Ciel’nn had fallen into his own thoughts, while the Skaal Shaman studied the map of the reaver camps with her brows knitted. Sitting inside the Shaman’s hut, the fear of the monster faded and changed into another shape of fear. And, that fear was laced with a doubt. He tapped his tea cup and frowned.
What if they find out? I killed one of their hunting parties. Though I don’t remember a lot of it. What if they find out? We’re not safe here. This was a mistake.
He wanted to get out of the village. But, the young mer didn’t want to go outside either. Outside, somewhere lurked the beast that had slaughtered the rieklings. I’m stuck here. Ciel’nn glanced to his partner, who sat opposite him. The older mer was focused on something before their eyes met.
Seeing the fear of getting exposed from Ciel’nn’s eyes, Teldryn shifted to sit next to him. He looked to his partner as he took his hand into his own. What’s wrong? He frowned at Ciel’nn. To see the other mer nearly frightened as a startled kwama, it turned Teldryn into protective mode.
What if they find out? Ciel’nn looked side-ways to Frea at the table.
It dawned on Teldryn that he hadn’t thought about that. He cursed himself for not thinking about coming to the village any further. They had come here forgetting the risk that someone might know what Ciel’nn had done. He looked back to his partner, his eyes showing totality for his message. If it comes to that, I’ll get out of here. Try to be as normal as possible. It’ll be alright.
Ciel’nn frowned when the door opened. They looked at the young man, who stepped in and brushed the snow off his cloak.
“Wulf. Took you long enough. Any news?” Frea asked turning to them. She still had her frown on.
The young man sighed. “He’s gone somewhere. Our hunters can’t keep track anymore. He’s too fast.” Wulf informed them as he found his place on a bench. Frea still gazed at him, so Wulf continued. “He’s moving into the Northern parts.”
“He?” Ciel’nn interjected. “It’s a fucking beast! You should go after it and kill it.” He was aware of himself sounding more panicked than calm. His calmness was fading. His partner wrapped his arm around his shoulder, but the young mer didn’t feel any calmer.
Wulf looked to the young mer with sorrowful eyes. “Beast? Yes, but he’s also my brother.” He sighed as he knew his brother was a huge problem. He just didn’t want to admit it.
No-one spoke a while.
Frea let out a deep sigh. “You’d better the tell them the full tale of Torkild, Wulf.” He looked to the two mer. “I thank you for the map. I shall make a copy of it. Maybe we can come up with a plan of how to defend this village better. Meanwhile you can stay as long as you like, but stay out of the men’s way.”
We’re not staying that long. Ciel’nn nodded and looked to Wulf who had helped himself with a hot cup of snow berry tea.
Wulf eyed his tea for a moment before raised his gaze towards the two mer. “Torkild is my brother and he is the beast among the other werebears.” He let out a heavy sigh as sadness tightened his throat.
Ciel’nn’s shifted in his place. There are more beasts? I can deal with reavers, but werebears… not at all. That safety he had felt since they came to the hut left him.
“He wasn’t one for practicing All-Maker beliefs with us, so he left the village. It’s now fifteen years since then. First I thought I lost him, but then one of hunters saw him transforming one night. No doubt, he turned to Hircine for the dominance and power that he always spoke about.” He paused to sip his tea.
“How did he become a bloodthirsty beast?” Teldryn asked in a low voice. He had felt his partner shifting restlessly and he pulled the young mer closer to him. Slowly it dawned no him that coming to this village wasn’t a smart move. I’ll suggest leaving in the morning if all is still well.
Wulf looked to the older mer with wary eyes. “That’s the grimmer part. We think that he must have embraced the beast form completely, and lost himself within. I’m honest with you, I don’t know a lot about Hircine, and I’m not sure where his bloodthirstiness comes from. It could be that Hircine cursed him, but we can’t be sure.”
“Hmm.” Teldryn thought a moment.
“So, you’re saying you can’t go after him because he’s your brother?” Ciel’nn asked finally. “What if he comes here and kills you all?” He didn’t want to think about it, but seeing the people of Skaal just sitting and waiting for the beast’s return annoyed him. It was out of the question that he would go after the beast. It was a problem for the people of Skaal, not for him.
“We just can’t leave the village for one person. The reavers might come up here with a bigger group. We’re only a handful.” Frea said, crossing her arms. She eyed the young mer who stared back at her. It was clear the mer was afraid, but there was so little for the shaman to do about it. They had injured villagers and hunters. With Selgaard dead, they didn’t have another mighty hunter.
Ciel’nn scoffed. “Unbelievable.” It was a quiet utterance. They chose to do nothing about the beast. He looked to Wulf, who averted his gaze. I bet things would change if Sarade was here, but she’s in Skyrim dealing with everything else. The young mer shifted as he looked to his partner. “We’ll leave in the morning.”
And, leaving you to your doom.
The wounded hunters were sleeping on spare bedrolls on the other side of the Great Hall. It was quiet apart from the occasional mumble and whimper from the wounded. The center fire pit warmed nicely. A few herbal ingredients brought a soothing scent that floated around the hall.
Not enough soothing for Ciel’nn, who sat on his bedroll. He eyed the Great hall and wondered if Frea was the only leader there. He had heard some hunters talking about a man who had died. It seemed this man was also a shaman, but perished during some strange circumstances. Some Daedric Prince business, he had heard. A shiver swept through his body even though they just had ate some horker stew.
“Are you cold?” Teldryn looked to his partner. It was warm, but the mer shivered. He found it strange. “I was going to suggest that we’d leave in the morning, but I’m glad you decided before it. This place…” he lowered his voice into a whisper. “It is not good to stay here for long.” The older mer reached out to brush off Ciel’nn’s stray hair. “How are you feeling?”
The young mer enjoyed the brief moment of the slight touch and sighed. “I can’t shake the feeling of being in danger.” He replied in a soft tone. “I heard an older shaman had died probably due to a some Daedric Prince influence or something. It just gives me the shivers.” He paused for a moment. “Something is not right here. I’ll be happy to leave here tomorrow.” Ciel’nn took Teldryn’s hand into his own. “Honestly,” he gazed into those sharp eyes of the mer’s, “I don’t know how I’d be if you weren’t here with me.” Azura bless him.
The older mer smiled and nodded. “I’m glad to be with you, too.” Then, he added in a lower tone, “Someone has to keep en eye on you.” Teldryn flashed a grin. “Maybe we should—”
The door of the great hall opened and a blood freezing howl echoed around the walls as a small child tottered inside. She looked around the hall and noticed the two mer looking at her. The younger one had a fearful eyes. The child approached them.
“You are afraid.” She looked to the young mer, who frowned at her. “Torkild is lost to us. He can’t turn back anymore, and they are afraid of him, too.” She continued in a calm tone.
Ciel’nn had a hard time to comprehend why this child was speaking to him. He was nobody, but it wasn’t the first time children came to speak to him. It was still weird to him as he couldn’t stop them. They should run away instead of talking to me. “That is why we’re leaving tomorrow.” His smile faded as soon as it appeared.
“Then take this talisman. My uncle made it for me, but now I give it to you.” The child now showed him a talisman with a leather band and it was decorated with a gemstone made of stalhrim. “It’s blessed by the All-maker. It will keep Torkild away from you.”
Ciel’nn frowned. “But it’s yours. I can’t take it.” It wouldn’t be right. He didn’t even know if it would work against the beast. The stalhrim gemstone was a curious thing, though. He deemed this talisman was special.
“You are afraid. You need it, mer.” She still offered him the talisman. “It will protect you.”
The young mer sighed. “Alright, then. But, does it work when he’s in bloodthirsty mood?” Ciel’nn took the talisman carefully and inspected it. There was warmth on his left side. Teldryn had leaned over it to see the item.
“It will protect you.” The child replied and watched how the young mer put on the pendant. She smiled at him before she turned, and walked toward the door.
A strange child.
The following night was peaceful for Ciel’nn, but he didn’t dream. It was like black velvet around his mind and it was soothing as his back was firmly against Teldryn’s body. The whimpers and mumbles of the wounded didn’t bother him.
A band of mauled and dead reavers had been sighted, the able-hunters reported to Frea in the morning. They weren’t certain if it was Torkild or someone else from the werebears. Frea frowned at the news. It would be a matter of time when they turned their muzzles toward the village. All-Maker, will you protect your children? She observed the village. They still needed to build better defenses, but something told Frea that it wouldn’t be enough. Come the reavers or werebears, they’d be devoured in any case. It is my trial from the All-maker.
The Shaman turned her head when the two mer emerged from the great hall. They were leaving. Frea wasn’t sure how she was taking it. The two mer were leaving as if their village wasn’t safe, but then leaving would put them in even more danger. It’s their decision. I should focus on the village. The young mer looked to her for brief moment, then they began to walk away. “Stay safe.” Frea whispered after them.
Ciel’nn, still puzzled from the child’s visit, had thought they’d go back to Raven Rock. It meant they’d go the straightest way, passing by the Temple of Miraak and Kagrumez, then avoid the old reaver camp. It should be one or two day trip, given nothing would happened on their way.
“Do you think the beasts come down to the South?” Ciel’nn asked casually as they crossed the wooden bridge. He hoped that the beast wouldn’t, but as it was said, the beast had moved to the Northern parts of the island… “Sildras and his gang is in danger, too.” He added after a moment while making sure the fur hood was tightly on his shoulders. The talisman that the child had given him was under his shirt. I really hope it works.
“I don’t give a shit if his gang gets slaughtered. Good riddance.” Teldryn rumbled as they walked down the path toward the Temple of Miraak. “Although, I’m interested to see what kind of a mer this Sildras is. I know you said he’s ex-Dres, but as a reaver… Well, it’s another story.”
“He is another story entirely.” Ciel’nn replied. “You know, when I walked to their camp to make a deal, I was afraid he might not believe me and cut my throat.” He remembered the moment when Sildras had asked him to sit down. It was both a bold and stupid decision, now thinking about it afterward.
“Maybe he thought to spare you because he saw something in you.” Teldryn glanced at his partner with a hint of a smile. “But, honestly, I have a feeling we’re going to face him sooner or later.” He said and adjusted his fur cloak. “It’s fucking cold up here.”
Ciel’nn nodded. “That’s what I’m expecting since his little group didn’t kill me, but I’m not interested as in why he spared me.” Then he added in a lower tone. “His time will come."
ToC
Comments
Well, the kid was creepy. I was inclined to think the amulet is all bollock... more
Well, the kid was creepy. I was inclined to think the amulet is all bollocks at first, ... more
Yes, th... more