Day Thirty-seven

When I awoke in the morning, I was exhausted despite a full night's sleep and I had no idea what day it was. Lydia was not too sure either so I was forced to subtly ask Adrienne next door. I would have sworn more time than that had passed. Now that my unintentional diversion with that staff was over I decided to get us back on track with defeating Alduin. I looked forward more than ever to taking over as ruler of the dragons and from there, Skyrim, then all of Tamriel. That would prove to my abhorrent sister who was better to lead our family.

I checked my map and found the mark Septimus had made for our next destination. Of course, it was near Winterhold so that meant more mountain climbing. While checking my packs, including emptying them of assorted gems and other shiny things, I came across the two bottles of skooma I had purchased I did not know how long ago. The fact that I forgot about them must mean I was well over their attraction. My back spasmed, reminding me of my fatigue. I decided to use one of the bottles for a boost of energy. It was sweeter than I remembered. I left the other wrapped up in case the mountains prove ridiculously arduous. Later, I would tell Lydia how I was able to control it now. I could see it now. She would be so impressed by my progress she may even want to test my stamina in other ways. She had been a useful follower so I guess she deserved it.

We set out once again and I decided we should cross the river at Valtheim Keep. It was still empty of bandits. The roving bands must have heard how thoroughly we cleansed it last time and were now wary of moving in. On the other side I found a narrow shortcut through the mountains. Lydia was struggling a bit to keep up and remarked on my energy.

"I feel the end is drawing near, Lydia," I said, "It is almost time for me to take the reigns of this out of control domain and set it right."

"So you're going to delegate others to do the real work."

"Of course. Decision makers are a hundred times more important than the common toiler. Without us, the common folk just flounder and become bandits and lollygaggers. That's why they make statues of us. Now pick up the pace, woman, daylight is burning."

Ah, I could still feel the rush of the skooma like it was the first time. I ought to quit more often. My enhanced energy nearly cost me my life however as I hurried a little too much to prove my superiority and slipped on an icy slope. I tried to slow myself by scraping along the rocks but all it did was scrape me up bad. I landed awkwardly and thought I could feel damage internally. Blood pounded in my ears and I quickly began healing with my magic, though concentrating at first was difficult. Luckily Lydia was too far behind to have seen me fall. That would have proved embarrassing. I was tempted to drink my other skooma for another boost. I could still taste the first on my lips. I heard Lydia climbing over the rocks, calling out my name, and I decided I would have to wait.

Lydia joined me and just past where I landed I spotted a snow covered city down below us. The roofs were covered in domes and there was a lot of metal and stonework, though some had collapsed. It was a Dwemer city, so it must be a ruins, but I could see smoke rising and when I looked closer I saw footprints in the snow. Then I saw movement along a walkway. Bandits. Looked like it was time to stretch my climbing muscles with some sword swinging. I crouched into a sneaking walk and headed towards them, holding my sword beside me.

I still sucked at sneaking. A bandit heard me but I tried hiding behind a large rock, hoping he would go away. It did not work. He talked boldly until he came around the rock and found both me and Lydia waiting for him.

"Welcome to Irkngthand," he shouted, "This city's secrets are ours!"

He died before he could utter a second sentence. Unfortunately, his shouting attracted another of his cohorts but he died just as messily and this time without warning anyone else. I could see others walking around and heard them talking. They suspected intruders but they had not spotted us yet. I decided to take a direct route to a set of stairs. Lydia went around another way so we could catch them by surprise in a sort of pincer attack to disguise our numbers.

I was able to pick off two just using my dwarven bow and orcish arrows even though it seemed to have lost its iciness. I had a close melee battle with a third who caught me off guard as I was pulling an arrow back through my thigh from the distant archer. I had to shout him into a wall then heal magically while he struggled to get back to his feet. I bashed him in the face as he raised his sword then cut him down as he was falling back. I heard Lydia grunting as she liked to do as she swung her battleaxe. I would never tell her, but the sound was actually a bit of a turn on. I followed it down to the lower level. She had just cleaved her opponent's left arm and shoulder off as I got there.

We thought we are done but suddenly yet another bandit attacked us, hitting Lydia first with a wicked looking Orcish greatsword. Lydia must have been weakened from the last fight because she was slow to block and took a tough shot to the breastplate. The female bandit, obviously the chief of this rabble, turned on me and charged like a mother protecting her young. I blocked her swing but she came back with another I had not anticipated and cut through my gauntlets. I managed to stagger her with a pommel to her temple. I tried to heal with magic but for some reason my reserves died out in no time. That was when I noticed the magical aura around her sword. It must have drained my magic with the cut to my wrist.

Luckily, Lydia returned and they started dueling each other while I swigged a healing potion as well as a rare blue potion that was supposed to restore my limited reserves of magicka. I joined the fight and after a vigorous exchange of counters and parries, I landed a slice to her exposed neck. She went down to one knee and I gashed the front of her neck open as well and she collapses to the ground. The snow blossomed red around her head. I took her enchanted sword as well as any other valuables and gave them to Lydia to carry.

I rested on a fallen pillar to catch my breath. "I'm surprised you did not use your new staff," I said to Lydia. "This would have been a perfect time for it with us so outnumbered."

"I thought of it, but I don't want to use it up," she said.

"Well, next time, use it. I'd rather you used that up than have to keep healing all these painful wounds that I didn't have to take. Is there a reason you're afraid to use it up? You can recharge it once we get more of those fancy gems, you know."

"I know. It's just that... I've never been given anything like this before. Not without having to give something in return. Even then, nothing this special. I don't want to ruin it."

I did not know what to say to that. I supposed I had not thought of it, having had whatever I wanted for most of my life. I said the first thing that came to mind. "Hey, you're with the Dragonborn now, Honey. There'll be plenty of exotic and precious items to pick from before long. Just use it, all right?"

"I will, and thank you again, Ralos."

"You can call me Thane. It sounds more official around the underlings. Or Big Daddy Dragon, that'll work too."

Lydia finally laughed, "Thane it is, Dick Bragon."

"That's better, now let's get out of here."

We left Irkngthand by the main gate and headed North again towards Alftand. The way grew colder, especially along the shore of the lake near the city. Either I was not paying attention or my ears were freezing, but two ice wolves were able to get the jump on us and do a fair bit of damage to my arms before I could retreat and get them in front of me for a shout. Their stunned bodies went flying into the woods, one pinwheeling away from a tree as it struck it. Lydia started chopping them up with her axe and I only got in one shot before they were both gone. Their pelts were heavy but would make some nice leather strips or some new cuffs for my armor. Ice wraiths were waiting for us shortly after but they fought with a wolf first. Lydia and I practiced our archery at the group before the wolf died and the wraiths turned on us. They did not last long this time.

We finally got to a spot I remembered. The Nightgate Inn appeared and we stopped to eat and rest up. The room was small with a single bed but for once, Lydia did not even suggest the floor for me. I must have been tired and probably crashing from the skooma, because once in bed and feeling the heat of her body, I fell comfortably to sleep.