Chapter 34 -- Secrets
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Skyrim from high above was a beautiful sight, and as I clung onto the back of the dragon for dear life, I could take at least a moment to appreciate the beauty, the different shades of green, blue, brown and yellow. Of course, at the same time, I was absolutely shitting myself and hurling all manner abuse at the dragon, mostly yelling at it to get back on the fucking ground.
Somehow, I managed to drag my way up towards the neck of the dragon, driving in my sword or my dagger, hoping the dragon didn't simply fly vertical. If it did, I was dead. It continued flying horizontal, or near enough to it, though continually turned, no doubt hoping my grip would slacken and I'd fall to my inevitable death. I would have used my Thu'um, but thought that might send both of us crashing to the ground.
Finally, after what felt like hours of flying, the dragon finally started to descend. Arrows were soon being fired at it again, and once I felt it was safe enough to do so, I used my Thu'um, burning the back of its head. That forced it down faster, and once I felt its legs hit the ground, I rolled off onto the ground, using my Thu'um again, as the dragon had eyes and teeth for me.
Scrambling to my feet, I swung my sword wildly, feeling it leave a gash as I took the shield from my back and prepared to end the fight. Lydia and Aela fell in alongside me, both with sword and shield. "Neck," I stated. I'd fought enough by now to know the scales were thinner, and it was the most exposed. They would distract it and I'd make the killing blow.
Like usual, it didn't work exactly as planned, and I nearly lost my sword again when the dragon started to thrash about after I'd buried my sword. Lydia stepped forward and drove her own sword up and under the jaw of the dragon, Aela running to the other side of the neck to bury her own sword. That pretty much did it. With so much blood lost, the dragon eventually collapsed to the ground.
Once I'd absorbed its soul, Esbern strode forward to grasp my hand. "It is an honour, Dragonborn. There is no doubt you are the one spoken of in the prophecy."
"Still don't quite understand it all."
"Alduin's Wall will explain more."
The dragon attack severely delayed us, so we agreed to ride no more than another couple of hours before camping for the night by the river, as those of us who wanted to could at least wash. With few trees around, Esbern used magic to get a fire started, the rest of us putting up tents before setting out for a quick hunt, hoping to catch one or two things for dinner, though we had supplies ready if we didn't.
Around the fire after a meagre dinner, as we hadn't managed to find anything worth eating, Esbern told more of the history of the Dragonborn, the Blades, and also what we might expect at Sky Haven Temple. Delphine did drop a warning, suggesting that the area around Karthspire would likely be an area with Forsworn activity, so we'd have to be careful.
"Dragonborn, I must ask. When you absorb the soul of a dragon, do you feel anything?" Esbern wondered.
"Not really. A slightly warm sensation for a few minutes."
"Do you learn anything from them? Their language perhaps?"
I shook my head. "No. The ruins that dot Skyrim have things called word walls within them where I can learn a word that is part of a Shout. I may sit down with the Greybeards one day..." Delphine scoffed at the mention of them, which I ignored, "And see if they can teach me their language."
"You should know as much as you can about your enemy. While you have no doubt learned Delphine isn't exactly enamoured with them, I believe you can at least learn what is required from the Greybeards to at least understand the dragon language and, perhaps more importantly, you may learn more about Alduin."
"Do you have any idea what this wall might tell us?" Aela asked.
Esbern could only shrug. "Much of the information written about it has been lost. I retrieved what I could, but the Blades had endless amounts of dragonlore before the Thalmor attacked. I took what I thought was most important."
"As long as we find Alduin's Wall and it tell us what we need, we'll win in the end," I stated, trying to sound as confident as possible. The words received nods of appreciation. Whether I was actually the leader or not, who really knew. Delphine and Esbern apparently served the Dragonborn, but to be honest, I was following them at the moment. They had a far better idea of what was going on. All they had to do was point me in the right direction and say 'Kill them' or 'Kill the dragon' and it would be done.
Aela and I shared a tent that evening, though I noticed the longing glance from Lydia, while Delphine was ever more up-front, whispering very naughty things in my ear before she disappeared into her tent, sharing it with Esbern. To my surprise, we didn't do anything that night, knowing we had an early start, so after a little make-out, she cuddled into me as we fell asleep.
Waking with the sun the next morning, the three women and myself did enjoy a wash in the river, and all the female flesh on display did provoke a reaction. Lydia and Aela were very complimentary of Delphine, and she finally admitted her age to them. They looked at me in shock. All I did was shrug, gesture towards Delphine and ask, "And are you surprised with a body like that? And her pussy is like a vice at times. Hot and tight."
Delphine had a laugh at my description while Aela and Lydia could only agree with my assessment about her body. Aela then mentioned the idea of Delphine joining Aela and I, and Lydia didn't want to be left out either. "So we're having a foursome?" I asked.
"Would you like that?" Aela retorted.
I stepped back so my erection appeared out of the water. "I think that answers the question." Glancing back, Esbern was sitting by the fire, thankful that he couldn't see my front, so I added, "But I think we should behave ourselves for now. Could give the old man a heart attack."
After dressing and breakfast, we packed up camp and resumed our ride towards Karthspire. The cave we were looking for was nestled at the junction of a pair of rivers. And it was there that the Forsworn had decided to build a camp of their own. From our vantage point above them, we could count most of them. The only one that concerned me was a hargraven. Thankfully only the one, but they could be a pain in the arse if not taken by surprise.
"How do you want to do this?" Aela asked.
"Esbern will use magic. You three use bows. I'll use my Thu'um."