20demayo Chapter 284: Chapter X: Western Watchtower
Chapter 284: Chapter X: Western Watchtower
Chapter 284: Chapter X: Western Watchtower
As soon as the panicked guardsman finished speaking, Balgruuf started rapid firing one question after the other, getting as much information from the now sobbing lad as he could before standing up and issuing his orders "Irileth gather every blade willing, get the clans involved as well." He barks to his Housecarl and turns to his Steward "Avenicci announce a bounty of three hundred septims for every soul brave enough to face the beast and a thousand for any who do true damage, Farengar-"
"May I accompany you, my Jarl?" Farengar interrupts a bit too eagerly "I would very much like to see this dragon."
Balgruuf considers for a moment before sending a short look my way and shaking his head in annoyance "Very well, but this is not a game. Your first priority is helping us bring it down, not studying it."
Farengar offered him a deep bow "I will keep my curiosity in check, I swear it." And left for his chambers, no doubt to fetch whatever scrolls and potions he could.
Hrongar was already fully armed and armored, somehow managing to grab is gear in mere seconds. Balgruuf shared a pained look with his brother before solemnly nodding and accepting his own axe.
Someone tossed him an aketon and suit of chainmail followed by a breastplate, all of it he started putting on as he passed me by and said "Walk with me Reyvin."
Signaling for my own group to join Irileth I stepped in beside the worried Jarl, instead of berating me for being late or something equally wasteful he simply asked "What are we walking into?"
"Single dragon, should be one of the weaker ones." I answer simply "Still, expect losses." "That much is a given." He admits coldly, a silent moment passes as we descend the stairs of Dragonsreach, the now fully armored Balgruuf seemingly deep in thought until he spoke quietly "I had hoped against hope that what you prophesized would not happen."
I let out a mirthless chuckle at that "Trust me, if I had the choice between looking like an idiot and facing the apocalypse I'd look the fool every time." Being on a timer and knowing it was never a pleasant thing.
"The world is rarely so charitable." He shakes his head with a wry smile "At least we had the chance to prepare beforehand or I dread to imagine the damage."
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." I quote lightly and clap him on the shoulder "But that is enough of that, we have a wyrm to slay!"
"Like the heroes of old." Balgruuf shakes his head, seemingly amused by the idea.
In less than twenty minutes a large force had already left the city, it was too little time to gather a true army but we still managed to scrounge up close to five hundred fighters, most of them from the garrison while the rest were made up from glory hungry clansmen, their Thanes, and simple citizens who could afford weapons and armor.
It went without saying that the Companions joined in their entirety, or at least those who were present within the city, up to and including Kodlak Whitemane himself. The old Nord practically radiated excitement as he led his Circle to the forefront of the formation, even as his aged body looked far worse for wear.
As for my old friend... well, only his respect for the elder warrior stopped Durrak from rushing ahead of everyone in hopes of finding the dragon as quick as possible so he can get to the stabbing.
It took us another half hour to reach the watchtower, the scene that awaited being just as bad as I've come to expect from the usual destructive potential of the Dov.
The Western Watchtower may have been called that but it was much more than a simple stone tower, the structure was surrounded by a well made palisade which surrounded a few other wooden structures that most likely served as the barracks for the local garrison.
Or at least it did before today.
The whole thing was either turned to ash or blasted into rubble, the main structure barely standing with multiple holes in its surface, its peak still burning as the flames consumed what I recognized was a large aerial scorpion.
There were even a couple of my own ballistae in the rubble, completely out of commission of course as they would not have stopped shooting unless they were wrecked.
A couple of disheveled men garbed in Whiterun guard armor ran out of the tower as we approached, both immediately saluting Balgruuf as the one who wasn't covered in burns spoke "My Jarl, you should not be here, the beast is still around!"
Balgruuf regarded the man for a moment before tilting his head slightly "Has your fear eroded whatever respect you had for me Bromar, that you would suggest I not rush to the defense of my people?"
The man cringed as if slapped but stood firm "We did not even see it coming! One moment we were having a game of horseshoes and the next half the tower was aflame!" His shoulders slump "Hroki did not even get to aim the weapon before he was burned to ash."
The Jarl's gaze softened at seeing one of his men so defeated but before he could speak again a distant roar drew everyone's attention.
"Gods save us." Bromar muttered in pure terror "He comes again!"
And there in the distance we could see him, a gray splotch marring the beautiful skies of Skyrim, rapidly becoming larger as it descended toward us with what I sensed was pure malice.
The imposing form of Kodlak Whitemane, joined by the twins Farkas and Vilkas rushed him from the side, hacking into his unguarded underbelly with their all of their supernatural Daedric strength.
He did not even manage to look at them before the rushing form of Balgruuf slammed his
wounded face with his shield, Hrongar already moving in with an overhead slash as Mirmulnir tried to crush the brave Jarl in his mouth.
But unfortunately for the Nords, the dragon remained stunned for only a brief moment before
his wits returned to him.
His tail flashed out, forcing the Companions back but to the casual observer miraculously not turning them to paste. His front claws swung for the heads of the noble brothers, shattering Balgruuf's shield and sending him reeling back, while his other claw rent the mid-swing arm off the shoulder of the Jarl's brother.
Everyone watching thought the man was already dead, but to their sheer dumbfounded astonishment, Hrongar did not even grunt in pain and instead proceeded to headbutt the dragon who was at the time trying to devour his brother, not quite making him flinch but at least stopping his movement and knocking himself out in the process.
The time they bought was more than enough as Minthara charged back into the fray once
again, her sword aglow in her hands as golden specters seemed to overlap with her swing, severing the claws that attempted to cleave her in two.
The dragon recoiled in pain, fire already forming in his mouth as he was forced to use magic
to summon it instead of the voice with his skill so lacking and his tongue mangled so thoroughly.
But magical flames, especially those cast by someone unused to doing so, were easily thwarted. Minthara did not even look up as a sturdy ward surrounded her, the fires passing around her without doing any harm and placing her in perfect position for the killing blow.
Once more, the spirits of the Blades overlapped with her own movements as she swung her
sword upwards in a wide arc, feeling almost no resistance as her sword decapitated the dragon in one swift movement.
Her heart was beating faster than she ever remembered it doing, the sheer elation of
defeating a dragon in both voice and might turning her blood to fire... And then the headless stump decided now was the perfect moment to cover her in blood and viscera.
Even as she felt herself consuming the dragon's soul she could not force her eyes to stop twitching nor free her face from its deadpan expression.
Such was her frustration with the world that she managed to remain standing this time, unconsciously raising her blade as her mind seemed to catch up to the fact.
A silence descended upon what was once the Western Watchtower's grounds, before everyone, Nord or not, broke out into a massive cheer, the fact of what they considered to be
their deed slowly settling in their minds.
The bards really were going to go wild with this one.
SPAAN DEIN FIIK Shield Defend Reflect
TIID KLO UL = Time Sand Eternity
There have been rumors of a certain group of stone smugglers going around and avoiding the
good lord's taxes. We assure you that these miscreants shall be brought to justice with immense promptness and prejudice and advise those not yet caught up in their criminal ways to keep your distance lest you be caught in the crossfire.
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