"He would have to learn about my return - it only works off of the speaker's thoughts, not facts about the world. If you were to go to Arélen and tell her that I'm here, he could come and hurt me as much as he wanted. Same goes for anything else I tell you. But if you gather other information without my help and take it to her I'm safe."

"So the amount of help you've provided already wouldn't count? Can I regather the same information you've given me? Can I just refuse to say where I got my information?"

"I've told you about the world and that he exists. Not exactly secrets he cares about keeping, at this point. If he suspects I told you things he could find me and make me Say that I didn't tell you and hurt me when I couldn't, he probably thinks a refusal to Say otherwise is sufficient proof."

"So I'll make very certain to have believable sources of information for everything. Can you tell me where the cities and such are, at least?"

"Nimchobas is on the other side of the forest. If you head north you will come to Inzilkadar, which is an Ewerthaid city. In either case, you can probably find someone there who speaks yaisalambë - most of the population in each speaks yelillambë. Which they will call 'yelinlam'. And they will call Yaisalambë 'cillam'. Nimchobas is easier to find, it's on the coast. Inzilkadar is at a river fork. The space between here and Inzilkadar is safer than Balch Dawar - the forest - though. Either city, you should be able to take a boat to Malchobas, if you can earn some money. From Malchobas to Elinost is easy, just follow the road. Also, you can sometimes see Elinost at night, even from here."

He sighs.

"It would be easier if I went with you - You don't speak Yelillambë at all and your yaisalambë is poor. But. I do not want to go. Does that make me a coward?"

She wishes she had materials for a map. Or at least a journal.

"Not at all. I can stay until I have learned yaisalambe better. At the very least, I'd want to teach you some of my world's magic before we part, so you'll be safer. If you do want to come with me, though, I can protect you."

He smiles, but the look in his eyes says "no you can't."

"He can still hurt people I love. That is why staying is cowardly. If it was all just... 'fate of the nation' 'fate of the world´ 'tens of thousands of innocent lives'...Everyone ignores that. There is no shame in it."

"I don't know what I should do. I will need some time to think on it. I can think at the same time that we study languages - and magic, if I can learn yours."

She really wants to hug him, but feels it'd be probably unappreciated.

"I tend to take the fate of the world a bit more personally than that, but I see your point."

"It's not going to end, Gorvaethor is not that powerful. He will probably not even conquer much of it, Elefthâni and Airâlad are larger and more militarized than Rainë. He wants to though. Conquer it, not end it."

"It won't matter much to the people he kills what his intentions are. I don't have any angles on returning home, and I'd like to at least take a shot at helping. It's what I do." She sighs. "Though usually I have more resources than a few shouts and the Wabbajack. Sheogorath could've at least left me my sword. Taking other people's artifacts is rude."

"It's... Yes. Stopping him matters. It's important. It's just not personal for most people and so they don't care. It won't be your sword, but if you make it to Elinost, there are many smiths there. You could get a sword elsewhere, but ours are the best."

"Thank you. I think I'll do that. I'm upset at the loss of my sword largely because it was magical, and very useful against the undead. It was also a gift from Meridia, to me as her Champion. How much money would I need for a sword?"

"A non-magical sword you could purchase for... anywhere between ten and a hundred Swords - uh, that probably sounds confusing - silver coins. A magical sword you can maybe acquire if you have the good-will of the smith... Cestandoel is known to be generous with his creations, but doesn't talk much to strangers - it's not a good use of his time, with a war on. You could try talking to Lendwae, she's young and impatient and a little bit naive - more approachable, and she's close to Cestandoel. If she won't see you right away, talk to Rocan Ignis if he's still alive, he's an awarthad and knows both Lendwae and Cestandoel."

"I should be able to make do with a non-magical sword." She huffs. "Wish I knew how soul gems are made. I could enchant one myself, then. Wouldn't be as strong as Dawnbreaker, but it'd be something. I'll also talk to the smiths you've recommended. I suppose it's most likely I'll have to get used to fighting with the Wabbajack, though." She pauses to think. "I do have part of a shout that I almost never use, since it only works with non-magical weapons, that makes strikes faster. Won't be useful as the Wabbajack might against something powerful, but'll likely be easier to adjust to."

"Cestandoel is a smith. Lendwae is a diplomat and a singer - because she's a diplomat she'll have some time reserved for talking to people who need things - that's supposed to be just Sunlit Islanders but unless she's really busy she won't turn you away. Rocan is a - kind of lord who rules a border territory and commands armies, do you have a word for that? - so he also has time to see petitioners. He's less important than Lendwae so he might have more time available, depending on how the war is going. Either of them will also likely be able to secure an audience with Arélen, and they can direct you to where you would be most helpful."

She smiles. "Thank you for the correction. Depending on how powerful Rocan is, from your description I'd say either a March-warden or even a Jarl. I'll want to talk to either Rocan or Lendwae first, then. Rocan might be my best bet, since I'm offering essentially military aid. He lives in Elinost?"

"He has a keep near the Amonthâni border, south of Elinost. He is there sometimes, in the city at others - best to check Elinost first, there's a road between his keep and the city but not really any other roads that lead to the keep.

He also might be dead. He was in the battle where I was captured, his flank was hit hard."

She - doesn't really know what to say to that. "I'll check  Elinost then, and look for Lendwae if he's not there."

He nods, then stands up.

"We should move farther from the forest," he says in Yaisalambë, "And speak only in this tongue so you can practice, your ability to communicate with other people is more important than my curiosity about your language."

"I understand," she replies in the same, also standing. 'Communicate' and 'curiosity' are new, but she guesses at their meaning. "I can carry what's left of the deer. Should we get more wood to take with us? And 'communicate' is like speak, 'curiosity' is like questions?"

"A fire at night may draw attention. Will you get too cold without one? If so, I can go back for wood. You are right about the meanings of both words."

"I was thinking more for cooking dinner. I won't get too cold, no."

He blinks. "Right. Yes, cooking dinner. I will get some wood, and meet you by the hill where we first came out of the swamp." He turns back toward the forest.

"Okay." And she does so, though she keeps an ear out in case he runs into trouble.

He catches up to her in about an hour, unharmed and carrying a bundle of sticks.

"A couple of these might be workable into bows - not very good ones, but maybe better than nothing - with some of the sinews from the deer. I have no idea how to do that and no tools, but if your magic can do anything for it...? And if we can properly skin it and clean the hide, I could probably use a skirt."