"You're what?" Tyra asked from her seat in the bed. "Going to Tel Mithryn? Without me?"

"Correction," I said, holding up my index finger. "Without you and Farkas."

Farkas gave me an incredulous look. "Why me?"

"Because someone needs to stay and take care of Tyra. Vilkas is coming with me." I tossed my brother-in-law a bag of coins, which smacked him in the face. For a great warrior of Jorrvaskr, his reflexes were about as slow as his ice-brain.

He picked the coin purse up off the floor. "What's this for?"

"It'll rent out our rooms for a few more days, and it'll buy you both enough food. You'll need it. Vilkas and I will be back soon."

"Brother, are you really going along with this?" Farkas looked at his twin, his brow furrowing.

Vilkas leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his armored chest. "I see no other alternative. We can't wait the two or more days it'll take Tyra to recover, and we most certainly can't bring her along with us. I'm sorry, Farkas, but this is the way it must be."

I gave Farkas a sympathetic look. He always went where his brother did. Despite being the bigger—and undoubtedly stronger—twin, he tagged along behind Vilkas like a little lost puppy. I knew he hated being separated, and I hated to separate them.

"Farkas, we'll be back soon," Vilkas said as he pushed himself off the wall. "All right?"

Reluctant, Farkas nodded, then stood and clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Safe travels, both of you."

Vilkas returned Farkas's shoulder clap. "We will return soon."

With no warning, Farkas enveloped both myself and Vilkas in his arms. He held us—tightly, I might add—for several seconds, then released us.

Without another word, Vilkas and I left the room. I rubbed my bruises, which were carefully hidden under the collar of my cloak. Farkas and Tyra didn't need to know about Miraak's ability to invade my dreams. At least, not yet. If it got worse...

"Ylva, it'll be all right," Vilkas said as he wrapped his arm over my shoulders. He pulled me close to his side as we ascended the stairs leading out of the Retching Netch.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" I gave him a surprised look as we stepped outside. The sun hadn't come up; the settlement of Raven Rock sat blanketed in the gray light of pre-dawn. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

"You're my wife." He pulled his mask over his face, then helped me do the same. "I'm supposed to know what you're thinking."

I smiled under my mask. It was like falling in love with him all over again. He was a gods-given blessing to me, coming into my life exactly when I needed him most. I used to think the Divines were cruel, that they didn't care about us, but I had to be wrong. For what other explanation could there be for all the blessings I had been granted over the past few months?

"Which way are we supposed to go?" Vilkas asked as we headed for the road out of the settlement. "East, correct?"

I pulled my map of Solstheim from my knapsack, unfolding it as we walked. I studied it, then nodded. "Yes, east," I said, folding my map up and putting it back. "This road should take us right to it. Let's hope we—"

Before I could finish, three piles of ash began to rise from the ground. As they rose higher and higher, they began to take shape. They grew limbs, two arms and two legs. They even had glowing, red holes in their "faces," much like eyes.

Two wielded blades that appeared to be made of ash and stone, while the last had two fireballs hovering over its palms. Vilkas and I drew our swords.

"What in Oblivion are they?!" I shouted as the one wielding fire shot two flaming orbs at me. I spun and dodged the blasts just in time. My mask slipped off my face, but I didn't pause to fix it.

"I don't know!" Vilkas shouted back as he crossed blades with the other two. He struck down one by bashing his pommel into its face. "But they're made of ash! How difficult could it be?"

The ash creature I fought launched another blast of fire, and this time, it flew close enough to singe my face. I cried out as the flames licked my cheek. White-hot pain brought tears to my eyes, my burnt flesh feeling as though a dragon were ripping my face apart.

But I couldn't afford to get distracted. I swung my sword at the creature, this time cutting through its ashy arm. The limb fell to the ground and dissolved while the creature it had been attached to moaned in pain. Taking advantage of its distraction, I cleaved its head off its shoulders, then kicked its body away. The whole thing crumpled into a pile of soot at my feet.

With a loud cry, Vilkas swung his massive sword at the remaining monster, slicing it in two at the waist. As the top half fell to the ground, Vilkas stomped on its head, finishing the creature off. He sheathed his sword, then turned to me. His gaze locked on my stinging cheek, and his brow furrowed in worry.

He rushed to me, pressing his hand against my uninjured cheek. "Ylva, are you all right?"

I gave a small nod, grimacing as a tear fell from my eye and onto the burn. "How bad does it look?"

"It looks like I won't be kissing your cheek for a few days."

I laughed a little. With his help, I readjusted my mask, putting it on so it didn't hurt my burn. "Are you uninjured?" I asked him before we got moving again.

"I'm all right," he said through his mask. "Let's just get to Tel Mithryn as swiftly as we can."

-------

I certainly didn't expect Tel Mithryn to be... well, a gigantic mushroom.

We followed the narrow path towards the largest mushroom cluster in the area. The other, smaller mushrooms, had moss hanging off them. Unlike the bigger ones, which had strings of lanterns and banners coming down from all sides.

As we approached, Vilkas and I were stopped by a young Dunmer man in yellow mage robes. "What business do you have here?" he asked, his voice even sounding young. Maybe he was an apprentice of Neloth's.

Oh, Divines be with him.

"We need to see Neloth," I said, keeping my hand on my satchel. The satchel that contained the Black Book. I brought it just in case Neloth refused to help us. Perhaps seeing something like it would change his mind.

"Perhaps he will see you," the young man said. "Just go inside. He's at the top of his tower." He pointed to the tallest mushroom, one with a bridge leading thirty feet off the ground, to the front door.

"Thank you." I nodded, then Vilkas and I crossed the bridge. I pushed the round, wooden door open and stepped inside.

No sooner had I taken two steps in was I wrapped in this magical blue light. As it encased me in its light, a heavy rush of air pushed at my feet, and I shot straight up.

"Vilkas!" I shouted below, flailing my arms. I squeezed my eyes shut as my stomach flipped. I swallowed, hoping to keep my breakfast where it belonged.

Only when my feet touched something solid did I open my eyes. Beneath me was a wooden platform, and behind me was the magical light that had lifted me to the top of this tower.

In front of me was a wide expanse of a domed alchemy laboratory. Shelves were filled with bright bottles and strange ingredients. Several light pink soul gems lay on tables, mixed with other potions, pieces of paper, books, and ingredients. Crates and boxes and barrels were stacked around the walls, no doubt containing alchemical supplies.

"Who are you?!" an angry voice I had heard before cried as I stepped away from the platform's edge. "And what in the name of—" The voice stopped as its owner, none other than Neloth, came into view. "Oh. It's you." He rubbed his jaw, where the faintest traces of the bruise I'd given him remained.

"Ylva?" Vilkas called from below. I had a feeling he was standing halfway in the doorway. "Are you all right?"

"Yes!" I called back. "Just be careful. That rush can be tricky."

I turned around and reached my hands out as Vilkas came flying to the platform. He grabbed my hands, and I pulled him to safety. He shook his head, his eyes crossing. He looked like he was going to be sick.

"Now, will you kindly answer my question?" Neloth asked once Vilkas and I were both off the platform. "What are you doing here?"

"We need something from you," I said.

"What could you possibly need from me? You made it abundantly clear that you—"

"We need to know about the Black Books."

His eyes widened. "You refer to the tomes of esoteric knowledge that old Hermaeus Mora has scattered throughout the world? What could you know of them?"

"The Black Books have something to do with Hermaeus Mora?"

"You didn't know? Hmm, I thought it was obvious."

I snorted. Obvious to you, maybe.

"Hermaeus Mora has always tried to seduce mortals into his service with the lure of forbidden knowledge. Where the Black Books actually came from..." He made some sort of odd motion with his hands, "no one really knows. Some appear to have been written in the past, others might be from the future. Apparently time is more malleable if you're a Daedric Prince of fate and destiny."

"That's all well and good, but we need to know where to find more of them." I patted my satchel. "I've already found one—"

"Found one? Yes, and you read it, too, didn't you?"

"I don't—"

"Don't try to deny it, you've got the look. I can see it now. Dangerous knowledge is still knowledge and therefore useful. Usually turns out to be the most useful, in my experience."

I shook my head, hoping I could stop this pontificating before it got out of hand. "I have to know what Miraak knows if I want to stop him."

Neloth stroked his pointed chin. "Now that is a dangerous path indeed. Hermaeus Mora gives nothing away for free. You may end up like Miraak, of course. Two, power-mad Dragonborn. It could be very interesting."

"Let me worry about that. Do you know where I can find another Black Book?"

"Oh, yes. They're not hard to locate once you know how to look for them. I have one here that I have been using to locate more."

"You have a Black Book?"

"Yes, I haven't been idle while this fascinating madness engulfed Solstheim, like you would believe."

I rolled my eyes. He was so full of it.

"But my book isn't what you're looking for," he continued. "I'm quite sure it is unconnected with this Miraak. But I do know where to find a Black Book that can help you."

"Why won't the book you have here help me?"

"Oh, it clearly is not associated with the same power that has overtaken the island. And I'm not talking about Hermaeus Mora. These Black Books are all his, of course. No, what you're looking for is a specific book. Presumably because Miraak's power derives from it."

I nodded, although most of what he said just went straight over my head. All I needed to know what how to defeat Miraak and save Tamriel. For the second time. "So you know where to find this Black Book? The one connected with Miraak?"

"Yes, I do. I haven't been able to get it, though. But maybe together we can unlock the secrets the Dwemer left behind."

"The Dwemer? What do they have to do with this?"

"Forbidden knowledge was somewhat a specialty of the dwarves, eh? You don't think they would just leave it alone, do you? It seems the ancient Dwemer discovered this book and took it to study. I have found their 'reading room' in the ruins of Nchardak. The book is there, but it's sealed in a protective case which I wasn't able to open. But perhaps the three of us together will be able to get the book. To Nchardak, then. Follow me." He tilted his chin up and started towards one of his many wooden tables covered with alchemical supplies.

I held out one hand, stopping him before he could get very far. "Just tell us where the book is and we'll go get it"

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple. If it was, I would have the book already."

"All right, so we obviously have to work together to get this Black Book." That was something I was hoping to avoid, but I supposed the Divines were testing my patience. "Grab what you need, and we'll get started."

Neloth clucked his tongue. "Don't think you can order me around, silly girl. This is my home, and I shall do what I want, when I want. All right?"

I huffed and crossed my arms. "Fine. Just... do what you need to."

He gave me a scowl, then went about gathering things such as potions and ingredients into a leather satchel. Once he was done, he came back to us, shoving a small red bottle into my hands.

"What's—"

"Healing potion. For your face. Just take it." He stepped off the platform, falling into the light. It carried him safely to the bottom, where he then left without waiting for us.

I shrugged, downed the healing potion—which tasted much, much worse than normal potions—and walked to the edge of the platform. I swallowed. What if the magic didn't work? What if I stepped off and fell to my death?

Vilkas stood next to me, lacing his fingers with mine. "Together?" he asked, looking at me.

I nodded, and we took a step off the platform.

The magic light engulfed us, and we drifted to the floor at a quick, but not sickening, pace. When our feet touched the floor, we hurried out of the door and after Neloth, who stood waiting at the end of the bridge with an indignant face and a tapping foot.

"Isn't time of most importance?" he asked, motioning for us to hurry. "Let us make haste! To Nchardak!"

Vilkas and I shared a look, then pulled on our masks and jogged after Neloth. He didn't look back at us, didn't even acknowledge that we were following him. As if he were above us.

I heaved a long sigh. This is going to be a long trip.