Part 10 - The Greatest Sin

Chapter 173 - Return of the Dragon Rider

Gwen was a little confused when the trio arrived back in their own narrative.

"This…doesn't look like New York."

"I'll explain in a second, or try. Paarthurnax, Max has a concussion. He needs rest, but he can't fall asleep or he might not wake up."

"Zu'u fen aak rok. I will help him."

"Thanks."

Miles let Max slump against the dovah's body; Paarthurnax folded his wing over him. Miles returned to Gwen who looked more than a little confused.

"What's up with those cars? I've never seen that model before."

"You a car person now?"

"No. I just recognise car types I've seen before. What's happening Miles?"

"Err…where to start…It's been three googolplex years since we were put in the soul stones."

"That's not a number."

"Apparently it is. Three followed by ten to the power of a hundred zeroes."

"That's…a lot of zeroes."

"Tell me about it. Was starting to think I should find a retirement home."

Gwen chuckled, then turned serious again.

"So…Max sat on that rock for all that time?"

"Yep, or so he says. This world just kinda appeared out of nowhere maybe…a few thousand years ago. Could only be a few hundred, I dunno."

"And Max didn't wake us up?"

"Oh no, he woke me up to get him out a sticky spot during a prison break."

"But you're still alive? You didn't die from old age or something?"

"Nope. Cos the High Elder Gods seem to be trying to kill each other and one of them pushed me, Max, and probably the other HEGs forward in time. Me and Max went to Null's world to find out if the Sword Perilous is still around. Then three other HEGs showed up and they just had a massive fight and that brings us to now."

"And you woke me up?"

"Honestly it was a happy accident. I was hoping to give it a few years until technology improved a bit."

"Right. I think I get it. So what's this world like?"

"Not really sure about the modern one; me and Max went straight to Null when we arrived. The ancient one was alright, though. But it's nothing like ours. There's two continents and a big island in between."

"I always thought some mystery in life would be fun."

"Get used to living without a multi-million dollar penthouse, though."

"Yeah." Gwen smiled sadly, looking around at the view from the top of the hill, then turned back to her husband. "How's things been between you and Max?"

"On the mend. Slowly. He's opening up about the drug jokes thing bit by bit. He said there's still one more piece of the puzzle, but I'm not prying it out of him while he has a concussion."

"No. That's just taking advantage of him."

"He'd snap my neck."

Max had crawled out from under Paarthurnax's wing but was still leaning against the dovah.

"You ever tie yourself to something with zip ties?" He said.

"No? Just rest, Max." Gwen replied.

"I hate zip ties. Some girls tied me to a tree with zip ties. It was very dark, and there was a lake, and there was a lot of police around after that."

"Max. Rest." Gwen commanded.

"OK. Can you read me a bedtime story?"

"No. It's not bedtime. Just relax for a bit."

She and Miles exchanged looks.

"Aww. I wanted to hear that one about the guy who was killed by a red dinosaur and brought back to life again. I like that one."

"Praan [Rest], Dei Volente. I will tell you a story." Said Paarthurnax.

Miles and Gwen nodded their thanks at the dragon and walked away a little.

"Was he telling us more, do you think?" Asked Gwen.

"Zip ties, police. Checks out with someone forcing him to take drugs."

"Is that what happened?"

"Sadly. I wish we could go and knock some sense into that me's head. It makes me really angry that he just abandoned him, even after that happened."

"Well we can't, and there's nothing we can do to change the past. Back to the present: did Null say if the Sword still exists?"

"Yeah, but he didn't know where."

"A museum?"

"I guess we could find one and ask. Then cause a robbery for a Spider Viking to swing in and stop."

"Spider Viking?"

"The Fanor were a bit like Vikings."

"Fanor?"

"Never mind. Let's just figure out where to find a museum."

The spiders walked back to Paarthurnax who was talking to Max quietly. He looked over to them.

"Hi laan dii aak? You want my help?"

"Yeah. We need to find a museum." Miles replied.

"Hmm…I do not know much of such constructs of joorre…mortals. But perhaps the city nearby?"

"Sounds like a start. How do we get there?"

"I could fly you there but your son is a little…clingy."

Max tried to wrap his arms round Paarthurnax's neck.

"Don't go, Uncle Paarthurnax!"

Miles and Gwen groaned.

"Please tell me that concussion isn't permanent." Miles grumbled.

"If it is, can we put him up for adoption?"

"Might be better for him. All our kids keep dying."

"That's…really depressing but really true too. We can't leave him alone or he'll go to sleep and never wake up."

"We can't take him with us, either. But we need Paarthurnax to fly us to the city."

"I'll stay with him."

"You sure? I could do it."

"You know more about this world's history than me. And Max likes me a bit better."

"I really don't think he cares right now, but OK."

Gwen gently tried to pull Max off Paarthurnax, which proved to be much harder than she'd expected due to him being stronger than her. Miles helped, and eventually he was off. She sat down with him and Miles climbed on Paarthurnax's back.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." He said.

"Great. Maybe you can buy a rattle or something while you're there."

"I'll look around. You should probably keep that sword away from him."

Gwen looked at Furore Mortale in its hilt.

"I'm good I think. I don't want to be vaporised."

"OK, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"I won't. Good luck."

As Paarthurnax flew with Miles on his back, the spider started a conversation.

"Do you know what happened to Max?" He asked.

"Hm? To what time do you refer?"

"The drugs thing."

"Geh. Yes. He has sought my wisdom on dealing with the effects of the matter on many occasions. There is one detail he still neglects to mention, but it is one he has buried so deep it rots his soul and makes him distrust those he should have no reason to fear. He will tell you in time."

"I wish I could help him."

"There is little more that can be done. Only in death will he find the peace of mind it has starved him of for many long years."

There was a pause, then Miles asked:

"Is it what allows him to kill people without a second thought?"

"Geh, ni. [Yes, no.] The hatred it feeds within him is what gives him the strength to do it, but it is by his own judgement that he commits the acts. And the atrocities he commits are not easily forgotten. I see in his mind and soul that he remembers the faces of those he has slain. It is those memories, of his own suffering and the suffering he has inflicted, that will play the deciding role in his last moments."

"You can see how he'll die?"

"Geh. Yes. I have spent many years in meditation, seeing the futures of all those that I know."

"Why?"

"I am not without guilt myself. For many years I served as Alduin's lieutenant before I was instructed by the gods to gift the Thu'um to your fellow joorre. I will carry the guilt of my actions with me until my own passing, reminded of it even by my name. Paar, Thur, Nax: ambition, overlord, cruelty."

"I wonder what my dragon name would be. I know you call me Vonun Bormah, but if I had wings an scales and stuff, what would I be called?"

"Mul, kril, kendov: strong, brave, warrior. Mulkrilkendov."

"Mulkrilkendov. Bit of a mouthful, but I like it. What would Gwen's be?"

"Faas, mul, vahlok: feared, strong, protector. Faasmulvahlok."

"I like it better than mine. If I knew how to Shout, could I call her with it?"

"Ni. Only a dovah can be called by the Thu'um."

"Oh well. It was worth a shot."

Paarthurnax circled over a car park for a short while. Eventually, he grew tired of circling and came in to land with a roar. People ran away, terrified of what such an ancient being could do. Miles dismounted and patted the dragon on the head. He looked at the signs on the building and was surprised to find they were in English.

"Err…how'd that happen?"

"Your fahdon…friend…Radnar Radnarson made it his mission to perfect your tongue in your honour. He crowned you a hero for the lives you saved with your actions at Fort Norrguard. Zu'u aak rok; I helped him."

"I guess it was handed down. Did the Fanor take everything over?"

"Ni. Their descendants did under Dea Judicium's banner, but it was not the Fanor. We must hurry before she comes."

"Yeah. Right."

Miles started to walk towards the entrance when a woman appeared. She stared at Paarthurnax in awe.

"You are Paarthurnax. I have wanted to meet you for a very long time."

"I do not know you joor…mortal."

"Oh yes. I'm sorry. I'm Sophie, and I've studied the ancient empires and their religion for years. It is…truly an honour to meet you. And a dragon rider. There hasn't been one documented for…thousands of years! The last one brought down Fort Northguardian singlehandedly! Come, come, please! We must talk."

Miles nodded.

"Sure. I've got some stuff I want to ask too."

Paarthurnax was far to big to fit through the door so had to stay outside, but Sophie had one of her assistants get to work drilling him for answers, much to his annoyance Miles guessed. He sat down in Sophie's office. She fussed around a little, trying to tidy up.

"I'm sorry things are such a mess. I heard the news Paarthurnax had left the Monahven and was ripping up everything to try and find a reason why he would. Do you know why? You are a dragon rider, after all."

"I do know why: my son Max called him."

"Using the Thu'um?"

"Probably, but Dei Volente has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve."

Sophie frowned.

"If you hadn't arrived on Paarthurnax's back, I would say you are mad."

"I'm probably mad. I've seen a lot. But yeah, Dei Volente's my son. It took the Fanor a while to get their heads round their precious God not being born at the beginning of time."

"But…the Fanor have been gone two thousand years."

"Yeah, things went weird in the Battle of Fort Norrguard."

"Norrguard? You mean Northguardian?"

"No, the Fanor called it Norrguard."

"Interesting. Let me write this all down."

Sophie pulled out a pen and paper and started scribbling things down furiously."

"So…you must be the same dragon rider the Fanor recorded at the Battle."

"Yep, that's me."

"The one who could turn invisible?"

Miles demonstrated to prove it.

"Incredible. Tell me more."

"There's not much more to tell. I set a fire in the wall, the Tuta panicked and the Fanor used ladders to get up it. After that it was a slaughter. Then…Dea Judicium had a hissy fit about me saying no to killing Dei Volente and threw me, him and the other High Elder Gods into the future. Now we're in a 'High Elder civil war' and everyone wants Max dead."

"Max is Dei Volente?"

"Yeah."

Sophie jotted down more notes, then just stared for a few moments.

"It…this is incredible."

"Can I ask something?"

"The ancients treated dragon riders as demi-gods, and I revere the ancients. So you can ask me anything and I will answer it."

"Have you ever heard of the Sword Perilous?"

"It…rings a bell. Let me have a look."

She moved over to her computer and started typing. She hit ENTER, then sat back and waited. After nearly half a minute, she nodded excitedly.

"Yes, I've got something."

"What does it say?"

"There's ancient documents detailing a sword wielded by the leader of the Sunor rebellion after Dei Volente disappeared. When Dea Judicium took power, it was broken into three pieces that were spread across the world: one in Vonun, one on Dovah Island and one here on Hofkiin."

"The only name I know about from those is Dovah Island."

"Ah, perhaps the ancients had different names for the continents."

"Western and Eastern. Not very descriptive."

"No, but the ancients knew better than us. Vonun is the 'Western' continent, called 'Hidden' in Dovahzul because the ancients couldn't reach it. This continent is Hofkiin, or 'Homeland', because it's where the ancients lived."

"Makes sense. So where are the pieces kept?"

"The piece on Hofkiin is most likely in the palace."

"Dea Judicium's palace?"

"Yes."

"That makes no sense. The Sword Perilous is the only thing that can kill a High Elder God; why would she keep a bit with her?"

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

"Maybe the pieces don't have any effect. I'll ask Max…if his concussion's worn off."

"Dei Volente has a concussion?"

"Yeah. It's…kinda funny but not. He's acting like a toddler. But the other pieces; where are they?"

"The one on Dovah Island was likely kept in or under the temple. We know there's an enormous crypt under it, but the Church of the High Elder Gods won't allow for excavations."

"Guess I'll go digging myself then."

"You can't disobey the Church."

"Hey, my son is literally the guy the Church worships. They don't have any authority over me."

"For better or worse, you're right. The final piece, on Vonun, I have no idea about. Five old maps were discovered, but they don't show anything."

"I'll work it out. Any chance I could get a copy of them?"

"Of course. I'll print them out."

"Nope, I'll download them into my suit."

"What?"

"My suit has a computer in it."

"The ancients had computers?"

"Haha, no. This suit comes from my world which is…long gone."

"Your 'world'?"

"You guys haven't figured out the multiverse yet? I'll leave you to it. There's not much left to explore anyway, except a sacred rock or something."

Miles went to pull the tiny USB cable free from under its flap when his hand found Radnar's knife. He pulled it out slowly and looked it over.

"You…have a knife?"

"You think I went into Norrguard without a weapon?"

"You had Paarthurnax."

"Paarthurnax hates fighting. Anyway, this knife was Radnar Radnarson's."

"Radnar the Conqueror was Great Konung during your time with the Fanor?"

"Obviously. Who else do you think fought at Norrguard? I feel kinda sad now. Radnar was a cool guy. He was always so happy about battle. What happened to him?"

"Dea Judicium killed him to take his throne."

Miles twirled the blade in his hands.

"Then I'm gonna kill someone for once. Max will be over the Moon. I'll make sure Radnar get's the last laugh by sticking this knife through your precious queen's face."

"I…can't allow you to do that. Threats to the queen are taken very seriously, idle or genuine."

"Let her come. She and Dei Volente will just tear the world apart fighting each other."

Miles plugged the cable into the computer, and a few seconds later pulled it out again.

"Thanks for your help, Sophie. When all of this is done, the world will be a better place."

"I…hope so."

Max returned to Paarthurnax who looked more than a little glad.

"You took your time, Mulkrilkendov."

"Yeah, well I got the info we need and more. Dea Judicium's gonna get a shock."

Crossovers in this Chapter

- Skyrim