Cearbhail:

Well, well. When I first started this chapter...I had some real gripes about it, but I'll explain it at the bottom so I don't spoil something.

Oh...and enjoy. ^^


Dear book of shadows,

It's the 12th of Second Seed. Things have really been going around in circles these past two weeks. I wake up, I train with flames, I chat with Brelyna, I learn some new type of magic, and then I have the rest of the day off. I usually spend it tending to my garden. Our cook has gotten into the habit of taking the ripened vegetables and using them in his dishes. So…eating has become a lot easier for me now. It's no longer just ash yams…now it's fresh salads, smoothies…you know, good stuff. And we had time to go pick up the rest of the stuff for my room. I have an alchemy table now, as well as a bed-frame. And we managed to collect an older beehive. We got some bees for the hive, and we're waiting for the honey to collect. And it seems that Brelyna has become my mentor now, so that Talvas can focus on his own studies. Master is continuing his own research on heart stones, but far from anything else, it's just become everyday stuff now. It's nice to sit back and just learn stuff, you know?

I wonder how long it will last though. It feels like a calm before the storm, and I would know what that's like. It seems like whenever something in this place is this calm something bad usually happens. I just don't know what it is yet.

Veselle

My morning exercises went about as well as they usually did. I woke up, I practiced my flames, and Master forced me to put on unenchanted robes and stood me out in my circle. He dragged himself and Talvas inside with Brelyna watching over me, telling me to see if I'd burn through my clothes. You know how nervous I was? Master explained it to me very thoroughly that I had to accept that the clothes were part of who I was so that my flames wouldn't burn them just like how they didn't burn my hair or my skin. So, I asked Brelyna to turn around while I took the necklace off my neck. I thought of just how embarrassing it would be if this failed and I was suddenly engulfed in flames. And it stayed like that for a few minutes. And the more I thought about it, the more intense the flames grew. And finally, the flames died down and opened my eyes. I looked down to see that my robes were just fine. I could to it! I could finally control the burning nature of my flames. And now that I could keep them from burning my clothes, I could control it to where it wouldn't burn down Master's tower either. That was good.

"I did it!" I screamed to Brelyna. She turned around and scanned me. She nodded and went off to tell Master that it was ok to come back outside. I stood in my little circle while she left to go get him. And I felt so…exposed outside that I didn't really feel that safe. "Kyuu?" I called out for my familiar.

He came bounding from my room through his little doggie door. "Yes, Veselle?" He called as he jogged up to me, stopping short of coming into my circle.

That drew my eyes. He…he never jumped into my circle. And that circle was meant to keep out all the dangerous stuff that wanted to kill me. And I remembered what Master said about Kyuu, and how he knew what he really was. "Aren't you coming in?"

He tilted his head to the side. "Do I have your permission?" His eyes sparkled at the question. And…that felt like it could have been a trap question. Bad things can come inside circles if they're invited. And every time he's been inside the circle, it was because Master told him to go inside. He had Master's permission, but not mine. I never thought of it like that. Keeping that permission from him might very well save my life one day.

Kyuu wasn't the cute little thing he was when I first made a contract with him. He was still the same size, and he had the same cute face and body, but now he had fangs and more magicka capabilities. When I started learning Illusion spells, he learned a Charm spell. When I started learning Alteration, he learned Telekinesis. He was growing stronger already. And…I know I shouldn't be scared of him…he was my bound familiar but…it's just what Master said. His control of flames was now stronger too. He could roar like a dragon and just cover things in fire. He was growing into a stronger ally, but it was still the fact that one day he might try to hurt me. Maybe. I don't know!

I was about to answer him with a 'yes' when I heard someone coming from the pathway. "Good morning, Veselle!" I heard Captain Veleth say as he strolled up the road.

I snapped my head around to see Captain Veleth coming up the road. "Good morning, Captain." I bowed respectfully to him. "What brings you here today?"

"I need your Master's help." Captain replied from outside the circle. "A farm outside Raven Rock was raided by reavers. We don't know what happened to the family or where the reavers went. I was hoping I could use your master to help locate the family."

I was about to answer him as well, but Master Neloth had just come outside the building. "Congratulation on not destroying your robes, Apprentice." Neloth cried out to me. And that embarrassed me enough to where a giant wave of fire exploded all around me. I prayed I didn't destroy my robes. I was happy to see that they were still there and untouched. Phew…I don't think I could live it down if everyone saw me like that twice. More fire roared out of me and I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. Neloth looked from me with a smirk on his face over to Captain Veleth. "Welcome to Tel Mithryn, Captain. What can I trouble you for? Here for a cup of sugar?"

Captain looked around, nodding. "I like what you've done with the place. It's really starting to look like a small town."

Neloth crossed his arms. "It's not completely by design, but I understand that growth is inevitable. I am the last of the great Telvanni Lords. It is my mission to rebuild our House to its former glory. Might as well make a town as great as Tel Mora." He looked around. "If you encounter anyone who wishes to join House Telvanni, send them down here. I will see to making this a town."

Veleth chuckled. "In Redoran territory?" He shook his head. "I think I can allow it." He patted Neloth on the shoulder. "My reason for visiting is a request. A farm outside Raven Rock was sacked by reavers. We didn't see any bodies. We don't know what happened to the family; the ash storm covered the tracks leaving the house. I was hoping you could locate them for me and then we could go get them back. It's the Vedes family."

Neloth nodded. "Indeed, this is a task suitable to my talents." He muttered as he walked out into the sand away from the tower. He powered up a spell in his hands and released it. Four circles formed around his feet. They were just big enough to fit him. He raised his hands and the circles started glowing. Magicka started spinning in the circle. "I call upon the powers of the sun, the moons, and the stars. Vedes family, reveal your location!" The magicka whirled for a few seconds before there was a giant flash and Neloth snapped his eyes open, glowing red like a Daedra. "They still live." His voice sounded deeper, fouler. "Damphall Mine is where they stay."

Veleth nodded. "That's not too far from Raven Rock. I will go with some guards and free them."

Master shook his head. "Nonsense. The Redoran guard is needed to protect the city from the ash spawn. Reavers have no reason for prisoners. This might be a plot by whoever's been sending ash spawn to attack the town. The attacks been getting worse, it seems." He scratched his chin. Then he looked at me. "This would be an opportunity to send the girl to do it." He looked at Talvas and then at me. "Talvas, Veselle. Go to Damphall Mine and free the family." I looked at Talvas, and he winked at me in a reassuring way. Ok…as long as Talvas was sure that we'd be fine. Master seemed to notice it as well. "Apprentice…you've come a far way, have you not? Do you feel that you are incapable of stopping an enemy that is charging into you?"

I shook my head. No…I was pretty certain that I could keep someone from getting close to me. I did have some basic understand of martial arts, and I have my staff. I sure know enough tricks to keep some bandits away from me. Flames…Telekinesis…my runes, marital arts. Yeah…I'm pretty resourceful already. I wish I knew more healing magic though. I looked down at Kyuu…who smiled up at me, wagging his nine tails like they were one giant tail. Well…he could heal me if he needed to.

Master looked back at me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "There is…one more thing I think I should teach you before you leave. Get in the circle." And so I walked into the circle. Master followed me inside. "Flames may hurt your opponent, but it may not be enough to stop them. There is a spell built off of flames that will stagger your foe, maybe put a hole in them too. And then there is a much stronger flames spell that will cause explosion damage. It will also stagger your foes…but you may accidentally hit your friends as well. Today I will teach you Firebolt, an apprentice level flames spell." He gathered the fire magicka in his hand. "You summon your fire into your palm and will it to take the form of a ball. And then…" He launched it at my feet. A ball of fire flew off his hand, slamming into the ground, lightly exploding on impact. "It's a simple spell and it has some kick to it. You can launch it with one hand, or if you really want to do damage…" He cupped his hands in front of him. I saw the fire pouring from his palms into a ball in the center. "You put two hands together to form a stronger spell. This one has the potential to stagger your foes. It has the impact of getting hit with a cannonball." He launched it from both hands and it roared from his palms, slamming in front of my feet. I felt the ground underneath me shudder at the impact.

I nodded. I brought my hand together. So…it would be like forming a flame rune then. I just gather the fire magicka into my palm and visualize a fireball. And when I felt the pressure build in my hand, I launched it at my Master's feet. A massive ball almost the size of me launched from my hand throwing me back. When it slammed into the ground it exploded with a massive blast. It threw me back off my feet. Master grunted as the fire in front of him suddenly split apart. With one wave of his hand, my fire died away.

He nodded. "Ok…for safety measures of everyone inside the cave…including the family we're trying to rescue…don't use two hands. The one you just did alone will be capable of scaring away an entire army of reavers." He sighed as he walked out of the circle. "Remind me to teach you how to control how much magicka you use sometime. No need to kill anyone here." He walked next to Veleth and grabbed him by the arm. "We will be waiting for you in Raven Rock. Don't dawdle."

Veleth looked at Master, nudging him. "Boy, she is a scary one."

"Just don't embarrass her or she only gets stronger." Master replied.

Brelyna sighed as she patted me on the back. "Don't worry…he made me do things like this too. It really will help you become a better mage…if you decide to come back. I didn't." Thanks…that was helpful.

I looked at Talvas and then at Kyuu. "Should we go then?"

He nodded. "Might as well. Grab your staff." He said as he ran into his room. He came out a second later with two staffs. Why two? Kyuu took off for my room, and a few seconds later, he ran out of the doggie door dragging my staff with his teeth. He struggled for a few seconds trying to weasel the staff through the doorway. He finally got it through and bounded up to me.

"I brought your staff!" Kyuu announced with through his muffled mouth. "Aren't I the best?" He asked as I reached down to take the staff from him.

"Yeah…you're the best." I replied but I didn't look him in the eyes. I was still scared of what he might be. I mean…he's my familiar. He wouldn't be evil, right? I guess I couldn't avoid it forever. "Kyuu? You're not some monster, right?"

He looked up at me. "Is that what's been bothering you?" He jumped up onto my shoulder. "Why would you think that?"

"You never enter the training circle. And Master said he knew what you were…and he looked at you like he expected you to kill us." I said.

He sighed as he jumped off my shoulder. He ran up to the training circle. "Watch carefully." He stepped over the line and did a little dance on his four feet. He jogged around through the three circles, even entering my private one, danced some more, and then ran back over to me. He stopped by my feet. "No Daedra could do that. Only good spirits." He hopped onto my shoulder, lying down. "I may have been powerful once…maybe. That's the past. But I'm your bound spirit now…and not to some crazy necromancer's that wanted to use me to destroy Tamriel. Spirits are influenced by their owners, Veselle. And you're my contract owner. I obey your rules and your morals. Remember that." He cooed as he settled down for a nap. "And I'm happier being a good spirit this time."

"Well…who was your previous owner?" I asked.

He looked away. "Nrillia." He commented and then closed his eyes. "Not a fun time back then. When she swapped bodies with some Bosmer I was released from her contract." Nrillia? Who was Nrillia? I guess it didn't matter.

Kyuu and I talked about stuff the whole way down to the mine. I guess I didn't know how much time had passed while I talked to Kyuu. By the time we finished our conversation, Talvas turned to look at me. "Veselle. We're here." He said. He was hiding behind a rock. I lowered down and snuck up to him. He looked back at me and then at Kyuu. "It looks like you've made up with your familiar."

I looked away. "Yeah…I guess."

Talvas looked back at me. "There are two guards by the door. Do you want me to handle the whole thing? You can just stay out here if you like."

I shook my head. I thought of Riften, how that Khajiit girl Ruby and that Argonian Maleek singlehandedly killed a massive god. And I was shot by a Thalmor. I had to summon a god to fight for me and save my life. If I had been stronger; if I had been better at dealing with those situations…it wouldn't happen again. And if I grew stronger…I'd be able to help people like that Ruby or Maleek if they ever needed it. "I have to do this. How about you stay behind me and you help support me?"

He shrugged. "Bold initiative, Veselle. Careful, I might start liking you more." He pinched my cheek. I had to knock his hand away.

As I walked past him, I punched him in the shoulder, which made him cringe in pain. I pulled my hair back into twintails and tied them off, reaching for my staff. I looked at Kyuu. "Are you ready for a fight?" Kyuu nodded and I took a deep breath before I walked up to the mine. Two scary-looking bandits…or reavers I guess stood by the entrance. When they saw me approach one looked at his buddy, nudging him on the shoulder.

"Hey…she's here." He said as he pushed off the doorway welcoming me. "It's about time, mage. We thought you weren't coming."

That made me pause. "What?" I couldn't believe that came out so harshly. And it made the two reavers recoil at my voice.

"B-but…of course you would come." He took a step back. "I mean…you asked us to get you some test subjects and…we told you we would." He grabbed me by my shoulder and directed me to the doorway. I looked back for Talvas, but I could barely see him from the rock he was hiding behind. He waved discreetly at me, giving me a thumbs up. Looks like I was on my own for now. "They're inside. Just talk to Duin. He'll give them to you…for the price we negotiated." He ushered me through the doorway. "Just go straight down. We need to be on lookout for any Redorans." He closed the door behind me. "Can you believe she's so young?" He asked his friend.

"She's a Telvanni mage…what would you do with such magic if you could? She's obviously using life magic to make herself younger." His friend stated.

What the heck was going on here? I don't know but…I didn't seem to have to fight anyone. Was this good? I have no idea, but as long as I can get to them and make sure they're safe, that's all that matters. I guess someone had hired the reavers to abduct the family. And it was some Telvanni mage. And I guess I looked like her. Ok…I can deal with that. I tried to look confident as I stepped into the mine. The entrance looked small, even for someone young like me. I found myself ducking under the beams over my head as I walked through the main tunnel. Some reavers were digging at the walls with pickaxes. It looked like they were mining iron from the cave walls. The paid little attention to me as I walked past them. Then I came up to a more open area…filled with nothing but water.

Yup, in front of me was a giant lake inside the mine. What was this doing here? Worst of all, I saw dead bodies deep in the water. They looked old and waterlogged. Was this where they dumped the dead bodies? "Ve…"

I shushed Kyuu. "Just call me 'Master' in here. They think I'm someone else." I whispered to him. He nodded and settled back down onto my shoulder. I looked around for a second. No one was even batting an eye at me. Was I expected to swim across this lake? Ugh…I didn't want to do that. And Master hadn't taught me Waterwalking yet. I looked back at the picking reavers. "Excuse me?" I tried to act a little cocky. I'm guessing whoever paid these people to abduct a family wasn't exactly a nice person. I think if I acted more like Master Neloth I would come across an appropriate character for this scenario. "Am I expected to dirty my robes getting my test subjects?" Yeah…that was something he would say. I'm almost certain of it.

One of the reavers sighed as he stood up from his lump of iron deposit. He walked over to me, stepping into the lake. "Hey, boss! The witch is here! Drop the lifter!" I looked up as a gate far above me opened up. And a stable-looking box with a handrail built in slowly lowered down. It hovered over the middle of the lake. The reaver standing next to me pulled a lever on the wall; a bridge underneath me rose to the surface of the lake that led up to the 'hovering over the water' box. I nodded to the reaver that pulled the lever and walked across the slick bridge, almost slipping on the way, to the box. I tested the weight of the box before I climbed inside it. It didn't even wobble. I had to hand it to the reavers…this was much better than swimming across a lake to get where they were. I held onto the ropes holding the box and looked up at the reaver looking down at me. He didn't wait a second longer. The box started lifting up and I started to slowly getting higher and higher. I started gripping the rope tighter as I avoided looking down. I really hate heights.

I closed my eyes and waited. The box finally came to a stop and the guard unlatched a door I didn't know even existed on the box. I kept that in mind for on the way back down. I wiped my hands off and stepped out. I nodded to the reaver. "I believe you have something of mine." I looked around. Locked behind a door was a family. One man, one woman, two children: one boy one girl. Hmm…so these were the Vedes family then? I looked around for the owner. "Are these my test subjects?"

The Reaver Lord nodded as he stepped up to see me. "As we agreed. You gave me 1,000 drakes for them and I went out and collected them as I promised. Take them." So…someone had already paid then. That made this a lot easier. Good. I nodded to him and walked over to the cage. He walked up with me, looking down at me. "You look a lot younger. Did you do something to your face and hair?"

I nodded. "Yes. I used Life magic to make myself appear younger." I said so casually that I almost believed I was this evil woman. The Reaver Lord seemed to believe me too. He unlocked the cage door. The family members were all tied up individually, their mouths wrapped. They stared at me like they expected me to kill them. Man…were they in for a surprise.

"Do you need some men to carry them to your lair?" The Reaver Lord asked as he looked back at me.

I sighed in an irritated fashion. I flicked my twintail and threw my hands on my hips like I had an attitude. "Do I look like I need help controlling four pathetic farmers?" I channeled my inner-Neloth when I said that. "You are looking at a Telvanni wizard. If any of them run, I will dominate their minds and crush their spirits beneath my superior mind." I looked at the family, trying to look as intimidating as possible. "I am certain that these…" What did Neloth call me? "insolent whelps will be of no concern." I even looked away to show how much I really didn't care. "They will follow me, or they will be turned into husks and dragged back by my vicious familiar." I gestured to Kyuu.

The Reaver Lord looked at Kyuu and arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure he is ferocious? He looks cute to me."

Kyuu cleared his throat and jumped off my shoulders, landing on the ground. "You doubt the power of Versantein?" He breathed fire out his mouth as he spoke. His nine tails lit on fire and he started morphing into a giant sabre cat-sized spirit. Wow…when that become a thing? He growled at the Reaver Lord for a second, breathing fire lightly out of his mouth.

The Reaver Lord backed off, raising his hands defensively. "Ok, forget I said anything." Kyuu started morphing back to the little cute version I loved so much. He didn't show it on his face, but I could tell his was exhausted from that. Reaver Lord gestured to me. "Please…go ahead, Master Ildari."

I reached into the cage and looked at Kyuu. Kyuu? If you can hear me, scratch your ears cutely. And he started licking his claws and running them over his ears like he was dancing. It drew everyone's attention to him. Kyuu…can you talk to the prisoners? Tell them I'm here to save them? Just yip if you can. And tell them to lean forward if they understand. And he yipped. His eyes glowed for half a second, his ears sticking straight up into the air. I looked back at the group. All four of them looked up at me, their eyes looking surprised. The father leaned forward, slightly nodding to me. I reached in for him, hulling him up. "I'll be taking my test subjects and leaving now." I said to the Reaver Lord.

I got to go down the lift first. I waited four times for the others to come down the reaver-made lifter one-by-one. Once all four of us were gathered up, I nudged them to come with me. We strolled right out the mine. I nodded to the guards, putting my attitude back on. "Congrats on getting me my test subjects for me. I will be in touch for when I need more." They nodded and I left with the family walking behind me. I kept walking with them behind me until we got to where Talvas was hiding. As we cleared the guards' points-of-view, I nodded to Talvas to join us.

He sprung out from behind the rock, nodding to me. "That sure was lucky. They were expecting you?"

I shrugged. "They were expecting a female Telvanni wizard…and I'm a girl wearing Telvanni robes. Yeah…they were expecting someone just like me. And apparently, she's old because everyone seems to think I'm shallow and using 'life' magic to make myself look younger." I scoffed at the idea as we walked away. "Well, either way, we got the family freed. And we did it without bloodshed. Let's just get them back to Raven Rock." As we got even further away, we untied the family members. We received some hugs and whispers of thanks. Once we got that out of the way, the six of us, plus Kyuu, ran back to Raven Rock as fast as we could before whoever paid for this family to be captured in the first place found out we took them. Along the way with our dead sprint, the family took several loud seconds to thank me for freeing them. I told them it was no problem, all while never stopping for a second. Last thing we needed was a bunch of angry reavers and a Telvanni wizard coming after us.

As we approached the Bulwark, Redoran guards were waiting for us at the entrance. Master Neloth and Captain Veleth waited for us at the entrance as well. They nodded a greeting to us as we ran up to the Bulwark. "Congratulations, you two, on successfully bringing the family back." Master said as he walked around me. "You look like you didn't encounter much a threat." Then he looked at Talvas. "You either, Talvas." He stepped in front of us and crossed his arms. "Explain."

And I did. "I told Talvas I wanted to take the lead…to get some experience in fighting." Master arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "And as I came up to the mine…the guards called me over…saying I was late. They told me they gathered the test subjects I wanted. They let me inside. And I just…played along. I went up the mine, convinced the Reaver Lord to give me the family. He thought I was some old Telvanni wizard who paid him in advance to collect this family. Once I got them in my care we left. Then we ran like oblivion to get back here."

Captain Veleth nodded. "That was quick thinking." He noogied my head and turned to the family. "However, this does present a problem. Whoever paid for these folks will show up to collect them. And they will find out that someone already took them. And then that person or the reavers will return to find them." He looked down at me. "And they'll remember you as well." He looked at the family. "Now…we don't have much room inside, but you can move inside the abandoned mine. I'm sure we can make room for you inside."

Master rubbed his chin. "I am curious about what will become of these folk if we leave them here. The Telvanni wizard may know how to find their location. It would be inconvenient for her to obtain these farmers after my apprentices put so much energy retrieving them. Not to mention…I want to know who this Telvanni wizard is."

"The Reaver Lord called me Master Ildari." I looked at Master Neloth. That made his eyebrows shoot up. And Brelyna caught her mouth like I said a curse word. "What?"

"Master?" Talvas started to say.

He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Impossible…she's dead." He walked past me, looking at Brelyna, and then at the farmers. "You will come with us. We'll build you a house big enough for your family and you'll be safe with us. This…is a personal matter, and it seems you've been pawns meant to draw my attention. And it has worked."

Father Vedes nodded his thanks. "Thank you, Master Neloth." He ushered to his family. "Come kids…we're moving to…" He looked up at Master. "where are we moving to?"

"My little 'town' Tel Mithryn. Just follow Apprentice Veselle, the little one that saved you." His cape flapped as he started strolling away as fast as he could. "I must prepare your house. Take your time collecting your things from your previous house; everyone guard them while they pack up. I fear this has only just begun." He took off for Tel Mithryn, leaving me to look at everyone.

"What's going on?" I asked Talvas and Brelyna. Their eyes said it all. Someone from their past had just come back from the dead.

Brelyna looked down at me. "My mother might be alive." And that's all I heard about that.


Cearbhail:

Ok, so my gripe. I thought of a place where Reavers could in fact...store some prisoners. I used the wiki site and said... 'hey, a mine with Reavers'... ok. So i wrote that as the location. Surprise, surprise. I looked at the description of the mine. Two guards, two more inside. And then... past the pool. And that made me stop. A pool? In a mine? And then... past the bridge. What the hell was going on inside this mine? I had to break out my skyrim game and actually venture into that mine...which my 360 crashed when i did that (it loves crashing with skyrim in it). But did it again and found out there's a fucking lake inside. And I was like...oh...and Veselle's going to have to swim in this stuff. I already made her do so much crap. So, I ventured on, past traps, through Reavers, past a small settlement within the mine. It was a really intricate mine. And finally up to the final level, and laughed when i saw not only the trap door leading to the lake filled with dead reavers, but the cage door in the same room where they kept all the loot. Perfect, i thought. Elevator time.

Oh, and Kyuu.. I don't want you to think he's all cute and cuddly. Veselle made one mistake. She invited him in the circle...even if she didn't verbalize it. She accepted it and he was allowed in. Take that as you want to, but don't just assume he's good yet. I haven't made up my mind. He already lied to her about having no partners before...and that he had no strength before her contract. Just think on that for a while.