This is purely for disclaimer purposes, as I wrote in the prologue and the 1st chapter, I do not own any part of the Elder Scrolls video game series. Also using inspiration from popular Xbox ONE "mods," this story is written purely for fun.
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My eyes flashed open, my mind still fuzzy as my self-waking spell I cast woke me on time, about an hour before dawn. Since I was still laying naked, next to my new slave, I needed to get my armor on, and the rest of my equipment ready. One may have thought that I should have a horse for carrying most of what I used for when I needed it, but too often, I found them all too easily killed by bandits, or predators in general when traveling the wilderness. Or if not killed, then frightened off. As I said to Carlotta, the world is a dangerous place. The fastest way for a sellsword dependent on their horse to become hindered in a bad way, is for said horse to be killed. Of course, I could stash all of it with the spell my shaman taught me, but I also couldn't keep it personally on me, if I don't trust the wilderness to a horse. So, I pack light instead.
But, next to me was a large, decently muscular nord man who could carry all of the food for Uthgerd and I. Also, if Mikael proved himself a well-behaved slave, then he could have more "rewarding" time from myself, and Uthgerd, assuming she would also enjoy it, of course.
"Wake up Slave!" I lightly scratched him with one of my claws.
"Ah!!" He said in shocked surprise, rather than pain.
"I concede that you have had, and still do, have a life outside of my presence. BUT, when you ARE in my presence, your concerns are to thought of, only AFTER mine. My concern right now, is that you can serve me, and fighting companion, by carrying our food and possibly whatever valuable items that Uthgerd and I find in the ruins of Bleakfalls. I understand that even if you are a nord, that you're a bard, and not suited to exploring ruins. So, you will carry what we want, until we arrive at the ruins, have I made myself clear?"
"Uh, Mistress?" He cautiously tried.
"Yes," I confirmed "that is the ONLY way you are to address me when you are my presence, until I tell you otherwise. Ask your question."
"Uh... Mistress, may I know what you will do with me when we arrive at Bleakfalls?"
"I haven't decided yet. I give you leave to dress and eat a breakfast for the morning, but then you WILL meet me outside the Bannered Mare when you are finished. Understand me?"
"Yes, Mistress."
"Good. Get to it. NOW."
He hastened to grab his clothes from the room's floor as I dressed in my ebony suit. Again, I had no care at all for his embarrassment at his seeing my nakedness while dressing, and made no attempt to hurry or hide my intimate parts.
Soon, Mikael, Uthgerd and I were all standing outside the tavern. Uthgerd was wearing the same steel plate she wore last night, of course, but she also kept an unusual shield clipped to the left side of her waist. I was in my ebony, with my daedric bow hanging on my right thigh, my black glass sword in its sheath on my left.
"You're taking him along?" Uthgerd was confused. "You know he's just a bard, not a fighter right?"
"Yes." I replied "But after I saw how he talked with Carlotta last night, I felt a sense of sisterly camaraderie for her. So, I've taken it upon myself to 'help' Mikael here understand women better. Since he has apparently often thought of himself as Mistress Dibella's 'gift' to women, it has occurred to me that perhaps he should understand that a more meaningful 'gift' is in 'servitude.'"
Then I quickly turned to Mikael, "Isn't that right, 'SLAVE?!'"
"Er... y-y-yes, Mistress." He answered timidly.
"Good!!" Uthgerd laughed loudly, clearly enjoying this "With your permission, 'Mistress' Scarlet, maybe I could participate in his 'training...'"
"Oh," I grinned broadly "but of course, 'Mistress' Uthgerd..."
Then after we had our fill of laughter much to my slave's discomfort, I spoke again.
"Please, lead the way, fellow 'Mistress.'"
"Thank you..." Uthgerd smiled as she obviously enjoyed the idea of what I was suggesting "The marketplace has a nice selection for extra supplies that your slave can carry easily, such as the food, lockpicks and soul gems. You're probably going to want to be the one to carry the climbing rope and spikes. I believe I may know of a shortcut to Bleakfalls, that would take us faster than the main road, but the trail is steep there."
"Alright," I said as we started browsing through the stalls who were opening earliest "what about this shortcut then?"
"Oh," Uthgerd explained "all the best sellswords look for ways to get to our clients' targets quickly. Whether they are a bunch of farmers asking about getting rid of a bandits harassing their rural community, or perhaps the guard wanting some extra help in tracking an escaped criminal, it's essential that you know the layout of the land. The shortcut is a trail that the frost trolls made as they come down to look for deer, or other prey in the fields. The mountains are lower there than the Throat of the World, but cold enough for them to be comfortable there."
"I've faced off with some of Cyrodiil's forest trolls, they seemed worse than bears."