Chapter 7
"Did you hear that?" Faren whispered.
They were close to the ritual chamber now, where their employers told them that the object that needed to be retrieved was. As they drew closer to the room, they heard the inhuman screams of pain that echoed in the caves.
Nirn shivered.
"Those screams were… horrifying." She muttered.
Shakh was being especially careful now, not knowing what they would run into. He even drew his other axe, though this one was made of Orichalcum, and not silver. He gritted his teeth in anticipation. He knew whatever caused that noise was not a foe to be overlooked. And at the same time, he was excited to meet something-or someone that was powerful enough to make him tremble with anticipation.
Bosmer tapped Shakh on the shoulder.
"What is it?" He whispered.
Bosmer pointed at himself, then his eyes, and gestured towards the hallway that leads to the room where the screams came from.
"You're gonna go ahead and scout?"
Bosmer nodded in response.
Shakh nodded back, and Bosmer crept along the ground like a snake, his movements so silent that they could hear their breathing over his footsteps.
As soon as he entered the hallway, his eyes met with a tall Altmer wearing a black robe, with a Breton woman standing behind him.
Bosmer did not react, but kept calm, frozen in his position, scanning the elf with his eyes, gathering information-anything he could use against him. His bow was already drawn, and all he had to do was let go of the string, but something told him this was no normal foe.
The high elf didn't react either, and stood there, staring at Bosmer. The Breton woman began gathering flames in her hands as soon as she realized Bosmer had drawn his arrow.
The high elf raised a hand in response, a signal to the Breton woman, and after some hesitation, she extinguished her flames.
Bosmer twitched slightly, but his aim was now locked at the high elf's heart. He knew the others would jump from behind the wall if he took too long, and he knew they would have the upper hand.
'Yet why am I so afraid?' he asked himself.
"Four… No. Five of you are here, yes?" The high elf asked. He had a deep, voice that strangely echoed in his mind. It was as if his words were spoken by something other than a mortal being.
Bosmer's eyes widened. 'How did he know?' He asked himself.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you if you do not try to harm us." He continued.
It was then Shakh heard the voices, and dashed from behind the wall, in a bloodrage, charging towards the high elf like a wild thing.
Bosmer didn't even see him come out from the wall, and when he did, he was only stunned at the speed he had charged towards the Altmer. The Orc was a red blur, with axes like a monster's canines about to strike down at the high elf.
"Tiid Klo Ul!" The elf shouted. And in an instant, Shakh was sent flying back, out of the hallway entrance.
Bosmer took pride in his fast eyes, picking up details quickly, but even he couldn't see what just happened. And for the first time in his very experienced life as a mercenary, he felt fear. He panicked, and let go of his string.
The axe-headed arrow whistled towards the heart of the high elf, which was met by his hand, breaking the arrow in two as it was met by the humming of a ward spell.
Bosmer's hand flew to his quiver, attempting to fire another arrow when this time, Mjollnir and Faren both charged in to help him, Mjollnir swinging his greatsword as he dashed towards the elf, and Faren already summoning the Dremora with his scroll.
The Altmer raised a greater ward this time, dual-casting the spell, and blocking a heavy blow from Mjollnir. The two Dremora now came to assist the Nord, with their greatswords held high.
"Fus Ro Dah!"
Instantly, a great force pushed all of them out of the hallway, smashing their skulls against the stone wall behind them and rendering them unconscious.
The dust settled, and Vivec sighed.
"You can come out now." He told Nirn, who was hiding behind the wall.
Determined to act, she drew her silver dagger and cast a frost Atronach in front of her.
The giant Atronach charged mindlessly towards the elf, like so many had done so before.
This was met by another sigh from Vivec, as he blasted a purple spell at the Atronach, sending it back to whatever realm it was summoned from.
"I won't hurt you-if you answer my questions." He told her.
Nirn knew this was an opponent she couldn't win, even if she made a deal with the Daedra.
"Don't worry. Your friends will probably survive this." He continued.
"Who told you to come here?" He asked.
Nirn didn't answer, determined to keep her order's identity a secret.
"He asked you a question!" The Breton woman shouted at her angrily.
"Come now, Lielle. She's just afraid."
Vivec walked towards the high elf mage that tried to attack him. She seemed to shrink with every step he took towards her.
"Who do you work for?" He asked again, this time his tone was more commanding and powerful.
"Th-the Psijic Order." She stammered.
Vivec looked surprised.
"The Psijic Order?" He repeated.
"Yes." She replied, still shaken.
Behind him, Lielle commented: "That was quick of them."
Vivec stood motionless, lost in thought for a moment, and then his mind lit up.
"Alright. Go and tell the Psijic Order that their god has returned."
He tapped her on the head, and walked out of the hallway, with Lielle following him.
"What do you mean god?" Nirn shouted back at the tall figure.
The high elf stopped in his tracks and turned slowly to face the timid mage. To Nirn, he looked magnificent in the darkness of the cave. He seemed to radiate an odd light, and had a dominating presence around him.
"I am Vivec." He replied, and then proceeded to walk away, with the Breton accompanying him.
As soon as they fell out of sight, Nirn collapsed on her knees, trembling at the power that the elf had held, shocked at how some of the most capable warriors of Skyrim had fallen under the power of a single mage.
To be continued
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