\u201cI understand.\u00a0 But that\u2019s all the more reason for you to be there.\u00a0 Show him that he didn\u2019t scare you off.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh continued toward the bridge that led to the Steps.\u00a0 \u201cBesides, I told Ulfric that he should not underestimate you.\u00a0 I\u2019d hate to be proven wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh grinned at him.\u00a0 \u201cI told him that he ought to consider the fact that you fought Alduin.\u00a0 I think you should consider that, too.\u00a0 Even the mighty Ulfric Stormcloak hasn\u2019t fought a dragon.\u00a0 You\u2019ve fought a bunch now, Roggi.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi looked slightly embarrassed, but he did follow Dardeh to and up the stairs.\u00a0 He was quiet for a long while as they climbed, clearly deep in thought.\u00a0 They passed the corpses of several frost trolls along the way; as they stepped around one he poked it with his foot.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like we\u2019re trailing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but not by that much or these corpses would have been dragged off by now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roggi nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThanks for telling me that, Dar,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cAbout the dragons. I needed to hear it.\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to avoid Ulfric anymore.\u00a0 When you think about it, in some ways I know more about him than most people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say so,\u201d Dardeh murmured, half under his breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dardeh flushed.\u00a0 I need to watch my mouth.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cNothing.\u00a0 I agree with you.\u00a0 You actually have something you could hold over his head if you wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smirked.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d rather just ignore him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/p>\n They were almost at High Hrothgar when Dardeh looked up and saw two figures walking up the steps to the monastery.\u00a0 Delphine had changed into a dark armor, and Esbern into black clothing, the type a man in mourning might wear to a funeral.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are they<\/em> doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDelphine and Esbern.\u00a0 The last of the Blades.\u00a0 They were the ones who got me the information about the scroll we looked at up by Paarthurnax.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell now,\u201d Roggi said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s a thing I didn\u2019t know.\u00a0 I thought the Blades were all gone.\u00a0 I must be losing my touch.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh couldn\u2019t quite suppress a shiver from running up his spine.\u00a0 I still can\u2019t get used to the idea of Roggi being a spy. <\/em>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s not exactly a thriving organization,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cBut I don\u2019t know why they\u2019re here.\u00a0 Did Arngeir invite them, or did someone talk when they shouldn\u2019t have?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe either, but this is not going to be pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked into the entry hall to find just that.\u00a0 All four of the Greybeards were standing on one side of it while Esbern and Delphine were on the other. The tension in the room was palpable.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Arngeir is it?\u201d Delphine was saying.\u00a0 \u201cAre you going to let us in, or not?\u201d<\/p>\n Arngeir bristled.\u00a0 \u201cYou were not invited here.\u00a0 You are not welcome here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have as much right to be here as any of you. More, actually, since we were the ones who set the Dragonborn on this path.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWere you?\u201d Arngeir countered in his most haughty tones.\u00a0 \u201cThe hubris of the Blades truly knows no bounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Gods save me from all of them, Dardeh thought.\u00a0 They\u2019re as bad as Miraak.\u00a0 He stepped forward and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cStop it right now,\u201d he said, earning raised eyebrows from all sides.\u00a0 \u201cFirst, I\u2019d appreciate it if you\u2019d stop speaking about me in third person. I\u2019m right here, I have a name, and you all know what it is.\u00a0 Second, if you want to credit anything for \u2013 setting me on this path, as you put it \u2013 look to Alduin and the first dragon he raised outside Whiterun.\u00a0 Third, I never had to do a single thing about any of it.\u00a0 I chose to.\u00a0 So I\u2019d appreciate it if you all would just focus on what we need to do right now.\u201d\u00a0 He glared at Delphine and then back at Arngeir.<\/p>\n Esbern cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s correct, Delphine.\u00a0 We\u2019re not here to rehearse old grudges.\u00a0 The matter at hand is urgent. Alduin must be stopped.\u201d\u00a0 He turned to Arngeir and inclined his head, not quite a bow but a gesture of respect.\u00a0 \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have called this council if you didn\u2019t agree.\u00a0 We know a great deal about this situation and the threat Alduin poses to us all. You need us here if you want these negotiations to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Arngeir looked at them all in turn, staring last at Dardeh.\u00a0 Come on, old man, Dardeh thought.\u00a0 Put aside your ego for just a moment like the rest of us are trying to do.\u00a0 Arngeir\u2019s eyes spoke of anger and frustration at the fact that he wasn\u2019t in full control of events happening in his own home.<\/p>\n Arngeir finally sighed, and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cVery well.\u00a0 You may enter.\u201d<\/p>\n Delphine, Esbern, and the Greybeards moved toward the council chambers.\u00a0 Dardeh looked at Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a great start, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cDar \u2013 even with everything I said earlier, it\u2019s going to be hard.\u00a0 Let me stay near you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.\u00a0 As long as you don\u2019t tell everyone when you feel me shaking in my boots, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi looked surprised for a moment.\u00a0 Then he chuckled, and they stepped into the room.<\/p>\n Like the entryway of the monastery, the room was dark, cavernous and unwelcoming, with an enormously tall ceiling.\u00a0 Everything was hard, cold stone:\u00a0 the great oval table, the chairs around it, the walls and the side tables reaching out of them as though they had somehow grown there organically.\u00a0 The brazier in the center opening of the table was of stone and, in spite of the robust fire burning it it, managed to feel cold.\u00a0 The only color in this great grey room was in the banners, gold and grey, bearing words in the dragon tongue, hanging well above them on each wall.\u00a0 It set a somber tone for the meeting.\u00a0 Dardeh wanted nothing more than to get it over with and leave, and he suspected everyone else felt that way as well.<\/p>\n And around the great oval table, the atmosphere was anything but cordial.<\/p>\n Arngeir had seated himself at the head of the table, and motioned Dardeh toward a chair opposite him at its foot. General Tullius was on one side, along with Legate Rikke and, surprisingly to Dardeh, Jarl Elisif the Fair of Solitude.\u00a0 On the other side of Tullius sat Jarl Balgruuf, who inclined his head to Dardeh with the ghost of a smile that Dardeh returned, acknowledging their mutual respect.\u00a0 On the opposite side of the table, Esbern and Delphine were moving toward their places.\u00a0 There were three empty chairs, empty in part because Ulfric Stormcloak stood against the wall, with Galmar next to him, both of them glaring across the room.<\/p>\n Dardeh turned to look and nearly stumbled.\u00a0 There sat Elenwen, the Thalmor ambassador, she who had sent the Khajiit assassin after him in Riften.<\/p>\n No wonder Ulfric looks like he\u2019s about to burst. What in Oblivion is she doing here? People have very loose tongues in the castles, it seems.\u00a0 Or one of Arngeir\u2019s brothers took matters into his own hands.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh was no happier about Elenwen\u2019s being at the table than anyone else, but he forced a slight smile onto his face and moved around the table, approaching Ulfric.\u00a0 Ulfric refused to acknowledge his presence. Oh, ignore me will you?<\/em> Dardeh smirked, and as he neared Ulfric murmured \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t let her do anything to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric\u2019s gaze snapped to Dardeh\u2019s and he growled.\u00a0 Dardeh nodded and continued past him, motioning Roggi to take the remaining empty seat between him and Galmar.\u00a0 Roggi pointedly ignored Ulfric and sat down, his body language speaking volumes as he turned toward Dardeh and away from Galmar.\u00a0 Dardeh took a deep breath and sat down, then looked to Ulfric as everyone else was.<\/p>\n Arngeir was the last to be seated.\u00a0 He nodded, and the other three Greybeards moved to take positions along the side and back walls of the room..\u00a0 \u201cNow that we\u2019re all here we can begin.\u00a0 I hope you\u2019ve all come here in the spirit of \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Ulfric snarled.\u00a0 \u201cYou insult us by bringing her here? Your chief Talos hunter?\u201d<\/p>\n Amidst the mutterings on all sides Dardeh heard Elenwen\u2019s voice.\u00a0 \u201cI have every right to be at this negotiation. \u00a0I need to ensure that nothing agreed to here violates the terms of the White-Gold Concordat.\u201d<\/p>\n Tullius spoke up.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s part of the Imperial delegation.\u00a0 You can\u2019t dictate who I bring.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m glad Ulfric still respects his masters.\u00a0 Otherwise I think we\u2019d have Shouting going on and I\u2019m pretty sure none of them could last if Arngeir decided to exert his authority.<\/em><\/p>\n Arngeir wasn\u2019t likely to start Shouting; even so, he was annoyed.\u00a0 \u201cPlease.\u00a0 If we have to negotiate the terms of the negotiation, we will never get anywhere.\u00a0 Perhaps this would be a good time to get the Dragonborn\u2019s opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n Me?\u00a0 Gods.\u00a0 Talos guide me.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh looked at Elenwen, who sat there with her usual, superior expression.\u00a0 You know who I am.\u00a0 You tried to kill me.\u00a0 I should have you removed. <\/em>Then he looked at Ulfric.\u00a0 Ulfric was glaring at him.\u00a0 Unlike Elenwen, however, Ulfric did not look superior.\u00a0 He looked as though he almost, almost <\/em>recognized Dardeh as a person of power.\u00a0 But I despise you, Ulfric.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have anything personal against Elenwen.\u00a0 She\u2019s disgusting, but she\u2019s just doing her job.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh looked at Roggi, sitting uncomfortably next to him.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what to tell you<\/em>, Roggi\u2019s expression said.\u00a0 It\u2019s ok.\u00a0 You\u2019re here<\/em>.\u00a0 Dardeh gave him the barest of smiles, then looked back at Ulfric.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019m not any happier about this than you are, Jarl Ulfric,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I think she should stay.\u00a0 As an observer only.\u00a0 Like it or not, Skyrim is a party to the Concordat at the moment and she really does have a right to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n Galmar sputtered and turned red, and Dardeh was afraid for just a moment that the two of them were going to leave, but Ulfric gritted his teeth and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cShe is only to observe.\u00a0 No negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n Elenwen smiled and tipped her head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cWhy so hostile, Ulfric?\u201d she asked in her cultured tones. \u201cAfter all, it\u2019s not the Thalmor who are burning your farms and killing your sons.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric growled.\u00a0 \u201cYou know exactly why\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh turned to look at Roggi.\u00a0 But Roggi was gazing at Ulfric with what Dardeh thought was an expression of understanding and sympathy.\u00a0 Ulfric started to seat himself, but saw Roggi\u2019s attention on him, and the two of them locked eyes for just a brief moment before Ulfric turned his gaze to the table in front of him.\u00a0 The whole exchange lasted only a second or two.<\/p>\n Roggi knows.\u00a0 That\u2019s one of the things he has to hold over over Ulfric but look at him.\u00a0 He understands what happened to Ulfric at her hands and in spite of wishing he could take his own revenge on Ulfric he knows better than almost anyone else in this room how bad it must have been. In spite of what he used to do, he is still a kind person. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh caught Ulfric\u2019s eye for just a moment as Galmar finally sat down.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry, Ulfric.\u00a0 It shouldn\u2019t have happened to you or anyone else. <\/em>He looked down at the table and shook his head. Nobody else in this room aside from the three of us knows what just happened.<\/em><\/p>\n Ulfric raised his head and calmly demanded Markarth.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is our price for agreeing to a truce.\u201d<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t surprise Dardeh, given Ulfric\u2019s personal history with Markarth and his own overblown self-importance, but it did surprise the Imperial side of the table.\u00a0 They erupted into shouting and accusations, outraged snorting and harrumphing, and Tullius finally had to raise his voice to get his delegation back under control.\u00a0 Then he addressed Ulfric.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t seriously expect us to give up Markarth at the negotiating table.\u00a0 You couldn\u2019t take it in battle, so you will try to take it here?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric opened his mouth to respond but Arngeir interrupted him, saying \u201cI\u2019m sure Jarl Ulfric does not expect something for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Clever, Arngeir.\u00a0 For someone who does not involve himself with politics you\u2019re pretty good at it.<\/em><\/p>\n As if he had read Dardeh\u2019s mind, Arngeir looked down the table at him.\u00a0 \u201cNow then, Dragonborn.\u00a0 What do you say would be a sufficient exchange for Markarth?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh gods.\u00a0 It\u2019s up to me? <\/em><\/p>\n He looked around the table, slowly, getting no sense from any of them what might be a reasonable choice.\u00a0 Then he looked at Balgruuf, and his mind flashed back to the map on Balgruuf\u2019s table.\u00a0 The red or blue flags over each town and city, the pattern they made across Skyrim.\u00a0 If the Stormcloaks took Markarth there would be a stalemate of sorts in the northwest given that Solitude was firmly in the Imperial camp.\u00a0 Falkreath, to the south, was under Imperial control, in part because it was closest to Cyrodiil. And the other hold that was closest to the Imperial Province was\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cRiften.\u201d<\/p>\n The table erupted.<\/p>\n Ulfric bolted from his chair, enraged, with Galmar close beside him.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t hand me this mug of sheep\u2019s piss and call it mead! \u00a0Unacceptable!\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cUlfric. Galmar.\u00a0 Wait a moment.\u00a0 Think about this.\u00a0 You get the north, the Empire gets the south, and everything is put on hold at least until I have a crack at Alduin.\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric ignored him and headed for the door, and he might have simply left if not for Esbern.\u00a0 He raised his voice, catching everyone off-guard and commanding their attention.<\/p>\n \u201cStop!\u00a0 Are you so blind to our danger that you can\u2019t see past your petty disagreements? Here you sit arguing about\u2026 nothing!\u00a0 While the fate of the land hangs in the balance!\u201d<\/p>\n Ulfric turned to Delphine and snarled.\u00a0 \u201cIs he with you? If so, I would advise you to tell him to hold his tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n Delphine snapped back at him.\u00a0 \u201cYes he is, and I would advise you<\/em> to listen to what he has to say before you do anything rash.\u201d<\/p>\n Esbern rose, and his voice along with him.\u00a0 He looked angry, but even more than that he looked distressed.\u00a0 His hands punctuated his words.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you understand the danger? Don\u2019t you understand what the return of the dragons means?\u00a0 Alduin has returned!\u00a0 The World-eater!\u00a0 Even now, he devours the souls of your fallen comrades!\u00a0 He grows more powerful with every soldier slain in your\u2026 pointless<\/em> war.\u00a0 Can you not put aside your hatred for even one moment in the face of this mortal danger?\u201d<\/p>\n Talos preserve me.\u00a0 He eats\u2026 the souls of the dead?<\/em>\u00a0 Dardeh hadn\u2019t heard this before but had no doubt that Esbern knew what he was talking about.<\/p>\n There was a moment of complete, stunned silence, and then Elenwen spoke.\u00a0 \u201cA very pretty speech, but what does it have to do with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up,\u201d Ulfric snapped, and she did, her eyes widening.\u00a0\u00a0 He looked across the room at Tullius.\u00a0 \u201cThe Dragonborn told me of Alduin as well. If this is true, we both have just as much to lose, Tullius.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cIf I may speak.\u201d\u00a0 The whole room looked at him. He swallowed hard, his mouth dry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all<\/em> have just as much to lose, not just the two of you and your armies.\u00a0 If we can\u2019t stop Alduin, none of the politics will matter at all because we will cease to exist. Both in Skyrim and everywhere else,\u201d he added, looking pointedly at Elenwen. \u201cDo you all understand that? Do you? Esbern isn\u2019t just making this up out of thin air.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody spoke, so he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cJarl Balgruuf has agreed to help me with this, but it can\u2019t happen if all of you are running roughshod over his hold and feeding Alduin more souls in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n He was shaking.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease do the right thing.\u00a0 This is going to be hard enough for me to accomplish even under the best of circumstances.\u201d And I\u2019m the only one who can, Ulfric, he thought, exchanging a long look with the Jarl.\u00a0 You know this to be true.<\/p>\n He glanced at Arngeir.\u00a0 Well here I am, in the full arrogance of my power.\u00a0 You were right. On the other hand\u2026 so am I.<\/em><\/p>\n He could feel Roggi\u2019s reassurance radiating from beside him, but didn\u2019t dare turn to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well,\u201d Ulfric said, resuming his seat.\u00a0 The rest of the table relaxed and sat, and Dardeh suddenly couldn\u2019t focus on what was happening.\u00a0 Arngeir was reviewing the agreement. He distantly heard the names of Jarls and Thanes and minor holds, but he felt faint and couldn\u2019t focus on it at all.<\/p>\n Roggi reached out and squeezed his arm.\u00a0 \u201cWell done,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s going to be ok.\u00a0 Take a deep breath.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked at Roggi’s calm, blue eyes and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, Roggi,\u201d he said.\u00a0 “I’m really glad you were here.\u00a0 It helped a lot.”\u00a0 He felt eyes on him and looked up to find Ulfric watching them.\u00a0 He smiled.\u00a0 Yes, Ulfric.\u00a0 You were right.\u00a0 I love him.\u00a0 It will never amount to a thing, but there it is.\u00a0 You had your chance.<\/em> Ulfric gave him the smallest nod and turned to leave with Galmar.<\/p>\n Sometimes I wonder if these people can hear my thoughts.\u00a0 That was strange.<\/em><\/p>\n Tullius and Ulfric and their parties filtered out of the room, leaving the Greybeards, the Blades, and Balgruuf.\u00a0 Balgruuf turned to face Dardeh and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m ready to do my part, Dragonborn,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cBut how do you intend to capture a dragon in my palace?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026 don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Esbern stepped forward.\u00a0 \u201cI have been doing some research, Dragonborn, and have come across some old scrolls that seem to contain the name of one of the dragons.\u00a0 I will give you this name:\u00a0 Odahviing.\u00a0 Perhaps if you Shout his name he will appear to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would he do that?\u201d Dardeh asked.\u00a0 \u201cI can make a dragon land with a Shout but to have one come to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDragons are prideful by nature, and loathe to ignore a challenge,\u201d Esbern told him. \u201cIf it is you issuing the challenge, I am sure the temptation to respond will be especially hard to resist.\u201d<\/p>\n Prideful by nature.\u00a0 Just like me, I guess. <\/em>Dardeh saw himself standing at the summit of Apocrypha, staring across it at Miraak.\u00a0 Just like us.<\/em>\u00a0 We truly both were of the dragon blood at that moment, weren\u2019t we.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Esbern.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll return to Dragonsreach and make preparations,\u201d Balgruuf said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll see whether we can capture your dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, my Jarl,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Balgruuf raised his eyebrow and grinned at him, then left the room, followed by the Greybeards.<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded to Roggi and turned to go, but Delphine caught him by the arm.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s one more thing.\u00a0 We know about Paarthurnax.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that he\u2019s a dragon. The Greybeards have been protecting him all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n Annoying woman.<\/em> \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you need to kill him. He was the right hand of Alduin.\u00a0 He committed atrocities so famous they are still remembered thousands of years later.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stared at her in disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cYou do realize that we couldn\u2019t have gotten to this point without his help, don\u2019t you?\u00a0 We would just be sitting around waiting for Alduin to finish eating the world.\u201d<\/p>\n She frowned.\u00a0 \u201cYes, we needed his help but we don\u2019t need it any longer. He needs to die. He deserves to die. And it falls to you to kill him.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry but\u2026 until he is dead, it would dishonor our oaths as Blades if we continued to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh looked at Roggi, astonished, and then back at Delphine.<\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned and left with Esbern.<\/p>\n Roggi stood beside him, a concerned look on his face.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not really going to kill him, are you?\u00a0 Or are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in this lifetime.\u00a0 Not unless he does something harmful.\u00a0 Those two can go back to their hidey hole and rot as far as I\u2019m concerned.\u00a0 Especially her.\u00a0 Esbern is annoying but useful. Delphine is \u2026 impossible.\u00a0 She won\u2019t help me? \u00a0Fine.\u00a0 I can\u2019t think of anything I need her help with any longer, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi grinned at him.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u00a0 He may be a dragon but\u2026 I kind of like him.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m saying that. So I guess we have to go back to Whiterun now?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh blew out a breath.\u00a0 \u201cI guess so. Gods, Roggi, I am just not ready for this.\u00a0 Well here\u2019s the immediate question.\u00a0 Do we stay here tonight? We can. Arngeir opened the place to me. \u00a0Or\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe walk down the mountain.\u00a0 I think the inn in Ivarstead will be a lot more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled at him.\u00a0 \u201cAll right then. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a long and fairly slow trip to Ivarstead and then up the Seven Thousand Steps.\u00a0 Roggi walked well so long as they were on a reasonably level path but once the real climbing began, his injury accentuated the difference in their ages. \u00a0He moved more slowly and stiffly than usual, and the lingering … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2-2-9-1.png\")
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