Viconia was not pleased that I had retrieved the boots on my own, but she was certainly thankful that I hadn't come to any harm. As I returned to the camp with the boots in my possession she was obviously warring with herself whether she should render me harm or be overjoyed in the fact that not only was I no more injured than I had first left the shrine. Not that any of her emotions were visible to anyone else but myself. She had simply stood there near the entrance of the forest, arms folded and appearing to be doing little more than silently fuming at the way I casually strolled out with a pair of the most priceless relics of all Tamriel.

  Of everyone present, it was Avita and the other priests who were the most surprised to see me, and the way that I had retrieved their goddess's relics. Avita especially seemed to struggle to comprehend what I had done, simply congratulating me before vanishing from sight. I gaining the impression that she had been left incredibly shaken at my accomplishment and she wasn't the only priest who didn't know what to do.

  Some of them even tried to claim the Boots in the name of the Church of the Nine and it was only their fellows and the collection of pilgrims and travellers that convinced them that it wasn't the best of ideas. Others were busy trying to come up with some way that they were going to report such an event, and several times I heard the muttered exclamations and disbelieving comments of a 'miracle' from more than just the priests and monks of Kynareth.

  Viconia promised that I would have to make up my impetuosity to her in the coming days, especially after I was told by several of the pilgrims and priests that as soon as she had realised what I had done she had dressed herself and rushed down the path herself. Each time that she entered she would simply reappear a few minutes later as the path simply ejected her from the forest and judging by the way the priests were acting around her I suspected that she had been preparing to use her magicka to burn the forest down or something of the like when I had returned.

  Despite some of the misgivings and the slightly forceful requests by some for us to hand the boots over to their care, we left the Shrine and the priests behind before the sun reached its zenith. My encounter with the immortal bear-guardian had left me with a somewhat twisted leg and a pair of injuries that had split open slightly in the process but unlike the thousands of others I was still alive, and the boots were in a saddlebag.

  Each night we stayed within the various taverns and coaching inns along the road south to Leyawiin, and somewhat unsurprisingly the word of our success was travelling much faster than what we could. One or more of the pilgrims at the shrine, or even perhaps the priests themselves sending word of the events that had unfolded during our short stay would have reached every corner of the Empire by the time that the towering fortress-monastery of the Knights of the Stallion came into view. The Order was well and truly aware of our success as not only did the gate guards identify us but one immediately tasked a squire to run and find Sir Ramauld. Even before we were able to dismount, a collection of knights, squires, and men-at-arms had surrounded us, providing us with their congratulations and all trying their best to catch a glimpse of the relics that we kept securely contained in a saddlebag.

  As we managed to make our way into the fortress proper we encountered Sir Ramauld and several other ranking members of the Order. Despite my attempts, I hadn't managed to catch sight of Alexi and was left wondering whether I was healed enough to be able to spar the sword champion during our stay.

  Sir Ramauld was cheerful and commanding in equal measures and picking up a giggling squire no older than eight years' old who failed to move out of his way fast enough. The robes he wore covered his body like a surcoat, and left his forearms bare and easy to see the dozens of scars and injuries through a lifetime's training and combat even before he became head of the Order.

  "You both have seemed to be keeping yourselves busy since you last strode these halls." He said as he shifted his way through the press around us while making gestures to send the majority back to their duties. "Again it appears congratulations are in order."

  "Thank you, sir." I replied as the collection of knights and other members of the Order obeyed Sir Ramauld's gestures to disperse. He motioned for us to follow him towards the dining hall away from the entrance.

  "I hope you realise that there is only so much glory to go about and you might appear selfish in hogging it all?"

  Viconia and I looked at each other with our grins growing larger by the second. "Wait until you hear the rest sir."

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  "Should I be seated for this news?" he asked humorously.

  Viconia chuckled darkly and placed the saddlebag on the table as we moved over to it. "The boots are not the first of the Relics were have recovered."

  The grin on Ramauld's bearded face grew even larger even while he began shaking his head. "Of course not. Never let anyone say that anything is impossible as you two will go out of your way to prove them wrong. Which others have you retrieved?"

  "The Cuirass and the Helm." I replied, taking note of the way that his eyes looked over the two of us for any sign of the relics in question. "They are currently contained in the old Priory of the Nine in the West Weald."

  "They are well protected I hope?"

  "By the original Knights of the Nine. Yes."

  The silence and his stupefied expression almost made me laugh as he struggled to find words. "But they died..."

  "Two hundred years ago, yes. Rest assured that they are still quite capable of defending the relics and themselves."

  Viconia nodded to me and the way that my limp was still noticeable. "They nearly killed Kaius when we first reached the priory."

  "Let's just say that Sir Alexi may be able to face Sir Amiel Lannus and have an equal chance in winning." I added.

  The grin on Sir Ramauld's face grew even larger and revealed most of his teeth. "I'll tell him that when he gets back tonight."

  "He's not here?"

  "No. He's in Leyawiin conducting business on behalf of the Order. Knowing him though he'll be attempting to claim the Mace of Zenithar again before he returns. Speaking of which, I assume that you both have come for the Mace yourselves?"

  I shook my head, much to his surprise. "Not immediately. We have leads on other relics but we came here to request assistance from the Order."

  "Assistance? From us? Wonders will never cease when the Heroes of Kvatch claim three of the Eight Relics on their own and yet come to the Order of the White Stallion for help." There was an increasingly jovial nature about him as he motioned for the two of us to seat ourselves at the table as he lowered himself into a bench. "The Knights of the White Stallion are at your disposal."

  "Through the Knights of the Nine we have been given sufficient clues on the location of the Shield of the Crusader but our journeying over the past months have shown us that we can't do everything on our own. We are going to need help."

  He looked between me and Viconia as I spoke and the sense of respect from him seemed to grow. "It takes a lot to admit something as simple as such, especially from ones such as yourselves. What sort of help do you need?"

  "We seek to re-establish the Order of the Nine, recruit knights and soldiers to our cause and arrange an expedition to Fort Bulwark to retrieve the Shield."

  "Where is the fort located?"

  "To the east." Viconia added. "On the other side of the border to Blackmarsh."

  "That's no simple task." Sir Ramauld sat quietly for a few moments thinking. "most of the region is inhospitable and can only be traversed by boat. For the most part it is nothing more than kilometres upon kilometres of swamps and marshlands."

  "We know. That's one of the many reasons why the Shield hasn't been recovered. We have a rough idea where it can be found but we will need guides, and would prefer if we weren't the only one's going."

  The nod we received was short and succinct. "I and the order can help out in all these regards. Re-establishing the Order of the Nine will not be something that will happen overnight. It'll have to be raised and ratified by the Elder Council before it becomes official but between my authority and the Count's influence it can be done."

  "Will Count Caro support such a thing?"

  Ramauld's barrel chest rumbled as he laughed loud enough that it echoed through the mostly vacant dining hall. "What do you think he'll do once I go to him and tell him that the latest two individuals that he Knighted have retrieved three of the Relics of the Crusader, are seeking the others and intend on re-establishing the Order once dedicated to protecting said Relics? I'll probably walk out of the castle with several wagons loaded up with the County's entire treasury."

  "Finances are not going to be an issue and I believe we will have more than enough to fund the restoration and supply of the Priory and the Order. We will need manpower and skilled labourers."

  "The Order's stonemasons and some of our craftsmen will be at your service until the priory is repaired, and as for manpower I'll announce this evening during dinner that anyone willing to join your cause can do so once the reestablishment is ratified by the council. I'd wager that a number of the Order will be willing to join."

  "You would let other members of the Order change their heraldry?"

  He turned and looked at Viconia and nodded. "Of course. Some of the more pious in the ranks would join you even if I didn't give them the authority to do so. Besides, who do you think the Count is going recommend take command of the New Knights of the Nine? By the end of the month I am expecting you both to be my equals in rank, and besides that it won't just be Knights of the White Stallion who will join you. Many have come to try to claim the Mace."

  I nodded in agreement. Ever since we arrived and even during the journey south we had seen or passed several traveling knights from Orders throughout the Empire. The word of the crusade to recover the relics had spread far and wide and despite its illegitimacy there were many who were responding to the call. Even from where we were sitting, the fortress was playing host to a handful of these travelling Knights in their various heraldry's and standing out amongst the white tabards and surcoats of the Order.

  "Wun l'kaaas d'Shar!" Viconia suddenly spat and I recognised the urgency in her voice as she invoked the name of her deity. "Daedra!"