Keeper Boloni:

The breakthrough came late at night – an achievement of a bound spirit, whose name is long forgotten to the marches of time. It's curious, isn't it? That one might forget their own name when in the thrall of something larger than themselves. To whom this spirit once belonged it was an idle triumph, one that she could neither appreciate nor celebrate. Perhaps that is all that needs to be said; but you are eager to hear the rest of it.

It was a fair moon in the tunnels before the breakthrough happened, and in that time Saraabi had been invited to the Anguish's side more and more often. He had had conversations with him that he even enjoyed, though he would never admit it to his colleagues. He could hardly admit it to himself. The creature was a Daedra – or at least half of one – and so he had an insight into the world that no mortal could hope to possess themselves, an innate understanding of certain aspects to life that to him seemed muddled and random. He did not tell him these secrets. Instead he alluded to them, and despite himself Saraabi was intrigued.

The discussion in the camp was centred around the breakthrough. Sontel learnt from the widowed Mahamne that the place the tunnel had fallen in was where her husband had first fallen ill. She speculated that the events were related, though she would not venture to the mine to see it for herself. She did not wish to see her husband's spirit in that state.

"The Anguish will be in high spirits," Saraabi said when the three of them had a moment alone. Milara, who sat nearer the lava's edge with her knees tucked to her chest, cast him a dark look.

"Does that make conversation easier?" She asked. Her companion made to retort, but Sontel cut in before the pair of them could erupt into an argument.

"We must be cautious," she warned. "Lord Vivec needs to hear of this. Whatever the Well is, it needs to be destroyed."

"Destroyed?" replied Milara. "It needs to be contained for the Gods. If the creature can use it for destruction, Almsivi can use it for the good of the people."

"That's not for us to decide." Saraabi pointed out, to which he earned another distrustful glare from his colleague. For a moment, he wondered if he could read murder in her eyes. It was true enough that since their arrival in the camp Milara's tone with him had turned a touch more hostile. Perhaps Sontel had noticed it as well.

"Then we send a message to our Lords and Lady," Sontel ventured. "The courier should return this afternoon. The Ashlanders should be too distracted with the mines to notice us."

Saraabi was about to propose a plan when the three heard a shout – "Tavik!" – sound near the verge that shielded them from the rest of the camp. He lifted his head to see one of the men high up on his tiptoes, as if he needed to be taller to be heard.

"What is it?" he called in reply.

"Lord Anguish sends for you!" he explained, and he noticed he seemed almost apologetic, as if Saraabi was a rung above him in the odd hierarchy the Ashlanders adhered to.

To the side he could see Milara's eyes darken and she murmured under her breath, "Of course it does." Her colleague ignored her as he rose to his feet and nodded at the messenger.

"I'll be right along!"

The man disappeared, perhaps with the last remnant of Milara's trust in Saraabi.

The Anguish welcomed him to his tent with tea and a meal. It smelt delicious, and when he settled into his chair he found that his companion did not dictate when and how the meal should commence; he simply told him to eat.

"This is an excellent day," he told Saraabi as the man sampled his stew. The vegetables were fresh and the meat cooked to perfection. He would have been hard-pressed to find better in Vivec City. "The chambers have been found. The Well will soon be mine."

"The chambers, my Lord?"

"The Chambers of the Well," he replied. "Powerful rooms that shape the Well's abilities and contain them to the mountain. My research suggests that the Well's old master – or creator, perhaps – sacrificed part of themselves for each room, to bind it to their will. This could be a fanciful tale. If so, the chambers have been hidden for so long that not even a Daedra could discover the truth."

He examined the Anguish's marred face for signs of annoyance, but there was none. He appeared undisturbed at the fact that he could not find out every secret of the world; and that struck him as odd. Did not every Daedra wish for more? Was it not their insatiable appetites that fuelled the torments of Nirn?

"This is the moment, Tavik – the moment my plans against my mother finally take shape," he told him. "There are many decisions to make for when Vehk falls, however. Leaders to forge, faithful to reward; even the children in my tent will need guidance after I march on into Coldharbour."

"They will not come with you?"

"Vvardenfell as you know it will be sacked, Tavik. For a rebirth to be complete, the old form must be destroyed in its entirety. When Almsivi is cowed under the weight of the Anguish, the faithful must repopulate and revive what is left. That will be left to the children when their time comes, and started with you."

Saraabi understood then, as he sipped his drink and nibbled at the food, for what reason he and the Anguish had spent so much time together. The creature stood and turned to the door that led out to the camp, ruminating some faraway thought, while his companion's heart thudded so hard against his chest that he thought he could hear it. His scars for a moment seemed to reignite themselves, and Saraabi was certain he saw happiness glimmer in his eyes.

"Once I ascend the throne of Coldharbour, I will reward your continued servitude; you will have a place at the side of a Daedric Prince. But, despite all of his shortcomings, my father is powerful. The battle for my crown will be long, and in my absence I must trust that my faithful are being properly led. I will entrust this duty to you."

"My Lord," he replied, and if he thought about it Saraabi would have realised how much easier it had become to say it. "It would be my honour."

"Good," said the Anguish, "for you will be accompanying me to the Chambers. Come, now. I have waited far too long for this."