A/N: This chapter will introduce more characters, mainly two half-breeds. This chapter as you will possibly notice was not done by the same hand as the last, that's because since this is a co-authored story, Rouge and I will be trading back and forth. However, all chapters are looked through by both so it is our combined efforts that bring to you the story of The Three. I ask that if you review, it be in a constructive criticism rather than destructive. However, I can't control your actions; I can only hope you follow my suggestion. Some readers may have already sampled some of Rouge's or my own writings and if not you are more than welcome to. Rouge and I own nothing by the way. With all that said, may you hopefully enjoy the next chapter.
Warnings: A slight hint at adult activity at the end, mention of giant spiders, and a giant black dragon that wants to eat your soul are all in this chapter. Crude gestures and equally crude language is also used, you have been forewarned.
Title: The Three Soul Brothers
Prolog Part One: Valas and Ryuu Mess Up
My Name is Valas; I am a mix between Nord and Khajiit. A Half-Breed. I mostly appear like a regular human, however I have cat like eyes that shine brightly like deeply colored emeralds. My ears you'd think would be round and on the sides of my head, but no, I'm half cat so they rest atop my skull looking like any other pair of Kahjiit ears. I also have the pleasure of possessing fangs in the place of my canines, the bottom two smaller than the top set, and a long sleek tail.
My ears are raven black like my hip length hair and tail, but have light grey markings, like light colored ash. My tail tip is grey, from there other markings weave their way up my tail, and on the back of each of my ears is a large light grey dot, these dots however are lighter grey, almost white.
I'd been running for what felt like millennia, truly only three years. One was spent in Elsweyr, the second wasted in Valenwood, and the last was spent escaping Cyrodiil. As a run away wanted 'criminal' I never stayed in one place long, rarely for more than a night, covering my tracks and only carrying my steel armor and my two twin steel swords. Not to say I'm totally innocent since I have a history in theft and picking my way into or out of cells or homes, but I'm not proud of it.
Besides, the only reason I'm really wanted is for 'murder', which was really self defense, but do the authorities agree? Of course not! The word of a lowly Half-Breed or the word of a high standing Noble with coin to back anything he says? Hard choice, huh?
Life on the run meant I talked to no one, grew close to no one, and worst of all I couldn't love or be loved. The last person I grew close to was ripped away from me. He was like my little baby brother. I can't be sure if he still lives, and the thought kills me. I haven't seen my little brother in about fifteen years now, I wonder if he's alright, or if he even remembers me. Sometimes I wonder why I even hang onto this life then I remember what life was like before, home, but that's long gone.
My life, my real life, started when I was nineteen when I saw the great black dragon, Alduin. He nearly turned my Half-Breed Hide into a dragon delicacy; Fried mortal with a side of chard wood. It was the day I meet Alduin that I was woken with a start and set racing into my new life.
I was hunting a beautiful buck when I saw it, fighting. In the distance there were brilliant flashes of polished armor, and muffled shouts floated up to greet my twitching ears. All I could think at the time was anyone dumb enough to wear armor that gleamed like freshly fallen snow in a land like this deserved to get their asses handed to them.
It was right about then a man wearing rags ran past me, with two men in Imperial studded leather armor, my anger flared as bright as dragon fire. It flared even brighter as my buck spooked and high tailed it right into the middle of the battle, to say the least I was pissed.
"Watch it, you scared my prey you stupid Snowballs!" I hissed glaring; my pupils dilated into slits and my ears flattened back and my tail flicking in anger. One of the two Imperials stopped running and turned to me, and decided I was better prey than the man in rags. Well crap.
"You can come along peacefully rebel or do I have to beat you into submission?" The man sneered, I could now tell he wasn't just a Ligonier, he was from Cyrodiil, and I didn't like Cyrodiil. I turn yelling over my shoulder my head turned back.
"Sorry, you're just not my type!" As I turn my head I see the flash of a pommel slam into the side of my head, possibly square on the temple. Black out for the Half-Breed. When I next remember opening my eyes I'm greeted by a handsome face with an even better voice.
"You finally awake? You took quite the beating, but you sure gave those Imperial bastards a run for their gold. You took out four, heavily wounded five more, and knocked out six others, Impressive. You're a Half-Breed right, heading for the boarder?" The man seemed strangely calm but the beating I'd taken left me with a throbbing head that was probably messing with my vision or my comprehension. I found I was gagged when I tried to answer. The Imperial driving snapped at us to be quite, my eyes narrowed and I growled like feral cat.
"Stupid rebels, before you showed up the Empire was nice and lazy, if it weren't for you I could have stolen that horse and been half way to Hammerfell! Damned Half-Breed, just had to get them all riled up, now we're stuck with these stinking Stromcloacks!" I straighten up, my eyes sharpening into glittering emerald daggers, and before I can think it through I'm berating him , luckily for him I'm gagged and you couldn't understand a damn thing I said.
"Watch you tongue Horse Thief! You are in the presence of Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, true High King of Skyrim!" I notice the man's Nordic accent grow slightly thicker as his anger flared, but then the words register. My eyes are wide as I turn to look at the man sitting next to me, the leader of the Stromcloak rebellion.
I'd delayed in this frozen land long enough to know a little on the petty political power struggle between the Empire and the Stornmcloaks. I was sitting next to the man who had killed the late High King Torygg. Ulfric Stormcloak. I suddenly knew with grim certainty that I wouldn't get out of this alive. I was caught with the rebels, so naturally they'd assume I was a rebel and I'd meet the chopping block.
"But if you're… Oh Gods, where are they taking us!?" I quickly deduce the 'Horse Thief' is an idiot of epic proportions. I mutter some smart ass comment only for it to be smothered by the gag. Again. The rope binding my wrists pinched me as I moved. Again.
"I don't know, but one thing's for sure, Sovngarde awaits." The man turned to the 'Horse Thief' and smiled like the man sitting by him was a small child or fool. The man sitting before me seemed undaunted by death, resigned to the sure death sentence. That quickly earned my respect, after all few faced death with a nod and grim smile. I quickly tune out, not wanting to hear the 'Horse Thief's' pathetic break down. My attention snaps into focus when our arrival is heralded to General Tulius.
"Look at him, General Tulius, the Military Governor. Looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves, I bet they had something to do with this." The blond man across from me snarls. I shake my head already knowing racism was all too common in Skyrim. But then, history is a bloody affair, and wars can leave scars that burn long into the future. As I sigh the cart comes to a stop, it was time to meet our ends. I feel myself go numb as we get up, I hear the man behind me say a resigned joke about not keeping the gods waiting. As they read the list I keep my head bowed slightly, praying to each Divine in turn, hoping I have a better after life then my living one.
"Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm." Ulfric kept his head held high as he walked over to the group gathering by the chopping block. As he passes I bow my head in respect, knowing he'd fought for something he'd cared for deeply. He looks over at me when he sees my gesture and his eyes widen as he stumbles and stops to glare at the ground for daring to trip him growling quietly. He glanced over at me and our eyes lock for a moment as he gives a slight nod in return; I feel a strange fluttering settle in my chest. I look into storm grey eyes never having felt this emotion, and realize the much older Nord man now looked distracted and worried but his mask was strong and no one else seemed to notice. I drift my thoughts, he'd acknowledged my respect and paid me the same; maybe racism wasn't as common as I'd thought.
"Ralof of Riverwood." Ralof, the man who'd first spoken to me walked by, I gave him the same honor, I bowed my head. He walked with a strange calm keeping his chin up in a defiant way, he looked over at me and nodded more obviously than Ulfric, wiggled his eye brow suggestively and pointedly looked towards the Jarl's back side, and I had to hold back a laugh. Hey we were about to die so why not ogle at shapely and drool worthy men while we could?
"Lokir of Rorikstead." I almost start laughing as the imbecile tries to run and gets shot down by the archers. I quickly sober, knowing it was my turn.
"Who are you?" The Imperial soldier asks looking at his list then up at me in slight confusion. I give a slight catlike huff, and use my middle finger to point out my gag. He raises an eyebrow at my obvious pissed demeanor and motions for another soldier to remove the cloth from around my mouth. I glare at the soldier behind me, a low growl emanating from my chest, he almost falls over himself as he backs away, a grin forms in response to the un-soldierly behavior. The man with the list clears his throat and my attention reverts back to him.
"When you ask who someone is you are asking many things. What are you really asking? Name? Breed? Many things make a person; you'll have to be more specific than that." I state my lips twitch up slightly as the female Captain comes up a pissed look on her face.
"Your name will suffice." The man states also trying to hold back a smile as the Captain glares at my almost smug expression.
"My name is Valas. Since you ask nothing else I'll state nothing else." I state ignoring the stench of fear from the soldiers that had seen me fight. I try to resist the sneer that pulls at my lips in response to the cowardice shown by the soldiers. I hear a low round of chuckles come from the Rebels; it seemed I was putting up a show because I could feel their eyes on me as well.
"A Half-Breed heading for the boarders? Can't say I'm surprised, Skyrim is harsh to most outsiders. A Half-Breed must get the worst of it anywhere though, poor choice coming here. What do we do Captain, he's not on the list." The list soldier turned his head toward the woman that wore a helmet that made her look like a tin roster. She glared at me then turned away barking, "He goes to the block." The man surprises me, a determined look flashes in his eyes.
"But Captain," He begins, only to be shoot down as she whirls and gets in his face, "Lists be damned he goes to the block!" She snarls before stomping over to said block. The soldier has earned some of my respect, shocking. When he looked back to me he sighs, reluctantly motioning toward the block, "To the Block, I'm sorry." I give him a nod, not very respectful but at least more so than what I was currently showing to the other soldiers. As I walk to the gathered crowed I see the rebels are indeed watching me and snickering except one standing next to Ulfric. The man was laughing at his Jarl who was flipping the General a rude gesture with his hand and laughing hysterically though it was muffled. I then the last person I would want to see here.
"Ryuu?" I whisper, keeping my head held high and my stride steady, but any color had defiantly drained from my face. I continued walking and ended up next to the man I'd found out was named Ralof. Ryuu stood a little ways away from Ralof's right, far away from me. Then I noticed his horns had apples impaled in the tips, most likely to dull them down. It didn't stop the scoff that bubbled from my lips though.
Then I was so numb with mind paralyzing fear that it was Ralof's voice next to me that startled me back to reality. I noticed a dead man. His body was slumped in front of the block, his head in the crate behind it. Blood coated the block and had left a smear on the headsman's ax. He'd interrupted the priest and now his head rolled. Kind of. I felt sick and had to look away. I had no qualms with killing, but this was a foul and sick form of murder. Then I realized something, the dead man was the man who had been snickering at Ulfric and looking closer I realized he had a gash in his side that would have been a slow death. The man had chosen his death, a true Nord.
"He was as fearless in life as he was in death." Ralof stated his voice low and somber. Looking at the headless body I growl as I think of Ryuu having to watch this. I'd lied earlier; I cared for someone besides my little brother. Another half-breed like me Ryuu, by what we could tell he was half Argonian, but from there it was anyone's guess. He kept me sane; he was my 'blood-brother'.
When we'd first met each other we'd swapped blood in a childish ritual, to make us 'blood-brothers', an unbreakable bond of loyalty now connected us. And now we'd die together. Well sort of together, knowing fickle fate for the bitch she was, I'd die first. How romantic.
"Next the cat!" The Captain barked. I looked around for a cat with one brow arched in a questioning way. I could hear several people snicker, a muffled rumble came from Ulfric and I nearly purred. I swallowed keeping my catlike tendencies under control. I caught Ryuu's eyes and cocked my head to the side flicking one of my ears in the way I often did when confused. Even with the gag, he must have bitten someone; I could still tell he was laughing. His chuckles not completely muffled, that and his shoulders were shaking.
"Prisoner Valas, that's you." The list man said, shooting the Captain a look from the corner of his eye. I quite my joking around, death was honest and final, like a really hard hit to the head. I immediately sobered along with the others who had started chuckling at my antics. Keeping my head held high, shoulders back, I stepped toward the block, my mouth never moving, and only giving the General and Captain a stone cold stare. Standing before the block I dropped to my knees and lowered my head to the blood soaked stone, before the Captain could kick me. I'd rather look like I'm submitting to death than ever be stepped on again.
The headsmen raised his ax and just as I was closing my eyes I saw a black shadow fly out from behind the nearby mountain. Snapping my eyes open I saw the shadowy blur for what it really was. The blur was a dragon, specifically a big black dragon with eyes that were glowing like fire and were a deep penetrating crimson. I hear muffled shrike and recognize it as Ryuu, the pansy. All I found myself thinking was, 'That's one big lizard…' Its eyes catch mine before it roars to the skies. The next thing I know is my face is in the dirt, and I'd hit my head, Hard.
I feel hands pulling me up, and my vision blurs even more than it already was, I hear a voice explode near me, "Come on! We won't get another chance!" Its Ralof shouting, Ryuu throws me into the tower Ralof had ducked into and the door slammed shut behind us. My ears are ringing from all the thunderous sounds, but as I focus a voice melts through the white noise.
"It's a dragon, could the legends be true?" Ralof was staring out the small window he was standing by with a mixture of shock, horror, and wonder as the dragon rained down hell. Ulfric's voice rose to my ringing ears next, causing me to practically melt.
"Legends don't burn down villages." I looked up at the Jarl who was staring out another window, his jaw clenched and brows frowned in total rage. I felt my stomach clench at the very thought of the people that weren't under cover. I looked over at Ryuu and gestured over at Ulfric mouthing, 'His voice is amazing.' Ryuu rolled his eyes shaking his head at my antics, but a least he understood me…
"That's it!" I snap, after getting pinched by the rope for the hundredth time. The binds were already way too constricting, but the pinching had to end. Now. I leaned down, and hooked a fang under the binds and pulled back severing them. I move my arms and wrists, rolling them to restore circulation to my hands. They had already fallen asleep and were now prickling annoyingly.
I look up to see both Nord warriors blinking in shock at my display. I shyly ducked my head toward the ground and quickly stood and went to were Ryuu was leaning against a wall, bound and gagged. He raised a brow at my ashamed face and I scowled as I untied his gag then hands.
"Valas, you my brother, are a dick." Ryuu stated calmly before drawing back a fist and hitting me so hard my head snapped to the side. I blinked and shook my head trying to clear the buzzing that had returned to my ears. I rubbed my jaw as I looked back at my half-Argonian friend.
"Knew that was coming, but more pressing matters, oh, and I am sorry; I was being a dick." I offer a hand to my semi-brother, in a sign of peace, jaw still aching where he'd hit me. He took my fore arm and squeezed, it was the way we'd always greeted each other. I grinned lightly nodding back at him.
"I forgave you a long time ago. It seems the only way out is up!" After Ryuu said those words he was bounding up the stairs to our left. Apples forgotten. I look over at the two Nords, Ulfric and Ralof, wondering if they'd follow us.
"Will we stay together? There is after all, safety in numbers at times." I say lightly with twin nods they follow me up the stairs, only to come to a halt as Ryuu stumbles back as a black head bursts from the wall. A jet of flames took out the poor sod trying to clear some debris from the stairs, Ralof said something about the dead man then looked out the now empty hole, dragon roars somewhere overhead.
"The Inn over there, think you can jump to it? We'll catch up later." Ralof said backing up, I nod at both of them then took a running start and jumped through the hole. With Ryuu in tow I stumble out of the smoldering Inn hacking on a lung full of smoke. Opening my watering eyes I see the list guy save a kid from a jet of flame from the black dragon.
"Still alive, stay close if you want to stay that way." The stranger says my eye twitches but I follow with Ryuu. We go to the courtyard and Ralof appears suddenly. The stranger and Ralof trade a few stinging barbs before Ralof runs over to the double doors and we follow him.
In the keep Ryuu and I watch as Ralof states he'd see a dead comrade in Sovngarde. Leaving Ralof in peace we look around hoping to see our missing things, both being in rags instead of our own armor but find nothing. I spot two Imperials and we kill them our first chance. Needless to say I started Ralof with my fighting style of lashing out with fangs and claws.
"Just don't say anything…" Was all I said as I stood from my kill, I keep my head down not meeting anyone's gaze as I hand Ralof the key the Captain had had on her. I come back from the other room with my bag that contains most of Ryuu's equipment as well as most of my own.
"There are no gloves, sorry Ryuu. I'll make you some more once we're out of this K?" I wasn't inclined to say much at the moment. Luckily Ryuu knew me well and nodded and pointed toward the open door Ralof was waiting by with his tail. I walked through it and continued on silent as we fought our way out… Until we came to the spiders.
"Ryuu kill it!" I scream running back to duck behind my friend. Ralof stood shocked before following Ryuu to kill the bugs. After the NOT-SO-LITTLE arachnids were dealt with Ralof began muttering.
"Creepy things, too many eyes, you know?" Ralof and I shudder as Ryuu just rolls his eyes as I nod and crept past the bug bodies. Afraid they may not be as dead as they seemed. We continued on and stalked into a cave bear, a sleeping beauty that had a pelt that would fetch a pretty Septum. I stop and eye her before tapping Ryuu's arm and motioning over toward her and drew a circle in the air.
"Stay here." I whisper to Ralof as I draw my bow and creep away. I wait in my position until Ryuu is in his place. I watch and wait as he draws his own bow. He notches an arrow and I wait longer, just waiting.
Ryuu lets his arrow fly, and it hits its mark, right by her paw, to get her up and moving so I can bring her down. I wait as it lurches to its feet waiting still longer until it comes for me or goes after Ryuu. She doesn't go for either. She went right for a startled and ill prepared Ralof. I notch an arrow and aim instinctively locking in on a vital shot. I let the arrow fly, the bow string sings as the arrow takes down the bear just in time before she can take a chunk out of our new and handsome friend.
"Are you alright?" I ask speaking softly to the shocked man. Ralof blinked down at the bear before giving a shaky nod. I give him a thorough look over anyway smoothing my hands over the chain mail searching for bruises or gashes; I don't notice the blush that rises to Ralof's cheeks. Then I move to the fur and meat of the bear, knowing that the meat would feed the three of us well if we stopped to cook it.
After a while we came to the exit to the escape tunnels, but by that time night had fallen on the outside world and the land was covered by inky black stillness. I looked out into the shadows only to hear a faint roar as a figure blacker than the midnight sky and similar to a gigantic bat flew into the distant reaches of the night. Ducking back into the cave I try calming the hammering heart in my chest that was pounding blood through my flattened ears, my eyes blown wide with fear. Ryuu took one look at me and said the words caught in my throat.
"We're staying here till dawn." I gave my scaly friend a look that sang of the gratitude I held for him, and noticed the apples were still on his horns. Walking over to my brother I take the apples off his horns and toss the ruined fruit away toward the back of the cave. Looking at Ralof I noticed his worried but relived face, which concerns me enough to open my mouth.
"You alright?" He looks startled as he casts his gaze towards me and my awkward offered hand as I'm uncertain how to comfort the Nord man. Ralof smiled and muttered he was fine and I held in a sigh of relief. He must have seen my relief because his smile grew.
"Not good with people are you?" The question is out of the blue and I glance at Ralof then Ryuu who shook his head at me. I shrug deciding to answer the innocent question as I pulled out the strong whiskey I'd found. Ryuu began to ignore me as he got a fire going which made our Nord friend look even more delectable.
"Not really, no. Why did I scare you?" I ask looking at the whisky calculating how much would be needed to get me wasted. Tipping the bottle back and taking a swig of the foul liquid I feel the warmth blossom in my chest, hey it was my eighteenth birthday and first year anniversary of my escape from my master with Ryuu, I was allowed to get shit-faced.
"Yes and no. You reminded me of a wild cat of the jungles in Elsweyr. I'm more surprised and curious than anything else." He downs the bottle of whiskey I hand him in one go. I'm shocked he didn't gag from the taste and spit it back out. He looks at the bottle shocked; he must have expected it to be mead or some equally sweetened Nord crap. I'm barely half way through my own bottle though I'm pretty much wasted already. My filters desert me and I find my tongue being much more perverse than I normally allow as I answer Ralof and my words echo my minds response.
"Curious about what, how I look out of my armor?" I dissolve into giggles the haze in my mind and the heat of the alcohol reducing me to a flirtatious mess. Ryuu shakes his head as he drains his own whiskey dry. I notice Ralof's eyes are hazed over as he looks at me and his pale skin is tainted by a deep blush, I like it even though I could probably attribute my attraction to the alcohol.
"That's one thing…" Ralof hums handling his whiskey better than I did, although the admission seems to stun him. Must not be drunk enough, I then feel a sudden compulsion to show just how much gratitude I felt towards him, and was a little more than slightly edger to thank the Nord.
"Well, we can satisfy that, no?" I purr a predator's smirk playing on my lips as I tip over my bottle and the whiskey adds itself to the fire making the flames dance brighter over the Nord warriors pale skin and divine build. Before I can think I'm straddling his hips kissing him and pressing myself flush against his chest. I hear and feel his low moan of approval then strong hands gripping my steel clad hips in a firm grip that would surely leave bruises if my skin were bare.
"Take it off." Ralof growls next to one of my twitching ears and I don't think I've ever stripped so fast in my life, just wanting the burning in my lower stomach to leave. His lips descend on me and I let the night unravel like a ball of twine. Really hot, steamy, sexy, and delicious twine that eventually made me cry to Talos how good I felt.
A/N: Hey Rouge cautioned me not to put too much graphic detail in yet sorry for all the lemon lovers. But hey it was a good chapter right? Anyway hope you liked and will review have a good day/afternoon/night.