The Blue Palace was a beautiful place.

Kaiah stood in awe of the magnificent palace, having never seen anything like it in her life. The palaces of Hammerfell were nothing like that of Skyrim, made of limestone with intricate blown glass windows and round pointed roofs. They never luminenced like the Blue Palace did, the early morning sunlight reflecting exquisitely off of the blue glass windows and roof tiles was something one had to see in person.

Vilkas and Kaiah entered the palace upon request of Falk Firebeard, the High King's steward. Vilkas had to admit, he was quite surprised when a courier came to the steps of Jorrvaskr with an urgent message from Falk himself. Usually such important jobs were reserved for special forces of the guard, but it seemed that the Companions' "unique" experience was preferred in this instance.

"You must be the Companions!" Falk awaited their entrance at the bottom of the grand staircase that led to the throne room of the palace. Kaiah smiled softly and Vilkas stood between them, nodding his head. "We received your missive and came as quickly as we could."

Falk smiled, "I hope you two had a safe journey? The road from Whiterun can be a treacherous one."

Vilkas grinned, "It was a little long but we made due."

Falk glanced at Kaiah and then Vilkas, smoothing out the wrinkles of his finery, "High King Torygg has requested an audience with the Companions who will be helping us with this… delicate matter."

The Redguard's eyes widened, "H-High King Torygg?"

"We would be honored to accept his request," Vilkas assured the steward quickly. Falk gestured for the two warriors to follow him to the throne room, where the High King and his court resided. Kaiah followed the two Nords, feeling her heart racing as each step they took led them closer to the presence of the most important man in Skyrim. Two of the palace guards opened a set of large blue double doors, revealing the extravagant and decadent throne room of the Blue Palace. Upon entering, the entire court fell silent and all eyes were on the Companions. Kaiah observed the subjects who sat along the long tables of the hall, they wore elegant clothing with embroidery and jewelry that were probably worth more than what she had made in her entire lifetime. The women wore immaculate makeup and their hair was done with the most eloquent braids.

This certainly was a court full of Nords.

"Your Majesty," Falk bowed before the throne, "The Companions of Whiterun."

On the throne sat High King Torygg, a tall and fair man with auburn hair and a beard that was kept neatly groomed. He donned a velvet Nordic finery with intricate embroidery and gold jewelry to match. Upon his head was a stunning gold circlet with a large precious ruby in the center, coupled with two smaller rubies to complete the set. In the smaller throne next to him was his wife, Queen Elisif the Fair, who was one of the most beautiful women Kaiah had ever seen. She had long golden hair tied into intricate braids and bore a stunning green dress with embellished sleeves and a golden belt. Her circlet matched High King Torygg's, symbolizing their equality of authority.

Vilkas approached the throne carefully, reaching for Queen Elisif's hand and placing a gentle kiss, a sign of respect for the regent. He then took a knee and bowed his head before the High King, "It is an honor to be summoned before your court, your Majesty."

King Torygg let out a soft chuckle, "The honor is mine, Companion. To be in the presence of a mighty warrior grants approbation to even the most decorous of men."

Vilkas stands up and gestures to Kaiah, who stood there in awe of how formal the Nords were. "This is my shield-sister, Kaiah of Elinhir, one of the greatest dual-wielders Jorvaskrr has ever seen." The Redguard's cheeks burned from the embarrassment, giving a small curtsy.

"You are from Hammerfell?" King Torygg inquired, curiosity plastered across his face. Kaiah nodded, "Y-Yes, my mother is Redguard and my father is a Nord." Kaiah could hear low whispers from the court.

"How is it that a Redguard from Hammerfell found herself in the company of the Companions in Skyrim?"

Kaiah swallowed the lump forming in throat, "I-I was a traveling mercenary. The Harbinger offered me a place within the guild and I humbly accepted." It wasn't a complete lie.

King Torygg smiled softly, "It is a shame that Kodlak could not join us today, however I am grateful to meet the Master of Arms and his confrère." Vilkas grinned at the now blushing Redguard. "That being said," King Torygg continued, "I'm afraid that I did not request an audience simply to indulge in wine and bread. We have more pressing matters to deal with."

"Of course," Vilkas spoke up, "I reviewed the details of the missive that your steward had sent."

"Yes," the Nord started, a frown falling upon his face, "We have been receiving reports of disappearances on the road west of here, near Wolfskull Cave. While such matters are usually left to the city guard, I'm afraid the occurrences are of a… supernatural nature."

Kaiah felt her throat run drier than the Alik'r desert. 'Supernatural nature?' King Torygg continued, "Centuries ago, Queen Potema used the cave to practice her necromancy. While the cave has lain dormant for some time, we believe that someone, or something, has taken residence there, and is threatening the well-being of Haafingar. I understand that the Companions have experience in dealing with the occult?"

Kaiah stared at the king with widened eyes, her trance broken when Vilkas responded. "If it is truly necromancers plaguing your hold, I can assure you that they are as good as dead."

King Torygg laid back in his throne and smiled, "I never doubted your abilities, however, I exercise caution. People have heard… strange voices coming from the cave. And it is no secret that sacrifices have taken place there."

"We will tread lightly, your Majesty, and the cave will be cleared out."

"One more thing," King Torygg exclaimed, "I'm not sure what you will find in that cave, but necromancers may be the least of your worries. The cave was once a hub of dark and powerful magick… and it may still be. All I ask is that you both be vigilant."

Vilkas nodded and humbly bowed before turning his heel towards the exit of the throne room. Kaiah waited for him to pass her and she did the same, trying to mimic a formal curtsy. The two heard whispers from the court as they were leaving, but tried their best not to look at anyone. They were there for the High King and did not have time to engage in petty court gossip. Kaiah was not familiar with royal courts in Skyrim; gods she didn't even know much about the royal courts of Hammerfell. However, she felt singled out. She was the only Redguard, and perhaps the only person that wasn't a Nord in that entire court. There may have been Imperials and Bretons but they could've fooled her.

Vilkas and Kaiah left the Blue Palace in haste, eager to get on the road towards Wolfskull Cave. The Redguard broke the awkward silence as they walked through the plaza of the city. "So you dragged me all the way from Jorrvaskr to kill some necromancers?"

Vilkas scoffed, not looking at his whiney companion, "I figured this could be good practice for you. Besides, you need to get out of Whiterun."

"So I keep being told," Kaiah frowned and crossed her arms, "But I don't need your or anyone else's pity for what happened."

Vilkas frowned, "It's not pity, Kaiah. I'm- We are just concerned about your safety." Kaiah didn't respond, just walked silently behind the Nord warrior. Vilkas closed his eyes and sighed, "We just want you to be safe."

Kaiah couldn't feel resentment towards the Companions for wanting her to be safe. The only people who know are Njada, Aela and Vilkas, and they all agreed that a few days away from Jorrvaskr would be the best thing for her. However, she knew Kematu better than anyone. He and his group of lackeys would stop at nothing to make her comply with their demands. She
wasn't scared for only herself, but everyone at Jorrvaskr. Kematu is dangerous, cunning, and ruthless.

She had spent years planning different ways to kill him. Fantasies about how she would make his death as slow and agonizing as possible. She had almost gone through with it more than once.

She was many things.

But a murderer was never one of them.

She was better than him.

Better than all of them.

The two Companions made their way west towards Wolfskull Cave. There was a permanent snowfall on the western coast of Skyrim, and the air was frigid and the roads were icey. Kaiah made sure to pack a pair of sheep wool socks in the event that they would travel through snow, though her feet still felt ice cold even with them on. Her armor was not much warmer. She wasn't used to wearing pelt-lined leather armor, and her pants were made of just fabric which was great for insulation but not for staying warm in the harsh Skyrim climate. She used to live in the hottest province of Tamriel for gods' sake.

Vilkas seemed completely unbothered by the cold. With his fur-lined steel plate armor and dark fur cloak combined with his natural blood-resistance to the cold, the man could travel in the snow for hours and feel no difference. Kaiah, while half-Nord, seemed to boast no resistance to the harsh climate, but she sure could resist the effects even the strongest of poisonous concoctions. Which has saved her life more times than she cared to admit.

Kaiah had tied her locs into a high pony-tail and wrapped her dark blue turban around the crown of her head, covering the tips of her ears which she could feel them starting to freeze off. While it helped her head to retain its natural warmth, it did little to make her body feel more comfortable against the cold.

After a couple hours of walking with very few breaks, the two Companions finally reached the entrance of Wolfskull Cave. At least, where it was supposed to be. To most travelers, the entrance would appear nonexistent, however, Vilkas could smell a trail of dried blood just beyond the snow covered pine trees that protected the entrance.

"It's over there," Vilkas pointed towards the entrance of the cave. He started making his way towards the entrance and Kaiah followed, forcing their way through the fallen branches and thick snow. Kaiah had to physically pick her legs up to get through the deep patches of snow, she was so focused on getting her legs out of it that she wasn't even paying attention to her surroundings.

"Look out!"

The Redguard had no time to react as Vilkas swung his greatsword at an enthralled and armed skeleton, completely shattering its ribcage and spine. Kaiah drew her scimitars when she noticed another skeleton slowly making its way over to the two warriors. She lunged forward and decapitated the skeletal thrall, sighing as she watched its remains fall in the snow.

"Definitely necromancers inside, be careful." Vilkas warned her as he sheathed his greatsword. The Redguard sheathed her own weapons and followed the Nord inside the cave. It was certainly warmer inside, but it still had an eerie and dark chill that made her skin crawl.

There was nothing more than a single torch and some metal chains upon entering the cave. The smell of death lingered in the air and Kaiah covered her nose and gurned.

"Tu'whacca have mercy! It reeks of death!"

Vilkas scowled, "How do you think I feel?"

The two warriors wandered through the cave for a while, trying to adjust to the darkness with the occasional dimly lit torch mounted in the stone walls. Draugr infested the place, predictable for a necromantic hideout. They were not a nuisance to kill by themselves, but in numbers they can become irksome. Though draugrs would not exist without their masters, and they were more inconvenient than the two Companions would care to admit. Necromancers were skilled mages, that much was known, and Kaiah and Vilkas were by no means knowledgeable in the arcane arts. Wards were the best defense against magick, but the two together couldn't conjure a basic ward if their lives depended on it.

The necromancers were mere apprentices, however, usually congregating together in groups of two. Kaiah and Vilkas boast no real trouble taking care of them, be that as it may they knew that once they reached the main chamber their odds would significantly decrease.

The stench of death and rotten flesh became pungent as they ventured further into the cave. They could hear whispers and chanting from a distance, though to Vilkas it was more coherent than faint. The two walked through a tight crevice that separated the areas of the massive cave. There was a bright blue light that could be seen from a distance, and the chanting became more perspicuous. Vilkas and Kaiah stood beside each other as they walked towards the edge of the intended path, looking at the ancient and impressive ruins that were hidden inside the bowels of the cave. Atop the tallest tower was the bright light that they saw moments ago, only in its immense and terrifying size. The chanting was clear and loud, and held an otherworldly tone.

"Potema, hear our call and awaken. We summon you!"

Kaiah narrowed her eyes and looked closely atop the tower and noticed black figures standing around what appeared to be some kind of summoning circle.

"We summon Potema!"

Kaiah's eyes widened and her mouth fell agape, "They're summoning…"

"Potema." Vilkas finished, glaring at the blue light, "They're trying to summon Potema."

Kaiah looked up at Vilkas, her brows furrowed together in concern and disbelief, "Can they do that?"

"Long have you dreamed the dreamless sleep of death, Potema. No longer. Hear our call and awaken. We summon you!"

Within the blue light a white silhouette of a woman could be seen, seemingly growing more distinct as the chanting continued. Vilkas swallowed the lump in his throat, not taking his eyes off of the ritual. "Yes. We need to stop them before they complete the ritual."

The Nord turned his heel and rushed though the intended path, heading towards a wooden door that led to a stone tower built into the cave. Kaiah followed closely behind, keeping an arm's distance away from her companion. Vilkas opened the door and the two Companions were greeted by two alarmed mages and their draugr. The Nord drew his greatsword and beelined for one of the mages. Kaiah drew her scimitars and took the other, not even noticing three others who were alerted from the bottom of the spiral staircase. Vilkas cut clean through the mage, not taking a breath before cutting down the draugr that accompanied them. He looked down and saw some of the mages look up at him, more surprised than frightened at the turn of events.

"Vilkas, duck!" Kaiah warned the Nord as she drew one of her steel daggers and threw it at a rope that held a clay pot with a fire lit inside. Vilkas fell on his knee and complied as he watched the steel dagger cut clean through the weak rope and the pot fell down to the bottom floor of the tower. The oil that was pooling all over the floor lit as bright as the sun as the clay pot shattered, releasing a large explosion of fire on all of the souls unfortunate enough to be down there.

The screams were blood-curdling, and Kaiah looked in disgust as the three mages were running around frantically, trying desperately to put the fire out on their robes. Burnt flesh was all she could smell now, and she felt herself wanting to throw up her morning meal on top of it all. Vilkas grinned as he watched them all collapse on themselves, passing out from the pain as the fire began to cook them. After several minutes, the oil was spent and all that was left were the three charred remains of the mages that once stood there.

"That's one way to kill a person," Vilkas admitted, smirking at Kaiah who was still thoroughly disgusted with the display she just witnessed, "I'm quite impressed."

"I didn't enjoy that," Kaiah swallowed the vomit that traveled through her esophagus, "But clearly you did."

He shrugged innocently, "I'm just admiring your artwork."

"I didn't peg you for a sadist."

Vilkas scowled in response, "I feel no remorse for necromancers."

The two continued through the elaborate stone fortress, killing every single living and dead thing that walked. The chanting continued, and the white silhouette grew larger and larger with every passing minute. If they didn't stop the ritual soon, Potema would be summoned to the physical world.

Vilkas and Kaiah wandered into another large room of the fortress, which seemed to be uninhabited by the enemy. The two looked around and saw a wooden door, which appeared to be locked. Vilkas tried to pry the door open, but with all his force the damned thing didn't budge. Kaiah looked around the room silently for some kind of lever or pull chain.

"Kaiah."

The Redguard looked up at the ceiling, her brows furrowed. She could have swore she heard someone call her name. A woman?

"Kaiah."

She looked around the room trying to find Vilkas. But he was gone. Where she saw him last, he was no longer there. The door still remained locked, and the way they came in seemed to be gone as well, now only standing was a solid stone wall.

"Kaiah."

She let out a nervous chuckle, "Vilkas? Now is not the time to prove you're actually humorous!"

"Kaiah."

She looked around the room frantically, feeling like the space was getting smaller and smaller. She felt the hairs on her arms stand up, and the goosebumps spread over every inch of her body. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, looking around frantically for her companion. "Vilkas?"

"Kaiah."

The room fell silent.

Empty.

The stone walls that were once there disappeared into a dark void.

She stood alone, looking around for an answer.

A way out.

"It's me."

Kaiah froze as she heard the voice of a man whom she had nightmares of. The cunning, deceitful man whom she prayed to the Eight Divines that she would never have to see again. She felt the presence of a person behind her, so close she could feel his breath on her neck. Her blue eyes widened in petrified fear as she turned around slowly, trembling as she faced the man whom she despised most.

"K-Kematu?"

A/N: Tu'whacca - Yokudan god of souls