~D~
IV. Aspect of the Dragon
(Ilir do faal Dovah)
The gray skies continued to empty snow upon those below, and the wind howled voraciously, the blizzard of white obscuring visibility. Sosvulzein balanced with practiced ease in the wild atmosphere, his eyes narrowed against the gale. The dragon looked down upon the men and women with it's yellow gaze, snarling slightly. Its large wings swept the air to support itself, creating a steady rhythm that reached the dragonborn despite the harsh weather. Slowly, it looked around, then turned its attention back to Miraak.
"Miraak, there appears to be a problem with your...kiibokin," the dragon stated in its deep voice.
The head priest saw some of the others beginning to edge back. Their shifts were like droplets of water moving for the river, intent on escaping the sandbanks where they'd be lost forever to the earth. How they will surely flee when the dragon's anger pours forth, Miraak thought. They were pathetic. He could almost forgive the dragons for their lie. How was a man expected to know the difference when most of them would rather submit?
He raised his arms. "On the contrary, Sosvulzein!"
He felt his power, strong and flaming just beneath his skin. He had a dragon's soul, snarling with energy. It was perfectly obvious now. He struggled to believe that he was only now feeling it, only now acting upon it. Until recently, he'd never doubted his allegiance to the dovah, though he had to admit to restlessness in the Dragon Order - the feeling that he had never truly fit into his respective role. And now he knew why; he had the dovah's very power, and he had a great destiny, as shown to him by the vision. He knew what he wanted. That feeling was the desire to fight and burn.
He would turn upon his unworthy master.
"There is only one problem." Miraak gestured to the beast. "You." He was pleased to see a puff of smoke emit from the dragon's nostrils, the serpentine eyes narrowed, and a scaly tail lashed the air.
"I understand now..." Sosvulzein said. "Miraak. Tell me, what young dovah has stolen my role? Tell me who you have pledged yourself to and I will burn him - taste his blood! I heard the Voice of a dragon call to me. A challenge! I will answer this challenge!" The dragon swung his head around, a growl rising from his throat. "Tell me, or I shall punish this insubordination appropriately!"
The others were tensing as if ready to flee, backing farther away. They knew that blood was about to be spilled.
Cowards, all of them. The smell of blood is a rally to battle, not a sign to flee. The fire burned wildly in Miraak's veins. The dragon within roared, wings raising. A blazing inferno leapt into its chest, his chest. Feeling the challenge, Miraak wanted nothing but to fight the other dovah before him. He wanted to crush it, to force it to recognize his superiority. How dare it look down upon me! I am superior! I am dovahkiin!
"Sosvulzein, you are mistaken. I called your name in challenge."
That provoked the other's confusion. The dragon landed heavily on his usual archway, just above the altar. The ground shuddered. It looked down, tail curling up in agitation. Anger radiated from it, twisting its mouth to reveal rows of vicious fangs, but its voice was surprisingly calm for an enraged dovah. "That is impossible...unless...yes, another would have taught you the Thu'um, for I have not. So, where is he?"
"No other dovah has taught me this. My Thu'um is as natural as yours."
"Miraak, I did not think you a fool. If it is true... Display your Thu'um, if you can." His words were terse, more impatient now than angered. Obviously, Sosvulzein did not believe him in the slightest and was just waiting for him to fail. All so he could devour him and continue on with his day.
Miraak was ready to prove his claim, though. He Shouted, using his newfound Thu'um, "MUL QAH DIIV!"
Those were the words of power the Daedra had granted him, and even if he'd never used them before, a part of him had understood that it would bolster his strength. Truly, the dragonborn was pleased with the results. He glowed with power, a faint ethereal-looking armor surrounding him, glowing bright even in the dimmed light of the snowy dawn. The armor had a swirl of ancient energy tinting it in the fiery colors of orange, yellow, gold, and crimson. A faint hum resonated from it, and it was low enough that only Miraak could hear it. He admired this power, seeing how the transparent armor seemed to be shaped like dragon scales with faint spikes protruding from his torso, arms, and shoulders.
The dragon above responded with a snarl, his purple-white hide shining with his vital energies. He reared his neck, looking down contemptuously. Sosvulzein growled, "pathetic, mortal. This false power you've found...I will crush it completely. " His voice began rising with renewed anger. "Now, all of you joorre shall bear witness to the punishment of defiance to me!
"Dir, vax!" hissed the beast. He opened his jaws and unleashed fury. "YOL!" Fire exploded forth from his maw.
Miraak recollected how he'd attacked Hermaeus Mora with such a Shout. That rush of power he'd felt! It was so strange how easily it'd come. He was prepared to match the other, who was underestimating him. "FO KRAH DIIN!" the dragon within roared through his mouth on instinct. They were words he'd heard dragons speak before, but had had no significant meaning for him until now.
An icy blizzard far more deadly than the current weather rushed to meet the flames. The air instantly whitened around it from extreme cold. When the two Shouts collided, the intense heat was pulled from the flames. The frigid blast flowed over the dragon's muzzle, and his scales began cracking from the dangerous temperature change. Sosvulzein howled and flew forward, his nose bleeding and coated in white frost. The ground shook beneath Miraak's feet as the dragon passed above him. The false god rose into the sky, roaring pain-filled anger.
"The joor's Thu'um is powerful!" Sosvulzein snarled in indignant outrage. "How could he be..?!" he trailed off, muttering fiercely in his own language.
The dragon's bewilderment was a first, though Miraak was not surprised by the false god's reaction. Of course it could not fathom how a mortal was so powerful. With this thought, Miraak readied himself. The enemy was about to witness just how much more powerful he'd become. He realized how truly incredible it was, and for a moment he felt disbelief, realizing how he was defying the one he'd so willingly served. Defying the beasts he'd been so ready to fight for for the rest of his life.
By now, most of the onlookers were retreating to the safety of the temple, but none left the fight. They lingered just inside the doorway, peering out nervously. They would watch on in fascination and fear, Miraak thought, as he slayed the beast of the sky.
There are no gods... There are only those who have power, and those who do not.
Miraak swung his staff around and unleashed a series of fiery spells upward. Sosvulzein easily avoided the attacks, ducking away and rising again, twisting from the burning magicka. He watched the dragon abruptly change course. The mighty beast dipped his neck, dropping headfirst towards his foe. Miraak broke into a run as Sosvulzein closed in, intending to escape the crushing claws.
"Zu'u fen gunaar hi ahrk ken hin sos!" Sosvulzein howled, reaching forward.
"And I will hang your bones in the throne room, deceiver!" Miraak retorted.
The dragon's attack missed by mere feet.
Sosvulzein crashed into the arena, snarling, skidding away from his target with the force of his descent. His claws left deep gouges in the hard stone ground. He twisted, sliding to a halt. He snarled, teeth bared, stomping forward on his feet and wings. Miraak turned to meet him, wanting to seize the chance while the dovah was on the ground. He was amused by how clumsy this supposed god looked now. He was a lazy dragon, not used to killing anything other than prey and prisoners - certainly nothing that fought back... Perhaps this fight would be even easier than he'd anticipated.
Miraak had barely moved when the dragon spat his next attack.
"GAAN LAH HAAS!"
Miraak was hit with a swift wave of power that nearly knocked him off his feet from its strength. Dizziness swam before his vision and he stumbled, gasping in exhaustion. He fell to his knees, trying to recover. Sosvulzein moved forward, jaws open, growling in a feral manner. Before Miraak could overcome the sudden drop in power, sharp fangs closed upon his torso. He howled in agony, the world rushing past him. The dragon whipped its head and released its hold. Miraak hit the altar near the arena, breath leaving his lungs in a rush. Winded, he blinked, feeling blood seeping into his robes. His sides ached, and he coughed laboriously.
"You shall be the sacrifice today, funtaas sonaak." The dragon hissed. "I have tasted your blood, and soon you will only know death!"
The dragon within him thrashed, wounded. Miraak struggled to stand, refusing to fall so quickly. The enemy dovah loomed over him, snarling. The scaly head raised, a glow brightening its chest and its fangs bare, gleaming with fresh blood.
My blood... It has been quite some time since it was drawn so easily!
The wounded dragonborn was angry from the pain, and an injured dragon was a strengthened dragon. Enraged, Miraak felt a sudden surge of adrenaline. He leapt to his feet, clutching his weapon, instinct taking over. Boldly, Miraak raised his staff, the dragon inside raised its wings.
The dragonborn Shouted, "SOS VUL ZEIN!"
A dragon name was also a Thu'um, he now realized, which explained how he had called the dragon to him by Shouting his name.
For a moment, the dragon froze, and Miraak knew his mastery of the Thu'um was true. If there were any doubts before, they evaporated. He was the stronger in suleyk, in dragon power.
"KRII!" He yelled.
The dragon staggered back, but the effect was not quite what Miraak had desired. He felt much weaker, too, using his unfamiliar powers. Sosvulzein, eyes closed in discomfort, broke free of his attack and lunged forward. His spiked nose slammed into the dragonborn and crashed him into the altar. The stone cracked. Miraak could barely react in his agony, crying out. Fortunately, the dragon's attack had been off, uncertain, no longer containing the force it'd once had. Miraak's gaze met cold, reptilian eyes. He saw the weakness and comprehension there; it knew he was more powerful, somehow. Miraak brought his staff around.
"MY SULEYK IS STRONGER!" Miraak thundered. The dragon flinched at the word 'suleyk'.
Using his remaining strength, he speared his staff down, driving it between those golden eyes. The dragon's head flew back, howling. The beast staggered, shaking itself. It lowered its head and clawed at the weapon buried between its scales. It flapped madly, trying to keep balance. The dragon crashed to its side and screamed in pain, thrashing, claws lashing out. The tail whipped, and the wings fluttered as it tried to regain itself.
Miraak slumped forward from the destroyed altar onto his knees, struggling to breath. He blinked several times, barely able to move. He felt pain burning the fire inside away. Blood poured from his wounds, and he could still feel the dragon's Shout still draining at his strength. Though a groan escaped him, Miraak pushed himself to his feet slowly. He leaned against the cracked frame of the altar, resting for a few moments. He found his ability to move again. He straightened himself, stumbling forward. The dragon's head raised, jaws opening. He saw the glow of fire within its throat.
"YOL!"
He summoned a ward before him as quickly as he could. The fire shattered the hasty shield. Miraak staggered, but stayed on his feet, eyes locked on the other. The enemy dovah no longer thrashed but was struggling to rise, its body trembling in pain. It braced itself, looking down at the rebelling priest condescendingly.
"Hi los Nid-Gein! Druv vogahvon zey?" The dragon seemed to laugh, voice cracking in pain. "Hi nis kron zey. You are mortal! Your attacks can do nothing to me! To Zu'u fraan faaz, Zu'u fen neh dir naal hin haal, joor. " Black blood dripped down its face.
Miraak pushed forward, his body filled with pain. Surely he'd cracked a rib or three. Or perhaps all of them. He turned his mind away from that and to his one goal - killing the scaley abomination before him. The dragon's legs collapsed from under it. The ground shook when Sosvulzein hit it, a testimony to the fallen god. The staff did more damage than he'd thought, apparently, or was it the Thu'um he'd used? It did not matter now.
The distance closed between dragonborn and dragon. Sosvulzein opened its jaws, snapping at him. The attack was too slow, too weak. Miraak slipped past it with ease, seizing his staff.
"Your time has ended, dragon," Miraak hissed. He stared right into the yellow eyes glaring in hate. He summoned all of his physical strength and drove the metal further with a burst correlating emotion. For a second, it caught. The dragon yowled, too weak to pull away. Then, there was a crack, and the weapon pushed forward with ease, piercing something soft and pliable. Miraak's inner dragon roared in triumph.
A horrible scream left the dying creature. It found the strength to thrash its head. Miraak fell from the movement, landing gracelessly on his back. He sat up, groaning in pain, watching the end of his enemy. The beast bellowed to the final second of its life. Miraak watched it writhe for several minutes. Then, the big head flopped still, crashing onto the ground. Dark blood continued to pour down its face.
It succumbed to the slumber of death.
You were not invincible, Sosvulzein. Your kind, I call thuri no longer! Miraak thought. He sat still, relief and satisfaction filling him. He breathed slowly, examining the damage done to himself. He recognized how his injuries were not as bad as they could be. In fact, they were becoming less noticeable with every moment. The Thu'um armor had stopped the worst of the dragon's attacks, keeping his internal organs intact throughout the fight.
Something odd happened, and it caught his attention. The dead dragon's scales and flesh began to shine brightly, as though illuminated with firelight. A crackling sound like the burning of a great inferno filled the air. Miraak rose, stumbling, curiosity overcoming his exhaustion and pain. He strode forward, limping slightly. He didn't slow even as he saw the bewildered gazes of the others who were emerging from the temple. The dragon's scales melted into the air like smoke, turning pure white, whispy in essence.
This is a dragon's death?
The essence lingered. He felt his desire to claim it. He indulged it, trusting his instincts, mentally focusing on it. The glowing brightness became a great wind rushing from the corpse towards him. The bones poured their power forth to Miraak. He closed his eyes and absorbed the feeling it brought.
Almost instantly his vision was swamped by voices, memories, impressions and knowledge - all that were not his own. They were ancient, as old as the dragon itself. The powerful feeling washed over him and he forgot about his wounds for the moment, relieved of pain. The last of the power absorbed into the dragonborn. He blinked slowly, realizing what had happened and feeling stunned.
He'd just taken Sosvulzein's soul! As impossible as it sounded, even in his head, he knew it was truth.
Miraak let his Thu'um armor fade away. He stood there, revelling in the last moments of his victory. He knew he was now that much stronger. His injuries were fairly well forgotten in the feeling of relief the soul had given him. He turned towards the others, nodding solemnly.
He'd won a great battle.
He raised his hands. "To the end of false lies!" he declared, his voice not as strong as he wanted it to be. My fatigue must be blindingly obvious, he thought in annoyance. What did it matter, though, they had just seen the truth.
He saw them beginning to kneel. They started to shift back their cowls. They reached for their faceless masks. They finally understood, he knew. He was powerful, and his destiny had raised him above even the dragons. He'd killed one and stolen its soul. It was something he alone was capable of doing. He could just imagine their shock and wonder at what had just happened.
How awed they must be! How they must see me now!
Then, his moment of victory turned sour.
"WAIT! THIS IS FALSE!"
Vahlok stormed forward, his robes billowing in the blizzard. He stopped by the dragon corpse's head, his gaze on the onlookers. "Are you all out of your minds?! This fool here has been consorting with dark spirits!" He faced the former dragon priest. "Isn't that right, Miraak?" he demanded. His hands clenched on something that drew Miraak's gaze.
Miraak noted, with sudden anger, the black book that'd led him to Apocrypha in the other's grasp. His dragon soul hissed vengefully. The dragonborn could not stop his anger. "Give that to me!" he snarled at Vahlok, but the other ignored him coldly.
He raised the possession into the air, instead. "Look at this symbol! It is HERMA-MORA!" he cried.
A chorus of horror-filled gasps rose into the air.
"How could you, Miraak?!" demanded a priest.
"We should have known it was a trick!" Another stated in a near-panic.
"The gods will punish you terribly!"
"They are not gods!" Miraak retorted, irritated. "Sosvulzein's bones lay before you. You just witnessed how I slew him like a fox!"
"With the help of demons!" Cried Vahlok. "The Daedra! The cursed beings of Oblivion! Tricksters and the masters of doom and death! They care not for anything but their selfish passions!" He flung the book he grasped into the bloody snow. "I would destroy this ill-omened object, but I do not have the means to." He dragged his gaze away from the book in the snow. He glared at Miraak. "What on Nirn were you thinking!?"
Vahlok, who was normally so calm, was raging quite openly. Miraak was mildly surprised, but more than that, equally angry. "How can you not see that you have all been lied to?" He demanded, seething. He could feel his wounds again, and was struggling just to stand up straight. His weary limbs shook in effort, but he ignored it.
"And you are a Daedra's tool now!"
"No, Vahlok...you are wrong. I am no one's tool... However, it is true that I did speak with Hermaeus Mora!"
There was a sharp intake from the audience.
"And we did not come to any daedric agreement or fiendish deal. I do nothing in his name! The keeper of knowledge and secrets merely showed me the dragons were lies."
"Wrong!" Vahlok snarled. "If you are so ready to believe the Daedra, why did you disbelieve the dovah?!"
"As if my logic is impaired! I was not deceived by the Daedra, like I was by the dovah! I killed the dragon, who before claimed invulnerability to my power! I am merely proving that a believed truth is a false lie!"
"Brash, young, stupid, arrogant... You seek only destruction and darkness to earn you name!" Vahlok exhaled loudly, venting. His voice abruptly dropped in volume. "It will be your end, and you will gain nothing..."
Miraak was almost too exhausted to continue arguing, but the reply burned forth regardless. "Destruction is our way of life, especially for those following the dragons! And you, Vahlok, bend your knees to false gods! You are a weakling!"
Vahlok seemed to have regained his composure. "I know that I do not walk darkness as you have chosen to. Darkness is the path to demise…"
Miraak turned to the crowd. "But what of you! Will you linger in the lie, or will you be delivered from it?!"
A loud muttering swept through them like a storm. He saw exchanged looks, though he could not read their expressions for the masks and helmets.
"I won't follow a Daedra!" A man shouted.
Several agreed.
Unbelievable! Miraak was speechless for once. Can't they see?
Vahlok took advantage of the lull to call, "return with me to the temple, brothers and sisters! Bromjunaar Gaard will accept you until this traitor is dealt with." He shot a dark look at the dragonborn, even though it was hidden behind his mask.
Miraak felt more than simple disappointment. There was a raging inferno of indignation burning from the inner dragon. It snarled and writhed, ready for another battle to prove its worth. It wanted to burn and destroy. It wanted more blood, but how would that help him now? In the midst of battle, his soul would not fail him. Here, though, he was outmatched in the way of cunning, human words. His idea of persuasion had always been a show of power. That had not worked this time. Somehow, he'd failed to prove himself.
Vahlok had still managed to turn the others against him… Miraak looked to the crimson snow where the daedric book lay. Because of that tome, he would lose his once-loyal followers. Without it, he may have won the verbal debate. Its mere presence negated whatever he might say. However, he did not regret bringing it. What had happened, had happened. There was nothing more to be gained from speaking. He could not change their minds. He was sorely tempted to spring an attack on Vahlok. Would Vahlok's death convince them?
No, if Sosvulzein's hadn't, then nothing would. Besides, he was injured. Another fight would be worthless and likely dangerous to him.
He began to realize he didn't need to care too much. Why should he? He was stronger than any of them. He decided he didn't need them and did not require their help. Before, they were just followers of Sovulzein, and if they needed a dragon so badly, then so be it. Let them go find one.
Curse them all! Let them be sacrificed and eaten in the name of their gods for their foolishness! "Return to your falsehoods, then! I cast them out." He declared.
"One day, Miraak...one day," Vahlok murmured, stalking away. "I must find my horse." He muttered like an afterthought.
The dragonborn watched the majority of his followers trek after Vahlok. Slowly, he limped forward and scooped up his black book from the snow, brushing the white crystal powder from its cover. His gaze ran over the symbol of the daedra.
If I must stand alone, so be it…
He raised his eyes, aware of movement nearby. He saw several others standing nearby, their gazes on him. He waited, curious and wary. What did they want now?
"What?" Miraak asked, his voice betraying weariness.
"As far as I'm concerned," said one. Miraak recognized Kreniik. "You took Sosvulzein's place...and this is my home. I will stay."
Another agreed, an older man in a guard's uniform. "Yeah, do they truly believe he'll grant them safety? They'll all be killed for even witnessing this!"
"Your loyalty will be remembered and honored," Miraak said. He found himself more thankful than he expected or let on. Now, he wasn't completely alone in his decision, he thought. He had a handful of followers and, if need be, the Daedra of Knowledge, accessible by the book in his grasp.
They would do.
.
End of Chapter.
Dovahzul translations -
kiibokin - followers
Dir, vax! - Die, traitor!
Yol - Fire(Fire Shout)
Fo Krah Diin - Frost Cold Freeze(Frost-Breath Shout)
Joor - mortal
Gaan Lah Haas - Stamina Magicka Health(Drain Vitality Shout)
Zu'u fen gunaar hi ahrk ken hin sos! - I will crush you and taste your blood!
funtaas sonaak - failure priest
Krii - kill
Suleyk - power
Hi los Nid-Gein! Druv vogahvon zey? - You are No-One! Why defy me?
Hi nis kron zey. To Zu'u fraan faaz, Zu'u fen neh dir naal hin haal, joor! - You cannot conquer me. Though I feel pain, I will never die by your hand, mortal!
Thuri - my overlord
Bromjunaar Gaard - Northern-Kingdom Sanctuary
