Like a Moth to a Flame

So far, no luck with our search. It has been quite a few days since we left Fort Dawnguard, and every single coachman or innkeeper we've asked know nothing of a Moth Priest. It seems like Moth Priests are very good at hiding themselves from plain sight. That, or they might not have even passed through Skyrim, and we'll have no one to decode the Scroll for us.

Recently, I have been talking to Lady Serana about Kiya. I have had no experiences with feelings of attraction for women. Kiya and I have come a long way that my heart now desires to be with her always. She does not know this, for I have not told her yet. I fear if I did, it might ruin our friendship and our effectiveness in combat. Serana certainly knows a lot about women and courting, having lived for hundreds of years now. She will be of great help to me these next several days.

We finally chanced upon a coachman in Riften who knows something about a Moth Priest. After much persuasion, he told us the priest wanted a ride to Dragon Bridge, but the coachman declined because it was not one of his stops. We thanked the coachman and traveled there by foot directly. Along the way, I noticed that Kiya was keeping to herself. I wondered what she was thinking of, and continued to talk to Serana about her.

So I'm guessing you won't take us there, too?

We reached the town of Dragon Bridge by morning, and we immediately asked some guards if they've seen something. If there's anyone who would have seen anything, it must be the guards. One of them told us that the Moth Priest traveled through the town and across the Bridge itself with an escort of soldiers, and that it was the last they saw of him. We sprinted through town to reach the bridge, hoping to get there in time.

Are Moth Priests that different from the other Priests?

...We did not. We found his escort of soldiers at the end of the bridge, their coach overturned, all of them dead. I am no Imperial, but this sight horrified me. These vampires are becoming more and more bold with their moves, killing not to eat this time. I wondered what all this killing accomplished for their cause, for we have the Scroll, and they will have no use for the Priest if they do not have it.

They even killed the horse! It can't even talk!

Fortunately (or not at all), we found a vampire among the dead, with a letter of orders from one named Malkus. Their hideout wasn't far from the bridge. Perfect. We still have a chance to save the Priest.

I thank you Malkus, for the lead you gave us.

We arrived at this Malkus's hideout, and it seems like they are still here. I told both Kiya and Serana that I will distract the other vampires while they go ahead and take care of Malkus upstairs. This is what makes Kiya and me deadly in combat: she shoots arrows from the shadows, killing those unaware of her. And since all of them are distracted by my head-on assault, she could make it easy for the both of us to take care of our enemies quite swiftly. It sounded crazy when I told Serana that it was one of the things that makes me fond of Kiya.

I better not distract her...

I arrived at the top of the hideout with Malkus dead. Serana told me he put up quite a fight, but succumbed to Kiya's poisoned arrows. Picking on the weak while being weak yourself, Malkus? Such a pity. I thought I'd arrive in time to take your head off alive.

I hope you stay dead.

In all the commotion, we did not notice that the Moth Priest was trapped in some kind of magical force field. I searched Malkus's body for something that might release the Priest, and I found a glowing stone emanating magic. This might be the one that activates the pedestal near the barrier. I hurriedly ran up and pushed the stone down. Lo and behold, it released the Priest. However, he did not look well.

I wonder if my hand gets pierced again this time around?

It was then he started attacking Serana. Is this Moth Priest on our enemies' side all along? I wondered. I had to defend her from the Priest. So I did. He was one swift one-handed swing from being decapitated when he told us he submits, that he was not the one we were fighting. He seemed to regain his consciousness (and fortunately at the right moment too, for we would have been one Moth Priest less than what we wanted). 

That ice spike's not melting, for some reason.

Kiya talked to the Moth Priest, explaining our need for him to read the Elder Scroll. She sounded cold and frank. She stared directly at him, not even returning Serana's and my glances. I again wondered what she was thinking of. I exchanged glances with Serana, who seemed to understand Kiya's odd behavior but had no chance to tell me yet. I needed to know. My musings were abruptly stopped when the Moth Priest told us he will just meet us at Fort Dawnguard. I would have told him we were ready to escort him there if he needed it, but Kiya was quick to agree with what he said. She told him to "go now, lest we may be in the company of more than one unwelcome visitor" as she stared coldly, directly at Serana. Something is up, and I need to know before we make any moves, as this might compromise our mission.

Came back to his senses when he saw pretty women. What a Priest he is.