Chapter 14 - Vocabulary Building

Yssha's visit to High Hrothgar was pleasant, as all but one had been, and she enjoyed a meal with the monks. "I see you are getting fresh supplies," she said with a smile over a nice snowberry crostata dessert.

Arngeir returned the smile. "Yes, as often as we need them. I think one of your people must have told Klimmek, beause we no longer find his salted and dried gifts in the offering chest."

"I am glad," Yssha said. "The Seven Thousand Steps were becoming too much for him when I first came here."

"Yes," Arngeir said. "We observed him climbing the time before that, and knew he would be able to make only a few more trips. But tell us, what was that Shouting about? We heard it, of course, and your repeated use of Dragonrend."

She told them about the challenge and battle, then said, "I was delighted when he yielded, rather than forcing me to kill him. I wonder why? I have always had to kill, before."

Arngeir shrugged. "Paarthurnax might be able to tell you, but I cannot, and it may puzzle even him. But the reason for your visit, Dragonborn - you wish to locate a Shout?"

Yssha nodded. "Everything I could be doing is being done better by others, so I wish to build up my Shout inventory for when they must be used indoors. That is the only time it is specifically I who must use them, because my vahriinne are far too large for most enclosed areas."

"And outside?" Arngeir asked curiously.

"Outside, Odahviing usually sees any enemies first, and has defeated them before my team or I even notice them. Unless they are too numerous for him, which does occasionally happen."

Arngeir chuckled. "Yes, the dov have a raptor's keen eyesight. And yes, we have heard whispers of words. Let me see your map, and I will mark their locations."

"More than one? That seems odd."

"Yes, but we have three for you. It is almost as if they wish you to find them."

As the three Elder Scrolls apparently had. "Perhaps they do. Where are they?"

Arngeir pointed them out as he marked her map. "Shearpoint, Angarvunde, and Vahlok's Tomb, in Solstheim. But you'll wait for morning, won't you?"

"Yes - I like to spend my nights at home with my family, when possible. I hope it is early enough I can stop in Whiterun or Riverwood first, though; I promised Freyr a present. And Nevan says he is coordinated enough to begin learning sword-work, so I think a pair of wooden swords."

The Greybeards chuckled, and Arngeir smiled. "An apt gift for a Nord boy, Dovahkiin. He will enjoy both the gift and the lessons."

She had made it before the shops closed, just barely, and it was twilight before Odahviing delivered her to Lakeview Manor.

The family was waiting, along with Ralof and Ahkrinbo, and Freyr ran up, looking at the package she was carrying. "My present, Mama?"

Yssha smiled. "Yes, but I think it would mean more coming from Uncle Nevan." She handed it to the Sandeman warrior. "What you recommended," she said softly.

He grinned, then knelt to be more Freyr's height, and tore it open. "Look! Wooden swords! Would you like to start learning to use them?"

Freyr grabbed one and started swinging, causing Serana and Rayya to jump out of range, and Nevan laughed. "Not so impatient, Freyr! Good sword-work is controlled. I'll start teaching you in the morning, unless your Mama needs me."

Yssha smiled and shook her head. "I do not think so. If I recall my geography, Shearpoint is a dragon lair. After today's victory, I anticipate no problems. And beginning weapon lessons as early as possible is important. So remain here and begin teaching him, if you wish."

The next morning, Odahviing took Yssha, Marcurio, and Serana to Shearpoint, where the dragon perched on his Word Wall greeted her. "Drem yol lok, Dovahkiin thuri. Zu'u Faasfeimkod. Your visit honors me."

"Drem yol lok, Faasfeimkod vahriini. I would learn what your Wall has to teach, if you permit."

"You have my permission, of course, thuri. But I must warn you as well - Shearpoint is the resting place of Krosis, a Dragon Priest. He will wake when you get close enough to trigger the Words."

"Words?" Yssha was surprised. "I thought Walls had only single words!" She looked around, and saw a mound of snow that must conceal the Priest's sarcophagus. On the way in, she'd thought it just another drift or rock. "I thank you for the warning."

"A single word to a wall or location is the norm, yes," Faasfeimkod agreed. "But Shearpoint and Vahlok's Tomb, on Solstheim, are exceptions. Do you wish my help with Krosis?"

Yssha nodded. She hated fighting anyone who could teleport while fighting, especially outside, so she was happy to accept the offer. "We would appreciate it."

She drew her mace, the other two following suit with their own weapons, and she approached the Word Wall. When she reached the correct distance, sure enough, three of the words lit up and pushed into her, accompanied by the distinctive sound of a sarcophagus being opened from inside.

Odahviing and Faasfeimkod both took off, since her ride had waited, and began flaming the Dragon Priest. The ones on the ground didn't have a chance to participate, because with a pair of dragons attacking, Krosis only had time for a brief scream before it was cut off as he turned into a pile of ash.

The dragons landed again, and Yssha thanked Faasfeimkod before inspecting the remains and claiming Krosis' staff and mask.

Once she'd put them in her pack and turned toward Odahviing, Marcurio grinned. "What did you get this time, love?"

"All three words of Throw Voice, which seems like it might be very useful at times."

Serana nodded, "Especially as a distraction if we're trying to sneak, I should think."

"This didn't take long," Marcurio said. "Angarvunde next?"

"Yes," Yssha decided. "We have plenty of time, even if it proves to be a large area."

This one was an underground site, so Odahviing dropped them off and left to hunt, casually saying, "I believe I am in the mood for a troll snack. I wonder if the new ones on the Seven Thousand Steps are still denning there. Call when you wish me."

"I will," Yssha assured him.

Looking around the outside campground, they found the usual gear, plus a journal. Those usually had useful information, so Yssha opened it to the most recent entry.

"Whispers of this ancient temple have been few and far between, and most real knowledge seems similar to Angarvunde itself; buried and forgotten. Yet, every story or legend I hear all seem to speak of immeasurable riches found deep within.

"'Great treasure waits for the worthy adventurer,' said one old fool after many false flirtations and tankards of mead. Though he may have been a nuisance, his information matches most of my research, specifically the location of Angarvunde.

"Tomorrow I will hire a mining team to assist me in my excavation and head towards the ruin. By this time next month, I shall be rich!

"-M.D."

The three shared a laugh at that. "Not another one," Marcurio said with resignation. "The Word Walls are a great treasure, all right, but only for one person, and that writer's not it."

"We can try to convince this M.D., of course," Yssha said with a sigh. "But I doubt he or she will be receptive."

Marcurio snorted. "Of course not - once a treasure hunter gets the fever, logic and reason fly right out the window. Any bets this one wants you to do the work, then split fifty-fifty?"

"That would be a sucker bet, beloved," Yssha said, trying to look reproving. "And then run, trying to take it all. We have been through this before, starting at Bleak Falls Barrow."

Her husband chuckled. "I didn't think you'd fall for it, love. But shall we go see how closely this one sticks to our expectations?"

"Why not? We might be surprised."

They weren't. When they entered the cave and descended to a wooden platform, joining a woman already there, she turned to Yssha. "Dragonborn? What're you doing here?"

"I am trying to find a Rotmulaag - a dovah Word of Power - the Greybeards sensed is here. And you?"

"Medresi Dran. I was told of a great treasure here, but my miners - the cowards! - ran into a couple of draugr and got themselves killed. Tell you what, since you have your own reason to be here, take care of the draugr for me, and I'll give you half the treasure."

"The 'great treasure' is the Word Wall, but it is a treasure only to me," Yssha replied. "Even my companions will get nothing from it."

Medresi shook her head. "Okay, whatever. Just clear the draugr, and we'll go from there."

Yssha laughed - she was getting pretty good at the human version, she thought. "Very well, since I would have to do so anyway."

She and the two with her descended the wooden ramp, took care of three draugr, and started back toward Medresi. She met them partway, then ran down ahead of them to a barred gateway. "I don't have a key to this particular door, but this one - " she handed Yssha a key - "should open the ones to the sides, and let you in."

After that, it was a pretty typical barrow run. Niche-lined rooms, the occasional draugr - sometimes up to Overlord level. Skeletons, burial urns, traps. They did find a couple of skill books Yssha had already read, but the other two hadn't, so she shared them. Levers at the ends of the Catacombs and Ruins proved to be their intermediate goals.

Eventually, they walked toward their "partner", where the barred entrance was now open. As expected, she didn't wait for them but ran ahead - and triggered a rising-spike trap. By the time the three got to her, she was nothing but blood dripping onto the floor, but springing the trap had opened a pathway through it further in.

Serana grinned. "Treasure hunters! Let's go get you the real thing."

They found a chest with a few coins and a couple of amethysts, plus a broken sword - why would anyone save that, Yssha wondered - before continuing down some stairs, where she heard the chanting of a Word Wall.

"What's this one?" Marcurio asked.

"Tah, Pack," Yssha replied. "The last word of Animal Allegiance." She translated the Wall for them. "Here died the savage she-wolf Ulfeidr, slayer of men and beasts, savage leader of the Crimson Pack."

"Not the most useful one in your repertoire," Serana commented, "but it has come in handy a couple of times. Especially in Falmer nests with chaurus."

"Before I learned the Shout that restores them," Yssha agreed. Then she looked around, finding the usual chest at one end of the Wall. This one was worthwhile, again as usual with the Wall chests.

There was no shortcut out of Angarvunde, to her disappointment, but then, aside from the Catacombs and Ruins, which wouldn't be necessary again, it was a straightforward dungeon, and not long after emptying the last chest, they were outdoors again. Yssha called Odahviing, and they returned home.

When they landed, Nevan joined them, and Yssha asked about Freyr's training.

"He's no natural," Nevan said, "but for his age, he's doing pretty well. I gave him some exercises to build up his strength, and taught him some basic cuts. He'll be practicing those for a couple of days before he'll be ready for another lesson, so I'll be going along on whatever expedition you have planned for tomorrow."

Yssha thought about that briefly, then decided. "I have had no success in smithing the stalhrim I mined when we were at Gyldenul Barrow looking for Haknir's treasure. So I wish to go to Skaal Village and see if I can get some instruction from Baldor Iron-Shaper. I would say there is no need for the rest of you to go along, but Skyrim seems to specialize in making us eat such words."

Marcurio chuckled. "I can remember one easy one, when we retrieved Glover Mallory's bonemold recipe, but most of the time, yep."

"Oh! We had another easy one today, when Odahviing and Faasfeimkod saved me the trouble of killing a Dragon Priest!" Yssha grinned. "But we cannot count on such things happening."