He approached the boat, prepared to head back to the hunter’s camp while scanning around the lake’s edges near the camp. He wanted to ensure there was no threatening activity from possible Thalmor or Imperial Scouts. He then leaped into the canoe and made his way out onto the lake towards the hunter’s camp.
When he arrived at the hunter’s camp it was empty. Hedren likely had gone into Riverwood as he had told Rose, the other hunters were off somewhere on the next hunt stocking up to sell so they could get supplies in for the cooler season yet to come.
He made his way up towards the three standing stones that stood timeless on the rocky outcrop above where he stood at the hunter camp below. Beyond the blessing stones would be the road into Riverwood. He began his journey up the trail, paused, thought to himself, “What Alibi should I use with the Thalmor? Maybe none, just see where it goes.”
He arrived at the stones and the road, nothing could be heard other than the normal sounds of the woodlands and mountains surrounding this area. He still worried about what to do about Thalmor but instinctively felt something would come to him at the time.
As he made his way to the road, walked along its path a while and closed the distance to Riverwood, he paused near one of the falls where the waters would tumble, the mist would rise, and the White River finally settle down as it neared Riverwood. He thought, “What am I going to do about the Thalmor if they’re hanging around town and decide to cause trouble. “
He smiled to himself thinking, “Maybe I’ll shake them up a bit by throwing something their way they won’t expect, a little touch of aggression. That will make the Justiciar take pause and consider the outcomes. It was worth a gamble he thought to himself.”
He stood there looking ahead, saw the large Elk across the river. He contemplated, “that would be a good prize for any of the hunters around the camp. Too bad none of them are around to take advantage of it. An Elk that size could put meat on the table for a whole family through the winter months.”
He continued towards the town of Riverwood and whatever fate had in store for him there. Of course, he thought, “I would prefer that it is uneventful trip, I purchase the supplies needed, learn what I can about why they are here and get back to the camp. Rose would be needing the supplies if they hoped to save that injured girl.”
“There they were he thought, is that a poster nailed to the wall there?” With that he continued forward and the Justiciar stepped forward once he approached them.
“Stop! What is it you are doing in this town?” The adventurer stepped closer and gave a cynical response with a crooked smile, “I could ask you the same thing! What are the Thalmor doing in this quiet little town of Riverwood so far from the embassy up near Solitude, the capital city of Skyrim?”
This did give the Justiciar pause, and he thought, “Just who is this that step forward instead of back when the Thalmor questions?” He considers how to respond, “Have you seen the girl shown on this poster?”
The adventurer responded, “No, is it not obvious I have just arrived here? How is that I am supposed to have seen her and who is she anyway that her mere presence somewhere requires so many soldiers and a Justiciar?”
The Justiciar thought briefly, “I think I’ll continue forward; he doesn’t appear to be any immediate threat. Although, he observed that armor is not an ordinary Nord crafted cuirass. The detail and craftsman that forged this is no ordinary smithy. “He then responded to this man, “She is a dangerous criminal, as you can see if you can read? There is a sizable reward available for anyone helping to locate her in such a way to allow us to capture her.”
The adventurer responded quickly, “Your tone and insult does you no favors, Justiciar. A single girl requires a company of highly trained Dominion soldiers, an Imperial Scout, and his dogs, with a Justiciar?”
The Justiciar spate back, “She is a wanted criminal for murder, she is extremely dangerous, and I would caution you if you were to come upon her in your travels. If you see her let us know. Oh, one precautionary tale, anyone caught helping her will be summarily executed and their family sent to Valenwood, to the ports of the slavers. Move along now.”
The adventurer said no more but stepped towards the poster to inspect it closely.
