Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 14

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    The abandoned journal looked interesting when Ciel’nn picked it up. He had also found a key in the knapsack from the same room. Ildari’s journal. I wonder who she was? A frown of concern formed on his forehead while he read the journal in the torchlight. The young mer was aware of his partner shifting closer to him while he continued reading to the last entry. “This is a troubling journal.” He said, glancing at Teldryn. “This person has been experimenting with the heartstones and the general. Trying to re-animate him.” He added in a worried tone. “Also, it said about her vengeance.” Ciel’nn showed the journal to the older mer. Isn’t it close to necromancy? He thought as the scowl shifted on his face.

    “And, that’s why the general is still here, I presume. Sounds grim.” Teldryn murmured while he glanced at the journal. “Those heartstones can be found around the island. Shall we move and  finish the general?” he asked, giving the journal back to his partner, who tucked it into his backpack. No doubt, the general might have several Ash spawn on his side. The older mer flexed his sword arm. “How is your arm now?”

    Ciel’nn moved his arm. “It’s still sore, but I think I can manage.” He said in a neutral tone and turned to return to the first room. “I guess this key fits in the locked wooden door.” With Teldryn following close by, the young mer walked through the corridor and to the locked door. “This might be a tough fight as there are Ash spawn around. Better check that you have everything in is in order for the battle before we go in.” He heard his partner advising. And, Ciel’nn began to go over his gear. “Blades - check, potions - check, mood - nervous as heck, the Will - well, you’ll get my stuff if I fall.” He shot an uncertain look to the older mer.

    Seeing his partner was scared as a panicked guar facing a large kagouti, Teldryn put his hands on the young mer’s shoulders. “Don’t be so dramatic,“ he said in a low and soothing tone, “we’ll get through this, Ciel’nn. We’ll go in and out when it’s over. Believe me.” He studied his partner’s expressions as they shifted more than once before Ciel’nn nodded.

    “Alright, Teldryn.” The young mer replied. He wanted to wrap his arms around the older mer for comfort, but resisted it. “I hate Imperials.” Ciel’nn confessed and noticed Teldryn’s smirk. “Then let it fuel your fight. This is an Imperial fort after all.” He heard his partner encouraging him. I almost forgot it. Ciel’nn flashed a smirk even though he was still uncertain. “Kill time, then.”

    Once the door was unlocked and they crept up the stairs, Ciel’nn noticed the general was at the back of the room, his back to them. I wonder if I could have a chance to get him off guard and kill him? He glanced to Teldryn and did a slit-throat gesture on himself. His partner frowned, but gave a short nod. The young mer nodded back and prepared to sneak towards the general.

    Slowly he crept across the room, placing his foot steps carefully in the ashen floor with a graceful balance. It was exciting as he approached the Imperial. How he hated them! They are like the vermin, spreading everywhere.  Ciel’nn was a few steps away from the man and he had his blade ready. Careful getting up, his dagger went up for the kill.  A bit closer…

    “Fort Frostmoth will never fall! Long live the Empire!” the sudden shout from General Falx Carius came as if the young mer’s presence had alerted him as he began to turn around, taking up his warhammer. Several Ash spawns raised from the ground as an answer for the general’s call.

    “Shit!” Teldryn hissed as he prepared to pull his flame atronach from Oblivion. He then rushed to help his partner, who had slashed out at the general savagely and rolled backwards. “Take cover, Ciel’nn!” The older mer called out and began to fight the nearest Ash spawn while his atronach targeted the general.

    The panic wasn’t far off, Ciel’nn was starkly aware of it and he tried to slash at the Ash spawn whenever he saw an opening. At the other times he avoided getting hit. It was difficult as the room didn’t have a lot of space to move around, with the Ash creatures blocking his path to the general. He rolled to the side while the ash creature clumsily followed him. I need to get closer to the general. With a quick glance around the room quickly, he got an idea. “Hold on, Teldryn! I’m trying to get closer to the N’wah!” He received a grunt as a reply and shiftily he took an invisibility potion, pouring the liquid into his mouth.

    Casting firebolts that didn’t make much damage, and swinging his sword at the ash creatures, Teldryn saw from the corner of his eye as his partner vanished from the room. He snarled as he gave strong slashed at the enemy. He witnessed the general defeating his atronach and cursed. The situation looked slightly grim while the ash creatures still remained. We need to kill the man first - perhaps then the Ash spawn will disappear? The older mer took a defensive stance as the general was walking towards him as he stepped backwards. That warhammer looks nasty, though.

    The Imperial was going to beat the shit out of his partner and Ciel’nn let out a low growl as he flipped between the Ash spawns. The effect of the potion would run out soon - he’d need to be close to the man before that happened. Swiftly the young mer shifted to the middle of the ash creatures and got his sword ready. Now close to the general, Ciel’nn raised his sword in the air as the invisibility broke - his sword slashed down, hard, first the tip of of the blade pierced through the armor, at the general’s back. He twisted the blade  twice ruthlessly as hard as he could even if he felt a pain in his arm. A grunt that turned into a furious growl let from his throat when the blade got stuck, and he couldn’t get it free. Abandoning his blade in the man’s back, the younger mer took his dagger while hissing at the pain.

    The older mer had to dodge the heavy warhammer as it came down in a furious swing. It was as if the general didn’t feel pain at all. Of course not! He’s an undead, powered by the heartstone! Cursed creature! Teldryn noticed the man turned around after his swing, and he slashed his sword with all his strength at the general’s side. This needs to be done fast or we’re dead. Withdrawing from the undead Imperial, he sheathed his sword and tried to grab the handle of the warhammer. “Ciel’nn, you need to dig the heartstone out of his chest! Quickly!”

    Snarling, Ciel’nn circled around the general and took a good hold on his dagger. He stepped closer and together with Teldryn, they struggled to push and make the general fall on the floor. Ciel’nn’s dagger followed almost immediately after, stabbing at the edge of the place where the heartstone was located. It was tightly implanted. Ciel’nn hissed a curse in Dunmeri while he tried to get the damned stone out of its place. He felt how his partner struggled to keep the man down and grunted about the Ash spawn coming closer to them. He heard their rugged sound nearby. The young mer dug his dagger between the edge and the stone, twisting as hard as he could. It took a greater effort with a pained arm, but finally, Ciel’nn felt the stone move and coming off. He grabbed it and threw it to the other end of the room.

    The room fell quiet as the general stopped moving and the Ash spawn collapsed into heaps of ash close to them. Only the two mer’s hard breathing was a sign of any life. The fight was finally over. Ciel’nn winced as he put his dagger away and shifted slowly off the general’s now dead-again corpse. He sat down slightly trembling from the stabbing and leaned against the pillar. The pain in his arm was worse. The fight had been more than he had been prepared for, but they were alive. The young mer had to admit that he’d thought they were going to die at one point of the fight, but focusing on the n’wah was a good call from his partner. Ciel’nn wasn’t sure if he would have been able to do it by himself. He looked to the older mer, who also was sitting nearby him with weary eyes. “You alright, Teldryn? That took some time. I think I’m not ready for another fight like this one.” The young mer rubbed his forehead gently with his healthier hand as if it was hurting.

    Teldryn winced as he acknowledged a couple of bruises on his body, but he could weather it through until they’d returned to Raven Rock. They would need a couple of days rest before doing anything else. Observing the younger mer, he realized he’d need to teach some new moves with the sword to his partner. Teldryn had a few tricks up on his sleeve and he saw it clearly that Ciel’nn would make use of them. Later when it’s calmer and if he’s willing to learn. “It was a tough one - it’s always so with the fucking Ash spawn.” Teldryn said. “I got some beatings, but I’ll be fine. I say we’ve earned some rest. How is your arm now?” He frowned as the young mer winced.

    “It feels like it’s beaten by a warhammer. N’chow!” Ciel’nn groaned. “And, I can’t get my sword out of his back.” A small pout  sneaked on his face. He really felt like shit. “We made it through.” He then sighed, more to himself than to his partner. What he wanted to do was  get clean and rest there till the next morning. He looked to the older mer, who stood up and walked over to the dead Imperial. The bladesman pulled his sword out of the man’s back like it was nothing to him. By Azura! He’s a strong one!  Ciel’nn’s gaze followed as Teldryn stepped closer to him, offering the sword to him with a smirk. He took the sword with his better hand and flashed a smile.

    “I’m sure Milore has a cure for your arm as I think we’re running out of netch jelly soon.” The older mer said in a thoughtful tone. “Can you walk at all?” he asked while shifted in his place as if rest his muscles. Sore, but manageable. The sooner we get out of here the better.

    No, how about you carry me back to the town? Safe and sound?  Ciel’nn wondered, but nodded. “I can manage till we get back to the town.” With that he tried to get up. It didn’t work out well, so he noticed his partner offering his hand to him which he took, letting Teldryn pull him up. The young mer offered a smile. “Thanks.” He said sheathing his sword. To hear that he’d not have any netch jelly soon, made him think - he’d not hurt a netch willingly, but there were times when he had no choice but to kill one, or let someone else do the killing and then take the jelly by himself.

    “Alright, let’s head out then. I’d rather stay in the town than out here when night falls. If it hasn’t already.” Teldryn said, giving a last glance over his partner that he indeed was able to walk. He took the lead while the young mer followed close to him.

    Outside, an ash storm had broke out and it was hard to see much further away. Ciel’nn whispered, “The ash shifts.” His partner looked to him with a frown. “What?”

    “Do you have anything to cover your head?” Teldryn asked as he put his chitin helmet on. He watched the young mer taking a leather face mask and a hood from his backpack, putting them on. “I’m prepared now. Let’s go.” And so, they left the Fort Frostmoth and into the ash storm.

    “Are you sure you can see through that?”

     

     

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Comments

4 Comments   |   Karver the Lorc and 3 others like this.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  July 15, 2018
    warhammers are nasty things. And yeah, I remembered what happened when one of my characters was caught in an ash storm. 
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  May 29, 2018
    Oh, just going straight out into the ash storm, are they? Nasty stuff, and good thing Ciel's covering his head... and even then his hair might get ruined~
  • GailOlm
    GailOlm   ·  April 10, 2018
    That was certainly an intense battle! I like how you described the strategy of removing the heartstone from the General in order to kill him.
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  April 10, 2018
    Yeah, the shit's getting real with these reanimated ash pots. Ciel and Teldryn can be glad they're still alive and I have to admit I share Teldryn's sentiment about that warhammer. I certainly wouldn't want to meet it up close.