Morndas, 8^th Hearthfire, 4E 201

to Fredas, 12^th Hearthfire, 4E 201

We spent a relaxing morning having breakfast with the children. Their enthusiasm for life and learning is contagious!

As the children were helping Wujeeta clear the table, my CORB started chirping.

We rushed into my room and spoke to Celestine.

• Wulf: Good morning, Celestine.
• Rigmor: Morning, Celestine.
• Celestine: Good morning to you two.
• Rigmor: Is Baa’Ren there?
• Celestine: He paid a brief visit. He said to meet him in Mara’s Temple in Riften.
• Rigmor: Did he say why?
• Celestine: He has located Diamond Ridge Mine.
• Rigmor: Cool!
• Wulf: Okay, we’ll see what he has to say, then I’ll talk to you from Honeyside.
• Celestine: I hope Sigunn is okay, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: Mum is tough. I am confident she will be alright.
• Celestine: If she is half as determined as you, she is probably running the place.
• Rigmor: Yeah!

The CORB went quiet.

I turned to the unsurprisingly excited Rigmor.

I told her, “Well, let’s go meet Baa’Ren.”

“Ahh…let me visit the privy first.”

“That is the third time this morning.”

“I have a really bad stomach ache.”

“Oh, the trots.”

“Trots?”

“The runs.”

“Umm…”

“The squirts.”

“Yew!”

“I could cast a healing spell.”

“Sometimes, Lord Welkynd, I think it is better to let things run their course.”

“As long as it doesn’t run down your leg.”

“Wulf!”

Rigmor rushed to the privy. Why people think diarrhoea is a cause for humour is one of life’s mysteries. It can kill!

Whatever the cause of the stomach upset, Rigmor’s passion for eggs and bacon had not been reduced. The children always find it amusing how much she can consume at a single sitting.

When Rigmor returned, I teleported us into Honeyside.

We exited into a bright morning with Riften’s morning fog already gone.

As we passed Mjoll the Lioness, I said, “Good morning and no, I am not interested in talking about the Thieves Guild.”

She just crossed her arms and gave me a cold stare.

Out of earshot of Mjoll, Rigmor asked, “What was that about?”

“Some time ago I tried explaining to Mjoll that the Thieves Guild is a minor issue, even if it consumes her every waking hour.”

“They were kind to Olette.”

“And we still have not brought Olette to visit her mother’s grave.”

“Wulf, you know how mature and clever she is. Olette understands.”

We entered the temple, and Priestess Ahnasari told us where to find Baa’Ren.

We went to a small room, where Baa’Ren-Dar sat at a table. He was staring ahead but then looked to the doorway.

Rigmor whispered, “Wulf.”

I turned to face her.

She said, “I need the privy. As in right now!”

Priestess Ahnasari, who had been trailing us, said, “Rigmor, follow me.”

Rigmor told Baa’Ren, “Hello, Baa’Ren. Wulf will talk to you. I have to ah… go”

Baa’Ren looked at me, and I shrugged as Rigmor followed the priestess.

I sat opposite Baa’Ren.

The elderly Khajiiti looked tired and sad when he asked, “Why is Rigmor avoiding Khajiit? Is their anger at this one’s mistake about Aedriath?”

“No, Baa’Ren. Rigmor has an upset stomach but will not let me heal her.”

“Sometimes it is better to let such things run their course.”

“Words of wisdom passed onto Rigmor.”

“Yes, that one occasionally listened to old Khajiit.”

“When a person reaches their teen years, they suddenly know everything there is to know.”

“You have experience of this?”

“Indeed, I was a know-it-all, Baa’Ren.”

“Were Dragonborn and Rigmor successful with their task?”

“Yes. Yngol will talk to Ulfric. Casius will talk to General Tullius and start preparations. I think the truce will happen.”

“Did Dragonborn have trouble with Yngol?”

“I don’t know if my status as Dragonborn or Rigmor’s presence was the deciding factor. I found it difficult to keep my feelings about Ulfric concealed.”

“It is part of the diplomacy business and can be difficult.”

“Rigmor heard about some of Ragnar’s time in The Great War and Hammerfell. I think she better understands why he never spoke about it.”

“Khajiit has never been in a large battle.”

“And I hope you never have to experience one. Celestine told us you found the location of Diamond Ridge Mine.”

“This one has spoken to someone who scouted the area for me. That one has seen this mine. It is high up on the border of Skyrim and High Rock and within shouting distance of Two Moons.”

“Shouting distance is a very long way for me, Baa’Ren, but I get the idea. Can you please mark it on my map?”

Baa’Ren marked my map and handed it back.

I said, “It will take some climbing, but yes, that is very close to Two Moons, which is next to Bthardamz Dwemer ruins. It is also close to a camp we found when pursuing Tilar.”

“Dragonborn must visit that camp and receive instructions.”

“Instructions? From who?”

“The one who scouted for Khajiit. That one said the mines are very heavily guarded. Perhaps there is a sneaky way in, yes?”

“Who is this person I am to talk to?”

“The thief from Windhelm, Tendril Sethri.”

“The New Order were brutal in its efforts to keep what they were doing at Fort Black a secret. They tortured and murdered to do so, and with the flimsiest of suspicions. I suspect they may be even more paranoid at the mine. We will probably encounter many guards and soldiers.”

“Then it is worth speaking to Tendril. Make sure you take enough supplies with you. It is unpopulated territory”

“Unpopulated except for the town we just made amongst the Dwemer ruins. But even if Two Moons was not close, I am a powerful mage, Baa’Ren. Supplies are never an issue.”

“Take good care of Rigmor. If you do find Sigunn there…”

“Rigmor’s reactions could be severe, depending on her mother’s state. Like always, I will look after her.”

Rigmor was standing at the doorway.

• Rigmor: Hey, I can hear you, ya know!
• Wulf: And we could hear you.
• Rigmor: Liar!
• Baa’Ren: How is your stomach?
• Rigmor: I do not think it would be wise for me to move far from the privy.
• Wulf: Then Baa’Ren and I will move elsewhere to talk behind your back.
• Rigmor: Good, but I want a full report later, Dragonbum!
• Baa’Ren: Dragonborn, will you please take a walk with Khajiit?
• Wulf: It is nice and sunny outside, so let us sit on a bench. For some reason, this temple is rather smelly.
• Rigmor: Haha. I noticed Priestess Ahnasari suddenly found the need to light incense.

We made our way outside.

We sat on a bench next to the temple’s entrance, and Baa’Ren removed his cowl, for it was quite warm.

Baa’Ren looked worried.

I asked, “What is worrying you, Baa’Ren?”

“How is Rigmor holding up?”

“Rigmor is doing well, but I am concerned about future meetings with Tilar. She handled our meeting with Hermaeus Mora and faced Alduin in battle without fear. So that tells me Tilar is still her greatest nightmare.”

“Rigmor saw Hermorah?”

“Yes, she saw his avatar, The Wretched Abyss, and heard him talking to me. Yesterday she witnessed me thwart Hermaeus Mora. It was an important lesson for her. She saw how Daedric Princes can lie and manipulate.”

“This one should tell you about the other side of Rigmor, the child inside.”

“I have recognised and cherished it. Please, go ahead.”

“Rigmor would sit on the veranda of my house in Torval for hours, taking in the view. Sometimes she would write poetry or sing songs she had written. She loved to pick flowers in the garden. It wasn’t always easy, but seeing her grow into a young woman was always a joy.”

“How long was she enslaved?”

“About six months.”

“I wonder how many times they beat her?”

“Rigmor does not know and only remembers a couple of them.”

“I have fought beside many warriors and have never seen a better exponent of the greatsword.”

“Ragnar taught her all he could. Then this one paid for expensive tutors to teach more skills at Rigmor’s request.”

“Please, tell me more about the younger Rigmor.”

“Rigmor had the most beautiful hair and loved dressing up, and Khajiit would send for the best dresses coin could buy. Imported from all over Nirn.”

“But not those Morrowind dresses?”

“No, it seems there is a special arrangement with the market in Riften.”

“Did she only like red dresses?”

“Rigmor enjoyed dresses of many colours, but she especially liked them in red.”

“Then something has changed, Baa’Ren. I offered to buy her a Morrowind red dress at the Riften market, but she declined. She thought she was too ugly to wear one.”

“Yet, you decided to purchase one with Khajiit’s help.”

“Yes. I did not think Rigmor would listen if I argued with her. I thought if I bought her a dress and she agreed to wear it, she would realise she was wrong and is beautiful.”

“Good strategy, Dragonborn. When Rigmor came of age…she changed.”

“The Thalmor and New Order would still have hunted her down if she was a dainty young noblewoman. Rigmor knew she could not stay in Torval forever and needed to find her mother. I believe the skills and determination she developed saved her life.”

“Dragonborn… there is a place this one knows of, not far from Ivarstead. It’s a little overlook and a camp Khajiit passed by in his travels. The mountain flowers grow in abundance. The view from the overlook… You can see down into the valley to the coast. Rigmor would love this place, and it would make her very happy.”

“When we went to Fort Black, we climbed a rickety old structure during a blizzard to look over a valley. I promised I would take her to the summit of The Throat of the World one day. We did that yesterday. Rigmor shows great delight in flowers and heights, so I have no doubt she would like this lookout. Please, mark it on my map.”

Once more, Baa’Ren took my map and marked it. Then he handed it back.

Baa’Ren’s voice wavered as he asked, “Would you make this old Khajiit happy and take her there? Who knows what the gods have in store for you both? Who knows if they plan to take her away from me? Let her find peace, if only for a short time.”

“That is not far from Ivarstead, and she will enjoy the horse ride. There is a waterfall and a river near there that remind me of my childhood home in Roscrea. I have wanted to travel more with Rigmor, but so many bounty hunters, bandits, and assassins harass us that I end up having to kill people. Therefore, I teleport her as close as possible to our destinations. However, when we travel, Rigmor lightens my heart with the beauty she sees in the world. That is miraculous after the darkness she has seen and experienced. She is enveloped in a special peace because of my presence. I find peace in hers. I will take Rigmor to this lookout because she will like it, and it will make us both smile. I will take her there because her father asked me to, and I want to make him smile too.”

“Thank you, Dragonborn. This one knows you have feelings for each other. Although Rigmor can be strong, she can also be fragile. Would it be impertinent for this old Khajiit to ask what you plan to do about these feelings?”

“If we remove the danger of The New Order and find Sigunn, then maybe Rigmor can return to a normal life. She can look forward to long hair and fine dresses once more. She will never be safe with me. I doubt she could ever have a normal life with me. Rigmor says she will accept the chaos and danger of my life, but that is easier said than done.”

“Confusion is dangerous. One way or the other, this must be resolved.”

“If it were that easy, we would have done so. New things appear each day that change the equation. For instance, I know I must travel to Solstheim soon and assassins hunt me. It is complex, Baa’Ren.”

“Priestess Ahnasari told Khajiit that Mother Cat spoke to Rigmor and Dragonborn inside this temple. She could not hear the words but knows the look of wonder.”

“Rigmor has spoken to Lord Talos, Lady Kynareth and Lady Mara. She has heard gods full of compassion and knows they are not all like Hermaeus Mora.”

“What does Mother Cat say about Rigmor and Wulf’s love?”

“We are entwined souls, Baa’Ren. The Divines called our connection Tirnetha, which is Ayleidoon for entwined souls. That ancient language is my favourite. Love is a powerful force. The Divines named that force Marael, another Ayleidoon word. Tirnetha Marael is the term Lady Mara gave to the love between Rigmor and me. She said it is the most powerful force known.”

“Did Mother Cat give advice about Dragonborn’s confusion?”

“It is not confusion, Baa’Ren. It is hesitation on my part. I have told Rigmor I love her, but have not pursued what his heart desires.”

“This old Khajiit thinks that Dragonborn is very confused!”

“You wear neutral robes but use Lady Azura’s seers. She is involved in this, Baa’Ren, and you know it. The mine we are travelling to has something to do with Azura. You are worried, but I shall tell you the advice I give others. Prophecy and foresight provide clues to possible outcomes. Having been the subject of a prophecy, I know the outcome is not guaranteed.”

Baa’Ren smiled and said, “Riften is such a beautiful city, don’t you think? May the gods guide you and keep you from harm.”

I laughed and replied, “I constantly and voluntarily place myself in danger. But the Ten Commands of the Nine Divines do guide me, Baa’Ren. And I think a particular Priestess of Mara makes this an even more beautiful city. Am I right?”

“Priestess Ahnasari knows how to soothe Khajiit’s worries. That is all I shall say on the matter. Now, this one has been travelling for many hours and needs to sleep.”

“Alone?”

“This is Mother Cat’s temple, not of Mafala, but it is Priestess Ahnasari’s bed.”

“It is odd the Khajiiti Pantheon does not have Lady Dibella so places sexual relations into that unpleasant god’s sphere.”

“Khajiit is certain Dragonborn encounters many strange twists in religion.”

I escorted Baa’Ren inside, and once he was settled on the bed, I closed the door.

Then I sat opposite Rigmor across the same small table Baa’Ren used earlier.

I asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Empty. I doubt I will need the privy for a week.”

“I want to use the CORB inside Honeyside. You are to eat some fruit while we are there, and I will cast a healing spell because we may be fighting a lot.”

“Okay.”

“Baa’Ren marked Diamond Ridge Mine on my map. It is very close to the other Khajiiti town we have established. It is also close to the camp we tracked Aedriath to.”

“The place of my biggest tantrum yet!”

“The word ‘yet’ implies I have more tantrums to look forward to.”

“DUH!”

“We shall teleport to Two Moons, then head for Rigmor’s Tantrum Camp. It is a detour but necessary. Our favourite thief from Windhelm, Tendril Sethri, will meet us there. He has scouted the mine and might have some useful information.”

“Are Baa’Ren and Tendril working together?”

“They are now, but not when Baa’Ren sent us to Windhelm. I think they are both working with Lady Azura.”

“I want to know why she is so interested in me.”

“Perhaps we shall find out.”

“What else did you two gossip about?”

“Bar’Ren is worried about you. He is scared for his child’s physical and emotional safety.”

“What do you mean by emotional safety?”

“If we find Sigunn, what will be her condition? And before you get angry, it is a reasonable concern.”

“I understand. Baa’Ren must think the place is dangerous, and if we find Mum and they have hurt her…I don’t know how I would cope.”

“Whatever we find, I will be with you.”

“No matter what we find at Diamond Ridge, it’s finally ending. Whether Mum is alive or not, I can at least find closure and maybe get on with my life.”

“What would you do?”

“I don’t know. If Mum is alive, maybe go back to Torval? At least we would be safe there. If not Torval, maybe find somewhere else that is peaceful? I mean, you would be with me, right? We’ve done just about everything we can to help with the conspiracy. If there is a war, let the armies sort it out.”

“Rigmor, you know I can’t walk away. I have my oath to you, but I am Champion of The Divines. I am committed to defending the people of Nirn. If asked, I will lead the forces opposing The New Order. I may have to wade into battle and kill because that is the only way to ensure less killing! I must deal with this other Dragonborn in Solstheim. Who knows what shit I will face in the future? If you have changed your mind about being with me, I will take you where you want to call home. But I have to do what I have trained to do. Alduin was just one danger.”

“I am sorry! It was a stupid thing to say! You will save lives by staying involved. I understand that. Please, don’t think I would leave you, Wulf.”

“I have plenty of friends to fight beside me now and in the future. However, I know there will be great darkness in my life. I will see and deal with evil in all its forms. I will kill and add to my library of death. Without you to help balance me, I would become something else.”

“Battles are not the only darkness you will face.”

“War is upsetting, but I can understand it. The darkness that I fear is a family who owned a tavern and was butchered for no discernible reason. Multiply that many times over. Senseless slaughter in the name of greed, or because some god told them to or just for fun. And my solution will be slaughter, justified or not.”

“Wulf, I want to marry and have children. I could never do that with another. We don’t know the future, but can we fit that in? I think we can! I would be the wife of a soldier fighting a war for all of us. You will undoubtedly have estates to run, and I could use skills not involving a sword.”

“There are too many unknowns, Rigmor. Right now, circumstances are dragging us along. The chaos could be never-ending. Perhaps we may get time to think this through, but for now, we must concentrate on staying alive.”

“Did Baa’Ren ask about us?”

“Of course he did. Who wouldn’t worry about their teenage daughter being alone with an extremely handsome Dragonborn?”

“We share a bed but have not even kissed!”

“One thing leads to another, Rigmor. I wonder what Lady Dibella would say?”

“She would shake her head in disbelief.”

“You have not been ready for that step!”

“Okay, Lady Dibella would be shaking her head at both of us.”

“I know you want to find Sigunn, but I promised Baa’Ren we would visit somewhere first.”

“Is it important to Baa’Ren?”

“Yes, he thinks the place will make you happy.”

“What is it?”

“You will have to wait and see. Plus, I have never been there. I am sure Ren would enjoy the ride.”

“Okay, we shall visit that mysterious place before visiting the other mysterious place.”

I teleported us into Honeyside, where I insisted Rigmor eat some fruit and drink plenty of water.

Then I cast a minor healing spell, strong enough to settle her stomach and bowel issues.

We then contacted Celestine by CORB.

• Wulf: We know where to go. The mine is very close to Two Moons.
• Celestine: Do you want me to come with you?
• Wulf: No. If I need a squad, I will use Vayu’s. I want to approach it as stealthily as possible first.
• Rigmor: I am sure Wulf will summon you if Mum is… um…
• Wulf: If Sigunn needs healing, I will assess if Vayu and I can handle it.
• Celestine: Okay.
• Wulf: I am positive Lady Azura is involved in all of this. Hopefully, we’ll find out how and why.
• Celestine: If Lady Azura is involved, Rigmor, be prepared for a load of mumbo-jumbo being used to hide lies.
• Wulf: Lady Azura has a reputation for claiming things easily disproved.
• Rigmor: But why lie? 
• Wulf: For the same reason the Tentacled Turd lies and Ulfric Stormcloak lies. Manipulation.
• Rigmor: Will you accuse her of lying, Wulf?
• Wulf: No. I will advise you of her lies when she cannot hear, but I suspect you can figure them out yourself.
• Celestine: I know you will be careful, but I have to say it anyway. Please be careful!
• Wulf: Aren’t I always?
• Rigmor: No!
• Celestine: No!

I teleported us into Ivarstead.

I then summoned Hashire, who in turn summoned Ren.

• Rigmor: Nice colour, Hashire!
• Hashire: Yes, it is one of my favourites.
• Wulf: This should be a picturesque ride. We have to cross a river.
• Hashire: Where are we going?
• Wulf: Somewhere.
• Rigmor: I do not know where we are going. It is a secret.
• Hashire: Oh, be still, poor heart! The anticipation is killing me!
• Wulf: It is somewhere Rigmor will enjoy, so your sarcasm is easily ignored.

We mounted and started our ride to the lookout.

We briefly stopped by a waterfall.

• Wulf: What does this remind you of, Hashire?
• Hashire: The lake and river on Roscrea.
• Rigmor: Have you ever returned to your childhood home?
• Wulf: No, I have never had the chance.
• Hashire: Anna is probably married and has a tribe of children by now.
• Wulf: She is only the same age as me, Hashire.
• Hashire: Very few on that island are not married by twenty, except for the ugly ones like you.
• Rigmor: It is the same in the rural parts of Bruma. The well-to-do in the city and nobles tend to get married at an older age.
• Wulf: I wonder how many of the noble marriages are for love.
• Rigmor: Very few, I should think.
• Wulf: Dibella and Mara must get upset at that stupidity.

Some sections of the ride required a good horse and rider. Rigmor and Ren handled everything with confidence.

We encountered a pair of foxes.

• Rigmor: She is beautiful. I have never seen a silver-and-red one like that.
• Wulf: They are a mating pair, and that one is the male.
• Rigmor: How can you tell from up there?
• Wulf: He has paw prints on his forehead.
• Rigmor: Hashire, do you think that Wulf might say something funny one day?
• Hashire: I have known him all his life, so I think the answer must be no hope.
• Wulf: Meanies!
• Rigmor: I am sure you will recover.

I crossed the river, then watched Rigmor and Ren.

• Wulf: Ren is an exceptional horse, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: Yeah, I am very proud of him.
• Hashire: Are you proud of me, Wulf?
• Wulf: Yes, of course I am proud of you!
• Hashire: Aww, now I feel guilty for being mean earlier.
• Wulf: You are a terrible liar.

We crested a hill and saw the lookout. Rigmor leapt off Ren and ran ahead.

I caught up with her and did not have the heart to berate her for ignoring our rules.

Rigmor eagerly asked, “What is this place?”

“This, my dear Rigmor, is a place Baa’Ren-Dar thinks you will like. It is sunny, so we can probably see The Sea of Ghosts from the observation platform.”

“Cool!”

“We can relax, Rigmor. Hashire will let us know if anybody approaches.”

“So, no lost Orsimer with a sick niece?”

“What if a sick niece comes looking for her uncle? Wow, would I feel guilty!”

“Idiot!”

“Lord Idiot!”

“Look at all the red mountain flowers! And they are so tall here!”

“A place with your three favourite things. Red mountain flowers, a view and me!”

“Yeah, right. Pfft!”

“I don’t suppose you would be interested in the view?”

“You first, in case the platform collapses.”

“That is very considerate of you.”

A decent-sized gold seam ran near the platform.

Rigmor was delighted by the view. She eagerly pointed out things and asked what some of them were.

I stared at her so intently that she sensed my mood and asked, “What is wrong?”

“There are so many places you have not visited. I want you to see them with me, but when will we get the chance?”

“What do you mean?”

“There are only two wars to deal with. Oh, and I may have to visit Solstheim.”

“Don’t spoil this with doom and gloom!”

“I want to do those things with you, Rigmor. More than anything, but no matter how I try to relax, reality drags me back.”

“Our Quiet helps, though, doesn’t it?”

“Very much so, and I am sorry for the doom and gloom. Perhaps another surprise might serve as an apology?”

“Maybe.”

“Turn around, and do not dare cheat.”

“Can I turn around only partway to keep looking at the view?”

“You have to promise me you will keep looking at the view till I tell you to turn around.”

“Okay, I promise.”

Rigmor turned enough so she could not see what I was doing.

Retrieving items from Cethnelor was silent. I retrieved the red dress, then got on my knee and held it out.

I asked, “Do you want some clues?”

“If it amuses you.”

“I could just give this wonderful surprise to somebody else.”

“Okay, okay, give me the clues.”

“The first clue is: You will have to remove your clothes to enjoy it.”

“Wulf!”

“The second clue is: I have wanted to show it to you for ages.”

“I bet you have, you weirdo!”

“The Third and last clue is: It might be too big. It might be a tight fit. It will certainly give you pleasure!”

“That is disgusting! If you are naked or certain parts of your anatomy are showing, I will never speak to you again!”

“Okay, Milady Rigmor Ragnarsdottier. You may turn towards me.”

Rigmor turned around with an angry scowl that shifted to amazement, followed by a loud gasp.

“Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, my beloved, may I gift you this red dress from Morrowind?”

“The dress! You bought me the dress!”

“Yes, the first time we visited Riften, I snuck out of The Bee and Barb and purchased it. I hope you like it.”

“Wulf, it’s beautiful!”

‘It will be even more beautiful with a Rigmor inside it.”

“Should I try it on? Here?”

“You might give people below a shock if they looked up. Maybe you should put it on behind some bushes?”

“Hahaha. Don’t you try and sneak a peek!”

“Okay, but don’t undress well before the bushes and wiggle your hips.”

Rigmor giggled as she walked away, saying, “I am always giving you a hard time, aren’t I?”

Rigmor vanished behind some deep foliage.

Rigmor has become adept at removing her armour. I could hear only a bit of cursing as she fought with the various straps and buckles.

I asked, “Do you need help undressing?”

“Do you want to end up gelded like Ren?”

“I was only offering assistance like a gentleman. I do help you every night!”

“Yeah, well, this is different.”

After fifteen minutes of rustling, Rigmor announced, “Okay, here I come!”

I watched Rigmor emerge. She was barefoot and wore no wig, yet she took my breath away.

She stopped, unsure of herself, so I approached her with a smile.

Standing before me was the woman I loved, wearing what she deserved and enjoyed, and she looked stunning.

I told her, “Rigmor, with all sincerity, you look stunning!”

“No, I don’t. I look like a, I dunno, an ugly rock demon.”

“Wow, a good-looking rock demon must be the most beautiful creature ever!”

“I make the dress look ugly.”

“No, Rigmor, the dress is trying hard to match your beauty!”

“But my hair?”

“Hair, no hair. Armour, dress, or nightclothes. Whether washed or grubby. It makes no difference to these eyes and this heart. I am nothing but honest with you. I am not lying about this.”

“But I have so many scars!”

“Rigmor, beauty is a sum of the body, mind, and soul. You can grow your hair back. Shallow women, whom some find attractive, can’t suddenly grow empathy, courage, and your remarkable ability to see the beauty in the world around you. You, my beloved Rigmor, are beautiful!”

“Yeah, right.”

“Baa’Ren-Dar told me you used to love wearing pretty dresses. You had the same scars, the same inner demons back then. It is not the hair. You chose to cut your hair as a sign of renewal. Nor is it the scars. You worry that a man you have feelings for could not find you beautiful. I know those doubts. How could the woman I love find a killer who is also part dragon as anything but ugly?”

Rigmor looked down. She didn’t want her face to betray the truth. She knew my fears matched hers.

I said, “That dress suits you. Don’t you like it?”

Rigmor looked up. “Haha. I love it. This whole thing is crazy! No one gives me presents.”

“If I could give you a kingdom, it would not compare to what you have gifted me.”

“Wulf, I love you so much that it scares me.”

“Then let me ease your fears.”

I picked Rigmor up and tilted my head, hoping she would take the initiative to ease my fears.

Rigmor leaned down and kissed me, and nothing mattered anymore but us.

I lowered Rigmor, and she lent back a bit so that I could return the kiss.

Of its own accord, my hand found her derriere.

Rigmor giggled, then said, “Wulf, please take your hand off my rear end. If you continue, we may lose control and end up naked!”

“Oh, ah…sorry. I was, ahh… checking for saddle sores from the ride!”

“Yeah, sure. It seems you don’t have control over other parts either.”

“Rigmor!”

“Just hold me, my Guardian.”

I lifted Rigmor once more. She leaned her head against mine and stroked my hair.

Rigmor said, “No matter what happens, Wulf, I will always be there for you. I want us to experience life together, no matter the dangers or difficulties. I don’t need to wait any longer to be certain of that.”

“I don’t know what to say, Rigmor. It is what I want, but is it right?”

“Shush, it is right because I say so. It seems you still need more training.”

I placed Rigmor back onto her feet and kissed her hand.

I suggested, “Why don’t you pick some flowers, as a reminder of when I surrendered.”

“Haha. Now sit!”

“I shall sit and watch you run around like a younger, carefree Rigmor.”

“I don’t know about running, but thank you. Not just for the dress but also for being you. You are my weird, sometimes infuriating, big, softy Guardian.”

I sat, and I watched, and I absorbed. Every moment was seared into my memory. If we find Sigunn and Rigmor decided to leave me, these memories might be all I have in the dark times to come. I still doubted her commitment.

After Rigmor finished murdering red mountain flowers, she sat on a stump.

She was doing her stare-into-infinity thing as I approached.

When I stood in front of her, she looked up and smiled.

I returned the smile and said, “I can imagine Baa’Ren-Dar watching his child wander around his gardens. His grin would be wide, and his heart would be filled with love. It must have been difficult as you moved into womanhood. I suppose all fathers watch that transition full of worry about the future.”

“He probably thought I was travelling towards death when I left Torval for Bruma. He knew I had to get revenge and find my mother. He did not try to stop me.”

“It brought a smile to my face watching you enjoy something simple. You had been so close to death, Rigmor.”

“Yeah, I almost made Baa’Ren’s fears come true! I’m glad I came here.”

“Ahh, where are the flowers?”

“There is plenty of room. This dress was made for breasts a few sizes bigger than mine. There is no chance of them popping out if I sneeze.”

“Oh.”

“Are you thinking of that woman in Solitude?”

“Who? The one who was almost wearing something? Nah!”

Rigmor moved to a stump next to the chair and said, “Sit next to me. I get a sore neck staring up.”

I sat and asked, “What are you thinking?”

“I’m a bit scared, I guess. It’s been a long time, and I wonder if Mum will even know who I am?”

“I think your face has been in her dreams every night of captivity. Sigunn will recognise you. She probably replays favourite memories repeatedly and recalls entire conversations word for word.

“You have never promised to find her alive or rescue her.”

“I try not to make promises about something out of my control. All I can do is try to be there for you.”

“She was a schoolteacher, you know? Back then, before all this. She taught me how to read and write. I studied fine art, poetry, and song because my dad insisted that I learn these things alongside my combat training. It was befitting a noble child, you see. We even had a family crest.”

“Yours was true nobility. Earned by your father via service to others and not inherited.”

“They cast us down after the arrest. We lost everything. Before we were enslaved, Mum told me I had to use the name Sigunnsdottir.”

“You were born Lady Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, daughter of Sir Ragnar Fjonasson, Imperial Duke of Hammerfell, and Lady Sigunn Frostreaver. They can’t erase that fact! You know the truth of what your father did, and they can’t steal that truth from you! They tried to take everything but failed miserably. You can still laugh and make others laugh. You can still see beauty when they have tried hard to hide it with darkness. Restoring your family’s name and titles would be the ultimate victory, and something we will pursue. Casius offered his help, remember?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“And I am sure after we defeat The New Order, Mede will owe me a favour or two.”

“I have written a song for you. Would you like to hear it?”

“I am honoured you did that and would love to hear it.”

“Bear with me. I have to do this right. One second…”

Rigmor stood and stared into my eyes. As Lady Mara said, the love I saw was powerful.

Rigmor cleared her throat, and then a voice, beautiful but, like its owner, unsure of its beauty, sang.

• There is a small child lost in the dark. In my dreams, she’s still there….

Rigmor’s voice faltered, then stopped. She then said, ‘I’m sorry, I… wait!”                             

As if she was a young girl singing in front of her tutor or tutors, Rigmor put her hands behind her back, stood straight, and sang.

• There is a small child lost in the dark. In my dreams, she’s still there.
• She has fallen, and she waits. Will someone come? Might someone care?
• Her heart, she’ll give you; her love be true. Where’s her Dragonborn, to save her, to never let her go?

Rigmor finished and stood still, unsure what my reaction would be.

I told her, “My tears are a result of overwhelming emotion, Rigmor. Not due to your voice.”

“Did you like it?”

I whispered, with my voice cracking, “It was wonderful! I am not lying to you, Rigmor. I won’t ever lie to you. It was beautiful and precious to me, and I thank you. And to answer your question, your Dragonborn is right here. And I only let you go because you were about to molest me.”

“Haha. I am pleased you like it.”

“Okay, party pooper time. We had better get moving.”

“Yeah, major party pooper.”

Rigmor donned her armour, and I sent her dress to Cethnelor

We walked over to Hashire.

• Wulf: I will summon Celestine. She can take Ren back to Angi’s and you wherever you want.
• Hashire: I like it at Angi’s.
• Rigmor: You must still be in the bad books with Surilana. I will have to ask her what you did.
• Hashire: Nice kiss, Wulf. I thought you two were going to go at it like rabbits!
• Wulf: That might have disturbed Ren. Besides, who wants to make love in front of a pervert unicorn?

I summoned Celestine.

• Celestine: Nice place!
• Wulf: Yeah, Baa’Ren suggested it.
• Hashire: Wait till I tell you what Wulf did.
• Celestine: You will tell me nothing! 
• Rigmor: Tell Silah, Hashire. She likes gossip.
• Wulf: Tell Nahfahlaar. He likes gossip with a side serving of Unicorn rump.
• Celestine: Do I need to take Ren back to Angi’s?
• Wulf: Yes, we shall be walking from Two Moons to the mine.
• Hashire: Don’t forget me!
• Rigmor: Hashire wants to stay at Angi’s.
• Celestine: Wow, what did you say or do to Surilana?
• Hashire: Nothing. It is all a big misunderstanding.
• Wulf: Okay, Rigmor, let’s go.

We came out of the ether on Two Moon’s main platform.

Rigmor said, “This place is an old Dwemer ruin. You must be bored already.”

“It is not as pretty as Warm Sands, but it will do its job as a resting place for Moonpath caravans.”

I walked over to S’rhad Mec-Eye, a Dragonguard.

I said, “It must be a relief to finish the building finally.”

“Yes, Grandmaster. However, bandits are watching us. They are likely counting Khajiiti and deciding if we are a soft target.”

“Eighteen Khajiiti are never a soft target.”

“Perhaps you can talk to some of their scouts below?”

“I would be glad to.”

I said hello to several more residents before Rigmor, and I approached the bandit scouts.

I told them, “Be aware that Two Moons is under my protection. I am Lord Wulf Welkynd, the Dragonborn.”

An Orsimer replied, “Yeah, and I am Malacath!”

He tried to aim his bow at me, so I cut his head off.

I would have preferred to leave the other alive, but he charged with his spear.

I blocked his thrust and lopped his head off.

I growled, “We almost made it to midday before I had to kill.”

“Come on, Wulf, let’s find Mum.”

It was a steep climb to reach the camp, but Rigmor did well, and we soon reached it.

I used Zoom Vision to confirm someone’s identity, then told Rigmor, “Tendril Sethri is standing on your rock!”

“How am I supposed to beat my last tantrum if he is in the way?”

“Let’s see what he has to say.”

Tendril watched Rigmor approach, and I did not like his fixation.

I said, “Rigmor, get no closer till I have spoken to him.”

Rigmor halted. I stopped a few feet from Tendril and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Well met, Dragonborn. Fear not. All is about to be revealed.”

“I don’t fear anything, apart from blood-sucking leeches. I hate those things! I am not one for mumbo jumbo, Tendril. You had better tell me in clear and precise Tamrielic words, who are you, and what are you doing here?”

“I am merely a messenger and have been sent to guide you.”

“I have a map, and it doesn’t speak nonsense. Who sent you on this wasted trip to provide unwanted and unnecessary guidance?”

“As I said, all will be revealed, but I must speak with Rigmor.”

“Lucky for you, Baa’Ren told me you would be here. Otherwise you would be enjoying my paralysis spell.”

“I mean no harm!”

“Tendril, we are tired of ambushes from those seeking the bounty on Rigmor. Therefore, we do not trust you. If you do anything I regard as threatening, you will die. Do you understand?”

“Understood.”

I stepped back. Rigmor remained about eight feet from Tendril.

• Tendril: Rigmor of Bruma, Child of the Twilight.
• Rigmor: I’m sorry, but who did you say I am?
• Wulf: She is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, child of Ragnar and Sigunn.
• Tendril: Take heed. This chapter is coming to a close, and what you seek is not far from here. But what is sought is the same as what you will find at Diamond Ridge. You must follow the cairns at dusk or dawn. They will light the way to the heart of a mother’s love and your final destination.
• Rigmor: Wait, how did you know about…?
• Tendril: Make haste, child. Time is running out!
• Wulf: If time is running out, you should have spoken plain Tamrielic, you fool! Waiting till dusk or dawn would waste many hours when you told us to make haste.
• Tendril: I say as instructed, Dragonborn. If I deviate from the script, I might get something wrong. Follow the cairns, and they will lead you to a cave which leads into the mines. Simple!
• Wulf: It is evident from the mumbo jumbo about dusk, dawn, and twilight that you are a devotee of Lady Azura.
• Rigmor: Lady Azura is meddling in my affairs!
• Wulf: Lady Azura has helped save Nirn several times via her mortal champions.
• Rigmor: And Baa’Ren-Dar worships her.
• Wulf: Okay, Sethri, what else will we find apart from the mine?
• Tendril: Rigmor will find her destiny.
• Wulf: Bollocks! Cobblers! Balderdash! Undiluted bullshit!
• Rigmor: If you can’t tell, Wulf is not a fan of predetermined destiny.
• Wulf: Predetermined destiny implies mortal free will is worthless, and events are unavoidable. However, that is a discussion for another day.

I stood close to Tendril once again.

• Wulf: I dislike being misled or manipulated, Tendril Sethri. If Lady Azura wanted our help, she should have asked.
• Rigmor: Much easier to say, “Lord Welkynd, Lady Azura needs assistance.”
• Wulf: If we meet again, Tendril, and you have a message from Lady Azura, you had better speak plainly.
• Tendril: I told you that I say as instructed, Dragonborn.
• Rigmor: Is Tendril a mindless puppet like that mad mage?
• Wulf: He is acting like it. But no, Rigmor, Tendril has all his faculties. However, he thinks his mistress’s request is an order, not a request.
• Rigmor: Heed Wulf’s advice, Tendril.
• Wulf: Okay, we shall follow the cairns in broad daylight and go to the mine. I wonder if Nirn will vanish because we don’t do it at dawn or dusk?
• Rigmor: Bye, Tendril. I hope we don’t have to hunt you down and kill you.

Tendril looked shocked. Then he hurried toward the steps Rigmor had run up, crying not so long ago.

I told Rigmor, “That was well done. Your bastard lessons are coming along quite well.”

“Does he keep looking behind?”

“Yep.”

“Haha!”

“Come on, let’s follow the cairns.”

“We passed many of them on the way here.”

“Let’s hope they are easy to find now that we are looking for them.”

As we followed the cairns, Two Moons came into view.

Rigmor asked, “How come they have one of those Dwemer sun thingies?”

“They dug it out of the snow. It provides warmth, and I assume it was part of Bthardamz, the large Dwemer ruins next to Two Moons.”

“You never explained Moonpath caravans to me.”

“Ri’saad’s caravans follow strict routes and timetables. Moonpath caravans can take seemingly random routes dictated by the moons. They always arrive at their intended destination. Not all Khajiiti can use the magic of the Moonpaths. They once criss-crossed all of Tamriel, before racism and borders got in the way.”

“I suppose that way of navigation would be better in the deserts of Elsweyr and Hammerfell.”

“Yes, and across large ice fields as well, which are a form of desert. Sand and snow can rapidly cover tracks, even if well used.”

“I would like to travel with a Khajiiti caravan. They are so fun-loving.”

“It is something I might be doing to aid Baa’Ren and the rebels.”

“I forgot you knew Baa’Ren before meeting him in Riften.”

“I had never met him, but we had been in touch for some time.”

“Are you now one of those important people in high places?”

“Not yet. Perhaps when I marry some snobby noble from Bruma I might be.”

“Keep dreaming, Dragonbum.”

We were fairly high looking for other cairns when I pointed to an arm holding Azura’s Star.

“I would have noticed that before, as I have flown over this area. A dweomer must have hidden it.”

“Like Aetheron.”

“Yes, from above, Aetheron looks like part of the mountains. Entire islands can and are hidden with similar dweomer.”

“Do you think that statue of Azura is near the mine?”

“I assume so. Keep those burning thighs going, and we shall see.”

“They are burning. Why can’t this area be like the ice fields?”

“Ah, because it has hills.”

“Idiot!”

“Lucky you shed all that extra weight this morning.”

“Yeah, right. Pffft!”

“Was that the sound your rear end made?”

“I hate you!”

After more climbing and some cursing from Rigmor, Azura’s statue came into view.

“That was not just a statue. It was a shrine with living quarters for the priests and priestesses. It looks like the statue has sunk into the ground where the quarters were.”

“Oh, my!”

“It would have taken a lot of effort, and many people, to damage it that badly.”

“But why do it, Wulf?”

“Allegiances are constantly made and lost amongst the Daedric Princes. I don’t know which ones might be warring with Azura, but their devotees could have done it. However, I am only guessing as I don’t know.”

“It looks like she is weeping.”

“If the statue is half buried, the temple must have had many floors. A lot of devotees may have been killed.”

“Bastards, whoever did it.”

“Let’s get closer and see if there is anything else we can figure out.”

“Wulf, this is scary!”

“You have nothing to fear from Azura. Just don’t believe everything she says.”

“All gods lie, but with Daedric Princes, it is sacrosanct when they give their word.”

“Yes, that is what I have taught you. Remember, Azura is a god that likes mumbo jumbo and makes claims of dubious honesty within it.”

“Why use mumbo jumbo?”

“It makes things sound more mysterious and godlier.”

“I understand!”

“Okay, Milady. Wouldst thou accompany thy humble batman to yonder fucked up temple?”

“I am tired. Can my lovely batman carry me to yonder fucked up temple?”

“This batman adoreth thee, but is nay that subservient. He humbly suggests Milady suck it up and walk herself to yonder fucked up temple.”

“It seems my batman needs a good thrashing.”

“Milady always promises such delights but does not deliver. Me think that thee is a tease!”

“Guess what?”

“Weird?”

“Extremely.”

We made our way to the temple.

I felt a probe at my mind’s barrier when close to some steps leading to an altar. I did not think Azura meant to harm me, but nobody except those I chose was allowed in.

At the bottom of the steps, Azura spoke with a voice that seemed to surround us. It was not loud, but it was impossible to ignore.

• Azura: Rigmor, my child, come closer and place your hands on the altar so I can join with you and touch your soul.
• Rigmor: Wulf?
• Wulf: Wait there, and I shall make sure it is safe.

I climbed the steps and checked the altar. I could not detect any dweomer upon it. I wondered why they trashed the place but left the altar intact.

I looked up and said, “We shall trust you, Lady Azura.”

I signalled for Rigmor to join me.

Rigmor tentatively climbed the steps and stood before the altar. I nodded, and she placed her hands upon it, then stood straight and terrified.

Rigmor drew a deep breath and looked up into Azura’s face. Then the lies started.

Azura said, “Yes, my wonderful, beautiful child. Daughter of Azura.”

“I… I don’t understand what…?”

“Ever since you were born, I have watched over you. I have influenced the destinies of many and entwined them to bring you here to this moment.”

“But why me? I didn’t ask for any of this! I’m scared.”

“Don’t cry, my child. Don’t be afraid. My Guardian has helped protect you well, but mortal danger awaits both of you at Diamond Ridge. The forces of darkness conspire to wreak havoc at the behest of a usurper. From Oblivion comes a new danger. One who seeks to reside in the world of mortals. The Entity has not shown itself yet! But it cannot enter this world until a new order exists.”

“But surely you have powers! What could I possibly do?”

“Oh Rigmor, pure of heart, you have something special. A power no lords or gods could ever hope to wish for. You are blessed with a mother’s love! Until now, I have used all my powers to thwart the forces of darkness and weaken their intentions. I have shielded you from harm, shrouded you in my robes and delivered you from the abyss. But now, my powers are weakening. I will eventually fade into The Void.”

“But why?”

“Dark arts are being used by necromancers to fuse Daedric steel with Black Diamonds. They are attempting to forge weapons and armour from these diamonds. The armour they forge will make them invincible. The diamonds allow a connection between my plane and yours.”

“Then everything will have been for nothing! How can we hope to stop an invincible army? There is a way, right? Is that why I am here?”

I am glad Rigmor did not look my way, for my amusement at the outrageous lies was tremendous, and I could not hide it. I hoped she did not notice it via Tirnileth.

Azura continued, “They are successfully forging armour, and every time they do, it weakens me in this world. But they cannot forge the weapons! Their efforts won’t work, and they are at a loss as to why.”

“So, there is still hope!”

“Only a Daedric weapon forged from my diamonds can void their invincibility. And it can only do so if the diamonds have something extraordinary: the essence of a mother’s love from two sources wrought from bane. One source to fuse it, one to wield it, and both must be blessed.”

“A mother’s love?”

“Place your mother’s ring, and the necklace Casius Varon gave you on the altar.”

Rigmor did as asked.

Then Azura said, “Now place your sword upon the altar.”

“Of course!”

What a load of bullshit! Azura was trying to manipulate Rigmor, but I decided to see how it played out and not interfere. I will prostrate myself before the altar if my katana can’t penetrate their ‘invincible’ armour and beg forgiveness for doubting.

The essence of a mother’s love? I almost burst out laughing at the absurdity. Love is intangible, not an object that can be refined or distilled. It is undoubtedly a powerful force, but only when directed by a living being.

A bright light enveloped the three objects.

Azura’s avatar appeared above the three objects and chanted,

• I am the Goddess, Azura, Mother of the Rose, Queen of the Night Sky, The Dusk and Dawn.
• Behold Rigmor of Bruma, Protector of the Pure of Heart, Daughter of a Mother’s Love.
• I am the Bane of Azura, the Poisoned Chalice of Woe, and Vanquisher of the Forces of Evil.
• Behold Rigmor of Bruma, Child of the Twilight, The Chosen Champion of Azura.

Azura finished her chant, and the light faded. A new two-handed sword lay upon the altar. I suspect it isn’t a fusion of the three donated items but a weapon already prepared by a mortal craftsman. Along its length were Daedric runes matching the chant just delivered. I placed my hand near it and could detect a relatively strong dweomer that caused fire damage. The dweomer was weaker than I could have placed on any sword.

Azura said, “Go, my child, quickly, and smite the Forces of Evil with my blessing. Only my Champion can wield Azura’s Bane. Make sure it never leaves your side. Go with my blessing and love, and may the Guardian watch over you.”

“Wait…do not go!”                          

“Your destiny awaits, my love. Your mother is waiting.”

“AZURA!”

I handed Rigmor Azura’s Bane, knowing full well I could wield it without harm, as there was no dweomer on it apart from the fire one.

The sword was well weighted, and I doubt I could hone it more. Its blade was as sharp as my katana’s.

Rigmor did a few sword forms, then sheathed it.

I said, “They are two impressive titles. Daughter of Azura and Champion of Azura!”

“Yeah, I would never have believed it.”

“Do you have any questions about what Azura said?”

“Just about all of it is confusing. Azura called you, her Guardian.”

“We need to talk about what Lady Azura said. However, I don’t think we should do so before her altar.”

“You think it is funny. I could feel your amusement growing, and now you have a huge grin.”

“I struggled not to laugh out loud, Rigmor. Let’s move.”

We moved to the back of Azura’s shrine. The evidence of the temple’s collapse under the statue was clear.

I summoned Vayu and his squad, then told them what Azura said before we discussed it.

• Vayu: What do you think, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Azura said nothing but lies!
• Vayu: For example?
• Rigmor: Azura called Wulf her Guardian.
• Wulf: Lady Azura had absolutely zero to do with us finding each other. I found you via ethereal travel because of our Entwined Souls. She did not send me to Skyrim, where I found you again. I was sent here at a particular time to combat Alduin by The Nine.
• Rigmor: Azura claimed to have influenced the destinies of many and entwined them to bring me there at that moment.
• Vayu: That is impossible, Rigmor. You cannot predict the outcome of a sequence of events so precisely. Lady Azura may know possible events through her seers. However, they are only possibilities. She may influence some people to do particular things to make a preferred possibility more likely, but she can’t guarantee the outcome.
• Wulf: The key word there is influence, not control or guarantee. Azura will learn about possible future events by gathering information from seers. She can plan for advantageous outcomes based on those possible future events by whispering the right things to the right people. Her influence on Tendril was to ask him to steal the ring and meet Baa’Ren-Dar or us in Windhelm. If Tendril could not or would not do those things, she would have tried to find somebody else who would.
• Rigmor: That is no different than the political games Baa’Ren-Dar has to engage in. He will say something, hoping to gain an advantage in a trade deal, but there is no guarantee.
• Wulf: The best way to think of it is a game of chess. You plan a sequence of moves, hoping the other player moves their pieces as predicted. If they don’t, your whole strategy may fail.
• Rigmor: I like that analogy.
• Vayu: The trouble starts when people think they must do as a god tells them. They forget they have free will or think a god can somehow punish them if they disobey.
• Rigmor: That is why Hermaeus Mora made a puppet out of that mage.
• Wulf: Exactly. Hermaeus Mora dislikes free will and will try to suppress it via domination. Lady Azura never does that.
• Rigmor: What about Azura’s claim that she has shielded me from harm and delivered me from the abyss?
• Wulf: Did Lady Azura stop your family from being torn apart? That harmed you.
• Rigmor: No.
• Wulf: Did she stop your father from being executed or you and Sigunn being enslaved?
• Rigmor: No.
• Wulf: Did Azura stop the lackeys from beating you because they couldn’t rape you?
• Rigmor: No.
• Wulf: What about the many whippings the Thalmor, or New Order, inflicted on you?
• Rigmor: She didn’t stop those.
• Wulf: Did she lie beside you and comfort you in that dark cell? Did Lady Azura share your pain during the whipping that would have killed you in front of Baa’Ren? Did she say to you, ‘Please, give them what they want. Scream out, beg for mercy. It will be a hollow victory for them. Surely you have something to live for?’
• Rigmor: No, you did those things and not because she sent you.
• Wulf: Baa’Ren rescued you. Angi healed you. Celestine, Rose and I healed you. None of that was done by Lady Azura or at her command!
• Vayu: Lie upon lie upon lie.
• Wulf: The gods who created Nirn and Mundus can’t see or influence the things Lady Azura claims she can.
• Rigmor: It was my will and the actions of Baa’Ren-Dar, Angi, Rose, Celestine and you that saved me, not Azura.
• Wulf: Correct. Baa’Ren-Dar was not forewarned of your predicament by any seer. He was at that embassy for political purposes, not because Azura asked or manipulated him.
• Rigmor: You warned me that Lady Azura would claim things she did not do or could not do.
• Wulf: Although I respect what she has done to protect Nirn, Lady Azura acted as predicted. However, unlike Hermaeus Mora, there was no malice in her lies.
• Rigmor: But why lie to me?
• Vayu: Because she is trying to manipulate you. She needs you to fight those who desecrated her shrine and are mining her diamonds.
• Rigmor: If she knows me as well as she claims, she would know I would help if asked.
• Wulf: I told you how Daedric Princes came to be. Lady Azura is simply following the instincts she inherited with the position.
• Vayu: In many ways, they are beholden to their inherited nature with very little leeway.
• Rigmor: Azura lied, but that is how she typically behaves, and it is not malice.
• Vayu: Exactly!
• Wulf: Some previous Champions of Azura have thwarted or helped thwart the plans of other Daedric Princes and megalomaniac mortals. It is a title to be proud of!
• Vayu: We are telling you these things so you know the truth, not to belittle Azura.
• Rigmor: How are you supposed to fight the enemies wearing the diamond-infused armour?
• Wulf: Unless the armour covers every inch of their bodies, they will not be invulnerable. We will have to find their weaknesses.
• Vayu: The armour will not protect them against Magicka unless combined with powerful dweomer.
• Wulf: I think the Black Diamonds will offer natural protection against Magicka. They are morpholiths and can serve many purposes. But they will not offer the level of protection the dweomer I place on our armour does.
• Vayu: There are probably a lot of uses for the Black Diamonds that The New Order have no considered.
• Rigmor: What about The Voice?
• Wulf: Nothing but natural resistance will protect them against my Thu’um. I also doubt the diamond-infused armour could stop my sword or any good-quality katana. Remember, The New Order wasted a lot of time and resources to replicate your father’s sword, which was nowhere near as powerful as our katana and kai-katana. This diamond-infused armour is another waste of The New Order’s resources.
• Rigmor: What about The Entity?
• Wulf: From the start, we said something was missing from The New Order’s plans. Now we know what that is. They are working for a powerful being. Maybe an immortal, or lich, or a god. That is what the plans of His Imperial Majesty have not considered. I doubt it is another Daedric Prince, as they tend to know each other’s plans.
• Vayu: Something else Lady Azura said makes no sense. The depletion of Black Diamonds may change her influence on Nirn, but there is no metaphysical reason it would send her to The Void.
• Rigmor: Okay. I am ready, my Guardian.
• Wulf: Oh, are you claiming me back from Azura? I love it when women fight over me.
• Rigmor: Ah, has that ever happened before, and if so, who?
• Wulf: I was being flippant, my dear beloved.
• Rigmor: Lucky I believe you.
• Vayu: That was a narrow escape.
• Wulf: Something remains unanswered. Azura claimed that ‘two sources wrought from bane’ were needed for the sword’s forging. The forging part was rubbish, but I don’t think the claim that the items were wrought from bane was. We know the sad story of Sigunn’s ring, but what about Casius’ mother’s necklace? I would like to know the story behind that.
• Rigmor: Hey, I didn’t think about that.
• Wulf: You were deep into gobbledegook when you said, ‘Of course!’ when placing things on the altar.
• Rigmor: Well, what Azura was saying kinda made sense.
• Vayu: That is one of the purposes of the mumbo jumbo, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: DUH!

Everybody was laughing as we headed for the cave that leads to the mine.

We reached the entrance to the cave after a short but steep walk.

• Wulf: We don’t know what to expect in the mines. There may be enslaved people mixed up with overseers and even New Order troops. That will require careful melee combat and no use of The Thu’um or area-of-effect spells.
• Omoi: Do we expect much opposition?
• Wulf: Yes. I expect far more New Order troops than were at the harbour or Fort Black.
• Rigmor: What if we encounter Aedriath?
• Wulf: That is up to you, Rigmor. We will immediately attack and kill Aedriath unless you want us to give him a chance to surrender.
• Rigmor: I would like to say something to him. I want to convince him and myself that I no longer fear him.
• Wulf: Okay, if we get that chance, we will let him live until you tell us otherwise.
• Rigmor: Now I can’t stop thinking about Casius’ mother’s necklace. You hadn’t seen Black Diamonds before, so they must be rare.
• Wulf: Yes, and it was an obscure and rare book that mentioned them. However, other well-documented Azura artifacts are also morpholiths.
• Vayu: We now know that The New Order are in league with an entity from Oblivion. We must watch for information on this entity.
• Shouken: Otherwise, we won’t know how to deal with The Entity.
• Seiko: Champion of Azura is a prestigious title, Rigmor.
• Omoi: Remember, Rigmor, that Wulf said other people named Champion of Azura have helped defend Nirn.
• Vayu: I am sure we have some excellent books on them at the Safehouse and museum, ah, the Dragonborn Gallery.
• Wulf: Lady Azura has recognised something in you she values, Rigmor. Even if the way she recruited you is suspect, that recognition is valid and should give you courage and determination.
• Rigmor: It does, Wulf.
• Seiko: You give us courage and determination, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: Oh! Umm…
• Omoi: Seiko doesn’t realise it yet.
• Seiko: Realise what?
• Omoi: There are many songs and stories about the Ancient Tongues.
• Seiko: Yes. So what?
• Vayu: Although Wulf insists that all that helped him be given credit for Alduin’s downfall, that is not what bards and authors will always do.
• Omoi: Your name will be immortalised as a hero who faced Alduin! People will name their daughters after you!
• Rigmor: Haha, I bet you never thought about that!
• Wulf: There were a couple of other female heroes who fought beside me against Alduin.
• Vayu: Let me think. There was Celestine.
• Wulf: And Lydia.
• Vayu: And another whose name escapes me.
• Shouken: Was her name Rigmor?
• Wulf: Yeah, that is it. She will be immortalised as a hero who faced Alduin! People will name their daughters after her!
• Rigmor: Oh! Umm…
• Seiko: Let us hope there are no sentries close to the entrance. We have been noisy enough!
• Wulf: It is only fair we give them a chance to run away.
• Seiko: Haha.
• Rigmor: No, Seiko! Do not let Wulf think he is amusing. Otherwise, he will not stop with his terrible puns and jokes!

We entered, and not far in, a large bear stood guard over a natural bridge.

• Rigmor: Wulf, do you have Kyne’s Peace active?
• Wulf: Yes.
• Rigmor: Can you please deactivate it?
• Wulf: No, I will not.
• Rigmor: Why? Don’t you trust me when I say I know I can calm the bear?
• Wulf: Up to a point, Rigmor. Not enough to risk your life testing the theory.
• Vayu: If you are a Bear Friend, you should be able to reason with it. Even with Kyne’s Peace enabled, the bear might not move out of the way. It won’t understand Tamrielic, but it will respond to your body language and tone of voice.
• Wulf: And there is always the chance the bear is ensorceled, which overpowers Kyne’s Peace.
• Rigmor: Please let me talk to him!
• Wulf: You do not need my permission, Rigmor, but I shall kill the bear if it shows any aggression.
• Rigmor: Okay. But I think it will listen to me.

The bear watched Rigmor approach.

She stopped halfway and stood still. She posed no threat, and a brief staring contest ensued.

Then the bear growled, not one of warning but of greeting.

It then ran up to Rigmor and stopped inches from her.

In a calm voice, Rigmor said, “Hey there, we are your friends! Don’t be afraid.”

The bear replied with a snuffle, turned around, then strolled back to where it had been.

As Rigmor returned to us, the bear settled. It was no longer guarding the bridge.

As we pass the sleeping bear, I pointed to the remains of people who were not Bear Friends.

We then entered a larger cavern.

I told the group, “Heat Vision shows nothing but something dead on a lower level.”

The dead thing was an Elk.

We walked briskly and soon found ourselves entering another section of the mine.

I used Heat Vision, then announced, “Lots of spiders ahead.”

• Omoi: Pew!
• Rigmor: Wulf, I smelt the same pong in the mine near Fort Black.
• Wulf: You are right, Daughter of Azura.
• Rigmor: But I am not her daughter!
• Wulf: That title is metaphorical.
• Rigmor: Metaphorical?
• Wulf: Something that doesn’t exist but is referred to as if it does.
• Vayu: Lord Akatosh is Wulf’s celestial father, but he did not sire him. Azura is your celestial mother, but she did not birth you.
• Rigmor: It is kinda confusing.
• Seiko: Is it my imagination, or does darkness taint everything?
• Vayu: I can sense it as well. I think it is a form of dweomer that makes creatures hostile.
• Wulf: Correct, and it made spiders, rats, and skeevers swarm us in the mine near Fort Black.
• Vayu: Chain Lightning?
• Wulf: That was the easiest way to eliminate them when I couldn’t use my Thu’um. Now I will barbecue them with Dragonfire. It is a silent Shout.
• Rigmor: Except for the screams of agony from the cooked.
• Omoi: Roast Skeever sounds good. I am rather hungry.
• Seiko: I hope we find some Chaurus Eggs! I am also hungry.
• Vayu: Lucky for us, Chaurus like to live with Falmer and in Dwemer ruins. We are unlikely to encounter them here.

I roasted dozens of spiders of all sizes.

A bit further in, I said, “It seems Skeevers are next. There are trolls ahead as well.”

I kept eliminating spiders and Skeevers until we reached another door guarded by three trolls.

Dragonfire killed the trolls.

We stopped at the door the trolls were guarding. I used Heat Vision, then turned to the group.

• Wulf: There is a miner just past the doorway. Many more people are moving around further in. I would say half of them are miners.
• Rigmor: Please, everybody, be careful. A miner you accidentally kill might be my mum!
• Vayu: Wulf and the Dragonguard have done rescues like this before without harming the innocent. We outclass any guards they have, so we can take the time to plan their deaths with minimal risk to the miners.
• Wulf: Nobody is near the first miner, so we might have a chance to gather some information if we are quiet.

When we entered, the sole miner stopped working and turned to us.

He looked at our armour and weapons, then asked, “Are you here to rescue us?”

“We are looking for a Nord woman from Bruma and believe she is enslaved here. Have you seen her?”

“Do you mean Sigunn?”

Rigmor gasped. I reached over and held her hand. I wasn’t sure what the answer to my next question would be.

I said to the miner, “Yes, that is her. Can you tell me if she is okay and, if so, where she is?”

“Sigunn was very healthy when some Thalmor visited and made the Enslaver Foreman take her away two days ago. She is most likely in the fort above the mines or, less likely, the dungeons.”

“It is good news that she was healthy. How do we get to the fort?”

“You will have to go through The Forge. That leads to the dungeons. The dungeons lead to the fort. The Thalmor hardly ever come down here. No mixing with the inferior races! Sigunn must be important for them to offend their delicate noses.”

“Sigunn is very important. This young lady is her daughter.”

The miner looked at Rigmor and asked, “Are you Rigmor?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Sigunn talks about you all the time. Be warned, Rigmor, black arts are being done in this place. The route to The Forge is heavily guarded.”

I replied, “We must destroy The Forge and stop them from using the diamonds you are mining. It may cause explosions and cave-ins. Therefore, if you want to escape, you had better clear out of here before we do that. How many of you are there?”

“There are not many of us left. Most have been worked to death.”

“This is an evil place, and we gladly help you. We have cleared out all the trolls, spiders, rats, etc. Please don’t hurt the bear on the way out! When you see the bear, you are almost free. When you exit, head for the Shrine of Azura. Not far from the shrine is a Khajiiti town called Two Moons. You should hear the blacksmith, and any high vantage point will let you see it. Go to Two Moons and tell them Lord Welkynd sent you. They will keep you safe, heal you and feed you. From there, we will arrange travel to your homes.”

Rigmor asked the miner, “What is your name?”

“Eleger Oakenpool.”

“I was enslaved by these people, Eleger, and returned to a normal life, minus Mum. So, keep hold of your hopes and dreams and do not let the memories of these arseholes stop you enjoying life.”

“Sigunn has been an inspiration to us all with her positive attitude and empathy. I can see her in you, Rigmor.”

I told the group, “I will eliminate the guards alone. That offers the best chance of doing it without alerting them. I will then summon you when all guards are eliminated.”

No one objected to my plan; it was the most logical.

I told the miner, “Eleger, when my friends vanish, you will know every guard in this place is dead. Gather the enslaved and lead them to Two Moons.”

He nodded, and I cast Shroudwalk.

I was going to kill without the enemy knowing I was there. I was breaking my own rules of engagement, but the risk to miners was too high otherwise.

It was easy. If guards were clumped together, an arrow from out of nowhere would thump into one of them. Confusion and panic would soon follow as other arrows dispatched more people.

Every death was added to my memory. I would remember them as people who stood no chance. It could be considered murder.

Of course, my mind tried to justify it with logic. As I have said before, my darkness ignores logic.

The enslaved saw guards drop dead with arrows sticking out of them. But they were so conditioned that they kept working when they could have run. I hope Eleger can convince them to escape.

I killed dozens before encountering the first signs of Dwemer ruins. Perhaps Seiko might find some Chaurus Eggs after all.

I reached a door, decided all guards were eliminated, and summoned the group. I didn’t spend time talking to Rigmor before, as I needed to eliminate all the guards as quickly as possible. Now I spent the time.

• Wulf: Rigmor, Sigunn was alive and healthy two days ago!
• Rigmor: Thanks for asking the hard questions, Wulf. I don’t think I could have.
• Seiko: Are you afraid, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: Yes. It is good to know Mum was alive, but why would they move her?
• Wulf: She is the sugar.
• Rigmor: Oh, and we are the flies!
• Vayu: Buzz. Buzz.
• Rigmor: Once more, they are ahead of us. How?
• Vayu: Who did Azura say the real enemy is?
• Rigmor: A usurper from Oblivion that she called The Entity.
• Wulf: The Entity could be another Daedric Prince, demigod, Lich or one of the myriad other powerful beings such as a mortal necromancer.
• Vayu: The Entity would be unlikely to be powerful enough to give Aedriath information allowing him to prepare for your next move.
• Wulf: Most likely, Aedriath may have figured it out himself. On the slavers’ list, what was unique about Sigunn’s entry, Rigmor?
• Rigmor: She was the only one whose surname wasn’t listed.
• Wulf: Even the name Fjonasson scares the crap out of them!
• Seiko: This Aedriath knows that Sigunn is your mother. He probably arranged for her to be moved to this mine.
• Rigmor: Yes, he is very clever, according to Baa’Ren-Dar.
• Wulf: Okay, let us continue. I think we are entering Dwemer ruins, so wake me if I fall asleep.
• Seiko: Chaurus Eggs!
• Omoi: You are obsessed, Seiko.
• Shouken: Imagine if you had a decent serving of Lydia’s Apple Cabbage Stew followed by Chaurus Eggs!
• Omoi: We could melt Aetheron’s marble with our farts!
• Shouken: We should add Kharjo’s Spicy Elsweyr Chowder to the mix.
• Vayu: That mixture is likely to cause your internals to liquefy, leaving an empty skin and bulging eyes behind.
• Seiko: If the combination doesn’t kill you and you make a mess, Wujeeta would end your life. No Swordmaster can defeat the Broom Master!

The banter made Rigmor smile despite the building anxiety I detected via Tirnileth.

We encountered more Dwemer architecture.

• Wulf: I had no idea The Forge was inside Dwemer ruins.
• Vayu: It makes sense if the smelting and forging require superior kilns.
• Rigmor: Does that mean there will be no more miners?
• Seiko: I think we will encounter only enemies from this point forward.
• Wulf: I am free to use The Voice, and we can speed up our progress.
• Rigmor: Good! My new sword has an appointment with Aedriath’s rear end, and doesn’t want to be late!
• Omoi: That is a very long sword. Only half of it would fit before the point comes out of Aedriath’s head.
• Rigmor: I don’t care as long as he screams while Azura’s Bane makes it that far.

Using Heat Vision and our stealth, it was easy to find, sneak up on and kill the guards.

We came to a long corridor, and I said, “Dragonfire is boring. Watch the idiots run towards the deadly archer!”

Four arrows later, four guards lay dead. The last had crouched and begged for mercy. I was not in the mood to give it.

We walked up to the door at the end of the corridor.

I told the group, “I think we are near The Forge. There are many guards beyond that door.”

Rigmor whispered, “Quiet, I think somebody is trying to sneak up behind us!”

We waited and listened, and then Rigmor laughed and said, “I recognise Baa’Ren’s voice. Let’s go greet him!”

I cautioned, “Wait for them to get closer.”

• Baa’Ren: The Dragonborn is now using Dragonfire.
• Casius: It has not been a challenging trail to follow.
• Yngol: Yeah, we follow the bodies.
• Casius: The fleeing miners said somebody invisible killed every guard with a bow. Their leader said Wulf asked the Dragonguard to wait.
• Baa’Ren: The Dragonborn did not want to fight a melee where innocent ones may get hurt.
• Casius: And then we followed charred bodies. Most of them were still seated!
• Yngol: That has to be the Dragonborn, as he did that when we cleared the bandits.
• Casius: He killed over thirty in minutes when we cleared the fort. I have never seen somebody move so fast or kill so quickly.
• Yngol: It makes you proud when you hear of Rigmor’s kills.
• Casius: She fought against Alduin!
• Yngol: A true Nord. But it is hard to believe such a small woman can wield a greatsword effectively. We have many greatsword Swordmaidens, but they are muscled and much taller than Rigmor.
• Baa’Ren: Dragonborn says Rigmor is the best exponent of the greatsword he has ever seen.
• Casius: Baa’Ren, you said you know the mage with them.
• Baa’Ren: From the description of the enslaved miners, Khajiit thinks it is Vayu, a large Redguard. His wife, Celestine, is the mage who helped keep Rigmor alive after her grave injuries. She was responsible for many enemy deaths during The Great War and should have been a hero like many Blades. Instead, she had to flee and hide from the Thalmor.
• Yngol: There were a few feathered bodies. Somebody is handy with the bow.
• Baa’Ren-Dar: Khajiit suspects all Dragonguard are good with the bow, as are all intelligent people.
• Yngol: All milk-drinkers, you mean.
• Baa’Ren: That one can stand a hundred yards away and attack, yelling all the Berserker war cries. Khajiit will be the one to walk away and drink more milk. You may drink some mead, but it will pour out all the holes Khajiit made.
• Casius: He has you there, Yngol!

I nodded at Rigmor, who pelted down the corridor and crushed Baa’Ren’s ribs in a bear hug.

The rest of us approached, and I declared, “You are noisy enough to wake the dead!”

Rigmor released the relieved Khajiiti. I wonder if they turn blue under their fur?

• Baa’Ren: This one is pleased to see his child, but he also likes to breathe!
• Rigmor: Oh, sorry.
• Wulf: Did Azura send you?
• Baa’Ren: Yes. Khajiit visited Azura’s shrine near Winterhold, and she asked this one to gather help. This one brought only people Khajiit could trust.
• Wulf: It would have taken some time to get here. Did you reveal secrets to these two?
• Baa’Ren: Yes, as necessity meant secrets needed to be revealed. Wealth buys many valuable items and attracts their sellers. Khajiit carries many Waystones to places in Tamriel, but not all return to their point of origin when removed. Khajiit must plan trips carefully to minimise travelling on foot.
• Yngol: I met with Ulfric, and he has agreed to the truce. Negotiations are underway concerning the next phase.
• Rigmor: How did Baa’Ren contact you?
• Yngol: In the middle of a city where they are banned, on the steps of The Palace of Kings, an elderly Khajiiti walked up to me without hesitation. He introduced himself as Emissary Baa’Ren-Dar. It didn’t take much convincing for me to help Rigmor. He asked me to place my hand on his shoulder. I did so, and without warning, I was in pitch-black and freezing, and a second or so later, in the middle of Solitude, surrounded by Legionnaires!
• Rigmor: Oh, my! What happened then?
• Yngol: I thought I had been tricked. I was reaching for my hammer when Baa’Ren-Dar and Casius started laughing. A few of the Legionnaires welcomed me, and then they all walked away while these two bastards continued to laugh.
• Rigmor: And how did Baa’Ren contact you, Casius?
• Casius: Baa’Ren accosted me when I left my meeting with General Tullius. He was chatting with First Emissary Elenwen near the entrance to Castle Dour.
• Baa’Ren: Elenwen was travelling to discuss our mutual enemy with General Tullius when Khajiit accosted her. Sometimes diplomacy is difficult, for Khajiit would like to scratch her eyes out!
• Casius: After Baa’Ren introduced himself and explained the situation, I agreed to accompany him, and we concocted the plan to get Yngol. It was too good a chance to miss, and his surprised expression will remain a fond memory forever.
• Yngol: It might take me years, but I will have revenge.
• Baa’Ren: From Solitude, we travelled to Karthwasten using a Waystone, then hurried on foot. This one was surprised and saddened to find the destroyed Azura shrine.
• Rigmor: Wulf said from the start that there was more to The New Order’s plans.
• Baa’Ren: Dragonborn has found the missing pea?
• Rigmor: Pea?
• Wulf: The pea that is never under the shell you pick.
• Seiko: Oh, I get the metaphor.
• Casius: Yes, I see. That is entirely appropriate.
• Vayu: The three-shells and pea game, Rigmor. You must have seen it at carnivals or inside a tavern.
• Wulf: Rigmor has most likely seen it in many taverns. A great many taverns, most likely.
• Rigmor: Careful, Wulf!
• Wulf: Yes, Milady.
• Yngol: It looks like we are too late to save Wulf.
• Rigmor: I understand the pea reference now. Wulf, tell them what Azura said and what the plan is.
• Wulf: We are heading for The Forge. That leads to the dungeons and a fort. Sigunn is either in the dungeons or the fort.
• Rigmor: Mum has been there for two days. We think she is the bait and that The New Order expects us.
• Baa’Ren: This one warned Dragonborn that Aedriath is a master of subterfuge.
• Wulf: The New Order is working with a being from Oblivion. Lady Azura does not know its identity. She calls it The Entity.
• Rigmor: Azura told us The Entity, what she referred to as a usurper, was trying to manifest on Nirn. She said the entity couldn’t manifest unless The New Order succeeds.
• Wulf: Usurpers are universally hated. Well, mostly.
• Rigmor: Wulf!
• Wulf: I think The Entity will be able to manifest even if The New Order invasion fails. However, it will need an army to survive, no matter what kind of being it is.
• Baa’Ren: You spoke to Azura, my child?
• Rigmor: Yes, and she named me Champion of Azura.
• Wulf: And Lady Azura claimed Rigmor as her daughter. Unofficially adopted, you might say.
• Yngol: Rigmor, that sword you carry, is that from her?
• Rigmor: Yes. It was made from my father’s sword, my mother’s ring, and Casius’ mother’s necklace. Only I can wield it.
• Wulf: Casius, Lady Azura hinted there is a sad story behind your mother’s necklace.
• Casius: There is, but now is not the time to discuss it.
• Yngol: It takes Casius hours to discuss anything. It is a wonder he ever issues orders.
• Rigmor: This mine harvests Black Diamonds. They allow Azura to communicate with her seers and disciples on Nirn.
• Wulf: As I said earlier, they do more than that.
• Rigmor: Quiet, I want to ask Casius something.
• Wulf: Yes, Milady. Forgive this humble peasant.
• Casius: Oh, he is a lost cause!
• Rigmor: Casius, when you handed me your mother’s necklace, you said that I would know what to do with it when the time came. Why did you say that?
• Casius: I dimly remember saying it. But I do not know why. I did intend to give you the necklace, but not say those words.
• Rigmor: Wulf?
• Wulf: The Black Diamonds are used for more than communicating with seers and devotees. They are a form of morpholith. To simplify, Black Diamonds contain Azuran liminal power: the ability to reinforce, weaken, bridge, or manipulate metaphysical boundaries.
• Vayu: That makes sense.
• Rigmor: The blanks look, and dribbling should tell you that most of us have no idea what you just said.
• Wulf: I am sure Vayu and other mages will sit and discuss the Black Diamonds and what they can do, but for now, that is unimportant.
• Rigmor: The New Order is using Black Diamonds to create armour supposedly impervious to mortal weapons.
• Wulf: However, unprotected flesh is still vulnerable. I also bet a Sweetroll that the katana and dai-katana we brought from Akavir slice through it with ease.
• Yngol: My hammer is not a precise weapon. I will keep hitting them till they stop moving.
• Baa’Ren: The fancy armour will have exposed areas. Another advantage of a good Khajiiti bow!
• Rigmor: Your name is Storm-Blade, so why do you use a hammer?
• Casius: He was a foundling. The Cave Trolls are still looking for their lost child.
• Wulf: We will not worry about all this god and Oblivion stuff till later. We must concentrate on two things. The highest priority is retrieving Sigunn and getting her out of here safely.
• Rigmor: The second is the destruction of The Forge.
• Wulf: The Forge must have a strong dweomer on it to allow the smelting of the Black Diamonds. I don’t know how much energy it would release if it is destroyed.
• Baa’Ren: We get Sigunn to safety first. Then destroy The Forge.
• Yngol: What about that Aedriath scumsucker?
• Wulf: If we don’t encounter and eliminate him while doing the first two tasks, Rigmor and I will find and eliminate him.
• Rigmor: If we see him, he is not to die till I say so!
• Wulf: There is a fort above The Forge and dungeons, and he is probably in there with the specially equipped troops and may not come out to play.
• Casius: Is it wise for just the two of you to hunt him down?
• Rigmor: I MUST KILL HIM!
• Wulf: He must die for what he has done to Rigmor. It is best if she makes the killing. If you don’t know what Rigmor suffered at that bastard’s hands, ask Baa’Ren.
• Vayu: Wulf can summon more Dragonguard who would arrive in seconds. He can also summon other help, including the avatar of Lord Shor.
• Yngol: Lord Shor would fight beside you?
• Wulf: His avatar, yes. I am the Dragonborn of legend. An army could not stop me. A bunch of rebel Thalmor in fancy armour is not going to be a challenge.
• Rigmor: I will never feel safe until he is dead!
• Wulf: Tilar has managed to hide the real purpose of The New Order till now. So, as Baa’Ren keeps saying, he is a master of subterfuge.
• Casius: What if Sigunn is ill or injured? What are the Dragonguard going to be doing?
• Wulf: Vayu is a Master Mage in many magic schools, including Restoration. If Sigunn needs healing, Vayu or I can do it. If specialised healing is needed, we can summon Celestine. She is the best Restoration Mage I have ever encountered.
• Vayu: Even if we find Sigunn relatively healthy, four years of enslavement will not have been good for her health. It would be wise for Celestine to monitor Sigunn for some time.
• Wulf: So, in answer to your questions, Casius, the Dragonguard will protect you while you evacuate Sigunn. Mages will provide healing if required.
• Casius: Okay.
• Yngol: What would be the purpose of allowing The Entity into Nirn?
• Wulf: Any answer would be pure speculation, as we do not know who or what The Entity is.
• Rigmor: As Wulf said, let us concentrate on those first two tasks.
• Wulf: The Forge is beyond some Dwemer doors at the end of this corridor. Let’s go.
• Rigmor: Don’t go running in front of my Dragonborn! You saw what his Thu’um does.
• Wulf: I will try to get ahead of you all so I can use Shouts freely. Plenty of scumsuckers will be left behind to keep you busy. There are many waiting beyond that door.
• Yngol: How do you know there are enemies behind that door?
• Rigmor: Wulf is part dragon and can see people’s body heat. Duh!
• Yngol: Yeah, of course.
• Casius: Don’t worry, Yngol. I shake my head at some of these things as well.
• Wulf: The other Dragonguard with us today are Omoi, Shouken and Seiko. They are Akaviri, like the invaders long ago. Seiko fought beside me against Alduin on the mountain and in Sovngarde.
• Vayu: Like most of the Dragonguard, they have fought beside Wulf in many battles.
• Seiko: You look even more worried, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: What does Tirlineth tell you, Dragonbum?
• Wulf: You are more anxious than worried.
• Rigmor: I am very anxious and worried. It would be good if everybody kept up the banter and humour. It helps.
• Yngol: What is Tirlineth?
• Wulf: Explaining that would take so long that even Casius would get bored.
• Casius: Hey!

We reached the door and I said, “Okay, weapons ready. Remember, stay behind me at first. Wait until I am using my katana to engage the enemy.”

Dwemer doors make a lot of noise when they unlatch and squeak open. Still, the bandits, guards, whatever you want to call them, took no notice as it opened.

Dragonfire killed a dozen, and I lopped the heads off another four.

Yngol grumbled, ‘Wait until I am using my skinny sword before fighting. Oh, sorry, did I kill them all?”

Baa’Ren replied, “Khajiit’s arrows are sticking out of some of them. Maybe Dragonborn has a bow that one can borrow?”

Further along, I told the group, “There is another bunch of them not far ahead. They are also sitting around, waiting to get roasted.”

It became routine. Well, for myself and the Dragonguard it was. We would surprise the enemy and dispatch them without pausing. Yngol and Casius were trying to reconcile what they witnessed.

I killed the majority of the enemy, but occasionally a corpse showed Rigmor’s handiwork.

• Wulf: I see Azura’s Bane is good for dissecting necromancers.
• Rigmor: He was taller than me, so I shortened him a little.
• Baa’Ren: What happened to the little girl I once knew?
• Rigmor: You hired the Swordmasters knowing full well what I was learning, Baa’Ren.
• Baa’Ren: That was theoretical. Khajiit never thought to see it in practice.
• Rigmor: Dad knew that skills with the sword were needed, even when I was a little girl, not the teenager you rescued, Baa’Ren.
• Casius: Do you think Ragnar knew he was going to be betrayed?
• Rigmor: No, Casius. If Dad had any idea, we would have moved somewhere else. Bruma should have been a safe place for our family. He taught me the sword in case something happened to him. An accident or disease. Not betrayal.
• Wulf: I will get Ragnar exonerated, Rigmor. It will not repair what has been done to your family, but it will correct the record and place him where he should be: a hero of the Empire.

Necromancers and their Skeleton Warriors were dispatched as quickly as all the others.

When we reached the forge, no enslaved people remained. Therefore, we charged in and attacked with everything we had.

The dead lay around us.

• Yngol: Wulf, Baa’Ren said you and several dozen Dragonguard fought many battles in Akavir.
• Wulf: The Tsaesci are trying hard to eliminate or enslave all other species on Akavir. If they succeed, then Tamriel will be in grave danger. But we fought for any repressed people, no matter their race. In large-scale battles, the Dragonguard proved the deciding factor. However, we also conducted far more fort infiltrations, as we do here.
• Casius: It is incredible how effective The Voice is!
• Wulf: You have seen me use one Shout. I know dozens. As I hinted before, I could destroy an army.
• Vayu: Wulf is not exaggerating. If soldiers were arrayed in formation facing him, they would die.
• Wulf: I never used The Voice till a couple of weeks ago. We had hoped to keep my identity a secret till Alduin appeared. Unfortunately, he already knew I was waiting for him.
• Yngol: Are all the Dragonguard as skilled in combat as you?
• Wulf: Most of them are close. A line of Swordmasters equipped with katanas is an unstoppable force in enclosed spaces.
• Baa’Ren: The Nine speak to Dragonborn.
• Yngol: Which ones?
• Wulf: I speak to Lord Talos quite often. I have a place in Aetherius where we meet, but sometimes his avatar will visit me on Nirn. Rigmor has spoken to Talos, Mara and Kynareth, as well as Azura and Hermaeus Mora.
• Rigmor. Wulf is Champion of The Divines, so them speaking to him should not surprise anybody. Let us keep moving.

Rigmor knew the subject might turn to Ulfric’s claims about Talos worship. I wasn’t ready to tell Ulfric what I really thought of his traitorous leader. No doubt, he understood my barb about usurpers.

I found a journal on an enchanting table and read it to the group.

“Journal of Jonte Malesam, Seer and Mage to Tilar Aedriath.

We had heard rumours of the fortifying properties of Black Diamonds, but this vein’s existence wasn’t proven until recently. These very rare gemstones are apparently in abundance here at Diamond Ridge.

General Aedriath ordered the Shrine of Azura to be destroyed to ward off disciples and tourists. Still, a more sinister, more profound reason drives the shrine’s desecration and the death of the resident devotees.

The Forge should be able to pick up where production left off after the failure of Joror to mass-produce Daedric and steel armour and weapons.

However, one thing still escapes us: the weapons. The armour we can make, although we haven’t refined it enough for complete invincibility yet. Twelve units have already been produced and delivered to General Aedriath’s personal guard at Fort High Rock. It is extremely tough, so we are on the right track.

But the weapons? Something is missing and eluding us, and if we are to pull off this imminent invasion and take on Mede’s army, we need them.”

I asked Rigmor, “What does this journal prove?”

“That Lady Azura was misleading me, or she did not know the truth.”

“I think the latter. Lady Azura thought they had perfected the armour, but according to this mage, that is not the case. You must remember gods are not omnipotent on Nirn, even if they act that way. In their realms, they are. Very rarely does any god, The Nine or otherwise, speak to me with absolute certainty.”

The next set of doors were not Dwemer.

I told the group, “This is strange. We are going from Dwemer ruins into Nordic ruins. They rarely interconnect.”

We stepped through the door, and the grinding of bones could be heard.

I whispered to the group, “There are live people to the right. Skeletons to the left.”

We eliminated both groups and continued.

We cleared a couple of more rooms before we reached the cells.

• Rigmor: I can smell something familiar. Have we reached the cells?
• Wulf: Yes. Several guards are sitting down. One person is lying down. I guess that is a prisoner, since they are far to the right of the others.
• Rigmor: Mum?
• Wulf: It is impossible to tell. We must eliminate the guards quickly. They may have orders to kill Sigunn if we get close. The person in the cell is far enough back that Dragonfire will not harm them.
• Baa’Ren: Khajiit is sad that Rigmor still recognises that stench.

I smashed open the door and killed everybody in front of me with Dragonfire.

I retrieved some keys from a turncoat.

As we walked towards the occupied cell, I said, “Stay back, Rigmor. Let me look first, okay.”

“Okay.”

Baa’Ren held Rigmor’s hand tight as I walked to the cell. A woman lay on a crude straw bed. She was unmistakably Sigunn. We had found Rigmor’s mother.

I unlocked the cell door and approached.

Sigunn looked remarkably healthy.

I whispered, “Sigunn, I am here with your daughter.”

I called out, “Rigmor, your mother is okay.”

I helped Sigunn stand, then moved behind Rigmor and watched their reunion.

Within arm’s reach, Sigunn stood and stared at her daughter.

Then Sigunn asked, “Rigmor? Is this a dream?”

Rigmor’s composure finally crumbled, and she cried, “No, Mum, it is not a dream. I am here. I am real.”

Mother and daughter collided and hugged as I watched with tears streaming.

The hug ended, and they stood apart. The pair stared at each other, and Sigunn touched Rigmor’s face. I am sure she was checking that Rigmor was real.

Rigmor said, “I thought I would never see you again!”

Sigunn replied, “Oh Rigmor, my dear child, my little girl, what have they done to you?”

The killing was finished, and Sigunn was found. So, Baa’Ren-Dar resorted to his sensible, practical self.

• Baa’Ren: Dragonborn, we must move on quickly before The New Order have time to regroup.
• Wulf: Okay, you all must escort Sigunn to safety. Rigmor and I have unfinished business.
• Vayu: I am a physician, Sigunn. I will check your health once we are away from here.
• Casius: After taking Sigunn to safety, Yngol and I will collapse the mine and rejoin you.
• Yngol: I had a quick look, and I think a few well-placed strikes with my hammer to the pillars will do it. The whole rotten edifice will come crashing down.
• Wulf: I remind you that a lot of energy may be dispelled when The Forge is destroyed. Be careful!
• Rigmor: Mum, I need you to go with my friends. Wulf and I must stop the people who did this to our family.
• Sigunn: Please come with us, Rigmor. I don’t want to lose you all over again.
• Rigmor: I am sorry, but we have to do this. Baa’Ren-Dar and the others will take care of you until I return.

I moved closer, and Sigunn turned to me.

She asked, “Are you, Wulf?”

“Yes, Sigunn.”

“Wulf, please bring her back to me. Look after her and be careful.”

“Be assured, Sigunn, I will try my hardest to return Rigmor to you again.”

Rigmor had sought this reunion for four years but stood firm as she watched her mother leave.

Vayu and his squad followed close behind.

As they disappeared, I said to Rigmor, “I could tell she was your mother, as the resemblance is strong. Sigunn looked unharmed and healthy. No physical scars, well-fed and even muscle-toned! I can see where a certain somebody gets their determination from.”

“You mean my stubbornness.”

“Yes. That is what kept you from The Void, not Lady Azura.”

“For a god that you don’t dislike, you are a bit harsh.”

“I am just as critical with The Nine. I expect certain standards from mortals and gods. But enough about them.”

“Knowing Mum, she would have worked hard at whatever tasks they gave her. There would have been no need for punishment or withholding of rations, and the work kept her fit.”

“I think these mines were different. I am glad we rescued all the enslaved.”

“How many did you add to your list, Wulf?”

“Quite a few.”

“What next?”

“Let’s shove Azura’s Bane up Tilar Aedriath’s arse!”

Rigmor smiled, then said, “That is the most romantic thing you have ever said.”

I turned to the exit and told Rigmor, “I can hear more Skeletal Warriors. I expected something tougher.”

“He is probably surrounded by the ones wearing Black Diamond Armour.”

“I wonder if he will stand and fight or order others to die for him?”

“If he looks like he’s running, kill him.”

“What about the sword up the arse plan?”

“Seeing his corpse is more important than how he became one.”

I unlocked the door, then quickly eliminated the Skeletal Warriors and a necromancer.

We climbed a set of stairs.

Then I eliminated more Skeletal Warriors.

We heard Tilar issuing orders in the next room.

“Wulf, I’m scared!”

I hoped Rigmor could not sense my dread. We had to finish what we had started. I did not want Rigmor to worry about Tilar Aedriath after today.

I told her sincerely, “It is okay to be scared. It is our body telling us, ‘Don’t be so stupid!’”

“I’m sorry!”

“Sorry for what? For being afraid of the wild animal that mauled you? That is what Tilar Aedriath is. He is a rabid animal that we will put out of its misery!”

“I suppose I am ready to face him.”

“We have waltzed through everything thrown at us because we have stuck together. Nothing will be worse beyond the next door than what we have already overcome.”

“Well, we are about to find out, right?”

“I have no stupid jokes to lighten the mood. I am just glad I could help you and Sigunn.”

“I meant what I said at the lookout, Wulf. I am not going to leave you, ever! Whatever crap The Divines need you to do, I will be with you or waiting for you.”

“Are you ready, my beloved?”

“I still want to tell him how he no longer frightens me!”

“Okay, I will not kill him instantly. But we will kill him.”

“Then, my weirdo, beautiful Dragonbum. Let’s go kick the arsehole in the arsehole!”

“Yes, I can see all that proper noble lady training has been worth it.”

I was rewarded with a laugh.

We entered the room and walked casually towards Tilar. But it wasn’t him; it was a projection.

We stopped about eight feet in front of Black Diamond Armour wearing Elite Guards. Their necks were exposed, so I might not have to test my katana against their armour. We drew our swords.

• Aedriath: You have a nasty habit of turning up where you are not wanted, Rigmor!
• Wulf: You have a nasty habit of running away and letting your men die for no reason. Do these pretty guards know how bravely you fought last time we met?
• Aedriath: I am glad you brought your pathetic Guardian to witness your final doom.
• Wulf: Your guards must be asking themselves why, if I am so pathetic, are you using a projection? Could it be you know the power that I, Lord Wulf Welkynd, the Dragonborn, wield?
• Aedriath: Don’t worry! Soon I will have your head placed on a spike next to Rigmor’s.
• Rigmor: Wulf has killed thousands in combat. He defeated Alduin, the World Eater.
• Wulf: Rigmor killed every Thalmor in the Bruma Embassy. Together, we killed every guard and New Order troop at Fort Black. We marched through the tunnels to retrieve the slavers’ list.
• Rigmor: We just killed hundreds of your guards and troops without sustaining a scratch. Now these six are supposed to stop us?
• Wulf: They are not good odds, Tilar.
• Rigmor: Did you think you would get away with it? You and your criminal organisation. The lives you have torn apart! And for what? Your plans are undone, and your crimes are exposed. You will never be able to establish your New Order now.
• Aedriath: Oh, you will see! There will be a New Order, and we will rule and take our rightful place above the lesser beings. Who will believe the word of a washed-up Khajiit emissary anyway?
• Wulf: Let’s see. So far, it is Emperor Titus Mede II, the Elder Council, the Dominion Council and Thalmor, the real ones, not your fake lot, Ulfric Stormcloak and General Tullius, the Kings and Queens of High Rock and the leaders of both Anequina and Pelletine. It seems everybody believes one of the most respected emissaries on Nirn.
• Rigmor: You forgot First Emissary Elenwen.
• Wulf: She is included in the Dominion and Thalmor.
• Rigmor: Oh, of course. How silly of me.
• Aedriath: Too bad you won’t live to see how wrong you are. I have no idea what that pathetic sword of yours is or Rigmor’s Daedric toothpick. Whatever they are, they are no match for my men in this armour.
• Wulf: My sword is infinitely sharper than Ragnar’s, and how much effort did you put into reproducing that? Your men carry no shields, don’t wear full-face helms and have no gorget. I will kill all six in less than ten seconds.
• Rigmor: Is that armour stronger than Alduin’s hide?
• Wulf: No. And it doesn’t protect against The Voice. Tell them about your sword, Rigmor.
• Rigmor: This sword is no toothpick, Tilar. Meet Azura’s Bane. Do you know what these Daedric runes say?
• Wulf: Aedriath might be brown-nosing a Daedra, but it doesn’t mean the moron can read Daedric runes.
• Rigmor: Then, I will enlighten him.

In a voice full of confidence and venom, Rigmor said,

“I am the Goddess Azura, Mother of the Rose, Queen of the Night Sky, The Dusk and Dawn.

Behold, Rigmor of Bruma. Protector of the Pure of Heart. Daughter of a Mother’s Love.

I am the Bane of Azura. The Poisoned Chalice of Woe. Vanquisher of the Forces of Evil.”

I used my Thu’um.

“BEHOLD, RIGMOR OF BRUMA. CHILD OF THE TWILIGHT. THE CHOSEN CHAMPION OF AZURA!”

The guards were startled. Rigmor grinned, then yelled, “I am Rigmor of Bruma, and you shall know thy bane. You shall know whence thy tears came. TALOS WILLS IT!”

I rushed the guards, and seconds later, their corpses surrounded me.

Rigmor didn’t get to see how well Azura’s Bane handled their fancy armour.

She said, “I got one good swing in before you killed them all!”

“Sorry, I just wanted to prove a point to Tilar. And they swarmed me. I can’t help it if I am popular.”

“So much for their invincible armour!”

“I didn’t have to test the strength of their armour. I cut their heads off or stabbed them in the face.”

“Go find the arsehole. I will stay here and look for useful information to pass on to Baa’Ren.”

“I don’t like leaving you alone, Rigmor.”

“You just cut these asses down in seconds. I will stay alert. But I am afraid again, Wulf. Bring him back here, but ensure he can’t spew vitriol from his foul mouth. It drags me back there, and he knows it.”

“His projection would only work from a room or two away. That is as far as I will go unless you accompany me.”

“I will be okay. Now off you go.”

“That journal said they made twelve sets of armour. There are still six Elite Guards somewhere.”

“Wulf!”

“Going.”

“Good.”

I searched several rooms as Rigmor looked on shelves and amongst the corpses.

At one point, I looked down on my beloved from a balcony to ensure she was okay.

She said, “I think I will stay over here. A couple of the elite guards pooped their pants.”

In a bedroom, on a desk, I discovered a letter and Aedriath’s journal.

I read the letter first. It was written in Aldmeris.

“To General Aedriath,

New Order of Alinor.

The Order is no longer prepared to wait for the mass production of special weapons and armour. We have revoked the contracts on the top-level targets, as two of them are too heavily guarded. We have decided to take a more direct and robust approach to our plans, and we must adhere to the time scale. The Entity is becoming restless, and we have continued manufacturing the portal gate, which is almost ready. The phases will proceed as planned to coincide with The Revelation and the unleashing. Soon we will take control of The Isle, and you will oversee the Northern Invasion Force. Mede will have to march North, and we will strike in the South simultaneously. We will then be free to march on the Imperial City and take back what is rightfully ours. It is a pity you couldn’t even dispose of one girl.

Long Live New Alinor! Long live The New Order!”

The journal was Aedriath’s. I knew it would be full of crap, and I wasn’t disappointed. These are the relevant entries.

“Journal of Tilar Aedriath.

This record is for Sharon, my loving wife.

The fools, how dare they question my loyalty. They sent me to Skyrim to deal with that annoying Nordling girl. If I had known how much trouble she would cause me, I would have ended her back in Haven when I had the chance. That meddling Khajiit will end his days at the point of my blade, I swear it.

I told them that work on secret weapons and armour was a waste of time, a fad, and a security risk, and we should invade the northern coast and burn Skyrim. But it’s them that falter, and they are the ones dragging their feet with inconsistency and doubt.

Is it my fault the assassins were incompetent and the bounty hunters useless fools? I think not, and The Order would do well to watch their poisonous tongues. This girl Rigmor has her father’s blood coursing through her veins. She also has the Dragonborn, whom she calls her Guardian. That was not part of the deal!

The Dragonborn protects her night and day and is a formidable foe worthy of respect. It will take something more tactful to thwart this cosy little situation.

I will show them! Like her father, I will catch the girl and bring her back to Alinor in chains, and I shall enjoy the adulation and relish the subsequent execution. With Skyrim in chains, The New Order throughout Tamriel, and the destruction of the memory of Talos, I shall return a hero! Yes, they will erect shrines to ME! I will also become a GOD!

I shall prostrate myself at the feet of the One True God. The Restoration shall be completed at my hand, not theirs and The Revelation shall become the future of the new Dominion.

Your loving Tilar.”

I barely had time to process the journal before Rigmor yelled, ‘WULF! HELP!”

I ran to the balcony but did not leap over it. That may have distracted Rigmor who was about to give a free greatsword lesson.

Three Elite Guards approached Rigmor. She had placed herself in the middle of the corpses so her enemies would have to be wary of their footing.

I recognised her stance and her grip.

The first opponent swung, and Rigmor stepped back, letting the sword miss her.

Then, with unbelievable speed, she drew her sword back, knelt and cut his head off. That was one down, two to go.

She ducked to avoid a sword, then a one-handed backhand slice killed a second opponent.

She elbowed the third opponent, which put him off balance as she stood.

He did not have time to recover before Azura’s Bane almost sliced him in half. His Black Diamond Armour offered no protection.

I leapt down and walked over to her. Rigmor shook the blood off Azura’s Bane, then sheathed it.

I told her, “Rigmor, these corpses do smell like shit, and your armour is covered in blood and gore.”

We moved away from the dead.

I was going to compliment Rigmor on her swordsmanship, but she asked, “Wulf, did you find Aedriath?”

“No, sorry.”

“Oh no! By the gods, no!”

Rigmor started to sob.

I let her cry for a bit, and then handed her a handkerchief.

Rigmor wiped away her tears and blew her nose into the handkerchief, then tucked it into her gauntlet.

Rigmor then said, “I am sorry, Wulf. I want to end the nightmare.”

“I understand, Rigmor. We shall get another chance at him. He can’t keep running forever, and it seems nothing will deter their invasion.”

“I know, Wulf. But I can’t make plans for the future if he is still around to haunt me.”

“We can make plans, my beloved, if Tilar Aedriath is still breathing or dead. We can sit together and draw plans for a farmstead.”

“With a veranda around the house.”

“Near a lake or river.”

“With plenty of room for our tribe of children.”

“A tribe? We can always add extensions to our simple farmhouse until it looks like a mansion.”

Rigmor laughed, but the shadow of fear soon masked her face.

She pleaded, “Wulf, promise me you will never let me go.”

“You know I can’t make that promise, my beloved.”

“Please, Wulf! Promise me!”

“I can’t promise, but I will try. I will not stop out of choice. I hope that is good enough.”

“That oath was good enough in that dark cell, my Guardian. It is good enough now.”

Before me was my other half. I could never be whole without Rigmor, and I loved her beyond words.

Rigmor laughed and said, “My dear, Wulf. I love you and will always love you.”

Before I could reply, something hit me on the right side of my neck. Was there a door I hadn’t checked? What a fool I had been!

I felt burning spread through my body. A crossbow bolt was protruding from my neck, and I guessed it was coated in poison.

I started to gurgle as my Dragon Blood threatened to drown me. Rigmor turned towards a noise.

I fell to my knees, and Rigmor screamed, “Wulf, no!”

I slowly fell onto my side and found myself staring at nothing interesting. I would have liked to have changed my view, but I couldn’t move. I was certain I had checked all the adjacent rooms. The enemy must have a hiding place close by.

I heard a voice. It must have been one of the remaining Elite Guards. The journal said that twelve sets of armour had been made. We killed nine. That left three of them.

The Elite Guard boasted, “I told you I could make a crossbow bolt out of one of those Black Diamonds!”

Another Elite Guard said, “Yeah, but it was my idea to use the Jarrin Root poison.”

The poison consists of Jarrin Root, a mortal’s heart and Blisterwort. Mother’s alchemy lessons let me know how I was to die, but how do I help Rigmor?

Darkness fell on me. I struggled against it, but it was so heavy. I knew it wasn’t just darkness. The Void beckoned me. I wouldn’t be there long before I found myself in Aetherius.

Tilar said, “Quickly, get the girl!”

Girl? Girl? There is no girl in here, but there is a woman. Rigmor Ragnarsdottier! My Rigmor, and the monster she feared has her once more.

“NO!”

That, that was Rigmor. I am her Guardian! But I couldn’t move. I must get up! I should be dead. Nobody survives Jarrin Root poisoning.

“You there. Good shot with that crossbow of yours. Now pick up that sword!”

“Wulf, help!”

I am coming to help you, Rigmor. Give me a second, and I will be right with you. Where will we go after I kill them all? Maybe the Lookout again? Or perhaps you can show me Torval?

There was a loud sound of Magicka discharging, then a string of curses.

Another guard said, “He will live, but I don’t think anybody can touch the sword.”

“Oh well, forget the sword and kill the Dragonborn. Hurry, fools!”

“No, please, leave him alone. You have me!”

Two swords plunged into me through my armpits. I was too far gone to scream in pain. I always wondered what it was like when I stabbed an enemy. Now I know! It is not very pleasant, but I suppose that was expected. Lopping off heads is far kinder.

“HELP ME!”

I can’t, my dear sweet Rigmor. I have let you down. Go on, say it. Say, ‘Guardian, yeah, right. Pfft!’ I deserve it.

“MERCY!”

No, no, no, no. That word from Rigmor’s lips. That can’t be the last word I hear from my beloved. No, no, no, NO!

There was a brief sense of displacement, and then I was in The Void.

A familiar voice said, “Son, listen to me carefully, as I don’t have long to explain.”

“Father? Are you taking me to Aetherius?”

“No, you must listen.”

“Okay.”

“The blessing we gave you, The Watchful Eye of The Nine, saved you from immediate death.”

“Stupid name.”

“Yes, you said the same when you were a child. Now listen!”

“Yes, Father.”

“The blessing saved you, but we cannot remove the poison. Your body must do that, and it takes time.”

“Piss it out?”

“Sweat it out.”

“That’s good. Not so embarrassing.”

“Another entity is expending its energy to keep part of your soul within your body. If that entity’s energy depletes, you die.”

“Lady Azura, for I fell where her power is strongest. Can’t you do something?”

“That entity has its hooks into part of your soul. We cannot remove them, as that would kill you.”

“So, what do I do, Father?”

“You fight, my son! Use your will. Combine it with the love you share with Rigmor. Find the desire to live and return to your body. Fight, Son, for all our sake. Fight for Rigmor. She needs you!”

“I will, Father. Will you tell Mother I miss her?”

“I wish I could, Son. I must leave now.”

I looked around. The Void is aptly named, but many souls floated in random directions and alignments. Intuitively, I knew I could see them because of my affinity for souls. It was more interesting than pitch black. I wondered how many different civilisations made up the numbers.

Some souls belonged to beings so strange they resembled nothing on Nirn.  Some belonged to bipedal beings but not of any species on Nirn.

I closed my eyes, which was strange since I was not corporeal in The Void. My Consciousness was responding to my desire to see no longer.

I needed to concentrate, summon my will, weave it with the power of the love I share with Rigmor, and find my way back to my body.

The problem was that the last word I heard on Nirn kept intruding, as if Rigmor kept screaming it into my ear.

“MERCY!”

I had no concept of time in The Void. I don’t know how long it took to master my emotions enough to do what I needed to do.

The Psijics taught me how to focus when surrounded by noise and chaos. Nobody taught me how to focus when the noise and chaos were in my mind. It insisted on replaying Rigmor’s cries. Each repetition generated guilt, fear, anger, and something foreign to me: helplessness.

I started to punctuate each repetition with fond memories of Rigmor. ‘Mercy!’ would be followed by Rigmor’s laughter or giggles and memories of her smiling or looking at me with love in her eyes.

I remembered how it felt to have her next to me as she slept. Her body heat and regular breathing were part of me.

The kiss at the lookout fed my determination like nothing else. The power of our love was concentrated in that brief but blissful moment. We were meant to be together!

My hate for Tilar Aedriath did not motivate me. Love for Rigmor did.

The guilt, fear, anger, and helplessness were replaced with yearning and determination.

I needed to live to hear that laughter and see that smile again.

I needed to live so I could rescue Rigmor.

I wanted that farm, and children, and a simple life with Rigmor.

I found myself on that farm! Beautiful green grass fields and golden wheat fields surrounded us. Whiterun was in the distance. I could smell melons. They are a profitable crop.

A little girl with curly hair ran through our wheat field toward me. A little dog was running beside her.

That is my daughter! That is not a dog but Meeko in one of his smaller guises. He no longer needs to be huge, as there is nothing to guard against. Plus, a little dog can fit on a child’s bed.

My daughter makes deep tracks as her hands brush against the wheat. She realises they are prickly and laughs as Meeko barks with excitement.

I notice the sparse snow cover and that my daughter is barefoot.

She doesn’t care and runs across the snow towards me at an impressive pace.

I hold my arms out wide, and she leaps into them and puts her arms around my neck while giggling. I then make her protest by doing deliberately loud kisses all over her head and cheeks.

Rigmor calls out, ‘Come on, Big Weirdo and Little Weirdo, I have cold milk and cookies. And yes, Meeko, there is some for you.’

We are sitting on chairs on our veranda. My daughter is on my lap, and I try hard to pick the wheat from her curls. But she giggles, and wriggles, and it is a hopeless task.

Rigmor says, ‘Tsk! Big Weirdo is the worst wheat getter outer ever!” and taps her lap.

Our giggling daughter pokes her tongue out at me, then sits on Rigmor’s lap. My wife has a much easier time clearing her curls.

Our neighbours are a fair distance away, but we can hear their laughter. It has been years since we had to kill or even wear armour or weapons.

Peace has settled over Nirn, and our daughter is the cause!

Blackness returned.

Was that a premonition, or my brain malfunctioning because I am dead?

Logic still works in The Void. It told me it was a premonition. A possibility. A future that might happen, but only if I am alive.

I opened my non-existent eyes, and a different young girl stood in front of me. It was Rigmor, but much younger.

She said, “I am at the mercy of chance and the infinite timelines like all beings. However, this doll will be important if things progress as I think they will. Sear it into your memory, Valdr.”

“What is important about it?”

“It is a symbol of love. You will understand when the time comes.”

“Who are you?”

‘Think of me as the past, present and future.”

“Are you a god?”

“That depends on perspective.”

“You look like a young Rigmor.”

“I chose this avatar to relax you. Now I must go, and you must return. Remember the doll!”

The girl vanished, and I could see souls again, but they seemed to be heading in one direction now.

I willed myself to move in that direction. There is no up, down, backwards or forwards in the void, but I seemed to be travelling with many souls in that one direction.

Suddenly, all the souls oriented the same way, with their feet or tentacles or whatever pointing toward our direction of travel. They formed a tube that met infinity in the distance.

There must be a portal or barrier between planes! I hoped it led, in my case, to Mundus and not Aetherius. I would be disappointed if Arkay was waiting for me after I arrived at wherever I was going.

I wish I hadn’t returned to Nirn for a few seconds, as the pain was extreme. All the nerves in my body decided I wasn’t dead and told me about the trauma I had experienced. But the damage was repaired by The Watchful Eye of The Nine blessing, so I didn’t need the reminder. My body was just being vindictive for allowing such damage.

I yelled a string of expletives of a quality to make any sailor proud.

Azura said, “Guardian. Awake!”

“The name is Wulf, and I am awake, as evidenced by my yelling of expletives.”

“Approach Azura’s Bane so I can join with you.”

“Give me a few seconds, Lady Azura. When my nerves stop screaming, I might be able to find my limbs.”

I slowly stood, but my head felt so heavy I could not lift it.

When I could focus, I looked at the corpses. The coagulation of the blood told me I had been dead for a few days.

 Azura’s avatar floated above Azura’s Bane. I saw a rune protecting it and remembered that an Elite Guard tried to touch the sword.

I approached Azura’s avatar and asked, “Lady Azura, where can I find Rigmor?”

“She is alive. They need her unharmed for a crucial reason, but I cannot sense why. A very powerful force is obscuring my powers.”

“Rigmor was also alive when Baa’Ren-Dar rescued her. She was alive when Angi found her. She was alive when Rose found her. Therefore, forgive me if I take little notice of the ‘unharmed’ claim.”

“I am still weak from shielding you from the cold. You were near death but now alive.”

“You kept part of my soul with my body. That took much of your energy, and it was greatly reduced even within this mine. That anchor on Nirn allowed me to return, and I thank you.”

“That is all I could achieve. I wasn’t sure you could return. But your body was repaired somehow, so I persevered.”

“A blessing from The Nine repaired my body. My body then combated the poison. It is the first time that blessing has been needed despite the constant dangers I face.”

“I cannot detect such things.”

“Where have they taken Rigmor?”

“I must regain my strength to know where they have taken her and why.”

“How long did you fight to keep The Void at bay?”

“You slumbered in the twilight of existence for over three days.”

“Once again, thank you for that effort, Lady Azura.”

“You helped thwart the Forces of Evil and restored my power’s essence. So, I aided in restoring your life, Wulf, for I will need to call upon your services very soon.”

“You might have to stand in a queue. I do not doubt that when others learn of my return, mortals and gods will require my services.”

Azura has compassion, but I doubt she has a sense of humour.

Azura continued, “My children in this realm are in danger, so The Entity must be stopped.”

“I fight for all mortals, Lady Azura. You called The Entity a usurper. If it is trying to wrest control of Nirn from its creators, then it is no different than a mortal tyrant invading and enslaving the inhabitants of a nation. But it may want the destruction of Nirn and Mundus, as some of your kind continuously attempt to accomplish.”

“I can sense its rage and fury. The Entity wants justice and revenge. It wants transformation to be whole, complete.”

“That is too broad a description to narrow the possibilities.”

“If it successfully enters this realm, it will become unstoppable. The Entity will conduct an act of frenzied, violent revenge that can only be quenched with the blood of mortals. All will die. Tamriel is to be cleansed.”

Azura says she doesn’t know who The Entity is. Then she claims to know its motivation and ambition. I guarantee that if I ask Father, that’s impossible.

Azura is substituting speculation for facts. I hate that!

I asked, “What about The New Order?”

“They still need to establish themselves, but they have almost completed a portal to Oblivion.”

“All Oblivion Gates have a flaw. They can be destroyed by one brave enough and skilled enough to enter the origin domain.”

“It must be destroyed before The Entity passes, transformed, into this realm.”

“It is most likely where they have Rigmor. If the Oblivion Gate and Rigmor are in different places, Rigmor will be my priority. I am nothing without her.”

“Make sure the evidence you have gathered is available to those needing it. The Forces of Evil must be undermined at every step until I regain my strength.”

“So, logically, you just insinuated that once you gain your strength, we no longer have to undermine the Forces of Evil, whoever they are.”

There was no reply, and I was eager to do something useful, not decipher mumbo jumbo.

I asked, “What happened to Casius and Yngol? They planned to destroy The Forge, then join Rigmor and me.”

“The collapse was total, and everything was destroyed. They could not reach you. Oh, how they tried! But it was in vain, and they are now full of remorse. They believe both Rigmor and you died and have returned to their units to prepare for the worst.”

“Neither Rigmor nor I am crucial to winning the battles to come. Our demise should make no difference. What about those who love Rigmor? Baa’Ren-Dar, Angi, Sigunn and Sorella.”

“They are safe but at a loss as to what to do next. They are hiding at the Huntress’ mountain camp for safety. I sense a deep sadness, Guardian.”

“I will go to them and tell them Rigmor lives.”

“Go quickly, my Champion, take Azura’s Bane. You are now its chosen keeper. I will send a messenger when the time comes. Go, your friends are waiting.”

Lady Azura’s avatar left the mortal plane.

I retrieved Azura’s Bane and sent it to Cethnelor. I did not fancy carrying a Daedric weapon, no matter the creator.

I took one last look at the carnage. Tilar Aedriath had sacrificed his Elite Guard. I became overconfident. I failed Rigmor!

I had no time for self-pity or self-recrimination. I needed to find Rigmor.

I teleported to Angi’s camp.