For once, it wasn’t snowing as Thandiwe walked through the remains of Winterhold towards the College. Behind her, Jenassa’s steps were unmuffled on the stone path; it was a strange sound, to hear the Dunmer’s movements for a change. Ahtar, guarding their rear as always, trod heavily in his steel boots.

The three halted at the steps to the College, where an Altmer woman stepped into their path.

“If you’re interested in joining the College, there is a–Oh!” The Altmer broke off, staring at Thandiwe. “You’re the Arch-Mage’s sister!”

Thandiwe smiled. “Yes, I am. Faralda, right? Now may I go see my brother, or do you still require proof of my abilities before you let us in?”

“Not at all, please, you…and your friends…” She glanced curiously at Ahtar and Jenassa, the latter of whom was smirking. “Come, I’ll take you to his quarters.”

Faralda led them up the steps and across the frail stone bridge, lighting the beacons as they went. “You’ve never been to the college before, have you?” she asked.

“You wizards didn’t exactly put out the welcome mat, at least when Jerem was just a lowly apprentice,” Thandiwe countered coolly.

“Yes, well…” Faralda didn’t look at her. “Well, you’re here now,” she said, after a moment. “And I’m sure he’ll be glad to know you arrived safely.”

*****
“A mercenary and an executioner?” Jerem sighed. “Really, Thandi?”

“You’re one to talk,” she retorted, nodding her head at Vorstag, who reclined on a bench, paring his nails with a dagger–Dwemer make, of course. They were still obsessed. “Hi, Vorstag.”

He waved the dagger back at her. “Hi, Thandiwe. Haven’t seen you since the wedding. How’s the wanderer life?”

“We killed that snow sabrecat that’s been eating caravaners in the pass south of here this morning,” she told him. “Jenassa’s got the pelt for sale downstairs, if you want it?”

Vorstag grinned. “No thanks.”

Jerem cleared his throat. “Love, shut up so I can talk to my sister?”

Vorstag raised his eyebrows playfully. He got up and went behind the dividing wall, leaving the two Redguards alone.

“He knows what I’m going to tell you anyway,” Jerem said to her when she turned a disapproving eye on him.

“Yeah, so I got your summons.” She brandished his letter with the College seal on it. “Don’t you wizards have some sort of messaging spell worked out yet? The poor courier was damn near run to death trying to find me.”

“If you weren’t gallivanting all over the province–” Jerem began, then stopped. “Thandi. I didn’t ask you here to argue.”

She relented. “I know. I’m sorry. What’s got you so worked up you had to send for me?”

“Uncle Isran is reforming the Dawnguard.”

“Uncle Isran? You mean the uncle who never came for Baranth Do when Mother invited all the family to Whiterun?”

“The very same. Though he’s as reclusive as ever, he’s written to all the major holds and guilds asking for men, mer and beasts to join up.”

“But the Dawnguard?”

Jerem nodded. “He says in the letter that there is a new vampire threat to Tamriel, and that only the Dawnguard can stand in its way.”

“And you asked me here because…”

She saw him visibly steel himself. “I want you to go talk to him. See what you can find out about his intentions, and if he’s right, be prepared to fight at his side.”

“I’m not one of your College apprentices, Jerem.”

“I know. But he is family, and I–I can’t go myself.” He looked down. “I have to–one of the adepts, he was experimenting with Dwemer technology. I lost him, Thandi, and I can’t lose any of the others.”

“Dwemer again,” she said scornfully. “Gods, Jerem!”

“I have to keep us safe! If I can just…” He clenched his fists at his side.

“You’ve been obsessed with the damned Dwemer ever since we were little, Jerem. And what’s it led to? These, these things all over your quarters? They’re dangerous!” She pointed angrily at a Dwemer spider walking repeatedly into a wall.

“Only because we don’t understand how they work,” he protested. “And I have to understand the way the Dwemer worked to keep anyone else from going the way they–the way Arniel–did.”

She sighed. “Vorstag supports you in this.”

“He always has.”