An "Honest" Living?

With haste, Kaviris headed to the nearest settlement yet to be reduced to rubble, Riverwood. Situated on the banks of the White River, in the warm, hospitable climate of Falkenreath hold, the village was a beautiful sight to behold for most travelers; Kaviris however had more important matters to attend to. The Dunmer needed to get back on his feet, and a good sword, a bow, and a quiver full of arrows would suit as an excellent start. Following the trail tracing the winding river made him a witness to the annual salmon spawning; his stomach growled…

"Damn…I've nearly forgotten how long its been since I've eaten."

Kaviris quickened his pace, Riverwood was only an hours walk away; but night was soon approaching, and dealing with the various nocturnal predators of Skyrim defenseless wasn't too high up on his to-do list.

A pinkish hue enveloped the surrounding landscape by the time Kaviris arrived at the large timber gates of Riverwood. The guard posted atop the battlements didn't even spare him a glance as he pried open the gates, intent on locating the nearest inn. A passing citizen so kindly donated the 20 septims needed for the room and a meal as Kaviris nonchalantly nudged him, unaware of the fact that his coin purse now lay absent.

"Such simple folk, so unaware of even the most basic of purse snatching techniques" Kaviris mused.

Riverwood was considerably smaller than Helgen, with a lone unpaved road running from gate to gate, lined with small yet sturdy wooden houses. The city's only prominent feature was a small sawmill near the south gate, which now lay abandoned for the evening. When the faint hum of music began to permeate the air, Kaviris knew the inn he most desperately longed for was near.

"'The Sleeping Giant Inn', such a strange name for such a dull place."

As he walked into the inn, Kaviris was instantly hit with the suculent aroma of grilling meats, sending his food-deprived stomach on a rampage. After finding his way through the crowd of patrons strewn throughout the tavern floor, he found himself an empty barstool. The barkeep, a dark haired Nord in clothing hardly fancier than Kaviris's prison garb, was distracted at the moment, in midst of listening to orders being barked by a fair-haired Breton woman, who no doubt was the owner of the unnoteworty establishment. Finally after what seemed to be an era, the hot-tempered Breton stormed off into one of the side rooms of the inn, leaving the barkeep to attend to customers at long last. After giving a long sigh and muttering something about a "Delphine", who must be the Breton from a moment ago, the Nord turned to Kaviris,

"Don't mind her, the damned woman is always going on about something, what can I get you elf?"

"Aren't they all?" Kaviris said with a sly grin,

"A room for the night and a mug of your finest mead." Kaviris tossed a portion of the stolen coins onto the counter.

Upon receiving payment, the dark haired Nord procured an earthenware cup and walked up to one of the massive alcohol containing barrels littered in the space behind the bar counter. A few moments later the barkeep came back with a full cup and a key.

"Black Briar's finest, the blend with the juniper berries mixed right in" he spoke, effortlessly sliding the cup to Kaviris's spot at the bar, all without spilling a drop.

"And the room?" Kaviris asked.

The Nord handed him the key.

"First door on the right."

Kaviris took the key and slid it into his pocket. The last couple of days were full of stress and danger, but bless by the gods as he was, he survived. Now, with a full cup of mead, and the warmth of the hearth, Kaviris finally felt at ease. Spending the last of the stolen gold, he ordered a nice venison chop from Orgnar (whose named he learned from casual conversation at the bar) to sate his hunger. Tomorrow would be the start of a new beginning.


The housekeeping activities in the main chamber of the inn aroused Kaviris from a deep slumber. Kicking the blankets off of his body, he rose with a might stretch. Kaviris opened his door to a near empty inn, save for the resident drunk and Orgnar, who was sweeping the place.

"Say Orgnar, I'm planning on staying here a few days, and I know Delphine would want me to pay my tab. Know where a mer could get some work?" Kaviris asked.

Orgnar, shivering at the mention of Delphine, paused sweeping for a moment and replied,

"Gerdur up by the mill might be looking for some help, Shor knows that little Bosmer helper of hers isn't worth a measly septim. Girl has tied back blonde hair, and is quite the looker, but don't tell her husband Hod I said that, he works up there too"

"Thanks pal, I'll be back later tonight. Don't get your hands too full with this one", Kaviris said with a chuckle, pointing to the now collapsed drunk, whose hand still gripped an empty mug.

"Aye that friend" Orgnar replied with a sigh, shaking his head.

The Dunmer has grown quite fond of that Nord's sarcastic comments. Kaviris slid out of the door, and made the trek to the town's sawmill, while, when passing the hefty, auburn haired Nord working at the forge, he took note of the fine weaponry lining the racks. Soon he'd have the money to purchase one, but for now, work needed to be done.

After resisting the urge to kick a loose chicken darting across the road (how unsanitary!), Kaviris arrived at the mill situated next to the south gate into the town and covered his ears as a giant timber was sawed in half by a saw the size of himself.

A mumbling wood elf stormed passed him, no doubt the one Ongar warned him about, carrying an arm's full of firewood. It was quite apparent that he wasn't fond of this monotonous labor. Near where the Bosmer split wood earlier stood a tall, blonde Nord woman, clad in a simple blue dress. Remembering Ongar's description, Kaviris quickly identified the woman as Gerdur, and approached,

"You, Nord, your names Gerdur right? I hear you run this mill here."

"Aye, that I do" Gerdur responded in a throaty Nordic accent,

"Some folk think I own the whole town too; but I don't. While its true that my family first settled this place, the Jarl holds that privilege. I just pay the taxes."

"Ah, how interesting" said Kaviris sarcastically, obviously not interested in small talk with the woman,

"I'm actually here for…a job of some sort, I need to get back on my feet; and by that that I mean I need weaponry, and the money to buy them. "

"I see, you're the adventuring sort then?" Said Gerdur, delicately rolling her "r's"

"I guess you can say that" Kaviris replied, it was almost humorous due to how wrong she was.

Gerdur decided to stop inquiring about the Dunmer and got back on subject,

"I think I could spare you an axe, I'll pay a fair price for any wood you split, and by Talos could I use the help" spoke Gerdur, clearly ignorant of the anti-Talos policy established by the signing of the White-Gold Concordant.

The Nord walked to a nearby table, and returned burdened by a hefty axe,

"There's chopping blocks over here and there" she spoke, pointing to two considerably sized tree stumps on opposite sides of the mill,

" Faendral's been getting lazy as of late, there should be plenty of logs piled up. You know where to go when you're ready to sell, but I need to get back to the mill. With the war raging as it is, those Imperials are trying to snatch up all the material they can" Gerdur sighed,

"Then again, I have no complaints; at least the war hasn't come to Riverwood..yet"

Kaviris remained silent, although the Nord looked like she was expecting a reply.

And with that, Gerdur left, leaving Kaviris with an axe in one hand, and a pile of logs approaching the size of a mammoth. Kaviris sighed, he though the Nord would never stop talking.

After spending some time weighing the axe in his hands to avoid over-extending himself in a swing, Kaviris picked up the first log within reach, put it on the block, and split it with a single blow. Luckily for him, life in Windhelm, namely defending against the numerous attempts on his life and fleeing from pursuing guards, made him strong; and even after a considerable stack of split wood lay to his right, he wasn't even the slightest bit winded.

The same "grab and split" monotony went on for another 4 hours or so, after which Kaviris left with his coin purse considerably heavier.

"That Nord didn't lie, 300 septims for merely a day's work, ha! It feels like I cut her purse without even doing so!" Kaviris mused, heading to the burly blacksmith he passed earlier today. The sun was low in the sky, but it was still light outside, and he hoped that the smith would still be present at the forge.

Walking the path now for the fourth time since his initial visit, he received quite a surprise. Merely a pace infront of him, heading in the opposite direction was the familiar sight of Marise, his jaw slackened,

"She's alive, that Breton is alive! But how? That monstrosity from Helgen seemed to be pursuing her exclusively!

Marise however did not seem to remember the Dunmer as she strode past, with what seemed to be both new armor and a new blade. Kaviris snapped back into reality, he wouldn't have time to converse with the girl if he wanted to make it to the smithy on time.

Kaviris approached the smith who was biding the time sharpening an axe on a grindstone, sending sparks flying out with each contact. Kaviris tapped the blacksmith on the shoulder from behind, which apparently gave him quite the shock, as he flailed about, forcing Kaviris to take a step back to avoid taking a square blow to the jaw. The Dunmer often forgot the silence in which he moved.

"Shor's bones, you gave me quite a scare there my boy!" spoke the blacksmith in a deep, rich voice.

He shot out a hand calloused by the years spent at the forge. Kaviris returned the gesture, gripping the man's hand in a firm shake,

"The name's Alvor, what can I do for ya?" the smith asked kindly.

"I need a blade, preferably steel, and a bow, for that any will do. I'll take any arrows you have lying around as well" spoke Kaviris, walking up to the rack of weaponry he saw earlier.

Tracing the rack with his finger, he stopped at a blade similar to the one he hand in mind. It was short, but it was no dagger, its grip was made of hardened leather inscribed with a design of interconnected swirls, and the blade itself; wide, double-edged, and deadly.

"Do you mind?" Kaviris asked, his fingers trembling with anticipation.

Alvor nodded his head in approval,

"Go for it"

The mer's dark-skinned hand closed shut around the leather grip as he removed the blade from its rack. A few slashes and a stab in the air later and the mer was sold. Kaviris smiled with satisfaction.

"That gem right there will cost ye a 150 septims" spoke Alvor with a grin.

Seeing Kaviris reminded the man of his youth spent adventuring the land. He now had a loving wife and daughter, and a fulfilling job as well, but it would be a lie to say he didn't miss the thrills.

"Say, I have an old hunting bow lying around here neglected, its been years since I've been on a good hunt, and about a quiver's worth of arrows. How's about I give you all three for…250 septims?"

"Sounds fair" said Kaviris, partitioning out the payment. It seemed as he would have quite a few septims left over, no thievery tonight.

Finally he would be ready to venture back out again, just one more night in Riverwood, and then its off to Riften. He wondered if his old contact Delvin Mallory still frequented the old "Ragged Flagon", and the possibility of acquiring some "real" work sent waves of excitement throughout him.

For now though, Kaviris gathered up his newly purchased weaponry, and bit the blacksmith goodbye. It felt good to have the familiar weight of a blade on his hip, and he longed to christen it in a baptism of blood. It would have to wait though, and Kaviris pushed these thoughts back as he opened the door back into the "Sleeping Giant", his home for his two day stint in Riverwood.

The resident drunk was now approaching each patron, begging desperately for the septims necessary to get his fix of booze. He soon quit the nonsense after approaching Kaviris, who with ears deaf to the man's pleas, responded by shoving the sod and sending him crashing onto the wood floor. Peace at last.

After buying his meal for the night and conversing with his new friend Orgnar, Kaviris retired to his room. It would be the last time he slept in an actual bed until he made it back to Riften, and he needed all the sleep he could to prepare himself for the journey.