"Two Companions are approaching," Anja said in such a manner that Soran and Hellina were convinced that she had run full tilt to deliver her message, "they do not look at all friendly."
"Gods blood," Soran said as he began to don his armor. Hellina assisted him with those straps that he could not reach easily, only to be assisted in kind a moment later as her own armor settled upon her shoulders. They left their helms where they lay as they departed their room, keeping their sheathed weapons in hand as they moved as quickly as possible without endangering the furniture.
Anja had waited for both of her leaders, and so it was that the three of them stepped into the sunlight and warmth of a morning that would otherwise have been quite pleasant.
News of their visitors had spread quickly, and the lane along which Aric and Farkas rode was now lined with men and women, all armed and armored just as their Harbinger and Commander were. The two men who sat easily in their saddles as their horses walked calmly, their backs turned towards the rising sun, were unfamiliar to most of those men and women who observed their deliberate progress towards the man and the woman who now stood on the verge between their front porch and the roadway; most, but not all. Aric gave Vala a friendly nod as their eyes met, but there was no warmth in his eyes or upon his face as he did so. Farkas required a moment more to recognize the woman with whom he had shared too brief a romantic interlude, a realization that wiped the stone visage from his face. Their eyes remained locked for approximately ten seconds, and it was obvious to everyone who it was that he continued to look at until he was forced to either look away or turn around in his saddle.
If it had been simply a matter of numbers then the Silver Hand had nothing to fear, a fact that was clearly displayed on the faces of those uninitiated members of the Hand. Hellina could simply cast her gaze about the assembled force and see clearly which of her brothers and sisters knew that Farkas was a member of the Inner Circle, and what that fact meant. Vala's face bore a different expression, one that needed no explanation; Hellina could have guessed, with some accuracy, what thoughts passed through the woman's mind as she watched the two men who had inhabited her dreams ride into their midst.
Merciful Gods spare him, I beg you, she thought as she continued to stare at Farkas as he rode towards Soran and Hellina. She would never have predicted that her heart would leap at the sight of the hansom Companion while barely acknowledging the beautiful Thane beside him.
Eofel was one of the last to hear the news, as was the man she was treating when the news arrived. She and Dralof, with Dog between them as they prevented him from walking up and greeting his new friends, stood with Gwenyfe and Sharn who had just arrived, sweaty and somewhat disheveled, from using the smaller of the two forges in their village. But their number was quickly reduced by one when Gwenyfe began to walk rapidly towards Soran and Hellina, covering the twenty paces as quickly as she could without breaking into a run. She arrived just as Aric and Farkas did, approaching her commanders from behind before stepping in front of them to take hold of the bridle of Aric's horse just as it stopped. The look of concern she gave him as he stepped down from the saddle was quickly answered with a smile, as his hand came to rest gently on her arm.
"Only words will be exchanged today, asthore. Do not be concerned," he said calmly.
"What has happened?" she asked him, her heart rate still elevated.
"Skjor is dead," he said to her in a voice that could be heard by Soran and Hellina as Vala approached, Farkas finally stepping down from his saddle.
"I did not see the message," Aric continued, "neither did Aela. He told her afterwards; both what the message contained and what he intended to do. She became concerned after several days when he did not reappear and asked us to accompany her in her search."
"No one here sent such a message. And none of us have seen Hylf for months, and even if we had we would never entrust Hylf, or any member of Krev's band, with such an important task," Soran replied.
"So you are saying that the message was false, a ruse that was intended to draw him there so that he could be killed," Farkas said, a statement in place of a question, delivered in a flat, emotionless voice, but a question nonetheless.
"We never leave fragments where they are discovered, and we have never found any fragments in Eastmarch," Hellina said, "And the Harbinger is correct, only a madman would ask Hylf to guard anything of importance, and even when asked he would not do so; he would deliver whatever treasure he was supposed to protect to Krev."
"And if what you say is true, it was not Hylf who killed your brother," Soran said, "not unless it was pitch dark and he took him completely unawares, and cut his throat before he had any warning that he was in danger."
"That is not how he was killed," Aric said as he looked into the mug of ale that he had barely touched. It was not quite a privy council. Soran did not object when Hellina asked that Eofel, Vala, Dralof and Gwenyfe be allowed to remain; he had little interest in fighting a battle on two fronts, and it was the visiting Companions that required all of his attention at present. In any case, each of them had some connection to the two visitors. Dog's head was now resting heavily in Aric's lap as the Thane's hand caressed it slowly. His canine face was the only visage to show no concern at all.
"He had many wounds, and I detected enchanted powder on him, and in the vicinity around him, that would have prevented him from changing form," Aric continued, "there were four dead men in the room with him."
"How were the men dressed?" Soran asked, fearing the answer he would receive. All the members of the Silver Hand who resided in the village were present or accounted for. But what if they were members who resided elsewhere, in Eastmarch?
"They appeared to be common brigands," Aric said, "Aela and I searched them briefly, but found nothing of interest."
"None of them were equipped with enchanted silver weapons, or armor? None of them carried copies of Songs of Return?" Hellina asked.
Farkas shook his head as his eyes unfocused briefly while his mind replayed the sight he beheld when he entered that final room and beheld his dead friend.
"No. Their armor was plain. Whatever weapons they carried had been removed."
"Then they were certainly not our men," Soran said.
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"A false message, delivered to Jorrvaskr, and a man led into a trap," Dralof said slowly from where he stood a short distance from the four seated figures as he looked first at Soran and then at Hellina.
"Gods," Vala said as her face displayed the shock of realization that Dralof had kept hidden.
"Talos' blood," Farkas said after a moment before looking towards Aric, "you are absent too much, brother, or you would be better informed."
"Krev planned to spread a false rumor about a secret plot. We sent a message warning Kodlak. Hylf was captured while delivering the rumor through word of mouth," Soran explained to the Thane.
"The spy was placed in the dungeons of Whiterun for an extended stay, during which he received daily death threats from Skjor."
"Krev must have learned enough of what transpired to plot his revenge upon Skjor and then carry it out."
"Where is Krev now?" Farkas asked ominously.
"He and his band disappeared shortly after Hylf," Hellina said, "we have not seen them since, but we made no attempt to locate them."
"I knew I should have not left them to wander the countryside ungoverned," Soran said, pain radiating out of him like heat from a fire, "this is my fault. I let this happen. I should have been firmer with him and his men - my men. They were all my men."
"We are each responsible for our own actions, sir," Aric said to the man he had met only one other time, a man he had liked, as much as he had been liked in return, "Any commander worth his weight in salt will immediately take responsibility for the actions of the men under his command, but it is not always appropriate. These men, if they were truly under someone's command, looked to another for their orders."
Soran bowed his head and rested it in his hands for several seconds before he picked it up again and looked at the Thane of Many Holds.
"You are very kind, Thane, to say so; but my heart will carry this weight for the rest of my days. The question now is what is to be done?"
"Aela and my brother are returning Skjor to Jorrvaskr," Farkas said, "he will receive his last rights there, but Aela will not delay that long to pick up the trail of the men who did this. She will say her farewells to her oldest friend and brother while she hunts down the men who took his life."
"Krev had approximately twenty men when last we saw him. He has lost four, but he may have collected more," Hellina said.
"Any of his men or women who demonstrated any merit have already been plucked from him," Soran said, "what was left were dregs, very similar in nature to the four men you found in the room with you brother, as will be anyone he has recently added to his group. I should have taken Hellina's advice and shattered that force long ago. All that I can do now is what I should have done then. We will do what needs to be done. We will wipe Krev and his entire band off the face of the earth."
"I thank you for your offer, but it is the Companions who will exact revenge for this attack," Aric said, "I do not say exact justice. I do not forget that the Silver Hand and the Companions are enemies in many respects, and it is hard to know where justice would lie in this case. But I do not see this as an attack by the Hand against the Companions in dispute over the ownership of a fragment; not like what occurred in Dustman's Cairn. These were mere brigands, bent on murder."
At the words Dustman's Cairn Farkas turned and gave the Thane his full attention.
"They already know," Aric said to his brother Companion.
"We discovered your identities shortly after it happened," Hellina said to Farkas.
Farkas' stone expression finally cracked, but only slightly, as it adopted a quizzical look. "But you have never sought revenge for that day."
"We are all sworn to die in defense of Wuuthrad, or any fragment of it," Soran explained, "the men and women who died at your hands were true to their pledge. They sit with Ysgramor, just as we sit here now. They exchange tales of battle, and bravery, and celebrate lives well lived, and honorable deaths. It is no cause for revenge."
"It is a beautiful sentiment," Aric said as he finally picked up his mug and drank half of the contents on one go.
"Krev and his men will not be so lucky," Farkas said, "their deaths will not be in service of a noble goal."
"They deserve traitors deaths, and a lengthy stay in Oblivion as penance for their dishonor, and their sins. Anything assistance we may offer to achieve both of those things we will do so gladly," Soran said, "they betrayed their oaths, and it is my duty to see to their punishment. I ask to accompany you when that payment comes due. It must be my hand that strikes the light from Krev's eyes."
Aric was quiet for a moment before giving his answer.
"You are within your rights to make such a request. Were I in your place, I would feel as you do; but I cannot promise you anything. Aela may have preempted both of us. All I can say is that if anything is left to be done, we will do it together."
Soran stood and offered his hand to the Thane of Whiterun.
"Thank you Companion," he said as the two men shared a warriors clasp.
"So this is the commitment you mentioned that night in Jorrvaskr," Farkas said as he and Vala slowly walked a short distance from the house before stopping in the shade of a large tree.
"Yes," she replied, as they stood close enough to speak without being overheard. Not that there was anyone nearby to hear what they said to each other. A warm steady breeze carried the scent of pine and made the afternoon, at least their portion of it beneath the arbor of the large maple tree, comfortable. Everyone else had scattered into groups or returned to their own homes to discuss the event that had hijacked their day. Vala had a clear view of the front door of Eofel's infirmary, and the two porches - lower and upper, that faced the road, but she would not spare the smallest portion of her attention on that sight while the man before her stood anywhere within eye shot.
"I thought afterwards...I had considered the possibility that it was some aspect about me that had scared you off," Farkas said as his own eyes looked downward towards his boots and the earth upon which they stood.
It had been a glum, subdued mood up until then, but the look on Farkas face forced a smile and slight laugh from Vala.
"You thought that I feared that you would transform into a werewolf while we were making love and tear me to pieces?"
The sound of her laughter had caused his eyes to come up, but it was the look on her face that drew his own smile out.
"That would be a reasonable fear, would it not, knowing what you do of the Inner Circle?"
"As a point of interest, how often do you transform into a wild beast during love making?" she asked as her smile grew, which caused his own to also grow.
"Every single time, but not in the manner you may imagine."
They shared a laugh for a moment before her hand came up and touched his face.
"I wish that I had said yes. I wish I had stayed that night. I have wished it many times since then. I fear now that it is too late for us; that Krev has erected a wall between us."
"There is no builder in Tamriel who can build a wall so strong, or so tall, to construct such a barrier," Farkas said as he took her hand in his only to kiss her palm before placing it over his heart, "I have climbed many a wall in my life. Just you pray that he does not also dig a moat."
Her right hand was still on his chest as her left hand found his right one.
"A moat?"
"I never learned to swim," he said as he pulled her close and kissed her.
"I believe that you will recover completely," Aric said as he observed Dralof's strength and range of motion while Eofel stood nearby, "but if you wish to avoid bothersome adhesions or impingements you must be diligent with your exercises.
"Eofel warns me so on a regular basis," Dralof said as he looked at the young Healer briefly, "thank you both for saving my life and for my continued health. I can never repay the debt I owe you."
"You do not owe me anything," Aric replied as he stepped back and allowed Dralof to stand up from Eofel's examining table and put on his shirt, "it was an honor, and a privilege, to act as an instrument of the Divines and return you to health so that you may also continue to serve them."
"He is not a great believer in the Divines," Eofel said playfully as she dried her hands, "or so he says when he is not close to death."
"They believe in him," Aric replied with a smile as he kissed his former pupil on the top of her head as if she were his own daughter, "which is more important."
The house was much too crowded to afford them any amount of privacy. Sharn's voice could be clearly heard one floor below them as the lay entwined, though completely clothed, on Gwenyfe's bed, though the Gods only knew how it endured their combined weight without collapsing.
"Was there anyone special in Skjor's life?" she asked Aric, "was he special to anyone?"
"He and Aela were quite close, but as brother and sister. They certainly fought as if they were siblings. Aside from that, I am not aware of anyone, but we were not close, he and I."
Her question was preceded by a moment of silence and a slow deep breath.
"Are you and Aela close?"
Her head rested on his shoulder, her left arm draped over him as he turned his head and kissed her forehead gently.
"No, not like you and I are close."
There were very few residents of the village who understood the language they spoke, but they kept their voices quiet nonetheless. They both knew that time was short, and that Aric and Farkas must depart soon if they were to reach Aric's home before midnight.
"What will become of us?" she asked.
"I do not know," he answered, "True Sight is not one of my gifts. I give thanks for that. It is a burden that I do not believe I could bear."
"My Gran had the Sight," Gwenyfe reminded him, "and that story you already know."
Her Grandmother had been considered half mad in her youth. Her whole life had been a struggle to control her gift.
"The Gods are mysterious. There must be some rhyme or reason in the gifts they give, and to whom they give them and why; but I confess that I cannot decipher it."
"The Gods gave me you," she said as she pulled herself closer to him, "and I have no interest in deciphering why, lest they discover that it was a mistake and take you away again. I am just glad that they did so."
She knew that he would depart one day. He had told her that much in advance. She knew that she would eventually need to harden her heart before that day came.
But today was not that day.