Agents of the Queen Part 19: An Elder Scrolls Online tale

  • Death and Unlife

     

     

    Ian S. McClure

     

     

    As soon as I entered the ruins, the infamous Veiled Keep, I was greeted by two mer, Heritance members. “Hail, sir. The Veiled Queen is meeting with the council.” one said, removing his helm. “I'd recommend you get there soon, and—“

     

     

    We were interrupted. A woman's voice resounded magically, calling out, “Attention, Veiled Heritance! Question the recruits! The traitor Ayrenn's lackeys have infiltrated us! Do this, and...”

     

     

    I could not hear the rest of the Veiled Queen's speech, too busy as I was drawing my blade and beheading the first mer. As the other turned in shock, I shield-bashed him, then stomped on his neck when he fell. My armored foot quickly broke him with a sickening crunch. Quickly, I placed the portal stone Razum-dar had given me on the ground, and my companions soon strode through the resulting portal. “Ardolan,” Elereth said warningly, drawing her bow. “You really have to choose better times to summon us, in the future!” I looked, and a squad of Heritance Altmer were rushing us!

     

     

    I nodded. “Lili, Elereth! Fire at will!” I cried, charging the enemies amidst arrows and fireballs. I bashed one mer hard as I ran, then swung my sword and slashed another. I just barely dodged another assailant's warhammer, before a thrown dagger suddenly jutted from his neck. I blocked another attack, noting Suhr out of the corner of my eye, dodging many blows acrobatically and striking with his dagger now and then. As I stabbed my attacker, two more rushed me, only to be felled by a bolt of lightning passing through them both. And then there were no more.

     

     

    I exhaled heavily, sheathing my sword. “Nice work. Anyone hurt?” I asked, looking around.

     

     

    “No, we're all good.” Lili said.

     

     

    I noted Elereth looking at the corpses. Not with disgust, but with hunger. “Elereth.” I said simply, placing a hand on her shoulder.

     

     

    She took a breath, shaking her head. “Sorry. Won't happen again.” she said, looking guilty.

     

     

    “There shall be time for this later.” Suhr said, serious. “What is our plan, Ardolan?”

     

     

    “The Veiled Queen's room is in the innermost chamber.” I said, procuring a map I had obtained prior to entering the ruins from Palomir. “So, we get in there, we kill the Veiled Queen. Then, we steal a Heritance ship, and get back to Skywatch.”

     

     

    “That's it? You make it sound easy.” Lili said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

     

     

    “This is serious, Lili, stay focused.” Elereth replied testily. “Let's get to it, then.”

     

     

     

    We continued our path into the ruins, fighting off any Heritance mer we found. Compared to the earlier onslaught, the mer were scattered, in small groups, and so we easily overwhelmed them. Still, it grew to be exhausting, and I noted my companions tiring out as well. Eventually, we reached a rather large room, which was devoid of foes. It had multiple braizers, with growing orange crystals. “Here, let's rest a moment.” I said wearily. “Just keep an eye out for any enemies, and have your weapons ready.”

     

     

    Elereth picked up a blue stone from the ground, curious. “Hey, Lili. This is a soul gem, right?”

     

     

    Lili looked over. “Yeah. Looks like it holds a pretty big soul, though of what I couldn't say.”

     

     

    I walked over. “Can I have it?” I asked. “I can recover from injuries using them.”

     

     

    Suhr quirked a brow. “How does that work?”

     

     

    I took the gem, putting it on a bag at my belt. “I'll explain later. For now, let's get moving.”

     

     

    Elereth went to the door, and pressed the nearby button to open it. But it did not do so. “Huh. Ardolan, it's not—“

     

     

    Just then, a loud rumbling was heard, and the room began to shake. “Stars! It's a trap!” Lili said.

     

     

    A large chunk of the ceiling fell, nearly crushing Suhr. He dodged it with a roll. “And what can we do about it!?” he cried.

     

     

     

    Desperately, I scanned the room, amidst the sudden chaos. But I could find nothing, no switch or lever that could stop the ceiling from collapsing on us. Grimly, I realized what I had to do to ensue that my friends lived. “Everyone! With me!” I yelled, preparing as best I could. As the others ran to me, I closed my eyes, recalling what my fellow Soul Shriven in Coldharbour had told me. That, without a soul to stop me, I could channel my magical essence into powerful spells… While killing my body in the process.

     

     

    My blast of pure magicka disintegrated the ceiling, leaving only miniscule particles to fall on my companions. As the stream of light faded, I felt myself die—my body collapsed onto the ground, but I was no longer in it—no longer in the Veiled Keep, or in Tamriel. I shuddered mentally as I felt the constant chill intensify, as I was surrounded by darkness. I was resigned to return to Coldharbour, to the torture of Molag Bal, for I knew I had ensured that my friends survived the Veiled Queen's trap. And I was confident they could defeat her.

     

     

    But suddenly, I was somewhere else. I recognized my surroundings—it was a back-street of Vulkhel Guard. I suddenly became aware of the peril I was in—the Heritance had discovered the information I had retrieved. I had to run, and tell someone what I had found out—who the Veiled Queen was! I ran through the streets, looking for someone—anyone—that could help me. But I was stopped by a tall, black-armored mer. In his right hand, he had a blue stone of some sort, and in his left, a sharp dagger. “No! Please! I'm just a child!” I cried.

     

     

    “Bah. This is what happens when you trifle with the Heritance, lad.” he spat, before stabbing me in the chest! In my dying breath, I dimly thought of my parents, of the travelers that avenged them, and of the Veiled Queen that they were hunting. That had killed me. I could only hope that they killed her in return.

     

     

    “I'm sorry.” I thought, “I'm sorry I couldn't tell you, Ardolan. That the Veiled Queen is High Kinlady Estre...”

     

     

    With a start, I jolted upright, feeling my armor weighing me down. Suddenly, Elereth hugged me tightly, weeping into my shoulder. “Damn it! Damn it, Ardolan! Don't do that to me!” she sobbed.

     

     

    I patted her on the shoulder. “If I hadn't, you'd all be dead.” I said, offering a reassuring smile.

     

     

    Lili sniffled—clearly, she had been crying as well. “Thank the gods we had soul gems.” she said, in a low voice.

     

     

    When Elereth broke the hug, I got to my feet. I realized that I had just witnessed the last moments of the poor soul within the gem—and that I recognized who it was.

     

     

    “I know who the Veiled Queen is.” I said quickly.

     

     

    “What? How!?” Suhr asked, startled.

     

     

    “I saw through the eyes of the soul I absorbed,” I explained, deciding not to reveal that it was the boy we saved, Verolias, “He had discovered who it was, and they killed him for it. We have to hurry—it's none other than Estre.”

     

     

    “The High Kinlady!? Are you sure? That's a heavy accusation...” Lili said, unsure.

     

     

    I nodded. “They killed him because he found out—to preserve the secret.”

     

     

    “A secret that dies with you all.” a familiar voice said. I noted my companions draw their weapons as I turned, seeing a projection of the Kinlady! Estre grinned nastily. “Yes, it's true. I am the Veiled Queen! But we can't have you all blabbering that to that cow Ayrenn, can we?”

     

     

    “And you projected yourself to us to say that? You fool.” I said coolly, drawing my own weapon.

     

     

    “No. I came to watch the Heritance army on the island kill you all.” she said, casually looking at her nails. “Even nobles have to unwind somehow, hmm? And you need other people to revive you, Ardolan, so I'm afraid none of you will leave here alive!”

     

     

    In any other circumstance, I would have been amused at how... dramatic, our foe was. At the moment, I was thinking how in Oblivion we could survive the Heritance onslaught. “Lili. The portal stone can't be used again, can it?” I asked, staying calm.

     

     

    She shook her head, frightened now. “No. It won't have enough magic.”

     

     

    “Can you recharge it?” I asked.

     

     

    Lili blinked, then nodded. “Actually, I can. It'll take a little bit, though.”

     

     

    I sighed, hearing the thunderous approach of countless mer. “Do it. As quick as you can.” I looked at Elereth and Suhr. “We'll have to hold them off of her.”

     

     

    “Aye. May Jone and Jode light our path.” Suhr muttered, steeling himself.

     

     

    Just then, the spells began to fly, as the Heritance found us. “Keep them away from Lili!” I roared, charging towards the mass of mer with my shield raised. The subsequent battle was fierce! For every mer I cut down, two took his place, but I continued to battle, constantly moving, blocking and striking. They were a zealous legion, and I did not note any trying to flee. Every now and then, an arrow would kill my target, or Suhr would leap and stab at my assailant. Mostly, though, I was focused on myself—I had no desire to die again today.

     

     

    After what seemed like an eternity, I dimly heard Lili yell, 'Everyone in! Go, it's ready!”

     

     

    “You heard her! Out of here!” I cried, bashing a mer away. Elereth backed up to the portal, and along with Lili covered our escape with arrows and magic. But even as I ran to the portal, I heard a sound.

     

     

    Suhr's cry of pain resounded throughout the room. I looked back—the Heritance had nailed him with an arrow to the shoulder! The warriors were taking advantage of this, running to him with weapons drawn! I began to turn, intending to run back and help him, but Lili stopped me. “I got this.” she panted. She raised her hand, and Suhr flew across the room, Lili telekinetically throwing him through. “Go!” she cried again, and we all ran through as quick as we could.

     

     

     

    The few nobles present gasped as we charged through, arriving in the manor. Queen Ayrenn frowned deeply, as I turned to Lili. “Why, exactly, are we here?” I demanded, bent over and breathing heavily.

     

     

    “Because Razum-dar told Lilinastre that this is the meeting place.” the Khajiit said, striding over past the shocked nobles. He took one look at us, then shouted, “Somebody get a healer!s”

     

     

    “Raz—we know who the Veiled Queen is. She's here!” I managed to say, looking around for any sign of Estre.

     

     

    Ayrenn walked over. “Actually, she escaped. Estre left through a portal she conjured—I didn't know she could use magic.” she said softly. “But Raz caught her talking to you via projection—we all know the truth now.”

     

     

    I sighed heavily, removing my helm. I was far too tired for proper etiquette—besides, she seemed to care little for it. “I imagine you'll be sending the Marines to hunt her?”

     

     

    She nodded, as the healer took Suhr away. “We'll have to talk later, Ardolan, after you've rested, and know that Suhr is alright.”

     

     

    “Of course, my Queen.” I said simply.

     

     

    We were sent to a room in the manor, where Lili promptly collapsed onto the bed. “Stars, that was intense.” she said.

     

     

    I turned to Elereth, noting her angry expression. “Ardolan. For the love of Y'ffre, don't go killing yourself to save us. We need you.” she said.

     

     

    I sighed. “To be honest, I care far too much for you. I can't assure that.”

     

     

    She grumbled. “Well, let's just hope you don't have to. I can't bear to lose you.”

     

     

    I smiled a bit. “Aye. Let's hope.”

     

     

    Elereth glared at me for a little while longer, before storming over and suddenly kissing me. Once she broke off, she said, “Right. I'm going to get out of my armor, and take a nice bath. I'll see you all later.” She then left me standing there, bewildered, as Lili snorted in an amused manner.

     

     

    That will suffice for this entry, I think. I will write again when Queen Ayrenn gives us our next mission. Until then…

     

     

    -Ardolan Larethbinder 

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Comments

2 Comments   |   Karver the Lorc and 3 others like this.
  • Tenebrous
    Tenebrous   ·  January 7, 2017
    Thanks, Karver!
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  January 7, 2017
    Ah, the first soul is in. I really like the way you portrayed it, mate. The mysticism, the confusion. Very well done.