Chapter 6
Kodlak pushed the sliced up pieces of ash yam around his plate with his fork, more in disgust than anything. His very first encounter with the strange vegetable had left him believing that maybe cabbage wasn't so bad any more.
He continued to toy with his food a while longer before eventually losing interesting and almost violently, began to stab at the pieces, reducing them to mush.
"We could always return home?" Vilkas offered lazily. He knew that Ayah would be more than reluctant to get back on the northern maiden any time soon, meaning his little nephew would be staying.
The mere thought of the sea made Ayah's stomach lurch. She was glad she hadn't chosen to eat like Farkas and her son had. She knew she'd have brought it back up by then.
"Looks like you'll be coming with us then Kodlak." Aela said, almost smugly.
The little boy beamed up from his plate, his fork stilling. "Really?"
"Aye well..." Vilkas began, eyeing a pale looking Ayah. "Your mother would rather not go back across the sea just yet."
"I can't believe I'm being blackmailed like this." The harbinger groaned.
The companions had crowded themselves around a small table in the retching netch cornerclub, stealing chairs from other tables so everyone could be seated.
the other patrons, be it few and far between at that time of day, watched the large group of nords from a distance.
"We're not blackmailing you..." Aela waved her hand nonchalantly. "Its just very clear you don't want to go back out to sea. And we can't send Kodlak back a alone, can we?"
The huntress watched the younger woman glower, her cheeks still flushed of colour.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this." She murmured. "But fine. He can stay. But at the first sign of...ANYTHING...He's out of here. One of you will take him home. Understood?"
"Understood Harbinger." The others replied in unison.
"I can come too then?!" Kodlak, in his excitement, clambered to stand on his chair, which rocked and creaked in protest.
Nodding, his mother gently eased him down in his seat again before he fell. "Aye. You can come little one."She wrinkled her nose then and stuck her tongue out at him. "But I think you need to bathe before we do anything else. You smell of onions."
"Do not!" He bleated.
"Do too." Farkas answered him.
"It must be from that barrel." Aela commented, her hand lazily swirling her sujamma around in it's cup.
Standing without another word, Ayah wondered over to the bar. She spoke with Geldis, the dark elf that owned the cornerclub, before returning to the table and plucking her child from his seat.
"Geldis has kindly said we can use his stone tub. Come now little one. I can't stand your stink any longer."
"I don't have to bathe too, do I?" Farkas whined as his son struggled in Ayah's arms. Neither had much affection for their matriarch's need for cleanliness.
"Perhaps." His wife purred, leaning down to kiss him softly.
"You smell like a horker!" Kodlak laughed, reaching to tug Farkas's hair when Ayah leant in. Grasping two handfuls of his father's hair, Kodlak pulled, laughing louder when Farkas jumped and yelped in pain before smacking his hands away.
"Hey!" Farkas winced, rubbing his sore scalp. Kodlak continued to giggle, his legs kicking out trying to make contact with his father.
"Play fight!" He yelled and continued to wiggle about.
"Play fight later." Ayah tightened her grip on the child, pinning his legs against her.
"Aye!" Farkas grumbled. "Little cheat. We haven't even started yet."
Rounding the table, Kodlak still flailing about as she carried him, Ayah headed deeper into the cornerclub. Geldis had directed her to one of the far rooms at the back where he said there was somewhere Ayah could use to clean up. Eventually, she found what he was talking about. It was a small room, used as a indoor wash room.
Ayah was pleased to have such a luxury.
Since living in Skyrim, she'd finally discovered why many of the other races referred to the nords as savages and barbarians. Across the different lands of Tamriel, Ayah had become used to such things like indoor wash rooms and sanitary sewage disposal.
Skyrim left a lot to be desired.
It was clear the nords were more preoccupied with things like battling and mead than actually installing a good sewage system in many of their cities.
Placing her son down to undress himself, Ayah left the room and returned a short time later with Farkas, both carrying buckets of warm water.
The Dunmer had slaves to do that task usually. But it appeared Raven Rock was slave free and everyone was left to do everything for themselves. Ayah could only imagine how much that upset the members of noble house Redorun.
Kodlak, now undressed and his armour and undergarments piled off to the side of the tub, tiptoed to clutch the edge of the great stone bath. He watched intently as Farkas empted his buckets into the tub before taking his wife's and doing the same.
"Just right." The hulking nord warrior smiled while swirling his fingers around in the water. He then wiped his hand off on his leathers before reaching for Kodlak, lowering his son in gently.
Immediately, the little boy began to splash, purposely kicking water at his father. Ayah stood back, already well aware how this usually went. Farkas laughed and splashed back, water flying everywhere.
"Right. That's it!" Kodlak squealed and ducked under the water, missing as Farkas began to tear at his amour.
The large man growled as he fought with his bindings. "Ayah, help me!" He grunted through his teeth, one arm flailing while the other remained stuck under his breastplate. Rolling her eyes, Ayah stepped forward, her fingers nimbly working open the straps that held the breastplate together.
The metal amour clattered to the floor as Farkas forced himself free and once he'd unlaced and discarded his leather trousers and kicked off his heavy boots, he dove into the tub after his son, scooping Kodlak up out of the water with a playful snarl.
Ayah smiled softly and went about the task of collecting up her husband's things. She preferred it when washing became a game for them. They were both very stubborn otherwise and it could become quite the hassle.
The warm water, that which wasn't running down the walls or on the floor, quickly turned black with grime and war paint as the boys rough-housed.
"I'm going to have to do a lot of apologising to Geldis..." Ayah sighed, more to herself than her husband or son. They weren't listening anyway.
It didn't take long before the fighting finally died down and Farkas let out a tired breath as he rested back against the edge of the tub. He hated to admit it, but it had taken having a child to finally force him to realise he was getting old.
He watched lazily as Kodlak continued to splash, just not as frantic now he'd clear won the battle. The boy was full of energy and seemed to be into absolutely everything, as children his age usually were. His senses were a lot sharper than other children's though and he picked up on things quickly. Farkas wasn't that surprised he'd stowed away on the ship. When Kodlak was determined to do something or go somewhere, nothing stopped him.
He'd make a good companion someday, Farkas thought with a smile. Maybe even Harbinger. That would be great.
"Papa?"
Farkas lifted his head off the edge of the tub to look over at his son. "pup?"
Kodlak chewed his lip, his little brows scrunched together as he thought. Just like his father, the little boy sometimes struggled with what he wanted to say even thought he was quite bright.
"momma isn't angry with me is she?" He asked finally.
"Angry?" Farkas's nose wrinkled slightly. "No. Why would you think that pup?"
"She didn't want me to come." His son replied sheepishly.
"Its not that she's angry with you." Farkas frowned. "She's just...er..." His mind began to churn, straining to find the words to explain. "Solstheim is..." He shifted awkwardly against the stone. His tendency to be blunt wasn't just something that applied to adults, it applied to everyone. That included children. Ayah sometimes got angry with me for being a little too honest with their boy.
"Solstheim is..." He repeated, the creases in his forehead becoming more prominent as he thought.
"Solstheim is...?" Kodlak urged him. His son didn't quite understand his father's inability to express himself through words just yet and often used the condescending tone Aela sometimes used when she became inpatient with her shield sibling. Ayah would have scolded him for it, but she'd left not long ago to find something for them to dry off with.
"Solstheim is...bad." He finally said, quietly proud of himself.
"Bad?" Kodlak frowned and gave his father a sceptical look.
"Aye. bad." Farkas smiled. "For those with wolf blood."
"But you have wolf blood?" Kodlak fidgeted in the water and made his way onto his father's lap.
"Aye."
"So does momma, and uncle Vilkas and Aela!"
"Aye. But we're grown ups." Farkas told him, petting his son's wet hair.
Wrinkling his little nose, a habit he'd picked up from his father, Kodlak scowled. "That's not fair."
"No?" Farkas asked him questioningly.
"No. I can control my beast blood better than anyone! I was born with it! Momma said my ring helps me!" He whined, grasping the ring of Hircine that hung around his little neck and holding it up to Farkas.
"Aye, it does." His father smiled, reaching to touch the ring. as soon as his fingers touched the metal, Farkas could feel the calming effect it brought to his wolf. "But that doesn't stop your ma from worrying."
Huffing out a breath, Kodlak dropped his ring, letting it fall back against his neck. "Its still not fair."
"How isn't it?" A voice said from the doorway. The two jumped and their heads spun to see Ayah return, carrying drying cloths. "You're here now. Why complain?"
Unfolding the drying cloth, she lifted Kodlak out and wrapped him up tightly. Spying the look on her husband's face, Ayah smirked. "I'm not lifting you out. You're a big boy now Farkas."
"Yes dear." He grinned while taking his drying cloth from her and stepping out of the tub.
-oOo-
Leaving Kodlak with his father and Aela, Vilkas and Ayah ventured out of the retching netch for a late afternoon scout around.
"This place looks like it's seen better days..." Vilkas commented, looking over at the locals as they packed up their stalls for the night.
"Perhaps. I'm just surprise people are even willing it live on an island with a history of Daedric control." Ayah replied and waved at Glover Mallory as he worked the forge. The breton smirked and shot her over a wink before returning to his steel.
"It was under Skyrim's control for a long time." Vilkas began. "We handed it back to the Dunmer when red mountain erupted." Good old Vilkas. Always a great source of random nord history.
"That's very nice of us." Ayah snorted and leaned toward the second councilor as they walked past him. "You're very welcome." She laughed, patting his back.
The dark elf gave her the most peculiar look before returning to his conversation with another elf.
"You're such a fool at times." Vilkas rolled his eyes and heaved a irritated breath.
"Oh lighten up." Ayah said, nudging her brother-in-law.
Vilkas shook his head disapprovingly, his eyes turning toward a stretch of land further on from Raven rock. "You see that?" He stopped mid step and pointed off into the distance.
"See what?" Ayah paused also and turned to look.
Ahead, there appeared to be a building site. Or, at least it looked that way.
"Why would anyone want to build a house here?" Ayah scowled and scratched her head.
"That's not a house...look closer." Vilkas growled.
It soon became obvious Vilkas was right. The people working didn't appear to be building anything that even slightly resembled a home.
"Its a rock." Ayah mused out loud. "Why are they building around a rock?"
"A glowing rock..." Vilkas added.
The two looked at each other, their minds already made up. Without another word on the subject, both started toward the structure.
They weaved through the entranced builders, all citizens of Raven rock. None acknowledged the strangers, something both Ayah and Vilkas found unnerving.
"Its like they're all brainwashed." Ayah murmured back to her shield sibling as they stood among the workers and building materials.
"It looks like some kind of shrine..." Vilkas muttered, his eyes scanning to stone closely.
The pillar glowed with a deep green light, but even that could not penetrate the thick, blackish water the stone was standing in.
Ayah waved her hand in front of the face of one Dunmer woman as she worked at carving the arches that encircled the pillar. The woman did not react, merely continuing her work blindly while murmuring about "his shrine".
"Don't touch anything!" Vilkas suddenly called to her, making her start and spin on the spot.
"You don't touch anything!" She countered childishly. She wanted to cringe and slap herself, but that was the best she could do in her surprise.
"You're such a child." Vilkas sneered. "You wear a wedding ring and are a mother, yet you still bicker like a child."
Ugh. Great. "Just leave me be Vilkas. You shocked me. Shouting at me without warning..." She waved him off, her lip curling back.
"Well I mean it." He snapped. "Don't touch anything. This doesn't smell right."
Ayah waited until he'd turned away again to inhale deeply, trying to see if it really did smell bad. All she inhaled however was a lungful of thick sea air and ash that burned her throat and made her cough.
Once her coughing fit had ended, Ayah turned her attention to the pillar and stepped into the thick murky water to get closer.
She didn't have to get too close to it to feel the power radiating from it. She eyed it closely, wondering what had made her brother-in-law so touchy. Then again, Vilkas always was a little paranoid. That's how she'd become a companion.
Her hand stretched out to touch the stone but she paused to look over her shoulder to Vilkas. He appeared to have found someone NOT possessed and was talking with a bald Dunmer in bright clothes. Without any further thought, she touched the stone...
Everything went black.
-oOo-
"What faithless minds have stolen..."
"Your eyes once were blinded..."
"Your hands once were idle..."
"And when the world remembers..."
"That you have forgotten..."
"Here you reclaim..."
The voice faded and Ayah's eyes began to refocus. She felt like she'd fallen asleep, but when she awoke fully she found she was busy chipping away at the stone, much like the other workers and there was someone leaning around her to stare directly into her face intrusively.
She gasped at the sight of the red eyes and dark skin and nearly fell backward into the water.
"Where am I?!" She shrieked.
"You touched that blasted stone!" Vilkas yelled at her from off to the side.
"Most interesting." The Dark elf mused, still studying Ayah intently. "She seemed to shake herself out of the trance. I haven't seen anyone else do that yet." He added, stroking his goatee thoughtfully. "Tell me, do you feel nauseous? What about your head? does it feel as if it may explode at any moment?" He questioned her.
"What?! No! who...where...Vilkas?" She looked over at her shield sibling pleadingly.
"This is Neloth." Vilkas drawled in displeasure, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's been examining this...earth stone... and the events surrounding it."
"I'm a master Telvanni wizard-lord you see..." The Dunmer continued absently, as if he was used telling people. "I've been studying the stone for a short time now. You're the first I've seen come out of the powerful trance touching it causes." He added while eyeing Ayah all over for any strange side effects that may have occurred. "Extraordinary." He breathed and leant forward to force Ayah's left eye wide open with his index finger and thumb curiously.
"Hey!" She yelped and slapped his hand away, all while stumbling backward and nearly into the stone pillar.
"Could you touch the pillar again?" The odd Dunmer wizard asked. "I wish to study you more while under it's influence."
"No!" Ayah snapped. "You touch the bloody pillar if your that interested!?"
Neloth recoiled, his lips curling in disgust. "Nords. Always so barbaric." He spat with venom. "Now stop being so stupid and stubborn and touch the pillar!" He demanded.
"I don't think so..." Vilkas grasped Ayah arm roughly and dragged her away from Neloth and the earth stone. He forced her behind him, standing protectively between her and the dark elf. Ayah would have been flattered if she wasn't so sure Vilkas was going to scream down her ear for being so stupid when they were alone again.
Neloth casually tucked his arms behind his back and gave a rather graceful shrug. "Fine. Be like that. Ruin my research. Everyone's always ruining my research!"
"My harbinger isn't here for your research, elf. She's a fool, yes. But you're not using her as some test subject." Vilkas snarled. Ayah remained silent. If anything, she wanted to slip away and was seriously considering slipping down the bank and swimming across to the other side of the bay.
"I don't know what a Harbinger is, but I imagine it's some pitiful title you nords give to one of your kin that can tie their own laces." Neloth commented flippantly.
Vilkas visibly bristled and was on the verge of drawing his sword on the Telvanni magic man when a roar echoed through the skies above the town of Raven rock.
Ayah's heart skipped a beat, ironically out of joy, as she recognised the sound.
"Oh look!" She yelled and sped off back toward Raven rock without a moments hesitation. "A dragon! Sorry but I really must deal with this!?" She shouted back to Vilkas and Neloth, both looking disgruntled.