A cry of the Bull Netch reached to the young mer’s ears, and Ciel’nn shot up onto his feet. The cry was out one of pain. The Skaal Hunters are at it again! The mer let out a hiss as he left the trama roots behind and began to look for the hunters. This time he’d show no mercy. He loved the Netches and wouldn’t allow anyone who wasn’t Dunmer to hurt them. His hands shifted to his blades as his red eyes searched for the targets. No survivors. Nothing else put him into a foul and dark mood as the cries of the Netches and cheers from the Skaal hunters.
He didn’t need to search for long as the hill with a Netch family came to view and Ciel’nn saw the hunters shooting arrows to the Bull Netch. He noticed a baby netch wounded close to him and it was enough to send him into the darkest and coldest fury. His head turned to the nearest hunter and the ash shifted under his foot.
Ciel’nn stabbed the female hunter in the back - once - twice in a cold manner. The hunter screamed, but he kept stabbing until he slashed her throat open. The next hunter was a male, who was going for the other Bull Netch. The mer was a fading shadow as he moved through the faint light that the Bull Netch was emitting. The male hunter had become cautious, but continued tormenting his target. Ciel’nn stabbed the hunter in the side savagely a few times before he went for the throat.
The last hunter of six fell on the ash as Ciel’nn finished his dance. He still seethed in fury as he looked around for more targets. To his disappointment, there weren’t more hunters around that he’d more than gladly would stick his dagger in. He shifted to look at the netches; both Bull netches were injured or dying, one dead baby netch and the last one barely alive. Those N’wahs!
The mer let out a hiss as he put his blades away and dashed to the last baby netch to check its condition. He knelt next to it and gently turned it over. A worried frown latched on his forehead as he recalled he didn’t know nothing anything about how to cure a netch! How in Oblivion do you cure a netch? Could a health potion help? Healing magick? Was there anything he could do?
A sound of a creaking twig alerted Ciel’nn and he shot a look towards the sound. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the figure approaching him. Slitter… He felt the netch taking its last motion in his hands before it died, putting him into a darker mood. The mer lowered the netch carefully on the ash and abruptly stood, drawing his blades and dashed towards the older mer.
Slitter noticed the youngling was alone and took up his axe. He’d finish Mogrul’s demand to kill the kid. That was his plan, although he wasn’t with the Orc the full percent. Maybe I should try to talk to the kid instead? Would he listen to me? But, the kid came to him with such fury that almost rivaled his boss’. I’m not sure which one of them is worse. He blocked Ciel’nn’s first series of slashes and frowned. By Boethiah, he’s fast! And, my sight is not what it used to be.
“You n’wah!” Ciel’nn hissed as he leaped at the older mer, but stopped to roll backwards as Slitter swung his axe in front of him. It was difficult to get a single slash at Slitter since he held his axe like a last resort of life. A dark snarl came from Ciel’nn’s lips as he began to circle around the old mer, brooding and waiting. He should have stayed away. I will kill him.
Teldryn observed the fight from a short distance. Ciel’nn had told to him to keep an eye on things, but Slitter had left on his own, and Teldryn had a bad feeling - so he followed the mer out of town. For now the fight didn’t seem too dangerous for his young partner, who was in a fury. The bladesman deemed it was better to approach them. Just in case.
The old mer was getting weary from the slashes that the youngling gave him as if trying to break him. Slitter tried to follow the movement, but he was slow. He did notice Ciel’nn’s change of movements and when he tried to block the coming slash, the youngling changed his stance, kicked hard at the handle of the axe and the old mer stumbled backwards. Slitter fell on his back in the ash with a grunt.
The young mer was back on his feet and grabbed the axe from the ground. By Azura! It’s heavy! With a great effort and adrenaline running in his blood, Ciel’nn managed to lift the axe. He had to grit his teeth together as he turned to the old mer, raising the axe in the air. Die now, s’wit!
Slitter watched the axe raise above his legs in horror. It was as if the youngling hadn’t much strength after all. The old mer panicked. “Wait!” he yelled, hoping the young mer would be more reasonable than his boss. Please, listen to me, kid.
“Why I should wait? You deserve to die for what you did at the Temple!” Ciel’nn hissed in a dark tone, feeling the grip on the axe failing. So heavy! “You work for the hogger!” He added, seething. His hands began to shake.
“I know something about Mogrul you don’t! Let me talk!” Slitter shouted in panic as he too, noticed the hands that shook under the weight of his axe.
Ciel’nn narrowed his eyes to slits and he let out a low growl as he dropped the axe from his hands, and the old mer screamed in terror. He closed his eyes for a moment as if there was a conflict inside him. It took a few deep breaths before Ciel’nn was able to open his eyes, but he still was in fury. He looked to whimpering Slitter, who stared at the axe that had fallen between his legs and close to his balls. “Talk!” the young mer hissed, taking his dagger to remind Slitter that he wasn’t out of threat yet. His arms hurt would for days. Stupid axe!
Too close. Slitter thought with his eyes wide. The young mer’s tone brought him back to Nirn. “The… the Orc has reavers mixed in the Redoran Guard.” The old mer rasped. Hoping hard Ciel’nn would see reason to save his life. For now he had turned against his own boss. “They’re veteran reavers, kid. Raven Rock is in danger.”
“By Mephala’s black hands!” Teldryn reached them and stood next to his partner. “Do you know how many?” He asked Slitter in a stern tone. “And, in which positions?”
“Why are you turning against the hogger?” Ciel’nn asked, looking straight at the old mer’s eyes. “I thought you were his loyal rat.” He didn’t like it at all. To kill the old mer would be ideal, but he had to admit by giving information on Mogrul, Slitter might have made a wise decision.
“Probably five; two in the town and three at the side entrance.” Slitter said. “I’ve had enough of him. He’s bad for health. Look, kid, he sent me to kill you, but you reminded me that I want to live.” He averted his gaze, not daring to ask how Ciel’nn knew about Temple case.
“What shall we do about him?” Teldryn crossed his arms on his chest and looked to the young mer, who still was thinking. He could see it well; under the seething face was the calculating mer. Curious. What else are you hiding there?
The young mer shifted as he looked to the bladesman, then to Slitter. “As much as I want to finish you…You’ll live because of the information on the reavers.” He paused for a good measure. “But, we’ll hand you over to the Redoran Guard. Let them decide what to do with you, old mer. Preferably behind the bars.” Out of the way so I can focus on the hogger.
Thank Azura! Slitter sighed, nodding. “One thing, kid. Will you make Mogrul suffer?” He saw Ciel’nn flashing a dark smirk as his eyes darkened as a silent answer. At the look the young mer gave him, Slitter felt the coldest of shivers down his spine. Who is this kid?!
“One more thing, Slitter.” Ciel’nn said darkly and punched the mer in the face. “Aw, n’chow!” he groaned while he held his hand. The young mer wasn’t used to smacking people like that. His delicate hands were meant for other things like creating poisons and stabbing. Ciel’nn hissed in pain and shot a dark glance at Slitter. “That’s for messing with the Alchemist and ruining my meditation!”
Teldryn frowned at the display “Let’s get him behind the bars. We have to wake up the Captain Incompetent though.” Teldryn said roughly and made a gesture to Slitter to walk between them. “Don’t try anything, then.”
“I don’t care if we need to wake him up. This needs to be done before the hogger wakes up.” Ciel’nn replied to his older partner while he rubbed his hand that ached like crazy. Maybe I should ask Teldryn punch people in the next time.
With Slitter behind bars and under the watch of the Redoran Guard, Ciel’nn took Teldryn to the Temple to meditate and discuss on their next phase of the plan.
“Do you have anything for your hand?” Teldryn asked when the young mer examined his own hand. Those hands aren’t meant for smacking people, unless you get a steel gauntlet. He observed Ciel’nn taking a small wooden box. “Netch jelly helps.” The bladesman heard Ciel’nn explaining briefly. “You shouldn’t go smacking people with those hands, Ciel’nn.”
The young mer sat down on the bench with the box. “I know, but I couldn’t help myself.” He thought a moment and looked to Teldryn. “Maybe it’s better that you put on the gel?” Ciel’nn offered the small box to the bladesman. “Just be careful.”
A dark brow raised as Teldryn looked at the box that was held out for him. When was the last time you were careful with someone? Let alone putting an aiding gel on one’s hand? What if I do it too roughly and he’ll scream? That’ll wake the ash spawns. His eyes shifted to the young mer’s, who had an expecting look on his face. “Alright, I’ll try to be careful.” He said in a low tone and sat down next to young mer, taking the box.
Ciel’nn observed his partner how he held his hand and applied the gel on it. There was care in it and the young mer found it somewhat sweet as Teldryn did his best not to hurt him. It was almost like a hand massage. What amused him was Teldryn’s serious expression while he applied the gel.
“There you go. Although, I think it’ll have a bruise. How fast should it help the pain?” Teldryn finished, carefully letting go of Ciel’nn’s hand. He heard the young mer groan.
“A bruise! It should ease the pain soon.” Then Ciel’nn looked directly to the bladesman’s eyes, smiling. “Thanks, Teldryn. You did a great job. Keep the box.” He flashed a smirk and sighed. “I need to meditate now. We can discuss about the hogger after I’m done, okay?”
The older mer watched his younger partner stand up in a liquid motion and stepped in front of the shrine of Azura. He glanced at the box in his hand and closed the lid. Keep the box, eh? Teldryn put the box into his pouch and waited. He observed Ciel’nn spending an hour in total meditating on the shrines. He likes to meditate. Although, inside the Temple is quiet and it’s a good place to talk. Teldryn eyed the Temple. I wonder if it’s a habit for him.
Ciel’nn stood up and walked over to the bench where Teldryn was waiting. “Five veteran guards, Teldryn. That will complicate the plan I had already.” He paused for a brief moment. “What do you suggest?” the young mer looked to his partner. He hadn’t had time to appreciate how rough the bladesman looked, but it was the voice that pulled his heart strings - especially when Teldryn talked in a low tone.
“It sure does makes the planning difficult. I’d suggest we figure out which ones are the reavers, then inform the Captain Incompetent.” Teldryn said thoughtfully. He noted how the younger mer looked at him, but he didn’t say anything.
“After that, we need to get a message for the hogger.” Ciel’nn nodded. “Probably when he sleeps since Slitter is no longer watching over him.” It sounded a good plan. He hoped it wouldn’t trigger Mogrul too soon.
Teldryn stood up. “You look tired. Better to get rest if we’re to put this plan into motion soon. Where do you sleep?” The young mer looked as if he was going fall asleep at any time.
“At the abandoned building. I forgot the trama roots.” Ciel’nn groaned. He’d promised to help Milore to collect a bunch of them and he had left them behind because of the Skaal hunters and Slitter.
Teldryn thought a bit. “Did something happen before Slitter, Ciel’nn?” He asked in a slight concerned tone. He had noticed the dark expression that now had faded off from Ciel’nn’s face. He waited for a reply, but the young mer was quiet and lowered his gaze. “Alright, then. You need to rest.” He helped Ciel’nn up. “We can’t banish the hogger if you’re dead tired.”
Ciel’nn let Teldryn help him even though he wasn’t injured. He let out a light chuckle, and when the bladesman looked at him, Ciel’nn said, “You said the hogger.”
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Comments
(Hint hint it's not knitting)
Nice to see Slitter finally getting on the bad end of a fight. It was actually a good idea to keep him alive as he may have useful informatio... more
I was surprised that Ciel'nn let Slitter live. For what Slitter did to Milore, he deserved more than a punch in the face. Though at least Slitter will be... more
And ha! Slitter turning against Mogrul. Slig... more