DRAGON CRISIS
Destiny Unraveled
VIII
11th of Sun's Dawn, 4E 203
Veilheim sat on the ground as the rest of the group was immersed in a weird stone wall.
Well, it wasn't as weird as much as it was creepy. Like the vast majority of his kinsmen, Veilheim was traditional, respectful of his ancestors and highly superstitious. He found no reason to poke around Word Walls. The level of comfort the rest of his companions displayed while inspecting the monument was concerning and seeing Nyx rubbing shoulders with them was even more concerning. Not to mention, they were probably surrounded by countless walking corpses that just haven't woken up yet. On the other hand, he gripped his sword tightly, finding that the action eased his nerves a bit.
Meanwhile, Ziiah put her hand on the Wall and focused her breath. In and out... She repeated the mantra in her head until the song became clearer. The tune was soft and rhythmic, mirroring war drums on the battlefield. In between the beats, she heard the Word, softly, barely but she heard it.
"Feim," she said and the energy surged from the wall and into her being, staggering her in the process.
Kaani was quick to catch her friend as she almost fell backwards. Nyx and Veilheim were also alarmed as they rushed to Ziiah's side. Veilheim in particular was agitated. The group stared at the young Redguard as she regained composure and was stable on her feet once more. Still somewhat dizzy, Ziiah grabbed her head with both of her hands and groaned while the strange hangover-like sensation passed. Moments later, she sighed in relief.
"Sorry about that," she said clearly.
"Can you follow?" Kaani asked her to which Ziiah nodded.
However, Nyx and Veilheim weren't convinced. The two man didn't follow the women as they went back up the ledge down which they came previously. Noticing the hold-up, the two turned around and saw that the warriors bore deep frowns upon their brows.
"We're not taking a single step until you explain what just happened," Nyx said firmly.
"And you better not deceive us," Veilheim added.
"I don't remember us agreeing on sharing secrets, gentlemen," Kaani quickly retorted.
Veilheim growled but Nyx stopped him with a gesture of his hand. "Likewise but this is something we can't leave unanswered."
Kaani leaned towards Ziiah, whispering, "Don't tell them anything. We don't know their intentions."
"You're growing paranoid, my friend," Ziiah whispered back and Kaani hissed in response.
"You're growing even more reckless," Kaani growled.
Ziiah rolled her eyes before turning back to the warriors. "I'm sure you've heard of the Dragonborn, gents?"
Nyx and Veilheim exchanged questioning looks before Veilheim replied, "Everybody has. What's your point?"
Ziiah shrugged her shoulder. Kaani rolled her eyes. Nyx's eyes widened and Veilheim whistled.
"Well," Nyx said, "shit."
Ziiah smiled.
"Fuck!"
The Cistern grew quiet. Everyone was on edge as of late and Brynjolf's outrages were getting frequent. Karliah, who usually kept his behavior in line, was loosing her temper as well. They were arguing every chance they got and the their exchanges further worsened the overall mood in the Guild. Not to mention, once the news of whom was abducting and killing their comrades reached the Guild, it was as if an Oblivion Gate opened up.
"Yelling won't get you anywhere," Karliah seethed through her teeth at one point.
Brynjolf gave her a mean glare. "Do you have a better idea?!"
"I do," Karliah barked.
Brynjolf remained quiet as he let Karliah speak.
"We can't lose our heads at this point," she continued more softly. "Our comrades are in danger so we must be swift and precise."
"They're the Thalmor, Karliah," Brynjolf stressed. "One foot within their viewpoint and we're dead."
"Not necessarily," Karliah explained. "There is an event at the Embassy soon. It will be hosted by the Ambassador herself."
Brynjolf frowned. "What about it?"
Karliah smirked. "Only the most influential people in Skyrim will be invited."
Brynjolf was silent for a moment before he realized. "Maven?"
Karliah nodded.
"She won't do shit," Brynjolf scoffed. "The least she wants to do is reveal her connection to us."
Karliah rolled her eyes. "I meant that she could be our way in, Brynjolf."
"How?" he asked.
"Simple," Karliah said. "She must come with an escort or a bodyguard at least to the Embassy itself."
"Send one of our own undercover, you mean?" Brynjolf asked.
"It's our best option," Karliah said.
Brynjolf sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He liked the idea she proposed but he was wary of the possible difficulties and consequences. One wrong move, he thought, and we'd all be dead. On the other hand, he figured, if they were to succeed in their mission, they could prevent a much bigger disaster from occurring. Question is, whom should we send on this suicide mission?
"Your brow is furrowing again, Brynjolf," Karliah said.
"I don't think anyone would want to do this, lass," he sighed. "It's too risky, many things can go wrong."
Karliah reached for the Nord's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "There is one person who might be up to the task..."
Brynjolf almost immediately knew whom she was referring to and furiously shook his head in dismissal.
"Brynjolf - "
"She could've died, Karliah," he stressed, still shaking his head. "I won't push my daughter in death's embrace, not after everything."
"I know," Karliah said softly, "but she'd the best of us. If she can't do it, no can."
Brynjolf bit his lower lip. Karliah's words were true to the letter but his own heart refused to believe in them. After all, it was about his daughter - his only child. After a while of silence, the redhead Nord sighed and requested a moment to think. Though hesitant, Karliah complied and left him alone with his thoughts.
"Are you sure about this?"
"No, not really."
Kaani glanced at her raven-haired friend. "So why are you doing this?"
Ziiah sighed, letting off the chain lever. "We've come this far. What else am I supposed to do - go back the way we came?"
Kaani glanced back at the corridor they just passed through. She shivered at the thought of walking back through that particular spider nest.
"That's what I thought," Ziiah said and pulled the lever.
Shortly thereafter, the iron gate pulled up and revealed a vast empty chamber. A staircase led downward to a short stone path laying across what seemed to be an ancient pool. At the very end of the chamber was a sarcophagus with a grotesque figurine atop of it. From the distance, they could see several corpses laying around.
"Someone's been here," Nyx said all of a sudden.
Ziiah glanced back at the Imperial. "What makes you say that?"
"What were you looking for again?" Nyx asked.
Ziiah glanced at Kaani before replying, "A horn."
Nyx scoffed. "I bet a hundred gold that someone already took it."
"You can't know that," Kaani said while glaring at him.
The Imperial smirked as he made his way down the stairs. Nonchalant, he walked across the stone path without a care in the world. It was only when the ground began to shake that he stopped. Caught off guard, Nyx watched as for giant statues emerged from the pool, two on each side. The warrior stumbled and fell as the quakes continued for a while. This moment of embarrassment earned him a round of laughter from his onlookers which only made his cheeks burn hotter.
"That was very entertaining, sir," Kaani said as she walked down the stairs.
"You should see him when he sings," Veilheim chipped as he helped his friend back up on his feet. "It's marvelous!"
"Ooh, I want to see that," Ziiah chuckled as she and Kaani walked passed them.
Nyx said nothing as he fixed his belt and bracers.
"No need for pouting, friend," Veilheim said while patting the Imperial on his shoulder. "At least it was fun."
The Nord could've gotten himself a bruise on his had they not been interrupted by Ziiah. Averting their attention to the women, they noticed them standing next to the sarcophagus they saw from the distance earlier. Kaani was staring at Ziiah with worried expression which alarmed both warriors.
"What's wrong?" Nyx asked as they walked toward them.
"It seems I owe you money," Ziiah said as she showed them a piece of parchment. "We're not the only ones looking for the horn."
"What does it say?" Veilheim asked as he peeked over her shoulder.
Ziiah sighed. "That we need to get to Riverwood."
"What's this about attic room in Sleeping Giant?" Nyx asked.
"Probably a password," Kaani answered. "Though that signature - a friend."
"No one knows where I am," Ziiah said.
Kaani thought for a moment. "Could it be the Jarl?"
"Balgruuf?" Ziiah almost shouted. "Divines, I hope not. That's not the type of person I'd call a friend."
"What about Thane Tarhrin?" Kaani asked.
Ziiah shook her head. "Doubt it. He should be in Whiterun now."
"Who could it be then?" Veilheim finally asked.
"Whoever it is," Nyx said, "they know that you're the Dragonborn."
Ziiah frowned. "Guess we're off to Riverwood to find this friend of mine."
Just several dozen feet from the group, hiding behind a set of pillars were Tarhrin and Loro. They overheard every other word but faintly. Tarhrin would peek out of their hiding spot now and then, careful so he wouldn't be caught red-handed. However, his efforts were almost undermined - for lack of a better word - by Loro who hissed and grunted each time Tarhrin exposed himself.
"What?" Tarhrin mouthed.
Loro would make a ridiculous grimace that bordered between disgust, rage and embarrassment. He mouthed something back to Tarhrin but the Bosmer didn't quite understand it. He shrugged it off in the end, focusing back on the group standing next to the sarcophagus. All of a sudden, they hurried to the door behind the sarcophagus and disappeared in a moment's notice. Waiting for another moment, Tarhrin emerged from behind the pillar and walked over to the sarcophagus with Loro being close by.
"They could've seen you, you moron," Loro seethed.
"They could've," Tarhrin said cheekily over his shoulder, "but they didn't."
Loro rolled his eyes before asking, "Now what? Where are they going?"
"Wherever they're going," Tarhrin said while circling the sarcophagus, "we're going too."
Loro groaned.
