Ralof VI

My task had been one more appropriate for a former Stormcloak than what Uther was currently doing not far from my location. Delphine had heard of a slave network operating near the Embassy. It was not officially sanctioned, of course, but all the same the Thalmor were enslaving Nords and shipping them off to the highest bidder back in Alinor.

I walked up to the cabin in Haffingar. Snow covered everything, it was hard to see the two Elven guards at the door. My axe was buried into ones face as soon as I was within reach. The other had no time to draw his sword as I caught him in the ribs with my other axe. I put my weapons back into their loops on my belt and stripped the bodies of anything valuable and placed it on the wagon.

I kicked the cabin door in and caught the room by surprise. I saw a group of about ten Nords all huddled together in a corner. Dirty, malnourished people who had been taken from their homes in their sleep to be sold in an illegal slave trade. This certainly wasn't what the White-Gold Concordant agreed to.

The first Elf to take a swing at me felt the tip of my axe catch in his shoulder. He was not dead, but his sword arm was useless. My off hand brought the other axe to bear into the man's throat. Four guards left. One was a mage, by the look of his robes.

As he warmed up a spell of some sort, I flipped a table and crouched behind it. Little good it did as lightning blew a hole through the wood. I leapt over the table and took off at a sprint for the mage. He was my priority.

I ducked under the next bolt of lightning and felt the bone in his shin break as my axe collided with it. I heard the man curse as he fell, but he did not hurt for long.

After finished him I realized that I should have paid attention to the group as a whole. A sword struck my back, and had my armor not taken the brunt of the blow would have at best crippled me, at worst maimed me. Turning I struck the Elf. I caught a second Elf's sword with my other axe before I could pull my first axe out of the man. I think I made my ancestors proud in Sovngarde, I didn't panic when I had no other weapons. I just turned and punched the Thalmor in the jaw. I heard a satisfying crunch when my fist connected.

When the slaver staggered back I pulled my axe out of the other guard and turned to finish off the new opponent when a sword appeared through the upper left part of my body. I had forgotten the last guy. I collapsed, a failure on my first mission as a Blade. The Stormcloak inside me was happy that I had killed the Elves I had today. Just when I thought I was about to pass out I heard a loud voice behind me and saw the two remaining Thalmor go flying to the far wall.

I felt large hands roll me over and saw a man, he was blurry. I was close to passing out. I felt a warm liquid in my mouth. It was bittersweet. Must have been a healing potion.

Loud voices, one significantly louder than the other were yelling from above me. I could not open my eyes, but I could smell candles and alchemical ingredients. My eyes were too heavy to open. I heard rustling of papers to my left and could hear people moving around and whispering in front of me.

I woke up in the basement of the inn in Riverwood. The Nords I had rescued were also there, as were two Bosmer who were huddled together.

"What happened?" I asked. My voice was rough, horse. I reached for a tankard only to find it empty.

"Easy, Ralof." An older man looked up from a table. He had been going through books and looking at maps. "I'll get Delphine and the Dragonborn." At the mention of the Dragonborn everyone else in the room all perked their heads up. The whispers began again.

When the two walked downstairs both looked angry. Had they been fighting? That would make sense. Uther would have been the one who was so much louder. Delphine was still red in the face.

"What happened?" I repeated my question. This time I directed it at Uther. If anyone would answer it would be him.

"You fought the slavers. I came in as you took a sword through the chest. I finished them off for you, and gave you a healing potion until I could get you here. The two Elves are Brelas and Malborn, both former employees of the Thalmor who have nowhere else to go. The Nords are the people you rescued." Uther explained.

"I sent word to Sven, to seek out a position in Elisif's court. He can listen for any backlash from Elenwen." Delphine added.

"Who is the other guy?" I asked pointing to the elder.

"I am Esbern, last of the Loremasters of the Blades. I know our histories, and our mythologies. I was rescued from the Thalmor by the Dragonborn while you were recovering." He explained himself. His voice reminded me of my grandfather before he died.

"How long was I out?" I looked down to my shoulder. It was red, and looked to have festered.

"Initially only two days, but the wound was infected. You have been out for five days total. We thought we were going to lose you for a little while." Esbern chuckled. At what joke, no one was sure.

"So what is our next move?" I stood, swayed and was caught by the Dragonborn.

"Well when you are ready to travel we are headed to the Reach.