Azura dusted the dawn sky with her rosy blush and autumn's breath chilled us as we approached the Path of Seven Thousand Steps. Shivering, I draped my hood lower over my face, but it did little to keep the bite away. Derkeethus and I trotted over the stone bridge as the river coursed wildly below us, plunging down the slope we ascended the day before.
Absently chewing on a strip of jerky, Derk dismounted and swatted the hindquarters of his horse. "No use bringing horses up this trail," he said.
Nodding, I turned to say goodbye to Nael. I didn't know how long our journey would take, or if we wouldn't die up on the mountain. Scaling rocks was much different from scaling trees, and scaling a mountain of this size was nigh on suicidal. "Nael, if we don't come back..." She tossed her head impatiently. I grabbed her bit and looked at her wild eyes. "Look, if we don't come back, don't look for us. Go home. Go somewhere. You'll be free, won't you like that?"
With a whinny, the horse jerked her head from my hand and eyed me. I could have sworn she managed to look skeptical. But she did as I bid her and followed Burrs to the farmer's field to inconspicuously graze on their crops.
Turning, Derkeethus and I took a deep breath and began the slow ascent. Above us the path twisted and curved in a steep switchback pattern. The day broke in earnest, and around us a few birds sang into the chill breeze.
"15...16...17...." Derkeethus muttered behind me, counting steps. At length, the beats of his counting formed a song in my head. So we ascended, Derk counting steadily, I singing quietly. The light was golden and heavy around us, and in spite of our impending climb, I felt my heart lightened for the first time in a long time.
"1451...1452...1453..." Derk's raspy voice steadily hissed as we continued our climb.
We had been walking for several hours and already the land spread out before us in a soft haze. Ever the path slanted upwards towards the sky, and already, I could understand why the Nords called this land Skyrim. The mountain still towered tall above us, and yet I could see away to the north to the sea. Near at hand the aspens dotted the landscape--gold veins in a green rock. Their leaves glowed in the sunlight as if they emitted their own strange brand of illumination.
Dimly, I was reminded of the trees of Valenwood. There were a few species that glowed at night, and where my family lived, several grew in rows along the one poorly-maintained path...
We walked hand-in-hand down the path, the packed soil ribbed with tree roots. Around us the luminous leaves shivered in an unfelt breeze. The rest of the village disappeared behind us into the dark until only the path of trees guided us. "Mama, where are we going?"
"Away. We're going somewhere new. Somewhere special."
"But...what about my friends?"
"You'll make new friends, darling. I promise." My mother and father looked worried and harried. They carried with them a number of possessions in crates.
"Why can't I have my old friends?"
"Henny, we can't stay here anymore," spoke my father.
"Why not?"
"They don't want us-- We're-- It's too dangerous," he finally finished lamely.
Slowly the sun climbed into the sky.
"1627...1628...1629..."
Before noon made its appearance, snow started to fall. At first it drifted down lazily to greet us, but the further we climbed, the faster it fled the clouds and sought refuge on the ground. Distant thunder rippled in the distance.
"2-2319...23-320...2321-1..."
"Hold on, Derk. Let's rest a minute," I said, panting a little and sitting on a ledge overlooking the Rift. The air around us was freezing cold and getting thinner with each step. Scratching accompanied my request, and I turned to see the Argonian marking the last step's number in the mud with a shaky hand. I crouched on stiff legs and searched my pack for our cloaks with numb fingers.
Finding the dried meat and mammoth cheese first, I handed them to Derk, who sniffed the cheese before taking an experimental bite. "This is disgusting! Why did you bring this?" he spat, scraping his tongue with a gloved hand.
"Just eat it. It's fat, and fat will keep you warm," I said, scooping a glob for myself and placing it on my tongue to melt. Although, Derkeethus was right. It did taste disgusting, even by my standards. Grubs were like delicate slices of bacon compared to this mess.
Suddenly, I became aware of a snuffling behind us followed by a low growl.
A bear shambled down the rock face, glaring at us with tiny, dark eyes. Its fur was as white as the snow.
"Don't move," I hissed to my friend.
"No need to tell me twice," he hissed back.
Slowly, I extended the cheese in my hand and lobbed it at the bear, who only sniffed it before turning to us and chuffing loudly.
"I don't think it likes the cheese, Henny. I think it might even be insulted," the Argonian laughed.
Grimly, I watched as its back legs tensed before charging. Derkeethus, giving in to the threat drew his pickaxes and hissed at the creature.
My bow was in my hand and an arrow drawn when I saw the bear rear up onto its hind legs before Derk. It swatted angrily at his skull, a claw catching one of his horns and yanking him to the ground.
"Derk! No!" I called, letting my arrow fly. It pierced the animal's throat as it once more attempted to knock my friend's head from his body. I fired another into its chest, and at last, the bear staggered and fell. Derkeethus slowly clambered to his feet, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think it would actually hit you," I grinned sheepishly.
"Next time, just shoot it. Animals, especially the furry ones, don't like Argonians," he grumbled, carefully feeling his head. "Is it bad?"
"No. Your left horn is scratched pretty badly, but it didn't get the skin."
"Hmph. Now they're uneven looking. Great."
"Oh, cheer up, everyone loves a battle wound. The ladies will be all over you," I nudged him a little and earned a reluctant grin from my friend.
"Well, there is that."
Behind us the mountain loomed darkly against the sky, the snow falling more thickly than ever.
Donning our fur cloaks and reveling in their warmth, we pressed onward and upward.
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