The Dragonborn

Part 38

Jack kissed Mark's warm neck.  Then reluctantly pulled away.  Mark stared at him with soft teddy bear eyes, cupping Jack's chin as he whispered to him.  "Stay close to me".  Jack took hold of Mark's wrist, moving his hand to press against his cheek, before he answered sweetly.  "Always".  From behind them, Delphine suddenly added in defensively.  "Now I understand. He's your lover... Not your bodyguard".  Jack turned to face her as she approached with a white mare, stating on.  "I'd recommend that your lover stays here. It's dangerous where we are going. He'd only be a distraction".  Mark tried to move toward her, but Jack placed a hand on his chest to hold him back as he told her defensively.  "I'll be more distracted without him. Besides, Mark is one of the best warriors I know".  Delphine shot him a sarcastic look, mumbling under her breath.  "How many warriors do you know"? 

Mark tried to move toward her again, bitterly growling out.  "You wanna challenge me, than just say it"!  Delphine mounted her horse, looking down on him as she dryly sneered out.  "I don't waste my time on men like you".  Jack nearly fell over trying to keep Mark from snatching her horses reins.  She turned her horse back toward the cobblestone bridge, informing Jack firmly.  "Kynesgrove is this way. We can travel together, if your nags can keep up".  She didn't give them a chance to answer.  She simply kicked her horse into a trot and headed off for the bridge.  Mark backed up toward Tim, grumbling out bitterly.  "If the dragon doesn't kill her, I will".  Jack shot him a stern look, before quickly mounting Argo and telling him.  "Mark! You said it yourself. We don't have to prove anything to her".  Jack turned Argo toward the bridge, waiting for Mark as he mounted Tim. 

Mark adjusted Tim to walk up alongside Argo as he told Jack bitterly.  "If we aren't trying to prove anything, than why are we going to look for a fight with her"?!  They nudged their horses to start walking as Jack told Mark firmly.  "I'm not doing this for her. I wanna know what is bring the dragons back to life. That is my only concern. I don't trust her anymore than you do".  Mark's expression changed as they shared a warm look, before trotting after her.  Jack guessed that Mark was just happy that despite this foolish quest, at least he was still on his side.  They traveled along the road past Whiterun keep and followed the river out toward Windhelm.  The journey only took a few hours, but traveling in silence made it feel longer.  Along the road south of Windhelm, Jack slowed Argo down.  Argo kept slipping on the icy road at the pace Delphine was going. 

So, To save Argo from injury, Jack patted his neck and let him walk.  At this slower pace, Jack took a moment to watch the snow fall.  It was quite beautiful here.  Pulling his cloak tighter around himself, Mark rode up alongside him, asking curiously.  "Everything alright"?  Jack nodded, answer casually.  "Ya. The ice on the road in making Argo nervous".  Mark patted Tim's neck as he told Jack comfortingly.  "I hope we are almost there. Tim could use a rest".  Delphine pulled her mare to a stop a few feet ahead, snapping back to them.  "Hurry up! We don't have time to loose"!  She spurred her mare up the hill adjacent to the road as Mark growled to Jack.  "Time no...but we could do with one less member".  Jack chuckled, stirring Argo off the road and up the hill.  As they climbed up the hill,  Argo suddenly jerked to a stop.  His head lifted and his ears flicked forward toward the crest of the hill. 

Up ahead, Delphine's mare reared in fright.  Flipping Delphine into the snow, before bolting back down the hill.  Tim pawed at the snow fiercely and snorted restlessly.  Mark quickly dismounted and Jack followed suite.  Something had the horses spooked.  Delphine shot to her feet and began to race up the hill, when the wind picked up and a deep voice called out into the harsh wind.  "Sahloknir! Ziil gro dovah ulse"!  Jack immediately translated it in his head and told Mark over the whistling wind.  "Someone is calling the dragon, Sahloknir, from his grave! We've got to hurry"!  They caught up with Delphine and she pointed up into the cloudy white sky, yelling at them over the wind in surprise.  "Lorkan's eyes! Look at that big bastard! Keep your heads low and let's see what it does"!  Delphine raced on up the hill without them and Jack looked up.