Snippets of Destiny

By Leoni Venter

Based on Oblivion by Bethesda Softworks

Part 7: Helping hands

Lark woke to the sound of hammering.

Instantly awake and wary, he tried to think what could cause such a sound. The only thing that came to mind was that the locals were boarding up the cave with him inside it. He moved surely through the dark corridor, his enhanced senses making it as clear as daylight. As he came into view of the cave entrance he had to squint against the brightness. It was daytime, and although the glare was painful, he could see enough to realize that there was no-one at the door. The noise was coming from further away.

Carefully moving forward, his eyes adapting to the light, he finally reached a position that allowed him to see outside while still under the shade of the rock. To his astonishment, he saw Beran Retienne busy constructing what looked like a corral. A horse-drawn cart was stacked with boards which Beran was nailing together into fencing, a gate and a little shed.

"What in the world are you doing, Beran?" Lark asked from his doorway.

Beran dropped the hammer and came closer. He stared at Lark for a moment. "Oh Lark," he sighed. "I almost didn't believe Martin, it's just too horrible."

Lark smiled. "Nothing to be done about it now," he said. "But what are you doing?"

"Martin said you needed cows," Beran replied. "So I'm just setting up a corral for them."

"Two or three cows!" Lark protested. "This thing could hold twenty!"

Beran nodded resolutely. "Yes, well, I've been thinking. If I build a large corral and keep twenty cows here, and have somebody in my employ living here to look after them and milk them, it would make perfect sense to everyone. This cave is still on my farm, and it lies on my route to town. Now..." He held up a hand to forestall Lark's interruption. "Now I figure since you want to feed on my cows, the least you can do is to milk them and leave the cans here ready for me to pick up in the mornings. And I won't even charge you to live on my property."

Lark listened in amazement as Beran gave him safety, food and a plausible reason to be where he was. "Beran, I... this is incredible! Are you sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure," Beran said gruffly. "You've been a good friend to us all these years; you've become part of the family. And besides," he winked. "I can make a nice profit farming twenty more cows."

Lark laughed. "Then I accept! I won't stand between a businessman and his profit."

"Good," Beran said. "Let me get back to work. You can go back to sleep – you'll need the rest. When I bring the cows you'd better be ready to do some work." He laughed. "I bet you'll be the only cow-herd working at night."

Lark agreed. "As long as the cows don't mind. Oh, and Beran?"

"Yes?"

"You'd better teach me how to milk them."

--

Jauffre opened the parcel that had been sent to him from Chorrol. It did not conform to Lark's normal reports, being written on scraps of paper that had seen better days, but it bore Lark's unmistakable handwriting.

Captain Jauffre,

It is my duty to inform you that I can no longer protect Martin as I have done the past eight years. Following a disastrous expedition to a Daedric shrine, Martin has decided to join the Order of Akatosh in Kvatch. I would follow him there but for the fact that during the same disastrous expedition, I had contracted Porphiric Hemophilia. Since I was unable to get a cure in time, I regret to inform you that I have become a vampire.

I am living for the time being in a cave close to Beran Retienne's farm, where I can come to terms with my new abilities and limitations. I do not know yet what my future plans might be. I do know that there is no plausible reason why Martin would keep a vampire with him at the Temple of Akatosh, so I conclude that my mission has failed – at least to the point of not being able to stay with him. On the other hand, he should be safe at the Temple, and I think that said disastrous expedition may have taught him some humility.

I remain, of course, a loyal Blade in service to the Empire.
Regards, Lark

Jauffre sat thinking for a moment. Then he rang the little bell that stood on his desk. A young Blade appeared at the door. "Have them saddle a horse for me, and get me provisions for a trip to Chorrol," Jauffre instructed. The Blade saluted and disappeared to do the errand.

--

Jauffre found Beran Retienne's farm without difficulty, even though it had been twenty-three years since his previous visit. But he had no idea where the cave was, so he reluctantly decided to go ask at the farmhouse. He dismounted just as Beran himself came round the corner to see who the visitor was.

When he saw Jauffre he froze for a moment, but then came closer. "Hello again," he greeted Jauffre as if he had seen him only a few days ago. "You'll be looking for Lark, then?"

"I am," Jauffre agreed. "How are you, Beran?"

"We're all fine," Beran shrugged. "But your poor boy, now – he's not so fine." He pointed down the road. "Go down that way about two miles, you'll see a track turn off to the right. Follow that up to the cave."

"Thank you," Jauffre said. "I'll come by here when I head back."

"You'll be welcome," Beran said. "Now mind the cows!"

--

Jauffre did not understand Beran's last remark until he got to the cave, where twenty cows were lazily chewing the cud in the corral. He dismounted and hitched his horse to a fence post. When he stepped inside the cave he took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the darkness, but before he could take another step, he heard a voice.

"Why did you come here?"

"Lark?" Jauffre called. "It's Jauffre."

"Yes, I know," Lark said distantly. "Why have you come?"

"I wanted to see if you're alright," Jauffre said, wondering what the matter was.

"You came all the way for that? You'd better come inside then." Lark was suddenly right next to him and Jauffre gripped his sword. "I won't hurt you," Lark said, aggrieved. "This way."

He lead Jauffre down the corridor that twisted a few times before opening up into a comfortable furnished and well-lit room. "Please sit down. I'd offer you something to drink but all I have are milk and water."

"Water is fine," Jauffre said, watching with awe as his Blade glided about the room. It was hard to see his movements. No wonder vampires inspired such fear. Their powers seemed supernatural, and their reputation as ruthless killers was not undeserved.

Lark handed him a glass. "Now, captain, why did you really come? To see if I'm a threat to anyone? To eliminate the rogue vampire Blade?"

Jauffre sighed. "When did you become so cynical, Lark?"

"When I had to skulk like an animal from cave to cave, and hide like one in hollow logs when I was driven from caves," Lark said bitterly. "I haven't told anyone, but I just barely escaped some 'concerned citizens' who walked into a cave I was sheltering in. They found it expedient to drive me out into sunlight. It's bad to be hunted like that, for nothing I had done."

Jauffre nodded. "I understand, and I'm sorry. It was never my intention that you should come to any harm for doing this. In fact, I wanted you to be safe."

"I know," Lark said. "But what's done is done."

"Yes," Jauffre agreed. "So what do you do now? I suppose you must spend your nights... hunting?" He tried to sound casual, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary.

Lark smiled, showing elongated canines. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose. I spend the night milking cows." He laughed at Jauffre's consternation. "Oh, I get a few sips of blood, but mostly it's milk, yes. I leave the full cans for Beran to collect on his way to town, and he brings back the empties when he returns in the afternoon." He picked up his lute. "I also serenade the moon on occasion."

Jauffre smiled. "Still singing?"

"That's what's hardest about this," Lark said. "I miss having an audience. The cows really don't seem to have an ear for music."

"Tone-deaf." Jauffre suggested.

"Yes."

"Well, I have an idea," Jauffre said. "You are still a Blade, and there is no reason why you should be all alone. You can go stay at Cloud Ruler Temple, where you will be accepted and welcome, and where you can sing to your heart's content. Beran can find someone else to milk his cows. What do you say?"

The unshed, bloody tears in Lark's eyes, and the incredulous joy on his face was all the answer Jauffre needed.

Disclaimer: All of Oblivion belongs to Bethesda Softworks. I'm just letting my mind wander through time and dark dungeons a bit...