Chapter Fourteen: An Unforeseeable Death
Erikour and his men had decided to take a break in Rorikstead for the night. He knew that the tracker would probably catch up to the Talos-worshipper any time now and he saw no rush to clean up the mess. He pulled his golden mare to a halt in front of the Frostfruit Inn, dismounting as the other soldiers did the same. The Lead Justiciar scanned the small town, only seeing a few guards patrolling the roads. It didn't seem too odd since it was a few hours after the sun had set.
"Are we resting here for the night, Lead Justiciar?" Aldaril asked Erikour, who nodded in return.
"Yes, Justiciar Aldaril. Everyone get a drink on me and then get some rest. We're leaving when the sun rises." Erikour said, his golden brown eyes watching the other soldiers nod and grin. They headed inside, Erikour being the last to enter the tavern. It seemed as if the entire world had gone quiet as the Thalmor soldiers walked inside, all eyes glancing at the golden elves. Noticing all of the stares, Erikour stepped forward, spreading his arms out and putting on a warm smile.
"What? Have you never seen a group of Thalmor before?" The Justiciar asked, dropping his arms and looking at the occupants in the large room. "Now, I'm sure that all of you good people don't have anything to hide from us, so please, relax and go back to any dull conversations that you were having." He went on to say, his warm smile turning into a smirk. A few of the hidden stares turned into open snarls at the Thalmor's last words, a man in iron armor standing up from his seat.
"Just because you think you're better than us doesn't you mean you can treat us like it." The Nord man said, his fiery orange hair matching the hatred in his eyes. Erikour stared at him, taking a few steps towards the man.
"What is your name, sell sword?" The Justiciar asked, his voice showing only a hint of venom. The armored man glanced at the bar keeper nervously before speaking with a shaking voice.
"E-Erik…" Erikour smirked at him, looking over at the bar keeper. The man behind the counter seemed to glare at the golden elf, making the smirk broaden even wider.
"And this must be your son," The Justiciar looked back at the armored hireling, a similar look like the bar keeper's on his face. "You must be so proud of him. I mean, truly you must be." The golden elf started to circle the Nord, glancing at the man behind the counter. "Any father who would go out and buy armor for his son is a true Nord. But what good does the armor do him if no one wants to hire such an inexperienced lad. Its like you built up his hopes and dreams but as each day passes, the young little Erik thinks of how no one wants to fight along his side." Erikour smirked widely, his fellow Thalmor returning the look as the other occupants in the inn glared at the Justiciars. The armored Nord glared hard at the Lead Justiciar, his eyes trying to bury into the golden flesh but the fear that swirled around in those brown eyes only made the Thalmor laugh.
"Do you really think such a childish look will make me tremble with fear?" Erikour laughed before quickly pulling out his elven sword, pointing the tip against the Nord's throat. His eyes filled with fear as the Justiciar leaned in close and whispered into the man's ear.
"I'd be more careful around your leaders, Nord. You can raise a lot of suspicions that may lead you into some trouble. So if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut next time." Erikour leaned back and pulled his sword away from the man's throat and sheathed the weapon. The Nord seemed to sag with relief, quickly backing away and holding his throat. The Justiciar turned towards the bar keeper, walking over to the counter.
"Now, let's get a round of drinks for everyone here." Erikour said as he plopped down at the counter. The bar keeper glared at the man before hobbling away to get bottles of mead for everyone. Aldaril sat next to the Lead Justiciar as the remaining Thalmor sat at different tables, conversing quietly among each other.
"That was quite a show, Lead Justiciar." Aldaril said, watching the bar keep slam a bottle in front of him and Erikour. The Lead Justiciar smirked, grabbing the bottle and taking a quick gulp from it.
"I'm just doing my job,"He said, taking another drink. Aldaril grinned and did the same, grimacing as the mead flowed over his tongue. Erikour chuckled at his face.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to the taste, even though it all tastes like cattle urine." The Justiciar said, making sure his words were loud enough for all of the Nords to hear. A smirk crossed his lips as he heard heated whispers and sneers from his seat. He took another drink before he heard the unsheathing of a sword, turning his head to look over his shoulder. The Justiciar saw that it was Erik, and he was holding a sword out towards the Thalmor.
"Come on then. Do your job and put me back in line, you lousy tyrant!" Erik taunted before lunging forward. The Justiciar quickly jumped from his seat and stepped out of the way, watching as the sword rammed into the counter. The Nord tried to pull the sword out but it wouldn't budge, a loud laugh bellowing out from the Thalmor crowd.
"Nice try, Erik, but you'll have to try better than that." Erikour said as he took another drink from his mead before setting the bottle onto the counter. He pulled out his own sword as the Nord pulled his sword from the wood. The Justiciar held his up and at the ready.
"Now, let's see if you really can best me." The Justiciar said, watching the Nord as he held up his sword. The both of them circled each other for a few minutes before the Nord quickly closed the gap between them, shouting out as he swung his sword downward. The Justiciar easily deflected the attack, grinning as the Nord staggered back a few steps. After regaining his balance he quickly lunged forward again, this time bringing his sword in from the side. The Thalmor quickly deflected the swing and smacked the Nord's wrist with the butt of the sword. Erik winced and shouted out in pain, dropping the iron sword. With a quick and easy motion, Erikour scooped up the sword, pointing both blades at the Nord's chest.
"It seems like we've found a victor." The golden elf hissed through his devillish smile. Erik raised his hands in defense, taking a few steps back. Erikour followed him till he pinned the Nord against a pillar, the rest of the people in the room watching the scene with horror and hatred. "And now, to rid the world of one more enemy to the Aldmeri Dominion." Erikour raised both swords high above his head, ready to bring them down when a sudden flash of pain rocketed through his arm. He shouted out in pain, instinctively dropping the blades and grabbing at the arrow that stood out of his shoulder. He grasped the wooden shaft as he looked over to see the bar keeper holding a bow. Without even saying a word, the rest of the Nords in the inn pulled out their weapons, though most were just simple iron daggers. Erik was even quick enough to grab his iron sword and back away from the Lead Justiciar.
"Lead Justiciar, what would you like us to do?" Erikour heard Aldaril ask from behind him. The Justiciar looked at his Thalmor soldiers, seeing the hatred in each of their eyes. With a nod of his hand, he yanked the arrow clean out of his shoulder.
"Kill them all," He simply said, tossing the arrow onto the floor. The other Thalmor quickly withdrew their swords, charging at the Nords. Erikour stood back and watched the short lived battle, each Thalmor taking down a Nord with a few quick strikes, leaving only Erik and the bar keeper left. The Thalmor circled them, their swords pointed at the last remaining Nords. This time Erikour stepped forward, his sword at his side. Fear and hatred filled both Nord's eyes as Erikour shook his head.
"Such a shame for what happened tonight. I really didn't want anything to come to this but your son forced my hand. Tell me, does that make you proud that your son caused all this bloodshed?" Erikour said, pacing in front of the Nords, his gold-brown eyes watching the pair. Neither seemed to waver at his words so he continued. "Well, I'm giving you a chance, bar keeper. You can either give us your son and we'll let you live or we'll kill you both where you stand and wipe your pathetic village off the map. Its your choice, bar keeper." Erikour said, stopping to stand in front of him and staring into his eyes. The bar keeper stared back at him, seeming to be in deep thought.
"I… I…" The bar keeper looked over at his son, feeling Erikour's gaze look over to his son. With a quick motion, the bar keeper thrusted his sword quickly forward and through Erikour's stomach, pulling it quickly out and slashing out at the nearest Thalmor. They all had been taken by surprise, even Erik himself but he quickly slashed out as well, slashing a Thalmor across the chest.
Erikour's world slowed down to an almost standstill as he fell to his knees, his hands clutching at his stomach and trying to keep in his precious golden fluids. But it seemed to slip through his fingers and onto the stone floor below him, his vision growing black. He fell to the ground with a wet thud, Erik and his father still fighting the remaining Thalmor soldiers.
Aldaril's eyes blazed with fury as he watched the life slip from his friend, a scream ripping through his throat as he lunged forward and swung his sword at the bar keeper. The man stumbled back with surprise by the sudden attack, turning to deflect the blow but slipped on the spilled blood on the floor. The Nord fell onto his back, holding his sword up to keep the Thalmor at bay but it was useless. Aldaril madly swung down at the man, his sword breaking the bar keeper's iron made one. But he showed the fallen man no mercy, stabbing the Nord several times in the chest. After one final swing, Aldaril took a step back and puts his hands on his knees, panting softly as he fought for control over his anger.
Erik had fallen to the other Thalmor moments ago, the rest of the soldiers standing back and waiting for Aldaril to regain control. After another shuddering breath, the soldier stood up straight and yanked his sword out of the dead Nord's body, wiping his blade clean before sheathing it. He looked over at the other Justiciars, looking at their faces.
"Since Erikour has been murdered, I will contact the First Emissary and ask her for what she wishes of us." Aldaril said, watching the other Thalmor nod at his statement. With a heavy sigh, he turned towards the corpse of his friend and walked over to it.
"Just doing my job," He whispered as he pulled the crystal pendant away from Erikour's neck. With a sigh, he wiped the crystal clean and cast a spell on it, holding it out in front of him as it glowed a bright blue color.
"First Emissary. First Emissary this Justiciar Aldaril reporting in. Do you hear me?" Aldaril asked, his voice clear and clean even though his body still shook from the after math of the battle. He waited a minute before repeating the message, hearing the First Emissary's voice halfway through. The blue light changed to show Elenwen's still groggy face.
"What is it, Justiciar Aldaril? Where is Lead Justiciar Erikour?" She asked sternly, her mouth opening to ask another question but the Justiciar quickly interjected.
"He's dead, First Emissary. I was reporting in to ask you what we should do now." He told her, his hands shaking slightly. Elenwen's eyes grew large at the news of Erikour's death but she stayed quiet. She seemed to stare off into space before speaking again.
"Was it the Talos-worshipper?" She asked, her face hardening as she focused on the scrying crystal. Aldaril shook his head.
"No, First Emissary. He was killed here in Rorikstead during a battle with the local Nords. They all have been executed but we have yet to look through the other buildings." Aldaril explained. Elenwen was quiet as the Justiciar spoke before slowly nodding her head.
"Make sure you kill all residents there and then burn down the buildings. I'll deal with the Jarl. And as for the current mission, continuing searching for the Talos-worshipper. You're in command, Lead Justiciar Aldaril." Elenwen said quickly before her image faded, the crystal pendant growing dark. Aldaril continued to stare at it before slowly lowering it, staring at the wall.
"Well, what are we to do now?" One of the other Thalmor said. Aldaril turned to him, still clutching the pendant in his hand.
"Go through the rest of the buildings and burn them. We leave here after the ashes are sorted through."