Chapter Five

I feel large, strong hands gently shake me until I come to consciousness. Once again I am required to fight with my mind to recall where I am.

Dragons.

Woods.

Man-beast.

Horse.

Danders.

I was in a small home. Danders's home. The thief's home.

It was then that his soft, deep voice became clear to me, "Miss Emi, it's about time we get on the trail. It's a long ride up to Skingrad. You awake yet?"

I roll over to face him. His face was cleanly shaven and his blue eyes shined down to me with a genuine smile. I could not resist smiling back, "Thank you for allowing me into your home."

"Are you sure you're not a proper lady? First thing when you wake up and you're trying to remember your manners." He gives a small chuckle, and then gives my hand a little tug to prompt me to get up. I lurch myself up and onto the edge of the bed. I look down at my disheveled top and skirt, attempting to smooth it out. They were very grimy and even a little ripped from my night in the woods.

"Here, take this," I hear Danders say from across the room. "They aren't exactly a lady's dress but they'll do better than that mess of an outfit." He tossed a man's shirt and pants onto the bed next to me.

"I appreciate this, but I couldn't take this from you. I'm not sure if they would fit anyways." I said while gently touching the clean clothes.

"They'll fit. They're my little brother's. There's a belt there too incase the waist's a little loose on ya." He opened the door and began to step out, "Oh, and there's a knife holster laying over on the nightstand I'd like for you to take. Carrying around that knife loose like you've been doin' is just plain dumb." He gave me a wink and stepped out the door saying, "I expect you out here in just a few minutes. Don't make me come back in here after ya."

I could hear his laugh dance from the porch as I stood up and undressed. I did, indeed need the belt to hold up the pants, but they were not too large. The shirt hung off my curves and engulfed my arms. I tucked it in and rolled the sleeves up to cure the problem slightly. I smooth out my hair, pulling it up into many braids in order for it not to lie on my neck. I retrieve the holster off the table and my knife out of my bag. I place my knife in the holster and attach it to the belt. I take a second look into my bag and realize that Danders has filled it up with wrapped meats, cheeses, fruits, and two full water skins. I silently thank the gods and then hoist the full bag onto my back along with my quiver. I grab my bow and then walk out the door to meet Danders.

I walk onto the porch to find him already sitting on his cart with Kaie hitched and ready to go. A large grin spread across his face as he took in me and my new outfit. "Well, Miss Emi, I must say you look like the perfect gentleman." His bellowing laugh echoed throughout the village and I quickly jump into the cart and settle beside him on the seat.

"That is very rude, Danders! If you do not stop mocking me I will march right back into that house and put my dirty skirt back on!" I huffed.

"They wouldn't even let you into Skingrad in that mess." He gave me another grin, allowing his bright eyes to rest on me for a second, and then snapped the reigns to send Kaie off. "Besides, I doubt you would want to meet my grandma looking like you just rolled out of the woods."

"I did roll out of the woods," I corrected, "and, may I ask, why are you taking me to see your grandmother? I thought you said we were traveling to Skingrad?"

"She lives in Skingrad. I think she can answer your questions better than anyone else there."

"How do you even know what my questions are? Did I even mention that I had questions?"

"I had them once too. I think everyone does at some point. Plus that dang old lady knows everything so whatever question you have she'd be able to answer it," he smiled over at me. "Even about dragons."

"Why do you mention dragons?" I ask sharply.

"You talk in your sleep."

"You were on the porch."

"You talk loud," he answered simply.

"Perhaps you would like for me to explain," I suggested shyly.

"Miss Emi, you know ya don't have anything to explain to me. You can keep all the secrets you feel necessary to keep." He placed both reins in one hand and reached over with his free hand to place it onto mine. "But I expect you to keep my secrets safe, too." He lifted my hand and softly brushed his lips against them.

I watch as the sun rose high in the sky and sit at the point where east meets west. I rock peacefully with the cart as the trees begin to pop up more often than they did close to the coast. Occasionally, a wolf would run through the valley to my right. To pass the time, Danders tells me stories of all the bandits he's encountered while traveling this road at night. As we go further inland, he points out the tips of the castles in the walls of Kvatch.

We continue on and pass some of the white ruins the Aylieds created long ago. In a nearby field, deer grazed next to a path. When we passed by a second set of Aylied ruins, which are common in this area of Cyrodiil, I could see a small camp of travelers on our left. After passing over a small bridge with a dry river bed under it, I notice a small path slope upwards towards what appears to be a cave. I crane my neck and end up almost backwards in my seat in hopes of peering into the black cave. After a jibe from Danders, I turn back around and behold a welcomed sight. Before us were the high peaks of the magnificent buildings of the far away Skingrad, looming over more Aylied ruins.

Finally, we turn a bin and Skingrad's finely built walls were shown in all their glory. The cone-topped castles pierced the sky above as their flags flew gracefully in the breeze.

"Is it that beautiful on the inside?" I asked. "I haven't traveled here since I was a child."

"Better," was Danders's reply.

We passed the Grateful Pass Stables and Danders waved at the stable boy, who he apparently knew well. He pulled his cart up to the gate and told the guards, who were Redguards, that he was coming into the city to see some family and do a little bit of business. The guards gave a grunt in reply and gave a motion with their hands. I heard the creaking of the humongous doors opening before I actually saw them move.