The Skyrim Adventure

Chapter Two

Chapter Two-

I woke up to the sound of singing birds and sizzling meat, which wafted into my tent making my whiskers twitch and my tongue tingling. My mother had either already had gone or had never gone to bed, which is usually her way as she normally spends most nights tallying our income and cargo and sleeps during the day while she's walking. I rolled off the bed eagerly, donning my supple fur armor, leather boots and attaching my old iron war axe to my belt and a quiver of iron arrows and hunting bow to my back. I quickly raked my long dark hair on the top of my head and quickly smoothed my fur around my face. When I was satisfied, I walked out of my tent and into the fresh, frosty morning. Riften hadn't changed since last time we came here, still had the same dreary exterior of the city walls and the guards always had a shady demeanour about them. I remembered last time I went in the city, they tried to make me pay a visitors tax for entering the city, but I called them on their bluff and they let me in with no further questions. My mother sat by the fire, turning three carcasses of rabbits over and over, their skin crispy and smelled of lemon and thyme. My stomach grumbled loudly. Kisrin looked up at me, a small smile played on her frosty white lips.

"I heard that, you must be really hungry. Sit down beside me and help me plate these up" She ordered softly.

I obeyed, sitting down beside her on the cold grass grabbing a dozen or so wooden plates and holding them out so she could place chunks of cooked rabbit meat along with a fistful of stale bread. My family began to swarm then, grabbing the plates hungrily and wolfing them down like feral desert cats, the juices running down their chins and bread disappearing in a matter of moments. I ate last with my mother, savouring the rabbit cooked in lemon juice and thyme, letting the food calm my angry stomach.

After breakfast, we washed the plates at the lake where the fishery and the island of Goldenglow estate resided, the sweet smell of honey tickled my senses softly. Once I had returned to the camp, I noticed that we had some customers already. There was a shady looking Argonian speaking with Ri-Za'ar, probably trying to buy some skooma I assumed, and there was a Riften Guard speaking to one of my cousins about buying some steel arrows.

"I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee..." I heard the Guard mutter.

I wandered around the camp, sorting out the cargo and locking away the gold my family was making, then I began to work at the rack, making the deer hide that I killed a few days ago into big sheets of leather and leather strips ready to be bought by customers. Later that day, Ri-Za'ar approached me with his eyebrows knitted together and his lips mashed into a hard line.

"Your damn mother has persuaded me to give you another chance, take this and sell them in the Riften Market for the set prices. If you fail, I will make sure that this is the last day you stay with us and you will be out like a damn stray cat" He growled menacingly as he stormed off, leaving me with a sack full of apples, potions and sweet rolls.

Without delay, I headed towards the dreary city walls and the old wooden gate where two guards leaned against it, one was picking dirt from under his fingernails and the other was eating an apple. The one picking at his fingernails began to speak and I immediately recognized him.

"Hold up, you need to pay a visitors tax for entering the city..."

"We've already been through this a few months back, I know that this is a shakedown, you cannot fool me" I cut him off before he could finish, my voice icy.

"Ah, yes, I remember you, the little weasel who didn't pay up... Well, you can't get out of this one, pay up or we can have a little duel... single combat? I need some practice, but I think you're just some sword fodder, ready to be cut..." An evil smile twisted on to his rough, dirty face.

'I don't have any gold on me and I can't go back to Ri-Za'ar otherwise he would say I'd have failed and would kick me out...' I thought to myself

"Well? What do you say Cat?"

"I'll fight you" I told him, confidence and anxiety bubbled up inside me like a brewing potion about to explode.

"Well, Well! I wouldnt have expected that. One handed weapons only, no magic crap and the loser is the one to yield first. You win, you are allowed in the city, you lose, and you get me the gold as well as the contents of that sack you are carrying... Agreed?" He sneered

Hesitantly, I nodded and placed the sack on the fence of the stables beside me. I then pulled my old iron war axe out of my belt and tossed it from paw to paw, readying to strike. The Guard eating the apple stopped to watch us as my opponent approached me with ease, pulling out his brand-new looking steel sword and holding it with both hands above his head. We stood, staring at each other, eyes locked, never straying. He then rushed and brought down his sword. I, on the other hand was quick and agile, rolling out the way in time to each of his attacks, deflecting some with the flat of my axe blade, slashing back quickly and precisely. I managed to cut his leg and forearm, the scent of blood was strong in the air. The guard began to slow, I could hear his heavy and laboured breathing in his helmet as he tried to keep up with my dodging and attacks. For a brief moment, I lost my footing and he nicked my upper arm with the tip of his sword. It stung slightly, but I was able to ignore it. After a few more minutes, the guard was full on panting and his movements was slowing as though he was under water. My axe found his mark on the back of his leg which brought him down, once and for all.

"I yield!" He gasped.

I quickly placed my bloodstained axe back into my leather belt, noticing the apple-eating guard had unlocked the gate, I turned to my opponent and bowed slightly.

"It has been my pleasure" I purred in delight as I sauntered through the gate with the sack of items in hand.