Author's Note: These next few chapters deviate a little from the actual plot in order to further the character of Siena, and Jayred as well.
Chapter 7: Skeleton of a Nightmare
The house was a small shack, raised above the swampy marsh on thick stilts. It stood before the trunk-roots of one of those alien mushroom trees, which was as large as two of the shack. Siena looked at the home for a moment before approaching the stairs leading to the door.
She simply stared up at the door, a tarnished metallic colored piece with rust spots and bars over the small round window. Three awnings spread over the door, getting longer the higher up they sat on the door frame. Their triangular design seemed to point away from the door, as if pointing her away from the home.
It was a subtle sign from her sanity and reason, to turn now and leave.
But she had learned, in her day of being in the Fringe of this unholy realm, that she had not the option of obeying her reason. Logic was nothing in this realm of chaos. She could only plod along until she met Sheogorath himself.
And then, she'd take matters into her own hands. For now, Jayred was her only option. She placed one bare foot upon the wooden step and climbed, reaching the door. Raising one hand, she knocked softly on the door.
Light spilled out into the darkness of the night when the Nord opened the door, and if not for her shaded glasses she would have been momentarily blinded. She did a double-take when she finally could focus on the captain of the merchant vessel that stood before her. The Nord was in fur armor, and had a bow and quiver of arrows. I didn't know…. Wait… he can't shoot!
"Yes?" Jayred asked, knocking Siena from her thoughts. She shook her head to clear her mind and then replied.
"Jayred Ice-Veins?"
"YES?" The Nord seemed more aggravated now than before. Siena would have to tread lightly. What will he more likely allow me inside for?
"I want to talk to you… about the Gatekeeper."
The Nord's demeanor melted into warm welcome, as he stepped aside to allow her through with a smile. Siena returned the smile weakly, only to stop in her tracks as Jayred closed the door. Her breath caught in her throat and she gulped it down to ensure it got in her lungs as she shuddered.
His home was a small shack of two floors, the first of which was centered by a fireplace. Two bookshelves and two tables –one larger than the other- made up the furnishings. The larger table had a bench as well and was to the left of the stone fireplace. The bookshelves were to the right, along with a small circular table. One bookshelf was by the entryway, the other by the small table and near a cupboard.
She didn't mind the furnishings so much as what decorated the furnishings. As Jayred moved to the large table and sat on the bench, looking at her expectantly, Siena moved against her will towards one such decoration on the floor.
It was shaped like a head of the dragons of legends, but it was definitely not a dragon skull. Leather straps as thick as her pinkie finger held together femurs, tibia, claw/finger bones, and even pelvic bone sections. The pieces of bones had been mended together into a puzzle or sculpture-like skull structure. Siena knelt and looked closer at the skull-assemblage. Shuddering, she got to her feet and looked around the room.
At least five of those skull-patchworks were on the ground in this room alone, who knew how many in his bedroom. One leaned on a chest in the entryway she had not noted before. Another by the large table; two more by the cupboard.
But they were not the only bones. Skulls, pelvises, femurs, ribcages, littered everywhere; resting in bowls on the shelves, sitting next to potion bottles. Piled up next to the large table, they even covered the large table along with a pickaxe and bottles of alcoholic beverage. Siena became keenly aware she was surrounded by bones, and instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, biting her lower lip as she looked to Jayred.
"Do you ever wonder why things look better without their skin on?" Jayred asked without prompting, and Siena shuddered, fearing the worst; he'd be like Relmyna.
"For instance, you can only really see the bones, when you take them out. You can hear them better that way, too." He explained, and Siena shook her head vigorously.
Inhaling, Siena removed her arms from around herself, exhaling and placing them firmly at her sides. "Listen, all I want to do is get through the Gates of Madness."
"The Gates of Madness? So do I. I can hear them… calling to me from the other side. We have to kill the Gatekeeper! He has the keys." Jayred announced. Why did everyone think she didn't know this? Why did they always have to bring it up and make bile rise in her throat?
"I want him dead. I need him dead! His bones are calling to me!" Jayred seemed to get really worked up about this and rose from the bench, pointing at Siena. "Rumor has it you want the Gatekeeper dead too."
Wow… rumor travels fast here. Siena thought, reeling back from the bone-whisperer ex-captain. She hadn't announced her decision to kill the Gatekeeper until recently and by then Jayred should have been in his home. So how did he-?
"If you're good with a lockpick, we can help each other out." Siena perked up at this, eyes sharp. She was a Hlaalu mercenary scout; she better be good with a lockpick, or she was out of a profession. "We can get into the Gardens of Flesh and Bone."
Siena's alertness became nervousness as she bit her lip again. Why? Why the Gardens of Flesh and Bone? What is wrong with a garden of mushrooms and marshmerrow? She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and opened them again, pushing away her nervousness.
"The gardens… of… flesh… and bone?" She asked slowly, praying with futility she had heard him wrong the first time. Jayred nodded.
"They say the Gatekeeper's magical. I don't believe in magic. But I do believe in bones. And the best way to kill something is with the bones of its own." Siena cringed. She didn't like where this was going.
"I can see the bones of a dead Gatekeeper in the courtyard of the Gardens. The door's locked though. You'll pick that lock, and I'll collect the bones. Then I'll make some arrows, and we'll kill the Gatekeeper. Sound good?"
All of it sounded wonderful. The picking of the lock, the killing of the Gatekeeper. The only thing she didn't agree with was the bones. Against her will, her head nodded. But her mouth opened a moment later.
"Not right now though, Captain Jayred. I… need rest first. And some boots." She told him, not thinking when she called him Captain. The Nord paused, casting her a skeptical glance.
"Captain?" He asked, and Siena nodded again.
"Yeah, you were captain of a merchant vessel, remember?" The Nord shook his head, frowning. "What do you remember?"
"I remember coming here. I followed the bones, and they lead me here. I moved in. No one seemed to mind. Everyone seems to be waiting for something." Jayred informed her, shrugging.
Can't imagine why they would have to wait for Sheogorath's Blessing. I'd say they already have it. Siena thought.
"But I have some boots on the shelf here." He changed the subject, moving past her to some boots lying beside two long, purplish things. Siena followed behind him, looking at the things
She was suddenly reminded of tongues and nearly puked up the bread she had just eaten. Jayred handed her the boots, clueless as to why she was clutching her chest and facing away from the shelf.
She took the boots gratefully. "Where might I sleep?"
"There's a bed upstairs. I'll sleep down here with the bones." He told her, pointing briefly at the wooden planks above them and smiling softly. Siena couldn't help but return the smile, as she had not expected the modesty from the insane Nordic sailor. It was… touching, considering everyone else had been so far violent or gruesome towards her.
Her heart ached as she was reminded of Belmyne. He was always so loving towards her. Always so gentle, his caresses and his kisses feather-light and yet strong and powerful. If he had been alive right now, here with her, he would be laughing at Jayred, at Sheldon and Felas. He would have stood between Relmyna and her, magic flashing at his fingertips in anger at her threats towards Siena.
If he were still alive…. She wouldn't be here.
A tear rolled down her cheek, and that cold line on her face made her realize where she was and what she was doing. Quickly she thanked Jayred and headed upstairs, only stopping when she was at the top of the steps. There she removed her glasses and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, setting the lenses on top of the dresser.
She saw two of the skull-creations sitting beside the dresser, and her back straightened, muscles tensing. Ignore them, Siena. Just forget they are even there. It's just a skull… it can't hurt you. She told herself, hands firmly at her sides as she closed her eyes and calmed herself.
The feeling of her damp pants on her hands made her wonder as to the state of the clothes in this dresser. She pulled it open, to discover déjà vu and shut it just as quickly. Then she looked at the bed.
It was somewhat musty, and old and rickety, but at least there was a Nord obsessed with bones -and not with cutting out her tongue- nearby. Siena wasn't really sure which was worse.
Shaking slightly, she lifted her chain mail cuirass from her body, not caring that she was in her bra and tight pants now. She had a feeling Jayred was too modest to look. Tossing her armor with a clink onto the floor she collapsed into the bed, the day's exertions having taken their toll. She was more exhausted than she thought, and even with two skull-things nearby she was quick to fall asleep.