We didn't get very far today, and it's entirely my fault. We're in Kynesgrove, at the Braidwood Inn.

  Stupid Stomach Rot. I blame the cheese I found in the ruins.

  According to Erandur I should be better by morning, so that's good!

  Anyway, we set out bright and early for Windhelm. The journey was absolutely freezing, and we ran into at least a half dozen wolves and sabercats. The only unexpected thing was my stomach suddenly turning in knots partway to Anga's Mill. I had to stop periodically to retch into the bushes by the road.

  I have plenty of Cure potions on me, so I took one. It helped a bit, but I still couldn't keep anything down. Erandur suggested we go to one of the shrines in Windhelm, and I agreed that was a good idea.

  Once we got to Windhelm, Erandur and Valdimar said they were going to get more food and drink. We were nearly out, and after my getting sick, we didn't trust what we found in the ruin. I don't blame them, and told them to find us in the market when they were done.

  Of course, Lydia and I had to giggle over them having a lunch date. I mean, I know they didn't sit down and eat, just grabbed some supplies for the road, but it counts as far as we're concerned!

  Lydia and I headed to the smithy and overheard Oengul arguing with Hermir, his apprentice, about some things for Ulfric. She wanted to work on the chest piece, but he was going on about how fine the work would have to be. Said she didn't have the skill for it, yet.

  We chatted while we traded, and I asked him if he was the castle smith. He snapped back, "What do I look like, a tavern wench?"

  I about said something smart back at him, but he sighed and apologized. The latest job he got from Ulfric was getting to him. Not only was the Jarl after some new armor, but he wanted a new sword, too, one that looked ancient.

  Typical. He wants to make himself look legitimate by using things that look old. Like he's always been there, so the choice is obvious.

  Anyway, Oengul said that Ulfric wants his new sword to look like the one that High Queen Freydis used to wield back in the Second Era. It was a legendary weapon, and he wants to get his hands on the original. It would be far better than trying to make a copy based on myth and legend!

  He said no one was willing to go get it, and I turned to look at Lydia. She shrugged, and said, "Why not?"

  I said we'd take a turn at finding it, and he marked a place called Cronvangr Cave on my map, in the volcanic area south of Windhelm.

  Shortly after that the other two came back, and I finished up the trading.

  We have a tidy pile of gold! Not enough for Proudspire Manor, though.

  Maybe by the time we're done in Sarthaal?

  We'll see.

  We decided to check in on Nurelion. Quintus said he wasn't doing well. Erandur asked if there was anything we could do to help, and although Quintus wasn't sure, he said we could take a look.

  Nurelion was in bed, asleep, and he didn't look good. He's obviously dying, and probably doesn't have long. We went back down, and Erandur offered to make a few potions for Quintus to give to his master. Quintus gladly accepted the offer, and I did some trading with him while Erandur got to work at the lab.

  Once Erandur was done, we left to go to the Temple of Talos. The Cure potion didn't help me at all, so we decided to try a blessing.

  There were no priests there when we went in, so I just got a blessing, and we left.

  It helped, but I still felt sick.

  I decided to go to Sadri's Used Wares to see if I could make good on my plan to get Erandur some sort of grooming tools, and Revyn's stock didn't disappoint. We talked while I had Erandur look through what he had on offer. Erandur did try to refuse, but Lydia threatened to pick for him if he didn't start looking!

  I asked if Revyn really did come by all his goods honestly, and he said that he'd be mad to sell stolen goods. Honestly, I don't blame him, given the attitude people have towards the Dunmer in this town. He was neatly arranging a selection of jewelry in a display case while we talked, when he suddenly cussed in Dunmeri.

  He apologized for swearing, and I asked him what was wrong. He held up the gold ring he'd been looking at and said that it matched the description of one that Viola Giordano had reported missing recently. Lydia suggested that he just return it, and he laughed, bitterly.

  He said that as far as Viola was concerned, all Dunmer were liars and thieves. If she heard he bought it, even on accident, she'd report him to the Jarl. Not only would he probably have to pay a hefty fine, his reputation would be ruined!

  He wished he could just hide it in her house somewhere to make her think she'd misplaced it, but he was no thief!

  I just smiled, plucked the ring from his fingers, and said, "Lucky for you, neither am I!" I winked at him, and he nodded slowly.

  "Of course not," he said. Surely a mage like myself wouldn't be able to break into her house and stick it in a drawer somewhere. Especially not at this time of day, when she took her usual walk around town to be a busybody before going to Candlehearth Hall for dinner while she bothered the poor Captain.

  Valdimar smirked, and said that would be a very Stupid thing for a mage to do.

  We laughed, and I told them I'd be right back. I had Lydia hold on to Septim, and left for Viola's house.

  Of course, who should I run into other than Viola herself? She thanked me for my hand in solving the murders, and said that she feels safer, now. She glowered towards the Gray Quarter, and I could tell she was probably about to say something awful when Captain Lonely-Gale walked by. She quickly turned her attention towards him, and I used the opportunity to slip off.

  Poor guy. It's hard enough having someone pine after you like that, but I can't imagine how hard it would be with someone like her!

  I tell you what, she's as paranoid as she is persistent! That was a tricky lock on her door, but I managed to get in before anyone walked by.

  She's got a nice house, but I didn't dare take any time to look around. There's a dresser near the front door, to the right, and I slipped the ring in the top drawer and ducked back into the street.

  No one saw a thing.

  I went back to the shop, and Revyn was so relieved he gave us a thousand septims! I immediately handed some back to him to pay for our purchases - I got some more soul gems, along with a full kit for Erandur, including a compact - and he said if I ever wanted someone to practice my haggling with, I knew where to find him!

  We went next door to the Cornerclub to have a real lunch before we hit the road. Ambarys was surprised to see Erandur looking so different. He asked what got him looking like a "real Dunmer". Was he trying to impress someone?

  We laughed, and Erandur said that no, he wasn't. (Liar, I swear I saw him blush) He blamed us - "these troublemakers" - for making him do it. I scoffed in mock indignation and said that we found him squatting in a ruin and he didn't even own a comb until just a few minutes ago!

  Erandur was about to protest, then said I had a fair point.

  Ambarys looked a bit horrified, and Erandur gave a weak smile and said, "The last two centuries have been a little rough."

  He said they must have, for a Dunmer to end up like that! Erandur assured him that he was doing much better, now, and we sat down at a table to enjoy our lunch. We made small talk with Malthyr while we stocked up for the road, and mentioned we were headed for High Hrothgar. He thought I was going on a pilgrimage, and I struggled to explain that no, I wasn't going for that. I just have some… Business with the Greybeards.

  He wished me good luck either way, and said he'd heard it was even colder up there than in this blasted place.

  Great. Now I'm really excited to climb the seven thousand steps!

  I said I'd see them later, and we set off for Ivarstead.

  As we were crossing the bridge out of Windhelm, Erandur asked if I was all right. Nope. My stomach still felt iffy. Not as bad as before, but I still wasn't better. He suggested that I take another potion, and that we should stop at the Braidwood Inn for the night.

  I said that I should be fine, and not to worry, then Lydia leaned over and said she was trying to think of a saying she'd heard. Oh, what was it? Something about a pot and kettle? Maybe I'd heard it?

  Valdimar started laughing, and I said that fine, we'd stay in Kynesgrove for the night. Erandur was about to say something back to Lydia, but didn't. The look on his face said she was right!

  Not far before the road splits for Kynesgrove, we ran into a man fighting a thief in the road! I summoned a Flame Atronach to help - I felt too bad to pull out a weapon - but by the time it got to him the robber was dead.

  The man left without even looking at the body, so I took the loot for myself, and we went up the hill to Kynesgrove.

  I saw some jazbay grapes as we went up, and grabbed them. I remembered that Avrusa wanted us to get her some and I'd left all I'd found earlier back at the Manor! Erandur said they grow all over the place here, and that we should be able to find all we need on our way to Ivarstead.

  I didn't want to go into the Inn with a Fire Atronach, so we poked around in the woods nearby, looking for more while we waited for it to disappear.

  We went inside, and spoke with Iddra. She could tell I wasn't feeling good, so I got us all rooms and she insisted I lie down while I wait for the potion I took to work. Erandur sat with me. I was bored just lying there, and there's a book on the dresser, so I asked him to read it to me.

  He agreed to, and sat down on the bed next to me and laughed. It's "Songs of Skyrim", collected by Giraud Gemaine, from the Bard's college.

  Yes, the same man I delivered Adonato Leotelli's books to.

  I said he didn't have to sing them if he didn't want to, and he said that was just as well. We'd heard them all dozens of times. He flipped through and listed off Ragnar the Red, The Dragonborn Comes (yes, I laughed, and he did too, after a second) and the Age of Aggression/Oppression songs.

  I didn't feel like hearing any of those, but he said there was one more in there. It was in the old dragon-tongue, like the Shouts, and had recently been translated. The text claimed there was no surviving tune or even a known way to pronounce it, but as Erandur read the words aloud, he looked confused.

  He knows the song.

  He'd heard it back in Nightcaller Temple.

  He explained that Vaermina was not only the Daedric Prince of Nightmares, but also ill omens and prophecy. Her priests delivered them to sleeping mortals who entered the Quagmire. They were harbingers of doom, usually, but they gave other messages, too. This wasn't just a song. It was a prophesy.

  The book said the song was ancient, and Erandur said that was right, but the song survived, deep in the memories that were pulled from the minds of sleepers. He said everyone goes into the Quagmire, from time to time. There's elves out there who are well over a thousand years old. They're not immune to Vaermina's claws, and her priests can gather from them memories older than some kingdoms.

  He'd learned it, and knew it for what it was.

  I asked if he would sing it for me, and he agreed to, but quietly.

  He has a nice voice, and I was happy to hear it again. He can sing clearly, but his speaking voice has a rasp to it, which he left in for the song. It suits the dragon-tongue well. It's a driving song, with a chanting part in the middle, and it ends strongly. It sounds inspirational!

  You know, I've never heard anyone speak it aside from dragons and the chanting from the Dragon Walls. I mean, Tongues and I use Shouts, but that's just… Yelling. To hear it not only spoken, but sung, was… I don't know. Makes it feel alive, somehow.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  While he sang, I noticed a shadow creep under the door.

  It had to be Valdimar. Lydia's almost as sneaky as a ox, but he can be surprisingly light on his feet for such a big guy.

  Erandur read the translation. The song is about me! And what's happening now!

  It speaks of terrible black wings over the land, the dragon Alduin, a war between brothers, and the hero, the Dragonborn, who's supposed to vanquish him and save everyone.

  I had to scream into a pillow after I heard that.

  Erandur patted my head and said that it would be all right. I had help, after all!

  Right about then Valdimar knocked on the door, and said that dinner was ready.

  The potion had done its work, and Iddra was glad to hear I was all right. I was able to keep food down, so I started writing after we were done eating.

  Tomorrow we set off for Ivarstead, and then…

  Destiny.

  Well, we're at the Vilemyr Inn, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about tomorrow.

  High Hrothgar's a biiiiig mountain, but I might have found something today that's even bigger.

  We got up bright and early at the Braidwood Inn, and got on our way as soon as we could. I knew it wouldn't take all day to get to Ivarstead, and the weather was good, so we took our time as we followed the road southwards.

  We hunted for jazbay grapes as we went, and went off the road a few times to go after some patches of them. They're hard to see through the tall grass, so while they're plentiful, it took longer than I thought it would to find twenty of them!

  As we searched, we came across what felt like a normal amount of wolves, sabercats and bears. Another dragon's taken roost atop that plateau covered in bones, so we did have to hide from that a few times. Luckily, there's a Giant camp nearby, and it seemed more interested in trying to catch a mammoth to eat than hunting us.

  We also found a ruin half-sunk into the volcanic dirt near a hot spring, and there were lots of skeletons and such with some gold on them. There was also an altar table with some soul gems and two draugr on it, seemingly ready to resurrect. As I was looking the table over - It all looked VERY recent - Three necromancers came over the rise and attacked us!

  We managed to fight them off with no problems, and they had some nice potions on them, too.

  We also found, near the Giant camp, a campsite made up of a large leather tent, with an enchanting table, an alchemy lab, and a bed inside. There was a tanning rack outside, too. Across the road from the tent was a wrecked cart with a horse and a Khajiit, both dead, lying next to it.

  The cart looked like it'd been smashed.

  Probably Giants, Lydia said, and I nodded. I guess they weren't too happy that the Khajiit had set up camp so close to theirs.

  There was a chest in the cart, and I found some Ebony armor along with some potions and food inside. I had too much to carry, so I asked Valdimar if he would mind carrying it. He was glad to, and while I was checking my pack for other things he could help with, I found Erandur's old armor. I had forgotten to sell it!

  It has a powerful enchantment on it that makes Destruction spells easier to cast. I couldn't recall if I'd learned that one yet, and apparently I already had, or else it wouldn't be in there.

  I saw other enchanted items in there, and groaned. I'd checked the enchantments at Niranye's table in Windhelm, but forgotten to sell the ones with enchantments I knew to Oengul!

  On a whim, I asked Valdimar if he'd like to try Erandur's old armor. He's refused Elven armor in the past, but this is gilded and enchanted.

  He was unsure, but after a bit of "encouragement" agreed to try it on. He doubted it would fit, given that it had been Erandur's, but the Dunmer admitted that it had always been too big for him. Wearable, but not as comfortable as the glass piece he had on now.

  We had to take a few minutes to adjust the straps and such, but he can wear it!

  Valdimar asked how he looked, and we all agreed that he looks good! He has a classic "Warrior" look anyway, but now, with the Elven armor, sleek fur cloak and glass shield, he looks like the statue of some hero come to life! He said it felt strange to have his skin covered up, then gave Erandur a sly smirk. "Will you survive?" he asked.

  Erandur looked confused, and Valdimar explained, "Not seeing my muscles all the time?"

  Erandur scoffed, and started marching back towards the road, muttering about how ridiculous Valdimar was being.

  We had a good laugh at that, and kept on our way.

  We managed to find the jazbay grapes we needed, and the road started to get steeper as we neared the edge of the volcanic plains. The weather started to get bad, too, and I couldn't help but sigh.

  One of these days well have to stop and take a dip in the hot springs. I hear they do wonders for your skin! Today was really the only nice day we've ever had out there, though. Maybe the weather will be nice on our way back, too.

  Oh, we met a strange Khajiit dressed in monk robes on the road who recognized Valdimar. He said, "That one looks different, but is the same to M'aiq." Valdimar greeted him, and said that they run into each other from time to time. The Khajiit said, "M'aiq knows much, and tells some. M'aiq knows many things others do not."

  Valdimar agreed with him, and then bid him goodbye as he turned to keep going on the road.

  After the Khajiit was out of earshot, Valdimar leaned in and said that he was sometimes called M'aiq the Liar. Far as he knew, M'aiq always told the truth.

  Not far up the mountain, I spotted a Dwarven archway going over a little path that broke away from the road. I was curious, so I veered left and started going up the trail. Lydia said I was stalling again, and I pointed out that our goal was to get to Ivarstead. We still had plenty of time, even if we stopped at Avrusa's farm on the way.

  I had to promise that I wasn't going in, and Lydia relented. Valdimar said that was just as well. This was surely the path to Mzulft, and he'd heard that it was full of automatons. Many researchers who went in never came out.

  I asked him if he was honestly saying he didn't want to go in, and he laughed. Of course he did, just not today. He'd also read that Mzulft was huge, and we had places to be!

  We went up the hill, following the twisting trail. We found a small outbuilding, and not far past that, Mzulft.

  Mzulft is massive! I could tell it has multiple levels, even from down where we were, and we could hear the dull rumble of long-abandoned machinery coming from inside. We could see wisps of hot steam escaping from vents in the walls and through cracks in the huge pipes that snaked in and out of the buildings and the surrounding stone, too. More proof the old gears were still turning.

  I could practically smell the treasure! We have to go back!

  Anyway, Septim started barking to get our attention, and I found him snuffling at the dead body of a Khajiit warrior crumpled in the bushes next to a pillar.

  I gave Septim a pat and went to see what the unlucky adventurer had on him.

  Normal fighting gear, nothing special, but he also had a copy of "The Aetherium Wars" on him. I handed it to Valdimar, and he's read it already (I think he's read everything that's ever been written on the Dwemer) but said there was no mention of Mzulft in there, far as he could remember.

  I decided to check out the small side building before we left, and that's where we found this… Thing.

  The building was just a little storehouse, but with several locked doors leading to a barred alcove. I could see something glowing behind the bars, and was eager to see what it was. In the main room we found a lot of Dwemer scrap metal, and a strange chest (I think) with glowing blue gems(?) on it. It was empty anyway, so I looked to the doors.

  There was a big metal grate with a complicated lock on it leading to the alcove, and another door to the right with a much easier lock. I went for the easy one first, and found that it didn't lead to a room, but a little hall that led to the alcove.

  There were some wall-mounted chests in the hallway, and two stacks of Dwemer ingots! I grabbed those, and got some gold and jewelry from the chests. The door to the alcove had a simple lock, too, and I was through in a breath.

  Just for fun I opened the tricky lock from inside the alcove. The others laughed at that, and I went to see what I could find.

  There was an enchanted Dwarven axe on the table in there, and a small stand holding this glowing piece of carved stone? At least, it feels like stone. It glows a bright blue, and I can feel the magicka radiating from it. It looks like it's part of something bigger, but I have no idea what it could be.

  I turned around to show the others gathered in the main room, and when Valdimar saw it, he gasped.

  "Aetherium!"

  He came up and just stared at it while I held it in my hands. He needed to be convinced to take it, but he still hadn't spoken. He was literally speechless, and turned it over and over in his hands.

  I asked him what it was, and he repeated that it was a piece of forged Aetherium. He said it was a legendary material, a type of crystal that only the Dwemer ever figured out how to work.

  Lydia said that it was very pretty and a very interesting find, but we still had a mountain to climb up.

  So, we left and headed back to the road. I said that no wonder the fighter had a copy of "The Aetherium Wars" on him. He must have been looking for a piece to sell!

  Valdimar shook his and said that no, that wasn't it. Aetherium was incredibly rare, but not that valuable, really. Since it can't be worked into anything useful or even used in jewelry, it's mostly regarded as a curiosity. He said it could also be "volatile", and not just on its own! "Rivers of blood have been spilt on its behalf," he said, so even most scholars just leave it be.

  Yes, there's a potentially-volatile Dwemer artifact in my pack.

  Anyway, as we hiked up the road, Erandur asked Valdimar to tell him what else he knew about Aetherium. What could it do? How did the Dwarves use it? I piped up that I hadn't read the book. What were the Aetherium Wars?

  Valdimar was surprised. People usually didn't ask him to talk about the Dwemer because he had a hard time stopping, so he rarely offered. He didn't want to annoy anyone!

  We reassured him that we really did want to hear what he had to say about it, but he was still hesitant. Finally, Lydia threatened that if I didn't order him to do it as his Thane, she'd pull rank and order him to do it as a noble!

  That got a laugh out of all of us, and he gave her a big, exaggerated bow. He said, "Well! Far be it for me to refuse the formidable Lady Clawthane!"

  I can't see Lydia's face in that helm, but I just know she was rolling her eyes.

  That unleashed a torrent of information from him the likes of which I've never experienced in my entire life. I've had people sit and tell me all about the things they like, but Valdimar's passion for the Dwarves is infectious! He was so excited to tell us what he knew that he was constantly moving his hands and practically bouncing as he walked, like a little kid!

  Later on, Erandur said it reminded him of when he'd first met Valdimar, all those years ago. Except back then he was asking questions instead of answering them. The mer laughed and said, "He's just as eager to learn as he is to teach."

  Valdimar's enthusiastic lecture on all things Aetherium and, by extension, the Dwemer, was interrupted a few times by bear and wolf attacks, but otherwise went continuously until we reached the Sarethi farm.

  The sun was starting to set, and we managed to catch Avrusa before she went in for the night.

  It hadn't occurred to me that Erandur looked drastically different compared to the last time we were here until I saw her eyes light up and she started to quickly wipe the dust off her farm clothes.

  Not only was he wearing much fancier armor, he'd put his hood back to cool off during the hard climb up the mountain. His hair still looked neat, and he'd put gold on his eyes this morning in addition to the black, like he had done back in the Silver Hand's hideout. With his ruby circlet and gold and garnet earrings, he looked like a different person!

  She greeted us warmly, and then gave him his own greeting in Dunmeri. I got the jazbay grapes out of my pack while they talked, and she thanked me when I handed them to her. She gave me a bunch of very powerful potions in return.

  After a bit more flirting from her - you don't need to speak the language to know! - Erandur bowed and said, in Cyrodilic, that we had to be going. We were off to High Hrothgar in the morning, and needed our rest.

  The sun was almost gone by then, and she apologized for keeping us. We assured her that we'd be fine on the road to Ivarstead, and got back on the road.

  We had to poke fun at Erandur for flirting back with Avrusa, but he just laughed and looked embarrassed. She'd said that he didn't need to get all dressed up just to come talk to a simple farmer like her! Of course he had to take the bait, and Valdimar said he "poured on the flattery like honey!"

  Erandur was a bit exasperated at this, and asked what else was he supposed to do? She was flirting with him, so he had to flirt back! He didn't want to be rude.

  I want SO BADLY to say something to him about flirting back with Valdimar, but the Nord plays it off as a joke so often I wasn't sure I could!

  Anyway, I asked Valdimar to keep going about the Aetherium Wars. He'd said there were four main Dwemer city-states, and he had stared to tell us about their part in it before we'd reached the farm.

  We came up to the two signposts that pointed the way to Helgen, and before I had a chance to say anything, Lydia moved in front, her torch held high. Erandur walked up to be on my left, between me and the signs, and took my hand as Septim came on my right, nosing under my fingers. Valdimar dropped back and got out a torch as well. He got louder, too, and asked me questions to distract me.

  It worked! I let myself get wrapped up in his talking and I hardly had any trouble breathing! I mean, my heart was racing and I was shaking worse than the first time I broke into a basement, but I got by both signposts without having to stop.

  We learned a lot about Aetherium, and a mythical thing called the Aetherium Forge, capable of making artifacts of immense power! It's temping to see if there are any more artifacts still kicking around those old ruins. Even if they're not, Dwemer artifacts fetch a good price. It would be worth it to investigate just to see what loot we can find!

  It was dark soon after, and the lights of Ivarstead came through the tress. We crossed the little bridge, and headed straight for here, the Vilemyr Inn.

  Wilhelm and Lynly were happy to see us again. They're excited to hear that we plan on heading up the mountain in the morning. Lynly confessed that she was a bit jealous. She wants some adventure in her life!

  I described my recent bout of Stomach Rot and how I got it, and she seemed less keen. Granted, the treasure and stuff made it worth it, but all the times we've nearly died is something to keep in mind.

  Anyway, we had dinner and I started writing while we took turns washing up. Don't want to go in front of the Greybeards looking like we just crawled out of a tomb!

  Never mind that's exactly what we did.

  Oh, before I forget, Erandur's corprus is almost entirely healed up. I think Valdimar's only half-glad to see it. He won't have an excuse to dote on him soon, unless he can think something else up.

  Anyway, I should get to bed. Tomorrow we climb High Hrothgar.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  I couldn't sleep, so I went back out to the bar and had a talk with Wilhelm. I feel a lot better, now. I feel like it's going to be okay.

  Wilhelm was still up, and he was cleaning up the bar when I came out.

  Like all good bartenders, he wanted to know what was troubling me, and I told him, after I ordered some wine, that I was the Dragonborn.

  He was amazed that I was the one the Greybeards had called months ago. He wanted to know why I'd taken so long, and I confessed that I was afraid.

  What if I'm not the one they called? There could be others, right? What if they refuse to teach me because I'm an Imperial? Would I have to stay and join their… Whatever it is if I want to learn? What if I got too powerful, and could never speak again?

  What if I'm not good enough?

  Wilhelm nodded and listened while I went on, and just kept cleaning his tankards.

  When I was done rambling, he said those were all good questions, and a lot of worry to carry around. He said it was good I have this thing to set it all down in, but I still have to carry it.

  I told him I knew. Divines, don't I know it!

  He said I was lucky to have my family with me, and I nearly spit out my wine!

  I explained that Lydia and Valdimar are my housecarls, and Erandur is… It felt strange to describe him like this, but he's sort of a stray we picked up, like Septim!

  Wilhelm laughed, and said that while that might be true, he thought we were a family. I asked how he could think that, and he told me that here in Skyrim, the Nords value family and loyalty above all else. But to a Nord, "Family" could mean a lot of things. It could mean your blood relatives, your garrison, a guild or a ship's crew.

  It could even be your best friends.

  I took a long drink to try and hide the fact I was trying not to cry, but I think he caught me, anyway.

  I told him how I was given to an orphanage after I was born and never adopted. He said that wasn't true.

  My friends adopted me.

  I actually did cry a bit at that, and he poured me a shot of something strong from behind the bar. He held up the bottle and offered a toast. "To Clan Dragonborn?"

  I could only nod before I kicked it back - it was good stuff! - and he took a pull from the bottle before stashing it back under the bar.

  He was done for the night, but said he didn't mind if I stayed up a bit longer to write.

  I think I can sleep, now.

  Clan Dragonborn.

  I like the sound of that.

  Click here to see it on Tumblr and read all of my thoughts as I planned the drawings out.