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Chapter
6: An Enthusiastic Imperial
After a short stop in Suran to tell the leader about my somewhat botched
mission in Vivec, I hurried back to the Silt Strider and went to Gnisis. The
Guildmaster ordered me to warn them about the impending attack, and aid them in
any way possible. I wasn't too fond of the idea, my wounds, although healed,
still ached. After taking an onslaught from two Ordinators I should have been
dead, but I guess fate had other plans in store for me. I stared at Gnisis as
the Silt Strider approached, it didn't look like much, I honestly didn't care if
they were attacked or not. If the soldiers stationed at this fort couldn't
handle a few bandits, someone wasn't doing their job.
I stepped onto the platform and began walking to the small fort built into
the mountainside, I wanted to tell them about it and leave before they got here.
Even though through some people's eyes I could be considered the cause of the
attack, I would rather not be around when all hell broke loose, a bottle of
Greef sounded more inviting than another fight.
An Orc at the fort told me that their commander was at the inn, I didn't
bother to ask why, the fort was so small there was probably barely enough room
for the soldiers quarters. When I arrived at the inn I was pointed downstairs, a
Redguard wearing a soldiers uniform was standing in front of a door, listening
to the conversation on the other side. I walked slowly over and he turned his
attention to me.
"What do you want?" he asked, giving me an irritated look
"I have to talk with your commander, it's important." I said, wondering what
was happening on the other side of that door.
"He's with someone, from the sounds of things it will be a while befo..." the
Redguard was interrupted as a voice beyond the door raised.
"How many times must I tell you? We are not taking on any more soldiers at
this fort!." someone shouted
"Please, I was told this was the only place that would take new recruits..."
another voice said.
"The barracks are full, we don't have room for you. Try joining a guild,
they're always willing to take people."
"But I..."
"That's enough! Captain, show him out!"
"Yes sir." a third voice said.
A moment later a Nord opened the door, dragging an annoyed teenage Imperial
with wavy, shoulder length brown hair behind him. The Nord took him upstairs and
shoved him out the door.
"Pretty rough place." I said, turning back to the Redguard "Can I go in now?"
"Fine. Commander, another visitor."
"If it's someone looking to join, send him away." an irritated voice said
from behind the door.
"I have important information, please give me a minute of your time sir." I
said, poking my head through the doorway as the Redguard tried to hold me back.
"Very well, come in."
I stepped into the room, there was a bed in the corner and a table near the
wall where the commander sat. The Nord that took the other person out had
returned and stood guard by the door.
The commander looked up at me, "Yes, what did you have to say?"
"I was told to warn you about a group of bandits planning to attack the town,
they should be here by tomorrow."
"Bandits? Is that all? Our fort may be small compared to others, but it's
more than enough for a few bandits. I'll make sure to tighten our security for a
couple days." the commander said casually, he clearly wasn't taking him
seriously.
"These bandits should not be taken lightly, they're not just common thugs,
they're more organized." I said, trying to get him to realize just how bad
things could get if they weren't prepared.
"Yes, yes, I'll take care of things. Now if that's all, please be going." he
said in the same, uncaring tone.
"Fine, don't believe me. I did try to warn you, if this turns into a
bloodbath because of your carelessness, so be it. Nobody can say I sat by and
did nothing." I said coldly, turning and walking out the door.
I slammed the door of the inn, and walked back to the Silt Strider, grumbling
to myself all the way.
"Stupid son of a... how can an idiot like him become a commander? I swear, if
this town gets leveled because of that... eh?" I looked over at a patch of
mucksponge, the Imperial that was thrown out of the inn was sitting next to it,
the sun reflecting off his Orcish armor. He seemed to be in deep thought.
I walked up next to him, "Excuse me..."
He glanced up at me and got to his feet. "Yes?"
"I saw what happened back at the inn, since these fools won't accept your aid
I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining the guild I'm in." I said.
After my screw up of the last mission, I thought maybe recruiting someone would
be a good way to make the guildmaster a little less cross with me.
"What kind of guild is it?" He asked.
"What kind? Uh..." I thought back to my previous missions, it was hard for me
to tell, I never paid much attention to that. I just did my job, I didn't bother
to question why. "That's something you'd have to take up with the guildmaster,
I'm not good at explaining things. Interested?"
"Sure, I don't have anything else to do since they didn't accept me here. I'm
Bryenn, nice to meet you."
"First time I've heard that, my name's Nem Orian. We should get going, I've
done what I came here to do." I said, turning and continuing to the Silt
Strider. We climbed aboard and began the journey back to Suran.
I looked back at Gnisis as we left, it was almost out of view when I saw
smoke beginning to rise, and the sound of metal on metal echoing faintly in the
valley.
"I tried to warn them... idiots." I mumbled
Bryenn looked back when I said that, "What's happening back there?!" he
asked, quickly standing up.
"The bandits must've got there earlier than I expected. Good thing we got out
of there before... eh?" I turned to see Bryenn leap off the Silt Strider. "What
are you doing?!"
He landed hard, but didn't seem to be hurt, how someone wearing steel armor
could land without falling over is beyond me. "I'm going back to help them,
come on!" Bryenn shouted, running back to Gnisis.
"Hey! Wait!" I yelled, but he didn't turn back. "What kind of... fine, if he
wants to die let him." I turned away for a moment, fighting with myself about
what to do. "I can just... but it was my fault... no, it was.... crap!" I
clenched my fists and turned back, leaping off the Silt Strider. I rolled as I
hit the ground, and bolted in the direction of Gnisis.
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