Chapter One
~Syndelius Dareleth~
The black blinded me. My crimson eyes adjusting only to see the oak planks enclosed around me. With limited movement I wiped away a saline tear with the back of my left hand. My hands numb since I finally loosened my grip on the silver dagger my hands were welded to. My Fathers in fact; the fading memory of him flooded my eyes with tears distorting my vision.
“Whoa!” I put my cerulean hands on the sides of the crate. The boat shifted heavily; rocking violently. My breathing became quick.
“What was happening?” I pondered. Deafening thunder filled my ears almost to answer my question. I trembled I never liked thunderstorms; I hugged my small body burying my face into my knees. I smiled almost laughing thinking of all those times my sister use to make fun of my knees saying they were “odd shaped”. The moment was bittersweet finally realizing everything that happened to me, the events of not so long ago unfolding right in my mind. I whimpered knowing I’d never see them again.
I must have fallen asleep for when I woke I was moving not just the ship. The storm must have ceased.
“Daron where you want me to put this crate?” a voice asked
“Uh I don’t know, just put it over there.”
“Good this thing is much heavier than the others.”
“Oof!” I tried to conceal my sudden reaction to being dropped. I waited until their footsteps disappeared; I peaked my head out of the crate, the cost was clear. I jumped out looking around trying to get an understanding of where I was. I cut two holes in my sack pants and slid my dagger through. The hilt was too big to slide out making the side of my pants a good sheath. In these times running around wielding a dagger can get you into trouble with the town guards. I walked around a little taking in the sites; wherever I was it was beautiful. A white brick lighthouse in the distance the fire at the top blazing against a breath taking sunset, which disappeared at the horizon. Around me were about five docks in each one sitting large boats waiting for their crews. There where planks of wood spread neatly, making a good path wide enough for plenty of people. Shacks where set up along the outside of the cities’ gigantic stone wall made up of two taverns, a general store, and a warehouse. After looking around a while I found a young Breton woman with a kind face, ebony hair to her shoulders and a sage green dress extended to her feet with a halter top.
“Um… ma’am… uh excuse me but where am I exactly?” I played with my fingers as I talked.
“Aw you’re so cute! Are you lost son?” she patted my head messing up my white hair making clumps of dirt fall to the ground. “You’re in Anvil hun, do you want me to have a guard help you find your mommy?” As she talked a nearby Imperial guard weapon drawn chased a thief who just stole an apple from a nearby fruit stand.
“Um no… heh heh, that’s okay my Mother told me to wait here for her.” I lied.
“Okay sweetheart, stay out of trouble.” The women said, patting me on the head one more time before walking away.
“Humph, she just told me to stay out of trouble because I’m a boy” I thought searching for any memory of anyone saying that to my sister. I never really got why everyone talked to me in that tone of voice I’m five not a baby. Anvil she said I tried to remember the map of Tamerial my parents had hanging in our tiny house.
“Anvil, hmmm… where’s Anvil?” I thought tapping my index finger against my chin.
“Arg, I don’t remember!” I said frustrated. If I asked what province I was in that would raise some suspicion and attract a guard which in result sends me to an orphanage.
“Maps get your maps one septim each!” A nearby man yelled.
“Wow that was oddly convenient.” I thought. What wasn’t though was that I didn’t have one septim. I entered the gigantic gate before me that almost seemed to descend into the sky, leaving the docks behind me, it was getting dark soon and all the stores would be closed.
“You, boy, what’cha doing?” a voice from behind me asked. I spun around and faced the voice to see a Nord male sitting on a nearby bench his dark blonde hair obscuring his eyes and a tankard in his hand, I pointed to myself index finger on my bare chest a surprised look on my face.
“Yeah you, c-come ova heer.” The man slurred.
“Um… I got to go.”
“No, no wait kid.” He grinned. Frightened I started to walk away. In the corner of my eye I caught the tankard flying towards me beer spraying everywhere. I turned around and blocked it with my hand, nearly breaking it.
“I told ya to wait.” He yelled the guards carrying the strange man off. I looked down to see my hand once blue know turning red starting to throb so much I could almost hear it. My eyes started to swell up with tears and the feelings overwhelmed me. I vaguely heard the guards asking me if I was alright, I tried to talk but fear and pain consumed me. My mind disappeared into a memory I had been trying to forget…
“Oh god, no, no!” I sobbed hidden in a nearby crawl space, an abyss almost so black I couldn’t even see my own hand. I cracked the door open a little to see what was going on outside.
“Oh no.” I breathed. A large Nord man with light brown hair and a war axe approached the crawl space. The grip on my Father’s dagger tightened. The crawl space door opened and I closed my eyes, when I opened them again the dagger I was once holding was jammed into the Nordic man’s side. My eyes widened “Did I do that?” I pulled the dagger out his ruby colored blood everywhere. He fell, dead. I looked up to see another Nord man starring out me shocked, it was him, the drunken man in Anvil, it was him! I ran as far as my legs could take me running, running.
“Mom!” I woke screaming sweat pouring down my face; I struggled to catch my breath.
“Kid, hey it’s alright you where just having a bad dream. A really bad one I guess.” The man said throwing me a wash cloth, I dabbed my face wiping away the sweat.
“What province is this?” I blurted out.
“Cyrodiil, why don’t you know that? Where are your parents?” The man asked, just as I feared they would.
“Um… here” I thought quickly “Where’s the Imperial City?”
“To the North East of here, I can take you there if you wish.” The man replied. I went to brush back my hair with my hand to realize it was bandaged up; then I remembered the drunken man.
“What happened, how did I get here?” I asked
“You passed out, a couple of guards toke you to me concerned.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Nalacel Mothril, mage.”
“I’m Syndelius.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The sky was black now speckled with white. In the sky hung two glowing orbs of light; one red and one white, the red being much larger. I slept most of the way I don’t know how far we got until I saw a hoary building descending to the sky sparkling in the moon light. The tower started out as a semicircle on the bottom then went to a cylinder which got thinner and thinner as it went up.
“Wow!” I was astonished “what is that?”
“That is the Gold White Tower it was said to be built by the Ayleids a long time ago. Emperor Uriel Septim lives there.” Nalacel responded.
“Wow! I’ve never seen something so big!”
Nalacel dismounted in the stables filled of several horses. Surrounding us, a fence about two and a half feet tall a khajiit woman was cleaning the stalls underneath a large open hut with a roof made of straw.
“This is it kido.” Nalacel said kneeling to get to my eye level.
“Already?”
“I’m sorry, but here.” He grabbed my right hand I felt him place the small items into my hand; he closed it hiding what he had put in it.
“We’ll meet again Syndelius.” He stood up and walked away. I watched him hop back onto his jet black horse and rid into the distance until I could no longer see him. It took several minutes before I looked at what he put in my hand, I almost had forgotten about it. I turned over my hand reveling twenty septims in my palm. I had never held so much money before.
I smiled staring where I last saw him “Thanks Nalacel.”
I sighed and turned to face the giant city that awaited me. I entered the Imperial City; I didn’t know where to start so I decided to head the market district.
“Hello kind child can you spare a septim?” A beggar asked.
“Um… sure, if you tell me how to get to the market district.”
The beggar showed me where to go and I gave her a coin; it didn’t take me long to get to the market district by then the sun was starting to rise It was the third loredas in Rain’s Hand third era 423.
“Archer services, I’m very good just 2 septims a day!” I young voice yelled. I walked closer to find a little Breton boy with crimson hair who couldn’t be any older than me.
“Hello.” I said approaching him.
“Hello, do you need my services?”
“Um… no, but how old are you?”
“I don’t have time for you I need to find someone who does need my services.”
“But it doesn’t seem like anyone does.”
“I know.” The boy sighed. “Do you have any food?”
“No; but I have money I’ll buy you some I’m hungry too.”
“Thanks! I’m Faric Coppercroft by the way, and I’m five.” He said extending his hand towards me.
“I’m Syndelius Dareleth, and I’m five too.” I said grabbing his hand and politely shaking it.
“Cool I know a place nearby its called The Feed Bag its got food!” Faric told.
“Ha-ha I kinda figured that from the name.”
“Oh right hehe.” Faric responded. We walked into the feed bag. Around us where tables full of food, people sitting nearby they all seemed to know exactly where they were going. Tapestries filled the walls enclosed around us, there were barrels spread across the room. On the floor lay a large rug, purple with a lilac floral pattern. Faric and I went up to the bar which was not far from the door and asked the dark elf man for some food he gave it to us for 5 septims. He had handed us a lush golden apple, two slabs of venison, and some dark rich grapes. Faric and my mouth began to water at the look of such scrumptious food. I dug my teeth into the nearly perfect apple, the juice sprayed as I took a bite. The juice ran down my chin and dropped traveling down my bare chest. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I don’t know if the apple was that good or we were just starving. Faric downed the grapes quickly constantly spiting the seeds out. We patted our stomachs with satisfaction; and we decided to save the venison for later.
“Hey you two.” I voice said from behind. Faric and I jumped to our feet.
“Um… what can I do for you sir?” I asked politely. It was an Imperial man dressed in black armor with a large silver and gold sword resting at his side. He had dirty blonde hair which covered his left eye he was fairly young maybe in his early thirties.
“You two look like you could have some great skill in swordsman” he said looking at me “And marksman” he said looking at Faric. “What do you say? How about coming with me to train in such arts?”
“Wow I would be honored sir! What about you Faric?”
“I’m in!”
“Alright boys you made a good choice meet at the Imperial City Water Front District; I’ll be on my ship Mara’s Moon. Be there by sunset.”
“Yes sir!” Faric and I said in unison.
We entered the Water Front District, full of thieves and others on the lamb. It was a part of the city for the poorer folk. They lived in tiny shacks which reminded me a lot of my old house. Although except for that part it look pretty much the same as all the other parts of the city; large stone towers and walls white and gray as they all were, and of course water surrounded almost all of it. It didn’t take long to find the ship it was the only one docked besides the Bloated Float which was a ship that had been made into a tavern. We boarded the ship by a narrow plank of wood, which freaked Faric out since he didn’t know how to swim.
“You’re here great.” The man said
“Hi um… you never told us your name.” Faric replied
“Ah yes, how rude of me I’m Naspis Aerius.”
We entered the ship though the cabin from there we went down a makeshift ladder to the lower deck. I glanced around; there were a ton of kids all ages and races.
“Syndelius!” Faric yelled. I spun around Naspis was closing the latch above us, we were trapped! We joined the other kids; nearby a young High Elf girl leaned against one of the sides, arms crossed.
I walked up to her, “You trapped here too I guess huh?”
She made a grunt and responded, “Obviously, I’m here right?”
“Heh right stupid question.” As soon as I finished Faric ran up to me stumbling and panting. He tried to grab the back of my shoulder for support and nearly pushed me into the girl.
“Syndelius, Syndelius I’m going to die the walls are closing in around me!” Faric coughed out.
“Faric calm down and close your eyes just relax.”
I turned back to the young High Elf girl, “No one ever tried to escape?”
She brushed her carrot colored hair out of her face, “Of course and they all failed.”
“Oh come on they can’t take all of us.”
“Of course not but good luck trying to get everyone to escape together, most are too scared especially since a couple of days ago when two boys tried to escape and they were killed.”
“K-Killed?” Faric’s eyes widened he suddenly got over his claustrophobia realizing he had something more important to worry about.
“Hmm… There will defiantly be some casualties but if done right there may be none.” I responded.
“Well aren’t you a smart one.” The young girl replied.
“Listen up everyone!” I shouted “We’re breaking the hell out of here!” A young boy approached me, he seemed younger then I and had big wide blue eyes.
“How?” The young boy asked.
“I’ve got a plan, don’t worry.” I replied gripping my father’s silver dagger which I’ve come to know as mine. After a lot of convincing I got them to agree to escape and listen to my plan.
“Okay I’ve split you up into teams, blue you with me, red you’re blues back up, green you going down to the last floor of the ship and around to the captain’s cabin and escape from there. Everyone know where they are?” I asked. Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Alright good, on my go!”
“Syndel, I’m scared.” One of the younger ones said.
“It’s okay you’re the green team there escaping with no fight.”
“Um… I’m sorry I never caught you name?” I said to the young high elf girl with the carrot colored hair.
“I’m Camandil.”
“Nice to meet’cha, I’m Syndelius Dareleth.” We shook hands. “You’re on my team right?” I asked.
“Blue? Yea that’s me.” Camandil replied.
“Alright everyone let’s get a move out.” I yelled. I planned everything to a tee, when they come to give us our nightly meal we spring out, blue, red, and then green. Green made of mostly younger like two or three year olds would just escape. Blue made up of the little bit older kids such as four or five year olds. The red team follows the blue but dose less fighting. Everyone was taking their positions. I drew my dagger, Faric had his bow and arrows ready, and Camandil a talented mage was preparing to use her magic at any moment.
“Click.” The hatch opened, now was our chance my adrenaline was pumping, the grip on my dagger tightened.
“Go!” I found myself shouting, we charged; little kids verse full blown adults. It was a massacre, and we were winning! Everything was going as planned.
“Syndelius, green teams out successfully!” I heard Camandil say from behind me. I smiled a couple more people and we could get red team out of here. Ever since the first person I’ve killed it’s been easier to kill those who endanger me.
“We’re clear Syndelius, red team can move out.” Faric said from behind, one of his arrows zipping by. I smiled the worst mistake these imbeciles made was letting us keep our weapons; I guess they thought us being so young we could never pull something like this off. Naspis was dead, hopefully nothing like this would happen again I toke his sword beautiful as it was; and continued.
“Red team, move out!” I yelled. Blue and red broke away together. We were out!
“Nice working with you Syndelius.” Camandil said when we were safe, “I’m going to be traveling back to the Market District.”
“We are as well, you want to travel together?” I asked
“Sure I would like that.”
We found a place to camp out and we slept the events of hours ago still lingering in our minds. I drifted to sleep quickly the fight toke a lot out of me and the others.
“Mom? Dad? Sister? Brother? Where are you?” I yelled, waking in a sweat again. I looked around to find Camandil and Faric looking at me with concern. I apologized saying it was just a bad dream and we all quickly fell back to sleep.
As Faric and I grew we grew as friends birthdays passed unnoticed and really I didn’t mind I wasn’t alone anymore. My night terrors although, grew more prevalent and at times I was afraid to sleep. My father’s silver dagger never left my side I trained until I couldn’t move with Faric by my side practicing his archery; we were soon some of the best out there, and I could finally use Naspis’s sword. Although we fought often we were like brothers and we always had Camandil to meditate if it got too bad. Camandil was one of the most talented mages I’d ever seen. We were eight now and we had a long journey ahead of us.
