Chapter 13

The next morning Jane gathered everyone into Bo's room, excluding the one lonely patron, Hadring, and the young girl.

"I wanted to talk to you all," Bo started, "because I am forever in your debt. I am alive because of all that you did for me, and for that I am eternally grateful."

"It was nothing," Nazgurat replied, and Jenna simply looked at the ground. Lynne mumbled a "it's my job" and Ahmon said "you're welcome, though I wasn't much help with the raging headache."

"Also," Bo continued, "I have discovered something. All of us have something in common. We were all traveling to Whiterun, until things got in the way. I was thinking that perhaps, when we are all recovered and well rested, that traveling together would be the smartest thing to do. It seems like going anywhere in Skyrim as of late has been growing increasingly dangerous."

"I agree," Nazgurat, replied, "I will go with you and Jane."

"As will I," Lynne added.

"I would be honored to travel with you." Ahmon bowed his head.

"Great! Then when Lynne says Bo is ready, then we'll all go to Whiterun together." Jane smiled; glancing over at Bo, who looked very pleased with him self.

Over the next couple days the group prepared for departure, buying supplies from Hadring, going over the things they already had, and making new armor for Bo. Jane had managed to salvage her own leather armor, which was now permanently stained a shade of red on the chest. Lynne attempted to talk to Nazgurat several times, but her confidence had failed her, and she never did.

One evening while she idly sat near the fireplace with a bottle of ale, going over the ingredients she was low on and what not, Nazgurat himself came and sat down across from her with a mug of mead.

"You are deep in thought," he commented. Lynne loved the way his deep husky voice sounded, and found her self staring at him dumbfounded for a moment.

"Uh," she replied, scrambling to recover. "Yes. I was just going over what supplies I'll be needing once I reach Whiterun."

"You are an alchemist?"

"Not as much as I am a mage, but I dabble in alchemy from time to time." However Lynne was lying, alchemy was just as strong a suit as her magic skills, but she wasn't about to reveal what she did on her own time, which was of a questionable nature.

"I never bothered with magic." Nazgurat leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs out. Taking a drink of mead he continued, "a good sword and shield are all I need. And a bow sometimes."

"Those are good too, I use a mixture of both. If magic is not working, or they get too close, I'll resort to a sword."

"That is a good strategy," Nazgurat remarked.

"Thanks." Lynne looked down at the table, nervously spinning her bottle around. Then she took a good drink, hoping the alcohol would calm her nerves.

They sat there in silence for a while, Lynne stared at the table and Nazgurat watched the flames as they consumed the wood, both occasionally glancing over at one another. Thankfully, Jane came over, and Lynne nearly sighed out loud in relief. The girl sure knew had good timing.

"Hey guys, mind if I join?"

"Of course not," Lynne replied eagerly. Nazgurat beat Jane to her chair, pulling it out for her.

"Oh, thank you."

Lynne had to admit; she knew why Bo was so infatuated with Jane. She was beautiful and smart, young, and extremely kind. Lynne had liked her from the moment they met. Jane knew how to make anyone smile; she'd watched Jane when she spoke with Bo sometimes, seeing them interact. She was always quick to give sincere words of encouragement and never failed to put a smile on the young Orc's face. Lynne herself wasn't getting any younger, nearly thirty now, she had had a tough childhood. Shaking her head, Lynn cast her nostalgic thoughts away and instead wondered curiously how old Nazgurat was. As if Jane had heard her thoughts she turned to Nazgurat and him his age.

"Why do you want to know?" He asked gruffly.

"Just curious, that's all." Jane smiled, and took a sip of her own drink, a rich glass of red wine.

"I am nearing thirty two years."

"Wow, you sure don't look it. I would have guessed much younger."

Lynne stared at Nazgurat; her heart beat picking up a notch. He was only two years older than her, and she couldn't deny her attraction to him. It still surprised her that after all the years of not even giving an Orc two looks, that this Orsimer had such an affect on her."

"And you're almost thirty, right?" Jane asked Lynne, "You both look so young still."

"Thanks," Lynne chuckled, flattered. She could feel Nazgurat's gaze linger on her for a minute, as she continued to stare at the table, and then he turned back to watching the fire.

Maybe I should try it out, Lynne thought to herself. The worse he can do is reject me.