Kravos was happy to report that, after their little nighttime adventure, a new peace seemed to have settled between the women of the household. And it certainly helped that he had sat down with Wendy and Ashe to devise a new schedule that would suit all.

From breakfast to luncheon, Wendy would focus on the education of her own children -simple reading, mathematics, and the like- while Ashe tended to her chores and morning exercises. This included simple sweeping, dusting, and cleaning dirty dishes, as well as her newer, more specialized duties like feeding Scales, collecting the eggs from the chicken coup, and maintaining her bow. After a bit of light exercise outside -allowing the little Ethan and Cindy to work off excess energy- everyone would meet to enjoy the mid-day meal. Luncheon would be followed with a nap and some quiet playtime for the youngest children. During this time, Wendy would instruct Ashe in a series of topics that Kravos had put together. This typically involved three or four different worksheets, and some out-loud reading. Finally, Ethan and Cindy would be brought back to participate in some group activities with Ashe.

The new schedule was working out well for everyone, including Kravos. As much as he loved spending time with Ashe and their guests, it was nice to be able to work on various projects without interruption.

'It also means that I can keep certain things a secret,' the old Dragonborn thought, taking a step back from the new series of targets he'd created for Ashe. 'I may be moving a little more quickly than usual with her, but we'll be leaving back to Skyrim soon. Ashe will be ten by the time we arrive, and of age to join and participate in hunts. She needs to be ready for that.'

Looking over them once more, Kravos nodded approvingly to himself, wiped some paint off on an old towel, and started back to his home.

Supper that night was a lovely spread of hare and potatoes covered in a creamy garlic sauce, with a side of cabbage soup, and seasoned, grilled leeks along with the customary bread and cheese. Wendy and Kravos split a bottle of White-Gold Tower mead, while the children were left to enjoy chilled apple juice. Kravos did not often prepare hare as a main course, finding the lack of fat meant it wasn't particularly filling. Still, paired with the right side-dishes (and plenty of bread), it settled nicely in the stomach.

"Mmmmmm, delicious as always," Wendy said, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "I don't know how I ever survived with your cooking in my life, Kravos."

Kravos was happy that Wendy now felt comfortable enough to make small, light jokes about her past. Though he rarely acknowledged them as such, Kravos saw these japs as a sign of healing. And the way Ethan and Cindy nodded in agreement, shoving the last few bites of their dinners into the mouths, only cemented this opinion. Kravos offered the table a small smile. "I'm flattered. Though I do hope everyone still has room for dessert?"

"Absolutely!"

"Definitely!"

"You better believe it!"

"I did!"

Kravos laughed. "Good to hear. Let me just clear these dirty dishes then I will bring it out. Oh, and I decided to try something new tonight."

There was a choir of interested noises as Kravos gathered up the dirty dishes on a serving trey, all completely empty. He hadn't made massive portions, yet the lack of any remaining food warmed his heart as much as it saddened him. The nearly licked-clean dishes were a reminder that everyone here, aside from Kravos himself, had been deprived of something as necessary to human life as food.

'It will never happen again,' Kravos promised himself. 'I will ensure no one here will ever be without. Even once I am gone, my funds and resources are vast and far spread. Carefully cultivated, they should never run dry.'

He was so invested in his thoughts that a plate, still slick with garlic sauce, slipped from his hand. Before Kravos could react, Ashe dove for the plate.

"Got it!" she said, clearly pleased with herself. Ashe carefully stacked the plate on top of the other dirty dishes. "Here, let me help you."

Kravos nodded and allowed Ashe to follow him into the kitchen. When the door swung shut behind them, he turned to his adopted daughter. "Those were some impressive reflexes."

"Huh?"

The old Dragonborn took a moment to answer. He filled the wash tub with soap and water, heating it up with the snap of his fingers before adding the dirty dishes and leaving them to soak. "You caught that plate faster than I did. As someone who prides himself on being quick on their feet, it was impressive to witness."

Ashe ducked her head, trying to hide the blush spreading up her neck. "Yeah, well... I guess all the training you've been having me do has paid off."

"Speaking of which..." Kravos let his voice trail off. Perhaps it was horrible, but he couldn't help but be amused by the look of unrestrained excitement and curiosity that took over Ashe's small face.

"Yes?" she urged, blue-green eyes wide.

Kravos decided to be merciful. "I have a new challenge set up for you today. You've advanced far enough in your training that I feel we must... switch things up a little bit. You'll see what I mean later."

For a moment, Ashe looked confused by the lack of details. Still, this was quickly overtaken by the elation of having a new challenge.

"When can we do it?" she asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Can we go now? Like, right now? Or-"

"Calm yourself, little one," Kravos laughed. "You will get your chance to play soon. But first-" he gestured to the pot on the stove. "-we have dessert. And don't you pout! I know you'd regret missing it if I let you."

At his words, Ashe immediately uncrossed her arms.

In hindsight, Kravos should have probably waited to tell Ashe about the surprise waiting for her in the training grounds. While her old timidness could still flair up in new situations, Ashe loved to be presented with new challenges when it came to her budding archery skills.

'I can only imagine how excited she'd be when presented with her first real bow,' Kravos thought, smiling at the idea. Ashe's skills and strength were developing fast; that, and the fact that Ashe was likely going to experience her first growth spurt soon, meant that she would soon outgrown Hroar's old practice bow. 'I doubt she'll ever get particularly tall or muscular, even without a childhood of sickness and malnutrition. When the time comes, she'll need something... more elegant than a standard Nordic boy, eleven or glass perhaps. Perhaps even an ebony one like me, once she is a little bit more mature.'

Clang!

"Okay, I'm done!" Ashe said, pushing her bowl away.

Kravos cocked an eyebrow at his adopted daughter. "Did you even taste that?"

The sicky remains of the honey pudding was smeared around Ashe's mouth. She wiped it off on the back of her sleeve and nodded. "Yeah, it was really good! I still like pies and crostata more, but I wouldn't mind having it again. Still, I'm done now. Does that mean we can go?"

Ashe was so excited that she was practically vibrating in her seat. Kravos glanced down at his empty dish -he only served himself a few spoonfuls, knowing he would not have long to eat- and then over at Wendy. The woman met his eyes, gesturing her head at the still-eating Ethan and Cindy before nodding. She understood, she would not be upset by their departure.

"Fine then," Kravos said to Ashe. "Take our dishes to the wash tub, clean up, grab your practice bow, and meet me by the front door."

The girl up and moving before the old Dragonborn was able to finish the instructions. "OKAYTHANKYOU!"

Wendy watched her disappear through the kitchen door before looking to Kravos. "She's got something on her mind."

Kravos nodded. "There is a new archery challenge awaiting her tonight. Ashe always finds those exciting."

The woman's lips pursed ever so slightly. "Kravos... I know it isn't my place to interfere, and I definitely know that Ashe wouldn't appreciate me trying to say anything but... Are you sure about teaching Ashe to do... things like that?"

"Use a bow? Yes, of course. In my homeland, the skill is so common that it is practically necessary for survival." Kravos cocked his head to the side. "Why do you ask?"

Wendy pursed her lips. "It's just that... There is an... anger inside of Ashe. Understandably so, of course, given everything she's gone through in life. I just worry that putting a weapon in the hands of an angry little girl will teach her to hang onto hurt and fear rather than learn to let it go."

Kravos waved her concerns off. "Weapon's training is all about learning control. When one learns what they're doing, they can control the violence rather than let the violence control them."

"Maybe, but still-"

"I'm ready!" Ashe said. She skidded to a stop next to Kravos, grabbing his hand and tugging on it firmly. "C'mon! I put my stuff by the door already! Let's go, we're losing light!"

Sending Wendy a, 'see what I mean,' grin, Kravos put on a big show of standing up and lumbering towards the front door. "Alright, I'm coming, Little One. You must be patient with me, these old bones can only move so fast."

"You're not that old!"

Letting out a snort, Kravos couldn't help but laugh. "You haven't even met them and yet you're becoming more and more like your siblings and their children every day. They have no respect for their elders either!"

Ashe skipped alongside him happily, the practice bow and her quiver bouncing lightly with each step. A few dim rays of sunlight fought their way past the cloud cover, shining down on their little islet and setting Ashe's hair ablaze in shimmers of red and gold. It was so much healthier now -the last three inches of dead hair had finally been cut off last week- and had grown into a thick, full mane of beautiful red hair that nearly reached her mid-back. More than just the hair, nearly all physical signs of the hard life that Ashe once lived had faded in almost nothing. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks had a healthy flush, and her body was covered by a healthy layer of fat and muscle.

"What are you smiling at?"

Kravos blinked. "Pardon?"

"You were smiling at me just now," Ashe clarified. "Why?"

Indeed, a bright smile split Kravos' face -one that grew only larger at the question. He reached down to ruffle Ashe's hair. "Is it not enough that you make me smile?"

"No," Ashe grumbled, jokingly shoving his hand away.

"Very well then." Kravos put his hand under Ashe's chin, tilting her head up so their eyes could meet.

"I am happy at how far you've come, how much you've grown and how strong you've become. And I'm excited to see the young woman that you'll grow into."

Ashe's eyes went wide, and her little face turned bright red. She pulled away, just slightly though, and she reached up to take his large, callous hands in her smaller one as they started back towards the training range.

"It is hard to believe I've been with you for almost a year now," Ashe said after a moment. "It feels like I'm a completely different person than who I was when you found me."

Kravos scratched his beard. "Hmm, I firmly believe that people are who they are, and only ever get better or worse at being their true selves... So I suppose that I should be grateful that I was able to help you be that person."

"I don't know if that is true, but I think I get what you mean," Ashe replied. "Still, I can't wait to see how I grow when we're in Skyrim. You said we'll be going s-"

The girl's voice trailed off as she stared at the new targets. "What are.. what are these?"

"Well, that one-" he pointed to the first, smallest target "-is a rabbit. That one there is a boar. The one next to it is a deer. And that final one is a human." Kravos patted the 'shoulder' of the final target. "Do you like them?"

"I..." Ashe swallowed hard. "What am I supposed to do with them?"

"Shoot them," Kravos said simply. When Ashe turned to him, eyes went even wider as her face grew pale. "Did you believe you'd be shooting at round, straw targets forever?"

"...No, but-"

With a sigh, Kravos knelt to look Ashe in the eye. "Sweet girl, you must understand that, when we get to Skyrim, you will be shooting things much bigger and more dangerous than any of these targets. Now, you asked me to train you to shoot, to fight. Have you changed your mind?"

.

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.

"No," Ashe said quietly but firmly. She jutted out her tiny chin and squared her shoulders, "Show me what you want me to do."

Kravos smiled and tapped the girl under the chin. "Very good. Alright, so today's lesson will be a little different. I am going to tell you where to shoot, and you will do your best to hit that location. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now, ready yourself."

Ashe was silent as she went through the standard preparation of tying her hair back, stretching her body out, and making sure her bracer was securely in place. "Okay, I'm ready."

Leading his youngest daughter to the shooting line, Kravos knelt down once more and whispered into her ear. "Rabbits are small and timid. A sloppy shot either ends up with a mess of spoiled meat or a rabbit hiding in a thicket far away and you needing to find new prey. You'll want to aim for the head or heart. Are you ready?"

They were close enough that Kravos could hear Ashe swallow.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Then take your shot."

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Thwunk!

Ashe sucked in a breath. "Damn!"

Kravos found the urge to chuckle at the swear. He cocked his head to the side as he observed when the arrow had landed -straight through the 'rabbit's' throat. "Not bad. Rabbits are so small that landing a clean shot on them is difficult. Don't worry, it is a skill you will develop with time. For now, just take comfort in knowing that an arrow to the throat is still fatal, though it would take longer than one to the head or heart."

"Oh... Good to know," Ashe said, face taking on a green tint. "What's next?"

"The boar! A personal favorite of mine. Now,-" they moved down the line so they were standing in front of the swine shaped target, and Kravos crouched down once more "-wild boar are incredibly dangerous. I've seen ones that are three times the size of this target here, and their tusks can slice through a man's guts like a hot knife through butter. So, it is important to keep your distance, preferably from a raised position, and keep your shot accurate enough to down or immediately incapacitate it. Therefore, the best way to down a wild boar is the quartering away."

"What's that?"

"Ah yes, my apologies. We've been so focused on working on your aim that I've neglected hunting techniques. Not much time or opportunity here, I'm afraid," Kravos said. "Still, a quartering-away shot is when your target is facing away from you, and at an angle. Shooting here gives the hunter the best opportunity to penetrate the vitals without being concerned about the shield of meat and muscles on their front shoulders."

"Hmmm." Ashe glanced down at her feet before eyeing the target. "So... I'm standing in the wrong spot?"

"You are absolutely correct, my extraordinary girl," Kravos said, ruffling her hair once again. "So, keeping that in mind, where do you think you should stand?"

Ashe bit her bottom lip and scanned the clearing with narrowed eyes. After a moment, she walked over one of the raised balance platforms Kravos had constructed for her. When Kravos gave her an approving nod, Ashe climbed up onto the platform. Finding her balance, Ashe took a knee and knocked another arrow.

Joining her, Kravos returned to his place by her ear. "The hide and meat of a boar is thick and strong. While a rabbit will always run, boars will often choose to fight. Only shoot when you are sure you can kill it."

"...So I should aim for the armpit?"

'Armpit?' Kravos cocked his head to the side, examining the target and trying to figure out what the girl met. After a moment, he laughed. "Yes, I suppose you could consider that the boar's armpit. You're actually hoping to pierce the heart or lung. Aiming for the 'armpit' should get you there though. Now, with that in mind, make your shot. When you're ready, of course."

With a small nod of her head, Ashe drew her bowstring back and held -the tension coiled through her body- and held and held until…

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Thwunk!

"Hmmm... Not a kill shot, yet not bad. As long as you stay out of the way of its flailing or can finish it up with a killing blow, you'd be bringing home fresh boar for supper."

Ashe gave a shaky smile. "Good. I think. Onto the next one then?"

"Ah yes," Kravos nodded. "Deer are a major food source in Skyrim; they're everywhere and, as you get older, you'll find yourself hunting plenty of them. Best you start learning how to bring them down now."

"How big do deer get?" Ashe asked.

"A large male deer can look me in the eye. Though I suggest you start by hunting female deer; they are more likely to bolt, while a male's antlers can be quite dangerous, especially during mating season," Kravos said. "Still, can you guess why deer are excellent game?"

It took a moment for Ashe to respond, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. "Huh, what? Oh, no."

'We'll have to work on being able to stay aware of the world even while keeping a mind focused on the target,' Kravos thought. "Well, venison is a lean, rich, flavorful meat -perfect for any variety of recipes. Their bones or antlers can be turned into tools, furniture, and art pieces. Their fur pelts are useful for rugs, clothes, blankets, and the likes. Even their organs can be useful for cooking or as bait for fishing."

Ashe looked up at him, a confused and slightly sick look on her face. "You've... fed me animals' organs?"

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.

"No, of course not. Those are for very specific recipes," Kravos said, deciding now was not the time to tell Ashe how the sausages she was scarfing down that morning were made. Or the part of hunting that involved gutting and skinning the dead animals. Best save the bloodiness of all that mess for later.

Ashe nodded and turned her eyes back to the target in front of them. "Deer are big, they must be strong too. I'll have to choose where to shoot them carefully. Should I do it the quar- quartering way, just the boar?"

"You can do that, and some certainly sing the praises of the right-in-the-shoulder-crease shot placement. Yet I find that such a technique leaves you no margin for error due to how strong a deer's shoulder blade bone is. As your skills are still developing, we want to go for somewhere a little more vulnerable." Kravos pointed out the various sections of a deer the best he could with the crude, sculpted target. "Now, our goal with every shot should be to take out the heart, the lungs, or some combination of the two in order to give the animal a quick, respectful death. Look between where the shoulder blade and the last rib would be. Somewhere between those two lies everything you need to hit in order to do your job as an effective hunter. The main obstacle is, as I said earlier, the shoulder blade."

"I'll shoot under it then," Ashe said, already going to nock an arrow.

Kravos laughed and held up a hand to stop her from firing. "Hold! As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm, I am still giving instructions. You must always wait for your instructor to signal that they are finished with instructions. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

"You can show your regret by not repeating the mistake," the old Dragonborn said. "Where were we? Ah, yes, where to shoot a deer. You will do well to understand that the space the lungs take up within the animal is behind the shoulder and the ribs. If you aim about a hand's width back from the shoulder crease, it vastly increases the margin-of-error on a broadside deer. Can you find that spot on the deer?"

"...Yes, I've got it."

"Good. Next, you'll need to draw an imaginary vertical line through the main part of the deer's body. That halfway point will put you in the sweet spot; that is where you want to aim. Understand?"

"Yes," Ashe repeated, soft but strong.

"Good. Then take your shot."

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Thwunk!

"Excellent!" Kravos exclaimed, beaming in pride as he took in the location of the embedded arrow. "A perfect shot!"

"Really?" Ashe asked sheepishly.

"Aye, you gave that animal an honorable death with a shot like that," Kravos replied, clasping the girl on the shoulder. "There are a lot more facts to consider when it is a real hunt, but we can save that for a live hunt. For now, you should enjoy your victory."

"Thanks!" Ashe toed the ground for a moment as she studied her handy work. After a moment, she admitted, "It was easier to get the shot in with a bigger... animal. It made me think I had a better chance of landing the hit I needed."

"Larger prey does provide certain advantages, that being one of them." Kravos passed Ashe a water skin. "Here, drink."

Ashe grabbed it quickly, gulping down the liquid so quickly that it spilled down her chin. She wiped it away. "Thank you, I needed that."

"You also needed a small break before your last test of the day."

"My last t- Oh, that." Ashe's eyes turned to the final target. She bit her lip but readied herself once again. "I'm ready. Let's do it."

"Are you sure?" Kravos asked. "You can take more time if you'd like."

"No!" Ashe shook her head, "No, I want to get it over with."

"...Fine then. Take your place at the shooting."

This time, Ashe followed his instructions without issue. "I should aim for the head right?"

Kravos knelt down by her side. "No, not yet, at least. Enough damage to the head is lethal, yes, but the head is a small target and easy to miss. Instead, you should aim for the chest. That way, even if you miss the heart, you'll still pierce something important."

"Makes sense," Ashe said. She drew an arrow from the quiver, "Do I need to know anything else?"

"No, not yet. Take your shot, Ashlyn."

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Thwunk!

"...AAAAaaaaaAAAAAHHHHH!" Ashe shrieked, dropping her bow in fright as she scrambled away from the red liquid that exploded from inside the straw target -spraying the ground in front of it and pooling in the grass beneath. "I didn't-! It's not-! Is that-?"

"Ashe, Ashe! It's alright," Kravos said, catching the girl's shoulders to stop her from running. He dipped his hand in the red pool before kneeling down, staring her dead in the eye. "It's paint, just red paint. Look."

The old Dragonborn held his hand up, showing her the bright red -too bright to blood, and lacking the strong, thick smell.

Despite his words, Ashe's eyes were still wide with horror. "It- It looked like blood!"

"Aye, and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for not telling you, but it was a necessary lesson," Kravos said. "When the time comes, and you trade your practice bow in for a real one, your targets will bleed. It isn't easy to see, and I simply wanted to ease you into that reality the best I could."

Though she was still pale under her freckles, Ashe gave a shaky nod. She reached out, touching her fingertips against the red smear. Rubbing it between her fingers, Ashe checked the tackiness and smell. "Paint," she said. "It's just paint."

"Just paint," Kravos repeated. He wiped his hands off once more before pulling a small, rectangular box out of his knapsack. "I have a present for you."

His daughter's blue-green eyes went wide, shock and horror being replaced by excitement. "Really?"

"Yes, a very important gift. One I am incredibly glad to finally be able to give you." Kravos passed Ashe the box. "Here, open it."

There was no hesitation in the way Ashe ripped the lid of the box open.

"Wow!" she breathed, picking up her new glass dagger. She turned it in her hand, admiring the delicate golden detailing and the way the malachite blade caught the weak sunlight. After a moment, she spoke up again. "It's sharp."

"That's because it's real," Kravos said. He pointed to Hroar's old practice bow. "That is a toy, something to train and play with. This-" he tapped the flat of the glass dagger "-is a weapon. It's sharp and dangerous, and I will not hesitate to take it away if I think you're not being responsible with it."

Ashe's brow furrowed. "Responsible?"

"That's right. You are going to learn how to fight with that dagger." Before Ashe could respond, Kravos put a finger under her chin, lifting her head and forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Now is when your training truly begins."

I've never been hunting so I hope you'll all forgive me on that front as we enter these final, extra long chapters of Ash in the Wind.