{"id":1950,"date":"2022-10-29T20:18:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-30T02:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=1950"},"modified":"2022-11-19T13:17:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-19T20:17:06","slug":"chapter-7-dale","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-ii\/part-ii-above-and-beyond\/chapter-7-dale\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 7 – Dale"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/p>\n

Dale wrestled his thoughts all the way back to his mausoleum. Potema\u2019s piles of dead deep under the mountains filled his mind, even while he slept, and later, as he made his way toward Dawnstar to report to Nazir.<\/p>\n

The wonder is that it bothers me at all. By all the gods, I\u2019m a vampire. Undead should not be an issue for me. <\/em><\/p>\n

Between that and wondering why this particular endeavor was so important my mind won\u2019t rest. Well, I suppose I shall find out soon enough, at least about Solitude.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cicero seemed a bit more agitated than usual. Dale could hear him singing as soon as he stepped through the Black Door.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is the Listener, she is the Listener\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale shook his head. Why Cicero was so vocal on any particular day was anyone\u2019s guess. As he approached the stairs, Cicero looked over his shoulder and grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, hello<\/em>, Just Dale! I\u2019m certain Nazir will be happy to see you,\u201d the jester called out, and then giggled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Dale replied, with an answering grin. He trotted down to the main room, listening to Cicero\u2019s song begin again. He was chuckling in amusement as he approached the aging Redguard.<\/p>\n

I wonder how old Nazir is, really. With that turban on it\u2019s impossible to see whether he is gray on top or not. For all I know he may have no hair at all under there.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cGreetings,\u201d Nazir said, looking up at him. \u201cAnd how goes the slay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Dale told him. \u201cWell indeed. Captain Safia is having\u2026 a very, very long nap below deck. It may be some time before she awakens. If ever.\u201d He couldn\u2019t keep the small grin from his face, no matter how hard he tried. \u201cI also completed the Night Mother\u2019s job in Solitude, so I\u2019m utterly at your disposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy Sithis!\u201d Nazir said, his eyebrows raised. \u201cI am truly impressed. To kill a pirate captain, on her own ship no less! Simply masterful. You\u2019ve not only earned my payment, but my respect as well \u2013 and believe me, that does not come easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell thank you, my friend,\u201d Dale said, reaching out to take the hefty sack of coins Nazir offered him. \u201cI have to say that means a great\u2026\u201d He trailed off into silence as he saw Nazir\u2019s gaze shift to something past and behind him.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cGreetings, Listener,\u201d Nazir said with a tone of respect and deference Dale had never heard from him before. \u201cThe newest initiates are working out well. Eager, dedicated, and not afraid to get their hands wet. Speaking of which, I don\u2019t believe you\u2019ve met Ondale yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t,\u201d a low and raspy voice responded as Dale turned to see its owner.<\/p>\n

She was a vision of darkness, dressed entirely in a sweeping black robe, gloves and boots, and a hood that shaded her eyes. She was dark-skinned, as well \u2013 a Redguard, most likely, Dale thought. The overall effect was that of a shadow whispering through the room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dale did as his mother had taught him to do when meeting someone of a superior standing. He gave a courtly half-bow while averting his eyes. \u201cIt is a pleasure, Listener,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me take a look at you,\u201d the woman said, making a half-turn to face him more directly. Dale straightened and watched her. He couldn\u2019t see her reactions, for her eyes were deep beneath the rim of her hood, but he heard a sharp intake of breath.<\/p>\n

Let me guess. I suppose I am about to be told once more that \u2013<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy gosh, it\u2019s true.\u201d She shook her head. \u201cYour hair is different, but\u2026 If I hadn\u2019t been here the day he died I would call you Andante and ask why you\u2019d been avoiding your duties,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s remarkable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale sighed. \u201cSo I hear. There\u2019s nothing wrong with being told I resemble my late father, mind you. Not at all. It\u2019s just unsettling to me, given that I neither knew him nor ever saw him myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Listener nodded. \u201cI can appreciate that. In any case I\u2019m happy to finally meet you, Ondale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust Dale!\u201d Cicero called down from the Night Mother\u2019s casket on the landing above. \u201cHis name is Just Dale, Listener.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both the Listener and Nazir laughed, and Dale couldn\u2019t help letting himself chuckle, as well. It certainly wasn\u2019t the worst pet name he\u2019d ever heard, or been called.<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you eavesdropping on us, Cicero?\u201d the Listener called back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Listener! I mean\u2026 no! Of course not, Listener! Dear, lonely Cicero would never eavesdrop on a conversation.\u201d Dale heard a loud giggle. \u201cUnless it was important, of course. But never again! He will just go back to tending our Mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

A moment later they heard the sounds of something that might be called singing. \u201cHo ho ho, and hee hee hee, break that lute across my knee.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see this is not one of his better days,\u201d the Listener said, sounding resigned.<\/p>\n

Nazir shook his head. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how much time passes. I will never understand\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy I let him live. I know, Nazir. But you have to admit that this isn\u2019t always the most cheerful place. He livens it up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas he always been like this?\u201d Dale asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Nazir said flatly. \u201cFrom the moment we met him. Singing and dancing<\/em>. I can\u2019t abide the dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Listener tsk\u2019d. \u201cNo, Nazir. Well, I suppose yes, he\u2019s always been like this since he came to Skyrim. Some days better, some not. But before the Falkreath sanctuary burned I had the opportunity to read his journals. At Astrid\u2019s direction,<\/em>\u201d she added when one of Nazir\u2019s eyebrows rose. \u201cDon\u2019t give me that look. At any rate, the first one or two volumes were perfectly lucid and match the tales I was given of him, later on. Apparently he was quite an accomplished member of the Brotherhood, and for that \u2013 and the fact that he single-handedly brought the Night Mother here all the way from Cyrodiil, in an attempt to keep this organization alive \u2013 well, I think he deserves our respect. Or at very least our tolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nazir nodded. He said nothing more, but he was clearly feeling chastened.<\/p>\n

She turned back to Dale. \u201cNow then. What are you up to at the moment?\u201d<\/p>\n

What am I up to? How do I answer that? What is the right answer here?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cI needed to check in with Nazir and let him know that I\u2019d completed my assignments. Including one that came from you, Listener. Now I\u2019m hoping for new ones. I do have some personal business to attend to in the south, but I of course am at your disposal. Either or both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nazir shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m afraid you\u2019ve exhausted all the contracts I had available for you. But I\u2019m sure there\u2019s something to keep you busy, hmm?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Listener chuckled. \u201cAs it happens, I do have a contract that needs doing, Dale. I was going to take care of it myself, but if you would be kind enough that will give me an opportunity to talk to the Night Mother about other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale nodded, slowly. Talk to the Night Mother. Of course. Because everyone talks to corpses here, even Cicero. Who am I to question it, though? I\u2019ll do the job, and earn some coins on my way back to Riften.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. Give me the details.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The woman in black handed him a pouch of coins. \u201cI\u2019ve already contacted the client. Here\u2019s what you need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a mage, unsurprisingly situated in Winterhold, who had become a thorn in several people\u2019s sides. One of these had become particularly fed up with the man, who was reckless with his magic. She shared everything she knew about the target with Dale, including his size and appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy the new Archmage didn\u2019t take care of it I don\u2019t know. But that\u2019s the target. You\u2019ll need to be especially careful there. I don\u2019t think I need to tell you how dangerous mages can be.\u201d She shuddered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018new\u2019 Archmage, Listener? He\u2019s been there for over a decade now,\u201d Nazir said.<\/p>\n

The Listener shrugged. \u201cAt some point all the days are the same, Nazir. All I know is that he\u2019s not<\/em> the former Archmage, and that\u2019s all that matters to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former Archmage? Does she mean Edwyn Wickham, who Agryn told me about? I\u2019d best keep my connections with that particular set of information to myself.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dale nodded. \u201cIf that\u2019s all, I\u2019ll take my leave, then. Thank you Nazir and you as well, Listener. I\u2019ll have the task complete as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mouth he could just barely see beneath the dark hood smiled. \u201cI know. Or rather, I will<\/em> know. I\u2019m not certain I understand how it works, even after all this time, but yes \u2013 I\u2019ll know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale turned and scurried up the stairs and out the door. He looked around for prying eyes and then clambered over the rocks at the end of the shoreline. Once over them and safely out of sight of Dawnstar, he would take on his winged form for the trip to Winterhold.<\/p>\n

This should be easy. But my, what a small world it is, here in Skyrim!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was exceptionally dark and foggy when he finally trudged up the broken slope beneath the College of Winterhold\u2019s precarious bridge and into the town itself. It would be perfect weather for dispatching his target and making an unobtrusive escape.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was also an easy place in which to locate anyone who wasn\u2019t a part of the College; the sum total of Winterhold was comprised of the Jarl\u2019s longhouse, a ramshackle general store, a couple of private residences, and the inn. Dale slipped into the inn as quietly as he could, thankful for the warmth of the roaring fires but keeping to the shadows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis. This is why people have a problem with your college, Nelacar.\u201d The innkeeper was speaking to an Altmer mage standing in the doorway of one of the inn\u2019s rooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a minor miscalculation. I\u2019ve already corrected it for future experiments. Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, it\u2019s very late and I must rest.\u201d He turned his back on the innkeeper and vanished into his quarters.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not the one. He and the innkeeper wouldn\u2019t be trading friendly barbs like that if he were the source of enough irritation to call on the Brotherhood.<\/em><\/p>\n

There were a few people still up and about here at the Frozen Hearth, even as late as it was. Dale glanced at each of them in turn \u2013 a serving girl, one of the locals passed out and snoring on a bedroll across the room, and a man in ragged clothing enjoying the contents of a tankard. Seated beside that man was another, in full armor, balding and gray. Dale gazed at him and frowned. That man matched the physical description the Listener had given him.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never seen a mage wearing anything other than robes, though. At least not anyone who considered himself a real mage.<\/em><\/p>\n

He looked to the table nearest him. There was an Altmer seated there, his full attention on the bread and ale before him. This mer wore mage\u2019s robes. His skin was the color of roasting chestnuts rather than the golden hues of most Altmer. His hair was curly and had an interesting color, not quite steely-gray and not quite lavender.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Well it\u2019s not as though there\u2019s a shortage of mages here in Winterhold. <\/em><\/p>\n

But he can\u2019t be the man I was sent to kill. This one across the way. He matches the description. Odd choice of garb for a mage \u2013 but I suppose that if I were trying to be inconspicuous I might choose that as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dale pulled the shadows in around himself and crept silently across the room, taking up a position just behind one of the great roof supports but close enough to the target to reach him. The table\u2019s other occupant \u2013 the man in ragged miner\u2019s clothing \u2013 rose, stretched, and headed for the inn\u2019s door. Dale chose that moment to lean forward and drain the armored mage of his life. The man slumped over, spreading across the bench like someone who\u2019d indulged in far too many tankards of mead. Dale crossed the room once more to stand near the dark Altmer and shimmered back into visibility.<\/p>\n

The serving girl shrieked. \u201cDagur! Help!\u201d<\/p>\n

The innkeeper scurried out from behind the bar. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat awful mage \u2013 I think he\u2019s dead!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dale crossed the room to where his handiwork lay in full display, and looked down at him hoping that he had masked his grin adequately. He gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just awful! Someone should tell the authorities!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a rustling from across the room, followed by a calm, measured voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shall alert the guard. It is time for me to retire, so it is on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale turned back toward the door. As he had expected, it was the Altmer mage who had spoken. He seemed in no rush as he left the inn. Perhaps, Dale thought in amusement, people falling over dead was a commonplace occurrence here in the frozen north.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dagur comforted the server and poured her a flagon of mead, then returned to Dale\u2019s side, exchanging a glance with him. Dale inclined his head toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho was that gentleman, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Archmage Jorus. Kalaman Jorus. He\u2019s been here oh, maybe a dozen years or so, since before he was Archmage. Decent fellow. He comes down here to sit and listen every so often. Thinks he\u2019s being all sly by taking off his Archmage robes but\u2026 just look at him. If there was ever anyone to fail at blending into a crowd, it\u2019s him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale chuckled. \u201cYes. I noticed him as soon as I arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dagur pointed at the dead man. \u201cNow that<\/em> one. I doubt anyone will miss him. Annoying piece of work he was. Thought he was clever because he didn\u2019t wear mage robes, and was forever practicing spells that \u2013 well – changed<\/em> people. Turned them into animals. Fortunately he wasn\u2019t very good at it, so the spells never lasted very long. Imagine finding yourself a cow. Udder and all.\u201d He shook his head and peered again at Dale. \u201cCan I get you something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I need to be off. I just slipped in to warm myself a bit from the road. I seem to have picked an inopportune moment to arrive.\u201d Dale smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll be certain to stop in again on the return trip, and enjoy the hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSuit yourself,\u201d the innkeeper said, turning again to look at the dead man. He tsk\u2019d and then muttered to himself. \u201cI hope there\u2019s more than one guard coming. Or maybe Nelacar can magick the body out of here. What a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale smiled to himself and left the inn, happy enough to be back on the road to Riften.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Ondale? Did you follow up with Falk Firebeard?\u201d Agryn Gernic took a sip from his tankard without breaking eye contact with Dale.<\/p>\n

Dale shuddered internally. I don\u2019t really know why I thought Agryn was such a \u201cnice\u201d person. He certainly isn\u2019t a terrible one, as far as I can tell, but by the Eight he has steel hidden in that voice. There\u2019s a great deal more to him than I suspected. I don\u2019t believe I want to know what it is.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI did, sir. And it was quite the adventure. It seems that Potema escaped the cave \u2013 you\u2019ll recall that I told you about interrupting a summoning spell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBut she was already summoned? Is that it?\u201d Vyctyna stared up at him, looking every bit as imposing as her partner at that moment. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty much awful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what seems to have happened, yes. She was working on becoming corporeal again. I\u2019m not exactly sure how. What I do<\/em> know is that she was deep underground in the mountain behind Castle Dour, in a huge old complex I entered via the Temple of the Divines. She had draugr, and vampires, and so many corpses and skeletons that I lost count, and \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cVampires?\u201d Agryn interrupted, leaning forward with an expression of interest, maybe even excitement. \u201cTell me. Did there appear to be some kind of vampire \u2013 establishment \u2013 down there? A city?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale peered at him in confusion. \u201cNot that I saw. It was more like a few vampires mingled in amongst the dead. She was raising them. The dead, I mean. I was grateful to you for my wings and claws, truthfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vyctyna nodded. \u201cYes. She was just about the best necromancer ever, according to all the old stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agryn\u2019s expression fell flat. \u201cDamn. I really thought we\u2019d found it this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale couldn\u2019t help frowning in confusion. \u201cI don\u2019t understand. The complex was just that: chambers that looked like they may once have been part of the castle, but had been closed off for eons. What did you think I would find?\u201d<\/p>\n

Agryn sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought,\u201d he said, \u201cthat you were going to find the old city where the Volkihar used to live. Reportedly, at any rate. It was long enough ago that I only heard of it as rumors and legends. Edwyn Wickham told me of it, and mind you the legends were from, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHundreds of years ago, Dale. Edwyn was pretty old.\u201d Vyctyna frowned. \u201cAnd a pig, to boot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agryn reached out to grasp Vyctyna\u2019s hand and squeeze it, smiling at her. There he is, Dale thought. That\u2019s the man I met in Cyrodiil. The pleasant one who smiles and cares for others.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been looking for a good spot to establish a new base,\u201d he said, his gaze returning to meet Dale\u2019s. \u201cFrom which we can establish trade of various sorts while we work to consolidate power. Clearly we can\u2019t use this<\/em> place as a headquarters for anyone but ourselves, much less for the entirety of our kind. The Volkihar were once exclusively subterranean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Vyctyna said. \u201cThey lived under the ice. Under<\/em> it. In the lakes. No thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale couldn\u2019t help but chuckle. \u201cBut not for a long time now, yes? They\u2019re headquartered in the castle up near the border, aren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

Agryn nodded. \u201cAnd have been, for eons.\u201d He closed his eyes and smiled for a moment. \u201cWhich has always suited me. I love the sun, strange though that may seem for a vampire to say.\u201d He opened his eyes again and shrugged. \u201cOur former Lord, Harkon, thought that Castle Volkihar was a sufficiently safe haven for the clan. And it is enormous and separated from the mainland by a stretch of water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd usually covered in fog,\u201d Vyctyna added.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026\u201d Dale was still confused. If they were Volkihar \u2013 and they were \u2013 why were Agryn and Vyctyna here, in a tiny cave nearly in Morrowind? \u201cIt\u2019s not sufficient? Even if it\u2019s huge and isolated?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t. Not for years. The resurgence of the Dawnguard was proof enough of that, to say nothing of the Vigilants of Stendarr finding Serana\u2019s hiding place after literal eons. All of them had been alerted to the Castle. To hear Serana and Brynjolf tell it, there was a period of regular attacks by the Dawnguard.\u201d Agryn grimaced. \u201cBut Harkon was far too distracted by the temptation of Auriel\u2019s Bow to notice how compromised the castle was. And Edwyn was utterly consumed with the idea of fulfilling Harkon\u2019s goal of uniting all the vampire clans under him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEddy was nuts.\u201d Vyctyna\u2019s voice positively dripped venom. \u201cThat\u2019s why he was only in charge for a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale looked back and forth between the two of them. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t think it\u2019s safe even now, I take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Agryn shook his head. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t, for a number of reasons.\u201d He turned to Vyctyna; the two of them exchanged a long look. To Dale\u2019s eye they were wordlessly reviewing a discussion he hadn\u2019t heard. After a few moments Agryn nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, Ondale,\u201d he said, turning back to face Dale, \u201cthat it is time for you to meet the castle\u2019s residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh? I was wondering when this would happen.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re heading west?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Vyctyna told him. \u201cIt\u2019s been some time since I\u2019ve seen Serana, too. This should be interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cIt certainly has been interesting thus far,\u201d Dale murmured as they approached the stairwell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you,\u201d Agryn answered, grinning at him. \u201cI\u2019m never quite sure what to expect here.\u201d<\/p>\n

It had been an odd feeling, gliding up the long incline to the castle\u2019s entrance. By some definitions this should be his home. And yet his benefactors\u2019 tension poured from them in palpable waves. Dale wasn\u2019t, generally speaking, a nervous sort of person. Even so, meeting Orthjolf, Garan Marethi and the others had him on edge.<\/p>\n

Marethi had pointed them toward the \u201cmaster\u2019s chambers\u201d to find Serana. Vyctyna left them immediately, heading toward an elegant stair at the back of the castle, while Agryn led Dale down to the great hall and through to a chamber to one side. There Agryn introduced Dale to Rargal Thrallmaster, and to the vampire cattle held in the cages below. Dale followed his sire out of the basement feeling much refreshed.<\/p>\n

All of the Volkihar had been pleasant enough. Behind their polite smiles, however, Dale had sensed the same unsettled reaction he had from nearly everyone he\u2019d met in Skyrim. Nobody had said anything, but he knew what they\u2019d been thinking.<\/p>\n

No, I\u2019m not Vitus. I will never be Vitus. The fact that we both chose much the same paths through our lives is \u2026 strange, to be sure \u2026 and yet I am an entirely different person.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor example,\u201d Agryn continued, \u201cit\u2019s a surprise to me that Serana is in her father\u2019s former rooms. She used to insist that they belonged to Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll ever get used to that. He\u2019s not<\/em> a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hasn\u2019t been, for almost as long as I\u2019ve known him. But he was, once. Or rather, twice. I\u2019d advise against mentioning him in Serana\u2019s presence. They have an odd relationship.\u201d Agryn sighed. \u201cAnd the fact that Serana is in her father\u2019s chambers makes me wonder whether she misses him, or has at last decided to accept the obvious fact that she\u2019s the head of the Volkihar. Either possibility makes me uneasy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale frowned. It was an exercise in concentration trying to keep all of these people straight in his mind. \u201cMisses\u2026 who? Brynjolf? Or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarkon.\u201d Agryn frowned. \u201cSerana\u2019s birth father. My sire\u2019s sire and the head of the clan for a very long time until Brynjolf and \u2013 well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale couldn\u2019t help grinding his teeth again. \u201cMy<\/em> father. Just go ahead and say it. I\u2019m beginning to understand that I can\u2019t escape him. I can\u2019t tell you how intensely irritating it is being so firmly in the wake of someone I never knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

They reached the top of the stairs and turned toward the warmth of a crackling fire. Vyctyna was perched on the chair closer to the door; next to her, in an ornately-decorated throne, was a woman who would have caught Dale\u2019s eye even if he hadn\u2019t already known who she was. She was statuesque, with black hair and crimson eyes, wearing the armor of Volkihar royalty also favored by Agryn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cLady Serana,\u201d Agryn greeted her, smiling. \u201cIt\u2019s been some time. I\u2019ve brought someone to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I hear,\u201d Serana said, rising to her feet and facing Dale with a posture that positively oozed defiance, at least to his eyes. \u201cVyctyna\u2019s been filling me in.\u201d She looked him over, coldly.<\/p>\n

Dale gave her the same half-bow that he would have given to anyone of higher status. \u201cLady Serana,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Serana harrumphed. \u201cI see the apple doesn\u2019t fall too far from the tree. He greeted me the same way, but only after he understood who I am.\u201d Dale felt his mouth opening in dismay, but before he could formulate a response, much less give it voice, she cut him off. \u201cDon\u2019t expect me to call you Lord <\/em>Perdeti. You\u2019re neither my father \u2013 nor yours. Even Sir Agryn here has a better claim to the throne than you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wonder what I did to deserve this sort of treatment. Just being a Perdeti is enough? I see. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI assure you, Lady Serana, that I will make no such claim. Nor would I wish to, having received such a warm welcome from nearly everyone here.\u201d He couldn\u2019t suppress a smirk. \u201cI\u2019m very young, in vampire terms, and have a great deal to learn. Thus I am continually grateful for Agryn and Vyctyna and their guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vyctyna coughed. Dale looked her way and saw her glaring daggers at him. In spite of what should have been his better judgment he grinned back. Yes, I realize I\u2019m treading very close to the line here. But I suppose you\u2019re right – there\u2019s nothing to be gained by making things worse.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNow then, Serana,\u201d Agryn interrupted smoothly. \u201cWe came to ask your advice on the matter of locating a safer home. We\u2019ve spoken of this before.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was deftly done, Agryn. And don\u2019t think I don\u2019t realize that you just rescued me from an untenable situation.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know we have, Agryn,\u201d Serana said, turning to him. \u201cAnd I\u2019m telling you, the castle is safe and has only two entrances, easily defended. It\u2019s huge. Feel free to inspect it. You\u2019ll find entire empty wings, but we maintain all of it now. It could easily house all of the Volkihar, no matter how far-flung they may be at the moment.\u201d She sighed, then, her demeanor losing its sharp edges. \u201cLook. I know you\u2019re just trying to do what Eddy wanted \u2013 which is what he thought<\/em> Father wanted. But you know he was mad at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, Serana. But he wasn\u2019t mad during all those years we spent working toward Harkon\u2019s goals. All that research? I still think he was on to something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Serana said slowly, \u201cI have heard rumors from out in the Rift. The thing is that Brynjolf and\u2026 Andante\u2026 already investigated the Blood spring. It was the remnants of an old temple of Arkay from the First Era, buried in an earthquake sometime in the Second. They found the journal of the vampire who converted the place to a skooma den. It was <\/em>being used as a headquarters by a few vampires, but it wasn\u2019t a city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Dale checked out the complex under Castle Dour, Serana,\u201d Vyctyna added. \u201cDead and undead, but there\u2019s no city in Haafingar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck around Ivarstead, maybe. That\u2019s the best I can suggest. It\u2019s the only other place of any size in the Rift.\u201d Serana peered at Dale again and sighed. \u201cListen, I\u2019m sorry for the harsh reception. It\u2019s just that I didn\u2019t like your father very much. Or, rather\u2026 I liked him but\u2026\u201d She tsk\u2019d. \u201cIt\u2019s complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahh, Dale thought. I see how it is. He turned you down cold, did he? That would square with what my mother told me about his appetites.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be concerned, Lady Serana. I wouldn\u2019t dream of following in my father\u2019s footsteps. I prefer younger women.\u201d He felt, rather than saw, Vyctyna\u2019s startled reaction from beside him. \u201cWhat I mean is that I actually have someone in mind. You needn\u2019t worry about me.\u201d He inclined his head rather than bowing.<\/p>\n

Serana had exactly the reaction he\u2019d hoped she would. She huffed, squared her shoulders, and stomped from the room. He listened to her angry footsteps as she descended the stairs. Impressive. I\u2019m sure those boots are usually fully muffled.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vyctyna rose from her chair to stare at Dale. \u201cThat was really stupid,\u201d she said in her usual blunt fashion. \u201cAnd rude, and uncalled for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dale chuckled. \u201cYes, I know it was. But I don\u2019t like her. I don\u2019t like her, I\u2019m not required<\/em> to like her, and I don\u2019t care what her relationship with my late unlamented father may have been.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ought to,\u201d came a dry rumble from beside him. \u201cYou\u2019ve ensured that she doesn\u2019t like you, either. It\u2019s not wise to insult the head of our clan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I observed, the members have no issue with insulting each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Agryn admitted. \u201cAnd now you can see why I\u2019m uncertain about the stability of this place. It\u2019s not just a matter of how close it is to the mainland.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed. It would be hard to feel safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you feel as though you have a good grasp of the situation?\u201d Agryn asked.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d Dale answered slowly. \u201cYou\u2019d like me to continue the search. To follow up on the rumors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d Agryn said. \u201cIf anyone can pass unnoticed, it\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I look exactly like a man everyone knew?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be fooled. There\u2019s a close circle of people who knew of<\/em> him. Fewer knew what he looked like \u2013 Vyctyna and I certainly didn\u2019t. Outside that circle? He was a nobody. A cipher. You\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dale left the castle feeling conflicted. It was good that they trusted him. It felt like a lifetime ago, though, that he\u2019d first allowed Agryn access to his neck, deciding that becoming a vampire would be useful and that Agryn was the experienced, upstanding man to help him adjust.<\/p>\n

I thought I was fully adult. I was fully adult. But in many ways I was a child, still wet behind the ears, particularly compared to these ancient beings in the castle. <\/em><\/p>\n

Agryn trusts me to do his bidding. I just don\u2019t know whether I truly trust him.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   Dale wrestled his thoughts all the way back to his mausoleum. Potema\u2019s piles of dead deep under the mountains filled his mind, even while he slept, and later, as he made his way toward Dawnstar to report to Nazir. The wonder is that it bothers me at all. By all … <\/p>\n

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