They continued through the Rift towards the Throat of the World.
Bishop subtly directed them far enough from Lost Knife again, just in case. He still wasn't sure how she would react if someone recognized him. It did at times occur to him that he still had a bounty on his head from the High King himself, but it was so long ago he assumed no one would even remember let alone recognize him. His presence in Thorn's group, on the other hand, was far more recent and his family was still somewhat legendary among the bandits. Besides, those assholes held grudges.
They reached the village of Ivarstead before sundown.
They passed a man in an overly fancy garb, mumbling something about 'finally getting out of that stinking dump', leaving Karnwyr at the tavern entrance and headed in.
"Welcome to Vilemyr Inn," the Nord behind the bar called out to them.
The tavern was pretty empty, with only a serving girl sweeping up around the tables and another guest sitting quietly in the corner – likely a traveler.
They took their turns in the baths and ordered some food and by the time they sat down to eat and have a drink, the inn started to fill up with villagers, making it surprisingly crowded for a small town tavern.
The serving girl picked up a lute and started to sing, several villagers joining her enthusiastically.
Bishop grumbled in annoyance while Aeyrin watched them with a smile.
"Come on, they're having fun. Be happy for them," Aeyrin poked his arm, turning her head back to the villagers.
He rolled his eyes but then smirked, leaning close to her on the bench they shared, brushing her hair away from her ear.
"You know, we should have our own fun. Who knows how long we'll be stuck up there with the boring geezers," his warm breath tickled her ear and neck, making her shiver involuntarily.
She felt her cheeks flush, suddenly feeling very tempted to take him up on his offer. She shook her head, internally chastising herself to get back her composure.
"Bishop…" she sighed, "we never even talked about… what happened." She looked at the table bashfully, not even sure what she wanted him to say. She felt like she trusted him, like the doubts she had were unfounded, but she still couldn't help but think of them from time to time.
Her own situation wasn't making things better. Who knew what would be required of her, if she could put him through the danger? She cared about him enough, but she didn't want him for a quick night of 'fun', not if it meant they would part soon after.
And she didn't feel ready to make that kind of commitment herself, with her purpose here still so uncertain.
"What's there to talk about, sweetness?" he leaned in even closer, his arm draping over her lower back, pulling her to him, his lips brushing just below her ear.
His hand moved to the back of her neck as he planted his lips on her more firmly, his teeth grazing lightly along her neckline.
She whimpered quietly, but pulled away a little after a few seconds.
He knew she wouldn't want to sleep with him right then, but he still couldn't stop himself from touching her and teasing her. He wanted her so badly. He nuzzled his face into her neck for a bit, biting at her earlobe. He had to chuckle as he felt her shiver.
"Bishop… I'm not… it's too soon… I…" he pulled her in for a deep kiss before she could finish her thought. That's the least he could get.
"I can wait," he rumbled into her ear as he moved his lips back towards her neck briefly before pulling away from her.
He smirked as he watched her place the back of her hand to her reddened cheeks, not sure whether she was trying to avoid eye contact or bashfully peeking at him from under her long lashes – it was the first time he couldn't discern where her all-black eyes were looking.
"We can still have a different kind of fun though," he gave her a wink and got up from the small table they shared, coming back in a little while with two tankards.
"What's this?" she gave him a curious look.
"It's called Dragon's Breath," he grinned at her. "Seemed fitting. And it's damn good. I'm gonna need more of these if I'm supposed to put up with that noise," he inclined his head towards the laughing and cheering villagers.
Aeyrin smelled the beverage first – it seemed strong. But then again, she might as well have some mindless fun before meeting the Greybeards. Who knows what responsibilities she will have to take on after?
She drank some. It gave her a burning sensation at the back of her throat but it wasn't as strong as that Cyrodiilic whiskey she once had with a few Dunmer travelers at the Imperial Bridge Inn… that was an embarrassing evening in the end.
…
"You promised!" she laughed at him, reaching out for the bow fastened to the back of his pack.
"It was no contest even when you were sober," he smirked smugly, grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her back to sit back on the bench.
She was pretty drunk already. He himself was feeling a bit lightheaded, but it was nothing compared to what he was used to. She did insist on having the archery competition they talked about some time ago.
"Besides, what do I get when I win?" he gave her a suggestive smile followed by a hearty laugh.
"If you are going to win. And you're not," she launched herself again at the pack lying on the ground beside him but he held her back again.
"Not so fast, ladyship. I'll only do the contest if I know what I get out of it. You better make it good," he looked her in the eyes, his own a bit glossy and daring.
"I'm not doing… that with you! I told you already!" she pouted, her look lingering for a while on his eyes, then his mouth before she put on a determined face.
He gave her a lopsided grin. "Don't worry sweetness. I have another deal for you," he pulled her closer, eliciting a yelp of surprise from her as he wrapped his hands behind her back looking at her with a sudden intensity.
He leaned his face close to her, whispering in her ear in a low voice: "When I win, you're going to do exactly as I say. For the rest of the night."
Her face flushed, that seemed dangerous… why did it make her feel excited?
"How's that different?" she scoffed, pulling back from him, narrowing her eyes with suspicion.
He laughed mischievously for a while before his expression turned pondering. "How about this: I promise, I won't make you do anything with me that we haven't done before now," he smiled at her now much more gently, brushing back a strand of her hair.
"Not just you! You won't make me do anything like that with anyone!" she retorted, trying hard to think of any stupid loopholes he could come up with. She expected him to laugh that she saw through him but he gave her a scowl instead, leaning close again.
"As if I would ever share you," he scoffed derisively. The remark make her redden deeply again, forming a strange pit in her stomach. It was odd to see such possessiveness in him when not so long ago, he was happy enough watching anyone in Riften proposition her for wearing that amulet.
"What... what do I get if I win?" she stuttered a bit, still caught a bit off guard by his intensity.
His serious face turned back into a smug smirk. "You won't. But if it makes you feel better, you can order me around for the night," he paused for a while. "I won't even hold you to the same restrictions," he chuckled, considering for a while if he should lose on purpose. She was drunk enough; it was possible she would throw some of those reservations away.
Then again, he really didn't want her to regret it the next day. Besides, having her do his bidding was all too tempting.
She nodded slowly, her eyes still narrowed warily.
…
They left the tavern, travelling a little bit away from the village into the forest beyond the river.
Karnwyr followed them curiously, likely hoping for a nighttime hunting trip.
Bishop set out an empty bottle on a tree stump some distance away. It was dark but the glass reflected the moonlight well enough to be seen.
He took out his bow, turning to Aeyrin: "The first one to miss loses, does that sound fair, ladyship?"
Aeyrin nodded. The bottle seemed really far. Why did she agree to this again? The cold fresh air was sobering her up perhaps more than necessary to go along with this particularly idiotic bet.
Bishop made a line in the soil with his boot and stepped behind it, aiming his bow casually, barely even looking at his target.
Only a second later a telltale shatter echoed through the wood as his arrow hit the target.
"You should know, princess, I never miss my mark," he smirked smugly, handing her the bow and walking towards the stump to put on another bottle.
She wavered slightly as she put herself into a position to aim.
Bishop walked back over and looked her over critically. After a while he sighed: "Let's make this at least a little challenging."
He stepped behind her, very closely, he took her arms in his, veering them slightly to one side, then he balled his fist and gently pressed it against her spine to straighten her back more.
He still held her as she drew the bow, aiming at the bottle. He adjusted her aim a bit more, then whispered in her ear: "Let go."
She let the arrow swish through the air as the familiar shattering sound resounded a second later.
"That was a free one. Next time, you're on your own," he smirked, letting go of her.
He walked a little further away this time, setting another bottle on a protruding rock. Where was he getting all those bottles from anyways?
He returned and took his bow from her, again barely even looking at his target. He would win for sure; she needed something to distract him. She considered doing something to make Karnwyr bark out, but he likely knew not to disturb Bishop while aiming – he was watching him intently, at times pricking up his ears to see if there was actually any prey present.
Getting out of ideas, she made sure to be fully in his field of peripheral vision as she stretched languidly, her white tunic making the curves of her body nicely visible in the moonlight. In a moment a shatter echoed again, but Bishop's eyes were firmly planted on her body.
"Playing dirty, are you?" he smirked, still rowing his eyes over her form. "And here I thought you priests weren't allowed to do that."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she blushed and tried to give him an innocent smile. He only laughed in response, going to set the target for her.
She did her best to get in the same position he showed her before, straightening her back and veering the aim a little. She took a deep breath and let the arrow lose. Was she even hoping to win? The thought of losing still made her strangely excited. She also had no idea what she would order Bishop to do. Anything she would consider embarrassing or daring would likely be nothing extraordinary for him.
A shatter sounded through the woods again and she felt a small singe of disappointment. What was wrong with her?
Bishop did look a bit surprised that she made the shot. He didn't even comment on it.
He walked further still, propping a bottle on a low tree branch. It was really difficult to see now, the leaves were hiding the glass from the moonlight well.
He took his bow, his eyes now fastened on his mark. It seemed he didn't feel so sure of his victory now. He took a knee, adjusting his aim, looking over at her for a while, likely trying to discern whether she would try to distract him again.
She didn't, her eyes were on the tree and there was a sudden tension between them.
Bishop let the arrow fly through the air, again hitting the target perfectly. He let out a deep sigh, exuding a bit more palpable relief then he was comfortable with. He quickly went to put another bottle in without a word.
She aimed the bow and neither of them spoke.
Karnwyr was dead quiet behind them too, not daring to disturb her concentration.
She wondered if she should lose on purpose. No, she couldn't have wanted to, could she? What did she even think he would make her do? It was likely going to be embarrassing, something he would mock her for for a long time to come. But she didn't think he would want to humiliate her purposefully. He seemed so sincere when he told her he would wait for her to be ready. She smiled lightly, thinking of that.
But she couldn't let him win just because she trusted him not to do anything too bad. She didn't even expect to be able to challenge him. She aimed properly, straining her eyes to see the glint of the bottle.
She let the arrow go, the woods suddenly so quiet as if holding their breath in anticipation.
A subtle thud echoed through the trees in a while.
Bishop gave a little smirk but went over towards the tree to check. He found the arrow firmly planted in the branch, only a hair's breadth below the intact bottle.
He walked back, the bottle in hand.
"Well, what do you know…" he laughed, handing the bottle to her, taking back his bow in return.
"Pfft… you know it wasn't…"
He raised his index finger to her before she could finish her protest: "No talking until I say so, sweetness."
Her eyes went a little wide at him but she obeyed. It was fairly won after all and she did feel really curious about how the rest of the night would play out.
If nothing else, it would be a lesson for her towards the future never to bet on her archery skills again.