I couldn't feel my feet when I finally made it to the black shape. By the looks of it, it used to be some sort of stone tower. Maybe a lookout point. I circled it, trying to find an entrance. There were footprints in the snow on the far side where the wind couldn't reach and I couldn't help but wonder if the Bosmer was inside and if he had a fire going. I followed them and they led to a rotting wooden door. It opened easily enough and I walked carefully and slowly inside the dark tower.
The antechamber I entered wasn't big but there were a few old barrels in it and I quickly searched through them. Everything was frozen. I turned toward the archway that lead further into the ruin and caught a glimpse of something small and glowing floating further in. Intrigued, I followed it. What lay ahead was a hallway with doors that I assumed went to other rooms. At the end was a spiral staircase. The glowing orb travelled up there stairs and I rushed after as if in a trance.
The upper floor was much the same as the first but in reverse, with a ladder at the end of this hall. As I approached the ladder the orb went up, floating through a trap door in the ceiling. I tested the wooden rungs, and, feeling that they would hold my weight, I followed it once again.
The icy wind hit my face as soon as the trap door was opened. Glowing orbs flew everywhere around and I quickly lost track of the one I had been chasing. Fascinated, I climbed all the way up and walked to the center of the circular tower. That's when I noticed what the orbs were circling. It was some sort of glowing form, humanoid from the waist up but under that was…nothing. It floated above the stone floor. It turned around and stared at me. The figure was a beautiful woman. Rags draped across her body and fluttered in the winter wind.
She lifted her arm and suddenly the drifting orbs shot toward me and I felt cold, colder than I'd ever felt before. The orbs latched onto me and I fell onto one knee. I drew my sword and tried to move forward toward the creature but she lifted her arm again and covered my legs in ice. The orbs influence quickly over took me and I collapsed on the icy stone floor.
The first thing I felt was warmth. I saw dancing light behind my closed eyelids and when I opened them I found myself lying beside a fire. I sat up and groaned. My left side was sore beyond belief.
"Be still friend. You took quite a beating." I turned and noticed the Khajiit sitting cross legged on the other side of the fire. He had a pot between his legs and was stirring something that smelled delicious.
"What is that?" I managed to croak out, my throat being dry as a bone.
"This? This is fondue from Aljidar's homeland. It is almost done. Would you like some?"
"It might help."
"Here, drink this." He handed me a rubbery sack. I opened it up and when I put it to my lips fresh water cascaded down into my stomach. I gasped and drank it all as fast as I could.
"Slow down, friend." The Khajiit laughed. I only have a few more of those before I must find more Ice Wraiths to melt. What is your name?
"Glatian. I'm an Imperial. Part of the Legion."
"I can tell. Your armor is that of one. Unless you killed an Imperial and stole his armor." Aljidar laughed again.
"No. No I am part of the Legion. I'm hunting someone down, maybe you've seen him. He's a poacher who escaped our camp."
"A Wood Elf perhaps" The Khajiit asked.
"Yes!" I answered, excited. "You've seen him?"
"He is in one of the other rooms here in this tower. Cowering in a corner near some barrels last time I saw him. Scared of the wisps. Aljidar has a question."
"Yes?"
"Why weren't you? Why did you follow them up to the roof? You were in a tough situation until Aljidar came to your rescue."
"I…I didn't know what they were." I answered, a bit shameful. "I was curious as to what the orb was."
"They are wisps." Aljidar told me. "And the creature was a Wisp Mother. They send out wisps to lure travelers to their dooms. You are Imperial. Are you not from Cyrodiil?
"I am. We don't have Wisp Mothers there."
"But you have Will 'o' the Wisps there. Aljidar has travelled much and he has seen them."
"I live in Cheydinhal. All we ever get there are rumors of them. I guess I should have made the connection…."
"If you had, it would have saved Aljidar much trouble. But he does not mind. The ectoplasm is good for trading."
I got up off the floor and stretched, my muscles popping. I looked around and saw my sword propped up against the wall behind Aljidar.
"You are in no position to be fighting, my friend." He told me as I walked over to grab it. Do not travel far or Aljidar will not be able to help you."
"I'm just taking a trip to visit my Bosmer friend." I told him as I walked out the door and into the hall. "I'll be back shortly."
The hallway was cold and quiet compared to the room with Aljidar. I opened each door on my way down, not knowing which room Galadhron was hiding in. Finding each one empty, I moved up to the second floor. As I climbed the stone staircase, I was eerily reminded of the night before and prayed to the Gods that I wouldn't see another Wisp. The first and second rooms I checked were empty of everything but a couple Skeevers, chewing on old bones in a corner. I ignored them and continued on to the third room.
The door was warmer than the others had been and when I pushed it open I came upon Galadhron by a fire. He jumped when I came in but relaxed when he saw it was me.
"My Imperial friend." He motioned me to sit by him. I thought you were the cat."
I ignored the racist comment and sat down, looking at him as I did so.
"I never did catch your name." He told me, warming a frozen apple above the flames.
"Glatian. Why did you run?"
"They were going to send me to prison. Or kill me by not feeding me. I couldn't just sit by and let that happen."
"I trusted you by untying you." I shook my head. "I almost died trying to track you down on Bekkard's orders."
"I suppose you want me to come back with you. Well I'm not. I'll live out here in the Pale for a few more days and then move on to Riften. Then I can cross the border into Cyrodiil and make a living there. And if that flops I'll go back to Valenwood."
"I can't let you do that, Galadhron. If I go back without you then I'll be charged with treason. If you come back with me then maybe I can convince Captain Bekkard to drop his charges." I was lying through my teeth. But what choice did I have?
"No!" I'm not going back with you! You can't make me!" He drew a dagger and backed into the far wall.
"Look it doesn't have to end like this. Come back with me and we can talk."
"No!" He threw the dagger at me as I stood up. I turned to the side and it clattered on the floor near the door. The Bosmer picked up a bow leaning against a nearby crate and nocked an arrow. "Take another step and I'll shoot!" He was nervous.
I feigned to the right and he fired. Before he could grab another arrow I charged toward him, swinging my sword in a wide arc. It severed his head from his neck and it hit the floor with a thud. I sighed. I didn't see any other way it could have ended. I walked over to the fire and picked up a sack lying next to it. I emptied its contents on the floor. Apples. More apples. I stuffed his head in the sack and walked out of the room, ready to find the Imperial camp again.