Rahgot’s unblinking stare seemed to go straight through my soul. I could feel the weight of his sight even through his mask. For hours we stood there, it seemed; he was unmoving, perfectly calm and still in his death. I, on the other hand, was shaking uncontrollably. The thought of facing a mage so powerful as to defy death was both terrifying, and exciting. I wondered why he hadn’t moved, though.
“You challenged Rahgot; perhaps he means to let you have the first strike.” Vodahmin’s voice made me jump, but it made sense: either he was bound by honor to do so, or he was confident in his own power. I really hoped it was the former.
I drew my war axe and prepared a stoneflesh spell in my hand; I didn’t expect too many physical attacks, but it couldn’t hurt to be safe. Vodahmin restored my magicka immediately, and I prepared a lightning bolt. Rahgot raised his staff, but otherwise didn’t move. Despite my better judgement, I fired.
Rahgot blocked the bolt easily, and immediately began a fierce counter-attack. Fireballs and the like went flying every which way, so many that I couldn’t keep track. I simply held up a ward, blocking any that happened near me. I was going to lose this battle if I didn’t turn it around soon. Suddenly, I had an idea. I lowered my ward.
“What are you doing? You’ll certainly be killed.” For the first time since I’d met him, Vodahmin seemed irate.
“I have a plan. I’ll need your help for it though.”
Vodahmin sighed as he understood my intent. “Very well. I shall lend my assistance.”
I nodded as a fireball whizzed by my head. I sheathed my war axe and prepared a chain lightning spell in both hands. I watched for my opportunity, waiting for a fireball to come straight at me.
Vodahmin shouted. “Now!”
Suddenly, the room was filled with the crackling of electricity, drowning out the roar of fire. The bolt of lightning jumped from one fireball to the next, all the way back to Rahgot, who was stunned from the shock. Attacks stopped flying; I rushed in on the opportunity and drew my axe. Suddenly, a line of fire sprouted from the ground in front of me, and Raghot was wreathed in flames. In response, I coated myself in an icy storm, and watched as the two elements battled each other in front of me; the beauty and ferocity of the dancing flames and bitter wind made it difficult to concentrate on the figure opposite me.
Rahgot threw down his staff and hissed, and drew both his hands up. He gestured at the air in a way both foreign and familiar. I couldn’t figure out what he meant to do, but by the intense magicka buildup in his hands, I knew that it was big. An orange glow built up around his hands as be continued to flail them around himself, faster and faster. It looked like an orange sphere was building itself around him. I cursed under my breath as I realized what he was doing.
“Get down!” Vodahmin screamed. I shouted the same to Admetus, whom I’d almost forgotten about. I had no time to see if he had heeded my order.
I pulled my own legs out from under me, and slammed onto the ground hard enough to jar my head. I had been stunned for only a split second before I heard a roaring surge of air pass over my head, followed by a massive wave of heat. I could feel the hair on my neck being singed, yet I dared not move. The light given off by wave after wave of flame was enough to see through my closed eyelids. When the onslaught finally ended, I opened my eyes; before me stood Rahgot, as though he was a newly-born phoenix. He appeared no worse for the effort, although his wound from the lightning bolt was still quite apparent. I, on the other hand, was almost out of magicka, and I couldn’t seem to get close enough to attack him directly. I was, quite frankly, out of ideas.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. He leapt through the darkened room, avoiding the leftover fires from the magical barrage. The figure reached into his person and pulled out a large green phial filled with a dark-colored liquid. He gently rolled it toward Raghot, and then disappeared. I looked carefully at the liquid: it was thick, and seemed to move slowly as the bottle rotated, clinging to the inside of the bottle as it slid. I realized what it was. Rahgot, on the other hand, hadn’t seen the bottle at all. He was absorbed in what looked to be a sacrificial prayer as the bottle stopped rolling under his floating form.
“Vodahmin, I need some magicka.”
“I am nearly spent myself, mage. I can spare no more.”
Damn…” I thought as I tried to think of a plan. I was too magically exhausted to cast a spell, and Vodahmin wasn’t able to help. Suddenly, an image of the whole of Skyrim shot through my head. I recalled the conversation Vodahmin, Claudia and I had while we were planning the trip. I recalled the reasons why we had decided to visit this place. It was then when I figured out why Rahgot had seemingly endless magicka reserves.
“Vodahmin, can you tap into to the leylines underneath this area?”
“Of course, young one. I shall need a few moments, however.”
“We don’t have a lot of time left, in case you haven’t noticed.” Rahgot’s chant was rising into a crescendo, and a massive fireball was coming into existence over his head. A few tense moments later, Rahgot’s chant was finished, and the fireball above his head was nearly complete. Suddenly, I felt a rush of magicka flow into my body, refilling my reserves. I smirked at the masked figure, and shot a bolt of lightning toward the small bottle under him
The phial erupted into an inferno of flame, and Rahgot screamed in pain as his form was consumed by the hundred orange tongues licking at his body. The fireball above his head disappeared, and only seemed to help the flames around him grow in strength. I stood up and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well done, young one.” Vodahmin said as I stared into the flames. The hooded figure emerged from the shadows yet again. I looked carefully at him: his armor was burnt in a few places, and his hood was somewhat tattered. His tail was the only part seriously hurt, though; half of it was burnt to a black crisp, and the other half was devoid of any fur, presumably singed off. I felt sorry for him, for once. I looked at his silvery blade, still drawn. Then I looked into his eyes, nearly hidden under his hood. I glared at him for several moments.
“Now we’re even, friend.” Admetus removed his hood, revealing a smile and eyes full of joy.
To be continued…
