Cearbhail: Ok, did a new chapter, finally. This one turned out pretty good. Hope you enjoy it.
-Warlord Zeelius-
I was comfortable. My bed was nice and warm; my sheets were soft on my scales. I may be the most influential Argonian in all of Black Marsh, not including our silent queen, but even I needed rest and even enjoyed the tiniest bit of comfort and relaxation. As my thoughts started to pull me awake, I started to realize that I should still be asleep. So, why was I waking up?
I started an immediate scan of the room without opening my eyes. I long learned to remain in a sleep-like state while being conscious. I started by slowing my breath to almost a complete halt so I could focus on hearing every slight movement inside my room. Could it be that someone was attempting to murder me in my own room? It could be that easy. No one has ever been within our borders so an assassination attempt was long overdue. This could be my one chance to prove that Argonians were strong even when we're at our weakest. I could feel my blood begin to boil with excitement at the thought of killing my first assassin. I always issued shadowscales out to kill my enemies, but I never had a chance to kill another enemy's assassin. I relished the thought deeper at snapping a neck.
I began focusing on my ears, trying to take in every little detail. I could barely hear my own breathing, but I could hear the rain tapping gently against the water in the lake that we were under. I could hear the room creaking from the waves crashing against our roof. This entire building, heck…all of our important buildings, was submerged underwater. It was a failsafe. Argonians can breathe underwater, others cannot. If we were ever invaded and our building compromised, we'd just lock all the doors and flood the building. Even if they could use some Waterbreathing spell, we'd still outlast them.
I strained my ears and my breathing for over a minute, but did not detect any sounds of someone breathing, moving, or anything. It just sounded like the storm was down upon us. Which could only mean that I woke up because of the storm. But…why did I continue to feel like someone was watching me?
I allowed myself to relax further, not allowing my eyes to open. I was not ready for my possible assailant to know that I was awake. I focused on my nose, trying to smell something. I only smelled fear, my own it seemed. I may have mistaken my rise in blood pressure as excitement when it could have been driven by fear instead. As I prepared to open my eyes, I mentally prepared my hands for a blast of lightning. I opened my eyes and at the same time, rolled out of bed.
I landed on the floor, rolling to the other side. I reached for my concealed blade and spun around, scanning my room. It was dark, just as dark as I liked. I flicked my hand, shooting tiny blade of fire at my torches. The fire landed appropriately, lighting the room up instantly. I scanned the room again. There was still no sign of any intrusion. It could have been the Dark Brotherhood, but since I've supplied them with shadowscales for so long…they would not turn on me.
I stood up, shaking my nightgown to refit on my body. Having scales was a curse some days, especially when it came to simple cloth. The cloth gets stuck on scales and gets tears in it from any spikes. I was covered in spikes. I kept them dulled down just enough so that I would not put holes in my clothes, but that did not keep it from sliding up when I crouch and roll around.
There was something still bothering me, though. I could not shake it, but now that I was awake, I could tell that someone was attempting to connect to me mentally. I sighed as I crawled back into my bed. If I was going to disappear into an astral realm, I might as well be as comfortable as I could be. I grabbed onto my summon button and pushed it. Almost instantly, two shadowmasters teleported into my room.
"Sir, you summoned us?" Shadowmaster Yuvenni asked as she kneeled in a bow.
I nodded. "I am being summoned for an astral conference. You two will stay here and watch my body while I wander."
She nodded. "Understood, Warlord."
I closed my eyes, confident that my guards were strong enough to keep my body safe until I returned. I took the mental strand connected to my brain and pulled on it. I found my soul being pulled from my body as the mental rope started pulling away. I was being pulled into the astral realm. I wondered who wanted to chat. Maybe someone was going to attempt an assassination while I was outside my body. That would be a fun challenge.
A bright light blinded me so I closed my eyes and allowed the world to settle around me. I could feel the slight cool damp air on my scales as I opened my eyes. I was surrounded in a dark empty void with gray mist flowing around my ankles. Standing five feet away was Shadowmaster Julanza, dressed in his shadowmaster armor. The scaled-down shadowscale armor with the fabrics of the shadowwraith made him look like an evil battlemage, as such…he really was. He could fight with magicka and with his fists. He was the most dangerous Argonian I had; he was also my younger brother.
I nodded to my brother. "Julanza…you woke me up. Why?"
His eyes searched through me and it was a couple minutes before he stepped to the side. "I am ready to send my report on the Khajiit blood-rager."
"And this could not wait six hours?" I asked as I crossed my arms. "Even if you told me, I cannot issue you any further orders except begin training recruits for our counter-resistance. We still have no knowledge on the location of the ruin. Our Khajiit councilman has only begun to have his scouts comb the desert."
My thoughts drifted to our assignment. I could not just let my personal squad just sit down and do nothing. I had to keep them busy somehow. I did not create my special taskforce just train kids the art of swinging swords and shooting bows. I wish I had more to go on, but what else was there on their to-do list?
Julanza supplied my answer. "I overheard the conversation your daughter shared with the Khajiit. They have orders to rendezvous with a seer in Cheydinhal. I suggest we begin our journey to there at once. I overheard from their leader that this seer just came out of nowhere and that this person is some sort of wunderkind. I don't know what this person is a wunderkind to, whether it's magic, fighting, or just seeing. However, I'm curious." Julanza said as he turned away from me. I could sense that he was already becoming tense from this conversation.
"Do you fear that this seer could be a problem?" I asked. Of course, I had to consider the possibilities. A number of things could happen when a seer gets involved. The first thing was our security. Having a seer on our team could expose some of our secrets to that seer. My great plan to take over the world may become evident and the seer may do something to stop my ambition. But the benefits could include detecting traps and ambushes early, as well as finding our objectives that much easier. I could not pass up the opportunity to get this war finished as fast as possible.
Julanza visibly shrugged. "I do not yet know. A seer can see whatever they want. The stronger the seer, the less things that can be hidden from them. If this seer is a prodigy like they believe, our palace may not be hidden from it. This does not bother me, but it should bother you…considering your future plans. I am eager to meet this prophet in the hopes of beginning our own scouting mission to find this palace."
I began nodding to Julanza, beginning to see his point. It was just as I thought. My brother was a more of an actor while I was the thinker. He acted on his guts, while I contemplated my resources and formed a reasonable plan based on my known facts and pondered assumptions and worse-case scenarios. I finally dismissed it with a wave of my claw. "You may do what you wish with your information. If you feel it is worth leaving now, do so immediately. If you wish to overlook the training of the new recruits, you may do so as you please."
He nodded back. "Understood, sir. We'll be leaving at dawn then, with our without our new guests. I do wish to give you my report on the Khajiit now."
I let a sigh of annoyance escape my mouth. I did not care enough about that cat to have my sleep interrupted by him. I guess Julanza really had something to say if he thought it was important. "Fine, but make it quick."
"The subject has a tendency to be nonchalant and quick to anger. His outward expression is regarded in a constant state of guard. He never lowers it, not even for his closest friends or his sister. After considerable time to watch him and listen to him talk, I found out that he has a Bosmer that has a crush on him. I already stated that I plan on killing him later and if he at any time tries to interfere that I will kill the girl with a blink of my eye."
I stared up at Julanza. "You did what? You told him about your true intention?"
"Yes." Julanza nodded.
I shook my head. Oh, this was just perfect! Now, the only living threat to Argonia knows that we're going to kill him. Add that to the group of battlemages already within our borders, as well as their guild's leader right under our roof…we're fucked. Not to mention that seer that's one their way over. If something went wrong, we're dead.
I looked over at Julanza and said, "Very bold move, Shadowmaster. Why?" I hissed out. I wanted him to know I was displeased. I could not tell if he was affected by my ire. He'd better be.
Instead Julanza stepped forward. "The reason is simple: cooperation. Given the relationship between your daughter and this Khajiit, one that looks more intimate than teammates, I fear that she may have already warned him about the execution, which he showed me that he did when he smiled and said that he had no clue as to our true orders. By using the promise that his friend dies if he does not cooperate or warn anyone…we're assured that he will not create a problem to us."
I allowed myself to breathe before I commented on his brief. "Ok…" I said, turning to face him again. "How did he take the news?"
"At the beginning, he hinted to alerting his friends at our mission. After telling him in precise detail of how fast and how accurately I can dispose of his friends…all of them…he started to become defensive. When I left, he was on the verge of changing over, but something Nexa did kept him at bay. I believe her hug made him relax, although she had her dagger ready. That told me that she was prepared to kill him to protect us." Julanza's eyes were sparkling with pride. "I'm glad to see that she remembers her studies of offering support and a quick death at the same time."
I nodded in reply. "Yes, valuable lessons. Nexa still thinks that you're more of her father then I am. I suggest you use that relationship to make sure she stays on our side. I fear that Nexa may betray us again and if she does…well…you know your duty."
Julanza hesitated for the briefest of seconds, but he bowed down to me. "It will be done, Warlord. Is there, by chance, that we may spare this Khajiit, though?"
I stopped in my tracks and any comment. I just opted to stare at him in bewilderment. "What?"
Julanza shrugged. "You only meant to kill this Khajiit if he becomes a threat. If you are right and this cub is in fact part of something bigger, something scarier than any blood-rager we've ever faced, then why would we make it an enemy? Others might come and resolve our mistake. We might make an enemy far stronger than Argonia is prepared to face."
I nodded. "It is true. But…remember this. Eventually, everyone in our war room will die. The guild master for his guild…will die. His precious company will be reduced to nothing. We will take over all of Tamriel. When that happens…do you want that cat to be alive?"
Julanza bowed deeper. "I understand, Warlord. I will comply when you order me to."
I nodded back. "Thank you for the update and keep them coming…just not at two in the morning. Wait for sunbreak at least."
I dismissed the astral plane session and was immediately thrown into my body. I hit so hard that I fell out of my bed. I opened my eyes, happy to see that Shadowmaster Yuvenni was still waiting by the door with Shadowmaster Gizee waiting on the other side. The room was as silent as it ever was. Good, maybe I could get some sleep before my duties began.
I nodded to Gizee and said, "You two may leave now. I wish to rest."
Gizee and Yuvenni both bowed before shadowporting out of the room. I crawled into my bed and pulled the sheets up. I felt so tired that I could drift off for another six hours. I needed all the rest I could get if I was to mentally prepare myself for another war room meeting today. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift off.
"Warlord! You're needed in the War Room." I shadowscale said as he knocked on my door.
My eyes snapped open. I looked at the clock, seeing that I was an hour late to our daily meetings. Great…I just sullied our nation's name by being late to my own party. What could possibly happen next?
-Shadowmaster Julanza-
The sun rose quietly through the thick trees of Black Marsh. I have been all over Tamriel, from Summerset Isles to Skyrim to Morrowind. I've seen everything that there is to see. I've seen the River of Magicka; an ever flowing lay line that flowed like a river. The magicka poured in the most beautiful combination of colors that resonated at a state that no one could even begin to compare. I've seen the ancient Dwemer ruins that housed lost and forbidden arts. I've also seen the height of the world, talked to the Graybeards, learned their arts and appreciated the beauty of loud silence. Even with all those sights and studies, I still held one thing closer to me as the loveliest scenery …
The sunrise through the rainbow forest. Only called that by a few Argonians, myself included. It was a section of our forest that we held as a bit of a sacred ground. When the sun rose through the thick transparent leaves, you could see the sun shine through the various colors, creating a lovely scene of multi-colored lights. I don't care what I've seen or what I will see in the future. Seeing the sun rise through the dark purple, red, and green trees was still the most enchanting thing I'll ever see.
I heard someone approaching so I reached out with my magicka-induced third eye. I could feel Nexa approaching so I moved a little to the side as she came up to sit next to me. She sat down, not saying anything, but looking up at the trees with me.
This was an old tradition for the two of us during her training. Ever since she hatched, it was my job to make sure that she ended up as a warrior; a job that I took proudly. Seeing that she made the impossible choice of helping friends over our country was heartbreaking enough, but knowing that she had compassion in her brain and that she listened to her heart filled me with unknown joy. Still…I could not tell her of such things because I was not to support her attempts to betray us. And I would not allow my personal feelings to affect my professional perfection.
I looked down at her, happy to see that she was still smiling at the sunrise, her eyes filled with wonderment at seeing such a beautiful sight. I looked down at her and said, "I have briefed your father on our situation. He has made it clear to me that this is my mission, so…" I said. Nexa looked up at me, her eyes questioning but not daring to ask what was on her mind. "So…we're going to head up to Cheydinhal and find this seer. From there, we're using this person to find the ruins. If this seer is so great, then this war will be over before it gets any worse."
Nexa nodded. She stood up, her face all business now. "Roger, Shadowmaster. I'll brief our squad and the Battlemages' leader before the hour."
She jogged off, leaving me to watch the sunrise alone. I sure hope that she's ready to lead her squad because this was her final test. She had to do the rest on her own from here on out." I stood up and brushed off my cloak. Once we started traveling…I was not coming back.
Cearbhail: So, how did you guys enjoy seeing through Julanza's eyes? Did you expect him to be the way he was or did you expect just another gruff Argonian like Zeelius? Well, Zeelius grew up in the palace and learned that nothing is as it seems, so he grew up paranoid. Then the whole wife getting murdered by a Khajiit blood-rager and you get mister gruffy. Julanza, on the other hand, spent most of the time out on assignments for Black Marsh. When you travel the world, you tend to see things in a different light. As such, he's a little more grounded if not spiritual.
