This post is the collaborative work of myself and two other writers. A salute to Skyrim from the Star Trek Universe.

Jake was whistling as he walked up to the wall control for the holodeck.

He stopped and grinned then spoke clearly. "Computer initiate J Haltom program JH 3-1. Begin from last endpoint."

[Working] The voice spoke back. [Program starting up, please enter the holodeck.]

He drew a deep breath, squared his shoulders and stepped through the opening door.

Behind him the gateway closed and he began choosing his equipment from the mannequins, weapons racks and chests in the 10x10 room which was his 'buffer zone' from what waited outside.

A suit of ornate but lightweight Stahlrim armor that was heavily enchanted followed by a quiver of dragon bone arrows and matching enchanted bow and sword were alternatively slung and buckled about his person followed by belt pouches containing his money and some supplies. Lastly an amulet and enchanted ring completed the preparations.

He checked the sword in its scabbard which slid out smoothly, squared his shoulders again, put a neutral expression on his face then spoke. "Preparation period ended, begin program."

Another gateway opened and the interior of an inn took glorious shape around him. The smell of meat searing over the fire pit in the center of the large common room and bread baking in a kitchen beyond immediately found his nostrils and made his stomach growl. He had purposely come in shortly before dinner for this very reason. The sharp smell of mead flowing like water was also present.

The hulking men in armor were either roaring in laughter or looking around reflectively as the serving maids bustled about in rough dresses with plunging necklines.

His own armor and equipment stood out like a beacon amidst the rough crew and their equally rough armor and weapons marking him as a person of some renown already.

"Welcome Harbinger!" The owner of the tavern called out and motioned him over.

He nodded, not taking his eyes off of the crowded room before making his way to the woman.

"I didn't see you come in. Do you wish the usual?"

"Of course,” He said dispassionately. “Roasted venison and potatoes, fresh bread and a flagon of mead." When he was satisfied the curious looks he was getting were harmless he turned his attention back toward her and threw down several golden septims he had slid from a pouch at his waist. "Have them delivered to that table." He nodded his head in the direction of Uthgerd who was sitting at her normal place.

"Of course Harbinger, it will be there shortly."

Uthgerd saw him coming and smiled as she stood. "A man who's fist is as heavy as his sword." Her brogue was pleasing in his ears. "Still think you can take me?"

"Would you like another round?" He asked slyly and she began to laugh brazenly as she massaged her jaw.

"Not at this time Harbinger, perhaps later."

He took the rough stool across from her and looked about the room once again.

"Come back to do some more bandit hunting?" She asked.

His eyes tracked back to her face and he shook his head. "Not this time, there is a certain barrow I need to look into and I'd appreciate some back-up."

"I'd love to!" The woman's eyes practically glowed with glee and her steel armor rattled as she slammed a fist on the table.

"Good, I'd like to have you along."

Saadia appeared at his elbow carrying a tray filled with steaming meat, bread, potatoes and a brimming mug which she slid onto the table in front of him. "Bring my friend another round." He said and she nodded before moving off.

"A strange one that." The shield maiden said as she watched her go.

"You have no idea." Jake/The Harbinger snapped a quick nod, remembering the gauntlet of assassins he had been forced to win through to take out the leader who was intent on Saadia's death. "You have no idea." He removed the helm and gauntlets so that he could eat and began attacking the chow. The rough flavors were reminiscent of the most delicate of chef's delights as his hunger added to the spice of the meal and the mead had a bite that synthehol could not emulate.

Jake finished the rough meal with relish. The venison had been seared on the outside and medium rare in the middle just like he enjoyed it.

Uthgerd watched him with amusemant in her eyes as he ordered a bowl of warm water and a towel. "Fastidious as always."

He nodded as he wiped his face then cleaned his hands. "Grease on the fingers can cause a sword to slip."

"No argument there." The woman rose to her feet. "I'll fetch my adventuring armor from the house while you enjoy the fine bardic tunes."

He grimaced but nodded, the Bannered Mare had one of the finest bards in the province, too bad he was a jerk.

While Uthgerd left the inn he finished off the mug and took another which he would sip slowly as the bard sung one of the local favorites. After his companion returned he would go to his own house and fetch his shield and dagger which he was never without in this fantasy world.

Combat here had been a pain to learn and he had 'died' uncounted times until he had settled on a rhythm along with painful pointers from the trainers at Jorvaskr. The bow had been a little easier but not much and he was halfway conversant with it now, fortunately the enchantments on it made up for much of his disadvantage.

"Harbinger, welcome home," His mentor with the Companions exclaimed.

Jake motioned the man to sit down; he had been watching him since he had entered the door. "Farkas how is business?"

The husky Nord dressed in fur and leather armor took the other stool with a sigh and shook his black mane as he gestured for Saadia to come to him. "Better now that the war is over, the rebels have dispersed and we can concentrate on the bandit plague. The Jarl is still holding the guard back in case the dragon menace resurfaces."

Jake shook his head. "My friends among them are getting them under control, with the World Eater dead or at least defeated they are no longer a threat."

"I know, I know." Farkas waved his left hand as his right grasped the mug that had just been set before him. "It will take Balgruuf a while though, he trusts you but is a cautious man." With those words said he tipped the mug and drank noisily and with gusto.

"But the Companions are bandit hunting then."

"Yes." Farkas clapped the mug on the table for a moment. "Much better than what we have been doing, the full might of the order can now be brought to bear on them. From whence have you come then?"

"A bit of vampire extermination, the threat has been eliminated." He grinned.

"Excellent!" Farkas roared. "You will be joining us once again then?"

"Not yet." The Harbinger resurfaced with a grim look. "Much more to be done yet, there is an artifact of some importance I need to get my hands on."

"Do you need help?" The man's look was hopeful.

"No, I've got a companion already."

"The Companions are at your beck and call as always should you need us then Harbinger." Farkas spoke with ritual cadence. "As a member of the circle and guide of our order you have but to speak and we will come."

Jake reached across the table and grabbed the man's forearm, managing not to wince at Farkas' crushing grip. "Of course shield brother."

He then laid more coins on the table as Saadia returned. "Keep the mead coming Saadia."

She nodded, gave him an appraising look and went to fetch a pitcher.

Jake watched the dusky, dark haired woman as she left then turned back to his companion.

"She would be quite a catch Harbinger." The man's look was contemplative.

"But unavailable I'm afraid." Jake shrugged.

"For a roll 'neath the sheets," Farkas grinned. "How do you know, have you tried?"

Jake couldn't help but laugh at that one. "I would be concerned for the dagger she keeps about her person. It's already been pulled on me once."

"Since she didn't kill you then she obviously likes you." Farkas gave him a wicked grin.

"She actually thought I was out to abduct her." Jake left it at that, her full story was private.

"How long will you be in Whiterun?"

"We'll be leaving out in the morning." Jake spoke absently, watching closely about the inn. It had held at least one surprise for him already.

"Then I'll stay and drink on your coin till you turn in." The big man chuckled. "We really shouldn't have passed Uthgerd over for membership I suppose since you highly value her company, perhaps we will put that to rest when you return."

He nodded at Jake's look. "I saw her leave before I came in and this is her chair after all."

"For the inner circle or general membership," He asked.

"She will have to prove herself for the circle as you did but I have no doubt she has the aptitude, she has journeyed with the foremost hero of our age after all."

Jake shrugged and sat back with his mug as he listened to Mickael singing "The Dragonborn Comes."

"He's already here." He muttered and settled in to wait for Uthgerd's return.

EndPart 1.

Angeni stood outside the holodeck, straightening out the laces on the leather corset she was wearing. She had walked past the holodeck about thirty minutes prior and had seen the "open" signal on the console. The description of the program was of particular interest to her; the idea of playing out a Nordic fantasy intrigued her. She had a tight, light brown leather corset and a leather skirt from her travels with her Klingon compatriots, but she added a pair of wolf fur boots and a warm fox skin cloak. Under her cloak, she had a quiver full of arrows strapped to her back, the oak and sinew bow in her hand. She felt the long dagger strapped to her side and she could even feel the ones strapped to both ankles. A coin purse with replicated Nordic coins jingled softly at her side as she moved about.

The white cotton shirt she wore under the corset to provide her with sleeves was sewn together with leather and the sleeves were tied up the same way her corset was laced. The sleeves belled out a bit and each wrist was contained in a leather bracelet to keep the fletchings from scraping up the sensitive skin of her wrists. Her long, dark hair flowed down her back and puddled in the hollow space of the hood of her cloak, which she pulled up and over her head. The hem of the hood fell just past her eyes and she pushed the button to open the door.

Angeni stepped inside, moving lightly and gracefully through the room. She softly murmured her excuse ME’s, pleases, and thank you’s as she made her way through the crowd. She sat at a table in the corner, looking up long enough to make eye contact with her waitress.

"Mead, please."

She pulled her dagger from her side and began sharpening it slowly, watching the dim candlelight glint off the blade.

Jake couldn't help but mouth the words of the song as the bard continued; he had heard them countless times before. This was his little corner of 'getaway land', the place where he went to unwind after a strenuous time or just for fun. Although the man was a jerk he was accounted as the best of the lot in this northern land of blowing snow and extremely frigid clime.

The entrance of a woman dressed in leathers and sporting a bow was unexpected, although he hadn't met everyone there was to be seen in the game there was something about her that struck a discordant note. The women invariably had short hair except but for a very few such as Saadia who was a foreigner to the land and her features didn't mesh with any of the races he had seen. Was she a foreigner who the program had dropped in randomly or someone else? His curiosity piqued he fingered his beardless chin for an instant before coming to a decision. Uthgerd wouldn't be back for a while yet and with Farkas otherwise occupied perhaps he should introduce himself.

"You have a good eye." Farkas rumbled as he began to rise from the stool.

Jake looked around surprised then grinned. "So what clued you in Shield brother?"

"Your smell of course... and hers," The man grunted.

Jake nodded, it was easy to forget the special 'nature' of the inner circle of the Companions, something he shared as well but rarely used.

"She's a rare beauty; you’d best go quickly before Mickael spots her." Farkas then laughed, the bellowing sound seeming to propel him as he made his way to her table.

He stopped before her, his arms folded across his chest and away from his weapons. "Well met shield maiden. I have never seen you in this hold before. What business brings you here if it is not an intrusion to ask?" No matter how hard he tried he had not been able to master the Nordic cadence of speech and his hairless face certainly marked him as an outsider.

Angeni never looked up from her blade, but her ears burned under her hood. She slid the sharpening stone along the blade, her face shrouded in the shadow of her hood.

"Well met, brother." She spoke, her voice firm. "I was told that I could find adventure here if I looked hard enough." She smiled softly, turning her head away from him to accept her Mead, "Bakka fyrir." She saluted the waitress and took a long swig from her stein. She set her Mead down and gestured at the chair across from her.

Her expostulation to the waitress had the sound of a thanks or salute, Jake had no idea which as she took her mead.

"Sit, brother."

This only made Jake confused; she sounded Federation but knew more than he of the local dialect. This made him shrug his shoulders as he complied with her offer. It looked like she would bring a unique point of view to the scenario if she was indeed from his world.

"Who am I speaking to? “He asked casually as his eyes raked over the gathering. Was it his imagination or had Farkas just winked at him? It could have been the firelight since he was now in another corner of the room.

She took another sip then she sheathed her dagger. She tucked her whetstone into a leather pouch and as she did, a long black tress slipped from her hood. She quickly put her hair back into her hood and she turned back. All that was visible of her face were her lips and chin.

He made sure when he took a seat that he was facing once again toward the common area and door once again even though it turned him partly away from her as she put away her weapon and whetstone. He didn't miss however her long hair peeking from the hood which he had inferred from its fullness earlier.

"I am called Eir...and you?

"Olaf," He replied, "Olaf Regnivald." He decided his facing could be considered impolite and swiveled back toward her even though it meant exposing his back partially to the gathering. You had to exercise a great amount of caution in the game. "From whence have you come Eir, from some other province perhaps or farther? I myself have come from outside."

End Part 2

Wai was cross with herself. She had been looking forward to going to the holodeck but like everything on the ship work came first and when time was short the problem took a long, long time. She had quickly rushed back to her quarters to get changed and was now wearing what was appropriate for the program. This was not easy as just putting on a shirt and trousers as a Selkie she had containment issues to think about especially if there was going to be physical activity involved which she thought there might be. She was wearing her black form fitting hydration suit which was less bulky then the one that she usually wore when she was on duty. This did have its draw backs as it was not as reinforced in the high impact areas, electrical insulation and its self-sealing qualities would be reduced. Its oxygen regulators had a reduced capacity but the scrubbers pads on her shoulder blades would cope with her oxygen requirements for the time being.

On top of this she had a long dark brown robe which came down to her ankles where she wore a stout pair of fur boots. The robe was thick and heavy so that it would not swish around when she moved and it also gave her a good range of movement and warmth. It had sleeves that reached her wrists where she wore black gloves to hide the hydration suit. She had found that after tweaking the lighting from her helmet illumination so that she could not be seen with the hidden depths of the robes dark hood. She smiled at herself as she remembered the image of her face disappearing into the darkness of her hood.

~That might scare the locals~

She also carried a coin purse with Nordic coins secured by the robe’s cords which were wrapped securely around her middle. Also attached to the cord was a leather bag that sat in the small of her back and fastened on top of this was a slender knife as long as her forearm. She carried a quarter staff which she used as a travelling stick for walking.

She walked up to the holodeck and saw that it was already in progress. She sighed to herself as she pulled the hood over her head and turned down the illumination on her helmet so that her face disappeared in the shadow that it caused. She grinned to herself as she gripped her quarter staff and walked into the holodeck.

She walked into what she recognized as an Inn. She could smell the smell of meat searing over the fire pit and baking bread through her filters.

There was also a sharp smell of mead tinged with the aroma of sweat. She saw hulking men in armor who were roaring in laughter at some unknown

joke. She also noticed the serving maids were bustling about in rough dresses with plunging necklines and also that some of the more drunken men were watching them move around the room.

She moved carefully and cautiously through the room as to not knock into some of the more inebriated patrons of the inn.

"Welcome stranger what bring you to these parts?"

Wai looked around at a man that looked like the owner of the tavern as she then slowly glanced around the Inn.

“I am just passing through. That is all.”

“Just passing through? It is dangerous to travel these parts alone.”

Wai turned to look at him directly and said sternly. “I can handle myself.”

“Hmm of course. Just giving some friendly advice.”

She nodded and then moved on. She spotted Haltom sitting with another woman. She knew from a glance that this woman was not part of the game there was something ‘different’ about her especially as she had been programming holodeck simulations for as long as she had. So she moved to a dark corner where she could over her their conversation without being obvious.

Jake caught the opening of the arch out of the corner of his eye this time and saw a robed and hooded figure glide into the inn. You really had to be on your toes, there were so many nuances in the game that it had been ingrained into him. He followed the movement of the figure to a nearby table without moving his head and exposing his own curiosity. Since his meeting with Farkas had reminded him he relaxed and let his senses open. His nostrils flared as the scents of the occupants of the inn began to come into focus; the 'people' in the game had a scent of their own mingled with grease, horses, dogs and grass, the tundra of Skyrim. All except for Farkas of course whose own scent had a tint of fur and saliva, these were the only names he could give these scents. The woman he sat with and the newcomer however had that clean, freshly scrubbed and almost antiseptic smell of life aboard a starship. His own scent in game was much like Farkas' but intermingled with that same antiseptic odor.

The woman sitting before him ignored his question initially, rather grinning instead and getting to the heart of her questions. "So tell me, my friend.

Do you know of any good trouble we can get into?"

Wai saw the woman rub her hands together eagerly and she turned up towards the bartender,

"Two more pints of your finest Mead, please!"

~Looks like someone is here for a party~

Jake grinned then; her eagerness answered his question at least partially. "Actually I've got some 'trouble' in mind at the moment. I've already recruited one of the locals as backup and would welcome your company. Tell me truthfully..." his face grew serious. "Have you been to Skyrim before? If not there are certain things you need to know about this place and how to survive as well as rules of the game in place at the moment which are of my own choosing." With his sense of smell now opened he no longer had need to keeping a tight watch on the room, his nose now was attuned to add to the information his eyes would normally accumulate.

Before she could answer he held up his hand and turned to the shadowy figure. "If you've a mind to join you are welcome as well."

She had moved out of the shadows and into a seat beside them both as Jake had asked.

Angeni leaned back slightly in her chair as the newcomer sat down. She had noticed the person come into the room, but paid them little mind. The person moved with a purpose, but yet lacking in meaning. There was nothing aggressive or intimidating about the persons' posture as they moved, so she had pretty much ignored them. With the invitation from the person across from her...Jake Haltom from what the Holodeck said...the person who was ready to sit next to her was obviously an acquaintance. She took a sip from her Mead, keeping her hood down as to shroud her face, but she looked up at him, the bottom part of her face still the only thing visible.

He nodded as the female joined them, her scent was unmistakable and he gestured for the serving girl. "What is your name stranger?"

She introduced herself as Cora and told them both that she was ready for whatever adventure they would be starting on.

He nodded. "Welcome. I am called Olaf or Harbinger here along with many other descriptive monikers." He then turned around "Bring a pitcher as well as another flagon in case another of my friends should arrive." She left the richly dressed man with the flagon he had requested and hurried to fetch the Harbinger's order.

"Now then," Jake said, returning to the matter at hand. "I assume you were listening to our conversation so I'll ask you the same question I asked Eir here. You have both stepped into a very unforgiving and dangerous environment and I need to ascertain how familiar you are with it and tell you the rules of the game as I have them programmed into the ship's computer. Also it would be helpful to know your strengths in combat and magic."

Eir was the first to reply. Jake took ten septims from a pouch and added them to the table for the serving girl then leaned back a little as she spoke.

“I have never played myself, but I'm sure I'll pick up quickly. Skill wise..."

Wai saw her pause for a moment and then she smiled a bit.

"I've dabbled in hand to hand and could be considered averagely skilled in weaponry." Angeni said it confidently, trying to make him think that she was overstating what could be considered mediocre skills. She didn't want to go into her history at the moment; she was just looking to blow off a little steam and have a bit of fun.

Wai nodded at what had been said. “I played once a long time ago but not this one. I am okay with weaponry but magic is my real talent. It’s mainly combat magic but I do dabble in the others.”

Angeni quietly listened as the other two spoke. She looked at her nearly drained Stein and she signaled for another one. Even though a Flagon and pitcher rested on the table, she didn't want to drink from them if the creator of the program was expecting more people. She was the outsider in this whole situation. She nodded as she accepted the drink and she basked in the honey flavor. She would have to tell Drak to try some; most of their missions held Norse Mythology names, but they had never delved further into it past learning a bit of Norse and reading up on it. Angeni was a bit of a history buff, so she learned all that she could. She never played this game, but she was sure she'd have a ton of fun.

Wai was glad that she had read up on the basic outline of the world and that she had gotten one of the marines to take her through a refresher in armed combat before starting. She was good with the knife but was now wondering if a quarterstaff was a good choice of weapon for her. She gave a mental shrug and decided that if things became complicated she could probably find a new weapon. She had grown up reading fantasy adventures mainly about aquatic heroes and heroines where fighting some air breathing baddy. This was a way for her to totally escape from work and life on the ship and she was looking forward to having some fun.

Jake listened to the two women talk and used the flagon to top off Eir's drink and offered the flagon and pitcher to Cora and made small talk with the women till Uthgerd returned.

Angeni smiled under the dark hood at Jake as he topped off her Mead. She couldn't remember the last time she had a conversation with someone that didn't have to do with a medical problem, some secret squirrel mission, or her sister. It was nice just to talk with someone, even though their conversation was veiled in game-speak. Cora seemed like a wonderful woman as well and she figured she'd have to invite both of them over to share in her secret stash of non synthehol; an upside of being shuttled around by the most secretive body in the entire UFP was that none of her luggage was subject to security searches...ever. She also held Alpha Level security clearances in addition to having some immunity from some of the lesser rules, one being the near ban of alcohol on board ships. Most ships allowed crew to have a stash and as long as no one got stupid, it was your business...don't ask, don't tell kind of thing. She had no desire to flaunt it, but she didn't mind sharing if the occasion called for it.

When Uthgerd walked through the door to the inn Jake caught her scent and turned his head to verify then stood to his feet.

"Well ladies it looks like it's just us. If you'll stand to your feet we'll get started since from the looks of things both of you need a little more preparation before we go questing."

Angeni nodded and she took a last swig of her Mead before standing. She looked around quickly to make sure she had everything she came in with before they transitioned to the next scene; even though she could just replicate it from calling up an arch, she wanted to stay as true to the scenario as possible and not have to do that if she didn't have to.

Wai nodded and stood up. “Let’s get going.”

Jake motioned Uthgerd over.

Wai saw a woman who was wearing ebony armor and weapons come over as Jake spoke to the computer.

"Computer move us to Heljerchen Hall, great hall."

~~

The scene blurred then changed to the large central hall in his house eight hours north of Whiterun, Gregor and the female bard turned from the long table in the center of the room at which they had been dining and stood to their feet, "Good day thane, welcome home." The table faced a hearth with a roaring fire and there were doors on each wall, the hall continued on both sides and wrapped around the stone hearth.

Angeni looked around at the hall, her eyes wide. It was as if she had stepped into the history tomes she had read about Norse mythology. She took a step forward, her mouth agape. It was not often that she was taken aback by anything. She glanced over at Jake with a smile; it was obvious he had taken great care to create the game in a way that would be as appealing as possible. She barely heard the people talking around her as she tried to take it all in. Mentally, she reeled herself in and she tried to pull herself back so she could pay attention.

Wai’s vision cleared and found that they were in a different place. It was a large hall with doors on each wall with a large fire pumping heat into the hall. There was a long table in its centre facing the fire with the remains of what she thought was a meal. Two people were sitting at the table and stood as they appeared, one man, one woman.

She watched as Jake clasped the forearm of a man before speaking

"Gregor Uthgerd you know, these other two are Eir and Cora." His arm swept to them in turn, "Traveling companions."

Gregor greeted all with a hearty "Welcome to my Lord's hall."

Angeni bowed deeply, her voice soft, yet still holding a firm edge as Wai watched. "It is my pleasure, Gregor."

Wai bowed as well. “Thank you Gregor. It is good to be here.”

When the bard whose name Jake always forgot asked if he had a request he simply asked her to play the lute for him, her voice he always likened to a cat using its claws on a wall. She was fantastic with an instrument however

As she gathered her lute and began to play he motioned Eir and Cora to follow him through one of the doors. "Let me give you a quick tour so you can gather what you need."

Angeni smiled in Gregor’s direction, nodding her head towards him. The heat from the hearth radiated towards her and she embraced it. She followed behind Jake as he motioned to them.

The door he opened led into the first floor of his library as Eir and Cora followed.

Wai looked at the impressive amount of books that was arranged in five bookshelves, four tall and one short around a semicircular tower.

Angeni nearly began salivating on the spot; you couldn't put a book in front of her without her wanting to read it, no matter the subject matter. Absentmindedly, she ran her tongue over her lips. If someone was looking at her eyes, they would be fully dilated as she fixed in on her target...a large, leather bound book on the tallest shelf. The binding was cracked and worn, showing its age and how much it was used. The ones that people looked through the most held the best information.

"Most of my reading material is on the floor above but all of my spell tomes are on this bookshelf." He indicated the tall one on the right. "The Restoration school however is on the shorter bookshelf next to it on the left."

Angeni noticed him gesturing to the right and she nearly giggled with glee, but she contained herself as Wai followed his gaze.

“You have quite a collection.” The Selkie said in admiration.

Angeni smiled and slowly walked to the bookshelf on the right. She sought out the leather book and she was right; it held what she felt were some of the best spells. They talked about flaming bolts and flame walls several feet high. She made a mental note of some of the beginner spells then she walked over to the shelf that held the restoration books. Looking through them, she picked out another spell or two; she understood the premise of the game, so she only picked 'beginner' level spells. She was sure that she could convince Cora and Olaf to make this a regular thing and they could move through the levels of the game properly. Once she was done, she began to thumb through his reading material, waiting patiently for Cora.

End part 3

Before arriving Wai had contacted a friend of hers who spent more time in the holodeck then was probably good for her to talk about concerning the different options available to her and she had narrowed it down to two that she specifically liked. The first was a combat mage. Which was totally magic based which meant destructive magic long range and short range as well as some of the other types such as healing to compliment the others.

The other was an assassin type. Using stealth and guile to mate-ri-al-iz-ing from the shad-ows and slit-ting the enemy’s throat before they can make a sound. She had been going back and forth since she arrived but had decided when they had reached the library that she would do the sneaky assassin role. She remembered the list of magic she would need and quickly moved around the library getting the spells that she needed.

"Now follow me to my armory." He left the door open to the library and stepped back into the great hall and went down the short hall to the right of the hearth

Angeni nodded and gestured for Cora to go through the door before her as she held it open. She lagged behind a few paces so she could take it all in.

Wai followed him back into the hall and along a short hall to the right of the hearth. She arrived into the centre of the large storage room behind it where there was a double door. She suppressed a smile as she saw Jake throw open the doors with a satisfied sigh and step through.

Angeni‘s curiosity was definitely piqued and she moved up close behind Olaf and Cora to peek in the room. She gazed around at the different weapons, a slight smile on her face. As she looked around, she absentmindedly pulled her hood away from her face just enough so she could get an unobstructed view of the room.

"The original program allowed for only a set layout for the house but I respecced it to put my armory back here." He said off-handedly.

She looked at all the mannequins full of armor, trying to glean what bit of information she could from them before Olaf spoke.

Wai turned slowly looking around the room. Along the right wall of the large room were mannequins on fitted stone bases, each decked out in a light armor type. On the wall ahead of them were weapons racks with various swords, maces and shields and on the left wall were racks with bows and pegs from which hung daggers. There were even a few great swords. She looked back at Jake.

"These are mostly trophies but some of the stuff I use from time to time. The armor on the left is a bit skimpy as you can see but was used by a people inured to the cold. If you've ever spent a summer sunbathing on Andoria you could probably use it without bundling up." Jake then grinned at the joke, Andoria as everyone knew was always bitterly cold and the 'summer' altered that by only a few degrees. It was after all a moon which was most often in its planet’s shadow.

A smile flickered across the Selkie’s face. “Bit chilly I guess!”

Angeni giggled aloud beside her, which she quickly stifled it with a slight cough. "Excuse me." she said simply.

Jake pointed to the next set and Wai followed where he was looking.

"Thieves guild armor, buffs for archery, carrying capacity and sneaking on it. Not as good looking as the armor Eir is wearing but gives better protection. The next set is Dark Brotherhood armor and is even better." He smiled at the assassin's set of supple leather of black and red. "Also a buff for archery and it gives even better protection then the thieves’ guild set. The black boots also allow you to move silently with just a little care. The black gloves give a buff to backstabbing an opponent as well. If you sneak up behind an opponent with one of your daggers it's an assured kill." The cowl was black and the silk sash that would cover the face was red.

Angeni blushed profusely and she pulled her hood back down to hide the red flush that was growing up her neck and spreading across her face. She felt her face go hot as she moved towards the red and black gear. She was thankful her cloak was black as it went with the rest of the armor.

Wai followed him as he moved to the left wall and took down an ornate bow and quiver of 30 shafts feathered with white and presented them to Eir. "Sunhallowed elven arrows shot from this bow do a tremendous amount of damage to undead; even Death Overlords hit by three of them will go down. This will be a tremendous asset where we are going."

Wai nodded to herself. Long distance fire would be a good thing.

Angeni took the quiver and bow reverently. "Thank you, brother." She said simply. Gently, she set the quiver on the ground and she drew a bolt. Nocking it, she drew the string back, gently gliding her fingers against the apple of her right cheek. The movement pulled the right side of her hood away from her face, revealing a calm, almost serene expression. She held the pose for a breath, then she slowly un-nocked her bow by pointing the bolt at the floor and holding tension on the string and allowing it to go forward until there was no tension on the string. She restocked the bolt and she smiled. "It feels like a dream. I hope I can do it justice."

Wai watched as Angeni notched an arrow to her bow pulling it tight and then relaxing before putting it back then nodded to herself. ~Looks like we are good for long distance fire power~

He then gestured to the wall on the left. Three daggers hung in place prominently. "The first dagger will cause an enemy to flee for half a minute but has limited charges, the one beside it drains part of the health of an opponent and transfers it to you and the last will cause electrical damage in addition to the stab or slash. Feel free to take anything from this room you need."

Angeni patted her dagger at her side, then she slipped off the holster and she reached behind her, putting it in the pocket that held spare fletchings and arrow heads for her bolts. She slipped off the quiver and set it on a shelf, placing her bow next to it. Quickly, she wrapped a small piece of ribbon around the strap of the quiver and the wooden shaft of her bow. The quiver had a sewn in sensor that would cause it to be transported to her quarters once she was greater than fifty meters from it.

“Thanks.” Wai said, her mind already running through combination and choices.

"One last thing," He placed his hands on his hips as he faced them soberly. "The standard holodeck fail safes are in place, if you get hit by a weapon it might sting or even hurt... a lot but you won't be cut or get any broken bones though you might end up with a bruise or three. The way to know you're taking too much damage is if the program starts to get misty or out of focus, this tells you that you're in danger. If you take a 'Kill' in game then you are frozen out. You'll be able to see the action going on around you but will be unable to interact with it. If you want to jump back in simply order the computer to reinsert you. Be careful though, if you come back in that way you'll be weak and can get knocked out again quickly. Best thing to do in that situation is to heal with a spell or a potion before jumping back in. The enemy you were fighting however will be reset as well unless it has taken damage from another player while you were gone. If you see someone fall under a weapon don't panic, to us they will appear to be knocked out in game but will pop back to their feet when they reenter. Uthgerd has protected status and can only be killed by a player, if you see her fall don't worry she'll keep getting back up until the fight is over. Also if you see a dragon while we're traveling the roads get under cover, don't attack it or draw its attention, I'll handle it. An Ancient dragon can burn you to a crisp in an instant and the legendary ones I'm facing now are even nastier but dragon encounters on the roads now are rare. Do you have any questions over the rules?"

Angeni nodded somberly. She put her hand on top of her head; she had learned some holodeck game rules over the years and the hand on top of the head was the international signal that they were talking out of character. She did it out of pure reflex.

"I'm...a brand new physician on board the ship. I have real medical equipment just in case." Under her period based robes and leathers, she wore a tactical doctor thigh kit with a dermal regenerator, hypospray, and several different types of emergency drugs and pain killers along with her trusty tricorder.

Wai smiled at what Angeni had said. No matter where we went they would always bring a bit of work with them. She shook her head. “Not at the moment. But also on the same matter I have a repair kit in my bag…..” She pointed to the small bag on her hip “… in case I spring a leak because you never know what might happen in this dangerous world.” She gave a smile.

"But, I have no questions. Basically, we beat people, melt faces, watch our bodies and jump in if we 'die' when it looks safe. Oh...and... Don’t mess with dragons for they will eat us like hors d'oeuvres." Angeni’s dark red lips spread into another grin.

Wai grinned at that. ~Oh yeah that sounds good~ She looked back to the array of weapons and armour. She stood there a moment looking at what was available as Jake went off to get his own weapons and armour ready.

As the two moved about to gather what they needed he stepped to another mannequin which had a midnight black armor set and pulled it off the mannequin and began stripping out of the Stahlrim and putting it in its place. Once down to his loincloth he put on the armor set, boots and gloves, the cape hung down his back but the hood and mask he left down on his neck, they would cover his head and face completely. The armor was unbelievably light and fit him like a second skin and seemed to be spun from shadows.

Angeni nodded and began to suit herself up. She traded out almost all of her leathers in favor of the black and red set. She glanced around for a moment, preparing to take her clothes off. Oddly enough, she saw her fair share of naked men, women, and Romulans, but her own personal nudity caused her to pause and make sure no one was intently watching her. As she looked about, she caught Olaf in just his loincloth and the very corner of the right side of her mouth curled up into a wicked grin; she had all but sworn off men, but she was a full blooded woman who knew when she saw something she appreciated. As quick as she caught a glance, she looked away in favor of trying to change as quickly as possible.

She took off her tactical kit and pants. The cloak hid most of her body, but she used the elevation of the bottom most shelf to allow her to tighten the laces of her leather shin guards. She stuck one long, shapely leg out and she quickly tightened the lace. She repeated the process on the other side and she slid the pants on quickly. Glancing around quickly, she saw everyone else seemed occupied in gearing themselves up, so she reached up and unhooked the metal clasp at her throat. The cloak fell down around her in a puddle at her feet. Her long black tresses fell to her waist as she untied the lacing that secured the corset to her body. She slipped the tube of animal skin down around her hips and she took the white, long sleeved shirt off, then she replaced the corset around her now bare torso. If she were to use a bow, she couldn't go without the leather as the bow string would rub up against her more sensitive bits, causing her undue pain over the next few days. She already knew she was going to hurt after this, but why cause herself more issue.

Wai nodded to herself as she made up her mind and walked towards the armour. She stood in front one of the sets of red and black armour, looked at its black and red design. She then nodded to herself as she untied the cord around her waist, placing the knife, bag of coins and the small bag onto the floor and placed the quarterstaff beside it. She then removed the heavy robes and boots until she was just wearing her black hydration suit.

She gave herself the once over to make sure that everything was working properly before she began putting on the Dark Brotherhood armour. As she fitted the last peace into place she went through a couple of stretches to make sure that she had a full range of movement. She then fitted the knife and the small bag to the small of her back with a belt that came with the armour and safely secured the coin bag safely inside her armour so that it would not jingle when she moved. She jumped up and down a few times and was surprised to find that she could barely hear her feet hitting the floor.

“Well those black boots really do let you to move silently. With the spells that I have picked I will be silent as a hungry Booden shark.”

She carefully folded the robe and placed it and the quarterstaff on a small bench in one corner of the room.

Jake strapped the quiver of arrows and bow once more to his back then moved to the far wall where he hung his sword and took down another long sword in a black sheath, the wire pommel was covered by black velvet drawn tight with a leather cord he then buckled it about his waist and took up his other belongings before snagging the dagger from a chest. One thing was left and he took down the shield from the wall lovingly. It was made of a golden hued metal and its opponent facing side was concave with a ridge or lip in the center that projected outward slightly. He never went adventuring without it. Once fully equipped he turned to check on the women to see if they had need of anything.

Getting herself together Angeni replaced the hood over her face. The red silk scarf covered the lower half of her face while the hood covered the rest. She looked around and walked over to Cora, a smile on her face that was hidden by the scarf.

End part 4

“Right now that’s sorted let’s see if I need any other accessories.” Wai thought. She turned and walked towards the weapon racks.

"Excited?" Angeni asked Cora. She was surprised that her voice didn't seem impeded at all; sometimes even the slightest obstruction could obscure the harshest of consonants and vowels. Olaf must have worked it into the game for it to be so perfectly done.

Wai turned and illuminated her back lighting so that Angeni could see hear face. “Oh this is going to be great. It’s good to get away from everything.”

Angeni nodded eagerly. "I'm already looking forward to playing again." She giggled softly. "It's not often we get the chance to cut loose and have a bit of fun."

“Yeah that is true, especially with all the problems that are happening out there.” Wai replied.

She smiled as she looked at the weapons in front of her. She had her knife which would probably do the most work for what she wanted to do. Anything too big would make her too loud which was why she had left the quarterstaff. She remembered the words her cousin had told her; he was a Special Forces sergeant major in the federation naval patrol which was always having a backup no matter what.

She smiled again at the thought before she grabbed a sword with a back scabbard that coming across her back with the hilt by her shoulder for easy reach. As she was about to walk away she saw a couple of throwing knives which could be attached to her forearms and grabbed two each so that she could throw the four and give her a bit of range combat. ~If I need to use this then I’m in deep trouble~

Angeni heard the soft clanking of the armor and she turned to see Olaf standing near them. She was never so grateful for her face to be hidden. The smile that was behind her mask was one of whimsy. The suit of armor looked good on him, but it made her think of the old fairy tales where women would wish for men to sweep them off their feet...their Knight in Shining Armour. He had obviously devoted a mess of time to working this game out perfectly.

She felt bad; the entire time she had hidden her face from the other two, but part of her just didn't want to connect on that level yet. She had barely been on the ship for twenty four hours. At the same time, they were going into battle together, even though it was fictional. You never trusted someone until you could see their eyes and she owed it to Olaf for creating such a game and to Cora for coming along on what was going to prove to be an awesome adventure.

She pulled the red scarf away from her nose and mouth then pulled her hood back to expose the rest of her face. Her grey eyes met Olaf's and she gave him a half smile, "very nice."

Jake caught the flash of the woman's grey eyes and smiled at the compliment, the Nightingale armor was indeed a striking suit but its fashion statement paled in significance to its utility, with it he could become one with the shadows, essentially invisible to anyone or anything. It didn't offer the protection the armor he had traded it in for did but its own form of protection was just as formidable. Like the Assassins armor to which he was partial the soft black boots also rendered him completely silent. He had played the role of assassin at only one point and that was when he had killed the leader of the Brotherhood and used her armor to sneak into their demesne and with it slit the throats of her associates though he had worn it on another couple of occasions before winning this suit from the Mistress of the Night. It was the suit that Eir was wearing now that he had used to destroy the assassins.

Wai turned around to see Jake walking back toward them. He was wearing his armour. He was looking quite dashing in it. Wai nodded as he approached, “nice indeed.”

"Thank you." He gave them both a smile. "It seems we have all opted for the same thing. It will be a stealthy group that enters the barrow on the morrow. This armor I'm wearing has essentially the same purpose though it is superior in many ways and intended for thievery rather than murder. The Brotherhood armor you are wearing was won by spilling the blood of their owners, a deed I was more than happy to carry out."

His eyes found the sword that 'Cora' had taken and he gave her a wicked grin. "I wore that sword through at least half the game and there is no other blade in this world that is sharper. It’s an elven sword of dread and I made sure it was fully charged before I put it away. Any enemy that survives a strike will flee before you in terror. You couldn't have made a better choice. To my surprise it's as sharp as the dragon bone swords I fabricated and the only reason I haven't been using it of late is because of the power of the enchantments I placed on my weapons. Needless to say I'm very partial to it and it you won't regret choosing it."

Wai made sure that the knives and sword were secure before nodding. “Lead on brother and sister. We have evil to vanquish.”

Jake nodded; they were both ready it appeared. Between the equipment they now sported and his own even the undead draugher that surely infested the tombs would have trouble spotting them before they were upon them due to the power of the enchantments. It appeared their victory was imminent. That gave him pause though, he had never played with multiple players before and he had a nagging suspicion that the program would throw some unexpected curves their way due to the unusual numbers.

"Be prepared." He mused as his eyes raked over them. "My sixth sense is telling me there will be trouble ahead beyond what I had already been expecting. Get used to the armor you're wearing and try to exploit it to its full potential; I've got the feeling we'll need every advantage we can get." He then cracked a smile. "But then again that's why we're here isn't it? To stare the unknown in the face and spit in its eye and laugh about it afterwards." His eyes got a faraway look. "Perhaps even a tale worthy of the bards."

Angeni hung on his every word, a smile on her face.

"Aye..." she said simply. She looked across the group; they were all dressed to kill and for extreme stealth. She figured she could best suit the group as a long ranged assassin, but she also memorized a few quick healing spells. She couldn't get away from her healing roots, even though she tried.

“No tale has ever been won easily.” Wai spoke. She pulled the hood over her head and powered down the back illumination of her helmet so that her face was hidden in shadow.

She glanced around the group and was happy that she was dressed as stealthily as the rest. From Angeni to Jake, Uthgerd and her they were able to deal death from a far, near and up close and personal.

Jake moved back into the great hall and picked up a couple of bedrolls which he distributed to Eir and Cora then opened the door to the bedroom wing and picked up the pack with the tent and two bedrolls which he gave to Uthgerd to carry for him.

They went into the great hall and Wai picked up a bedroll and some provision which they were going to take with them. She gave Angeni a smile as she pulled her cloak which had gotten caught on her bedroll.

Angeni turned to the group and she straightened out Cora's cloak for her, she then accepted her own. She slung it over her back, replacing the cloak overtop. To a passerby, she probably looked like a little old woman with a severe case of Kyphosis.

As Olaf packed provisions, Angeni reached into an inner pocket in her cloak, fingering the small bundles inside. She felt the round rim of the jar that held a section of honeycomb just dripping with honey made by bees that played in a massive field of Roses, Jasmine, and Lavender. The bundle next to it held hard, red corn biscuits that would absorb the honey like a sponge and turn into an Angel Food like cake. She was glad she brought the larger portion to share.

A leather sack taken from a barrel was then stocked with provisions for their journey, a venison roast, bread, cheese and apples. Jake then slung a full water skin across his left shoulder.

"All right let's be off." Jake/Olaf said in satisfaction.

He then turned away and spoke. "Computer reset scene to Breezehome at 0600."

End Part 5

The sun was just beginning to glow through the high windows in the small house as they and Uthgerd appeared in the center near the stairs to the loft where his and Lydia's bedchambers were located.

They appeared in a different location and Angeni smiled at the quaintness of the home. It reminded her of visiting Old Man, the medicine man she studied with for years. His log cabin sat way off in the mountains of Colorado.

Wai smiled at the homeliness of the house. She saw Jake move to a cupboard which he opened and was full of small bottles.

He opened the bottom of a cabinet and removed a number of potion bottles which he divided between the two women. "Healing potions for an emergency," He said simply.

Angeni’s feet moved silently across the floor as she followed Olaf. She took the potions gratefully and stuffed them in available pockets and bags. She mused at how the small satchel that she carried on her hip was suddenly able to hold an unusual quantity of things. Each time she stuck her hand in with an item, the bag never became heavier nor seemed to be losing space. The bottles easily fit in without an issue.

Wai began slipping healing potions into her bag which did not seem to get any heavier no matter who many she put in.

There was the sound of steel being drawn upstairs and Jake whirled in time to see his Housecarl stop on the top steps. Lydia clad only in her shift studied the group for a moment before lowering her blade. "My pardon thane, I had just awoken."

Hearing the noise Angeni whipped around, pulling the dagger from her side. She quickly sheathed it again when she realized it was a housemate of Olaf’s. She turned her attention to fiddling with her gear straps so they could speak in private.

There was a noise and saw Angeni begin to move. Wai stepped to one side as she turned her hand gripping hilt of the knife at her hip. She saw that it was Olaf’s housemate. She released her grip of the knife as Jake and the housemate spoke. She moved out of ear shot which was hard in the small house.

"No problem, I had just stopped in to grab a few things before leaving." He replied.

Her eyes had that look of longing he knew so well. "When I get back I'm going to need you to head out with me to Markarth, there's a problem there that needs tending to."

She immediately perked up and gave him a smile before retreating to her room to dress. "I will be waiting my thane."

Jake inclined his head to the ladies and headed for the door, once they were outside on the street of Whiterun he inhaled deeply of the chill air. The wind blowing through the city was bitterly cold but would warm up to an almost tolerable level by midday.

As they left, Angeni found herself trying to walk in the morning shadows, her footsteps silent. Her favorite tactical instructor, a man whom she only knew by his code name, Freyr, told her that she was to walk softly, but always carry a large boom stick. He was one of the big reasons she went into tactical medicine; she was always a soft walker and she was constantly startling the man by walking up to him without him noticing. On a particularly bad day, she had walked up behind him to give him a medical report. He went to grab her by the wrist and she slipped from his grasp and threw him to the ground faster than he knew what happened. He asked her almost immediately to come to a 'meeting' which was code for training. She was a part of the team from that day forward.

Outside, she found the cold biting, but invigorating. Moving about, she found herself able to keep warm, but the wind bit her face and she flinched against it. She pulled her hood down and continued on.

As Wai followed them out of the house she realized how quietly she was moving and a ghost of a smile crossed her face as she realized that she was following Angeni though the shadows. As she moved she felt the wind tug at her cloak and the slight coolness of the cold seeping through her suit but she shrugged it off and kept moving on.

The house wasn't far from the city gate, as he set out in that direction he turned his head to the women in an apologetic manner. "I took Lydia with me adventuring for almost as long as I carried that elven sword."

Angeni smiled in Olaf's direction. She and Drak were just like that and she felt probably the same way Lydia had when she discovered she was going to be separated from her closest companions for an unknown amount of time.

Wai nodded as smiling would have been not seen. She understood the bond that connected between Jake and Lydia. Although no personal experience she had friends that she would classify as very close.

As she they walked with the others she remembered an old saying from her home. ~I am still calm water and as swift as a riptide, I am silent as an ocean mist and as ferocious as a hungry storm, I am Booden the hunter from the depths~

They walked for a bit of time when Angeni smelled something that made her heart sing. She knew the smell of horses better than any smell on the planet.

Outside the gate it was a long and winding walk to the stable where Jake picked up his and Uthgerd's horses and paid for two more saddled mounts with four emeralds which the stable master examined closely before getting an ear to ear grin, he would make a tidy profit this day.

As Olaf dealt with the stable hand, she took off her gloves and began stroking the long noses of the horses near her. She clicked her tongue softly, speaking in dulcet and quiet tones.

"Yes...you are absolutely beautiful and you know it." The horse she was stroking nodded his head up and down. He nuzzled her cloak and she reached in, breaking off a piece of a biscuit and she held it in her open hand. The horse ate it eagerly and she smiled as the horse nuzzled her again.

"Oh, come on now, sweet one. No more for now." She smiled at the stable hand when he handed her the reins and she nodded her thanks. She looped the reins around the saddle horn as she turned from the horse and allowed him to follow her. Within a few steps, he had caught up to her and the horses' mighty head appeared over her shoulder and he began snorting softly. She reached up, stroking his neck softly, clicking her tongue again.

Wai slowed her steps as they came towards a group of strange animals. They were big with four legs a tail, with a neck and a long head. ~I think they are a horse~

She had heard about them and seen a couple pictures while she was at the academy but she had not actually met one. ~Well they look big but you’ve been playing with Nivas Dolphins since you were five and they are bigger so stop worrying~

She took a deep breath as she came towards the horse which was for her. She rubbed its long nose working up to its forehead and round behind its ears. “There’s a good horsey. Let’s be friends ah. I really don’t want to have to go to sickbay because you have thrown me off.” She said quietly to herself as she watched the others slide easily into their saddles. She followed with was much grace as she could manage.

She moved herself into a comfortable position on the saddle and quickly checked that she had everything she needed. She looked around her at the snowcapped mountains. That was an amazing sight even if it was just a holo image.

"I shall call you...Sleipnir." Angeni spoke in soft, quiet tones around the horse. She stroked him a few more times, letting him get used to her presence, then she mounted the horse in one smooth motion. She felt comfortable in the saddle and the horse flowed under her like a quiet river. Gently tapping his sides with her heels, the horse moved obediently and it fell in line with the three horses in front of her.

The snowcapped mountains surrounding Skyrim could be seen in every direction in the distance but the base of the greatest of them all, The Throat of the World was only a handful of leagues to the south in the center of the province, Jake had torn his eyes away from it to mount his horse, it never failed to awe him, that mountain. It inevitably drew his gaze whenever he returned to the game and sometimes he would spend several minutes just drinking in the sight.

He turned and watched the others mount. "The sky is blue as a sapphire and as cold as a glacier, a perfect day for adventure." He then laughed as he turned Ember to the west to follow the road.

Angeni grinned as she slipped her gloves on again. Today was going to be a glorious day.

Wai smiled to herself as she moved her horse forwards and followed the others. ~This is going to be fun. ~

~~

The smell of horse filled Jake's nostrils as they passed the western watchtower and turned toward an old fort that the Imperial army had reoccupied during the war. The biting wind caressed his face and he stood it for as long as he was able before sliding the mask up over his face and the cowl over his head. Life aboard a starship with its climate controlled environment was not conducive to acclimating oneself to such a clime though he had made strides over time. The mask had an odd, spider web design beginning from the center over his nostrils and no holes for his eyes, despite that it did not interfere with his sight due to its strange and enchanted nature.

The black horse tossed its head and nickered making him smile behind the mask, he had been so engrossed in starting out he had neglected his usual greeting. “It’s good to see you again Ember.” He rubbed its shaggy mane and patted the strong neck before leaning forward for a moment and scratching the animal between its ears which the stallion loved. Ember nickered his approval and tossed his head again afterward then turned his head to the left so that he could catch him with that eye before snorting.

He laughed and stroked the animal’s neck again and gave it another pat. “I know, I’ve been a bit distracted but you’ve always been my favorite and you know that you stinker.”

The horse nodded its head in a playful and almost human fashion before turning back to the task of getting him to his destination. Jake had to rein him in from breaking into a trot, normally the stallion enjoyed a bit of a run when first starting out but Jake had caught ‘Cora’s’ greeting to her mount and he wanted to give her a chance to get comfortable with riding before pushing the pace and only if necessary since there was plenty of time left in the day. Ember expressed his disapproval with a snort but Jake mollified him with another scratch before slowing him even more to allow the others to overtake them.

He allowed Uthgerd to take the lead and dropped back so that he could talk to his shipmates.

Angeni got comfortable in the saddle and she let the horse do the work. Twisting around, she tied the bed roll to the back of the saddle to give her sacrum something to bump into. Riding a horse to her was second nature, but she had heard Cora's uneasiness and saw her struggle a bit to mount her horse. Clicking her tongue, she got her horse into a light trot to catch up to Cora.

"How are you doing? Feel comfortable?" Angeni asked.

Wai looked over at Angeni and nodded. “Yeah just, it’s much like riding a Nivas dolphin but there is more of a sway.”

Angeni nodded at her response. As she went to answer, Olaf appeared beside them. She marveled at his mask and she pondered just how he could see.

“Enjoying the ride?” Jake asked as he reined Ember in beside them while noting the looks his mask was getting which wasn’t at all unusual. Agents of Nocturnal were a secretive bunch and such armor was not normally worn openly among the populace, a tradition he had broken due to his enjoyment of the set.

Wai nodded as she looked around at Jake. “Yes it’s nice. That is why I like travelling because every place I see is new and different from the one before.”

"You have no idea. I've been riding my whole life and it's been a few months since I've been on a horse, so this is fantastic." Angeni smiled under her mask. All she wanted to do was buckle down in the saddle and take off, but she knew nothing of where they were at and she didn't want to leave Cora behind. She turned in her saddle to sit side saddle; she hooked her leg around the horn and sat comfortably to the side. She put her cloak out behind her, somehow staying completely warm and comfortable. An errant hand gently stroked the horses' side as she listened to Olaf speak.

“The road has plenty of dangers including the fauna, the worst here on the tundra being the saber cats and giants. Saber cats are solitary hunters for the most part unless a mated pair and I expect them to avoid a large group such as we have but you never know. They’re very reminiscent of the ancient earth Sabretooth tiger and as tall as a small horse called a pony. The giants we should see long before they notice us but I don’t think a small war party would frighten them very much since they are over twenty feet tall with the strength to match. They’re not aggressive however unless you get too close since they seem to be pretty distrustful of the smaller folk and with good reason. Nords avoid them as much as possible along with the mammoths they herd and are very protective of.”

“ Trust me….” He chuckled. “You don’t want to get hit by that club of theirs. If it doesn’t mash you into a paste you might get a view of this world from a low planetary orbit before you get a chance to reenter the scenario.”

Wai chuckled. “Now that would be an interesting scenario.” She then looked around and noticed that there was not cover along the way that they were going.

Angeni stifled a loud laugh, but it came out as giggling and ended with a snort. She couldn't hold it back and she started laughing. She held up a hand in apology at the mental image of being hit like a golf ball into a high arc into the sky. It would be an amazing flight for the first few moments, but the descent back to planet side would svck and big time.

End Part 6

"My apologies..." She glanced around, looking for places to hide...shadows to creep in. "It doesn't look like there's much in the way of places for things to randomly jump out at us."

Angeni looked towards the sky, a pensive look on her face. "There's also not a lot of cover if a dragon decides to show his face."

“If we meet a dragon here we are going to have to dig holes and hope they are deep enough.” Wai said in agreement. She saw Jake nod grimly and did the same as he spoke.

“There’s not a lot of cover if a dragon shows up and I had a LOT of encounters early on with them. Only the strongest would dare to try their chances against me now. I killed many before learning some ancient Nord magic called shouts which can knock them from the sky and I can even subjugate one to my will and take it as a mount if I so choose. They’re sentient beings and I have a few friends among them so they mostly leave me alone now. Every so often one shows up to terrorize a hold and has to be put down, if in the future you accompany me on a hunting trip I know you’ll have a lot of fun with it. My first few dragon battles literally scared the hell out of me and I lost some good in-game friends during one ancient dragon attack on a city before I could put it down. One caught me at Heljerchen as I reached to open the door and fried me on the doorstep before I could turn to face it and get my shield up. I ‘died’ instantly so I never am without precautions now.”

His right hand went to his chest absent-mindedly and caressed the amulet that was tucked under the jet black garb that was more suit than armor.

Wai nodded.

Angeni was lost in thought about how she would one day ride a dragon of her own. The thought of having to 'die' repeatedly for one didn't appeal to her, though. It wasn't as if she had never been in a near death experience before, but she never knew just how close she came to dying until it was all over. The idea of staring down something that could devour her without even thinking about it and experiencing her own death first hand started to turn her stomach. Under the mask, her face blanched and a cold sweat started to pour down her face and neck. She gripped the reins tighter and a shiver went through her body. She shuddered hard, accidentally pulling back hard on the reins, digging the bit into the soft flesh of her mount. The horse stopped and neighed loudly, shaking his head back and forth, trying to loosen the pressure in his mouth.

"Oh! Sorry love..." She reached forward, stroking just between his ears. Angeni used her other hand to search out another corn cake and she handed it to the horse. He took it eagerly and she smiled as she got him moving again.

"Red Corn biscuit anyone?" She looped the reins around the horn and she pulled out the satchel that held the corn cakes. "I have some honey as well if you'd like some."

Wai watched Angeni with a twinge of envy as she looped the reins around the horn and she pulled out the satchel that held the corn cakes. ~If I did that I would fall flat on my face. Would be nice but I won’t get it to my mouth before it dissolves. ~ “No I am fine thanks.”

"So, where are we heading?"

The Selkie gave herself a mental smile as Angeni got the question in first.

~You should stop day dreaming and get with the program~

Olaf didn’t bat an eye as he replied. “The barrow we’re heading for is about ten hours from the city and we should reach it late afternoon if there are no delays. It sits just a few hundred feet off the road before it turns north to Rorikstead. I’ve been there before but couldn’t gain entrance since the puzzle lock defeated all my efforts. I’ve found out its secret though and it shouldn’t take long to get inside and we’ll have hours of daylight left to explore before nightfall. Uthgerd has my large tent tied to her pack saddle, it's roomy but with the four of us and a small fire in the center it might be fairly close quarters and we have provisions for a couple of days. Since I’m your guide here now is a good time for questions if you have any.”

“Do you know what’s in the barrow? Have you explored other barrows?” Wai asked.

Olaf/Jake nodded at the question from Cora. "Many others; traps, puzzle locks, frostbite spiders and of course varying types of draugher, from skeletons to magic wielding ones and potent warriors and every so often a dragon priest which has all the worst properties of the others though they rely heavily on spells and enchanted staffs and are a [censored] to kill. Judging by the inner barrow key I've acquired we'll probably find one and possibly a word wall from which you can learn shouts. The only way to unlock the magic of them though is to kill a dragon and absorb its soul. Like everything else in the game at this point the ones we'll face will be extremely tough. They're not difficult to kill though; any weapon will do, once they've accumulated enough damage they'll fall, it's not like you have to hack them to pieces. Nastiest one I've ever fought was Red Eagle, I hit him with an axe enchanted to turn undead and not only did he resist the enchantment but my weapon was destroyed."

Angeni broke off a piece of cake and dunked it in the pot of honey. She nibbled on the broken corner as she held out the pot to the others. She chewed the cake, deep in thought. Even though they had only been playing for little under thirty minutes, she was having more fun than she had had in months if not years. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much; Cora and Olaf were easy to talk to and as far as she could tell, they at least tolerated her presence. It was always hard being the new person in a group. She always felt like the odd man out, but for once she didn't.

Shifting in the saddle, she continued to grip the saddle horn with her right leg. While the saddle wasn't meant for side riding, the horn was long enough to serve the unusual purpose. She looked around, wanting to get off the beaten trail and into unfamiliar territory.

"What would you think about exploring around here? It might give us a chance to experiment with our weapons and spells before we actually need them."

He turned his eyes to Eir and nodded thoughtfully. "Get your feet wet before taking the plunge eh? That’s probably not a bad idea." He thought for a moment then stopped Ember after making a decision. "There's a bandit hideout just a couple of hours to the north that I haven't been to in a long time and they've probably moved back in. It is guard territory and Farkas mentioned they're still confined mostly to the city. The Companions if I had to guess are probably working them to the south."

He turned Ember. "It will only take a few minutes to backtrack and take the road on the other side of the fort, after we cross the bridge we'll cut across the tundra for a short distance." He called Uthgerd to turn and follow. As they reversed their course he continued speaking. "It's in a series of small caverns connected by a tunnel, probably an old mine shaft and will be the perfect place for you to hone your stealth skills. There's no room for more than a half dozen though they will have a guard stationed outside if anyone is there. We need to make sure to take him out so he can't warn those inside. Uthgerd and I will hang back and allow you to take the lead but we'll be close by if you run into trouble."

Angeni nodded and deftly slipped her leg back over Sleipnir. She pulled the mask up over her face and her hood down as she kicked him gently in the sides to turn him. He moved under her, turning around quickly. Like his namesake, he tried to pull ahead and she pulled him into a tight circle until he calmed down.

She then watched as Olaf and Uthgerd passed her and she waved Cora past. She didn't mind bringing up the rear; partly because it gave her a few extra moments to admire the scenery and secondly, she could watch the rear and keep them safe from ambush. She turned around, her eyes glancing over the horizon and once she was sure they were safe. Obediently, she turned her horse in line with everyone else’s and she kept going.

"All right, let's do this then." He let Ember set a fast walking pace as they moved past the fort. Imperial troops could be seen here and there on the wall and moving through the gate going on and coming from patrols.

~ ~

Olaf dismounted behind a frozen hillock and gestured for the others to do the same then waved them close and spoke in low tones. "The entrance is on the other side and the guard is normally close by. Take him out quickly and you shouldn't have any trouble taking the ones inside by surprise."

Angeni pulled off her cloak and draqed it over Sleip. The temperature had dropped dramatically and she was more concerned for her horse than she was for herself. The cloak also hid the shiny bits of metal on the saddle which kept someone from spying them from far off. Olaf told them to take out the guard just outside the cavern and she pondered the best way to do that.

He took the black velvet covering the pommel of his sword off just in case exposing the brilliant white opal within the wire hilt. It wasn't a sword he had fabricated but an artifact of great power against undead which was the reason he had brought it along. It would cleave through bandits just as easily though. His hand went to his belt and grasped the hilt of the dagger he wore there, the Blade of Woe which was the only piece of assassin's equipment he was never without. It was this dagger that had destroyed the Brotherhood.

The sky was beginning to grow overcast, threatening snow which was one thing they didn't need.

"You take the lead." His mouth had a grin behind the all-encompassing mask. Now would be the time to take the measure of their skills so he would know if they could be counted on to guard his back while in the barrow. "By the way don't be surprised if you find women among them, they form approximately a third of the warriors among the Nords and are just as nasty in a fight." He nodded at Uthgerd who smiled through the open helm of her heavy armor.

"Aye, A strong Nord woman is a match for any."

"Cora..."

Wai turned towards Angeni.

Angeni spoke softly, almost under her breath, "I'll take out the guard from long distance, then we can work our way in. We can secret squirrel our way in, then once inside, we can start melting faces...Aye?"

~Whatever a secret squirrel is but I get it~ “Aye, we move at your command.”

End Part 7

Angeni moved quietly, her feet making no noise on the ground. The sun dipped behind the clouds and she took to the dark corners. As she moved, she slowly but fluidly pulled a bolt from her back and she set the notch on the bow string. All it would take was one fluid motion and the bolt would launch into her foe. Angeni came around to the front of the cave, but she used the cover of a few tall bushes to keep herself hidden. She watched the motion of the guard; he walked back and forth with no real pattern. He faced her general direction at all times, which kept her from being able to stand up and draw her bow. She continued to watch him, breathing into her arm to keep her breath from showing on the air.

Suddenly, the man walked away from her to the edge of the cave, his back to her. He looked about for a moment, and then she saw him begin to relieve himself. She knew she only had seconds. She stood up slowly, drawing her bow at the same time. She aimed for his neck; she needed him to go down silently. Angeni inhaled as she brought the bowstring back as far as she could, then she let go on the exhale. Next thing she knew, the man was lying on the ground. The only sound that was heard was the dull thud of the bolt hitting its mark.

Wai followed Angeni as she moved silently across the ground. One part of Wai’s mind was amazed about just how quiet they all were when they moved. The sun dipped behind the clouds and she melted into the shadows that were appearing. She watched as Angeni took a bolt from her back and notched into to the bow. She moved closer to Angeni so that she would be ready to move when the guard was down. She could not see the guards from where she was positioned but by watched Angeni she knew what was happening. She saw Angeni slowly stand and her fingers opened as the bolt fly into the air.

Angeni dropped back a few paces until she could make eye contact with the ones she had traveled with. She gave a small, discreet wave when she appeared from the shadows and she melted right back in when she saw them moving.

~Time to go~ The Selkie thought then moved forward.

Jake had crept up the hillock after Eir and Cora had slipped away, moving like a shadow across the snow and ice, no crunch of tundra under foot or hand betraying his presence. Uthgerd had stayed behind with the horses at his signal since she was a trained warrior in noisy armor and knew her heavy movements would give away their plan. He had also left his beloved shield behind in her keeping.

His head screened by a scraggly, lone bush at the top he had a nearly unobstructed view of the lone guard at the mouth of the outer entrance. Since the mask obscured his breath as well within the relative warmth of its embrace he had no need of shielding their prey from his exhalations.

He watched intently as the bandit in heavy furs and leather walked about restlessly, no doubt wishing he was within the warmth of the interior sitting by a fire and having a drink of ale, mead or wine which was a common complaint of the hold's guards. Even though they had lived in this clime for perhaps thousands of years and were much inured to the cold the Nords had no love of it. For the land yes but for the ever present permafrost and biting chill of this part of the province no.

His eyes took in the scene with interest as he slid his bow silently from his back and prepared an arrow, should his companions be discovered he could back them with covering fire. Despite his low opinion of his archery skills as compared to the masters of the bow in this land his abilities were more than adequate, he had found quickly that if you mastered stealth and the bow there was little that could hope to compete with you. One Necromancer he had crept up on in the temple where he had won the sword he currently carried could attest to his deftness were he alive today, the arrowhead however that had emerged from his forehead with a full four inches of shaft behind it guaranteed he would not testify.

Not that it had been the shot he had been going for, the mage's movements as he swayed over the altar in the presence of his shades had caused Jake to aim high between his shoulder blades from a distance, figuring that should it be mistimed he would still be heavily wounded. The man had dropped over the altar however as though he had been shot and it wasn't till after the shades had been dealt with, a truly Herculean task that he had found the extent of the damage. He had glowed over that one for days. It was only recently though that he had moved beyond relying solely on a still opponent and was able to pick off a few who were moving about though only at walking speed. A true archer could gauge an opponent’s speed and lead them like a sniper; he was nowhere near that level of ability though.

As keen as his sight was he didn't see Eir till she had risen from hiding as the man had turned to take a leak, the arrow was a blur as it left her weapon and he pitched forward soundlessly. He saw her gesture before she faded back into the shadows and smiled grimly. "Well done." He muttered under his breath and in one smooth motion returned the arrow to its sheath and gestured for Uthgerd to bring the horses around before slipping over the crest of the mound and dropping to the base of the gully on the other side, the dragon bone bow still clutched in his left hand. He returned it to its place on his back as he crouched low and made quickly for the cavern. Before slipping inside though he returned the velvet covering to the hilt of his sword since the brilliant light it emitted would insure their discovery. After he was sure it was completely covered he slipped the deadly dagger from its sheath.

Wai moved forward taking care not to disturb the ground under foot. As she reached the mouth of the cave she paused letting her eyes get accustomed to the darkness. She saw a guard sitting at a small fire trying to keep warm from the biting wind. ~Must be the relief for the guard Angeni killed~

She waited until the others had caught up. “There is one by the fire. I’ll take him and then we can move in deeper.” She whispered, her voice being covered by the wind.

He didn't utter a sound, just nodded irritably which no one could see as he had faded like a specter, becoming one with the darkness in a way that went beyond mere stealth. ~That’s what we're here for, just do your job. ~

Wai glance again at the guard judging the distance. ~Too far for a throwing knife which may also make a noise~

She brought up the choice of the spells and chose muffled and Chameleon. She did not want to alert any one by a mistaken foot fall. She would only have 30 seconds but that would be enough. ~Plenty of time. ~

He heard her whispered spells and nodded at one the choices, Chameleon was a handy spell though it wasn't true invisibility, if looking hard enough in the light you could see a blur of movement but in near darkness with the only light the dancing of flames she would be impossible to spot. Muffle he considered unnecessary but caught himself. ~Only if you're unsure of your ability to move silently. ~ If she made an inadvertent noise there was an even chance the spell would cover it.

When she was ready she moved forward carefully and quietly keeping to the shadows. She made sure that her foot steps were silent as she circled around the guard until she was behind him. ~Don’t move, don’t move~

Her hand pulled her dagger form its sheath as she stepped up behind him. The guard was asleep bent forward, she could see his body move rhythmically to his steady breathing she watched him for a few seconds until she was happy and then she struck. ~Ready….Now~

Her hand jammed his head backwards exposing his neck as she rammed the knife under the jaw and up into the brain. His body tensed and shook as his sleep raddled brain tried to comprehend what was happening before his went limp. Wai grabbed a piece of wood that was in the pile beside the fire and placed it under his chin so that he was balanced. Now from any one passing it would look like the guard had fallen asleep at his post.

He followed her like a ghost as she moved into the cavern and watched from the enveloping shadows as she struck and the man went limp.

Propping him up was a nice touch, unless the dancing flames highlighted his blood soaked fur armor anyone looking at him in the dim light would think him asleep.

She turned and motioned to the others that it was safe to proceed as she merged back into the shadows. ~Let’s get the rest~

End Part 8

Her movements were not discernible while under the effect of the spell in the subdued lighting but in the aftermath of the kill he slipped past the sentry post invisibly and peered around into the tunnel beyond. His nose attested to the presence of others within and there were many scents rather than just a few. His brow wrinkled at that, there had never been more than a handful of brigands in such a hideout unless you counted the complex that held Saadia's would be abductors. He had counted nearly a dozen miscreants in that one not including Kematu's half dozen Alik'r warriors.

His keen hearing also picked out the sound of muffled voices coming a good distance ahead. From memory he recalled there was nearly a hundred feet of tunnel before the next cavern, the men and women he could hear must be speaking in quiet though not whispering tones otherwise the echo of normal speech would have been more easily recognizable.

The number of scents confounded him for a moment before realization struck. ~It must be one of those curves I've been expecting. Some gathering of bandit groups perhaps for a reason the program will make clear eventually. ~

He moved back to the group and stepped from the shadows into the fire's dim light, seeming to appear from nowhere and motioned them close as he hunkered down toward the warmth, his face turned toward the tunnel entrance. He had planned on making this a test of their abilities but an enemy force on such a scale couldn't be hidden from them, they needed to know what they faced.

He spoke in a whisper. "There is a good force waiting for us ahead, many more than I had expected. We'll stay with the plan as I outlined it earlier. We're a bit overmatched here in numbers so don't be surprised if I step in at any time. I'm going to have Uthgerd follow us at a distance when she arrives and she should be here shortly."

Wai thought for a moment before nodding. “Okay that makes sense.”

He caught her scent before he heard her movements and turned to see the warrior woman enter the cavern, as she joined them he put his mouth close to her ear and whispered to her.

As Uthgerd arrived and Jake and she had a quiet discussion Wai turned to Angeni and whispered.

“You have got a far greater reach then me even with my knives, as I am more suited for up close and personal. Whatever we find up ahead do you want to go high and do sniping while I pick people off close-up? Until we are spotted any way and then it’s anyone’s far game.”

"That's fine with me. Cora, you are fantastic at close quarter work, so maybe you can do all the stealthy up close work and I'll rain down with arrows and long distance fire attacks. I'll tag any runners who try to leave." Angeni spoke calmly and quietly. She smiled at everyone before dropping back into the shadows.

Wai nodded. “No problem Eir. See you after.”

After a quick exchange the warrior woman nodded and he motioned the other two to continue forward, he would be close behind them.

Wai nodded as she looked at the others. “Let’s get this started.”

Uthgerd took the war axe from its sheath and readied her shield; his own had been left outside with the horses at his request. She must have been practicing on her walking, I usually would have heard her a lot sooner. ~ He grinned inside the mask as he felt the adrenalin thrill of upcoming battle surge through him like electricity and followed his shipmates into the tunnel where he would be so close behind them that he would have to take care to avoid stepping on their heels. ~Here we go, a glorious day it's turning out to be! ~

She then moved on slowly and carefully down the tunnel. It twisted the turned as the floor slowly dropped deeper into the earth. Wai felt the cold creep deeper into her; she could feel her scales begin to vibrate to produce some heat. It brought back memories of diving trips into the depths of Pacifica and remembered the icy cold of the abyss trench. She mentally shook her head as her mind returned to the tunnel. She could hear voices ahead and there was a glow of light at the far end of the tunnel. It grew brighter as they approached.

~I think that we are here~

She stopped at the mouth of the tunnel there was a strong smell of smoke, alcohol and the great unwashed. She inched forward and looked carefully out. The chamber in front of her was large and at least the size of shuttle bay. There was a large fire in the middle providing most of the light. Surrounding the walls of the chamber was scaffolding which went three quarters of the way round the chamber and up to the dark recesses of the ceiling. There were burning torches situated evenly around the scaffolding trying forlornly to beat back the shadows. Piled around the base of the scaffolding were boxes, barrels and other supplies. The voices brought her attention back to the people in the chamber. There was a large group of people near the middle of the chamber by the fire. At the far end of the chamber on a raised platform was another group of people sitting around a table. Behind the table was another tunnel leading off into the dark she really hoped that this was all of them because any reinforcements and they would be stuffed.

~It looks like it’s a meeting of some sorts. ~ The thing that caught Wai’s attention the most was that they were all heavily armed. ~No one said this would be easy~

Something moved off to the far right and she turned to have a better look. As she peered into the dark she saw that there was a group of what looked like prisoners tied to the scaffolding.

~They are bandits. Why prisoners! May be it’s for ransom or for something more sinister~ she pulled back into the shadows and returned to the others.

Jake listened intently as Cora returned from scouting out the enemy position.

“It looks like some kind of get together. There is good cover most of the way round. There also looks like a group of prisoners off to the right. Something just feels odd about this, I cannot explain why.”

He nodded thoughtfully; this was not 'normal' bandit behavior and portended some greater stakes. Perhaps now with them being hunted the brigands were changing their tactics in an effort to survive, operating in greater numbers made them a more deadly foe and the taking of prisoners could be an attempt to stave off attacks.

Wai looked at Jake and Angeni. ~You have an idea you better tell them. ~

"I think you both should be up high to give you both good lines of sight with your bows while I slip left and try and get as far round as possible before we attack.” She looked at Uthgerd.

“Uthgerd you could come charging out of this tunnel which would hopefully put the fear of the old Booden into them and while they are recovering we attack.” She grinned at Uthgerd.

“If I saw you charging at me I would running out of here quicker than a Randan fish being chased by a hungry Fangtooth.”

She looked at them. Not wanting to put forward the only plan of attack as they were all in this together. “Are you happy? Is there anything blatantly obvious that I have missed?”

"No not blatantly obvious." Jake's voice held a tint of respect for her ingenuity, a distraction was a good plan and well thought out but she didn't know all of the facts yet since she had never played the game with him before.

"Rather than me sniping I and Uthgerd together will provide your distraction, I'll give you five minutes to steal into your preferred positions before we make our entrance." He began taking off his equipment and armor before them and placing it against the tunnel wall behind a pile of debris, he could imagine their surprise at his tactic. "No I'm not going to confound them by streaking into their midst, don't be alarmed at the transformation, I'll be in complete control." He then stripped down to his loincloth once again.

End Part 9

It did not escape Angeni’s eyes that Olaf was once again wearing nothing but his loincloth. She couldn't help but stare for a moment before she composed herself and settled back to the business at hand.

Angeni moved forward and she spied a stack of crates hidden in the shadows. Deftly, she climbed atop them and she pressed herself against the wall of the cave. She was quite comfortable on her perch. She saw people milling about and some even looked right in her direction, but none took notice. She moved fluidly and slowly, nocking another arrow. She still kept in the dark, breathing slowly.

Wai moved back into the shadows as Olaf started taking his clothes off. Whatever he was going to do she hoped it was going to be worth it. She did a final check of her equipment to make sure that nothing would rattle or clink. She then moved forward hugging the shadows sliding through the darkness like a wraith.

He watched them disappear into the shadows and grinned at Uthgerd as he took down the cowl and mask and pulled them off his head.

"I'm not sure I understand your actions either Dragonborn," The woman whispered thoughtfully.

"How long have you known me Uthgerd?" He asked her.

"Quite a while now," She paused. "And I know you to be a good man and a hero. Is there something you haven't told me?"

"Yes, it is something common to the inner circle of the Companions." He replied. "By the way do you still want to join them?"

"You know that I do." She snapped playfully. "The errand they gave me for membership didn't play out the way it was supposed to but as I told you before the young man's death was an accident."

"I know." He smiled at her. "So I'll give you the introduction to the order that Farkas gave me. You can count on being one of the group now, I have Farkas' word weighing with me on your side. Vilkas will follow since he's Farkas' brother and Aela will accept my recommendation."

"Good." She crooned delightedly. "But I still don't understand what you're doing."

"Just watch and then follow me in." He gave her a crooked grin when she shrugged her shoulders.

The cold was seeping into his bones and he began to shiver as he waited out the five minutes he had allotted the other two, when it was finally over he stifled an explosive breath of relief, he would be warm very soon. The transformation wasn't something he did often as it went against his nature but this was a game on a holodeck as he mentally reminded himself, not real life.

He wouldn't have to concentrate to make the transformation since he had already made the first steps to un-caging the beast by opening his senses, all he had to do was let it out of its prison.

He stepped toward the cavern and grew almost a foot in height and gained nearly fifty pounds in muscle as thick, long fur sprouted from his body and his arms, hands and feet lengthened. His toenails and fingernails lengthened into long claws and his ears grew into a point and sprouted fur until they had extended past his head while his face elongated into a muzzle filled with sharp teeth and wicked canines.

Jake the Werewolf then settled back on his haunches and let out a booming howl which would freeze many a man's blood then went to all fours and poised for an instant before launching himself into the cavern beyond with frightening speed.

Angeni’s mind began to wander as she thought about spells she could use over a trusty bolt, but her concentration was broken by the howl that seemed to pour out of the very walls.

Angeni faltered atop the crates, but she kept her balance and kept quiet, even though her very soul wanted to join in with the howling. Watching calmly, she saw the Werewolf tear into the room, gliding effortlessly past her perch and she saw it lay waste to everything in front of it.

Wai visibly flinched at the sound of the bone chilling howl that echoed around the chamber. She quickly looked at the Werewolf that came tearing into the room. ~Well that’s definitely a diversion~

He swerved around a stack of crates and barrels and was on the first man before he could bring his axe around, the man's eyes were wide with fear but he had no time to scream before his throat was torn out by razor sharp teeth. The claws of his left hand raked diagonally across the man's dense fur armor, cutting it like a razor and nearly disemboweling him before with his right hand he tossed him negligently aside which launched the bandit through the air to thud sickeningly against the cavern wall.

The next brigand let out a howl of rage and was hitting him with his weapon as he closed in with shocking speed, the weapon stung when it hit telling Jake it would take a lot of hits to take him down but he didn't plan on going through them all, his companions would soon be joining the fray.

He caught the man's arms as he was bringing the battle axe around again and lifted him from the floor of the cavern easily as the fellow yelled in fear for his comrades; his yell was cut short as he was torn nearly in half.

The third was already hitting him from behind as he spun and struck out with his left hand, the claws on it raking across the fellow's face and nearly obliterating it. The thug went down wailing but Jake put him out of his misery with a rake from his right hand across the poor sod's throat which left only tatters of skin where it had once been.

Jake heard Uthgerd charging in and turned in time to see her nearly behead one fear crazed bandit and engage another as his shipmates joined the fray. He sat back on his haunches as he surveyed the scene to see where he might be needed and forced himself to keep from licking his lips, it might not be real blood but he was damned if he was going to do so even though the coppery taste of it was in his mouth.

The bandits scattered around the chamber as fear and confusion spread through them. A bandit came too close to where she was hiding. She lunged forward from the darkness slamming her knife into his chest. They both collapsed to the floor with Wai on top. She rolled off, slid out the knife and sprinted towards the bandits. She heard the soft whoosh of an arrow as it sliced through the air beside her.

~ Angeni’s good shot~

A huge bandit appeared in front of her. He came towards her swift and deadly as he pulled out a large broadsword. ~That’s a big sword~

Wai moved herself into a ready stance, left leg forward leaning with all her weight on her right leg. Her left arm forward and her right back with the sword out stretched behind her. “Closer, closer, a little bit closer, don’t be shy.” She muttered to herself. She waited until he stepped into her attack range and then she moved.

“Now you’re mine.”

She stepped forward swinging the sword up and forward in a large circle. As it completed a full rotation her right hand slid down the hilt as her left hand took hold beside it. As her foot hit the floor she leaned into the swing to give the sword more speed as it hissed through the air. Her aim was true and the blade slammed into the head of the bandit. There was a sickening snap of bone and the enemy dropped like a rock, “Got you.”

She did not have any time to think about what she had done as more bandits approached. She threw her throwing knives at the closing bandits. They slammed in deep and they collapsed on the floor.

She grinned as she side stepped an axe swing and slammed her knife through the bandit’s chest. The bandit staggered dropping the axe and Wai stepped past pulling out the knife.

Angeni drew back on the bowstring and she let it fly. The bolt found its mark four inches below the combatant’s collarbone and on the left side of his body. She deftly jumped down from her position and she stayed to the left of the opening lest she fall between Cora and her mark.

She heard a gasp of pain from beside her. She spun round to see a bandit with arrow four inches below his collarbone and on the left side of his body. He dropped to the floor and Wai reminded herself to thank Angeni for that.

End Part 10

There was mass confusion in the small area and people were running about, flailing weapons in sheer terror. Angeni saw someone running towards her, an axe above their head. She let loose with the Firebolt spell and she noticed that while it had an effect, it didn't drop him as effectively as an arrow would have. She shifted out of the way of the axe that was trying to cleave her head off and she whipped around with the dagger, dragging it across her attackers' side. She went to stab upward, but it was blocked by the hilt of the axe. The man was still on fire, but he fought with her with everything he had. She felt the sting of the strike go through her body and she gritted her teeth.

Angeni did a quick backflip, just trying to put some distance between her and her assailant. She put her hands up, lighting her target up with the Ignite spell. The man screamed with the renewal of the hellfire and she spun around, burying her dagger up to the hilt in his throat. The scream was cut off abruptly as she ripped across his throat, spraying blood all over herself and the floor. She stood above her kill, drops of blood sliding off the blade. Angeni turned around just in time to get struck across the face with the hilt of a sword and she sprawled across the floor, a loud curse flying from her lips.

Her vision went blurry and she knew it was the game telling her she was badly 'wounded'. Olaf was right; she felt what she was sure was a muted version of what the pain would actually feel like and she wondered what the bruise would look like when she was done. She crab walked backwards as the axe swung down at her, missing her by inches each time. She jumped up as her vision cleared a bit and she had another arrow nocked and she had it flying faster than the axe could come back down. The bolt found its mark again, and the black fletching stuck out from the attackers' head like a macabre flag. The axe was already in a downswing and it hit her forearm. She pulled her arm back, shaking out of the sting.

~That's gonna leave a nasty bruise...~

She turned towards the Werewolf and she gave him a wink before jumping back into the fray.

Wai turned to head towards the far end of the chamber as she stabbed, ducked, parried as she fought her way through the bandits. The diversion caused by Jake and Uthgerd and Angeni’s joining the fight close quarters the bandits were being pushed back. She slipped her way around the edge of the fighting and made it to the raised table. A bandit who looked like a leader or at least some on with authority came into view. The bandit moved fast as it attacked.

~Oh hell! ~

Wai moved more on reflex then actual technique. As the sword swung down she thrust her own sword out across her to protect herself. The sword slammed into the middle of the blade. Her arm bucked under the force of the blow, she just managed to deflect the sword blade a hair breath from her face.

“Wow.” She slid her hand around her back to grab the knife sheathed at the small of her back. She side stepped the falling sword blade, rammed the knife under the jaw and up into the brain. “How do you like that you foster?”

The bandit’s legs buckled as it crashed onto the floor and she jumped back out of the way. She stepped over the fallen body and charged into the battle.

Jake looked about and his lips curled up in a grin that looked like a snarl. The din of battle and smell of blood in the air was nearly intoxicating. He judged that the number of enemies they were engaged with had numbered at least a score and thanks to the contribution of all it appeared they had cut that number by at least half. Eir and Cora were cutting a wide swath and Uthgerd had dispatched the enemy she had been fighting almost casually using the shield bash and counter he had taught her during their adventures. Even as he watched she notched her third kill by burying the head of her axe in another warrior woman's chest then used her booted foot in a kick while pulling on the blade and yanked it free.

Screams and the moans of the dying filled his ears and he knew it was time to begin moving again before his time in this form ran out. His own abilities as a werewolf were limited compared to the possibilities in game but he used it so little that he had barely scratched the surface of them. He was aware that feeding on your kills eventually granted greater abilities and longer transformations but he would NOT feed on a human or humanoid form, perhaps eventually he would make an effort to go on the hunt and run down deer and rabbits, game animals to feed the craving the werewolf demanded. He refused however to become a cannibal because of the vagaries of a holo program whether real or not.

Eir was behind him guarding the exit, Uthgerd farther inward and Cora had fought her way to what he gathered was the table holding the chief or chiefs of the assembled so he made that his target as she brought down the largest. Now was the time to catch the bandits in the proverbial wine press so he gathered himself again and lunged forward, propelling himself through the cavern in tremendous, ground eating lopes.

A thug spun from behind a stack of barrels hoping to escape the carnage and when she saw him she hit her knees and threw away her weapon, begging for her life. The werewolf however lunged into her chest, knocking her helmeted head with a thud against the stone floor and his rear claws found her gut and raked as he continued forward. Her cries followed him as he made the vicinity of the table in two more bounds. Granting mercy had been his aim when he had first begun the program but whether due to purposeful design or some weird glitch in it he had found to his despair that their surrenders were merely a feint. Several times he had turned from a fallen foe only to have them rise up once again behind him seeking his life. Had he allowed the woman to escape she might have gutted Eir or Uthgerd with a hidden weapon in-game and he would have blamed himself for it. It was better to take solace in the thought he had prolonged their in-game life than to think about what he had just done on instinct. Although he knew he was in the right it didn't make him feel any better.

His jaws snapped shut on the neck of a man who was trying to circle behind Cora; he gurgled as Jake shook his head and fractured the fellow's spine then fell lifeless to the floor. Another man dressed this time in steel armor and wielding a two handed sword appeared in his vision, he made a great lunge and slash which the werewolf dodged nimbly, jumping aside and then ducking inside the circle of his swing, the man's eyes quailed as he saw his death approaching, he tried to halt the swing before its arc was finished but the heavy weapon's momentum was too great.

"Never use a heavy weapon when you're off balance." The enraged specter snarled in his face which terrified him even further before it reached out with its great, clawed hands and grasped his helmeted head and twisted. There was a crunch of snapping bone and the light faded from his eyes as he went limp.

Jake dropped the bandit and saw a flash of intense, focused electricity milliseconds before it caught him in the chest, it hurt like hell and he roared in pain. ~Great, they have a mage with them! ~

She hit him in the face with another lightning bolt before he could cover the distance and his vision blurred, another one and he would go down. With a last lunge he bowled her over with jaws snapping and clawed hands trying to find some flesh until his vision cleared. He felt the small sting of a dagger and knew she was determined to finish him off but it had been a long time since he had been forced out of the program and he wasn't about to allow it now. His hands found the arm that had been holding the weapon and he snapped it like a dry twig, she screeched in pain and he followed the sound. His jaws found what they had been seeking and there was a crunch of bone, whether he had gotten her face or neck he didn't know yet as his vision was just now beginning to clear.

A side effect of the transformation was that he couldn't make use of his inventory even if he had brought it since it transformed with him and he couldn't cast any spells to heal himself while in the creature's form so as soon as his sight returned he maneuvered away from the battle at the table which was almost over now anyway. Cora had cornered the last rat.

He looked around to make sure no one had focused on him and realized the last of the combatants were in melee with those closest to the exit but he couldn't help them right now, he needed time to recover some of his health. He moved toward the sounds of fighting slowly to make sure he would be in good enough shape to contribute when he arrived if it was necessary.

Angeni backed up, moving no further than the mouth of the room. She surveyed the scene, her chest heaving and her eyes dilated. All of her senses were heightened and she felt more alive in that moment than she ever had before. She took a moment to try out one of the healing spells called Healing Hands and she gestured towards each person in her group. They shimmered with a green aurora for a moment and she smiled at them, but her smile was short lived by the feeling of intense pain in her leg. She looked down to see a dagger sticking from her shin. Looking around, she saw a bandit charging towards her and the edge of her lips curled up into a hidden smile.

"Good night!"

End Part 11

She rapid fired three arrows and they all clustered in the Bandit's chest in a tight formation. Forward momentum carried her forward a few more feet and she fell at Angeni's feet. Angeni looked down, pulling the dagger from her shin; it left no mark, but the pain was there. Her vision was blurry around the edges, but she saw that everyone was busy finishing off the leftovers. She walked around, putting those out of their misery that hung on by a thread. Her adrenalin was pumping hard and she was sure she looked frightening with blood splattered all over her, dilated eyes, and heavy breathing. As she ended the last life, she glanced around the now quiet room.

She pulled down the red sash covering the bottom of her face and the hood from her head. The motions left smears of blood on her face and she halfheartedly tried to wipe them off; it would take a bit of water to get it all off. She smiled at Cora, looking around her.

"That...was...AWESOME!" She giggled uncontrollably. "You did great."

Wai grinned back. “It was amazing and you were not too bad yourself.”

She looked around the room slowing down her breathing to get her adrenalin down and to slow her racing heart. Angeni reached over her shoulder, counting the arrows in her quiver. She started with thirty and now she had twenty four. She looked around, grabbing the arrows she could from the bodies, slipping them tip down in the quiver. Once they stopped, she would clean them off and sharpen them properly. Her hands trembled slightly as the adrenalin began to wear off and she began to calm down. She removed her gloves as they were slick with bodily fluids and she put them in a pocket on her quiver. Absentmindedly, she began to rub her arm where she got hit as she looked about.

Olaf growled his thanks when Eir cast her spell and felt his strength returning swiftly. He knew he must look a fearsome sight with blood dripping from his muzzle and everywhere he looked his fur and clawed hands were nearly covered in it after his orgy of destruction.

He found the woman he had steamrolled over earlier, her hands were clutching her stomach and covered in blood though her eyes were open with a pleading look and she was moaning weakly. It didn't take long for him to come to a decision and he held up a bloody, fur covered hand as Eir came near with her gory dagger and growled a warning. Speech he could do in short bursts while in werewolf form but it hurt his throat. She got the message though and veered away.

"Everyone okay?” Eir asked.

“Yeah I am fine thanks.” Wai replied.

The werewolf nodded as the others checked in then saw her turn toward the cages where the prisoners were being held.

It suddenly dawned on Angeni that she had something else she needed to do. Leaving the room, she put her hood and mask back on and she went down the first turn after leaving the room. She slipped down the corridor, using the shadows to hide in when she came to a bunch of cages holding men, women, and children of all ages. She shoved the blade of her dagger into the old fashioned keyhole and with a sharp twist, she broke the locking mechanism. Flinging open the cage doors, she waved the inhabitants from their prison.

"Go on now...get out of here."

She ushered them from the room and she started the walk back to her compatriots...

With the woman safe from imminent death and the captives being seen to Olaf loped swiftly back toward the table he had come from earlier, passing Cora who was nearby and had seen his protection of the bandit. He had spotted a number of cabinets and small chests of drawers near to it and you could count on the program to provide clothing with such furniture in the appropriate size, truth be told there was probably clothing for all of them contained within should they choose to wear or sell it.

He avoided the pools of blood around the still bodies of the bandits and checked the table and saw not only water and bottles of wine and ale along with plates of food but a few cloths and rumbled his approval. With the transformation due to wear off soon anyway he concentrated and caged the beast within himself once again, swiftly returning to his normal form. When he was back to his human self and standing in his loincloth the cold of the place began to seep back into his bones almost immediately. He knew he was going to regret it but he grabbed one of the cloths, soaked it with water and began washing himself thoroughly, beginning with his mouth and face. The wet cold stung but he kept it up till he was reasonably clean and all of the cloths were soaked with the blood of his victims.

Once he had washed he began ransacking the containers quickly and found a pair of woolen trousers of beechnut brown, a white shirt and a thick, beaded vest of the same color as the pants. He also spotted a pair of calf high soft boots which sure enough fit his feet like a glove. There was even a pair or leather gloves and a hat lined on the inside with fur, the hat was roomy enough that he could pull it down to cover his ears.

He wasn't warm yet but as he trotted back to the young woman he now noticed she had closed her eyes but was still breathing and moving weakly. "Uthgerd come quickly." He barked and heard the warrior woman's armor and heavy footfalls as she came running to his position. Her eyes were wide as she saw him and he knew she was probably feeling the same way he had when he had first seen Farkas turn. That had been on his first mission after being accepted into the Companions and in a dire situation with only the two of them.

"Search her for weapons and you'll have to work around me." He said as he knelt down while removing the gloves and covered the woman's bloody hands with his own. He could see Uthgerd remove her helmet exposing her short auburn hair and remove her gauntlets without question before getting to the task as he spoke the words of the spell Eir had used earlier. When the spell was completed he could feel the warm tingle in his hands which meant that it was working. Up close he could see the girl was much younger that he had first thought, probably not having yet seen her twentieth year and was glad he had made this decision. She was pretty, perhaps even beautiful beneath the grime and soot and had cinnamon colored hair of shoulder length.

He could keep the spell going for a fairly lengthy period of time and did so even after she had opened her eyes wide and was expressing her thanks until his magic was temporarily exhausted. Uthgerd in the meanwhile had found two daggers, one in a sheath strapped to her left calf and another secreted in her bosom. His precautions had borne fruit and she would never be able to claim with any truth that he had groped her.

He took his once again bloody hands off of hers and opened the rents in her clothing to see unbroken skin then spoke to Uthgerd again, ignoring the woman's thanks for the time being. "Watch her until I return and make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."

"Aye, I'll sit on her if necessary." The big woman's eyes threatened the girl. There wasn't an ounce of fat on Uthgerd that he knew of but lean, hard muscle.

With that situation taken care of he ran back into the tunnel to grab his equipment, snatching up a sword along the way just in case. His armor, weapons and equipment were more than he could handle at one time so he discarded the sword, buckled his own about his waist after removing the velvet covering and sticking it into a pocket then did the same with his pouches and moneybag which also contained a number of gems. The gem in the pommel shone brightly in the dimness, driving back the shadows for nearly ten feet. His bow, quiver and armor then he could handle easily and he loped back into the cavern to the large fire with them where he changed, once again becoming the Agent of Nocturnal or Nightingale as the small group was called.

When he returned to the girl she was sitting up with her back to a crate. He pulled a potion bottle from a pouch and offered it to her. "For healing in case there is anything I missed."

She gave him a questioning look and paused before taking the potion from his hand. "I hope it's not poison but then again why would you give me poison after healing me?"

He merely nodded and waited till she had uncorked the bottle and drank its contents.

She then handed the bottle back carefully and spoke to the masked and hooded figure, he noticed her eyes were jade green. "You're the werewolf aren't you?"

He simply nodded once again.

"Why did you heal me?" She asked.

He paused for only a heartbeat. "Because you surrendered, don't make me regret my decision. Uthgerd will continue to watch you and if you cause any trouble she will kill you without hesitation."

The girl looked to the black armored figure of the woman and seeing the hard look in her eyes understood he wasn't bluffing then spoke to them both. "I won't cause any trouble."

"We'll see." He said pointedly. "I'll have questions for you later if you hold to your word."

He caught part of her nod as he turned and left them and went to Eir who was talking to the freed captives. He didn't see Cora immediately and wasn't sure if she was in the group or scouting ahead. He couldn't smell her either but that was because with the beast locked away firmly his senses were no longer enhanced.

"Are there any injured among them?" He asked Eir as she walked up.

Angeni heard Olaf's voice behind her and she turned around, shaking her head.

"Just run of the mill bumps and bruises, but nothing major." She ruffled the head of a boy who passed her, holding his mothers' hand. People shook her hand as they passed her and she returned the shake with a gentle smile. She had removed her mask and hood, revealing her sweat soaked hair. She felt her entire head slowly getting cold and a chill ran down her spine as the sweat started cooling. While it was almost impossible to succumb to hypothermia due to the holodeck safeties, they could sure as anything experience the signs and symptoms. The doctor in her started to kick in. She rubbed her hands together then tucked them under her armpits. With a smile in Olaf's direction, she walked back into the main room. Looking around, she figured she could sneak back outside to her horse to grab her cloak. Her hands were now trembling with the cold and she wanted to warm up. Her aim would be all but true if she had to combat shaking hands when firing an arrow.

End Part 12

Angeni slowly moved outside, looking around. Snow had started to fall and she looked down at it, checking to see if there were any foot prints in the freshly fallen snow. Not seeing any, she crept quietly through the snow over to the group of horses. She rubbed each one on the nose as she spoke quietly to them.

"Hey guys, not much longer now." She reached into her cloak, giving each horse a corn cake. She was just fastening her cloak over her shoulders when she heard the snow crunching under feet. Olaf's horse nickered loudly and she put her hand on his face, her eyes wide.

"Shh...." she whispered frantically. She rubbed the broad spot between his eyes as she tried to quiet him down. The other horses began to shift uneasily and started snorting, tossing their heads, and pawing at the ground. Angeni ducked under one of the horses, trying to melt into the shadows. She pulled her mask and hood back on as she saw long, thick legs under the horses. She reached to her back to grab an arrow and with a gasp; she remembered she left them in the cave while tending to the prisoners. Peering around the rear of the horse, she saw someone rifling through the saddle bags. She had no room to run as there was a fifteen foot clear spot from the nearest cover to the mouth of the cave. From the looks of the intruder, they didn't have any physical weapons, but this was a world where the deadliest weapons could be nothing more than a whispered word.

She stepped back again and she stepped on a twig. It sounded as if someone had set off a compression grenade, even though the noise was barely noticeable. All movement stopped as she stared wide eyed at the pair of legs that stood not more than eight feet from her. The motion of the legs walking towards her had her moving backwards behind a tree. She kept her eyes on the form, trying to not make any noise. She tried to step in the hoof prints, trying to keep her tracks to a minimum. The figure moved around the horses and she ducked under them, still moving quietly. She shot a glance back at the cave entrance, trying to gauge her distance when a heavy hand clamped down on her shoulder.

Whipping around, she stared into a completely obscure face. The bandit before her was dressed differently than the ones she met in the cave; the cave dwellers wore cloth and leather while this one wore thick armor. She knew she wasn't getting out of this 'alive' but all she could do was put up a good fight. She darted away like a scared rabbit, ducking back under the horses when she got an idea. As she moved, she slapped her horse hard on the rump; he was tied to a tree so he couldn't run, but he reared up and neighed loudly, which got all the other horses doing the same. She did a baseball slide under the flailing horse limbs, ducking and dodging as she went. She looked up just in time to see the bandit get his helmet knocked off by a kick from one of the horses.

~Gotcha! ~

She moved from the mess of horses and the figure followed behind her. Slipping in the snow, he caught her by the ankle and they began to wrestle in the snow. Dodging a heavy metal fist trying to make mush out of her face, she took an elbow to the face. She groaned loudly, her vision blurring and her face exploding with pain. She quickly yelled the healing spell, trying to give herself as many chances as possible to get out of it alive. She brought her hands up, gouging at her combatants' eyes with her fingernails, raking across his face trying to get some purchase. She dug her fingers in with her left hand and she felt her fingers get warm and grab something squishy. At the same time, she brought her right hand down like a hammer on the already broken nose, making it even more so. The man reared up, roaring in pain. Angeni tried squirming out from under him, but her cloak was caught in the folds of the armor. Trying to move away just caused her to start choking herself.

The Bandit began raining fists down towards her head, but she managed to avoid the flailing. She continued to squirm around, feeling for her the only weapon she had; a small dagger in her waistband. She grabbed it and she shoved the dagger into the exposed flesh of the Bandit's throat, slashing it violently up and to the right. With a spray of blood, the Bandit fell atop her in a bloody heap, his body twitching violently, but dead. Angeni gasped, feeling the warm blood seeping through the mask and over her face. She sputtered, trying to push the man off of her, but she just didn't have the energy in that moment to get him off of her, so she laid there for a moment, trying to catch her breath...

Wai watched Jake and Angeni head out of the room. She was about to follow when she saw a piece of paper fluttering beside a large chest which was up against one wall. ~What is that? ~

She stepped closer and saw that there was a dark gap behind the chest. She slipped her fingers behind the chest and heaved it open to reveal a dark passage way. ~Well this is something different~

Olaf had left the girl under Uthgerd's watchful eye and exited the cavern to reclaim his shield. Having taken the measure of his compatriots he had decided they would be doing the forward scouting and assassination as initially planned while he and Uthgerd provided melee backup on this part of the adventure and whenever he was in a 'fair' fight with an opponent his shield was a must have. Some preferred not to use one, his shipmates for example and those who used two handed weapons but to him it was an extension of himself during these simulations. It provided him with protection from weaponry of all sorts including spells and breath weapons. And as his run in with the mage in the cavern had attested having protection from enemy mages was something he just downright preferred to have. The only time he was comfortable without it was when he was slipping invisibly through the shadows on a mission that required extreme stealth.

Even before he stepped outside he could hear the agitation of the horses and without hesitation drew his sword. The blade's glow was more subdued than that of the gem in the hilt but in the darkness it shone all the way to the tip and had struck fear into the hearts of more than a few enemies. He charged into the falling snow, his head on a swivel, looking not only around but up into the air. The common saying in Skyrim of "Watch the skies traveler" had a very solid foundation in this world's 'reality'.

His ears caught the gurgling sound of an expiring combatant and he sped toward it, heedless of danger which is why when three heavily armed and armored combatants surged around the very hillock he had dropped from earlier he was almost caught by surprise. He heard their shouts of glee and taunts though before he arrived at where the mounts were tossing their heads and stomping their hooves and spun toward the sound, noting the group who were unaware of just who they were facing brought a grim smile to his lips. "Typical." he muttered.

He slowed and turned to face them, the first two were almost with weapon's reach when he let loose a shout that shook the very air. "FUS RO DAH!"

The two men were picked up bodily and hurled through the air as though slapped by an invisible giant hand as the wave of concussive force impacted and swept them along with it. They landed heavily more than twenty feet away and were slow to move much less rise from the ground.

His sword was up in a ready position as the third man slowed but didn't stop though the whites of his eyes were showing clearly. He now found himself in an awkward position with his fellows down and him nearly within striking distance of his black garbed and faceless foe.

"So you're the Dragonborn everyone's been talking about." He spat. "Well everyone has to die sometime." He began to circle Olaf who turned with him fluidly while the man sought an opening.

Olaf gave him one, turning his blade slightly to the right as though forgetting good swordsmanship.

The man's eyes lit up with glee and Olaf knew he had him, as the fellow rushed at him with a wild yell, his sword above his head intending to chop down into his cranium he sidestepped the man and spun on his heel 360 degrees to his right. The man saw his impending doom and his yell turned to a wail, there was no way he could get his weapon down in time to block the coming blow and he knew it although he tried.

Olaf's sword was just above waist level with the sharpened blade spinning toward the man like a scythe, it cut deeply into his stomach in the joint where his chest plate met his greaves or lower armor.

The bandit screamed in horror as Dawnbreaker bit deeply into his gut and his momentum carried him several feet forward until he dropped to his knees upon the ground. His sword fell from trembling hand as both reflexively went to his stomach in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood.

Olaf stepped behind him and spoke in a tone that portended doom. "Yes, everyone has to die sometime."

Dawnbreaker stabbed downward, piercing his neck below the helmet between it and the metal collar of his armor. The thug shrieked once then shivered and collapsed in a pool of blood in the snow.

Olaf then sprinted to Ember and untied Spellbreaker as he watched the other two thugs from the corner of his eye; they were just now starting to stir with groans of pain. He took the shield down and slipped his left arm through the straps then turned to face the two and began to walk toward them with his bloodied sword once more at the ready position.

The pair looked up in time to see the specter with bloody sword advancing toward them and suddenly found the energy to heave themselves to their feet and flee. They wanted no more of this mysterious figure whose blade was covered with the gore of their comrade and whose very voice could shake the world.

Olaf watched their retreating forms for a moment before turning back to check on Eir who he found entangled with another dead brigand. He jerked the corner of her cloak from the dead man's armor and helped her to her feet then turned to settle the horses.

Angeni heard Olaf moving around and it sounded like he was in a fight. She struggled violently, but she didn't have the oomph from the position she was in to push him off. Within moments, everything was silent and she felt the end of her cloak being tugged free from the fold in the armor. She was able to wiggle free with a bit of help and she took the hand up.

"Thanks." She said sheepishly.

End part 13

Wai bent down and crawled into the passage way running her finger along the roof so that she would not bang her head if the roof dipped suddenly. ~Just like climbing through the Jeffries tubes in the dark~

She froze as she heard a muffled cry up ahead. ~What the hell? ~

She moved quicker and hoping the there was nothing hanging down from the roof that would give her a concussion if she hurried into it. As she arrived at the other end she realized that there were people in the room beyond. As she looked out she saw two men and one woman. The man had a hand over her mouth to stop her screaming and she was pinning her against the wall.

“You better stop screaming. Once they are gone you will be all ours.”

~Oh no you don’t! ~

As the men laughed she made her move. She ghosted forward as she pulled out her knife. She stepped up behind the first man and slammed the knife into his neck. The man spasmed before dropping to the floor. The man holding the girl began to turn as she smashed him against the wall she slid the knife into back splitting his kidney and causing him to scream in agony. ~You think that hurts. ~

She yanked his head back and slit his throat as he dropped to the floor. Wai stepped over the body and grabbed the woman.

“If you want to get out of here come with me.”

The woman nodded and went into the passage with Wai followed closely. As they emerged from the tunnel she caught up with the woman. “What’s your name?”

The woman turned and looked at her. “My name is Gooja what is yours.”

“My name is Cora.”

Gooja looked at her for a moment, “Cora that is an unusual name.”

Wai chuckled. “Well Gooja I am an unusual person. Come on let’s get you out of here in case any Bandits come back.”

~~

"I think we had better take them inside the entry cavern,” Jake said. “I can talk with Uthgerd about staying behind and watching over our mounts. There isn't a lot left to explore except for another couple of caverns fortunately and she can take care of herself. I'd feel sorry for any bandit that tried to take her if I didn't despise them so much.'

Angeni nodded and quickly grabbed the reins of two of the horses. With a gentle click of her tongue, she followed behind Olaf obediently.

He untied two of them then began walking them to the cavern, Ember and Uthgerd's mount.

Wai nodded and they both headed towards the main tunnel that would get them out of the tunnels. As they reached the near the entrance Wai left Gooja with a group of freed prisoners as he emerged from the cavern. She saw Jake come over to see her.

He saw Cora emerge from the cavern apparently looking for them. "What did you find in the next cavern Cora? I assume you went there since I couldn't find you after the prisoners were released."

Angeni stood behind Olaf with a smile, not sure where to put the horses. When she saw Cora from around Olaf, she broke out into a smile again.

Wai gave him a smile. “Just making new friends…”

Angeni appreciated the quick wit that Cora had. She watched a questioning look glance over Cora's face.

She looked around seeing that the horses were being moved into the cave with them. “.. So you both having fun out here, do you need a hand?”

Angeni shook her head, immediately regretting it. Her cheek stung as if a million bees attacked her face. She felt the other places she was hit, but it was more of a dull ache than anything else. Olaf and Cora pvssyd amongst themselves and she took the time to look over the two horses she was caring for. Sleip nuzzled her face fondly and she pulled out a piece of cake, feeding it to him gently.

Olaf considered her offer. "There was a small group of heavily armed thugs nosing about around here. We got two of them and the others fled. If you would like you can make a sweep of the area and see if there are any more nearby. It would be nice to know our backs are secure while we finish cleaning out this nest of vipers."

Wai nodded. “No problem I’ll go, have a look and see what’s out there.”

He nodded. "I don't expect the two that got away to return, they were running like a daedra was snapping at their heels. They might let others know of our position though so we need to make an effort to finish up here quickly. I would recommend using high ground to scan the area rather than walking the whole of the perimeter on foot but it's up to you. Just remember the clock is ticking."

“I understand.”

"The horses will be safe in the small cave where you left the sleeping bandit." Olaf's voice had a joking note.

She smiled at the joke.

"It will help protect them from the elements as well as snoopers. See you when you return. We'll be waiting in the large cavern."

Wai nodded. “I won’t be too long.”

She turned away and began to stalk away. She moved as quickly as she could without make too much noise as she headed for the ridge line. ~Okay let’s see what is out there~

"It's all good, my darling..." Angeni cooed at him softly, stroking his long nose. She stroked Cora's horse lovingly, picking twigs and pine needles from her mane. She looked around and caught sight of a little ante chamber off the main branch of the cave room and she signaled lightly at the two of them to show where she was going. She walked down the path and she let go of the reins. Pulling a curry brush from the saddle bag, she brushed the horses down and tried to dry them off at the same time when she heard footsteps approaching.

When Cora trotted off he continued, eventually catching up with Eir inside and tied the horses' reins to a convenient heavy rack designed to hold weapons. As a matter of fact a couple of hand axes and a mace were hanging from it now.

"Hope the werewolf thing wasn't too much of a shock." He chuckled. "It can get more than a bit weird here." He was stroking Ember's neck to soothe him as she replied.

Angeni smiled at him. She had pulled off her hood and mask to keep her face from sweating as she adjusted the saddle straps and the bits in the horse’s mouths. She unsnapped the bits to allow them to eat freely without having to bite around the metal bar in their mouths.

"Oh, no, didn’t bother me at all. In a very weird way, it was kind of nice. I raised wolves back on Earth. The howl that you let loose reminded me of when they would go on a hunt. To hear a pack of wolves all howling in unison is something to behold."

Olaf nodded as he finished with Ember by giving him a pat on the back then began moving around the horse while trailing his left hand along the animal's back and across his flank as he crossed behind the black stallion so that he would know where he was at all times. Moving around behind an unsuspecting horse could get you kicked and severely injured and since he rode both out of and in game the action was an ingrained reflex. Ember merely swished his long tail contentedly, completely undisturbed.

"You can hear the same thing out here at night so don't be surprised if you're camping and a pack cuts loose. The wolves here though are feral and dangerous, can carry diseases that will have an effect on your abilities and aren't afraid of attacking travelers." He got the fleeting image of himself as tour guide and smiled. Seeing her take down her hood he did the same as he made a wide berth behind Uthgerd's mount.

"Ho Freya." He closed in on the bay and reached to scratch her under the chin and stoked the bottom of her neck several times with his right palm before patting her chest as he had seen his companion do on a number of occasions. The horse calmed immediately and nuzzled his shoulder indicating he had made a new friend.

Angeni grabbed a water skin and poured a bit of water on a piece of cloth and she started cleaning the daggers that were caked in blood.

He saw Eir cleaning her weapons out of the corner of his eye; he had no sooner turned to pick up a garment he had seen laying on a chest to wipe down his sword when she spoke.

"So, what type of spell was that and do I have to get naked every time I use it?" She winked devilishly at Olaf as she sheathed the dagger. "That would be an interesting spell to learn at some point. I have a...connection with wolves and I wouldn't mind portraying that here."

He turned his head to see her give him a mischievous wink.

"A spell," He actually chuckled at the question though it was a good one. "There is no spell for the turning though I didn't acquire lycanthropy in the traditional way."

She raised an eyebrow inquisitively as she made sure her weapons were gore free. Packing them away, she returned to the horses, using a cast off metal bowl she found in the room as a water dish. She filled it with water, looking over at Olaf. "How did you acquire it, if you don't mind my asking?"

He gave a grim smile at her confusion and though he didn't want to spoil too much of the wonders this world had in store decided it wouldn't hurt for her to know. "The man I was sitting with when you entered the inn is a member of the leadership of the Companions who are based in Whiterun at the mead hall Jorvaskr. He was my mentor when I joined the order, my sponsor for a seat in that circle and my shield brother and is a werewolf as are the others. Those not of the leadership do not know of their special nature."

"So, you were bitten by him?" She held up the bowl, letting the horse drink to his fill.

End Part 14

He laughed. "No I wasn't bitten although you can contract it that way here. Part of the ritual for initiation into the inner circle is to drink a small portion of blood contributed by one of the others and Aela donated a portion for me."

She listened intently while she continued to feed and water the horses.

He remembered standing in the secret sanctuary beneath the Sky forge and facing Aela who had been in werewolf form on the other side of the tall basin. Undergoing that ritual had been astoundingly realistic and his remarkably fast ascension into the most prestigious of positions within the order had been due to a number of factors including the former Harbinger's visions and seeing Farkas turn. He had a suspicion that Uthgerd's witnessing his own turning would mean a fast ascension for her as well.

He came around quickly though. "It wasn't like I was given much of a choice either, it was either take the beast form as it's called here or not be privy to their most closely guarded secrets. There is no threat to anyone from them though." His words had the firm ring of truth. "They use their abilities against the enemies of order within the hold and not against the innocent. Also the transformation does not turn you into a mindless beast like it does to those who are bitten by the feral ones as they are called. There is much more to be told but it is too long a story for the here and now. As for your other question..."

She watched his face break out into a smile and she returned one in kind, her face beet red.

"No you don't have to get naked to take the beast form, should you choose you can turn with your full equipment and have it still on you when you change back. My stripping out of mine was due to role playing. It just doesn't make sense to me that it would work that way so I choose to remove it before I turn, it just seems more ... realistic."

"I can totally understand that. You will have to tell me the long story at some point. I'm sure it's very interesting."

~~

Wai cautiously lifted her head over the lip of the ridge not wanting to isolate herself on the ridge line. There was nothing that she could see and the land beyond was cold and desolate. She pulled herself higher to giver herself a better vantage point there was still no movement even though she scrutinized everything she could see. There was suddenly movement off to one side and she heard the swish of an arrow moving through the air. She tried to leap out of the way but she was far too slow. She felt no pain but her vision blurred, she was knocked off her feet as she fell of the ridge line. She instinctively pulled in her legs and cradled her head with her hands as she tumbled down. She gave a hiss of shock as she slammed against a boulder that had stopped her tumble. She untangled herself and lay there for a moment as her inner ears stopped spinning.

~Well that was fun……containment~

She quickly checked her suit and found her relief that it was still intact and working. She then pulled out a healing potion and drank it. A smile ghosted across her face as her vision began to clear. She had been lucky in the battles earlier not to get any major injuries, almost too lucky, which meant this was her turn. She froze as she heard the sound of movement nearby. She lay quite still pretending that she was dead her hand already gripping her knife in readiness. She felt a kick to her leg and then a pause.

“Looks like I got it,” Came a gruff male voice as she was rolled over and she then attacked. It was over in a blur of motion. Her swung her legs out to knock the man over as he landed on the ground she jabbed out with her knife burying it deep into his abdomen. She leaped to her feet ready for another strike when he spoke.

“Stop, stop.”

Wai looked down at the bandit who was slumped against a boulder. His hand was pressed hard to his side trying unsuccessfully to stem the bleeding from the abdominal wound.

She slid forward and moved his bow and dagger away from him before crouching beside him just out of arms reach. “If you are asking for mercy then you are greatly mistaken.”

The bandit gave a gurgled laugh as blood tricked down his chin. “I don’t want mercy from the likes of you but I do want the name of the person who has killed me.”

Wai though for a moment and then nodded. “My name is Cora of the Deep Water Fleet.”

The bandit frowned. “Fish footer! What are you doing so far from the sea?”

Wai paused for a moment. She had given her character history a little bit of thought but had not gone into specifics. “None of your business,” She said sternly.

The bandit grinned. “Oh you are a tetchy little fish footer.”

“If you don’t shut up I can make your passing to the next life excruciating!”

The bandit kept smiling his blood stained smile as he coughed up more blood. “I am not long for this world fish footer you can’t make it any worse than it already is.”

Wai’s voice was low and menacing. “Oh you think! For what your lot did to those prisoners I sure can.”

He gave a gurgling laugh. “Oh that is so great. Fish footer with a moral conscience oh that is so funny coming from a people that are just as bad as siren and mermaids. The prisoners we will just get more of them and there is nothing you can do about it. We will get them and then they will suffer terribly before they beg for death.”

“That may be true but you will not be around to see it happen.” She snarled as the Bandit gave his last rattling cough and died. She stood up without giving him another look and walked away. She scanned the landscape but found no sign of any one else out there as she made her way back to the others.

~~

Angeni moved close to Olaf, tying the two horses up. She gave all four horses a piece of cake with honey on it, gently stroking their long noses.

"You certainly know your way around horses. Do you ride outside of here?" She started snapping bridles and bits back in place. She never liked the use of a bit when just a head harness would do. She made sure to rub their lips and gums where the bit sat just to relieve a bit of pressure.

Watching her reminded him and he began unbuckling the mare’s saddle as he replied. “Yes I do, as often as possible. I grew up with a friend whose father raised quarter horses and I rode them every chance I got and still do. I also have a number of horses here and can come and ride whenever I like.”

He then untied the girth strap with its intricate knot which was only slightly different from the ones he had grown up using and removed the saddle. This one was a bit heavier than the one Ember was carrying since the pack with the tent was tied to it.

Angeni nodded and smiled as she started lifting up hooves just to check the shoes. She ran her fingers down their legs and gently cradled each hoof in her hand. Each look took less than fifteen seconds.

"You could say I was born on a horse." She laughed softly. Her mother had actually gone into labor with her while riding her horse. "I've been around horses and wolves my entire life..."

“Lucky you,” His mouth quirked in an introspective grin as he remembered the first time he had been on one’s back which was sometime in his early teens. “I love everything about them even down to their scent. And the leather tack…” His mouth split wide in an unabashed smile as he worked. “Well let’s just say I can’t get enough of the smell. My leather armors are the same way. ”

He had laid out the saddle and rubbed the mare’s back down with the saddle blanket which was protection for the hair and skin of the animal to prevent chafing from the gear using strokes from her withers to her flanks. This went with the natural lay of the hair on her back. Afterward he used the same technique to walk behind her by maintaining constant contact with Freya and relieved Ember of his burden then gave him a rubdown as well.

The stallion nickered quietly and nuzzled his back as he worked so when he was finished he turned and cradled the horse’s face in the crook of his arm gently for an instant before caressing the velvety smooth lower lip then stroking lightly between his nostrils. “Yes I’ve got a treat for you as well.”

He fetched an apple from a pouch at his waist and held it up, knowing that he had probably smelled its delectable aroma the whole time. It took only three bites for the horse to make short work of the fruit. Olaf then slapped him lightly on the back a couple of times as he thoroughly chewed the last morsel.

Ember was the most spirited yet at the same time the most affectionate of his mounts since he was the first acquired and ridden most. Olaf routinely worked around the hold though the two of them had been almost everywhere in the province and had many an adventure together. He currently had a dapple grey mare stabled at Heljerchen, a roan stallion outside Solitude and a palomino mare at Riften. He planned on one day expanding the two stall stable at his hall so that it could hold all of them.

End Part 15

She finished up with the horses and she looked around. Smiling at Olaf, she gestured to the opening of the room.

"We should probably go meet back up with Cora. We can talk more when we settle down for the night."

He nodded. “Tales are best told by fire’s light.” He then realized he had said it like a true nord and grinned. “Let’s get going then.” He took up his shield and moved toward the mouth of the tunnel.

As they made their way through the darkness of the tunnel which was lit by the gem in Dawnbreaker’s hilt he suddenly visibly started and turned toward her. “I’ve been an idiot. There is something you and Cora need to know about these horses which I should have told you before.”

He felt like slapping his forehead. “They’re not just run of the mill riding animals but are trained for war. Whether mounted or on foot they will fight with you and they’re nearly fearless. I’ve had Ember charge a grounded dragon before. Had I been in your position outside and known what some dumb ass should have told me I would have untied my mount and turned it loose on the guy. Hell!” He shrugged his shoulders. “You two have been around these animals long enough already that they’re used to your scent. Any one of them or probably all would have been more than happy to have stomped him into mush.”

Angeni stopped and raised an eyebrow at him. Her mental filter kicked in, keeping her from saying something mean and harsh, which was her go to response anymore. She shrugged her shoulders as she put a hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Don't worry about it. I figured something was up as they weren't doing the freaked horse panic, but more of how my wolves act when they are pent up and ready for the hunt. Sleip was the only reason the Bandit's helmet came off as he kicked him squarely in the head. She giggled at him again, gesturing for him to lead the way.

Besides..." She curled her arms up, flexing her biceps and laughing at the same time, "...it let me show you just how tough I am."

Olaf grinned at her muscle flexing, when she giggled he nodded.

He stopped as he saw Cora out of the corner of his eye; she had just stepped into the light emanating from his sword. “Ho Cora, what news?”

She entered the cave again to find Jake and Angeni exiting a tunnel near her. She walked over to them and nodded. “We are the only ones here now. I did a sweep and found one scout who I took care of. There is no one else hanging around to follow us.” She replied.

He nodded in satisfaction at her thoroughness. “Good work. By the way did you hear what Eir and I were discussing?”

Olaf and Cora began talking to one another and Angeni pulled her gloves on, dusting off errant dirt balls off her clothes.

She glanced at the horses before looking back at Jake and Angeni. “Yeah… the horses are battle hardened. That’s good to know!”

“Good then I don’t have to repeat myself.” He winked.

Angeni nodded. "I got ambushed outside and the horses, even though tied up, still helped out. It's a natural thing for them, I guess. I didn't have to do much of anything except to just rile them up and make them realize there was a real threat. After that, they did a lot of the hard work."

Angeni stretched her arms over her head, her joints making a slight popping sound. She started to move around a bit, trying to keep the blood flowing.

"We should probably get on the road to our next destination or at least to a camping spot. It started snowing outside and it just feels like it's going to be a good storm."

He nodded soberly as the bandit camp was not a safe place to remain to wait out the storm, sometimes such could last for days off and on. A camp seemed to be in order and he knew of a good spot nearby.

“You can get the horses ready then while I fetch Uthgerd.” He then left them and after a short walk entered the cavernous area which the bandits had made their main base of operations.

She pulled her hood and scarf off, allowing her face to air out. She was sweating under her hood and wet hair in the cold wouldn't end well for her. She walked back down the cavern and untied the horses. They followed obediently behind her without her having to hold onto the reins. She walked from the cave to the outside where the cold wind swirled around, biting her face. She brought her hood up, but she left the mask off.

~~

Rounding a stack of containers he noted that the girl was still alive meaning she had kept her word given to him and the female warrior.

Uthgerd had gotten over her initial shock and turned to him as he approached. “How long will I have to be playing wet nurse?” She asked without a hint of mirth.

“It is no longer needed.” Olaf answered. “We are leaving this place.”

He then looked to the girl. “You are free to go.”

She gave him an uncomprehending look. “You told me you had questions.” Her face screwed up in confusion. “First you spare my life then set me free. I do not understand.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Your understanding is of no interest to me.” He looked at Uthgerd and inclined his head toward the entrance. “Let’s go.”

“No, wait.” The female stood to her feet. “I am going with you.”

He spun on his heel, his mouth set in a snarl. “What? You think that I will trust you or play nursemaid to you now? I don’t want you at my back or around to warn your fellows the next time I come for them. And I will come for them, everyone I can hunt down!”

She crossed her arms and stood resolute. “I owe you my life and that is a debt that must be paid.”

He stepped back in disbelief then turned to Uthgerd and gave her a look that said. ~She must be insane! ~

The woman had a curious expression on her face however as though weighing the girl’s words.

He put his hands on his hips and scowled at her. “Uthgerd…”

“No, she is right.” The warrior pinned him with her gaze. “I know you have come from Cyrodill and do not know all of the ways of your ancestors Harbinger but she has a blood debt to you now.”

He felt as though he had been struck. “What?”

The girl stepped back into his line of sight. “I am your bond thrall according to our ways and will pay my debt.”

He looked from one woman to another in confusion then addressed his old adventuring companion, “For how long?”

“Until her debt is repaid.” She said simply, “Till her death or yours.”

He shook his head while trying to think of a way out of the corner his simple act of mercy had painted him into. “Then I release you from your debt.”

He snapped.

“It is not that simple Dragonborn.” The warrior woman replied and the girl nodded.

~Damn! ~ He thought. Despite his best intentions he had only dug himself deep, if only he had let Eir pierce her heart with the dagger. ~No! ~ The idea itself was ludicrous to him. He wrestled with the dilemma for a moment before snapping at them both.

“Very well but Uthgerd since you support her claim I expect you to instruct her in what I will not tolerate.”

The woman nodded in consent. Olaf had learned enough about the ways of these northmen to know what demands he could reasonably expect to make. To speak up in someone’s defense made you at least partially liable for the repercussions of their actions.

“And you.” He growled at the girl. “If you accompany me will be expected to maintain at least some minimum standards; one of which is to bathe, after we make camp I had better see a change in your appearance. “More softly he added. “What is your name?”

“Liselle,” She said then walked to where her sword had been tossed and retrieved it. As soon as she had returned to them he spoke harshly. “We go now.”

Angeni mounted her horse and she waited patiently for Cora, Olaf, and Uthgerd to join her. Once they were mounted up, she turned her horse into the wind.

When they had left the caverns the horses were ready. He mounted then turned and after hesitating took the girls arm and pulled her into the saddle behind him then gave the others a look that said. ~Don’t ask. ~

Angeni saw the woman mount behind Olaf and she opened her mouth to say something, but the look from Olaf told her otherwise and she quickly shut her mouth. She reined out first then turned back. "Olaf! Lead the way, brother!"

He pulled the mask and hood back over his face and turned eastward toward a small cave where they could safely shelter for the night out of the teeth of the storm and away from any brigands who might be looking for them, stewing along the way.

~Next time don’t show mercy. ~

End Part 16

Wai was sitting on her horse again. She was getting a hand of this riding thing but only just. If they had to do anything fancy then she would hope that the horse would take care of itself as she hung on. The wind chill increased as they moved out of the safety of the caves. They were heading eastward to a small cave where they could safely shelter for the night. She really hoped that it was not too far as it was getting very cold. She was warm due to the suit thermal insulation and that the water in between her scales and the suit was being warmed by her body heat. She was not stupid enough think that she would be warm for long even with all the clothes she was wearing. Her scales vibrated as she involuntarily shivered as she moved the horse forward to catch up with the others as they trudged across the barren and windswept landscape.

~Come on, the longer we are out here the quicker you will turn into a Popsicle~

They rode in silence across the landscape and Angeni kept her head on a swivel, peering across what she could see between the snowflakes. She pulled her cloak around her tighter, trying to keep as much body heat in as possible. She was following behind Cora when she heard her speak.

“Do you think that the next adventure that we have could it be somewhere that getting frostbite is not a foregone conclusion when stepping outside?”

Cora sounded miserable as she tried to bundle herself against the chill.

Eir laughed behind them.” Risa would be nice! Oooh! Andevian II would be another good spot. At the same time, I’m enjoying this! I haven’t been in the snow and cold in a very long time!”

Jake/Olaf snapped out of his funk long enough to nod his head. He had heard a lot about Risa but had never been there. The other planet she mentioned was not familiar to him.

He couldn’t help but note that Ember was starting to become uneasy, his ears were twitching at first then pricked back on his head and his gait changed as he began to slow, turning his head Olaf could see that the other mounts appeared to be doing the same.

Wai pulled her cloak further around her to try and keep her face plate from accumulating too much frost so she could not see. As she got herself into the rhythm of the horses movements as she hunkered down. Her mind wandered to thoughts of a warm bed by a nice fire and sipping a hot drink. Her mind suddenly snapped into focus. She was not sure what it was but she had the sensation of something wrong. It was like swimming the ocean you just knew that there was something out there coming to eat you but you could not see it, it was like some kind of sixth sense.

She felt her horse twitch uncertainly under her and she rubbed its neck with one hand as she had seen Angeni doing. She pulled down her hood exposing her heated face to the bighting wind as she sat as high as she could in her saddle. She scanned the desolate view around her as she tried to see what might have spooked her.

~I can’t see anything~

She realized that they were over half way to the cave but even the thought of nice warm fire could not shake the feeling of unease. ~what about if it flies? ~

She glanced up just in case it was a dragon but there was nothing but the claustrophobic feeling of heavy storm clouds.

Angeni looped the reins around the saddle horn and she tucked her hands into her armpits. She saw the horse that Cora was riding suddenly start flicking his ears about and it piqued her interest. Horses would turn their ears in the direction of an unfamiliar sound before actually turning to look. Sleip began to do the same thing under her, but the sound seemed distorted on the wind as his ears never pointed the same way twice.

They were moving quickly, so she slowed Sleip down as Cora spoke.

Olaf trusted his horse’s instincts and sense of smell as much as he did his own. The others were just as quick to pick up on what was going on whether from unease or due to the intensive training pervasive within the fleet. Officers were trained after all to be observant and decisive.

“Do any of you see anything? Something does not feel right.” Cora spoke suddenly from out of the blowing snow.

Angeni shook her head. “I don’t see anything but my senses are tingling,”

She stopped Sleip and she jumped down lightly. She held onto his reins as she looked at the ground. Something caught her attention and she leaned down to look at what it was. She saw the remains of a large paw print. She knelt in the snow, spreading her hand out wide and she placed it over the print; it was wider and longer than her hand. The snow in the pads of the print was tightly compressed. Her breath came quicker as she took a few steps forward, searching for the next print and she found it. The animal had to be over six feet long. The print she was looking at was a bit of a better read and it showed claw indentations... ~Wolves! ~

The snowfall was beginning to thicken as Olaf watched the trail ahead. The cave was not more than a mile ahead as close as he could judge though distant markers had been masked by what was threatening to become whiteout conditions soon. Considering the nature of some of the creatures that inhabited the waste he decided to loosen the chains once again that held the beast in check though so soon after releasing it he was reluctant to do so.

He tested the wind for scent and caught one that was very familiar though it was thin which explained why the horses were uneasy though not yet more demonstrative.

He reined Ember to a stop and spoke softly to the girl behind him. “Hold on to me tightly.” As he drew his sword he loosened Ember’s reins and then wound the bitter end of them around the short saddle horn then closed his hand over it tightly. Liselle clung close to him with her arms about his stomach as he had instructed her.

The wind and snow were blowing from the north and quickly covering any sign on the trail ahead if there were any so his sharpened sight almost missed the telltale tracks.

Angeni sprinted back to Sleip and she tried yelling over the storm. "Hey! Wolves! There are wolves on the trail!" She couldn't even see the caravan of horses in the distance, so she mounted up and kicked Sleip into a gallop, hoping she wasn't going to find a ring of injured humans and horses when she finally caught up...

Eir’s voice was nearly drowned out by the rising storm, his hearing though caught the gist of it.

“…wolves! …. on trail!”

Wai’s blood went cold at the words. They were out in the open without cover being hunted by wolves.

“Oh this is so not good.” She muttered to herself as the howl of an Alpha male rose from the south followed closely by others from every direction. She began looking around again to see where the closest howl was coming from.

Olaf shouted then. “Ride and ride fast!”

~You don’t have to tell me twice~

Angeni heard the hunting call come from the Alpha wolf. She listened over the howl of the wind, the heavy steps of her horse, and her own pants to try and count each return call. She counted twelve, but with a hunting pack that large, she could only imagine exactly how many there were.

"Ha! Sleip!" She egged her horse on when suddenly a great weight struck them from the right. It hit so hard and so fast it threw her off her perch as her steed stumbled around, trying to keep his footing. She landed in a snowbank and she groaned loudly as she bounced once, and then landed face down. She hopped up and drew and arrow. She didn't dare use a spell with the wolf attached to Sleip. Sleip bucked hard, throwing the wolf off and as the wolf launched in for another attack, Angeni casted Ash Shell, then she followed it up with Flames and Fire Bolt. The wolf dropped dead to the ground and Angeni ran up and jumped on Sleip.

He nudged Ember with his heels and the black leaped ahead, Liselle’s grip tightened around him as he leaned forward, sword ready and eyes searching for a target.

The lean shapes of hungry wolves loomed ahead and Ember snorted as they sped toward the group, moving swiftly across the icy ground. More howls broke out behind them as the predators closed in for the kill. As the foremost neared Ember reared with his forelegs high in the air, they came crashing down against the skull of one of them which sent it sliding, its legs spasming to the side and its skull crushed.

Olaf brought his sword down and out in an arc along the horse’s right side, the blade sending one yelping and slipping on its paws as it tried to get away. The blade had caught it on a foreleg and bit deeply.

End Part 17

Wai saw Jack and Angeni’s horses leap forward as they began their gallop. She urged her horse forward which it did without much encouragement as she was the last in the group. She gripped on tight and hoped that the horse was sure footed enough over the rough ground otherwise it would be a nasty fall along with an ugly end. She glanced behind her as dark shadows appeared behind them out of the snow. There were three of them heading in her direction. They were two far away to use her throwing knifes but she did not want them to get any closer. She quickly scrolled her way through the list of spells that she had brought.

~Maybe a Mage would have been better; I could have roasted their asses~ she saw something that might work. ~You pick what you pick. Stop complaining and get one with it~

She activated the Frenzy spell on the closing wolves. She hoped that she was out of the spells range and gave a slight grin as two of the wolves turned on each other.

“And that left one.”

The wolf materialized out of nowhere. It was moving faster than she was expecting as it charged in fangs wide open. Its growl turned into a yelp of pain as her horse side stepped and its back leg slammed into its flank with a sickening crunch of bone as it was sent into the air

Ember turned and lashed out with his hooves again, the blow catching another wolf in the side. There was a sharp snap of bone and it tried to crawl away snarling but the horse came down with its hooves on the beast’s back and shattered its spine.

This was why he had given the stallion its head, without the reins pulling the steed back he could turn and attack as he wished while the man’s grip upon the saddle horn kept himself and his passenger firmly upon the animal’s back.

With the foremost gone the way was clear. Olaf turned his head and saw that the others had beaten back the first wave of canine opponents.

“The Cave is not far ahead!” He shouted to them. “Follow me; we can drive them back there!”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Wai called.

Having spoken he once more tightened Ember’s reins and tapped his barrel with his heels. The horse leaped ahead once more and mere minutes later the cave mouth loomed out of the darkness and blowing snow as the wolves followed closely upon their heels.

"Ha! Go!" They took off and Angeni continued to run into the fray. Wolves seemed to appear from nowhere and she closed her eyes as Sleip lashed out against them. It was against everything she knew to kill a wolf, but Old Man once explained to her that while it was against The Way, if a wolf attacked, it was permissible to kill it as long as the death was clean. A wolf came out from the snow, perpendicular to them and without stopping Sleip crushed the wolf beneath his hooves. She turned her head away from the gruesome scene, trying to steel herself against what she was doing.

Olaf drove the stallion into the cave, ducking as he did so then stopped the horse abruptly and pulled the girl off with him then pushed her toward the back of the cave. “Stay down while you watch my horse!” He shouted then ran back to the mouth of the cave as the others entered to be their rear guard.

Then it came leaping out of the swirling snow. Her horse saw it first and tried to swing around but the wolf was too fast. It slammed into her knocking her out of the saddle and hammering her into the snow as it landed on top of her. Wai got up from the ground and saw that the others were already at the cave some hundred meters away. She glanced behind her as the pack closed in and her horse was trying to get back to her but was fending off the wolves that were attacking it.

~Oh this is going to be fun~

She began to run through the snow as fast as she could her feet slipping and sliding on the uneven ground. ~come on, come on~

A wolf circled in from the left as it prepared to leap at her she throw her dagger which lodged into its skull and came crashing down into the snow.

She kept running, her legs were getting sore as the lactic acid began to build up in her muscles. She was breathing hard trying to svck in as much oxygen as her lungs could manage to fuel her dash.

Angeni saw Olaf duck into a cave, then reappear just as quickly. Several feet from the cave, Angeni jumped off her horse mid-stride and she kept running over to a tree she had seen. They were fighting by moonlight, but the brindle colored wolves were almost impossible to see until they were on top of them. She climbed up into the limbs of the tree and she turned backwards, whispering the Flame spell and she sent it to the tree next to her. The branches were engulfed in flames immediately and the sky lit up with the blaze. She looked across the clearing and she did the same thing.

Uthgerd was the next to ride into the cave and was sliding off her horse as he passed her. "Watch our backs." Olaf called to her as he sheathed his sword and readied his bow. An arrow was nocked as he burst from the cave mouth. He saw Eir's horse skid to a stop outside and Cora tangle with one of the wolves as he prepared to fire.

The pull of his bow was heavy but the fletching came back smoothly to his cheek as he sighted down the shaft of the wickedly barbed arrow. The head was of dragon bone as was the bow. The material was dense and properly worked held a keen edge which was why he had a sword formed from it. It also worked well to make armor with and he had several suits of it formed from heavy plates which he had experimented with. He preferred light armor though since it was quieter and more suited to his preferred style of both combat and maneuvering.

The Inverted V shape of the arrowhead found a target and he let the shaft fly. The wolf that had been lunging at Cora's back took the barb low and behind its shoulder. There was a flash of flame and arc of electricity from the wound due to the chaos enchant upon the bow which worked on a percentage chance per strike. The wolf collapsed short of its mark, dead in the snow.

Fire lit the arena before the cave allowing him to sight more targets in the gathering gloom; shaft after shaft left his bow as Eir set fire to another tree then began hurling spells into the pack along with arrow fire. He heard Uthgerd engage others that tried to slip up behind him but continued his fusillade, firing over a dozen of the shafts during the pitched battle.

The clearing lit up and she found herself using the Ash Shell to keep the wolves from attacking her friends from behind, then she followed it up with either another Flame blast or an arrow to drop the wolves where they were. She saw six wolves stalking up behind Cora and she cradled her bow under her arm as she ripped her mask from her face to cup her hands around her mouth.

With that, she let out a howl that mimicked the Alpha Wolf's call almost perfectly. She warbled it at the end to sound injured and she yipped as if in pain. It drew them off and over towards the tree. She cast Fire Rune on the ground just below the tree and she howled again. They came as a group and they all stepped on the rune at the same time. She flinched and turned away as the rune exploded, taking the wolves with it.

Wai sent a calming spell at one of the wolves that was attacking her horse. It paused for a moment as the spell took hold which was long enough for the horse to pound in its skull with a hoof kick. She felt arrows slice through the wind beside her and knew that Jake and Angeni were fighting back. She changed her direction and scrambled towards her horse. It had tried to save her and now she would return the favor. The wolves went down around her as she charged forward she pulled the knife from its scabbard. The sword would have been better but she was quicker with her knife.

She tackled a wolf that was in mid leap towards the flank of her horse and drove it up under its rib cage piercing its heart. She rolled off the dead wolf and sprang on to the back of her horse like she had seen once in an old film about cowboys and Indians from earth. She was amazed about how adrenalin could make her do things that she would not have been able to do normally. As her horse felt that she was on its back it shot off towards the others and the safety of the cave.

“Good horsy, good horsy.” She said as they entered the cave. She ungracefully slid off its back and then hurried to where Jake and Angeni defending the mouth of the cave. She pulled out the sword with one hand and the knife in the other as she braced herself for the next attack.

Cora had broken free at one point and mounted her horse then made it to the safety of the defensive line before entering the cave with her mount. He heard her soon join in the fighting behind him.

When it was all over the area was littered with the dead or dying of the pack and the rest had fled to seek out easier prey.

Angeni jumped out of the tree and ran to the cave. She stood next to Cora as she spoke.

“Well that was fun. I really don’t want to do that again and thanks for the help.”

End Part 18

"You're welcome." Olaf turned toward her and nodded. "An occupational hazard of travelers I'm afraid and one reason the natives either stay indoors at night when outside the city walls or travel in groups for safety."

Angeni smiled at her sadly. "No problem."

She readied another bolt and she let it fly, taking out a wolf that was charging the mouth of the cave. Those that were injured but still alive tried to run off. She picked them off wordlessly so they wouldn't suffer. The ones who moved un-impeded she watched run off. Setting her bow down, she unsheathed her dagger and trudged back out in the snow to dispatch any animal that couldn't get up, but was still alive...

As Eir picked off a straggler and began putting the injured out of their misery he walked among them and retrieved what arrows he could, some were so deeply embedded they could not be extracted without being broken and he left them. A few were also missing, either still remaining in survivors that had escaped or complete misses but he was not so desperate for shafts as to leave the firelight at this time except for one thing.

He returned the bow to its place and drew his sword and made his way around to the north side of the mound that housed the cave and found the two bushes he had been expecting.

The leaves of them were green and spearhead shaped and they were laden with red berries. He cut as many branches off as he could without killing the plants and carried them back to the cave and took them inside.

Liselle had started a blaze in the fire pit using a branch taken from one the burning trees and firewood he had at one time stocked the place with.

After the horses were rubbed down and tied near the entrance he propped his shield against one wall near to the fire, unbuckled his sword and reclined with his back to the shield and his feet near to the fire.

"Ah snowberries," Uthgerd exclaimed as he began passing the branches of the bushes around, "A wonderful find!"

He addressed his shipmates as he picked a handful for himself. "Not only are they sweet but will harden you against the cold for a few hours. Alchemists use them to make a potion that will make a person resistant to cold attacks for a short time."

“Thanks.” Wai nodded and took some of the snow berries. Using a complicated mechanism in her helmet she was able to eat the berries without them turning into mush as they mixed with the water in her hydration suite. It was a fiddly procedure but worthwhile as she felt the warmth spreading through her body.

He popped several into his mouth and chewed, almost instantly warmth from the sweet juice began to spread from his mouth throughout his body and warming him to a comfortable level by the time he had finished the bunch.

He then sent Liselle outside to pack an iron pot with clean snow to melt over the fire for her cleaning. To that end he had unpacked the tent and used several long limbs to make her a screen at the back of the cave.

Wai saw Jake talking to Liselle before he began to unpack the tent. Wai grabbed and bed roll that she had taken from her horse and found a nice spot by the fire. She unpacked it and sat down crossed legged on it. She then began to inspect her weapons as she laid them out in front of her. She had reclaimed her throwing knives from the dead wolves and was checking them carefully in case there had been any damage to them.

Returning then to his spot he spread his bedroll and stretched his legs out again and reclined once more against his shield as Uthgerd fed the fire.

"The only thing remaining for comfort is a skin of mead." He sighed.

She looked over at Jake who was leaning against his shield and smiled as she pulled down her hood to expose her face plate and increased the back light so that they could see her face when she talked.

“I think some Booden’s Fire Water would be nice as well.”

She looked at the others as she finished inspecting the last of her throwing knives and realized that through all the fighting and ambushes she did not know much about their characters.

“So brother, sister where do you hail from and what has caused you to come on this quest?”

Olaf had reached into the sack of provisions and taken out the roasted venison haunch and was unwrapping it as she spoke. He looked toward her.

"I'm from Cyrodill originally, the heart of the Empire and came to Skyrim two turning of the seasons ago to reclaim my heritage and the property founded by my great grandfather in Riverwood." Having unwrapped the bundle he eased the Blade of Woe from its sheath and began cutting off thin strips,

"Things didn't go exactly as planned though I did find the house and claim it. Suffice it to say I have had many adventures along the way since my destiny was hijacked or rather formed by the gift of the Dragon Blood given by Akatosh." He offered the haunch to Cora who could in turn pass it around when finished.

“Thanks” She gave a smile as she took a bit before handed it onto Angeni.

"At the moment I am on a quest to claim the shield of Auri El which is a companion piece to the bow I presented to Eir and an item of great power as well. Since I myself have no need of the device one of you may claim it if we can wrest it from the guardians if the crypt within which it rests."

She looked at Angeni, “Might be nice for you to have a matching set as it may reduce my stealth.”

As they talked he mused on the significance this culture, indeed the whole of the game world placed on blood which was the source of life. The Beast Blood was a gift or curse depending on your point of view given to the leaders of the Companions while the Dragon Blood was the source of his power over the dragons and personified the pact Akatosh had made with the Septim Emperors whose line had died out over two centuries before. The Septim dynasty had lasted over a thousand years and all in the line had been gifted with the dragon blood which had been necessary to wield the Amulet of Kings and keep the dragon fires lit in order to stave off the hordes of Oblivion.

The last Septim Emperor had been Uriel Septim VII whose assassination along with his sons had doused the dragon fires and allowed one of the Daedric lords to extend his reach into Tamriel. Only the actions of his character's ancestor Alain Regnivald and Uriel Septim's illegitimate son Martin had finally closed the Oblivion gates and defeated Mehrunes Dagon, forcing him back to his realm.

Some of the Daedric lords whom he had encountered desired the shedding of blood as well for their own amusemant which he had refused them except for Boethia. ~I should have read that damn book more closely. ~ He mused. The fact that the champion had been ordered to slay all of his fellows in the treatise should have been a clue to warn him away from her shrine but its significance had escaped him. Following the clues given in the book he had found the shrine and utterly destroyed all of her followers only to be faced with Boethia himself using her dead high priest as a channel into this realm. He had ordered him to bring a friend to be sacrificed at her altar but instead he had torched the shrine and its buildings.

The shield and sword he carried were Daedric artifacts as well, Dawnbreaker having been given by Meridia as a gift after cleansing her temple of the Necromancer and his shades. Her beacon once again shone from the statue atop her temple and was a symbol of her cleansing light dawning across the land. As long as she worked behind the scenes benignly they would not come into conflict.

The bow Eir carried was Aedric in origin, of the gods of this world rather than its devils. Auri El was a prime deity of the elves.

He cut his musings short. "There are many items of power left that any of you may claim. I have barely scratched the surface of the riches this world offers to those who are willing to fight to achieve them." He then broke off a hunk of bread and cheese and began to eat.

Wai thought for a moment before she asked.

“Are these items specific for each character group such a mages and warriors or are they general items that can be used by anyone?”

Olaf shook his head. "There are many different kinds of artifacts usable by anyone including rings and amulets that will buff your abilities or protect you from a variety of attacks, enchanted daggers as well."

"For mages there are staves and robes that will increase your magic reserves but most of the items found will be of a martial nature since the Nords are a primarily warrior society though in their past they used magic far more than today. Dragon priests and enemy mages are a good source of magic enhancing equipment of the more powerful sort."

"Word walls hold one of three words of a shout which was an art taught to them by Paarthurnax and are in the dragon language."

End part 19

He had been leading them across the tundra with one of the peaks in the southwest as his marker. The storm of last night had passed before morning leaving over a foot of new snow upon the ground. They had come across several snowberry bushes along the way and availed themselves of the fruit which grew only as far south as Whiterun hold but which could not be found in the Rift, the Reach or Falkreath hold which were either to the south or west. They were even more abundant to the north all the way to the Sea of Storms.

Angeni had the reins of her horse draqed loosely in her hands as they galloped across the landscape. Cora had seemingly become more comfortable and they were able to pick up speed. Her other hand rested gently on the bow at her side. The use of the Snowberries allowed her to remove her cloak, leaving her arrows free for a quick fire if needed. She let go of the reins and she patted Sleip's neck affectionately before focusing on the task at hand. She watched as Sleip's ears suddenly pivoted backwards, then went flat against his head. She heard the thunderous flap of wings and she immediately looked up.

Olaf could feel the disturbance of the air first then heard the great wings which heralded the dragon’s imminent arrival and pushed the girl off of Ember an instant before he reached with his left hand for the strap that secured his shield to the horse’s back. “Find some cover!” He shouted at her as his fingers jerked the cord to the quick release knot. His right hand was already on the shield and Ember was

snorting in rage and pawing at the ground at the scent that carried to him upon the wind which had abated greatly even over what had been blowing early the day before.

Wai looked around them and saw nothing big enough to hide behind. ~Like where? ~

Her head snapped round as a bellow of the great beast rang through the air as the drake roared in low over a nearby hill. ~Oh crap~

She looked over at Eir. “I hope you have a fancy arrow to get us out of this situation otherwise we are going to be that dragon’s snack.”

Olaf swung his right leg over the horse’s neck and dropped to the ground then struck out with his left hand as he turned hitting the stallion upon the flank. “Ho Ember, move!”

The bellow of the great beast rang through the air as the black leaped ahead. Olaf slipped his left hand through the straps of the shield and grasped the one that comprised a handhold as the drake roared by overhead. The beast was nearly forty feet long from nose to flank and its tail was of equal length as were its membranous wings, counting the width of its back it gave the monster a wingspan of well over eighty feet. The noise of its flapping was nearly as deafening as its roar.

She heard Olaf yell something about cover, but it was drowned out by the great roar of the dragon. She pulled up on Sleip's reins and they came to dead stop. Her ears were overloaded by the noises and just like a Flash-Bang, she was confused and not sure what to do next, so she just sat there atop the horse like an idiot. She watched the dragon fly over them and she let out a small sigh of relief. Olaf had warned them about dragons and how they wouldn't hesitate to kill one of them, so she was happy to see it fly over, but she vaguely remembered something about 'aggro range' and how the more dangerous the monster, the more sensitive it was to enemies in the area. Her suspicions were confirmed when the dragon whipped around and started coming back towards them.

"Oh...crud..."

Wai saw that the dragon had seen them as it turned back around. ~This is going to get toasty very soon~

The dragon had seen them and turned back as Uthgerd and the others prepared themselves but his eyes weren’t on them. Truth be told he wasn’t concerned for their safety at the moment as like himself they couldn’t actually ‘die’ in game though the same probably could not be said of Liselle. As it circled and came back toward them he could see only it and feel all the rage and hatred of the ancient Nords toward their dominant masters as the shout built inside of him. It was just as Paarthurnax had told him it would be and the reason the Greybeards had warned him against it but the shout was the only way to initially subdue a dragon and he had used it successfully to conquer the World Eater and many times since. In order to use the magic of the shouts or rather to master them you had to allow them to saturate your entire being as Paarthurnax had so thoroughly taught him.

Maybe it was instinct or perhaps it could feel the danger that emanated from him which caused it to choose him as its first target.

“Yol Toor Shul!” The great beast muttered and Olaf bent his knees to present a smaller target and raised his shield as a tremendous stream of fire lashed out from its mouth. The dragonfire cascaded all around him as it was being shunted aside by the ward Spellbreaker was maintaining centered on the concave target in the middle of the device.

Wai looked over at Jake whom the dragon seemed to want to eat first as it unleashed a tremendous stream of fire from its mouth. The fire slammed into him but from what Wai could see he was keeping the flames at bay with some type of spell. She watched as the dragon spun in the air flipping over in some kind of aerial acrobatics that was too agile for such a big creature before spreading its large wing span so that it hovered motionless in the air

Even as it was speaking its next attack he gave voice to his shout. “Joor Zah Frul! “

The dragon’s own shout was snuffed out and it gave a roar of rage as a nimbus of blue fire surrounded it. The being felt its immortal and timeless soul condense until it became trapped within a frail mortal frame of flesh and though tremendous in size the sudden paradigm shift in perspective was disorienting.

Wai heard Jake quickly shout a command before the dragon could do the same. The dragon appeared to become dazed and confused as she watched it circled for an instant before landing with a flutter upon the barren soil.

Angeni watched as the dragon fixated on Olaf and before she could rush to his aid, the dragon let forth a stream of fire from its mouth and Olaf was bathed in bright orange. Her heart leapt into her throat as she watched, then she cocked her head to the side when Olaf stood up and let forth what he explained to be a 'shout'. The dragon was surrounded in a bright blue light before it fluttered to the ground like a tired butterfly.

Wai let out a breath that she did not know that she was holding and muttered to herself. “Well that’s a handy trick.”

Olaf’s sword was in his hand and the velvet pouch had been removed as he strode quickly toward the creature. The shout wouldn’t last for much longer than a minute but by the time it wore off he would be able to shout again.

She watched as Jake strode quickly toward the creature as the dragon turned its head toward him and she was him raise his shield expecting another verbal assault but instead it spoke to him.

“You are the Dovahkiin.”

~Okay talking dragon. I don’t know if I find that strange or not~.

In the dragon speech the words translated literally to ‘Dragon Hunter Child’ which was where the title Dragonborn originated. That title from ancient Nordic meant ‘Child of the Dragon’. Its black eyes seemed to peer into his very soul. “Your voice is as strong as I had heard. It pleases me to test myself against you. “

It occurred to Olaf that the wily being might be stalling but it would not be the first time he had conquered one of these foes only to find an ally so he would exercise some patience at least initially. He would insure that the creature could not regain the safety of the air though if this proud beast continued its attacks. For the time being its arrogance had been stripped away however along with its ties to immortality.

He motioned for the others not to attack as he spoke with it.

Wai saw Jake motion for them not to attack as he spoke with it. “I don’t think anything we have would harm it anyway.” She muttered as she stood beside Angeni.

Angeni dismounted her horse and she notched an arrow as she slowly walked towards the beast. She didn't dare draw back, but she was ready just in case. A moment later, Olaf gave the stand down signal and she quickly put her things away, looping her bow over her shoulder.

“Far Shi Siir has ordered your death.” It rumbled.

~Well that’s a nice greeting ~ Wai thought.

His eyes opened wide in surprise behind the mask. He was not familiar with the name but it was definitely draconic in origin and he had anticipated that PaarThurNax might run into opposition so perhaps the news portended a war amongst dragon kind. There was no doubt then whose side he would choose.

“They have heard your voice and even now they come.”

End Part 20

Wai moved back away from Jake and the dragon as she heard far off bellows. ~Oh that’s just great more dragons~

He didn’t turn his attention from the beast even though he could hear the far off bellows of its fellows, there sounded to be more than he would have expected.

His face was grim as he spoke, his mind bent on forcing the creature to do his bidding. “Then willing or not you will aid us.”

The glow faded but before his enemy could react he opened his mouth again. “Gol Hah Dov! “

The Selkie turned back to see the shouting at the dragon again. ~You need to be careful or it might get tired and eat you if you keep shouting at it~

The shout enveloped the dragon with scales as red as blood and its eyes narrowed and it shook its head savagely as it tried to maintain its own identity, the Bend Will shout however and his own dominance were not to be denied.

::What do you wish of me?::

:: Kneel.:: Was his reply and it did so.

Olaf then sheathed his sword and placed his left foot upon the dragon’s left foreleg and used it to vault up so that his right hand could grab the short spiked back of its neck. His right foot found the base of its wing and he brought up his left foot to accompany it then swung himself onto the creature’s back at the base of its neck and settled into position. The great mouth as he had passed had been at least as long as he was tall and its teeth easily the length of his hand.

::To the air.::

She watched as Jake climbed onto the dragon and took off into the air.

Angeni stood patiently where she was at, waiting for the next signal. Olaf and the dragon exchanged a few words. The bright blue light that surrounded the dragon began to fade away, but Olaf replaced it with a red aurora just as quickly. She watched with mouth agape as Olaf mounted the dragon and it took off with its new rider.

His gaze found the five dragons that were moving swiftly toward them from the west.

~We are going to need allies.~ Bow and arrow could do only so much to great dragons such as these, he had emptied a quiver full into the Ancient one that had attacked Solitude and did little more than wound it. The shout had been necessary to ground it and only his sword and shield had finally won the day.

The great pinions of the dragon billowed out and beat at the air and it rose with a bellowing challenge from the ground. Once it was airborne he looked to the rocky ground below and shouted again. The waves of sound from the call struck, stirring up the rime of frost and snow upon it.

“Durnehviir!”

Wai felt the ground move before she saw it happen. From the rock jade green scales rose as the dragon he had summoned lifted its head from the ground followed by its great body and wings then legs and tail until DurNehViir had fully entered from his entrapment. Wai watched feeling slightly apprehensive as he emerged from the ground. It then landed near by seaming to be waiting for one of them.

Olaf’s friend and ally from the Soul Cairn was not smaller than the dragon he was now sitting upon.

His wings billowed out as he called to Olaf upon his mount. “How sweet is the air of Tamriel. I look forward to fighting at your side once again Qahnaarin.”

“Then I request your indulgence this once DurNehViir to allow one of my compatriots to mount you.” He called to the Frost drake.

The dragon rumbled for a few seconds before replying. “It is a strange thing to do and I am reluctant however I will allow it this once.” The legendary Frost dragon then looked toward the others of the party and waited for one to step forward then lowered himself to the ground so that he could be ridden.

Another dragon appeared after a moment and it was obvious that he was awaiting someone to mount him. Angeni motioned to Cora as she called the horses to her.

"Go ahead. I will secure the horses."

She turned to Angeni and stared at her. “You what?” But Angeni had already moved towards the horses.

“Oh marvelous”

She turned back to the big dragon who was eyeing her. ~Hope he’s not hungry~

She walked up to it carefully. It would not hurt being respectful to something that could kill you at whim.

“Greetings Durnehviir, thank you for letting me ride on you.”

Durnehviir just looked at her with its huge eyes so she quickly climbed up onto its back as she had seen Jake doing.

She felt Durnehviir beat its powerful wings as it took to the air. It would be a moment before he could call his next ally and the enemy force would be upon them before he could arrive so he instructed his mount to circle above the group until DurNehViir was mounted and rose with thunderous wing beats from the ground with his own roaring challenge.

He filled his lungs as his face turned toward the great mountain in the center of the province also sometimes called the Snow Throat, “Odahviing!”

As the shout spread south he called down to the remaining. “He will be a moment in arriving and I will send him back for you. In the meantime we will keep the others busy!”

Angeni quickly tied the horses up to a few trees using a quick release knot; they would be held fast, but if they jerked their heads in a panic or in a fight, the knot would come undone and they would be able to defend themselves. Olaf called down that the next dragon would be there shortly, so she hunkered down in the grove of trees, out of the open to wait.

He then waved his right arm toward Cora. “Let’s unleash the fury of Oblivion upon them!”

She glanced over at Jake who appeared to love it. ~I just don’t want to fall off. This is so much higher than a horse~

Durnehviir beat its wings harder to gain more altitude she saw the other dragons came swooping in. She really hoped that Angeni’s dragon would get there soon as there odds were pretty bad. She hung on for all she was worth as fire met frost and then claws and fangs as the dragons clashed in the sky around her.

Olaf knew he was at best evenly matched against the dragon death squad that had been sent after him as his mount was inferior to Durnehviir and Odahviing whom Cora and soon Eir would be riding. While Durnehviir could overpower any one set against him and Odahviing likewise would have little trouble in a one on one battle at the moment they were outnumbered by over two to one and he was going to have to use guile and tactics to give himself and his mount an edge. To that end he had an experimental plan in mind.

Before the two groups closed to within attack range a returning shout echoed through the sky.

"I come Dovahkiin!"

His face broke into a grim smile behind the mask at the reply as very soon the odds would be shifting toward their favor.

::Now.::

The dragon and he shouted in unison as the leader of the attack force came into range. "Yol Toor Shul!"

Dragonfire streamed from both mouths and caught the opponent full force. The dragon screeched in surprise as the flames scorched his scales and he dove into a spiraling turn to escape the deadly heat.

Olaf and his mount dove to follow and as the enemy leveled off his dragon's talons ripped across its back eliciting another cry of pain and surprise.

They weren't able to press the advantage however as another foe loosed a stream of fiery breath that swept across the tail and right wing of his mount. Olaf was in complete control and countermanded its instinct to roll away and dive, instead its wings billowed out braking it and causing the other dragon to dive past and below. He couldn't shout at will himself and it would be another moment before he could do so again but it didn't stop the beast he was riding from raking the attacker with hellfire.

A familiar roar broke out from nearby and an enemy that had been targeting them broke off its attack to dodge the intense flames from his newly arrived ally.

Olaf ordered the beast to turn and gain altitude and they were soon within shouting distance of his friend.

"Odahviing I have another friend who needs your help to join the battle. I must call upon you to be a mount once again."

The immense dragon gave a snort then replied. "It is not enough that I had to ferry you to your encounter with Alduin but I must now take a rider into battle?"

The two dragons were now flying side by side and his mount was smaller in comparison.

"Think of it as a favor you owe me."

The dragon broke off to seek out his friends whose horses could be seen below. "A ride to ease the shame of a ride makes no logical sense but I will indulge you."

Odahviing then snapped into a steep circling dive toward the ground where he landed lightly near to Eir's hiding place.

Wai hung on tight as Durnehviir came screaming towards the other dragons. She was barely getting perches on its spiny horns as it ducked and dove thought the air. A dragon came into view and flame shot out of its mouth.

“Stupid young ling does not know how to fight properly.” She could feel Durnehviir’s deep voice reverberate its chest and neck as it spoke.

Durnehviir side slipped and sent a ball of frost at the dragon. The fire and frost hit each other and instantly exploded in a cloud of steam.

“Hold on tight. Little fish”

In that instant Durnehviir inverted, tucked in his wings and dove towards the ground. Wai screamed as the g-force increased and they spun more from the shock of the quick maneuver then actually being scared.

~Oh crap this is not good~ she turned as much as she could without losing grip and saw that the other dragon was in a dive with them and closing. She could see the dragon about to hit them with another flame attack.

“Get ready little fish in three …..”

~Ready! Ready for what~

“…one.”

Durnehviir opened his wings fully slowing their meteoric descent to an almost hover in a spit second. Wai grunted with pain as the air was forced out of her lungs with surprised maneuver. The other dragon was not so quick to react and shot past them which was when Durnehviir attacked. He fired gouts of frost at the dragons head and folded wings. The frost froze over the dragons head and wings for a matter of seconds. It broke the ice from its head with a vicious shake of its head and flexed its wings to free them from the ice buildup. The dragon was too slow it those precise seconds meant that it was far, far too close to the ground. It tried desperately to pull up as it forced its wings out as far as it could reduce its downward motion but it was too little too late. It slammed into the like a crashing meteor sending a plume of snow and dirt into the air.

~Oh that’s going to hurt~

“Ignorant youngling that is what happens when you attack your elders.”

Wai looked at the downed dragon was Durnehviir began to rise back into the battle. She was not sure if the impact would kill a dragon but it was definitely out of the fight.

End part 21

The reprieve was short lived as the dragons that had been holding back at Ohdaviings appearance once more closed in. He could feel the fire welling up within him as he and his mount prepared to join the battle once again.

Olaf saw one of their enemies hit the ground as it bellowed in alarm which was cut off at the impact.

He knew Uthgerd well enough to know she would be bolting from cover to finish the beast off since she was now an old hand at dragon battles having fought at his side many times.

~ Four to three and the odds have now turned to our favor. ~ His eyes narrowed as a change of tactics was now in order.

Another shout rose up in him; this one would be more deadly now that he could focus more of his concentration on a single enemy.

His mount turned to single out one of their maneuvering foes but he held it back from attacking as an enemy was only now swinging back toward them.

With the dragon now turned and preparing to fire it was an easy target. The shout reverberated through the air, its waves of force passing around and through the beast which pulled up a bit in surprise before feeling no effect then came in hard at them, sure that his attack had failed.

~svcker.~ He thought in satisfaction.

:: Now, attack! ::

His dragon cut loose with its breath weapon which raged over the enemy even as it was loosing its own.

The foes attack was cut short however and turned into a bellow of alarm as its weakened scales cracked and shattered and the flames reached its skin and began roasting its flesh.

:: Keep up the attack no matter what happens. ::

His dragon complied, following the frantic enemy as it tried to escape.

~It won't do you any good, you have been marked for death.~ His thought was followed within moments by the creature bursting into flames as dragonfire continued to scorch it, it became a fireball hurtling toward the ground and crashed with a vengeance then lay unmoving as it continued for a moment to burn.

"And now it's three on three." He muttered with finality as his dragon wheeled and began climbing back into the sky.

While she waited for her dragon, she looked out and saw the girl that Olaf 'found' hiding behind a rock. Angeni pulled out her bow and notched an arrow, drawing the bowstring back. Her muscles quivered as she held the string tight. The arrowhead pointed at the shivering form of the girl...then she pointed up towards the sky. Angeni moved deftly; practiced motions of moving in to what was called a 'shooting gallery'. The arrowhead went from skyward, to in front of her, side to side, and even behind her. She moved quickly, swinging her arms as she moved across the wide open space. She knelt down, keeping the arrow aimed at the sky as she spoke.

"Come."

She moved with the girl back to the thicket and she repeated the same motions until they were back in cover. She handed the girl her cloak to wrap up in as well as her ration kit. The heavy beating of dragon wings signaled she didn't have much time.

"Stay here. Keep warm. You'll be safe."

She turned to see a dragon land in the open space. She gave the horses a gentle pat and then she ran into the opening and up to the dragon. She reached out a hand and she gently touched the thick scales of the dragon.

"Thank you for allowing me to ride you." She spoke reverently as she went to mount the dragon. She gently climbed atop the dragon, sitting just behind his head.

"I'm ready!"

She held on tight as they ascended into the sky. Once they leveled off, she sat back and enjoyed the flight. Quickly, they caught up to Cora and Olaf. She watched with amazement as Olaf's dragon used his flaming breath to put down a dragon. She wasn't sure what to do, but the dragon underneath her did. They banked hard and they pulled up on Olaf. She felt the dragon tense up underneath her and she instinctively grabbed onto a protruding scale. They pushed hard to the next dragon.

"Can you do anything, hu-man...?"

She wrinkled her face up. The dragon spoke like Drak's brother; a Klingon who rejected his half-human side the way a babe would reject sour milk. She despised the way he said 'human'; he mispronounced it on purpose. It was obvious she had to earn her dragon's respect. She sat up tall and proud on her mount.

"Just get me close enough." Her ttone was stern and authoritative. She swore she saw the dragon smile at her as his wings beat faster, pushing them closer. The dragon before them was bright blue with a golden stripe down its back. It opened its mouth and released a stream of sparkling blue. Just like with a horse, she felt the muscles contract on her right side just moments before they lost a few feet of altitude and banked to the right. She felt the stream go past her and the air around her dropped twenty or thirty degrees. Quickly, she drew her bow and she unleashed an arrow, which struck the dragon in the side of the face. It roared loudly and raced towards them.

She held fast, an idea popping into her head. “Fly straight towards him!" She commanded loudly. They looped around and they were now on a race to see how quickly both dragons could occupy the same space in time. She felt the dragon tense up under her.

"Don't you dare, stay on course!" She pulled her dagger from her waistband and she held it at the ready.

"On my signal, you are going to loop up and on your way back down, you will use your breath to finish him off!"

The dragon looked back at her and didn't say a word. She pulled her feet under her and she readied herself.

"When I say duck...DUCK!"

Mere feet from impact, the dragon dipped his head just under the blue one. In the same motion, Angeni stood up, driving her dagger into the soft flesh under the dragons' mouth. Momentum carried them forward as she used the dagger to carve an ugly wound down the dragon's throat and belly.

"Up!"

The dragon under her pitched upward and she lost her footing. She tumbled down his back a few feet, but she caught a ridge on his back and she hung on for dear life. The blast from her dragon finished off the already crippled flying lizard and it fell lifelessly to the ground. As they came out of the loop, she scrambled back up to his neck and she wrapped her arms and legs around him gleefully.

"That was incredible! Fantastic job! Let's join the others!"

~~

Wai was circling high above the fight with Durnehviir as he scoured the combat for the right target.

“Can you see that dragon with the red scales along its back?”

She leaned over and spotted the one he was talking about. “Yes I can.”

There was a pause for a moment before Durnehviir spoke. “I have a question for you?”

Wai looked back at Durnehviir who was glancing at her mischievously. “What would that be?”

“Let’s see if little fish can fly.”

“Fly! What nooooo.”

Durnehviir barrel rolled sending her into thin air. Wai dropped like a stone as the wind snatched and pulled at her cloths and armour as she fell. She thrust out her arms and legs to provide stability as she looked at the ground rushing up to meet her. She saw the dragon with the red scales running along its back appear underneath her as it concentrated on what Durnehviir was doing. She pulled out the sword from her back scabbard and brace herself for a hard landing as the back of the dragon hurtled up to meet her.

Wai grunted with the force of impact as she landed on the dragon’s back. In an instant the dragon began to move into a dive as she slammed the sword blade into the back of the dragon where its neck and wings met its body.

It gave a mournful wail as it folded in midair, Wai leaped off the back of the dragon pulling her sword with her as the dragon fell out of the sky. She really hopped that this part of the plan that she had made up as she dropped towards the dragon was going to work. At least she would not die if she hit the ground. Not in real life anyway but it would be a pain. She heard the sound of beating wings and deep laugh of Durnehviir as he scooped her out of the air.

“It looks like little fish can fly.”

“That’s not funny.”

Durnehviir’s reply was a laugh as Wai glowered at him as she looked for their next target.

~~

With the battle now over and the dragon attackers lying dead upon the ground Olaf and his mount descended and landed just far enough from the horses so that they wouldn't be goaded into an attack. The minions of Farshisiir were scattered in roughly a one hundred meter radius around the area.

His mount knelt at his command and he slid from wing to foreleg before dropping to the ground.

~Now for the acid test. ~

He drew his sword and stepped back then released the control over his unwilling mount.

The dragon shook his head savagely and blinked his eyes twice then stretched his neck toward him slowly.

Olaf kept his sword and shield at his side, the amulet he wore would protect him from the worst of its fire breath and it would have to pull back its head thus telegraphing a bite.

He wasn't surprised at its words.

"You have proven your dominance Dovahkiin and I accept your rule. I name you master and ally, no more will there be fighting between us."

"What will you do now?" He asked.

"I will join with those who are your allies." The great beast rumbled. "I will heed Paarthurnax's call and answer it."

"Your friendship is appreciated." Olaf replied. "Odahviing will take you to him."

He turned from the dragon and made his way to the others as they alit from their mounts.

They had landed back on the ground and she stepped off her dragon to walk around to his head. She craned her neck upward to look at the dragon she was just sitting on.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft as she lifted her hand up to him. She smiled up at him gratefully, keeping her hand extended. She watched as he lifted a massive arm, but yet was gentle enough to bring the arm down to lightly touch her hand. She lightly clasped the claw she could reach.

"Do-na-da-go-hv-it, So-s-da-da-nv-tli I-na-dv!" (Cherokee phrase for "We will see each other again, brother snake!")" She spoke loudly and clearly. She only knew a few Norse phrases and words, but her true native tongue rolled out proudly. As if the Dragon understood her True Heart, he bent his head down and spoke to her in a loud, grumbling voice.

"Until then, Sister."

She smiled at him, bowing her head slightly as she turned to Olaf.

"You should go to the dragons you slew and check their remains; sometimes they carry items of great value.

He crossed his arms and watched them closely as they neared their kills; the way the program had reacted to their presence gave him high expectations.

She nodded and she slowly walked towards the downed dragon. His tail twitched purely out of reflex, but she held her hands up, her palms glowing with brewing hellfire in case it was a ploy. As she approached, she felt a glorious wind take hold of heher and she gasped aloud. She felt something stir within her chest and she felt as if she could take on the world. Her heart was racing in her chest and as the wind let her go, she let lose a delightful howl.

In place of the glittering hull of a dragon, she stared at the bones and the mass of gold pieces and shiny gems left on the ground. She picked them up, pocketing them and she immediately turned and ran to Cora.

Wai nodded as she watched Angeni as she walked away. She moved towards the two dragons that she had killed. As she approached the two dragons a strange wind blew past her it increased as she felt the force reverberating in her chest. It suddenly dropped and within the remains of the dragon bones were a mass of gold pieces and some shiny gem. She scooped up the gold and the gems from the two dragon remains and stood up again.

"That was AMAZING! Gosh! It was just...wow!"

Wai grinned and gave a quick laughs. “That is true. This is definitely amazing.”

Angeni giggled with delight as she gave the woman she barely knew a huge hug. Her adrenalin was pumping and she was just a ball of delicious energy. She ran over to Olaf, hugging him from behind. It was a total one hundred and eighty degree turn from her normal personality.

"This was such a delight! Thank you!"

Angeni stepped up to her and gave her a huge hug. Angeni let go and ran over to Jake, hugging him from behind. Wai grinned as she watched Angeni and Jake as she moved towards them.

His face broke into a smile behind the mask as he was proven correct and at their startled reactions then called to them. "You still have one more kill each; do not waste the dragon souls. You are going to need them to learn the shouts."

He chuckled as he walked to the charred remains of his kill, as he reached it the whirlwind of flame he had seen so often appeared above it. With a roar of air and fire it jumped toward him and he stood still in the midst as it swirled around before coalescing upon him then disappearing. ~Another one in the bank. ~

The skin of the dragon had disappeared with the advent of the whirlwind generated by the transference of its soul leaving the skeleton intact and shattered scales lying about. Beneath the creature a handful of coins and gems had been left. He picked these up and placed them in his money pouch then turned about.

End Part 22

He was humming a snatch of the song Mickael had been singing at the inn and could hear his voice in his mind as he walked back to the horses.

~With a voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art,

Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes.

Bringing fire and destruction to all Skyrim's foes,

Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes,

For the darkness is past and the legend yet grows,

Indeed, indeed the Dragonborn comes. ~

"Well my friends, contrary to legend I am no longer the last Dragonborn" He said as they neared, he was smiling as he lowered the mask from his face. "Two others have now joined the ranks."

Angeni smiled proudly as she nudged Cora playfully. "I couldn't be happier." As Cora and Olaf spoke, a wave of exhaustion moved over her. Even though they had broken for the night, she had barely slept. She reminded herself to grab a few doses of Zolpidem from the ship pharmacy; trying to sleep was getting harder and harder from just the fear of the night terrors. She would occasionally use a few shots of Andorian Brandy or Whisky from the Linlithgow region to numb her brain, but she could no longer have any level of ETOH in her system.

Wai nodded in her agreement.

"I don't know about you two but I'm exhausted and need a break, give me a moment and we can leave together."

Angeni nodded. "Not a bad idea... I wouldn't mind catching a brunch and a nap."

Wai nodded in agreement.

Angeni turned to Cora as Jake walked off. She stood in silence for a moment before continuing. "I'd love to have lunch or something with you guys. I just transferred to the ship three days ago. I know no one other than the CMO and you two." For the first time, she took off her hood and mask, extending her hand. "I'm Angeni, the new ACMO. You are?"

Wai removed her own hood and illuminated her face as she shook Angeni’s hand and smiled.

“I’m Wai Biign and I work in engineering. It’s nice to properly meet you.”

Angeni smiled happily and shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to truly meet you. We'll have to set up a time to come back...maybe make this a weekly or bi-weekly thing."

Wai nodded. “Definitely, I really want to do this as much as possible and definitely weekly or bi-weekly.”

~~

He walked quickly to Odahviing first. "Thank you for your help once again my friend."

The dragon nodded them rumbled. "It is as I swore to you; you have but to call me at need."

"Paarthurnax has a new pupil." Olaf nodded at the smaller dragon.

"I will escort him to the teacher then." Odahviing called to the other and Olaf moved back so he wouldn't get buffeted by the wind from his wings like a twig in a storm. Both dragons rose from the ground, circled once in farewell and then sped toward the summit of the Throat of the World.

Olaf then made his way to Durnehviir knowing he didn't have much time.

"Durnehviir you have my gratitude for your aid."

"And you have mine for calling me to soar the skies of the world I once knew." The dragon replied.

Olaf felt a lump in his throat as he reached out his right hand and placed it on the neck of the dragon that had lowered his head.

"As we had agreed I now give you the last word to the shout as promised." Orange flame leapt from the dragon to the human and he knew that the full shout had been unlocked for him.

"Should you have need of me again you have but to call Qahnaarin." Durnehviir then rose to his full height and spread his wings wide before becoming transparent and disappearing upon the wind.

Olaf then turned and made his way back to the others, his face grim. There was still so much left to do. After the shield of Auri El was secured he would move on the Thalmor starting in Markarth and drive them from Skyrim.

After that he had a score to settle with the Ideal Masters whoever they were, he would see Durnehviir freed from the curse they had tricked him into even if he had to travel back to Oblivion to do it. Before that though he needed to know just who and what he was dealing with, finding out how the dragon had contacted them originally would be helpful in that.

Angeni nodded. "I'd like that." Angeni was about to say more when Jake walked back over to call up a save point for the game. The scenery dissolved to the antechamber they started in.

As he arrived he stood before them with a sigh, turned about and surveyed the scene and spoke.

"Computer save current scenario and log endpoint."

[Simulation saved.] Came the disembodied voice. [Endpoint created.]

"Open the arch to my antechamber."

The arch opened and he stepped through.

~~

Jake stepped through the arch and his eyes softened and the severe look the Harbinger always carried fell from his face as he unbuckled the sword and dagger and hung them on pegs along with his shield. The pouches he put in a chest.

"Feel free to store your gear here when you're not in game." He told the two women.

Wai put her weapons and armour in the area she was allocated as Jake introduced herself to Angeni as she finished. She had placed her last piece of armour in the rack provided as Jake spoke to both of them.

Angeni began to hang up her things on the mannequin where she found them. The empty cubby hole revealed her things had transported back to her room. She turned around to hear Olaf re-introduce himself to Wai, then to her.

"By the way my name is Jake Haltom, Wai I know..." He nodded to the Selkie with a wink.

"But you must be new on the ship." He held out his hand to Angeni. "I am very pleased to meet you. Welcome to the ship and my little corner of paradise."

Angeni smiled and held out her hand. "I’ve only been here for a little over forty-eight hours. I'm Angeni, the new ACMO. Thank you. I've felt very welcome."

"You two did a fantastic job in there and I'm glad you joined me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do. Feel free to drop in at Heljerchen any time if you want to read up on the in game histories, biographies and odes in my library. There is room for nearly a hundred books on the second floor and the shelves are filled."

Angeni did a little, playful bow as she smiled at him. "Thank you, thank you. I was happy just to be able to join in."

Wai watched Angeni do a little playful bow as she smiled at him.

"Hopefully we can get together again soon for another run." He laughed. "There is a lot to learn in store for the both of you but I guarantee the work you put into it will be rewarded. Now I'm hungry, I'll stay here and change and if you're free we can meet for lunch in ten forward."

Wai nodded and smiled. She would look forward to carrying on the adventure that they had started

Angeni nodded. "I would love to. I am famished! I'd say we'd go dressed like this, but I'm sure security would be called on us at the drop of a hat!"

She laughed softly as she took her cloak and scarf off, finally revealing what she truly looked like to her companions. The heat in the room made her cheeks flush as she hung up her things. She replaced the bow and quiver and she began taking off her gloves and boots. She had on a pair of athletic shorts and a camisole under the gear, so she stripped down before them to her workout gear. She slipped her shoes on and she looked at her watch.

Wai smiled as she stood in her form fitting hydration suit. She was not bothered about what she was wearing but regulations did state that she needed to have something over the top. So she should probably go and grab something.

"So...meet up in about...twenty minutes in TF? I have to change into something more attractive and less smelly while probably answering a few communiques."

Wai nodded. “Twenty minutes in ten forward I’ll meet you both there.”

End of Chapter One