I hugged my knees, staring out at Bishop from under half-closed lids. The Windpeak Inn didn't quite feel the same, the events of the day before feeling both a relieving breath of fresh air and an invasion of privacy. He'd obviously dove into Vaermina's nightmare for me, but why?

"You keep staring at me like that, princess, and I might get the wrong idea." He grinned widely. "Of course, that wouldn't be such a problem." I mean...

"You're funny, ranger," I muttered, returning my gaze to the ground. "So funny."

Bishop flashed me a wide grin. "I know, ladyship. I know." He went back to playing with the fireplace, roasting a leg of elk we'd taken from Bishop's kill on the way down from Nightcaller Temple. Fortunately or unfortunately, Erandur- or Casimir, whichever- had vanished from the scene and hadn't made a reappearance. As it was, people were talking excitedly throughout Dawnstar about the disappearance of their nightmares.

"Thank the gods," said a nearby miner. "I was worried those damnable nightmares would last forever."

"Do you think it was that Priest of Mara?" a different male gossiped, followed by an input by his wife.

"I think it was the Dragonborn! Remember Silus talking to that woman? He called her the Dragonborn!" They collectively went silent, and I could sense their eyes turning toward me. The discomfort in my body grew, but I chose to ignore it.

Bishop cleared his throat and set a seasoned elk leg on the table in front of me, steaming and tantalizing. Swallowing the sudden rush of saliva, I realized suddenly that Bishop had been speaking to me. Shaking my head, I stared at the ground while speaking to the ranger. "Sorry, Bishop," I apologized. "I wasn't listening."

"Good to know I've been talking to myself." Bishop sniffed. "Nah, I was just wondering if you heard what those fuckers over there've been talking about."

I snorted, unsure whether or not to be amused. "Yeah, I heard." They were speaking again, this time in hushed tones that I couldn't make out. Even so, I could guess they were chatting about the Dragonborn business. Ugh. I never wanted this hero crap. I just wanted to fulfill my quest.

"Are they bothering you, ladyship? I can get 'em to quit talking out of their asses," Bishop offered. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't go shooting anyone in the face, Bishop. Or anywhere else," I added as Bishop opened his mouth.

"Damn." He cleared his throat and sat beside me, leaving me to desperately try to ignore the way my heart began beating faster. "Well, the offer remains." He tipped back his mug of mead and dug into his meal, though I didn't have an appetite.

"Speaking of Silus," one of the miners said loudly, apparently finished with their hushed conversation, "did you hear what happened to his museum?"

"Who hasn't? Burned to the ground, along with all those artifacts inside... how tragic." I shot Bishop a look, who simply sipped his mead slowly. "You know, the guards say it was natural, caused by the magic, but Silus insists it was arson. Says he found an arrow with scorch marks in the logs."

Although I watched them intently, I couldn't help but notice the sly smile creeping onto Bishop's face.

...

The next morning, when my mind was clearer, I decided it was finally time to continue my quest to find and kill Nade. First off, that meant speaking to the innkeeper. My former scribble of him had vanished along with my old armor, but that didn't mean I couldn't just scratch it down again. With that, I sauntered up to the bar and slid into a stool.

The innkeeper eyed me with a raised brow. "Can I help you?" he said gruffly. "Need another night in that room?"

"No. I'll need charcoal and a piece of parchment, please." The innkeeper acquiesced, handing me both. I swiftly drew his face on the page, making sure to include his birthmark. "Here. Have you seen this man? His name is Nade Armenson."

The innkeeper rubbed his bearded chin, thinking. "I can't say I've seen your lad," he admitted, "but there's a woman in town, Frida Armenson. You said his name was Nade Armenson?" He continued to ponder. "Hmm. I've never met 'im."

Frida Armenson. I tucked the name away into my mind for reference. "Frida Armenson," I said slowly. "Where does she live?"

"East side of town. She's our healer. Just stop by the apothecary and you'll find her."

Excitement rose in my throat, but I forced myself to keep a neutral expression. "My thanks, sir." I tossed a few coins onto the bar in gratitude and headed for Bishop's door. "Come on, ranger," I sang. "We've got a lead."

...

"Are you Frida Armenson?" I queried.

The woman hobbled forward on her cane. "That I am," she croaked.

I made myself comfortable in the chairs in the corner, but Bishop remained standing with Karnwyr, standing protectively near me. For some reason, the stance was comforting. "May I ask you a few questions?"

"Aye. Is it about my newest batch of potions? I already recalled them-"

"No, no. Nothing like that." I waved the elderly Nord off. Wait... Nord? "I have some questions about your son?"

Frida's brows furrowed together. "My son? I don't have a son."

My chest felt hollow. "Wha- but I'd heard you had a son."

"No. I had a daughter, and she had a son. Useless boy, always did all he could to get out of work. I'll tell you what, it was a relief when he ran away. Said he was 'sick of my rules.'" She gave a harrumph. "Good riddance of old rubbish, I say."

I pondered what she'd said. "When was the last time you saw him? What was his name? Who was your daughter?"

Frida held up her hands. "Calm down, youngling. One question at a time." She slowly crawled over on her cane and sat in the chair in front of me, breathing a sigh of relief as she did so. "Last time I saw him was probably three or so years ago. His name was Nade, and he was still the laziest twerp when he came by begging for money." I was taken into Mehrunes Dagon's realm three years ago. Nade escaped, enticed by wealth. Out of sight, my fists were clenched tightly. "And my daughter?" She scoffed to herself. "She didn't deserve a child like that, even if he was born of wedlock. Her name was Wendy, and some Breton, an apostle of Kynareth, seduced her and left her with a child I had to raise." Her voice turned sorrowful, and her hand clenched tightly on her cane. "She passed last year. She contracted the Rattles, and even I couldn't heal her. All I have is that she didn't suffer for long."

I remained somber with her for a few moments, but inwardly I was screaming. While I had new information, it seemed like I'd hit a dead end. "I'm sorry to hear that," I said carefully. "But did Nade happen to tell you where he was going?"

"No, he didn't," Frida grouched, "and I've no cares to know. That boy can jump off the edge of Tamriel for all I care."

Helplessness filled my throat. "Nothing else?"

The Nord woman thought a bit longer. "Not that I can recall," she said finally. "Sorry, youngling. I wish I could be of more help." My shoulders slumped down, and for a moment, I considered the Dark Brotherhood. I could make that piece of shit their problem. Of course, then I wouldn't get to stick him myself...

"Let's go, Bishop," I muttered. "We'll figure more out later." As I prepared to stand, Frida snapped her fingers and let out an exclamation.

"Oh! Now that I think of it!" She grinned widely. "I think he might have said something about going to Ivarstead, buying a house in the country." Her gruff expression returned. "Don't know how he'd go about that when he was naught but a beggar."

Bishop and I shared a glance. Ironic, I thought, that I my path leads to Ivarstead no matter which one I choose. The ranger cleared his throat and held out a hand to help me stand. "That's interesting," he said simply, clearly thinking exactly what I was. "I suppose we're heading out immediately?"

"Yup," I replied concisely, grunting as I forced myself up. "Let's go."

"Which quest?" he queried as I left, Karnwyr whining as he trotted at my heels. "Your Dragonborn business or Nade?"

"Hopefully, Nade is there," I growled, "and I can put him down like the dog he is. After that, who knows?" Bishop held the door open for me, slamming it shut behind us. My boiling blood kept me warm enough to ignore the howling wind and icy atmosphere. "Let's find out, ranger. At least we're finally on the right track."