\u201cYes, I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t sure why he felt compelled to carry both scrolls himself, but he did.\u00a0 That compulsion was countered, though, by the part of him that kept prodding: You\u2019re in charge. You\u2019re going to be the lord of the castle soon. People really ought to be doing your dirty work for you. Let Brynjolf carry one of them.<\/em><\/p>\n Whenever that part spoke up, though, he thought about the long conversation he\u2019d had with Brynjolf the previous day. He\u2019d been waiting to show off the new clothing he\u2019d purchased at Radiant Raiment, waiting to see the spark in Brynjolf\u2019s eyes when he saw it, because he knew how good he looked in blue.\u00a0 It was a bit of imported Cyrodilic finery, a blue embroidered tunic with a leather vest that, so long as he fired up his illusion spell, highlighted the blue of his eyes.\u00a0 It had been such a meaningless extravagance, but he\u2019d been strangely drawn to it, completely unable to pass it up. And, as he\u2019d pointed out to Roggi, money was not a thing he was particularly concerned about.<\/p>\n Sure enough, Brynjolf had arrived not long after Andante had changed into the blue clothing.\u00a0 He\u2019d smiled a tiny, mischievous smile and had proceeded to take Andante back out of the clothing not long after he admired it.\u00a0 And then, as they lay tangled in a contented heap afterward, he\u2019d spoken of the state of things.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, lad, you\u2019re not as good at tailing a man as you think.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante turned his head to stare at Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d he said with a smirk, \u201cat least you\u2019re not as good at tailing me <\/em>as you thought you were.\u201d<\/p>\n He had been appalled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026 knew?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled. \u201cAll the way to Riften and all the way back to Falkreath.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he had proceeded to give Andante a thorough tongue-lashing, a lecture of epic proportions. He\u2019d been stupid, Brynjolf said, and shortsighted, and had taken far too many risks in following him into the Twilight Sepulcher, to say nothing of too many liberties to which he wasn\u2019t entitled. He might have been destroyed, reduced to a pile of ash, just by stepping through the portal and into Nocturnal\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf shook his head and silenced Andante with a finger. \u201cI appreciate it, lad. I really do.\u00a0 I\u2019m actually a bit amazed that you would have done that for me. But you truly are more like Dynny than either of us realized before, and I\u2019d just as soon not have another one of you wandering around in the Soul Cairn. It was foolish, and it was presumptuous. You didn\u2019t belong there; you\u2019re not one of the Nightingales, no matter how close we may be at the moment. Don\u2019t do a thing like that again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then,\u201d Andante had said, a little angry that he was being scolded like an errant child. \u201cYou weren\u2019t quite as good as you thought, either, were you. You didn\u2019t shake me. And then you lost your temper and yelled at a Daedric Prince like she was some tavern wench.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed. \u201cYes it was stupid of me to shout at her. But that\u2019s not the point. First of all, I wasn\u2019t trying<\/em> to shake you. I wanted to find out whether you really were going to follow me all the way home and you did. If I\u2019d been trying to shake you, you would never have seen me.\u00a0 I\u2019m not quite as good as Delvin but I\u2019ve had a lot of practice.\u00a0 Second, it was a long reach, on my part, to think Nocturnal might be willing to do anything at all for me. I had to try, but it\u2019s obviously not going to happen. You know as well as I do that I\u2019m a vampire for good now.\u201d He grinned, baring his fangs. \u201cAnd you know I don\u2019t mind that. It was my decision in the first place, and I\u2019m willing to take whatever the consequences of that are.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s what Dynjyl told him, too, when we met him in the Soul Cairn.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDynny\u2019s been there in the Soul Cairn all these years \u2013 decades \u2013 and he\u2019s better off now than he was before, so that will have to be good enough.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like it, but that\u2019s the way it is. In the here and now, though, you and I need to work together, and trust each other, and stop keeping secrets if we\u2019re going to get through whatever is going to happen with Harkon.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante had agreed, reluctantly, and had apologized for following Brynjolf.\u00a0 Internally, though, his mind was roiling. \u201cAnother one of you?\u201d In what category does he place me, then? I\u2019m not certain. <\/em>And then he berated himself for having failed what should have been an easy operation.\u00a0 You\u2019re better than that. You should have been nearly invisible that whole time. At the very least you should have known he was aware of you. You\u2019ve done that kind of thing before, you know that.<\/em><\/p>\n Perhaps, but when? And where? It\u2019s so close. I can almost see it. Almost. But not quite.<\/em><\/p>\n He also gnawed at what Nocturnal had said to him.\u00a0 Help Brynjolf recover what he\u2019s lost. But if I do that, then I will lose him.<\/em><\/p>\n He knew that he should have told Brynjolf everything. He should have mentioned the memories, or near-memories, that were coming back to him. He should have mentioned that he\u2019d stopped in to see Delvin while he was in Riften as Roggi had suggested, to begin the slow process of finding out whether his suspicions about the Listener were correct. Delvin had been unflappable, unsurprised, and had agreed that yes, he knew some people. It would take him time to get in touch with them, and Andante would need to secure a ridiculous amount of money before they could actually begin composing the letter or getting it into those peoples\u2019 hands, but at least things were underway now.<\/p>\n He should have told Brynjolf those things. He knew, though, that if he had, Brynjolf would have dropped everything and made for Dawnstar. And Brynjolf barging into the Sanctuary would be just as inappropriate as his barging into the Twilight Sepulcher had been.<\/p>\n Instead, all the way along the province of Haafingar, his mind kept running through its litany. I will get this castle, and the entire world will feel it. I will have my revenge. <\/em>He would again hear Nocturnal, telling him he should focus on helping Brynjolf make himself whole, and his mind would say No. If I do that I will lose him. And he is mine, just like the castle will be mine.<\/em><\/p>\n Instead, he gritted his teeth and slung both Elder Scrolls across his own back, and trudged down the long peninsula, over the ridge and down to the water\u2019s edge. He carried the burden of the heavy artifacts like a penance \u2013 but for which crime, he was not certain. He was grateful when they pushed open the castle doors and stepped inside.<\/p>\n It took an absurdly long time to find Dexion. Harkon was easy to find; he sat in his parlor, in his throne, and barely cast them a look as Andante stuck his head in to check for the Moth-priest.\u00a0 Then they encountered Vingalmo, standing on the balcony where they had stood with Harkon, sipping at a goblet of blood.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know where Dexion was; but he did give them some advice, his tone a typical haughty Altmer\u2019s that was mellowed not at all by centuries of vampirism.<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful who you trust.\u00a0 Not all of us have the court\u2019s best interests at heart.\u00a0 Orthjolf, for example. He\u2019ll tell you he means well, but believe me, he can\u2019t be trusted at all. Keep that in mind, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n Believe you? And why should I do that when you\u2019re an Altmer, Orthjolf is a Nord, you clearly despise each other and each of you sent an underling to kill me? No, Vingalmo. I don\u2019t believe you. You\u2019re just another lackey out to take the throne for yourself. But you weren\u2019t counting on me.<\/em><\/p>\n He put on his best smile, made a great show of thanking Vingalmo for the advice, and went back down into the main hall.\u00a0 There, standing next to one of the two long feasting tables, was Orthjolf.\u00a0 He had no idea where Dexion was, either, but made several cutting remarks about Vingalmo. Vingalmo was an elf, after all, the big Nord said.\u00a0 \u201cBetween you and me, there\u2019s too many of them. Can\u2019t trust the lot of them. Never could.\u201d He also suggested that Andante seek out Garan Marethi.\u00a0 \u201cI believe he has something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Some menial task or other, no doubt. All right. I\u2019ll do another menial task for him. It\u2019s the least I can do before I take over the place.<\/em><\/p>\n Andante nodded and continued searching the castle.<\/p>\n Up a short set of stairs and to the back of the castle they found Serana, relaxing in what was possibly the nicest living area in the place. Unlike other rooms it was clean, and free of the blood spatters and spills that covered almost every other surface of the castle. It was obviously Serana\u2019s suite. She seemed pleased to see them, almost eager; and she suggested they check the area where the other thralls slept.<\/p>\n \u201cOh of course. How foolish of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Serana crossed her arms and shook her head. \u201cAre you sure you know what you\u2019re doing, going up against my father? You know what\u2019s going to happen when we get the bow, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he\u2019s going to want to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. And that will also mean he won\u2019t need any of us anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf frowned. \u201cHmm. You\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Andante said. \u201cI\u2019ve proven my value to him, I think. Several times now.\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, you\u2019ve proven your strength to him.\u00a0 That just makes you a more dangerous rival.\u00a0 He has enough of a problem between Vingalmo and Orthjolf, the two of them always trying to figure out how to take the throne from him.\u201d<\/p>\n He considered for a moment. That\u2019s a good point, Serana. And if that\u2019s what he thinks, he\u2019s right. I am a rival, and a dangerous one, and if he recognizes that he\u2019s only living up to my expectations. Excellent. It will be a fine accomplishment indeed to take him out.<\/em><\/p>\n They found Garan Marethi before they located Dexion.\u00a0 Andante stepped up to him, once again marveling at how astonishingly ugly the man was. I wonder if he was attractive when he was a mortal Dunmer. I would imagine it\u2019s been a long immortality for him thus far in terms of finding company on a cold winter\u2019s night.<\/em> He was pleasant enough, though, and did seem to be largely above the petty squabbling of the other notables.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told you wanted to see me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you can do something to help the Court.\u00a0 One of the feral brood has joined a group of bandits, presumably with aims to give the gift to the entire lot of them. Needless to say, we can\u2019t abide that, as it would raise general alarm amongst the herd, to say nothing of the increased feeding competition.\u00a0 You are to destroy the feral creature before this small problem becomes\u2026 a larger one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need any more rival groups out there. I can do that. Where is this problem?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBroken Helm Hollow, in the Rift.\u00a0 You know the place?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t, but maybe\u2026\u201d Andante turned to Brynjolf, who groaned.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. It\u2019s almost as far from here as it\u2019s possible to get and still be in Skyrim. Sneeze and you\u2019re in Morrowind. But I know where it is. I can get you there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. We\u2019ll take care of it then.\u201d\u00a0 He half-bowed to Marethi. As they continued on to where the thralls were kept, Andante murmured to Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m beginning to appreciate the idea of a carriage more and more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAye. We can always take a blanket to protect your delicate backside, lad.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante snickered. \u201cYou like my delicate backside to be delicate, and don\u2019t try to deny it.\u00a0 I know you too well at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have nothing to say to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dexion was sleeping on a nasty bedroll set amongst piles of rotting bones in the same cell as two of Harkon\u2019s \u201ccattle,\u201d a heavy bandage wound around his head. Andante frowned to see the bandage, but gratefully took advantage of the neck of the female prisoner, being very careful not to drain her dry. Then he knelt and woke Dexion from his slumber.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve brought the Elder Scrolls to you, Dexion, the two you have yet to see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I won\u2019t be able to help you with the scrolls, any longer, milord.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t be angry with me. In my haste to read the first scroll I neglected the time I needed to prepare.\u00a0 The failure is purely my own. It\u2019s not that I\u2019m unwilling to help you, milord, it\u2019s that, well, as you can see from my bandages, I\u2019m physically unable to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy the Eight,\u201d Brynjolf grumbled behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re blind? Then\u2026 what can we do? All that for nothing, Dexion?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no further use for him,\u201d Brynjolf muttered.\u00a0 Andante shot him a quick glance and shook his head. Surely he\u2019s not suggesting we dispose of the man, is he? Not yet, anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWait, milord. I could perhaps offer you an alternative way to read the scrolls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that would be? Get to it, please.\u201d<\/p>\n Dexion went on at great length. It seemed that the very moths his sect revered, the Ancestor Moths, had a sort of natural harmonic resonance with the Scrolls themselves. If enough of them could be attracted, by using the bark of a Canticle tree collected with a special drawing knife, this connection could be exploited to safely read the Scrolls.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how do I know that I will survive this, when you were blinded by reading just one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Elder Scrolls tend to be found by those they wish to find them.\u00a0 There is a reason you have them.\u201d<\/p>\n They left the chamber and climbed back to Serana\u2019s room.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it seems it\u2019s back to Falkreath,\u201d Brynjolf told her, after explaining what they\u2019d learned.\u00a0 \u201cI think you should come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante sighed.\u00a0 \u201cIf for no other reason than to help Brynjolf get home safely if I don\u2019t make it.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t you make it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause two of those scrolls didn\u2019t choose me.\u00a0 One of them was with Serana. The other was Dardeh\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf and Serana swapped glances.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a point. Admit it. Well, there\u2019s no better alternative.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n As they walked into the dark, narrow opening of the cave, Serana made a disappointed noise.<\/p>\n \u201cNot very impressive, is it.\u00a0 If this ends up being a wasted trip your friend Dexion and I are going to have some words when we get back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShh. Hush, would you? We don\u2019t know what\u2019s in here.\u201d\u00a0 Andante dropped into a crouch and crept forward, his weapons drawn, ready to attack or defend as the situation required.\u00a0 He walked up a dirt ramp, crossed a ditch by way of a fallen tree, and worked his way quietly down a long, winding, narrow tunnel.\u00a0 Nothing leapt out, or threatened, or even made a noise.\u00a0 And then the tunnel emptied into an enormous, open-to-the-sky cavern.<\/p>\n It was beautiful. Full of trees, several of which had pink blossoms, the cavern had stone steps along its steeper edges and pathways running through it. The place smelled damp, the healthy dampness of growing things, but with a slight hint of minerals. A substantial waterfall at the far side filled the space with sound; and a column of light from the opening in the glade\u2019s roof shone down onto a pair of stone circles, one of which held an upright circular sculpture.<\/p>\n \u201cWow,\u201d Serana said.\u00a0 \u201cLook at this place.\u00a0 No one\u2019s been here in centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante made a disgusted noise even as he began slipping down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat leads you to make that observation, Serana?\u00a0 I thought you\u2019d been locked away underground for longer than that. Or do you have some special abilities we didn\u2019t know about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI, uh\u2026 \u201c<\/p>\n Brynjolf snickered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just looked that way to me,\u201d Serana huffed. \u201cI doubt there\u2019s any other place like it in Skyrim. It\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s full of moths,\u201d Andante said, pointing at several moving clusters of them. \u201cDid I ever mention that I hate flying insects? Of all kinds?\u00a0 Annoying flappity things, they are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet over it, lad,\u201d Brynjolf said, his voice betraying his amusement. \u201cWe came to find the moths. You want them to be attracted to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you<\/em> want them to be attracted to me. Better them than Durnheviir, I suppose,\u201d Andante grumbled.<\/p>\n The pathway led down into the glade, where it became clear why this spot was so lush and warm.\u00a0 At the base of the cavern were a number of steaming hot pools, much like those that made up most of Eastmarch, but not nearly as foul-smelling. The trees and other plants clearly loved it. He loved it, too, if he was honest; it was warm and peaceful and lovely, and he would never admit that to Serana no matter how many centuries they might happen to live. Andante waded through them to the stone sculpture, a circular structure that had a strange, double-handled tool suspended in the middle of it.\u00a0 He removed it, and scanned the area.<\/p>\n \u201cWell we found the knife,\u201d Serana said.\u00a0 \u201cNow all we need to do is find one of those canticle trees.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante looked at Brynjolf and rolled his eyes.\u00a0 Brynjolf had his arms crossed, with one corner of his mouth quirked upward, and was clearly doing his best not to chuckle.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you couldn\u2019t possibly mean one of these<\/em>, could you?\u201d Andante said, walking about five paces to one of the blossoming trees they had just passed getting to the knife.\u00a0 Serana tsk\u2019d behind him.\u00a0 Well don\u2019t make idiotic observations, then, Serana, and I won\u2019t make sarcastic remarks to you in response.<\/em><\/p>\n He scraped the bark a few times, in the way that Dexion had described, and then started meandering around the glade. It didn\u2019t take more than a few moments until the first cluster of moths began flying around his head.\u00a0 Andante gritted his teeth and forced himself not to swat at them.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at them,\u201d Serana chuckled. \u201cThey\u2019ve definitely taken a liking to you. And unless I\u2019m seeing things you\u2019re starting to\u2026 glimmer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am not<\/em> glimmering, Serana,\u201d Andante hissed between clenched jaws.\u00a0 \u201cVampires don\u2019t glimmer. They don\u2019t shine, or shimmer, or glitter, or anything of the like. Vampires are creatures of the dark; surely you know that. The moths are merely attracted to the smell of the bark scrapings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say so, Andante.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued walking, up the stairs on the far side and along a path near the waterfall, attracting moths as he moved.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely glimmering, lad,\u201d Brynjolf called up to him.<\/p>\n \u201cArrgh.\u201d<\/p>\n The worst of it was that if he looked down at himself he could see that yes, he was surrounded by a barely visible aura; a glowing, golden halo. It was humiliating. It meant, though, that the moths were behaving just as Dexion had said they would \u2013 attuning themselves to the Elder Scrolls and to him.\u00a0 As he approached the bottom of the glade once more the glow was a clearly visible golden sphere of energy, and he had dozens of ancestor moths revolving about him.<\/p>\n This is the worst kind of torture.\u00a0 I just want to run away waving my arms and swatting the things.<\/em><\/p>\n He sighed, and stepped into the column of light shining on the empty circular platform. This was, Dexion had said, the place where the reading should be attempted.<\/p>\n \u201cAre we ready for this?\u201d he asked them.\u00a0 That\u2019s pointless. The real question is am I ready for it, and I suppose there\u2019s no help for it if I really want that castle. Do I? Do I really want to take on Harkon for that castle?<\/em><\/p>\n From deep within him came the ferocious answer, almost an animalistic snarling. Yes I do. I will have that castle, and that court. What a ridiculous question.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAye, lad. Good luck. And don\u2019t worry. I\u2019ll get you out of here if anything goes wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled at Brynjolf, and pulled out the first of the Elder Scrolls.<\/p>\n Simply looking at the scroll itself was not problematic; he merely pulled one end of it down and gazed at the patterns on its surface. As he did so, he became aware of a humming sound, wavering back and forth between two tones that he decided must be the harmonics of the ancestor moths. Those things were not a problem. The problem with the process became clear after he released the scroll to let it wind itself closed again. Its pattern left an impression on his eyes so vivid that while he could make out Brynjolf\u2019s form behind it, he could easily understand how a person could go blind by reading them.\u00a0 Worse still, the pattern expanded as he stood there, filling his peripheral vision as well.<\/p>\n I\u2019m afraid. Oblivion take me but I am afraid of this. <\/em>He focused as hard as he could on the increasingly blurry form topped with flame-red hair, swallowed hard, and pulled out the next scroll to read. The same thing happened a second time; but this time a strange mark snaked his way across his vision like a trail. Or a river, he thought. It has a familiar shape. I think I know this river. On the third reading, he ceased being able to see through the vision, and lost track of where Brynjolf was. It was clear that he was looking at a map with both Markarth and Solitude marked, as well as a third location, midway between the two, a place he\u2019d never been in but the name of which was now as clear in his mind as if he\u2019d visited it a thousand times.<\/p>\n Suddenly his vision went completely white, and he cried out. It didn\u2019t work. The Elder Scrolls rejected me. I can\u2019t see.<\/em><\/p>\n He felt himself toppling forward, but two strong arms caught him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, lad, I\u2019ve got you,\u201d Brynjolf\u2019s voice murmured in his ear.<\/p>\n Andante clung to him. \u201cI can\u2019t see,\u201d he whispered. \u201cBryn, I can\u2019t see.\u201d He gasped for air, panicked, nearly in tears.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be alright, Andante.\u00a0 Just breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n And he did that. He squeezed his eyes shut, wrapped himself around Brynjolf and stood, shaking, trying to catch his breath and calm himself.\u00a0 As his heart slowed back to normal, he peeled his eyes open, slowly, and the colors of the glade slowly filled in around him.<\/p>\n \u201cBy all the gods,\u201d he laughed in relief. \u201cIt\u2019s back. My vision is back. It worked after all.\u201d\u00a0 He hugged Brynjolf tightly for another moment and then let go of him. \u201cThank you,\u201d he whispered, smiling at the one person he cared about most.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you ok?\u201d Serana asked from behind him. \u201cAlmost thought we lost you there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am,\u201d Andante said. \u201cI thought we lost me, too. But I\u2019m fine. And I know where we have to go to get Auriel\u2019s Bow. It\u2019s a place called Darkfall Cave, up in a valley between Markarth and Solitude.\u00a0 The Scrolls showed me right where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen let\u2019s get going,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to get there before my father has a chance to track us down.\u201d She started toward the stairs leading out and turned back, smiling. \u201cIt\u2019s finally almost over. We can rewrite the prophecy as we see fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled back, a wide smile that revealed the extent of his fangs.\u00a0 Yes, we can. You have no idea.<\/em><\/p>\n They\u2019d barely reached the base of the staircase when the attack came.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve already lost!\u201d cried one of the four Dawnguard who rushed down the stairs, an armored troll in their wake bellowing its rage.<\/p>\n Serana shot lightning, Brynjolf rammed the first man with his shield and slashed at the second with a quick turn.\u00a0 Andante began draining the third, and then realized that they would do better with four against four.\u00a0 He thought for a moment and then fired off an infrequently-used spell to summon a Dremora churl before turning his attentions, and his axe, to the troll.<\/p>\n The battle didn\u2019t last long, but was ferocious nonetheless. At one point he had to chase one of the Dawnguard and freeze him with a Shout, because the man was running away up the staircase to get a better vantage point from which to fire silver-tipped crossbow bolts.\u00a0 After he fell, it was a simple matter to dispatch him; and by the time Andante turned back to the others they had finished with the rest of the Dawnguard.\u00a0 The Dremora landed the final blow on the final adversary, then looked at Andante and dissipated.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was convenient,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m glad it lasted as long as it did. Is everyone alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we are,\u201d Brynjolf nodded.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get going before we have more uninvited guests to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded and led the way up the stairway toward the exit.\u00a0 \u201cI think it\u2019s dark out. Depending on how dark,\u201d he said, \u201cI think we should try to make it to Markarth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds good to me,\u201d Serana agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cThese things are uncommonly heavy,\u201d Andante grumped as they started up the ramp to Castle Volkihar.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s no wonder Dardeh was complaining about having to carry one all the way up to the top of the mountain.\u00a0 They\u2019re heavy and they\u2019re awkward.\u201d \u201cMakes you feel for Serana, just a bit, doesn\u2019t it, her being so … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/3-2-4-1.png\")
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<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/3-2-4-6.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/3-2-4-7.png\")
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