Aranni tried to find all the gear that had been scattered around the camp. He also took the pouch with Minnia and Codell’s rings, putting it with his things. He picked up her journals; he never really read them fully yet just skimmed them. Looking around he figured better just set up camp for the night.
The sun was down; he decided a fire was in order and he tended to Dark-gem, she was exhausted.
He also set up some traps, something fresh for breakfast was called for. Tonight he would feast on the dried meats.
Settling in he started to read the Journals.
First Sigrid’s…
This brings back memories; he had met Sigrid while she was pregnant. She had just come to live with the Williowdale’s. Everyone had expected she would be marrying Ulfric. But, he had become obsessed she said with the thoughts of a free Skyrim, he grew angry over the White-Gold Concordat by the day. Sigrid said over time he changed into a bitter man bent on freeing Skyrim.
That was why he had come to Skyrim, Codell asked him to go speak on behalf of the Bosmer in Valenwood who wanted to bring down the Aldmeri Dominion. Ulfric had refused to see him; he refused to speak with anyone who didn’t agree with his agenda. Ulfric targeted the Empire, thinking they were fools for signing the Concordat; little did he realize it was only to buy some time.
Sigrid had told him before she left Windhelm that freedom would come at a cost for him and that cost was watching his child grow and being a part of its life. Ulfric had damned her and said the child was not his!
Ingoknin looked like her mother, had the same warm smile, and red hair. She had the stubbornness of her father though!
Reading some more he came to the passages that Codell had studied, the Dragonborn. He knew all about the Nord legends. He also knew that Codell was convinced Ingoknin would be the next Dragonborn, and from what he read in Sigrid’s journal he could easily understand why. He had his doubts about this whole thing, but he knew she was special; he just needed something more than a legend or some visions. Although, what would you call his dream the other night?
He began to read Ingoknin journal. She was so young and you could read it in her entries… Right, wrong, nothing in between, he smiled, ah to be young and fearless again!
She wrote of the sun, the moon, and of daily life in Kynesgrove. She loved to hunt, that made him proud of Codell and Minnia. She loved to fish, and she loved to play her flute! She disliked a caller in Windhlem, Yrsarald. Apparently the Nord took a liking to her, but she would just as soon not give him the time of day.
She loved the smell of red mountain flowers. She wanted to join the Companions, and her closet friend is Bagrak, the Orc she is traveling with.
Funny, reading her journal made her feel closer to him, yet they have not really met. He felt an overwhelming feeling of fierce protection for her. Unlike the family he had failed, she would not met that fate, be damned what General Tullius wanted, in the morning he was going to find what happened to them and bring her to Greir it is what Codell would have wanted of him and expected.
He lowers the journal; listening, but the forest has grown silent. When the forest grows silent it is “talking volumes”. The nightingale is not cooing, the torch bug stopped glowing its mating call. He hears movement, breathing, not the four-legged kind. He picks up a scent, body odor… One he doesn't recognize!
Not wanting to let on he knew… He slowly adjusts himself; bow is to his left, quiver right next to it, dagger in his boot. He is ready…
Malkus came charging out of the brush… His Orcish Battleaxe swinging…. Aranni, dashes to the left rolling slightly he grabbed his bow and quiver… The axe misses, Malkus readies another swing… Jumping to the rocks he quickly gets into a position above the Orc… Pointing his arrow right his massive head, he shutters a little, Orc’s are not his favorite, no reasoning with them…
“Who are you?”
The Orc growls… “I should ask that of you!
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