{"id":2553,"date":"2023-07-20T13:31:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T19:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=2553"},"modified":"2023-08-04T16:27:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T22:27:56","slug":"chapter-5-brynjolf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-3\/part-i-horizons\/chapter-5-brynjolf\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 5 – Brynjolf"},"content":{"rendered":"
Home<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Over the decades since he\u2019d left Falskaar, Brynjolf had imagined what he would say to his father if they ever met again. He\u2019d constructed long, accusatory shouting matches with him, and had fantasized sending one of his own solid fists into the man\u2019s nose. He\u2019d long since assumed that the old man was dead, but Brunulvr looked fit and well.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He was there, within the reach of Brynjolf\u2019s arm, glaring in disapproval. This was the opportunity to bash the old man\u2019s nose in, to maybe give him a taste of the confusion and fear a small child had felt. But all he could manage was the man\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrunulvr,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

There was a snort from the corner of the room. Brynjolf couldn\u2019t see who was there, but a woman\u2019s voice followed the snort.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know your name is Brunulvr, you old fool. Did you need to remind yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

The old man harrumphed again. He answered her, but didn\u2019t take his eyes off Brynjolf.<\/p>\n

\u201cDinnae be foolish, Misty mah lass. Ah ken mah name.\u201d He smirked at Brynjolf. \u201cYe’r as guid as th’ laddie told us. Ye sound juist lik’ me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf smirked back. His ability to mimic his father had never failed, no matter how many years had passed. From the time he\u2019d first attained his adult voice he\u2019d used Brunulvr\u2019s name – and the old man\u2019s voice – to masquerade, to deflect attention away from the Guild. He\u2019d heard that voice railing against him for his entire life.<\/p>\n

\u201cTis bin a lang time, Brunulvr,\u201d he responded.<\/p>\n

Qara chuckled. But from the corner behind Brunulvr there was a gasp, followed by a chair crashing to the floor. Brunulvr glanced backwards and then moved out of the way.<\/p>\n

A slender woman with an elegant fall of white hair stepped forward, her gaze first going to Qaralana and then coming to rest on Brynjolf. Her eyes widened, and her hand flew up to her mouth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBrynny? Is it really you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf suddenly found himself awash in a sea of emotions. He remembered those eyes. He remembered a beautiful woman with flame-red hair, not icy pale – but it had been a lifetime, after all. She was still beautiful, and he could never forget that voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u201d she gasped, jerking back as though she\u2019d been burned. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. \u201cIt is<\/em> you. It is really you! Chip really does look just like you.\u201d She paused, swallowing hard. \u201cIf we hadn\u2019t met him I wouldn\u2019t have known what to expect. You\u2019re all\u2026 all grown up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara laughed. \u201cYes, Grandmama. He\u2019s got two grown children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gulmist smiled at Qaralana and chuckled. \u201cI know, dear. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned back to face Brynjolf and looked him over again. \u201cThe last time I saw him,\u201d she said, speaking to Qara still, \u201che was so small, not more than seven. You look so different, Brynny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJuist a wee laddie,\u201d Brunulvr muttered.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf\u2019s gaze snapped to Brunulvr, and he couldn\u2019t help a sneer of disgust. But then Gulmist captured his attention again. She approached him, her hand rising toward his face. It was his turn to jerk backward, startled.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my poor Brynny. You\u2019ve been hurt,\u201d she said sorrowfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, wondering what she was talking about before it dawned on him that she was looking at the scar that had marred his cheek for forty years. He felt himself flushing in embarrassment.<\/p>\n

By the Eight! I can\u2019t tell anyone in this room how I got this scar. I was hurt, that\u2019s for certain, but it hurt a lot less than what happened to me here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like that. I, uh, got this in an argument. A very long time ago. I\u2019m not hurt. The scar is there to remind me of some things.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the truth, even without the embellishments. In fact I\u2019m a lot less hurt than I was when Dynny and I prompted that fight. A lot less hurt, thanks to Vitus. <\/em><\/p>\n

He smiled slightly remembering the moment he\u2019d seen both Dynjyl\u2019s and Vitus\u2019 spirits off to their final resting place. There had been so many sacrifices made to accomplish that, among a lot of people. Including Sayma.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t help heaving a sigh, remembering how much he had lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo your body\u2019s not hurt but your heart aches,\u201d Gulmist said, nodding. \u201cAnd those must be the things you want to be reminded of.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was stunned. That was probably the neatest explanation for his muddled state of mind that he\u2019d ever heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye,\u201d he said, very quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re pretty smart, Grandmama,\u201d Qara said. \u201cHe\u2019s a stubborn old man and he won\u2019t admit it, but you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA’m sure yer ma’s heart hurts worse,\u201d Brunulvr growled from in front of the fire. \u201cGoin awa wi’oot a word ‘n’ ne’er letting her ken ye were alive. A’ thae years. Whit kind o’ a son does that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brynjolf turned back to Brunulvr and snarled, flinging his heavy brogue back into the old man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhit kind o’ a son does that? A son wha’s faither broke his nose!\u201d he shouted. \u201cA son wha’s faither called him a thief! A son wha wasn’t welcome in his ain da’s hoose!\u201d<\/p>\n

It was dead quiet for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy,\u201d Qara said quietly. \u201cYou are<\/em> a thief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunulvr snorted derisively.<\/p>\n

\u201cA son wha’s faither didnae want him,\u201d Brynjolf added.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that\u2019s not true, Brynny,\u201d Gulmist said sharply. \u201cHe\u2019s right, I mourned for years and years, but I always trusted that you were still alive because I didn\u2019t feel your death. And then when I met Qara, here, and young Chip\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf frowned, and lowered his voice. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I never sent word. I just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

I just what? I ran away. I never wanted to see that man again, and I was afraid he\u2019d track me down if I let you know I was alive. And then I was busy learning how to make what I\u2019m good at work for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI got involved with life. Making a living. Rising up through the ranks.\u201d He smirked. \u201cGetting into trouble and out of it again. Falskaar seemed like some kind of dream, after awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSae yer a thief efter a’,\u201d Brunulvr growled.<\/p>\n

It was just too much. He turned and gave the older man an icy stare.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cBest damn thief you\u2019ll ever meet,\u201d he snarled in his own voice. \u201cI\u2019ve given a lot of people a good life, and as for the others, well, they deserved what they got. I have friends in high places, and they\u2019ve benefitted, too. You\u2019re in no position to judge, auld man<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara hissed. \u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n

A low, threatening growl came from Brunulvr\u2019s throat as he glared back at Brynjolf. \u201cAn’ whit aboot yer guidwife? Ah dinnae see her ‘ere wi’ ye. Did ye even fash tae marry her? Ah dinnae see a bridle ring on yer hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf felt anger consuming him, hot as the lava that had surrounded him in Oblivion, colder than the ice on the frozen lake in the Vale, and sharper than the Daedric katana at his hip. A silent but nearly overpowering roar rose from deep inside, telling him to use everything he had within. And he answered with his mind, his power fueled by fifty years of festering resentments and anger.<\/p>\n

Brunulvr\u2019s eyes opened wide. Then his hands flew up to his throat, and he started making choking noises. Gulmist turned to him with her face in a masque of horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it? What\u2019s happening?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf snarled again, silently. How does it feel to be afraid, Brunulvr? Do you understand now? Can you see what it\u2019s like to be powerless? <\/em><\/p>\n

He watched the old man\u2019s face turn red, the eyes growing increasingly alarmed. He\u2019d done nothing but plant the powerful, overwhelming urge to strangle himself deep in Brunulvr\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n

This is what it feels like to have no control over the situation, to have someone stronger than you threatening your existence. It\u2019s terrifying. You\u2019d do anything to get away, wouldn\u2019t you? And I\u2019m not laying a single finger on you. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy! STOP IT! Stop it OR I WILL!\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara stomped her foot as she shouted. It wasn\u2019t the smack<\/em> of her foot on the floor that took him out of himself, out of his rage. It was the power behind her words – power that set the whole house vibrating with it. He glanced back at the still-struggling Brunulvr and grimaced.<\/p>\n

Stop it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Brunulvr gasped for a deep breath and then dropped to his knees and coughed for a good long while. Gulmist hovered over him as his throat and his breathing returned to normal. Brynjolf shook his head.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was ridiculous! The two of you are absolutely ridiculous!\u201d <\/em>Qara shouted. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to be at each others\u2019 throats! And don\u2019t think I don\u2019t know what you were doing, Daddy,\u201d she added, glaring at him.<\/p>\n

He felt himself flushing again. \u201cWhat would you know about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not exactly a secret, Daddy,\u201d she said, crossing her arms. \u201cBesides, don\u2019t you think I talk to Karliah once in awhile? It\u2019s kind of tough finding approachable women around the Guild. Vex isn\u2019t exactly the motherly type.\u201d She looked Brunulvr over and nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re ok, Granddaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunulvr cleared his throat and nodded. \u201cAye, lassie,\u201d he said. \u201cAh see all o’ us hae some things tae discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStarting with an apology, Daddy,\u201d Qara said, frowning at Brynjolf in a way that he knew meant no arguments would be brooked at all.<\/p>\n

He drew his hand down his face and blew out a deep breath. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I forget how easy it is to misuse that.\u201d He glanced at his father and nodded curtly. \u201cI should know better. I had it used on me, once, and I\u2019ll never forget it. It was one of the worst moments of my life. I\u2019m\u2026 sorry. But don\u2019t ever talk like that about my wife again. Nobody gets to do that. Are we clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Brunulvr nodded. To Brynjolf\u2019s surprise, he looked more thoughtful than angry.<\/p>\n

If not for being a Nightingale I\u2019d have been after his neck with my own hands. So why is it that he\u2019s so calm? What is he thinking?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere,\u201d Gulmist said, righting the chair she\u2019d knocked over and bringing it around before the fire. \u201cEveryone sit down. I\u2019m sure<\/em> your father is sorry for making you feel unwelcome, isn\u2019t he, Brunulvr<\/em>?\u201d The glare she gave her husband wasn\u2019t accompanied by the same sort of power Qara\u2019s words carried, but it was clear that the white-haired man would comply or wish he\u2019d done so.<\/p>\n

He frowned, looking at Brynjolf before dusting himself off and finding a seat. \u201cAye. A’m curious though ‘n’ kin ye blame me? She bore ye twa braw bairns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf sighed. He couldn\u2019t pretend she didn\u2019t exist, after all. It wasn\u2019t as though he\u2019d had the children himself. He took one of the other seats, groaning as he lowered himself into it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. She did. I recruited her for my organization, and I guess things just drew us together. We were<\/em> married. Right there in the temple in Riften, with one of the High King\u2019s closest advisors watching, even. It was about\u2026 oh, twenty years ago or so. A little longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe High King\u2019s advisor? That\u2019s the \u2018friends in high places\u2019 you spoke of?\u201d Gulmist asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of them, aye. He\u2019s a good man. But as to her, she\u2019s gone now. Recently. I took my ring off. It\u2019s on a table in our old house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara snorted. \u201cHe won\u2019t tell me anything more than that. \u2018She\u2019s gone.\u2019 I know<\/em> my Mama isn\u2019t dead, the same way you knew Daddy was still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gulmist nodded. \u201cThe heart always knows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf felt a sharp pang cut through his chest. Yes. The heart always knows. That\u2019s why it hurts. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had \u2026 an unusual relationship. Good, most of the time, but uneasy. That\u2019s why speaking of her gets to me.\u201d He felt the weight of Qara\u2019s questions hanging in the air when he said \u2018uneasy,\u2019 but he refused to look at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow then, Brynny,\u201d Gulmist said in that tone of voice that allowed for no argument at all. \u201cThat\u2019s one thing, but you have a lot of years to fill us in on. And I\u2019m certain you\u2019ll want to tell us all about how you did whatever you just did with your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

He groaned internally. Between his mother and his daughter there was no way to get out of this. But after all, he prided himself on being able to spin a tale if he needed to, so\u2026<\/p>\n

Brunulvr sniffed, cleared his throat. \u201cGang easy oan th’ laddie, Misty. Tis clear that at least th’ temper hasn’t skipped generations. Let him clear his heid afore ye mak’ demands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf stared at the old man in surprise. I just tried to make him kill himself and he\u2019s telling Ma to give me space? <\/em><\/p>\n

Brunulvr gave Brynjolf a long look before nodding. Brynjolf felt all remnants of the fiery anger he\u2019d felt drain away, and he drew a deep breath and blew it out, thinking hard. Perhaps he should give Brunulvr space as well, and time to clear his<\/em> head, before demanding apologies for things done so many decades before.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s see. I ran to the docks, stowed away on the first ship out to Skyrim, and landed in Windhelm.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stopped talking. The longer the pause lasted, the more uncomfortable things became, until finally Qara snorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy. You can\u2019t just stop with that. How did you, oh I don\u2019t know – how did you decide to go to Riften?\u201d<\/p>\n

Well I wasn\u2019t about to give them my entire life story, but in that case\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s what happened. I was hungry<\/em>. I went into the marketplace, hungry, and I saw all this food laid out. I decided I was taking their cheese. I managed to get a bounty on my head right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I did! And I almost got pinched, too; but I was a better runner than thief, at that point.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cI never have found out whether that damn cheese bounty is still on my head. That\u2019s one of the reasons I\u2019ve always been careful not to use my own name when I travel. I headed south just as fast as I could run, just to get out of Eastmarch. I ended up in Riften. That\u2019s where I met Karliah – and Gallus, the Guildmaster at the time. They took me in to the Thieves Guild and started training me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of place is that for a child?\u201d Gulmist tsk\u2019d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no. It wasn\u2019t like that. It was that or an orphanage called Honorhall. Trust me, I was better off. Besides – and I don\u2019t even know how to explain this – they gave me a chance to do what I\u2019m really good at.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking other people\u2019s money?\u201d<\/p>\n

He sighed. They might be welcoming enough now, but it was beyond frustrating that they would never quite be able to understand how important it had been to him. All he\u2019d really wanted as a youngster was for them to accept him for what he was. It was his natural talent to manipulate others: to see what they were, where their weaknesses lay, and how they could be taken advantage of.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes. I wasn\u2019t nearly so good a pickpocket as a few of my friends. But mostly my strength was helping them \u2026 invest their money in other peoples\u2019 pocketbooks, let\u2019s say. Persuasion. That\u2019s what I did best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSae basically ye were a thief,\u201d Brunulvr said.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf wanted to be angry again, but the way his father had neatly summed up reality put a wry grin on his face. \u201cAye,\u201d he agreed. \u201cAnd in more recent years I\u2019ve had a business on the side. Made us all a lot of money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again Qara tsk\u2019d. \u201cIt\u2019s not like it\u2019s the worst thing in the world, Granddaddy,\u201d she said primly. \u201cAfter all, technically I\u2019m a member of the Guild too, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf nodded. \u201cAye. And good at it, too, lass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s not what I want in the long run.\u201d She turned back to her grandfather. \u201cBut how do you think I\u2019d have managed to get us to where we could take down Yngvarr if I hadn\u2019t known how pick a pocket, how to move quietly and strike without warning? There\u2019s only one of me and there were a lot of them,\u201d Qara said, sounding a great deal like someone putting the argument to rest for good.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm,\u201d Brunulvr grunted. \u201cAh see yer point, lassie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what about this\u2026 thing you just did to your father, Brynny?\u201d Gulmist said, giving him a pointed stare.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, about that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It seemed like forever to him, answering their questions about how he\u2019d spent the last fifty years. They didn\u2019t approve, of course, particularly when he mentioned Nocturnal – but there wasn\u2019t any point in being distressed about it. They didn\u2019t feel like parents to him so much as a reasonably interesting old couple, like anyone else he might have met, and he owed them nothing more than basic courtesy. As time went on he felt himself relaxing. At least his mind was relaxing, in spite of the almost painfully twitchy unease building in his body. His mother brought them all drinks, and laid out some bread, cheese, and apples; he nibbled while Qara told them what she\u2019d done since last they\u2019d seen her.<\/p>\n

Maybe the inquisition\u2019s over, finally.<\/em><\/p>\n

But just as he had that thought, Gulmist turned to him again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet you had your share of girlfriends, handsome as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

He tried not to cringe visibly. That was a topic he\u2019d hoped they could avoid, and he really didn\u2019t know how to address it. He had, of course; but none of the flings had lasted. Only Dynjyl had held his interest, and only Dynjyl had been interested in him until Dag came along. He\u2019d once told Andante that it mattered more to him who the person was than what sort of body they were in. He was also absolutely certain his mother didn\u2019t want to hear that. He needed to phrase things carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, there were a few,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cI had one very close friend, who died when I was about twenty. After that I was more interested in rising in the Guild than anything else.\u201d He saw Gulmist\u2019s eyebrows rising and knew she was about to ask about the close friend, and moved quickly to cut off that line of inquiry. \u201cThen about twenty years ago I met Qara\u2019s mother, and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it was love at first sight?\u201d his mother interrupted.<\/p>\n

That was the most perfect thing she could have asked. He couldn\u2019t help but laugh. \u201cOh, no, it wasn\u2019t like that. At first we hated each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, Daddy?\u201d Qara asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. I wasn\u2019t used to having a new recruit give me sass, and she wasn\u2019t used to being a new recruit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunulvr grunted. \u201c’An’ ye grew oan each ither, aye? Ah ken how that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBehave, you cranky old bear,\u201d Gulmist said, swatting at him with a towel. They smiled at each other in the way that said yes, they had grown on each other, over a very long time, and nothing could tear them apart.<\/p>\n

It made Brynjolf\u2019s heart ache.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye,\u201d he said softly. \u201cThat\u2019s how it was. And now she\u2019s gone.\u201d As if to punctuate the sorrow of that statement, his body chose that moment to send a jolt of pain through him. He fought to keep his expression as neutral as possible.<\/p>\n

Damn. Again?<\/em><\/p>\n

He was just considering how he might justify stepping out into the night air for a moment when Gulmist cleared her throat. \u201cBrunulvr.\u201d<\/p>\n

He harrumphed. \u201cAye, Misty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you need to say something to your son?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf tsk\u2019d, and spoke before his father needed to. \u201cMa. I\u2019m an old man. I\u2019ve never been much of a son. You don\u2019t have to put it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunulvr snorted. \u201cAye she does, son. Ah hae some things tae tell ye. Ah owe ye that much. Bit ah ainlie want tae tell it once. Gang git young Chip ‘n’ then we’ll talk.\u201d He looked directly at Brynjolf and sighed. \u201cTis important he be ‘ere too. Then ye’ll ken.\u201d His gaze shifted to Qara. \u201cAye?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. We\u2019ll go right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d Brynjolf said, slowly. The entirety of this was strange. There was far more going on than he was aware of. \u201cBut isn\u2019t it a tad late to be heading out, lass? Where do you think Chip is?\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara grinned at him. \u201cI know where he\u2019ll be, most likely. When I left to come collect you he was heading for Pinevale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf felt a shock of recognition rush through his body. \u201cPinevale? Is that what you said?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunulvr nodded. \u201cAye, laddie. He wanted tae help rebuild th’ steid. Some others gaed tae help him. Aboot time someone git th’ steid in order.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to get him to stay here,\u201d Gulmist said, shaking her head, \u201cbut he\u2019s as stubborn as his grandfather. He got the idea into his head and that was all there was to it. At least he agreed to check in with us once in awhile. He does seem to enjoy doing things at night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pinevale. That\u2019s where the fire was. <\/em><\/p>\n

He rose and stretched, realizing too late that it was a bad idea and trying not to wince too obviously. His body was complaining, again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, then,\u201d Gulmist said in a tone that would receive no argument. \u201cIt\u2019s too late for you two to be traveling to the other side of Falskaar. I\u2019m going to make up some bedrolls downstairs and you can both get some sleep before you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

As if to underscore the wisdom of her words, and almost on cue, Qara yawned widely and then laughed. \u201cYeah. I guess that\u2019s a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf grimaced. He\u2019d been hoping they would get going, out into the dark, where he could step aside in the shadows and do something about his pain. Instead, he bowed to the inevitable and lay down on the bedroll his mother prepared for him, marveling at the strangeness of his situation and wondering whether it would even be possible for him to sleep with the anxious, twitchy discomfort building up in his body.<\/p>\n

The next thing he was aware of was the sound of feet trudging back and forth across the floor overhead. He sat up, blinking.<\/p>\n

I guess I was tired.<\/em><\/p>\n

Even here beneath ground level he could see that it was full daylight. In fact, by the time they had eaten the meal Gulmist insisted they eat and solemnly promised to be careful on the road, it was well into the afternoon. Brynjolf wanted to laugh off his mother\u2019s worry as an old woman suddenly having the chance to mother again, but Brunulvr reinforced the message. There were remnants of Yngvarr\u2019s followers in groups here and there, he said. They hadn\u2019t been able to get rid of everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be back as soon as we can, Granddaddy,\u201d Qara said, stepping across the room to give her grandmother a quick hug. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t let anything bad happen to Daddy. Besides, he helped me take care of a bandit hideout on the way here. He\u2019s a pretty good fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf snorted. The damnable part of that is that she has the power to back it up. I wouldn\u2019t wager on anyone who might come up against us.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They hadn\u2019t gotten too far out of town when he turned to Qara. \u201cHow is it that you know your way to Pinevale, lass? It\u2019s been so long since I\u2019ve heard that name that I was beginning to think it was just my imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to help out a young Bosmer here,\u201d she said, grinning. \u201cHe was adopted and didn\u2019t know who his parents really were. Turned out they were from Pinevale, but we had to carve our way through a bunch of bandits to find out. Chip was really interested in the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. It was like Chip to be interested in someplace away from the crowds.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far is it?\u201d He wouldn\u2019t have been able to find his way there to save his life. As dim as the memories of Amber Creek had been, there were almost none from Pinevale.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the other fork from where we went to get rid of Jarrik. Kind of a long way north, I\u2019m afraid, tucked in under the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright then. We\u2019d best get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you need a break along the way just let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n

He raised one eyebrow. \u201cI\u2019m not that<\/em> old, lass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but you aren\u2019t feeling well. I\u2019ve watched you. You hurt.\u201d She peered at him, almost daring him to deny it.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Qara. You can run forever, just like your ma. I might have to slow down a little here and there but I like running. I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at him for a moment longer and tsk\u2019d. \u201cAlright. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited until she was well ahead of him before reaching into a pocket to palm one of the small bottles and then drain it. Almost immediately, the pains he\u2019d been feeling subsided, and he relaxed. He grinned and started dashing down the road after his daughter. He might not quite have her stamina, but at that moment he didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

It was almost full dark when they reached the intersection just past Borvald. He stopped to examine the signpost. There had been arrows pointing north before, toward the crossroad east to Staalgarde or the harbor and the turnoff to Mammoth Keep. There was a new arrow here now, and it read \u201cPinevale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cChip\u2019s been here, I see,\u201d Qara said. \u201cThat was almost buried in the grass when we first headed this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t even seem real,\u201d Brynjolf murmured.<\/p>\n

They turned north, moving briskly into the deepening dark. He could hear the rustling of ground fowl and small animals, as well as deer and elk snapping small branches as they moved through the forest. Then, from the deepest of the shadows, he heard two great growls. One was clearly a bear. The other – he wasn\u2019t sure whether it was a bear, a troll, a wolf, or something else. He drew his weapons and started walking toward the side of the road.<\/p>\n

Qara called out. \u201cWait, Daddy. Don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s some animal, lass. We need to be prepared for\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy.\u201d Her voice was sharp, and once again vibrated with power. \u201cIt might be Chip, out hunting. Don\u2019t leave the road. You don\u2019t want to attack him by mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned and stared at her. Surely he could tell his own firstborn apart from a beast. He was about to raise a protest when he saw the look in her eyes.<\/p>\n

Well. There\u2019s no arguing with that, I see. I\u2019ve seen what Shouts can do and I\u2019m not going to stand in the way of one if I don\u2019t have to.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. How close are we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClose. It\u2019s just up the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

He peered into the darkness and saw that she was right. There were a few faint flickers of light ahead, as well as what looked like a campfire on a hillside off to their right. They passed the campfire and continued along the roadway. A few moments later Brynjolf stopped dead in the middle of the road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He stared in awe as the memory of fleeing this place came back to him. Like now, it had been night. Yes, but a night lit by towering flames consuming the town, all against a terrifying wall of sound: crackling, raging flames, shouting, his mother scooping him up in her arms and running, running away from the chaos while a great beast roared somewhere behind them.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t remember Brunulvr being here but he must have been. No wonder flames bother me so much. I was remembering this without remembering it.<\/em><\/p>\n

But now it seemed that the buildings were repaired. There was a nicely-carved town sign hanging from a wooden post, swaying in the gentle breeze, its hardware squeaking quietly. There was a guard patrolling the street. It was safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

He blinked. He\u2019d been so far away in his mind that he hadn\u2019t even noticed Qara. \u201cYes, lass?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we going to go find Chip? The guard said he likes to stay up on the hillside. That must be his fire we saw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, let\u2019s go.\u201d He looked around once more. Chip, and whoever worked with him, had done a fine job rebuilding the place.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ok?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded. \u201cAye. I didn\u2019t think I remembered anything about this place except the name. But I just recalled some bits from the night we left. I\u2019m surprised. I was so small the night it burned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

They turned and made their way down the road and off to the side, climbing up the slope toward a dirt embankment. As they neared it, Brynjolf saw a neatly set-up campsite, with a tent, barrels, a tanning rack and a wood chopping block. There was a pheasant hanging on the tent pole, ready for plucking. A metal cook pot hugged the edge of a briskly crackling campfire. And sitting on the fire ring\u2019s opposite side, staring into the fire, was a heavily bearded man with shaggy hair.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf approached the man, frowning. He seemed familiar and yet that shouldn\u2019t be possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he can tell us where to find Chip,\u201d he heard Qara murmuring behind him.<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat, not wanting to startle the man who had clearly been lost in thought. The man didn\u2019t look at them, but he did clamber to his feet. Brynjolf had just enough time to take note of the man\u2019s powerful build, his torso-baring armor revealing nearly as much hair on his body as there was on his head and face. He turned to face Brynjolf.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Da,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Home<\/a><\/div>\n
Previous<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Home Previous \/ Next   Over the decades since he\u2019d left Falskaar, Brynjolf had imagined what he would say to his father if they ever met again. He\u2019d constructed long, accusatory shouting matches with him, and had fantasized sending one of his own solid fists into the man\u2019s nose. He\u2019d long since assumed that the … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Chapter 5 – Brynjolf”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2451,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2553","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2553"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2553\/revisions\/2599"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}