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<\/p>\n\u201cSo, he truly is Dragonborn, in the ancient sense of the word?\u201d\u00a0 Edwyn asked, looking up from his volume. Agryn was nodding vigorously.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what she told me, my lord. She\u2019s heard others refer to him as Dragonborn, including the people in his household. The Jarl of Falkreath and his staff refer to him as Dragonborn. More importantly, she has witnessed him absorbing the energy from a dying dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cReally.\u201d Edwyn smiled slowly. \u201cNow that is in fact an intriguing bit of information.\u201d He stood and began tracing a slow path around the Archmage\u2019s quarters where he\u2019d asked Agryn to meet him, where he\u2019d gone to continue his research and remove himself from the possibility of Elisif discovering that it wasn\u2019t him she\u2019d been with.<\/p>\n
The Dragonborn throughout the ages have been exceedingly rare, but especially gifted. They were, so it seems, able to use the power of the dragon tongue without any particular training. They were able to absorb a dragon\u2019s power. Some say they are dragons themselves, in human form. And only those of the bloodline of the Dragonborn were considered legitimate Emperors.<\/em><\/p>\n I know not where the truth lies with respect to this magical ability but I do know that power flows with the blood. It was thus with Molag Bal\u2019s gift to the vampire lord. It was thus with Hircine\u2019s gift to the were folk. I see no reason why it should not be the case that the power of the Dragonborn also flows in the blood. <\/em><\/p>\n How much of his blood I would need, I don\u2019t know. However, I do know how to ensure that whatever I need is readily available to me.<\/em><\/p>\n Edwyn turned to his most trusted lieutenant and smiled. \u201cAgryn, it is time that I share my thoughts on this matter with you.\u00a0 And then\u2026\u201d he trailed off, rubbing his hands together.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a very long time since I have had a proper hunt. I believe it is time for me to make a thrall of my own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n Edwyn nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI see no reason to rely solely on the chance that our friend Geor is successful in his rather strenuous efforts to get Elisif with child in order to secure the High Throne of Skyrim. How good it would be to also provide the Empire with a candidate who carries the blood of the true Emperors, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn found a chair and dragged it near to the one Edwyn favored.\u00a0 He waved at Edwyn\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n \u201cNo one can doubt that you truly are Dragonborn!\u201d Roggi exclaimed once again, as the great forest dragon crackled and burned beside them.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah. That and ten septims will get me a tankard of ale.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh grinned as the last of the beast\u2019s energy flowed into him. It had surprised them heading west out of Helgen, and by the time they\u2019d won it had become a cloudy, and thus very dark, night.<\/p>\n A tankard of ale, unwanted attention \u2013 and more power than any one man really ought to have at his disposal. And yet, how many times over would I be dead if not for Roggi?\u00a0 My life is entirely too strange.<\/em><\/p>\n You were right to choose him, my sweet boy.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh blinked.\u00a0 It had been a very long time since he\u2019d heard his mother\u2019s comforting voice in his mind.<\/p>\n Ma?<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, Dar. Take care of Roggi. He is a good man, in spite of everything he says to deny it.<\/em><\/p>\n I know he is, Ma. He\u2019s my reason for being.<\/em><\/p>\n Yes, he is. You\u2019re on the right path, Dardeh. You\u2019re doing a good thing, the two of you.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh jumped when Roggi\u2019s warm hand came down on his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ok, Dar?\u201d He leaned close, for it was very dark outside. Dardeh jumped.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Yeah I am. I just heard my Ma. In my head.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi\u2019s expression grew even more concerned. \u201cAw Dar, not again? More things nobody else can see or hear?\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cNow come on, love of my life. You know my mother has been known to tell me things in my dreams. This time she told me you\u2019re a good man.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi dropped his hand from Dardeh\u2019s shoulder and snorted. \u201cYou weren\u2019t dreaming. And I think all this dragon energy is doing things to your mind. Me, a good man? Come on, let\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh smiled, and followed Roggi back down the slope where they\u2019d killed the dragon and onto the roadway. \u201cWell, you are. And my Ma would know good when she saw it.\u201d\u00a0 He reached for Roggi\u2019s hand and stopped him for a moment. \u201cShe told me that she knew you were the one a long time before we ever so much as kissed, Roggi. She knew.\u201d\u00a0 He leaned forward and caressed Roggi\u2019s lips with his own, smiling internally at Roggi\u2019s immediate \u2013 and very positive \u2013 reaction.\u00a0 The moment seemed to last much longer than it actually was; then Roggi pulled back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, this is great and all,\u201d he said, his voice slightly husky, \u201cbut we probably should get home and out of the dark where we\u2019re vampire bait.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cTrue. Let\u2019s go.\u201d They started back down the road toward the far end of the lake. \u201cBesides, I want to make a new sword.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0 Dardeh glanced down at the blades he\u2019d been carrying for months and nodded. \u201cI love this long blade but I\u2019m better with scimitars. It\u2019s what I grew up with. I\u2019ll never use my father\u2019s swords again but this ebony beast I made \u2013 it feels right in the hand. I\u2019m going to make another one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are pretty good with it,\u201d Roggi agreed. \u201cThe longer I know you, the more Redguard you become.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh chuckled. \u201cWell, I guess it could be worse. It seems as though a lot of the power comes from that side of my heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi snorted. \u201cAnd Talos was a Nord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Talos wasn\u2019t my da.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, you win, Dragonborn. Listen, let\u2019s stop at the inn in Falkreath and see whether we can find out anything about this Reinhardt guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Dead Man\u2019s Drink was doing a thriving business when they stopped in. It was noisy, and smoky, and the bard was singing over the voices of many people trying to chat and drink and laugh.\u00a0 Dardeh had to smile. It was good to see life returning to some semblance of normalcy after the war, although he did catch a bit of conversation about the Thalmor and Talos worship.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a bit of a concern. It won\u2019t really be over until we rid ourselves of the Thalmor, will it.\u00a0 I hate to admit it, but Ulfric is right about that \u2013 they\u2019re bound to return in force.<\/em><\/p>\n He looked around and spotted an unfamiliar face, on a man seated at one of the tables.<\/p>\n \u201cHi. Are you Reinhardt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And you are?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh. Marcus Jannus sent us to check on his lumber shipments.\u201d<\/p>\n The man looked up at him \u2013 nervously, Dardeh thought \u2013 and then covered his expression by taking a drink from his tankard. Once he was done he nodded, and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cMarcus Jannus? Ah yes, the fellow from Chorrol. Well, tell him we\u2019re short-handed on help right now, but we\u2019re getting to him as quickly as we can. Bolund has injured his back and is convalescing, so I don\u2019t have anyone to work the mill. I\u2019m trying to hire more help, but I haven\u2019t had any luck.\u201d He nodded again, and smiled at Dardeh as if he assumed that would be the end of the conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d Dardeh said, nodding. \u201cAnd you would have told Marcus that\u2026 when, exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook, if you want your lumber any faster, you\u2019ll have to saw the logs yourself. Then I can send them to be cut into your lumber. Let\u2019s see now, looks like his first order would be for roughly fifteen timbers, so that should get you started.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHang on now. You want me<\/em> to saw the logs we already paid for?\u201d<\/p>\n The man frowned. \u201cNo one has paid me anything in full; I was only paid a deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh felt warmth just behind him and grinned, knowing that Roggi must be there giving the man one of his special looks. Reinhardt swallowed hard and looked back up at Dardeh.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026 I can adjust the final price to reflect your sweat equity.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be the least you could do,\u201d Dardeh said dryly.<\/p>\n \u201cI will make sure you get a fair price given the nature of my current situation. It\u2019s only fifteen logs. It won\u2019t take any time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the point, Reinhardt.\u201d Dardeh sighed. \u201cAlright, but it had best be a really big discount. I hear Riverwood is looking for contracts, and I know them better than I know you.\u201d<\/p>\n Reinhardt shook his head vehemently. \u201cNo need to get hasty. I\u2019ll make it worth your while.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh nodded, and turned to find Roggi. He\u2019d stepped closer to the bard, who was singing a plaintive rendition of \u201cTales of the Tongues.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head and nodded toward the bard. \u201cHe dedicated it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n The bard had nearly reached the end of the song. \u201cIf Alduin is eternal, then eternity\u2019s done; for his story is over and the dragons are gone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh snorted. \u201cWell he shouldn\u2019t have. Alduin\u2019s gone, but the dragons certainly aren\u2019t, prophecies and legends be damned.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi took his hand. \u201cDar. You still killed Alduin. That means you saved us all. Let the bard sing in your honor if he feels it right to do.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n The next morning dawned gray and rainy.\u00a0 Dardeh kept swinging his new scimitar all the way back to the lumberyard, testing its balance and weight. It was a good sword, and it matched the other.<\/p>\n He walked up the ramp to the saw and threw the lever to get things started. The mechanism clunked and whirred, and Dardeh sighed in resignation. It didn\u2019t matter how big he was, or how used to hard work; wrestling the logs down into the saw was strenuous and he wasn\u2019t looking forward to it.\u00a0 He stepped back to reach for the logging hook and turned, nearly running into a man, a Nord, who looked familiar and yet unfamiliar at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. So Reinhardt finally found someone who will work for free? Nice. I tell you, that man has no shame.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh blinked. It was obvious this person was related to Bolund, the former mill owner; they looked enough alike to be brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. Work for free? What are you talking about? And who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Rolund. Since my cousin Bolund has been down on his back I came to fill in for him. But I haven\u2019t been paid in weeks!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d Roggi was standing behind the man, and the wary tone of his voice had Dardeh concerned as well.<\/p>\n Rolund snorted. \u201cI have an idea, but I can\u2019t prove it. I\u2019ve probably said too much already. You\u2019d better get to work \u2013 those logs aren\u2019t going to saw themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to leave, but Roggi was standing behind him blocking his path. He didn\u2019t exactly loom<\/em> over Rolund, but it was clear that the man wasn\u2019t going anywhere right away.<\/p>\n \u201cJust because Reinhardt can\u2019t pay you doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA thousand gold,\u201d Roggi said, pulling a fat purse of coin out from the folds of his armor and bouncing it in his hand a few times. It made a very satisfying chinking sound, and Rolund\u2019s eyes began to sparkle.<\/p>\n \u201cRoggi, that\u2019s\u2026\u201d Dardeh sputtered.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Dar, it\u2019s ok. I\u2019ll pay him. I have a feeling about this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take it,\u201d Rolund said. \u201cThat\u2019s a generous offer and the folks in Helgen deserve their lumber delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Roggi said. \u201cNow tell us about this Reinhardt.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolund laughed, a brief, humorless burst of sound. \u201cWell I can tell you there\u2019s nothing wrong with Bolund\u2019s back. We just told Reinhardt that because we refuse to work for free. That damn idiot keeps gambling away all our money!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Dardeh felt the embers of anger in him starting to warm. \u201cWhat are you talking about, gambling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that damn Fight Cave. He\u2019s addicted to it. He\u2019s lost all his money gambling on those damn fights. He doesn\u2019t have any money to pay me, so I ain\u2019t working until he can<\/em> pay. Ask Reinhardt if you want to know any more. Tell him I said anything, and I\u2019ll deny it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, we get it,\u201d Roggi mumbled, handing Rolund a coin purse. \u201cThat\u2019s half. The rest when the lumber\u2019s done and you can trust us. He\u2019s the Jarl\u2019s Thane.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolund nodded, and pointed out a home halfway up the hill behind the lumberyard as being Reinhardt\u2019s. Then he took the hook out of Dardeh\u2019s hands. As Dardeh and Roggi started up the hill toward the house, they heard the familiar sounds of a grunt of exertion and a loud thud as Rolund pulled the first of the great logs from the stack and settled it into the saw\u2019s trough.<\/p>\n Dardeh pounded on the door, and then led the way inside when they heard Reinhardt shout for them to come in. He watched with amusement as Reinhardt\u2019s expression changed, seeing who it was that had come to visit.\u00a0 He\u2019d been standing near the cookpot, stirring something savory, and he suddenly grew even busier with the stirring and mixing.\u00a0 Dardeh was amused. He\u2019d never set out to be an intimidating man, but that did in fact seem to be how his life had evolved.<\/p>\n \u201cYou lied to me,\u201d he said quietly, but in a tone that would tell Reinhardt he meant business. \u201cI know about the Fight Cave.\u201d<\/p>\n The man turned to glance at him, his eyes wide. \u201cAh! Those cousins, always running off at the mouth. That Rolund doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stepped out from behind Dardeh and laughed. \u201cOh, he knows what he\u2019s talking about. He\u2019s willing to work, but he says you can\u2019t pay him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we know you already got a deposit for the lumber,\u201d Dardeh added.<\/p>\n \u201cArrrgh.\u201d Reinhardt shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I lied to you. You had me trapped down there at the inn and I didn\u2019t know what to do.\u00a0 But maybe you can help me out of this problem I\u2019m in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should we help you, you liar?\u201d Roggi growled. Reinhardt swallowed hard.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause unless you do, it could be weeks before that lumber gets delivered to Helgen. Rolund is right. I\u2019m broke, and I can\u2019t pay anyone for their work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd our deposit?\u201d Dardeh said.<\/p>\n \u201cLost it. Gone. Went on a bad run in the Fight Cave. But that\u2019s where you can help me.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi and Dardeh exchanged a look.\u00a0 Roggi raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n Dardeh sighed. \u201cAlright, spill.\u201d<\/p>\n Reinhardt\u2019s expression brightened a bit. \u201cI take my last bit of gold and bet on you. You fight and win enough times, and I\u2019ll make my money back! And you keep your earnings from the Pit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk,\u201d Dardeh said, \u201cWhat\u2019s this Pit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like an Arena. Men fight, people bet, try to win money. The fighters are paid if they win. If they lose, well, you know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFight to the death?\u201d Roggi asked, stroking his beard with one hand.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. You use any armor, weapon or magic you like, but no Giants or creatures are allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh and Roggi stared at each other for what felt like a long while, trying to come to an understanding. Finally Roggi nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, we\u2019ll do it,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cHow do I get in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to have a recommendation. Take this letter to Goreau. It\u2019s from a friend of mine in Cyrodiil. It was for another fighter that, uh, met an untimely end; so don\u2019t ask questions. The cave\u2019s a little ways down the west road out of town. Looks like a mine entrance, but it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know where that is. We pass it all the time,\u201d Roggi said, nodding.<\/p>\n \u201cOne last thing,\u201d Reinhardt said. \u201cWe must have no further contact until all of this is over. Once I get my money back, I\u2019m done with that Pit for good. If you try to talk to me in the cave I won\u2019t know you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh,\u201d Dardeh said, taking the letter from him.<\/p>\n \u201cDouble cross us and you\u2019re a dead man,\u201d Roggi growled.<\/p>\n Reinhardt threw his hands up in front of his body in a defensive posture. \u201cHey, hey, hey! Calm down!\u00a0 You think I don\u2019t know that? I just want to get back on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we want Helgen back on its feet,\u201d Dardeh said. \u201cSo no funny business. You really don\u2019t want to know how I take out my enemies.\u201d\u00a0 He watched in satisfaction and a fair amount of amusement as all the color drained out of Reinhardt\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Roggi said, heading out the door.<\/p>\n Dardeh followed him, shaking his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Roggi. Fight to the death?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi laughed. \u201cAnd you with your Shouts and a flame wraith? I think you\u2019ll be fine. Of course, if you\u2019d rather have an actual brawler handle it for you, I\u2019d be more than happy to do the honors. I, uh, may or may not have tried my luck at a few similar contests before. I know the ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh laughed. \u201cSomething else I\u2019ve never heard about? You never cease to amaze me.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi grinned at him. \u201cI did a lot of things when I was a young man, Dar. That\u2019s part of the reason they noticed me when I joined up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but fight to the death?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Listen, what else do we do when we take on a dragon? Get hurt, you heal up and continue. If you fail, it\u2019s over and there\u2019s nothing to be done about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh stopped him by reaching out a hand. \u201cAnd that\u2019s exactly why it worries me, love. I don\u2019t know what I would do if\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He was about to continue, but heard a female voice yelling his name.<\/p>\n \u201cDardeh? Dardeh!\u201d<\/p>\n He peered down the road and saw Rayya running as hard as she could toward them.\u00a0 She pulled up, breathing hard, and put out a hand to steady herself on Dardeh\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, my\u2026 Thane,\u201d she said, panting. \u201cYou must come. Dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOut on the plains, between Gavrostead and Rorikstead. They sent a man to the house to get you but he couldn\u2019t run anymore, so here I am. Please hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh turned to Roggi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi shook his head. \u201cThere\u2019s only one thing we can do, Dar. You go and get the dragon.\u00a0 I\u2019ll go deal with the Pit.\u201d<\/p>\n Warning bells were ringing in Dardeh\u2019s head. Take care of him, Ma said. I can\u2019t take care of him if I\u2019m off fighting a dragon!<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo, Roggi, we can\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi stopped him with a quick kiss. \u201cDar. Go.<\/em> I\u2019ll be fine. Helgen needs the lumber, soon, and you\u2019re the only one who can kill a dragon. We can take care of two things at once. Go, before the dragon kills more people!\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh pulled away reluctantly and handed Roggi the letter Reinhardt had given him. \u201cAlright.\u00a0 Rayya, lead the way.\u00a0 Roggi\u2026 you be careful. I can\u2019t lose you.\u201d<\/p>\n Roggi smiled. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Dar. It\u2019ll take more than a fight pit to get rid of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Rayya tugged on his arm, and Dardeh turned to follow her back through Falkreath. They both settled into the ground-covering lope that saved both time and energy. It was going to be dark by the time they reached the tundra as it was.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Edwyn Wickham and Agryn Gernic crouched in the shadows outside Broken Fang Cave. They\u2019d gone inside earlier and cleared out a number of what Edwyn considered lower-class vampires, Edwyn having enjoyed the taste of the Nightlord\u2019s remaining blood very much in spite of it. He intended to keep his newest thrall in that very cave for the time being; it would be quite comfortable for him, and out of sight of all the problematic authorities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s getting dark,\u201d he said. \u201cAre you certain that they will be here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs certain as I can be,\u201d Agryn said. \u201cThe woman was discontented with her assignment to the Dragonborn\u2019s household to begin with, and as a thrall she is more than happy to do anything I ask. I impressed on her that it was of the utmost importance to bring him back here just as soon as possible. It should be any time now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019ll be alone?\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I can\u2019t imagine his husband would be much of an issue for either of us to subdue, though I\u2019d prefer not to have to test that out. He\u2019s a pretty substantial Nord.\u201d<\/p>\n Edwyn raised an eyebrow and snorted derisively. \u201cOne of those<\/em>, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n Edwyn chuckled. \u201cI\u2019ve never understood men who love men. There are so many lovely women in the world. Well, at least it\u2019s not something \u2026 contagious. His blood will still be Dragonborn blood, regardless.\u201d<\/p>\n Agryn cleared his throat. \u201cThat was, in fact, one of the reasons the housecarl was so easy to persuade. It seems that she was rather smitten of the man. And he \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTurned her down, I have no doubt of it. As long as it made her pliable, it\u2019s all the same to me.\u201d<\/p>\n They were quiet for a few moments. Edwyn\u2019s excitement was building. Would Harkon have been pleased with him, that he had come upon another potential way to gain the prize they\u2019d been seeking all those many centuries? It was good that the union with Elisif had gone to plan, but there was no guarantee that the Nords would react as they\u2019d both expected. This would give them an extra edge, another path to the goal. He was lost in thought, remembering conversations he\u2019d had with Harkon about their joint enterprise, when Agryn tapped his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cUp there. See?\u201d He pointed toward the roadway a goodly distance to the south. \u201cFigures. Two of them. They\u2019re some distance away but I\u2019m going to bet that\u2019s them.\u201d<\/p>\n Edwyn squinted. There were indeed two figures moving down out of the hills and onto the tundra. He grinned behind the black mask he\u2019d donned, not wanting to chance being recognized, and ran his tongue over his substantial fangs. It had been a long while since he\u2019d anticipated the taste of blood quite so much.<\/p>\n \u201cGet ready, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am.\u201d Agryn drew his sword and gathered the red glow of his life-draining magic into his left hand. \u201cI\u2019m always ready for this kind of a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n The light was fading fast when Dardeh and Rayya dropped down from the hills onto the tundra.\u00a0 As they did, he slowed to a stop and cocked his head to one side, listening.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t hear anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was farther out on the plains, my Thane. Please come quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to frown at her.<\/p>\n \u201cRayya, I don\u2019t see a dragon and I don\u2019t hear a dragon. I can hear a dragon from leagues away at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, my lord. It was out here just burning everything within reach.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh ran his hand up over his head and through his hair, scratching his scalp through the thick, unruly bunches of it. \u201cHonestly. How many times have I told you not to call me \u2018my lord,\u2019 or \u2018my Thane,\u2019 or \u2018Dragonborn?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir,\u201d Rayya said apologetically.<\/p>\n Dardeh was more than a little annoyed with her. But she looked at him with those enormous eyes, and the adoring expression she\u2019d given him ever since she\u2019d met him, and he just sighed.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t understand women. I don\u2019t understand men being with women. Well \u2013 I do, but I don\u2019t. But those eyes\u2026 They\u2019re so hard to ignore.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI swear to Talos, if you\u2019ve dragged me all the way down here for nothing, Rayya, I\u2019m going to be more than a little upset. Roggi\u2019s putting himself on the line and I can\u2019t be there to help him because of this. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ll do if he gets hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Actually, he won\u2019t get hurt. If he loses, it will be because he\u2019s dead, and\u2026 <\/em>His throat began to close up just thinking about it. If he dies, I may as well be dead myself.<\/em><\/p>\n If he dies, so does Reinhardt. <\/em><\/p>\n Rayya shook her head. \u201cRoggi will be fine. I know it. He\u2019s such a fine fighter; you know he\u2019ll be fine. But you\u2019re the only one who can do this. You\u2019re the Dragonborn!\u201d<\/p>\n She sounded so earnest. She looked so concerned.\u00a0 Dardeh sighed, and scanned the horizon once more. There was so little light in the sky that it was almost impossible to tell what was where; but he could see the occasional bird or bat as it zipped across the plains. If there was a dragon, surely he\u2019d see at least its shadow in front of the brightening stars.<\/p>\n \u201cOk, let\u2019s go. Maybe it\u2019s landed for the moment. I still don\u2019t hear it but I\u2019m not willing to let a dragon get away if I can get rid of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. Good. Follow me,\u201d she said, heading off into the grasslands. He followed, watching her at first and then listening to the sounds of her footsteps in front of him as the light faded and night began to close in.<\/p>\n They ran for a good long while. Dardeh\u2019s discomfort increased with every minute that passed. A dragon should have sensed the Dovahkiin\u2019s presence. It should have been circling, looking for him, getting ready to assert its dominance over him in the same way he was readying himself to fight it; but he sensed nothing. Then the quality of the sounds returning to him changed. They were nearing something \u2013a hill, or a building, or something that deadened the sounds of their passage.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not right. Something isn\u2019t right about this.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere you are!\u201d he heard in front of him. He slammed his hood down over his head and pulled his ebony scimitars as a figure stepped toward him out of the dark.<\/p>\n It was a Breton \u2013 a handsome one, a small part of Dardeh\u2019s mind observed \u2013 wearing lightweight leather armor with red cloth sleeves beneath bronzed pauldrons. \u00a0He knew this armor, or at least armor very like it; for both Andante and Brynjolf had worn similar clothing when they were together. Even as Dardeh was recognizing that it was going to be yet another vampire battle, the man extended his left hand and began casting in Dardeh\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n And then something happened that Dardeh was not expecting.\u00a0 Rayya began moving toward the vampire, but not as quickly as he would have thought she would to attack the creature.<\/p>\n \u201cRayya! Move!\u201d he bellowed.<\/p>\n The Breton bared his fangs and laughed. \u201cYes, Rayya. Move aside.\u201d<\/p>\n Dardeh thought he heard Rayya speaking, but he wasn\u2019t sure what she was saying. \u201c\u2026as you asked,\u201d he thought he heard.<\/p>\n Something isn\u2019t right. What is happening? <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTime to come with us to your new life, Dragonborn<\/em>,\u201d the vampire said, stepping toward him. \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll enjoy it a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh shit.<\/em><\/p>\n Dardeh backpedaled into the darkness behind him. He was completely confused. It was a vampire closing in on him, a strong one if he was any judge at all of such things, and he couldn\u2019t see more than a few paces in front of himself. And somewhere Rayya was near the vampire and probably in danger.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t think about it. He wasn\u2019t even aware of his body building its energy to react. He simply did what he, the Dragonborn, had become and what he, the Dragonborn, could do better than anyone else in the known world.<\/p>\n \u201cYOL \u2013 TOOR SHUL!\u201d<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t see a thing when the flames enveloped the area in front of him; but he knew he had reached his target. He heard the Breton shriek, and swear, and yell something he couldn\u2019t quite make out as the words of power echoed through the narrow gap in the stones before him and bounced back to him. He heard another shriek, too; a lower voice, as though there was someone else waiting there. He shielded his eyes from the flames and squinted into the darkness, but he\u2019d managed to destroy his own night vision as well as damage the target. What he definitely didn\u2019t see, though, was the red light of the vampiric drain spell, or the vibrant yellow glow of a vampire\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n He waited for a moment, crouched close to the ground, his swords ready \u2013 and listened.\u00a0 It was nearly silent; all he heard was the crackling of the small patches of burning grass he\u2019d ignited. He waited, for what seemed like an interminable length of time but was probably just a few moments. Then he slowly rose from his crouch.<\/p>\n \u201cRayya?\u201d He whispered the name as loudly as he could manage.<\/p>\n It was still silent.<\/p>\n \u201cRayya, are you there?\u201d<\/p>\n He started moving slowly toward where he\u2019d last seen her. She\u2019d been on the right, to his outside.<\/p>\n What just happened here? What in actual Oblivion just\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He tripped.<\/p>\n And almost fell.<\/p>\n And he looked down, and saw a scorched set of steel armor at his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no.\u201d<\/p>\n He knelt down and looked at the still form, very badly burned, over which he had nearly fallen.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no, no, no.\u201d<\/p>\n The Alik\u2019r hood she had worn was still there, but very badly damaged. The smell of burned flesh rose from the ground, assaulting his nose.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Rayya. No. Please, no.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached out and touched her still body, the heat still radiating from the steel armor, nearly burning his hand. He knew she wouldn\u2019t respond to his voice, or his touch, because he\u2019d seen too many enemies fall to his Thu\u2019um before. Still, he shook her shoulder; and as he did, tears started streaming down his face.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Rayya. This wasn\u2019t supposed to happen. I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n He sat there with her for what felt like an eternity. After a few minutes of utter numbness, thoughts started swirling.<\/p>\n She led me here. Not up the road where the dragons usually have hovered. She led me here, where that vampire was waiting, and maybe someone else as well.<\/em><\/p>\n He ran it through his mind again. What had they said? The vampire told her to move aside, and used her name as though he already knew it.\u00a0 She had moved toward him, slowly and had said\u2026<\/p>\n As you asked. That\u2019s what she told him.<\/em><\/p>\n He was controlling her.<\/em><\/p>\n He slowly withdrew his hand, and rose to his feet once again.<\/p>\n She led me here to that vampire because she was a thrall. There\u2019s no dragon here. There never was a dragon here. That vampire got to her somehow, somewhere. And she was going to\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n He blinked several times, and wiped his eyes roughly with his gloved hand.\u00a0 He replayed what he\u2019d heard, in his mind. \u201cWelcome to your new life, Dragonborn,\u201d<\/em> the vampire had said.<\/p>\n He was going to try to turn me. Or enthrall me. Because I\u2019m Dragonborn.<\/em><\/p>\n And she led me to him.<\/em><\/p>\n He turned back to the south and started running, numbly, not looking from side to side or focusing on anything other than the ground before his feet. He ran, and ran; and finally after how much time he didn\u2019t know he let himself quietly into Mammoth Manor and walked to the sideboard that they\u2019d loaded up with the water keg and a dozen or more bottles of mead. He grabbed one of them and sat down by the fire, draining the bottle in one go and setting it back on the table beside him. He thought about getting another. Then he thought about Roggi, and shook his head. He could try to drown this particular sorrow, but it wouldn\u2019t work. It had never worked for Roggi, it hadn\u2019t worked for Brynjolf, and it wouldn\u2019t work for him.<\/p>\n She was leading me to my death, and I killed her.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo, he truly is Dragonborn, in the ancient sense of the word?\u201d\u00a0 Edwyn asked, looking up from his volume. Agryn was nodding vigorously. \u201cThat\u2019s what she told me, my lord. She\u2019s heard others refer to him as Dragonborn, including the people in his household. The Jarl of Falkreath and his staff refer to him as … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/5-1-21-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart I: Modulation<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"