<strong>Rold Ironwing<br/>Trygg's Inn<br/>Meeting Room</strong><br/><br/>"Hah!" Rold laughed, throwing his arms out and yet not spilling a drop from the mug clutched in his hand: the sign of a true alcoholic.  "You still look able to swing a sword.  We'll see if you can still hold down a drink afterwards!"<br/><br/>The large man walked over to the stairs, brushing chairs aside with his powerful strides.  He took the somewhat steep steps two at a time, looking back at Shadow when he reached the landing.  He stood in front of the door Blind-Eye and the young lass had went through.  His expression suddenly somber, Rold scrubbed his hands through his scraggly hair.  "I wonder about the others," he admitted quietly.  "Are we three all that's left of the Blades?  Divines, I hope the others aren't singing in Sovngarde just yet."<br/><br/>Rold turned and entered the meeting room without waiting for Shadow's response.  Perhaps he feared he had misspoken, or maybe he just didn't want to hear what Shadow had to say on the subject.<br/><br/>He opened the door without preamble.  Blind-Eye was weighing down the last corner of a scroll on a sturdy table, a map by the look of it.  The lass was there too.  The room had a solemn feel to it, as if heavy news had just been delivered.  And unless his memory had suddenly failed him, the lass bore more than a passing resemblance to Thaernd.  And that was his armor.  It looked like it'd provide as much protection as sheep's wool; that's what he had told Thaernd, decades ago.<br/><br/>Blood and bloody ashes!  Ignoring the sudden wave of memories, Rold walked over to the table and placed his mug opposite Blind-Eye's.  News about Thaernd could wait, would have to wait.  For now the steel was hot, and it would cool if left alone for too long.<br/><br/>"That's where we're going?"  Rold pointed a thick finger at the off-colored patch north of Solitude.  When Blind-Eye began to speak, Rold leaned his elbows on the table's edge, examining the blotch.  He let loose a low whistle when the lizard paused, but otherwise held his peace.<br/><br/><em>"Secretly, we are hunting a greater dragon..."</em><br/><br/>Rold slapped the table excitedly, grinning like a fool.  "Divines bless you Blind-Eye, you're a right bastard!  This is amazing!  When do we leave?"<br/><br/>