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POV: Briljof

"Fus."

The moment the word was out of Brealla's mouth a bluish hue of something exploded from her mouth and chewed up the ground a few paces in front of her. Everyone, including the injured, looked at her in stunned silence but the only thing I noticed was the fact that she looked utterly terrified in that moment. The next moment everyone seemed to break out of the trance that they had been in, myself included. They began mulling about tending to the injured and a few began walking up to her as she stood still. Beating them to her I grabbed her hood and threw it over her head. Being an obvious mage hood it wasn't the stealthiest but covering her face would have to do for now.

"We need to get out of here. Come on," I spoke quietly to her and steered her back in the direction of the city. She gave no resistance to me pulling her along. Giving a meaningful look at Skja who nodded, went over to Nelkrr and picked him up before following us. The soldiers who had been approaching Brealla breaking off at Irileth's barking of orders.

Now, I won't claim to be any have any sort of proficiency with dealing with prophecies or anything like that. However, whatever she just did with what's been going on throughout Tamriel, Skyrim particularly, she had to be a major figure from prophecy. The Nevarine of Morrowind, the man of the Oblivion Crisis and two more sprang to mind. She had to be someone like that. Which meant one thing right now, the Thalmor will hunt her if they find out who she is. Putting that off as long as possible was my only priority at the moment.

Carting her along with me, she got over her shock at what had happened after 100 or so paces. Her ragged breaths returning to normal as she started to settle down as best she could. From there all the way back to the Inn in Whiterun she walked with me but made sure to keep her hood up and covering her face. She knew just as well as me that the Thalmor would be hunting her soon enough. Keeping her identity hidden was priority at the moment.

The Guards at the gate didn't give us any trouble after seeing the state of our armor and clothes. Ripped, singed and with blood all over they knew where we had been and didn't get in our way. Those walking around at night were few and far between but did give us curious glances before looking away. A blessing to us in that moment.

Even the owner of the Inn gave us little to no trouble when we asked for the same room as last night. Giving it to us free of charge for the singular night. The instant we walked into the room however the entire building shook as a shout echoed across the land.

"DO-VAH-KIIN!"

Ignoring that as best as we could Brealla and I sat across from each other on the beds we had been given. The commotion below us by the others in the bar also ignored by us. In the grace of privacy Brealla's bloodshot eyes conveyed all of the fear that she must've been feeling. Unconsciously playing with lightning between her fingers as her eyes darted around to every sound that was made around us.

Something that still bother me though was the fact that a 'Dovahkiin' was a complete unknown to me. Whatever it was would have to wait for Skja or Nelkrr to explain it to us.

While we waited I stood at the door with my dagger out. Ready for anything that could come through; the door partially cracked open to give me a view of the hall. Taking occasional glances back at Brealla to see her still playing with the lightning between her fingers.

We silently waited in the room together for Skja and Nelkrr to return. I left Brealla in silence to watch the door. Contemplating my next course of action. Looking back to Brealla after thinking I heard something she was instead taking deep calming breaths. Going back to my thoughts this was only supposed to be a quick job and then me moving on. It was anything but that now and prophecy was now involved in my life. Nothing ever goes well for those involved in it.

Strangely enough, I didn't feel uncomfortable or the need to leave. If anything it felt like this was the exact place that I was supposed to be. Like the Gods were calling me and telling me that here and now was where my path would take me. That no matter what happened the Gods would put me right back here.

Silently stewing in my own thoughts we waited for over an hour in silence for Skja and/or Nelkrr to get to us. Leaving the door for a moment and walking over to Brealla as I heard her breaths beginning to shake I put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me silently and gave a silent nod of thanks before calming down, her breathing steadying out. Going back to the door after she calmed she got out her Talos talisman and started saying soft prayers to herself. It wouldn't help if she was hoping for this to be a mistake though, the gods didn't play around with prophecy. If you were chosen that was it. Your path was chosen for you and you needed to walk it. Eventually seeing Skja walk down the hall the door was pushed open for him.

"Do you know what the hells is going on?" I asked the man sharply as he entered the room. Grabbing the chair in the corner he sat silently for a moment or two before looking to Brealla and speaking.

"Brealla. You are Dovahkiin, Dagonborn."

"Skja, that means nothing to me. I don'tknow what that is," Brealla finally spoke raising her head.

"Dovahkiin. Tiber Septim, was said to be one. Born with the soul of a dragon and the only one capable of truly killing a dragon," what?

"What do you mean. Truly kill a dragon?" I asked him.

"Dragon souls do not pass on. Their souls are effectively immortal; even if they die they can eventually come back. Not if a Dragonborn kills them though. Dragonborn devours their soul. Truly killing them and you gain their power afterwards. That is how you were able to use the Thu'um; magic of the voice."

What in the everloving hells did we just stumble into. Of all places and of all times it just had to be now for this to happen. With a renewed war with the Thalmor probably less than 10 winters away, a Civil War in Skyrim, and all other shit that had to be happening behind the scenes. There's no way this was the only thing going on; with this much noise the underworld of Skyrim has to be bustling with activity. That's not to mention the Daedric Lords. All I wanted to do was explore Skyrim and have some fun doing it; that path is much more complicated now.

"Where did those voices come from?" Brealla asked Skja. Breaking me out of my thoughts.

"High Hrothgar. Home of the Greybeards. They devoutly follow the way of the voice."

"And they can teach me to use this… Thu'um?"

"Aye. They should, how though is beyond me," there was a lull in the conversation as Brealla thought it over. While she did so I asked about Nelkrr.

"Nelkrr?"

"At the Healers. His leg set properly when you healed it but the healers don't want him doing anything for the next moon. Let the leg heal properly they said," nodding at that it made sense.

Most of my injuries were ones that were able to be healed relatively easily through natural means. Never had anything that required magical healing but I had done so on myself a few times for minor injuries. Always had to be careful doing that though, it could cover an infected wound and kill you if it festers too long. Saw it happen to a Thalmor when my group was stalking them in Hammerfell. By the time they realized it was a healed over infection it was too late for him.

"Should I," Brealla looked over to me. Eyes still bloodshot and tear stains on her face as she looked at me. She looked completely vulnerable in that moment, a complete opposite of the confident mage I had seen her as. Still, her eyes looked to me with a silent question and I nodded my head to her. Her confidence seemingly beginning to come back with my nod.

"Shoudl we go to High Hrothgar?" Brealla asked Skja. Hesitation in her voice for a moment as she looked to the both of us for confirmation that we would go with her. I nodded my head to her yet Skja shook his head.

"I cannot go with you. My duty to the Stormcloaks has already been neglected far enough. What I can help you with is telling you how to get to High Hrothgar. Only way up is The Steps and you need to get to Ivarstead to do that. Have to go all the way around the mountain to do that."

"Any way to speed that up?" I asked trying to do the math in my head for how long that would take to do.

"Buy your own horses but you don't have the money for that," that reminds me of something.

"Are there any banks in Skyrim. Ones we can use for loans or anything of the like?" Loans were more or less commonplace in Hammerfell and Cyrodil. Helped that the banks had mages working with them too.

Basic system worked that you would deposit gold in the bank and they would give you a an enchanted piece of parchment. On the parchment would be how much you had in the bank and every time you bought something the store owner would mark the parchment for the sale and the money you had on the bank would decrease. Banks had the twin of said parchment and when you would make a purchase they would remove the amount of gold you purchased with and transfer it over to whoever you bought something from.

Wasn't the best system because of thieves but it was easy enough to get a new parchment. Banks were especially ruthless to those who tried to cheat them though. Had a couple of bounties that were just tracking down the ones who cheated the system. Also made it harder on thieves to steal when the banks could kill the parchment at any point if asked nicely. Plus, no physical gold to steal so the parchment was good until it wasn't. Which, of course, made the black market crazy for goods. Especially in Hammerfell.

"There's four banks in Skyrim," Skja responded to my question. "One here in Whiterun. The rest are in Solitude, Windhelm and Markarth. If you have any money outside of Skyrim they won't be able to help you though."

That last bit seemed to take the wind out of Brealla's sails as she looked hopeful at getting some of her money. I admit, it would've been nice to have a good bit of mine from Hammerfell but there wasn't much in my bank account. Most of my money got spent on my gear before coming to Skyrim. Well, my gear, brothels and alcohol. Had a fair bit left before leaving though.

"They give loans?" I asked

"To stores, companies, or soldiers. Not to adventurers, you two would be classified as adventurers," what about himself though?

"And you?" Brealla voiced my unasked question and Skja finally smiled at us.

"I have a way for you to get horses for your journey but it won't come without a price to both of you," I gestured for him to continue and he did. "A favor. To be repaid in the future."

"What type of favor," it was obvious the man was with the Stormcloaks and would more than likely as us to fight with them at some point. The only problem I had with that was he had been with us far longer than he needed to be. Nelkrr and him chose to stay with us for as long as they did. It didn't make much sense to me when we weren't paying them. Neither Skja or Nelkrr were regular soldiers.

"What type of favor it ends up being will all depend on what we need at the time. If you wish you may request for things to be off limits before I get the horses for you," it was an open hand to us showing that he was willing to compromise. Which made me even more suspicious of him; way to giving for just a regular man or soldier. Still, our own horses would be good for travelling Skyim and avoiding the Thalmor.

"Nothing involving the harming or possible harm of children. 12th winter and below," Skja nodded at my words before his eyes rested on Brealla.

"No slave trade or anything that could involve it," I didn't know there was a slave trade in Skyrim but wouldn't exactly surprise me if there was one hidden. People as a product always pay well.

"Both easy enough to work around," Skja nodded his head before thinking for a moment and then speaking again. "Go to the stables around midday tomorrow. Your horses will be ready."

Skja left without another word. Leaving Brealla and myself alone in the room. We sat in silence thinking over everything we hadd found out tonight. From Brealla being Dovahkiin to Skja being able to get us horses. How exactly was an unknown and made me uneasy. He hadn't made a move against Brealla or myself since being with us. They were probably spies of some sort. Then again, could be completely overthinking it.

"How is this going to go down Briljof?" Brealla asked me, breaking me out of my thoughts as usual.

"We won't get many breaks. Either in fighting or in life in general now; I say we take the time to rest while we can," she contemplated my words for a moment before nodding her head and lying on the bed. I snuffed the candle in the room out before getting under the covers of my bed. Before sleep could take me Brealla spoke again.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you helping me? Skja obviously wants something from me out of this so what do you want," I stewed on her words for almost a full minute before answering her.

"I was a slave for the entirety of the war with the Thalmer and fought in Hamerfell afterwards. I don't know what happened to my parents and honestly, I just wanted to explore Skyrim and relax for a bit. That option was taken from me as the Thalmor put a 4000 gold bounty on me and they're in Skyrim. Right now helping just you seems right.

The Thalmor hunted me in Hammerfell and bounty hunters did as well," I heard her breath hitch at that and knew she would have questions on her mind for a bit. I'll have to cross that bridge when she brings it up. "Honestly, when I look at you all my mind can think is that you will need help in this. Cause like it or not you have been thrust into a position of prophecy and your life will be just one fight after the next."

"And yet you are staying to help," she cut me off before I could continue.

"Yes, I am staying to help… without payment," I added at the end so she wouldn't think I had an ulterior motive. Though I couldn't see it I did hear her shuffle in bed. The darkness of the room not completely obscuring her as she looked over to me. "You are a powerful mage and a fighter but how much do you truly know about living in the wild? Hunting day to day just to have enough food and water to survive. Staying hidden when outmatched by sheer numbers alone. Investigating tracks and the area around you to know if you are the hunter or the hunted? "

"Precious little to all those… You know I'll figure this all out eventually, right?"

"Aye, I do. How much of that will be from experience and mistakes though? Plenty of my learning came from that and I'm only alive by luck and sheer force of will. Prophecy or not you may not survive. Not everyone lives to see the prophecy come about."

"You might not survive then."

"I know but I'm used to it," that seemed to end the conversation for a moment but she spoke again.

"It's not to get into my pants, is it?" I laughed at her words and she soon joined me.

"I'd be a liar if the thought hadn't crossed my mind," I was able to get out behind my laughing.

"Asshole!" then we were fully body laughing for a probably a minute before we settled down. Taking deep breaths to calm ourselves silence descended upon us as we calmed.

"Thank you Briljof."

"You're welcome Brealla," silence truly descended then and we went to sleep. My dreams were immediately invaded.

There were images of places and people that didn't make sense. People who I didn't know and monuments that meant nothing to me. Voices and languages that were completely foreign. White high elves, the snow elves I think showed up as well. Fighting, talking, dying; people of all races were a part of the slaughter of each other. It was all jumbled together with no clear message or a anything that could be prophetic in nature. Nothing about the images made sense.

Snapping my eyes open, all the only thing the images left me with was a headache. Rubbing my eyes and temples to sooth my headache only marginally helped me. The smell of food hitting my nose. Getting up and seeing that Brealla was gone I quickly made my way downstairs thinking something might've happened during the night. My rush was unneeded though as she was sitting down at the Inn's counter. Sitting down next to her and seeing the bowl of food she had a few coins later had me my own bowl.

We ate in silence emptying our bowls together before handing them to the barkeep and leaving. There was still a couple hours until midday when we would go and get the horses. Our first stop being the bank in Whiterun. They were nice enough to takie a few of the goods we had looted in exchange for opening an account. The Garnets I found getting us a decent amount at 326 gold in total. I wanted to sell the Grand Soul Gem but Brealla vetoed it saying that we could use it in the future for equipment, or on a day we truly need it.

Either way we left the bank with a decent amount of gold to our names. Not a lot but more than enough to buy decent camping supplies and a diverse set of salted meats and cheese. Decent food for the trip we would be making.

We stopped at a few more stores just getting extra sets of cheap clothes. A cheap set of leather armor as my borrowed one was next to worthless after the fight. New arrows for myself and a dagger for Brealla just in case from the same shop. We didn't get anything else but Aela saw us while we shopped. When asked about who she would recommend to get a bow from she didn't hesitate in saying Eorlund Grey-Mane. The personal forgemaster for the Companions.

My hope at getting a new bow was immediately dashed when she told me the usual price. If I was a Companion the price would be just around 1000 gold. Maybe more depending on on the exact specifications of the bow. However, anyone outside of the Companions like myself were looking at upwards of 3000 gold for a commission from the man. Doable eventually but not for the foreseeable future.

That price tag seemed reasonable the moment Aela pulled out her bow. It was a different one from the other day in the field. This one was sleek, polished and powerful with how the bow seemed to sing. It was beautiful but the thing that popped out was how it collapsed. A snap of her arm outwards and the bow followed suite becoming a true bow. Even the bow string snapped into place, it had to be enchanted.

"Easy to carry around and far less stress on the bow string since it isn't constantly strained. Enchanted string as well so it goes right where its supposed to. A bit of extra maintenance but a good trade off."

"Why weren't you using it the other day with the Giants?"

"I was just showing the new bloods how to properly hunt in the plains with Farkas in case anything happened. The Giants and Mammoth were never supposed to be there."

"And how much did your bow cost you?"

"2000 gold for me. You want something like this beauty you'll have to save up for a good while," I just sighed in disappointment. 2000 for a Companion and one that was probably high on the pecking order meant at least 4000 for me. That's enough for decent sized home if you bought it outright.

"Any shortcuts you know to get to Ivarstead?" Brealla asked cutting into our conversation. Aela pouted at her for a moment before adopting a contemplative face and nodded her head.

"Yeah I do but wh… Which one of you?" guess she knew about this as well. Probably all of Skyrim did at this point. Brealla tapped her finger against her chest. Aela nodded her head before bringing her into a quick hug before releasing her and looking at the both of us.

"Good luck. Whatever you've been chosen for, you'll need it. Go through Break Wind Cave northeast from the moment you get to the gates of Whiterun. The cave will have Red Mountain flowers and Elves Ear plants all around the entrance. Is located around the halfway point around the mountain; there will be a scouting tower not too far from the entrance as well. Go through the cave and it'll come out only a couple hundred paces from Ivarstead."

"Big enough for Horses?" I asked her.

"Aye. You'll either have Cave Trolls or Bandits inside the cave. Depends on if the Bandits cleared the Trolls out or not."

"And if we go the long way around?"

"You'll go through Marshlands and more forests. Forests are simple enough besides the Spriggans. They can be nasty if you aren't prepared. Will drain your body of all energy and life. As for the Marshlands its a good hunting ground but that goes for predators as well. Sabertooths are the nastiest but spider nests are everywhere. Use the cave. It's safer and a straight shot east to Riften from Ivarstead when you come down the mountain. Forests and small lakes and rivers in the middle."

"ThanksAela," Brealla nodded her head to the woman who returned it. "Stay safe."

"You too Brealla, you too," that was the last words she said before walking away from us.

Once she was away Brealla and I exchanged glances before making our way to the gates of Whiterun. Exiting them and going to the nearby stable a hand was there waiting for us with two horses in his hands. He handed the reigns to us without a word. As we secured our supplies to the side and mounted the horses thoughts of what this was costing us plagued me. Yet, with the threat of assassins and Thalmor if we stayed in one place too long we didn't waste time nad rode off. The sun high but barely poking out behind the clouds.

We made it only an hour into our journey before I spoke relieving the silence.

"So, you were going to teach at the College? How'd you earn that right?"

"Luck honestly. Mirabell Everdine was in Hammerfell during the war over there doind some research or something, I'm not sure," she made a flippant gesture with her hand before continuing. "Either way her people were attacked by the Thalmor and the company I was with was close enough to keep them all from being killed. She saw me during the fight and said I would make a good teacher at the college before extending the offer."

"Just like that?" she nodded her head.

"Even luckier when I didn't actually complete my training at the Academy in Cyrodil. I left to fight in the war before it could happen. Lost just as many friends who decided to be cowards and stay behind as I did with those who went with me. Only three total, including myself, of the 15 that went to fight survived to the signing of the White-Gold Concordant," she leaned over and spit as she got the name of the 'treaty' out.

"That why you went to Hammerfell then? To continue to fight?" she side eyed me as we rode.

"I could ask you the same? Why'd you go to Hammerfell?"

"I was a slave for the entirety of the fight when the Empire was actually involved. When I heard Hammerfell was still fighting it felt like a good place to go. I didn't exactly escape captivity bloodlessly and going back to Cyrodil would've been a death sentence with the Thalmor in the army."

"How'd you escape?"

"Poisoned an entire feast. Took me close to four winters to garner enough trust to do it alone and almost five winters to get all the ingredients and make myself immune enough to survive," Brealla's wide eyed look of shock confused me before she was laughing.

"That was you! Oh my! The Empire took full credit in that, and that spread like wildfire around the military. Hells, I'm pretty sure it gave us the morale to push enough to get the 'treaty'," again she spit as she uttered the word treaty but what she said did shock me. I knew that a lot of the people at the feast must've been high ups but for it to be that big of a blow to the Thalmor was shocking. Which worried the hells out of me if they ever connected me to it, my bounty would shoot up from 4,000 to at least 10,000.

"Will you fight for the Stormcloaks or Empire if they ask you for this Civil War?" I asked her. She didn't answer right away, thinking it over for a few minutes as we trotted along the road.

"If you had asked before finding out I was this… chosen one I would've said Stormcloaks without hesitation. Now though, I don't know," she shook her head at the words. Her emerald eyes looking to the sky silently asking for guidance. Blood red hair cascading down her neck as she craned her head upwards. She truly was a Nordic beauty in that moment as the sunlight seemed to guide itself towards her. It was surprising she was a devout follower of Talos instead of Dibella. The Passion Dancer would reward Brealla heavily.

"Too much going on to make that decision for yourself now with the return of the Dragons?"

"Aye… We don't know how the dragons are coming back too. If someone is bringing them back or if its just natural after a long enough slumber. There's too much we just don't know at the moment."

"Would the College have answers?"

"Possibly but Dragons havent been around for thousands of years. Who knows what the college will have on them and at this point there probably isn't any experts on dragons. Deeming them nothing more than myths and not worth the study."

"I thought you mages all loved your myths," she snorted at my words.

"Most prefer proven matters when teaching. The myths and theories are for the ones who dabble in areas that no one has before or looking to prove a matter."

"So we might be out of luck for the College?"

"Yes, and no. That doesn't mean we can't check it out after talking to the Greybeards. The college should at least have something for us. I've heard the librarian guards his books zealously."

That was the end of that conversation as we went the rest of the journey in silence. We enjoyed the scenery that the province of Whiterun provided us and it was truly beautiful. Rolling landscape with lush green plains and spattered amounts of small forests. Small bushes of the beautiful Blue Mountain Flower lining the road. It took everything in my not to let my inner alchemist out and start plucking every single bushel. That's not to say at least a dozen weren't picked earning an amused look from Brealla as she saw me gleefully picking the flowers. Blue Mountain flowers are great for health, not my fault they're also pretty. I wish it could have been enjoyed without the threat of Dragons and Thalmor hanging over our heads.

As we rode, a couple bears made their presence known by walking out in front of us on the road. Neither attempted anything and just took a look at us before walking along. Bears knew we weren't worth the effort of a fight so they left us alone. A smart decision by them.

After a couple hours of travel we saw the tower that Aela was talking about and began looking for the Red Mountain flowers and Elves Ears plants. With how distinct they were as plants it wasn't hard to find the first patch of flowers. Following them it brought us right to the entrance of the cave.

I did the same to the Red Mountain flowers and Elves Ears plants as I did to the Blue Mountain flowers from the road. Picking about a dozen each earning a shake of the head from Brealla. Something that was surprising to me in this case as Red Mountain flowers and Elves Ears plants are great for giving you energy for magic. The two main ingredients in many magika replenishing potions.

True to Aela's word, it was big enough for our horses and we went into the cave while still mounted. My bow at the ready but without a knocked arrow and Brealla withher magic ready in hand, lighting sparking over her fingertips. A ball of white light hanging over her head as well once we entered the cave. The entrance of the cave and a good ten paces in completely black of light so her magical light was all we had.

After getting past the initial entrance the cave began to brighten up but wasn't torches or lamps. It was glowing plants along the wall of the cave. Looking them over I recognized them, Glowing Mushrooms. Not a very imaginative name but it was an apt description. They were good for potions to help your health, usually used in remedies for the sick. However, they weren't my immediate concern.

That belonged to the fact that there were four trolls lying on the ground dead. They had been dead a couple days at the very least. With them were two bandit bodies and they had died only a few hours ago at the longest. The blood pooled around their bodies not fully dry yet told me that. Seeing that I knocked an arrow getting Brealla's cast a spell.

"We're alone."

"What's the range on that spell?"

"30 or so paces in every direction," nodding my head I responded.

"Cast it as often as you can please. These bandits did not die to the Trolls, either a rival bandit group or something else."

"What's your guess?" to her question I got off my horse and inspected one of the bodies. Flipping them over onto their back one of the wounds seemed regular enough. Straight shot into the body, probably a sword with the width of the wound. The second one was interesting.

It was a diagonal cut across the ribs of the bandit. Their armor taking some of the damage but not enough. However, it looked almost like something had chewed into them with how the wound was. The armor told me it wasn't that though as the armor had multiple punctures and ripped open. A serrated blade most probably but those were rare.

Although extremely deadly serrated blades were extremely hard to forge properly. Usually not last long because it was terrible for the blade itself. They were primarily used by assassins and expensive to make as well if you wanted one beyond a few short usages. Only Ebony steel was able to take the stress for long periods of time and even they didn't last long. Daedra were the only ones known to have long lasting serrated blades and that was only because of the unique magic they were in possession of.

I didn't think it was a Daedra who did this though. Daedra don't poison their victims and both wounds were poisoned. A quick look at the other body showed that they were poisoned as well. This wasn't Daedra. Other bandits wouldn't bother with a serrated blade because of their short use and high maintenance. Nothing was broken off inside the wound and it wasn't a stick with blades or teeth strung to it. Wound would've been different. Itwouldn't have cut as effectively as it had.

"You got anything?"

"I don't know what did this to them but they're using serrated blades. Not Daedra either, wounds are poisoned."

"Best if we keep moving then," I nodded at her words and got back on my horse.

The ride through the cave was surprisingly calm and quiet. The cave was surprisingly clean and livable as well. Decent vegetation in it as well. Most of the plants and mushrooms edible and those that weren't were useful in potions. I'll have to mark this place on a map for the future, could be useful as a place to lay low. That wouldn't be the case until whatever killed the bandits was found out though.

From the 20 or so bodies we came across most looked like they had been taken by surprise; all males too. Not a single female among them. Not even a prisoner which was concerning as well. From the drag marks on the ground it looks like some had been taken. Not a good thought.

That being said there was nothing that would have told who killed the bandits. There were a couple holes in the walls that looked like something had burrowed in but wasn't all that big. Maybe for a skinny Kajit or Wood Elf it would be enough but for many it wouldn't be. Regardless we kept away from the walls and made our way through the cave as quick as our horses would take us.

There were a couple spots we had to dismount and walk the horses behind us but they didn't cut into our time through the cave. All things considered we made it through the cave in good time. By the time we exited the cave the sun was still out, an hour or so from setting. As we exited the cave, the village Ivarstead was within eyesight as well.

We went straight to the Inn within the small town and paid for a night. Same room but this time there was only one bed. Both of us looked at the singular bed for a moment before Brealla tossed her pack onto it. Silently claiming the bed she gave me a smirk before getting in the bed. Shaking my head and using my pack as a pillow I slept on the ground, not the worst place to fall asleep.

Waking up the next morning we got our gear and paid the innkeeper to look after our horses. Once that was done we left the Inn and went across the bridge where a weathered looking man was talking to a young man who couldn't have been past his 18th winter. The weathered man handing a bag to the young man who walked past us to one of the houses with the bag.

We took one look at the stairs in front of us before we craned our heads and looked upwards. The top of the mountain looming above us, the howling winds of the peak visible even at this distance as snow sprayed off the mountain. Jagged peaks jutting out from the mountain all over. The top half of the mountain covered in snow. All in all, it didn't look very inviting.

"Ready for this?" I asked Brealla looking to her as she still had her head craned upwards.

"No. I don't think there's really a choice in the matter though," with that she looked forward with steely eyes and took the first step. I was right behind her.

That's it for the chapter folks. Hope you enjoyed.