“Well... that could have gone better.” The events of the previous night were still fresh in everypony's minds. The pie incident had been diffused when Reman, Skjor, and Kodlak started laughing at Vilkas' plight. Right now, the party was enjoying the predawn darkness, keeping good on the Harbinger's word that they would be out of the city before sunrise.

“You're telling me.” Reman was giving dirty looks to anyone that dared come near the group. Really, no one was outside right now, but the Imperial was building a healthy amount of fear and respect with the local guards. For the ponies, of course, the Imperial didn't need any more respect from the city's protectors. “This is the second time I've been forced from a town under cover of darkness.”

“Come on, Vilkas had it coming.” Glade was taking her new freedom well, currently, the lycan pegasus was hovering as high as Reman's shoulder.

“While I'm not one for violence, he was being rather rude.” Rarity made a point, the Nord had crossed a certain line when he insulted the ponies' names.

“I'm not disagreeing with you, but there were other ways to handle things.” Princess Luna was nocturnal by nature, but the daytime travel had skewed her internal clock. With about two hours until dawn, she was not a happy alicorn. Having nothing else to do, the royal pony pulled out her map, her excellent eyesight allowed her to read it with ease. “Where should we head, next?”

“My current home is likely the best option, it'd give us a chance to resupply.” Reman assumed that Luna was asking him, the Imperial was the only member of the group with any knowledge of Skyrim, so he was the only option. “Let me show you where it is.” The lycan held out his hand, and received the party's only map. Using a bit of charcoal, the man made a small, but obvious, mark in a small inlet near the Pale-Winterhold border. “It'll take week to get there, but it open's up the options of Dawnstar and Winterhold.”

“Why'd you mark the map?” Glade inched closer to Reman, reading over his shoulder. The lycan pegasus gave her forebear a quizzical look, obviously curious about something. “Aren't you coming with us?”

“Of course, just covering everything.” In truth, the Imperial had a feeling brewing in his gut, a sixth sense that he'd developed over the years. It wasn't a guess, or anything like that, Reman knew something was going to go down today. “If, for any reason, we get separated, you eight should keep going.”

“Expectin' trouble?” Applejack understood that something was eating at the Imperial, being the Element of Honesty granted her that ability, she knew he was keeping a few fears to himself.

“Only every day.” Reman answered in his usual way, trademark grin on his face and bravado in his voice. Things settled after that, the mares seemed satisfied that nothing was wrong the mercenary that they had inadvertently hired. In fact, it wasn't until the group was about to exit Whiterun that the Imperial remembered that he was forgetting something important. Reman almost slapped himself when he realized the only loose end that remained.

“Wait by the stables, I'll be there in a few minutes.”

@#@#@#@#@#@#

The Bannered Mare wasn't the ideal bunkhouse, but the beds were warm and the drinks were cold, perfect for giving travelers the respite they needed. Lynette was bunked in the attic, a tiny alcove that was barely bigger than an average closet, but it was cheap enough for her to afford. The inn needed better security, it was too easy for Reman to find his way to the Breton's room. The Imperial felt a slight hint of nostalgia at seeing the woman curled in her sleep, but it wasn't the time for thinking about the past.

“Lynette, wake up.” Reman recalled the Breton being a light sleeper, but she didn't stir in the slightest. Then again, waking at this hour was difficult for most people, so the Imperial had to switch methods. If speaking wouldn't work, shaking should do nicely. Placing his hand on both of Lynette's shoulders, Reman pulled back slightly, but was prevented from shoving forward. In a flurry of movement, the blanket was tossed aside, and a shiny piece of metal sped towards the Imperial's throat.

“Bandit trying to sneak up on me!” Lynette was whispering loudly, before she realized where she was, and who she was trying to kill. The Breton tried to pull the knife away, but Reman's hand was locked firmly around her wrist, a perfect counter for the woman's instinctive retaliation to contact. “Well, how about that?”

“Good morning, Lynette.” The Imperial had a smile on his face, there was something he saw that was very enjoyable to look at. There were few things that could brighten one's day like what was on display.

“Reman, my eyes are up here.” The Breton covered herself with her arm, her clothing was currently out of her reach. Lynette wasn't really concerned about her lack of attire, most people in High Rock slept naked, the body was seen as a work of art.

“Hey, they stared at me first.” The Imperial liked to joke around, but he rarely bothered someone exclusively for that purpose. Lynette knew the man wasn't one to ask for things, so if he was here this early it must be important. “How are you doing, being out of the Silver Hand and all?”

“I wish you would have let me sleep more.” Lynette moved her arm to stretch, re-exposing herself. Quickly catching herself, the Breton replaced the limb and shot Reman a dirty look. “You better have a good reason for waking me up.”

With a dismissing gesture, the lycan tossed the woman her blouse, and motioned for her to make room for him to sit. The Breton quickly moved over, before putting on the oversized shirt. Reman took a seat on the bed, which was barely more than wooden planks covered by a few furs, hardly comfortable. But, there wasn't time to complain to the management.

“I assume you didn't come here just to see me.” Lynette punctuated her sentence with a yawn, stretching her back once more. Wanting nothing more than to sleep, the woman rested her head on the Imperial's shoulder.

“You're right about that, I actually have something for you.” While Reman spoke, Lynette made good use of the armor's missing pauldron, the exposed leather made for a decent pillow. The woman wrapped her arms around the lycan's, she was still half-asleep and couldn't bothered with her own actions. “Why are you doing that?”

“Your shoulder's comfy.” In no time at all, Lynette Jemane drifted back to the world of dreams, completely forgetting about why Reman needed her. Well, the Imperial couldn't really blame her, she had likely only gotten a few hours of sleep the previous night, and Bretons had a weaker constitution than other humans. With nothing else to do, Reman laid her head on her pillow and covered her with a blanket.

Resolving to finish what he came to do, the lycan set a sealed envelope on top of Lynette's gear, and left to join the ponies at the stables.

@#@#@#@#@#@#

“Remember when I said the journey to my home would take a week?” Reman addressed Luna in the light of dawn.

“Of course, I do.” The Princess was wide awake, though that could hardly be said. Luna cocked her head to the side, angling one of her ears to better hear the Imperial. Her eyes, however, were busy watching the horses currently stabled outside of Whiterun. “Change of plans?”

“My estimate was if we were walking.” Reman pointed over his shoulder, at a small group of wagons and roofed carriages. “I don't know about you, but I think we should take one of those to Dawnstar, and go from there.”

“I would certainly make the trip easier.” Luna was tired of walking everywhere, and the dragon paranoia kept her and the group's pegasi grounded. Taking the carriage would cut the travel time in half. “If you'll pay the driver, I'll get the others.”

“Right, I'm on it.”

@#@#@#@#@#@#

Uriel wasn't the brightest man in his family, but he was easily the most physically imposing. The young captain was gazing at Whiterun through a telescope, keeping an eye on every man and woman to leave the city. While the Imperial wasn't looking for any particular person, he had a gut feeling that something big was brewing over the horizon. This surveillance was a small comfort in his situation, being so far from the warmth of Cyrodiil, the safety of home.

Some say that twins share a connection that can't be broken by distance, a telepathy of sorts. Right now, that sixth sense was telling Uriel that his brother was nearby, somewhere in Whiterun Hold. If it could be trusted, then this was the closest the man had been to his older brother in years. It had been a tough time, when Reman disappeared, Cassius had caught the pox and died a month earlier. After the attack on the Jemane family, their mother had just... shut down. She didn't eat for a week, didn't speak for months, just silence. But, now was the time to rectify that, Uriel could bring Reman home.

If he tried to leave the Hold by road, the Seekers would find him.

@#@#@#@#@#@#

Five flawless amethysts later, the diplomatic party was loaded into a carriage and off to Dawnstar. Reman had payed for the very best, pulled by a duo of workhorses. That had been something that the Imperial didn't want to explain, he promised to reveal his secrets later. Regardless of the possible slave labor, the carriage was luxurious, definitely the sort a noble would use to cross a country. Even if the ride was bumpy like nopony's business, it was relaxing, a chance to rest one's sore hooves.

Though, all that mattered to Glade was the fact that Reman had another scent on him.