CHAPTER 17

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Umbra watched as the young argonian across from her ate the section of meat she had cut for him. he was young, his scales had yet to callus, and his eyes shown with a kind of innocents. Biting off a section of her own meat umbra spoke. "so who are you?" the young argonian swallowed the meat and spoke. "I'm Asum. Thank you for saving me." Umbra nodded. "don't worry about it. I'm umbra." Asum cocked his head. "that's a strange name." umbra nodded. "It's not my real name. it's just the name I'm stuck with while I have this sword." As she spoke she nudged her blade with her foot. Asum cocked his head. "what do you mean?" umbra sighed and took another bite of meat before speaking. "do you know the legend of umbra?' Asum shook his head.

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"umbra was a warrior that lived in a village ruled over by the champion of mogal bal. ne day a women by the name of umbra challenged the champion to battle. If she won the champion would leave the village. If she lost she would be his to do with as he pleased for a day. She lost and he….defiled her. but during her defilement she began to hear a voice in her head. When she was released umbra took her sword to an ancient pool of water in the forest and laid it down in the pool and watched as the rust grey metal turned jet black; and the voice spoke to her. it called itself an Ideal Master. It said that if she would kill in its name it would give her the power to slay any enemy that might present itself to her. she agreed and became the first and only champion to an Ideal Master. For the next 5 years she traveled the world killing those who her master told her to. And then she returned the skills of those she had killed coursing through her body. she did battle with mogal bal's champion, and although she slew him; her blade turned on her and slew her; and so she too was effected by it's terrible enchantment."

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Asum took another bite. He could not help but be enraptured by the story. "every soul the blade killed was collected. And once the master of the sword was killed the collect souls were retrieved by the ideal masters. And so the sword has come to be called Umbra; as is the person who wields the blade. But unlike the other umbras, I seek to destroy the blade." Asum took another bite before speaking. "but… if it was created by a daedric lord, how will you destroy it?" umbra smiled. "there is a castle in Skyrim, in it's bowels lies the pool that umbra placed her sword in. the pool is now called the soul cairn. I'm going to throw the sword into the soul cairn and rid this world of the cursed blade once and for all." Asum nodded and finished the last little bit of meat he had left. "but…is it such a bad thing? This umbra blade I mean?" umbra nodded. "I understand your confusion. A blade to most people is just a blade. But umbra is no ordinary blade. Every soul I have ever killed remains trapped in it. When I touch the metal I hear their cries, they're pleas for death to come. And I know it never will. I must be rid of the blade, if not for the world's sake then for my own." Asum nodded. "well I wish you luck in your quest." Umbra bowed her head and smiled. "thank you."

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OKAN'S POV

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Okan cursed as for the 9th time this hour the horse he was riding reared; it's hooves lifting off the ground to stop at the air in fear. Cursing again, Okan used his weight and drove the horse to the ground. Growling he dismounted the beast and smacked it on the ass making it rear again before galloping off in the opposite direct he had been riding. He supposed he couldn't blame the beast. Animals rarely came near daedric alters. It was as though they could sense the demonic power coming from it. Tugging at the fox fur around his neck Okan continued moving up the hill and through the mountains until he felt his scales begin to prickle. He was getting close. He could feel that familiar cold rushing past his scales.

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Emerging from the rocky hills Okan allowed himself to drop to one knee for a moment, his scaled hand going to a small amulet of stendarr he'd bought from a khajiit merchant just outside of winterhold. "god of mercy, please grant me the peace of mind to see my quest through and not to become blinded by rage and anger." Letting go of the amulet Okan straightened up and continued forward, the shape of c shrine slowly lumming out of the swirling snow storm. As he came to the end of the camp the snow flurries gave way, and cleared giving him an unobstructed view of his old home. setting foot on the ancient stone Okan ignored the cultists who had stopped dueling and now watched him ascend the staircase to the front of the shrine. But when he came to the top of the stairs he found his path blocked. A large nord clad in Boethiah's armor blacked his way, a massive daedric hammer strapped to his back. as Okan came to a stop the nord spoke. "you seek the one my mistress sought to take?"

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Okan nodded and unslung his greatsword. "I do." This time it was not the nord who spoke, but a women's voice who echoed through Okan's head, a voice he'd done his best to forget. "ahhhhhh the wayward sheep has returned to the flock at last." Okan shook his head and glared at the statue behind the nord. "I've not returned. I never will. Your words have no power over me anymore. I seek the argonian you stole, the one you ripped from his rightful place." Boethiah laughed at him; her voice echoing in his head. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I no longer have him, another cavorter stole him from me. I was to send my champion to find him. but your arrival gives way to an idea. You will do battle with each other. and one who survives will become my champion." Again Okan shook his head. "no. I only seek Asum." But as he shifted to leave Boethiah's champion unslung his hammer. "the lady says we fight. So we fight. There is no turning back."

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Okan sighed. "she's twisted your mind. Can you not see that? Can you not see the horror she's put you through, that she'll keep putting you through? Leave her." but the nord let out a roar of rage and swung his hammer down against the ancient stone platform they stood on. "NOT ANOTHER WORD! I WILL NOT HAVE YOU INSULT MY MISTRESS HERE OF ALL PLACES. WE BATTLE NOW!" as the nord charged at Okan he continued to shout. "FOR I AM HER CHAMPION!' Okan side stepped the attack and planted his hand on the small of the nord's back, a simple push was enough to send him over the edge of the platform and into the snow below. in a voice so silent he almost didn't hear it himself; he spoke. "so was is I." making his way back down the stone stairs, Okan turned to leave only to deflect an attack from Boethiah's champion; who had pulled himself out of the snow, and now charged at him swinging his hammer.

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Deflecting the attack Okan ducked back so as to give himself room to move. Bringing his sword up Okan brought his sword down on the champion's body. only to have it deflected by the champion's hammer. Dropping into a defensive stance Okan narrowed his eyes at the champion who attacked him swinging his hammer wildly while charging forward. Okan could not help but marvel at the champion. It was obvious he had no formal training, in fact from his fighting style Okan could tell for the most part the nord was a berserker; relying on overwhelming his enemies and beating them to a pulp. Dodging most of the attacks Okan lashed out when he got the chance his sword slamming against the ebony mail several times; hard enough to stagger the champion. As they broke apart the champion shouted. "WHY ISN'T THE DAMNED ARMOR WORKING?!" Okan chuckled, as he shifted his stance. "the armor won't help you here. I'm still Boethiah's champion. So the armor wont react to me!" lunging forward Okan knocked the nord off his feet and pushing him to the ground. Bringing his sword up, Okan thrust the blade downward into the ground making the nord scream in pain as Okan severed his left ear from his head. "submit. You wont beat me."

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Lifting his sword out of the ground okan stood up and over the champion who had dropped his hammer and was clutching his head, trying to stop the blood from oozing between his fingers. As Okan resheathed his sword Boethiah spoke. "KILL HIM YOU FOOL! GET UP AND KILL HIM!" Okan chuckled and turned away. "he can't. he's in too much pain." as he walked further and further away from the shrine Boethiah's voice became fainter and fainter. "I'LL KILL YOU OKAN! Come back here and fight. Why don't you listen to me anymore?! Come back here." Okan smiled as he went beyond Boethiah's range and cut her voice off; leaving the daedric lord to scream and shout to her followers.

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UMBRA'S POV

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Umbra smiled as the young argonian came out from behind the rock. His face was red from embarrassment and he shifted nervously from side to side, tugging slightly at the hem of the dress he was wearing. "are you sure you don't have anything else I could wear?" umbra shook her head. "sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone to be joining me on this trip. So I didn't bring any other clothes. Sorry." The argonian sighed and shifted slightly tugging the hem down a bit lower trying to cover his legs. "I guess this will work for now. At least until I find something different to wear." Umbra nodded and continued packing her bag, before pulling it up and over her shoulder. "well…..we should get going. It's about 10 miles to the town of windhelm; and we'll want to get there soon. No telling just how mad that nord from before is. Asum shuddered in fear; remembering the pain and torture he'd gone through. Following umbra out of the cave Asum tugged a fox pelt closer to his body. yes the dress he was wearing was better than nothing. But, he was still cold as the icy wind whipped around them.

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DARK SANCTUARY

KURA'S POV

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Kneeling before the nightmother's coffin Kura closed her eyes, and bowed so her head so it touched the cold stone floor. For a moment she stayed like this, then slowly she straightened up and picked one of the small purple and grey flowers that grew out a small brown pot next to the coffin. Putting the flower in her mouth Kura took a swig of wine from a mug before swallowing the concoction and bowing again; waiting for the potions to take effect. It didn't take long, soon she could feel the cold, numbness that signaled the potion was working. Beginning to chant Kura repeated the ancient pray over and over, until she got a response. Suddenly Kura felt her body become wracked by uncontrollable shuddering; as her skin turned colder than ice. In her mind she felt the cold lifeless voice of the night mother speak. "Kura….my most beloved child….. take the entire family and travel to the Nordic ruin of bleakfalls barrow. Await the argonian named Okan. Fulfill his every contract and do not ask for payment, it will be provided by a third party." Kura nodded, "mother what form of pay-" but the nightmother cut her off. Her voice echoing inside Kura's head, an obvious tone of annoyance in it. "the jarl of whiterun will provide payment, in the form of his dark child." Kura's eyes widened but she said nothing.

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"the targets will be difficult. The family may lose members. But their skill and abilities will be invaluable in the battles that are to come." Kura shuddered again as she felt the cold voice disappear. She stayed bowing for a moment longer before standing up and turning around. Behind her Kura smiled weakly at the mad jester cicero, who began jumping up and down and clapping his hands. "ah mother has spoke. YES. mother has spoke to the listener. Tell me oh great listener what did mother say? Unless….she told you not to tell me. Ahhhhhhh yes is mother playing a trick on dear cicero?! A FINE JEST MOTHER A FINE JEST! AHAHAHAHA! PLAYING A JEST ON A JESTER! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kura again smiled weakly art the mad jester who continued to laugh at a joke he wasn't even sure existed. "cicero." The ester's laughter died at once. "yes listener?" Kura shuddered she was still very cold from the nightmother's presence. "gather the entire family. We're going to bleackfalls barrow to await our next contract." Cicero cocked his head to the side.

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"to await? No contract has been given? Unless the meaning of await has changed? Have you changed the meaning of await dear listener? Ah well no matter. Cicero will do as asked. Cicero always does what is and what isn't asked of him. MMMMmmmmmmMMMMM." Kura watched as the jester walked off humming a song only he knew the tune of. Sometimes she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. she'd read the reports about him, no better assassin had ever worked for the brotherhood. Bu it had cost him, now he was trapped in that convoluted puzzle he called a brain. All in service to a mother who refused to speak to him despite all the work, and service he'd given her. sighing again Kura poured herself another cup of wine before downing it in 3 big gulps. Sometimes she wished she wasn't the listener. That the nightmother's cold, deathly, otherworldly voice would speak to someone else. Would make someone else wake up at night in a cold sweat; would give someone else nightmares about being death's bride. Sighing again Kura decided to forgo the goblet and instead drank directly from the bottle of wine draining it in only a few moments. Turning to her room to ready herself Kura couldn't help but smile as babet's voice screeched through the air.

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"GOD DAMNED JESTER! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BATHING!? WHATEVER THE NIGHTMOTHER SAID CAN WAIT UNTIL I'M WEARING CLOTHES! NOW GET OUT!" smiling to herself Kura made her way down the stone corridor and to her room to ready herself. She truly was a member of a very dysfunctional family.

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SAVOS'S POV

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Silently Savos sat in the pool of magical water in the middle of the courtyard. He could feel it. Magic was shifting, pushing something through time and space. And it was heading right for him. of course he'd taken precautions. He'd sent all the students and teachers home; then he'd set about reanimating the suits of armor around the school before getting to work laying runes. And now he sat here, waiting. Taking in a deep breath Savos could not help but feel his age. He was almost 80. He'd come here to the college when he'd been barely able to weave any spell. He'd studied for years and now he could not help but shake the feeling that…..perhaps his time was almost up.

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AN: WELL FOLKS CHAPTER 17 IS UP AND DONE.

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SO NOW WE KNOW THE LEGEND OF UMBRA. I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE BLADE, BUT I COULDN'T FIND THE REAL STORY SO I MADE ONE UP.

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ALSO SOMEONE SENT ME A MESSAGE ASKING ME WHY I HAVEN'T SAID WHAT RACE UMBRA IS. I DON'T REALLY THINK IT MATTERS. WHEN THEY PICK UP THAT SWORD, THEIR RACE STOPS MATTERING. THEY JUST BECOME UMBRA. SO I WONT BE SAYING WHAT RACE UMBRA IS.

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AND NOW WE KNOW OKAN'S SECRET. HE'S THE FORMER CHAMPION OF BOETHIAH.

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WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE JUST HOW UNSKILLED BOETHIAH'S CURRENT CHAMPION IS COMPAIRED TO OKAN. SO THAT IS WHY THE BATTLE WAS SO SHORT.

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AND NOW THE DARK BROTHERHOOD IS GETTING INVOLVED. NEVER A GOOD SIGN. AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD THE JARL OF WHITERUN ALLOW THEM TO TAKE HIS DARK CHILD?

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AND WHAT ABOUT SAVOS AT THE COLLEGE?

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THINGS ARE CHANGING IN SKYRIM. AND YOU'LL HAVE TO KEEP READING TO FIND OUT WHY.

PS: i would love to have a title picture for this story. if anyone sees a picture that would work please let me know where to find it.