Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 59

  • … At last I have the skulls of my former lovers, all five of them. Collecting them wasn’t a easy task as each of them resisted my attempts, but they fell before me. Except the Argonian who willingly sacrificed himself for me. I said it was for the greater good. What a fool he was to believe. I do not mourn for them.

    The plan needs one more skull to succeed. And I know precisely whose head I need. I’ve heard that Teldryn Sero is located on Solstheim. It is where I need to go next. I’m sure he’s still bitter from our last meeting, but I’m certain it will not slow my plans. I will not miss him after he’s gone.

    I need to find a good place for the ritual. It will need some isolation and absolute focus. These ancient Ayleid texts can be hard to translate.  And once it’s done, I’ll be something more, and then they’ll listen to me.



    Tenaru finished reading the journal. “That witch! I knew there was something shifty about her!” She closed the journal, putting it on the table. She looked to Ciel’nn and understood now why he was agitated last night. The witch was a threat to Teldryn, and maybe to the whole town of Raven Rock.

    “I need to do something about it.” Ciel’nn said in a low tone while he was holding a tea cup in his hands. It had taken quite some time for him to calm down. He was still anxious, but the Alchemist had convinced him not to rush into the breach yet. The young mer wanted to make the problem go away for his partner. The older mer had been quiet while Tenaru read the journal, Ciel’nn had observed. Even though Teldryn didn’t say a word, he saw the uncertainty from his eyes.

    Wearily, Teldryn sighed. He hadn’t known Elante’s intentions. Intentions of having people murdered for their heads. He hadn’t seen it coming. Earlier it had been for lust, and now it’s for something the older mer didn’t want to know. But he knew how Ciel’nn was feeling about it all. You’re ready to slash out. For the throat. I see that from your eyes, from your seething presence. “It’s not wise to go there yet, Ciel’nn. She has the guards.” The young mer frowned at him. “I know. It is better to wait for her to do the first move.”

    “He’s right, Ciel’nn.” Tenaru nodded. “I know you can wait. If she wants him so badly, let her come first.” She looked to Ciel’nn with a warm smile. “Once she has made her move, then you can give the whole of Oblivion to her.”

    The young mer tilted his head slightly as if catching what the Alchemist was saying. “But…Fine.” Ciel’nn sipped his tea. “I’ll wait.” The Alchemist nodded to him with a smile. He looked to his partner. “I’ll stay close to you in any case, Teldryn.” He’d guard his partner like the Ordinators guarded the Mournhold bank. He’d not let the older mer out of his sight.

    “That is good. What worries me is that her ritual sounds like…”Tenaru said, frowning at the journal.

    “Necromancy?” Teldryn offered, noting his partner’s scowl.

    “Exactly, but I haven’t heard of needing six skulls for a ritual. I mean I don’t know what the Ayleid had for rituals. I’m not an expert.” The Alchemist replied. She looked to Ciel’nn. “You need to be careful when you’re facing her. We don’t know what kind of mage she is. If she’s a Necromancer in secret…”

    A Necromancer.  Ciel’nn crossed his arms on his chest with a frown. He had always hated them. It always reminded him of his father. It was a thing he needed to get over. It was a link to his past. It seems where ever I go I seem to run into them. If she’s a necromancer…  

    A part of him still clung to the childhood horrors that his father made him endure. Afraid. But deep inside him, the young mer knew he was able to do it.

    She’s a threat to Teldryn.

    I need to deal with her. I have to.

    I am able to do it. An echo from his past.

    “I’ll be at my stall if you two need me.” Tenaru said while heading toward the door. “Keep me updated on your doings, will you?” Then she opened the door and left the two mer alone.

    Ciel’nn felt a touch on his shoulder and he looked up to see his partner looking at him. “You don’t have to do it, Ciel’nn.” He heard Teldryn saying in a soft tone. The older mer knew of his fears and understood him. He didn’t want to get him hurt. Ciel’nn’s brows pulled in as he softly shook his head. “I must or I’ll lose you.” He reached out to touch his partner’s cheek. “I must pluck that thorn from your side, Teldryn.”

    The touch on his cheek warmed Teldryn, but the way Ciel’nn had said the latter brought chills along his spine. It could only mean one thing. The older mer was aware that his partner’s condition was trying to surface. I’m not sure if he knows that. Suddenly Teldryn took the young mer into his embrace. His partner didn’t resist, but wrapped his arms around him. “It’s going to be alright, Ciel’nn.” Teldryn whispered softly. Azura, watch over him!





    The excavation had progressed well after Ralis had hired more miners and mercenaries to protect them. It had gone well until they’ve found another group of draugrs. Ralis had gone to the barrow by himself to help, but something unexpected had happened. The digger had returned alone. This had caused the Lady a concern as she had seen the blood droplet on Ralis’ shoulder and a cut on his cheek. The digger had explained in lenghts what had happened while Elante had observed him with a deep frown.

    The next miners and mercenaries would be hired soon. “And this time they’ll be the best.” Ralis had assured her.

    Elante missed her journal that the young mer had stolen from her. She wasn’t worried though.   Even if they knew she was after Teldryn, they wouldn’t stop her plans. No, the Lady was ready to go for the lenghts of getting her plan to work. Even if she had to get rid of the young mer. Or I would charm him, too. What a delicious idea!  As soon as the barrow is ready, I’ll proceed with my grand plan.

    Cirion scraped the tent’s flap. ”My Lady, Ralis hasn’t come back from the barrow.” It had been nearly two hours since the digger went inside the barrow without a word. The blond haired guard had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling that brought bile to his throat. He glanced at Sincano.

    The black haired guard frowned, his lips twitched with irritation. “I swear by Auri-El, if he has done something that upset the Lady…” He’d make the mer pay, but he couldn’t act without her permission. “He might be stuffing the relics into his pockets while we wait.”

    Elante emerged from her tent. She brushed her hair and a few enchanted rings decorated her fingers. The lady looked to her guards and saw their concerned faces. Then her eyes focused on Sincano. “Dear, Ralis won’t get much further if he indeed plans to get away with the relics.” She smiled, giving them courage which they hadn’t really needed.  “Follow me. I’m going to see him.”

    He is really stupid if he thinks he can get away from me. Those relics are mine.


    They descended the ramp. It was ghastly that the digger hadn’t removed the dead miners, but let them lie there.

    What had been disappointing, Ralis’ hired mercenaries were also dead. Well, they weren’t as competent as Teldryn, Elante thought while she sniffed at the smell. Behind her, Sincano grunted and mumbled a curse.

    They approached the stairs when they heard.

    “It is time!” It was Ralis’ voice. “Master, arise!”

    “What in Oblivion is he doing?” Cirion growled as they hurried down the stairs.


    “Certainly that is not a good thing. Who is this master?” Sincano snarled, reaching for his sword.

    “Come on, boys.” Elante soothed them. “We need to find and stop him.” She felt it in the air. The stupid mer was doing a ritual of some sort. Does he even know what he’s doing? “We need to hurry.” She shot them a serious look.

    The main chamber was large, and Ralis was chanting in the middle of it. There were dead miners around the chamber. Their blood had flown to the circle in the center. “Ahzidal! Master, arise!” The digger chanted.

    And the chamber was filled with an ominous and powerful presence when Ralis was thrown aside into a pillar. A resounding roar came as a dragon priest, Ahzidal, rose from the blooded circle. It gazed around the chamber and focused on the Altmer woman at the entrance. Ahzidal grunted as if he was amused.

    Elante gestured to her guards to stay put. “You two wait in the corridor.” Her tone carried a command that was not to be disobeyed. Her black haired guard let out a displeased grunt, but nodded to the Lady. She then looked to Cirion, who wasn’t happy about her decision. “Wait here until I’m finished, understood?” Her guards nodded.

    She took a deep breath and walked into the chamber. She met the dragon priest’s gaze, and Elante narrowed her eyes and readied her spells. This is my barrow!

     

     


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