Oposculus Lamae Bal
The cold night air greeted them as they stepped from the elevator shaft. They emerged onto a snowy hilltop. At the foot of the steps they could see an array of tents surrounding a long dead campfire. Once they'd made their way down the steps to the campsite Emily summoned Arvak. The familiar purple fire sprang up on the snowy hilltop and Arvak stepped forth, bright eyes fixed on them.
"I think you'd better let me drive," said Serana as she helped Emily up into the saddle, "After all we went through to get the scrolls it would be a shame if we rode off a cliff." Emily stuck out her tongue at the vampiress as she sat down behind her.
"Good to see your arm hasn't effected your sense of humour," she smiled, putting one arm around Emily's waist as she picked up the reigns in her free hand. "Come on Arvak," she said as Arvak set off at a trot down the hillside.
* * *
It took them a week and a half to make the journey back into the Rift. They rode on towards the Fort, noting that the blue banners depicting the bear had been stripped away and instead ragged cloth swayed in the cold wind which signalled the presence of bandits. They guided the horse off the road and down into the birch plains. The sky above was lightening, the horizon turning to a vague pinkish hue.
"I think we'll have to find somewhere to stop for the day," said Emily.
"How about there?" Serana asked, pointing down to a rocky ledge which concealed what appeared to be a cave. They steered the horse down towards the cave entrance. It seemed to go quite a distance into the hillside and they got down off the horse. Moss grew heavy on the rocks around the entrance and they could hear the steady drip of water into a small pool. Serana tethered Arvak to one of the rocks and they ventured inside.
They hadn't gone far in when Emily felt one of her boots plunge into ankle deep water. She hadn't seen the edge of the pool of water in the near dark.
"I must say, my dear," she said, lifting her foot from the water and shaking off a cascade of droplets, "You have excellent taste in caves."
"Keep up that kind of talk and it won't be just your feet that get wet," Serana retorted, nudging Emily in the back. They sloshed on through the cave and saw ahead of them the faint light of a lantern. Here the cave angled round to the right and they left the water behind, climbing the dirt slope further into the cave. They came to a halt in an area lit by glowing mushrooms. Here they spread their cloaks out on the ground sand sat down, resting their backs against the wall. Finn, who had remained curled up in Emily's hood for a great portion of the journey, crawled down onto the cave floor and made for the water.
Emily rubbed at her arm. It still ached a little but she found she could wriggle her fingers.
"Why don't you let me have a look at your arm?" Serana asked, "It might have healed by now." She unstrapped Emily's arm from her side and lifted it into her lap to undo the bindings on the splint. As the last strips of linen fell away Emily cautiously lifted her arm from the splint. It ached but moved easily enough, perhaps a little stiff at the joints. She flexed her arm slowly in and out.
"How is it?" Serana asked.
"Much better," Emily replied, "Thanks."
"You should still avoid using it too much for a while," Serana advised, "And you'd better learn to wield your dagger left handed for a bit. Your arm will be a bit weak for a while yet."
"I can live with that," Emily replied, leaning back against the wall.
Time passed slowly in the cave beneath the fort. Throughout the morning Emily dozed, Finn curled up in her lap. Serana had long finished her book and decided to get a few hours rest. The air in the cave was quiet with only the steady drip of water to break the silence.
At around noon Emily awoke to the faint sounds of footsteps above. She sat up, looking up at the rocky ceiling. Lately it seemed to her they'd spent a lot of time underground. She resolved that once this was all over she'd go out into the forest or perhaps an open hillside. Anywhere but dank waterlogged caves. She looked over at Serana who still lay asleep. She noted that she still breathed as she slept, likely out of habit. Emily edged over to where Serana lay and shook her shoulder gently.
"I'm just going for a look around the cave," she whispered as Serana opened one eye.
"Alright," she replied, "Just don't go getting yourself into any trouble."
Emily got up and followed the tunnel further in. As she crept along the tunnel she listened. The footsteps seemed to be growing louder. She came to a metal gate which she found to be locked. Beyond it she could hear the sounds of slow flowing water and in the darkness ahead there was a pale pillar of sunlight shining down into the dark waters. A bucket bobbed on the water and in the centre dense ferns grew.
Emily pulled a lockpick from her pack and jammed her pocketknife into the lock, carefully inserting the pick and slowly rotating it, listening intently for the sound of the tumbler. Serana had taught her a thing or two during their journeys and when questioned on why a vampire princess would know anything about thievery she simply replied, "Some of my mother's best and most useful alchemical ingredients were kept under lock and key."
The tumbler clicked and Emily pulled open the gate. A mist hung over the water and Emily realised that some of the light was coming from the glowing mushrooms that grew on the walls. She figured that judging by the rope hanging down from the hole in the ceiling and the bucket bobbing about on the water that they were in the bottom of an old well. Off to her right she heard a faint trickling sound and turned to see water trickling down the wall from a sizeable hole in the wall. It piqued Emily's interest and she crossed the room to examine it. It was about big enough for a man to crawl through and a lantern was hung on the wall just inside. Emily braced one foot against the wall and heaved herself up into the hole.
The floor of the narrow tunnel she found herself in was damp and she did her best to keep out of it. The tunnel was about twenty feet long and came to an abrupt dead end. Emily swore under her breath, looking back over her shoulder. She sat up and abruptly banged her head on the ceiling of the tunnel. As she rubbed her head she realised there was something distinctly different about the rocky ceiling of the tunnel in this section. For one thing, it was not rock but wood. Emily cautiously pushed against the wooden board and it slowly eased up. She peered through the gap and saw a dry stone floor. She listened for over a minute but heard no more than the sound of rats scuttling across the floor and the crackling of a fire somewhere close by. Emily quietly lowered the wooden board and shuffled her way back along the tunnel, dropping back into the room with a splash which sent a swash of water up her legs much to her chagrin.
Serana stirred as she re-joined her in the tunnel.
"Did you fancy a swim?" she asked as Emily stopped next to her.
"You could join me," Emily replied.
"I'll pass," said Serana, tossing her a dry cloth.
"I've found something better than a lot of water though," Emily continued, "There's a tunnel up there. A tunnel that leads to someplace dry."
"This tunnel's dry enough," Serana replied.
"Yes, but this place as a fire," Emily replied, taking her hand and trying to coax her to her feet, "And stone floors. I think it must lead into the castle." At last Serana relented and got to her feet.
"Well, if we find anyone we need to…replenish before we return to the Fort," she said.
"And even if we don't we might find somewhere more cosy to sleep," Emily replied. Even with the thirst gnawing at her she was not particularly enthusiastic to slake it, especially in the manner Serana likely had in mind.
They trekked back along the tunnel to the cavern where Emily showed Serana the hole in the wall. One after the other they crawled in and followed the tunnel back along to the wooden board. Emily pushed open the board slightly and she and Finn looked around, listening intently. The room still looked to be empty so Emily pushed the board open and pulled herself up through the hole in the floor before turning around to help Serana up after her.
Serana dusted herself off, looking around at the room they found themselves in.
"Congratulations Emily," she said, "You've found us a nice cosy cell." Emily was about to protest when she noticed Serana was smiling. Serana pushed at the iron gate and it swung open easily.
"I guess they weren't expecting any prisoners," Emily observed as they crept through the open gate. They were seven other cells, all empty and a small storeroom where they found a supply of cookware and a few mouldy old carrots. Once they'd decided that there was nothing of interest in the dungeons they climbed the stairs to the main room of the prison. Finn was back in his usual position atop Emily's shoulders, staring about at the shabby living quarters. In the middle of the main room there was a scrubbed wooden table and benches upon which lay a few unwashed tankards and empty plates. There was a half collapsed set of shelves leaning against the wall nearest to them with a row of unlit lanterns resting on the top shelf. Ragged clothes of varying sizes lay on the shelves below. At the far end of the room was another set of stairs which led up to the upper levels which were cloaked in darkness.
"I'm glad my sight improved since you turned me," whispered Emily as they climbed the stairs, "Why do you think they've left this bit of the fort abandoned?"
"Let's not tempt fate," Serana replied. They reached the top of the stairs and looked around. Rush matting covered sections of the floor and the stubs of candles sat in iron holders on the walls. Up another two flights of stairs they came to a heavy wooden door. Serana pushed the door open and peered through. The room they found themselves in was long and more well-lit than the rooms and corridors they'd just passed through. Shelves lined one of the inner walls and an ornately carved silver horn splashing silver water into a silver dish stood upon the dresser.
"I saw one of those in the Temple of the Divines," whispered Emily, "Which divine is it dedicated to?"
"Stendarr," Serana replied, "God of righteous might and merciful forbearance."
At the end of the room was a single bed which stood next to a roaring fireplace.
"This is a bit more like it," grinned Emily, flopping down on the bed. Serana opened the other door across the room from the bed and looked in. There was a chest in the centre of the room, large and ornately decorated. Serana opened the chest and pulled out a large pouchful of coins and a few gems, depositing them in her pack. There was a bookshelf which caught her attention and she spent a few moments browsing the shelves. At last she picked up a book with a green cover bearing the title, 'The Mystery of Talara Vol. 2' and left the room, taking a seat at the wooden desk near the bed. Emily watched her from her position on the bed. Finn was already curled up on the pillow, bright eyes glowing in the firelight.
"Have they got books here?" she asked, pointing to the book balanced on Serana's lap.
"In that room over there," Serana replied, gesturing over her shoulder as she turned the page.
Emily got up and ventured into the room, soon locating the bookshelf. She picked up a book with a blackened cover on which were written the words, 'Oposculus Lamae Bal ta Mezzamortie.' The outlandish title intrigued her and she picked it up, carrying it back to the firelight. She opened it and lay back against the pillow.
As brighter grows light, darker becomes shadow. So it passed that the Daedra Molag Bal looked on Arkay and thought the Aedra prideful of his dominion o'er the death of Man and Mer, and it was sooth.
Molag Bal, that was the Daedric Prince Serana had once mentioned to her while they sat in the rented room of the Bannered Mare. She read on with interest until she came to a passage where the name, 'Lamae Beolfag' was mentioned. Her eyes scanned the passage and widened noticeably at what she read.
"Did you find something interesting to read?" Serana asked. Emily hurriedly closed the book.
"Uhh, yeah," she replied. Serana raised an eyebrow.
"The Lusty Argonian Maid by the look on your face," she noted with an amused smile. Then her eyes fell upon the book still clutched in Emily's hands and her smile vanished.
"Where did you get that?" she asked, snatching the book from Emily's hands. She flicked through the pages, a look of horror etched on her face when she saw the words on the page.
"I found it in the bookshelf over there," said Emily, pointing to the bookshelf through the open door.
"Hey!" she cried as Serana tossed the book into the fireplace where the flames greedily snaked around it, consuming it and heavy black smoke twisted its way up the chimney. "What was all that about?" Emily demanded.
"You had no right to go prying like that," Serana said coldly.
"Prying?" Emily replied in disbelief, "I picked up a book from a bookshelf, that's hardly prying. How was I to know it contained….that?" Serana sat down heavily in the chair and put her head in her hands. Emily sat uncomfortably on the bed. She looked at Finn who looked back at her. Emily shrugged her shoulders at the otter.
"I never…ever wanted to revisit that day," Serana muttered into her hands. Emily looked over at the vampiress who was slumped in the chair. Her shoulders shook slightly as she tried in vain to regain her composure. In an instant she looked small as she sat in the chair.
"Is that what happened?" Emily asked in an equally small voice.
"Yes," she said coldly, taking a shuddering breath. A heavy atmosphere hung over the room, punctuated only by the crackles and pops of the fire as it devoured the shrivelled remains of the book.
"I wasn't prying," Emily insisted, "I don't know about Daedra and what they do. If I'd known that book…"
"I'd rather not talk about this anymore," Serana cut her off. Emily sighed before getting up from the bed and crossing the room to the chair. She rested a hand on Serana's shoulder but she pulled away.
"Please, Serana, let's not fight," she said.
"We're not fighting," Serana replied, "I just…I just want to be left alone for a while." Emily crossed back to the bed and sat down. She picked Finn up from the pillow and sat him on her lap. He nuzzled her fingertips and she absentmindedly tickled him behind the ears. The heavy silence had once again filled the room. It pressed in on her and she felt as though she dare not break it. Serana sat unmoving except for her shoulders which still shook with repressed sobs. It was as though a chasm had opened between them, a deep black chasm with no bottom. Emily looked down at the sheets, her hands clenching and unclenching at the futility of it all. Her jaw was clenched and she wiped hastily at her eyes where the beginnings of tears were starting to form. With a small muffled sob she got up, placing Finn back on the bed.
Serana only looked up when she heard the door close. Her gaze fell on the fireplace where the fire had died down and she could see the blackened remains of the book in amongst the wood. She drew a shuddering breath as she looked over at the bed where Finn was still sitting, bright eyes watching her. She got up slowly and crossed the room to the bed. Finn looked up at her as she sat down. His gaze looked, to her eyes at least, accusing.
"It's no good looking at me like that," she said shakily. Finn tilted his head to one side.
"I just…I never wanted to revisit that day," Serana continued, "Those memories. Seeing it written down in that…that accursed book. It brought it all back." Finn put his front paws on her lap and she reached over, stroking his smooth furry head.
"Finally warmed up to vampires, huh?" she said. Then she sighed.
"I know I was wrong," she continued, "For yelling at Emily like that. I just…" She paused, "It's easier admitting that to you." She looked around the empty room, at the door to the book room still sitting ajar and at the fireplace.
"I thought I wanted to be alone," she said with a rueful laugh, "Guess I was wrong about that too." Finn looked up at her, whiskers twitching as he nibbled at her sleeve.
"I know, I know," she said, "You're right." She eased him off her lap and got up, making for the door. She opened the heavy wooden door and looked out into the hallway. It was empty and a sudden fear gripped her. She knew she couldn't leave by the door but there was always the tunnel they'd come in by. But even if she reached the tunnel she could go no further by daylight. But come nightfall, that might be different. It startled Serana just how much the idea of the Earthling leaving frightened her as she hurried down the stairs.
She breathed a brief sigh of relief as she spotted Emily standing with her back to the wall. This was short-lived as she noticed how one hand was clenched before her mouth and in the dim light she could see the tears rolling down her cheeks. Serana hesitated in the darkened hallway for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and crossed over to where Emily stood. She looked up when she heard footsteps and saw Serana standing there. For a moment neither of them moved or spoke.
Then Serana stepped forwards, reaching out to Emily, drawing her into an embrace. At this Emily broke down, throwing her arms around Serana. She felt Serana's arms around her, fingers catching in her cloak where it fell over her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Emily," she heard her say, "I shouldn't have said those things." Emily held onto her tightly, closing her eyes as she buried her head in her shoulder.
"I'm sorry too," she said, words muffled by her cloak, "I wish I'd never found that book."
"No, no, don't be sorry," Serana replied, "I overreacted. I was being unreasonable." They remained like that for several moments. "Those memories hurt," she continued, "But it didn't give me the right to take it out on you." Emily drew back, meeting Serana's gaze. She gave her a teary smile.
"Why don't we go back where it's warm?" Serana asked as she stepped back. Emily nodded.
* * *
"I was scared," Serana confessed as they sat by the fire.
"Of what?" Emily asked. Finn was curled up in her lap, dozing peacefully.
"I thought you might leave," Serana replied.
"Where would I go?" Emily joked but she stopped when she noticed the serious expression on Serana's face. She edged a little nearer.
"I was upset, yes," she conceded, "But I wasn't about to leave you. Truth is I was scared too. Scared you might not want to go with me anymore." Serana shook her head.
"No," she said. She reached over and took Emily's hand, "We're in this together." Emily smiled. They sat together in a companionable silence, watching the firelight until Emily felt her eyelids growing heavy. She glanced at her watch. It was a little past noon.
"I think I'll get some rest," she said as she eased Finn off her lap and got up, crossing the room to the bed. Serana retrieved the copy of, 'The Mystery of Talara Vol. 2' from the desk and opened it, leafing through the pages until she found where she'd left off. Finn climbed into her lap and there he curled up as she started to read.
* * *
Emily awoke to the sound of heavy footsteps. She sat up in bed and looked over to find she wasn't alone. Serana was curled up next to her, the book still lying open next to her, chest rising and falling as she slept. Finn was already awake and he scurried up onto the chair and from there onto the desk. He sat up on his hind paws, watching the other end of the room. The footsteps were drawing nearer and Emily shook Serana's shoulder.
"What is it?" she asked, looking up at Emily.
"I think we've got company," Emily whispered back. These words snapped Serana into full wakefulness and she sat up as the door at the far end of the room creaked open.
"Get Finn," she said quietly and Emily grabbed the otter up from the desk. As she did so she felt Serana grab her other arm. Then a strange feeling came over her. She felt fuzzy, somehow unreal and when she looked down at herself she could not see herself, Finn or Serana. Serana, not breaking contact for a second, tugged her to her feet and across the room to the open doorway. As she did so they saw a man coming towards them. He was dressed from head to foot in heavy steel armour and a heavy-looking greatsword was strapped across his back. Emily faintly heard the sound of a dagger being drawn from its scabbard. Evidently the man heard this too as he came to an abrupt halt, looking around.
"Who's there?" he growled, reaching for his blade. Serana crouched, motionless as the man moved towards them, blade raised. She felt Serana tense up as he drew within five feet of them. By the way her hand tightened its grip she had an idea of the expression she was wearing. It would be one of tight lipped tension. The kind of tension that sooner or later had to give. And when the man came within two feet of their position it did. Serana suddenly leapt up, kicking the man full in the chest. As she did so the contact between them broke and the three of them regained visibility as the man staggered back, almost losing his balance.
"Well, well," he said as he regained his balance, "Two little mice."
"I think you might want to rethink that notion," Emily replied, "Look, why don't you just let us go and we'll be on our way."
"I don't tolerate intruders on my patch," said the bandit, spitting into the fireplace, "We've only just finished executing those sorry bastards who occupied this place before us." He levelled his blade at them, "Looks like our headswoman has more work," he grinned, "She'll like that." He raised the great blade above his head and in that instant Emily unleashed a storm of ice which slammed into his chest, a thin sheet of ice spreading across his armour. Serana conjured an ice spike on her palm and launched it at the bandit chief. It bounced off his armoured head, leaving a sizeable dent in the metal and though this did not knock him to the ground, it caused him to wince and take a step back.
He recovered quickly, charging at them as he swung the great blade. They scattered, dodging to either side as the blade swung through the air, grinding against the stone wall and causing a cascade of sparks to rain down onto the stonework.
Lightning leapt from Serana's palm as she scrambled to her feet. It leapt from her fingertips and engulfed their attacker. It coursed over his armour, causing him to shake uncontrollably, loosing a horrific scream. His blade dropped to the ground with a clatter as the lightning surrounded him. Then he too crumpled to the ground, a dying gasp escaping from beneath his helmet.
Emily crossed the room to where Serana stood, looking down at the body of the bandit.
"I think we'd better leave," said Serana, "Is it past sundown?" Emily glanced at her watch.
"Sun set an hour ago," she replied.
"We'd better feed before we go," said Serana, gesturing towards the bandit.
