For some reason, the morning felt brighter and I felt lighter--as if a great weight had rolled off my shoulders. I didn't recall any strange dreams or revelations that might have explained the pervading sensation of freedom. As we packed and collapsed our small camp, I even found myself humming a sprightly, if frog-like, tune. Valindor shot me several perplexed looks, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.
When I stepped out onto the road half an hour later, I realized our horses were still missing. The thought sent a cloud over the day, pulling me a little closer to Nirn and sobering my somewhat disturbing jubilation. "I hope they didn't actually find the horses," I remarked.
"I'm sure they didn't. After all, we didn't see any hoofprints around that cat."
"Yes, but--"
"And I'm fairly certain that if that brutish Orc had found them, he certainly wouldn't have ridden one of them," Val continued darkly.
"What do you mean?"
"Orcs prefer horse steaks over horse saddles. Usually."
"Val! They wouldn't! Ingjard-- Surely--" I sputtered.
"I-I didn't mean that he might have eaten Brelye. I just meant that in general..." My friend stuttered to a halt, gazing down the road in consternation. "I'm sure they're fine, Henny."
I wasn't convinced on the notion. Still. Brelye was intelligent enough for a horse. He'd find his way back to some form of civilization . There wasn't enough time to search for our lost steeds, so we pressed down the road, alternately veering up into the hills as we followed the heavy prints of our quarries.
Eventually, they plunged down a deer track through thick, tussocky grass that masked the trail almost completely. Around us, the sharp spines of the wavering valley walls disintegrated into tamed lumps of stone under dense moss and flowering grass. Abruptly, one of the hills lay cloven in two as if crushed by a great hammer. The resulting gap was filled with conifers that stretched taller than the stony geography. On a breeze, the cool smell of pines and warm air wafted in our direction. Now that we were away from the deep mists and shades of the Reach, the day began to grow hot and bright. So, with the sleeve of my tunic sliding across my damp brow, I stood on the eaves of the Forest of Falkreath.
Each step forward felt more and more like coming home. Like the arms of a beloved grandmother were embracing me. With the air still and warm, I removed my hood and unfastened a few plates of my armor, relishing in the fresh air on my skin. We plodded into the forest, drawn in both by the trail and the pleasant company of the trees.
Abruptly, Meeko's wild barking startled me from my reverie. He bounded ahead, weaving through the grass with his nose to the ground. Jogging after him, we found him crouching over something laying beneath an old juniper tree. The hackles on his back were raised high and a deep, feral growl emitted from his throat. Worried, I drew my bow and readied an arrow, fingering the sinew string anxiously. At my side, Valindor was doing the same.
"What is that?" He squinted at a shape in the bushes. I smelled old blood on a breeze and frowned.
We approached the shape, and I recognized it as the body of a woman. This woman in particular lay clad in ceramic plated armor that bore the sigul of Magnus--an opposing and ornate shape to Serana's empty ship's wheel. Her hair was matted with blood, the side of her face clouded in a black bruise. Near her temple, part of her skull had caved in around a "V" shape.
"Ingjard," I replied, yanking my sword out from under her. She hadn't even bothered to try to defend herself with it. Is she that opposed to mer that she won't use a weapon made by one?
By her side, sticking innocuously out of a pocket, was a carefully rolled sheet of parchment. I picked it up, my hood falling over my head as I bent. Unknotting the twine holding it together, I stepped away from the body to lean against a tree. Cold dread seeped through me. Did Durak kill Ingjard? Why? I opened the scroll, and sparing a glance at Valindor, began to read aloud:
"Ingjard,
With the acquisition of Fort Dawnguard so close, we are relocating to a camp run by my brethren near the Reach to muster our forces. You and Durak are to meet us there once you have accomplished your mission. You are to retake the Item from the targets. Bring them to me alive. I wish to unite my brothers before we march to Riften.
As soon as the Item is in our possession, you are bring it to Stendarr's Beacon, where you will wait for me. Ensure that, under no uncertain terms, Durak does not gain possession of the Item. I sense he has other motives. Watch him.
You will take the route through Falkreath. I want to verify that the Seer is safe and sound with the Summerset expatriate. Do not forget to remind him of our deal.
Have faith Ingjard. It won't be long before the Vigilants are brought back into their rightful places. Isran only grows more unstable by the day. Molag Bal's hooks dig ever deeper into the man, though he knows it not.
Send word to me when you are in position at the Beacon.
-Celann"
"A coup? Is that what he was doing?" my friend mused.
"Seems so. I guess Durak wanted to eliminate his competition."
"One less person to follow."
"But one set of tracks is harder to see than two. At least he's a complete oaf about moving stealthily," I grinned, my face feeling slightly unused to the expression.
Like deer we loped into the trees, moving almost silently through the underbrush, in an environment that suited us at last. My only regret was that the trees weren't closer together, so we might climb into the trees and move as the squirrels do. Then again, it had been decades since I had done such a thing, and I would likely end up breaking every bone in my body in the attempt.
Nevertheless, we passed swiftly enough under the canopy, crossing the Orcs trail every once in a while. A bootprint here. Discarded bit of rubbish there. The occasional dried gob of saliva on a leaf. Once, we stumbled across a rabbit, half-consumed in large bites, strangely shed of its fur as one might have discarded a coat. We dodged hunter and bandit camps alike, preferring the comforting isolation afforded by the wilderness.
Sun shone through the leaves as it rose higher in the sky to sit on the throne of noon. I felt tireless, boundless, full of more energy than I had felt since Derkeethus had been alive. The veil over my eyes had fallen away. Though I knew I should do something to help him escape that place, I felt less urgency in doing so. It seemed to hurt less to think of how he didn't remember me, and guilt picked at my bright mood like it was a scab. Still, Valindor had gotten back to his more usual theatrical self, and was thus entertaining me as we ran.
"Hey, I have an idea!"
"And what would that be?"
"We should re-enact The Lusty Argonian Maid. Just recite the lines, of course. Seeing as we're too busy running to do the rest." His playful wink was utterly lost as I goggled at him in confusion.
"The what?"
"You've never read...? Well, no, I suppose you wouldn't have."
"I'm not sure I want to."
Just before noon, we stopped in a clearing and ate what little of our food wasn't spoiled or trampled upon. It was petty, but for a moment, I felt glad Ingjard had gotten her just desserts for dismantling my pack and stealing my sword as well as seeing to our capture and attempted death. For dragging me out of my own home and threatening to dismember me on my front lawn.
"I think you've killed the rabbit enough." Val gently plucked the rabbit leg from my hands, where I'd been splintering the bones into bits so small not even a bird could tell fortunes with them. With a sigh, I got to my feet and walked about, trying to clear my head of such dark thoughts. Eventually, I came to a tall boulder and leaned against it, enjoying the warmth of the rock on my back and the sun on my front.
I suppose I fell into a trance, just standing there, listening to the world and tipping my head back until whatever I was thinking rolled into the back of my brain. All I remember is that it started from the navel and spread outwards. A kind of thrumming of power that grew with each breath. The trees seemed to lean closer towards me, while the sun blazed through the branches. My body suddenly felt filled with light. I was a plant, drinking and eating the sun until the backs of my eyelids glowed orange through my closed eyes.
I stretched upward, growing taller until Nirn looked like a tiny marble in a sea of stars. Then, it was gone, and I opened my eyes and sighed. The Bosmer was gazing at me curiously. "Have a nice stretch?" I hope he didn't see that. I don't think I could take the smug look on his face. With a nod, I hopped off the rock and turned to gather my pack.
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