Almost all of the Dawnguard had cleared away from Castle Volkihar by the time Torina returned. The only ones that she knew well that remained were Sorine and Durak. Upon arrival she was greeted fondly by the two and a third she hadn't expected to trek out to this remote island.
Dexion Evicus the moth priest had returned to covering his eyes with a cloth tied around his eyes. He'd removed the cloth after a vast improvement in his vision back at Fort Dawnguard. Torina was dismayed to see that he had apparently reverted back to his previously damaged state just after reading the elder scroll for her, moving her journey towards the Forgotten Vale in the first place.
"Don't worry about him. I've got enough eyes for the both of us right now," Sorine told Torina. The Breton's face betrayed her worry.
"How did he get all the way out here?" Torina asked her friend.
Sorine gave her a half-smile. "He smuggled himself along on the last supply caravan. Apparently the whelps at the fort didn't notice he'd left until the caravan was halfway here."
"Stubborn one, that."
"Like someone else I know," Sorine said with a laugh. "That someone is me, by the way."
Torina lifted an eyebrow and smirked at Sorine. "I gathered as much."
The Dunmer conversed a bit more with her friends, getting treated to Sorine throwing concerned glances at her beau all the while, before heading back into the keep. Torina had almost tried to sneak around the back of the island but couldn't help but stop and check on the status of the Dawnguard. She would risk one of them noticing her going up to the balcony if it meant she could verify the hard work of the last half year was returning dividends.
Isran had left to go back to Fort Dawnguard, leaving the island in command of Sorine and Durak, who had been named equally second in command in his absence. From how the two of them told it, he'd strong-armed them into agreeing. Torina wasn't surprised. Neither was very fond of leading off the battlefield. Isran was required to report into all the major holds he could, however, and that was a task they both detested even more.
Torina knew she needed to officially advise Isran of her intentions for a leave from the Dawnguard. But, with him off who knew where, she didn't know when she would get her chance. A sense of urgency pushed her forward and waiting for him was not an option. The conversation was surprisingly much easier than she expected with Durak. It felt fitting, in a way, since he was the one to convince her to sign up in the first place. Cyclical, like the rise and fall of the sun. The much older Orsimer saw the fire burning in her with another quest and did not deny her the chance to pursue it, just like she had expected.
"Dragonborn, do not worry what Isran will think. That old Redguard knows better than to cage a dragon. Besides, he can't tell blood-kin what to do before we can." The last bit was delivered with a toothy smile and chuckle.
Torina left the camp shortly after, exchanging promises with her closest allies that should the vampire threat rise again, they could call on her for aid. They traded guarantees of their own that should she ever need them they'd answer the call as well. That was no small comfort to the Dunmer.
Trekking back up to Valerica's study took a much shorter time than Torina remembered it taking the first time. The distinct lack of set traps and living gargoyles certainly helped. The door to the study was barred when she reached it, however, and so she took a chance that she knew who was on the other side. Sharply knocking on the door, she called out Serana's name and waited for a response.
Her vampiric companion opened the door not a minute later.
"Long time no see," she said, stepping away so Torina could enter. Without hesitation she briefly embraced her, which Torina returned happily.
"Likewise," Torina said. "It's great to see you."
Valerica stood at the top of the short flight of stairs in her study, leaning forward to look down at Torina and her daughter. "Well met, Dragonborn."
"Well met, Valerica. You look radiant as always."
"Spare me the flattery," Valerica said with a smile. "I wish I could say the same for you."
Torina glanced down at her clothes, forgetting she'd donned a set of clothes from Nelacar meant to help her blend in on her journey back across the northernmost reaches of Skyrim. The last time Valerica had seen her she had been wearing an entire set of custom ebony mail, the same set she'd worn to defeat Vyrthur.
"It takes some effort to blend in," Torina explained. "While Serana went back to the Soul Cairn to advise you of Harkon's defeat I had a task of my own to complete. In all honesty, I was hoping to ask you some questions about this as well."
Valerica's interest was undoubtedly peaked. Walking towards the Dunmer, Valerica took a seat at a work table and invited her daughter and guest to do the same with a sweep of her hand. There were several small vials on the table Torina hadn't noticed when she'd walked in that were smaller versions of the blood potion Serana had carried with her across Skyrim to keep from needing to feed.
"What sort of questions do you have for me, friend?"
Mindful that it could be a touchy subject, Torina started by asking, "Your time spent in the Cairn, you were trapped in that castle for a majority of it, correct?"
Valerica tensed as she sipped some of the potion. Her voice was terse as she said, "Correct."
"Were you able to view any of the other trapped souls on the perimeter while you were there?"
"Yes, though rarely. The souls trapped there were either listless or violent, no in between. I was privy to many skirmishes and attacks of the malignant ones attacking each other or those who would not fight back. For the most part they kept away from my prison for fear of Durnehviir."
"Do you recall the race of any of those trapped?"
"Their race?" Valerica asked, visibly confused. "Not well, by the sight of them. Souls trapped are hard to discern at a distance by such miniscule features. Why?"
"I recall encountering several different races and types of souls in the Cairn," Torina said. "But I do not recall meeting many that were below the level of a black soul. I need to know if you recall seeing any Falmer among those trapped."
Valerica sat silent for several moments. She drummed her fingers slowly on the wooden tabletop and let her eyes go out of focus as she thought. "I was trapped there almost as long as my daughter was hidden in Dimhollow Crypt. I do not recall seeing a snow elf but I admit I have not encountered one even for centuries before that. Living as long as I have some memories are left to the wayside in favor of those I choose to hold onto. The Falmer were not one of them, though I could not tell you why. Only that I did not find them important enough to retain in some forgotten century."
The answer was not one that Torina was hoping for. Rather, it was a punch to the gut of her plans and called for a new approached. She'd hoped that she'd be able to, at the worst, return to the Cairn herself and search for any black soul trapped Falmer from before their souls were twisted to a lower value. Valerica's answer also send a chill up her spine. Though she had no plans to die anytime soon, this perspective of immortality gave her new respect for one of the detriments to becoming a vampire.
Explaining her plan to find the reason for the twisting of a race that used to be comprised of black souls, Torina revealed everything she'd learned so far to the expert necromancer. Valerica listened closely to every word, Serana hanging on just as closely.
"Your quest is an honorable one, Dragonborn," Valerica said near the end of Torina's explanation. "Though it seems foolish to me to shake your fist at whatever power created this change in the first place."
"I've done worse to better," Torina said.
Serana laughed loudly. "Miraak would agree! As would Azura, Alduin, Herma Mora-"
"Yes, Serana, we get the point," Torina said sourly. Her face only made Serana laugh harder.
The vampire enjoyed poking fun at Torina's embarrassment at her accomplishments. Certainly they came at the steep price of angering powerful daedra, but those actions also afforded her the freedom and power she had now.
She just hoped to do a bit of good with it.
Huge thank yous to those who keep steadily reviewing this. Reviews make the process more enjoyable by far, to get feedback on the choices I'm making. I hoped to make it clear in this one that many of the bigger quests in the game have already been completed by Torina, and now both DLCs, too. Let me know in the comments what you think!