{"id":1846,"date":"2022-08-28T21:11:52","date_gmt":"2022-08-29T03:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1846"},"modified":"2022-09-01T16:57:15","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T22:57:15","slug":"chapter-3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-ii\/part-ii-above-and-beyond\/chapter-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 3"},"content":{"rendered":"
Home<\/a><\/div>\n
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 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for the ride! Appreciate it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Qaralana hopped down from the wagon and scampered around the side of the stables. She heaved a great sigh of satisfaction entering her house. She was tired \u2013 tired enough to have a very long nap. But first, she needed to check in with her parents.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t wait to tell Daddy about\u2026 well, everything!<\/em><\/p>\n

She stowed most of what she had carried from Falskaar, then darted out the door, back up the hill, and past the stables and her father\u2019s hired guards at Riften\u2019s north gate. The sun was angling down toward the horizon when she burst into the family home. Qara had expected to see her mother cooking, or hear both parents laughing with each other \u2013 but it was silent inside, and there were no scents of warm food.<\/p>\n

Huh. That\u2019s odd. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMama? Daddy?\u201d She raised her voice to call to them, careful to keep as much of her power out of it as possible. Her voice was going to carry no matter what she did with it, the same way Dar\u2019s voice had. It didn\u2019t surprise her, then, when she stepped out the back door a familiar voice called from across the lawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut here, lass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her father was by himself in the gazebo, seated in the last rays of the sun. Qara couldn\u2019t help but break into a smile at the sight of him, and dash to close the remaining distance between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were wrong about old Jalamar, Daddy! There were <\/em>bandits in that cave, and an old Dwemer ruin below them. And right down at the very bottom was one of those big steam Centurions that had ripped a few of the bandits to shreds \u2013 that must have been what Jalamar heard \u2013 and beyond that was a\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She trailed off as she realized that Brynjolf hadn\u2019t really looked up at her. In fact, he was hunched over in an odd posture. He cleared his throat, though, as she went silent, and chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you went in there anyway, lass? Even though I told you not to? I should have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n

He spoke slowly and carefully, to her ear. Almost too carefully. She tried to suppress a frown. Something wasn\u2019t quite right with him, but she couldn\u2019t tell what it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell of course I did. And then I went to\u2026 Daddy, are you listening to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cAye, I am listening. Don\u2019t mind me, lass. I\u2019m a little, um, foggy, at the moment. It\u2019s nothing to worry about. So where did you go, after the cave?\u201d<\/p>\n

Foggy? What does that mean?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you all about it in a bit, but\u2026\u201d She trailed off and swiveled around to check the corners of the property. \u201cWhere\u2019s Mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

He frowned. \u201cShe\u2019s away on business. I\u2019m not sure when she\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Qara hesitated for a moment, but then thought about meeting Brunulvr and Gulmist and how much their squabbling reminded her of her parents, and decided she would speak up. \u201cSo let me guess – did you two have another fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up at her with an expression that wasn\u2019t quite anger and yet wasn\u2019t a complete smile, his eyes a bit reddened as if he\u2019d been weeping and hadn\u2019t quite recovered yet. That was, at the very least, odd.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, lass, I\u2019m afraid so.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cI hired someone awhile back. Turns out he gave me a false name. He and your mother\u2026\u201d He paused, and then grimaced. \u201cThey grew up together. Neither one of them knew the other one was here, so finding out was\u2026 uncomfortable. We had a bit of a disagreement over it. She had business to take care of anyway, and I suppose it seemed like the perfect moment to go do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more to this than he\u2019s saying, but I know he\u2019s not lying about it. I wish these two would just get over their insecurities and be a couple, the way they are sometimes when they don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s watching.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m pretty sure sitting out here by yourself isn\u2019t going to help anything. Besides, I need to talk to you. There was this\u2026 portal thing, down at the bottom of that ruin. Turns out it was a one-way trip through, but I ended up in Falskaar.\u201d<\/p>\n

It seemed as though it took a longer-than-usual moment for the words she\u2019d uttered to fully register to Brynjolf. When they did, though, his expression turned to shock.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWait. Did you say Falskaar?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara smiled and nodded vigorously, once again feeling the excitement of sharing this particular news with her father. \u201cI did! It\u2019s beautiful, Daddy. I even saw the little town where you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again it seemed as though it took a moment longer than usual for him to react. He blinked a couple of times and then stared at her. \u201cPinevale? Truly?\u201d<\/p>\n

She grinned, her excitement overruling her concern. \u201cYes! It\u2019s all burned, but Chip and I cleared out all the bandits that had moved in and he\u2019s going to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf held up a hand, interrupting her. \u201cChip went to Falskaar too?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara chuckled. \u201cOh! Yes, and he said you know how to get in touch with Vilkas, in Whiterun. He wants you to tell him that he\u2019s in charge while the Harbinger is away.\u201d One of Brynjolf\u2019s eyebrows rose. He crossed his arms, and nodded. Qara barely stopped for a breath before continuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much that happened, Daddy. Come on inside and I\u2019ll tell you the whole story.\u201d<\/p>\n

She led her father into the house and ignored his protestations that he wasn\u2019t hungry. She didn\u2019t know what was wrong with him, but hunger wasn\u2019t ever conducive to getting better. While they made and consumed a modest meal she chattered away excitedly, telling him about their parts in Falskaar\u2019s civil war.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf hadn\u2019t said much. He\u2019d just sat at the table with her and then on the bench beside her as she finally got to share the story that she\u2019d been nearly bursting with. It was even better sharing it with someone who might have had a stake in all of it if he\u2019d been there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s quite the tale, lass. Seems to me that the two of you have something to be proud of. Especially you, Qara. I don\u2019t really recognize most of the names, of course. I was just a boy when I left, and a young one at that. I stowed away on a ship and put it all behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara smiled. Now it\u2019s my chance.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell it doesn\u2019t have to be all<\/em> behind you, Daddy. What if I told you that there was someone else fighting with us that we never would have expected?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. It depends on who you\u2019re speaking of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI met him, and his wife, before I came back to get Chip. We learned what his name was before the big showdown, and Chip put two and two together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf looked at her with an odd expression, but said nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Brunulvr, Daddy. Our grandfather! He\u2019s there, and well! And Gulmist, too. When she found out you were still alive, well\u2026\u201d She paused, trying to interpret her father\u2019s expression. It was far too late to pretend there was nothing else to tell, though, so she decided to just press on. She took a deep breath and smiled before speaking again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really want to see you again, Daddy. And I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d Brynjolf growled, rising to his feet. \u201cI have nothing to say to that bastard. I\u2019m glad that Ma is still alive but I\u2019m still \u2013 let\u2019s say disappointed<\/em> \u2013 that she wouldn\u2019t stand up to him for the sake of her own child.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Daddy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said in a tone that was nearly a snarl. \u201cIt\u2019s out of the question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara stared at him for a moment as the fires of her anger rose up inside. It wouldn\u2019t do to let them out. It just wouldn\u2019t do. Dardeh had warned her against it. Instead, she stomped her foot on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just as bad as he is!\u201d she blurted out. \u201cBoth of you, stubborn old men who don\u2019t know enough to swallow their own pride for just a moment! No wonder Mama felt it was a good time to go take care of business!\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment she truly regretted having spoken to her father like that. But he needed to hear it. He needs to stop being so\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo many people have thought they knew better how I should conduct my existence,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n

It was that kind of quiet Qara had heard from King Ulfric before, the quiet that Harald had always told her meant \u2018the old man is about to blow up.\u2019 She fought to keep still even while the power inside her raged against being contradicted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a life of my own before your mother strolled into Riften, and I would be a very different man if not for the fact that she\u2026\u201d He stopped, the muscles in his jaws working as he clenched his teeth together. \u201cAs to Brunulvr\u2026\u201d He paused, and for a moment Qara feared he was going to spit on the floor in disgust. He didn\u2019t, though; instead, he took several deep breaths before continuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not<\/em> just like him, Qara. Even if we disagreed I\u2019ve at least tried to treat you with respect.\u201d He reached up to touch his own face. She wasn\u2019t sure he was even aware of doing it. \u201cI never broke Chip\u2019s nose,\u201d he finished quietly.<\/p>\n

Qara felt the shock of that revelation as physically as if someone had just broken her<\/em> nose. If that had happened, a whole lot of things suddenly made a lot more sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy,\u201d she said very quietly. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. From what I have seen of Granddaddy I can only imagine that maybe it wasn\u2019t meant to happen that way. He\u2019s so very strong, and you were just little\u2026\u201d And he clearly regrets everything that happened to send you away.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yet it did, lass,\u201d Brynjolf said quietly. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019ve always tried so hard to be good with you two. I wanted to be a better Da than he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are the best Da ever,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cEven if you are stubborn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd insufferable,\u201d he murmured, with a catch in his voice that she didn\u2019t quite understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat, too. But Daddy, you really need to see them. Especially Grandmama. She took one look at Chip and knew he was your son. I was afraid she was going to fall apart. She misses you so much. Please reconsider. Come back to Falskaar with me, even if it\u2019s just for a quick visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long silence, and then Brynjolf heaved a sigh.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll consider it,\u201d he said. \u201cFor you. But you have to understand me when I say I\u2019ve spent most of my life hating that man for everything he did to me. Just because I was a natural-born thief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara nodded. \u201cBut he said you couldn\u2019t help your own nature, Daddy. He regrets what happened more than anything. I think he understands more than you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said that, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them, nodding. \u201cGive me a few days, lass,\u201d he said at last. \u201cI have a lot of things to sort out in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara grinned. \u201cOK! I\u2019ll come back and pester you in a few days. In the meantime, I have to go make sure my house is still standing! And I need some sleep. I\u2019m really tired.\u201d She broke away and waved, turning to dash out the door.<\/p>\n

I knew he\u2019d give in. I just knew it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Qaralana was approaching the north gates the following morning when she heard someone calling from down the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cQara! Wait up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She broke into a huge smile even before turning to wave down the road. A blonde man in heavy armor was trudging up the hill toward Riften. Even if she hadn\u2019t recognized his voice she\u2019d have known who it was the instant she saw him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarald! I\u2019ve been trying to find you for weeks! Where have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d he said as he approached her. \u201cI was in Markarth for a while, and then somehow managed to get myself involved in helping out the folks at Little Vivec. I ended up at one of the Dwemer ruins just north of here, up in the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? I\u2019ll bet you enjoyed that!\u201d Qara was intrigued. Mostly, though, she was just delighted to see Harald. \u201cSo why are you here? Not that I\u2019m not happy to see you, you understand.\u201d She couldn\u2019t help but smile in delight once more. She suddenly heard Chip, in her mind, teasing her about Harald, and felt her cheeks beginning to flush. With any luck the bright sunshine would help masquerade that.<\/p>\n

He sighed. \u201cI\u2019m beat, that\u2019s why,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd a bit concerned. I also need to get back to Little Vivec soon and let Bal-Ran know\u2026\u201d He shook his head. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. It was just closer to come here than to walk all the way back home. Seeing you for the first time in ages is a bonus.\u201d He finally gave her the smile she\u2019d been hoping to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, give me a hug, too,\u201d she said. And before she could think better of it she\u2019d wrapped herself around him as she\u2019d done so many times before. He hugged her, in return. It was only for a moment, though; once again the echoes of Chip\u2019s teasing had her feeling uncomfortable. She broke the contact and pulled back, smiling at him in spite of her embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell you what, come over to my house. I\u2019ll fix you something to eat and you can tell me about it. Besides,\u201d she added, nearly bursting with excitement, \u201cI have to tell you about the Dwemer ruin Chip and I went into. It\u2019s just so exciting! I thought about you all the way through there.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Harald\u2019s eyebrows rose, along with one corner of his mouth. \u201cIs that so?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara laughed. \u201cYes, that\u2019s so. Come on!\u201d<\/p>\n

She led him inside and watched him as he dropped his heavy pack just inside the door. It was as if it had been the weight of the world, not just a pack that he dropped. Harald obviously had been through something important, but she didn\u2019t want to badger him into telling her what it might have been. Instead, she gathered up some snacks for them, brewed some tea, and started in on her own saga. For the second time in as many days she found herself recounting the trip through the portal to Falskaar, the civil war there, and her own journey back, hoping to find Harald at home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYou came to get me?\u201d he said, his face in its usual neutral expression, revealing little about what might be going on inside him.<\/p>\n

Qara sighed. \u201cYes, but the carriage driver said you\u2019d been away for some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded. \u201cHe was right. I would have been, let me think\u2026 yes that would have been while I was in Markarth.\u201d He gave her an embarrassed grin. \u201cI almost<\/em> made it into the Dwemer ruin there, but events conspired against me. I got into some trouble for that little excursion, let me tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara couldn\u2019t contain a giggle. \u201cLet me guess \u2013 you stopped in to see Uncle Roggi and Uncle Dar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s grin faded. \u201cYes. And they told me something major had happened to you. Tell me about this. I want to hear your perspective on things.\u201d<\/p>\n

She heaved a heavy sigh. \u201cYou must have been surprised to hear Uncle Dar speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s an understatement. And that happened immediately after Roggi gave me one of those stern talkings-to about remembering who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds right. And my perspective is that I had no idea all those stories about Uncle Dar were real, and in any way related to me.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cIt\u2019s true though, Harald. I can\u2026 uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsorb dragons?\u201d he said, with a broad and obvious grin this time. \u201cA girl from the days of yore, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara stomped her foot on the floor. \u201cYes. I can. That\u2019s what the problem is, Harald. Uncle Dardeh lost his ability to Shout and I got it, instead. He took me up to meet the Greybeards, even, and they acknowledged that I\u2019m Dragonborn and Uncle Dar isn\u2019t. So here am I, with this thing I can do that nobody else can, and I\u2019m supposed to live up to some old legend, and\u2026\u201d She stopped when she realized that some of the dishes in her kitchen were beginning to vibrate from the power in her voice.<\/p>\n

One of Harald\u2019s bushy eyebrows rose. \u201cI\u2026 see. And hear. You have to forgive me, Qara. I\u2019ve never seen such a thing in person. I can\u2019t do it, and Father can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not Dragonborn. Neither one of you is.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyebrow remained raised, giving him a skeptical look. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve never seen Dardeh do it either. Besides,\u201d he said, leaning forward and staring at her intently, \u201cwhy would you suddenly have this happen now?\u201d<\/p>\n

She fought down her irritation again. \u201cI don\u2019t know<\/em>, Harald,\u201d she said briskly. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly the problem. I didn\u2019t even have time to find out why when I suddenly ended up in Falskaar!\u201d She shuddered, remembering Vizemundsted. \u201cI only saw one dragon there, the whole time I was away, and it wasn\u2019t exactly the kind of creature I could kill, much less absorb. It was<\/em> a dragon, sort of, but everyone told me that it was actually an avatar of Shor.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched Harald\u2019s expression go from one of amused tolerance to one of shock, followed by an almost awestruck longing. Qara winced. I hadn\u2019t wanted to club him over the head with that but he does make me so annoyed sometimes.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, really,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the reason I came back to get you. I needed to get to Vizemundsted \u2013 an old Dwemer ruin \u2013 so that I could get to the barrow where the dragon was. I knew you\u2019d have loved the whole adventure, but when I learned what <\/em>the dragon was, well \u2013 let\u2019s just say even Chip was impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald frowned. \u201cSo I was off being tossed into Cidhna Mine and Chip came to Falskaar with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara\u2019s mouth fell open. \u201cWait, what? You were in prison<\/em>? But why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor asking questions,\u201d Harald said with a grimace. \u201cThe whole reason I went there in the first place was to ask questions. I can\u2019t believe Father is as bad as people say, Qara, and I wanted to hear the story from people who were there when he was. But the timing was, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And it was then Harald\u2019s turn to share a tale. Qara kept shaking her head as he described the entire grisly affair with the Forsworn, and then stared in awe as he told her of tracking down a person who had turned out to be the Nerevarine himself. When he got to the end of that particular tale, Qara found herself chuckling.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what\u2019s so funny about that, hmm?\u201d<\/p>\n

She grinned at him. \u201cHere you were giving me a hard time about being Dragonborn, and you were off meeting another hero from days of yore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s usually-solemn face softened into a grin. \u201cI guess you\u2019re right about that. So I found out that what kind of man my father is depends on who you ask. And you found out that you\u2019re Dragonborn because\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara snorted. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Harald. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so annoying. Why? What possible reason am I needed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald stroked his beard a few times. \u201cTo kill dragons? I\u2019m not being flippant, here. There are dragons about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara nodded, remembering some of the chatter she\u2019d shared with Chip during their time together on Falskaar. \u201cHmm. Maybe there\u2019s something to that. Chip said he must have killed half a dozen of them during the past few months. And I saw at least two that flew off before I could get to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd there\u2019s one out on the tundra, in Eastmarch,\u201d Harald added. \u201cThat\u2019s part of the reason I headed here instead of trying to walk back north while I was so tired. I wanted nothing to do with fighting a dragon while I could barely lift my sword.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara\u2019s mind had been working hard on the question while Harald was speaking, and what he\u2019d said took a moment or two to fully register with her. When it did, she looked at him in shock and, if she was honest about it, a little excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, let\u2019s go then!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald\u2019s eyes opened wide for a moment. Then he chuckled. \u201cYou are jesting with me, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara snorted. \u201cNo, I\u2019m not jesting with you. Didn\u2019t we just get done talking about how I\u2019m Dragonborn?\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald looked flustered. \u201cWell, yes, we did \u2013 but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. We did.\u201d Qara tried hard to keep the note of triumph out of her voice. It was hard enough to be listened to if you were a girl, harder still to skewer a man with his own arguments. And yet she had just done that very thing. \u201cHarald, if you saw a dragon that means we have to kill it. I<\/em> have to kill it. I\u2019m the only one who can absorb its soul and truly destroy it. Unless Uncle Dar still can, but he thinks he can\u2019t anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at him, taking his measure. Harald was her best and closest friend. He had <\/em>looked tired when he\u2019d arrived, but between the long rest and food he looked much fresher now. She hated to goad him when he\u2019d done nothing to deserve it aside from only believing what he could see with his own eyes \u2013 but it had to be done.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you\u2019re not up to the fight, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she had known would be the case, Harald\u2019s deep-seated Nord pride flared into a moment of anger. His eyes flashed, and if he\u2019d been able to produce steam from his nostrils she was certain he would have. At that moment she was glad that her Voice was far more powerful than his.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHow dare you? Do you remember who I am?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara grinned and crossed her arms. \u201cOf course I do, Prince <\/em>Harald. Son of High King Ulfric Stormcloak, one of the greatest warriors of this Era.\u201d<\/p>\n

As quickly as it had flared, Harald\u2019s anger died. He flushed, and had the good grace to look embarrassed at his outburst. She couldn\u2019t help it: she giggled.<\/p>\n

Harald harrumphed. \u201cSo you got me again. Well done. I can\u2019t help being my father\u2019s son any more than you can help being your father\u2019s daughter.\u201d He stroked his chin, looking in her direction but seeming to stare off into space, pondering something she couldn\u2019t see.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what we\u2019ll do. I have this book. I think it\u2019s in Dwemeris and the only person I know who might be able to tell us what it says is the person I met in Kagrenar. The Nerevarine. He told me if I ever needed advice I could find him at the Shrine of Azura. We\u2019ll go kill the dragon on the way to see him. Then we\u2019ll go report in to Little Vivec and go visit Dar and Roggi. I want to ask them some more questions. Does that sound reasonable?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara nodded happily. I knew he\u2019d come around. I\u2019ve been on a roll. First Daddy and now Harald. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me throw some food in a pack and we\u2019ll be off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it is,\u201d Harald whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ve been hearing it for awhile. It\u2019s challenging anyone near.\u201d Qara knew her eyes must be shining with excitement, for her dragon blood was responding to the challenge of the creature flying around the top of Bonestrewn Crest in the same way it had wanted to respond to Ahkrinviing in the Heart Chamber. But that hadn\u2019t been possible; Ahkrinviing was an avatar of Shor. This was a regular dragon \u2013 imposing and dangerous, to be sure, but not one of the Divine.<\/p>\n

Harald shot her a quick glance, nodded, and headed across the road at a brisk trot. Qara tsk\u2019d. He probably had winked, or raised an eyebrow, or done something that would have given her a hint as to what he intended, but under the heavy helmet his features didn\u2019t show.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarald, wait!\u201d she called out. I don\u2019t know why I bother. He can\u2019t possibly hear me with that dragon screaming. He\u2019s at least as stubborn as Chip is. <\/em>She heaved a resigned sigh and chased after the prince.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She was close to the top of the nearest hill when the dragon \u2013 a great red and black creature whose colors mimicked those in her own armor \u2013 suddenly banked and made a beeline for the much more visible Harald. She wanted to cry out a warning, but there was no time, and Harald clearly saw the beast heading for him. She readied her bow and drew.<\/p>\n

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

Harald\u2019s Voice startled her so badly that she lost her grip on the bowstring, and the arrow flopped to ground far short of contact with anything, much less the dragon. She snarled, drew another arrow and took a deep breath, readying a Shout as well as an attack.<\/p>\n

Then there was an explosion of magic, directly between Qara and Harald. She jumped, once again dropping her arrow. It was like nothing she\u2019d ever seen before. Out of the rough sphere of magic stepped a spectral form in heavy armor, draped with a fur cloak and wielding a wicked-looking, jagged sword \u2013 all ethereal, transparent, and glowing with power. The figure inhaled, leaned forward, and Shouted.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cFUS \u2013 RO DAH!\u201d<\/p>\n

The dragon was caught by the force of the Shout even as it flew overhead; it was force enough to shake the beast off-course and prevent it from attacking. Qara stood in stunned silence for just a moment before coming back to herself and firing off a shot. She missed, but Harald didn\u2019t. In almost the same moment that the ethereal man Shouted, Harald had pulled out a bow glimmering with power that was visible to her all the way across the hillside. His shot landed an instant after the eerie Unrelenting Force had.<\/p>\n

Qaralana felt her blood beginning to boil. If I don\u2019t do something, this fight will be over before I get a chance to even engage! <\/em><\/p>\n

She readied herself, and as the dragon made another pass at Harald she Shouted at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJOOR \u2013 ZAH FRUL!\u201d<\/p>\n

The dragon screamed in outrage as the force of her Voice wrapped it in glowing energies. It thundered to the ground; she dashed toward it, drawing her blades, and saw that both Harald and the spirit were engaging it with theirs, as well. The next few moments were a blur of sound and color as the great beast snapped at the blades and spiked shield assailing it. With that much power against it, though, it didn\u2019t last long; it gave one last cry and threw its head back before toppling to the ground.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Then Qara stood beside it and closed her eyes against the light of the fire, drawing in the dragon\u2019s heat and power and adding it to her own in a wash of sensations she\u2019d begun to almost enjoy. No wonder Uncle Dar said to be careful with this. It\u2019s amazing. And he was so much stronger than I am. <\/em><\/p>\n

When she opened her eyes, she found Harald standing with her beside the huge skeleton, staring at her. He shook his head and blew out a long breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s what it is to be Dragonborn,\u201d he said almost reverently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she responded simply. \u201cThat\u2019s why I insisted we fight it. I can make them truly dead.\u201d Then it was her turn to be awe-struck. \u201cBut who was that, Harald, the spirit that fought with us? What<\/em> was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He removed his helmet and smiled down at her. \u201cAs near as I can tell, Qara, it\u2019s the spirit of Shor. I used to feel it as a part of myself, a sort of second skin like the armor spells the mages cast. You remember \u2013 I\u2019ve told you about it before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Qara nodded. \u201cYes, and I saw someone on Falskaar \u2013 Ulgar Hjorgunnar – do the same thing, almost glowing. I always thought it was just a Nord thing, and because I\u2019m only half-Nord I couldn\u2019t do it myself. But this was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Harald smiled. \u201cThis was Shor\u2019s spirit. I am certain of it. I\u2019ve felt him more strongly of late \u2013 out in Markarth, when I found myself doing things I couldn\u2019t have imagined – and again when I was in Kagrenar with the Nerevarine. I wasn\u2019t expecting it to take on its own form like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

An avatar of Shor. Just like the dragon on Falskaar. I don\u2019t know what to think about that. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell then,\u201d Harald said, \u201cIf we don\u2019t move along we\u2019ll never get to Windhelm, much less the Shrine of Azura. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara didn\u2019t know what to say, either; she simply nodded.<\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   \u201cThanks for the ride! Appreciate it!\u201d Qaralana hopped down from the wagon and scampered around the side of the stables. She heaved a great sigh of satisfaction entering her house. She was tired \u2013 tired enough to have a very long nap. But first, she needed to check in with … <\/p>\n

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