Chapter 29

Vision

"…What?" Tari asked, stunned, as she stared at the Ayleid smiling serenely down at her. "A… seer of an Elder Scroll? What… what is that?"

"An Elder Scroll is a scroll of prophecy. It gives one a glimpse into the river of time, whether the past or the future… though the visions it imparts are not always clear. But it always provides answers. A seer, meanwhile, is one who has the rare ability to read the scrolls," Moralasil explained calmly.

"But I don't even know how to read a regular scroll!" Tari exclaimed. "I can't possibly read that!"

"You can. And you shall," Moralasil repeated. Though his tone was calm and serene, there was a note of certainty and finality in his voice. "I have foreseen it, and as I stated, prophecies foretold by the Elder Scrolls are not easily avoided."

Tari stared at the Ayleid in silent disbelief. Telepe glanced between the pair, then cleared his throat to interject. "If I may? You've told us your name, but you haven't really told us who you are."

Moralasil tilted his head as he stared blankly ahead, considering Telepe's request, and then he let out a soft chuckle. "A fair point. What is your name, boy?"

"Telepe," he replied. "And this is Tari," he added, putting his hand on the girl's shoulders as she continued to stare at the Ayleid numbly.

"I see. Those are good names," Moralasil commented, a note of approval in his voice. "Though I don't recall seeing you in any of my visions, Telepe. Curious," he added thoughtfully. Telepe felt his stomach sink with disappointment, though he didn't know why. Moralasil nodded, then added, "Very well. I-"

"Wait," Tari interrupted, holding up a hand. Moralasil paused, then stood patiently as Tari walked over to the desk and reached for a silver carafe sitting in one corner. She then took a copper goblet and began filling it with a faintly red liquid, which Telepe realized was water mixed with wine. As she returned to Moralasil, she took one of his hands and closed his fingers around the cup. "Drink this," she added. "You look as though you haven't been fed in ages."

"Oh, Arcanalata provides food for me on occasion," Moralasil chuckled as he raised the goblet to his lips. "She can't afford to allow me to perish. But thank you," he added. He drank slowly at first, but soon gulped down the rest of the goblet with an audible sigh of relief.

"Would you like to sit?" Telepe offered.

"No, thank you," Moralasil replied with a shake of his head as he fumbled around to set the goblet back on the desk. "I've spent more than enough time sitting. Now then!" he continued, straightening up slightly. "As I said, I am called Moralasil… though that was not always my name. For over two hundred years, I was called Goriagea, and I served Ceya-Tar as the High Priest of Magnus."

"You were a student of magic, then?" Telepe inferred, folding his hands behind his back as he shifted his weight.

"Yes. An avid one," Moralasil smiled. "I was wholly devoted to the God of Magic, Light, and Sight, and I spent many years devouring one scroll after another in the hopes that I might glean another secret, another scrap of magic that Magnus left behind when he departed Nirn. In that time, I also served as one of the chief advisors to the King of Ceya-Tar, the father of our current king, Hadhuul."

"Former king," Tari corrected him, unable to keep from smirking with satisfaction. When Moralasil tilted his head curiously, she added, "He was slain not an hour ago."

"I presumed as much," Moralasil sighed. "We would not be speaking if Arcanalata was present or if Hadhuul still lived. A pity that he did not heed my advice. Not that he ever did. Even after two centuries of service to his father, he stripped me of my post almost as soon as he was coronated."

"Whatever for?" Tari asked. "If you've been studying magic for two hundred years, surely you must be among the most powerful mages in Cyrod."

"Perhaps. But power alone does not guarantee loyalty, my girl," Moralasil replied, his bony fingers clutching the scroll a bit more tightly to his chest. "Though, I suppose it's partially my fault. You see, in my quest to obtain as much knowledge as I could, I eventually came into possession of this Elder Scroll you see here. And it was this scroll that caused me to lose favor with our king."

"How so?" Tari asked.

"I was unable to read the scroll for a few years after I first obtained it, but I eventually learned a method that would allow me to divine its secrets. It's an ancient ritual – one that's a closely guarded secret, entrusted only to a select few by an order of priests scattered throughout Cyrod. The diviners of the Elder Scrolls care nothing for politics or power. They care only for the truths that the scrolls impart, and they do not teach their secrets to those that intend to use the knowledge in the scrolls to further the aims of their own petty kingdoms. It took me quite some time to convince them that my own interest in reading the scroll was an honest pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. They were particularly wary of my intentions, especially since this particular Elder Scroll had been read once before, and its prophecy was… inconvenient for us Ayleids."

"And what did it say?" Tari asked.

Moralasil smiled bleakly. "That our race would be undone by our hubris. That we would tear ourselves asunder with our infighting, and that those we kept in bondage would one day rise up against us and exact revenge upon us for our sins against them. That unless we reformed ourselves, our very race was in danger of one day fading into the annals of history as little more than legend and myth."

"…Indeed?" Telepe asked quietly. "I trust that King Hadhuul did not take kindly to that revelation."

Moralasil exhaled slowly and shook his head. "I revealed this prophecy to King Hadhuul shortly after the Narfinsel Schism began, when the Daedraphiles were turning on the Aedra-worshipping Ayleids. I feared that the schism itself was what would lead to the demise of our race, and I felt it prudent to warn him. However, in those days Hadhuul was impetuous, brash, and quick-tempered. He was eager to make his mark on history, and he felt that my warnings were an attempt to prevent him from achieving his destiny as one of the great warrior-kings of Cyrod. Ironically, the young man I tried to warn about hubris was one of the most arrogant kings in the realm," he chuckled.

"Wait… Hadhuul took part in the Narfinsel Schism? On the side of the Daedraphiles?" Telepe asked, frowning. When Moralasil nodded, he shook his head. "But… you're a priest of Magnus, yes? So would that not make Hadhuul a devotee of Magnus as well? The shrine to the god is still intact, and it doesn't seem to have been defiled, so…?"

Moralasil shook his head. "Do not make the mistake of assuming that those that worship the Aedra are incapable of great cruelty, just as many Daedra-worshippers are quite kind and gentle. Our king sided with the Daedraphiles, partially because he believed they would triumph, and partially because he felt greater kinship with them, with their decadence and unrestrained pursuit of power. Hadhuul did maintain the temple to Magnus, but only out of pragmatism. Not only did the worship of Magnus keep his own population placid, but the priests were also devoted to the study of magic, which he exploited for his own gain. He was always particularly interested in the study of fire-based magic, as he was always drawn to its raw power and volatility. A pity, as if he'd paid more attention to his lessons, he would have remembered that fire is little more than a weaker, corrupted version of light, the very essence of magicka itself." The old Ayleid paused, then shrugged and added, "Though he was always a poor student and had little aptitude for magic in the first place. Perhaps fire was simply easier for him to conjure."

"But he still required your expertise as a mage, yes?" Tari asked. "Then why did he have you replaced?"

"As I said, it was partially due to being displeased with my revelation of the prophecy, though he did not immediately remove me from my station. Instead, he demanded that I continue to read the Elder Scroll. He was convinced that even if what I told him was true, surely there must be some way to avert the fate the Scrolls set before us." Moralasil smiled bitterly and shook his head. "However, with every reading, my certainty in the prophecy was reinforced, and my vision grew dimmer."

"What do you mean?" Tari asked, frowning.

"The Elder Scrolls exact a heavy toll from those who read them," Moralasil explained. "Each time one reads from a scroll, they sacrifice a bit of their vision. Inevitably, if they continue, the reader falls completely blind. And so it was that one day, I received a vision that warned me that my next reading would be my last. Nevertheless, Hadhuul had no sympathy for me. He coldly explained that if I was to lose my vision, at the very least, I should find a way to negate the prophecy. He then pressed the scroll into my hands and demanded that I read once more, or lose my head. Thus, I read from the Elder Scroll one final time, and received the clearest vision yet before my vision faded completely."

"…And what did you see?" Tari asked softly.

"Patience, girl," Moralasil said, though his tone was gentle. "I shall explain shortly." He smiled briefly, then continued, "Once I was rendered completely blind, Hadhuul had no further use for me. Not only was he infuriated that I still did not refute the prophecy, he also felt that I could no longer provide adequate counsel without the use of my eyes. Thus, he replaced me with one that he felt was more closely aligned with his goals. My former apprentice."

"Arcanalata," Tari said.

Moralasil nodded once, his smile fading as he gazed down at the floor. "In truth, Arcanalata was not my most talented student. She did, however, have a voracious appetite for knowledge, and she worked harder than any of my other apprentices to master magic. Unfortunately, I misinterpreted her zeal as an earnest desire for knowledge for its own sake. Arcanalata saw magic as a means to further her own ambitions, a way to accumulate more power for her own ends. Perhaps that's why Hadhuul was drawn to her. Though they despised each other, they also might have seen each other as kindred spirits, and in a way, they could understand each other. Both wished to see Ceya-Tar become the foremost power in Cyrod, and both were willing to travel down dark paths to achieve their goals."

"You didn't approve, then? If she was seeking magical knowledge, regardless of the reason, was she not following Magnus' teachings?" Telepe asked.

"Arcanalata was willing to test the boundaries of magic in ways that even Magnus himself would balk at," Moralasil stated firmly. "Testing foul concoctions on innocent slaves for the sake of knowledge is not something the God of Magic would condone. Worse, I feel that on some level, she was not merely satisfying her curiosity, but also deriving a depraved pleasure from her experiments." He exhaled softly, then added, "And I bear much of the blame for teaching her most of what she knows."

There was a brief silence as Moralasil stared down at the ground. After a few moments, Tari piped up, "What does this have to do with me, then?"

Moralasil looked up again, another faint smile creasing his lined face. "I said before that I received one last vision from the Elder Scroll, yes? In that vision, the Scroll imparted the identity of the next being that was to continue divining the scroll now that I could no longer read it. To my surprise, I beheld the face of a human slave girl, with wild, reddish-brown hair, pale skin streaked with freckles, and piercing green eyes." His smile broadened at the silence lingering in the room, adding almost smugly, "Am I correct in assuming that's your appearance, my girl?"

Tari's mouth fell open slightly. "How… did you… but… you're blind, yes? How did you recognize me?"

"While I can no longer see, my ears have grown ever sharper over the years," Moralasil explained. "In that final vision, I heard your voice. Even as the decades wore on, I made certain to never forget it, as I knew it would be the only way I could identify you when we finally had the chance to speak with each other. You, Tari, are the next to read the Elder Scroll. I am certain of it."

Tari was silent for several long moments. When she finally spoke again, it was in barely more than a whisper. "As I said, though, I do not know how to read. And if reading the Elder Scroll comes at the cost of one's vision-"

"One does not need to be literate to read an Elder Scroll," Moralasil explained gently. "And while reading the scrolls does eventually cost the seer their vision, there are ways to delay the process. If you are willing to learn, I shall teach you a ritual that shall allow you to view the contents of the scroll while lessening the damage to your eyes. And I suspect that you do wish to learn," he added, a smile flickering across his face again. "After all, you're Arcanalata's former apprentice, are you not?"

"How did you know? Was that also in your vision?" Telepe asked drily.

Moralasil chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "No. This is not your first time in this room, is it?" he asked Tari. "Arcanalata brought you here from time to time, yes? I recognized your voice then, too. I have been her prisoner for many years, but I dared not attempt to speak with you. If she suspected I was interested in you, you would suffer. She might even have slain you."

"Wait… if you were Arcanalata's prisoner, how did you retain possession of this Elder Scroll?" Telepe asked skeptically. "Surely Arcanalata would not permit you to keep it?"

"She did not," Moralasil confirmed. "However, each time she confiscated the Scroll, it eventually found its way back into my hands. No matter where she stored it and what wards she put up around it, in time, it always returned to me. After a few years, she finally desisted and simply imprisoned me instead, reasoning that I was no threat to the stability of Ceya-Tar so long as I could not walk free, and she could still make use of my knowledge if she encountered a bit of magic she did not understand. For my part, I was content to wait until the time was right to reveal myself to you," he added, turning back to Tari. "And since you're here now, I presume that the slaying of our king was not an isolated incident? The realm-wide rebellion against my people has begun?"

"It has," Tari confirmed. "Ceya-Tar is currently in the midst of a battle with rebel forces led by the Paravant, and I've little doubt the kingdom shall soon fall under the rebellion's control."

"Well… then it becomes a matter if this city can be held," Moralasil remarked. "If Arcanalata is elsewhere and has her guards with her, she's powerful enough that she could conceivably stage a counterattack and retake the city. In that case, we must move swiftly." His smile faded, and his mouth took on a hard edge. "You came seeking answers about a veil around the White-Gold City, yes? The answers you seek lay within the Elder Scroll. I have told you the risks. Even knowing what lies in store for you, will you allow me to teach you how to read it?"

Tari hesitated for several long seconds, then turned uneasily to Telepe. Telepe grimaced, then tilted his head noncommittally. This was a decision she had to make. When she scowled at him, however, he put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, giving her a tacit reassurance that regardless of what she chose, he would aid her however he could. With a slight smile, she turned back to Moralasil.

"Very well," she said softly. "What must we do?"

Moralasil's smile returned, and he nodded. "The preparations are quite simple," he stated. "First, on Arcanalata's desk, there should be a small knife with a bone handle. Would one of you be so kind as to retrieve it for me?"

Telepe walked over to the desk and pawed through some of the paraphernalia littering its surface. Under a papyrus scroll, he found a knife with a curved bronze blade and an ivory hilt, inscribed with strange runes that he couldn't read, though he did know enough to recognize that they weren't Daedric. "I believe this is it," he announced, walking back over to Moralasil and handing him the knife. The Ayleid briefly ran his fingers over the hilt, then nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good. Now then, deep in the jungle, there is a secluded grove, located about a half-day's journey north of here," Moralasil continued. "In this grove grow ancient canticle trees, which attract insects known as Ancestor Moths. These moths have a strong connection to the Elder Scrolls, and this ritual shall allow you to commune with them, enabling you to read the scroll."

"I… believe that I know of the grove you speak of," Tari said slowly. "I've gathered ingredients in that area from time to time, though I never went near the trees themselves."

"Excellent! Then all that remains is for me to teach you the ritual," Moralasil nodded. A severe look settled over his face, and he added, "I shall warn you, however, that you must do exactly as I say. You must prepare your body, mind, and spirit for this task. If you do not properly ready yourself, you shall only receive a single vision from the Elder Scroll before you are struck irrevocably blind. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes," Tari stammered, turning pale. Telepe felt his stomach sink as Moralasil nodded again and straightened up.

"Telepe… would you leave us for a while?" he asked softly. "Tari shall require a great deal of concentration, and I do not wish for her to be distracted."

"Ah… of course," Telepe murmured. He shot Tari a wary look, and though she clearly seemed to want him to stay, she took a slow breath and nodded to him, assuring him that he could leave. "I should go see if the city is secure anyways," he added, though since the temple had not been attacked since they arrived, he was almost certain that the rebels had won the battle.

"Very good. Thank you," Moralasil smiled. "Now then, Tari, first I would like for you to sit before me and close your eyes…."

Telepe watched the pair for a moment longer, then took a slow breath and strode quickly out of the room, leaving them alone. As he reemerged into the main foyer of the temple, Huna approached him, looking apprehensive.

"Did you two find anything?" the young man asked.

Telepe reached out and put a hand on the hoplite's shoulder, smiling briefly. "I believe so. You haven't seen Whitestrake, have you?"

"He has not joined us, no," Huna replied, his brows lowering slightly in confusion. "What did you find?"

"First, let's ensure the city has been taken. I don't wish to share this information if the battle hasn't ended," Telepe replied. Huna glanced at the room where Tari and Moralasil were talking, but when Telepe gave him a pointed look, he reluctantly nodded and led the way out of the temple.

As Telepe and the warriors reemerged into the open air, they briefly shielded their eyes from the glare of the midday sun. A few moments later, Telepe lowered his hand and blinked rapidly, then glanced around the street. There were no warriors in sight, and the area was eerily still. Though the occasional clash of metal or scream of pain still echoed through the city, it seemed the battle was more or less over, much to Telepe's relief. "Lead on," he said to Huna, who nodded in reply.

The small group began warily prowling the cobblestone streets, gingerly avoiding the bloody bodies of fallen warriors. Telepe began silently counting the casualties on each side, and eventually concluded that roughly three Ayleids had fallen for every Nedic or Nordic warrior, which concerned him. Though the battle seemed to be in the rebels' favor, they had only brought six hundred men with them. If they sustained too many casualties, they would be unable to hold the city, especially if another kingdom attacked or Arcanalata returned before they could replenish their forces. How swiftly could the former human citizens of Ceya-Tar be trained into a militia to garrison the city? he wondered uneasily.

Huna suddenly raised his head, and a brilliant grin spread across the young man's tanned face. He abruptly took off at a run, and the others had to scramble to keep up with him. The young hoplite led them down a narrow street for about fifty yards before skidding to a halt and facing left. Telepe jogged up behind him in time to catch sight of Pelinal running his flaming longsword through the body of a kneeling Ayleid man.

"Pelinal!" Huna called out. The knight twisted his sword and yanked it out of the elf's body, letting it slump to the ground, before turning towards his lover and nodding in greeting. "Telepe brings news!"

"Speak then, elf," Pelinal ordered brusquely, kneeling to wipe his blade on the grass. "Have we obtained the knowledge we seek?"

"…Perhaps," Telepe replied slowly. Pelinal let out a growl at the uncertain answer and slowly stalked towards to the group, simmering with annoyance. As the knight advanced on them, Telepe quickly explained how he and Tari had discovered Moralasil and what the elf had shared with them. By the time he had fully recounted their meeting, Pelinal was standing a few feet away, his irritation apparently abated.

"Intriguing," Pelinal remarked as Telepe finished. He folded his arms over his chest and wandered a few steps away, his head down in thought. "Yes, I concur. It is wise of her to learn from this Ayleid how to discern the scroll."

"You trust Moralasil?" Telepe asked, surprised.

"I trust no elf," Pelinal snapped, swinging back around. "The Elder Scrolls, however, do not lie. And though I am loath to admit it, the moth-eyed priests have a reputation for impartiality. If Tari does possess the aptitude to read the scrolls, she shall not find a better teacher in Cyrod."

"If she possesses the aptitude?" Telepe repeated.

"Not every being can read the Elder Scrolls," Pelinal explained, turning back to Telepe. "Only those with the gift of prophecy, or whose destiny is intertwined with the scrolls, can safely view them. The uninitiated shall see nothing, and the foolish are struck blind after only a single reading as punishment for their arrogance."

"Moralasil said the same," Telepe commented, folding his hands behind his back as concern began to roil in his stomach.

"As I said, I trust no elf, but it is strange that this mer recognized Tari after hearing her voice once. Perhaps he speaks the truth," Pelinal shrugged. "And if he believes she can read the scroll, so much the better for us. It's not as though there are any other seers we could rely upon, either."

"What about Per- the Paravant?" Telepe suggested. "She's had prophetic visions, yes?"

Pelinal slowly turned back to him, letting out a low snarl. "I am certain she could read the Scrolls as well, yes. But she shall not," he stated firmly.

Telepe swallowed and nodded, then glanced down the road as movement caught his eye. Tari was slowly making her way down the street towards them, holding Moralasil's wrist in one hand and the Elder Scroll in the other. Pelinal held up his hand, silently indicating for them to remain where they were, and then he quickly paced up and down the length of the street, evidently to ensure they were in no danger. When he was satisfied, he nodded, and the small group hurried forward to greet Tari and Moralasil.

"Are you alright?" Telepe asked softly, stopping short in front of her and folding his hands behind his back.

"Well enough," Tari murmured. She looked pale, but her shoulders were set, and her green eyes burned with a determination he hadn't seen since she had insisted that they raid the Ayleid villa during their journey to Sancre Tor. "Moralasil has taught me how to read the Scroll, and I would like to depart for the grove immediately."

Telepe blinked down at her, then glanced warily at Moralasil, who was chuckling gently. "She is an apt student, and she learns swiftly," the Ayleid remarked. "I can see why Arcanalata favored her as an apprentice. I have no doubt that she shall succeed in reading the Scroll."

"Without ill-effects?" Telepe asked warily.

"I cannot say for certain. There is always a risk, particularly for the uninitiated," Moralasil admitted. As Telepe's eyes widened with worry and anger, however, the Ayleid added, "But so long as she performs the ritual properly, I am certain she shall remain unharmed. The rest is in her hands."

"…Very well," Telepe said with a sigh, turning back to Tari, who seemed surprised, amused, and flattered by his sudden protectiveness. He ignored her slight, smug smile and added, "You said that you know the way to the grove?"

"I believe so," Tari nodded. "However, the jungle is dangerous, especially if we should encounter an Ayleid patrol." She smiled wryly up at Telepe, who smirked back at her, recalling how they had first met. "I would like to request an escort."

"I concur," Telepe nodded. He then grit his teeth and turned towards Pelinal. "Whitestrake… would you be willing to accompany Tari?"

"No," Pelinal replied shortly. Telepe blinked in surprise at the blunt answer, and as Tari stared up at him with a frown, he explained, "While the scroll is of paramount importance, the battle for this city has not yet concluded. Furthermore, should your former mistress return while we are away, our men shall have little chance against her, as they're exhausted and our numbers have thinned. It is more important that I remain here and ensure that this kingdom is fully conquered, especially so that when you return, you shall have nothing to fear."

"I see. As you say," Tari nodded, though she did seem a touch disappointed.

Pelinal let out a short breath through his nose, then added brusquely, "Nevertheless, since you do require protection, I shall leave you in the care of the one I trust above all others, save the Paravant and Morihaus. Huna," he added, turning towards the young warrior. "Would you be so kind as to accompany Tari into the jungle?"

"I?" Huna asked, startled. "Are you certain?"

"You have become a fine warrior. And you successfully guarded Tari earlier, did you not? What's more, she must be guarded by one she can trust, considering the importance of the Elder Scroll," Pelinal explained. "I would not entrust this mission to any other warrior in the army, and I would not ask you if I believed you were unable to complete this task. So, let me ask again: shall you accept my request?"

Huna slowly smiled and inclined his head. "As you say," he murmured softly.

Pelinal chuckled and stepped forward, reaching out to grab Huna by the back of the neck as he pulled off his helmet. He pulled Huna in for a rough kiss, then pressed his forehead to the younger man's and added, "You keep safe as well."

"I shall," Huna replied, briefly squeezing Pelinal's forearm. Pelinal nodded, and then the pair pulled away from each other as Telepe turned to Tari.

"You should also ask Pasare to join you," Telepe said. "While I trust that you can find your way, it would be wise to have her scout ahead for you."

Tari turned to Telepe, tilting her head curiously at him. "Why are you speaking as though you're not joining us? You're coming with us as well, of course," she stated. "Just as Pelinal trusts no one more than Huna, I trust no one more than you, and I would have no one else accompany me."

"I… didn't mean to insinuate that I didn't intend to join you," Telepe replied, frowning down at her. "Though perhaps we should wait until the city is completely pacified-"

"There is little more you can do here, unless you wish to join in hunting the remaining Ayleids scattered throughout the city," Pelinal interjected. "I also feel that the prince that follows you about would be more adept at restoring order among the defeated Ayleids. You all should depart without further delay. The city shall be secured when you return."

Telepe glanced down at Tari, who nodded in reply and began striding purposefully towards the front gates. Telepe paused and glanced over his shoulder, watching Pelinal pull his helmet back over his head with a bloodthirsty chuckle. His heart sank as the knight bounded down the street, his blood-coated sword and mace hanging from either hand. "Just so long as it's secured, not razed to the ground," he murmured to himself, just as Tari spotted Pasare on one of the walls and called up to her, requesting that she come down so that they could speak.

Telepe scowled as he ducked under a low-hanging vine, then held his hand a bit higher in the air to try and widen the area that the small light in his palm was illuminating. When they had left Ceya-Tar, it had been late afternoon, and though they were making excellent time through the jungle thanks to Tari's familiarity with the area and Pasare's scouting abilities, they had still been unable to reach the grove before nightfall. Even as darkness began to envelop them, Tari had requested that they press on, insisting that they reach the grove as soon as possible. Though Telepe would have preferred that they stop and rest for the night, he didn't want to dampen Tari's enthusiasm, and no one protested.

However, even though Tari claimed that she could find her way even in the middle of the night – something she had been forced to do many times when she was enslaved to Arcanalata, spending hours in the darkness scouring the ground for herbs and mushrooms out of fear of punishment – their progress had slowed significantly. They spent most of the night stumbling over slick ferns and hanging vines, all while listening intently for the telltale sounds of approaching predators. Twice, Pasare had called them to a halt and insisted that they keep quiet. The first time, Telepe had heard a low feline growl, though Pasare had apparently driven off the beast with a well-placed arrow that sent it scampering back into the undergrowth. The second time, Telepe had heard nothing, which frightened him far more.

As they traveled, Tari and Telepe traded off lighting the way with their fire and light spells, respectively. Telepe had never maintained a spell for so long, and between casting repeatedly and traveling through the jungle for hours without sleep, he was utterly exhausted. Tari likewise seemed spent, driven on by pure adrenaline and will. Pasare was also clearly fatigued, as she would often leave the group to range ahead and clear the way of any predators. Between the four of them, the only one who didn't seem to be on the verge of collapse was Huna.

At last, after traveling through the night, the sun was finally peeking through the gaps in the trees, though there still was not yet enough light for them to see clearly. Telepe's hand once again began to fall, and as the circle of light grew smaller, he forced himself to raise his hand above his head again while stifling a yawn. As he did, he almost stumbled into Tari when she came to an abrupt halt, holding up her hand and motioning at something in the distance.

Through a small gap in the trees, Telepe could see a clearing in the middle of the jungle where the trees mysteriously seemed to grow less densely. In the center of the clearing grew a small copse of four deciduous trees crowned with red and white leaves. Their brilliant colors and unique shape made them stand out like beacons among the dark green palms and ferns of the jungle. Tari smiled gently as she lowered her hand and nodded with satisfaction.

"Is this the grove that Moralasil spoke of?" Telepe asked, lowering his hand and letting the light in his palm fade.

"Indeed," Tari nodded. "Look closely and you can see the moths he mentioned."

Telepe took another step forward and narrowed his eyes. Tiny, ethereal shapes floated around the trees, glowing faintly in the dim light. The small clouds of insects hovered close to the scarlet leaves, barely moving more than twenty feet from the swaying branches.

"Very good," Pasare sighed as she walked over to a nearby palm and leaned against it, momentarily closing her eyes. As she reopened them, she added, "So now all you need to do is complete the ritual and read the scroll, yes?"

"Yes," Tari nodded, glancing over her shoulder at the scroll slung across her back, strapped diagonally across her body with a leather cord. "So long as I perform it properly," she murmured to herself.

Noticing her apprehension, Telepe stepped forward, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "What does this ritual entail?" he asked gently. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

Tari hesitated, then shook her head and smiled up at him apologetically. "No. The ritual itself is quite straightforward. First, I must retrieve bark from one of the canticle trees over there…."

As she stepped forward into the glade, she pulled the rune-covered knife from a leather sheath on her belt. She slowly approached the trees, but as she stepped into the open, a pair of figures suddenly erupted from the surrounding trees and pounced at her.

"Tari, get back!" Huna cried, charging forward. Tari let out a cry and flinched as four talons slashed at her. Just before the claws would have raked her body, Huna managed to slip between her and the attacking creature, raising his shield and narrowly deflecting the attack. Huna pushed off from the monster and slowly backed away, keeping Tari behind him as he guided her back to Telepe and Pasare.

Telepe's hand dropped to his sword as the two beings slowly approached the quartet. Their lithe forms appeared feminine, and they seemed to sway in the breeze as they sauntered towards the interlopers. The sunlight peeking through the gaps in the trees illuminated their bodies, and Telepe noticed that their humanoid bodies were made of wood, or a material like it. Their eyes glowed bright green, and slender, viridian leaves hung from the branches of their "hair." Their hands and feet ended in sharp, talon-like thorns, and as they stalked towards the group, both beings let out dissonant, childlike giggles of glee.

"Spriggans!" Pasare hissed as Huna settled into position beside her, keeping his shield raised. When Telepe shot her a questioning look, she added, "Nature spirits that inhabit the deepest parts of the jungle. They're said to be the spirits of the trees themselves. My former master and I once encountered them when we were ranging deep in the woods."

"Why are they attacking us?!" Huna demanded, peering at the monsters warily over the rim of his shield.

"Spriggans are very territorial," Pasare explained as Tari slowly pulled the knife Telepe had given her from its sheath. "It's said that they attack anyone that dares intrude in their domain."

"But you still require the bark from those trees," Huna added, glancing over at Tari. When she nodded slowly, he turned back to Pasare, "If you've encountered these creatures before, do you know if they have any weaknesses?"

"There is one, yes," Pasare replied with a slight smile over her shoulder at Tari and Telepe. "They fear and despise fire.

Tari and Telepe traded looks, and then they simultaneously stepped around Huna and Pasare, holding out their hands. Tari whispered under her breath, and small plumes of flame began dancing in the palms of their hands. The spriggans paused mid-stride, and as Telepe and Tari slowly advanced towards them, they began shying away from the flickering flames. Their giggling was replaced with a low hissing noise, and they both crouched in low, primal stances. Telepe and Tari hesitated, watching them cautiously. Then, after a tense pause, the two spriggans suddenly sprang forward.

Tari let out a startled cry and lifted her hand, unleashing a gout of flame at the spriggan on the left. Telepe, meanwhile, dropped his hand and instead brought his sword up to catch the other spriggan's talons on the flat of his blade. He parried the attack to the side, then stepped in to thrust at the spriggan, but the female figure danced out of the way and slunk backwards, hissing with fury.

When the spriggan charged at Telepe again, Huna pushed past him and raised his shield. The monster's claws again scraped the bronze face of the shield with a teeth-grating shearing sound, then Huna responded by jabbing at the spriggan with his short blade. She shied away from the sharp blade, which gave Telepe an opening to step in and thrust at the spriggan with his longer sword. The tip grazed the spriggan's bark-like skin, but though there was a flash of red light, the spriggan seemed unaffected by the spell imbued in Telepe's blade. It let out another snarl, once again backing away from the two males.

Out of the corner of his eye, Telepe saw Pasare loose an arrow at the spriggan Tari was trying to circle behind. The spriggan knocked the dart out of the air with an irritable hiss, and then it turned its attention to Tari, who was trying to slip past it. "I just need to get to the moths!" Tari called out as she ducked under another swipe of the spriggan's claws.

Huna glanced at her, then turned to Telepe. "If we push the one on the right towards the trees, that should give Tari an opening to run between them and gather the bark."

Telepe nodded, then stepped back as Huna raised his shield and rushed towards the spriggan on the right. To Telepe's surprise, both spriggans suddenly stepped in front of him to cut him off, bracing themselves as they rooted in place. Huna grit his teeth and lowered his shoulder, ramming into the two wood spirits. Telepe's eyes widened as Huna was sent stumbling backwards, groaning in pain and favoring his left shoulder. It almost seemed more like he had run into an ancient oak tree than a pair of slender women. They must have been sturdier than they appeared, he mused grimly.

Even so, as the spriggan she had been facing was now out of her way, Tari took the opportunity to sprint past them. Noticing this, the two spriggans darted towards her to cut her off, interposing themselves between her and the trees. Tari hissed and raised her hand, crying out, "Molag!" Another stream of flames erupted from her palm, crackling and roaring as they fanned through the air.

The spriggan nearer to her glanced over its shoulder, then shifted to its left. Rather than avoiding Tari's spell, it placed itself directly in the path of the flames, to Telepe's shock. The spriggan let out a pained, terrified scream as the fire washed over her, but she nevertheless held her position, holding out her hands to vainly ward off the searing flames.

Tari was clearly stunned by the spriggan's reaction to the spell, and she slowly lowered her hand and let the spell fade, a horrified expression on her face. As the flames dissipated, she whispered to the burning spriggan, "Why would you…?" She slowly looked past the spriggan, and then her eyes widened with understanding. Abruptly, she turned to the others and shouted, "Stop attacking! Fall back!"

Telepe, who had also been wondering about the spriggan's seemingly suicidal reaction to her flames, immediately obeyed her, lowering his blade and stepping back. Huna and Pasare, however, were still fending off the other spriggan, and as Huna parried a slash, he shouted to Tari, "Stop attacking?! They attacked us first!"

"They're merely trying to protect the canticle trees!" Tari shouted back. Telepe tilted his head slightly, then glanced at the spriggan that had leapt in front of the flames. He mentally traced the path of Tari's spell and suddenly realized that if the spriggan had not stepped in front of the flames, the fire likely would have scorched the canticle trees. If Tari's theory was correct, that would also explain their initial aggression towards her – she had approached their beloved trees with a knife, and it was not unreasonable for the spriggans to assume that she meant to do them harm.

Huna still seemed skeptical, but Pasare put her hand on his shoulder and nodded. "I trust her. Let's fall back for now and see what happens." Huna hesitated for a second longer, then reluctantly lowered his sword and stepped away from the other spriggan. Telepe had not been the focus of either spriggan for several moments, but he nevertheless sheathed his sword and backed towards the entrance of the glade as well.

Tari, however, remained in the middle of the clearing. The spriggan that she had incinerated slowly rose to her feet, patting out the last of the flames in her hair, while the other sidled over to her companion, still hissing softly. The two watched Tari warily as she sheathed her knife and raised her hands, showing that she meant no further harm. The spriggans appraised her silently, and when they made no move to attack her, she reached behind her and pulled the scroll case from across her back.

Telepe held his breath as Tari walked towards the spriggans slowly, holding the Elder Scroll flat across her palms for them to see. As she approached them, the spriggans traded looks, then both took a step towards Tari. She hesitated, letting out a soft gasp as she braced herself for an attack. To Telepe's surprise, however, the spriggans' gaze lingered on the scroll, and then they raised their gaze to Tari's face. With soft smiles, they both lowered their heads in a slow bow to Tari.

As they raised their heads, Tari slowly smiled as well and closed her left hand around the Elder Scroll, while her right dropped to her hip. The spriggans watched her intently, their smiles fading, as she drew the ceremonial knife. As they began to hiss again, however, she turned the blade around and held the knife out to them, handle-first. The spriggans' hissing stopped almost immediately, and they traded looks with each other. Slowly, the spriggan Tari had burned held out a branch-like claw, gently taking the knife from her. It then walked over to the canticle tree while its companion stood in front of Tari, preventing her from following.

The group watched silently as the spriggan gently scraped a few flakes of bark from the trunk of the canticle tree, barely leaving a mark on its hard surface. It then returned to Tari and motioned for her to hold out her hand. As Tari did, the creature placed a few chips of bark into her palm, then smiled and stepped aside, motioning for her to approach the canticle trees. Tari returned the smile and slowly walked past the two feminine figures.

Telepe, Pasare, and Huna traded looks, and then they moved forward to join her. The spriggans' smiles faded immediately, and though they didn't attack, they simultaneously held up their hands, shaking their heads. The trio immediately stopped, and though Telepe was certain his companions were as displeased as he was, they reluctantly obeyed. Peering past the spriggans, he watched as Tari stopped in front of the canticle tree and held her hand out to the moths floating around its branches. A few of the luminous insects fluttered towards her, apparently drawn by the bark in her hand, and began circling her. Telepe gradually became aware of a faint humming sound, and a faint nimbus of light seemed to surround Tari. Drawn by the glow, more moths began surrounding her, and the chorus of humming grew louder. Tari began wandering under the canticle trees, attracting more moths as she walked under their branches. After a few minutes, the chorus rose to a crescendo, and Tari closed her eyes. She began chanting in time with the moths' humming, her head bowed, and the moths flew frantically around her. The cloud of light around her suddenly flared almost blindingly bright in the shadows of the glade, and Telepe threw his hand over his eyes. After a moment, he slowly lowered his arm in time to see Tari striding slowly over to them.

The moths continued to flutter furiously around Tari as she approached Telepe, a shy smile on her face. As she stopped in front of him, she pulled the Elder Scroll from its case and held it loosely in her left hand, letting the case drop to the grass. She then took another step closer to Telepe, their bodies almost touching, and he felt his heart starting to pound from how close she was to him.

"So… is that the ritual, then?" Telepe asked, his mouth suddenly feeling rather dry.

"It is. I believe I've performed it correctly, as this is how Moralasil described it," Tari replied softly.

"I see. Then… you're ready to read the scroll?" Telepe asked softly.

"I… believe so," Tari replied quietly.

There was a long pause, and Telepe could feel the tension rising in the air as his heart began to pound more furiously in his chest. When Tari didn't say anything, he asked, "Is there-?"

"Shhh…." Tari hushed him, and Telepe's words died in his throat. He swallowed as Tari continued to gaze up at him. When he glanced away furtively, she smiled sheepishly and added, "Forgive me. Just… allow me a moment to prepare myself."

"…What is it?" Telepe asked softly.

"I just… want to remember this," she murmured softly. "If… this goes wrong, and I'm truly about to lose my sight… I want you to be the last thing I see."

Telepe's eyes widened, and his ears began burning as he opened his mouth to reply. Before he could, however, Tari suddenly grabbed him by the front of the tunic and pulled him down. He inhaled sharply as her lips pressed to his in a firm, passionate kiss. She held him in place for a few seconds that felt like minutes, and then she abruptly pulled away and let him go. Before Telepe could react or respond in any way, she turned around and opened the scroll.

The light around Tari flared, and the humming chorus grew even louder as Tari let out a sharp gasp. Alarmed, Telepe swung around to stand in front of her, watching her intently. Tari's pale skin had turned chalk-white, and her mouth was hanging open. Her pupils were constricted to the point that they were little more than pinpricks in her forest-green irises, and her hair whipped around her face as though she was caught in a windstorm. The moths whirled around her like a cyclone, and Telepe could barely keep his eyes open as the shimmering light shone like a miniature sun. Then, abruptly, the light disappeared, the moths scattered away from her, and Tari fell to the ground, unconscious.

Telepe immediately dropped to his knees and put his hand on her chest, fear turning his blood as cold as ice. Relief washed over him as he felt her heart beating and her chest rising and falling as she breathed softly, indicating that she was still alive. A moment later, she gasped sharply and abruptly sat up, narrowly avoiding smacking her forehead into Telepe's chin.

"Tari? Are you alright?" Telepe asked softly.

Tari's head whipped back and forth, then she held her hand out, opening and closing it. "I… I can't see…!" she whispered in a panicked tone.

"Easy… easy," Telepe said soothingly, pulling her against him in a tight embrace. Huna and Pasare approached them slowly, as Telepe helped Tari climb to her feet. As they gazed at him, he glanced down at Tari, then added, "Did… the ritual work?"

"Y-yes," Tari stammered, fumbling around blindly until she found his chest. Her fingers closed around his linen tunic as she added, "But… I don't know what to make of it. It's… all so confusing. I only saw… images, scenes that I cannot understand." Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she murmured, "I thought I would obtain answers, not be left with more questions!"

"Well… perhaps you did receive answers," Telepe murmured, brushing her hair away from her face and peering into her eyes. Her pupils were still only barely visible as tiny pinpricks in the center of her irises. "We simply need someone to interpret what you saw. Someone familiar with the Elder Scrolls' visions." He looked up at Huna and Pasare, adding, "For now, let's return to Ceya-Tar and speak with Moralasil. Perhaps he can provide some insight into Tari's experience."

"A sound plan," Huna nodded, stepping past him to pick up the fallen Elder Scroll. He deftly rolled it up and placed it back into its case, then handed it to Telepe, who slung it over his back.

Telepe reached down and wrapped Tari's arm around his waist while his own slid around her shoulders. He held her against his side and slowly began walking her out of the glade. Tari stumbled with every step, relying on Telepe entirely to guide her, and he could feel her trembling against him. Behind him, he could hear the spriggans giggling again, and he glanced over his shoulder to see one raise a hand in farewell while the other walked back to the canticle tree, inspecting the marks on its trunk. Then they turned a corner, and the secluded glade was once again swallowed by the jungle.

The return journey was slow, as Telepe had expected it to be. Though Pasare was easily able to follow the trail they had made through the forest, Tari could only move so quickly while leaning heavily on Telepe. Several times, she tripped over a vine or slick fern and nearly pulled Telepe down with her before he managed to catch her and regain their balance. She fervently apologized each time, and though Telepe assured her that there was nothing to apologize for, she clearly resented her invalid state. He knew she thought herself nothing more than a burden, and nothing he said would convince her otherwise.

Thankfully, though they were unable to move quickly through the jungle, they were not attacked by anything, and they didn't encounter any Ayleid patrols. Even so, it was past dusk by the time they reached the gates of Ceya-Tar. To Telepe's relief, the gates were manned by a pair of human warriors dressed in light linen skirts and wielding bronze-tipped spears. They were startled by the quartet stumbling out of the jungle, rather than approaching from the road, but they quickly recovered and escorted them into the city.

As they were led through the streets, Telepe was relieved to see that the battle seemed to have ended conclusively. He'd heard stories of cities resisting occupation for days, but Ceya-Tar appeared relatively quiet. Some humans were openly celebrating in the streets, downing goblets of wine and throwing broken chains into a massive bonfire in the central plaza of the city. Others were wandering about, seeming to be in a state of shock about their newfound freedom and unsure what to do with themselves, while still others were working to repair the damage to the city.

Though most of Ceya-Tar remained intact, there were bits of broken rubble littering the ground here and there from cracked portions of the marble houses, and one or two columns holding up the roofs had collapsed altogether. There were also streaks of blood marring the cobblestone streets, and they even passed by an Ayleid corpse lying under a fallen tree that had not yet been collected. Even so, though it was clear that the city had been sacked in their absence, the inhabitants of Ceya-Tar had already cleaned up much of the evidence. However, they would soon need to decide the future of the kingdom now that the Ayleid rulers had been overthrown. That, however, was a problem for later.

The guard had apparently been told where to escort them when they arrived, as he guided them down a side street and led them into the Temple of Magnus. Moralasil was waiting for them inside, standing placidly at the altar of the god of magic, his head turned upwards towards the dome looming above them. As they approached, he lowered his head with a soft smile.

"Although I lost my vision many years ago, sometimes I truly believe I can still see the lights of the dome," Moralasil commented, motioning to the ceiling as the quartet came to a halt in front of him. "Alas, every time I come out here, I'm once again proven wrong. Even so, I don't regret it, for the insights I gleaned from the Elder Scrolls were far more valuable than what little my eyes alone could perceive," he added. "Now, tell me Tari… what insights did you glean?"

"I… I saw many things," Tari stammered, glancing back and forth furtively. "But… I've been blinded!"

Moralasil was silent for a long moment, and then he asked slowly, "What do you see now?"

Tari hesitated, then stammered, "Just… white, pure white, wherever I look!"

"Ah. Then there's no cause for concern," Moralasil said calmly. "Your eyesight shall return in time. It seems that you did perform the ritual properly… and that the Scroll has determined that there is more for you to see in the future. But for now, why don't you tell me about your vision?"

Tari swallowed, her grip on Telepe's tunic tightening slightly, but as Moralasil continued to wait silently and patiently, she finally spoke up. "I saw… a golden figure clad in a cloak of feathers, kneeling at the base of a shimmering white spire. As he knelt there, a winged woman wrapped in a rainbow descended from the sky and landed before him. He raised his head, and she held her hand out to him. The golden figure reached into his own breast and pulled out his heart, half red and half golden, and then presented it to the woman. As she took his heart from him, a doorway opened in the center of the white spire, shining with multicolored light. Strange beings walked out of the door – empty suits of armor given life, proud and haughty women with golden skin, beings of stone and lightning…. And then the woman rose into the heavens once more, leaving the man in the cloak of feathers surrounded by an army. Then he turned towards me. I saw that his eyes were shining with light, and as he began laughing, I lost my ability to see..."

As Tari trailed off, Telepe squeezed her shoulders gently. There was a long silence as Moralasil considered her words, folding his hands together and leaning heavily on the altar. At last, he said slowly, "It seems that the situation is quite dire, then."

"What do you believe it means?" Telepe asked.

"It appears that the Elder Scroll indeed granted you a vision of how the veil around the White-Gold City came to be," Moralasil replied. "Tell me… what do you think of the being clad in the cloak of feathers?"

Telepe looked away as he considered the question, and after a few long moments of silence, Tari spoke up. "While I can think of no one who wears a feather cloak, I believe that the vision is referring to Umaril Many-Feathers," she said softly.

"Very good. I concur," Moralasil smiled. "Arcanalata told me many tales of his prowess, and if he is still the champion of the White-Gold City – represented by the white spire – it stands to reason that he would act on its behalf. The woman wrapped in a rainbow is quite obvious as well – he prayed to his patroness, Meridia, begging her favor and aid."

"And… he offered her his heart in return?" Telepe asked, frowning.

"Well… possibly," Moralasil said slowly, leaning back from the altar slightly. "However, I believe you are interpreting it too literally, Telepe. More likely, he forged a pact with her, eternally swearing himself to her service."

"Then… what of the doorway she summoned? And those creatures Tari witnessed?" Pasare asked.

"That is what concerns me the most," Moralasil replied grimly. "There are beings that dwell in realms beyond Nirn – powerful creatures that wield magic as easily as they walk, that possess the strength of a dozen men. You may even have seen them yourselves already," he added.

Telepe's blood ran cold, and he swallowed as he said slowly, "Daedra."

"Yes," Moralasil nodded. "I believe that in exchange for his servitude, Meridia connected the White-Gold City with her own plane of Oblivion, the Colored Rooms, through which she has permitted Umaril Many-Feathers to summon her servants as he pleases. What's more, that entrance to her realm must be protected. Thus, I suspect that the veil that now surrounds the White-Gold City is likely a protective barrier erected by Meridia… shielding a doorway to Oblivion itself."

The air seemed to grow heavier as Moralasil finished speaking. Telepe felt as though his heart had stopped as dread settled over him like a lead cloak. After a few moments, he asked softly, "Then how do we remove it?"

Moralasil straightened up and folded his hands behind his back. "If my theory is correct, there is little more that we can do at the moment. Perhaps the Scroll shall have more answers for us later. For now, however, I can tell from the fatigue in your voices that you all are in dire need of rest."

"But if Umaril is summoning an army-!" Pasare began.

"Then Pelinal shall stand against it, yes?" Huna chimed in. Pasare glanced at him as he smiled confidently. "That's why the gods sent him to aid the Paravant, isn't it? So long as he's with us, we're safer here than we are anywhere else on Nirn." He let out a deep yawn, then added, "I concur with Moralasil. There's little point in fretting if there's nothing more we can do. In any case, we've been awake for two days now. We should eat and rest."

Telepe glanced down at Tari, who suddenly seemed to sag with exhaustion now that her task had been completed. He gently propped her up again, but with the adrenaline ebbing out of his veins, a wave of drowsiness washed over him as well. "I concur," he admitted reluctantly. He knew he would soon be kept busy reorganizing the city to ensure its future stability, and he would need a clear head. Before anyone came looking for him, he needed to sleep while he could.

"Prince Dynar spoke with me earlier. He asked me to inform you when you arrived that rooms in the palace have been prepared for you. Tari… I would speak with you later," Moralasil said as Telepe began to walk her out of the temple. Tari nodded sleepily, though obviously Moralasil didn't notice it.

Before they left, Telepe paused at the temple's entrance and turned around to call out to Moralasil. "Thank you for your aid, Moralasil," he said, his voice echoing across the hollow temple.

Moralasil smiled slightly and shook his head. "I should be thanking you both," he called back. "I'd begun to fear that my stewardship of the Scroll would be in vain, that I would perish before I saw my own part of the prophecy fulfilled. Now, I feel a renewed sense of hope, as though a fire that I had thought died out decades ago has flared to life again. I shall be quite interested to see what other revelations the Scroll has to unveil," he added with a chuckle as he motioned for Telepe to depart.

A/N: For anyone wondering, the grove in the second half of the chapter is the future location of the Shrine of Kynareth. After thousands of years, its appearance would have changed, and the canticle trees may or may not still be there, but it's remained a sacred location throughout the millennia.