They set up camp at evening, and ate dinner along the main road.
"Do you intend to take them alive or dead?" Uthgerd said.
"That depends on them." Yew said.
"I get that. But what will you be trying to do?" Uthgerd said.
"Depends on the circumstances as well. They are dangerous. And I prioritize your lives and the lives of innocent over the lives of bandits. If it looks like it'll be a fight to the death, I'll treat it like that. But I will look for opportunities to capture them. I think I'd like to ask them some questions." Yew said.
"Like why they attacked the Bannered Mare." Greta said.
"Exactly." Yew said.
That night Yew couldn't help but to pleasure himself to keep his lust under control. He thought of both of his companions, both very different, but both quite appealing in their own way. He felt a little bad about it, but his self-control could only be so strong.
Falling asleep, Yew once again saw his character sheet. His Speech skill had gained some experience, as had Druidism (likely from utilizing his connection with his wolf), as well as Survivalism and Tracking which gained level ups. He was making good progress to his next general level up, but it would take a bit.
That morning they had a quick breakfast, tore down their camp and headed back on the pursuit. The bandits were a good deal ahead of them, so they couldn't waste much more time if they expected to intercept them.
It wasn't long before the party came across a tower built right next to a bridge. Outside there were a few nordic men, dressed in furs and leathers.
Yew expected danger. His hands tingled a bit, and electricity worked it's way down his spine. Part of him was eagar for a fight, part of him was damn terrified.
"Hold." A gruff voice shouted out as they got close enough to the group of men.
"Alright then. We don't want any trouble. We are just making our way." Yew said.
"That's the reason why you've gotta hold." A sharper, younger sounding voice said.
"That's right. This is our road and this is our bridge. Either way you've gotta pay the toll to make it across either." The gruff-voiced man said again. He seemed to be the leader and was taller by at least a head then all of his other, considerably intimidating men.
"Pay a toll huh? And what if we refuse?" Yew said.
.
""Then you leave back the way you came from." The man said.
"By what right do you own this bridge, this road? Should it not be the property of all who live and travel in this land?" Uthgerd asked.
"We own it through force of arms good lady." Said another voice. It was an older man with streaks of grey in his beard and two scars across his face. His voice sounded surprisingly gentle.
"Is that how law works here in Skyrim?" Yew asked.
"Yes, in all lands that war touches." Greta said.
"The little lady has it half right. That's how the law works in all lands. War torn or no." The gruff voiced man said.
"Alright then. How much is this toll?" Yew asked.
"You don't mean to give him our gold?" Uthgerd said. Yew gave her a meaningful look and she let out a grunt of acquiescence.
"A modest fee, I'm sure for adventures such as you. 1000 gold, I'd say." The gruff-voiced man said
"That's an outrageous fee. Simply to use the road unmolested..." Greta said.
"You don't have to pay all in gold, if you don't have the coin. We'll take goods equal to that amount as well." The gruff voiced man said.
"Do you extract such a fee over all such travelers?" Yew asked.
"Not as such. We take what we believe the travelers can afford, it's only fair. We need to eat, and they need to cross the road." the older, kind voiced man said.
"Travelers have to eat too." Yew said.
"The land is bountiful. Let them take what they need from it." The Gruff voiced man said.
"It's riddled with war and monsters, and many people are not as strong as you lot." Yew said.
"That's enough talk. Give us the coin or go home." The gruff voiced man said.
"I can't go home. Neither can I give you the coin. I can't much afford it. Nor can I be stripped for my valuables, and I wouldn't be worth anything as a leader if I let my companions be robbed." Yew said.
"What are you intending to do then." The sharp voiced man said.
"Well, I'm intending on busting up your operation. Through force, if necessary." Yew said.
"I have no desire to kill you or your companions." The gruff-voiced man said.
"I have no desire to kill any of you either, truth be told. However, I need to pass. And I don't like the idea of you keeping hold of this tower and road. Seems to me to be a recipe for disaster." Yew said. He didn't need to be the one to put an end to these bandits. After all, city guards or Imperial Legionnares or Stormcloaks were bound to put an end to them at some point.
But he did want the experience points. Any bit of training could help, and besides a fight could be exhilarating. There were only five of them. Yew was pretty sure they could take them.
"Well, that's a problem. We can't let you inform anyone that we're here." The gruff voiced man said.
Weapons were drawn, including those of his companions.
"Boys, boys. Can't we work something else out? Like maybe you leave and never hurt anyone again? Or maybe you could help us track down another group of outlaws? You could earn a way to buy off your bounty and lead a better life." Yew said.
"Tempting. But I don't see how any of that would work." The Gruff voiced man said.
"Well, I tried." Yew said and cast Piercing Thorn. It hit the gruff-voiced man in the chest as he charged forward, but he kept coming. Slashing at Yew as Yew dodged backwards.
Yew sent another thorn racing into the gruff-voiced man's belly. His armor was good enough that this still wasn't sufficient. The Gruff voiced man hit Yew with a gloved fist, knocking Yew to the ground. The bandit leader tried to follow through with a stab, but Yew managed to dodge that. Then Yew sent another thorn into the bandit's torso.
The bandit staggered back, blood trickling from his mouth.
"I'm not going to die today, because of a little bitch like you." The bandit leader said, as Yew scrambled to his feet and drew his bow.
"You sure about that?" Yew said, notching an arrow.
"Damn it..." The gruff voiced man said. He turned to run. Yew sent an arrow into his neck, and he fell dead to the ground.
Uthgerd was taking on two men, one of them being the sharp voiced man, and another being a man who didn't speak. Greta was fighting with a man with an axe and a long blonde beard.
Uthgerd played a defensive game, waiting until the silent bandit had exhausted himself before sticking her sword in his belly. Then she focused on the sharp voiced man who was a harder opponent. He was armed with a sword and shield and was a bit quicker then Uthgerd, allowing him to hit Uthgerd with some glancing blows.
Uthgerd wouldn't win a defensive game against him. She had to strike hard. So she decided to target his shield. Striking it and striking it until it splintered and he let go of it remains. Then she slashed the man nearly in two with her greatsword.
Greta was trading blows with the man with the blonde beard, for every two blows she'd land on him, he'd secure a more severe wound on her. This pace was only sustained by Greta's healing and defensive magic, otherwise, she would have been killed already.
Yew aimed as carefully as he could with his bow and waited until he had a clear shot, then he took it, getting another shot in the jugular and ending his life near instantly.
Greta fell to her knees in relief.
"Th-thank you." Greta said.
"No problem." Yew said. He was a bit frustrated at that performance. He should have been able to control the course of the battle better, but as it was, his companions faced quite a lot of danger that to his mind was unnecessary.
However, another thing hit him harder. There were supposed to be five men, not four, and his wolf had disappeared.
Yew closed his eyes and concentrated, the wolf was still alive and still around this general area, but he couldn't quite place where.
"Are you well?" Uthgerd said.
"Yes. I'm fine. We need to find my wolf." Yew said.
"Might have taken off when the fighting started. One of the bandits did." Uthgerd said.
"Yeah, I noticed that as well. I don't mind if one bandit escapes. As long as it's not with my wolf." Yew said.
An arrow went flying between Yew and Greta. Yew turned his gaze towards the tower. A one-eyed man was taking aim with his good eye. He sent the second flying as Yew notched an arrow and then loosed it. Greta took an arrow in the side. The man who fired the shot took one in the chest and collapsed against the tower wall.
"Greta." Yew and Uthgerd said and both went to check on Greta.
"I...I don't know if I can fix this on my own." Greta said though. Her voice weak and panicked.
"Don't worry. I have potions that can help." Yew said.
"Are you ready?" Uthgerd asked, her hand on the arrow. Greta took a deep breath.
"Y-Yes." The priestess said. Uthgerd took out the arrow and blood spurted from it. Greta put her hand on the wound and tried healing it as best she could. Then she drank a potion that Yew gave her.
"Ah...it feels good." Greta said after she finished the potion, but her voice wasn't much stronger.
"I'll take the rest of the tower. You keep Greta safe." Yew said.
"I should be with you, in case there's more of them." Uthgerd said.
"I can handle myself." Yew said.
"You sure about that? Aren't you just an initiate?" Uthgerd said.
"I've stayed alive so far. And I've gotten stronger. I've got all the resources I need to defeat any opponent. At least any that a group of bandits could offer me." Yew said.
"Fine. But if you need my help, call out." Uthgerd said.
Yew nodded. He put away his bow and took out his dagger. He had his staff on his back, but he felt more comfortable with utilizing his cantrips for the moment.
Yew went up the stairs of the tower to the second floor. Two bandits lay in wait there. Yew was able to use acid splash to blind the first bandit and ended him by slitting his throat.
The next bandit raced towards him with a shout. He quickly knocked the dagger out of Yews hands and slashed Yew twice before Yew could dodge. Reacting as fast as Yew could he sent another Acid Splash to blind the bandit and while he was desperately clawing at his face, Yew ended him with a Piercing thorn.
Yew picked up his dagger and moved on. He would have enough time to rifle through the bandit's supplies after he was done clearing this place out. Yew drank a health potion and felt his wounds stitch back together. He still felt a bit weak but he couldn't wait for long.
The druid headed to the top of the tower. There he saw a man in full iron plate with a fur cloak. Behind him was a woman in leather armor. She was tanned and looked like she might be an Imperial. She had a hand ax over her back as well as a shield, and a sword and a dagger at her hips.
"Well, well, our guest has arrived." The woman said.
"You knew I was coming." Yew said.
"Of course. You made quite the racket. If you were trying for stealth, it's not your bag." The woman said.
"I admit that isn't my area of expertise. Then again I really didn't want to spend today cutting through a bunch of bandits. Right now I just want to now where my wolf is." Yew said.
"Couldn't tell you about any wolves." The woman said.
"Then I shall take my leave." Yew said and began to withdraw. A dagger stuck itself in the wall, barely missing his skull.
"I'm sorry but I can't exactly let you leave." The woman said.
Yew kept running towards the door, but hit an invisible barrier.
"What the...?" Yew muttered.
Then he just managed to get away from a sword that would have cleaved his head wide open. It was a sword wielded two handed
by the large man in the steal plate.
"It's a shame but I wouldn't have much of a reputation if I let you live after all you've done." She said.
"You're not likely to, if me and mine are able to massacre you with relatively no trouble, you'd be hopeless dealing with more experienced adventurers." Yew said.
"An interesting theory. What would you propose I do instead, if my situation is so hopeless." The woman said.
"Allow me to hire you as mercenaries. We'll be stronger together than on our own and we can grow our strengths. Once you get what you want out of our realtionship, you can leave and go about whatever path in life you choose." Yew said.
"A fascinating offer. How much can you pay us?" The woman said, and the man put away his sword.
"Well, for one all the gold on the men that have fallen to us today, you can have." Yew said.
"Mighty generous of you." The woman said.
"That's not all. Each of you will get 25 gold a day and anything we find along the way will be divided 40-60, with the three of us getting 60% of anything we find and you getting 40%. We are also on our way to collect a bounty. If you accompany us through our mission and the collection, then you will receive half of what we get from that. Sound fair?" Yew said.
"That depends. Whose this bounty on?" The woman asked.
"Just some Breton bandit who launched a raid on the Bannered Mare in Whiterun, along with his pet mage and a nord warrior." Yew said, trying to play it cool.
"...Ok then. We'll come along." The woman said.
"I appreciate that. Now if we could get going-" Yew said.
"Hold it. I have one additional condition. Gunther, leave us for a moment." The woman said. The man, Gunther apparently, grunted and brushed past Yew to leave.
"What's the meaning of this?" Yew asked.
"Pretty boys like you tend to only be good at one thing. And I'll need to take advantage." The woman said, taking off her trousers.
"Uh...this...we've just met." Yew said, but his hands were sweaty and his body was tingly and warm and he was so hard.
"I know, and in my experience it's best to solidify one's bonds with sex." The woman said.
"I...don't even know your name." Yew said.
"It's Sophia. Nice to meet you." The woman said and her underwear fell to her feet.
"Now then. Eat me out." She said spreading her legs.
"You make a compelling argument." Yew said.
Before Yew even knew he was moving he was in between Sophia's legs. He felt and heard her cum and when she did he felt himself tip over the edge as well.
"Ah. I see that silver tongue of yours is good for something." Sophia said patting Yew on the head.
"Oh and you've finished just from that. Yeah, I think you and I will get along real nicely." Sophia said, pulling her trousers back on.
"Come on. Let's get going." Sophia said.
Yew adjusted himself and headed out after her. He was feeling a bit better, but he knew it wouldn't be long before his lust grew walking behind Sophia told him that. Her ass was fantastic.
Yew was the one that went down the stairs first. He needed to make sure Uthgerd wouldn't kill their newfound allies. The others would gather up the bandits supplies.
"Well, I've got some news for you." Yew said.
"What's that?' Uthgerd said.
"I've gotten some new friends. Though they will be expecting payment." Yew said.
"I see. Can we really trust them?" Uthgerd muttered.
"I think so. They didn't seem too affectionate about their lost comrades, and I made them a good offer." Yew said.
"But stay vigiliant." Yew added.
"Alright then, Gunther, Sophia, you can come on down." Yew said.
The two headed down the stairs and took their places.
"Sorry about the fight you had to go through. We just thought this would be the best way to make money off the civilwar without anybody getting hurt. Seems like that was a false hope." Sophia said.
"Seems so." Greta said.
"The old man. He's gone and so is my wolf. You have any idea where he could be?" Yew asked.
"Where would any bandit or thief go when in need? To Riften." Sophia said.
"Then all the more reason to continue our journey. Onwards." Yew said.
And thus the awkward party continued onward. On the road to Riften.