Arc 2 – Part 7
"No, the same foot forward when you strike," said Serana.
"That was the same foot!" said Caprifexia.
"It really wasn't," said Serana. "Are you always this much of a whinger when people are teaching you magic?"
Serana had been teaching Caprifexia how to use a sharp pointy stick for about forty five minutes, and although Caprifexia was naturally making excellent progress, she was a dragon after all, it was annoying and finicky and mortal bodies were stupid and moved weirdly.
They were in a riverside clearing in a thicket not far from the town where Einar, Lombardia, and Chandra were staying the night. Serana had been scared of the magic in the 'holy' wards around the perimeter of the town, so they'd decided to camp the for the night. Caprifexia hadn't minded looking after the bloodsucker, although when she'd agreed she had expected a lot more uninterrupted reading and less swinging sticks around.
It was dark in the clearing, with the thin crescent of the sun rapidly lowering over the western hills. The air was relatively clean, although not as crisp as Winterhold's, and the unpleasant smells of the green forest were far less agreeable than a good volcano would have been.
Why could they never visit volcanoes?
"Dragons- dragons to not whinge!"
"Uh huh," said Serana.
"Perhaps you're just a poor instructor," said Caprifexia. "Not unexpected, given your nature as an undead abomination."
"Love you too, Scales," said Serana. "You're a real font of kindness."
"Stop calling me that!" said Caprifexia. "I don't like it!"
"I'll stop calling you it when you stop calling me an undead abomination," said Serana. "How about that? My name is Serana."
Caprifexia glowered at her. "Fine, Serana."
"See, Capri, was that hard?" said Serana, ruffling her hair.
"It should be DragonqueenCaprifexia!" said Caprifexia. "Or AspectCaprifexia, or Aspect-Queen… are you even listening?"
"Hold on," said Serana, padding over to a tree next to the tent where she'd hung her scabbard and taking it down. "Hear that?"
Caprifexia cocked her silly looking pointy mortal ears and listened. There was indeed something. A stomping of boots? And was that a flicker of light on the road?
The sun had vanished beneath the western hills, leaving behind a twilight that neither Serana or Caprifexia had any trouble seeing in, so they hadn't bothered lighting a fire. Mortals, however, generally had far worse vision.
"I'm telling you, I heard something," came a voice as the glow grew steadily stronger. "Like… like wood against wood."
"I thought you put up wards!?" hissed Serana.
"I did!" said Caprifexia, who had definitely put up a one-way sound field…
At least, she was pretty sure she had. And she was a dragon, they didn't make mistakes like that.
Six figures emerged from the darkness, humans wearing plate armour beneath bright surcoats with various gaudy looking emblems, swords on their belts, and shields on their backs. A few of them were also carrying crossbows, others torches.
"What the!?" said one as the light fell on Serana and Caprifexia, going for his sword.
"Oh, hello friends!" said Serana, adopting a tone similar to Einar at his most cowardly and stepping forward.
"Is that… an elf?" said the lead human, a woman with brown hair pulled back in a bun. "Two elves?"
"Ah, yes, that's right," said Serana. "Just two elves. Two, heh, normal elves…"
"What in the blazes are you doing out here?" said the human.
"Oh, well, we couldn't afford the, uh, rates in town?" said Serana. "So my, um, daughter and I decided to camp out."
Caprifexia looked at Serana with a frown. She wasn't an experton mortals, but she was pretty sure that was a pretty bad lie. Serana was pale and brunette; Caprifexia's mortal form, which she had modelled on her mother's, was tawny with long, slightly curly, jet-black locks.
The human woman was apparently stupid, however, because she sighed and sheathed her sword and stepped forward, stopping a few inches before the wardline.
"Look, I know that the innkeepers are gouging at the moment, but you really can't stay out here," said the human woman. "Not with the Markov's minions snooping around the army. I'm sure I can find you and your daughter some space to pitch your tent with the army."
"That's very kind, but we're all set up here now," said Serana. "We wouldn't, um, want to put you out."
"Nonsense, we can help you pack up, it will only take a minute," said the woman. "Really, no trouble."
"We'd really be much more comfortable out here," said Serana pleadingly.
"But… listen, if this is because you're worried about being in a human town, you'll be more than welcome," said the human woman, giving Serana a warm, reassuring smile. "We have nothing against elves. The Commander is dead set against racial vilification – you and your daughter will be safe with us."
Serana sighed, rubbing her face before looking the woman in the eyes.
"We reallydon't want to be any trouble," said Serana, using a strange cadence. "We'll be fine here, why don't you go back to the town?"
"I mean… we could," said the woman slightly woozily, swaying for a moment. Then something pulsed with light under her tunic, and her eyes sharpened. "Hold on, did you just try to…?"
The woman scowled and drew her sword.
"Vampire!" said the woman, stepping forward.
With clear hostile intent.
Lightning erupted from the air around her as Caprifexia's amazingly crafted wards activated, making the woman vibrate and spasm and make a sort of gurgling noise as a few hundred thousand volts of charge arced through her body.
Then the lightning vanished, and the smoking woman collapsed backward onto the grass, twitching and jerking. Her five fellows shouted in alarm and drew swords and raised crossbows, and Serana sighed.
"Capri, didn't I tell you notto put up any lethal wards?" said Serana.
"She was clearly villainous!" said Caprifexia. "They wouldn't have activated otherwise! I know my heroic rights! I did nothing wrong!"
A crossbow bolt smashed into the wards, deflecting with a torrent of sparks.
"And see? My wards are excellent!" said Caprifexia, flexing her hand summoning more lightning to her fist. "Die, villains!"
The bolt smote one of the attackers in the chest, and he went down. The others ran, and the second duplicitous villain she targeted managed to get behind a tree.
"Hey, no, stop – that's enough killing people," said Serana, grabbing Caprifexia by the arm as she moved to give heroic chase. "You are a menace, you know that?"
"They attacked us!" protested Caprifexia. "They were clearly villains."
"We are bothpowerful wizards," said Serana in a sharp, irritated voice. "We don't needto resort to lethal force immediately."
"That seems very inefficient," sniffed Caprifexia.
"You- you-" began Serana, before she sighed. "Come on, let's pack up before they bring a whole patrol down on us. We'll have to sleep on another Plane-"
There was a surge of dark magic behind her, followed by a series of screams.
"Was that… you?" asked Serana. "Did you put up more deadly wards?You know most heroes don't have such high body counts, right?"
"Most heroes aren't on my level," said Caprifexia, brushing some dust off her shoulder. She cleraed her throat. "But no, that wasn't me."
The body of the man she'd electrocuted jerked.
"Shush," said Serana, turning to study the darkness, before reaching up and tapping her earrings, deactivating the glamour and turning her pointy ears round. "Lose the glamour, Capri," she said. "Quick."
Caprifexia huffed, but didn't argue and reached up, tapping the invisible band on her likewise invisible horns with a specific rhythm and deactivating it. A tingly, cold feeling that washed over her body as the glamour fell, and her vision improved slightly as her burning orange eyes lit up the surrounds.
Figures emerged from the darkness, hulking, grey-skinned winged creatures with baleful yellow eyes – gargoyles. Caprifexia narrowed her eyes and grasped some of the energy around her, rather than drawing on her mana bond, transmuting it through her soul and manifesting blazing holy-fire in her hand.
It had been presented as a 'side benefit' of learning healing magic in her 'restoration classes,' but learning how to conjure fire that was particularlydestructive against the undead was the main reason she still went to the 'mandatory' classes.
"My name is Serana," said Serana, shying away from the power in Caprifexia's fist and motioning her to put it again. "And with me is Caprifexia, friend of Sorin Markov. We are not your foes." She hissed. "Capri, put that away!"
The gargoyles slowed to a stop around the camp, standing like silent sentinels. Then they knelt as shadows in the clearing seemed to lengthen and coalesce. Caprifexia's wards collapsed with a crackle of sparks, and a figure resolved – tall, pale man with white hair and glowing orange eyes. He was dressed in silver and red armour, and had a blood red cape that billowed dramatically despite the lack of wind with some kind of enchantment.
Although it was hard to tell with humanoids, Caprifexia was at least sixty percent sure it wasn't Sorbet. She released her hold on the holy magic with a grumble.
"You claim to know Sorin?" said the vampire in a drawling, irritating voice his eyes fixed on Caprifexia.
"Well, I've never met him," said Serana. "But Caprifexia has."
"Caprifexia… Caprifexia, now, where do I know that name?" said the male vampire, his eyes flashing. "Oh yes, I remember. I had awoken from my slumber for a nightcap, and I came into my drawing room to find the curtains burned!Apparently, according to my retainers, by a planes-striding menaceclaiming to be a dragon. You have some nervereturning here."
"Well, maybe your stupid master should have been around when I needed him!" said Caprifexia. "And your curtains were already broken!"
"They weren't broken, they were enchanted not to open during the day!" he said angrily.
"How was I supposed to know that?" said Caprifexia. "That's the opposite of what curtains are supposed to do! Where is Sorbet anyway? I need to speak with him."
"Watch your tone, girl," snapped the male vampire. "You address Lord Edgar, Head of House Markov. The appropriate gesture is to kneel."
"And you addressDragonqueen Caprifexia," said Caprifexia. "Daughter of Neltharion the Earthwarden, Slayer of Amanosh the so-called God of Time, and Saviour of Nirn! The appropriate gestureis to grovel, you disgusting undead monstrosity!"
The vampire bared his teeth; Caprifexia bared hers back and spat sparks.
"Please excuse her, Lord Edgar," said Serana, interceding. "Unfortunately, we haven't managed to actually teach young Caprifexia manners just yet. I'm sorry about your curtains – maybe we can pay for their replacements?"
"Replace seven thousand year old antiques spun by a nation that no longer exists?" sneered Eggy, or whatever his name was, glancing Serana over for the first time. "I think not. No, my grandsonmight have some kind of reason to tolerate her impudence, but I do not."
"I'll give you impudence,you disgusting leech!" said Caprifexia.
"How dare you!?" said Eggy. "I have half a mind to teach you a lesson-"
"You do know she's a kid, right?" said Serana. "You're arguing with a three year old."
The male vampire sniffed. "And who are you? Your bloodline?"
"I am Serana Harkon," she said. "I am a pure-blooded vampire, a Daughter of Coldharbour. Although I suspect that doesn't mean anything to you – I'm from Nirn, not Innistrad. A pleasure, Lord Edgar."
"Hmm…" he said, stepping forward and tilting his head back as he regarded her. "Yes… yes, I see the difference now. Interesting, Sorin mentioned that there were those like us on other worlds across the great sea of absence."
"It's called theVoid," corrected Caprifexia. "Or 'the Blind Eternities' at a stretch. Idiot."
"I don't suppose you'd consent to letting me examine some of your blood?" he said, rudely ignoring Caprifexia. "The idea of a hybrid strain… fascinating.I would, naturally, offer a sample of my own."
"Sorry, but I'll have to decline," said Serana coldly.
Caprifexia knew, or rather, she'd overheard Lombardia and Serana discussing vampirism in the library a few weeks beforehand. The former had offered to try and research a cure, but Serana had declined. Caprifexia, for her part, had just been trying to read in peace.
'After everything I did, I… endured for this power– no. I won't give it up,'Serana had said. 'I don't think there should be any more of us, but I've come to terms with what I am. Besides, who's going tostop the multiverseburningdown when you and Einar are gone?'
Although she was a undead abomination, Caprifexia did have to admit that it was a noble thing not to want to create anymore of her disgusting kind. Not as noble as being a dragon, of course, but it wasn't realistic or fair to compare others to her own inherent nobility and superiority.
Eggy scowled. "Very well, then what exactly is it that you want?" he said. "Speak quickly, I have important matters to attend to."
"I want to see Sorbet-"
"She means Sorin," said Serana, unhelpfully.
"No, I mean Sorbet," said Caprifexia. "I need his… advice."
On where she could find a Planewalker who might actually know what they were talking about.
"I also have some books he lent me, I'm finished with them," said Caprifexia. "I want more."
"My grandson,Sorin,is not on Innistrad at the moment," said Eggy.
Caprifexia huffed. Of course he wasn't. That would be too useful.
"Do you know when he might be back?" asked Serana.
"He does not keep us appraised of his comings and goings," said Eggy, before muttering darkly. "He did, however, ask me to extend my hospitality to this horned menace. Which I shall, reluctantly, do, on the proviso that you do notdestroy any more of the manor."
Caprifexia huffed and crossed her arms.
"Is that a yes?" he said.
"Fine," said Caprifexia. "I promise not to fixanymore of your curtains."
"How… wonderful," said Eggy, curling his lip as if he'd stepped in something particularly unpleasant. "Then I will return anon to take you there. Right after I deal with these pests."
"Whatever," said Caprifexia, sitting down on a log and grabbing a book.
"Sorry, 'pests?'" said Serana. "What was that?"
"Yes, these irritating mortals that are massive to attack the manor," said Eggy, gesturing in the direction of the town. "I have no intention of waiting for them to put their house in order."
"Oh… right," said Serana. "It's just, we've got some friends in town. Caprifexia and I stayed out because of the holy wards, but they went in."
"I fail to see why that interests me," he drawled.
"Well, apart from the fact that they are our friends, one of them is another Planeswalker – Chandra Nalaar," said Serana tersely. "Perhaps I have misunderstood, but your grandson seems to want to keep on good terms with others like him."
"He is interested in this pest because of her apparent 'unique' characteristics," he said, sniffing. "He has said nothing about this 'Chandra Nalaar.'"
"Right, but is he really going to be happy that you sabotaged a potential alliance?" said Serana.
"I am notchanging my plans just because your lost a few of your pets," snapped Eggy. "I am extending a courtesy to you, Lady Serana, because you and I are, after a sort, kin; and to this horned menace because for some reason she is of interest to my grandson – night knows why. But I will not risk the security of my house for courtesy,and what my grandson does not know will not hurt him."
He turned and strode off through the trees. The gargoyles joined him a moment later.
"Well… that's bad," said Serana.
A.N. I am catching up to my backlog of stuff for Caprifexia, butI do have the draft of most of the next arc basically written.
If you like this, you might be interested in checking out my other, original works.
I have a fantasy adventure novel set in a post-apocalyptic world with authoritarian dragons, libertarian demons, anarcho-syndicalist fey, and eldritch abominations called 'Shattered Moon' that I am releasing chapters of weekly. It is up on Sufficient Velocity, Scribblehub, Royal Road, and my forbidden-thing-you-can't-write-that-begins with-P ( ... /Ciaran251 - which gets chapters of my original works two weeks early. My fanfiction will obviously never be time gated or monetised in any way).
I also have the first part chapter of in an episodic space fantasy work called 'Mishka the Great and Powerful.' This one is up on Sufficient Velocity (listed, so you don't need an account), and my forbidden-thing-you-can't-write-that-begins with-P.