I see Mad Josse's back! And Saya! Oooh, why do I smell cat-trouble in the near future?

Somehow I don't see Princess Leia in this scene, since we seem to be missing her favorite scoundrel . . .

"And you two… just keep your clothes on until dinner's over alright?"
"Cool your heatstones loverboy."
Poor Pappy. Saddled with hormonal referee duty.

Mad Jack! I hope Number Seven isn’t causing Button and the girls too much trouble out at the stable?

And Saya’s back! As I recall, she’s a fully carnivorous sexual predator? Pappy better keep an eye on his lads and Teresa on her mermaid.

'Teresa hated her already.’
This is cute as a button! Saya may have red eyes, but we are reminded that our stringy wood elf’s are green.

Damn, that old man is a good cook! Thank you for the delicious meal!

Once again, you remind us of the place setting for the fallen. Wonderful tradition.

Goblins! I don’t suppose the guild will be able to bargain with the gnarly little cave mers.

‘In Teresa's mind's eye, their soft clothing was replaced by armor of human and merish steel. A glance across the table showed the rest of her guild likewise attired for war. She thought of them all standing together, as they did in drill every morning on the practice field. Just like that, her doubts melted away.’
What a beautifully powerful passage this is. Wow!

Standing within it was a Dunmer in gleaming black velvet and lace. Her torso was hugged by a corset of black leather, faced with panels of silk embroidered in a twisting floral pattern. Her long, straight hair was milky white, and parted to one side. Red eyes burned from eye sockets shaded black, and her lips gleamed with the same color. Even her fingernails were lacquered with a glimmering shade of ebony.

Oh my......

A hundred goblins? They're going to be in for quite a battle. Those little fetchers are pretty smart!

Saya seems like she can instantly find the weak spots. She got Chance right in the crotch, and Teresa in the self-esteem. I’m sure that Teresa will weigh every glance that Tadrose gives her. I wonder what the other T thinks of her fellow Dunmer, and if she’s misinterpreting Teresa staring at Saya. It should be fun to watch Saya engage in battlemagery. If she spends half as much time on her vocation as she does on her appearance, she should be awesome!

He lumbered into the room like a tired animal.
What a wonderful description, I love it!

"It's like Bruma isn't it?" Vincent said seriously. "We're taking on so many we need to make fortifications. Is it the high elves?"
It’s good to see Vincent using his brain. He may act foolish, but Pappy doesn’t keep fools in his guild.

The empty chair part was lovely, and a reminder of the risk that comes with their work. One hundred goblins! That’s a lot of arrows. I look forward to hearing Pappy's plan. And... maybe dessert?

Oooh yes! Preferably something chilled with a frost spell, like a sorbet?

McBadgere: Who can resist Denver Pyle? I have had him in mind since Mad Josse made his first appearance in the TF, many chapters back.

The empty chair is something taken from the RL military. Although I am not portraying it exactly the same. It felt absolutely right to be a tradition of the Fighters Guild, especially after Bruma, but before as well.


King Coin: Teresa's skin is slowly getting there. She is slinging comebacks to Vincent these days, like with the cucumber. But a lifetime of low self-esteem takes time to overcome.


Olen: The "Teresa hated her already" line was supposed to be funny, so I am glad it felt that way. Pappy will indeed test her as well, but not until next episode. It is also funny you mention Mad Josse's presence. We will learn exactly why he is there this post.


haute ecole rider: Saya will be trouble indeed, although perhaps not the way everyone expects... I was thinking exactly what you were about scoundrels. I guess our favorite princess is the most famous woman in the universe when it comes to having a thing for scoundrels. I am sure Pappy would be glad to fill in Han's shoes though...


Acadian: Poor Pappy is right! Being the boss is not what it is cracked up to be. He has to play relationship counselor for T&T, and den mother for Chance and Vincent! Whatever happened to drinking scotch all night, playing poker, and no paperwork?

Number Seven is actually in the backyard, as we will see next episode. I really appreciated the opportunity to use the empty chair here because it shows how much Teresa has changed since she first joined the guild. Where at first it was just a curious tradition, now she is seeing a friend sitting there.


Jacki Dice: Saya is indeed most yummy. Maybe she and Lildreth might hook up one day? Though it would probably not be the best thing for Lil, especially not in the long run.


Grits: I can promise that Saya will not disappoint. You are spot on about Vincent too. He may play the fool, but he is no dummy. When it comes to business, he is all business. He survived Bruma after all, he knows just how bad things can get.


ghastley: Unfortunately dessert will not be featured (although that does not mean it never happened). So have another kabob for now.


Previously On Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, the guild sat down to dinner with several guests. There is Laberius Maesa, a Nibenean yuppie working for Lady Scaurus. A cantakerous old mountain man named Mad Josse, and a distinctly gothy dark elf battlemage called Saya, who has a thing for scoundrels. Pappy then announced that the entire guild has been hired to clear out a tribe of goblins from a gold mine belonging to Lady Scaurus.


Chapter 43.4 – Hand of Fire

"Okay, so the parchment pusher is here to make sure our fingers don't get sticky in the gold mine. And we got a battlemage to back us up against the goblin shaman." Vincent turned his gaze from one of their guests to another. "So what's your story then old timer?"

"Old? Who you callin' old?" Josse rose to his feet and shook a fist. "Why I've got half a mind to tar your britches for you sonny, callin' me old!"

"Dammit settle down Josse!" Pappy barked. "And you wonder why people call you mad? The kid's got a right to ask." The guild commander turned to Vincent. "If I am not off my mark, Mad Josse here has been asked by the families of the miners to represent their interests."

"Their interests?" Vincent looked puzzled for a moment. "You mean to sort out their bodies?"

"And return their belongings to their next of kin," Josse fumed. "My nephew's one of them too, so I'll have you rogues know I take a personal interest in this affair."

"You will have your hands full then," Saya declared. "Goblins do not show respect for the dead. They put them all in the same pot and-"

Chance stopped her short by laying a hand on one of hers. "I don't think he needs to hear about that right now," the Redguard said quietly.

"I know what those little bounders do to the dead kid," Mad Josse grumbled. "I wasn't born'd yesterday you know. I was killing those fetchers when you was still a glimmer in your momma's eye."

"Settle down you meatheads." Pappy growled. "Now we've got a big job ahead of us, and we leave at first light tomorrow. So we have a lot to get ready for. Now how many here have fought goblins before?"

Teresa raised her hand. She remembered her escape from the Imperial Prison, and the three goblins in the sewers. She had barely survived her battle with the small, but incredibly ferocious creatures. While she had encountered them again on the City Isle, and later east of Morcant's cottage, she had thankfully been able to avoid a fight both times.

Looking around, she saw that Tadrose, Vincent, Josse, and of course Pappy himself also had their hands in the air. She felt a tinge of pride when she noted that the new battlemage kept her hand down.

"Since our battlemage here knows so much about goblins," Pappy leveled his gaze upon Saya, "why don't you brief the rest of us mules on what to expect?"

"Well," Saya began, "as I am sure we all are aware, goblins are small and slight of stature. However, they are stronger than they appear, and are quick, agile creatures. They prefer to attack from ambush, and overwhelm their prey with superior numbers."

"Their craftsmanship is very limited. The only weapons they are capable of producing are simple spears, axes, and knives fashioned from stones such as flint. They tip their arrows with stone or bone, and sometimes fashion armor from bones as well. Rarely they can be found with weapons or armor of steel or better manufacture. However, these were all taken as spoils from civilized peoples."

Teresa frowned. She might be new to all of this, but the Dunmer seemed to know an awful lot about goblins.

"Their society is matriarchal," she continued, "and in fact it is the females who are the larger and stronger of the race. Far fewer of them are born than males however. This forces the males to compete with one another for the right to breed. For the females only choose the bravest and strongest to lay with. This is what drives the goblins to raid and plunder. They are all trying to impress the women."

"That's not so different from any other race…" Vincent remarked dryly.

"It is also only the women who are capable of using magic, and only a small number of them at that," Saya went on, pretending not to have heard the wisecracking Breton. "The greatest magician of each tribe is their shaman, and she rules with absolute authority. She can be identified by the staff she carries. It is the totem of the tribe, and will have the skull of a goblin at its top. Often it is decorated with other bones, fingers, feathers, even shrunken heads. They are always enchanted to throw lightning, the favored element of goblins. She is aided by her apprentices, and might have as many as three or four of them. All are capable destruction mages, as I said before, specializing in shock."

"Then there is the war chief, the highest ranking male. You can always tell him, because he will have the very best gear, usually of iron or steel. He is the shaman's consort, and leads the tribe's war parties. His lieutenants are the berserkers, the strongest, and most vicious of the other males. All are fond of using poisons, usually brewed from the wisp stalks often found in their caves. However, they are not skilled alchemists, so their poison lacks magical properties."

"So they will likely only make us sick if we are exposed, and it will take time before we even see the first effects." Teresa interrupted the Dunmer. Now she understood why Pappy had her spend the afternoon making antidote and shock shield potions.

"Aye," Saya replied. "But it is best to always keep antidote potions on hand when facing them. Just in case. To finish, goblins are nocturnal, and do not like the sunlight. They complain that it burns them, even though there is no physical evidence of this. This is why they live in caves and mines. They will also eat anything they can. They often grow cairn bolete and other mushrooms in their caverns for food, and herd giant rats such as skeevers for that purpose. But they hunt on the surface as well, both animals and sentients. Any living thing they can, they will kill and eat. So do not let them take you prisoner."

"You appear to be well appraised of these creatures," Ancondil observed, "for one who has never faced them."

"My thesis was on semi-intelligent creatures," Saya declared with evident pride. "Among my sources was a monograph upon goblins written by none other than Raminus Polus, now the headmaster of the Arcane University."

"Hey," Vincent sat up straight in his chair. "He taught me my healing spell! Remember Pappy, at Bruma."

"He taught me my first spells too," Teresa found herself admitting. "When I was a little girl."

The guild commander shook his head. "I remember Raminus and his goblins alright," he frowned. "What a clusterfetch that was."

"You have read his monograph?" Saya said under a raised eyebrow.

"Oblivion no," Pappy said. "I was there. I saw it all up close and personal. Who do you think commanded the century that had the sorry task of corralling his goblins? Some damn fools on the Elder Council decided that they wanted to figure out how the Altmer are controlling goblins for their army, so we had to go and stick our necks on the chopping block. I warned them it would blow up like bag full of mammoth farts, but did anyone listen? No. Then when it all fell apart guess who the scapegoat was? I spent three years in the Alik'r desert because of that mess."

"So what is their fighting ability?" Valerius asked the guild commander. "What kind of training do they have? What are their predilections?"

"No formal training at all," Pappy answered before Saya could speak again. "But don't discount them. They are absolutely ferocious. Even the children are lethal, and I do mean lethal. I once saw a three year old goblin slit the throat of a ten year veteran without batting an eye. So don't any of you get sentimental ideas about taking non-combatants prisoner. There are no innocents among these fetchers. They are all killers."

"Their warriors fight like a wolf pack. They will close in as a group, and try to separate one person from the rest. Then they surround them, and come in from all sides at once. They'll leap right on top of you, and stab, bite, kick, gouge your eyes, anything they can. I've seen good fighters panic and go down with half a dozen of the little fetchers hanging off of them."

"So how do we fight them?" Chance asked.

"By staying together," Tadrose said coolly. "This is what we have trained to do. We all stand in line, no one breaks formation. In the tunnels we will anchor our line at both walls. In the open we will form a circle. No goblin will get past us. The first rank will form a wall the goblin attack will break upon, just like the surf breaks on a cliff. The second line will knock them off the first with daggers, like flicking fleas off a guar. When someone is wounded they fall back in line and are replaced by the fighter behind them. The line never breaks, never falters."

"And when it's all over, we are all that is left standing," Pappy nodded. "I'm not going to kid you, this is going to be one long, tough contract. But we're going to do it smart. I don't intend to fight them all at once. Just as they like to single out their victims one at a time, we're going to break this up into smaller fights. They'll have raiding parties out. We'll start with them, and destroy each in turn. Then we'll move to the mine and draw out as many as we can, and kill them in an ambush. Only then are going into those tunnels. Once we're down there, we can use the narrow spaces to our advantage. Only two or three can fight abreast in those mine shafts. A handful of men could whoop an entire army in place like that."

"What about the shaman?" Morghak asked. "It sounds like she will be a tough nut to crack."

"That's what our battlemage is for," Pappy motioned to Saya. "If the shaman summons anything, or tries to command or frenzy any of us, Saya will dispel it. Then she'll hit her like a ton of bricks. Teresa too, is going to be carrying silence poisons with her. Her job will be to pincushion any goblin that starts slinging magic."

"That shock magic is going to sting though," Vincent rubbed his chin. "Can we get some shock resistance scrolls or potions from the Mages Guild?"

"Already taken care of," Teresa smiled faintly. "While you were carving stakes, I was making potions."

"I have been meaning to ask about those stakes," Ancondil said. "Just what is their purpose?"

"Standard legion practice," Valerius answered before Pappy could reply. "Dig in and fortify. I hazard that if the opportunity arises, our commander shall have us dig a ditch, build a rampart, and use the stakes to form a hedgehog atop it."

"That's right," Pappy said with a smile. "And this time the knights will be handling a shovel along with the rest of us mules. Gentlemen, and ladies, it's best to look at this like a big, fat Bruma steak. We are going to carve them up one piece at a time, until there's nothing left."

Let's get the nits out of the way:
Looks like you are missing the closing quote here. A little bleary-eyed from editing, perhaps?

Okay, that's done! I loved the battle plan Pappy laid out. I also found myself nodding my head along with Saya's dissertation - it's exactly what I had figured out. Kind of like a hive thing. Julian made herself scarce during this part, and I don't blame her! In any case, looks like the Bravil Fighter's Guild has their work cut out for them.

Uh oh, looks like you'd better feed us again before going into battle! Now you've gone and made Acadian hungry again! And I can't feed him - we're off into battle ourselves!

Well, with Teresa, Julian and Buffy all poised for (or in) battle, vittles is scarce. Saya’s talk about the goblins cooking up their foes however, will keep my hunger at bay for a time.

Listening to Teresa’s commander and his deputy, I see what you mean about them thinking somewhat like Buffy’s captain and his second in command. Pappy wants to attrite their foes by splintering their focus, drawing them out and, when possible, through a killing zone and into an iron phalanx. And he has done his homework and made preparations to protect his force as best he can.

I enjoyed hearing Saya share what she has learned about goblins. I think it is a great decision to ‘temper’ Saya by revealing that her knowledge of the fascinating little bounders is not first hand. I think there is no danger of us perceiving the battlemage as a ‘parchment princess’, but showing us a couple limitations makes her seem quite real.

’I warned them it would blow up like bag full of mammoth farts, but did anyone listen?’

And now we know why Mad Josse is there, but what are his skills like? I imagine anyone that mad and old will have a few tricks up his sleeve. I'm not entirely clear on what his profession is but as a mountain man I suspect he will know a bit about poisoning bait or trapping... whether they bother to try cheating (or if it would even work) against the goblins remains to be seen.

The dialogue is excellent, your characters all very much have their own voices. I think I culd read the whole exchange without being told who said what and know from the way it's said which is quite a feat with so many characters. Good examples are:
bag full of mammoth farts -- so Pappy and quite a funny way of putting it.
Then followed by What are their predilections which could only be Valerius or Ancondil of those present. It flows very well too.

We see another side to Saya too, she might be trouble and vain but she also seems to be an academic. No one can get that obsessed with a subject other than by doing an academic thesis. I'd almost hazard that she's not that good a one though, that she bases so heavily on having read someone else's work rather than doing her own... Pappy certainly put her in her place.

Speaking of which: "clusterfetch" -- loved this Great way of making a phrase I can't imagine Pappy not using forum and ES friendly.

Nit, maybe...
...overwhelm their prey with superior numbers."
"Their craftsmanship is very limited... - As she continues speaking I believe it would be normal to omit the closing inverted comma at the end of the paragraph to show that dialogue is continued. I may be wrong though.

I gotta say, I was a little underwhelmed when after Teresa’s lengthy absence that she was going to take part in a contract that involved goblins. This really does sound like it is going to be interesting though. I should have never doubted.

Pappy’s had to intervene quite a few times to get that bunch to settle down.

They are all trying to impress the women."

"That's not so different from any other race…"
Vincent has a point.

Raminus got promoted. Does this take place after the necromancer problems or is Traven just retired?

I’m looking forward to this contract. Those guys are just going to love digging in the dirt.

*is late to the game* Welcome back Rosa, good to see more of Teresa. Kind of odd to see Teresa leery about fighting goblins after waves of deadra and trolls, I'm guessing it's a case of not realizing you 'outgrew' an old bully.

Fun to see Saya pop back into things again.

@King Coin: Raminus got promoted awhile back, around the time Teresa was starting to head to Bravil IIRC, though I think it's following the Mage Guild story I don't know for sure.

If I remember right Raminus is running the University and Traven is running the Guild, and that's still the case in Teresa's version of the world. I've only seen the title "headmaster" used here, I think.

The scale of things is usually more realistic in this story, but how big a tribe a goblins are we talking about here? This is starting to appear like a larger fight than Bruma! Do you have any cavalry coming to yours?

Nice touch to have Josse representing the miners. Saya’s callous remark about miner stew made me snort. What a bunch of unique individuals! I’m really enjoying this.

The idea of being swarmed by small, ferocious critters is quite chilling. It sounds like they have a great plan. I’m looking forward to seeing how it works out!

Oh that was cool... ...

Clusterfetch!...Brilliant... ...I did Clusterfus in mine... ...

Loved the whole thing, from the Denver Pyle-isms to the whole lessin...I mean, lesson in Goblinesse-ness, this was an excellent episode with much to applaud...So I shall...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

haute ecole rider: Pappy has been to this particular dance more than once. So he knows how to deal with goblin tribes, and Bruma steaks. There will be more vittles coming, though not nearly as tasty as Pappy's Redguard feast.


Acadian: You have Pappy's plan down to a tee. Textbook stuff I suppose. But of course much easier said than actually done.

You were also right on about my decision for Saya to know about goblins through book learning only. As an Arcane University-trained battlemage, she can seem quite uber. Seven years of learning magic will do that to someone. It was important for me to show that while she has a lot of book-learning, she still lacks the kind of real world experience that Teresa and company have.

I am glad the mammoth farts line went over. I was originally going to use a bag of lighting bolts, but I decided to change it to something more colorful, to reflect the speaker.


Olen: It will be a while before we see what Mad Josse can do. Suffice to say, he's been living on his own in the backwoods of Cyrodiil for decades, so he can take care of himself. Pappy knows him from way back, so he doesn't need to drag it out. Saya OTOH, is a big question mark for him still. So he will be taking the time for get a better idea for just what she can really do.

I am glad the mammoth farts and clusterfetches were appreciated. I spend a lot of effort working on the dialogue, to make sure each line matches the personality of the speaker.


King Coin: I know a few goblins does seem meh. That is why I made it an entire tribe. With the guild outnumbered 10 or 12 to 1, it should make it exciting.

Raminus has been the headmaster of the Arcane U since the tale started. As ghastley said, in the TF Raminus runs the university, while Traven runs the Mages Guild overall, not just in Cyrodiil, but all over Tamriel. My Arcane U is a bit different from the game, as it is open to anyone who can pay. The Mages Guild simply runs it. But when you come down to it, it is really no different from how their local guild chapters teach spells to people. The University just takes that to a whole new level of focus.


liliandra nadiar: Welcome back lil. Hopefully the goblins will not disappoint. There are about a hundred of them or so, and they have mages.


ghastley: Their estimates put the goblins at about 80-100. But of course those could be off as well. It is basically an entire tribe that decided to move into the Lady's mine. As you said, a tribe to scale with the rest of things in the TF. So it is a lot of the little greenies. Unfortunately there is no Tenth Legion on the way to back them up, like at Bruma. But there will be at least one pleasant surprise.


Grits: I am glad they are all coming across as unique characters. It is hard to write so many different people in the same scene, and have them all come across with their own individual voices. They certainly are a bunch of rowdy types too! A lot of that comes from Pappy of course. Those are the kind of people he likes. He may have been born an Imperial, but you might say he is a Nord at heart. Must be a lot of that Nordic blood back in his Colovian ancestry.


McBadgere: Sometimes it can be fun to find creative ways of getting around the swear filter. The Denver Pyle mountain man talk was just fun to write. All I had to do was go back and watch a little Grizzly Adams.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode revealed that Mad Josse was a representative of the miners, there to make sure their belongings were returned to their next of kin. As his nephew was one of them at the mine, he takes this personally. Saya then gave the others a briefing on what to expect from the goblins, based upon what she had learned at the Arcane University. In the end Pappy revealed that his plan was to divide the goblins and destroy them one piece at a time, all the while controlling the battlefield.


Chapter 43.5 – Hand of Fire

Magnus was but a faint glow on the horizon when Teresa awoke. Taking a moment to stretch, she rose to her feet and glanced down at her empty bed. In spite of Tadrose's joke the other night, they still had yet to spend an entire night with one another. Someday, Teresa sighed, when Tadrose was ready. Until then, she at least had the comfort of the armorer's arms to hold her, and her lips to plant their soft, silken kisses upon her own.

Teresa was reminded of how Nerussa had once chided her to take her time when she ate, and savor every bite of her meals rather than wolf them down. "There is no hurry," the high elf had declared. "It is not going anywhere. So take the time to relish every nuance of flavor. Every scent is a work of art, every taste a masterpiece. Life is filled with simple pleasures. Do not let them pass you by because you were in too much of a hurry to pause and notice."

Teresa resolved to savor every touch, every kiss, every hour she spent with Tadrose. As Nerussa had said, there was no hurry. The Dunmer was not going anywhere. Besides, if she tried, there was always Ancondil's war hammer…

A clattering drifted up from outside her window. Teresa walked over and looked down through it to the practice yard behind the guild hall. There she found Mad Josse packing up the small camp he had made the previous night and stowing the gear away onto the back of his mule. Even from the second story of the hall, she could hear the aging Breton muttering to himself, albeit in tones too low for her to make out the words.

Now there was a real mountain man, Teresa thought. He did not sleep indoors, even in the city. She bit her lip. What kind of forester was she, compared to that?

She turned from the window and stepped to her dressing table. A quick spell left her body feeling clean and refreshed. Another removed any unwanted hairs. Only Mara knew when she would have the privacy to use the latter magic again. So she made the most of it while she could.

Then she dressed, starting with the velvet spirit bag which she draped around her neck. Rather than the legion tunic and drawstring pants she wore for her early morning runs, she donned Aldariel instead. Ravenfeeder followed, snugly tucked within its chitin gorytos. Then came her potion belts, and finally her Thieves Bag. She took several minutes to rummage through the magical bag to make sure that she had everything she might need. Extra potions, her bedroll, dried ingredients, her mortar and pestle, a copy of Grognak's Bravil Guide, a map, and even more items were tucked away within the enchanted container.

Fully armed, armored, and prepared, she stepped into the hallway outside. Even now she saw the light under Ancondil's door, revealing that he was awake as well. It was not to his room that she strode however, but rather to Tadrose's. After a gentle rap, she cracked the door open just enough to look within and find that the Dunmer was still donning her armor.

"Greet the sun Tadrose," she said with a gentle smile. The smile the Dunmer gave her in return was brighter, and warmer, then Magnus himself could ever be. By Dibella, Teresa silently marveled, how on Nirn did she do that?

Letting herself in, the wood elf took the time to shut the door behind her. Then her lips found those of Tadrose, and her hands availed themselves of the armorer's muscular frame. After long moments the Dunmer drew away, eyes aglow with fire. She laughed, and waved a finger at Teresa.

"Now don't you distract me," she chided. "I have to get my armor on and get downstairs."

"I'd rather get you out of your armor," Teresa pouted. Still, she moved to help the Dunmer with the overlapping plates of her cuirass. There were many more individual pieces to the elven steel than in Teresa's own miran-talurn armor. That made the process of putting it on or taking it off much more involved. Still, it gave Teresa the chance to touch the other woman. Or touch her armor at least.

When they were finally done, and Tadrose stood before her in full golden splendor, Teresa took a moment just to look at the dark elf. As she had often thought before, the armorer looked like a golden raven of the battlefield. Brilliant, noble, and deadly, that was Tadrose.

"Do you think you might pose for Alaine Retiene?" Teresa found herself asking. "I would love to have a portrait of you in your armor."

The vice-commander rolled her eyes. "You need to save your septims for that house," she said. "You are so close to being able to buy it as it is."

"Alaine and I might be able to work something out," Teresa contended. "He likes me. He's never gotten killed with me bodyguarding him after all."

Tadrose laughed, and surprised Teresa by leaning in to give her a quick kiss. "Have I ever told you I love you?" The dark elf winked, and Teresa found herself blushing. "Now come on, we have to get going."

The vice-commander took Teresa by the hand, and led her out into the hallway. Pappy was already clambering down the stairs from his third floor quarters, decked out in his combination of legion and orcish armor. Valerius too, already stood in the corridor, glowing like starlight in his panoply of silver meteoric glass. The clatter of metal against metal came through the doors of the other rooms, telling Teresa that the rest of the guild was still in the process of donning their gear.

"All right you meatheads!" Pappy barked down the hallway, loud enough that Teresa was certain he could be heard outside the building. "Drop your pricks and grab your kits. I want everyone downstairs and ready for inspection in ten!"

Valerius led the way down the stair, followed by the two women - still holding hands - and then finally the guild commander. They made their way to the kitchen, where they found Tavian waiting for them with fresh bread, Tenmar tea, and goat's milk. The other members of the guild stumbled in one at a time as they broke their fast. So too did Mad Josse. While the Breton turned down the offer of food, he did avail himself of the tea.

"Don't get this too often out in the woods," he proclaimed as he gulped down the hot Khajiit tea. "Damn fine tastin' too."

Teresa wanted to shake her head as she sipped her own milk. Again, Nerussa's words - chiding her to take her time - rose in her memory. At least she was not a forester like that! Not anymore at least.

"So where's our battlemage?" Chance strode into the room. He wore a suit of full steel plate, and his Dwemer mace Ncharcasti rode at one of his hips.

"She'll be here shortly," Pappy murmured. "At least she better be, or we're leaving without her."

After a quick meal, Pappy led them all to the practice hall. There he and Tadrose both inspected each fighter's weapons, armor, and potions. The guild commander cast a critical eye upon the extra potions that Teresa carried in her bag for all. He even made the wood elf take them out and display them on the floor for all to see.

"Antidotes, shields, resist shock, silence, and extra healing potions," Pappy nodded at each row of bottles. "What are these?" he gestured to another group of brews.

"Shock shields," Teresa declared. "They will stack with our shield and resist shock potions, for a little something extra. I have extra magicka potions too, in case our battlemage did not bring enough. I also have some scrolls from Ungarion, dispels, salamanders, sylphs, the usual."

"Outstanding Teresa!" The Colovian clapped an armored paw upon the wood elf's back. "Take note you meatheads. A good soldier is prepared for anything. This is how you fight, and win."

Teresa tried not to blush, and lowered her head as she separated her potions into even groups, to divide up amongst the others. She heard the sound of jingling mail rings as she did so, and turned her head to look to the door. None of their guild wore mail that made a sound like that. The elven mail that Tadrose and Storm-Tail wore under their panoplies was silent as linen, and the plate the others wore made more noise than the mail beneath it.

It was their new battlemage, walking into the wide chamber. She was girded in armor of gleaming mithril rings, and carried a kite-shaped shield of the same material in one hand. Her milky white hair was covered by an open-faced helmet, and a mace with glowing mithril flanges was tucked into her belt. Numerous pouches hung from belts along her waist and across her chest, and a leather pack was slung over her back, along with a bedroll.

"Hope we did not interrupt her beauty sleep," Morghak rumbled in low voice.

"Give me some time, and I'll be doing more than just that," Chance remarked out of the corner of his mouth.

"Pfft!" the orc's voice oozed with contempt. "Where are her scars? Her hands have spent their time unrolling parchment, not gripping the hafts of weapons."

"I've got a haft that could use gripping," Vincent laughed.

"Careful, she might take you up on that," Chance whispered back.

"Keep it up and I might," Morghak growled. She made a fist, and the noise of popping knuckles resounded loudly from underneath her gauntlet. She smiled with a mouthful of teeth, and Vincent nearly turned as pale as Teresa.

"All right kid," Pappy said as he walked over to meet the battlemage and cast an appraising eye upon her armored frame. His hands reached out, and Teresa noted that she flinched as he began checking her armor, and then the contents of her pouches. "Let's see what you've got. Standard battlemage mithril mail, that's good. Magicka potions, even better. Shock shields, antidotes, healing, cure disease. So where's your staff kid?"

"I prefer something more, substantial." Saya patted the handle of her mace with one hand. "And my name is Saya."

Teresa could not restrain a faint smile when she overheard the last.

"Sure it is kid," Pappy replied coolly. He walked over to one wall, and motioned for the Dunmer to follow. Once there, he drew a wooden mace from a rack of practice weapons, and threw it to her. She deftly caught it in one hand as he drew a shield and a practice sword from the same rack. "Now show me what you've got."

Saya glanced from the guild commander to Teresa and the others, clearly unsure of whether she should do as he said. Teresa packed up the last of her potions when Tadrose spoke.

"Go ahead, " the vice-commander said, "and if I were you, I wouldn't hold back."

The battlemage raised her own shield and brought the mace up behind her head. She stepped in closer to Pappy, and launched a blow at his side. Even to Teresa's eye, it looked slow and lazy. The Colovian easily parried it on his shield, and shook his head.

"I said hit me kid," he growled. "Those goblins aren't gonna be playing out there. Now show me what you can really do."

The Dunmer responded with another strike of her mace, harder this time. "Again!" Pappy cried, as he shrugged off the blow. Once more the dark elf swung upon him, and the Colovian's shield rang from the impact. "Come on princess, you afraid you might chip your nails? Hit me like you mean it!"

The Dunmer struck again and again, as Pappy goaded her on. The entire time, he never returned a blow with his sword. He simply let her pound away upon him, until his shield was dented and splintered from the impacts. Teresa realized what he was doing. He was trying to make the battlemage lose her temper, just as that first day she had demonstrated her archery for him. Yet while the dark elf looked as if she would like to rip the guild commander in two, she never lost her finesse or form.

Now Pappy began striking back with his sword. First simple cuts and jabs, which she easily turned aside with her shield. Then he moved in closer to her, and bashed his shield up against her own. She staggered back, and he closed in. In a moment his foot was behind her ankle, and he gave a rough shove. She went down onto her back, and moment later the rounded tip of his wooden blade was resting on her chest.

"Not bad kid," Pappy said. He reversed his grip on his sword and tossed it to Tavian. Reaching down with one hand, the Colovian helped the battlemage to her feet. "You kept your wits about you. That's the most important thing. You need experience though, but you'll get that soon enough."

The Dunmer simply nodded, and drew her helmet from her head. Her milky-white locks were beaded with sweat, and Teresa noted with satisfaction that she did not look quite so haughty as she had the other night.

"All right, now tell me what else you can do." Pappy again motioned for her to follow him back to the others. Tadrose took this as her cue to continue inspecting the gear of the regular guild members. "Please tell me you know destruction magic."

"Aye," Saya declared. "Shock, flame, or frost, and I combine all with a weakness to magic to make them more effective."

"What about healing?" Pappy asked. "Can you do that?"

"I can heal others, as well as use fortification spells" Saya said. "Although I will admit it is not my most potent school. I am also conversant in alteration magic, such as shock shields." The dark elf raised her hand into a fist. When she unclenched it a moment later, a wave of sparking energy fell down around her, and disappeared into her frame.

"I can also open locks, walk on water or breathe it, dispel magic, create light, and use night eye." The Dunmer's pride resurfaced as she extolled her virtues. "I am most skilled at conjuration however." She raised a hand again, and this time a blue light spilled from between her fingers. A disc of conjuration magic dropped to the floor in front of her, and behind it formed a creature the likes of which Teresa had never seen.

Her skin was a blue-grey, much like a Dunmer's, only softer in shade. The hair that was drawn back from her face in a ponytail was a light shade of purple, reminding Teresa of the twilight sky. The eyes that gazed from her eyesockets were the bright red of the setting sun, and her lips were as black as the darkest night. Her arms ended in a pair of great, leathery wings. Teresa was reminded of those of a bat, except that the fingers that sprouted from the leading edge of her wings stretched out into long, wickedly sharp claws. Her legs were like those of a bird, and ended in only slightly shorter, yet thicker, claws. Finally, a long tail stretched out behind her, ending what Teresa imagined might be a stinger larger than her fist.

Screenshot

Teresa gasped, and could not stop herself from taking a step back. Many others did the same, and more than one hand fell near the hilt of a weapon. Pappy and Tadrose remained impassive however, and it was the mistress of the forge who broke the silence.

"A Winged Twilight," the Dunmer said. Her smoldering eyes drifted from the summoning to mage who had brought her into the world. "Impressive."

A Winged Twilight! Now Teresa remembered the entry in Varieties of Daedra that described the creature. It was one of the few that she had not seen during the Oblivion Crisis. She imagined because they served only Azura, the Daedric Princess of Dawn and Dusk.

"I see my Lady's hand has touched thee," The Daedra's voice was as soft as silken sheets as she stared at Tadrose. "You may address me as Kireteki." Her infernal eyes passed over the other members of the guild, and Teresa wondered what it was that lurked behind them? A bloodthirsty killer just waiting for its opportunity? Or could there really be more to a Daedra, as Tadrose insisted?

"These are allies," Saya declared. "We shall be fighting alongside them soon."

The Winged Twilight nodded as she gazed from one fighter to the next. Finally she stepped beside her conjurer. Neither said a word to one another, but Teresa was certain that something passed between the two. The fingers from one of Kireteki's wings gently rested against the small of the mage's back, and Teresa suddenly wondered if the two were lovers? Could such a thing even be possible?

"I'm impressed kid. You just might work out after all." Pappy stood arms akimbo as he stared at the dusky-skinned pair. Then his eyes turned to the rest of the fighters. "You aren't getting paid to gawk you meatheads. Get your kits squared away so we can move out. We're burning daylight."

The mercenaries went back to their work of checking and double-checking their gear, although many eyes continued to stray to the new battlemage and her Daedric companion. Until finally Saya dispelled the Winged Twilight after a grumble from Pappy. In the meanwhile Teresa passed out the extra potions she had brewed, so that they were evenly spread around the group.

During this time they were joined by Laberius Maesa. The Nibenean was now clad in black and red velvet. He wore an arming sword at one hip whose hilt was gilded with shining rubies. Teresa had to suppress the urge to laugh at the man, who looked every inch the dandy. She saw Morghak rolling her eyes, and realized she was not alone in her assessment of the Imperial.

Interesting summation of the pre-goblin preparations!

I'm a little confused, though: I thought Saya had a mace?

Other than that, it was a wonderful moment. I liked the interchange between T&T before they came downstairs, and I can relate to Teresa's impatience. But it's good that they're taking their time before jumping between the sheets (or elsewhere, as the case may be).

And kudos to Pappy for not letting Saya slide without one of his 'auditions!' It's a good way to assess her fighting skills, and interesting to see that she didn't lose her temper, either. I'm very curious to see how she really will fight when faced with the real thing.

A quiet opening, filled with rumination of Tadrose’s kisses, Nerussa’s lessons and Ancondil’s hammer.

Teresa’s trademark insecurity was vividly on display as she critically evaluated her own forester skills while watching Mad Josse. Only Teresa could be envious of a crotchety old coot and his mule! A hint of full circle however as she later critically watched him violate Neurssa’s rules of dining etiquette.

Pappy’s inspection was a nice way to gently show us the detailed contents of Teresa’s kit.

"I've got a haft that could use gripping," Vincent laughed.’
You caught me by surprise here, nearly causing a soda mishap.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing more flesh applied to our mysterious Saya and you excelled here. We learned much here, and I’m sure we’ll learn more of her. She is not perfect, but impressive nonetheless - exactly what you are striving for I’m sure. The winged twilight was a real highlight! I love how it talked to Saya.

And a concise assessment of our parchment prince dandy, Laberius. I'm sure he'll be a real asset to Pappy's war effort. Maybe Morghak will stuff him in her pack so he can't accidentally prick someone with that ruby handled ceremonial sword.

Fantastic stuff!!... ...



That was sweet and the last sentence was just pure funny... ...

Loved the whole thing with everyone putting the armour on...The early morning feel of the whole thing...I could imagine the (almost for Bravil) fresh air as Teresa opened the window to look down on Josse...(He's instantly my fave...Loves his tea...Reminds me of me, mid-week just gone... )...

The whole thing downstairs was brilliant...The inspection, the testing of the battlemage...And as for that Winged Twilight thing...Oh-ho-hooo yes!!....

Well done that woman!!...

I'm with Acadian...But sodaless...(tea-choking-on, yes )...



I'm quoting the whole thing because it's just too beautiful to not... ...Love it... ...

An absolutely riveting chapter that was delightful and funny in so many ways...

Excellent stuff...

Love it!!!...

Nice one!!..

*Applauds heartily*...

Now there was a real mountain man, Teresa thought. He did not sleep indoors, even in the city.
They don’t call him Mad Josse for nothing!

Drop your pricks and grab your kits.
I like Teresa’s morning greeting better. This line was straight from Full Metal Jacket! Just a little more forum censor friendly.

The banter between the men when the battle mage entered reminds me of my friends.

The battle mage sounds like she will be of use to the team. I just hope none of the goblin mages know dispel.

Teresa’s “I suck at being a forester” thought was so Teresa. The urge to smack her (lovingly) on the head was strong. Just like with a real person who still can’t see how far they’ve come.

I love the humor in this episode. Morghak’s exchange with the boys is one of my favorite passages in the TF. Hilarious and so true to the characters.

Nice to see Pappy beat the sweat out of Saya, and then her Winged Twilight right-back-attcha. And finally an amusing appearance from the Nibenean peacock with the vaginal-sounding name.

Pappy’s lines were especially awesome in this episode. Looks like they’re ready to get moving!

haute ecole rider: That was actually supposed to be Saya's shield that she parried with! How did I miss that one? We will eventually see Saya in action. I can say that it should prove interesting.


Acadian: Yep, only Teresa could envy an old codger like Mad Josse. But at least she appreciates some of the finer things about civilized life.

Most of that gripping line just flowed out naturally as I typed. I am glad it works. See, Vincent can be honestly funny at times!

I laughed at your comment about Laberius. I am sure you know already that Pappy is not going to let him anywhere near the fighting!


McBadgere: Isn't Josse a fun character? I used to love Grizzly Adams when I was little, and he is purely (and I am sure obviously) inspired by Mad Jack.

Those Winged Twilights are in Morrowind, so you might want to try out the game sometime. You can summon them, although they are one of the highest level critters you can, so you have to wait awhile to get that powerful.

Yay, another thumbs up for Vincent's haft! That was a fun exchange to write.


King Coin: Drop your pricks was indeed my way of getting around the forum filter. I wanted to use the original, with the word that rhymes with socks. I am glad prick does not get censored.


Grits: Teresa's low self esteem is so her is it not? That is one of those things that just naturally came out as I wrote the scene. Teresa can always find a way to think less of herself.

I never thought of Laberius' name as being vaginal! I just picked it from a long list of Roman names I have from my Rome Total War days. Maybe I should have went with Labienus instead? Or Vulvus?


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found the guild waking up for the morning and gathering for inspection. Teresa revealed the extra potions she had made for everyone, and passed them out among the group. Pappy also put the new battlemage to the test, and found that she did not panic or lose her temper when pressed. Saya also showed off by summoning a Winged Twilight, a Daedra race that serves Azura.


Chapter 43.6 – Hand of Fire

Finally Pappy led them from the guild hall and out into the street. Rather than take them straight to the North Gate of the city, he lead them west down Lady Street. In moments the Lucky Old Lady rose up before them, and Teresa lined up with the other fighters to kiss the bronze statue of the old woman.

"What on Nirn are you doing?" Their new battlemage stared at the mercenaries through raised eyebrows.

"Kissing the Lucky Old Lady is a Fighters Guild tradition," Ancondil explained. "We always do so before every contract."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll pucker up," Vincent chimed in.

"You just might get lucky if you do," Chance winked at the Dunmer. He leapt up to the statue. Wrapping both of his hands around the old woman's head, he gave her a long kiss on the lips.

After the Redguard clambered off the base of the statue, Teresa took her turn kissing the Lady's skirt. She was followed by Tadrose, and the remainder of the fighters. Even Mad Josse stepped in to lend his lips to the affair. Only Saya and Laberius abstained, in spite of further chiding from the guild members. Or perhaps because of it?

Returning back to Silver Avenue, they made their way north to the gates. The city slowly crept to life around them. Carts made deliveries of fresh milk and bread, and scattered pedestrians moved to and fro. Teresa looked for Gaius Prentus at the gatehouse, but there was no sign of the guardsman as the guild marched through the miniature fortress.

"I expect everyone to keep both feet on the bridge," Pappy grumbled from the head of the column. "You hear that Teresa?"

"I only jumped off once!" the forester exclaimed.

"Teresa…" Pappy rumbled again.

Teresa pouted. She noticed that Chance turned to face Saya, who walked next to him. The Redguard held up two fingers on his hand, and silently mouthed the word "twice". The Dunmer held up a hand over her mouth, but the wood elf could still hear the trill of quiet laughter escaping from her ebon-rouged lips.

Teresa felt her face flush with warmth, and she stared down at the wooden boards of the bridge as they passed by underfoot. A comforting hand made a home over the small of her back, and she looked up to find Tadrose hovering beside her. Teresa fought the urge to snuggle close and lay her head upon the slightly taller woman's shoulder. Instead she simply allowed herself to smile faintly, and basked in the comfort of the vice-commander's touch.

Beyond the bridge, they found a line of wagons queued up along the Green Road. Several men on horses rode back and forth around the vehicles. They were clad in mail armor and were armed with lances, and carried either a mace or sword as a sidearm as well. However, their garb was not nearly fine enough for them to be knights such as Valerius. Nor were their mounts anywhere near the quality of the Colovian's coal black Falkreathean steed. Teresa imagined that they were mercenaries, hired to guard the train of wagons.

"This is our ride you meatheads." Pappy gave the hand signal for a halt, and the group gathered around him. "I've worked a deal with the leader of the caravan. They'll take us north as far as the mine, and in return we'll help defend the wagon train. Now I don't expect anything to happen on the first day. Lately things have been quiet this close to the city. So just hop on any wagon you want. We'll take turns on watch tonight, and tomorrow morning I'll have specific assignments for you all. Those of you who have horses, mount up and join us."

Ancondil, Valerius, and Laberius went to the Bay Roan Stables, and returned with their respective steeds. Ancondil rode his blue roan Glacier, Valerius his high-stepping Fidelis, and the Lady's agent sat upon a tall white mount whose breed Teresa could not identify.

Mad Josse stood nearby with his mule. In the full light of day, Teresa finally recognized the brown skin and white muzzle of the animal. Now she remembered where she had seen him - and his master - before.

It had been at the end of Sun's Dusk, when she had gone seeking the comfort of a tree after Marius' death. The old Breton had made quite the scene in the middle of the street with the mule - named Number Seven as Teresa now recalled. Seven had stopped in the middle of the road and refused to budge another inch, much to the ire of Mad Josse. Teresa was thankful that she could not remember even half of the profanity that the Breton had leveled upon the recalcitrant mule. But Number Seven was not being stubborn today. Teresa imagined that he was glad to be out of the city and stretching his legs.

In the meantime the wood elf and the others on foot swarmed over the caravan. Teresa and Tadrose clambered aboard a wagon loaded down with barrels. The carter driving the vehicle explained that they were ripe Bravilian apples he was hauling to the Imperial City, and warned her and Tadrose not to let their fingers wander among his produce.

Tadrose only smiled at the Nibenean's remark. But Teresa could not help but remember the previous spring, and how an apple that she had found in a refuse pile had changed her life forever. Because of that apple, she had witnessed the death of a spy, was thrown in prison for his murder, met the Emperor, and carried the Amulet of Kings to the Grandmaster of the Blades. How different might her life have turned out, if she had not gone into that alley looking for castoff produce?

True to Pappy's words, the journey north was uneventful. There was not a single troll in sight, nor bandit, or even fugitive lich. The caravan moved slowly, and Teresa imagined that they could walk just as fast as the heavily laden wagons. In fact she saw Mad Josse doing just that near the end of the column, with Number Seven in tow.

Still, Teresa kept her feet in the wagon, for that let her sit beside Tadrose. She was glad for the Dunmer's company, even though with the carter right next to them they had no privacy. Still, they at least had the chance to hold hands for much of the way, in spite of the stares of the driver.

The next morning Teresa found herself and Tadrose split up, as Pappy had specific orders for which wagon each was to ride in, based upon their abilities. Teresa found herself in a wagon loaded down with crockery, driven by an Argonian who had little use for pleasant conversation. She spent her time watching the trees instead, ready for danger.

For by this time the villages they passed were no longer ringed by simple wattle fences meant to keep livestock in. Now they were fortified affairs, warded by ditches, dirt ramparts, and stockades of heavy timber. Pappy had warned them that attacks on these villages had increased in the last few weeks, and Teresa imagined that was why she saw few peasants outside of their walls. Those she did see were often shadowed by armored men wearing the surcoats of the Bravil City Guard.

Well, Teresa thought, at least they are finally earning their keep and doing something useful for a change. She imagined that did not sit well with many of them. Certainly not the ones used to collecting money from gangsters to look the other way. There was little need to bribe guards stationed in farming villages after all.

Near midday, the quiet ride was interrupted by shouts from the front of the column. Teresa heard the hoofbeats of galloping horses, and saw Valerius flash by in his glowing armor, lance held high. As the Argonian brought his wagon to a halt, she leapt to her feet in the cab and stared across the tops of the vehicles before her. At the same time her bow sprang from its gorytos, and an elven swallowtail found its way to the nock.

She saw something happening near the head of the column, just beside the second wagon. There were men from the caravan there, fighting something she could not make out. All she could see was dark fur. Then the men fell back, and Teresa had her first good look at it. It was green and yellow, and its arms and legs ended with hooked claws. There was no mistaking it: a troll. As she watched, it beat its chest with oversized arms, and opened its jaws to trumpet a roar of victory.

Teresa raised her bow, only to lower it a moment later. For Valerius had galloped between her and the monster, lance now couched under his armpit. A moment later its point tore through the troll's flesh and bone as if it were naught but linen, and the beast fell to the cobblestones with a great rent in its chest. The footmen surged forward again, and their weapons rose and fell as they crowded around the downed beast.

Teresa sheathed her arrow and bow, and sat back down. While she was glad the monster was dead, she only wished that she could have been closer, so that she could have put an arrow through its heart…

"You have done our guild an excellent turn by recommending Sir Nasica to our ranks." Teresa turned to find Ancondil beside her, sitting atop his Quarter Horse. The Orisimer was clad from head to toe in his bronze Dwemer armor, and he balanced his heavy elven war hammer across his saddle before him with one hand. "He has certainly proven his worth today."

"Let's hope he is the last one who has to today," Teresa said. "Although I am sure we will all have that chance soon enough."

Ancondil nodded, and made a gentlemanly gesture of tipping the brim of his helmet to Teresa before riding back to his place in the column. They were on their way soon after, and Teresa had the simple satisfaction of finding the rest of the trip as uneventful as she had hoped for.

They camped outside of the village of Snorscombe as night fell, with the wagons of the caravan formed into a protective laager. Many of the villagers came out to meet them, accompanied by several city guardsmen. Teresa saw Pappy move to speak with the latter, and was not surprised by the animated discussion that followed. They were too far away to hear, but there was no mistaking the angry gestures made by their commander, nor the dark expression on his features.

"Looks like Valerius was right," Vincent's voice rose from behind Teresa. "The city guard is sitting this one out."

Teresa turned to the young Breton. Clad from head to toe in steel plate, an arming sword hung from his hip, and a shield was slung over one of his shoulders. Over his other shoulder he carried a pack and bedroll. Teresa was thankful for her Thieves Bag, which was large enough on the inside for her to carry all of her belongings, and small enough on the outside to not be cumbersome.

She followed the Breton to where the other members of their guild were gathering to set up camp. She barely had time to sit down with Tadrose when Pappy reappeared, followed by one of the villagers. The second man was in his forties or fifties by the peppering of grey in his otherwise black beard, and he wore the simple, dirt-stained garb of a farmer.

"Don't get comfortable Teresa," the Colovian said. "I've got a job for you."

Teresa rose to her feet and followed the guild commander away from the gathering of her comrades. "I need you to scout out the way ahead tonight. The mine's only a few miles from here, so we're going to be in action tomorrow. I need to know what's out there tonight. Verrius here knows the ground, so he can give you the lay of the land."

The farmer squatted down, and began drawing in the dirt with a stick. Pappy and Teresa went down on their haunches as well, and formed a circle around the crude map that the farmer scratched out. He started with a dot, and then drew a line that curved away from it. "This is Snorscombe, and this line is the Green Road," Verrius explained. Then he drew a second line that ran parallel to the first, and ended it with an 'X'. "This is a dirt road that runs off the Green 'bout three miles up. It goes for a mile, then ends at the mine."

"What's the land like?" Teresa asked. "All forest?"

"Up until the side road it 'tis," the farmer said. "Still trees there, but gets real rocky and starts to rise up into hills on the side of the mine. On the south side of the Green Road it drops down slow and steady, into a big basin that runs all the way down 'ta Bravil."

Teresa imagined that all the water must then flow down to the Larsius River. She could use the direction of the flow to help tell her directions. "Any other settlements?" she asked.

"Nay," Verrius shook his head. "Not till the Inn of Ill Omen. That's a good day and half's ride west o' here, three on foot."

"I expect the most activity to be on the north side of the road," Pappy rose to his feet. "That's the side the mine's on after all. By now they must know about the village here, so they might try an attack tonight. So keep an eye out for war parties."

Teresa took one last look at the map, and rose to her feet with a nod. "If there is anything out there, I will find it," she vowed.

"Alright, go grab a few corn dodgers first." Pappy grinned. "I don't want them hearing your stomach growling in the dark."

Teresa almost smiled faintly at the guild commander's remark. She walked back to the other members of the guild, who had built up a roaring campfire by now and were cooking stew over it. Tadrose had a loaf of warm cornbread out, and broke off a handful for Teresa when the wood elf sat down beside her.

"Scouting mission?" the vice-commander asked. Teresa nodded as she unceremoniously dug into the food. She knew that Nerussa would be disappointed by her haste. But there was no time to be elegant. She had work to do after all, and the rest of the guild was depending on her doing it right.

After wolfing down a quick meal, Teresa rose to a chorus of well-wishes from her comrades. Tadrose rose with her, and surprised Teresa by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. The forester felt her cheeks grow hot with color, and wondered what the rest of the guild might be thinking. But before her embarrassment could betray her, Vincent's latest one-liner rose from the assembled fighters.

"Hey, who knows what monster eats the fastest?" the young Breton said. "The goblin! Get it, gobblin'?"

Teresa shook her head along with the chorus of groans behind her, and smiled faintly as she made her way into the gathering darkness.

Gobble Gobble! What a groaner! Wonder what Mad Joss thought of that one?

Pappy shows his leadership skills and experience once again by having Teresa scout things out ahead of time. He must have a great deal of faith in Teresa's ability to navigate forests at night. Those places can be quite dark at noon, let alone at midnight!

Loved the description of the way north, up the Green Road. Just enough detail to give us a sense both of passing time and scenery, but still not too much to be tedious.

No nits this time! Just pure, unalloyed enjoyment and fun!

Hah! Stopping at the Lady for some good luck. If only they knew what was beneath.

And everyone gets a laugh out of Pappy’s comment about the bridge. Naturally, Teresa turns red.

Nice! They get to ride to the mine instead of walking. Do they have transportation for the way back? Wagons might be handier then if someone’s injured or even dead.

The fortified villages are foreboding. I’m glad they encountered a troll, bandits or even goblins would mean another attack.

I found it funny that Teresa thought of Nerussa while she ate her hasty meal. There is a time and a place for everything.

Gobblin’! Oh, Vincent.

A caravan, how fun! I love the descriptions of the villages with their different fortifications. You give Bravil County a wonderful frontier atmosphere.

It was neat to get Teresa’s wagon top view of the troll fight, plus she had a good angle on the knightly horseback action. I thought it was a good sign that she thought about killing the troll rather than about her insecurities.

Scouting mission! Teresa has animal and tree friends in the forest, so I’m looking forward to this.

Even though I well remember Teresa’s first encounter with Number Seven, it was a delight to have her review it for us! And I see you snuck in a perfect reminder of valiant Marius’ bloody death, taking us right back to Teresa’s scar-producing troll battle at the Bravil gate.

Ooh! And a great tiny review of the forbidden apple that drew Teresa into the Main Quest!

What a wonderfully interesting caravan trip through part of County Bravil!

I agree with Grits that Teresa's reaction to that troll bodes well for our stringy forester and the progress she's made since her injuries.

Pappy has picked exactly the right elf for a night advance reconnaissance! Give her some cornbread and a kiss then send her out. She’ll find ‘em!

The ‘Groaning Goblin’ sounds like a perfect name for a tavern, no?

Nits?

"I've worked a deal with the leader of caravan.”
I know it’s dialogue, but did you intend for Pappy to omit any sort of clarifying word prior to caravan? Perhaps, ‘this caravan’? Forgive and ignore if, after review, it is written as you intended.

’Because of that apple, she had witnessed the death of spy,’
Similarly here, did you want an ‘a’ in front of ‘spy’?

Noooo, surely not... ...

An excellent chapter!!...

Loved the bit when they came out of the guild hall and kissed the bronze lady... ...I think I'd have abstained too... ...

Nice scene to do with the caravan ride...Loving the idea of Josse and his mule...I think he's my fave character so far... ...Definately love him...Don't remember Grizzly Adams very well...I know I watched it, just not as often as Gentle Ben... ...

Aaamywho...

Loved it, looking forward to more...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

I keep liking the way you make the world so much larger than the game allows. Having the team need a ride to the village, (which would be a few minutes walk away in-game) is just perfect.

...a wagon loaded down with crockery, drawn by an Argonian ... - did you mean "driven"?

As has been noted, Teresa has the forest on her side in her scouting mission, and trolls are in more danger than she is. I wonder if she'll meet any bears?

haute ecole rider: I know what you mean about forests at night. My father lives in the backwoods of Michigan - "Up North" as we call it down here in the D. Without all the streetlights and house lights that we city folk are so used to, it gets pitch black at night. Especially if it is raining or overcast. In the winter it is not as bad, becuase the snow reflects the starlight, and there are no leaves on the trees. I was driving up there one night in the rain, and literally all I could see was the road in front of me. It was like an impenetrable black curtain had been pulled up right beside the road.


King Coin: I think most people would be a little daunted by kissing the Lucky Lady. It just sounds so ridiculous, that who would not think it is some kind of trick to embarrass them? In the TF there is nothing underneath it though. I never thought it made any sense to me that the statue that gives you good fortune would be the entrance to you know what.


Grits: I used that transition of simple wattle fences to ditches and timber walls to show how far away from the city they were moving, and how far out into the wild they were going. Fortified villages are something that fantasy movies and novels seem to always lack, for reasons which escape me. But it does not take any special engineering effort to dig a ditch and throw all the dirt up on the inside to build a rampart (a six foot ditch plus a six foot rampart means twelve feet an attacker has to scale). Making a wall of wooden timbers is not beyond the capacity of peasants either. Just cut down some trees, strip the branches, and stick them in the ground. It is a lot of hard work of course, so people who live in safe areas where nothing happens would not need to go to all that trouble. A simple wattle fence to keep their chickens and goats from wandering off is all they need. But when people live in areas where they know monsters / raiders lurk, why would they leave themselves with no protection?

Ever since Valerius joined the FG, I have been dying to show him in mounted action. I guess it is just the romantic in me. After all, who can resist a knight in (literally) shining armor lancing down a foul beastie?


Acadian: I figured most people would remember Number Seven and Mad Jack from Teresa's first sighting of them. But I wanted to refresh the memories of those who did not. Not to mention finally have the recognition dawn in Teresa's own head. Likewise with the apple and how Teresa started out this whole business. It was such a long time (and amount of words) ago, that it is easy to forget that if not for that strange quirk of fate, she would be living a very different life now.

The Groaning Goblin is perfect for a tavern! Especially with all of Oblivion's beer-loving goblins. Quite right about those nits. They slipped past my editorial nets.


McBadgere: That's funny, because I never watched Gentle Ben. I see there were a couple of t.v. movie remakes with Dean Cain though. I might try watching them.


ghastley: In the TF the mine is about 40 miles from Bravil. Like you said quite a change from the game! It is a long way, especially since most of the FG do not own horses (or know how to ride). So hitching a ride on a wagon train was ideal for Pappy. Likewise, for the caravan, as they got a bunch of free guards. Teresa won't be meeting any bears in the forest, but she will find something else just as welcome.

Doh! the Argonian was supposed to be driving the wagon, not pulling it!


Previously On Teresa of the Faint Smile: Our last episode saw the members of the guild joining a merchant caravan heading north along the Green Road. Aside from a single encounter with a troll, the two day journey to the village of Snorscombe - the final settlement along the road - was uneventful. They camped out there as darkness fell, and Pappy sent Teresa out to scout the way ahead, as the Lady's mine is now only a few miles away.


Chapter 43.7 – Hand of Fire

The nighttime forest was black as pitch. The only natural light came from the stars and moons, and little of that filtered down through the canopy of leaves overhead. Teresa was thankful for the night eye goggles that lit the world to noon-day brightness for her. Without them, she imagined that she would be walking into the trees rather than around them.

But thanks to her goggles, seeing was not an issue. Nor was navigating through the trees and brush. The branches seemed to bend around her as she moved between them, and even the fallen leaves were silent under her feet. She was a shadow in the night, leaving no more sign of her passage than the wind.

It had been a quiet trip for the first few miles. Then she encountered her first goblins. There had been two of them, sitting upon the peak of a prominence of rock that jutted over the tree tops. Teresa imagined that they had a good view of the Green Road from there, probably enough to see travelers from over a mile distant.

The wood elf had passed them by without even a whisper. Her mission was to scout, not to kill after all. Leaving a trail of dead goblins behind her would only alert the others to the presence of her guild. She knew that was the last thing Pappy wanted. Surprise would give them an advantage in their first engagement with the monsters. Teresa knew that her guild commander would make the most of it, so long as she gave that edge to him.

Soon the rattle of metal and clunking of stone came to her tall, wood elf ears. Then the wind shifted, and the smell of woodsmoke was sweet in her nose. Creeping forward with extra care, she found a break in the forest. Within the clearing was a crude encampment of several hide tents pitched in a circle around a fire. Radiating out from those were numerous lean-tos made of tree-branches, arranged with no order at all.

A few goblins stalked between the sleeping places, but most lay beneath the poorly arranged shelters. They wore nothing but simple loincloths, and carried stone daggers or spears. Her eyes gravitated to the center of the camp, where a goblin clad in over-sized mail was screeching at another. The mail-clad goblin's face was painted with the imprint of a black hand that splayed across his features. Teresa now saw that he carried an arming sword of mithril, which he brandished with both hands like a greatsword. The other goblin scampered away, and vanished under one of the lean-tos.

That must be the war chief, Teresa reasoned. As much as she hated to admit it, he was just as Saya had said he would be. That meant that this was a war party. But what were they doing camping at night? Shouldn't they be raiding something?

Teresa moved around the campsite after taking the best count she could of the goblins within. She found the Green Road less than a hundred paces away, and the side road to the mine soon after that. The wood elf realized that the goblin camp was situated in the angle between the two, and imagined that it would be the perfect spot to ambush anyone traveling on either.

Scampering across the dirt road to the mine, she continued her surveillance of the land. She had not gone very far when the croaking of a raven brought her to an abrupt halt. Her gaze followed the harsh sound, and she found the bird nestled in the branches of an oak tree overhead. Yet it was the tree's other occupant that caused Teresa's eyes to widen with surprise.

It was a man clad in leather armor from head to toe. An unstrung Imperial Bow was slung over his shoulder, and a bag full of arrows hung from one of his hips. An axe hung from his opposite side, and a long knife was strapped pommel-down across his chest. He was leisurely perched in the branches, or at least he had been until the raven had leant his voice to the night air. Now his head scanned to and fro, and with one hand he tried to shoo the bird away.

"Riveus?" Teresa whispered. "Is that you?"

The man in the tree turned his attention from the bird to the ground below. Ironically, as soon as he did the raven flew off in silence. Teresa stepped out in the open, realizing that without magical aid, he would be hard-pressed to make out her features in the gloom. He made barely a sound as he slid down the branches and planted his feet in the soil before Teresa. He moved his hand away from his axe as he peered closer.

"Teresa of the Faint Smile?" the Colovian whispered in reply. Now Teresa could clearly see the Imperial Dragon emblazoned upon the leather of his cuirass. "Well I'll be! For a moment I thought you were a ghost. You know we're in the middle of a whole tribe of goblins don't you?"

"Aye," Teresa nodded. She bit her lip at the man's remark about her ghostly white skin. Still, she took a step closer so the fair-haired Imperial could see her better. "They are the reason I am here. But what are you doing out here?"

"There's too many of these buggers for me to fight," Riveus admitted. "But I can at least warn travelers off. They've got an ambush set up back the way you came. Anyone who comes down the road is going to walk right into it."

"How would you like to do something about that?" Teresa asked with a faint smile.

* * *

The look of surprise on Pappy's face fought with one of anger when Teresa returned from her scouting trip much earlier than expected. He was rising from his position around the campfire to level an accusatory finger in the wood elf's face, but stopped abruptly when he saw the blond-haired and blue-eyed Imperial Forester behind her.

"Riveus!" the guild commander barked. "Well I'll be a spotted snow bear! Come and have some ale, and tell us what the Daedra you are doing out here."

"I've been keeping an eye on those goblins," the Colovian said as Chance handed him a mug of amber liquid. "But Teresa tells me that now I can do more than just watch them."

The wood elf slid down beside Tadrose, and accepted a similar mug from the Dunmer. She was pleasantly surprised to find that this one contained shein however. Teresa smiled as the tangy comberry wine slid down her throat, and leaned against all she ever wanted in the world.

"Damn straight you can." Pappy declared. "We're here to send those little fetchers to Oblivion. We could damn well use another hand."

"You have it," Riveus spat into the fire. "I've been itching for it ever since I got here and saw what those bounders did to the miners."

"It was bad then?" Laberius Maesa asked from his position between Ancondil and Valerius.

"Many of the miners that were outside got away," the Imperial Forester explained. "I talked to some afterward. But most were trapped in the mine, with no way out. The ones they didn't kill straight out, the goblins put up on crosses. They didn't even wait to get them off the crucifixes before they started carving some of them up. I did all I could, and put them out of their misery. That got the greenies furious. They chased me through the forest for an entire day."

Teresa winced as the description of what the goblins had done to the captive miners, and noted that Laberius had gone as pale as she was naturally. Mad Josse did not say a word, but by the flinty look in his eyes, Teresa could see that the Breton was tallying up the scores he had to settle for his nephew.

Pappy went on to question Riveus and Teresa about the layout of the ground and disposition of the goblins. A glow came to the commander's eyes when the Imperial Forester told him about the ambush the goblins had set up near the road.

"Even better than I had hoped for," he murmured. The middle-aged Colovian stroked the stubble on his chin with one hand, and stared into the fire. "Yes, I think that will do nicely."

"What is it Pappy?" Vincent asked. "Are we gonna hit 'em?"

"You remember Rule Number Two don't you?" the guild commander cracked his knuckles with a wolfish smile.

"Never pass up an opportunity!" Vincent grinned back.

"Riveus says these fetchers are trying to keep a daytime cycle to hit travelers on the road, and Teresa saw more than half of them asleep." Pappy explained. "We'll wait a few more hours for them all to sack out. Then we'll go pay them a little bedtime visit."

My, my, things are kinda quiet today! I've been away since Thursday afternoon and just now am settling down at my computer, only to find that no one has posted on your latest all day!! Hey! Hello?? I know Acadian's away, but what about the rest of you??

Anyways.

Loved the nighttime forest, the goblin ambush, and the brief insight into goblin behavior you gave us. I find those creatures utterly fascinating and wish Beth had done more with them. On the other hand, maybe that's on purpose so we writers can have something fun to write about!

And Riveus! So good to see him again. And Teresa not only gives him a faint smile, but an opportunity! Of course he went back to Snorscombe with her. And of course Pappy's glad of his intelligence (the military kind, though I imagine the natural kind is as much appreciated as well) in addition to the extra weapons.

And now let's see what Pappy and the Fighter's Guild make of Riveus's observations! I'm really looking forward to this one!

But what were they doing camping at night? Shouldn't they be raiding something?
I’m with Teresa. Never heard of them camping above ground. They must be a good distance away from home cave if they are camping above ground.
Or have a wonderful ambush laid as it turns out.

The raven is still watching out for her. Riveus? Who is that?

The treatment of the miners was worse than I expected from goblins. I expected them to kill them, but to put on a show as well. Did the miners do something to them?

I’m looking forward to the nighttime attack.

Yikes, the goblins really are vicious monsters here. How neat that a raven was watching out for Teresa.

Riveus of the Tournament of Archers! A nighttime raid on the goblin camp sounds like a great idea. Afterward there will be fewer to fight underground. I’m looking forward to hearing Pappy’s plan!

‘The branches seemed to bend around her as she moved between them, and even the fallen leaves were silent under her feet. She was a shadow in the night, leaving no more sign of her passage than the wind.’
Neatly put, and exactly what I would expect from our wood elven forester now that she is unleashed into her own element.

‘The wood elf had passed them by without even a whisper. Her mission was to scout, not to kill after all. Leaving a trail of dead goblins behind her would only alert the others to the presence of her guild. She knew that was the last thing Pappy wanted. Surprise would give them an advantage in their first engagement with the monsters. Teresa knew that her guild commander would make the most of it, so long as she gave that edge to him. ‘
Oh I like this! Teresa has done more that make elven oogles at Tadrose during her time at the guild. Here she shows us how very much she’s listened and learned about belonging to a well-lead and trained guild.

Good how you augmented what she saw with the sounds and smells of her surroundings.

‘But what were they doing camping at night? Shouldn't they be raiding something?’
A perfect injection of humor, done with your characteristically delicate touch and flowing quite naturally from the situation.

For KC: Riveus is a bit obscure, so don’t feel badly. Grits is right: He is a Legion Forester assigned to County Bravil that SubRosa and I created. He was first referred to in BF when Buffy made sure someone in authority would learn of the immobilized Rufio and arrest him at the Inn of Ill Omen during Buffy’s storyline, ‘Dancing with Darkness’. Riveus was then featured again in both TF and BF during the Tournament of Archers. He is a golden boy, looker and lady’s man, but a fine archer and forester. For SubRosa: I am so pleased to see dear Riveus once again.

"How would you like to do something about that?" Teresa asked with a faint smile.'
Hee! This brought a faint smile to my old face. There’s good reason we call her what we do!

"I've been keeping an eye on those goblins," the Colovian said as Chance handed him a mug of amber liquid. "But Teresa tells me that now I can do more than just watch them."
Eeep! Knowing the trickster Chance, I certainly hope that ‘amber liquid’ he gave Riveus is ale or shein!

I’m looking forward to Pappy leading a night assault on the greenies of the Black Hand tribe!

haute ecole rider: Bethesda really does not tell us much about any of the critters in the game. For that matter, they do not tell us much about the playable races either. Tamriel is a huge blank slate for us to fill in.


King Coin: As others have said, Riveus is an Imperial Forester who has appeared in the BF and TF, mostly in the Tournament of Archers. He is the one who shot before Teresa in the finals, and ended up scoring just ahead of her as well.

I am writing the goblins as being unremittingly evil because I always imagined such creatures are. Plus in the game they have cauldrons filled with skulls, and more skulls hanging from the ceilings. So even just from the game alone, they strike me as being not only vicious, but they type to show off their victims as trophies.


Grits: Keep your eyes peeled for those ravens. We will be seeing more of Teresa's forest friends later in this chapter.

You have Pappy's intentions down to a tee. Gobble them up a little bit at a time until there is nothing left.


Acadian: I knew you would enjoy the surprise of seeing Riveus once more. That is why I did not say anything about him beforehand. He was a fun character to include in the TOA, so when I had the opportunity to use him again, I just could not resist giving him some screen time.

Teresa has indeed learned quite a bit from her guild commander. She is a far cry from that newbie adventurer who nearly got herself killed by a ghost in Castle Magi. Compared to many of the others in her guild now, she is a seasoned veteran. She has not been at it for long, but she has seen a lot of action. Still, even she can make mistakes...


Previously On Teresa of the Faint Smile: In our last episode, Teresa performed a night time scouting expedition. She found that the goblins had set up an ambush ahead of them on the Green Road, and had lookouts stationed before their main position. She also found Riveus, the same Imperial Forester who had scored one place before herself in the Tournament of Archers. Riveus had been spying on the goblins since they had taken over the mine, and was more than glad to join Teresa and the Fighters Guild in their task to wipe them out.


Chapter 43.8 – Hand of Fire

Teresa crouched behind the pale trunk of a birch tree. Cautiously, she peeked around it to view the jumble of rocks before her. The massive stones rose nearly a hundred feet above the forest floor, and atop its peak stood a pair of small, hunched over figures. As she watched, one leaned back and stretched out its arms to either side. Then after long moments it hunched forward again, and began a slow lope around the crown of the hill.

Teresa fitted a swallowtail to the nock of her bow, and slid out from behind the tree trunk. Going down on one knee, she raised her bow and pulled the string back behind her ear. She felt the fletchings of her arrow beneath her chin, and sighted in on the moving goblin. With an effort of will, she breathed deeply and slowly, as if it was just another day at practice behind the guild hall.

"The archer must learn to feel the flow of divinity around him, just as if he was standing in a river and feeling the water rushing past his legs," Daenlin's words came back to her. "All of us are connected by the divine energy we share. Feel those strands that bind us, and you will not need eyes to shoot. Simply allow your arrow to sing along that thread."

Teresa stared at the goblin, and tried to feel that connection between the two of them. Yet no matter how hard she tried, those mystical strands which the master archer had spoke of eluded her grasp. She tried to calm herself, to keep from growing frustrated, and continued tracking the goblin as he moved. Finally he came to a stop, and sat down with his back to her.

"Now," Pappy's voice was a low hiss in her ears.

Without thinking, she loosed. The loud snap of her bowstring was joined by a lower note, as Riveus fired his Imperial Bow from the other side of the birch. Teresa held her breath as she watched the two arrows dart through the night sky. They would have been completely invisible in the blackness were it not for the night eye goggles she wore. Instead she could see them clear as day as they darted across the sky to snuff out the lives of the two goblins.

Teresa dared to breathe again when the creatures slumped over and lay still. She tucked her bow back into the chitin gorytos at her hip, leaving it strung. A glance at Riveus showed him also stowing his Imperial Longbow across his back. Rising to her feet, she felt one of Pappy's strong hands on her armored shoulder.

"Good shooting," he whispered, "the both of you."

The guild commander did not wear his usual iron mongery of legion plate and orcish scales. Rather he was clad in nothing but his padded under suit. But he still carried his ancient Nordic sword at one hip, and a long, triangular-bladed dagger at the other. The Colovian turned to the other members of the guild crouching in the brush behind him, and motioned them forward.

Like Pappy, most of them wore no armor. Only those with light panoplies, which would make little sound, still wore their full gear. Tadrose and Storm-Tail were among those, with their whisper-quiet elven armor, and of course Riveus in his leather. Teresa herself naturally wore her miran-talurn armor, and made even less sound than the wind as she moved out at the head of the column, the Imperial Forester at her side.

No one carried a light. Teresa knew that they were all using her night eye potions to see in the dark. Just as they had her shield and shock shield potions to protect them in the upcoming battle. If indeed there was a battle at all, and not the slaughter that Pappy had planned upon.

The two archers fanned out to either side, but not so far as to lose sight of one another. At first they stepped quickly, creating a gap between them and the rest of the guild. Then they slowed to a steady pace, and Teresa trained all of her senses upon the forest around her.

All was silent and still. The night air was cool and crisp, invigorating her lungs with every breath. A glance back revealed Storm-Tail rising up the rocky slope. She imagined that Pappy had sent the young Argonian to check on the goblin sentries, to make sure they were indeed dead. He would have to move quickly to catch up with the rest of them afterward. But if Teresa had learned anything about Argonians, it was that while they were normally slow and placid, they could move with blinding speed when they wished.

Soon she came to the goblin camp, and Teresa sidled up to the edge of the clearing and took a good look around. Even more goblins were asleep than before, including the heavily armored war chief. She only saw three of the creatures moving about the edges of the camp, and imagined that they were sentries.

It was strange to see them sleeping at night. Even Saya had remarked that they preferred to make their raids in the dark, and hide from the daylight. Teresa wondered if the latter was the reason for all the makeshift shelters? Were they meant to protect them from the light of the sun, which they appeared to loath? They must have been very eager to spring their ambush on unwary travelers, to subject themselves to such discomfort.

Teresa signaled Riveus to wait and continue observing the camp. She was thankful for the hand signals that Pappy and taught her and the other members of the guild - the same used by the Imperial Legion. For without them communicating silently would have been impossible.

She turned from the camp and crept back through the brush to meet Pappy and the others. They came to a halt while Teresa made her report. Her eyes lingered on Tadrose's frame for a moment as she spoke to the commander. Then they flicked around the rest of the guild. She noted that Storm-Tail was indeed among them once more, taking up the rear.

Now Pappy motioned the others forward. "You all know the plan," he whispered. "Sneakers go forward, the rest of us wait in support."

He pointed to Teresa, Tadrose, and Storm-Tail, and gave them the signal to advance. The rest of the guild drew their weapons and followed. They spread out in a wide line behind them, and halted at the edge of the trees while the trio two went into the camp.

Teresa stayed in a low crouch, her eyes riveted upon the goblin sentries. Using the lean-tos for cover, she melted into the shadows whenever a goblin turned her way, and darted across the open spaces when their backs were turned. She saw the others doing the same, and a glance back at the tree line revealed Riveus waiting with his bow ready, body pressed against the trunk of a maple for cover.

The Imperial Forester was their backup, in case one of them failed to silence their assigned sentry. Teresa hoped that they would not need his arrows. For if the sound of his bow woke the sleeping goblins, things could get very bad. By now Tadrose, Storm-Tail, and her were spread out through the camp. They would be quickly mobbed if all the goblins were to awaken at once.

Teresa's target was at the far side of the encampment, so she was the last in position. After a quick hand signal to the others, she drew one of the mithril daggers from the rig across her chest. She held it low, behind her body, so that its blade would not glint in the starlight. She sidled up behind her sentry, and rose to her feet. Clamping her left hand over the goblin's mouth, she yanked the lookout's head back, exposing its bare throat to the stars. At the same time she drove her knee into the monster's back, pulling it off-balance. Her mithril blade sank into the bare flesh of the goblin's neck an instant later. The point drove up into its brain, and the goblin went limp as ragdoll.

The dead weight of the creature was heavy in her arms, and Teresa was thankful for the strength enhancements which her armor and thumb ring bore. She quietly eased the goblin to the ground, and looked back up to see Tadrose and Storm-Tail doing the same. A glance to either side revealed goblins sleeping soundly just a few paces away, completely unaware of their presence.

Pappy's plan was working.

Teresa moved to the nearest goblin and leaned down upon its chest. She clamped one hand over its mouth, and slid her dagger from one ear to another across its throat. Its black eyes burst open like pits to Oblivion, and stared deeply into Teresa's. The creature thrashed beneath her, and reached out to claw at her. The forester flinched her face away slightly to protect her eyes from the creature's nails, but still held the goblin firmly in her grasp. She wished that there had been room for her to yank its head back, like she had with the sentry. Then she could have stabbed up into its brain and killed it instantly. Instead she had to hold on to the monster until the last of its blood had trickled away, and it finally went still.

Teresa shuddered as she stared at the lifeless corpse beneath her. That had been so easy, she thought. Just a few minutes, and a life was snuffed out like a candle. It had been even easier to kill the lookouts on the hill, using her bow. They had never even had the chance to look in her eyes before she sent them to Oblivion.

Did that make her a murderer now? Did goblins count? Murder was what they were doing after all, was it not? Teresa crept up to another goblin, and stared at its chest as it slowly rose and fell. Did she have the right to so casually take another's life?

A glance across the encampment revealed that Tadrose and Storm-Tail were also moving among the sleeping goblins and slitting their throats. The dim coals of a campfire smoldered in the center of the camp, with an iron spit hanging over it. A ribcage was suspended by the metal rod, from which chunks of charred flesh still hung. It was not that of an animal, but rather of a human or elf. Teresa now noted other bones scattered around the fire: a skull, an arm, and a leg. There was no sign of the rest of the body.

Teresa's heart felt cold as steel as she pressed her knees down on the next goblin's chest, and sliced out its throat. Like the first, it also fought back. But it could not utter a cry through the blood that filled its torn windpipe, and this time Teresa was able to pin its arms beneath her. All it could do was shake, until it too went still.

Teresa continued on, making her way back toward Pappy and the others. Every few feet she stopped to kill another goblin under the early morning stars. She was moving to a new victim when the sound of footsteps made her stop and turn her head. Just behind her, at the center of the camp, she saw a goblin walking up to the fire. It reached and yanked a chunk of flesh from the ribs suspended over the hot coals. Then it stopped and looked around. The seared meat fell from the creature's fingers, and its mouth opened to scream.

A bow twanged in the darkness, and the goblin keeled over an instant later with an arrow buried in its throat. The monster clawed wildly at the shaft embedded in its flesh, and fell against the spit. The entire contraption tipped over with the goblin, and they fell to the ground with a loud clatter.

A flash of movement caught Teresa's eye, and she saw a goblin raising its head from the lean-to beside her. She leapt atop it, but a ragged screech issued from its throat before she could reach it. It pulled out a flint knife of its own and stabbed at her. She felt the stone blade hit her cuirass, and snap in two. Grabbing the goblin by the throat with one hand, she drove the point of her knife under the beast's armpit. She shoved it back down as its blood stained the ground beneath them. But it was too late, the camp was waking up around her.

It was a great plan Pappy came up with!

But even the best laid plans don't survive enemy contact.

I liked the brief moment where Teresa is struggling with the ethics of killing the gobbies in their sleep. I was glad she got over it rather quick.

Teresa was so true to form as she fretted and overthought her first shot. Pappy knows her well enough to understand she does better when she just shoots instead of thinking about it! What a great reminder of how she wrestled with the same problem during the Tournament.

Nice assassination of Teresa’s target sentry. I remember when Pappy taught her how to go up under the chin into the brain.

’Just a few minutes, and a life was snuffed out like a candle. It had been even easier to kill the lookouts on the hill, using her bow. They had never even had the chance to look in her eyes before she sent them to Oblivion.’
I knew the up close wet dagger work would trouble Teresa. Anonymous feathered death from the shadows at long range is ever so much more. . . tidy and comfortable – no eyes, no faces, no gurgling. It takes a different mentality (one that Buffy doesn’t have) to look your foe in the eye and deliver death by steel up close and personal. Nothing like seeing that human skeleton with some flesh still on it to help Teresa along. She certainly has the stones to be in Pappy’s guild.

Quoted for truth!


Nit: ’and made even less sound then the wind as she moved out at the head of the column,’
I suspect you want ‘than’ (for comparisons) here instead of ‘then’ (for sequencing events in time).

Forgive me, but I missed a few chapters(that means like 30 something) and ummm, are you in Skyrim now or still remaining in Cyrodiil?

Teresa's in Oblivion era Cyrodiil just following the end of the Oblivion Crisis. Rosa's Skyrim girls have yet to get an official story thread.

IRT the latest part.

I was a bit off in my guess of Pappy's plan, I was expecting Teresa and Riveus to sneak arrow shot all of them after taking care of the sentries. Though the late-night snacker would still have caused problems.

Hope things work out well for the three stealth specialists now really stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I was a little worried when none of the fighters had armor, but you said they took shield potions. Now when the inevitable goes wrong, they won’t be completely defenseless.

I was expecting the archers and a sneaky back stabber to take care of the three sentries. The snap of the bowstrings makes that impossible however. They have to go in close and kill them quick without allowing one time to shriek. This is going to be tense!

Teresa got it! Throat slitting is messy and dangerous, I was glad that she went for the brain when she could.

And there’s the alarm! The sneakers are going to be in hot water until they can rejoin the others. Awesome chapter!

I just loved every word of this episode!

If I had to pick out one thing that stood out the most for me, it would be Teresa’s observations about Storm-Tail and Argonians. In some ways he is as strange as the goblins, in the sense of being different from humans or elves.

I think this might be my favorite Teresa segment yet!

People should check out my story. It's just starting but I think people would like it. It's called Tamriel Reborn. Please check it out I'd be really thankful.

As brilliant as ever... ...

Love the internal debate she had in the last part...Nicely done...

Also loving Storm-Tail...He's another one that just grabbed me...Excellent characterisations in this...So brilliant...

Definately loving the return of TFS...

Nice one!!..

*Applauds heartily*...

haute ecole rider: Pappy is definitely not going to give those gobbies a fair fight if he can help it. He is here to win after all. Slitting people's throats while they are asleep is an ugly business, no matter how you slice it. So it was important to me to show Teresa's inner conflict over doing it. I am sure that she never would have done it if they were simply bandits or enemy soldiers. Nor would Pappy have ordered it against people. But as Julian knows all too well, goblins are not people... Also as you noted, it was indeed my intent to show that even the best laid plans of mice and guild commanders often go awry.


Acadian: It is indeed much easier to kill people from a distance than up close. As you said, you don't have to look them in the eye, or see them as being people. Like Buffy, Teresa is used to shooting at targets. Getting close enough to smell them is definitely not something her conscience enjoys. But as you said, she has the stones to do it when she has to. Seeing the handiwork of the goblins makes it much easier!


Taaron: Teresa is firmly in Cyrodiil, at the end of the Third Era. I had the time to glance over Tamriel Reborn when you first posted it, but have not had time to really read it all. The truth is I simply do not have the time to read all the stories here that I want to. Not with how things are where I work.


liliandra nadiar: Those stealth specialists are indeed caught between that rock and the hard place. Teresa worse of all, which we will see next.


King Coin: When the inevitable goes wrong indeed! That is what usually happens after all. As you said, that is why they all have potions. You also called it with the reason for not shooting the sentries. Teresa's composite bow especially makes a lot of noise. Plus there are three. Besides, you always see it that way in the war movies, with the commandos sneaking up with their knives.


Grits: I am relieved that Storm-Tail is coming across as an interesting characters. I have admitted before that he is one I have troubles with portraying, because so much about Argonians a blank slate in the game. So I try to focus on how he is physiologically different from the others, and how that makes his behaviour different as well.


McBadgere: I am glad to see another vote for Storm-Tail. I think I missed an opportunity with him a few episodes back. I should have had Pappy tell Teresa to take him with her in her night-time scouting expedition, to give Storm-Tail some more experience. Then I could have given him some more stage time. But I really do not want to go back and change it either.


Previously On Teresa of the Faint Smile: Our last episode found the Fighters Guild making a stealth assault upon the goblin camp. Teresa, Tadrose, and Storm-Tail (the stealthiest in the guild) began by slitting the throats of the goblin sentries. Then they went to work killing the sleeping goblins while the rest of the guild waited, ready to rush in if things when wrong. Which is exactly what happened when a goblin awoke for a late night snack and discovered what was happening. In spite of being slain by one of Riveus' arrows, the goblin fell over the fire spit, making such a racket the rest of the goblin camp woke up. Now Teresa finds herself cut off from the rest of the guild, and surrounded by the monsters...


Chapter 43.9 – Hand of Fire

"Fighters Guild!" Pappy's voice reverberated through the night air. "Forward!"

Teresa saw her guild mates break cover on the opposite side of the camp. They did not race forward, but instead marched in a long line. Each fighter remained in formation, creating a solid wall that steadily drove forward. When they encountered a lean-to, they simply smashed it down and trampled over the ruins. The goblins fared no better against their ranks, and swords, axes, and maces drove the creatures into the dust.

But they were on the wrong side of the camp. Tadrose and Storm-Tail - having been nearer to that side of the camp to begin with - were quick to join the line. But even though Teresa had been working her way back toward the others, half of the site still remained. That left the forester alone in the midst of the pack. While many of the goblins nearest Pappy and the other fighters woke and immediately flung themselves upon their line, the others turned their eyes upon Teresa.

She knew she needed to join the others. But she also knew that she could not get through all of the goblins to do that. She sprang for the woods, certain that she could lose the creatures in the trees. But a goblin stepped in front of her. It wore a crude breastplate of sewn-together bones, and carried a heavy club whose inner edge was lined with sharpened tooth-shaped wedges of flint.

Long hours of training with Pappy took over Teresa's muscles. The goblin swung at her, and she deftly moved to one side. She swept her dagger out in the opposite direction, and did not stop the club with its blade, so much as push it just far enough out of the way to miss her. The goblin staggered forward, off balance, and Teresa stepped right up to it. Her left hand grabbed the creature by its long, greasy hair and yanked back. Her right hand brought up her dagger, and buried it in the monster's throat.

She pushed the still-thrashing creature down to the ground, and jumped over its body. The loud thunk of an arrow sinking home into flesh reverberated in her ears. A glance back revealed a goblin falling to the ground just a pace away from her, a legion arrow buried in its back. Teresa made a mental note to thank Riveus after the battle was over. If she survived.

More goblins moved to bar her path to the trees, and her feet came to a halt. She turned this way and that, but everywhere she looked, the small, green monsters closed in on her. She was trapped!

With her free hand, she reached into one of the pouches attached to the hip of her armor. She drew forth a scroll, and fumbled with the ribbon binding it shut. She wondered which Aedra it might summon? A sylph could carry her aloft, she knew, out of the goblin's reach. A salamander could simply burn them to a crisp. Whatever it was, it was better than being alone against the goblins.

The beating of great leathery wings sounded in the night. Before Teresa could open her scroll, she looked up to see the Winged Twilight - Kireteki - swooping down from the sky. It reached out for her with clawed feet, and the next thing Teresa knew, it had locked both around her shoulders.

She found herself borne aloft a moment later. She watched as the goblins rushed into the empty space where she had been an instant before. Teresa shuddered. She had been that close to being killed. If not for the Daedra…

Teresa looked up over her shoulder, at the dusky skin of the otherworldy creature that carried her through the air. The forester had to grudgingly admit that she possessed a certain kind of exotic - if somewhat frightening - beauty. As if bidden by her thoughts, the Twilight looked down and locked her liquid red eyes upon her own.

"Thank you," Teresa said as they swooped across the goblin camp, toward the line of advancing fighters.

"Do not thank me mortal," the Daedra said in her soft, silky voice. "I merely do as my mistress bids."

Then they neared the ground once more, and when they were a few feet away Teresa felt Kireteki's claws release her. She dropped to the dirt, and fell to one knee before she regained her balance. By then the Winged Twilight had swooped away, back to the goblins. Teresa rose to her feet and stared after the Daedra. She watched as the Winged Twilight lifted one of the goblins much as herself. Only this one she released after flying much higher above the ground, leaving it to plummet to its doom below.

Teresa took a moment to wipe the blade of her dagger clean, and slid it back into its sheath on her chest. Taking up a position on the opposite side of the line from Riveus, she drew Ravenfeeder and readied an arrow. Then she began firing. Not upon the goblins that rushed forward to engage her comrades, but rather at those who fled. She drove arrow after arrow into the backs of the monsters as they tried to escape, until finally there were none left to shoot.

"Did any get away?" Pappy called out from his position in the center of the line.

"I fear so," Ancondil replied, even as others shrugged their shoulders. Teresa noted that the goblin war chief lay dead at the Orisimer's feet. The monster's head was smashed to a pulp, and the elven war hammer that the orc held casually left little doubt as to the cause. He lifted Persuader with one hand and used it to point to the woods to the north. "I believe I saw two escape that way."

"Shor's bones…" Pappy grumbled. Then his eyes went to Kireteki. The Winged Twilight stood with Saya, wings now furled up at her sides. Teresa noted that the Dunmer conjurer's mace was now stained black with goblin blood. Apparently the new battlemage did indeed have what it took.

"You, Daedra!" The Colovian snapped his fingers at the Winged Twilight. "Fall in over here. I've got an idea. Teresa, Riveus, you too."

Kireteki simply stared back at the guild commander. She lifted one eyebrow with a look of such elegant disdain that Teresa almost found herself smiling faintly at the sight. Yet unlike the Winged Twilight, Teresa made quick tracks to stand beside the Colovian, as did Riveus.

"Go ahead," Saya said quietly in the Daedra's ear. "Do as he says."

The Winged Twilight took her time to saunter over to where Pappy and the others now stood. Her eyes burned like coals. Teresa could not read the emotion within them. If the Daedra even possessed feelings like mortals at all. The guild commander appeared unfazed however, and if the otherworldly creature's defiance bothered him, he gave no sign.

"Pick up Teresa and Riveus and fly out north of here, past those goblins," he said. "They'll be making for the mine. Go about a half mile out and set them down. Then just wait, and bushwhack 'em when they come along. My bet is that the goblins will be too busy looking behind them, to see what's in front."

"Wait," Saya stepped closer. "The summoning might not last long enough. Let me extend it." The dark elf stood next to her Daedra, and lifted one hand skyward. Purple energy leeched from her fingers, and showered down upon the Winged Twilight. The Daedra stretched like a cat in the sun as the magicka bathed her, and for a moment Teresa thought a smile as faint as any of her own might have flitted across Kireteki's features.

Saya leaned forward, and said something in the Daedra's ear too low for any other to hear. Again, the Daedra seemed to almost smile, and Teresa noted the way that she leaned closer to the dark elf, close enough to gently brush against her with one wing. Were they indeed lovers after all? Or were they simply sharing some private joke?

Teresa looked for Tadrose, and found the Dunmer by her side. "Be careful," the vice-commander said quietly. She laid a gauntleted hand upon Teresa's arm, and squeezed just hard enough for Teresa to feel it through the hard miran plates that protected her body. Teresa surprised herself, and leaned forward to kiss the dark elf quickly upon the lips.

"Alright, alright, this isn't the temple of Dibella you meatheads!" Pappy barked. "Get moving, we're burning starlight. And the rest of you, form up a line, we're gonna go back through these little fetchers and make sure none are playing possum."

Teresa ignored Pappy, and kept her eyes upon Tadrose. Even stained with blood, sweat, and dirt, she was more radiant than Magnus. The forester's heart soared at the smile that returned her look. She could not contain a broad smile either, and was still grinning when Kireteki's feet latched around her shoulders and lifted her into the air.

The beating of great leathery wings sounded in the night.

Woo hoo, I forgot there was a Daedra on the team! Although she would certainly not describe it that way.

Teresa ignored Pappy, and kept her eyes upon Tadrose. Even stained with blood, sweat, and dirt, she was more radiant than Magnus. The forester's heart soared at the smile that returned her look. She could not contain a broad smile either, and was still grinning when Kireteki's feet latched around her shoulders and lifted her into the air.

Aww, I love this part! So sweet. I have not forgotten that they are on a dangerous mission, though. I hope Teresa and Riveus won’t be too busy looking ahead of them for the goblins they’re going to bushwhack. Aren’t the rest of the goblins in the mine behind them?

Fun and exciting, I’m looking forward to what the rest of the night brings!

The discipline as Teresa’s guild advanced on line is testimony to Pappy’s relentless training regimen.

Our woodster is cut off and alone! Neat to see Riveus send a timely arrow to her aid. Even better to see that Saya sent her Winged Twilight! Air power is a beautiful thing, is it not? What a perfect rescue – and leave it to our Teresa to look up and check out her rescuer’s Daedric goods! I loved how Kireteki then returned to the fight for some ‘lift and drop’ tactics. Nice touch mentioning that Teresa’s focus then became killing goblins who were trying to escape – that really emphasized how the tide had shifted.

I really enjoyed the nod to Ancondil and his war hammer. He is so wonderfully cultured that one can almost forget the magnificent power and savagery of his beautiful race.

Brilliant of Pappy to task his air asset in support an airborne deep interdiction insertion! Kireteki’s resentment is understandable and I’m glad to see that Saya supported Pappy’s brusque commands. Let me add here how fully and elegantly you’ve brought a summon to life as a full blown character.

Aww, nothing like a kiss for luck before flying into danger. Neither gobs of goblin guts nor a clan of meatheads could stay Teresa’s lips. What an image that conjures!

I love this story and I love the way you write. Something that I think would be sweet, would be to move the story out of Tamriel. You could have Teresa go to Valenwood or High Rock. It's just a suggestion and it would be really cool.

When they encountered a lean-to, they simply smashed it down and trampled over the ruins.
Nothing will break the line!

Tadrose and Strom Tail were able to join the line, now all we need to worry about it Teresa. Heading for the forest rather than trying to go through the goblins sounds like a good plan. Pulled out of the goblin pack by the Twilight!

After that, the Twilight’s method of removing goblins reminds me of the dragons in Skyrim.

Teresa’s taking all the ferrying around better than I would! Like Grits, I like that ending very much.

So Teresa found herself in the same situation as Julian a few years ago! Seems like she got out of it in much better shape than my character did. I'm glad (as Julian is, too) that that summons came to the rescue when she did.

Of course Teresa would check out the goods!

And like the others, I enjoyed the last few lines tremendously! It's obvious Teresa doesn't have any scruples about showing her feelings for the vice commander!

Ooooh!!...

Love that save by the Winged Twilight...Damn!!...Wish this was tele... ...Just have to stick with me imagination...*Shudders*...No...Go away you... I mean...

Oh, neermind....

Loved that bit, with T & T...Bless her... ...

Excellently done...Brilliant stuff...Absolutely loving it...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Grits: The rest of the goblins are indeed going to be behind Teresa and Riveus as they hunt the fleeing goblins in the forest. Thankfully, they both know how to use the woods to their advantage.


Acadian: You picked up on one of the things I wanted to stress during the battle, and in the ones that will follow in this chapter. The Bravil Guild is a well-oiled machine, fighting with not only skill, but discipline. All those morning in close-order drill on the parade ground are now reaching their fruition. I also thought you more than anyone else would appreciate the use of air assets by Pappy (given who he is named after, it is almost an imperative! ) That is not the last we will see the Fighters Guild air force in this chapter either.

I am glad that Kireteki is coming across as a character, rather than just a thing that Saya summons. That has always been my goal. I want her to seem like a real person, with her own desires, goals, etc...


Taaron: I am glad you are enjoying TotFS. I have no plans on ever taking her story out of Cyrodiil however. That is her home, and she does not intend upon leaving it. Maybe someday in the distant future Teresa will visit Valenwood, but that would be far outside the scope of this story.


King Coin: I am actually a little surprised that the dragons bother picking people up and dropping them. Their heads are big enough that they could just about swallow a person whole. Like Alduin in this pic, he's got an Imperial engulfed in his mouth. Plus their claws large enough that they just engulf someone with them. You think they could just pop someone like a zit. But it is more cinematic to drop someone from a great height. Kireteki does it because it means she does not have to spend more than a few seconds near the ground, where the goblins can harm her.


haute ecole rider: Some goods are hard to miss when they are hanging right over your head... Teresa almost did suffer Julian's fate. I plotted things that way to show that the gobbies are not pushovers, and even when taken unawares they are fully able to kill even the professionals of the FG.

Those last lines were to show how comfortable Teresa is becoming with public displays of affection. Of course the post-battle euphoria helps to lower inhibitions as well. But she has kissed Tadrose in public, and the world has not come to an end, so do not be surprised to see more of that.


McBadgere: I wish they had the Winged Twilights in Oblivion, or Skyrim even. That way I could have some better screenshots. The Morrowind version leaves plenty to the imagination. Though granted, I can imagine quite a bit... Glad to see I am not the only one.


Previously On Teresa Of The Faint Smile: Our last episode found the goblin camp awakening around Teresa, leaving her trapped within the goblin horde. However, a timely rescue by Kireteki - Saya's Winged Twilight - spirited her to safety. The goblins were vanquished soon after, but some were seen escaping to the north, in the direction of the mine. Inspired by Teresa's rescue, Pappy had Kireteki fly north with Teresa and then Riveus, so that they could head off the fleeing goblins and prevent them from reaching the mine.


Chapter 43.10 – Hand of Fire

The sun was rising when Teresa and Riveus made their way back into the goblin encampment. Kireteki had indeed done as instructed, and carried them safely across the roof of the forest to ambush the escaping goblins. But even though Saya had prolonged the summoning, the Daedra could not remain Nirn-bound forever. After what Teresa imagined might have been three-quarters of an hour, the Winged Twilight simply faded away.

But even without her, Teresa and Riveus had little trouble with the fleeing goblins. True to Pappy's words, they paid little heed to the forest before them. Elven and human arrows sought them out in the dark, and sent them to Oblivion. To be certain none slipped past, the pair spread out, and spent hours searching back and forth through the woods for any sign of the monsters.

"So how did your hunting go?" Tadrose asked when the pair finally returned to the camp. Teresa folded her arms around the slightly taller woman, and gloried in the feeling of her embrace. Teresa imagined that she had used a spell to clean up, and was glad that she had done the same before entering camp herself. They drew apart far too soon, but not quickly enough to avoid a raised eyebrow on the face of the Imperial Forester standing beside Teresa.

"If any of them got past us, they must have had wings." If Riveus thought anything of the two women's embrace, he said nothing untoward.

"Aye," Teresa agreed. "We found no sign of any escaping to the mine."

"Good," Tadrose nodded. "That means we might still have the element of surprise. Come on and get something to eat. We will be moving out to the mine soon."

Riveus walked on into the camp and repeated his report to Pappy. However, Tadrose stopped the wood elf before she could follow him. "Promise me something Teresa." The dark elf's voice was quiet enough that no one else would hear. But it was strong as iron. "No more mistakes like last night."

Teresa felt her cheeks burn hot and studied the tips of her boots. She knew exactly what the vice-commander was talking about. She never should have let herself become trapped in the middle of the goblins. She should have made her way back to the others first, and then started her work of slitting throats. That way the only enemies between her and her guildmates would have been dead ones.

Teresa nodded, and tried to say something in return. But the only sound she could force from her lips was a low murmur that even she could not decipher. A comforting arm slipped around her waist. The wood elf lifted her eyes to find Tadrose smiling faintly back at her.

"Come on," she said softly. "I have some breakfast for you."

Teresa followed the dark elf to an area that had been cleared of goblin bodies. There a small 'fire' of heatstones had been built, and the members of her guild were cooking up a breakfast of sausage links and bacon. The wood elf wrinkled her nose at the smell of the burning meat, and was pleasantly surprised when Tadrose produced a loaf of warm cornbread to share with her, along with two cups of hot Argonian tea. The two women found a spot several paces away from the ad hoc kitchen, and sat down to eat.

Teresa noted that the other fighters were now fully armored, and that Mad Josse and Laberius Maesa had joined them. She could still remember how Pappy had argued with the old Breton to keep him out of the night ambush. She wondered if he would be able to prevent the cantankerous mountain man from joining in the even larger fight ahead?

For now, Teresa was content to sit with Tadrose and enjoy a simple meal. Ancondil and Valerius came to sit with them, and she noted that like the vice-commander, both of their faces were spotlessly clean. Since Ancondil could not cast spells, she imagined that he had washed the old-fashioned way. She wondered if Valerius had done the same?

"Commander Vitellus has informed me that these goblins belong to the Fire Hand tribe," the patrician declared.

"Aye," Tadrose said around a mouthful of bread. "Every one has their mark somewhere on their body: a brand in the shape of hand."

Teresa remembered the war chief, and the hand that she had seen painted across his face. Now she wondered if that had been paint at all, or had it been a burn scar? She shook her head at the thought. What savages would do such a thing to themselves?

"Do all goblins do that?" the wood elf asked. She had not noticed that in any of her previous encounters with the creatures. Not that she had ever taken the time to carefully study their bodies.

"Nay," Ancondil shook his head. "While you were enjoying the countryside with Riveus, our new battlemage declared that it was quite unusual. Although she did admit that their war parties often paint their tribal symbols upon their armor or bodies."

"So these fellows simply appear to place more zeal in their identification," Valerius declared.

"This may mean that their shaman prefers fire magic over shock though," Tadrose warned. "So be prepared."

Teresa nodded, and wondered if she might find the time to brew some potions to resist fire?

They finished their quick meal moments later, and Teresa found a loud yawn escaping from her lips. She had been up the entire night, stalking, running, and fighting. Now that the action had long since passed, her body just wanted to lie down and sleep. Preferably in Tadrose's arms.

"You had better drink a stamina potion dear," Tadrose said quietly. "We all took one a little while ago to stay awake. We have a long day ahead of us, and there will be no time for rest."

Teresa nodded, and dug through her Thieves Bag for a potion to dispel her fatigue. Upending the pink bottle, she let the thick liquid slide down her throat. It lit a warm fire in her belly, and instantly she felt rested and awake, as if she had just slept for eight hours straight. Still, she knew the feeling would not last forever, and wondered how long it would be before she needed another potion to keep going?

"Alright you meatheads, we aren't getting paid by the hour," Pappy barked. "Gear up and move out."

Teresa rose to her feet with the others, and helped pack away the items from their small camp. Now that she really looked, she saw dead goblins scattered everywhere. Their throats were hacked out, limbs sheared off, heads broken open, or bore the marks of other forms of violent death. The forester was thankful for the chilly air, for at least that kept the flies and other insects away.

Gods, she had just sat down and had breakfast amidst a sea of corpses. Had she become so callous, that it truly made no impression upon her? Would Simplicia even recognize her, the next time she saw the old Imperial? Would Methredhel?

Teresa shook the thoughts from her head. There was work to be done, and she knew that she had to focus. Like Riveus, she was a scout. The rest of the guild depended on her to find the enemy before they were discovered themselves. If she failed, she would put them all in jeopardy. That she could not allow to happen.

Before she headed out in front of the column, she noted that Mad Josse had even brought Number Seven with him. Now the brown and white mule was loaded down with long wooden stakes, sharpened to points at either end. There was also a bundle of longer poles, too thick to be meant for tents. She imagined those were for some kind of barricade Pappy might want to build. She recalled seeing much the same thing at Bruma, where the guild had made its stand outside the Great Gate. She only hoped they would fare better this time…

At least the forest was now familiar to her. They crossed the same ground where she and Riveus had hunted fleeing goblins just a few hours earlier. She and the Colovian did not lead them down the road, where they could be easily seen by goblin lookouts. Instead they guided the column through a series of game trails that wound back and forth through the hills.

The ground rose steadily as they went, and the trees began to thin out. More and more Teresa found large rocks and boulders growing from the soil. Finally they came to a long ridge of stone that rose up from the trees. It was not steep enough to be called a cliff, but it was near enough to be difficult to climb. They turned their backs to the sun here, and followed the ridge to the west.

Not long after they crept over another, smaller ridge that ran down at a right angle from the larger spine of rock. Teresa and Riveus went flat here, and crawled the last few feet to the summit. Peering over the edge, the forester saw the mine below.

’But even though Saya had prolonged the summoning, the Daedra could not remain Nirn-bound forever.’
But even though Saya had topped off the summoning's fuel tanks, the Daedra had a limited time on station.

"No more mistakes like last night."
How neat for T&T to share a bit of a critique. Tadrose knows just the right words to use on Teresa.

Fire Hand Tribe. Ah, so the inspiration for this wonderful chapter becomes clear.

"You had better drink a stamina potion dear,"
Or a Red Bull or double expresso or somethin’. Some things aren’t so different on Nirn, are they? I’m surprised, Teresa’s mind didn’t wander to imagining Tadrose saying that to her before a long night together instead of after a long night of goblin killin’!

Thanks for feeding me some nice warm cornbread and hot tea made from Argonians, albeit among a sea of corpses. I see that Teresa passed on the sausage of course.

I’m looking forward to learning more of how Pappy employs Number Seven’s cargo. You perfectly described the makings of the game’s spiked wooden barricades of course.

‘The ground rose steadily as they went, and the trees began to thin out. More and more Teresa found large rocks and boulders growing from the soil. Finally they came to a long ridge of stone that rose up from the trees. It was not steep enough to be called a cliff, but it was near enough to be difficult to climb. They turned their backs to the sun here, and followed the ridge to the west.’
This was beautifully done – like epic painting by words. You showed not only the passage of ground but of time as well.

Nit: ‘Theresa noted that the other fighters were now fully armored,’
An ‘h’ slipped into Teresa’s name.