Hey y'all. Sorry for not posting last weekend. Had some stuff come up and I just didn't have the time to put the chapter together. Either way hope y'all enjoy.

REVIEW! Critical or otherwise, help me get better.

POV: Briljof

"We have much to talk about," the woman said before she walked over to the closet in the corner and opening it.

There was no clothes in there so I assumed a false back and was proven right a moment later. Pushing the back in and then sliding the panel to the left it opened into a staircase. She looked back at us and gestured for us to go down. Both of us just gave her blank looks to which she nodded before going down the stairs first.

Don't know what possessed her to even ask for us to go first but there was no way that was going to happen. At least she had the presence of mind to realize that and didn't make a fuss going down first in front of us. Following her down with my knife still out and ready with Brealla behind me I might've fallen in love at the sight.

Weapons of all kinds lined the wall from Glass Greatswords to Ebony knives. A Dwarven bow as well on the far wall as well with what must've been at least 50 dwarven arrows with it. Dwarven bows were rare because no one knew how to forge them anymore. Known for their incredible ability to last ages in terrible conditions and even their bowstrings lasted forever. As well as their insane accuracy. The only downside being that they were slightly heavier than most bows. Other than that they were everything you could ask for out of a bow.

Adding to those weapons though almost all of them were inscribed with runes. I could see the runes on the weapons but none had more than the dwarven bow. The whole thing was practically carved with runes from top to bottom. I couldn't tell what all the runes meant, that's how old they were. Which made me even more interested in the bow. Took every bit of my will power not to just walk over and grab the bow.

Beyond the weapons though there were ingrediants all over the room. Nothing that could be used for anything magical in nature but all were good for either healing, stamina or most prevelant poisons. She even had Deathbell hanging up and drying for poisons. Along with a full alchemy set right next to the Deathbell. A chest on the left that got a lot of use judging by the lock on it as well. This place was a gold mine and I wanted to play with everything inside.

"Good to see that someone appreciates everything here. Been a long time," the woman stated getting my attention. Snapping my eyes to her she was standing on the opposite side of the table from Brealla and I; a small bottle of something next to her. A map of skyrim with red circles all over, around 40 in total from a quick peak. However, 10 of them had an X through them.

"It's an… impressive collection," I answered and she nodded her head with a smile on her face.

"When you've been around for as long as I have you get to collecting," she answered and the allusion to her age was easy to see. She was close to her 50th winter if not older but in excellent shape. Which got me thinking on what she could be; spy or assassin. Probably spy, assassins wouldn't collect stuff like the weapons here. They aren't trophies after a kill, everything she had in here was a tool.

"And what would allow you to do all this collecting?" she never got to answer because Brealla answered for her.

"She's a Blade, former one that is," guess I was right as a Spy. Blades were the spymasters for the Empire before the War. The Thalmor hunted them down ruthlessly and had an open bounty on any surviving blades, 1000 gold dead with proof of being a blade and 2000 alive with proof.

"How would you know that Dragonborn?" she wasn't hostile in her question. Merely curious.

"I recognize the blade," she pointed to an ebony short sword right behind the woman. One that just happened to the closest to the woman. "Only Blades were given that weapon and that bottle is a cure for the poison she put in you," that got my immediate attention as the woman raised her hand, the one that she had clawed my neck with.

"You met one of us during the war then I assume?" Brealla nodded to the question.

"She was a good woman. Taught me a bit on how to detect poisons within my food but wasn't around long enough to teach me anything more," the woman nodded her head before sliding the bottle over to me. I grabbed it and sniffed it seeing if I could recognize any of the agents. Carian leafs, anti-paralitic.

"I'm surprised you didn't succumb right away but here you are Pinky," that fucking name, I ever find who made that name they will die a slow death. "Though when one realizes you were the one that wiped out half of Thalmor high command it isn't that surprising."

I just narrowed my eyes at her from her words. There was no way she knew that was me for sure unless she had been there. That or she was trying to trick me into answering her which would give her the answer. Me being Pinky wasn't that hard to figure out but that was something she shouldn't know for sure. My silence to her question seemed to please her.

"What do you want with me," Brealla growled out and the woman's eyes switched back from me to her. The sharpness of Brealla's growl conveying something that I couldn't recognize.

"My name is Delphine, Dragonborn. I am indeed one of the last surviving Blades and I aim to help you."

"Why?"

"The Blades original purpose, when we were first brought about millennia ago, was to help the Dragonborn fight against the Dragons. These," she gestured to the red markings on the map. "are all Dragon Burial spots. The ones with an 'X' through them are ones that were empty when I got there."

"Empty?" Brealla and I echoed together.

"The dragon is gone. Resurrected by the black one. From my failure to get there in time though I've found a pattern," she pointed to a spot on the map near Windhelm. "This is the one that will be next. We have roughly a day and a half to get there but if we get there in time we'll get more information on what exactly is going on."

I didn't trust her but so far she's been relatively up front with the two of us. There were a lot easier ways to try and trick us into something and only someone with in depth knowledge of the Greybeards would know we had needed to go to Ustengrav for the horn. So she was either a traitor of the highest order to the Empire or she was an ally. At this point we didn't have any other options other than to believe her; she was giving us actionable intel. We needed to take it and after exchanging a glance with Brealla she seemed to agree.

"What are we hoping to gain information wise once there?" I asked.

"Honestly, anything. The only thing I have is where the burial sites are and it's only a matter of time until that's worthless as well."

"You said black dragon right?" Brealla asked getting a nod from Delphine. "Bigger than a house, wavy horns, red eyes."

"You know it?"

"We were at Helgan when it first showed up. Razed the whole town to the ground."

"And the Dragons started coming back after," Delphine adopted a contemplative look before looking over to the chest but shook her head.

"Something to look into later but no time right now. I'm going to Kynesgrove. It's the town right next to the burial site. You two coming? We get there quick enough we should be able to ambush the Dragon after it gets resurrected," Brealla and I exchanged a quick glance and we were instantly in agreement.

"We'll go. We have a third member though, I trust that won't be a problem," Brealla answered Delphine.

"None at all. I'll meet you three there tomorrow."

"Not gonna ride with us?" Brealla asked her. I knew why she wasn't and Delphine answered accordingly.

"The Thalmor know my face and at this point they might know yours. The less we're seen together the better. I'll send messages through a courier I know if we ever need to meet or if I have information for you."

"How will we know they're the right courier?" I asked.

"Pass phrase will change every time and be put at the bottom of each message. First one will be Flash. They ever say 'Storm' they've been compromised and you are about to be attacked," both Brealla and I nodded our heads at the information. All things considered her system was decent. Not the best but with what she has available it's solid.

"See you at Kynesgrove then," Brealla cut the conversation and walked back up the stairs. I followed her after a few moments of eyeing the Dwarven bow. If Delphine turned out to be a traitor or someone not worth dealing with then that bow would be mine.

Following Brealla out of the room we shut the door to said room behind us, leaving the hidden one open for Delphine to deal with. Going into the tavern at large we made our way over to Serana and had some of the food and drink she had ordered. More than enough for just herself so she probably got the extra food for us.

The cheese and mead was sweet and extremely tasty. Better than I expected them to be. The meat was seasoned perfectly with just a hint of spice to it. Focusing on the food gave me a distraction from what had just happened in the hidden room. The whole experience was at the forefront of my mind but not thinking about it let me my mind relax instead of hyperfocusing on it.

While I enjoyed my food Brealla talked to Serana and informed her of everything that we had just found out. Plus the fact that as soon as we were done eating we would be leaving again. Heading straight for Kynesgrove by Windhelm. Taking the map from me and pointing it out on said map to Serana. While they talked I looked around the room eyeing up everyone in the Inn. No elves and no shifty looking people, mostly people that were from in town or travelers.

Once Brealla was done explaining all of that to Serana she too began to eat with me. Not long after we finished up our meals and left the Inn. Grabbing the horses that were tied up and got on our way. It was a little past the highest point in the day when we left. Serana riding with me again as she proceeded to softly humm as we rode. Brealla didn't seem exactly happy with that as she probably wanted me to ride with her. We had been riding for roughly an hour when I asked her about the humming.

"Is that a song?" I asked her as we rode. We weren't taking it slow like we had the trip here but weren't pushing the horses too hard. A good pace that would see us get to Kynesgrove sometime around sunset tomorrow if we didn't run into anyone.

"One my mom used to sing to me when I was younger. Want me to sing it?" I nodded after a second of thought.

She opened her mouth and then began to sing. Being completely honest I didn't understand a single word of it. The lyrics were in a completely different language and didn't sound like anything I had heard of before. Not even a dialect that could be taken to any of the known languages of today. The lyrics being from a dead language was my best guess but could still hear the meaning in the tone.

They were somber almost like for something lost, a lover or otherwise. Not exactly like that though and seemed to have more in common with a lullaby. A somber lullaby if one could be that instead of slow meant to put one to sleep. I don't know exactly how to explain it but I could feel the feeling of loss within the lyrics while also being relaxing. The song was completely unique in that way. I had never heard anything like it.

Brealla seemed to have the same reaction as me once she heard Serana start singing. Her shoulders less rigid and relaxed and from the few times I was able to see her face it was somber as well. Serana's ability to sing being a welcome surprise as she was able to convey the song in a way for us to enjoy. I wondered if we could find her more songs to sing in the future or if she knew any more. Her singing would help pass the time and to relax us. Plus, if she was this good she could sing at some taverns and Inn's for a night allowing us to sleep there without paying.

Regardless, having her sing to us made the trip almost blur with the speed it seemed to take. Time was always a funny thing when you were doing things or listening to music. Just seemed to mess with my sense of time no matter how well intuned you were with time. Before we realized it we were around High Hrothgar and the sun was barely peaking out out over the mountains in front of us.

We were close to the mountain path we had taken to get here but beyond that we didn't know exactly where we were. Not wanting to push to an Inn that might not be there we pulled off the road and found a small spot a couple hundred feet into the woods. Brealla and Serana setting up the camp itself why I set small traps around us.

There wasn't enough time or light to make legitimate traps that could kill but enough time to give us early warnings. Easily breakable sticks around the perimeter along with a few pieces of gold hanging onto branches that would jingle when moved or touched. I couldn't do much more than that as I didn't have the equipment to do more but they should be enough for us.

After finishing that and going back to the camp Brealla and Serana had set everything up. That mainly being three small roofs with wood put at an angle against trees. A quick and easy way to make a tent. They also had a small fire going and were cooking some of the meat we had over the fire. Offering me some the moment I came back.

We sat and ate quietly for maybe half an hour before Serana and Brealla went to bed. I decided to take first watch and nothing happened over the next few hours. Serana being the one to relieve me from my watch and sleep greeted me the moment I laid on the ground.

The moment I went to sleep though my jolted back awake. The sound of a pained scream coming a couple dozen feet from me. Shooting up with my ax and knife in hand I ran to where the scream had come from. The black of the night almost having me run into a tree on my way with how dark it was. Moonless night I found as the moon was blocked by clouds.

Getting to where the scream had come from Brealla met me there with a Mage light already cast. Giving us some much-needed light as we arrived. Serana was 'feeding' on someone who was dead. Their neck ripped open from claws, probably belonging to Serana, as she had her teeth on the side of their neck. I couldn't tell what species they were or if they were a man or woman but those details weren't needed. Whoever they were they were from the Dark Brotherhood. Their armor being an obvious tell.

Stepping forward and tapping Serana's leg with my foot she immediately detached her mouth from the body and stared at me. Her burning red eyes shining in the night as she zeroed in on me before the cut out after a moment. The mage light showing her pale blood-stained face before she adopted a sheepish look.

"If you wouldn't mind, could I finish up here?" she asked and I took the time to look at the now unobscured face of the assassin. An Argonian and she had never had them before as they had just been discovered when she was intombed. With that in mind I gave her a nod and she went right back to feeding.

The sounds of her feeding were muted but still audible. Not the most unsettling thing I've heard but it was definitely up there as she literally sucked the Argonian dry. When she was finished she backed away giving me a nod of thanks for letting her finish. Running her fingers over her face to grab the blood that had missed her mouth. As she backed away I went up to the body and started searching them. Didn't take long to find a note for who to kill.

Pinky is travelling with a red headed mage and was last seen near Ivarstead. Sithis wishes for his head only. Payment of 5000 gold upon completion. ~A

"Bad luck for them or were they after us?" Brealla asked and I handed her the note in response. Serana looking over her shoulder at the note, her face now clean of blood.

"Pinky? Seriously, that's a terrible name," Serana stated and I could only sigh; she wasn't wrong. Hearing my sigh though Serana's eyes shot to me and widened. "That sucks," I waved her off.

"The note just mentions me as a red headed mage and doesn't mention Serana at all. It's obviously outdated so that doesn't exactly narrow down who could've made the payment for the job," Brealla stated as she looked up from the note to me.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was an open contract. They did not like me taking some of their kills in Hammerfell and the Thalmor have a 5000 gold bounty on me. With Elenwen probably surviving Helgan too they finally have a face to put to me."

"Any way we can get them to back off?" Serana asked. I shrugged at the question.

"Probably just keep killing them until they realize they don't have a shot at killing me. They'll still have the contract open but won't actively hunt us which was what this one was doing," I gestured towards the body of the Argonian.

Silence followed my words and I went back to looting the body. They only had a couple pieces of cold on them and their dagger was a simple steel one so not worth much. There was a bottle of decent poison on them though that I decided to keep. After finishing looting the body I left it there and walked back to the camp with Brealla and Serana following.

"How long into your shift is done Serana?" I asked her as Brealla cast another mage light, her first one being close to dying.

"I was going to wake up Brealla within the next few minutes and then we had the visitor," I nodded my head.

"You two want to get going then?"

"Might as well," Brealla answered with Serana nodding along.

"Alright, let's pack up."

At my words we broke down our camp quickly making sure we had everything before we jumped on our horses. Serana no longer having to hide herself before getting on them. The horses still didn't like her but they let her ride without complaint. As we rode we went the same pacec we had been going to Riverwood. The moonless night forcing us to have a slower pace so we didn't get lost. Following the road almost completely negated the ability to get lost but we had such an early start we lost no time taking it slower. Serana helping along the way with with her ability to see in the dark.

We pushed through the rest of the day not stopping as we made our way to Kynesgrove. Following the road signs when there were forks in the road on which way to go along with checking the map when there were no road signs. Things were quiet on the ride besides Serana humming along as usual. She didn't sing this time around but that was fine with me, she gave us a show yesterday.

As we rode and the sun came up we pushed the pace a little on our horses. Matching the one from yesterday as we left Riverwood. Not too hard on the horses but fast enough that with the early start we got to Kynesgrove just a bit past high noon. Not around sunset like we would've if we hadn't left early.

We went straight to the Inn and put our horses up on the holder outside the building. Entering both Brealla and Serana got plenty of stares from everyone in the tavern. Which wasn't surprising after a single look around. Almost the entirety of the crowded Inn were males of different species' and looked like they were all miners. Rugged jobs created rugged people but they were to be respected. A lot of what I did couldn't be done without them getting the materials for my weapons.

While Serana and Brealla grabbed a table in the corner of the Inn I went up to the counter and ordered some food for us. Giving the blonde woman at the counter my best smile and flirted with her a little. She had glowing lilac eyes, a pretty face and unblemished skin not being much older than me if she was at all. Having the 'rogueish' look as some of the Hammerfell brothel workers said had its advantages. The woman smiling and blushing at my words resulting in a discount for the food and drink for the three of us. Only a two-gold discount but every piece counted.

Leaving the counter after the promise of food and drink I sat with Brealla and Serana. Almost every man in the Inn giving me jealous looks at sitting with two beauties. I didn't react to them and simply smiled as the two woman looked at me. Actually looking at them then Brealla's eyes were narrowed accusingly at me, her mouth pursed and face tight. Serana just looked amused.

"Food should be out soon," I got nods from both. "Actually, Serana do you even need to eat regular food?" I was honestly curious and seemed that Brealla was as well. The noise around us from the other patrons letting us talk in relative privacy. Though I did lower my voice as an added precaution.

"Technically no. I don't need it to survive like you two do. Still, I can taste the food and enjoy it just as much as you along with getting full. Just don't need it for survival."

"That is something I was curious about. Almost nothing is known about Daughters of Cold Harbor and you survived for thousands of years in tomb with nothing. Any other Vampire would've gone insane or feral but you didn't. Side effect of Cold Harbor?" Brealla asked looking at Serana. The mention of Cold Harbor seemed to completely ruin Serana's mood for a moment before she brightened up. Pushing down the thoughts that obviously came back to her.

"I would assume so. My specific kind is always long lasting and more powerful than regular vampires," talking about this seemed to sour Serana's mood so I decided to change subjects.

"Brealla. You said Alteration Masters are super rare but Arch Mages are masters of all but still focus on different types of magic even when Alteration Magic is the strongest. Why is that."

"That's because they aren't true masters. To get 'Master' status for Alteration isn't all that hard because being an Alteration Master is so rare. You just have to show that you can cast the Transmute spell to get 'Master' status. True masters like Aren, Tolfdir and Elenwen are almost as rare as Arch Mages."

"Can you perform the spell?" I asked her and she nodded her head. She took out her necklace changing the wooden figure to silver before changing it back.

"It's not that hard once you get the hang of it but to understand it is a whole other thing. Took me three years at the academy to even partially change anything. Didn't actually accomplish it fully until I was in Hammerfell. Changed the robes of a Justicar into steel so they would drown in the river they were swimming in."

"How rare is it to even accomplish that?" I asked.

"Less than 20 in the entirety of Tamriel. Only reason I know that is because Mirabelle was there when I accomplished the task and she told," her statement brought out just how powerful Brealla was at such a young age. Twenty-four winters was young for a mage and as the Dragonborn she was only going to get stronger. She could become an Arch-mage before she sees her 30th winter if the dragons stick around. War forces people to be strong.

"Can you cast any Master level spells?" Serana asked her after getting over the shock about the Brealla's ability with Alteration and the rarity behind it. As Brealla opened her mouth the barmaid came over with our food placing it on the table. Giving me a smile as she did so before letting out a yelp and jumped as if she had been shocked. I shrugged it off assuming one of the miners behind pinched her. Though Serana had moved from resting her head in her palm to covering her mouth with it as well, her eyes on Brealla.

"Destruction ones but that's only if I have a lot of time. They always take too long to cast to be viable in actual combat for me. I'd rather just supercharge a regular lightning bolt. It's why that Expert level one almost knocked me out when I improperly cast it. If you rush the casting the side effects always hit hard," she looked at me as she talked about the improperly cast Expert spell she cast right before we found Serana.

"How long would you need to cast the shortest one?" I asked her. If Serana and I could buy her that time in fight where we needed that power we needed to know how long her casting would take.

"Around a minute," way too long to be viable in combat unless conditions heavily favor us to use it. Using her spell as an opening attack would work best. "And starting a fight with it isn't as viable as you might think Briljof. Charging any Master level spell would get the attention of even a Novice mage."

"Well, you'll just need to get stronger then," Brealla nodded at my cold words as she knew and even agreed with them. "What can you say about the Dragon souls. I know you've said they feel like they energize you; could they be giving you more power for magic?"

"They have been," Brealla answered, nodding her head. "I haven't been able to properly test the difference but I can feel the increase in power from my spells."

"We'll need to make time then. You've only got two souls though, maybe after a few more we can truly see a difference," she nodded at my words and went to open her mouth but the Inn door opened again. Delphine strolled in with her hood up but from our lower angel I was able to see her face. She spotted us immediately but instead of walking over made a couple signs with her hands before walking to the counter. I knew the signals; she was asking us to meet her outside in an hour.

I told my companions what Delphine had said with her hands and they nodded in acceptance. We spent the next hour relaxing and finishing our food. Getting our mind ready for the fight that we were no doubt about to get into. If Delphine suspected that the next resurrection would happen here then a fight was going to happen. This time without a squad of Whiterun guards, their commander, and Nelkrr and Skja to fight the dragon with us. Instead just being me, Brealla, Serana and Delphine. At least we had better gear than last time.

When the hour ended I shared a look with the two before leaving the table and the Inn. We waited outside for only a few short minutes before Delphine walked out and went up the hill to the right. We followed her and saw her go into the woods and sink into the shadows. Looking back at Brealla and Serana only Serana seemed to see where Delphine went. The setting sun making visibility hard. Giving Serana a couple small signals she nodded before going into the woods with Brealla following her.

Instead of following them I saw the mound where Delphine was looking and found my cover in a couple bushes on the other side of the road from them. Forcing me to lie on my stomach but I was closer than they were and had a boulder only a pace from me in case I needed cover quick.

The sun was done for barely a few minutes when the heavy beating of wings announced a Dragon's presence. Twisting my body minutely I was able to look upwards to the sky a bit easier. My breath catching in my throat as the black dragon from Helgan flew in and hovered over the mound in front of me. Their burning red eyes glowing like the sun as it hovered, giving its face a red hue that highlighted the teeth from their partially opened mouth.

The black dragon hovered there above the mound for a few moments before speaking. The same guttural and deep language Brealla had spoken with the Greybeards. I could feel the vibrations from the sound in my chest and the bush covering me. The meaning of the words lost on me as he spoke until seemingly finished. A blast of white going straight from their mouth to the mound on the ground.

The moment the blast of white hit the mound the ground around me and the mound began shaking violently like a small earthquake. Then the mound broke open and a dragon's bony head poked out before the rest of their body crawled out of the mound. Like a fawn being born from a doe if the doe was lying on the ground, best description that I could make.

Finishing clawing their way out of the mound the bone dragon rematerialized their body. The same essence that had flowed into Brealla twice now covering their body before they were once again flesh and blood. With the whole process being as grotesque as it was fascinating. When the process finished the newly fleshed out dragon looked up at the black one and began speaking. Conversing in their guttural language for a few seconds before the new one's eyes shot to mine.

Staring into their eyes was a whole new experience. I could feel their age, their experience, drive, emotions, and goals. All of which could be summed up in one word: domination. Breaking out of the trance I was in and diving behind the rock beside me the act was just in time. Fire erupted from the dragon's mouth hitting where I had been moments ago before splashing against the rock. I could feel the heat of the flames from the other side of the rock.

"Fus Ro!"

I heard Brealla shout and the impact of the shout slam against the dragon as it roared out. Their head shooting towards Brealla was as she followed her shout up with a lightning bolt slamming against the dragon's face as I peeked around the corner. Not to be outdone by her I unslung my bow, knocked an arrow and fired. The arrow slamming home into the snout of the dragon making them roar in pain from the sensitive hit.

As the dragon roared another arrow slammed into the roof of their mouth but the shot wasn't mine, Delphine. Which seemed to get their attention as they focused back in the girls direction. Taking the distraction for what it was I slung my bow over my shoulder, unsheathed my dagger and ax and charged. Staying as silent as possible upon the charge dragon never saw me before my ax was buried right into the joint of their wing.

I didn't get to celebrate or even feel satisfaction at taking away the dragon's ability to fly before their neck and head whipped around and slammed into me. Sent me end over end for a good few paces until the world stopped spinning. The dragon staring at me with it's back turned rearing their head back for another shout. Before a lightning bolt came down from the sky and slammed into the dragons head.

Thanking Brealla silently as the dragon roared in pain once again I picked myself up and ran off into the woods. Nestling behind a tree I sheathed my dagger before unslinging my bow again. Holding three elven arrows in my bow hand while another was knocked peaked back out firing all four arrows in quick succession. All four finding their mark in the dragons neck where an artery should be. From the spurting of blood that shot out of their neck from two of the arrows two found their mark while the other two didn't. Still, that was enough to distract the dragon.

A massive boulder of ice twice the size of the one that had protected me at the beginning of the fight slammed into the dragons side. The force of the impact making the dragon fall onto their side as five ghostly warriors summoned out of nowhere charged the downed and flailing dragon. Not complaining a the reinforcements I grabbed another four arrows and repeated the earlier process. However, from how the dragon fell there was no real vital areas for me to shoot at from my angle. Making the best of the opening though I fired all four shots at the dragon's spine.

With the little extra time I had from the dragon being on the ground I took a little extra with each shot. Shooting to where I hoped their natural defenses was the weakest. All four shots slamming home into a grouping the size of my fist near where the dragons tail began. The final shot slamming home just in time as the dragon began pushing itself up only to fall back down. Their legs absolutely useless.

With one wing having an ax lodged in the joint making it useless and paralyzed from the tail and legs down he dragon was helpless. Didn't matter who or what you were. Dragon, human, bear, giant, or anything else if you took away their mobility, they were dead. Plain and simple and the dragon was now grounded with only one working wing. There was only so much they could do.

Brealla and Serana slamming home spells onto the dragon with fervor. Summoned spirits and Antronochs attacking with wild abandon on the downed creature. While Delphine and I pelted the dragon all over with arrows.

The dragon couldn't do much other than fire shots to protect itself. Which were almost always tanked by the summoned creatures. The fight not lasting much longer after that before the dragon let out one last fire breath. A weak one tanked by an Ice Antronoch before the dragon fell over dead.

Not one to take any chances I found the eyes of Serana, Delphine and Brealla on the other side of the Dragon and signaled for them to hit the dragon one last time. Brealla and Serana firing their spells and Delphine and I firing our bows one last time. The dragon making no movement at all after our attacks landed. Releasing a sigh the lightshow began again and before long the dragon was once again just bones.

"That is interesting to watch," was all Delphine said as the lightshow ended and all the antronochs and summoned spirits dissipated.

"Always makes me feel energized," Brealla answered as her entire body shivered. A wide and almost feral grin appearing on her face. The shining moon giving her the look of a cat that just caught a meal.

"You know where the next one will be?" I asked Delphine as I walked over to her. She shook her head though.

"No. That black dragon is intelligent. No way they keep up the same pattern but I'll have feelers out there to see if they start making a new pattern."

"So what you're saying is that until you can find a new pattern we're just hoping we stumble upon something like this again?" I couldn't hide the anger and annoyance in my voice. From the look of Delphine she felt the exact same way. Even if we couldn't be there at those mounds just letting Jarls or towns in the area know could save possibly hundreds if not thousands of lives in the long run.

"I was hoping the black one was acting more on instinct to revive the other dragons but not after this. The other one was almost praising the black one with how it acted. This is not some dumb beast driven by instinct to revive the dragons. This is a plan and will change its plan accordingly," I hadn't noticed that the resurrected one acted like Delphine said but I couldn't find anything to doubt her words.

"He called the black one Lord Alduin," Brealla spoke up as she joined us. Delphine adopted a contemplative look at Brealla's words however. Seeing Brealla though she looked antsy and almost hungry. Her eyes looking almost anywhere but at me and the few short moments they did she would look away. Looking down at myself all my armor was there and I was fine so I shrugged it off as her being skittish after a fight and expecting more. Happened to me sometimes.

The villagers who had obviously heard and seen the dragons from before slowly making their way up the path to us, the first one peaking out at that point. A few of them started shouting in triumph and happiness at seeing the body of the dead dragon. Quickly coming over to congratulate us.

"I'll need to research that. I've never heard the name 'Alduin' but if he's some type of leader of the Dragons I might be able to find something on them. My courier will find you when I find something, for now enjoy your fame," she shot a cheeky grin to both Brealla and I before throwing her hood up and walking off into the forest. Just before all the villagers started swarming us with thanks and congratulations.

From there we were pulled back to the Inn where we danced and drank the night away. A bard singing our praises and about the Dragonborn; the savior of the Nords and realm. Eventually the merriment ended and found ourselves going to sleep far past when the moon was at its highest.

Though Serana and Brealla found themselves in a room separate from mine as they decided not to share a bed. I didn't blame them but I was not sleeping on the floor again this time. So as I found myself in a room and began undressing for the night my door opened. I spun around with my dagger in hand, even decently drunk I could kill most men. Though who greeted me was the same barmaid who I had flirted with. A smile on her face as she closed the door behind her looked at me and promptly dropped her dress to the floor, she had nothing else on.

I sheathed my dagger and gave her a smile as she walked over and helped me out of my armor. Getting on her knees in front of me the moment I was out of my armor.

"A just reward for a hero," she almost whispered as she looked up at me with her lilac eyes. I agreed with her.

Have a blessed day.