Skyrim(c) Bethesda.
Forgotten Paladin, Chapter XIII: Elder Scrolls.
Serana's voice breaks through her thoughts. "Something wrong?" Looking over her shoulder, the vampire's face has scrunched into a worried look. Stopping Krilot, she waits for Serana to ride closer. "Yes, I seem incapable of moving my hand." A finger slides over her paralyzed hand. "Are you able to feel that?" Kaylee shakes her head. "Yes, and now look, I can move it."
"Strange." Serana pokes her hand. "Now why would this happen." Closing her hand into a fist, Kaylee shrugs. "I'm not sure, but it started feeling like the wound was still present even though we had healed it." A shrill whinny breaks their conversation, and the two stare at Kaylee's horse. "What is it, Krilot?" He pawed the ground before jerking his head up and down. "Look!"
Ahead of them lay a cart. The cart lay on its side and there were two bodies near it. One Imperial soldier and one vampire. "By Arkay." Kicking him into a trot, she headed towards it with Serana and Sceolang in pursuit.
Slinging herself off the horse, she asked, "Are we too late?" "I'm not sure. Maybe you should search the other vampire's body." Kneeling down, Kaylee found a note telling the vampire to take the Priest to Forebear's Holdout. "Didn't we just past that cave?" Climbing back on Krilot, Kaylee threw him into slow canter. "I think we did."
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"So we need a third scroll." Isran commented after Dexion had finished reading the scroll. "Yes." Isran let out an annoyed sigh. Crossing his arms, he turned to Serana. "Do you know where this last scroll is, vampire?" Serana placed her chin in her hand, a thoughtful look on her face. "I think so." Isran glared. "You think so?" "Well, I know who has it, but I don't where I could find her."
Kaylee shifted her weight nervously. "Her?" Serana slowly nodded. "Yes, she and she being my mother." Hearing a yawn from the Priest, Isran told him to follow him so the Priest could rest. "Like I said before, I don't know where she has gone. Although, she did tell me once that it was a place my father would never look." Rubbing her neck, Kaylee asked, "Maybe she's hiding somewhere in the castle." "You're right. But where… Oh I think I know." Turning on her heel, Serana walked towards the door. "Come on, there is another way we can get in." Following said woman, Kaylee shouted out. "Alright, but I need to see another member of my order first."
Arrows aimed at Serana didn't waver even after they passed through the gate. She followed Kaylee through to the main courtyard. Benches sat around the walls, a small fountain lay in the middle and bushes were plotted in between every two bench. Mummers rippled through the crowd of younger, and some old, Paladins. She could feel the disapproving stares at her and Kaylee. An unfamiliar sound hopped towards them. Her gaze was torn from the courtyard to two older males in a doorway.
One of the older men looked relieved to see Kaylee and the other one glared at her. The man whom had glaring at Kaylee spoke. "You bring a vampire here?" Kaylee straighten her shoulders. "With good reason, Master Clagius." Clagius leaned on his cane and stared. "But, I think it's better we speak in private, and I assure you, this vampire will not attack."
After a few moments of hard silence, Clagius nodded and motioned them to follow. Kaylee walked towards the older man that hadn't spoken yet. Serana watched in slight interest as she clasped hands with him.
With the looks they gave each other, she could tell that they weren't related but lovers.
"So what makes you bring a vampire here to this place?" Kaylee leaned back in her chair. "Bringing her here was not why I came." The Master placed his hands on the table. "Then why are you here?" Kaylee pulled off the glove of her right hand. "I'm here because of my hand, and she, Serana, factors into the story." Clagius coughed briefly before speaking once more. "Do tell then."
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Clagius frowned deeply after hearing Kaylee's story. "So I was correct." His gaze turned towards Serana. "And you are a part of this Clan?" Serana smiled softly. "Not just a part but the daughter of head vampire." Clagius looked even more troubled than before. "This changes everything." Shaking his head lightly, he passed his vision to Kaylee once more. "Let me see your hand, my dear." Kaylee reached across the table, placing her hand in his. "Ah I see. The spike expected the blood of the one who created the monolith. Your hand is weakened due to this." Rubbing his thumb across her hand, he studied the area more. "I think the blood of a vampire, plus a healing potion would heal it. I also think it would have to be the one who created this spike and monolith."
Even though Kaylee would have liked to stay for the night at least, she knew the quicker they left the better. Grabbing some extra supplies for the trip, a sound in the hallway tipped her off that she was not alone. Tullius stood in the door way. Lifting the now packed bag onto her shoulder, she walked towards him. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?" "Indeed it has." Wrapping her arms around his waist, she placed head on his shoulder. "I hope this will be over soon." "I hope so to."
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A shock goes through Kaylee as she attempts to go through the portal to the Soul Cairn. Hands catch her as she falls backward. "Are you alright?" Hauling herself up, Kaylee stares at the portal. "No." Serana sighs from behind her. "I should have known that would happen. It looks like the Cairn was trying to suck the life out of you." Kaylee nods in agreement. "Now what?" "Now, you either let me turn into one of us, or you can let me partially soul trap you."
Serana watches in amusement as Kaylee's jaw slightly drops. "I'm sorry, partially what?" Letting a chuckle escape, Serana repeats what she said. "I see." Kaylee whispers flatly. Hanging her head, Kaylee sighs in aspiration. "Soul trap me then."
A feeling of unsettlement washes over her as Serana finishes. Kaylee feels as if something has been ripped from her, and she wonders if this how the dragons feel when she takes their souls from them. "There. You should be able to enter through the portal now."
Valerica stares at the vampire hunter companion of her daughter. Kaylee, as she calls herself, has managed to prove herself. Defeating the Keepers was no easy task. "Alright," she hears herself saying. "You can have the Elder Scroll." The two head towards the door and she stops them. "We may not be able to grab it and go. Durnehviir will most likely investigate." Kaylee smiles at her. "Don't worry. I should be able to take him down."
A large shadow pasted by as the three hit the middle of the Boneyard. A shiver ran down Kaylee's spine as she hears the familiar roar of a dragon. Admittedly, Kaylee has somewhat missed fighting against dragons. The dragons that have refused to follow Paarthurnax have dwindled to ten and they stay at Alduin's portal to Sovngrade.
Kaylee rushed Durnehviir the moment he landed. "Keep those bonemen off of me!" She shouted to Serana and Valerica. Durnehviir watched as this little female rushed him. There was something different about this one. He wasn't given a chance to ponder it any further as a tip of a blade struck him. He let out a roar and pushed himself upward. Circling the group that fended off his bonemen, he watched the one that had stricken him. She was waiting for him. Letting out another roar, he swopped down towards her.
"Joor Zah Frul!" The Shout ensnared him and forced him to land. While it was a slight shock to him to see her Shout, he didn't let it keep him from snapping his teeth at her. The woman moved to the side and struck him again. "Yol Toor Shul!" Fire moved from his mouth. She countered him. "Fo Krah Diin!"
Serana's mother watched Kaylee's sword delivered the last blow to Durnehviir. She had never seen such a battle in her life. Kaylee had been capable of performing some of the same things the dragon had. Her eyes return to the disappearing form of Durnehviir. It was as if he had been dispelled by a conjuration spell. "Interesting." Kaylee's voice booms out after a few seconds of silence. "I didn't absorb his soul." Serana walks over to Kaylee. "I don't think he works the same as a normal dragon." Valerica's curiosity becomes peaked as the two converse. "Absorbing his soul?" The question comes out before she means to say it.
Kaylee looks at her with a small smile. "Yes, absorbing his soul. I'm a Dovahkiin or Dragonborn in the common tongue." Dragonborn. It makes sense to Valerica now. Why Kaylee had reminded her of a dragon without wings. "Interesting."
The first sight that greets them is Durnehviir perched on a ruined block. "Stay your weapons, Qahnaarin. I would speak to you."
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"Dexion, we're back." Kaylee stops dead in her tracks as a white cloth is wrapped around the priest's face. "Is there something I missed?" Lips form into a small smile. "You haven't missed anything. In my haste to read the Scroll, I forgot to prepare correctly." Shifting her weight, Serana groans slightly. "So we're done for."
"No, there is another way to read the Scrolls."
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The Glade was beautiful. It seemed like a mix of Eastmarch, Falkreath, and Whiterun terrain. Warm water leaked into Kaylee's boots as she treaded through shallow water. A single tree was perched on the small island in the middle. Its leaves were a light pink color, and its bark a typical brown color. A warm feeling of peace caressed their cheeks. "This place is beautiful." Serana breathes out from behind Kaylee. "Yes, it is."
Reaching out, she clasped the object floating in the middle of a strange thing. Moving her hands up and down carefully, she watched a place of bark landed in her hand. "Well, here goes nothing." Meandering to the nearest cluster of Moths, she held the piece up. The Moths flapped towards her and around her. "It worked, and I think you are starting to glow."
The glow became stronger as she moved around the Glade, gathering the Moths around her. Running quickly down the steps, Kaylee took out the Blood Scroll. Her hands pulled it open the moment she hit the middle once more. The familiar symbols danced in her sight, and she opened the other two Scrolls. A map of eastern Skyrim formed with the symbols of Solitude and Marakrth glowing red. Near the middle of small map, a third symbol glowed in white. The Bow that they were hunting for was in the Reach.
Kaylee rubbed at her eyes as the map faded away. Dexion said the Moths would help, but he never said how much they would. That didn't matter now, they had the location of the Bow, and that was good. A hand gripped her right shoulder. "Are you alright, you went white as snow there for a moment." Rubbing her eyes one more time, she turned to Serana. "Yes, I'm fine, and I have the location of the bow. We should leave."
