Ahhh Blockie..dear dear blockie! What an excellent continuation, I just knew Rash would do the right thing, oh my do I like that woman! I can´t wait to learn more about Rash and Runa, what tey´re up to. Hmmmm but I´m sorry about Svenja, I can understand her reaction...yes I can, but I hope she will come to her senses....I´m sure she will.....in due time. Now Nords can be a bit grumpy for a long time so maybe she will be mad at Rashelle for some time..

Anyway....a wonderful update.....more please?

...Aaand the right thing happened! Woot!

But I sure hope Svenja will get normal in time. Because, I see why she wants to kill Fryse Hags, but... Y'know. It would be indeed a pity if Svenja started going evil like that, and try to get Runa at any cost.

Well, I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said multiple times, but I'm not so sad now.

Gosh dangit, things are never easy, are they?

So one potential friend gained, one good friend potentially lost. At least Solstheim is cold. Imagine Thirsk being at Red Mountain. Svenja would never be able to cool down in that heat. (bad pun.)

Atrocious.

Chapter 21. Sovngarde



"Will Svenja follow us, Rashelle?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Had she decided to pursue, she would have already caught up to us."

Runa still looked unconvinced, so I pointed to the clear set of tracks we had been leaving in the snow. She nodded.

I was relieved: I did not want to fight my friend.

We walked for a time before she spoke again.

"I miss my friend, Emma."

"Is she one of you?"

"An Ice Witch? Yes. She is even newer than I. She's been working in the kitchen and doing things like cleaning. She has yet to go out. She's never killed, not even in self-defense. I fear what will happen to her when she does."

"Maybe she'll run off, like you did."

"I don't know. She hasn't had that much training in combat and she does not know many spells. Out here, on her own, I doubt she could survive."

I had no answer to that.

It was the late afternoon when we reached Brodir Grove. Since I did not see Ulfgar around, I entered his cave.

Runa and I descended the passage and reached the living area. Ulfgar was there. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. I'm sure that he knew that she was an Ice Witch, but the fact of her appearing with me raised enough of a question that he did not react in a hostile manner.

"Hello again, outlander. And hello, stranger, I do not believe we have met."

"I am Runa Fire-Hair, I ..."

She hesitated.

"Ulfgar, she defected from the Fryse Hags," I said. "She wants to atone. She's with me."

"I've never heard of that happening before."

"I could not bear it any longer," said Runa quietly. "I want to save lives, to make up for the ones I have taken. I want to do good."

"Centuries ago, your order did not kill. Can you tell me what changed, lass?"

She related the theories that she and I had discussed earlier.

"That is interesting," he said, "and sad. Do you have that book with you?"

"No," she answered. "We decided, for the time being, to leave it in a safe place."

"I see. Rashelle, have you found any information on Sovngarde?"

The tone in his voice indicated that it was a rhetorical question and that he expected the answer to be the accustomed "no".

"I may have," I answered.

He froze.

From my pack I removed the book which I had purchased from Bereditte Jastal in Thirsk.

"I have not had a chance to read this book, but it may be of interest to you."

I held the book out. He took it and his eyes glanced down at the cover.

"'Sovngarde, a Reexamination' ... could it be?" he said.

"I do not know."

He looked at the book, then back up at me.

"Ulfgar, go ahead. Read. We won't be offended."

"Thank you, lass."

Standing right where he was, not even walking over to a chair, he opened the book and began to read.

"We'll be right back," I said.

He nodded absently.

I gestured to Runa and walked to the tunnel. She followed. Just before the entrance, I stopped. I dropped my pack and then removed my sheathed claymore.

"Rashelle, what are you doing?"

"I am using this opportunity to change into my normal clothing," I said as I removed my cuirass and then the red tunic. It was a relief to take it off: it had been a bit large and the sleeves bothered me.

Runa raised an eyebrow and said, "I see the cold does not affect you at all."

I laughed.

From my pack I drew my regular sleeveless shirt. It had been washed: I sadly thought of Svenja. I put it on and then replaced my cuirass, weapon and pack. The cool air of the ice cave was pleasing on my now-bare arms.

"Now, Runa," I said as I adjusted my pack, "you can wear this tunic and appear less like an Ice Witch. It should fit you better, as well."

Being that Nords are larger than Bretons, the tunic did indeed fit her better.

"I may get cold."

"You, a Nord?"

"Yes, we can get cold, we're not all like you."

We both smiled.

"So," she continued, "I will keep my fur shirt in my pack, since I may still need it from time to time."

I nodded.

"Lass? Are you still there?" called Ulfgar from below. It had not taken him long to finish the thin volume.

"Let's go see what's up," I said to Runa. She nodded.

"Coming, Ulfgar," I called down the passage.

We walked down and returned to the living area.

"Rashelle, this book does indeed show the way to Sovngarde."

"Oh, good. Then you can start off straightaway?"

"You didn't read it, did you?"

"No: as I've said, I haven't had the time."

I'd been busy being a berserker, meeting up with Ice Witches, catching up on sleep and saving Runa from a maddened Svenja.

"To enter Sovngarde, a true warrior must die in battle. According to this book, people have been contacted from beyond the grave who made it there. This proves it."

"Proves it?"

"It proves that I must be slain in battle. Then I will go to Sovngarde and drink mead forever."

"Oh."

I could see where this was going to go. He'd want me to fight him and slay him.

"No," I said, "I won't do it. That's murder."

"It is not if I am asking you to do it."

"No more killing," added Runa.

"Lass, please: I have lived five hundred years!"

Runa snorted.

I glared at her and said, "he has!"

She lowered her head and said "I'm sorry."

"Lass, please," he implored.

Here I was, trying to show Runa how to be good, trying to help her atone for her killing ... and now I had the conundrum of someone actually asking to be killed.

"Let me see the book."

He handed it to me. I sat down on the ice and opened the book.

"May I read over your shoulder?" asked Runa.

"Of course."

I read the book. It was exactly as Ulfgar had said. Researchers had contacted the dead, who had apparently reached this Sovngarde place. If one could believe the book, then Ulfgar did indeed have to die in battle. But what if that Breton ninny was mistaken? I frowned. Socially inept he might be, but the better savants were often that way. The book was probably correct. I didn't like probabilities, I liked certainties. In life, however, one seldom saw certainties.

Ulfgar waited expectantly. He was wringing his hands.

I looked to Runa. She looked concerned.

"Lass," said Ulfgar, "I've lived for 500 years. I want to rejoin my friends, who are doubtless in Sovngarde."

"Runa," I said, "I don't want to show you the wrong thing. I don't want to give you the wrong lessons. I intended to show you how to do good."

"Rashelle, I am not a child. Though I know that what I did was wrong, I can see that in some situations, one must slay."

I nodded.

"Ulfgar, are you sure?"

"Aye lass, I am sure."

I hesitated.

"Lass, if you do this, it won't be murder: I will fight you! I will not make it easy for you. I will slay you both, if I can. It will be a real, fair, fight!"

I said nothing.

"Know that I will not force you do to it," he continued. "I will not attack you if you decline."

"Runa, what do you think?"

"Rashelle, I did not want to mention this but ... the book of the Ice Witches also makes mention of Sovngarde. It says the same thing that this little book does: death in battle is the way. Those that they could not heal were hoped to at least reach Sovngarde."

I shook my head, as if to clear it. I felt enmeshed in in a web of Nordic death wish insanity.

"No. This is madness. Come, Runa."

I looked at Ulfgar. The weight of 500 years was visible in his sad eyes.

Damnit.

"OK."

I stepped back and drew my sword. I heard the snick as Runa drew her dagger.

Quicker than I had expected, Ulfren had his Nordic claymore out and was on the attack.

I parried his swing. Runa was moving sideways, obviously intending to attack him from the side. Taking advantage of the rebound from my parry, his blade whipped through the air and came close to hitting her.

With surprising agility for one his size, he darted away from us.

Runa was already charging for him. I stood still, in an uncharacteristic state of hesitation.

"I've fought many of your kind!" he said as his sword bit into Runa's side. There was a crackle of a shock spell. She gasped and fell.

"No!"

Without thought, fire came to me; a stream of flame that burned into Ulfgar.

I ran towards him, Chrysamere already in motion.

He blocked my swing and got one of his own in. It bounced off of my cuirass. He hit me with that frost spell, the one that all Nords seem to be born with. He didn't know about my cold affinity.

"Now this is fighting!" he said, joyously.

My claymore missed his head but my kick found its target. His armor protected him but he was still knocked down.

I swung my sword. He parried with his claymore.

His foot lashed out as he rolled to the side. The kick missed me. Down came Chrysamere. Sparks flew as it struck his blade.

He bellowed and tried to scurry away. My sword smashed against his weapon. I did it again and he parried again. I kicked his hand but he maintained his grip on his sword.

He rolled to the side again. He was trying to get up but I was not going to let him. Chrysamere smashed into his raised arm, cutting through the armor.

He howled his rage and swung his claymore. I parried.

Down came my sword. It split his raised weapon in two. His eyes widened in surprise ... or perhaps realization.

I thrust down, punching through his armor and into his heart.

"T-Thank you ... " he whispered. Then he expired.

I dropped my sword and ran to Runa. She was still alive but barely conscious. I cast a healing spell: there wasn't enough time for a potion. She opened her eyes.

"Is he?"

"Yes," I said as I handed her a potion, "Drink this. My spell didn't heal you all the way."

She did.

I helped her up. There was a large gash in her tunic: she would have to go back to wearing the fur shirt.

"I hope he reached Sovngarde," she said.

I retrieved my sword.

"Thank you both!" said a directionless voice in the air, "That book was correct!"

The voice was that of Ulfgar, the man I had just slain.

"Rashelle, I am here, my friends are here. The hall is glorious! At last, I have reached Sovngarde! Thank you lass, thank you both!"

Runa and I stared silently at each other for a moment.

"I guess Sovngarde is real," I said, just to break the silence.

"We did good?" she asked.

"I ... I think we did."

After Runa changed her shirt, we left the cave. There was a fourth stone that had not been there before. I approached the new stone. I reached a hand out and touched it. Runa followed suit.

Once again, I heard Ulfgar's voice. "I am eternally grateful to both of you. At any time, you may touch each of the stones to receive a blessing."

I drew my hand away and said nothing. The man had apparently reached Sovngarde, yet I could not bring myself to feel happy about it.

We headed northwest. This was an arbitrary decision, as I had no plans, nowhere I needed to be. Southwest would have taken us to Raven rock, but, despite a nagging feeling that I needed to check on things at the colony, I did not want to take Runa there just yet.

The sun was setting when we found ourselves at the entrance to a Nord barrow. I looked to Runa and she nodded. She knew me this well by now.

After we cleared the tomb of undead, I inspected the main burial chamber. This one lacked a stalhrim coffin. There was a skeleton laid out on a slab of rock in the center of the room. The skeleton wore armor which appeared ancient, yet in good condition. It seemed to be some form of steel.

Laid across the armored skeleton was a spear that bore the glow of an enchantment. I placed a hand near the spear. I felt a spell for cold damage, weakness to cold, and armor disintegration.

Also on the slab was a book. I picked it up, to see that on its cover were Nordic runes. I passed it to Runa.

"Ooo, another book in the Old Tongue!"

"What's this one about?"

"'The Fall Of The Snow Prince,' according to the cover."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Let us sit down and then I shall read it to you."

I nodded. We sat. She read it out loud. The pauses to translate into Tamrielic slowed her down, but I was not in a hurry.

The book chronicled the Battle of the Moesring, one of the last battles of the Nords against the Elves. I recalled Ulfgar mentioning that they had driven the Elves from Skyrim. Such warfare had apparently also spilled over into Solstheim. I could not imagine Elves ever having lived here in this cold climate.

Runa read on. This particular tale focused on the Snow Prince, a pale elf who was "unlike any other of his kind". As I listened, I began to realize that this could well have been an Ice Elf. Interesting. I knew a certain Mer in Raven Rock would would be fascinated by this: the book agreed with his theory that the Falmer were Mer, not rieklings.

The Snow Prince, whose name was not ever mentioned, appeared from nowhere and led the Elves against the Nords. He had fought heroically but was finally killed ... by a child!

Once he was slain, the battle turned and the Nords wiped out the remaining Elves.

Though I am not a Mer, I felt some bitterness. Focus Rashelle, it was centuries ago and it no longer matters.

Out of an odd sort of respect for a capable, valiant and strange enemy, the Nords had placed his remains in a Nord barrow, as if he were a Nord warrior. The only difference with this burial was the omission of the stalhrim coffin: stalhrim was never to be used for non-Nords.

Interesting.

The skeleton in the center, as it was not encased in stalhrim, had to be that of the Snow Prince.

"Thank you for reading that to me, Runa."

She nodded.

"I know an Altmer in Raven Rock who believes that his ancestors were Ice Elves. He would be very interested in this book."

"Might as well take it", said Runa, "No one here is going to read it."

She handed the book to me.

"Thank you."

"Are we going to Raven Rock, then?"

"Yes, in the morning. This tomb will be a good place for us to sleep."



In the morning, we left the tomb and headed south, towards the colony.

"Runa, you've lived here for some time. Maybe you can answer a question that I have a about horkers."

"Go on."

"I Have always gotten along fine with them. I've gone to the lake several times and played with them. They're so adorable."

She remained silent.

"When I was a berserker ... "

I winced at the memory.

"... They attacked me. Not just one, but several horkers. Do you know why?"

"Horkers are excellent judges of character. They can 'read' you better than any other animal can. They picked up on your berserker state."

"Oh."

"It is said that horkers know your soul."

She sighed.

"What is wrong?"

"I used to play with them."

I said nothing.

"After I made my first kill for the Ice Witches, the horkers all shied away from me. I cannot play with them any more: they know."

"Runa, I'm sorry."

"It was my own fault ... but I regret, aye, I do."

A pack of plague wolves interrupted our discussion. We dispatched them, but Runa caught Yellow Tick. The symptoms manifested almost immediately. I cast a Cure Disease spell on her and we resumed our journey.

I saw a familiar mound of snow: we had reached the entrance to the dwelling of Kjolver. Not wanting to deal with that crazy woman again, I hastened along southwards.

A bear attack or two later, we reached a dark grey stone wall. It loomed over us. I was taken aback for an moment before the realization hit me: this was the now-completed north wall of Raven Rock!

I turned left and we followed the wall until it turned right. I followed this until it ended. I turned right and we faced the colony. It had grown considerably during my absence and had become a full-sized town.

Runa looked a little bit nervous. She'd been living in in the wilderness for too long.

"I thought you were originally from a city in Skyrim?"

"Yes, but it has been a while."

"I won't swear you to silence this time, but try to let me handle everything. Just follow my lead, OK?"

"OK."

She looked relieved.

We wound our way between the buildings and reached my house. I spelled the lock open. Runa raised an eyebrow.

"It's my house, but I gave the key to someone."

We entered.

Someone had placed several cloth bags by the bed. Their lumpy shape suggested rocks. I crouched beside one of them and opened it. I looked inside and was rewarded with the sight of stalhrim. The bags were full of stalhrim! The men must have had brought it here from the mine.

"Rashelle, you're cooing."

"It's like ice, but it never melts," I said as I lifted a piece out and held it up.

"I didn't realize that any outlanders knew how to make stalhrim."

"We don't. As far as I know, nobody knows how to make it any more. These pieces came from a buried tomb that the miners discovered."

I placed the piece back in the bag. It was time to see a Mer about a book. We left my house and I cast a spell to lock the door.

Runa and I entered the bar. We threaded our way through the crowd. Apronia waved to me. I smiled and waved back.

Given his height, it was easy to spot Athellor. Altmer are the tallest of Mer and always tend to stand out. Runa in tow, I approached him.

"Ah Rashelle, how are you? How goes the adventuring?"

"It's been very interesting," I said as I sat down.

Runa grinned.

"This is my friend Runa. Runa, Athellor."

"Pleased to meet you."

"I found something, Athellor, that seems to back up your theories."

From my pack I produced the book.

"It's in ancient Nordic, but Runa here can read it to you."

"No need, I learned the language some time ago."

I raised an eyebrow. That was unusual. Most Nords don't even know it any more, let alone an Altmer.

Runa uttered a phrase in Nordic. The hairs on back of my neck went up: that language always sounds like spell-casting to me.

He replied in the same tongue, at a rapid pace. They excitedly shot phrases, in Nordic, at each other. I left them to it and went to the bar.

I returned with two maztes and placed one in front of Runa.

"I am sorry Rashelle," said the Altmer, "My enthusiasm sometimes overcomes my manners."

I smiled and took a sip. Ahhhh, mazte: there's a nice safe normal beverage. I resolved to have Svenja order some for Thirsk, if things there ever got back to normal.

"I've quickly looked through this book and it does indeed prove that the Falmer were Mer and that they were here in Solstheim. Thank you."

He placed a small bag on the table. It clinked.

I raised an eyebrow.

"As promised, your reward for assisting me in this matter."

"Oh yes, thank you."

I smiled and took the bag. I didn't want it but, as I've said before, people get weird when I refuse to take their money. I handed the bag to Runa. She silently accepted it.

We drained our maztes and then departed from the Altmer's table.

As we moved towards the door, I saw Falco. He was trying to catch my eye. I turned and led Runa towards him.

"Hello Rashelle, who's your friend?"

"Runa, Falco. Falco, Runa."

Greetings exchanged, I informed Falco as to my lack of progress on the werewolf investigation.

"It's a shame, but it it is heartening to know that the Skaal are not behind it."

"Good point. Have there been any more werewolf attacks here?"

"Fortunately, no."

I nodded.

"Err, Rashelle ..."

He looked at Runa. He obviously wanted to discuss business but was hesitant to do so with her around.

"Do not worry, Falco. We can discuss business."

"We have a problem."

I smiled.








This post has been edited by blockhead: Sep 25 2007, 02:54 AM

Now this was a good chapter. It was a thrilling battle with Ulfgar, and you'd surely not expect a 400-years-old guy to fight like that... And the quest about Falmer was finished. I actually never did it, seeing as I was too occupied with other important business... Though the book sounds quite interesting. Should read it one day.



No, seriously? My, that's unexpected, because it's not like you ever had any problems before... >.>

Gaius stole the words right from my mouth. Excellent update.

hah! Amusing as always!....that phrase.."We have a problem" from Falco...why it´s just hilarious! So when will Rash take a few days off? I mean she´s working so hard, no breaks, nothing! She should just go to a nice place...or her house and ,,well read some books or something! The reason I say this is that I, myself work too much and if I for once manage to take a break...well it makes wonders.....

Now I do suspect you have something coming....oh no..not resting! ha...Falco has a problem.....

What'd be really funny is if she just said; "Yeah, tell me something I don't know." and walked off. It wouldn't make much sense, but it'd be funny.

Well, now that suddenly brings back memories of Valhalla.

And to add to the Falco discussion.

It would be really funny if he said it in a dry tone. The kind of tone he would use for. ,,Today's breakfast was bread with a cup of mead. Oh, and it was snowing outside for a bit."

Or at least, that's the tone I imagined and it felt dead funny.

Chapter 22. Reconciliations



"Prior to this particular venture," said Falco, "I have worked on other projects with Carnius. I know how he works and he knows I'll tend to work against his little side plans."

Eventually, I knew, something would have to be done about that man.

"To eliminate me would make things easier for him. My sources tell me that there is going to be an assassination attempt and that I am its target. It is fortunate that you are here, because it is to happen today."

"Enough," I said, "I will go and deal with the source of this problem!"

"Rashelle, no! We can't work that way."

"Come on! He had Uryn Maren slain. Now he wants to do you in. Let's just end this now!"

A concerned-looking Runa gazed at me questioningly.

Pause, think: focus, Rashelle. We didn't have absolute proof that Carnius was behind that murder or that he was behind any as-yet unseen assassins. I could not just go and slay him. Instead, I would just have to stop the assassin: maybe that would give Carnius reason to pause. That man was all about business: assassins took money. If I killed an assassin or two, Carnius's Return On Investment would become too high and he would leave Falco alone.

"All right, Falco. What can I do?"

"Someone is going to attempt to assassinate me here, today."

"So you've said. Do you have a plan? Can Runa help?"

"Obviously, if I hide, that would tip the assassins, as well as Carnius, off. This would endanger my sources of information and would result in another attempt later on, perhaps when I am not expecting it."

I nodded.

"We will protect you!" said Runa. "Rashelle and I will function as guards. We will stay by you and attack anyone who tries to murder you."

Falco nodded and said, "that is exactly what I was thinking."

Runa smiled.

"An archer could take you out from a distance," I said, "but I can think of no better plan. We will do this. You are the bait: we are the trap."

"Excellent. Thank you, both of you."

"Falco," I said, "Take some of these health potions for later, in case anyone gets through our guard."

I handed him some potions.

He nodded and said, "Good idea. Thank you."

"Keep one or two handy, where you can grab them and suck them down, fast."

"Understood!"

"Runa, here: you take some as well."

She nodded and accepted the potions gratefully.

In a short time, we were outside, walking in the open region adjacent to the bar and the mine entrance. A building or two could have been placed here but Falco had deemed it better to leave the spot as is.

Within that area, Falco walked back and forth. Periodically, people would come up to him to ask questions, to report, or to get new orders. Runa and I sauntered along with him, keeping close.

This lasted for some hours. At one point Runa went into the bar and fetched food for us.

It was in the late afternoon when the attempt happened. Two Imperials emerged from between two buildings and ran towards us, shouting battle cries and waving swords.

Runa charged towards them, as did one of the Raven Rock guards. An instinct made me stay by Falco: what if these attackers were merely a distraction? Runa could handle herself and I had hand-picked the Raven Rock guards, so I knew they were up to the task. I looked around for a second party of attackers or an archer on a roof.

An arrow flew though the air. It had been shot from the top of a tall building next to the mine entrance. I didn't have time to do anything, and hardly any time to think: the arrow hit Falco, piercing his cuirass.

He quaffed one of his potions and then commandingly pointed towards the building. He wanted me to leave him and pursue the archer.

I nodded and was off.

The thought of burning the top of the building with a spell occurred to me, but that would be messy. I wanted to stop the assassins, not start a fire. Starting fires was always easy for me ... putting them out was another matter.

A Dunmer was levitating away from the top of the building. I cast a Fortify Speed spell and a Levitation spell. I shot off after him.

He turned his head to look back. There was an expression of shock on his face when he saw an angry claymore-wielding Breton zooming through the air towards him.

He raised his hands and started to chant a spell. I cast Silence on him to stop him from finishing: I did not want him to teleport away.

Fire came to me, but it did not have much effect: Dunmer have a great resistance to fire magick.

I reached him. Dunmer might be resistant to flame, but not to Chrysamere. My sword struck. He grunted in pain and tried to run faster in the air. It looked ludicrous.

I grasped him by the shoulder and spun him around. No running away, today.

"Who sent you?" I shouted.

He began to speak another spell: the Silence had run out.

My boot smashed into his face, stopping his spell casting.

Just then his Levitation spell cut out. I swooped down and caught him. He struggled, he squirmed, he kicked. I lost my grip and he fell.

He reached the ground before I could reach him. I alighted next to him but luck was not with me: he was obviously dead.

Damnit: I had hoped to find out who sent him.

I searched the body but there was no incriminating note nor any other form of clue.

I cast Recall and appeared next to Falco. Runa and two guards were there, looking happy. I saw the bodies of the two Imperial attackers in the snow: all of the assassins had been slain.

"I am all right Rashelle," said Falco, "I think we got them all!"

Runa was smiling. "I did good! I helped save a life!"

"Indeed you did," I said, "Good job."

She beamed.

"Thank you all," said Falco, also including the guards as well as Runa and myself.

It was just too bad that none of us had been able to keep any of the attackers alive for questioning. Focus, Rashelle: Falco was unharmed and no one else had been hurt.

While Falco was certain that he was now safe, I insisted that Runa and I continue to stay with him for a while longer ... just in case.

There were no further attacks.

Shortly after sunset Falco said, "Enough: that one attack was it. Things are back to normal. Thank you again, both of you."

"You are welcome."

He handed me a bag of full of septims. I raised an eyebrow.

"Back pay, including further promotion. Also a bonus for today's activity."

I handed the bag to Runa. She accepted it silently, but her face had an expression that let me know that, eventually, I would have to give her an explanation.

"What do you say to dinner, Runa?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Falco?"

"No, not just yet. I have some things to check in the mine."

I nodded. Runa and I left him and went into the bar.

It was nice to eat a proper meal again. I was concerned that, of late, I had been eating nothing but meat. I had used my alchemical knowledge to ascertain which plants were edible in Solstheim, but none of them tasted good.

"Are you going to eat that?" I said as I pointed to Runa's half-finished baked ash yam.

"No, I don't like it, whatever it is."

"You've never had an ash yam before?"

"No. You can take it."

"You sure? They fortify intelligence, you know."

"I'm sure."

"Thank you!"

"Rashelle?" she said as I grabbed the ash yam.

I looked questioningly at her.

From her pack she took two bags, the one given to me by the Altmer and the one given to me by Falco.

"Rashelle, I can't take this money."

I swallowed my mouthful of ash yam before speaking.

"Why not? You helped me with that Snow Prince book. I could not have done it without your translation. Also, You helped me protect Falco."

"Take half."

"Runa, I'm wearing an ebony cuirass. Have you any idea how much these things cost."

"A lot?"

"More than a lot."

"Oh."

"Runa, keep it. I'm not doing this for the money."

"OK ... thank you."

I finished my ash yam.

"Rashelle?"

I waited.

"Ice Witches don't use money. They've got sort of a communal living arrangement."

"Figured that, somehow. You had no money."

"What money we find, from ... those we kill ..."

She frowned and looked sadly down at her plate.

"Go on," I prompted.

"That money is used to buy whatever supplies we don't make ourselves, including weapons. It is also used to finance the recruitment trips to Skyrim."

She stopped talking. I was silent: I could think of nothing to say.

"Rashelle? Was ... is Svenja a good friend of yours?"

"Yes. We've helped each other out several times. I do enjoy her company. We've had some good times together."

"I don't feel right about causing this rift between you and her."

"Runa. It's not that simple. She chose to react the way she did. She could have instead treated you as Ulfgar did."

"I guess."

"Look, Runa: I've taken you away from Svenja to give her time to cool down. She is Good, I know she is. In time she will come to her senses. It will be all right."

A determined look crossed her face before she spoke again. "Rashelle, I want to go back."

"To the Hags?"

"No, to Thirsk."

I said nothing. I also wanted to go back, but I wished to avoid strife there and I wanted to protect Runa.

"I don't think that is a good idea, at least not yet."

"I want to go there. I want to settle this."

I said nothing.

"Please, Rashelle. I don't feel right about this."

I didn't feel good about it either, actually.

I made a decision.

"Runa, if we leave right now, we'll get there a bit after midnight. We can run for part of the way to get there sooner. Are you up to it?"

She smiled, nodded vigorously and said, "Let's go!"

We left.

Through the moonlit snow-covered ground we traveled. It was absolutely beautiful. I was glad to be traveling, just to see this wondrous nighttime landscape.

I set a hard pace but Runa was up to it. She was the happiest I'd ever seen her. It was apparent that this had been bothering her more than I had realized. I did not know how Svenja would treat Runa, but I was still glad to be returning.

We encountered some werewolves in addition to the usual fauna of Solstheim. I'd fought them before and Runa, as already mentioned, was no slouch with her weapon.

Upon nearing Lake Fjalding, I stopped.

"Rashelle?"

"I want to see about something. I need to go to the lake. I have to know."

"But the horkers, they don't like me."

"Stay here until I return, OK?"

She nodded.

Through the snow-covered trees, which seemed to glow blue in the moonlight, I made my way to the shore. Once again, I looked out at the large, perfectly flat, expanse of ice.

I strode forward, out onto the lake.

There was a horker nearby. It turned its head to look at me but did not otherwise react. With an unexpected hesitation, I approached the creature.

It groaned and waved a flipper.

Crouching down, I reached out and touched the horker. The adorable creature rolled to the side. I rubbed its belly. It groaned with pleasure.

I felt a great burden removed from my shoulders. I smiled. Things were as they were before. I was so relieved.

I did not want to leave Runa alone for too long, in case she was found by other Ice Witches, so I regretfully stood up.

"I must go, horker. I will be back."

The horker waved its flipper, as if to bid me a good night. Such adorable creatures!

I returned to Runa. I was most likely grinning ear-to-ear like an idiot.

She smiled a sad little smile and said, "they like you again?"

I nodded.

She sighed.

I remembered, then, what she had said about the horkers and herself.

"Runa, I'm sorry."

"Nothing you can do about it. Let's press on, shall we?"

I nodded.

We took a circuitous route around the lake and eventually reached Thirsk.

I placed a hand on one of the two doors and paused.

"Runa. Are you sure you want to do this? We can still leave, then try this another time."

"Rashelle, I must do this."

"OK, then. Ready?"

"One thing, Rashelle."

I waited.

"Let me handle this. Don't interfere."

"She may still want to kill you."

"Let me handle this, my own way."

"Runa," I hissed, "if you hurt Svenja, if you hurt anyone in there, I will slay you myself."

She looked me straight in the eye and said, "OK."

Once again, my entrance into the mead hall caused an immediate silence.

Svenja made her way though the crowd, towards us. Runa gestured for me to stay and then took a few steps forward.

Svenja reached Runa. She did not look angry ... but neither did she look happy. She looked tired, in fact.

"Runa," she said, "are you still under a vow of silence?"

"No."

"Have you defected from the Hags?"

"Yes."

"Have you murdered innocent people?"

"Yes, I have."

"Do you want to atone?"

"Any way that I can."

"Runa, I am sorry for the way I acted. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes."

"Welcome to Thirsk."

I let out a breath I had not realized I'd been holding.

"Runa, whatever you want to drink or eat is on me."

"Thank you, Svenja."

Svenja approached me.

"R-Rashelle," she stammered, "can you ..."

"I already have," I interrupted.

"Thank you."

I led her to the bar.

"Rashelle, they told me what you said after you knocked me out. Thank you."

"Svenja, I wish we had something besides tea and mead, because I could really use a stiff drink."

She smiled and said, "I can't help you now, but if you tell me what you like, I'll order it for the next shipment."

"Excellent. Mazte, please?"

"Mazte, OK. I will do that."

It was good to be back. I scanned the crowd, looking for Runa.

"Over there," said Svenja. She pointed.

"Don't worry," she continued, "I'm keeping an eye out for her. No one will give her any trouble."

It was a relief to have Svenja working with me instead of against me.

"Korst Wind-Eye, the Skaal shaman, was here today. He was looking for you."

I raised an eyebrow.

"He said only that he would like you to go to the Skaal village as soon as possible."

Korst would not ask this of me unless he thought it important and urgent. I knew him well enough, at this point, to trust his judgment ... and perhaps there had been a new development on the "Find Captain Carius" front.

"Svenja, I regret that I must go."

"Must you?"

"I think so. Korst would not do this lightly. It may be important."

She nodded.

"I will be back. I am glad that we have resolved matters."

"I am sorry. Please forgive me."

"I do."

"Take care."

"Mighty Chieftain, I have the book for you!" said a familiar, loud, buzzing voice.

I turned to See Bereditte Jastal. I glared, as I was not in the mood to deal with him.

He held a book out.

"It's my updated history of Thirsk! You're in it!"

I imagine that my expression softened. I smiled and took the offered book.

"Bereditte, did you mention my berserker episode?"

"Oh, no! I have some discretion!"

"Thank you!"

"By the way, I've been reading some of the literature on the berserker phenomena!"

I raised an eyebrow.

"It's rather rare! Most people drink all the mead they want without that happening! Only a very small fraction of the populace have that reaction to it!"

I nodded: none of this was a surprise. I remembered one of the men at Thirsk saying, "not one in a hundred does that happen to."

Svenja walked away: perhaps she had business to attend to or, more likely, she wanted to get away from this strange loud man.

"I read that people like you can drink one mead, possibly two, without fear of it happening! The change only occurs once a certain amount has been consumed!"

That was good to know, but I was still going to avoid mead in the future.

"Rashelle?" he said in a much lower tone of voice. It would have been a normal conversational volume for anyone else.

I raised an eyebrow.

"I like Svenja."

It was a battle to keep a smile from my face and to refrain from a comment about "big hardy Nords". I said nothing.

"She's so big, so beautiful and so ..."

"Strong?"

"Yes!"

"Bereditte, I am pretty sure that you are not her type."

"Oh."

He paused.

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me; I'm sure. I know what she likes."

He descended into a despondent silence. I felt bad.

"Let's see what you've written," I said just to break the awkward moment.

I opened the book and flipped to the back. I quickly read my section. As promised, there was no mention of my berserker run. I approved.

"Nicely written. Concise. No clutter."

He smiled.

"Bereditte, I must go now and see the shaman at the Skaal village."

"At this hour?"

"Yes. Something is up or else he would not have come looking for me. Thank you for the book."

"Uh, about ..."

"You are assured of my silence on the matter."

He grinned.

I walked through the crowd, found Runa and told her about the Shaman's message.

"I am ready. Let's go." was her reply. I smiled: she was quick on the uptake and ready for more action.

I waved to the crowd, and then left with Runa. We were again traveling through the snow, headed for the Skaal village.

Glad to see things get sorted out between Runa and Svenja. Now to focus on the real serious problems at hand!

Ahh, another update. So, with the new problems (more grunting from Gaius' side here...) sorted out, Rashelle moves on to important stuff... Ahh yes, one of the best parts in the game, these quests, if I remember correctly, that will take place now are the best ones, except for Hircine's Hunt...


And yes, it's good that things have sorted out well enough. So, rashelle has a companion now... Interesting.

Well, I'm glad that Svenja managed to cool down. Guess all that snow is good for something. (Horrible punning again, sorry.)

Too bad all the assassins ended up dead though. On the other hand, they probably wouldn't know anything worthwhile anyway. Big rule of villainy: Grunts are grunts, they don't need to know your master plan, nor the code to your vault.

I am surprised the guy was Dunmer though. Maybe I'm seeing too much in it, but perhaps all native mercenaries told our baddie to go take a hike? (With all she's been doing, I bet Rashelle has already amassed a nice reputation in the lands. Too bad the Dunmer didn't connect 'Rashelle the pseudo-Nord' with 'Rashelle the Nerevarine'.)

Oh aye! Totally agree on that one.....Way to go Blockie...way to go....

Yayness! More is good!

As always, thank you for the comments.

jack cloudy:

pure coincidence. Carnius hires whoever he can get

--

Chapter 23. Ristaag



It was still dark when we reached the Skaal village, but I knew that it would be morning in an hour or so. I led Runa to the shaman's hut.

I raised my hand to knock on the door, but then hesitated. I didn't want to wake him if it turned out that I had mistaken the urgency of his summons.

The door opened and Korst Wind-Eye faced me.

"I am glad that you could come. For now, get some sleep. We shall speak in the morning."

He closed the door. That man definitely had the seer ability.

I led Runa across the village, to my hut.

She looked horrified when I simply opened the door and walked inside.

"Rashelle!" she hissed as I fumbled around, looking for a candle.

I instead found a travel lantern. I opened it and cast a small fire spell to light it.

"Runa, I have been declared Blodskaal: this is my house. Come on in already."

She did so, but looked around furtively, as if expecting the proper owners to appear and slay us.

"Though an outlander, and not a Nord, I have been made a member of the Skaal. This house is mine. Do not worry."

"I-I had no idea."

I smiled.

"Chieftain of Thirsk, and now a member of the Skaal," she said, "what is it about you?"

"Runa, I need sleep."

"Aye, as do I."

Two could fit on the bed but my habit of sleeping with my sword creeped Runa out, so I spread my sleeping fur out and lay down on the floor. She then felt guilty about that, so she also decided to lie on the floor. It was silly to not use a perfectly good bed, but I was too tired to get worked up over it. I fell into slumber.

I dreamed of an ice cave. In it was a throne made of ice.

When I woke up, Runa was was seated by one of the bookcases. She was reading a book with a look of horror, disbelief and fascination on her face.

I rubbed my eyes, stood up and sheathed my sword.

"Rashelle! I can't believe you read this garbage!"

I looked questioningly at her.

She gestured to the book she held.

"I mean, really ... I had thought more highly of you!"

I approached her, crouched down and looked. She held a book that I had overlooked in my previous browsing of Rigmor's considerable library. I started to read from the page she had it open to. I'm sure my face had an expression of astonishment.

"Oh, Rigmor," I said, "you were a bad boy, weren't you?"

"Rigmor?" asked Runa.

"The former owner of this house. These books are his collection, not mine."

"Oh. I'm sorry I thought that ..."

I smiled.

From the book, I read one phrase aloud. We both started to giggle.

"People actually read this stuff?"

She flipped back a few pages, and read a short snippet aloud.

"I am sure that position is not possible!" I responded.

She read another small section to me. I could not help but start to laugh again. For a few minutes, we alternated reading passages from the book to each other, laughing hysterically the whole time.

"Oh gods, thank you, Rashelle. I do not remember the last time I laughed."

I smiled. "Let's go see the shaman."

I had not mentioned breakfast, though I was hungry: I wanted to first ascertain what was going on. Runa knew that I had a good reason to put off eating, so she did not question.

We stepped outside and I could see that it was shortly after sunrise. I led the way to Korst Wind-Eye's hut and, as before, the door opened without me needing to knock.

"Good morning, Rashelle. Let me see your friend."

I stepped to one side. Korst stepped forward and looked at Runa. She looked away.

"Face me!" he commanded.

I jumped: I was reminded of that voice trick that Imperials have.

She snapped her gaze back to meet his.

There was silence for a moment.

"You have left the Fryse Hags," he said to Runa. "You wish to atone. The way is hard. Persist. I believe you will do good, that you will eventually make up for the killing. I am Korst Wind-Eye."

"Runa Fire-Hair."

"Come on in, then."

Had he been 'reading' her true self, as a horker would?

I followed Runa into the hut.

He gestured to a table and said, "sit."

There were three bowls of porridge on the table. Wordlessly, we sat.

We ate in silence. For this I was grateful, as I was hungry. Eating porridge made me think of Thirsk.

I pushed my bowl away, sated. Runa had also finished. Korst was still eating. We politely waited until he was done.

"Rashelle," he said after he finished, "I am glad that you received my message. It is good that you came."

"Has something occurred?"

"Many things: signs, portents ... events."

I waited.

"The fire on the lake, caused by Aesliip. An outlander completing the Ritual Of the Stones. The werewolf attacks. Now there has been a massacre of horkers."

"What?"

"The northern coastline," he said, "is littered with the bodies of horkers. Something has slain them. This, as well as all of the other recent events, are all things foretold by ... the prophecy."

"What prophecy?"

"No, I cannot speak of this, though you are Blodskaal ... no, not yet."

I frowned.

"I summoned you because I would like you to participate in the Ristaag. In view of your success with the Ritual Of The Stones, it would be fitting that you do this."

I said nothing.

"The Ristaag is a ritual hunt. The hunters will hunt the Spirit Bear. It will start this evening, a few hours after sunset. The bear must be slain and its heart needs to be brought to me before sunrise, otherwise the ritual will fail. Failure would result in some bad resonance, some ill Magicka. Completing the Ristaag successfully will help to further restore the power of the Skaal."

"If it fails, we can't do it again tomorrow night?"

"No Rashelle, it does not work that way. There are certain days, certain ... alignments. Tonight must be the night. This is important."

I did not understand all of the ways, nor the magic, of the Skaal, but I would respect them.

"I will do this."

"Excellent."

"Can Runa participate?"

He frowned. To Runa, he said, "I am sorry, lass, but you are not of the Skaal."

She looked sad.

"Runa," said Korst in a softer tone, "the fact that you accompany Rashelle says a lot for you, and I sense good in you, but ... there are traditions."

She said nothing.

"You are welcome in the village. Your past will not be held against you. It is just that, this one particular ceremony must be conducted only by members of the Skaal."

She nodded.

"Look on the bright side; you can drink mead by a warm fire in the Great Hall while Rashelle is outside in the cold."

She smiled.

He pointed to me, smiled and said "You can't drink mead!"

Somehow, he already knew of my berserker run.

"Does anything escape your notice, Korst?"

He laughed, "sometimes."

The smile went away from his face. "And it's usually bad when it does."

"Now," he continued, "there is one thing that is needed to perform the Ristaag correctly: the Token Of Claw And Fang. It is used to summon the Spirit Bear."

Here's where I go recover another Lost Artifact.

"It was stolen from the Skaal some time ago, but I have seen it in visions. These visions show that it is now in the Tombs of Skaalara, southeast of here, on the coast."

As I had expected ... time to go fetch.

I smiled and then said, "What's it look like?"

He described it.

"Right. We're off to get it."

"Thank you, thank you both."

Though Runa would not be included in the Ristaag, she was happy to help me recover the Token.

We traveled southeast. Several riekling attacks later, we arrived within sight of the coast. Shortly after that, we found a Nord Barrow.

Runa read the runes on the door in once glance. It would have taken me a minute or so to spell them out.

"'Skaalara' ... this is the place."

"Right, then. Ready?"

Knife already in hand, she nodded. I opened the door. Into the Tombs of Skaalara we went.

I found myself in a corridor, facing a large wolf. It snarled and attacked. It was slashed by Runa's blade and skewered by Chrysamere.

I kicked the body from my sword and I advanced.

The corridor branched three ways: there were passages on the left and right as well as straight ahead. All three passages expanded into caves. From the right branching ran a wolf. Runa and I engaged it. Out of the corner of my eye, from the passage ahead, I saw a second wolf approaching.

I'd never seen wolves inside a tomb, save for bone wolves. There was something odd about this place.

Chrysamere decapitated the first wolf, just as the second one reached us. Runa darted past me and slashed its throat. A risky move, but done well: the creature gurgled and fell.

"Look out!" I shouted as I pointed to the right.

From that direction came another one. Runa whirled just in time and slashed.

Instead of helping Runa, some instinct made me spin around ... to see an additional wolf running toward me from the left branching. It leaped, obviously intending to knock me down. In one motion, I dodged and brought Chrysamere around, cutting deeply into the creature's side. It rapidly turned and clawed my arm. It evaded my next swing and came around to rush at me again. This time, my claymore cleaved its skull.

I turned to see Runa on the ground, pushing a now-dead wolf off of her. Apparently that one had managed to knock her down, but she had then disemboweled it. She was bleeding but it was not a serious injury.

"Gotta get these wolf guts off my britches," she said as I cast a healing spell on her and then on myself, "any ideas?"

"Worry about cleaning up after we are done. I think there'll be more of that before we are finished."

She laughed.

"Runa, what the oblivion is going on with this tomb?"

"I've no idea. It's very strange."

I had expected another Nord barrow, like any other. I had anticipated strolling in, fighting two to ten undead, retrieving the Token, and leaving. This tomb did not fit the pattern at all: the layout was wrong, and it was full of wolves.

I inspected the ones we had just slain. Aside from being large, they appeared quite ordinary. I half expected them to shimmer and change into dead naked Nords, but they did not. It was the daytime: these were not werewolves.

Normally, I pick the leftmost passage when exploring, but I caught a glimpse of what looked like stalhrim from the rightmost corridor. I strode in that direction and Runa followed.

Resting at the far end of the cave was a stalhrim coffin. I thought about bringing out the little hammer and breaking it ... but I had more important things to do. It wasn't going anywhere: I could always come back another time.

We returned to the main corridor. I led the way into the left passage. This swelled into a cave, lit by a flame on a stone pillar. We continued and the cave narrowed down into a tunnel that had been roughly hewn through the rock. This turned to the right, rewarding us with the sight of ... another big wolf.

Runa began to rush ahead. I cast a fireball and the wolf howled in pain as it burned and fell. Runa reached it and slashed repeatedly. The creature was too panicked by the flames to defend itself. It rolled around, trying to put the flames out. She slashed and stabbed repeatedly. Some combination of the fire, the dagger's frost enchantment, and Runa's knife-work finally killed it.

"How many are there in this place?" I said as I caught up to her.

I heard the distant baying of ... more wolves.

"Too many."

"Agreed."

The tunnel twisted crazily, turning to the left, then the right. We passed several more of those Nordic cone fires, as well as some large stones carved with ancient runes.

Eventually we reached a four-way intersection. From the right came two wolves.

I swung my claymore in a long arc, but my chosen target evaded my swing and slashed at me. Its claws harmlessly slid on my cuirass. I heard Runa grunt as she fought the other creature.

My booted foot smashed into my attacker's snout. It howled in pain. I chopped. The beast's head went flying ... and impacted squarely on Runa's cranium. She stumbled.

Cursing, I rushed to her aid. Her wolf reached out with its claws. Chrysamere severed both of its forelegs. It howled in a confused tone as it fell forward. I thrust with my claymore and the beast was dead.

Leaning over Runa, I cast a healing spell.

"I'm sorry Runa," I said as I helped her up.

"What happened?"

"I decapitated a wolf and its severed head hit you."

"Be more careful!"

"I will."

We followed the left turning. It led into another cave. Here we saw some fires on stone pillars as well as more carved stones. From ahead of us rushed another wolf. Just how many of them were there in this oversized maze of a tomb? After a furious minute of combat, we advanced ahead, leaving another dead wolf behind.

The cave led into a room that looked more like a regular Nord tomb ought to look, complete with stone pillars and a stalhrim coffin. On the floor, in the center of the room, was a chest. I picked the lock and the chest snapped open. I was rewarded with the sight of a loop of string that had been threaded through two tusks or teeth ... or perhaps they were claws. I could not detect any enchantment, but I did feel some sort of magick in the object. I recalled Korst's description of the artifact: this was the totem of Claw and Fang. I placed it in my pack.

Mission accomplished.

"That is what we came for," I said, "but we should check the rest of this place in case we've overlooked anything."

She nodded.

I wistfully looked at the stalhrim coffin on the back wall, and then shook my head. Resolutely, I strode from the room.

At the branching, I took the left turn. This lead to another cavern. In this chamber was a steeply inclined stone that formed a ramp. With Runa close behind me, I descended. A short passage led to another cave. This one was a dead end. Aside from another stone cone light and some stone carvings, the cave was empty. Runa looked at me. I shrugged.

We returned to the intersection and took the remaining unexplored passage. This entered into a chamber. Ahead lay another passage. To the right, a large stone formed a walkway that sloped down to a lower floor. Up this charged ... two wolves.

Not a lot of variety in this tomb.

My claymore sliced into a creature's side. Runa ducked the lunge of the other one and cut a large gash in its side.

I kicked. My wolf fell, bounced once against the stone ramp and then landed on the lower floor. It did not move.

I ran down, along the stone ramp. I wanted to make sure that the creature was dead. I approached it and saw that it was.

Runa, having finished off the other wolf, joined me.

I led the way into another passage. This entered into a dead end cave. We had just traversed all of the Tombs of Skaalara.

"Good fun, eh?"

I smiled. "Yeah, kind of."

On our way to the entrance, I paused to clean Chrysamere on the fur of one of the corpses.

It was in the early afternoon when we returned to the Skaal village.

"Ah, you have it," said Korst, "Thank you, both of you."

"Now we wait?"

"Aye. Later on, some hours after sunset, you will go with Rolf Long-Tooth and the hunting party. The hunt will begin near the northwest shore of the lake."

I nodded. We left.

As we walked across the village I said to Runa, "I don't know about you, but I need to catch up on my sleep."

"Agreed."

We returned to my house and slept for some hours.

I awoke and took a walk. Runa accompanied me. Finally, I was able to wander around the Skaal village, in no particular hurry. My previous opportunity to talk to the people here had been during that crime investigation. This time, I was not on a mission, so I could simply chitchat.

At one point, I ran into Ingmar, the man who I had helped out with the Valbdrandr Draugr. Since I expected that he would not want the details of that encounter to emerge, I pretended that I did not know him and that I was just meeting him. When Runa wasn't looking, he smiled his thanks at my discretion.

Later, in the Great Hall, I had my first dinner with the Skaal. There was good food and a variety of it, though there were no ash yams.

After dinner, most of the Skaal remained in the hall, drinking mead, talking or, in some cases, singing. I was reminded of Thirsk.

Some hours after dinner, A man introduced himself to me as Rolf Long-Tooth and said that it was time to depart for the Ristaag. I bid my leave of Korst and Runa. Korst nodded and Runa raised her tankard to me. She seemed content, so I did not feel so bad to leave her there. Rolf and I exited from the Great Hall.

Outside, I met the two others who were to participate in the hunt; a woman named Grerid Axe-Wife and a man named Sattir the Bold. Introductions completed, we departed from the Skaal village. The night was clear and the stars shown brightly. We headed south.

I smiled as we passed the Beast Stone: the sight of it brought back a happy memory of the singing horkers.

The night was cold, even for me, but I said nothing: I should have thought to bring something warm to wear and it was now too late. On the previous night, Runa and I had traveled at a pace such that the cold had not been a problem. For now, there was nothing to do but press on and endure it. Maybe the hunt itself would provide enough exertion to keep me warm.

We turned west and followed the Northern shore of the lake. I followed the others westward, but part of me wanted to go and play with the horkers.

Just west of the northern part of the lake, we stopped. Grerid and Sattir took torches from their packs and lit them. I waited. As I have remarked before, the almost total snow cover of Solstheim prevents it from ever getting truly dark. The moonlight was enhanced by the constant Night Eye enchantment on the Ring of Azura: I did not need a torch to see.

"Rashelle the outlander, Blodskaal," said Rolf, "I am pleased that you have joined us for this hunt."

"I am honored to accompany you." And I was: I was not being sarcastic.

"We four are to hunt the Spirit Bear. Its appearance is that of a regular snow bear. The shaman has used the Totem of Claw and Fang to summon this animal."

He pointed west, deeper into the beautiful snow-covered forest. "It is out there, right now."

I nodded.

"One more thing; there are traditions,"

He held out a small tin, containing a blue paste. This was the stuff that Nords smeared on their faces before battle, or at times when they felt like being fashionable.

"Blodskaal, this hunt is all about ritual. Things must be done a certain way. It would be good if you were to paint yourself as we do, just for tonight."

I nodded and took the offered container.

"Just dip your finger in and draw on your face. It does not have to be a Nordic rune. It does not have to be a magical symbol."

I dipped my finger in the blue goop, getting a good dollop of it. I was ready to draw, but what to draw, what symbol?

Of course! I had the idea now. I raised my hand to my forehead. My finger made three quick motions and it was done.

I handed the blue paste back to him and wiped my finger on my greaves. This last was as I had seen the others do.

He nodded and said, "We begin. We will split up and search westwards."

He pointed to the left. "Sattir the Bold, you go that way."

The man nodded and slipped away, south.

He pointed to the right. "Grerid Axe-Wife, you go that way."

She nodded and faded away.

"Blodskaal, with me. Cover my back."

Rolf began to quietly creep forward. Stealthily, I followed.

After a minute, or perhaps it was sooner, Rolf looked back and his eyes widened. I can be silent even in heavy armor: he thought that I had fallen behind. I smiled.

We continued. He did not look behind again: I had proven myself.

From the left came a man's agonized scream and the growl of a wolf ... or a werewolf.

"Blodskaal," Rolf hissed, "go check on Sattir!"

I darted silently away, south. After running past some snow covered boulders and trees, I saw torchlight. Towards this I ran. I found Sattir. He was dead: his throat had been ripped out. I was too late. His torch lay on the ground. There were no creatures in sight but I saw wolf tracks in the snow.

I quickly returned to Rolf.

"Dead. Throat torn out. Werewolf."

He swore.

"We must press on. The Ristaag must be completed tonight."

I nodded. Korst had already explained this to me.

We continued. As before, I silently followed Rolf.

From the right came the sound of a woman shouting. Damnit.

"On my way," I whispered, before Rolf could say anything.

Though the snow, around an outcrop and past more trees, I rushed. I reached Grerid, who was fighting a werewolf.

The beast tore her throat out. It looked at me, as if mocking me, before it darted away. Fire came to me but the werewolf was too fast. I ran after the creature, but it was already gone.

I cursed, turned around and ran back towards Rolf. What if something killed him while I was away?

Rolf was still unhurt when I returned. He looked questioningly at me. I frowned and shook my head. He swore and then said, "We are the last two."

He looked ... defeated. I worried that he would call it off. The shaman had already stressed that not finishing the hunt would be a bad thing.

"Rolf, we must continue. Tell me what to do."

He pulled himself together and replied, "We proceed, as before."

I nodded.

He resumed his quiet advance across the moonlit snow. I silently shadowed him.

There was a longer interval of tense waiting. We walked, expecting an attack at any moment. We were hunters ... but also we were the hunted.

Three werewolves appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and attacked.

"Taste my silver, foul beast," said Rolf as he swung at one of the creatures.

Two of them knocked me down, but I was not done yet, no sera. With Chrysamere I warded one off. The second one I repelled with a well-placed kick. The first werewolf lashed out at me but I rolled to the side in time. My claymore arced though the air, missing the first one, but cutting into the second one, who had returned for more. It howled in pain.

I was on my feet again. The two werewolves hesitated. One was bleeding.

They attacked in unison. My blade whipped around, beheading one and slicing into the other. Rolf whirled and finished the second creature for me. He had, in the meantime, dispatched his single attacker.

"Thank you, Rolf."

"Aye lass, a good fight ... arrgh."

He cursed, fell to his knees and clutched his side. In the moonlight, his blood appeared as an expanding patch of black. It was only then that I realized that he had been wounded, and badly.

I held out a potion. "Take this!"

He gulped it down and said "thank you, lass. Thought I was done for."

"Do you need another potion?"

"I am OK now," he said as he stood up

"Good. We must continue."

"Rashelle, I am impressed with how you handled yourself. Indeed you are worthy of the title 'Blodskaal'. You lead from here on."

I narrowed my gaze and said "Are you sure?"

"Aye, lass. The Ristaag must succeed."

"OK. Stay behind me, close."

I began to stealthily advance. I could hear the faint sounds of Rolf behind me.

For some time I moved forward. I feared that we had passed the Spirit Bear so I turned south, then, after a short time, east. We were now paralleling our previous path.

Then I saw it: the Spirit Bear. It looked like a regular snow bear, but I somehow knew that it was not.

This would have been a perfect opportunity for a cross-bow shot. Alas, my skill with a bow of any sort has always been terrible.

I raised Chrysamere and silently ran forward. The bear sighted me but did not run. Instead, it stood up on its hind legs and hurled a frost spell. Being that I was already cold from the chill night air, the spell could have hurt me. Fortunately, my birth sign absorbed and diffused it, replenishing my own store of magicka.

I chopped with my blade and then darted to one side. The bear's claws sliced through the spot where I had been a fraction of a second before. Rolf got a swing in with his weapon, wounding the creature again.

The bear roared its pain and rage. From either side of the beast, we struck. My blade thrust deep into the creature. It spasmed and fell: Chrysamere had found its heart.

"Well done, Blodskaal."

"Keep watch while I do this."

A snow bear's body is essentially a large round blob with limbs and a head: there is a lot to cut through to reach the heart. It was a messy job, but at last I held the heart in my hand.

"Let us return," I said.

"Aye, lass."

We returned to the Skaal village without incident and went to the Great Hall, where Korst and Runa were waiting.

"Shaman," said Rolf, "we hunted the Spirit Bear and took out its heart. We two are the only survivors. Werewolves slew Sattir the Bold and Grerid Axe-Wife. They died bravely, as true Skaal warriors."

With a sad expression on his face, Korst took the offered heart.

"Thank you Rolf. Thank You Rashelle"

Rolf turned to leave. Korst caught my eye, so I waited.

"Rashelle," he said, "there is something else that I would ask of you."

Oh.

I said nothing. Sleep was not doing to be on the immediate agenda, was it?









This post has been edited by blockhead: Sep 28 2007, 11:48 PM

Another beatiful update! Too bad Runa wasn't allowed on the Bllodskal, but, oh well. So it's Karstaag now, right? Oh, I can't wait for it to come... Those rieklings better watch out!

Ah, that hunt is always an interesting mission to try out. Glad to see that Rashelle succeeded.