Chapter Six

"Excellent," Isran said to Yosa'Min as she circled him, an iron sword in her hand. "Now try that again," he ordered, emotion falling from his face.

Panting from the long time they'd spent sparing, Yosa'Min lunged towards him, bringing the sword across towards his head. He easily deflected it, a sharp noise as metal met metal filling the air, and went to counter. The redguard woman stepped to the side to dodge it, and shouldered him forcefully back. Stumbled a bit, Isran brought his sword close to block any further attacks from the woman, but she instead stood there, watching him.

Sweat was dripping down both their backs, dressed both in a pair of light armor in case their blades slipped or they failed to block a blow even if they were dulled for practice. Isran approached carefully, as he'd noticed she had a tendency to be reactionary, waiting for an opening and seizing upon it without mercy. The few times that even he had slipped up, she'd made him regret, welts under the armor hurting. The older and larger redguard moved, aiming to sweep her legs out with the sword, and she jumped above the arcing blade and actually kicked him square in the jaw in the middle of the maneuver. Isran was sent backwards, gritting his teeth in pain as he tried to stop himself and before he knew it he found that she'd backed him into the corner.

Smiling with acceptance, Isran held up a hand and nodded his head. "Good one," he said, dropping the hand to hold his aching jaw. "Certainly a good one."Yosa'Min sighed as she relaxed, nodding her head in return and walking over to take his training sword to put it back on the rack. He gratefully handed it to her. "I suppose it's about time for dinner, go clean up and get something to eat. You've earned it today."

Since she and Vex had arrived at Fort Dawnguard, he had kept the two and the nord man who'd joined the same day training, and surprisingly he did a lot of it with them too. A very personal touch perhaps, but it was giving them a good idea on who they were dealing with. For Yosa'Min however, it had reminded her constantly of her brother. Growing up he'd been the one to teach her things about fighting and hunting, and in a manner not too far from how Isran was training her. Part of the resemblance made her almost regret their plans as she'd come to learn a little bit of the people in the Order. But Vex wanted the crossbows, and Yosa couldn't handle lying to so many people about who she was like she had Mjoll again.

So without a word, the redguard woman obeyed, walking out towards the sleeping quarters, turning to the right down the hallway and shortly again right into a large rectangular room. There was a large burning fireplace, animal mounts pelts decorating across the stone walls, large piles of wood for the burning flames. There were a few cots set up in the quarter, a long table with bench seats and a circular one with regular chairs, and a singular divider. Surprisingly, Vex was also in the room, getting changed behind the divider.

At first, Yosa'Min hadn't realized, and had walked right over to get changed into fresher clothes, nearly running right into the imperial. Startled, Yosa'Min stepped back and averted her gaze from the half dressed woman. "Sorry Vex," she apologized quietly, a blush working its way across her face. After everything that had happened between them, she seemed to get flustered a lot around the imperial in certain settings.

"It's fine Plim," Vex shrugged it off, pulling a pale cloth shirt on over her torso, pants already on. "What's going on?" She asked, sitting down on the nearby cot to pull her leather boots on.

A bit nervously, Yosa'Min started to get changed as well, having to stand nearby as it was after all the only divider in the room. "Isran trained me some more, I think he might be using it as an excuse to keep an eye on me," she replied quietly, "I don't think he trusts me much."

"Maybe he's just trying to make sure you don't die," Vex offered, one boot laced up. "The Order has only a handful of members, doubt he wants to lose anyone right now."

"Perhaps," Yosa'Min said, the drenched shirt off, a chill running up over her heated body despite the burning fire nearby. "But I still think we should be cautious."

Nodding her head in agreement, Vex got the other boot on. "Of course," she sat there on the cot, watching her partner in crime. Yosa'Min felt herself blushing insecurely, the already present red in her face becoming more vibrant and obvious, and it took all she had to not turn her back to Vex. The imperial would only get offended, especially after she'd not turned the other way.

"We'll be fine," Vex said sincerely, amber eyes gazing into blue orbs that had unbeknownst to Yosa'Min, begin to cloud with worry. "Just keep your ears and eyes open, and walk with shadow my friend," added Vex. "And if something does happen, I'll have your back just like always."

Yosa'Min mutely nodded her head, before speaking up. "Get me my clothes please," she asked, realizing she'd forgotten them across the room. The imperial nodded, and did as requested, Yosa'Min breathing a bit easier until she came back and offered a set of light clothing. Nodding her head in thanks, Yosa'Min quickly pulled the shirt jerkin on and changed the armored pants she wore into a more comfortable pair that clung nicely to her muscled form.

"It's time for dinner," Vex pointed out casually, "Maybe after we should practice with the crossbows," she was looking directly at Yosa'Min, making sure she understood the true meaning. "The range is right next to the dining hall, so we can go right after. Blood suckers only get stronger everyday right?"

Smirking, Yosa'Min laughed. "Sure, though what's the point? I'll out-shoot you just like the last times we've practiced."

Vex laughed, "Oh? I'll take you on the challenge."

"A challenge implies I think you stand a chance," cheekily shot back the redguard, wagging an eyebrow at Vex.

"Oh does it now!" Guffawed Vex before she could stop herself, shaking her head with disbelief, in part because she hadn't heard such talk for months. "Then I suppose I'll just have to prove you wrong. Come on, we're having dinner so I can whoop your ass at your own game." She ordered, leading the dressed woman out with a laugh.

The dining room was besides the kitchen and not far from the sleeping quarters or the circular foyer. Isran, a nord woman named Ingjard and a bosmer woman named Beleval, and Celann had joined the two women that had gotten there first. The grand table for them to eat at was spread with silver dining ware, a blazing cooking fire in a large stone fireplace across from it. Barrels, sacks, firewood and more animals heads and pelts covered the room. The meal had been surprisingly jovial, though Isran certainly hadn't been the head of the conversation.

Most of it, was boastful tales of those who had already hunted down vampires or had leads on where some might be hiding out. Vex was dragged into conversation a few times, but for the most part Yosa'Min had managed to avoid it by focusing on her food instead of the talks and laughter. As they finished eating, the two women watched as one by one the others got up and left the table claiming they were either going on watch or to bed. Vex had intentionally eaten slowly to avoid much wonder why she held on, making Yosa'Min curious if in part she had hoped to be spoken to to prolong it or if it had just been a lucky stick drawn.

When they were at last alone with only Isran, they got up with polite excuses and headed towards the shooting range, which in truth was only two targets with a long stretch of cave to practice in. There was a large wooden pen set up besides them that looked like it was supposed to keep some big animal in, but it was empty. The armory of sort wasn't anything exactly spectacular, but the largest amount of crossbows were kept here, so this was where they'd decided to take and run. While Yosa'Min started to fire her crossbow, which she was dead-set of keeping in particular, to keep the guise of them actually practicing up, Vex started to stuff the weapons in a sack she'd rummaged and stashed nearby.

Yosa'Min's eyes were peeled on the entrance to the area, watching to see if anyone was coming near them. Lady Luck seemed to be watching them, as not a soul seemed to so much as think in their direction. Once all the crossbows that they could find were placed in the sack which was now heavy and sagged, they started carefully out. At first, they hid in shadows by the entrance to the armory of sorts, listening to the crackle of fire and vacant halls. Vex poked her head out the door, seeing that Isran indeed had left the dining area as well, and they ducked to the right in the shadows of the storage area. They skirted the main path to the foray at first, curving around in shadows as Yosa'Min carried the sack behind Vex over her shoulder.

Not a soul was in the room, but they couldn't be certain how long that'd last. Sucking in a breath, they sprinted towards the large heavy doors that blocked their way, Vex opening them first and urging Yosa'Min through, when a deep and angry voice made them freeze.

"Where are you going with that?"

Imperial and redguard alike turned to see Isran standing there, heavy warhammer drawn menacingly. "Isran-" Vex had started but he cut her short.

"What's in the sack Hol?"

Vex narrowed her eyes at him, a man she'd almost started to like the past two days as they'd made themselves seem like honest vampire hunters. It had nearly made her feel bad to trick him like this, when she'd seen he was rather mentor-like to the new recruits, personally spending time with them to make sure they wouldn't get themselves killed in their first fight with the vampires. He made her think about how she had started giving lessons to any new recruits in the Guild too, though never quite as long of a session as Isran had put in.

But now, this was business, and she wasn't going to pretend any longer. "Ever heard of repossession Isran?" She mocked, straightening up to stand a bit prouder, not allowing her fear at being caught and imprisoned if not worse to show on her face.

"The crossbows," he concluded.

"Smart man," Vex gave a smug look, though all the while she was slowly opening the door for Yosa'Min to slip out of.

"Hol stop right there," Isran growled, "I'm warning you. This is treachery, are you a vampire thrall? Are they making you do this? If we kill your master we can free you." There seemed to be sincerity in his voice.

The imperial shook her head, laughing darkly. "Sometimes Isran, the humans are just as evil as the monster you hunt." With that, she threw the door open wide and Yosa'Min sprinted out, carting the loot over her shoulder. Vex took off after her, Isran howling for the others to stop them. Celann had moved outside after dinner on guard, and as they came rushing out it took him a moment to realize what was happening.

"Stop them! They're thieves!" Isran ordered loudly, Celann drawing his war ax and taking off in pursuit.

"Go left!" Vex shouted, Yosa'Min instantly obeying and curling around the fort to the wooden catwalk they'd seen days prior. It went right under the first arch pathway to the closest tower. The moment it ended, the redguard dodged to the side where rocks steeply sloped to the small guard post they'd have to get past. Her feet slipped beneath her, Yosa'Min getting sent tumbling down to the only slightly softer ground below and while she rolled to recover she could feel her body aching. They were still dressed in regular clothing, any protection armor would have granted gone and leaving her body in pain.

Vex was right behind her, using the crossbow she still held onto as covering fire for her partner, the Dawnguard swarming out like a hive of bees after its honey. The imperial managed the rocks easier, and they ran as fast as they could. The mouth of the canyon was still a good ways to go, and they wouldn't be in the clear even when they did get there. Bolts whizzed by their bodies, just narrowly missing the thieves as they ran for their lives.

Their original plan had involved some clever slinking and sneaking across the terrain, most likely ducking into the crevices of the many rocks and cliffs as they awaited some patrol or lone Dawnguard to walk on. But with that out of the question, it took a lot not to just panic. If Yosa'Min started shouting, then they'd probably make an easier escape, but they'd both agreed on the way to Dayspring Canyon two days ago that it wouldn't be wise to reveal she was the Dragonborn. That piece of information could easily bring swift justice upon the heads of all they knew, and Yosa'Min refused to let their failure endanger them. Even still, right about then Vex would have liked a bit of ancient power on their side.

They'd made it past the last tower when an arrow pierced the sack, sending their loot everywhere across the dirt path. Vex whirled around to see Isran slowly approaching them, fury in his eyes as he loaded a second shot. The rest of the Dawnguard were getting closer, but the redguard leader was certainly ahead of the pack. "I warned you!" He shouted angrily as he took aim with the second shot.

"Forget the crossbows, run!" Shouted Vex, helping Yosa'Min that had been attempting to snag a few up to her feet and grasping her hand as they took off running once more. Bolts whistled past them, fear coursing through their body as death started to loom above them. Vex glanced to the redguard besides her, expecting to see concentration, concern, fear, something of the sort on her face. But much to her confusion, there was elation. "Yosa?" She balked as they scrambled up the hill, dodging a volley of bolts that pierced deep into the ground where they'd been.

"Vex, this is-" Yosa'Min laughed wildly, adrenaline coursing through her entire body. "This is amazing!"

"Really!" Vex could hardly believe her, "You choose now of all times to have some fun!"

The redguard shrugged, the two of them making it to the half frozen waterfalls now. With the heavily armored Dawnguard attempting to pursue them, it seemed they'd been able to outrun them at last. Vex picked up the pace, trying to make it for the narrow passage through the cliffs to the rest of Riften when they heard barking. Dread ran up both of their bodies, amber and blue eyes looking over shoulders to see black and white dogs wearing armor coming at them from the other hill. They were quickly closing the distance between them.

"The fuck are those!" Exclaimed Vex, not remembering these beasts in the fort.

"The hounds!" Replied Yosa'Min, "they're fast even with the armor!"

"But armored fucking dogs!"

"I know!"

Shaking her head with disbelief, Vex started to wedge her way through the narrow rock passageway that was the exit of the canyon. Yosa'Min wriggled behind her, the two of them just making it through the rocks when the dogs had caught up to them. The dogs were making their way through the rocks faster than the two women, nearly hoping over each other to get after them. When Yosa'Min had emerged from the stone confines, Vex had knocked out the guard that had been posted, and stolen his ax.

Vex looked about the area on the other side wildly, trying to find where their horses had been stashed days prior. "Around the bend!" Yosa'Min suddenly called, already running in that direction where rocks curved around the base of the mountains. The imperial raced around it, and was relieved to say the least that their stallions were waiting them.

She mounted hers, a spotted black and white one, and Yosa'Min was swift behind her, hoping onto Archer who snorted as she mounted him. "Go!" Shrilly called Yosa'Min, giving the black horse a firm nudge to get moving. He took off with a loud bit of protest, but soon the stallion was making its way towards safety. Vex's horse followed after her once she urged him him, and as she passed the entrance to Dayspring Canyon she saw the hounds had at last made it through and were chasing after her relentlessly.

"Faster!" Shouted Vex to her stallion Gat, ducking herself down in the saddle with narrowed eyes. She tried her best to block out the sound of the barking dogs, but they rang in her ears like a blood call. Every pounding fall of hooves and paws that sent fallen leaves skittering in the snow laced ground made Vex's heart race. She could see Yosa'Min on Archer a bit ahead, the darker horse covering ground and bounding away. Wind lashed its way across Vex's face, low hanging tree branches cutting her skin when Gat raced too close to them, a biting cold on her fingers, but she couldn't care one bit.

She pulled hard on the reins as they crossed a bridge, marking halfway to Riften now. Hope filled her for a second before she shook the feeling away. Hope would make her sloppy, would make her not as terrified of the fear behind her, make her screw up, something she refused to allow especially after they'd lost all they'd gone through that trouble for.

Amber eyes glanced up to see something else moving besides her, and alarm filled her body as she picked out white and black fur. "Shit Yosa!" She screamed ahead, the redguard seemingly unaware of the hounds catching up. Vex cracked Gat's reins, and the horse picked up the pace even further. She was slowly closing in on the woman that'd had the head start, when she heard a terrible sound that made her heart stop.

Archer reared back, front legs wildly flailing in the night air before he fell backwards. Yosa'Min screamed with alarm, jumping to the side out of the saddle before he'd crushed her. Vex pulled hard on Gat's reins, trying to get the now panicked beast to turn back as he left Yosa'Min behind him, but the stallion was too terrified to listen. "Woah! Go back!" She ordered, looking over her shoulder and trying desperately to get the frantic creature to listen, only getting him to slow down a bit but not turn.

She could hear Archer's bleating cries of pain, see him writhing on the ground in an attempt to stand but each time failing. Vex could make out the redguard thief struggling to stand, holding herself up as she shook in pain. Lights were coming closer, the Dawnguard had caught her. In a blink, the imperial could witnessed Yosa'Min's horse get shot through the neck by one Dawnguard, and Yosa'Min grabbed by another two. She was dragged a bit towards where who Vex assumed was Isran stood in torchlight, presented to him in angry triumph, and then taken away.

Vex pulled so hard on Gat's reins the horse at last stopped, more likely too exhausted to keep up his frantic pace. She sat there in the panting horse's saddle, trying to figure out what to do. They'd taken her, carrying her back to the fort most likely, and they outnumbered Vex. Gritting her teeth with anger, a foul feeling in her gut, Vex turned Gat back towards the city. She'd need backup to do this.

There was a heavy pounding at the door, panicked and rapid. Mjoll, who had been reading by candlelight downstairs in the bunkhouse, closed the book and placed it on the nearby table. She got up with a faint yawn, shaking golden hair tiredly as she made her way to the door. The sound of Haelga opening her door to the left made Mjoll glance over.

"I've got it," she called tiredly.

"Good, because I'd be real rude for a middle of the night wake-up call," grumbled Haelga as she slipped back into her room, softly shutting the door.

Mjoll smirked after the nord who had kindly let she and Aerin stay while they rebuilt their home. It had taken six months, but in a few weeks it would be at last done, and ready to live in again. A bit part of the problem was being able to afford everything, it did take a lot to build a home from the ground up after all. She couldn't help but smile with excitement whenever she passed the slowly growing home, spending entire days on the different aspects of it.

While Aerin had handled the procurement of the supplies, Mjoll and a few of her other friends when they could did the manual labor. All that remained was the interior work, and roofing but the winter had ground production to a halt, and so they'd have to wait for spring before it would be safe to continue working. In the meantime, they had a makeshift roof that would keep the elements out from ruining the inside, but it certainly didn't insulate or anything.

It had been nice of Haelga to allow them both to stay in for so long, and she hoped to repay her one day, but for now she'd have to accept the kindness with no way of returning it. In more than one way however, she couldn't wait for the winter to be over so she could move out of the nord owner's home. She could hardly sleep most nights, the only time she found to herself in the crowded living space. It seemed that everywhere she looked there was someone watching, forcing her to give a smile and nod her head, play the part of the strong woman they all expected her to be. Only Aerin knew what had really happened, and she didn't intend on anyone else finding out either.

All she could think of was one redguard in particular, and play the night it had all fallen apart over and over again in her head. How she'd held Yosa'Min only days before, how they'd made love in the inn thinking everything was going to be all right, and how she'd been lying to her over and over again for weeks. It kept eating her up, feeling and thoughts torn between what she knew and what she'd found out, struggling to piece them together and find where they were in fact the same thing. She escaped within herself whenever she could, wrestling to figure it out so she could leave it behind her, but the busy day hardly gave her the chance to.

So she'd end up late at night in thought or reading to try to get a bit of piece of mind. During the day she laughed and smiled and was polite and all the right things she needed to. The tough nord that never felt pain or loss and let others see it. In a weird way, she'd become a liar herself, and each time she imagined Vex sneering hypocrite, at her, it made her stomach flop.

It would be scandalous in the least to say that if word had gotten around that she and the Dragonborn had had a thing, and lost it because of thievery and lies and jealousy. Perhaps it was a bit selfish sounding, that she didn't want the reputation she'd worked hard to build to get destroyed because of a broken heart, but she wasn't doing it just for herself. Rumor and gossip flocked enemies of all kinds like moths to a flame, all it needed was the smallest bit of truth to fester and grow like the disease it was; and she knew that was something that could destroy some people.

She was being stupid for trying to still protect her in some way, and maybe she was being selfish with it too, but Mjoll wouldn't bring their relationship up to anyone. She didn't even talk to Aerin about it, and hadn't for some time until Yosa'Min appeared out of no where and told her she had honor and a thanehood, asking her to give them another shot. For a few moments, Mjoll had deluded herself into thinking about it, until she'd remembered the pain the woman had caused her and asked if she was still in the Guild. It had actually hurt her to see the hope fade from Yosa'Min's face, the redguard dipping her head with a shamed 'yes' slipping past her lips. With that answer, Mjoll had politely sent her away, and found a private place to hide in for some time.

She hadn't even said her name aloud since, a pain in her heart and a lump in her throat every time she nearly had. So Yosa'Min became 'Dragonborn' and 'the redguard woman', terms that could be used in place of the name of heartache and loss. Yet no matter how hard she tried, Mjoll couldn't get her out of her head, no matter how much she pushed her away and tried to make peace with it and buried her in her work. She couldn't understand why either.

Fierce banging on the front door snapped Mjoll out of her thoughts, dragging her into reality and out of her mind. The panicked sound made a pit form in Mjoll's gut, apprehension rising up her spine as she drew closer to the door to answer it. It was surprising the other person didn't just let themselves in at that point, Mjoll figuring they'd have been at it for several minutes now, it sounded urgent after all. Shrugging the sensation to the side, Mjoll crossed over and opened it.

"Mjoll!" Exclaimed an out of breath imperial.

The Lioness narrowed her eyes with instant hate, "Vex," she gritted, hands balling into fists.

"Look, now is not the time to bring up the past," rushed Vex, hands held up in the air by her face. Mjoll squinted at the terror across her face, knowing that she'd never be able to strike such fear in the imperial. The dread rose back up her as she started to piece things together as Vex spoke rapidly. "Yosa'Min is in trouble, big trouble. She's been captured by some people and they might kill her really soon and it's all my fault and I need your help to save her!"

AN: Got the writing bug I suppose, because otherwise this wouldn't have been out so fast. I'd absolutely love to hear what you think of the chapter and what is going to happen especially with what's just happened with Mjoll and Vex, and Yosa'Min. Thanks for reading!