Sio’s acting was so superb that the bandits occupying the tower had no idea this little white flower was merely playing a part.
By the time she and Kaye suddenly struck, beheading the bandit who was attempting to collect a protection fee, it was already too late for the rest of the gang to react.
This wasn’t an impulsive move!
Sio had carefully observed the structure of Wolthersom Tower and the distribution of the bandits.
Her current position allowed her to be perfectly shielded by Kaye, making it difficult for the bandits’ bows to reach her.
Who could blame her for being so petite and agile?
“Quick, quick, quick!
Let’s charge up!” Sio pointed toward the tower entrance.
Once they rushed inside, the bandits would be forced into melee combat, rendering those bows useless~ Kaye nodded in understanding and immediately bolted for the tower’s main gate, not forgetting to cover Sio at his side.
Evidently, there were no mages among this group of bandits.
In the panic, they could only grab their melee weapons and attempt to block the way.
But how could they possibly stop Kaye?
Kaye’s two-handed sword might not have been suitable for swinging indoors, but he smashed a fist directly into a bandit’s face.
Lacking a visor for protection, the bandit’s nose and mouth sprayed blood as he was sent flying backward.
“Use this!” Sio bent over as she moved, picking up a longsword dropped by a bandit and handing it to Kaye—her own self-defense weapon was a rapier, which happened to be a weapon Kaye wasn’t skilled with.
So, they had to “source materials locally.” Swordsmanship was a basic skill for any warrior.
Kaye caught the sword and executed a fluid upward slash.
Cleaving through the bandits’ leather armor was as easy as a dinner knife cutting through butter.
Clad in heavy armor, Kaye was like an oncoming storm, quickly clearing out the bandits who had rushed into the tower.
Together with Sio, he reached the bridge spanning the White River.
The bandits were shoving each other in a panic on the bridge.
Seeing that the two had broken through the blockade, they could only pick up their bows and swords to try and fight back.
A hint of calculation flashed in Sio’s emerald-green eyes.
She glanced diagonally downward, gauging the height difference between the stone bridge and the water’s surface…
She had an idea!
The petite girl peeked out from behind Kaye, the palm of her swordless right hand shimmering with the pale blue glow of magic.
She brought her hand to her lips and blew.
Frost surged forward like a gusting wind, freezing the surface of the bridge.
The bandits’ boots had no anti-slip treatment!
Already panicked, the bandits slid like falling dominoes, plunging into the river with one splash after another.
Well…
where would the surging White River wash them away to?
Sio had no intention of thinking about it at all!
There were quite a few Slaughterfish in this stretch of the river; she estimated those piranhas would have a very unique flavor in a while!
…Anyway, she didn’t plan on tasting them.
When it came to the White River’s aquatic products, the top recommendation had to be the salmon.
Just like that, the bandits occupying Wolthersom Tower were completely wiped out by the duo.
Sio and Kaye no longer had to pay that toll; in fact, the riches left behind by the bandits now belonged to them!
Of course, Sio would certainly be selective.
She definitely wouldn’t touch those “stolen goods” that one could tell were looted at a single glance.
“Sio, are you thirsty?” Kaye collected the arrows left by the bandits, and as he looked up, he caught sight of Sio standing in front of a bookshelf, twisting open a bottle cap.
“Ah, Nord Mead.
These bandits actually have some taste.” Glancing at the label on the bottle, Kaye also showed a smile.
This was also a variety he liked.
“I just want to drink something sweet.” The corners of Sio’s mouth curled slightly, though her smile wasn’t as bright as usual.
After all, some things were hard to say out loud!
After the fight, she felt her body heating up again and could only drink something sweet to keep it under control for now!
“Mind sharing a glass with me?” Kaye smiled and reached out a hand toward Sio.
Sio blinked, took a small sip from the bottle’s mouth, and then handed it to Kaye.
“I’m not using a glass,” she said, shaking the mead bottle.
“I don’t want to climb downstairs just to rinse out a cup~” Compared to Sio, who was a bit shy and reserved while drinking, Kaye took it and drank heartily—mead isn’t high in alcohol, and draining it in one go seemed more free-spirited.
“Why did you drink it all!” Sio stomped her feet as she snatched the bottle back from Kaye’s hand.
Though her tone was slightly reproachful, the smile on her face couldn’t be hidden.
“They have plenty more in stock anyway.” Reaching for the wine rack, Kaye grabbed another bottle for Sio.
Wine is good, but one shouldn’t overindulge.
Especially for Sio.
She only needed the cloying sweetness to soothe the heat in her body; if she got drunk, she might end up making a fool of herself.
She might even start thinking about doing things she shouldn’t.
She only took a few more sips before shaking her head, refusing to drink more.
The geographical location of Wolthersom Tower was quite advantageous, essentially choking the main passage at the border between Whiterun Hold and Eastmarch.
The most time-saving and efficient route naturally followed the White River, making this place hard to avoid.
As for why Whiterun didn’t send troops to reclaim the tower, Sio was temporarily in the dark.
Regardless, among the “treasures” of these bandits, there were many items she coveted.
Whether it was an unlucky mage apprentice or a book merchant who had met with misfortune here, their collection included many books to read, covering many aspects: history, alchemy, enchanting, customs and culture, and even strange tales and legends.
This was exactly what Sio liked!
Being able to smoothly acquire so many reading materials was much easier than traveling all the way to Winterhold or Solitude!
As for the other weapons, equipment…
and even treasures, Sio actually had little interest.
Bandit weapons and equipment lacked enchantments or rare materials, so she looked down on them; the jewelry was obviously stolen, making it hard to sell.
Shopkeepers willing to buy them would inevitably drive the price down and haggle, so it was better to just take some septims and be done with it.
“Alright, let’s go!” Sio adjusted her belt and hung a book she wanted to read at her waist—’The Song of Pelinal.’ Well, since there were no magic grimoires in the collection, our Miss Sio naturally wanted to read some ancient heroic tales to cultivate her mind!