Chapter 32 Into the Shadows
"Nekros? He's here?" Merthisan breathed in disbelief as Saber shoved the unknown Imperial against a stone column. The force was strong enough to crack his skull against the rock. The sound echoed in the spacious room as the man staggered, nearly passing out before an odd laugh bubbled up his throat. He seemed drunk, unaffected, or uncaring as the Dunmer throttled him.
"Yes Nekros…." The man giggled, seemingly undeterred by the rough treatment. "Go to him, Feryl. I'm certain he'll want to say good-bye."
Something in the words incensed Saber. Glaring, the Dunmer drew back his fist and hit him solidly in the jar. The man's head snapped back, rapping against the stone once again. He began to fall to the floor before Saber grabbed the front of his robe and yanked him back on his feet.
"Where will I find him!" He snarled, pushing him with the force of his body.
The man managed a smile despite the blood leaking out his nose, and even dared a smug chortle. "Where else to you find vampires? They are below…all of them. If you're lucky, they will be asleep."
His meaning was not lost to Saber who threw him to the floor. The whole clan was below, where the sun never dropped its rays, and only one entrance to the den. Kogoruhn was perfect for the undead. To go below would be entering a Kwaama nest with only one way out.
Shaking out of his temper, Saber finally noticed Eiryn and Merthisan standing with odd expressions on their faces. Eiryn looked unsettled, which was understandable being what they found in this lair, but Merthisan maintained a hard composed stare. Saber recognized this as a practiced method of remaining clear-headed in face of danger.
"Nekros…?" Merthisan spoke softly, more to himself than anyone else. "A vampire?" Saber could tell by the slight shake of his head, and nervous habit of raking fingers through his gray hair that the swordsman was trying to figure out for how long Nekros had been one of the undead.
"Saber?" Eiryn stepped forward, still uncertain. Her green eyes settled on the dark bruising she found at his throat. "Are you-?"
"No." He told her, knowing her question before she could finish. "I'm immune."
Feeling on edge, the Dunmer scanned the room seeking out a number of items he'd need for the battle ahead of him. On one of the tables lining the far wall, he discovered healing potions, various weapons, and anything else he might use to end this once and for all. He knew he couldn't leave, not yet. Leaving meant he'd never be free of Nekros, nor would he know when, or if, the monster would strike next.
Merthisan frowned, as he kept guard on the Imperial. "Saber? You can't go, not by yourself."
The elf found amid a pile of throwaway items a mix of worn leather, and even weapons, but there was no sign of the Manos blade. "I have to finish this." He muttered, getting dressed. "If I don't, he'll kill you, kill everyone I know."
"Why do you think that?" Eiryn asked. She felt unnerved by his behavior. For some reason, she had hoped he'd be happy to see them, and that he would want nothing more than return with them back to camp. His movements were hurried, his manner grown distant.
She watched him take only a moment's pause in his buckling armor. His gaze settled upon her with a mixture of sadness and something else Eiryn didn't understand. "Because he already has…" He blinked slowly and turned, and then went back to what he was doing.
"What? What are you talking about?" Eiryn glanced at Merthisan who looked just as confused as she did. Had Saber gone mad? Was his touch in reality faded, lost to soul sickness? The swordmaster also didn't like this, not one bit. They needed to escape, not go further into the ancient stronghold. Somehow, she sensed something happened here, something that ran deep within the elf that he needed to exorcise. To do this, he needed to face his nemesis.
Saber shook his head, "There is no time to explain. I need to do this- I have to do this. The two of you need to return to the camp. Tell the Ashkhan what you've found here-"
Eiryn felt her anger flare. "Excuse me? I did not come all this way to heal you so you can go off and die alone!"
The elf strapped gauntlets to wrists, sliding short daggers to either side of his forearms. He was hoping to carry as much of an arsenal as he could for the battle ahead. He didn't even look at her when he spoke. "Below in the lower levels might be Corprus Beasts, not to mention more vampires. I'm immune to both. You can't help here, and the tribe will need to be warned."
His words sounded sensible, but served to only frustrate the young Breton even more. "You can't take on a clan of vampires on your own." She tried to explain, tried to reason with him. Only, she considered he was hardly being rational at this time. He's going to die here, and we may never even know.
"If I don't go now-" Saber swallowed, unable to even think of the consequences of failing. Nekros may very well slaughter everyone he'd ever known. He knew that Lyra must still be alive, just as Eiryn, and of course Merthisan, but escaping Kogoruhn would mean the vampire would come for them later. "This is my fight, and remember, I have a quest to finish."
He gulped several restorative potions, feeling the warm rush of magick strengthening limbs and even providing a rush of power he'd need. He quickly tied his hair back with a length of cord, and double-checked his person for anything else he might need. All this time, he refused to look at either of them, fearing he might lose his resolve, or face the guilt he felt at how he treated them earlier. Time enough for apologies for later…if I survive this.
And it was unlikely.
Valos' laughter broke the eerie tension in the air. He rested his back against the stone pillar where Saber had left him, nursing a swollen lip while dabbing blood on the sleeve of robe. "Give Nekros my regards, Feryl." He sneered.
Eiryn wasn't certain whether the tone or content of words incensed Saber, but he turned on Valos like a rabid hound. Moving across the room with deliberate speed, he punched the man in the face with a resounding thud as fist met jaw.
The man staggered with blood flowing from nose and mouth, unable to slump to the floor as Saber's fist grabbed the front of his robe to haul him back for another blow. At first Eiryn thought, the few punches would be enough, but Saber hit him again, then again, as if unable to control the anger inside him.
The attack was horrible to watch as Saber appeared to be unraveling of his reason. Eyes were white-rimmed, glowing orange red as he pummeled the human. Teeth bared in a snarl each time he struck another blow. Eiryn wasn't sure if he was going to stop.
"Saber-?" She said, more frightened now of his madness than of his injuries. She could heal his body of damage or illness, but what of his mind? Eiryn could only imagine what he must have gone through at the hands of his former master, and even this man obviously had done something to create such a rage.
Even in the dim glow of torchlight, she could see faint scars across his back and chest that could only be whip marks. At wrists, skin chafed from the manacles he wore since his capture. With magic or potion, scars would fade, but what of his mind. A wave of fear and nausea was nearly overwhelming as she considered Saber in the clutches of such a vile creature.
The Imperial made a garbled sound that might have been an attempt at speech, but the elf continued to beat him. "Saber!" Merthisan spoke this time, growing more concerned at Saber's savagery. The sword master stepped forward to grab the arm that held the hapless man barely conscious now. "Saber!"
As if waking, the elf blinked a few times to focus on Merthisan. He appeared as if finally taking hold of his senses as he realized what he was doing. Releasing his victim, Saber let the man drop to the floor. Saber fought the urge to kick him, as he stood back.
Knuckles were bloody and Valos' face was quickly swelling from the injuries. Saber glared, realizing hadn't thought a thing as he punched him, only felt the helpless rage at Valos' hands. It wasn't enough seeing the man practically broken. Valos was a vile, corrupted beast. He was vaguely aware of Merthisan and Eiryn standing in awkward silence behind him. He'd never let anyone see his temper this bad before, and only now understood he nearly beat someone to death.
"Where is Nekros?" He asked again. Emotion was pushed aside to deal with the task at hand. Nekros had to die. He needed to focus on this.
Valos managed a crooked smile despite a swollen lip and the damage to his face. "Lower levels." His mouth dribbled blood and spit. "Your master awaits..."
For a long, oddly tense moment, Eiryn watched as Saber stared with eyes red and orange in the firelight at the crumpled man. She saw his throat work to swallow, and then without any emotion at all, Saber moved with purpose. Hands gripped the man's head at chin and scalp, twisting in a final, definitive snap.
Eiryn gasped, even stepping away as the Imperial slumped lifeless to the floor. She glanced at Merthisan who also stared in shock. She had no idea what part the man played in Saber's situation here, but the death seemed so brutal-
Merthisan hadn't enough time to stop him and now stood mouth agape at the Dunmer. "Saber…" He breathed in disbelief, "What have you done? What's happened to you?"
The elf drew himself up and clenched fists. "Nekros is a vampire, Merth." He explained, eyes staring at the body before him. "That's how he survived. And this….thing…was helping him." He jerked his chin in the direction of what was left of the bodies left on the walls. "Don't mourn his death until you've mourned for his other victims."
Something in the words seemed to show a coldness Eiryn hadn't observed in Saber. He barely seemed the Dunmer she knew, but then again, he'd been very different since Nibani had voiced he was on the path of the Nerevarine. What sort of thoughts must be running through his mind now?
Eiryn swallowed hard, and stiffened her posture. "If you insist on going, then he'll need our help-" She began, trying to sound determined but Saber turned sharply at her.
"No." He told her firmly. "This is for me to finish." He looked up at Merthisan and something unspoken passed between them. "Both of you should go. You should tell Sat Matuul what happened here. I think a few of Valos' latest victims were some of the tribal people-." He hesitated as if going to say more, but simply walked away without another word. He headed towards the lower levels.
I'm going to lose him, she thought. "Wait." She ran up to him, pulled the tiny opal ring off her finger. "Take this."
His gaze settled on the ring of recall, remembering the spell was set for the Urshilaku camp. Saber stared a moment at the stone sparkling of magic, and his body eased its tension. Lips softened into a crooked smile, the first sign of the old Saber she knew. "Thank you." He murmured, taking the ring to place it on a pinky. He turned to Merthisan. "You both need to go."
Merthisan opened his mouth then shut it, not liking this decision. "Are you sure?" He asked, hoping to delay the Dunmer enough to convince him of the folly of his intention. Even as he considered this, he knew the argument was lost.
"Go." Saber nodded and turned away to head to the lower levels.
"I'm going to lose him…" Eiryn murmured sadly watching him go.
Merthisan stared at the dead Imperial, grimacing at the unnatural bend to the man's neck as he lay motionless on the floor. "I'm afraid we already have…."
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Saber felt disjointed and on edge when he entered the lower halls of Kogoruhn. He knew was being too reckless now, pumped up with adrenalin, anticipation, and the potions he'd taken. Thoughts were difficult to focus through the rising need to kill. Blood felt hot, and the darkened halls beckoned him to move faster with silent and deadly grace. Either way, it will end here, he thought darkly. Nekros is not escaping me this time.
Moving swiftly, ears tried to detect sounds before him. He made his way to the familiar path he'd taken before, into the area where he had met the Flame Atronach and the vampires upon his capture. No doubt, this would be the place the clan might find their resting place during daylight hours.
Gripping the hilt of the sword, Saber knew that he'd not have much chance taking on the entire group, but given that he'd catch them asleep would be to his advantage. He crept out to the high bridge over the spacious hall. Tall pillars lined the room, space evenly with the coffins below. He counted about ten, and was glad to see them closed and unattended.
To either end of the long room, he could see doors shut. If he remained quiet, he might be able to destroy the undead before Nekros grew alerted to his presence. Casting levitation, Saber floated down carefully to one of the casket closest to him. He must be swift and definite. If the vampire awoke, he might call the alarm to his or her clan, leaving Saber to face the entire group with very little in the way of protection.
Slowly lifting the lid, he looked inside and caught his breath. Ashes lay where the body of the vampire would be. A wooden stake hammered into the bottom.
Who-?
Had Valos done this? No, he didn't have time. Perhaps one of his men-? Confused, Saber turned to another coffin finding the same end to that one. One by one, he found the vampires had already been killed and apparently without struggle. Someone had killed them as they slept and were unknowing.
Who did this?
Unable to find the answer, Saber reasoned the answer didn't matter for now. The goal was the same, only now his job was easier. Moving towards the far door to his right, he touched an ear to the wooden door to listen beyond. He couldn't hear anything, and could only assume Nekros was sleeping or perhaps had also met the same fate as his clan.
Part of him wanted to find the vampire already dead, yet another part wanted to be the one to do the killing. Saber also found much to his dismay; a very small part of him felt some regret to having to kill his former master. For all the monster Nekros was, his admission of cruelty and his regret for being so tugged at Saber's ideals. He'd cried once at the loss of his master, and to this day, was uncertain as to why. Perhaps because Nekros was all he ever knew of family, despite all the fear and pain he'd caused him. Nekros was the only 'father' he'd come to know for the early years of his life.
Nekros' admission to failing the elf also disturbed him. He'd never thought to hear such things from his master, and now could only wonder how easily he would've followed him if only for a kind word now and then. There were even the odd occasion Nekros had given praise, or seemed pleased with Feryl's quick learning. As a boy, Saber practically craved Nekros' approval, but nothing was ever good enough.
Reminded thusly, the Dunmer moved ahead.
Thankfully the door was unlocked, and made no sound when he slowly edged the portal just enough to peer inside. The room beyond was not as spacious in height as the grand hall, but was about as wide in girth. Tapestries donned the walls in vibrant colors of scenes of hunts and courtly living. Two large braziers lit the room in a warm and welcome glow, even burning an earthy scent of incense to cut through the scent of death that clung to the stale air. Tables had various scrolls, maps, and a library of books along the far wall with a desk having piles of papers and quills for writing. This seemed more of a nobleman's room than vampire's den.
Keeping his wits about him, Saber found not a large bed but an ornate coffin to the far corner of the room. Of course, Nekros would have only the best. No standard casket for him! Imported burl wood ingrained with filigree and brass edging, matched the same brass fastenings at hinges and locks. No doubt he slept in silk, the Dunmer grimaced in disgust.
Saber frowned, stepping closer to the coffin and finding his heart racing in …fear? He wasn't certain now. Anticipation? Again, he could not fathom the myriad mix of emotion as he gripped the sword to make knuckles go nearly ash gray. It has to be done…he has to die…
Standing next to the ornate box, he carefully lifted the lid, caught the scent of earth and a mix of herbs…only to find the contents…empty?
"Really Feryl," A voice spoke behind him, "Are you so surprised? Did you honestly think I'd be that easy to kill?"
Note from the author: This chapter, for some reason, took me forever to write, and I'm still not entirely happy with the wording. I might rewrite this at a later date. I haven't forgotten this fic, and I intend on continuing to a certain point of the story. I wanted to post this note to readers to understand that this fic will not consist of the entire story of the Nerevarine, but only to a certain part. Then I break up the stories into shorter, readable tales of Saber's adventures with Eiryn.
In the meantime, enjoy and thank you all for the wonderful feedback!