Chapter 3.
"I must ask, how does an archmage get so strong?"
"Push-ups, sit-ups and plenty of Strength elixirs" I told him as I slid my coffin into the back of his wagon. "This is where I leave you. Make sure he gets back to Winterhold in one piece"
"Are you sure, they will be fine?"
Bjorlam and I looked at my small troop of 'dead' bandits that tried to rob us down the road after Whiterun.
"I don't know much about conjuring, but I thought the resurrected only come back for an hour?"
"That's true. But I'm a little more powerful than the necromancers that experiment in caves with stollen bodies"
Good thing it was so dark when I made them. My risen dead bodies do last longer than typical conjurers. But in fact, those bandits were still alive. Made into Thralls of the vampire. Not that Bjorlam knew this. The important thing is that they'll scare off would be attackers but remove themselves from the wagon before reaching the city limits.
Whichever arrives first, the letter or the wagon. At least I can carry on knowing that Alfarinn will be given respects rather than rotting in the sun by the road.
Once the wagon with my coffin set out, I walked the other way waiting for the darkness to shroud me so I could start running to Morthal.
Then again, I have had a lot of blood lately. Enough perhaps?
Yes. The time was right.
In a way it always felt like falling asleep. My eyes would roll back and by body would become weightless, yet I'd feel every beat of my wings as my body shatters into a swarm of screeching bats fluttering over the wilderness of Skyrim on our way to my destination.
The cold harshness of Skyrim made each flap of my wings difficult, but I've travelled in daylight and that's something I did not plan on doing again. A swarm of fifty or so bats clinging around the trunk a tree scared of the burning rays of light. Farmers wandering by and stopping just to see the unusual spectacle.
Never again.
The rest of me and I circled the village of Morthal looking for an ideal place to land. City guards were all carrying torches, making it easier to spot them from the sky, not that I had issue with the dark to begin with.
The sawmill was where I chose to assemble myself.
I flew over the railing just before the pile of logs and as quick as I could draw breath my body was walking along the planks without a hair out of place.
The satisfaction of such an elegant entrance always showed in my stride and made me realise how much I missed being a creature of the night.
The college had me busy, and I did enjoy watching in secret as young students develop their skills.
Sometimes I'd walk among them as an outsider to the college. Only those I trusted were allowed to meet me as the archmage. I couldn't have children meet me on their first day only then hear stories about how I taught the generation before them and the ones before that.
Not until an elixir of youth is discovered of course.
Even Falion was a keen student of mine. Good talent but didn't like authority though. I wonder how that's come on since his resignation.
I knocked on his door. He'd probably be in bed but even so, he knows I'm not one for waiting.
"What do you want?" Asked a voice from behind the cracked open door.
"It's me"
"Havod?" The door shut and I heard locks being undone from behind before reopening. "come on in, do be careful"
I'd already entered. Took note of his enchanting station. Rather limited, but usable.
"You should learn Soul Bond"
"Is that a spell?" He asked.
"Sort of" I snapped my fingers and conjured forth the only weapon I consider worthy of such an enchantment. A straight edge sword with an Ebony grip and cross guard, Silver lining in the fuller of a steel blade fired and soaked with Daedra blood.
"Anyone touches the hilt without me giving it to them, the sword will vanish and return to my hand at my summoning"
"That's Amazing!" Said a young excited voice.
I was not expecting anyone else so I don't think to check. Sitting up in a small bed was a little girl looking at my weapon.
"Are you from the college?" She asked.
I looked at Falion. It's been a while, but last I knew he was more interested in his work than pursuing women, even then the girl bared no resemblance to him at all.
"Orphan" He explained.
"My mother and father died years ago, Falion talks care of me now"
I smirked. Falion hated authority, and yet he has the patience to care and tend to a child's needs. Interesting to see how far he's come in some areas but not in others.
"Can you show me more magic?"
"Go back to sleep Agni" Falion said before turning to me. "May we talk outside"
"But I want to see magic" Agni objected getting out of her bed.
Actually, her being his disciple made perfect sense. No authority or control at all.
"Hmm, one more spell. And then off to bed with you. Deal?" I said kneeling before her.
"Okay, what is it…" The girl collapsed forward before even finishing her thought, but I caught her in my arms and carried her back to bed. With the girl fast asleep and otherwise perfectly okay, I felt my end of the spell bargain was fulfilled. So Falion and I just carried on as if she'd never woken up.
"So. Falion. You seemed very serious in your letter. Whats it about?"
"The Hall of the Vigilant was attacked by vampires a just over a week ago. I know this because a lone survivor came to see me for help before heading to Riften"
"Fort Dawnguard I presume. And what did the Vigilants have that got vampires in a frenzy?" If it was just a feeding they were after, Morthal would be far more appetising. If the guards were enough to scare them, then Falion wouldn't have requested me for something so easy.
"They were looking for access to a crypt up the mountain. Some key to a prophecy is supposedly buried in the tombs. Believe what you will, Morthal isn't safe with vampires lurking so close"
Makes sense. Whether or not they find what they're looking for, mining is thirsty work.
"About this prophecy?"
"I know little about it. If I'm honest I'm tempted to return to Winterhold with you and look through the library for the answer" He looked over at the sleeping girl. "I know she'd love that, but I'm needed here"
"Indeed. So where's the crypt"
Falion showed me a map of the area and drew the easiest path to follow up the mountain.
"Dimhollow. Alright"
Falion wandered off to his enchantment table to pick up a small bag. I guessed it's contents before he said.
"If you could fill these, I'd much appreciate it"
"You would ask me to not only slay my own kind, but drain them of what little soul remains in their hearts?"
"I'll pay"
With that said I took the bag of empty soul gems from his hand and showed myself out. Off to Dimhollow Crypt to kill vampires, harness souls and have a good time doing it.
Before entering the crypt I went to the Hall of the Vigilant to examine the damage. The house was completely destroyed and smouldering away. Not only that, but there were death hounds laying dead in the snow along with piles of ash that obviously marked a dead a vampire.
"Immortal. Beyond dead. Inhuman. All of you were vermin" I spat as I checked the quality of their armour. "Masters? Slaying by old men" Falion was wrong to send for me. The Dawnguard could have sent a few rookies for the practice.
Anyway. I had a crypt to investigate.
The cave was pitch black of course as vampires don't need fire to see. But even without my eyes, I could smell their guard dogs.
They came at my whistle call, charging and barking with blood still dripping from their chins.
I cast a soul trap on them just before the first leapt forward wanting to crush my skull with its jaws. I lunged my sword right through his heart and heard the hiss of its skin hitting the silver. The second dog caught a decapitating swing while the first was still skewered in the middle. Ill-trained mutts. They got a good a death as any.
With a quick backswing, I sent the first dog flying off the end of my blade before sheathing it once more. I of course checked to make sure their souls were locked within the gems like Falion asked and sure enough, two of the gems were glowing. With a smile, I carried onward.
There were obvious signs of tampering with traps and implements meant to keep outsiders from going further into the crypt. But I didn't need to trouble myself as the first set of vampires took care of most of them for me.
As I stepped over one more dead vampire, something caught my attention to this one. The arrow stuck in his chest. A trap didn't cause it, the arrow was too new for such an old tomb. And it's design was rather short for a standard bow.
Even under the sour vampiric blood, I could smell human hands had held it recently.
I suspected Dawnguard. Falion did say the vampires were here for almost a week. Helgen must have set me back more than I thought thanks to those bandits. In fact, the more I thought about it. They might have been Silver Hands. That would make a lot of sense.
But the craftsmanship for this arrow was too skilled for them. So lucky me, two sets of vampire killers in one week. And I'll live to tell about it.
Ahead I could hear swords clashing and battle cries. I was missing the action.
I came to a staircase and…
"Oh, my…" The mountain must be completely hallowed at the peek to have a chasm this size to be within. "Dimhollow crypt. Now I see why"
Down at the very bottom of the stairs, I saw the battle happening. Vampires and Dawnguard going at it.
From the shadows unbeknownst to any of them, I cast more soul traps. I had a whole bag of gems to charge after all. Most people notice when their very soul is being prepped for harvest but they all seemed otherwise occupied.
I held a few empty gems between my fingers, watching them glow one by one as a soldier on either side below me fell.
I wasn't too surprised or impressed that the Dawnguard proved successful against the vampires. Actually, I was rather pissed off that my friend died trying to bring me here and I wasn't needed for this at all.
So much inner torment and frustration. Made me thirsty.
"you're lucky I have control" I warned the surviving Dawnguard members under my breath as I got ready to leave. But then I remembered Falion mentioning a prophecy of sorts. And now that I thought of it, even with the vampires all dead the soldiers were still hanging around near what looked like a ceremonial court.
One of them set their hand on a stone pillar in the centre of the room. Even from here I could see a sharp blade stab up and penetrate his hand. His yell of pain hit me shortly before the scent of blood.
As unexpected as that was to see, it didn't hold a candle to the rings around the pillar lighting up.
If I were a bit closer to the group below it would remind me of my early days as a mage exploring the ruins of Skyrim, back before I met with Daedra lords and became the vampire I am today.
The Dawnguard members drew their weapons as the pillar rose up from the floor, followed by a strange monolith that once settled opened up like a door revealing someone sleeping inside.
A woman fell out onto her knees, clearly weakened and disorientated.
"Please, I need a moment" She gasped catching her breath. "Where's… who sent you here?"
"Who were you expecting?" One asked with an obvious mocking tone.
"Someone, like me at least…" I saw her take note of the piles of sparkling dust filled robes lying on the floor. "Do you mean to kill me?" She asked them taking a step back almost backing into her sarcophagus once again. The Dawnguard kept their crossbows drawn as they closed in around her.
"We'll be asking the questions. Why were you sealed away?"
"That's… if you want to know the reason. Take me home. Please, I have nowhere to go, I'm helpless against you"
Such an evil woman. I observed and admired her mastery of seduction. The Dawnguard must be lacking in discipline to have sent such easily manipulated soldiers. Having control over others shouldn't be this easy.
"Where do you want to go?" One asked.
"My family lived on an Island North West of Solitude. If you take me there, I'll make sure you're each rewarded"
"Rewarded how?" Asked another.
"However you like I suppose, but first you need to get me there"
"Fine. You have a name sweetheart?"
Just for that, I decided new rules on any decibels I have should I ever feel in need of company on my travels. I need to be sure to break them in properly so no amount of charm magic can steer them away from the task I set them because watching these so-called protectors of the living give in to their enemy so easily was pitiful.
If she doesn't kill them after their usefulness has ended, I just might.
"I'm Serana, good to meet you all"
"You stole the hearts of these men Serana…" I whispered from my place in the shadows, drawing my knife to carve at the air between me and her. "wonder if I'll be forced to steal yours in return"
She got lucky. I came here to kill not talk, and these Dawnguard members gave themselves too willingly meaning she could have killed them right here right now.
I didn't come here to save the lives of anyone I found in this crypt, I came to kill them. However, the Dawnguard are more or less on my side even if they hate me. And the only reason I'm not killing Serana is that she hasn't killed them despite the chances they're giving.
I'm not here to save. But I might spare those I think are deserving.
That's why she's lucky.
If the Dawnguard hadn't given her that first chance to show her true nature and I had opened her tomb instead, my sword would have found her heart before she even opened her eyes.
