Chapter 10

The man passed out, not that I could blame him. He came here with ten others to what they thought would be an easy fight. Now he is the only one left, he must be traumatized.

"Gentle, take him to one of the homes on the edge of the village. Gunnar you help him, get him ready for an interrogation."

They nodded and picked the man up, carrying him off for later questioning. I turned to look at the bodies lying around. I'd get the small folk to get rid of the bodies. Speaking of, Jaren was slowly making his way towards me.

"Glad to see you're alright" I said in greeting.

"I've seen better days, but I'll live," he replied as he stood beside me.

"We really did it, it almost doesn't seem real," he said.

"Oh it's real, and it was only possible because of all our efforts," I replied.

He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow. Then he chuckled while looking up to the clouds.

"You and your people did this. After seeing that, what would you even call it? It sure as hell wasn't a fight, I'd say it was a slaughter. You didn't even need our help. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but please, let's not pretend you needed our help."

We were silent for a moment, just staring up at the clouds. Until the crunching of snow alerted me to the arrival of another. Looking to the source of the sound, I saw Aela making her way towards us.

"Jaren, why don't you have the others clear out the bodies. Take whatever you find to be useful from the corpses. Once you're done with that, I think we all deserve a reward for today's victory. How about a feast? See to getting the woman started on that."

He nodded at my words but before he left he looked worried.

"What do we do about Levir?"

I had completely forgotten the fool. What should we do with him? He's not my people so, but then again, I have essentially taken this little village over.

"I will pass judgment before the feast. Until then, bind him. Don't let his family anywhere near him. I don't want them to do something they'd regret."

After receiving my orders, Jaren walked off to get the others organized. As he left, Aela stood beside me.

"A good fight, don't you think?" I asked.

"Yes, Gentle and Gunnar fought like true Nords." She answered.

I quirked an eyebrow while glancing down at her from the corner of my eye.

"And me? Have you no words for my performance?" I asked playfully.

She was silent for a long moment. So long I feared she would never answer. Just as I was about to speak she began.

"I don't know what's going on with you. Something seems off about you. You didn't fight like you used to. It was like you were getting used to a new style. Your movements were hesitant, it lacked the savagery of Gentle and Gunnar. Speak true Ragnar, what is going on with you?"

It was my turn to be silent. So even Aela noticed a difference in me. It wasn't just Gentle, perhaps the others have also noticed. What should I say? How do I tell them that I'm not the Ragnar they know?

Some things come easy, yet there are still some inconsistencies in my behavior that I can't control. I have the memories of Ragnar, yet I'm still me. And not everything has perfectly assimilated properly.

I still have the dreams, visions of a life outside of the game and it's programming. I doubt I'll ever be like the Ragnar they knew. The question is, will that be a problem for them?

"I don't know, ever since we came out of that portal, I've felt a change. Like pieces of me were misplaced, or just outright removed. I just don't know. All I can do is move forward and live my life. Once we settle, maybe then I could sit back and reflect. But until then, I keep moving forward. And what of you? Do you think you could still follow me? Despite my seeming changes, could you fight and die with me?"

I gave the best answer I could. I would never tell anyone of my transmigration. But I could tell a version of the truth, one that I could say without feeling too bad about lying to them. Sure, they were just game characters I created and all that. But now they were living people. People willing to die for me. And they expected the same in return. I'm not even their Jarl, just a friend that they follow.

"I understand, I think. It's like how I've lost that connection I had with Hircine. I can still feel the beast, but it feels different, more tame. And despite the fact that I feel I could control my transformation, I can't say that even that will work the same way. I'm afraid to try."

I listened intently to her words. Noticing the slight tremble in her voice, before it was quickly snuffed out. So even the huntress was having transition issues.

"After the feast, how about we go for a hunt?" I asked.

"I don't know if you can still keep up." She replied in a teasing tone.

"I still got it. But maybe we could start off slow, new lands and all that." I replied.

"Sure, new lands and all that." She chuckled and punched me in the arm before walking off.

After a moment I turned and made my way in search of Gentle and Gunnar. I need more information, I have a sinking feeling that this business with the bandits isn't over. Whatever the case may be, I will handle it, I have to.

In a dark room, the bandit sat in a chair all tied up. He had a blindfold on while Gentle, Gunnar and I stood aside silently. We just stared and let the silence stretch. The bandit breathed heavily. He turned his head left and right, trying to pinpoint any sound he could. He surely knew of our presence, but the fact we weren't doing anything must be fraying his nerves.

I could make out the trails of sweat running down his face, despite the cold outside. Even the slight trembling of his body didn't escape my eyes. I wanted to stretch this out for as long as I could. Silence, it is a powerful weapon.

"I- I'll tell you whatever ya want to know. Anything, j- just ask and I'll tell ya." He said in a shaky voice.

We stayed quiet, neither acknowledging nor reprimanding him. We just stared at him, and he squirmed in his seat.

"L- look, I didn't want no part of this, you see? I was just along for the ride, you know? I didn't know anything about this place. This was my first time seeing it."

I looked over to Gunnar and nodded. He looked at me for a moment and walked over to the man. The man turned his head in Gunnar's direction, seemingly happy to get a reaction. Gunnar pulled back his arm and slapped the man across the face so hard, his neck snapped in the opposite direction.

"Argg! Ple- please, I'll tell you anything! Just stop!" the man yelled with fear in his voice.

I nodded to Gunnar again and he slapped the man on the other side. The crack of Gunnars hand on the man's face was sharp and the man whimpered in response. He seemed to understand that we didn't want him to talk so he said nothing further.

I looked over to Gentle and nodded for him to begin. With a savage smile he walked to a corner of the room and fetched a bucket. Gunnar stood to the man's side and tilted his chair over, so that the man was on his back still tied to the chair. Gentle walked over with the bucket of water and stood on the other side of the man.

The man whimpered but didn't speak, fearing being struck again. Once everything was ready, I walked closer and stood near his head. My hands behind my back, I looked down at the man coldly. I had no pity for this man, he was just a bandit. A man who took from those weaker than him. While that in itself wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as I would do the same if it suited my goals. But I wasn't him, and he wasn't one of mine.

"What is your name?" I asked in an emotionless tone. The man flinched at the sound of my voice.

"A- A- Auster, I swear I didn't know no-" He was cut off by Gunnar shoving a cloth over his face, covering his mouth and nose. Gentle then proceeded to pour water on his face, slowly.

The man panicked, squirming in his chair and making gurgling sounds. After a couple seconds I nodded and Gentle ceased pouring and Gunnar removed the cloth. The man coughed and sputtered trying to catch his breath.

"What is your name?" I asked again.

"A- Auster." He replied, it seems he learned to only answer the question without any unnecessary words.

"Are there more of you?" I asked, feeling he was in a good mental state.

"No, y- yes. Wait, I said ye-" He was again cut off by a repeat of earlier events. He shook violently as he tried to take in air. But the constant stream of water made it feel as if he was drowning. I let them pour for a little longer this time, until his movements became jerky. With a nod, they ceased their actions and I allowed the man a few seconds to catch his breath.

"Are there more of you?" I asked again.

"Yes!" he shouted, then whimpered some more as tears seemed to flow from his covered eyes.

"How many?" I asked.

"Eight!" He answered.

"How far is your base?"

"Thirty minutes away!"

"Where is your base?"

"Just follow the way we came, you'll come up on a clearing. There's a cave, you can't miss it."

Well, I think that's all I need from him. After asking a few more trivial questions about their gear, I walked towards the door. Gentle and Gunnar followed me out and they awaited my words.

"I think we have enough time. We will end this now, better to cut it off at the source than let it fester. We three should be enough, it'll be just like the old days. Gentle, you know what to do." As I spoke, the two smiled a predatory smile. I could tell they didn't like waiting for the enemy to arrive. They much preferred to go on the offensive, blade in hand, singing their battle cry.

Gentle, with that same predatory and cruel smile, walked back into the room. The man's screams lasted for about a minute as Gentle had his fun. I looked toward Gunnar and he looked at me in turn.

"Let's clear out some bandits." I said and he nodded emphatically in response.