Stone Dance
By, Sonsasu
Chapter One
Sitting quite comfortably, an old Dunmer continued to read Darkest Darkness, while outside a thunderstorm raged, beating upon the glass windows with ample water drops. Howling winds shoved against the closed doors of the West Weald Inn, causing all to fall silent, pausing in their jolly laughter and loud chatting to glance up, expressions of mild concern marring their features. However, once the sounds had died down, they would look to one another and then laugh all the harder for petty fears, this inn had stood strong for many a year, no need to worry just yet.
The Dark Elf who sat so silently in the shadowy corner of the inn, garbed in the Dark Brotherhood Robes, with a single candle lit, illuminating his ebon face, had never once ceased in his reading during the loud crashes of thunder. The rumbling roars making the entire inn shake and those in it fall deathly silent, their nervous tension filling the room with a heavy stress, but fear had no place in this Dunmer's heart. When you have complied with the wishes of the Night Mother and the will of the Dread Father for so long, nothing could frighten you, when you have practiced the arts of all magic, necromancy included, nothing can surprise or stir you to fear something as minor as a thunderstorm.
Reaching for the last page of his book, Lu'kiza halted in mid motion and looked up, standing next to the fire where the deer's head hung, a Khajiit cub stood shivering, drenched, and dripping wet, its tail wrapped tightly around trembling knees. Frowning slightly, he continued to watch the very small Khajiit kitten, noting the soaked golden fur gleaming in the dance of firelight and the start of brown dreadlocks, the tiny creature's head would have come no higher then mid thigh on any average Dunmer. The emaciated cub inched unsteadily towards the fire, the adult sackcloth shirt clinging to its frail body, dark material worn and torn in multiple places, yielded no warmth to the one who wore it. Lu'kiza cocked his head slightly, how had this kitten slipped past his acute senses, let alone opened the door without anyone noticing?
Another clap of thunder sounded outside, its booming volume drowning out all noise, a blazing flash of light flooding the inn, passing through the dark teal windows, blinding nearly everyone. Luckily, Lu'kiza had lifted his robed arm, book still in hand, but once pained groans floated from tables near and far, he lowered it, slowly blinking multi colored spots from his vision, he felt, much to an immense internal astonishment, a trembling form pressed against his legs. Wiggling now encumbered toes and looking down, he found the kitten, half-sitting upon his boots of soft black leather, its head pressed to Lu'kiza's knees, thin hands clutching folds of thick fabric. As if sensing the weight of a gaze, the Khajiit cub lifted its head, wide eyes of unusual blue encountering his stunned crimson stare, but, within that small stretch of time, the West Weald Inn had managed to resume life at full force, snapping Lu'kiza back into reality.
The cub mewled pitifully and the sound twisted something in his chest, it was an uncomfortable sensation, unknown to the world weary Dark Elf, this burning not unlike the need to protect or fulfill a given order. Reaching down, he brushed long gloved fingers across the ear tips of the Khajiit kitten and it was this simple motion that informed him…he was at a complete loss as to what to do. The cub blinked, apparently surprised from Lu'kiza's gentle touch, mewing again, it rose on unsteady feet before shocking the Dunmer to wits end. Using handfuls of cloth to scale him like a miniature mountain, he watched with a feeling of helplessness as the golden furred kitten finally reached its goal… Doubtful, Lu'kiza stiffened, stunned when his new lap ornament placed a cold wet nose on his chin, sniffing, but once finished the Khajiit began to tuck itself tighter onto the limited space of warmth. A fine chill radiated from the cub, scarcely penetrating the specially woven robe, where beads of water rolled from the damp fur, dripping from his lap, splashing onto the wooden floor, unnoticed. Gently placing the book on the table and pushing it to the side, beyond the melting candle, Lu'kiza possessed nine other copies of Darkest Darkness in his private library, let someone else have it…
The outside world diminished, ceasing to exist, the commotion and voices melting away, leaving the two in a pleasant cocoon of silence, blood red eyes drifted over the golden crown of the cub, perhaps it was Azura, collecting on Lu'kiza's dept… The sounds and smells washed back like a crashing wave, jerking him like a physical blow, his arms immediately winding around the kitten, cradling it close to his chest, prepared to lie down his life at the smallest sign of peril. Lifting his head and taking in every detail of the room, he found nothing out of the ordinary, but the sensation of danger prickled the fine hairs along his neck, it was time to leave, storm or no storm. Maintaining his hold with one arm circled around the purring Khajiit, he reached within the warm confines of his robe pocket, withdrawing one-hundred gold Septims, allowing them to clatter onto the small table of dark mahogany, he had more then enough gold to spare.
Rising from the chair, his arm tucked beneath the cub's bottom, its thin arms draped around Lu'kiza's neck, he strode across the room, boots of treated leather mute with every step, his robe blending in with the shadows of the inn. It was only until he paused at the door, where resting high on the opposite facing walls, were two candle sconces, casting down a yellow light and it was with this illumination that a Nord took notice of him. "Are ye mad Dunmer, don't ye know a storm is raging outside?" From the human's disrespectful tone short barks of laughter erupted from each table, filling the room with a false merriment, the deep voice that provoked the agitating sounds, ground on Lu'kiza's constantly limited amount of tolerance. Steadily the air darkened, dropping swiftly to an arctic temperature, smelling faintly of copper, crackling with the low hum of Destruction magic, like a fire dying, all fell deathly quite, one by one, both in awe and in fear…
A cold wet nose pressed against his cheek and a plaintive mew, thunderous in the dense silence, put an unwilling staunch on the hungry elevation of power, a strange sense of tranquillity placing a seal on its endless aphotic depth. Composing his manner and taking a deep breath, he spoke softly, each word precise, his naturally deep voice sending shivers slithering down the craven spines of all, "you would do well to hold your tongue whenever in my presence…or I shall remove it the next time I see you." Calmly the air regressed to its original shade and the unpleasant scent withered to memory, the biting cold replaced by their artificial warmth born from the hearth. The sense of dread that flourished from each of the humans created a malicious smile, which crept along his face, thankfully hidden by the fall of his black hood. Such low-blooded mortals should always devote respect to their betters, especially a short-tempered Dunmer and the heartless Listener of the Dark Brotherhood.
Waving his hand in an idle arc, brought forth from years of practice, he cast a spell of telekinesis, like having invisible strings attached to each fingertip, Lu'kiza curled his fingers, tugging open the heavy oak doors with a flawless grace. An intense blast of ice-cold air howled past his robe, bellowing the heavy cloth like thin silk, the powerful raindrops stinging his exposed flesh like tips of daggers, the screaming winds extinguishing all of the flickering candles, causing the main fire to gutter and hiss as its life was diminished. Brushing his hand over the kitten's face, its frightened mewl unable to raise above the violent blasts of air, however, the meaning did not fall on deft ears, Lu'kiza cast another spell, smiling as a brief purple glow covered the cub's entire body, a spell of reflection would be the kitten's momentary shield.
Not bothering to favor them with a backward glance, Lu'kiza strode out, allowing the darkness of the stone streets to envelop them like a velvet curtain. Now cowering within the room, illuminated by the faint glow of firelight, the last thing the humans saw was the angry crimson glint of his eyes as the doors slammed shut, rattling the West Weald Inn from the sheer force of strength…
In all the long years of peace and quite, resting blissfully in the city of Skingrad, the people had nearly forgotten who the old Dark Elf was…
Disclaimer-I do not own Oblivion
© 2007 I do own the name Lu'kiza and I claim my chars that I use
I hope you liked this story
It's my first time writing on Oblivion