Turdas, 28^th Last Seed, 4E 201

While Rigmor bathed in one of the inside pools, I went to our storeroom and cast Welkanelor on a large copper bathtub. It was the only one we had and would have to suffice for Agni and Sorella. It has a raised seat, so I think Sorella can sit in it without drowning.

After Rigmor’s bath, we ate a quiet breakfast before rounding up Aetheron’s new residents.

The first person we found was Emily.

• Wulf: Good morning, Emily. What do you think of Aetheron’s gardens?
• Emily: Amazing! I have never seen so many different plants.
• Wulf: Lots of empty planters are waiting for your expert gardening skills.
• Emily: Haha. I do not think I could grow weeds successfully, but I will learn!
• Wulf: Yes, you will, and not just from the gardeners. The mages here are experts on herbs and botanical reagents.
• Emily: I have been told that some mages are going to teach us all about you.
• Wulf: About me, and the Dragonguard.
• Rigmor: You will learn how weird Lord Welkynd is. And how rude!
• Wulf: Oh, umm, Emily, this beautiful young lady is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier.
• Emily: Hehe. Shiva says you are still training him, Rigmor.
• Wulf: What? Are you women gossiping about me?
• Emily: Of course we are. How else am I going to learn how weird you are?
• Rigmor: Well said, Emily. However, we must take into account the inferior intelligence of males and compensate for it.
• Emily: So, we should resist the urge to laugh at them.
• Rigmor: Not at all. The Divines made them this way for our amusement.
• Wulf: Head to the mages, Emily. We will be there soon.
• Emily: Okay.

Emily ran behind Kai-Lin and said, “BOO!”

Kai-Lin laughed and told Emily, “I will have to teach you how to sneak. A rock could hear you running.”

The girls were giggling as they exited Coranelor into Aetheron’s main hall.

Rigmor asked, “How old is Emily?”

“She turns fourteen next month.”

“It is hard for me to remember being that young and carefree.”

“Both of them recently lost their parents. They know trauma, Rigmor.”

“But they have been given a chance to continue their childhood.”

“If that chance was not available to you after Baa’Ren rescued you, I am yet to hear that part of your story.”

“Soon, Dragonbum. I will tell you soon. I also want to hear about your childhood.”

“That’s a deal.”

“We do not have to spit in our palms and shake hands, do we?”

“No, for a pact this serious, we must cut our palms and then shake hands!”

“Weird.”

We found Wujeeta finishing her breakfast with what looked like very weak tea. Blah!

“Come, Wujeeta. The mages will teach you about me, the Dragonguard and Aetheron.”

“Good, because I still think this is a Skooma dream.”

I approached Cienne.

“You have a mixed class today, Mage Cienne.”

“I will teach at whatever speed they are comfortable with. No doubt there will be many questions.”

“Other orphans will arrive soon, and who knows what strays I will pick up.”

“Luckily, Aetheron has plenty of room.”

Sulinus was looking his grumpy self.

“Ahh, I see you are enthusiastic about today’s classes, Mage Sulinus.”

“Oh joy. A million banal questions about the obvious.”

“I know it was hundreds of years ago, but surely you remember being a naïve child full of wonder and ‘banal’ questions.”

“Luckily for me, I have managed to suppress such traumatic memories.”

“I could do an Empathetic Connection and recover them for you.”

“Ahh…no.”

Olette arrived.

“Grelod was not well, mentally, Olette. I had her removed from the orphanage and will organise a major renovation.”

“Did Grelod go peacefully, Cap’n?”

“I had to have her hands tied as there was a risk she could get violent.”

“Oh. Did the orphans understand?”

“I am sure Contance sat them down and explained. I am having a classroom built so the children can learn in a proper environment.”

“What will happen to Grelod?”

“Grelod will stay in Riften’s prison until a place in one of the asylums is found for her. I have visited many prisons, and Riften’s is one of the cleanest with the nicest guards. She will be looked after.”

“I cannot wait to see the orphans happy again. Well, as happy as orphans can be.”

“I organised the burial for your mother. It might take a few days for things to get done, and then we shall visit and have a service.”

“Thank you, Cap’n.”

“The Skooma dealers will have to wait, as there are urgent things Rigmor and I must do first.”

“They are not going anywhere. Not when there are plenty of sad people they can prey on in Riften.”

“Skooma dealers are scum, and their punishment will be harsh.”

“Good.”

“I like that dress.”

“I have not worn a dress in many years, nor had a hot bath. I thought that was great till Kai-Lin showed me the showers!”

“If you are feeling a bit drowsy, have a shower as hot as you can stand and then leap into one of the cold pools.”

“I can’t imagine that will do anything other than make me swear like a sailor.”

Rigmor was still peckish despite consuming an enormous serving of bacon and eggs, so I let her polish off a tart before we left for Angi’s.

We exited the ether in front of Angi.

• Sorella: Angi, you did not swear or scream!
• Angi: My nerves are shot. Nothing shocks me anymore.
• Wulf: I have a bathtub for Sorella. I have no doubt you will also use it, Angi.
• Angi: It must be a very small bathtub because I cannot see it.
• Rigmor: Wulf is a mage like Celestine. He will make it appear out of nowhere.
• Angi: Please, place it next to the table, Wulf.
• Wulf: Okay.

I placed the bathtub where Angi requested.

Rigmor asked, “Can you put a bathtub like that in your rooms?”

“Why?”

“I feel weird bathing in undies. I would rather be naked.”

“Oh…umm…yeah.”

“I do not need supervising when taking a bath.”

“I would never suggest such a thing.”

“That doesn’t stop you thinking about it. Pervert!”

“Who sits beside you every night while you wear nothing but underwear?”

“A pervert.”

“Well, in that case, I will sleep in another room.”

“Hey, I am only kidding!”

“You need to take more notice of what Tirlineth reveals.”

“I know what it reveals, Wulf, but neither of us is ready for that step. Besides, there is a preliminary I am yet to hear.”

“Come on, it is time to introduce Ren to Hashire.”

 Celestine joined us, and I warned Angi. Sorella was inside, looking at the bathtub.

• Wulf: I am about to summon Hashire. He is one of my unicorn friends.
• Angi: A unicorn?
• Celestine: He can speak telepathically like Meeko, so do not be alarmed.
• Angi: Meeko barks, and I understand him. What can be stranger than that?
• Rigmor: When it comes to Wulf, many, many things are likely to be stranger than that.
• Wulf: Hashire will speak to Ben and see if he agrees to being summoned.
• Rigmor: The plan is that Wulf summons Hashire, and then Hashire summons Ben.
• Wulf: First, Hashire will vanish, and Ben should vanish soon after.
• Celestine: This is all mage stuff, Angi. There is nothing unnatural about it.
• Angi: Why do you need this to happen, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Baa’Ren told us of a thief in Windhelm who might have information about Mother.
• Wulf: Rigmor wants to see some of Skyrim, so we shall teleport to a town halfway to Windhelm and ride from there.
• Celestine: We shall be heading to a cliff, fairly high up, that Angi knows.
• Angi: We shall scatter the ashes of Sorella’s parents from there, as per their wish.
• Wulf: That is an important step in Sorella’s grieving process. We cannot provide the same service to all the orphans we help.
• Celestine: Behave yourself in Windhelm, Wulf!
• Wulf: What I do is entirely up to the racist, bigoted morons who live there.
• Rigmor: Is it that bad?
• Wulf: You heard Wujeeta’s story. Those who murdered Sir Ponicia, his family and staff would get a pat on the back from Ulfric Stormcloak and be shouted many rounds in the taverns of that bleak city.
• Angi: The Imperials have murdering scum as well!
• Wulf: Yes, but they are not celebrated by normal Empire citizens or the Imperial Army. They are brought to justice for their crimes. There is a difference, Angi.
• Angi: If you say so.
• Rigmor: Wulf, I am anxious to get going.

I knew Rigmor was trying to end the conversation before Angi got more upset. I am not aware of the entirety of her story, so perhaps I was not as diplomatic as I should have been.

I summoned Hashire just as an excited Sorella came running from inside Angi’s cabin.

• Sorella: You should see the huge bath that Wulf got for us!
• Hashire: Hello, everybody.
• Sorella: Is that a unicorn?
• Rigmor: Yep.
• Sorella: And did he just say hello in my head?
• Meeko: Woof!
• Sorella: What do you mean I should pretend not to hear him?
• Meeko: Woof.
• Hashire: I do not talk, talk, talk, fleabag!
• Wulf: Hashire, the young lady is Sorella, and the huntress is Angi.
• Sorella: Hello, Hashire!
• Rigmor: You can speak to Hashire telepathetically.
• Sorella: Oh, then hello, Hashire.
• Rigmor: Wulf, you did not correct me.
• Wulf: If you want to call it telepathetic and telepathetically, this humble servant bows to your superior vocabulary.
• Sorella: Is Hashire going to stay here?
• Wulf: When we are not riding somewhere, he can stay here.
• Angi: Why not? Let us fill this entire camp with random animals!
• Wulf: Neither Meeko nor Hashire is an animal, Angi. They are people, like you and me.
• Hashire: Hello, Celestine.
• Celestine: Wulf is going to ride you somewhere. Does that mean you will stop whining for some time?
• Hashire: I do not whine!
• Meeko: Woof!
• Hashire: Nobody asked for your opinion.
• Wulf: Come, Hashire, introduce yourself to Ben.

 We walked over to Ben.

“Hashire, turn yourself into a brown Fjord with a traveller’s saddle.”

Hashire did as asked, which startled Angi’s cat.

Hashire introduced himself to Ben, and they had a good chat.

Rigmor asked, “What are they talking about?”

“I am not part of their conversation, so I have no idea.”

“I hope Ren only has nice things to say about me.”

“You did have his knackers cut off.”

“Hey, he was already gelded when I brought him!”

“Okay, do not bite my head off, or geld me!”

“If Hashire can make himself look like a normal horse, why is he in danger from Hircine and his devotees?”

“Hashire can make himself look like many different horses with different armour or saddles. However, Lord Hircine can see through the illusion via the eyes of his lead hunters. Since his hunters are often ordinary people among town and village folk, it is impossible to tell when one of them has spotted Hashire. The trumpeting announcing a hunt would be the first Hashire knew of the danger.”

• Wulf: Well, Hashire, what do you think of Ben?
• Hashire: He adores Rigmor and will try summoning and teleporting if it pleases her.
• Rigmor: I would be proud and pleased.
• Hashire: Ben is courageous. He says he tracked Rigmor from the Thalmor embassy in Bruma to here. That is impressive!
• Wulf: Wow! A horse that loves its rider! Who would have thought that it was possible?
• Hashire: You forget that I am not a horse. And who says I do not love you?
• Rigmor: Do not fall for Wulf’s baiting, Hashire.
• Hashire: Yes, I do that too often.
• Wulf: That was impressive tracking by Ren, and Rigmor rejected the idea of riding any other horse.
• Hashire: Yet you will leap on whatever nag, or dragon, is nearby. Or teleport, leaving your friends to languish.
• Rigmor: You ride dragons?
• Wulf: Of course I do. It is tremendous fun.
• Rigmor: Next thing you are going to tell me you can turn into one!
• Wulf: Well… um…
• Rigmor: Can you turn into a dragon?
• Hashire: Yes, Rigmor, Wulf can turn into a dragon.
• Rigmor: There is no mention of that in your journals.
• Wulf: Because it is not something I have needed to do to resolve a task.
• Hashire: There is probably no mention of your Weredragon form either.
• Wulf: Do you mind, Hashire? Things would be revealed when relevant.
• Rigmor: Explain this Weredragon thingy.
• Wulf: It is best if I show you sometime. My Thu’um is stronger in both forms, but a Weredragon can fit where a dragon cannot.
• Rigmor: You are large, but nowhere near the size of a dragon. So how can you change into one?
• Wulf: I know how it is possible, but I cannot explain the complex metaphysics to you. So, treat it as gobbledegook.
• Rigmor: Were you afraid this information would be too much for me? That it would somehow make me run away like you first feared?
• Wulf: At first, yes. But now we are better acquainted, I was waiting for the appropriate time. Both of the transformations require me to use the Thu’um in a way the Greybeards could detect. Therefore, I cannot demonstrate either to you.
• Rigmor: You are stuck with me, Wulf. Nothing will change that.
• Hashire: Haha, Surilana said the same to me!
• Wulf: Come on, Rigmor, let’s get away from Lunch.
• Hashire: You know I hate that name!
• Wulf: DUH!

We teleported to the outskirts of Kynesgrove, and then I said, “Those bastards!”

A puzzled Rigmor asked, “Who are the bastards?”

“I reconstructed the portal, and Dragonguard made the structure, yet Ulfric has put his banner on it!”

Rigmor followed me to the wayshrine, and I explained, “This wayshrine, called a Vaelcora in Ayleidoon, was dormant since the extinction of the Snow Elves. The Nords never had the knowledge to maintain them or the large network of them, called Vaelcorath. Yet Ulfric has decided to claim this Vaelcora as if he and his magic-hating, knuckle-dragging, racist cohorts were somehow responsible for it.”

“I have never heard you talk with such venom about anybody else.”

“High King Torygg was Ulfric’s friend. He invited him into his home, then Ulfric betrays him by issuing a challenge, knowing Torygg could not refuse and remain High King. Then, a seasoned warrior did not defeat the young, unblooded king in fair combat. He murdered him using The Voice. That is one of a long list of crimes that Ulfric must pay for with his life. I dearly hope to be the one to deliver justice.”

“You were angry before we left Angi’s. These banners have just added to that anger.”

“I have thought a lot about what to tell you and when. I did not appreciate Hashire interfering like that.”

 “He was only being light-hearted.”

“I know his intention was not spite, but it still rankles me.”

“Come on, Wulf. Perhaps a nice, quiet ride will calm you down.”

“At least Hashire did not mention another secret. Probably because he knew I would use it rather than put up with him.”

“Oh, and what might that be?”

“Nope. That one I shall keep as a surprise.”

“Is that Windhelm?”

“Yes, but wanted a ride, so we will be going the long way to reach it.”

I summoned Hashire, who in turn summoned Ren. I was surprised by how quickly Ren answered the summons.

Rigmor mounted Ren, and we made our way through Kynesgrove.

A large Stormcloak camp came into view.

• Hashire: Oh, look, Wulf’s favourite people.
• Wulf: Most Stormcloaks are gullible fools. I hope I can convince them not to die for Ulfric’s ambition.
• Rigmor: That is a large camp.
• Wulf: The officer in charge of the camp is General Ingol Storm-Blade. He fought beside your father.
• Rigmor: He was one of the Sons of Talos?
• Wulf: Yes. And this camp is placed to counter the Imperial garrison led by Legate Casius Varon. He was also a member of the Sons of Talos and reportedly a close friend of Ingol.
• Rigmor: And now they might fight each other!
• Wulf: This is an example of how the civil war is being conducted. Both sides are reluctant to start a major skirmish in case they lose. Morale is a big factor in winning any war, and the outcome of the first large battle could prove decisive.
• Rigmor: What does Lord Talos think about the claim by Ulfric that they fight for religious freedom?
• Wulf: Father told me it is a lie. No priest or priestess of Talos has backed Ulfric’s claims.His blasphemy about defending Talos worship is another crime that deserves death. I guarantee that a large percentage of Legionnaires wear an Amulet of Talos.
• Rigmor: This ride is not doing much to calm your anger.
• Hashire: I am likely responsible for that, Rigmor. I spoke out of place and about things I should not have.
• Wulf: Hashire, we have always had that kind of banter, and it is usually quite amusing. But yes, you did say things you should not have.
• Hashire: I apologise, Wulf.
• Wulf: Apology accepted, Lunch.
• Hashire: Should I buck him off, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: No, I am enjoying this ride too much.

A bit further on, Hashire warned, “Trouble ahead!”

I told Rigmor, “A Durzog is heading this way. They are usually in the company of Goblins, but this one is running free.”

“Will Kyne’s Peace protect us?”

“Normally, yes. Get ready just in case.”

The Durzog’s six eyes were fixed on Rigmor. As it leapt, I slashed it open, killing it instantly.

The dead Durzog hit Rigmor, and she fell to the ground with a loud clunk. Ren didn’t even flinch.

Tirlineth let me know Rigmor wasn’t even winded, but I was a gentleman and waited for her to stand before bursting out laughing.

Rigmor was covered in Durzog guts and blood and gave me an expert-level Sigunn Stare.

I quickly suppressed my merriment as I risked getting close to Rigmor. I wanted the teeth of the Durzog as they are excellent and rare alchemical reagents.

As I mounted Hashire, Rigmor’s endless Sigunn Stare triggered my laughter once more.

I told her, “Come on, Rigmor, that was an excellent, mid-flight slash I did. I was not responsible for your inability to duck a dead Durzog. Mmm…I could probably make a song about that.”

“Don’t you dare, Dragonbum! Don’t you dare!”

Hashire sang, “There was once a maid from Bruma. Neither drunk nor high on Skooma. When…”

“Hashire!”

I said, “That was a good start, Hashire. And Rigmor, at least I am no longer grumpy!”

“Perhaps I should get knocked off Ren by a dead Durzog more often?”

I started laughing again, and to my delight, Rigmor joined in.

A bit further along, we came upon a trio of Stormcloak mages. Likely making their way to Ingol’s camp.

I resisted asking them how they are being treated by the ‘We hate mages!’ Nord army.

Further along, Rigmor exclaimed, “Look, Wulf. Mammoths!!”

“And a giant. That means do not approach, as the giant will protect his herd and vice versa.”

“They are magnificent!”

“Hey Rigmor, what is the difference between an injured Mammoth and bad weather?”

“I dunno.”

“One roars with pain and the other pours with rain!”

“I hate you.”

“What did the mammoth ask the naked male giant?”

“I do not want to know.”

“How can you breathe through that little thing?”

“Ugh! Please stop, or I will, as you once feared, run away screaming.”

Another couple of miles further, Rigmor saw a camp next to a shallow part of the hot springs. She jumped off Ren and ran towards it, almost knocking over a guard escorting some pilgrims.

I apologised to the guard and then led Hashire and Ren to the camp.

I approached Rigmor, who was quite excited about the prospect of having a soak. She said, “I have heard about these hot springs. People bathe in them all the time.”

“Yes, but you have to be careful when choosing which pool of water to bathe in. This camp looks to be a popular spot. Therefore, I assume the nearby water will not boil you alive or emit poisonous fumes.”

“The water is meant to have rejuvenating properties. Hey, you never know, they might help with my back…yanno, the scars.”

“Then our time here will be well spent. I shall face the other way till you tell me. Then I can turn and watch your things and ensure you are safe.”

“Yeah, right! Make sure they’re the only things you’re watching!”

“Reminder. A person called Wulf sits next to an almost naked Rigmor every night.”

“Then why is that Wulf person so concerned about watching me undress?”

“There is something sensual about a woman undressing. That is why I do not watch you undress for bed.”

“Oh, then turn around. I do not want your armour to feel tight.”

“Rigmor!”

Rigmor giggled then said, “Batman, wash the Durzog blood off my armour while I bathe!”

“Yes, Lady Ramsbottom. If you bathe just beyond that clump of reeds, only the mammoths and giants will be able to see you.”

“Okay.”

“Right, turning my back. Let me know when I can watch your things without seeing your things.”

I could hear Rigmor undressing and placing her armour and weapons in a pile. The amount of passing traffic surprised me, including pilgrims, traders and a Stormcloak patrol. It was a bustling road. One thing we don’t have to worry about this close to Windhelm is Thalmor.

After twenty minutes, Rigmor said, “You can turn around now.”

I did so and watched Rigmor stroll into the water with a deliberate wiggle of her hips.

One part of my brain said, “Be a gentleman and turn back around.”

The other part said, “Look at that hip movement! That is deliberate!”

I decided to watch the hips, just in case something jumped out and attacked Rigmor.

Once Rigmor was out of sight, I cleaned her armour with a bit of Magicka.

I asked Hashire, “Are you keeping an eye out for danger?”

“Yes, Wulf, I know the drill. It is not like we haven’t done this routine many times in the past.”

We had passed the Palaeontologist’s camp just before Rigmor leapt off Ben. We shall speak to her after Rigmor has finished.

I trusted Hashire’s senses. They are almost as good as Meeko’s, and that is why Lord Hircine likes to hunt unicorns. They are a challenge.

The fire was lit when we arrived, and I assumed the pilgrims had been using the camp.

The rain had been steady since we teleported to Kynesgrove, but it was not heavy.

After thirty minutes, Rigmor yelled, “Coming out now!”

I called back, “Turning around now, so there is no need to wiggle those hips.”

A mammoth was approaching the Palaeontologist’s camp, and I heard her yell, “Shoo. Go away. I do not care if this fossil is your ten times great-grandmother!”

I heard a distant commotion and turned to see what it was. In the distance, I saw a pilgrim arguing with a rhinoceros and a mammoth. There is no way, even by Blinking, that I reach them in time. They soon became toe jam when a mammoth squished them.

Closer by were dead goblins. Likely the owners of the Durzog that attacked us. It seems they got too close to a giant’s herd.

Rigmor said, “It is safe to look now, my bashful barbarian.”

Rigmor sat on a bench, and I joined her.

I asked, “Did the water help with your scars?”

“Yeah, better than I thought it would.”

“I can make the water in a bath match the composition of the mineral water.”

“That would be so cool!”

“It’s quite nice here.”

“I think the giants and mammoths might put off tourists.”

“Giants are generally docile unless you threaten their mammoths or cows. The Stormcloaks enslave giants and make them fight for them.”

“How can they justify that?”

“Ulfric says jump, they jump. Blindly obeying somebody allows you to convince yourself it was they and not you that made bad things happen.”

“I was only obeying orders!”

“Yep, that sad excuse.”

“Did you, Celestine and Rose discuss my scars?”

“I did not tell them they were there. I did warn them they were in for a shock. Rose wanted to strangle the people who inflicted them.”

“They are quite something, right?”

“I was not sure where the whippings took place. One dingy dungeon looks like every other dingy dungeon. Were they inflicted in one place?”

“The whippings occurred in one place. The beatings occurred elsewhere. But that is part of my story we are yet to discuss.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“How did you react when you saw them again?”

“I wept.”

“Of course you did.”

“But I was relieved there were no new ones inflicted after you begged for mercy and Baa’Ren saved you.”

“You remembered the pattern of my scars?”

“I used to sketch or paint them from memory. It was a way of reinforcing my conviction that what I experienced was real.”

“Oh, Wulf. Did the disbelief from others start to make you think perhaps it was mostly imagination?”

“Yes. I had to fight the doubt.”

I stood to face Rigmor. Intuition told me danger approached.

Not to alarm Rigmor, I continued the conversation by asking, “You have never been able to sleep on your back, have you?”

“No, I cannot sleep on my back.”

“I told Rose and Celestine that even when unconscious, you would want to lie on your side.”

“Yeah, that irritated Angi when she was trying to fix me.”

“Would you like somebody to heal your scars?”

“Maybe one day. At the moment, they are part of my motivation.”

“That is what I said to Rose and Celestine. The scars are an integral part of Rigmor at the moment.”

“Which they are.”

“They are a badge of honour. They demonstrate that no matter the brutality inflicted, you survived. You were stronger than them.”

“I knew you would understand.”

“The scars are deep, and the lashes came close to your spine. The blood loss was extreme. They almost killed you, Rigmor.”

“There must have been someone looking after me. My Guardian perhaps?”

“I could do little in the ethereal state apart from providing comfort. And that was for one night.”

“I still think that somehow, you were looking after me, even if you didn’t know it.”

“Possibly. It is not like Lady Mara can tell us what Tirnetha can do.”

“What Tirnetha Marael can do.”

“True.”

“Have you told me everything you and Baa’Ren discussed while I swilled mead?”

“Only the usual things a protective father would ask of a huge barbarian travelling the countryside with his daughter.”

“No! Really?”

“He trusts me, Rigmor. He knows I only have your well-being in mind.”

“Well, what else did he tell you?”

“A soothsayer, really just a seer of Azura, told Baa’Ren-Dar that you would meet a guardian sent by the gods. That guardian was The Dragonborn, who came from Helgen the day he met you. That is wrong because I was nowhere near Helgen that day. However, I was sent by the gods, but not to meet you.”

“You told me the seer is why Baa’Ren-Dar knew what you are!”

“Baa’Ren-Dar also knows lots about me because part of his responsibility is to understand the political landscape of provinces. He has spies all over Skyrim, and that is why he trusted me to help with his support of the Khajiiti rebels. He saw how I was willing to trade and treat his people with respect.”

“So, the premonition was sort of right.”

“That is how many of the premonitions of seers are worded. Very rarely do they give precise details. And premonitions, prophecies, and destinies are all possible outcomes but are not guaranteed. That is important to remember when dealing with them.”

“Your prophecy is coming true.”

“My prophecy was written in the future. It lists events that have already happened. It does not say I defeat Alduin.”

“But you would have had to have defeated him for the prophecy to be written in the future.”

“Not if it was written not in this kalpa but a subsequent one.”

“Ahh…”

“That is major gobbledegook! If you are genuinely interested, I will explain over a mead, or two, or three, one day.”

“Is that all the seer had to say?”

“No, and this is why you must remember what I told you.”

“Come on, Wulf. What did he say?”

“He said that you are destined for greatness.”

“What? I am an eighteen-year-old Nord woman who can swing a sword, sometimes hit things with an arrow, and swill ale and mead like a champion. How can that be turned into ‘greatness’?”

“Rigmor, how long is a piece of rope?”

“How am I supposed to answer that?”

“You can’t, as you have no context of what type of rope or what it is to be used for. Therefore, you cannot estimate its possible length. Similarly, without knowing the definition of ‘greatness,’ we have no idea what it may entail. You might become the Sweetroll Eating Champion of Bruma.”

“Mead Guzzling Champion of Cyrodiil?”

“Bottom Wiggling Champion of Skyrim!”

“Pervert!”

“Hussy!”

“At least I kept my undies on.”

“The giant who was watching you was very disappointed.”

“Haha. Baa’Ren-Dar explained that seers speak to Azura, and she gathers all their visions together. Because Azura has access to many of them and she is a god, they make sense to her.”

“Yes, the foresight of seers can be confusing for them. They see something, but lack the context to understand it. They might not even know if a vision is of the past, present, or future. They rely on Lady Azura to, hopefully, make sense of what they saw.”

“But the outcome is not guaranteed, is it?”

“No, as I said before, a premonition is only a possible outcome.”

“You know, she used to travel to The Imperial City sometimes to get things we didn’t have in Bruma.”

“Sigunn?”

“Yes, and I would beg her to take me with her so I could get out of my sword and combat training. She couldn’t say no and would make up any old rubbish excuse, and Dad lapped it up. Hahaha! He knew Mum was lying and gave us ‘that look’! Haha! But he loved her so much, and she had him in the palm of her hand.”

“Oh, I see my dark future being described.”

“Maybe. Anyway, we would go shopping and listen to the bards and minstrels playing in the streets. Sometimes I would go and sit in the library and read everything I could get my hands on for hours and hours until Mum came to get me.”

“They are wonderful memories, Rigmor. Special memories that nobody can take from you.”

“The Imperial City is warmer than Bruma, so we could finally take off our fur coats for once, and I remember I would look up and let the sunshine warm my face.

I would try on some linen dresses, and mum would buy me a special treat.

Oh! The summer in Cyrodiil is so green and timeless! How I miss all that.”

“Ah, Rigmor. If only I could find a way to return what you have lost.”

“Wulf, I just need to know if Mum is still alive!”

“Well, we are taking the next step to finding out.”

Hashire warned, “Some Orsimer are up the hill, past that fossil lady’s camp. Who I assume is their leader is approaching.”

Rigmor asked, “Is that why you have been standing, Wulf?”

“Yes, years of being paranoid have sharpened my senses. I knew trouble was approaching, not what it may be.”

“What do we do?”

“We play it calm for now. The Orsimer might not be bounty hunters.”

As the lone Orsimer got closer, I said, “If he is not a bounty hunter, I will eat my hat.”

“You do not have a hat.”

“I have lots of them and will let you pick one.”

“Go and see what he wants, idiot!”

“Play the snob. Maybe we can convince him that your head is not worth collecting.”

I walked towards the Orsimer who stopped a fair distance from Rigmor.

I stood close and towered over him. He looked intimidated by my size, but started his stupid spiel anyway.

He had an axe strapped to his back and a shield. He was no match for me if he was stupid enough to start a fight.

• Tibbs: Hello! I seem to be a bit lost and wonder if you could help me?
• Wulf: Windhelm is that way, and Riften is that way. It is a straight road to both, so it is difficult to get lost.
• Tibbs: Oh, ah, the names Tubuku or Mr Tibbs if you like. Sorry for the inconvenience, but you see, my sister’s daughter hasn’t been too well, and it’s her birthday.
• Wulf: Your niece. Your sister’s daughter is your niece, Mr Tibbs.
• Rigmor: Can you hurry up and get rid of the peasant? I need my feet washed.
• Tibbs: Oh, hey there, little lady. How about helping out poor Mr Tibbs’ niece?
• Wulf: What kind of help? Hurry it up. Milady’s feet await!
• Tibbs: Oh, hahaha. I am embarrassed as I seem to have lost my way. I hoped to bump into someone. Are you hunting and fishing in these parts or just travelling through them?
• Wulf: We hunt Thalmor, bounty hunters, bandits and bad actors who call themselves Mr Tibbs.
• Tibbs: Oh shit!
• Wulf: If you are looking for a bounty, you are in the wrong place.
• Tibbs: We think she is Rigmor of Bruma.
• Wulf: Your friends are too far away to save you. I would think twice before touching your weapon.

Mr Tibbs yelled, “IT’S HER BOYS! COME ON. WE’RE GONNA BE RICH!”

I drew my katana and cut Mr Tibb’s head off in less than a second.

Then I heard Darnette, the palaeontologist, scream.

I Blinked to her camp and saw her on the ground, bleeding.

I then killed seven Orsimer, the last I stabbed in the back as he tried to run away.

Darnette staggered to her feet, and I cast Grand Healing on her.

Rigmor arrived after the fighting was over.

• Dar: The first one you killed said, ‘Come now, Rigmor. All we want is your head.’
• Wulf: Do I have the pleasure of speaking to Professor Darnette Lauven?
• Dar: Indeed, that is me, but my friends call me Darnie or Dar. After saving my life, you are undoubtedly a friend.
• Wulf: I am Lord Wulf Welkynd. My lady companion is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier. It was her head they wanted.
• Dar: Ahh, the Rigmor of Bruma on all those posters.
• Rigmor: Yes, that is me.
• Dar: I am honoured to be mistaken for someone so beautiful.
• Rigmor: I think that knock on your head is speaking.
• Wulf: Dar, you have seen the posters, so you know a large reward is offered for Rigmor, dead or alive. Unfortunately, that has attracted many bounty hunters. Some of them are, or were, extremely stupid, like this bunch.
• Dar: I wonder how many innocent women have had their heads removed?
• Wulf: I do not know, but I have had to kill many of those searching for Rigmor, and none of them has been very smart.
• Dar: How many did you just kill?
• Wulf: Including the one below, a total of eight.
• Dar: I got whacked on the head, so perhaps it was longer than a few seconds.
• Rigmor: No, Dar, it was a few seconds. Lord Welkynd is My Guardian and quite good at it.
• Wulf: You were hit with a glancing blow. All that blood on you is from the Orsimer lying on this deck. I healed you, and you will be okay.
• Dar: You own that new museum in Solitude.
• Wulf: Yes, and if you are up to it, I have an offer I would like to discuss.
• Dar: I am listening.
• Wulf: Are there many fossils in this area?
• Dar: Yes, there are some excellent fossil beds around here. The thermal pools cause a constantly changing landscape, meaning new fossils surface regularly.
• Wulf: Do you work for a museum?
• Dar: I work for The Gwylim University in High Rock, and we’re cataloguing any fossils we can find from all over Tamriel.
• Wulf: Do you display the fossils you find?
• Dar: Well, we hoped to find a place that was interested and large enough to showcase our growing collection.
• Wulf: We have ample space at the Solitude Museum and would like to dedicate an area for your collection.
• Dar: So, what would be the rent?
• Wulf: None, zero, zilch. You tell us how to display the fossils, write what you want on the plaques, and Nirn’s best fossil collection is on display.
• Dar: I would have to consult with my colleagues. One should be visiting in the next week or so.
• Wulf: Make the decision now, Dar, and head to the museum. Speak to Auryen, the Chief Librarian. He can get things happening while I am busy elsewhere. Just mention me, Lord Welkynd.
• Dar: And the fossils remain the property of the university?
• Wulf: Yes. However, we can purchase all or part of what is on display if you desire.
• Dar: Speak to Auryen. Mention Lord Welkynd.
• Wulf: Yep, that’s it. It is too dangerous for you to remain here.
• Dar: I have been too worried to explore around the thermal pools as much as I would like. The many giants, mammoths and rhinos make it hazardous.
• Wulf: If you are part of The Explorers Guild, you would not have to risk continuing your fossil gathering alone. Also, you could conduct your research in the comfort of the guild house.
• Dar: Okay, I shall gather my things and make my way to the museum.
• Wulf: Good, I look forward to seeing you there.
• Dar: And Rigmor, I hope you keep your head. It is likely prettier where it is.
• Rigmor: I do not have much to fear with Lord Welkynd protecting me.
• Wulf: Well, not until they increase the bounty. There is this wonderful cottage near Ivarstead that I quite like.
• Rigmor: Too bad Lord Welkynd’s humour is not as good as his swordsmanship.

We walked back to the camp, and I searched Mr Tibbs’ body. As expected, he was carrying a wanted poster.

Rigmor said, “How stupid can you get? Their boss is down here, but they attacked Dar.”

“The trouble with stupid bounty hunters is that people who are not Rigmor of Bruma will die.”

“There is not much we can do about that, Wulf.”

“They would not even know where to collect a bounty from! I am sure Elenwen would not appreciate morons like these appearing at her embassy with some random woman’s head. And even if they managed to bring yours, she would not pay the bounty posted by the New Order.”

“Let’s not test that last theory.”

“Come, Lady Ramsbottom, I cannot wait to visit Windhelm again.”

As we rode, Rigmor asked, “Do you like to jump, Hashire?”

I moaned, “Oh no, why did you ask that?”

Hashire sped up and then leapt over a log lying across the road. We went higher than the lantern posts.

Rigmor laughed then said, “I guess you do.”

Hashire replied, “It is a lot more fun when Wulf falls off.”

As we passed Ingol’s camp, I snickered.

“What is so amusing, Dragonbum?”

“I just remembered that this camp is next to a dragon internment. The Stormcloaks are in for a surprise when Alduin visits and brings the interred dragon back to life.”

“Hey, that is kinda amusing.”

I had to tell Hashire to slow down a bit because Rigmor had to gallop Ren to keep up occasionally.

We finally reached Windhelm’s bridge.

“Okay, Hashire, please return yourself and Ren to Angi’s.”

“I hope we can ride again soon, Wulf.”

“So do I, old friend.”

Hashire vanished, and seconds later, so did Ren.

As we crossed the bridge, I asked Rigmor, “Are you ready for the beauty of Windhelm?”

“You have been here before and not caused problems.”

“Yes, but it wasn’t easy.”

“Celestine seemed concerned, so let us make sure you understand. You are not to attack any Stormcloaks while we are in the city!”

“Can I call them names?”

“No!”

“Can I poke my tongue out at them?”

“No!”

“Can I imagine I am poking my tongue out at them?”

“I suppose that might be okay.”

“You are generous, Milady.”

“Why do I feel you will find strife as soon as we enter?”

“I have no idea. Maybe it is your low opinion of this humble servant who is but dung on your shoe.”

“Idiot.”

A blizzard replaced the persistent rain of the day. Apt weather for Windhelm.

The guards were alert, but did not challenge us as we approached the main gates.

We entered Windhelm and immediately witnessed pure, mindless racism. Two Nords were harassing a Dunmer woman called Suvaris Atheron. She helped me set up some warehouses when I arrived in Skyrim.

Rigmor grabbed my arm, but there was no way I could stand by and let this continue. I walked up to the trio.

• Rolff: You come here where you are not wanted, you eat our food, you pollute our city with your stink, and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks.
• Suvaris: But we haven’t chosen a side because it is not our fight.
• Angrenor: Hey, Rolff, maybe these grey skins don’t help in the war because they are Imperial spies!
• Suvaris: Imperial spies? You can’t be serious!
• Rolff: Maybe Angrenor and I will visit you tonight, little spy. We’ve got ways of finding out what you really are.
• Wulf: I advise you both to stop harassing Suvaris.
• Rolff: Why? Are you a Dark Elf lover?
• Wulf: Angrenor, you once fought for The Empire when Dunmer were our allies. Now you stand next to a nobody who has never worn a uniform and harass a valued citizen of Skyrim. You are better than this, despite Ulfric’s mistreatment of you!
• Angrenor: And what would you know about me?
• Wulf: You are Angrenor Once-Honoured, a hero of The Empire who chose to fight for Ulfric. You became a hero to the Stormcloaks and distinguished yourself in skirmishes against former comrades. Ulfric used you for his propaganda and boasted how Empire heroes could become Stormcloak heroes. Then you were severely injured while saving Stormcloak comrades from certain death. Once you were no longer useful to Ulfric, you were discarded like a broken sword. Now you use that as an excuse to be a town drunk. You are better than this, Angrenor. Don’t let Ulfric determine your worth.
• Angrenor: How do you know this, stranger?
• Wulf: I know about you, Angrenor, because Suvaris told me your story. She felt sorry for you, yet here you are, harassing her beside a coward.
• Rolff: How dare you!
• Wulf: Do you think you can hide behind your brother, Rolff? Why are you not a Stormcloak like Galmar? Instead of facing armed enemies, you choose to harass innocent civilians. Yes, you are a coward! Do you even know who Suvaris works for?
• Rolff: Other stinking elves in The Grey Quarter!
• Wulf: Torbjorn Shatter-Shield employs Suvaris and other Dunmer as well as Argonians. He pays them the same wages as his Nord employees. Like Angrenor, Torbjorn is also a veteran of The Great War. Is he a spy as well?
• Rolff: He could be if he loves elves so much.
• Wulf: The Companions in Whiterun have not taken sides. Neither has The College of Winterhold nor The Vigilants of Stendarr. So, using your logic, they are all spies as well! Why don’t you stand outside Jorrvaskr and harass them?
• Rolff: Get out of our city! You are a filthy piece of trash!
• Suvaris: What an idiot!
• Wulf: Do you have a backbone, Rolff?
• Rolff: Don’t you think I can take you? One hundred septims say I can punch you back to where you came from.
• Wulf: You want to have a fist fight? Okay, but only if you promise not to cry when you lose.
• Rolff: All right. Fists only and none of that magic stuff, either. Let’s go!

Angrenor made himself scarce.

I told Suvaris, “You had better leave as well, Suvaris. Guards are watching, but I doubt they will intervene.”

“But just in case, I had better leave. Thank you for your assistance, Lord Welkynd.”

I walked over to Rolff and asked, “Are you sure about this?”

Rolff took several swings, which I easily avoided.

I then hit him hard in the stomach, and he collapsed with a loud, ‘Ooof!’

He tried to crawl away, so I caught up and stood over him.

“Listen close, Rolff Stone-Fist. Each time I visit Windhelm, I will ask the Grey-Quarter people about you. If I find you have continued to harass people with your moronic, racist bullshit, it will lead to a beating of the likes you could not imagine. Do you understand?”

“Y…Yes.”

“And if your brother wants to make an issue of this, he can formally challenge me to a duel to the death. My name is Lord Wulf Welkynd. Can you remember that?”

“The Lord Wulf Welkynd?”

“Yes, the genuine one. I did not know there were copies of me.”

“I will tell Galmar.”

“Good. Have a pleasant evening, Rolff Stone-Fist. Oh, and don’t worry about pissing blood. It will stop in a day or two, maybe.”

Rolff got to his feet and staggered away, groaning and holding his stomach. I looked around, and several guards had witnessed the encounter but did not approach me.

I walked to Rigmor, who was staring at me with her mouth open.

I asked, “Yes, Lady Ramsbottom? Is there a problem?”

“You promised?”

“I did not poke my tongue out at him or kill him, and he isn’t a Stormcloak anyway.”

“Who is he?”

“Rolff is the brother of Galmar Stone-Fist. Galmar is Ulfric’s housecarl and second in charge of the Stormcloaks.”

“How far into Windhelm are we? Twenty or thirty feet, maybe. And you end up beating the shit out of Galmar’s brother.”

“Tell me it wasn’t justified, Rigmor. Tell me I should have ignored the whole thing.”

“I can’t because you were right to do what you did. But sometimes, Wulf, don’t you think that trouble has an uncanny way of finding its way to you?”

“I can’t help it if I’m popular.”

“Argh! Lead the way, My Guardian, and don’t get us lost in this cesspool of a city. What a dump! I already hate this place!”

“I don’t have one of your wonderful maps to guide me, so I can’t promise we won’t get lost.”

“So, not all Nords here are racist?”

“Torbjorn Shatter-Shield only paid Dunmer and Argonian a fair wage after I threatened to use other warehouses for my shipments. There are reasonable Nords in Windhelm, but he is not one of them. I no longer need his warehouses, as I have my own. But I still use his so his staff still get paid what they are worth.”

A tattered banner informed us we were entering the Grey Quarter.

I knew precisely where we were going and took the shortest route there. The city did not seem alive, as neither Argonians nor Khajiits walked its streets. There was no laughter of children playing. I didn’t want to stay a minute longer than needed.

As we passed a large gate, I told Rigmor, “That leads to the docks where most Argonians are housed.”

I had no problems locating The New Gnisis Cornerclub, even though it wasn’t new or in a corner.

Rigmor asked, “Is that a Netch?”

“Yes, a young one. An adult Netch is much larger than that.”

“How do they float like that?”

“They have bladders full of gas inside them.”

“How do they go higher or lower?”

“They go lower by releasing gas. Pffffffffffft!”

“Eww!”

“That is why they are popular pets with the Dunmer. They can blame silent but smelly farts on the Netch.”

“Sometimes, I don’t know whether to believe you.”

We entered the tavern.

It was full of people but deadly quiet. It was eerie and not natural!

Rigmor whispered, “You can start a brawl if you want. Anything to prove these people aren’t dead.”

I walked over to the barkeep.

He looked at me with disdain and said, “Oh, splendid, another Nord!”

I stared at him and growled, “What is your name?”

All heads turned our way.

“Ahh…Ambarys.”

“Well, Ambarys, I am not a Nord. Nor am I Argonian, Breton, Dunmer, Altmer, Imperial, Khajiit, Orsimer, Redguard or Bosmer. Nor am I a combination of any of those. What race I am, you would never guess, and it is irrelevant. What I am is a person who hates racists. I just beat up Rolff, a Nord, for being a racist. I will not hesitate to beat the shit out of you, a Dunmer, for being a racist. So, would you like to try again?”

A Dunmer lady laughed and said, “Ambarys, you are speaking to Lord Wulf Welkynd. Show some respect!”

Ambarys coughed then said, “Welcome! Take a seat and make yourself at home. I think I have a clean mug around here somewhere.”

“Ambarys, it is a lovely establishment you have. I wonder if a Tendril Sethri is also enjoying this riveting atmosphere full of laughter and joy?”

The barkeep pointed to a nondescript Dunmer.

Tendril was seated. I decided to look down on him so he would know our respective social standings.

I asked, “Excuse me, are you Tendril Sethri?”

“Who wants to know?”

“You heard who I was. But to remind you, I am Lord Wulf Welkynd. The young, well-armed and armoured woman is Lady Ramsbottom. We are wondering if you can help us?”

“Maybe I can. Maybe I can’t. It depends. What do you want?”

“A friend of mine acquired a gold wedding ring and said it came from you.”

“Rings, trinkets, they come and go. You’ll need to be more specific.”

“This particular ring was liberated from a Thalmor embassy.”

“Ahh, yes, I remember that ring. It was one of many items I took as payment for services rendered. You see, I worked there temporarily as a kitchen servant. Unfortunately, I made the broth too rich one night by adding some seared Skeever meat with the vegetables. Hahahaha!”

“Not very fresh Skeever meat, I assume?”

“The Thalmor spent two days racing each other to the latrines. Serves them right, arrogant fools!”

“Could you still see them? I thought they vanished if you removed all the shit from a Thalmor.”

“Not keen on them either? They told me I was lucky not to lose my head. Obviously, they were no connoisseurs of fine cuisine, eh?”

“They are uncultured, witless, sheep shaggers.”

“You know them well! Anyway, a shipment of crates arrived from Solitude that afternoon. They contained fine clothes, jewellery, shoes, ornaments and even piles of rags. But what I found most disturbing were the chains and shackles.”

Rigmor gasped, but she let me do the talking.

“And what do you think those crates of items signified?”

“I believe the items were from slavers. Payment to the Thalmor to ignore illegal mining operations.”

“Inside The Empire?”

“Yes, right under stupid Imperial noses!”

“Many criminals are taking advantage of the civil war and the lack of Imperial patrols. Is there a way we could locate the ring’s owner?”

“Hmm! There was something, but it will cost you the price of helping me get out of this rat-hole and back home.”

I pulled out my gem bag and found a quality ruby worth several hundred septims, even if sold to a fence.

I handed the ruby to Sethri, who looked at it expertly. He knew its value and smiled as he pocketed it.

Sethri continued, “Now then, where was I? Ah yes! I was rifling through the pockets of the clothes, as you do, when I noticed a list. My heart skipped a beat when I realised the list contained the names of the poor wretches whose belongings they were, where they had come from and where they had been sent. Pirates and enslavers had taken men, women, and even children from the provinces. That is the Thalmor for you, with their usual bureaucratic thoroughness for fine details. Filthy dogs!”

“I love it when the bad guys leave clues for me to follow. Did you take the list?”

“They might get angry at me for stealing trinkets. However, if I took that list, they would pursue me forever. So no, I was not foolish enough to steal the list.”

“Do you know where the crates were destined?”

“Northwatch Harbour. I grabbed what I could and hightailed it out of there. The person you seek is likely on that slaver’s list. It will tell you where they have been taken to.”

“You seem knowledgeable, so I have no doubt you can confirm where I think Northwatch Harbour is located.”

“It just so happens I can. It is located in a ravine on the High Rock border. I knew a person who worked there as a skivvy. The Thalmor would send him to take food and mead to hired mercs and bandits guarding a secret entrance to the harbour.”

“An entrance on the mainland?”

“Yes, and it can be tricky to spot. Hand me a map, and I can mark it for you.”

I gave Sethri my map and never-ending quill, which he admired with interest, not greed. He marked the map and then handed back my items.

Sethri continued, “Head to the border with High Rock and the location I just marked. Then make your way down a path to the right, and you will see the ruins of an old Imperial fort. There will be a disused well in the undergrowth. That leads to tunnels that will take you right to the harbour. Be careful, as they might still be guarded.”

“Thank you, Sethri. Your information is just what we needed.”

“If it were me who got my hands on that list, I would make sure it was passed on to the authorities. This kind of abomination needs to be stopped.”

Rigmor growled, “Don’t worry. It will be stopped. The enslavers will die!”

Sethri looked at Rigmor and said, “I would love to see the Thalmor squirm out of this one. But I wish you all the best if you have a better solution. Good day to you.”

“Oh, Tendril Sethri, I have another question.”

“Yes?”

“Why was a reasonably competent mage working in Thalmor kitchens? I doubt you needed the gem I gave you, as employing such a spy is not cheap.”

I left Sethri gaping like a fish out of water. Usually, a mage’s abilities are directly proportional to their Magicka reserve. Sethri is not quite to the level of most Master mages, but close enough that he didn’t have to make a living in a kitchen. Not everybody can measure Magicka reserves by sight, but my Ningheim abilities let me.

We left The Gnisis Corner club before the excitement got too much.

Rigmor asked, “Okay, what is the plan? Do you know where this place is?”

“Yes, it is situated on the northern coast of Haafingar.”

“Great! Let’s go find that list!”

“You need to rest first. And there is something you must consider before heading there. I need to be sure you will be okay with what we might face.”

“Why shouldn’t I be? Why are you concerned about how I feel? Has someone been talking behind my back?”

“I haven’t been out of your sight, Rigmor. So, tell me, who might have talked behind your back? Remember who is in charge of the troops looking for you. I thought…”

“Thought what? Don’t you assume you know how I feel! Do you want to go on alone and leave me here in this dump?”

“Think, Rigmor, would I leave you alone for even a minute?”

“Hey! Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll visit that place and kill them all myself? I will get that stupid list!”

“You would not have made it through Fort Black without me. The trip to the harbour is a long one past many hazards, including forts and ruins occupied by ruthless gangs of bandits. The harbour will likely be more heavily guarded than Fort Black. No, Rigmor, you would likely perish on the way there and if you did make it, be overwhelmed inside the harbour.”

“Hey! I don’t need anybody babysitting me! I can take care of myself!”

“We have had this discussion recently, and you cannot care for yourself! I was concerned because you might encounter Tilar Aedriath or others you recognise from the time of your enslavement.”

“Ever since I was fourteen, my life has been ripped apart! I have suffered alone. There was no one there for me. NO ONE!”

“I was there for you, and I am still your Guardian. You are no longer alone, Rigmor. But I find it hard to help you when so much is kept from me. How can I fully understand these mood swings without knowing what happened to you?”

“Hey, I have done it again, haven’t I? I’m sorry, cold, tired and hungry. Can we find somewhere warm, have a meal, and maybe talk about what happened to me?”

“Of course, let us try another tavern. Candlehearth Hall is full of racists, but at least it will be livelier than The New Gnisis Corner Mausoleum.”

Rigmor laughed, and once again, her mood switched with remarkable speed.

I was pleasantly surprised when she threaded her arm through mine and leaned her head on me as we walked.

When we were halfway there, she said, “So that you know, I like having you around.”

I replied, “That’s good because you are stuck with me.”

I stood before Ysgramor’s statue and felt like melting it with Dragonfire.

Rigmor tugged on my arm and said, “Forget him. He is not here, but I am!”

I handed Silda the Unseen a bag full of Septims.

I told her, “That should keep you off the street for some time. I am glad you brought furs with my last donation, Silda.”

“Divines bless your heart, Lord Welkynd.”

Rigmor looked at me and whispered, “Softy! You are a big, armed, and armoured softy!”

After we entered Candlehearth Hall, I told Rigmor, “The tables are upstairs.”

Rigmor rushed ahead and claimed a recently vacated table in the corner. It had uneaten food on it and a couple of books, but they were not important and were ignored.

I sat opposite Rigmor, full of trepidation.

“Talk if you wish, Rigmor. I understand if you can’t.”

“I do need to talk about what happened back then. That need is greater now that I know it wasn’t just random. A lot of the memory is broken. I think it was just my way of dealing with it all.”

“I bet your memory of leaping into the tree to escape the hunting party is vague. Our minds blank out memories to protect us.”

“Yeah, it is like that. I was only a young girl, and it wasn’t long after my fourteenth birth year when they came for my dad.”

“As I told you, to those who know the real story, Ragnar is highly revered.”

“Yeah! That’s quite something, right?”

“You said your father never talked about the Great War or his time in Hammerfell.”

“No! Never! He would get quite annoyed if I asked about that.”

“That is why I got mad at Baa’Ren-Dar. He thought you should have figured out why the Thalmor hate you, but most soldiers do not discuss their war experiences with their families. You probably know very little about what he did on the battlefield.”

“Not much at all.”

“Please, continue. I am procrastinating.”

“Why?”

“Because I know this will hurt you to recall.”

“I have to, Wulf, for the very reasons you said. You need to understand.”

“Okay, no more procrastination. My mother said it would make me go blind.”

“Weird.”

“Yep.”

“As I have told you before, Dad would always give me a sword too heavy to practice with, but he insisted, and when I got used to it, he would give me another heavier one. He would say, ‘Rigmor, you may not know it now, but I do this because I won’t always be there for you and your mom! You are the only child and must be as much a son as a daughter. You must be strong! You are a Nord!”

“I wonder if friends in high places warned him of Dominion plans? He loved you and Sigunn dearly and tried to prepare you for what he feared would happen.”

“I still hate myself, you know, for not being there for him. Some son I turned out to be, huh!”

“Once again, I will tell you and will keep telling you. There is nothing you could have done! And Ragnar did not want a son. He wanted a daughter who could protect herself.”

“They were supposed to let us go! You know, after my dad agreed to their terms. After that, they separated me from my mom. I haven’t seen her since then. I’ll never forgive The Empire for turning their backs on us.”

“Ragnar confessed to the charges, thinking the Thalmor would keep their end of the bargain.”

“Yes. Dad was told they would let us go and not be killed if he did.”

“The Thalmor started mistreating you and Sigunn almost immediately after your father confessed.”

“At the embassy, they treated us well. It was after we were extradited that everything went wrong. They kept their promise to my dad to keep us alive, but just barely. It became a living hell. As you know, we were enslaved.”

So now we come to the parts I knew would hurt Rigmor, and in turn, that would hurt me.

Rigmor continued, “I had no rights, no life. I had no hope, and I was scared. I remember asking myself repeatedly, why can’t I go home?”

Rigmor needed to do this. I would not ask her to stop, even if it opens old wounds.

Rigmor said, “I wouldn’t do what they wanted, so they beat me.”

“The Thalmor?”

“NO! The Stupid Bosmer, of course! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to….”

“Rigmor, never apologise to me for getting angry when talking about this. I understand. But I may ask questions for clarification.”

“I was sent to Valenwood to work on a farm. There was this Bosmer and his two sons. What arseholes they were! I remember a high-ranking Justiciar would occasionally visit to check on me. Of course, now it is all so clear, but then….”

“But then you did not know exactly why this happened. Was it Tilar Aedriath who visited?”

“Yes, it was. That asswipe would tell them if they touched me… well, you know!”

“If they molested you?”

“Yes, that. The Justiciar said he would ‘have their disgusting, worthless heads removed and placed on spikes.’ So instead of molesting me, the slavers beat me instead.”

I could not fathom why a Justiciar would care if a prisoner was raped. Especially when he was content to watch her flogged to death.

“That bastard had me beaten like a dog.”

“Why? Did they keep failing to break you?”

“Yeah, I almost snapped the slavemaster’s neck. Hahaha! They didn’t understand, but I was raised as a true Nord fighter! My dad always told me it was better to live one day as a warrior than a lifetime as a coward. It would be the last time they raised their hands against me.”

The beatings did not explain the scars on her back. They would bruise, but rarely break skin. I knew who inflicted the scars. I braced myself and asked, “What happened then?”

“I was placed in Thalmor custody, where they flogged me with their whips, horse crops, and whatever they thought would inflict pain. They didn’t want to dirty their hands, they said. I remember the first whipping, but not much after that… until…until I awoke in a clean, soft bed. I thought I was in Sovngarde at first, but then the pain.”

“Baa’Ren displayed great bravery.”

“Yes, he risked everything to save me. I love him dearly, and he is like a father to me.”

“So, you repaid him by naming your horse after him!”

“Oh, my! Hahaha yeah! Don’t tell him, though! He’ll growl at me, hahaha!”

“I can’t imagine Baa’Ren-Dar growling!”

“Yeah! Didn’t you know Khajiiti’s growl when they get mad? Hahaha!”

I was in despair as Rigmor described her horror. Then she lifted us both out of that darkness with her laugh. I was in love with this remarkable woman and did not know if that would lead to happiness or disaster.

“Oh my! Haha! I think I am done talking about that for now.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me, Rigmor.”

“Do you thank me, Wulf? I have been watching your eyes, and tears have been streaming down your face. You have looked so sad for the last few minutes.”

“You know I share your pain.”

“But there is a growing anger as well. You want to hurt those who hurt me.”

“If we meet General Tilar Aedriath, I must be sensible. It would save far more lives if we captured him rather than killed him.”

“What now?”

“We go home, have something to eat, then see if Olette has any questions about what she learned.”

“What about the others?”

“I am a good judge of character. I think they will be content with what was taught by the mages. Olette seems the inquisitive type.”

“Okay.”

We teleported into Coranelor and had a quick but hearty meal.

When we exited my room, the newest addition to Aetheron ran over.

• Wulf: It is good to see you, Nadari. When did you arrive?
• Nadari: Early this morning. I was immediately taken to the kitchens and helped prepare the midday meal!
• Wulf: Was that fun?
• Nadari: I had to do the boring stuff like peel potatoes and vegetables, but I will get to do more interesting stuff.
• Wulf: This is Rigmor.
• Nadari: Hello, Rigmor.
• Wulf: Hello, Nadari.
• Nadari: I have to go now. Some of the other children are going to show me around.
• Wulf: Have fun!

As Nadari ran off, Rigmor asked, “What is her story?”

“Nadari’s parents were bakers. They sold their produce from a stall in Markarth’s external market. About a month ago, they were on their way to the market when a Sabre Cat spooked their horse. Nadari’s father tried valiantly to bring it under control, but before he could, the horse plunged into a river, taking the cart and family with it. Nadari’s parents and younger brother drowned. She barely made it to a bank before collapsing.”

Rigmor calls me a blubbering barbarian, but her empathy runs deep. Therefore, I was not surprised to see tears at the end of Nadari’s story. She would be sobbing uncontrollably if she talked to some of the orphans we look after.

We gathered Olette, who wanted to learn about my childhood. That is something only briefly mentioned in my journals, and Rigmor also expressed an interest. Therefore, we decided to talk about it in the gardens and headed outside.

Olette asked, “Tell me, Cap’n, what stirs the lights that dance above?”

“Oh, that is a fascinating tale. I will tell you after we talk about my childhood.”

We had just sat down when Lion El’ came running over.

• Wulf: Can I help you, Lion El?
• Lion El: I heard that you were going to speak to Emissary Baa’Ren-Dar.
• Rigmor: You do have a very efficient gossip circle here, Wulf.
• Wulf: Yes, I met with Baa’Ren, but it had nothing to do with the rebellion.
• Olette: I could list the people Baa’Ren has spoken to in Riften about the rebellion in the last month if you want.
• Wulf: That will not be necessary, Olette and quite frankly, none of our business.
• Lion El: I am sorry for interrupting.
• Wulf: I am glad you volunteered.
• Lion El: Ahh, volunteered for what?
• Wulf: Tell your squad we will depart from Solitude at 8 AM. We shall be walking all the way to the northern coast of Haafingar and the High Rock border.
• Lion El: That is an all-day trek!
• Wulf: Lengthened by the fact that we will undoubtedly encounter many bandits. But there is a prize at the end.
• Lion El: What?
• Wulf: Dominion enslavers.
• Lion El: Including Thalmor?
• Wulf: Yes, and Rigmor will be travelling with us.
• Lion El: I look forward to travelling with you, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: I look forward to cutting Thalmor into bloody chunks.
• Lion El: Haha, then you will get on well with my squad.

Lion El whistled happily as he headed for the barracks.

• Rigmor: Lion El seemed keen to fight Thalmor.
• Wulf: He is one of the new Bi-Lunar Guards. They will be the Mane’s personal bodyguards.
• Rigmor: Wouldn’t the existence of Bi-Lunar Guards tell the Dominion that a Mane exists?
• Wulf: He has kept his mane, which a Bi-Lunar Guard does not do. He is also travelling with a Shadow Mane, which is something else a Bi-Lunar Guard does not do. There are many of them now blending in with the Khajiiti population.
• Rigmor: Have you met the new Mane?
• Wulf: No, and I probably never will. I do intend to fight beside the Khajiiti when they finally kick the Dominion out of Elsweyr.
• Rigmor: All of this must sound like a fortune in profit to a young information broker.
• Olette: Former information broker. I used to select what information I sold based on my morals, Rigmor. The only information I sold concerning Baa’Ren was the false information he provided me.
• Rigmor: Baa’Ren used you?
• Olette: Baa’Ren used an available resource who voluntarily cooperated with him.
• Wulf: It is one of those big picture things, Rigmor. Baa’Ren has responsibilities, and he does what is needed to fulfil them.
• Rigmor: I understand, but it is a side of him that was hidden from me.
• Wulf: Did Baa’Ren object to your plan for revenge?
• Rigmor: No. Baa’Ren paid a lot of money for my training, knowing what I intended to do.
• Wulf: Is that any more morally questionable than using Olette to disperse false information?
• Rigmor: No, it is not.
• Wulf: As for my childhood, I was going to write a book to cover it and had painted some pictures in preparation. I used a machine in my museum to create copies, so here is the first.

I handed the ladies copies of the first painting which I retrieved from my invisible journal case.

• Wulf: These paintings are accurate representations of memories.
• Rigmor: I did not know you could paint.
• Olette: After what I learned this morning, the list of things Cap’n cannot do would be shorter than those he can.
• Wulf: If I want to learn something, my uncanny memory and knowledge of other things aid me.
• Olette: Okay, tell us about your parents and childhood. I want to know what you did as a child.
• Rigmor: Do we want to hear about the poopy nappies, crawling and dribbling stage?
• Olette: Nah, a bit older would be a good start.
• Rigmor: What about the hair growing in strange places and the fascination with the breasts stage?
• Olette: He does not need to go into details.
• Wulf: I was born on the 29^th of Sun’s Height in 4E 178 on the island of Sonje, part of Roscrea.
• Olette: But you are not twenty-two years of age. More like forty-two.
• Wulf: No, Olette, age is determined by the linear time of the Primary Timeline. I am twenty-two years of age.
• Rigmor: Did anybody introduce gobbledegook to you, Olette?
• Olette: Yes. Mage Cienne said it was important and would stop us from dribbling while sitting stunned and senseless.
• Rigmor: Wulf’s age is gobbledegook.
• Wulf: Father is a god who has had many names over the years. He was born Hjalti Le Gleau in Alcaire in 3E 38. His father, Sir Laouig Le Gleau, was a minor noble and Knight Commander of The Alcaire Knights, later renamed The Knights of the Flame. His mother’s name was Lady Mikaela Naner. She was also noble and came from a very wealthy family that traded and operated a large fleet out of Stirk’s Ayleid-made port.
• Rigmor: There are always arguments about where your dad was born.
• Wulf: The truth about Father lies in combining the conflicting historical texts. When my grandmother visited High Rock as a trade representative, my grandfather was assigned to be her guardian. They fell in love, but Grandmother’s father refused to sanctify their marriage, as he had arranged a more prestigious betrothal to a higher-ranked noble. They eloped and married anyway.
• Rigmor: Imagine that, Olette. A supposed guard fell in love with their charge!
• Olette: It might be hereditary!
• Wulf: If you ladies, and I use that term loosely, are quite finished. You will not find the details I just provided in any of the common texts that claim to be authoritative.
• Rigmor: Then why don’t you publish the definitive history of Lord Talos?
• Wulf: All in good time, Rigmor. It will be sold exclusively by the Solitude Museum.
• Olette: Don’t you have enough money already, Cap’n?
• Wulf: I try to make my investments self-funding. That includes the orphanages. If people see that an orphanage does not have to be a drain on a city’s or town’s resources, they may open others.
• Olette: Cap’n is quite clever.
• Rigmor: A smartarse.
• Wulf: Father has been called Hjalti Early Beard and Tiber Septim, amongst other names. He became Lord Talos, or simply Talos, upon apotheosis.
• Olette: He looks about forty in your painting.
• Wulf: He was one hundred and eight years when he died. Forty is around the age when he started the fourth era and his time as Emperor. When other mortals meet Father’s avatar, that is what he looks like, and he uses the name Wulf.
• Olette: He looks very stern in the Talos statues I have seen.
• Wulf: He hates the one where he is standing over a serpent. That is supposed to represent him taking Lord Shor’s position among The Divines. I think that is cobblers, but there are parts of Father’s apotheoses that are still unknown to me.
• Olette: Have you met Lord Talos, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: No. It was disturbing enough when Lady Mara spoke to us last night in Riften! I cannot imagine meeting a god.
• Wulf: He will look the same as in my paintings, Rigmor. It is easy to forget he is a god. I never thought of him as one until I left Roscrea, but that is jumping ahead. I commissioned several statues that adorn the streets and battlements of Solitude. The one there, where he is not wearing a helm, is a more accurate representation of Father when he was about sixty.
• Olette: What do gods really look like?
• Wulf: They are so foreign to our senses that it is dangerous for a mortal to gaze upon the true form of any god. So, I do not know.
• Olette: And what about your Ma?
• Wulf: Mother also had many names and titles, including Paravant, which means the first. Other names for her used by various people include Perrif, Paraval, Pevesh, Perrethu, Paravania, and Aleshut. Mother says that Perrif was the name given when she was born enslaved and what she carried into the Slave Rebellion. After winning the war against the Ayleid enslavers, she was named Al-Esh, which means ‘the high high’ or ‘High Highness’. That name was too Mer for many of her citizens, so Alessia was adopted in its place. Father calls her Alessia. After her ascension, she is referred to as Saint Alessia.
• Olette: She is beautiful.
• Wulf: During the Slave Rebellion, she had warpaint and twin braids. I have a statue of Mother depicting how she looked then that I will place somewhere in Aetheron.
• Olette: Who were her parents?
• Wulf: We do not know. The Ayleid kept excellent records, as enslaved people were like prized livestock. Their breeding was, in many cases, carefully controlled and planned, and their ancestry meticulously recorded. Of course, due to rape and the natural goings on of many adults, enslaved of lesser value were numerous. The Daedric Ayleid used them for their depraved art and sport. Mother’s records were destroyed during the rebellion, and she has never bothered trying to find her lineage.
• Olette: You look cute in the painting. What happened?
• Wulf: I was seven years old, so, of course, I was cute. You are approaching the age when you get pimples and a bad complexion, so let us see how you look in a couple of years.
• Olette: Oh, I am sure with all the clever mages around here, pimples will not be a problem.
• Wulf: Yes, any of them could conjure a bag to fit over your head.
• Olette: Ouch!
• Rigmor: You started it, Olette.
• Olette: Revenge shall be mine!
• Wulf: In that painting, we are looking over the ocean. We lived in a one-room hut not far from rivers, waterfalls, forests, and the ocean. It was an ideal place for a child to grow up, and for gods living as mortals to remain fairly anonymous.
• Rigmor: Wulf now owns many houses near rivers and waterfalls.
• Olette: All I have known is the streets and sewers of Riften.
• Wulf: You shall get to visit many of my homes, Olette. I will show you as much of Skyrim as you desire, as I plan to do for Rigmor.
• Rigmor: What I have seen so far is beautiful.
• Wulf: Riften is beautiful, and its reputation is undeserved. The crime there is no worse than any of the Hold capitals. Especially after I removed that notorious spy, Little Dartwing.
• Olette: Does Cap’n’s humour improve, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: I am afraid not.

I handed out a second painting.

• Wulf: Mother taught me many subjects, including history, geography, mathematics, science, including biology, and religion.
• Olette: What is science?
• Wulf: Science is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation.
• Olette: Did you understand what Cap’n said, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Nope.
• Wulf: Another phrase you need to know is mumbo-jumbo. That is when somebody speaks in a way that makes something sound complicated, or in the case of gods, mysterious.
• Olette: Well, that was complicated!
• Wulf: You see birds fly and wonder how they do it. That is not gobbledegook, as there is a scientific explanation for the phenomenon. I could draw a diagram of a bird’s wing shape and how air flows over it to explain flight. Science is used to explain how and why some things happen.
• Olette: But not everything.
• Wulf: No, not everything. We may think we know, but we have not recreated a phenomenon through experimentation. There are different branches of science, such as biology.
• Olette: Which is?
• Wulf: Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, examining their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. For example, why are there different types of large cats, including leopards, lions, and sabre cats? Why are there so many different types of birds?
• Olette: Okay, I understand.
• Rigmor: I do as well! Miracle!
• Wulf: When Mother started teaching me, she realised my memory, intuition, and logic were far superior to most mortals. Therefore, my studies were accelerated, and I was soon being lectured on subjects Mother only understood after apotheoses.
• Rigmor: And that is why Wulf is a smartarse.
• Wulf: The knowledge I have gained may save many mortals, Rigmor. So, I am pleased to be a smartarse.
• Rigmor: If only you had developed a sense of humour.
• Olette: I award that point to Rigmor.

• Wulf: This is my friend, Anna, and me. We are having a picnic near a waterfall.
• Olette: Was she a close friend?
• Wulf: Anna was the only child of my age for many miles. It was ten miles to her parents’ farm. So yes, we were close friends from an early age.
• Rigmor: Cute rabbit.
• Wulf: And delicious with the bread and vegetables we brought with us.
• Rigmor: Wulf! How could you?
• Wulf: We did not eat Flopsy.
• Rigmor: Bastard!
• Olette: And they are one point each.
• Wulf: We explored far from home without a care, for there were no carnivores, bandits or other dangers on our part of the island. Past the waterfalls was different. It was wild, icebound and full of danger. I only visited it once with Father, and we reached it only by boat.
• Rigmor: Children find danger anyway. I remember I did.
• Olette: I never had a normal childhood and did not have to look too far for danger.
• Wulf: You can be as much of a child as you want when living here, Olette.
• Olette: I think that ability has passed me by, Cap’n.

I handed out another painting.

• Wulf: You were correct about children finding danger, Rigmor. This painting shows Anna encouraging me to leap across rapids. That is Meeko next to her.
• Rigmor: He looks like a normal mutt!
• Wulf: Like Hashire, Meeko can change his form.
• Olette: The mages tried to explain how Meeko is a dog that is not a dog.
• Wulf: Meeko is a being of unknown origin who came into my life when I was a few months old. My parents were not concerned about his origin, for they recognised he was an ideal protector for their adventurous son.
• Olette: So, if you fell into the rapids, Meeko would have saved you.
• Wulf: Yes, after he stopped laughing long enough.
• Olette: I met Hashire and Surilana last night. It was weird having somebody talk in your head.
• Wulf: It is worse for Rigmor. The echoes are terrible!
• Rigmor: I am warning you, Wulf!
• Olette: And Wulf pulls ahead, two points to one.

• Wulf: Mother also taught me Alchemy. When not inventing potions, she would make some for the locals with problems, even before they knew they needed one.
• Olette: What kinds of problems?
• Wulf: Obscure diseases and other maladies, including some that young girls need not concern themselves with.
• Olette: Oh, like Sadrin in Riften who had trouble with his man bits.
• Rigmor: Was that information worth coin to anybody?
• Olette: No, but I had fun letting other people know. Sadrin went around touching the breasts of women and statues and remarking on their size.
• Rigmor: Did his man bits suffer from a few swift kicks?
• Olette: Yes. I suppose you would have kicked him there.
• Wulf: Rigmor would have neutered him with her greatsword. She is good at cutting off limbs.
• Olette: I do not think a potion would have fixed that problem!
• Rigmor: Wulf would have chopped his head off. He is good at that.
• Wulf: I do not think men suffer from other people wanting to touch their breasts.
• Rigmor: Idiot!
• Olette: I thought he was a smartarse.
• Rigmor: He manages to be both. Don’t ask how. It is gobbledegook.
• Olette: And the crowd go wild as Rigmor scores, and it is tied at two all!

• Wulf: To be good at Alchemy, you have to understand the many different reagents and their four properties.
• Olette: Please explain what reagents are.
• Wulf: Reagents are the things you combine to create a potion. Animal parts, whole plants, plant parts, and minerals such as sand, metals, or gems constitute the majority of reagents.
• Olette: And each reagent has four properties.
• Wulf: Yes, and usually, an alchemist will taste the reagent to determine its four properties, or effects, as some call them.
• Rigmor: Eww! Some reagents are probably gross things that should not touch a person’s lips or tongue!
• Wulf: True.
• Olette: Are some reagents poisonous?
• Wulf: Yes. In the painting, Mother is teaching me about Bloodwort, a flower I have seen nowhere else in my travels. It looks similar to Nightshade, which is very poisonous.
• Rigmor: How many gross things have touched your lips?
• Olette: Oh, an opening for Wulf to score, but also risk his life!
• Wulf: Sorry to disappoint, Olette, but I am not that silly. As to your question, Rigmor, I have never tasted anything to determine its four properties. Mother’s alchemy training covered every reagent I have ever used.
• Rigmor: What did you mean, Olette?
• Olette: Oh, nothing, Rigmor. Nothing at all.
• Rigmor: Were you thinking that Wulf would call me kissing him gross?
• Olette: Well…umm…only as a joke.
• Wulf: Moving onto the next painting before there is a cat fight.
• Rigmor: Excuse me, Wulf. Suggesting we might hiss and scratch like cats is a bit insulting.
• Olette: Not just a bit, Rigmor. A lot!
• Wulf: See how I sacrificed my safety to maintain peace in Aetheron?
• Rigmor: Wulf is an idiot!
• Olette: He is a big idiot!

• Wulf: This was the first time I ever met a Khajiiti. I was ten years of age. They came to Sonje Island to sell Mother some rare reagents. Father and I met them at Sonje’s docks. It was a ten-mile walk home from there.
• Rigmor: Wulf is very fond of Khajiiti.
• Olette: Inigo made all the children laugh. I was told he is a very close friend of yours, Cap’n.
• Wulf: Inigo and his brother were orphans. He understands them, but I think he has a natural affinity for all children. The lady in the painting is a Psijic Monk called Zav’i Ronai, and the tall Khajiiti is her bodyguard, J’saad Tavaktani.
• Olette: That is the biggest Khajiiti I have ever seen!
• Wulf: There are twenty Furstock, or types of Khajiiti. J’saad is of the Tojay-raht Furstock. They are not the tallest Khajiiti. For instance, the Senche-raht walk on all fours, yet are still taller than Tojay-raht.
• Rigmor: Most Khajiiti you see in Skyrim are Cathay Furstock.
• Wulf: An Alfiq lives in my museum. They are often mistaken for house cats.
• Olette: What is a Psijic Monk?
• Wulf: The mages would have told you the Psijic Order trained me.
• Olette: Yes, the first outsider ever to be trained by them. And I have seen a lady in that horrible yellow robe walking around Aetheron.
• Wulf: I call it baby-shit yellow. Her name is Nexendia, and she is also a Psijic Monk. That means she is a member of the Psijic Order. What they are and what they believe is a very complex subject. I have books that attempt to explain it all. Think of gobbledegook mixed with mumbo-jumbo.
• Rigmor: I am getting a headache contemplating it!
• Olette: Yeah, Cap’n. I think I will leave that alone for now.

• Wulf: This painting shows Mother inviting Zav’i into our cottage. Later, I found out Zav’i was on Sonje Island to discuss my training, and that the reagents were a cover. They knew who my parents were. In fact, it is frightening what the Psijic Order knows!
• Olette: Are they dangerous?
• Wulf: Only to those who endanger Nirn and Mundus. I do not agree with what they believe, but I trust them.

• Wulf: Father also taught me many things. People think of Tiber Septim as a stern warrior and conqueror. I knew him as Father long before his conflicting histories tainted my perception.
• Olette: Ma used to read me stories at night.
• Rigmor: As did Mum. They are some of my fondest memories.
• Wulf: I occasionally read bedtime stories to orphans, and it means a lot to them. Hopefully, one day, I will have my own children to read to.
• Olette: You and Rigmor are young. Plenty of time to squeeze a couple out!
• Rigmor: Olette! You are jumping ahead of our current relationship level by quite a bit.
• Olette: Maybe I am one of them seers?
• Wulf: Ahem. Next paintings!

I handed a series of paintings to the ladies.

• Wulf: Father taught me martial and tactical skills. He never held back during training, and Mother often looked on with a worried expression.
• Rigmor: No mother wants their children to learn how to kill.
• Olette: It is often a case of kill or be killed.
• Rigmor: You defended yourself when you killed. I trained for many years because I wanted to kill particular people. There is a difference.
• Olette: Did these people hurt you, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: They murdered my dad and enslaved Mum and me.
• Wulf: They are the people who issued the wanted poster. They are not all dead, yet.
• Olette: Could you have killed them when those events first happened?
• Rigmor: For years, I wished I could have.
• Wulf: Rigmor was fourteen. There were many soldiers, and she could do nothing.
• Olette: Then what you did was justified, Rigmor. Their punishment was earned, but delayed.
• Wulf: Rigmor has not seen Sigunn, her mother, for four years. Baa’Ren is helping us find her.
• Rigmor: We are looking for her tomorrow.
• Olette: Is that why you are travelling to the border?
• Wulf: Yes. I will tell you Rigmor’s story another time. It will make you weep and hate some people as much as I do.
• Rigmor: There is also a lot of gobbledegook involved.
• Olette: The mages emphasised that you are probably the most dangerous mage and warrior on Nirn, Cap’n. They said you have killed many, probably in the thousands, but have never murdered a single person. They said you hate killing, but must do so to protect others.
• Rigmor: Today, Wulf had to kill another eight bounty hunters. He did so in seconds.
• Wulf: I cannot stand the glorification of combat. Those who glorify battles are idiots. My parents warned me that if I accepted the role of Champion of The Divines, I would have to be an efficient killer. So, I trained to be one.
• Olette: Neither of you kills without regret. That means you are different from most bandits and soldiers.
• Wulf: I have to be careful, Olette. Part of me is a dragon that craves combat and conquest. So, occasionally, I taunt and am cruel to those I fight.
• Rigmor: I have witnessed Wulf when he lets his dragon loose. It is frightening. But he has to do it occasionally.
• Olette: I still haven’t heard anything that makes you evil, Cap’n. You have accepted a role that is far from selfish.
• Wulf: It is complex, Olette, and my opinion of Wulf Welkynd’s morality varies. I do not think much of him on dark days.
• Olette: Then you are fortunate to know many people who will eagerly remind you of your goodness, Cap’n.

• Wulf: Father taught me to hunt. That deer was the first thing I ever killed. I cried.
• Olette: That does not sound like a heartless monster to me.
• Wulf: Father understood, and as we butchered the deer, he explained who would benefit from its death. No part was wasted, and it benefited many people in the nearby village.
• Olette: I do not think I felt guilty when I killed my first Skeever. But I was so hungry, the leather on my shoes looked appetising!
• Rigmor: When I was ten, I spent an hour hunting a spider hiding in my bedroom. I did not feel guilty about squishing it. Not till Mum told me how useful they are and needed to control insect numbers. Then I cried.

Okay, onto something more pleasant.

• Wulf: My parents taught by example, not rote. The value and joy of hard work were instilled in me.
• Olette: Is that Anna’s parents?
• Wulf: Yes, we are tilling the soil on their farm.
• Rigmor: You forgot to paint the handle of your hoe.
• Wulf: Oh, so I did. It is difficult to fix a watercolour, so pretend it is a magical hoe.
• Olette: And that was fun?
• Wulf: When you can see what your hard work achieved, or predict what it will achieve, and you are surrounded by friends when doing it, then it is gratifying and, in many instances, fun.
• Rigmor: I am sure there will be a lot of hard work involved in becoming a bard, Olette.
• Wulf: Much of it will be tedious repetition, by yourself.
• Olette: But I will predict what that hard work will achieve.
• Wulf: Exactly. And when you achieve your goal of being a bard, you will look fondly on the hard work involved.

• Wulf: The value of hard work was one lesson. The glory and satisfaction of charity was another.
• Olette: High Priestess Dinya used to harp on about it when offering to help me. I explained to her several times that many people in Riften were worse off than I was.
• Wulf: This painting depicts one of the many charitable visits I made with one or both of my parents. In this one, we are delivering food to Lisari. Her husband, Kelfur, was a sailor and lost at sea. He turned up months later, sunburnt and skinny. He had been shipwrecked on some remote island.
• Rigmor: Dad was a carpenter before he became a soldier. He used to help repair people’s houses without charging them.
• Wulf: All we can do is use the skills we have to help others. It is a fundamental teaching of The Nine that many people forget. The forgetting seems to occur less among the poor than among the well-off.
• Olette: Too right, Cap’n. The poor of Riften would share whatever they had.

I handed out a few more paintings.

• Wulf: I had an ideal childhood. Carefree, full of adventure and love.
• Olette: What was the rat’s name?
• Wulf: I named him Squeeko to annoy Meeko.
• Rigmor: Did you eat Slaughterfish?
• Wulf: Many people do. They are delicious. I do not think Anna would eat them nowadays.
• Rigmor: Why?
• Wulf: We were enjoying that one in the picture. Then I pretended to pull something off my plate and asked, ‘Is this a toe? Yes, I think it is. This Slaughterfish must have eaten somebody, or at least bit their toe off.’
• Rigmor: You bastard!
• Wulf: I thought it was funny, till Anna upchucked all over the place and Mother made me clean it up and apologise.
• Olette: You are smiling, Cap’n.
• Wulf: Well, it was funny.
• Rigmor: The painting of you and Meeko running through town reminds me of myself and my friends in Bruma.
• Wulf: Riften is unique in one way, Olette.
• Olette: What is that, Cap’n?
• Wulf: It is the only city or large town in Skyrim that does not have children running through its streets.
• Rigmor: No children were running around in Windhelm, Wulf. Plenty of beggar children, though.
• Wulf: Yes, you are right. But if you visit Markarth, Whiterun, Solitude, Riverwood, etc., there is always the laughter of children echoing in the streets.
• Olette: Maven probably banned such goodness in Riften.
• Wulf: Riften will be a much brighter place when Jarl Law-Giver and Maven are replaced.

• Wulf: On my thirteenth birthday, my parents took me to Aetherius. We floated amongst the stars, and it was glorious.
• Olette: Did you think of them as gods?
• Wulf: No, they were flesh and blood, and although I knew they were gods, that was of minor consequence.
• Olette: Why did they take you there?
• Wulf: It was the beginning of my introduction to The Nine and metaphysics.
• Olette: Meta whatsit?
• Wulf: We briefly discussed science earlier, and one of its branches called biology.
• Olette: Yes.
• Wulf: Metaphysics is another branch of science. It concerns the natural laws that govern the universe. The planet we live on, Nirn, is part of Mundus. Our gods determined its natural laws, but these are a subset of the universe’s metaphysics.
• Olette: So, our gods chose what part of the metaphysics we would have to live with.
• Wulf: In a way, yes, but The Nine are subject to the natural laws of the universe, as we are. They filtered what we experience, but they did not create the natural laws.
• Olette: Got it.
• Rigmor: You do?
• Olette: Yeah.
• Rigmor: You are a mini smartarse.
• Wulf: Metaphysics are complicated, and even The Nine only know a fraction of its laws

• Wulf: Just before my eighteenth birthday, Father took me to a cliff and pointed out to sea. He told me that an Akaviri ship with Dragonguard would visit in three days. They were to take me to Akavir to continue my training.
• Olette: Were you scared?
• Wulf: I was terrified. The future was uncertain, and my parents were returning to Aetherius. Yes, I could visit them, but they would no longer be flesh-and-blood parents. They were gods.
• Rigmor: I suppose many people who lead normal lives face the same terror, Wulf. They come of age and realise they are adults with all the responsibilities that come with the label. They face an uncertain future.
• Wulf: I had been made aware of what was to happen years before, but it was still a shock. However, when I saw the plight of orphans in Skyrim, I realised they had it far worse. The orphanages would keep them fed and clothed till they came of age, then showed them out the door. Most orphans lacked the skills and knowledge to survive without great hardship.
• Rigmor: Olette, Grelod told the orphans that fate awaited them. That as soon as they came of age, they would be thrown out into the terrible, cold world.
• Olette: Is that why you started your orphanages, Cap’n?
• Wulf: Yes, but they are still not ideal. That is why I offer orphans the chance to learn and work on my properties. Those who remain at the orphanages till they come of age will be housed elsewhere while an apprenticeship or placement is found for them.
• Olette: So, in a way, your experience has benefited the orphans of Skyrim.
• Rigmor: That is an astute observation, Olette.
• Wulf: My uncertainty was added to when I met a young girl, lying alone and afraid in a dark cell with a back covered by many scars.
• Olette: The mages only covered your meeting with Rigmor briefly.
• Wulf: It is a complex story for another day.
• Olette: Do you promise to tell me? I really want to know.
• Wulf: Yes, Olette, I promise to tell you the story of how I met Rigmor and what it means.
• Olette: It means two people who really love each other have found each other. That is not complex, Cap’n.
• Wulf: If only it were that simple.
• Olette: Is it complex, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Not from my perspective.
• Olette: In that case, I will nag you endlessly till you explain it to me, Cap’n.
• Wulf: I wonder if it is too late to return this guttersnipe or at least exchange her for one I like?

• Wulf: For my eighteenth birthday, my parents presented me with a simple, unadorned gold ring. I wore it every day until my fingers grew too large.
• Olette: Couldn’t you use magic to make it bigger? Or take it to somebody to get enlarged?
• Wulf: I have the skills to enlarge it, but that would lessen its value to me. I would rather have the ring as presented to me.
• Rigmor: Wulf still has the ring but does not wear it.
• Wulf: It was to remind me every day of the love my parents have for me. Sometimes, when things get a bit much, I will hold it, remember, and feel better. There is no magic involved except love and memories.

• Wulf: On the day the Dragonguard were to arrive, I left home for the last time.
• Olette: Who is that lady in your cottage?
• Wulf: An avatar of Mother’s. She was left behind to explain to the residents of Sonje why we were no longer there. I do not know what the concocted story was, and I did not want to.
• Olette: What is an avatar?
• Wulf: An illusion a god uses when dealing with mortals. Mother is a god and can do many things at once. Only a small part of her concentration was needed to create and control the avatar.
• Rigmor: You look so determined, Wulf.
• Wulf: I was. No matter how scared or uncertain I was, I had accepted a role and responsibility. Not only to The Divines, but to a scared girl I saw almost whipped to death. She inspired me with her courage.
• Olette: Are you talking about Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Yes, Olette. Wulf watched Thalmor almost whip me to death with a horse crop.
• Wulf: Flesh is flying across the room, covering witnesses in gore and blood!
• Rigmor: Wulf. We are not there. We are here, amongst those who love you.
• Wulf: Sorry, Olette. It is so vivid in my mind that I sometimes find it hard to separate the past from the present.
• Olette: I think to know you, Cap’n, I will need to hear Rigmor’s story.
• Wulf: I am still learning much of it.
• Rigmor: I find it difficult to talk about, Olette. Therefore, Wulf has been getting it in bits and pieces.
• Olette: It sounds like you have not had it easy, Rigmor. Yet you are a wonderful person.
• Rigmor: I have my moments of not-so-wonderful.
• Wulf: Bollocks! Your mood swings are understandable.

• Wulf: The ship from Akavir arrived the day Father said it would. Since it takes many months to reach Roscrea from Akavir, I think they anchored nearby till the prearranged day came.
• Rigmor: Isn’t Saint Alessia renowned for her foresight? Couldn’t she have foreseen the date of arrival?
• Wulf: There are too many variables to be that accurate, Rigmor. It was good propaganda for the Dragonguard to arrive a day after my birthday.
• Olette: The Nine arranged it all.
• Wulf: Yes. It allows more mumbo-jumbo in the histories. Many people seem to like that, while I hate anything but the truth.
• Olette: Will you be in histories, Cap’n?
• Wulf: If we lose against Alduin, I will be mentioned in histories. If we win, we will all be mentioned.
• Rigmor: Why only you if Alduin wins, but all of you if he loses?
• Olette: People like somebody to blame if things go wrong.
• Wulf: Correct. If Overlord Alduin still allows histories to be written, I will be depicted as the failed champion of his father, Lord Akatosh. If we win, I will ensure everyone knows it was because of all of us contributing to the effort.

• Wulf: This last painting depicts Grandmaster Gelvyrri and the Dragonguards Arshyssu and Dagerrie swearing allegiance to me. I was eighteen, and these warriors bowed down to me. I was not prepared for that!
• Olette: Have all the Dragonguard sworn allegiance to you?
• Wulf: Yes. When they swore to obey and serve the Grandmaster, they automatically swore to obey a dragonborn.
• Olette: Now you are both dragonborn and Grandmaster.
• Wulf: I would rather just be dragonborn. That would mean Grandmaster Gelvyrri and my other friends would still be alive.
• Olette: Many of the people here are now orphans.
• Wulf: Indeed, it is strange to think of adults in those terms, but it is true.
• Olette: Will you ever find out who attacked your village and killed your friends?
• Wulf: I do not know. At the moment, we do not have the resources to find out. Plus, we must be here to help defend against Alduin and his allies.
• Olette: I hope you find your mother before Alduin makes it too dangerous to travel, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: We shall try, Olette. But I will understand if Wulf has to concentrate on Alduin if the Dragon War needs to be ended.
• Wulf: I will have to work without rest after Alduin makes his move. Every hour delay could mean the death of many people. I can do so for days, but not many of my companions, apart from the mages, could do so.
• Olette: I cannot imagine what a dragon attack on Riften would look like.
• Wulf: I can, and it is terrifying. Of all the Hold capitals, Riften is most at risk due to its many wooden buildings.
• Olette: Can city guards fight dragons?
• Wulf: Yes, but it would take a long time for them to bring a single dragon down, and they are likely to attack in numbers. It will be up to us to protect the cities and towns. The trouble is, we do not know how many allies Alduin will have. If more than two places are attacked at once, we may not have the numbers to protect them all.
• Olette: Can we talk about something more pleasant? You were going to tell me about the aurora.
• Wulf: How about I sing about it instead?
• Olette: I think that is a great idea!
• Rigmor: Come and sit next to me, Olette.

Olette sat in Rigmor’s seat. My beloved stood next to her.

I summoned one of my favourite lutes from Cethnelor, then explained to Olette, “I have modified this instrument and placed some magic on it so that I can reproduce the sound of a hand drum on it. All lutes will allow you to tap them and get some percussion sound.”

“Yeah, Cap’n, I have seen bards do that. It is amazing they can pluck the right notes and tap at the correct places.”

“You will learn that the basic instruments, drum, lute and flute, all require a high level of dexterity. Now, I must also advise that I can do things with my voice that normal singers cannot do. To learn to use the Thu’um, many vocal exercises are repeated over and over. It just so happens that the manipulating of a voice to use the Thu’um lends itself to singing and even the imitation of instruments.”

“What instruments can you imitate?”

“The flute and other wind instruments. I can also sing more than one note at a time.”

“So, I cannot hope to be as good.”

“No, Olette. The best bards are just as good as I without all the benefits I have.”

“Okay.”

As I sang my Aurora song, I became aware of guards and others stopping to listen.

When I finished, I said, “Now I will sing a new song I wrote the other night while sitting next to a snoring Rigmor.”

Rigmor protested, “I do not snore!”

“How do you know, you are asleep!”

“Idiot.”

“This one is called, ‘Until We Wander Home Again.’”

When I finished, Olette said, “That middle part with only the lute. Your fingers were searching, like the person in the song.”

“That proves to me you will be an excellent bard, for that is precisely how I envisioned it.”

“It is true what you said about the Aurora?”

“It is far more interesting than the real, scientific reason.”

“Okay, in that case, I will believe it.”

“It is late, Olette. Please try not to wake the other children.”

“Thank you for telling me your story, Cap’n.”

“A pleasure, young lady.”

“Me ain’t no stinkin’ lady!”

Olette rushed off. I started toward Coranelor when Rigmor said, “Wulf, wait.”

I turned to her.

“Yes, Rigmor.”

“We are not ready for the next step.”

“Not without my admittance of the obvious, no, we are not.”

“But I want you to lie next to me, and not in your armour either.”

“How is that fair when I have asked the Dragonguard to sleep in theirs?”

“Would you go anywhere, even to confront Alduin, without me? Or would you trust your friends to deal with a problem for the twenty minutes or so it takes for us to don our armour?”

“I trust them to deal with problems without me, Rigmor. They will have to if dragons attack multiple places at once.”

“Then you have no excuse. It may seem silly to you, because Tirlineth lets me know you are near, but I want you next to me.”

“It is not silly, Rigmor. If it helps you, then I will sleep next to you.”

“Good. And both songs were beautiful. And I do not want to know the scientific crap about Aurora’s either.”

I laughed and held Rigmor’s hand as we headed for bed.

Thirty minutes later, Rigmor was fast asleep, and I lay, staring at her, wondering what the future would bring.

I think she is terrified of what we may find tomorrow, and that is understandable.

I soon joined my beloved in slumber.