Black Knight's Champion

Drelasa paused by Zak as she passed. "Are you alright?"

He nodded, glancing at her warily-though not quite as warily as he'd been before they sparred. "Better. I'm still...I don't know what that was, earlier, but it's...fading." He nodded toward Gyrmallion, who had somehow just managed to keep standing after receiving a friendly back-slap from Farkas. "That one… he's got some promise."

"Much." She said. "Enough so that he just might change how the world views his race. As to what happened earlier...Boethiah is being a bitch and I'm not sure why. Bloodthirsty and bitchy, yes, but never is she known to throw fights while they are being fought. I wish I knew more for you...and for my son."

"Might change the way this world views his race?" Zak smiled, his hard features briefly softening into fondness as he looked over at them. Gyrmallion and Drizzt were laughing together ruefully, the Altmer rubbing shoulders that were undoubtedly starting to get sore after the enthusiasm of the Companions. "That sounds familiar." He frowned, looked over at Drelasa. "I don't know anything about the gods of this world. But I think...that may need to change. And soon."

"I believe I am done sparring. I have a few moments, if you would like a quick overview." Drelasa offered.

"A quick overview would help, but I will need clarification later." He stood. "And after that...I don't want to risk it again. I'm probably done for the evening myself."

Drelasa motioned to a spot away from the warriors. "If you don't mind...it's been a nice day. I think I'd like to enjoy a few more moments of it before I start to make dinner."

He followed her, though it took him a moment to get settled. The marsh seemed to be bothering him, and he finally found a place where he could both watch her and keep an eye on the mist-draped channels and islands.

"There are seventeen Daedra Lords and nine Divines...though say eight if you are talking to a Thalmor or their supporters." Drelasa said. "I wouldn't say that Daedra were wholly evil or that Aedra are wholly good. They are...merely powerful beings that exist on a different level than us."

"That is...expected." Zak snorted. He wasn't going to get into any arguments with her, but he preferred that the gods leave him alone, particularly after getting away from Lolth.

"The biggest distinction is that Daedra had no connection in the creation of the world, whereas Aedra did," she said. "As I'm sure is the same everywhere, each god has a sphere of influence they are more inclined to look into. Aedra seem to be far more...subtle and distant in their influence. Daedra like to dig their fingers in. Their influence is felt heavily. The one you felt today was Boethiah, one of the three Daedra Lords my people look to. She is known as Deceiver of Nations, Queen of Shadows and Goddess of Destruction. Sounds grim; but she has also been known to ally with Stendarr, the Aedra of mercy and justice. A stern and often bloodthirsty mistress but when we needed her strength, she was happy to lend it."

He nodded slowly. "Who are the others?"

"Azura, Mephala, and Meridia are also not considered wholly evil. Azura and Mephala are the other two patrons of the Dunmer. Azura...is possibly the most merciful of all the Daedra Lords." Drelasa said. "Nocturnal, Sanguine, Clavicus Vile and Namira influence, but are not quite the troublemakers some of the others are. Peryite is the weakest and busies himself with pestilence. Sheogorath is completely insane, while his counterpart Jyggalag is nothing but order. Hircine is the Lord of the Hunt and werewolves. Malacath was created in...unfortunate circumstances, and is the patron of the orcs. Vaermina is the mistress of nightmares and her brother Hermaeus Mora is a hoarder of knowledge. Molag Bal you have heard about. Mehrunes Dagon was the mastermind of the Oblivion Crisis. Did not end well for him."

"Are there...any others?" He was still frowning, absently rubbing the base of his breastbone. It looked oddly like the gesture Ravenlight used when speaking of the Dov. "I don't...know if any of those were...responsible. For what I felt. Boethiah might have been the one pulling at your son, but whatever I felt..."

"Tell me what you felt, as accurately as you can." Drelasa said, suddenly intensely curious.

He closed his eyes. "It started as...the battle-fury I know. Then it became...darker. Stronger. I felt...angry. At what, I couldn't...it felt like the rage was directed at your son, but...not, at the same time. When those...creatures came and pinned us, something inside me was screaming at not being able to attack them. And when Ravenlight...when the dragon with her roared, expressing its own anger at Boethiah, and her hold faded, I felt...satisfied somehow." He shook his head. "I don't know...it was more intense than anything I'd felt before, except when I...when I knew I was willing to die for my son."

"A Dark Warrior, perhaps?" She asked.

He nodded. "That...sounds right."

Drelasa smiled. "I think I know what possessed you. And it is not a bad thing."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"There is a lesser god, an enemy of all Daedra Lords, save Sheogorath for some strange reason." She smiled. "A warrior who rides into battle on a golden stallion, accompanied by a pair of ravens, dressed in ebony armor and wielding a black sword. He rides into battle, a protector of all warriors. A strong soul, powerful and merciful. Does that sound better?"

His eyes widened. "I-saw him. While passing through the portal. Just for a second. I didn't...realize it at the time." He let out a shaky breath, leaning back. "Why...me? If he has...chosen to possess me. Why me? I'm no devotee of his-or of any gods."

"My dear, Reymon Ebonarm is a god who is neither Aedra nor Daedra. He does his own thing, follows his own code." Drelasa said. "He is mercy, but eschews Stendarr. He is a warrior and knows all the bloodthirsty tendencies that go with, that but he is not like any of the warrior Daedra Lords. In fact, he will heartily go against them. He cares not for the squabbles of the gods but does demand they do what they are supposed to. He got on to the god of luck, Sai, for not doing his duty. He is his own man, however immortal. Have I described you?"

Slowly, half-stunned, Zak nodded.

Drelasa smiled at him. "You might feel most comfortable skulking on the sidelines while you get to know us, but you proved today that you will not hesitate to leave the sidelines and roar out what you consider is honorable. In this case, angry that a Daedra Lord was interjecting when she was not supposed to. You are the protector of warriors. May the red rose bloom in your wake."

Zak rose, shaking his head. "I don't...I need to...process this." Without another word, he walked off, apparently at random. However, he moved into the marsh; in the same direction he'd been absently glancing toward during the entire conversation.

"And thus another web is woven." Drelasa murmured. "Mephala, I hope you do not overreach yourself in this."

As Drelasa entered the main body of the house, she found Catti-Brie, Serana, and Ravenlight grouped together and chatting, Catti-Brie nursing Alustra while Ravenlight stitched a silver moon-and-star into a shaped piece of supple black leather. Serana looked up when Drelasa came in, then sprang up and went to her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you!" she whispered. "Oh-thank you!"

Drelasa hugged her back. "If this is what I think it's about...you two are beautiful together. And deserve every bit of happiness. I am but a small part in it."

"It is." Ravenlight was grinning. "Nevano probably shouldn't know until we've got him to the portico, but it felt decidedly unfair not to let Serana in on it. So, how are the combatants? No more trouble, I hope?"

"Nevano has scampered off somewhere, since he did something to himself to get those winged twilights to come at his call. I will wring his neck if he did what I think he did." Drelasa took Serana by the hand and settled down with them. "Just as well, because Gyrmallion wished to spar with Nerevar. You don't get one without the other. That would have gone badly. However, he and Drizzt absolutely awed the crowd. I think the Companions wish to steal the not-so-disgraced commander. Nevusa defeated Farkas in under five seconds and challenged the Khajiit...ahhh...Ashvana, I believe? Hand-to-hand. Devolved into a spat but Lucia handled that wonderfully. Wicked aim she has. Oh, and I discovered how Ebonarm can aid us."

Ravenlight nodded, rolling her eyes when Ashvana was mentioned. "That one does not like to lose, and she will get pretty nasty if she thinks it'll happen. First time she was tested against Aela, I was afraid the werewolf was going to come out. And Gyrmallion's getting along with the Companions will be very helpful, because I strongly suspect that the Blades will not be so happy about that...Serana heard something he told Nerevar that I want to ask him about myself." She lowered the leather. "And the Black Knight can be called then? How?"

"That's the best part, we don't have to call him. He's called himself." Drelasa shook her head. "We were right in that the gods were concerned in all this. Ebonarm has decided to manifest himself in one of our warriors. Zak, actually. It explains why he and Modyn did not get on well in that spar without actually disliking each other."

"Zak?!" Ravenlight stared, then blinked. "That...make sense in a bizarre way, actually. I did tell you, didn't I, that Zak was...recently resurrected? He sacrificed his own life to save Drizzt when my brother wasn't yet thirty-which was a pretty good length of time ago." She shrugged. "I have no idea where all he went in the worlds beyond, mainly because he can't remember any of it...but he was there, in Sovngarde, when I fought Alduin the last time." She absently rubbed her left shoulder. "He and Firefall were the ones who pried me out of Alduin's mouth, actually, after I finally managed to deliver the death-stroke. It's more than possible he encountered Ebonarm there, and the Black Knight just...followed, when he was dragged back."

"He said he saw him in his way here through the portal." Drelasa said. "But it is possible Ebonarm has been following him for a while. Not that that made him feel better. He saw something in the swamp and went for it. I would have followed, as following things into the swamp is not a good thing but...there are a few eyes out there and I firmly believe he can look after himself handily."

"Especially if the Black Knight is with him." Ravenlight shook her head and whistled. "Wow. That's...going to take a little getting used to, on all fronts." She considered. "The marsh can be dangerous, but at least this one isn't Black Marsh levels of nasty. No quicksand or sinkholes; nothing that a highly skilled warrior can't handle. He's...going to need to process this, though. Not exactly been one for any gods since he was dragged back, not that I can blame him."

"He...fairly well embodied the Black Knight on his own." Drelasa did smile now at the memory. "I did enjoy the look of utter astonishment on his face when I laid it all out and asked if I had described him."

"There's truth to that. It won't stop it from being a shock." Ravenlight shrugged. "I couldn't think straight for half a day when Drizzt told me what I was-and I'm just the Daughter of Akatosh, not...possessed by him. Or halfway to an avatar."

"Not to mention a set of gods he's not familiar with. At all." Drelasa said. "Poor thing, but he has an attitude streak in him that reminds me of a rebellious adolescent. He will get his chin up in no time."

Ravenlight grunted a little. "We're warming up to each other; but honestly, when I first met him in the flesh I was...I'd liked him much better in Sovngarde, I'll just say that." She ran another silver stitch through the leather. "Can't blame him for not wanting anything to do with gods or demons, though, after what he'd been through. Lolth...combines all the worst traits of Namira, Molag Bal, and Mephala, and you can't get away from her, almost, in the Underdark."

"So I've heard...she makes Mephala very peevish." Drelasa rolled her eyes. "Which makes me wonder if Mephala pulled a few strands of her web to bring Zak to Ebonarm's attention. It's hard to guess how she weaves her webs but I know she's been busy. How is that armor coming?"

"I will...spare you the opinions I formed of Mephala after carrying her blasted blade for nearly two months." Ravenlight held out the leather front for her inspection. "I'm trying a few different designs for the Altmer's armor; need something that stands out enough so that they don't look like the Thalmor, and not just because they might be mistaken for enemies in the heat of battle otherwise. Be glad to show you and get your opinion later; this is obviously for Nevano." She grinned. "Vale panther hide; they're striped. I used a soot-based dye to darken the white stripes, but they'll silver through again after a few months."

"It's quite alright, darling. I'm more than familiar with the good and bad traits of Mephala. All opinions of her are very well deserved." Drelasa said. "Vale panther hmm?" She ran her fingers over the leather. "Oh that is beautiful."

"It's softer than normal leather, and more supple; but it also tans unusually strong. Trying to puncture it is more difficult than you might think." She held up the awl she'd used to pick out the design: it was made of ebony. "I commissioned a blacksmith to make this as part of a carving set years ago...so Drizzt could have something to make a flute out of a dragon's wing bone."

"A flute out of a dragon bone?" Drelasa asked.

"Oh, so that's where it came from." Catti-Brie laughed. "The story never did come clear; I think he forgot that you went back home shortly after we found each other again, and that I didn't know everything he did."

"Did you bring it?" Ravenlight quirked an eyebrow at her. "I wouldn't call it a relic of Azura's, but she did bless it. Gives true dreams." She contemplated. "Though...at this point, true dreams of what's going on in High Rock would probably feel more like they came from Vaermina instead of Azura. And yes, a dragon bone. He took the end of a wing bone from the first dragon he killed with me here in Skyrim."

"Ah, okay, that makes more sense." Drelasa smiled. "Azura loves dreams but tends to go opposite Vaermina. Fortunately."

"It's been beyond helpful more than once. Though why she didn't tell them what had happened to me when the Thalmor took me-or when the leader of the Dark Brotherhood kidnapped me in hopes of recruiting me-I'll never know." She shook her head.

"Still a Daedra Lord, no matter how merciful she can be." Drelasa said. "She gets what she wants, though what that may be is anyone's guess."

"That's certainly the truth." Ravenlight tied off the last stitch and held it up. "What do you think?"

The design gleamed in the dark hide, the silver thread running seamlessly through the moon and star. Simple, but elegant at the same time.

"It's perfect." Drelasa truly meant that. Ravenlight had gotten a beautiful design that perfectly suited Nevano's tastes. She smiled broadly, imagining the look on his face when he saw.

"I've got the rest ready to fasten together downstairs," she said. "That leather covering was really getting worn and shabby, it almost didn't resist when I stripped it off. The scales are impeccable, though. I don't know who did that work, but it's gorgeous."

"A blacksmith in Mournhold, from what he told me." Drelasa tapped her fingers, trying to remember fully. "Something about finding an apprentice and dragging adamantium up from the ruins beneath the city."

Ravenlight shook her head. "I wouldn't know, in that case. Mournhold is in Vvardenfell, right? I'd never been there until we found the Card'Vel." She stood. "Do you need to start dinner now, or do you have time to come down and see what I'm thinking about for our Altmer? I have one suit put together completely."

"Mournhold is the old capital of Morrowind, on the mainland. Was destroyed...several times but most recently during the Argonian Invasion. In the process of being rebuilt now." Drelasa stood. "I have time. We have enough left over I'm mostly just going to add to it."

"Ah. I may have been there before; not that I remember much of that time." She shook her head. "Come see."

"By the way," she added as they headed down to the cellar, "Veleth might be pleased to learn that Nevano's boots are no longer rank enough to clear a room if thrown down carelessly."

"Thank the gods." Drelasa muttered.

"I honestly hadn't realized how bad it was until I'd removed the bottoms; they were getting too worn to stay on. That stench hit my nose and I had the lining ripped out and stuffed in the foundry before I knew what I was doing." She shook her head. "They've got new deerskin hide lining them. I didn't replace most of the outer shell, just the parts that were the most badly worn, and I made sure to use leather that matched the old one." She guided Drelasa through the sleeping room and into the back, where her smithing room was.

"He's a mess. I'm hoping he'll be...more interested in caring for himself once married." Drelasa smiled gently. "Gives him one hell of a reason."

A mannequin stood by the cellar wall, marks on the floor showing where it had been dragged from its original spot. The armor on it was similar in design to regular Elven armor: tight-fitting and light, meant to be moved in, with sweeping designs that might be feathers or leaves across it. But even at first glance, no one would mistake it for anything worn by the Thalmor.

The underlying leather typical of Elven armor here was the same pebbled skin that Drelasa remembered seeing on Ravenlight's dragon armor, and while the scales were chased in ebony and moonstone, rather than steel, there were several distinctive large dragon scales worked in at chest and hip. Rather than the large gorget typical of the armor, this had a sort of coif that went beneath the helmet to shield the neck, worked in silvery chain; Drelasa noticed what was almost a bolt of the stuff, hanging out of a chest to the side. Ravenlight apparently made chainmail in her spare time, so that she had it on hand when she wanted it.

The scales and feathering were as distinctive as the rest of it: made partly from moonstone, and partly from a blend of steel and ebony, giving it a most striking appearance. A few more dragon scales appeared on the boots and gloves, almost more as decoration than protection-though she didn't doubt they would offer plenty of protection as well.

The item that looked almost unchanged was the helmet: but that, too, was worked not merely of moonstone, but traced out with ebony to give it a striking, and very distinctive, appearance.

"Amazing, darling." Drelasa walked around it. "Elven design but a different breed. Putting them well on the path away from the Thalmor. Heh, we will need to call them something else. In any case, I am so impressed with your skill. I know many smiths who'd turn every color of the rainbow in jealousy over this level of craftsmanship."

Ravenlight flushed in pleasure. "I've had some good teachers," she said. "And lots of practice. I needed something they'd be used to...but at the same time, would be different enough from the others to make it clear they were on our side." She carefully stroked one side of it. "The dragon scales were the most...distinctive thing I could think of, that and the ebony. I need to make something for Zak, too, and pure ebony plate won't work. He needs something that'll let him move."

"Ebony chain? Or smaller plates on leather?" Drelasa asked.

"Possibly both," Ravenlight mused ."I'll ask him, find out which he'd prefer." She paused. "Might do the same for Drizzt, too."

"If you need a pattern, we can probably convince Modyn to part with the Ebony Mail for a short while." Drelasa said. "It's in a very interesting form this time."

"Though probably with fewer spikes," Ravenlight muttered. "If Zak is...partnered somehow with Ebonarm, I don't think using Boethiah's armor as a pattern would be the wisest move. I'll take a look, though; see what inspiration I can glean."

"Merely something to provoke ideas. No need for another blow up." Drelasa sighed. "I do worry about them. Nevano being Azura's champion is one thing. She loves her followers and tends to nurture them. But Modyn and Zak face much hotter temperaments. Neither of them best pleased with their situation. And there's not much I can do to help them. I can only help give insight. It truly...is difficult watching them struggle."

"I don't know how to help myself," Ravenlight admitted. "Akatosh is...it's a strange relationship between us, and it's different from the Daedra. Meridia is still infuriatingly smug whenever I make use of the Dawnbreaker or call on her for anything, though she answers faster than almost any of the others. Azura I don't have a problem with...even Nocturnal, believe it or not. Most of the rest, though..." She shook her head. "They've all found opportunity to try and drag me in their direction at one point or another, and it's through sheer stubbornness that I haven't given in. Some of them are worse than others. Dagon backed off once he realized I was as deeply connected with Akatosh as I am, and Sanguine's left me alone after the...incident that won me the Sanguine Rose."

"The House of Troubles are always on the bad end, though I'm truly glad Dagon had the sense to back off. I suppose being humiliated as he was perhaps made him smarter. I wish that had impressed on the other corner but I guess not." Drelasa said. "Ebonarm...I can only spout what I know from reading. The rest is...fairly unknown. Boethiah is dangerous and powerful. One you want on your side but at arm's length. I hope they continue to respect your stubbornness for they value power and you hold a great deal of it."

"I've given them reason to. The way I slammed my heels in with Hermaeus Mora probably left skid marks through half of Oblivion." She shook her head. "But, speaking of Azura and Meridia..." She picked up a small box and opened it to reveal twin rings. One was silver, set with a single sapphire, and etched through with tiny designs of crescent moons and stars. The other was gold, set with a blood-red ruby. "Actually made these first."

"Oh, darling, these are gorgeous! Merdekhes!" Drelasa gushed.

"I'm wanting to enchant them both," Ravenlight said, smiling down at them. "Fire protection for Serana, of course; nearly everything I make for her shields her from flame. What should it be for Nevano?"

"Hmm, there's a tough one." Drelasa tapped her lip. "He's naturally resistant to fire, he's immune to all disease, don't need him resistant to lightning so we can fry him when he acts up..."

"A minor healing charm, then? Often as he gets hurt, that could only help."

"Needs a full protection bubble!" Drelasa laughed.

"Well, I don't know if I can do that...but I can make sure he stays alive!" Ravenlight closed the box and set it down. "Erandur should be arriving here in a day or two, and I'll contact the College about Aranea tonight."

Drelasa couldn't stop her excited grin. "I cannot tell you how excited I am for this. They deserve this so much."

Ravenlight suddenly burst into laughter. "I'm suddenly glad I didn't take him to see Paarthurnax first!"

Drelasa swiped at a few tears that threatened to fall. "I was hoping he'd be able to have friends. This is more than I could have hoped for. I can barely stop myself from shaking when I see how happy they look together. It's all thanks to you, darling."

"No, it's-" Ravenlight managed to steady herself. "Believe me, I am more than happy about this. Serana's been trying to hide it, but she was terrified of what would happen when everyone she knew was gone herself. I'm just imagining this situation reversed, and Nevano falling," she almost couldn't continue for a moment, "for a ten-thousand-year-old ancient old dragon!"

Drelasa bit her lip and looked away, shoulders shaking. "More like he'd spend his time pulling stupid pranks. I think it's better for poor Paarthurnax!"

"Possibly." Ravenlight shook her head and wiped away a few tears herself. "He would not make a good Greybeard, that's for certain. All right." She straightened. "Well, the Companions know to fend for themselves, and while they're not great cooks, they can at least catch deer and fish and scorch it into edibility over a campfire. But you and I have...what, ten? Twelve? People to cook for, so we'd probably best go up and see what we can put together for them."

"I quit counting." Drelasa giggled. "I'm afraid we might wipe the swamp out before too long!"

"Eh, the Reach isn't that far off, we can always fish in the harbor, and Haafingar Hold's got plenty of deer and elk itself." She shrugged. "And mammoths, but hunting them ticks off the giants, so unless the giant in question has already been attacking humans, I don't bother with them."

"Please...do me an enormous favor, pun not intended there, and do not tell Nevusa or the boys about mammoths." Drelasa nearly got a tic in her eye over that. "Giants maybe they'll have half a brain with. After all, we have stone giants in the mountains but mammoths? Those idiots won't be able to resist."

Ravenlight considered, then shuddered. "I will obey. We don't need to try to put them back together after their first encounter with one of those."

"Mephala, Boethiah and Azura help me I just might leave them where they fall." She rubbed her head. "Then I'd summon their spirits on the coldest, windiest days just to remind them of their stupidity..." Drelasa jerked up straight. "Oh...Oh! I have...a bloody brilliant idea!"

"What's that?"

"Might be a bit difficult...we've never met, it'll be hard to find him. He might not hear me..." Drelasa murmured quickly to herself. "It'll have to be a proper one...though I don't have him. Oh what did Nevano tell me of him so I can help guide him here?"

"Who are you calling?"

Drelasa seemed to come back to reality a bit. "Did Nevano ever tell you what happened in Chorrol? Why he hates the Thalmor so much, recent events not included?"

Ravenlight shook her head. "Not a word."

Drelasa pointed to a chair. "It's a story. I think you need to know to get a bit of insight into things."

Ravenlight sat, listening.

"When Nevano was rescued from slavery, he was on death's door. He said he remembered not having the strength to even move while lying still. I don't think I need to tell the state of emaciation one has to be in to get to that point." Drelasa said. "But he was rescued because the Fighters Guild had, quite literally, stumbled across the place. It was set deep in the Great Forest, away from the main road. Right between two major cities. Most don't stray from the road so it went unnoticed. It was the champion of the Fighters Guild who discovered it, a Dunmer by the name Modryn Oreyn. Oreyn never explained why, but he refused to allow anyone to take Nevano. Instead, he took him back home to Chorrol."

"By Nevano's own admission, he was a wild child. Didn't trust anyone, didn't like anyone...only Oreyn had any semblance of control over him." Drelasa continued. "In an effort to help Nevano learn to control himself, he did the exact opposite of what most would do and, to the horror of the entire north western part of Cyrodiil, gave Nevano a sword and trained him, and trained him hard. Oreyn, according to Nevano, was not an easy man. Gruff, short-tempered, and strong enough to heave a Nord out of the guild hall when provoked. He allowed no error in training."

"Wonders never cease, it worked. Nevano did so well that he was finally able to join the guild once he was old enough. Oreyn was quietly proud as Nevano took on increasingly difficult contracts and completing them. Nevano...admitted he looked forward to seeing that look when he came home. Neither said it, too stubborn I think, but it was a rather gruff father-son relationship. Which was why being framed and exiled to Morrowind hurt him so badly. He had been almost terrified to return, after over three years away. I had to damn near throw him to the border. However, he returned, saying it was the first time that grumpy old mer had ever hugged him like that."

Ravenlight smiled, imagining the reunion.

"Then, the Great War happened. Half of Cyrodiil was on fire. Nevano was wild to get home, make sure it was okay, but he couldn't break through safely. The fighting was too thick to break through. Finally, word reached us that the war was over. A treaty signed. Nevano was off like an arrow. I didn't see him again for over twenty five years."

The Bosmer inhaled sharply. "Chorrol-I remember. I was...I was actually there."

"You were?"

She nodded. "I told you about my wanderlust...it was driving me from one end of Tamriel to the other. By and large, I avoided towns during my wandering; too hard to leave when the desire to struck. But I needed supplies, and I thought the danger was over. Chorrol wasn't large; I thought I could risk it." She shivered. "I...barely made it out alive. A combination of archery skills and agility kept me out of the worst of it, but there were several times I was almost engulfed in the fire itself. I was keeping to the rooftops. Tried to...tried to save who I could. But when I ran out of arrows, I couldn't..." She looked away. "I made it over the wall and fled. Never looked back."

"You barely missed crossing paths with Nevano. Though it was best you fled. For that attack was horrible and unnecessary and what happened after..." Drelasa said sadly. "What happened next...we pieced together from what Armigers told us. Nevano arrived after the initial attack happened. The Thalmor were headed to Hammerfell...Chorrol was...in the way. Nevano managed to sneak his way to the guild hall but...he was too late. Oreyn was dead. Killed defending the innocents in the city. Nevano lost all semblance of control. Only a single Thalmor escaped the city, one Nevano deliberately spared. We were told he went...cold then. Hardly any emotion, hardly said anything. He saw Oreyn was burned as we do to our dead and then he disappeared. No one knew where."

Ravenlight nodded. "That...he told me a little of. And what that Thalmor became." She shook her head. "Stupid and unnecessary...like so many of their actions. No one escaped the purged villages, save for those small and quiet and very, very lucky; those like my youngest brother Ruesong. I don't know...I don't know why they did it."

"Because they could. They didn't need any other reason. They could and they enjoyed it. May their souls rot in a pit of boiling daedra shit." Drelasa said viciously, her emotions getting the better of her. "So many lives needlessly lost. All to prove that they were better than everyone else. All for pride. Fecking pride." She took a long moment. "I never got to meet Oreyn. Nevano hardly speaks of him now. It still hurts too much. Nor does Nevano dare summon an ancestor spirit. Our people are intertwined deeply with our ancestors. I...want to try to summon Oreyn. I already was going to summon Jorun, no way he'd miss Nevano getting married. It's just going to be damned hard because we've never met."

Ravenlight pursed her lips. "I'll ask Serana to try to talk to him about Oreyn. Heaven knows she'll probably know how to...tease out that splinter, as it were, without it hurting more. If she knows, she'll be able to help summon him."

"Nevano buries these things deep but he's not the sort to be able to handle that. You saw how it manifests." Drelasa sighed. "Jorun knew how to tease him into just talking. I can't always get him to talk. He doesn't like to burden others with it."

"She's got a few burdens of her own. Pretty painful ones. And it took some careful work on our part to get her to open up about them." Ravenlight sighed. "Except for her phobia of fire, and that took me taking a direct blast from a Blood Dragon. Didn't really hurt me-Blood Dragon flames aren't that hot, and I'd taken some resist-fire potions before, so I didn't dodge the blast-but she...it was the first time she willingly touched me, and she nearly broke my ribs, she was so relieved to see I was all right."

"They seem to be able to navigate things together. Like they can understand it but can help the other at the same time. Strong where the other needs help."

Ravenlight smiled and nodded. "Like me and Drizzt. I'll go tell her about Oreyn and ask her to find out what she can from Nevano."

"That would be wonderful." Drelasa smiled.

As they came up from the cellar, they found most of their guests already gathered inside-most of them dripping wet. A squall had blown in unexpectedly from the sea and chased everyone into shelter; the Companions had gone to their tents, while everyone else had crowded indoors. Ravenlight took a quick headcount, and noticed that only two were missing: Nevano and Zak.

"Oh dear. Don't tell me they're still off in the marsh while it's storming?"

The others shrugged a bit sheepishly.

Drizzt looked alarmed. Apparently, he hadn't realized where his father had gone when he went off to be by himself. "Do you want me to go look for them?"

Ravenlight exhaled and ran a hand through her hair. "No," she decided. "They're both strong enough to get out of pretty much any trouble they run into out there. However, I don't care if they can't actually get sick from this. When they come back, I am dosing both of them with a fairly nasty disease preventative."

"Normally I would say don't bother with Nevano but...he might deserve those effects." Drelasa pointed randomly at those standing around. "You, you and you. Come help in the kitchen."

Ravenlight directed a few others to help with setting the table and finding spare chairs, before catching Gyrmallion. "And you...I need to talk with you privately. Drizzt, you come too."

A private spot was fairly difficult to find with the house as full as it was; but they went down to the cellar, closing the door tight behind them. Gyrmallion looked mildly apprehensive. "What's...wrong?"

"Not really wrong," Ravenlight said, "but there's something I need to know. Serana overheard some of your conversation with Nerevar." She paused, trying to figure out how best to go about it. "Were you aware that I am reforming the Blades?"

"There were rumors," he answered. "Nothing ever confirmed." He paused for a moment. "I don't...hate the Blades," he said at last. "I was the one who led the campaign against them, but I didn't...lose myself to hatred of them until I believed they'd killed my family. I've since discovered that my...my hatred was misplaced."

"Oh, Elealda..." Drelasa poked her head out. "Can you be a dear and make sure Boethiah didn't do something catastrophically stupid with that gash on Modyn's chest?"

Veleth muttered a curse at the mention of that. He had had more than enough of people messing with it today.

"Certainly, Drelasa." She cornered Veleth. "I'm just going to look," she said firmly. "Might poke and prod a little, but unless something severe has happened, I shouldn't need to re-stitch it or anything else. Take off your shirt and let me see."

Veleth was more than a little irritable. It felt like he had spent half the day being told to take his shirt off. Still, he obeyed. The alternative would only make everyone hiss worse.

Elealda bent forward, examining the long, red mark, gently prodding it in a few places. Finally, she straightened, running her hand across the length of it with a healing spell. "That should take care of it," she said calmly. "She was...far rougher than I'd have preferred, and it might be sore for a few days, but it's healed and doesn't look as though it's only external healing. And I don't think you tore anything while you were sparring. This should be taken care of." She smiled a little. "You can put your shirt back on now."

"Would be the first time anyone ever accused Boethiah of not being overly rough." He pulled it back on. Sore wasn't an issue. This wasn't too bad.

Down in the cellar, the examination was continuing. "So...just like that?" Ravenlight asked. "No...lingering irritation at...wasting so much of your time, or anything like that?"

"No. I told you already; I'd respected the Blades." Gyrmallion was starting to get a little irritated. "What is this about? I'll tell you what happened, if that's what you're after. All of it."

Ravenlight sighed and shook her head. "No. I believe you. That's the thing. I believe you, and I'm willing to trust you. However, we will be working with the reformed Blades, and I need to know for a fact that I can trust you and yours around them...because I am going to have my hands full making sure I can trust Delphine around you and yours."

"Oh." Gyrmallion looked a little alarmed at that. "Delphine...yes, that...that could be a problem."

"She hates the Thalmor as much as, if not more than, Nevano-and if you and she ran across each other at any point during the War, she will definitely remember you."

Back upstairs, Nevano slipped back in as if he had never been gone, barely even wet from the storm.

Serana found him almost instantly. "Oh, there you are. We were wondering...did you see Zak out there anywhere?"

"Saw him, yes." Nevano smiled at her. "I tried to keep watch on him since he looked like a troll had clubbed him over the head but something did not let me do that for long."

"Something...like what?" She frowned. "Drelasa said he'd...learned something that bothered him, about Ebonarm? But I don't know if I understood all of it."

"Ebonarm? She said that?" Nevano tilted his head. "Well...makes sense."

"How so?"

"Ebonarm isn't fond of Daedra Lords. Not even Azura, if you can believe that." Nevano shrugged. "Explains why he and Veleth nearly killed each other."

She looked alarmed. "I didn't know it was that bad." A sound from the back of the house caught her attention, and she turned. "Oh...they're back. Ah, that's not good."

Nevano followed her gaze, frowning.

Ravenlight, Drizzt, and Gyrmallion had just come out of the cellar, all of them looking grim-and Gyrmallion's face had a decidedly alarmed look on it, as well. Ravenlight spotted them, lifted a hand, and beckoned them over as she headed for the kitchen, where most of the others had gathered.

"Nnnn, not happy faces." Nevano wrinkled his nose as he went over. "Something tells me a twin didn't cause that."

"Not even close." Ravenlight rubbed her forehead. "We have a big problem. Delphine and Gyrmallion crossed paths three times during the war. Once, he almost didn't survive; twice, she almost didn't. There is no chance she won't remember him, and Delphine is worse than you are, Nevano, when it comes to the Thalmor."

"Blades?"

"Yep. She's the new Grandmaster. She and Esbern were the last surviving members; I've been helping them rebuild over the past five years." Ravenlight sighed. "And she is not always the most...reasonable when it comes to old grudges. I argued with her and Esbern for five hours straight over whether or not I should kill Paarthurnax. Over the crimes he committed during the Dragon War."

"Kinda of explained Blades in a nutshell there. Not reasonable." Nevano shrugged.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew what the situation had been like in the Reach before she took an interest in smoothing things over between the Nords and the Forsworn." Ravenlight shook her head. "It's really only because of them that reaching out to Madanach and his kin is still even feasible. But if she catches sight of any of our Altmer, let alone Gyrmallion..."

"I've known a lot of Blades for a long time." Nevano said. "They don't like having their minds changed. However...I think I can help."

"That will be...greatly appreciated." They all relaxed slightly.

And of course, that was when the door banged open, and Zak came in. Where Nevano had somehow escaped even being wet, the Drow was soaked to the skin, water streaming off him in rivulets and pooling on the floor. He almost didn't seem to realize it, though; his eyes focused somewhere on the distance. As he entered the main room, he blinked, apparently waking up; then he looked around until he spotted Drizzt and headed straight for him, ignoring anyone in his path.

"Just promise me you won't crawl up my back about my methods." Nevano looked over. "I'll refrain from saying it just yet..."

Zak stopped and said something in a language that had more sibilants in it than a den of angry snakes. Drizzt went rigid.

"Something tells me that isn't a good thing..." Nevano murmured so only Serana heard him.

"You're certain?" Drizzt asked.

Zak blinked, then nodded. "Yes. I couldn't figure out where they were...but they were there, all right, and if..." He grimaced, "he's right, they're planning to attack here tonight."

Ravenlight stiffened. "What are?"

Zak and Drizzt spoke at the same time. "Vampires."

"Well...vith." Nevano said and glanced at Serana. "I guess Trueflame and Hopesfire have to work today after all."

"We've got time to prepare, though," Ravenlight said. "Thanks, Zak; they were probably planning to take us off-guard tonight, and they'd have had a pretty good chance at it, too. But the squalls here are over too quickly for them to try to get through it-and at this time of the year, we've got a few more hours until sundown. So, Drelasa, if you don't mind; supper may be late and a little sub-par...but it'll mean we survive the night."

"It'll be the sort that's quick, gives energy...just might be a bit tasteless. On it!" Drelasa called out.

(And the quiet time is over. On to action!)