Oblivion: No Woman Left Behind

Timeline: Episode 6 Reinterpretation

Fang picked his way back down Kvatch’s plateau, trying to hurry. He had stumbled into Kvatch half-conscious, and only the identifying mark he carried of the Fighter’s Guild showed his relatively “safe” status. He’d rested in the Kvatch Guild for several hours before waking, getting supplies and working on finding people to help.

That is to say, no one.

As the head of the Kvatch Fighter’s Guild put it, “trying to take on the roving bands of Colovia is a lost cause. I hate to say it, but leave it to the Legion, at least unless we’re getting paid.” He had less luck with people outside of the Fighter’s Guild.

“Bunch of cowards,” he grumbled, blinking in the fading light. “City should just be wiped off the map.”

Once he reached the bottom he started on the road proper, though staying to the side and low. He had gotten some armor to help him, as well as a wickedly sharp Elven dagger, but he’d prefer to strike first if he could help it.

He passed around a corner to see the light of an approaching torch, and he stayed back, peering through the darkness. The torch’s light only reached so far, and being a Khajiit, the darkness was no true hindrance to him.

He was somewhat shocked to see what was coming towards him.

“By the Gods, you’re alive?!”

Approaching on horseback was none other than the Legion soldier from earlier. She looked up startled, and made to draw her sword. He spoke quickly, saying “it’s me, the one you met earlier on the road!”

A pause. “The Khajiit?”

“Yes,” he said, moving closer. He could see she had seen better days. Her armor was dented and scarred, and he saw specks of blood here and there. As her hand moved away from her scabbard, it rested on her stomach. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Better off than the bandits from earlier,” she said bitterly. “You’re a bit late in helping, if that was your goal.”

Fang frowned, ears tilting back. “For that I apologize. I passed out on reaching Kvatch, and even after I awoke,” he glared back at the town on the hill, “well, the fine people of Kvatch enjoy their high-life.”

She laughed slightly, though stopped, holding herself tighter. “I suppose I see that. Many of the Colovian cities are like that.”

He looked at the horse she rode upon. “Is that… ?”

“Yes… it’s your horse,” she said, some resignedly. “It wandered by where I had fallen… after killing all of the outlaws… and after treating it, I rode it here. I did notice that it was not, however, a Legion Horse.”

“Aah,” he said, feeling a slight twinge of relief. “Well, I am glad. For your helping me… saving me, really… you may certainly keep the horse.”

“Thank you,” she said. “For your assistance, I’ll not look into it any further… so long as you can escort me to Kvatch, at any rate.”

“Of course!” Fang said, taking the horse’s reins and beginning to lead it. “Anything for an officer of the legion.”

“Hrrm,” she said, somewhat disbelieving. “Do keep it that way. The Legion does not look kindly upon even well-meaning bandits or thieves... and my sword can speak of how we treat the ill-meaning ones.”

He didn’t need to study her sword to know it was probably drenched in dry blood. He could smell it. “Trust me miss,” he said, glancing back. He remembered her bold charge against many foes, and the Anvil Guards that had concocted their confusing plot to root out crime, “I’m getting a very clear picture of how the law in Cyrodiil works.”