Chapter 20

Ragnthor

3, almost 4, weeks later Ragnthor and Lucia rode up to Riften. Ragnthor swung off of Ghardh and started walking toward the stable master and paid for 2 stalls and feed.

As he led Ghardh into the stall he heard a pleading voice behind him. "Ragnthor, I need help getting off."

Ragnthor slipped the saddle off Ghardh then turned and looked at Lucia. She had the most hopeless expression on her face, mixed with a fair amount of pain.

He walked over and gently off of the saddle. "There you go. Now go and slowly stretch your legs while I put the mare in the stall." Lucia nodded and slowly started walking toward the door. Ragnthor shouted out after her. "Make sure you do your coat up tight. I don't want you catching a cold."

She put a hand up as she opened the door. "Ok, Ok. And thank you." Ragnthor laughed as she hobbled out.

Ragnthor led the mare and her foal into the stall and stripped off her saddle. He brushed her down as an old woman walked over and looked into the stall.

"What a strange sight. I can't remember ever seeing a stunning palomino colt nursing from a striking black and white mare."

Ragnthor laughed and walked over to the woman. "I'm weak for flashy colored horses. That's why I keep her, she always throws color. It helps that the stallion is just as striking as the colt. But she only has one more breeding season left before I turn her loose." He held out his hand. "My names Ragnthor, mind if I ask yours?"

She shook his hand. "I know who you are, Dragonborn. And don't mind me, I just help out in the stable where I can. Now I would get to the inn soon before those hoping to escape the boarding house for a night take all the room. And keep a close eye on that girl of yours. The Guild here sometimes likes to recruit them young."

Ragnthor sent her a questioning glance. "What Guild?"

The woman laughed. "You know what Guild. From the feel of your hands you have been trained well." She laughed softly. "But don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Ragnthor nodded, unsmiling. "Thank you. For both your advice and your discretion." She nodded as he walked out the door.

As he walked outside he laughed as he saw Lucia stagger after Slasher as he bounded around the yard. Ragnthor whistled and Slasher ran over to him with Lucia following close behind. Ragnthor motioned and they walked toward the gate, where they were stopped by a guard.

"Halt, by order of the Jarl, all visitors must pay a tax to enter the city. Let's see here, 200 for you, 100 for the girl and 50 for the dog."

Ragnthor laughed. "Surely you can't be serious. It's clear you made that up yourself for extra money."

The guard laughed. "Whether or not that's true doesn't matter. You don't pay, you don't get in."

Ragnthor lost what little patience he had. His arm shot out and he grabbed the guard around the throat and picked him up off the ground. The guard's hands flew to his throat as Ragnthor drew him close.

Ragnthor growled at him. "Open. The. Gate."

The guard spat in his face. Ragnthor felt the man's throat move as he rasped at him. "Go fuck yourself."

Ragnthor slammed his fist into the man's face. "That was a mistake. Lucia, close your eyes."

Ragnthor slammed the man's head into the wall hard enough to crack his helmet. The man went limp and Ragnthor let him slide to the ground. He checked for a pulse as he pulled the keys from the guard's belt.

When he turned he saw Lucia staring at him with wide eyes. "Why?"

Ragnthor hung his head. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Lately I just can't stand people who prey on others. He is alive and will wake with a hell of a head ache. Now let's get into town. Maybe some has news of Lydia and I have a man I need to talk to."

Lucia nodded and Ragnthor opened the gate. "Slasher, stay with Ghardh." Slasher whined but went back.

They walked into the square and were accosted by a man with a thick accent and thick red hair.

"Excuse me, but you look like a man who can get a job done."

Ragnthor nodded. "That I can, provided I can get rewarded. I'm looking for a man named Esbern and was told to ask a man named Brynjolf."

The man slapped him and the back. "I can give you the information you seek."

Ragnthor shook his hand. "Then we have a deal."

The man nodded. "You see that Argonian behind the stand. In his strongbox there will be a silver ring. That ring need to find its way into the pocket of the Dunmer over there. You do that and I will give you what you seek. No if you will wait for just a minute I will call them over here in a crowd and you can get to work."

Ragnthor nodded and waited for the crowd to form. Then he walked over to the strongbox and picked the lock, pulling out the ring. Then he walked over to the Dunmer. He bumped into him and slipped the ring into his pocket. He apologized and nodded over at the man. He quickly wrapped up his talk and the crowd flowed back to their jobs.

The man walked over to him. "You did good. It's high time something goes right for the Guild. I can tell you have done this before. My name is Brynjolf and I…"

Suddenly a group of guards filed into the square. "Arrest the massive Nord! He was the one who beat one of our own!"

Ragnthor turn to the man and rolled up his sleeve and show him a tattoo on his arm. "Get the girl out of here."

Brynjolf nodded. "Join us in the Rat Way when you finish with this." He grabbed Lucia and took off.

Ragnthor turn and drew his sword let a Shout rip out his throat. "FUS RO DAH!" The Shout tore through the group of guards, knocking them down and to the side.

He roared out to the guards. "WHO WANTS TO CHALLENGE THE DRAGONBORN!"

The guards stood and charged. Ragnthor chuckled. "THEN MEET THE GODS!"

Ragnthor charged and swung his sword deep into the shoulder of the first man. Then he spun and slammed the pommel of his sword of the next guard, shattering most of her ribs. He swung his sword and sliced off a woman's head and shattered a man's sword. He swung his fist and knocked him senseless. He turned and hurled his sword and it drove hilt deep into a man's chest, pinning him to a post.

Ragnthor walked forward and savagely tore it form the post. He sheathed it and was turning to leave when 30 or more guards started streaming into the square.

Ragnthor shook his head. "I really don't need this." He turned toward them and let another rip out his throat. "YOL TOOR SHUL!"

He spun as the fire left his mouth, creating a barrier of fire between him and them. He turned and dove into the dirty, scummy water of the canal. He tore at the water and quickly broke the surface. Then he climbed out of the water and ran into the sewers.

As he was closing the doors he heard a guard say "Let him go. We don't have enough men to even attempt to enter the Rat Way"

An hour later he walked in to a room with a huge cistern. As he walked around the edge Lucia stood and ran toward him and gave him a hug.

"I'm glad you're alright." She sniffed and wrinkled her face. "Why do you stink?"

Ragnthor laughed. "Because I had to jump into that nasty canal to escape the guards." He rubbed her head. "Now let's go and talk to Brynjolf. Maybe the red headed rouge will buy us some food."

They walked over and sat down. "Now speak, I did your task. Now please can you tell me where to find the old man, his life may well be in danger. I found his name in the torture chamber in the Thalmor Embassy."

Brynjolf's eyes grew wide. "You managed to get in the Embassy. The only way we know to get in is through the troll cave."

Ragnthor smiled. "I got an invitation to go to a party there. Now about the man."

Brynjolf nodded. "He is down deep in the Rat Way. Lives down in the Warrens. Here's the key." He looked over at Lucia, who was bothering a rather shifty looking blonde. "I would leave that kid of yours here. A few days ago we sent someone down to check on those we care for in the Warrens. She never came back. So if you could keep your eyes open while you're down there, we want to send her back to her family along with the amount of gold she earned for us."

Ragnthor nodded. "That I will do. I know it's hard for parents not to know where their child lies."

Ragnthor was standing when Brynjolf spoke again. "So where did you join up with the Guild? We stopped using the Tattoo system over a century ago."

Ragnthor laughed. "When I was a young man and testing my arm against the creatures living within the sands and grasslands of the lands of the Khajiit. They use a branding method down there, making it harder to both leave the Guild and to hide your membership. I choose to forgo the brand in favor of the Tattoo. It hurts a little less than a brand. And thank you for watching Lucia. But please don't teach her anything. If she wants to learn I will teach her myself." Brynjolf nodded as Ragnthor walked out the back of the bar.

As Ragnthor walked into the next room he heard voices. "Damn those thieves to the darkest realm of Oblivion. Who the hell did they get to enchant this door? Our mauls can't touch it, nor can any element. Neither can pure force. And we can't leave until that wizard gets here to nullify the enchantment."

As Ragnthor crept forward there was a bright flash of light and the voices started again. "About time you get here. We don't want Elenwen to get know how long it took."

"Quiet, low ranked scum. And stand back while I do this."

Ragnthor crept to the edge of a drop and saw two elves standing there watching another who was casting spells. Ragnthor drew his sword and dropped off the edge.

He landed directly on the shoulders, snapping the man's spine, and a multitude of other bones. He swung his sword and split the others skull to the teeth. He was turning to face the wizard when suddenly he was suddenly paralyzed by an overwhelming amount of electricity. The wizard flashed a sweet smiled at him, her face in stark contrast to the lighting flowing from her fingers.

She spoke with a high yet soft voice. "What luck I am having today. Not only did I manage to capture the person who tore through our main head quarters but you rid me of the two fools who I would be forced to share credit with." Ragnthor started trying to clean his mind in an effort ignore the pain coursing through his body. But with every crackle the pain shifted, writhing over his skin and driving deep into his body, amplified by his armor.

She laughed. "You are a very strong person, for one of the races of men. I have been told of your almost unnatural tolerance to pain but I must say it is impressive to see firsthand." She thrust her hands toward him and the pain suddenly intensified, shocking him away from the state he was trying for. "Most impressive indeed. I guess we might have to bring in and…punish you niece in front of you. We know that the second of command of the Thieves Guild brought her down into the Rat Way. Or maybe, just maybe we "let" you go with the information about the woman, Lydia, then slowly slice both her throat and the skin off her body while we slowly pull your arms from their sockets." She started laughing.

Suddenly something snapped inside of him. Overcome with surging, black anger he started walking toward to the woman. It took her a while before she realized what was happening. She pulled back her fist and swung, the beings of a fireball forming. He grabbed her fist and crushed it. She screamed as Ragnthor grabbed her around the throat. He roared as he slammed her against the wall, again and again. When he finally came to his senses and stopped her eyes were glazed over and her head moved like jelly.

He threw her against the wall and snorted with distain. "No one can threaten the ones I love and live. No one." He pulled out the key and opened the door.

An hour later he was walking back into the bar with Esbern and carrying a young woman in his arms. Brynjolf saw and walked over, taking the girl.

"Thank you Ragnthor. Now she can go and meet her gods."

Ragnthor nodded. "It's always good to know. I do have a favor to ask." Brynjolf nodded. "The Thalmor are after me. And a mage I killed farther down said they were coming after my loved ones. So if possible, could you send one of your members to keep an eye on her when I can't?" He looked over at Lucia who was playing with the blonde. "Maybe that blonde lass. She seems to like Lucia."

Brynjolf huffed. "Ves? I would sooner send…" He stopped as he turned and saw them playing. "You might be right. When will you need our help?"

Ragnthor gave him a thankful look. "Not for 4 or 5 weeks. I want to make sure the Thalmor lose the scent before I trust her with anyone else."

Brynjolf nodded. "That is something I understand."

Ragnthor shook his shoulder and walked over to Lucia. "It's time to go Lucia. So say goodbye to your new friend."

Lucia turned and hugged Ves. "It was nice to meet you Ves. Maybe we can play again sometime."

Ves looked up and he nodded. "Of course ankle biter. Now go with your uncle."

Soon they were walking out of the sewers. Ragnthor stopped and listened for the sounds of guards.

"Esbern, I had a little fight with the guards on the way in. So I will need to sneak out of the city." He pressed a coin purse into Esbern's hands. "That's enough to by a horse to ride out of town. Lucia rides a paint mare with a palomino colt. Meet me around a mile north of town, we are leaving through Falkreath. And watch your hands around a scarred red roan. He will take your hand off."

Esbern nodded and took Lucia's hand and walked up to the street near the alchemist shop. Ragnthor looked around and saw a cache mark on a brick on the wall. He pulled the brick out and reached his hand in the hole. He pulled out a hooded robe, a wooden staff and a dirty strip of cloth. He smiled as he pulled on the robe.

A while later he was walking toward the docks. Just before he reached the gate leading outside he was stopped by a guard.

"Stop! You are around the same size of the man who killed 5 of the guard today. Throw back your hood and let me see your face."

Ragnthor leaned on his staff and throw back the hood, giving the guard a lopsided smiled. He had rubbed dirt and river slime on his face and in his hair, rolling it into thick strands. He had pricked his thumb and rubbed blood and the strip of cloth, which he had used to cover one eye.

He wheezed when he spoke. "Of course, good sir."

The guard gave a start and backed away. "Go back to the canal bank. I have no wish to catch what you have."

Ragnthor nodded. "May I have a coin, sir?"

The guard tossed him a coin as he left. As soon as his back was turned, Ragnthor quickly hobbled to the gate leading out to the docks.

As soon as he was saw water, he took a deep breath and dove into the water. He swam as far as he could then surfaced. He quietly swam up behind the stable. He took off the gear he got from the cache and left it leaning against the back wall. He walked in and threw a saddle on Ghardh then rode out as quietly as he could, motioning Slasher to be quiet as well. He rode along the lake shore until he could no longer see the walls then swam with his animals straight across the lake to the mill they were to meet at.

They got out of the water in a thick stand of brush. Ragnthor left Ghardh tied to a shrub as he walked over to the mill. Lucia saw him before he saw her.

She slammed into him and wrapped her arms around him. "You're safe!"

He rubbed her head. "Of course I am, little lass." He saw Esbern walking toward him and nodded. "Now are you ready to ride? Because I want to ride straight through to Riverwood. And that's about 2 and a half weeks away, without sleep."

Lucia's jaw dropped and he laughed. "Don't worry, if you get too tired we will stop. Now go saddle up while I get Ghardh from where I left him."

A short while later they were moving quickly down the road. Ragnthor looked up as the sky before he pulled out his pipe and lit it with a tinderbox.

Lydia

Lydia knew she was in trouble when the snow fell almost constantly for 2 weeks, gathering 3, almost 4 feet of snow.

She struggled through the snow for the first week, trying to gather as much food as she could. She wasn't all that lucky. She had only managed to take 5 deer, nowhere near enough food for a 7 month winter. She might last 4 or 5 if she was lucky.

She had better luck with the wood and ha for Black Moon. She had managed to take down 14, 15 trees and cut them into fire wood, which was easily enough for a 7 month winter in a cabin this small and well built. And the person who used this cabin for the summer had stored enough grass hay to last the winter, if she was careful.

Her wound, on the other hand, was worse than before the snow had started to fall. In an effort to prepare for the winter she had not be as careful with it as she should have been. She had blown 2 or the stitches and the sweat from cutting wood had irritated the wound and she was half sure it was infected.

For the next 2 weeks the snow kept falling. She spent almost all day inside near the fire, leaving only to cut down some meat, bring in wood and throw some hay to Black Moon.

Finally, after 4 weeks of constant snowfall, the sun shone. When she went outside the snow was over her head by almost a foot. She walked around the back of the stall and threw some hay to Black Moon. As she was going back she heard the tell tale crunch of someone wearing snow walkers and talking.

She hurried around the back of the cabin and, as quietly as she could, she scrambled up the snow and onto the roof. She stopped so she could just see over the peak of the roof. She saw 2 elves, a man and a woman. She focused on the voices and could get make out the conversation.

"Are you sure that she came this way?"

The man nodded. "Of course ma'am. We got the location of the fight from the lone surviving Forsworn. You watched as I dug down to the bodies to confirm and we have reached the cabin that she told us about. There is smoke coming from the chimney and a small path leading to the stable. Even if she is not here, the person can tell us where she is."

As soon as they reach the door they stopped. "You go in ma'am. You are better at talking to these nordlings than I am."

The woman huffed. "Of course I am, that's why I am a Thalmor agent and you are the rank and file."

She took off her snow walkers and walked inside. As soon as the door was shut Lydia drew her dagger and dropped off the roof, plunging it deep into the man's throat. She savagely jerked it out then walked inside.

As she shut the door the woman spoke. "What in the eight hells are you… ah, it's you. So the information that Forsworn slut gave us wasn't a lie. Now I'm supposed to bring you in alive but since you killed my guard I will skewer you now!"

She drew her sword and attempted to run her sword through Lydia. Lydia deflected the sword with her dagger and wrapped her arm around the woman's throat then slammed her dagger deep into the woman's back.

"Why are you here?"

The woman remained silent so Lydia adjusted her grip and twisted the dagger, hard. The woman screamed as Lydia kept twisting, feeling the blood gush over her hand. Stopping just before the woman passed out for the pain, she tried again.

"Why are you here?"

The woman shuddered as she replied. "Because the Dragonborn has caused large problems for us and if he goes on much longer, he will cause bigger ones still. You were located through our Forsworn contacts because you have been determined the best person to use as bait to capture and as leverage during torture."

Lydia snarled. "Who else knows how to find this place?" There was no other sound but breathing. "TELL ME!"

Lydia pulled out the dagger and plunged it in again, 6 inches higher. Lydia felt the woman tense when the dagger pierced her armor.

She had just started to twist when the woman spoke. "No one else! No one else. I was given complete autonomy until I brought you back. I answer to no one. But we will get you and through you, him."

Lydia snarled and plunged the dagger hilt deep in the woman's chest and savagely drug it across her chest, snapping bones and shredding organs.

As she felt the woman start to go limp she whispered in her ear. "No one will get to Ragnthor. Not using me, not through me and not around me. Only over my cold, dead body."

The woman went limp and Lydia threw her on the floor. "You will make good bait as well. To keep the wolves away from my meat."

She stripped pack off the man and threw it into the house. Then she strapped one a pair of the snow walkers and drug the pair 200 yards from the back of the cabin and left them in the trees.

"Hopefully this will keep the wolves away for a while."

When she got back to the cabin she was completely exhausted. She opened the pack and gave a tired but happy smile. It was filled with potatoes and heads of lettuce, things she was sorely lacking.

She walked outside and got more wood for the fire. As she threw it in she bowed her head and put her hand over her chest as she fought back a surge of fear.

"Stay safe, Ragnthor. Please stay safe."

She shook her head and wiped the few tears that had form. She locked the door and took off her coat and shirt then slipped under her covers and when to sleep.

Author's note: This one actually managed to get its self written much sooner than I thought it would. I blame spring snow storms keeping me home from work. Oh the joys of a farm. And I had to cut this chapter in half, because I don't know much you all want to be reading an 9 or 10,000 word chapter. But this means the next chapter should, fingers crossed everybody, be out by the end of the month. And thanks for reading. I only write because you all keeping liking what I put out.