Elarie emerged from the secret passageway connecting Glowstone Hall and Raven Rock, only to hear the sounds of battle outside.
The Redoran Guard were fiercely engaged in battle with a group of mercenaries. Even some of the private citizens were out defending their home, the mage catching a glimpse of Glover Mallory expertly swinging a sparkly stahlrim axe.
"Elarie, the Bulwark!" Veleth shouted, spotting the petite Altmer emerging from the Ulen Ancestral Tomb. The mage could see a group of guards trying to keep more mercenaries outside the walls.
She threw up a large ward in front of the guards, shooting the Ash Shell spell she'd been practicing especially for Solstheim at their foes when she had a clear aim. Though not yet proficient, it was enough to give the Guard an advantage to disarm their opponents.
The fighting soon grew quiet. Bodies littered the paths, the Redoran Guard as a whole exhausted. Veleth approached the mage.
"I think we've got most of them," the captain said. "Except for the ones that were on the other side of the Bulwark. They'll probably look for Sero again, they must have realized that he wasn't here."
"There are more coming," she told the captain, showing him the note she'd found earlier. She was worried about Teldryn – there were so many bandits on his trail. Sigrun meant business this time. "We'll be ready," the captain told her.
Veleth escorted her home. "You showed up in the nick of time," he said as they walked. "The bandits descended on the town suddenly – from all sides. A coordinated attack is something we could've done without."
The mage frowned. "This is a huge effort just to get Teldryn," she said. "Something doesn't seem right."
"We believe," the captain told her, "that the stakes got higher once Brunwulf Free-Winter became Jarl of Windhelm. If Sero can be branded as Vodun Free-Winter's murderer, there may be enough scandal that Brunwulf, as Sero's defender, would have to step down, leaving Sigrun as the only Free-Winter left and thus a claim to the throne."
Elarie was shocked. "How do you know all this?"
"We investigated the Sea Tiger when the signs went up," Veleth replied. "Knowing Sero's history with the Free-Winters, we were able to put the pieces together.
"Unofficially, the Redoran Council looks forward to working with the new Jarl. He's long been an advocate of the Dunmer there. Our ties with the city are still close, and with Windhelm being the nearest city in Skyrim to us and to our capitol of Blacklight, we believe supporting him is a cause worth fighting for. So we do what we can from here."
He smiled ruefully at the mage. "Not exactly what you signed on for when you arrived," he said. "When Sero said you were returning for protection, we didn't know the extent of this. When we did, you were already on your way and he was adamant about keeping you out of the fight. Your life is already in danger, he didn't want the danger to increase. But Geldis and I hoped that you would help. There are few mages here, and your assistance is invaluable, as it has been in the past." He gestured to the main road below Severin Manor, where the Guard were already clearing away bodies. "As evidenced again today."
The petite Altmer nodded. "I can't cower in a corner," she said. "I am happy to help."
The guard captain smiled, and suggested she get some rest while she could, before turning back to the clean up effort.
•••••
The sun had not been up an hour when Elarie went to the Retching Netch to see if Veleth had any new information. He was inside with Dreyla, and he reported nothing new during the night. But Dreyla told the mage that there had been a few people she didn't recognize in the cornerclub, so she had casually mentioned that Sero might be at Tel Mithryn. "They wouldn't dare attack Master Neloth," she said. Veleth beamed at her. She'd bought the Guard time to regroup for the next attack.
Elarie thanked them for the information, and set out for Tel Mithryn to see if they had indeed been attacked, and to see if she could convince the Telvanni wizard to help them find the Sea Tiger.
She'd just reached the wizard's mushroom tower when she heard the arrow whizzing past her. She threw up a ward and turned, counting about five mercenaries headed her way. She quickly ran into the Tower.
Neloth was engrossed in an experiment and refused to speak, but Talvas readied his spells to help. The two mages headed outside, the apprentice mage conjuring a Frost Atronach to assist.
The fight wasn't fair – to the mercenaries. The two mages quickly overpowered them. Talvas had attacked them head on with his destruction spells and atronachs, distracting them enough for Elarie to use her arrows from behind the mushroom tower to take them down from distance. She'd used wards to help protect Talvas from shock spells, until she could fire her arrows again. Once routed, they returned to the tower, finding Neloth waiting impatiently for them.
"It's about time you got back," the wizard grumbled to Talvas. "I need you to fetch my tea."
The apprentice apologized and hurried off to comply. The wizard then faced the petite Altmer, who dropped her best court curtsy to him.
"I also add my apologies," she said in her formal voice. "There was a band of mercenaries outside and Talvas was a great help protecting Tel Mithryn."
The wizard harrumphed. "They would never harm my settlement, lest they face me," he said. He eyed her again. "But I suppose," he said with exaggerated tones, "that Talvas did tolerably well and I should thank you for your concern. I know why you're here, of course. That blithering idiot has really made a mess of things this time, going to Windhelm."
"Do you mean Teldryn?" Elarie was surprised.
The wizard nodded. "Of course! That helmeted fool has been looking for that ship for years. But they found him first."
Elarie thought back. Of course. During her first visit to Tel Mithryn, Sero and Neloth were talking about pirates. She hadn't paid much attention to their conversation at the time. "Are you already assisting the search for the ship?" she asked the wizard.
Neloth looked sternly at her. "Are you an imbecile? Didn't you understand a word I just said?" he asked snippily. "I've been helping him for years. But I should see the ship now, they must be close."
He cast a divination spell, and looked a little surprised at the result. "Head to the south," he said. "You'll find something." In thanks, Elarie curtsied the wizard with a flourish, which he accepted. "Glad to see someone can still recognize greatness," he said, somewhat appeased. Then Talvas returned with his tea, and the master wizard took the cup and walked off, already forgetting she was there.
Elarie thanked Talvas again for his help before taking her leave, the apprentice mage pleased to receive her gratitude. She then headed south as Neloth instructed.
•••••
She found a hired pirate near death. "You should see the other guy," he wheezed in between coughs, taking her for another of their band. "He must have left a trail of blood, if you want to find him." He indicated the general direction of the entrance to Glowstone Hall, laughing, before lying still against the rocks.
The mage set off immediately for the underground Hall, greatly concerned for Teldryn. She hurried to the secret entrance, quickly letting herself through the trap door. She couldn't see any blood, which relieved her a little.
She found the mercenary hurt, and breathing heavily. His magicka wasn't regenerating as quickly as usual, and she cast Heal Other a few times until he looked more like his normal self. He complained about the pirates, bandits and mercenaries. "They're worse than the vermin from the ash," he said bitterly.
Elarie looked sternly at him. "I'll take you back to Raven Rock," she said. "You need some proper rest. There's a reprieve in the fighting. Where's Geldis?"
"We got separated," the Dunmer said. "Let's check the Retching Netch."
The mage led the way to the passageway connecting Glowstone Hall to Raven Rock, grasping the mercenary's hand when the path narrowed. Elarie felt the slight hesitation at her touch, before he gripped it and followed, letting go only to get through the trap door.
The cornerclub proprietor wasn't in when they got there, but Veleth was. The two Dunmer faced each other, the captain informing the mercenary of the attacks on Raven Rock and the mercenary unwilling to show he had been hurt but unable to help, making him more surly than usual. He soon walked away, leaving Elarie to tell the captain they would let him know if they found any further information.
The mage followed Teldryn to the guest rooms of the cornerclub. She already knew that rest was no longer on his mind, he was leaning against a wall with his arms folded over his chest. "It feels odd to be back here after so long," he said when she walked in.
Elarie nodded, studying the figure in front of her. As much as she wanted him to rest, there was no way he would do that after the testy conversation with Veleth. With an inward sigh, she spoke.
"Neloth was able to get more results with his divination spells," she said. "It was how I found the mercenary who fought you. Would you like to accompany me to Tel Mithryn to see if he's had any further luck?"
The mercenary stood up straight. "I can do that. Let's go."
•••••
They'd just passed the turn to Fort Frostmoth when they saw smoke from the southern coastline. Weapons and spells ready, they headed to the coast, only to find bodies strewn everywhere and a seated hooded figure. It was Geldis, scanning the ocean, but no ships in sight, save for a rowboat a further along the shore.
At the half-Altmer's questioning look, the hooded Dunmer smiled. "Used to be part of the Morag Tong," he said, almost boastfully. "They're afraid of me."
Teldryn had fallen to his knees, surveying the fallen Redoran Guards. His cry of despair shocked Elarie, it was the first time she'd seen his hardened shell crack. Head bowed, he'd sat heavily on the ground. She went to put her hands on his shoulders when Geldis spoke.
"Let's get back to the Hall," he said. "There's nothing here and we need to regroup."
•••••
The trio soon returned to Glowstone Hall, Geldis leading the way. Elarie walked with Teldryn, concerned for her friend as he hadn't said anything the entire way back.
She left the two Dunmer outside the small structure where Teldryn kept some supplies, looking for something to drink. She'd just found some sujamma when the sound of metal shafts caught her attention.
A gate had shut and she was trapped inside the structure. Just as she was about to call for assistance, her friends were hit by spells, forcing them down and keeping them from attacking the intruders.
The bandit who had been hit with Teldryn's firebolt stood there, smirking at the two Dunmer. Elarie tried casting several spells, all to no avail – they were out of range and the gate fizzled out any attempt at spells. She could not get proper aim with her arrows through the shafts.
Frustrated and concerned, she could only watch when a female Nord strode in, confronting the Dunmer mercenary and the former assassin with frost spikes and spells, catching the already injured Dunmers unprepared.
"I hate this damned ash," she said, stepping into the light.
Geldis started. "You're a wanted woman, Sigrun," he said, the bandit raising his eyebrows and looking at his employer. Geldis pressed his suit. "It's time to face justice."
Sigrun's face hardened. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
"Is that true?" the bandit asked.
Sigrun faced Geldis. "I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated. "You must be seeing things." She turned to Teldryn.
"I've finally got you where I want you," she sneered at the Dunmer mercenary. "I will have vengeance for the death of my husband," she said. "You will suffer at my hands!"
She blasted more frost spells at them, keeping them slowed and down, before approaching Elarie. "I can't let you go, so you're going to have to stay there."
"Why are you doing this?" Elarie asked her. "Brunwulf knows Teldryn is innocent!"
"Brunwulf is a fool. Dark Elves can't be trusted. Windhelm will be better off when I'm Jarl," she snarled at the imprisoned mage. "Sero killed my husband and daughter. I don't expect you to know how that feels," she added. Elarie could almost physically feel her hatred through the bars. There would be no reasoning with this woman. "If you do anything else, I'll have to kill you." The Nord strode off, instructing others to take the Dunmer away.
Elarie frantically searched for a way out. There must be a way, she thought. This is a storeroom, there has to be something.
She was rewarded when she found a small trap door behind a seat. She quickly went through it, finding herself in a lower level cavern. She didn't notice any of the beauty of the caverns or the Dwemer ruin she found herself in, focusing solely on how to get out of there.
After some time searching and avoiding various Dwemer constructs, she found a Dwemer platform with a lever. She'd seen these before with Tobias, and sent a prayer to Azura that it would be an exit. She flipped the lever.
And appeared into a tunnel. With a sigh she hurried through the dark tunnel, coming to a … wooden wall? She silently sent her thanks to Azura as she carefully pushed against it.
She emerged in the basement of a small cabin. It had been built over an entrance to the Dwemer ruin, and she exited facing the sea. Smoke was swirling over several ships and she hurried to the coast, the sounds of battle floating onto shore.
The Redoran Guard was fully engaged with the pirates. She'd seen a figure in black on the closest ship – that could be Geldis. She spotted a rowboat and quickly jumped in, thinking only that she had to get out there to help her friends.
As she drew close enough to get on board the nearest one, she started throwing up wards where she could, protecting the guard. Searching the ships as she jumped on board, she assisted where she could, but she couldn't see Teldryn anywhere.
The last ship found Veleth and Geldis fighting side by side, the two making progress through each ship. But the Guard as a whole was faltering, the mass amount of battles finally taking their toll on the exhausted troops. She heard Veleth trying to rally his men to dig deeper.
Heart hammering, not knowing where Teldryn was and unable to use her arrows lest she hit the Redoran Guards directly in front of her, Elarie threw up a large chain lightning spell over their opponents, the charge shocking the last five pirates, bringing them down immediately.
The fighting suddenly over, Geldis and Veleth looked at her in amazement. "How did you-?" Veleth started.
"My father was a Destruction master. I picked up a few things," she said shortly. She didn't bother telling them that destruction magic was not her forte, and thus rarely used. It used too much of her magicka, and the spell could have easily caught them as well. "Where's Teldryn?"
It was Geldis who responded. "Captured. Took down six pirates before they got him, probably dragged back to the prison ship." He pointed to the right, where Elarie could see another ship not too far distant.
"But we've got to leave," he said urgently. "Neloth's on his way to destroy the ships."
"Then we have to save him!" Elarie was determined to find him.
Geldis made one last attempt to stop her. "He said before he'd die willingly if the pirates die too," he said.
The mage threw him a reproachful glance. "I'm going to find him," she said. "Tell Neloth to save that ship for last." Geldis and Veleth watched her dive over the side of the ship, making her way to find her friend.
The former assassin sighed. He should have expected her reaction, but he now felt a flicker of hope that his friend could survive this. Geldis quickly picked up a bow and some arrows. "Azura go with you," Geldis murmured, aiming to help clear a path for the mage to reach the prison ship safely.
There's about two to three chapters left, and will have it all posted this holiday season.
Hope everyone had a good one and thanks for hanging in there with this!