-Elden Root-
Softly-Speckled-Crab stands at the entrance to the infirmary. Iveryni rests in a bed, the Dunmer looking paler then she should ever look. The jagged claw tears had been bandaged but the damage was severe and Iveryni had lost so much blood. The healers did not know if she would ever wake again. Softly-Speckled-Crab knows Iveryni will though, in time. If she walks down her path. Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head, knowing it is almost time to walk down her path. So very afraid of the marsh, so very afraid of her path.
A light polite cough and Softly-Speckled-Crab turns to see an Argonian dressed in tribal style standing in the hallway. His scales are grey with a silver starry pattern. "I am Jeer-Tei of the Star-song tribe," he announces. "I have been sent by our tribe's elders to bring you home."
Softly-Speckled-Crab nods. There is no other way, and she never had any intention of walking a different path, no matter her fear. She had at one point thought her path lay with the lovely lady, but she had merely needed Softly-Speckled-Crab to be her prophet of sorts for a time. Softly-Speckled-Crab's true path was with the Hist. "I am scared," she admits. "I have never been to the marsh, never heard the Hist speak."
Jeer-Tei smiles at her. "The Hist will welcome you, you are needed Softly-Speckled-Crab."
Softly-Speckled-Crab nods and takes one last look at Iveryni. She would miss her friends but it would be harder to say goodbye. They would meet again, although they would be so far from who they were now it would be like meeting anew. She turns and walks with Jeer-Tei.
Fire, lightning, ice. Destruction magic clashing in the fiercest battle Iveryni had ever known. The dazzling blinding bolt that missed her, the sound of her staff shattering and then searing pain as Viperish Night ripped her throat out and she fell. Tried to keep her eyes on Softly-Speckled-Crab but in the end, the world grew so cold and darkness claimed her utterly.
And now? Now she could not rise from the darkness. Now there was no way out. Iveryni knew she was grievously wounded and her body had lost too much blood to wake. So she was cast down here in the dark. Iveryni trembles afraid and knows in her heart they failed. Despair courses through her for a few moments before she remembers the eyes in the mirror and she rises, knowing what she must do. "I require aid," Iveryni says, her voice ringing out in the darkness.
"Yes Iveryni Rathnil, you do. I will give you the help you require. All you have to do is climb and commit yourself to this path."
Iveryni nods. Her body is still but her mind is strong. She will get stronger and return to it in time. "May I ask a question first?" she asks.
"Ask, Iveryni Rathnil."
"I know who you are," Iveryni says. "I knew it the moment you spoke to me when I was seeking the Vestige. The voice I heard did not come from some far-away place," she pauses.
"But that is not your question."
"Correct, to the point, why would you help with this?" Iveryni asks.
"Viperish Night wishes to remake the world. I do not care for his vision of a new dawn. It would only cause stagnation, a never-changing void. Trust me to aid you in preventing this, I will help you become strong enough to defeat him." Iveryni's eyes narrow and the voice laughs. "It is too late to turn back now Iveryni Rathnil. At the very least, I do not desire the death of all the living, and I have my own plans for Nirn."
"Very well," Iveryni says. "I will accept your dark path for the moment, to stop Viperish Night's."
The darkness breaks with a shimmer of crimson light and a staircase rises upward. Iveryni steps on the first step. There is no going back and there will be no returning to who she once was and so she rises upward. It gets hotter the further she goes and when she reaches the top the door swings open with a blast of intense heat. Iveryni steps out without a moment's hesitation.
Rufico sits by Theodyn's beside. Theodyn is so pale and hardly seems to be breathing. "I am so damn useless," Rufico says bitterly. He could hardly do anything today. He had been practicing with Theodyn but he was no warrior. Theodyn was a natural swordsman. Someday he was going to be one of the best...if he even survived. But Rufico? Nothing and now... Rufico swallows before touching Theodyn's hand. "Come back to us," Rufico says. "I'll be back when I'm something other than a useless scoundrel." Rufico rises and walks out of Theodyn's private infirmity room. He glances at the guard posted. Rufico pushes away the worry and walks away.
Just outside Elden Root a shady-looking Bosmer is leaning against a tree and Rufico walks over to him passing him a few gold coins, the Bosmer passes him a small note. "Your sure?" Rufico asks.
The Bosmer nods. "Imperial hiding out in Valenwood, I checked the list. Gavixto Hasio is on the run from the Imperial capital for war crimes. He is Zero Legion." The Bosmer turns. "Not sure what you want with him, and I do not want to know." he takes off and Rufico looks at the note and heads out.
It's a small Bosmer tree-house that's rented out to those who can pay. Rufico has little trouble getting in and he settles in a chair to wait. An hour later the door opens and an imperial man comes in, wearing nondescript clothes with a fugitive look in his eyes. He looks so normal, so harmless. A different story when the legion wore full armor with skull masks. The man lights a lamp and startles when he sees Rufico. "What do you want?" Gavixto says gruffly.
Rufico shrugs. "To be a no-good scoundrel drifting through life," Rufico says. "Alas, that is not meant to be. Fate and all that nonsense."
Gavixto predictably goes for a knife and Rufico sighs and stands. "I have no interest in turning you in, Gavixto Hasio," Rufico says. "I jussssst want a little gold for it. You see? Simple."
Gavixto looks at Rufico as if he's slightly mad and then grins. "Sure you little snot. Why not?"
That grin. Rufico acts like he's buying it and moves closer to Gavixto. The second Gavixto's hand goes for his knife Rufico drops his knife from his sleeve into his hand and in a second it's buried in Gavixto's throat. Gavixto blinks once before falling backward with a crash. The blood flows onto the floor as he expires.
"Slight of hand," Rufico says staring down at Gavixto's open dead eyes. That...had been easier than he would have thought. Years of resentment let him strike without hesitation.
Darkness gathers in the corner and a hooded figure steps out. Rufico startles. He had been expecting it, but not this fast. "That was quick," he says.
"We have been waiting for you, Rufico Lexonus."
That voice, Rufico's eyes widen slightly. "You are the one from Mournhold," he says, remembering how he and Theodyn had been caught spying. How he was sure he would die that day.
"Yes, though this is not my sanctuaries territory we have been given special dissipation in this case." Speaker Malkeyranis tells him.
"Stalks-In-Darkness created this mess, and he was one of yours," Rufico says.
"It is much more complicated than that, Rufico Lexonus." Speaker Malkeyranis says. "It is but one of the things you will learn as we teach you. Come, Rufico Lexonus."
Rufico nods and falls in behind Speaker Malkeyranis as he turns back to the shadows. "Why get involved, besides the obvious?" Rufico asks.
Speaker Malkeyranis's head turns slightly, eyes narrowed. "You will have to learn the art of silence," he tells him. "But to answer this question, souls belong to Sithis and the Void. Anyone who threatens that essential fact will be silenced and fate has chosen you to be our blade."
"I will never stop asking why me," Rufico says. "Lead on then." Speaker Malkeyranis vanishes into the shadows and Rufico follows.
Theodyn wakes in fits and starts. The darkness keeps pulling him under but at last, he wakes gasping for breath. Theodyn sits up and then nearly falls back down as the room spins around him. Theodyn closes his eyes as he flashes back to the last thing he remembers. Zirasha's fangs sinking into his shoulder then Rufico staring down at him, the fear deep in his eyes. Theodyn shudders and slowly opens his eyes to find the room has finally stopped spinning. He reaches for a glass of water that sits by his bed. He feels so hot, his wounds burn as if they are on fire and he's so thirsty. He's about to drink the water when he hears voices of the healers outside his door.
"Taalem, can anything be done? There have been stories in the past, things that have the potential to work."
"It is too late, Iriea. The infection has set in so fast and so deep. It is only a matter of time." Taalem says.
Iriea is silent for a few moments. "How long until he is a danger to others?"
"Not long," Taalem answers. "We will have to speak to him when he awakes, make proper preparations." The voices fade as the healers walk away.
The glass slips from Theodyn's hand to fall on the floor with a crash as Theodyn starts to shudder. He draws his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around them as he starts to silently cry. He does not want this. He cannot...
Finally the tears dry and Theodyn stumbles to his feet. His sword is lost, but he has a spare dagger in his room. He will not make anyone else do it, nor he will live as something that needs to kill others to live. The very thought sickens him more so than taking his own life does. Theodyn wishes he could see his parents, one last time. But he may not have the strength to do what he must do if he gazes on their faces. Theodyn walks out the door and a guard posted outside of it glances at him. Theodyn swallows. "I need something in my room," he says quietly. "I heard them. I will not take long." The guard nods, a look of pity in his eyes as he escorts Theodyn to his room. Theodyn enters and closes the door, briefly closing his eyes as he leans against it. If he had encountered even one of his friends on the way... the strength would have left him. His thoughts move from them to his sister. He wanted to see Seriana again, but not this soon. Not in this way.
Theodyn finally opens his eyes and moves to the nightstand where the knife is but something pauses him as his eyes turn from the nightstand to the bed. A golden sword rests on the blankets and Theodyn stares at it with puzzlement in his eyes before his eyes move up to see the Imperial girl from the city standing by the wall. "You intend to end your life rather than live as an abomination of life?" she asks him. Theodyn silently nods. She regards him. "For you, there is another way. I can purify the infection but you will need to come with my realm and fully pledge yourself to this path. There is no returning once you embark, Theodyn Vautrine. If you are sure, take Dawnbreaker and become my champion."
Theodyn looks into her unfathomable eyes, the eyes of a Daedric Prince, for he knows who she is now. Merida the lady of light. Theodyn is very afraid but he still wants to save people and stop Viperish Night from destroying Nirn. He finds he wants it with all he is and so he walks to the bed and picks up Dawnbreaker, holding it in both hands. He staggers under its weight and hisses in pain as it burns his hands. Merida's eyes show approval. "Come, Theodyn Vautrine. Once you are purified the sword will no longer burn and you will growl strong enough to wield it in time. A glowing portal opens and Merida passes through it and Theodyn follows her without hesitation.
Deep under Elden Root Jeziasi sits head down her hair covering her face and eyes closed. Closed so she does not go mad at the sight of the heavy bone bars locking her inside this cage. The bars are inscribed with magical runes, as are the manacles around her wrists and neck. They don't want to risk her transforming, risk her rampaging through Elden Root. Jeziasi shudders. The truth is she can no longer transform. She can feel the wolf has receded deep within her, and even if she was free it would no longer answer her call. She allowed herself to become prey and therefore lost Hircine's favor. She had suspected as much, but the wolf still had come. But she hesitated to kill Viperish Night and it ran, though she could still reach it, still force it in a moment of terror and rage at being trapped. If she killed those who sought to cage her the wolf might have stayed. She... Jeziasi swallows. She had killed two of them. But Raz... she could not kill her old friend despite what he did. And he only did what he had to. She...failed. She let a monster go, one who would destroy Nirn. Someone so far in the dark they were beyond saving. There was no happy ending in the path she chose. So why did she do it?
The sound of the heavy doors being open as Jeziasi raising her head as the guards come in, followed by Razum-dar and Queen Ayrenn. Jeziasi looks into Razum-dar's eyes but they are closed to her and she, at last, drops them. Queen Ayrenn stops before the cage, holding her hand to ward the guard's protests off at being so close. Queen Ayrenn regards Jeziasi. "My Eye has reported to me," she says. "Jeziasi, I must ask why?"
Jeziasi looks at the floor. "Does it matter why?" she asks.
Queen Ayrenn frowns. "Look at your Queen, Jeziasi. We know we may have asked too much of you, that you may not have been stable. But questions still need to be answered."
Jeziasi raises her head to look into Queen Ayrenn's eyes. "I should not have. There is no way letting Viperish Night go will ever end well. He is too far gone to be reached."
"And yet, you still let him go." Queen Ayrenn says. "Must I ask again?"
Jeziasi knows she only has part of the answer the Queen seeks. The other part...eludes her. The why of it, when it makes so little sense. "I could not let the last thing Viperish Night saw was his Egg-mother killing him." Jeziasi finally says.
Queen Ayrenn is silent for long moments as if she too knows that is not the full answer. "If only you had come peacefully." Queen Ayrenn says. "This puts me in a very difficult position, Jeziasi. You took Dominion lives today, and put all of Nirn in the gravest of danger. I know you know this." Queen Ayrenn takes a breath. "I must ask you two questions, and you must answer truthfully. It will determine your fate." Her eyes stare into Jeziasi's as if she can see the very truth of her soul. "To put it in the simplest terms, if we asked you to hunt Viperish Night, would your actions be any different than the last two times?"
"They should be," Jeziasi says. "But..." she trails off looking lost.
Queen Ayrenn's expression tightens. "Then our next question. I will trust for now my Eye's opinion that you were deceived by Swims-In-Silence and had no true intent to aid him in his plots. But Jeziasi, we know you. Your instincts are highly tuned and you know who to trust and who not to. You must have known not to trust Swims-In-Silence, you even told Raz that as well. So our question, why did you go with him after Summerset?"
Why? Jeziasi starts to speak then stops. She had needed an escape after Summerset, but that is not what the Queen is asking. She knows what Jeziasi told Razum-dar, that Summerset damaged her and she was so tired after. Jeziasi swallows and then swallows again. She cannot say this, but she has no choice. It is the truth, and she knows it's enough to damn her. "I did not think it would matter." Jeziasi finally says. The very first time Jeziasi looked at Swims-In-Silence's eyes she knew she should never trust him, never go with him. Something about those eyes that she still could not remember had her instincts howling. And yet...she still went with him in the end, because she thought there was no possible way any harm could come of it.
"Oh Jeziasi..." Razum-dar says.
Queen Ayrenn's expression hardens, her eyes turn ice cold. "You leave us no choice, Jeziasi. I must charge you with aiding a necromancer, murder, and treason against the Dominion."
Jeziasi's eyes widen before she looks away from the Queen. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
"And yet, this is the result." Queen Ayrenn says. "It is with a heavy heart that the answer to these charges is execution. You have done much for Nirn, and for the Dominion. To see this fall..." She sighs, deeply. "You will have a stay of execution for the duration of this crisis. You may be needed in some form, though you will remain here for the duration." Queen Ayrenn turns her back and walks out of the room and Razum-dar turns to follow.
Jeziasi watches them go, her hand moves to the bars. "Raz..." she whispers.
Razum-dar turns his head to look at her. "Razum-dar, Jeziasi. This one is sorry it had to be this way." his eyes briefly show pain before they harden and he turns his head away to follow Queen Ayrenn.
Jeziasi watches the doors close and then lowers her head trembling. Everything...she has lost everything today. Everything save...for the one thing she could not bring herself to destroy.
