Chapter 3: The Child
Authors note: I feel like chapter 4 of Homeland was a filler chapter, so I'm skipping it. However, there's so much good material in chapter 3 that I'm cutting it into 2 chapters.
Sacrificial knife branded, Mistress Ma'Rahn began to praise Malath, thanking her for such a glorious victory.
Suddenly, a spy working for Mistress Ma'Rahn burst into room, screaming at Mistress, letting her know of Razzle the first born had been wiped out of existence. Mistress Ma'Rahn smiled at this, thinking of the favor she'd get from 2 sacrifices. But Liza warned her that she was unlikely to conceive again. Mistress screamed daemonic curses at her body, and dropped the blade. Liza tried to calm her Mistress, only receive a harsh slap upon her face. She then calmed herself, and thanked Malath for the gift of the Delve child. Liza grumbled, remarking that he was just a male.
Dax had just heard the news from another soldier. Razzle was dead. And though the word was he fell on a dwemer fire trap, deep down he knew differently. Nanin had likely pushed him on the firetrap.
Despite his fighting skills, and his perceptive nature Dax had only been around for 10 decades, which wasn't long considering that Delves live for several centuries. He was picked as a replacement husband to the centuries old Mistress because of his fertility potential first and foremost, although this did lead him to become the Ma'rahn's weapons master as his marriage brought him more into the limelight, making his efforts more apparent.
Azaz, the young apprentice mage, a rank that often got him spat on saw Malor move through the door into the highest chamber of the spire. He almost felt sympathy for him, as he was about to fight to the death with the Masked One, and he watched them confront one another.
Malor moved towards Masked one, telling him that he heard of his requested presence. Masked One kept his back to him, deciding to do this quickly before he learned of his House's defeat. Malor was close to graduation, and would be made into a fully fledged wizard, but he had failed a recent important mission, something which he suspected might be the end of him, as his master was the Masked One, and he was very unforgiving.
Suddenly, the doors exploded around Malor, showering the room with splinters. Azaz was thrown against the wall, which did nothing but excite him.
Malor stumbled, and did a quick roll, evading a lighting bolt from the Masked One. He didn't like how the show had started, but he had been given the best seat in the house, front and center. Regardless, he knew he had to try to escape, for he was no match for his Master, who had taught him everything he knew.
The fight went on for quite some time, eventually leading the the Masked One's private enchanting room, which was bright for the Underbarren. This put Malor at even more of a disadvantage, as Malor, like most Delves hated the light, but this was something Masked One was used to. He came up with a plan however. If he could make it to the courtyard, he might just have a bit of an advantage.
He finally found the exit door in the blasted blinding light, and tried to open it, and was shot with a blast a magical energy, causing great harm. He cursed the place. As it was magically locked. Masked One shot a wave of magical energy towards hims again, but he dodged it, and while he was charging something more powerful, he cast an opening spells, and sped out the room. Masked One hissed at Malor, telling him that he only delayed the inevitable.
Malor cursed Masked One back. The chase continued for some time, and suddenly came across an Oblivion Gate. There were many in the Underbarren, filled with demons who saw Delves as on one of their own, and left them alone, they also often had a second gate entrance, aa this likely would lead to another part of the city. He quickly jumped inside. Immediately seeing another gate, he jumped through that one as well. He was suddenly outside, in the courtyard like he had hoped, praising the Spider King for his luck
AN: Again, so much good material here. Cutting this into 2 parts.
Remember, if you want a sneak peek or what's next, just ask!
Again, thank you Slag-Heap for helping fix typos.