"You're back, milady." Gascayn sounds pleased.

 

Windhelm has not been welcoming at all, but Gascayn at least is friendly. So Ephedrina returns to him, and they spend a pleasant morning conversing and drinking (not to excess, just enough to be convivial). They discuss Dunmer politics (ruthless), Windhelm racism (sometimes dangerous), the civil war (business opportunity), magic (they both dabble), religion (they're both followers of Nocturnal). Gascayn mentions that he's considering travelling to Riften to see if the local Thieves Guild is worth joining.

 

They also play dice games, and luck is with Ephedrina. She makes a not insubstantial amount of money from Gascayn (who takes the loss gracefully). In fact, it's enough to that she can afford the required licenses (armour, weapons, magic). Ephedrina tries to conceal her happiness. She wouldn't want Gascayn to think she's gloating.

 

 

Ephedrina stashes all her unlicensed gear (and lockpicks) with Gascayn. It's a gesture of trust, for sure, but she judges the risk of him betraying her smaller than the risk of her getting checked for licenses and having the items confiscated.

 

Instead she wears an ugly dress she obtained earlier. It is neither elegant nor pleasant to wear, but it'll allow her to blend in a bit better and make it less risky if she's stopped.

 

 

"Don't try that shit with me, cupcake. Your grey skin don't make you special, and your posh accent is just fucking irritating."

 

At first Ephedrina was pleasantly surprised that the license official was a Dunmer like her, but it's not helping her at all... and she's not able to pull off the Dunmer noble act to any real effect either. In fact, the man claims he has no forms left today. Maybe he'll have more tomorrow. He can't say. No amount of cajoling, threatening, or pleading seems to change his mind.

 

Now what will she do?

 

 

"Milady, I accept your offer."

 

Since she can't leave through the gates, Ephedrina has decided to penetrate deeper into the tunnels below the city. She's bought a compass to help her navigate, and she's agreed to take Gascayn on as a retainer for the duration.

 

"It's likely only going to be a temporary arrangement, Gascayn. I don't have a need for you permanently." She strikes a tone of thoughtless condescension - the way the very rich and very noble talk to their lessers - mostly to stop him from arguing. It seems to work. Truth be told, can't she afford him permanently unless she makes a whole lot of money (wouldn't that be nice). In fact, she already has insufficient funds for the permits now, accounting for Gascayn's fees, provisions, and the compass. The expedition better be a success.

 

"Of course milady. I'm gratified that you have taken me on at all. Every moment in your service is an honour for me."

 

Right.

 

 

They progress carefully, yet at a reasonable pace. There are monsters of various kinds - and many of them quite brutal - but through a careful teamwork and tactics (mostly taking the enemies apart in small groups and tight confines), they are never in serious danger.

 

There pickings aren't exactly rich, but it's better than nothing. Ephedrina had hoped for more. Given how well they work together, she wouldn't mind keeping Gascayn on for a bit longer.

 

 

Then disaster strikes.

 

The way forward is blocked by some debris. Ephedrina goes too hard and stumbles through. Unfortunately, there's a drop on the other side and she plummets into a group of foul creatures below. Some of them she slays, but she surrounded and overcome. When Gascayn charges to her rescue, he too is brought low.

 

The weird creature - whatever it is - is close enough to humans and elves to have a penis.

 

Ephedrina is on her hands and knees. She feels the massive head of the creature's penis push against her sphincter. She knows what she must do. She tries to relax, letting the creature shove up into her anus.

 

It hurts. She screams. But also, amid the hurt, her body reacts in other ways. She feels things she's never felt before.

 

 

After who knows how long, the creature goes about its business.

 

Ephdrina is left tied up, kneeling. She can feel the creatures seminal fluid leak out of a her asshole, dripping on to the back of her boots.

 

"Milady, don't react. Stay still."

 

Somehow Gascayn has wiggled out of his bonds, and now he's untying her!

 

 

They make a break for it, and manage to escape.

 

After a while, they come to a small underground lake (they passed it earlier), and Ephedrina washes up.

 

Gascayn respects her modesty and turns his back as Ephedrina cleans herself. It's a nice gesture. Idly, she wonders if she should still consider herself a virgin after this treatment.  Does anal sex count?

 

 

Virgin or not, Ephedrina is incredibly sore from the the ordeal. Every step hurts, making her walk differently. Ephedrina tries to minimize the pain, but sometimes a certain movement results in aches that are almost pleasant. Sometimes she triggers those aches on purpose. She's trying to push through them, to make them lesser, but she can't help thinking of being on her hands and knees with the foul creature's penis sliding in and out of her backside. In and out. In and out. She can still feel it.

 

 

They trace their step back and slaughter the offending creature. Ephedrina slices off the penis, but the creature is already dead by then. It's more of a symbolic gesture.

 

They press on. The cave system is quite extensive, and has a number of curious features.

 

 

Ephedrina is hoping to find an exit, to find a way to enter and leave Windhelm that bypasses the toll collectors and inspectors at the gate.

 

They do find one exit, a shaft to the surface. Unfortunately, they cannot find any mechanism for lowering the elevator. it feels like the cold fresh air and bright sunlight is mocking them.

 

 

In the end they return to the surface the same way they descended.

 

 

Ephedrina is going to sell the things they've looted. She's pretty confident it'll bring in enough for the licenses tomorrow.

 

As a precaution, she stashes her non-licensed gear once more. The plan is for Gascayn to stay at the Dunmer establishment where they've been meeting. Ephedrina will take a room at the inn near the palace. In the morning she will get the licenses, return to pick up her gear and Gascayn, and then they can finally leave the cold grasp of Windhelm.

 

That's the plan, at least.

 

 

"Hold it greycheeks!"

 

Ephedrina stops. She's been outside for less than a minute before the guard apprehends her.

 

"You're coming with me."

 

"Why?"

 

"You greyskins are always up to no good. Have to make sure you're not carrying any contraband."

 

There's not arguing with the guard. She follows him back to the barracks.

 

 

They let her stand and wait for quite a while, wondering what will happen next. Hopefully it'll just be a quick search (she has no contraband) and that will be that.

 

 

"You smell good."

 

The guard has buried his nose in her hair, right by her neck. All the hairs on her neck stand up. Shivers travel up and down her spine. She's a bit sensitive right there, it turns out.

 

He's squeezing every part of her through her clothes, hard and long. He pinches her nipples and jiggles her breasts by them. it's all she can do to only gasp rather than scream.

 

"Oh you like that?" He smiles at her, then shakes her breasts again.

 

 

"Oh now I remember where I recognize you from. You're that stuck up bitch from yesterday, aren't you? Where's your fancy clothes now? Forgot them on the Jarl's bedroom floor?"

 

Ephedrina fumes silently. No point in arguing.

 

"Alright, off with it."

 

Ephedrina starts to object, but he cuts her off. "You're not wiggling out of it this time. Strip... or you're going to the dungeon. You'll like that much less than this, I promise you." He grins widely. "I might enjoy watching, though, if I can find the time."

 

So Ephedrina strips naked and lets the Guard fondle her naked body.

 

Why does he have to squeeze her breasts and pinch her nipples? What purpose does it serve to manhandle her buttocks or stroke her sensitive flanks?

 

It's not a mystery why he's doing it - he's using her because he can - but why is it allowed?

 

 

"Oh wow, guys check this out! Look how battered her asshole is!"

 

A few guards gather around, laughing.

 

"She tries to act all fancy, but likes to take it up the ass all night long!"

 

There's general laughter, then someone says "... or maybe...?"

 

"You're right."

 

"Here, spit on my fingers."

 

It takes Ephedrina a moment to realize the Guard is serious. She obeys reluctantly.

 

"You'll want more than that, for your own sake." Hesitantly, she spits again.

 

"Alright, bend over."

 

She looks at him uncomprehendingly.

 

"Looks like you take all sorts of things in your back hole. I gotta make sure you ain't hiding anything up there."

 

Unbelievable. It takes Ephedrina a few seconds to comprehend, and a few more to obey. The guard seems to enjoy her uncertainty. Once she's ready, he inserts his fingers into her (still very very sore) ass, poking and prodding. She winces.

 

"WIggle your ass a bit for me," he says laughing, fingers still inside. When she doesn't, he repeats it in a stern tone and she obeys.

 

"I'll be thinking of this tonight when I'm jerking off," says someone in the room. Others laugh and agree.

 

 

More pictures of the Guard's foul treatment of Ephedrina, for those who are interested:

 

 

This did not help her soreness. Ephedrina feels every step as she walks out.

 

She has no opinion on the civil war, but she hopes that the guards of Windhelm are all butchered by whatever enemies they have. Before she leaves the barracks (and the palace) she swipes a few things left unattended. Risky, she knows, but she needs some form of revenge to maintain her equilibrium, and petty theft will have to do.

 

 

Ephedrina managed to pick up some alchemical ingredients, both in the tunnels below but also in the streets and gardens of Windhelm. These, after some experimentation, she turns into potions which she subsequently sells.

 

Her cash position is getting a bit more comfortable, which is good. She should be able to afford Gascayn for a few more days... if she decides it's worth it.

 

 

Ephedrina sells some of the loot to a Dunmer merchant. She did him a favour earlier, returning a stolen ring to its rightful owner to keep him out of trouble. Still, he won't buy any weapons or armour from her if she doesn't have the appropriate license.

 

Perhaps it's understandable, but it's also annoying.

 

Ephedrina locates a fence at the local inn, which is handy because she stole a bunch of stuff at the palace.

 

 

But even the fence refuses to trade in non-licensed goods. That's less understandable and even more annoying that the refusal of legitimate merchants.

 

 

Finally it's bedtime. It's been a long and very trying day. Ephedrina is tired and sore, but she has made money and she's beginning to figure out how things work in Skyrim... or at least in Windhelm. She can prosper here, she is sure. It's only the beginning.

 

And tomorrow... she's drifting off to sleep... tomorrow she'll leave. Should she take Gascayn with her...? He's been pretty dependable so far... and he's not bad looking... she has the money....