Chapter 8- The Blood Feast

"The fire, the pits of fire, from these spawn the Demons, the Daedra, and the Death of all things good in this world. The sky will burn, the cities will fall, forests set aflame, lakes boil, hills brought down, ash will fall from the sky like snow and he will walk upon the broken world and laugh. Umaril was nothing, an ancient being with a vendetta, only half Daedric. What comes into this world now is far worse than him. And you must play a part in stopping it..."

"These thoughts are not my own."

"Nay, they are not. Call this a vision if you will, a message, a warning. Whatever you consider this to be, heed it, for it is important. We have set events in place for the heroes to make their stand, but every hero needs warriors. And you fought beside him before."

"He no longer wished to be him. It was a persona, a character, nothing more. And who is 'we'?"

"Surely you know? Who else could it be?"

"No. It can't. Not like this! I must be going mad."

"Could it not be said that all those who believe in us are mad?"

"Some Daedra worshippers and renegades would say so... but men before have said to heard you and have done terrible things in your name."

"We know. We did not wish that."

"I know. That is why you created them, but they were misused by some."

"We did what we could. And in the end they proved useful. They achieved what they were made for."

"Then what do you wish me to do? Seek him out?"

"Nay, you need not. His conscience will bring him back, but all we need you to do is be ready for his return. And be ready for what is to come. Awake."

Sir Thredret awoke suddenly, sitting up in his bed. The conversation he had just had with...what he thought he had spoken to was still vivid in his head, words and images flashing into his mind, of a city burning and a red diamond engulfed in flame. He looked around the walls of the Priory of the Nine, the rest of his companions were asleep. The new recruits were on guard duty, meaning the original Knights could get some rest. It had been five years after all, the original eight couldn't do everything. Thredret turned over and closed his eyes, and decided that it was best to discuss his 'vision' in the morning.

****

The Daedroth in front of Renault roared, and it was so powerfully terrifying that she stopped in her tracks and retreated slowly back. The Daedroth slowly paced to and fro, stalking his prey. At the sight of the other advancing Daedroth, Ilend had regained some of his sense and now stood back to back with Renault, sword drawn. Both Daedra stood a fair few feet away, eyeing their prey in the centre of the bridge and salivating at the thought of raw flesh. The Daedroth on Ilend's side of the bridge took one step forward, to which Ilend gave a small cry and instinctively leapt back, knocking Renault forward.

"Don't be a fool! Don't be scared!" Renault said feeling like the biggest hypocrite alive.

"Does it matter? We're dead meat!" Ilend said with despair.

The Daedroth on Renault's side gave a guttural roar, and bent down to charge at the pair, when a shout leapt up from the gatehouse. Marsus ran straight from the door of the tower, up the back of the beast and plunged both of his daggers into its skull. The Daedroth roared and violently shook its head around in pain, but Marsus still persisted, driving them deeper and deeper. Its eyes eventually rolled back into its head and it toppled over, throwing Marsus aside.

"Behind you!" he cried.

Renault turned and saw the other Daedroth was charging towards her, trampling the corpses on the bridge and sending up spewing puddles of blood. She and Ilend quickly leapt out the way; the Daedroth passed between them and skidded to a halt near the end of the bridge. It growled menacingly, turned about, roared and started trampling towards Renault. It swung a claw at her, but Renault sidestepped and aimed a blow at the creatures arm, but it deflected harmlessly off the steel-like scales. It swung again, but Renault could not move as quickly, and the blow caught her side, sending her flying across the bridge. She cried aloud in pain and stayed on the floor, unable to move.

The Daedroth then turned towards Ilend, lumbered forward and raised a claw. Ilend blocked the blow at the cost of his shield; it shattered at the force of the strike. Ilend stumbled to the floor, but a random swing of his sword caused an unintended gash in the creature's belly, from which black blood seeped. The Daedroth growled with pain, and raised its claw for another blow. Renault had been watching the scene with horror, unable to intervene. But the blow never came.

A silver dagger flew hilt first into the Daedroth's eye, making it coil back from the blow. From ground level, Renault saw a Marsus sprint towards the creature and grasping his silver dagger with both hands, ducking a clumsy blind blow, and driving it firmly into the creatures gut and hacking at it viciously, like an aggressive artist covering a canvas with black paint. The Daedroth gurgled, swayed, and then toppled off the bridge into the searing lava below.

Marsus helped Ilend back up then knelt next to Renault.

"Are you okay?" he said, his hands running over the dent in her armour.

"I'm alright...I think..." she replied.

Renault had never seen Marsus like this. The Marsus that she knew before was sarcastic, a joker, a moaner and pain in the neck. But battle had changed him. His face was grim, his voice serious, his eyes less shallow with deeper meaning. He put his arms around Renault, and helped her to her feet. She leant on him for a while, but was soon able to stand by herself.

"It's just a bruise, I'll be fine." She reassured him.

"Good, I'd hate for something to happen to you." Marsus said with a half smile. "Ilend, you don't mind if I take some of your fallen comrades' weapons? I could do with a long blade."

"Take what you will, they need it no longer." Ilend replied solemnly, picking up a battered shield to replace his.

Marsus took an iron longsword that had miraculously survived the Daedroth's wrath, and found his other dagger.

"Onwards and upwards!" he said gesturing towards the tower.

****

Compared to their previous trek through Oblivion, this journey was easy. They followed a large winding path, flanked by two cliffs of rock rising into the sulphuric sky. Marsus watched closely for an ambush, but none came.

"Looks like they threw their best at us on the bridge..." Ilend suggested.

"Don't hold your breath." Marsus cautioned, his hand hovering over his sword hilt.

The gross bulk of the tower loomed up closer and closer, until the enclosed path opened up into a small space in front of the entrance to the tower. It seemed to Marsus that this small patch of rock, cornered by four stone obelisks carved with runes, was some kind of courtyard for the Daedra, if they indeed had such civilised methods of military organisation. Then he looked up, and saw the tower in a different light.

Before, it had seemed like a cloaked figure in the distance, fear invoking, but not a direct threat. Now it seemed fearsome indeed. White Gold Tower was at least twice the size of this thing, but this tower had more presence. If one jumped from the top, they would not hit the ground; they would first be impaled on one of many spikes that adorned the tower, as though it were some huge magnet that only attracted bitter and vile shards of black metal. A thin bridge crossed the gap between this tower and another; similar to the gatehouse Marsus had been in previously, but the mere sight of the bridge made Marsus feel sick, as though the smaller tower was some evil child, attached by a corrupted umbilical chord to its demon spawned mother. Obviously his companions were feeling the same, Renault had her mouth open and Ilend had gone pale.

"Lets get inside; at least we don't have to look at it that way." Marsus said, snapping out of his trance.

He quickly leapt up the steps to the great door, and slammed his shoulder against it. The heavy stone moved slowly inwards, grating against the floor with a sound akin to nails on a chalkboard. When it was wide enough so he could pass through, he slipped in, longsword drawn. Ilend and Renault quickly followed him, afraid to stay outside. But if anything, the interior of the tower was more terrifying than the outside. A fountain of lava swirled around in the centre of the room, from which a column of searing fire leapt up through the tower by magical means. Around the fountain prowled a Clannfear, its head twisted towards the intruders in curiosity, then it let out a sharp screech before charging at the three. It ended up with Marsus' blade in its throat, Renault's and Ilend's in its side.

Around the perimeter of the circular room were three doors, all identical in appearance, with the same runes scribed into them as the door to the gatehouse had been. Marsus cleaned his blade and looked upon the three doors.

"That one." he said, pointing towards the left one.

"Why?" Renault asked.

"Because it's always the left one!" was the reply.

Marsus then strode towards it, and confidently pushed the door open with his free arm. It revealed a smooth ramp of polished granite, levelling out after a short incline. The ramp climbed up along a corridor, at the end of which was a dim red light.

"Careful," Marsus warned "There may be tripwires."

Each step was cautious. The end of the corridor held no enemies lying in wait, just another door, behind which was another ramp, curving round steeply, leading to a room with three black spiked benches, placed around a small fountain spurting blood. Inside the room was a Dremora Churl, cupping the blood from the fountain with his clawed hands and drinking it from his palms. His ears twitched, and he turned his head at the intruders. His eyes widened in surprise, and he bolted from the room, up another curved ramp. Ilend was about to follow, but Marsus placed his arm on his shoulder.

"Wait." he commanded, "He has gone to get friends."

"So we are just going to stand here?" Ilend questioned.

"No," Marsus replied, "I have a better idea."

****

The Churl ran back down the ramp into the room where he had seen the intruders. He had brought a Kynmarcher, two Churl mages, and several Scamps. As they entered the room, the Scamps sniffed around, and hissed with disappointment.

The Kynmarcher looked at the Churl with disgust and spoke to him in their evil language.

"Thou fool! There are none here!"

He struck the Churl with the back of his hand, sending him reeling to the floor.

"But there were! I saw them!" The Churl hissed back, nursing the scratches in his cheek.

"Where are they then?"

Then one of the mages spoke up, and the closest translation to what he said was this:

"They've buggered off..."

****

Renault and Ilend stood panting in the bottom of the tower, recovering from their sprint.

"Run away? That was your idea?" Renault said accusingly.

"It worked didn't it?" Marsus pointed out, catching his breath.

"Yes it worked! And now we are stuck here!"

"Actually, I think we might have a problem..." Ilend pointed out.

"What?" Renault said with irritation.

"Couldn't they smell us?"

The following silence amplified the sudden danger of their situation. All three companions drew their blades and turned to the door they had just run out of. They heard the trampling of Daedric boots and the padding of Scamp feet.

"Marsus, Ilend, get on either side of the door, I'll distract them!" ordered Renault.

Marsus was going to question Renault, but one look at her face warned him against it. He and Ilend crept up to either side of the door, leant back against the wall and held their blades close. A few seconds later, the stone door rumbled open, and the stench of Dremora and Scamps greeted Marsus' nostrils. A Kynmarcher walked through the door, raised its arm and fired a ball of red magika at Renault, who dived out of the way. The spell hit the pillar of fire and exploded, sending sparks all over the hall. The Kynmarcher then took his Daedric Warhammer off of his back, and swung it in a threatening arc. He ran further into the chamber, straight at Renault, who ducked the first blow, bashing his waist with her shield.

Two Churl mages stormed through the door, ripping staffs off their back and prepared to fire spells at Renault. Marsus leapt out of his hiding pace, and skewered the closest mage, whereas Ilend lopped off the others head. They turned and faced a surprised Churl and three Scamps. The Churl regained his senses first, and charged at Marsus with a raised mace. With ease Marsus parried the blow, but was unable to release his sword from the mace's grip. The Churl was grasping it with two hands, putting all his strength into the lock, but that all changed when Ilend intervened, and dodging fireballs from the Scamps he hacked off the Daedra's hands at the wrist. The mace fell onto the Churls foot, which added to the howls of pain erupting from the Churls throat.

The Kynmarcher meanwhile, didn't react to Renaults shield blow. He hadn't even stumbled back, just looked at Renault with evil intent, and struck her head with the handle of his warhammer, sending her sprawling onto the floor, her sword flying from her grasp. For Renault everything went black. The Kynmarcher readied his Warhammer for the killing blow, but the Scamps volley of fireballs crashed into him. Any other creature would have crumbled to ash, but the Kynmarcher's Daedric armour prevented that. Nevertheless, it was extremely painful. The Kynmarcher was temporarily engulfed in flames, and when it subsided his armour was burnt and blackened, he had dropped his Warhammer to the floor from the pain.

The howling Churl was stumbling around, black blood dripping from his amputated wrists. Taking the initiative, Marsus shoved the Daedra into the three Scamps, knocking one over and making the other two Scamps jump aside. Ilend leapt into the fray, striking one Scamp across the chest and letting his sword bite at the others neck. Marsus turned and saw Renault unconscious, the Kynmarcher picking up his Warhammer again. With a shout Marsus ran at him, his sword poised to run the Daedra through the back. But the Kynmarcher turned and deflected the blow with the handle of his weapon, piercing Marsus with burning crimson eyes. His armour was scorched black, only the deepest red runes were visible beneath the ash. The Daedra's blackened face was dull against the red eyes, like two red stars burning alone in a pitch black sky. Ilend meanwhile, executed the Churl and Scamp with one stab of his sword, his blade puncturing both Daedra.

The Kynmarcher knocked Marsus' blade aside with the butt of the Warhammer, then went to impale him with its spike, but Marsus dodged back, the spikes tip just scraping his leather cuirass. Marsus backed away cautiously, and the two foes circled each other, their weapons held in tensed hands. The tension broke with a swing from the Warhammer, but Marsus dropped to the floor, his sword moved with the speed of a whip, and found a gap in the Daedra's charred armour at the leg. The Daedra cried out and fell to the floor, his Warhammer clanged on the ground beside him. Marsus rose up again and put the squirming creature out of its misery with a stab in the chest.

Marsus slumped onto the floor next to Renault, leaving his longsword stuck in his recently vanquished foe. He held his hand over her mouth, and felt that she was still breathing. He brushed his long hair from his face and started calling her name. She stirred but would not wake. Ilend came over, and knelt beside Marsus.

"She's alive...right?" he asked.

"Yeah she's alive just not...upright..." replied Marsus.

He lifted her head and removed her helmet, her red hair tumbled out, damp with sweat and grease. He called her name again, and this time she stirred.

****

The blackness was temporarily dispelled by a flash of Marsus' face, but only for a second. It seemed to Renault she was lying down in some dark place, but she couldn't remember how she got there. She then heard her name being called, and her vision blurred back into focus. When she saw Marsus' face clearly, it had felt like no time had passed at all. Her eyes widened at the thought of the Dremora that had knocked her down was still alive.

"Don't worry, I killed him." Marsus reassured her.

He could obviously tell her worry from her facial expression. Renault relaxed, and then the full impact of where she was and how tired she was hit her, which didn't help her giddiness at being knocked unconscious. She felt her head, and found a lump on the side. Her skin felt rough and strange, as though she was touching it for the first time.

"Can you walk?" Marsus asked.

"I have no idea." she replied bluntly, and winced as a sharp pain shot from her lump.

"Lie there a bit then. I think the area's safe..."Marsus said, getting up.

"I'm not going anywhere." Renault replied with utmost sarcasm.

"Obviously well enough to be sarcastic..." Marsus muttered under his breath.

After a few minutes, Renault struggled to her feet, and almost fell back down again.

"I can't fight like this..." she confessed.

Marsus sighed and plucked his sword from the Kynmarcher's corpse.

"Well we have a bit of a dilemma here, don't we?" he said as he looked up towards the top of the tower, the column of flame illuminating it in a sickly red glow.