{"id":725,"date":"2021-04-30T21:40:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-01T03:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/?page_id=725"},"modified":"2021-08-01T10:54:09","modified_gmt":"2021-08-01T16:54:09","slug":"chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/baakay.com\/Snow\/volume-1\/part-ii-starlight\/chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/p>\n

Chip sighed as he trudged through Whiterun\u2019s market area. It had been a frustrating trip to Riften and back. He knew he had needed to do it, but a big part of him wished he\u2019d been able to skip the whole thing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First, there had been the very uncomfortable carriage ride. The carriage itself wasn\u2019t so much of a problem, but Qara had been. And of course she had been. Why wouldn\u2019t she? Her life had been turned utterly inside-out, and then her brother had ended a battle using a staff that had multiple lycanthropic creatures running about to rescue them. It wasn\u2019t exactly the sort of thing a person saw every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you all of it,\u201d he\u2019d said. \u201cNot yet, anyway. I\u2019m\u2026 not comfortable enough with things right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that <\/em>supposed to mean?\u201d she\u2019d snapped at him. \u201cI just found out I may have some Daedric Prince trying to claim my person and you aren\u2019t comfortable telling me that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip had sighed, leaning nearer to her, forward over his knees so as to speak as quietly as possible. It wouldn\u2019t do to alert the driver. \u201cThat I also<\/em> have a Daedric Prince claiming my person?\u201d He\u2019d looked up at his sister and watched as, not unexpectedly, her eyes had widened. \u201cRemember I told you I got this bow at a shrine? It was a shrine to Hircine. It\u2019s a really long story, Qara, and I can\u2019t go into all the details right now \u2013 but this is Hircine\u2019s bow and that staff is Hircine\u2019s as well.\u201d One of them at least; there are others.<\/em><\/p>\n

To her credit, Qaralana had merely stared at him for a long moment and then nodded slowly. \u201cUncle Dar said it was something about our blood line. And you said that Daddy would understand being different, because\u2026\u201d She tilted her head to the side. \u201cBecause why? You didn\u2019t finish that story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip had taken a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. \u201cOk. I\u2019ll tell you. I just found out about this a little while ago. Da said there are enough other people in Riften who know about this that it was only a matter of time until we knew. So, given what just happened to you, I think you deserve to know it too.\u201d He\u2019d spent some time telling her, to the best of his knowledge, about the fact that their father had at one time been a vampire, not long before she\u2019d been born. She\u2019d simply nodded, over and over, taking it in.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s not, any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope. Not for a long time, he said. But, Qara, that means there\u2019s something different about our family. If there was any reason to doubt it, what\u2019s just happened to you took that doubt away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara had sighed. \u201cI hope they\u2019ll understand better than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

That had been the start of it. He\u2019d been happy that, with as much to think about as she had at hand, Qara hadn\u2019t pressed the issue of his affiliation with Hircine any harder. Vampires could make their way in friendly society; he knew that was the case. But not werewolves. There was nothing that could make him look like a human when he transformed; and as far as he knew there was nothing that could ever make him human again. He didn\u2019t dare risk telling her about it.<\/p>\n

Then they\u2019d arrived in Riften. As soon as they walked through the north gate, Chip had gotten the feeling they were going to have trouble.<\/p>\n

It was early evening; the light was beginning to fade. They\u2019d been nearing the marketplace when a familiar voice called \u201cDon\u2019t miss out! Purchase a bottle of my genuine Falmerblood Elixir!\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip and Qara had grinned at each other. \u201cSome things never\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

An older man walked in front of them, clearing his throat loudly. \u201cDon\u2019t listen to an old man,\u201d he muttered, in a way that made it clear he wanted attention. Chip and his sister swapped glances, and Qara nodded, grinning.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright?\u201d Chip said, as earnestly as he could make himself sound in spite of being less than interested.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d the man said, running his hand down his very white beard. He had no hair to speak of on top of his head, but enough in the back to have it pulled into a luxuriant tail. For a moment Chip had to stifle the urge to snicker, thinking that this was what Roggi might look like in another twenty years.<\/p>\n

\u201cJalamar,\u201d Qara said patiently. \u201cWhat is the problem today?\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, she says. Hilarious. <\/em>Jalamar didn\u2019t seem to notice Qara\u2019s subtle sarcasm, however; he turned to her with an eager expression on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you see, I was taking an evening walk like I always do and I saw some men outside the Echo Deep Mine. The thing is, they looked like mercenaries. Up to no good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMercenaries aren\u2019t always doing something bad,\u201d Chip said gently. \u201cThey\u2019re just being paid for a job. What makes you say they were up to no good?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jalamar frowned. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen them around here, and they looked real tough. In addition, Echo Deep Mine is not a place people go! There are myths about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMyths?\u201d Qara asked. Chip couldn\u2019t blame her for being interested. They\u2019d certainly had enough of a wide variety of strange things happen just in the past few weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll sorts of stories!\u201d Jalamar exclaimed, in a way that made Chip cringe. This was the sound old people made when they were about to monopolize your time for the next hour or two. But he tried not to react.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome say it\u2019s haunted by ghosts,\u201d the old man continued. \u201cSome say a wealthy bandit lord hides out in it, quietly contributing to the crime in Riften.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were standing in such a way that Chip was able to make eye contact with Brynjolf, who stood as usual in his stall. Brynjolf rolled his eyes, and Chip nearly broke into a laugh. Undoubtedly that set of myths was a conflation of stories from people who\u2019d seen the Guildmaster slipping into the cave that led to Riftvale and people who\u2019d seen something rustling about near the mine.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome even say that deep within the mines there are Dwemer ruins, full of all sorts of automatons just waiting to slay whoever enters,\u201d Jalamar said, earning a look of genuine interest from Qaralana.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally!\u201d she said. \u201cI have a friend who\u2019d be interested to hear that. But then, what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jalamar turned to her. \u201cOn my way back from my walk I passed the mine entrance again. I heard all sorts of horrific noises! I reckon something happened to those men. Anyone going into that mine is up to no good. I\u2019ve asked the guards to take a look, but they just ignore me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned back to face Chip. \u201cI need someone to see what\u2019s happened. Would you go look for me? Please! If they\u2019re planning something, the city guard needs to know! Please, go check for me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chip had been about to shake his head no \u2013 especially after having seen Brynjolf\u2019s amused reaction to the old man \u2013 but Qaralana stepped in. \u201cOf course we will!\u201d she said. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it at all. We\u2019ll find out what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you! But be careful,\u201d the old man said, turning to leave the area. \u201cWe still don\u2019t know what\u2019s in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip stared after him for a moment and then turned to shake his head at his sister, in amazement. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you just agreed to that old coot\u2019s request.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell of course I did!\u201d Qara said, stepping over to their father\u2019s booth. \u201cWe should find out, shouldn\u2019t we, Daddy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf was packing away his potion flasks, and looked up with an affectionate but amused smirk at their approach. \u201cNo, lass. Jalamar is just what Chip called him, a crazy old coot. No need to go running headlong into an old abandoned mine. You never know what kind of beasts may have taken up residence inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cDaddy!\u201d Qara said in her most exasperated tones. \u201cHow could you? He\u2019s not crazy, he\u2019s just old. He\u2019s probably not even that much older than you. And he\u2019s worried!\u201d<\/p>\n

Brynjolf had ruffled her hair affectionately. \u201cAye, lass. That\u2019s me, the old white-hair. Well I\u2019m glad to see you both made it back, and your faces tell me that Dardeh\u2019s still alive and well. Let\u2019s go find your Ma and we\u2019ll get all the news in one sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n

They headed to their family home, with Chip and his father swapping grins and Qaralana sputtering in anger all the way. Sayma was delighted to see Chip, even though she\u2019d scolded him about never coming to visit when he was in the area. She smiled, though, and gave him a tight hug. Then they all gathered in front of the fireplace and caught each other up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did you find Lydia, lad?\u201d Brynjolf asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I did find Farkas and Vilkas. Farkas sure seemed to\u2026\u201d he cleared his throat and caught his father\u2019s gaze. \u201cRemember her. Really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma stared at him for a moment of perfect silence. Chip struggled not to smirk; it was serious business, after all, and not something to snicker about, and yet\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cFarkas\u2026 remembered Lydia?\u201d Sayma said slowly, as though the implications were dawning on her a bit at a time.<\/p>\n

Brynjolf stared at him for a moment and then began laughing; at first it was just a chuckle, but by the time he got himself under control he was wiping moisture away from his eyes. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll bet the lads \u2013 your uncles – were as amused as I am,\u201d he said as he caught his breath. \u201cThey\u2019ve been trying to figure that out for at least a decade. We\u2019d all figured it was the former Jarl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chip snickered. \u201cWell Farkas did say that she moved up in the world after him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Qara swatted at him. \u201cIs that all you men ever think about?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip nodded vigorously. \u201cPretty much, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat and food,\u201d Brynjolf added.<\/p>\n

Sayma snorted. \u201cDoes it really matter? The real question is about Dardeh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip chuckled. \u201cLydia\u2019s in High Rock now, it seems. But you can stop worrying about Uncle Dar, Ma. He\u2019s fine. Or\u2026\u201d He hesitated, wondering how to fill in the gaps.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will be fine, in a little while,\u201d Qaralana said. \u201cHe was pretty sick when I got there, but by the time we left he was feeling much better. Uncle Roggi is taking good care of him. Except for one thing. He\u2019s, um\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Sayma and Brynjolf looked back and forth between their children waiting for them to continue. Qaralana caught Chip\u2019s attention with a desperate, silent plea for help; he sighed and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s lost his voice. He can still speak, of course, even though it sounds really funny; raspy and \u2026 gurgly, I guess. But he can\u2019t Shout any more. He told us that he\u2019s no longer the Dragonborn. I\u2026 think Qara should tell you the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so she had done, telling them about the dragons and the fights with Roggi present, and how she\u2019d somehow unconsciously channeled her internal cry of frustration into a full-fledged Shout, using words she\u2019d somehow learned from direct contact with Dardeh. Brynjolf had watched her, attentively. Sayma, though, had stared forward, almost blankly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard the thunderous noise,\u201d Brynjolf said. \u201cSo that was the Greybeards announcing a new Dragonborn?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Qara said. \u201cThat\u2019s what Uncle Dar told me. Uncle Roggi, though\u2026\u201d she trailed off, waiting until Sayma met her gaze.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoggi what?\u201d Sayma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaid you suspected this for a long time now,\u201d Chip filled in.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Sayma said, faintly. Then she\u2019d confirmed the story that Roggi had told them, filling in details that only she had reason to know. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I never told you about this before, sweetheart,\u201d she finished, looking at Qaralana. \u201cIt\u2019s been so long, and things have been so quiet. It was completely unsettling at the time and I\u2019ve tried to put it out of my mind as much as I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now there are dragons everywhere,\u201d Chip sighed. \u201cSomething\u2019s up, but we don\u2019t know what. Not yet.\u201d He sighed, running one hand through his hair. \u201cLook, I don\u2019t mean to be antisocial but I have to get back, and I\u2019d like to be there during the day. I did a job for Farkas and I need to let him know it\u2019s finished.\u201d And, he thought, I still don\u2019t trust myself not to turn right in the middle of our house, or in the city \u2013 either this one or Whiterun. I need to go<\/em> now<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did a job for Farkas, did you?\u201d Brynjolf asked, peering at him.<\/p>\n

Leave it to Da to cut right to the heart of the matter. I\u2019m getting out before he gets too much closer to the truth.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I was right there trying to find Lydia, and he started talking about needing to take care of a problem out at the west end of the hold, so I offered. Listen, I have to go. I really do. Qara was with me; she can fill you in on the rest.\u201d Besides, I suspect both of you have things you need to explain to her.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amidst the sharp glances from his father and his mother\u2019s protestations, Chip had managed to give everyone a hug goodbye and had darted out the door. It was dark, and the moons hung ominously overhead; and yet he\u2019d managed to make it back across the Rift without turning. It hadn\u2019t stopped his emotions from roiling and his mind from racing.<\/p>\n

Sorry to leave you holding the bag like that, Sis. But you aren\u2019t ready to see my alter ego.<\/em><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t as though the journey back to Whiterun had been problem-free, either. First there had been another dragon \u2013 this one a blood dragon, alongside the river and not too far west of Treva\u2019s Watch. He\u2019d helped fight it, alongside some of the bandits that poured out of the old tower as well as the small group of men camped on the roadside near the bridge. It was as he and his family had agreed \u2013 there had to be something about the increase in dragon sightings that was important enough for Qara\u2019s power to manifest itself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Then he\u2019d spied a strange thing on a hillside near Ivarstead as he approached in the early morning light. With a mammoth\u2019s ribcage, a deer skull, and a bird\u2019s nest resting atop the curve of the ribs, it looked like something the Forsworn would build out in the Reach \u2013 or something hags might create to scare folks off one of their ritual sites. It also reminded him of his own bow. If not for the bloody human skull next to it he might have thought it some kind of primitive shrine to Hircine. Not far from it he found a shimmering pile of ash; but there was no indication what that ash might have been previously. He\u2019d continued on his way after circling the odd effigy several times, not knowing what it was at all but feeling a pervasive unease. It was almost as though he\u2019d been drawn to it as some kind of signal.<\/p>\n

He was thinking about that structure as he made his way up to Jorrvaskr. The old, crazy priest, Heimskr, stood before the statue of Talos, shouting the same admonitions to the public that he\u2019d been screaming as long as Chip could remember \u2013 and even longer, according to his family.<\/p>\n

I wonder what it all means? Things certainly seem to be changing right now. I wonder if it\u2019s a warning of some kind.<\/em><\/p>\n

He pushed open Jorrvaskr\u2019s doors, hoping to find Farkas inside; but the only person wandering around in the upper level was the old caretaker, Tilma. She was busy straightening up the long tables and sweeping the floor, and ignored Chip as he made his way across the area and down the stairs to the Companions\u2019 living quarters. Neither Farkas nor Vilkas seemed to be in this area, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh,\u201d he murmured. \u201cWhere the heck are you, Farkas?\u201d<\/p>\n

He poked his nose into the private rooms as uninstrusively as he could, finding nobody in any of them. He was about to leave when he heard a voice that he vaguely remembered from his first visit to Jorrvaskr.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think I could be a member of the Circle someday?\u201d the man asked. \u201cIf I work hard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about such things,\u201d a voice Chip recognized as Kodlak\u2019s responded. \u201cJust focus on your own honor. Bring glory to the Companions, and that glory will return upon you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interesting, Chip thought, making his way toward the voices. The Circle. I wonder what that means. It doesn\u2019t surprise me to hear Kodlak speaking of honor, the way he was talking to Vilkas the last time I was here. But I don\u2019t know what the Circle is.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanna make sure I\u2019m movin\u2019 up,\u201d the man said, sounding a bit slurred, as if he\u2019d had a bit too much ale. Chip approached them from behind and stopped, listening quietly. He saw Kodlak seated at a desk in the far end of his quarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the military, son,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are no ranks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut aren\u2019t the Circle in charge? And don\u2019t you lead them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kodlak\u2019s voice held a smile. \u201cI guide the Companions. The Circle advises me. But we are all free warriors. Only our honor binds us together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hmm. Free warriors. That\u2019s good to know. Not that I think it would be especially easy to lead a pack of wolves. Although this poor man doesn\u2019t seem to have a complete understanding of the organization he\u2019s part of. <\/em><\/p>\n

Casing the place and getting the lay of the land. I guess I learned more from Da than I thought.<\/em><\/p>\n

The man Chip hadn\u2019t met yet turned to leave, and Chip tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned, Chip recognized him as the person he\u2019d seen watching the fistfight upstairs on his first visit to Jorrvaskr.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, have you seen Farkas? I need to report in to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d the man said, and introduced himself as Torvar. \u201cLast I heard he was headin\u2019 for the stables. Hey, wait. I know you. The latest recruit, right?\u201d Then his voice dropped, and he looked a bit embarrassed. \u201cWait. Is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s right. Thanks for the tip, Torvar. I didn\u2019t see him on my way in but I\u2019ll go check again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip plodded up the stairs and out through the front doors of Jorrvaskr. He was truly tired, and between the upheaval with Dardeh and Qaralana and the long trips back and forth from Riften he\u2019d not had much time to rest. He found himself grumbling all the way back through Whiterun and out the gates. Through the increasing fog of his fatigue, he searched the area in front of both the stables and the farmhouse across the street from it; there was no sign of the big Nord, and nobody around who could even potentially be confused for him. Chip was beginning to feel his inner wolf growl angrily when he finally broke down and approached the man leaning up against the stalls, beside a handsome black horse saddled and ready to ride.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey have you seen Farkas? I\u2019m supposed to meet him, and they said he was down here. He hasn\u2019t left, or something, has he?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man shook his head. \u201cNaw, he hasn\u2019t left. He\u2019s out back here, brushing his horse last I saw.\u201d He pointed toward the only place Chip hadn\u2019t looked \u2013 directly in back of the stable office.<\/p>\n

Chip snorted. \u201cFigures. Thank you.\u201d He made his way to the corner of the building and past a great pile of crates bearing the insignia of the East Empire Company, and there, just as the other man had said, was Farkas. Farkas looked up from his mount \u2013 a huge dappled gray warhorse – and grinned as Chip approached.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve taken care of that little problem,\u201d Chip told him, stifling a yawn.<\/p>\n

Farkas nodded, as if he\u2019d expected nothing less. \u201cA job well done. Your payment is secure, and you have my thanks. Check with one of the others if you want more work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip nodded. \u201cI will. I\u2019m pretty tired after all that so I\u2019ll probably sleep awhile, too. Hey, can I ask you a question?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Farkas said, smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the Circle? Or maybe who<\/em> is the Circle is a better question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkas grinned. \u201cOh that\u2019s easy. Kodlak, of course. He\u2019s the Harbinger. He guides us. Then there\u2019s me, and Vilkas, Skjor, and Aela. You\u2019ve met all of us I think. We\u2019ve been around the longest and are the strongest warriors. Not that the others aren\u2019t strong, you know, we\u2019re just the oldest.\u201d<\/p>\n

And you\u2019re the ones who smell like werewolves to me, Chip thought. He nodded, thanked Farkas, and turned with a sigh to make his way back to the mead hall.<\/p>\n

He was about to push the doors open when a faint sound caught his ear and turned him to the side. Something seemed to be happening in the yard where Vilkas had tested him; so he made his way around the far side of the building, past the ivy-covered side of the Skyforge\u2019s mound. To his right under the porch\u2019s roof he saw Skjor seated at the table nearest him and, at the far side of the area, a woman he didn\u2019t recognize. Both were enjoying tankards of something and watching the efforts of Vilkas, who was training.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chip stopped and watched for a moment. Vilkas was using a greatsword this time, not the sword-and-shield combination he\u2019d had when Chip fought him. It was clear that anything that stood in the path of that sword would have no chance of survival; and yet it seemed to Chip as though Vilkas\u2019 swings were maybe a bit overpowered, maybe lacking in control just a bit as he took several large recovery steps after each power swing. Still, he wouldn\u2019t go out of his way to get into a skirmish with this man. He approached slowly, and cleared his throat to get Vilkas\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cVilkas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vilkas stopped swinging for a moment and looked at Chip. \u201cWhelp. You can come to me with questions. I know our history almost as well as Vignar, at this point. Of course, I can remember it,\u201d he added with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Chip said cautiously. I really don\u2019t think you\u2019re amusing, Vilkas, but whatever you say. I can tell you\u2019re a lot stronger than I am. <\/em>\u201cFarkas said I could come to you for work.\u201d<\/p>\n

It seemed to Chip that Vilkas\u2019 eyes lit up; and as frosty blue as they were \u2013 almost silver – it was an eerie sight indeed. \u201cActually, yes. We\u2019ve received a desperate missive. A citizen of Whiterun \u2013 Faendal, from Riverwood – has been kidnapped, and they\u2019re holding him in Silent Moons Camp. The Companions have been asked for assistance and we shall answer! Particularly,\u201d he added in a tone that set Chip\u2019s teeth on edge, \u201cwhen the pay is as good as this. Get moving. I shudder to think what will happen if you\u2019re too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vilkas grinned, turned, and walked toward Jorrvaskr. Chip seethed quietly.<\/p>\n

Desperate? How desperate is the situation when you know where the guy is? And you didn\u2019t even know when I\u2019d be back. Here you were, playing in the yard and Skjor watching you, to boot, and you waited for your newest recruit to come back to deal with the situation? You just wanted to stick me with an unpleasant task.<\/em><\/p>\n

I see how it is, now. So be it, Vilkas.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chip decided that no matter how desperate the situation, if the Circle could lounge about in the yard, he could take a nap before throwing himself into a conflict once more. He made his way back into the mead hall and down the stairs to the room Farkas had told him was the bunk room for non-Circle Companions.<\/p>\n

It was a pleasant enough space, to his eye. The central area just before him had a low chest with food on it; to his right was a room with four beds and two males near them \u2013 Torvar and a Dunmer. To Chip\u2019s left was the same setup, but clearly the women\u2019s side of the bunk.<\/p>\n

He approached the women, smiling. The woman who he\u2019d seen engaged in a fistfight the first time he entered Jorrvaskr turned and glared at him.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still trying to figure out why Skjor let you in, in the first place,\u201d she said angrily.<\/p>\n

\u201cSkjor isn\u2019t the one who decides, Njada,\u201d the other woman said, turning to face Chip. \u201cHi. I\u2019m Ria. I was the newest Companion until you came along.\u201d He thought her voice sounded a bit wistful. \u201cI \u2026 guess that\u2019s ok.\u201d Then her mood picked up. \u201cJust means I can show you the ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip could tell that neither of these woman was a werewolf. While Ria was really very pretty, and Njada might be if she stopped glowering at him, he couldn\u2019t help but remember Rakel, the girl he\u2019d met on Solstheim. There was something about the fierce energy of the werewolf just beneath the pale, flawless skin of her shoulders against the snow, in the sunlight, that had\u2026<\/p>\n

Good grief. This is just not the time, nor the place.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo why\u2019d you join the Companions, Ria?\u201d he asked, to distract himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you kidding? I\u2019ve wanted to be with them since I was a little girl!\u201d She looked astonished. Chip smiled, thinking of Queen Frina, who had said over and over in his hearing that she\u2019d wanted to be fighting beside King Ulfric and Roggi since she was a child. Ria continued speaking, clearly baffled that anyone would ask such a question.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t you heard the stories of Kodlak and Skjor fighting off the hundred and one Orc berserkers? Skjor says it was more like forty, but he\u2019s just being modest. Where else would I want to be but here? Learning from them. Fighting at their sides.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to admit I hadn\u2019t heard those stories. I\u2019m impressed.\u201d He stifled a yawn. \u201cI\u2019m also completely beat. I\u2019m going to do what Farkas suggested \u2013 find a bed and fall in it. I hope we\u2019ll get to fight together some day.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned back to the men\u2019s side and grinned as he recognized Torvar. \u201cTime for me to find an unused bunk. So tell me, Torvar, why did you<\/em> join the Companions?\u201d<\/p>\n

Torvar had impressed him as a man who perhaps enjoyed his drink a bit too much. When he spoke, his voice tended to confirm that impression, even though he seemed to have a certain amount of pride in himself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cA man of my station has many debts. I\u2019m not much use at labor, or learning, but I can throw a punch with the best of \u2018em. The Companions let me fight for gold. So I fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, Chip thought, that\u2019s not a very noble reason for joining, but it\u2019s a fair one and an honest answer. I can appreciate it.<\/p>\n

He moved past Torvar and approached the Dunmer, who was seated at the small round table at the end of the chamber. This was the person he\u2019d seen fighting Njada, upstairs; he was having a snack and seemed truly annoyed at Chip\u2019s presence. He looked up, sneering.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought they\u2019d let me join the Companions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip was about ready to make a conciliatory remark, having seen the man fighting, but the Dunmer continued: \u201cBut now it looks like they\u2019re letting anyone <\/em>in these days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chip stood there with his mouth open in astonishment. It had been such a rude thing to say that he could feel his temper flaring; and he found himself needing to fight his own nature. The last thing he needed was to have his inner werewolf come out here, inside, amongst people who were supposed to be his peers.<\/p>\n

Torvar, standing nearby, laughed nervously. \u201cAw, don\u2019t let old Athis bother you. He\u2019s always a jerk. Comes from being a Dunmer and having lots of the Nords look down on you. But if you want some training in one-handed weapons, he\u2019s your guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll keep that in mind,\u201d Chip said, nodding at Athis, feeling his anger die back as quickly as it had flared up. He really couldn\u2019t fault the sarcastic and defensive attitude that came to some on account of being a Dunmer \u2013 he\u2019d seen even the High King dismiss them as if they didn\u2019t exist or, even if they did, weren\u2019t important enough to warrant attention. His Uncle Roggi, though, was a different story. Chip had gotten several sharply-worded dressings-down over the years for parroting racial stereotypes. Roggi wouldn\u2019t stand for it. Instead of pressing the matter further, he asked Athis a different question.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what does it mean to be a Companion?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means signing on for the Nord ideas of how to live your life. Honor, battle, glory, all that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chip couldn\u2019t tell whether Athis was being sarcastic or genuine. Something told him, though, that he could make a friend with the right move at this point, or an enemy with the wrong one.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. I can appreciate that,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can probably tell, I\u2019m a half-breed. Half Nord, half Redguard. My Ma\u2019s Redguard. Da is Nord, and sometimes it\u2019s just easier to go along with that end of things even though people look at you and think Redguard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Athis was still acting suspicious by the time he finished his statement, but Chip thought it looked as though he was giving the admission serious consideration, and maybe even some grudging respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd right now I\u2019m a really tired half-breed. I need to get some rest before I tackle the job Vilkas gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Athis nodded, and pointed to the cot farthest away from him. \u201cThat one\u2019s free,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chip sat down on the cot, gratefully, and kicked off his boots with a groan. Then he looked up at Athis and grinned. \u201cEver get the feeling Vilkas is just handing out the jobs he doesn\u2019t want to do himself?\u201d<\/p>\n

Athis\u2019 eyebrows rose for a moment, and then a small smile cracked his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the time, brother. All the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Home Previous \/ Next   Chip sighed as he trudged through Whiterun\u2019s market area. It had been a frustrating trip to Riften and back. He knew he had needed to do it, but a big part of him wished he\u2019d been able to skip the whole thing. First, there had been the very uncomfortable carriage … <\/p>\n

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