A dunmer of about nineteen years stared at the Odai River as the wind blew his long, thin, black hair across his face. His arms were thin, but taut with muscles, a trait gained from years at the forge. He had worn black leather boots, brown pants, and a black overcoat covering his light grey shirt. His fierce red eyes took in everything around him. he watched the dazzling reflections of the trees on the surface of the water, the movements of a scrib, and he felt the presence of the mer walking towards him.
"Hello there. young lad." the elderly dunmer began. "Would you happen to know where to find a young dunmer by the name of Ahnaressu?" "Actually, I do." said the young elf. "But might I ask why you want to know?" The elderly mer continued. "I have need of his services. I am old, I will need help getting to my annual pilgrimage to Ghostgate." "When do you need to get there?" "Tomorrow." "Meet you here at dawn. I will escort you to ghostgate then." The old priest laughed. You had me fooled for a moment, but I knew who you were all along." Ahnaressu began to walk back towards town and yelled behind him, "Remember. First light."
Ahnaressu had started a mercenary-like business about two months ago, having quit his old smithing job at the Razor Hole. When he started the business, he had hoped for exciting jobs from collectors of artifacts, great houses, guilds and the like, but being based out of Balmora, he usually got jobs escorting priests wanting to go to various shrines. He chuckled to himself whenevr he thought of the time he escorted a priest to the House of Earthly Delights in Suran - without revealing the priest's identity. He made more money than he did working for Thorek, and he had the added bonus of getting out of the monotony of "civilized" life.
When he had saved up enough money, he rented the top half of a house on the west side of the river. He, Cali and Relgar all shared the little house and it was a large improvement from the room in the temple, and less pressure on Ahnaressu to join the ranks of the temple doctrines.
Ahnaressu walked into the house he rented. Having only rented the top half, he always ended up carrying things up the steps for Cali. "Ahnaressu!" Relgar yelled happily when he saw his older brother walk through the door. Ahnaressu suddenly became a young child again when he yelled, "Relgar!" and ran towards his brother. They ended up wrestling, the seven year old Relgar emerging triumphant while Ahnaressu played dead. Cali laughed, just as she did every time she saw the two brothers together. She turned away from the brawl for a moment to check on the soup, tasting a sip before deciding if it was ready or not. "Okay, boys, time for dinner." Relgar jumped off Ahnaressu and quickly sat down at the table. Ahnaressu slowly got up and brushed himself off before seating himself. The two males in the house rubed their hands together in anticipation of the food. Cali served them and sat down herself.
After dinner Ahnaressu went to sleep in preparation for the next day's short trek to ghostgate.
"Thank you, young man." The old priest said as he walked to the entrance of the tower of dusk. "Now for your reward..." Ahnaressu waited patiently as the old mer searched around in his pack. "Aha! Here it is." The priest exclaimed, holding up a huge, bulging bag. "That is entirely too much gold for such a short trip." Ahnaressu said." "Ah, but it is not gold. You have the choice as to what to do with this. You may sell it for gold, or do something entirely different with it." Ahnaressu raised an eyebrow. "What is it then?" The priest held up a green shard. "As a former blacksmith, you should know what this is." "Glass." "There are many more similar shards in this bag. Probably ten or twelve. I figured that if you needed the gold you could sell it, if you wanted armor or weapons, you could forge it into something." Ahnaressu would have preferred gold, but took the glass anyway, not wanting to argue with the old man.
Ahnaressu sat at the table in his house, staring at the glass shards inside the bag. He thought of his first fight with Valnor then, the rage burning inside. He still had a small scar from where his scrolls had not healed the enormous wound properly. He decided then and there to avenge his family. He scooped up his bag of glass and made his way to The Razor Hole.
"You want to use my forge again, boy?" Thorek asked. "That's right," Ahnaressu said. "Alright, but only after I have closed the shop. I don't want to lose money by letting you use my anvil." "Deal." Ahnaressu said, thankful that he had left the forge on good terms with Thorek.
Ahnaressu worked late into the night, forging a glass katana. He had not gotten very far before he became exhausted and began the short journey to his house.
"You're quite late." Cali said as Ahnaressu waled into the door. "I'm planning on being late every night this week." Ahnaressu stated flaty. "Well, where were you?" Cali continued, not going to let him off easy. "Making a sword." Ahanressu answered like a boy answering his mother's probing quiestions. "You aren't going to-." "Yes, I am." "When?" "Whenever my blade is ready." "What about me? Little Relgar? What will I tell your little brother? That you're going to go kill someone?" "Not right now, Cali, please. We'll talk in the morning." "Alright." Cali said as Ahnaressu turned and walked towards his bed.'
Ahnaressu sat outside of Balmora watching Relgar cast an array of weak spells. They seven-year-old dunmer was actually quite adept at spellcasting, especially for such a young age. Ahnaressu admired the fireball, but it also brought back memories of his mother's final moments. Ahnaressu mused that he must have gotten his father's fighting skills and Relgar got his mother's magical prowess. "Did you see that?" Relgar yelled. "That was my biggest yet!" "Pretty nice fireball. Can you do other spells?" Ahnaressu asked. "Hmm....I can use illusion alright I guess, I can heal my scratches, and that's all I've learned so far." Relgar explained. "Well, you keep at it." Ahnaressu said. "And soon you will be better than most Telvanni ever dream of being." Relgar didn't even hear the last statement, already practicing his light spells.
Cali sat on her bed, dwelling on her conversation with Ahnaressu. She had no idea of how to stop him from going. Whenever he decided he was going to do something, he did it. No person could stop him. Not even Cali. While she had gotten over her grief over her own mother, Ahnaressu had somehow turned his sadness into a boiling rage deep inside. Cali wanted to help him, but he was too blinded by the rage that had been a part of Ahnaressu's life for far too long.
Relgar had long exhausted his magical and phyisical powers, and was snoring contentedly on the soft ground on the banks of the Odai. Ahnaressu thought of the deed that he had to do. He had let Valnor live far too long, and was determined to finish what he had vowed to start, and he hoped to finally rid himself of the same disturbing dream.
But something else made him want to abandon his vow forever. Cali. She was his best friend, and he wanted to go further, but was scared to say anything for fear of making himself and her feel awkward around each other, losing their current friendship. He almost felt cowardly, but this was a different kind of problem he faced. He could not slash it out of existence with a sword, or pound it out with an armorers hammer. He wished it were that simple, but it wasn't.
Ahnaressu picked up his little brother and walked back to his house.
Ahnaressu held up the finished product, checking it one last time for flaws. After a thorough inspection, Ahnaressu was satisfied. He took the glass katana and wrapped it in his overcoat before going home with it,
Cali waited for him outside of their house with her newly aquired silver shortsword. Ahnaressu had been teacheing her to fight and she learned well. While she was no match for Ahnaressu, she soon would be. "Ready?" Cali asked. "Sorry, no practicing today." Ahnaressu answered. "We're leaving." "So soon? I don't think I'm ready to-" "Not to find Valnor." Ahnaressu clarified. "We're going to Sadrith Mora." "Why?" "Telvanni enchanters. I think our weapons could be improved magically..." "We better start packing." Cali suggested as she skipped back towards the house like a little girl. Ahnaressu shook his head at her antics at first, but then he quickly fell in step with her.
Ahnaressu, Cali, and Relgar took the silt strider to Vivec, and then took a boat to Sadrith Mora. They all stayed in the Gateway Inn for a day before going to the wizard's tower.
Ahnaressu walked down the streets of Sadrith Mora early in the morning. He had left Cali and Relgar sleeping in the Gateway Inn. As the mushroom tower of Tel Naga appeared in front of him, Ahnaressu was amazed. The houses and shops in Telvanni towns were amazing, but a tower this size, made of mushrooms, was beyond words. Believing the rumors, Ahnaressu brought along a few levitation potions he concocted from his mother's worn recipe journal. He opened the small round door and walked inside.
He knew he was looking for a Telvanni counselor named Neloth. He used his levitation potion to reach a ledge, and then continued through an upwards-leading tunnel. He drank another while in midair, not wanting the magic to expire and go tumbling down that shute. He reached the top of the tower where Neloth's quarters were.
Neloth had a few guards, but all kept a safe distance away.
"Councilor Neloth." Ahnaressu said respectfully. "What do you want?" Neloth replied, a scowl appearing on his face. "A special favor." "One you will repay, I hope - If I even grant your favor." Ahnaressu ignored the man's obvious arrogance. "I would like this enchanted." Ahnaressu continued while unwrapping his blade. Neloth picked up the blade. "I'm no warrior and I can see that this is a fine blade. Where did you find it? In some ancient hero's tomb?" "I made it." Ahnaressu replied flatly. "A lie, no doubt." Neloth began. "But that is not the point. Why should I even use my glorious talents to enchant a blade for you?" Ahnaressu decided to use the wizard's pride against him. "You're stalling." "What?" Neloth asked incredulously. "You can't give this blade a powerful enchantment without wasting many valuable soulgems. Apparently, you aren't as skilled an enchanter as I had heard - I guess I'll have to go visit Councilor Fyr. Maybe he is talented enough." Ahnaressu said mockingly. "You will wish you had never insulted me, boy." Neloth said. "I will enchant your blade...on one condition." "And that is...?" "You will have to do me a favor...which I will decide when you return to pick up your sword." Ahanressu turned to leave. "Wait!" Neloth said, turning Ahnaressu around. "What would you like your blade's enchantment to be?" "Surprise me." Ahnaressu replied.
Ahnaressu walked back to his room in the inn to see his companions still snoring contentedly. He went to the inn's common area and bought a small breakfast. A dirty imperial woman sat down beside him. She had obviously been traveling for some time, her netch leather armor had a layer of dust on it. "Flin, please." She said to the server. Ahnaressu cocked an eyebrow. "This early?" "What's wrong with a little intoxication to start the day?" she asked with a smile. "Whatever makes you happy." Ahnaressu muttered. "If you want to spend your life drinking, have fun." "Look," the woman began. "I don't know who you are, thinking you can judge me! If you knew what I did yesterday, you would drink too." Ahnaressu glared back. "Try me." "Have you ever killed an innocent ashlander child because a man named Eno Hlaalu told you to?" the woman asked, her voice cracking. Ahnaressu grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Ashlander? What tribe?" "Urlishak...no, Urshu.." she began, obviously struggling. "Urshilaku?" "Yes! That's it!" The woman exclaimed. "How did you know?" "I am of that tribe." Ahnaressu answered. "I-I'm sorry. I feel so -" the woman started. "I think what you did was horrible. But so do you." Ahnaressu began. "A younger me would have tried to cut you down where you sit. Now I make you suffer by letting you live with it." Ahnaressu got up, leaving his unfinished breakfast.
Ahnaressu went back down to his room to check on Cali and Relgar. He was greeted with a loud, "Ahnaressu!" as Relgar slammed into his leg, knocking him over. "I guess you're awake." Ahnaressu said dryly. his statement was unheard, for Cali's hysterical laughter overcame every noise in the inn. "I suddenly feel like going back to sleep." Ahnaressu muttered to himself, crawling back into bed.
Ahnaressu made his way back to Neloth's tower with another levitation potion in hand. He made his way up the tunnel and into Neloth's chambers. The Telvanni wizard had his back turned to Ahnaressu, leaning over the ashlander's katana.
Ahnaressu didn't even have to announce his presence before Neloth spoke. "If you're here for your sword, it isn't ready." "You've had three days." Ahnaressu said. "There is more to my life than serving you." Neloth replied. "I'm just curious as to when it will be finished." Ahanressu said defensively. Neloth didn't answer. Instead, he spoke the words of a spell and presented Ahnaressu with the sword. "Now it's ready." "Great. What did you surprise me with?" Ahanressu asked. "If I told you, I wouldn't be surprising you." "I'm not here for a wizard's riddles." Ahanressu said through gritted teeth. Neloth calmly changed the subject. "Now that I have done my part of the deal, You will uphold yours." "Fair enough." Ahnaressu replied. Neloth leaned in close. "I want to fight you." "What?" Ahnaressu asked incredulously. "A duel of sorts. I haven't met anyone willing to fight me. everyone is scared of getting burned, shocked, or frozen to death. I need to stay sharp, but I can't if nobody will fight me." "Alright. I'll fight you."
Ahnaressu followed Neloth outside the tower of Tel Naga. They stopped just outside the entrance, on a hill that sat a few feet above the rest of the town.
"Rules?" Ahnaressu asked as he took a few swings at the air with his sword, feeling its perfect balance. Neloth shrugged. "Use whatever you like. Potions, enchantments, spells, weapons, the list goes on. just do not kill me and I will restrain myself from killing you." "Fair, but would you like to tell me of my sword's enchantment?" Ahnaressu asked him. "You'll find out. I promise." Neloth replied with a smile. Ahnaressu looked at the mage quizically, searching his face for any hint of foul play. If he found outthat the wizard placed a harmful enchantment on his sword... "I did nothing to harm your weapon." Neloth said, as if he read the younger dunmer's thoughts. "I would hope not." Ahanressu replied in a threatening tone. Neloth grew tired of conversation. "Make what preparations you may." he said as he went into casting defensive spells.
Ahnaressu merely stood, waiting.
Neloth picked up his ebony staff. "Let us begin." he said with a grin.
Ahnaressu didn't reply, for as Neloth was saying the words, he was also casting a fireball directly at the ashlander. Ahnaressu quickly dove, avioding the inferno. He came out of the roll on one knee, ready to spring.
Neloth cast the same spell again, but Ahnaressu was ready for it. He jumped to his left to dodge the flame before springing towards Neloth. Ahnaressu swung his sword from right to left, while still inthe air but Neloth was quicker with a staff than Ahnaressu would have guessed. Neloth held his staff out vertically to block Ahnaressu's attack. The parry had Ahnaressu off guard and off balance. He managed to land on his feet, but Neloth's staff held Ahnaressu's katana back effectively.
Instead of pressing forward with his weapon, as Neloth was doing, Ahnaressu pulled out of the lock by ducking low, and rolling to the side.
Neloth's staff hit the ground harmlessly. Ahnaressu turned back around to face Neloth, pacing in a circle.
The mage had much more body strength than Ahnaressu would have guessed from the old mer's skinny, mage-like frame. He wondered if it was magical strength.
He didn't have time to ponder any further, as Neloth cast an unkown spell. Ahnaressu figured out what the spell was soon enough, when the Telvanni was in the air above him, a staff held above his head. The ahslander decided to try to score a hit while Neloth was in the air, but ended up blocking the wizard's staff yet again. He should have dodged, he realized as he saw the wizard's landing. jumping so high didn't make for perfect landings. he made a note to himself before pulling out of yet another lock.
Ahnaressu used the short break in the fight to wipe the sweat from his face. He was not used to fighting wizards, but was glad for the practice. Knowing what the enchantment on his sword was would help, but he would have to do without it.
Neloth came at him, his staff swinging from left to right, at a downward angle. Ahnaressu dodged the swing by diving to his right, and stabbed his katana into the opening on Neloth's left side. Neloth cringed, but his magical shield took the brunt of the blow, so the stab caused a minor gash.
Satisfied with his hit, Ahnaressu went back on the defensive. He would let Neloth attack, and counter when he saw an opening - it had worked so far.
Neloth attacked yet again, but this time with a lightning bolt. It was quite impossible to dodge a lightning bolt, even for a warrior of Ahnaressu's speed and agility. His electricity knocked the young ashlander to the ground, his hair standing on end.
Ahnaressu got up quickly, a bit dazed from the shock. His strategy wouldn't work, he realized, not with lighting in the picture. Ahnaressu charged Neloth, faking a stab to his own left, and Neloth put his staff in the perfect position to defend the attack, had it been an actual stab. Instead, Ahnaressu pulled his sword back, and slashed Neloth's left arm.
The wounds on Neloth were minor, but they hurt nonetheless. Ahnaressu noticed from his facial expressions that it caused him pain to swing his staff and move certain ways. That could be used to an extreme advantage. Neloth's left would be an easier target than his right.
Ahnaressu jumped towards the telvanni yet again, this time, pulling a double feint. He faked left, and then right, before finally slashing Neloth's left side again at a downward angle.
"Are you done?" Ahnaressu asked with a smirk. "Hardly." Neloth answered while casting another fireball Ahnaressu's way.
Ahnaressu rolled to his left, and went at Neloth again, his sword swinging a barrier in front of him. Neloth had no idea of how to block the raging blade, so he put his staff up vertically in front of his face to offer himself some meager protection. Ahnaressu smiled as he hit the wizard's staff with his katana and swung it around, throwing it out of Neloth's grasp. It landed several feet away.
Ahnaressu leveled his glass blade, putting its tip against Neloth's neck.
"I win." He said, breathing heavily. "Good fight." Neloth said. "But I believe that I am the clear winner here." Ahnaressu understood a moment later when a daedroth put its scaly claws around his neck. Acting quickly, the ashlander flipped his sword in his hand and stabbed backwards, impaling the creature's heart. The daedroth disappeared in a mist.
He looked back in front of him to see that Neloth had picked up his staff and was ready for more.
Ahnaressu was quite angry at himself - he had Neloth beaten and threw it away. But his spells were not without limit, Ahnaressu knew, the mage's magical energies would soon be exhausted.
Neloth took a different approach than usual. Neloth was casting a spell, and Ahnaressu readied himself to dodge a fireball, or brave another lightning bolt, but instead, he found himself unable to see.
"You are blind." Neloth said casually. "Do you yield?" he asked, as if he was expecting Ahnaressu to actually give up.
Ahnaressu focused, using his ears intsead of his eyes. He swept his sword across, hoping to hit the target.
Neloth was a long way away before Ahanressu even swung his sword. "Your hearing doesn't help much." Neloth said, tauntingly.
He went to the left. Ahnaressu thought once he heard Neloth's voice, hoping maybe he could find a pettern in the telvannni councilor's movements.
He swiped his sword to the spot where he heard Neltoh last as a test. Would he go left again?
"You can do better than that I hope." Neloth said, trying to anger the young ashlander.
Ahnaressu smiled to himself. He pretended to charge the spot he heard Neloth last, but swerved to the left at the last second, connecting with Neloth's midsection. He heard the sword tear through flesh, the groan that followed, and the sound of Neloth's body falling to the ground.
"Dispel the blindness." Ahanressu said. "And I can help you."
What he saw was not what he had meant to do. The wizard's stomach was wide open, blood was pouring onto the ground out of the wound.
"Hand...me your...sword." Neloth said in a raspy, breathless voice.
When Ahnaressu did so, Neloth closed his eyes and used its magic. Ahnaressu stared wide-eyed as the wound closed, and Neloth stood up, seemingly unhurt.
Ahnaressu was glad that the mage was alive, but quite angry that he had put a healing enchantment on his sword. "You put a healing enchantment on my sword?" Ahnaressu asked incredulously.
"Not quite." Neloth answered. "It is an advanced absorb health enchantment. When you strike someone, the sword stores the bit of life that it took, whereas a normal absorbtion spell would transfer the enrgy to you immediately in the form of healing, you can use this at any time to transform the life energy into any kind of magic, because your sword will store the energy. Watch." Neloth said as he cut his hand with the blade. "I will use this energy to make your sword have a....flame enchantment." Immediately, the sword burst into flame.
Ahnaressu was more than impressed. "Wow." was all he had to say.
"I have something else for you, since you defeated me." Neloth continued. "I didn't think you would actually win, so I had actually thought to keep it for myself. but I try not to break promises I make to myself. I break ones I make to other people too much for that." he said with a chuckle as he led Ahnaressu back to his chambers in the tower of Tel Naga.
Neloth opened a large chest and pulled out a shortsword. Dwemer, by the look of it.
"This is an ancient dwemer sword. Its name is Scrib - some joke of the dwemer, no doubt." Neloth began, holding the shortsword out to Ahnaressu. "I don't know what you would use it for, since you have your own fine blade, but I felt the need to give it to you anyway."
Ahanressu accepted it. "Thanks, for the enchantment, as well as the duel." Ahnaressu said. "Especially the duel."
As he walked out the door of Tel Naga, he began thinking on what a great day it had been. He was nearly ready to exact his revenge.
"There you are!" Cali exclaimed when she saw Ahnaressu walk through the door of their room on the Gateway Inn. "What took you so long?"
"I had to fight Councilor Neloth as a favor." Ahnaressu explained with a chuckle.
"So we are done here?" Cali asked hopefully. She didn't have the same fascination with the town that Ahnaressu and Relgar had.
"We'll leave for the ashlands in the morning." Ahnaressu replied. "Oh, and I have something for you." he said, just remembering Scrib. He took the sword and scabbard off his belt and presented it to Cali. "This will be a little better than what you have."
She accepted the shortsword. "Where did you get this?" she asked.
"A reward for defeating Neloth." Ahnaressu answered with a smirk.
Cali stood up and began packing their meager belongings. "I'll pack while you sleep. Then we can get an early start tomorrow."
Ahnaressu didn't object. He went to sleep, and had the dream again.
"Wake up!" Cali yelled in Ahnaressu's ear while pouring a pitcher of water on his face.
Ahnaressu got up groggily, wiping water from his face. "I'm coming."
Soon enough, Cali, Relgar, and Ahnaressu were out of Sadrith Mora, on their way to the ashlands.
(c)2005 Dantrag
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