"Talking"
Mind link
Thinking
"Death is nothing to us, since when we are,
death has not come, and when death
has come we are not"
–Epicurus
Shika glanced over her shoulder as she heard the thunder of hoof beats. She cursed silently and slid into the shadows of an alleyway as the first of the Legion soldiers passed by. Her eyes were drawn past the man to a group of soldiers clustered around a horse drawn cart with a large cage in the back that held a tightly curled black form.
"What is that" Shika thought to herself as she leaned forward slightly. Though she was still careful to keep her cloak wrapped tightly around her to hide her telltale platinum hair and blue gray eyes.
She'd come into Whiterun to get supplies and some much needed Intel on the Legion's movements not to get caught looking at something interesting.
She watched as the cart hit a bump rocking the cage. The thing inside jolted up and Shika gasped as she realized it was a boy.
He looked about her age with pale skin, black hair, and angular features similar to those of the few Wood Elves she'd seen but something seemed off. He was dressed in a brown shirt and pants and a long black coat with a strange sigil embroidered in green thread on the left shoulder. He swayed as if drunk and even from this distance Shika could hear his groggy groan.
The soldier closest to the boy cursed as he saw their captive was up. "He's awake" he shouted as he leveled his spear at the boy.
suddenly he straightened as the spear came within reach and in a lightning fast move that surprised even Shika he garbed the spear snapped it in half between the bars spun it around and planted the tip on the soldier's throat.
Shika was sure that the soldier was about to die when the entire squad appeared behind him their spears leveled at the boy.
"Put it down" the officer who seemed to be in charge said. "The General's orders were to bring you in alive but he didn't say in what condition" he said. T
He boy smiled at the officer and with a deft flick of his wrist sent the spear arching through the air slicing open several sandbags as it flew. At the same time a powerful gust of wind blasted down the street swirling the falling sand into a smokescreen like shroud. The soldiers cursed and coughed as they tried to break free of the sand.
Shika smiled slightly happy to see the great Legion taken down a notch. But her smile died as she noticed the back of the cage wasn't covered by the sand shroud and the door was open.
The boy leapt free of his prison and landed as he glanced around. Shika cursed as he saw her but he remained silent. All he did was shut the cage door wink at her and disappear into the shadows of another alley.
Shika froze in indecision as she debated what to do. If she stayed where she was she would be safe from detection by the Legion who was hunting her. But there was a part of her that wanted to risk charging across the open space to go after the Wood Elf. Ever since she'd been captured by slavers led by one six years she hated the forest creatures and had done her best to strike at them whenever she could.
Her decision was instant then and with a slight adjustment to her cloak to allow her easy access her daggers. She ran across the street and dove into the alley mere seconds before the sand cleared.
Shika sighed with relief but then she remembered her task. She ducked into the shadows following their path quickly and silently. She caught up to the young Elf who was walking slowly and casually thinking that he'd escaped. Shika followed him for several minutes not making a move towards him.
"He looks so young" she thought to herself debating if she could actually kill someone her own age even if he was a Wood Elf. "I'll ask him some questions and see what he knows about the Legion" she thought. "And if I don't like his answers…" she let the thought trail off as she slowly drew her daggers.
She leapt from the shadows planting the point of one blade in the small of his back and bringing the other to his throat. The position was somewhat awkward due to the fact that he was about a foot or so taller than her but it made no difference. "Who are you" she asked.
The boy chuckled "I believe that's my line" he said. His voice was deeper than she'd expected with a slight accent and singsong quality.
"Fine then tell me what you know about the Legion and why you were captured" Shika said.
"I was captured because of this" the boy said as he reached for a pouch at his belt.
Shika added a little pressure to the dagger at his back a clear indication for him to stop.
"It's not a weapon" the boy said. "It won't harm you in any way" he said.
"Alright" Shika said.
The boy nodded as he pulled a small stone from the pouch and held it up for her inspection.
Shika frowned at it. The stone was small and gray cut in the shape of an arrowhead and even though it was worn smooth she could still see the whorls of its once granular surface. "Why would the Legion be after that. Aside from its shape and smoothness it looks like any rock you'd find on the side of the road" she said.
The boy chuckled "ah my dear human you see only with your eyes not your true senses" he said. "The Legion would kill to get but one of these stones and yet you call it ordinary" he said.
"Enlighten me then" Shika said.
"With pleasure" the boy said. "Zitario redocto magnum" he shouted. Power charged the air radiating out from the stone and focusing around her daggers.
Shika cried out as they were torn from her hands. They flew several feet behind her where they finally got caught on the walls. Shika retrieved them instantly and turned back to the boy ready to fight but he was gone.
She frowned as she looked past where they'd been standing expecting to see him running. There was no on there. With no place else to look she looked up and gasped as she saw the boy floating more than ten feet off the ground.
He smiled down at her his gold eyes seeming to glow in the shadows cast by the overarching roof.
"Gods" Shika whispered.
"Thanks but I prefer Zar'roc" the boy said as he turned and started to walk away moving as easily as if her were on the ground.
Shika started to go after him but stopped as she felt something else enter the alley. She turned and finger of fear traced down her spine as she caught a glimpse of one of the creatures sneaking through the shadows.
It looked like a large insect about three feet tall with small piggish eyes, bat wings, a hooked beak, and long curving claws. By the small scuffling sounds she heard she guessed that there were about three dozen of the things.
Shika dropped into a fighting stance daggers raised.
"There's no need to fear us human" a voice said.
Shika spun and saw a man standing a few dozen yards away.
He was a good foot taller than her. He had angular elfish with disheveled dark brown almost black hair and shining pale green eyes. He was dressed in a fine green tunic embroidered with arcane gold designs and brown leather pants.
Shika glared at the man as she realized it was another Wood Elf but again something in the back of her mind told her something wasn't right about him.
"What do you want" she asked.
"From you nothing" the man said. "Our sole reason for being here is to find our lord Bearer and bring him home" the man said.
"I'm the only one here" she said barely resisting the urge to look skyward. She didn't know why she was protecting the boy but something about this man radiated evil to her. "And I'm no lord" she finished.
The man chuckled as he drew his sword. Its silver blade was long with a strange etching of a coiled dragon inlayed in gold near a virtually nonexistent cross guard that sat above a leather wrapped hilt and a pommel set with a rounded emerald.
"Fool I know he's here I can sense his presence" he said as Shika returned to her fighting stance. "So you wish to stand in my way as well" the man said. "Very well then die" he shouted just as the creatures leapt from the shadows.
Zar'roc sat crouched on the edge of the roof looking down at the little drama playing out in the alley below him. He wasn't afraid of being discovered thanks to the thick web of illusions he'd spun around himself but he was frozen in indecision.
Normally he couldn't care less about the life of a human. Normally he would have just left the girl to her fate and used the distraction to put some distance between himself and his pursuers. But something was different about this human.
By all rights he should be down there with those demons trying to kill her. After all she'd tried to kill him or at least rob him but there was that something different to consider.
He felt some kind of connection to this human and he didn't know why.
"Is this your will my lady" he whispered as he brushed his fingers against the sacred pendent he wore around his neck. "Very well" he said as his other hand went to the small pouch at his waist.
He reached inside and drew out a hand full of jewels. The cache included a small round ruby, a stick of graphite, a green piece serpentine, a chunk of quarts, and several small pale blue celestite crystals.
With the ease of long practice he took the graphite and slipped it into a small hidden alcove in the hilt of his sword.
"Please let me be right" he whispered before he shattered his illusory web and dropped into the alley.
Shika ducked the initial wave of enemies and rolled so she was behind them. As she rose she slashed leaving a line of crimson across one of the creature's throats. But she barely saw it as she turned and stabbed another in the eye. She ducked again to avoid a striking claw. As she pulled her dagger free she whipped her other blade up cutting a deep gash across a creature's stomach.
Shika smiled allowing herself a brief second of hope that she might win. Unfortunately that second was too long because at that moment a pair of claws clamped down on her shoulders and threw her several yards.
Shika cried out as her head and back slammed against the wall of the alley and darkness swam at the edge of her vision. She looked up and stared at the massive beast before her.
Twice the height of the bug like creatures its skin was covered in thick fur the color of fresh blood stretched taught over corded muscles. Its massive hands had scythe like claws instead of fingers. A pair of massive wings were folded against its back each tipped with a curving claw that arched inward to frame a face that was a mixture of wolf and hawk with glowing red eyes.
The sound of flesh tearing reached Shika's ears as she saw a flicker of black and red at the edge of her vision but she didn't dare take her eyes off of the monster in front of her.
"Hey Hadorian scumbag didn't anyone ever teach you it's not nice to pick on the defenseless" someone shouted.
Both Shika and the monster turned at the voice's call. Shika stared in amazement as she saw the boy was back and holding a long sword its blade made of pitch black metal that was veined with red. Even more astonishing was pile of monster corpses behind him.
"There must be over two dozen. How did he kill them so fast" Shika thought as the beast next to her growled.
"Go quietly Bearer and we'll let the human live" it said.
"Oh one of us will go quietly but it won't be me" the boy said as his hand shot up and four small blue balls flew from it. "Celtrain conserdia" he shouted as they hit the beast in the head.
Power contracted around them and with a thunderous concussion and a burst of light they exploded knocking the beast back.
It snarled as it got to its feet blood dripping from several deep wounds. "Die" it roared as it lunged.
The boy smiled as he pivoted to dodge and slammed his fist into the beast's back.
Bone crunched and it let loose a pain filled squawk as it turned on the boy. But it was too slow even as it got halfway through the turn he was already gone. "Where…" the beast started but its sentence was interrupted as a black blade punched through its throat.
"Like I said quietly" the boy whispered as he pulled his sword free and let the beast fall to the ground.
"Are you okay" he asked as he turned to Shika and offered his hand to help her up.
"I'm fine" she said. "But who are you" she asked.
"Like I said I'm Zar'roc" he said as he pulled her up. "And who are you" he asked.
"I'm Shika" Shika said.
Zar'roc nodded as he started to say something but was interrupted as the sound of clapping filled the alley. "Bravo my lord" someone said.
Zar'roc and Shika turned back to the man who was standing in the same place as before. "Atlas" Zar'roc cursed.
"Quite a feat that is" Atlas said gesturing to the beast. "Not many can take down a full grown Hadorian with just a sword" he said.
Zar'roc ignored the comment as he said "whose decision was it to let you out of your hole."
Atlas laughed "the Council" he said. "And just by my presence here you can see how badly they want you back" he said.
"I'm not going back" Zar'roc said. "I refuse to be a slave to them any longer" he said.
Atlas sighed "very well if you won't come willingly then I'll just have to force you" he said as his hand snapped up the light glinting off the strange prismatic stone he held in his hand. "Cantazeron Sheoul xeiontalous" he shouted.
The swirls of color in the stone rippled and shot outward forming a shimmering porthole on the wall. "Come forth my servants kill the human and capture the Bearer" he said. The porthole convulsed and hell burst loose.
Zar'roc cursed silently as a dozen of the massive Hadorians and scores of their insectoid minions burst from the gate. He turned to tell Shika to run but stopped as he saw another porthole and another small army pouring out of it. Now his curses were audible as he turned back to a smiling Atlas.
"Let's see if you're still smiling after this" he thought. "Thanaman dial" he shouted as he pointed his sword at Atlas. A bolt of lightning burst from the tip hitting Atlas' hand and sending the jewel flying. Zar'rocs hand lashed out as flash of power shot from the jewel in his ring. The blast hit Atlas' jewel with the force of hammer blow and shattered it.
"Damn you" Atlas shouted as he realized that without the jewel he had no control over the porthole or the monsters pouring out of it. Then he smiled "it doesn't matter I'll still have you" he said as he pulled small orange and red jewel from his pocket. "I'll come back and scrape you off the ground when the Hadorians are done with you" he said as another pothole appeared.
"I don't think so" Zar'roc said as he swept aside his coat and pressed his fingers to a shimmering gold stone set into his belt. Light flared in its depths and shot outward flowing past the monsters and wrapping around Atlas and both portholes.
Atlas screamed in anger as he felt the anti magic of the sunstone and his portholes faded. "Now you die" he said as he drew his sword and waded into the fight.
Zar'roc cursed as he backed up so he was closer to Shika. "I have an idea but I need some space to do it. Can you fight" he asked.
"Yeah but I don't know how long I can hold out against these" she said.
"The Hadorians have a chink in their armor on the back of their necks that a stick could pierce" Zar'roc said. "And for the Cinicars just stay low and go for their stomachs" he said.
"What" Shika asked as she slashed the throat of one of the insect creatures.
Zar'roc sighed "back of the neck for the big ones. Stomach for the little guys" he said.
"Got it" Shika said as she dropped low and started slashing. The effect on the battle was almost instant. Before she could only manage to kill one or two Cinicars well dodging the others. But now safe below the movement range of their thin clawed limbs she was cutting through them and Zar'roc had to admit her was impressed.
"Focus" he muttered as he turned back to the horde of enemies on his side of the alley. His hand lashed out again a scythe like blast of power following its path and shredding the first few creatures. "Thanaman dial" he shouted blasting Atlas with another lightning bolt.
"Alright let's go to work" he said as tapped another stone on his belt. His outline shimmered and he blurred as he rushed into the fight. Fast as a demon and as destructive as a god's wrath he moved through the horde nothing more than a whirlwind of slashing blades and blasts of magic.
He leapt back as armored Hadorian wielding a massive spiked club came at him. "So you think just because your obvious weakness is covered I can't kill you" he thought. "Well if I can't hit you from the outside…" he let the thought trail off as he ducked and rolled to get inside the Hadorian's guard.
He came up and drove both fists into the creature's gut. It howled in pain and in that moment Zar'rocs hand snapped up and dropped three more of the small explosive celestite crystals into its mouth.
"Celtrain conserdia" Zar'roc shouted. The crystals detonated and the headless Hadorian fell. Zar'roc smiled as the effect of his actions reverberated through the enemy lines and they backed off slightly.
It was enough.
Moving quickly to Shika's side he sheathed his sword and drew out the ruby and serpentine.
"You know we can't win" he muttered as he came back to back with her.
"Well aren't you positive" Shika said.
Zar'roc smiled she was starting to grow on him. "You better be careful I might actually start to like you" he said as he summoned the power of the serpentine. It manifested as a thin milky luminescence that clung to his shape. "I meant we can't win like this" he said.
"Oh you actually have a plan" Shika said.
"Do you trust me" Zar'roc asked.
"Do I have a choice" Shika asked.
"You can die" Zar'roc said but even as he said it he was grabbing her wrist and extending the serpentine shield to contain her.
He palmed the ruby and shifted the shield so the deadly stone was on the outside. "Let's hope this works" he said as he ran his thumb over the smooth stone finding its center of power and bring it to a volatile level. "Imperium draconus incendia" he shouted.
Wind roared around them the sound louder even than a dragon as a fiery tempest engulf them. Zar'roc let it rage for as long as he could before he released the ruby's power and slumped against the wall.
Shika stared at Zar'roc her eyes wide with shock as she glanced between him and the rest of the alley.
After the fires died she'd expected to see the charred remains of the monsters. Zar'rocs fires had been so strong that there wasn't even ash left just a fine black film of soot over the walls and ground.
"How…" Shika started but stopped as she heard a loud groan.
Zar'rocs attention sharpened instantly as he straightened and drew his sword. "Come on out" he shouted as a black clump pealed itself from the wall and stumbled forward.
Shika gasped as she realized it was Atlas.
He was covered in deep seeping burns but he was very much alive. "You can't kill me" he said as he chuckled weakly.
"I don't want you dead" Zar'roc said sadly. "And I knew the fire wouldn't kill you" he said as he glanced at the dull piece of serpentine that Atlas held. "I want you to go home" he said. "This is the humans' realm and neither you nor any of the other Altanor have a right to disturb it."
Atlas laughed "and what of you" he asked. "Are you not Altanor yourself" he asked.
"To be honest I'm not really sure anymore" Zar'roc whispered.
"Regardless rather you consider yourself Altanor or not you belong to the Council" Atlas said.
"I belong to no one" Zar'roc said.
"That is for the Council to decide" Atlas said as he lunged forward.
Zar'roc dodged grabbed Atlas' shoulder and flung him backwards. Atlas groaned as he landed on his back. "Enough of this just go" Zar'roc said. "I don't need your blood on my hands to" he said.
"You will return to the Council" Atlas said as he slowly painfully worked his way to a sitting position. He hissed as he cut his hand on something sharp. He looked down and frowned at the scattered gray shards that glinted with prismatic light. Then he remembered Zar'roc shattering the jewel he smiled as he got in idea.
He grabbed the largest piece of stone a thin shard no bigger than his thumb nail and forced it into the slice on his hand. He hissed but didn't stop. Finally when it was all the way in he felt the energy flow from the stone into him as the cut sealed.
"I'm not done yet" he said as he climbed to his feet and held out his hand. "Cantazeron Sheoul…" Atlas started.
Zar'roc cursed as he realized what Atlas had done quickly he drew a small diamond from the pouch on his belt and fell into its power.
The diamond was the stone of light when activated it could create a steady beam for illumination or a bright flash.
But Zar'roc knew of the other half other the stone's abilities. He found the center of its power and pictured it as a plate balanced atop a needle. If he turned the closed end up it would create light instead he turned it down.
Darkness like a thick mist consumed the alley.
Atlas stopped as dumbfounded by the sudden darkness but he hesitated for only a second. "Xeiontalous" he finished as he summoned another porthole and brought forth another army of monsters. "Bring me the Bearer" he said.
The monsters hesitated nearly blind in the darkness unlike Zar'roc.
As soon as he'd conjured the darkness he'd pulled Shika behind a large pile of boxes and touched the cat's eye chrysoberyl on his belt so he could see perfectly in the dark.
He cursed softly. "There's too many of them" he said.
"How can you tell" Shika asked.
"Doesn't matter we need to leave" Zar'roc said.
"Why can't you just burn these monsters to" Shika asked.
"I'm almost tapped out that firestorm took a lot out of me" he said.
"Alright so we need to get away how if we move they'll hear us" Shika said.
Zar'roc smiled even though he knew she couldn't see it "then we'll out run them" he said as he rose. "Reaver out" Zar'roc said. There was a flash of dim light and the sound of hooves on stone "time to go" Zar'roc said as he extended his hand to Shika.
She took it fumbling for a moment before he pulled her up. Shika felt the unmistakable feel of a well worn saddle as she came to rest and felt someone swing up behind her. She thought it was Zar'roc but it felt like he was wearing armor which she knew he wasn't.
"Hold on" Zar'roc said to her. "Go" he said.
"Stop them" Atlas shouted as he registered the sounds of a horse. The monsters rushed into the darkness even as the thunderous sound of hoof beats started to fade.
Zar'roc and Shika burst from the darkness and Shika had to crouch low and close her eyes both because of the practically gale force winds the buffeted her as the horse ran and the sudden blindness from the light of the sun. She squeaked as she felt something zip past her cheek.
"Stay low their firing arrows" Zar'roc said.
"What about you" Shika asked. "I'm fine" Zar'roc said. "And besides we should be safe once we get a few miles outside the city" he said.
"Why" Shika asked.
"They can't get too far from the porthole and I don't think Atlas is going anywhere for awhile" Zar'roc said.
Shika nodded.
"Rest" Zar'roc said. "This nightmare's almost over" he said.
Relief flooded Shika. That mixed with the sheer physical exhaustion from the fighting made her more than happy to take Zar'rocs advice. She relaxed against the horse's neck and was asleep in seconds.
Shika groaned as she awoke. She managed to claw her eyes opened enough to see the orange sky above her. "Dawn" she said. "How long have I been out" she muttered as she sat up she and yawned.
She frowned down at the comfortable nest of blankets she'd been asleep on. "What the…" she started then she remembered everything. She remembered when she'd gone after Zar'roc in the alley. She remembered him disappearing and Atlas and his monsters taking his place. She remembered Zar'roc reappearing and saving her. She remembered the battle, the firestorm, and their flight from Whiterun.
Shika looked up and took in her surroundings. She was in a small grove enclosed by tall think trees. A small fire blazed close to where she'd been asleep and her bag cloak and daggers were laying next to it.
She frowned when she realized Zar'roc wasn't there. "Zar'roc" she called. "Zar'roc where are you."
In the trees above behind a web of illusions Zar'roc winced as she called his name. "You shouldn't have stayed" he cursed at himself as Shika shouted for him again.
"You're going to bring Atlas down on us again" he said even though his web prevented her from hearing him. "Why are you still here" a voice inside his head asked.
He'd told himself that he was only going to drop Shika here and then put as much distance between them as possible. But when he'd started to do that it had seemed too cruel. So he'd made the small camp and forced himself to leave.
he'd only made it a few yards before something had made him decide to stay at least until she was awake and he could make sure she was okay. Now that she was the rational part of his brain was screaming at him to run. To get as far away from her as possible to climb into one of the dark corners he'd set up across Tamriel and hold up there for awhile.
But still there was something that held him here some kind of compulsion like the one that had called him into the battle in the alley in the first place.
"What is this" he snarled. "I protected her, got her away from Atlas, and set up a camp for her" he said. "Is that not enough my lady" he asked.
"You need her" a soft voice whispered in his mind.
"She is human to bring her is to invite her death" Zar'roc said.
"There is more" the voice whispered.
"What" Zar'roc asked but the voice was already gone. Snarling to himself he broke the illusion web and dropped from the trees.
Shika whirled as she heard something and gasped as she saw Zar'roc and his appearance. No longer was he dressed in his brown cloths and black coat. Now he wore a suit of black leather armor and long coat similar to his black on only this one was covered in armor like ivory plates that looked like bone. His elbows and shoulders were incased in spiky spheres. He wore gauntlets with fingers that ended in razor shape claws. Beneath his coat she saw a black belt with a gold leaf shaped buckle. The belt was studded with various jewels and held a small pouch and his sword.
"How are you feeling" Zar'roc asked bringing Shika out of her shocked state.
"Fine" she stammered.
Zar'roc nodded and flicked his fingers against a crescent shaped scar on the side of his throat that she hadn't noticed.
She gasped again as Zar'rocs armor dissolved and he was once again in his normal cloths. "What was that" she asked.
Zar'roc sighed as he sat and leaned against the tree he'd been hiding in. "I suppose you have some questions" he said.
Shika nodded.
"Alright then sit down and we'll talk" Zar'roc said.
Shika nodded and sat. For a long time they sat in silence before she opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Zar'roc held up a hand.
"Before you ask your questions I don't want your mind colored by bias" he said. "So let me make one thing clear I know how much you hate them so rest assured I am not a Wood Elf."
Shika frowned at him. "How did you know I don't like Wood Elves" she asked.
"You talk in your sleep" Zar'roc said.
Shika blushed slightly in embarrassment but said nothing about it. "Well if you're not a Wood Elf what are you" she asked.
"I am one of the Altanor" Zar'roc said.
"I've never heard of the Altanor" Shika said.
"You wouldn't have. There are few of us outside our home. Only a scattering of military outposts and rare small settlements" Zar'roc said. "There is an ancient legend that my people lived on an island far beyond the maps of Tamriel until a portion of them migrated to where they now live" he said.
"And where is that" Shika asked.
"A place called Sheoul" Zar'roc said.
"I've never heard of Sheoul where is it" Shika asked.
Zar'roc was silent.
"Well" Shika said.
Zar'roc sighed "I won't lie to you Shika. You've been through more than most people deserve" he said. "I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities but I won't giveaway information that isn't mine to give" he said.
Shika nodded. "I understand" she said. "Can you tell me who that was who attacked us and what those things were" she asked.
"Those things" Zar'roc said. "Were some of the other denizens of Sheoul. They're called Hadorians" he said. "They're a species of demon at war with the Altanor. Though we've captured and subjugated many of them" he said.
"Demons live in your home" Shika asked.
"We do our best to keep the infestation at bay and keep it from spilling over to the humans" Zar'roc said.
"And what about the man was he a demon" Shika asked.
"You could call him that" Zar'roc muttered. He sighed "that was Atlas" he said. "My older brother" he said.
Shika's eyes widened "your brother" she said. "But it seemed like he hated you."
"Yes" Zar'roc sighed. "He hates me and wants me dead" he said.
"Why" Shika asked.
"Because Atlas is a dog of the Altanor's governing Council" Zar'roc said internally wincing at the half truth.
"Council" Shika asked.
"They are the oldest and strongest of us" Zar'roc said. "There are sixteen of them and they alone are word of law among the Altanor" he said.
"So why do they want you back so badly" Shika asked.
"The Altanor are deeply religious" Zar'roc said. "Our prime deities are Istra the Dark Mother, Orden Bringer of Light and Father of Creation, and Ishtara the Weaver of Fate" he said. Then he chuckled darkly as if at a private joke "and of course Talimosin the Harbinger" he said.
"That doesn't explain why they want you back" Shika said.
"I'm sure you're wondering about the magic I used in the alley" Zar'roc said.
"I've never seen anything like it" Shika said.
Zar'roc nodded as he drew out a small emerald and tossed it to Shika. "How much do you think that is worth" he asked.
Shika stared down at the flawless green stone that seemed to be glowing. "Priceless" Shika said.
Zar'roc chuckled "you're correct though not for the reasons you think" he said as he held out his hand. The emerald zipped through the air and back into his hand so fast that it startled Shika.
"To the Altanor jewels are everything" he said. "There are three types. The first are the common stones which we sell or use for other purposes" he said. "The second and more valuable type are stones like these" he said gesturing to the emerald. "We call them the Celestarium or Heavenly Stones" he said.
"Why are they so special" Shika asked still not understanding what his had to do with her original question.
"Get one of your daggers I think a demonstration will work better" Zar'roc said.
Shika nodded as she rose and grabbed a dagger.
"Throw it at me" Zar'roc said as he to rose.
Shika hesitated for a moment before she shrugged and flung the dagger.
Zar'roc smiled as he held up the emerald "enmastre" he shouted. The ground cracked as massive roots shout out and forming a wall in front of him and stopping the dagger.
He released the power and allowed the roots to retreat as he plucked the dagger from the air. He tossed it back to Shika who was staring wide eyed at him.
"Each kind of stone has a different ability" Zar'roc said. "The strength of the power depends on the size and purity of the jewel and the amount of power the user allows the stone to use" he said as he sat once more.
"Where do these stones come from" Shika asked.
"Deep in the mountains in the most remote part of Skyrim that we call Corona. There is a plain unadorned altar of black stone" Zar'roc said. "Once every seven hundred years four of the most powerful Knights which is the name we give to those who are masters of the stones are chosen to go that altar" he said. "One day before the seven hundred year anniversary they go to the altar and leave offerings to Istra" he said.
"After that they leave getting as far away as possible because during that night from midnight until two hours from dawn stones will rain from the sky" he said. "When it has stopped they return to the altar and gather as many stones as they can before dawn and in the rising light they seal these stones locking in their power. These are the only stones allowed to be taken from the altar unless they want to bring the wrath of the gods down upon our people" he said. "And that is where the Celestarium are from" he said.
"Okay what does that have to do with you" Shika asked.
"Years ago there was a great war raged between the Altanor and the other people of Sheoul" Zar'roc said as his eyes darkened with memoires. "The Altanor would win. We always do but we'd already sustained heavy damage and a large cache of stones had been stolen" he said. "The Council selected its four Knights and sent them to Corona bearing more than three times as many sacrifices as normal and a plea for Istra's intervention" Zar'roc said. "Among them was a child barely a day old when it was taken from its parents to be slaughtered" he said with disgust.
"They went to the altar and begged for the goddess' protection then they left and returned the next day expecting a large amount of stones" he said. "But there were none" he said.
"Angry the Knights went to the altar hoping to retrieve at least some of their offerings but they to were gone. Save for one thing" he said. "Swaddled in a cloth of black silk they found the child with arcane tattoos covering most of his body and the left half of his face" he said.
He winced slightly as the pendent around his neck released a pulse of searing heat through his body a signal that it wanted to be known. But he ignored it as Shika asked "what happened to the child."
"He was taken back to the Council in secret and they placed illusions on him to hide the tattoos" he said. "Then they went to the community and declared the child their property" he said. "As he grew one of the female members of the Council stepped in to act as a segregate mother" he said.
"The child lived a normal life until he was thirteen when his power surfaced and shattered the Council's illusions. He was taken from the Altanor for an unknown amount of time. When he returned he was declared touched by the gods and sacred to them and all of the Altanor" he said and laughed bitterly. "Sacred right" he said. "There was nothing holy about what they did to him. His life was a living hell" he said.
"How do you…" Shika started.
"They gave him the title of Bearer" Zar'roc said.
Shika gasped as she recognized the name from Atlas. "But how what about the tattoos" she asked.
Zar'roc rolled up his right sleeve revealing a thick almost manacle like silver bracelet studded with several jewels. He tapped a large chunk of smoky quarts and shuddered as his skin shimmered.
Shika gasped as great black knots of tattoos appeared as if rising from beneath his skin. She stared at the makings that she could see along Zar'rocs exposed arm. Intricate highly stylized designs mixed with a flowing script that seemed to be some kind of arcane formula.
Then she turned to his face and could only stare at the beautiful geometric designs that covered the left half of his face. There seemed to be some kind of pattern to them but all she could tell about it was that it seemed centered around his eye and tattoo that was wrapped around it. Most of the markings were midnight black but she'd also seen a few dull red glyphs on his arm. This marking was as red as fresh blood. It was shaped like an intricately designed dragon that curled around Zar'rocs eye socket before it doubled back to splay its claws near the outside edge of his eye. The way the claws were designed created the appearance three blood red tears.
"So that's why they want you back" she asked. "Because you're some kind of gift from the gods" she said.
Zar'roc was silent as he dropped the emerald back into his pouch and took out the ruby. He held it in his palm staring down into its fiery depths as he fell into its power. He let the fury of its magic burn away his pain and bitterness.
He withdrew from the stone as he rose and moved to the edge of the clearing so that the overarching branches of the trees covered him in shadows. "I've said too much already" he said with his back to the grove and Shika. "Now you have a choice to make" he said.
"What" Shika asked confused.
"You know too much about me and my people for me to simply let you leave" Zar'roc said. "So I offer you two choices" he said. "One is a quick death. Or I can take you to one of the many safe houses I have here in Tamriel. Once your there I'll see that you're taken care of" he said. "You can have whatever you want except freedom" he said and winced as that struck a chord in his own memory. "Knowing what I know now if someone had offered me this choice back when I'd first been declared the Bearer. I know what I would have chosen" he said.
Shika stared at him in shock even though she'd known this was coming. Then she registered his last words and knew Zar'roc would have chosen death.
That fact was hammered home a moment later as he whispered "a gilded cage is still a cage."
Shika's heart ached. She truly felt sorry for Zar'roc. He was a good person who'd been handed a bad life and she didn't want to make it any worse. "Maybe there's a third way" she said after a long moment of silence.
"Third way" Zar'roc asked as he turned to her. "What third way" he asked.
"What if I traveled with you" Shika said. "That way I can still have some freedom and you can make sure I don't betray you" she said.
Zar'roc heart seemed to freeze in his chest it was the conclusion he'd wanted her to make as it was the best of both of them. but in that moment as he felt the weight of destiny and the weight of both his life and Shika's fall on his shoulders he wasn't so sure it was a good idea anymore.
"You need her" the voice whispered in his mind and that decided him.
"You're right that's not a bad compromise" he said. "Is that your choice then" he asked. Shika nodded and relief flooded Zar'roc as he nodded in return.
"Playing the puppet master again Zar'roc. Perhaps you and the Council aren't so different" a voice in his head said
"Silence I am nothing like them" Zar'roc snapped at the voice before he returned his attention to Shika.
"I have a few more questions" Shika said.
"Alright" Zar'roc said.
"What happened after you were declared Bearer" she asked.
Zar'rocs eyes darkened as darker shadows Shika swore weren't there before seemed to flicker in the shadows of the trees and swirl around him. "I don't want to talk about that" he said. "Not now."
Shika nodded she expected it but she'd had to try. "Okay how about why were you captured by the Legion" she said.
Zar'roc sighed "well I was traveling around trying to avoid the teams the Council sent after me I used the stones to help as many people as I could" he said as he shrugged. "After all that's why they exist" he said. "Eventually the Legion heard about me and my power. Though they didn't have any specifics" he said. "I was in a little village I can't remember the name but one of the men was wounded in a wagon accident. So I decided to use the stones and heal him. One of the Legion saw me and reported it to his superiors" he said. "Later that night a group of soldiers caught me at my camp and took me captive. They drugged me and were going to take me back to the General" he said. "At least that was the plan until I escaped" he said.
Shika nodded smiling. "I was glad to see the Legion taken down a notch" she said.
Zar'roc frowned "why are you against the Legion I thought they were the great protectors of the humans" he said.
"I'm no friend to the Legion" Shika said. "They captured me and were going to execute me" she said. "But before they could a dragon attacked the town we were in and I used the distraction to escape" she said.
Zar'roc smiled slightly. "Resourceful aren't you" he muttered. "Was there anything else" he asked.
Shika nodded as she looked around the grove "I just have three questions left" she said.
"Okay" Zar'roc said.
"Where's your horse" Shika asked.
Zar'roc smiled "now that I can answer" he said as he rolled up his sleeve and pointed to a dull red tattoo shaped like a stylized horse. "Reaver out" Zar'roc said.
Shika watched as the tattoo dissolved into a wisp of smoke that pulled free of Zar'rocs arm.
It floated next to him for a moment before with a flash of light it transformed into a horse.
Shika stared at the massive warhorse. Its coat shimmered a strange pale color that seemed to be some kind of mixture of white and blue. Its tail and mane were made of flickering electric blue green flames. Wickedly sharp horns curled from its head. Its glowing red and orange eyes stared at her as it bared its teeth which looked more like shark fangs.
"She's a friend Reaver" Zar'roc said calmly as he stroked the horse's side.
But Reaver didn't listen instead he walked away from Zar'roc and stopped in front of Shika to tower over her.
Shika's eyes were wide with fear as she reached up to stroke Reaver's muzzle.
The horse snorted then seemed to relax as he nuzzled her hand.
Zar'roc sighed with relief. "Reaver to me" he said.
Reaver whinnied before he dissolved into smoke and returned to Zar'rocs arm in the form of the tattoo.
Zar'roc pulled his sleeve back down and touched the quartz to reapply his illusions. He sighed as the tattoos faded. He couldn't mask all of them though. Reaver's mark and the crescent on his neck that summoned his armor remained no matter what he did. The only other markings he couldn't mask were the glyphs on his back but he never let anyone see those.
"Your other questions" he said as he returned to his spot by the tree and sat.
"I know I already asked this but why does Atlas hate you" Shika said.
Zar'roc winced he'd expected this question but he hadn't wanted it to come. "As I said Atlas is a dog of the Council" he said. "He is probably the strongest and most cunning warrior they have outside of some of Orden's priests but I'll tell you about them later. He's proficient with the stones and has a near unbreakable will and determination that borders on obsession" he said.
"What does that have to do with you" Shika asked.
"As I said Atlas is a battle genius with a will to match but he's also not sane" Zar'roc said.
"What" Shika asked.
"When I told you the Celestarium only come from Corona that was a half truth" Zar'roc said. "There is another place" he said.
"Where" Shika asked.
"When one of the Altanor is born. An event that has been rare for centuries. They are born holding a single stone" Zar'roc said. "This stone is an indicator of the child's power. It acts as both a reservoir for the power of their soul and a weapon that can use that power" he said.
"Atlas' jewel was one of the strongest in history a stone known as Twilight's Revenge. He couldn't handle the power and it drove him from sanity and almost to the brink of pure madness" he said. "For some reason he blames me for it" he said.
"You said you didn't want him dead" Shika said. "Why."
"Despite his insanity and hatred of me he is my brother" Zar'roc said. "Before I became the Bearer and found out we were related we were friends" he said. "And for a few years after that he was one of the few people who would visit me" he said.
Shika nodded her heart aching at the pained look on his face.
"You had one more question" Zar'roc said.
"Oh right" Shika said. "I was just wondering how old you are" she said.
For a moment Zar'roc was dumbstruck by the question. He'd spent this entire time telling her about his past, about the Celestarium, the Altanor and their gods. Hell he'd shown her Reaver something he'd only done for a handful of humans and then only those he knew extremely well.
And now she'd asked him how old he was. The question was so mundane that he wanted to burst out laughing but his self control wouldn't allow that. But even it wasn't strong enough to stop a slight smirk from breaking through. "Truth be told I don't know how old I am" Zar'roc said.
"What" Shika asked.
"The Altanor stop counting age after their thirteenth or fourteenth birthday when their power surfaces" Zar'roc said.
Shika frowned "that seems odd" she said shrugging it off.
Zar'roc was confused by her acceptance of it until he realized why she accepted it. He mentally kicked himself as he said "Shika I think there's a part of the puzzle you're missing."
"What do you mean" Shika asked.
"Shika the Altanor don't count the years of their age because we're immortal" Zar'roc said.
Shock and disbelieve twisted Shika's face into an almost comical mask. "What" she asked.
"Understand when I say immortal I don't mean indestructible" Zar'roc said. "We can live forever and age and mature at a different rate than the other races but we can be killed. Grated it takes one a special kind of weapon to kill us or a near godly amount of power and skill with the stones but we can be killed" he said.
"Go back you're immortal" Shika said.
Zar'roc sighed in exasperation "yes I'm immortal and no I don't know my exact age" he said.
Shika narrowed her eyes in suspicion "odd phrasing" she said. "But you do know something" she said.
Zar'roc froze as she saw through his trick. "I know that sometime next month it will have been two centuries since I became the Bearer" he said.
Shika stared at him surprised by the number.
"Look you need time to think this over" he said as he rose. "And I need to rest. We were on the run through most of the night and I didn't want to sleep until you woke up" he said. "I suggest you rest after all we leave at nightfall to put as much distance as possible between us and Atlas. then I'm going to train you so you can survive in the war you've just stepped into and so you kill the army of Sheoulin dregs Atlas will no doubt have on our tail" he said. With that he leapt up into the trees and was gone.
Shika swayed slightly. Zar'roc was right she was tired and she did need time to process all the information he'd given her. Sighing heavily she crawled back into nest of blankets and closed her eyes. She thought over all she'd learn all the while trying and failing to sleep.
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