“Time to get up!” – Lena nudged Garrus awake at dawn. “Let’s see if we can get to Riverwood before the nightfall with all the monsters.”

“All right, let’s get going” – Hauk got up too. “North or South West?”

“Let’s try the Northern route again” – decided Lena.

…

“So, this is where we closed the first Oblivion gate” – Garrus pointed up the hill. “It seems quiet there now.”

They made the climb to Riften Watch just to be sure. Yes, all was quiet.

“The barracks are all burned down of course, but we are back anyhow” – a guard greeted them. “Someone went in and closed that gate even before we had time to call in the Legion. The Jarl put out a bounty on the Sigil Stones – the steward will pay you a hefty sum for each one, even if the gates were not in The Rift.” He gave Lena a meaningful look.

“What makes you think we have any Sigil Stones?” – she said with suspicion.

“Oh, nothing” – the guard rolled his eyes. “A wild guess. Three adventurers stand before me – a battlemage, a warrior and a stealthy type – perhaps an assassin. They climbed all the way up to this hill while the devastation is plain to see from below. Every normal person would walk away, they walk in. The battlemage and the warrior have Legion training – I can tell just by the way you stand!” – he smirked at Garrus who started making disbelieving noises. “The stealthy type…” – he looked Lena over. “Well, I don’t know what you are exactly, but that’s Nightingale attire” – he smiled broadly. “You know Karliah? She sends her regards” – he winked. “You are in Riften – welcome. Go see the Jarl’s steward at the Keep” – he pointed East. “Shadow hide you.”

“Oh” – Lena smiled back. “I suppose we’re quite obvious.”

Hauk laughed, clapping the guard on the shoulder.

“Good to see you’re trained as well as we are” – Garrus put out his hand. “I’m with Cheydinhal City Guard.”

“Welcome, Captain” – the guard shook his hand. “Yeah, it shows…”

They chatted for a while about this and that, looking over Riften from the Watch. The Keep was set into the mountain side – there were rumours of Dwemer catacombs going deep into the rock. The town itself nestled around a lake, with most houses backing into the slopes.

“We’ll have to visit the town another time” – noted Lena looking at the sun about to plunge into the lake. “We are trying to get to Riverwood, and we were hoping to find a route from these parts somehow…”

“For Riverwood you are too far East” – the guard shook his head. “Head back the way you came and follow the road to Nimalten City – which is a small farming village and no city at all” – he smirked. “Hire a guide there to take you to Riverwood – he knows hidden mountain passes and you’ll arrive within a few hours.”

“Mountain passes!” – exclaimed Lena. “Of course… We tried to find our own way across the mountains, but couldn’t.”

“Well, those guides must make a living somehow” – the guard winked. “They know which passes are relatively safe and which are sure death traps to stay away from. They are not marking any of this on your map either, don’t bother asking. And you’ll never find it yourself even after you’ve walked with them a few times.”

That certainly matched Lena’s experience. Whenever she’d been sent to one or the other cave or crypt, finding a way through the mountains was always a task worthy a Dovakiin. Or a local mountain guide, as it appeared.

…

In the meantime the sun kept sinking, so Lena, Hauk and Garrus hurried back to Nimalten City where they hired a guide to Riverwood, arriving a few hours later. Evenings were busy in Riverwood, with the hunters back in the village and the farmers done with the day’s work. The place was buzzing with activity, in particular around the inn.

“Welcome to The Sleeping Giant Inn!” – they heard a familiar voice as they entered. “Come on in – I’ve got a clean mug here somewhere…” – Orgnar rummaged under the counter. “We’ve got mead and rooms, I cook – there isn’t much else to tell. See Delphine if you want to sell werewolf meat, she’s got a use for that” – he grinned. “You won’t find it in my cooking though.”

“Thank Akatosh for that!” – grinned Hauk, taking a seat next to Camilla Valerius and winking at her. “How have you been, Orgnar?”

“Fine, fine” – Orgnar grinned back, busying himself with food and drink. “Who’s the Imperial?” – he nodded at Garrus.

“Oh he’s all right” – Hauk smiled reassuringly. “He’s new to Skyrim but he knows the world isn’t black and white. Captain of the Guard in Cheydinhal. But you know who the Count of Cheydinhal is? Andel Indarys.”

“A Dark Elf? Say no more” – Orgnar nodded.

And while Hauk and Garrus went about sampling Orgnar’s cooking with due attention, Lena looked around for her brother. The White Wolf was playing Gwent with a couple of hunters, and judging by the broad grins on their faces, it was a brilliant time to pull him away from the card table.

“Geralt!” – Lena made a theatrical appearance. “Back with Sven’s mother, I see?” – she winked at the hunters who chuckled, folding the cards. The game was over.

“Not with Sven’s mother, but I am staying at her house, yes” – Geralt put away his purse, although there didn’t seem to be anything worth putting away in it. “And what brings you here, little sister?”

“Oh, this and that” – Lena winked, taking his hand and leading him away from the table. “We need to catch up. In private.”