117 Chapter LVIII: Haraldstead

(Reyvin's pov)

"What have the two of you been up to these past months?" I ask as we leave the annoyed nobility behind and head to the mage's tower.

Bor sighs "Dealing with our clan mostly, we tried our best to help them out and make sure they didn't ruin the opportunity we gave them with the money, but they stubbornly ignored us until we were needed for something... something about boisterous arrogant brats."

"Just as I told you they would." I smirk.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up you all knowing twat." He rolls his eyes.

"It wasn't all that bad..." Brienne tries really hard to convince herself "At least we got to spend time with Mother."

Bor completely ignores her and looks at Sybille who seems completely disinterested in the entire conversation "I don't believe we have been introduced, my lady." He tries to sound charming but it comes out as very forced instead.

"And what a shame that is." She drawls, practically radiating her disinterest.

This all seems to go over Bor's head as he smiles "Well then, my name is-"

"I possess a perfectly functioning pair of ears boy." She cuts him off sharply.

He grumbles to himself, and just to pour salt on the wound I ask with a cruel smirk "So, any recent conquests Bor?"

Bor grunts in annoyance "Not all of us are as are as lucky or suicidal as you Reyvin."

"Oh?" Sybille gives me a curious glance.

"Yep." Bor nods and gives me a look of admiration "Mad bastard actually slept with Master Faralda of all people and lived to tell the tale."

Sybille stills and stares at me "I don't know if I should be impressed or jealous..."

I shrug carelessly "A Mer has needs."

Bor blanches "Wait, you two are a thing?!"

I nod with a smirk.

"Then why didn't you say anything?!" He practically yells as his sister tries, and fails to hold back her giggles.

"Because Bor" I drawl, imitating a certain potion maker "She is perfectly capable of speaking for herself" and then shift my voice into one of pure amusement "And the hole you were digging for yourself was looking to be a great show so stopping you would be... unsporting."

He groans "You just love watching me suffer..."

I gasp dramatically "Bor, do you think so little of me?"

His look practically screams 'Really?!'

I sigh "I do not merely watch you suffer Bor, I make you suffer."

"Yep, what else did I expect..." He nods to himself as if he just had a grand revelation.

Brienne pats him on the back "There there, I won't let the evil elf hurt you any more."

"You are lucky you have such a caring dedicated sister to guard you." I snark, making him let out another annoyed groan.

Soon we reach the tower and standing in front are my apprentices and Davos talking about something in hushed voices.

"Yo, kids." I barge into the conversation without a care.

Davos doesn't react, but both of the students flinch.

"Hey boss" the Dunmer waves lazily "What happened in there?" his eyes shift to the twins "And what is with the extra baggage?"

Brienne narrows her eyes "This baggage is going to shove a-"

"Keep it in your pants Brienne" I interrupt and she blushes at the implication "These are my colleagues from the College, they will be joining you lot while you march with the army toward Haraldstead."

Marco seems completely lost at hearing this while Minthara's eyes narrow "And what will you be doing in the meantime?"

"Oh, just trying not to die to a horde of Forsworn while I await your valiant rescue." I deadpan.

That shuts her up.

"Right" I clap my hands "Introductions!" I point to the twins "Bor and Brienne Flame-Heart" then to my students "Meet my apprentices Marco and Minthara." and then to Davos "And my..."

"I believe the appropriate term is dogsbody, Serjo" Davos says with a well practiced buttler-ish inflection he perfected recently.

"Right, my dogsbody Davos."

Bor shakes his head "I know you were way ahead of us, but apprentices already?"

I shrug "Eh, good enough to murder dozens, good enough to teach others."

He blinks "That's fair."

I turn back to my apprentices "You two go and report to one of the centurions to get you a spot" I raise a hand "Don't worry about them letting you tag along, just tell them I sent you."

My eyes narrow threateningly "Oh, and if I don't see you with the army I will be doubling the anatomy lessons."

They both give me a crisp military salute on instinct "Yes sir!" and get moving.

I cackle as they leave "Ah, bullying apprentices really is the best."

Brienne lets out a very unladylike snort and gives me an odd look "You know Reyvin, I think you may just have a problem or a dozen."

I give her an incredulous look "You are realizing this only now?" to which she shakes her head in amusement.

Finally, I look at Davos "You will rush ahead of them and hire all the freelancers from the nearby villages you can and have them harass the Forsworn. Have the King pay you back when you are done."

He bows lightly "At once" And leaves.

I signal for the proper mages to follow me upstairs, as we walk up the winding stairwell Bor asks "That elf another 'vassal' you acquired?" the accusation in his tone obvious to all.

"Not that it is any of your business" I drawl "But yes, and I actually earned his loyalty this time."

"Right..." he doesn't seem to believe me but at least agrees with the 'not his business part'

We reach the top of the tower, with Sybille and I being completely fine while the twins are standing on shaky legs and breathing heavily.

"Weak." I say mockingly.

"Fuck you Reyvin." Bor forces out, his sister only has the strength to nod along.

As they finally manage to get up I point to two of the remaining rooms "You will be staying here until the army marches out, please don't be idiots and try entering the other rooms." They quickly thank me and start unpacking.

I enter my room and look at the glorious death machine eager to bring forth destruction, I tap the chassis "Soon..." 

I hear my doors close and two cold pale hands embrace me from behind "Do try not to die Reyvin." Sybille says after a moment.

"Trying to get one last sip in eh?" I tease.

She holds back an annoyed groan "Dear gods whatever do I see in you."

"The most handsome Mer Mundus did ever see?" I snark as I turn around and hug her back "Don't worry, a bunch of cavemen won't be able to kill me." Then I tilt my head "Well unless they swarm me with briarhearts or witches, but at that point I would be having other issues."

"You know just the thing to say to reassure me." She rolls her eyes.

I smirk "Then better get running."

She remains silent for a while and lets out a long breath as she lets me go "You are right of course, I will do my best to get there as soon as possible." A hint of mischief flares in her eyes as she gives me a light kiss "For luck~" and waltzes out of the room.

I can barely keep the smile from my face as I rush out of my balcony and jump off the tower, not a moment later the shadow under one of the windows grabs me and I start a shadow-walking marathon westwards.

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(General pov)

At the mouth of a canyon, in a fertile valley marking the western border of proper civilization in Skyrim stood proudly the small fortified town of Haraldstead, its thick palisades and rugged towers watching over the great fields that spread outward for centuries.

Unfortunately, the proud sight was marred by large camps and bonfires spreading out just out of range of the defenses and bands of men dressed in rugged hide and bone throwing themselves at the haggard defenders with a zeal and fury that would surprise even the most ardent Talos worshiper.

Upon the walls a tall blonde Nord built like a bear and clad in steel plate kicked another barbarian in the chest, launching him off the wall with a crack "Push these milk drinkers back!" he roared.

His soldiers responded with roars of their own as they redoubled their attacks.

Say what you will about the attacker's zeal, but even the fact that some of them were equipped with steel blades didn't stand for long in front of armored, trained, and most importantly very angry Nord warriors. The attackers died by the dozens while only taking out a couple of guards themselves, the archers sitting comfortably on the towers shooting at the unarmored Reachmen with cruel abandon.

Contrary to what one might expect after such a crushing victory Harald Fair-Hair, the Thane of Haraldstead was not at all pleased as he pointed at the wounded and barked at his men "Get those idiots looked at!" He sighed "Barely one day of attacking and the bastards are already starting to tire us out."

One of his veterans gathered his courage "We just need to hold out as long as possible, the runners we sent should have met with the scouts the King sent."

Harald guffaws "That brat finally seems to have grown some hair eh?" his soldiers chuckle awkwardly, he rolls his eyes "Oh don't you all star-"

"M'lord!" An archer yells from one of the towers.

"What?" He growled at the interruption.

"Another wave incoming, they are sending archers as well!"

"Of bloody course" He pats a tired looking warrior on the shoulder "Up and at them lads, they won't give us rest anytime soon, so we might as well make them pay for the privilege!" a chorus of 'Aye's' follows and they take their positions once more.

The Forsworn step over their dead without a care, carrying even more rickety ladders with them now that they were protected by their own archers, this in turn forced the Nordic archers to return fire, leaving the troops on the wall without support.

The first Reachman pulled himself over the spiked palisade only to get bashed in the head by an howling Nord, sending him toppling down and taking two of his comrades with him. Such a scene repeated on multiple other spots but the maddened Forsworn cared little for their casualties and simply kept on climbing up, soon pushing the Nords back and gaining a foothold, forcing the defenders into a chaotic melee.

The siege went on for what felt like hours, the Nords would butcher the attackers only for another group to follow up behind them, not giving them a minute of respite. Thankfully Harald was a war veteran and was not an idiot when it came to siege tactics, so he had reserves constantly rotating to preserve morale.

Unfortunately his forces were far less numerous than those of his enemy and he was forced to conscript any able-bodied man or woman to defend the town... even his own bloody daughter couldn't be left out as that would dishonor them both. He did make sure she was comfortably safe in one of the towers clumsily bringing arrows to his bowmen and conscripted hunters.

As another wave fell to his axe Harald breathed heavily, he took no breaks so as to keep his men's spirits high, and it was taking a heavy toll on him. Unconsciously he leaned on the walls while trying to catch his breath...

Just in time for a rogue spiked arrow to find its way straight into his neck.

There was a beat of silence, and everyone was about to panic, but then the shadow below the Thane twisted and all Harald could see was a ebony-clad hand grasp the arrow and without a care yank it out of his neck, he tried to rage at the would-be assassin only to let out a wet gurgle. But to his surprise the hand grasped his neck and a golden light exploded out of it, healing his wounds in an instant and bringing him to full strength.

He looked at the figure that just saved his life and was stunned by a visage usually described in stories to frighten children.

A deep voice came from the masked figure "Congratulations, you are being rescued."

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You have managed to escape the depths of Cidhna mine, hope rises in your chest as you crawl through the tunnel you have painstakingly dug over the past four months of hard labor. You break through the thin wall and stick your head out, only to realize that you have merely entered another section of the mine.

A guard grabs you and smiles, whispering the sweet words you have come to expect by now "Back to work prisoner!"

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