Aljidar was scooping the fondue into two wooden bowls when I went back downstairs. "I assume you have dealt with the elf." He didn't look up from his task.

"I did."

I tossed the sack onto the floor. It landed with a muffled thud. "He didn't surrender."

"A shame. You gave him a chance?"

"Of course I did. I didn't want to kill him. In fact I was the only one who offered him any kindness when my captain dragged him back to our camp. I'm the one who untied him."

"Aljidar did not mean to offend." He told me, looking up. "He just believes all species should be treated equally no who they are."

"They are treated equally in Cyrodiil, where I'm from. If the Stormcloaks win this war, that might change."

"Aljidar has little preference in this war. Fondue?"

I held out my hand and he gave me one of the wooden bowls. Steam drifted off the top of it and I was glad to finally have something warm. Fire raced down my throat as soon as I took the first sip and I choked immediately.

Aljidar laughed. "Most take it as well as you have done. They are not used to the cooking of Elsweyr."

"Aaghh, what is in this?!" I coughed.

"It is generally made with moon sugar, which gives it the spice. Aljidar also sprinkles fire salts to give it a bit more."

I shook my head and put the bowl down. Spice wasn't something I was used to, especially at this magnitude. "I should be getting back to my camp." I told him, standing up.

"And do you remember which direction it lies?" Aljidar asked.

I tried remembering my trek in the Pale the night before but knew I'd never remember enough of the details to find my way back.

"Aljidar will help you. On one condition."

"And what is that?"

"He would like a share of your supplies to get back to Riften. From there he can cross the border into Cyrodiil and make his way home."

"I promise to do what I can. I'm not sure what the Captain Bekkard will be willing to give up, but you saved my life. If he will not give you anything then I will give you my share."

"Aljidar is grateful. He will help you find your camp as soon as he is done his fondue. And yours." He smiled.

We set out around noon. The sun was at its highest and it was as warm as it was going to get out in the fields of snow.

"Your Imperial camp will most likely not be too far away from the north where no snow lies. That is where Aljidar would make it and that is where he will start looking."

We started out and turned north, Aljidar lead and I followed close behind. The snow was almost blinding in certain angles where the sun shone on it, and I found myself shielding my eyes.

"Hold up." The Khajiit lifted his arm and I almost bumped into him, my arm shielding my eyes from the light. His ears twitched. Suddenly a huge white mass leapt from the ground and landed on Aljidar.

Jumping back and pulling out my sword, I grounded my feet as the Saber Cat turned toward me. It charged and I sidestepped, swiping my sword and grazing its face. The cat roared and blood trickled from the wound below its eye. I saw Aljidar stagger up from the corner of my eye and the Saber Cat charged my again, its eyes full of fury. Its paw came up and batted me away as I tried sidestepping again. I looked down at my armor and saw the scratches against the chest plate. Were it not for the steel I would have been killed. Aljidar was fully up and aware again and stood by me. His hands were held out in front of him and emitted a faint glow. When the beast had circled and charged once again, fire erupted from the Khajiit's right hand and caused the Saber Cat to veer away.

It crouched down and I could hear a low growl being admitted from its throat. I readied my sword and Aljidar did the same with his runed hands. As the creature charged for the last time, Aljidar threw out a spike of ice that impaled the cat in the chest. It fell to the ground and slid into my sword, the sharp blade cutting through its throat.

Aljidar walked up to the dead creature and pulled out a flask from the bag on his side.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"If he knows the right people, one can get quite a few septims for eyes and teeth of Saber Cats. For their fur as well. Aljidar can take these and offer to trade them to your Captain for supplies to get to Riften."

When he was done his work, we continued on our way. I could just see a black line in the distance, marking the end of the snow.

"Your camp should not be too far now." Aljidar told me, turning his head back to face me. They have camped near trees?"

"And a few rocks."

"Aljidar knows of a group of trees and rocks to the west. It is where he camped when he came through before the Imperials and Stormcloaks. Let us check there first."

We continued on in silence for awhile, broken only by the sound of our feet thudding in the heavy snow. A deer bounded through the snow to our left and an arrow whizzed by and stuck through its neck. The now scarlet snow stood out in the barren wasteland. Aljidar had dropped into a crouch and held his hands ready again. Hjold sprinted out of a nearby bush. He must've been hunting the deer, but stopped dead when he saw us.

"Glatian!" He shouted. "Where have you been! Captain Bekkard pronounced you dead! And who is this?" He looked at Aljidar.

"His name is Aljidar. I would've been dead if he hadn't found me. I got the elf." I held up the sack. "Can you lead us back to camp?"

"Of course. Help me this deer."

Bekkard nodded at the Saber Cat's eyes and pelt. "I'll trade you. But not a lot. We need this food to last until we've rooted out the last of the Stormcloaks in the Pale."

"Aljidar can help with that. He has seen another camp south of you. It could be the Nords…the Stormcloaks." He had just noticed that Bekkard was also a Nord.

"Good…" Bekkard nodded to himself. "Take what you can carry, Khajiit, but nothing more. Men, we set out tomorrow at first light! For the Empire! For victory!