Of Eagles and Dragons, The Children of Kyne, Vol. IV Options

[Kane]

Act I

Prologue (4E 230)
Emperor Titus Mede II is dead. Convicted of Treasonous Sedition against the Empire and a Vassal State, the Elder Council cast his Writ of Execution with a unanimous vote on Loredas, the 1st of Last Seed, in the Two-hundred thirtieth year of the Fourth Era. The High Chancellor Anilay Cato was chosen to oversee the day-to-day administration of the crumbling Mede Dynasty, and the former head of state himself was hung from the gallows on Green Empire Way in the Imperial City for all to see.

It was a time of uncertainty in Cyrodiil, for there was yet to be a clear successor to the Ruby Throne, and rumors of Colovian and Nibenese warlords arming up to seize power for themselves were beginning to circulate among the populace. Many citizens of the Heartland secretly wished the Dragonborn king of Skyrim would lay claim by birthright, but so far there had been little news from the northern kingdom.

And with a patience born of long life, the Thalmor diplomats were content to watch quietly from their Embassy while their handlers ruled the Third Aldmeri Dominion with an iron fist. Altmer agents moved about in the shadows to sow discord and discontent wherever possible and worked tirelessly to keep the Empire from once again rising to prominence.

-----

Queen Penolore of the Summerset Isles strolled through the botanical gardens of Alinor with her royal retainer in tow. The ultimate ruler of the Aldmeri Dominion, Penolore reigns supreme over the Altmer of her homeland, the Bosmer of Valenwood, and the Khajiiti of Elswyr with an unrelenting grip. The Thalmor operate solely under her command, bringing order to her subjects and extending her reach over the rest of Tamriel. But on this day, she felt only contempt for the ineptness of the organization’s recent failures in combating the rise of a new alliance of power to the north.

The shrill fops in her retainer had followed her from the palace, prattling on endlessly about matters far beneath her station in a constant bid to curry favor with the monarch. Seeking a measure of peace and quiet, she finally had enough of the bickering for one day. Penolore came to a halt and raised a hand in warning.

“Shut up. All of you will shut up now or I shall have you thrown from the highest tower of my palace. Begone from here if you value your meaningless existences.�

They fell silent in deference to their queen and filed out of the gardens as quickly as possible. Not a single one of them were keen to be present for her wrath should it need to be unleashed upon whichever poor soul tarried. Only a single Altmer remained, clad in the traditional dark robes of the Thalmor.

“Have you more to say, Lisotel? I would have thought your inability to carry out even a single assassination of those miserable whelps to the north would have stayed your sharp tongue. Tell me what value you could possibly still offer your queen when others have been flayed alive for failures of a far less magnitude than your own.�

“I only offer news that our agents deemed relevant, milady.�

“Very well. Spit it out and remove yourself from my sight.�

Magistrate Lisotel hesitated for the briefest of seconds. It would have to be today of all days that he was assigned to her retinue, and a message from Solitude should arrive to their headquarters by carrier eagle. Penolore was already in a foul temper after his Thalmor compatriots failed to squash another uprising in Anequina, and now he was poised to deliver more unwelcome news to the surly queen.

“It is with great regret that our field agents in Skyrim report the return of the High King’s son to the Blue Palace. He apparently was spotted in the city yesterday morning in the company of an unknown Breton woman. Where he had gone or what he was up to over the last thirteen months is still a mystery, but we fear his arrival and reintegration with the royal family will push the king to finally issue a claim to the Ruby Throne.�

The queen had stooped down to examine a budding rose stem while Lisotel spoke and she snipped it free cleanly from the stalk with her pruning shears as the words tumbled from the Magistrate’s overworked mouth. It slipped free of her grasp, fell to the floor, and Penolore ground it to a pulp with the heel of her boot.

“Tell me, Lisotel, have we not discussed the merits of tending to one’s garden on many previous occasions? See how easily that is done? Pruning an errant growth is a simple task that is abundantly important in maintaining a healthy growth; one of which I know your Order is easily capable of facilitating. I am granting you a second chance to do as I have ordered. Should you fail once again, the citizens of Alinor shall bear witness to your entrails displayed upon the ruins of Crystal-Like-Law. Return to me when the task is completed, and not one second sooner.�

Bowing his head graciously, Magistrate Lisotel took leave of the queen. Penolore continued to care for the overgrown rose shrub, snipping off stray stems with malicious intent.

-----

“What news from Chorrol, Brother Cassian?�

“High Chancellor,� greeted the courier. “Brother Indus’ scouts report little movement from the camps deep in the Great Forest. If they have anything planned, it will likely not be for some time. Indus suspects they are having trouble recruiting loyal men for the cause. Of course, this would all be a lot easier to verify if we are given leeway to operate more independently.�

Anilay Cato set down his quill and pushed aside the letter he’d been penning. This wasn’t the first time Cassian had made a similar remark, and the chancellor was beginning to grow weary of reminding the man just how delicate the situation in Cyrodiil really was. A stronger hand may be required soon.

“This again? We’ve been over it many times already, Brother Cassian. I’m giving you the most resources I can without drawing scrutiny from the elves. If they discover the Blades have secretly been reformed, the Dominion will bring war to our doorstep immediately. Do what you can with what I have given you and let’s not speak of this again. There are plenty of other men who would love to be in your position.�

Brother Cassian recognized his dismissal and saluted smartly as he turned to leave. Anilay continued to stare absentmindedly at the door long after it had closed behind his captain. He again found himself wondering if reforming the Blades had been a wise move on the council’s part. The endgame of the it made sense to all involved, but Anilay felt the interim risk was too high, and he’d unsuccessfully pushed to have the vote temporarily stayed.

“Too late now,� he said to no one in particular. And with a heavy sigh, he returned to his unfinished letter.

There was another knock on the door and it took all of his restraint to not fling the quill at it and berate whomever deigned to bother him again. “Come in!�

An elderly Breton woman with long gray hair tied back in a ponytail, poked her through the partially opened door and saluted. “Is this a bad time, sir?�
“No, no, come on in, Delphine,� said Anilay. “Forgive my exasperated tone, I just got done reminding Cassian of our straits and I fear that I shall never finish this correspondence.� He rolled up the parchment and set it aside until the next day. “What can I do for you?�

“I’d like to request something of you.� Delphine entered the study and took the recently vacated seat across from the High Chancellor. After she settled in, Anilay gestured for her to continue. “Might I be sent back north to Skyrim? I know the High King from our time together during the Dragon Crisis, and I may be able to get a better read on his intentions than some of our other agents have.�

“Oh, really? But as I understand it, your time working together did not end well, no? As I recall, he asserted his authority as Dragonborn over you and walked away from your efforts to rebuild the order. What makes you think he’ll let you into his court after all these years?�

Delphine frowned. She hadn’t expected Anilay to be so well versed on her prior dealings as a rogue Blade in Skyrim. Truth be told, her efforts to kickstart the Blades, along with Esbern, in Sky Haven Temple had crumbled to dust after Kirin Windborne had walked away from them. Further recruiting efforts failed, and the wizened lore-keeper succumbed to illness not five years later. For her part, Delphine had faded into obscurity as a farmhand in the western Reach.

“Heard about that, did you? Well, you’re right in that there’s no guarantee, but I don’t know what else I can offer the Blades, sir. I’m old and my days of fighting are long since passed. This at least feels like something meaningful I can contribute.�

“I see,� replied Anilay. “And would you be up for such a journey, Delphine? Autumn is settling in over Skyrim and our men at Cloud Ruler have reported the Pale Pass is already under several feet of snow. It will not be easy going.�

“I’ll manage.�

The High Chancellor studied her for a moment and then he grabbed a new roll of parchment and dipped his quill in fresh ink. He scribbled away while Delphine waited patiently for his decision, wondering where fate would take her next. She had been so hesitant when the rumors of former Blades officers being brought back into the fold were swirling, and it wasn’t until Brother Cassian himself had tracked her down to a small plantation near Karthwasten that she allowed herself to believe they were true. The reality didn’t truly set in for her until she was assigned a room at Weynon Priory, on the outskirts of Chorrol, and asked to advise the younger Captains leading this new iteration of the fabled organization.

Anilay finished writing his new orders, signed, and stamped the bottom with an Imperial Seal before wrapping it up and handing it to Delphine. “Deliver this to Brother Cassian and return to Cloud Ruler with him to begin your preparations.�

“Thank you, sir,� said Delphine. “I’ll keep in touch.�

“A bit of advice, if I may?�

“Sir?�

The chancellor dug around in his desk for few seconds until he found the dossier he was seeking. Flipping it open, Anilay slid out a sketching of Cain Windborne and handed it to the waiting Breton. “If the High King offers resistance, try speaking to his son. I’ve met the man personally and he’s wise, clever, and kind to a fault. Not to say that his father is an ignorant old man, but sometimes younger eyes see things differently. I’ve gathered that Cain is back home in Solitude after being abroad following the death of his fiancé.�

Delphine bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Everyone in Skyrim had heard about his loss, and people across the province had mourned for the young woman from Stonehills. There were even gossiping commoners in the taverns at night saying she had been pregnant at the time, but that was never officially confirmed by the High King’s court. If It were true, Delphine didn’t fault him at all for taking some time away, even if his whereabouts were a mystery.

“I’ll keep that in mind, sir.�

“Excellent. Take care on your trip, and dress warmly. I expect a letter by carrier bird as soon as you get settled in at Solitude. You’re dismissed, Delphine.�

Anilay watched her depart and then he glanced back over at his unfinished letter. Deciding it could wait until the morning, the chancellor left his office in search of a strong drink to end the day with. He wasn’t entirely convinced allowing Delphine to intrude on the High King’s court was a good idea, but he’d expected answers from Kirin Windborne for some time now, and was rewarded with nothing.

If another week passes like this I shall have to contact Cain myself. Perhaps the man would be willing to visit me in person.

The White-Gold Tower still bustled with activity in the evening hours, and so Anilay elected to don his commoner clothes and seek a drink at Luther Broad’s, instead.


This post has been edited by Kane: Jun 26 2025, 03:16 PM

[Kane]

We all have our special idiots! I think it'll be a while yet before the conversation about minds comes up between Cain and Gwyn, mainly for the reason Gwyn highlighted. Abruptly losing that connection to Anska was not good for his psyche. At all. Even more interesting will be the forthcoming talk hinted at in this next chapter.

Making Kyne more connected with them is an element I'm glad I leaned into when I started Seeking Solace. She was motherly in Call of the Wind, but not nearly as involved or close to the Windbornes as she is now. There was nineteen years between those books, so it made sense that Kyne would become closer with them, especially since it was just Lydia and Linneá during that time,

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Chapter IX – Ghosts in the Storm


The fall air was becoming much too cold for Gwyn’s taste. Winter in High Rock was of course cold and snowy, but it was nothing like what seemed to be coming her away in the mountainous lands of Skyrim. Every morning brought fresh snow flakes and frost-covered flora. The wind bit at her exposed skin until she begged Cain to plan a trip to the city where Gwyn could purchase warmer clothes that weren’t overly revealing. Or full of holes.

Nearly three weeks had turned over while the new couple settled into life at Elysium Estate. It was far nicer than life in her cabin and everything that Gwyn had hoped for when she first dreamed of living there with Cain. Their time was their own, yet they still had plenty to spend with the others, whether it be dinners at the Blue Palace, or nightcaps at home with Linneá and Serana. Even Kyne stopped in every few days to see if they needed anything. Gwyn was still terse when they spoke but Cain had forgiven the goddess at the Breton’s urging. She didn’t want to stand between those he loved.

A blustery Tirdas morning found them walking up the cobbled street of Whiterun’s Plains District bound for the relatively new clothiers that Cain’s sisters had visited with Salihn. The cozy little shop set off the beaten path behind Belethor’s General Goods had a roaring firepit at the center, with racks and shelves of clothing adorning every inch of wall space. Robes, dresses, trousers, shirts, blouses, skirts, loafers, boots, heels – every item of clothing a person could want was somehow tucked into the tiny building.

Cain groaned audibly at the sight of it all and received a playful punch on his shoulder in return. He knew without a doubt that Gwyn would have him here far longer than most men would feel was necessary.

“Oh, quit your bitching,� said Gwyn. “You knew exactly what you signed up for the instant you kissed me for the first time.� She pulled a set of black robes off of a hook and held it up against her diminutive form, sighing when the hems piled up at her feet. “[censored]. Why do I get the feeling that most of these clothes were designed for Nords?

“Because they were, miss,� came a squeaky voice from the backroom. “I’ll be out to help you in just a second!�

Gwyn hung the robe back up and started eyeing the shoes instead while Cain sought unsuccessfully for a place to sit. And maybe take a nap. They were soon joined by a young Bosmer woman who somehow managed to be even shorter than Gwyn. The antlers sprouting from under hair long brown hair added some much-needed height, but Cain figured she topped out at less than five feet tall, sans the antlers.

“Welcome to Gariel’s! I’m Gariel, of course - how can I help you today?�

“Perfect, you’re even tinier than me,� said Gwyn, feeling much better about her prospects. “My name’s Gwyn and I’m new to Skyrim and I need warm clothes that will actually fit me. As you can see,� she gestured vaguely at her tattered and skimpy dress, “I’m ill prepared for the coming winter.�

“Hm. You won’t find anything your size on the racks, Ms. Gwyn. Come in the back with me and I’ll take your measurements. We can talk deposits too, and I can loan you something more functional in the meantime.�

She disappeared along with Gwyn through a small wood door and left Cain standing idly by the fire. Deciding that the shopkeeper probably wouldn’t mind, he took a seat on the small stool near the counter and dwelt on how to approach his meeting tomorrow. His father had finally re-upped his correspondences with High Chancellor Anilay Cato, and Cain would be recalling them to the Imperial City on the following dawn. Which meant that his abundance of free time with the lovely Miss Louvain would be coming to a close soon thereafter. They would soon be on the road to Falkreath Hold.

Gwyn wasn’t too happy about it. They had argued back and forth for most of a day when Cain told her of what Kirin’s intentions for his firstborn were. Funnily enough to Cain, she seemed more put out by the prospect of traveling the holds than she did about the possibility of one day becoming the High Queen. Granted they had only been together for less than a month now, but it was a conversation they were going to need to have by the time this grand tour of the land ended.

He must have been consumed by those thoughts for longer than he realized, for Gwyn had to snap her fingers under his nose sometime later to gather his attention. “Wake up!�

Cain shook his head in surprise and then focused on her. Gwyn had donned a dark fur mantle and a pair of tight-fitting pants that were much better suited for the weather. It was also the only time had seen her in something that didn’t reveal a lot of bare skin. Or her glowing tattoos. He was more disappointed by that than he expected to be.

As if she read his thoughts, Gwyn giggled and then gave him a kiss. “It’s just until Gariel can alter some outfits for me,� she promised. “You’ll be back to ogling me before you know it.�

It was Cain’s turn to grin. “Can you blame me? I’m lucky to have someone so beautiful at my side.�

“Damn right you are. Oh, and I need you to pay an advance for the clothes I picked out. Two-hundred fifty Septims should cover the first ten percent.� She laughed aloud at the sight of his jaw hanging open in protest of the amount owed for her new wardrobe. “Don’t be so dramatic, I know you’ve got the gold for it. And we’re getting lunch when we’re done here. It’s high time you took me out for a proper date.�

-----

It was quiet in the Bannered Mare, save for the clinking of dinnerware and the dull murmur of conversation that generally accompanied an early lunch. Only a few residents of the city were able to get away from their daily business for a quick meal. Ysolda mostly counted on the evening crowd to pay the bills and it hadn’t let her down yet.

This suited Gwyn just fine as she tucked into half a roasted chicken and a glass of chilled tea. Apparently, serving tea this way in Skyrim was something of a novelty that travelers to, and from, other realms brought with them, much to her amusement. Innkeepers and bartenders in High Rock had been brewing tea and infusing it with berries or flower petals in this manner for years. All it took was a short blast of frost magic to chill it, which is something Gwyn very much regretted not being able to do.

She blanched after taking a sip of the now tepid beverage, and set the glass aside. Cain was sipping at a hot coffee and nibbling from a loaf of sweetened bread. He noticed her disappointment over the not-so-iced tea and picked it up, placing it right in front of his mouth.

“Hey!� exclaimed Gwyn. “I’m still drinking that!�

He winked at her, and whispered a single syllable as quietly as he could manage. “Fo.�

A rush of blisteringly cold air escaped his lips, coating the entire glass in a thin layer of ice and lowering the liquid to near freezing. Small bits of ice coalesced and jingled against the side. He handed it back to Gwyn with a smile.

She looked at the frozen glass and then back at Cain. “Okay, you got me there. That’s a damn useful trick.� Her eyes lit up and she bit at the corner of her lip. “What else can that smooth dragon tongue of yours do I wonder?�

“We’ll have plenty of time for that,� said Cain. “Er, just not here. And are you sure we can’t go someplace else? Anvil has some really nice dining rooms. Or even the Imperial City. This, uh, isn’t exactly a romantic first date.�

“I was hungry,� shrugged Gwyn. “And you’ll make it up to me. I know some very nice restaurants in Daggerfall that we can go to some time. But, um, you’ll need some nice clothes. Like, way nicer. Probably nicer than anything you can get in this armpit of a province.�

“Look, you do realize I’m not wealthy by any stretch, right? I can’t just go out and drop thousands of Septims on designer clothes and exotic restaurants.�

“What’s your point? I used to live in a shithole cabin with a dirt floor and my clothes are full of holes. Some that were even made by accident. You’re the future High King and goddamn it you are going to treat me like a queen! I think I’ve earned a shot at a nice life, don’t you?�

Cain stammered and was on the verge of protesting when he noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes. She was teasing him. “Damn it, you were getting me all worked up, Gwyn.�

“Can you blame me?� she laughed. “You’re so cute when you get all flustered.�

The few inn patrons didn’t seem to be paying any attention to the couple seated near the back, so Gwyn joined Cain on his side of the table and sat on his lap. She pressed her lips to his and they were soon kissing in a way that ought to be reserved for the bedroom. Emboldened by the lack of interest from the others seated at the bar, Gwyn decided it was time to be a little more risqué, and began to unbutton her new fur mantle.

She was just about to pull it down around her shoulders when a raspy voice cleared its throat behind her. “Ahem. Sorry to interrupt… but is that you, Cain?�

The Redguard knew that voice. He whispered an apology to Gwyn and looked over her shoulder at the man. “Athis! What brings you to the Mare?�
Gwyn groaned in frustration at the ruined moment and climbed off of Cain to resume sitting in the chair across from him. She shot the dunmer a look of daggers before taking a drink from her still frozen tea. Then she considered dumping it over her head to try and tamp down the lustful mood Athis had just interrupted.

“Who’s your friend, Cain?� she settled for asking her mate.

“Right, where are my manners – Gwyn, this is Athis. Athis, Gwyn. We were shield brothers during my brief stint with the Companions. Athis was at my side the first time I ever set foot in the Blue Palace. Didn’t know at the time though that he was already working for my father.�

Athis was not ignorant of the cross looks he was receiving from Gwyn. He cleared his throat again nervously. “Pleasure to meet you, miss. I won’t take up much more of your time; I just wanted to say hello.� Athis winked at Cain. “Don’t be a stranger at Jorrvaskr while you’re in town, friend. I’d love to catch up with you over a mead.�

“I look forward to it, Athis. We’re living at the estate outside of the city, so I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time. Next time I visit town I’ll make sure to stop by the hall.�

The dunmer clasped Cain’s hand warmly and nodded at Gwyn with a smile. “Nice to have met you, miss Gwyn. He left the inn along with one or two other townsfolk leaving just Cain, Gwyn, Ysolda, and a drunk snoozing in the corner. Having thought the steamy mood long gone, Gwyn started making small talk to hide her disappointment.

“He seems nice,� muttered Gwyn. “I can head home if you want to go – “ She stopped speaking abruptly when Cain stood up, walked around the table, and picked her up bodily.

“To hell with that,� said Cain. “We have unfinished business.� He carried Gwyn upstairs and tossed her into the soft bed overlooking the inn below.

-----

After burning off a light lunch, Cain and Gwyn lounged intimately in the bed for a while and spoke softly of their plans. She still wasn’t enthusiastic about the long journeys around Skyrim that were ahead of them but had vowed to stay by Cain’s side though it all. There was talk of his sisters joining them for the occasional court visit too, which Gwyn eagerly welcomed. She’d grown quite close to Serana especially after they had bonded over past traumas, and the pair were quickly becoming the best of friends.

Unfortunately, there were only three days of relative peace left until the first of said court meetings. Jarl Jon Battle-Born of Whiterun would be the first for Cain to greet and spend a day with. Gwyn was happy they would still be close to home, even if it met the remaining trips were much further away.

“How will we be traveling?� she asked Cain, her thoughts still lingering on the task at hand. “One of those rickety carriages?�

“Most likely, yeah,� said Cain. He reached a free hand up to scratch at the rope binding his other hand to the bedpost. “Can you untie me now?�

“No. I like you just the way you are. Besides, I never said I was done with you.�

They had passed by the carriage near the stables earlier that morning and Gwyn thought a good sneeze might blow it to pieces. The lack of other traveling options in the province astounded Gwyn. No Wayshrines for city to city travel, and from what Cain said there didn’t seem to be any ferrymen on the traversable waterways either. So, it was on foot or by carriage.

“Can we mark something in the cities in case we ever have to return in a hurry?�

“I suppose so,� said Cain. “Linn said it’s not a good idea, though. If you start marking things all over the place for convenience it can get all jumbled in your mind. Makes it hard to focus on any one target if your head is swimming with possibilities.�

“That makes sense,� said Gwyn. “Well, I guess we should head home then. Any visitors tonight?�

“Not that I’m aware of.�

“Good,� said Gwyn. She got up on her knees and freed Cain’s hand and then started getting dressed. “We need to work more on your new Shout and it’ll be easier if we don’t have to entertain anyone.�

Cain began to pull on his own clothes, and after tipping Ysolda heavily, they left the Bannered Mare and headed for the city gates and the road home. Much to Gwyn’s chagrin, a storm had kicked up while they were sequestered inside the warm tavern and the heavy gales were blowing a sleety mix across the open tundra. Even with her warmer clothing, it was almost too much for Gwyn. Ten minutes into their walk home, Cain pulled her in close and was about to cast the recall spell when a strange creature dove at them from the snow-laden winds with a guttural snarl.

Neatly side-stepping the beast, Cain drew his sword while scarlet magick danced in Gwyn’s palms. The gray-skinned something scrambled to its feet and snarled at them again. Light footfalls in the snowy earth behind them announced the arrival of more of the odd enemies but their numbers were too few against the Dragonborn and the deadly mage. Three of them fell to Cain’s sword strikes while the remaining two had their flesh torn asunder.
Sword slung back over his shoulders where it belonged, Cain knelt by one of the creatures to examine it. The short height and slouching composure reminded him of goblins, but they gray skin was foreign to him.

“What are they?� asked Gwyn.

“I’m not sure,� said Cain. “Look at the eyes – I think these things are blind. And the ears are much larger than goblin ears. I bet they could hear a whisper on a mountain.�

“Should we just leave them here on the road?�

“No, I want to find out what we’re dealing with.� Cain closed his eyes and said a quick prayer to his goddess. “Kyne will be here soon. She’ll know what they are. Want me to take you home real quick?�

Gwyn’s teeth were chattering and she rubbed her shoulders in a futile attempt at warming herself up. “I’m not leaving you until I know there aren’t more around,� she said.

Cain smiled and pulled her in close until Kyne arrived. Thankfully, it only took a few minutes for the hawk to flutter down and land gracefully on her feet in front of them.

“What is it dearies?� She frowned at the sight of Gwyn shivering in the cold and held out her hand to the Breton. “May I?�

Unsure of that meant, Gwyn hesitated for a moment before meeting the hand with her own. A feeling of uplifting warmth rushed into her and dispelled the cold entirely. Her teeth stopped shaking and her hands ceased tingling and she began to sweat in Cain’s embrace. Gwyn stepped away from him and awkwardly thanked Kyne.

“Think nothing of it,� said Kyne. “Now, what can I do for you two? Your prayer sounded urgent, Cain, yet we’re not far from the estate…�

“Look behind you.�

Kyne spun around and spotted the three beasts felled by Cain’s hand. And she also noticed the grisly bits of flesh and bone spread over the snowy grass, which caused her some consternation. Glancing back at Gwyn, the small woman nodded at her unasked question. This was the first time anyone in Cain’s family had witnessed the results of Gwyn’s corrupted magick, but Kyne decided it wasn’t the time to speak about it.

“Hm. It’s odd for falmer to be so far out into the open,� said Kyne, turning her attention to the intact corpse instead.

“Falmer?� asked Cain. “’Mer’ as in – “

“Elf,� Kyne finished. “These poor beings were once the mighty race of Snow Elves that called Skyrim home. They’ve devolved into these goblin-like creatures and they live deep underground in caves or old Dwemer cities.�

“Oh, I’ve read about the Snow Elves,� said Gwyn. “But the book I had didn’t mention that this is what they’ve become.�

“Very few people have made the connection.�

“You said it’s odd for them to be out here?� said Cain. “Should we be concerned?�

“If it were just one, I would say no. But this is a pack. Something feels different about this. I think we need to let Kirin and the others know.�

“Damn it,� muttered Gwyn. “There goes our evening.�