"Well, here it is, princess. Windhelm in all its glory." I couldn't tell if Bishop was being sarcastic or not as he gestured to the great city in view. It was close enough that even I could tell we'd be there in a few minutes. "Though if I were you, I'd avoid anyone in that city." I was puzzled, which was evident to the ranger. "Sorry to tell you this, princess, but even though Windhelm is fairly impressive for a city, the people there are... not exactly tolerant of other races. Especially Imperials," he added emphatically. "Dark Elves, yeah. Argonians, High Elves- in fact, anyone who isn't a Nord is fair game for their teasing. But this is the city of the oh-so-mighty Ulfric Stormcloak, and almost every resident hates Imperials."

"So, are you gonna start mocking me?" I asked the ranger. After all, he was a Nord. I highly doubted it, and I was sure Bishop knew I was joking.

"Of course not, ladyship. What kind of prince would I be if I was cruel to my princess?"

I bit my lip and rolled my eyes. "Save it." He snickered without so much as glancing at me.

"As you wish." I knew he wouldn't quit, so I just resigned myself to future teasing.

"What's the big deal there?" I padded behind Bishop as we approached the stables. "Do you really think they'd throw a fit over a single Imperial, me, walking around?"

He nodded and spoke without hesitation. "I absolutely do. Not every Nord is as tolerant as I am, ladyship." Karnwyr padded just behind Bishop as the ranger pushed through the mighty doors to Windhelm.

"Stick close to me," he advised, grabbing my forearm for a moment before dropping it. I then saw what he did- furious glares from every Nord around us.

"...You come here where you're not wanted, you eat our food, you pollute our city wit' yer stink, and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks!" Two Nords up ahead were harassing a Dunmer woman.

When the woman spoke, she sounded both desperate and frightened. "But we haven't taken a side because it's not our fight!" she insisted, intertwining her fingers behind her back while looking back and forth between the two men.

One of the Nords leaned in to make a snide comment to his pal. "Hey, maybe the reason these gray-skins don't help in the war is because they're Imperial spies!"

"Imperial spies?" the woman sputtered in disbelief. "You can't be serious!"

The first Nord leaned in and spat in the Dark Elf's face. "Maybe we'll pay you a visit tonight, little spy," he snarled. "We got ways of finding out what you really are." I gave Bishop a short glance, and he shook his head while giving me a pointed look.

"Don't do it, ladyship," he warned. I pondered my options before ignoring him (and his irritated huff) and storming up to the three without a thought.

The second Nord noticed me first and eyed me up and down before gnashing his teeth. He nudged his buddy. "Hey, Rolff," he growled, gesturing to me.

"Imperial," Rolff hissed, squaring his shoulders. The Dunmer woman took the opportunity to skitter off while I stood up to the Nords. "What are you doing here? You got a death wish?" He peered at me haughtily. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were one of those blasted Dark Elves. Got their eyes." Rolff pointed at me while looking at his friend. "Some witch?" I didn't have to look down to notice Karnwyr had trotted up next to me. Rolff eyed the wolf while the other Nord spoke.

"You should get out of our city before you're carted out in pieces," he threatened, cracking his knuckles. "Thrown into the sea for the fishes to eat."

I lifted my lip in a snarl. "I dare you," I snapped. "Who do you think you are?"

Rolff puffed out his chest and took a step closer. "A proud Stormcloak, that's who! So's Angrenor," he said haughtily, pointing to the other Nord beside him.

I gestured to the red wolf next to me, who had already bared his teeth in anger. Such a smart little guy, I noted in my head. "And this is Karnwyr. Care to familiarize yourselves with him?"

Both Nords took a step back as Karnwyr gave a low bark. "Don't think you're safe, you- you half-breed," Rolff snapped from what he must have deemed a safe distance from the wolf at my side. "Windhelm ain't the place for the likes of you. And neither for your beast," he made sure to mention.

"Watch yourself," Angrenor added, "or we'll make sure Ulfric himself knows about you."

I leaned in until I was right in Angrenor's face. "Try it," I growled, "and you won't live to see tomorrow." He tried taking a step toward me, but it was a combination of Karnwyr's vicious snarling and my silver blades against his chest that stopped him. He was unarmored, garbed in tattered brown clothes that just screamed 'beggar.'

Angrenor and Rolff both spat another race-related insult at me before hurrying off, talking lowly to themselves about the influx of unwelcome trespassers in their Nordic city. Triumphant, I sheathed my swords and returned to a quite unhappy Bishop. I knew I was about to get a scolding and crossed my arms.

"What the f- gods be damned, ladyship," Bishop groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose before fixing me with a disbelieving glare. "What was that?! I told you to stay by me, and the first thing you do is go make enemies in Windhelm, of all places." I bit my lip and shrugged. "The hell made you think that was a good idea?"

"They were being asses," I justified, looking down at the red wolf. "I think it was mostly Karnwyr that scared them off, though."

Bishop scowled and lifted a single brow. "Really? I thought it might be the 125-pound woman with the bad temper and attitude problem that made those two Nords run off with their tails between their legs."

I gave an annoyed hiss. "Now you're being the ass. And if you were so worried about me, why didn't you step in?"

"Take a note: I wasn't worried. I know you can take care of yourself, ladyship. I just don't know how well that mind of yours works." Ignoring my indignant sputtering, Bishop ended the conversation there and started walking further into the city. "The inn's right here. Coming, princess?" Biting my lip again, I muttered a curse and followed the Nord ranger in through the doors.

The first thing I registered was the rush of warmth, and I let out a sigh of relief. I hadn't noticed how cold I'd been until the heat from the fire started to chase away the ice in my bones. Bishop sauntered over to the counter and sat before ordering a pint of mead. There was only one seat beside him, and I figured I might as well take it.

I was reaching for the stool when I was shoved away, a large Nord pushing past me to sit at the bar. He didn't hide his animosity and chortled as I stood just behind Bishop.

"You weren't kidding," I grumbled to Bishop, glaring at the bulky Nord chugging mead from a dirty iron flagon. I scanned the area and noticed that at least three other people gave me glares as though I'd personally pissed them off. "By the gods, if I'd known how much Nords hate Imperials, I might have fucked off to Morrowind instead. The Dunmer would probably have been more welcoming anyways." Of course, I needed to find Na-

"But you didn't. Welcome to Skyrim, sweetness." Bishop ordered a second from the barmaid before continuing. "And hey, you're more than welcome to leave." I opened my mouth, but nothing came to mind over what to say. Instead of responding and giving him the reaction he was looking for, I decided to walk away. "You attract trouble like a treasure hoard attracts thieves. So what're you going to do if someone tries anything?"

"I'll cut their cock off," I answered without thinking. Bishop turned to me with a surprised expression.

"Really? ...And if it's a woman?" I considered the question.

"That changes nothing." I was rewarded with a bout of laughter from the ranger, a refreshing change from his ordinarily sour demeanor.

"Alright, ladyship. Why don't you take a look around? The fire's upstairs, and so is the bard, if you're willing to listen to the town idiot warbling their life away."

I stuck my nose in the air. "Nothing wrong with singing," I defended. "And there aren't many bards in Cyrodil, so I think I'll go check it out instead of standing next to the surly ranger like a little lost puppy." I flicked his nose and headed upstairs without waiting for another word.

He wasn't wrong about the comfort of the inn, at the least. Several wooden chairs surrounded a warm blazing hearth, and I was happy to take a seat. Sure, I loved to go on adventures and hone my fighting skills, but putting my legs up and taking the opportunity to relax wasn't so bad. It was rather crowded on the top floor while a woman sang a Skyrim tune to the patrons.

"Sorry, ma'am, but I'm afraid the last seat belongs to me." A smooth hand gripped my bicep and pulled me out of the chair I'd just taken. After being shoved out of the seat, I turned to give the man a piece of my mind. I was slightly surprised when the ignorant voice belonged not to a Nord but an Imperial like me. "You see, I'm above you when it comes to nobility. Far above you." Dressed in a rather silly outfit, the man's smirk was more demeaning than any I'd been given from Bishop. I was hit with the distinct scent of alcohol, and it became clear to me that he was intoxicated. I eyed him up and down, already tense from his rough treatment.

He had slicked-back blond hair and was thus obviously concerned with his appearance. Red-rimmed eyes, blush on his cheeks- definitely been hitting the happy juice. His outfit reflected the styles in Cyrodil, overly grandiose and quite colorful. It was more than a little overdone, looking flamboyant and clownish to the point where he looked laughably gaudy. He clearly fancied himself to be someone special. There were no visible weapons, but I'd guess he wasn't much of a fighter with a restricting outfit like that.

All in all, he was in absolutely no position to be touching me or talking down to me like that.

I made my feelings over his actions quite clear by gripping the back of the chair and overturning it, sending the arrogant Imperial crashing to the ground. "Touch me again, and I'll cut off the hand that did," I announced, clearly cross. The man climbed to his feet and glared. He was sober enough to speak coherently and act accordingly.

"Who do you think you are?" he demanded, leaning in close. I lifted a brow, entirely unimpressed by his display of aggression.

"Someone you really don't want to piss off," I replied carelessly, keeping my face blank despite the anger roiling inside me. It wasn't often I was treated in the caustic fashion he was showing me.

He set his arms akimbo while gritting his teeth. "Well, then are you aware of to whom you are speaking? And disrespecting, dear lady?" His tone was dangerous, but I had no doubt I could whip him like the dog he was if it came to that point. "I am Alec, the Prince of Song!" he announced, whipping out a lute. "Shall I sing you a song of dishonor and discourtesy, as you wrongly give me?"

I bit my lip, considering my options before settling on the simplest. All it took was a quick left hook to the jaw, and he was down for the count. With the lack of armor and likely lack of experience, he had nothing to protect him as he went down. The 'noble prince' laid there unconscious on the wood floor, a bit of blood staining his straw-blond hair.

The crowd of people had gathered around us, all leering and muttering to each other.

"How dare she! What a lovely singer he was..."

"If you ask me, that bard got what was coming to him..."

"Should we do something about him?"

"All this over a chair?"

I spoke up to the man's comment. "No, all this over him laying his greasy hands on me and pretending he was something special as some sorry sort of excuse for it." With a snort, I decided to leave the scene. I wasn't going to hang around these people. Windhelm was full of inconsiderate assholes of all races who hated both of mine. Maybe Bishop is right, I mused. I do get into trouble rather quickly.

I chewed the inside of my lip as I approached Bishop, who was still drinking at the counter. The ranger didn't look inebriated just yet, though I wondered if it was his intention to get drunk. At the sight of my approach, Karnwyr whined a bit and started to wag his tail. I patted the wolf's head before setting my hand on Bishop's shoulder. He jerked away at my touch, though relaxed and returned to his former position upon seeing me. "Don't tell me you were involved in all that ruckus upstairs." I searched for a good explanation while he tipped his mug up and finished his mead. He gave what sounded to be an insincere laugh and tossed a few septims onto the counter. "Just what I thought."

"It wasn't my fault," I insisted. "Some prick decided that putting his hands on me was a good idea." Bishop's face darkened for a moment. "I showed him the error of his ways." Here, he gave me a real laugh.

"I'm sure you did, princess."

"I don't envy him the headache he'll have when he wakes up." I cracked a smile, and Bishop twisted around on his stool.

"Well, I've booked us two rooms for the night," he informed me, "and it's getting late." He stood and waved me on. "First on the left for you." I followed him into the inn's hallway and stopped at the first room. I caught him once again rubbing at his side. "So what are you thinking, ladyship?" He gave me a grin. "Let's stay in Windhelm for a while, eh?"

"Gods, no." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'd rather keep our stay short. I think I might have pissed off one too many citizens today." I coughed and spoke under my breath, still fully intending for Bishop to hear. "Or three too many."

Bishop let out an exasperated sigh. "Ladyship, you're gonna earn yourself a visit from the Dark Brotherhood if you keep this up."

"I'd contact the Dark Brotherhood myself to take care of this bastard-" I pulled out the parchment with the scribbled face. "-But I want to see the fear in his eyes as I cut him down."

Bishop looked down at Karnwyr and motioned for him to enter my inn room. "You're not in your precious Cyrodilic homeland anymore, princess. You'd do well to remember that before you end up dead. This is Skyrim, and its people are far less forgiving." A shudder went down my spine as I considered his words. He was right. I was acting far more foolhardy than was safe, and I'd earned myself a couple of enemies.

I straightened up, trying not to show my fear. "I'll try to keep that in mind," I bluffed. "But I'm not some damsel in distress. I can handle myself."

"I know you can." He gained a strange look in his eye. "But I don't know if even you could handle a midnight visit from a trained assassin. Just be careful, princess." Bishop motioned toward Karnwyr. "He'll stay with you tonight. You know, just in case. We can ask around tomorrow for that mystery man of yours. Well... goodnight, ladyship." He left to his own room, and I watched until he had blown out his candle and walls went dark.

I looked down at the red wolf, his tongue lolling about as he watched me. I entered my room and locked the door, pondering Bishop's warning once more. After all, his words rang with truth. If I wasn't careful, it might be my blood on the ice.