Durnehviir circled the ruin, examining his foes once before perching on the wall. Durnehviir's scales were a sickly shade of green. He seemed as though he was decaying, scales pale in spots and a grotesque liquid sloshing from his body in places. His horns formed a regal looking crown around his head and the membrane of his wings looked to have been torn and slashed a bit. The dragon looked down at his targets, scorn filled his eyes when looking to Valerica, mild curiosity was directed at Serana, and it seemed as though he gave Tsunar a look of respect as well as aggression.
"Hi volaan het." The dragon called. Durnehviir looked at the dirt and gave an order. "Diil, qoth, zaam!" His roar was focused into a purple wave that was sent into the ground. It rippled across the earth, lingering on a few spots. As the light faded, black skeletons tore their way up from the ground. Their bones gave off a black mist and their eyes were filled with a white light. Tsunar drew his saber and took a step forward. He stared down Durnehviir and gave his own Shout.
"Joor, zah, frul!" The Shout sprinted forth and latched onto Durnehviir, cloaking the dragon in a blue aura and dragging him to the ground.
Durnehviir landed with a loud crash as Tsunar charged forward. The Dragonborn's saber slashing through Durnehviir's summoned allies easily enough. As Tsunar came face to face with Durnehviir, the dragon let loose a wave of arcane frost.
"Fo, krah, diin!" Tsunar ducked behind his shield and stood strong against the Shout. Once Durnehviir's breath was spent, Tsunar hacked away at the dragon's face. The blue flames spread from each slash and burned away at Durnehviir's scales. Durnehviir swung his head like a battering ram and threw Tsunar away. The dragon raised its head and stared at the Dragonborn.
"Gaan, lah, haas!" Durnehviir's breath came together into a light purple wave that struck Tsunar. He could feel his strength being sapped by the Shout. Whatever words Durnehviir had spoken, they seemed to drain Tsunar's vitality. Tsunar looked up at the dragon to see one of Serana's lightning bolts strike it in the neck. Durnehviir growled as he turned to the vampire.
"Gaan, lah, ha.." Durnehviir's words were cut off as Tsunar leaped forward and brought his shield against Durnehviir's skull. The dragon seemed dazed by the strike for a moment before he looked at Tsunar. The Nord took a deep breath and felt his throat grow hot.
"Yol!" Tsunar's Voice left his throat as a burning flame that washed over Durnehviir's face. The dragon roared in anger as Tsunar jumped onto its head, hacking at the scales on its neck. Durnehviir shook violently, trying to throw the human off. As Durnehviir threw his head upwards, Tsunar allowed himself to be thrown into the air. As he came back down, he brought his blade down against Durnehviir's neck. The saber's steel carving through the tough dragon hide and becoming embedded in the dirt beneath. Durnehviir's body became bathed in a dark purple energy and seemed to fade away. As the dragon faded, so did his minions.
Valerica looked at where Durnehviir once stood in shock.
"I never thought I'd see the day when that dragon got killed."
"Not the first time I've heard that." Tsunar shrugged. Valerica gave Tsunar a curious look.
"Come on. The Scrolls this way." Valerica led the pair to what seemed to be an alchemy laboratory set up in a recess in the courtyard's wall. Valerica opened an ornate case. Sure enough, the Elder Scroll glittered before them. Tsunar took the Scroll and gave Valerica a nod in thanks.
"You should hurry back." Valerica said, waving away Tsunar's gesture. "Don't know how long until Durnehviir reconstitutes."
"Until he what?" Tsunar looked at the sky nervously.
"I highly doubt that the Ideal Master's intend to let Durnehviir rest that easily. It could take minutes, hours, even years for him to recover. But I can all but guarantee that he'll be back at some point." Valerica ushered the pair to the courtyard's door. Serana hugged her mother before joining Tsunar at the large iron gate.
As the gate shut behind them, a purple energy formed atop a nearby ruined archway. It seemed to be charged with dark electricity and gathered in the form of a dragon. As it became more solid, the sickly colour returned to Durnehviir's body.
"Divine's sake." Tsunar muttered as he reached for his blade.
"Stay your weapons." Durnehviir called, raising a wing. "I would speak to you, Qahnaarin"
"Why are we speaking, exactly?" Tsunar called back, cautiously moving his hand away from his blade.
"My claws have rendered the flesh of innumerable foes, but I have never once been felled on the field of battle." The dragon replied, a mix of shame and respect coming through in his voice. "I therefore honour-name you 'Qahnaarin', or Vanquisher in your tongue."
"You weren't so bad yourself." Tsunar replied, still skeptical. Durnehviir bowed his head.
"Your words do me great honour." The dragon looked up again. "My desire to speak with you was born from the result of our battle. I wish to respectfully ask a favour of you." Tsunar raised a brow. "For countless years I've roamed the Soul Cairn, folled into slavery to the Ideal Masters. Before this, I roamed the skies of Tamriel." Durnehviir looked at one of his half rotten wings. "I fear my time here has taken its toll on me. If I were to venture too far from the Cairn, I would surely perish."
"How can I help?" Tsunar asked, finally letting down his guard.
"I will place my name with you and grant you the right to call my name in Tamriel. Do this, and I will be at your side as your Grah-Zeymahzin, your ally, and teach you my thu'um."
"Just call your name in Tamriel?" Serana asked, confused. "That's all it takes to call you out?"
"Trivial in your mind, perhaps. But to a Dovah, names hold a special power." Durnehviir turned back to Tsunar. "I do not require an answer, Qahnaarin. Simply call my name when you feel the time is right. Be it in battle, or to simply let me free for a time." The dragon flapped its great wings, kicking up a cloud of dust and flew away.