Disclaimer: Yeah, right. Sorry to leave that hanging. :D Maybe it didn't feel that long for you guys. Anyway the next installment and I hope you like it!

It was five against two and Katryn managed to ignite one of the robed figures before they realized she was not one of them. The Orc had taken up a mace that had been dropped and was swinging it dangerously, making sure that Katryn would be protected as well as himself. The elders gaped at them for a moment longer and then all of them cast spells at once. Katryn threw up her shielding charm just in time and barely managed to keep it steady against the force of the enchantments. She released it at the first chance and hurled the knife into the chest of the burnt elder that was still making his way to her; then bent and scooped up a discarded sword before the knife even found its mark. The Orc took on two of the elders and Katryn swung the blade just in time as the other two came at her. She cursed the absence of her leather armor as one of the elders' blades gashed through the sleeve of her sword arm. Warm blood flowed down her skin as she struck back, forcing one of them to stagger and trip over a sprawled body. She turned her attention to the other and ducked underneath his swing, making him lose his balance. Whirling to keep up with him, she struck again and this time he fell to the cavern floor with a shuddering breath before going still. The roar of his companion caused her to turn back with the blade raised and she realized that she was too late. She side-stepped and braced for the blow, which never came. The Orc dropped him with an almost lazy swing of his mace. The man was dead before he hit the ground, his skull cracked and blood trickling from the ugly split.

"Why did you choose to save me?" The Orc asked her, his northern accent thick in his baritone voice. His r's were growled, l's rolled off his tongue and there was the telltale smack of the lips after m's and n's.

Katryn allowed a small smirk as she bent and wiped the shortblade sword clean. She examined it as she did so. The blade was a watery silver and it gleamed in the faint light. The hilt had a milky pearl tint and the weight was next to nothing, which allowed for quick easy thrusts and movements.

"I did not come to join," She replied finally and glanced up at the Orc.

He frowned at her and it made him look even more imposing. His black eyes flickered around the cavern in disdain before they landed on her again.

"There are more people, I've seen too many of them."

"They didn't hear a thing," Katryn searched among the bodies until she found the belt and scabbard for the sword. She fastened it around her waist and slid the blade away, "I am Katryn Gwynyth."

"You're bleeding," He replied, motioning to her arm with his mace.

The Elf glanced down and saw that the deep red of her sleeve was turning even darker as her blood stained it. She muttered underneath her breath in her own language and cast a healing charm that didn't have its usual potency. Summoning the Atronach and ghost and adding the shield charm to it had sapped her strength and while the bleeding eased, it didn't stop completely as it usually did. The sudden sound of tearing fabric made her look up to see the Orc approaching her with a strip of one of the red robes. He ignored her outstretched hand and moved in close enough to bandage her arm himself.

"My name is Gozrak Shor'na," He said as he fixed his attention on ripping the sleeve free of her wound and wrapping it carefully, "I did not think Dark Elves thought this highly of Orcs."

Katryn knew he spoke of the past. The Dunmer thought of the Orcs as little more than illiterate barbarians and several of them even went so far as to imprison Orcs for the sole purpose of using them for hard labor. But this Orc did not follow their usual pattern of giving his middle name and then his father's, he gave her his true title and she was struck by his trust in her. She glanced up at his heavy, black haired head and took in the beginning signs of intense hunger, the haunted look of torture and pure exhaustion in the coal eyes.

"I'm not my ancestors and you would not have given me your proper name if you thought I was going to mistreat you," She observed dryly, wincing a little when he tied the bandage firmly.

"I gave you my proper name because you saved my life. How are we getting out of here?"

Katryn thanked him for the aid and then walked up to the altar again. Where Camoran had stood to give his speech was a small stone table and she spotted a worn book that she was curious about. Gozrak followed her, frowning again. The Elf picked up the book and thumbed through it. It was yet another copy of the Mythic Dawn but this one seemed to have belonged to Camoran. There were notes written on the pages and several of them were marked with spare pieces of paper. Katryn tucked this into the pouch that had been secured to the belt she had found and turned to her companion.

"I came to retrieve the Amulet of Kings," She told him bluntly, knowing she could return his favor and trust him as well, "Camoran was wearing it when he disappeared. That's why I said that I didn't come to join."

"Who sent you?" Gozrak asked and fell into step with the Elf as she headed down the stairs. He had to shorten his stride to match hers and he was surprised that this little woman had the strength and courage to take on these caverns alone.

"Let us get out of here first," She answered simply and then added as they went up the steps to the door leading out, "There's three agents in this next room and then another in the one after that. There were not any separate tunnels the lead off of them so hopefully there won't be any surprises."

She paused before the door and Gozrak tightened his hand around the mace. The Elf held up one hand for silence and she listened closely. There was quiet on the other side of the door and she glanced up at the Orc.

"They would not have heard anything and I'm sure the elders are not to be disturbed during their meetings. I know that it is tempting to bash everyone's skull in," She smiled a little at his malicious joy and continued, "But I want to try to sneak out. The three agents were in a large room and when I passed through they had their backs to me."

Gozrak nodded reluctantly and watched as Katryn murmured softly and waved one hand over the door. There wasn't any sound of a lock releasing, but the Elf grasped the handle and pulled it open silently. She left it open and glanced about, listening once more and then waved for him to follow. They kept close to the wall of the tunnel and Katryn was relieved and surprised to discover Gozrak could move quietly for someone of his size. She held up one hand as they reached the small opening of the extra room and she risked her own neck, peeking around the corner to see if anyone had moved. The three red robed figures were in the corner of the room, huddled over a battered desk and they appeared to be studying an open book. Beside her, Gozrak's hand tightened around the mace again and his black eyes glittered unpleasantly. Katryn shook her head firmly and motioned for him to move further down the path. The Orc did so with reluctance and she followed, keeping one eye on the three. They reached the other door safely and Katryn knew that they would have to move quickly here. The agent that she passed when following Harrow would still be at his post and there would be no sneaking around him. She motioned for Gozrak to move closer to her.

"There's a man just beyond this door," She whispered in his ear, "We cannot have him raising the alarm."

The Orc grinned and waved for her to open the door. Katryn did so, stepping out of the way immediately. Gozrak swung the mace and dropped the man without a sound. The Elf made a face at Gozrak's pleasure. She had never liked the idea of fighting with clubs or maces and the destruction and the mess were why. They hurried up the tunnel and Katryn stopped at the door to grab her clothes and armor that Harrow had left there. As she was taking them up, there was a woman's scream and then the repeating of a name and she realized the forgotten agent that had given her the robe. Cursing in her own tongue, she grabbed the Orc's arm and tucked the clothes underneath her other elbow.

"We have to get out, now!" She exclaimed as footsteps thundered their way.

They threw the door open and were blinded briefly by the setting sun. Katryn stumbled and shoved her way through the bushes hiding the cavern door and Gozrak was right behind her. They could hear the shouts of the agents and Katryn now wished they would have taken care of the three in that room while they had the chance. There was no cover along the beach that they could duck into without being found and soon they had spells they were trying to dodge. Katryn paused and turned to shoot her own enchantments back at them and she hit one in the chest with a paralyzing charge. As he fell, another agent shot back. Katryn ducked and the pale blue jet shot over her head and skimmed Gozrak's face. The Elf grabbed his arm again and they took off running. She heard the woman telling the other agents to go after them and she knew that they would have to deal with them if they were to get away safely. She turned again suddenly and dove behind the first expansive collection of boulders they reached. Gozrak was right behind her and they crouched, hurrying around the far side to gain some time. The agents weren't far behind and Katryn heard them slow and approach the hiding spot uneasily. As soon as they started to turn the corner, Katryn unsheathed her sword and Gozrak raised the mace. The agents were ready for the attack and their summoned Daedric armor was just as strong as it looked.

Katryn managed to force her opponent back against the rocks. As soon as she got the chance, she shot another paralyzing charge at him and it struck his sword arm. He looked at her in horror and then turned and ran. The Elf let him go and flew to assist Gozrak as he let out a roar of pain. The agent had struck him with a fire ball and distracted him enough to sink his blade into the Orc's thigh. Katryn flung herself at the agent's back and swung her sword with all her might, nearly severing the man's head. The body slumped to the ground and Gozrak's attention was on the black blood pouring from the deep laceration.

"Hold still," She told him sharply and cast the healing charm over his leg.

Much like before, it merely slowed the blood flow, not stop it completely. She worked quickly, tearing the robe on the body before her into a long strip to bind up the wound. Ripping a bigger hole in the already tattered pants, Gozrak accepted it and tied the makeshift bandage firmly. He tested his weight on the leg and although there was a steady throb of pain, it was nothing he couldn't deal with. The Elf wiped her blade clean and sheathed it before giving her own bandage a firm tug.

"Come on," Gozrak said, "It won't take them long to find the damage we did in the altar room."