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-23rd of the Last Seed, 4th Era 201-
Over the next few days, Rahgol did job after job for the Companions, which earned quite a good amount of gold so it made the decision to join them worth it. Plus, he improved on his combat skills when he trained with Farkas, Vilkas and Aela, the three that he could honestly say he interacted with more than any other of the Companions. Maybe they took to him quickly because of his attitude, given he wasn't some boot-licker like they've had in the past.
And Aela was still a little pissed about the headbutt, but she got her revenge during an archery practice by 'accidentally' nearly shooting Rahgol in the knee. He simply gave her a look and she mouth 'payback' to him, causing him to smirk with a silent chuckle and shake of his head.
His progress in the Companions, completing a large number of jobs in just three days, earned him quite a bit of respect with the other members of the Companions. And it was after he had dealt with a cave bear invading someone's home in Whiterun hold that he returned to Jorrvasker and told Aela the job was done.
"Good work, Rahgol." The huntress patted his back before she got serious. "I would suggest you take a break, seeing as you've done a total of thirty jobs in just three days."
Rahgol shrugged a little. "What can I say? I like to be on my feet and moving. Plus the reward makes it worth it, as well as the prey."
Aela smirked. "I see. Anyway, while I know you'll most likely ask for a new job, I can't give you anything just now. Skjor was looking for you earlier until I told him where you were."
"Why? Why was he looking for me?" Rahgol asked with a frown. He and Skjor hadn't really interacted much, and there wasn't really any friendliness nor hostility there... though he was sure that Skjor didn't like his closeness with Aela which made Rahgol scoff. As attractive as Aela was, he was interested in her like that.
"He has something special planned." Was all Aela said, gesturing for him to go see him. Rahgol sighed and walked off to go find Skjor, soon finding him sitting at one of the chairs in the main hall. The man looked up at Rahgol approached.
"Ah. There you are." He said.
"You wanted to see me?" Rahgol asked, crossing his arms.
"I did." Skjor nodded. "Your time, it seems, has come."
Rahgol tilted his head curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Last week a scholar came to us. He said he knew where we could find another fragment of Wuuthrad. Skjor explained. "He seemed a fool to me, but if he's right, the honor of the Companions demands that we seek it out."
"And by we, you mean me." Rahgol remarked.
Skjor glared at him. "Unless you have something better to do."
Rahgol glared back, then sighed irritably. "Where am I going to get this fragment?"
"Dustman's Cairn. It's not far from here. Farkas will be your Shield-Sibling on this venture, whelp. He'll answer any questions you have. Try not to disappoint. Or to get him killed." Skjor said. Rahgol rolled his eyes and walked off, meeting up with Farkas and they left Jorrvasker.
It took them an hour to make it to Dustman's Cairn, as it wasn't really that far from Whiterun City. Upon arrival, and entering the tomb, they noticed dead Dragur on the floor with sword slashes across their bodies.
"Looks like someone's been digging. And recently." Farkas noted.
Rahgol nodded after examining a body. "Any ideas as to who?"
"No. But tread lightly." Farkas cautioned.
The two ventured on further into the ruin, their respective weapons drawn in case whoever was here ambushed them. Along the way, Rahgol looted anything that looked valuable while they also killed some Restless Dragur along the way. Soon enough, they came into a massive room with two gates, one opened, the other closed. However, there was a lever in the open one.
"Maybe this opens the closed one." Rahgol said as he pulled the lever, hearing the gate open... while also closing the one he was in. "Oh you've gotta be kidding!"
Farkas laughed as he walked over. "Now look what you've gotten yourself into." He said, amused.
"Ha ha, very funny." Rahgol said with a dry glare. "Just hurry up and find the lever to open this."
"Alright, just-" Farkas stopped as several people ran in and surrounded him.
"We got you now, dogs." One of them said.
"We knew you'd be coming here." Said another one.
"Killing you would make an excellent story." A Nord woman said.
"None of you will be alive to tell it." Farkas said darkly, dropping his weapon. He then hunched over, grunting, and Rahgol could hear the sound of bones breaking. His eyes widened as black fur grew over Farkas' body, his grunts turning into growls, and before he knew it, a Werewolf stood in Farkas' place. The beast roared and proceeded to easily slaughter the attackers before running off into the open room. A second later, the gate opened to let Rahgol free as Farkas came back, picking up his sword. "I hope I didn't scare you."
Rahgol just snorted. "Hardly. I've seen scarier than a Werewolf. Plus, being raised by a Dragon takes out the fear of any creature that is said to be fearsome and scary." He said as they walked on, with Farkas blinking at Rahgol's words.
"You were raised by a Dragon?" He asked in disbelief, but Rahgol nodded.
"Since I was six years old." He said, then looked at him. "So, should I expect to be offered the chance to become a Werewolf once this trial is over?"
"Oh, no. Only the Circle have the beastblood. Prove your honor to be a Companion. "Eyes on the prey, not the horizon."" Farkas said.
Rahgol chuckled a little. "You should be a poet."
The two continued like this, making idle conversation and killing Draugr and Silver Hand, Farkas had told Rahgol the name of the organization they had encountered, they were an organisation of Werewolf hunters that had a vendetta against the Companions for some reason, until they reached the main chamber of the Cairn where the fragment of the axe rested on what appeared to be an alter.
Farkas went over to it and picked it up which caused a majority of the coffins in the room to open and a large number of Draugr to step out.
"Should've expected this." Rahgol said, drawing his swords as Farkas drew his Steel Greatsword.
"I'm starting to think you just attract trouble to you." Farkas said as thry went back to back.
"Can't argue with that." Rahgol shook his head. With roars, they charged and started taking out the Dragur. More popped out of their coffins as they killed each one, but they were cut down just as quickly as the others before them, and then a Dragur Deathlord popped out of it's coffin much to Rahgol's utter annoyance.
Rahgol stabbed the Deathlord in the chest with both his swords, killing it instantly while Farkas sliced two of the Draugr in half horizontally with his greatsword before slicing another one vertically, a couple of the Draugr stepped back to avoid Farkas' strikes but they were quickly dispatched by Rahgol until there were no more Draugr.
"Did we get them all?" Farkas asked, checking to make sure no more were going to pop out.
"Seems like it. Rahgol nodded, and sheathed his swords. He looked up some stairs and saw one of the coffins that a Dragur came out of also had a passageway. "And it looks like we have a shortcut out of here."
"Well then, let's take it and get out of here. Back to Jorrvasker." Farkas said.
It was night when they made it back to Whiterun and up to Jorrvasker, where Vilkas was waiting for them on the steps but he stood up upon seeing them arrive.
"I see you have returned, the Circle waits for you in the courtyard." He said before walking off around the building to the courtyard as Rahgol and Farkas followed. Kodlak, Skjor and Aela were there, with the huntress holding a torch for light in the darkness. Everyone took their places in, ironically, a circle, with Rahgol standing opposite Kodlak and Farkas standing on Kodlak's left.
"Brothers and sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold." Kodlak began. "This man has endured, has challenged, and has shown his valor. Who will speak for him?"
"I stand witness to the courage of the soul before us." Farkas answered, causing Kodlak to look at him.
"Would you raise your shield in his defense?" He asked.
Farkas nodded. "I would stand at his back, that the world might never overtake us."
"And would you raise your sword in his honor?"
"It stands ready to meet the blood of his foes."
"And would you raise a mug in his name?"
"I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in his stories."
Kodlak nodded with a small smile. "Then the judgement of this Circle is complete. His heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, that the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call."
"It shall be so." The other members of the Circle said in unison before they walked off as Kodlak approached Rahgol.
"Well, boy, you're one of us now. I trust you won't disappoint." Kodlak said with a small smile.
"Oh, I won't." Rahgol said with a small smirk, causing the old man to laugh.
"Confident, aren't you? Keep that trait. You may need it." He said.
"So... you guys are Werewolves." Rahgol stated more than asked. Kodlak looked surprised for a moment but nodded.
"I see you've been allowed to know some secrets before your appointed time. No matter. Yes, it's true. Not every Companion, though. Only members of the Circle all share the blood of the beast. Some take to it more than others." Kodlak said. Rahgol raised an eyebrow.
"And you?" He inquired.
Kodlak shook his head. "Well, I grow old. My mind turns towards the horizon. To Sovngarde. I worry that Shor won't call an animal to glory as he would a true Nord warrior. Living as beasts draws our souls closer to the Daedric Lord Hircine. Some may prefer an eternity in his Hunting Grounds, but I crave the fellowship of Sovngarde."
Rahgol grunted. "Not sure how I'd feel of being bound to a Daedric Prince for eternity. I'm bound to no one and serve no one."
"Yes, you strike me as the kind who has that kind of attitude." Kodlak chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Go on. You don't need to share the worries of an old warrior. This day is to rejoice in your bravery!" With another pat on the shoulder, Kodlak walked off. Rahgol watched him go before he looked skyward, then went inside Jorrvasker.
At Skuldafn, Alduin was currently gnawing on a deer she had snagged a little while ago. It had been a boring day, and usually she got through those with meditations, or hunting for a good while. She was interrupted from her supper when Odahviing arrived.
"What is it?" She asked, going back to her meal.
"I've noticed you've been keeping tabs on the mortal that insulted you." Odahviing said, to which Alduin paused and stared at him blankly.
"I trust you did not interrupt my meal to state the obvious, Odahviing. Speak your mind and purpose for being here." She said with a slightly firm tone.
"Krosis, Thuri." Odahviing bowed his head then looked at her. "The other Dov are becoming restless from our... inaction. Most have expected us to wage all out war on the joor by now seeing as you've returned, but you have not ordered any attacks. To them, all we've done is sit around."
Alduin growled and shot him a glare. "Do you agree with them?"
Odahviing looked at her. "Zu'u lost mindok hi fah lingrah tiid, wuth fahdon. Hi alun lost dahrin fah atruk." He said in the Dovahzul, and a small smile pulled at Alduin's mouth.
"Hi mindok zey pruzah." She said before giving an aggravated growl. "But if the others want to go rushing blindly into their deaths, then let them. I will not allow them to compromise my plans because they couldn't keep a tight grip on their bloodlust."
"You need not worry about them, thuri, however..." Odahviing trailed off, a worried look entering his eyes that caught Alduin's attention. For Odahviing to be worried about something was serious in her eyes.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Mirmulnir recently left Skuldafn, he claimed it was for hunting purposes, but you know how he can get around the joor. He was headed for the Hold known as Whiterun" Odahviing answered, knowing that Alduin would find out regardless of whether he told her or not.
"I will follow him and monitor his actions. If he attacks the joor, I will kill him as an example to all who would dare ignore my orders" she stated bluntly as Odahviing rolled his eyes.
"And I'm sure that the opportunity to test that joor you're so interested in has nothing to do with anything as you know he will not be able to resist investigating Mirmulnir's attacks." He said sarcastically. Had it been any other Dragon speaking to her like that, they would be dead before they could finish their sentence. However, Odahviing was one of Alduin's closest and long-time friends, so he was allowed to speak to her in such tones but kept the respect intact.
"I'm sure it doesn't, Odahviing." Alduin retorted, equally as sarcastically before she took off.
'I guess that we'll be officially meeting soon, mortal. Let's see if you're truly worthy of my interest.' Alduin thought, as she flew in the direction of Whiterun. 'If you prove your worth, I may have some use for you when I retake this world and place the Dov back where they belong…'
And that's it for this chapter.
Dragon tongue translations:
Zu'u lost mindok hi fah lingrah tiid, wuth fahdon. Hi alun lost dahrin fah atruk. (I have known you for a long time, old friend. You always have a reason for something.)
Hi mindok zey pruzah. (You know me well.)
Mirmulnir (Allegiance-Strong-Hunt)