Chapter 7
Tanzewil 2
Ayrenn forced her to meet her blue eyes, not letting Deri slip away from the asked question. The vestige hesitated, desperately trying to find a loophole, a way out to get away, but Ayrenn's grip on her shoulder remained firm and determining.
"Let me go..." an answer in a reflex from the Breton a skipped action to release tension, not a very confident one, more a plea but enough to let the queen loosen the grip.
Ayrenn collected herself even gave a little impression of doubting her former rough action as if she has gone too far. "... a hard one.." then muttered. "..enough now.."
"Why did you tell me all that?"
The queen laughed twice then finally revealed the truth and her real intentions. "Let's quit the masquerade...Do you think I'm stupid? Do you think I let an unknown Breton running around my island without monitoring all the steps you do. Especially one of Emeric's potential agents as You turned out to be later." making Deri speechless and froze in motion, almost caught in the act. The queen had just seen through and had played with her the whole time, it was just a game to play and the rules also the setting had changed completely.
"I expected an assassination by the daggerfall-alliance, an assassin was already announced and expected by my eyes. But it was surprising you defeated the plan." she crossed her arms. "Obviously not the one to kill me, which doesn't make any sense."
The altmer woman built up herself in an intimating manner making Deri just following her further explanations silently.
"My agents followed you to Silsaihen..." Ayrenn explained very self-assured. "They watched you, monitored your actions when helping my people against that Veiled Heritance which is probably also an ally of Emeric to reach his goal for decomposition of my dominion."
And in this moment Deri understood the true motives of the cat by following her, suddenly showing up in the village, supporting her in finding the real marines. It has been a test to pass.
"It's disgusting by the way... they even team up with the enemy to destroy my efforts..." Ayrenn angrily remarked to herself when going up and down, before finishing in front of Deri to set another statement, still totally in control of the situation."You are not loyal to your own king according to your actions, so what kind of game are you playing? I think I was kind and fair to you...until now!" her voice turned harsh in the end, expressing impatience.
"You're not afraid I could kill you?" Deri asked perplexed when realizing all her efforts to mask her true identity failed so miserably.
"If you wanted to kill me.. You would already done or better let's say you would tried to...not that you could ever succeed in doing so." Ayrenn confidently made clear then laughed at the still confused vestige again. "Listen my dear. I would not stand here today as queen if I were the one making it so easy..." she pointed down. "Better watch your ground next time!"
Deri's eyes followed the hint to find herself standing on a rune which seemed to be a volcanic one, glowing blue unmistakably. Deri remembered the magic skill, this one could knock herself instant into the air with a bad stunning effect any time by starting moving. She was trapped by the queen, without any option to free or act. The hard truth was obvious, she underestimated the elf and now was delivered to the grace of the altmer holding the cards in her hands.
"But enough of games. Tell me, why is one of Emeric's agents helping me? Are you nuts?" Ayrenn went on, expecting an answer from the poor vestige.
"I have no intention to kill you.." The Breton simply let out.
"Ah I see, oddly I may believe you after the strange episode in Vulkhelwatch but perhaps it was just part of the plan to obtain my trust under false pretenses. Are you a spy? An informer to plant into my services for infiltration? But then why denying entering my service?"
"No! I came here for other reasons." was the immediate objection.
"Tell me..why should I believe you? What should stop or prevent me from sending your cut head back to Emeric with a greeting card of the Dominion?"
"I didn't want to come here, a friend told me I should do so." Ok it sounded stupid but that was honest, no idea whether Ayrenn was buying it or not.
The elf was amused. "A friend told you... So you're on vacation, having a break from war and see the nice summerset isles, I guess. And by coincidence you decided to support the interests of the dominion three times so far." It was ridiculous of course and Ayrenn waved a finger, releasing some magika to renew the rune among Deri's feet with a simple gesture, she may be young but she was indeed no fool.
The vestige had to be honest with herself, her story combined with the current situation was too unbelievable, if she walked in her counterpart shoes, she would not believe it either. Nevertheless the elf was really persuading when talking about her motives for her dominion, why all the efforts of declaring her point of view before?
"If you have already made up your mind...why are we still talking?" the vestige gave up. "Kill me and end it now! Doesn't make any difference." Remaining stiff in the trap set above required a lot of self-control, also this kind of conversation was unfair.
"Do you want to die?" the queen cocked her brows in incomprehension.
"Yes!"
Not that she could die so easily, the possibility of a true death was not available, but Deri was tired of the show, the imagination of finding temporary peace in fake death was welcome. Unfortunately it would last only a short time before her soulless body returns but her mind would be free for moment.
"You are queer!" Ayrenn assessed with straight face then curled her lips to a sneer. "Crazy...and funny... Raz already told me there is something special on you."
Oh please can we finally end this...
"Just for the record...Your friend...the alleged friend of course...the one who told you to come here into my lands.. what did he promised you to find..or for what reasons?"
"He didn't mentioned that... He said I will find out then..."
Ayrenn was bursting with laughter again. "By Auri-El, you're better than any fairy teller...really." As absurd the situation was, it was entertaining the altmer, she enjoyed the interrogation visible. "I should employ you as my jester in court." she quipped.
"Thank you Vanus..." Deri grumbled quietly. She was fucked up now all thanks to the glorious guild master she thought of being a trust able friend. She better had stayed in storm haven and continued to be a footboy for the covenant.
"Wait, what did you say? " Ayrenn suddenly stopped her amusement, lifting her head and inquiring further with growing interest. "What name did you say? Who is this friend?"
"I guess it doesn't matter anyway." a long sigh from the vestige. "It's the master of the mage guild." No idea if Vanus gets in trouble for naming him here, she didn't care, he was the reason for her mess and so it was his own fault.
"Vanus Galerion? The Vanus Galerion of Psijc order? He sent you here?"
"Yes, who else?" Ayrenn held on for a moment then mustered Deri closely, now with different eyes as it seemed but not forgetting to maintain the rune at Deri's feet with a simple elegant motion of her finger. "Tell me exactly what he said."
Deri didn't want to talk about details of the critical conversation so she mentioned only fragments. "I can't remember, something about the great picture, destiny, somebody high owning him a favor and bla bla bla."
You don't believe I'm going to chat out of the sewing box? Do you?
"You should be honest with me if you want to leave this place in one piece." Ayrenn firmly ordered, still focusing her.
"And if I don't want to leave in one piece?" the vestige was finally fed up, time to die now.
Seconds passed the the queen suddenly smiled. "You're pretty bold... are you? The others would not dare to speak with me like that.." she remarked with amusement again.
"I have nothing left to lose.."
"I like that." The altmer commented with a chuckle. "You are different..."
Ok...it's enough now...
"Can you please kill me now?" Deri desperately begged for salvation, mentally adjusted for the inescapable.
"No!" The elf flicked her fingers and the rune disappeared. "For some reasons, I'm willing to believe you...for now." she grinned, offering a bright smile, confusing the Breton woman again.
Deri finally moved, her aching muscles relaxing by a deep breath then starring at the elf before asking insecurely. "And what now?"
"You are going to assist me in finishing this nonsense here and don't dare to leave or run away, the guards waiting at the entrance will kill you instant when returning without me."
I hate you spiky-ears...
Everything was set and planned by the altmer before, no way out until the job was done.
I hate you so much spiky-ears...
And the show continued as before, much to the vestige's discomfort. The queen was ordering and Deri was the drummer again. "Go and find the second crystal, equal to the one next to the door." The queen put her attention to a platform with a blue transparent stone on top. "They both need to be activated to open the door."
I should go...
Deri quickly stepped away to find the other one, in her mind she directly started to develop an in-her-eyes genius escape plan from the isle. First step was to get out of the dungeon alive or whatever and get lost as soon as possible, second was to reach the haven in vulkhelguard and meet the captain of the ship which brought her to summerset. Jimila had been her name if she remembered right, no doubt for some coins of gold and more alcohol the kajiit makes sure she could vanish from the view of the elves and their queen easily. Third and hopefully last thing, she is going to meet Vanus and literally tear up his head for the dumbest idea he ever had. And then she would go in a tavern and drink until she falls unconscious, letting politics just be politics for the fools in the world.
Yeah that's the plan...Great plan
The second crystal was sadly located on higher platform then the one next to the door causing trouble to Deri when trying to reach the damn thing. Just a few centimeters were missing and unfortunately she had to touch the damn stone, a spark a light magic didn't work for activating. She cursed a few times before the perky voice in her back reminded her she wasn't alone down there.
"Need a hand?"
A growl left the vestige's throat when Ayrenn appeared behind, stretching out a slender arm, touching the crystal without any effort thanks to her taller height before it started to glow followed by the sound of stones moving down the hall.
"I was wondering what took you so long?" the queen shot towards the pissed Breton, Deri could swear she was grinning as well. "Can't believe you are one of Emeric's top agents tzz tzz."
"Damn you elf!" she shouted without beating around the bush to express her frustration.
The queen approached her with complacency but acting calm. "Oh I see we are over all this majesty-bla-bla nonsense. Fine..."
I could kill you bitch...
"Just to make one thing clear: You are not my queen, never will be and... " Deri coughed slightly. "By the way...I was already working out something to solve that.."
"By what? Finding a ladder or a chair?" Ayrenn interrupted.
Uhh that wasn't fair...so mean
"Yes!"
"Hmm but there is no chair or ladder down here..." Ayrenn said, totally eased when letting her eyes wandering slowly around the area. "Only dust, dirt, ghosts and probably traitors in the center of this dusty place..."
Now she mocked Deri, enjoying the advantage of being in charge too much.
What is going wrong here..?
The vestige turned around not answering, quickly heading to the now open stone door where the traitor was waiting for them.
Never ask me again why I don't like fucking elves...
...
The dancing longsword combined with blasts of pure blue energy from Ayrenn hit the approaching Norion before the telltale elf even could land a first blow with his flame staff.
And Deri recognized the queen had not only shitted her with words, also about her abilities in combat as well. No wonder she had been so self assured the whole time, never feared the vestige was a real threat to her, this made her finally fucked up mentally completely.
Norion needed more efforts to finish than the annoying spirits before but as a good girl, Deri supported as best she could to end him, giving the traitor what he deserves.
Ayrenn wasted no time, performing a prayer to receive the blessing of the appearing ancients then ordered in the usual manner. "Let's get out of this place...we have to talk!"