The next morning was cold and clear, like always. Nora left the tent naked, wanting to get quickly to the fire which had been built up all night. She stood there shivering and absorbing heat, watching as Jordis and Valdimar started on breakfast, chatting amicably, laughing at each other's jokes.

 

“It's going to be awhile, my Thane,” said the Sword Maiden as she hung a griddle from the cooking spit. Valdimar was slicing potatoes and vegetables to put in the pot that hung beside it. “If you want you can get back in your furs for a half hour of so.”

 

Nora thought about that, but she was just too restless. Another idea came to mind, and she stepped away from the fire and started doing some warmup exercises, jumping jacks, pushups, running in place. Then she stretched, making sure every muscle was warm and ready despite the cold that was raising goose bumps across her naked flesh. She raised a foot into the air over her head, rotating her body until she was in a side kick position.

 

“That is a, very suggestive pose, my Thane,” said a smiling Valdimar. “It gives a man ideas.”

 

Jordis elbowed the man in the side, and Nora stuck her tongue out at him before performing three quick side kicks into the air while balancing on one foot. She hopped into the air and performed a roundhouse kick with her other leg, then stepped down and jumped, doing a back flip and coming down lightly on her feet, then launching back into the air to bring her left foot around in a wheel kick.

Most of her party were awake, and J'Zargo was watching her intently as she went through her attacks and defenses. She threw every block she knew, followed by flurries of punches, knife hands, palm strikes.

 

“That also gives a man ideas,” said a now serious Valdimar. “Like I better watch my tongue lest you pound me into the dirt.”

 

Nora kept at it, working up a good sweat, no longer cold despite the frigid wind flowing down the mountains. The smell of food was getting to her now, her stomach grumbling, and she looked hopefully at the cooks.

 

“Almost ready,” said Jordis, turning some ham on the griddle.

 

Nora went back to her tent and grabbed a cloth to dry off with, then got into her underwear. Not that she was self-conscious, but she didn't want Valdimar to get too distracted. She took a seat by the fire and took some calming breaths.

 

“Here you go, my Thane,” said Jordis, handing Nora a wooden plate filled to the top. She started in on the hot food, noticing that J'Zargo was looking at her.

 

“Yes?”

 

“J'Zargo was wondering at the fighting style Nora was practicing. This cat has seen nothing like it.”

 

“Not from this world,” said Nora around the food she was chewing. She swallowed it, took a drink of hot beverage, and looked at the cat. “Actually several styles I took before and after the war, from three different nations, uh, kingdoms. Tae Kwon Do from Korea, Tai Chi from China. and Shodokan from Japan.”

 

“Isn't one better than the others? Then why study all three?”

 

“The prewar masters on Earth said that no style was superior. It was the practitioner that made the difference. So I took everything I had learned from different teachers and made it mine.”

 

“You have the agility of a Khajiit,” said J'Zargo, nodding.

 

“I would like to know how you became such a formidable warrior on your world,” said Jordis, finishing off her much smaller plate. “You didn't start off as one, right?”

 

“Well, you know on my world we used guns. Ranged weapons that really depended on a steady hand and not so much strength. Anyone could become formidable with the right weapons. Problem was, any fool could kill. The difficult part was staying alive during a gunfight.”

 

“And you learned that, how?” asked J'Zargo.

 

“Well, I learned shooting from my grandfather, who took me with him regularly to hunt and camp. I also learned how to conceal myself and make use of the terrain. Then in college I took ROTC so I could earn some extra money.”

 

“R, O..”

 

“Officer training for the army. I learned tactics, got to play in the woods, even jumped out of an airplane. Uh, something like a dragon, only bigger, and not alive. Well..”

 

“So you trained as a soldier, but never really fought as one.”

 

“Well, I had planned to take a reserve commission after college. But the powers that be found out that I was dancing in clubs to pay my way through college. And, uh, doing other things for money.”

 

“So you were a...” said Jordis, her eyes wide.

 

“A whore? Yes, Jordis. The so-called noble woman you are following was a whore. Both before and after the war. I had a goal in life at both times, and I needed money. Fucking paid a lot more that menial jobs like cooking and cleaning, so I spread my legs. I actually liked it sometimes. Not always, and I'm sure glad I don't have to do that anymore. I've seen a lot of women, both on Earth and here, do the same thing to make ends meet, and at least I only had to deal with the high-class customers.”

 

“I'm, sorry, my Thane,” said Jordis, her cheeks coloring. “I have no right to judge.”

 

“Don't worry about it,” said Nora with a shrug. “It's not something I'm ashamed of. It was a part of me, as much as being a warrior, leader and president were. Something I no longer have to do. Now I can just fuck for the fun of it. Much better.”

 

Jordis was staring into the fire, not sure what to say. Nora felt some concern that she might have said something that had soured the Housecarl on her Thane. Well, not all that much concern. She had other things to worry about, after all. And she had gone out of her way last night to keep the girl alive, so she should be showing gratitude.

 

“So there I was in the Commonwealth after I woke from cryo, and I found the whole place was swarming with raiders. Like the bandits here, only even more bloody minded. I was captured by a small group of them and raped all night. I cut their throats before they woke in the morning, grabbed their weapons, and started hunting raiders for a living.” She sighed and took a sip of her drink. This was a hard subject, one that still caused her nightmares. “The raiders were killers, plain and simple. They were brave to the point of recklessness. Arrogant, and totally devoid of any survival instincts. To a frightened to death woman on her own they were terrifying, but after I put a hundred or so of them down, I realized that they were the worst fighters imaginable.”

 

“And you didn't have your strength or speed then?” asked Valdimar, cleaning out the pot and getting ready to pack up.

 

“No, that came later,” said Nora, shaking her head. “I was a bit stronger and faster than most women, thanks to my martial arts training and playing soccer. But I was fighting men much stronger than I was, though quite a bit slower witted if I must say. As I said before, guns made the difference, and I got very good with them.”

 

“No swords?” asked Lydia, putting a hand on Jordis' shoulder and giving her a light shake. “Maces?”

 

“Oh, I got very good with knives. And I used swords and bashing weapons when I was in my power armor. But mostly it was guns.”

 

Nora looked around. Breakfast was over, and it was time to hit the road as soon as they all got into their armor and packed up everything. She went to her tent and started getting the sleeping furs and some other sundries into the carry bags. The sound of Jordis and Lydia arguing reached her ears, and she stopped to listen for a minute.

 

“But she was a whore,” exclaimed Jordis, almost crying. “A woman of low moral character, having sex for money.”

 

“And she's no longer that woman, you little idiot,” said Lydia in a harsh, carrying whisper. “She did what she had to do to get by, to reach her goal. I've known born noble women who were no better. They simply had sex with someone who could help them advance, with no love lost.”

 

“But...”

 

“Listen. You know the Thane is a good woman. She goes out of her way to help others, and puts her life on the line every day. Look at what she did for you last night. If not for her efforts we would be placing you in the Hall of the Dead in Solitude. And she's honest to a fault. So many of those high and mighty nobles aren't fit to lick her boots. So get off your high horse and get the damn stick out of your ass. You treat her like you're supposed to. As your Thane, the noble woman you are pledged in service to. Or you leave her service. Understand?”

 

“You, are right,” cried Jordis. “I am being such a fool. I must apologize to the Thane.”

 

“Simply act toward her as you always have,” said Lydia, her tone understanding. “She'll know.”

 

Thank the Gods for Lydia, thought Nora. The last thing she wanted was a long drawn out scene of apology with the young woman, embarrassing to all. She finished getting her gear together, then started taking down the tent. Jordis looked away when she had finished, her face red.

 

Nora changed her mind and walked quickly over to the young woman, wrapping her in a hug. “It's okay, sweety. It's okay.”

 

Jordis cried into the Dragonborn's shoulder, wracking sobs. “I'm sorry, my Thane. I forgot myself.”

 

“No worries,” said Nora, patting the back of the woman. “Now, what say we go find us a dragon carcass so I can rid the world of the son-of-a-bitch forever.”

 

* * *

 

The dragon was relatively easy to find. It was in a valley between mountains, lying in the open. It started to smoke as soon as Nora approached. She got down off her horse and let the process take her, then remounted. With a quick cast her and the party were back near the entrance to Volskyyge and riding on the road to Solitude.

 

It took about two hours of fast riding before they reached a point Nora was familiar with. From there she started teleporting them until they reached the ruined tower. She didn't think they would be here for long, so she left the horses saddled and loaded, and told off Sofia and Valdimar as horse guards, promising them that she would let them go in for a few minutes later if it was that important to them. With that she waved at the hidden watchers to let them know she was aware of them, then headed into the tower to the trap door.

 

The shrine was even more crowded this time, though it was still not noon. The Altmer priestess, Arilwaen, was before the altar of Talos, offering an invocation. She turned as Nora approached, a smile on her face.

 

“Welcome, friends. And how was Markarth?”

 

“A lot happened while we were there,” said Nora, looking into the lovely eyes of the Altmer. So kind, so caring, unlike those of the Thalmor.

 

“Well, the supplicants have been coming, saying they found the flier in the inn, or in the temple. So thank you for that. And I see you brought your Altmer friend with you,” continued the priestess with a wide smile. “So lovely.”

 

“How gracious of one so beautiful to say,” said Eldawyn, bowing her head.

 

“And Nora has told me that you, uh, I don't know your name.”

 

“Eldawyn,” said the mage, smiling. “Not to be confused with Alduin.”

 

Arilwaen laughed, a musical sound that conveyed warmth. “And she had told me that you have no love of the Thalmor. Or their plan for the world.”

 

“No indeed,” said Eldawyn, frowning. “I like life, and I hope that when I die I go to some enjoyable but brief afterlife before I come back to this mortal coil. What they want would destroy the beauty of this world, and that is something I cannot stand for.”

 

“Then welcome, sister,” said the priestess, bowing her head again. “And do you worship Talos?”

 

“I believe he is a God,” said Eldawyn, shaking her head. “I don't really worship any of the Gods, though I acknowledge their existence. I leave myself open to aid from any of them.”

 

“An honest answer,” said the other Altmer, turning her gaze onto Nora.

 

“We ran into some Thalmor down Markarth way,” said the Dragonborn. “In one case they had a Nord family and a bag of black soul gems that I took off their bodies. Why are they soul trapping the Nords they capture?”

 

“So they can separate them from Talos,” said the priestess, scowling. “Those souls never ascend to the afterlife promised them, and so are forever separated from their God. It weakens Talos, just as the Thalmor intend. And once they use the trapped soul to enchant, they are cut off from any help, sentenced to the Soul Cairn and a desolate existence.”

 

Nora thought about what the priestess had said. Something didn't ring right with her understanding of the process. “I thought they were doomed to the Soul Cairn the moment they were trapped,” she said, a feeling of disquiet growing in her.

 

“That's the way I was taught,” said Eldawyn, picking up on the same thing as Nora.

 

“That is what is commonly taught to mages,” said Arilwaen, shaking her head. “I'm sure most people believe that. But my sibling, Telthar, has done research into the gems and discovered an ancient means of freeing the soul within. They manifest as a whole spirit just before they ascend into their reward. They...”

 

Nora felt her stomach turning, her knees weakening. She felt herself about to fall before Eldawyn put an arm around her shoulder and held her up. The Altmer looked like she was about to be sick as well. “I didn't know either,” she whispered to Nora. “Oh, what have we done? How much torment will we have to endure in the next life for our crimes?”

 

Arilwaen gave the two women a questioning look, while J'Zargo growled low in his throat.

 

“We thought the souls in the gems already doomed,” cried Nora, wringing her hand. “So we used them in enchantments so we could better fight our enemies, the dragons. If I had only known we were sentencing them to the Soul Cairn.”

 

Arilwaen stepped forward and wrapped both women in a hug. “You didn't know. You followed the teachings of people who thought they knew the truth. And what did you do with the soul gems, the filled black gems, that you found on the Thalmor?”

 

“I, separated them, placed them apart, so that I would not use them,” said Nora, wiping at a tear. “I don't know why. It just didn't seem right to use them that way.”

 

“So your spirit was telling you what to do,” said the priestess with a smile. “And now you can free them.”

 

“Can you teach us how?”

 

“No,” said the priestess, shaking her head. “Telthar knows the method, and I'm sure he can teach you. But I have a favor to ask you my friends. Do not answer out of guilt, but only because you wish to do this.”

 

Nora nodded, as did Eldawyn. Anything they could do to expiate some of their guilt.

 

“We have word that the Thalmor have a number of black soul gems they are taking out of the kingdom, so they can be used in ceremonies in the Isles. Could you intercept that shipment before it leaves Skyrim?”

 

“Of course,” said Nora, nodding while wiping another tear away. “And then I want to meet this brother of yours and learn how to free souls from the gems. From now on, whenever I find them, I will release the souls.” At least those I don't know are evil, she thought, not really wanting to share those thoughts with the priestess. She would still use bandit and Thalmor souls if she took them, but any she didn't know the origin of would be set free.

 

“Froa gave us the information, so perhaps she should speak of this further.”

 

The barefooted woman in Stormcloak armor came forward, bowing her head. “If it please my Ladies, I am Froa. And I got word that the Thalmor are going to take the gems out by ship.”

 

“So to Solitude?” asked Eldawyn.

 

Nora didn't like that. Attacking Thalmor in front of witnesses could get her into hot water with the Imperial authorities. But if it meant saving innocent souls she would figure out a way around it.

 

“They're on a ship down the coast, near the Thalmor prison,” said the Nord, shaking her head. “With luck we will only have to deal with a few Thalmor.”

 

At this point Nora didn't care if they had to deal with a hundred Thalmor. The way she was feeling at this point the more the better. “Then let's go. We can put you on one of the horses and...”

 

“I prefer to run,” said the women. “Don't worry. I can keep up with a trotting horse.”

 

Nora smiled at her. “These horses will be running faster and for longer than any you've ever seen,” she said, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder. “So take my offer and take a horse.”

 

The ride down the sixty odd miles of coast took just over two hours. Froa held on tight, her face scrunched up in fear as her horse ran at a steady forty miles an hour. The coast was not straight, and there were fallen trees to go around, but eventually they could see the stone fortress that was the Thalmor prison, Northwatch Keep, in the distance. As Nora looked at the imposing structure she vowed to herself that she would see the Thalmor out of Skyrim someday. Still not sure what side of the civil war she wanted to be on, since both had promised her an end to the Thalmor, one openly, the other secretively. The longship was anchored in a small inlet, a dozen Thalmor in evidence.

 

They secured the horses and started moving forward. Nora cast invisibility and moved ahead, glass knife in her hand. The rest followed close behind, keeping to cover. She crept right into the midst of four Thalmor wizards who were discussing the trap they had laid, and wondering what they were going to catch. One of them caught a glass knife through the throat that ended his life instantly. Nora hit another with a fist to the side of the head while she swung the blade into the neck of another. A palm strike dropped the last to the ground, then two sharp jabs of the knife killed the injured mages.

 

The soldiers had started to react to the sounds of their superiors being taken down. Arrows and bolts came out of the cover and four went down. The remaining quartet charged the bushes, only to be struck down as well.

 

“I've, never seen anything like that,” said an amazed Froa. “Such skill at arms. And such a powerful mage,” she said, looking at Nora.

 

Nora ignored her and went over the gunnel of the ship, heading straight for the one locked chest on deck. She had it open in moments and hefted out a bag that was filled with warm gems.

 

Opening the bag she grunted her surprise, then turned to Froa, who had come onto the deck.

 

“Something's wrong. These aren't black soul gems.”

 

“Black, white, what's the difference?”

 

“Only a black soul gem can hold a sentient soul,” said Eldawyn, looking at the scores of lesser and common gems in the bag. “We've been tricked.”

 

They headed back to the horses and mounted.

 

“We need to ride, and fast,” said Froa.

 

“Hold on,” said Nora, who cast the teleport spell and had them fifteen miles closer to their destination in an instant.

 

“What?”

 

Again they teleported, and again, four times, until they were just outside of Widow's Watch Tower.

 

“What in all the hells was that.”

 

“Teleportation,” said Nora as she got off her horse and looked around. She spotted a body almost immediately, one of the watchers lying under a tree. With a chill running down her spine she ran to the tower, opened the hatch, and was greeted by a scene of horror. Forty or more people cut down, their blood pooling beneath their bodies. From the looks on their faces Nora knew what had happened, and she felt her gorge rising. They had been soul trapped, and knew what was happening when their spirits left their bodies. Arilwaen was lying on her back in front of the altar, a stab wound through her chest. Her face had a peaceful look, though Nora was certain that her soul had been trapped as well. There was spittle on her face, the sign that Thalmor had paid their last respects to an Altmer that disagreed with them. Nora was on her knees a moment later, emptying the contents of her stomach.

 

“By Talos, no,” screamed Froa, looking on in horror. “All she wanted was peace, and the love of Talos. And for that the bastards killed her.”

 

“I arrived too late to do anything,” said a high pitched Altmer male voice, and Nora turned to see a man in Thalmor wizard armor come through a door. She was about to shout him into the next world when Froa saved his life, unintentionally.

 

“Telthar,” she shouted, running at the man. “What happened here?”

 

“I believe a random Thalmor patrol stumbled on the Watch,” he said in a voice of devoid of emotion. “I tried to work the schedule so nothing would be in the area when my sister had her congregation here. Obviously, I was unsuccessful.”

 

“That is your sister lying there dead in front of the altar,” said Nora, her anger rising at the coldness of this man. “And all you can say is you were unsuccessful?”

 

“Maybe he's in shock,” said Eldawyn, studying the man. “In mourning.”

 

“I have never understood the need to mourn. My sister is dead, that is fact. And so she can do us no good.”

 

“You are a heartless bastard, Telthar,” yelled Froa, starting forward, her hand on a knife hilt. Nora grabbed the woman and held her back. Froa, who was obviously a strong woman, struggled to break free, but in Nora's grip she might as well have been a child.

 

“I tried to warn my sister that this might happen, but she was deaf to my reasoning,” said the Altmer “I also warned her that the information we were given on the gems might be false, setting up a trap for whoever we sent for them.”

 

“It was a trap,” said Nora, nodding. “And twelve Thalmor no longer walk this world.”

 

“So, you are formidable. A warrior, and if I guess right a mage of considerable power. Which means you might be able to solve our problem.”

 

“Problem?”

 

“Yes. These people were trapped,” said the man, letting out a sigh. “And the gems you were after also contained the souls of Talos worshipers. Since I have no desire to join some amorphous mass of energy on my death, quite liking being an individual, I would like those souls freed. Including that of my sister. You may think I am cold hearted, and I see no need to mourn the dead. I also have no desire to know that my sister was consigned to the Soul Cairn for eternity. She, deserved, better.”

 

“So where are these gems. Tell me, and I'll go after them.”

“A convoy heading south on the road to Falkreath was taken by some Falmer,” said Telthar. “Normally this would be a matter of little concern to my superiors. But they are quite disturbed. The wagons were ransacked near Chillwind Depths.”

 

“We know that place,” said Eldawyn, kneeling beside the body of the priestess and closing the dead eyes before saying a quick prayer.

 

“We can be there within the hour,” said Nora, letting go of Froa.

 

“So fast. Do you know teleportation magic? I thought only the Thalmor grand wizards knew that magic.”

 

“The Psijics taught me, all levels of the spell. Unfortunately, I haven't reached masters status yet, though soon, so I can only move about fifteen miles in a jump.”

 

“I'm impressed,” said Telthar, nodding. “Beyond what I can do. So, you will go there and get the gems?”

 

“Yes. And then you will free their souls? And teach me how to do the same?”

 

“Why?”

 

“So I can release any souls I find entrapped in the future,” said Nora, glaring at the man. “I can't let people be doomed to eternal torment for the crime of worshiping the wrong Gods.”

 

The man nodded, then turned to look at his sister. From the look in his eyes he wasn't quite as heartless as he wanted everyone to believe.

 

“Where are the gems that took the souls here?” asked Nora, realizing that not enough time had passed for those gems to go far.

 

“They are probably on the way to the embassy,” said Telthar. “They will not get there, since I have Altmer partisans waiting on the road to take them. I’m hoping I will have them here by the time you return.”

 

“I'll stay here,” said Froa, kneeling down beside Arilwaen's body and holding a cold hand. “From what I saw, you don't need me mucking up the works.”

 

Nora nodded and turned away, leading her people out of the Watch and to the horses. She was still in shock, but tried her best to compose her mind for the teleports. And she thought about taking her masters quests. Once she was a master of alteration the highest level Psijic teleportation spell would be hers to use, and she could make this trip in two jumps, one there, one back.

 

They arrived after a number of jumps at the abandoned camp a half mile from Chillwind Depths, as close as Nora wanted to go without knowing what was around. After picketing the horses the party made their way to the cavern entrance. Nora was taking everyone in on this one. The horses would just have to watch out for themselves this time, and the Dragonborn wondered why she had even brought them. Of course, if they needed to camp here for some reason having their equipment would be a plus, and after what had happened with Jordis at Volskyyge, she wasn't willing to take the chance.

 

They found signs of fighting as soon as they entered the Depths. The body of a Thalmor soldier, along with four Falmer, lay in the water. The way the Thalmor had been left where she lay showed that the Altmer had more important things on their minds. They made their way through a long stretch of frigid water before they reached dry land, to find a group of Thalmor searching the area, a number of Falmer and an Altmer body or two on the ground. One of the Thalmor, a mage by the look of him, came forward and started to say something, while two other wizards and a quartet of bowmen made ready to attack.

 

Nora really didn't feel like talking to the bastards, and immediately hit them with an Ice Storm spell, following it up with some castings of chain lightning. Her other mages had been ready and joined in, while her warriors sent arrows into anything that didn't fall immediately. The Thalmor didn't have a chance, their bodies hitting the ground before they got off the first spell or arrow.

Nora remembered the way in, and they fought their way through some more Thalmor before they started taking on the Falmer. Nora was on a mission, and anything that got in her way died, quickly, as they worked their way into the Depths. Until they finally came to the Falmer encampment. The bags of the soul gems called to her magic sense, hundreds of black gems radiating power.

 

“Gather them all up,” she told her people, making sure the bag to her front was filled. “We can't leave any behind.” She would not let these people languish in the gems, and any she missed here would probably be lost for thousands of years, if not forever.

 

It took over an hour of searching, but when the party left Nora was sure they had gotten every black soul gem in the place. She did a count before they left. Two hundred and thirty-four filled gems, each with the soul of an innocent waiting to be used in an enchantment, their spirits consigned to the Soul Cairn forever. Her own soul cried out at the injustice of this world. So much beauty, and so many people punished for things beyond their control.

 

Nora teleported them back to the camp, then started them on their way to Widow's Watch, Where they found Telthar waiting, a large bag of black gems in his hands.

 

“Did you find them?” asked the Altmer, clearly trying to portray himself as cold and heartless, and failing.

 

“Two hundred and thirty-four of them, plus the seventeen we recovered down in the Reach. So, let's get started.”

 

“This will take some time. Let us to the beach and free these souls. Being out in the open will allow them to reorient before moving on.”

 

Nora and company, Froa along, followed Telthar down the mile of path to the beach, looking over the cold Sea of Ghosts, icebergs floating in the distance. The Altmer taught Nora, Eldawyn and J'Zargo the spell needed to start the process, then demonstrated the technique of peeling off the outer layer of a gem with several examples. Blue ghosts appeared at each freeing, the spirits looking around for a moment before walking away, to fade before they got fifty yards.

 

The trio of mages all did one, and all watched in amazement as they freed a soul to go to its afterlife. Each evolution took about five minutes, and between the four of them they could release forty-eight souls an hour. It was meticulous, tiring work. Eldawyn and J'Zargo started yawning after about an hour, and were looking to their leader to call a break.

 

“They don't all have to be done tonight,” said Eldawyn, clenching her hands to relieve cramping.

 

“I'm not stopping until I've freed every one of these poor people.”

 

“J'Zargo is with you friend Nora,” said the Khajiit, going after another gem.

 

“Why do you even care, my furry friend?” asked Telthar, looking at J'Zargo curiously.

 

“One day I will return to Elsweyr as a mighty mage,” said the Khajiit, freeing another soul. “When this cat returns, he will be fighting the Thalmor, and finding gems with the trapped souls of Khajiit, yes. And I will free them to go to our afterlife.”

 

“A good goal,” said the Altmer, nodding.

 

Nora was working on another gem, and for some reason she felt this one was special. As she broke through the outer cover the blue energy of a soul coalesced in front of her, and she found herself looking up at the spirit of the Priestess, Arilwaen, who smiled down at her.

 

“Thank you, my Lady,” said the elf, looking around as other spirits started to walk down the beach to disappear.

 

“I am so sorry I wasn't there to save you, my Lady,” said Nora, tears rolling down her face.

 

“Not to worry. You saved us in the end. And I see that my brother has taught you how to free souls. All of these will go on to strengthen Talos. And now, I am called to my reward.”

 

“Where?”

 

“I don't know, but I am sure the God I serve has someplace special for me. Farewell.” With that the spirit turned and moved off, to fade away.

 

“Kynareth guide you,” whispered Nora in a prayer under her breath.

 

Nora and J'Zargo kept at it for hours until the last soul was freed, Eldawyn joining in after a break. Jordis and Lydia led the exhausted leader to the fire they had built and pushed a plate of food into her hands. She ate without thinking, then was led away to bed. She fell into the furs exhausted, to immediately go to sleep. The last thing she heard was Jordis talking to Lydia.

 

“She is worthy of our service,” said the Sword Maiden. “So selfless, so caring of others.”

 

“She will have a penance to pay,” said Lydia. “Self-imposed of course. She had no way of knowing how the soul gems worked. No one did.”

 

“Then it's not fair that she beats herself up over it.”

 

“Our Thane is responsible to a fault. And it is up to us to guard her while she pursues her goals.”

 

That was the last Nora knew of their conversation, and she had a smile on her face, thinking about the two exceptional young warriors who she had a mutual responsibility pact with.

 

Kynareth visited the Dragonborn in her dreams. Again she was in the clouds, the beautiful naked form of the Goddess approaching her, offering a hand and leading Nora to her bed. After an hour of lovemaking they lay together in the bed, the Goddess caressing the skin of her champion.

 

“You have done well, daughter,” said the Goddess, smiling. “You have acted with wisdom, courage and caring.”

 

“What happens to the priestess, Arilwaen? Does she go to Sovngarde?”

 

“No, for she is not a warrior of exceptional ability. But she does go to the afterlife that most on Nirn reach if they lived a good life. A pleasant place where she will spend some thousand years or so before she is reborn into this world. She was a good person, and you did well to save her from the Soul Cairn.”

 

“Why does a place like that even exist?” asked Nora, confused.

 

“Because we are limited in our powers, my champion. We have control of our own plane, and can project some of our power onto the mortal plane. But spheres of influence are maintained by all the forms some call Gods, others Daedra. Perhaps when you are a God, like Talos, you can...”

 

The Goddess must have seen the look on Nora's face, because she stopped speaking. “I said too much. Forget.”

 

The memory of what the Goddess said faded from Nora's mind, though something lingered and would remain.

 

“Now, you have many trials ahead. Sleep, that you may be ready for the morrow.”

 

The rest of the night passed dreamless, and Nora awoke with some confusion. She couldn't remember everything the Goddess had said, but something in there was disturbing to her. Something about Talos and Godhood.

 

“Where to today, my Thane?” asked Jordis when Nora appeared at the fire.

 

The young woman brought a plate out to Nora, and the Dragonborn smiled her thanks, wondering if she should shoulder the burden of cooking some mornings. She dismissed that thought with the realization that her people would see that as an affront to their offered service. And she really wasn't that good a cook.

 

“I think we will visit the Thalmor prison, Northwatch Keep, up the coast,” Nora said between bites. “I don't like the idea of those bastards operating in a hold in which I am Thane. So let’s say we put that little operation to an end.”