Discovery #9

     

I sagged down against the wall and watched as Ash walked over to make sure Adien was alright. I would be useless to Ash and myself if I went weak in the knees every time a dragon was near or died. I know I was born with the soul of a dragon and that Akatosh had something in mind for me. What that was, I don't know, but I was starting to think that it didn't have anything to do with Alduin. 

   I stood up and slowly walked over to Ash and Adien, guards were telling him he was Dragonborn and telling him to try to shout, he shrugged and said he'd try. Walking a little way away from the rest of us, he did. 

   I heard the words and felt what they did and instinctively knew I could do the same if I had to, but it would cost. I knew this word, it was the one on the wall in the Barrow we had cleared.

"I told Adien that we had planned on visiting the Greybeards and that traveling together might be for the best. But first, we will go and tell the Jarl about this dragon and the watchtower."

    Adien and I talked on the way back to Whiterun and we found that we had both gained knowledge of the word from that wall, though to Ash it was nothing but a pretty light and babbling. 

    "You know that Ulfric can use a Thu'um, but he is not Dragonborn, he learned. So you may be able to learn also, I mean if you hear the word walls." Adien sounded serious and also hopeful. 

    "It will be something to ask the Greybeards when we get there." I shrugged, " Plus a dragon only has one soul and there are two of us, so it's not a given that I can't absorb souls like you, just the fact that I don't think I can."  He nodded.

    We asked Adien not to say anything to the Jarl or anyone else. He could take all the notice and Ash winked and I told him the Ladies might find him even more fascinating. He smiled and I heard a deep rumble in his chest, internal laughter.

   Even the Jarl said Adien should go visit the Greybreads and gave all three of us a reward for our part in defeating the dragon.  We went to the Inn after selling off some of the loot and dragon pieces that the Alchemist and Smith were interested in.

    We talked over the route that we should take to Iverstead, with Adien suggesting a high pass, we would have to leave before daylight, so knew it would not be tomorrow as supplies would be needed.

    Three days later we managed to leave Whiterun, a storm that we knew would be a blizzard at high altitudes took two days to move on. It was well before dawn and the gate guards were not happy about opening up the gates.

     We climbed the high switchback trail up and over the mountain and made the pass an hour before sunset. Adien set up the Fur-lined tent while Ash and I got a fire going. He put several large flat rocks at the inner and outer corners of the tent and smaller ones along the side, front, and back. 

    "The wind blows hard up here and to lose the tent is to die. The rocks on the inside are for the ones that we are going to heat in the fire, then place on top of them." Adien explained, I blinked and told him I thought I could use a spell to heat them after they cooled down in the middle of the night. I practiced the spell on one of the cooking stones to make sure it would work.

    We slept much warmer than we would have, due to Adien's knowledge of camping in these cold climes, they were things we would remember for later.  My spell did work and when I woke in the morning, before I moved out of my furs, I heated all four rocks and the one under the tea-pot.

    I heard male chuckles as I got up and put the thicker silk gambeson over the thin one I had slept in, then my armor and cloak. I went and stoked up the campfire and put the stew pot on it, then went back inside and had a warm cup of tea. 

    We made it to Iverstead by late in the evening, a troll having slowed us down some. Another day to provision and we were on our way up the 7,000 steps. I think we were halfway up the frozen steps when the dragon attacked, all I can say is at least it was using a fire breath attack and helped to kill a troll. 

   This time I was between the Dragon and Adien and I did not absorb the soul, it passed right by me. I could feel the agony of its death and I was glad I would not have to live with that inside me. Adien said he felt no emotions, just knowledge that was suddenly in his mind. I to had felt that knowledge and looked with sadness as the history of the dragon passed quickly back out of my grasp, I could not even recall his name in moments.

   Though I felt a hollowness in my stomach and felt like crying, my knees had not turned to water and I didn't feel shaky at all. We made it up to High Hrothgar and one of them met us near the door. He looked from Adien to me and back again.

   "Welcome to High Hrothgar, I am Master Arnegeir and I speak for the Greybeards. That a Dragonborn should show up at this time in history."  He looked back and forth between us again. I sighed and stepped forward.

   "While we are both Dragonborn, I think Adien is the one you are looking for. He is the one whose Thu'um you heard." Master Arnegeir went on to test Adien, showing him different Thu'um's and lending their knowledge to him. I said nothing when showing him the Thu'um's also taught me.

    I paid more attention when they lent him their knowledge because even though there was a gifting of power to Adien and none to me, I still learned the meanings and knew that if Akatosh lent me the power I would be able to use the Thu'um's also. 

   They had one more task for him to prove his worthiness to be their student, though that isn't exactly what they said. As we went back down the mountain to Iverstead, we had a good talk.

    "Adien, Brother of my soul, do not let them dictate your conscience, they have an agenda that may or may not follow your moral code. He said nothing to me, did not offer training, did not ask to hear my Thu'um."

    " You can use a Thu'um?  You didn't say, then again your right they didn't ask." I turned slightly so that I was facing away from both men and pulled the essence of my magic and projected it...* Fiik Lo Sah*" We watched as a spectral twin of myself stood looking at us.

   "For the Love of Mara. I know you have your own monsters to fight, but if you need my help?" 

    " We don't know what it is we face, so we may at some point ask for your help. If you get in a pickle, call on us. I think if you project your Thu'um in the same words the Greybeards  used to call you, I would be able to hear it anywhere in Skyrim and maybe beyond."

    "So like them, you can learn, like a newly made dragon, you can learn, but you're right, I will be careful. They should have asked."  I sighed.

    "Yes, but let's not stand on the side of the mountain debating what they should have done and what I can learn. My Thu'um will never be as powerful as yours, but Akatosh may lend me the strength if it's really needed. Warm mead is on me!"

    


   

Solitude to Discovery #8

     

 

We left just as it started to drizzle icy rain and found that our waxed linen cloaks did not stand up to it and I was soon soaked to the skin. By the time we got to Dragon Bridge, I was ready for a hot bath. Ash's leather armor was creaking and smelled of the animal's it came from. 
   
   We both spent the next day reconditioning our armor and Ash found a couple of Oiled leather cloak's that we hoped would do a better job of keeping us dry. Three days later I found that the oiled leather had its limits also and so did I.

   Rorikstead was a nice little farming town and we stayed there for a couple days, while the worst of the storms blew over us. I had dry clothes and good meals, a few friendly people to play for of a night, I was content. 

   Ash was a bit antsy and wouldn't really talk about it, just saying that he was trying to remember something he had read years ago, it wasn't a good thing and he was sure it had to do with the cultists that we had fought. 
   
   I let it go, he'd remember in time and tell me, he always does. While I was taught lore, Ash lived it. I mentally shrugged and flirted with the handsome innkeeper's son. It was something to take away the boredom.

   We rode out on a bright clear morning and stopped by a monument to a fallen hero. It was there that Ash remembered.

    "Tsuri, Hermaeus Mora, Even though those Cultists didn't fit his style, they do." He sighed and looked up at the sun, squinting. " He's using someone, a powerful mage or someone with much power one way or the other. That fits his style, to use someone else to do his dirty work. The Cultists and Alduin may be just a coincidence." I looked through him as I thought that one through.

    "Huh, well we'll have to take things as we find them. I mean, we can't deal with everything at once, and right now we had planned on asking the Greybeards about the Thu'um's that Maya was talking about and if I can learn them. Not that we don't already have enough on our plate, but perhaps they know something of Alduin."

    "You're right, we will deal with what we planned, but I'll give the twins the task of researching those cultists and Hermaeus Mora and anything he might want here in Skyrim."  I nodded, he was like a terrier with a rat.

    A few days later we rode into Riverwood, only to be hailed by the Smith, who told us the shopkeeper wanted to ask a favor of us. So we dismounted and went to talk to him. It looked like his shop had been ransacked and he told us how only one thing had been stolen, but they made a mess out of everything else.

    "It was a Golden Claw like a dragon's claw, just an ornament that I picked up years ago, but it is worth a considerable amount. Not that there aren't other things they could have stolen worth the same." I blinked and looked at Ash.

    "A golden dragon's claw you say?" Ash went on to describe the one we had found in Forelhost and Lucan nodded.

    "Yeah, that sounds like it could be a twin, well except gold instead of glass. Thieves, I hate a thief! Do you think you could track it down?" I looked to Ash and nodded once, a dragon claw could mean another Dragon Priest and if they let it out, that would be so not good.
    
    "Yes, we will see if we can't find it, do you have any idea where they might have gone?"

     "Bleakfall's Barrow, I've been told a bandit crew had taken it over, but as they never came down here, I had not been worried about it." 

      And that would be how we ended up on the top of a mountain in a snowstorm the very next day. We had found some bandits hiding out at a watch tower overlooking Riverwood but sent them on to meet their destiny. 

      "How many?"

      "Too far to caste a detection spell, but I've seen two, there might be a third though."

      And up to the barrow, we went, trying to do it quietly and not be seen until we were close. The snowstorm helped, but as we were both in Black, against white, it didn't surprise either of us when we were spotted. 

      I went one way and Ash the other. I had just taken out the Bowman and pulled an arrow out of my armor when I heard the Thuuwap of a bow-string. I turned just in time to see a bandit with a Warhammer fall, right behind Ash, who at that moment decapitated the bandit he was fighting. 

      I turned quickly and looked at the man that had fired the arrow, he was holding up his hands, though the right one had a bow in it. "Peace Sister, Brother,  I mean no harm." He smiled and walked closer to us. Ash was at my side before the man got all the way to me. He had put up his bow.

      I took stock of him as he crossed the last bit. He was every bit as tall as Ash but bulkier. He needed the muscle for the heavy armor he was wearing. He had a typical Nord's face, handsome with all its sharp angles, but his eyes truly would set him apart, an amber-gold in color, they had an intensity that matched Ash's.

      "My name is Adien," he said as he held out his hand.

      "Thank you, for the save". Ash said as he gripped the outstretched hand.  I shook my head as I realized the two men were squeezing each other's hands hard, in that ritual only men understand. 

      "My pleasure and speaking of, who is this lovely young Lady?" He had a lilting accent I could have listened to half the day.

       "Tsurista, Tsuri to my friends, Knight-Priestess of Akatosh. What brings you up to this barrow?" The look on his face was rather odd to say the least, when I said what I was.

      "The Jarl's court wizard gave me a job, I'm looking for a Dragonstone, it's supposed to be a map of all the dragon mounds. He had information that the stone was here. Might I ask what two (?) Knight-Priests are doing at this barrow also?"

      " Nothing so important as a job for a Jarl, we were asked to retrieve a gold Dragon claw, bandits stole it from the Riverwood shopkeeper." Typical Ash, it was just enough information, but not all that we knew and I had a feeling.

     " If the claw is like the one that we found in Forelhost Barrow, it opens a door, and while the bandits may be after treasure, the treasure might be guarded by a Dragon Priest." Ash gave me a hard look, but I ignored it. "It was that that really had us here."

    "It seems as though I would have run into that all unknowing, so I must thank you for that, and as we are all going into the barrow anyway, it would make sense to travel together."

   I could tell from Ash's blank face and the way he was standing, that he didn't like the idea. But something was tickling the back of my mind about this man, I wasn't sure what it was, it wasn't a bad feeling though. I stifled a sigh because I knew Ash would think I was being perverse about having Adien along and, well following after two good-looking men was better than one.

   "I think that is a great idea, besides which, we might otherwise be stumbling all over each other." Ash is the one who taught me to, *keep one's friends close and enemies closer*, so I wasn't sure what his problem was. 


******************************

    Between the three of us, the bandits and draugr were no problem. The last vaulted room did have a more powerful draugr, but not the Dragon Priest Ash and I had feared. As we entered I heard a chanting, almost below hearing, that got louder and louder as we got closer to the crypt holding that draugr. 
   

    When we were almost at the wall, words seemed to jump right out at us and I knew words I had not known before. I did not have time to ask Adien or Ash if they got the words also,, because that Draugr jumped out of the crypt and though the fight was short, it was intense. I forgot to ask after.

    We searched around and found the Dragonstone that Adien was after and then followed some steps upwards. It was night when we exited out onto a ledge, where spent a rather uncomfortable night,  but with some food that we shared.

    The morning light let us climb down and we made our way into Riverwood, Adien went to sell some of the loot he had picked up at the smith, while Ash and I went to talk to Lucan and sell the rest of the stuff. We would split the gold in half. 

    Adien stayed in Riverwood that night and we met him at the bridge the next morning, traveling to Whiterun together. Ash and I had decided to tell the Jarl about the bandits in the Barrow.

    When we had a clear view of Whiterun from the cliff sides, we could see smoke in the distance, but as bandits often set fire to farms they raided, we thought nothing of it. 

    At first, the guards were going to block our entry into town, but when we told them we had a message from Alvor to the Jarl about Helgen, they let us in. We made our way to Dragonsreach, the Housecarl stopped us and asked about our business, Adien said he had something that the Court Wizard had asked him to get.

    Ash explained that we had news about a dragon that attacked Helgen and that Alvor was afraid for the citizens of Whiterun with few guards. We repeated this to the Jarl and he asked a few questions and then told the housecarl to have some extra guards go. The Steward made an objection saying that the Jarl of Falkreath Hold would think that was a sign that the Jarl was going to attack.

    The Jarl dismissed us and we went to see how Adien was faring with the Court Wizard. They were talking about the Dragonstone he had gotten. Ash grabbed my arm and whispered not to say anything. I gave a slight start, but looking around I saw Delphine in a poor disguise, but I supposed it would work if one did not know her.

   She took her leave soon after we entered the room. Adien was dickering with the Wizard over some of the magical items that were his part of the loot from Bleakfalls Barrow. We stood listening, then heard the Housecarl call the wizard's name, saying that a Dragon was attacking the Watchtower and that a guard was giving a report he should hear. 

   She invited us along and we followed and listened to the guard, who was still breathing heavily from his run. When he had given his report the Jarl asked if we all could go and help. I'm sure Ash would have gotten us an invite had he not asked, but we nodded our yes.

   We followed Irilleth and some guards to the watchtower, which was on fire and the source of the smoke we had seen earlier. She told us to spread out and look for any survivors. 

   I told Ash and Adien I would head to the Tower and they should bring any wounded there and I would use spells and potions to heal them. I had barely made it to the tower when one of the guards yelled that the dragon was coming back. 

   I healed up those who made it to the tower and went out and threw ice spikes at the dragon, I am not sure it did much good, but the arrows of the men also didn't seem to be doing all that much. Every once in a while as the dragon did a fly-by, I heard him taunt the guards, only I don't think they understood everything. He switched back and forth between the dragon tongue and the Nordic tongue. 

  When no more guards made it to the tower for a while, I decided to join the attack in earnest. I caste a Flame Ward, which would protect me better than a normal ward against the fiery breath of the dragon. 

   I continued to throw ice spikes at him and another spell when he landed. The men went at him with swords and his wings and legs were taking a beating. 

   Adien was on the tower bridge opposite me using his bow to good effect, Ash was running at the dragon with his sword drawn. I threw spells at it, while my stomach did flip-flops watching Ash so close to the dragon's maw.

   I threw one last spell, as Adien loosed his bow. The dragon let out a blood-curling yell "*Dovahkiin no*".. Just as Ash jumped on his head and stabbed down with both hands to the dragon's skull.  I felt him die, and my whole body felt lightheaded and displaced. 

   I saw the dragon's soul transfer to Adien, as I grabbed the tower wall and leaned heavily against it. 

 

      

Meeting, Malik and Cultists #7

"Twilight.."

"Is the worst time to be out, as one's eyes can not adjust quickly between the dark of the ground and the lingering brightness of the sky. I know Ash.... I heard  you and the guard round the corner of the Inn, the guard paused and went towards the bridge and you waited a count of ten, then came this way."

I looked back over my shoulder at him and he looked down at me his lips twitching. Then I turned back to look out over the Bay, the water still catching the sunlight, glittering like jewels.

" I needed a moment of quiet and peace, neither of which I would get in the Inn. Maya is very exhausting."

"She is, but she has a good heart and I think with the right Knight she will calm a bit and make a very good Priestess. We are going to help her with that, Malik was recommended by the High Prelate, as a good match for her."

"Do you know him?"

"No, though of course I know of him. "  I nodded and took one last look at the bay, the sky was darkening and stars coming out. We headed back to the Inn, where I played my Lute for an hour or so and then went to bed.

*************

I felt a hand on my foot at the same time I heard Ash say my name and that it was time to get up. Had there been any problems, he would just have said my name. I let loose of the dagger that was in my hand under the pillow and sat up, listening to the sounds of the town waking up for a moment. 

"Maya....Maya! It's time to get up if you want breakfast." she muttered and I grinned at her. " Ash won't spend the extra time here if you're not up and ready to go, we will leave without you."

She sat up and rubbed her glazed red eyes... I winced at the look on her face and walked over and did the best I could with a healing spell, but they aren't really designed to deal with hangovers.

"Come on, Bread will soak up some of the bile in your stomach that's making you queasy and a nice basin of cold water will help with the head. You do want to get to Solitude in time to get our measurements in at the dressmakers don't you?"  I laughed as she grumbled again. I dressed and was out the door to get my breakfast before she had even washed her face.

It took most of the day to get to Solitude, being late afternoon before we made it in the gate. As they were getting ready to execute a man, Ash hurried us to the Inn to get our rooms. I changed out of my heavy armor into a lightweight armor that was suitable for town and changing in and out of clothing.

We made the armorer first and he got our measure and said he would have a couple outfits that we could try on tomorrow, then it was off to the Dresser. The snotty Altmers weren't happy when Ash went in and out of every room and tried all the doors. 

The Sisters said they would have some dresses for us to try, but they would not be the height of fashion. I was happy with that, I only needed a couple of dresses to look nice if I had to meet with the kind of people who expected a Priestess to dress well. 

We went back to the Inn and had a good dinner, Maya chose to stay downstairs and drink and dance with some Imperial soldiers, Ash followed me upstairs where I picked up a book and Ash fixed a pallet on the floor. 

Maya came up as the Guard cried the eleventh hour, sooner than I thought. I was ready for bed, Ash braiding my hair.

"Tsuri, I have a question for you, it's a little personal." She gave Ash a look and he nodded and went out the door. I knew he would not be going far.

"I'll answer if I can, what is it you need to know?"

"I watched the men tonight, they were practically drooling over you and you, you never noticed. I want to get the same kind of attention, without stripping and dancing on a table. I mean even in your armor, you show nothing and yet, get attention, but more you get respect. That is what I want."

I had not actually heard a question, but I think I understood what she meant. I thought a moment about what I thought the biggest differences between us were. 

" I think what people see is my confidence, I don't want attention, but I walk with confidence. Also, my main armor shows nothing, but it does enhance my figure. What I mean is, that you can't see skin, but you can see I have large breasts, You are displaying them, I enhance them. Makes a man think, instead of just drool, about what's under the armor." I saw the light dawn in her eyes.

"Maya, it was a woman who helped design this armor and it wasn't just for protection. No as a Priestess I don't necessarily need to wear armor, I can cast a spell instead, but warriors take me much more seriously because they see I am serious. One of the Priestesses in Elswyer had a saying that I found both funny and apt, " If you've got it, Flaunt it, but remember anything on display is for sale." She looked out with unseeing eyes as she thought of what I said.

"Tsuri, could you help me get one of the armors like yours?  I know they are specially made for each Priestess and well I don't want to go back to the Imperial City to have one made."

"As it happens, I have a long version of the armor, it's got a heavier lining and I think the Armorer here can take some of the plates off the bottom and add them to the seams and adjust it to fit you."

" Oh, so it's back in Riverwood?" She looked a bit crestfallen at that and I smiled.

" No It's one of the things that Ash was carrying, I was going to leave it, but he insisted we bring it. Perhaps for you, he thinks way ahead sometimes." She looked to start another conversation so I told her to think about it and we would take it to the smith in the morning, first thing... but we needed some sleep now.

**************


   The next day dawned bright and sunny and we spent the better part of the day getting fitted for various armors and dresses. The Smith said he could have the armor re-sized in a few days and Maya was very happy about that. We would both have a dress ready the next day.

   The only fly in the ointment, Ash, I was trying on some rather skimpy armors... yeah not to wear, just to try on and he had a major fit over it. I told him he wasn't my Dad and I would damn well wear what I wanted to wear and we had a really quiet fight right then and there. Ash never yells and won't talk to me if I do. Though at times, I yell anyway, it's like slamming a door, it just feels right, at that time anyway!

   Ash and I never stay mad at each other, I depend on him too much and well really I have no clue why he doesn't stay mad at me. We spent the day doing minor repairs to our armor and other gear and you do not know how much I really loved having a hot lunch and then taking a nap.

We picked up a dress apiece from the Sisters and they said the rest would be ready in a day or so and they would have one of the boys run them out to the Priory. Hopefully, more than one boy as I had several dresses myself.

The Armorer said it would be a couple more days before he had Maya's armor done, but he did have the links taken out and she tried it on over a light silk gambeson, which was all that the sisters could have done in that short a time. I reminded him that it would also need to accommodate a heavily padded silk one.

The Winking Skeever's bard and I played til Midnight and then I went to bed, knowing Ash would want to be up and gone with the sunlight.



The walk down and round the docks to the Priory would have been harsh and steep, had we made it with all our packs and Maya's extra gear, but one of the guards showed us a postern gate warning us that it was one-way and that we would have to get the attention of one of the guards to come back through.

Ash muttered something about a breach in the town's defenses and gates like that and said if he was the Jarl of this town he would have that gate sealed up. He was of course correct.

We got to the Priory mid-morning and Maya was about ready to have a fit, she was just that nervous. She hung back with me and let Ash take the lead and greet the Redguard who was chopping wood. 

I took stock of him the way Ash had taught me to. About Ash's height, tough a touch shorter, dark coffee-colored skin. The dual swords on his back looked complicated to me, and light crimson-colored armor made me wince at how visible he would be from a distance, though I would find out I was wrong about that.

His hair was long, but shaved on one side, in the fashion of a sword dancer, from Hammerfell's desert regions. He was a master of his chosen weapons, like Ash. The Order did not make just anyone a Knight let alone a Knight Protector.

We set our packs down and Ash introduced us, then we helped him with some of the chores he was doing before Maya and I took all our gear inside and started Lunch. Ash and Malik spent lunch discussing Maya like she wasn't there, which is par for course for Knights, male or female. Maya and I decided to chime in like we were talking about someone who wasn't there.

We spent the next week sparing and testing how the two of them would work together and then asked for an audience with the Jarl. We had left her be as she had much to contend with because of the recent death of her husband. 

Ash did most of the talking, as temporary High Prelate of our Order in Skyrim, he explained what our tenets were to her and that we would be more than happy to help with any and all troubles, except political ones.  He did say it a bit more, diplomatically though.

She nodded and thanked us for coming and that would have been that if not for the Steward whispering something in her ear. After getting a nod from the Jarl the Steward explained to us.

"We have a bit of a problem on our border, lately there have been reports of people going missing with some Cultists as the attackers. The problem is if we send the guard, the Jarl of The Pale, might take it as an invasion. He's.... touchy to say the least and with the Civil War, even touchier. I think as a religious order, that plans on staying neutral in the Civil War, you can do what our guards can't. If you could get rid of these cultists, the Jarl would be very grateful."

We took our leave and Ash and Malik started planning out what supplies we would need what was already at the Priory and what we would need to buy before we left town.


Two days later we were on our way. It had been decided that Malik and Maya would take the lead, with Ash and I as their backup, because they needed to be able to work together seamlessly. Maya's armor came the day before we left and I have never seen a man's face look so crestfallen.

Maya was asking Ash about the armor's fit, with Malik beside me. "But she has such glorious Breasts, it is a shame to cover them up." I looked at him and said 

"What?" 

"Ah, but you see, Sword Dancers wear little, usually cloth. I wear this armor, more for the cold than the protection it offers. A female Sword Dancer will often fight in only a modesty covering, with hair flowing. I had thought from the armor she had been wearing that, perhaps...well, I guess it doesn't matter."

"Malik, once Ash is gone, you can probably talk her right into wearing as little as it pleases the two of you to wear, and the cold permits, as she is a Nord, that might be very little indeed. As a priestess, she may dress how she wills, in armor or cloth, Ash has an odd idea of propriety and safety."

   He looked very thoughtful as we continued on. We found the cave entrance that we had been told about. The doorway and masonry said much about the type of people that were inside. The newly killed and desiccated corpses said more.

   Ash motioned us to walk a little bit away. And told us that as it was only mid-afternoon he wanted to wait til later when opening the door would not flood the interior with sunlight, allowing them to know we were on our way in. So we set up a small camp and I pulled out my bed roll and took a nap until Ash called me awake.

   It was right at dusk and Maya was also rubbing her eyes, Malik handed us both a bowl of stew and a chunk of bread. I tasted the meat, berries, honey, and some of the spices that Ash used to make the Stew, it wasn't as tasty as one would think, but it was full of calories that we would need to fight.


  I opened the door as narrowly as possible and watched as the other three squeezed through, then went in myself and closed the door quietly. I put my pack on the floor next to the others and we headed into the cave. I blinked my eyes a little to adjust to the dimmer cave. 

  As I looked around, I realized it was not as dim as it could have been. The blue light shining down from the roof of the cave said that a hole or two in the mountain was letting in light, the color said it was iced over. There were also Brazier's burning, giving off a dim orange/yellow light. The effect was creepy.

  Malik and Maya were almost to the ramp down, when I heard it, claws on stone, I could not see any animal. I caste a very simple low-level spell that put frost on everything, not useful for much, but it did one thing well, put to sight anything invisible. It would not last long, but they pulled weapons and killed the Skeevers that were almost on top of them.

   They rushed down to the next level, making enough noise that anything there would have time to prepare. Ash gave me a look and followed a bit slower, I was now watching all their backs. I caste a detect life spell and was startled to see Ash almost pass something pressed to the wall.

   "Ash, 9 O'clock high!" He swung the greatsword in an arc and the mage who had been standing there, invisible, lost his head. I again cast my Hoarfrost spell and it showed two mages almost on top of Malik and Maya. Ash let out a battle cry and took off running, which was a good thing as neither of the other two was in a good position to battle.

   I caste a  summon Flame Atronach spell, not just to help with the fight, but they are very good about detecting hidden enemies. Maya got a knife slashed across her chest and fell, but the mage back-peddled with a fire-bolt to the face and then a greatsword across the neck. 

   Malik was faring better, but in trying to find an opening was maneuvering for space when the mage summoned an Ice Atronach. I caste another detect life spell, but only that which I could already see was visible on this level and I could not see below. The creepy smile on the mages face told me he was playing a waiting game and I needed to get to Maya.

  I pulled out my crossbow and dipped the tip of one of the bolts into a small vial that I carried. Hitting the mage in the side of the neck caused him to freeze as powerful paralyzing poison took effect, before he could topple over, Malik's swords scissored his head off and Ash's swing at the now dissipating Atronach had to be pulled.

   I got to Maya gave her a vial of fast-acting healing potion and caste a spell on top of that. She said her thanks as I went to both men and caste a small healing spell on both, neither had more than minor cuts. Ash looked at me and raised a brow, I nodded and said, "From the waiting game he was playing, he expected help from below."

   I kept behind the others, casting detect life at every turn, but we ran into no more than a Skeever til we were almost at the bottom. We were strung out on a steep downward ramp when the next attack came. I was flung into the wall by a pressure wave, as soon as I was half upright I caste my hoarfrost spell again and we could all see five or six mages heading up the ramp, though on different levels.

  The first of them got to us as one of those below had caste a paralyze spell and caught Maya before she had gotten an armor flesh spell on. She fell hard and I stopped beside her and caste two spells quickly one a flesh spell for me, the other a summon for a Storm Atronach. I drew my sword and readied a ward spell, I didn't have the strength to caste yet.

  The men were in a guarding position with Ash slightly ahead, his sword's longer reach keeping most at bay, Malik kept closer to the wall where his speed and agility would work for him. I reached into my pouch and felt around for a small vial of potion that would allow my magicka to regenerate faster, at the cost of me physically crashing later. I drank that and chewed on the lump of dried meat and berries kept together by honey, that would help with my energy level. 

   I knelt and poured a drop or two of healing potion at a time into Maya's mouth, I didn't want her to choke. I kept looking and had to put the stopper on the vial and stand, flinging up a ward spell in time to stop another one of those pressure waves, it had been preceded by a sound like a clap of thunder, which gave me warning. 

  As I thought that my Storm Atronach was about to dissipate, I summoned another, only to find, that the 1st did not. In the back of my mind was the thought that my conjuration skill had just gotten stronger. Looking down to the bottom of the cave, I could see a dark blob floating around, and I caste a fire bolt at it, but it barely moved the thing. 

   Sighing I kept one ear out for the thing and then concentrated on the mages, they all had daggers and those must have been enchanted, Malik and then Ash went down.. I caste Healing spells at both and then threw a rune spell at my feet. At almost arm's length one of my fire-bolts hit a mage square in the chest and he went off the edge of the ramp down to the bottom, I heard the crunch of bones breaking. An ice-spike flew past my face and caught another through the eye and I caste a spell at him that pushed him over the edge, then used another Summon spell, this time for one of the Lesser Deadra, a Golden Saint answered and she put paid to the remaining mage.

   I gave both Malik and Ash very strong healing potions and they staggered to their feet. Two more mages and the black creature were at the bottom of the cave. The two men started for the bottom and Maya went to follow, I grabbed her sleeve and shook my head.

"You go to that landing and I'll go over on the other side of the stream. Strafing spells at it, keep it off balance, try not to hit the men."

  It wasn't too much longer before it was a pile of black rags and mush and we looked around at all the landings and in the sleeping areas. I caste spells to see if there were hidden passages but could find none. We all tramped back up to the first landing and from the sound of the wind rattling the door and the snow blowing through the cracks, a blizzard was blowing outside.

 "we'll camp here, Tsuri, you and Malik go find more wood and other things that will burn, then put some runes on the ramp up. Maya lay out everyone's sleep rolls and put a low-powered rune on the door, so that we know it's being opened, but it won't hurt the unwary." 

After all the preparations had been made, but before the stew was done. Ash looked at me and barked, "What went wrong?!"  I sighed cause, while I was used to Ash and the way he did after assessments, neither Maya nor Malik were.

 "Malik, Maya you both rushed ahead, without knowing what was there. Malik, it's your job as a Knight protector to protect your Priestess. Maya, it's your job to make sure Malik knows what it is he's protecting you from. Ash, you were not as cautious as you could have been following them. I was slow to caste the right spells to allow all to see what the danger was."  I paused and thought for a moment and then started again.

 "Maya, for the second part of that fight, you didn't caste protective spells on yourself, yes this armor is better, but it's not plate steel. This caused you to miss most of the fight, being paralyzed. Malik, I should not have been the one standing over Maya protecting her. I had to watch her and also pay attention to you and Ash and those mages. Ash, my Conjuration has increased, I can now summon two deadra from the other plane."  He nodded and then stood up and walked away for a minute. He paced back and stood looking at the three of us.

 "Maya, Malik, to be honest, you should have had more time to get to know how each other works. Tsuri and I know each other well enough to know how we are going to react. BUT, knowing you each need to talk to the other, when we get back and work out how you are going to work with each other." he paused and then frowned, " Those weren't just mages, they were cultists of one sort or the other. That creature was a Lurker, Tsuri best guess?"  I frowned and thought about it for a minute or so. 

  "At first glance, I would have said Hermaeus Mora, but it doesn't quite fit. His cultists are power hungry, yes, but they feel power through knowledge and I didn't see more than ten books, very unlike any of his followers". I looked off into the dark of the cave. " Even though the Lurker is one of his creatures. I don't know Ash, but it seems it's something that we should look into. I do have a question though, what was that  ummm weapon it was using, the sound and pressure wave?" Ash was shaking his head and I could see he didn't know.

"A Thu'um, that was a Thu'um or shout. It is something that can be learned but it would take a very long time. Legends say that a Dragonborn can use them without extensive training." She looked at me inquiringly. I shook my head.

"No, not as far as I know, who would we ask?" She tipped her head a little and smiled.

"The Greybeards they are the only ones who might know."









   
    

Maya #6

The trip to Solitude was pretty much uneventful unless you counted the constant sniping Maya was shooting at Ash. He never said a word, Which was unusual for him, but when I didn't hear a bear crashing through some trees because of her constant chatter and sniping, I told her to hush. 

She pouted for a bit and then started singing and I had to explain that I wasn't just asking her not to talk, but to be quiet. I was out of sorts, almost being mauled by a bear, just because we couldn't hear it coming. 

I looked back at Ash and realized he had been waiting for me to say something. I groaned and looked back forward, he always wanted me to think and this was no exception. So, why me say something... hmmm she didn't strike me as the type of woman that won't listen to advice from a man, just because he is.

Ah, in her case, it's the authority figure, she's rebelling against. Well, Ash is a good leader, who knows how to delegate and when. Hopefully, she would not hold a grudge.

It took us almost a week to get to Solitude and I must say, camping with Maya was not a treat. She was not happy about sleeping on the ground and had not packed the right kind of clothing or gear. It was only on the second night, that Ash pulled out a thin but warm blanket, I knew why, he wanted her to plan better. What way to teach than to let someone mess up on their own and then show them how it's done.

On the fourth night, I had a burning curiosity. I was not sure how to ask or even if it was polite. I weighed knowing against sour feelings and decided if she wasn't mad about me constantly telling her to shut UP, then this probably wasn't going to bother her either. So as soon as we were settled down, I decided to ask.

"Maya, why don't you have a Knight protector? The Order is usually much better at protecting its Priestesses." She looked over the fire at me and got a cocky grin on her face.

"I can take care of myself. What do I need a man to protect me for."  Ash snorted and I looked over at him.

"What you mean is you have driven off every Knight sent to you. Now none will have you and without a Knight Protector, all you can do is roam around. You have no clue how to take care of yourself in the wilderness, so you have to stay in the cities and towns, but all those posts are taken by Knights and Priestesses or Priests...." 

"Ash!!" I had never known him to be so mean.

"Tsuri, It's the truth and the only reason we are on this trip to Solitude right now is that there IS a knight who is willing to try to work things out with her." He looked at her and frowned, the tears in her eyes were not expected but the stubborn set to her jaw was. "This is your last chance at a Knight protector, after Malik, you will be recalled back to the Imperial City and assigned to the Priory there as an Acolyte or simply let go, All Priest-mages and mage-Priestesses must have a Knight Protector. You are given too much power by Akatosh not to."

Maya's normally tan face went white and she balled up with her arms around her legs and started sobbing. I looked at Ash and he shook his head, confusion in his eyes. I walked over and knelt beside her, wrapping my arms around her.

"Maya, from what Ash has said you're the one pushing the Knights away, making their life a misery."

I listened carefully as she sobbed and stuttered through an explanation. I fished a small piece of cloth out of a pocket, normally used to wipe down my blade, it was clean at the moment, so I handed it to her.

"Sweetie Ash, neither owns me nor is a marionette, whose orders I follow without thought."

"But...you...he tells you what to do all the time!"

"Well of course he does, I've had something after me since the day I was born. Ash is my Knight Protector, my friend, and my mentor. Over the years I have not had time to learn all, none of us can. I trust in Ash to keep me safe."

"But he...he tells you what to wear." She wailed out.

"And I listen, to an extent."

"You gave me that beautiful outfit 'cause you said he'd burn it!" I gave her a lop-sided grin and nodded.

"That's very true, I did and he would." I looked up at Ash, who chose that moment to look down at the two of us, his face in a stern line and my lips twitched. " I like yanking his chain once in a while, but I actually prefer clothing that covers a bit more." Ash's eyes narrowed and he shook his head, then came over and knelt beside us, tipping her chin up so that she was looking at him.

"Malik's sisters are both Sword-dancers. I have seen Yenaveria wear less and get no flack from him. You're a mage, as long as you use your protective magic, what you wear doesn't really matter. Tsuri forgets her armor spells but rushes right in, so I harp on what she wears." With that, he stood up and walked out away from the camp and looked around.

I didn't for a minute think that was the complete truth of the matter, I did not forget to use my armor spells, I only used them when I thought I needed them. Of course, if it helped settle Maya, Ash wasn't above a little lie of omission. 

She looked a little brighter and stopped sobbing. I stood up and walked over to my pack and grabbed a washing cloth and dipped it in the small pot of water, then wrung it out over the ground. Kneeling beside Maya again, I carefully wiped the tears and smudges away.

"So, no more rebelling just to rebel? We'll get to Solitude, do some shopping and Ash can carry all our stuff. Then we'll go meet Malik and see about the Priory. If his job is like Ash's then you'll be near Solitude for a good long time, while you put it in order. That Priory was A home for a while but was neglected, Malik one of the two Knights sent to look it over."

She smiled and said that was great and she would give him a chance. I was glad she would at least try, if Ash was right ( and I knew he would be) Malik was her last chance.

The rest of the trip to Solitude was pretty uneventful, you know, other than wolves, Sabre cats, and Trolls. I would be more than happy to try on different armor, but I preferred mine... dresses on the other hand!  Now that we were attached to a Priory for a while, I could buy some dresses and look like something other than a walking tin can.

New Friends #5

  

The trip from Riften was a test of patience, I was physically exhausted by the time we got back to the Priory and wanted nothing more than some peace and quiet. As if the wolves and bears weren't enough, Spriggan's and Derzog seemed to have multiplied, or well maybe not. As we had not done more than travel through Skyrim before, maybe it was normal to have so many dangerous creatures around.

  My temper was frayed and Ash's ooof, he didn't even wait for a bandit to try to extort money from us, she no sooner said "Halt...this is" and he loped her head off. That may have had something to do with the assassin that had tried to kill us, which did not go over well, if he could have he would have killed the Khajiit twice over.

  He was practically growling by the time we made it to the Priory. Seeing the horses staked out, out in the small grassy area, was clue number one that we were not alone. He said he would take care of our horses and I could go meet our guests. So I did.

    A set of twins, at first I thought triplets, but they said no. Maya was a tall leggy blond, augmented by the three-inch spiked heel boots and I would feel jealous but she had such a sweet personality, that I could not. Her armor had the twins drooling, Ash rolled his eyes and asked if it wasn't a bit chilly. The twins were blond Imperials that though taller than me, were shorter than Maya, who stood equal in height with Ash.

  Maya just rolled her eyes at Ash and said "Yes Dad...I'll go and put on more clothes". I choked on a laugh, but the twins didn't and he glared at them, stalking out of the Priory. I heard mutters about children that should have been smothered at birth.

  Maya asked if I minded sharing space with her, she normally didn't mind sharing a barracks with men, but the way the twins stared at her made her want to either beat the crap out of them or take a bath and she wasn't sure which. I told her I didn't mind, we could get them to pull one of the beds into my room, I really didn't use the table anyway, but she should know that Ash would pop in and out a few times a night to make sure I was ok.

 "Ohhh- Kaaay and why is he checking up on you?"  I could see the curiosity in her eyes, though all the piercings were very distracting.... at a guess I would say the low cleavage was also, to men.

"Well, it's the whole *Akatosh's chosen, soul of a dragon* thing. He was made my guardian and he takes it very seriously."  I sighed and thought for a moment. " Then again as often as things try and kill me, I can't say as I blame him. Our first  * run in the night* was after he killed a Dark Seducer who was leaning over my bed. "

  I could see the surprise and horror in her eyes, most people looked at it that way. Dragons were not nice creatures, power.. they were all about gaining and keeping power. The whole reason I was taught to be a priestess first and a mage second, the skills as a warrior, well that was strictly to keep me alive.

"Oh, I'm used to it, grew up knowing that Ash would keep me alive at all costs. I have something I have to do, something Akatosh gave me the soul of a Dragon to do. Once that's done," I laughed, in a half-joking manner, " Ash may kill me himself. Well, it's not like I would blame him, I make his life worse than a trip through one of the realms of Oblivion. " She tipped her head sideways and tapped her lips with a long red fingernail.

"Why? Why torment him? Does he restrict you so much?" I looked down at the floor and thought hard about that one. Why did I like to twist his tail, when had I started... huh, that would need a lot of thought.

"No, as a matter of fact, he pretty much lets me do as I please, just watches like a hawk while I do it, picks up any pieces I may have broken, and glues everything back together with kindness and patience."

She slapped her legs and got a bright grin on her face... "How about we go and paint the Sleeping Giant red? We'll even take the boys along, someones gotta cart us home." She grabbed her bags in one hand and my arm in the other and hauled us to my room.

We dressed in some of our finery and ate a small snack for lunch, Maya said we'd be able to drink the men under the table if we had something to soak up the alcohol. I shook my head and knew Ash might have an ale or two, but not more, he was somber and vigilant about his guardianship.

The twins thought it was an excellent suggestion and started arguing about who was going to carry whom home. Ash glared enough at the two of them, that they decided he could carry the "redhead" home, they'd take the blond. Maya snickered and winked, I had the feeling she had been to the Sleeping Giant before and had something other than coming back to the Priory tonight in mind.

I was right, but of all people, she shacked up with Orgnar, well he might not be everyone's cup of tea looks wise, and had the personality of a Sabre Cat in a pissy mood, but well he must have had some kind of quality she liked. I decided not to ask.

I  had less to drink than Ash, I stuck to cider, and Sven and I amused everyone, taking turns playing.  I knew many more songs than he did, from Elswyer, literally, and High Rock, Morrowind, and places in between.  He taught me some of the Local versions of Favorite songs of Skyrim, I knew some of them were slanted for or against the Civil War, which Ash said we needed to keep strictly out of.  I would learn all versions, never knowing when they might come in handy.

We made it back to the Priory with the first glimmer of light on the horizon and I fell into bed gratefully. I woke mid-morning to Maya shaking me and asking if I wanted to go to Solitude, do some shopping, and check out the other Priory? I told her that was fine, we might ditch the twins, but Ash would insist on going with us, I was not wrong.