Chapter 5

Day 15

A few days passed and things started to slow down a little after the bandit raid. The Southern road had been cleaned of the bodies and the dead had been buried in a new cemetery nearby. Though it wasn't pleasant I helped in the burials and gathering of the bodies. I had vomited a few times, as I had never seen a body cut apart before. The games and movies I had seen never could have prepared me for what I saw. I did the honors of saying the last right for the dead and felt the same power of the blessing that I did the night of the bandit raid. It was strange, calling upon the Nine Divines to bless and guide the souls of the dead. I never pictured myself as the religious type but I was starting to feel a calling here.

It was midday when I realized I was running low on gold again. My stomach growled as I dug into my coin purse for a few gold pieces to buy some food at the inn.

"Don't worry about it. Your foods on me today." The young soldier from before came up and put some gold on the counter.

"Oh. You don't have to." I said with a smile. It was good to see him up and moving again. I found out that he was younger than I was and joined the imperial army in hopes of ending the war that took his uncle from him. But he had never seen death nor killed a man until that night. He had been in a dark state of mind the last couple days but today it seemed that he was doing well.

"No please. I insist." He urged and bought himself some food as well. Bread, roasted rabbit, and water was brought before us. I dug right in to the food as it was brought, hunger getting the better of me. I hadn't eaten since the night before and even then it had only been some bread to settle my stomach from vomiting.

After finishing the meal and downing the water I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

"Thank you. I needed that."

"You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to repay you even a little for the kindness you have shown us." He seemed very serious for one so young. It may have been from losing family or just the rough upbringing that must come with being born in Skyrim. "So you are a priest of Akatosh? It must be nice to have the support of the dragon god of time." I remembered that Akatosh was the head of the Nine Divines and he had been mentioned to be the dragon god of time n the books that where available in the game.

"To be honest. I just recently found my faith in the Nine Divines. I had been lost for a long while." I thought that telling the truth would be better than lying, as it seemed that Akatosh had an eye on me. Or he must have noticed me at least for him to accept and answer my prayers.

"Recently found or not. I'm thankful for the blessing of Akatosh. Though the other men in the detachment might not admit it, I know they're thankful as well." The young man fidgeted with his armor a moment then sighed. "We'll be heading out soon. We're rendezvousing with a larger force to try and build a fortress using Valtheim Towers as the center." It seemed that he felt uneasy about telling me the imperial's plan but there seemed to be a motive.

"That seems like a very strategic point. Now I'm not one for tactics or anything but those towers serve as a major point between Whiterun and the western holds." Orgnar cut in as he scratched his chin. He was in full support of the empire and interested in their movements. Orgnar had mentioned wanting to join the legion after the bandit raid in order to help defend his home but he also knew that he wouldn't want anyone else running his inn.

"The reason I'm telling is that I was hoping you would accompany us. The leader of our detachment was slain in the fighting a few nights ago. It seems like the others are in bad shape but want to keep moving. Having a priest with us might help boost morale. We could work out details later if you need payment but." The soldier was rambling, trying his hardest to get me to accompany him. I was trying to think of the towers they where mentioning. I remembered going through something that had been overrun with bandits on my way to walk to Winterhold in the game but. If the Empire was going to occupy the area it must mean that it must be cleared?

"I honestly don't know. I'm not one to intentionally put myself in harm's way. I'm kind of a coward to be honest." I said, trying to back out any way that I can without saying no. Even though it had only been a few days I had felt that I was starting to settle down in Riverwood. I hadn't been so afraid, even drank mead for the first time and socialized with the others in the small town.

"That's okay. We're not asking you to fight or anything. Just knowing that we are blessed by Akatosh would be enough to help boost our morale." He sounded desperate as he looked at me with the same pleading eyes that he had the night I first said a blessing.

"Let me pack what few belongings I have. When you move out, let me know." I said with a heavy sigh. I didn't want to at all but if I could help someone and get to know the right people. I might be able to find someone who could help me. I sat up, stretched then went to my room and began to pack my satchel. When I picked up the spell book I realized I had yet to read it. I had been worried that there might be something in there that I wouldn't want to see. Like maybe a time limit I have for existing here. Like I could die after a certain amount of time. Shaking my head I told myself that I would look at it when everything was settled at Valtheim towers or whatever it was called.

After I finished packing I walked out to find Orgnar with a small pack.

"What's that?" I asked with a slight tilt to my head.

"Just some food I prepped up. Figured you could use some rations. I doubt they have anything similar to my cooking at their camps." He said with a laugh.

"Thank you. You've been kind to me." I smiled as I took the pack of food and slung it over my shoulder with my satchel.

"It's not everyday that I get to watch a priest drink himself stupid." He laughed again though he did sound a little sad. Just then the young soldier came back into the inn with another soldier in tow. They both smiled as the told me they where ready to move.

"Lead the way." I did my best to smile back. A few wounded soldiers where still healing but they still wanted to travel anyway? There was maybe four of them who could fight and four more who still needed to recover. I patted the underside of my forearm to make sure my dagger was secure , adjusted my satchel and the pack so they where more comfortable, then followed the two out the door and onto the dangerous roads of Skyrim.