{"id":1049,"date":"2021-08-19T12:19:40","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T18:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1049"},"modified":"2021-08-26T11:25:35","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T17:25:35","slug":"chapter-18","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-1\/part-ii-starlight\/chapter-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 18"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/p>\n

He tried to rest, but sleep eluded him. Between his wolf blood and the shock of reading Kodlak\u2019s thoughts about him, he was simply too agitated to sleep. He heard the others sliding into their cots, their breathing turning to light snores. He was happy someone <\/em>was sleeping. It surely wasn\u2019t him.<\/p>\n

He wanted to wait, to give Eorlund the chance to rest before giving him Kodlak\u2019s fragment of Wuuthrad. Once he couldn\u2019t stand it any longer, he made his way up out of Jorrvaskr to find a dreary, mostly-overcast early morning.<\/p>\n

It looks like I feel.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Eorlund was already at work. Chip approached the old man at the tanning rack and cleared his throat. \u201cI have the fragment for you,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Eorlund answered, the sincerity he packed into two simple words reminding Chip why he liked the old smith so much. \u201cYour shield-siblings have withdrawn to the Underforge. I think they\u2019re waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip felt himself flushing. If they\u2019re waiting for me, then I\u2019ve kept them waiting for hours. Good grief, they\u2019re going to hate me. Especially if I tell them what Kodlak\u2019s journal said! <\/em><\/p>\n

I just won\u2019t tell them. That\u2019s the only way.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOk, thanks. Good luck with remounting Wuuthrad,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be good to see the display full again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm-hmm,\u201d Kodlak murmured, rising from his position at the rack to rustle around in a bag resting on the side of the forge.<\/p>\n

Chip returned down the stairs and around the corner to open the Underforge. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he heard Vilkas continuing what was clearly an ongoing argument.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe old man had one wish before he died, and he didn\u2019t get it,\u201d he grumbled. \u201cIt\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkas was standing next to the wall, frowning, silent, and clearly deep in thought. Aela, though, looked animated and not necessarily in a good way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing moonborn is not so much of a curse as you might think, Vilkas,\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n

Oh good. And I thought Vilkas and I were the ones with the rough relationship. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s fine for you,\u201d Vilkas snapped, \u201cbut he wanted to be clean! He wanted to meet Ysgramor and know the glories of Sovngarde! But all that was taken from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip stepped toward Farkas, who looked up at him but didn\u2019t speak. Chip\u2019s gut twisted anxiously. Farkas hadn\u2019t said a word directly to Chip in the entire time since Chip returned from Glenmoril.<\/p>\n

And what<\/em> would he say to me, anyway? Face it, I don\u2019t know him as well as I would like to think I did. Perhaps he feels it is all my fault. Maybe it is.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you avenged him, you and Chip,\u201d Aela said, sounding impatient.<\/p>\n

Farkas gave Chip another long look and then, as Chip walked away, finally spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cKodlak did not care for vengeance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip winced. He\u2019s right. He didn\u2019t like it when Aela and I tried to avenge Skjor and he sure wouldn\u2019t have wanted to see what Vilkas and I just did. But they deserved it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Farkas, he didn\u2019t,\u201d Vilkas said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not what this is about. We should be honoring Kodlak, no matter our own thoughts on the blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

All of them were silent for a moment. Chip found himself sharing a long look with Aela. She was, he knew, the most closely aligned with him on the question of being a werewolf. Farkas was \u2013 well, who knew what Farkas was. He certainly hadn\u2019t shrunk away from turning when the need arose, but he was clearly troubled by the whole thing.<\/p>\n

Were we wrong, Aela? Should we have left the Silver Hand be, after we retrieved Skjor\u2019s body? I don\u2019t think so but\u2026 was Kodlak right?<\/em><\/p>\n

Aela sighed. \u201cYou\u2019re right, Vilkas. I hate to say it, but you\u2019re right. It\u2019s what he wanted. And he deserved to have it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice was quiet and subdued. Chip knew she didn\u2019t share Kodlak\u2019s feelings about the blood. They weren\u2019t unclean,<\/em> after all. They were both majestic, powerful hunters. But so had Kodlak been, and he had wanted to be cured.<\/p>\n

\u201cKodlak used to speak of a way to cleanse his soul, even in death.\u201d Vilkas said.<\/p>\n

Chip finally found his voice. \u201cThat\u2019s why he\u2019d sent me away, Vilkas, before the Silver Hand attacked. He wanted me to get the head of a Glenmoril witch. I know it had something to do with a cure. We\u2026 argued about it, but I did as he asked because \u2013 well, because it was Kodlak! That\u2019s why I wasn\u2019t here, when\u2026 you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vilkas gave him a long stare and then nodded. \u201cHmm. And now it makes more sense, and I am sorry to have been so angry at you.\u201d He turned toward Aela. \u201cYou know the legends of the Tomb of Ysgramor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019There, the souls of the Harbingers will heed the call of northern steel.\u2019 But we can\u2019t even enter the tomb without Wuuthrad. And it\u2019s in pieces, like it has been for a thousand years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd dragons were just stories,\u201d a familiar voice came from the shadows. \u201cAnd elves once ruled Skyrim. Just because something is, doesn\u2019t mean it always must be. A blade is a weapon. A tool. Tools are meant to be broken \u2013 and repaired.\u201d Eorlund stepped out of the shadows into the light cast by Aela\u2019s torch. Before him he held a huge, double-bladed battleaxe.<\/p>\n

Vilkas gasped. \u201cIs that\u2026 did you repair the blade?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo wonder you wanted that fragment!\u201d Chip blurted out before he had a chance to stop himself. You sly old dog! You knew it was the final one!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time I\u2019ve had all the pieces, thanks to our shield-brother here,\u201d Eorlund said. \u201cThe flames of a hero can reforge the shattered. The flames of Kodlak refueled the rebirth of Wuuthrad. And now it will take you to meet him once more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As Eorlund stepped toward them, Chip thought he saw an almost mischievous glint in his eye at having surprised the Circle with Wuuthrad. Chip approved. Eorlund hadn\u2019t given the least hint that he was going to repair the axe; a wise decision given the chance, slight as it was, that the repair would fail.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the one who bore the fragments, I think you should be the one to carry Wuuthrad into battle,\u201d Eorlund said, extending the weapon toward Chip.<\/p>\n

Chip froze. \u201cMe?\u201d he squeaked. \u201cI can\u2019t! I\u2026 I don\u2019t even know how to use a two-handed weapon! I use short blades and a bow!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake Wuuthrad, whelp,\u201d Vilkas snorted. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor that you earned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right,\u201d Aela added.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, come on, Chip,\u201d Farkas said. \u201cYou won\u2019t have to fight with it. Vilkas and I will have your back if we meet something that needs a big blade. Besides, big blades are better than little ones. That\u2019s what I think, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip watched the grin break across Farkas\u2019 face and laughed. \u201cOk. I\u2019ll take Wuuthrad. Now what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should all prepare to journey to the tomb of Ysgramor,\u201d Eorlund answered. \u201cFor Kodlak!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Kodlak!\u201d the others responded, exiting the Underforge. Chip took a moment to admire Eorlund\u2019s work. He could barely see the marks where the pieces had once been broken. He also could barely lift the axe, which weighed many times either of his blades.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll really have to take Farkas at his word. There\u2019s no way I could fight using something like this!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

By the time he reached the tomb the sun was dipping behind the tallest of the western mountains. The barrow was on an island northwest of Winterhold now, but likely had been attached to the mainland before the Great Collapse. It seemed fitting to Chip that Ysgramor was entombed here near Saarthal, the oldest of human settlements on Tamriel. His son Yngol was buried somewhere near Windhelm, not far from where Harald Stormcloak now lived. It seemed fitting.<\/p>\n

Chip ran down into the open barrow and pushed open its doors. Down a few steps from the entry was a large, circular room. Aela, Farkas, and Vilkas waited near a central dais holding an oversized statue of a man wearing ancient Nordic armor. Vilkas stepped forward to greet him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the resting place of Ysgramor and his most trusted generals,\u201d Vilkas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Is this him? This statue?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. You should be cautious,\u201d Vilkas replied with an odd, guarded look on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cCautious? Why?\u201d Chip asked.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe original Companions,\u201d Vilkas said. \u201cThe Five Hundred you\u2019ve heard about all your life, who sailed back to Skyrim from Atmora after the Night of Tears at Saarthal. Their finest warriors rest with Ysgramor. You\u2019ll have to prove yourselves to them.\u201d He shifted his weight back and forth a bit before continuing. \u201cIt\u2019s not that we\u2019re intruding. I\u2019d wager they\u2019ve expected us. They just want to be sure that you\u2019re worthy. Be ready for an honorable battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something about the way he\u2019d been phrasing things caught Chip\u2019s ear, and he frowned. \u201cWhat do you mean, I\u2019ll<\/em> have to be ready? There are four of us here. Are you not coming? You\u2019re the one Kodlak confided in first, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Vilkas sighed and shrugged his shoulders, looking almost defeated. \u201cYes. And Kodlak was right. I\u2026 I let vengeance rule my heart. I regret nothing of what we did at Driftshade, but I can\u2019t go any further with my mind fogged and my heart grieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip looked silently at Vilkas, not able to form any words. His heart broke for this brave, fierce wolf who had only reacted out of passion, just as he himself had done. All he could do was nod.<\/p>\n

Oh, Vilkas. You don\u2019t know what great esteem Kodlak had for you, in what high regard he held you. He wouldn\u2019t fault you for what we did, I\u2019m certain of it. And I can\u2019t tell you how I know that without giving away the secret of what he wrote in his journal. For that, for knowing that\u2026 I am the one who should be ashamed.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d he said at last. \u201cHow do we get inside?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReturn Wuuthrad to Ysgramor,\u201d Vilkas said, nodding. \u201cIt should open the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip stepped up to the statue and looked it over, realizing that its arms and hands were up in a posture to hold a great weapon. He wrestled Wuuthrad off his back and carefully fitted it into Ysgramor\u2019s hands, stepping back when he was certain the axe was secure. As he did, a thick stone slab lowered into the floor, revealing a passage beyond.<\/p>\n

Chip walked around the statue, sharing a glance with Aela. It seemed odd that the two of them, who least wanted to be free of their lycanthropy, should be among those to set Kodlak\u2019s spirit free; but here they were. Chip found himself taking point, with Aela and Farkas following silently behind.<\/p>\n

The first major chamber looked empty; but the moment he stepped into it two ghosts appeared, one from either side. He raised his bow, but before he could shoot both Aela and Farkas rushed past him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the living shall fear the dead!\u201d one of the ghostly Companions cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to put you down!\u201d Farkas responded, laying into the ghost with one of the most enormous attacks Chip had ever seen. Aela was busy with another skeever, and once it was dead she engaged with the other ghost. As the momentum of Farkas\u2019 swing took him forward, Chip found the opening behind him to take down the ghost to their left. All three of them attacked the remaining spirit, and a moment later it dissipated.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood enough,\u201d Farkas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Chip replied. \u201cLet\u2019s see what this next set of doors is hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doors opened into a great, stately hall that must have been a glorious sight when first constructed. It was lined with sarcophagi and ceremonial tables, with another coffin at its center. Chip sensed that there were going to be spirits rising up from either side.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe ready,\u201d Aela said. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look promising.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As expected, the moment they stepped into the room three spirits appeared: one in front of the central coffin and two before each of the sarcophagi at the back wall. Chip had already taken aim at one of those and was able to sink an arrow into its spirit a moment after it appeared. He swiveled left; and as he picked away at the other of the paired spirits a fourth emerged just below them from the right. Farkas and Aela fought them until Chip had dispatched his target and could join them. Aela ran back up the steps and brought out her bow. Like Chip, she was primarily an archer; they staggered their shots to avoid Farkas and his greatsword, and before long the other spirits were done as well.<\/p>\n

The route forward turned again, descending into another great chamber. This one was low enough that water from the Sea of Ghosts had seeped in. Anything wooden was soggy and moldering, and a mist hung over the shallow pools standing on the floor. But there were even more coffins here, and even more of Ysgramor\u2019s Companions emerging to challenge their passage. Chip counted at least five or six of them. As before, he and Aela worked with their bows while Farkas hammered away with his sword.<\/p>\n

\u201cGods, no!\u201d Aela cried from his right. Chip whirled, startled at her desperate cry, and reached for one of his arrows of Hircine. This time it was a saber cat that emerged from the ball of conjuration.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo get \u2018em, buddy!\u201d he shouted, grabbing more elven arrows and swiveling back to finish off what he\u2019d started at the end of the hall. It seemed forever to take those two spirits down. As the second of them finally disappeared, he heard the saber cat\u2019s conjuration dissipate.<\/p>\n

And then it was silent. He could neither hear nor see either Farkas or Aela.<\/p>\n

\u201cGods, no!\u201d he cried in a panicked echo of Aela\u2019s distress. \u201cFarkas? Aela? Where are you?\u201d He ran to where they\u2019d been fighting the three spirits and, thankfully, saw no bodies. He turned this way and that, looking for his friends. Finally he ran back up the staircase from which they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou call yourself a Nord?\u201d Aela was growling at one of the spirits.<\/p>\n

Chip\u2019s legs almost gave out from relief. Whether the spirits had fled first or the living, he couldn\u2019t tell; but all of them \u2013 Aela, Farkas, and the remaining adversaries \u2013 had retreated to the upper levels of the tomb and were fighting as hard as ever. He followed Aela up through the first great hall and then, hearing a familiar cry, realized to his shock that one of the ghosts had gone all the way back to the entrance and had engaged Vilkas.<\/p>\n

Well, this distance should help. Let me see if I can\u2019t peel this ghost off Vilkas.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chip and Aela both fired arrows at the stubborn spirit. He didn\u2019t know which one of them struck, or whether they both did. It didn\u2019t matter; the ghost went down, and Farkas came trotting back down the stairs to join them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ok, Farkas?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Couldn\u2019t let that mangy ghost get my brother. Now it\u2019s gone. Let\u2019s keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three of them walked slowly back through the two chambers, sloshing through the water in the second. Chip picked up arrows as he spotted them; many had missed their mark and others, it seemed, had simply flown through the ghosts. He was bent over retrieving another when Farkas passed him to walk up the steps to the next doorway. A moment later he heard Farkas hiss, and he snapped to attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkas stood in the doorway, rigid. He took a step backward as Chip approached, confused. Then he glanced past Farkas\u2019 broad shoulders. The next room was filled with huge spider egg sacs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Farkas said, \u201cbut I can\u2019t go any further, Shield-Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe spiders?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Farkas turned to face Chip, his face pale, and nodded. \u201cEver since Dustman\u2019s Cairn, the big crawly ones have been too much for me.\u201d He looked embarrassed. \u201cEveryone has his weakness, and this one is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip heaved a sigh of relief. He\u2019d been concerned that Farkas was injured, or had been poisoned while he\u2019d not been watching. He thought back to his first trip to Hircine\u2019s Hunting Grounds, being chased in the dark; and a shudder ran up his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ok, Farkas.\u201d I understand being afraid. Everyone\u2019s afraid of something, sometime.<\/em><\/p>\n

Farkas nodded. \u201cI\u2019m not proud, but I will stay back with Vilkas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. Make sure Vilkas is ok. Aela and I will make it to the end.\u201d He looked to her, and she nodded agreement. He thought it fitting, somehow, that the oldest and the youngest left among them should be the ones to meet Kodlak in the end; and he could see that she agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive my regards to Ysgramor,\u201d Farkas said quietly.<\/p>\n

Chip smiled. How like him it was to speak of Ysgramor as though he was some old familiar friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n

Chip pondered their next move as he listened to Farkas\u2019 retreating footsteps sloshing through the water. Spiders, he could deal with. Spiders would go down easily enough. He could see a couple of them skittering around beyond the webs blocking the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to use my blades,\u201d he told Aela. She nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeed to chop down the webs anyway. I\u2019ll be right behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were four of them back there. Four times, the chamber exploded with the sound of Grabber taking whatever life-force a spider had. By the time he was done, Chip was panting.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, this is why I didn\u2019t want to use Wuuthrad. I get winded just swinging a few blades around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aela chuckled. \u201cAnyone would. Those are big spiders.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was another webbed door just beyond them. When they stepped through, an enormous spider dropped from the ceiling and attacked alongside a smaller specimen. Aela started firing at the smaller one. Chip started slashing at the larger of them as hard as he could.<\/p>\n

He was making good headway against the beast when it suddenly leaped at him, its fangs bared. He gasped as the bite took him, the pain of the punctures made all the more exquisite by the freezing cold venom and the nausea that followed. He cried out, but gritted his teeth and kept slashing, almost blindly. There was nothing else he could do. He was fading fast, though, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Aela\u2019s bowstring twanged as she did all she could to help. Just as his eyes closed and he was about to fall, he heard an enormous explosion of sound. Grabber had done its job one more time. He immediately started healing himself as best he could, and then rooted around in his pack for a poison antidote lest he keep fading more.<\/p>\n

\u201cGods, that was awful!\u201d he said between gritted teeth. \u201cThanks, Aela. I thought I\u2019d had it there for a minute!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is why you never go into a dungeon without a shield-sibling,\u201d she said. \u201cAre you going to be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cYeah. Better already. Give me just a second. I\u2019m going to\u2026 I don\u2019t know, eat some cheese or something. Get a little strength back.\u201d He laughed weakly. \u201cI\u2019m glad Farkas wasn\u2019t here for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no shame to be had in being wary of foes as big as that,\u201d she said. \u201cFarkas is as fierce as they come, and as strong. But if spiders are his undoing, so be it. I\u2019ll not think less of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNor will I,\u201d Chip said, feeling better now that the potions were working in his system. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the huge spider carcasses was a closed gate, its mechanism just beside the doorway. Chip frowned. Too many times he\u2019d found that this kind of gate was more to keep what was on the other side contained than it was to keep people like him out. He pulled the chain anyway, and stepped through the gate as it rose.<\/p>\n

It was a different, but familiar type of barrow room beyond them, mostly round, large, but with pillars of stone blocking the view from several vital angles. Aela pushed past him, saying \u201cI thought I heard something.\u201d<\/p>\n

At least three ghosts emerged, possibly four. In just moments Aela was being overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Crap. This won\u2019t be good; there\u2019s just the two of us.<\/em><\/p>\n

He took a quick shot at one of the ghosts, but the arrow bounced off one of the stone pillars. He hissed. There were too many obstructions and no clear lines of sight; and he couldn\u2019t fire at the ghosts that were swarming Aela for fear of striking her.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have time for this.<\/em><\/p>\n

He pulled out the Totem of Hircine and slammed it to the floor. He should have been used to the results, by now; but it was utter chaos that followed. Chip lost track of where Aela was in the dark, so he focused on the ghosts he could see clearly, away from the half-dozen werebeasts that emerged one after another.<\/p>\n

It went silent suddenly, after the inevitable noise of conjurations dissipating. It seemed to have taken only moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cAela?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was<\/em> that?\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at him. It was the first time he\u2019d ever seen her look confused. He handed her the staff to look at, as he had Vilkas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a boon I had from Lord Hircine. A prize for felling the prey in his Hunting Grounds. You saw what it does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aela turned it over in her hands several times and then handed it back to him, almost reverently. \u201cFrom Hircine himself?\u201d She paused for a moment as if choosing her words carefully. \u201cI was ready to say that was a dishonorable way to win a battle. But you had the staff from Hircine himself? I\u2019m impressed, Shield-Brother. Very impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip was glad she couldn\u2019t see his face, for he felt himself blushing. \u201cI\u2019ve been trying to get answers for a while now. I felt like I needed to prove myself. I\u2026 think maybe you\u2019re the only one who can appreciate what this staff means to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t have time to discuss it further. Beyond the huge pillars that had been such a problem, the chamber opened up into another long, rectangular room. Three more spirits challenged them. This time, though, the lines of sight were open and both archers had clean shots at the enemy. One of them got close to Aela; but she unconcernedly shot it down as he finished off the last one.<\/p>\n

Beyond a metal door at the end of the hall was a small room, flickering with candlelight. Chip moved into it cautiously, his bow at the ready, but nothing happened. He spied a pull handle in a pedestal at the far end of the room, which undoubtedly worked the closed metal gate to their left.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe ready,\u201d Chip told her. \u201cI\u2019m going to pull that thing and I expect company once the gate rises.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was right. The moment they stepped across the threshold they were swarmed by the spirits of ancient Companions.<\/p>\n

Vilkas wasn\u2019t kidding, he thought as he pulled out the Totem once more. And I have no patience to play with them. Once again the world was drowned out by the roaring of werebeasts; once more it took only minutes before they returned to Oblivion and left Chip\u2019s ears ringing. He retrieved the Totem and stepped into the chamber dominated by a huge mammoth\u2019s skull with one tusk missing, resting on a central offering table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow,\u201d he breathed. \u201cJust\u2026 wow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aela chuckled. \u201cNow you sound like Farkas. Do I start calling you Ice-Brain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could do worse,\u201d he said, grinning at her.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They pushed forward, past the mammoth and up a set of steps. Opening the wooden doors beyond, Chip saw that they\u2019d reached their destination: a huge, elegant burial chamber, heavy with the weight of ancient carvings and flickering lights. He could see the sarcophagus on the far side of the room, secure behind two braziers and a cage door. In the center of the room was an altar of sorts, with a brazier atop it, burning with a pale, blue, otherworldly light.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go say hello to Ysgramor,\u201d Aela said softly.<\/p>\n

As Chip neared the altar he frowned. There was something odd about the blue flames, something that he couldn\u2019t see clearly until he got right up next to it. Then he gasped. Just past the pillar, standing as if to warm his hands over the blue fire, was a spirit \u2013 one Chip recognized.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cKodlak?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreetings, Shield-Brother,\u201d the familiar voice answered.<\/p>\n

Chip felt a lump rise into his throat. \u201cIs it really you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. My fellow Harbingers and I have been warming ourselves here, trying to evade Hircine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat others? I only see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see only me because your heart knows only me as the Companions\u2019 leader. I\u2019d wager old Jarl Vignar could see half a dozen of my predecessors. And I see them all: the ones in Sovngarde, the ones trapped in Hircine\u2019s realm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip winced at that, and felt a flicker of anger; but he didn\u2019t wish to argue with Kodlak. They were here to fulfill his wishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they all see you,\u201d Kodlak continued. \u201cYou\u2019ve brought honor to the name of the Companions. We won\u2019t soon forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about that, the honor part,\u201d Chip said, thinking of how he\u2019d devoured all the dead at Driftshade. \u201cBut thank you, anyway. Now then. Vilkas said you might be cured?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he, now?\u201d Kodlak chuckled, his voice full of warmth. \u201cI can only hope. And I see you have the witch\u2019s heads! Excellent! Throw one of them into the fire! It will release their magic \u2013 for me, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n

He dug into the grisly sack of heads he\u2019d carried back from Glenmoril Coven and pulled one out. Frowning in distaste, he threw it onto the flames and watched it begin to burn.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d never seen Kodlak transform, in the time they\u2019d known each other. But he recognized the grimace of pain and the contortions that the old man\u2019s ghost performed almost immediately. And then it was different; rather than changing into a wolf himself, Kodlak\u2019s spirit \u2026 divided. There was Kodlak, in the same bluish, transparent form; and there was a wolf. A huge wolf, dire and red, at least shoulder-height to Chip. He gasped; Kodlak as a werewolf must have been a foe to be reckoned with, a creature of immense power. It turned and snapped at Chip, who leaped backwards and drew his blades.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He should have been terrified.<\/p>\n

But I remember. I remember the spirit saber cat, and the spirit mammoth, and the spirit troll, the guardian animals I fought so long ago now it seems like another lifetime. I defeated them. And I can defeat you now. I am not afraid of you.<\/em><\/p>\n

He threw himself at the wolf, blades flashing. Aela and Kodlak stepped back in the face of his attacks. A moment later, the air exploded as the wolf spirit that had lived in Kodlak for so long fell to Grabber and was secured in one of the soul gems Chip carried.<\/p>\n

He looked up at Kodlak\u2019s spirit and smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve slain my beast spirit, and so slain the beast inside of me.\u201d Kodlak paused for a moment, and took and released a deep breath. \u201cI\u2019m free. I thank you for this gift. The other Harbingers remain trapped by Hircine, though. Perhaps, from Sovngarde, the heroes of old can join me in their rescue. The Harrowing of the Hunting Grounds! It would be a battle of such triumph.\u201d He smiled. \u201cAnd perhaps, some day, you\u2019ll join us in that battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t count on it, Chip thought. But at this moment he had no heart to remind Kodlak that they didn\u2019t agree on this point. If we meet each other in the Hunting Grounds \u2013 well, it\u2019s likely I\u2019ll be on the opposite side of the glorious battle.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut for today,\u201d Kodlak said, \u201creturn to Jorrvaskr. Triumph in your victory. And lead the Companions to further glory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could say more, Kodlak faded away.<\/p>\n

By all the gods, he really meant what he wrote. Does he even know what he\u2019s just done?<\/em><\/p>\n

It was dead silent in the chamber for a moment. Then Aela spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid I hear right? Did he say you were to lead the Companions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 Aela\u2026\u201d He hardly knew what to say. It wasn\u2019t right. Not at all. \u201cDoes this upset you?\u201d<\/p>\n

He was relieved when she didn\u2019t hesitate a moment. \u201cI\u2019m just surprised. But your strength and honor are apparent to all. And it\u2019s my honor to be the first to address you as Harbinger. Let\u2019s go tell the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t do this. I can\u2019t. Kodlak, and honor, and I\u2019m just a kid compared to all the rest. A whelp! How can I possibly be Harbinger?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAela\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at him and smiled. \u201cSomething has shifted in the moons, brother. I\u2019ve sensed the blood pulsing a little stronger, of late. I had assumed you had, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 think I have. I also think it\u2019s a little ironic that the two of us should have been the ones to set Kodlak free.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think our potential is on the rise. Hircine smiles on us. Let\u2019s not question too much. The more we feed, the greater our prowess will grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip blew out a breath. \u201cWell if that\u2019s the case, what happened after Vilkas and I cleared out Driftshade ought to have made me into a real\u2026 beast.\u201d He couldn\u2019t help but chuckle at himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could perhaps discover even more gifts of Hircine,\u201d Aela said.<\/p>\n

Chip blinked. More than the Totem? And his Ring? And the other ring that he\u2019d purchased from their brothers on Solstheim? Then he remembered the book he\u2019d found in Skjor\u2019s room, and it dawned on him that she might be referring to that. He nodded slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we shall. Are you going back to Jorrvaskr?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEventually. But this \u2013 this is the tomb of Ysgramor. I think I\u2019m just going to – commune, for a bit. This place is worthy of some time. You go on ahead. I\u2019ll see you back there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip turned and ran back through all of the now-peaceful chambers of the tomb, to find Farkas and Vilkas standing watch at the statue of Ysgramor. He approached them cautiously, dreading what their reactions might be to his news.<\/p>\n

Especially Vilkas. We seem to have some kind of uneasy truce between us, but this is going to be a shock<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHey guys,\u201d he started; then shook his head at how stupid he must sound. \u201cWe cured Kodlak.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkas grinned. \u201cHe\u2019s not a werewolf anymore? Even dead? This is a good thing!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even dead, Farkas. His spirit is free. He\u2019s gone to Sovngarde. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what?\u201d Vilkas said in that sharp tone of voice that put Chip\u2019s teeth on edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he said I should lead the Companions now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip watched their reactions. Vilkas\u2019 mouth dropped open for a moment, and his eyes narrowed. But Farkas\u2019 face was relaxed, and he broke out into a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, you don\u2019t have to worry about any problems from me. I do what I\u2019m told. Congratulations! You ever need my steel by your side? You just ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Farkas,\u201d Chip said, turning to face Vilkas with no little bit of trepidation. \u201cI don\u2019t know about this, Vilkas,\u201d he said. Vilkas would be a much better fit. Not Aela. I don\u2019t know what I sense in her but I\u2019m not sure I like it. But Vilkas\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou brought honor to Kodlak, even after his death. A worthy outcome for a worthy warrior. Now then. If you\u2019d told me a few months ago that some outsider I\u2019d never heard of would lead the Companions, I might have slit your throat. But I\u2019ve seen what you can do, and heard of the love that Kodlak had for you. The trust. Let\u2019s hope you can show that his heart was not deceived. Good luck, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

My friend. He actually called me his friend. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know anything about leading anything. I\u2019m not the leader type.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, don\u2019t say that, Chip,\u201d Farkas interjected. \u201cYour Da always said that too, and look at him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFarkas!\u201d Vilkas snapped.<\/p>\n

Farkas chuckled. \u201cWe\u2019re not supposed to know. Nobody is. But we do know. We just keep it our secret, like having the Blood. Nobody else knows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly Chip couldn\u2019t help himself. He burst out laughing. \u201cI guess I didn\u2019t know that about Da,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s always been the leader as long as I\u2019ve been around. At least as far as I know.\u201d He found himself relaxing. \u201cI\u2019m going to head back,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then we\u2019ll send you out to find some family\u2019s heirloom,\u201d Vilkas snickered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain,\u201d Farkas added.<\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   He tried to rest, but sleep eluded him. Between his wolf blood and the shock of reading Kodlak\u2019s thoughts about him, he was simply too agitated to sleep. He heard the others sliding into their cots, their breathing turning to light snores. He was happy someone was sleeping. It surely … <\/p>\n

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