Love didn't come easy to me, but for her my heart becomes ooze.

Chapter 5: Star Pupil

'We have to follow them.' My head swirled. The people of the town stared in confused disbelief..

The pressure in my head built to an unbearable pain, my vision swirled, and I battled gravity to keep balance.. Bo'Ghadar took hold of my shoulder.. The first two inquisitors I knew but the third one, I didn't. He managed to kill all of my bodily function and severe my connection to Twilight's Talon.. I'd never felt such overbearing power before.

'They knew who I was.' My knees buckled with every step I took. 'Why did they still take Meril if they were after me?'

'And that I was with you.' Bo'Ghadar rubbed his giant hands around his giant head. 'Do you know them?'

I dropped to my haunches and took a deep breath. The hoofprints from their steeds made them easy to track. 'Only the first two. The inquisition sent them to scout me out before. They never get this close without me allowing it. That third Altmer, however… I've never—I need to save Meril.'

The crowd of villagers began stalking back to their lives, albeit still shaken and confused. I believed they were more happy it was none of them that was taken. I couldn't blame them for how they felt. Many of them weren't aware what they just witnessed. This was how the evil of Tam'Akar operated. They're viewed as simple enforcers of Dominion law with no one the wiser of their true intentions. But I knew. And it was up to me to stop them.

Bo'Ghadar considered the length of the ravine. It was merely a vein withshallow waters filled with murk and swamp decay rippled through the dark forest. 'We could catch up; save your friend.'

'You could endanger your clan if you do,' I said, finally able to stand on my own.

'I must do what is right.' He stuck his hand out towards me, and I accepted. 'I will help you see the end to this invasion if you help me save my clan.'

'Does that make us friends?'

Bo'Ghadar blanked rapidly. 'Friends?'

'You know—you've got my back, and I, yours.'

The Wood Orc watched me carefully then nodded. 'Yes. We are friends, Black Raven.'

I held his hand in mine and squeezed. He returned the squeeze with a smile.

Don't ever think you'd have the upper hand in a battle against a Wood Orc. Bo'Ghadar's running speed was unsettling. The ravine led us south down the murky swamps and brackish waters of the Drowned Coast. I wasn't a believer in destiny, but his lineage had history with mine. I was just glad he was an ally of equal footing.

During the Oblivion Crisis, Bo'Ghadar the Hammer was a mercenary Wood Orc that had been recruited by the remnant coalition of Ranger Guard, Fighter's Guild, and an infantry of Bosmer archers after the Battle of Arenthia. It was then he joined with my Mother and the others as the Circle of Seven. The Orc at my side was the Hammer's grandson, and he could just as well be as powerful.

'How should we engage?' Bo'Ghadar asked. His powerful legs cut through the shallow water with minimal effort.

'There's no better way than to ambush them,' I called. 'A fast strike could do it. The goal is to save Meril, not have a brawl.'

'Too many soldiers,' Bo'Ghadar pointed out.

'In my experience, the inquisitors use them as fodder. They'll throw as many lives away as they need to achieve their goals. The true threat to us is their Inquisitors. They aren't your run-of-the-mill justiciars; their magical prowess are top tier as you've already witnessed. If I could just incapacitate those three agents, then saving Meril will be simple.'

Bo'Ghadar grumbled in good Wood Orc fashion. 'Allow me to handle the soldiers. Magic isn't something I'm comfortable with.'

I nodded. 'Fine. I could use Nocturnal's Talon to cut through to the front of the uhlan. We'll be out before we're overrun.'

The ravine cut down through a yawning gorge surrounded on opposites side by high ridges. Fallen trees bridged the two sides over head, and we cut through the forest to follow the line's flanks without alerting them. They moved slow through the shallows, the Great Elks were not as fast in a rocky waterway as they were traversing the vicissitudes of the forest floor. Goes to show how truly arrogant the Altmer were. They might have learned about our forests in classes and reports, but only a Bosmer truly knows her home.

We came upon them quickly. I pounced as fast as a senche-panther and as silent as a whisper. I dropped on the Elk's hind, kicking it's rider across the skull. His head made a satisfying crunch when it met finite kinship with a rock. A second soldier noticed me, but was struck out with a quick throwing knife. He fell with a splash.

The rear guard halted their steeds, brandishing their weapons. Some kept magicka steady around their fingertips; I kept the mages in my sight. I charged the first to break formation. Three soldiers clad in light, glittering moonstone chainmail pressed the attack. I snapped in with a fierce stride on the first Altmer I met. Bo'Ghadar slammed his ax down, distracting the other two. He brought his free arm up and then down on the head of one soldier. With gritted tusk, he swung on the handle of his anchored ax and crushed the other's face in with a powerful kick.. I clashed swords with my opponent, and he huffed out a flurry of decently orchestrated maneuvers that put a focus on my sword arm. I held Nocturnal's Talon with an underhand grip, blocked a heavy blow, flicked it upright, and gripped it with my both hands. The strike came down fast and fierce, cleaving his sword, his armor, and his entire torso in two.

I spun around to see the rest of their little army charging towards Bo'Ghadar and me.

'You should catch up to the inquisitors up front,' Bo'Ghadar said. 'I can take these few on.'

'Few?' I raised an eyebrow at him.

Bo'Ghadar grinned and reached for the giant battle. 'You are not the only one with strength, Black Raven.'

I shrugged with a chuckle. 'Fine. Let's see what you can do.'

Bo'Ghadar raised his ax above his head horizontally and unleashed a roar that rippled the water and thrummed heavily against my chest. The man sized ax sparkled with power and streamed that energy down into his body. Bo'Ghadar's muscles bulged becoming ridged with feathery striations pushing against his thick, leathery skin. The Orsimer's berserker rage always put a pause in my step. I didn't allow such an exciting moment to go in vain, however.. I plunged through one High Elf that dropped the distance between us with speed. With a quick spin, around his falling body, I leapt over two more, and landed on a fourth, gifting him a quick puff of violet flames. I didn't bother looking back as his screams filled the ravine.

Ice Spikes soared through the air piercing the ground on my path. I sliced the projectiles and more came in their place to skewer me.. The caster's eyes widened as I gained on him before he could whip another spell in his hand. The cut was final, his screams horrifying as the flames took hold of his body and burned him down to a mere pile a dust or mud, in this case.

I looked up into Arvancano's eyes with a sinister grin as I approached. He looked slightly amused..

'Raven!' He clapped, then drew his hand. He raised his palm and sent a wave of fire rushing through the waterway.

Steam exploded all around me, creating a thick veil of clouds.. I walked forward through the mist, Nocturnal's Talon flaring Ghost Flame at my side. 'Hello, Arvancano.'

The inquisitor spared a glance at Meril. 'Let her go,' I demanded.

Calimir made no hesitation to wrap his skinny arms around her neck. 'We'll kill her if need be.'

'I wouldn't,' I said, wagging a finger at them. 'You know, after all we've been through, I thought you'd notice that wasn't me.' I nodded towards the third, mysterious agent still sitting on his elk at the back. He didn't seem all that interested in helping his fellow agents. 'I'm sure he did.'

Arvancano eyebrows rose in stark surprise. 'Ah! Now I see… This must be that protégé I've heard so much about.' He narrowed his. 'A second Black Raven.'

I shrugged. You can survive today, or I can burn that pretty golden skin of yours.'

'Or… I can kill you right here!'

Arvancano unleashed a maelstrom Lightning Strike. The brilliantly blue discharge snapped forward towards me. I took hold of the blast with Nocturnal's Talon; the magical energy were drawn to the attraction of the blade. Arvancano's eyes widened when he realized my intended plan. I returned that with a smile. Everyone knew lightning and water just simply did not mix. The inquisitor pulled his hand back, but it was too late. I redirected the sword down towards the surfaces of the waterway. An illuminous jolt of power traveled upstream, engulfing Arvancano but stopping short of the others. Arvancano screamed in agony, jumping high to avoid a full impact. I leaped to match his height, but he was fast, whipping his sword out and clashing with mine.

Calimir dragged Meril through the water. I kicked water at Arvancano's face and punched him through the distraction. He splashed down in the water which spared meseveral moments to make a run for Meril. Behind me, crackling ice magickas chased me through the water. I hopped on a low hanging branch. The air grew cold as white fluffs spread in the length of the waterway. Arvancano darted towards me, sword raised and lunged in, pulling all of his strength. I ducked and kicked up onto his sword arm, breaking his grip on his weapon. He threw up his other hand and unleashed a ward at the last second.I didn't have Nocturnal's Talon activated, so the blade merely bounced off his ward. He snapped his fingers and lightning cackled forward, thundering into me. The violet flame wrapped me in a flaring cocoon of power, absorbing his attack. I plunged my sword down into the ice, creating a wall of Ghost Flame. Arvancano reeled backwards just in time before the inextinguishable flames could take him.

I turned back around to face Calimir. 'How low has the Tam'Akar sunken to feel the need to take a hostage?'

'For the will of the Aldmeri Dominion, we will take every action needed to get what we need, Black Raven.' His headlock tightened around Meril's neck.

My jaw tightened. 'Meril, you can stop pretending. Waste any more time and we all die to these fools.'

Meril's eyes shot open. Her face cracked the smallest smile. 'Fine.'

An explosion of lightning filed up into the green ceiling of the forest. Calimir took the full brunt of cackling energies, throwing him backward into his own parked elk. Meril withdrew her lightning blades and channeled its power down into the iced-over ravine. Another explosion lifted the ice and boiled the water around her. Steam expanded outwardly and covered the entire surrounding area with a thick fog. I ran for her, grabbed her hand, and made a mad dash into the forest.

We ran until I thought it was clear. The Tam'Akar, for all of their magical prowess, were shit trackers in the forests.. I threw Meril over a rootwall, plunging her in muck.

'What in the void!' She exclaimed.

'Quiet!'

She sighed. 'I know what you're going to—'

'What in Oblivion are you doing out here?' I asked through gritted teeth.

Meril scratched her head. 'Well, I wanted to talk to you about the Parikh, but then I saw the Tam'Akar and…'

'What would your father have said if you died over there? For once in your life do you ever think of any consequences for your actions?'

Meril narrowed her rounded eyes. 'You care about disappointing my father again, or are you genuinely concerned for my safety?'

'Do not get smart with me.' I growled. 'You're supposed to be home with your tribe leading them on hunts or something. That was the deal I took with Gleril.'

'I'm not some tool to be tossed around by you two!' Meril protested. 'I'm either the heir to the Raw Tooth, or a member of the Leucrota. Which is it?'

I watched the girl that I practically raised. She was so much like her sister yet so different. I trained her well, but she still had much to go before she can take my place as the Black Raven. 'You would have been neither if the Tam'Akar decided to kill you on the spot.' I settled down on a rocky outcropping. 'That was too close.'

Meril did the same.'You seemed fine,' she said, smiling mischievously.

'Quiet, girl. I'm in no mood for your wise-ass remarks.'

'Listen I'm not going to die easily. You've trained me to be strong. I'm older and stronger than my sister was when she died. So why—'

'I said quiet!'

The underbrush began to ruffle. I withdrew Nocturnal's Talon and stood. The undergrowth parted ways for Bo'Ghadar like a lord in his land. I slipped my sword back in its sheath. 'Thought I lost you.'

'Give me credit, Raven.' He said. Blood smeared his armor and ax.

'Who the Oblivion is that?' Meril asked.

'Bo'Ghadar Thriceson. The third grandson of Bo'Ghadar the Hammer.'

'What's he doing here? The Boghadians are the ones that attacked the Parikh.' Meril gripped one of her Lightning Blades.

I lowered her sword arm. 'He's an ally. And he helped save you, so show some gratitude.'

Meril sucked her teeth. 'You didn't teach me gratitude.'

I turned to her. 'This isn't a game, Meril. The Tam'Akar aren't some small time clan of bandits. They're dangerous.'

'I know.' She shrugged.

Bo'Ghadar peered through the forest where the battle in the ravine occurred. His darkened eyes were locked. 'An uhlan is meant to support a larger group. Ground force to a navy.,' he explained. A sudden realization fell across his face, tusks clacking. 'Your Argonian friends might be in danger.'

'The Iron-Scales,' I said. 'If the Tam'Akar are this far south then they will strike at multiple targets.'

Meril stretched and yawned. 'Oh good, I haven't seen Anlanixea in some time.'

I grabbed Meril's shoulder. 'You're going back home.'

Meril shook her head. 'But—'

'Listen, I know you aren't Ceril. I know how strong you've become, but at this time, not even I know the full danger we are all in. I need you to go home.'

Meril kicked the mud, thrashing dirt all around. 'I want to help, Leila.'

'Okay. Alright, so help me elsewhere.' I told her. 'Go back home and protect your tribe. I'm sure the Tam'Akar will come after them as well.'

'You're cold, Leila, but you have a point. My father is getting old, he can't keep up with that.'

I nodded.

'How far away is their hideout?' Bo'Ghadar asked.

'Half a day from here,' I said. 'We need to go now before they reach them.'

Meril hoisted herself up a vine and swung away in the trees. I watched Monsotar murder her sister right before my very eyes. I couldn't have the same happen to her. I trained her, even asked her to join the Leucrota for some time. But we were in a new battle, and my concern had grown long. I've trained the girl into a capable warrior. I practically raised her as my own, but while she has proved herself to match me, she has grown rash and overconfident.

'She's going to be the death of me.' I sighed.

'Before then, we need to save any defenders Valenwood has left.'

It was time to show the Valenwood why my revolution was necessary. The dangers to my home was far and widespread. Help didn't come from the Ranger Guard, and it won't come from the throne. I've walked in the shadow for most of my life and learned that in this world the heroes do not always walk in the light.