Chapter 14: Dark Tales on Dark Wings

Asha went about her tasks with feelings of confusion. True to his word, Hakon met with Asha a week later and they spent the day fishing by Lake Ilinalta, catching as many fish as they could and gutting them for his return journey. She didn’t have to press him hard for stories from the outside world for he was a willing speaker when she sat beside him.

“The plains have suffered far less than other reaches,” said Hakon, continuing on the troubles from beyond the Brittle Mountains. “I hear the north shores are in a bad place, pushed by the dragon priests for more supplies than usual. And we haven’t even heard from the Eastern lands from beyond the Throat of the World. Some say they are even more oppressed.”

“Do you have any proof?” said Asha, frustration clear in her voice. “You cannot claim to say we are oppressed when you have never even seen our people to the east.”

“Travelers bring word,” said Hakon. “The plains are the central location for all trade. Everyone who travels from east to west, north to south either passes through our lands or skirts the edge. We traffic heavily in tales, remembering those from the old and learning the new. We have heard almost nothing from the east in years and the tales from the north speak only of hunger and poverty.”

“Even if that is true,” said Asha, “It cannot be said it's the dragon priest's fault. The world could be turning…the gods angry with us, perhaps? Has anyone spoken to Alduin World Eater about this? He can speak for the gods.”

Hakon gave her a skeptical glance. “Alduin World Eater? The most harsh of the gods that is destined to end the world? I don’t think I would trust him to speak the word of our slain father Shor or his loving wife Kyne.”

He yelled out in surprise, startling Asha as he yanked at his fishing line, pulling out a large fish. They laughed and pulled in the fish, moving from the shore to begin gutting the fish. The silence stretched between them when Asha thought of another group they hadn’t mentioned. “What of our people to the west, on the borders with the Reachmen? I hear Lord Otar has made great progress in settling in the Reach and establishing peaceful relations with some of the tribes. Even I heard those stories in my isolation. Of course, many of us thought he was crazy to attempt making peace with the Reachmen.”

“Exactly,” said Hakon, “Even those considered good are strange. And besides, for every good story of Otar I have heard, I have heard worse from Volsun, Lord of Volskygge, who works his people night and day to build him a new city. Or Lord Hevnoraak who experiments on the Reachmen they do catch. You see? For any good priest you can tell me about, I can tell you of two that are worse.”

Asha huffed, “The Dragon priests are the reason we exist. They built wonders. The city of Bromjunaar, the tombs of our ancestors, the monument to Ysgramor…not to mention the destruction of our hated enemy in the Snow Elves.”

“Yes, they did help with that, didn’t they,” said Hakon. “And yet it's over a hundred years since any Snow elves were even rumored to be seen, let alone fought by our people. They fled into the earth to be protected by the Dwemer or fled to other lands. I thank the dragon priests for their aid but that service has long passed.”

The silence stretched between them again as Asha processed this. She didn’t like it but he had a point. “It’s true. The last war we fought with them was on the island of Solstheim. It was said, that during that final battle at Moesring, the Snow Prince was the only elf the warriors of Atmora ever admired. He was so powerful, riding on his white steed, that even our finest couldn’t best him in combat.”

Hakon looked at her, his interest immediately aroused. “That can’t be though, they lost the battle. Surely he died.”

“Oh, he did,” said Asha, “But not in the way anyone expected. It was said, in that final conflict, that he took down many famous warriors, each seeking to fight him one-on-one, each failing to achieve an honorable victory. But, when he struck down the mighty warrior woman Jofrior, her daughter took up her mother's sword. The twelve-year-old Finna was so enraged at her mother's death, that she charged the Snow Prince to fight him herself. His amazement was great so he did not react to her attack. The young girl hurled her mother's sword at the Snow Prince and struck him in the chest. He fell from his horse dead and his army routed in fear. Thus, the final battle against the Snow Elves was won by a young woman.”

Hakon laughed. “That can’t be true! What was a twelve-year-old girl doing in the middle of the battle?”

Asha laughed as well. “They don’t say in the old tales. Some suggest she was her mother’s shield bearer. Some say she was a warrior in training. Whatever the case, young Finna won the battle.”

Hakon was staring at her, his smile infectious. She smiled back. “What?”

“Nothing. I just…like hearing your stories. You tell them well.”

She blushed and stood up. “I always wanted to tell stories. They kept my spirits up and reminded me of a past that…seemed so far away.”

Hakon stood and followed her to the water's edge. “We could use a Finna these days.”

She laughed. “What enemies are there to…oh, right. Never mind.”

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“No, tell me.”

“I forgot that you think the dragon priests are our enemy.”

He sighed and sat down, throwing his line into the water again. “Well, not yet. But someday they might be. Strangers things have happened, even in your stories.”

“True enough,” she said, sitting beside him again.

Their fishing turned to conversation and that meeting turned into many more. The months turned cold and when the snows of winter covered the ground, he still found a time to come visit her. They would spend time in the cave, sitting in the hot spring. She would tell him more stories and he would talk about the stories from the world that he heard from travelers. More and more rumors came from the north and west. The east fell silent, a silence that was almost as ominous as any news.

These months were some of Asha’s most treasured. Half of her waking hours were spent training and the other half was spent hunting and talking with Hakon. Krosis asked her for the updates on occasion to which she would reveal all she had heard from Hakon. Her stomach twisted in knots when she did this but she convinced herself that it wasn’t to harm him. No harm would come from sharing stories that anyone could have told Krosis if he just lived on the plains himself.

She was also willing to admit that Hakon, with his blond hair and beard, shining brown eyes, and his friendly nature were enticing. She still felt guilt over her emotions toward him. Wulfin still entered her thoughts but with less frequency. Hakon was replacing him. Which was absurd. They were only friends and he had never admitted any kind of affection toward her in that regard…openly. His expression sometimes told a different story. He stared so deep that his eyes felt like pools of light pulling her in. His smile was also infectious. For a man that was often so serious and somber, he still had a lively spirit and could joke and laugh like a man with no worries.

The winter months thawed to spring and, as the edges of the lake melted to reveal the fresh water, they once more took up their fishing. “Father thanks you for the deer,” said Hakon as they sat together fishing once more. “He always appreciates a good venison but will take fish when he can get it.”

“Tell him he is most welcome,” said Asha.

“I hope you can tell him that yourself someday,” said Hakon.

She held her breath. It was the not the first time he had referenced inviting her to join him but he never outright asked. Maybe this time would be different. He was looking at her again with his intense stare. “Asha…”

A noise caught Asha’s ear. The months of training and hunting had sharpened may of her senses and she held up a hand. “Shh. I think I heard a-”

A roar split the air, far closer than she would have liked. Hakon leapt to his feet, fear across his face. “Dragon. Where?”

Asha looked to the sky, the beating of wings now more prominent. “Close.”

Hakon snatched her hand in his own and pulled her toward the tree line. “What are you doing?” asked Asha.

Hakon ignored her and pulled her into the shade of a large pine. A shadow passed overhead and the roar echoed across the waters of the lake. The dragon soared overhead, flying low and headed east. As it passed, Asha pulled her hand from Hakon’s and rushed out to stare at its path. “It’s headed for Summer Falls. I should head back. Something may have happened.”

She rushed to pick up her bow and stash the rod in their spot under a boulder. “Asha,” said Hakon, following her. “Asha, wait.”

She turned back to him, slinging her bow over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I can’t stay.”

“I know,” he said, pulling her hand into his again. “I just…can you return here once you know what is happening? I want to know what's happening too.”

She paused and stared at him. He had other reasons as well but she didn’t feel the need to ask him. “Of course. I’ll be back before nightfall if I can, I promise.”

Asha nearly ran the rest of the way home, scrambling along her familiar path over and between boulders. As she reached the path up the mountain to the fortress, the dragon took off from the courtyard with a roar. It soared low again and nearly clipped Asha. She had to duck and cling to the rock to avoid being buffeted over by the wings of the dragon. It was the same one that had spoken to Krosis some months before.

She hurried up the mountain and into the fortress. All the hunters were rushing about, packing items and hugging family members. Asha’s heart sank and she hurried to Krosis at the head of the hall. “My lord, what has happened?”

Krosis shook his head, sitting down in a chair on the stage. “There is word from the north. Rebellion in Volsun’s land. He requests my hunters to track down a band of runaways. I…cannot refuse the order of a dragon, as much as I would never help that idiot, Volsun.”

He sighed again and leaned on his staff. Asha remained silent, wondering what was coming next. Krosis continued. “I’m sending a detachment of hunters to help with this and return home immediately. No other orders are to be followed.”

“Am I to go?” asked Asha.

He chuckled, a strange and rare sound from behind his mask. “No, Asha. That is beyond your skills. I have another task for you. I cannot wait any longer. I must know what is happening in other lands. Do you still talk with the farmer from the plains?”

Asha’s heart skipped a beat. “I do.”

“Good. You are to ask him to take you to his homeland. Take the time you need there to gather information about the people and what their circumstances are. Then you are to return and report to me before the coming of the warm winds. Do you understand?”

Asha nodded. “I do, Lord Krosis.”

***

When Asha returned to Hakon that evening, he was sitting by a fire cooking a fish. He stood, hand on his ax when she entered the camp. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re back. I’m glad. What news?”

She sat on the opposite side of the fire and warmed her hands. “Word up north. Hunters have been summoned to hunt down runaways and rebels. Lord Krosis is not pleased with this order but must follow it.”

Hakon scowled as well. “Of course. But he still follows them. And now oppressed people will die to your hunters for wanting to escape their dragon priest.”

Asha shook her head, staring into the flames. “I don’t know what will happen. But I’m tired of not knowing what the outside world is like.”

She looked up at him and his frown had vanished. Hakon had a look of expectation, his eyebrow cocked in an unspoken question. Asha spoke the words she was dreading and yet longing to say. “Hakon…will you take me back with you to see your home?”

His smile was made brighter in the firelight. “I was about to ask.”