Author's Notes: I'm still working out the ramifications of a person being soul-trapped and sent to Cold Harbor. I disagree on a theological and metaphysical level with some of the logic in the game (but what the hey, ES is much more concerned with storytelling and customer service than they seem to be with tying up every loose end. Actually I think that they like loose ends...). The widespread use of way shrines, soul gems and whatnot by multiple player character escapees from Cold Harbor, regardless of the "Vestige" (singular) way it's presented to any given character, would have to result in some sort of metaphysical effects on Nirn, or more properly on the relations between Nirn and Cold Harbor. More about that in future chapters.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own any of the wondrous creations of Bethesda Softworks or Zenimax Online, however I certainly lay claim to misspellings, mistakes, tweaks, spells and characters of my own invention.

~~Honor's Gift~~

Her companion Durackh gra Sharn hefted her battle-axe in salute to the withered but cheerful looking lute player. "Cadwell, it has been an honor to meet you, and I thank you and Honor for the musical lessons," Here she nodded solemnly to the silvery creature that looked like a cross between a lizard and a guar. "If ever there will be a tale about our exploits returning to Nirn, you two will be the ones to play it."

Honor preened at it's stubby wings with it's short beak.

Cadwell cheerfully tilted the three-footed cooking pot he used as a helm. "A delight to meet you, my dear, truly a delight."

Honor interrupted with a concerned series of cries that sounded to Tabinah like a very ill Cliff Racer.

Cadwell's eyebrows raised so far they were lost to his cooking-pot helmet. "You don't say? Well, very well then!" He gestured imperiously to Durackh. "Honor has chosen you for a great responsibility."

Durackh's eyes widened.

Honor hopped off the chair where the Panderio that she'd been learning to play now rested. Giving a nod that obviously instructed her to follow, the little bantam guar trotted over to a small basket resting on the bottom shelf of what might once had been a bookcase.

Within the basket, in a circular collection of strings, dried entrails, and what could possibly have been shredded fungi of some kind, rested three irregularly shaped things. Tabinah wasn't sure what they could be.

"Eggs." Durackh's voice was reverent. "Your, eggs, Honor?"

Honor replied in that same concerned tone.

"The poor things have quite the time hatching here in Cold Harbor," Cadwell translated, "and being that you have shown skill, and a zest for life, Honor would like you to take one with you. Keep it close, touching your skin is best. When it hatches, the little one will be able to communicate its needs." In a much more light tone he added, "With Honor as its parent, it's likely to be able to eat most anything. Might have a bit of a sweet tooth."

Honor made a chiding noise.

Cadwell smiled affectionately. "Or that could just be me. I would like to get my hands on a decent bottle of Aldmeri wine; haven't had a good toddy in ages." He shook himself out of the semi-reverie and instructed the Orismer, "choose the one that seems right, and be off with you. Adventure awaits!"

Durackh squatted near the nest, examined it closely and then turned to Honor, "Choose the one that seems right?"

Honor nodded solemnly.

"Very well." So saying, the Orismer reached in and picked one.

Tabinah noted that it had mottled pattern. After a second it seemed like they came into focus and made a repeating pattern of interlocked axe heads. She wasn't sure if that was because she was only now seeing it, or if it was somehow a response to having been chosen by Durackh.

The Orisimer tucked the egg under the leather hauberk she was wearing. "It'll stay in place here," she chuckled, "and most of my enemies will be going for a limb, rather than my chest."

Cadwell raised a bottle of greyish looking thick liquid as a toast. "Right-o; no gentle knight would strike you there, and the ruffians will have other ideas. Now off with the lot of you." He nodded again in the direction that Tabinah Faryon had arbitrarily decided to call "East".

"Do carry on bravely!" He strummed his lute again.

Tabinah found herself wondering if he was considering writing a song about them.

~~Catching Up~~

Several dead fire atronachs and quite a bit of sloshing through knee deep water later, they ran into something different. A klunking sound was the only warning, when abruptly a dozen or so rusty spikes burst out of the water ahead of them.

"Sshellss of my children'ss eggss." Cursed Er'Jasleen.

After a couple of moments, the spears sank back down, with a slightly softer ka-chunking sound.

Durackh looked around. "If we had some sort of spear, or something we might be able to detect the edge of whatever pushes them up before just stepping onto the damn things."

Tabinah wasn't too familiar with any of the luminescent fungus that seemed to abound here, but from earlier examinations, she was pretty sure it wouldn't hold together well enough to form any kind of staff, or at least not one long enough to meet their needs.

"I sshall go ahead, comradess." Er'Jasleen said in her gravely voice. Moving in a crouch, she managed to take steps that were much longer than either of the others could have done.

A few more yards and she paused. "Something. I feel a sort of ridge."

Taking their time, and exploring the edges, it became clear that there were small levers along the edges of the traps. Going slowly, it was easy enough to disarm them.

Though Tabinah turned, and sure enough, they also seemed to reset after a short time.

The water moved only slowly. Aside from the sounds of the triggering of the traps, and the resetting of the levers, it was a very quiet journey.

They had come to an area where several urns and a large box were floating, when sounds of sloshing came from behind them.

"Wait!" The voice was cultured and demanding.

Durackh turned first, hefting the double bladed axe she carried. "Do you greet us, stranger?" Her voice was an open challenge.

A silver-haired surprisingly broad-shouldered mer was making haste through the waters toward them. "If you seek to leave this place, then I shall accompany you." He stepped foward and flipped back his hair, managing to use the irregular illumination to highlight his aquiline features. "After all what do women and beasts-"

He was interuppted by a loud sound.

Tabinah opened her mouth to warn him, but she never got a word out.

Spears shot upward, impaling him several places, and turning his last comment into an unitelligable garble. He struggled breifly, and then the whole thing sank into the water again, pulling him, still struggling weakly, under the water.

"We have to-" Tabinah started to say, and then as the dark stains spread through the water, and the faint ripples calmed, she let it go. He was already dead.

"The river flowss onward." Er'Jasleen spoke in a quiet, reverent tone.

Durackh sighed. Then she slowly made her way toward the remains.

"We can't bury him." Tabinah said softly.

"If he was carrying anything, he no longer needs it. But we might." Carefully the Orismer made her way back to the spears in question.

Tabinah found that she couldn't look away. She was grateful that Durackh's body sheilded her from much of a view. After a few minutes, the Orismer returned.

Er-Jasleen asked. "And what hass the river provided?"

"A couple of bottles of snake sweat, and a pair of wrist guards that I think are just too small for you or I." Durackh replied. "But I think that they will fit you." She held them out to Tabinah.

The dunmer was very glad to see that there was no blood visible on the bracers. Stop being squeamish she told herself. That altmer died for being a fool. Taking these was practical. So she took them, grateful that her hands weren't shaking visibly. "Thank you."

The Orismer's grin made her think that Durakh had picked up on what she'd been thinking.

"Now let uss ssee what else the river providess." Er'Jasleen made her slow way out to the floating containers.