Hey, long time no update. Sorry about that. End of the school year, and with it exams. Thanks to my mum every spare moment was taken up by study. Whenever she caught me doing something that wasn't study (Watching Naruto, writing, updating, surfing the net, study that didn't look like study)... Let's just say it would have been enough to give me a headache, if I listened. It was easier to just study. Probably was a better idea too... Anyway, school finished over a week ago. I would have updated but my friend and I went to see Catching Fire (Good movie), then I was away on holidays with my dad. I didn't forget, just didn't get a chance. We're going away again for a week tomorrow but I probably will have internet just not all the time.
In my opinion, this is a good chapter. Read and review, which I shouldn't have to tell you to do by now.
"We need to discuss something." Kodlak announced. The Circle stopped talking and immediately payed attention.
Aela pointed over her shoulder to where Echo was playing with two stones, "She's listening."
"The rest of the Companions will find out soon enough. This is not strictly Circle business." Kodlak said. The sound of stone clicking on stone quietened.
"A scholar thinks he has found another fragment of Wuuthrad. He will be paying us a visit in three days time. If his information proves to be true, we are honour-bound to retrieve it. Echo." Kodlak called.
Echo leaned on the chair next to Aela, "Yeah?"
"I need your word that you won't tell anyone what we are about to discuss. Do I have it?" Kodlak said.
Echo shrugged, "Sure. I won't tell." She sat down in her usual feet-on-chair way.
"I think it time for Hakon's trial. While he has only been here for a short time, he has proven himself to be loyal, brave, honourable and skilled with a blade. Do you have any objections?" Skjor said. No one said anything. "Then it is decided. Who will be his shield-sibling?"
Farkas raised a hand and nodded once. "I will."
"Very well. Farkas shall be Hakon's shield-brother for this venture." Kodlak said with a sense of finality.
Echo went back to playing with her stones and the Circle talked among themselves. Kodlak retired for the night and a game of man or milk-drinker began.
"Echo, aren't you tired yet?" Farkas asked.
"No. Why would I be?" She said.
"It's passed midnight. Usually you're asleep or tired by now."
"Midnight? I feel like I only just got up." Echo twisted a dagger in her hand absently. Farkas looked back at the Circle. He looked over at Aela but she just shrugged.
"Tiaan, would you please take your hands out of the fire. You're making me nervous." Vilkas said.
Tiaan grumbled under her breath and pulled her hands from the fire. Flames flickered around her fingers. She smiled mockingly up at Vilkas who shivered. Tiaan put her hands back in the fire up to her elbows. She still tired quickly, but she was regaining a little more strength every day. On the down side, she was almost constantly in a worse mood than usual and always looking for an excuse to fight with someone. If there was a fight going on you could bet Tiaan wasn't far away. Not even mead and ale had any effect on her mood. Fire and violence seemed to be the only things able to cheer her up.
"Not scared of a little fire are we, Vilkas? The big, brave Nord is afraid of tiny little flames. How sweet." Tiaan said sarcastically. It was the first time she had spoken all night, other than to threaten Lief, Ria and Echo, who had wisely taken their jokes elsewhere. Now Echo could feel the tension building again. She shot one glance at Aela before slipping quietly out of the mead hall.
"Of all the dark elves I have ever met, you, Tiaan, are the strangest. You Dunmer are resistant to fire, not immune. I have never met a Dunmer that could leave his or her hands in a fire for hours and not feel any discomfort." Skjor said.
"I know. I'm an oddity." She sneered.
"And you feel no pain or discomfort?"
Tiaan shrugged, "It tickles a bit."
"The big, strong Dunmer is ticklish. How sweet." Vilkas said, doing his best to mimic Tiaan's voice.
Tiaan turned her fiery glare on him.
"Ha ha. Very funny, Vilkas." she snapped.
"You say you're ticklish but it's unproven. Maybe we should test it out." Vilkas said thoughtfully.
"You try," Tiaan pulled her hand from the fire. A fireball burned in her fingers, "and this goes somewhere very unpleasant."
"There's your answer." Farkas snickered.
A second fireball ignited in her other hand. "This one has your name all over it, Farkas."
"I was just joking around." Farkas quickly.
"In case you didn't notice, I'm not."
Vilkas opened his mouth to retort and Tiaan snapped, "If the message wasn't clear, shut the fuck up." She let the fireballs die out and her shoulders sagged.
"Why do you keep doing that if it exhausts you?" Farkas asked.
"And I have an answer to everything?" Tiaan spat.
"Watch it, Tiaan." Skjor warned.
"Bite me." She snapped
"I said, watch it." Skjor growled, standing up.
Tiaan just watched him indifferently. "So you're the boss?"
"I am the alpha of this pack. Unless you want to challenge me, be careful." Skjor warned.
"Yeah, whatever."
"If you don't recognise me as the Alpha, then who is your Alpha, Tiaan? Every pack has an Alpha. Who do you recognise? Who is your pack Tiaan?"
Tiaan stood up slowly, "No one."
"No wolf can walk alone. You have a pack. Who is your Alpha?" Skjor growled.
Tiaan let out a sharp laugh of derision. "I told you. No one."
"Only lone wolves have no pack." Skjor said evenly, but not even Farkas could miss the threatening note in his voice.
Tiaan smiled coldly and sat down again. She stared at Skjor, until her unnerving fiery blood red eyes forced him to look away.
"Then I'm a lone wolf." She murmured.
Vilkas, Tiaan and Echo were standing outside the mead hall waiting for the scholar Kodlak had told them about.
Vilkas stood straight and proud, armour polished and neat, as he scanned the markets for anyone new. Tiaan leaned against the wall beside him with one leg crossed over the other and looking a lot less forgiving than Vilkas in her worn sleeveless Guild armour. She was impatiently tossing a dagger and catching it in two fingers by the blade. The scarred flesh of her arms rippled as the lithe muscles beneath flexed and stretched. The woman was only still around because Kodlak had practically ordered her not to go anywhere on pain of serve punishment. Tiaan had tried to go back to the living quarters but Kodlak had given her the same ultimatum. Tiaan had then turned to go out into the training yard, to the same result. Echo was sitting on the edge of the roof kicking her legs and watching Tiaan's blade.
A pale, sweating man climbed the steps towards them. Vilkas tried not to appear too forbidding while Tiaan did the exact opposite and kept her usual look of irritation in place. She flicked the knife around her finger once before tossing it again.
Show off! Echo thought with annoyance.
The scholar hadn't noticed her. He was nervously eyeing Tiaan and Vilkas. Tiaan tossed the blade again and Echo snatched it out of the air but Tiaan grabbed her wrist and squeezed a nerve, forcing Echo to drop the blade. She caught the knife, twirled it through her fingers, and sheathed it. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked with contempt while Vilkas tried to look a little more welcoming. Echo just watched with bored curiosity.
"Doesn't look like much to me." Tiaan sneered.
"Tiaan, remember what Kodlak said." Vilkas murmured from the corner of his mouth.
"I-I can a-assure you, I h-have found a piece." The man stuttered.
"The Harbinger is waiting inside. What did you say your name was?" Vilkas asked.
"D-Daris, at your service. Is m-my associate here yet?" The man asked.
"There are more of you?" Vilkas inquired.
Tiaan muttered something about milk-drinkers making it hard to breathe. Daris glanced at her nervously. Tiaan just tossed her dagger and balanced the point on her finger tip. Vilkas shot her a glance.
Such a show off! Echo thought.
"Y-y-yes. My c-colleague was s-supposed to meet me h-here." Daris said.
"I'm sure he'll be along shortly. Tiaan will remain out here to greet him. Come inside, Daris." Vilkas pushed the door open and the scholar went through. Vilkas glared at Tiaan.
"Don't mess this up." He hissed.
"I won't." Tiaan snapped as he went inside. Echo slipped in after him.
Kodlak, Farkas, Vignar and Aela were already seated inside. Echo slid into a seat beside the Huntress. Kijora was sitting in a corner with the hounds at her feet, having just returned from a hunt.
"You must be Daris. Kodlak Whitemane, the Harbinger. Please, take a seat." Kodlak said. Daris glanced at Echo and sat down. Echo looked at him, head cocked to one side.
"Is it because I'm a Khajiit or because I'm a kid?" She asked.
"B-b-both." He stuttered. Echo snorted and went back to picking at the table.
Aela leaned down and whispered in her ear "Behave, or you can go outside with Tiaan."
Echo nodded. She didn't want to be alone with Tiaan right now. There were better ways to die than anything Tiaan might do to her.
"Shall we begin?" Kodlak said.
"M-my colleague is s-still coming. I w-would much r-rather wait f-for him."
"Understandable." Kodlak nodded.
They didn't have to wait long before Tiaan came in, followed by another man. He was much more confident than Daris. Tiaan sat down and snatched a tankard from Farkas with the skill and grace of a master pickpocket. Farkas scowled at her. Tiaan smirked and took a long gulp to rub it in.
"Sorry I was late, Daris. My name, is-"
"Galund!" Kijora screamed, "You dick-headed, pig-faced, son of a bitch!"
"Kijora, I had heard you and Hakon were around these parts, but I did not expect to find you here, of all places. I would have thought the Companions too honourable for you." Galund said with calm indifference.
Kijora stormed up to Galund. The hounds stood behind her, hackles raised and teeth bared.
"What are you doing here?" Kijora spat.
"I could ask the same of you, little sister." Galund said pleasantly, as if he wasn't about to be eaten alive.
"You are not my brother! What in Oblivion are you doing here?"
"I have come with my colleague, Daris, to inform the Companions of the fragment of Wuuthrad we have located." Galund said smugly.
"Really?" Kijora turned to Daris, "Daris, I must apologise, but you will have to give the Companions your information alone, because Galund will not be staying any longer. He will make himself scarce before I throw something bigger than a rusty dagger at him. Something like..." Kijora trailed off, staring pointedly at Galund, "An axe maybe? A sharp axe. Like this one." She pulled a war-axe from her belt. Galund turned on his heel and ran.
"Wimp." Kijora muttered. She sheathed her axe and went back to her corner.
"I am sorry for that interruption. Please, continue. Kijora, get out." Vilkas ordered.
Kijora obeyed with a smirk, fingering her axe and sword
"That's too bad. I liked him." Tiaan said with a sneer.
"Tiaan." Kodlak warned.
"Yeah, fine." Tiaan grumbled and drained the tankard she was holding. She took the new one Farkas held and swapped it for the empty one. Farkas looked from the empty tankard in his hand to the one Tiaan held in confusion.
"Just give up. We all know thinking isn't your strong suit." She whispered. Farkas punched her and Tiaan took it without flinching, but Echo didn't miss the slight intake of breath and fleeting narrowing eyes. Tiaan punched Farkas back in the arm. To his credit, Farkas didn't even blink.
"Enough. Tiaan, I will speak to you later." Kodlak said sternly.
"Whatever." Tiaan sighed.
Farkas flinched and Tiaan smirked up at him.
"G-G-Galund and I believe we have l-located a f-fragment of the axe W-Wuuthrad at D-Dustman's Cairn from this information..." Galund pulled a book from his satchel. Echo knelt up in her chair and leaned across the table to see better. Daris began to read parts of the text. Echo listened with curious interest. When Daris finished, he passed the journal around.
"Aela, what is Wuuthrad? You mentioned it once in the story you told me and Lief the other day, but never said why it's so special. It's just an axe. What's so important about it?" Echo asked.
"Just an axe?" Vilkas said incredulously, "Aela, please explain to her the importance of Wuuthrad."
"Wuuthrad was Ysgramor's legendary axe. With it, he killed a great many elves. Ysgramor was the first leader of the Companions. The axe was broken when Ysgramor was killed. Never before in history have we had more than a few fragments. We find them, and then they are stolen from us, we find them again, and they are taken again. It's happened many times over the centuries. We currently have none." Aela explained.
Daris continued. The book came to Aela and she skimmed through it. Echo read parts of it, picking out the words she knew.
"Can you read it?" Aela asked in a whisper.
"Some of it. Some of the words are too big." Echo whispered back.
"We need to start your reading lessons again. How would you like that?"
Echo nodded happily and kept listening to Daris.
When Hakon arrived back from his job, he was livid. His face was bright red when he stormed into the mead hall.
"What's got you in such a rage, whelp?" Tiaan said, inspecting her nails.
"Tiaan, don't try to anger me any further right now, or it will turn out very bad for you." Hakon threatened.
Tiaan drained her tankard and stood up smirking. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Was that a threat, Hakon Stormcloak? Is a whelp threatening a member of the Circle? Do you really want to know how I respond to threats like that?" Tiaan said, reaching into the fire. A rope of flames slithered up her arm and curled around her fingers. She flicked her wrist and the flames converged into a fireball.
"With magic? Isn't that what the Companions call cowardice?" Hakon scoffed.
Tiaan snorted and threw the fireball into the fire.
"No. I just like playing with fire. Fire, it's unpredictable, dangerous and uncontrollable. Like me." Tiaan said with a feral smile.
"I was not threatening you. I am sorry for my behaviour." Hakon apologised.
Tiaan muttered something very rude and very insulting. "So, back to my first question. What's got you so pissed off?"
"A thief broke into my house when no one was home. I came into the bedroom just as the thief was trying to unlock the window to get out. She never succeeded. There was a pile of broken picks at her feet. I caught her and turned her over to the city guard. She was no more than a common criminal, definitely not a master burglar." Hakon said.
"Was she from the Thieves Guild?"
"No, she didn't wear the armour, just old rags. Her dagger was a rusty old piece of kitchen cutlery." Hakon said disdainfully. Tiaan nodded.
"Sounds like a pretty shitty thief."
"I know. Do you have any work?"
"Skjor was looking for you. He's probably got something for you. He's down in the living quarters. If you see Ria, Torvar, Lief and Echo, tell them I want to give them a beating, especially Echo and Lief. The little gits obviously don't know what happens when you mess with me." Tiaan growled.
"What did the poor things do?"
"Replaced my mead with what is probably piss. Skeever piss most likely." Tiaan sniffed, "Or maybe dog."
"You'll probably want my sister too. Dog urine is her speciality. I'm surprised you can smell it. She's a master at that kind of thing."
"It wasn't Kijora. It stinks like a rotting skeever carcass and she hasn't been around all day."
"Really? Where has she been?"
"Some guy called Galund and his friend came by. Galund came in and Kijora yelled at him and threatened to throw an axe at him. He ran off and Vilkas told her to get out. The whole thing was quite funny really. I wouldn't go after her. Kijora is more than capable of looking after herself. Skjor wants you and if you run off, he won't be happy either." Tiaan warned.
"It's not Kijora I'm worried about." Hakon muttered and went to find Skjor.
Tiaan snickered. She looked around the mead hall. The shadows shifted in one spot.
"Echo! Get over here, you little brat!" Tiaan yelled.
"Crap! Run!" Echo shouted over her shoulder. She bolted for the door. Lief ran out of the shadows on the other side of the door and Ria and Torvar ran from the living quarters. Tiaan muttered a spell and threw a ball of light at Ria and Torvar. It hit Torvar on the leg and he stopped, his feet frozen in place. Ria yelped and sprinted out the door.
"Putting piss in my mead? That's not very nice." Tiaan growled.
"I just caught them switching the mead! I didn't know it was you they trying to trick! They threatened to put skeever droppings in my bed if I told! Please don't hurt me." Torvar begged.
"Fool. The kitten would never go near a skeever. Where are they going?"
"They never said! Lief even had the droppings with him!"
"Next time, I suggest you don't take part in any scheme engineered by that kitten."
"What?" Torvar said in surprise, "It wasn't Echo's idea. It was Lief's. He got Echo and Ria to watch his back."
"Oh really? Now this is an interesting development. Maybe I won't leave you there. You'll find the spell wore off thirty seconds ago."
"Aren't you wearing your wolf armour?" Vilkas said.
"You of all people know how much I hate the wolf armour, Vilkas. It's too heavy and bulky and I can't move my arms. I don't know how you and Skjor don't cook in it." Aela complained.
"Kodlak insists on the formality. It's only for ten minutes."
"By the time I get it on, we wait for Hakon and Farkas to come back, then Kodlak makes him a Companion and I finally get it off, it will have been over an hour."
"Aela, put you wolf armour on." Vilkas said firmly.
Aela folded her arms across her chest, "Vilkas, that may have worked when I was fourteen, but not any more."
"I'd say more like ten," He muttered, "You're not going wear it, are you?"
Aela shook her head slowly, "No."
"You're hopeless." Vilkas sighed.
"Just stubborn." Aela corrected.
Vilkas muttered something.
"What?" Aela said suspiciously.
"Nothing." Vilkas said.
"Sure... Now go tell Kodlak. I'll have this argument with him again, just as I have many times before."
"I was going to tell Skjor, but I can tell both of them if you want." Vilkas said.
Aela gave him the finger and stalked out into the training yard. Tiaan was throwing knives at a target. She was outfitted in her usual leather armour.
"You not wearing the wolf armour either?" Aela asked.
"Does it look I am? Kodlak, Skjor and Vilkas can go to Oblivion for all I care. You try wearing that heavy steel amour with a thousand cuts and bruises to pick from." Tiaan growled.
"That makes two of us with cuts and bruises." Aela watched Tiaan's knives hit the target. None were in the centre and the grouping was wider and more irregular than usual. Even if Tiaan had been aiming for where she was hitting, her body gave her frustration away. Her face was set in the same scowl it always was but every time a knife thudded into the target her hands tensed slightly.
"Kay really did a number on you, didn't she?"
"What gave it away? The knives, the fact that even the smallest of spells leave me weak and barely able to stand or because I can hardly walk without limping or pick up anything heavier than a sword? The little bitch is still too quick. I'll get her some day." Tiaan hissed.
"As long as I'm there to watch."
"No promises. If I see her, I will kill her." Tiaan said calmly. Aela shivered.
"Why do you keep going at Skjor? Saying you won't fight him yet. One day he will take your challenge."
"He's not my Alpha. I wasn't with the pack when he took Kodlak's place. He hasn't proven himself to me yet. If Skjor is the Alpha, he needs to stop backing down from my challenges. I'm not sure why he hasn't taken yours yet, either. I've seen the way you glare at him. Kay said I charge blindly into fights, even if I can't win. Not true. I know I can't beat Skjor the way I am." Tiaan said. Someone came out into the training yard.
"Ah crap..." She grumbled when she saw Tiaan. Then she saw Aela. "Wait. You and Tiaan are in the same place, alone, and having a conversation. That's gotta be a first."
"Echo! Where is Lief? I want a word with him." Tiaan said.
"It's only me. Ria and Lief went on a job." Echo said.
"And I'm the guild master of the Thieves Guild."
"Really? I'll be sure to tell the boss that."
"You little rat! Where is Lief? I know it wasn't you or Ria that switched the mead."
"Who told..." Echo's eyes narrowed, "Torvar!"
"Yes, it was Torvar. The fool believed Lief really did have skeever shit with him. I told him it was dog turd."
"It was skeever crap."
"Again, I'm the Guild master."
"No you're not, it was skeever crap, it was Lief's idea, Ria and I had nothing better to do and Torvar is going see what happens when you cross Lief. Trust me, I'm telling the truth."
"And that's the problem. I don't trust you. Where is Lief?"
"Lief is not a person you want to cross. He was dead serious about the crap. If he wasn't, I would happily tell you where he is, if I knew, which I don't. If I did, I would still be with them." Echo said.
"Get out of the way." Tiaan snapped and stormed past. Echo shrugged.
"Hakon and Farkas are nearly back."
"Where are they?" Aela asked.
"We were up on the wall. They're on the road and should be back soon. Lief and Ria didn't believe me, even when I told them I have Khajiit eyes because I'm a Khajiit. Seems to be happening a lot today."
"Go tell Vilkas and Kodlak."
"Already told them. Aela, can I ask you something?" Echo said.
"Sure."
"Does something feel... I dunno... not right, out of place?" Echo said.
"No. Everything feels normal. Why? What's wrong?"
"I dunno. Something just doesn't feel quite right. I only just felt it when we were up on the wall."
"Maybe something happened to Hakon and Farkas." Aela suggested.
"No. It's not them. It's something..." Echo struggled to find the right word, "bigger."
Aela sighed in relief. No ill had befallen the two Companions.
"Echo, I have something I want to ask you." Aela began. Echo cocked her head to the side, listening. She reminded Aela of a bird whenever she did that.
"I'm all ears." Echo said with a shrug.
"Do you think... Oh, never mind. You wouldn't understand anyway."
"Okay. If I wouldn't understand, I'm probably better off not knowing." Echo said.
"Farkas was right. You are confusing." Aela laughed.
Echo just blinked. Her ears twitched and rotated, trying to catch a sound. Aela shivered. It was unnerving when Echo's ears were the only part of her moving.
"They're back." She said as Kodlak, Vilkas and Tiaan came outside. Vilkas was glaring at Tiaan, who glared back.
"Echo, go inside and join the rest of the whelps." Kodlak said. Echo nodded and was about to close the heavy double doors when Tiaan called her name.
"Tell Ria and Lief I want to give them a beating. I know they're inside." Tiaan said and cracked her knuckles. Echo shut the door and blinked as her eyes quickly adjusted to the darker lighting.
She spotted Lief and Ria and hurried over to them.
"Tiaan wants to beat you up. She didn't believe me when I told her you two went out on a job. Torvar snitched. Tiaan said he was a fool for believing you really did have skeever droppings. He also told her it was your idea and we were just watching your back. When she tried to find out where you were, I didn't tell her. I couldn't have, I didn't even know. I didn't tell her anything she didn't already know. She got most of it from Torvar already. The only new information I gave her is you aren't a person to cross."
"Correct. Back in Valenwood, I spent some time with a group of thieves called the Silver Crescents. People learnt I was not a person to cross very quickly." Lief said darkly.
"The Silver Crescents..." Echo murmured.
"That's what I said." Lief said ominously. Echo shivered.
"Do you have a brother?" She asked.
"No. I was an only child. We were wealthy enough. My parents owned a small shipping company. It was very successful, but as a result they hardly spent any time at home. I had all sorts of... escapades in their absence."
Echo nodded. Ria began to say something but it was drowned out as the rest of the whelps began to cheer as Hakon came into the mead hall. Lief and Ria went to congratulate him. Echo shrugged and sat on the railing beside the steps. Aela joined her, leaning against the rail, massaging her shoulder. She had recently removed the bandage, revealing an ugly red-pink gash. The stitches had been taken out but it was still healing.
"Don't want to get stepped on?"
"Was that an insult?" Echo said.
"No, an honest question. They plan on throwing a party, a big one. It will be noisy and very rowdy by the end of the night. You sticking around?"
Echo shook her head, "I have other things to do. Aela, what I said earlier, about something not being right... It just got worse."
"Echo, don't stay out just because something might happen. Stay with us, have some fun."
"I have things to do. I wasn't lying about that... To hell with it! Those jobs can wait until tomorrow!" Echo said, throwing up her hands and sliding off her perch.
"That's the spirit!" Aela laughed, clapping her on the shoulder.
"Where's the mead?" Tiaan yelled.
"Tiaan!" Athis called.
"What?" Tiaan yelled from the other end of the mead hall.
"This party is getting boring! We need a trick." Athis said. Tiaan grinned.
"Entertainment coming right up!" She said and jumped over the fire onto the table. She pulled out a knife and threw it up in the air with her left hand and caught it with her right. She repeated the trick, tossing the knife from hand to hand.
"This'll be good." Aela said to Echo over the noise.
"You call that entertainment? Even I could do it with my eyes closed!" Hakon said. The Companions cheered in agreement, Echo with them.
Tiaan rolled her eyes, clapped once while the blade was in the air, and kept juggling.
"Easy!" Kijora said. This time Tiaan clapped twice. No one was impressed. Tiaan shrugged, clapped thrice, and suddenly she was tossing two knives. Echo stood on the rail for a better view.
"Careful." Aela said as she wobbled.
"I'll be fine!" Echo retorted. A blur of grey and Tiaan was tossing three knives.
"Not bad, but can you do four?" Gormlaith said. Kijora had dragged her sister over from the Bannered Mare.
"Oh please," Tiaan yelled, "don't insult me!" She quickly pulled out two more knives from the sash across her chest.
"You can juggle, but can you catch?" Vilkas said.
"Really, Vilkas?" Aela muttered.
"What do you mean?" Echo said.
"We've seen Tiaan do this hundreds of times. times. Vilkas knows she can catch a knife and juggle it."
"Of course I can catch! The question is, can you throw?" Tiaan called back.
"Let's test it out then!" Vilkas said.
Tiaan threw one of her knives to Vilkas. It landed on the table in front of him. The knife didn't even scratch the wood. Vilkas picked up the knife.
"Ready?" Vilkas said as he readied the blade.
"Throw!" Tiaan ordered.
Vilkas threw the knife. Even though the throw was bad, Tiaan easily caught the blade and continued to juggle. Her hand blurred has she pulled another knife from her sash. Everyone cheered. Tiaan threw the knives high up in the air. As they tumbled down, she caught each one and sheathed it in one smooth, liquid action. The Companions clapped and cheered. Echo winced at the assault on her sensitive ears. Tiaan stood panting on the table, drenched in sweat as she grinned and absorbed the praise.
"How about a few more tricks?" Someone called. Tiaan groaned only half-jokingly.
"So soon? Give me a break! I need something to drink." Tiaan said and jumped across the fire. Skjor handed her the tankard she had been using, clapping her on the back.
"Strange," Echo muttered, "Tiaan was never this relaxed in Riften. I only ever heard her laugh once because she was happy."
"Was she drunk?" Aela asked.
Echo shook her head, "Completely sober."
"Strange indeed." Aela said as Farkas came to join them.
"Did you enjoy Tiaan's little knife trick?" He asked Echo. Even standing on the rail as she was, Farkas towered over her. Echo nodded vigorously.
"You just wait until she throws a coin in the air and hits it with a knife."
"What else does she do?" Echo asked.
"Tumbles, handstands, ... You name it, Tiaan does it."
"Really..." Echo said thoughtfully.
"What are you planning?" Aela asked suspiciously.
"Nothing!" Echo said innocently.
"Often Njada allows anyone who wishes to defeat her in a brawl try. No one ever succeeds."
"Aela, you know that'a not true." Vignar said behind them. "The twins have beaten Njada before, Skjor has done it, Tiaan has her lying in the dust with both arms twisted behind her head before anyone can blink and you are more than an equal opponent for her too. That's hardly unbeatable."
"True. Farkas shows off his strength and Vilkas and Kodlak have a game of riddles. Occasionally I show off with a bow. Not tonight though. My shoulder is killing me." Aela complained.
"What happened?" Farkas asked in concern.
"The knife and the fact that I need a new bowstring after I nearly snapped this one. It's hanging on by a thread. I'll have to go to the Drunken Huntsman in the morning."
"Can you do anything special?" Farkas asked.
"Not a lot. Most of my talents aren't exactly things I can show anyone..." Echo said. She tried to think of anything she could do without arousing questions but nothing came to mind.
"Echo. You can do lots of things. You're fast and a brilliant climber and jumper." Aela said, punching Echo in the arm lightly.
"Whatever." Echo mumbled.
"And here go Athis and Njada." Farkas said as they both drew their blades. Echo watched on in curious fascination. Aela watched the girl, a small smile playing across her face.
"She's a lot like you were." Farkas whispered in her ear. Aela brought her foot down on his toe, to no effect.
"Step harder if you want to do that again." Farkas said.
"How is she at all like me?" Aela demanded.
"She's curious and equally as fascinated by small things as larger ones. Just being around people she feels comfortable with makes her happy. She's only watching, but she is enjoying it as much as if she was in the midst of everything." Farkas whispered. Aela nodded.
"I know what you mean, but I still don't see how I was anything like her." Aela whispered back. Echo didn't seem to hear. She was too engrossed in the mock fight.
Tiaan joined them after a while.
"It would appear you lot don't attract much attention over here. Mind if I join you?" She said.
"Just don't kill anyone." Aela grumbled.
"Aela, I'm trying not to attract attention. You doing anything?" Tiaan said.
"Not tonight. My shoulder is killing me. I nearly snapped my bowstring. It's hanging on by a thread. My bow unstrung itself in the process.
"I've done that a few times, and it does hurt. I don't know how much longer I can keep evading requests for my skills. I still can't breathe properly. The knife throwing is already taking its toll." Tiaan said. She cracked her knuckles absently.
"How many knives can you juggle at once?" Echo asked.
"Over ten, if I can be bothered. You planning on showing off your skills?"
"Maybe. Does this always happen when a whelp becomes a Companion?" Echo asked.
"Often. This lot just like an excuse to make some noise, drink and show off. A whelp passing their trial, new Circle member, new Harbinger, they have a party," Tiaan leaned closer and whispered, "It's not unlike the Guild, just more show offs. Although... the Guild does have a few idiots."
Echo giggled. "What? Like you?"
"Tiaan! Show us more of your tricks!" Athis yelled. Torvar backed him up by banging his tankard on the table.
"Give someone else a turn!" Tiaan yelled back.
"Who else can do anything as amazing as you?" Torvar called.
"I heard the sarcasm in that statement, Torvar. I already found you a volunteer anyway."
"Who?" Athis asked in surprise. Echo sat up straight, curious. She yelped as someone hit her between the shoulders, pushing her from her perch. She stumbled forward a step.
"Echo." Tiaan yelled triumphantly. She smirked.
"I did not volunteer!" Echo protested.
"Next time don't piss me off." Tiaan hissed and pushed her forward. Echo twisted around and grabbed Tiaan's wrist. Tiaan shook her head, flicked her wrist and twisted Echo's arm. The mead hall went silent.
"Watching your mouth helps." Tiaan warned. She released Echo and turned to Torvar.
"That goes-" Tiaan snarled as something hit her arm. She turned around and found Echo standing behind her, claws unsheathed. Something wet and warm trickled down her arm. Tiaan looked at the cut and shrugged. Echo glared at her.
"Do you really want to do that?" Tiaan hissed.
Echo's hands quivered and her tail twitched.
There was a sharp intake of breath from behind them. Echo looked up at Aela, who shook her head.
"You want to try, whelp?" Tiaan goaded.
Echo gave Tiaan the finger. She turned to the rest of the mead hall and bowed.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you piss Tiaan off." She hopped back onto her seat beside Aela and poked her tongue out at Tiaan. Aela smacked her over the back of the head.
"What was that for?" Echo snapped.
"Watch it." The Huntress warned.
"Next time I won't hesitate to beat the crap out of you." Tiaan said with a smirk. Tiaan jerked as Aela punched her arm. Tiaan glared at her.
"And lucky for you, I'm not in the mood to deliver a full beating." Tiaan said and punched Aela back. Aela rubbed her arm.
"Hit my bad shoulder, why don't you?" Aela growled.
"Serves you right for hitting a bruise." Tiaan said indifferently. Aela gave her the finger and got the same back.
"You're both as bad as each other." Aela grumbled. Echo burst into a fit of laughter.
"Says you, who's not much better!" She giggled.
"I sincerely hope not." Tiaan said with a snort. She tried to keep her scowl fixed in place but a quiet laugh escaped.
"Agh..." Tiaan groaned as she rolled onto her back. She sat up, back, arm and shoulder muscles protesting against every movement.
"Sore?" Vilkas said as he waked passed.
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" Tiaan grumbled, "Of course I'm sore, you idiot! That knife throwing really hurt."
"I'm surprised. Usually you throw twice as many knives much faster and for longer and come away fine."
"Blame Kay." Tiaan spat as she stood up. She stretched with a groan. "You know that feeling you get the morning after you complete the fastest change of your life?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Multiply it by ten and you might begin to know how I feel right now."
"Remember when we used to have competitions to see who could change the quickest? I think you may have completed the fastest change of all of us." Vilkas admitted.
"May have?" Tiaan said incredulously, "Vilkas, exactly two and a half seconds and I was a wolf. Without passing out."
"How were you coherent enough to know it was two and a half seconds exactly?"
"Trust me Vilkas, I wish I hadn't been." Tiaan said, rubbing her chest at the memory of that terrible pain of her heart and lungs expanding, pushing against bone and tearing muscle. The next moment her ribcage had begun to crack and reform, then her legs, arms and skull. All transformations were painful. The faster you changed, the more it hurt. Changing in anything under fifteen seconds was dangerous. Ten seconds was just pure stupidity. Two and a half? It was unheard of.
"It's a wonder you didn't pass out and nothing worse than your old wounds reopening happened."
"Vilkas," Tiaan said, her usual short temperedness returning, "I'm sober and not overly happy, and you're blocking the doorway." Tiaan pulled a small bottle from her pocket and down the contents in one gulp.
"Is that skooma?" Vilkas asked suspiciously.
"No." Tiaan snapped and handed Vilkas the now empty bottle.
He sniffed it and made a face. "Definitely not skooma. What is it?"
Tiaan snatched the bottle back and crushed it in her fist.
"Piss off." Tiaan growled and pushed Vilkas aside.
"Echo! I have a job for you." Farkas called.
"I'm listening!" Echo called back from the other end of the mead hall.
"How would you like to sort out a dispute?"
"Still listening." Echo said, moving closer.
"It's a Whiterun guard who has been pushing his weight around with the other guards. He's smarter than the last two, so that trick won't work. From what I know, the only thing that gets through to this one is a good, hard hit. Torvar can go with you in case things get out of hand. Other than that, this is your job. You up for it?"
"Hell yes! Hey, Torvar! We've got a dispute to sort out! Who am I beating up?"
Farkas gave them the details and Echo ran out into the city, Torvar yelling for her to slow down as he tried to keep up.
"That's your target." Torvar said, pointing to a guard standing outside the guardhouse.
Echo nodded, "You stay here. Don't step in unless I am about to get killed, kid-napped, there are more than five guards or I get knocked out. If I do get knocked out, wait ten seconds to make sure I'm not faking." Echo warned and walked forward. She pulled her hood down so it hid her face.
"I hear you've been making a nuisance of yourself, pushing your weight around with the other guards." Echo said casually.
"Who says that? Come out where I can see you!" The guard said.
"Oi! Down here! Stupid." Echo snapped. The guard turned around, caught between surprise and outrage. He laughed when he saw Echo.
"Stop playing tough, kid. Go home." He said.
"No. I've been sent to show you the error of your ways, and that's what I'm gonna do."
"Who are you? The messenger of the Divines?" The guard laughed.
"No, the messenger of another guard you pissed off." Echo said, dropping her casual front.
"Don't waste my time." The guard growled.
"Not man enough to fight me? I'm a Companion, dumbass." Echo said, flicking her tail in anticipation of a fight.
"You're that kid? The wimpy little girl? The one that can't even hold a dagger?"
"No, you must have me confused with someone else. I'm the kid that likes to hit people who say mean things about her. Now, just think, how honourable and brave you would be if you bet a Companion in a brawl. Or are you too chicken? Bock bock bock." Echo said, making chicken wing movements with her arms.
Her comment had the desired effect. The guard punched her. Echo kicked his arm aside and punched him in the side, right where she thought his kidneys should be. The man grunted. Echo kicked again, pushing him to the ground.
"Pathetic. Next time don't piss your fellow guards off." Echo said and turned to Torvar.
"Well done. I couldn't have-" He began but Echo held up a hand to silence him. She looked away from him, listening. She crept towards the guardhouse, slipping behind a barrel. Torvar followed her. Echo held a finger to her lips and peered around the side of the barrel. Two guard were talking, one male, one female.
"...Spotted less than a week's march from Whiterun." The female said. Echo recognised her as Therissa, a frequent guest at the Bannered Mare. Echo didn't know her personally, but she seemed nice enough, at least when she wasn't drunk.
"Who told you that? You know how unreliable the information of drunkards is." Her male companion said.
"It didn't come from the inn. I heard it from the other scouting party, the one that arrived back just over an hour ago." Therissa said.
"Were the scouts certain that they are coming to Whiterun?"
"Definite. Iona was one of the scouts. She saw it with her own eyes."
"How large was the force?"
"They were well concealed. None of the scouts could get a close look, but they said it was over two hundred, more than enough to overwhelm the Whiterun guard. At the pace they were moving, they will reach the city before help can arrive. They had a catapult and everything." The two guards went inside.
Echo looked up at Torvar.
"Did you hear that?" She asked quietly, so as not to be overheard.
"I missed most of it. Did you get any of it?" Torvar asked. Echo repeated the conversation.
"We need to tell the Harbinger about this. This is serious." Torvar said. Echo could tell just how serious it was, just by the tone of
"What does it mean for the Companions? What will we do if- when -Ulfric attacks?" Echo asked as they ran up the street.
"We ignore the conflict unless it comes to Jorrvaskr. We will lock and barricade the doors." Torvar said.
"Not fight?"
"The Companions stay neutral to the political struggles of Skyrim and her people. If it were something like the Great War, we would gladly fight and die for Skyrim."
"Why wouldn't you fight? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! If they kept me out of the battle, that I could understand, but the Companions themselves not fighting? Stupid."
"There was a reason for it. Something happened and the Harbinger at the time said the Companions would remain neutral to all things politics or something like that. Vignar told me, but I don't remember. Ask him or Vilkas about history." Torvar said as they went into the mead hall. Farkas, Tiaan, Kijora, Lief, Ria and Aela were in the mead hall. Tiaan was sitting by herself drinking, as she had been since after dawn. Aela and Farkas were sitting in silence as Aela did something with her bow. Kijora was brooding in a corner, a scowl on her face and Hawk beside her. Ria and Lief had their heads together and were whispering about something. They looked up and Ria waved to Echo. Lief winked and beckoned her over.
"Give me a sec." Echo called.
"Did you do the job?" Farkas asked.
"That guard will think twice before hitting a kid again." Echo said.
Farkas threw them a coin purse each, "Good. Keep up the good work, both of you."
Aela looked up from her work. She watched Echo in concern, "Are you alright Echo? You look as if you've seen a ghost."
Echo looked up at Torvar, "You tell Kodlak." She whispered. Echo slid into the seat next to Aela.
"Are you hurt?" Aela asked.
"No. Neither of us are hurt. The job went fine. I'm not sure I should tell you until Kodlak knows though." Echo said quietly.
"Alright." Aela said. She put a hand on Echo's back comfortingly. Echo shrugged her off but wriggled closer.
It wasn't long before Torvar came up, "Kodlak wants the Circle, Echo, Kijora and I down in his quarters now. He wants Hakon if he's here too."
"Kijora, is Hakon here?" Farkas called.
"No. He's out killing dragons, as usual." Kijora grumbled.
"Kodlak wants to see you now. It's important." Torvar repeated.
Kijora stood up, her usual scowl replaced by impatience. She made her way down to the living quarters.
"Tiaan-" Farkas began.
"I heard. It must be serious if Kodlak is mixing those three pieces of worthless trash in with the Circle. Specifically, those two." Tiaan said, pointing at Echo and Torvar.
Echo snorted indignantly but didn't say anything. She followed Aela and Torvar down to Kodlak's room. Vilkas, Skjor and Kijora were already there.
"Torvar has brought something of grave concern to my attention. He, however, was not the one that first heard it. Echo, please tell us what you heard." Kodlak said.
Echo recounted what had happened outside the guardhouse.
They were all silent as they considered the implications of what was happening. Kijora was the one to break the silence.
"Finally!" She said in satisfaction and punched the air.
"Kijora, I don't see anything to be pleased about." Vilkas said.
"Oh, I'm not pleased that Ulfric is attacking Whiterun. My uncle has stopped talking and launching minor raids on forts and supply caravans and finally decided to take some real action. It could be he just wants to teach me a lesson but I don't think he would attack Whiterun just for that. He has more sense, I think." Kijora added.
"Then why would the Jarl of Windhelm be attacking the city? He hasn't sent any messengers asking Jarl Balgruuf to side with him." Vilkas said.
"You want my brother for that kind of thing. He's the one that could tell you why Ulfric is attacking." Kijora said.
"This is troubling indeed. Do not involve yourselves in these political conflicts. The Companions will, as always, remain neutral. Vilkas, Farkas, Aela, Skjor, Kijora and Tiaan, I wish to talk with you." Kodlak said, dismissing Echo and Torvar.
"Kodlak, I'm not going to be much help here. Like I said, Hakon knows Ulfric better than I do. In my opinion, if you want to know if any messengers really have been sent, then ask the Jarl himself." They heard Kijora saying. They didn't hear Kodlak's answer but Kijora came out behind them.
"Going to find Hakon?" Torvar asked.
"No. Going to talk with the Jarl, then dragon boy. Oi! Calder!" Kijora yelled. Calder looked up from where he had been talking with Athis.
"You called?" He said.
"Of course I did, moron! We're going to visit the Jarl. I'll fill you in on the way." Kijora said.
Kijora came into the mead hall, fingering the hilt of her sword. Calder followed her.
"What did you discover?" Farkas asked.
"That there has been a messenger."
"Galund?" Farkas guessed.
"If it was, not even I would believe it. Guess who it is?"
"Who is it then?" Farkas asked.
"I said guess." Kijora snapped.
"Is it Hakon?" Echo said.
"No. One of the soldiers uncle had his eye on. I told him the man wouldn't be able to handle the responsibilities of being a scout patrol captain. Then he quit, along with most of his patrol. Twenty-seven in all, I think. Nobody's heard from them in a months. It doesn't add up, at all. Dragon boy hasn't shown up here, has he?"
"No sign of him. Why?" Farkas said.
"I need to talk to him about something." Kijora said with a shrug.
"Skjor, remember my first morning here, when you said you hoped I wouldn't see a battle for long time?" Echo said.
"Hard not to remember that morning, or night for that matter. Don't worry about it. You won't be seeing battle. The Companions stay out of political issues."
"Does the Great War count as a political issue? Plenty of Companions fought in that." Echo said.
"That was between the Empire and the Dominion. Skyrim was a part of the Empire. Fighting for Skyrim and fighting for part of Skyrim are two different things." Skjor said.
"If this war had a good cause to fight for, I would gladly do just that." Vilkas said.
"Who cares who worships a dead god? Too complicated for me. Just tell me what side I'm on and tell me who I'm fighting." Farkas said.
"You both have point, but what gets me is that while we sit around Jorrvaskr and train, milk-drinkers like General Tullius and Stormcloak fight to decide the fate of Skyrim. No offence, Kijora."
Kijora snorted. "None taken. If he took more of Galmar's advice, this war would be much closer to it's end and Tullius would be either seeing his death approaching Solitude from not very dead or there. I'm going looking for Hakon again. If any of you see dragon boy, tell him he's in trouble and I want a word. A very loud, painful word." Kijora smirked and left the mead hall.
"Kijora and Hakon couldn't be more different." Skjor shook his head. "Why are we talking about war when we won't be fighting?"
"Because Kodlak is an idiot." Tiaan growled and sat down. Farkas passed her a bottle of mead.
"Why did you go back down? You know he won't change his mind." Vilkas said.
"So I'm not allowed to clean my armour? I can't sharpen my blades or do five minutes of practice inside? It was him that sought me out! Tried to give me some words of wisdom." Tiaan grumbled
"Some people never learn." Echo said.
"Including you." Tiaan snapped.
"Echo, watch it. You won't be seeing battle yet. You'll be saying right here, wether you like it or not."
"I don't intend to go out there! I value my own life!"
Tiaan looked up thoughtfully. "Value your own life, eh? I have to disagree."
"Shut up!" Echo snapped.
Did ya like it? If you did, review! If you didn't, review.
Up next, Chapter 56. Here's what's coming up!
Things get tense as the battle gets closer
Echo gets distracted
Tiaan is in a good mood, for the first time in awhile. I wonder why...
Later, people!
Arrow out!
