Ancient Blood Ch 15

  • Ancient Blood Chapter 15

    Seek the Scroll



       In the late hours of the morning, nearly noon, the halls of Lake View Manor are silent except for the light crackle of a fire from the main hall. The mortal Khajiit guards stand at their posts while their vampiric counterparts rest in the hidden tunnels below the manor. The silence is broken when Feral rushes through the front doors, “Mistress! Mistress! Where is the Mistress? Feral needs the Mistress. Yes yes yes… Feral has a pretty for the Mistress.” The two guards at the front door, Kharjo and Ahkari, quickly tackle her and cover her yammering mouth. “The Mistress... is... sleeping.” Ahkari slowly snarls, “Now quiet, Crazed One! Before this one removes your tongue.” Feral’s ears draw back and she growls at the two holding her. Kharjo narrows his gaze, “If Kharjo releases you, you must keep your voice down! Yes?” Feral continues to growl, but nods. The guards release her cautiously, “Now, what is it?” Ahkari asks. Feral whispers, “Mistress said for this one to find a woman in Whiterun. Bring her to the manor. Feral found the woman and brought her to the manor. Feral must show the Mistress!”

     

       A light flashes in a side hall and Shepherd steps out dressed in an elegant black negligee. With a slight yawn she looks to the Khajiit, “Why do you wake me, Feral?” Feral scurries back to the front door, “Come come. See... See what Feral has brought the Mistress.” Feral opens the door and Shepherd looks outside then palms her face, “Oh no… Feral…” Laying on the ground is a female Nord warrior clad in steel armor, hogtied and gagged on the ground. She squirms with a murderous glare in her eyes. Feral frowns, “Did… Did Feral do bad? The Mistress said to bring the Lydia of Whiterun…” Feral steadily becomes more frantic, “Feral found her and… and.. She-She refused YES REFUSED to follow Feral. She-She… Feral had to…” Feral darts over to her mistress and hugs on her waist, “Don’t be mad at Feral. This one is good. This one is kind.” WIth a pained expression, Shepherd gently strokes Feral’s ears, “It’s alright, my cub. Calm yourself… Ahkari… Go fetch Sebastian… Quietly. Kharjo, bring the Nord inside.” the guards bow, “Yes, Mistress.”

     

       A few moments later, Sebastian walks down the stairs in a fine dark robe, “What’s so damned… important…” He sees the bound Nord on the floor of the main hall and sees Feral cowering behind a bookcase. “Sister…” he says with a slight yawn,” My Sweet Sister… what is this?” Shepherd sits in a chair at the head of the dining table, “This is Lydia…” Sebastian thinks for a moment, “Lydia… One of the guards from Whiterun, correct?” Shepherd clears her throat, “You do know that after Thou’Var killed that dragon at the watchtower, the Jarl named him a thane. He was offered a house in the city for a bit of a bargain, from what I understand, and she was assigned as his Housecarl. I ordered Feral to bring her here.” Sebastian just stares at Shepherd awkwardly. “Don’t look at me like that.” Shepherd says, “I didn’t tell her to kidnap the girl. You are going to be parting ways with Thou’Var and he needs a second… Look, can you..” she wiggles her fingers at Lydia, “Do... something… You are a far better mentalist than I.”

     

       As Sebastian draws close to Lydia, she squirms and makes several muffled noises. “Oh do shut up, will you.” Sebastian says, “I’m sure you are spouting all manner of obscenities, but this will go easier if you just try to relax.” Lydia waits for a moment then headbutts Sebastian’s foot and growls up at him. Shepherd sits up, “Well... she’s a firebrand…” Sebastian rolls Lydia on her back and sits on her Steel Breastplate pinning her shoulders down with his knees, “You owe me for this, Sweet Sister.” Lydia continues to thrash about as dark tendrils extend from Sebastian’s hands at either side of her head. Slowly, Lydia grows still. It takes several minutes, but Sebastian is able to replace the memories of Feral abducting her with memories of Feral delivering her an official letter from a Thane of Falkreath formally asking her to visit Lake View manor on a matter regarding Thou’Var Silvermane followed by a memory of an uneventful journey to Falkreath where she is redirected by a nameless Falkreath gate guard to Lake View manor.

     

       Once finished, Sebastian rubs his eyes, “Damn.… This woman is capable of a LOT of rage… ugh...” He stands up, “Place her at the table… unbound… Let her think she took a little nap, and heal those rope burns before she wakes up.” Shepherd nods to her Khajiit, “Do so… and clean her up as well.” The guards untie Lydia and position her as ordered. Shepherd heals the various abrasions received during her transport while the Khajiit clean away dirt from her face and armor. “If there is nothing more, Sweet Sister? I’m going to make use of that bath of yours.” Shepherd nods, “Thank you, Dear Brother. I’ll have some warm water brought up…” Sebastian yawns and continues up the stairs.

     

       An hour later, Lydia opens her eyes and sits up in her chair in a strange hall with armed Khajiit at every exit. Feral peeks around a corner and meekly says, “Hellooo… It is awake, yes?” Lydia looks in Feral’s direction, “You’re the… the courier? I uh… I must have fallen asleep. Where…” She rubs her eyes, “Where is Thou’Var?” Feral points up, “Up… he is up… Feral will get him… The Mistress wishes to speak to you… Feral is kind…” Feral slowly walks up the stairs maintaining eye contact with Lydia, “Yes… Kind, is this one.” Lydia rubs the back of her head and walks around the dining table in the center of the hall. The hatch to the basement opens and Talon climbs up carrying a goblet of what Lydia assumes to be a red wine. Shepherd exits the kitchen wearing a red velvet dress. A dress Lydia recognizes as a fashionable and expensive Cyrodilic outfit, “This must be the Thane.” she thinks to herself. Shepherd smiles, “Ah… awake are you?” Lydia turns and bows, “I apologize, M’ Lady. The walk here must have tired me more than I thought.” Talon presents the goblet to his mistress and Shepherd sips from it, “Thank you, Talon.” Talon returns to the basement and Shepherd looks to Lydia. “Don’t worry about it. You seemed so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you. Would you care for a drink? I stock only the finest vintages.” The Dragonborn interrupts walking down the stairs, “Lydia? What are you doing here?” “I summoned her.” Shepherd says, “A housecarls place is at her Thane’s side. As revered as the Dragonborn may be, you have enemies, Thou’Var Silverman. You would do well to keep her with you.” Lydia nods, “Agreed. My place is by your side, my Thane.”

     

       The Dragonborn folds his arms, “It’s not like I was traveling alone the whole time.” From the second floor, Sebastian says, “But you will be soon, my boy.” Followed by Jenassa, Sebastian walks down the staircase, “Jarl Balgruuf speaks highly of Lydia. I’ve even heard rumors that the Companions have been trying to poach her from the Legion of Guards to add to their number.” Lydia stands tall at the unexpected praise she is receiving. “Keep her at your side, Thou’Var.” Sebastian says, “I cannot go with you to the Greybeards and these harrowed times are not for one to travel alone.” The Dragonborn thinks for a moment, “It’s not that I am against the idea nor doubt her prowess in combat. It’s just that I have some valuable things in my house that any number of thieves would…” Sebastian stops him, “Things! The only thing a housecarl should be guarding is your life. Not trinkets you picked off a bandit…” Sebastian sighs, “You can always get more things. Besides, the city guards know to pay extra attention to the home of a Thane.” Jenassa puts her hand on Lydia’s shoulder, “By her oath of honor, she’s bound to you. Do not disgrace her service by arguing the point.” Thou’Var sighs.

     

      After collecting a few provisions from Shepherd’s storage room, the Dragonborn and his housecarl set off for High Hrothgar, temple of the Greybeards, high atop the Throat of the World. Jenassa sees them off, then returns to the manor and finds Sebastian and Shepherd standing by the central fireplace, “Well.. they are on their way, Master. What of us?” Sebastian turns, “Thou’Var’s Thu’Um is still in need of honing. He will need to learn more words of power. We can focus on finding more word walls. I know there is one at High Gates in Haafingar. It was once a...” Shepherd interjects, “I and my Khajiit can search for more word walls and send Thou’Var missives about their locations. The Couriers of Skyrim are tenacious. You, Dear Brother, have a more dire objective before you.” Sebastian looks at her, “What are you on about?” Shepherd looks into the flames of the fireplace, “I have gleaned much from the Oghma Infinium, in recent days. The Tongues of legend did not defeat Alduin with a Thu’Um. No shout, no matter how powerful, can do that.” Jenassa leans on the dining table, “So… Thou’Var can’t defeat the beast?” Shepherd looks back to her, “He can, but not with a shout he can learn from the Greybeards.” Shepherd looks to Sebastian, “Before this crisis is over, he will need your Elder Scroll.” Sebastian sighs and sits at the table, “I lost it to the Falmer, ages ago…  I don’t even know if it’s still there.”

     

       Shepherd sits across from him, “The dragon scroll has never been reclaimed. It must still be wherever you left it. I will see to it that Thou’Var’s voice continues to grow, but YOU… You two MUST retrieve that scroll.” Sebastian shakes his head, “That place is a death trap… Are you certain? There must be something else…” Shepherd sits back in her chair, “Why so reluctant? Where exactly did you lose the scroll?” Sebastian looks down and taps his fingers on the table, “... Black Reach…” Shepherd sits up, “You did not! How could you...” Sebastian shrugs and harshly answers, “I needed to know what was on the damn thing!… What about the Lexicon? The Blades took it to Cloud Ruler Temple near Bruma. It might still be there.” “No…” Jenassa says, “Forgive me, Master, but Cloud Ruler Temple was destroyed during the Great War. Even if your lexicon survived, anything of value was stolen by the Thalmor.” Shepherd groans and rubs her forehead, “It doesn’t matter… It is not just the information Thou’Var needs. It is the divine power of the Scroll itself… I don’t relish the idea of sending you into such danger, Dear Brother, but it must be done if Thou’Var is to obtain the tools he needs to defeat Alduin.”

     

       As night falls, Sebastian and Jenassa restock their saddle bags preparing to travel. “What is Black Reach, Master?” Jenassa asks, “I’ve never heard of this place.” Sebastian adjusts his saddle straps, “Few have… It’s a Dwemer city deep underground. A hub that connects all of the Dwemer Ruins in Skyrim via their steam tunnels… only thing is, that for the last few thousand years, it’s been overrun with ravenous Falmer.” Jenassa looks over her horse, “By Falmer, you mean the Snow Elves that once ruled Skyrim? You’ve told me many legends of them. Enlightened and…” Sebastian turns, “That’s before the Atmorans Invaded, claiming Skyrim as their ancestral homeland, and pushed the Falmer back into the duplicitous arms of their Dwemer cousins…. The race was blinded and enslaved in exchange for protection from the ‘Savage Menace’ the ancestors of the Nord’s posed to the Elves… They have devolved since then… Surely you’ve heard of the wretched little pale ghouls that roam Dwemer ruins or come out of the ground and attack travelers on the road.” Jenassa is quiet for a moment, “Those... things are Snow Elves?” Sebastian mounts his horse, “They used to be… Come on. We have a long ride ahead.”

     

       After riding for several hours, they reach a Dwemer Tower standing by itself in the hills at the southern edge of The Pale. “Damn it!” Sebastian says. “What is it, Master?” Jenassa asks. Sebastian grabs hold of the gated doors and jerks on them, “Locked…” Jenassa looks the gate over, “I’ll tie the horses to it and we can…” “It won’t work…” Sebastian says, “Even if we had a team of Mammoths, these bars won’t break and the puzzle locks can’t be picked… That lever inside is the only way to get these doors open without the proper tonal key.” He sighs and searches his memory. Jenassa dismounts her horse, “Tonal key?” Sebastian points to a small mechanism beside the door, “It’s a small Dwemer trinket that we are not going to find here.” Jenassa looks around, “Well… there must be another way in.” Sebastian nods, “There are several, but this one would have led directly to where we needed to go. I’ve only ever been to one of the others… Alftand, up in Winterhold to the Northeast… That’s how I got in the first time. Tell me, you packed your heavy cloak.” Jenassa groans and starts digging through her saddle bags.

     

       As the sun begins to rise, a snowstorm sets in. Sebastian and Jenassa take shelter at a small Inn on the banks of Lake Yorgrim, called the Nightingale Inn. Jenassa warms herself by the large fire pit within, “Curse this land of ice…” Sebastian walks over with a flagon of mead, “Here… The Innkeeper called it Blackbriar mead. Supposed to the best mead in Skyrim. I ordered you some soup as well.” She takes the Flagon, “Thank you, Master… I apologize. The armor’s enchantments helped greatly, but Dunmer aren’t meant for such frigid places… Especially not the frozen ass crack of Nirn.” Sebastian smiles and sits at a table pulling out his journal:

     

       17 of Hearthfire 4E 201

     

      I’m falling behind in my journal… Much has transpired in the past week. Alongside the two surviving Blades Agents and the Dragonborn, Jenassa and I aided in reclaiming the ruins of Sky Haven Temple from a band of savage Breton cultists calling themselves “The Forsworn”. Jenassa was gravely wounded, but has since been restored. I faced off against a Hagraven. A beast I would have avoided before, but the Dark Star held up well. These Bretons may be my kin by birth, but I will not hesitate to strike these brutes down should I cross any of their ilk again.

     

       Jenassa… I fear I have greatly complicated matters with her. I gave in to my baser instincts with her in the temple’s gardens after the battle, but I regret nothing. I have not allowed my emotions to dictate a single action I have taken for well over a thousand years, but that night… I would change nothing. I may come to regret it later, but as I look at her now... It’s been a long time since I have allowed myself to become so attached to any mortal… Perhaps I’m just a daft old man.

     

       The Dragonborn has returned to High Hrothgar to seek council with the Greybeards. He believes they are in possession of a Thu’Um that can bring a dragon down from the skies. I have never heard of such a power, but it was depicted on Alduin’s wall. It was not part of the Prophecy I delivered, but the Blades may have found something I missed in the Lexicon. We will know soon enough. I am just glad to have separated him from Delphine. That pest is determined to manipulate the Dragonborn’s power for her own ends. I find the very notion to be offensive. The moment this Crisis is over, should she survive it, I will take great pleasure in tearing out her throat. My Sweet Sister was right… I do hate that tart. Esbern seems amiable enough. I may take him back to my Sweet Sister and add him to her cattle collection. He’s old, but she could get another decade or two out of him. A matter for another time.

     

       Jenassa and I are currently on our way to Alftand. An old Dwemer ruin in Winterhold. Shepherd claims the Elder Scroll I left in Mzark is going to be needed soon. I am uncertain of what she means, but I know she would not direct me to Black Reach if it were not absolutely necessary. The Falmer kill any who trespass in their tunnels. They have held Black Reach for more than two ages now. I am apprehensive about bringing Jenassa with me, but I tried going down there alone once before and barely escaped, costing me a priceless treasure. We must take every precaution.



       Sebastian puts his journal away and walks over to the bar, “A room and a bottle of Alto, if you have it.” “Sorry,” the aging man tending the bar replies, “A room I have, but old Fultheim, over there, drank the last of my Alto last night. Won’t get another shipment for a few days, at least. Besides, son, you look a bit sickly... no offense.” Dismissive of the comment, Sebastian eyes the Barman, “Well, what do you have in the way of wines?” The Barman scratches his head, “Well... I did get in some Spiced Wine from Solitude yesterday. Twelve Septims for the bottle.” he leans over the bar “Just uh… Don’t tell the Stormcloaks about it, eh?” Sebastian counts out the gold, “Oh indeed. A secret for the ages.” The Barman tallies up the coins, “That’s a good lad! Drink up.”

     

      Sebastian checks the rented room over while folding his cape up and laying it on the chair by the door. He suspiciously sips the Spiced WIne, “Hmm… Not horrible… Desperate times, I suppose.” Jenassa enters, closing the door behind her, “What’s that?” “Spiced Wine…” He says, “Can’t tell exactly what spices they used in it… Not bad actually, though. The more of it I drink, the more I seem to like it… It is clearly evil.” She takes the bottle from him and takes several large gulps. “...Help yourself…” he says. She puts the empty bottle on the nightstand behind her. With her back to him, she tilts her head to the side and pulls her hair back. “Drink.” she says. “I still have blood in the flask.” He replies. Jenassa turns to him and touches his face, “You are pale and ice cold… You need warm blood… Drink.” Again she exposes her neck and waits. Sebastian looks at his hands and sees they have lost much of their color. The Barman’s comment makes some sense now. “I should have fed before leaving Lake View… It’s not easy to stop. You’ll have to tell me when.” Jenassa smiles, “Not like we haven’t done this before… You won’t hurt me.” He steps closer to embrace Jenassa and bites into her flesh. She tenses up when she feels his fangs pierce her neck then relaxes as he drinks from her.

     

       Jenassa runs her fingers through his black hair as the color begins to return to his skin. She feels her heart flutter and begins to get light headed, “Master… I…” her legs start to tremble. He reluctantly pulls away slowly with her blood on his lips, “Too much?” She is noticeably weak, “I’m… I’m fine. Just… very tired now… Cold again...” He lifts her up and sets her on the bed. He heals the bite marks on her neck then removes her armor. He runs his glowing hands over her body until she stops shivering. Afterward, he removes his own armor and places both sets in the chest near the back of their room, sealing it with a fire rune. “The Rune will put out some ambient heat.” he says,  “Should warm the room up some.” Jenassa moans as she weakly motions for Sebastian. He climbs into bed and pulls the blankets up. “That wine will be kicking in soon as well.” He says. “Mmmmm… wine...” is the last sound she makes before passing out. Sebastian looks at her for a moment, “At least there’s not a damned Bard howling out there...” He leans over and lights the candle by the bed with a minor flame spell. The faint glow of the fire rune and candle dimly lights the room. Sebastian whispers, “Sleep well, my dear.” and kisses her forehead.

     

     

    The Story So Far:

    Ancient Blood Ch 1   Ancient Blood Ch 2   Ancient Blood Ch 3   Ancient Blood Ch 4   Ancient Blood Ch 5   Ancient Blood Ch 6   Ancient Blood Ch 7 Ancient Blood Ch 8   Ancient Blood Ch 9   Ancient Blood Ch 10   Ancient Blood Ch 11   Ancient Blood Ch 12   Ancient Blood Ch 13   Ancient Blood Ch 14   Ancient Blood Ch 15   Ancient Blood Ch 16   Ancient Blood Ch 17   Ancient Blood Ch 18   Ancient Blood Ch 19   Ancient Blood Ch 20   Ancient Blood Ch 21