Chapter 19
Renee's Revenge
The dawn of the Seventh Day arrived in what seemed to be a flash. After Renee returned with Bane to Emeralda, she spent the rest of the day practicing her swings. This not only helped her prepare for the oncoming day, but it kept the cursed Nord focused on anything but her vile hunger. The Sixth Day was barely unbearable for Renee. But on this day, the hunger was a hundred times worse. Aela sent no news on Silver Hand activity and due to Emeralda's reputation as a "cursed" ghost town, no bandits or other undesirables came near. Not even the wretched Thalmor would come near. Aside from the training, Renee either spent her time in the company of the dragons or, and most often, solitude.
Now with the last day of Renee's time limit upon them, the Nord knew she had no choice but to be near her brothers. She prayed that she could sustain her hunger long enough to end Dralsa Nethrend and devour his heart. The mere mention of the name was enough to stoke the burning flames of Renee's anger. He took everything from her and she would never get any of it back other than Emeralda's corpse for her and her brothers to resurrect anew. The thought of her finally getting her vengeance was enough for Renee to rouse from her bed and prepare herself for the deed she was to perform.
After bathing the soils from the previous day away, Renee decided to do something different. A bit of theatrical irony she came up with during the night. Instead of armor, she donned a large grey tunic, brown pants, and brown leather boots. Her belt was a simple leather piece with her sword attached to it. She brushed her hair into her usual ponytail before adding the pièce de résistance: an emerald and silver teardrop pendent. She had crafted the pendent over the past five days after entering the mine on the Second Day. This was after Bane first fell asleep in the town square for the first time. She found a raw block of emerald in a decade-long discarded bucket and took it home to create the jewelry that now hung around her neck.
She wanted Dralsa to know that not only was she was his missing Emerald, but she had grown strong and it would be an emerald that would destroy him. It took some doing before she perfected the pendent, having not been able to make jewelry for years. The Sabre Fangs had taught her that only fools and petty nobles would decorate their armor with jewels. But on this day, she was not fighting as a Sabre Fang, a Companion, or even one of the Dragonborn. She was fighting as Renee Silverglass, the sole survivor of Emeralda and the sword of justice and vengeance to the people what were so callously murdered because one man's deranged lust.
Once she finished dressing herself and attaching her magical supply pack onto her belt, Renee left her house and breathed in the morning air. Her hybrid blood of two Daedric curses amplified her brothers' scents and had to restrain herself so that she would not lose control. Instead, she looked around until she spotted Bane sleeping in what was once her family's stable, a dilapidated ruin that could hold horses no longer. Renee smiled as she folded her arms and shook her head.
"Once we take care of Dralsa, I'll have to ask the others to help me provide better shelter for Bane. I'm surprised that stable hasn't fallen down yet."
Renee then walked over to Bane and gently tapped his massive shoulder, earning the Nord a short, grunt-like snore from the Juggernaut. She had to stifle her laughter and left her dragon alone for now.
"I'll bet the scent of breakfast will be enough to stir him."
Without another word, Renee approached the forge as her brothers started to gather. Like the previous mornings, Hiccup fed the fire in the forge. J'Kiir was preparing a spit over the forge with a large slab of venison skewered to cook. The Khajiit was adding salt and pepper to bring in some additional flavor to the meat. The cooking venison was a welcoming scent over the aroma Renee was smelling off her kin.
Seeing Renee, Hiccup hailed her.
"Morning, Renee. Rahm-Ku's getting the fish for the dragons. But once we've eaten, we can begin…"
His words trailed off, everyone in the vicinity knowing what he was talking about. Sighing, Renee sat across from Hiccup, fighting to suppress her dark hunger.
"I know. I'm ready when you are."
As he turned the spit, J'Kiir spoke.
"What about your armor?"
Renee shook her head, keeping her focus on the venison instead of imagining what her brothers would taste like.
"I don't need anything other than my sword and shield. I may have to use my wolf's blood should the need arise."
The two brothers fell silent, not wanting to press on any further. What with Renee being so easily agitated as of late, they had to be careful. When Rahm-Ku returned with baskets of fish from the river, Bane and Toothless were quick to stir and joined their riders for the morning meal. The dragons were even quicker to devour the fish as if it was their last meal on Nirn. The Argonian kept silent until he and his siblings had their breakfast.
"Well. When do we leave?"
Renee responded, her eyes casting a distant look to the west.
"We leave immediately. I only have until sunset. And Akatosh knows where exactly the bastard's hideout is. It could be in the Reach, for best. For worse, it could be in a place like Morrowind or Valenwood. I, for one, want and end to this today."
The brothers did not say anything. They had no need to. They wanted their endeavor to end that day, as well. They still had to go to Ustengrav, but none of them wished to go without their sister. Finishing his meal, Hiccup stood up.
"I'll see to the dragons."
Rahm-Ku stood up next.
"I'll help you."
J'Kiir set his bare spit down and made his way back to the inn.
"I'll put together four packs of potions. One for each of us. Enough for us and those women, if they wish to be rescued."
Renee didn't say anything. She sharpened her steel blade and made final touches on her shield before her brothers approached her. J'Kiir held up the journal he found a week ago, its pages filled with things the Khajiit wished he hadn't read.
"Think Bane can track Dralsa with scent like a dog?"
Renee mounted Bane as Hiccup mounted Toothless. The Viking looked to Bane before looking to Renee.
"Want to give it a shot? If Bane needs a stronger smell, we could risk the incense J'Kiir found."
Renee shook her head.
"No. I've seen what that incense could do. I don't know if it will have the same effect on dragons, but I don't want to risk it."
Nodding, J'Kiir held up the journal to Bane's snout. Glancing at his rider, Bane waited until she gave a nod before smelling the journal. He did not like the scent one bit. It felt…wrong. It was as if he was smelling madness itself.
In an experiment during the Third Day, Hiccup and Renee found that Bane did indeed possessed a strong sense of smell like that of a dog's. With the information of Bane's padded feet from the other day, the notion that Bane's kind was part of the Tracker Class of dragons became more solid. Now was the time to see if he could detect anything from a decade-old scent.
After a couple of whiffs, Bane bore his fangs and his back arched a bit, alerting Renee of his emotion.
"I know, my friend. I know."
As soon as J'Kiir pulled the journal away from him, Bane began to paw the ground with his front-left foot, his claws cleaving the ground like hot knives through a stick of butter. Seeing this, J'Kiir jumped onto Bane behind Renee.
"I think he's ready to go!"
It was Renee's turn to snarl as she looked to the open gate.
"Then let's go! Hyah, Bane!"
Upon his rider's command, Bane ran out the gate with the two Dragonborn siblings on his back, his feet making the sound of muted thunder as he ran. Seeing them go, Hiccup and Rahm-Ku got on Toothless' back and took to the skies, leaving Emeralda behind.
Bane's nose kept the scent as he followed it to the southwest. His snout caught the scent and found various "ribbons" of it mixed with other smells, each ribbon a different age. It was when they passed Rorikstead when Bane found a fresher ribbon turning toward the mountains. With a sharp turn, Bane followed the scent with Toothless flying over him. The riders of both dragons held on as the dragons made sharp and increased their speeds. There were several times when Rahm-Ku and J'Kiir nearly fell off. Hiccup remained in his seat thanks to his gear and Renee in hers because she was focused on the trail ahead, her anger and desire for vengeance securing her onto her dragon.
As they weaved their way through the mountains, the Dragonborn troupe passed many people who jumped from the roads when Bane was running on them and were either in awe or in terror upon seeing the two dragons. What the Dragonborn had not known was that shortly after the Dragonborn left for High Hrothgar, couriers and spies in Whiterun returned to their respective Jarls and informed them of the emergence of four Dragonborn. The two parties most interested where Elisif the Fair, the Jarl of Haafingar and wife of the late High King Torrigg, and Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm and the leader of the Stormcloak Rebellion. But their interests will be revealed on a later date. For now, word was being spread throughout Skyrim about the four Dragonborn youths and their ally dragon. Hence why people did not draw weapons at the sight of the two dragons after they passed them. But mostly, it was so they could get a grip over what was going on.
As they followed Bane, Rahm-Ku read off the map to Hiccup the names of towns and landmarks they were passing. Karthwasten, Peryite's shrine, Dragontooth Crater, various foresworn camps, you name it. But as they flew, the flying Dragonborn failed notice a location high on a foggy mountain, the mountain base bearing two foresworn camps. None of the Dragonborn would know at the time the significance of the location. But that is another part of the story.
Hours passed without break, the Dragonborn troupe passed mountain after mountain following the swift Bane. When Bane finally stopped, allowing Toothless to land and catch his breath, Rahm-Ku examined their location and looked to the wall of mountains before him.
"Beyond those mountains lie the provinces of High Rock and Hammerfell. We are literally at Skyrim's border."
As he spoke, Renee looked to the sky. Judging from the sun's position, it was 4 o'clock.
"Not much time! Three and a half hours until sunset!"
Suddenly, the wind gave Renee something unexpected. A scent. A Dark Elf scent. Mixed with Nord. Looking ahead, Renee noticed a particular alignment of boulders at the base of the tallest mountain.
"Over there!"
Heeding his rider, Bane made his way over to the boulders with the others following him. Sniffing the boulders, Bane snarled again.
The fresh scent was coming from there!
Without another word, Bane began digging away the boulders, his large paws working like shovels and his claws like pickaxes. J'Kiir jumped off Bane and landed on his back a few feet behind him. He groaned as he started to relax his legs.
"Thank the moons! My legs fell into a sleep so deep, I can't feel a thing!"
Rahm-Ku also slid off Toothless, his legs bearing little strength to help him stand.
"We should've made various stops for all our sakes."
While Hiccup didn't complain, he was feeling somewhat sore himself. The difference between him and his brothers, however, was that he had more time and practice riding dragons than any of the Dragonborn.
Renee jumped off Bane, but landed on her feet. Her legs were weakened enough to bring her to her knees, but she kept upright as her stamina recovered. There was no way in Oblivion she was going down without killing her village's murderer. Her parents' murderer.
"I am not going to rest until I make him pay and I have eaten his heart right in front of him!"
It was then Renee heard something behind her and turned around to find her brothers pitching some tents. "What are you doing?" J'Kiir answered her as he finished one of the tents.
"While you are turning Dralsa into your next meal, the three of us will find those eleven women and help get them out. We are setting up an infirmary and a campsite."
Hiccup then added in his two septims worth as he unloaded the supplies.
"I'll head to the nearest village and rent a cart. We can take them to Whiterun for now. The rest would be up to them."
Renee froze as guilt struck her hard. She had been focusing on killing Dralsa Nethrend so much that she had not even considered what the eleven Gems before and after her were feeling at the moment. She was the only one that escape as far as she knew. Who knows what hell those women were going through at the moment. Frowning, Renee stood as Bane neared completing his task.
"You're right. J'Kiir, I'll need you to come with me. You will guide the women outside where Rahm-Ku will tend to them. I'll cut down any enemies as much as I can, but be sure to keep your quiver filled, brother. If you run out, there may be a chance Dralsa has Draugr keeping guard and some of them may have arrows of their own. Shoot anything that's not me or the women."
J'Kiir, though stunned at Renee's commanding stance, nodded. But he frowned as a thought crossed his mind.
"And if that Va'Pellidosa has managed to sire offspring?"
The question caused all of the Dragonborn to freeze. There was indeed a possibility of Dralsa having children through violent means. The brothers looked to their sister, who fell silent. Hearing the last of the boulders being cast aside, Renee made her decision.
"Get them out as well. Just because they have been sired by him, it doesn't mean innocent children are like him."
J'Kiir nodded in approval before handing two potion packs to his brothers.
"Here. The health and stamina potions can be distributed to the victims if you wish it. Hiccup, buy some food while you get the cart. I suggest taking Bane with you. Depending on the number of people, we'll need a large cart. And since Bane is the strongest dragon, he should be the one to pull."
Hiccup nodded as he mounted Toothless, waiting for Bane. Upon hearing her brother's words, Renee turned to Bane after he left his discovery: an entrance to a cave.
"Go with them, Bane. They'll need your strength."
Bane was reluctant to leave his rider. But upon hearing the conversation between the Dragonborn, the Juggernaut knew that his strength was needed outside the cave. He nuzzled Renee's cheek before joining Hiccup and Toothless. Rahm-Ku started the campfire and began to make a meal for the emerging victims, while J'Kiir joined his sister at the entrance.
"Ready, sister?"
Renee nodded, glaring into the dark abyss before her.
"Aye, brother. Let's go."
Inside the cave…
As they made their way through the cave, Renee found herself thankful for having a Khajiit for a brother. His kind was well-reputed for having excellent night vision. Even though it wasn't night, it was clear J'Kiir could see far better than her in the cave.
"There are some steps up ahead. I'll put together a torch for you."
Renee didn't say anything. Instead, her focus was on her nose. She could smell them. Dralsa, the women, and other smells. One of them she was familiar with, the smell of Draugr. Were it not for the possible traps and steps, Renee could follow her nose to her prey.
The Nord's thoughts broke as J'Kiir lit the torch he made of a branch, a piece of cloth, and some oil he stored with him. All that was needed was a light. Thankfully, being Dragonborn had plenty of perks, including the ability to breathe fire.
"Yol…" J'Kiir whispered, causing him to breathe fire onto the torch.
Once the torch was lit, he handed it to Renee.
"Here. You will need it more than I."
Renee nodded and took the torch.
"Come on. I smell one of the women nearby."
J'Kiir walked alongside his sister, careful not to get in the way of his sister's nose. Not only would he inhibit her enhanced scent, but he could be mistaken for prey. And he would like to live to see his great-grandkittens, thank you very much. The Dragonborn siblings weaved left and right through the corridors, J'Kiir taking out Draugr guards with his bow and firing headshots at each of the undead corpses. It was after making a sixths turn that they heard sniffling. Like someone was crying. Concerned, the two followed the sound until they came across an ornate door covered in garnet decorations. Renee grabbed the door handle and gave a slight pull. The door wouldn't budge.
"No good. It's locked."
She then looked to her brother, who gave a grin.
"Leave this to me, sister."
Renee watched as J'Kiir took out his lockpicking kit and worked the lock. It took some doing, seeing as this particular lock was different than from what the Thief was used to. But as soon as he heard the "click" of the lock, the Khajiit smiled as a Khajiit could.
"Success!"
Without another word, the pair opened the door. Inside was a room decorated in the colors of the garnet, though the color could not make up over the lack of care the room had. The bed was ready to fall apart, the odor of urine, feces, and blood made a nauseating combination to the outsiders' senses, and every other furniture was not well-cared for. In the center of the room was a Nord woman with medium brown hair dressed in rags. Cradling in her arms was a baby with pale ash-colored skin and black hair. Her smoky-grey eyes gazed at the pair in fear as she held the child close.
Seeing this, Renee held up her hands and spoke with a gentle voice.
"It's ok. It's ok. We're here to get you out of here. We won't hurt you or your little one."
The woman froze for a few moments longer before her eyes shifted in emotion. Desperation and hope.
"Are you…are you going…to…to…kill him…?"
Renee frowned as she answered the woman's question.
"Yes. I'll kill the man who hurt you. My name is Renee Silverglass."
Hearing her name, the woman's eyes widened with surprise.
"I…know that name… He…drinks and…hurts…hurts…"
J'Kiir took the lead and spoke up.
"You don't need to say anymore. As my sister said, we're here to help you. I can take you and your little one to the surface. Our Argonian brother is there with medical supplies and decent food. Our human brother is getting a cart to bring you and the others to safety."
Tears fell from the woman's eyes as she sobbed with a smile.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
A smile returning, Renee motioned the woman to follow J'Kiir.
"Follow him out, Miss…"
The woman answered, her words seemingly like she hadn't spoken her name in a long time.
"U…Ulrika. Ulrika White-Wave. Or as the m…Master calls me, Garnet."
She then motioned to the sleeping child in her arms.
"This….this is my son, Haesmar."
Renee frowned mentally as J'Kiir led Ulrika and her son to the surface. The poor woman was from Garna, the first village Dralsa attacked. There was no doubt little Haesmar was his son. And for Ulrika to be labeled "Garnet" and calling Dralsa "master" made Renee sick. Her revenge was becoming more and more justified.
Turning on her heels, Renee cut down Draugr after Draugr and found more doors. She couldn't unlock them, but that didn't stop her from communicating with the prisoners of the ornate doors. As she did, she made a list of the mothers and children behind each door.
Finna and her toddler daughter, Isolde, Fenrensen of Amethiya.
Jofrior Erarsen of Aquamara.
Aeta Mojiksen and her twin boys, Caspar and Deval, of Diamanta.
Betne Highlander and her five year-old girl, Dralora, of Alexandria.
Else Windrime, her elder son and younger daughter, Alvos and Rolasa, of Rubia.
Maren Wolf-Heart of Peridona.
Ari Lute-Voice of Sapphira and her son, Turil.
Ane Alarsen of Opala.
Helgird Blue-Tooth of Topazza.
And pregnant Oriella Blackthorn of Turquoisa.
All of these names, from mothers to children, were victims of the madman that ruled this cavern. Renee did see a door adorned with emeralds, but pressed on. She knew that door was meant for her. With the discovery of each door, Renee made sure to light something on fire so that J'Kiir could follow her trail. The Khajiit found this appreciating as he unlocked each door and led the women and their children to the surface. Rahm-Ku was actually starting to run out of medical supplies due to the large number of people coming out. After hearing the conditions of the first room from J'Kiir and witnessing the cringes and fear-filled eyes of the families coming out of the cave, Rahm-Ku found himself wanting to electrocute the Dunmer himself.
As Dralsa's scent grew stronger, Renee found herself running toward the scent as a blood-rage similar to that of a Krogan's started to rise in the woman. She halted when she came across a large chamber deep in the mountain. It was filled with gold jewels, and other treasures that could make the richest man seem poor and despite the drab appearance of the chamber itself, it was impressive. There was an opening above that led to the surface. And in the center of the chamber was a Dunmer dressed in black robes, his black hair long and sleek as oil and one of eyes red as blood. Over his left eye was a deep scar that no doubt cost him his missing eye.
This was Dralsa Nethrend.
Seeing the woman, Dralsa narrowed his eye.
"Who are you? How did you find my domain?"
Baring her teeth, Renee spoke, withholding her rage as much as she could.
"Remember me, Dralsa? Ten years ago, you strolled into the village of Emeralda and lit a poison into the air, causing a plague that had been afflicting towns all over Skyrim. Before you sent your poison, you made sure the one you wished to survive was made immune. Only she disappeared the day you came to fetch her."
Dralsa narrowed his eyes further at the angry Nord, the name "Emeralda" peaking his interest. Upon examining the woman, he finally recognized her and gave a sickening grin.
"Renee Silverglass of Emeralda. My Emerald. Is that really you, my dear?"
The way he sounded when he spoke her name made Renee even angrier. She held up her sword, making its sharpened blade known.
"Damn right it's me. I've been waiting for this moment for ten years. Now I can avenge my family and everyone you've wronged! Including your slaves!"
Dralsa remained calm. The fact that Renee had a weapon didn't seem to deter him in the slightest. He strolled over to a nearby pile of jewels that glistened in the setting sunlight.
"Slaves, you say? They are not slaves, my dear. They are my wives. The mothers of my children. Your soon-to-be sisters."
His cockiness made Renee sick.
"I don't give a shit what you think of them, you son of a bitch! You murdered their entire village with incense you stole from Namira, kidnapped them, and from what I have seen, made them experience a hell I dare not imagine! If I had not left and joined the Sabre Fangs that night, I would've been another notch on your belt! Well, you listen to me, Nethrend! I shall avenge them all! I will gut you and eat your heart while you still breathe!"
The Dark Elf looked to Renee, madness storming his mind like a hurricane. He gave an insane grin as walked over towards the Nord.
"We'll see, my dear emerald. But when I am finished with you, you are going to wish you had come with me!"
Renee couldn't hold back her blood-rage anymore and charged at the Dark Elf. Like the Viking Berserkers, all reason within Renee fell silent to the crimson fury that had been built up over ten years of suffering. After a few minutes of dodging the enraged Nord's blows, Dralsa's smirk grew as he held out his hand, allowing a Firebolt to shoot at the unarmored woman. Renee cried out in pain but stood her ground. She growled in a voice that was both hungry and angry.
"Damn you! Guess I'll have to fight magic with magic!"
Dralsa took a step back as Renee activated her wolf's blood, the only bit of clothing remaining was her pendent. Seeing the woman he sought for turn into a wolf, the Dark Elf's grin turned into a look of disgust.
"You've been tainted. By Hircine, no less!"
Wolf-Renee growled, but did something she found out she could do during her last transformation: she spoke.
"And Namira. She is angry at you for taking her incense and sullying the cult you were once a part of. I'm not here just for my village. I am also her messenger."
Disgust and fear replaced Dralsa's lust and arrogance. He thought for sure Renee was going to be an easy fight. He had plenty of experience fighting mortals. But cursed mortals were another thing. And hearing Namira's name was just as bad.
Wolf-Renee proceeded to charge, Dralsa using Firebolt with one hand and wielding a sword in another. The werewolf discarded her sword and shield in favor of her claws and fangs. Claw-swiping and biting were parried with steel and magic, but continued to press on. As they fought for dominance, Dralsa hissed in anger.
"I can't believe my beloved emerald has been tainted! Corrupted! Flawed! I killed an entire village just to get to you! You, who were once pure as snow, now polluted by not one, but TWO Princes! And one of them is Namira! Damn her and Hircine!"
It was then the two foes charged at each other.
With Bane…
Bane let out a low growl as he ran behind Hiccup and Toothless. His instincts were telling him to turn back. His rider was in the fight of her life and he wasn't there to help. Hiccup took notice of how Bane looked disgruntled and motioned Toothless to fly lower until they were gliding next to the Juggernaut.
"Don't worry about Renee, Bane. The sooner we get that cart, the sooner we get back."
Bane was thinking about agreeing when he felt something beneath his feet. Pausing, Bane looked to the ground as he sensed something from the earth. Noticing Bane's change in behavior, Toothless landed while he and Hiccup looked to Bane.
"Bane?" Hiccup asked, his voice in a whisper.
The Viking was completely unaware what Bane was sensing beneath his feet.
A battle. Coming from the direction of the cave. One of the smaller vibrations became larger as it clashed with the remaining small tremor. The Juggernaut knew what he was sensing: his rider's battle. And it was becoming a stalemate that would slip into her enemy's hands. Letting out a roar, Bane turned and ran the other direction. Surprised at Bane's reaction, Hiccup called out to Toothless.
"Toothless!"
The Night Fury took to the air after the Juggernaut. Seeing where Bane was going, Hiccup let out a groan.
"Oh, come on! He's heading back to the cave!"
Ignoring the calls from his rider's brother and the Night Fury, Bane increased his speed until he reached the entrance of the cave. The women and children that J'Kiir freed and Rahm-Ku were taking care of fled behind a rock that was behind the Mage and the Thief. The brothers were taken in surprise as Bane charged into the cave entrance just as Hiccup and Toothless landed. The women were still frightened, but the children were amazed that a man was riding a dragon.
Rahm-Ku was the first to speak as Hiccup dismounted.
"What happened? We thought you were going to get a cart."
Hiccup answered with an exasperated look on his face.
"We were! But then Bane stood still for a minute and then turned around. He ran back here like a mad-dragon!"
Hearing this, J'Kiir frowned.
"You don't suppose it involves our sister, do you?"
Looking at the cave, Hiccup sighed.
"I have a feeling Renee is indeed the reason for our return."
Back to Renee…
Dralsa changed from a cool and cunning snake to an enraged lunatic, his attack pattern changed. Wolf-Renee noticed his pattern had changed from strategic to berserk when she made her connections with both Hircine and Namira known. From the state of Ulrika's appearance, Dralsa reveled at making his "brides" feel weak. Seeing his missing gem become stronger than she should with gifts that may surpass his own talents was clearly threatening. A threat Wolf-Renee was going to take advantage of.
The Dunmer madly sent a barrage of spells at the werewolf, causing her to dive behind a treasure pile. She needed to get close, yet the magic was too powerful for her to withstand, even with her thickened wolf hide. One searing flame, one heart-stopping lightning bolt, one ice spike through the heart and Renee would be done for. Suddenly, a familiar thunderous sound caught the werewolf's ears. Peeking from the treasure pile, Renee caught sight of Bane, storming in with a thunderous roar, caught Dralsa off guard by charging into him and skidding to a halt, allowing the Dark Elf to hit a wall hard.
Seeing his transformed rider having difficulty fighting the foul-smelling magic wielder was just enough for Bane to figure out who was his enemy. It also helped that he could smell Renee's scent despite it being mixed with wet dog. The dragon charged and, after hearing the thud, he turned to the werewolf and motioned for her to finish the job. Understanding her dragon, the werewolf charged at Dralsa. Bane turned away, knowing Renee did not want him to see what she was going to do.
Before he could recover, a hand held the Dunmer by the throat. Then, a sudden pain in his chest caused Dralsa to cry out before he saw the hole in his chest and his heart in the werewolf's opposite hand. The werewolf snarled at him as he took his last breaths.
"Give my regards to Molag Bal."
With no more words, the werewolf popped the still-beating heart into her mouth and devoured it as if it were a sweet roll. Dralsa watched as his heart was shredded in the werewolf's mouth before speaking one last time.
"My…darling…emerald…"
The werewolf released her grip and backed away.
Dralsa Nethrend was dead.
An ice-cool feeling encompassed Wolf-Renee's branded arm. Allowing herself to revert back to her Nord self, though now she was in her birthday suit, she examined her brand. The coolness persisted as the spider mark began to disappear. The dark hunger was replaced with nausea as the Renee grabbed a cup of wine and drank its contents down. Bane, hearing Renee drink the wine, approached the crimson-haired Nord and let out a low, but concerned growl as he approached her. Hearing Bane, Renee turned around and stroked the Juggernaut's snout gently.
"It's over, Bane. It's all over."
A sultry laugh caused Renee to freeze and Bane to snarl defensively as Namira appeared before her with the aid of her spiders. The Prince of Decay gave a satisfactory smile as she eyed the Nord.
"Good work, my champions. You have killed Dralsa Nethrend and devoured his heart. And with an hour left, as well. I, for one, am quite pleased."
Renee remained stoic, though nausea was clearly starting to take over. Bane stood by his rider's side, recognizing by scent that this was the creature that cursed his rider into eating her own kind. Namira then snapped her fingers and Renee felt something manifest on her right ring finger. When Renee looked, she saw a gold ring with bat wing-like designs tracing the band. At the largest part of the ring were some circular designs that Renee was completely unfamiliar with.
"What is this?" she asked.
Namira answered, still smirking.
"I bestow my artifacts upon those who I deem worthy. You have completed your task and removed my curse, Renee Silverglass, and became my newest champion. That ring will not only subside your nausea, but eating corpses while wearing it will restore you."
The Daedric Prince of Decay proceeded to disintegrate into little spiders.
"I will continue to watch you with interest, Dragonborn."
After Namira disappeared, Renee gazed back to her arm. The scarred spider of Namira's curse was gone, but there was still a faint spider-shaped marking remaining in its place. Thankfully, it was faint and held the same texture as the rest of her skin. Feeling Bane nudge her back, Renee looked to him and gave a faint smile.
"Come on, Bane. Let's find me a cloth and get out of here. I've had enough of this miserable place."
Later that evening…
Once again, the Dragonborn and their dragons gathered around the light of the blacksmith's forge. They had taken the stolen women and their children to Whiterun's temple of Kynareth. After explaining to Danica about what had happened to these women, the temple priestess could not help but take in the unfortunate souls and guide them on the road to recovery. The eleven women were very skittish around men, thanks to Dralsa Nethrend, but their children found the outside world an amazing place compared to their dark cave. The women were able to smile for the first time after hearing that Dralsa Nethrend, their torturer and father of their children, was dead. The children did not seem to have had any effect on the matter. The eldest, Alvos Windrime, told the siblings that they never regarded Dralsa as their father, but their sire. And upon hearing Renee's story, the women began to discuss the possibility of restoring their villages with their children, though the ones with younger children or were expecting would remain for a while.
Jarl Balgruuf was furious when he heard the story. He was disgusted at Dralsa's acts and agreed that when the women recovered enough, he would send people to help them rebuild their villages. He sent couriers to the other jarls, including Elisif the Fair and Ulfric Stormcloak; telling them about what had happened to these women and asked that their villages remained untouched by the civil war in Skyrim.
The Companions, hearing about their newest member's accomplishment, celebrated with food and song. However, Kodlak had pulled Renee aside and told her he knew she and Aela had been hunting down the Silver Hand for both vengeance for Skjor's death and to quench Renee's curse. How the leader of the Companions knew about the latter remained a mystery to Renee, but she still got reprimanded for the former. Kodlak then proceed to tell Renee about the origins of Hircine's curse on the Circle. Apparently, it was a deal gone bad centuries ago between a Harbinger (official leader) of the Companions and a group of hagravens known as the Glenmoril Witches, the former backstabbing the other. Kodlak then requested Renee, when she had the time, to find the hagravens and take their heads so that at least he could cure himself at last of the wolf's blood.
A request Renee could not bear to refuse.
After the festivities at Jorrvaskr, Renee and her brothers were thrilled to be back in Emeralda. Leaning back against a support beam, Renee groaned as she placed a hand over her stomach while the other was holding the Ring of Namira.
"I am not going to eat meat for ages! Just fruits and vegetables for me, thank you."
She placed the ring back on her finger, causing the nausea to subside.
"I'm going to have to wear this for a while, as well. I don't think I can take it off without losing a week's worth of meals."
Rahm-Ku sighed as he stretched himself.
"That's fine. We'll take it easy for the next couple of days until you feel better. Then we'll head for Ustengrav."
J'Kiir yawned as he stood up from his seat.
"I'm going to turn in for the night. If we're going to take some time off, I might as well use it to bring all of Dralsa's treasure to our own treasury."
He then placed a hand on Renee's shoulder, a comforting smile that a Khajiit could muster appearing on his face.
"Sleep well, my sister."
The Mage began to follow the Thief's advice and took to bed, but not before giving his sister a congratulatory pat on her shoulder.
"Tomorrow is a new day. Let's put this mess behind us once and for all."
This left Hiccup and Renee alone at the forge while the two brothers and the dragons fell asleep. Stifling a yawn, Hiccup looked to his sister and spoke.
"Any plans for tomorrow, Renee?"
Renee yawned herself, having the day take the most toll on her. She shifted her tired gaze from Hiccup to the fire.
"Sleep in, for starters. Feed Bane. Not much of anything else. Though chances are J'Kiir will want to borrow Bane to bring all of that treasure here. I may have to help him on that."
Hiccup nodded as he pulled out his invention journal and looked to the Dwemer Centurion leg on his table.
"I'm going to keep working on making me a leg like the one I got from Bthardamz. I just need to figure out how to get the leg to move like a normal leg."
Renee yawned once again as she looked at the metal leg.
"Maybe find a way to attach the leg to your nervous system. That way, your body can manipulate it like it was a real leg."
This caught Hiccup's interest, but he was too tired to act on an emotional level. Instead, he yawned as the fire dimmed.
"Maybe we can work on this together, later. Right now, I'm not sure if I can stay awake."
Renee yawned again.
"Neither can I."
After they bid each other good-night, Hiccup entered the inside of his house while Renee approached Bane. The Juggernaut, sensing his rider approaching him, opened his eye and looked up at her.
"Mind if I join you?"
Bane did need to make a sound. Instead, he shifted his wing, allowing Renee to lay on his side before lowering his wing, draping over Renee like a blanket as the two slept.
As the pair slept, a single spider watches from its web, hidden by the shadows of the night.