Inigo knocked on Lunara's door and heard a muffled, "go away, or I swear to the Divines I will make you regret it Kaidan." Inigo chuckled. "My friend, it is Inigo. May I come in?"

There was silence on the other side of the door, and then the lock clicked. Inigo pushed open the door and closed it behind him. Lunara sat down on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them. There was an awkward silence, and Inigo cleared his throat. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about, other than Kaidan is an ass. Do you really want to talk about that?" she said.

Inigo stifled a smile. "No, but I don't think that is what's really bothering you. Please tell me, my friend. Maybe I can help somehow," he said.

"Why does Kaidan call me Asynja? Do you know what it means?" she lifted her head to look at him, her gaze penetrating his, unnerving him.

"I do, and so do you. He told you when you asked him before," Inigo said.

"When?" she said.

"The night before last, when you'd had too much wine and he helped you to bed." He said.

Lunara narrowed her eyes. "Did he 'help' himself to anything else?"

Inigo opened his mouth to answer as the door opened, and Kaidan walked in. "No, I didn't 'help' myself to anything else. If you think so little of me, why don't you just say so?" He stood in the middle of the room, scowling at her. She glared right back at him. He's lucky I don't have my daggers right now, I'd show him how little I think of him, she thought.

Inigo stood up. "Why don't you both calm down and think for a minute? Is it really each other you're angry at? Lunara, I have never seen you lose your temper like this except if bandits are involved, which I completely understand. This is a whole new level of angry and I'm not sure I understand it," he said, gesturing to all of her.

"You wouldn't understand, Inigo, because I never explained it to you. Kaidan knows though, don't you?" Lunara glared at Kaidan, and she thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes.

"What is she talking about?" Inigo said.

Kaidan sighed, his scowl softening into a frown. "The other night she told me a story about her past that she hadn't even told Danica. When you asked what happened that night I didn't tell you because it wasn't my secret to tell." He sank into a chair, leaned his head back against the wall, and closed his eyes. It's been a long day, and it's not even midday yet, he thought.

"I see," Inigo said, glancing back and forth between the two of them. "Would someone care to enlighten me?"

Lunara sat cross-legged on the bed and stared at her hands that were now folded in her lap. "The leader of the Shadow Syndicate, Valuxus, held me captive for two months before I was smuggled out of Bruma on a carriage hauling Colovian Brandy to this very inn. While I was his captive he abused me in every sadistic way possible. He used to take pleasure in telling me that when he was finished with me he'd discard me like the trash I was and I'd be so ruined by him that no man could or would want me. I told Kaidan the story when I'd had too much wine and I didn't remember until just now when you said that he'd told me what Asynja means."

Inigo was stunned. "I-I'm so sorry my friend. I had no idea," he said.

'No one did, I didn't want their pity. The worst part is, so far, Valuxus has been right," she said, as tears welled in her eyes. "So when I saw what had happened to these girls, knowing Valuxus had been a part of it, just made my blood boil. Especially since he's already dead, so there's no chance of making him pay, and Siddgeir gets away with not doing anything to help these girls because he's the Jarl. Where is the justice in that?"

"There isn't any," Kaidan said, not opening his eyes. His voice was gentle now, all trace of the earlier irritation gone. "There's no one that could remove him from his station so anyone that tries to go against him will end up jailed, or worse. Which reminds me, he seemed very interested as to why you didn't come to see him this morning. I'm pretty sure he was hoping you'd lose your temper. Gods, it took all the strength I had not to walk up to the throne and throttle him myself and I haven't even been through what you have. It's a good thing you didn't go, Asyn-" he stopped himself, clearing his throat. "Sorry."

Lunara looked at him and shook her head, the fury gone from her face. "No, I'm sorry," she said. "I am just so angry and frustrated with this whole situation and when you said it wouldn't have mattered if I died healing those girls something snapped and I just-lost it because it mattered to me."

Kaidan opened his eyes. "I didn't mean it to come out like it wouldn't have mattered at all. I just meant that if you truly felt like it's your job to save everyone on Nirn then you dying because you exhausted yourself healing that small group of girls would be a waste because Nirn is so big and there's just one of you. I just don't want to see you push yourself beyond your limits because you've got this idea in your head that no one else will. Call me selfish, but I want you to keep breathing for a long time," he said with a half-smile.

"As do I," Inigo said. Lunara smiled and wiped the tears that had fallen onto her cheeks. "Thanks, guys," she whispered.

"By the way," Kaidan said, "the Jarl paid a large amount of coin for that adventure." He laid the coin purse on the end of the bed. "I don't know how much is in there, but it's heavy."

Lunara glanced at it and then stared at the wall. "You guys split it, I don't want any of that bastard's coin. I'd rather sell my body in a tavern than take his coin, and I am appalled by the thought of doing that." She made a face and shuddered, and Kaidan and Inigo chuckled.

"How about this," Kaidan suggested, "We don't split the coin, but we use it to get these girls settled into their new lives. They can't stay here at the inn forever and honestly, it really belongs to them since they were the ones being bought and sold like cattle."

Lunara's face lit up. "That is a great idea!" she said, as Inigo nodded in agreement. Lunara grabbed the coin purse, dumped it on the bed, and began counting the coin.

"Three thousand septims divided by twenty girls... that's 150 septims each," she said. "Enough for a carriage ride to wherever they want to go I would expect. I can send word to Danica and see if she'll take any of them in as acolytes. Maybe she can send word to the other temples in Skyrim and they might do the same?"

"That is a great idea, my friend," Inigo said. Lunara stuffed the coins back in the pouch, and the three of them left the room to talk to the girls.

They spent the next couple of hours with them, laying out a plan and dividing up the coin. Lunara had just sat down to write a letter to Danica when she was approached by a blonde-haired man dressed like a noble. "Excuse me, madam, I don't normally do this, but erm..do you have a moment to talk?" He said. Lunara glanced up from her letter. "Sure, have a seat," she said, putting down her quill.

A look of relief washed over his face as he sat down in the chair across from her. "I can't help but notice you seem to be acquainted with, how can I put this, the less savory side of Skyrim?"

Lunara raised an eyebrow at him. "I've seen a thing or two. What can I help you with?"

"Right, here goes," Lucien said, taking a deep breath. "My name is Lucien Flavius. I am a scientist, philosopher, amateur wizard, and something of a musician, although I suppose that's more of a hobby. I came to Skyrim on an expedition from Cyrodiil. I find the province simply fascinating. The flora, the fauna, the ruins, both Dwemer and Nordic, the architecture, the politics…"

Lunara leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Right, sorry," he said, shaking his head. "The problem is that I'm not much of a fighter. Skyrim is no place for a 'milk-drinker' like me, so I'm looking for someone to travel with. I guess what I'm trying to say is, would you mind if I tag along?" he said, his voice hopeful. "I would pay you, say 300 septims upfront, with no expectations other than to take me with you and assist in keeping me alive wherever possible. After that, I'll top you up anytime we come across something relevant to my research."

Lunara considered it and shook her head. "No, it wouldn't be safe for you with me."

Not to be dissuaded, he said, "Ah, but then I'd have you to protect me. What do you say?"

Lunara sighed. "Fine, but you're not going anywhere until we get you some decent armor. My name is Lunara by the way," she said.

Lucien grinned so big Lunara thought his face would split. "Nice to meet you Lunara. We're going to make a great team." Lunara smiled back and returned to writing her letter, hoping he was right.