Aithne tried to put Merks out of her mind (an impossibility - his constant presence beside her was like a hovering gnat) as she turned to Sloan.

 

“Have you found either of the others? I assume not the Dragonborn or she would be with you, but…”

 

Sloan shook her head. “I just came from Windhelm but there is no sign of Trendil. She may be on some Stormcloak mission – I was unable to tell for certain. I did happen to run into Delphine, of all people, so if we go to her, we will probably run into Sian soon after.” A pause. “Although I guess I should not assume you are coming. You are just married, after all. Congratulations, by the way – I don’t think I said it before.”

 

“Thank you, but I have already talked to Nyatt about this. I am going…”

 

“You said you had things to do, but this…”

 

Aithne blinked and turned to her husband, who was staring at her with an aghast expression. “Hm? This what?”

 

“This sounds…dangerous.”

 

“It will be. Exceedingly. But it is what I came here to do. Well, not here at the kwåim.” Aithne laughed. “I got a little sidetracked. But it’s just as well, because…”

 

Nyatt garumphed. “I’m going with you.”

 

“…I wasn’t…what? No, you don’t have to…”

 

“Let my new wife run off to fight dragons by herself? Yes, I certainly do have to.” He paused, then quickly added, “Go with you. Not let you. I meant. Not not let you as in not let you, but not let you not go without…” His words fizzled out as his tongue finished tying itself in knots and his dark green blush started again.

 

Aithne laughed and placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Of course, you may do what you wish, my husband. I have no right to tell you otherwise. But…” She paused, uncertain how to phrase what needed to be said in the delicate way it must be said. “…as you said, it will be dangerous.”

 

Nyatt huffed. “I am an orc. I may not be the best warrior in the meyge but I still have my pride. I could never let my wife face danger while I just sat at home and…”

 

His voice was beginning to rise along with his color, so Aithne patted his arm and attempted to forestall his building tantrum. Although a small part of her would not have minded if he continued.

 

“Of course, my husband, I apologize – I did not mean to impugn your honor.”

 

Nyatt strangled the rest of his words and, after a few grimaces, settled back on his chair and rubbed his face with both hands. “I…apologize. I am not one to lose my temper.”

 

Chyehye laughed. “You should more often! That was the most orcish I have ever seen you act, Nyatt! Marriage is good for you!” Nyatt glared at Chyehye, which only made her laugh the harder. “Yes! We’ll make a proper orc of you yet!”

 

Aithne turned back to Sloan. “Anyway, yes, I am going despite being recently married.”

 

“I am glad to hear it. We’ll need as many allies as we can find. I understand Orsimer society often includes multiple wives – are there more coming with us?”

 

Aithne laughed. “Fortunately, no. Multiple wives are common but I am Nyatt’s first, for which I am grateful. I’m not sure if I am prepared to be part a harem just yet.”

 

Chyehye cleared her throat. “Um…about that.”

 

Aithne blinked and turned to the orc woman. “About what?”

 

“Um…I want to marry you.”

 

“I…what?!”

 

“Technically I would be marrying Nyatt, of course.” She must have misinterpreted the look on Aithne’s face because she hastened to add, “Do not worry – you will be Nyi-Chtiyo.” At Aithne’s blank expression, Chyehye amended, “First Wife. I know well you could defeat me easily if you are not held back by using only a weapon.”

 

Nyatt frowned. “You are already married to Chach.”

 

“I know, but I will divorce him. I’m tired of dealing with Tsih’s drama anyway.”

 

Nyatt’s orcish anger returned to his face. “You have always had my respect, of course, but you have always been…unkind to me. What if I say no?”

 

Chyehye sighed. “It is true that I have held you in disdain, Nyatt. You are attractive enough and have strength but are clumsy and therefore hopeless in a fight. Although I now realize how hurtful my words have been,” this with a side glance at Aithne, “it is too late to retract them. I understand there is little love between us. However, I swear upon Malacath that my time of distain is past - I will be a faithful and dutiful wife for you.” A pause while Nyatt’s stormy face cast withering tendrils of anger. She sighed again. “Also, consider this: marrying me will bring the two highest ranked members of ṭi sna into the marriage, which will be enough that you - both of you – will be lifted into ṭi sna. The ṭi to which Aithne rightfully belongs and to which you, my soon to be husband, will now be able to claim.”

 

Nyatt’s expression turned at once from enraged to one of wonderment, but Aithne frowned at Chyehye. “But why? You had no interest in marrying him – us - up to this point.”

 

Chyehye grinned in something reminiscent of a wolf spotting pretty. “It is very simple, Nyi-Chtiyo – you are clearly near the center of world-changing events. Though it may cost my life, that is a challenge I cannot pass up - I must be part of it.”

 

It was hard to argue with that point, so Aithne did not. A glance at Nyatt told her he had already made his choice and she sighed as she resigned herself to being in a harem after all. At least Chyehye was someone she liked. “I guess that’s settled.” She returned her focus to Sloan, whose expression remained as unreadable as ever. “Where are we going?” As she said the words, her mind came to a realization that her mouth put into words before she realized she was speaking: “I can’t read your mind!”

 

Sloan laughed. “I should hope not! You probably would not like what you found there. We are going to Helgen. Or possibly Riverwood. It depends on what we find when we get there.”

 

Aithne nodded by rote, though she had stopped listening. It was disorienting; after days of people’s thoughts passively intruding on her mind, Sloan’s mental silence felt like having a blind spot in her vision.

 

“I…very well. I have not been to those places, so we’ll have to walk. Unless we own horses?” She glanced at Nyatt, who shook his head. “No? I thought not.” She sighed and turned her gaze to Merks. “I suppose that puts an end to using the College as our base. I have stretched Savos’ patience far enough without bringing extra guests. Pity – I’ll miss the bath so very much. I can bring you back if you want to continue your studies – I don’t need you as an escort now. No? Very well.” She turned back to Sloan. “I guess we have our plan, little enough as it is. But for now, I need to sleep – it has been a long week and I ate far too much tonight.”

 

“That is something else we have in common. Never let it be said the Orsimer don’t know how to put on a feast!” Sloan stood and bowed. “Congratulations again on the nuptials. To all three of you, I suppose! I shall see you in the morning.”

 

She took a step away then seemed to vanish into the dark beyond the torchlights and Aithne felt an unexpected moment of envy – on a whim, she had tied herself down to a husband (and soon a wife – how did that work, exactly? She mentally quailed away from the question even as it popped up), and so had lost her freedom, in a sense – her freedom of movement, of time to herself. Those were things precious to her, things she had had for only the briefest of moments. Last time, it had been taken from her; this time, she had willingly given it away. What daft notion had…

 

“Are you all right?”

 

Aithne blinked out of her reverie as her husband's giant but gentle hand touched her shoulder, and she laid a hand of her own on his and smiled up at him. “Yes, my husband. I am fine. Just trying to plan ahead. It will be a long journey – we’ll need supplies.”

 

“That will be my job,” Chyehye responded as she stood. “I am well practiced at long journeys – I’ll have everything ready by the time we leave. For now, though, I need to talk to my current husband. He will be none too pleased, but since I outrank him, he will have little choice.” She patted Aithne’s other shoulder in a gesture as awkward as it was sweet. “I know you have trepidations about this arrangement, but fear not – we will make sure you are as safe and well-taken care of as we can. Right, my soon to be husband?”

 

“I…of course!”

 

Aithne smiled at them both and tried to feel…well, not trepid, but their attempts at reassurance only turned her focus from her new self-imposed lack of privacy to the realization that she had put more innocent lives in danger. They had promised to protect her, but it was she who would be doing the protecting, and that…that had not gone well last time.

 

As she stood and walked with Nyatt through the kwåim toward his…their home, her thoughts turned to all the ways she had failed those in her charge; the thousands of lives lost because of her arrogance. She gripped her fists as she stepped through the doorway of the ngot – it would not happen again. Whatever happened, whatever she had to do, she would make certain no one under her care died ever again.

 

 

 

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