Lucari sluggishly got ready while Niyleen prepared breakfast. Almost done, Lucari noticed what her friend was doing and took a deep whiff. “Wow, a battle-maiden and a cook. I’m sure lucky that I’ll be able to dine on home-cooked meals while traveling.”

 

“Don’t say that until you’ve tried it,” Niyleen said. She took a spoonful of her cooking and added a bit of salt.

 

“I’m sure it’ll be great,” Lucari said taking another whiff. “What’re you cooking?”

 

“Oh you know… some cooked beef, grilled leeks, rabbit haunch, charred skeever meat…”

 

“What!? Ew! You’re not serious!”

 

Niyleen looked at her and smiled gently. “Of course I’m serious. But,” she added noticing how pale her companion was becoming. “It’s not for you. Most milkdrinkers can’t handle the taste even though it tastes just like horker meat.”

 

Lucari wiped her brow. “Thank Talos I’m a milkdrinker then.”

 

Niyleen rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I made a Snowberry Crostata for you.” She looked over at Lucari and saw the poor Nord drooling at the mention of sweets. “I figured someone like you would have a sweet tooth.”

 

Lucari beamed at her. “Indeed!”

 

Once Niyleen was done, the women sat down at the table and partook in the meal; Niyleen ate more or less like a barbarian while Niyleen—try as she might—tried to eat properly but let the façade drop when she bit into that Crostata.

After eating, they headed upstairs and before leaving Lucari stopped Niyleen with a tug on her arm. “Take this,”Lucari said reservedly.

“What is it?”

 

“It’s an eye patch that my brother used to use whenever he wanted to act out his dream.”

 

“What, to be a pirate?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

There was a faraway look in Lucari’s eyes, so Niyleen decided not to pry. Silently she retrieved the eye patch and looked at it before putting it on. (Doesn’t look anything like a pirate eye patch… but it’s kinda cute.) “Well?” Niyleen said modeling off her new look. “How do I look?”

 

“Talos help me…” Lucari muttered.

 

“Huh?”

 

“N-nothing!” Lucari’s face flushed and she hurriedly exited the residence.

Niyleen took a look back towards the stairs and said a mental farewell to Nanae.

 

Back on the road, the two began toward Markarth as per Lucari’s previous plans. It was a logical move from a hero’s point of view, and since Niyleen was indebted to her, she was willing risk a trip to Cidhna so Lucari could have a taste of her dream.

 

Lucari was uncomfortably quiet for a while as they walked until she finally stopped and said. “What’s with you and Forsworn?” Niyleen raised her eyes. “I mean I’m not dumb. I’ve heard the rumors of what they’ve done throughout the Reach, but my mother was one. All she wanted was liberation and freedom from the Nordic oppression that she felt was shackling her. So what’s your deal with them.”

Niyleen looked away. “I don’t have a deal with—”

 

“Stop lying to me,” Lucari said sharply. “Every time I’ve MENTIONED the Forsworn you’ve grimaced. You had a genuine disdain in your voice when you thought that Vigilant was killed by a Forsworn, and you were all but paralyzed when that Forsworn attacked you back there. If you don’t have some history with them, then you’re a bigger deceiver than I’d ever believe you to be.”

 

“Fine… you got me,” Niyleen sighed.

“So, what is it,” Lucari prodded.

 

“Do you really want to know that badly?”

 

Lucari nodded her head up and down like an eager child.

(Screw what I want huh?) “Fine. I’ll tell you this dumb tidbit of my past, but you owe me one. Maybe not as much as I owe you, but you still owe me one.” When Lucari nodded again, Niyleen grimaced and held her head. (Every time I think about that time I get a headache…) “Alrighty then. It all happened…”

 

* * *

Five years ago in the Reach. I was… fourteen at the time. Coming off of one of the biggest heists I had had to date, I stood atop a hill and counted my coin feeling high as if I were just declared the Emperor of all Tamriel.

 

“Two thousand five hundred and sixty four Septims,” I said with a smile akin to one of yours. I must have counted the coin at least three times, but I was still as amazed as ever. “And to think all I had to do was rob some Eastmarch hick on their way to Markarth. Too bad for him, but the money is better in my pockets than in the Silver-Blood’s.” I put my coin purse away and laughed. “I may be able to take a vacation, hahaha!”

Lucari: You were a bandit back then? Aww…

 

Niyleen: Hey I had to make a living. Now, shush or no more story. Anyway…

 

I was on top of the world and thought I was untouchable. I looked out toward the horizon and saw a huge Forsworn settlement. Until then I had not run afoul of the Forsworn, but I’d heard the rumors. As I was thinking about what sort of people they could be, a sharp shrill cut through the air, and I couldn’t help but smile. “And another slut bites the dust.”

 

Lucari: That’s… that’s horrible!

…I was too high, too naïve and too slow. It wasn’t until they were right up on me, that I heard a footstep behind me. Trying to act bold, I said, “Is that how you Forsworn operate? In the shadows like thieves and assassins? Better not let the Thieves’ Guild or the Dark Brotherhood find out that you’re trying to take their gimmicks.“

“So far away from home little milkdrinker,” said my lurker. “Besides, acting tough is what makes girls like you end up like—” Another scream filled the air. “…that.”

I should have taken the message, but I knew it all. I had just made a big score, deceived my fellow bandits into thinking I hadn’t made a dime, and I was sure of my sword skills to a fault; I mean my mother had taught me everything I knew. So in my rashness I turned, brandished my weapon and said, “I’ve got coin in my pocket and wits in my head, and sure enough bitch you’re about to be dead.”

 

The Forsworn cracked her neck. “And I thought it was going to be a dull day.”

 

Lucari: You were so feisty… (licks lips) I think I like…

 

Niyleen: Lucari PLEASE!

Me and the Forsworn fought around the top of the hill, down the hill and we just kept going. I ended up losing my steel sword along the way and retrieved another blade off of a corpse in a nearby ditch. I was enjoying myself more than I ever would admit, and as we clashed iron to steel I began to have some respect towards the woman. She was quick, swifter than I would have imagined and she couldn’t have been older than twenty but she was more limber than i calculated and kept up with my furious pace with ease. We arrived at a bridge and I broke her guard with a heavy hit. With her off balance I went in for the kill with a vertical slash across the belly. I was too dramatic, too theatrical… and I paid for it. It was a case of I went high, and she went low.

 

As I went of the killing blow, the Forsworn regained her balanced and retaliated with a crouching lunge of her blade to my thigh.

 

Lucari: No…

Immediately I lost balance and fell on my behind. I couldn’t move my leg, and from the way she was fighting me I knew not only that I couldn’t fight from this position, but that she had been holding back. I had never felt so humiliated in my life. It was the first time I had lost an actual duel, and it was to an opponent that was going easy on me. I wanted to cry, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of my tears or my cries of pain. What I would give her however was some spit to accompany the dirt on her boots.

Tenacious as I was, the Reach native wasn’t impressed and glowered at me with a look of longing in her eyes. “Almost,” she said wiping the blood off of her blade. “But you’re far too naïve to survive in the Reach.”

 

Naïve? Me? I almost lost my cool and the Forsworn must have realized it and said, “Listen here pup. You’ve got some bite, but it’s more like you’re teething. I can make you strong, quick, fearless…” She then gave me a look that pierced into my soul. “Or I can be your worst Nightmare to haunt your dreams from now until well after you reach that place the Nords think they go when they die.”

 

I opened my mouth to retort, but it was then that I had my first taste of fear of the Forsworn. It was as if my entire vision was filled with the woman who’s soul piercing eyes continued to destroy what little defiance I had left. Disarmed, humiliated, and debased I was hers and there was nothing I could do about it.

Lucari: What happened next? Did she—

 

Niyleen: For the love of Mara, please stop interrupting me. I’ve got a headache, and you’re just making me drag this on.

 

Lucari: (looks away dejectedly) I’m sorry.

 

Niyleen: It’s… it’s not that big of a deal. A-anyway.

 

“Now then pet,” she said, fully seizing her new role as my Master. “What is the name that was forced upon you at birth?”

 

I didn’t want to respond, but I was compelled to, else I’d incur her wrath. “N-Niyleen. Niyleen Flame-Child.”

 

“Niyle,” she must have misheard my name but I wouldn’t dare correct her. “The Child of the Flame… quite the powerful name for my slave.” For a moment I swore that I saw a flash of a smile on her face, but it was gone instantly. “Well then, remember my name and remember it well girl for I am Karthspire’s greatest Ravenger. I… am Eolri.” This time a nasty smirk did appear on her face. “Nanae’s going to love you.”