Skogurheim: Ivarstead, Skyrim

-= 5 Weeks Later =-

Tugging at Maces reins I leap down from from my sleigh still bitching and grumbling over the deal Id been forced to make with the Jarl...

"Bloody Oblivions! That damned Treasurer is an evil son of a..." I trail off and punched one of the squared off logs I had been transporting from the mill, causing my bracer to thunk rather loudly. My horse Mace looked back at me grouchily and snorted at me.

"Well what in the damned Oblivions was I supposed to do?! EH? The lil fucker damn near robbed me! 250 Amethysts for a plot of land.... that's... that's... a lot of bloody money!"

He rolled his eyes at me as the little malamute pup hopped from the sleigh barking happily out into the snow and was suddenly swallowed up by a snowdrift. I couldn't help but laugh as her nose popped from the snow here and there as she worked her way out of the drift. Looking back at Mace I enquired, "Suppose we should both try to be as happy as the little pup..." digging a couple of large carrots out of a pack I walked over and gave them to him which seemed to perk up his attitude a little while I began un loading the timbers and into the already large pile of squared off logs and boards.

Once finished unloading the boards I took up the reins of the slay and urged Mace over towards the little lean-too id rigged up in the half decayed outer stone walls of some ancient structure that was to provide the outer walls and foundation of my new home, "Skogurheim"

"HOY VORM! You're back!"

"Aye Krage, I'm back, wheres the others?"

"Off collecting wood for the fires. Its a might-bit chilly out ya know..."

"Oh is it now ya fur brained redguard?"

"Hoy now theres no need to bring my dashing race into it unless your lookin to lose...."

"Shut up or ill send you back to your Legitus with latrine duty orders..."

"You wouldn't...."

"I might if you don't shut up and take care of Mace here while I try to warm up a bit by the fire,"

"Fine, fine... go warm up... hello there lil pup..." he reaches down and scratches the pup behind the ears but yanks his hand back just in time to avoid getting nipped, "yeesh, you still aint taught his lil heathen any manners have you?"

"Why whatever do you mean?" I give a quick whistle, snap and point at my feet and in nearly an instant she is sitting quietly next to my feet looking up at me with her head against my knee waiting to be pet. Chuckling I bend down and scratch her head, "Shes got plenty of manners, she just don't like you."

He glared mockingly over his shoulder at me as I took up my pack and led the pup into the large tent where we could relax and warm ourselves by the fire and rest from our long journey.

The snows had begun to drift down from the grey skies high above the Rift as Krage and five other Legionnaires entered the tent, 3 bearing wood for the firepits. Looking up from a hot mug of tea I welcome them, "Evening gents, how did the wood gathering go?"

"Fine, bit chill but went fine, brought down a nice sized birch and a maple, got most of them split and carted back to camp. How were the roads too and from the mill," one of the Imperials asked.

"Oh not too bad little sludgy in some spots after those past couple of warm days but nothing to worry over, haha the mill owner on the other hand, well that's another story..." I replied.

"Oh lord, Legate, did you hit him again?" a second Imperial asked.

"What? Me? No... well I didn't HIT him... pushed him back over a sawhorse maybe, yeah, but I didn't hit him this time..."

"Hahaha Legitus Odinnson, Sir you really shouldn't do that you know. One of these days your going to hurt him bad enough that he wont be able to complete your orders." Krage countered.

"Aye well when you pay him good money ahead of time he damned well better have my orders ready on time. He said he would have the shingles finished by the next quarter-moon so we should be fine. I want to get the floor finished up tomorrow morning then Anorien and Eol can start putting up the roof and getting that all in order. I glanced briefly at the hotspring bath did we get that all sorted out?"

Eol who looked like he could have surely used a nice hotspring bath piped up, "Oh yes we got that damned thing workin FINALLY! Those thrice damned Dwemer are bloody mechanical genius' but the years of exposure have been hard on the metal. Seized up a bit but we got em goin again I think it was the cold that did it..."

"Excellent... Eol... when we get this done you are going to use that hotspring... right?"

"Id gnaw through your arm if you tried to stop me..." He gave me a viciously evil little Bosmeri smirk and filled his mug with fresh mint tea stirring it with his favorite little Maple twig stirrer.

"Anorien, be a saint of the Nine and take your brother out hunting soon... he makes me a bit nervous when he talks like that. I know your ancestors aren't ones to bulk at the consumption of.... others, but I would prefer not to be eaten by a fellow member of the Legion..."

Anorien rolled his eyes and glared at his brother, "Don't listen to him Sir, he knows it makes others uneasy when he does that... that's WHY he does it. Hes a bit of a sadist at times..."

"Aye I can tell," I replied fixing Eol with an unamused look as he sat smirking and giggling to himself back in his corner. He was quite the agile scout and tracker but at times I wondered what kinds of mischief he got into while he was out scouting on his own.

Fenik a rather rotund Nord called out from the cooking fire, "Soups on! No seconds til I get my thirds!" With that we all got up to take our bowls over to get our rations of stew and thick slices of bread, all the while complementing Fenik on his near masterful cooking. The man was after all the only fat soldier in the legion, and none of us were able to understand why until we tasted our first meal of his... none of us knew how he did it but he could make field rations taste... edible to the point that you would actually ask for seconds.... which was saying a lot.

We sat and at our meal chatting, over the glowing coals late into the night while Frage took first watch out behind the gate to the small compound. While the rest of us turned in for the night.

The little pup weaseled her way in under my blankets and curling up snuggled against me for warmth. Peaking under the blanket at her I could see her dark eyes twinkle as she looked back at me.

"You know one of these days I'm going to have to name you pup... but not tonight, its been a long day... a lon-YAAAAAAAAAAWN-g day whew... maybe tomorrow ok?"

Wiggling up closer to me, she poked her nose out from under the blanket just far enough to lick me across the bridge of my nose and lay her head back down watching as I sputtered and wiped the spittle from my face, "Aye, I love you too you little nin-come-pooper...." Laying my head back down on my pillow made up of an extra bedroll I scratched her head and pat her on the side drifting off to sleep.

"Aye sir," I stoop and remove his belt and scabbard, twist the blade splitting the bones and yank the finely crafted blade from his chest wiping it clean on his clothes, belting it on and sheath the blade in its holster. Shouldering the body i thump to the boats portside and toss the formerly pompus ass overboard before grabbing a mop and bucket to clean the deck. Dropping the bucket in place i shift the sword into place with a smile and begin to whistle a happy little tune and begin to mop the blood from the deck...

Morghâsh Dagon - I was sipping quietly at my freshly brewed tea savoring its warmth when i heard a splash outside the window. Curious as to what might have caused the sound i stand and walk over to the window tea in hand and watch the waters surface as we sail north towards the port of Leyawiin and beyond frowning as i see a body float to the surface in our wake. I grown and walk towards the door topping off my tankard of tea as i go.

Stepping out on the deck i holler out to the crew, "RIGHT! WHO JUST WENT IN THE DRINK!?"

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Uh, don't rightly know what his name was Captain. Was that pompus little Altmer we picked up in Black Marsh, the little skeever bumped into me, while harassing Mr. Westyn and refused to apologize."

Morghâsh Dagon - Glaring at him I ask, "Did he put up a fight or something?"

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Ah... no. Didn't let him off his ass and killed him with my new blade. Nicely made I rather like it."

Morghâsh Dagon - "what happened to yer old one?

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "I broke it... a hairline fracture was beginning to develop."

Morghâsh Dagon - "I see. who taught you how to mop exactly?"

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "uh... no one sir."

Morghâsh Dagon - I take another sip of my tea and level a flat look at him, "give the mop to Jasper let him mop it proper like... You legionnaires always so bloody blunt. I swear you kill more of my crew than the fucking villagers do! How in Dagon's name am i supposed to keep a crew together if your always killing them... Alti included how many is that now? 6? 7?"

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Nine sir, and if you would let me be a part of their selection... We might actually acquire some men that are worth their salt...."

Morghâsh Dagon - I look at him with my mouth wide open, then clamp it shut squinting at him while i mull it over. Taking another sip of tea i shift my gaze over to Westyn, "Who selected the Alti?"

"You did, Cap'n."

"I see... how many of our original marines do we have left?"

"Since sailing from Windhelm to Akaviir? Or since returning to Skyrim?"

"Since before the legionnaire here joined us..."

"None."

Vorm Blade-Breaker - I hand the mop off to ower current cabin boy Jasper and and step out of the blood so he could take over the mopping. As I do so I catch Westyns last word and smirk.

Morghâsh Dagon - "Wipe that grin offa your face Legionnaire. How long do our Marines currently last us on average?"

He hesitates before exhaling deeply following up with, "2 maybe 4 weeks if we're doubly lucky..."

"Who's our longest surviving Marine?"

"Vorm, technically, him and Kaj both joined us same day. Though you didnt hire em. They essentially just said

'we're comin with you' they did."

Hearing this i cant help but wince as I take another drink of tea and relent, "Fine, fine fine fine fine.... FINE! You win, you hire the marines from here on out. Seems you and Kaj are the only two buggers that keep breathin... Westyn. you know our destination. Be a bloody saint and get us all there livin would you?"

"Aye Cap'n i'll do what i can," He turns towards Vorm as i turn and return to my cabin, "Vorm, my friend you know i love ye mate but no rum for you this eve..."

Vorm Blade-Breaker - I couldn't help but nod to hide my smile as the captain delegates the selection of our marines to me before turning towards his cabin.

"Vorm, my friend you know I love ye mate but no rum for you this eve..."

I turn and look to Westyn who steps up to me handing me a wineskin and winks at me, "Many thanks for shutting the little fucker up. Wish ya didn't kill him but... no ones perfect... should be enough to keep you living through the night."

I grunt and accept the skin, "Small price to pay for a new blade... Legion made Xiphos, Orsimeri forged too from the look of it, and by a damned fine Orsimeri smith at that... Be damned if I knew how a thrice damned Aldmeri came to possess it. Bout time it was back in the hands of one of the Legion."

With that I give him an nod and head to my bunk to purge the rust from the blade, oil it, and ensure it has a proper edge on it, whistling a happy little tune as I make my way across the deck.

Morghâsh Dagon - I stand in the bow of the ship watching as my crew coasts the ship into the port of Bravil, the ratty cesspool of a Cyrodiil, home to pirates and thieves alike. When I hear the slow thudding tread of the quiet but loud Giant of a Nord Vorm coming up behind me, its a bit of an oxymoron I know but the man doesn't talk much but when he does it seems to sound little different than a roll of thunder to my ears...

"You planning to head ashore by any chance," I ask over my shoulder never taking my eyes from the pier.

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Aye Captain. I've business to take care of."

Morghâsh Dagon - "Joy. Don't kill anyone. We're here to restock the ship and find out whats going on out in the Imperial City..."

Vorm Blade-Breaker - I scoff at his back handed insult and reply, "Relax Captain even if I chop a citizen in half I've respect and connections around here strong enough to convince them to look the other way. I was a Legitus after all who survived nine tours of duty down in Valenwood of all places..."

Morghâsh Dagon - "Fine so be it. Don't die and what not. It's bad for your health after all..." I smirk at our crews little inside joke.

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Har har har... wheres my pay?"

Morghâsh Dagon - "Ugh, fine here take this," I toss him a pouch of gold septims and wave him off.

Vorm Blade-Breaker - "Snatching the pouch out of the air I turns and thump over to the gangplank the crew had just secured in place and wander off through the city looking for the closest guard outpost.

-= 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

It was still early in the morning, we had finished installing the floor boards, the two Bosmer brothers, Eol and Anorien, were high up in the rafters nailing down the last of the boards which I had provided in my last trip from the lumber pile, that would be making up the roofing and slathering them in pitch to seal them up and make them water tight. Fenik was down in the basement with a lantern scrubbing the pans clean from breakfast. Frage was caring for the horses, while the two Imperials, James and Richard were beginning to start putting up the houses outer walls. As I made my way back bearing the next load of boards for Eol and Anorien movement at the gate caught my attention, I kept moving as the boards were rather heavy. as I reached the front of the house and set the boards down a voice called out from just beyond the wall as the gate squeaked open, "Weeeeeeeeeeeeell well well well well... whhhat do we haaave here boys? Why could this be our new neighbors?" the man snickered over his shoulder at the group of men behind him who chuckled darkly at the remark, "My my mymymy. Quite the house we have here lads, quite the house... and who might I ask is the owner of this FIIIINE estabolishment if I may be so BOLD as to ask?"

As I set down the boards I pulled back my hood and turned to the man who had been speaking, knowing what was coming and silently preparing myself. Stepping forward I snapped my fingers and reached up as if scratching my back but formed my hand as if gripping a blade from a back scabbard and then dropped my arm in a way that mimicked the drawing of that blade as I cleared my throat, "That would be me gentlemen, I apologize for the poor reception, we had not been expecting guests... I apologize for my ignorance but to whom am I speaking exactly?"

I came to stand directly before the man, no more than four feet away from him, folding my hands just over the buckle of my belt.

"Why my good man it is none but I, Sire Rodrigo, Master of the Northern Rift," he pronounced boldly as if it had any meaning to me, "and I am here, my good man, to collect my taxes!"

"I see milord... and might these be your tax collectors?"

It seemed my question had taken him off guard, he looked over his shoulder and hesitated, "Why, why yes, YES they ARE my good man..."

I glanced quickly over my shoulder and caught James turning from the half finished wall lifting his mace which he had been using to hammer in nails, while Richards hand moved to the sword at his side I could almost feel Anorien selecting his first target, while his vicious little brother Eol began to finger the restraints of the short sword and daggers strapped to his back, I could hear Fenik climbing the stairs from the basement, dragging his battleaxe behind him...

"I see... I apologize milord but sadly I have already paid my dues for the year to the Jarls steward no more than a month ago..."

He hesitated again but recovered a little quicker this time, "AH yes, yes I know this however there was a minor cleric error and you did not in fact pay us enough, and so I am here to collect the rest of it...."

"Clerical error."

"Hmm? What was that?"

"Sod it all... I said clerical error, not cleric error you dolt, drop the bloody act you mother loving ingrate swine of a milk-drinker, your here to try and rob us..."

"I, I, I...." he gave an irritated sigh and continued, "fine if that's the way you want to play, so be it you clod!" His hand bolted to the sword at his side but mine were quicker, I caught his wrist in my right hand before the blade had cleared 6 inches of the scabbard while my left fist encased in its heavy steel travel gauntlet collided with his right jaw sending him reeling back into his friends. A cloth yard shaft buried itself in the throat of the man that caught him, Fenik let out a blood chilling roar and stomped forth towards the frey while James and Richard flew past him one on each side. Eol landed just before him and took off at a sprint to join in.

The self proclaimed Master of the Northern Rift, Sire Rodrigo, had regained his footing and drawn his sword. He began to try and taunt me, "HAHA You caught me off guard you, you whoreson, well done, bet you cant do that again! Lookit you acting all tough and bold! You don't even have a sword! Ill cut you to ribbons before you even know what happened!"

I stood in a fighters stance advancing slowly right arm held before me as if baring a shield while my left was held back low near my waist while the upstart before me pranced around like a pony with his manhood tied tight and no way to remove it. Taking deep breath I lunged forward catching his blade on by gauntlet and sliding it down the jagged cutting edge until it struck the crossguard. wrenching my arm off to the side pushing the blade out away from my body I caught his wrist once more in my hand and yanked him towards me. He shot forward straight into my left fist which came cannoning forth once more catching him on the nose guard of his cheap leather helm, snapping his head back as he crumpled to his knees. I released my grip on his wrist and slid my hand back catching the blade and tugged it from his now weak grip.

Stepping back I examined the blade, it was cheap, more tin than anything. It had a nasty jagged edge so it could certainly do some damage but would never stand up to any of the blades I carried, "Where did you get this toy? It may as well be made of firewood. I'm embaressed to even call it a sword, let alone hold it..." I tossed it down in the snow before him, "pick it up, come on I cant have you die after just two hits... you'll never make it to Sovngarde that way, come on get up..."

He glared at me with hateful eyes and looked at the men around him who were putting up better fights against armed men than he was against an unarmed one. This seemed to light a fire in his belly, he hauled himself up and came in swinging, slashing with the sword, flailing with his fist, it was rather embarrassing to be honest but the pathetic excuse for a man WAS trying...

He continued this way for 2, 4, 6 minutes all the while his followers were falling beside him to the trained soldiers of the 47th Legion. When the last of his support had fallen my helpers began to clean and sharpen their weapons and began to place bets on how long the upstart would last as they sat and watched.

I was beginning to breath a little hard having to move as fast as I was to counter his wild thrusts and slashes, "Listen son, your men lie dead around you... the day is dragging on... I'm getting hungry... your bloody frothing at the mouth... what say we go our separate ways and forget this ever happened... eh?"

To this day I will never understand what possessed the man, but as he heard this he flew into a rage, hacking and slashing with such abandon that his sword spit sparks left and right as it raked across my mail. Chips of the blade flew off every so often as a corner would catch on a ring. Growing angry that my offer of peace had been countered with an attempt on my life I grew angry and caught the blade on the back of my left gauntlet and snatching his wrist in my right hand I wretched the blade from his grip and shoved him away with my foot, "RIGHT LITTLE MAN YOU'VE HAD YOUR FUN!"

I squared off with him as he scuttled away into the body of one of his friends, "Play time is over. Its time to finish this little farce of a charade," taking the sword in both hands, one on the blade one on the grip, I bent my knee and braught the flat of the blade down, snapping the sword in twain and threw the pieces over the wall, "get up you little shit lets finish this, Ive a fucking house to build and you're wasting my bloody time!"

The little shit lurched to his feet and screamed as I threw the shards of the blade over the wall, "THAT WAS MY FATHERS SWORD!!!"

Turning back to face him I countered, dropping my voice into a soft threatening rumble and dropped into a brawlers stance, "Your father was naught but an Argonian hordes camp-follower.... and an over used one at that..."

If any more of the white of his eyes could have been seen his eyes would have popped from his head, he screeched an incoherent sound, stooped and took up an axe which lay cast aside on the ground, took up in both hands high over his head, and charged at me, screaming his rage as he came. As he came in range I brought it hurtling down at my head, I caught it at arms length jarring my elbow while dropping my shoulder under his ribs and heaved upwards sending him hurtling over me to land on his back with a sickening crunch. Standing back up I tossed the axe still held firmly in my hand off to the side and rubbed my right elbow, knowing that I would feel it later tonight. Turning to face the man now screaming in pain I found him laying on his back with the top half of a hewn spear jutting from his chest. I began my slow walk over to him closing my eyes and shook my head, "What a waste of a life son... such a waste."

He didn't hear a word of it he just kept screaming, "I am sorry but I cannot send you to Sovngarde. You have no honor, no courage, no skill, and no right..." Taking a knee beside him I drew back my left fist and struck him with a powerful blow on the bridge of his nose, shattering it and driving it back into his skull which cracked and buckled under the strain.

His screams turned to a gurgle which grew quieter and quieter as the seconds slipped away...

Taking a deep breath I slowly rose to my feet and looked to the others, Eol sat on his heels with his head in his hands watching excitedly and whistled in admiration, "Well now..... it would seem the rumors of the 913th's battle prowess are true.... MIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTY fine kill there bossman mighty fine indeedy....." he broke down into a fit of giggles and tossed a septim to Fenik. The others all handed their septims to him as well.

I shook my head and sighed, "Lets get this mess cleaned up, Fenik start cooking up something for lunch if you would, FRAGE! GET THE FIRST AID! ...Alright boys lets get moving, we've lost half an hour already, 'nother hour more than likely cleaning up and mending any wounds, lets get moving I want this half of the roof done by night fall along with that wall and one butting up to it as well, lets move it men! MOVE YOUR ASSES!"