(OOC: Added a little more so that it wasn't as lame)

She saw Kayla’s reaction and was about to apologize when Kayla started telling her.

Not surprisingly, she was asked the same question.

“Nords are a strange people… Sorry. I’m glad you were taken in. You did have a family. That also explains why you act more like a Nord than an elf.”

She took a drink of her milk.

“I don’t remember my parents very well. A memory, an image. They were travelers, and I was born on the road. When I was young we were attacked. We were all taken into Morrowind and I never saw them again.”

OOC: I’m not sure when I’ll get to post again over the weekend, so I’m going ahead with Channah. You guys take as much time as you want with the sleepover, I’m not trying to rush you. Liz if you were joking about the murder thing just ignore it.


Channah woke to pots clanging and the smell of hackle-lo smoke. She had slept fully dressed in her own bedroll under the stairs at the New Gnisis Cornerclub for a bargain price. Ambarys had even included a bucket of water and breakfast in the deal. Channah guessed that he must dislike Redguards a little less than he disliked Nords. At least he hadn’t insulted her to her face. She stretched and cracked the ice on her wash water. Next time I’ll ask him to keep the fires going overnight.

She didn’t feel like changing her undertunic in front of the dozen dark elves that kept stepping over her on their way through to the tavern. After a quick splash in the water bucket she unwrapped her hair. I guess I’ll pee after breakfast.

In the tavern Channah took a seat at the bar. Malthyr slid a plate and mug in front of her. “Mazte,” he said. “It’ll lift the chill.”

Channah let out a croak, then cleared her throat and tried again. “Thanks. And good morning.”

Malthyr grabbed a broom. “Well anyway it’s morning.”

Channah took a sip of mazte and eyed the insect abdomen that filled her plate. By the Nine, why do they bother importing bugs? I’d murder for a sweetroll. She blinked. Damn, this stuff is strong. But I guess I’d want to be drunk first thing in the morning if I was a Dunmer.

She placed the dagger on the bar and cracked open her breakfast’s exoskeleton. Maybe one of these elves will be able to read the enchantment. Or if not I know where I can find the court wizard. He’s not going anywhere.

Channah listened to the chatter while she picked meat out of the ash hopper shell. Most of the talk was in Dunmeris, but someone spoke Tamrielic with an Argonian’s hissing undertone. “What was the fuss last night?”

“Apparently another Nord woman was murdered,” said Ambarys. “Not sure why I should care.”

“Hssss. Another killing? I thought they caught the murderer.”

Channah spoke up. “The court wizard mentioned there was a murderer on the loose.” Something began to tickle Channah’s mind, but she couldn’t put a finger on it.

The Argonian answered her. “The court wizard is the murderer! He was arrested for his crimes. The guards down at the docks have all been talking about it.”

Channah shrugged. “Well he’s locked up, anyway. Or at least yesterday I saw him in the dungeon. Maybe he conjured himself out.” She frowned and glanced down at her new dagger.

“None of that matters to me,” Ambarys declared. “Until someone takes a Dunmer, I let Windhelm deal with its own problems.”

The mazte was working its magic. Warmth spread all the way down to Channah’s toes. She took another bite of bug meat. Tastes kind of like chicken.

"Morrowind? Why-" She caught herself. "...would you go to Cyrodiil and not Elswyr?"

Idiot, she said she was captured. Listen!

She drank more of her mead, feeling pleasantly warm. She crossed her legs and wiggled her toes, listening intently to Aravi.

Aravi shrugged.

“I act more like a human than I do a Khajiit. I fit in better with them.” Being with Kharjo made that very obvious to her in some ways. “I guess we are alike in that way.” She smiled faintly.

“I have thought about going to Elsweyr. Maybe I will sometime. Kharjo wants to take me, I think he has friends and family there. I have things I need to do before going however.”

“I’ve heard you speak of Ma’Dat. Who is he?”

Kayla finished her mead, making a disappointed noise.

"After my parents died, I was taken in by the Cult of Meridia. I told you that part. One of my mentors was Ma'dat, a young Khajiit man. He trained me in hand to hand. He was a master. I can show you how to make the cream he put on his claws to strengthen them, if you'd like." She grinned at Aravi, then yawned.

Aravi’s ears flattened a little in sympathy, but listened with interest.

“A cream?” She looked at her worn, broken, and split claws. “I would like to see this. Is it difficult to make?”

Kayla’s yawn was contagious, and she too yawned. “Perhaps tomorrow though.”

She stood up and stretched her aching limbs. Her legs had a perpetual ache in them now from a life of constant travel. Their fire was burning low by now, and she fed the dying embers another log. That would give them another hour or two of flickering light and warmth.

“Coming to bed sweetie?” she said, continuing the joke.

"Of course, my darling. Perhaps we can go another round before bed!" She laughed and slid between the sheets after standing up. Her knees popped when she did so, and she groaned. She let Aravi pick the aide of the bed she preferred and yawned again as she fell asleep.

Aravi got in the side of the bed that was closest to the fire, and closed her eyes. She felt the mattress beside her dip as the high elf climbed in. Exhaustion took her moments later.

***

She woke up terrified and gasping for breath. It was a nightmare. It was similar in flavor as all the ones she had since she became a werewolf. She didn’t know why, but they wanted to kill her. In the dream she saw them hang someone, she didn’t know who. They strung him in a tree and disemboweled the poor man. Then they spotted her, despite how well hidden she was.

As always they eventually catch her. The rope around her neck, tightening, strangling. Then her feet leave the ground. The sword plunges into her, she feels the steel slide through her midsection.

The room was dark. It was not yet morning. She turned and drifted back to sleep. More pleasant dreams that she will never know the details of kept her company until sunup.

***

Consciousness slowly returned in the morning. The warm form next to her smelled different. Where..? who..? Oh gods!

During the night Kayla awoke to Aravi making pitiful noises. she had gotten used to it over their travels, and had developed a method that seemed to soothe her for a short time. She quietly sang to Aravi and scratched behind her ears and the top of her head, running her fingers through her fur. It worked on nearly every race she had come across, with Orcs being the exception. She gently pulled Aravi closer to her body and fell asleep again.

That was how she woke up, except the small Khajiit was wriggling a little. Kayla blinked and realized she didn't just have the smaller woman close, but pulled against her body, with both arms around her body in an intimate embrace and her long leg over Aravi's hip. She sniffed and sat up, her auburn hair sticking up in odd places.

"Morning, sunshine." She sleepily grinned.

Is Kayla spooning me? The high elf’s arms were wrapped around her, holding her against the woman’s chest. Added to that, a long, bare leg was thrown over her hip.

She suddenly felt uncomfortable and began to wiggle out.

“Uh, Kayla… ?” She didn’t know what else to say. If she didn’t have fur, her face would be on fire now.

The other woman released her and sat up, clearly not embarrassed.

“Morning, sunshine.”

Aravi got out of bed. Her tail was stuck under Kayla’s rump. A she pulled it out.

“Good morning,” she said as she stretched. She was still feeling awkward about the rather intimate way they woke, and wasn’t sure what else to say. Her tail was all tingly as feeling returned to it.

“You weren’t joking about being a cuddler,” she finally said.

"Nope," Kayla said, the grin still on her face. "At least this time I was sober. Otherwise I would've stripped down." She stretched, her back popping, and she groaned in satisfaction.

"Beds are wonderful. I missed beds. By the way, you had another nightmare. I never can tell what it is, though."

At least Aravi’s blanket was still wrapped around her, else she would only be in her underwear. That would have been even more awkward.

Then Kayla told her she had a nightmare.

“I’m sorry for waking you. Ever since I fought vampires in Cyrodiil, it seems like I have hardly gone more than a few days without nightmares. Don’t worry, I know what you are thinking. It isn’t that, at least not any more. The werewolf took care of that for me.”

She turned away from Kayla and dropped the blanket she wore and put on her dry furs. A cold chill raced through her unpleasantly.

“Ever since I became a werewolf, the dreams changed.” She grimaced. “They are a little more tolerable, but not much.”

"I understand. I've been infected so many times and come close to turning several times. The nightmares are horrifying." She slid her clothes on.

(OOC: Not really sure where to go from here. KC, if you wanna get together with Channah, go ahead. Kayla will follow)

(OOC: Aravi got chatty. They can move on if Kayla doesn't have much to say.)

“So you get them too.”

It felt good to be able to finally talk to someone, and someone that she knew understood what she had experienced, what she was experiencing. Kharjo was the only other she felt she was free to talk about this with, but he never went through the hell that vampire hunting entailed.

“I was infected many times too, except the potions I took to stop the disease became less and less effective. Eventually I was taking them every day, and then several times a day just to stay ahead. The nightmares were the worst then.

There was one day I was traveling. I think it was on the Gold Road.” Doesn’t matter where, she told herself. “It was cloudy all morning, and as I was walking midday the clouds parted. When Magnus’ rays touched me, I began to burn. I abandoned my assignment and came north soon after that. The cold slowed that particular strand down.”

She was silent a moment.

“Do you ever regret it? Do you ever wish you did something else with your life?”

The question struck Kayla as odd. Not because she had never imagined her life differently, but because no one had ever asked her before. No one was every curious enough about her to ask. But that's what friends do, she supposed.

Instead of answering right away, she grinned at Aravi.

"You're awfully chatty this morning. But, we DID wake up in a bed and not on the ground." She widened her smile, then let it falter.

"I wouldn't say I regret it, but maybe...wonder what my life would have been like had my parents lived. Who would I be if I had elf parents? Gods, what if a different cult had found me? What would Molag-Bal do with a child?" she shuddered.

"I can't imagine doing anything else. Despite my wonderings, I think that maybe I was made for this. Maybe that's why I've survived so long."

Her stomach growled. "Ugh, I'm starving. I think it's time for food." She slid out from under the covers and began dressing.

"Do you think we'll reach your priest friend before nightfall?"

Aravi listened to Kayla’s answer. There seemed to be little doubt in the High Elf’s mind about her life.

Aravi often wished things had gone differently for her. What if she had never gone through that door at the Imperial City? She would have never been a vampire hunter, and she wouldn’t be here now.

She would not have Kharjo, or the friends she has now. But she also wouldn’t be a monster. She wouldn’t have been infected with vampirism, and she would not have needed to come to Skyrim. Becoming a werewolf would have never have been an option that she would even consider, much less take.

Would she make that trade if she could?

She didn’t know.

I need to get rid of this curse.

She realized that Kayla asked her a question.

“Sorry, I was thinking. Yes we should be able to reach him by nightfall, as long as we leave soon.”

They left their room. There were people already in the tavern. She knew the Dunmer probably wouldn’t turn her in to the guards, but she still disliked being seen by so many people. They sat a few places down from a Redguard woman eating what looked like a giant bug.

If that’s breakfast, I’m skipping.

The tavern filled up as guests and locals shuffled in for breakfast. Another auburn-haired Altmer entered with a slender Khajiit woman. Channah glanced between the new elf and the other one seated at the end of the bar. Niranye. I wonder if they know each other. There weren’t many high elves bold enough to linger in Jarl Ulfric’s city.

The newcomers seated themselves near Channah. She wouldn’t wager money on it, but it seemed that the Khajiit cast a dubious glance at Channah’s plate.

“Morning,” Channah said to them. She tilted her head at the steaming bug parts. “It’s better than it looks. Really.”

The barman walked over, probably to take more orders. Channah placed her new dagger on the bar and caught his attention before he passed. “Do you know anyone who can read enchantments?” she asked. “I don’t have much gold, but I’ll pay.”




OOC: It’s a soul trap enchantment, in case K or A can read it.

(OOC: K can. Kc, if you want to post, go ahead, otherwise I'm reserving this spot for my response. I'm feeling I'll today and will post after work)

“Good morning,” Aravi replied to the Redguard. She hoped it would be a better day than yesterday anyways.

“I will have to take your word for it on the ash hopper.” She’d seen them before, though she never had the desire to eat one.

The barman gave Aravi a cup of milk, again without her ordering one, and then asked if they would like breakfast. She received a frown when she asked about something other than an ash hopper and had one placed in front of her anyways.

She wrinkled her nose. I’m not eating this.

The Redguard asked about enchantments. Aravi definitely couldn’t read enchantments. She wondered if Kayla could, but didn’t volunteer her friend.

“Where did you get the dagger?”

A potentially awkward question if it was stolen, but a good thief would lie.

(Sorry, y'all. My husband thought it would be funny to hide my computer for three days. he was the only one laughing.)

Kayla leaned over and looked at the dagger. "May I?" She asked the Redguard, and carefully touched the blade. A sharp intake of breath caused her to hiss as she felt the spell leap out to bind her.

"Soul trap. Gods have mercy on whomever you use this on. Soul trap is painful to experience."

Luckily the spell only took hold onto those who were cut by it. She kept her fingers away from the sharp edges as she retracted her long limbs. Aravi had asked a question as Kayla read the spell.

"I don't think that's our business, Aravi." She said quietly to the other woman. "Come on, eat the gross bug thing so we can head to the College."

“Picked it up last night after some fetcher tried to poke me with it. A guard caught me kicking the skitt out of him and tried to arrest me. While we were discussing the matter he got away.”

The Altmer made a hiss. “Soul trap. Gods have mercy on whomever you use this on. Soul trap is painful to experience.”

Channah shoved the dagger away in disgust. “Dammit! I was going to sell it, but now I’ll have to throw the wretched thing into the sea.” Then she had a thought. “Gods damn that swag-bellied slop sucker! He was going to soul trap me!” She jumped to her feet then sat back down again. There was a lot of goo still left in the ash hopper, and she was still hungry.

The Altmer murmured to her friend.

“Don’t worry about it,” Channah said. “Just making conversation. It’s good to hear a friendly voice in this city. I guess there are only two races here, Nords and Not Nords.” The elf sounded like a Nord by her talk, but Channah decided not to mention it.

“I’m Channah,” she said. “You’re heading to the College? I was just there. Trying to get past that goldenro— er, Altmer gatekeeper. She wants me to cast Fury for her. Silly woman. I’m heading back there as soon as I find someone who can teach me the spell.” Channah took another gulp of mazte. “Anyway if you head up the coast, watch out for ice wraiths. I might not have gotten them all.” She glanced back at the high elf. “Thanks for reading the enchantment for me. What do I owe you?” Channah grinned and lifted her breakfast. “Can I buy you a bug?”




OOC: I added a sentence in the edit.

Kayla nearly choked when Channah used the popular slur for Altmer, but it was with laughter and not contempt.

"Niranye has a reputation for asking non-Altmer to do silly things. She can be a little bit of a...what's a good word for her?" Heat rushed into her own cheeks when she thought of a suitable word.

"Nevermind. I'm taking my friend Aravi to the College because Niranye wouldn't dare to request something so silly as a Frenzy spell or summoning an Ice Atronach on a beginner. I would actually like to see someone cast a Frenzy spell on her, then beat the tar out of her when she attacks." She burst into laughter. "'We elves need to stick together.' Please. The two of you probably have more magickal abilities in your pinkies than I do in my whole body." She laughed. "I can set things on fire, and that's about it."

She gave Channah a toothy, genuine smile. "I'm Kayla, and this is Aravi. And if you buy us breakfast, Ash Hopper is not what we would choose. Did he give you more milk, Aravi?"Kayla peered into Aravi's cup.

"I was joking when I said you loved milk. Sorry."

Channah flagged down the barman. “These two need some real breakfast. Do you have anything sweet? Or at least with fewer legs?”

“Rolls with comberry jelly…”

“Yeah, that sounds great.”

“… and kwama eggs with scuttle and fried nix-hound belly.”

Channah picked an ash hopper sensilla out of her teeth. “Uh, how about just the first part?” She glanced at her new friends. “That all right with you? I don’t know what scuttle is. It sounds like it might be squishy.”

Kayla declared the dagger bore a soul trap enchantment. That peaked Aravi’s interest. A dagger like that could be useful if Darnand needed more energy.

“I don't think that's our business, Aravi. Come on, eat the gross bug thing so we can head to the College” Kayla murmured to Aravi.

Aravi wrinkled her nose and was about to say something when the Redguard violently shoved the dagger away.

She decided against showing interest in the dagger. The one she had with her should suffice anyways.

The Redguard introduced herself as Channah and offered to get them something for breakfast. Kayla introduced the two of them.

The alternative breakfast sounded better, except the scuttle.

“That’s much better than… this.” She peered at the dead bug on her plate. “No scuttle for me. It’s made out of beetles. It’s greasy too. Thank you!”

To Kayla she said, “I like milk. At least he didn’t give it to me in a bowl. Some people think they're funny.”

The barman brought food that looked more like a proper breakfast. After he set down the plates Channah passed him some coins. She had to grin at the bowl of milk. It was the sort of prank she would pull, but only on a friend.

She turned her attention to Kayla. “So you know that woman at the College? I don’t use many spells. Just the Healing spell everyone’s Ma teaches them, and I can start a fire with Flames when the kindling is damp. I’d like to learn some magical armor from the school of Alteration. I don’t want metal armor that would slow me down, but I’m even less fond of getting my bones broken.”

Channah thought for a moment. Fortune favors the bold.

She addressed both of them. “Do you mind if I tag along on your journey? I can fight and shoot, and three folks gathering wood is always better than two. You never know when a storm is going to blow in off the sea. Uh, unless you have a spell for that. Anyway, my gear is at the stable. I don’t need any provisions or anything, just the company.”

She glanced at Aravi’s abandoned ash hopper. “Are you going to eat that? I haven’t thrown mine up yet, so I wouldn’t mind another.”

Aravi looked at Kayla and nodded to Channah. She looked like she could fight.

“We would be happy to have you along, though just so you know we are going to Dawnstar first. We came across some very sick people at one of the mills and they need a priest. There’s a priest of Mara there.” she said between bites of a roll. Channah expressed interest in the giant dead bug sitting on the counter near Aravi. She was more than happy to push it over to Channah.

(OOC I am not planning on doing the dream quest with Erander unless you all want to. We can even completely skip Dawnstar and just say we did it and appear at Winterhold.)

(OOC: I would very much like to get to the actual nitty ritty of the roleplay, lol. Let's appear in Winterhold.)

Kayla snickered as Aravi pushed the plate over to Channah.

"It really is much better than it looks, but then again, it looks disgusting. Our gear is in the other room. We'll have less trouble escaping the city than we did getting in."

Channah’s brows went up at Kayla’s remark. Escaping..?

“Oh, right. Because they don’t allow Khajiit in the cities.” She gave Aravi a rueful smile. “Sorry, I forgot about that. I’ll get armored up and meet you on the road.”

Channah did as promised, and before she knew it she stood in the snow in the ruins of once-great Winterhold.



OOC: Bring on the nitty gritty!

(Finally!!!)



They trudged upwards and onwards, towards the broken town and damaged College. Pieces of the old buildings still stood, large beams and solid foundations with strong hearths dotted all along the main road to the College. Kayla pulled her thick black cloak around her body, and saw the other two follow in suit as she lead the way to the College of Winterhold. The snow stung her face as she trudged on.

Once they reached the base of the steps, she turned to the other two women.

"I have something for you two," She hollered over the wind, digging through her bag. She handed them each a potion.

"It boosts your magickal skill for twenty minutes in all fields, but it makes you really, REALLY hungry. I haven't found a way to balance it out yet," she said loudly. A harsh gust of wind nearly knocked her down.

"Drink it, and hopefully she talks fast, because we'll only have fifteen minutes. It's a five minute walk up there. Drink it and come on." She turned and didn't watch if they drank the potions. the Altmer in the pig-tails regarded them cautiously.

"Halt," she said in a commanding tone. Her accent wasn't as if she was from Summerset, but perhaps Cyrodiil? "I recognize you," she said to Kayla, "but not these two."

"They wish to join the College, and learn."

"Learn? Hmmm. I think it's time for a test of skill. Just to see if you're worthy." She turned to Channah.

"You, Redguard. Why don't you summon a Spriggan?"

"A Spriggan? Faralda, I'm not even able to conjure a Spriggan, and I've been studying at the College for two years. This isn't a test of skill, and you know it."

The blonde Altmer sniffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"J'zhargo told me you asked him to summon a Dremora. Come on."

Faralda flushed. "That doesn't mean any-"

"Do you think the Arch Mage would appreciate you keeping prospective learners away from the college based on your personal prejudices? So they're not elves and Bretons, big deal. They're willing to learn, and that should be enough."

"I'm simply weeding out the unworthy."

"And gaining coin from it, I'll wager?"

Faralda flushed a darker red and she gritted her teeth visibly. "I'm providing a service."

"Cut it out, Faralda. I can vouch for them. Let them in, or I'll tell Savos about the little tollbooth you're running."

"He knows!"

Kayla barked a laugh. "Not about you selling spells, though. Thirty septims per book? Really? That's a ripoff. I can go down to the goods store twenty feet that way and get it for ten, and they're starving!"

"Fine!" Faralda snapped, stepping aside. She looked the other two women up and down. "I can tell they possess some ability. Maybe they're alchemists. I don't care. Just quit annoying me!"

She led them to the gates, grumbling the whole way, and opened them. The entire treacherous walk, Kayla looked back once in a while and grinned at them with a knowing look. She was proud.

"Go see Mirabelle. I'm sure she," she jabbed a finger at Kayla, "will tell you all about everything." She kicked up snow as she returned to her post at the end of the broken walkway. Kayla sighed in relief.

"That was close. Did you see how she almost didn't let you in? I would have lost it! All this way, and nothing!" She looked around.

"The great thing about this place is there is so many different schools to learn, even ones that aren't the norm. You want to learn, it's probably here. It isn't bogged down by the politics of the Mages Guild." She talked as she headed towards the large building in the center.

(OOC;we can skip introductions and cut straight to class. Assume we have rooms and such. We can start "questing" and learning. I left the schools open because I remember Grits has some neat extra schools in her fic, and I was thinking of adding a few myself. Feel free to quest, make friends, etc.)

Channah shook out the folds of her new college robe. It was surprisingly warm, and the boots felt like wearing house slippers. A blade would go right through this. Even with mage armor spells I’m not going into a fight wearing a nightgown. She wondered if there were any spellsword or battlemage instructors at the College. So far she hadn’t seen anything resembling armor.

To her surprise instead of directing them to a spell vendor the Master Wizard had enrolled her in the College as an Apprentice. She stood now in her own chamber, her gear neatly stowed in the cupboards and wardrobes. Her attendance was expected soon at some sort of class. So far no one had mentioned payment. Well, it’s warm enough in here but I wouldn’t mind a room with a door.

She checked her appearance again before heading back outdoors. The robe’s mantle did nothing to flatter her chest, but at least her backside looked good. She tucked the novice hood into her belt. There was no way her hair was going to fit under it, but most of the students seemed to be wearing them. She would bring hers along just in case.

Channah cast a longing glance at the basket full of bottled mead in the corner. Later, she promised. Later you will be mine.

“This room used to be Borvir’s,” said a voice.

Channah jumped a little. A slim dark elf girl stood in her doorway. “Damn, you have quiet feet,” Channah said. “Or is that a spell?” She put out her arm. “I’m Channah. I’m supposed to go to class. Do you know how that works?”

Rather than gripping Channah’s forearm in a warrior’s clasp, the Dunmer folded her hands and bowed her head slightly. “Brelyna Maryon of House Telvani. First of my family to leave Morrowind in a long time. Now I’m here to study Conjuration. That’s what’s important.”

Channah opened her mouth to reply.

Brelyna kept talking. “Before you even ask, yes I have an ancestry steeped in magic, and no I don’t want to talk about it. Yes, I know Winterhold used to be full of my kind, and no I don’t care that they’re all gone now. Does that cover everything?”

Channah blinked. “Um, not really. Do you know where I should go to class? That’s real interesting about your ancestors and all, but I don’t want to be late. It’s my first day.”

Brelyna’s cheeks darkened. “Of course. I didn’t mean to assume. Here, I’ll show you. I’m heading that way myself.”

Channah glanced through the open doorways into the other apprentice rooms as they walked toward the door. Some students had hung blankets or hides over them for privacy. I wonder where Aravi’s room is. She hadn’t seen where Mirabelle had taken her new friends. Aravi moved so quietly, she might have the room next door and Channah wouldn’t have heard her. She guessed that as a second-year student Kayla might be housed somewhere else.

“Say,” she said to Brelyna. “Do you suppose Borvir will mind if we drink his mead? He left a whole basket of full bottles. I’ll pay him back later if he wants me too.”

A swirl of snowflakes gusted in when Channah opened the door.

“I don’t think so,” said Brelyna. “Borvir was in the last class of apprentices. No one has seen him for ages.”

Kayla stepped up to Faralda and got them inside the College. As Faralda ‘escorted’ them inside, Kayla kept looking back at Aravi with triumph written all over her face. Aravi kept her face straight, but she was laughing on the inside. The last thing they needed was for her to start laughing and anger Faralda.

When Faralda left them, she let the smile she’d been hiding grace her features.

***

“Thanks for the room, but –”

“Excellent. Put on your robe and you will be expected at class shortly.”

Mirabelle was gone with a wave of her hand before Aravi could utter another word.

Where am I supposed to change? The lack of doors on everyone’s room prevented any privacy.

I don’t even know what class I’m going to. She had no intention of becoming an apprentice of magic when she arrived, but now that she was here, she was excited at the opportunity of learning more.

She didn’t hold any illusions about how well she would do in any of the lessons however. She just gained the use of magic less than a decade ago, where everyone else here has been exposed to at least a little of it since the day they could walk and talk.

That thought soured her mood and squashed her excitement. She didn’t bother unpacking her bag. I should just find someone that knows the spells I need and learn them.

She took a last look at the robes and boots she was given and decided she would just go to class without changing. After class, she could find out where she could change without giving every passer-by a show.

Outside her room, she spotted Channah walking with one of the other apprentices. I’ll follow them.

“Borvir was in the last class of apprentices. No one has seen him for ages,” she heard the Dark Elf say when she caught up. Who is Borvir?

She saved her questions for the moment, not wanting to interrupt them.

Aravi appeared as they went through the door. Thank the gods, a friendly face. Channah grinned at her. “Aravi, meet Brelyna. Brelyna, this is my friend Aravi. Brelyna is showing me where to go for class.”

“I’m going there, too,” the Dunmer explained. “Most of the lectures are open to whoever thinks they might benefit from them. Tolfdir is in charge of my group, so I make sure to attend all of his lessons.”

They walked through the snowy courtyard. Wind howled around the battlements but couldn’t find a way inside.

“I’m not sure how much I’ll benefit,” Channah said. “I’m just here to learn a few spells. At least I hope I can learn them. It’s probably not whatever Tolfdir happens to be talking about today.”

“What spells?” asked Brelyna.

“An Armor spell and Heal Other. Do you know who I should talk to about that? And about how much it will cost?” Channah’s coin purse was flat. She might need to pick up a few jobs before she was through here.

“You’re in luck, Tolfdir is a Master Alteration trainer. He can sell you the spell tomes and teach you a few things if you have the coin. Lectures are free but private training will cost you. Colette Marence is the one to see about Restoration magic.”

“Thanks.” Channah held the Hall of the Elements door open for Aravi. “Well, here we go. I’ve never been in a college before,” she confided. “Good luck to us! I hope there’s as much after-hours drinking and carrying on as the bards’ tales say. I’m half Nord, so I’m already good at that.”

Kayla didn't bother with her room. Not at first, anyways. Her first thought was to make sure she knew who was doing what classes. The other two women were separated from her, as Colette knew beforehand she was a student.

Before the town had collapsed into the sea, she remembered one of the teachers telling her that the college had stayed mostly intact. Mostly. There was another dormitory for students that had fallen into the sea, as well as another learning hall. She saw the dormitories were empty as she unstrapped Dawnbreaker from her hip and shoved it under the bed.

"This one wonders at the sword she carries," a familiar voice hissed. Kayla turned her head to see J'zargo with his arms crossed, leaning lazily against her frame. His tail wagged easily behind him.

"This one trusts that your mission was..successful?"

"I don't speak Ta'agra," Kayla said, standing up.

"But you understand it."

"No one needs to know that. I'm trying to keep a low profile here."

"The Khajiit you arrived with. She is-"

"Married. To a giant bodyguard."

J'zargo's ears flattened. "That is J'zargo's luck."

Kayla laughed, and the sound echoed through the hall. "Turn around and guard the door. I need to change."

"This one would gladly turn his head from your hairless body," he teased before turning around. She slid her armor off, shivering in the cold air, and quickly put her warm robes on. She hated leaving Dawnbreaker in her room, especially nearly unprotected, but most of the students were "out of sight, out of mind," if they so much as saw a twinkle from her sword, they'd want to read the enchantment. As long as she kept it out of the way, they wouldn't know about it.

"Done." She slid her hood on, and braced herself as they headed to the large center building. Among the heads, Kayla felt her cheeks flush as she stood head-to-shoulders taller than the others, even Onmund. She saw his broad shoulders from the door, and she blushed deeper. He turned his head, and his blue eyes ran over her form, then turned back without acknowledgement.

He's still so handsome!

The crowd shifted, and among the twenty-or-so students, one reached over and grabbed his hand. Her heart fell.

Oh.

She turned her head back to see if Aravi and Channah had found their way into he hall yet.

Aravi listened to the other two talk as they walked to the lecture hall.

Her interest was piqued when Channah mentioned the spells she needed. “I’m looking for nearly the same things. I need some more powerful healing spells, and I was going to see if I could learn some illusion spells as well. An armor spell would be wonderful though.”

Then she wouldn’t have to rely on using her elven set all of the time.

“I won’t be doing much after hours drinking. I can’t take much. I wonder where Kayla is?”

As if in answer, she spotted the tall Altmer standing with a Khajiit. Another Khajiit? Her kind were few and far between so she was interested in meeting him.

She waved to them.

Channah was delighted to hear that she might have a chance to learn alongside Aravi. Her respect for the Khajiit had grown each time they fought together on the journey, but even more she simply enjoyed Aravi’s company.

“Don’t worry,” Channah said, “you can always tip your extra ale into my tankard.” She gave Aravi a wink.

The lecture hall held nearly two dozen students with room for many times that number. Channah looked at all of the tall, hooded forms. Skeever nuts. Should have known there would be a bunch of Altmers at a mage school. There was no way she could tell which one was Kayla.

Aravi did not have that problem. She waved to one who was standing by a Khajiit. That has to be Kayla.

An elderly Breton stepped up onto the chamber’s highest level. Chatter ceased and heads turned toward him.

“Is that Tolfdir?” Channah whispered to Brelyna.

The mage turned her hooded head and shushed Channah. It was not Brelyna.

Channah tugged on the woman’s sleeve anyway. “Well, is it?”

“Yes!” the woman hissed. “Now shut it!”

Tolfdir began to speak. Within a minute Channah felt her eyelids getting heavy. She stared up at the high ceiling to keep them open. Gods, I’m already bored.

Aravi stood with the other two as the lecture began. She listened as best she could, but several taller students blocked her view of Tolfdir. She hated crowds precisely because she was short and could never see.

Naturally, she didn’t understand much of what Tolfdir was talking about. She felt out of her depth.

She turned to ask for clarification, and saw the other woman’s eyes were glazed over. No help there.

She elbowed her gently to wake her up.

Kayla's mind drifted off as Tolfdir droned on. She looked around as an audible yawn was heard, and was startled, to her chagrin, to see others staring at her. She lowered her hand from her open mouth and cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing.

"Yes, well, I suppose that is my cue," the elderly man said with a slight hint of amusement. "I see our adventuring student is bored by mundane lectures."

A few more students turned and looked at Kayla, sizing her up and down.

That old coot knows I hate attention.

The crowd dispersed, and one of the Altmer women handed her a pamphlet, saying something in Aldmeris. Kayla took the pamphlet and looked at it. It was a list of classes and the teachers.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak Aldmeris," she said in an apologetic tone. The young woman shrugged and walked off, handing out more pamphlets. She took a look at the list as she walked over to Channah and Aravi.

"And what is the elf taking, hmm?"

Kayla jumped at J'zargo's voice.

"Furball! Alchemy for sure."

"Not many ingredients out here. I wonder how you will learn?"

Kayla looked unsure. "I hope it's not too much reading. Stop making that noise."

"But your friend is so...lithe, like a dancer."

"I've seen her trip and fall into mammoth dung."

The two of them walked over to Channah and Aravi.

"See anything you're interested in yet?" She asked the women.

"Yes," J'zargo said.

Kayla rolled her eyes.

Aravi brought Channah’s attention back to the room with a gentle nudge. Not a moment too soon. If she had stood any longer in a slack-jawed stupor she might have started to drool. She gave Aravi a grateful little smile.

The lecture ended. “Did you get any of that?” Channah asked Aravi. “He might as well have been speaking Jel.” She shook her head. “If I can’t find an Apprentice class or trainer I’ll just earn some coin and head back somewhere warm.”

Kayla walked over talking with the Khajiit. He looked at Aravi like she was food.

“See anything you're interested in yet?” Kayla asked.

Kayla held some sort of brochure in her hands. No doubt she was talking about classes.

Channah’s eyes went to a good-looking Nord walking by. “Yep.”

Aravi sighed in frustration at Channah’s question. “No not really.”

Aravi thumbed through a pamphlet that was thrust into her hands by a passing High Elf.

“See anything you're interested in yet?”

“Yep.”

“Yes.”

Aravi looked up when she heard the voices. Kayla and the Khajiit had made their way over when the class ended.

“I’m not sure yet. There are a lot of classes. Are they all this… dry? I thought there would be more magic in the lessons.”

Her attention shifted to the Khajiit. “Hello, I’m Aravi.” She was excited to meet another Khajiit. He wasn’t as big as Kharjo was, and he had a mustache in the human style that she thought looked funny. “Are you a new student too?”

"J'zargo is pleased to make your acquaintance. No, this one is not a new student, three years has this one been here."

"J'zargo is one of the best Destruction students here," Kayla said absently as she flipped through the pamphlet. "J'zargo..." she trailed off as she became lost in thought while reading. To their right, two small Bosmer twins began arguing fervently in Cyrodiliic.

"I want to take practical Magick!"

"No, I want to take it!"

Kayla looked confused. "I wonder why they can't both take it."

"The bickerings between the littermates are loud and occur quite often," J'zargo said. "It is best if they are separated."

"Wait," Kayla frowned. "What's Earth Magick?"

“The best at destruction? That’s impressive. I can only manage a small flame. Are you from Elsweyr?”

She heard the Bosmer fighting and J’zargo’s comments. She tended to agree.

“I’m not taking any classes with them.”

Channah glanced over the course offerings. “Magickal Defense Seminar looks promising. Oh wait, that’s for advanced students only. I’m a beginner.” She gave J’zargo an appraising look. She couldn’t see any obvious burns or scars. One of the best Destruction students. Mages never look like what they are.

“Sorry, Kayla, I don’t know about the Earth thing. Dirt spells, maybe? Say, is Collette here? Otherwise I should go talk to Tolfdir.” There was a crowd of students around the instructor.

Channah sighed. “I guess I’ll wait.”

The jabbering Bosmers didn’t bother Channah. Sibling rivalry sounded the same in any language, and at least these two were far below her ear level. Her policy with annoyances was to punch or ignore, and it seemed a bad idea to deck her fellow students on the first day.

Aravi chatted with J’zargo. Channah didn’t want to interrupt. She angled her body to the side so she and Kayla wouldn’t talk over their conversation.

"That is a grand idea," J'zargo said to Aravi. "What classes are you interested in?"

Kayla pulled her hood down and scratched lightly at her scalp. "Did they show you two the sauna, Channah?" She stuck the course pamphlet between the front of her robes and looked over at Onmund.

"I'm thinking about Destruction," she said as Onmund leaned down and kissed a hooded woman.

I'm not jealous.

"I wonder what's in the mess hall tonight for food," she said purposefully, trying to keep her thoughts organized.

Is Channah talking?

"I'm sorry, what?" She looked over at Channah.

“I said I’m going to go talk to Tolfdir.” Channah gave Kayla and the two Khajiit a little farewell wave and started through the thinning crowd. “Oh,” she said, turning back. “I found some mead. Party in my chamber tonight. After chow.”

A few other students were still waiting for Tolfdir. Channah quietly introduced herself while he talked with a Dunmer.

At last it was her turn. “I’d like to learn some mage armor spells,” she told him.

“We’ll be covering those in depth during Magickal Defense Seminar,” he said.

“Yeah, I’m not sure I’m qualified for that class.”

“Have you met the prerequisites?”

Channah blinked. The what now? “Uh…”

“Have you mastered a basic Ward spell?”

Channah shook her head. “No. I carry two blades, so I don’t have a hand free to cast.”

A few heads turned in their direction.

Tolfdir crossed his arms and gave her a once-over. “It sounds as if your practical experience may be an adequate substitute for the introductory coursework. If you see me during office hours I will give you a formal evaluation.”

“Yeah, thanks. What if I just want to buy the spells?”

Tolfdir quoted a price that made her heart sink.

“All right,” Channah said. “Say, is there any work you need done for the college? Some way to earn coin?”

“Indeed. In fact, I…” Toldir leaned in and lowered his voice. The surrounding students leaned in, too. “I seem to have misplaced something. My alembic. If you find, I shall give you a reward.”

“Your ambelic? What, did it fall off the base or something?” Channah could mix a few simple potions, but her experience was limited to the fixed alchemy tables sometimes found in public houses.

Tolfdir chuckled. “No, my dear. We keep the students’ apparatus immobile to prevent their unauthorized removal, but I can assure you that I have no such problem with my personal alchemy set.”

Channah’s brows went up. “Yeah, but yours is missing anyway.” Uh. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that.

To her relief Tolfdir only looked amused. “I take your point. Blame an old mage’s distraction. If you find it, the reward is yours.”

Several of the other students were giving Channah the eye. She decided her time must be up. “Thanks, um, sir. I’ll do what you said.” Old mage my foot. He could probably turn us all inside-out with a word. It’s the old ones that are the most dangerous. She stepped back and glanced over to see what her friends were doing.

“I should take a class in restoration and alteration. I’m interested in illusion spells too.” She noticed J’zargo avoided answering her question about his origins. She didn’t press. “Do you know the instructors for those classes?” She looked at Kayla too who seemed to be distracted. Did she say something about a sauna? She will make sure to ask about that later. That sounded wonderful.

Channah left. Aravi saw her talking to Tolfdir, probably about defensive spells. When she returned Aravi asked, “What did he say about the prerequisites?” If Channah was let in, perhaps she would be too.

“He said…” Channah’s eyes rolled up as she thought. “I think he said that surviving actual fights might be enough to get us in. That’s not how he said it, though. I got some looks when I mentioned wielding two blades. Hah! If they ever get to see you fight, their eyes will pop out!”

The trip to Dawnstar and back had been relatively peaceful, but even a walk to the pub could turn deadly in the Pale. Aravi’s speed and agility had been impressive.

“Anyway,” Channah continued, “I got the sense that combat experience might make up for a lack of their school work. Which probably means that most mage defense students have never been hit for real. Tolfdir is going to give me a test in his office and let me know. Want to come along? I have to find Collette, too, and see how much gold I’m going to have to scrape up before I get a spell from her.”

“How much are the spells?” Her purse had been getting alarmingly light. She suspected that she had less than a hundred septims to her name at the moment. Money goes fast when you are hiring mercenaries.

“I wonder what this test is going to involve. I mean, we aren’t going to be hitting him, right? I’ll go with you to find Collette.”

“The Novice spell was forty-four Septims and the Apprentice one was ninety-five, but Adept level and the training to get there will cost hundreds. I don’t think a spell called Oakflesh will do much against dragon teeth. Maybe make me into a toothpick for it. Anyway I want some real protection. It’s going to cost me.”

Channah sighed.

“Maybe the Jarl has a bounty out on some bandits or something. Tolfdir said he’d give me a reward if I found his alchemy stuff, but I doubt it will be a fortune. I’m not much for tomb-raiding, but one of these scholars might need hired swords to keep the draugr off their neck.”

She shrugged.

“Anyway, Kayla said something about a mess hall and a sauna, so I don’t mind staying here for a bit while I earn some coin. Maybe Collette will be having a sale. I’m not sure which to get first, a spell so I don’t get hit as hard or one to fix my bones afterward.”

Channah smiled at Aravi. “I’m glad you’re coming with me for the test and to find Collete. I hope we don’t have to hit the old fetcher. I kind of like him, and if he’s lived this long he can probably kick my backside to the floor with his magic. Oh, and he asked if I’d mastered a basic Ward spell. I haven’t. Have you? It might get you into the class if you have.”

When Channah had wandered off, tossing back an invitation of some drinking in her chambers, Kayla left Aravi with J'zargo and made her way to the library. Instead of the old, grizzled Orc, there as a younger Orc woman sitting in his spot. She looked up when Kayla walked in, and Kayla blinked.

She has the bluest eyes I've ever seen.

The woman didn't get up.

"Yes?" Her voice was deep, yet feminine, like other Orc women. Her face was smooth of any blemishes. Her thick, raven-black hair tumbled around her shoulders and around the plain blue dress she wore. Kayla envied her thick locks, and ran her fingers through her own auburn tresses.

"Oh, I'm looking for-"

"He's not here." The woman cut her off. "Not at this moment. He's eating his lunch."

"He doesn't eat in here anymore?"

"Not since one of the students read while he ate. My father hates smudged pages."

"Oh," Kayla shifted on her feet. "You're Urak's daughter."

"Urag. And yes. And before you ask, no, my mother wasn't an Orc. She was a Nord, which is why I'm still ugly."

"You're not...I mean, not as...Oh..." Kayla groaned. "Can we start over?"

"What for?"

"Can I borrow a book, then? On conjuration?"

"Sure." The young woman gave her a book and sat back down. Kayla made one last attempt.

"So, you like books like your father?"

The look the woman gave her made her scurry out the door and towards the mess hall.

Channah and Aravi were directed to the second floor of the Hall of Countenance. They found a mage pacing and fuming in Collette’s office.

“You consider Restoration a valid school of magic, worthy of study, don’t you?” she demanded. “Don’t you?”

Channah glanced over her shoulder, but it seemed the woman was addressing them. “Uh, sure. Are you Collette Marence?”

“Good, good,” said the woman. “Not that I require validation, of course. There are just some — and I shan’t name names — who would disagree. It can make life difficult when one’s colleagues fail to recognize the research one engages in.”

Channah took the lack of denial as assent. “All right then. I’m Channah and this is Aravi. We’re new students and we—”

Collette wagged a finger in the air. “It’s not just healing cuts and bruises, you know. The undead are a very real, very dangerous threat and Restoration magicks can keep them at bay. Not to mention the benefit of wards! How can they continually overlook wards! It’s baffling!”

“Yeah,” Channah agreed. She decided to go along with the tirade in hope that it would pass. “And also you probably have a spell that would make my bust look bigger in this robe. That would be useful. No wait, that would be Illusion. Well I’m sure you have one for when you’re with a guy and he’s a little too excited and it’s all over before you get yours. You know.”

Collette stopped pacing. From the look on her face Channah guessed that she did not know.

She tried again. “Or how about one for when you get back to your room and the fellow just doesn’t measure up. Like if he’s an Imperial or Breton.”

Channah noticed another student standing in the doorway. She recognized him as one she had met while waiting for Tolfdir. “Oh, hey there, Tristan. I didn’t see you. Say, have you met my friend Aravi?” Channah turned her attention back to Collette while Tristan greeted Aravi. “Anyway, I guess that would be from the school of Alteration.”

Collette closed her eyes and began massaging her temples. Tristan slowly shook his head.

Channah sighed. Her ideas did not sound great after all once she had given them voice. “Or the spells you said sound really important. Even though the best way to deal with undead is to kill them again, not make them run away so you have to chase after them.”

Collette’s mouth was still open, but she didn’t speak.

Channah looked at Aravi to see what she might think.