Chapter 9: Arena
AN: Let's ago Mario. If you like my work by the way, be sure to check out my other fic, Cyberim. It's about if Talos was the main villain of Skyrim instead of Alduin.
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Stesha removed the cuff link of his bind gauntlet, holding a hand over his eyes under the glittering green aspens. A crystalline skyscraper shone in the distance, over the hills. The White-Gold Tower. Passing by a few log cabins and decommissioned outposts, some crumbling ancient elven ruins on the outskirts. He nabbed an old water skin someone had left outside on a barrel and filled its share in the brook before continuing his walk. Hadvar and Gwendal with him.
Stesha exhaled, combing a hand over his hair as the breeze picked up, whisking by a few leaves. They did their routine autumnal spin, indicating it was late Last Seed. The wind soared through his tresses, entering his lungs as a singing bird chirped a peaceful tune that got even the sulkiest of flowers to twirl and dance to its beat. Stesha looked on curiously. He drew his wineskin toward himself and drank from the river water. Two bandits trailed out in front of the sandy path, holding knives toward him and his companions. The boys had lingered behind the main procession.
"Ha, look Eksel, these ones have no weapons," said the Khajiit to his Breton associate.
"This'll be easy." Eksel aimed her dagger towards Stesha and company.
Stesha corked the cap onto his waterskin. He breathed in and out. It's always something. Momentarily he felt red hot anger flare up within his chest at the damnable nature of the world.
Eksel's eyes contorted, and a bead of sweat welled from her temple. "Go-go on then, J'datharr."
J'datharr lowered his weapon and turned to Eksel. "What do you mean 'go on, J'datharr'. I thought Breton agreed to attacking first."
"Now hold on, you never said we were attacking youngsters." Eksel's hooked nose and lined jowls curved into a deep frown.
Stesha and the boys slipped behind them as they continued to bicker and quietly jogged off down the descending lane. He looked back once he was far enough away and saw that the two thieves were now in a full-on fisticuffs.
J'datharr ran and body slammed the woman with two upturned elbows. Knocking the wind out of her. Swiveling her legs around his stomach into a hold on the ground and she put him in a leglock which he escaped from and ran after the trio. Stesha shook his head, turning tail and sprinting off. Hadvar stayed behind and Stesha saw him ram a fist straight into the lynx's snout, breaking his jaw. A spatter of blood flew through the wind and landed on Stesha who approached the scene.
Stesha wiped the blood from his face. "Please don't get up," he sighed exasperatedly, facing his palms toward the Khajiit.
The highwayman reeled in pain from the ground, blood and scuff marks painting his armor.
"Please, just leave Khajiit alone," the robber muttered.
"Come on, let's go." Hadvar pulled the duo away.
They stood on the firm, green grass of the Heartlands. The low hills all around progressed into mountains the further you looked. Forests in a ring around the Imperial Province. Across Lake Rumare that glowed a deep blue was the Imperial City, its White Gold tower shining brightly under the rays of heaven. Ruined Imperial forts stood near sandy white roads.
"Gwendal did you visit here before?" Stesha curved a brow at the Breton.
"No, I visited Morrowind last year, but I've never been here." Gwendal stared out across the lake as a few mudcrabs danced on the shore.
Aela was walking back toward them. "Hurry up! Before Xera finds out!"
They raced to reach the back of the slave line, one of the slavers giving them the stink eye.
Seagulls of all birds, flying overhead. Why are they flying this inland? The dew on the grass soaked in sunlight, deeply saturated in forest greens as the white and gold colored city glistened in the distance. Stesha yawned, stress releasing from the slumping of his shoulders. On a long tree branch up ahead, two birds cozied together romantically. As the knoll came to a close, several tents that looked like they belonged to a circus were set up at the base, Watchmen out front. He saw several clowns and jesters putting on makeup in outdoor mirror stands. Small urns with lipstick and white cake paint.
"Xera Sourelius, these here are your volunteers for the Aetheriucs?" The Imperial guard judged them all, eyeing the caravans, horses, and fifteen or so people who'd been captured.
"Volunteers?" Whispered Hadvar.
Stesha mentally shrugged.
"I can allow you to cross," the guard intoned. "Welcome to The Imperial City."
"Thank you," Xera said to the guardswoman.
Stesha and the slave procession walked a way down the walkway, until they were out of earshot of the policewoman. They crossed the bridge laid out over the bright blue lake that surrounded the towering white walls of the Imperial Isles. Small rapids pouring from the far away mountains and sky clouds. The clouds' colour ranged from a light pink to white. The ivory sand slowly transitioning to encased marble. Traders on caravans full of supplies wheeled through. Redguard Gypsies and Khajiit, wagons of wares with them. Even more tents were set up on this end for the circus and harvest time festivities. A Bosmer was fire dancing on hot coals, moving around a large pole that was set ablaze as wide-eyed children with ice cream and cotton candy watched. Water from the lake flushed near the shore, feeding the coastal grass. The gate to the city was propped open now, Stesha and Gwendal passed some log cabin homes on the outskirts.
The Imperial City wore white marble and glossed-over granite. Stesha gawked at the magnitude of it. Finely clothed people enjoying the glaring sunlight all around. Imperial philosophers clothed in sashes sashayed with holy priests.
Colonnades with tiered elven columns stationed at each avenue with purple plants that shot from the soil alongside rosebushes near some homes. He could just glimpse out the horizon of the peak of golden spires, rising under the clouds in the distance. Newly planted trees lined each side of the road at corresponding deposits. Praetors stomped orderly through the streets. A few nobles gave them a look over followed by snorts. They stumped behind the Charlamagne Guice Hotel in the Guice Plaza District and dawdled down the low, black-picketed lane. Red banners with dragon logos hung up around the walkway with fluted columns. He could hear the distinct bell and cries of the newspaper seller shouting about the Black-Horse Courier. Passing by an elven priest who was performing a sermon in front of the ornate marble statue of Akatosh, where the church resided in the next-door killough.
They came upon the colosseum, made of stone and concrete with holes all over it as entrances and exits, it was massive, reaching for the sky, in the same Ayleid style as the rest of the city was with foreboding pillars sticking out. The slaves were led through the bottom entrance into the barracks beneath which were shaped like a basement with sleeping bags placed all over and a large washroom to the side. Stesha could hear gladiators practicing in a nearby room.
Xera smoothed her skirt over her glass armor. "Now, get some rest. Tomorrow is the big day." The ends of her lips crooked upward slightly.
"That woman is a sadist of the highest degree," Hadvar muttered under his breath.
That night Aela and the boys huddled in a corner, brainstorming ideas as the others snoozed away. Torchlight kept the room lowly lit. Some of the men snored really bad which made Stesha want to plug his ears.
"I'm thinking we break away amongst all the commotion and make a run for it. I can transform into my beast form if need be." Aela chewed on her lip, playing with her thumbs.
"No, you're not going to have the energy to fend off a legion of guards." Hadvar and her had a moment, staring into each other's eyes.
I may vomit. Stesha looked away from the lovebirds.
"Why don't we use the wyvern to escape?" Gwendal glanced between them.
The two Nords stared back at him. "Not a bad idea, but how exactly will we get it to do that?" It was Aela who asked.
"One of us will break the chains, me, since I can disguise myself with invisibility." Gwendal rubbed his hands together. "Stesha will cause a diversion while you two hop on and steer while dodging the gladiators, then we'll join you and pray the wyvern flies off somewhere."
"We'll have to watch out for the champions." Stesha leaned back against the wall.
They all crept up into their bedrolls and fell asleep.
They were in some sort of shady, sandy room with a line of other prisoners toiling around. The space was carved naturally with grooves made of stone. Xera waltzed inside and Stesha heard the cries of countless voices cheering coming from outside. The Aetheriucs had begun, and the main event was quick approaching.
"What's she want now? Ughhh," Stesha whispered under his breath to his neighbouring slaves. They broke into a fit of snickers and giggles.
"Don't let Xera hear you say that," Malborn admonished.
"Slaves, you'll all be playing the roles of prisoners. Well, not as if you weren't already. The gladiators will have to slay the wyvern and save you, that is the game," Xera announced.
Cries of protest arose within the room opposed by hearty laughter from Xera.
Stesha cupped his chin, taking a shufti at his compatriots. No one'll even remember these guys if they die. Too bad we can't take them with us.
Xera walked off back through the nature made doorway.
Viarmo pulled out a cartridge of cigars he'd been stashing in his pockets and started passing them out. "You all are gonna need this, trust me."
Stesha took one as Gwendal lit it for him with fire magic. He smoked the cigar, inhaling lightly. The others did the same. Stesha sat back and put his forehead in one hand, elbow against his knee.
"You ask me, Dragon'll be doing us a favor by roasting us alive," said Malborn.
Viarmo scowled at the Wood Elf. "I got kids and a wife I gotta get back to." He burned his cigar into the rock face. "You can die Bosmer, be my guest. Won't be me though."
Stesha stood up and dusted his clothes off as the other slaves started discussing battle tactics and various plans of strategy should they need to defend themselves from the beast. Stesha stooped over to the windowing to get a look at the arena. Crowds of people lined the stadium whilst the main fighting vestibule was comprised of white sand like on a beach. He trekked to the middle of the chamber as his friends readied themselves. Aela drew lines in the dunes with a stick. Stesha glanced back out at the crowd. They were all meant to be a spectacle for their entertainment. He put his palm on his jaw in annoyance.
"The longer we wait the more painful it'll be. Let's go." Viarmo jumped up, clapping his hands together. "First person who dies is buying supper."
Stesha cracked his neck. Alright, just gotta use my mind.
The gladiators were all readying themselves, weapons and armor adorned as a roar echoed mixed with an onslaught of cheers from the audience. Some of the slaves soaked their pants but Hadvar and Aela had looks of resolve permanently affixed on their visages.
"LET'S GO! I WANNA SEE SOME HEADS ROLL!" Yelled a member of the audience. An Imperial wearing a toga.
A large portion of the audience were Imperial, evident by their tan skin, Caesar cuts, and aesthetic attire. Even the Emperor, Titus Mede II himself was in attendance. - Aela and Hadvar nodded to Stesha and Gwendal.
So, if I remember correctly, wyverns can't breathe fire nor are they as big as dragons.
"May the Divines protect us," Hadvar prayed.
Yeah I'm sure the Divines are real concerned for us. Stesha eye-rolled.
Stesha saw a grey winged beast corkscrewing through the air. Sharp scales like a python, a pair of legs, and wings. — The wyvern smashed into the ground, sending ripples through the arena to cheers from the crowd. Unlike dragons who spoke the thu'um and were four-legged with wings on their backs, wyverns' arms were their wings, they were also much smaller than dragons and unintelligent.
"Behold! Our gladiators have arrived!" Xera yelled to the audience from her podium.
Tiers of circles went up and up and up toward the sky, people seated in all the columns of the massive colosseum, cheering, and jeering like crazy.
"First, we have the champion of Summerset Isles, Aesrael Zion! Next, Cyrodiil's champions, Antonius Nero and Peladius Vulcan. Skyrim's champions: Bjormund Wind-Strider, Skjol Silver-Tongue, and Tyra Blood-Fire. Morrowind's champion, Casival Indoril. High Rock's champions will be Edward and Erwan Grellkill and Valenwood's will be Ehlhiel and Fathrys Oakhollow. Up next, we have Elsweyr's champion: M'sharra Shivu. Black Marsh: Pale-Eyes Jumal-Mere. And Hammerfell's Zaharia Khan, and Orsinium's champions: Yakhtu Gra-Orkulg."
The fifteen champions stepped out from the opposite end of the arena, battle-ready as they readied their magic or weapons.
"Now, introducing the grand-champion: Urgnok Gro-Alab!"
A fearsome Orc with a warhammer and dwarven armor of some sort stepped forth.
"Let the games begin!" Xera cast a spell that went into the center of the fighting pit and exploded into sparks.
Zaharia landed several shots on the wyvern with her bow, knocking Aesrael out of the way as Skjol rolled and ran at the beast.
Gwendal instantly cloaked himself invisible with a spell and tarried off near the wyvern as the gladiators reared closer to the beast. The pseudodragon jounced on its talons and lunged as Tyra swung her blade, slashing it. The Grand Champion swung his war-hammer but missed as the wyvern snapped its snout at him. The chain links around the beasts were moving up and down by themselves, meaning Gwendal was at work. Hadvar and Aela rushed off toward the wyvern too. – There was a minotaur in the arena with them, on the side of the gladiators, having just showed up.
Bjormund and Casival thrust spears toward the monster as it thrashed its wing in their direction, knocking them astray. Edward aimed his crossbow and sent a bolt that grazed the beast's nose. The wyvern flapped its wings and jumped, landing, and sending several of the champions flying back. Pale-Eyes sent fireballs hurling in each direction, but the tricky beast evaded them all, swiping side to side. It lunged vehemently like a viper, striking from behind a rock to and fro. It grazed Ehlhiel's shoulder who grimaced and reeled back. Zaharia jumped atop the fake dragon, switching her bow for her sword mid-jump, and cut off one of its spikes as the wyvern howled in pain. She flipped and landed on both feet.
We can't let them kill it!
Hadvar and Aela began pushing the champions, causing a ruckus as people screamed and cheered in amusement from up above. Hadvar punched Aesrael square on the jaw, knocking him out. - Stesha sprinted till his hamstrings threatened to rip apart. He jumped behind a sand wall as the gladiators' thrust spears at the monster. Some firing crossbows or spells.
"What's that slave doing?" One of the commentators echoed as Stesha ran around all silly, distracting the wyvern and the fighters. "Seems he's deigned to die for our entertainment, folks!"
He peaked around the wall as the crowds screamed in delight at the sight of the wyvern stomping Aesrael into sticky bits of blood and organs. Stesha ran onto the foreground, grabbing one of the men standing there as the wyvern's tail swooped back behind it in an arch and took the slave off his feet. Stesha used the distraction to dodge and slid between the beast's legs while shuttling toward the Minotaur. The wyvern attempted to stomp Stesha, but Stesha slid beneath the Minotaur as its club smacked the wyvern square on the jaw.
Peladius grabbed ahold of Stesha. "You won't interfere!" The grey-haired Imperial attempted to hold Stesha down.
"GET OFF!" Stesha formed a fist and rammed it into Peladius' nose. He didn't budge. "I SAID GET OFF ME!" Stesha screamed as the wyvern neared.
The Minotaur reared back its mallet, hitting Peladius, and Stesha took ahold as it launched him into the air. He soared through the arena and crashed onto the wyvern, flipping around, and sitting square on its back. The Minotaur hid behind the granular wall and fired arrows left and right at it. Hadvar, Gwendal, and Aela jumped on as well. One arrow lodged into the wyvern's eye and the dragon wannabe swooped its wings, taking flight.
Gwendal pulled its neck up toward Xera who was seething with rage.
"YOU FOOLS WON'T GET AWAY FROM ME!" Xera charged her hands with magic, but the wyvern flew toward her, free of its chains and snapped its maw around her petit body, snacking on her flesh and swallowing her up.
Then it took flight and before Stesha knew it, they were soaring through the sky. Over the Imperial City and north towards Skyrim, the Old Kingdom…
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AN: And now finally, after ten chapters, we are heading toward Skyrim. Please leave a review.
For those who know, the story behind this story is quite extensive. The Old Kingdom is something I came up with in 2018 and it eventually changed so much from its original concept that I first wrote a separate fic called Cyberim for those ideas. But now I'm returning to my roots with The Old Kingdom, enjoy!