Chapter 10

If Lenia wasn't mistaken, there was maybe two more day's walk before they could reach an inn. She had brought a rather weathered map of Skyrim, and although she wasn't a professional at reading it, she had a base understanding.

It was nighttime, and the pair had decided to stop and rest for the night. Lenia sat on her bedroll quietly pouring over the map in the firelight. Dinner cooked in the pot, and the smells wafted over to her. Her tummy rumbled quietly, and so she fished out a hunk of bread to chew on while she waited. Malath noticed the map and came over to her.

"I haven't looked at a map in years," Malath commented, kneeling down beside her.

Lenia shifted the paper sideways so Malath could look at it. The Orc drew one finger across it from Whiterun and mumbled under his breath.

"What did you say?" Lenia inquired curiously.

Of course he'd know how to read a map.

"I'd say we're about here."

Malath pointed to a spot close to where Lenia had assumed they were.

"So, you're taking us in this direction."

he drew his finger up to a spot marked on the map.

"Nightgate Inn."

"Yes, that's the one. We can sleep indoors for once and replenish our food supplies."

"Sounds good to me."

Malath stood up and wandered over to the cooking pot. He stirred the contents for a few moments. Then he served himself a bowl once Lenia called out that it was probably ready. He also scooped a bowl for the elf and handed it to her.

They sat in comfortable silence. Malath was thinking about the day's earlier fight. He felt pretty good, but of course, the usual tug of addiction called to him. He felt better about everything overall.

I could get used to this, he thought with a small smile. Traveling around with the girl.

The rest of their night was uneventful, and after they finished eating dinner Lenia helped Malath out of his armor. She handed him a potion, which he gratefully drank. Even though his mind felt clearer, his body still felt like shit. He longed for the day where a simple walk didn't pain him anymore. After a while, Lenia stood up and looked over at him.

"I'm going to put up some runes."

"Runes?"

"Yes. There are a few different types. You cast them on a surface and if somebody gets too close they'll be triggered. I usually put them all around myself when I'm traveling alone. Most bandits and thieves don't know how to spot them."

"Makes sense."

Malath was still uncomfortable about magic, but he understood Lenia was a responsible mage and did not use her powers for dark work. At least, he was pretty sure. He didn't wish to think about the necromancers they had encountered earlier. It left a pit in his stomach.

Lenia and Malath both lay in their separate bedrolls, staring up at the starry sky. Lenia drifted to sleep rather quickly, and Malath followed shortly after. That night he dreamt of things past. Of certain women, he had been with in his lifetime. Of one, in particular, an Orsimer like him. He had almost loved her until things ended badly. Her face danced in and out of his dreams, and then his parents appeared as well. Malath did not sleep soundly and woke up early the next morning.

With each passing day, Malath felt his muscles grow stronger. Already his legs were beginning to burn less and less. He was surprised at how fast he was adapting to traveling again. He thought it would be much more of a struggle.

In the far distance, they could see the snow-dusted terrain of the Winterhold. Malath was not looking forward to traveling in snow. It was his least favorite type of weather, as it always left him cold and wet with numb fingers and toes. Lenia looked indifferent, and together they quietly plodded on. As they drew nearer, Lenia slowed her steps until she stopped entirely.

"I have some warmer clothes for us," Lenia began, and she slung her pack off her shoulders. "I found them in one of your crates, I'm assuming they'll fit you."

Malath took the fur coat Lenia offered and held it up. He didn't remember it, so he must have just taken it for the sake of taking it. He did that a lot in his travels.

"What about you?" Malath asked, looking over at her. Lenia shrugged.

"I'm usually alright. I have a coat if I need it."

"In that flimsy robe?" Malath scoffed, raising one eyebrow. Lenia simply smiled.

"I'm not just wearing a flimsy robe." She pulled the collar of her rob down, revealing soft brown leather underneath. So, she was wearing armor.

"It is enchanted to keep my body heat completely encased. Some of the students at college are very good at coming up with handy little spells."

"Sounds nice," Malath replied, and he glanced down at his coat.

"Well," Lenia replied smartly, "If you want, I'm sure yours can be done as well. But you'll have to ask J'Zargo. I don't know how to cast it."

"Maybe."

It was still light enough out that Lenia suggested they keep walking a bit further before making camp for the night. Several more hours passed as they walked in near silence. The sounds of their booted feet crunching over the snow echoed all around them, along with the whistling of the wind. Malath shivered slightly and pulled his coat closer around his ebony armor.

"I guess we'll find-" Lenia began to say when she stopped dead in her tracks.

It was too dark to see Malath's armor in action when he killed the wolf. But it was still light out, and she was able to see the enchantment in action. Malath glanced down at his body, noting the black wisps that flowed around him. He tensed and drew his sword.

"Is that... the enchantment?" Lenia asked, glancing around. "I thought it poisoned enemies?"

"It does," Malath replied quietly, roaming the landscape with his eyes. "It also lets me know when an enemy is close.

Lenia didn't need any more explanation. She raised her hands and powered a flame spell between her palms. It was a good thing they had been given a warning, as a moment later two raging mad ice wraiths flew through the air towards them.

"On your right!" Malath shouted, and he swung his sword at the wraith nearest to him.

It was quick, almost too quick for him to handle. He was getting better, but they were still tricky to strike. Their translucent bodies blended into the snowy landscape behind them. The wind had picked up as well, and snow fell in a flurry around them.

To his far right, Lenia was blasting the second wraith with fire, which seemed to scream. His attention had been momentarily distracted by glancing over at the girl, and the ice wraith swung its weird spiked body at the Orc. There was a loud icy crunch, and the wraith connected Malath yelled, and nearly dropped his sword in surprise as the wraith's body exploded in a shower of ice shards.

Lenia finished melting her wraith to death, and then she ran over to where Malath stood, brushing the shards off his coat and beard.

"I guess they're not immune to poison," Lenia joked, and she brushed some ice off of his shoulder.

Malath shrugged. He really didn't know.

I can't stand those things," he growled, looking down at the snow-covered ground. He could barely make out any trace of the corpse.

"Yeah, they're pretty annoying. It's hard to see them through the snow."

After recovering from their little skirmish, Lenia found them a more sheltered area to settle down for the night. Together they cleared a circular area of ground from the snow, and then Malath tethered a tarp between three small trees so that the snow wouldn't fall on them. While he was doing that, Lenia managed to find some firewood, and she settled down to make dinner. Malath unraveled his bedroll and sank down onto the covers. He thought maybe he was hallucinating it, but Malath swore he was beginning to fill it out.

It must be the elf's delicious cooking fattening me up, he thought to himself, glancing over at Lenia as she hovered over the fire. She is really good at it.

Tonight, Malath decided to leave his armor on, mostly because he knew he'd be too cold if he took it off. Lenia thought about protesting against it but decided not to. She would make sure he took a potion before sleep as well, to ensure he wasn't too sore the next morning.

After dinner, they both lay on their bedrolls. Lenia stared idly up at the tarp, her thoughts somewhere else. Malath watched the crackling fire, his thoughts nowhere in particular. Lenia was feeling a bit nervous. Within the next day, she was certain they'd reach Nightgate Inn. She would be glad to be indoors where it was nice and warm, and dry. But where there's an Inn, there's alcohol.

I know he's doing so well, she told herself with a sigh, but he cut it off very abruptly. There could be some slip-ups.

I'll just have to be there if he falls and help him pick himself back up again.

With that final thought, Lenia settled down under the covers and drifted off to sleep.