Authors note:

This is part two of my Longfic trilogy Bloodtide Rising and the prologue to my (WIP) Skyrim Series Sos do Dov. After discussions with some of my (tiny) readership I have come to the decision of not uploading this into the crossovers section.

My reasons for doing so are fairly simple. The universe of Bloodtide Rising is almost purely Elder Scrolls except where I have taken elements, themes and beings from the Forgotten Realms (specifically the Underdark) and incorporated them into Tamriel. The way I have done so is, for the most part expanding upon Blackreach and the underground in a gigantic way while ensuring that the natural laws of TES, ie magicka, gods, daedra and races are upheld first and foremost. I'm not going to provide an explanation here, as the "spoilers" how the Underdark and it's denizens such as the Drow exist are explained throughout this series and partially in Sos do Dov. (Which I will also start posting on FFnet sometime in Nov 2018.)

In addition, other than Viconia's backstory and elements that are plot points in Sos do Dov the existence of the Underdark doesn't have a major effect on the overall plot and story of Bloodtide Rising which encompasses the Main and Knights of the Nine questlines from Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivion. Overall though, this series is primarily Elder Scrolls in theme and design and sits in the uncomfortable space between "Fusion" and "Cross-Over". If anyone has ideas or thoughts or issues with any of this or my worldbuilding I'd love to discuss them.

Also please note that my works are mature in nature, containing blood, graphical violence, vampiric themes in line with Bram Stoker & Anne Rice among others (blood drinking, human sacrifice etc), non-graphical non-con elements and the odd smattering of explicit language and varied adult themes.

As I can't link the first part, please check it out (and the eventual other fics I'll upload on my Account Page. Otherwise feel free to track me down on Archive of Our Own where all of my fics currently reside. (Until I catch up at least)

Otherwise I hope that anyone who reads this enjoys it, and feel free to tell me what you think in the comments/reviews. :-)

~Tyranidlord

Sir Desin, and Madame DeVir; even days after receiving our Knighthoods our new titles felt strange and unusual, like new boots or an ill-fitting breastplate. We were no longer just simple adventurers or mercenaries now, we had been elevated in the social circles of the Empire and received with it all of the benefits and disadvantages. Where our fame was increasing with every day, now we would be known for more than just our feats of combat and killing. We were Knights, members of a surprisingly small number of individuals throughout the Empire and in a lot of way were could now be considered members of the nobility.

There had been the usual feasting and celebrations in the hours after the ceremony. The Count, Countess and all of the assorted bluebloods of Leyawiin County all toasting us and revelling in the event. Viconia and I took the praise and the attention as best we could, both of us feeling out of place and suffocated by the press of the powerful and wealthy. The feast itself lasted until the early hours of that evening, alcohol flowing freely and despite our best efforts when Viconia and I managed to pry ourselves away from the nobility we were somewhat inebriated. For the most part we had been the centres of attention, constantly being called upon to regal tales of our adventures and deeds and it wasn't long before Viconia and I had gravitated closer together. Not as a result of our companionship and affections for one another, but to attempt to stave off the attentions of several of the unwed bachelors and bachelorettes that were mixed through ranks of the nobility. Receiving Knighthoods had ensured that not only did we have to contend with the reactions of our increased fame and titles, but we were now eligible ourselves for marriage into noble houses.

By the time we managed to extricate ourselves from the festivities and return to the Fighters Guild we found ourselves centre of yet another series of celebrations. The guildsmen, like most of the city had heard of the Knighthoods and with not much else to do with the house arrest they had thrown themselves into drinking and feasting themselves until several were sprawled out over tables and the floors before midnight even arrived. As for Viconia and I we retired to our room as soon as the opportunity presented itself, crawling into the bed and falling asleep in each other's arms within minutes.

The house arrest of the Guild and the Blackwood Company ended the next day by the Count's decree. Our elevation to Knights meant that we were no longer just members of the guild and it wouldn't have been just if the Count left the rest of the Guild locked up for our actions. It would be the last day within the guild however, as a handful of Men-at-Arms from the Order of the White Stallion arrived shortly before mid-day to escort us to the Stallion Lodge. We were yet to be fully inducted into the Order, and so we bid our farewells to the Guild, packing our equipment and leaving the Chapterhouse. Before we left we received several more congratulatory slaps across our shoulders, a few inebriated embraces from some of the more drunk members of the guild and a firm handshake from Brodas as I handed him a bottle that I had managed to acquire from the castle. His eyes lit up when he saw the vintage and knowing that it was a far superior bottle worth hundreds of septims he seemed somewhat embarrassed at the way I had managed to settle our debt from the archery competition. Not that it stopped him from popping the cork and taking a mouthful from the bottle with the utmost satisfaction.

Leaving the city, and walking to the home of the Order of the White Stallion we were once again struck dumb at the sight of such a place. Built like the spawn of a castle and a cathedral the central structure was enormous, eight stories tall and covering an area several hundred square metres it had been built on reclaimed marshland and firmly planted into the stone bedrock. What had taken years for a horde of masons and builders to fully construct it was everything the Knightly Order would need to live, train and fight against the enemies of the Empire. Its authority was carved into the region by the eight-metre-tall crenulated walls surrounding it and overall the grounds of the lodge covered over forty acres without a centimetre of space being wasted. Training yards, jousting lists, smithies, farriers, corrals and stables filled the interior of the walls, and as we entered the gates I was struck by how clean and professional everything appeared. The Order may have been founded as a hobby by the Count, but those who wore the white stallion heraldry took their roles and oaths seriously. Even in my time in the Legion I would have been hard pressed to think of a group of soldiers who were more dedicated and professional than the Knights of the White Stallion.

Sir Gailer Ramauld made his way down the short steps leading into the lodge and the enormous double doors, opening his arms in greeting. No longer wearing the enormous metal plate armour that he had the day previous he was now dressed in little more than a simple surcoat of the purest white silk, emblazoned with the rearing stallion and crossed swords of the Order and leaving his arms bare. The more traditional clothing and attires for Knightly Orders may have been suitable for far away Highrock, but in the deep south of Cyrodiil heat could kill even more surely than a blade.

"Sir Desin, Madame DeVir." He rumbled, smiling and nodding his head towards us. "Welcome to the Stallion Lodge."

"Thank you Sir." I replied, seeing out of the corner of my eye the way that Viconia nodded to him briefly as well while looking around at the sight before us.

With quick gestures and a handful of words he mentioned a handful of squires to step forward, the teenagers gathering up the handful of our belongings and quickly disappearing into the enormous stone construction before us.

"Consider this to be your home as much as it is for the rest of us." there was a smile on his face as he looked over the two of us while gesturing around us. "It has come a long way since the tiny two-bedroom shack in a rice paddy when I was knighted."

"That it has." Viconia laughed, her eyes alight with awe and a smile on her face.

Sir Ramauld turned and motioned for the trio of individuals following him to step forward, looking between them and ourselves. "May I present my Knight-Captains; Madame Sininia B'ivin, Sir Alexi Vanevius and Sir Bun-Ze Niseus."

Each bowed briefly to us as Sir Ramauld said their names and we respectively returned them. Each were extremely capable fighters and I glanced over the three of them carefully. Madame B'ivin hailed from the depths of Hammerfell, her Yokundian heritage evident in a skin almost as coal black as Viconia's, and Sir Niseus was a heavily muscled Argonian who looked strong enough to wrestle a horse to the ground. Sir Vanevius however was an Imperial, a grin seemingly permanently engrained into his face and hair a fiery red. At the first glance and unlike the other two he didn't seem to be as heavily muscled or appearing as though someone used to wearing dozens of kilograms of armour but there was no denying the energy that filled his body or the way he held himself.

"These three are the highest ranking Knights in the Order and each command one of the three Lances. You will be members' of Alexi's Lance," the red headed Imperial's smile grew even larger. "and he will be responsible for inducting you into the order."

"Thank you Sir." Sir Vanevius looked highly amused, almost at the detriment of the other two Knight Commanders. There was no mistaking the way that he handled himself or moved with all the grace of a dancer as he stepped forward.

As Sir Ramauld turned and made his apologises for not being able to stay for long, Sir Vanevius looked over us both with an appraising eye and clapped his hands together. "Excellent. I was hoping to get you two under my command."

"Not just for the wager money then?" Sir Niseus hissed with amusement.

Sir Vanevius gave a short bark of laughter. "Don't worry Bun-Ze, I won't forget the septims you owe me. But here's hoping that these two won't need too much training."

"Training Sir?" Viconia asked simply.

"Yes. Training." The smile was as disarming as a sword and I couldn't help but wonder how many broken hearts had been left throughout the lands by this Knight standing before us. "We can't be giving away horses and equipment to someone who isn't going to be able to look after them. And for the first bit of training, you can both just call me Alexi."

"Bun-Ze." Added the Argonian.

"Sininia." Growled the Redguard Knight Captain with a grim smile.

Stopping the question with a raised hand Alexi looked at me. "Outside of these walls you can worry about saying all the Sir's and Madame's until your heart bursts as that is expected. But here within the lodge we can relax and be at ease. Especially around each other."

I knew that I was going to like Alexi, but the sliver of recognition of his name suddenly came to me and I felt myself gape openly. "Wait… You're the Alexi Vanevius…"

"Great. Another one." Muttered Bun-Ze with obvious amusement.

Another smile erupted from Alexi's face and he nodded. "Unless there's another running around here then I guess I am." Quickly and in one smooth motion he bowed theatrically before rising to his full height again. "I feel all warm and fuzzy that a Hero of Kvatch knows my name."

"It's hard not to know of the greatest swordsman in Cyrodiil."

"Oh, I wouldn't know about that." He said simply. "Alix Lencolia is apparently somewhere between Chorrol and Skingrad."

"Yeah, but didn't you beat him in a tournament a year or two ago?"

His eyes twinkled. "Maybe… Maybe not…"

I couldn't help but grin at the swordsman. Belisarius had told me stories of a few individuals scattered throughout the Empire who he believed to be his equal with a sword. Some were scattered about the provinces and Belisarius had managed to fight a handful of them but the one man that he believed to be his better was standing before me. Within a second I had decided that before Viconia and I left we would have to test ourselves against this red headed Knight Captain.

Only a few years older than me at the most, there was not much about him other than the way he carried himself to show the growing legend of his ability. Unlike most who trained or learned to wield a sword, there were few scars up his arms from the hundreds of hours of sparring and practicing. There were also few scars on his face either, from battle or from duelling which only seemed to make the white scar under his eye stand out even more on his tanned flesh. The blood crusted gashes on our faces may have been fresh but unlike Viconia's and mine his was long since healed.

"Well then." He continued. "We might as well get you both settled in and give you a tour."

The enormous lodge was a structure of incredible engineering. The central belltower rose eight stories into the air, spearing into the sky above the four story height of the lodge itself and commanding thousands of metres of rice paddies and plantations in all directions. Inside was a massive open expanse that ran from the front doors to the rear of the structure where an altar to the Nine had been carved from the purest of marble. The home of the Order was a cathedral, a barracks and a home in equal parts. Stained glass windows depicting the Nine in their mortal forms curled around the rear of the Lodge, each several metres tall and gazing down on the central altar in kaleidoscope of colours. The smells of incense and polishing oils filled the entire lodge and was strangely calming despite the martial nature of the scent.

To the right of the doors lay the dining hall, a great expanse of tables and chairs and rows of cooking spits for feeding the entire order. There was space for several hundred to eat at the same time, which included every Knight, Man-at-Arms and Squire and would have provided no end to the work for the dozens of serfs and servants that we saw scurrying about everywhere we looked.

"You will be provided rooms on the second level within the Knights accommodation." Alexi said as he guided us through the lodge. "I'm guessing though that you won't be needing separate rooms?"

The smile never seemed to remove itself from his face and he must've seen my slight embarrassment. "You don't have to worry about too much with the Order." He continued without pause. "We might not be as large or established as the Order of Stendarr or the Order of the Flame but we're also not as tradition bound as they are. We don't have to swear any vows of celibacy or shun alcohol and other than ensuring that you do the right thing and protect people we are pretty relaxed all things considered."

"I'm guessing it would be difficult to try to enforce any such vows." I said simply.

Alexi nodded. "Exactly. The other Knightly Orders usually only recruit new members who are the sons and daughters of current Knights or select squires from those of extremely young ages and raise them into their ranks. Here, we recruit from all over and from all professions. We have adventurers, sellswords, city guards, ex-legionaries, and a representation of nearly every walk of life. By Talos, Sininia used to be a privateer in the navy. Getting everyone to learn how to ride and fight together in formation and used to wearing heavy plate is one thing. But if you try telling a group of people like this that they can no longer have sex or drink? The Order would be nothing more than a shack and maybe have two members to its name."

"What will our responsibilities be then?" Viconia asked carefully as we made our way through the dining hall at the heels of Alexi.

"Overall not much. When you stay at the lodge you report to me or to one of the other Knight-Captains if I'm not available. Otherwise I assume that Gailer has already told you that you are not beholden to remain here?"

I replied with a nod, watching his expression as he pushed through one of the side doors that lead out into the rear courtyards and training areas.

"But you'll stay for a few days at least?" he asked, seeing us both nod without any change to his customary smile. "Excellent. In that case we will be able to get you prepared, give you a few things and make you both look the part at least."

As we stepped into the rear of the lodge grounds we both watched as dozens of Knights and Men-at-Arms went about their daily routines. Most seemed to consist of training either as individuals or as groups, sparring and practicing and appearing no different to legionaries in their professionalism. Some of the Knights cared for or rode their enormous steeds, taking them for brief rides through the handful of corrals or stood in the stables arrayed down the northern walls. Hundreds of individual stables opened into the courtyard, some sitting vacant but for the most part each had a horse within them. Farriers and other specialists moved among the stables, checking and caring and assisting the Knights in caring for their steeds.

Nearby the sounds of hammering metal echoed from the collection of forges and smithies where a dozen or more metalworkers plied their trade by reforging horseshoes and repairing or building new blades and armour. Everywhere there was a bustling activity but it was somehow obvious that the recent victory over the daedra had buoyed the mood. Everyone walked with a spring in their step that was no longer wholly from their station in life and their abilities as warriors. They had proven to everyone that the Order was not to be taken for granted and I knew that there would be some form of banner or trophy that would find itself hanging from the interior of Castle Leyawiin.

Nearby at the jousting lists we could see several knights practicing, fully dressed in their armour and mounted astride their enormous chargers. With lances over four metres in length they charged across the training fields, some training by the simple method of plucking loops from where they dangled from arms of wood or ripping looped tent pegs from the ground. Each loop was only a few centimetres in diameter and purposely designed to only be a margin larger than the lance tips themselves. The thunder of the hooves of the enormous animals shook the earth as they galloped past. Shuddering like an earthquake they slammed into the ground with each strike, rumbling into the sky as over a tonne of flesh and metal moved with all the force and fury of a storm.

A pair of knights at the nearby list slammed together with the sound of the ending of the world, wooden tournament lances shattering in an explosion of wood splinters that pattered off the cobblestones. Both knights, writhing in their saddles and armour obviously battered from several tilts already did not fall, almost out of nothing more than pure determination. The sheer impact of the two coming together was enough to strike us all in the guts and Alexi looked at the way Viconia and I paled.

"Fancy saddling up and giving it a go?" he said, and I found myself staring at the sight of how the two knights reined in their steeds, wheeling them around while snapping open their visors.

"God's breath no." I answered honestly. "I'm an infantryman."

"Ha! You're a knight now Sir Desin. Better start getting used to it."

Grasping their fresh lances, we watched again as they thundered together, this time one of them being knocked from his saddle in another explosion of wood and the sound as though someone threw an armful of pots down stairs.

"Just how many are in the Order?" Viconia asked as we moved through the training fields with Alexi guiding us and pointing out the main sections of the lodge grounds.

"Only Sir Ramauld would truly know. But there are at least three hundred knights, and about half as many again dismounted Men-at-Arms." Shrugging, he waved a greeting to one of the many individuals roaming through the training yards. "With you two I now have ninety-three Knights under my command in my Lance. Most of which are here in Leyawiin but a dozen or so are scattered throughout Tamriel."

"I can see why you were so effective against the daedra." Motioning towards the tilts I saw him follow my gesture and nod.

"It was one of the most glorious things I have ever taken part in." There was honesty in his words and for a moment he stopped and remembered the sensation of the charge. "When the gate opened all of us armoured as quickly as we could and rode out towards the city. By the time we had formed up there were easily hundreds of the creatures trying to breach the city gates. Sir Ramauld formed us up into three ranks and we simply charged them."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that." he chuckled darkly. "Never thought I would see a daedra before, let alone one looking surprised before it died. A large number of them even went to flee as we lowered our lances and started the charge."

Moving over to the side of the opened stables he motioned for us to follow him, seeing the building amusement in his eyes as we began walking over the straw and smelling the enormous beasts inside. "Well, that concludes the tour. Now it's onto business."

"Business?" Viconia inquired, looked about at the sight of so many warhorses in their individual stalls.

"Oh yes." The grin on his face grew massive and I couldn't help but think of the way I smiled when I was fully consumed by the vampire. "For what use is a Knight without a horse?"

His name was Trygve; an ancient Nordic name meaning trustworthy and other than the Minotaur Titan Viconia and I had slain he was the largest animal I had even encountered. Eighteen hands high at the shoulder, and over three quarters of a tonne of muscle he was strong and in the prime of his life. Bred from the best Breton chargers, and Clydesdales from the frozen north of Skyrim he had been trained from birth for war. Powerful, quick and capable of breaking into a sprint that few others could match he was also nimble despite his overwhelming size and able to turn quickly and manoeuvre in the press of battle. A creamy white coat and a mane as white as Viconia's hair flowed from his shoulders and not a single strand seemed to be out of place. At seven years old he was fully matured and had already served another knight faithfully but the recent fight against the daedra had left both him and his brother Ultrin bereft of their riders. As the only two Knights who had fallen in the charge against the Oblivion portal it seemed somewhat fitting to the other members of the Order that their steeds were passed onto the newest members in their ranks. Especially a pair of individuals who had also experienced entering Oblivion on two occasions.

Both Trygve and Ultrin were monsters of horses. Seeing the rippling muscles under their silken hides and the way they seemed to sit like coiled springs I could easily believe that they both had helped grind daedra into a bloody pulp beneath their hooves. The more I looked over them the more that I believed that they could have outmatched a minotaur in strength, and would have very easily kicked them to death with their massive legs.

Bred for size and power, the mingling of the bloodlines from Skyrim also ensured that they could survive in the harshest conditions. Despite their bulk they did not require specialised diets or to remain where the ground provided massive amounts of grass. They could travel for weeks at a time on minimal grazing land for animals their size, live off nearly any plant in the bounds of Tamriel and still have sufficient strength to break enemy formations with a single powerful charge at the end.

As promised the Order provided us with much. Ultrin and Trygve were both ours, as was a significant amount of equipment such as specifically tailored saddles that were required to ride such animals. Both horses were worth more than Rosethorn hall several times over, and their equipment alone would have left our pouches significantly lighter. The Order seemed to have more money than what it knew what to do with, as not only receiving funding directly from the county coffers and from the Count himself but they also made a huge amount of money breeding horses. their thoroughbreds and unique breeds could be found as far away as Wayrest and Highrock as well as the breeding rights for many of their studs. Our horses had both successfully passed on their genetic heritage in several young foals, some of which already had been purchased by some of the richest of nobles in the Empire.

The first two days were spent not only getting us and our new steeds used to us and learning how to ride them, but also how to care for them properly. Rather than giving away such prized animals; we needed to know how to look after them. Much to my chagrin I could only watch as two days later Viconia was riding about on the dark brown form of Ultrin as though she had been born into his saddle. The two of them seemed to bond exceptionally quickly, whereas Trygve seemed to detect my trepidation and unease of riding in the saddle and would either purposely be stubborn or cause mischief. It would be weeks before I could properly ride him but within the first few days I knew that it would be something that both of us would have to get used to.

After the first two days I could no longer hold onto some of the unease that I was feeling and while Viconia busied herself in the stables learning how to care for the saddle and other equipment I sought out Sir Ramauld. As the Knight-Commander he was a very busy individual, not only responsible for every man and woman under his command but also monitoring the Order's finances, supplies, equipment and hundreds of other minor tasks and details that was required for running such an organisation. Within his tiny office in the upper levels of the Lodge he seemed restrained behind the desk, as though his muscled body yearned for combat on an hourly basis. He was still a common sight in the training yards but most days if he wasn't meeting with people of importance he was in his room, accompanied only by a serf or squire or two and enacting a campaign against the ever encroaching paperwork.

Entering the room where he sat behind his desk I felt rather than saw his eyes upon me for a moment before they returned to the stack of parchments in front of him. "Sir Desin. I hear you are settling in well."

"Yes Sir." I replied, moving over and watching how he finished signing his name in short quick strokes as though the quill was nothing more than a broadsword. Delicately he placed the quill down, pouring a small measure of wax onto the parchment before pressing his enormous signet ring into it.

Handing the parchment to the young squire standing by his side it was added to a pile that appeared to have been growing for most of the morning. "I hear that Sir Alexi has been running you through your paces." There was a smile on his broad face that was only just hidden behind the trimmed beard.

"He has Sir." Returning the smile, I remembered how Viconia and I had sparred Alexi and a handful of the other members of the Order that morning. Alexi had beaten us both with an ease that made us appear little more than newborns and even when we both sparred him at the same time he was barely even sweating after putting us both on our backs.

Some of the sheets were placed to one side in a perfectly arranged pile on the side of his desk, and he looked over me and noticed the tension coursing through my body. "You look edgy lad. For someone who has faced vampires and daedra I don't expect you to feel nervous around me."

Chuckling to himself deep in his chest he relaxed and I glanced between him and the young squire. "Sir, I was wondering if I could talk to you about a few things."

He nodded, recognising the serious tone of my voice. With a curt gesture he sent the squire out and waited for the door to fully close behind the young man before leaning back slightly. "What can I do for you?"

"Viconia and I are Blades." I said simply, seeing the bemused expression change to something significantly darker for a heartbeat.

"Well… That certainty explains your skill at arms. Alexi told me earlier that you two are a pair of the finest swordsmen that he has seen in years."

The surge of pride that went through me made me smile for a moment as I watched Sir Ramauld look increasingly curious. "I'll have to thank him for that when I see him this evening."

"That you will." The curious expression remained and I watched as he drummed his fingers into the top of his desk thoughtfully. "You are both individuals of many responsibilities. Between the Blades, the Fighters Guild and now us, I can understand how you might have concerns for fulfilling your duties with any of the groups. How many know that you are Blades?"

"Not many outside of the Blades themselves." I replied, shrugging and doing a quick mental check. "Other than yourself, only a few of the higher ranking members of the Guild such as Vilena Donton and Modryn Oreyn know. There's the high chance that a significant portion of the Cheydinhal Guild knows as well but that was out of our hands."

"So why tell me?" the fingers continued their steady tattoo into the wood. "And why would two members of the Blades with such illustrious fame be travelling from city to city with the Fighter's Guild?"

Nodding to his rank and gesturing around us I replied carefully, feeling my mouth go dry with nervousness. "Our mission at this time is to gain the assistance of the Fighter' Guild against a daedric cult."

"This Cult… It wouldn't have anything to do with opening the portals to Oblivion at all?"

"They are the ones directly responsible and are also responsible for the assassination of the Emperor and his sons." The expression of Sir Ramauld's face seemed to turn into granite and I could see the dozens of scars twist and pucker in the scowl. "Viconia and I are gaining assistance from the Guild to utilise their manpower to hunt down and destroy any covens that the rest of the Blades discover. With the death of the Emperor, the Blades' authority has been reduced so we can't use the Legion or the Imperial Watch to stop the cultists."

"So I expect that the two of you will be moving on again to continue this mission in the coming days?"

Nodding I listened to the beat of his fingers as he continued deep in thought. "Easily before the end of the week."

The steady beat stopped suddenly and the grin that consumed the scowl was somehow even more terrible to behold. "Well, we certainly won't stand in your way. In fact, the Blades can count on the Order of the White Stallion in such endeavours."

My jaw dropped slightly and he laughed. "What? We have faced this terrible enemy that threatens Tamriel and seen full well what horrors it intends for our world. The Blades can count on our swords and lances wherever or however they are needed."

"The end of the world is coming." I said simply. "Our mission is unfortunately only buying us time while the rest of the Order tries to find a way to stop it."

"I guess we better start preparing then. I'll gather the Order and do what we can, but you can tell your 'other' master that wherever the Knights of the White Stallion are needed we will be there."

"It could be anywhere in Tamriel."

The smile grew even wider, splitting the white flecked beard with a gash of a mouth. "We can be anywhere in the Empire in three weeks. Two if we force march and sleep in the saddle."

Blowing out a breath of amazement and the last of my nerves I returned the smile. "You have my thanks Sir."

"The Order supports each other, and supports the Empire. In these dark days we will all be called upon in some way." there was a moment of hesitation from the veteran Knight. "Let us pray to the Nine that we all live to see it through."

In the remaining days at the lodge, there was a new energy course through the ranks of the Order. One evening Sir Ramauld had announced that every member of the Order otherwise not questing or otherwise engaged in the Empire would be recalled and their ranks made whole once more. Viconia and I would be exempt of this as would be a handful of the others with other duties outside of County Leyawiin. All of those who had fought the daedra knew of what danger awaited Tamriel and the Empire and there wasn't a single man or women in the ranks who didn't know what the proclamation meant. The Order of the White Stallion was now preparing for war.

My promise that Viconia and I would soon be leaving the Lodge and County Leyawiin was soon fulfilled. Four days after receiving our knighthoods, a messenger arrived after being directed to the lodge from the Fighters Guild in the City. Azzan, and the Anvil Guild had sent out word for us, asking for us to return to the port city to help. Unrest had been building throughout the Empire but with the daedric assault on the city and the desecration of the Cathedral of Dibella, Anvil was groaning under the strain. We had heard reports that in the month since the attack by the daedra, armed gangs were now prowling the countryside, attacking travellers and caravans, raiding farms and the handful of villages within the county. Anvil had been attacked from within and without, and the neighbouring county had been almost utterly destroyed. Over a week's worth of travel between Skingrad and Anvil was now a bandit infested wasteland of death and fire, but surprisingly Anvil was now playing host to larger than normal numbers of travellers.

The site of one of the few victories against the daedra had drawn in many of those seeking protection in the growing darkness, the numbers growing every day. What seemed surprising was the way that large numbers of pilgrims and travellers were converging onto the city because of the desecration of the Cathedral. From all corners of the Empire, hundreds of people were making their way there in a pilgrimage of the faith, braving the unrest of the roads and the threat of Oblivion to receive and give their blessings. Doomsayers and prophets were also converging onto the city and this as well as the increased banditry was ensuring that the local Guilds, militia and Legion was hard pressed keeping the peace. Into this boiling cauldron we had been asked to return, as not only our sword arms but our mere presences as the City's champions would go a long way towards assisting the County.

Sir Ramauld and the others bid us farewell, Alexi promising further rematches whenever we returned to Leyawiin. Alexi and I were travelling quickly down the road to becoming friends. His indefatigable optimism, sense of humour and companionship during those first few days ensuring that when Viconia and I mounted our new warhorses and made our way out the gates that there was the sense of loss that I couldn't shake.

Once onto the open road we made our way swiftly on our new steeds, their enormous bulks and power ensuring that the distances that we travelled on hired packhorses were crossed in fractions of the time. Trygvr may have been stubborn and still trying to gain a measure of me but there were few horses in the Empire like him. On the open road Viconia and I found ourselves riding hard and letting both steeds have their heads. The pounding of their hooves echoed around us like a bow wave of a ship, and travellers moved out of the way at the sight of such enormous horses galloping along as though exhaustion was something lesser creatures suffered. After steady gains of distance for the first days of riding all of us, riders and horses alike settled into a rhythm that steadily ate through the kilometres and even left Bravil fading in the distance behind us.

A week after leaving Leyawiin we found ourselves at the border where County Bravil met County Glenvar, feeling the deepening chill in the air as marshlands and mangroves gave way to forests of pines and ferns. Snow may not have been too uncommon now the grip of winter held firm to the land, but other than the deep frosts that covered the ground in the morning there was nothing during the day.

Wrapped in our cloaks and wearing every scrap of our clothing the winter's chill did little against us, but we were uncomfortably reminded of the fact that in the days previous we were sweating wearing very little at all. It wouldn't take much for either of us to catch illnesses in the sudden change in climate and as we began setting camp for the evening I ensured that before I did anything else the campfire was blazing.

"Another day, another mile." Viconia muttered as she dragged across a collection of saddlebags from our enormous steeds.

"I believe that it might have been a few more than just a single mile today." I replied, feeling the warmth of the fire begin to grow ever more fiercely.

The pile of saddlebags grew and Viconia placed herself down onto the cold ground with her back against her saddle. Mine had been placed nearby and while she seemed content on using hers as a pillow I still preferred my pack or rolled up cloak than the solid leather. Humming to herself she began rummaging through some of the pouches, pulling out a small collection of dried fruits that she had grown into a habit of eating.

"Can you pass me a dagger mrimmd'ssinss?" I asked, dragging over the pair of young rabbits that I had managed to shoot earlier in the day.

Glancing up, she looked between me, the campfire and the small furred bodies sitting in front of me. Shrugging, she returned to the pouches, opening a couple before stopping in mid motion and becoming tense.

"Vith!" She spat, suddenly rummaging through my saddlebags and pack with a sudden tense energy. "Vel'klar l'vith ph'nind?"

"What's wrong?"

She turned and glared at me. "We've been robbed. That's what's wrong."

Crushing my unease, I shook my head. "No we haven't."

"How can you say that?" gesturing to my saddlebags I could feel the burning anger infusing her limbs with a dangerous energy. "It's your gems that are missing."

"Not all of them." The gaze of anger focussed on me and I struggled not to quail at the gleaming darkness that dwelled behind her yellow eyes. "Only a handful, and they weren't stolen."

"Then where are they? I can't see anything new in our equipment that could be worth such an enormous amount and unless you have a necklace or some rings hidden in your pockets I'd say that it wasn't worth it."

Breathing heavily, I struggled to remain calm as her gaze burned into my soul. "I gave some of the gems away."

"You did what?" The threat in the hissed words was evident and I couldn't help but glance up at her.

"You remember the guard that I had fed on in Leyawiin?"

There was a moment of silence and I could feel her rage suddenly reached boiling point, her lips drawing back into a snarl that could match a daedroth's in intensity.

"Dos k'leril yeunn sjaad'ur d'natha nest!" she spat, ripping the dagger from where it had been sitting and hurling in my direction with such force that the blade sunk to the hilt in the soil between my legs. Despite her anger there was nothing wrong with her accuracy, as there was only a hand's span between me and my future as a eunuch. "So I don't satisfy you enough so you have to pay a ssins d'aerth for an additional pound of flesh?"

"I didn't have sex with her," The knife's scabbard smacked me in the face and was followed by a full waterskin that bounced off a shoulder. "I only fed on her."

Pausing in mid throw with a fist filled with a whetstone she stared at me, silently studying my face for any sign of falsehood. After a moment the fire in her eyes dimmed slightly. "And that bandit in Anvil County? Did you 'only' feed on her too?"

I looked down and away from her, the guilt hammering into my mind and I could feel the writhing bones of my skull tingling and shifting slightly under my skin with every wave of emotion. She could see the slight changes that coursed through me but there was no fear, only anger that burned ferociously.

"That… That was different."

"Because you claimed the flesh of a defeated and broken enemy? You imposed your will on her as you did with that elg'caress back in Leyawiin."

"I imposed my will on her yes, but not the same way as I did with the guard."

"Rape is rape no matter how you try to identify it."

"As a vampire I can control other people."

The silence dragged on for several minutes and Viconia continued to stare at me. "What?"

Gesturing emptily with my hands I struggle to find the words. "When I change or if I really concentrate I somehow control others. I can stare into their eyes and I can feel their mind and exert some measure of control over them. When I do it to feed I can make them not only accept it but want it, and sometimes like that fat bastard at the stocks I can make it easier for them to do my bidding."

Viconia sat in silence, staring, watching and deep in thought. "You sound like a mind flayer."

"An illithid? From what little you have told of me I guess there is a resemblance. I don't know how to describe it otherwise."

She chewed on her lip carefully, hunching down and sitting cross legged as she wrapped her cloak tightening around herself with the growing chill of the evening. "How often have you used this ability?"

"Several times over the past months. The first time was on the journey from Cheydinhal."

"Have you ever tried to use it on me?"

I shook my head. "Never even considered it."

"Good. While I doubt that you would find it as easy with me I would hate to have to feed you our own kidneys." Part of the anger had diminished in her eyes but there was still a significant amount roiling behind them. "So why did you do it?"

"Which part?"

"All of it." her own dagger had found itself in her hand and she gestured with it at my heart. "The bandit, the guard, the gems. All of it."

"With the bandit I lost full control over the vampire. She had hurt me with her spells and some instinct in me decided to return to favour. With the guard, it has always seemed easier to feed on someone when they are compliant and I'm not wanting to leave a trail of bloodless corpses in our wake. For both of our sakes if I killed everywhere we went not only will it make it too obvious and I don't really want to needlessly kill."

"And the gems?"

Shrugging, I looked down at the tiny furred forms of the rabbits in my lap, drawing to dagger from its earthen embrace and wiping the blade on the fabric of my trousers. "I felt guilty and I needed to repent in some way."

Viconia snorted and slid her own dagger back into its sheath. "Oh spare me your incessant drivel and self-righteousness." The scowl that she had habitually worn slid over her features with well-practiced ease. "I doubt I have ever encountered a being who is so torn between their nature and the pathetic laws of the surface. We do what we need to do to survive, and if that means that you satisfy your desire for flesh at the same time as your desire for blood than do it. All this self-pity is merely infuriating."

"It's the only thing that's keeping me human." I replied. "Or sane. If all this self-pity infuriates you then why did you stay with me all this time?"

She paused at that, the scowl giving hints of a crease of a smile. "Because you intrigued me."

"Is that it?"

There was a nod that shook loose some strands of hair and she ran her fingers through them and tucked them back under the headband. "If I'm truly honest I intended cutting your throat and leaving your carcass to the wolves those first few nights after leaving Bruma, but your antics with trying to brand yourself made me curious."

"I had expected several times to wake up dead."

"Good." The smile broke through the shadow of the scowl. "It shows that you have some sense and wisdom in that surfacer skull of yours. But that night when you let me scar you and hide the Legion brand showed to me that you had surprising strength of will under that dull exterior. The fact that you would willingly do something of such extremes without hesitation showed to me that you may have had more use than showing me to the nearest city that wasn't Bruma."

"Good to know I guess."

The snort from her made me smile and before either of us realised we were both grinning at each other. "These past months I have seen you go out of your way to help others and as much as I hate your reasons I can somehow understand them. All your notions of chivalry and honour and whatever else you so fondly believe in is completely at odds to what you are. That will kill you in the end."

"With what I am?"

"You are a vampire wael." Rolling her eyes, she watched as I begun to skin and gut the rabbits in an attempt to take my mind off everything. "You need to drink blood to survive which means that unless you value the alternative and take your own life you will need to hurt others and take from them what you need. In this world or in my previous one, we all need to take and take and take if we are to survive."

"I know you don't have any qualms with doing so, but I was never brought up like that."

"It doesn't matter how you were brought up or what you used to believe. You are what you are now and sooner or later you will have to come to terms with that."

Throwing the rabbits onto the crackling flames I watched as a small storm of embers and sparks rise up into the darkening sky as the sun dipped below the horizon. "No wonder you sleep so well of a night with no concerns of morality."

"Er'griff l'gareth dro'xun." She replied, watching as I rolled the words over my tongue in an attempt to translate what little I knew of her tongue. "Only the strong survive. You are strong; ridiculously so, but until you come to terms with what you are you will continue to be weakened."

"You have never seen me lose control though Viconia. It isn't pleasant."

"I heard enough of the carnage that you left those caverns in, and have seen you in battle before. There is no denying your efficacy, but back to what I asked earlier; what did you do with those handful of gems?"

"One of the nights we stayed at the Stallion lodge I snuck out and went to the guard's home in the city. Brodas had given me her address after the healers had finished with her and I left the purse of gems on her table."

There was a long, drawn out sigh from Viconia and she glared at me. "Next time you think of doing something so monumentally idiotic I will rip your tongue and balls out. Just don't give away a quarter of our fortune next time."

"It was only a tenth. We still have more than enough."

"Not if you keep giving it out to every harlot and beggar on the surface there isn't."

"I'll keep that in mind." Carefully, I used the tip of Sunchild to turn over the rabbits in the coals and watched as the fat dribbled and spat in the flames.

"You have a darkness in you that is worthy of the Underdark."

"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not Viconia."

White teeth flashed in the darkness. "You'd do anything to survive, except for maybe betraying someone close to you. In that regards I am certainly thankful at least."

"We've survived a lot these past months."

"With much more to follow. It is the end of the world we're facing after all."

I grimaced. "At least we're not doing it alone."

"Do you mean that as having each other? Or being Blades, guildsmen and Knights?"

"All of the above?" I laughed, standing up briefly to drag over my saddlebags. "I know why you chose to receive a knighthood."

"Oh?" amusement entered her voice and a shapely eyebrow raised. "Why is that?"

I raised my left hand, palm facing me and showing the signet ring of the Knights of the White Stallion while gesturing to the saddles, horses, spare swords and the various other trinkets we had received from the Order. "All the free stuff."

The laugh was honest and musical and for a moment there was no hint of the rage that had consumed her earlier. "There was that and the 'moving up in the world' side of becoming Madame DeVir. I was not expecting to be considered royalty on the surface during these past months here."

"Nobility you mean."

"I don't know about you but I think I could easy find myself married to a Count or King in this land."

"And if I know you in the slightest they would suffer an untimely, possibly 'accidental' death."

My sarcasm left her smile on her face but I knew all too well that there was truth in my words with the expression she tried to hide. "You know me all too well, mrannd'ssinss."

Both of us laughed again, and while there was still a tension between us she moved over closer as I continued preparing our meals. The shadows had begun consuming the world around us and despite the growing lateness of the hour there was still some movement and travellers on the road as they sought out accommodation or simply chose to press on through the night. Viconia and I fell silent in our conversation as we began eating our meals but it wasn't long before we were interrupted by the sounds of a considerable number of people approaching from the west.

Poorly greased axles ground together, the echoes rippling through the forests now that the relative silence of the evening began to cling to the land. The sounds of voices could be heard as a bubbling wave of noise that grew as the group approached, and Viconia and I found ourselves staring at over a dozen flatbed wagons crammed full of people. Each wagon contained several people each, and those who couldn't ride walked alongside. Every single one of them carried what appeared to be all of their worldly possessions, trudging through the kilometres and appearing incredibly bone tired and road weary. Children cried and babbled amongst themselves, adults muttered softly but all of them wore expressions of sorrow and suffering that Viconia and I had seen far too often the past months.

Rising to my feet and dropping the remnants of my meal into the coals, I moved closer to the road, giving Trygve a quick pat on the neck as I moved past his enormous bulk. In comparison the horses puffing into the chill appeared to be tiny nags and moth-eaten saddle horses rather than the powerfully muscled draught horses they were. Trygve and Ultrin were without equal and I could see many sets of eyes turn and look over Viconia and I and our steeds at our camp off the side of the road.

Expecting desperation and exhaustion, the sudden wave of anger and frustration that came from the group stopped me in my tracks momentarily. So used to our reputations and fame leaving us as the toasts of the town, the hate filled cries of "It's them!" left me bewildered and shocked even as a significant portion of the convoy began converging on us.

"What in Shar's name is going on?" muttered Viconia by my side as the group advanced, several of the adults dropping from the sides of their wagons in tiny huddles. The way they carried themselves and gripped various objects made my heart start pumping adrenaline into my veins and I could feel my face tightening.

"No idea." The looks we were receiving were obvious in their hostile intent, and I could see several of the men tensing themselves for a confrontation. Though we were both heavily outnumbered, I didn't have too much concern facing down over fifty unarmed and ill equipped individuals while Viconia and I were still dressed in our armour. Especially with the night now holding sway over the lands.

"Murdering bastards!" someone from the press of people shouted amidst a chorus of similar cries.

"-brought death to our-"

"-blood is on your hands-"

"Enough!" I roared, feeling the stirrings of the vampire rising to the surface and infusing my voice with its unnatural power. "What in the name of Oblivion is going on?!"

The silence that fell was as shocking as was the sudden fear in their expressions. There was something about my expression and the malevolent presence in my eyes that seemed to quieten them into submission. Concerned mutterings continued in the group from those hidden behind their friends and companions and as a group they all seemed to glance between their fellows to see who would speak.

"Who are you and where are you all from?" I asked, projecting my voice over the growing murmurs.

"Glenvar." One of the men said, shrinking back as I turned and gazed on him. "We're from Glenvar Village."

Looking over the group I struggled to see anyone that I might have recognised from our brief stay. The village may have been small, but it had still been home to a dozens of families and hundreds of individuals. There were a few faces I vaguely recognised but none that I was certain of.

"And what happened? Daedra?"

Almost as a single entity they shook their heads collectively. Several signs begging the protection of the Nine fluttered about in the mass by the increasingly nervous crowd but I could feel their anger diminishing rapidly.

"Vampires?"

Again the huddled group shook their heads and continued muttering and I found myself stepping forward looking as many of them in the eye as I could. "Is there anyone here that can tell us what in all the hells is going on?"

After a few seconds of confusion and consternation one of the villagers stepped forward. Dressed in a thick leather coat and appearing to be one of the wagon drivers he visibly gulped as he felt my gaze upon him. "The village has been suffering attacks these past weeks. The disappearances started again a week or so after you both left, but then people started dying."

The surge of excited fear rose again and the group began muttering and calling out again, their cries drowning out each other's and struggling to be heard.

"-the miller-"

"-Leoltierus and his family-"

"-my daughter-"

"-Aedile Philevus and his wife-"

"Quiet!" I roared again and the group fell silent once more. Turning I locked eyes with the drover and saw him wilt under my attentions. "What plagues the county so if not vampires?"

The fear emanating from the man was almost as potent as brandy to the rising instincts of the vampire and I could almost bathe in it. "We… We don't know…"

"So you and the entire village decided to simply pack up and leave without even knowing why?" Viconia spat from behind me and the crowd hushed even further until the haunting calls of owls in the forest could be heard.

"People have been dying." He replied simply, looking between myself and Viconia. "Those who don't simply disappear during the night have been found the next morning. Most of the time we have been unable to identity what little remains."

"When did all this start?" I asked carefully and simply and I saw him quickly count off on his fingers.

"Eleven days ago."

The day after Viconia and I received our knighthoods and almost a full month since killing Lord Volmyr and the rest of his coven. I was almost entirely sure that I had not left any vampires alive in Nornalhorst and there was something about the way that the villagers were describing the more recent deaths that didn't sit well with me. It didn't sound like the work of vampires and even those standing before Viconia and I didn't believe so either.

"And are you all that is left?"

The drover shook his head. "Another group headed to the north to Pell's Gate and a few left to seek assistance from the Legion at Fort Homestead. We're heading to Bravil."

Viconia snorted behind me and rolled her eyes. "You'd be better off staying in your homes than seeking refuge in that cesspit."

Ignoring Viconia and the looks of astonishment from some in the group I mentioned for him to continue. "What about the castle? Why didn't your liege assist you?"

I saw the looks and felt the tingle of unease steadily crawling its way up my spine. "The castle is closed. It has been since the first disappearances. We haven't seen or heard from Count Albric or anyone else from the castle in over a fortnight, and even the portcullis had been closed. It hasn't been closed in years, maybe even a decade or more."

"Anyone left in the village?"

He shrugged noncommittally. "Only a handful, maybe two dozen or more. There were those who didn't wish to leave their homes and a few others who decided to fortify the town hall and wait for assistance."

Viconia watched as I breathed out heavily and ran my fingers through my hair. "Your thoughts?" I said to her simply.

"There's no other way to bypass this misbegotten County and head to Anvil by chance?"

I shook my head, seeing the looks of hatred and horror returning as they heard the two of us considering not going to the source of their troubles. "Not without heading back to Bravil and finding a ship heading to the Imperial City."

She swore loudly and forcibly. "Vith'nindel. Even Trygve and Ultrin couldn't drag me back to that shithole." Tilting her head at me and pointedly ignoring the people standing around us she raised an eyebrow. "I guess that we aren't even going to get paid for this either?"

"Not in the slightest." I looked over the group standing before us. They all seemed to be torn between their anger at their belief of us bringing such death and horror into their lives and the weight of expectation at us saving their homes and lives.

"Well…" She muttered bitterly. "Looks like we get to go all noble..."