The Wolf Queen Awakens

Chapter 5

The two of them kept moving – there was a heartstopping moment when Stormcloak soldiers tried to stop them on the road, and then one of them recognised Aela and believed her when she told them she was just on her way back from a job in the Rift with her little sister Maia, newly recruited into the Companions and having been given the good weapons to make up for a relative lack of experience. Elisif just smiled sweetly and said nothing, and after a bit of banter between Aela and the soldiers, they let them both past. Then came Helgen, or what was left of it – Aela's arrows dealt with a few bandits that tried to attack them while Elisif Shouted a few off the walls with Unrelenting Force and somehow managed not to be sick afterwards. It was frightening just how used to all this death and blood she was getting.

Finally they got to Riverwood and the comfort of the Sleeping Giant Inn. Elisif had never been here before but apparently Aela was something of a regular.

"Don't worry, this place is safe," Aela reassured her. "I know Delphine, the innkeeper. She's a friend of mine. Used to me pitching up at odd hours in need of somewhere to rest. She's discreet. You can trust her."

Sure enough, despite the late hour, Delphine, a blonde Breton who might be late forties, early fifties perhaps, didn't bat an eyelid to see the two of them pitch up, Aela requesting beds for the night, food and a certain loss of memory regarding their presence here.

"Ran into trouble, did you?" Delphine asked, producing two bottles of mead for them and pocketing the gold Aela passed her, rather more than was warranted for two beds and some food.

"You might say that," said Aela grimly. "This is my little sister, Maia. She's decided to follow in my footsteps and join up at Jorrvaskr. We were out hunting in the Rift when we ran into the biggest camp of Stormcloaks I've ever seen."

Delphine glanced around the empty inn, devoid of anyone other than Orgnar the bartender who was pointedly not looking in their direction. She slid onto the bench opposite them, looking intrigued.

"Stormcloaks giving Companions of Jorrvaskr trouble?" she asked, one eyebrow raised. "Now that does surprise me. Aren't you lot meant to be above politics, respected by all Nords?"

"They didn't realise we were Companions," said Elisif softly. "They thought we were working for the Empire."

"Why does that not surprise me," said Delphine, shaking her head sadly, face shadowed in the inn's dim lighting, the central fire burning down to embers. She looked thoughtfully at Maia, seeming curious. "So you're Aela's sister. She never mentioned one before."

"She's very protective of me," said Elisif, hoping Delphine would believe that. Something about the innkeeper told Elisif that this woman noticed everything and was a very good judge of people. Not uncommon traits in someone who ran an inn, but there was more to Delphine than met the eye, Elisif could tell. She seemed smart for one. Not to mention agile. She carried a dagger at her side, as did a lot of tradesmen and women, but Elisif had a feeling it wasn't just for show – that Delphine really knew how to use it.

"I don't doubt it," said Delphine, but she still looked thoughtful. As if she didn't entirely believe her or suspected there was some mystery yet to be solved. "So, Ulfric's making a move, is he? Hope he's not coming up the Helgen Pass, I'd hate to have the war come here. I just got this inn exactly how I want it, I don't need the Stormcloaks thinking we're all Empire-lovers and burning the place down."

"No, don't worry, he's not invading," Aela reassured her. "He was lying in wait at High Hrothgar for the Dragonborn. You've heard about the Dragonborn, I take it."

Again Delphine's eyes flicked to Elisif and now she was sure Delphine suspected something.

"I heard," Delphine said, her voice neutral. "Can't say I'm surprised. Ulfric's a determined man, he'd do anything to win a Dragonborn to his cause. Of course he'd lie in wait at Ivarstead, it's the first place a new Dragonborn would go. That new Dragonborn will need to take care, I imagine. Especially if the rumours about her being a person of importance are true. I imagine any number of people would want her for their own."