CHAPTER 18

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Asum could not hold back the shudder as they walked through the snow. Behind them the sun was setting fast and bringing with it a kind of harsh cold that his scales found almost unbearable. it also didn't help that he was wearing a loose dress and not his normal clothes or robes. In front of him umbra spoke. "it's not far now, maybe a half hour to windhelm. Can you manage on your own from there?" to be honest he wasn't sure if he could. He knew windhelm's reputation with argonians and the dark elves; but he nodded nonetheless. Emerging from the tree line Asum found the hold of windhelm in front of them in the distance. It's warm light promising at least some shelter from the cold. Following umbra down the hill Asum tugged the pelt around his shoulders closer as another blast of icy wind ripped at his form.

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A SHORT TIME LATER

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Asum shuddered as they stepped through the door of the local inn. Trying not to look at all the faces staring at him, Asum nervously shifted hoping his dress was concealing the fact that he was not a girl. Following umbra through the inn, Asum sat down on a stool while umbra talked to the owner for a few minutes before turning to him. "ok. I've set you up with a room, and a tab for 20 gold coins. Feel free to pocket what you don't use. I've also requested a set of miner's clothes be left for you. since the clothes are the same for men and women I figure no one would look twice at you when you put them on." Asum nodded before speaking. "you're not staying?" umbra shook her head and shifted the sword on her belt. "no. the blade grows more and more restless, I must be rid of it as soon as possible. I will push on through the storm. Perhaps we will meet again, when I am no longer umbra." Asum nodded and smiled. "I'd like that." Umbra nodded too. "as would I."

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OKAN'S POV

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It was getting colder, But Okan ignored his discomfort. Pushing on through the snow Okan moved in the direction of the nearest town; the hold of windhelm. With the temperature dropping by the minute he knew that if he stayed out in this could he would surly freeze to death, or at the very least loose several fingers and toes to frostbite. All he could do was hope that Asum had found shelter somewhere; with the stranger who had rescued him. Trudging through the snow Okan could not help but feel…..useless. he had no idea where Asum was, if he was injured, if he was safe, or even if he was still alive. For all his skill and talent as a warrior he did not know how or if he was ever going to see Asum again. Yes he could not help but feel useless as he walked through the proceedingly colder snow. Squinting through the snow Okan tensed as he saw movement beyond the snow flurries. But a moment later the alarm vanished as he found a mangy, brown dog emerge from the snow and pant up at him. "hello boy. What are you doing out here in the cold?" for a moment the dog just looked at him; then, 'looking for you.'

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For a long moment, Okan simply stared at the dog; and when his voice did return he could say only one thing. "you…..just…spoke." the dog sat down in front of him. 'why is that the first thing all you mortals say? Yes I talked it's not that hard. Now are you coming or not?' slowly Okan began to follow the talking dog through the blizzard. "so…do you have a name?" the dog cocked his head to the side as though it was the dumbest question he'd ever heard. 'of course I have a name. it's Barbas.' Okan nodded, still not completely sure he was in his right mind. Perhaps the cold and the snow were playing tricks with his mind? "so Barbas where are we going?" the dog seemed to chuckle at his question. 'same place you were going before; windhelm. But unlike before where you had no idea where Asum was, I can lead you right to him' Okan tensed up again his hand going to the hilt of his sword. "how do you know about Asum? Did you have something to do with him being taken?"

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Barbas chuckled again. 'all daedra know of him. we all feel it. What is coming. It'll be your job to protect him, and keep him safe until his destiny can be fulfilled. Mortal kind's survival depends on him surviving what is to come. Can you do that? Can you keep him safe from those that would kill him?' Okan nodded. "yes. I can." Barbas stopped, turned around and planted his paws on Okan's chest so he could look into his eyes. a moment later he spoke. 'we shall see.' A moment later they resumed walking and soon enough found themselves crossing the bridge to windhelm and stepping into the hold.

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He got several odds looks from the guards and a few passersby grumbled at the strange new 'lizard' in their town. But Okan ignored them; instead following Barbas through the town and to the local inn. Pulling open the door Okan ignored the angry looks the patrons gave him and stepped inside. "HEY NO DOGS ALLOWED! GET THAT MONGREL OUT OF HERE!" Okan ignored the angry nord and had been about to follow Barbas when he felt a set of hands grab his arm. "I SAID GET THE DOG OUT!" spinning around Okan grabbed the nord and slammed him against the wall before lifting him off the ground and flaring his head feathers, while letting out a loud hiss. "the dog stays with me. Unless having him out is worth your life." The nord shook his head and Okan let him go. Looking at Barbas Okan spoke. "get going." Barbas nodded and trotted across the room and up the stairs to where the rooms for rent were. Following the dog Okan felt his heart lurch as he found Barbas sitting in front of a plain wood door. Stopping in front of the door Okan spoke. "he's in there?" Barbas nodded. "yes. Don't forget. You must keep him safe from what is to come." And with that Barbas seemed to fade out of existence right in front of Okan. Taking a deep breath Okan stepped up to the door and knocked on it.

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ASUM'S POV

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Asum looked at himself in the mirror. it felt odd, the mage's robes he'd worn before felt so….right on him. like he had been meant to wear the thick, warm, enchanted cloth. And now because of that feeling the miner's clothes felt wrong, to thin, and light. Rubbing his neck Asum looked up as someone knocked on the door to the room. "who's there?" for a moment no one spoke, then….. Asum watched as the other person opened the door. He felt his heart stop. "Okan?"

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SAVOS'S POV

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Savos opened his eyes, as he felt the magic around him peak. Looking up towards the source of the magic Savos felt his eyes widen slightly as he found that hovering above the college was large sailing ship. But his amazement quickly faded as he watched dozens of ropes emerge from the sides of the ship, and thalmor soldiers begin to rappel down the ropes and into the college. Savos watched as the thalmor drew out bows and swords as they surrounded him. after a moment one of the soldier's stepped forward. "Savos Ren; by order of the high inquisitor you're under arrest from crimes against the empire and the Aldmeri dominion." Savos nodded and slowly stood up. "ok. But before you take me into custody you might want to look where you're standing." A grin spread over savos's face as the soldier looked down. Sending a small wave of magic outwards from his body Savos watched as the runes he'd planted began to pulse signaling they were about to explode.

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Dropping to his knees Savos conjured up several strong barriers. As he did so he heard the thalmor soldier scream, "NO!" a second later the runes exploded. Thousands of shards of ice some the size of a full grown orc flew in every direction. Shards of ice sliced through flesh, cloth and armor, punctured bodies and killed dozens of elves who simply dropped to the ground the magical ice sticking out of their bodies. Those soldiers who had been fast enough to erect barriers found those barriers overwhelmed by the sheer number of runes and shards of ice. However in Savos's case the shards of ice simply dissolved when they came into contact with his barriers; from the sheer amount of magic he was pouring into them.

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As the magic of the runes ran out the shards of ice began to disolve into the air. Standing up and dropping the barriers, Savos watched as a person abord the ship simply jumped, off the ship's deck and landed in front of him dropping to one knee to help transfer her momentum. Savos watched as the female elf stood up and looked at him. it didn't take a genius to know that she was not like the soldiers he'd just killed. After a moment of silence the women spoke. "before you die, I would ask of you a question." Savos nodded. "ask it then." The women looked at him for another moment before speaking. "you will die, I will kill you. so why do you not simply allow it. Why fight back against the inevitable? Why not just…give up?" Savos shook his head and began channeling fire magic through his body. "because it's expected of me. And I'll do my duty until my dying breath, I'll defend this school and what it stands for." As the words left his mouth Savos threw his hands out from his body, a barrage of fireballs flew from his hands; through the air and at the women, who vanished behind multiple explosions of fire.

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For a split second Savos thought he had won, but those hopes vanished as twin bolts of lighting cut through the smoke and fire; parting it like fog, and lanced towards him. conjuring up multiple wards Savos gritted his teeth as he felt a small fraction of the lighting's power course through his body. bringing his hands together Savos channeled his magic and after a moment a whirelwind of ice and a lightning sprung from his hands. The women didn't even conjure a ward, instead she simply stood there as the attack hit her. Savos felt his eyes widen as he realized his attack had done no damage to her despite being a direct hit. Shifting his stance Savos readied himself for a long battle with this mysterious women.

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ASUM'S POV

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Asum felt tears well up in his eyes as he clung to the older argonian who like him was fighting back tears. He could hear Okan talking; "I….I….. thought I might have lost you." Asum shook his head and pressed his lips against the older argonian's. when they broke apart Okan continued. "I…I need to talk to you. I need to tell you what happened to you." in the back of his mind Asum knew he should tell Okan what was happening, but…. The look on Okan's face told him that the older argonian would not take no for an answer. Motioning for them to sit, Asum watched as Okan moved and sat down on the smell bed; moving Asum sat own next to him.

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AN: WELL FOLKS HERE IT IS. CHAPTER 18 IS UP AND DONE. I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED IT.

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SO THE GRANDE INQUISITOR IS IN SKYRIM AND DOING BATTLE WITH SAVOS.

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AND NOW BARBAS IS BACK.

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I HOPE TO GET SOME REVIEWS AND COMMENTS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WRITING THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS.

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NEXT CHAPTER WILL FILL IN A LOT ABOUT OKAN'S PAST.