A/N: This chapter was uploaded on behalf of MalagBaal by his ever-obedient sister, Jenwryn. And he asked me to tell you this, as an explanation as to why he isn't answering reviews etc at the moment. The thing is, MB is travelling around up Northern Australia and, while he could get on email to send me this chapter, he couldn't upload it himself or come online properly to check up on what everyone else is doing. So... cheers, enjoy, and review, I guess!

Cutter

Cutter. She is the Crucible Smith, who is renowned for her skills and affinity with her blades. What she lacks in concentration she makes up for in dreamy mysticism. Despite this, she is the greatest swordsmith in Dementia, and is rivalled only by the Smith of Mania. Both have been known to exact revenge on customers who stray to their rival smith, and their feuding rivals that of even the Mazken and the Auriel. Quite remarkable.

Adriana didn't need telling twice, and she burst angrily out of the poky little shop. She strode up the street, dodging sludge, and kicking a stunted mushroom tree, breaking it off at the stem. She stopped and looked around the street. A number of tacky looking stores, several houses and an odd museum seemed to be about all that was here. Her gaze drifted around until it came to rest on the brightest sign there. Cutter's Weapons it proclaimed. Of course. The Dementia bladesmith. She sniffed the air, and grit her teeth. The disgrace, having to even be in Dementia, let alone visiting Cutter's store. However, she wanted a new blade, if possible.

The atmosphere inside the store was similar to that of Earil's Mysteries, but seemed stained crimson. In reality there was very little blood in the store, but Adriana was somewhat surprised to see any at all, but then she remembered – this was after all Crucible. She prowled around the store and realised that this store did not sell rubbish as she had always believed. The shelves were lined with weapons from all races and times, mostly weapons she recognised as being of Isles origin, and some others from various realms, several blades that had to be Demora blades, even a Crescent Blade. There were even some that seemed to be Tamriellan. The rest she did not recognise at all, and had names she couldn't even pronounce. She came to a halt in front of the most familiar item there – its label proclaiming: Auriel Longsword. The blade glimmered faintly in the dimness of the store. Carefully she lifted the blade from its slot on the shelf and held it in two hands. So long it had been since she had held a weapon of such craftsmanship… She looked at the strange writing up and down the blade. She couldn't read it, but it seemed to be some form of ancient Auriel… She swung the blade once, and felt the blade cleave through the air. A powerful weapon this was… She would have to have this blade.

She felt around her belt, and found the small pouch which hung there. She opened it up and felt around for the smallest of the gold nuggets she could find, and strode over to Cutter, who had been watching her with a look of amused interest on her strange face since Adriana had entered. Cutter was a tall, dark haired Wood Elf with a long face and short nose, for a Wood Elf. "A saintly Saint in my store…" she said at last as Adriana walked towards her. "And what a choice in blades…What kind of Saint needs a Saint's sword, when they are supplied to them?" she asked, genuine interest in her tone. "In fact, I have never even had a Seducer in my store let alone a Saint. Why are you here?"

"None of your business," scowled Adriana. She hefted the sword up onto the table. She then drew her longsword from its sheath and clanged it carelessly down next to it.

Cutter's eyes gleamed dangerously. "While the blades are mine you will respect them," she breathed out.

Adriana raised her eyebrows and growled lowly. "Or what?"

Cutter held her gaze "Or Glimmerspike will feed again."

Suddenly she felt a prickling on her neck, and she saw a long thin blade was resting against her neck. Cutter said nothing else, but the Madness Ore blade moved from its position up against her neck, and vanished back under the counter.

They both said nothing for a moment, but apparently came to an unspoken agreement.

"Now, you would no doubt like to purchase this blade from me…" she said. "This steel longsword will cover perhaps… hmm… one twentieth of the cost of the longsword."

"That little?" asked Adriana incredulously.

Cutter smiled dreamily. "The blood of dozens is imbued within this weapon," she said, caressing the Golden Longsword gently between her hands. "Great, great strength lies within it…"

She eyed the Saint warily. "I would not normally part so lightly with such a blade," she declared, "but on its soul I have seen your mark. You will use this sword well, and it shall gain what it lusts for… something it will not gain sitting on my shelf. Such a blade should not be kempt up, lying unused, gathering dust…"

"You talk as if the blade were alive," said Adriana, instantly regretting the comment. All she wanted to do was pay Cutter, and get away from this blood-loving mystic.

"In a way," she replied "all blades are. Take this blade…" she said slowly, picking up the steel longsword from the wooden counter. "Almost new, dead to me… It has claimed little blood as yet… it has no soul… This sword…" she said, patting the hilt of the Golden Longsword "…is ancient. It is a relic from one of the early ages of the Isles, from almost the start of Sheogorath's reign, the shattered prince… In this time it has strengthened, and taken a life almost of its own. It was originally forged to do battle against the Knights of Order – in the first Greymarch the Saints and Seducers almost overthrew the forces of Order with such blades, but when Jyggalag walked upon the battlefield all fell before him… Nothing could withstand his unbelievable power."

Wanting to end this speech on her blade's history as quickly as possible she handed over the gold nugget she had fished out of her money bag. Cutter took it gently from her and examined it carefully. Apparently satisfied with the size, or quality of the lump she slipped it into a pocket and handed the blade over to her. "Just wait here a moment…" she said. "I will go find its sheath." Cutter ducked out of the main part of the store. At that very moment the door to Cutter's Weapons opened, and a tall imperial stepped inside. He looked around the store, seeing Adriana and then quickly looking away. A large ornately lumpy blade hung across his back, its blade split in half, fashioned in the shape of a long, toothy jaw. It was short enough to be a longsword, but its hilt resembled a Claymore's and could easily be wielded two handed. Cutter walked back out from the back of her shop, and handed her the ornate sheath of the longsword. She bid her goodbye and wished her luck with the blade, and that it serve her well. Adriana took it and hooked it up to her belt, and sheathed her new sword. Even as she stepped away from the counter she heard Cutter give a strangled sounding exclamation of delight. She spun around to see the brown haired Imperial holding up that odd sword of his. She walked back up to the counter. "What type of sword is that?" she demanded loudly. No doubt Cutter recognised it, by the stupid noise she made.

"This…" she said pausing for dramatic emphasis "is an Akaviri Dreamblade." Adriana looked at the Imperial next to her to see if he knew what she was talking about. He shrugged his shoulders tiredly. "Don't ask me," he said and pointed at the Wood Elf. "She's the expert. All I know is that ages back the Akaviri attacked Morrowind, but they defeated them."

Morrowind she thought… Where had she heard of that realm? Then she realised… it was a land of Cyrodill.

"You're from Tamriel?" she asked him imperiously.

Cutter glared at her "You do know who you are talking to don't you?" she asked angrily. The Imperial looked slightly embarrassed and he was obviously just as surprised by this outburst as Adriana.

"No," said Adriana, in a tone that implied that she did not really care at all.

"This is your Lord Sheogorath's Champion," said Cutter loudly.

"Really?" asked Adriana, suddenly not only sounding interested, but also slightly disbelieving.

"Now," said Cutter "Leave." Bluish ripples flowed across the room, and before she could move Adriana was flung across the room and out onto the street. Sorely she picked herself up from the ground. She hadn't known that Cutter was anything more than a mad smith. She scowled at the wooden door as it slammed itself shut behind her. Certainly she had never heard that she had such powerful control of telekinesis. In fact, she'd never even seen a telekinesis who could do more than pick up small objects. Behind her came a low sniggering sound and she looked around. A short man, balding and dressed in the usual Dementia rags stood there, and he instantly adopted a look of ridiculous innocence and raised one bushy eyebrow at her.

"What's your problem?" demanded Adriana.