The Rift, Skyrim

-= Next Morning =-

Sitting up half asleep, I quickly snap awake at the sound of metal rasping against metal. My hand flashs to the bare Xiphos laying beneath my pillow as my eyes flash around the near black room only to realize that I had forgotten Id slept in my armor save for the cuiress and pauldrons. Growling at myself I rub the sleep from my eyes and drag the blade out from under the pillow as I kick my feet out of bed and lay it across my lap as I fumble for my flint and steel.

After a couple of tries the candle flickers to life and I climb out of bed, tug on my heavy travel boots and start strapping on my cuiress and pauldrons. Once in place I sheath the blade and strap it back into the pack of other blades opting to bear the basket-hilted ebon broadsword I tended to favor while on horseback, the one Gift from the legion that I still bore with me by choice. Lighting a torch I began gathering my gear for the road.

Stepping out into the morning gloom baring the heavy pack of armors over my shoulder and the bundle of blades under my arm I trudge out into the yard and begin to pack the new wagon turned slegh I had purchased the day before with my gear and check to ensure the tools, ropes, tarps and other construction supplies were still there. Finding everything where i had left it, i returned to the in for the other supplies.

Once the wagon-slegh was packed and secured under tarp and rope bindings I checked my querrel of crossbow bolts, shifted my shield into place on my back, and returned to the Inn one last time baring a small near empty pouch only to be met at the door by the hostess, "So your off then?" she enquired.

"Aye time to be on the move. I've a good distance to go and far much to do, in weather that is less than ideal."

"Stay safe, the roads are near empty this time of year save for the few highwaymen desprite enough to be out in this frigid weather."

Chuckling I reply, "Understood... Take this, it is likely to be quite some time until i am able to return and the Inn is quite empty, and an empty in doesnt feed its keepers... Consider this my first investment."

She put up her hands in refusal, "No i couldnt. the diamond alone will feed us for months..."

Pressing the pouch into her upraised hands i counter, "Feed you aye but will not replace the thatch, will not stock the stores, will not pay the help, nor heat the hearth. I insist."

Scrunching her nose at me she relented, "This is true.... ugh I dont even know your name stranger, nor you mine..."

It only then dawned on me that what she said was true, I didnt know her name nor had i told her mine, "I am called Legitus Vorm Odinnson, the 'Blade-breaker' of the 913th Legion... retired of course."

"It is good to meet you Legitus Vorm Odinnson, the 'Blade-breaker' of the 913th Legion, my name is Delphine... daughter of Delphine, i didnt get to meet my father... and good to see that not all of the Legion are as evil as they say."

I sigh and ask, "You refer to those under General Tullius I presume."

"Yes..."

"I thought as much. Not all of us felt as he and i am sorry for any suffering you may have felt at the hands of my Legion Brothren."

She waved it off, "Whats done is done and tomorrow is a shade brighter because of this." With a regretful smile she stepped forward and hugged me, "Stay safe out there, the world would be a much darker place without your light, shine brighter than before," stepping back she turned as her husband stepped up with Mace in tow and helps me get him strapped into the wagon-slegh's harnesses.

As we shook hands and bid each other fair well, the snow drift across the roadway burst into the form of a snow covered little pup, fur matted with frozen blood which came hauling into the yard and took a weak shaking stand behind me heavily armored boots as a vicious looking Skeever came bounding along after it. Mace took things in hand quickly and excessively efficiently, snorting and baying in what seemed to be anger he took two short steps forward and brought his heavy iron shod hoof down directly on top of the Skeever's skull as it made to pounce on the weakly growling pup. while this was occurring i turned and scooped the pup up in my arm causing it to yelp in surprise before leaning over my arm and barking uproariously at the now flattened puddle of Skeever. Within moments Delphine was at my side fussing over the puppy which i began to release into her care until it turned and quickly nipped at her fingers before turning its attention to its next apparent threat, its reflection in my armor... Thumping its head against the cuirass it began trying to fit it in it's mouth growing more and more confused as it slowly discovered just how difficult that was going to be. Once it fully dawned on it how impossible its attempts were it sat pawing at its reflection while laughed whole heartedly drawing its attention. Looking up at me it began to bark and wag its tail happily but weakly. At this point Delphine once more attempted to rescue the pup from my grip only to have the pup spin its head around and groan more than growl a warning at her.

"Oh well fine, be a little snot then!" sticking her tongue out at the pup she crossed her arms grouchily only to find that the pup sticking its tongue back out at her, "Wha!? Heim are you seeing this! That DOG is sticking its tongue out at me! Tell it to stop that, its rude!"

Her husband and I look at each other and burst out laughing. "Come on lets bribe the little scamp into cooperation and have a look at those wounds..."

I nod in acceptance and pat Mace on the shoulder in appreciation for his kind act, "Well done Mace ill bring you some treats just hold tight a bit while we take care of the pup ok?" He snorted and shook his mane and trudged past the bloody remains of the Skeever and began digging under the snow for some grass to occupy his time while the three of us went inside to care for the pup.

Half an hour later I left the Inn with a fur wrapped, bandaged up little female pup gnawing sleepily on jerked yak meat as it rested within the small fur travel blanket sitting beside me in the wagon turned sleigh, Racing along the surprisingly smooth trail behind the massive work horse with his very own title, Mace, Skeever Bane, and he seemed to take great pride in it. Who would have thought a brutish work horse could be so damn smart and a pup could be so cheeky...

Sighing in amusement I see a figure step out from behind a boulder with a drawn bow as I exit the mountain pass and slow Mace to a slow walk and call out, "State your business barring my path neighbor!" "STOP YOUR WAGON OR ILL SHOOT!"

"Its a sleigh you dolt, it has skies, now answer the damned question milk-drinker!" the pup pokes her nose out of the fur bundle groaning a growl. "shush pup not now..." I whisper urgently to her and she quiets down tucking back into the bundle out of the nipping cold.

The mans hands frozen by the cold can no longer hold the bows half drawn string lofting he arrow at me, punching me at an angle in the chest and skipping off to bury itself in the rear gate of the sleigh bed drawing a yip from the startled pup. Turning my gaze from the quivering arrow lodged in my new sleigh, directing a frigid glare at the half assed, milk-drinking, stunned, idiot turned Highwayman. "YOU JUST SCRATCHED MY FUCKING ARMOR AND CHIPPED THE WOOD IN MY NEW SLEIGH! GIVE ME ONE FUCKING REASON WHY I SHOULDNT GIVE MY HORSE A CHANCE TO EARN A NEW TITLE!? I THINK BANDIT SLAYER SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD ONE, EH MACE WHAT DO YOU THINK?!" He pawed at the snow, snorted and shook his mane.

"EH? Not good enough? What about Bandit Bane," I enquired of my horse, he simply shook his mane once more stamping at the ground.

"Fine, fine lets see... OH! how about Face Crusher?" he looked over his shoulder at me and snorted, pawing once more at the snow.

"Yes fine... always a critic, you know I don't hear you coming up with any ideas... Fine how's this, you stomp his Body into mush and we can argue over what the title will be on our way to Iverstead, how's that sound," he huffed and tugged at the sleigh, "Haha alright all right lets go pulverize the little prick, HOY MILK-DRINKER How far do we have to go 'til we get to Iverst-" the man broke, turned and ran into the trees screaming for mercy... I couldn't help it I fell back into my seat laughing hard enough my armor rattled. "Ma. Mas. Mace you intimidating bastard you... you done fright, frightened him off! THATS IT! Mace the Intimidator of Land Pirates!" He simply snorted and started tugging the sleigh out of the pass while I drove in a half assed manor too busy laughing.

It was about a mile or so before I was able to compose myself and resume control of the sleigh, though every so often a snicker slipped out. Gods above it was good to be able to laugh in mirth for once rather than fear. Sighing and smiling happily I tap my brow of my helm and lift my hand to Talos and Stendarr praising and thanking them both for bringing me safely out of the wars, and watching over me on this cold sparkling day beneath the frosty sun as we arrive on the outskirts of Iverstead the pup had left the fur bundle and was leaning over the edge of the wagon-sleigh tongue out and tail wagging happily.... "Here we are you two... lets get a little direction and find us a home shall we?"

The pup turned and looked over its shoulder at me with a giant fluffy puppies grin, her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth with her tail wagging happily. After a quick look her gaze flicks back to watching the world as it races by, letting out a little bark from time to time as we pass by the occasional villager or livestock of some sort. Chuckling at her apparent joy as the world races by, I slow the sleigh as we begin our approach of the Great Hall of Iverstead, causing her to huff and grow frustrated as our speed slowed further and further.

"Oh hush little one, I know you want to go fast, I do too but we must stop if we want to buy the land for out new home..."

She flops her backside down on the seat and huffs at me as the sleigh comes to a gradual sliding halt, frowning back at her I replied, "Yes yes I know, I am such a spoilsport and the ruiner of good days, I get it... You sit here with Mace ok girl? You watch the sleigh ok?"

She ignored me and lay down on the seat of the sleigh and simply ignored me. In an attempt to win her over and keep her from sulking, I bribed her with another thich strip of jerked yak which she snatched out of my fingers with great speed and went straight back to ignoring me as she gnawed on the thick tough strip of meat. Shaking my head with a smile I turned and tramped through the snow into the Greathall to see if I could gain an audience with the young Jarl, a woman by the name of Iona Firemane, a woman whom I had an interest in discussing both land and these Stormcloaks whom I had heard so much about and wondered at the depth of their love for Talos, so much so that they would defy an Empire and its "allied" nation of Elves...

"Righto Ironsides, hold up right there."

Upon entering the hall I had been confronted by a rather persnickity guard. Frowning in irritation I turned my attention to the guard and ask in the gruff commanding tone common to those in command of the Imperial Legions, "What is it guardsman, I'm looking for the woman by the name of Iona Firemane, where is she?"

"I ugh... shes, um, well shes somewheres around here... I, I just got here early this week! I've no idea where she might be... um... Sir," he was stammering, a young trooper, had to be, "Well trooper... I would suggest you'd best find her then, dont you agree?"

"I, I... Yessir, yessir on my way Sir, I'm going!" before he could even ask me to not move or to follow him, he was off on his search for Jarl Firemane.

Shaking my head I mutter under my breath with a sigh, "Troopers... same all the world over." Looking around I spotted a bench along the wall, nodded, went out and tied Mace to a hitch post and collected the pup from the sleigh, returning to the hall with pup in hand to sit on the bench and split another strip of jerky chewing one half while the pup gnawed on the other and waited patiently for word of the Jarl...

Iona Firemane - You wished to see me Vorm?

Vorm Blade-Breaker - Looking up from the pup in my lap I quirk an eyebrow and remove my helm, "Apologies milady for the how shall we say rough command of your guardsman, and yes I'm here to place a formal request to purchase some land-" I wince as the pup clamps down relatively firmly on my thumb wanting more attention, "here within the hold. I passed through hear about a week ago and I must say, you've a beautiful hold, it reminds me of my childhood home back in Bruma. This being said, I would like to know how much you might want for about 10 acres of land..." Tapping the pup on the nose with 2 of my fingers I tug my hand free from the pups mouth, shaking it to ease the sting. "You stop that pup... you know I'm busy ya little scamp... no more jerky for you if your going to behave like that..." The little pup huffed and lay her head back down on the now warm steel of my armors cuisses. Bringing a smile to my face as I scratched her behind the ears, "Take some time and think it over Lady Iona, I'm not in much of a rush, but I would like to get started as soon as possible as the land will need clearing and the materials will need to be purchased... and delivered... I, I'm boring you and I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to a retired Legitus babble about building things... think it over, when you have made a decision you can find me in the Inn here in town," scooping up the pup I tuck my helm under my arm, holding the pup to my chest, stood, executed a rusty courtly bow as I stepped back, and awaited her permission to leave, "until you have made a decision, I place myself within your service, you have but to call upon me, and my blade is yours to command," thinking about it a moment I finish with, "come to think of it if you grant me lands within your hold, my blade would always be yours to command..."

Alex Jordan Reif - Kaj would be sledding down to the local Inn, He would then hit an rock pointing out of the ground with out realizing it was there "Bah!" Cried Kaj as he look at hes little sled cracked into two "I guess im here already Ivarstead Sight seeing i guess" He would chuckle walking into the Inn "Now i will look for Vorm Blade-Breaker later" Kaj says before walking to the man at the counter drop an small coin purse "One night.." The man would point Kaj to hes room were Kaj fall onto hes bed