The party approached the temple with the dawn, appropriate when Nora thought about it. There were steps leading up and a roaring fire that radiated heat, but no one around to tend to it. Nora could hear the faint singing of a Word Wall and headed in that direction. She found the curved wall out in the open, and on approach the word burned into her mind.

 

Su was the word, meaning air, and she understood that this was shout that would speed her arms in combat. While that seemed like a useful power for most people to have, she wasn't sure what it would do for her. Since she only had one dragon soul, and enjoyed the energy boost they gave her, she let the shout remain unlocked for now. And then it was time to go up the steps to the huge statue.

 

Nora wasn't sure what to make of the statue. It was of a robed woman, but the sides of the robe resembled wings. She didn't think it was evil. She felt evil in the area, but it wasn't coming from the figure.

 

“What am I supposed to do?” she asked Eldawyn, confused.

 

“I think you need to put the beacon in that holder at the base, between the two smaller statues.”

 

Nora thought her friend correct, then she knew it as voice rang out, the same she had heard when she had picked up the beacon.

 

“Look at my temple, lying in ruins. So much for the constancy of mortals, their crafts and their hearts. If they love me not, how can my love reach them? Restore to me my beacon, that I might guide you toward your destiny.”

 

She placed the beacon on the platform between the two robed figures facing each other. It glowed brightly, like the sun, and rose into the air.

 

Oh shit, she thought as her feet left the ground and she quickly rose into the air, until the statue was small below her, and the entire kingdom of Skyrim stretched before her view. The air was cold and thin, and she realized that this wasn't a vision, while hoping the Prince didn't drop her to her death.

 

“It is time for my splendor to return to Skyrim. But the token of my truth lies buried in the ruins of my once great temple, now tainted by a profane darkness skittering within. The Necromancer Malkoran defiles my shrine with vile corruptions, trapping lost souls left in the wake of this war to do his bidding. Worse still, he uses the power stored within my own token to fuel his foul deeds. I have brought you here, mortal, to be my champion. You will enter my temple, retrieve my artifact, and destroy the defiler. Guide my light through the temple to open the inner sanctum and destroy the defiler.”

 

Nora felt herself falling, but a controlled fall that would not see her splattered on the stone dais below. And the Goddess, for that was how Nora was now thinking of her, spoke again.

 

“Malkoran has forced the doors shut. But this is my temple, and it responds to my decree. I will send down a ray of light. Guide this light through my temple and its doors will open.”

 

A bright light had sprung from the beacon, hitting another orb and being projected on

 

“We have to get inside,” said Nora, feeling a compulsion to guide the light through the temple.

 

“We were worried about you, my Thane,” said Lydia. “I thought the demon was pulling you up into the sky to your death.”

 

“Not a demon, Housecarl. This Daedric Prince is a force for good, and we must free her temple of evil. Now everyone, find that entrance.”

 

“Over here,” yelled Recorder from around the corner of the large platform the statue sat on.

 

Nora hurried over to find the observer standing in front of a door. And the feeling of evil seemed to radiate from it. Nora wasn't sure where these senses, the ability to discern good and evil, and magic, had come from, but she welcomed them. Anything to help her in this strange world. She remarked on it to Eldawyn. The elf had been drinking through the morning, banishing her own demon, but her speech was clear enough.

 

“That is quite the gift,” said the elf, smiling widely. “I can do much the same with spells, but I have to remember to cast them. I'm jealous, though that gift could be a double-edged sword.”

 

Nora had thought the same. While it might be interesting to have such senses, it might also be a distraction.  She would have to find a way to control it, like everything else. But now the temple awaited.

 

The first room of the temple oozed with black fog, and the feeling of evil intensified. A burned and desiccated corpse knelt along one wall. Sofia started going through the pockets of the corpse and removing coins.

 

“Think that's a good idea?” asked Nora.

“He's not going to need it anymore,” answered the woman with a nervous laugh. “And as Annekke said, we need to keep you in food.”

 

Nora nodded. While robbing the dead still seemed to rub her the wrong way, they had been doing it with Draugrs, so why not more contemporary corpses. And she had looted plenty of dead in the wasteland of home. Of course there she didn't have to worry about avenging spirits coming after her.

 

Nora cast Clairvoyance, watching as the trail of smoke showed the way. Leading, along with Annekke, she walked a corridor and into a large room with a pedestal sitting above. A light glowed on one wall, while a similar gem sat on the opposite wall. The glowing gem projected a beam of light to the pedestal, and Nora knew immediately what she needed to do. She cast the spell again and saw the fog marking a side tunnel. And then the resident guardians of the necromancer struck.

 

They looked like nothing that Nora had ever seen. Dark bodies without legs, floating forward, red eyes glaring their hate as they attacked. There were several with axes, and a pair of archers behind them. The archers caught Nora's attention, and she brought her shield up to bounce a pair of arrows away. Annekke and Recorder hit the shades with arrows. The ranger had a powerfully enchanted bow that sent electricity out with the arrows. Recorder's bow had no enchantment that Nora could see, but there was something about it, some technology maybe, that made the arrows effective against creatures of all kinds. The shade archers fell apart, their dark residue falling to the floor.

 

Nora swung her Daedric sword through one of the shades. The blade flared with fire and the shade died, if dying was an accurate term for such a creature's demise. Eldawyn sent a bolt of electricity into the last shade and it broke apart.

 

Sofia immediately started looking for loot. Nora knew she was on a mission, but her overall mission on this planet needed financing. A looter from way back, Nora joined in, finding coins, gems and potions, as well as a couple of spell tomes that she would explore later. Then it was through the tunnel, taking down more shades and onto the platform. A quick search of the device showed how it worked, and she soon had a beam of light linking the platform to the other gem.

 

“Okay. I don't know how many more of these we have ahead, but we know what to do.”

 

“You seem to be really good with puzzles, Nora,” said Annekke.

 

“There were a lot of them in the wasteland. Not magical, but the concept is the same.”

 

More corridors, more shades, more chests full of loot. The party sustained some injuries, and healing magic was called up by all the mages, but the arrows of the shades caused only minor damage. They weren't the solid shafts of material arrows, and though they hurt like hell they didn't kill.

 

Eldawyn had expended all of her magicka on Recorder when the elf was hit by a brace of arrows. Annekke took out those two shades with a quick pair of shots, while Nora ran to the side of the gasping elf.

 

“Hurts so much,” said Eldawyn, gasping.

 

Nora could tell that she was grievously hurt. The Dragonborn pulled the strange arrows from the elf in two quick motions, then started pouring healing energy into her friend, staunching the bleeding, then closing up the wounds with a thought. Eldawyn looked up at her with grateful eyes as Nora poured the last of her magicka into her friend, then gasped herself as the magicka regenerated in less than a minute.

 

“You're getting pretty good at Restoration,” said Eldawyn with a smile. “Perhaps you should become a priest.”

 

Nora laughed. While she knew that priests here didn't have the same standards as the ones from before the war on her world, she still couldn't see herself as a woman of the cloth.

 

More rooms, more corridors, the beam of light channeled from device to device, moving Meridia's holy light further into the temple. Meridia may have been considered a Daedric Prince, but the more Nora saw of the bright light, the holy feel of it, the more she thought of the deity as a Goddess. Maybe not one of the Divines, but a Goddess nonetheless.

 

They went through another door and Nora was surprised to find that they were outside. They moved around the walkway and saw steps leading up. There were multiple pedestals out here, all taking and projecting the light, moving it along to its final destination. A man in Imperial Legion armor appeared ahead, yelling and charging at them, screaming about how it was his.

 

Nora took the man's blade on her shield and returned the cut, her Daedric blade smashing through the armor and into the shoulder of the man. He croaked as his lungs filled with blood and fell, and Sofia took a knee to loot the body.

 

“We're making a fortune from this place,” said the Nord woman, pulling coin and gems from the man's pockets.

 

Nora felt bad about killing the man, who seemed to be driven by some kind of compulsion in attacking. But it had been him or her, and she would always pick herself to survive.

 

They went through another set of doors, up some stairs, and emerged in a truly colossal room with many pedestals and devices. A beam of light linked a gem in the wall with one of them, and Nora knew where she needed to start. The room was fed by a maze of corridors, and hordes of the shades. After many false paths and backtracks Nora had the beam working its way through all the pedestals. They had found much loot, including some books that radiated magic that she stowed away for future study. And one corridor had the awful swinging blades.

 

“Wait here,” she told her party as she looked at the blades, calling up a shout.

 

“Don't take too long,” said Eldawyn, clearly knowing what Nora intended.

 

“Feim,” she shouted, and felt the real-world fade away. She knew it wouldn't last long with only the one word at her command, and hurried through the swinging blades, cringing a little but unharmed as they swept through her without a touch. Reaching the other side she looked for a switch, finding one quickly and stopping the blades. Her team came over, Recorder gushing.

 

“That was amazing,” said the observer. “It was like you had become a ghost, walking through those murder blades like they weren't there.”

 

“Might come in handy against archers as well,” said Annekke. “Or mages.”

 

Nora found another switch that lowered a bridge and a raised pathway beyond. They moved along, and there were some jumps that only Nora, with her heightened strength, could make. She felt exposed going forward without her party, but she moved quickly and got the last pedestals activated, using Ethereal Form several times to get close to archer shades, then took them down when the shout faded. She made her way back to her party, cast Clairvoyance, and headed up some stairs that led to the last pedestal.

 

“When in the hells is this going to end?” asked Recorder.

 

Nora smiled. Recorder seemed to be coming out of her shell after last night. The woman was no longer mumbling about her files, trying to cover up her insecurities, but was actually starting to engage with the others. And Nora was glad.

 

That pedestal activated she cast Clairvoyance again, and groaned as she saw it led back the way they had come. They went through another door on the ground level of large room, down a short corridor, and through one more door. Sofia and Annekke made sure they missed nothing on the way, and the party was soon almost at their limit, loaded down but still able to move fast enough.

There was one final pedestal that she activated, sending the beam of light into the heart of the catacombs. She cast Clairvoyance and led the party to a door that radiated evil.

 

“This is it,” she said with conviction. “I don't know how strong this motherfucker is, but we need to take him down fast. So I'll move forward and take his spells while the rest of you kill him.”

 

“My Thane,” cried Lydia. “Don't. You might get killed.”

 

“Not with my magical shout I won't,” said Nora, grinning. “But it doesn't last, not with only one word, so finish the bastard, quickly.

 

Nora entered first, seeing the necromancer turning toward her, a swarm of shades and some raised bodies alerting and moving forward.

 

“Feim.” Nora ran forward, the cold magic of Malkoran raining down on her. She could tell that they were quite powerful spells, any one of which might send her to her knees, if not kill her outright. And they passed through her as if she wasn't there, while she ran at the man as full speed with her sword in hand. Knowing that the effect would wear off soon.

 

Eldawyn and Sofia were casting fire at the mage, who, though he had a ward up was still taking damage. Then she was in front of him, swinging her sword and cursing as she realized that she was still immaterial. She became solid again just before the blade struck, and she had the satisfaction of feeling the Daedric sword split the man's skull and drive all the way down to the breastbone. The necromancer had no time for a cry as he instantly departed his body and went to whatever Plane of Oblivion awaited him.

 

The remaining shades faded away, the reanimated bodies fell into ash, and the feeling of evil dissipated. And there, on a pedestal, was the prize.

 

“It is done,” said the harsh voice of Meridia in Nora's head. “The defiler is defeated. Take Dawnbreaker from its pedestal.”

 

“You people continue looting while I check out my new blade,” said Nora, smiling and reaching for the sword. She pulled the blade, glowing like the sun, from its sheath.

 

Oh shit, she thought as a blinding light enveloped her and she found herself hanging high in the air again. Facing a fierce ball of light that she knew was the Goddess.

 

“Malkoran is vanquished,” said the voice of the Goddess. “Skyrim's dead shall remain at rest. This is as it should be. This is because of you. A new day is dawning. And you shall be its herald. Take the mighty Dawnbreaker and with it purge corruption from the dark corners of the world. Wield it in my name, that my influence may grow.”

 

Nora could see nothing wrong with driving back darkness and purging corruption. “I will do it, my Goddess. I will be your light and your strong arm in Skyrim.” She wasn't sure how Kynareth would feel about this, but she felt an approval at the back of her mind and thought it would be fine with the other Goddess.

 

“May the light of certitude guide your efforts,” said Meridia, and Nora found herself alone on the platform with the huge statue, the wonderful blade in her hand.

 

Nora examined the blade while she waited for her party to come out of the temple. The sword was larger than most long swords, though not quite a bastard sword. The blade itself shined with an inner light that was anathema against all that was dark. The glowing gem in the cross guard reminded her of the holy light she had shepherded through the temple. She sensed that this blade would cut deep, slicing through most armor like it was cloth. And it would burn her opponents. While doing even more harm to the undead. Its light might actually drive some of the weaker specimens of that abominable breed away in fear and confusion. It was her paladin blade, one she expected would see her through her adventures.

 

She swung the blade. It was perfectly balanced, and lighter than she expected. It swished through the air leaving a slight trail of light, swift in its movement. I'm so happy I came here, she thought. While not sure how this sword would do against dragons, she had been fighting more undead recently than the scaly beasts.

 

Her party arrived, several of them staggering under the weight of packs. They had looted well, and Nora was looking forward to selling this stuff off and getting more and better equipment. She didn't know how much it would set her back, but frankly she really didn't care much for gold coins. They were useful for food and lodging, but they wouldn't turn a blade or strike a blow.

 

“Can I?” asked Eldawyn, holding out a hand.

 

At first Nora didn't want to let the blade go, but she trusted her people, and reluctantly put the hilt in Elda's hand.

 

“This is a prize. I doubt you will find a more powerful blade in your journeys. And it will only grow stronger as you do.”

 

“What do you mean?” asked Nora, not sure how the blade would get stronger.

 

“This kind of blade attunes itself to the wielder. As you become a better swordsman, a better mage, the sword's abilities will grow with you.”

 

Eldawyn handed the blade over, reluctantly as well. The sword had that effect on people. Everyone wanted it, and Nora hoped that didn't become a problem in the future.

 

Nora noted that another sheath had appeared on her belt, materialized by the Goddess? A jeweled sheath that fit the sword perfectly, it had materialized next to the scabbard for the Daedric blade, which was no longer needed by the Dragonborn. It was kind of crowded now, and her right side as well, with her knife sheath and holster. She realized that she had forgotten about the pistol, a good thing mostly, as she thought she would need it in the times ahead, and without ammunition it was nothing.

 

“So, who wants this Daedric sword?”

 

“Not me, my Thane,” said Lydia, stepping back. “That blade has a taint to it.”

 

While that was true, Nora had found that sometimes evil was needed to fight evil. And an evil blade in the hands of a righteous warrior could still accomplish much good.

 

“Elda?”

 

The elf had a blade, though she rarely used it, depending on her magic. And elf blade with a fire enchantment, it served as a capable sidearm. “Not me, Nora. That needs to go to someone who can put it to good use.”

 

She didn't think Recorder would use it. Those twin ebony blades served the observer well. And Annekke was an archer, only relying on her sword when necessary. Valdimar was a hammer wielder, which left..

 

“I guess I got it by process of elimination,” said the scowling Sofia, reaching for the sheathed sword. “I'll take it. Even if I was the last choice.”

 

“You're as good with magic as with a blade, Sofia, and I had to think of someone who relied primarily on the sword first.”

 

“No problem,” said the good natured spellsword, belting on the blade. “I appreciate the gift.”

 

“Now what?” asked Valdimar, coming over from where he had been watching the horses.

 

“We have about four hours of daylight left, so I think we should start on our way to Solitude. Maybe get there by late tomorrow.”

 

That brought cheers. They had been through much since leaving Whiterun, and Nora thought they all needed some time in the fleshpots of a large city. She looked over at Valdimar, since she had encountered much this day that would bring forth nightmares. However, she was not up in the rotation, so she thought maybe another kind of three way. Recorder needed to get comfortable with other lovers, and she and Eldawyn should be able to handle that nicely. She then looked at Lydia, always disapproving of any of the liaisons that the party made. That was a long-term project, and one she would have to be patient about.

 

When they stopped to camp, while the party set up tents and made a cook fire, Nora was taken aside by both Annekke and Eldawyn. Nora knew that more training was in the works, but had no idea what the two intended.

 

"I've been thinking about your bare-handed technique," said the ranger, stringing her bow and reaching for a fowling arrow. "It might give you good protection, as well as the ability to cast spells. So the elf and myself agreed that it might prove useful."

 

Nora readied herself. She had a small buckler strapped to her left arm, one that left her hand free. It carried enchantments against fire and frost, and so would give her some magical protection. Annekke sent an arrow her way, and Nora's practiced eye interposed the buckler, bouncing the shaft away.

 

"Now your free hand," shouted Annekke, sending another arrow her way.

 

Nora reached out her free hand and swatted at the arrow. It was clumsy with the buckler attached, but she managed to get close to hitting it.

 

"Might need some work, but I can see it happening," said Annekke.

 

"Now get up a ward," yelled Eldawyn, sending a small burst of electricity Nora's way.

 

Nora tried to get the ward up, failing and taking a bad shock. She could tell that Elda was holding back, not meaning to hurt her, but putting enough teeth into the spell to make it interesting.

 

"Hit that rock over there with an ice spike," yelled the elf, no kindness in her voice this time.

 

Nora pulled up the spell, too slowly, and sent the spike in to shatter on the rock.

 

"Ward."

 

Nora got the spell up, still not in time, and felt the pain of the electricity shock her.

 

"Arrow," yelled Annekke, sending another shaft Nora's way. The Dragonborn swatted at the arrow, the ward dropping at the cessation of concentration. She managed to hit the tail end and the arrow smacked into her armor sideways.

 

"Ward," yelled Eldawyn, sending in another bolt, and again Nora caught the tail end of the attack with her ward. "Now, hit the target."

 

Nora transitioned fairly quickly into the attack, and the ice spike hit the same place on the rock as the last.

 

"Arrow."

 

This time Nora knocked the shaft out of the air.

 

"Get ready," yelled Eldawyn, stepping forward with her sword and swinging an overhand strike at Nora. Who raised her buckler to catch that blade and bounce it away.

 

"Arrow," yelled Annekke, and Nora was caught off-guard, the arrow striking her armor.

 

It went on for an hour, sweat pouring off Nora as she struggled to keep up. Though at the end of the hour she seemed to be smoother on her transitions.

Annekke looked over at Eldawyn and they both nodded.

 

"You have the potential to be quite the battlemage," said Eldawyn. "But it will take much practice. And that open hand technique will give you an edge that no other battlemage possesses."

 

Dinner was ready when they reached the fire. Nora was starving from her exertions, and tucked into the meal of pheasant, leeks and potatoes. And looked over to catch Eldawyn smiling at her and glancing at Recorder. Nora was tired, but not so much so that she couldn't spare some energy for the project they had talked about earlier.