Ra'tarnik was ahead of Scar-Tail by about five steps and Apoltis was having a good time on his shoulders. The cat man could tell it too. He was having fun carrying Apoltis. He was being very light-hearted about the whole situation. He still had his guard up against Scar-Tail though. He hoped he would not use the boy to get to him. He had an ethical moral code that he would not break. On the other hand, he hoped he would use Apoltis as a shield or some kind of leverage. It would make killing him all the easier.

Apoltis watched as they exited Border Watch and started South down the main road and then broke off. He wondered why they had but Ra'tarnik must have known the way. Apoltis remembered back to the shaman lady and remembered that Ra'tarnik would automatically know the way. He wondered if Sheogorath's powers were at work as they walked on.

Tilting his head as the three past by a few trees, Apoltis asked Ra'tarnik, "What is your story Ra'tarnik?"

Ra'tarnik could not help but smile. "Choose one."

Apoltis was confused.

"I have many stories Apoltis. Why not pick one?"

Apoltis was pleasantly surprised by this so he said, "I know not of the many different stories you have."

Ra'tarnik chuckled a bit and said, "There was the time I took down that giant ogre. Then there was the time of the mud-crab invasion. I even took on the Dark Brotherhood at one time."

Scar-Tail growled at this. He had to ask, "Do you really think that the boy must here of the Dark Brotherhood?"

Ra'tarnik turned his head and still walking with Apoltis on his shoulders asked, "What do you mean?"

Apoltis decided to finish, "What is the Dark Brotherhood?"

Looking up at Apoltis, Ra'tarnik asked, "You mean, you have never heard of the Dark Brotherhood?"

Apoltis thought for a minute and then answered, "No."

Looking around as if somebody somewhere should explain to him why this kid did not know of The Dark Brotherhood, Ra'tarnik had to duck under a few branches he was so thrown off of his concentration. He then spoke of the Dark Brotherhood. "They are a group of assassins that hideaway like cowards in abandoned tunnels, sewers, and forts."

Scar-Tail tried hard not to be offended by the comment. He left that life a long time ago but a piece was still with him. It was hard not to kill the cat right there for such insolence towards such a group of professional killers. Killers that could probably kill him in an instant. Killers that could sneak behind him in the cold-dead of night and cut his throat easier then removing the dagger from its sheath they would do it with. Then, be able to put it back and disappear into the raven black figures of the forest without a trace except the feline's blood steaming on the road they left him on.

Suddenly stopping in his tracks, Scar-Tail had not noticed actually feeling the hilt of one of his silver short swords in his hand. He had not even had to think about killing Ra'tarnik. His imagination had run away from him and with it, his control over his actual actions. Instinct was starting to take over and he slowly removed his hand from his sword. He looked at Apoltis up on Ra'tarnik's shoulders and tried desperately to remember who he was actually trying to protect. Only the boy's presence kept the feline warrior alive. "He should be thankful." Little did Scar-Tail realize he had actually said that under his breath.

Ra'tarnik and Apoltis had both heard him say something but they did not know what he said. They stopped and looked back. Scar-Tail was just standing there looking at the ground. Apoltis cocked his head from atop Ra'tarnik's shoulders and politely asked, "Are you okay, uncle?"

Scar-Tail looked up at Apoltis and saw his innocent face. The argonian became upset with himself. He had almost put the child in danger and he would not even known what had happened until it was too late. His breathing was slow and he had to think before answering Apoltis. He then struggled for a smile for the sake of Apoltis and then said, "I am fine boy. Thanks."

Apoltis did not have to struggle for a smile and turned around with Ra'tarnik below grinning like a pleased bully. He had heard Scar-Tail's hand reach for his sword and had readied himself. In a way, he was kind of disappointed that Scar-Tail had returned to his calm demeanor. He was glad though because that way the child was safe but then he was irritated because he wanted a good fight with the scaly murder. One of them would have an honorable death in one-on-one combat.

Continuing on while walking with Scar-Tail close to his back, Ra'tarnik's lesson further intrigued Apoltis. "Anyway Apoltis, the Dark Brotherhood is one of the most well known assassin guilds here in Cyrodiil. They will kill anybody for you so long as you give up somebody for them."

Apoltis blinked with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"These evil, black-robbed deviants need a sacrifice of blood if gold can not be provided and then go about their dastardly operation."

Scar-Tail thought back to his training. Back to The Black Sacrament. He knew that some type of payment had to be made for a hit. Contacting the Dark Brotherhood was pretty easy though. The Sacrament required a dead body of some kind. The contractor did not have to murder anybody. That wasn't their job. Even an already dead body would do. Murder and death was not used as payment. They would take other payments then gold but not death. Death was their job not their method of payment. They might be a guild of cut-throat, ruthless assassins but even they had rules and standards.

He went to say something but then decided not to. For fear of playing right into Ra'tarnik's trap. He figured that Ra'tarnik might be feeding Apoltis wrong information to make him admit who he really was. He kept his mouth shut but he couldn't help a small hiss escape his mouth. It was a slight hiss but a hiss that Ra'tarnik could hear. Apoltis did not hear it and the khajiit warrior was glad for that.

What he was not glad about though was that the argonian assassin was smarter then he thought. He had tried to coax him into another verbal battle after he had told Apoltis the lie about how the Dark Brotherhood worked. He was hoping that the argonian would slip up and say something incriminating because if he was not Dark Brotherhood; he might be Morag Tong. He highly doubted it though. This lizard stunk of Black Marsh. There was no way he was part of the northern, more legal, assassins' guild.

Apoltis then added, "How can people do that to one another?"

Ra'tarnik looked up at the boy and went to say something but Scar-Tail interrupted him, "Some people deserve to die."

Ra'tarnik stopped and turned to face the argonian assassin. He then said, "Like those three, shadowscale murders I killed."

Scar-Tail snarled being a shadowscale argonian himself.

Apoltis looked down at Ra'tarnik and could not help but be curious. He then asked, "Oh, tell me that one!"

Smiling back up at the kid with his incisors being fully shown, Ra'tarnik couldn't help but have a happy grunt escape his maw. His grin was sadistic and giddy at the same time.

He turned back around away from the assassin and began to tell Apoltis his story still walking with him perched on his shoulders. "It was awhile back. At least three years ago or so. I had entered an Alieyed ruin searching for a bandit group that had been terrorizing people on the road just South of Cheydinhal. It was dark and the only thing really giving off light was my torch and the ancient Alieyed stones which were in certain sections of the place.

I came to find all of the bandits dead in a large room. It seemed that they had been slaughtered by some of their own but as I looked further into their deaths, I figured two things. Whoever had slaughtered them did not use any rag-tag weaponry. These weapons were of a dark nature. Imbued weapons. Not many low class bandits have imbued weapons and these were certainly low class bandits. I probably could have killed them just as easily now that I think about it.

Secondly, it had happened recently. About four or even five hours before I got there. There corpses had not even started to stink yet."

Apoltis then interrupted Ra'tarnik not meaning to but he had to ask, "Dead bodies - stink?"

Both Ra'tarnik and Scar-Tail looked at him. They were both thrown off by the question. Neither one of them could believe that he had just asked it. They both began to wonder if the kid had ever even experienced anything involving death? Scar-Tail knew that he had because of the story he had had heard at Fort Nomore but both of them were surprised. It took both of them awhile to get over the fact that the child had no idea about death. It was hard for the two to grasp since they both had become very acquainted with death over their life spans. It just proved to them, once again, that they were dealing with a truly pure, if somewhat naïve little boy.

After Ra'tarnik had regained some composure he went on with his story. "Well, I saw a small table with some food on it. Seeing as how the meat on the dish was not rotten and the fruit had not spoiled I decided to treat myself."

Scar-Tail hissed slightly, "It could have been poisoned."

Ra'tarnik just smiled not looking back at his scaly companion saying, "Now how is that possible if I am still alive?"

mumbling under his breath, Scar-Tail said, "Too bad it wasn't."

Ra'tarnik went on. "That was when I heard it!"

Apoltis's eyes lit up. "What?"

"Well, you ever notice how your uncle makes a hissing noise every now and again?"

Apoltis looked back at Scar-Tail and he made a slight, irritated hiss. More for Apoltis's knowing then being irritated at any one thing. Apoltis kind of laughed and said in a pleasant tone, "Yeah?"

"Well, that was the exact noise I heard."

Fully intrigued now, Apoltis's was all ears. It had been a long time since he had felt truly safe and had forgotten the danger hunting him down. He left every bad feeling he had back in the past. His mind was escaping into Ra'tarnik's story and he was exceptionally grateful for it. "What did you do next?"

Ra'tarnik grinned. "I readied my weapon. Since these were shadowscales I could not see them. You see, shadowscales have this unique power to render themselves invisible for a long period of time."

Apoltis remembered back to when he had seen Scar-Tail do it back at Fort Nomore when he had saved his life. He almost let it slip to Ra'tarnik that Scar-Tail was a shadowscale but probably was not part of this Dark Brotherhood or whatever he called it.

Scar-Tail also had his mind race through countless of times he had done it. Including Fort Nomore.

Ra'tarnik continued on. "Back then, I had a very good sword. It was a special sword made out of ebony. Black as a starless night and twice as deadly!"

Apoltis could not help but have a "Ooooh!" escape from him.

Scar-Tail sneered in mockery. He had seen ebony swords before. Rarely but he had seen them. They were nothing to get over joyous about. Of course, Scar-Tail was accustom to seeing unique weaponry. His time in the Argonian Royal Guard was very well spent. Most ebony weapons were enchanted and he figured that this cat's was no different. Although, he did not see him carrying it now. Scar-Tail asked where it was and Ra'tarnik replied, "I damaged it in a later fight." Ra'tarnik's mind seemed to wander off and no longer did he have that bright, cheerful personality that Apoltis and Scar-Tail had become accustom to. Now, he seemed to actually be going off into some bad memory.

Recovering though, he went back to the argonians he fought in the Alied ruin. "Right. Where was I? Ah, yes. I had my blessed ebony sword ready when I felt a presence near me. They might have been invisible but they could not hide the sounds of their footsteps. I slashed at one and gashed his arm. That was when he became visible to me. If I had not been so focused in on him going for another attack, I might have seen that arrow that punctured my side. Fortunately, it only stuck through the skin and I easily pulled it out.

I then planted that arrow right in the head of the visible one just before he got a good grip on the small war ax he was carrying. However, my victory was short when I felt this hard hit right into my face. It was definitely a kick. I knew what a kick felt like.

I was shocked there was a third one but I had to fight through as the invisible archer took two more shots at me. Both arrows hitting stone. I swung about like a mad tiger trying desperately to hit the one that had kicked me. I could hear him dodging about like a snake in a corner."

Scar-Tail decided to ignore that insult.

"I hid behind a fallen stone block and tried to figure out what I was going to do. They did not give me too much time as the visible one was right on me! The arrow still stuck out off his head. Apparently, I had not stuck it in his head enough! Did not matter though as he had given me an idea. He took a lunge for my head with a silver short sword and had missed. I grabbed his shoulder and hauled him up with me. His invisible archer friend fired quickly at me but I used the visible snake like a shield and saw at least five arrows go deep into his chest. He was definitely dead now.

I grabbed his silver short sword and kicked the dead argonian to the ground. His archer friend had made a terrible mistake by not moving from his position letting his arrows give him away. I flung the short sword right up at him and nailed him directly in the chest.

He grabbed a hold of the sword like a wounded beast and made this god-awful gargling sound as the blood poured…" Ra'tarnik stopped himself remembering who he was telling this story to. "He died pretty badly."

"Now, I just had one to deal with." Ra'tarnik said, darkly. "Who I still could not see and suddenly I felt this wind blow right by my stomach. I knew it was a sword or ax of some kind! I had to be careful! This one was very different from the others. He was the more skilled.

Just as I was thinking that, another slash came at me but this time it was near my neck. I bent backwards and stuck my claws into something fleshy. I knew that if I could inflict some kind of damage on him I could see him. It did not work quite as well as I had hoped. I heard this great, loud, hissing roar come from him. I was then knocked down to the ground and I know I almost fell under the pressure of unconsciousness. I was able to get up though with some determination and I still could not see my quarry! I was starting to get desperate. I began to swing around trying to hit something and that was when I got sloppy.

The invisible shadowscale nearly cut my arm off with another swing of his bladed weapon. Fortunately for me, I have thick fur. Oh, he did indeed cut my arm but not enough to incapacitate me. It still hurt like Oblivion though!

It was then I saw blood that was not mine. It was my invisible attacker's! I had wounded him from before. I traced the blood and before I pinpointed him, he took another swing at me but I was ready. I rolled to my left and saw the blood splatters on the stone floor. They stuck out like red rose petals falling on stone. I could track him now.

After about a minute of fighting, he finally became visible to me and now it was an even match. Him and me locked in a weapon duel of both of us going for strikes on each other until I came out the victor."

Apoltis took a deep breath being so engrossed in the story. He was left kind of wondering, "How did you finish him off?"

Ra'tarnik remembered back. He remembered that he was in a violent fury by that point and had left all honorable nobleness behind. He was now just a brutal beast person who cut open his enemy's stomach spilling his intestines on the ground in a steaming pile and then lopping off his head watching in an ecstatic joy the red geyser that protruded form his severed neck. He also remembered some other details that he himself wished he had not. He remembered drinking the blood and engorging himself on… He stopped his memory right there. Wanting to not go any further. He had not remembered any of that until now.

He stopped in his tracks and was frozen on the South road leading to the cave. He began breathing heavily and winced finally remembering the more forgotten details of his barbaric actions. He was a khajiit after all but it was not honorable or noble to do that to one's enemy.

"Well?" Scar-Tail's voice snaked in to his ear and for a minute, he felt that old blood rage take over but he regained his composure and came back to his humble self pretty quick.

He looked behind himself at Scar-Tail with a devilish smile and said, "I did not know you were interested too?"

Scar-Tail hissed and rolled his reptilian eyes. "I just wanted you to finish your story so we can get on with this."

Ra'tarnik then said, "Right." He continued walking and said, "I drove my sword right into his chest and bested him."

Apoltis could only just shout out a, "Wow! That was a good story Ra'tarnik."

"Maybe later I will tell you another one."

Apoltis smiled on top of the khajiit's shoulders and said, "I would like that."

Scar-Tail was less then thrilled. More then that though, he had picked up on something. Ra'tarnik was lying. Scar-Tail knew he was telling the truth about the three and the entire fight but what had happened at the end with the last one. He could hear it in his voice. He was lying. He could tell Ra'tarnik was not use to lying too much. He keyed right in on it and later, if there was a later, he would ask him about it.

About a minute after Ra'tarnik had finished his story the three came upon the cave. It was not too far off the road but it was still well hidden by forestation. At least five trees shrouded the entrance. The cave also seemed a bit misplaced. As if it did not belong in the forest.

Scar-Tail and Ra'tarnik both saw some figures moving near the cave. Ra'tarnik grabbed Apoltis ankles gently and helped him down off his shoulders. Scar-Tail watched him closely still not fully trusting Ra'tarnik around the boy.

He went up to Apoltis and bent down on one knee coming down to the boy's height. "Now, whatever happens Apoltis, you stay behind me and the cat."

Ra'tarnik could only smile at Scar-Tail's little insult.

Apoltis kind of frowned at the suggestion. He then looked at his reptilian companion and understood why he could not try and help the two. He was not skilled at sword-play or any other weapons. Although, he felt like he was being treated like he was not part of the group when he felt that he was.

Ra'tarnik knelt down coming eye level with Scar-Tail which, in turn, made Scar-Tail snarl and stand up letting the cat have his say. The warrior khajiit laid one hand on Apoltis's shoulder and even though he did it carefully, it still laid heavily on Apoltis. Ra'tarnik then said with care in his eyes for the boy, "Now, if you see me or your uncle get injured badly you just run! Okay? Just run away!"

He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Apoltis blinked a couple of times not fully realizing what had just been asked of him. "Wait Ra'tarnik…"

He was suddenly cut off by Scar-Tail with his arms folded standing above the both of them. "Apoltis!"

Apoltis looked up at Scar-Tail with teary-glossed eyes.

"He is right."

Ra'tarnik was surprised by this. Little did he know that the person that was more shocked by Scar-Tail agreeing with him was Scar-Tail himself.

He hated the khajiit but he hated the thought of Apoltis getting hurt even worse. He would not let the child die. Scar-Tail was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for the child. He had been alone for so long and now, in Apoltis, he saw something. He could not help it. He cared about the boy like his own hatching. He was ready to give his life for the child - no matter what! He just wondered if Ra'tarnik was ready to make the same sacrifice.

A gruff growl of approval came from Ra'tarnik. Along with a big, toothy smile and Scar-Tail saw it. He really did not care either. He was happy to see Scar-Tail agree with him. Ra'tarnik was already starting to rethink the amber-scaled argonian. He dared not drop his guard though. Even though Scar-Tail agreed with his plan, he dared not to assume that he was telling the truth about his approval.

Scar-Tail and Ra'tarnik both lined-up next to each other shoulder-to-shoulder. Apoltis stayed behind the two as he was asked but tried to see past the two to look at the cave entrance.

The cave was a dark ominous hole shrouded by trees and neither Scar-Tail nor Ra'tarnik felt comfortable going in. Scar-Tail pulled his two silver short swords while Ra'tarnik pulled two steel war axes. He had gotten them in Border Watch and had been using them to chop wood for some time but now they would come in handy for whatever was in the cave. Now he could use them for what they were meant for.

The two stood ready with both of them dual-wielding weapons. They both looked around surprisingly working well together - so far.

Ra'tarnik's senses were heightened by the warm wind that blew through his fur. His paw/hands tightened around the two handles of the small axes. He held them close to his sides. His eyes scanned the green terrain. The grass was moving irregularly and Scar-Tail picked up on it too. His golden scales moving over the silver of his short swords like an amber wave. Sliding slick and easily. Naturally and proficiently on the hilts and blades. His senses also heightened. He could hear perfectly every movement of Apoltis's body behind him keeping an alert ear on him. He could also hear a difference in the world around him. Something was happening.

The two's muscles tensed and they both tried to keep Apoltis safely behind them. The wind calmly began to pick up and a strange sort of energy was on the air.

The two warriors looked back at the entrance of the cave and saw a strange collection of energy. It was like slight lighting in the air. The wind began to pick up more becoming a continuous gust. The trees rustled and both of the armed beast people picked up on it. Their eyes still locked on the gaping entrance to the cave. Swirling energy accumulating in front of the cave.

The energy began to swirl around itself becoming transparent orbs of power. The slight energy in the air conducting right into the two orbs. The two orbs gaining more power from the bolts in the air.

Suddenly they exploded with a white blinding light and before Scar-Tail or Ra'tarnik were able to see again, two creatures had appeared where the two orbs had been.

Xivilai! That was the two creatures that had appeared. Daedra that looked like dark-blue centaurs. Big, black horns that protruded out of their skulls. Pure light shinned from their eye sockets and they had long fangs in their mouths like vampires. Only they were a lot stronger both physically and magically then any vampire. They either roamed the landscape of Oblivion as a wild "people" or were "pets" only able to be controlled by daedra lords. Even daedra lords had a hard time "rustling" them.

Both Scar-Tail and Ra'tarnik took a step back from the two beings, stared down by the light in their eyes. The light more bright and powerful then five stars collectively in the night sky. The one to the left took a step towards the two combatants and gave a sound out of its mouth against them not of any world but Oblivion. It sounded like a human growl echoing itself ten times over in a single moment. It even seemed the "echoing" voice made calculated noise like a language.

Neither Scar-Tail nor Ra'tarnik knew what it was saying to them. The two looked at each other and Scar-Tail asked, "You ever seen anything like this before?"

Ra'tarnik's eyes were of stone and he coldly replied back, "Nope. How about you?"

Scar-Tail's eyes were equally of granite and just replied. "Never."

Ra'tarnik just raised his eyebrows in agreement. Both of them acting nonchalant about the desperate situation they had just been put in.

Suddenly, the one Xivilai on the right formed a fireball in his hand and roared out against the two warriors. It then hurtled the ball of fire right for the two. Both of the two dodged out of the way with Scar-Tail grabbing Apoltis by the stomach.

The fireball hit against a tree but did not catch it on fire. Both Scar-Tail and Ra'tarnik were behind trees for cover with Scar-Tail having a death grip on Apoltis. Scar-Tail inched his head around the trunk of the tree and was ready for another attack.

Apoltis was breathing heavily not fully realizing what had just happened. He just closed his eyes and had hoped for the best. He looked up at Scar-Tail who was still looking around the trunk of the tree. He then said, "Thanks uncle!"

Scar-Tail withdrew his attention from the two Xivilai and had a surprised look on his face. He looked down at Apoltis and saw him smiling back up at him. He knew that the child was thankful for his life being saved. Scar-Tail's stone stair broke at the very sight of the child's smiling face. Once again, he was reminded that he did care for the young one. He had no idea really how to react. He had never been thanked for anything he had ever done in his life. He had been in many battles and had never been thanked properly. Especially by a child. An Imperial child no less.

His reptilian eyes began to feel heavy with liquid. Tears. He blinked and had a slight tear slide down his face. Apoltis face twisted into confusion as he saw the tear slide down his "uncle's" face. Scar-Tail broke his mean demeanor and smiled down at the boy and said in his rough, scary voice, "You are welcome, kid." He rubbed Apoltis's head with his free hand and then refocused his gaze back on to the daedra staring him down his eyes returning to stone pearls inside his head.

Ra'tarnik saw Scar-Tail rub Apoltis's head and yelled out across from the tree he was in cover from, "Is he okay?"

Scar-Tail only looked over at the noble khajiit for a second and uttered out one word, "Fine!" The anger of Ra'tarnik taking his focus off the two daedra enemies was more then evident.

Having a death grip on Apoltis, Scar-Tail's back to the tree, while Ra'tarnik saw the left Xivilai twisting its arms in circles while the other was walking right over to the three. Ra'tarnik nor Scar-Tail were not exactly sure how to fight these things. The two had never seen any enemy like these two. They seemed to be very good at magic but neither knew how adept they were in physical combat. That was when both of them got the same idea but Ra'tarnik was the first one to utter it. "Get him in the cave!"

Scar-Tail now gave his undivided attention to the khajiit. He had had the same idea but was not going to verbally give it to Ra'tartnik. He was just going to go for it with Apoltis and leave Ra'tarnik to his fate.

Ra'tarnik continued on, "I will try to give you a good diversion!"

Apoltis's face became drawn with worry. He began to struggle against Scar-Tail's grip but he was not going anywhere! "You cannot fight these things alone Ra'tarnik!" He screamed out.

Once again, Ra'tarnik showed his toothy grin directing it right at Apoltis, "It is okay little hero. I will see you in there." He looked at Scar-Tail and yelled out to him, "Get him in there now and try not to trip on your own tail while you're at it!"

Scar-Tail growled at Ra'tarnik and tightened his grip even further on Apoltis and said, "You do the same!"

Scar-Tail suddenly spun out from the tree and began to run with Apoltis in hand.

Ducking down behind his tree as a long bolt of lighting hit his cover-tree, Ra'tarnik spun out and went right for the left daedra since that was the one projecting the lighting.

Clawed, scaled feet covered with dark boots pounded the ground as Scar-Tail raced for the cave entrance when suddenly he saw the one moving towards him change course to get a better shot at him and Apoltis. Ra'tarnik had not distracted this one. Scar-Tail could not stop moving since if he did; he and Apoltis would be a still target for the monster.

Ra'tarnik saw that the farthest one from him had changed direction not taking its focus off of Scar-Tail. He raced for the one closest to him, the one still projecting the lighting, and flew into the air jumping right for the one going after Scar-Tail and Apoltis.

His foot first landed on the arms of the left Xivilai and supported his weight making a nice jumping platform for another jump right for the monster locked right on Scar-Tail. He whipped back his right arm and threw his steel war ax right for the back of the daedra's head.

The ax flew through the air and hit the back of the daedra's head and embedded right into the back of its cranium. No blood came out but it was certainly effected. It turned its head and let out one of those multiple echoed roars and pointed right at Ra'tarnik.

Scar-Tail and Apoltis were already in the cave but Apoltis was yelling out for Ra'tarnik. He wanted him to join them but Scar-Tail did not stop even when they got into the cave. He did not care about the khajiit. He was actually hoping that the ax-wielding beast person was dead or would be dead.

Ra'tarnik was not though. He grabbed his embedded ax and ripped it from the back of the head of the Xivilai. He was back on the ground and spun his body down to the ground trying to slice at the daedra to his left-hand side. He did not hit it but the Oblivion native beast did have to back up a couple of steps not to be slashed.

Ra'tarnik spun back up with his two axes slashing at both Xivilai making them both rethink the mortal they were facing. Becoming a tornado of bladed fury as he spun his whole body one more time, trying to hit the two or at least make them more weary of him.

He stopped and then drove both axes right into the chest of the right one but again there was no blood. The right Xivilai, the one with the two axes buried in its chest, grabbed the two handles and ripped the two weapons from its bosom with no blood at all. The mortal weapons had no effect as the gashes left in his chest were instantly healed with the slash in the back of his head which had healed also. Both of the two gashes it had taken to its chest had completely disappeared.

Ra'tarnik had his back to the cave entrance as he watched the Xiviali throw his axes to the ground in front of his feet. Ra'tarnik began to pick them up slowly knowing that the two monsters were probably trying to lure him into a trap. No quicker then he had thought of it, did he dodge an incoming bolt of lighting. He flipped backwards right into the cave itself.

His two feet landing on the cold, wet rock of the cave floor. It was relaxing to him knowing that he had made it inside the cave with both of his weapons too.

The two Xiviali began to stalk Ra'tarnik and he retreated deeper into the cave. The monsters came within inches of the threshold of the cave but did not travel farther inside. They looked around the large mouth of the cave seeming to scan the outer rockwall of the cave. They roared out against Ra'tarnik but did not step inside. They seemed to be held back by some invisible wall.

Ra'tarnik was not complaining though but he also could not understand it. What prevented the two magical beasts from entering the cave? What barrier or guard kept them back? Was it Sheogorath? Did he want Ra'tarnik all for himself? What worried Ra'tarnik the most though was if he himself would be able to get back out. For now, this unknown force held the two powerful daedra at bay and it would have to do.

The daedra meanwhile were growling and jeering at the edge of the cave. They seemed to really want to get at Ra'tarnik but all they could do was just stay outside of the cave entrance and make their horrible sounds and faces.

Turning around, Ra'tarnik looked down the dark cave into obscurity. He couldn't see where Apoltis or his scaly adversary had gone. He began to walk deeper into the cave hoping to find them. Even though he was a warrior and a very skilled one at that, he knew deep inside himself that he would need help. The biggest thing on his mind though was the boy. Maybe his argonian compatriot had been waiting for just the right time to get the boy alone? Ra'tarnik could not help but think hostile thoughts about the amber-scaled argonian. He had seen for himself that the reptile did care for the boy but he had to be prepared. Maybe it was just a very clever ruse.

The dark did not bother Ra'tarnik at all either. Being a kahjiit he could see in the dark just as well as in the light. It was the only advantage he had over Scar-Tail in the dark cave and he was going to use it to his utmost skillfulness.

(A/N: Alright! Another chapter done! I don't know about you guys but I am having a blast writing this! I hope all the readers are enjoying this too. I have only seen a couple of reviews so I'm taking that as a slight good thing. Even though it seems that he's never really played the Elder Scrolls games, he's certaintly enjoying the story. I would like an expert's review though. One familiar with the Elder Scrolls to review. Maybe you guys are just shy though. If that's the case, that's fine. I do encourage reviews though and hope to see more as time progress. Make'em wordy too if you want! I like reading them.)