A/N: So sorry that it's really short - I just wanted to get this part up before writing the (hopefully) very long next chapter!
"Four men, Galmar, they don't just disappear!"
"I told you, Ulfric, they're probably just lost in the snow – they'll be back."
Ulfric exhaled heavily, dragging his hands over his face in exasperation. "I'm going out there. Karia could get hurt..."
"Why do you care so much about a damn elf?"
"She's one of us, Galmar, I care for all my men."
"Yet you didn't ride out with the others to Dawnstar."
Ulfric's nostrils flared as he turned on his second-in-command. "How was I to know something would happen? But something has happened, even if we can't be sure what. I won't stand idly by and let a Stormcloak be killed!"
"If your worries are right, then you already have." Galmar held his leader's glare with a steely eye, but then sighed. "Fine, go, Ulfric, I can't stop you. Just remember you're doing this for the Stormcloaks – not yourself. If she turns out traitor, don't let personal feelings get in the way."
The fire devoured the logs, spitting and hissing at Karia as she sat by it. She felt sparks flare on her skin, but ignored them. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn't run all her life. But she couldn't live in this abandoned bandit hole, waiting for whoever she ran from to find her. Because...who did she run from? The Stormcloaks? The Dark Brotherhood?
...Ulfric?
"Karia?"
Her head snapped up. Just a distant wolf's howl, carried and distorted on the wind...
"Karia?"
Probably just her mind playing tricks...
"Karia!"
Obviously it wasn't real.
Then the Redguard staggered through the trees, and she realised just how real it was.
"Nazir!" She screamed, leaping to her feet. Her fingers flew to her dagger's hilt, but then a smile broke across the man's face.
"You...have...no idea...how long...I've...been...looking...for you." He wheezed, doubling over.
"How in the name of Dagon did you find me? I swear, does everyone have some kind of magic compass that can pin-point my exact bloody location?" Karia huffed, but then took pity on him and helped him sit down. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Nazir wiped the sweat off his brow and fixed her with a piercing gaze. "Karia...it's been nearly two weeks. We've heard nothing from you."
She shifted her weight guiltily. He hurried on. "Look, I'm glad that we haven't. Karia...oh, how can I tell you?" He took a deep breath. "The contract wasn't for Ulfric. It was for you."
