Chapter 31

Day 102

"There's no time! We need to move out of here and help the others!" A cloaked man argued with another as they stood before the statue of Meridia. From our perch we could make out a small object hanging between the two hooded statues under Meridia. That's where her beacon would be if it was the game, but now a small piece of the amulet hung on a string.

"We where ordered to watch the statue! I will not ignore those orders while Ryzal is in charge of the northern brotherhood." The other figure argued back with the other. He sounded like an older man and the way he slumped over slightly and relied on his staff confirmed that. "You would be wise to just follow orders like the good apprentice you are." He snorted and turned towards the statue. "This daedric prince would seek to undo what we have worked so hard and long for." He went to reach for the amulet but a ball of flame appeared and swirled around the two small statues that held it.

"The thing just appeared out of no where, what would they have planned?" The other hooded figure seemed to have given up his argument and moved to stand next to the older one.

"Whatever Merdia has planned, it will be to rid all of Tamriel of the power we command." The old man leaned onto his staff and turned away from the statue. He brought his hand forward and a small tendril of purple energy shot fourth into the ground before him. A pool of black liquid formed where the tendril went and began to grow. A boned hand shot fourth from the pool and brought itself to the edge. After dragging itself up, an armored skeleton presented itself to the necromancer. Two more brought themselves out of the pool before it dissipated as if it had never been there. "I want you to go with this young man. Follow his commands." The skeletons bowed their heads and turned their empty eye sockets to the other cloaked figure.

"I will use them well master. I will return with my report of the area." He lead the small group off the shrine and down the hill towards the main road.

"Darius. We should move now while there is just one." Kharjo had already drawn his blade and was preparing to move out from the brush but I had placed my armored hand on his chest.

"I have seen these men lay waste to a city with just one mage. It's best if we don't take on one with just us." After surveying the area I could see that the older man's apprentice had been the only other living person around. No other skeleton guards or anything. Either the older man believed he was safe and in secret or he was vastly confident in his abilities. I could feel the warmth of the blade strapped to my belt. It seemed eager to plunge itself into this necromancer. I wondered exactly how this sword seemed to have such a life of it's own and that thought had worried me since I had first used it against the undead.

"Meridia, give me strength." I prayed and drew the blade quietly from it's leather sheath. "I honestly don't see another route." I stared down at the blade then to Kharjo and Zaynabi. They both nodded and readied themselves. Though this went against what I had just said to Kharjo I couldn't see any other options. The old man just stared up at the statue and seemed to be muttering to himself. "Wait, muttering?" I thought a moment then my eyes opened wide in horror. "Move!" I shouted and dove out of the brush and towards the altar. I could hear Zaynabi and Kharjo hastily jump after me just as the brush we where in burst into pure black flames.

"I knew there was someone there. It becomes easier to discern the living from the dead when you spend so much time with the latter." The old man laughed and turned his attention to the three of us. He scowled when he noticed the blade I held. "I knew that blasted daedric prince must have been guiding someone. I had hoped though that I would have had more time to rest." He raised a hand and summoned two armored skeletons who charged immediately.

"Go for the old one!" Kharjo yelled and tackled into both the skeletons, bowling all three of them over the edge of the altar to the pathway below.

"Kharjo!" Zaynabi lept after them, spell book in hand. That just left me to face the necromancer. My body shook slightly but I noticed something about the man. His breath came in shallow ragged heaves. He was exhausted, had he been fighting before this? Something was taking it's toll on him and I knew that this would be my only chance to kill him.

"I might be weakened but I will not fall easily" He shouted and hurled a ball of dark flame towards me. I rolled to the side, hitting the stone hard. I wasn't used to such a move and it hurt slightly when I made impact with the ground. I recovered just quick enough to dodge another ball. How was he making it black flame? I had thought most magic was pretty straight forward in the world of Elder scrolls. I shook my head and brought up Dawnbreaker. I would have to think about it later, I needed to get that amulet piece.

I moved as quickly as I could, dodging flame after flame. His breathing becae more ragged, his actions slowed. I just needed to bide my time and strike when he was too weak. He attempted to bring up another flame but it sputtered out in his hands. He looked down in surprise and raised his head up just in time to see my blade bite into his chest. The sword seemed to spark to life, almost gleefully engulfing him in fire.

I withdrew the blade and he slumped to the ground, flames still rising higher on his body. I wanted to check on Zaynabi and Kharjo, but my body turned towards the amulet of it's own will. My fingers closed around the amulet and lifted it from it's home between the statues. It was warm to the touch, much like when I wield Dawnbreaker. I put the string over my head and could feel control of my body be relinquished back to me.

"Darius!" Kharjo and Zaynabi both came running up the stairs, looking a little out of breath but otherwise okay.

"It's alright, I got him." I smiled and gestured to the burnt corpse beside me. "I also got the amulet." I tapped my chest to make sure it was snug under my tunic.

"We should leave this place now while we can." Kharjo looked around, making sure nothing else was about to come.

"You're right, we don't want that other one coming back now." I agreed and the three of us made our way back up the hill we had rolled down in order to take a longer way around to the main road.

A few hours later we found ourselves in a safer area around the main road. We where heading south in order to find a passage through the mountains that would lead to Cyrodiil. Night was falling quickly as the weather began to turn foul once more.

"I'm tired of all this snow." I complained as we searched for shelter.

"We have traveled through skyrim longer Darius and I can tell you it gets no easier." Zaynabi laughed lightly then turned to Kharjo.

"There seems to be a hunters lodge near the edge up here." Kharjo pointed to a small wooden hut that had a large opening on it's side as well as a front door. There also seemed to be a dock like structure that allowed one to look out over the cliff side safely. "We should stay here for the night."

"Let's see if we can find anything useful here too." I added and we made our way up the hill to the wooden structures. I couldn't really call it a house, though there was a bed the opening on the side of the building made it very difficult to keep sheltered against the now falling snow. We draped furs that we found over the top of the hut and covered the opening as best we could. After deeming the small space worthy of sleeping we settled in and began to keep watch over the doorway and window on the opposite of the hut.

"We might have to stop in Markarth before we head more South." I muttered to myself as I looked over my map. Zaynabi had given me a map of Tamriel was well that also marked places she had visited with Ahkari on their way up to Skyrim. "Either we could head through Falkreath and go into Hammerfell or try and make our way past Helgen to the southern pass to Cyrodiil." I couldn't make ends of the maps as there was no clear roads through the mountains. Just a large Southern pass that signified one of the few entrances into Skyrim's land.

"It would probably be best to head to Hammerfell first. The pass might be guarded well by the empire." Zaynabi rolled around in her cot before sitting up and stretching.

"I'm sorry if I woke you." I apologized with a sigh.

"I was on the verge of waking." She smiled and looked at the maps I had on the floor in front of me. She took a nearby candle and brought it closer to see better. "From Falkreath there is a small cavern that is the only pass that leads to Elinhir in Hammerfell. We could begin looking for the piece there as we head towards Cyrodiil." She pointed to a small mark on the map that looked to be an entrance to a cave.

"Do you think those creatures will be in there?" I asked, thinking back on the many caves we had passed that where packed full with the vile things.

"It's hard to say but it'd be much better than trying to get through an blockade the Empire has set up."

"Then we'll head to Hammerfell. Better to get some rest though before we start." I smiled and welcomed my turn to sleep. I was exhausted and my body felt heavy. Wrapping myself in my cloak I settled against a corner and closed my eyes. Before sleep took me, I felt my hand closing around the amulet at my neck, as if to make sure it was still there.