"Your daughter is in danger," said the Orc. "If the werewolves get to her..."
Serana looked at Stefan.
"We have to go back," she said urgently. "Immediately."
He nodded in agreement.
"Does it say what would happen if they got hold of her?" he asked quickly.
"That's something that should never come to pass," he said.
Serana tugged Stefan's arm.
"Come on," she said. "Quickly."
Stefan nodded at the Orc.
"Thank you," he said politely.
Urag nodded in return as he allowed Serana to lead him out of The Arcanaeum back to his horse.
They both sprinted down the stairs. Stefan was hailed by some students but he offered them a hurried greeting as they rushed out of the college grounds back to his horse. They bolted down the marble path and back onto his horse. He untied her as Serana mounted. He followed suit and tugged the reins. She began to canter underneath them, taking them away from the college, back to the castle.
"Can she make the whole journey without stopping?" asked Serana.
"I don't know," said Stefan. "I've never tried."
"Go as far as she can," asked Serana. "When she is tired, we can give her a rest."
Stefan nodded in understanding. He shook the reins to encourage her to speed up. His horse made an obliging noise before cantering faster underneath them.
"I hope we can make it on time," said Serana. "Before..."
"Me too," said Stefan.
The sun began to set. A small band of people stood in the small room where Farkas and Vilkas were hiding out. There were no more than five of them, including the brothers. However, the brothers would be busy with something else this time around. The inhabitants stood around a battered wooden table. A paper map of Skyrim lay upon the table. Castle Volkihar was circled in black ink. The circle was festooned with three arrows pointing into the castle from different directions.
"Are you sure about this brother?" asked Farkas. "The Castle is very heavily defended."
"Stefan and Serana have gone in the direction of Whiterun," said Vilkas. "They aren't at home. It's just the grandmother and the children."
"Think about who one of those children are," said Farkas.
"Don't worry," said Vilkas. "There will six of us. We outnumber them two to one."
Farkas gave his brother a look of mistrust. However, he shook his head and addressed the people who were around the table. He picked up a quill which he was going to use as a pointer.
"There are six of you," he began. "My brother included."
He gestured to them and then to his brother.
"You two," he said pointing to two people on his left side. "You will enter through the North Tower."
"You two," he said pointing to those on his right side. "You will take the South Tower."
He then pointed to his brother and another person.
"You two will storm the main door," he instructed. "Are we clear?"
Everyone nodded.
"Okay," he said. "Get some rest. We will hit them in a few hours."
The crowd dispersed. Farkas resumed looking at his map, checking the details.
Darkness had really fallen when Stefan and Serana had arrived at Whiterun. His horse had been slowing down since before they arrived. She was clearly exhausted. He turned into the Whiterun stables and his horse slowed to a stop. He patted her gratefully. He sighed. There was no point trying to push on, because he was likely to end up killing his horse as a result of his impatience to get back to the Castle. Then he had an idea.
"Wait here," said Stefan.
He dismounted leaving Serana sat on the horse waiting for him. Stefan approached the stable house and wrapped on the door smartly. There was no answer so he wrapped on the door once more. There was a movement inside the property. Locks scraped and the door opened a crack.
"What?" asked the stable boy.
"I need a horse," said Stefan. "A fast one."
"And I need some sleep," said the stable boy. "Come back in the morning."
"I can't wait until morning," he said. "I need one now!"
The stable boy sighed.
"If you insist," he said rather obligingly. He closed the door and opened it again, emerging wear a set of robes over his pyjamas.
Stefan followed him towards the stables. He looked over to Serana who was still sat on his horse watching the proceedings. The stable boy lead him to a large black stallion.
"He is the fastest we've got," he said.
"I'll take him," said Stefan. "How much?"
"1,000 gold," replied the stable boy.
Stefan pulled out a coin purse and dropped it on the hay bale next to them.
"Get him saddled up," said Stefan. "We are leaving immediately."
The stable boy picked up the coin purse. He then began saddling the horse. Stefan gestured for Serana to join him. She slid off his horse carrying a leather knapsack.
She approached them. The saddling was complete and she mounted the horse, attaching the knapsack to the side.
"This one is my horse," said Stefan. "Please look after her until I return."
The stable boy looked at him.
"Perhaps you don't need to give me your money," he said. "I can keep your horse until you return mine."
"Sounds fair," said Stefan.
The stable boy dropped the coin purse into Stefan's hand. Stefan approached his horse and patted her neck gently.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he said to her reassuringly. She made a small noise which he took to her understanding.
He then returned to the black stallion. He mounted him and grabbed the reins.
"Take care of her," he said. "You'll get this one back soon."
The stable boy nodded. Stefan shook the reigns. The stallion tossed his head and began picking up speed. It cantered past the carriage and onto the road. At once, he slowly began to pick up speed to a full gallop.