As they walked out there the horses back away, the mares trying to keep their foals save. Ahearn stopped them from going too far, seeming to know what was going on. When they got about 10 yards away they stopped.

Ragnthor turned to her. "Now crouch down." Lucia looked up at him with questioning eyes and he laughed. "I mean it. You are playing on the foal's curiosity. When he sees you go from being tall to being a stump he will come over to see where you went. You can watch but don't move too much or you will scare him."

As Lucia nodded and crouched, Ragnthor walked around the edge and over to Ahearn. He saw that there were large flaps of skin that had been peeled down during the fight. As he rubbed Ahearn's head with one hand, he gently smoothed out the skin with the other.

Ragnthor kept rubbing his head. "That's the best I can do, old man." Ahearn nodded.

As Ragnthor turned around he saw Lucia surround by the foals. She was beaming, not able to pet each one fast enough. He shook his head and smiled as he walked over to her.

"Lucia, I need you to get out. I'm going to check on the stallion and I don't want to risk you getting hurt."

Lucia nodded and climb over the fence. Ragnthor grabbed a water skin that was hanging on the fence and walked out to the stallion.

When he got there he was shocked by the damage it had taken. Blood was slowly oozing from it neck from being bit and flaps of peeled skin from where he had been kicked. But as Ragnthor tried to get close to at least put some water on them, he arched his neck and pawed, challenging him to try.

Ragnthor shook his head. "You are a tough one, aren't you." The horse held his head high and looked him in the eye. "Well you need a name I guess. I will call you Ghardh. And brace yourself. When you get healed, you and I will have a reckoning."

Ghardh took a few steps forward and arched his neck, staring him dead in the eye. Ragnthor smiled and shook his head as he walked back to the house.

Lydia

The next afternoon she walked back into town. She entered the inn and walked over to the bar and ordered some lunch. She was sitting there eating as Selehil walked over.

"So what was last night all about?" She looked at Lydia with inquisitive eyes.

Lydia sighed. "You asked me once what drove me to you." Selehil nodded. "Well last night there was a man in here. He is the thane of Whiterun and the man I was, am, I don't know, swore to serve. And I loved him. Now just now, but since we were kids. His father was the Thane who took my father in. But he left when we were 18, just after his father died. Here was gone for 8 years. A year ago he came back."

She rubbed tears from her eyes." Shit, I guess I still love him. But they way he fights. He throws himself into the fray without a care." She looked Selehil in the eyes. "He has almost died twice since he has been back. First he tried to take on 40 some odd bandits. He won but was out for 7 days. The last time was a week before I joined you. He was fighting a dragon. He dislocated it's wing while it was flying. He broke half his ribs in the fall and almost died before I could get him help."

She wiped her face again and shook her head. "The breaking point was when he beat a dragon to death with his fists. Just lost control. I just couldn't stand watching the man I love throw his life away with every fight." She waved her hand and the bartender brought over a bottle of mead which she pounded down.

Selehil smiled and pointed over at Mountain. "I know what you mean." Lydia looked up at her with questions in her eyes and she laughed. "Mountain saved me 20 or so years ago. My family was questioning the Thalmor and were purged. Mountain was a young freelancer, only 20. He was deep in Valenwood and was camping in the woods when he found me. I had been on my own for weeks and was living on roots and nuts. I followed the smell of meat. He offered it to me and I tore into it like I was starved. I slept by the fire and in the morning he offered me a bow saying 'I can take you with me, but you need to earn your own food'."

She sighed and pulled a ring on a necklace from under her shirt. "We been together for 20 years and married for 10. I keep my ring here, it gets in the way of the bow. Mountain had a way with people and soon started making his own band. First Skinner and Rivers, then the others. Though the last few years I have been trying to get him to give up the life and settle down. He is 40 years old and I want children before he dies. And every day he puts himself into danger." Lydia looked up at her with wide eyes and she nodded. "That's right, after he dies I will still have a long life. If I'm lucky I will make 200 hundred, maybe more. So think about that the next time you chase away those you love."

Lydia nodded. "You are right. I have been a child."

Selehil put her hand on Lydia's shoulder. "Not a child, just hasty." Selehil looked at her. "Do you still want to go with us to Hammerfell?"

Lydia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I need to think about it." As she started to walk away she added "My real name is Lydia."

Selehil waved her back. "And mine is Eilonwy. But let's not be sharing names with the rest of the band. Only Mountain knows mine and I will keep yours safe."

Lydia nodded in thanks as Mountain stood. "Well, our current employer has been… lets call it detained. There was some sort of break in at the Thalmor Embassy and they are holding all present for questioning. Lady Maven has already paid us to get her here and has sent word that we are free to go. And I while I was standing near the palace, one of the guards walks up and ask if I would like to speak to the Jarl. Which leads us to our next escort. We are taking the Jarl's steward, a man by the name of Falk Firebeard to Markarth. We were sought out because we are an unbiased 3rd party. They have offered the same payment as Lady Black-Briar. After this job we will leave Skyrim for the season. Now take it easy today for we leave in the morning."

After Mountain left, Lydia walked outside. She kept her head down as she walked out of the city. She took Black Moon out of the stable and rode down to the river. She rode upstream until she found a spot that was totally secluded.

She stripped off her armor and clothes and jumped into the river. When her head broke the surface she waded over to the shore and grabbed some soap she had bought in Windhelm. As she worked up a lather she noticed she hadn't take off the necklace Ragnthor had given her. Her strength left her and she stumbled back, landing on her butt.

She sat there for a while, chest deep in water, just staring at the necklace in her hand. Several thoughts ran through her head, the foremost of which was He promised he wouldn't leave me again. So what do I do, I leave him.

She stood and walked to the bank, where she shook herself to get the water off. She lay there on her blanket, drying. She kept turning the ring over and over in her hand. She closed her fist over it and jerked, snapping the thin chain it was on. She cocked her arm back, getting ready to throw it when she stopped. She tied it back on and started to get dressed.

She rubbed Black Moon's head. "What do you think I should do boy?"

He looked her in the eye and nodded his head and softly snorted. She sighed. "So that's what you think. Are you sure you don't just want to get back to your buddy?"

He sharply snorted and shook his head. She laughed. "You know, I think you are right. But I have signed up for this and I will see this mission through. I will talk to Mountain in the morning." He nodded as she swung up. "Well let's get back. We have a good 2, maybe 3 weeks of work coming."

The next morning they left, following the same pattern as the first one. They didn't encounter any trouble and walked into Markarth a week later.

As Mountain escorted Falk to the Jarl, the rest of them filed into the bar. Lydia stayed out of the city, first to stable Black Moon then she looked around. She scaled the cliff behind the stable and sat there for a few hours, just looking around.

Selehil climbed up beside her. "So this is where you snuck off to."

Lydia looked over at her. "I didn't sneak anywhere. I just never came into the city." She looked around again. "I have never been here before. I just want to remember it when I leave."

Selehil nodded. "So have you given any thought to where or not you are going to stay?"

Lydia nodded and pulled out her necklace. "I have spent the last week trying to find a reason I shouldn't go back. And as of now the only reason I have is my pride and everyone swallows that at least once in their lives. So I'm going back, if he still wants me."

Selehil put her arm around Lydia. "I think he will, if you are willing to try."

Lydia nodded. "I don't know. I mean how many chances do you get."

She held out her hand and showed the ring. "He almost proposed to me once. At least that's what he told me." She sniffed and, rubbing her eyes, sighed "He gave this to me 3 and a half, 4 weeks before I left. I think he was trying to tell me something. Said it was the ring that he was going to give me years ago."

Selehil closed Lydia's hand over it. "A man's heart is not quite as fickle as a woman's. As girls our thoughts and fancies change like the path of a butterfly. As we grow older, our pride, heart and anger intertwine. To slight one stokes the fury of the others. A man's heart is both joined and separate from his pride and anger. He will use his pride and anger to defend who holds his heart but will never use them because of a hurt there."

She patted Lydia's hand. "According to you, he kept that ring for 8 years." Lydia nodded. "8 years is a long time. For him to keep this ring for that long and not sell or pawn it, means he still has a special place on his heart for you. I doubt a thing like this will hurt things too much."

Lydia smiled and hugged her. "Thank you. You have been one of the few friends I have made in my life."

Selehil laughed. "And you're a good person, for a shiftless merc. Now get be prepared to leave. From what Mountain has been telling me, it's not going too well. We leave in the morning for sure and maybe even tonight."

Lydia nodded. "Ok. When we leave, I will be ready. And when you and Mountain finally get out of the game, feel free to visit, if I'm still there. It's a farm about a mile outside of Whiterun." Selehil nodded and left.

Lydia stayed there all night, watching the sunlight fade and the stars come out until the sun came back again. In the morning she wandered back to the bar and saw everyone packing up to leave. She ordered some food and waited for Mountain to speak. About 30 minutes later he did.

He motioned them into his room. "Alright crew, apparently the meeting didn't go the way our employer wanted it to. We leave as soon as Aednat finishes her breakfast. Same formation as before. We need to be cautious for the next few days. Word on the street is that the Silver-Blood family is in total control of the court and has the Forsworn on their side. Our man Falk has been trying to shift the balance to a more favorable way for Solitude and Skyrim on the whole. So odds are we will be followed by the forsworn for a few days. Rivers, as rear guard, you can use your beast form if you need too." Rivers nodded and Lydia finished her breakfast. "Alright men, Move out."

Lydia rushed out to the stable and threw the saddle on Black Moon. She had just tightened the cinch when the rest of them walked out of town. She swung on and rode out ahead with Selehil.

Around noon 2 days, there was a massive noise coming from behind. Suddenly it stopped and Mountain yelled at them to get back. Lydia pulled Selehil up behind her and rode back.

When they rode into sight, Lydia saw a massive form. It stood 8 or nine feet tall and was covered in blood. Skinner was in it's arms. It snapped its jaws and growled. Suddenly it's form shivered and Rivers was standing there in his small clothes.

"There is a large group of Forsworn about a quarter mile behind us. I managed to take out 10 or 12 but there is still 25 or more and they are coming fast."

Mountain nodded. "Alright men, lets form up." He turned to Lydia who was swinging up onto Black Moon. "What do you think you are doing?"

Lydia drew her sword and looked at him. "Buying you time to get out of here. I can distract a group that size for 20, 30 minutes if I'm lucky. That will give you time to get out of here and into a better position."

Mountain's eyes grew wide and he shook his head and growled. "Like hell you will. I look out for us and I won't have you riding off to your death."

Lydia smiled. "Last one in, first one out. I was planning on leaving after this job anyway. Going back to the life I left."

Mountain shook his head and walked over. "If you do this you won't be going back. Let me go instead. I have less to lose than you."

Lydia lowered her voice so only he could hear her. "You know that's a lie. I know about you and Eilonwy." His eyes grew wide as she continued. "I want you to take my share and get out of the business. Before you lose what you care about. And if you find yourself back in Skyrim, stop by the Thanes farm outside of Whiterun. If you need help, mention the name Lydia and you will get it. Now get you and the men out of here or what I have planned won't work."

Mountain nodded and turned. "Alright men, you heard the lass. Rivers, put Skinner in the wagon and jump in yourself. Now Let's Get The Hell Out Of Here!"

He turned back to Lydia. "Good luck out there. And you're right, it's time to get out." Lydia nodded as she slammed the flat of her sword on Black Moon and tore off.

She hadn't gone far before she found them. She pulled Black Moon to a stop and looked at them. There was 25 men and women.

One of them stepped forward. "We have no quarrel with you, woman. We are after a highborn traveling with a group of mercs. We just fought off a Khajiit and their tamed were-beast. Get out of the way and no harm will come to you."

Lydia smiled. "I work with those men. So to get to them, you have to go through me."

The Forsworn smiled. "Well that can be arranged."

Lydia pounded her sword on her shield and slammed her heels into Black Moon. As she drew close she wrenched his head as she saw the front row of spears. She swung her sword at the first one she drew close to, sinking her blade deep into his skull. They ran a few strides past then she pulled him up and spun around, charging back.

As she got close, she lunged off Black Moon, catching 2 Forsworn, one in the neck with her shield and the other in the chest with her sword. As she stood, Black Moon got behind her. She pounded her sword on her shield and roar as she lowered herself into a fighting stance.

She managed to take out 7 or 8 before they got her. As she was finishing off one, another slammed an axe into her stomach, denting her armor and knocking the breath out of her. As she staggered back she saw a woman run forward with a spear. Lydia was unable to move fast enough to stop it as it hit the dent in her armor. She gasped as the cold, smooth steel then the rough shaft pierced her gut and pushed on the back of her armor. She roared and cut the shaft short with her sword, wincing as is moved inside her. She drove her sword deep into the woman then swung onto Black Moon and slapped him with her sword.

She shook her head as she rode off. "I hope I gave them enough time or killed enough to help them."

She put her hand on her stomach and it came back dark red. When she looked down at it she sighed in relief. "At least…none of the guts…were punctured. Got to get…somewhere safe."

She rode for about an hour before she stopped. When she looked up she saw a small cabin with a stable next to a spring, surrounded by a thick stand of trees. She slipped off the saddle and, grabbing a bag off of the saddle, walked over to the spring. She dropped the bag and, grabbing what was left of the spear with both hands, pulled as hard as she could. As she pulled she let out a roaring scream and fell to her knees, breathing heavily.

As quickly as she could she pulled off her armor and shirt. She took a rag out of the pack and dipped it in the spring and washed her front and as her back as best she could. Then, grabbing a needle and threat out of the pack, she sewed up the hole in her stomach as best she could. As she felt her back she determined that the hole in her back was small enough that it would be alright without her trying to stitch it. She pulled a long piece of cloth out of the pack and wrapped it 10 or 12 times around her.

She stood and staggered over to Black Moon. She led him over to the stable and took off the saddle. She laid it on a rack and pulled out a sack. She then staggered back to her sword and armor and put it the bag. She dug it back to the house and laid on the doorframe for a while before she even tried the door. Lucky it was open. She shut the door, dropped the bag on the floor, fell onto the bed and passed out.

-Author's note: Sorry this took forever and a half to come out. But I have the next chapter actually worked out rather than just flying by the seat of my pants, so hopefully it won't take another 2 weeks for this one. Though from May to October it will slow way down. Managed to get a job lined up so I won't be able to spend all day typing. Well I hope you enjoy this new chapter and as ever, if I do something wrong, spelling or otherwise, feel free to point it out.