“Company R arrived today.”

 

Swordsinger sighed as she glanced up from the map. “Finally. That’s the last one, as I recall.”

 

“Yes.” Hammerleaf grinned. “Unless you have reconsidered and want to pull Jaunty’s family in.”

 

Swordsinger snorted. “No. I’m sure there are already plenty of Jaunty spies in the companies we have who will be happy to start spreading rumors as soon as we make the announcement. We don’t need more of his people here to help spread those fires.”

 

“Oh, you mean the rumors that the orders we’re about to announce don’t really exist and we’re planning to strike out on our own without permission, effectively making us traitors?”

 

“For Harbor’s sake, don’t say that out loud! What’s wrong with you?”

 

“So so many things. Are you sure this is a good idea?”

 

 “Don’t start having doubts now. We’ve discussed this over and over and we keep coming to the same conclusion. So don’t try to seed more doubt into it.”

 

“Of course. It’s just a big step.”

 

“Yes. As we have said many times, sometimes big steps are needed. Frankly, I’m more worried about balking when we mention Labyrinthian than doubts about the orders.”

 

“Well, it is said to be haunted, and that…”

 

“…no one who goes there comes back. Yes, I know. I don’t have time for ghost stories. Besides, Delphine said she has gone through there many times without incident.”

 

“I wouldn’t say ‘without incident’.” Delphine looked up from the black armor she was repairing. “There were some trolls.”

 

Hammerleaf shrugged. “Perhaps the trolls are the reason for the rumors. Certainly they are formidable creatures to fight.”

 

“Aye. We’ll have to approach with caution. I’m sure we’ll be able to handle whatever we find, but I don’t want to lose any more people.” Swordsinger straightened, tugging at her armor in an ineffectual attempt to make it look less worn out. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner it is done, the sooner we can deal with whatever comes next. Ulfric is going to be king whether he wants to or not.”

 

Delphine raised her eyebrows and paused her work. “You’re leaving today?”

 

Hammerleaf shook his head. “No, it will take a little time to get organized. We’ll leave in…three days, I’d say?”

 

“Sounds about right.”

 

Delphine nodded. “Very well. And my offer?”

 

Swordsinger exchanged a glance with Hammerleaf then shook her head.

 

“After the war, if we aren’t executed for treason, we’ll join you. It just…doesn’t feel right to do it right now.”

 

Delphine nodded. “I understand. We’ll be here when you’re ready. Hopefully with Sian and more Blades!”

 

“Yes, I admit, I am interested to meet this person I apparently look like.”

 

“Two people you look like. Spitting image, I assure you. Are you certain you don’t have sisters?”

 

Swordsinger shrugged. “I make no assumptions when it comes to my mother, but if so, I have never heard of them.”

 

“Well, hopefully we’ll have time to explore that mystery as well once you return.”

 

“Aye. I look forward to that.” Swordsinger looked at Hammerleaf. “Are we prepared for this? Have we forgotten anything?”

 

 “We are as prepared as we are ever likely to get.”

 

“Then let’s get this over with.”

 

Hammerleaf laughed. “You mean, let’s get this started.”

 

They wound their way through the cavern corridors in stark silence. Swordsinger found her heart was beating at a rate that seemed frankly unhealthy. She was more nervous about this than any battle or dragon they had faced. They made their way into the cavern that had been their base for these many months and she took her place on a ledge overlooking the main cavern room, then motioned to Hammerleaf, who nodded, took a deep breath, and shouted, “Attention please! Everybody gather around. We have new orders.”

 

It took a few cacophonous minutes for the companies to arrange themselves. Swordsinger looked over the assembled group with an overwhelming sense of pride at their accomplishments and a dark sickness that twisted inside her at what she was about to say. Their actions following this announcement would technically make every one of them unwitting traitors to their king and country. Once they gained Solitude and won the war, there was a good chance all who survived the war would find themselves arrested and headless within the next fortnight. She might as well be signing their death warrants herself.

 

Still, it could not be helped. As things stood, they would all be dead before the war ended (if it ever did), no matter what happened. Better for it to happen for the right reasons. She quelled her doubts and took a deep breath.

 

“We have good news! At long last, we have orders to get out of this Divines-forsaken place! We are leaving the Reach!”

 

 She paused, waiting for the inevitable reaction that arrived only a couple heartbeats later - a raucous cheer erupted. She let it go for a bit then held up her arms and waited for it to quiet again.

 

“It is time to end this war! We are to march west and then north, bypassing the northern portion of the Reach! Instead of the expected route through the Reach to Dragon Bridge, we are to go through Labyrinthian Pass and take Morthal!”

 

She hurried on, getting to the good part of this news, hoping to quell the instinctual fear the name Labyrinthian would no doubt bring forth in many of the Nords.

 

“That will give us a new front in this war that will lead to our inevitable and ultimate victory. All hail the Stormcloaks! All hail King Ulfric!”

 

She hoped finishing on the high note would help them step past their fear and, for the most part, it seemed to have worked. The cheers rang out again, though perhaps not as loud as before, and she nodded and stepped back. Hammerleaf took her place and began announcing the orders for the Company leaders to begin their preparations. Swordsinger stood by until he was finished and then they turned as one and headed back up the hall toward the temple.

 

Once out of earshot of the companies, Swordsinger took a deep breath and Hammerleaf wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and said, “That went as well as could be expected.”

 

“I suppose. The fallout will come in the next few days as we gather for departure. Then the fears and rumors and whispers will have had a chance to implant themselves. That is the scariest part.”

 

“Well, we’ll deal with that as it comes up, as always.”

 

“Aye. Just as we’ll deal with the headsman axe when it comes up.”

 

“You’re such an optimist. We’ll have to survive a war long before we have to face any headsman axes.”

 

Swordsinger laughed. “Fair point. I need to talk to Wooly. Let’s set up an officer’s meeting in, say, two hours.”

 

“As you say, oh fearless leader.”

 

“I wish that moniker was true. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much fear.” She sighed and turned toward the tunnel to her right. “See you soon.”

 

“Aye.”

 

The darkness of the tunnel enclosed her like an echo of the fear that pressed at her heart and she shivered as her steps quickened in instinctual empathy. She burst out the other side almost at a run, stumbling to a stop in the chamber beyond where Wooly looked up from the rough map table.

 

“You all right?”

 

Swordsinger took a deep breath, fighting for composure as the light of the room pushed away the darkness, if only for a moment.

 

“Yes.” She motioned at the map. “I see you’ve already started charting our course. We need to try to avoid any engagements, if possible, even if that takes us off the straightest path. Oh, and have someone put a torch in that tunnel. It’s dark as night in there.”