One Night with the Emperor

Chapter Seven – Miscarcand

I paused at the altar. One trembling hand lay on Tiber Septim's holy armor. Behind me, the ghosts of ancient Blades disappeared. I'm alive. Somehow, despite having to defeat the twisted remains of the four best Blades of Tiber Septim's time, my knack still held on.

Jauffre would probably want to clean this place up later and make it a holy shrine once more. But I could worry about that later. Or not at all, if I didn't manage to survive this Oblivion Crisis.

I arrived in Bruma early one morning. The day passed by simply from visiting the Chapel of Talos for healing and the Fighter's Guild to repair my armor. But I didn't stay the night there. I wanted to be home.

Dusk settled on the land as I approached Cloud Ruler Temple. As expected, Martin sat at his table, reading. Did he ever move from that spot when I wasn't around?

I walked up to his table. He didn't notice me. So I dropped Tiber Septim's armor onto his book. He jumped back, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

All of the confusion evaporated when he looked up at me. I smiled at him. "I told you I wouldn't be gone long."

He smiled wide at me before looking back down at the armor. "You're back! And you brought the armor! We'll have to reassure Jauffre that all I need is a scraping of Talos' divine blood."

"If you're not careful, the one of which you speak shall appear. Just in case, did you figure out anything while I was gone?"

Martin closed his eyes and rubbed his face. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask."

"I'll find out eventually, so why not now?"

"Because now I have to send you to your death."

"And I'm all the more masochistic because it's for you."

Martin shook his head, trying to hide a smile, and launched into an explanation of his findings. A Great Welkynd Stone from an old Ayleid city was my next target. Only one still rumored to be left in existence, at Miscarcand. Guarded by its vengeful last king.

"So he's basically a wraith?" I asked. "I've killed a few wraiths in Ayleid ruins before."

"Yes, except stronger. Nobody alive knows exactly what you'll be facing, nor glanced the Stone but at a distance."

"Any more information than that?"

"I found these books in the library. This one has one mage's attempt to get the Stone. He only saw it, and was the only survivor out of his entire expedition. He hung back and never even saw the king." Martin held out one book. He gestured to a few others. "These have some information from people who studied the ruins closer to the entrance. And these have generic information on Ayleid ruins." In all, Martin indicated about ten books.

I grinned at him. "You're just trying to keep me here for a week, aren't you?"

He grinned back. "And what if I am?"

We spent the rest of the evening and all of the next day reading together. Most of the time, I sat sideways on the bench and leaned back against Martin as I read. He would nudge me when he needed to get up and I would lie down on the bench until he needed to sit again. It was nice. I even managed to get through two books and skimmed a third.

When I awoke the second morning, uneasiness settled into my heart. The past day and a half were so wonderful. Martin would not be happy.

Martin piled food onto his place as I walked into the kitchen. Already in a good mood. It would hurt to break his happiness.

I managed to put my plans out of my head and enjoy breakfast with him. After all, it may very well be our last. I've defied death three times. How much longer until my luck runs out?

"Hey, let's go outside for a minute." I suggested when we finished our meal.

"Good idea. It's really nice out today."

We walked along the wall in silence for a few minutes, passing the patrolling Blades. Baurus trailed us, as always. Martin broke the silence.

"Something's bothering you," he said.

"You're right." I smiled sadly for a moment. "There is."

The silence lingered for a moment more before I stopped and turned to face him. "I need to leave for Miscarcand. Today. Now, in fact."

Martin's face fell. "But- but you just started the third book."

"I skimmed through it. There's nothing more I can learn from the books. I only learn so much from reading, I learn better by doing. So, as always, The Hero of Kvatch is called to save the world and all that."

"Because of her sought-for swordsmanship mastery?"

"Yeah, something like that."

He pulled me into a tight hug, whispering into my ear. "Honestly? No, I don't want you to go. I miss you while you're gone. But I've heard the reports. Oblivion gates opening everywhere. We have no choice. Be careful."

I hugged him just as tight. "I don't want to go, either. I miss you too when I'm gone. But I know, and I'll try to be careful."

Surprisingly, most of Miscarcand ended up not being as bad as I expected. Goblins were in the process of trying to move in and fought against the skeletons currently occupying the upper portion of the ruins. I let them fight it out and killed the survivors.

The worst part was the zombies. I hate zombies. With the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns. You have to chop them to bits to get the necro magic in them to weaken and leave the corpses. Then there's the smell. Urgh. I'm a warrior. I dance with blood and death. But the smell of rotting flesh and festering diseases that surrounds zombies makes me want to puke. Thank the Nine for Dunmer natural ability with fire and Martin's magic lessons. My katana only had to touch a few of them. The rest I burned to ash. And then I burned the ash.

After being in the ruins so long I lost track of time, I finally came to a large, maze-like room deep underground. Stone and iron windows let me see through the wall, peering deeper into the room. Like a balcony looking out onto the throne room. In a large, iron altar at the end of a long platform sat the Great Welkynd Stone. It glowed so brightly, I couldn't even see the stone itself. The vengeful Ayleid king waited down there somewhere.

I only encountered a few more zombies as I traversed the maze. An iron door/gate led out of the maze and into a hallway that opened up to the main chamber, and the platform itself that the Stone sat on. No sign of the king.

I slowly walked down the long platform, turning with each step. Both hands gripped my katana. No zombies, no vengeful wraith-king, nothing. Icy fear crept up my spine. Another step. I bumped into the altar. I froze, straining my ears. Nothing happened.

Turning slowly, I faced the Stone. It kept glowing, oblivious to my fear. Stupid thing, sitting up high on your stupid iron altar on the end of this stupid long platform. I tapped it with the tip of my katana. Heart pounding, I whirled around. Katana in both hands.

Okay, seriously. Rumors alone don't keep people away. Look at me. And something killed the people in that guy's journal. I reached up and touched the Stone with my hand. Still nothing.

Well, fine. Be that way.

I slid my pack off. Setting it on the pedestal next to the iron altar, I moved things around until I had a space large enough for the stone. Hand poised and ready, I took a deep, calming breath.

You can do it, Abiyomi. Martin waits for you at home. One swift movement. That's all.

I reached up. Plucked the Stone from its altar. Slammed it into my bag.

A keening cry echoed throughout the room.

Yanked the straps shut.

Zombie groans joined the cry.

Slipped the bag onto my back.

The floor began to shake.

Secured the bag to myself.

Stone stairs ascended to the platform.

I whipped around. My sword flashed. A zombie on the stairs next to me severed in half. Another bounced off my shield and to the floor below.

The Ayleid wraith-king stood at the end of the platform. A third zombie I charred to nothing. King let out another keening cry. I roared. Charged.

Lightening flew from his staff. I dodged around it. Fire flew from my fingers. He dissipated it.

Jerk.

The next burst of lightening hit me. I felt my heart stop for a moment.

Powerful jerk. Only a few more steps.

Another burst hit me. My lungs refused to take air.

Too powerful. One more step.

A third blast hit me. My muscles felt weak. I tasted blood. Smelled seared flesh. Only my velocity kept me moving.

You like lightning, huh bitch?

My sword danced with electricity. Cleaved through the wraith-king. He screamed. Dissolved.

I topped sideways to the stone floor and slid about a foot on my back. By the Nine, I hurt. Maybe I'll just lay here and tremble for a bit.

A zombie groan filled the air. My eyes flashed open. The zombie I didn't kill earlier lumbered toward me.

The Hero of Kvatch kills unkillable, vengeful, Ayleid wraith-king; killed by zombie.

By sheer force of will, my arm twitched. Fire flew at the zombie. It exploded. A chunk of zombie landed on my face.

Oh, thanks. I called up silently to the gods. Much appreciated.

I cast healing spell after healing spell over myself. It took my magicka being drained until my muscles decided to work again. As soon as I could, I rolled over, scrubbing zombie from my face. Bah, stupid thing.

With my magicka being drained, I downed a few healing potions, as well as another cure disease potion. Just in case. Now to get back home to Martin.