Chapter 24:
If there was any time Siris had felt so afraid, it had been now. He had been brutally battered in the past hour. He had been punctured, kicked, smashed with rocks, and burned. The last part came partly from the ice in contact with his body, because of multiple gaps in his clothes because of the blows he had taken already, and because of a torch someone had had the idea of bringing. To make matters worse, there was a snowstorm brewing. Every little hope of escape he had been smothered when he felt the cold wind coming.
The Shadowscales that had been with him were new recruits. He didn`t recognize any of them. The one with the broken arm was the one with what seemed like the most rage within him.
Siris managed to lift his head.
- You like that, traitor? – the one with the broken arm said. Siris spat on his foot in response. It was more blood than saliva, but he got his point across.
His answer was a swift kick to the head. He felt his jaw almost split in half. The Argonian put his boot on his neck.
- Insolent.
- Kaiel, wait. – one of the others said. – Tar-Ma wanted to kill him himself.
- Screw him. He`s going to die anyway. We can say the cold killed him. He won`t mind. That`s a very slow death.
The boot pressed further on his neck. The sharp spikes under it pierced his skin. Suddenly, the pressure went away, and his throat was freed. He looked up. An axe was embedded in Kaiel`s head. The other Shadowscales were cowering, as another one strided to the standing corpse`s side. Yanking the axe out, the body fell on the snow. Tar-Ma replaced the axe on his back, before kicking the legs of the corpse out of the way.
- I`m sorry, Siris. – he said. – Even though I hate with all my gut, I still think you deserve to die by the hand of someone as skilled as you.
Siris looked up. The dark sky was almost soothing. He thought he managed to see one small star between the clouds.
- Di…Dila.
- Stop saying that name! – Tar-Ma suddenly bursted. He took a second to regain his breath. Than he crouched and jammed one of his knees in Siris`s ribcage. – She loved you! She was going to marry you! You left her! Left us! You betrayed her!
He punched Siris face once, twice, thrice as he screamed. Siris coughed up more blood. Tar-Ma got a dagger out of his pocket. He held it in an icepick grip. He raised it and begun to move it to Siris`s chest. Siris managed to hold up a hand and hold the dagger, but his strength was rapidly faltering. The dagger was moving slowly but surely to his heart. Tar-Ma`s face strained.
Siris felt the dagger prickle at his chest, proceeding to prod deeper as blood blurted. He tried to say something, but didn`t manage. He was beginning to feel the knife near his heart, which accelerated out of sheer desperation.
He thought that that was his end. The winds of the other world were coming in gusts. Gentle at first, but increasingly violent. Then, a sound accompanied them. It seemed like wingbeats. He saw a form in the dark sky, descending in his direction.
He closed his eyes, feeling Death reach out it`s fingers to seize him, finnaly coming to terms with the presence that had been there his entire life.
He opened his eyes slightly. Another figure was standing near him. It was dark black, holding a massive two handed hammer.
He closed his eyes yet again, feeling that he would not open them again.
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How many days had it been since she had last seen him?
Hard to tell. In that little dark cell, a second stretched for all of eternity. Days mingled into weeks, which mingled into months , which in turn mingled into seconds. Her jailers would keep a tight watch on her, and she would eventually be knocked out, only to wake up an indeterminate amount of time later in another torture equipment.
Sometimes, the torturer would be that despicable golden-skinned Argonian, Razara. Other times, it would be some unknown Shadowscale. They had done everything to her: pulled out the rings on her ears, removed talons and fangs, broken more vertebra of her tail… But everytime like it seemed that she would finnaly be put out of her misery, a concoction would be poured down her throat. It burnt when she swallowed it, but she healed in an almost split second. Razara had told her that it was a concentrated solution of the Hist. That would explain the whole lot of hallucinations she had been having everytime she was given the potion.
Her clothes were nothing but shreds. Her armor had long since been torn to pieces that still clung to her body in the vain attempt to cover some of her skin. Her back was criss crossing of red, bloody scars from he latest day she had had. She was now thrown in her cell, almost blacking out.
Dila kept telling herself that Siris would get to her. That he would somehow barge through that door and free her of that nightmare. But the image of him lying somewhere, dead, with ravens picking pieces of his flesh scared her more than any torture they could come up with.
- Siris… - she would whisper to herself, before entering a nightmare-filled dream and waking up on another horrifying instrument of pain. This night was no different.
When she awoke, she was strapped in a spread eagle, her face against a wall. She heard a bullwhip unwiding behind her. A whooshing came, and the leather whip licked her already hurt back. Her hands grabbed the ropes, as the blood ran through her back and caked her fur. She dug her fangs into her lower lip, to prevent her from screaming. Blood trickled down her mouth.
As of again, seconds trailed into years.
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- How is he, Farengar?
- Not good. He`s never arrived so badly beaten. I did my best, but he hasn`t awoken in six weeks. Six. Weeks. He`s breathing, he`s heart is beating. His Histskin keeps him without the need to eat. But I don`t know if he is going to wake up.
- He has to. It doesn`t matter how many soldiers they send. Siris is the only one that can fight Razara.
- What about you?
- He would kill me before I could even strike a blow. I lack finesse, Farengar. I kill monsters, not shadows.
- Then let`s hope he wakes up soon. I don`t think Razara is going to wait much longer if he wants to strike.
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Darkness. Decay. Secrets.
All of that surrounded him.
He extended one of his arms into the void in front of him. When he reeled it back, a white goo covered it. He shook his hand in disgust. Spiders. He hated spiders.
A blade appeared from the ground. It was black. It pulsated in red.
"Do you want to save her?"
- Yes.
"Do you regret killing the other?"
- Yes.
"Then become my champion. Embrace the secrets."
- No. I won`t do your biding.
"Then take my blade. But I will have you."
He reached for the blade. His hand tickled as his hand approached it. His fingers unsurely wrapped around the handle.
Then, the darkness was no more.
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Siris`s eyes fluttered open. He was covered to his neck in a thick fur blanket. He could feel some sort of robe in his body. He moved his hands, his feet, his neck. Someone was in the room with him.
- By the Nine! – the other person said. Siris`s memory kicked in, and he recognized farengar`s voice. – You are awake! How are you feeling?
Siris took a look at his surroundings. He realized he was in Dragonsreach, the guest room. He groaned, sitting up and shoving the blankets to his waist. He rubbed the back of his neck. Then his stomach roared.
- Hungry.
- I`l get you something to eat.
Farengar hurriedly left the room. Siris looked at the small table opposite of him. His clothes were there, and he could see some patchwork both in the vest and in the coat. His throwing daggers were in their usual bandolier, hanging around the chair`s arms. And he also took note of the other item, the one that really left him preoccupied.
The Ebony Blade.
It looked so beautiful, resting against the wall, in it`s scabbard. It seemed like any other sword. He contemplated the sword for a few minutes until Farengar came back to the room, carrying a tray of fruits and meat, along with a jug of water.
Siris took the tray and laid it on his lap. He rapidly drank the water, emptying the jug in a few seconds. Then he took to attacking the fruits. He reached out and grabbed an apple. He took a bite and almost swallowed half of the fruit in one mouthful. Before he could take another bite, he stopped and looked at the shinny red fruit. He recalled when he and Dila had come to Whiterun, after their first night together. The apple tasted the same.
- Farengar. – he said, still looking at the apple. – Where is Dila?
Farengar gulped and hesitated a bit before he answered.
- Siris, when you went out to Bleak Falls Barrow, I contacted a friend as fast as I could. He went…
- I don`t care. – he rudely cut in. – Where is she?
- She didn`t come back. – he said. As the room lapsed into silence, he added: - I`m sorry.
As the room silenced again, Farengar stood up and left, closing the door. Siris stared down at the apple in his hands. A sense of emptiness settled on his soul. He lazily bit the apple again. No taste. He looked at the apple again. Various thoughts passed through his head.
"Is she dead?
"It`s my fault."
"How am I here?"
"She`s in Razara`s hands now."
The last thought brought up a surge of fure, and he crushed the apple in his hand. He had no hunger anymore. He dropped it on the tray and got up. He undid the robe he was wearing and silently put his clothes back on. He strapped his knives over his shoulder. Then, he turned to the blade.
- You won`t break me. – he promised to himself, before grabbing the blade and setting it on his back.
Every eye in the room turned to him when the door opened. He saw Balgruuf, Irileth, Farengar and…
- …. Vigfus?
- Siris! – Balgruuf said, raising from his throne.
- Vigfus, what are you doing here? – Siris asked.
Vigfus adjusted his weight over his legs. He was wearing his old ebony armor. He probably hadn`t worn that in quite a long time, and it showed.
- Farengar sent me a message. I came as fast as I could.
- Do you know where Dila is?
- No, I don`t. When I came to Bleak Falls Barrow, I just saw you almost being killed by that other Shadowscale, Tar-Ma. He bolted before I could get him, but I managed to kill the others.
- Thank you. Now I`ll be going.
He turned to the door.
- Wait! – Balgruuf said. Irileth took a step in his direction. – You can`t go!
- Why not?
- Siris, I know it seems that you have just arrived here, but it`s been two months.
"Two months?" he thought, suddenly way more preoccupied. How had he slept so much? He felt desperate
- Dila could be anywhere now.
- Then I will go anywhere to get her. All of Skyrim, all of Tamriel and even to the other side of the ocean if I need to. I will get her back.
He became aware of something in the roof of the room. He recognized it. Irate, he picked a throwing dagger and flinged it at the intruder. A loud shriek came from the roof, and a shade fell on the ground in front of Balgruuf, who jumped back in surprise.
Siris took a step closer. His knife had hit the arm of the shadowy form. He saw a small necklace on it`s neck. Something snapped in place in his mind, and his anger came back tenfold.
Reaching down, he grabbed the figure by it`s neck, carrying it to one of the pillars, he slammed it with all his might against it. The figure was covered by a cloak of shadows, but it quickly vanished when he slammed it again, revealing a feminine Shadowscale, whom Siris quickly recognized. He pressed her against the pillar with his hands on her neck.
- Where is she?!- he screamed.
- Siris…
- Say it to me, Krona! WHERE IS SHE?!
Krona reached for Siris`s hands, trying desperately to free herself from him. Siris lifted her, still pressing her against the pillar.
- Siris… my…
Siris threw her on the dinning table. She fell on her back, and all the air in her lungs went out in a big whoosh. Siris stepped toward her while she was still recovering and dragged her through the length of the table, knocking all that was in it over. When he reached the end of the table, he raised her up to his face again.
- Where is she?
She looked at him with sour despair in her eyes. His eyes grazed on her necklace. He put a hand in it.
- Where? Or do you prefer to go back to being just a corpse?
- Do it. – she pleaded, and a tear ran through her cheek. – Please. Do it.
- What?
He released her. She fell on the ground, gasping.
- I can`t stand this anymore. – she said. – I`m not alive, Siris. I shouldn`t be here. I don`t want to be here. I just want to die.
- Is this Razara`s doing?
- No, I swear!
- Where are they? – he said, calmer. He was still fuming on the inside.
Krona stood up, massaging her throat. Siris could see his claw marks on her scales. Perhaps he had been too violent. The others had approached him.
- They`re at Helgen.
Now it was Vigfus`s time to fume. He grumbled a few insults, making his armor clank a little bit.
- I`ll be going then. Don`t wait for me.
- Wait Siris. I`ll go with you. – Vigfus said.
- Appreciate it, Vigfus. But I fear I must do this alone.
- No you don`t, Siris. – Vigfus said, putting hand in his shoulder. When Siris didn`t turn to him again, Vigfus turned him instead. – At least you could use some transportation.
As if it had been waiting for it, a whoosh of air was heard outside of Dragonsreach, and a shadow briefly passed over the sun. All of the romm`s occupants looked up, some in fear, some in disbelief.
Siris looked at Vigfus and nodded. Then, they went up the stairs. Siris noticed that Vigfus had Voldrendug in his back. It would be two Daedric Artifacts against another one and a group of Shadowscales. The odds were even.
Vigfus barged through the door. The back of Dragonsreach was a big open balcony. The sun was blocked twice again, until the wind shifted and came in gusts to him. A large, red form hovered over the open space, before setting heavily on the stone floor. Siris shielded his eyes from the dust cloud that rised. When the dirt settled, there he was. Siris couldn`t help but grin.
- Hello, Odahviing.
- Greetings, Siris. It`s been a long time.
The dragon had grown since he had last saw him. The blood red scales reflected the sunlight lightly, and the two horns in his head seemed sharper than ever.
- What are we waiting for? – Vigfus said, walking to Odahviing. Swiftly for someone wearing ebony armor, he jumped on the dragon`s back.
Siris was about to follow him, but something grabbed his shoulder. He turned around and Krona was there.
- What do you want?
- I want to go with you.
Siris`s face became grim. He was half expecting a dagger between the ribs.
- Why should I let you go with us?
- I want revenge. – she said. – For what he did to us.
- And what did he do to us?
- He made me fight you, and made you kill me. I don`t care if you don`t love me anymore, I want to make him pay.
- All right. But you go in front of me. I won`t risk anything.
She huffed and went to the dragon. Odahviing snarled lightly, but let her climb in his back. Siris went last. He wrapped his hands around Krona`s waist, to grant himself support, and Krona did the same to Vigfus. Siris took a glance to his friends at the balcony as Odahviing turned around to get some space. He flapped his wings to times and lifted up into the air. Siris saw Krona`s arms tense as he gained altitude. He couldn`t say he felt comfortable riding a dragon, but Odahviing was thrustworthy. In no time, the had raised above Dragonsreach.
Siris closed his eyes as Odahviing dropped down to get speed, ad the sensation of weightlessness took hold of his body. Krona screamed, and he opened his eyes to see the ground hurtling toward them as Odahviing angled nearly directly at the ground. Odahvving opened his wings, and they glided rapidly up again, riding an air current.
Siris saw as clouds passed past them and the sun shinning against Vigfus`s armor. The air up there made him feel free and away from every worry.
"Don`t worry Dila." He thought, setting his eyes in the horizon. "I`m coming"
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- So… hungry… - she whispered to herself.
She didn`t know how much time had lapsed, but she was feeling desperate. The hope she had about Siris coming to save her was dimming, and she had been crying constantly. Her fur was dirty, her talons had lost their shine and her fangs had become dull.
She heard footsteps outside of her door. She shuddered and curled further against the corner of her cell. Another one was coming, another one was coming to make her suffer through tortures unknown.
The door slammed open, and she saw Razara enter through the door and walk toward her. Two other Argonians were behind him. He grabbed her chin and made her look into his eyes.
- Tar-Ma. Kandella. – he said, to the two others. – Take her. Bind her legs and arms. He`s not taking her alive.
The other two nooded and reached for her. She thrashed as much as she could, screaming. Eventually, they managed to bind her. She noticed that Razara looked nervous about something. She gave him her best smile.
- I told you he`d come.