Zu'u Dovahkiin Do Zoor!

Secret

Tyradus woke up the next morning, a bit hung over from the night before. He realized he was still at the Bannered Mare, not at home. He climbed down the stairs, still baggy-eyed and tired.

"Thanks for the room, Hulda," Tyradus yawned. "Did I forget to pay you last night?"

"You paid for the drinks, but I won't charge you for the room. It's not like you didn't give me plenty of business last night!" Hulda laughed.

"Oh, uh... thanks, then..."

He lazily pushed open the door and stumbled down the stairs into the plains district. After bumping into a few people, he knocked on the door to Breezehome.

Engar answered it.

"Ah, Tyradus!" Engar exclaimed. "Did you get too drunk to come home or something? I waited for you half the night!"

"Father, I'm not sure HOW drunk I was. All I remember is telling a story and then waking up. This headache is unbearable."

"Well, you must've been quite buzzed to forget half the night. Malene and Aeta are still asleep at the moment. If the hangover is really that bad, I suggest you get some more sleep as well."

"I don't need any more sleep, but could I borrow about thirty gold? I figure that I could just go to Arcadia's Cauldron and get myself a healing potion."

"Well, fine. I guess I have some gold to spare."

Engar handed Tyradus the gold he needed. When Tyradus entered Arcadia's store, a disgusting odor lingered in the air.

"Ugh! What is that?" Tyradus shouted.

"I spilled one of my potions," Arcadia grumbled, standing next to her alchemy lab. "I guess it doesn't help that I added too many Namira Rot mushrooms. It's way too acidic!"

"Pour some frost salts over the spilled potion. It'll freeze it, stop it from dissolving anything and stop it from smelling like that!"

Arcadia did as Tyradus had suggested.

"Well, it cost me some valuable frost salts, but at least it didn't destroy the whole store. Thanks, er..."

"Tyradus. Tyradus Free-Winter."

"Well, thank you, Tyradus. What are you here for?"

"I was just wondering if you had any healing potions in stock. Just the small ones for minor injuries, not the larger ones."

"Well, I only have a few left. That'll be fifty Septims."

"Damn, I've only got thirty. Well, how about you just give me some wheat and Blisterwort?"

"You got lucky. Thirty Septims exactly! If you need to use my alchemy lab, go ahead."

"Thanks, Arcadia."

Tyradus mixed the ingredients together and bottled his potion. He thanked Arcadia once more and left.

"I hope I used enough wheat," Tyradus mumbled to himself. "Ugh, these potions always taste horrible. Well, down the hatch..."

Tyradus popped the cork out of the bottle and chugged it down as quickly as he could.

"Well, at least it got rid of the headache. Thank Talos!"

He popped the cork back in and put the empty bottle in a small pouch attached to his belt. He began walking home.

"I'm not sure why, but I feel like something's missing... Kh'aaru! Kh'aaru isn't here! How could I have forgotten? I need to find him. I guess I should head to Riften, but Divines know I have no clue how to get there. I guess I should ask dad. He'd probably know how to read a map."

Tyradus barged into Breezehome.

"Dad!" He shouted.

"They aren't here, brother." Aeta said as she walked into the living room. "Dad's at Jorrvaskr and Mom's out shopping. Why do you need them?"

"Well, I'm trying to get to Riften to find Kh'aaru, but I can't read a map. I'd need Dad's help."

"Kh'aaru? You mean your Khajiit friend?"

"Yes, Aeta. Sorry, but I don't have any time to talk right now. You said Dad's at Jorrvaskr, right? Then I guess that's where I'm headed."

"Well, fine. I guess I can wait to talk."

"Good, I'm off- wait, why do you want to talk so badly?"

"Well, I don't know. It's just because Mom and Dad are so boring. I've tried talking to the other kids, but Braith is so self-centered and annoying, That Battle-Born kid is wimpy and Mila is always working with her mother. I have absolutely nothing to do all day, and it really gets annoying."

"Well, sorry about that, Aeta. After I find Kh'aaru and get everything worked out, I'll come visit again."

Aeta sighed as Tyradus rushed out the door.

As Tyradus walked up the stairs into the Wind district, he noticed the huge tree in the middle had begun to wilt.

"That tree..." Tyradus mumbled. "Gildergreen, was it? It used to always be in full bloom, but now it's just... Damn. I can't forget my goal here. I need to find Kh'aaru as quickly as possible."

Tyradus opened the door to Jorrvaskr and took a look inside.

Wow, this place is a lot smaller than I ever expected. How could every one of the Companions live here? Oh, now I remember. Dad said that there's a lower floor with beds and stuff in it...

Tyradus walked up to the table, where his father was talking to another Companion.

"I don't think I can just tell him, Skjor." Engar whispered.

"He's your son," Skjor replied. "It affects your daughter as well. And, your wife doesn't even know! You can't just keep such a huge secret from them. They should at least know not to look forward to Sovnga-"

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Tyradus asked. Hearing them talking like that had made him suspicious. "And why are you being so secretive about it?"

"Agh! Tyradus!" Engar turned around quickly. "Er... We were just, uh, talking about... well, that doesn't matter!"

"Why are you acting so nervous, then? What about you, Skjor? Got anything to say?"

"I'm staying out of this one!" Skjor scoffed, taking a drink of mead.

"Son, it isn't important. What did you come here for, anyway?"

"Fine. I'll leave it alone for now. I'm just here because I need you to give me simple directions to Riften. I need to find Kh'aaru, and I can't read a map."

"Damn it, boy! After an entire decade, you still can't find your way around using a map? I raised you to be smarter than that! Even a child should know how to properly use one!"

"Kh'aaru was usually the guide for me. Just tell me which road to take! Time is against me on this one! If anything happens to him, do you know how horrible I would feel about it?"

"Well, I couldn't imagine losing a son. Come with me. I'll point you in the right direction."

Engar led Tyradus out of Jorrvaskr and down the stairs back into the plains district. Tyradus was still curious about what he and Skjor were conversing about.

He said it affected both Aeta and I, and that Mother had no idea about it. If it wasn't something that important, he wouldn't be trying so hard to hide the secret from me! It must have something to do with the Companions. He seems to share knowledge about whatever it is with them and ONLY them.

Engar noticed the confused and angry look on his son's face.

He must be pondering the secret. I wish I had the guts to tell him the truth, or at least Malene. Keeping such a huge secret from my entire family is one thing, but depriving them of the afterlife I've told them of since they were children is unacceptable. I know that even if I don't tell him, that he will one day hear the call of the Blood. When that happens, without the ability to control himself in such a state... He will attack anything in sight, eventually being killed himself. I couldn't live with myself if I let that happen... I'll just point him in the direction to Riften now. And while he's gone, I'll gather up the courage to tell him.

"Wait!" Engar shouted.

"What?" Tyradus quickly stopped. "What is it?"

"Tyradus, you can't just expect to get all the way to Riften without any trouble. Before you go, you'll need supplies. Armor and a weapon or two."

"I guess armor would be useful, but my magic is enough of a weapon for me, Father."

"Just buy a weapon. Just in case. Your magic power runs out if you use it too much at one time, right? Bring a sword or axe in case that happens. That way, you're guaranteed to make it back here safely!"

"I don't see why you're being so paranoid about this. It doesn't matter, anyway. I spent all my gold at the Bannered Mare last night."

"Fine, son. Here's 500 Septims. Go see Elrindir at the Drunken Huntsman for armor, and Adrianne Avenicci's forge for a weapon."

Engar reached into his pocket and grabbed the money. Tyradus took it and stored it in his pouch.

I guess it's off to the Drunken Huntsman. Father's beginning to act even more suspicious. Why is he so worried about me?

He walked into the Drunken Huntsman and saw a Bosmer man tending the counter.

"Hello," Tyradus greeted. "I assume you're Elrindir?"

"Oh, no. I'm his brother, Anoriath. Elrindir is pretty sick today, so I'm taking care of the shop."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I was just looking for some armor."

"Are there any preferences I should know about? Like... light armor or heavier armor?"

"Heavy armor, like iron or steel. But, it needs to be relatively cheap."

"Well, I've got quite a deal for you! An entire set of ebony armor, for as little as 900 Septims!"

"That's much too hefty a price. Do you have anything else?"

"How about a set of Orcish armor? Only 500!"

"A little lower?"

"Well, Elrindir would kill me if he knew I was selling to you at such a low price... But, I've got a set of steel plate armor. Only 200 Septims!"

"Now, that's reasonable!" Tyradus put his payment on the counter. Anoriath set the armor on the counter. "Thank you, Anoriath."

Tyradus took the armor back to his house.

"Found yourself a nice pair of armor, I see?" Engar asked. "That must've been quite expensive!"

"It was only two hundred, surprisingly. Anoriath gave me quite a deal on it. I'm going to go get a weapon now. I would've gotten it sooner, but that armor is quite a load to carry..."

"You'd better hurry. It's getting late. Avenicci will probably be closing up soon."

Tyradus made his way over to the town blacksmith. Adrianne was just cleaning up her leftover ingots for the day.

"Oh, a customer?" She asked. "Well, I don't have much of a selection right now, but what is it you needed?"

"I just need a sturdy sword."

"Well, my weapon selection is all sold out. All I have left is that glass blade over there. It's pretty sturdy, guaranteed not to break. Only fifty Septims. I've been trying to sell that thing for weeks, but nobody assumes that it'll break just because it's glass."

"Well, I guess I'll take that!"

Tyradus paid Adrianne and grabbed his new weapon.

"Well, It's getting late. I guess I'll head out tomorrow. I guess I'll just get a room at the Bannered Mare for the night.

He dropped the sword off at his house and paid for his room at the inn. Before going to sleep, he grabbed his journal.

Sundas, 19th of Last Seed

I made it home yesterday. I visited my family and got reacquainted with a few old friends. I'm going to Riften in an attempt to find Kh'aaru tomorrow. Everything is going fine, except for the fact that Father is obviously trying to hide something from me. I walked into Jorrvaskr earlier, and I heard him talking to another Companion. This Companion, named Skjor, apparently knows all about it. He said it affects both me and Aeta, and that Mother has no idea about it. Then, he began acting completely paranoid. I tried to leave to Riften earlier. He said that I needed armor and a weapon. He said he was worried about me. I don't understand it at all. He let Kh'aaru and I leave to Cyrodiil without a word, knowing that we'd be gone for years. Now he's afraid about what might happen to me on a two or three day trip to another part of Skyrim. I'm not sure what's going on with him, or the secret he's keeping, but I plan on finding out. Soon.