Nathan waited for them to mount up, but Tolan simply moved forward to ask a bit suspiciously. "You talk to the dead? For your sake, I hope that was a joke." Nathan straightened up on his horse, defensively retorting. "We don't have time for this. Mount up, Tolan!" Tolan tossed down his shovel, sternly stating aloud. "No. I need to know who I'm riding with. I won't be caught riding with some Daedric worshiper! Or a... Necromancer." Nathan locked his jaw and glared at Tolan. Dumbuk rode up between them, snapping out. "Hey! We are here for the vampires, remember?! We can kill each other later." Tolan's jaw dropped as he uttered out in disbelief. "Are you saying you've known what he was?!" Dumbuk looked to Nathan, who looked back at him with slightly guilty eyes. He'd never told Dumbuk that he was practiced as a Necromancer. Internally, he kicked himself for making a joke that implicated him. Sometimes his tongue worked faster than his brain. Having to watch what he said all the time was becoming an issue. He expected Dumbuk to side with Tolan, but Dumbuk looked back to Tolan and said casually. "The Dawnguard isn't based on religious preferences. In our eyes, a necromancer fighting the undead can only help us win."

Tolan took a step back, drawing a horn on his chest as he uttered out under his breath. "Stendarr, protect me. How could I have been so blind. Now it makes sense... I knew the mages were corrupt." Nathan rolled his eyes, grumbling out as he turned Walter around to face the road. "Ugh, I'm not going to listen to the bullshit. Come or not, I don't care." Dumbuk turned his horse to follow, asking curiously. "Do you know where you are going?" Nathan pulled out a folded paper that he'd decoded from the journal, then pointed to the mountain in the distance behind the burned Hall of the Vigilant, upon answering. "According to the map I have. It's at that mountain." Tolan ran to his white mare, mounting up quickly. Bolting passed them, he turned his horse to block the road and snapped out. "I forbid you from going to such a holy place!" Dumbuk rode up beside Nathan, huffing out bluntly. "Well, that 'holy place' is probably crawling with vampires. You going to tell them that?" Nathan couldn't help chuckling at that. Tolan straightened up, pointing off to another road as he ordered them seriously. "Go back to the Dawnguard! I'll deal with this myself!"

Nathan's smile faded as he snapped out. "You can't be serious. There could be hundreds of vampires in that mountain, and you just want to walk in on your own?" Tolan glared at them as he spitefully replied. "It was a mistake to think the Dawnguard would take this mission seriously. Sending a heathen and a bloodthirsty Orc to our aid. No. Stendarr will guide me on my quest to avenge my fallen comrades. I do not need help from the likes of you! Your father would be ashamed of you!" Nathan raised a hand to cast a spell at Tolan, but Tolan surprised him by dual casting at their horses. The spell was weak but easily casted, bathing Walter and Dumbuk's horse in a green light. Walter and Dumbuk's horse reared suddenly, thrashing their hooves in the air as they whinnied in complete terror of Tolan. Dumbuk almost fell off his horse but managed to recover as his horse dropped back to all fours and bolted away from Tolan. Walter reared too high on the slight incline and toppled backwards. Nathan screamed as Walter fell, landing hard on his side and breaking Nathan's leg. Walter scrambled to get up on his feet, bolting off after Dumbuk as if his life depended on getting away. Leaving Nathan writhing on the ground as pain blinded him.

Forcing himself to fight down the pain, Nathan raised his hand to summon a bound dagger and used all of his strength to throw it at Tolan. Tolan turned his horse to bolt away, unaware of the bound dagger that flew through the air. Nathan winced in disappointment as his bound dagger missed Tolan but hit Tolan's horse. Mercy staggered as the dagger impaled itself into her flank, but it didn't stop her. It just made her run faster down the road and out of sight. Trying not to move his broken leg, Nathan laid down on his side to grab his thigh and snapped out. "Dirty son of a bitch! I'll kill him!" Pulling up the front of his shirt, he stuffed it into his mouth and put his hands to his broken leg. His healing spells needed more practice, but it would be enough to fix the problem. Inhaling deeply to hold his breath, he bit down on his shirt and casted the healing spell. The bone made a loud popping sound as it reset, causing Nathan to unleash a muffled scream at the top of his lungs. Since pain overtook his thought, the healing stopped, and he fell back across the ground to pant. His leg was reset, but not healed. As much as he wanted to finish, his body needed a minute to collect itself. He couldn't use his magic if his mind was too busy processing pain.

A few minutes later, Dumbuk walked back up to him with the horses. Seeing him on the ground, Dumbuk rushed over, and Nathan rushed out in a panic. "Don't touch me! The bone is set, but if you move it, it could shift out of place and I'm NOT resetting it again!" Dumbuk nodded, going back to his horse to remove something from a saddle bag. Returning, he handed him a healing potion and Nathan snatched it. Popping the cork, Nathan drank it down quickly. The potion was weak but had healed the bone in place and took the edge off his pain. Slowly straightening his leg out to make sure his leg was better, he exhaled out to the sky as he laid on the ground. "Thanks." Dumbuk ran a hand down Nate's leg, making him jerk upright in response. Dumbuk squeezed his leg gently as he looked it over, then told him calmly. "I'm making sure you don't need more. Can you feel everything? Bend everything?" Nathan chuckled out with a smirk. "I felt that didn't I? I'd wiggle my toes for you, but you'd have to remove my boot." Dumbuk snorted, removing his hands and said in relief. "At least you didn't lose your sense of humor." They shared a laugh, before Dumbuk took his arm and carefully helped him up to his feet.

Limping a bit back to his horse, Nathan rubbed his thigh to try loosening up the muscle. Dumbuk pointed ahead, asking curiously in a guarded tone. "Should we go after him?" Nathan tried to pull himself into Walter's saddle, but his sides seized in pain. His body was still bruised and tense from the fall. Resting his forehead on the saddle, he answered reluctantly. "My father wanted me to get something out of there. And I'll be damned if I let that asshole get his hands on it." Dumbuk moved closer, saying gently. "Maybe we should rest a bit? Let you get your strength back." Nathan shook his head, trying to pull himself up again as he gruffly said. "I'll rest on the horse. We can't waste time. I've already done enough of that on my own..." Dumbuk slipped an arm between Nathan legs, hefting him up with one arm as he asked lightly. "What do you mean? Did the journal say something about it?" Nathan swung into the saddle, before looking at Dumbuk with a worried expression. Dumbuk had seen the journal and had said nothing to Tolan about it. Despite being told to trust no one, Nathan felt like Dumbuk already knew more than enough to put it together. Giving Dumbuk a nod, he told him in a soft tone of voice. "My dad tried to give me the information a long time ago... but I didn't understand it. He left me pieces of a puzzle to figure out."

Dumbuk furrowed his brow, saying gently. "Nords love their puzzles... I told you he was on to something. The question is, what is hidden in Dimhollow Crypt that vampires would care so much about to wipe out the Hall of the Vigilant for it?" Nathan gripped the reins tighter, debating with himself on whether to tell him or not. Nudging Walter on, he told Dumbuk seriously. "Trust me. You want to get it out of there." Dumbuk swung onto his horse, telling him as he followed him. "Then I'm right behind you." Nathan drank his Daedric wine to make himself feel warmer as they tracked up the mountain trail. The wind was bitter cold, causing Nathan to huddle up in his cloak with the large hood up. Behind him, Dumbuk huddled up in his animal furs. They took the path up the mountain slowly, which allowed them to see the gorgeous view of Skyrim's ocean. The view to the left revealed Solitude's hold atop a high mountain in the far distance. While to the far right, they could see a lighthouse on the cliffside. It was breathtaking. Reaching a small cave set into the mountainside, Nathan slowed Walter. Beside a set of stone steps leading up to the cave, stood a familiar white mare. Dumbuk rode up next to Nathan, tapping his arm to point at the steps where a snuffled out torch rested by some footprints in the snow.

Slowly dismounting, Nathan told Dumbuk quickly. "I've got a bad feeling..." Dumbuk slid off his horse and moved to inspect the tracks. Then looking back at Nate over his shoulder, he told him just as quietly. "There are four different sets of tracks here. Not counting Tolan's. They were waiting for someone to come. If Tolan is alive... I doubt he will be for long." Nathan drew Dawnbreaker and Dumbuk pulled his long Dawnguard hammer from the holster across his back. Dumbuk waved for him to follow him, and they crept up the steps to enter the cave. Making their way through the dark cave tunnel, they stopped to the sound of a man speaking aloud with a regal voice to someone else. "These Vigilants never know when to give up, do they? I thought we'd taught them a lesson at their Hall." In response, a woman answered in a dissatisfied voice. "To come in here alone. What a fool. Like the rest of them." The man's voice held some admiration now as he told her. "He fought well though. Jeron and Bresoth were no match for him." Dumbuk beckoned Nathan to follow as he crept farther out into a large open area.

A little waterfall rained down from the roof, falling into a small river that streamed out into a hole in the mountain. There was a little watchtower in the corner, but it looked like it was in shambles after an attack. Farther ahead was a large rounded tunnel that was barred off by iron bars. Standing by one of the rock pillars that held up the ceiling, were two people that stood in the shadows of the burning torches on the wall. The woman crossed her arms, blurting out to the man next to her. "Ha! Those two deserved what they got. Their arrogance had been insufferable. I'm glad they're gone." The man rubbed his throat, huffing out grimly. "All this talk is making me thirsty. Perhaps another Vigilant will wonder in soon. The next one I won't report... We'll just drain them dry." The woman nodded, telling the man flatly. "Aye. Damn. I wish Lokil would hurry up. I have half a mind to return to the castle and tell Lord Harkon what a fool he's entrusted this mission too!" The man's voice suddenly become more sinister when he replied. "And I have half a mind to tell Lokil of your disloyalty." The woman whirled around, hissing out sternly. "You wouldn't dare!" The man leaned toward her in challenge, hissing out in his menacing voice. "Try me. Now shut up and keep on watch!"

Dumbuk turned slightly to whisper in Nathan's ear. "A leader and a Fledgling. And two hounds. See them?" Nathan watched where Dumbuk pointed to see two hounds napping in the shadows by the door. Dumbuk pointed to the watchtower and Nathan gave him a thumbs up. Gesturing for him to wait, Nathan turned invisible and started to creep his way over toward the watchtower. Sliding down the rocks, Nate tried to take a route that wasn't in direct sight of the vampires or dogs. Reaching the door to the tower, Nathan froze as one of the hounds lifted its head to sniff the air. Setting Dawnbreaker down inside the open tower door to keep its light from being seen, he quietly drew his bow and notched an arrow. From this angle he could see the two vampires and the dogs easily. Thinking carefully, he turned his shot on the vampire that was the farthest from him. The male vampire was hidden nicely in the corner with his eyes on the tunnel where Dumbuk was laying low. Drawing the string back, Nathan exhaled his breath and released. The arrow became visible as it whizzed through the air and impaled the male vampire cleanly through the heart. The male uttered a soft cry, then burst into ash.

The female rose off the wall nearby, yelling out. "What was that?! Seek!" At the command, the two hounds rose to their feet and started to rush toward the ash pile. The female vampire scanned the cave and Nathan notched another arrow. He started to pull the string back when the woman sniffed the air and turned her attention in his direction. He unleashed the arrow at her chest, but she moved fast enough to dodge it. Her hand going up to snatch the arrow from the air. Nathan lowered his bow, taking a shaky breath as she snapped it between her fingers and purred out. "I can smell your warm flesh, Mortal." The vampire dashed forward so fast that Nate barely dived out of the way of her sharp nails as she slashed the air of the doorway. Dropping his bow, he snatched up Dawnbreaker and rolled up to his knees. The Vampire hissed loudly, baring her fangs as she slashed out at the place he'd dived to. Jumping up onto the stone stairs, he readied his sword and jumped off to slam into her. She turned to face him as his scent got her attention, but it was too late. His sword wedged between her ribs and her flesh began to crack like porcelain as she burned with a golden light.

His invisibility ended, just before she crumbled to ash. Rushing to collect his bow, he heard Dumbuk grunting as he swung his hammer at the hounds to keep them back. Whenever his hammer struck the ground, a golden light burst out, forcing the hounds to jump back from him. Sheathing Dawnbreaker, Nathan notched an arrow on his bow. Pulling the string back, he took aim at one of the hounds. When Dumbuk struck the ground to make them jump back, Nathan released the arrow. The arrow struck the hound in the side, but unlike the vampires it didn't burst into flames. Instead, it yelped and limped as it tried to retreat. Dumbuk took advantage of the hound's sudden weakness. Bring his hammer down on the hound's large head. The second the hammer made contact, the golden light radiated through the hound, making its eyes turn a golden color before it exploded to ash in a burst of light. Dumbuk raised the hammer to swing at the other hound but fled from him. Nathan started to notch another arrow, thinking it was going to circle back after Dumbuk. Until Dumbuk called out. "Nathan! He's coming to you!" Nathan looked up, watching the hound race back down the path toward him at a speed that seemed impossible for any normal dog. Dropping his bow, he drew his sword and raised a hand to cast a jet of flames at it in the hopes of slowing it down.

The hound didn't even flinch as the flames rippled off its leathery flesh! The hound opened its jaws of sharp fangs, snarling loudly as it charged toward him with bright fiery red eyes. Turning on his heel, Nathan ran up the steps of the tower. Seeing a window and a chain, Nathan rushed forward to yank the chain and hopped out the window. His hand gripped the windowsill long enough for his feet to get under him before letting go to fall to the floor below. Nathan felt the hound's hot breath on his hand before he had let go. Looking up from where he landed, he saw the hound peek out the window at him with narrowed eyes, before it rushed away from the window. Nathan cursed, running quickly to pass the watchtower door. There was no other way for him to go that wouldn't trap him. Just as he started running toward the now open tunnel, Dumbuk met up with him with his hammer raised and yelled out. "DUCK!" Nathan dropped to slide passed Dumbuk as Dumbuk swung his hammer down to knock the hound clear off its feet and into the wall. The hound struck the wall with a yelp, but it started to get back up with a growl... until Dumbuk bashed his hammer into its thick skull.

Nathan stayed across the ground, staring at Dumbuk with wide eyes. He'd never seen Dumbuk do that and it was both frightening and impressive. He was so distracted that the word just seemed to fall from his lips for his own amusement. "Goose...?" Turning to face him, Dumbuk asked curiously through a light pant. "What?" Nathan blushed, waving a hand dismissively as he told him simply. "It's a kid's game. Nevermind. It's not important. Thank you." Dumbuk nodded to him, then pointed to the open tunnel as he told him. "Thank me after. We're only just getting started." To Be Continued...