Alda'hirakam ghar Ara; Chapter 37

  • He watched how the Skaal hunters killed a bull netch. How they laughed heartily at their prey before the big Skaal hunter began to skin the netch. Now it would be a good chance to attack them, but Casseth hesitated. It was the big hunter that bothered him even if he had no doubts of his reaver team. He had full confidence in them, but the mer didn’t know if it was worth the risk.


    They were ordered to find and kill any animal for their furs. It would be easier to get them from the hunters than go hunting animals. They were going to operate at Northern parts of the island and thus furs were needed. It is a part of the whole plan, Sildras had explained to his son. Casseth thought it was wasteful idea, but an order is an order and his father trusted him with this task.


    “What are we going to do? They’re leaving soon.” Dals asked quietly while they waited for their team leader’s decision and idly checked his chitin bow with a smug smirk. He was their sharp-shooter and a deadly one.


    “We could always go and find the bear den.” Arnas offered as he eyed his blade. Although, it would be a mess to skin them. Selvura does it better. He felt the joy when he had a chance to join on these hunts. Camp life could be suffocating at times now that a few minor camps had joined together.


    “I’d like to give it a shot. Dals could shoot the weaker hunters before we engage with the hulk.” Sendel suggested as his finger traced the edge of his axe. He had two of them and he wanted some action. Sitting back at the camp had made him a bit restless. If he could get to swing his axes it would be a relief. Yes, let me carve on them!


    The fourth reaver, Feranos had been quiet ever since they left the camp. He observed their surroundings. There was a saying in their camp that he understood the ash. Feranos thought it was bullshit. He couldn’t read the ash even if he tried. The scout didn’t know how they came up with it. What nonsense! His hand held the hilt of his Stalhrim dagger, his most prized possession, which he had taken from a dead Skaal hunter a month ago. It had been a struggle, but in the end Feranos had won. The mer waited for Casseth’s decision quietly.


    Casseth grunted after hearing his team. He knew Sendel wanted to shed blood. Still, the young reaver wasn’t sure if they should tempt their fates. The look Sendel was giving him made him frown. “Alright, we’ll take them. Dals paralyze the hulk. Others get ready to assault.” he said in a low tone. Boethiah guide our weapons.


    “Feranos, give me some of that paralyze poison.” Dals asked the Scout while they prepared.


    The scout opened his belt pouch and traced the small vials briefly before picking up the dark green vial. He looked to Dals with a grin. “This will stop even a raging mammoth.” He shared a dark laugh with Dals.


    “Good.” Dals smirked and he dipped three arrow heads into the vial. The assault would happen soon. He frowned at Casseth’s expression; their leader was worried. Or, he was getting soft on them. If so… When did that happen?

    The big Skaal hunter was still finishing skinning on the bull netch when he suddenly shouted at a pain in his back. It was an arrow embedded in his back  that he felt before he fell on the netch, paralyzed. The sounds of vicious battle rang in his ears while he couldn’t see what was going on. The All-Maker preserve us! It’s the bloody reavers again, Selgaard thought. His back ached, but he realized he’d been poisoned. If I fall today… Maybe All-Makerwill  find another strong warrior to protect our village. Frea isn’t ready yet.


    The Skaal hunters fought back, but they soon realized they were up against a frenzied reaver group, although all of them were younglings. The one with war axes posed more danger than the others, and he led the charge with the ferocity of a saber cat. The hunters hadn’t been ready for such an attack. Their youngest fell first by the reaver with a Stalhrim dagger and a sword.
    We can’t beat them! One of the hunters thought on her dying breath.


    With a crazed smile, Sendel watched the woman collapse on the ash. The blood sung for him, for more. He glanced around briefly to see how the others fared. The assault was nearing its end. The mer turned towards the big hunter, assuming the effect of the poison was fading away soon. He gripped his axes tighter and stepped close to Selgaard. “Your hunting days are over, hulk.” He snarled darkly. He raised his axes in the air.


    Suddenly Selgaard could feel himself moving again. He rolled over the reaver youngling, sweeping him off balance. He worked himself up onto his feet, grabbed his battle axe and surveyed the fight zone. His fellow hunters were lying on the ash. They mutilated them. His body locked up in rage, and then he roared his battle cry.


    Casseth narrowed his eyes when the big Skaal hunter roared and attacked the nearest reaver, Arnas. He rushed to help and noticed Sendel getting up, growling. The mer nodded. “Death to the N’wah!” He shouted as he slashed out at the last standing Skaal hunter. He knew Dals would aid them with arrows if there was a chance.


    Feranos bit his lower lip as he tried to find an opening. He didn’t see any possibility to help his friends. If he’d go in, he’d get a hit from that well-treated battle axe. Of course, he could throw daggers at the Skaal hunter’s backside if an opportunity would present itself. He glanced to Dals, who frowned on the small hill. We have to do something.


    Blood spattered on the ash as the reavers were injured to some extent. Selgaard saw them backing away as if they had one shared mind. He shifted his stance to swing his battle axe once more when he felt a sharp edged axe cutting his side. Gritting his teeth, the Skaal hunter glared at them. They were on him and it would be his fall. All-Maker forgive me.


    A sharp whistle came from close by. The reavers scattered away from the big hunter, leaving him exposed in an open area. In an instant, an arrow flew through the air and struck through Selgaard’s neck. The second arrow followed it in and it pierced the fur armor and struck through the man’s abdomen.


    His vision blurred and then darkened as Selgaard felt his life fading quickly away. He ignored the cheers of the reavers and gazed at the grayish sky, looking for the All-Maker. The village was in… Frea’s hands now? Guide her, All-Maker. Keep the village safe. A sharp axe contacted with his throat, cutting the tender flesh. Selgaard welcomed the journey to the All-Maker’s world, wherever that lay.

    Casseth glanced around his team that were injured, and the slaughtered Skaal hunters, assessing the situation. His eyes stayed over Selgaard’s body. The fight had been rough and almost life-threatening, but they had survived. It mattered to him. He wasn’t the kind of a person who’d sacrifice people unnecessarily. “Patch yourselves up and gather the furs.” He told his team. They were bloodied furs. They’d have to do.


    The young mer turned a page of the “Poison Rune” tome that Talvas had given him. He read it while the Mage himself was busy, helping the Wizard. The weather was clear enough, so he read outside, on the stairs of The Steward’s house. The events of Highpoint Tower still lingered in Ciel’nn’s mind. The sparks spell had hurt him so that he still felt it. He was still sore from it even though he’d drank a few health potions and rested as much as he could. The alchemist of Tel Mithryn had said it would take some time to fully recover.


    He had had a short talk with Neloth about his ancestor at last night’s dinner. The Wizard hadn’t been very forthcoming, but he had given some insight for how his ancestor had been.


    “She always pestered me with something.” Neloth had complained over his tea. “She was brilliant with spells and scrolls.” A rare compliment from him, but there it was. It wasn’t as if he needed to praise the mer’s aunt he had never met. “Have you figured out the scroll yet?”


    “No.” Ciel’nn shook his head ever slightly. “We haven’t had time for it lately. Did you try to open it?”


    “I can’t even if I wanted to.” Neloth replied, clearly annoyed. He had tried, but the scroll was somehow protected. In frustration, he had left it alone, and thought it was a powerful spell which he didn’t know of. That annoyed him even more. If the mer’s ancestor warned him not to open it by force, Neloth hadn’t remembered. It was such an insignificant matter. Perhaps when the young mer would learn the secrets of the scroll… The Wizard had fallen into his own thoughts.


    “Here. Your tea.” Teldryn put the tea cup on the stair, next to Ciel’nn. “How goes it go with the rune studying?” He smiled as he saw that his partner had been idly staring at the book, lost in his own thoughts. The older mer knew that pose when he saw it. He leaned against the mushroom walled railing.


    Ciel’nn blinked once at the tea cup, and then looked to the older mer. “I’m no mage, so it goes slowly.” He closed the book and took the cup. “Canis Root tea? The same what the Wizard is drinking all day.” The young mer tasted Neloth’s tea. His nose wrinkled as his mouth twisted.


    “And, night probably.” Teldryn added. His partner’s nose wrinkled, mouth twisting as if Ciel’nn was going to throw up at any second. “Not your kind of tea, Ciel’nn?” I guess Drovas failed, regardless of the former Steward’s recipe. I don’t know how Neloth can stand it, then.


    “What kind of tea is this? It’s horrible, or it’s poorly made!” Ciel’nn choked, then shifted when his stomach revolted. He had to wrap his arms around it to calm it down. “Give me something else, Teldryn.”  His partner gave him a water skin. A chug from it eased the burning in his stomach only a little, so the young mer drank the rest, and sighed. “Never again.”


    Teldryn patted the young mer’s shoulder. “Well, now you know to avoid it. I haven’t tasted it yet.”


    “No?” The young mer took the cup and offered it to his partner. “Here, you can drink the rest.” Ciel’nn flashed a smirk.


    “I’d rather not after your reaction. It might be worse for me, and I prefer your brewed teas.” The older mer smiled warmly.


    My teas. Ciel’nn’s breath caught and he felt the flush spreading across his face as he lowered the cup down. For a long moment he couldn’t find the words. He brushed a stray hair behind his ear and smiled like an idiot. My teas aren’t special, and yet he likes them.

    After a while Talvas came out of the Tower and waved at the two mer. “Have you read the book, Ciel’nn?” He called out to the young mer. He had a hunch that teaching him would take a good while, depending how well learned in magic the mer was. The mage strolled down the stairs. “Come here when you’re ready to start. I’ll do my best.” He stood in the middle of the opening between the tower and the Steward’s house.


    Ciel’nn took his place opposite the Mage. “So, what  do I need to do?” He was aware of his partner watching from the start of the chairs, but focused on Talvas and on what he was going to say next.


    “Have you memorized the poison rune in your mind?” The Mage asked, flexing his fingers for the spell.


    “Yes, I think so.” The young mer replied. He noticed what the other mer did with his fingers. Should I do the same? He did that by instinct.


    “Good,” Talvas nodded, “now imagine your magic reservation. It will fuel your rune. Find a way to use it.” He observed Ciel’nn thinking first, then frowning. A smile spread on his lips.


    The young mer scratched his head. “So, if I imagine, the rune and a bowl of magicka reservation, then use them together – it should work?”


    With a half hidden grunt, Talvas almost sagged as he ran his hand over his face. This is going to take a while, but I can do it. “Let me explain again."

     

     

     

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Comments

6 Comments   |   Sotek and 4 others like this.
  • GailOlm
    GailOlm   ·  November 2, 2019
    I like your detailed description of the reavers, naming them and giving each of them a role and a personality. The brief chat between Neloth and Ciel'nn regarding Ciel'nn's ancestor was intriguing. It was interesting hearing how Talvas explained to Ciel'n...  more
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  August 19, 2018
    I thought the reavers were well done too, though I actually wanted the head Skaal to survive. You did a really good job creating a good character that people could identify with and then you did what you did. Good job. 
    • Caladran
      Caladran
      The Long-Chapper
      The Long-Chapper
      The Long-Chapper
      I thought the reavers were well done too, though I actually wanted the head Skaal to survive. You did a really good job creating a good character that people could identify with and then you did what you did. Good job. 
        ·  August 19, 2018
      Thanks! The reavers are my little ones. :D I'm very fond of them and of course they had to be like they are. :)
  • Karver the Lorc
    Karver the Lorc   ·  August 18, 2018
    Heh, the reavers are certainly a colourful bunch. I am quite enjoying how you're fleshing them out. And it does sound like Sildras plans to take the Skaal Village. We'll see I guess.
    Heh. Yeah, I can't imagine drinking Canis Root tea either. If so t...  more
    • The Sunflower Manual
      The Sunflower Manual
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Heh, the reavers are certainly a colourful bunch. I am quite enjoying how you're fleshing them out. And it does sound like Sildras plans to take the Skaal Village. We'll see I guess.
      Heh. Yeah, I can't imagine drinking Canis Root tea either. If so then wi...  more
        ·  October 30, 2018
      Psh. Silly Orcsies. Tea is meant to be bitter!


      Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to dunk six spoonfuls of condensed milk into my Earl Grey.
    • Caladran
      Caladran
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Karver the Lorc
      Heh, the reavers are certainly a colourful bunch. I am quite enjoying how you're fleshing them out. And it does sound like Sildras plans to take the Skaal Village. We'll see I guess.
      Heh. Yeah, I can't imagine drinking Canis Root tea either. If so then wi...  more
        ·  August 19, 2018
      Thank you! :) Sildras does plan something sinister. Yeah, Telvanni mentor might not be the best option for spells! XD