Aela jogged through the trees like a deer with a wolf on her trail. For in truth, there was one. A wolf of her own making. A warrior like none other, and a Shield Sister of the Companions to boot. Aelinna the Dragonborn was hot on her trail and determined to catch up with her.

Crouching low as she crested a ridge, the huntress risked a glance behind. There, crossing a clearing about a mile back, was her friend. Aelinna’s strong body was outlined by the steel and leather armor she favoured, and the bow she liked was strapped to her back. The dark haired Nord must have sensed Aela’s eyes on her, for she stopped suddenly and looked directly at her quarry.

Aela didn’t need to see the determination on her friend’s face to know that the Dragonborn wasn’t going to stop until they confronted each other. Aelinna had already confronted daedra, dragons and worse. A little thing like a betrayal would barely slow her down, so Aela did the smartest thing she could think of. She ran.

She ran down the hill and toward a ravine that she knew of nearby. There was an old rope bridge across it. All Aela had to do was get across and cut the bridge before Aelinna caught up to her. Once that was done, not even the Dragonborn would be able to catch her before she got back to Jorrvaskr, where any sort of confrontation would be in Aela’s favor.

The bridge swayed alarmingly as Aela ran across, but years of learning how to keep her footing in all sorts of weather kept her moving and she was across in moments. Aela turned, drew her sword and cut the bridge ropes with a half dozen quick slashes. Just in time, as a few breaths later her shield sister emerged from the wood on the opposite side.

“We need to talk, Aela,” Aelinna said, from the far side.

“Yes, but not here, not now,” Aela called back, well aware that she was inside of easy bow range. “Meet me back at Jorrvaskr and I’ll try to explain things to you. There are some things you aren’t ready to know quite yet.”

“I am sick and tired of people telling me what to do and when to do it. I think it’s godsdamn time I got my answers when I want them, not when people think I’m ready for them,” Aelinna said, just before Shouting, “WULD NAH”

The form of the Dragonborn blurred as she rode the power of the Thu’um over and across the gap separating the two women. As the Shout dissipated it deposited Aelinna safely on Aela’s side of the gap.

“Well, that’s something new,” Aela said, drawing her sword in automatic response. Few people knew that the Dragonborn needed a break between using Shouts. The longer the shout, the longer the break. If she attacked now it would be down to steel and skill, and while Aelinna was good and getting better by the day, Aela still had a small advantage over her. Aela tensed for a moment, and then dropped her sword to the rocky ground beneath her. The clatter of steel on stone caused Aelinna to stiffen, and it made her pause in sudden surprise.

“You’ve probably gone and nicked the blade,” Aelinna said, walking forward, hand resting on the hilt of her own sword. “Eorland is going to have a fit when he sees what you’ve done to his work. Why didn’t you attack as I landed? You might have been able to take me right then.”

“I’ve already wronged you, Shield Sister,” Aela said, as she sat herself down in a cross-legged fashion. “I wasn’t going to make it worse by attacking you as well.”

“Then give me some fucking answers,” Aelinna said, moving to sit near the red-haired huntress. “Is something making you do this? A Daedra? Why in all the hells would you take one of my followers and go sell him off like a piece of meat in the market?”

“Because it was the only way to get what I needed to save the lives of many Companions, and possibly even the soul of our Harbinger,” Aela said.

“What’s Kodlak got to do with this?” Aelinna demanded. “I know he’s sick, is that why you sold the pony? For a cure?”

“No,” Aela said, shaking her head. “The wizard I sold your pony to had knowledge and information the Companions desperately need.”

“What information?” Aelinna insisted. “What is worth the hell that wizard is going to put that pony through? Tell me, or do I have to raise my voice again?”

“I can’t tell you,” Aela said, quickly carrying on as Aelinna’s eyes flamed in anger. “Not here, anyway. When we get to Jorrvaskr I’ll tell you everything. My word on it.”

“Do you know what wizards do to people they get their hands on?” Aelinna said, growling the words. “I did some asking around near Winterhold about the bastard. He’s an alchemist, a master alchemist. That wizard is going to take apart that pony piece by piece to see what he can make potions out of. You’ll tell me right fucking now what I need to know or I’ll make you wish it was you the bastard is cutting up.”

Aela blanched. She was a powerful Nord warrior, and one of the best fighters among the Companions, but she had seen Aelinna in battle. Seen her fury, her growing skills, and the power of the dragon blood within her. Aelinna wasn’t quite her equal with a sword, but when you added in the power of the Voice and fire of her rage, Aelinna was more than her match.

“I can tell you where to find them,” Aela said, keeping her face and voice stoic, “but you’re probably too late already. I met with the wizard yesterday, and not even you can cover that much distance that quickly.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Aelinna said, with another dragon-like growl as she stood back up and towered over Aela. “Now, tell me where that festering pus stain is lairing. After I deal with that toadlicker, I’ll come back and talk with you. Pray to whichever god you like that I find the pony alive, because if I don’t…” Aelinna didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to.

“I look forward to our conversation, Shield Sister,” Aela said, standing up as well to face the Dragonborn. “Good luck.”

“No more fucking secrets after this,” Aelinna said, before deliberately putting her back to Aela and again Shouting, “WULD NAH.”

“Perhaps it is time the Circle opened to allow a new member,” Aela said softly, as the echoes of repeated Shouts began to fade into the distance. “I’ll see you at Jorrvaskr, my sister. No more secrets, I swear it.”

Author's Note

On to the next chapter...