The Ethos Knife

Voices woke him the following morning: the murmur of quiet conversation in several languages, broken abruptly by a feline shriek. Nevano jerked awake, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there.

As he did, he heard other voices scolding. "Nahila, shush. There are folk still asleep!"

A child's voice answered petulantly. "Kesraska stole Nahila's doll!"

"Yes, but a scream is not necessary when folk are tired! And Keraska, shame on you. Give it back, now."

Across from him, Ravenlight had come awake with the same urgency. She blinked around, slowly realizing where she was, and that the sound had been a squabble, not connected with a threat. She glanced over at him and chuckled ruefully.

He managed a small smile. He reached up and rubbed at his face. He was still sore, but the gods-damning pain was gone and he could see clearly. Huge improvement, though he needed another day or two before he felt fully over nearly cracking his skull open.

A moment later, Gyrmallion walked over, carrying a pair of large leaves with something steaming on them. "Breakfast," he said, offering one to each of them. He looked Nevano over carefully, then smiled. "You're looking vastly improved this morning."

Nevano pushed himself up fully. "You mean not arguing with Nerevar and looking like I was dying?"

"Arguing with Nerevar, I get the impression is...fairly common. Looking like you were dying...much less so." He sat down beside them. "I don't think I got to thank you for saving Kalaanir and Taayla last night. But it...it means a lot to me that you did. They're very nearly the only family I have left."

Nevano politely looked over at the leaf but his interest was not all that high. He felt Nerevar's disapproval. Ass. Fine, he'd eat. "Being used as a door stop for daedra warrants an automatic rescue attempt...though I might apologize for having Krii gently blasting him backwards into a tree. Taayla...she okay?"

"See for yourself." He nodded over to where the girl sat with a group of Khajiit. The bruises of the night before had almost faded completely, and she was chattering with them easily. She glanced over at them, then excused herself from the group and came over.

"I...thank you for saving me," she said shyly. "And I'm...I'm sorry for panicking."

"In that position? Even the bravest warrior I know of would have lost it. And I know quite a few fearless ones." Nevano smiled. "Just glad you're here and not there."

She smiled, though her eyes were haunted at the memory. "So am I. I just...I hope Mother, and the others got away in time."

"I'm sure they did. When I was sneaking around, no one mentioned them," he said.

"That's...that's good." She relaxed a little.

Gyrmallion nodded. "Taayla, could you...tell me what happened?"

She hesitated for a moment, hugging herself. Then she nodded. "It started about three days ago. That's when we got news that you...that you had been..." She bit her lip. "Executed," she finally forced out. "Father knew when we heard that that we were...probably no longer safe. He got word to a friend of his up in Valenwood that we might need his help to get away from Summerset, and the Thalmor...set up a boat with supplies so that we could get away if they came for him. He didn't...didn't think they might come while I was with him. It happened faster than we thought."

She took a deep breath. "We were at his shop; finishing a last order. That's when Ru-Rumalashorn's soldiers came. They had your ring...said there was some kind of enchantment on it. They wanted Father to find out what it was. I was in the back. He started to...argue with them a little. Trying to distract them so I could get away. He didn't know...there were two out the back. They didn't see the dove; but they caught me."

Nevano frowned.

"What dove?" Gyrmallion asked.

"Oh-a little glass dove Father made, with a harmless spirit in it. It could fly; it was the signal he was using to warn Mother to get to safety. They didn't see it...I guess my trying to slip out the same time as it distracted them." She looked down. "They...almost acted like they'd be...reasonable, at first. It wasn't until they dragged me onto the ship after he'd boarded that I knew...I knew it was going to go bad, even if he did figure out what your enchantment was. And then, after he did what they wanted...that was when they drew that circle, and...called up that-that creature. And..." She shivered, starting to breathe harder.

Nevano held up a hand to stop her. "Easy there. It's okay. We understand now."

Gyrmallion put his arm around her. "I think I know what friend he was meeting in Valenwood; and your mother is a skilled Illusion mage. If the dove reached her, she and the others may have gotten away." He let her sit quietly for a moment. "Where's your father now?"

"Still sleeping. He's pretty weak; he lost a lot of blood. But the...the shaman? She says he'll be alright."

Nevano poked at the cut on his head, pleased to discover it didn't shockwaves of pain through him. "If she said yes...I'd believe her!"

"She's...something else." Gyrmallion smiled. "I've known her for years. All the Elders; I knew them before I joined with the Thalmor."

"No kidding." Nevano said. "She...it was like she knew Nerevar personally."

"The shamans...hear their gods." Gyrmallion shrugged. "Like we hear each other. Her predecessor was like that...but Ko'Haryla hears them more clearly, I think, than most of the others."

"THAT'S why it sounded familiar!" Nevano perked up. "She's like Kaid-Anit!"

"Kaid-Anit?" Gyrmallion looked at him curiously.

Ravenlight, who'd been eating ravenously without apparently paying attention, swallowed her mouthful and looked up. "A shaman of the Card'vel. He and his sister...they knew far more than I would have expected. Apparently, they can hear the gods, though they only listen to a few."

"Azura, Boethiah and Mephala. He was born hearing them all though. He told me he misses hearing them...though some less than others." Nevano took a few bites, mostly to silence Nerevar. "Uliamu...I...I'm not sure what her magic is. She knows things, can erect ghost fences, plays with bones...it's weird. So is she, though. Ko'Haryla reminds me more of Drelasa."

Gyrmallion laughed. "She...does, actually. I'd been wondering what was familiar about Drelasa; it didn't occur to me that I'd had Ko'Haryla fussing over me in much the same way before. Honestly, it's astounding how many women we've both met who are so similar. Ko'Haryla, Drelasa, Elealda..."

"If you tell me Ko'Haryla can nail someone in the ass with a bolt of lightning at fifty paces then I'm swimming home." Nevano said flatly. "Because some god is running a coup with that."

"She doesn't need to," Gyrmallion said wryly. "Didn't you see her staff?" He rubbed the back of his head. "You get mouthy with her once, you know never to do that again. And Elealda...doesn't know any destruction spells." He paused. "Yet."

"You better be afraid then." Nevano cringed. "They are sitting together, scaring the armor off everyone. And Drelasa is...deadly with destruction."

"Elealda uses her tongue mainly," Gyrmallion mused. "As you've no doubt noticed. She...got plenty of practice with us-me, my brothers, my cousins."

"Deadly. All of them." Nevano muttered.

"And yet, we owe them our lives many times over." Gyrmallion smiled. "A strange contradiction, to be sure." He stood. "Once you've eaten, we should gather everyone and everything together and get back on the move. Nevusa's probably going to have to get more practice with that...spell of hers, if we're all going to fit on that dragon's back."

Nevano nodded and looked over. "Well, there's one thing she got from me...sleep through anything when she wants to."

Ravenlight finished the last few bites of the fish, rose, and stretched. "I'll get her up; then get my armor on again. Gyrmallion, I'll let you do the gathering; it's your word more than mine that counts down here, and I don't mind it being that way."

Nevano stood. He felt a little shaky but far better than how he came in.

"I will." Gyrmallion stood, Taayla standing with him. "And I need to retrieve my armor, too. The men are all admiring it: trying to figure out what all you used. I don't think it's quite dawned on them that's actually dragon scales in it, though if they see the dragon, they'll probably guess." He turned. "We'll meet you in front of the old estate, though I don't think we should call him here."

Ravenlight knelt over Nevusa, gently shaking her. "Nevusa? It's morning. Time to get up."

"Few m'minutes..." Nevusa groaned.

"You've had all night." Ravenlight continued to prod. "And we're going to need your transformation spells again. There's at least three other people coming back today; at least half of us need to be something smaller."

Nevusa groaned again.

"Poor girl. That's full on from me." Nevano rubbed at his hair. "You're nicer than Veleth is. He flipped a whole pallet on me."

"Mmm...well, being a mother's given me other tricks." Ravenlight smirked as her hand shimmered an icy blue. "Last chance, Nevusa. Get up."

There was a small pop and Nevusa turned into a lump under the blankets.

"Not going to help, young lady." Ravenlight yanked the blankets away and applied her blue-glowing hand to the cat's ears. There was a startled shriek, and Nevusa bolted upright, back to a human in a second.

"She warned you!" Nevano laughed

"Owww, that's cold!" Nevusa whined.

"Little word of advice: when a mother with three children tells you to get up...it's wise to listen." Ravenlight was smirking mercilessly. Nevusa made a face, rubbing furiously at her ears. "And if you hadn't turned into a cat, that would have been applied to your backside, not your ears. Still a shock, but possibly not so sharp." Ravenlight stood, dusting herself off. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to retrieve my armor and get back into it. I suspect the Khajiit are admiring it almost as much as they are Gyrmallion's."

Nevano gave the rest of his breakfast to Nevusa and slowly got the rest of his gear together. Nerevar was quiet, having used so much energy last night...and hiding his emotions. He was happy to get the knife cleansed but not happy seeing it again.

It was about midmorning by the time they were all completely gathered: all four of those who'd initially set out, along with Ahmetia and her two children, Larifa and Rellino. Word had traveled quickly that the knife they had guarded for several ages was about to be returned to its owner: which meant that most of the clan had assembled to see their elders hand it over. Nevano tried not to shift so much. Nerevar was handling that part for them.

A group of greyfurs came out together, Ko'Haryla in front. She held an item wrapped in cloth in one hand, leaning heavily on the staff in her other hand. When they came up in front of Nevano, she bowed slightly.

"Long ago, this came into our keeping," she said formally, her voice somehow clear enough to reach everyone's ears. "The Ethos Knife: twice cursed, with blood of child and brother. Now to be purified in defense of both, returned to the hand of the one from whom it fell so long ago." She held out the item. "Nevano, Nerevar, we return this blade to you."

Nevano's eyes flashed gold and there was the slightest twitch as Nerevar came forward. He placed both hands on it but didn't take it yet, Moon-and-Star flashed brilliantly on top for everyone to see.

"Wrongs will be made right and atonement made," came the slightly deeper voice using Nevano's mouth. "When its job is complete, it shall return to you, its guardians. Azura bless you for your vigil over it."

Ko'Haryla's bow deepened as she relinquished the blade.

Nerevar also bowed to her and then, his energy rapidly depleting especially after last night, retreated abruptly, almost staggering Nevano.

She straightened, looked at him, and chuckled, patting the side of his face. "Silly boy. Rest on the way back, hmm?" She glanced at Ravenlight and cackled. "You won't get much rest after you return, that's for sure!"

The older male, Dro'Ura, bowed to Gyrmallion. "Your kin will be safe with us until they are well enough to travel," he said. "Do not fear for them-or for us. Forewarned is forearmed- and they shall not catch us by surprise again."

Nevano looked at Ko'Haryla. "Thank you. For everything. I swear I'll bring this back. And follow your instructions on getting rest. Hopefully we can get this done quickly so you don't have to worry for long." He caught Ravenlight and Nevusa grinning broadly, almost mischievously, out of the corner of his eye. He had no idea what they were so giddy over. He glanced at them and Nevusa changed her expression to wide-eyed innocence. He raised an eyebrow. Great. What animal was she plotting to turn him into?

Ravenlight, after a swift, sly glance at him, bowed to the elders. "My thanks to you for your hospitality," she said. "I will not call the dragon to this place; he is not as sure an ally as my grah-zeymahziin, and I will not risk further harm to you from his indifference. We will go back to where we left him before we leave." She gestured around them. "The woods will remain awake for several days, and watch over you in that time. But cut no living wood, nor take from it more than what you need: spriggans can be chancy allies, and I do not wish what I called awake to protect you to turn against you before they once again sleep."

Nevusa, suddenly very eager and bouncy, bowed low to them.

Ko'Haryla bowed back. "We will follow your instructions closely, Dragon Queen. And while we cannot offer more aid than this for High Rock-we are a small clan, and it is far away-High Rock is not the only thing that needs retaking, hmm? And there is much aid we can offer there. Come here again, before you are ready to strike."

"We will." Ravenlight straightened, beckoned to her group, and led the way through the trees, back to the beach where Kriifaadneh waited.

Nevusa fairly bounced along, chattering happily as she looked around with wide, sparkling eyes, thoroughly enjoying seeing the island in the sunlight. Ravenlight was quieter, gazing around at the trees and plants with a wistful expression. The ones who noticed, and knew where she was from, wondered how similar the jungle on the island was to Valenwood, and how nostalgic it was making her.

Kriifaadneh was almost exactly where they'd left him, not far from the broken timbers of the wrecked ship. Though...there was a difference to the beach this time: the bodies of the Thalmor had all disappeared. The Elder Dragon was not noticeably fatter...but it wasn't difficult to guess what had happened. He cracked an irritable eye as they came up, and uncoiled with a sigh that rustled leaves ten feet away.

"Quit fussing," Ravenlight said. "You've had plenty to eat and more rest than most of us have. And we're not just going to pile on top of you; Nevusa's going to turn most of us into smaller creatures, so we won't be that heavy." She looked back at the others. "Who all will be transformed? I don't mind going again."

"I will." Nevano said. "I need some more sleep. Get rid of this headache once and for all. If I'm cross-eyed when we get back, Serana and Drelasa might bury me."

"Almost right," Gyrmallion muttered, trying to stifle a grin as he glanced at Ravenlight. "I'd better not. Maybe another time. Ahmetia, Larifa, Rellino?"

"I don't want to be turned into anything," the boy said bluntly. "It's been years since I've seen anything but this island: I want to see everything out there." He glanced over at his mother and sister. "What about you?"

"I can take being transformed," Ahmetia said, glancing with some misgivings at the dragon. "Larifa?"

"I...I want to see, too." She was not quite as self-assured as her mother, nor as brash as her brother; but there seemed to be a spark in her, nevertheless. "Especially Cyrodiil: you've told us about it so often."

"Okay!" Nevusa said brightly. "You can still see if you are a cat...or any small animal of your choice. I'd stick with bird, cat or rabbit. Or a-"

"No. Damn. Rats." Nevano glared.

"...or a frog." Nevusa amended.

"Too cold up there for frogs," Ravenlight pointed out. "I'd...like to see myself. Could you do a hawk? They've got better sight than ravens, that threw me off last time."

"I'll do a cat," Ahmetia decided. "Probably more comfortable."

"I can do a hawk." She nodded. "Okay, three kitties and a hawk. Don't get the urge to eat me."

"Not hungry." Ravenlight shrugged. "Shouldn't be a problem."

Nevano went up to the dragon and murmured something to him. "Keeping my word to you." He said before he popped into a cat.

"Mmm..." He appeared to contemplate it. "It...is helpful to know that. I will stop there when I grow tired."

Nevano leaped up on his back, wobbling a little on landing. Gyrmallion climbed up next, close behind the head. Behind them, there were three more pops, and then two more cats, and a black-winged hawk, jumped and flew up. The hawk settled on the dragon's head, between the horns: the cats waited until Larifa and Rellino had gotten situated to find their own spots. Once everyone was secure, Kriifaadneh rose, crouched a little, then launched up.

The ride back was mercifully uneventful. Nevano slept through the entire first portion of the trip somehow. Up until Krii stopped for a rest. He managed to stop himself from digging his claws in though.

As promised, a herd of cows grazed across a small stream, though they snorted and jumped when the dragon landed. Nevano jumped off, landing in a roll as he changed back mid fall.

"Whole herd. As promised." He said.

"Excellent."

He was...efficient. And every one of his passengers was moving quite some yards away before he'd finished taking down the fourth one.

"Before you ask...no brand, no bell." Nevano said. "No owner. They've run wild here. Were a pain then. Probably a pain now. Figured he'd like beef over a wormy deer."

"Sounds like you were right." Gyrmallion was a little bit green; he'd gotten a good view of what had happened to the first cow before he'd jumped down, and was having flashbacks of the feathered dragon swallowing the vampire in front of him while he'd been chained up. "Let's...move a little further away."

"Oh, hey," Ravenlight said, having followed the stream a little ways down, "There's a small lake down this way; the stream empties into it."

"Just glad ogres don't keep cows like giants do."

"Didn't know giants kept cows." Ravenlight looked back at Nevusa, grinning slyly. "They don't in Skyrim. I'll scout around, see if the lake is safe."

"I heard of painted cows." Nevano shrugged.

"Farmers paint and offer some of their cows to the giants as a sort of...tribute," Ravenlight answered, lifting a hand that glowed blue. "It usually works, unless the giant in question tends to be nasty. Those are the ones that get bounties on them. And...looks like there's no predators in the area, or in the lake."

"Oh good." Nevano looked around.

Nevusa went down to the shore. "Nevano? What kind of fish is this?"

Nevano raised an eyebrow. "If it's got teeth it's a slaughter fish. The rest are fish."

She gave him a look that was so very 'annoyed/crestfallen child' that he caved and went down to the shore to look.

Behind him, Ravenlight started to work with the straps of her armor. "I think I'm going to take a dip. It's warm enough; and it's been days since I've had a decent bath, and I kind of need one. Anyone else up for a swim? Besides you, I mean, Nevano."

"Thanks but I'm not about to get my arse bit by a toothy fish." Nevano said. "I'll pass."

"There aren't any slaughterfish; I specifically checked." She started walking toward them, having skinned out of the armor, and now in the light garb the Khajiit had given them. He might have noticed the long inhale, before she said, "And, at Drelasa's request...Fus!" She hadn't shouted, not really. But the word still caught him and flung him fifteen feet out and into the water.

He had just enough time for his eyes to go wide before he found himself flying through the air. He got part of a yelp out before crashing into way too fecking cold water. Nevano twisted underwater, grabbing his boots and yanking them off before they acted as an anchor. He held them upside down by the toe and kicked hard for the surface.

"Oh GODS!" He sputtered, spitting water and sucking in a lungful. "What in Oblivion was that for?! IT'S COLD!"

On the shore, Ravenlight dove into the water, swimming easily down, and then back up. She broke the surface, laughing. "Not quite as cold as the big lake in Skyrim. Splash around a little bit before you get to shore: Drelasa specifically asked me to drop you in a lake before you came back."

"What the feck?!" Nevano lifted one boot out of the water, letting it drain and threw it back to shore, swiftly followed by the other.

The Bosmer ducked back under and flashed through the water, twisting like an otter, before surfacing again close to him. "Ask her! I'll only admit to kind of enjoying that." She vanished again.

Nevano ground his teeth in annoyance...until Nevusa, who has slipped in not long after Ravenlight, sent a wave of water over him.

"Come on!" She urged. "Can't get in trouble doing this!" She kicked her feet and disappeared.

Gyrmallion did not join in, though he sat on a large rock beside the lake. Ahmetia joined him; her children, while they didn't plunge in as deep as Ravenlight and Nevusa, splashed in the shallows.

"Not going to swim?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Not if it's as cold as he's complaining about. After four days hanging out in the elements in High Rock, cold does not exactly sound appealing."

Nevano got back to shore just enough to take his armor off. Then Nevusa hauled him back in before he could get away. He allowed the two to roll him around in the water for only a few more minutes before he had enough of feeling like a water toy and slogged back to shore. He was going to have a word with Drelasa about this...

They finally let him go, though they didn't get out for nearly fifteen minutes more, splashing and swishing around like a pair of mermaids. When they finally did come out, they were both laughing, shivering, and their lips were starting to take on a bluish tinge.

"Think it's going to have to be a cat this time around," Ravenlight laughed to Nevusa, hugging herself to warm up a little."I'll need the fur!"

"What are those little things that run around in the snow...the little dog looking ones?" Nevusa asked. "Need to turn into one of those fuzzy things."

"A fox?" Ravenlight shrugged. "One of the little white ones; they have the thickest fur. I don't know about their balance, though."

"A fox! Yes. Couldn't remember what it was called." Nevusa shrugged. "They move pretty quick. Usually the fast ones do have a decent sense of balance. But I'm not so familiar with it to try it just yet unfortunately."

"Cats do remarkably well." Ravenlight rubbed her arms, trying to warm them up a little, before going over to her armor. "Some folks up in WInterhold keep cats: they look like the wild ones in High Rock. Lynxes. Slightly bigger than most, and much fluffier."

"We don't have the fluffy ones in Necrom." Nevusa pulled on her clothes. "We got the slinky ones. The kind you find on ships."

"Slightly heavier build than the slinky ones," Ravenlight described, as she struggled back into her armor. "Flatter faces, too. And thick fur. Think more like Ashvana than the Khajiit back on that island. They're typically white or gray, with darker faces and paws."

"Hmm..." Nevusa tapped her chin. "So far, everyone has been reflecting colors that reflect their personalities or its their own coloring...I wonder if I can get specific breeds."

Ravenlight paused. "If everyone's been reflecting their own personality..." She laughed again. "Have you ever seen a Valenwood jungle cat?"

"No, I haven't." Nevusa's eyes sparkled. "This is the first time I've ever gone south."

"They're large, for cats; adults can get to be a hundred pounds or so. Well-muscled, but lithe at the same time: and gray, with large, dark dapples." Her smile widened. "I had a pet jungle cat for years, after my brother Wolfgold gave her to me as a cub. Her name was Speckle."

Nevusa's eyes went wide. "Oh that sounds gorgeous!"

"And if the spell tailors itself to each person..."

"You'd be speckled."

"At least!" She finally tugged into the armor. "I don't know if he'll be quite finished eating yet...we might keep an eye out for any easily-caught game while we head back that way. It won't be as good as I can normally make it, over a quick fire, but it will be food, and I'm starting to get hungry again."

"Do we have a weapon that isn't...overkill?" Nevusa asked.

"I don't," Ravenlight admitted.

"I have a sling," Rellino offered, coming up to them. "And I'm a good shot. What are we looking for?"

"Rabbits, game birds," Ravenlight shrugged. "Anything small."

"Just keep watch. Minotaur and goblin territory here." Nevano said.

"I'm watching." Instincts honed by Skyrim were not fading just because they were in a different part of Tamriel, and Ravenlight was alert to anything that might suggest something like a minotaur or a nest of goblins. She'd managed to retrieve as many as her arrows as possible before they'd set out again that morning, and Breatheater was close at hand.

Rellino hesitated, and it occurred to her that he might not be used to looking out for dangers. On an island as small as Glimmosven, chances were that the dominant predators were likely the Khajiit.

Nevano eyed him. "C'mon. I'll go with you."

"Okay." He glanced at him curiously, but did not appear resentful of this.

Nevano smiled. "I lived in Cyrodiil for a good while. Might have been a long time ago, but I still remember it."

"Okay then." Rellino looked around, pulling his sling off his waist. "Um...let's go around to the other side of the lake. There were other streams feeding into it; they taught me to always look to streams and springs for game."

"And with the dragon-nothing's going to be close to this one."

Nevano grinned. "Maybe we'll get lucky and something thinks it'll get by now that he's eating that herd of cattle."

They vanished together into the woods. Ahmetia laughed ruefully as she watched them go. "That boy is probably never going to settle into city life."

"Can't say I blame him." Nevusa said.

"Larifa remembers being a princess better than he recalls being a prince." She glanced over at Gyrmallion with a smile. "Not that any of us resent the time we spent among the Khajiit; but he's probably going to move away from the city as soon as he's got an idea of what the lay of the land really is."

"Again...can't blame him!" Nevusa said.

Ahmetia glanced at her. "I'm going to assume you're much like him, then. Preferring the danger of the wilds and the outdoors to being cooped up inside?"

"Born to Necrom nobility. I was stuffed in dresses, taught which fork to was for fish and which was for meat and told I was supposed to sit there and be bored. So. Boring." Nevusa rolled her eyes. "So I cut my hair short, stole a sword and joined the Redoran Militia. This is...the first time I've really been outside Morrowind and, daedra and destruction aside...this is fun! I want to see more! How can some people never even leave the city they were born in?"

"Some people prefer quiet. I...was glad to start helping under Ko'Haryla for almost that reason," Ahmetia admitted. "And Larifa..." They exchanged a smile. "Perhaps I didn't know if we'd ever come back...but I taught her how appearing quiet and keeping your ears open can glean all sorts of interesting news. Even in a small clan that's true."

"I'm...looking forward to seeing what it's going to be like at the Imperial City again," the girl confessed. "I'm not really much for danger. But...I would like to see more of the world."

"I just...saw it at a distance. I've heard of the White Gold Tower but it was gorgeous." Nevusa said. "Being told about it did it no justice. Even as far as we were, it still seemed to glow."

"We'll be going there once the Jarls and the army from Skyrim is on the move toward High Rock," Ravenlight said. "Not just to return you three, but to ask the Emperor for the Legion's help in taking out what's currently in High Rock. Which is...unpleasant, to say the least."

At once, Nevusa perked up.

"And yes, you'll be coming." Ravenlight laughed.

"Really?!" Nevusa's eyes glittered like the sun coming over the horizon.

"Probably going to bring everyone," Ravenlight said with a shrug. "Certainly know I don't want any of us without a group, until the last of those blasted hybrids has gone down. Maybe not even then."

"I didn't think I'd ever get to go. Especially after...last year." Nevusa said.

"Last year was when Morrowwind cut ties with the Empire, wasn't it?" Ravenlight considered. "Yeah; I can see how that would make traveling to the central city of the Empire a little...mmm...tricky."

"'Cut ties' is the polite way to put it." Nevusa said. "Especially if you plan on taking anyone with the surname Veleth."

Ravenlight sighed. "Great. I might have a long talk with Drelasa, in that case, about the safest way to divide our forces, so as not to cause an incident when I arrive. Or a bigger one than I plan to, anyway: what with arriving on dragonback and bringing his lost family."

"Maybe if you can convince him to not wear the Ebony Mail?" Nevusa said. "Because that was distinctive and you've seen how he fights. It was like that the entire battle. That was after he scared the feathers off them all with what he did in Kragenmoore. Actually it's mostly just him. And Nevano."

"Well, after we get back, I'll have someone to keep Nevano in line," Ravenlight said with a smirk. "And he will be on his best behavior, so as not to deny Serana her chance to see the Imperial City, I'll bet. Veleth...might be a problem. Again, I'll talk to Drelasa and see what she suggests."

"I don't think he has as much a problem with Cyrodiil as others..." Nevusa said. "He was after that Mute."

"Yyyyess, I remember the Armiger said something about that, back in that High Rock town where we met Gyrmallion the first time." Ravenlight considered. "Something about they're still trying to get the bloodstains out. I should have put two and two together when Nevano told me about what happened to Jorun."

"He burned half his temper out killing the one that betrayed him." Nevusa shifted. "It was...the Thalmor sealed their fate when they..." She took a deep breath. "Been a year and I still can't believe they did that...the Thalmor tried to take over the burning of the body, which is like the funeral. Tried to force the priests of Mephala, Boethiah and Azura out and put a priest of the Divines in."

Gyrmallion shook his head and muttered something that sounded extremely uncomplimentary.

"It did not go over well. It was so...bold." She said. "There were a lot of people there! I'm not entirely certain what happened, despite being there but the end result was the Temple is uh...still being rebuilt. It burnt down, which probably isn't a bad thing since no one was getting those blood stains out and Drelasa walked in, got the ashes and walked out like she was a goddess herself."

"If they'd tried to do anything even a little like that when we were giving the dead to the woods after we found that purged village..." Ravenlight's eyes grew hard. "We didn't hold with eating enemies in Cothy'rim. We would have made an exception that day."

"They have been pushing at the core of cultures. It's caused no end of trouble. I don't understand why they do that. Surely they know it will only cause those people to fight back?" Nevusa asked. "However...I know I'm making him sound bad but he does respect you. He's not showing it but I can see it. If you ask it of him, he'll probably do it. Not sure why he's being so closed off. Normally he's the easiest thing in the room to read."

"Who, Nevano or Veleth?" She glanced at her.

"Both, actually, but I was talking about Veleth." She said.

"Veleth's been having trouble with Boethiah, and it's chafing him," Ravenlight said. "That little fight he had with Zak, the one that got out of control? It was actually pretty clear neither of them had meant for it to go as far as it did. From the look in their eyes, they'd been a few seconds away from actively trying to kill each other, and they certainly hadn't meant for that to happen when they started to cross blades. And it's been bothering him a lot."

"He doesn't like being forced into something he doesn't want to do." Nevusa said. "Shocking tidbit, I know. He hasn't been settled for some time though. It's like he's been trying to convince himself into something and now it's erupting all around him. Can't get him to talk about it, though."

"That sounds familiar." Ravenlight sighed and shook her head. "Believe it or not, Drizzt didn't open up easily either when I first met him. Practically took a crowbar to get him to tell me about some of the things that were...hurting him the most. And Zak's the same way, though he takes extra precautions by turning into a thornbush when you try to ask him." She looked up at a triumphant call to see Nevano and Rellino returning, Rellino triumphantly displaying a pair of grouse. "That was quick. All right, let's find a safe place to cook those before we head back to Kriifaadneh. He could...probably use the rest, actually."

"We got time. Dawn, remember?" Nevusa grinned widely.

"Good." Ravenlight shook her head. "You've never seen a dragon when it's gorged itself half-stupid. I have. It's the best time to fight them."

"I...have a horrible image in my head of it being much like a fighting a netch that just ate..." Nevusa made a face and shuddered. "Ew..."

"They're slower, it's harder for them to fly, and they don't usually think straight," Ravenlight said. "I faced a few netches in Solstheim, but...never had to deal with one that gorged itself first."

"Let's put it this way...one of Veleth's favorite punishments to dole out when he was on Solstheim was to clean the Bulwark of what happens when a dumb netch that just ate bumped into the wall and felt threatened." Nevusa said. "It was...almost solely the twins' job, from what he said."

"Ah." She grimaced. "Well. Dragons don't do that, thank goodness...but if he's eaten even half of those cattle, we'll need to move a little closer to him while we're eating those grouse. Goblins won't come close to him, even passed out sleeping off his meal; but minotaurs are stupid enough to try it. And while none of them would have the clout to kill him, they could injure him."

"Ah. That." She nodded.

"I could probably heal him...but I'd rather not."

Some people got irritable when they thought they owed a debt to someone who'd healed them. A dragon...would be worse. Without question.

The others displayed some reluctance to get close to the dragon's feasting ground, and after Ravenlight went back to scout the area in question, she couldn't blame them. The bodies of the Thalmor had disappeared almost completely, save for a few pieces of armor, scattered weapons, and here and there a bloodstain.

The cattle...had not vanished so cleanly. There were legs, the odd head, a few splintered, hollowed-out ribcages...and, as he'd gotten full, a few simply left half-eaten. The once quiet meadow was now a scene of slaughter.

"I see this suggestion went over pretty well." Nevano muttered. "You know, I remember when this herd first showed up. No one had a clue where they came from but they were meaner than a minotaur and half as intelligent. Plus their horns kept getting longer. Was contracted a few times to get rid of them but we were never successful."

"If any of them escaped, they probably won't be an issue now." Ravenlight grimaced. "Especially when that starts to attract scavengers." There was a deep rumbling from the direction of the dragon that had everyone else scooting back several yards. She sighed. "Aaand he's out for more than a few hours. We probably won't be able to continue on again until it's nearly dark. Let's find a decent campsite to rest until he wakes up."

Nevano picked up a horn and tipped it at the snoring dragon. "Thank you for the arrowheads."

A few moments of scouting upstream found a decent spot for a camp in a small clearing. They were close enough to keep an eye on the slumbering dragon, and it was a defensible spot, should trouble come calling. Even better, there were plenty of rocks by the stream bed to allow them to build a ring for a campfire, and more than enough deadwood for their purpose. Ahmetia proved surprisingly adept at cooking over an open flame, and took over roasting the two grouse, while Ravenlight and Nevano alternated to keep watch.

Nevano chose his watch spot up in a tree, carefully carving out arrowheads from the cow horn. His ears were intently focused around him but it was obvious he knew the area around him well enough to instantly pick up on the sound that wasn't right. They occasionally heard a few bits of a song they had never heard before.

Ravenlight looked as though she had really wanted to climb a tree herself; but her armor was too heavy for the purpose. So she stayed down below, chatting a little with Nevusa and Gyrmallion, and with the three Imperials whenever they showed interest in what she was talking about. She was keeping an ear out herself; but one of the things she was listening most intently to was actually Nevano.

"Men need a man would die as soon, out of the light of a mage's moon. But it's not by bone, but yet by blade, can break the magic that the devil made. And it's not by fire, but was forged in flame. Can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain." He sang quietly.

She had no idea what the song was, or what it was talking about...but she was intrigued.

"Oh father dear, lie and be safe, from the path that the devil made." He stopped when he realized he had a small audience.

"That was good," Ravenlight said. "Sounded like something the Muse might have sung."

"The Muse?" he asked.

"I really don't know a lot about her. But Drizzt and I...we encountered her once, on our way to Labyrinthian. She appeared to just be a wandering bard; sang for us. Her song later helped wake me from a coma induced by severe, repeated magicka drain, and very likely saved Drizzt's life." She leaned back against the tree she was under. "She sang 'The Dragonborn Comes'; but it was a version I'd never heard before or since."

"Viarmo at the Bard's College later told me that she's a...lesser goddess of sorts, neither really Daedra nor Aedra; and her purpose is to inspire whoever she comes across."

"Do you remember the lyrics?" He asked, truly curious.

"She combined it with...I don't know its name. I know the words, certainly the part she sang: but I'd never heard them sung so...gently before. And she..." Ravenlight shook her head. "Her voice blended and harmonized with itself, like a choir was singing along. But it was just her. I could sing it, but it wouldn't be nearly as...impressive as what she did."

"There are some songs like that." Nevano smiled. "There's one we all like but it doesn't have that...power by itself. Needs a few people. I forgot it's true name. We just call it Dusty's Lullaby because it's the only song he'll fall sleep to every time. Remind me when we get back and I'll convince Veleth to sing it."

"The Khajiit sang on the island," Rellino commented, "But they only sang in their language, and we...really couldn't learn it. And not for lack of trying. It was pretty, though."

"Oh vith...you just brought up a memory..." Nevano swallowed hard. "I know what you mean. There's no way to repeat their singing unless it was your native tongue."

"Have you heard them sing?" Gyrmallion looked up at him. "I know I have. When I was in my teens, I would find excuses to head off and 'camp' on the island when I knew one of their festival nights was coming up, so I could listen to their songs."

"Yes...many times now that dam has broke." Nevano said.

Ravenlight went still. "When...did you hear them?"

"Sometimes it was sad. Sometimes it was...happy. Defiantly happy. Their voices would go up and down. I tried to sing with them once." Nevano said. "Heh, I had no way to keep up but I still tried. It was one of those songs you'd get swept up in and you almost had to sing with them. I was really small then...she had pulled me close to her and let me make a slight fool of myself. I think I nearly cried when they stopped."

"That would be when...you were a child?" Ravenlight was not going to say the words, 'when you were a slave,' though she suspected it was the case.

Nevano nodded. "We had no clue what the other was saying but...I liked it when they sang."

She nodded. "It's...a good thing." Her eyes grew distant. "Listening to the songs in the places I went during my wanderlust; it kept...the worst of the effects away. Can't really say it kept me sane, I was so close to the edge; but while I could listen to the bards, and people singing along...it helped."

"Helps break through the fog, that's for sure." Nevano said.

They fell silent after that; though Nevano, after a self-conscious moment, went back to quietly singing his strange song. This lasted until Ahmetia looked up from the spit.

"It's ready. Come eat."

After the long nap on the flight over, Nevano's appetite had finally returned and he found himself hungry after only eating a few bites for breakfast. The grouse was good; not perfect, but as good as something cooked over an open fire without the benefit of cooking tools could be. And if anyone was thinking of other foods-perfectly-grilled and seasoned fish, tender roast venison, or mud-crab stew, perhaps-they kept it to themselves.

Afterwards, though, they found themselves getting restless. Several of them wanted to continue on immediately, but after being told by a wide-eyed Ravenlight to, "For the gods' sake, let sleeping dragons lie," they had to find other ways to amuse themselves.

Nevano looked northeast. They weren't too far from Chorrol. The area was agonizingly familiar. "When I was fifteen, I started training to join the Fighters Guild in Chorrol, just that way a bit. I was told I needed to learn to survive outside city walls, since most contracts were in the wilderness." A smile stretched across his face. "So I was taken to the middle of the Great Forest and left there."

"Good heavens." Ravenlight looked almost stunned. "That's...not how I would have done it, and that's putting it mildly. Though since you're here, I suppose it worked. What are you suggesting?"

He grinned wider. "I wasn't alone. Someone was usually watching out of sight but I had to learn how to handle myself. Not suggesting anything. It just wasn't far from here. The longer I sit here, the more memories I had forgotten come rushing back."

"Good memories?" Ravenlight looked around and stood. "You want to show us around this area? As long as we don't go too far, and keep an eye out for trouble, we should be all right."

"I think...yes." Nevano nodded. "Want to see the ruins of an old Oblivion gate?"

Rellino bolted up in excitement, and even his mother and sister looked intrigued. Ravenlight and Gyrmallion stood, as well.

"Sounds interesting," Ravenlight said. "Didn't know they did keep standing after...be interesting to see it all."

"They popped up everywhere. Without any real reason. Just annoying. Directly south. By some old fort ruins." Nevano hopped out of the tree. "We'll probably still hear the snoring."

Ravenlight glanced up at the way the trees were shuddering in the exhales and laughed. "At this point, we'll be able to hear him a good half-mile off. He's almost breaking the Green Pact, way he's going. Lead on, Nevano."