Chapter 16 – A kerfuffle at Ivarstead
Lydia struggled forward toward Narfi's house, each step feeling heavier than the last. The dead weight of the bandit was crushing, and she could feel the muscles in her shoulders and back burning from the effort. The stiffness of the body made it an inflexible burden, every adjustment awkward and difficult. The coldness of her cargo brought an unsettling, almost inhuman sensation. The barely dried blood mixed with other foul-smelling fluids the corpse could no longer contain. The sickly-sweet stench of early decay filled the air, threatening to churn the warrior's stomach at any moment.
She glanced at Aventus, who walked silently beside her. The fatigue and resignation etched into his young face reminded her of the war-worn expressions she'd seen on so many adults during the civil war, yet here they were, oddly displayed on the face of a child. In this land, violence rarely spared the innocent, especially since the conflict between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks. But it was still hard to accept that a child had to face it so soon.
"How are you feeling?" she asked in a whisper, hoping to offer him some comfort.
Aventus looked up, surprised by her concern. "I... I'm fine," he answered, though his voice betrayed a hint of distress.
When Aventus had offered to help carry the body, Lydia had refused outright. She knew that despite the trials he had already endured, each additional burden would drag him deeper into darkness. He couldn't be allowed to touch the body again, to carry that weight—physically or mentally. The story he'd shared of his encounter with the bandit only strengthened her resolve. Despite his naive recounting, Lydia had perfectly understood the bandit's initial intentions. Horrors like these were common in this world, but that didn't make her any less disgusted.
Silence fell between them once more, broken only by the crunch of dead leaves underfoot and the distant howl of a wolf. As a housecarl, Lydia knew her primary duty was to protect Hunfen from any danger, to keep him as far from potential threats as possible. Logically, that meant keeping him away from Aventus. Though Aventus was still a child, he was also an assassin-in-training, and it was best to shield Hunfen from the Dark Brotherhood's influence. Yet she couldn't bring herself to sever their bond. The hasty flight from Windhelm after Aventus's abduction had been agonizing for her. Her primal instinct had screamed at her to chase down the kidnappers and cut them down, but her duty had compelled her to prioritize Hunfen's safety, even against his own will. And the young orphan had paid the price.
Finally, they reached the threshold of the house. Hunfen was waiting outside the door, worry etched across his face. Lydia felt her heart clench. Instinctively, she wanted to protect the boy's innocence, to shield him for a little longer from the harsh reality that surrounded them. Pale with effort, she tightened her grip on the body and positioned herself to hide the gruesome sight. With a subtle yet deliberate step, she placed herself in front of the young Nord, forming a protective barrier between him and the bloodied corpse.
"Hunfen, Aventus, stay outside for a moment," she ordered gently.
Lydia nudged the door of Narfi's house open with her foot, carefully closing it behind her. She set the bandit's body down beside the fireplace, laying it on the pile of old furniture and flammable rags that Hunfen had gathered earlier. The corpse's stiffness made every movement laborious, but she worked silently to avoid alerting Narfi, who sat in the corner of the room on a stool, staring blankly at a point in the distance. The man didn't react to Lydia's entrance. He seemed lost in his thoughts, detached from reality. Lydia felt a pang of sorrow for him, but she knew she needed to stay focused. The plan had to go off without a hitch to ensure Hunfen and Aventus's safety.
She pulled a dusty old sheet from an overturned cabinet and draped it carefully over the bandit, making sure to cover any signs of violence. The sight of blood on the floor made her grimace, but she figured it would be less traumatic for the children than the sight of the body itself if they happened to look in this direction. Once satisfied with her setup, she turned to Narfi, his face still marked by fatigue and confusion. She wondered if the simple-minded man truly understood what was happening. She crouched down to his level, speaking softly but firmly.
"Narfi," she said, "we're leaving soon. Hunfen and Aventus will stay with you for a while until I return with supplies. Alright?"
Narfi blinked, slowly emerging from his thoughts as if waking from a deep sleep. He nodded silently, his gaze remaining vague and distant. Lydia sighed lightly and stood up. Would this man really be able to play his part when the time came, to pretend to be someone else? There was no time to dwell on it. With one last glance at the fireplace and the improvised pyre, she made sure everything was in order. She walked to the door and opened it, letting in a cool breeze that offered brief relief from the oppressive atmosphere.
"Hunfen, Aventus, you can come in now," she called through the doorway.
The two boys stood and approached cautiously. Hunfen, visibly the more anxious of the two, scrutinized Lydia with wide, worried eyes, trying to piece together what was really happening inside. He had a general idea but seemed unable to imagine the specifics. Aventus, on the other hand, wore a resolute expression as though he had already come to terms with the most disturbing parts of the plan. He appeared almost indifferent to the violence surrounding them, a dark maturity settling on his youthful face.
"Stay with Narfi and don't touch anything," Lydia ordered. "I'm going to Ivarstead to get supplies for the journey. I'll be back soon."
Hunfen nodded, trying to mask his worry, while Aventus remained silent, observing Lydia with a piercing gaze. She left the house, carefully closing the door behind her, leaving the children and Narfi inside.
oOo
Lydia walked briskly toward the village center, her thoughts swirling around the final details of their plan. Reaching Riften without revealing their starting point meant avoiding carts, forcing them to make the two-day journey on foot. They would likely need to camp overnight, taking turns standing guard, prepared for any eventuality—especially bandit attacks. The situation was dangerous: she was the only adult capable of fighting. Narfi, with his frail constitution and slow reflexes, wouldn't even be able to defend himself. The warrior hated to admit it, but it might be wise to give Hunfen a turn at the watch. With his Thu'um, he could create enough surprise to fend off an attacker or even injure one, giving Lydia time to intervene. As for Aventus, she would have to assess his abilities in a real situation. Clearly, the Dark Brotherhood had taught him some self-defense—the dead bandit in the cabin was proof of that. Perhaps he could also take part in the night watches. But first, she needed to get enough provisions for the journey.
As she was about to pay, a shiver of fear ran down her spine. Across the market, a tall hooded figure draped in a dark cloak embroidered with silver was questioning the villagers with a menacing authority. What was the Thalmor doing here? Had these cursed elves come to hunt down Talos worshippers even in these remote villages? Lydia, trying not to draw attention, moved closer to a nearby stall, feigning indifference while straining to listen. The agent, visibly frustrated by the vagueness of the answers he was getting, was harassing a villager with increasing insistence. Lydia's anxiety mounted. She needed to understand what was going on while remaining as inconspicuous as possible.
"I already told you, I don't know anything about this Dragonborn," the frightened villager repeated. "Pilgrims go up the Seven Thousand Steps every day! I don't know if he's one of them, I don't even know what he looks like!"
Hunfen. The Thalmor was searching for Hunfen. Lydia fought to keep the panic rising within her under control. She knew she had to be careful. She pretended to move to another stall, acting interested in the fabrics on display. Unfortunately, the agent's sharp eyes spotted her, and he began making his way toward her, his posture rigid, his face filled with arrogance.
"You, Nord, what do you know about the Dragonborn? Answer!" he demanded brusquely.
Lydia feigned surprise, looking up with an innocent expression. "The Dragonborn? Oh, like everyone else, I heard the Greybeards call him about two weeks ago. He must be with them by now."
The Thalmor scrutinized her for a moment, weighing her words. "So you suppose he's already at High Hrothgar?" he asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Certainly, it's a great honor to answer the call, you know? I don't see why he would delay," Lydia replied with a slight shrug. Inside, her heart was racing. She needed to gather the supplies and get back to the children as quickly as possible. Hunfen had to be taken away from this place without delay. The agent, exasperated, let out a brief sigh and turned away from her, heading toward the foot of the Seven Thousand Steps.
As the warrior began to move away, a loud voice rang out in the square:
"You there! Are you the one they call the Dragonborn?"
Lydia whirled around toward the voice. Two
grotesque figures stood in the center of the market. Their brown robes gave them a vague appearance of priests, but their masks—white, polished bone, sculpted into inhuman shapes—evoked a daedric cult. Their hollow eye sockets burned with a fanatical and demented intensity. Lydia could see their eyes gleaming with zeal as they fixed their gaze on the Thalmor agent. The elf raised his head, his golden eyes filled with suspicion. "Who are you?" he asked, his hands rising slightly, ready to summon a spell. "What do you want with the Dragonborn?"
The newcomers didn't answer immediately. They stepped forward, their robes rustling ominously, until one of them finally spoke in a deep voice, tinged with almost sacred fervor: "So, it's you, impostor. Your lies fool no one! You are but a pale shadow before the light of Miraak, the one true Dragonborn. When he returns, all will see and bow before him!"
A chill ran through Lydia. Who was this Miraak? She had never heard of him, but these fanatics seemed determined and dangerous. Before she could act, the Thalmor agent, clearly irritated, straightened to his full height and snapped, "You're mad! I don't know what you're talking about."
"Your lies won't save you!" shouted the second fanatic, raising his hands. A fireball shot from his palms, hurtling straight toward the Thalmor. The elf barely managed to conjure a magical shield in time to block the attack, countering with a swift bolt of lightning.
The battle erupted in a flash of light and fire. Lydia barely dodged a fireball that crashed into a stall, setting it ablaze instantly. The ensuing screams and chaos gave Lydia the chance to slip away unnoticed. She darted behind a building, avoiding the flames and debris scattered by the destructive spells exchanged between the Thalmor and Miraak's fanatics. Her mind raced as she tried to stay calm: she needed to hurry.
Lydia quickly made her way back to Narfi's cabin, her focus entirely on the children's safety. When she entered, she found Hunfen and Aventus, clearly nervous but unharmed. Hunfen rushed to her, his eyes wide with fear and worry.
"Lydia, what's happening outside?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"I'm not entirely sure," she replied hurriedly, "but we need to put our plan into action right now. Aventus, Narfi, grab your things. Hunfen, I need your flames to start the fire."
Hunfen swallowed hard but nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He focused, gathering his magic, while Lydia and Aventus made sure everything was in place. Narfi, confused but obedient, watched them with palpable anxiety. Lydia kept glancing nervously out the window, ensuring that the chaos from the nearby village didn't spill over into their plans.
"Go ahead, Hunfen," she whispered softly. The young boy raised his hands, concentrating hard, and summoned a powerful stream of fire from his palms. The flames engulfed the pile of wood and furniture instantly. The fire spread quickly, consuming the bandit's body in moments. As the acrid smell of smoke filled the room, Lydia felt a wave of relief that the stench of death was now masked. Maybe Hunfen hadn't noticed it? Outside, the noise of the battle and the screams of villagers grew louder, heightening the tension.
The fire spread rapidly, forcing the group to flee the house. Flames burst from the windows and doorways, quickly devouring the entire building. Once outside, Lydia ordered the group to move without wasting a second. The thick smoke and the crackle of flames chased them as they hurried away, a reminder of their urgent need to escape. However, Aventus suddenly stopped, turned back, and extracted a charred piece of wood from the blaze.
"Aventus, what are you doing? We need to leave immediately!" Lydia cried, casting anxious glances toward the village still engulfed in flames and panic.
"Just a second, Lydia," Aventus replied with determination. He knelt before the burning cabin and rubbed the charred wood against the ground, leaving a dark mark on the earth. It was a crude drawing of an open hand, hastily made but unmistakable: the Black Hand.
"The Dark Brotherhood won't be able to say I didn't complete my mission this way!"
Lydia watched impatiently but understood the importance of the gesture. She turned to Hunfen and Narfi, signaling for them to be ready. "Hurry up, Aventus. We can't stay here any longer."
Aventus finished his drawing, standing up quickly to rejoin the group. Together, they set off, swiftly leaving the burning village behind, avoiding any contact with guards or panicked villagers. The road to Riften would be long, but safety was now their only priority.