Skogurheim Trade Village: The Rift, Skyrim

-= Three Days Later =-

I stood by at the ready out on the outer wall of the little trade village, the mines had been cleared and re-enforced. The last of the thatch roofing on the Edgewater was being put into place now. I could hear the hammers thudding away at the nails between the distant clopping of horses hooves on the irregularly paved roadway leading up to the gates.

That would be the next little task I was betting, 'Oh great its built? Good go pave all the damn roads...' If this fool of an ambassador figured I would stick around that long he would have another thing coming... Just then a carrige rounded a bend in the roads emerging from behind a pile of shale from a rockslide and some pine.

Odd... I knew it was an ambassador, and they tended to be a less than hearty sort more often than not, but a carrige? I shook my head groaning as behind me I heard the Tribune squeal.

"WHY KYNARETH ABOVE, IT'S MY SISSY!"

I groaned quietly as I recognized the Tribunes family banners fluttering under the Empire's banner. Daedra below kill me now... ANOTHER of this pests family line to deal with, JUST what I needed.

"What was that? Did you have something to say?" the little shit piped up.

I coughed and thumped my chest, "What are you on about Tribune? I was clearing my damn throat, whats got you all up in a tizzy?"

"THAT is my sister, SIR. You will address her with the respect she is DUE." he huffed out.

Joy... this is just what I needed this puny little worm irritating me because of every minute little slight to his family name. By the end of the day I knew I would be getting reported to the Empress for assaulting an Officer... even if he's a worthless stain of existence. Thankfully one of the Pretoreans standing by covered for me coughing and spitting, "You coming down with it too, Sir? Hope you didnt get it from me..."

I glanced over my shoulder and replied, "It's the late nights I think, I've not been able to sleep for the last week it seems."

"Aye that will do it sir..."

We continued our banter about our fake colds until it was time to address the Ambassador's arrival. Wandering down to the open Gates we met the carrige warmly, "Good Day Ambassador, I hope this day finds you well..."

The Ambassador, a small and rather slightly built woman roughtly 40 some odd years of age greeted us warmly, "Why Legatus you handsome daedra you... it finds me quite well, all the better now that I am in the company of your rugged self I must say," I offered her my hand and helped her down from the carrige, "I must say the Empress warned me of what manor of man I would find before me but I must say, she GROSSLY under appraised y-, good day brother. Fetch my bags."

I could feel my cheeks grow warm at the womans kind words, and faught admirably against the tides of laughter which tried to roll forth as I heard her joyously warm tone turn colder and harder than a diamond locked away in the middle of a glacier as she addressed her brother. It seems he invokes more irritation in his own family than he did within the ranks. Most fortunate, most fortunate indeed.

Calling out to her brother in a voice struggling to hide my mirth I issued my orders, "Tribune, see that your sisters things make it to the Mayorial Suite in the manor. Then show her driver to his rooms, and her escort to the guest quarters within the manor as well. By the look of it you will need to move your gear to the barracks, I believe the one under the jailcells still has a bunk open."

His infuriated jaw quivered as he fumed. Stomping past the horses he signaled the driver to follow, punctuating each stomp with a string of explatives. I held my tongue as best I could, his sister however burst out laughing and between giggles she spoke, "Good....lord...I don't think.... I've ever... seen him so... furious! You've made... a rather... pathetic enemy... Legatus..."

Her laughter made everyone in earshot smile. With a sharp whistle I signaled the gates to be closed and began escorting the Ambassador through the village, "Oh I'm quite scared Ambassador.... though i must say your disapproval of him is quite unexpected."

"GAH, he's a pompus ass father hoped some time in the legions would work it out of him but I must say Legatus I am quite displeased with your progress in that instance."

"Apologies m'lady but there was quite a lot to beat out of him, and I retired a little over a year ago."

She sighed with a nod as the last of the giggles bubbled out of her, "Yes I know. When the empress told me I was quite sure I would be getting met by some silver-haired, handle-bar mustacioed, old turd. Not... well, you."

"Oh you mean old Thomas," I replied with a chuckle, "hold on, I'll send for him if you'd prefer..."

She giggled and waved it off trying to collect herself, "So Legatus, to business, how fares our progress on the town..."

We wandered through the town giving her a chance to see all that had been built. I educated her on the uses for each building, the number of people we hoped to be able to support within the town, the reactions and enthusiasm from the locals in the region. As the sun began to set we made our way to the Manor to see what had been prepared for dinner and a change of cloths.

It was a fine dinner of roast mutton, potatos, warm bread, some sort of salad-thing which looked poisonous to me but the Ambassador seemed to like it, and a rather fine year of brandywine.

It seemed that the Tribunal enjoied it a bit too much as by the time his sister and I had finished our first goblets between a bit of friendly flirtatious conversation, the tribune had nearly finished the rest of the bottle. Noticing his sloppy reactions, I frowned with disapproval while his sister ignored it. With a soft chuckle and an even softer sigh she turned back to the true matter at hand, "Legatus, as much as I have enjoied our little discussion, but I must turn our conversation back to the matter at hand, this village," she gave me a puzzled look, "Does this place even have a name yet?"

With a frown I replied, "No, we have not yet voted on a name for the town, though the men have taken to calling the building that will become the Inn and tavern, 'Edgewater' but thats all thats been named. Though originally It was to be centered around my home, Skogurheim, which was sadly burned to the ground by a thrice damned dragon."

"Skogurheim? Hmm... that is a good Nordish name, you should keep it."

"It is a good name I suppose but that is not my call this village is for my Nord Brethren, not for me."

She gave me an annoyed look and replied, "Must you make it so... blunt?"

"Pardon?"

"The Empress has decided to reward you for your hard work and bravery in the name of the Empire. You and your line are to become the hereditory Mayors of this village. The Empress hoped to make this a new hold but... alas that was not to-"

"WHAT!? Y're namin HIM!!! HOSH Y- N- PRI- -N Y'RE F-MLY SISSER!? FFF-OU VERM! HI-HI-HIMMA K'LL YOU YOU SUMMUVAH BISH!!!"

I slowly rose from my seat as the drunken fool staggered from his. His movements were sloppy but fast, "Ambassador... He is your brother... what am I permitted?"

"Oooh Augustus you fool, stop this at once!"

This drew his attention for a moment allowing me time to back towards the door and call quietly to the Ambassadors handmaiden, "Amber get my gauntlets and a shield please..." she rushed down to my armor stand and collected my gauntlets but had trouble with my shield. So i pointed to the gauntlets and waved her back.

"Sisser, dee dee sisser, Hi huveses YOOOS. Buh, buh Hi gossa kills Vermy o'r der..." he pointed in my general direction and lurched forward as I strapped my last gauntlet on. Readying myself in a boxers pose.

I backed away as he advanced and tugged open the door. I kept him in my line of sight and stepping out into the cold winter air.

He follows struggling to tug his blade from its scabbard. I could do nothing but shake my head and stay ready as the snow began to chill the soles of my feet. As he staggered from door his sister leaned out the door calling out, "Legatus do as you must to ensure your survival but DO NOT kill him!"

He charged, it was very irregular and hard to judge due to the liquid movement enhancement of the alcohol. But his attacks were wide and ungainly allowing me to catch them on my gauntlets. Blow after blow were either deflected or caught, on the heavy steel backs of my gauntlets. Those that were deflected were followed up quickly by a swift strike to his face by the other fist. Those that were caught were usually stopped and wrenched to the side, though occasionally some were caught in a position that allowed me to wrench the blade to the other side and spin back sliding the blade down the gauntlets to follow up with a two handed smash to either his torso, shoulder, or the side of his face.

Despite my success, I did not make it through unscathed. I bled from four wounds, three to my flesh, one to my pride. I'd taken a slash to the outer thigh which cut a bleeding wound through my kilt, an arched slice across my chest which stained my favorite shirt red with blood, and the last was a slice below my eye which stung both from the sweat as well as my pride, my mother had always claimed I had a face which could draw the sun to rise, even in the dead of night. Sorry mother.

Augustus was slowing down, weilding the blade, in the armor, while drunk was taking its toll on him. He was slowing down.

"Ha... yeh nah... deh-?" he ghasped between labored breaths as the tip of his blade bobbed down to the ground.

"You really should have trained more in that frilly excuse for armor Augustus... you've grown rather soft."

"SHUP Y-" was the last he was able to get out as I stamped down on the flat of his blade knocking it from his grip, slicing two light cuts into the sole of my right foot under the calusses as my left fist collided with his open jaw sending him aching back to lay on his back. No sooner had he hit the ground was I kneeling over him railing 6 blows into his nose, cheeks, and jaw. I could feel his jaw break beneath my fist with the last blow to his sliced up and battered face. With my right hand raised to strike a seventh blow I paused and looked up three of my pretoreans were entering the Manor's gate "Sir, we heard the commotion is everything alright?" one asked.

"All is well enough. As of this moment Tribune Augustus is stripped of his rank and all the rights there-in. Strip him of his armor and weapons and place them in the Manor armory under lock and key. As for him he is charged with the assault of a superior officer, the attack of an unarmed individual, public drunkeness, and disrupting the peace. Throw him into the prison and see that he gets medical care, I am fairly sure I broke that weak and insesently moving jaw of his."

"AYE SIR!" the three grunted in unison with a heavy thump as their right fists struck their cuiress'.

Standing up I hissed as my wounded foot came to rest on the snows staining them a pale crimson. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and turned to find the Ambassador in the doorway and her hand-maiden flinched away from me, "Apologies Miss, I thank you for gathering my gauntlets for me."

She nodded and did her best to help me in any way she could as I limped back towards the manor.

The Ambassador had a look of concern on her face but kept quiet as one of the Legion's Medicae approached and was waved inside.

-= The Next Morning =-

I waved farewell to the Ambassador as her carrige left the outer walls on its way west towards Ivarstead and then on to Castle Dour to deliver paperwork to the Commanders of the local Legion's and a packet of requisition papers for the East Empire Trading Company.

As the carrige rolled from sight I turned to Anorien and mused, "What in the bloody hell am I to do now... Mayor of a Trade Village?" I sighed and my shoulders sagged a bit, "Why me I wonder," looking up at him I asked, "How in the bloody Oblivions am I to get any fishing done?"