I stirred some time later becaues my back was painfully hot. I didn't know how long I had been sitting there, but my leathers were mostly dry and the pain in my side had faded to a dull thing that I feared would turn into a tearing pain if I tried to move.
"Sti...still alive. That must have been all of them." Not my voice, but it was me talking. Another thought and I shifted and muttered "Laasvut". Nothing happened. I cleared my throat and tried again...I'd done this before. "Lasvuui". I felt it then...the pain was gone, but I was suddenly hungry, starving.
In the upstairs living area there was food and drink and I ate my fill after rolling the dead body out of the way. I briefly considered staying for a few days, but deep inside I wasn't interested in finding a hole and curling up. I wanted to know what happened and I just didn't think that staying here would help me.
I spent a few hours turning the place upside down and found quite a few things for my trouble. One of the bandits had left a journal, and while it was vague it explained that this cave was a source of iron for Riverwood. These bandits had moved in and taken over, and it went on to imply that someone on the inside was feeding them information about the town. Not my problem, but maybe someone would like to know.
And it made me feel a little bit less like a murderer, too.
I pocketed the journal and and a few other valuables and left the cave. The cave entrance was near the bottom of the trail and I could see Riverwood after just a few more minutes of walking. I froze. I don't know why. I just stopped and stared at the people below for a good long time. Later I would tell myself that I was checking the place out...that I was trying to get a feel for it. Maybe, but I think I was just scared. So far everyone I'd seen or talked to I had killed or tried to kill or had tried to kill me.
What did normal look like?
I knew I'd never find out standing there.
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