The adventures of Arthago chapter III, A Province united Options

[Agent Griff]

So let's kick this chapter off shall we? A small bit of info at what's to come further in the series: At the end of this chapter, Arthago will move to a whole new province and I think many of you already know which province it is. Anyway, let's enjoy Hammerfell while it lasts shall we?

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After the defeat of Lord Vhosek's rebellion, things went back to normal in all of Hammerfell. Some local kings and rulers however, seeing that Lord Vhosek managed to battle the King and even defeat him, albeit for a short time, started a fight against King Lhotun's rule as well. Since I was one of the highest ranking knights in Sentinel, with the exception of Marshal Daron and a few other senior knights of the order, I was often sent to these small kingdoms to stop the rebellions. The first kingdom to revolt, a few years after Vhosek's uprising, was the small kingdom of Santaki which was close to the Dragontail mountains. I was sent there, together with a few other knights below my rank, to stop the rebellion.

We arrived there after a few days ride. The capital of the small kingdom was the town with the same name, Santaki. The kingdom, albeit small, had its own knightly order, the order of the Hawk. That meant that the Kingdom had some importance in the politics of Hammerfell but it also meant that other smaller kingdoms may gather around Santaki and fight against Sentinel. I never really understood why Redguards or men in general fight eachother if there's no other foe to fight against. Maybe to heighten their skills? No, the answer was quite simple really. For Power. Once a man got ahold of better, he never could really let go of it. The more power you have the more power you crave. King Lhotun obviously had too much power for the regional kingdoms to bear, so they rebelled against him. Quite simple if you look at it from a political point of view.

The capital was a rather big town. It was quite smaller than Sentinel though but bigger than any other town I had seen before. The seal of the order that was etched on my cuirass was concealed by a cloak and so were the seals of the knights under my command. I didn't want someone to see that knights from Sentinel had arrived to settle affairs with Santaki. The palace was not a big or tall building, it was merely three storeys high. I could see an open balcony leading to the throne room at the last floor. There were also knights of the Hawk standing guard near the palace. Even though they came from an issolated kingdom such as Santaki those knights looked fierce.

Once we reached the gate of the palace, a knight stopped us to ask us of our business with their king. I didn't exactly think of an excuse on the way so I had to improvise.
"We come from Sentinel to bring word on King Lhotun's movements." I said in an official tone.

"Sentinel eh? Why do you have to bring the news to the King personally? I thought that sir Greklith was in charge of intelligence." the knight said with a suspicious voice. He was also constantly looking at my knights who were behind me.

"Our duties are to transmit this information to his Majesty personally." I said, trying to keep the lie going. He seemed to believe me.

"Very well then. If the King specificaly required that you meet him I won't interfere. Carry on!" the guard said as he opened the gate. How polite of him! I'm sure that he will be pounding his head after I slay his treacherous king.

A few minutes later we were standing in front of the king of Santaki. He was a man close to old age with a small beard and long, flowing, hair. He looked at me and my men with his brown eyes and asked what my business was in Santaki. He seemed confused and I felt sorry to slay him because he looked like an innocent man.

"What is your business in Santaki, travellers?" the king asked.

"We come from Sentinel with news and counsel." I said, with a soft tone that calmed him down a little.

"Counsel? What counsel? I think I can handle my own kingdom, despite my advancing age." the king said with a hostile voice. Alright so he didn't like advice. It wasn't as if he had much choice when it came to the advice I was about to give him.

"King Lhotun of Sentinel advises you to lay down your outrageous claims and slanders against him. He also advises you that uprisings are very dangerous for men of advanced age such as your fine self." I said in a cold voice.

"Men as myself? King Lhotun now mocks me! I will not lay down my just claims! Hammerfell must be free!" the old king shouted.

"The king of Ephesus had the same opinion regarding the King's counsel. He dissapeared shortly after he made his opinions public and his cousin now peacefuly rules the kingdom. I would not want the same happening to yourself." I said, trying to scare the old king.

"I know why you're here. Lhotun sent his assassins after me. He is a coward not to face me in just battle!" the old king shouted.

"Neither I nor his Majesty see a brave, young King fighting against an old man as a just battle. I think you will agree with our opinions." I said with a sarcastic tone. This man was really pushing my indulgence to the very limit.

"Your king is a filthy coward! And so are his men!" the old man shouted.

Before the old king could say another word he fell down on the floor. His throat was pierced by a small dart. Blood started flowing shortly until it reached our feet. Our job was done! Slaying old men with darts really wasn't my style but at least it payed well, well enough to manage the estate that Lord Vhosek left me. Before the guards could react we were already outside the palace and into the crowded streets of the city.

Once we reached the gatehouse, one of the knights under my command entered as the others, myself included, exited the city. Shortly after, the guard inside the gathehouse fell out of a small window. The knight inside had done his job well. He was more lightly armoured than the rest of us and he was adept in sneaking around and stabbing people when they weren't looking. He then fired a flaming arrow into the sky. The army waiting for us outside soon stormed the town with the gates open. The town guards and even the knights of the Hawk surrendered once they saw what was pouring through their open gates. The King would be pleased to hear of my actions, conquering a town without any loses and slaying a king without anyone noticing. Being an assassin though, didn't quite fit me. I lusted for the thrill of battle again. I had not fought anyone since Vhosek's rebellion. I had to return to Sentinel to report my deeds and receive my rewards anyway. I wonder what Marshal Daron has to say? I had not spoken with him since the days of the rebellion and I was anxious to speak with him again.


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That's it for the start of the chapter! I've followed advice and have used spaces between dialogue lines, tell me if you like it how it is now or if you liked it more the way it was before.

[Agent Griff]

After a rather long hiatus, Arthago's adventure shall begin anew. Ahem. Until another hiatus sets in at least.

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I was woken up in a rough manner from my bed. I could feel Beomir's large, rough palms shaking my shoulders violently. He was also shouting at me rather loudly to get up. He had already gotten dressed for the road and he had his long, bearded axe in his hand. He also seemed quite alarmed, despite at first I couldn't see him properly because of the darkness. When I woke up I instinctively put the dagger I had in my bed against his throat and Beomir seemed quite surprised to see me move so fast under such sudden conditions. I was true to my word however when I said that I slept with a blade in my bed.

"Get up Arthago! Quick, there's no time to loose!" Beomir kept saying as he almost pulled me out of my bed. He backed up a little after seeing the dagger at his throat but soon came back close. Belwin was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Belwin?" I asked in a confused voice.

"He went invisible as soon as they came and he's nowhere to be found now. Quick, there's little time to explain!"

"What's happening? Who's here?" I said, as I strapped on the scabbard of my scimitar. I also looked around for the pack in which I held my armour. Based on what Beomir was about to tell me I would decide if I would try to fit on at least some pieces of armour on me, in case of a confrontation.

"The law! Clavilla's men! They've found out about us and our plans and now they're here to arrest us." Beomir said with an alarmed voice uncharacteristic of him.

"Damn! They found out about the plan? How did the ambush go?" I asked rather hastily as I fitted on my gauntlets. They had leather gloves inside them so I could put them on comfortably without the rest of my armour. Sadly enough, the only other piece of armour I could fit on were the greaves which protected my lower leg. I realized this exactly when I wanted to fit on the pieces of armour defending my upper leg, called cuisses, which had to be laced up to my arming vest, which had specialized leather thongs used to fasten different parts of armour to the body. Without an arming vest, few pieces of armour could be properly fitted on, besides the gauntlets and some defense for the lower legs. These would have to suffice.

"The ambush went on just as we planned it, the Orcs and the legionnaires sent are all dead but it seems that we've had a traitor among us." Beomir said with a grim voice.

"Who?"

"I don't know but now's not the time to be askin' such questions Redguard! We must find a way out of this tavern."

"Clavilla's men are at the front door? Are they inside the tavern?"

"No...not yet at least."

"We must find Bodean or Jon immediately, they're our only way out of this building, and this city as well probably." I said as I finally drew my sword ready for any combat.

"Jon's disappeared just like Belwin so that only leaves Bodean." Beomir answered as he raised his axe as well.

"Then let's go. The back room is probably the best room to go to if we want to find him. There must also be some exit in case Clavilla's men ever came to search the building. Bodean or Jon must have thought about that." I said as I opened the door and left the room. Beomir cautiously followed.

I could hear the guardsmen shouting from outside the building. There were some windows in the hall-way we were passing through to get to the common-rooms but I didn't try to look out any of them since Clavilla's men surely had bows pointed at the building. Soon enough we reached the common-rooms. They were almost full of people but they were all too afraid to leave the tavern. Someone had barricaded the door with tables and broken chairs before I had woken up. I gave Beomir a quick gaze after seeing the barricade.

"A little defenses never hurt. Besides, their patrons had drunken quite enough." he said as he gazed quickly at the mess of upturned chairs and tables.

The patrons all noticed us yet they were too terrified to do anything. By the looks of the situation, they all though they would be arrested and thrown in the dungeons or worse. The door to the back room where Bodean and Jon usually stood was locked from the inside. Beomir however 'unlocked' it the old-fashioned way after I hopelessly tried to open the door by using the handle. The room was a mess as well. The table and the few chairs in the room were all upturned and close to the door. Beneath the table, I could notice a small trap-door which had been used a little while ago.

"It seems the Fellowship of Taneth really had thought of everything." I said with a smile as I knelt near the trap-door.

"Except this." Beomir said with a rather calm voice.

Before I could reply I heard a loud crash and the sound of cracking, burning wood. Someone had blown the door open. For good measure, Beomir barricaded the door to the back-room as well with the upturned table and the chairs thrown about. As we scurried inside the trap-door we could hear the sound of many heavy, armoured feet entering the tavern and indiscriminate shouting and screaming. As I stood and listened carefully, trying to understand what happened, I could feel Beomir's hand on my shoulder.

"We should get going Arthago. There's little time to loose."

"Yes, wait just a moment, I wish to know how the Guard discovered us." Despite running seemed like the best option, and it really was, I didn't want to have a company of Taneth watchmen on my back for the rest of the journey to Taneth.

After a few more moments of tense silence in which all I could hear was Beomir's breathing and the sounds caused by the commotion in the common-rooms up above I could actually hear some talking from upstairs. It was faint I could make out an Imperial speaking loudly.

"They've locked themselves in here...don't pay...traitor...until...their heads...call the...hunt them" the Imperial said amid the scuffle that was going on inside the common-rooms. I remained perplexed when I heard that we had a traitor in our midst. A firm shake from Beomir soon woke me up from my day-dreaming however, thinking who could have been the traitor.

"Arthago! Come on already!"

"Time to go, we've heard enough." I said hastily as I started looking around our surroundings.

We were inside a dark chamber dug into the ground beneath the back-room. We were standing right next to a wall while the chamber went on behind us, forming into a tunnel. Since we had nowhere else to go, I decided that following where this tunnel was the best option we had. Better than returning to the tavern at least. By the talk of that Imperial it also seemed that we would be having company. It also seemed Clavilla was truly angry with out attempt to weaken her grasp on Taneth.

"What do you think that guy meant with someone hunting us?" I asked Beomir after a short while.

"The only thing it could...a bounty hunter." Beomir said with a grim voice. It wasn't his usual rather careless and laid back demeanour as well, it was something much more concerned.

"Is it...bad?" I asked in a rather obvious way.

"I've had run-ins with bounty hunters before and these guys are always hard as hell to avoid. I think it could be easier to avoid a Daedric curse, than it is to evade a good bounty hunter. And judging by this witch's money, I don't think she would be pleased with second-best." Beomir said. It was for the first time that I could feel genuine fear in his voice.

"So we're in trouble...again." I said matter-of-factly. "And do you happen to know who is the best bounty hunter?"

"Some bloke called Old Leo used to be the best bounty hunter but I'm not sure who's the best one now. Old Leo got killed in an odd fight with a weird guy he was hunting. Either that or he retired, I don't really know but that's how most stories go. Let's just hope we don't end up making this guy famous."

"How so?"

"Well, imagine how famous this guy will become if he manages to kill both a knight of Sentinel and a Nord mercenary. Hopefully, he'll just end up being another one of those guys who tried to outdo Leo and found himself on the wrong end of a sword or a spear."

"Hopefully. Still, after we find where this tunnel leads we have to find Belwin." I said, returning the discussion to what really mattered to us.

"Why do we really need that snotty Breton? All he's good at is talking on and on about what he did back home and how he dislikes my ways. Why would we need him? I mean, we have all we need, us two. We're two good warriors who know how to handle ourselves. We can make end's meat in Rihad with or without Belwin." Beomir said. That was the first time Beomir openly showed disdain for Belwin around me.

"No. We shouldn't abandon Belwin here. He's helped us on this journey ever since it began. He also saved your life when he could have done nothing and stood idly by while we were fighting. You owe him your life and now, when things get tough and you start losing faith in yourself, you propose we leave him behind." I said with a determined tone as we kept trudging on through the tunnel.

"All he'd do would be to slow us down Arthago! You know that very well yet you choose to lie to yourself just because of some imaginary use you find for the upstart. The only use I could find for him would be as carrion for crows."

"That's enough Beomir! My will is set and that is my final word on the matter. You either abide by my decisions which, ultimately, represent the will of King Lhotun or you leave. Either way, your presence won't be sorely missed if you choose to leave." I shouted, getting angry at what Beomir was saying. He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned and started staring straight at me. Despite the darkness, I could almost feel his anger.

"Do you hear that?" he asked as he stood motionless.

"What?" I asked, pretending to be confused. In reality fear started surging throughout my veins and I slowly grasped the handle of my sword in the darkness.

"Exactly that, Redguard. The silence of darkness and the silent roar of ground closing all around you. People who have been buried alive are very familiar with that feeling. Pray to your gods that you never experience that feeling firsthand but I promise that you will if ever you shall speak like that to me again. Understand?" Beomir asked in an aggressive fashion. I could almost feel him raising his axe against me. After a few moments of silence I could hear him taking a step back.

"What's stopping me from killing you where you stand?" I asked, slowly. I slowly unsheathed my blade as I said so, trying to mask the sound with my words.

"Your conscience."

Immediately after Beomir said those words I could hear his axe hacking through the air down towards my head. I had unsheathed more than half of my sword however by the time he was done talking so I quickly unsheathed the rest of it and raised it into a guard position in one fluid motion. Since there was little room to maneuver and even less light to see anything I had to guess where the axe stroke might fall. I raised my blade into a position called the "Eagle's Guard" holding it parallel to my body slightly in front of me. The blade ran horizontally across my body so as to act as a wall against Beomir's strike. Before I had time to even move back a few steps I could fell his heavy axe striking my blade. Luckily I had placed it right in the way of his axe and because his axe had a bearded blade I used it as leverage to push away his axe from me.

With a strong push I heaved his axe into the nearby wall then, as I stood, I made a quick pirouette to close the distance. Using the momentum given by the pirouette I pulled my blade as I ended the pirouette, thus ending it with a slash aimed for Beomir's head. The momentum gave the horizontal slash force yet Beomir had retreated out of instinct. Not quick enough however. My blade made contact and I could soon hear him fall down, screaming in pain. I also felt blood on my face yet it was none of my blood, since I wasn't wounded.

As I approached Beomir I could hear that he was still alive by his loud screams of pain and curses. Raising my blade so as to give him a final blow I could see that his face started to light up. Literally. I had slashed him with my sword across the face and he was bleeding badly. Soon enough I could see almost all of Beomir as if a candle was nearby. I could see the whole tunnel much better actually. I soon discovered the reason why. The guardsmen had broken inside the back room and had found the trap-door. They were now inside the tunnel and they had torches with them, hence the light.

"Another time Beomir!" I whispered quickly as I grasped Beomir's axe and tried to throw it towards the guardsmen.

The axe was too big and unwieldy to throw so it hit the ceiling of the tunnel in flight then fell to the ground. Cursing my attempt to throw an axe I quickly fled, leaving Beomir in a pool of his own blood. I ran with all my speed towards the end of the tunnel and I felt I was going faster with each step I made. The adrenaline and fear from the sudden clash with Beomir was probably the cause of that. As I ran I felt as if there was no end to this damned tunnel yet I soon found that there was. One of my strides found no ground to step. So did the other. Thus I found myself in a pool of dirty, smelly water. I was still underground however.

Things had just gotten a whole lot wetter.
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I hope you like this update made after my considerable break. Anyway, comments are welcome!