The Ebony Renegades BOOK ONE

chapter thirty three

When the morning sun crept up over the hillside the group had mounted each of their individual equines before making their way East heading towards Dawnstar or more specifically Fort Dunstad to commandeer the fort and make it livable so each of them could fulfill their individual tasks. Once they arrive at Fort Dunstad they will split off and do what they got to do. They rode in their usual formation with Serana piggybacking with Tully on his daedric horse as the group surrounded Gentu since he was currently the most injured due to him only having one arm. With his trailer attached to his dwarven horse he was hauling the group's supplies as well, so his position in the middle and surrounded by them was both tactically sound for carrying the gang supplies, but also to make him less exposed. they made theyre way south along the trail to head east and proceed the path to Th Pale when they got to the bridge they rode single file until they got the the other side of the bridge where they resumed there formation and rode uphill with the city of Morthal on theyre left side. Gila and Ebon-shi rode ahead of the group to scout out the route ahead to spot any possible danger or altercations. Gila got off of her horse and jumped up on the ledge taking out her makeshift scope he peered ahead through the snowy fog and called down what she saw. "I spotted a single nord tomb on the left and the path turns north east towards Dawnstar then back east." Gila says as Ebon-shi nods and beckons for the rest to catch up. as they moved carefully on the frostbitten road they soon encountered sign's of a bandit attack. A single carrage stood motionless as its equine puller lay on the ground lifeless Gila walks over to investigate more thouroughly as Sabrina, Myra, and Shadow-step accompony her Gila kneels beside the fallen steed and a sorrowful look appeares in her eyes as her hand gently caresses the horsed long dead body. " Poor thing was shot in the lung and left to drown in his own blood then left to rot." Gila said sadly as she took the shovel on the side of the cart and gently piled snow on top of the dead horse burying it in a gentle blanket of snow. While Shadow-step, Myra, and Sabrina only found some potions and alchamy ingredients in the baskets and other containers. The four mounted theyre horses except Gila who rushed further up the path without warning as she pulled out her war axe that Yamma made. As the others quickly caught up with her there eyes rolled as Gila was pulling the blade of her war axe out of the skull of a frost troll with a contented smile on her face. As Gila hops back on her horse as they could see a dwemer ruin on there right but they proceeded forward on the path which turned north and spotted the elevator on there left as they keep going eventually passing an Imperial bodyguard with the same arrogent holier then thou noble they passed on there way out of the Reach that Sabrina made a rotten fruit fall on him. upon seeing them and the elegent trailor Gentu was hauling the mans greed and self-entitlement becam clear. "He you, i am a high ranking noble, by that right i demand your trialer, now give it to me or else!" the group didnt even acknowledge the self-entitles noble and kept going as they passed windward ruins as the Imperial bodyguard shouted ordering them to stop. " HALT!"  the Imperial in the legion's traditional heavy armor wielding a legionnaires sword and heavy legion shield. " Did you not hear him?" The Imperial spoke at a firm tone before Tully chuckled before turning his head to face him. " Oh we heard him all right, we just don't give two shits with a self entitled prick wants and you of all people should know what happens if you draw a weapon against me lieutenant." Totally spoke in a very calm yet commanding tone that the lieutenant recognized immediately before quickly sheathing his sword and bowing his head in apologies. " General Tully, I am sorry I did not recognize you you're not wearing your usual Legionnaire armor or your Imperial dragon armor so I didn't recognize you, please forgive me." The lieutenant said as totally hopped off of his daedric horse and approached him before putting a gentle daedric gauntlet hand on his shoulder ensuring him that he was not upset because it was a very understandable mistake especially if the only time the lieutenant had ever seen him before was in his Imperial dragon armor. " I don't give a shit if he's the son of the emperor himself, I am paying you so get me that trailer or I'm going to have you reported for insubordination!" The noble shouted while the rest of the group just rolled their eyes Gila decided since they were currently standing next to Windward Ruins that she would to the hunting skeever job while they were right there as Tully walked up to the noble. " You've got some balls talking to a legionnaire like that, but I respect your guts therefore I will make you an offer, get your pompus ass down here and you and I will settle this one on one because that's obvious you're too weak the proof being that you need to have a hired Legionnaire to do your work for you mainly because you are too weak and decadent to do the job yourself." Tully taunted getting inside the noble's head the noble being a fool that he was jumped off his horse and got right up until his face in a feeble attempt to intimidate him while Tully's face remained stoic even as the noble was shouting in his face. " Tell you what, let's make this more interesting I'll even take my armor off and I won't even use my weapons that should make it a fair fight for you I'll even only use one arm and I won't use my legs to kick you." As Tully said that he started removing his armor after setting his equipment down next to his daedric horse and Serana who was leaning up against said summoned horse with a smirk on her face because she knew exactly what Tully was going to do to the poor fool. Once Tully was down to just his shorts and undershirt he removed his undershirt showing his pale skin that had lots of scars on his body from his days with the legion. As Tully got into a stance his right hand up right next to his face and his other hand position in the front making it clear that he was going to punch with his right hand and block with his left. The noble yelled before attempting to sucker punch him only for Tully to deliver a swift jab to his throat while using the same arm grabbing his wrist and twisting it before throwing him over his shoulder and making the noble hit his horse the equine being spooked in turn bucked the noble back to Tully and straight into his fist breaking the nobles nose. The noble fell to the ground clutching his broken nose and screaming about an assault on a high-ranking noble before Tully kicked him in the face and put his foot on his chest while looking down at him with his piercing amber eyes and a cold look. " Just shut up you worm, clearly your bark is much worse than your bite that is why you need a legionnaire to protect you because you are incapable of doing anything yourself, you self entitled pricks are all the same you had every little thing handed to you on a silver platter so you have a sense of entitlement now get out of here before I decide to grind you into the dirt like the filthy worm you are." Tully growled lowly as the noble scrambled to his feet and ran clutching his broken nose as Tully turned to face his once lieutenant the noble pulled out a crossbow before shooting of silver bolt into Tully's shoulder which Tully didnt even flinch at in turn the legionnaire rushed to the noble before clocking him with his shield and pulling out some leather strips and tying his hands behind his back. " Sir you have just assaulted a high up general of the legion, therefore I am placing you under and if you attack me I'll just tell the general that you're a suspected spy for the stormcloaks that'll certainly get your head to roll from the executioner's block so I would advise you not fight." The lieutenant said sternly before tossing the noble over his own horse then turning his attention back on the group. "Just out of curiosity where are you all heading?" The Imperial Lieutenant asked before Ebon-shi spoke up. " We are heading to Fort Dunstad, we're going to stay there for a little bit and then make our way probably towards Winterhold." When the leader of the renegades said that the imperial lieutenants face brightened before he spoke in a calm manne. " That is the fort the legion is trying to garrison, in fact Tully's former right hand man is the one in charge of the operation." The Imperial said as Tully's face brightened. " So you are telling me that Centurion is here in The Pale as well?" Tully asked before the Imperial Lieutenant nodded. "Correct he is currently hold up over there at Fort Fellhammer and he's planning on commandeering Fort Dunstad as well I'm sure if you ask him to let you guys handle it, he'll give you the okay since there isn't exactly a time limit to how long he has to get the fort, then once you guys leave you can just tell him and then he can move into the fort after you guys are done with it." He suggested then gave Tully a gentle wave and an apologetic look before wandering off taking the noble back to solitude to face judgment. As the lieutenant and the arrested noble left Tully requiped his weapons and armor as Gila returned and hops on her horse as the group rode up to the crossroad to the left was Dawnstar, straight up was Nightcaller Temple, and to the right was theyre destination, the group rode forward to the right and headed straight heading through the forests as Yamma rushed forward seeing the giant from the bounty and killed it swiftly and took its club as proof. After reassembling with the crew they continued forward passing Fort Fellhammer on theyre left before they decided to head to Fort Dunstad Tully took his former Lieutenant's advice and went to Fort Fellhammer to talk to an old friend of his. As he rolled up the path the other members of the legion recognized him and let him pass the other stayed in the tree line just in case. As Tully walked up to the commander's quarters and entered he was face to face with his old right hand man, he was an imperial wearing a complete set of heavy Imperial armor with the covered Imperial helmet replacing the more common open face helmet, resting against the table was his heavy Imperial shield and his legionnaire sword on his hip as well as the legendary hammer the champions cudgel on his back.

As the Imperial looked up to meet the gaze of his once superior he stood up from where he was sitting walked over and gave him a hearty shake of the hand his voice was muffled by the covered helm but his voice was still understandable. " Tully it has been too long old friend, what brings you all the way here to The Pale?" Centurion asked as Tully responded to his handshake by taking it in his daedric gauntlet hand. "I have been well Centurion, it has been in a very long time indeed it's good to see that you have risen through the ranks in my absence I'm proud of you." Tully praised as when he was in the legion Centurion was the only member of his squad that did not accompany him that fateful day therefore he was the only member of his squad that survived the slaughter. "I heard that you guys are trying to capture Fort Dunstad, me and my group are heading that way we're going to stay there for a few days after we clear the bandits out and then once we are done with it you guys can move in and do whatever it is you guys need to do okay?" Tully asked, by all rights he could just say that the Fort was there's and if they attack that they will be slaughtered like dogs but because Tully was once a member of the legion and a very high rank at that he asked his old friend out of respect, a mutual respect that the two had for one another. "Sure thing, how long do you anticipate staying there?" Centurion asked in a calm and disciplined manner such as the training of the legion. "We should only be there for about two days at max since one of our's in injured, just long enough to do the bounties we have here and then plot our next course to Winterhold I have business I have to attend to in Dawnstar as well as a few of the others so yeah about two days at most." Tully responded in a respectful manner which Centurion nodded giving the green light to do that since Centurion had known Tully for a long time he knew for a fact that he could trust his once commander's word. After exchanging a polite handshake between the two Tully returned to the group giving a nod saying that they had the green light to go.