Dragonborn Ascendant (20)

A/N: Hey, a bit late, but here it is.

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I had severely underestimated the logistics behind maintaining and moving an army. Seven hundred men might not sound much when the Empire could field tens of thousands at a time, but it was still a force that shouldn't be ignored. But to maintain that force, one had to take care of food, equipment, even going so far as to have to worry about the path they were taking and the overall morale of the men. To that end, Jarl Igmund - in a very generous and surprising fashion - supplied us with two carts full of provisions, enough to sustain my force for an entire week; and an extra empty wagon where weapons, armour and other tools and equipment were carried, which greatly helped us move in a speedy fashion. Even then, however, my plans to reach Karthspire in a day had to be discarded because we had to march for three days before reaching the bridge on the Karth River that led to the isle of Karthspire, and that was when the troops were marching at a pace only slightly slower than the Legion's.

Leading an army was a tiresome matter I learned, and a very stressful one to boot, which made my respect for generals and other army commanders increase.

"Sir Magnus," Legate Emmanuel greeted me as he entered the command tent. “The scouts have returned.”

“That’s some good news,” I grunted, motioning for the captain to join me and take a seat. “What did they say? Were they seen?”

“Breylin didn’t seem particularly worried,” said my fellow Breton. “So I think we are safe, for now. She did say your numbers are right though. Around two thousand Forsworn are inhabiting the ruins on the Karth River, and that there might be more inside a cave in the island.”

“There definitely will be more,” I grunted, mind already racing with plans. We were already approaching evening and the sun was starting to set on the Druadach Mountains, but that wouldn’t be of any real use to us. Karthspire is in the valley of the Karth River, and beyond that, its west side is protected by the mountain where Sky Haven Temple is located. An attack at dawn would be even more useless in this situation. “We’ll attack in the night.” I decided. “Tell the men to rest now as much as they can, and also send your scout - Breylin was it? Tell her to warn the others as well.”

“As you command.” Emmanuel nodded, leaving the ten for a moment to relay the message.

I leaned back, crossing my arms as I sighed.

I was feeling strangely nervous, perhaps anxious about the battle I knew was about to come. But why? Even when faced against odds that should have been much greater - such as the dozens of draugr at Dustman’s Cairn or when I faced Mirmulnir -, I never felt worried. Scared, maybe, but unworried for the most part. My death had always been a possibility in those cases, and I was fine with it even as I am right now.

I poured myself a cup of mead.

“Ah, I’ve seen that look before.”

“Legate,” my eyes snapped up to meet his hazel eyes. “Is there any problem?”

“I could ask you the same,” the Breton returned, saddling me with a sympathetic look that made me frown. “Don’t worry, I’ve seen that look you have on your face before. You’re nervous.”

“Is that a problem?” I scowled.

“Ah, forgive me if I offended you,” he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I simply wasn’t expecting to see that kind of expression on the face of someone who killed a dragon. But, well, I suppose that would have been unfair of me.”

“What do you mean Legate? Speak sense!” I demanded.

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “It’s just… you have the same face of a man entrusted with a lot of lives for the first time. I’ve seen it before, reflected in my friend’s and my own face before.” He said, and I grunted.

“I’ve led people a handful of times before,” I told the soldier. “Never an army.”

“That can be a little daunting, I imagine.”

“You have no idea,” I sighed. “I worry about how many men I’ll lose, I worry if I’ll have enough strength to fight at Red Eagle’s Redoubt, I worry if we’ll be enough to win today…”

“I understand what you’re feeling,” he nodded. “That uncertainty gnawing at the back of your mind… Drinking will do you no good, I can tell you that much, especially if we are to battle tonight.”

A hum escaped my lips as I worked my jaw finishing the mead. “You might have a point,” I nodded, grimacing lightly as I put the mug down. “Any suggestions on how to deal with this?”

“Talking helps,” the brunet shrugged. “Well, it helped me at least. In any case, I don’t think staying cooped up here for as long as you did will do you any good either. Perhaps you should… go outside? Talk with your companions? Your housecarl may think otherwise but she does let her nerves open for us to see.”

I nodded to his suggestion and got up to go outside for a bit, if only to reassure Lydia.

Three days wasn’t a long time to know a person, but I felt it was enough time for the Legate and I to make ourselves acquainted with each other. I think because I’m a Breton - one of the changes I can only attribute to the being who brought me to Skyrim, probably Sheogorath - he must have felt some sense of kinship towards me. It made him much more approachable, and also much more friendly, though I had no doubts he had heard news of my exploits to colour his first impression of me, just like the rest of the soldiers. I couldn’t say the same about the city guard who all remained mistrustful and a bit isolated. Not rebellious, however, because my reputation - whatever it may be - apparently precedes me and stopped anyone from getting out of line even when the Markarth guards outnumbered the Legion soldiers almost two to one.

It’s fair to say the Legion and I quickly became friends, a far cry from the treatment I first received from that bitch captain at Helgen.

“There will be bad apples everywhere.” I muttered to myself as a reminder.

“My Thane?” Lydia blinked, snapping to attention in my presence.

“Nothing,” I shook my head, blowing a breath through my nose. “How are you? Nervous?”

“I…” She blinked another time, blue eyes staring at mine before she blushed and hurriedly averted her gaze, the tips of her ears still burning bright red. Cute, I thought, a smile playing on my lips. Her shyness was simply adorable. “I-I’m a bit nervous, I admit… I, uh, this is the first time I’ve been part of an army, a-and… Ah, it’s silly, but I’m anxious… I know we have you at our side, my Thane, but sometimes… sometimes I can’t help but worry, fretting over what might never come.”

“I see,” I nodded, an exhale escaping my lips. I felt an inexplicable weight on my shoulders, but her words made me set my jaw and firm my resolve. These people were relying on me as their leader, and I couldn’t- wouldn’t disappoint them. “You shouldn’t worry, though. I’m here, and that’s enough to guarantee our victory.” I told my housecarl, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and offering her a determined look.

Mehrunes Dagon could come himself to face us tonight but I would make sure my men survived.

“I know,” Lydia answered with a bright smile. “A-ah, Aela wanted to see you… She came by a little earlier, but you were busy talking with Legate Emmanuel at the time.”

“Did she say what she wanted?” I asked, receiving a head shake in denial before I nodded. “Very well, I’ll go and find her.” And hopefully see if it’s something important.

It wasn’t, not really… But after spending myself three times inside the redhead and certainly inciting the birth of more than a few bastards that afternoon, I couldn’t say we were left displeased and not relaxed.

We went to march in the evening. Masser and Secunda were already high up in the brightly lit sky, and a majestic emerald aurora coloured the stars. It was a mesmerising view. Our scouts had quickly handled any sentinels watching over the bridge on the south side of the river, connecting the central island in the Karth River to the road. The Silver-Blood mercenary guards went first in blocks, battalion units of thirty men each, shields and spears ready. I didn’t expect them to survive if I was honest, despite being mercenaries, supposedly professionals, compared to the legionaries their training was abysmal. They knew how to form a shield wall, but it was a fragile and disorganised mess. They could march, but only following the tempo of the professional soldiers of the Legion. Some of them didn’t even know how to use a spear… It was how I realised most of the people Thonar contracted had been thugs at worst and mercenaries at best, with the vast and cheap majority being the sort of cowardly dog that barked loudly and bared its teeth by pretending to be any form of actual threat only when surrounded by comrades.

They were the exact sort of barbarian that rushed in and started attacking and raiding everything on sight when I cast the magelight spell to illuminate our path, gleefully howling and crying like wild dogs as they set huts on fire and dragged people outside to butcher like pigs; little more than savages. Some of them even tried to rape the women out in the open, and those I made sure to let them die at the hands of the hagravens magics, exploded, shocked or frozen to death, cut, smashed, sliced or pierced until only gruesome remains were left by the Forsworn.

The pandemonium they caused was excellent - even if it did leave a sour taste in my mouth - to the archers of the Legion who were free to pick their targets with the Forsworn thrown into disarray, the only time they would put their bows to use that night; all the while the remaining legionaries protected the high ground above the ruins on the river from any stray Forsworn attempting to disrupt the barrage of arrows.

The fight was over quickly, the Forsworn fleeing to the hills when they didn’t throw themselves to death on the furious waters of the Karth River. Perhaps that was exactly their intention.

"Form up!" I boomed, voice being echoed by the captains who each added their own cry to the order. It took some time, but eventually all of the men complied, setting up a protective formation.

I nodded satisfied, turning to Legate Emmanuel. "Tell the men to set up camp here," I told him, to which the soldier dutifully complied a moment later, the sound of horns blaring and making the tension visibly break within the lines. "Also, lend me twelve of your best men. Karthspire doesn't end just with these ruins."

"Are you planning to attack the cave with just that many soldiers?" The Breton asked, a worried frown crossing his expression. I’m confident everything will end up well.”

The Breton still gave me an uncertain look but shrugged a moment later, unwilling to dispute my claim. “If you’re sure…” I heard him mutter.

“I’ll take care of them.” I promised, turning to bark another order to the soldiers who snapped to attention.

I led the men to the entrance of the cave, where Forsworn skittered and hurriedly mounted a hasty defence.

“Fus ro dah!” I roared, and the cave trembled with the shockwave of my voice shattering against the enemies who broke. “Mages!” I ordered, and a maelstrom of elemental fury was unleashed on the stunned enemies.

Shields snapped then, forming a line of wood and iron that slowly descended the slope of Karthspire. On each step, a new wave of Forsworn rushed from inside the cave, and each time a new volley of spells.

The wails and shrill cries of the dead were something that would probably haunt the dreams of the soldiers next to me, Lydia certainly looked unwell, her face looking a sickly pale under the dim light of campfires and torches, though that could very well have been because of the smell of burnt flesh filling the cavernous halls. It awakened memories of Helgen and I felt a tug on my lips.

Flames gathered in my mouth.

“Yol toor shul!”

A sea of fire bathed the interior of the cave, drowning the screams of the forsworn with the crackling burning of the fire and the screeching hisses the air and the rocks made. It was an impressive display that surprised even me, leaving molten rock smouldering as bodies crumpled into ashes and dark crisps, bones dried up and brittle.

The smell was disgusting.

People gagged and I swallowed down my revulsion as I forced myself with the sheer force of my will to remain stoic.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Aela muttered on my side, her eyes fixed on the burnt wood boxes and the consumed tents that had not too long ago been set up. “Farkas didn’t lie.”

“What?” I raised an eyebrow, turning to face the redhead who sported a grimace on her face, nose scrunched up.

“He didn’t lie about you.” She muttered. “I thought he was exaggerating but…” She trailed off for a moment, voice taking a distant tone.

“Well, clearly he did just the opposite.”

-x-X-x-

A/N: So, yesterday I had a fair to attend for my last grade, which lasted pretty much the entire day and left me without time to proof read the chapter, which is why I'm postin it today.

In other news, I'll start posting Dragonborn Ascendant back on QQ starting next while I take a small break here because of the Holidays. So, if you want a shout out by the time I resume posting on QQ, leave a comment below with the way you want to be called. 

See you in 2023!