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ROË

Dawnguard

Near Dayspring Cave

It had stopped snowing a few days ago, and thaw had come last morning. Now the mountain path they were following offered them a lovely vista of different greys and greens, the mosses enduring through winter and the nightshade and deathbell growing their first buds. They were hardy plants, and they could survive several weeks under the snow. Which was of course the reason they were found in abundance in this province and nowhere else. The juniper bushes had berries early, and they stopped for a mouthful whenever the chance presented itself. They were still bitter, but pleasantly so, and the juice trickling down one's throat after a long walk was a moment of bliss.

"Not far now," Durak said, leading the way. The Orc had turned out to be surprisingly intelligent and conversational, telling them about the Dawnguard and this and that, and of course about the Vampires. What they were like, where they holed up, and of course what their vulnerabilities were. The contraption he'd been carrying turned out to be a crossbow, shooting heavy bolts at a tremendous speed, good for penetrating the Vampires' hearts, which destroyed them instantly if the shot was true, unlike other injuries which often merely slowed them down, where a normal human would be instantly killed. The Vampire leader, who still came at her even when her face had been hacked in two, had been a good example. Beheading was also efficient, as was incineration. Fledgling Vampires were more vulnerable though, only a little more resilient than humans, which was why the other two Vampires had gone down from the first blow.

This and other bits of wisdom Durak had imparted as they went southeast, past Whiterun and then to the Hall of the Vigilants, Stendarr's followers who had been one of the Vampires' prime targets. They'd been mostly concentrating on battling Daedra, so they'd been ill-prepared for the attacks of the Vampires, creatures with other tactics and other weaknesses than the usually straightforward forces of Oblivion. Well, the lower ranks were straightforward at least.

Past the Hall of the Vigilants they'd gone, descending the mountain and now heading for a valley. Kunod had been mostly silent, as he always had been, asking the occasional question but keeping to himself and his own thoughts most of the time. The day before, as they'd made camp and got into their sleeping bags, Kunod had dragged his bedroll over to hers and before closing his eyes, put his arm around her without asking. She'd let him, thinking that the man was probably still trying to deal with Gethor's death and that some human warmth could maybe help him with that, but now she wished she hadn't. It might have put ideas in Kunod's head that would only hurt him in the long run. She'd come with him and Durak to avenge Gethor and stop the Vampires from killing more innocents, not to be closer to him – at least, not as more than a comrade and a friend.

"It's hard to spot," Durak said, squinting against the morning sun, "but there it is, down there."

Kunod peered at the place Durak had pointed out but could only say, "I don't see anything?"

"No, it's well hidden, you almost can't find it unless you're standing in front of it. It's got a ward too, that makes scrying spells and devices go wild, and compasses point in the wrong direction. Anyone trying to find that cave without my guidance would probably be in for a hair-pulling journey of frustration." He chuckled.

"Feeling a little better, Ro'?" Kunod asked.

"I'll be fine." She'd been running a bit of a fever, probably from being caught in a spell of rain the day before yesterday. It was nothing more than a cough and a runny nose, so no big deal, except for the burning throat and hot forehead. Durak had taken a look at her and said she didn't have to worry. It wasn't sanguinare vampiris, the disease responsible for causing vampirism, since that was transmitted by blood, and there were no bite or claw marks on her. Plus, the diseases typically came with nightmares and feelings of anxiety or dread. Roë didn't have nightmares and she wasn't the type to feel anxious and dreadful either. She could probably find herself a potion at Fort Dawnguard when they reached it anyway, so no point complaining.

"If there's anything you need, just ask, alright?" Kunod said.

"I'll be fine," she repeated with a smile. It was good of him to be thoughtful, but ultimately futile.

"Girl's just runnin' a little fever," Durak laughed. "I've been through much worse on a long slog, and I'm sure you two have been as well."

"Exactly," Roë said gently.

"Yeah, you're right, I suppose." Kunod sighed. "I'm still blaming myself for Gethor, which is why I might get a little overprotective at times, I guess."

Roë didn't think that was the reason, at least not mainly, but she smiled anyway and said, "It's alright. It's good that we're looking out for each other. And Gethor's death wasn't your fault."

"There's no point feeling guilty. What's done is done," Durak said, walking in front of them and craning his head towards them. "And you shouldn't let those things scare you into being overprotective. All you can do now is learn from it and look to the future."

"Speaking of futures," Roë said. "How long 'til we reach the Fort?"

Durak stopped and smiled at her, baring his tusked underbite. "Not long now." Extending his hand at the rock wall, he said, "After you."

"But… there's nothing there," Kunod stammered, not understanding.

Durak's smile broadened. "Stand over here."

Kunod did so and his eyes widened. "By the Underking, that's well-hidden!"

Maybe for a Nord, but Roë's keen Bosmer eyes had spotted the entrance the second Durak had pointed at it. She and Durak exchanged a brief, knowing smile, and then they entered the cave, first descending and then rising again, going under the mountain.

The walk through the cave took an hour or so, and they had to blink against the pale midday sun. As their eyes adjusted, they saw a roughly hewn staircase leading up, and against the wall of the mountain opposite the one they'd gone under, was a large fortress made of grey stone, almost as tall as the tower of Solitude, and looking like it could resist any attack. Roë, however, knew enough about covert warfare to be aware that one traitor within the walls was more dangerous than an army outside the gates.

"Let's head to the Fort straight away, let Isran take a look at you. Then we can get some ale and some rest."

"Sounds like a plan," Kunod said.

"Hmm," Durak muttered as they went up the stairs. "Haven't seen that guy before."

A young Nord stood at the top of the stairs, his back to them and his hands in his sides, looking up at the fortress.

"Hey there, boy!" Durak called. The Nord jumped almost two metres into the air and turned. "I- y… yes sir?"

"What's your business here?" Durak asked dourly.

"I'm uh…" He suddenly realized where he was and how he should act, and straightened up, saying, "I'm looking to join the Dawnguard, sir."

"I'm not a sir," Durak grunted. "This isn't the army. What's your name?"

"Agmaer, s…" He checked. "Agmaer."

"I'm Durak, these two behind me are also potential new recruits." Quietly, he added, "though not as wet behind the ears as you are." Then, louder, he continued, "Come with us, I'll take you three to Isran together."

"Oh, would you?" the Nord asked giddily. "Thanks, I wasn't really sure how to go about it."

"Really?" Durak said quietly, to his two companions, "I couldn't tell."

Agmaer, despite his rather childlike insecurity and enthusiasm, was a rather pleasant fellow. Perhaps a bit too pleasant for the Dawnguard. Roë didn't figure an order of Vampire hunters had much use for a naïve young farm boy whose only blood he'd seen had been that of the pigs his father slaughtered. Still, you could never tell what wood someone was cut out of until they were confronted with danger. Roë, and she knew Kunod too, had learned this from her time at the guard. They'd both seen small, stammering little guys take on thugs twice their size without blinking, and huge, powerful tough-talkers freeze up and even run when the shit hit the windmill. Still, the boy obviously had much to learn.

They passed under an arch that led to a side tower of the fort, and then past a courtyard that had target dummies set in it, where a man was practicing with his crossbow. Durak briefly hailed him, calling "Cerann!" and the crossbowman raised a hand in greeting in return.

"Now then," Durak said, "time to go see Isran. I'll be having an ale in the sun, it's best if you introduce yourselves rather than let me do it for you."

They stood in front of a large gate, the main entrance to Fort Dawnguard.

"Go on," Durak shooed them. "He won't bite your heads off."

Kunod nodded and pushed the double doors open, and they walked into the main hall, Roë and Kunod next to each other, Agmaer following a few paces behind.

The main hall was round, almost completely empty apart from a few crates and some benches, and looked to be in serious disrepair. The corners were cobwebbed and dirt ground beneath their boots as they walked. In the middle, lit by the few torches there were, stood two men. One, a large Redguard-looking man with a shaved head, a long beard, and powerful features, wore the same armour Durak did, though the front had several belts strapped over it, the other wore a robe over generic-looking but ornate steel armour. His head was also hairless, but in this case, it didn't look shaved but simply fallen out. He'd apparently tried to compensate for it with sideburns though, because his were impressive.

"They're all dead, Isran!" the man with the sideburns said, making it immediately clear which one Isran was. "Every single one of them. Even Carcette. Dead."

"And, Tolan?" the other asked aloofly. "You were capable of handling the Vampire threat, were you not? You laughed in my face when I came to you and told you the Dawnguard needed to be resurrected."

"Yes, Isran," the man in the robe admitted. "You were right, we were wrong. What more do you want me to say?"

Isran raised his hand to silence the other man. "Hold on. We'll discuss this later. Just who are you?"

Before Roë could answer, Kunod stepped forward and struck his heart with his fist. "Kunod of the Solitude guard, here to join the Dawnguard."

The man grinned through his beard. "Good, good. We can always use more men who actually realize the Vampires are more than just a nuisance." The stab at Tolan was unmistakable, and the man visibly shrunk under the barb. "And you?" he said to Roë.

Roë stepped forward, but didn't feel the need to imitate the dramatic gesture. "Roë, also Solitude guard."

"Really. We don't have any Bosmer in the Dawnguard yet. Well, now we do." He paused for a moment, then cocked his head. "Are you ill?"

"Just a little fever."

"Yes, your brow and cheeks are flaring red." His frown deepened. "Not sanguinare, is it?"

"No. Durak asked already, I wasn't bitten or clawed. I'll be fine."

"You both look like you can handle yourselves," the Redguard said, extending his calloused hand. "Welcome to the Dawnguard." When Kunod and Roë shook it, he noticed Agmaer hanging back in the shadows. "Step into the light, boy, let me take a look at you."

Timidly, Agmaer did so. Roë hoped the kid didn't regret his decision already. And if he did, that he'd at least have the courage to admit it.

"What's your name?"

"Agmaer, sir."

He got the exact same reaction he'd had from Durak. "I am not a sir and you're not in the army. Can you handle a weapon?"

"I uh… I've swung the odd axe."

Suspicious, Isran crossed his arms and looked at him closely. "Swung the odd axe? What, at the farm?"

Agmaer had inhaled to reply, but then his breath stopped. "Yes, sir," he said, looking embarrassed. "At the farm. My pa's axe."

Isran threw his head back and laughed. "At the farm!" Another laugh. "His pa's axe! Oh dear, Stendarr preserve us! Don't worry, boy, we can make a fighter out of you yet." He took the crossbow hanging at his hip. "Take this, go outside and tell Durak to teach you the basics."

Gingerly, Agmaer took the weapon.

"Stop cowering, boy!" Isran snapped, the boy flinching at his voice. Oh brother, this one needed to start from the ground up. "Go see Durak, tell him I know he's drinking ale and that he'd better spend his time on more useful things, such as training beginners like you."

"Y… yes, sir."

"I am not a sir! And this is not the army!" Isran barked at him. "Now go!"

Agmaer slunk away, visibly intimidated.

When he was gone, Isran gave Kunod and Roë a grin and said, "You need to be tough on 'em to make them tough." He chuckled. "'My pa's axe'. Priceless."

"What my captain always used to say too," Kunod said, grinning back. "And we turned out tough enough."

"You certainly look it. Son, I have an important job for you, if you're willing?"

Kunod quickly glanced at Roë and said, "Uh… certainly."

"There'll be a squad of men leaving tomorrow at dawn to eradicate a Vampire lair. Want to be part of it?"

Almost beaming, Kunod said, "Yes, yes I would. If you think I'm worthy."

Isran shrugged. "You come back alive, you're worthy. Head back out and speak to Cerann, he'll tell you what to do."

"Alright."

"Isran!" the man in robes interrupted impatiently. "What about the Vigilants?"

"What about them. They're dead."

"I know, Isran. But before they died, they were investigating a place the Vampires were poking around in. Dimhollow Crypt."

"And? They were probably looking for bats to talk to or something." Somehow, Roë didn't think it was something that simple. Usually, when your enemies were looking for something, it paid to find out what it was and get to it before they did.

"This is serious," Tolan insisted. "My gut tells me there's something important there."

Isran waved his words away. "Yes, yes. If it makes you feel better, I'll send someone on this wild goose chase." His eyes fell on Roë. "You. Are you fit to travel?"

"I said it was just a fever," Roë said back. If he wasn't a sir and they weren't in the army, then she had the liberty to tell him she didn't like repeating herself.

"I can't spare anyone to send on that little treasure hunt. Feel like checking it out?"

Roë had had the feeling it might be important, despite Isran's dismissive attitude, so she said, "Sure. I'll go. Where's Dimhollow Crypt?"

"Good woman," Isran said. She got some vague directions to a place called Volunruud, a dwemer ruin which should be visible from far away, and then she had to go North until she found a cave mouth.

Not exactly the most specific route description, but she figured she could find it herself. "Alright, I'll go see what's there."

"You would?" Tolan asked, relieved. "Wonderful! I'll meet you there. If there are vampires, I'll have a score to settle with them in the name of my fellow Vigilants."

"Uh… okay."

"Tolan might have made some mistakes in his life, but he's no pushover," Isran told her. "Stay close to him and learn from him what you can."

Tolan didn't react to the compliment and turned on his heels and walked away. "Take a day to rest, child, no rush in leaving. I have cremations to take care of."