part two
magnification
The Orb showed him everything. Anything he could ever wish for. He only used it to watch her and her journey. Very perilous so far. Very, very dangerous. It is a good thing she has that other vampire with her. He's saved her a few good times. Mannimarco thinks it might be nice of him to thank him when he finally meets his bride.
As for the College of Winterhold, it is the best place for her. Now, all she has to do is grow her power. Become a creature no one would even go near. The College kept out most necromancers, frowned upon it, but behind closed doors they were more than accommodating at times. It was more so for their reputation that they keep hushed about it.
Mannimarco paces around the small, circular table that held the Orb. Watching it from every angle. His hands clasped behind him, he pulls on a finger, feeling it. It won't budge, it won't tear. The skin is nice and healed. He smiles slightly, he is no more a captive to his old body.
The Orb shows many things. He can almost direct it from his mind but instead chooses to wave his hand over it, pursing through the images. There. The man was fiddling with something, something mundane, but he would be asleep soon and that was the time to strike.
He has patience, eons of it. Mannimarco just watches this man move throughout the day. What a sneaky creature. He actually gained the College's trust, and no one knew yet, not a soul. When he was good and tired, laying down in his poor excuse of a janitorial room, Mannimarco entered his mind.
The mist was hazy as it usually was. He wasn't as adept at creating a dream architecture as others could, but he could at least create some comforts. He leans back in his chair, one of those obtuse and puffy ones that allows a person to sink into it. And watches.
The man was lost, wandering through the mist as if there were a path leading straight to the necromancer. He would see him soon enough. "Who are you, where is this?"
Mannimarco bites a nail, he used to have a bad habit of chewing on them, and on second thought. He didn't want to start it again. He only rests his chin on a fist. "Ancano, I thought you were smart enough to know what this is." He purrs.
The man freezes, his robes swish around him in the non-existent breeze, that is how much he startled him. Amusing. "Who said that? What do you want? I knew the Dreamweaver was behind this." He snaps, his posture shows confidence but his eyes dart around the place.
"Dreamweaver? No such thing here. I have a quest for you…more like a bargain I struck without your input." Mannimarco informs him. He loves it when he sees Ancano get a good picture of him. Absolute horror fills his face as he gets closer and closer.
"A chair, sit, relax and I will go over the terms and conditions." Mannimarco muses.
Ancano doesn't budge an inch. He just stares at Mannimarco open mouthed. Like a gaping fish. The necromancer moves forwards, his stark white hair spilling over his shoulders as he eyes the man. "I will put it to you straight. I know what kind of puppet you are to the Thalmor, I know what you are doing at the College. I will let you have your time in the sun with them. Just so there isn't…a little accident and you are found out I have a request."
The man sits, at least, but his breathing is erratic. "Mannimarco. The Worm King." He wheezes.
The Worm King only lifts a delicate eyebrow. "Don't wear it out. If you don't want someone to accidentally send a letter of your intentions to the Arch Mage, I would like you to keep a little eye on someone."
The Altmer is pale as a sheet. Even the white mist around them had some life to it. "Does that sound to your liking?"
In all honesty, Mannimarco thought this would go worse. He's had people try to fight him before. He's had them call him names, spit in his face, attempt magic against him and well, those people don't end up too well. But the gaping fish before him only watches with hollowing eyes. He knows the danger he is in.
"Who?"
Mannimarco's grin is devilish. This is perfect. Instead of watching her through an Orb day and night, he will have someone on the inside. "A girl. She is entering the College as we speak."
"And you will tell no one? You will not dream weave your way into another's nightmares?" Ancano inches forwards with a nervous air.
"Not at all, not unless you make a mistake." Mannimarco lounges back in his chair, lazily. "What do you say, Ancano?"
He has no choice. He has no escape and no way to defend himself. The Altmer looks around Mannimarco, at any possible weapon and finds none. His eyes finally lock with his. He bobs his head, slowly. "Y-yes. We have a deal."