Northbound Pilgrimage II

Chapter CXVII - Progress

The plan was finally set.

It was still insane, still so risky, but it was the best plant they had ever had against the assassins.

Bishop and Aeyrin stayed at the outpost practically all day, going over the plans, over the magical trinkets and scrolls and spells, all to work out every last detail. Well, as much as they could work out. It was still a big unknown since none of them knew the Brotherhood's motivations for hunting Bishop so relentlessly.

Their next destination was clear – Morthal. It was probably their most usual go-to location when they wanted to avoid any complications. They would stay in town, however long they needed to. They would often find some reasons to spend time separately so that the Brotherhood would have an opportunity to lure Bishop away when Aeyrin wasn't around. She wasn't exactly thrilled about that, but there was no convincing him. And she knew that it was the right choice. It still didn't sit well with her, but she didn't know what else to do either. At least the Penitus Oculatus agents would be stationed in the town for this. That made her a little bit more at ease.

But by the time they got out of the outpost, it was too late to make it to Morthal. Bishop and Aeyrin, however, didn't want to spend another night in the same place. Not before their plan could be enacted. They had to be very careful until then. So, at the very least, they decided to spend the night in the wilderness nearby. The rain had stopped a while ago after all.

Aeyrin suggested an overlook near Dragon Bridge that she knew – it was a good camping spot and it was well situated to make use of Bishop's traps. She wasn't even sure why she had suggested it in the end. The last time she was there, she had spent the entire night crying her eyes out for him after the fight they had, when Bishop broke their 'casual arrangement' off at last. It wasn't exactly a place for pleasant memories, but she kept reminding herself that those days were long passed. She had him by her side again.

She just hoped that she wouldn't lose him now, in that insane plan.

When they arrived at the overlook, however, it was unfortunately already occupied.

It was only a very small group of bandits. Three of them were down by the overlook approach and Aeyrin didn't even hesitate before she rushed them. As Bishop saw her throw herself into the fray, it kind of felt like she needed that. It wasn't really surprising. She had been withdrawn the entire time ever since Whiterun, and now they had this whole Brotherhood shit on their minds too. She clearly needed an outlet to everything bubbling up inside.

When he was absolutely sure that she had things under control – with one bandit kneeling on the ground in pain, another dead and the third barely keeping up on his feet with his ribs bashed in by her mace and leather armor singed from the enchantment – he rushed up ahead towards the overlook with his bow drawn.

There was one more bandit up there, looking down. She didn't even seem to notice the commotion nearby as she scouted the area vigilantly. Idiot.

Bishop could have shot an arrow through her skull, but he had noticed something himself.

She was an Orc.

As he already had his bow aimed, he moved it down a bit, aiming at the back of her thigh instead. His arrow was sure to pierce the leather armor there and paralyze her. He just hoped that she wouldn't fall over from the cliff altogether. It was very high.

He let the arrow loose silently, hitting the woman straight into her thigh. She yelped out in surprise – had she really not noticed him the entire time? She bent down to yank the arrow out, but before she could, her whole body stiffened. Bishop rushed towards her instantly, before she could topple over, and he grabbed her by the shoulders, easing her down onto the ground. The woman instantly let out a piercing shriek, but there was no one left there to help her.