On the Road to Ruin VII

"I see… Well… Kasia, M'rissi, and I will defiantly be returning immediately." I say blocking off his path back down the mountain from the campsite.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The 'Courier' asks in a concerned panic.

"Drop the act. I know you aren't Marcus's courier." I say resting my hand on my blade.

*Sigh* "What gave me away?" The imposter says with an intrigued smile.

"Several things, if you've got the time to listen to my lecture." I say.

"I do believe I am a captive audience." The imposter says with a cheeky grin.

"Heh, that you are. First, you didn't know how many people were supposed to be in our camp. Second, when I mentioned my tribesmen you made up a story about an orc war band without confirming there was one in the area. Third, your timeline didn't match up. If you slipped out of the one and only exit in the town while the enemy was infiltrating, as you claimed, how did you know of Bosska's murder and the very vivid recollection of Marcus' torture… And finally…" I say, getting closer with each point I make before we're face to face.

"There is only one trusted courier in all of Skyrim… And you ain't him." I say bringing my foot up before slamming it down and sending a shockwave toward the imposter knocking them from their firm stance and causing them to drop their dagger they had started to pull from a hidden sheathe at their back as they stumble to their knees.

Before I shout, "FUS!" Sending the imposter ragdolling through the air and over the cliff edge as a familiar Wilhelm scream escapes their lips before silence.

'Huh, it's no High Hrothgar, but still oddly satisfying... I should really get the rest of my shout when I have the chance.' I think to myself before turning to the girls.

Who seem to be in a mix of awe and panic.

"I-I know his story didn't add up, and that there were some parts that seemed kind of sketchy. But, I wouldn't have gone as far as to accuse him of lying…" Kasia pauses trying to deal with the murder that I just committed, "But in the end, you had the better judgment. But Jonestead is actually under attack, right? And my father…" Kasia trails off.

"Is probably in danger, I think it's best if you stay here-" I start to say before Kasia shouts.

"No way! I'm not spending another second stuck in this camp. I can help you! Maybe distract them while you move in for the attack! Anything! If they took my father as a hostage, then they're going to want me alive. That means they are only attacking because of my family! I can't let them destroy my home, I won't let them kill my father!" Kasia vehemently protests.

*Sigh* "Only because I know what I'd do in your position… And against my better judgment… You can come, but you have to promise to follow my every order. This is almost definitely a trap, you can't let your guard down. Deal?" I finally relent.

"I'm with you all the way! We can lay out our plans once we get into town! Now let's hurry up and get to Jonestead!" Kasia says, with a boundless energy she hadn't shown in days.

"First, we need to get to the Windhelm stables." I say leading them both down the mountain and to the stables after walking for half an hour.

Once there I see Ulundil tending to his horses and Alfarinn in his carriage.

"Ulundil! Give me your horse!" I shout running up to them.

"What? I can't just-" Ulundil starts to say before I throw a sack of 1,000 septims at him.

"Saddle my fucking horse, I don't have time for pleasantries! Alfarinn! I need passage to Whiterun! I want you going double time! Keep the change!" I through him a pouch of 100 septims before lifting M'rissi up and setting her in the back of the carriage.

"Fluffy?! What are you doing to her?! She wants to go with you!" M'rissi protests, lightly pounding against my chest in defiance.

"Kitten!" I say holding her face in my hands as I stare into her eyes, silencing her, "I need you to go back to the Tower, get everyone you can to Jonestead. We'll need the reinforcements, and you're the only one I can trust to do this. Can you do this for me?" I ask looking into her confused eyes.

"She… Will do as you ask… But… Promise you will return to her! She... She will miss you if you die! So... Pinky promise her!" M'rissi pouts while extending her pinky finger while giving me a serious stare.

"Ha!" I laugh before giving her my pinky and kissing her forehead, "You have my word, Kitten. Now go!" I shout to Alfarinn who snaps his reigns.

"HI-YAH!!!" Alfarinn shouts, as he drives the horse onwards and pulls mine and M'rissi's hands apart. I watch her crest the hill in the cart before turning to Kasia.

"I hope you know how to ride a horse because I don't have a damn clue." I say lifting her onto the horse that Ulundil had prepared. A deep brown horse with a flowing mane and white strip from its eyes down to its nose with white hair around its hooves.

"I had lessons back in Solitude, hope on!" Kasia shouts as I leap on behind her on the saddle as she snaps the reins and forces the horse forward making me wrap my arms around her to keep from falling off the back as we make haste through the eastern countryside of Skyrim.

We ride for several hours, only stopping to give the horse water and a chance to breath before continuing on the trail until we find ourselves outside the door to Jonestead… An unguarded door.

"Kasia, this is either really good… Or extremely bad… No matter what happens… If I say run, you run. And you don't stop until you make it back to the Tower and to safety. I can protect myself, but I can't promise I'll be able to save everyone if the shit hits the fan, understand?" I ask her.

"I understand… Except… What's a fan and is… Feces… Supposed to hit it? Like an outhouse?" Kasia asks in confusion making me internally facepalm.