We head out through Whiterun's gates and onto the western road, then past the stables outside of the walls, and eventually we pass some watchtower ruins.
All this in just under 15 minutes, thanks to Esbern's tiresome pace.
I wonder how long he'll keep this up, I know that I can't push on like this for 2 hours straight! Luckily for me, Esbern is wearing heavy armor, and I'm not. And that great-sword of his must also be heavy.
He's still not talking, but that suits me just fine, he hasn't made any attempt to make this partnership a pleasant one. I'll take the sound of the wilds of Skyrim over talking with him, at least he motivates me to get this mission over with quickly.
After a while, a large fort rise into our view- the wall facing us is scarred by destruction.
Whether damaged from a massive siege or have collapsed due to an earthquake, the stone wall there has crumbled, and seem to have sunk into the ground. Still, the bulk of the fortress stands, towering proudly over the landscape.
The cobblestone road leads us to pass the fort in front of its gate, this wall however, is undamaged. As we pass by, I suddenly notice several figures peak over the wall, armed with bows and swords!
I reach for my dagger and draw it quickly, shouting. "Esbern! Look out!"
Esbern turns toward me and stare at me for a brief moment. "Put your hunting knife back in it's sheath you fool! Let's keep moving!" He scowls, before he gives a short nod to the people on the wall, gesturing to them that there will be no fight.
They keep on staring at me however, I stare back as I slowly sheathe my dagger.
The biggest guy on the wall, a huge muscular man wielding a warhammer, gives me a cocky smirk. His hair is dark and short, he has a scar across his right eye, his brown skin he strikes me as a Redguard.
"You want a duel there, friend?" He asks with a deep and mocking voice, before laughing, making the others laugh along with him.
I start walking, following after Esbern, but I don't dare to take my eyes of them, not wanting an arrow in my back.
"Aww... come now, pigsticker... Don't be like that." The big guy continues, leading his men to another wave of laughter.
I assume he is the bandit leader.
I jog after Esbern to catch up to him.
Flustered I yell at him. "What the hell man?! What was that for?!"
Esbern stops and snap at me. "That is fort Greymoor! You know, the abandoned fort that has been occupied by a band of bandits for the last few years! Everyone in the hold knows that! And aren't you supposed to be from Rorikstead?!"
"...Well I-" I start to answer him.
But he continues to scowl at me.
"And not only that, but you draw your dagger at them! Do you want to give them an excuse to attack us?!"
I'm remain silent, figuring that he's not after an answer, he continues his rant.
"So, I only proved to them that you're just an idiot, thus- disarming the situation. I'd rather have them laughing at us than charging at us, use your head!"
The words sink in, my face falls to the ground. "Ah... that makes sense.. smart move, I suppose..." I say, but not really sure if I should thankful.
Esbern just grunts in reply.
"But... If they're bandits, why didn't they attack us? Or why don't Whiterun attack them? If the Jarl knows that they're there.." I ask curiously.
Esbern answers, but his tone is still irritable. "Their leader, Cyrus, isn't stupid. They don't raid locally, atleast not enough to draw attention. Guards, soldiers and caravans are allowed to pass by, but when it comes to travellers we don't know. That gives Whiterun a lack of reason to attack them, a battle here would cost more men than the Jarl can afford to lose... As you already know- the guards are already spread too thin!"
"So they're just left alone?... And there's no bounty on them either?..." I ask, curious.
Ebsern sighs. "Of course there's a bounty, on Cyrus that is. He was a murderer long before he and his crew occupied Greymoor. But who would attack them? The companions?" Esbern asks retorically.
"Yes?" I say, both answering and asking at once.
Esbern shakes his head. "No, they're too busy with their other jobs. Now, enough with the questions, we've wasted enough time already."
Without another word, he turns around and start walking again. I follow for another 20 minutes or so, yet again, he hasn't said a word. Then I see something that make me stop, my eyes go wide and my mouth drops. "Holy shit..."
There's a giant just a couple of stone throws away from us, walking along side of a few mammoths. He is huge! Wielding a club over his shoulder that is also massive! He turns and his gaze meet mine, my body freeze.
Esbern notice that I've stopped and he shouts with panic in his voice. "Keep moving, you idiot! Do you want to provoke a giant this time?!"
I snap out of it and quickly hurry over to Esbern. He grabs me by the collar of my shirt, his eyes blazing. "Ok, that's it! Exactly how little do you know about survival, huh?!
So far it would be safer travelling alone than with you!"
I raise my hand and point at the giant. "But, there is a giant right there, how could I not stare at it?!"
Esbern snorts hard. "Yes, I noticed! But giants leave you alone if you leave them alone! How in oblivion can you not know that?!"
Having had enough I snap back at him. "Alright, that's it! If you wouldn't act like a complete asshole all the time, and give me a heads up about these things, then neither the giant nor the fort would have been a problem, would it?!"
He let's go of my collar with a push.
"Rorikstead or Riverwood, both are within Whiterun hold. These things should be known to you! Have you been living under a rock?!"
Even if he is an ass, he's probably right.
I sigh. "You're right, Esbern... I have been living in Riverwood, and I haven't seen much else of Skyrim... Just assume that I might need some tips, and I'll try to follow your lead, ok?... We're both stuck with each other on this mission, so let's just try to make the best of it!"
Esbern takes a deep breath, finally showing signs of getting tired of being an ass. "Let's just get to Rorikstead and get this over with" he says with a softer voice, and starts walking again, only slower this time.
We keep on walking for some time, still not talking, but atleast our current pace is endurable.
There is not much out here in these parts except for vast tundras and mighty mountains in the distance, but it's still a sight to behold.
Eventually Esbern breakes the silence.
"This area is more open landscape, we could expect to see wolves... Maybe sabre cats".
He doesn't stop walking when he tells me, neither does he bother to look at me, but atleast his voice is warmer.
"Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open..." I answer, surprised by his sudden friendy gesture. Seems like my words reached him.
And surely enough, not many minutes later Esbern draws his great-sword.
"There's a pack of wolves up ahead, left of the road, by the hill." He warns.
I take my bow in hand, both its weight and the feel of it is unfamiliar.
"Damn... Do you think they'll attack?"
Esbern shrugs his shoulders.
"If they're hungry... so be prepared."
He stops and asses the situation for a moment. "I don't want to leave the road, even if it buys us distance from them. Sure it would decrease their chances of attacking us, but a fight with soggy, uneven ground beneath us... that wouldn't be good."
I reach for an arrow and nock it.
"Ok, so how do we proceed? Try to sneak by them? Or do we pass by them while showing ourselves to be dangerous?"
Esbern looks at me with raised eyebrows.
"Is Riverwood also free of wolves?.. we pass them calmy, keep facing them, don't ask for trouble, but don't act like prey."
I chuckle, a bit embarrassed.
Hunter, yeah right, he knows much more about wildlife than me! I seriously need another alias! If I was better with my spells I could make up a backstory as a mage's apprentice, or at least the servant of one.
"Ok we'll do that... But three wolves, ever faced so many at once before?" I ask.
Esbern replies.
"Once, we faced three wolves, but that was alongside another soldier, wasn't too hard. But I see four wolves, did you count the one sleeping in front of the rock?"
I scan the wolf pack again, trying to see if he's joking- he's not. The wolf's grey fur was his camouflage, hiding its silhouette in front of a large boulder. "Damn... Didn't see that one..." I whisper, mostly to myself.
Esbern starts to walk calmy, keeping his great-sword raised. "Just make sure to carry your weight, should they attack." He tells me, not sure whether it's trust yet, or a warning that he'll leave half of them for me, like Delphine did.
I swallow nervously. Keeping my arrow nocked, I follow him.
We get closer, the wolf in front of the rock is now easier to see, he seems a bit bigger than the other three, probably the pack leader.
The wolves turn their heads and look at us, all except the bigger one, seems like he's fast asleep.
"Just keep on going..." Esbern says, his voice calm but laced with tension.
We keep walking calmly while facing the wolves, their gaze follow us. Just when we're passing the road where our distance to them is the shortest, the big wolf opens his eyes.
He notice that his flock's gaze are glued in one direction, he follows their line of sight and spots us. He immediately starts growling and slowly rise up.
"Damn, I guess the big one IS hungry, brace yourself!" Esbern warns.
The big wolf starts to slowly walk towards us, guiding his pack to do the same, they all follow.
Esbern strides a few paces away from me, building distance between us, probably to be able to swing his great-sword around freely.
"They're going to attack, shoot the big one!" He commands.
"Alright!..." I answer a bit nervously, adrenaline rushing through my body, making my hands shake. I aim for the pack leader while he's still approaching us with threatening growls, wanting to intimidate us to start running.
I release my first arrow. In the first split second I fired it, hope arose within me.
That was a good shot! Was my immediate thought- but it wasn't. My arrow only grazed the big wolf's fur, he immediately started running, along with the rest of his pack.
"Damn it, hunter!" Esbern shouts, disappointed at my aim. The wolves are closing the distance quickly, I immediately nock another arrow, and fire.
*Thump*
I hit a rock, not even close! "Unbelievable!" Esbern retorts frustrated.
"The two in the back are yours, hunter!"
He shouts, taking on a battle stance!
I throw my bow on the ground, no time to strap it on! I take the shield in hand, and I draw my dagger, bracing myself for a fight!
"Hey! Over here you mut!" Esbern barks at the pack leader, pullings it's attention towards him.
The pack leader sprints towards Esbern, then it leaps, opening it's jaws mid air- aimed at Esbern's throat.
Esbern performs a swift sidestep while rotating his body- building momentum to strike back- all in one motion.
As the wolf passes by him, still airborne- BAM! Esbern slams his great-sword into the big wolf's ribs- dooming the wolf before it hits the ground.
"Damn..." I whisper to myself, impressed by Esbern's movements.
But I don't have time to stare and admire, the wolves are upon us. The two in the back are mine, and I need to handle them, at least until Esbern can help me out!
"Come at me!" I roar as I bang my dagger against my shield, attempting to draw their attention to me- it actually worked!
Esbern however refuse to let the one closest to him look away by moving closer to it, leaving the two other wolves for me.
They growl and approach me with lowered heads, baring their teeth at me.
I wait for one of them to take his chance. Finally one of the wolves snap at my feet, I quickly give it a bash with my shield- stunning it for a moment.
Not wanting to waste my chance, I drive my dagger into it's ribs! But before I can pull it out, the second wolf lunges at me and sinks his teeth into my forearm!
"Aah, damn it! Not again!" I yelp.
The wolf throws his head around, sinking his teeth deeper into my flesh.
"Hunter!" Esbern shouts. Still circling his second wolf, awaiting his opportunity to counter it. A great-sword is indeed a terrifying weapon to fight against, but it's hard to make any swift attacks with it, best to let the wolf move first and then counter it.
I groan and try to force the wolf's jaws open with my free hand, but his jaw doesn't budge, he sinks his teeth even deeper.
I cry out in pain, I need to do something!
I press my palm against the wolf's face, and I try to focus my magicka despite the pain and andrenaline rushing through my body!
Flames!- FLAMES!! I picture and will it, trying to focus for dear life.
At last, flames comes streaming out from my palm, a bigger stream than when I first tried the spell. It engulfs the wolf's entire head in flames, making it whimper loudly. It lets go of my forearm and runs away, head still ablaze.
The last remaining wolf must have realized that this was a losing battle- because he ran away as well.