Leading sustainability firm Verdani Partners Pursues Groundbreaking Fitwel Certifications with Clarion Partners
Leading sustainability firm Verdani Partners Pursues Groundbreaking Fitwel Certifications with Clarion Partners
Six properties in New York Metro, managed by Clarion Partners and submitted by Verdani Partners, to be recognized by Fitwel as the largest-scale contribution by one company to resident health and well-being to date.
Carlsbad, CA: Verdani Partners, an industry leader in sustainability consulting and ESG management has become a Fitwel Champion, expanding on its commitment to improve building…
There are three Norns who live at the well Urd. They are Urd “past”, Verdani “present” and Skuld “future” The three Norns are the goddesses of fate. They spend most of their time spinning the threads of life, deciding the fate of every human, animal and every god. Whenever a child is born, the Norns spins the fate of the child in their threads. The three Norns will every morning start the day by placing a rooster at the top of Yggdrasil (The Tree of Life). #norsemythology #norns #Urd #Verdani #Skuld #valkyrie #asatru #pagan #viking #norse #fate #destiny #itiswhatitis #loveyourmothearth #runes
I was honored to be in this NAREIT Interview and to discuss the importance of improving efficiency of the existing building stock and our exciting project to Green Parkway's Portfolio. From NAREIT's Article: "Daniele Horton, founder and principal of Verdani Partners and head of sustainability at Parkway Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PKY), joined REIT.com for a video interview at NAREIT’s 2014 Leader in the Light Working Forum in San Francisco. Horton was asked about the main focus of Verdani, a company she formed in 2012. She replied that due to the “massive” stock of existing buildings, 75 percent of which are more than 20 years old and ready for a retrofit, “there is a tremendous opportunity in making those buildings more efficient, more sustainable, more productive and also more valuable.” Horton stressed that a goal of Verdani is to help building owners that don’t have the time or capacity to work on sustainability issues. “Our goal is just to be in the trenches and help those teams that are trying to implement improving their portfolio,” Horton said, either through corporate sustainability reporting, benchmarking for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, or certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. “We think that by providing tools and resources for them to act strategically, we can help them achieve quantum improvements into efficiency and corporate sustainability faster and more cost effectively,” Horton said. Horton also discussed the LEED volume program that she is working on with the newly merged Parkway and Thomas Properties Group, Inc. She explained that the project involves working on about 30 properties nationwide, starting with those that are already fairly efficient and located in central business districts. Horton added that work will also proceed to improve the rest of the portfolio and to develop a centralized tool for corporate sustainability that will serve as a hub to share information, resources, tools, best practices and collaboration. Looking ahead, Horton observed that there is a huge push for transparency in sustainability, with more than 30 cities now having their own disclosure requirements. “This will reward owners who are already efficient and penalize owners who are not there yet,” she said. She also emphasized the need for increased tenant engagement and technological improvements within buildings. - See more at: http://www.reit.com/Videos/Parkway-Sustainability-Chiefs-New-Venture-Specializing-in-Retrofits.aspx#sthash.GkxlxLvW.dpuf
“That axe you came in with was kind of puny,” he admitted. “Torvar and Athis won’t let you forget it, either.” He eyed the bow and arrows strapped to her back. “An elven bow.” Verdani nodded.
“You know your weapons. Yes, and I believe this one was made by elves, not just in traditional elven style by man.” As they walked through the gates of Whiterun, she pulled the bow from her back and held it up for examination. “See these grooves in the moonstone? They’re shallow and smooth, too smooth for human’s hands to do. A man making an elven bow will often carve too deep into the moonstone.” Farkas nodded; his face was impassive, but his eyes revealed that he was impressed.
“You must be a decent shot to have bought such a fine weapon,” he mused. Not wishing to call attention to her strengths just now, she shrugged half-heartedly.
“I’m all right,” she said. They approached the stables, and Farkas pulled a small map out of his bag.
“Bleak Falls Barrow is our destination, right?” he asked. Verdani nodded. “It’s just near Riverwood. We should make it there just after midday.”
“You don’t have a horse?” she asked.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Do you?” Verdani smiled and pointed ahead. Warbound, whom she’d left at the stable, was trotting up to them. He bumped into her shoulder and then regarded Farkas with large, expressive brown eyes. He proceeded to snuffle at the Companion’s armour and then nudged him as affectionately as he had Verdani. Farkas gazed up at the enormous horse and marveled at the strong muscles and long, powerful legs.
“This is the biggest horse I’ve ever seen,” he said, awed. Verdani shook her fingers through Warbound’s coarse mane and stood close to him.
“I found him in the possession of some bandits, just yesterday. He’s smart as a whip and faster than any Skyrim horse I’ve ever ridden. He’s a fine beast,” she said affectionately. “I named him Warbound. His saddle bears the Imperial symbol, though it looks as though it’s been a long while since he’s seen the proper care given military horses.” She passed his reins to Farkas. “Just one moment!”
She dashed over to the stable and approached the stable owner. She spoke with him a few moments, then went over to look at the black horses there. She patted one on the nose and then moved back to the man. She pulled a handful of coins out of her bag and gave them to him. The man dispassionately jerked his thumb at the black horse with the saddle and waved her off, returning to whatever duty she’d interrupted him from. Verdani walked back toward Farkas with a black horse in tow. She was large, but was still dwarfed by Warbound. Farkas furrowed his brow at her, unsure of why she’d just wasted good coin on a horse when they had one right here. She noticed his look and smiled.
“I’ve only rented her for a few days. I’ll ride her and you can ride Warbound,” she told him.
“Why?” he asked, still confused. Verdani rubbed the back of her neck.
“You’re a big guy, and Warbound is a big horse. He’d be able to carry you better if I weren’t riding with you.” It took a moment, but the words sounded better in her head. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it! Please don’t be angry with me. I’m no good with words, I don’t use my brain half the time before I open my big mouth and -” she stopped talking, because Farkas was smiling at her. Not the smile of a homicidal axe-man, but a genuine smile of amusement.
“I’m no good with words either,” he consoled. The little smile didn’t leave his face as he mounted Warbound. The big horse shook himself and stepped in place a few times to accommodate a rider, then shook out his head. Verdani vaulted up onto the rented horse, and they were off.
---
They made excellent timing on the road to Riverwood. It took them less than an hour to get to the little town, and then another half an hour after that to carefully pick their way up the snowy mountain to the Barrow. They snuck past a few bandits in a battered tower and climbed the icy stairs to the top of the barrow. They hadn’t even dismounted when an arrow whizzed by Farkas’ head. Three bandits were camped outside. They dismounted their horses and Farkas charged toward them with a great bellow.
Verdani plucked her war axes from her sides and met a bandit head on. They duelled for a moment, then she smashed her foot into his kneecap, breaking his leg, before delivering the final killing blow. While Farkas was busy chasing down the offending archer, another bandit attempted to creep up on Verdani. She whirled around and slammed the butt of her axe into his throat, then grabbed his head and beat it against a stone pillar. It rattled him, but wasn’t enough to knock him out because of his helmet. As he staggered away from the pillar, a steel great sword slashed across the frayed fur of his armour and sliced his chest open neatly. He fell to the ground and lay quite motionless. Farkas stepped around the pillar and lowered his sword.
“I think that’s it out here,” he said gruffly. Not a hair on his head was out of place. Verdani nodded, but didn’t put away her weapons. She looked up at the Barrow and pursed her lips.
“Ugly old tomb,” she grumbled as she stalked up the stairs. Behind her, Farkas hid a smirk. They opened the doors as silently as they could and slipped inside, shutting them against the cold. Before they could take two steps, Verdani’s hands were on Farkas’ shoulders and she was forcing him down into a crouch. She pointed ahead before he could ask what for, and he finally saw what she did: two thieves standing at the opening to the Barrow, conversing quietly over a fire.
She pulled her bow out and withdrew an arrow from the quiver. She set it and drew the string back. She closed one eye and knelt down, inhaling and holding her breath. To Farkas, it looked as though she were holding still for several moments, but she was making slight adjustments to the angle and position of her fingers. Finally she exhaled and loosed the arrow. The fine elven arrow found its mark in the back of the man’s head, and before the woman could draw her own bow, Verdani had fired again. The arrow landed in her throat and the woman fell backward, dead.
Farkas stared at her, eyes wide. “That’s a little better than ‘all right’,” he said. He pointed to the corpses. “I don’t think even Aela could shoot that well.” He cast a sidelong glance into the darkness. “Don’t tell her I said that.” Verdani looked sheepish as she rubbed the back of her neck.
“I didn’t mean to deceive you. All of my instructors told me never to reveal all of my strengths at once. They said a bit of mystery will keep people around,” she told him. They stood and moved toward the bodies.
“I don’t think you need mystery to keep people around you,” he said honestly. Verdani looked up at him sharply, but he didn’t notice as he bent down to rifle through their pockets. “But it is sound advice.” He pulled out some coins and a steel dagger. “We’ll divide the coin between us at the end of the trip. Do you want this dagger?” Verdani nodded.
“I think so. I’ll give it to Adrianne, and she can melt it down for parts.” She tucked the dagger into her boot and moved over to the woman.
“Where did you learn to shoot like that?” The question caught her slightly off guard, but only because Farkas had remained fairly silent for the majority of the day.
“I spent many, many years in Valenwood, living among the Bosmer. I had a skill, and they sharpened it,” she told him. She dumped a handful of coins into her purse and pulled the drawstring on it. “My best teacher was an ancient old elf who could hit a fly on a roof in Dawnstar,” she said proudly.
“I bet you’re better than most elves now,” he said, thumbing the arrow sticking out of the back of the man’s head. He wrenched it free with a sickening squelch and wiped it on the man’s tunic. Verdani chuckled lightly.
“Better than some, but my human vision only gets me so far,” she admitted. She winked at him and held up an amethyst that she’d found in the woman’s pocket. “Definitely better than most humans.”
---
Farkas turned the great stone wheels of the ancient Nordic puzzle door in accordance with what Verdani told him was on the Golden Claw she’d taken from the now dead thief, Arvel. Despite their age, they moved easily. She handed the big Companion the claw and he inserted it into the grooves in the door and twisted it. When he pulled the Claw back out, the door gave a great shudder and melted into the floor. He handed the claw back to her and she tucked it into her pack. They stared into the main chamber of the tomb and stood for a moment, side by side.
“Finally,” Verdani breathed.
“You know this thing is going to be guarded by another Draugr,” Farkas told her. She sighed.
“I have had just about enough of barking zombies,” she grumbled. The Companion smirked. She drew her war axes and smiled up at him, battle in her eyes. “Well, he’s not going to off himself.”
The two made their way up the slope and into the main chamber. The ceiling was tall and there was a small, underground stream flowing through it. “Wow… just, wow,” Farkas said, awed. Verdani nodded her agreement, not caring very much that Farkas didn’t see her action. They moved forward, across a rock bridge, and climbed the stairs leading up to a large onyx sarcophagus. And that was when she heard the voices for the first time.
Ancient chanting thrummed in Verdani’s head, growing louder and louder with each step she took. She stuck a finger in her ear and wriggled it, but nothing changed. Farkas seemed unbothered by the noise, or he simply didn’t hear it. Behind the sarcophagus was a large wall with strange writing on it. She stared at the wall, enthralled, and her vision blurred for a split second, and then a portion of the wall began to glow blue. She rubbed at her eyes, but when she raised them to the wall again, it was still glowing and the voices were still chanting. The Nordic woman shook her head and moved back over to Farkas, who was trying to pry the lid off of the coffin. His already large muscles bulged and he bit his lip in concentration. He finally let go with a grunt and crossed his arms.
“It’s not moving,” he said, frustrated. “What is on that wall?” He nodded to the wall. Verdani clasped her head.
“I don’t know, but it’s doing something to me,” she murmured. Farkas looked down at her in concern. “I can hear… chanting, in my head. And it gets louder when I get closer to the wall.” Farkas frowned and approached he wall. He placed his hand against it, then shook his head.
“I can’t hear anything. Maybe try touching it?” he suggested. “It feels like magic, but I don’t know anything about the Arts.” Verdani, willing to try anything to get the chanting to stop, came up next to Farkas and put her hand right on the glowing rune.
A power surged through her, unlike anything she’d felt before. Her head tipped back and her mouth fell open, and it was almost as if she could feel waves and strings and ropes of ancient, deep magic searing right through her body and flying out the other side, leaving remnants of knowledge. Very far away, he could hear Farkas shouting her name, could feel his hand gripping her arm. Even further away she could hear the grating sound as the lid of the coffin was pushed aside. She wanted to fight beside him, wanted to fight the Draugr and take the Dragonstone. She wanted to be a Companion and she wanted to deliver the Stone to Farengar. She wanted to stay in front of the stone wall and let the old power caress the very core of her being.
Just as quickly as the power came, it went, leaving her feeling very full and very empty at the same time. With a very weak and girlish sigh, she felt her knees buckle and give out beneath her. She didn’t hit stone, however; Farkas caught her and set her down gently against the wall. Verdani regained control of her muscles and lifted her head up to look at him. His jaw was clenched from the effort to keep his face calm and he was panting.
“What happened?” she mumbled. Her throat was dry and it stung a little to talk.
“When you touched the wall, something happened. The air… kind of hummed, and then that Draugr came out of his shell to say hello,” he said, his voice gruff. Verdani craned her neck around his big form and looked at the now lifeless Draugr. She groaned and lurched forward.
“I’m sorry, Farkas. I failed,” she said morosely. He held a hand out to her and helped her to her feet.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“I had some fainty girly moment with a wall and you did all the work here,” she said, waving her hand in the direction of the Draugr corpse. “I was as useless as a newborn.” Farkas shook his head firmly.
“No. I told you to touch that wall. Whatever happened to you was my fault, not yours. Besides, I had that Draugr down before he had both feet out of the coffin,” he said confidently. “But that is not important. Are you all right?” Verdani placed a hand upon her stomach and nodded.
“I think so. I’m not very sure what happened, though. That chanting was so loud, and when I touched the wall, it all stopped, and it was as if whatever was making the rune glow kind of… went through me,” she explained. She was doing her best to try and get the words out for what happened, but even she didn’t fully understand it, so she doubted it would make much sense to Farkas.
“The wall must have reacted differently to you than me. I didn’t hear or see anything unusual about it,” he said, shaking his head. Verdani frowned.
“I’m nothing special, though. I don’t know much magic aside from a few healing spells. I wonder what went on..” she mused.
“Maybe the Jarl’s wizard will have some answers for you,” Farkas suggested. Verdani sighed and put her fists on her waist.
“Let’s hope so.” Farkas told her that he had dispatched the Draugr and came immediately to her side, and so he hadn’t inspected the sarcophagus or the corpse for the Dragonstone yet. Hunching her shoulders in embarrassment, Verdani leaned over the sarcophagus and brushed aside some mottled linen wraps. She pulled out a brown stone tablet with strange writing on it and deduced that it could only be the Dragonstone that she was sent here for. She held it up victoriously to Farkas and grinned, then wrapped it in the linens again and tucked it into her pack carefully.
“Should we head back the way we came? I think I saw a few bandit chests that could hold some good coin,” Farkas said with a slight grin. There had been a mutual agreement between the two of them that they would not disturb the burial urns or take anything that the Draugr held. Despite their state of living death, they were the honored ancestors, and respect should be given them. The bandit chests, however, were fair game. Before they descended from the platform, Verdani picked up the Draugr corpse and placed it back into the sarcophagus. Farkas looked at her for a moment, wondering why she was doing this.
“I cannot leave them like this. They’re Nords and they deserve respect now that they’ve been freed from this curse,” she said staunchly. Farkas smiled, the same smile he’d worn when he mounted Warbound for the first time and moved to help her lift the Draugr back into its coffin.
As they moved back through the Barrow, they liberated the bandit chests of their contents and put the dead back into their resting places. One particular Draugr was smaller than the others, and Verdani suspected that he’d only been a very young man at the time of his first interment. Verdani lifted him carefully and very gently placed him back into his sarcophagus, whispering a prayer to Talos as she did so.
She hated these places, hated being away from the sunshine and so far underground. She hated the deep, black magic that brought these dead back from their rests and forced them to guard the place. For a moment, she wished she could go into every tomb and burial site in all of Skyrim and put her ancestors to rest for good. She smiled to herself. I dream pretty big, don’t I? she mused.
They finally made their way back to the entrance of the Barrow and both of them breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped out into the cool outside. The sun was low in the sky, preparing to set for the night and turn over the care of the world to the two moons. The sky was a fierce orange with flares of red and pink scattered behind wispy clouds. They walked down the stairs and found their horses. Warbound and the rented horse were exactly where they’d left them, standing close to one another. Warbound whickered happily and trotted over to Verdani and Farkas, bumping into them and lipping at Verdani’s hair.
“You should take Warbound and ride to Whiterun. The Jarl shouldn’t be kept waiting,” Farkas told her, handing the reins of the big brown horse to her. But Verdani shook her head, pushing the reins back toward him.
“I’m not going to leave you all by your lonesome. It won’t take us long to get back to Whiterun. You can head back to Jorrvaskr and I’ll deliver the Dragonstone to Farengar, then I’ll meet you back there,” Verdani insisted. Farkas didn’t consider himself to be very worldly, but he knew better than to argue with a woman like Verdani. So he mounted Warbound without another word. Verdani mounted the black horse easily and reined her around, guiding her carefully down the steps.
---
“I will meet you back here at Jorrvaskr. This shouldn’t take long at all.” Well she hoped it would. Farkas nodded. Before he turned to leave her, he placed a heavy hand on her shoulder.
“You fought well today. If it were up to me, you’d be a Companion,” he said sincerely. Verdani swelled with pride.
“Thank you, Farkas. That means a lot,” she said. With a nod, the big Companion jogged up the stairs to Jorrvaskr and disappeared within the mead hall. Verdani looked up at Dragonsreach and jogged up the stairs, eager to be rid of the Dragonstone.
---
“You actually got it!” Farengar exclaimed. Verdani handed the stone to him.
“You went into the Barrow and got that?” A woman in heavy armour and a partially concealed face said. “Nice work.”
“Thanks,” Verdani said. She crossed her arms. “Now what’s next?”
“That is where your job ends and mine begins,” Farengar said dismissively. “The work of the mind.” Verdani rolled her eyes slightly. “Oh yes. You’ll want to see the Jarl about a reward. He should be sitting on his Jarl’s throne.”
Verdani thanked him and exited his quarters, and approached the Jarl’s throne. He was slouching in it like usual, and she bowed down to him respectfully.
“You’ve done me a great personal service,” Balgruuf said. “And I thank you for it. To show my gratitude, I’ve instructed my steward that you are now permitted to purchase property within the city.”
“Thank you, my Jarl. Is there anything else you require of me?”
“Not at the moment. However, there is still the threat of a dragon attack. If you would remain in the city, I’d be grateful. You have the most experience with dragons and we could benefit greatly from your aide,” he told her. Verdani nodded.
“I will remain within the city, my Jarl. Call upon me should the need arise,” she said.
Jarl Balgruuf turned his attention back to Proventus Avenicci and made it clear in doing so that Verdani was dismissed. She left Dragonsreach and meandered down the stairs into the Gildergreen court, relieved that the burden of the Dragonstone was no longer hers to bear. She glanced up at Jorrvaskr and noticed Vilkas standing at the top of the stairs. He beckoned to her, and she took the stairs two at a time to reach him.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” he said. Verdani furrowed her brow.
“Why?” Vilkas smirked, but without malice.
“You’ll see,” he said, almost gently. “Come on.” He turned on his heel and walked around to the side of the building. She followed him and saw the members of The Circle: Kodlak Whiteman, Skjor, Aela, and Farkas. Vilkas took his place beside his brother, and Verdani walked up near them, suddenly feeling very meek in the presence of such strong and influential people.
“Brothers and sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This woman has endured, has challenged, and has shown her valour. Who will speak for her?” Kodlak began. Farkas did not move, but his deep voice boomed out.
“I stand witness to the courage of the soul before us,” he said. Kodlak turned to him.
“Would you raise your shield in her defense?”
“I would stand at her back, that the world might never overtake us,” he declared. Verdani raised her eyes to look at Farkas - he claimed that he had no talent with words, but that sounded fairly deep to her. She wondered very briefly if it was what he was supposed to say, as part of some sort of commencement ritual.
“And would you raise your sword in her honour?”
“It stands ready to meet the blood of her foes,” Farkas said, his voice slightly louder this time. Verdani sensed a restlessness within the Companions, almost as if they were eager to charge into battle with her at their sides.
“And would you raise a mug in her name?” Kodlak asked, a small smile on his face.
“I would lead the song of triumph as our mead all reveled in her stories!” the big Companion said loudly. Kodlak nodded.
“Then the judgement of this Circle is complete. Her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, that the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call,” the Harbinger said, raising his arms to the Circle.
“It shall be so!” the Circle chimed together.
---
“To the newest Companion!” Torvar shouted, holding his tankard high. He was answered with a chorus of “Here here!” from all but Njada and Skjor. Skjor seemed a bit reserved about her admittance to the Companions, and it was clear that Njada simply didn’t like her. But the others welcomed her warmly; even Vilkas had a difficult time keeping the scowl on his face.
“My brother told me how you honored the dead in the Barrow,” he’d said to her right after her ceremony. “He was quite insistent that you were to be allowed into our ranks.” Verdani flushed with pride.
“I only did what I thought was right. At that point, I was still a but flustered from that whole deal with the wall that I wasn’t even thinking about the Trial. I just felt like it had to be done,” she told him truthfully.
“Well it impressed him. It impressed all of us. Except maybe Njada,” he said with a slight smirk. “But she’ll come around.” A small feast was held in the mead hall that night, and a great bit of drinking ensued. Verdani drank Athis right under the table in the first hour and lost an arm wrestling match with Torvar, though she beat Aela. Farkas strummed on a lute he’d brought up from his room and Vilkas sang along with his brother. The festivities lasted well past midnight, and the occupants of Jorrvaskr eventually went to bed with full bellies and swimming vision.
Except Verdani. She eventually found herself up by the Skyforge, sitting on the cool rock and looking out over Jorrvaskr and Whiterun. It was a clear, calm night, not a cloud in the sky and no breeze to speak of. She stretched her legs out and leaned back to lie down on the rock. When her head was resting on the ground and she opened her eyes, she saw Farkas standing over her. She smiled up at him.
“’lo, Farkas!” she greeted.
“Hail, Companion,” he said. Verdani felt a warmth in her body that she hadn’t felt since she’d left Valenwood - the warmth of belonging to something, and being welcomed by Brothers and Sisters.
“You all know how to throw a party,” she told him. He crossed his arms and looked out at Jorrvaskr, smirking.
“That’s just a little feast. Wait till we throw a proper one,” he said. Verdani sat up, her head spinning a little.
“Me, a Companion,” she mused, more to herself than to Farkas. But the big warrior heard her.
“You will do well with us, Verdani. You are honorable and you fight with the strength and fire of ten men I know. The Companions are proud to have you among our ranks,” he said. The Nord flushed with pleasure.
“I will do my best to bring honour and glory to the Companions,” she swore.
“You already have,” he said. He was doing it again - being brutally honest and catching Verdani off guard. He started to walk away from her, but turned and paused. “You come see Vilkas or me when you’re ready for some work,” he told her.
“See you in the morning!” she said brightly, eager to get to work in her new life as a Companion. She could hardly wait - she was born for battle, and this was the best place she could be. Her homesickness for Valenwood was fading by the hour, and was nearly gone by the time she fell into a bed in the living quarters of the ancient mead all.
She woke up earlier than she’d wanted to the next morning, and grumped and grumbled, willing herself to get back to sleep. Sleep avoided her like the plague, however, and so she decided to rise from her bed at the inn. She stared in the mirror at her reflection. She wasn’t vain by any account, but she liked to know that she at least looked nice when she went out. She combed out her long red hair and tied it back in a braid. There were, fortunately, no circles under her eyes, which was indicative of a proper night’s sleep. She cracked just about every joint and bone in her body and stretched, then set about to scraping the blood off the old leather armour. She made a point to get some new gear after she came back from the Barrow.
She decided that before she left Whiterun, however, she was going to go and pay a visit to Jorrvaskr, and see about joining the companions. She had a feeling that shit was about to hit the windmill, and it would be a good idea to make some powerful friends that would have her back.
As she wandered up the steps to the Gildergreen court, which was more of a Gilderbrown, currently, she found her mouth going dry. She scowled to herself. Nervous? Her? She was a capable warrior and she could hold her own in battle, but to join an order of warriors where fighting was their life? They made their living on fighting.
Verdani shook her head then. “Enough!” she scolded herself. She was a fierce warrior, a Nordic woman among Nordic women, and she could pass any test given to her. She straightened her shoulders and opened the door to the great mead hall.
She was greeted by raucous shouting and the sounds of fists connecting with flesh and armour. She wandered over to see a Dunmer locked in a brawl with a Nord. She started at first, then realized that the other Companions were cheering them on. A friendly brawl, then. She smiled to herself, already feeling very much at home. She approached an elderly woman in a yellow dress and politely asked if she knew where a man named Kodlak Whitemane resided. The old woman smiled kindly at her and directed her down the stairs, and told her to turn right and go straight. “Good luck,” she said.
Verdani thanked her and made for the lower level of Jorrvaskr. She blessed her sense of direction, for she found Kodlak’s quarters quickly and without issue.
“But I still hear the call of the blood…” a voice trailed off. The two men seated at the table looked up at her as she entered the room. She stopped and made to back out of the room, afraid she’d interrupted their conversation. The older man sported a white beard and a thick mane of white hair, but he waved her into the room.
“Come, child. What can this old man do for you today?” he asked. He was kind, but his voice held a tone of authority. Verdani swallowed her pride and the urge to fight any authoritative figure and smiled.
“I wish to join the Companions,” she said, gently but with conviction.
“Do you now? Let me have a look at you.” The old man’s eyes roved her body, then came to stare in her eyes. She found that she couldn’t look away even if she had to. “Yes, perhaps. A certain strength of spirit, I sense in you.”
“Spirit only goes so far,” the other, younger man said. Verdani glanced over at him. He looked exactly like the large warrior from yesterday, Farkas, only slighter. He frowned, “What about her arm?” He spoke disdainfully. Kodlak chuckled.
“Yes, that’s important too. Well, girl? How are you in battle?” he asked. Verdani shifted her weight and considered her words carefully. Her first instinct was to grin proudly and proclaim that she was the best archer in Tamriel, but she had a feeling that cockiness, even insincere, wasn’t what he was expecting to hear. It was a rare thing for her to do, but she carefully considered her words before she spoke.
“I fight well, but I still have much to learn,” she said slowly. She saw Kodlak smile beneath his beard, and he nodded approvingly.
“Vilkas, why don’t you take her out into the yard and see what she’s made of?” he suggested. Vilkas frowned, but nodded and said, “Aye.” The Companion stood and swept his eyes over her, no doubt sizing her up. Verdani was on the taller side, even for a Nord woman, but Vilkas still stood taller than she. Not by much, but she had to raise her eyes slightly to meet his gaze. She found herself straightening up and squaring her shoulders under his scrutinizing eyes.
Verdani followed him out of Jorrvaskr and into the yard. There were a few training dummies against the wall and a shielded patio with worn tables and chairs on it. He led her over to the wall near one of the dummies and faced her. The dark elf from the brawl before (who was sporting a split lip) and the Imperial woman from the giant fight were sitting on the ground a few yards away, chatting amiably. They paused their conversation when they saw Vilkas walk out with an unfamiliar face. Ria, the Imperial, seemed to recall Verdani from the previous day, for she waved cheerily at her. Verdani raised her hand in return and offered a small smile.
“The old man said to have a look at you, so let’s do this.” Vilkas drew his sword and settled down into a sparring stance. “Just have a few swings at me so I can see your form. Don’t worry, I can take it.” Verdani paused, debating on whether or not she should go for her bow or the war axe, and decided that the war axe would be the safest bet. Besides, if there was one thing she’d learned, it was never let anyone know your best strength right off the tip of the dagger. So she pulled Rabbit Slayer from her belt loop and balanced lightly on the balls of her feet. She saw his silvery eyes drift down to the bruised little war axe in her hand and he saw his lips quirk up in the slightest of smirks. Frowning, she leapt at him.
He blocked with his sword, and sparks flew from the weapons. Verdani ducked, slammed her foot into his gut and while he doubled over, she spun around quickly on her other foot, using her momentum to carry her around to his back and she landed a blow to his armour. He staggered forward with a grunt and countered by swinging his sword around, nearly knocking the war axe from her hand. He swung at her again, and she lifted her arm to block the blow - his blade bit into her leather arm-guard, sending a bolt of pain up her arm. Ignoring it, she brought Rabbit Slayer down and landed a blow to his ribcage.
He didn’t retaliate - he merely danced backward and lowered his sword. “Enough. You’re not so bad,” he admitting, somewhat grudgingly. “Next time won’t be so easy.” Verdani shoved her axe back into her belt loop and nodded. “You might just make it. But for now, you’re still a whelp to us, new blood. So you do what we tell you.” Verdani bit back a somewhat snarky reply; this man was currently stepping very firmly on her happy attitude. He walked over and picked up a beaten looking sword that had been leaning against the wall, previously unnoticed. “Here’s my sword. Go take it up to Eorlund to have it sharpened. And be careful, it’s probably worth more than you are.” Frowning only slightly, she took the sword from him and glanced up toward the Skyforge.
--
Verdani had a nice conversation with Eorlund. After he told her to not be a pack mule, he sent her on an errand. Deliver a shield to Aela. She didn’t mind this so much - she’d been looking forward to getting a chance to be able to talk to the one who’d prodded her in this direction. She carried the shield down into the living quarters of Jorrvaskr and poked her head into every room, searching for the fierce Nordic woman. She found her after a few minutes, standing in a private room and talking to a tall man with a receding hairline and a horsetail.
“Ah, I remember you. From yesterday, at the farm. Good to see you’ve made it up here,” she greeted.
“You know this one? I saw her in the yard, training with Vilkas,” the man said.
“I do, Skjor.” She cast a sidelong glance at Verdani. “I heard you gave him quite the thrashing.” Skjor snorted.
“Don’t let Vilkas catch you saying that,” he warned jokingly. Aela gave him a look that very clearly said she welcomed any challenge the younger Nord could throw at her. She turned to Verdani with a smirk. “Do you think you could handle Vilkas in a real fight?” Verdani glanced down at her war axe and rested her hand on it. She looked back up at Aela with a slight smile on her face.
“I don’t care much for boasting,” she said, her tone subdued. Aela’s smirked widened.
“Ah, a woman who lets her actions speak for her. I knew there was something I liked about you.” Verdani felt herself swell with pride, just a little. “Here, let’s have Farkas show you where you’ll be resting your head.”
“Farkas!” Skjor barked, without malice. Half a moment later, Farkas showed up in the doorway. He was even larger than she remembered, though maybe it had something to do with the low hanging ceiling of Jorrvaskr.
“Did you call me?” he asked.
“Of course we did, ice brain,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep.” The big warrior furrowed his brow for a moment.
“New blood? Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me.” He waved her out of the room. Verdani nodded at Skjor and Aela and followed Farkas out. She fell into stride next to Farkas; if she thought Vilkas was tall, Farkas dwarfed her. He stood at least an entire head taller than she did, and she was no tidbit.
“Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they’re good people,” he said conversationally.
“They seem like it,” Verdani said.
“It’s nice to have a new face around. It gets boring here sometimes.”
“I suppose that’s when you all take to fighting in the dining area?” she asked with a smile. Farkas snorted.
“Something like that. I hope we keep you. This can be a rough life,” he said. Verdani rested her hand back onto the little war axe at her side.
“It’ll take more than what Skyrim can dish out to make me tuck my tail between my legs,” she said confidently. Farkas smirked down at her.
“That’s what we like to hear,” he said. “The quarters are up here. Just pick a bed and fall in it when you’re tired.” They arrived at the quarters and Farkas glanced in. “Tilma will keep the place clean; she always has,” he finished affectionately. He looked back at her. “All right, so here you are. The others are all eager to meet you, I’m sure. Welcome to the Companions.” Verdani put her hands on her hips and grinned up at him.
“Thanks! Now, before I do anything, I must speak with Kodlak. I’ve been assigned a task by the Jarl and I need to speak with him about it,” she said.
“He should still be in his quarters. Let’s go,” he said, offering to accompany her. She didn’t deny him - it would be good to have a somewhat familiar face nearby when she was about to tell their Harbinger that she couldn’t begin work for them immediately.
They found Kodlak seated at his desk, writing in a worn journal. He stood as they entered; Verdani didn’t know if she should bow to him or not, so she just stood there, slightly awkward.
“Harbinger, I must speak with you about something,” she said.
“Come, child. What clouds your mind?” the old man asked.
“The Jarl of Whiterun has tasked me with retrieving a Dragonstone from Bleak Falls Barrow, and wishes that I leave the city immediately,” she told him, trying not to sound pompous. Kodlak stroked his full white beard.
“Well, a job from the Jarl is not to be ignored.” He furrowed his brow in thought, then looked at her with a slight smile. “I’ve an idea. It is a bit unconventional, but the Jarl’s orders cannot be ignored.” He turned his gaze to Farkas, who straightened up under the Harbinger’s watchful eye. “Farkas, I wish for you to accompany her on her journey to Bleak Falls Barrow. This will be her Trial.”
“Yes, Harbinger,” the big warrior responded with a slight nod of his head. Kodlak turned his gaze back to Verdani.
“Farkas will be your Shield-Brother on your quest. Look after his back, and he will see to yours. Return victorious, and may Ysmir go with you,” he said.
---
Verdani waited patiently in the main hall of Jorrvaskr. Farkas had told her that he needed to prepare a few things in his room, and that he would meet her shortly. The other Companions were busy with their own things and didn’t spare her much more than a ‘hello’. She didn’t mind. She was more than content to sit and contemplate Things. Like how she was so close to joining the Companions, how the Jarl had tasked to finding this Dragonstone that may or may not exist, how she had to not get her Shield-Brother killed in the Barrow. She lifted her iron war axe in her hand and examined it, thumbing the blade.
“This will not do,” she muttered to herself. She pushed herself up from the table and meandered down to Farkas’ room. She knocked on the doorframe and only poked her head in when she heard his grunt of consent. The big man was currently packing a small whetstone into a bag. “I’m going to nip down to that blacksmith’s I saw at the entrance to the city and pick up a new war axe,” she said. She held hers up lamely. “This won’t do much good to save your skin or mine.” Farkas nodded.
“I will meet you down there. I shouldn’t be much longer here,” he said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Verdani said cheerfully. She spun on her heel and bounced up the stairs and out of Jorrvaskr. She walked through the Gildergreen court, looking up at the dead-looking tree in the center of it. People and guards milled about their business as she walked through the market circle, merchants shouting the validity of their wares through the streets. She saw the smoke from the forge down by the city gates and picked up her pace. She gave her purse a squeeze. Yes, she thought she had enough for fresh weapons.
A strong looking Imperial woman stood leaning against a wooden beam and looked up at Verdani as she approached. “Welcome to Warmaiden’s,” she said. Verdani smiled at her.
“I’m looking to buy a few new weapons, and maybe some better armour,” the Nord said, plucking at her leather jerkin pitifully. The woman smirked.
“Adrianne Avenicci is the name, and you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got everything you need,” she said proudly. Verdani pulled out her war axe and bow and grinned sheepishly.
“Good, because I think I need all the help I can get,” she said. Adrianne’s eyes widened.
“I should say you do. Let’s get you properly equipped,” she said, nudging aside the beaten weapons with her foot.
Adrianne was a master of her craft, and soon had Verdani decked out in proper armour. She was polite, however, and asked the Nord questions about her preference and taste. Verdani mentioned to her that she preferred light armour that wouldn’t hinder her movement, and small, fast weapons and a bow. Once these bits of Verdani had been identified to her, Adrianne blossomed. She took the Nord into the store and pulled her into the back, past her grinning husband, to rummage through trunks and chests of weapons and armour.
“Here, try this,” the Imperial said. “A client backed out and left me with it a year or so ago, but it looks like it would fit you.” Adrianne politely turned her back to allow Verdani to change into the finely crafted leather cuirass. The leather was soft and flexible, allowing for easy movement, but was thick and of high quality. It tied in the front, able to be adjusted for her comfort. The neckline plunged a little more than what she would have picked out, but not many bandits were out to slice off her breasts, so she figured she was safe. Adrianne nodded her approval, then dove into a different chest. “Do you prefer skirts or trousers?”
“Trousers,” Verdani answered. “It is difficult to kick a skull in a skirt.” Adrianne laughed aloud.
“You and I are going to get along well,” she mused. She pulled out a pair of trousers and handed them to the Nord. They were thick, like the top, but muffled her movement well. She tied the string on the side and cinched it to a perfect fit. The Imperial blacksmith nodded her hearty approval and clunked a pair of leather boots down in front of her. She then offered the Nord a pair of leather fingerless gauntlets. The boots were soft leather but had a hard sole and steel in the toe. “For kicking skulls,” she added with a wink.
Verdani twisted and admired herself as best as she could. She smiled broadly, pleased with the way she looked and pleased with the quality of the armour. Before she could thank the blacksmith for the armour, she was being dragged back out into the main room of the shop.
“You said you preferred war axes and bows?” Adrianne asked, her hand on her chin. She was gazing up at the wall that was decorated with a plethora of war hammers, swords, maces, battleaxes, daggers and bows.
“Uh, yes,” Verdani answered, awestruck by the weapons display.
“And can you dual wield?” Verdani smirked.
“Yes.”
With a satisfied ‘hrmph’, Adrianne plucked two fine steel war axes from the wall and held them out to her. “They’re sharp enough to split hair and strong enough to rend bone.” Verdani took them, her eyes wide with joy.
“Adrianne, what do you think she’s doing to be doing?” her husband asked with a smile.
“Well I am sure I don’t know. She comes in here needing weapons, she’s going to get the finest,” Adrianne said proudly, putting her fists on her hips. Verdani took a few steps back and gave the axes a few experimental swings. She sliced at invisible enemies expertly, spinning on her heel and swooping low to knock their invisible knees out from under their invisible rear ends. She righted herself and beamed at the blacksmith.
“These are magnificent,” she said. “A blacksmith of your skill must be unmatched.” Adrianne flushed slightly at the compliment, but shook her head.
“I don’t claim to be the best Blacksmith in Whiterun - Eorlund Gray-mane has that honour. All I ask for is a chance,” she said humbly. Verdani fished her purse out of her bag and handed it to Adrianne. It was bulging, carrying over two thousand coins. The bandits had been well worth their heads.
“You have my business,” the Nord said. Adrianne’s eyes widened and she smiled at her. She then turned and picked a bow off of a weapon rack, and it did not come with a price tag, from the way the blacksmith handled it. It was a magnificent burnished moonstone elven bow that looked like it had been built for war but never been used. She handed it to Verdani, along with a quiver of matching arrows that had been resting on the floor.
“You mentioned you’d spent much time in Valenwood. Perhaps this will bring back fond memories,” she said. Verdani gaped at her, took the bow with numb hands. It was a fine weapon, and indeed it did remind her of the bow she’d left in Valenwood. It reminded her of much she left in Valenwood. Her body’s first instinct was to throw her arms around Adrianne and thank her profusely, but her brain told her that it probably wasn’t the best idea.
“I… I don’t know what to say, other than thank you,” the Nord said. She clutched the bow gratefully, reveling in feel of the smooth moonstone beneath her hands. Adrianne waved her hand dismissively.
“That’s all that needs to be said. Don’t get wishy-washy on me. Just put it all to good use,” she said. Verdani nodded fervently.
“I will. May the Divines bless you,” she said with a bow. She left the shop with her new weapons and armour in their proper places, and she waited for Farkas outside by the grindstone. Only a moment or so later, she caught sight of the big Companion walking down the cobbled street of Whiterun. His silvery eyes passed over her, but he didn’t recognize her. It was only when she jogged up to him that he looked at her, his eyebrows raised slightly.
“I didn’t see you there. Where did you get that gear?” he asked. Verdani jerked her thumb at Warmaiden’s.
“Adrianne Avenicci, the woman who runs the store, outfitted me pretty well, wouldn’t you say?” she asked, patting her sides. She let her hands come down to rest on her war axes and she smiled up at Farkas. “It feels good to have proper weapons again.” Farkas offered her a small smile.
It's all a bunch of puffed up nonsense, if you ask me. I tend to lean toward siding with the Stormcloaks, though I don't agree with their racism. The Thalmor need to stop pushing their way of life on everyone if all they do is look down their long, attractive noses at us all. Ulfric could have gone about liberating Skyrim in a much less violent fashion. The Empire could have grown a backbone.
Hindsight is far clearer, I suppose. I'm constantly being petitioned by both sides to join either one. They're always sending me fruit baskets. I've even gotten a male slave sent to me by Tullius, once. -she sighs- I'm sure I'll have to pick a side eventually, but I would really rather not.
