Hey readers, this was kind of painful to write, but I finally did it. I promise next later chapters will be better. I was going to hold off until I could make it flow better but. Oh well... So this is the next part of Thaumaturge and Tanz goes on another, equally important adventure (lot more important!) with an old friend. So enjoy, and sorry this took SOOOO long. Read on!

Three Weeks After Ancano's Death

Tanz Huleed, Conduit of the Daedric Prince Vaermina and vanquisher of Ancano, sat on his bed with an open tome. He'd been studying it for an hour at the least, and he'd been having a difficult time utilizing it. It was an invisibility spell, but it was the hardest spell he'd ever tried to use. He'd learned a few more since Ancano's death. He'd learned an Oakflesh spell, a sort of magical armor that lasted a short time. He'd learned a few other various spells, but the most interesting was a paralysis spell.

It had been three weeks since the brutal death of Ancano, and Tanz was still trying to put it past him. He knew he'd had to kill him, but not the way he did. How he'd made him suffer, choking the life out of the Elf in pure rage. It was unsettling to Tanz.

Tanz scowled as he read through the tome again and stood up, facing the wall. He held his hand closed to his chest and summoned magicka to his palm. He clenched his fist, and a numb feeling flooded through his forearm and into his fingertips. He waited for the energy to build up and released it. But to Tanz's dismay, only his hand changed in appearance. It became somewhat transparent, but only slightly. He cursed himself and tried again, until he heard someone walk up behind him.

"Trouble?" A friendly, tired voice asked. Tanz turned to see his friend and fellow apprentice, Trebon Varro. His shoulder was finally healed after being struck by a lightning spell half a month ago. It was still bandaged however, and would be for another week or two. He could move it pretty well, but he still winced every now and then from the pain.

"Yes." Tanz groaned. "I can't get this spell to work!" Trebon scoffed as he snatched the tome from Tanz's hands.

"That's because you're trying to learn all these advanced spells!" Trebon said, flipping through the pages, much to fast to actually be reading them. "You just don't have a large enough magicka reserve." Tanz paused at that last remark. Since he was a child, he'd had a seemingly unlimited magicka reserve. It was a blessing granted to him by Vaermina. In the mortal world, he had an unlimited reserve, which couldn't have been more helpful to Tanz.

Most people didn't know that he was one of Vaermina's many 'Conduits', it was a dangerous secret. He had no doubt that he'd be hunted by the Vigilants of Stendarr if they knew what he was. Conduits connected Vaermina to Nirn and helped spread her influence. Most were chosen at birth, but they didn't become a full Conduit until they completed a set of trials. You could refuse to take them, forfeiting your powers but not having to take the trials. Or you could go through your trials and permenantly gain your powers, which Tanz had gladly done. His "mentor" of sorts, Bros, had taught him a lot about being a Conduit.

When Tanz had first arrived at Quagmire, Vaermina's plane of Oblivion, Bros was assigned to be his liaison, to relay information between Tanz and Vaermina. To make things easier, he could meld with Tanz's body and occupy his mind. He was currently back in Quagmire, and Tanz could be summoned there at any time, unfortunately without warning.

"I can manage it, I just need to practice more." Tanz said, Trebon shaking his head behind him. "What time is it?"

"Morning." Trebon said curtly. "So, any sleep at all?"

"No."

"What's been bothering you?" Trebon asked. "You've been having trouble sleeping for a while now. The only time you sleep is when you pass out from lack of it."

"A number of things..." Tanz said as he slid his foot into his iron boot. He was surprised that they hadn't fallen apart already, seeing as what they'd been through. Alvor, a Nord blacksmith, had given Tanz them as a gift.

"Like?"

"Ancano, for one thing." Tanz finally said.

"Yeah?" The imperial gave him an odd look. "What about him?"

"I told you what happened, during our fight?" Tanz said, staring across the room at his other boot.

"About how you got mad, so what?" He huffed.

"I wasn't just mad, I was too mad..."

"I would feel the same in that situation." Trebon said, sounding sympathetic.

"But it wasn't like I needed to stop him. Its... Its like I needed to hurt him." Tanz said glumly.

"You were under a lot of stress. You don't 'need' to hurt anyone else, do you?" Trebon replied. Tanz nodded, finally agreeing with his friend's logic.

"No... I suppose you're right." The Argonian said. "Maybe it was just the stress of it all." He stood and snatched his boot from the ground, quickly sliding his foot inside and tightening the lace around his ankle. He didn't need his gauntlets, so he left them on the table in his room. Another figure walked out of a room, and he recognized it as his 'friend', J'zargo. The Khajit paused as he walked out of his room and yawned, showing his jagged teeth.

"Lizard." He said, mid-yawn. Tanz nodded back to him. He had no idea why he wouldn't just use his name, but he didn't really care. Within a few more minutes everyone had woken up and dressed. Brelyna walked into his room, wearing her purple and brown robes. Tanz yawned as she walked in and she gave one of her worried looks.

"You need to get some sleep soon." Brelyna scolded. Tanz only nodded back, trying to shake off his grogginess.

"Yeah, yeah..." Tanz muttered as he stood. He did need sleep, but he couldn't fall asleep at night. He'd try to sleep tonight, and hopefully what Trebon had said would help. Tanz walked out of his room, Brelyna trailing closely behind. Trebon stood across the room by the magicka well, a pool filled with magical essences. The other two mages were arguing about something Tanz couldn't hear. He looked over his shoulder at Brelyna as he walked over to the door. "Another regular day I guess." He pushed it open and once again was greeted by the cold winds of Skyrim.

Tanz sat down at the table and opened up the third volume of the *A Dance in Fire* series. Tanz had been reading a lot more since things had settled down. There was much more downtime than Tanz had anticipated, and he'd spent more and more time in the Arcanaeum. Trebon sat by Tanz at the table, hovering over his own book. The other apprentices were off doing other things. Brelyna was helping Onmund with his conjurations, and J'zargo was probably downing his third mug of ale in the Frozen-Hearth Inn.

Tanz set into his back and began to read, but after a few minutes, a figure approached the table and Tanz looked up. Dalam Othren, one of the Dunmer students at the college stood next to the table.

"Tanz, there are some people that want to speak with you. They're up in the Mirabelle's quarters." He said.

"Who are they?" Tanz asked. He hadn't been expecting anyone to show up. Trebon looked up from his book.

"Family?" He asked. Tanz scowled, he realized after all this time, he hadn't told his friends he was an orphan. Its not that it was a secret, the subject just hadn't come up.

"Very unlikely." Tanz answered curtly. "What did they look like?" Dalam looked off, trying to picture the visitors.

"A Nord, uh, blue eyes, a beard, and a Redguard girl I think. I didn't get a good look at 'em." Dalam replied. Tanz had never met a Redguard before, but there were so many Nords in Skyrim that it could be anybody. Tanz stood up from his chair and looked back at his friend.

"I'll go see what this is about. I'll see you later." Tanz said. He stood and thanked Dalam before heading toward the stairs. Tanz walked up the staricase that led to the Arch-Mage's quarters, and finally reached the top. He then hurried out into Mirabelle's quarters where Mirabelle and the two visitors stood. The Redguard turned when he walked in, but the Nord didn't notice, and continued talking to Mirabelle.

The Redguard wore leather armor, like Balgruuf's housecarl, Irileth, along with a hood. A wooden bow sat on her back along with a quiver filled with arrows. She had green eyes, long black hair that was tucked behind her ears, and thin lips. Tanz looked at the Nord and immediately paused. Tanz hadn't seen the man since he'd visited Whiterun, not since he discovered he held a power like no other, a power to absorb a dragon's soul.

"Valund?" Tanz asked. The Dragonborn turned at hearing his name and grinned. He wore the same armor he had worn when they first met, though it seemed to be more worn out. Slashes, dents, and even burn marks covered the armor, and a long, deep scratch ran along the length of his horned helmet. He seemed much older, like he'd been through more in the past month than one went through in a decade. His arm had a healing cut along his right bicep, and his sheath was covered in dried blood from holding a heavily used sword. His beard was slightly shorter, and his eyes seemed tired, like he had just undertook a long journey.

"Tanz! Its good to see you." Valund said as he walked over. His expression changed as he got closer and he rubbed a finger against the bridge of his nose and smirked. "Heh, seems the Nine have kept you busy."

Tanz ran a finger over his snout and realized he must have been gesturing to the scar he had received during his trials. A few days after his trials, he discovered the scar that would forever remain on his snout. So far nobody had asked about it, but he had come up with a feasible explanation for the mark.

"Its good to see you Valund." Tanz said with a genuine smile. "What are you doing at the college?"

"Looking for you!" Valund answered heartily. "Truth is, I need your help. This Dragonborn business is as dangerous as it comes, and I need skilled fighters to help me. I've heard a lot about that incident with the Eye of Magnus a while back, with that Thalmor bastard. I know you're a skilled fighter, and that you can handle yourself. You're much more famous than you know. I could use your help... That is if your willing to come with me." Tanz looked at him with concern.

Tanz scowled ever so slightly. He was famous? Tanz was surprised at how word had spread. Especially from the insignificant, far out town of Winterhold. "What business are you talking about?" Tanz asked. The Nord sighed and his face took on a deathly serious expression.

"Surely you've heard. The dragons are returning, and I need your help stopping them. I'm gathering as many skilled fighters to help stop them from reconquering the mortal world." Tanz's scowl grew. This sounded crazy, but dragons were showing up all across Skyrim, and no one knew why. The latest attack had been on Falkreath, a few buildings had been destroyed entirely. And the entire village was now empty, as the survivors of the attack had left for the safety of the nearest town. Last anyone had heard, the survivors were camping out in the ruins of Helgan, as stupid as that was.

"How are they coming back?" Tanz asked, "I thought the dragons were defeated long ago." Valund crossed his arms and frowned.

"They were, we're trying to figure out why they're coming back." Valund explained.

"Whose we?" Tanz asked.

"I can only tell you if you join me." The Nord said. "Will you?" Tanz looked down at the ground, as he often did when thinking.

"I'll have to think about this..." Tanz answered. He had finally reached the college a short while ago, and things had calmed down since the Eye of Magnus was removed by the Psijics. But this dragon business sounded serious. But if he accepted, he might not live to come back to the college.

"Alright, I'll be in the Frozen Hearth for a few days. I'll be there if you need me." Valund said. He turned to the Redgaurd and gestured toward the stairs. The two walked off down the stairs and disappeared. Leaving Tanz and Mirabelle standing in the large room alone.

"Well... Seems you have some things to think about. I'll let you get to it." She said, obvious discomfort in her voice.

"Yeah... I'll get on it." Tanz said with a shiver. Because in his mind, he'd already made his decision.

"You're leaving?" Trebon asked. Tanz had returned to the Arcaneum and found Trebon gone, and then found him later in their quarters with the rest of his friends.

"Yes..." Tanz answered. "I will come back. But not for some time." Tanz had no idea how long this dragon hunt would take, or if he'd ever come back to the college. For all he knew, he would be dead in the next few months. But he felt an odd, compelling urge to leave and help Valund.

"Where are you going?" Brelyna spoke up.

"I'm... Not really sure." The Argonian answered. The others gave him annoyed looks and he sheepishly shrugged. "All I know, is that I'm needed, and for something important. I know that if I can help, I should." His friend's expressions didn't change. "And if I don't, dragons will continue to slaughter innocent people." He added.

"But..."

"I'm going to go give my friend an answer." Tanz said, and he strode toward the door "I'll see you later." His friends gave each other varying looks das he walked out the door.

Tanz trotted out across the courtyard and over to the bridge. Tanz hated walking across the bridge. It had no protection from the snow and wind, and most of its stone guard rails were broken. Tanz walked across and through the final gate. He looked at the destroyed and abandoned buildings, as he did every time he walked through Winterhold.

Tanz pushed open the door to the Frozen Hearth and walked in. A few other apprentices were sitting at a table in the corner drinking and joking, while a few of Winterhold's citizens sat at other tables, giving the mages dirty looks. It was no secret that the denizens of Winterhold despised the college and the mages, blaming them for the Great Collapse, and now the Magnus Incident as it had been called lately. On the other side of the inn was a table where Valund sat, along with the Redguard girl. Tanz walked over to Valund and sat down at the table. Valund looked over, keeping a straight face.

"Well, have you made a decision?" He asked, taking a sip from his tankard. Tanz looked down for a moment, thinking over his options. He could stay, but that would, of course, be the selfish, but safe, decision. Or he could go with Valund, which was obviously dangerous and risky. He was asking him to hunt dragons, not to mention the arduous journeys he'd have to undertake just to track down all these damn people. Being at the college was his dream and he finally had it. Why should he care about a few dragons?

No. I'm needed elsewhere, and I can always come back to the college. Tanz thought to himself. He cursed his conscience and let a breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"I'll go." That was all Tanz managed to say. Valund patted the mage on the back and stood up.

"That's great! Though, I hope you know how dangerous this will be." Valund said. "And I can't guarantee you'll survive."

"Do you want me to go or not?" Tanz asked sarcastically. The Nord grinned and slapped Tanz's back in a supportive manner.

"Of course, pack your things then. I'll meet you back here in an hour. We need to get moving by the end of the day." Valund stood, finishing the contents of his tankard in one, satisfied gulp. Tanz stood and headed back toward the door. He laid a hand on the wooden door and pushed it open. He noticed a lot of buildings in Skyrim didn't have knobs, and the ones that did were mostly on stone buildings. They just had a ring to either push or pull, but most did have a lock. The doors and walls were usually thick to protect from the elements. Tanz walked out into the frigid weather and traipsed back to the college, walking alongside his own footprints, and the tracks of others. He walked across the bridge and through the entrance into the courtyard.

He had an hour to prepare, so he might as well tell his friends he was leaving. At least now he'd be harder to track, in case the Dark Brotherhood were still hunting him, which he was confident they were. Ever since Cania's death, the Dark Brotherhood had seemed to stop chasing him. Maybe losing a member was enough for them to give up the contract. Just recently, the Dark Brotherhood pulled off an incredible feat. Word had spread that a new leader had taken over the cult, and killed the emperor. He didn't believe it though, how would a lowly group of assassins kill the emperor of Tamriel? And Why? Tanz's mind continued to wander as he walked across the snow covered courtyard and into the Hall of Attainment, dreading the coming conversation. His friends were still there talking to each other in hushed voices. Trebon took notice of Tanz and turned to look at him, the others followed.

"Well?" Trebon said, anxiety present in his voice.

"I'm leaving..." Tanz said glumly. His friends' faces took on an ashen look. J'zargo scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Fine." He saichuckles snort. The others gave him hard looks. "J'zargo does not care if the lizard leaves."

"J'zargo don't make an ass of yourself." Trebon said with a sigh. J'zargo's released his own sigh and his eyebrows drooped.

"Fine..." The cat grumbled.

"Why are you leaving? Things have finally settled down. We can focus on our lessons now." Brelyna argued.

"What does it matter if dragons slaughter us all." Tanz responded. Brelyna opened her mouth to argue, but closed it after a moment.

"So you're really going then." She said, a hint of despair in her voice.

"I... Yes." Tanz said finally.

"Well... Good luck then." Brelyna said, her eyes now downcast. The others gave similar, short goodbyes. Trebon seemed surprisingly supportive when it came to his turn.

"I'll see you all again." Tanz said as he laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. He Imperial smiled back warmly.

"I'm sure we'll see you again someday, hopefully soon." Trebon said, "Take care of yourself." Tanz clasped his hand and squeezed tightly.

"I will." The Argonian answered as he let go. Tanz hesitantly turned and walked toward the door. He didn't need to bring anything with him. He had everything he needed on him already. He pushed open the door and stepped outside. Tanz then took a look around the courtyard. He took note of the tall, stone walls and the tower that jutted out into the dull, gray sky. In the center of the courtyard sat the statue of Shalidor, the first Arch-Mage and the founder of Winterhold itself. Tanz frowned and began plodding across the bridge. He reached the other side after a moment and trudged through the snow to the Frozen Hearth Inn. He entered, and spotted Valund sitting at the same table as before, with the Redguard archer. He headed over to the table and Nord looked up at him.

"That was quick? Are you ready?" He asked.

"Ready." The mage answered softly. The Nord stood up, followed by the Redguard.

"Let's get going then. We have a lot of ground to cover." Valund declared, already moving toward the door. Tanz sighed as the two passed him, and after a few regretful seconds, he followed after them. They walked out into the cold winds of Skyrim and began to walk at a steady pace. A sudden feeling of adventure filled Tanz's chest, and once again, he was on another mission that he didn't want to undertake.