Season Unending, The Children of Kyne, Vol. III Options

[Kane]

Chapter XVI – What Lies Ahead


A full day came and went before there was any sign of arousal from either Cain or Serana. They both lay unconscious in the palace infirmary while figures bustled about, periodically checking on them and otherwise waiting patiently for one of them to stir. It was nearly evening-time when Cain woke up to the sound of low voices from somewhere nearby. He was still pretty groggy, but it was easy to parse out his visitors: Anska and Lydia were both recounting the event to someone else whom he hadn’t heard speak yet. Curious as to who it could be, he feigned unconsciousness until he at last recognized the voice of Kyne. Surprised that she was there at all, Cain pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked around for a glass of water that unfortunately wasn’t there.

All three women immediately rushed over to see how he was doing but he held up a hand before they could start peppering him with questions, or chastising his reckless diagnosis. “Water, please,” he begged, his voice hoarse from the damage wrought on his throat by the concentrated poison.
Lydia grabbed a tankard of water from a nearby table and handed it to Cain, who drank deeply. The water soothed the dryness, but he guessed that he might sound a little raspy for a few days.

“That’s better, thank you, mum. How’s Serana?”

“She’s fine, sweetie. Still asleep, but she’s not in any danger. How are you-“

“Cain, what the [censored] possessed you to do something so reckless!?” Anska cut in. “You could have both died for naught! Do you realize how terrified I was when Lydia came to tell me what had happened last night?”

He looked at her in surprise for the barest of a second. The worry in her eyes was plain and he knew at once that she wasn’t chastising him for saving his sister, just that she already cared deeply for him and likely worried frantically. It had been a reckless thing to do, but he couldn’t have stood idly by and watched Serana perish in that horrible of a manner.

“I couldn’t let her die, Anska. Not when there was still a slim chance on the table. I trusted Sybille and my family to save us and they did. What more needs to be said?”

“Yeah, but… No, you’re right,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, that was selfish of me. I understand why you did it and I’m glad you were able to save Serana. For all our sakes and especially Linneá’s. She’s very grateful, you know. Even if she couldn’t be here when you finally woke up.” She leaned over the bed and kissed him while a relieved Kyne and Lydia watched from behind them. After their lips parted, Anska took a step back and apologized to Lydia. “Sorry for cutting you off, ma’am. Sometimes my temper gets the best of me.”

“Don’t worry about it, dear. And please stop calling me ‘ma’am’.” Stepping forward, she approached Cain’s bedside and placed a hand on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“My throat is killing me but I’m fine otherwise. I’m sure it’s scorched and it will probably heal in a couple of days. Nothing to fret over. Did Serana’s knife wound heal over cleanly?”

This time it was Kyne who spoke next: “Serana is fine, Cain, you don’t have to worry about her any longer. That was a very brave thing you did for her and the two of you can talk about it when she wakes up. I’m just glad you’re safe. And about that sore throat…”

The goddess stooped over the bed and waved her hand over his neck, barely contacting Cain’s skin. A warm feeling flooded through him and with a few seconds he felt all the dull, itching pain in his throat dissipate entirely. Smiling gratefully up at her, he couldn’t help but be in awe of having such a powerful being so close to him in life.

“Better?” she asked him.

“Much better,” said Cain. “Um, if you don’t mind me asking though… How are you here? With so many prying eyes about? I never I’d see you in the palace like this.”

“I’ll make an exception when I hear that two of my children almost died,” replied Kyne. “Your parents aren’t terribly excited about my being here, but I’ve arranged things so that we can’t be seen or heard. I’m glad you acted quickly in that situation – even if it was in a very dangerous way. Serana is very dear to me and the thought of her dying so young is too much to bear.”

Kyne backed away from the bed with a nod and allowed Anska to sit down on the edge of it instead. She kissed him again before climbing all the way in with him and laying her head on his broad chest. Cain absentmindedly ran his fingers idly through her hair while his thoughts started to dwell on the attack itself. He knew the Morag Tong wouldn’t do anything like that without being hired, which only left more unanswered questions. Then he remembered where he and Anska were supposed to be today…

“Damn it, we should be in Stonehills right now,” he said.

“Don’t worry about it, lunkhead,” giggled Anska. “You’ll be on your feet again tomorrow. It can wait another day. I’m just happy you are still here with me.”

“She’s right, Cain,” said Lydia. “You’ll have plenty of time for that later. Rest up tonight and I’ll visit you again in the morning.” She turned to the goddess: “Will you be staying much longer? Kirin and I would love to have you around a bit longer.”

“I can’t, dear. It’s too risky. I’ll head back to the Estate for now.”

They hugged each other and said goodbye to Cain and Anska, leaving them alone with a still unconscious Serana in the other bed. And then a small noise startled him, but he was pleased to realize it was just a gentle snore from his sister. Knowing she’d come around eventually, Cain was content to doze back off with Anska in his arms.

He woke up alone later in the night and figured that Anska had gone back to her room where she could sleep more comfortably knowing he was alright. A small flicker of light caught his eye and he looked over at Serana’s bed to see her sitting up and reading a book by candlelight while Linneá slept with her head in her wife’s lap. His sister-in-law smiled at him and raised a finger to her lips. Cain nodded once and then rose from his bed to go be with her, trying his best to be quiet in the still infirmary. He sat down in a chair next to Serana’s bed and spoke to her, his voice barely above a whisper.

“How are you feeling, sis?”

“I’ll be alright, Cain,” answered Serana. “Linneá told me what you did for me… I don’t even know how to begin to thank you…”

“You don’t have to. We’re family and we have to look out for each other, right? Besides, I couldn’t stand to see you or Linn that way.”

“But to ingest that poison after seeing what it was doing to me? Of all the ways to diagnose something like that-“

“Hey, it’s in the past now,” said Cain. “We’re both alive and healthy, so let’s just try to move on, yeah?” She sighed, and then smiled in agreement. “You know, it’s kind of funny,” continued Cain, “Just before it all happened, I was telling myself that I should get to know you better. We haven’t had a chance to really talk a lot with everything that’s been going on. Who knew I’d be drinking your blood only a few minutes later!”

“Gross,” laughed Serana. “And just be glad it’s not vampire blood anymore. It’s nice that you wanted to connect more though, but I doubt we’ll get the time right now. Word is, dad’s furious about the attack and that he might be sending you and Anska to Blacklight with us. My guess is he’s gonna have you two looking into it while we are negotiating the treaty.”

“Morrowind? Might be a tough sell for Anska. Solitude and Whiterun are the furthest she’s ever been from home.”

“I don’t think she’ll say no to a request from the king. And she’ll have you, brother. Just be strong for her.” Linneá wiggled a little bit in her lap before resuming her deep slumber. “We should both go back to sleep. I don’t want to wake her up either.”

Cain agreed with her, and gave Serana quick hug ahead of sneaking back over to his own bed. Once he got back under the warm blankets, sleep overtook him in moments. He slept peacefully for the remainder of the night but still awoke before dawn had truly arrived. Slipping on his shoes, he crept silently from the infirmary and made his way to the kitchens in search of an early meal for his empty stomach. Some of the palace staff were already awake, baking fresh loaves of bread, and stirring large pots of porridges and oatmeal in preparation for the new day and they were happy to set him up with a full plate of food.

He left the kitchen in search of a place to sit and eat and to his surprise the first door Cain opened led to a small study with a table and four chairs. Even more surprising was that Kirin sat there too, reading over a few scrolls of parchment while he ate.

His father glanced up when he saw the door open and smiled broadly. “Cain! I’m glad to see you are up and about already! Hungry, I take it?”

“Very,” said Cain. He took a seat next to his father and peeked at the paperwork. “Anything interesting in there?”

“Nah. Never is. Mornings are for clerical work and all the juicy stuff is brought to my private study later in the day. How’s Serana? Did she wake up yet?”

“Aye, she was up late last night. We chatted for a minute, but Linn was sleeping in her lap and she didn’t want to wake her.”

“Linneá came back again?” asked Kirin. “Guess I should have known. It took some convincing to get her back to Blacklight without Serana. But there was nothing more she could do for her. Was she still there this morning?”

“Yeah, they were both crammed into that tiny bed. Dunno how either of them could sleep like that.”

“Trust me when I say that those two will never think they are close enough,” laughed Kirin. “I think they would blend themselves into one person if they could.”

“Now, there is an odd thing to imagine,” said Cain, smiling at the thought of it. “It is endearing how much they love each other though. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.” He took a few minutes to eat some of his fruit and drink a few sips of coffee before mentioning to his dad about what Serana had said last night. “Can I ask you something, da?”

“Always.”

“Serana said you might be sending Anska and I to Blacklight. Is that true?”

Kirin set down the scroll he was reading and sighed. It never ceased to amaze him how much his daughter seemed to know so much about things that were supposed to be kept quiet. He often wondered if someone in his court was on her good side, but in reality, he chalked it up to her political acumen from several thousand years of being in a vampire court. She just always seemed to have her finger on the right pulse.

“It is true,” said Kirin. “Normally, I would write it off as an occupational hazard for someone in our positions, but I take exception to members of my family nearly being murdered. And the Morag Tong especially are known for taking contracts that target any outsiders, so I’d very much like to know who ordered the attack.” He paused to get up and shut the door. Once he sat back down, Kirin leaned in closer to his son. “Keep this quiet, but it wasn’t the only attempt we learned of. Our own agents also thwarted attacks on you and I before they could be put into action. So, yes, I would very much like you to try and get to the bottom of all this. I had intended to send you back to Cyrodiil for something a bit smaller, but that can be handled by others. This takes priority.”

That was a lot for Cain to take in. To be targeted so soon after his arrival and only within a few days of discovering his new family put him on edge. And he was certain that Anska would take some convincing, even if he wanted her to go at all. He wondered how fair it was to get her involved in something so dangerous when they had only just started courting one another. Granted, she could handle herself, but it still made him feel uneasy.

It must have been written all over his face, too, because his father noticed right away. “What is it, son?”

“I, uh… I don’t know if I can ask Anska to go with me. She’s so new to all of this and we only just started dating. I’m not sure I can bring myself to put her in such peril. It doesn’t feel fair to her.”

“Hm. Can I give you some advice?” asked Kirin. Once Cain nodded in agreement, he went on: “Let her make that decision. Don’t make it for her. I can tell that Anska is tough and I’m sure you know it, too. If you want to be fair about it, just tell her plainly what’s involved. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the answer she gives you.”

They went back to eating their breakfast and moved on to lighter topics of conversation while the sun began to rise outside. After about an hour, Cain excused himself and headed back to the infirmary to check on Serana. Lost in thought about the journey ahead of him, he didn’t hear the voices coming from the infirmary until he set foot inside the door. The next thing he saw was a dark blur throwing itself into him and squeezing him far too tightly.

“There you are brother!” Linneá half shouted, her arms wrapped firmly around his torso. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you for saving her! I don’t what I would have done if you hadn’t been there!” She started crying into his tunic, and he patted her gently on the back.

“Relax, Linn, I would have done it for any of you. I know it’s only been a few days since I got here, but… I love you all so much already. You’ve made it easy to do so.”

[Kane]

Chapter XVII – A Quiet Evening


“You want me to go WHERE?!”

Cain withered under Anska’s intense glare after mentioning the pending journey to Blacklight and the investigation into the assassination attempt. Her raised voice echoed down the empty hallway outside of her bedroom, the final syllable still hanging in the air between them. He hadn’t expected this conversation to go well, even if his dad suspected otherwise.

“Morrowind. Blacklight is just over the border near Windhelm, about halfway to Vvardenfell.”

“I’m not an idiot from the sticks, Cain. Believe it or not, I have looked at a map at some point in my life.”

“I didn’t mean –“

“Yeah yeah yeah, sure. Look, just give me a minute, okay? It’s a lot to take in.”

Grabbing Anska’s hand, Cain pulled her through the door into the bedroom and sat down with her on the bed. “Anska, I… You don’t have to come with me, no matter how much I’d like you to. No one is ordering it. I just think my family recognizes us as an item and assumes you’re in for all of it, even if you have other ideas about what life should be. If you don’t want to go on such a dangerous undertaking, I wouldn’t think any less of you. Especially since we’ve only known each other for less than two weeks.”

“It’s not that,” sighed Anska. “I just… I’d be lying if I said a part of me wasn’t terrified. But at the same time, I’m nearly thirty [censored] years old! I shouldn’t be scared to travel someplace like that! It’s frustrating is all.”

“How do you think I feel? I just risked everything to save my sister, and now I have to go hunt down the maniacs responsible for it in a place I never dreamed I’d find myself. Wanna know what I really think? I think we both are going to need each other for this. More than we realize.”

She looked at him in surprise, not expecting someone with such an extraordinary gift like the dragon blood to be so…vulnerable. Yet there he sat, staring into her eyes with a worried look that she understood entirely. And she knew in an instant that something more had happened.

“What is it that you aren’t telling me, Cain? What has you so nervous about all of this?”

Unsure of how much to say, he bit his lip and remained silent for a few seconds. The hesitation nearly cost him – Anska almost stood up and left right then and there, but then he decided to throw caution to the wind. She meant too much to him already.

“[censored] it,” he said. “I don’t care if I was supposed to keep quiet about this. There were plans to attack my dad and I, too. Luckily for us, they were thwarted.”

Anska’s mind was reeling from the implication of what he just told her. It made sense that Linneá wouldn’t be the only one of his family that was targeted, but the thought of it happening to Cain frightened her. She also realized it also meant she would be targeted to. She studied him thoughtfully for a moment, her eyes lost in his, the concern flowing both ways between them. And Anska felt right then and there that she wouldn’t be safer anywhere else than in his company.

“I knew it had to be something like that,” said Anska. “You look just as scared as I feel.” She got to her feet and started pacing while Cain stayed seated on the bed. After a few laps back and forth, she stopped and stared at him. “Did you really mean what you said before? About needing each other that much?”

“Every word of it.”

Anska smiled at him. “I was hoping you’d say that.” She walked back over to the bed and climbed onto Cain’s lap. She wrapped her legs around him and leaned in close, her lips a hair’s breadth away from his. “At least we’ll have more alone time then we will here.”

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

Ulvon stared down at his ornately carved desk in distaste. The woodworking was second to none, but the Archmasterr often lamented the fact that it had been carved from a felled Hist Tree. His people had been cruel to the Argonians for centuries, and in the end it had nearly cost them everything. This awful desk that was hewn from the life of a sentient being served to remind those in his position that Morrowind could not continue on the way it had for countless years. It was time to embrace a new era.

The door to his office opened and he offered his newly arrived guests the two seats directly across from him. They sat down and waited for him to begin, even if it was plain to see that Linneá looked impatient.

“Thank you for coming to see me at such an early hour, ladies,” said Ulvon. “It pleases me to see you back on your feet so soon, Mrs. Serana. I take it there were no lasting effects from the ordeal?”

“I’m still a little tired, but fine otherwise. Was there something you needed from us?”

“Yes. However, I’ll skip the normal platitudes you’re probably used to hearing and jump right into it. We looked into the matter and have come up empty-handed thus far. To be honest, I was hoping you could tell us something – anything – more about the attack.”

Annoyance flashed briefly across Linneá’s features. “Nothing we haven’t already told you, Ulvon,” she said. “It was pretty cut and dry. Besides… it’s being handled from our end now.”

“Oh? And what exactly would that entail? Keep in mind, you aren’t in Skyrim anymore, and that your position won’t offer the same benefits here. We can help each other, miss. It would be a good way to illustrate our vested in interest in this alliance your father is proposing.”

“I agree completely,” said Linneá. “Once my brother gets here, he will be sure to keep us all apprised of what is discovered.”

The Archmaster looked slightly taken aback. It didn’t surprise him at all that the High King would send his own agents to investigate the matter, but he never expected that he would his own son, a Dragonborn. Of course, the woman across from him was also rumored to possess that same power, even if that was not yet verified.

“You must keep that quiet, Linneá,” said Ulvon. “Some of my colleagues in the other Houses will not take kindly to someone like him walking silently among us or digging deeply into the underbelly of Blacklight.”

“’Like him’?” asked Serana. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“Simply being an outlander is enough for some of them, let alone someone of the dragon blood. There is a dark history between our cultures that I’m sure you are aware of, and the ancient Nord tongues were at the center of it.”

“He won’t be here to turn your country on its head,” said Linneá. “Though you will see that he has a fiery determination to find those responsible for the near death of my lovely wife here. It took little time for him to accept us as family, and he’s already proven to be in it for the long haul. The Morag Tong is going to be very sorry they accepted that particular job.”

Ulvon groaned audibly as he leaned back in his chair.

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

Kirin and Lydia sat together on their private balcony, staring out over the calm seas far below. The Blue Palace was often flush with visitors or bustling with activity that garnered all of their time throughout the day, so they always tried set aside at least an hour in the evening to relax together. This day was no different, though they had yet to hear any news from the proposition that had been given to Cain.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to send him on such a dangerous quest, husband?”

“We need to get to the bottom of this, Lyds. And I trust him to do so.”

“Did you need to insist he take Anska along with him, though? She’s a lovely woman but both of them are still so far out of their element here. And I worry for their safety in a foreign land, even if Morrowind does become our allies.”

“I think it will be good for them,” said Kirin. “They need to get some time away from here to be themselves and come to terms what it means to be a part of all this. I’m amazed at how far they’ve come already, but I don’t think the gravity of being my heir has set in yet for Cain. Nor the fact that we have guidance from such a…unique source.”

“I bet mother will be happy to see them out in the world. It’s probably driving her mad that she can’t see her children that often.”

Lost in their conversation, Kirin and Lydia both missed the gentle fluttering of wings behind them. A large brown hawk had gently soared onto the balcony and stood perched on the rim of a flowerbox, staring impassively at the backs of their heads. It quietly squawked a single time to get their attention.

Kirin’s head turned around so fast he nearly hurt his neck. “Mum! What in blazes are you doing here?”

The hawk was gone and the goddess Kyne took a seat next to her former champion. “What do you mean?” she asked. “I was here yesterday to check on Serana and Cain. Didn’t Lydia tell you?”

“Of course she did, but that was different and I understood the risk.”

“No one will know I’m here,” said Kyne, waving off his concerns. “And you’re correct, Lydia, that I miss seeing all of you. A visit to Elysium once in a while wouldn’t be the worst thing, you know.”

The king and queen both looked away from her sheepishly. They had only been back to the estate twice since Kirin ascended to the throne and there never seemed to be time to return more often. Kirin had secretly hoped that with the sudden arrival of a son, he would be able to delegate more of his duties to his children, but now they would all be gone for an extended period, too. Unsure of how to placate Kyne, he was thankful that Lydia piped up first and took heat off of him.

“I really wish we could, mum,” she said. “But what you see right here? This small hour of alone time for the two of us? It’s all we can manage these days. Neither one of us anticipated how busy we would actually be, and it’s not exactly easy for us to try and sneak away for a few hours. Could you imagine the alarm bells going off if the palace staff suddenly couldn’t find us?”

“I know,” sighed Kyne. “I understood all of that the moment I knew you would come here. Still doesn’t mean I have to like it though. Even I’m capable of being lonely.”

Kirin took her last words to heart, and it saddened him greatly. He was sure they could have managed to visit her more if they had tried harder or simply told the staff and guard to leave them alone, even if he didn’t want to admit it to himself before.

“I’m sorry, mum, I truly am. I promise you that we will make the time to return home and see you. The guards may not like it but damn them – I’m the high king and they will listen to whatever I say. How does once a week sound? We’ll do whatever we can to swing it.”

“That sounds promising,” said Kyne. “I’ll make sure you get a better meal than anything you’ll find here at the palace, so save room for supper.” Getting up from her seat, she walked over to the balcony railing and gazed out in silence for a moment. Then she turned back towards Kirin and Lydia. “So, what’s this I hear about you sending Cain to Morrowind?”

“I take it Linneá told you?” asked Lydia.

“Yes. Linn tells me everything – you ought to know that by now. In fact, she wouldn’t have to be the relay if you two would join me in here.” She pointed a finger at the side of her head and smiled slyly. “It’s not intrusive, and it’s very useful.”

“Maybe someday, mum,” said Lydia. “For now, I like to keep my thoughts to myself.”

“Suit yourself. What about you, Kirin? It’s easy enough to make the link…”

“Er, no thanks. Some things should not be shared between a man and a woman, unless they are wedded. Now, if you could do that for just Lydia and I, I’m sure I could have a lot of fun with that notion!”

Lydia rolled her eyes and laughed. “I bet you could.”

The other two laughed along with her and continued talking well past the allotted hour Kirin and Lydia usually had. Neither the guards or the staff bothered them with anything, and so they were content to enjoy a quiet evening together on the balcony. The sun was just beginning to set when the door from Kirin’s study opened and Cain stepped out onto the now crowded balcony with Anska in-hand.

“Wow, what’s with the party?” he asked, looking surprised at Kyne’s presence in particular. Finding her out here was definitely not what he expected. “And where’s our invitation?”

“Oh hush,” answered Kyne, giving them both a hug in turn. “It was impromptu – I crashed Lydia’s and your father’s alone time.”

“Alone time, eh?” he grinned. “Guess even mum and dad could some of that from time to time.”

The goddess stared at him inquiringly, caught off guard by his casual reference to Lydia as ‘mum’, as if she had always been his mother. It didn’t go unnoticed, and Kirin chuckled lightly to himself at the sight of it.

“Goodness me, son. This is one of the rare occasions where I’ve seen Kyne rendered speechless!”

“Forgive me,” said Kyne. “Linn mentioned how far you’d come already, Cain, but she can be excitable sometimes and a little dreamy. I’m so happy to see my little family growing again – you all deserve it after everything you’ve been through.”

“We’re all very happy about it to, mum,” said Lydia. “Now then… What do you need, Cain?”

“Just wanted to tell dad that I’m ready to head for Blacklight,” he said. “We both are.”

Kirin beamed at him and patted Cain heartily on the back. “Excellent! When can you go? I’ll have Linn come fetch you so that you don’t have to go by carriage or boat.”

“Can you have her meet us in Morthal two days from now? I made a promise to Anska and I intend on keeping it.”

“Done. I’ll have the staff pack up supplies for you and tend to your gear overnight. You’ll be ready to go in the morning.”

“We appreciate that, sir,” said Anska. “Um. Do you mind if we stick around for a while? It seems much livelier out here than it does in the kitchens!”

“Absoutely! And stop calling me sir. I have a name and you are to use it, yeah?” He paused and turned to Lydia: “Could you go see about getting us some wine, dear? We might as well enjoy ourselves!”

[Kane]

Chapter XVIII – Outlanders


The first hours of evening-time at Stonehills were quiet and the faint odors of ash and decay still hung in the cold summer air. What remained of the small town was slowly being buried in the snowfall of central Skyrim that never seemed to cease, no matter what season. The wooded area adjacent to the ruins of Anska’s family home had been converted into a small graveyard by her and Cain. Small headstones stood at the head of several stone mounds that covered the few bodies they could find among the rubble and burned out timbers.

Sitting before a warm campfire after a long day of labor, Anska rested her head against Cain’s shoulder while she mourned, saying prayer after prayer to Arkay. Picking through the town had been arduous and emotional, but a small part of her was relieved that they’d been able to help lay her friends to rest. Anska finally felt ready to put that chapter of her life behind her, and move on to whatever new experiences with the kindhearted and stoic man next to her lay beyond the horizon.

She wiped her eyes one last time to keep the tears from freezing on her skin, and took a sip from the tankard of hot tea Cain offered her. “Thanks, hon. You know, I never had tea until the palace staff handed a mug to me last week. It’s quite good.”

“I never had much of it either,” said Cain, “though it seems to be the popular morning drink for my family. I’d rather stick to coffee.”

“Yeah, gonna have to disagree with you on that last part. This is much more pleasant tasting than coffee, especially when it has fresh herbs or blossoms mixed in. Coffee tastes like [censored].”

Cain laughed and gave her a playful shove. “Better watch yourself, miss. I’m not above rolling up a snowball and pelting you with it!"

“Go right ahead,” she dared him, “see what happens to you.”

He laughed again and then set about erecting their tent for the night. Morthal wasn’t that far away, though it would take several hours to get there on foot and neither of them felt up to the walk. They had decided to camp out under the stars instead, nestled on the fringes of the pine forest. Cain fiddled with the old leather tent for about ten minutes before sitting back down next to Anska and pouring another mug of tea.

Anska had begun roasting some of the venison they had packed, the fragrant seasonings wafting through the air around them while Cain’s stomach began to rumble. A further few minutes passed and she pulled it from the flames before cutting off a chunk and setting it on a plate for him. They ate mostly in silence while the moons rose overhead and the sounds of nightfall’s creatures began to echo around them.

“Ready for bed soon?” asked Cain, setting his plate aside. “We should try to get underway by dawn tomorrow so that we don’t miss Linn.”

“Okay. I’m dead tired anyway. And hopefully your sister will be kinder than you were about teleporting us so far away.”

“Not going to let me live that down?”

“Nope.”

They threw a few more pieces of wood on the roaring fire and crawled inside the tent, snuggling down for a good night’s sleep. It didn’t take long for them to drift off into a deep slumber, and, much like any night, it never seemed to last long enough. Cain began to stir just ahead of sunrise the next morning and he roused Anska before leaving the tent. She joined him a few minutes later, her long blonde hair unbraided and tousled from being buried down into the bedroll.

“I hope you packed a mirror,” said Cain, “you’ll need one to fix that wild mane!”

“Piss off,” she replied. “It’s too earlier for your teasing. You could at least waited until I had something warm to drink. Besides, I’ve been braiding this for years and I can do it with my eyes closed.”

Just to prove her point Anska sat down around the diminished campfire, closed her eyes, and deftly wove her hip length hair into the single braid she usually wore. Then she opened her eyes back up and glanced sidelong at Cain.

“Satisfied?”

“I dunno, the messy look was sort of cute. That does explain why you’re so good with your hands, though,” he winked.

Annoyed at how bubbly he was in the morning, Anska stole Cain’s notion from the night before and rolled up a snowball while he was bent over the tent in an effort to start packing it up. She pelted it directly at his ass and then looked away like nothing had happened.

He stopped what he was doing to brush the snow off and then turned to look at her. Anska was shaking with silent laughter and trying not to make eye contact with him.

“Okay,” he sighed,” I guess I earned that one. It’s a good thing you’ve got that Nord blood to warm you up, ya know…”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Because this ridiculous summer snow is very cold.” He quickly stepped away from the tent and tackled her into the fluffy white powder that blanketed the ground around them.

Anska yelped in surprise and started giggling while she softly pounded her hands on his back. “Get off me you oaf! Your desert blood certainly won’t be happy about rolling around in this [censored]!”

Cain stood up and started brushing off his bare shoulders. “Damn you’re not wrong there - I should have put my shirt on before I left the tent!”

“Just finish packing it up already. I’ll see if I can get this fire going again and make us some tea.”

Sunlight began to poke through the trees as they drained the last of their tea and kicked out the small fire Anska had rekindled. The last survivor of Stonehills said a final prayer to Arkay for those who had perished, and then they shouldered their packed bags, and set out west on the road to Morthal. It was a clear morning and they made great time, stepping into the Moorside at least an hour before midday.
Cain was not surprised at all to see Linneá already sitting at the bar waiting for them. A book was open on the counter in front of her and her eyes darted back and forth over the pages while she sipped something steaming from a pewter tankard. They walked over and took a seat on either side of her.

“Morning you two,” she said, not looking up from the book. “Let me finish this page and we’ll get underway.”

Seizing the opportunity to get another warm drink, Cain flagged down the barmaid and ordered a mug of coffee. He took a sip and leaned back in his stool, savoring the taste and hoping that the dunmer liked coffee too. He’d tasted some of their preferred drinks back in Anvil and had been found wanting.

Anska’s voice drifted across to him from Linneá’s other side, “Ugh, it even smells like [censored]. You couldn’t have just ordered some water?”

Linneá smiled and closed her book. “Not a coffee person, An? Can I call you that or do you prefer Anska?”

“An is fine,” she shrugged. “Although I don’t see why you’d want to further shorten an already short name.”

“I like pet names,” said Linneá, “they make me feel closer to a person. Might rethink that one though, it’s a tad close to what I call Serana. And ‘Elle’ is off limits to others, so you know. Only the missus gets to call me that.”

“Fair enough,” said Anska. ”Should we get going or do we have to wait for Cain to finish his dirty water? And where is Serana anyway?”

“She’s still asleep most likely,” answered Linneá. “She puts on a good show for the diplomats, but the poison took it’s toll on her. Probably be another few days until she’s back up to snuff.”

The Redguard set a few extra pieces of gold on the counter and stood up. “I’ll take the coffee to go. My guess is we’re heading out into the marsh?”

Linneá nodded and stowed away the book in her shoulder bag. “Aye. We don’t advertise that particular brand of magic.”

The trio left Moorside and headed north out of town, directly into the expansive swamps of Hjaalmarch. After walking for about fifteen minutes, Linneá came to a stop in a clearing and checked to see if Anska was prepared for the spell.

“Okay, we shouldn’t be seen all the way out here. Ready, dear?”

Anska nervously bit her lip, but she nodded in agreement. “Yes. I’m ready.”

“I’ll make it as smooth as I can, yeah? You can either take a hand or wrap your arms around me. You’re call.”

“I’m ready, too,” said Cain, sardonically. “If anyone else cares, that is.”

“Shut up,” said Anska and Linneá in unison.

“I knew I liked you for a reason,” giggled Linneá. “Just a hand then? Okay, you can grab my other hand, Cain. And hold on tight.”

Cain grabbed the proffered hand and looked over at Anska, giving her a reassuring smile. Linneá closed her eyes, concentrated on the recall spot she had marked a few miles outside of Blacklight, and cast the spell. All three were lost to a swirling vortex of purple, white, and black magickal energy, and within seconds they reappeared hundreds of miles away, in a different province.

New smells rankled Cain’s nose before he even opened his eyes. Letting go of his sister’s hand, he put a hand on Anska’s shoulder to steady her.

“How are you doing?” he asked her.

“...Fine, I think. Um. Linneá?”

“Yes, dear?”
“This might be a weird question, but you’ve done this way more than I have...” Anska blushed slightly and started to slightly sway back and forth on her the balls of her feet. “Is it normal to have to pee after moving this far?”

Linneá laughed and reassured her. “Oh yeah, it happens sometimes. It’s safe around here, you can duck behind a tree or something.”

“Okay good. Back in a sec.”

Anska returned a few minutes later to find Cain alone in the clearing they had materialized in. He was leaning against a gnarled old tree with moss dangling from its scraggy branches, taking a drink of water from his canteen.

“What happened to Linn?”

“Zapped back to the embassy. Serana needed her for something, so we’re on our own. There’s an east-west road just through those bushes over there that will take us to Blacklight. We should make it there in under an hour. Then we can reconnect with them in the city center.”

“Alright then,” replied Anska. “Did you spot those mushroom trees over there? Weirdest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Wait until you see some of the towers the Telvanni wizards grow,” said Cain. “Soaring mushrooms that are taller than the Blue Palace, and they live at the top. Linn mentioned actually being one of them with Serana when they were in Solstheim a few years ago.”

“Sounds awful. Let’s go.”

They set out on foot for the City of Blacklight, taking in the weirdly exotic landscape as they went. Gone were the cold snowy reaches of Skyrim, replaced by warm, humid air filled with the musty smell of the tall fungi scattered among the more normal hardwood trees that filled the woodlands of Morrowind. A faint smell of smoke occasionally wafted around them, usually followed by a few minutes of falling ash expelled from Vvardenfell and the continuously erupting Red Mountain.

It was just after one o’clock in the afternoon when Cain and Anska stepped through the city’s western gate. Two guards stood on duty, but they barely acknowledged them when they entered, only bowing their heads slightly. The architecture leaped out at them immediately. Blacklight was filled with small homes of carved rock that resembled some sort of huge insect, rather than the tall block-like houses in Skyrim and Cyrodiil.

“It’s all so weird!” Anska muttered to Cain. “I never imagined everything would be so different!”

“I think they set the homes deep into the earth. Probably why they are so small looking from the outside. Are you doing okay?”

“Yes, don’t worry about it. I know I was scared when you first told me, but I can’t help but find this all to be so interesting! Who knows – maybe we can travel to some other provinces in our lifetime!”

“Look at you, Ms. Adventurer!” grinned Cain. He stopped walking and pulled her in close. “I’m proud of you, Anska. I know this was a lot to ask of you and I’m so happy your here with me and enjoying yourself like this.”

Anska kissed him. “Stop that, you’re going to get me all torqued up. C’mon, I think that’s the embassy over there.” She pointed to a building just down the road that looked like a structure they would have seen in Skyrim. Outside of it were several flags set at full mast, and a contingent of guards clad in strange yellow armor.

And on a bench near the door sat Linneá and Serana, deep in conversation about something. Serana glanced up the street and saw them approaching, then said something to the guards who let Cain and Anska pass through without trouble.

“Welcome to Blacklight!” said Serana. “Any trouble getting here?”

“None at all,” answered Cain.

“Good, then let’s head inside. We can introduce you to Ulvon and then cut you loose on the city.”

[Kane]

Chapter XIX – Lifting the Veil


Cain and Anska sat in two new chairs that had been placed next to the very same ones Linneá and Serana had sat in not so long ago. All four of them now faced an empty desk while they waited for Archmaster Ulvon’s assistant to return with him. The minutes ticked on until Linneá started to grow bored of the wait, and flitted a brief thought towards her wife.

Serana shook her head once and slapped her on the leg. “Inappropriate, Elle. He would definitely notice if we did that on his desk, and I doubt Cain and Anska want to watch that anyway.”

Looking at the ornate desk, Anska knew exactly what had just transpired. She couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the link Cain’s sisters had, and she sometimes found herself wondering if she would want such a thing with him. It seemed so personal and intimate. Her thoughts dwelled on her last conversation with the goddess a few nights ago on the balcony of Kirin’s study - Kyne had pulled her aside an offered that very thing, if Anska and Cain desired it.

“Kyne mentioned you two had a very…active…relationship,” said Cain, interrupting Anska’s train of thought. “Never thought I’d see a Divine blush like she did that night at Elysium.”

“I’m surprised all she did was blush,” said Linneá, grinning deviously. “She popped into my head when it was buried in – “

“That’s enough, Linneá!” Serana half shouted.

Ulvon entered the room seconds later and saved Serana from any further embarrassment at the hands of Linneá. Cain had lowered his head into his hands and groaned while the Archmaster took a seat at his desk, and Anska was trying her best to contain a fit of laughter.

“Did I interrupt something important?” Ulvon asked.

“Not at all,” said Linneá. “Just talking to the family. Speaking of which: allow me to introduce my brother and his future wife.”

Cain stood up and offered a hand to the elderly dunmer. “Please to meet you, Ulvon. This is Anska of Stonehills – she was kind enough to travel all this way with me.” He sat back down as the Archmaster bowed his head to them. Then Cain turned to look at his sister: “And, really, Linn? Future wife? We’ve been together for less than two weeks.”

“The writing is already on the wall, even if you refuse to see it,” she said, simply. “Now then, do you have anything new for us, Ulvon?”

His eyes darted back and forth between them curiously. “You know, I’ve never met people quite like you and your family, Mrs. Linneá. You preached honesty during your opening statements for these treaty talks, but you’ll forgive me if I didn’t take your regard for blunt candor seriously. And now, I see that even your brother, heir to the throne of Skyrim, isn’t afraid to speak plainly either, no matter the company.”

“Well, you do have to admit that it’s sped things along with our working relationship,” Serana smiled. “I’d like to think that we’ve already made an ally in you, Archmaster.”

“Quite so. If only the rest of us could get on so well with the other Houses, these would be short treaty talks. Uh, where were we? Oh, new information…” Ulvon started sifting through a stack of parchment on his desk, hunting down the memo that had been delivered that very morning. “Ah, here it is! I do indeed have something new for you. My contact in the local Morag Tong chapter sent this to me.” He handed it to Linneá and let her scan through it in silence for a moment.

“You have a contact with a guild of assassins?” inquired Anska.

“We all do, Ms… Anska was it? A very pretty name – does it have a significant meaning in your culture?”

“My mother claimed it was old Atmoran for ‘Angel’, but I’ve never looked into it.”

“Pleasure to meet you, nonetheless. But to your question: The Tong are a state sanctioned group and one would be foolish to not take advantage of it for their own protection.”

They all fell silent briefly while Linneá finished reading the note, and then handed it to her brother. Cain read through it himself and felt his brow furrowing. It seemed to offer more questions than answers, but it did give them a starting point. They would be meeting the contact just after dusk, in the same alleyway the attack happened in.

“I suppose it’s something,” he said.

“It’s [censored],” replied Linneá. “Nothing else could be turned up, Ulvon?”

“Afraid not, Mrs. Linneá. You were very thorough in repelling the assassins, so we had no way to identify them. Ash piles offer little clues.”

“You’ll have to forgive me. I was rather upset that someone would dare harm my wife.”

“Yes, well, remind me to stay on your good side,” Ulvon chuckled. “The Tong assassins are well trained and it would you seem you effortlessly made an example of them. And I am glad to see there was no lasting harm done to you, Mrs. Serana. I’m afraid that’s all the time we have though – would you four mind leaving me to my duties? House Telvanni is finally expected tonight and I must prepare for that…headache.”

One by one they all stood up and bade there goodbye before heading out into the empty embassy corridor. There were no staff around, so Linneá led them back to the living quarters, and they all piled into her and Serana’s assigned bedroom. A single large bed stood in the middle, the blankets in a state of disarray. The bright afternoon sunlight shone through thin white sheers that were draped over the lone window, illuminating the room without the need for candles or sconces. Cain and Anska took a seat on a wooden bench near the window while Serana bustled about the room in a bid to straighten it up.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I overslept this morning and didn’t have time to clean up after myself.”

“Let it be, sis,” said Cain. “I never saw much point in making the bed every morning when you’re just going to muss it up again later. You’ve got some free time until tonight, no? Relax for a while - Linn mentioned you were still recovering.”

She stopped what she was doing and flopped down onto the bed. “Okay, you’ve convinced me. Feel like I could take a nap anyway.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Anska asked her. “You don’t really seem yourself.”

“I’m fine, I promise. I get less and less tired each day. Today just happened to be a busy one.”

“Oh? I thought you slept pretty late though?”

“I did. But Elle woke me up before dawn. I won’t tell you the reason why, but I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Cain let out a heavy sigh. “Could you two tone that down in front of me? I really do think of you as my sisters and I love you deeply. I don’t need to hear about your sex lives all the time.”

“Aw, that’s sweet of you to say, Cain,” Serana said. “You’re right though, I’ll try not to do that. And you will to, Elle, if you know what’s good for you.”

“Promises, promises,” replied Linneá. “To be honest, I could use a nap myself. Why don’t you two go out and get a feel for the city? There’s a place just down the road that offers a passable mead, if you’re feeling thirsty.”

“Maybe,” said Cain. “Wait, do we get out own room here or are we supposed to find an inn?”

“Ulvon’s working on getting a room ready. Probably by nightfall.”

“Good, I was hoping we’d be close while we’re here,” he said. Getting up from the bench, he offered Anska a hand. “Shall we get lunch?”

“It’s a date,” Anska smiled.

They waved to Linneá and Serana before leaving, and the moment the door closed, Linneá flopped down on the bed next to her wife, and rolled up tightly against her. Ten minutes later, they were both snoring away while the day ticked on.

Walking through the streets of Blacklight was an odd experience for Cain. He had never been someplace like Morrowind, where the people who called it home disliked outlanders so much. Not a single person met his or Anska’s eyes, and most pretended they didn’t exist at all. There was a smattering of beings other than the Dunmer, but they were definitely in the minority.

Those that did acknowledge them were of the practical sort. The woman with the raspy voice who served them at the café Linneá mentioned was more than happy to take their gold for something that could barely be called mead. Cain settled for a glass of water when the tankard ran dry.

“At least the food is decent,” said Anska.

“Hard to mess up a venison steak, but I agree. The spice blend is nice too, must be a local herb.” He took the last bite of his lunch and then pushed the plate aside. “We’ve got some time to kill – anything you want to check out while we’re here?”

“It’s a nice thought, Cain, but I have no idea what there even is to see in the city. Not like any of the natives will tell us if we ask. I suppose we should have asked about that before we left the consulate.”

“That’s true,” said Cain. Leaning back in his chair, he glanced up just in time to see a large brown hawk land on the roof of the café. Its amber eyes stared down impassively, and it flicked its head to the left a single time, the movement barely perceptible. He looked in that direction and saw a wooded park just down the road from them.

“New plan, hon. Let’s go take a stroll through those trees.”

Anska looked at him questioningly, her eyebrow raised. Cain pointed up towards the roof and the waiting hawk. “Oh. I guess that’s not surprising. She did say she can’t help but stay away for long. A walk sounds lovely.”

Ten minutes came and went until they found a secluded clearing deep within the park. They sat on the ground and waited patiently for Kyne to arrive, which did not take long at all. A robed figure emerged from the trees, her skin ashen, hey eyes a deep red. But the smile was the same and the goddess greeted them warmly, embracing each in turn.

“So, what brings you to Blacklight?” Cain asked her.

“I try to help whenever I can,” said Kyne. “And Linn let me read that note from Ulvon through her eyes, so I decided to start keeping tabs on his contact.”

“You’re too good to us,” said Anska. “Here we are, treating ourselves to a nice lunch and taking in the city, and you’re already investigating!”

“Think nothing of it, dear. By the way…have you considered my offer from the other night?”

Cain had been fiddling with a loose strap on his scabbard, but that last part caught his attention and his eyes moved back and forth between Anska and Kyne. Thinking back to their impromptu party on the balcony, he did remember seeing the two of them in a quiet discussion, and now he found himself wondering what it was about.

“Offer?” he asked Kyne. “What offer?”

“That’s only for Anska to know until she is ready, Cain,” she tutted.

“Nobody likes secrets, mum.”

“I’m sure you’ll get over it.”

He shook his head and went back to fixing the loose strap of leather. Whatever they spoke of didn’t really bother him all that much and he was glad to see Anska adapting so well to that side of his family. He still wouldn’t have minded knowing, but he could tell it was something that would come about in due time.

“I’ll talk to him about it over dinner, Kyne,” Anska continued. “I promise.”

“Good enough,” said Kyne. “Now, about this contact…do not trust him. In the couple of hours since I started following him, he’s met a surprising number of shady looking characters around town. Mostly other dunmer criminals from what I could tell, but there was one hooded figure he met with that I couldn’t discern. Something is afoot with him. Be wary.”

“We’ll be safe,” Cain assured her. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to make sure we’re alone when we meet him later. And if he knows who we are, then he’ll think twice about attacking a Dragonborn.”

“Then I’ll leave it in your hands, children,” said Kyne. “I must go for now, but I’ll find you again tomorrow.” She hugged them both again and took flight in her usual hawk form, leaving Cain and Anska alone in the wooded area.

With nothing else to do, they decided to head back to the embassy and see what Linneá and Serana were up to. The return trip didn’t take long, so they weren’t overly disappointed to find out that Cain’s sisters were tied up with some other councilors and were unavailable. Back out on the streets, they milled about with no real idea of where to go or what to do next.

“Maybe we could just zip back to the palace for a while...” said Anska.

“Tempting, but I’d rather not unless we really needed to. How about this instead.” Cain reached into his pocket and pulled out a leaflet he’d picked up on the way out of the embassy and showed it to her. The drawing on the front of it showed a large marketplace on the west side of Blacklight, teeming with tents, yurts, the odd structures that were so prevalent around them, and wood stalls. “Fancy a bit of shopping?”

“Ooh, that could be fun! I want to see if I can find some of the vibrant wrap clothes that some of the dunmer women wear. The dyes they use are so pretty.”

“I think it’s over that way,” said Cain, pointing to the far side of town. He propped his elbow out and offered Anska to loop her arm through it. “Shall we?”

They set off arm-in-arm for the marketplace, talking all the while. And behind them, a hooded figure kept its distance, but never lost sight of the outlanders.

[Kane]

Chapter XX – Faith, Treachery, and a Regard for Silence


“Are you sure we did the right thing, husband?” Lydia had set down the book she struggled to concentrate on, her eyes now resting on Kirin. “Sending them to Morrowind, I mean. I know Cain and Anska were willing to help, but to throw them straight into the fire like that?”

Kirin looked up from the scroll he’d been reading. “I don’t know who else we could have sent, Lyds. If Cain hadn’t come into our lives, we would have had to pull the girls from the treaty talks and had them look into the matter. I’m sure they would have loved that, but they still underestimate their diplomacy skills. Well, Linn does anyway.”

The sun had just begun to set outside and the dimness of light it brought forced Kirin to stop reading, too. He got up from his desk and lit a few candle sconces around the study. But instead of sitting back down at by himself, he joined Lydia on her favorite chaise.

“Our kids are capable,” he reassured her. “I know they can get to the bottom of this. We just have to have faith.”

“I do have faith in them, but something about the entire thing still makes me uneasy. And I feel like Kyne knows something we don’t, dear. I sensed a certain…worriedness from her when she was with Cain and Anska. A sadness, even.”

Lydia leaned to the side and rested her head on Kirin’s shoulder. These fleeting moments of respite with her husband were her favorite times of the day, infrequent though they were. A selfish part of her wished he’d never taken the throne and that they would all still be living a quiet life on the outskirts of Whiterun. Life in the palace was safer though, and she took solace in the fact that they were usually all together here.

“We just have to have faith in her, too,” said Kirin. “Mother has never steered us wrong, and she’s saved our skins more times than we can count.”

“I know, I know. It’s just a mom’s fitful worrying, dear.” She lifted her head and gave Kirin a kiss on the cheek. “Can we dine in the gardens tonight? And spend the evening together? You’ve been so busy lately – take a break and relax with me for a while.”

“Okay,” he said, smiling gently at her. “I’ll tell the staff to keep their distance. Maybe we can even sneak down to the harbor for a few hours, and sit on the shoreline.”

“That sounds lovely, husband.”

They left the study and headed for the kitchens, taking their plates of food to go. Lydia grabbed a few bottles of mead, too, and they disappeared together into the night.

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

The final pieces were all falling into place. Emperor Titus Mede II had been working tirelessly to protect his seat of power, all the while throwing platitudes and false promises at the Elder Council. The dithering fools bought it all, hook, line, and sinker. The only thing that remained was a confirmation letter from his agents in the field - a letter he expected Anilay to deliver this very evening.

Lost in thought, a faint knock on the door made him start. “Enter.”

His chancellor stepped into the private study and handed Mede a bound scroll before taking a seat in the chair opposite the Emperor. He studied the aged man across from him and wondered how long he could keep this up for. Titus Mede was already old nearly thirty years ago, when the dragons threatened to spill down from Skyrim. And now the stress of the new high king and his northern alliances put Mede more on edge than ever, as he desperately clung to power. Anilay privately began to doubt it was worth the effort. Might a newer and far more powerful regime stand a better chance against the Dominion?

Mede finished reading the scroll and set it down with a pleased look on his face. “Excellent. All our agents are in position and will move when the time is right.”

“Are we sure this is wise, sire? I know you’ve taken great care to cover our tracks, but should this fail and the plot be exposed… we won’t have to wait for the Dragonborn to seize your throne. The Council will execute you themselves and invite him down here with open arms.”

‘Either way, it’ll be over my dead body, Anilay. My family sacrificed far too much for the Ruby Throne. I’ll see to it that a Mede shall always sit upon it.”

“Of course, sire.” Anilay bowed his head and then excused himself from the room. Rather than head off to his own chambers, the chancellor instead sought out an old friend who ought to still be in the Council chambers. He’s become shortsighted, he thought to himself. The men of Tamriel need strength and resolve, not selfishness.

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

Cain reached for Anska’s hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Someone is following us,” he whispered into her ear. “The hooded figure milling about the fletcher stall at eight o’clock. I first noticed them only moments after we left the embassy.”

“I saw them, too. Should we confront whomever it is?”

“Not here. Too many innocents around and I don’t want to make a scene. Linn and Serana have enough on their plate without us causing a scandal.” His eyes searched the area for somewhere out of the way, and spotted a narrow alley that disappeared between two shops on the fringes of the marketplace. “Over there, by the apothecary.”

Anska noted the alley and steeled herself for a fight. “Okay. But let’s try to make it look natural. Follow my lead.”

Keeping her hand firmly locked with Cain’s, she led him slowly towards the shops and made a show of perusing the other stalls as they went. Once they got to the mouth of the alleyway, Anska let go of his hand and began to kiss him passionately, her arms wrapping up his back, her hand running through his long hair. He knew at once where she was going with this and eagerly kept up the pretense, slowly steering her into the dark passage.

Within seconds, the hooded figure stepped into the shadows behind them and crept noiselessly down the alley. Cain’s free hand was on the hilt of his sword but before he could raise it, the soft voice of a woman came from their mysterious stalker.

“You needn’t draw your weapon, Cain. It would not help you anyway.”

Separated and at the ready, Cain and Anska both faced her down. “Who are you and how do you know my name,” he asked her.

The woman lowered her hood and smiled radiantly at them. Shoulder length blonde hair curled about a pale face of unequal beauty, each feature defined by impossibly soft lines that resembled perfection, and warm azure eyes twinkled knowingly at Cain and Anska. He gasped in surprise at the serene being before him, recognizing her at once as another Divine.

“I know of all my children in this world, including you and the lovely Anska here,” said the woman. “I am known to you as Mara, and this is not the first time I have called upon your family.”

Cain was momentarily stunned. He had somehow gotten used to the presence of Kyne, but he never expected to meet another one of the Nine. Anska had also fallen silent, but it was she who recovered first.

“Um. Wow,” she spoke, softly. “Kyne didn’t mention you were around, too.”

“Only when I need to be,” said Mara. “I appeared one other time, about thirty years ago, to nudge Cain’s father in the right direction. Poor man was oblivious to the signals Lydia was sending him. Kyne was more understanding than I was – he did have a lot on his shoulders at that time.”

“Er, you never met my sisters then?” Cain asked.

“Didn’t need to. Their love blossomed with little effort.”

Anska regarded the goddess for a moment and started to wonder why she was standing here before them. She had only been with Cain for a short time, and while she did feel strongly for the man, Anska was certain the feelings were mutual. It didn’t seem to her that a nudge from Mara was needed.

“Your thoughts are valid, child,” Mara said to her. “You two are doing just fine without my intervention.”

“Then why - ?”

“Am I here?’ she finished. Anska nodded and Mara continued: “To give you some advice. I know of the offer my sister made you, Anska, and I strongly recommend you turn it down.”

That wasn’t at all what she had expected to hear, and it slightly irked Anska. What could be so bad about such a wonderful gift? More and more she had begun to desire that connection with Cain, and the practical benefits it offered. Even as they spotted Mara dogging their footsteps, they could have silently shared it with each other, instead of watching on their own.

“I… I’ll think about it, ma’am. Though I struggle to see a downside.”

“Yes, well, don’t forget that my responsibilities allow me to see the flow of love as it weaves throughout the fabric of time. There are any roads to be taken and many possible branches to reach the end. And not all lead to happiness and content. I cannot force you to make that decision but it’s my duty to make you aware of the risks, even if I cannot reveal them.”

“Forgive me,” Cain interjected. “But will someone please just tell me what this damn offer is? First Kyne, and now you, ma’am. I’m the only one left in the dark here and it’s maddening!”

“For that, I am sorry, Cain,” said Mara. “Anska may tell you after I take my leave. Which, I shall do now – before prying eyes spot us. It was lovely to meet you two. Please give my regards to Kyne, and to your parents, Cain.”

Mara raised her hood and disappeared further into the dark alleyway, eventually vanishing entirely from their sight. Cain and Anska stood in disbelief for a moment while the shock of having met another Divine finally set in.

“This family, I swear,” muttered Anska. “Kings, dragons, divines. What else are we going to stumble into?” Cain said nothing, but he looked at her expectantly. “Oh, right. The gift.” She took his hand and met his soft gaze equally. “Would you want our minds to be linked like Linneá’s and Serana’s? Kyne can grant us that, but only if we both agree to it and understand what it would mean for us.”

He frowned slightly, and a feeling of doubt crept up into Anska’s throat. She suddenly found herself wondering if Cain even would want that as much as she did. The prospect had excited her so much that Anska had never considered what would happen if he turned it down.

“That’s what you two have been hiding from me?”

She nodded at him. “But only if you want it, too, dear. It has to be something we both agree to - our thoughts and desires will be laid bare before one another. There will be no secrets. Only complete and utter honesty. And unity.”

Cain saw the desire for it dancing in her eyes, and he felt his own desire for such oneness begin to well up inside of him. But Mara’s words also echoed in mind and the fact that she had shown up in the flesh to warn them against it gave him pause.

Anska felt the hesitation and she stepped back from him. “You don’t want this, do you?” Tears sprang unbidden to the corners of her eyes, and that feeling of doubt burned intensely at the back of her throat. “I shouldn’t have entertained it. Not without telling you first.”

“It’s not that,” promised Cain. “I do want it – certainly as much as you do, if not more. I just… I can’t seem to shake free of Mara’s warning to you. What if it dooms us somehow? Godsdammit, Anska, we’ve only been together for a couple of weeks but I know how I feel about you. I’ve never been so certain of anything else in my life!”

“Then to hell with her warning!” exclaimed Anska. “You heard what she said: there are many possible branches! Who’s to say this isn’t exactly what we are supposed to do? And why should our lives be dictated by anyone but ourselves?! Kyne’s guiding hand is one thing, but I do not like the outright interference Mara just threw between us!”

“Can’t say that I like it either,” said Cain. “No, you’re absolutely right, Anska. Our lives are our own and we should live them as we see fit. And Kyne wouldn’t have offered such a thing if it was so dangerous - which we know it’s not! Just look at my sisters!”

The feeling of doubt evaporated from Anska in an instant and was replaced by elation. Everything Cain said after her initial worry was exactly what she needed to hear and she could not wait to find Kyne again and ask her to make the link. The excitement between them was palpable, but she still wanted to hear the words directly from his mouth.

“So, you’re okay with this?” she asked him. “You want to be linked with me that deeply?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Oh thank heavens,” she exhaled. “Sorry, I’d gotten myself all worked up over the idea of it.” Anska threw herself at Cain and furiously started kissing him again. After a few seconds, she pulled back and stared directly into his eyes. “I’m going to tell you something now, since you’re already going to find out soon if I don’t…”

Cain was panting slightly from her onslaught of passion, but he took the bait and asked the question anyway. “Just tell me so we can get back to the fun part!”

“Don’t ruin the moment, lunkhead,” breathed Anska, rolling her eyes dramatically.

“Tell me.”

She kissed him again and then pulled back once more. “I love you.”

[Kane]

Chapter XXI – Into the Wilds

“I love you,” said Anska, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cain stared deeply into her warm brown eyes, overjoyed at the three words she had just uttered to him, and he did not hesitate to say them right back. His mouth had just begun to open when an arrow whizzed past his head and buried itself in a piece of timber on the apothecary’s façade. They both spun around to see who had loosed it, but only an empty alleyway stared back. Footsteps echoed further and further away until nothing but silence remained, leaving little point in trying to chase down the culprit.

“Damn, that was a close one,” said Cain, turning to examine the arrow. He plucked it from the wall and gave it a once over, noting the intricate carvings along the shaft. “Ever seen markings like this, hon?”

Anska looked it over herself, but the symbols were foreign to her, too. “No, it doesn’t look familiar. Are you alright? It didn’t nick you did it?”

“No, sailed right past me. We’ll take it back to the girls, maybe they’ll have some insight on it.” Though the moment had been ruined, Cain couldn’t help but smile widely at Anska. “Hey… I love you, too.”

“I know,” she said. “It was plain to see it in the way you’d stare at me when you thought I wasn’t watching. And you also didn’t deny Linneá’s ‘future wife’ statement. I knew right then and there that we’d found something special.” Anska hugged him tightly and gave him a gentle pat on the ass. “This is nice, but it’s time to get back to it – the sun is starting to set and we need to get over to the scene of the attack. The first attack, that is.”

He nodded and they set off across the marketplace, bound for the south side of town. It grew darker and darker as they walked, until dusk firmly set it just when they turned a corner and stepped into the alley where Serana had been struck. Ash piles still lingered on the ground, partially blown away by a gentle breeze that fluttered down the narrow passage. Tall buildings rose around them, their rooftops stretching away into the dark sky. The only source of light came from a torch Anska held aloft while she peered into the shadows, searching for any clue that may have been missed.

“Any idea when this contact of Ulvon’s will show up?” she asked.

“None whatsoever. Give me a second though, I have something I want to try.”

Cain had spent countless hours ruminating on the knowledge Linneá had granted him all those nights ago at Elysium. The words felt intrinsic to his being, and while he felt comfortable in their use, some still required caution when others were around. One of them, however, would be very useful in the situation they now found themselves in.

“Laas-Yah-Nir” he whispered.

An odd feeling of heighted sense filled Cain from within as the Thu’um’s power radiated out from him, searching the area around them for signs of life. His vision changed suddenly, and Cain could perceive three hidden figures cloaked in a red mist, lurking in the shadows beyond their normal sight. And a fourth figure approached them from the alley’s entrance.

“Did you just use a dragon shout?” said Anska. “I didn’t recognize the words you spoke.”

“I did and I’m glad I thought to. Be on guard – our contact is coming, and there are three others around us lying in wait.”

A tallish being stepped out of the dark and into the light of Anska’s torch. It was clad in typical dunmeri robes with a hood pulled up to obscure their face.

“We’re here at Archmaster Ulvon’s request,” Cain said. “And you can call off the other three lurking in the shadows, or this will be a very short meeting.”

The raspy voice of a man spoke from under the hood. “How perceptive of you to notice them. However, they are here for my protection and nothing more. One must always take precautions when meeting strangers in the dark.” He lowered the hood and cast a light spell, revealing the harsh, angular features of another hardened dark elf, red eyes gleaming in the barely lit passageway. “My name is Romlyn. May I ask who I am dealing with here? Ulvon was less than forthcoming.”

“Cain Windborne and Anska of Stonehills.”

“Windborne, eh? So, you’re the High King of Skyrim’s son then? I’m surprised he keeps sending out his children after what happened to his daughter.”
“Yeah, well, that’s why we’re here, Romlyn,” said Anska. “To get answers. Got any for us?”

“Straight to the point? Good, I don’t like being out in the open like this.” The dunmer reached into a satchel hanging from the belt of his robes and fished out a small slip of paper. “All I can provide is a name. Ideally, I’d have more for you to go on, but I was lucky enough just to get this. It’s the identity of the person who hired the poor fools that attacked your sisters. I don’t know who it is or where they’re from, but I can tell you they aren’t from around here. It’s not a name I recognize. I’m not even sure what kind of name it is.”

Anska took the paper from him and stowed it away in her own bag while Cain thanked the man for his help. Romlyn’s footsteps receded into the night, leaving the two of them alone in a strange city. They suddenly felt very vulnerable.

“Let’s get out of here quickly,” said Cain. “Are you up for a Recall?”

“Um. I guess,” answered Anska. “To where?”

“I marked a spot in Linneá and Serana’s room when we were there earlier. Best I could do until we get our own room to stay in.”

“Really? Gods, I hope we don’t interrupt anything by just popping in like that.”

“I told Serana we might use it as a way to return.” Cain held out his hand. “Shall we? I’m also fine with your arms around me if that’s more comforting.”

Anska took the latter option and embraced him tightly while Cain cast the spell and they vanished from the alley. Seconds later they stood in the center of the small bedroom and opened their eyes hesitantly. Serana was asleep in bed, laying on top of the blankets and snoring away while Linneá sat at the small desk and stared expectantly at them.

“Sorry,” whispered Anska. “Didn’t want to walk all the way back here.”

Linneá pointed towards the door and ushered them out into the hallway. Once outside the room, she spoke to them in a normal register. “Don’t want to wake her up. Your room is ready and we can talk about your meeting in the morning. I’m about to turn in myself.” She led them to a door only two rooms down and unlocked it for them. “Here’s the key, make yourselves at home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She hugged them both and went back to her own room for the night. Happy to have a place to themselves, Cain and Anska immediately began to settle in and get comfortable in the modest space. Opening the bathroom door, Cain was excited to see a bathtub tucked against the back wall. It was filled with fresh water and he wasted no time in lighting the coals in the small stove at the foot of it. Anska came in to see what all the noise was and practically squealed with delight.

“Thank heavens we can get cleaned up!” she said. “My perfume wore off a long time ago.”

“Oh, it did? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Shut up, dear. I know what I smell like and trust me when I say you’re worse off.”

Cain laughed heartily and went back into the bedroom area to start undressing while the water warmed up. He threw his dirty tunic and trousers in a heap near the door and pulled on a thin robe from his backpack and took a seat at the foot of their bed. Anska poked her head out of the bathroom a few minutes later and beckoned him back in.

“It’s nice and warm, stinky. Come in here and have a soak with me – I found some lovely smelling soaps, too.”

After a warm bath and small snack, Cain and Anska crawled into bed after a long day and fell asleep quickly. Dawn came much sooner than either of them would have liked, and a loud rap on the door startled them both into wakefulness. Grumbling incoherently, Cain got up and threw on his robe while Anska rolled over and went back to sleep.

He pulled the door open and Linneá pushed her way into the room with Serana just behind her. They took a seat on the small bench near the bed and looked about the messy room. “Couldn’t have picked up a little before your guests came over?” Linneá grinned.

“How the hell was I supposed to know you’d be here this early, Linn? We were dead to the world until you knocked on the door.”

“Looks like Anska still is,” Serana noted. She called over to the bed: “Can you wake up sleepyhead?”

Anska didn’t roll over, but she raised a hand and made a rude gesture at them.

Linneá chuckled and turned back towards Cain. “There’s a keeper if I ever saw one, brother. I think the four of us are going to have a lot of fun together. Now then, did you get anything good last night?”

“[censored], I don’t even know where to begin,” he said. “That meeting with Ulvon’s contact was probably the least exciting thing to happen yesterday evening.”

He went on for the next ten minutes, telling them all about the impromptu meeting with Mara that was followed by another failed assassination attempt. After assuring his sisters that they were unharmed, he showed them the name Romlyn had given him last night, and also handed Linneá the arrow that nearly struck him.

“Hmm, it is an odd name,” said Linneá. “’Lisotel’. Definitely mer, but not a style I’m familiar with. I don’t recognize the carvings on this arrow either. What about you, dear?” She handed it to Serana who studied it for a moment with a queer expression on her face.

“I know these symbols,” she said, quietly. “But I never thought I’d live to see them again.”

“You’re being vague, Ana. What is it?”

Anska stirred in the bed and finally go up to join them. Wrapping the blanket around her naked body, she joined Cain at the end of the bed and yawned loudly while Serana kept looking at the mysterious arrow.

Serana handed the arrow back to Cain. “Those are Ayleid inscriptions. Maybe the name ‘Lisotel’ is Ayleid, too?”

“Come off it, love,” said a shocked Linneá. “Ayleids? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure, Elle. I can’t decipher the letters, but I’m certain of their origins. No idea what a lost race of elves has to do with all of this though.”

Cain turned the arrow over in his hand, thinking back to some of his history lessons back in Anvil. Cyrodiil had been the seat of the Ayleid empire until the Alessian slave rebellion overthrew them, scattering what remained of the elves into the wild lands. There had always been rumors that they were still out there, living in small pockets in the deepest forests of the heartland, but they were just that: rumors.

“Guess they are still around,” said Cain. Something didn’t sit right with him about the attack. He’d been a sitting duck when it sailed past him, completely lost in a conversation with Anksa. Surely any assassin that favored the bow could not miss such an easy target? “But I don’t think this was meant to kill me.”

Anska snorted. “Seriously, Cain? It only missed you by a few inches.”

“That’s just the thing – it missed. And why carve identifiable letters into the shaft? No, I think this is a message for us. We need to decipher it”

“Sorry, love, but I think you’re reaching for something that isn’t there,” said Anska.

LInneá looked back and forth between them. “Love?” she asked. “Since when do y- oh…I almost forgot about your meeting with Mara. Kinda miffed I never got to meet her, if I’m being honest.”

“She told us it wasn’t necessary with you and Serana,” shrugged Anska. “That your love blossomed wonderfully without needing the nudge that Kirin did.”

They hadn’t mentioned Mara’s warning. Cain wanted to talk to Kyne about it first and he’d asked Anska not to say anything to his sisters either. He was hoping they wouldn’t ask to many questions about Mara, and, so far, they had been lucky.

Cain instead attempted to steer the conversation back to the arrow: “Do you think Kyne could read it?”

“Hm. Maybe,” said Linneá. “Worth a shot. I’ll reach out to her and see if she can meet you two somewhere. Ana and I won’t be able to join you – the talks are fully underway now that the Telvanni are finally here.”

“How’s it going?” inquired Anska. “Any progress?”

“Some. But I’d rather be out there with you getting shot at than sitting in meeting rooms all day.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer it if you didn’t get struck by any stray arrows, Elle,” said Serana. “You’ve got enough scars on your arm as it is.”

“Yeah, but they make for a badass story, don’t they? Who else can say the had their arm chomped on by a dragon!”

“You’re leaving out the part where you nearly died in the process.”

“I knew you wouldn’t let me,” Linneá winked. “Oh, hang on a sec…” She trailed off and closed her eyes in concentration. A few seconds later she turned to Cain and Anska: “Right then, Kyne will meet you in the same park she did yesterday. Give her a hug from us.”

Linneá and Serana took their leave to let Cain and Anska freshen up for the day. They were on their own again for breakfast, but they’d spotted plenty of places nearby to eat at during their walks around the city the day before. It was around mid-morning when they left the embassy and took a stroll down the street, excited to meet up with their goddess and to show here the arrow. But Cain had a bad feeling about the other subject they needed to bring up.

Kyne awaited them in the same clearing, disguised once again as dunmer. She hugged them both and started to ask how everything had gone when Anska jumped in headlong.

“We talked about it yesterday, ma’am, and we want you to make the link!”

An odd look stole across Kyne’s face and it quickly turned into something resembling disappointment. “I’m surprised at you two. And not in a good way, mind you. Do you really think my sister wouldn’t have spoken to me about it, too?”

“Um,” Anska began.

“No, don’t bother trying to justify it,” admonished Kyne, “she has her reasons for warning against it and I agree with them completely.”

“What reason could she possibly –“

“I wish I could tell you, dear, but I can’t. Mara has a unique way of seeing how the tides of love ebb and flow and we can’t act against it any more than we can act against the flow of time. The offer is no longer on the table and I ask that you forget I ever mentioned it.”

“That’s bullshit!” snapped Anska heatedly. “You can’t just tempt us like that and then leave us hung out to dry! Do you realize how much I longed for – “
“Drop it, Anska,” Cain warned her. “We can’t argue with her. Let’s talk about it later, okay?”

Anska was still seething, but she quit protesting and left the clearing. Her footsteps faded into the quiet woods, leaving Cain alone with the goddess. For her part, Kyne looked genuinely upset about how everything had gone so far. She brushed a few tears away from her eyes and cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way, Cain. I wish I could have helped you two.”

“I appreciate that, but we don’t need the help, mum. Anska and I love each other and that’s all that matters. She’ll come around.”

Kyne smiled at him. “Love, huh? I’m glad to hear you say that, and it makes me feel a little better about all of this. Now, then…show me this mysterious arrow. Linn said it has Ayleid inscriptions on it? I’m a little rusty with that language, but I’m sure I can parse it out.”

Cain pulled the arrow out of his bag and handed it to her. Kyne examined it for a few minutes, her brow furrowing as she tried to decipher the smaller carvings and make sense of which way the words were meant to be read. Some of the characters were strange to her, forcing Kyne to skip over them and hope it could be pieced together.

“Well, some of these letters are odd – I think their language may have evolved over the last few thousand years – but I can read most of it.”

“I can’t believe they’re actually still around,” said Cain. “Never thought I’d get mixed up with Ayleids.”

“Oh, they are definitely still hiding in the denser regions of the Blackwood,” said Kyne. “Locals there refer to them as the ‘Wild Elves’. She returned the arrow to him and called out to Anska, who returned in short order but refused to meet Kyne’s eyes. “You two better head back to the embassy and pack up. A tribe wants to meet you.”

“Meet us?” asked Cain. “Where?”

“In the Velothi mountains, due east of Cheydinal. You’ve got one hell of a walk ahead of you!”

This post has been edited by Kane: Apr 28 2025, 03:45 PM

[Kane]

Chapter XXII – Tethered

The noontide sun blazed high above Blacklight as it continued its daily march west across the skies of Tamriel. A hazy heat filled the air while denizens bustled about the city trying not to linger outside for long periods of time. Anska sat alone, staring at nothing in particular while she battled with the feelings of frustration and disappointment bubbling inside of her. She barely reacted at all when Cain emerged from the cool café interior with a plate of food and drink, setting it on the table and sitting down across from her.

Cain took a pull from his glass of water and regarded her for a moment, wondering best how to soften the mood. He’d also been dwelling on Kyne’s refusal to offer the same gift his sisters had, and started to ponder a different solution. Maybe I can give her hope again…it’s worth a shot.

“Look, I know you’re upset about this whole thing with Kyne,” Cain started. “What if – “

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. You couldn’t [censored] back me up at all with her? Nothing? ‘Drop it, Anska’ was all you could manage? [censored] off.” She took her own drink off of the platter and contemplated throwing it in his face.

“Anska, it’s not like we could have changed her mind!’”

“No, that would have required effort on your part.”

“We can’t argue with a literal divine! How do you think that would have gone?”

“[censored] if I know. Maybe next time you can grow a pair and at least try. We shouldn’t allow them to rule our lives – guidance is one thing, but active intervention Is another.” Anska looked down at the food he’d brought and realized she didn’t have the stomach for it. “I’m going back to our room. Eat if you want. I’m not interested.”

She got up and left Cain by himself at the table. Lunch suddenly seemed a lot less appetizing, so instead he drank the remainder of his water and leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Echoes of a conversation he’d had with Kyne back at Elysium rang throughout his mind and he decided it was time to take the matter into his own hands.

Cain set a few pieces of gold on the table for their waitress and headed back to the embassy himself, hoping that Linneá would be in her room. The corridors of the building were mostly empty but he could hear a dull murmur of conversation from beyond the doors leading to various meeting rooms and offices. He walked past their own assigned bedroom and knocked loudly on the door to his sisters’ quarters instead.

“Come in!”

He stepped through the door and was pleased to see Linneá sitting on the floor with a book. She was leaning against the end of the bed while Serana laid at the foot of it, twirling her fingers through Linneá’s long dark hair.

“Hey, bro,” said Linneá. “What’s up? Where’s Anska?”

“She’s, uh, taking some time to herself. I’d rather not get into it.”

Serana raised an eyebrow. “Trouble in paradise?”

“Sort of. I could use your help, Linn. There’s something I want to ask you…”

“Would it have something to do with a certain meeting you had this morning that didn’t go the way your better half hoped it would?”

Cain stared blankly at her, already deflating. “How did – “

“Kyne likes to cover all of her bases. She’s very thorough like that. I take it you want me to teach you how to make the link yourself? How to steal a little bit of that divine power coursing through your blood?”

Serana’s fingers stopped twirling and she was watching them with rapt attention. Linneá had caught Cain off guard – it never occurred to him that Kyne would have also reach out to her, too, just to prevent him from doing exactly this: going around their patron goddess. He sighed in frustration and sat down in the desk chair.

“I take it you won’t help us then?”

“Sorry, Cain,” said Linneá. “I wish I could. Trust me when I say I understand why you two want this. And before you ask – no, she didn’t give me a reason either. But I can’t break Kyne’s trust. She means too much to me. To us.”

“[censored],” grumbled Cain. “Anska’s going to be even more disappointed now. She’s in a right state and I was really hoping to brighten her day.”

“I’ll go talk to her,” said Serana. “Is she just upset that Kyne said no?”

“She’s mad at me for not standing up to her, too. I just didn’t see the point in trying to change the mind of a divine. Not like arguing about it would have amounted to anything.”

“Maybe not, but I could see why she’d be frustrated about it. I’ll bring her around.” Serana crawled gracefully out of the bed and slipped on a pair of shoes. The door closed behind her a few seconds later, leaving Cain alone with Linneá.

Cain’s mind started to wander while Linneá began leafing through her book again. He was staring out the bedroom window, trying to imagine what could be so bad about linking their minds that Mara would actively warn against it. Then he heard the book shut gently. Looking over at his sister, he found her staring at him with an amused expression.

“Anska was right, you know. You should have stuck up for her. And it’s fun to argue with mum every once in a while. Her cheeks get these little creases in them when she’s worked up. Adorable. Besides, you don’t really need my help for this, Cain. No one helped me. It’s just a matter of willpower. The spark is already there, you just need to harness it.”

“Linn, I’m not nearly as adept with the arcane as you are. I can’t just parse out such a small sliver of magick and tell it what to do. Casting turn or healing spells is one thing, but this…this is entirely different.”

“We’re not talking about magicka. We’re talking about your inborn nature.”

The door opened before Cain could respond and Serana walked back in with Anska close behind her. She took her spot at the end of the bed again but Anska remained standing near the door with her arms crossed. Cain got up from his seat and went over to her, even though he wasn’t entirely sure about what he would say. But he did know where to start.

“Hey, so…you were right,” he began. She met his eyes, waiting for him to go on: “It wouldn’t have killed me to push back a little bit. I’m sorry.”

A smile tugged at the corner of her soft lips, and she raised a hand to his cheek.

“It’s a start,” said Anska. “But, I’ll take it. You and I are going to have a long conversation about solidarity though. And I appreciate you trying to get Linn to help us.”

“We’ll have plenty of time to talk while we head south,” promised Cain. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Linneá cleared her throat and tossed a bit of scrap parchment at them. Her eyes were narrowed when Cain turned back towards her.

“South?” she asked. “Why are you two going south?”

Cain’s stomach lurched. He figured Kyne would have already told her and Serana about the arrow and how they’d been summoned by a tribe of Ayleids. Especially since the goddess had deigned to head them off with his other request. He could sense the incoming frustration that was about to bubble over from his sister.

“Er, so…the arrow… It was an invitation of sorts. To meet some of them down south, in the mountains near the border to Cyrodiil.”

“Bullshit!” exploded Linneá. “I’m so godsdamned tired of being stuck in this stupid [censored] embassy for weeks on end! And now you two get to go trudging off after mystical elves who aren’t even supposed to exist!? Ayleids! How the hell am I supposed to be okay with missing out on that! I [censored] hate being a diplomat!”

Serana slid off the bed and sat in front of Linneá, placing her hands on her shoulders. “Hey hey hey, just relax, Elle. I need you focused on our role and I need you here with me. Come on, deep breaths. In and out.”

Cain and Anska still stood awkwardly near the door, rooted in place while Serana tried to calm down her wife. Linneá closed her eyes and took several deep breaths while she tried to center herself again. It felt like the room was spinning around her at first, but Serana’s gentle touch brought her back down, and she opened her eyes sheepishly.

“Um. Sorry. That’s been building up for a while.”

“It’s okay, love,” said Serana. “I know how much you’d rather be out on an adventure. But you’re doing a great job here, even if you don’t realize it. I can’t see these debates lasting for than another five or six days.”

Anska moved over to them and sat down next to Linneá. “Maybe you two can join us when you’re done here? Just mark a talisman of some kind and recall to us when you can. We’ll still have plenty of walking ahead of us at that point. Could be fun!”

“It’s a sweet thought, sis,” said Linneá. “I doubt dad will go for it, though. I’m sure he’s already got something else lined up for us.”

“I dunno, Elle,” said Serana. “He might have a change of heart once he hears about what’s involved with this. It could be huge for us, if we can somehow have an Ayleid presence on our side. There’s no telling what kind of numbers they have, but if they’ve existed in the shadows for this long, then they must be doing something right.”

They were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. Linneá stood up to answer it, and ducked out into the hallway while Cain went over and sat on the floor with the others. They waited mostly in silence for her to rejoin them and she did just that in short order.

“Might actually be sooner than we thought, Ana,” Linneá said as she came over and sat back down. “That was Ulvon’s assistant - the Telvanni have caved on one of their more ridiculous demands. We could have this wrapped up in two or three days instead.”

“Then we’ll stay here for at least that long,” said Cain.

“No, you two should get marching right away,” sighed Linneá. “Anska’s right, we can mark something innocuous and catch up when we can. If we can. We’ll have to leave it here for now, though. Serana and I need to find Ulvon and work out our next steps.”

Cain and Anska left them to it and went back to there own room for the afternoon. There was little to do other than wait, so Anska threw herself onto the bed and took a nap while Cain tried to read a book on dunmer culture. But he couldn’t focus on the text, his thoughts dwelling on what Linneá had said to him about willpower and just having to tap into his own innate abilities. Instead, he closed the book and set it aside before climbing onto the bed next to a snoring Anska.

Her sleeping face was serene, and completely carefree while dreams began to flit throughout her mind. Cain thought back to some of Kyne’s proclamations on love, and how much emphasis she placed on its importance. Then he realized that the willpower Linneá spoke of was the easy part – Cain knew exactly how much he loved Anska and what his intentions were. It was the tapping that still eluded him. How can I draw from something I only partially understand?

Cain closed his eyes and looked inward, trying to meditate the way he would before a battle. His mother, Ariessa, had always told him that Leki, the Saint of the Spirit Sword, would protect those who prayed to her before battle, imbuing them with a warrior’s spirit. But he’d never tried to meditate for any other reason. He cleared his mind and focused on himself, rather than a potential fight.

And he nearly jumped from the bed in shock when he felt the dragon fluttering within. Cain suddenly understood exactly what spark his sister spoke of and the possibilities it offered. It amazed him that he hadn’t felt it before, the divine power flowing through his blood coalesced into a spiritual form that shared every part of Cain’s being, soaring just beneath the surface of his conscious.

The pieces fell into place all at once. His eyes still closed, Cain reach out and gently placed a hand on Anska’s sleeping form. He focused on his love for her, and how much they both desired to be closer.

To be one.

The dragon roared in unison and Cain felt utter contentment and warmth well up inside of him. It flowed calmly from the center out to all of his extremities, and passed right into the sleeping woman at his side.

Anska gasped loudly and sat bolt upright in bed, her slumber suddenly interrupted. But the unknown feeling of warmth soothed her, and she instantly realized something wonderful had happened. Cain’s eyes were opened, and he was smiling gently at her.

And then his voice spoke in her mind: Who needs a goddess when you have a dragon?

She felt her mouth fall open in shock. I can’t believe it! How did –

Not so loud, dear. It tends to echo.

Cain Windborne, you tell me this instant! How did you manage this?!

Linneá pointed me in the right direction. I had all the tools, much as she did. I just didn’t understand how to utilize them. But I knew I had to try. I knew how much it meant to you. And to me.

She was amazed at what he done for her. For each other. And at how far he was willing to go for her, and much he cared, despite not showing any kind of fight with Kyne when the goddess rescinded the offer. All of her prior frustrations and anger evaporated, and Anska leaned forward and tackled him into the blankets, kissing him furiously while she struggled with the leather belt on his trousers. Godsdamn it, do I love you! Now help me with this [censored] belt.

[Kane]

Chapter XXIII – Good Intentions


It was well into the evening when there came a soft knock on the door to Cain and Anska’s room. Setting down a book he’d found on Ayleid history, Cain rolled off of their bed and went to see who it was. His hand was on the knob when heard two familiar voices coming from the hallway, so he smiled and let his sisters into the room.

Thankfully, they had come with a few plates of food and a bottle of wine.

“Evening, Cain,” said Serana. “Where’s Anska?”

“She’s soaking in the bath tub.”

“Oh, then let her be. We just wanted to hang out together for a few hours. It feels like we never get to do that without something else looming over our heads.”

She set about uncorking the wine bottle and pouring out a glass for each of them while Linneá laid out various bits of local dunmer cuisine. Cain went back to the desk and slid a bookmark into the very dry text he had been reading.

“Is that a Treatise on Ayleidic Cities?” asked Linneá. “I remember that one being a snooze fest. Shouldn’t you go tell sis we’re here? Don’t want to give her a shock when she comes out.”

“Very boring book indeed,” said Cain. “Don’t worry, I already gave her a heads-up.”

Serana stopped filling the final wine glass and looked sharply at him. “What do you mean you gave her a heads-up? I didn’t see you go in there.”

“Yeah, so, about that…” began Cain.

“Linneá, what did you do?” Serana’s eyes narrowed accusatorily at her wife. “Kyne explicitly asked you not to do it for them!”

“Hey, don’t look at me, dear heart. I told Cain and Anska that I couldn’t interfere and I didn’t. I may have suggested he had all the tools he needed, but I certainly didn’t teach him in any way. Besides, it’s not really that difficult of a thing for those like us to achieve. Our dragon blood wants to help us.”

It had certainly felt that way to Cain. Amazed at how easily he was able to take the matter into his own hands, he’d begun to wonder what else was possible, and had been waiting to ask Linneá just that. The sky was the limit, as far as he could tell; and the Thu’um might just be the beginning of what he and his family could achieve.

“That’s semantics and you know it, Elle,” said Serana.

“Is it, though?” returned Linneá. “Nothing I did, or said, offered direct advice. All I did was point out some facts about being a Dragonborn. What Cain achieved after we left is entirely his own accomplishment. And look how happy it’s made them – don’t tell me you didn’t feel the buzz in the air when entered.”

Serana’s face softened. “Well, I guess that’s true. On both points. Please just be careful, brother… I’m sure Mara had a very good reason for not wanting you two to go down this path, maddening as it is that she wouldn’t share it.”

Anska joined them a few seconds later, her damp hair tied up in a large ponytail, and smelling of fresh lavender. The four of them spent the remainder of the evening eating, drinking, and talking about everything from palatial life to swapping adventure stories. Linneá spent nearly an hour recounting the unexpected way her honeymoon with Serana on the Isle of Roscrea had gone and she had Cain in stiches by the end of it, revealing that the strange goblins on the island had made them queens of their tribe.

Serana too had countless tales from her childhood with an ancient vampire clan, both happy and sad. But her favorite story to tell was still the one about how she acquired her penchant for Colovian Brandy – and the entire keg of it she drank when she was seventeen. The other three roared with laughter when Serana told them about her waking up in a pool of the sweet liquor with her mother standing over her in a fury and yelling herself hoarse.

Midnight saw them somberly cleaning up the small mess they had made, not ready for the night to end. But the treaty talks continued tomorrow, and Cain and Anska now had to shop and pack for an extended trip into the depths of Morrowind. After a brief round of parting hugs, his sisters left for their own bedroom and a few hours of sleep.

[centre]-------
[/centre]
Dawn came in a hurry, bringing a thunderous rain storm that likely roused the entire city into wakefulness. Cain was packing up some of their belongings when he noticed a small cylinder had been rolled under their door before he’d woken up. It was about eight inches long, with a delicate Nordic inlay and a small clasp around the center. He opened it up and inside the container was a small scroll of parchment, and a polished stone bearing the mark of Kyne. Cain set the stone down and unfurled the short note.


Cain,
Keep this stone safe so that we might join you later, if father permits it. I marked it last night in case Serana and I miss you in the morning. Kyne will likely be following you south, so I will reach out through her in advance. If we are able to come, set the stone down at a distance - I’d rather not teleport on top of your head.

And tell Anska I expect her to keep you in line. (Just kidding!)
Linn


Cain shook his head in amusement and pocketed the stone. Then he tore up the note and stuffed the shreds into his tinder box. Anska began to stir and soon emerged from beneath the thin blanket. Sitting up, she yawned loudly and stared at him through sleepy eyes.

“Don’t just stand there ogling me,” she said, “go get some tea on or something.”

“By the Nine, you’re bossy in the mornings. Not my fault you look so damn cute with your hair all tousled up like that." He checked the small tin on the desk and noted how low it had gotten. "Er, we'll have to buy some more on the way through town. There’s barely enough here for a single mug.”
“Great, add it to the list. How long of a journey is this going to be anyway?”

“Long.”

“Yeah, that’s not helpful, lunkhead. How long?”

“Well, Cheydinhal is slightly east by northeast of the Imperial City, and Blacklight is almost due west of Windhelm, so… A couple hundred miles at least. Into the mountains.”

“Oh, for [censored]’s sake,” grumbled Anska. “We’re going to be walking for weeks!”

“I’d walk to the ends of Nirn and back with you by my side, love.”

Anska rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah yeah, I’m sure you would, Mr. Romantic.” She got up from the bed and gave him a lingering kiss. “But you do know how to make a girl feel better about it. Give me the tea and keep packing. I’ll see if I can squeeze two weak mugs out of these leaves.”

Cain went back to gathering up their things and packing them away while Anska boiled a kettle of water over the stove in the bathroom. She stared wistfully at the tub while she waited, idly wondering when the next to she’d be able to take a hot bath would be. Growing up in the near wilds of Skyrim meant she wasn’t afraid to rough it out in the woods, but damn it if she hadn’t grown accustomed to living in comfort for the last few weeks.

It was mid-morning when they drained the final dregs of tea from their mugs, slung their packs over their shoulders, and closed the door to the room behind them for the last time. Cain knocked at Linneá and Serana’s door, but no answer came from within and so they moved on, heading for the way out into the city.

They’d barely made it half a block down the street when a voice rang out through rain, calling their names. Linneá dashed up to them and together they ducked under the awning of a small market. Cain stared at her in surprise - in the time he’d known her, Linneá always dressed in a very plain, relaxed manner. But now she stood before them in a sleek black dress that fell to just above her knees, and her long black hair was tied up in an elaborate bun adorned with bits of gold strand and filigree. A faint blush had been subtly applied to her pale skin, and violet eye shadowing made her hazel eyes pop.

Even Anska was caught off guard. “Sis, you look absolutely stunning right now! Serana really is a lucky woman!”

Linneá blushed under her makeup. “That’s very sweet of you, dear. My wife is excellent at dolling us up like this – she’s had a few thousand years to practice.”

“What’s the occasion?” asked Cain.

“There’s good odds that the Great Houses will sign the treaty by dinnertime, which means there will be one hell of a party afterwards. Serana wanted us to look our best.”

“She certainly excelled at that,” Anska complimented. “Do you think you’ll be able to join us tomorrow?”

“Doubtful. We’ll have to return to the palace first and give dad a rundown of everything that went on. And then we’ll have to convince him that we aren’t needed elsewhere. I’d say the odds are fifty-fifty we join you at all.”

Cain was slightly put out by that. He had grown to like the idea of being on an adventure with Anska and his family. It was such a far cry from the mostly solitary upbringing he’d had in Anvil, and he’d never made any friends in the Fighter’s Guild either. He was more than content to just be with Anska, but already it was hard to imagine being away from his family for so long, and he had found that he missed his parents dearly.

“Don’t look so sad about it, brother,” continued Linneá. “The odds might improve when I tell him Ayleids are involved. That’ll pique just about anyone’s curiosity. You’ll find out from Kyne one way or another. I need to get back in there, though – I sort of ditched a meeting with Ulvon to come and say goodbye.”

She hugged them both in turn and gave Anska a peck on the cheek. “Keep the lunkhead safe, yeah? And take care of yourself, too.”

“Always.”

Linneá jogged back to the embassy as quickly as her heels would allow her to, leaving Cain and Anska to set off on their own. They plodded south through the city, sloshing along rain filled streets, and stocking up on supplies while they went. It was just after noon when the southernmost city gate closed behind them with a thud, and a worn cobblestone road wound its way across a grassy plain and off into the distance.

They marched on for three to four miles before woodlands sprang up around them, the dense foliage of the towering trees offering a brief respite from the constant rainfall that dogged the first day of their journey. Hoping to make it another few miles before evening fell, Cain and Anska trudged on through the forest, ever alert for bandits or highwaymen that would seek to waylay them.

A low rumble caught Cain’s ear, and he peered off into the undergrowth. “Did you hear that sound just now? It sounded like growling.”

“Relax, it was just my stomach,” replied Anska. “We never stopped for lunch and now it’s protesting.”

“Come on, let’s get off the road and grab a snack,” laughed Cain. “No sense in marching on an empty stomach, and it’s not like we can build a fire for dinner. Hope this rain quits soon.”

He spotted a small clearing just off the road and steered Anska into it. Eager for a break from the constant downpour, Cain pulled out their tent and erected a haphazard lean-to for them to huddle under. There was nothing to be done about the damp earth, so they sat on a couple flat rocks and munched on some dried meat Anska had bought from a vendor.

“What did the elf say this meat was?” asked Cain.

“Nix Hound. Never seen one in my life but it’s quite tasty. I bought a fair bit of it and he threw in some ash yams for free. Said they pair well in a stew.”

“It’s not bad. Maybe if it ever stops raining we can give it a go.”

“The rain will clear out soon, child,” said a new voice. They both nearly jumped out of their skin at the sound and Cain nearly had his sword out when Kyne ducked under the lean-to and joined them. “That won’t help you, Cain.”

The Redguard sighed with relief, sheathing his sword back into its leather scabbard. Anska shook her head and went back to tearing off the stubborn strip she’d been working at while the goddess watched her with a soft expression on her face.

“Are you still disappointed with me, dear?” Kyne asked her. “I could feel you seething when you walked away from our last little rendezvous.”

“A little bit,” acknowledged Anska. “I don’t like being told what to do, ma’am, and you had my hopes all worked up. I was mad at Cain for a while too for not sticking up for us, but I got over that.”

“I am really sorry about what happened,” said Kyne. “Mara’s warning came as a surprise to me as well. Are you two –“ She broke off her question at the sight of a small glance between Cain and Anska. Something had passed right by the goddess and the coy smile tugging at the corners of Anska’s lips set off alarm bells in Kyne’s head.

Her eyes narrowed, and she focused her attention on their minds instead. “What have you done?” she gasped. “I told Linneá not to help you! How could you do this after I pleaded with you to not let it happen? Your sister and I are going to have a very long discussion about – “

“Linn didn’t do this, mum,” said Cain. “She turned me down the moment I brought it up. But I realized after the fact that I had everything I needed to do it myself, and so I did. If you’re going to be angry at anyone, let it be us. My sisters are innocent in this.”

An icy silence fell between the three of them, broken only by the pitter patter of rain on the leather roof. Kyne stared at them admonishingly, unable to believe they would have gone around her and Mara in such a way. Cain felt himself wither under her intense gaze.

“I’m disappointed in you both,” she said, finally. A profound sadness had crept into her voice and it was hard to tell if the dampness on her normally serene face came from the rain or from tears. “I thought my opinion carried weight and I’m sad to see it so casually disregarded.”

Then the spell broke and the goddess stood up and headed back out into the rain.

[Kane]

Chapter XXIV – What Lurks in the Shadows


“I just knew it in my [censored] bones that you would say no,” sighed Linneá. “Let me guess – you need us doing more political [censored]? Where are we off to next, Black Marsh? Elsweyr? Gods forbid Serana and I have to do something fun for a change.”

She sat across from Kirin in his private study, arms crossed and wearing a defiant expression. Serana squirmed uncomfortably in the chair next to Linneá – she sometimes wished her wife wasn’t so brash with their parents, especially now that they were High King and Queen. But then, Linneá wouldn’t be Linneá if she didn’t challenge them.

“Was it not enough to pull off what we just managed to in Morrowind? Haven’t we earned a chance to do something a little different for a change? Ayleids, dad! [censored] Ayleids! Aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“Oh, I’m plenty curious, Linn,” said Kirin. “We have a more pressing matter though.” He tore off a small piece of parchment from a missive he’d been reading and scribbled a few words on it before sliding it across the desk to her.

Linneá read it with raised eyebrows, and then cast her room muffling spell around them. “Okay, I’ll bite,” she said. “What’s so important that our even our closest advisors can’t be trusted not to listen in on us.”

Kirin stood up and paced back and forth behind his desk. He’d been grappling with the matter for a few weeks now, but there was no denying it anymore, and action had to be taken. He knew Linneá and Serana could handle it, but he did feel bad about not letting them join up with Cain and Anska. Hell, I wish I could be out there with them, too, he thought. Those days are over though. This, however, would be just as dangerous a task.

“We have a traitor in our ranks.”

That caught his daughters off guard. It seemed unfathomable to Linneá that someone could have wormed their way inside without setting off alarm bells. None of the palace staff, agents, soldiers, dignitaries, or guards were aware of Kyne’s existence nor her close ties to the Windborne family. And they certainly didn’t realize she probed their minds whenever she was around.

“How?” asked Serana. “How could someone have eluded us like that?”

“It has to be someone fairly recent,” said Kirin. “Information only just stated to leak. We were lucky to notice it at all.”

“Who caught it?” said Linneá. “Someone here or abroad?”

“Our lone agent in the Summerset Isles managed to intercept a message to the Thalmor. We must be cautious in seeking out the mole, if they are able to communicate home without us knowing. I’m going to assign the both of you some clerical jobs around the palace – it will look like busy work while you gear up for your next trip.”

“I take it the trip is a ruse, too?”

“Yes. But Sentinel did request a few diplomats, so it will look convincing to anyone paying close attention. Just please be careful, girls. Whomever this traitor is… they will be dangerous.”

“Not as dangerous as we are,” smirked Linneá. “We’ll find them, dad.”

[centre]-----[/centre]

Anilay hunched over a long scroll of parchment, penning the formal request to the Elder Council. It was time they took action: The Emperor’s desperate attempts to remain in power were going to cause a rift between Cyrodiil and what remained of the Empire, but the old man was too blind to see it. If he enacted his grand scheme, the provinces of High Rock, Skyrim, and the Kingdom of Orsinium would surely withdraw any ties, leaving the Heartland a sitting duck against the Aldmeri Dominion.

The chancellor scribbled away tirelessly at his first draft, crossing out words and making the occasional note in the margins. Time was of the essence, and Mede must not get wind of his actions or Anilay would surely be strung up on the battlements.

Treason.

It was the correct move for the future of Tamriel, of that Anilay was sure. But it was still treason.

May the Nine preserve us.

[centre]-----[/centre]

They’d been walking for nearly a week and still the rain had not let up as Kyne had promised it would. Miserable, hot, soaked, and hungry; Cain and Anska continued their arduous trek south through Morrowind. The occasional small village offered some dry respite, but they’d yet to find one large enough to have an inn where they could relax at for a day or two. The rain continued to fall, trying it’s best to dampen their spirits. It somewhat exceeded in doing so, but the two of them were also enjoying each other’s company.

It was another rainy evening on the eighth day of their journey when a sudden thought struck Anska.

“Um, Cain?”

“Yes, dear?”

“This rain… do you think it’s Kyne’s doing? As a punishment? I mean, that is her domain and she has been distant since that first day…”

That hadn’t occurred to Cain until now either, but it made perfect sense. The goddess had in fact mentioned that very evening the met that the rain would be clearing up, as most summer storms usually did. For it to have rained this entire week screamed of Divine intervention.

“[censored]. You may be right. I think we’re going to have to call for her and see if we can put this matter to bed.”

“Can we do that? Just ask and hope she comes?”

“I think she’ll come if I pray,” said Cain. “At least, she told me she would come anytime I asked.”

He hadn’t even gotten down on his knees when the hawk soared down out of the gloom and landed on a fallen log laying on the side of the forest road. The amber eyes stared impassively at them, waiting for what it deemed to be the correct thing for the two of them to start with.

“Hey, mum – that was fast,” said Cain. “Were you close by?” The hawk didn’t so much as twitch, so he continued on: “Look, about last time… I’m really sorry we ignored your wishes. But you have to understand how desirable this was for us, and how frustrating it was to have the rug pulled out from under our feet. I know you had your reasons and that they couldn’t be shared, but I want you to know how close it’s made Anska and I now. We’re inseparable and I wouldn’t change that even if the world went all to smash.”

A small flash of light briefly illuminated the road and Kyne now stood before them in her usual form, the rain soaking through her light blue gown and matting down her auburn hair. She tilted her head towards another small clearing just off the road and led them into it. Then she raised her soft hands high and brought them down with a flourish, bringing an end to the rain and ushering in the warm rays of the sun.

“Thank [censored] for that,” breathed Anska. “Er, sorry, not ‘[censored]’. Divines. I mean, uh, Kyne, er, mum. [censored]… never mind.”

“Sometimes less is more, dear,” Kyne smiled at Anska. “But I knew what you meant.”

“Does this mean you’ve forgiven us?” asked Cain.

“Yes. And no,” replied Kyne. “I sympathize for what the heart wants, but it saddens me to think what the future could hold in store. No more of that though – the deed is done. We should all move on and focus on what comes next.”

“You’re scaring me, ma’am,” said Anska.

“Do not dwell on it, child. Cain has given the two of you a wonderful gift and you should enjoy what it has to offer. There are many possible futures that are defined by the roads we must walk. Stay true to yourselves and all will work out.”

There was a finality in her statement that Cain recognized as the end of the matter and despite her reassurances, he did not feel any better about it. Resigned to discuss it with Anska later, he moved onto the only other question he had for her.

“Are Linn and Serana going to join us?” he asked.

“They are not,” answered Kyne. “I know you were looking forward to it, but your father has them looking into a matter close to home.”

“Aw, it could have been a lot more fun with them along,” sighed Anska. “We had such a nice time with them in Blacklight – it was nice to have family so close in age. They feel like my own sisters already.”

“Don’t fret about it. I’m sure there will be no shortage of time in the future for the four of you. Kirin doesn’t always have his children out on assignments, or grand adventures. He prefers you all to be home with he and Lydia as much as possible.”

Cain left the two of them to talk and searched around for bits of wood or branches to make a fire with. Everything was damp, but he’d been trying his hand at basic fire spells lately, and figured it might be enough to get a hot meal cooking for a change. A few minutes later, he strolled back into the clearing and dumped the fuel on the ground.

After several unsuccessful attempts to dry out the wood, he gave up and kicked fitfully at the pile of branches while Anska giggled at him. Kyne smiled and shook her head once before waving a hand and instantly igniting a roaring campfire.

“Show off,” grumbled Cain.

Kyne conjured up three dry stone seats around the fire and took one of them for herself. “How’s that for showing off?’ she winked. “Come and sit you two while I make dinner. It’s the least I could do after causing it to rain on you for a week.”

“Was that a punishment?” said Anska, as she sat down on one of the makeshift seats. “For defying you?”

“Not exactly”, replied Kyne, her voice a bit lower than before. “Let’s talk about something else. Please.”

“It’s because you were sad, wasn’t it?” Cain asked her. “You were mourning.”

“Cain, please, I beg of you to let it go,” pleaded the goddess.

Anska got up from her seat and grabbed his arm, dragging him under a nearby tree on the outskirts of the small clearing. Kyne started digging out their cooking supplies and left the two of the alone while she started on dinner.

“Why do you keep pushing her?” demanded Anska. “Yes, it’s plain to see that something is upsetting her, but she obviously can’t or won’t share what it is. Let it go! She’s forgiven us for ignoring her and Mara’s wishes, so let’s just be happy that she is with us again! Stop trying to make her miserable!”

“I don’t like having my fate bandied about so casually,” said Cain. “If there’s something we should know then we ought to know it!”

“All you’re doing is pushing her away, Cain. Can’t you see that? Yes, it’s frustrating to feel like a plaything to the gods, but you’re forgetting how much she cares for you. For all of us. Please just [censored] drop it and let her love you!”

He felt himself wither once again, this time under the glare of Anska. He realized she was right and that he’d been acting callously towards Kyne. Shame began to gnaw at his insides for how he’d been pushing her and Cain felt the regret sinking in. He pressed his lips against Anska’s and kissed her briefly as a way of saying thanks, and then marched back into the clearing. Kyne stood over a cooking pot and he pulled her away from it and hugged her tightly.

“I’m sorry, mum. I shouldn’t have been pushing you. I won’t say another word about it.”

Kyne returned the embraced and sniffled lightly. “Don’t worry about it, dear. I’m just glad we can have some time together like this. And I’m happy for you and Anska. Truly.”

[centre]-----[/centre]


Dinner in the Blue Palace was a somber affair. A shimmering haze encircled the small dining room where Linneá and Serana had joined their parents alone for the first time in weeks. The table was teeming with plates of delicious food and full goblets, but the silverware remained untouched after Linneá had cast her muffling spell again and told Kirin and Lydia what had been plaguing her thoughts.

“No, I refuse to believe that,” said Lydia. “She’s such a lovely young woman and she seems so genuinely happy with Cain. There’s no way it could be her. Do you have any proof?”

“We don’t,” said Linneá. “But the timing lines up perfectly with when our agents noticed something was amiss. Nearly down to the same day Anska arrived here.”

Kirin’s arms were crossed and he leaned back in his chair. He didn’t like it anymore than Lydia did, but it was the only lead anyone had turned up thus far. He thought back to Anska’s time at the palace, brief as it was, and wondered if tabs had been kept on her movements.

“Did anyone other than us keep an eye on her?” he asked aloud.

“Not really,” said Serana. “I think just about everyone was tied up with Cain’s sudden arrival. Elle and I especially were splitting time between here and Blacklight. Anska was mostly left to her own devices, when she wasn’t with all of us or with Cain.”

“Damn it, I wish we could speak to him somehow,” said Linneá. “They’re linked now like Serana and I are, so he may have some insight. But if she is hiding something, then it must be buried deep enough for to hide it from his thoughts.”

“Hold on,” Lydia interjected. “If they managed that than I find it hard to believe she’s capable of hiding her true intentions. No, it must be someone else. It must be.”

No one spoke after she finished her insistence. Not a single one of them wanted to believe Anska could betray them, but it was all they had for the moment. Kirin placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.

“I don’t think anyone here wants to accept it, Lyds. Hell, by all accounts it sounds like these two had a wonderful time with her and Cain during their time in Blacklight. But we have nothing else to go on right now, so we need to consider the possibility.” He turned back to his daughters and nodded at them. “Keep digging and let me know what you find. And let’s eat before all this food gets cold.”

[Kane]

Chapter XXV – Sundered Ties


The days drew on while they trekked ever southwards. More small inns and villages were scattered about and Cain was delighted to find some that were more hospitable to outlanders. He noted there were more Imperials among the populace too, as the forests grew denser and the road they followed gently sloped up to the Velothi Mountains near the Cyrodiilic border.

Nearly three weeks had passed since he and Anska departed from Blacklight, and the journey was uneventful outside of the usual incidents with bandits or predatory creatures. Cliff racers in particular seem to enjoy dogging them throughout the days, but Anska was quick with her hunting bow and drove them off easily.

It was just past the dawn of another warm summer day when Cain felt it. They were cooking breakfast over a newly kindled campfire when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He glanced around the area nonchalantly and whispered a thought at Anska.

Someone is watching us. I can feel it.

Oh, good. I thought I was just being paranoid. We must be getting close to the tribe by now – do you think they are following us?

I don’t doubt it. They haven’t survived for thousands of years by being clumsy. Let’s just keep to our normal routines… but keep an eye out. Maybe we’ll get a glimpse of who or whatever it is.

They ate and drank in a hurry, just like any other morning, and began to pack up their gear before getting underway again. The feeling of being watched did not go away, but neither could they spot the watcher. It was around noon when they made their first stop to have a brief meal under the soaring treetops.

“Cain?” said Anska, nervously. Something had been gnawing at her for a while now, and she was sure he had noticed.

He took a sip of water and then passed he canteen to her. “What’s up?”

“…Are you at all worried about what Kyne wasn’t telling us?”

“Little late for regrets, don’t you think?” asked Cain.

“I’m not saying I regret it. Not a single bit. I love the [censored] out of you and I never thought I could be so close to someone. But don’t sit there and pretend it’s not at the back of your mind.”

Cain nodded. He’d thought about it often after that rainy evening a week into their journey. Since then, Kyne had stopped in every few days to see how they were doing, but no one had brought the subject up again. The goddess seemed happy enough to be with them and always departed their company in high spirits.

Oddly enough, she never had any news from back home.

Then his train of thought was broken by a strong gust of wind blowing in from the west. It carried a smoky haze into their vicinity that reeked of burnt foliage and smoldering ruin. He stood up and peered through the trees in vain, trying to catch a glimpse of its source.

“Kick out the fire, dear. We need to move with haste.”

They were on the move in la matter of minutes, moving westward at a brisk pace while keeping an eye out for their shadowy stalker. The air grew heavier with smoke as they walked, the acrid smell forcing Cain and Anska to tie linen masks around their mouths. It also stung their eyes but there was little they could to abate the foul air around them. Just when it became nearly unbearable, they found themselves on the edge of a large clearing deep within the forest that had been reduced to ashes.

Among the charred fallen trees and branches were the remains of tents and yurts of varying sizes, all collapsed and burned out by the fierce blaze that still lingered in small clusters of dense fuel. An odor of rotting flesh nearly made Cain double over. Corpses burned beyond all recognition were scattered about the area, humanoid and beast alike.

“My gods…” muttered Anska. “Cain, I think this was the tribe we were looking for. How could this have happened?”

“I don’t know,” said Cain. “Tighten your mask and have a look around – we need to find some sort of clue as to who would so such a thing. To slaughter an entire village…”

“You don’t think it was a dragon, do you?”

“No, we would have heard it happen and I’m fairly certain I would have felt it. This is the work of something else. Or someone else.”

Anska hesitated before following him into the ruined. She knelt in the withered grass at the edge of the once proud little Ayleid village and said a prayer to Arkay. Then she followed her lover into the ash, kicking over stones and rifling through ruined homes and cinder piles, looking for any sign of the attackers.

Not a single being was intact enough to determine anything other than a relative age. Her ash covered face began to streak with fallen tears while Anska walked past the small remains of children, some clinging to the larger skeletons that would have been their parents. The grief she felt for these innocent families quickly turned to rage, and she yelled to the heavens in despair before making it more than halfway across the clearing.

Cain circled back to comfort her, trying everything her could to soothe his distraught girlfriend. She wept into his tunic while he spoke softly in her ear, encouraging the maiden to be strong and promising they would find those responsible. A slight movement caught his eye and his head snapped up just in time to see a small figure moving between the very trees they had stood under moments before.

I just saw our hidden friend, love. Wait here and don’t be alarmed.

Alarmed by what? Came her depressed thought. Cain, what are you –

She froze in shock while time slowed down around her. Anska had felt more than heard the powerful words issue forth from Cain as a blast of ancient power radiated out from their center, encompassing the area around them in a dense mire. Her mouth hung open while he darted away at normal speed, moving effortlessly through the stillness until he disappeared into the forest.

After what felt like an eternity, the slowness ended and normality caught up just in time for Cain to emerge from the trees with a small figure slumped over his shoulder.

“What in the hell did you do just now?” Anska half-shouted at him. “That was so…weird!”

“Slow Time shout,” he explained. “I quite literally hit pause so that I could chase this miscreant down before she escaped.”

Kneeling down, he gently laid the unconscious elf on the ground between them. She looked to be no more than eight or nine years old, with skin slightly darker than that of an Altmer, and long brown hair that was caked with a thick muck that also stained the once fair cotton robes adorning her small frame.

“Why is she unconscious?! Did you attack her, you lunkhead?”

“Absolutely not,” Cain retorted indignantly. “What kind of monster do you think I am? The poor girl must have stumbled when the Thu’um reached her – she was laying against a tree, sporting that nasty lump on her forehead. Keep an eye on her for a few minutes and let me know if she wakes up.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to summon Kyne. She needs to relay this back home.”

Anska’s eyes widened as an odd flash of multicolored light briefly illuminated the area just behind them. Cain had left his traveling pack on the ground when he chased after the girl, and now Linneá and Serana had materialized directly on top of it while Kyne soared down from the sky and morphed into her human form.

Linneá looked down at the now filthy bag they’d trod on and smiled weakly at her brother. “Er, sorry, Cain. Might need to rinse that off.” She bent over and fished the marked stone of the bag and handed it to him. “That came in handy after all!”

“How did – “, started Cain just as Serana cut him off.

“Mum told us what you found just after you got here. We needed a few minutes to dry off and get dressed or we’d have come immediately.”

It was only then that Cain noticed their damp hair, still dripping slightly on their shoulders and tied up in long ponytails. He stood up and hugged them both before turning to Kyne.

“Could have given us a heads up, mum.”

“Your father needed to know about this right away, my child,” said Kyne. “The implications are…unsettling, to say the least.”

Anska had still been tending to the unconscious Ayleid. She tucked a linen roll under the elf’s head and stood up to join the conversation. “What implications? Oh, and hey Serana. Linn.”

They paused briefly and then nodded curtly at her. “Anska”, said Linneá. She turned back to her brother: “The implication being that no one else but we five and our parents even knew about this village. And now it’s been utterly destroyed with the exception of a single child.”

Cain didn’t like the way that sentence hung on the air between them and he had not missed the way his sisters had all but dismissed Anska. Something was afoot and decided to call them out on it right away. He glanced at Kyne for guidance but even the goddess seemed nervous about something.

I don’t like this, love, Anska’s voice spoke into his head. They seem…hostile to me. I can feel it and I don’t understand why.

We’ll get to the bottom of this, promised Cain.

“Speak plainly, Linn,” he said to his sister. “Don’t think we didn’t notice how you’ve all but ignored Anska. Something is going on. Out with it.”

Linneá bit her lip and frowned. This was not the way she’d hoped it would go. She and Serana had intended on gently coaxing them back to the Blue Palace, but their emotions at the sight Anska had got the best of them, and now they stood on a precipice.

“We need you both to come back with us,” said Serana. “Some… things have come to light that need to be discussed. Between all of us.”

“You can tell us here,” stated Cain. “Your entire attitude towards her has changed and we aren’t going anywhere unless you give us a good reason as to why.”

He took a step back and stood in front of Anska defensively, his hand straying closer and closer to the clasp on his scabbard. Linneá and Serana had just started to fan out when Kyne stepped in between all four of them.

“Knock it off, all of you,” she commanded, her voice echoing about the smoldering village. “I will not have my children fighting one another, no matter what the reason is.” She glared at Linneá and Serana until they nodded in obedience. Then she turned to Cain and Anska: “As for you two… move your hand away from the hilt of your sword, Cain.”

He did as she asked but did not say a word in response. Kyne waved her hand in a flourish and a stout wooden table with five ornate chairs appeared just off to the right. She indicated for them to sit down before taking the fifth seat for herself.

But Cain was still uneasy about the situation and had begun planning their escape. Making a show of fumbling for his canteen, he discreetly dropped the mark Linneá had given him and then took a drink of water ahead of sitting down with his sisters and Anska.

Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, he thought at her. Keep your hand on my leg in case I have to teleport us away.

I’ll be ready.

“Now then”, began Kyne. “We are family and a family does not keep secrets from one another. Cain, Anska – you must understand that you are not in danger here. Nobody wants to harm you, but answers are needed and that is why you must return home.”

“How can we provide answers if we don’t know what the questions are?” Anska spat. “You three all turned up out of the blue with a mysterious intent, and now my own friends won’t even deign to look at me! I thought we had grown close! Like sisters! Now, spit it the [censored] out or leave Cain and I alone.”

“Anska –“

“No, mum, I’ve got this,” said Linneá. “You want answers, sis? Then explain to us why information started leaking to the Thalmor the moment you turned up in our lives.”

Nothing but the sounds of nature could be heard in the air around them. The silence was heavy and the venom behind her question had caught both Cain and Anska off guard. They started at Linneá in dumbfounded shock, barely able to believe what they were hearing.

“You think… Anska is a spy?” said Cain through clenched teeth. “Based on what? Her [censored] presence in the palace? How could you possibly come to that conclusion when our home is crawling with hundreds of guests, staffers, guards, and diplomats every single day.”

“Just hold on a minute, Cain,” said Serana. “The information leaked was only known by a select few. Most of whom are here right now.”

“Then how do you know it wasn’t me?” he asked her. “Why jump straight to Anska? Because she’s not family? This is bullshit and you know it! Do you really think she’d be capable of hiding something like that from me? We share each other’s godsdamned thoughts!”

“Would you betray your family like that, brother?” said Linneá.

“No, I damn well wouldn’t, and neither would Anska! And if you can’t take our word for it then we have nothing more to discuss.”

“Please stop arguing,” pleaded Kyne. “All of you – just please stop. I know this is hard to hear, but I stand by my promise that no harm will come to either of you. Return to the palace with us and let’s put the matter to bed.”

“No,” said Cain. “I’m sorry, mum, but we can’t. I won’t allow Anska to be held captive and interrogated – even if it is under good conditions. She is innocent and you three refuse to see it. The hostility towards her is uncalled for and I’ve lost my faith in all of you to treat her fairly.”

“Serana and I are capable of bringing you back unwillingly, brother,” warned Linneá. “Please don’t make us.”

That cold statement settled the matter for Cain. He felt Anska’s hand gripping his leg tightly and he casted the recall spell before the others could react. They disappeared into a swirling purple and white magickal vortex just as Linneá’s paralysis spell flew towards them. The green magick passed through the empty space where Cain had just been sitting and flew off into the trees.

“[censored],” exhaled Linneá. “That couldn’t have gone any worse.”

Kyne lowered her head into her hands and quietly wept. Never had she imagined such strife would tear her family apart like this and the pain tore into her divine being. Serana brushed away her own tears and moved to comfort the goddess, sharing a chair with her while Linneá got up and started picking through the ruined village.

“I’m sorry it ended up like this, mum,” said Serana. “We should have been more cordial when we arrived. Elle and I let our feelings get the best of us and Cain knew something was amiss right off.”

The goddess dabbed at her eyes with the corners of her robes before standing up and doing the same for Serana. “We’ll figure it out together. But I need to be alone for a while. See what you can find here and I’ll catch up with you later. Visit me at the estate tomorrow night.” She transformed back into the hawk and soared off into the cloudy skies above.

“Ana, come over here!” shouted Linneá.

Serana walked quickly over to her wife. “What’s up? Did you find something?”

“No, but I almost forgot about the marked stone. Grab my hand – we’re going after them!”

Their fingers laced together and in the blink of an eye they had warped to the small stone that lay in the dirt some thirty feet from where they’d been standing.

“Damn it, he really did have that all planned out,” grumbled Linneá. She knelt down and grabbed a fistful of ashen earth, sifting through it to find the small mark she’d given her wayward brother.

“Elle, look!” exclaimed Serana. She was pointing at a small bit of gold sticking out of the dirt Linneá had disturbed. She scooped it up and rubbed it clean on her pant leg before closely examining it.

“Is that what I think it is?” asked Linneá, her lips forming a triumphant smile.

“I think so,” answered Serana. She poured a little water from her canteen on it and rubbed the remaining dirt off of it. “Yeah, it definitely is.” On her palm rested an ornate golden clasp adorned with a stylized eagle.

The same eagle that adorned Thalmor banners.

“We were right,” said Linneá, “and she must have tipped off her overlords about the Ayleids. Speaking of which…”

A small whimper came from the huddled figure on the ground nearby. The nearly forgotten young elf sat up and looked around before bursting into hysterical tears at the remains of her village. Serana dashed over to the poor girl and scooped her up in her arms and tried to comfort her.

“Elle, let’s take her with us and get out of here. She doesn’t need to see this anymore.”

[Kane]

Chapter XXVI – The Road Less Traveled


The first thing different that Anska noticed was a faint smell of salt in the breeze that gently caressed her soot covered face. She opened her eyes and the sight took her breath away – they were sitting on a grassy clifftop, staring out over an endless expanse of calm waters. Waves lapped calmly against the rocky shore far below while blue skies and a warm sun soared over the Abecean Sea.

Cain stood up first and started taking a rough inventory of their belongings. His bag had been left behind, lying in the ashy soil, but thankfully Anska’s was still strapped to her back. They would need the supplies until the journey south to Anvil could be completed. He was busy checking the straps on his scabbard when Anska patted the ground next to her.

“Just sit with me for a while,” she implored of him. “They can’t follow us here, right? We can take ten minutes to breathe.”

She was right, and so Cain stopped his restless preparations and sat back down in the grass. Anska leaned her head against his shoulders while new tears streaked down her cheeks, but neither one of them spoke for a few moments. Finally, it was Anska who voiced what they had both been wrestling with.

“I can’t believe they think I’m a Thalmor agent. I don’t understand what I possibly could have said or done to make them think I’m anything but a true Nord, just like they are.” She sniffled a little bit and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “We had so much fun together since I met them – your sisters felt like my own, and I had a family again for the first time in over a decade.”

“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” promised Cain. “There has to be an explanation. Or something they missed.”

“I’m grateful you stood up for me, Cain,” said Anska, “But how the [censored] are we supposed to do that? Not like we can just waltz into the Blue Palace and start rifling through people’s belongings. Where even are we anyway?”

Cain gazed out over the sea in momentary silence while he aimlessly ran his fingers through Anska’s hair. This was the only place far enough away from Skyrim that he felt a strong enough connection to. In their brief time together, Linneá had told him all about recalling to places that may have been unconsciously marked, provided the attachment was strong enough. This was certainly one of those places. He pulled out his short dagger and began to trim away the tall grasses in front of them until a small stone plaque revealed itself to them.

“We’re on the Gold Coast, about half a day’s walk north of Anvil,” he said.

Anska looked down at the plaque in surprise, wondering why it was buried in the tall golden grasses that gave the coastline its name. The stone was barely worn and it bore a small inscription:


[centre]Ariessa Janeel
4E 175 – 4E 229
“There is power untold in the simplest of all that we know. Love.”[/centre]



“Oh, Cain… I’m sorry you had to come back here.” She wrapped her arms tightly around his midsection and remained silent. Their connection allowed her to feel the turmoil of emotions in his mind, and she was satisfied to just offer her comfort until he was ready to talk about it.

Nearly eight months had came and went since Ariessa was laid to rest. Cain had found some measure of solace in his new family and come to love them all, even accepting Lydia as a mother, but he knew he’d never forget Ariessa. The pain of losing his birth mother had become just bearable enough to live with before he left for Skyrim, and then he met the others: Kirin, Lydia, Linneá, Serana, Kyne, and most importantly…. Anska. Suddenly, life had felt whole again and he was content to remember the happy times in Anvil and nothing more.

Now he just had Anska. But she was more than enough.

He touched the plaque with a gloved hand and said a prayer to Arkay before speaking again. “It was the only place safe enough that I could think of. They won’t find us here. I don’t even know if Kyne can find us here, unless we pray to her.” He got back to his feet and helped Anska do the same. “We should find somewhere to wash up and then head for the city. We can probably make it before sundown.”

“What will we do after that, love?” asked Anska. “We’re so far from home and we have so little gold left…”

“Don’t worry about that,” Cain winked. “After I sold the house and signed up for the trip to Skyrim, I withdrew the modest earnings I made during my time with the guild from the local bank and buried a nest egg on the outskirts of Anvil. Gold, weapons, armors, clothing, and travel gear; anything that I wouldn’t have been able to take with me. We’ll have to buy you a new set of armor to help blend in, but the city has a wonderful smithy.”

“Digging around in the dirt and a shopping trip?” grinned Anska. “Sounds like a date.”


[centre]-----[/centre]


Linneá and Serana sat in two comfortable chairs at Kirin’s desk, fidgeting nervously. Their father was staring out the window of his study and he hadn’t said a word in response since they explained what had happened in the ruined Ayleid village. Lydia had taken the small elf child off to get cleaned up and fed after she calmed down. The sudden arrival in the palace had proven too much for the poor girl and she’d broken down into hysterical sobs at the sight of all the strangers.

When he finally looked back at them, Kirin’s face was a mask of cold fury. “How could you two have been so careless? You knew what was at stake and now look what’s happened! We have nothing to show for this! My son is gone! Gone! And we have no way of finding him!”

“Um. At least we confirmed the Thalmor are behind all of this,” offered Linneá, timidly. “We know for certain they slaughtered that entire village.”

“Small comfort,” Kirin snorted. “But now their agent is beyond our reach, doing gods know what with your brother. All we can do now is hope they make a mistake, however unlikely that may be.” He sat back down at his desk and breathed deeply for a moment to center himself. He felt slightly ashamed by his outburst and offered them an apology. “I’m sorry, girls. This has been tough for everyone, and we all wear our hearts on our sleeves. I wouldn’t change that for the world, even if it does throw the occasional wrench into the gears.”

“We’re sorry, da,” said Linneá.

“And we will find them,” promised Serana. “Whatever it takes.”

“I know you will,” said Kirin. “You two can do anything you set your minds to. You said you’re meeting Kyne tomorrow night back home? Good, ask her to help you as much as she can. We need to find them.”

Linneá nodded and together they left the king’s private study, heading for their own bedroom and the promise of clean clothes. Their outfits were filthy with soot from the ruined village and their pale faces were darkened from the ash as well. Pulling off the garments, they washed each other down with damp cloths before donning more appropriate palatial garb and walking downstairs to their personal library.

Sitting on a plush chaise, Serana flipped through the pages of a book on modern alchemical recipes while Linneá laid with her head resting in her wife’s lap. Something was eating at her and it was only a matter of time before Serana picked up on it.

A very brief matter of time, as it turned out to be.

“I’m starting to feel those doubts, too, my love,” she reassured Linneá. Setting her book down on an end table, she focused her attention on the uneasy face looking up at her. “Cain was so certain that Anska is innocent and he had a very valid point: their minds are linked, just like ours. I doubt she has the telepathical acumen to hide something like that from him.”

“We had to have missed something,” sighed Linneá. “In hindsight, it feels too easy, ya know? Like Anska was offered up on a silver platter for us. Did you see the look on her face when I accused her? I think I broker her heart right then and there.”

A teardrop fell from Serana’s eyes and splashed softly on Linneá’s cheek. “I think we did the same to Cain, too, Elle. They loved us and they trusted us…and we let them down. We jumped right to the easiest conclusion just because it was presented with a gleaming silver bow on it.”

Linneá reached up and brushed way the other tears forming at the corners of Serana’s vibrant blue eyes. She shifted her body to a sitting position and leaned against her wife’s chest. A new resolve was building within them, bolstered by the deep connection of their inextricably connected minds. A wrong needed to be righted and they wouldn’t rest until it was.

Kyne will be able to help us, Serana thought to her. She always has.

I know, dear. But just to be safe…let’s keep this to ourselves. It’s time to play our own ruse and set a snare. Keep pretending that we’re all in on Anska as the guilty party. That’ll give us some breathing room.


[centre]-----[/centre]


“Do you really think we have to go this far?”

“We can’t take any chances,” replied Cain. “Kyne seemed like she was in agreement with my sisters and I don’t want to risk her being able to track us down and summon them again. It won’t go well and I doubt Cyrodiil is ready for a clash between two Dragonborns.”

“It won’t come to that…will it?”

“I refuse to let them take you.”

Anska relented and moved out of his way. They were standing in front of the main altar within Anvil’s Chapel to Dibella, staring nervously at the simple raised dais blanketed with splendid red linens trimmed with gold. Most of their trip southwards, had been spent arguing over whether or not this was the right thing to do and now Cain was beginning to have his own doubts.

Sensing his hesitation, Anska kissed him and rested a soft hand on his cheek. “Hey. I appreciate how devoted you are to protecting me, but if you don’t feel right about this you don’t have to go through with it.”

Cain kissed her back and gently clasped her hand in his own. “No, it needs to be done. We can’t have her looking over our shoulders.”

“It’s a little late for that,” came a soft voice from behind them.

They spun around in alarm and nearly tripped over each other in surprise. Kyne stood behind them in her usual shimmering azure robes, smiling coyly at Cain and Anska. Unwilling to be interrupted, the goddess waved her hand towards the chapel doors, sealing them tightly against any would-be worshippers. She then took a seat on one of the stone benches just off of the altar and patted the empty spaces next to her.

“Come sit,” she instructed, “we have to figure out a way to untangle this web.”

“How did you find us here?” asked Cain, standing fast with Anska.

“You’re in one of my sister’s most prominent temples, my child. Did you really think she wouldn’t tell me right away?”

Anska sighed heavily and took the spot on Kyne’s right. Seeing no alternative, Cain followed suit but took the spot opposite of his maiden.

“Now, then” began Kyne, “let’s talk about you returning to Solitude.”

“No,” said Cain, flatly. “No way in hell do we go back there right now, Kyne. I will not let anyone put their grubby hands on Anska, no matter how much [censored] proof they think they have. We’re staying far away until we can get to the bottom of this and I beg of you to leave us be. Do not bring my sisters to us again.”

Kyne stared at Cain with raised eyebrows and it seemed her green eyes were piercing right through him. So much had changed so quickly and now he spoke defiantly to the goddess he once revered and looked up to like the mothering figure she was. And she could sense the very same resolve emanating from Anska, the woman at the center of all this strife. But Kyne could not pretend his words or his intent to sever his faith to her did not wound her greatly.

“Very well,” she said. “Please do not forsake me though, Cain. Dibella is a wonderful little sister and a loving Divine, but she cannot love you as I do. Your entire family is special to me and they always will be. Remain in my service and I promise I will keep your whereabouts a secret.”

Cain was about to speak, but Anska piped up instead. “Kyne?” she asked.

“Yes?”

“Do you honestly believe I would do what I’ve been accused of? Is it not enough that Cain defends and supports me so steadfastly? I can tell by the way you’ve danced around the topic that you still doubt me.”

“Linneá and Serana made a convincing case, Anska,” said Kyne, regretfully. “I wished I could believe otherwise.”

“I thought as much,” said Anska, brushing away fresh tears. “I wish you could understand how painful this has been for me. It was nice to have a family again, if only for a short while. And I loved having sisters after growing up an only child and ultimately an orphan.”

Rising from the bench, Cain slid over to the opposite side of the goddess and wrapped his arms around Anska. He comforted her as best he could, and then glanced over at Kyne.

“I think you should go for now.”

Kyne bowed her head sadly but before she could leave, Anska extricated herself from Cain and grabbed the goddess by the hand. “No, please don’t go yet. I – I want, no, I need you to believe that I’m not that person, Kyne. I can’t bear this. Any of this. If I didn’t have Cain I probably would have thrown myself over a cliff and ended it all.”

“Anska, please just breathe,” said Kyne. “What would you have me – “

“I offer you my mind, ma’am. I know you can connect with others as Cain and I have linked ourselves. I give you permission to enter my own. You can explore my entire being down to the deepest depths. You can know everything about me, and I don’t care what you’ll find or what you’ll see. But I promise you will find nothing to do with this double-agent bullshit. Then you will know that I’m not sort of traitorous bitch.”

[Acadian]

Just read Volume III, opting to start with it rather than beginning with Volume I. You’ve done a fabulous job of making that possible as you subtly review how we got here as you go. It is fairly evident the background shared by Kirin and the NPC-inspired Lydia. Similarly with Linnea and the NPC-inspired Serana.

I absolutely love how big a role Kyne plays in this. It seems we share the goal of portraying the Goddess of Sky and Forest as quite capable of emotions, feelings and even limitations that we normally don’t attribute to Divines.

You've really created a cast of compelling and endearing characters that I’ve quickly become fully invested in.

Quite an unexpected turn in the most recent episodes as Cain’s new family suspects Anska of being a traitor. I look forward to seeing how this resolves – fervently hoping the accusation is a misunderstanding.

Escaping to Anvil was both clever and prudent. I agree with Cain that investigating this matter should not be while ‘in custody’ at the Blue Palace. If Anska had doubts about Cain sticking up for, he has certainly put those to rest! I’m glad to see Linnea and Serana having serious doubts about their conclusion, Kirin angry about the situation, and Anska volunteer her most inner thoughts to Kyne.

[Kane]

Thank you for reading, Acadian. I have similar musings about Kyne in Buffy's thread - we are definitely on similar wavelengths with the goddess!

I must say, if you are enjoying this tale then I have to recommend at least reading book two. I had an immensely fun time playing and writing Linneá's and Serana's story and at times the story felt like it was writing itself!

[Kane]

Chapter XXVII – Plumbing the Depths


Cain stood by the sealed doors to Dibella’s Chapel and waited apprehensively. At the foot of the altar sat Anska, her warm brown eyes staring confidently at Kyne. He felt nothing but pride and love for the way Anska was willing to expose herself entirely to the goddess just prove her innocence. The doubt needed to be erased, even if he had no plans on returning to Skyrim just yet. But it would be a necessary first step.

Kyne looked at the young woman curiously. Her volunteered willingness to undergo such a deep probe into her own psyche had caught Kyne off guard. She started to question the veracity of the girls’ investigation into the matter the moment the offer had tumbled from Anska’s mouth.

“Are you sure you want to do this, child? There is no going back from here. I will know who you are on a level more personal than even Cain could ever dream of. Every memory laid bare; every thought mixed with my own; every emotion rekindled. Your entire life will be read like the open pages of a book, right down to your most intimate and secluded moments.”

“It must be done,” spoke Anska, without a shred of hesitation.

“Then let’s begin. Please close your eyes and start by taking deep breaths. Focus on the inhale. Focus on the exhale. Empty your mind of everything else.”

Anska heeded her instructions. After nearly a minute of this, she felt Kyne’s warm hands on either side of her head.

At first, nothing seemed to happen.

Then she felt the keen light of the Divine illuminating her soul. Kyne’s presence mingled with her inner self on a level Anska didn’t think possible until, quite suddenly, the goddess spoke into her mind.

You’re doing wonderfully, dear. Keep focusing on your breathing - it may be difficult if painful memories being to surface, but it will help to keep the connection stable.

Everything shifted and suddenly Anska was four years old again, her father, Freca, chasing her in circles around their family home north of Stonehills. The little girl giggled and laughed joyfully while her dad made a show of stumbling around and bouncing into trees until finally he scooped her up and tossed her over his broad shoulders.

Day after day, month after month, and year after year filtered through Kyne and Anska both, the memories eliciting all manner of emotions.
The flow slowed down again and now a girl of nine or ten years old crashed through the thick undergrowth of a lofty pine forest. Blood stained the cold snow in small pools every few feet and soon she caught up her prey. The wounded deer had collapsed lamely in a small clearing, its breathing heavy and ragged. Her father came to a stop behind her just seconds later and laid a hand on her shoulders. “Finish the poor beast, Anska. It need not suffer for us to survive another winter.”

More time raced through their two minds, one Divine, one mortal.

It all blurred faster and faster until a new scene emerged: Anska sat at a small table with her mother, crying into a spotted kerchief. “There there, Anska,” consoled Astrid. “I know first kisses are supposed to be joyful, but there will be other boys. That fool doesn’t know you like we do. He doesn’t realize what a wonderful young girl he is missing out on. You are only thirteen years old and that is much too young to be so distraught over some lump from town. Put him from your mind and hold your head high. Then give him a swift kick in the ass for treating you so!”

Anska giggled through her tears, and everything went dark.

A choking black smoke permeated the world. An inferno raged through the night while a helpless fifteen-year-old girl could do nothing but watch; wracked with uncontrollable grief as her entire life burned to the ground before her eyes. The column of smoke eventually drew the attention of Stonehills, and it was all the men of the town could do to drag her away from the blaze, her hands grabbing anything within reach to fight against them. To do anything but leave. Her parents were in there and the only thing she wanted in that moment was to be with them.

Tears poured from the eyes of Anska and Kyne alike, streaking down their faces and pattering onto the pristine marble floor of the soaring chapel. Cain watched in dismay wishing he could do something, anything, to help them.

The fire was gone. More memories flitted passed as the young girl blossomed into adulthood. They froze again.

She kicked open the door to the small inn, a deer slung over her shoulders. Anska called for the barkeep, Ikor, and then her eyes rested on two new faces sitting at a table near the fire. An elf and a very handsome Redguard. The latter noticed her first and he could not tear his eyes away. She felt herself go weak in the knees, but played it off until they could be properly introduced.

They talked and laughed. They smiled and sang. They made love under a tall tree. And then they slew a dragon. Everything was changing.

All this, Kyne knew, and there were no surprises until they caught up to the present. Memories parsed, the goddess dove ever deeper. The soul of Anska was laid bare; her wants, her needs, her desires. All of her. Smiling to herself, Kyne found all that she had hoped for: Cain had been right to stand by Anska’s side, for there was nothing amiss. She gleaned over the entire life and spirit of a beautiful woman who loved her partner dearly, and who’s heart was stricken by the accusations from her newfound sisters and by the rift between them all.

And then she felt the glimmer of something new. Something precious. The goddess dove to untold depths that lay beyond the spiritual realm and into the physical. Down and down and down and down and down until she found it.

Life. The tiniest beat of an infinitesimal heart.

Anska gasped and her eyes flew open, the connection severed in an instant.

“Kyne! Was that –“

The goddess smiled through fresh tears that were no longer of sorrow, but of overwhelming joy. “It’s exactly what you think it is, dear.” She embraced Anska in a tight hug, her hand resting on her charge’s back. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you. And I’m so happy for you and Cain.”

Hearing his name, the Redguard left his post at the door and joined them near the altar. “It’s done, then?” he asked Kyne.

“Yes. You were right, Cain, and I will see to it at once that the error of your sisters is corrected. I must take my leave now, but Anska has something important to tell you.”

“Wait a sec, mum,” said Cain. “Do me a favor and don’t tell them.”

Confusion lined her face. “What? Why don’t you want me to end this charade? What could possibly be gained from any of this?”

“Anska and I talked about this before; we are going to the Imperial City. The Thalmor embassy there will have answers and we will find them. We’re not coming home empty-handed. I don’t care how long it takes or what dangers we will face but together we will get to the bottom of this.”

Kyne bit her lip in worry. They would be walking right into the hornet’s nest, but it made sense, as foolish an endeavor as it would be. Forces were indeed at play within Kirin’s ranks and Cain just might be able to weed them out from the source. And maybe the girls could help from the other side too, even if they were unaware.

“Okay,” she agreed. “I don’t like it, but it’s worth a shot. Now, I really do have to go before Anska here dances out of her skin in anticipation. I love you both so much.”

A flash of blinding light illuminated the chapel and Kyne was gone. Cain took the vacated seat next to Anska and grabbed her hands. He could tell the experience had taken a toll on her and part of him was sad that she had to do it alone. But the goddess’ Divine presence in her mind had blotted him out while she was connected with Anska, leaving him to watch helplessly.

He could also sense all her angst had evaporated, and been replaced with something new. “How are you holding up? What was Kyne talking about before she left?” he asked her.

“Hon, I’m fine. Listen – “

“Are you sure? I could tell it was difficult. I’ve never seen you or Kyne weep so heavily as you both did during the throes of that. Can I get you something? I think there is still some water in your canteen…”

“No, I don’t need – “

“How about some food? Maybe one of the vendor stalls – “

Anska rose to her feet and yelled down at him in frustration. “Cain Windborne, will you please SHUT UP and let me speak!” She waited impatiently for him to close his mouth and stand up with her. “Thank you.” But she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Everything had just changed. Their lives would be irrevocably changed. She kissed him deeply, hoping it would help to unstick the words from her throat. “I… by the Nine, I – I can’t believe this is happening. Cain… I… I’m pregnant.”

Time seemed to slow to a standstill around them. Cain stared at the woman he loved in wonder, completely blindsided by the two words she had just uttered. They were the most incredible words he’d ever heard in his life. He was going to be a father. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Not the Thalmor, not his family, not the divines. He leaned in and kissed her more passionately than he ever had before.

The doors to the chapel were still sealed, so he picked Anska up and set her down on the altar itself, their lips never parting until she pulled back to collect herself. “Wait, not here. It would be disrespectful.”

“To Dibella?” he laughed. “I should think it would be the opposite!”

“She’s not just the goddess of sex, lunkhead. I love you, but we need to take a breather. A lot has happened tonight.”

“And it’s everything I could have ever wanted,” said Cain. “I can barely begin to believe it! Your name will be cleared and we are to be parents! Even with everything that’s going on right now, I couldn’t be happier. Which reminds me…” He took off the new backpack he’d purchased earlier and let it slide to the floor with a thud. Then he started undoing the top buttons of his tunic while Anska watched with a raised eyebrow.

“I said we shouldn’t do that here, Cain. Taking your shirt off won’t change my mind. Well… maybe it would change it just a little bit”

“It’s not that,” he grinned as the last button came free. Reaching down his shirt, Cain pulled up a small silver necklace that was tucked down against his chest. Hanging from the end of it was a well-polished gold ring inlaid with gleaming emeralds.

“What is – “

“I’ve been carrying this with me for a couple of weeks,” he explained. “I had it stowed away in my bag, but something told me I would need it eventually, and I didn’t want it to get lost.” He undid the clasp from the necklace and let the ring slide off onto his open palm.

Anska’s breath was caught in her chest, her heart racing at the sight of the ring resting in his hand. She couldn’t believe they were here right now. When they had gone their separate ways from High Gate Ruins all those weeks ago, Anska thought she would never lay eyes on Cain again. Yet here they stood, in a strange town within a strange land, running for their lives with their unborn child growing in her womb.

There was nowhere else she wanted to be.

Never one to not be forthcoming about what she desired, Anska picked up the ring and slid it onto her finger before Cain could even properly ask for her hand in marriage.

“You know what,” she said quietly, examining the ring in a beam of moonlight, “I have changed my mind. Finish taking off that shirt while I’ll get started on your pants.”

[centre]
-----[/centre]


It was mid-morning the very next day when Cain’s shovel broke through the buried mouth of the shallow cave. A scree of loose earth tumbled into a pile at his feet, revealing the small cache of gold and equipment he’d stowed away before his voyage to Skyrim. He passed the shovel to his fiancé, and started lugging out small chests of gold and sacks of clothing and armor.

There was nothing wrong with his sword or Anska’s war axe, so Cain ignored the weapons leaning on the back wall and focused instead on finding his spare armor. The Colovian design patterns would keep him from looking out of place and would compliment the steel plate set the Anvil smithy had set aside for Anska. Pulling free the armor from it’s wrappings, he handed it to her and set about re-burying what remained of his belongings.

While he toiled away, Anska took the gear to a nearby rivulet that ran down towards the sea and rinsed the dirt and dust from the cuirass. Cain joined her shortly after and they departed for the city once again. By noon, they were back on the road and heading due west for the Imperial City. The journey would take several days and they could not rush for fear of garnering any unwanted attention.

Night fell with the two of them siting around a campfire near the rebuilt city of Kvatch. “Are you sure you can't just, ya know, zap us away to the city?” said Anska. “It’d save us one hell of a walk. Not that the countryside here isn’t beautiful or anything.”

“Wish I could, love. But I was only ever there once before and nothing significant happened during that time. All I did was deliver a package for our chapter leader.”

“Aren’t there couriers for that sort of thing?”

“Sure,” said Cain. “I was a new recruit, though, so I guess they wanted to see if I’d survive the trip. These roads are far safer than those of Skyrim, but there are still highwaymen and goblins to be wary of. Or the occasional minotaur.”

“I see. Well, I guess we walk then. How long did you say it would take?”

“At least two to three more days. Anvil is at the westernmost edge of the Heartland.”

“Great. Well, I don’t know about you but it’s been a long day and I’m ready for bed. Join me?” Her eyes twinkled and a slight smile played at the edges of her soft lips. “Or would you rather sit out here alone, staring into the coals?”

“Hm,” said Cain, making a big show of thinking it over. “It is a pleasant evening out here under the stars. Then again, I think I’d much rather be under you.”

They disappeared into the tent while the fire burned lower and lower.


[centre]-----[/centre]


Hundreds of miles away from that very same raucous campsite sat Elysium Estate, glowing gently under Nirn’s soaring moons, Masser and Secunda. The lanterns and candle sconces throughout dining area of the manor were flickering gently, casting a dim light on the lone figure seated at the large square table just inside the front door. She waited patiently for the tell-tale signs of magickal light in the garden that would announce the arrival of Linneá and Serana. Instead, the light suddenly appeared right inside the door, startling Kyne into a standing position.

The light faded and her champion smiled at the goddess. “Hey, mum. Sorry we’re late – Serana and I got caught up in some new books that were just delivered.”

“How did you recall to that spot?” asked Kyne. “I thought you had only marked my shrine outside?”

“Elle has been peeling apart the spell theory in her spare time,” answered Serana. “She figured out a way to exert some control over where to appear within proximity of the original marked object.”

“Linn, that’s… that’s very advanced spell alteration. That kind of manipulation is usually only accomplished by the more ancient Altmer or Dunmer wizards.”

“Why, thank you, mum! I’ve been working out the kinks for a while now and that was our first test over long distances. I was off a by a few inches, but otherwise I’d call it a resounding success!”

“You never cease to amaze me, dear.”

Linneá blushed deeply and shrugged it off. She headed over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of brandy and three glasses while Kyne and Serana chatted at the table. It had been an interesting day for all three of them, for very different reasons. Kyne battled internally over her promise to Cain and it seemed to show on her face.

“Everything alright?” Linneá asked her while she sat down next to Serana. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” she said evasively. “Yesterday was just… I don’t think I’ll be over it for a while.”

“Yeah, well, about that…” began Serana.

Kyne gazed shrewdly at her. “About what, child?”

“Um. Elle and I were talking last night and… uh…”

“We made a mistake,” interjected Linneá. “After all that happened in that village… I don’t think it’s Anska.” She stopped talking and brushed away a tear from the edge of her eye. “The look on her face when I told her… it destroyed her. I hope to never see someone look at me like that again as long as I live."

Kyne’s head lowered into her hands and her shoulders began to rock up and down. Linneá and Serana were both about to slide around to her side of the table and console her until the goddess lifted her head and laughed exuberantly at what Linneá had just told her. The merry sound echoed down the halls while the girls stared at her in stunned silence. Linneá couldn’t think of a single time in her twenty-seven years of life that she had seen Kyne laugh like this.

“This is too much,” she finally said between deep breaths. “I pleaded with you all to just sit down and talk it out and none of you would listen to me. And now look where we are! You two just waltz on in here and tell me how wrong you were not even a full day after I find that out for myself. Pour me a heavy glass, Linn. I think I’ll tone down my divinity for an hour and enjoy this brandy the same way you two enjoy it.”

Linneá and Serana were flabbergasted at what just happened. “Wait, you found them already?!”

“Of course I did. They wandered into one of my sister’s temples without thinking she would tell me immediately. Not Cain’s brightest moment, I can assure you. Especially after the way he cleverly evaded you two.”

“What the [censored]!” exclaimed Linneá. “Were you just not going to tell us?”

“As a matter of fact, I wasn’t,” said Kyne. “But only because he asked me not to. And yes, Anska is innocent, by the way. She freely offered me her mind, and I delved it entirely. You two owe them a major apology; especially Anska. I’m afraid you did break her heart, Linn. The poor girl is devasted over losing her sisters.”

Linneá slumped back in her chair in miserable defeat. There were few times in life that she had felt so thoroughly depressed as she did right now, and she wanted nothing more than to find Cain and Anska and grovel at their feet. Serana’s armed wrapped around her shoulder and she kissed Linneá’s forehead.

“We’ll make it up to them somehow, Elle,” she promised. “Can we go see them, mum?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, ladies. A lot has happened and some wounds are still very fresh. They also got some other important news while I was there, and they need some time to come to terms with it.”

“Please, mum,” begged Linneá. “Please. I can’t bear them not knowing how sorry we are. What if something happens and the last thing I said to them was a threat? I’d never be able to live with myself.”

“…Very well. But not until tomorrow morning, mind you. There is still some residual feedback from my link to Anska yesterday and from what I can tell they are a little… busy, right now.”

[Acadian]

I suspected Anska was not the traitor – that would have broken Cain’s (and my) heart. Besides, you dropped no irrefutable breadcrumbs to indicate any guilt on her part.

The Divine mind meld was wonderfully done!

By Dibella’s silky breeches, Anska is pregnant! And Cain even now has a last name to give the child.

I agree with Kyne that Linnea and Serana were too hasty to conclude Anska was the traitor. But I also suspect that such major errors in judgment are rare for them. Hopefully, Kyne can relay that the ladies realized their mistake on their own, making her pledge to Cain of secrecy on the matter irrelevant. The remaining task – and Kyne is clearly in the best position to do so – is to ensure Cain and Anska know Linnea and Serana concluded Anska’s innocence on their own.

In the meantime, Cain and Anska are heading into, as you say, the hornet’s nest to hopefully help ferret out the real traitor.

[Kane]

I toyed with the idea of stringing out the spy vs spy aspect until the very end, but Anska doesn't deserve that and neither did I want to assasinate Linn and Serana's characters by having them not see the error of their ways.


The pregnancy is a fun parallel to book one that I wanted to take a stab at. Linnea was conceived towards the end of that book, smack dab in the midst of the Dragon Crisis. History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme!

[Kane]

Chapter XXVIII �" Reformed Ties


Emperor Titus Mede II gazed out at the Imperial City from his private balcony high atop the White-Gold Tower. Far below, the city expanded from the center, roads running to the very outer edges to meet a grand promenade that encircled it entirely, giving the layout it’s iconic wheel-like design. All of it was his. All of it would stay his, until the final breath escaped his tired lungs.

One threat had already been promptly eliminated: there would be no Ayleid allies to the northern alliance under his watch. It had been easy to manipulate the Thalmor into getting their hands dirty, for they feared the wild elves even more than Cyrodiilians did. The Dominion thought they controlled him and he would see to it that they saw the error in their ways.

War approached, sooner than they would expect.

The well-oiled door behind him opened and closed discreetly, and soon the High Chancellor stood at his side, admiring the view under clear blue skies.

“What news, Anilay?”

“Sire,” the man bowed. “Reports indicate the High King’s court is in disarray. His son disappeared along with the woman we framed and all of their resources are aimed at tracking them down. I’m told his own daughters are spearheading the effort and spending all of their precious time on the matter.”

“Excellent. They won’t be looking too closely at the shadows while we get the final pieces in place. You’ve done well, Anilay �" slipping the Ayleid news to those arrogant elves was a stroke of genius. We didn’t have to pull a single resource out of place and now a powerful opponent is off the board.” Still the idea of a rogue Dragonborn did not sit well with him. He’d been on the Ruby Throne for too long to not hedge against any bets. “Do we have any idea where the bastard went?”

“We do not,” said Anilay. “It would seem that no one does.”

“I see. Then, I must ask you to find him. Spare no expense, waste no time. He must be found.”

“As you wish.”

Mede dismissed him with a wave and Anilay made his way back inside through the empty study and downstairs to the council chambers. They had been receiving regular reports from the chancellor and were playing a very delicate game of cat and mouse with the Emperor himself. Little did the old man know that great efforts were already being made to track down the rogue heir and that Anilay himself had a few solid leads to track down.

This would all be so much simpler if we could communicate to the High King in secret, he privately lamented. But communications to their agent were strictly controlled and thoroughly reviewed by Mede himself, for fear of his plan going awry. I must find a way and quickly. The son is the key to all of this… we need to find him immediately.

-----

The sun had not yet full risen when Kyne descended into the copse where Cain and Anska had set up their campsite the night before. A few coals slumbered inside a ring of stone, waiting to be reignited when the two fugitives emerged from their tent for a hearty breakfast. Low snores emanated from within the tent itself, so the goddess was perfectly resigned to sitting around the non-existent fire until they awoke from their deep slumber.

She did not have long to wait, as Cain typically rose ahead of first light. The heavy linen tent flap was thrown back and he nearly yelped in surprise at the sight of the visitor calmly waiting outside.

“By the Nine, don’t sneak up on us like that next time!” he said. “I need a minute.” Cain disappeared behind a few trees and reemerged moments later looking more relieved. He took a seat across from Kyne and started stoking the coals and piling on more timber. “What brings you back to us so soon, mum?”

“I visited your sisters last night.”

“Oh? Did you keep your promise to us?”

“Yes. And no,” admitted Kyne, blushing slightly. Cain started to frown in frustration until she raised a hand. “Let me explain myself.” She waited for his approval and was rewarded with a curt nod. “Thank you. I had no intention of telling them I found you, but, er…”

“But what?” Cain inquired.

Kyne glanced meaningfully at the tent. She wanted Anska to be present for this but the woman was still snoring away in her bedroll. Cain smiled knowingly and disappeared behind the flap to gently rouse his sleepy fiancé. They both joined Kyne shortly after, Anska still wrapped in a cozy blanket, her new ring shining in the first light of dawn.

The goddess noticed it right off and beamed at her. “When did that happen?” she exclaimed, pointing at the sign of their engagement.

“Not long after you left last night,” said Cain. “I had the ring handy and I didn’t think there would be a better time than right then and there.”

She rose from her makeshift seat and beckoned them over. “Come here and hug me this instant!” Kyne wrapped her arms around both of them and kissed them each on the cheek in turn. “I love you both so much. And I know your family will be overjoyed when you are able to return. Now then, sit back down and we’ll get to why I’m here.”

All seated again, Cain began to stir the smoldering fire into life while Anska dug through her bag for the kettle and a tin of tea leaves. Kyne waited patiently once again for both of them to properly awaken, and accepted a fresh mug of the steaming beverage.

“Okay…get to it, please,” said Cain.

“Anska, dear, as I was telling Cain when he first came out here, I spoke to the girls last night and I told them what occurred in the temple.” Anska glared at her frostily and was about to unleash her temper on Kyne when the goddess raised her hand once again. “Please let me finish. I only told them because of the circumstances.”

“They had better be damn good ‘circumstances’,” warned Anska.

“I wouldn’t have done so otherwise,” Kyne assured her. “Linneá and Serana told me the moment they arrived that they’d made a mistake. Someone laid a trap for them and they fell right in, and for that they are truly sorry, my dear. Linn knows how much she hurt you and the guilt is gnawing away at her spirit. Serana’s, too.” She paused for a moment and smiled solemnly at Anska before continuing: “If you’d allow it, they want to come and see you. To apologize. And maybe grovel a just little bit.”

There was a brief silence while Anska stared into the flames of their campfire, lost in thought. She wasn’t sure how to feel about this revelation �" the pain from it had begun changing to anger over the slight towards her and the chaos it had caused. Kyne waited respectfully for an answer but Anska knew she wouldn’t be forced to see them if she didn’t want to. Her thoughts became confused until her fiancé whispered in her mind.

I’ll understand if you don’t want them to come. But if there’s anything certain I’ve learned over the years, it’s that grudges are a poison to the soul. Don’t let the anger consume you, my love.

Anska sighed and nodded to Kyne. “Fine. They can come see us.”

“Linneá will be overjoyed,” Kyne promised her. She raised a hand and opened it, revealing the marked stone Cain had dropped in the ruined Ayleid village. Then she tossed it a few feet away from the campsite and closed her eyes. “They’ll be here soon.”

It was even sooner than Kyne expected. Barely a minute had elapsed before the recall portal appeared and Cain’s younger sisters stepped into the clearing, staring sheepishly at them. Despite everything that had happened, Anska was happy to see them again, though she did hide her smile behind an angry façade. Rising to her feet, she marched over to Linneá and Serana with a purposeful gait and stopped just in front of them.

Her right hand moved so quickly that Cain half expected to hear the three words of power of the Elemental Fury shout echo around the still morning. All that he actually heard was two sharp cracks as Anska’s hand slapped each of them in turn, leaving a faint red handprint on their cheeks. Then her arms were wrapped tightly around them both.

Linneá and Serana were momentarily stunned, but they recovered quickly and began to apologize profusely until Anska cut them off. “Just shut up, would you? We all make mistakes. What matters is that you owned up to them.” She freed them from her clutches and raised a finger in a teasing warning. “But if you pull a stunt like that again, you’ll meet my axe instead of my hand!”

Cain chuckled and rummaged through his belt satchel for some of the herbs and flower blossoms he’d picked along the road yesterday. He mashed up a few sprigs of lavender and wrapped them into aloe vera leaves and offered them to his sisters. “Here, press these against your cheeks for a few minutes and it’ll dull the pain. I’ve been on the receiving end of her hand before and it’s not fun, as I’m sure you now know.”

They graciously accepted the soothing poultices and then sat down around the fire, still remaining oddly quiet.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, will you two liven up already?” teased Anska. “It’s time to move on.”

“Doesn’t mean I still don’t feel like an ass, sis,” admitted Linneá. “Serana and a I… this was not one of our finest moments. I can’t remember the last time I felt like such a piece of [censored]. I’m grateful you forgave us, but I think I speak for both of us when I say it will take some time to forgive ourselves.”

Serana nodded in agreement. “Indeed. You’re far to kind to let us off the hook so easily after all we put you two through.”

“Yes, well, sometimes there can be other occurrences that help put things into perspective,” she winked. Anska made a not-so-subtle show of resting her left hand on her leg, catching the morning sun so that it glinted off of the emerald inlay of her engagement ring. It had the desired effect of drawing their attention to it.

Linneá grinned slyly at Cain. “I told you she’d be your wife someday.”

Cain laughed aloud while all five of them started hugging and fawning over Anska and her new ring. They spent the next hour having a quiet celebration under the rising sun, feasting over a splendid breakfast conjured up by their ever-doting Divine matron. Towards the end, Cain pulled Linneá aside and told her of their plan to visit the Imperial City and she promised to keep up the charade of chasing them down until they rooted out the true enemy within.

They were just about to go their separate ways when it was Kyne’s turn to steer him away for a private conversation. “I noticed you didn’t tell them about the other big news,” she whispered to Cain. “Any particular reason why?”

“Anska and I talked about that last night,” he explained. “And we want to tell everyone at the same time. When we’re all safely back home.”

-----

His daughters had only disappeared from the Blue Palace for about an hour, but it was long enough for Kirin to notice their mysterious absence. Sitting on the bench at the foot of their four-poster bed, he leafed through the morning newspaper while waiting for them to sneak back in. Or try to. But when the door finally did open, Linneá simply shrugged at the sight of him and kicked off her boots.

“Early start today, eh?” he asked them nonchalantly. “Anything I should be made aware of?”

“Nope,” answered Serana. “Just following up on a bad lead. Ended up being a complete waste of time.”

He peered over the paper at them, trying not to smile. “You do realize that you’re both terrible liars, don’t you? Dishonesty doesn’t suit either one of you.”

“If we had anything of note pertaining to the investigation we would share it with you, dad,” said Linneá. “The trail is still ice cold, so we’re pulling whatever loose threads we can find with the hopes of getting lucky.”

She shared a quick glance with Serana and they silently debated on who would be the one to tackle the next part of this conversation. He was their father and they loved him dearly, but questioning the High King as part of their detective roles still made Linneá nervous. Thankfully, they were saved the awkward attempt by his own keen intuition.

“Spit it out so that we can move on,” he stated. Kirin had been wondering when they’d get this far. He’d made it clear that no one in the palace was above suspicion, including present company. And while he knew for certain it was no one from his family, they were right to be gently interrogating him.

“We’ll keep it short, dad,” nodded Serana. “Just one question, really: is there anyone who could possibly have overhead us talking about.”

Kirin pondered on the question for few moments, racking his brain and the various conversations he’d had with the girls and Lydia over the past month. They’d mostly been in his study, which was off limits to anyone but his direct family. And Sybille, if he invited her in for a chat. Then it hit him.

“Huh,” he said, thoughtfully. With a casual look at Linneá he discreetly motioned towards his ears. She caught on right away and casted her room muffling spell. “You’ll have to teach me that one someday, Linn.”

“Do you have something for us?” she asked him.

“Maybe. There was one odd thing that happened after your mother and I were first discussing the leak, Anska’s involvement, and the Ayleid village. She went to grab us a bottle of wine and found Sybille just outside the study. Apparently, she was just about to knock on the door, and she had a bundle of scrolls for me to look over. Normal clerical stuff, so I didn’t think anything of it. Now I can’t help but wonder how long she was standing out there.”

Linneá and Serana both felt a triumphant surge of excitement, but played it off for the time being. “Doesn’t sound like anything to worry about,” said Linneá. “Sybille is always dropping stuff off for you and I never once felt anything but respect for her. Especially after she helped Cain with saving Ana’s life.”

[Acadian]

The situation in the Imperial City drips heavy with political intrigue. Mede’s objective is pretty clear but still not sure what type of vision Anilay has for the Empire when it comes to Skyrim beyond realizing that it is not the same as Mede’s.

With a bit of help from Kyne, Linneá and Serana survive the gauntlet of Anska’s anger and return to her good side. Yay for that!

That mark and recall spell seems very handy. Oh, and so does the room muffling spell. Speaking of which, we hear an interesting revelation about Sybille. She’s been in her position for generations and seems an unlikely traitor, but who knows?

[Kane]

Anilay and the Elder Council recognize the way the wind is blowing. Mede is thirty years too old to lead the troops in round two and he's fearful of losing power. Meanwhile, a Dragonborn family rules Skyrim, and in five years the king has expelled the Thalmor, solidified the Holds, and created defense pacts with Hammerfell, High Rock, Orsinium, and now Morrowind.

They see Kirin as the one to lead a new empire against the Dominion.

[Kane]

Chapter XXIX �" Into the Heartland


Towering stone walls loomed high above Cain and Anska as they approached the massive wooden gates of Skingrad’s western entrance. The immense breadth of the city took the Nord woman’s breath away �" nothing in her homeland resembled the size and might of this fortified city deep within Cyrodiil’s West Weald. Even the capital city of Solitude barely approached the splendor that now stood before her. But she also had never felt further from home.

Home, she thought to herself. I wonder if I’ll ever see it again.

“I promise that you will,” reassured Cain.

“Oh, sorry,” muttered Anska. “I still forget sometimes that you can hear thoughts like that now. Don’t worry about me, love. I’m a fish out of water down here, just as I’m sure you were the moment you set foot on the Solitude docks.”

“You’re not wrong about that. But this time I have you and you have me.” They had now trod through the gates and were meandering along a cobblestone road that bisected the city. Cain led them under a bridge and then up a road to the left that headed for the market district. “West Weald Inn is just ahead. We’ll get a proper meal and a good night’s sleep for a change.”

It was late evening on the eight day of their trek to the Imperial City, and the inn was bustling with activity. Merchants, traders, craftspeople, and residents of Skingrad were pouring in through the doors and saddling up to the bar for a rambunctious night of food and libations. Cain and Anska had grabbed a table near the stairs, away from the throng of people packed around the bar.

Nursing a weak mead, Anska studied a brass plaque on the wall above their table. “Any idea who that was?” she asked her fiancé.

Cain followed her gaze. “Sinderion? Famous alchemist, I think. Heard he was found dead deep under Skyrim of all places. Maybe he was from Skingrad? Serana would probably know for sure.”

Their food soon arrived and they dug into the sumptuous meal with a zeal born of lean eating on the long road east. The haughty waitress keeping tabs on their table stopped by frequently to refill their mugs and ask how they were enjoying “real food”. Anska nearly slammed her head off the table until Cain reminded her that they still looked out of place. A Nord and a Redguard passing through town in filthy armors tended to catch the eye of those who viewed themselves as nobility.

Luckily, Cain has been able to procure a room downstairs, complete with a bathing area. Nighttime was firmly entrenched outside when they’d decided to make use of said bath, but then a stranger sat down at the table with them and pulled down her hood.

The soft features of Mara were just barely recognizable from their last encounter with the goddess of Love and Compassion in Blacklight. Her blonde hair now had a slight curl, but her blue eyes still blazed brightly from a face more muted to blend in among mortals.

“Hello again, children,” she spoke softly to them. “I see you have elected to ignore my warnings, and those of Kyne’s, as well?”

“I, er, well,” began Cain. He glanced at Anska for help, but she was also caught off guard at Mara’s sudden reappearance, her mouth slightly agape while she stared in wonder.

“You needn’t try to justify your actions. I’m all too familiar with what love will drive people to do, though I had hoped you could find a measure of restraint.” She paused to smile warmly at them. “I won’t admonish you any further. And I am pleased to see how far the two of you have come �" engaged to be wedded, and a child on the way? It fills me with joy to see it.”

“That’s… thank you, ma’am,” said Anska. “Look, I’m sorry we ignored you for our own selfish desires, but it has made us closer than I ever thought possible. I love this man dearly and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all again.”

“I appreciate your honesty, miss Anska. However, your journey is not over yet and there is still peril ahead of you both. It’s a dangerous path you walk and you must remain true to each other as you have thus far. I offer one more piece of advice: stay by each other’s side no matter what. Only together can you face what is to come, and stand tall at the end.”

Having said her piece, Mara excused herself from the table and left the inn as silently as she had entered. Cain and Anska stared after the goddess, still slightly in shock at her sudden and abbreviated appearance in Skingrad of all places.

Shaking his head, Cain downed the last of his wine and flagged down the waitress. He paid for their meal and then motioned to the basement door. “Fancy a soak? We can talk more about what just happened away from preening ears and prying eyes.” They made their way downstairs and were soon laying against one another in a steaming tub of water, enjoying the warmth as it eased their tired bodies.

Anska was feeling a measure of guilt from their impromptu meeting with Mara, and she couldn’t help but worry about the future. Her fingers swirled the soapy bubbles aimlessly while she wrestled with the implications of the goddess’ second visit.

“Cain?” she asked, softly.

“Hm?”

“Are you worried about…us? This is the third time we’ve been given some sort of cryptic warning about our fate together. We spat in the face of the Divines once already �" do you think we’ll come to regret it?”

“I’ll never regret what it’s given us,” he promised her. “From the moment I laid eyes on you in Stonehills I wanted nothing more than to be with you, Anska. I was devasted when we parted ways after High Gate, but when I found you again in the palace gardens nothing else seemed to matter. I was given another chance and I vowed to not to let you go again if I could help it. You and our unborn child are my entire world, and nothing will tear us down as long as there is breath in my body.”

She craned her neck up and kissed him. “You always know just what to say to make me feel better.” Then Anska looked down at his broad hand resting on her belly. “It’s way too early for you to be doing that,” she chuckled, laying her own hand on top of his. “I never thought I’d end up here, you know. I thought I’d be stuck hunting around home until I was old and gray, fending off the pigs that work in the iron mine. Then I kicked open Ikor’s door with a deer slung over my shoulder, and saw you sitting there with Athis, staring right at me.”

“I’d never seen anything so beautiful,” said Cain. “And when you laughed at my terrible pick-up line, I was yours forever. Your smile may not have actually melted the snow but it certainly melted my heart.”

“Oh, piss off!” laughed Anska, playfully smacking his shoulder. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

“I never can when it’s you.”

Anska relaxed even more into the blissful waters and closed her eyes. She did feel better about Mara’s visit after talking to Cain about it, but she suspected it would always be at the back of her mind. Deciding it was better to be safe than to be sorry, she resolved to offering the goddess a prayer in the mornings when she also prayed to Lady Kyne.

-----

They were on the move again by sunrise, with a long way yet to go. A seemingly endless expanse of trees lined both sides of the well-traveled road, teeming with animals, dense undergrowth, and vibrant flowers that Anska didn’t recognize.

Cain seemed to recognize most of them, though, and he was constantly a petal here or a sprig there. His belt pouch was beginning to overflow from all the ingredients he was shoving into it.

“Do you really need all of that?’ she asked him after handful of Alkanet seeds spilled all over his boots.

“Never know when we’ll need to whip up a remedy,” said Cain. “I’m sure the girls were glad I had aloe and lavender on hand after you laid into them.”

Shaking her head, Anska continued on ahead of him, drinking in the lush, unfamiliar landscape as she rounded a bend in the road. Lost in the splendor of the Heartland, a brutish highwayman nearly caught her off guard when he leapt down from atop a small hillock, demanding she empty her pockets. Hearing the sudden clamor around the bend Cain dashed ahead only to find Anska wiping the blood from her axe on a fur armored corpse.

“Did he give you any trouble?”

“Not really,” replied Anska, examining her axe. “Looks like I nicked the blade on one of his rivets though. How long until we find a blacksmith?”

“At least another week, if we make good time. Skingrad was roughly the halfway point.”

“Suppose that’s what I get for not carrying a whetstone,” shrugged Anska. “Ah well.”

And on they went, winding eastwards towards Lake Rumare and the Imperial City.

-----

Far to the north, in their much colder homeland of Skyrim, things were not progressing nearly as well. Despite their best efforts, Linneá and Serana had yet to turn up anything to indicate Sybille Stentor, esteemed court wizard of Solitude, was up to anything nefarious. She kept a strict routine befitting of her secret condition and fulfilled her duties in service of Kirin to the letter.

Upon day after day after day of frustration, they decided to step back from the investigation for a while with hopes that a fresh start would help to illuminate something they had missed. Sitting on the floor of the palace gardens, they were both buried in rather large and archaic tomes on Mysticism, and did not notice that Lydia has arrived with the young Ayleid elf they’d rescued.

“Ahem.”

“Oh, hey mum,” said Linneá, her eyes moving up from the book. “What’s up?”

“Salihn here would like to say something to you ladies.”

They both closed their books and set them aside, but before either one of them could get to their feet Salihn had rushed forward and dove into Serana’s arms. “Thank you for saving me from the bad people!” she cried, her accent in the common tongue impeccable. “I looked for ages after they came to our village but I didn’t find anyone but you.” Serana returned the hug, smiling uncertainly at her wife.

“Mum, when did she start talking again?” asked a flummoxed Linneá. “She hasn’t made a peep since we brought her back with us!”

“Sybille and I have been working with her and she finally came out of her shell this morning. Poor thing was traumatized we think �" her entire village and all her family gone in the blink of an eye. But the first thing she asked for was to see you two. I think you’ve made a new friend!”

Salihn finally let go of Serana and then gave Linneá the same fierce embrace. The elf eventually unwrapped her arms from her, and offered each of them a freshly cut flower blossom before heading back inside with Lydia, leaving behind two very confused rescuers.

“What the hell just happened?” said Linneá, staring blankly at her flower.

“Um. Elle? You don’t think she… you know… “

A silence fell between them as the gravity of Serana’s timid attempt at a question settled on their minds. Linneá knew exactly where her wife was going with that train of thought and it terrified her. She was still staring at the flower: a newly sprouted pink carnation from Sybille’s private greenhouse. The significance of that particular blossom was not lost on her.

“No way,” said Lineá. “No no no. Ana, we can’t. I mean… we’ve talked about it, but, I, uh. There is no way we’re ready for that.”

“We aren’t? It’s not like we’re getting any younger. Nor can we do it the old-fashioned way.”

Linneá gazed absentmindedly towards the door Lydia and Salihn had disappeared through. “Maybe we’re reading too much into this?” she offered. “Poor girl probably just wanted to see who saved her again. Yeah, that’s probably all it was. Who knows what would have happened to her if we’d just left her behind.”

Serana watched her other half curiously, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. It had been a long time since she’d seen Linneá so nervous about something. Even the situation with Cain and Anska had left her more saddened than apprehensive. But she did have a point… maybe they were reading too much into it. Then again…

“For what it’s worth, Elle… I think you’d be a terrific mother.”