Blood on the Moon, A Journey of Discovery Options

[mALX]

After two days driving (and the last one in the rain) I am too tired to read this tonight, but I'll be back (said in an Arnold voice) tomorrow and so I can give it the attention it deserves !!

[Burnt Sierra]

I have, as always, continued to read this with pleasure each time I've resurfaced online. Which has been far too infrequently this last year. The good news with that approach has been that I've had plenty of updates to devour each time!

I think the reason this story, and it's predecessor, grab me so much is how you write Athlain (and Trey previously). You have a knack of being able to bring them to life. Their internal thoughts possess the same natural immediacy as their dialogue, everything they say, think and do is congruent with what they've done previously. It's seamless, and makes me feel like I know them. And I always root for the people I know and care about.

Still your loyal reader, and I shall try my hardest to post here again much more frequently

[Athynae]

I like the sound of coins chuckling too......hehe. And you saved your beautiful locks just in the nick of time yet again. I am very glad, though, that Athlain suggested I request sanctuary with his mother, I am thoroughly enjoying my visit with his sisters......

Don't put that pen down!!!!! I am anxiously waiting the next part of our story. Love you Treydog, and keep up the wonderful work.

A

[D.Foxy]

A pleasure seeing those fetchers getting exactly what they deserved - now if it had been me, I would have forged another stock certificate (even if a good forgery cost me a little more than ten thousand) just to see that @*!@ squirm...

And by the way, how well have you integrated my suggestions into your story! I am honoured and humbled.

[mALX]

I waited patiently for him to explain what had happened, but he just fumed silently until I finally decided I would have to ask.

ROFL !!! Great line!! The imagery was perfect here !! Couldn't beat this for conjuring up an ETN man till I saw this paragraph:

“Afer could certainly use a new sword, considering the way he notched his blade on that archer. He pretty well ruined the edge. I mentioned to him that the point of a sword was a better choice against an armored opponent.”

Despite himself, Falco grinned and asked, “What was his response?”

“He said, ‘Fetcher’s dead isn’t he? And you don’t hear him complaining about whether I used the point or the edge.’ “

Our shared laughter broke the tension we had both felt for many days, especially when I added the postscript:

ROFL !!! I Loved this scene, Afer's responses clearly drum up his personality. His mind cuts through all the BS and gets right down to the hub of the matter at hand - simple and direct !! Awesome characters you are developing with these men !!!

there was something furtive about Constans Atrius. Even when he was just standing still, he gave the impression of being up to something.

Wonderful description to evoke imagery !!!

Athlain is beginning to add power to his repertoire! I nearly fell out of my chair in surprise, that was an awesome coup !!!

AWESOME WRITE !!! And so wonderful to see your story getting updated again !!!

[haute ecole rider]

Absolutely loved seeing Athlain spar with Constans:

“I will be happy to sign for them- using your blood, if necessary.”

I'm looking for that wet spot on Constans's pants!

And his interaction with Crapius Malignus Carnius Magnus:

“I read the fine print,“ I added nastily. “Of course, if you don’t have the money, I can take it up with the directors. I’m sure they will be very interested to know how their investment is being spent.”

I bet the directors would be! And did Crapius Carnius leave a brown spot on his chair?

[SubRosa]

a number of tracks that indicated someone was scouting Raven Rock.
Big guy, yellow skin, Gatling Laser? Don't worry, he's one of the good guys. Watch out, he'll steal all your kills though...

Afer could certainly use a new sword, considering the way he notched his blade on that archer. He pretty well ruined the edge. I mentioned to him that the point of a sword was a better choice against an armored opponent.
A nice touch of realism here. Athlain may not be a swordsman himself, but his time in the legion has at least taught him how they are supposed to be used.

I loved your description of Contans looking like he was always up to something. It conveys so much with an economy of words. Athlain himself really shines in his interactions with the man. There is no hesitancy in his actions. He simply throws down. Clearly, all that he has been through has changed him greatly inside.

“There. Just… take them and go. For all the good they’re likely to do you.”
It looks like Constans is in the loop about what Crapius Carnius is up to.

If Athlain wants to really put the squeeze on Carnius' finances, Teresa can recommend a fellow wood elf, who is handy at getting into places she is not supposed to go, and leaving with all the valuables therin...

This post has been edited by SubRosa: May 14 2011, 11:36 PM

[Acadian]

'I had known for some time that a confrontation with Carnius lay in my future, but I had hoped to have more time to prepare. But- this was about more than just me. Absently, I touched a finger to one of the silver spikes on Athynae’s Gift and thought how different things might have been if I had not had it when the werewolf attacked. Yes, my men needed those silver weapons- and I would do what was necessary to obtain them. '
And so effortlessly you tie a 'go fetch' task straight to Athlain's heart and honor, rendering his choice a foregone conclusion. Of course he would do this. Superbly done, trey. Mention of Athynae being a delightful bonus.

“So I handed Afer one of those big, heavy smith’s hammers. He said, ‘I don’t know how to repair a sword!’ I told him, ‘No- I want you to use that instead of a sword, since hammering seems to be the only tactic you know.’ “
Spoken by one mace user perhaps trying to convert another?

Well, those silver blades will increase their range of capabilities. Oh, and 10K septims won't hurt either.

[Olen]

Now I can see 10k coming in handy... and stinging Carnius, if only temporarily. Money can achieve many things, I wonder what this is destined for.

People have already pointed ut the funnies (which I enjoyed as ever), so I'll comment on something else which stood out this chapter particularly (though was completely seamless and almost expected). That's Athlain's growing confidence, he just bullied Carnius's thug and intimidated him, certainly something he wouldn't have tried a few chapters back and then went to have a go at the man himself. Probably a good time to sell off stock too - though whether 'I think we're going to need silver weapons' counts as insider trading...

I sense this may be leading up to the final section of the main quest and very smoothly done there, I think I can see how it will flow very cleanly (which this piece tends to and is part of the reason why it's so engrossing). But this bit almost foreshadowed it, the ritual of the stones (is that the right name - I think so) has brought about more change in Athlain than just toughening him up and getting him off the skooma, it's given him confidence. I suspect whatever happens in the aftermath will get positively squashed by him.

Great piece...

[treydog]

@Burnt Sierra- You are, of course, one of the people who has kept me writing and caring about these stories for all these years. And the fact that you have been so kind to my efforts and my characters has meant more than I can ever say. Welcome back and glad to see Poisonous Garden back!

@Athynae- OH no! Not Athlain’s sisters! His plans always have that one minor flaw. Thank you, love- you will not be stuck in literary limbo much longer.

@D.Foxy- Having someone who KNOWS makes it so much easier for me to write as if Athlain does… If that makes any sense?

@mALX- Welcome back! Yes- I just had so much fun with Afer. One reason I appreciate my readers so much- you often give me ideas that work perfectly with the story. And yes- I can just hear that E. Tennessee rumble- “Wull- he’s daid, ain’t he? And ya don’t hear him complainin’”

And Constans is just such an oily sort- even in vanilla game.

@haute- Yes, the verbal jousting was fun to write. And I think Athlain is getting a bit- grumpy. Perhaps it is the absence of a certain someone…

And again- the dog-Latin was just one of those… accidents. (Sorry- couldn’t resist).

@SubRosa- If we could just get the Enclave out of the way…. And yes, Athlain has definitely been honed down to a finer edge himself. Should have thought of Bosmeri assistance… darn.

@Acadian- Thank you my friend. In some ways, Athlain is absorbing the Buffy Doctrine. These are his friends and his responsibility. He WILL see that they are safe.

And yes- blunt weapons specialists think that is the only way to go. None of that delicate “edge- point- edge” stuff for Athlain!

@Olen- Yep. Since Carnius is about the money, taking it is the best revenge. And you again note an important part of his growth. He will no longer just accept taunts and harassment. And the ritual definitely had a lot to do with his increased confidence and his changing view of the world.

-----------------------------------------------------

Because I was still operating “independently,” I spent the night in the Imperial Cult Shrine, rather than the barracks. The distinction might have been minor, but it seemed significant to me. And, in truth, the peace of the shrine, as well as the smell of incense and beeswax, was more conducive to sleep than the more- organic- sounds and smells that accompany a room full of soldiers. When the morning light arrived, I realized that the shrine could serve a more mundane purpose, as well. I entrusted the bag of coin to Jeleen, with instructions to see that it went to my sisters if something happened to me. Ever since Athynae had rescued Mirisa, the priest had been anxious to do me a favor, so he was delighted. And then I bundled up the swords and headed to the dock. Basks-in-the-Sun had finished loading the small amount of cargo that did not go direct to the colony, and waved me aboard.

Despite the confrontations with Constans and Carnius, I felt good. So far, we had thwarted my nemesis at every turn, as well as costing him considerable money. However powerful his connections might be, the Company would soon find it difficult to ignore his incompetence- or malfeasance. The thought of Carnius being summarily recalled and removed was pleasant, and I smiled as I imagined it. But that smile faded as the Raven Rock pier came into view and I saw Falco and Afer standing at its foot. Afer’s sword was out and he was gazing toward the center of the colony- and Falco’s left arm was in a sling.

As soon as I made the leap from ship to pier, the colony manager rushed up to me, his face pale. He began speaking rapidly, his words bursting forth between gasps for breath:

“Thank the Nine! Skaal! Attacked- right after you left.”

My expression of shocked amazement must have mirrored Falco’s. The Skaal? How was that possible? Korst had assured me…. But there was no time. The evidence was clear; there had been an attack- Falco and Afer had obviously been in a fight and were still in a state of vigilance. And what about…?

“Where are Garnas and Gratian? They weren’t…?”

Falco put a quick hand on my arm and said, “No. We must have put up a better fight than expected. Drove them into the mine. The other fellows are guarding the entrance.”

He took several breaths to calm himself and then started over.

“Not long after you left last night, ten or more of them came howling out of the trees. I don’t understand it; we’ve never had trouble from the Skaal before. Anyway, they made a mistake; they hit right after the shift change, and a lot of the miners were still up and about. Between them and the guards, we pushed them into the mine. But- the late shift had just gone to work- and they’re still in there.”

He looked at me with anguish on his face. “The guards and I can keep watch here, but I need you to go in and get the workers out. Do what you have to about the Nords- my men are the priority.”

I wanted to ask him how he knew the attackers were Skaal; I wanted to make sure the guards were not hurt; I had a hundred other questions. But it was clear Falco could not answer them. I nodded to him and said, “Let me have Garnas. The two of us will get the miners out.”

I had seen how the dark elf moved, and there was no one I would rather have at my back if I had to go down into those twisting tunnels.

When I reached the entry to the mine, the remaining guards visibly relaxed. Gratian did not say anything, but made do with a gesture somewhere between a wave and a salute. Garnas looked at me steadily, waiting for me to explain how we were going to handle the situation. I was counting on that steadiness- and his experience. Falco believed he had seen Skaal, but he was mostly a manager- a businessman. I needed the opinion of someone who could spot a knife in the midst of a tavern brawl- and react with just the right amount of force.

“We’ll be going in- the two of us; but first, I need to know what you saw. And I need to know what you think.”

Garnas closed his eyes briefly, reliving the chaotic moments as the attack started. At last, eyes still closed, he began to speak:

“They came out of the woods in two groups. Four of them headed for Falco, but Afer and I were there and drove them off. Falco got hit- a hammer or club, I think. The other bunch made straight for the mine, but the crew coming off shift tangled them up. It seems clear that they were waiting for you to leave- maybe they thought we would relax.”

He opened his eyes and shrugged. “They could have taken us if they had pressed home- concentrated on us and Falco. But they didn’t act like they were used to working together- or like men who had ever been in a real fight.”

The comment about the attackers not being coordinated brought my earlier doubt into focus. The Skaal were experienced hunters- and they were used to hunting as a group. What Garnas described simply did not fit.

“Are you sure they were Skaal? How could you tell?”

“It was a bunch of characters in furs and face paint rushing out of the trees whooping and waving weapons. But, now that you mention it….”

His red eyes gleamed and a look of certainty settled on his features. “One of those ‘Nords’ sure moved a lot like my old friend Nasios.”

It was fortunate I had already asked Garnas to accompany me; now that he knew Nasios was in the mine, I would have needed force to restrain him. He did not become agitated- just the opposite. An eerie calm settled over him as he carefully checked his weapons. When I started to say something about a plan, he just fixed me with a penetrating gaze and said,

“This isn’t my first dance. We go in, we send the miners out here to Gratian, and whoever’s left- we kill. Easy.”

I wished I could share his sanguine attitude, but I could not help recalling that there were supposed to be ten attackers- and only two of us. At that moment, I would have given a substantial fortune for a crossbow- and the ability to use it without piercing some portion of my own anatomy. What I had was my Legion training and a deadly dark elf. The enemy had numbers, but no organization. Suddenly, the odds did not seem so bad and I returned Garnas’ feral grin with one of my own.

“Just one thing. We stay together! Oh, and one more- try to remember that I don’t look like a miner, either.”

The inexperience of the attackers showed as soon as we went through the heavy wooden doors to the mine. With their numbers, they could have controlled the miners and set an ambush where we would be hampered. But the entry tunnel was quiet and still as the grave, an impression that I tried to suppress as soon as I had conjured it. The thought stayed with me though, a fatalistic image of the entire mine as simply a huge, unconsecrated tomb, filled with men and elves who were not yet dead, but would be, soon or late. And here was I, stalking through that darkness, the bringer of death- or perhaps its recipient. In that moment, I think I understood my father better than ever before- why it was he refused to wear a sword for any reason. And perhaps, in time, I would have the luxury of a similar choice. But that time was not today. I dried my hands on my tunic and tightened the straps on my shield. If the darkness called to me, I would not be found wanting.

[haute ecole rider]

Wow - the way you draw the characters in the midst of this latest crisis just leaves me stunned. Afer, Gratian, and especially Garnas really jump out of the screen and smack me up the head! I can just feel the cool hatred and contempt that Garnas has for Nasios.

The fact that Athlain doubts it's the Skaal from the beginning shows that he has a good sense of who is trustworthy and who isn't. My impression is further validated by Garnas's assessment of the gang that took the miners hostage.

It is so good to have you and the Solstheim gang back. As I"m unfamiliar with the game, it's all new and fascinating for me, and I love reading what's next.

[mALX]

was more conducive to sleep than the more- organic- sounds and smells that accompany a room full of soldiers.

EW! GAAAH, lol.

I nodded to him and said, “Let me have Garnas. The two of us will get the miners out.”

Oh yeah, this line conjured up Athlain's first sighting of Garnas - good pick!

He did not become agitated- just the opposite. An eerie calm settled over him as he carefully checked his weapons.

And there's the proof he made the right choice!


Athlain has lost his hesitancy about approaching situations! Great Chapter, Treydog !!!

[Olen]

And it all comes ever faster. Knowing as I do the rough shape of the story, if not the exact details which you add so wonderfully, I suspect the next couple of parts will be rather good. I do wonder about the conclusion of this though, how exactly will you follow the game... Only time will tell.

I do like how you flesh out the game, the story doesn't seem constrained by it and some of the stranger events it has, rather it all flows perfectly naturally with little details added - indeed I might even go and play it again...

Great stuff, and as ever I can't wait to read the next part, and the part after....

[Athynae]

and with each new addition I experience an increase in the electrical current that seems to permeate every fiber of my being. I feel he is moving closer......

Keep it up, you are doing an incredible job!

A

This post has been edited by Athynae: May 17 2011, 03:35 PM

[SubRosa]

Athlain's time with the Skaal really shows here. Right from the start he doubted that they were responsible, not out of sentimentality, but from experience with their culture. Also, as soon as he is on the scene we find Athlain taking charge of the situation and moving to finish it. The fact that Carnius waited for him to leave Raven Rock shows what a formidable enemy he sees Athlain as. An accurate assessment too. Quite a change from when they first met!

[Acadian]

'Falco believed he had seen Skaal, but he was mostly a manager- a businessman. I needed the opinion of someone who could spot a knife in the midst of a tavern brawl- and react with just the right amount of force.'
This passage is wonderful in many ways. I reminds us why Athlain chose the dark elf. It explains his doubts about the attackers being Skaal. It shows us whose opinion on the matter he values.

'I dried my hands on my tunic and tightened the straps on my shield. If the darkness called to me, I would not be found wanting.'
Grrr! Go get 'em, Athlain!

I agree with SubRosa that it says much about Athlain that the attackers would wait for his absence to strike.

This post has been edited by Acadian: May 18 2011, 01:29 AM

[Captain Hammer]

Okay, two great chapters, with excellent storytelling.

Sorry to hear about the trouble with your nerves, and here's hoping for a full recovery. That, or the sudden manifestation of 'Toe-Typing Superpowers.'

The aftermath of the attempt on Falco's life and need for better swords is impressively done. In particular, Falco's never-ending list of frustrations gives us the sense that assassins are not even at the top of that list, but his boss definitely is. And so, Falco must yet again match wits with Carnius for the survival of the colony.

And it is always a true pleasure doing business with Carnius when you know what you're getting out of the deal. I just hope that Athlain stores those coins somewhere safe. After all, soon he'll be a married man, and that means he needs at least one night at Desele's to make it Hail (coins being much more solid than paper currency and all).

Then there's "The Alleged Attack, by what has been Alleged-to-have-been-Skaal." Athlain's battle instincts kick in, but also his situational awareness. He notes the immediate discrepancies between his experience with the Skaal and what has been reported. He's careful going into battle against unknown dangers, mindful of the risks, but also carefully weighs his advantages and how to use them.

And he's better armed than his enemies. After all, he and Garnas have two weapons of a higher quality than the attackers can hope to equal: training and intelligence.

[Thomas Kaira]

Naked Nords need bludgeoning, and I can think of no one better to do the job!

I very much enjoyed Athlain's latest embarrassment of Carnius, that was absolutely perfect. Great to see he's finally getting what's coming to him, that Skooma-pushing s'wit!

Not really much else for me to say, because everyone else has already said it, so let me simply finish with great job and I look forward to even more.

[treydog]

@haute- If the characters come alive, it is a direct result of paying close attention to the way other writers- such as yourself- have managed that feat. And Garnas decided as soon as his name came up that we was going to be more than “3rd guard from the left.” Even though they can sometimes take me down rabbit holes (or into creepy ebony mines), I have learned to listen to my characters. My thanks for your wonderful words.

@mALX- Well- had to throw in a line or two for the person who brought the- ah, sights and especially SMELLS of the Bloodworks so vividly to life. And yes, Athlain shows he has learned another lesson- leaders may lead- but they also LISTEN.

@Olen- I do hope the next bits will be a satisfying conclusion to the chapter…. And this story is the first where I really decided to stretch myself and “create.” The fact that you feel the attempt works is the best praise I can receive.

@Athynae- Thank you so much. We will see fairly soon if Athlain has the wisdom to do more than “hope she is OK.” It seems to me that a young lady might need more than “good wishes.”

@SubRosa- Your summary and insights tell me that I managed to do just what I hoped with that installment. Thank you so much!

@Acadian- You single out two of my own favorites. I have avidly watched the way Buffy sees her world and the people in it- far better to let Athlain explain his reasoning concisely than for me to use 1000 words to less effect.

@Captain Hammer- Thank you for the kind words. And again for noting that Falco’s priorities barely include- “and oh yeah- he tried to have me killed.” I have a feeling that if Athlain made the error of “one last night out” at Desele’s- it really WOULD be his “last night.” Wedding and funeral all in one day…. And the “Skaal” attack was a chance for me to demonstrate that Athlain is actually able to pay attention- though Athynae may disagree. We will see the teamwork with Garnas in action.

@Thomas Kaira- Smacking Nords for Fun and Profit…. Hmm, might be a useful market expansion for the EEC. My thanks for your continued reading.

And now- back to the story. NOTE: Sorry about the "PHP?" artifact in the coded section. That should not be read as part of the message.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately, my melancholy thoughts about the inevitability of death were interrupted by its possible immediacy- a Nord leapt out of a side tunnel, swinging an axe at my head. Even in the dim light of the mine, I recognized him as a child of Skyrim, but could also see that he was not of the Skaal. Whoever he was, he died with one of Garnas’ knives in his throat. My companion retrieved the blade and cleaned it on the dead man’s furs, commenting:

“Good plan. You draw them out and I’ll put them down.” He paused with an impish smile, “If that’s all right with you, of course.”

I muttered back, “Naturally, it was always my mother’s fondest wish that I become a practice dummy for homicidal Nords- and entertainment for psychotic elves.”

Whatever else the plan might have lacked, it had the benefit of simplicity. There was no way I was going to move silently in all my armor and equipment, but Garnas might have been another of the many shadows. The next two attackers died the same way, so intent on me that they never saw the blows that killed them. I will not catalog every step, every thrust or parry. Suffice to say that, even when the mercenaries came at us two or three at a time, they had no chance. We each took a few blows, but our armor deflected most of them. For the rest, potions healed the minor wounds we received. Even so, through it all, one mystery remained- none of the Nords possessed any coins. If, as I believed, they had been paid, where was the evidence?

Finally, on the last of them, we discovered the key, not just to this attack, but to everything. The ninth hireling was older, better armed, and a better fighter. But, against the two of us, it made no difference. As with the others, I searched his body, but this time I found a tattered parchment. It read:

CODE

Land somewhere NE of the colony.  Wait until the Legionnaire has left the site.  The Imperial can be identified based on descriptions previously provided.  Kill every living thing in the colony.  Be sure to leave Skaal weapons and equipment behind; there needs to be evidence readily available, should the Empire choose to investigate.

Payment will be delivered to the designated meeting point once proof of the task’s completion is provided.

                                                                                                               C.

I recognized the hand immediately. I had seen it often enough on papers scattered across a desk in an office back at Fort Frostmoth.

Even so, there was still something missing. We had accounted for the men we now knew for certain had been hired, all of the attackers. All, that is, except one. Nasios was still missing. We knew he had not slipped out with the workers we sent out of the mine; Gratian guarded the only exit. So the Imperial was still down there somewhere in the darkness, hoping to remain hidden. Garnas was as close to frantic as I had ever seen him, pacing the tunnels like a vengeful spirit. Against the many Nords, he had been almost frighteningly calm, but the rage was building in him at the thought that his enemy had escaped. Even I, who had grown up around Dunmer, was taken aback by the glow of his eyes in the torch-lit darkness.

Somehow, during the fighting, Garnas had lost his most of his weapons. Broken, lodged in an opponent’s body- it didn’t matter. When we found Nasios with his back pressed against a support in a blind tunnel, all the dark elf had left was a single dagger- the one he had taken during the tavern brawl. He stepped forward slowly, with the blade held low.

“Nasios,” he crooned, “I have a present for you. I borrowed this fine dagger from you and you ran away before I could give it back.”

The Imperial’s eyes darted from side to side, looking for an escape that did not exist. Realizing that the only way out was through us, he pushed off from the post with an inarticulate cry and Garnas was only a beat behind. The two rushed together, seeming almost to embrace like long-lost lovers. Garnas was smaller and faster; Nasios had the advantage of strength. They grappled and spun, never releasing one another, their blades flashing and disappearing like sparks in the torchlight. Try as I could, there was no opening for me to intervene- I would as be as likely to strike friend as foe in that mad, whirling melee. Muscles strained and mouths grimaced, but no words were spoken. After what seemed like hours, I saw Nasios’ mouth gape wide and his hands drop from Garnas to clutch himself. As he stumbled into the light, I saw the dagger buried to its hilt in his belly. He dropped to his knees with a groan and Garnas stared down at him, gasping,

“That was for Bralyn and it was a better chance than you ever gave him. At least you got to see it coming.”

Then he put a foot on the Imperial’s shoulder and kicked him over.

“Die in the dirt, like the pig that you are.”

With that, he turned to me, with a peculiar expression on his face- a smile that frightened me. I started to make a joke about his forgetting about “not rushing ahead,” but then he staggered and I saw the blood pouring from his left armpit. I scrabbled for a healing potion, but he shook his head. Wearily, he rasped,

“No. I’m done. Bralyn. It was my fault. Taught him to play dice. He was too good. Better than me- in every way. Nasios- owed him. Murdered him. My fault.”

He slid to the ground, staring up at the light. I knelt beside him and wrapped my arms around him, tears streaking my face. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

“You… you’re a good boy, too. Take me back to the… Saren Ancestral Tomb, near Khuul. Get the Temple to do the rites. That way, my spirit can guard my family, as my mortal form did not. It is so cold here, and I will welcome the fire.”

Then he was gone. I simply held him for minutes beyond counting, and when I stood up, I lifted the small form of one of the biggest mer I had ever known and I carried him from that dark place.

[haute ecole rider]

AHH! Garnas??

Ah, but the Good Lord giveth, and he taketh away. Still that sucks that this particular Dunmer didn't have long to feel the satisfaction of revenge well wrought. At least he died knowing that he accomplished what he set out to do. Small comfort in that, though.

What a great chapter highlighting the teamwork between Athlain and Garnas. The contrast between the noisy, clanking knight in Imperial armor and the stealthy fighter robed in shadows was particularly effective.

And I loved the little bit of male bonding at the beginning -

“Good plan. You draw them out and I’ll put them down.” He paused with an impish smile, “If that’s all right with you, of course.”

I muttered back, “Naturally, it was always my mother’s fondest wish that I become a practice dummy for homicidal Nords- and entertainment for psychotic elves.”

That's the kind of humor that eases the tension when you know the crap's about to hit the oscillating blades.

Soooo glad you started writing again! Now I need to do the same!