"I observed them enter the fort and not knowing what else to do I simply waited. I cannot tell for certain how long I waited, more than one hour, but less than three, until they emerged again. They had fashioned a sort of litter out of whatever was at hand, and the twins were using it to carry Skjor's body."
Manis stopped for a moment to fill his mouth again with summer sausage before washing it down again with wine. It was a rare sight to see the large Breton drink anything that he had not brewed himself.
"The four of them had a short conversation after which they stood around the body of their fallen brother as Aela spoke. I could not hear what was said from my vantage point, but from their demeanor I am certain it was some form of prayer, or a final farewell for the soul of the man on the litter. Afterwards, she and one of the twins began their slow journey back to Whiterun, dragging the litter behind them. The other two turned directly west. I thought it best to follow the pair and the litter rather than strike out cross country after the other two."
Manis' return to the Silver Hand village had been delayed by the slow progress returning Skjor's remains to Jorrvaskr, and the time he had spent in the city collecting information as the report of the Companion's death began to circulate.
"There was anger and grief in equal proportions, but in those quarters where the Companions were considered little more than ruffians there was some measure of relief, or satisfaction," he continued eventually, "those citizens that still held the Companions in high esteem attended Sjkor's funeral when it took place at the Skyforge, Companions and citizens mingling together afterwards to speak quietly. But not Aela. She departed immediately afterwards, and she left the city soon after that, retracing her route to the fort where Skjor fell. I followed as best I could, but when it became clear to me where she intended to travel I thought it best to return and report what I had learned."
It had taken him a short time to learn the name of the woman who escorted the litter out of the old fort, and of the name of the man upon that litter, as well as which of the twins had escorted both back to the city where Manis was to learn those names. It took him almost no time at all upon returning to the village that was his home to learn that the news he carried, or the bulk of it at least, was days old, and that the other two Companions had preceded him.
But his return was still quite welcome. Vala had barely finished her bath when she was informed of his return and had delayed just long enough to dry herself and don the minimum of clothing required for decorum's sake before reuniting with her old traveling companion. She had not left his side since then, but sat quietly as he ate, and drank, and told his tale to Soran and Hellina; after which it was their turn to tell him what had transpired in his absence, and what actions were likely to follow once Aela had discovered the location of Krev and the men responsible for Skjor's death.
"She is not called The Huntress for nothing," Manis said afterwards, "Saadia says she is the finest tracker in Tamriel. She will find them, and I do not believe that there will be anything left for you or Thane Aric to do afterwards."
"Saadia is the barmaid at The Bannered Mare," Vala explained to the two confused faces, her own face breaking into a small grin, "she and Manis are very close."
"If there is any information of any value in the city, Saadia will acquire it almost immediately," Manis explained, "there is more to her than meets the eye."
Especially when she is lying naked next to you, Vala thought to herself, as her mind acted on its own and began to wander the familiar fantasy of her and Farkas similarly positioned.
"Aric and Farkas are now even as we speak attempting to intercept her before she takes such action," Hellina said, "lest she suffer the same fate as her fallen friend."
"We informed them how many men Krev is likely to have at his disposal," Soran said, "and if she was able to cool her anger and consider the situation rationally she would realize that the prey she was hunting had just killed one of the strongest Companions, and that a solitary frontal assault was not a wise course of action."
"I confess that I am of two minds on whether that would be a good thing or not," Manis said as he poured more wine into his cup. As he drank his eyes traveled to the woman with whom he had traveled for some time, with whom he had had a similar conversation, "The Inner Circle has lost one of its strongest members. Would not Skyrim be safer if it lost its next strongest?"
"She is the only remaining member that has not expressed some sort of interest in being rid of the curse of Terrfyg," Soran said, "if she were to fall, and the others were able to succeed in finding a cure, the curse would be eradicated. But it would not sit well with me, and the remaining Companions would never forget that it was members of the Hand that robbed them of their most senior members. If Skjor had been in beast form when he was killed, if Alea were also, I would feel differently; but while they walk upon the earth as men, and do not threaten us, I will not threaten them."
"It is not just that you will not threaten them," Vala said, "you seek to protect her to a degree also. You warned Aric of the size of Krev's force."
"It seemed to me in that moment that I was honor bound to do so," Soran answered. He was silent for a moment as he considered how best to translate the thoughts in his head into words.
"We live as a community of men and women, not just the Hand, but everyone who draws breath, and that community is defined by how we treat one another. I do not only speak of our obligations under common law, though those are important, and to some degree form the basis of all civilization. I speak of those laws that we write for ourselves, in our hearts and in our minds; those are the laws that guide our daily actions, that define how we treat the men, women, and children we meet that are complete strangers to us, to whom we might at first glance think we owe nothing. There are vast regions of Skyrim, of Tamriel, where the only law that is present is that which we carry with us, in the privacy of our own hearts. This can be seen clearly in its two extremes. Thane Aric's reputation is well known. We have seen it demonstrated first hand. Krev's reputation is also well known, and that also we have seen demonstrated first hand. Compare Aric's conduct in Dustman's Cairn with Krev's conduct in the fort in Eastmarch. I need not go into detail. In conduct, and as men, they could not be more different. Which of them, if placed in charge of the entire world, would produce a community that you would wish to live in?"
The four members of the Hand were quiet, each lost in their own thoughts as they considered Soran's words. It was Hellina who spoke first.
"You and Aric are much alike. No, do not make excuses, or deny what is obvious to anyone who has seen the two of you together; any one of us in this village, hearing what you just expressed so eloquently, would quickly replace Aric's name with your own. You know that I would follow you to the ending of the world, and beyond; not only out of love, but because you have never given me reason to doubt your honor or integrity. You would rule this world just as well as he would."
Vala and Manis did not speak, but their heads nodded in agreement.
"I know the man you describe, at least I recognize your description of him," said the man named Pactur, who appeared to be the leader of the men and women who worked Rockwallow Mine. The woman who stood nearby, whose name was Sorli, was his wife and the owner of the only permanent structure in sight. In many ways the camp reminded Urul of the Silver Hand's village in its earlier days: one solid structure amidst a host of tents.
"His name is Alan," Sorli said in a voice that Terek thought was more suited to a bard than a miner. Truth be told, he held the same opinion of her face and her figure. He was not the only member of their party who, upon meeting the couple and hearing that they were husband and wife, could not fathom what circumstances caused the beautiful dark haired beauty to marry the man who could be mistaken for a bridge troll when seen from a distance of fifty paces.
Dyus made a quick scan of the camp which was almost deserted at this time of day as the residents worked underground.
"Is he in the mine now?"
Pactur shook his head as his arm came up and he pointed a finger to the south west.
"He does not work the mine. He has a cabin not too far from us, and comes by to trade for supplies."
"What does he trade?" Urul asked.
Sorli paused to take a mental inventory before she answered.
"Furs. Meat. Sometimes he has clothing, or weapons, occasionally jewelry. But mostly furs and meat."
Lyra's eyes widened as she looked at Uthgerd, whose face did not react at all to what she heard, even though her thoughts and Lyra's traveled the same direction.
Meat. What type of meat, and where did he acquire it? From the previous owners of the clothes, weapons, and jewels?
"How far a ride is it to his cabin?" Terek asked.
Once again the bridge troll shook its head.
"I have no idea, I have never been there; none of us have. He always comes to us; we have never gone to him."
Sorli's beautiful head was nodding in agreement.
"We have only ever heard him describe his home as being to the south west, and he only ever walks here, pulling a small cart behind him. He wears a harness around his torso to pull it as if he were a cart horse."
They had departed the Stormcloak camp at first light. Their progress had been slow; all of them in agreement that another encounter with a dragon was best avoided. It went without saying that none of them wished to be surprised by a were beast either, so all eyes were fixed on anything in the nearby landscape that could hide such creatures. None of them could have predicted that their main obstacle in reaching their intended destination would be another group of Thalmor soldiers.
"What are they doing here traveling across open country?" Dyus asked, "the Thalmor take great pleasure in traveling the roads of Skyrim, usually displaying a prisoner or two, to publicly assert their dominance. I cannot recall ever meeting them anywhere else, unless they are camped at a shrine to Talos, which is generally the source of those prisoners they display."
Terek's nodding head preceded his response. "It is a fair question."
"At least these elves are not being eaten by a dragon," Urul said as the two groups approached each other.
"I do not concede that fact as being preferable," Uthgerd replied.
Urul's acquaintance with Uthgerd was not long, but it was long enough to know one particular aspect about her.
"This is not the first time you have given voice to your dislike for the Thalmor."
The tone of her voice when she replied mirrored the dislike that she held in her heart. "They strut around Skyrim as if they own it. They do what they want. They take what they want, or who they want. They disobey our laws without consequence."
Most of the Nord woman's friends would have steered clear of the topic that drew so much color to her face, but not the Orsimer warrior who took any opportunity to keep company with her.
"Then it is actually the White Gold Concordat that you dislike so vocally. That is the document that gives them the right to do as they please."
"Well, I neither signed it nor agreed to it, so it is nothing to me. If one of those people says a cross word to me, or looks at me askance, I will cut off his head."
"Why would any of them act in that manner towards you? If anyone is at risk of such an injury at their hands, it is me. They barely tolerate Nords and Imperials. They have no tolerance at all for Orc, or Khajiit, or Argonian. Dunmer and Bosmer lie someplace in between; even Altmer that do not conform to the Thalmor's cult of prejudice are persecuted."
The anger quickly fled the Nord woman's face, just as quickly replaced with laughter.
"You are the size of two of them combined at the very least. I will wager you gold that none of them says a word to you."
"Do not take that bet, Urul," Dyus said with a smile painting his own face, "you still have an outstanding debt with me. Once that is paid in full, you may wager with her as you see fit."
"If we cannot be friendly, let us all at least be civil," Terek said before he urged his horse to motion and approached the seven or eight elves who were traveling on foot until he was within speaking distance.
"Well met, soldiers of the Dominion," he said as he brought his mount to rest with a gentle tug of the reins, "What brings you to the middle of nowhere? We do not normally encounter you in the wild country."
This group was almost ten strong, and had a Justiciar, and an Elf in armor that could only belong to an officer, at the head of the column.
The robed Justiciar opened his mouth and was about to say something disagreeable when the officer raised her hand to stop him long enough for her to acquire the privilege of first response.
"We are searching for some of our men. We became separated while traveling to our destination."
Even Uthgerd's heart sank as the Elf in gilded armor was speaking.
"What was your destination, Captain?" Terek asked, guessing at the rank of the woman standing in front of his horse. The officer acknowledged Terek's courteous acknowledgment of her rank with a slight nod of her head before she replied.
"That is a secret. We are not familiar with this land, but we have maps to guide us. Another group missed an appointed meeting, possibly by misinterpreting a landmark that was prominently marked."
The Justiciar's sour expression had persisted throughout the entire conversation, and it seemed that his patience finally ran out."
"Let us be away, Captain. They know nothing, and would not help us if they did."
The captain's hand once again went up to silence the Justiciar. "Patience, Mithlas; another few minutes delay will not harm us."
"What is your name, Captain?" Terek asked.
Her eyebrows raised slightly at the question, which seemed to take her by surprise.
"I am Loralia Joral."
Terek's voice had softened before he spoke next.
"Captain Joral, I have some very upsetting news to tell you."
They continued on their way, stopping just as the sun reached its zenith and taking advantage of the shade offered by a stand of trees once they had assured themselves that nothing was laying in wait there to ambush them.
"We will be out of rations after tonight if we do not stop in a village and buy more," Urul said as they ate their midday meal.
"I would have starved to death before accepting anything from Stonehills," Dyus said, "especially if its main ingredient was meat."
"More ale would have been safe, surely," Lyra said as she drank from a slightly battered copper mug, "but Manis would have detected the foreign brew on our breath even days later, and we would not have heard the end of it."
They were all silent for a moment, the sounds of eating and drinking notwithstanding. It was Uthgerd who broke their quiet moment with a practical question.
"How long do we travel before we stop? Does it occur to anyone else that he might have been lying about the direction of his home?"
Terek nodded his head as he bit another piece of crusty bread off and washed it down with a mouthful of ale.
"It occurred to me. But one direction is as good as another right now, and we must pick one to travel along. If we have not found him by sundown we will make camp and return home tomorrow."
"As long as we avoid the dragon," Dyus said.
Lyra gazed into her mug when she spoke. "My heart ached terribly for her when you told her. I could see how the news affected her. She was stricken. I wonder if she had kin in that group, or a lover, or someone special to her?"
"That Justiciar didn't give a pair of skeever's kidneys about it as far as I could tell," Urul said, "he seemed to think it made their position easier since they didn't have to search any longer."
Terek had also been thinking of the woman who had removed her helm at the terrible news and stood dumbfounded before her face became a mask of grief. Everyone in her party of men and women had heard the news, all of them showing clearly the pain and grief of comrades lost, and the manner in which they died; everyone but the man in robes who, even though he shared a race with the others, seemed to keep himself apart from, and above, the rest.
"I would have accompanied them back to the site where their friends lay if it had not been so distant. But they will have no trouble finding it if they stay to the road."
"As long as they do not also find the dragon," Dyus said.
"How is it that they are so unfamiliar with the terrain hereabouts?" Uthgerd asked, "the Thalmor travel far and wide across Skyrim. They are familiar with every road and path. It is how they discover all the shrines to Talos."
"Her accent was strange," Terek said, "it is possible that they are only recently arrived from the Isles. If that is the case, they should have been accompanied by a Dominion Pathfinder who knew Skyrim backwards and forwards."
"It cost them dearly," Urul said, "too bad that the Justiciar was not in that party that the dragon found."
"The dragon would still be enduring an upset stomach," Uthgerd added.
"It is yet another mystery that must remain unsolved," Terek said as he wiped crumbs from his chin and stood up, "our current mystery must take precedence; and it will not be solved by sitting under a tree."