After some brief introductions, J'zargo and Geryn carried Joric between them so that they could set up camp off the road, and away from the scene of death and destruction that they had left. They placed him down in the snow, and Geryn knelt down to fix his broken nose and wake him up. J'zargo placed a few twigs on the floor in a pile and lit them on fire using magic, and Geryn washed a pool of flowing golden light over Joric's face, fixing the break to his nose and clearing up any other cuts and bruises on his face, leaving it clear. Geryn stood back up again, then called to J'zargo "So how are we going to wake him?"
"Hmmm, J'zargo has an idea. You know alteration, no?"
"Yes."
"Hover some snow over his face..."
"Why?"
"Like J'zargo said, he has a plan."
"Alright..." Geryn didn't know where this was going, but complied and hovered some snow in mid air over Joric's face.
"Keep it steady..." J'zargo threw a column of flames at the hovering snow, causing it to melt and splash all over Joric's face. He darted up, gasping from the shock.
Geryn grinned. "How's that for teamwork?"
J'zargo laughed slightly. "Teamwork? J'zargo did all the thinking."
Geryn rolled his eyes. "And I did all the heavy lifting."
J'zargo laughed again. "Heavy lifting? Ha! J'zargo does not think that basic telekinesis qualifies as heavy lifting."
Joric looked at the two of them, confused and nervous about this new face. "Geryn, what's going on? Who's this?"
Geryn walked over and helped Joric to his feet. "This is J'zargo, a friend. He's coming with us to the college."
Joric eyed him up suspiciously. "I could have sworn he was one of the bandits..."
J'zargo nodded. "I was, but not by choice. I saved your friend here from them."
Geryn smiled. "After my encouragement." He turned to J'zargo, growing serious. "So how did you end up with those bandits?"
J'zargo sighed. "I was with a wealthy Khajiit trading caravan, working as one of the guards. The bandits attacked us, and in the fight I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I was in a cell in a fort full of bandits. They promised that I they would spare me if I leant them my magic, so I did."
Geryn looked him in the eye. "What happened to the other Khajiit?"
J'zargo shrugged, then looked at the snowy white horizon. "I don't know. They were holding them prisoner as well. I felt terrible leaving them there. It wasn't long ago, this was my first job. They're probably still there now."
Geryn felt sorry for him. "Where is it?"
"What?"
"The fort. Where is it?"
It was way back on the planes again, we'd have to backtrack for a long time to get there."
Geryn put a hand on J'zargo's shoulder. "We can do that."
J'zargo looked back at Geryn. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. If we can save your friends, we will."
J'zargo smiled gratefully, then Joric spoke up. "Erm... does this mean we're going back the other way?"
Geryn looked at him, seeing that he seemed very unenthusiastic at the idea. "Yes, it does. I'm not just going to let innocent people die and rot in a prison cell." He turned back to J'zargo. "So when do you want to leave?"
J'zargo looked up at the moons, saying "We could go in the night time. We've got hours of darkness left, and we could take them by surprise."
Geryn nodded. "Right, then. Let's snuff out that fire and get to that fort, then."
J'zargo grinned, excited by the chance of seeing his friends again. "Yes! Thank you, Geryn, thank you!"
Joric did not like the sound of that. "But-"
Geryn turned on him, raising a finger and pointing accusingly at him. "But what? We've got a chance to save lives, here. I'm not going to waste that! Now, we're going, whether you come with us or not!" He was angry that Joric would try and object to the mission.
"But what if we don't make it?"
Geryn rubbed his eyes in frustration, then exclaimed "This is more than our lives on the line here, Joric! We could save half a dozen innocents, maybe more! Or, if you want, we could carry on and ignore them!" He ran his hand through his hair, grabbing it and almost pulling it out. "You need to toughen up, man! You're a Nord, and a soldier, so start acting like one!"
Joric backed away slightly. Geryn's hands were glowing, primed for magic. "If we die then-"
"We won't! Nobody needs to die! We can pay a ransom, or sneak them out! I don't care, but we will save them!"
Geryn pulled his hands away from his hair, which was steaming from the magic that had been given off by his hands. Joric looked down and saw that his hands were shaking, charging. "Geryn... you need to-"
"What? Calm down? How can I be calm about this?" He released the spell, sending it hurtling off into the sky in a ball of green light.
Joric straightened his posture. He punched Geryn in the jaw, knocking him down and his jaw out of place. "You're the one getting angry over this! I'm bigger than you! I'm stronger than you! I'm not a coward!" His breathing was heavy and his face crimson.
Geryn got up, shocked. He put a hand to his jaw, feeling the warm healing magic wash over his face and pop all the bones back into place. His face showed nothing but anger and hate, and he spoke quietly. "You are a coward. You've proven that again and again... and now again."
Joric's face betrayed his regret, and he reached out to put a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Geryn, I..."
"I don't care! Don't talk to me!" Geryn was still nursing his jaw.
"I..." He turned away, clenching his fists. "It doesn't matter."
"No, it doesn't!"
Joric sounded upset. He turned back around again. "Geryn, I'm sorry..."
Geryn took no notice, and kicked snow onto the fire, turned on his heel and said "Come on, we're leaving!" He walked briskly back onto the road, footsteps following behind him. Whose, he didn't bother to check.