I wake early on Tirdas having had the inspiration overnight to try searching Fort Amol with my candlelight spell to see if there is any trace of Maurice. Sure enough I eventually find the poor chap's body in a doorway, next to an interesting book about the first of the dragon blood line, which may well be relevant to my own destiny. I'd like to think this is fate trying to make Maurice's death seem meaningful in some way. Neither Lydia or I have spades so we don't dig a grave, but I do the next best thing and rifle through his pockets for any loose change.
We leave and take the path north as far as a bridge. Crossing the river, my clairvoyance tells me to turn east once again, and we pass through a flattened barren area of bubbling volcanic pools and wandering giants. My clairvoyance leads us to a promising cave, which in turn leads to narrow tunnel and eventually a cavern lit from a hole in its roof. Giving some consideration to the unseen ugliness we will no doubt have to fight or evade to complete this quest, I flip through my many potions and notice one that grants invisibility. I briefly contemplate getting Lydia to stay here and then sneaking in using that, but I decide I'll see if it's really necessary first, telling myself I can always neck the potion after encountering a foe and then make my escape during the confusion.
Sneaking around the rocks I eventually see a lady wandering around in the distance quite calmly. She notices us, but for the most part we are hidden from her. She doesn't look that tough, and there is nothing here hassling her, so I start to relax a bit. Her name it turns out is Asta, and she lives here with a fellow called Sond. She says that the roots of the Eldergleam tree prevent people from approaching, but I decide not to tell her about the nettlebane that I am carrying.
Lydia and I head up and, while hidden, I use the blade to move the tree's roots and clear us a path. Collecting the sap we came for prompts a Spraggan to pop up, and there is another further along the path, but neither is much cop against my staff that makes fireballs, which I looted from the adept fire mage last night.
I come up with the idea that it might save us some hassle if we jump down a nearby waterfall, so I lead Lydia over the edge of the root covered rocks and take the plunge. It doesn't really work, as when I hit land again there are two Spraggans coming for my blood and Lydia is nowhere in sight. I deal with them, as they don't seem to attack while I backtrack and throw fire magic at them. As the second one falls Lydia is dashing up the path. I guess once again she took the long way round rather than my direct route.
We head outside into a calm afternoon. I consult my map, as I don't fancy traipsing all the way back to Whiterun at the moment, and I feel fairly confident there is a sizeable town somewhere in the east of Skyrim. We're pretty much in the middle of three places: Windhelm is north of here, and the closest. It looks to be a case of going north and then following a river that cuts between the mountains. A tiny bit further but going south is a place called Ivarstead. There's no clear route that way, and it looks like we'd have to find some way over some dark looking mountains in the same sort of area that the dragon was giving us grief yesterday. Furthest away and to the south-east is Riften, a large city on a lake. There looks to be a clear route to get there, but it's a lot of country to cover, and it would probably take a couple of days.
I decide Windhelm will be our destination, and then from there we can decide if we head back to Whiterun or press on to Winterhold, which I have been aiming to visit for some time now. Stepping around the cave to head north I glance east and see a dragon circling around a rock plateau. I cross my fingers that he doesn't take an interest in us as we make our way to the river. We're good, and we reach the river at Mixwater Mill. It's a friendly looking place so I decide Lydia and I should say hello. We meet Gilfre, who runs the lumber mill, and seems happy to pay us if we'll do some axe work for her.
I have a go: my name is Yuri Woodcutter after all. It's simple enough work, and Gilfre pays good money. There is another mercenary here who is doing some sweeping, and there is a well stocked worker's house with beds that Lydia and I can use. In short: this feels like a decent place to stop for the night.
We set out early on Middas and travel north beside the river. We pass a fort that I decide not to investigate, and then meet a reveller who offers me some Horningbrew mead. I in turn offer him my Blackbriar mead, which is apparently an insult. He slopes off, and I have a look at party central. There is a statue of Talos but nothing else of note. Windhelm is just in front of us now, and Lydia and I make our way there with what's left of the morning.
