The Ebony Renegades (Skyrim)

chapter eighty six

As the sun started to rise over the mountain of the throat of the world the group had already mounted their horses and reindeer and made their way North Northwest making their way towards the Nordic ruin of labyrinthian the once capital of the once powerful dragon cult. As they rode through the ruined structures of the once mighty stronghold they sped forward but not before seeing a group of frost trolls surrounding a person who seemed to have collapsed on the ground. Gila upon noticing the trolls immediately tossed her horses Reigns to Sabrina who was riding next to her before jumping off pulling her bow off and firing three dragon bone arrows into the skull of each of the three trolls before running up and picking the man up checking for a pulse. Gila gave a sigh of relief feeling that the man still had a pulse but he looked familiar, he was wearing Crusader armor of the heavy variant he also currently had the shield sword and mace of the same type but most noticeably of all, he had the sword of heroes Chrysamere on his back. Gila carefully removed his helmet before her eyes widened seeing a familiar face, it was the face of the one Bandit leader that they met at four skull lookout back in the reach except the other two Crusaders were not with him.  " Boss, its Erin!" Gila called out as Ebon-shi walked over looking him over making sure he was okay. "Any visible injuries you can see?" He asked as Gila shook her head. "No but if we leave him here he's sitting duck what do you want to do?" Gila asked as Ebon-shi nodded before carefully picking him up and carrying him to the back of Gentu's dwarven horses trailer where Zed, Bowen, and Vladbram along with other supplies were being carried as he carefully eased him up as Bowen and Vladbram hold the crusader knight up and laid him down on the ground with Bowen offering his bed roll as a sleeping mat while Zed folded up his own bedroll to make a makeshift pillow for Erin to rest his head. Bowen used his restoration magic to heal his injuries using healing hands to make sure he was healed and taken care of as the group continued making their way up the stairs which would lead out towards Morthal from there they would need to head North until they got to dragon's bridge then they would have to ride North of the trail until they got towards the one abandoned fort which was when they would need to be very careful because they would be literally five minutes away from the Thalmor embassy. They continued making their way forward moving swiftly and effectively passing through the deep marsh of Hjallmarch narrowly dodging bandits, spiders, and the occasional chorus and even more common the pesky mud crabs. As they continue riding through the swampy environment with the air so thick and murky from the humid and mosquito infested environment. Navigating they're way towards Rimerock Burrow Gila took point since she had been there before they continued riding West along the snow covered trail they had once came on this trail before they took before they took shelter in Fort snowhawk sometime ago. After a few moments they were crossing a stone bridge with a waterfall on their left hand side with rapidly flowing rapids below them that would easily sweep them up if they were unfortunate enough to fall in. Gila wrote up ahead as they passed fort snohawk the same for they had once taken refuge in many of them exchanging a pleasant smile from the nostalgic memory they soon went off road riding north passing a abandoned shack but the group suddenly skidded to a stop when a dog ran out in front of them. It was a shaggy gray dog with matted fur and it looked malnourished as if the poor thing had not eaten in days Gila stopped before climbing off of her horse before walking over to the canine and offered it a piece of Mammoth jerky. The dog immediately ate the jerky gently rubbing his head on Gila's hand before barking a few times and then running towards the shack and then stopping to clean its head back to look at Gila. "Guys hold up, I'm going to go see what this dog wants to show me."she called out as the group nodded unanimously with Salazar raising his hand casting detect life spell to look around to see if there was anything nearby before clicking his mandibles "My brother says there's nothing but wild animals nearby, but be cautious there may be undead around here." Lianya said as Gila followed the dog into the abandoned shack. When she walked in she noticed it was a fairly small a boat a single table up against the far left wall with a single cabinet with hanging garlic but lying on the bed was a dead Nord with a journal sitting on the end table next to a extinguished lantern. Gila walked up and picked up the journal reading it and her heart almost broke at what she was reading.

Well, after all my years living in these woods, it looks like the rock joint will finally be the end of me. I guess that's fine. All my friends are long dead. The only one left is poor Meeko he was always a loyal companion, and I know he'll be able to take care of himself. I hope someday I'll see him again.

Gila brought her hand up to her chest crouching down and gently petting the shaggy dog who was now all alone "Meeko, do you want to come along with us?" Gila asked in a low gentle tone as Meeko gently started licking her hand as she gave him a gentle smile before tapping her thigh but not before taking the blanket off of the shelf before laying it over the dead Nord. " May sovergarde welcome you with open arms." Gila said before walking out and climbing back onto her horse gesturing Meeko to jump into the back of the trailer once the dog was in the back of the dwarven trailer they proceeded forward riding north until they came to the river the formidable structure of the Blue Palace of solitude hanging over the horizon as they proceeded writing left to the West along the river heading towards dragon's bridge once they were there they would have to act very discreet even if they were wanted by the Dominion the empire was still under the dominion's control so it would be best to not try to pick a fight. Once they came under the rocky road and crossing another bridge they made their way towards dragon's bridge as they rode forward they noticed the fallen tree in the way which they carefully rode over one at a time with Gentu to be the most careful due to the trailer he was pulling behind him with not only three of his companions but also the unconscious crusader and now a dog. Once they got the dragon's bridge one by one in single file they rode over the stone bridge with the visage of a dragon's head over the main Arc they passed a few penitus oculatus and imperial guards Severin immediately before crossing the bridge put a cloak over him to hide his dark brotherhood apparel since that would be a surefire way to get the group into an unwanted confrontation. After passing a few of the guards they made their way East along the road before taking the immediate left on the first fork of the road heading north. As they continued their way forward the air started to get much chillier as snow started to fall they rode up the snowy trail until they came to another crossroad which went east to west. The direction of the Thalmor embassy to the immediate East meanwhile the direction to where they had to go was West as Gila led them forward the group proceeded to follow her since she knew where she was going. They proceeded forward passing by another one of the many strongholds that dotted about skyrim's harsh landscape this one was currently garrisoned by the imperial legion who now called Fort Hraggstad one of their bases of operations. Seated forward quickly and carefully grateful they didn't run into any unwanted surprises aside from the single snow troll which Gila swiftly dispatched with a well-placed dragon bone arrow between its eyes when there came to another fork in the road Gila continued riding straight her head looking around for familiar landmarks to her which she immediately found the rocky road again once she found that she knew where she was they were near lost echo cave. They carefully rounded the corner and continued up The path and soon enough they spotted an old crumbled Tower as Gila signaled them to follow walking down a narrow pathway they came to a single wooden bridge along the mountainside with a clear view of Northwatch keep below them. They proceeded with their usual tactic half staying outside to prevent reinforcements from coming in meanwhile a small group would go in and clear the place out. Gila, accompanied by Meeko walked in on her own telling the others that she would call for help if she needed it due to her being here before she already knew the layout as she pulled her spear off of her back and expertly twirling it in her hand. As she walked in she quietly crept forward signaling with her hand for her dog companion to stay down as she pulled off her bow spotting a wandering flame atronach but she knew that atronachs couldn't just spawn out of nowhere they had to be summoned and if it was summoned that meant it's summoner had to be somewhere nearby. After a swift bone arrow the flame atronach fell and exploded in a fiery inferno and she quietly crept up the side of the room where she spotted a lone necromancer at an enchanting table without any time for delay she loosed another arrow dropping them down she went down the hall through the tunnel to make sure there was nobody else around she found a single bed with a nightstand which had a single apple pie a bottle of wine and a sweet roll meanwhile against the other side of the wall was a shelf with multiple books bowls candles antlers along with the lit lantern and a big chest. Once the place was cleared out and confirmed she walked back outside with her canine companion behind her as she walked out giving a nod signaling the coast was clear as the group carefully made their way inside.