Beorning was silent, engrossed in the swirling ebony patterns carved and inlaid into the light maple wood of the expensive table, a pained expression writhed across his face like thunderstorms. Just as his audience looked ready to interrupt his flow he mused into the wood
“And so the dark days began,
he looked up, staring into the eyes of the Redguard brothers waiting expectantly across from him, his voice overloud, he began.
“It was not long before my 21st birthday, the winter of 4E 185, that it happened.” His voice dropped to a normal tone.
“Things were going well, I was getting good at smithing fancy jewellery and between Fadir, er Lodbrok, and I we had a good little business running, the Balefire, my Uncle Eirik, had contacts across the Empire that liked our work and our order books were full. The snow had fallen late that year so it was not thick as we walked the short way across the lower parts of the Jerall Mountains north of Applewatch, to our little hidden temple to Talos for the festival of North Wind’s Prayer. I loved that little temple, it was down a hidden gully lined with mountain flowers that led to a front atrium built from carved Skyrim pines, with those steep Nordic roofs and sculpted eaves. It led into the stone part of the temple; part building, part cave. Meara told me that it looked like a Dwemer building had been reused to build it, it was the quality of the stone cutting that gave it away. I was never much of a mason, so could never see what she meant. I could never concentrate on the mason work with that huge stone statue of Talos looking at me. It was painted so that he looked alive, ready to jump off the plinth and take action.
“I found out later it was the tracks, our tracks in the snow that led them, the Thalmor, to it. Hmmm it’s been so long I can barely picture it.” A single tear leaked from his left eye.
“We were all crammed into the temple when our outside guard managed to let out a scream before dying. We didn’t stand a chance! Before we had used two escape tunnels to avoid those rooting out Talos worship, that day we had no time. A unit of steely eyed Thalmor and Frost Atronachs came through the doorway. Meara was the first to react. As a priestess to Talos, she was leading the North Wind’s Prayer ritual and so facing the doorway. She threw her sword at me shouting
“Grab your sister’s and run..” as an arrow hit swung her round. In her priestess garb she had no armour but used her staff to cast shocks at the incoming attackers.
I did as she said, sword in one hand Agneta’s hand in the other, Astrid held her elder sisters hand and we ran to the left hand hidden tunnel behind the statue to Talos. The stairs ran up to a hidden exit on a bluff, between two juniper trees a secret path led out to the Bruma road. I pushed my sisters telling them in a hushed voice to carry onto the stair top and to wait for me. I then turned to cover the entrance and defend us from anyone who had spotted our escape. From this hidden position I could see Lodbrok struggling with two Thalmor warriors, three of the other five members of the congregation, our neighbour Jennetta and her son as well as old Master Thingold were dead already. It didn’t look good and I was torn between saving my sisters or helping my father and Meara. The moment seemed an age but was probably seconds before father went down, it was just two of them left, the unarmoured Meara and the Nord farmer…” Beornings eyes de-focussed, “what’s his name… no matter…”
”I ran up the stairs, decision made. I heard later that Meara and the other deserved their seat at Talos' table by the time those stinking, haughty Thalmor got ‘em. As I left the stairs onto the bluff I looked towards Applewatch and home. Great clouds of billowing smoke created a vertical line reaching for the sky. I grabbed my sisters and we sneaked our way to the Bruma road. We had to hurry as I couldn’t be sure if or when the hidden path would be discovered. My sisters were crying, I tried to shut them up but it wasn’t working. So I rushed them, my arms wrapped around them to console and also hurry them along. It was Agneta mostly, she had always been the most sensitive of my sisters, I remember blowing her nose and wiping her eyes with that pale red dress she loved so much. Astrid had more of my mother’s temperament, she sobbed but kept composed, probably shocked too I suppose. When we stopped for a breather at the Bruma road I gave her a big hug, stroking her long black double braided hair and then we all clung to each other. Huge sobs billowing through us. Eventually I pushed them back and looked into their blue-grey eyes.
"Well we can’t go home, we saw the smoke from Applewatch. I can bet that our house is amongst those burning down, those bad Thalmor will be looking for us." They nodded, "We’ll have to avoid Bruma too, I think." Two more little nods, "Agnita, Astrid we’re going to have to find Uncle Eirik, he should be coming over from Skyrim before the winter snows close the roads." The first glimmer of hope showed in their eyes. "I know a cave we can hide in near Bruma, it’s the other side of Bruma where we can see the road to Skyrim and look for Great Uncle Balefire ok?"
They nodded silently, too overcome to argue.
I was tired when we got to the cave, I’d been carrying them for a while but I hid the girls outside, made a torch from some wood and rags I’d found and entered in.” Beorning snorted in self derision. “My first adventuring! Scared witless with just a sword at my side. Fortunately there was just a couple of Skeevers in there, which I despatched quite quickly and without any bites. We gathered wood from the cave entrance for a fire, used the fat from the Skeevers with some dried sedge grasses wrapped around a branch for another torch. With the fire I could roast the meat from those over-sized rats. My sister’s weren’t happy to be eating Skeever but then nor was I. We spent a restless night huddled together at the edge of the cave. My sisters tossed and turned but kids seem able to sleep anywhere. I was too nervous about other beasts, Thalmor or evil Men catching us unaware so I kept watch. The night was clear and as I kept lookout the twin moons, Masser and Secunda, rose magnificently giving hope for the new day. Grey clouds had closed in by sunrise as with bleary eyes I kept watch. Fortunately it wasn’t too long, later that day I saw Uncle Eirik’s merchant caravan travelling along the road. Really he was my mother’s Uncle but everyone in the family called him Uncle, we scrambled down from our hideout and ran to our Uncle.
It was good to see the Balefire, he looked a little more craggy than I remembered with a lot more snow in his hair but his Mountain Flower blue eyes and wide, welcoming smile remained the same. He climbed down from the lead wagon, scooping my sisters up in his arms.
"My two favourite nieces, still as beautiful as those dark roses of Elsweyr."
Astrid smiled and wriggled, "We're your only great nieces Uncle!"
Eirik's voice took on a serious note, he nodded at me "Beorning! What brings you and your sisters here? I'm guessing it's not good news."
My voice cracked as I told him "The Thalmor caught us for North Wind's Prayer, Fadir's dead...they're all dead. Applewatch is in flames."
Eirik changed to the Balefire in seconds, he put my sisters down and pushed them to me. He turned round to his caravan, barking orders, gathering people into his plan. In minutes the wagons were off to the the side of the road in a circular formation. The guards placed at regular intervals covering all points of the compass. A fire was lit and a large broth was being cooked by the time he came back to us with his right hand woman, a Dunmer called Talinith, covered in a strange mix of Chitin and Nord armour.
"Right. Beorning, Agneta and Astrid what are we going to do with you?"
Talinith barked a harsh laugh, almost a cough, "We'll not be going to Bruma with them."
"True, but we'll still be going to Bruma. It will look odd otherwise, indeed..." he nodded, half to himself, "that's decided then. Beorning you're too big and ugly", he waved a hand silencing my retort "to travel with us. Sorry lad but your life has changed and you are now an outlaw. Talinith get him some armour, use that taken from the guard caught by those Ice Wraiths out by Markarth. They should fit. Then I need you to stay with him for a couple of days, but where to conceal you?"
I quickly told Uncle about the cave we'd hid in "Ok that's good" he replied. "Talinith teach him as much as you can, we should be gone no more than a week. Beorning when I get back I'll take you to some Outlaw friends of mine."
He grinned as my eyes widened in a mix of excitement, fear and concern "Don't worry they're Outlaws like all good Talos worshippers but not Brigands or Bandits... unless you're from the Aldmeri Dominion!" He winked and grinned, slapping me round the shoulders "We're Nords, strong people from a dangerous land. Life has dealt some hard knocks sister’s-daughter’s-son but look around you, look at this land, this life. Whilst you're alive never give up, never surrender to what the Daedra might throw at you. You're a NORD boy and you'll fight every step of the way to Sovngarde!"
Eirik's face softened as he scooped up my sisters "And you, my two beauties, need to grow up safely and with family I think. I have a plan for you two."
"What is it? What is it?" Wriggled the two girls, caught up in Eirik's infectious bullishness.
"Have I ever told you about my niece Biorki Goldfire? Mad as a sackful of Skeevers but she's smart and wise as well, she runs an apparel stall in Daggerfall and could do with a couple of young apprentices... yes that's what you'll be." his voice dropped to the half tone he used when musing to himself "Apprentice seamstresses, I'm sure that Biorki...she's best placed to protect Kudri's kids... especially with her Illusion skills."
He turned and became Master Balefire Merchant of Tamriel "So that's decided then. Talinith take Beorning and gather enough supplies to last you at least a week. Mistress Agneta and Mistress Astrid" the girls stood proudly as he used their adult honorific "come with me. We need to cut and dye your hair then change your clothes to match a couple of poor apprentice girls," he pulled the face of a wealthy patron concerned about those poorer than himself "entrusted to travel with the famed caravan of Master Balefire, Merchant of Tamriel," he took a proud, responsible stance "by your family in Solstheim, who have agreed for you to learn a trade working for the East Empire Company in Camlorn."
"But you said we were going to Cousin Biorki in Daggerfall?" chimed in Agneta
"Well we're not going to tell the world that Little Agneta! Are we now?" and with that rhetorical question Eirik strode away. Talinith nodded at me and we set about our tasks.
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