Back to Riften
“Alright boys, Riften is just ahead,” Sonin announced, in a cheerful mood.
Vilkas took notice that she was walking with a limp that wasn’t there the night before. He wondered if it was his fault, but felt too ashamed to ask. Farkas also seemed distracted, lost in his own thoughts. Argis was much chattier than normal, saying something to make Sonin laugh.
“Hold!” A guard at the gates commanded at the group, “If you want to enter, you’ll nee-”
“Need to pay the visitor’s tax,” Sonin rolled her eyes, “I know your spill. You’ll get no coin from me. Now open the damn gates before I set your cloak on fire.”
“I-fine. Keep your voice down,” the guard stammered and quickly opened the door.
Sonin glanced behind her to her men’s wide eyes, “What? I know what a shakedown looks like.”
They nodded and followed her into the city. Sonin strolled through like she knew the city like the back of her hand. She made a straight line to the market, looking around for whoever they were supposed to meet. Vilkas spotted him just when she did, noticing her heart skip a few beats. Strange.
“Bryn!” She rushed over to redhead peddling snake oils.
“Lass,” he embraced her in a hug that was a little more than friendly, “What brings you here? Finally taking up my offer?”
She straightened her armor, “No. I need some information and I figured your organisation might be able to help.”
Brynjolf looked to her companions suspiciously, “Do you hope to intimidate it out of me lass?”
Sonin’s eyes widened, “No! I have coin. They just insisted on following me around.”
“Well, I can see why,” he winked at her, drawing a low growl from Vilkas, “Perhaps you wish to discuss this privately at the Flagon?”
“Another time. This isn’t something needing privacy,” Sonin replied. Brynjolf’s smirk dropped and she continued, “I hear there is a dragon that has been pestering the areas around the city. I was hoping you could point me in the right direction,” she handed him a small coin purse.
He jiggled it to determine the payment before replying, “Aye. Don’t know why you would want to know that, but it’s just east of the city. A few hours walk.”
“Thank you Bryn,” Sonin smiled and nodded, turning to leave before he reached a hand out to stop her.
“Wait, lass?” He caught the slight tensing of her male companions and removed his hand, “If you’re serious about going after that beast, at least let me buy you a tankard first.”
Sonin smiled softly, “When I get back, I’ll meet you in the Ratway for the drink.”
Brynjolf nodded and watched her hips sway as she led her group out of the city. He recognised one of the men, the ‘bodyguard’ that was with her before. Brynjolf was perplexed at what was going on with that woman, but he was sure he could get her lips loose after a few drinks.
…
“How do you know that man?” Argis finally broke the silence when they left the city.
“Bryn? Beat some information out of him one time and now he’s determined to get me in his guild...and probably his bed,” she snorted at the last bit.
“He is a thief,” Vilkas informed them.
“Surely you aren’t serious about drinks with that...sleazy man?” Argis questioned.
“Just drinks Argis,” Sonin waved in dismissal, “I am much too worn out from last night to try and climb into anyone’s bed tonight. Although, suggesting he would give me the comfort of a bed is saying much. He seems the type that would prefer the damp, cold sewer floors.”
Vilkas raised a brow, “Last night?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” Farkas replied before Sonin could.
Vilkas exchanged knowing looks with his brother and refrained from asking any further questions for now. They would talk later in private. His brother made it clear it was not something he’d want to know.
Sonin led the group to the location Brynjolf suggested, sensing the dragon’s presence. It was an elder dragon. Argis was to take charge and rush the dragon’s front while Vilkas and Farkas flanked it. Sonin, not physically up to her normal standards, decided to hang back to cast her spells.
Vilkas and Farkas sunk their swords in at the same time as Argis swung at the front of the beast’s head. Something felt wrong. Sonin felt uneasy, but continued her shock spells. Elder dragons like this one were not easy. The dragon was becoming desperate. It was on the verge of its death, and it wasn’t going to go alone. Before Sonin could throw up a blocking spell, the dragon sunk its teeth into Argis. It’s teeth cut through his steel armor like butter. Sonin screamed out for him, using her strongest healing spells to keep him alive. No spell can save a man bitten in half though.
Vilkas and Farkas sensed her distress, their wolves breaking free at her pain. Sonin, forgetting her own soreness, rushed the dragon herself. Tears streamed down her face as she cast her strongest bound weapon, a greataxe that she would have never been able to lift if it were made of metal. The dragon lowered its head to repeat its attack, but Sonin swung the axe and decapitated the beast. Vilkas and Farkas were still tearing chunks of the dragon out when Sonin collapsed beside Argis’ bleeding body. His lower half was completely removed from his upper. His eyes had already lost their life. The only thing she could hope to do now was bargain with a daedric prince to bring him back, but she knew he would hate that. Surely, he was in Sovngarde now.
The dragon soul rushed into her body, healing it. It could do nothing for her heart though. Farkas came beside her, pulling her into his burly arms. He smelt of wet dog, but that didn’t bother her. Vilkas was still in his wolf form, unable to turn back while Sonin still set off such strong scents.
“Why-how…” Sonin sobbed into Farkas’ bare chest.
Farkas didn’t know what to say, his own eyes growing wet. He had some feelings toward Argis he wanted to explore after their threesome that he wouldn’t be able to now. Vilkas paced, stopping to reach a claw out to Sonin but stopping short every time. Sonin wasn’t sure how long she stayed in Farkas’ arms crying, but she eventually fell asleep.
…
“It’s time we take her back home,” Vilkas said to Farkas.
“I know,” Farkas sighed, not noticing that I had woken yet.
“Kodlak would be able to help her through this,” Vilkas replied.
“We should write to Lydia and let her know what happened too,” Farkas finally looked over to me on the bed, “Sonin’s awake.”
“I am,” Sonin groaned and sat up, “and I’m not ready to go back to Jorrvaskr. There’s still dragons to kill.”
“You need a break from that,” Vilkas crossed his arms.
“I think I need a break from you,” Sonin snapped.
“Fine,” Vilkas grabbed his sword with the biggest scowl Sonin had ever seen on him before he stormed out the door.
“Sonin-”
“No Farkas. You too. Vilkas needs you,” Sonin interrupted.
“But you’ll be-”
“I know,” Sonin cut him off again.
“You’ll force me away if I don’t go on my own, huh?” Farkas questioned.
“Yes,” a tear fell from Sonin’s eye, “I need to be alone.”
Farkas stood, gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, then left to find Vilkas. Sonin knew she shouldn’t be sending them away like that, but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t take the pitiful looks they gave her. No, Sonin couldn’t take that.
Sonin collected herself after an hour of crying alone on the bed before she too head out. Her feet took her to the Flagon where she planned to get very, very drunk.