5th of Hearthfire

"One hour of training each morning, another hour each evening." Aric reminded the two youths. "Any member of our party who bears arms will tell you how important it is to train properly under the supervision of a proper instructor."

"Yes, milord." Lucien and Adrian said in unison.

The sun had just recently risen, and it was technically still Rigel's watch, when the sound of sword play again filled our camp. Aric and Captain Kurst had a brief word before both joined the line of students as the two housecarls called out the sequence.

I assumed that when it came time for mock battles that I would again face Runa, but it was Captain Kurst whose face opposed mine. He held a sword worthy of any noble, a sword that was matched in quality by his armor.

He was as tall as Aric, whom I had never faced. His sword was almost two hands length longer than the sword I held now. He had observed me wield all the weapons I now wore, but I knew nothing of him.

We were four pairs. Father and daughter and two sets of housecarl and youth made up the other couples. The Captain and I would be the third pair to joust. The morning was cool, almost cold; a blessing during training, but cloaks would be required later until the sun lent its full warmth to us.

We see what we expect to see Amren's words echoed in my mind. An opponent that has become familiar with your movements will expect those movements in battle. Your movements must begin by appearing familiar but must end otherwise.

When it was our turn for mock battle, I took my guard as I had each time during the previous hour. Every part of my body was positioned just as it had been at the start of each sequence.

We began, and I repeated a series that I had practiced hundreds of times. Kurst retreated, repeating a series that his must have rehearsed thousands of times, using a minimum of movement.

We continued thus for several passes, when I finally detected a relaxing of his face and shoulders.

It was then that I changed my sequence in mid step, substituting a false step in place of a full one before a series of triangular steps and rapid strikes to Kurst's left.

Kurst had begun to step straight backwards, expecting the sequence he had seen repeated several times. My modified attack caught him with only one foot on the earth, and it was the wrong foot; I had attacked his left side, but it was Kurst's right foot that was planted. He was forced to pivot on that foot as he rotated his upper body to bring his sword in a position to block. His weight was too far back, and I thought I had him with a series of strikes, but he bent his planted leg, and then used it to propel backwards, using the turning of his upper body to initiate a spin as he extended his sword arm straight.

If I had pressed my attack too closely, I would have been struck. It was my turn now to be awkwardly positioned, forced to bend my knees forward, and my torso backwards to the point of falling so that his blade passed inches from my face as I looked up to the sky.

You have weapons that others do not possess. Amren said in more than one lesson. Do not forget them.

I placed my left hand straight down and cast a spell. My hand was inches from the earth when the spell formed, stopping my fall, and propelling me into the air and into a somersault as my torso pivoted forwards. I initiated the roll with my left shoulder and borrowed Kurst's technique as my feet found the earth again and I converted my momentum into a spin that resembled one I had first seen in the Rift, a spin that was the source of one of my many scars.

It was in this posture that our mock battle ended, each of us in a crouch, right leg forward, left leg backwards, sword arm extended forward, separated by three or four sword lengths. We were each taking a moment to regain our breadth when Aric called a halt.

"You will forgive me, Captain, if I take a moment and ensure that all of my nose is still present on my face." I said. "Your blade passed so close that I could see my altered reflection quite clearly in it."

"You had lulled me to sleep, your Grace." Kurst said. "It was out of desperation that I acted. Nothing else would have saved me."

"It was excellently done, sir." I said. "But for a modicum of caution in my attack, and a hair's breadth of space, I was lost."

"I stopped breathing at some point" Aric said, "Though I cannot pinpoint when exactly. I was sure that you would require healing, but I see you are undamaged."

"Lady, I have never know a Priestess such as you." Kurst said. "I have never known a woman such as you."

"You are kinsman to such a lady, sir." I said as I glanced at Runa and Lucia. "More than one such lady. You may learn that in time."

"Do not fall in love with my sister, cousin." Runa said. "The line is far too long, and you would be at the back."

I do not believe it is Lucia that he is falling in love with I thought.

"Come, Father, it is our turn." Runa said.

I turned to walk away and clear a space for father and daughter only to see twelve assembled faces looking at me from beside the wagons.

Gods

"Good morning, children." I said in what I was sure was a vain attempt to break this spell.

"Good morning, your Grace." Came in reply in hushed tones, barely discernible above the sounds of swords engaging each other.

"Giselle, may I have a basin of water for washing?" I asked. "Maliyah, would you bring me clean linen and robes? This armor is too moist, and I believe I will do without it for our journey to the village."

"Yes, your Grace." They both said.

If seeing me naked and helping me bath and dress does not cure these two of their worship of me, then I am truly lost I thought.

It was during our final preparations, while Giselle and Maliyah were storing my armor in one of the wagons that the Captain approached, drew his sword, and placed it between us as he knelt down.

"My cousin has informed me of what transpired on the battlefield in Skyrim, when you brought her back from the very brink of death." He said.

"Arise, cousin, if I may call you by that familiar phrase." I said. "She exaggerates, and it is not seemly for a Captain to kneel so."

Runa had certainly not exaggerated. She was very close to death, indeed, as were many others. It was the power of the Earthbones that had healed them.

"With respect, your Grace, I heard it from her own mouth. She saw the banquet hall in Sovngarde." He said. "She saw her parents. She saw the place at table set specifically for her. You plucked her from the jaws of death and returned her to the living. Not only her. It was an entire battlefield of wounded and dying that you returned to health that day."

"And as a result, I lay motionless for almost three days afterwards, good Sir Knight." I said. "I did not heal anyone that day. It was the Divines that are to be thanked. I was merely an instrument of their will, as we all are."

Giselle began to pray as Maliyah began to cry.

"This instrument of the Divines pledges his sword and his life to serve and protect you madam." Kurst said as he leaned forward and touched his head to the earth, followed in quick succession by two women wearing priestess initiates robes.

Most definitely lost, I thought, past any saving.

"I do not know what to do." I said to Aric. "I am totally at sea. I cannot place one foot in front of the other without making matters worse."

We had finally turned off the main road and made slow progress south on a well-worn and compacted trail just wide enough to accommodate the wagons. We had left the wagons covered, on the advice of Captain Kurst, who was concerned that the weather might take a turn for the worse.

"You try too hard, beloved." Aric said. "This is not something that can be coerced. Jordis, Runa, and Lucia know you better than anyone present but for me. They do not prostrate themselves in worship. Give the rest time. Their worship will ripen into love. They will love you as we do."

"Here approaches one you mention as if she heard her name called."

Runa had ridden back to us before turning her horse back around to ride next to us.

"You have definitely cast your spell over him, sister." Runa said. "He is like a newly minted knight on his first Crusade. He talks of nothing else."

"I see how he looks at you, sister, and how that looked has evolved." I said to her. "Surely I am his second Crusade, and the second to cast a spell upon him."

She laughed. "You see much." She said.

"You did not help my burden become any lighter with your recounting the battlefield at Silent Moons Camp." I said. "I do not believe Giselle has stopped praying, or Maliyah has stopped crying since the Captain's demonstration."

"We have not yet spoken of that day." Runa said. "I have no knack for expressing gratitude of the magnitude that would be required. One more step into Sovngarde and I would have been lost to this world."

"You saved my life in the southern road at Dragon's Bridge." I reminded her. "I have not yet thanked you for my continued existence either. We are sisters, are thanks necessary? Is it not implicit in the title of Sister that I will save your life, and you will save mine, for no other reason than so that I may enjoy your continued company?"

"I feel a constriction in my throat that is quite uncomfortable." Runa said as her gloved hand found my arm. "I will resume my place in the column before I spoil your beautiful words."

"That is as close to tears as I have seen her since she was a child." Aric said.

It was midday when we stopped.

"I would not bring the children and the wagons any closer, Lady." Kurst said as Runa and Lucia exchanged a look, since it seemed that the Captain had now placed me in the position of authority, demoting Aric in rank.

"Please take Jordis and Rigel and reconnoiter, Captain." I said. "I have no doubt that you will be observed. It is best if you were not faceless figures in armor, even though you bear no resemblance to brigands. But it is your decision whether helms are necessary."

"We will persevere without them, Lady." Kurst said.

Lady now I thought.

"Simple walk through the village and observe and be observed." I said.

"It is always possible that the village is truly abandoned." Kurst said.

"Yes," Aric replied. "It is also possible that it is now populated with brigands, lying in wait. It is not an enviable job, to ride into such a village to see what starts from cover."

"I have no doubt that you three will prevail against all comers." I said. "But I can call a raptor the size of a dragon to your aid in a trice. You will not be alone."

If the Captain's eyes shined any brighter, they would surely bore a hole through me I thought

"We three are enough, Lady." Kurst said, "but your assurance is most welcome."

It was, therefore, a very small bird that flew ahead of them, before flying a circular route around the village. Kurst carried no shield, but both Jordis and Rigel carried round steel and wood shields, each emblazoned with the symbol of their holds: Haafingar for Jordis and The Reach for Rigel. No one observing these three figures would in any way mistake them for bandits.

But if anyone observed them, they did so from indoors. Nothing stirred except out advance party.

"Gaius, Pilus, it is time to announce our presence." I said after out scouting party had returned. "I will be by your side, or, more accurately, you will be by mine. You must stay close so that I can protect the three of us. If you do so, I promise you that no weapon forged by man will harm you. Can you be brave, and walk with me into your village?"

They did not hesitate in their answer.

"Yes, Lady." They both said.

"You will not go unattended." Aric said.

"I had not expected to." I replied before smiling. "My attendants must accompany me. I am, after all, an Archpriestess. Giselle, please retrieve my staff.

After a short delay for discussion that Aric swore was required if I was not to be placed under some form of arrest, Gaius, Pilus, Giselle, Maliyah, and I entered the village first, with Aric and Runa a moderate distance behind.

"Father, if you consign me to guarding the luggage again, I will ride into that village, screaming like a banshee." Runa said in ultimatum.

"Take her with you, Father." Lucia said. "I will not have a moments peace, otherwise. These three have already had their turn, and I will keep the Captain company."

"Being a Father can be quite tiring at times." Aric said as he assumed the walk of a petulant child. "Come along, then, daughter."

The laughter of the remaining children would have ruined any stealth if it had been required.

"These are our fields." Pilus said as we passed the first fields that were heavy with grain, waiting for harvest. "And that is our house." He said, indicating a house on the right, adjacent to the field.

On the opposite side of the field was a grindstone which sat silent, though the well word circular path around was in no way overgrown.

"All the buildings seem securely shut." I said. "And you were last to be taken. You were here eight days ago, is that correct?"

"Yes, Reverend Mother." Gaius said.

We continued to walk towards the center of the small village and the barn as the two young men referred to it.

A creaking door was the first noise in the village that we did not make ourselves.

A bard door meant for two-legged visitors had opened a small crack. It took a moment for the door to open wider as a young girl, who could not have seen more than twelve winters, partially emerged.

"Gaius?" she asked almost in disbelief.

"Caro?" the young man next to me asked.

Caro began to run towards us. She was quite hysterical when she was finally close enough that she could fling herself into Gaius' arms as she wrapped her arms and legs around him.

It was pointless asking her questions at the moment. Her face and nose kept up a steady stream as her sobs increased in volume.

"Shhhh." Gaius kept repeating. "I am perfectly well."

A woman not much older than Lucia stood in the now fully open doorway.

"Cybele be praised." She said, her hands clasped to her chest as she simply stood and stared at us.

Pilus took almost no time to close the distance between them.

"Mother, what has happened?" Pilus asked after the two had shared a long embrace.

I could see the bruise on the side of her face even from where I stood in the road.

"Giselle, Maliyah, bring the chest of medicinals." I said. "And ask the Archmage to insure that this village is secured."

"We drove them off, but the cost was high." Pilus' mother said.

She spoke the truth. All the men of the village were injured, as were most of the women.

"They fought armed and armored men with farm implements." Kurst said. "It is a wonder that none were killed."

"A sharp scythe, or a pitchfork, in determined hands, is a fearsome weapon." Aric said.

"All the men have serious wounds though." I said. "But for Pilus' sister, some would have not survived this long."

"She has a natural talent for healing." Aric said. "and has had instruction, if I am not mistaken, from the wise woman in the shawl."

"Virtually every member of this village has injuries." I said. "Some of those injuries would never heal on their own."

"And their defensive position would only have lasted until the bandits returned and fired the barn." Aric said.

"There is much work here to do." I said.

"I agree." Aric said. "But should you wish to avail yourself of the opportunity, you also may complete another task."

"We cannot delay for three days while I emulate a figure from a fairy tale." I said.

"That was an entire battlefield filled with injuries." Aric said. "I count fifteen residents in total here, four having no obvious injury. I do not believe you will be so incapacitated."

"Very well, sir, since you tire of my appearance, it would seem that I have little choice." I said.

"You have quite recent evidence of my true opinion of your appearance, madam." Aric said.

"You scandalize me in the presence of my attendants, sir." I said. "Giselle has become quite blushed."

"A thousand apologies, madam." Aric said as he looked at Giselle and smiled.

You only make it worse I thought.

"Brave friends." I said to the residents of the village. "My name is Noxaura, a Priestess of the Maetreum of Cybele. I need not tell you that some of you bear serious wounds. Given time, and care, you will recover; but with your permission I will take you all by a shorter route. Do not be the least concerned if I appear somewhat different afterwards. My aspect now is only borrowed."

I already stood in the center of the structure, half of which held the four-legged residents of the village. It required nothing of me but to close my eyes and clear my mind.

"Remember, beloved" Aric said. "A small amount is sufficient for this task."

A puff of breath out

A sip of breath in

I felt the power begin to fill me, but I kept it in check. My body began to glow, but dimly. My connection with Aric came alive.

You are the Healer Priestess now. He said. That is the image to conjure in your mind.

But it was a different image he sent me.

You are scandalous, sir! I chided him. Would you have me appear so in the midst of this assembly?

I only share a treasured image I have of you he replied.

Do you not have another in which I not as naked as the day I was born? I asked.

His laughter rang in my mind.

I will blame you entirely, sir, if one of my attendants is forced to run and fetch a robe for me. I said as I formed the healing spell in my mind, and the energy radiated outward from me.

It was an encouraging sign when I opened my eyes, and my robes were still in place.

"It was the same men." Said Gaius' father, whose name was Ennis. "The wanted the boys. We didn't understand."

"We had hidden all the children when we spotted them." Said Gaius' mother, whose name was Capius.

"We had watchers posted." Ennis said. "We never expected them to return so soon."

"One of them struck me, and Ennis ran him through with a pitchfork." Capius said.

"It was a melee after that, using whatever was at hand as a weapon." Ennis said. "But they had swords and were armored."

"But they was down to three men right from the start." Said Pilus' father, Jano. "When they was down to only two, they took their wounded and left."

"But we did not have the strength to follow them and finish them." Ennis said.

"Which way did the depart?" Aric asked.

"West, milord." Ennis said.

"What lies west of your village?" I asked.

All of them looked at me as if Cybele herself had landed in their midst. It was Gaius who finally spoke.

"There is a ruined tower, Reverend Mother, about two hours walk to the northwest." He said. "It's very old. When I was younger, my father took some of us out there and brought back stone from it. It makes up part of the village north wall."

"He speaks of the ruins of Fort Warden." Kurst said. "And he is correct, it is very old."

"Would they set their camp so far from the village?" I asked

"It is far from the village, but it may be much closer to something else." Aric said.

"A two-hour walk, with two wounded men." Kurst said. "If that is their destination, only two of those men will arrive."

"One of them certainly cannot last that long." Aric said. "The other will be of little use if he does."

"Did you see any sign of a camp to the west of the village when you flew over it yesterday?" Kurst asked me.

"It is a figure of speech, friends." I said to too many stunned faces, all of whom seemed primed to believe that I could fly. "We observed your village from above with the assistance of a bird we summoned for that purpose, during which no camp was evident, though I cannot guarantee that one did not exist."

"The wood west of here can hide any number of camps, Milord." Jano said. "a small camp could easily have been missed."

"Horses would cover the distance much quicker." Kurst said.

"We do not know what force you would find when you arrived." Aric said. "And we cannot leave the village undefended."

"These men surely will not return." Kurst said.

"That is true." Aric said. "But they may send others. Others that will not treat this village kindly after what has happened."

"Since we are on the subject of defense" I began, "I am mindful of Amren's opinion on that topic."

"Amren is the Reverend Mother's sword instructor." Aric said in answer to the question that was plain on the Captain's face.

"Lady, your instructor has much to be proud of." Kurst said. "He has taught you masterfully."

"He is an excellent instructor and has taught more than one of my children." Aric said. "And I share his opinion. This will not be the only village that these men, or men like them, will visit. We cannot defend every village in Cyrodiil.

Whatever authority directs these men, we must change its priorities; change it in such a way that it applies the bulk of its forces to a new task, leaving few, if any, men to continue raiding villages for any reason."

"Giselle, Maliyah, please rouse a clean set of breeches and tunic, and perhaps now is an appropriate time for some instruction on the care of armor of this sort." I said. "It appears that the robes of a priestess will not serve for what the Archmage has in mind."

"The dragon and the goshawk take flight in search of prey." A voice said from behind us.

It was the elderly woman in the shawl.

"Not now, Gran" Pilus said.

"Sharp eyes and sharp talons. Galen and Elain; aamutähti ja yöilma." she said.

Mitä näkösi näyttää sinulle, äiti?, Aric asked her.

Näen unohduksen portit ja sellaisen, joka antaisi ne jälleen auki. She replied.

Kuka, äiti? He asked

Hänen kasvonsa en näe. she replied

Mutta etsinkö häntä? Aric asked

Etsitte toisianne. Hän on sinun saalisi, sinä olet hänen. She answered

Aric was silent for a moment.

"What is your name, mother?" Aric asked her.

"Gran is my name now. Old Woman is my name now." She answered, in a language I could finally understand. "But when I was young and beautiful I was Ysabeth the Fair. Ysabeth Locke was a true beauty, like the priestess with the two aspects." She said as she pointed to me.

"Though I only ever need the one face." She said before laughing.

"The name of Locke is known to me, revered mother." Aric said. "You are far from High Rock."

"We are both far from home, dragon prince." She said, her laugh returning. "I am far from the bones of my mother, but the dragon prince and the hawk priestess are close to the bones of theirs. A short walk south to commune with the bones of your ancestor."

"Your eyes see clearly, Ysabeth the still Fair." Aric said, taking her hand. "We do indeed travel south for that purpose, and to bring these lost birds home."

"Then it is well you bring a bird goddess with you, dragon prince." She said with a laugh, as Maliyah began to prey. "And one of her flock to attend her. You will need both if you are to see the hills of home again."

She has a powerful gift I thought. Whatever she said affected Aric a great deal. He blanched at her words.

"You must take great care, mother." Aric said to her. "This mysterious face that you cannot see may already know your face quite well. Your sight and wisdom are too valuable to risk. Of all the weapons at hand, you may be the most important to me."

"I know how to hide when it is needed, son of Kyne." She answered, her laugh punctuating the sentence. "he would have better luck finding a field mouse in a great wood."

Ole hyvin pieni kenttähiiri, Ysabeth Messut. He said.

"It is you who must take care." she said as she looked at each of us in turn, "He will not stop searching for you, dragon or hawk, once your existence is known to him."

"We must all learn to be field mice then." Aric said to her.

She simply laughed, as she placed her hand on his cheek.

It was an odd assortment that made up our council of war.

"We always thought her no more than an old woman whose wits were failing." Pilus' father Jano said. "and that it was gibberish she spoke."

"It is the ancient language of Atmora." Aric replied. "It is quite rare to hear it spoken now, excepting Altmer who are quite old. And her wits are perfectly in tack. I know many who have the gift of sight, and Ysabeth has it in abundance."

"She said Galen and Elain, and then words that I did not recognize." I said.

"Aamutähti ja Yöilma." Aric said.

"Surly the first word refers to you." I said

"Yes." He answered, "And the second refers to you."

"What does it mean?" I asked

"It means night air." He answered. "Morning star and night air is what she said. She was referring to the two of us."

"Why would she refer to me as night air?" I asked

"It is the meaning of Noxaura." He replied with a smile.

"She said something before that." Kurst said. "Galen, and…"

"Galen and Elain." Aric said.

"I have heard the name of Galen before." I said.

"You heard me mention the Druids of Galen." Aric said. "The name of Elain you have not heard, at least not from me. She was a Wyress of the Beldama Wyrd some time during the first Era."

Gods

"Her sight is strong indeed." I said. "You spoke to her for some time, and you did not like what you heard. I needed no skill in languages to learn that much."

"You are correct." He said, as his face became a mask, which I well knew boded ill.

"Will you keep us in suspense?" Kurst asked.

"I asked her what she saw." Aric began

I see the gates of Oblivion, and one who would have them opened. She answered.

Who? I asked

I cannot see his face. She answered.

Is it him that I seek? I asked

You seek each other. He is your prey, and you are his. She answered

"Divines protect us." I said. "The Gates of Oblivion. It must surely be a figure of speech."

"Nothing else she said was a figure of speech." Aric said. "In every reference to we two she was quite accurate."

Captain Kurst's mouth was, for once, closed. But his eyes were quite large.

"Stories of the Oblivion Crisis, and my forebear's involvement in it, are well document." Kurst said. "Many families I know have similar documents. It is our custom to celebrate these stories during the New Life Festival."

"Surely those gates are closed, once and for all." I said.

"Yes." Aric said. "Martin Septim saw to that. The gates will never open again."

"It appears that someone was not as attentive a student of history as you." I said.

"His effort need not be successful to do great harm." Aric said. "He terrorized the countryside, kidnapping children. That is reason enough to interfere with his plans, and to end them."

"I fail to see how the two connect." Kurst said.

"I am also wandering in the dark on that point." Aric said. "or why he would search for me or the Reverend Mother, once he learns of our existence."

"We interfere with his trade in kidnapped children." I said. "It is the mirror image of why we search for him."

"Possibly." Aric said. "We lack information. We have a diversity of tasks before us now. We must seek out the bandits that returned to this village. We must return the children we have rescued. We must collect intelligence on our enemy, so that we may take the offensive against him, and disrupt his plans."

I could hear Railius' voice clearly in my mind, as the words he would have spoken had he been present passed through my lips.

"That will take us until lunchtime surely." I said