Chapter 37

Bo's chest started to ache the closer they got to Kynesgrove. He thought about the first time he met Jane. It felt like an eternity had passed since he'd come across the sleeping girl. He hadn't known at that time that the moment he swept the unconscious Jane into his arms that his life had been forever changed.

As they drew near the sleepy little village, the more Bo knew something was wrong. Snow was falling in a hurried flurry, making it hard to see. They rode hard, their horses galloping down the small winding road with a great sense of urgency.

Bo's heart nearly leaped out of his chest as a figure suddenly appeared before them and he was forced to pull on the reins hard. His horse snorted and whinnied as he came to a sudden halt just before the frantic Innkeeper, Iddra.

"There's a Dragon!" Iddra shouted, and she waved her arm towards the hill behind the Inn. "Something's going on by the burial mound!"

Delphine snapped the reins and her dabbled grey mare took off at a gallop with Naz and Bo at her heels. They ascended the steep hill just in time to witness a terrible sight.

A massive black Dragon hovered above the burial mound. Bo was frozen in fear as he gawked up at what he knew was the same Dragon from Helgen. It beat its powerful wings several meters above the trees, sending a powerful gust of wind across the land. There was movement in the soil within the middle of the burial mound, and Delphine's suspicions were right.

The Dragon's thu'um echoed all around Bo and he quickly slipped off his horse and covered his ears with both hands as it vibrated hard through his body. There was a loud explosion as massive bones burst through the ground and the skeletal corpse of a dragon was brought back to life.

"Sahloknir, ziil gro dovah ulse!"

Delphine and Naz watched in utter horror as the skeletal head of the dragon moved to gaze up at its master. Bo continued to groan, and he felt like everything was spinning.

"Slen tiid vo!"

Bo wished he could cut out the voice but it was no use. The colossal jaw of the skeletal Dragon opened as it responded to the call.

"Alduin, thuri! Boaan tiid vokriiha suleyksejun kruziik?"

The Dragon named Alduin responded, its thu'um filled with pride.

"Geh, Sahloknir, kaali mir."

Bo struggled to stand up, and it was then that Alduin turned his blood-red gaze towards him. He eyed the Orc for a long moment, and then it spoke again.

"So, my false Dragonborn? I do not recognize you as dragon."

Besides Bo, Naz stared up at Alduin with widened eyes, his feet rooted to the spot. He had never been more afraid than at that exact moment as he knew he stared up at the face of death. He had no idea what the Dragon was saying. Bo's entire body shook and he clenched his hands so hard he drew blood as he forced himself to look Alduin in the eyes.

"You do not even know our tongue, do you? Such arrogance, to dare take for yourself the name of Dovah."

Bo didn't have to know what Alduin was saying to understand that he was taunting him. Before he could even muster a response, the Dragon turned its attention back to his loyal champion.

"Sahloknir, kill these mortals."

Alduin beat his wings hard, pushing great gusts of wind and snow against the group as he turned his body and began to fly away. For a moment everyone was too stunned to move until the skeletal Dragon roared and began to charge towards them.

It wasn't hard to kill Sahloknir. Naz, fueled by adrenaline and he relentlessly smashed his sword into the Dragon with loud bellows of frustration. Delphine was there as well. Bo forced himself to fight although he felt sick to his stomach from his second encounter with Alduin. Sahloknir was not at his full strength, which was his downfall. His flesh was just beginning to be stitched back together when Naz delivered the fatal blow. His sword punched through the Dragon's skull and it screamed and trembled as it died once more.

Snow fell all around them in light fluffy flakes and it was dead silent save for the sounds of their labored breathing. Delphine watched Bo, waiting with barely contained anticipation. Bo stood near the Dragon with his head bowed, and he grimaced as the soul of Sahloknir suddenly burst out from the skeleton and began rushing towards him. The feeling was warm, but it left Bo feeling as cold as ice.

"I'm sorry I had to test you," Delphine started. "But now I know for sure."

"Are you happy?" Bo spat back, and he turned away from her. "You got what you wanted."

Before Delphine could respond Bo grabbed the reins of his horse and began making his way back down the hill towards the Inn. Naz and the Breton followed several paces behind him, and after tending to their frightened steeds they all clambered into the Inn to rest for the night.

Bo took his key from Iddra and began making his way to his room when Delphine stopped him.

"Bo," Delphine started, but she was quickly cut off.

"I'm done talking with you tonight."

"We have to plan the next course of action-"

"I said leave me alone!"

Bo hadn't meant to shout, but at this point, he didn't care. He was tired, he had no appetite and he just wanted to go to sleep. More than anything he wanted to hold Jane and kiss her over and over, but he couldn't.

"Let him go," Naz grumbled. "We can talk in the morning."

"Alright, fine."

Naz followed Bo to his room and they both stepped inside. Bo threw himself down on the bed with a sigh and began tugging off his boots.

"That... that black Dragon. Do you know what it said to you?"

"Not really," Bo sighed. "But I've seen him before."

"I don't know why but I think he's... that dragon... is a big problem."

Bo glanced over at Naz with a weary expression. He realized that the older Orc had honestly been scared, and he nodded.

"You're right. Alduin is probably our biggest problem."

"What will we do now? Delphine will hound us in the morning."

"I don't care what she has to say," Bo grumbled, and he rubbed at his sore neck. "Unless she has an exact plan for us this to carry out this very second, I'm going back to High Hrothgar. Not only to get Jane but to fulfill my duty to the Greybeards."

"Okay. I can agree with that."

The two Orcs spoke for a few more minutes, but they were too tired to do much else. Naz patted Bo's shoulder before he left and retired to his room. Despite how sick he was feeling Bo fell asleep quickly, and he did not stir for a long time.

It was late the next morning, and Bo had gathered with Naz and Delphine in the main hall of the Inn. He sat across from the Breton with a sullen expression. It was quiet in the Inn, and they were the only patrons occupying the dining hall.

Bo had slept soundly for most of the night until his mind had been plagued with nightmares about Alduin. Bo had been unable to get back to sleep and so he was feeling even more miserable than the night before. There was an awkwardness between him and Delphine. He didn't know what to say to her, even though he had a dozen questions burning on his mind.

"So, I bet you're wondering who I am."

Naz sat back in his chair with his arms crossed, and he let out a snort.

"Well," Delphine continued briskly. "I'm one of the last remaining members of the Blade."
"Blade?" Bo echoed, and his brows furrowed together.

"Yes."

"I thought the Blades were phased out after the Oblivion Crisis."

"They were," Delphine sighed. "They started to decline after that incident. It's a long story."

"Why would a Blade have interest in something like the Dragons returning?"

Naz glared at Delphine from across the table with narrowed eyes.

"Most people have forgotten what the original purpose of the Blades was. We weren't always protecting Emperors in Cyrodiil."

"The Blades were Dragonslayers," Bo mumbled, and Naz looked over at him.

"They were what?"

"Bo is right," Delphine nodded, her expression grim. "A very long time ago were Dragonslayers, and we served the greatest one of them all... the Dragonborn."

"I don't get the Thalmor involvement," Bo continued quietly, and he shook his head. "What could they possibly have to do with Alduin?"

"I don't have any solid proof but my gut tells me it can't be anybody else."

Delphine launched herself into a lesson on the Thalmor, which neither Orc needed, but they remained quiet.

"Now Ulfric is free, and the Dragons suddenly start returning. Skyrim is weakened... the Empire is weakened. Who else gains from that but the Thalmor?"

Bo sighed. He felt more confused than ever before.

"But what am I supposed to do about something as powerful as the entire Aldmeri Dominion?"

Delphine rubbed her hands together, and she was silent for a moment.

"I don't have everything figured out yet. I'm working on a plan to get into the Thalmor Embassy near Solitude. One of the Ambassadors for Skyrim holds parties all the time so it'll be a highly dangerous job to get in. It would require your help."

"If you don't have a set plan," Bo responded quickly, "Then I'm afraid you're going to have to figure it out and get back to me."

"What do you mean?"

Bo began to rise from his chair, and Naz followed. Their packs were ready, and their horses were waiting for them near just outside the door.

"I'm going back to High Hrothgar."

"To the Greybeards? What could you possibly gain by going back there right now?"

"Our partners are waiting for us," Naz cut in with a scowl. "We're also taking the horn back."

Delphine stood up from the table and followed the Orcs as they began making their way to the exit.

"So, your partners are more important than the whole of Skyrim? Now is not the time to be thinking selfishly!"

"I'm not a violent Orc," Bo replied slowly, and he paused by the door with his back to her. "But if I were you I'd choose your next words carefully."

Bo threw open the door and stepped outside. His mind was made up. Delphine had admitted that she had plans but they were not set in stone. He didn't care to waste time waiting for her to figure things out. He thought nothing but of getting back to Jane.

Naz remained inside for a few minutes as he finished speaking to Delphine.

"There's nothing you could say to change his mind. Once you have something set into place, he will come. Until then... we're going to keep moving forward with the Greybeards."

"Alright, Alright..." Delphine sighed and threw her hands up. "But the moment I have everything set up to infiltrate the Embassy-"

"Yes, yes," Naz growled. "We'll be there. If that is who's really behind all of this."

Naz swiftly stepped outside and jogged down the wooden stairs to find Bo already atop his horse. He quickly mounted his black steed and without any hesitation, they began trotting down the small path towards the Rift. Both of them only had one goal in their mind; to get back to Jane and Lynne.