Chapter 18:
The Cultists Close In

They soared off down the mountainside, roughly following the hairpin track that had brought them up. Lydia clung to Emily for dear life and she never once let her gaze lower from the open air ahead of them. She breathed a deep sigh of relief when they touched down on the rocky overhang that overlooked the city of Morthal. Serana landed close behind them, assuming human form and they ran for the cover of the Inn. According to Lydia they beat the sun by a mere twenty minutes and Emily slumped gratefully back against the wall. She booked them a room in which they passed the day, electing to leave at nightfall for High Hrothgar. Emily was in favour of flying there to cut down the length of their journey but one look at Lydia told them they would be walking. She told them that nothing short of an emergency the like of which they had just faced would get her back astride that broom. Emily agreed they would walk and so when night fell they left the Inn.

"We've come all this way and you collected those words," said Serana as they left the city behind, "So, can you use them now?"

"I think so," Emily replied, "At least, when that dragon died and I absorbed its soul I saw the three words in my head and they sort of… lined themselves up. I guess all we can do is wait for a bandit to show up and-." Serana shook her head.

"We'd better not wait for that," she said. Then she drew her dagger from her belt, "Disarm me."

Lydia stopped and Serana stood before Emily, gripping the dagger tightly in her hand. Emily drew herself up and summoned the words in her mind.

Zun Haal Viik

There was a blast of energy and Serana's dagger was ripped from her hand. It flew through the air and landed in a snow drift. Serana retrieved it.

"I think it's safe to say we're ready for whatever Arngeir has ahead of us," she said. Emily nodded.

The journey back to High Hrothgar took them another two weeks. The blood on the carved stone still remained and they made the climb cautiously. Master Arngeir was waiting for them in the main hall as though he had been expecting them.

"I can feel it in the skies that the words to disarm are yours," he said, "Next I will send you in search of the words that will bend Skyrim's wintry gales to your will." He led them back into the little antechamber where the map was kept.

"The three words that make up the frost breath shout can be found in the marshes in the ancient tomb of Folgunthur, high on the slopes of the Hjaal mountains at Skyborn Altar and on the rocky plateau of Bonestrewn Crest in the volcanic tundra to the east."

"Thank you, Master Arngeir," said Emily, "We will head out in search of them immediately."

"I sense something presses you with urgency, Dragonborn," the old man said gravely, "What is it?"

"We nearly had a run in with those who killed the pilgrim," Emily explained, "They were searching the Inn we were staying at. It was Lydia's quick thinking that likely avoided a confrontation."

"They wore robes and bone masks," Lydia added, "And the way they spoke. They had all the markings of a cult."

"I think it would be best if we don't jump to conclusions," said Master Arngeir, "But I agree that they are far from benign so confrontation is best avoided until we can find out what they want."

"If you want my opinion," said Lydia, biting into an apple as the three of them sat in the main hall, "I think until we confront them we won't find out what they want?"

"You may well be right," Serana replied, "But for now we should focus on finding those words. Where first?"

"Either Skyborn Altar or Folgunthur I think," Emily replied, "Skyborn might be a bit easier to get to. Those marshes around Folgunthur, I've never been there but you've told me enough about them for me to be wary."

"Skyborn Altar it is then," said Serana, "Come on, we'd better go or we won't get halfway down the mountain."

Skyborn Altar proved to be an easier place to reach than first envisioned. It lay not far to the East of Eldersblood Peak and was just up the mountain from the small mining settlement of Stonehills. They stayed in the mines during the day and made the climb by night. It was atop the mountain that Emily had her first encounter with a wisp mother. They were approaching the word wall when Emily saw a glinting light out of the corner of her eye. She turned to look but saw nothing. A moment later Serana turned sharply, drawing her blade from its scabbard.

"Did you see it too?" asked Emily. Before Serana could reply something pale and misty burst from the sacrificial altar before the wall. It resembled a woman with her head cowled, her body tapering into drifting rags below her waist. She had a hooked nose, a jutting chin and long raking claws. Surrounding her were balls of light that frisked and gambolled about her like lambs but the sight of them made Emily go cold with fear.

"What is that thing?" Emily cried. It was unknown whether or not this outcry offended the icy being but the wispmother let out a horrible screech as she conjured icy spikes upon her palms. Emily dodged to one side as an icy shard shot by her ear close enough to take a few stray strands of hair with it. She rolled and lightning leapt from her palms as she scrambled to her feet. One snaking bolt struck the wispmother who threw back her head, screeching again. Lydia had drawn her blade and Serana had likewise conjured lightning on her palms. Serana struck next as Emily and Lydia closed in. But as the lightning struck where there had once been one icy being, there now were four. The wisps deftly wound their way about these shades. Lydia recoiled as one flew past her and she felt some of her energy go with it. Then it was struck to the ground by Serana's lightning bolt and became an inert wisp core.

The air was full of icy shards flung from all directions and the trio of adventurers were forced to stay on the move.

"We need to strike the original," Serana shouted over the icy gale.

"Which one is that?" Emily shouted back, dodging a wisp as it came hurtling for her.

"The brightest one," came Serana's response. Emily's eyes darted between the rapidly shifting spectres, gritting her teeth. This was no easy task. The one closest to the altar struck her as the brightest so she ran at it, ward raised. But as the bolt struck and the shade vanished in a misty cloud she realised her folly. Three still remained. Lydia struck down the two remaining wisps while Serana turned on one of the remaining icy visages. This time the bolt struck true and all the remaining shades vanished in a whirl of icy clouds.

"What was that?" Emily asked as they stepped through the mist.

"A Wispmother," Serana replied, "No one knows exactly what they are or where they came from. My mother had a few theories though."

They left the glowing remains of the wispmother and her children behind as Emily stood before the word wall. The knowledge passed from it to her and they soon departed.

The ruins of Folgunthur proved more treacherous to get to. Serana had once told Emily that there were things in the marsh that would strike fear into even the elder vampiress. As they waded through the murky waters and fetched up on mudflats dense with reeds, moss and lichen Emily saw what Serana meant. Eerie sounds penetrated the thick fog that hung over the fetid waters and often sounded as though they had emanated from right behind them. More than once they turned with wary eyes only to see nothings. Somehow this was worse as Emily's imagination conjured up a thousand different horrors each time, each phantasm more terrifying and gruesome than the last. She kept close to Serana and stopped to look around when she did. Once a torchbug flew up at her feet and she let out a yelp of surprise. She tried to leap back but her boots were sunk deep in the mud and would not budge so the result was that she came crashing down into the shallows.

"And this coming from the one who rode a dragon," chuckled Serana as she helped her to her feet. Even Lydia quirked a smile of amusement at this remark.

At last a dim silhouette high above them emerged from the mist. They recognized it as the rocky arch of Solitude.

"We must be getting close," said Emily. Then her boot crunched down into something more yielding and dry than the thick oozing mud of the marsh. It scattered from her boot in small grey flakes. It was the ashes of a long dead campfire. As they looked around more shapes emerged from the gloom. The pointed shapes of hide tents, the smaller rounder shapes of discarded pots and pans and the arching mound of the ruins beyond. Emily stooped and picked up something from one of the bedrolls. It was an old faded journal.

"Looks like someone's been here before us," she said grimly. She opened the book and flicked through the pages, her brow knitting as she read what was written there. It detailed an artefact known as a fragment of the Gauldur amulet and the ivory claw necessary to obtain it.

"Judging by the lengths whoever wrote this journal went through to get this claw and enter this tomb, I think we should watch our steps inside," she said, handing the book to Serana who scanned the pages. She nodded. As the night was marching on they wasted no time in heading inside. As they stepped over the threshold they were greeted by the stone draconic statues common in Nordic ruins. The first thing they noted was that the tomb was unusually well lit, another indication that they were not the only ones within the walls. Bone chimes hung on either side of the door. Emily stopped just before the doorway.

"What is it?" Lydia asked.

"I can smell blood," Emily replied and she noticed Lydia winced slightly at this remark.

"It's fresh," Serana added. They moved further down the hall and soon found the source of the smell. The body of a man lay in a pool of his own blood. Next to him lay the body of a draugr, still clutching the bloody blade that brought an end to the man's life. They moved on past the grisly spectacle, past two more of the draconic statues to a small room that lay beyond. It was dominated by an altar and before the altar was a stone pedestal bearing a claw shaped indentation. Eight pillars lay in the corners of the room, each bearing the likeness of one of the totem animals held sacred by the ancient Nords. The way ahead already lay open, the claw's work evidently done and so they wasted no time. Serana was clutching her dagger, a shock spell dancing on the fingertips of her other hand while Emily carried her bow and Lydia her greatsword. As they turned a corner they heard shambling footsteps. Ahead was a draugr in decaying leathers. As soon as its icy blue gaze fell upon them it muttered an oath in some long forgotten tongue and pulled an arrow from its quiver. Emily braced herself against the stonework and summoned the words of the disarm shout. As the energies struck the draugr its weapon was torn from its grasp and went skittering into the dark. Then Serana loosed her bolt of lightning and the ancient body crumpled, leaving them free to continue.

The corridor opened out into a large room lit by large iron braziers. Lining one wall and standing on a raised dais were several iron coffins. A long stone stable stood before the dais and it was laid with ancient Nordic goblets and plates.

"Stay on your guard," said Serana as she eyed the coffins. As they stepped out into the room five of the coffins burst open and their undead inhabitants stepped forth. They drew their weapons and converged on the trio of explorers. Emily darted to one side as one brought down his greatsword with a swoosh. She skidded on the floor and when she looked down she saw that the floor below her was covered in a thin film of oil. It covered much of the stonework before the dais and when she looked up she saw it was dripping from an oil lamp suspended above them. She was then forced to dodge as another of the draugr aimed a blow with a war axe at her. As she reached the table she scrambled up onto it, scattering plates and goblets where they clattered to the floor.

"Serana, Lydia," she cried, pulling an arrow from her quiver, "Get up off the floor." Lydia and Serana did as she asked and Serana jumped up next to her while Lydia gained the altar. Then Emily let the arrow fly. It struck the lamp which broke free of the thin rope holding it and tumbled towards the stone. On impact it shattered and the flames leapt hungrily along the ground, devouring all in its path. One by one the draugr were set aflame. One still managed to nock an arrow and fire it at the two vampires atop the table. Serana ducked as it whizzed overhead, striking the wall behind them. Before the draugr could launch another arrow it and the two on either side tumbled to the ground where the flames engulfed them. The smell of burning flesh pervaded the air and Lydia clamped a hand over her nose. As the flames ran out of oil to burn and died away they leapt off their vantage points to confront the two remaining draugr. One wielded ice magic which it had used to douse the flames on its and its comrade who wielded a heavy double axe.

Lydia ran at him while Emily and Serana, lightning bolts at the ready, rounded upon the magic user. Two on one really wasn't fair but as they knew the draugr wouldn't offer them the same courtesy they hardly cared. Their shock spells quickly nullified the draugr's magicka reserves and he fell with a guttural moan. The double axe wielder was run to ground soon after and they began to search the room. There was little of value save for a couple of linen wraps and sticks of firewood which Lydia fashioned into a crudely made torch.

At the far end of the room there as a doorway which led onto a dark spiral staircase. In the light of Lydia's newly lit torch they saw the iron grating concealed in the gloom. Below it was a deep pool of water. She surmised it was likely a trap and would open the moment any of them stepped on it so they sidled around it and climbed the creaking wooden stairs. This brought them up to a walkway which overlooked the room they had just traversed. Once again Emily and Serana caught the familiar odour of fresh blood and once again they had not far to look. Slumped against a stone pillar, drenched in blood was a robed Dunmeri man. One hand clutched a white claw-like object, spattered in the man's blood. Emily stooped to pick it up and wiped it clean on the deceased Dunmer's robes.

"I think we've found our journal writer," she said as she handed the claw to Serana. The tattered journal lying next to the corpse confirmed her suspicions. It detailed all the man had learned about some legend concerning a powerful mage called Gauldur whose three sons, on finding the source of his power lay in an amulet he always wore, killed him and stole the amulet before going on a rampage through the land. They were killed by the legions of men sent by the High King and led by the Archmage Geirmund and sealed away with writs of sealing.

"Looks like he was after the power this Gauldur guy had," said Emily as she scanned the pages.

"Sounds like a man after my father's heart," Serana said, folding her arms, "If we find this amulet in here while we're looking for this word wall, what should we do with it?" Emily thought for a moment.

"I don't know," she replied, "It says here the three sons were consumed by the amulet's power. It sounds dangerous. Can we destroy it?"

"Doubtful," Serana replied, "Magickal artifacts aren't easily destroyed. It would take a powerful wizard."

"You are powerful," said Emily. Serana smiled.

"You give me entirely too much credit, Em, there are others far more powerful than I out there," she said, "Besides, I'm not a wizard." Emily frowned, puzzled, and tilted her head to one side.

"A wizard, at least, the true meaning of a wizard, is one well versed in magickal artifacts and their construction, proper use and destruction," Serana explained, "Nowadays the term is used casually for any magic user and the original meaning has been mostly lost."

"I see," said Emily, "So what should we do then?"

"I advise we bury it or toss it into the ocean," Lydia put in.

"It's as good an idea as any," said Serana, "Assuming we find it in the first place of course."

Serana strode over to the pedestal and placed the claw into the indentation. On turning it there was an audible click and a creak overhead as a wooden drawbridge lowered down next to them, opening the path forward.

This path brought them through a series of interconnected catacombs. Several draugr stood in traditional burial poses but none moved as they passed. Candles burned in the alcoves where offerings of ancient coins and decayed withered remains of flowers.

"How are these candles still burning?" Emily whispered.

"I read somewhere that the draugr keep them burning," Lydia replied, "They tend the graves and clean the tombs for their undead lords."

"Amongst the Draugr," said Serana.

"Hmm?" said Lydia.

"Amongst the Draugr," Serana repeated, "By Bernadette Bantien. I had a few of her books back home."

At the far end of the catacombs they came to a series of lowered portcullises and lining the walls on either side were four levers.

"Looks like some kind of puzzle," said Emily as she neared one of them, "We'd better stick close to the walls in case of traps." They each stood close to the wall, each by one of the levers, leaving one unoccupied. Emily pulled the one nearest to her and one of the portcullises rose.

"Sera, try pulling that one next to you," she said. Serana did as she asked and one of the portcullises opened but the one Emily had opened slid closed.

"Hmm… that's not right," said Serana, pulling her lever again to reverse the action.

"Lydia, try pulling that one opposite," she said. Lydia pulled the lever and to their collective delight all four portcullises slid open and they passed through. Down and down, deeper into the ruins they delved, past ruined passages and candlelit alcoves. At one point the tunnel they were in rumbled ominously and Emily tugged Serana into an alcove just in time as a cascade of boulders juddered loose by time and tectonic movement rumbled past them. Taking care not to dislodge any more they went through the rotted wooden doors at the bottom. Beyond the door lay another puzzle in the form of a room with iron doors at either end which led to interconnecting rooms that connected the two ends of the room to one another. In the centre of the room was an iron grating concealing a wooden staircase that led down into the depths. They soon discovered the solution as in one room there were moveable animal totem pillars and in the other were iron plaques bearing the same animals set into the traditional carvings that resembled the large bearded heads of men. When the pillars were lined up so they matched the plaques and the pull chain in the main room pulled then the grating slid open, allowing them passage. Two draugr guarded the room but they spotted them ahead of time and Serana and Emily shot them one after the other from a distance.

The stairs below the grating brought them to a waterlogged tunnel lit only by the brazier burning at the bottom of the stairs. Emily's hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she beheld the inhabitants of the dank tunnel. Three spiders regarded them with glistening eyes, clicking their mandibles menacingly. Mercifully neither of her two companions held the same fear of these giant arachnids and while Emily attacked from a distance with bow and spells Serana and Lydia closed in with blades raised.

Beyond the tunnel lay the Hall of Stories where the history of those buried was recorded. But here, unlike other tombs she had seen, which granted was not a great many, the walls were perfectly smooth, any trace of any such history either having been removed with great care or it had never once existed. Coffins lined the walls and in this hall they faced off against warriors they guessed to have been among those who chased down the one who now lay buried here with a piece of the amulet. They were formidable and rose in great numbers. Emily disarmed all she could with her shouts but some were wielders of magic and nothing save a well-aimed bolt of lightning could rob them of that power. Others could shout and more than once they found themselves slammed back against the curving walls. But their most difficult battle lay beyond the iron door and when they had defeated the company of warriors Emily opened the way using the Ivory claw.

The tunnel beyond brought them to a large room lined with coffins and lit by braziers placed in the maws of the draconic heads that decorated the tomb. Emily felt a growing sense of unease as they crossed the floor. She knew that feeling well, the feeling that something soon would happen. And happen it did. As they reached the centre of the large room, climbing the steps to the raised dais, the coffin in the centre opened and out climbed a draugr with a tall horned helm. His armour was more decorated than his brethren and he carried a sword as black as pitch that pulsed with wicked energies. And then the sound of iron being wrenched loose echoed on all sides as his inner council of followers broke their centuries of silence to fight once more for their master. But as they rose from their coffins Emily noted something different about them. None of them carried weapons and while you might argue that no draugr are quick of thought these ones seemed to move like those in a trance. The three adventurers stood back to back, facing the enemies that advanced on all sides. The mages in their company proved to be the biggest threat as they seemed never to tire and the ice that rained from their palms was unceasing. Emily and Serana kept up their wards as best they could as they fought against the onslaught. Emily's was first to weaken and break and when it did Lydia lunged forward in an act of desperation to strike down the undead ice mage. This blow was not without reward for the draugr fell, its head cleaved in twain but nor was the blow without consequence. Lydia's greatsword clattered to the stonework as Lydia clutched her frozen arm to her side, desperately trying to work her frozen fingers with little success. Serana rounded on the nearest draugr and felled it with a blow to the chest.

"Stay with Lydia," Serana shouted over her shoulder as she advanced on two more of the thralls. Lydia and Emily retreated to the walls, Emily fighting off those who came near with spell and blade. Lydia clenched her teeth. The numbness was spreading up her arm and at the edges where half frozen flesh met undamaged flesh it seared like fire.

Serana brought down another thrall and turned on their master. The undead son of Gauldur laughed a deep guttural laugh distorted by centuries of decay and raised one hand, beckoning the vampiress onward as he brought up his blackened blade to face her. Serana scowled at the undead monster who had once been mortal man. Lightning leapt from her fingertips and she launched it at the draugr. He brought up the black blade and the lightning sparked along it, bouncing off it into the gloom. Bolt after bolt she sent his way only for it to be deflected in the same manner. She then fell back on her blade and advanced upon him. Again and again she dodged to one side to avoid the blackened blade and again and again she struck out. Most of the blows were deflected by his armour and those that did land left gashes that went largely unnoticed. She dodged to one side yet again but this time she moved a fraction too late. The blade caught her across the chest and she fell back onto the ground. Emily let out a strangulated yell as she tore from the housecarl and ran at the draugr who was now raising his blade above his head, a grin of triumph plastered across his leathery features. The blade came swinging down. Then there was a sound like a bell which reverberated around the large room. Before him stood the younger vampiress, braced against the stonework with her dagger stopping his sword's progress. She struggled against him with might and main and he grinned wickedly into her face. Emily gritted her teeth. Then she drew breath.

FUS RO!

The blue energies ripping from her jaws caused the draugr before her to falter, staggering back under the force of her voice. Emily seized the moment to plunge the dagger deep into his neck. His startled outcries died in this throat as he dropped the blade whose clattering echoed about the room. Emily wasted no time and turned to her fallen companion, dropping to her knees beside her. Her armour was wet with blood and her eyes were open but unfocused. Emily hurriedly placed her hands upon the wound, speaking the incantation of necromantic healing. She chanted it over and over as the golden light surrounded her fingers, willing the flesh to knit together and the bleeding to slow. The familiar pinching sensation behind her eyes came but she ignored it, focusing every effort upon her companion. Only when her vision began to swim did she stop. She looked down at Serana and to her relief she saw that she was beginning to stir. She brought a hand up to her chest and looked up at the Earthling.

"Are you alright?" Emily asked, her voice thick with the fatigue left by the spell's effort and her fingers tingling. In response Serana nodded, moving closer as her companion swayed a little where she sat and leant her, her support.

"Come on," she said, "We need to help Lydia, I have some ingredients in my pack that should help." Emily nodded and got shakily to her feet with Serana's help. The wound on Serana's chest still remained as a shallow cut but it was no longer the life threatening injury it had been. It smarted as she knelt by the stricken housecarl. Her arm had turned very pale and Serana opened her pack, pulling out a jar of orange powder that glowed and sparked like fire and bunches of small red berries. She pulped these and mixed them with the glowing grains and some brandy before rubbing the mixture on the housecarl's arm. The twists of vapour that rose from the mixture smelt faintly like smoke and slowly twists of steam began to rise where it was applied. The numb feeling began to recede and at last she was able to feebly move her frozen fingers. Emily retrieved the housecarl's greatsword and helped her return it to its holster on her back.

"Thanks," said Lydia as she flexed her fingers and held her wrist in her other hand as she slowly rotated the joint to ensure it still functioned properly.

"No problem," Serana replied.

Once the mixture had had its full effect Serana sat back against the wall and turned her attention to the shallow cut on her chest. She murmured the incantation and slowly the wound faded until only a white line served to mark where it had been. When Emily sat down next to her she reached up, slipping an arm about her shoulders.

"Not bad back there," she said gently and Emily's heart fluttered at these words as it often did. To anyone else the words would have sounded blatantly understated but to her they welled with praise and affection boundless. She leant gratefully into the embrace and Serana's dark hair fell across her face.

They rested for several minutes in the tomb of Mikrul Gaulderson, regaining their strength and plotting their next move.

"We should go via Whiterun," said Lydia, "We can take the road that leads south around Lainterdale."

"That sounds good to me," Emily replied, "Then we can follow the road east past Valtheim, right?" Lydia nodded.

"We should watch out for bandits there," Serana cautioned.

"There's no need to worry about them," said Lydia, waving her hand, "I know a trail that leads up past a giant camp. They aren't usually a bother and the trail practically takes you right down to the marshes."

"Very well," said Serana, "I suppose we should think about getting out of here first though." This was agreed so they got up and searched the body of the fallen son. On him they found a writ of sealing and a fragment of an amulet. Emily and Serana stuck to their plans concerning it and buried it deep in a crevice Lydia spotted at the back of the tomb. Near the crevice was a tunnel blocked by iron spikes and another pedestal bearing the claw-shaped indentation. Emily opened it with the claw and they hurried onward. At the top of the stone steps Emily heard the chanting and their in the corner, beckoning to her, was the word wall. She crossed over to it and read what was written there, taking the word's meaning into herself. An iron door and the tunnel beyond that brought them practically back to the beginning of the tomb. Here Emily checked her watch and on noting that the sun would soon rise they made camp in the large room below the walkway where they had found the body of the Dunmer. Lydia built a small fire using the discarded wooden beams lying in various piles of wreckage scattered about the room and roasted some potatoes and leeks over it. They uncorked a couple of bottles of mead and sat by the fire, talking late into the day. Lydia was the first to turn in, curling up in her bedroll. Serana and Emily lay awake a little longer. Then they too gave in to sleep and Emily curled up close to the vampiress. As she drifted off to sleep she felt Serana's arm encircle her and she nestled gratefully closer as sleep took hold.

As the sun set and the moons rose over the Sea of Ghosts they set out from the ruins. Emily was glad to leave the claustrophobic stone behind and they trekked across the vast marshes towards the town. From here they headed eastward as planned towards Eastmarch. Just over a week's travel saw them cross the hold boarder from the Pale into Whiterun. The plains were a welcome sight after so much ice and snow and the aurora above them wound like a ribbon across the sky for the night was clear and bright. They passed by the farm that stood up on the hill and the guard posting near the tumbledown archway. Soon they would enter the outskirts of the town where most of the farms were nestled against the protective stone walls. Ahead of them three people stood with torches. Emily took them to be guards. This was hardly uncommon. The surrounding foothills were favoured haunts for bandits and raids on the farm were hardly rare. But as they drew near one looked sharply over at them and Emily felt a chill run through her. His face was obscured by a mask of bone and as soon as they locked eyes Emily felt that they would not let them pass without accosting them. She noticed Serana's hand lingering over her dagger which told her she felt the same.

"Halt," said one of them as they got within five feet of them, "You, you are the one who dares call themselves Dragonborn."

"Sorry?" Emily replied, feigning confusion, "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"You aren't fooling anyone, you are the False Dragonborn, Emily, are you not?" said another. The momentary flicker of surprise told them all they needed to know.

"Our Lord Miraak, he is the true Dragonborn and when he returns to Tamriel, you oh pale shadow of his greatness," he continued, "Your heart will be offered to him." Then, without further speech, they attacked. They fought with fire and Emily hid quickly behind her ward as Serana did the same. Lydia, whose arm had not healed sufficiently yet to wield a greatsword, instead drew a broadsword and kept alongside Emily, taking shelter beneath the ward and striking when she could. Emily shouted at two of them as they drew closer to one another and the force of the shout sent them reeling long enough for she and Lydia to cut them down. Then the three of them converged upon the third. Instead of fleeing as others might've, he instead redoubled his efforts, fighting with fire and blade. But he too fell, blood pooling in the grass of the tundra.

"You said we wouldn't know what they wanted until we fought them," Emily said to Lydia, "I think we know now." Lydia nodded.

"But not where they came from, my Thane," she said.

"Perhaps this might offer a clue," said Serana as she stood up, clutching a smouldering sheet of parchment in her hand. She handed it to Emily who unfolded it.

"Where's Raven Rock?" she asked a moment later.

"That's on Solstheim, an island to the North-east of Skyrim," Lydia answered.

"I think," said Serana, "Once you have this shout, Em, we should go to Solstheim, see what we can learn."

"I think you're right," she replied, "But we'll tell Arngeir what we learned first." Serana nodded.

"Come on, let's get moving before any guards show up," she said, "We might have trouble explaining away these bodies."

Author's Note - I've decided to play around with lore a bit here. In this story only one dragon soul is required to unlock a shout otherwise this would greatly lengthen the story as we wait for Emily to harvest enough souls for the shouts she needs to know.