{"id":1335,"date":"2021-12-16T14:44:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T21:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1335"},"modified":"2021-12-20T14:08:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T21:08:16","slug":"chapter-7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-ii\/part-i-past-and-present\/chapter-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 7"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Qaralana climbed up out of the pool and sprinted upslope, through the driving rain, in the direction she hoped would lead her to the road. She scanned the area on one side and then the other, hoping she wouldn\u2019t trip and fall, not certain whether the dampness on her cheeks was from the rain or from tears.<\/p>\n

They killed him. They blew up Borvald. Just to find a key! Why?<\/em><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t as though she\u2019d known the Jarl. They\u2019d only been in each other\u2019s company for a short time. But he\u2019d stayed behind so that she could live.<\/p>\n

For that matter, Goran stayed behind so I could live. And he\u2019s dead too.<\/em><\/p>\n

It simply wasn\u2019t fair. She wept, not only from grief that so many had died, but from anger that they died for no good reason. The Heart of the Gods? She had no idea what that was. It was probably some kind of legend. Or a large piece of rock.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m tempted to find it and cram it down Yngvarr\u2019s throat. Except maybe that\u2019s what he wants.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yngvarr wanted the Heart. But it was clear that he wanted more than just that. He wanted revenge for old family grievances; and he wanted domination over the rest of Falskaar.<\/p>\n

I just really need to help stop him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Or maybe I\u2019m just really mad.<\/em><\/p>\n

She was angry, but she was also still suffering from the shock of having Borvald go from silence to war to destruction in so little time. Her ears were still ringing. She was grateful that there was only one road to follow, for she was still disoriented.<\/p>\n

She saw no signs of bandits once she reached the road; they were likely all involved in the attack and were either dead or busy looting the city. She was drenched and cold, though: wet through and through between the leap into the pond and the deluge outside. It made the sun that emerged as she made it to the top of the cliff all that much more welcome. She was getting warmer, if only at the level of her skin.<\/p>\n

Qara approached Borvaldur Manor with a heavy heart. While he wasn\u2019t the Jarl of Borvald \u2013 or maybe he was now, by default \u2013 Jarl Agnar\u2019s ancestors had founded the city. She didn\u2019t want to be the bearer of this news.<\/p>\n

She found the Jarl by himself, standing near the fire, looking as worried as any man she\u2019d ever seen. He glanced at her as she approached, and the frown on his face deepened.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you spoken to Valfred yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I met with Jarl Valfred and\u2026\u201d She swallowed. \u201cI am very sorry to bring this news, Jarl Agnar. Yngvarr\u2019s men attacked Borvald. They were stockpiling barrels of oil in a cave directly under the city. The whole thing exploded just as I was making my escape. The city\u2026 is destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnar\u2019s eyes went huge and round for a moment. \u201cWhat? That son of a\u2026 Did you talk to Valfred before the attack?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded. \u201cYes, he was with me until the end. We found out from one of Yngvarr\u2019s hired bandits that they\u2019re after something called the Heart of the Gods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnar\u2019s face went white. \u201cHe\u2026 he\u2019s found the Heart?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019ve been searching for it for hundreds of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know whether he\u2019s found it yet, but\u2026 What exactly is the Heart of the Gods? I\u2019ve never heard of such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legend is called Olav\u2019s Journey. When our people first came to Solstheim it was covered in ice and snow, and we were dying. Olav met an avatar of Shor named Ahkrinviing, who tore out its heart and gave it to Olav.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara felt a chill run up her back. I wish Harald was here to hear this. Stories of Shor always make him excited.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOlav used the Heart, watched over by five guardians, to transform the southern half of Falskaar into the warm, habitable region it is today. Afterward, the guardians sealed the Heart in a chamber somewhere in the mountains. It takes five keys to get in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five! That\u2019s impressive. You only need two to get into the vault in the Cistern!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 that\u2019s\u2026\u201d Qara started to say, remembering the Orc they\u2019d met under the mountain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe keys are of Leadership, Wealth, Wisdom, Strength, and Shelter. If Yngvarr attacked Borvald, it was undoubtedly to get one of those keys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026 pretty sure he got it,\u201d Qara said quietly. \u201cWe found a room, on our way out, and there was an Orc. He said something about the Key being his and Yngvarr ruling over all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnar sighed. \u201cPlease, have a seat at the table there, and I\u2019ll call the others. We need to discuss this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara made her way to the end of the great hall and took a seat. She was impressed. This had been almost the worst news she could have given Agnar; and yet he\u2019d remained calm and had been very patient in giving her the background information she needed to make sense of everything. The Hjorgunnar brothers clearly respected him very much, and not just because he was their sovereign. Now she had a better idea why.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He rose from his bench and called into the next room. \u201cPlease, everyone come in here and have a seat. We have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Agnar?\u201d Svegard asked as everyone settled around the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cYngvarr has attacked Borvald.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ulgar exploded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are we sitting here, then?\u201d Svegard said angrily. \u201cWe must go help defend Borvald!\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara shook her head, but didn\u2019t speak. We can\u2019t defend it, Svegard. It\u2019s gone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGentlemen,\u201d Agnar said quietly, \u201cit is too late. He has too many men. We would simply be marching to our deaths. Borvald\u2026 is lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLost,\u201d she murmured, staring blankly at the table in front of her. \u201cOverrun, sacked, burned. The catacombs, and anything above them, exploded. I don\u2019t know how much of the city went with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulgar pounded the table. \u201cThat son of a bitch! Our ancestors built that town six hundred years ago! He has destroyed a part of our history!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh!\u201d Brother Thorlough shouted. \u201cIt\u2019s just like you to go on about stupid buildings! What about those living in the city?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re gone too,\u201d Qara said flatly. And what exactly is wrong with grieving the loss of the city as well, Brother Thorlough? You surely weren\u2019t there to help protect it, for all your huffing and puffing earlier.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStupid buildings?\u201d Ulgar yelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly! Many innocent people died today!\u201d Brother Thorlough shouted back at him.<\/p>\n

Qara tsk\u2019d. Thorlough had good reason to be distressed, but the way he was taking it out on others rubbed her the wrong way.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease!\u201d Agnar said. \u201cWe must not do this!\u201d His voice was quiet but authoritative, and all of the others silenced themselves at his statement. \u201cYngvarr has<\/em> destroyed part of our heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brother Thorlough seemed to back down a bit. \u201cWhy would he do such a thing?\u201d he moaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that he is trying to obtain the Heart of the Gods.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a stunned silence for a moment, and then Ulgar spoke. \u201cDivines save us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe attacked the city to get the Key of Shelter, and he\u2019s likely trying to find the other keys as well,\u201d Agnar continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to get the keys before he does,\u201d Thorlough said quietly. \u201cIf Yngvarr gets his hands on the Heart of the Gods he\u2019ll be immortal. We must stop him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0Immortal? What?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the heart was just a myth. A legend,\u201d Ulgar said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did I,\u201d Agnar admitted. \u201cBut if he attacked Borvald just to get the key it must be real. The keys have purpose, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Svegard frowned. \u201cWhere can we get the other ones, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Agnar rose from his seat. It was then that Qaralana noticed that Agnar\u2019s wife had slipped into the room. He turned to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome are more obvious than others. Jalma, come here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it, Agnar?\u201d she asked softly, approaching him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour necklace, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached up behind her neck and unfastened the clasp, handing the necklace to her husband. \u201cYou don\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my dear. Thank you.\u201d He squeezed her hand and gave her a peck on the cheek before taking his seat at the head of the table once more. He looked down at the necklace, and then back up at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was passed down through each generation of Borvaldur women so that it would remain safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo then, we have one key,\u201d Svegard chirped in a way that might have been optimistic \u2013 or might have been sarcastic.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat.\u201d That was his brother. \u201cBut. What about the others?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Agnar said, \u201cYngvarr got the key of Shelter from Borvald. The key of Wealth was held in Staalgarde, so count that one out. We have the key of Leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo then all we need are the keys of Wisdom and Strength,\u201d Svegard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. The question is: where are they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I may know where they are,\u201d Brother Thorlough answered. All of them turned to stare at him. \u201cThe Key of Wisdom would be held by the court wizards. It should be in our old monastery, Kalrun. The Key of Strength was held by the Hjorgunnars. It was most likely locked in the crypts of Hjorgunnar Manor when they left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well there. Good for you, Thorlough, you were finally of some real use. <\/em><\/p>\n

Qaralana knew that it was small of her to have such a poor opinion of the monk but she couldn\u2019t put his refusal to come when called out of her mind. Nobody else had refused to help, not even she \u2013 and she wasn\u2019t even from Falskaar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell what are we waiting for?\u201d Ulgar cried, happily, she thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get those keys!\u201d Svegard agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. We\u2019ll split up, to save time. Thorlough, you come with me to Kalrun Monastery. You brothers, go to Hjorgunnar Manor. We\u2019ll meet back here when we have the keys,\u201d Agnar said.<\/p>\n

Qara wondered whether she was going to be allowed to sit this out. Perhaps she wasn\u2019t needed any longer, and could make her way down to the docks to return to Skyrim. It would be a relief; and yet she had a feeling of disappointment, somehow, to have come through the harrowing experience she\u2019d just survived and suddenly be cast aside.<\/p>\n

As everyone rose from the table, Jarl Agnar approached her. \u201cYou must make a choice,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cHelp Ulgar and Svegar get the Key of Strength from Hjorgunnar Manor, or help me and Brother Thorlough get the Key of Wisdom from Kalrun Monastery. Either way, we need your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled at him, her brief sense of disappointment dropping away. \u201cI hope you won\u2019t mind but I think I\u2019ll go with the brothers.\u201d Because there\u2019s no way in Oblivion I\u2019m helping Thorlough. Forgive me, but he and I don\u2019t think the same way at all.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Now go! We must beat Yngvarr to those keys!\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers left for Hjorgunnar Manor. Qara told them to go on ahead, and that she would be along shortly; she needed a refill of water.<\/p>\n

The old man was still there, in the inn; he was sitting closer to the front this time but didn\u2019t look any happier. Qara paid for her refill and thanked the innkeeper. Then she took the seat closest to him.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t been home yet, have you,\u201d she said in a matter-of-fact way.<\/p>\n

His frown got deeper. I guess that sour look is just his natural expression. Now he\u2019s annoyed. Wonderful.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what business is it of yours, young lass?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was something about the way he said \u201class\u201d that had Qara breaking out into a smile in spite of herself. It made no sense, and she had places to be. But the brothers hadn\u2019t been moving at much more than a saunter, so she knew she could catch up to them easily enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t like to see people arguing. It reminds me of my Mama and Papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmph. They don\u2019t like each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara shook her head. \u201cOh, no. They love each other. A lot. But they\u2019re both stubborn, and\u2026 well. I just think you should go talk to your lady. She seemed very nice. And she was just worried.\u201d<\/p>\n

He tsk\u2019d. \u201cI\u2019ll consider it. Yer a lot like my Misty. Stubborn. And persistent.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed. \u201cYes, sir. Now if you\u2019ll forgive me, I need to go. The Jarl\u2019s sent me off on another task.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waved her away. Just before she reached the door she looked back. And she thought she saw a hint of a smile on the old man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

It was beautiful outside, a warm late afternoon, hurrying toward sundown. Qara settled into the ground-covering gait she could keep up for hours and ran east to find the brothers. She was a bit worried that they would be annoyed with her for taking time to rest before leaving; but she also knew she would catch up with them eventually.<\/p>\n

The first crossroads held a sign indicating that Hjorgunnar Manor was to the south. It also held an arrow reading \u201cBailun Priory.\u201d She stopped for a moment, utterly puzzled. The priory had been to the southwest of Amber Creek, not the southeast. It made no sense \u2013 at least until she came to another fork in the road with a branch taking off to the west.<\/p>\n

I guess if you were coming from the east and didn\u2019t want to go into Amber Creek to get to the Priory this might be how you\u2019d do it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t too long afterward that she saw them darting off the side of the road ahead of her, weapons held high. In fact, Ulgar was so battle-ready that he positively glowed with power. She\u2019d seen Harald do this, on occasion. He\u2019d told her it was the spirit of Shor.<\/p>\n

I always thought that was just Harald being fanciful. Maybe there\u2019s something more to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

The brothers were fighting a large frostbite spider; it wasn\u2019t a difficult foe for two hardy Nord men. Just as well, since she was a few seconds too late to help them. She frowned as she examined the carcass, though.<\/p>\n

Everything I\u2019ve done today has made me think of home. I wonder if everything\u2019s alright. Maybe they\u2019re all worried about me. Maybe they\u2019re afraid I\u2019ve died.<\/em><\/p>\n

She looked ahead at the brothers, proceeding at a pace not much faster than an amble. She wanted to help these people, truly she did. But they\u2019d said it was a desperate race to get the keys, and they were barely strolling. If they weren\u2019t going to take it seriously, maybe it wasn\u2019t really serious, and she was just worrying her family for nothing.<\/p>\n

All I need to do is head to the docks and talk to Wulf.<\/em><\/p>\n

She watched their backs receding, and then shook her head. I\u2019d be dishonoring Daddy if I said one thing and did another. He always follows through, no matter what. If he says he\u2019s going to do a thing, he does it. I can\u2019t just quit. Besides, I\u2019m doing it in part to honor Jarl Valfred.<\/em><\/p>\n

She caught up to them just as Svegard snorted. \u201cI wish Ulgar would stop hunting with his greatsword. It ruins the meat.\u201d<\/p>\n

She couldn\u2019t help but laugh.<\/p>\n

The southern route they were on eventually turned west. They kept walking, slowly, for what Qaralana felt was an eternity. She chafed under the yoke of their pace, wanting to run ahead, biting her tongue to keep from asking them exactly what they were waiting for. It wasn\u2019t until well after sunset that they neared a huge structure with at least one outbuilding \u2013 a stable \u2013 and an elegant stone and iron fence across the front of the property, snugged up against the base of the mountains.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cUm\u2026\u201d Qara said. Then she sighed. First, I have to stop doing that. Second, if this is Hjorgunnar Manor and they are Hjorgunnars, it\u2019s stupid for me to ask whether this is their property. Of course it is. But I wonder why they live in a little cabin out in the woods if they could have this? Maybe it\u2019s to be nearer Jarl Agnar? <\/em><\/p>\n

Svegard gave her a knowing look, but didn\u2019t raise the issue. \u201cAre you ready to get the Key of Strength?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh boy, am I ever,\u201d she muttered. \u201cI mean, yes. Of course. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. Ulgar and I believe the key is an old amulet our great grandfather had during the war a hundred years ago. It would be somewhere near his tomb, in the lower crypts of the manor. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Svegard pushed open the ornate entry door; Ulgar held it for her as she entered. She gasped. It was an enormous mansion; the great hall they\u2019d just entered was dark and dusty, but with huge, lofted ceilings and of solid construction with stone walls and beautiful wooden floors. And it was completely empty save for some embers in the fire pits, as far as she could tell in the dark.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the gods, it\u2019s been looted!\u201d Svegard shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot just looted,\u201d she said. \u201cCleared out completely, it looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulgar growled. \u201cDamn bandits. When we finish with Yngvarr, I\u2019m going hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Svegard chuckled. \u201cThat sounds like fun. I\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They passed through more nearly-empty rooms, these of more modest construction but still lovely. Nearly-empty in that there were still some overturned braziers and very dusty barrels left behind, as well as some brittle old books tossed roughly onto equally-dusty shelves. The only thing remotely of any value that Qara saw was a partial set of glazed dishes \u2013 a bowl, a cup and a plate.<\/p>\n

And those aren\u2019t worth much. If I were planning a heist I wouldn\u2019t even look twice at them. The bandits were thorough.<\/em><\/p>\n

A small room at the rear of the mansion had a few pieces of furniture in it: a handsome wooden table and chair, a sideboard, and a set of shelves. A tall wardrobe drew Qara\u2019s attention. There was one just like it in her parents\u2019 home. When they were small, she and Chip had discovered that the back of the wardrobe could be opened, revealing a ladder down to what was one of the most amazing storehouses of wealth and treasure she\u2019d ever seen. As far as she knew, neither of her parents had ever seen them go down there.<\/p>\n

But they must know we figured it out. I think that must be where the Guild hides most of its valuables. Daddy has told me the story of how the vault in the Cistern got robbed. Having the treasure hidden in our house in a very out-of-the-way location was a smart thing.<\/em><\/p>\n

She shook her head, realizing that she was daydreaming about home again as Svegard pushed the noisy false panel aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, here we are,\u201d Svegard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust where Papa said it was,\u201d Ulgar agreed.<\/p>\n

Unlike the cabinet at home, this one opened onto a wide, well-constructed stone staircase leading down into the family crypt. It reminded Qara of the Hall of the Dead in Riften, or perhaps that of Solitude or Markarth. Banks of coffin-filled niches lined the walls. But some of those coffins had been pulled onto the floors, opened, and left at odd angles. It was worse as they moved into another part of the crypt.<\/p>\n

Ulgar groaned. \u201cEven the coffins have been searched.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re a looter you have no morals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara frowned. It was an argument she heard often in veiled references to her family\u2019s occupation; and she knew different. I suppose I haven\u2019t exactly grown up in the most normal of families, but one of our family friends is the High King. So what does that say about morals? <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWatch out for draugr,\u201d Svegard continued. \u201cThey may have risen in malcontent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their path through the crypt continued deeper, and toward the mountains, Qara thought. The last of the neatly-arranged wooden niches gave way to a room with a roughly excavated stone floor. At the far side of the space was an arched opening pierced into a wall of stone, ornately carved in a style Qara recognized instantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA barrow,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know about this!\u201d Svegard exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey built the house on top of Nordic ruins!\u201d his brother agreed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026hope our kinsmen don\u2019t mind us dropping in for a visit,\u201d Svegard said quietly, easing himself around the blind corner to the right. The passage wound down and forward; but to Qara\u2019s surprise there were no chambers, or antechambers, or the burial niches and sacrificial tables common to Nordic ruins.<\/p>\n

Qaralana had a strange feeling about what they were encountering. There\u2019d been something bothering her all the way down, a sense of wrongness, and it was just now dawning on her what exactly was causing that sensation. She was opening her mouth to say something when Svegard beat her to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are so many of these torches lit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. I don\u2019t know. Maybe someone was camped out in here and left them all when they left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or maybe they haven\u2019t left yet. This is a very long way to go for not much reward, and nobody would have dragged things down here to camp when there\u2019s a nice house and a dry crypt so much closer to the surface.<\/em><\/p>\n

She drew her daggers. Something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

They rounded a corner and took three steps down into a short hallway. A door at its end opened, beyond which Qara could just make out a chamber with some of what she\u2019d expected to see in a barrow. But none of them had a chance to investigate it, because a Bosmer brandishing a nasty spiked club burst out of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa! Found you!\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n

Behind him, in the shadows, was a mage. Before either of the brothers could more than raise their weapons, he cast an ice spike that flew past Svegard to skewer Ulgar. He grunted loudly. Svegard yelled, \u201cWe\u2019ve got trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n

Yeah, we do.<\/em><\/p>\n

Qara was used to making herself inconspicuous, and she did so again, her black armor helping her squeeze past Ulgar on his left. The bandit with the club didn\u2019t even notice her, and the mage seemed focused entirely on Ulgar. In fact, he fired off another ice spike just as she reached him and began a series of strikes on him.<\/p>\n

The mage was tough; but like many mages he wore very light armor and simple clothing. Her blades pierced it easily. He stepped back into the corner, hissing, and fired another ice spike. This one took her clean through her left shoulder.<\/p>\n

Her vision blurred for a moment as she fought not to scream. She could hear the other two focused on the second bandit, and she didn\u2019t want to distract them by crying out in pain. Instead, she uttered her own hiss and stepped ahead, doing what she could to keep pressing the attack on the mage. He was being worn down, even by the blades that she now struggled to thrust forward with arms half-frozen and bleeding.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that all you\u2019ve got?\u201d the man sneered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot\u2026 quite\u2026\u201d she forced out through a clenched jaw, stepping into his preparation of another spell and finishing him off.<\/p>\n

Behind her she heard Ulgar cry out. \u201cGet over here!\u201d She swung around, blades still at the ready, just in time to see the brothers strike the remaining bandit almost simultaneously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey got here before we did,\u201d Ulgar said as the bandit fell.<\/p>\n

Qara had a hard time to keep from snorting out loud as she healed her wounds. Perhaps if we\u2019d been keeping a pace a little more robust than a waddle, we would have gotten here first. But who am I to say?<\/em><\/p>\n

Now I\u2019m just getting cranky. But I pretty much soloed that mage, and it took two big Nords to kill a Bosmer with a club. You\u2019d think I might get at least a look to see if I\u2019m alive.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d Svegard called as he started for the next passage. \u201cWe have to get that key.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stood in the burial room for a moment longer, shaking her head. Why was<\/em> she becoming so irritated with these people, after all?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the whole business about family and tradition. I have my own family. We have our own traditions. But they\u2019re back on Skyrim, not here. It wasn\u2019t my choice to come here, no matter what Olvir said back at the portal. I could have left as soon as I discovered the docks, but I didn\u2019t. I came back to help them, and now I\u2019m risking my life. <\/em><\/p>\n

And they didn\u2019t even check to see whether I was ok.<\/em><\/p>\n

She started to follow them through to the next area and stopped again, shaking her head at herself. She tsk\u2019d.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m Dragonborn, for whatever that\u2019s worth. I still haven\u2019t decided what I think about all of it. What I am sure of, though, is that Uncle Dar did all sorts of things he didn\u2019t want to do, in order to help people. Because they were the right things to do. At least that\u2019s what everyone has always said. I ought to be able to do the same.<\/em><\/p>\n

I just wish I knew everything was alright at home.<\/em><\/p>\n

They\u2019d moved out of the burial chamber into another series of narrow tunnels that wound deeper into the mountain. All three of them ran forward, as silently as they could manage, until another door opened before them.<\/p>\n

This time Qara\u2019s attempt to slip into the room unnoticed failed magnificently. She had her blades at the ready. But the bandit with the greatsword had his ready as well. He was in the middle of a huge horizontal slash that she nearly stepped directly into. At the last second she leapt at least partially out of the way, her training with Roggi and his practice greatsword serving her well \u2013 or at least well enough. Still, she took a tremendous blow. She would have shrieked in pain, but the man was winding up for another attempt; instead of shrieking, she Shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cFO \u2013 KRAH!\u201d<\/p>\n

The man staggered backwards, giving her a chance to cast some healing on herself. She was still gasping with the pain, and she could still feel blood trickling down inside her armor, but she was alive and that was good enough. She ran toward what she thought was a niche, trying to buy just a few more moments; but from just around a corner she heard a voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we have here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly Svegard was being set on by two bandits, while Qara and Ulgar had the third between them. She darted in and slashed him, then scuttled back out of the way of Ulgar\u2019s tremendous blow. He went down and once again the odds were in their favor.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet over here, Ulgar!\u201d Svegard howled, still trying to survive against two armed men.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The bandit who had joined late wielded a pole weapon, massive and metal-tipped, and was doing an admirable job with it. Even when he didn\u2019t do actual harm to either of the Hjorgunnars he pushed them back with it, or unbalanced them. Ulgar swiped at him and got his attention while Qara circled around behind him and started worrying him with shallow cuts, trying to find an opening for a deeper stab. She heard Svegard take the third bandit down, behind her, but didn\u2019t want to risk looking to see whether the battle was truly done.<\/p>\n

The man with the pole was stubborn and wouldn\u2019t fall. Qara Shouted at him \u2013 another cloud of frost wreathed another bandit, slowing him just enough that Ulgar was able to finish him off.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are more up ahead,\u201d she said to the brothers as they made for the next passage.<\/p>\n

They were well ahead of her, crashing through the double doors and into a large chamber before she even reached the end of the corridor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got trouble,\u201d Svegard yelled; and trouble they had. Qara couldn\u2019t see far into the room but she could see a mage on its far side, casting lightning all the way across the chamber to strike her. She pushed through the doorway, willing her muscles to work even though the electric shock wanted to shut them down. Swerving from side to side, she managed to dodge the next round of lightning until she was close enough to Shout once more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cFO- KRAH!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Shout worked as expected; the mage stumbled backward. Even the bandit standing behind her went down on one knee, covered in frost. But Qara couldn\u2019t move the way she was used to moving. She whirled into her usual dagger attack, but her legs didn\u2019t carry her far enough and she completely missed the mage. She tried again; this time the mage struck back with a dagger, tagging her in the arm. She gritted her teeth to try once more, and stepped straight into another blast of lighting.<\/p>\n

\u201cDie,\u201d the mage growled at her.<\/p>\n

I might. I might die right now if I can\u2019t\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n

From somewhere deep within her she found just enough reserve to push forward one more time, make one more attack. Slash, slash, whirl, slash, slash, retreat: and the mage fell dead.<\/p>\n

Qara didn\u2019t have time to cast much healing, for the second bandit here in this wide hallway was an archer, and a fairly good one. One arrow grazed her arm. Another whizzed by an ear, barely missing her. And now yet another man was stepping out of the room at the end of this place. She glanced at him, and ducked as another arrow came her way, and then stepped back gratefully as the two Hjorgunnars rushed in to finish the archer.<\/p>\n

The man who had walked in last went down on his knees as Ulgar walked past him toward a pedestal at the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, don\u2019t kill me!\u201d he begged them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s the Key?\u201d Svegard growled.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the others took it for Yngvarr,\u201d the man said, groveling at their feet. \u201cThey were heading to Bearclaw Cave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course they got it first,\u201d Qara muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you hurry, you may still find them there!\u201d the man said hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ulgar growled. \u201cMay your journey to Sovngarde be swift.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The man looked up from the floor, startled as the meaning of what he\u2019d just been told registered. \u201cWhat? No! Wait!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ulgar\u2019s sword finished the conversation.<\/p>\n

Svegard looked at Qara. \u201cAlright. Let me show you where Bearclaw Cave is on your map. It\u2019s just east of here but it\u2019s down in the valley. We\u2019ll meet you there. We have to hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qaralana nodded, and watched the brothers leave by way of a side door. She, on the other hand, slumped down onto the floor, her back resting against the wall, while her muscles slowly stopped twitching. She was exhausted, and had nearly died several times. The Key would have to wait long enough for a small meal and a drink of water.<\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   Qaralana climbed up out of the pool and sprinted upslope, through the driving rain, in the direction she hoped would lead her to the road. She scanned the area on one side and then the other, hoping she wouldn\u2019t trip and fall, not certain whether the dampness on her cheeks … <\/p>\n

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