Chapter 22

They reached their first Inn by the middle of the second week, and Jane couldn't have been happier to see the little cottage. A storm was just beginning to brew outside, and so everybody was grateful to get indoors.

Once the horses were stabled, everybody piled into the small Inn, which Jane didn't catch the name of. Inside a few patrons milled about, drinking and eating. It was nice and warm inside, which was all Jane needed, other than a bed. Lynne walked up to the bar while the rest hung back.

"I don't have enough rooms for all four of ya," the woman told Lynne.

"Do you have two rooms? That's all we need."

The grey-haired woman eyed Lynne for a moment, and her gaze drifted over to the Orcs standing near the door. She looked at Jane, and then back at Lynne.

"Alright then..." She replied slowly, "that'll be thirty gold."

"Really?"

Lynne wanted to say more but she didn't want to cause a scene.

"Okay... fine."

"Racist bitch," she mumbled to Naz when she got back.

"Don't worry about it," Naz responded quietly, and he rubbed her back.

Lynne handed Jane the second key, and they all walked up to the second floor to find their rooms. Jane and Bo entered the first room on the right, and the older couple entered a room directly across from them.

"Finally, a bed."

Jane slipped her pack off and put it down on the floor, and then she flopped down on the bed face first. It was nice and soft. She could hear Bo laughing.

"It really is something you come to appreciate when traveling."

"I didn't realize how much until I started traveling so much with you."

They continued chatting amongst themselves for a few more minutes, and the talk turned to Ahmon.

"I wonder what Ahmon will think of Ulfric," Bo mused thoughtfully, and Jane shrugged.

"Hopefully he sees right through him," she responded curtly.

Suddenly a small thought popped into the back of Bo's mind. It was something he'd meant to talk to Jane about before but had forgotten. Whenever he was with Jane he seemed to forget about many things, and sometimes that troubled him.

"Jane?"

Jane shifted onto her side and brushed her hair out of her face. She peered up at the Orc.

"Yeah?"

"Did Ulfric do something to you the night of the party?"

Jane froze, and she struggled to come up with a response.

"Uh... well," Jane covered her face with her hands and groaned. "I don't wanna say."

"Jane..."

Bo sat down on the edge of the bed and moved her hands away from her face.

"What did he do?"

His tone of voice was so serious that it made Jane feel a little frightened. She didn't want to know what he was like when he was really angry.

"Nothing super horrible," Jane replied hastily, feeling her face grow warm. "He kissed me, and when I wanted him to stop, h-he... he slapped me."

Bo's eyes widened, and his hands balled up into fists.

"Are you saying that... that bruise on your cheek was from Ulfric?"

Jane's shoulders sagged in defeat, and she silently nodded.

"I could kill him," Bo growled angrily.

Jane remained there on the bed, wishing she could lie better.

"Please Bo, I'll probably never have to see him again-"

"It doesn't matter. He laid his hands on you. He forced himself on you!"

Bo stood up from the bed, and he walked over to the door. Jane called his name, but he wasn't listening. Bo strode across the small hallway and knocked briskly on the door to Lynne and Naz's door. Jane remained in their room, unsure of what to think of do. She had expected that kind of reaction from him.

The door cracked open, and Lynne peered up at him as she pulled her robe closer together. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and Naz sat on the bed with his head bowed.

"I'm very sorry to bother you," Bo started.

"It's okay, what is it Bo?"

"Do you have any writing utensils and parchment?"

"Of course, come in."

Bo strode into their room and waited for Lynne to retrieve the tools from her satchel. Naz stood up from the bed, picking up on the younger Orc's anger.

"What's wrong?" Naz grunted, and Bo glanced over at him.

"I need to send a letter to Ahmon."

"What for?"

Bo quickly brushed over what Jane had told him. Lynne made Bo sit at the small, round table in the middle of the room and placed some parchment down, along with a small ink pot and a quill.

"Are you serious?" Lynne blurted when he reached the part about the slap, and Bo nodded.

"I am. I remember a while ago when Ahmon was speaking about Ulfric, and Jane had acted kind of strange. But I was forgetful, and I didn't ask her when we returned to our room. It just came back to me now when we were talking about Ahmon. I feel so stupid for not realizing it sooner."

"It's okay," Naz grunted, and he squeezed his shoulder.

"We all have a lot going on."

"It's still not right. He hit her, Naz."

"I know. What do you suppose Ahmon can do?"

"I would never ask Ahmon to do something reckless, like try to hurt or kill Ulfric Stormcloak. That would be foolish. I can do something else..."

Bo was silent, and he started writing. After a moment he scratched out a word, and then let out a frustrated sigh.

"Let me," Lynne murmured, and she shooed his hands away. "What do you want it to say?"

Bo began speaking, and Lynne swiftly wrote it down.

Ahmon,

I am sending this to you in hopes that it reaches you before you pledge any sort of allegiance to Ulfric Stormcloak. Jane has confessed to me that when we were in Windhelm, Ulfric kissed her forcibly, against her will, and when she tried to get him to stop, he struck her across the face.

If you value my friendship, and hers... you will give the axe to him, tell him that I withdraw my support from the Stormcloaks, and walk away. I cannot tell you which side to take, as it is ultimately your decision. But that is my advice. Please stay safe,

Bo Gro Graul

When they were finished, Lynne sealed the letter and left the room to seek out a courier. While she was gone, Nazgurat offered a few comforting words, but it did little to make Bo feel better.

"Go back to Jane. She probably feels bad for lying to you."

"I'm not mad at her, she didn't do anything wrong. I just wish she hadn't felt the need to hide it from me."

"Then tell her that. Go on."

Bo left the room. When he entered his own room, he found Jane wearing nothing but a tunic. She had been in the process of changing her clothes, and when he walked in she turned around and paused what she was doing. Her brows furrowed together, and Bo walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. He kissed her for several moments, and his hands roamed lightly over her bare butt as Jane reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry I lied," Jane mumbled against his lips.

"It's okay Jane."

Bo pulled back, and he stared into her warm green eyes.

"It was probably for the best. I would have tried to do something to Ulfric if you had told me."

"That would have been no good," Jane smiled, and she kissed his cheek. "Then you'd be in jail, or worse. Not here, with me..."

Bo felt the familiar stir in the pit of his stomach, and so he pulled away from Jane so he could get out of his armor. Jane finished putting pants on, and when Bo was ready they went downstairs to the main hall. They found Lynne and Naz seated at a table with a drink in their hands. A bowl of fresh bread was also on the table, and Jane tore off a chunk and popped it in her mouth.

"Yum."

"Everything alright with you two?" Lynne inquired, and she rubbed Jane's arm. "Are you okay Jane?"

The young couple nodded.

"Yes, we're just fine."

"I sent the letter away, I'm not sure it'll reach him in time."

"What letter?" Jane cut in.

Bo explained the letter they had written to send to Ahmon. Jane, nodded, understanding the reasons for Bo sending the letter. She didn't try to argue and secretly hoped Ahmon would side against Ulfric, despite being a more than that, she hoped Ulfric wouldn't retaliate. She couldn't bear the thought of her friend getting injured or worse because of her.