TherChapter 36

Day 152

The day had seen us running from many. Both the searching hordes of undead scouting parties and mercenaries under Morgran's control. Our bodies ached as the scorching sun beamed down on us. Rocky surfaces provided little shade but we had little time to stop and rest.

"There it is! Thank the moons!" Zaynabi cried as her face lit up with a smile. I turned to see the walls of Valinka's fort standing higher than we had left them. It was a welcoming sight and the three of us found our strength for one last sprint.

"Hold!" A medium sized man shouted from atop one of the walls. I was surprised to see how much work they had done, adding more onto the already sturdy work we had put into making the fort.

"It is Darius! We have news for Valinka!" I shouted and waited as the man called to someone else behind the gate. Since my loss of control back at the Morgran's old base I had become known throughout the rebellion as a warrior.

As the gates opened, four guards came rushing out to cover the entrance, the captain of Valinka's men came into view and offered a smile.

"We had seen some trouble lately, last thing we need is anyone sneaking into the fort while we opened the gate." He explained as we eyed the guards warily. Kharjo had voiced his worries a few hours before we had found the fort. He had been concerned that Morgran had reached the fort before us and warned them of our "treason."

"With the news we have, there will be even more to watch out for." I said with a grim expression. The captain's face darkened then nodded and lead the way into the fort. We walked past the smithy area that they had added, many weapons and armor lay strewn about as an orc women and, what I assumed was her child, worked on detailing a piece of armor. The orc child had small tusks that barely broke past their lower lip. His or her dark brown hair reached to their shoulders and their skin was a pale green, unlike their much darker mother. I had never seen an orc child in the games and it was interesting to see.

After the blacksmith, was another added area that seemed to be made up of medical tents and large crates of herbs. Many people already were going in and out of the tents to check on injured or sick people.

"Our patrols ran into groups of undead. We thought we had been prepared to fight them but more just kept coming as the battles intensified. We've had to recall all our patrols in order to save our men." The captain sighed heavily as he eyed the men in the tent. Some looked terrible while others suffered from minor wounds. I tore myself away from the scene, uttering a quick prayer that the dying would find peace. Who I prayed to, I wasn't so sure anymore but the prayer felt like it had been heard by someone as a sense of relief and calm came over me when we walked away.

"Has there been any word from the other forts?" Kharjo asked as he watched Zaynabi ran into the medical area to assist the wounded.

"We haven't heard anything at all yet. Valinka has been getting restless, talking about taking down the dominion herself!" He laughed and waved at a few guards on the wall. They moved up to the gate area while others armed themselves with bows and went to the walls as well. "I assume though you come with bad news. Possibly trouble behind you?" The captain's smile had faded into a scowl as he donned a more serious tone.

"There is trouble coming in force and there isn't a lot of time to prepare." I replied and Valinka came down from a tower that had been erected in the center of the fort.

"Well if it isn't the daedra lover himself!" She laughed and smashed a hand down on my shoulder so hard I knew it would bruise. Her blonde hair was loosely tied in a ponytail behind her, her leather armor hugging her body tightly. She seemed to favor lighter armor due to it's mobility so she can cleave her way through large groups. That's what she said a while back anyway.

"I see you're still taken to calling me that." I groaned and stared at her a moment before shaking my head. "I have news that you need to hear. I would suggest gathering your captains as well." Her face turned around completely from smiling to frowning. She nodded her head then shouted a few orders to those around her.

"'l'll meet you upstairs." She declared and turned back towards the tower.

Day 153

"That bastard!" Valinka was in a rage. Half the things within the top room of the wooden tower had found their way out the nearest window. "I'll kill him myself! Herchel!" The captains straightened up at the mention of his name. "Gather your men, prepare them immediately for any attack and by the divines send scouts to the other forts immediately!" She slammed her fists down on the map of Hammerfell that was in the middle of the room. The large table groaned then gave way as the legs fell out from beneath it. I stepped back and watched as everything on it rolled around on the floor.

"Valinka, it might be a good idea to assume Morgran might have gotten to the others first. If he hadn't beaten us here he might have started with the others." I watched as her captain ran down the steps as fast as he could go.

"I will wait until I hear word from our scouts. Until then I will not be caught off guard."

"Darius!" Zaynabi rushed into the meeting room, her fur matted with blood and sweat. "Undead are at the gates!"

((Author's note: I will hopefully be posting regularly again. Been busy and unmotivated to write lately but now I feel it coming back to me. Thank you to all for staying fans of the story and I hope to keep you all looking forward to more chapters! Also, I will be keeping my profile updated with hints on the next chapters, ideas I will be having for more stories, as well as when I will be posting next!))