Five days passed since departing the Summerset Isles. Five days of sailing upon nearly endless oceans, watching the waves jump and dance as we traversed forward. Five days of staring at nothing but the vast, open horizon, sometimes going hours or even entire days without seeing so much as a single dot of land anywhere. The journey was certainly peaceful and serene, to say the least. The weather had fortunately remained mostly favorable the entire voyage, with only the occasional downpour of rain or bursts of overly strong winds to serve as a hindrance. Being here on the water, so far away from any towns or cities, away from the noise and clamour of other people, was honestly quite liberating for me, like my mind was able to be truly free, released from any stress and worry. It truly never ceased to perplex my mind how enormous the world really was, and nothing reminded me of that fact more than being at sea, gazing into the sheer openness of the horizon, listening to the wind whisper my name as it brushed past me, or watching the glittering fields of stars in the night sky, swirling faintly, almost like a vortex waiting to pull me inside. Having been to three of Tamriel's provinces at that point, and that was soon to be four, I would definitely say I had seen a fair bit of the world, especially considering I was still very young for a Dunmer and could reasonably expect to live for several centuries. All that being true however, I knew that even with everything I had seen during my short lifetime thus far, that it came nowhere close to the immense scale of the entirety of the mortal realm. There was still so much of the world I had not seen, and much of that I likely never will see. The world is simply far too large and grand for any one person to see all of it, and that isn't even mentioning the lands that lie beyond Tamriel. But I never forgot those memories as a small boy, when I would lie on my bed for hours on end, my nose deep in my books, soaking in the countless stories and tales of the lands that encompassed Tamriel as my imagination ran wild. Even from a young age, I knew that someday I would want to set out on my own and explore everywhere I possibly could. For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to travel far and wide, to see what the outside world had to offer, to see just where I would end up, to see what crazy, strange places I would come across. I had made a promise to myself to see as much of the outside as I could, and that was a promise I have held onto every day since.

I sat by the edge of the sailboat close to the bow, gazing at my reflection through the ripples of the water. Occasionally my eyes would be drawn to small shadows swimming beneath the waves as we passed by several shoals of fish. It was currently around mid-afternoon, and to my delight, this was yet another clear, sunny day which always makes any sailing journey that much more smooth and pleasant. The sun had been shining since early dawn, with nary a cloud in the sky. Flocks of seagulls circled above the mast of the boat, their distant calls carrying through the sky as the sound of waves beating against the hull remained constant. There was truly little more one could ask for on a day as perfect as this, and I was grateful that fortune had sought to favor us on this journey. I gazed deeply into the ocean, staring intently at the reflection beneath the waves as it stared right back at me, and in a moment that only seems to increase in rarity, even to this day, I felt a wave of peace and serenity as I watched a smile cross my face, the first in what had felt like far too long.

Renaiya and I had managed to pass the time, mostly by regaling one another with tales from our pasts, recalling fond memories and anecdotes, and generally just reminiscing about our younger days. During this past week, I would certainly say we had learned quite a bit about one another and gotten to know each other fairly well. Having a pleasant companion such as her along did wonders in helping our journey feel shorter than it actually was. But perhaps even more important than that, this adventure allowed me to forget about the intense, crushing loneliness that had plagued me since Galthar's betrayal, since losing all my friends and loved ones. While I would never truly be able to fully set those feelings aside, I have to admit it was still nice to be granted this respite from it all, even if I was aware it would not last forever. Ren was currently the one steering the boat, while I kept a vigilant watch upon all our surroundings, although admittedly I never saw anything even remotely threatening this entire trip, and all my time was spent merely admiring the enormity of the open sea. Renaiya and I alternated every few hours between driving the boat and keeping watch. And when nighttime came, we tried to arrange it so at least one of us was awake at all times. We alternated every night who would get to sleep first, while the other looked after the boat and continued on its course. After a couple hours we would switch, and whoever was keeping watch prior would then sleep while the other would be awake. This little system we devised worked well enough for us, and it ensured that we each received roughly the same amount of sleep, while also allowing us to cover a fair amount of distance during the night.

"Sargoth, look," Renaiya spoke, pointing way out ahead of us, "over there." I stood from my spot, moving to the tip of the boat's bow to get a better look. Placing my hand over my eyes to block the sun, I squinted as I gazed out ahead. Several seconds passed, and sure enough, that was when I caught the sight of the giant mass of land looming beyond in the distance.

"That isn't…" my mouth hung agape as I could only stare in wonder at the sight before me. At first, everything was little more than a faint silhouette as I tried to look past the piercing rays of the sun, but as we drew closer, it all became much more vivid and clear as the land began to come into view.

"Welcome to Valenwood," said Renaiya, with eagerness in her voice, "home of the Bosmer."


It was another twenty or thirty minutes before we officially reached our destination and passed through Valenwood`s borders, sailing slowly but surely along the swift shores of the coastline. The tides were fairly high this time of day, the waves swishing and swirling around us as the boat periodically shifted to and fro. My eyes were wandering freely about like a bird soaring through the sky, scanning every which direction as I began to take in all my surroundings. The crystal clear water splashed and beat against the shore, and as I looked a short distance away, I caught the sight of a few other vessels coasting smoothly towards the land, preparing to make port just as we were. I could only continue to look on in fascination as we drew closer to the network of wooden docks and jetties that lay not far ahead. Indeed I had not even taken my first step onto the land yet, but already I found myself amazed at what I was seeing, and almost immediately all the images of Valenwood I had envisioned as a boy from my books were now rushing back to me. I knew that no stretch of my imagination would be able to ever accurately depict the Bosmer homeland, and I knew that this place would be like nothing I had ever seen before.

It was not long until the boat finally came to a stop, after nearly a week of nonstop travel. Ren carefully nestled the vessel in a vacant spot as I keenly watched all the other boats doing the same. I began to gather the ropes to secure the boat in place while Renaiya hoisted up the sails, fastening them tightly to the mast. Interestingly enough, out of all the boats that were currently docked here, Renaiya's was pretty much the largest one. One or two of the vessels were roughly the same size, but most were definitely smaller. If I had to guess, I would've said that these were travelers just like us, or perhaps independent, small-time merchants at the most, come here in the hopes of doing business with the native folk.

After making all the necessary preparations, I disembarked from the sailboat, and simply stood there for a moment, taking in a long, deep breath of the crisp air as I took my first steps into this foreign land. I had been itching the last several days to step onto land again. As enjoyable and relaxing the past several days at sea had been, I could honestly say it felt great to have this part of the voyage behind us. Just as one journey came to its end, another was soon to begin, and I was eager to see just what would come my way next.

"The port doesn't look too busy today," Renaiya stated, stepping off the boat after me. Slinging her satchel over her shoulders, the Breton began closely surveying the surrounding area. "Most other times I come here, there's significantly more ships, not to mention, people."

"Fewer people is never a bad thing," I said. Ren certainly wasn't wrong in her statement. Apart from a small number of sailors stepping off from their ships, as well as a few merchants hauling their cargo around the general vicinity, this place was indeed relatively empty. As for the harbor itself, it was quite minimalistic compared to the others I had seen, with admittedly very little to see. There wasn't much as far as buildings or establishments went, save for a few clusters of wooden huts with thick straw and thatched roofing that may have served as taverns or shops. As insignificant as this little place may have been, I couldn't deny it possessed a certain charm with its simplicity. The busiest ports in the realm can be seemingly as large and populated as entire cities, which some travelers could very well find a tad intimidating. But this place couldn't have been any more straightforward, and I couldn't help but appreciate the inviting, endearing, almost friendly atmosphere that it brought.

"You're impressed already?" said Ren with a giggle. "Oh just you wait, my friend. This is not even anywhere close to this land's true beauty. Come on, we have quite a ways to travel." As soon as we left the docks and made our way into the sprawling, dense woodlands of Valenwood, I could see that Ren's words were all too true.

For much of my life, I had heard the land of Valenwood be described as Tamriel's garden, and now that I was actually here for myself, seeing it all in person with my own two eyes, I did not doubt that claim for a second. I thought back to how entranced I had been upon first seeing the Summerset Isles. I remembered the intense, almost childlike wonder that I felt as I took in the beauty and strangeness of the land. That very same rush and excitement was coursing through me now, being in yet another new land, and being surrounded by entirely foreign sights. This time however, I was much better able to actually enjoy and fully appreciate this opportunity. Unlike my voyage to Summerset, which I had taken for reasons born from revenge, this journey to Valenwood was entirely for my own pleasure. Now that my mind and spirit had largely been freed from that negative energy, I could focus solely on the present moment. I could bask freely in the exquisite, mysterious wonder that shone through every inch of this place.

"So where exactly are we, Ren?" I asked, my eyes darting in a hundred directions at once.

"We're currently in Greenshade, the southwestern region of Valenwood," she answered. "To the north is Malabal Tor, and if you head east, you'll come to the region of Grahtwood, wherein lies the capital of Elden Root."

"You certainly seem to know this land well," I said. "You must come here quite often."

"I try and make it here at least once or twice a year," the woman said. " And there is no better time to make the journey here than during the first days of spring. Over the years, I have come to develop a deep fondness and affection for Valenwood. For someone with a love of nature such as myself, there is no greater place in Tamriel to be. Every time I set foot in this land, I find myself more mesmerized than before."

I let out a deep sigh, stopping for a brief moment as I looked towards the sky.

"Sargoth? Something the matter?" asked Renaiya.

"No, it's nothing," I replied. "I was just thinking of someone who would've very much loved to be here right now."

The two of us pressed onward, passing through a small rainforest. Thick, blowing leaves swarmed the branches of the oak trees, covering everywhere above us in clouds of green, more striking than even the finest emerald. Along the grassy trails, one could see the endless mazes of flora that blossomed beneath the towering oaks, painted with dazzling, salient colors. The constant, refreshing breeze of fresh air was almost heavenly as it lightly grazed my skin. The giant trunks of the oaks were old, and noticeably weathered, but still standing strong. Beneath the green and grey patches of moss, you could easily make out the long, deep impressions of claw marks, left from all the various species of wildlife that had long been etched into the tree's surface.

As we traveled along, Ren would occasionally stop and examine any flowers and plants that she found interesting. She closely looked over anything that struck her fancy, and quite often she would even harvest what she found, carefully placing them in a small pouch at her side. Being the alchemist she was, there was no doubt there were lots of useful things she could make with those.

We passed a small stream, trickling lightly along beds of tiny pebbles that flowed past a bushel of shrubs.

"So what exactly is this 'errand' you're on, anyways?" I asked Ren as she walked just a couple steps ahead of me. "I mean, there must be some special reason for you to bring me out all this way."

"To be entirely honest, this is probably going to sound really dumb to you," said Renaiya, "but for the past while, I have been conducting research into a certain kind of flower that grows only in Valenwood."

"Can't say I've ever envisioned myself going flower picking," I replied, unable to suppress a chuckle. "You're lucky I'm doing this for free, else a task like this'd be costing you an arm and a leg." Ren laughed as she stopped to gather another batch of flowers.

"There's more to it than that, believe it or not," she quipped back. "The flower in question is called the Safyrian Willow. I first learned of its existence during my last trip here, and since then all the knowledge I've obtained concerning it are from rumors, as well as some old scrolls and notes I managed to acquire."

"Must be one hell of a flower if you're going to this much effort for it," I said. "Do you even know what it does?"

"I don't know too much in that regard, I'm afraid," said Ren. "I do know that it is like no other plant or flower that grows within the known world. From what I've heard, the Safyrian Willow is said to possess mystical properties and effects not found in any other type of flora. If the few tales of it I've come across bear any semblance of truth, it can be mixed with absolutely any combination of ingredients when brewing a potion or poison, and the resulting effect will be several times more potent. To an alchemist such as myself, to find something like that and be able to research it and conduct experiments with it, would be an opportunity of a lifetime. If I can get my hands on a few samples, perhaps I might even be able to take them back home and plant them in my own garden. To have my own personal collection of such a rare flower would be truly incredible."

"That sounds all well and good," I said. "But I'm still not seeing exactly how I fit into all this."

"There is only one place in all of Tamriel the Safyrian Willow can be found," said Renaiya. "The flower blooms within the depths of an ancient cave called Duskshade Hollow. I don't know a thing about the cave, besides its general location. The idea of journeying in a dark, unknown cave alone doesn't exactly make me comfortable. I mean, for all I know, the place could be completely peaceful, or there could be a hundred dangerous creatures waiting to kill anything that ventures inside. And like I said already, I'm not much of a fighter…"

"Ah, so that's where I come in," I said. "I'm the bodyguard."

"In a manner of speaking, I suppose," the Breton woman answered with a smile.

"I can't exactly say I'm the wisest choice as far as protection is concerned," I said. "More than a few people have died on my watch. But you can rest assured I will do everything in my power to ensure we both see this through to the end. I owe you that much."

"You see? I knew saving your life was a good idea," quipped Ren with a giggle. "And besides, I just wanted some company, more than anything else. These trips can be lonely by times."

We eventually exited the rainforest and now stood at the edge of a wide, open meadow. A dense sea of green lay before us, spreading far beyond what my eyes could see. The lush fields were gleaming beneath the daylight's warmth as they shifted gently against the breeze. The thick blades of grass had grown to literally uncontrollable proportions, standing almost as tall as a person. It's a small wonder Renaiya and me were not ensnared and swallowed alive as we passed through the jade grasslands.

I could not say exactly how long we spent treading our way through those immense fields. Trudging through more grass, we eventually came to a clear section of the meadow. A deep, wide river sat a short distance away in between two steep banks that appeared to run straight back into the rainforest from what I could see. A long trail of tangled bushes and thickets and trees sat by the sides of the river, and just a ways over I could see a long, narrow tree that jutted out from the ground that hung across the entire width of the water, several of its branches swooping upwards as they cast a blanket of shadow over the rich scenery. As the two of us drew closer, I could make out a group of antelopes flocked at the river's edge, their heads bowed as they drank from the water, apparently unaware of our approach. That soon changed when one of them sharply raised its head and stared at me dead in the eyes. The creature let out a noise as it turned tail and fled, its companions following suit only seconds later. I stood there for a good half minute as I just silently watched the animals grow smaller and smaller in the distance until they vanished entirely. The two of us carefully crossed the long tree like a bridge over the calm, still river. Upon coming to the other side, we climbed the bank and made our way into yet more fields.

Another hour or so passed, and we were still making our way through this seemingly never-ending meadow. My arms were growing sore and tired from swatting the grass out of my face, and I eventually resorted to simply cutting our way through the pastures with my sword.

"Have you ever heard of the Green Pact, Sargoth?" Renaiya asked me as I continued to cut a clear path ahead of us.

"I've read about it more than once in my books, when I was a boy," I replied. "Something about the Bosmer swearing to never bring harm to Valenwood's forests, or something of that sort."

"That's the gist of it, yes," said Ren. "The Green Pact is essentially a sacred covenant between the Bosmeri, and Y'ffre, the God of Song and Forest. It is said that the Green Pact has guided the Bosmeri people since the very beginning of their history. Indeed, some even believe it was Y'ffre who blessed the Bosmer with their current form. The rules of the Pact are quite straightforward. Never harm the forests of Valenwood, never harm any plant-life, or consume anything made from plants. Only meat may be eaten. And, perhaps the most shocking part of the Green Pact, any enemy slain by the Bosmer is not to be left, but instead their meat must be consumed by the one who slew them."

"Sounds pleasant," I said.

"In return for their adherence to the Green Pact, the god Y'ffre granted the Bosmer his blessings and protection," said Ren. "Since harming the forests is clearly forbidden by the Pact, when it came to building their settlements, the Bosmer obviously couldn't cut down any trees and use their wood. Instead, the Wood Elves were said to have been gifted magical powers, which allowed them to manipulate the forests themselves to their will, and this allowed them to grow their settlements from the surrounding nature itself. While the exact process of how they do this is not quite clear to outsiders, there is no mistake that the Bosmer possess mystical abilities, born from their relationship with the Green Pact, that lets them literally shape the land as they see fit, and construct entire towns and cities."

"Something like that seems extremely hard to imagine, being able to bend and shape the forest, and to such an extent," I said.

"Over their long history, many of the Bosmer have gradually done away with some aspects of the Green Pact," Ren said, "most notably, the whole forced cannibalism thing. But there are still those who believe the Pact should be strictly and rigidly obeyed in all regards, and this has inevitably led to several conflicts amongst many Bosmer who hold different views of the Green Pact."

"People always find a way to fight over just about anything," I remarked.

"This land has such a rich, fascinating history and lore surrounding it," said Renaiya. "I seriously can't help but admire the simple, primitive lifestyle of the Wood Elven folk. To think how the ancient Aldmeri had to fight and struggle to make this land inhabitable when they arrived here, how they had to adapt to the hostile environment to build a new life for their people. The modern day Bosmer are the result of those struggles. The land you see before you now is the realization of an ancient dream; a dream forever undying. A dream that is heard through the song of the fleeting winds, that is felt through the softest touch of grass, that is seen in the resplendence of every flower that blooms."

Evening had begun to creep forth steadily, the blue sky gradually shifting to a pinkish scarlet color as the sun began its descent over the horizon. At long last we emerged from the seemingly endless field. Before us, the terrain had suddenly shifted to a deep, downward slope as we stood upon the crest of a grassy hill. Carefully making our way down, we found ourselves in the midst of a ravine that carried a small stream. Looking to the left, I could see the same river that we had crossed the tree over from before.

"You sure we ain't lost?" I asked.

"Not a chance, my friend," Renaiya answered. "I could navigate most of this land with my eyes closed. Once you've been here a handful of times, avoiding getting lost becomes second nature."

Giving the area a long, thorough examination, I eventually caught the glimpse of a hollow depression at the foot of a rocky bluff. I motioned for us to check it out, and we began to make our way over.

"This is a more than perfect spot to make camp for the night," I said. "Plenty of room for a fire, which will be kept hidden by the rock. We'll have adequate shelter from the elements, and we'll be able to hear anything that makes its way close. I say we stop here tonight."

"Agreed," Ren said with approval, not wasting a second as she immediately took a seat and perched her back against the rock.

"A land like this couldn't make for better hunting," I said. "I'm going to go off on my own for a bit and see if I can't catch us some game for dinner."

"Alright," said Ren, "I'm going to go take a bath in the river, and then I might look for some more flowers. Meet you back here at nightfall?"

"Aye, sounds like a plan." And with that, I was off.


The evening passed in the blink of an eye. Valenwood, as I had predicted, turned out to be a hunter's paradise. Not the least bit surprising, considering that hunting is the center of the Bosmeri way of life. Still though, I found myself amazed at the sheer number of species of wildlife that inhabited the dense woods. There was no way even the Hunting Grounds of Hircine himself could have contained such variety of animals and beasts. As I stalked beneath the trunks of the oak trees, slunk through the bushes and flowerbeds, leaped and sprinted over the towering hillsides as I sought out any form of prey, I could honestly say I had not felt this alive in a long time. Feeling my blood pumping through my veins made me alert and energetic as an eagle as the evening wind brushed through my hair. Being here in a new land, partaking in one of my most beloved pastimes and basking in the breathtaking scenery made me feel as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. This was the first moment in far too long where I could say I was even remotely content. A happiness surged through me that I thought I'd never feel again, and this was a moment I knew I wanted to last as long as possible.

Within the span of an hour, I had managed to fell a monstrous sized elk as well as three silver hares. Nightfall was quickly approaching, and little daylight remained as the glitter of faint starlight began to illuminate the darkening sky.

I strung the hares to my belt. Once I finished the task of skinning and gutting the elk, I began the long, slow process of dragging the beast back to our spot. This creature was one of the largest I had ever taken down so far, and I found myself exerting every ounce of strength inside me to get it to move. Even with both arms, I could drag the beast for only short distances at a time before having to stop and rest. This process repeated more times than I could count, and as I slowly trudged through the grass, I could see the sky only growing darker with every minute.

My energy was all but spent when I finally made it back to our designated spot. Much to my delight, I could see a thin trail of smoke along with a flickering light coming from within the rocky hollow, which could only mean that Renaiya had already returned and had gotten the camp set up proper.

"Hey stranger!" the Breton woman said with a smile as I made my way inside, her dark red hair still visibly wet. Upon finally bringing the elk the last few feet inside our cozy spot in the hollow, I practically collapsed to the ground in exhaustion as I gasped almost desperately for breath.

"It appears someone's been busy," said Ren, lightly stoking the fire.

"We certainly ain't going hungry tonight," I said, unstrapping the hares from my belt.

Once I took a few minutes to catch my breath and get settled in, I grabbed my knife, cutting off the largest, meatiest parts of the elk. I placed the cuts on wooden spits over the fire, turning them slowly as a pleasing aroma began to fill the air. The meat sizzled as little pools of fat spilled into the crackling fire. I then took a few minutes to skin and prepare the hares before placing them over the flames as well to roast. Within minutes, the sweet, mouth-watering smell of roasting meat swirled around us. The burning campfire was warm and soothing against the nightly breeze that sailed across the land, my weary bones and muscles felt relief as I sat there, caressed by the fire's blanket of warmth and comfort.

Across the way, I could make out the faint, haunting calls of loons echoing throughout the peaceful night sky. As the sombre darkness fully overshadowed the slumbering forests of Valenwood, I could see the pale reflections of Masser and Secunda shimmering majestically off the still river. Green fireflies danced above the grass, glowing like minuscule torches as my eyes followed them along fervently.

"Isn't this night just beautiful?" Ren said, warming her arms and hands by the fire. I nodded my head in agreement.

"This country is truly beyond anything I could imagine," I said. "You were quite right when you said that no tale nor song could ever accurately depict the wonder and beauty here. When the day comes that I am too old for adventure, perhaps I may just settle here."

The meat finished cooking not long after. Ren and I wasted no time and dug right in. Both the elk and hares were tender and succulent to the point they were practically melting in my mouth. Mixed together with some good ale from my satchel, this meal was pretty well nothing short of perfect.

"So what about you, anyways?" Ren asked, her gaze shifting to me.

"What about me?" I replied.

"Well, what do you do for a living? Where did you grow up? What's happened in your life that led you to where you are now? What sorts of things have you experienced? You know, that sort of thing." Renaiya asked me these questions with an almost childlike wonder.

I took a large swig of my drink, my eyes never leaving the embers of our campfire.

"I do whatever pays money," I answered after a moment. "I do whatever will allow me to live long enough to see the next sunrise."

"You're awful secretive, aren't you?" said Ren, eyeing me closely. "You have difficulty trusting other people, don't you?"

"Aye. Few things in this world will get you killed as quickly as trust," I said. "I owe my continued existence to being secretive, and distrustful. If nobody knows anything about you, then they have nothing to use against you. Aye, I've trusted people, opened myself up to them. And in the end, all that resulted in was getting hurt, being betrayed, and having my heart broken. The pain I carry, I will carry for the rest of my days, and I do not doubt I will only be forced to endure more of it before my days are over."

"You certainly sound like you've been through a lot," said Ren, sympathetically. "I suppose I can understand how you would see trust as a dangerous thing. I'm honestly a little afraid to ask you this, but…do you trust me, Sargoth?"

I took another large chug of ale, wiping any spilled drops from my beard. I could see the Breton still looking at me intently, her expression bearing great concern. My gaze slowly met hers.

"You saved my life, Renaiya," I answered. " I wouldn't be here right now, were it not for you. If that isn't a good reason to trust someone, I don't know what is. I never said I was incapable of trust, I just don't give it out freely. My trust is something that needs to be earned, and you've done that several times over. I would never have accompanied you all this way if I didn't trust you."

I could see the woman's smile that was brighter than even the campfire.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that, Sargoth," she said.

"I grew up in Bravil, in Cyrodiil," I said. "And yes, it is as much of a shithole as you've probably heard. My mother raised me by herself in that sorry excuse for a city, full of vile, disgusting vermin, and I'm not referring to the rats."

"Doesn't sound very pleasant," said Ren.

"It wasn't. I grew up poor, and destitute. My mother did absolutely whatever it took to ensure I never wanted for anything. Anything that allowed us to keep a roof over our heads, and have food on the table."

"Mother never had anything valuable to sell for money," I continued. "Well, that is, save for herself. You can bet by all the gods I would've given anything for us to be able to live in a nice, big castle, like you did. My mother and I might not have had much, but we had each other. And to me, that was worth more than all the gold in the world."

There was a short air of silence between the two of us as the fire continued to crackle softly.

"Sargoth, I…I'm sorry you went through that," said Renaiya. "Hearing you say all this…it certainly puts all my problems in perspective. Growing up in a wealthy family, there are so many things that I just took for granted. It is difficult for me to imagine any other kind of upbringing, I'll admit, but hearing your story reminds me that there are so many in this world who are severely less fortunate. It almost makes me wonder how the rich and powerful can sleep at night, knowing just how many people struggle day after day for even the smallest scrap of food. It can't be easy, being forced to live a life of poverty. It certainly isn't fair."

"Believe it or not," said Ren, "I would've traded away my comfortable childhood, my wealthy upbringing, just to have a loving relationship with my mother, like you did with yours. Sure, growing up with money is nice, but when your own mother actively discourages you and sees you as little more than an unwanted nuisance, money becomes quite meaningless. Just once in my life, I would've liked to hear her say that she loved me. You might not have grown up with much, Sargoth, but you did have one thing I never did, and I envy you immensely for it."

"Growing up as I did, over the years," I said, "I began to harbor a deep resentment for the nobility. People like my mother and me struggled every day just to survive, all the while the rich and wealthy live like gods in their castles and manors, scoffing at the rest of us from their thrones of gold and jewels, stuffing their faces until they're fat enough to crush a mammoth. Over time, I began to realize that oppression and exploitation were the cornerstones to our society. I saw that the rich profited directly from the labor of the poor and desperate. Whether it be toiling the fields, digging the mines, or cleaning the piss and shit from chamber pots, I began to see that the common folk were the ones who truly kept society together and running. It is from the blood and sweat from common, ordinary men and women that allows life as we know it to continue to thrive."

"And yet, what do they have to show for it?" I continued. "What do the vast majority of commoners and peasants have to show for their tedious, bone-breaking efforts? Nothing, because of fat, greedy pigs who reap all the rewards from the hard work of others, who stuff their cunts with gold as people all around them lay starving, dying. We have a very simple system in place, in every inch of the world. A system that serves but one purpose, and one purpose only, for the rich to get richer, and the poor to stay poor."

"That is why I took up thievery, back when I was still barely a child. At first, my reasons for stealing were merely for survival. But as I continued to steal, as I got better at it, I began to find that I was actually enjoying it, because, in a way, I felt like I was fighting back against that system. Stealing from the powerful made me feel powerful, I guess you could say. At this point, larceny has become such a vital part of my life that I don't even know anything else."

Renaiya was still watching me intently at every word I said. From what I could see, her expression bore no sign of judgement or contempt, but only of understanding and sympathy.

"Apologies, I didn't mean to go off like that," I said. "When you've lived a life like mine, you can't help but be disillusioned and angry with the world."

"It's alright, Sargoth," said Ren, gently. "You did what you had to in order to survive. I'm glad you told me all this. Your story has helped me to better understand the plight of the less fortunate. It's a shame that so many people such as yourself are forced to a life of crime, just to avoid starvation. I won't say I approve or encourage such actions, but I at least understand why you do it, all the same."

That was far from the worst reaction I could've received.

"So where exactly is this Duskshade Hollow, anyhow?" I asked, looking for any excuse to change the subject. "How far have we yet to travel?"

"Duskshade Hollow lies in Reaper's March, at the northeastern corner of Valenwood," Ren replied. "Not terribly far from the border of Elsweyr, actually. The cave is said to be housed deep within the thick jungles, and apparently it can be easy to miss, but I'm confident we will have no trouble finding it. I'd like to stop at a village or two along the way, and hopefully found out a little more about it first. I'd like to know exactly what we'll be heading into."

"That's a wise idea," I agreed. "The more we know beforehand, the fewer surprises we'll run into later. It never hurts to be too prepared."

Gazing outside, I deduced it had to be just barely short of midnight. The breeze died down significantly. The entirety of the cove we were in was filled with the soothing warmth of the campfire. I could hear the whirring of crickets in the distance, across the river bathed in silver moonlight. The faint rustling of leaves shifting in the breeze helped calm my spirits as I basked in the peace of the night.

Renaiya let out a yawn, giving her arms a long stretch.

"You should sleep," I said. "I'll stay up for a bit and keep watch."

"We certainly had a long day today," said Ren, "and we traveled a great distance. By my guess, I'd say we still have perhaps a week until we reach our destination."

"How early do you want to head out tomorrow?" I asked.

"I was thinking we'd sleep in tomorrow," answered Ren. "I'd say we've earned it, considering the progress we've made."

"Sounds good to me." I poked at the fire with a small stick for a few seconds, trying to keep it from dying just yet.

Renaiya grabbed her bedroll from her satchel, spreading it out flat a short distance from the fire. She then crawled inside, wrapping the blankets tightly over her. Once snug underneath the blankets, she stripped to her undergarments, setting her clothes just beside her.

"Hey, Sargoth," she said, propping her head up to face me.

"Yeah."

"I'm really glad you're here with me," said Ren, with a smile.

"I'm glad to be here, Ren," I said. "Sleep well."

The light snoring I heard only minutes later indicated the woman was fully asleep. I removed my leathers before setting up my own spot to sleep. I made my spot closer to the entrance of the cove so I could feel the cool breeze, but also in case if something, or someone were to come along during the night, the sound would hopefully wake me up.

Once I was comfortable beneath my own blankets, I dug out my pipe for a much needed smoke. I lay on my side, staring out into the blackness of the night as the haze of the smoke filled my eyes. My vision grew dim as my body grew lighter. My thoughts dissipated like clouds within my mind. The echoes that carried through the night lulled me into a state of ease and serenity. My eyes shut, and sleep took me.