(Reyvin's pov)
Less than an hour after I sent out the two hunting parties the miasma finally dispersed completely and I let out a relieved sigh. Channeling Magicka at a constant rate for so long was still tiring, but at least it was good exercise, right?
Sybille and the Dunmer were the first to return, none of them looked even a tiny bit winded by the experience, except for the slightly stronger aura Sybille emitted. I guess she had a nice meal on the job.
The other group took their sweet time, for a moment I was afraid that they may have been met with a group other than the presumed witch but thankfully just as I was about to send Scorch out to find them they arrived, with baggage.
I ride up to them and they give me their report, only one of the spellswords was lightly wounded, but that was easily dealt with by Brienne. The two liberated prisoners were a nice bonus, but Minthara's queasy look implied a bigger story.
After a short rest, the army moved on, with Scorch constantly circling above us, and me fully focusing on detecting any further tomfoolery from our enemies.
Thankfully they were either undermanned or learned their lessons well, I naturally hoped for the former.
We came upon their settlement just as the sun was about to start setting. It looked like one of the more open ancient Nordic ruins, with low walls surrounding a stone structure that likely went deeper but was completely caved in over the millennia.
Above the ancient stonework stood a wooden palisade, compensating for the lack of height, and beyond it were scattered large spacious leather tents, growing bigger and bigger as they went uphill, all the way to a large structure made of wood and leather covering what I was sure was a word-wall, and no doubt my personal target.
The Legate wisely elected to set up a fortified camp before we began with our assault, the veteran legionaries getting to work with practiced speed and efficiency while the newbies were spread out among them to learn the ropes.
As the sun finally set I found myself in a large rectangular tent at the center of the camp, with all the officers and mages present.
"The first issue" The Legate began the meeting "Will be the walls and gate." Her eyes met mine "Harald informed me of your ability to move your... contraption quickly."
I nod "I can have it here in minutes."
"Good" She nods "We will need multiple breaches to make sure the enemy cannot funnel us through a choke-point."
A series of memories enter my mind suddenly as Scorch dispels himself and I interrupt "I just got the numbers" All eyes focus on me "They seem to have slightly over three thousand able men, not counting the wounded and broken, most of them lacking quality equipment. My familiar also noticed the presence of women and children inside, and a small enclosure containing a couple of dozen prisoners of the Nordic variety."
The King frowns "They were planning on settling here permanently."
"Not a terrible idea." Sybille says "The land itself isn't bad, and if they didn't decide to attack us immediately Ulfric would have been enough distraction for a city to sprout here."
"Then why?" Torygg's frown deepens "Why would they waste their chance?"
"Begging your pardon King Torygg" Bor interjects "But these aren't the same civilized folk you usually deal with, they don't think in long-term plans." He scoffs "One of their hags probably saw an opportunity for something shiny and just threw its servants at us."
Everyone shares a derisive chuckle, except Torygg "Even so" he nods at Bor "That would beg the question of what the Thalmor would want to achieve in pushing them forward?"
"Maybe it is as simple as hoping to do as much damage as possible?" I posit.
"A fair assessment" Rikke agrees "If they weren't stopped at Haraldstead they would have been able to pillage the entire western flank of the hold, and even the Thalmor could not have reasonably expected for us to crush them almost utterly before they even truly breached the walls of a small town."
Harald puffs out his chest in pride, I could cut him down a peg but considering he is losing his daughter in the exchange I will let him have this.
Minthara, quite brazenly, decides to pipe in "Maybe they wanted you all out of the city for some other scheme they were cooking up?"
I raise an eyebrow "Like?"
The brazenness disappears instantly as she sputters at the sudden attention "Maybe to steal something?"
We all turn to Torygg who shrugs "We have nothing they could do any real damage with."
"So that leaves only the mage's tower as a possible target" Sybille smirks and locks her eyes with mine "Those poor fools" We both share a bloodthirsty grin and chuckle.
I shake my head as the mirth leaves me "I do not believe they would do something as stupid as that with Falk still present in the city, no one fucks with Falk." All that know the man nod solemnly.
Minthara seemed uncomfortable with what to her seemed like wasting people's time but before she could start overthinking I raised a hand "Do not worry about asking questions, it was a reasonable enough assumption for anyone who doesn't have any real experience with the n'wahs"
"Speaking of n'wahs" My eyes narrow "What do we do about the non-combatants?"
Everyone stares at me with worry as the words leave my mouth, it takes a moment for me to compute what they are thinking and I blanch and shudder at the realization. I immediately give them all an offended stare "As much as I hate the Namirans I would be the first to kill any cunt that starts murdering women and children."
Everyone relaxes upon hearing this, everyone but Torygg who seems even worse off than when we started "We cannot kill them" He states the fact "Yet we cannot simply conquer them."
Ingvar Firebeard quickly agrees "Indeed, we do not have the resources to pacify this settlement after all the expenditures on the villages we founded in the past months."
The tense silence stretches out as everyone is deep in thought, an idea strikes me and I speak up "You could always disperse the willing families across the villages with the stipulation of abandoning their ways, at least some of them must be tired of being slaves to Daedra"
"And the rest" Torygg looks up from the map.
"Banish them." I say coldly.
Torygg seems ready to protest but Ingvar interjects "It is not the perfect solution to all our problems, but it still allows us to show mercy while integrating those willing." Ingvar gives me a grateful nod "The idea of spreading them around is an excellent one Master Reyvin."
I nod back and moments later Torygg lets out a long and tired sigh.
He seems to be doing that a lot these days. I barely hold back a cynical chuckle.
"Very well, we will go along with Reyvin's idea. That is if no one else has any?" The King looked at the rest of the advisors who all shook their heads.
Rikke clears her throat "If we could get back to actually winning the battle now?" Many of the less shameless among us share sheepish looks and the legate nods "Thank you. Now as I was saying, multiple breaches will be needed to effectively crush their resistance." She points at three different spots on the map "These three positions will do."
She looks at me and I nod at the unasked question.
"Good, the first group will be led by myself and we will go straight through the gate." She looks at Torygg "The second will be under the King and their goal will be to secure the prisoners, but not to the point of risking the entire operation" She sends Torygg a stern look and he nods in understanding.
"The third" She continues "Will be led by Thane Harald and will be tasked with cutting of any reinforcements while the rest of us regroup." Harald pipes up immediately and nods vigorously.
"And finally the fourth group will be the mages" She looks to Sybille and me "Your task is dealing with the enemy casters before they can do catastrophic damage to our forces from range, or any damage preferably." She says the last part as if it were a complete joke.
I hum in agreement "Very well, I will take the Guildsmen and my apprentices with me and storm the temple."
Sybille shrugs "I guess the twins and I will be running interference then."
Rikke looks at everyone else for any suggestions and as no one gives her any she nods in satisfaction "Rest well everyone, we attack at dawn."
Before they can disperse I clear my throat and all eyes turn to me, many immediately groan at the mischief evident in my expression "I am going to send Scorch to give them terms."
"Please don't" Torygg sighs.
"Already doing it."
The King slams his head on the table.
(Scorch's POV)
Another weird stone thing I have to visit.
I just hope I don't have to meet another featherless degenerate!
Find the temple he said, temples are big, right?
I see a big wooden tent thing and fly inside with my glorious speed, it takes me a while to feel the biggest presence and I find it atop the structure, standing on a balcony.
I land on top of the fence and turn to see-
DEAR POLEDANCING DAGOTH WHAT THE CAW IS THAT!?
The disgusting thing turns to me and blinks, after a moment it screeches with a voice that not even a mother can love "WhAt ArE YoU" It slurps disgustingly "Little thing?"
Pops told me to be at least somewhat diplomatic, but caw on that!
This thing is worse than a degenerate, it is, and may Dagoth forgive me for uttering the word, a complete and utter n'wah!
"I am the great and mighty Scorch" I say in my glorious voice "And I have come to judge you!"
The thing shuffles uncomfortably and tilts its head "Judge me? WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ME!? I AM BEAUTIFUL!"
"Your feathers are faded and your claws are blunt" I say calmly.
The disgusting creature clutches at its heart "NO! YOU LIE!"
I look at the thing with sad eyes "Not only are your wings small and weak, you are also blind!"
It staggers back and snarls at me "YOU LITTLE!"
The thing rushes at me in its rage, completely forgetting that it has magic. I jump around it as it tries to grab me while pecking at its hands.
"Begone foul thing!" I caw "I peck you!"
It flinches "NO!"
I shake my majestic head "I see there is no reasoning with you, I have but one last thing to say." Its eyes focus on me as it shivers disgustingly "And I mean this with all my heart... CAW!"
And I explode.
(Reyvin's pov)
An explosion engulfs the peak of the temple as screams of incoherent rage reverberate across the entire settlement and beyond.
"That thing is a monster" Sybille mutters from her position in my lap.
I cackle madly as Scorch's memories appear in my mind, I do oh so love my bird!
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Maybe these Reachmen wouldn't need to worry about getting dunked on if they had more stones to build their forts with.
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