Surprised and happy I sit in the booth.
"Jaird, I can't believe you're the one we need directions from again," I laugh.
"Seems like I have a keen level of resourcefulness wouldn't you say," Jaird replies.
I feel the Hunger strike my stomach and find I can no longer ignore it. "Excuse me a moment," I stand up and walk towards the counter and sit down on one of the stools. I feel as if I'm being rather rude, just sitting down to get right back up but... they'll understand. I look at a small piece of parchment on the table, listed with options off the menu. It takes what seems like an eternity but I make up my mind.
"What'll it be?" The man behind the counter asks.
"The sausages and eggs," I reply.
The man goes back towards the kitchen as I wait for my food. In my state of hunger I find my mind wandering off as I think about the task ahead, Mage's.. personally I think we got a chance but... if they have one of the shards... there's no saying what they could do... or how powerful they've become. I tap my fingers lightly against the wood of the bar, making a drum beat. It reminds me of my father, him and I would always just bang on his war drum making up stories to go with the beats. I smile and before I know it a metal plate with sausages and eggs are put before my eyes, without hesitation I dig in taking mouth fulls of the delicious food. I can't quite recall what I last ate... or when for that matter. But all I can think about is the food. I bring my plate back towards the booth where everyone is waiting for me.
"Sorry... haven't eaten in a day now." I say while taking a bite of one of the sausages.
"Well, Jaird. Brenden says you may have some information about the Red Mage's." Chase says.
"That I do, the two of them delved into an unhealthy obsession with the soul shards. After they heard that Alduin was defeated and his soul split... they're obsession only grew. They began testing the power of soul shards by using the souls of the innocent. They're souls were weak but gave the mage's power like I've never seen. So as you can imagine getting a hold of those shards has the potential to end everything we hold dear." Jaird explains.
"So what can we do?" Brenden asks.
"I thought that would be obvious. You find the mage's kill them both, destroy they're souls and be done with the whole shenanigan." Jaird replies rather casually.
"Okay, sorry. I was really hungry. But how does that help us find them," I ask genuinely confused.
"Well the only way I know of is the labyrinth. But you'd be crazy to take it... you're going to take it aren't you?" Jaird replies.
"How do we get to the labyrinth?" Brenden asks.
"It's basically a straight shot from here, I can lead you there." Jaird stands up from the booth.
"Well great, lets get started!" Chase says enthusiastically.
I stand up from the booth leaving the coins to pay for my meal behind. We walk outside, sunlight has faded and the dark has overcome the streets. Jaird stops.
"Whats wrong Jaird?" I ask cautiously.
"We would be fools to travel at night, lets stay at the inn until morning," Jaird replies.
"Alright we can stay at the Winking Skeever. It's not to far from here." Brenden states while pointing towards the light emitting from the inn.
We walk up to street to the Winking Skeever inn, taking a step inside through the large wooden doors. We walk up to the counter, behind it stands a woman wearing steel armor. She looks scarred and tattered.
"Excuse me. We require a room for the night." Jaird says.
"Alright, upstairs to the right. That'll be 50coins." The woman replies handing us a small key.
I place the coins on the table. We all start hiking up the stairs towards our room. The creaky stairs add an almost creepy atmosphere. Upstairs is no better, dusty, damp, dark. We enter our room and to our surprise it's bright warm and full of four beds. They look soft, and to the touch they're angelic compared to the one in my cabin. I take off my satchel and rest it on one of the beds. I take a look around while sliding my brown leather coat off onto the floor. The walls are carved with beautiful carvings of dragons and swords. It's surprisingly cozy for an inn. I notice a door in the room that leads to a bathroom. I pick my satchel up and walk into the bathroom. I change my green tattered top to a white shirt, throwing over a black and grey hoody I got from my cabin just before I left. I look in the mirror, my short hair has a twig in it... how long has it been there? I pull it out and stare at it blankly for what seems like minutes until being interrupted by the knocking on the bathroom door. I turn to it opening it and now staring at me is Chase.
"You need something?" I ask.
"What happened to your clothes?" Chase replies.
"I changed them, the last ones were dirty... Thought that would be obvious. Wait why does it matter anyways?" I raise my eyebrow at him.
"It doesn't matter! Just... I'm worried about this labyrinth we're heading to, I did a bit of research." Chase replies in a low worried tone.
"What did you find out Chase?" I ask eager to know.
"People get lost in that labyrinth... They never come back, the labyrinth changes Kasper. Re-arranges even. It says that every one who enters, enters alone. It said that you may find each other once inside, but to matter how close you are when you start. You'll always be far away." Chase explains.
"They why don't we just fly over on Odahviing?" I ask.
"That's what I thought, but then I read this." Chase raises a book to my eyes.
I peer at the pages and the inscription says...
To travel above, is to travel to far.
To travel around, is too deep and too hard.
Travel straight through, don't stray from your path.
And you just might escape, the labyrinth trap.
"So the only way through is to go from the front of the Labyrinth?" I ask.
"To put it bluntly... yes." Chase replies.
"I think we can handle a maze. Lets just get some rest." I say while patting chase on the shoulder.
I walk back out into our room and lay down on my bed. The night sky is calming as my eyelids become heavy, I drift into a deep sleep. Unlike a normal night for me, I do not dream. Just sleep. When I awake everyone else is just gearing up. I get up off the bed and put on my black shoes. Slipping my arms back into my grey and black hoody. I stand up putting my satchel over my shoulder and stretching my arms.
"So, everyone ready to go?" I ask peering around the room at my party.
"I'd say we're ready as we could ever be, considering we're about to enter a labyrinth of doom..." Brenden says in a sarcastic tone.
"Are we sure there's no other way?" Chase asks.
"No, there's no other way." I reply.
"Why cant we just go around or something not blatantly deadly." Brenden sneers.
"If everyone can shut up and quit bitching, maybe we can start moving out the damn door." Jaird says loudly.
Everyone else goes quiet. Obviously Jaird is finished with complaints, it seems everyone's on edge this morning. And honestly I can understand why. We all start walking out of the Winking Skeever and into the streets of solitude. No rain today, just sun. We walk all the way down through the spiraling streets to the front gate. The air today is surprisingly fresh, not the usual disgusting smoke filled air, just clean. The suns rays are a relaxing turn from yesterdays heavy rain. We walk across what feels like endless fields until making it to the edge of the labyrinth. A thick fog is rolling in and is making it hard to see.
"The trees seem endless. Are we sure about this?" Brenden asks.
"No going back now Brenden, we're going through no matter what. Just keep moving forward." I reply.
Jaird takes the first steps through the forest, and calls from the inside. Chase follows as well as Brenden. They all seem to vanish into the thick fog, nearly impossible to see anything. I take a gulp and start walking into the mist, I look to my left to where Chase should be standing and... nothing, I'm completely alone. A cool wind keeps me wanting to move through the tall tree filled forest. Something about the atmosphere here is bugging me Thoroughly. Despite a deep sensation of fear I keep pressing forward through the winding trees path. The fog almost seems calming from inside the forest, yet I feel completely on edge. This idea seems worse as I continue through the forest. I feel as if I've been walking for hours, yet by the looks of the sky Its only been minutes. I hear an eerie sound from above, a shadow flies from above the trees and makes a thud somewhere forward into the forest. What if it's Odahviing? I start running through the forest towards the origin of the noise. As I near the source of the noise I begin seeing the outline of a large shadowy figure. I slow my pace, frightened to draw near, but curiosity keeps me going as I near the noise.
The fog starts clearing as I near the figure and it becomes clearer but still not enough to see. My pace turns to a slow cautious walk as I start seeing the creature. A spot of light from the suns rays blinds me temporarily and when my eyes finally adjust, the creature in front of me is clear. Blood Dragon. I turn around back into the forest and start running, I can hear the creature following from behind me smashing through the trees, I take a series of turns until making it to a small clearing. I turn around, the Dragon is no long present. I whip my head from side to side looking for the Dragon amidst the trees. My heart is beating, not only am I only, but my weapon is no longer in it's sheath. I keep looking around, afraid to return into the woods. When suddenly the Dragon is smashing through the trees towards me. I walk backwards and trip over a perfectly placed rock. Of course this would happen to me. Who else would trip over a rock. The Dragon smashes through the last of the trees and stands in front of me. This is it then, my death? I really always pictured it more climactic. The Dragon stands over me, peering into my eyes with its yellow ones. But something happens I did not expect. He just stands there, as if waiting for me to speak.
"Hello?" I say in a fragile attempt to talk to a potentially deadly creature.
"My name is Xiadram, I've followed you for a while." The Blood Dragon replies.
"You... You can talk?" I ask. A stupid question, but I've never heard of a Blood Dragon talking before.
"Did you expect any less? Why did you run from me?" Xiadram replies.
"I ran because usually Dragons kill people, I've only met a few in my life, and most of them have tried." I say getting up off of the ground.
"I suppose it was not unwise of you to run." Xiadram replies.
"Why have you been following me?" I ask, quite eager to know.
"I've been wishing to help you, however giving the circumstances I haven't been given the opportunity." Xiadram replies.
"Oh I see. Do you know how to get out of this forest?" I ask really hoping he can help.
"I have studied these forests for quite some time now. In other words, yes I know the way." Xiadram says while leaning his head down to me.
I pull myself up onto Xiadram who begins walking through the forest. I never realized how nice this forest is, if you take the time to really look at it.
"Do you know where my friends are?" I ask.
"They've already made it through. I watched in hopes you would all make it through safely. Once I saw you were going the opposite way, I came into the forest to find you." Xiadram says.
"Thanks Xiadram." I reply rather bluntly.
We continue through the forests dense fog and trees until I can actually see sunlight. Xiadram begins going faster towards the exit of the forest. I look around to a reason as to why, and then I see it. The forest is closing. The forests exit is growing dim. Xiadram starts going faster. Large hedges start growing out of the ground and the exit is getting smaller.
"You may want to hold on," Xiadram states.
Xiadram starts what can only be described as sprinting through the forest. We finally make it to the end, and Xiadram smashes through the hedge wall out into the light. Seeing the sun again after being in there for so long is breathtaking. Xiadram swoops up into the air.
"I'm so glad you went in there after me," I say.
Xiadram lets out a stern laugh as he flies down to the ground and lands with a thud. I jump down into the grass where Chase Jaird and Brenden are all standing weapons drawn. I walk up to the, taking deep breaths of freedom.
"Everyone relax. This is Xiadram, he saved me." I say almost proud.
"So now we have two Dragons on our team... Cool," Chase says casually.
"Two Dragons? I wasn't aware of a second of my kind with you." Xiadram replies.
As Xiadram finishes his sentence Odahviing swoops down and lands behind him, looking ready to kill. When Odahviing turns to me and sees calm expressions and no weapons he withdraws his hostile form. Odahviing walks towards me.
"Who is this?" Odahviing asks in a angered tone.
"Easy Odahviing. He saved me in the forest, I owe him." I reply.
"Then I owe him a debt, Thank you Xiadram." Odahviing says while calming down.
"So, everyone else okay?" I ask.
"I'm just glad to be out of the forest." Chase replies.
Everyone else nods at Chase's response. I turn to Jaird.
"Alright, where to?" I ask.
"Okay, gonna be honest here. This is about as far as I know. Somewhere in this region the mage's reside." Jaird replies.
"Wait... So we just went through that forest for nothing?" Brenden says, anger evident in his voice.
"Not for nothing. You're on the path to them... just kinda blind thats all." Jaird replies hoping for Brenden to not freak out.
"Are you kidding, After all This for NOTHING!" Brenden shouts.
"Calm yourself." Xiadram replies.
"Don't make me pin you again," Odahviing adds.
"Listen, It's been great but... I don't know if I can keep this up." Says Brenden.
"Brenden. Don't leave, we need you here if we are going to win." Jaird says.
"Listen to me Brenden," I say while pulling him aside. "If you leave now, what was the point of conquering that forest Hm? Stay with us." I continue.
"Yeah... I guess you're right... yeah lets keep going." Brenden replies.
"It's getting dark, we should set up camp." Chase says.
"Chase's right. Jaird help Brenden get the tents up. Chase come with me, we'll get some firewood. Odahviing you help Jaird and Brenden. Xiadram can you take us to get some wood?" I ask.
"It would be my pleasure." Xiadram replies.
Xiadram leans his head down for me and Chase. We pull ourselves up and Xiadram takes off into the sky.