Family Time III

"Glad you asked. It's about the war effort... The True High King is in desperate need of solid leaders to take the fight to the imperial bastards. And that's what I'm here to do." I say as I lean in conspiratorially.

"I'm secretly recruiting soldiers and I think you're just what Ulfric needs. A true son of Skyrim, capable of leading his soldiers to glorious victory over the Empire." I say as I spin a tale to draw him deeper into my schemes.

"Really? You think so? But what about the mill? Who will cut the Hold's lumber if I'm off liberating Skyrim?" Bolund says with concern.

"Don't worry, like I said earlier, I hid with Gerdur after Helgan. And she runs their lumber mill, while being a true friend to the cause. Why not let her manage the mill's affairs while you're off at war?" I suggest to him.

"That's brilliant! I'll head off as soon as I'm packed up! Where do I report to?" Bolund asks.

"You'll go straight to Windhelm. But you'll need this message to give to the High King. Remember this message is for his eyes only and no one can read its contents. If you are captured you must do everything in your power to destroy it." I warn him as I hand him a sealed letter.

Which holds this message.

[Greetings My King,]

[I hope this letter finds you well, for I am not. I have recently been harmed by an unknown magic and will need some time to recover. Thus I will be retiring temporally to focus on building up your hidden forces. To that end, I need this man out of Falkreath. I'm sure you can find a use for him in your army as he truly believes in our cause. Until my next correspondence, I will remain your humble servant.]

"Of course! I will protect it with my life! I will rush to Windhelm right away!" Bolund says taking the letter with great care so as to not wrinkle it in any way as he rushes home to pack his things leaving me and Kasia behind.

"What was that about Silvantus?" Kasia asks with interest.

"Just fulfilling a promise to a friend. And getting a hell of a deal on lumber." I say with a smile as we walk away from the mill and in the direction of the tavern before a thought crosses my mind as we walk past the guard's barracks.

"Kasia, go to the tavern without me. There's something I need to check on alone if you don't mind." I tell her as I head into the barracks.

"Sure thing, Silvantus. Anything else you need in town?" Kasia asks me.

"Nah, just get me a flank of meat and some bread at the inn, I'll be with you shortly." I tell her as I close the door behind me.

I give the guards a nod as I walk down into the prison where I see a broken middle aged Nord with his messy blonde head of hair in his hands sitting on the floor listlessly staring at the floor.

"What do you want? Here to stare at the monster before it's put to an owed death?" Sinding asks finally looking up from his disheartened wallowing.

"It could be that... Perhaps I'm seeing if you're worthy of redemption? Or maybe I'll be the one to put you out of your misery." I tell Sinding as I lean against the bars of his prison.

"What could a monster like me do to earn redemption after what I've done?" Sinding asks with confusion as he gets off the ground and stands up.

"What every good hunter does... Hunt proper prey." I say giving him a knowing look.

Sinding pauses as he processes what I've said before sniffing the air and giving me a peculiar look in return, "What happened to your curse? How did you suppress it?" he asks in shock.

"I didn't. It was done to me by our mutual foes. The Silver Hand. But back to your redemption... I want you in my pack, and I'm willing to teach you how to be one with your wolf instead of constantly holding back this part of yourself." I tell him my offer.

"At this point, I'd be willing to give anything a try... But I've been forsaken by Hircine, this ring..." Sinding says holding up his hand, revealing a simple silver ring with a stag inscribed on it.

And an idea crosses my mind.

"If I take this burden for you, do you swear to follow me as your alpha? To learn the ways of the beast walker and accept what you are." I say, offering him an ultimatum.

"If you can free me from this burden I'd gladly follow you to oblivion and back." Sinding says, sticking his ringed hand through the bars which o grip in my own.

As our hands connect, the ring morphs around my finger and I feel a strong burning sensation before it abruptly stops and falls to the floor with a low scream.

"How did you do that?" Sinding asks in shock.

"I'm just that good." I say smugly as I pick up the ring and put it in my pocket before transferring it to my inventory space.

"Now, I want you to get out of here in your wolf form and wait out by the lake to our north. I've got a camp there. You'll need to go there in your human form. My whole group doesn't know about my gifts, so it's best if you don't expose your gift either. Go to a man named Lokir, he'll be able to help you, he was a former criminal." I advise Sinding as I turn around to leave.

"I-... Thank you... I don't even know your name." Sinding says before turning into his wolf form.

His form is leaner and more wirery than the other werewolves I've seen, but his pelt is just as dark, almost moreso as it was like jet black ink.

"You can just call me Commander." I tell him as I turn to leave and he claws his way out of the pit he was trapped in.