ohhh many updates since I was here last! And all of them excellent work. I really enjoy how well you depict the romance between Zerina and Rales...so truthworthy and "real"...

Hmm come to think of it..is Rales related to the Sarethi's of Great House Redoran, by any chance?

@Minque: Thank you! Not spoiling it though, you're just gonna have to stick with the story to find out.

@Destri: Errrr, yeah... maybe he's just a quick study.. Have him goof up again with a potion could be... interesting. Will give it some thought.

@SubRosa: Thanks, that reads a lot better. Will change it.


Day 125

Enthusiastically Zerina reacted to the news we had the entire day to waste. No missions or hangovers to spoil it. The rain had dispersed so we went outside for an extensive tour around Vivec, mostly by gondola. We visited an outstanding armourer in the Foreign Quarter to have my boots widened so my feet wouldn’t hurt after wearing them for several hours.
I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
The un-eventfulness of the day had granted me plenty of time think about the conundrums I faced. I had decided that if Zerina wanted to tell me, she would do so in due time. Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.

With the weather cleared up, instead of having something to eat in a tavern, we left the confines of the city and had a picnic on the banks of one of the small, deep lakes that dotted the area.
A spell I had recently learned to master was most amusing to play with. When Zerina was floating on her back in the water and contentedly humming some melody I didn’t know, I cast a levitation spell on her and dispelled it when she was five feet in the air. The first time she shrieked because she hadn’t counted on it but soon the game became a friendly competition who dared to go higher and make a bigger splash.


Chapter 11: Revelations

Day 126

Back in Balmora, Caius was happy to see I had managed to trace all three informants and got the intel from them and it hadn’t even taken several weeks. Since it was quite a lot to read through, the Spymaster suggested I’d come back later so he would have some time to read and digest it all and winked. I knew all too well what he meant, his sharp insight was never too far off. I smiled crookedly and said I’d be back in a couple of hours.
Caius made a rather intimate joke about something I had never given any thought over the last few months that could put a blush on many a people’s cheeks about “us young ones being safe and taking care”.

No matter how personal the matter was; Caius had struck a point. And a good one at that. Denying I had any knowledge about procreation would be hypocritical. I was no stranger to a woman’s bodily function. Back in Cyrodiil, young couples would take consult with the Mages’ Guild, a local alchemist or an apothecary but Zerina and I had taken no such precautions. How did she prevent getting pregnant? Another conundrum but to this one I wanted an answer. Before I was deported to Vvardenfell, someone in Skingrad once told me Dunmer women could turn off their capability of conceiving but I had considered that to be drunken stupor - especially considered the establishment where I had heard it, some tavern I care not to remember.

Zerina was rather surprised when I brought up the matter. My excuse for not discussing children earlier was that I was busy chasing down informants all over Vvardenfell and never had given it any thought before. When she asked me what caused me to wonder about it, I told her about Caius and the Blades and disclosed what the information I needed from the people in Vivec had been all about.
Only Caius and the Emperor know the deeper reason I explained to her truthfully. Once more, her kind-heartedness and intelligence made me aware there was more to her than just a gorgeous package.

She wasn’t shocked to hear I was basically a spy for the Empire. With a mysterious smile she had commented: ’Most people hardly ever make a choice, their lives run as a Foyada; wild and without sense of direction. Some people’s choices however - some of those destined for greatness,’ she paused a while to look in my eyes, ‘will determine the course of history. We can only hope the last category makes the right choice. You have to figure out which you are, the first or the second. But, know this my love: I will always be at your side to support you.’
‘Always is a long time for us Dunmer,’ I said dryly.
‘I do hope so.’

***

What I had discarded as drunken stupor proved to be true after all. Since we Mer have a far longer lifespan than humans, it is less prevelant to bear children on regular basis to sustain our race than it is to humans, Zerina explained to me. Mer women conceive two times, some even three but never more than four times throughout their entire life and have evolved into being able to switch their fertility on or off.

‘Would you want children though?’ Zerina whispered panting in my ear during our mutual grand declaration of love.
‘What? Now?’ I laughed.
‘Oh, you, you- N’Wah! she cursed in good humour.
The truth was; I would love to have children with her but I wasn’t ready for such a responsibility next to the ones I was already facing. I’d want my children to grow up with both parents around. Something I couldn’t be certain about at that time.

Day 127

‘Hmm, took you long enough,’ Caius grumbled but his eyes were laughing.
‘You have read through the notes yourself?’
I nodded. ‘Even Progress of Truth.’
‘Good, good, I haven’t yet got around to reading that but have flipped through it briefly. Interesting, is it not?’
‘Yeah, although there is a lot I don’t understand.’
‘Understandably so,’ Caius bobbed his head intermittedly. ‘You agree the rumours about the Sixth House could be true?’
I shrugged. ‘Possibly, there is plenty of evidence pointing that way.’
‘I agree, although I haven’t been able to see it for myself. Ah, the curse of superiority.’ Caius sighed deep. ‘I know you won’t like it but I need you to look up another informant- the last one, I promise,’ he quickly added, ‘although this one is a lot more interesting. I’d like you to look up an Ashlander in Ald'ruhn who has abandoned the traditional Ashlander-customs and made a fortune in trading. We need to know more about the Ashlanders, this could be just what we need. Learn of their habits and find out what they know of the legend of the Nerevarine - Lord Nerevar reborn and their interpretation of it. Maybe you could also try to find out what the smuggling operation is about. Oh, and make sure to bring the Ashlander a gift, here’s some gold to cover the expenses.’

Again I found myself walking back to the manor contemplating my latest mission. I agreed with Caius, it would be interesting meeting one of the Ashlanders. No-one really knew much about them. Only that they’re a secluded nomadic people holding on to the old ways of worshipping their ancestors and Daedric Princes. What kind of present would persuade the Ashlander to tell me what I wanted to hear? I figured there was only one way to find out; I’d have to ask him. The Ashlanders I encountered so far were easily persuaded by some gold but I doubted a rich trader would be so easily persuaded. No, I was sure it wasn’t going to be easy this time.

However; I had a trump-card up my sleeve. No man can resist a beautiful woman and I just happened to know someone like that. I picked up Zerina and told her I needed her help with the mission at hand. Her eyes shone with anticipation, she had always wanted to visit Ald’ruhn. To save time, I payed the guild-guide at the Mages’ Guild to have us teleported to Ald’ruhn and warned Zerina about the temporary disorientation upon arrival. The teleportation had affected her balance briefly and she probably would’ve fallen, hadn’t it been for my arm I held out - a completely natural thing to do when accompanying a lady.

Two taverns provided rooms in Ald’ruhn. It wasn’t very likely the wealthy Ashlander was going to be found in the cheap inn called “The rat in the pot”. If he was in Ald’ruhn, he would be in the luxurous place, the “Ald Skar inn”.
My instinct proved correct. The proprietor, Boderi Farano, informed me the Ashlander rented a room in her establishment and that I could find him downstairs, probably reading some poetry.

It’s truly amazing what a huge distraction a woman can create. Hassour Zainsubani, the Ashlander, couldn’t keep his eyes off Zerina, who cunningly had donned a low-cut dress with a long slit exposing her left thigh. From the little interaction I had with Ashlanders before, I knew they always liked to discuss business.
‘Much like the Hlaalu,’ I thought to myself amused. When I asked him about business he reluctantly shifted his attention to answering my questions but only half-heartedly. Exactly what I had in mind with bringing Zerina. Well, that and a more selfish reason. Absent-mindedly he answered all the questions I had for him. I didn’t even have to bribe him for it, or run around in an effort finding him a suitable present.

Soon, I learned Ashlanders like to receive what he called thoughtful gifts. Some will be content with food - like a Trama root - but most prefer gold gifts. I didn’t really need him to tell me that - who doesn’t? I had found out that myself weeks earlier. Conveniently, he too had made notes he handed over. That would save me a lot of time telling Caius all I had learned from him.

Like a pair of tourists we meandered through Ald’ruhn for hours until an ash-storm picked up and our sight was obscured by ash, turning everything to a grey-reddish blur. More on touch than vision we found our way back to the local Mages’ Guild and were teleported back to Balmora. The first time is always the worst; when we returned to Balmora, Zerina didn’t need support.

‘Maybe it’s about time I told you more about what’s really going on,’ Caius excused himself when I handed him the notes. While I was out of town, he had read through all of the notes - including the book “Progress of Truth”.
‘I already told you you have been released by order from the Emperor himself. I never told you why you-’
I interrupted him. ‘I’ve been wondering about th-‘
‘Wait, wait, wait, lemme finish,’ Caius put up his hands in defence. ‘You have been released and recruited into the Blades because the Emperor suspects you fit the profile of the Nerevarine prophecies.’
My jaw dropped.
‘Here, take this.’ Caius gave me a familiar looking package.
‘Isn’t that what I brought you?’
Caius nodded. ‘It is. I decoded it so you should be able to make sense of it. Read it, memorise it and then destroy it. When you’ve read it and think you can handle a more dangerous mission, come back and I’ll brief you. Now, I’m sure you have more- ah, amusing ways to fill your day than hanging around with an old sugar-tooth. By the way; I’m also promoting you. Get outta here Finder.’

There was one more thing I wanted to wrap up before heading home. I remembered Caius’ friend, Larrius Varro, wanted to have a little chat with me.
The Moonmoth Legion Barracks also provided the Imperial Cult shrine so I could instantly travel there by casting a Divine Intervention spell and casting a different spell, an Almsivi Intervention spell would teleport me straight to Balmora’s Temple.

Since I was heading to a Legion Fort I had put on my Legion armour, cast the spell to get me to the Fort Moonmoth and asked where I could find Larrius Varro.
The soldier simply pointed to a large building with a huge steel-enforced wooden door.
‘Trooper Sarethi, I’ll presume?’ an Imperial Legion officer in a black with gold armour, indicating his high rank, greeted me.
I saluted. ‘Yes Sir! You wanted to speak to me?’
The champion beckoned to me to sit down and offered me a drink which I gladly took. The smell and taste of the ash still overwhelmed all my senses. I was more than keen flushing it away with a nice glass of Cyrodiilic wine.

‘Now,’ Larrius started. ‘I’ve heard of your run-in with some bad people in Balmora.’
‘Bad people Sir?’ I acted like I didn’t understand what he meant. Of course I damn well knew he meant the criminals I had torn to pieces recently but I wasn't proud of that at all.
‘Yes, bad people. Let me tell you a little story.’
He told me a story about bad people that had been bribing the local magistrate, Nolus Atrius, into fixing sentences for criminals. Larrius told me he’d been wanting to root out corruption but was faced with the syndicate thwarting his every effort.
Now that I had removed that obstacle he could finally continue with his task and was most grateful for the bloodbath I had created. According to him, it was enough repellent to prevent it from happening again soon. He awarded me with a very expensive enchanted gold ring - from His Majesty’s own finger, he claimed - and a book and sent me on my way.

I saluted, marched out of the building and cast the spell to get me back to the Balmora Temple. A part of me wanted to dump the ring in the river Odai straight away. I wasn’t proud of what had happened that day in the Council Club. I had meant to bring one outlaw to justice, it had not been my intention to slaughter five people and even get awarded for doing so - even if it had been for the better.

I am still so enjoying reading this a second time!

Just a nit:
I think you meant intimate. Also, the period is outside the closing quote instead of inside. Regardless, this sentence made me smile! Such concerns cross generations and cultural boundaries!

This is deceptively simple and revealing - so in character for Rales. Any woman would be so lucky to be accompanied by him!

Ah, the lovely Zerina knows how to use her feminine wiles! She makes a great partner for Rales! Then:
Typical Rales! Pragmatic!
This is even more classic!

Your handling of the ‘baby question’ was both relevant and well-placed within the confines of your story. How many other tales about ‘heroes’ would be comfortable with issues of procreation, fertility, and Dunmer physiology? Chapters like these are what separate Rales from the rank and file, in my opinion.

Why thank you!

@Hautee: I could be wrong but I think the period needs to be outside the quotation marks 'cause I didn't use them for dialogue.

I would’ve never have guessed they could do that if Zerina hadn’t told me after I mentioned I wanted new boots because my old ones were rather uncomfortable.
This is both so typically male, and typically female.

Women are mysterious and I have a feeling they like it that way.
Quoted for truth!



nits:
and have evolved into being able to switch their fertibility on or off.
that is fertility, and what a handy trick!

Larrius told me he’d been wanting to route out corruption
that is root.

Part II: Heretic or Saviour?

Chapter 1: Poison

Day 140

For days in a row I was dazed and confused by the ramifications of the contents of the package Caius had given me. Some aspects in it could not possibly refer to me. How could the Emperor have made such a mistake? Sure, I am an orphan but I had known my mother and knew my date of birth, the twenty-first of First Seed. There was no way I could meet the conditions of the prophecy. And then there was the fact the prophecy states the Nerevarine will drive out all Outlanders from Morrowind. Wasn’t I an Outlander myself? It wasn’t making sense at all.

Caius had been right about one thing; I now knew exactly what the Emperor wanted from me. He wanted me to force my way into becoming the Nerevarine - as his puppet on a string. Not something I really felt like doing; helping to subdue the Dunmer people - my people - by being instated as His Majesty’s agent to become a local legendary hero. My unease with the Emperor’s letter was countered by the fact the prophecy also stated the Nerevarine is prophesised to cleanse the land of what was festering within the Red Mountain, something I learned from reading all the notes and books I had been handed throughout my persuit of all the informants. They way I saw it, I was faced with two choices; become the Emperor’s puppet and help my people along the way or run, throw everything away and basically leave my fellow Dunmer to rot.
It was time I found out more about my heritage, it was time to seek out my relatives in Ald’ruhn. I needed to know who I really was and to determine who I was to become.

The nightmares that had plagued me hadn’t bothered me for weeks but returned worse and more vivid than ever. A man behind a golden mask calling me Nerevar dominated every single one. In some he was my enemy; I could see him being killed by a Mer in armour clearly indicating he was some sort of commander and with a strange ring around his finger. In another nightmare he hailed me as a friend. He said we had been friends and if I wanted, it could be that way again. One thing was always the same: I’d wake up screaming and sweating all over.

It didn’t take me long to figure out the man behind the golden mask was no other than Dagoth Ur himself. His claim we could be friends again was undone by the attack that followed. One night, I was snoozing after I had woken up from another nightmare when I felt something in our bedroom was wrong. With sleep-ridden eyes I just managed to see a creature with a skin almost as grey as ash, I had never seen before, wielding a spiked club that was aiming for my head. Acting purely on instinct I shoved Zerina aside from the bed but couldn’t avoid being hit by the club myself. The club hit me full in the chest, several spikes on it pierced my skin. I could taste the metallic aroma of my own blood filling my mouth.
With my strength failing I grabbed a dagger I had within arm’s reach and stabbed the thing several times wherever I could. The last thing I heard was Zerina screaming, a spell being cast and smelled something I can only describe as smouldering remains of a camp-fire. Then; everything went black.

When I got around again, there were several people by my bedside in a room I didn’t recognise. Zerina; her face grey from exhaustion and with bulging eyes from crying, Caius; frowning in his typical way, the Khajiit alchemist; Ajira, Uryne; our servant, even Nileno Dorvayn was at my side looking quite worried.
‘We thought we had lost you there son,’ Caius said and looked at Zerina.
‘Hadn’t it been for her, we would’ve never got to you in time.’
I tried to speak but found I couldn’t utter more than some grunts because of my dry troat and my severely weakened state.
Caius shook his head. ‘Don’t speak. The club was poisoned, you were very near death. A spike punctured one of your lungs, Nileno and Zerina patched you up and Ajira made a potion to counteract the poison. We moved you to a different location in case of another attack.’
I pointed at a pitcher with a trembling hand. Uryne immediately filled a glass and held it to my mouth.
Grateful I drank some water but couldn’t empty the glass. I tried to sit up a bit more but the effort drained me of my energy and I passed out again.

***

How long it had been, I don’t know but when I opened my eyes, Zerina was the only one remaining in the room, sitting vigilantly next to the bed. We shared some glimpses words couldn’t hope to describe.
She got up from her seat, laid herself next to me and wrapped her arms around me lovingly. Just her presence, the very beating of her kind heart lifted some of the pain surging through my entire body. The poison that had been used must have been a potent one. Lifting my hand to wipe the tears from Zerina’s cheek took nearly all of what little strength I had left. Zerina smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. I smiled back, in an effort letting her know I was going to be fine and how much I appreciated her.

For weeks I was torn between waking and unconsciousness. The pain was ever present, so were the nightmares of the man behind the golden mask. Since the attack, he no longer pretended to be my long-lost friend; he was always my enemy, always the betrayer out for my demise and utter failure. In some of the nightmares I could even see myself dying - dissociated, like I wasn’t a part of it. In one I would fall and burn to a cinder in the fiery heart of Red Mountain. In some I would be destroyed by some huge, reddish pulsating artifact and in another Dagoth Ur stabbed me through my heart with a strange looking short-sword.
Every time I woke up in a sweat, screaming. And always was Zerina there.

Gradually, my system flushed out the poison - aided by Ajira’s potions - and I was starting to feel like myself again. The changes to my mental state however, were profound. If there was one thing the Sixth House had accomplished by poisoning me in my own house, it was that I was even more determined in rooting out the evil they spread, to the point of it becoming a grim obsession. I wanted to grab a sword and wipe out everything and everyone supporting or sympathising with House Dagoth.
Not to save Vvardenfell, not for the Emperor. I just wanted them wiped from existance. Again, it was my Zerina who kept me from slipping over the edge.
I kept my sanity and over the following weeks I shed most of the grim determination that had firmly grasped my heart in its icy talons.

Still, it was clear I had lost my youthly light-heartedness, nothing was ever going to be the same again. Except for the bond Zerina and I had, a bond nothing could sever, not even Wretched. She was more than the love of my live, she was my soulmate, my very reason I hadn’t ventured out on a indiscriminate killing spree. There was nothing I hid from her anymore. My doubts, fears and hates, I laid them bare for her to dissect and rationalise.
She was the saviour of my soul, my beacon in the mist.

This is well-written. The transition from Rales Sarethi, Outlander orphan to the Nerevar Reborn begins here, in a subtle yet profound manner. Now we see what will drive Rales through the rest of the story.

I liked how Zerina came to his aid when he was attacked by what? an ash-creature? Sorry I'm not up on Morrowind lore, but I'm guessing this is one of Dagoth-Ur's minions? And she stayed with him through his recovery, as she has done before. The bond between them only gets stronger with time, and here we get to watch it. It is a wonderful thing to watch, too.

Well, I'm rambling on, but I want to let you know how much I'm enjoying this story the second time around!

I- I.. err... euhm... I am speechless.... Thank you Hautee!

Since I havent posted many updates this last week, here's another.

Chapter 2: Artifacts

Day 197:

My sword, Wretched, I usually thoroughly despised for its awful effectiveness, suited the gloomy state of my mind. Caius and I had discussed recent events and came to the conclusion we should count on another attack on me by the Sixth House. Our house in Balmora wasn’t safe anymore until we - or rather; I - did something about it. For that, we needed to know our enemy. It was crucial to determine their bases of operations and plans. Caius was confident there should be a base nearby from where they could launch their attack. The Imperial Spymaster suggested I’d venture out on a search and destroy mission to nearby Sixth House bases, most likely dark caves but advised me to quest for powerful artifacts to assist me first.

Zerina didn’t agree, but I insisted she’d return to her mother for a while. The path ahead of me was going to be dark and gruesome.
I left Balmora and headed east. After half a day of walking I left the green pastures and entered the violent, fire-scarred parts of Vvardenfell in search of my enemy.
In Hassour, the Sixth House base I found, I windmilled my way through the same kind of grey-skinned creatures that had attacked me with total disregard for my own safety, leaving a trail of scattered limbs and dead bodies in my wake.

After having ripped my way through the lesser Ash creatures, I encountered a creature with tentacles instead of a face, that was apparently far more intelligent than anything I had encountered so far. The abomination safely stayed out of range of my terrible blade and kept pounding me with spells. It mocked me with saying he would leave some pieces of me for Dagoth Ur when he was through with me. I hissed through clenched teeth it would be hard for him to do that as a smouldering heap at my feet but I knew my insults to be bluff. I couldn’t hope to defeat him; my meager spells were useless, he dodged them or seemed to absorb them. Even worse; I couldn’t get a single hit with Wretched in. I did something I never thought possible: I cut my losses, turned and ran.

Bloody and with gashes all over my body I returned to Balmora with my head hung in shame. I had failed. How was I to defeat Dagoth Ur if I couldn’t even defeat his lesser minions? Caius didn’t even ask; my face told my story.
‘I failed,’ I sighed with my spirit broken.
‘What do you mean, failed?’ Caius was puzzled.
‘Just as I said,’ I snapped. ‘I failed, I couldn’t defeat them!’
‘Didn’t I warn you to quest for powerful artifacts first? What did you expect? Just to barge in and wipe out the Sixth House cult? I knew you were brave but never considered you stupid or utterly senseless!’ he retorted angrily.
Of course, Caius was right. Headlong I had plummeted myself into something I didn’t really understand yet and had almost lost my life in the process. However; at least now I had an idea of the formidable foe we were facing. It would take something special to break through their lines. Just a frightful sword wasn’t enough, I needed something to tip the scales in my favour, just as Caius had said.

After a brief stop in Gnisis to pick up Zerina - I realised I needed her at my side with what was at hand, more than I had thought - we travelled all over Vvardenfell, looking for books and hints on locations of lost powerful artifacts. We travelled around for weeks before we finally learned an enchanted cuirass, the Lord’s Mail, had just recently mysteriously vanished from the armoury in Ebonheart. The enchantment on it would protect the wearer against magical attacks, just the thing that would be a big help to my cause.
All my collegues in the Legion based in Ebonheart, stubbornly denied the rumour but an Argonian ex-slave told me he hard heard it might have been an inside-job and that the thief shouldn’t have gone far.
He suggested looking underneath Ebonheart.

Underneath Ebonheart, that meant sewers. We walked around Ebonheart in search of the sewage entrance and made our way into the sewer through a partially submerged iron gate. The stench of human waste was overwhelming but Zerina didn’t complain once.
Out of all places, why someone would want to hide in this damp, cold hole I didn’t know but after looking around the rumours proved to be true. Nearly hugging his campfire I encountered an Imperial donning a powerful looking cuirass.
He wasn’t happy with our presence and angrily asked about our motives.
Calmly I explained to him I was after the cuirass he was wearing and told him I was willing to pay him royally for it.
He shook his head. ‘However tempting it may sound, no can do. It needs to remain a secret. Since you two,’ he paused to look at Zerina and me dauntingly,’ already know of it, I’m sorry to say you have to take my secret to the grave.’ The Imperial got to his feet and drew his sword. I was already reaching for Wretched when I felt Zerina’s hand gentily restraining my sword-arm. ‘I have a better idea,’ she whispered.
Her hands began glowing and the next moment the Imperial was suspended in the air, paralysed and upside-down. Grinning in amazement I took the cuirass from him and wondered if he had known the true potential of it.

We could hear him screaming in anguish just as we surfaced outside of the sewer.
‘How did you do that?’ I asked Zerina who was wringing her hair and wrinkled her nose because of the putrid smell of the water dripping down.
‘Oh, a little levitation, a little paralysation and some telekinesis,’ she answered airily.

***

Except for the cuirass, our hunt for ancient artifacts turned out rather fruitless. Nearly empty-handed we returned to Balmora to report with Caius.
He had a pleasant surprise for us; to help me defeat Dagoth Ur and his minions he had sent the Blades out for artifact-hunting as well. From a small chest underneath his bed he took several rings and amulets, all infused with magical properties. Some of them had been missing for most of the third Era. Among the trinkets was an enchanted blood-red ring he called the Vampiric Ring. Supposedly, the wearer could leech of his or her target’s life. I solemnly vowed I would never use it against another living being. From what we learned in books about it, it’s power was truly horrible, but I wouldn’t hesitate using it on those foul Sixth House abominations.

Most of the amulets and rings he produced, provided the wearer a magical shield, something I most certainly could put to good use. I wasn’t much of a mage, I knew some basic spells, but as soon as the rush of battle set in, I confided in my blade skill and the everlasting sharpness of Wretched. With my new cuirass - it was a lot heavier than what I was used to but far lighter than the heavy Ebony monstrosity I had but never used - I was a lot more confident my armour could deflect powerful weapons, like Ebony or Daedric weapons and the magical trinkets should protect me adaquately from powerful spell-casters. Maybe, after some more training, I wouldn’t be without a chance of defeating Dagoth Ur after all. That night, I went to bed in a far better mood than the weeks before and planned the trip to Ald’ruhn in search of my relatives I had postponed and dreaded for so long.

Good stuff, we being to see the change to Nerevarine, and again you've really caught the feel of the game here and how the gameplay and feel changes as you get further into the sixth house.

You fitted the change into Rales smoothly, the question of who he was doing it for being removed by his anger and doing it just to destroy them. The on going mystery surrounding Zerina is excellent too, I want to find out who she is and how she knows so much magic...

One thing I saw: a little paralysation and some telekinetics,’ -- I think you mean telekinesis (telekinetic is an adjective associated with telekinesis).

Great stuff.

Sorry Remko, my PC crashed. I finally got it running. These last chapters are amazing!

Amazing! Rales and Serene have the same birthday!!

Great chapters! I really enjoy reading this...So curious about the continuation!

Chapter 3: Heritage

Day 233

From the Stiltstrider we headed straight to the Manor District where the Sarethi manor was located. After having wandered through the maze of rope bridges connecting all the houses under Skar - the shell of a long-dead gigantic Emperor crab where-in the manor district was founded - we finally found the entrance to Sarethi manor. Not having forgotten my manners, I knocked on the door.
‘Enter,’ a gruff voice answered. For the special occasion I had put on my best clothes but I was still nervous.

‘Rales, is that really you?’ an older Dunmer dressed in exquisite clothing asked me when we walked into the expensively decorated manor.
I bowed to the man I presumed was my first cousin, Athyn Sarethi.
‘Yes Serjo Athyn. How did you know?’ I respectfully inquired.
He send me and Zerina a knowing smile. ‘How could I not recognise the adopted son of my dear niece? Besides, rumours have been spreading about a certain Rales Sarethi and his pretty red-head lady.’
‘Excuse me. Adopted?’
Athyn’s surprise was evident on his face. ‘You didn’t know?’
I shook my head in denial.
‘One day she found you on the doorstep of this manor. In fact,’ Athyn continued, ‘you were the very reason my niece left Vvardenfell fifteen years ago. She left out of fear for your life.’
I was shocked. First I found out I was adopted, then I heard I had been the reason my mother - or rather; fostermother - had left Morrowind.
‘How come?’ I asked.
‘Well,’ Athyn’s face turned grim, ‘it’s kinda complicated. What do you know,’ he lowered his voice,’ about the legend of the return of Lord Nerevar Indoril?’
I decided to be vague. ‘I’ve heard of it.’
‘And what do you know about the Moon-and-Star ring?’
‘No idea,’ I answered truthfully.
‘You better sit down Rales, this could be a shock.’
I did as suggested and awaited what was to come.

***

‘When you were still an infant we already knew there was something about you. Has your mother ever told you about the incident with a ring?’
‘No.’
Athyn breathed in sharply and took a sip from his cup. ‘I think it was several months after she found you, something really miraculously happened. I haven’t told anyone since but there is good reason to believe you are the prophesised Nerevarine. Your mother told me that one day you held out your hand and grabbed a very particular ring out of thin air. To be more specific; you held the Moon-and-Star ring, which no-one, except its true owner, can hold. As suddenly as it appeared it also vanished. We believe the goddess Azura herself had something to do with it. Why else do you think we decided your birthday was to be the twenty-first of First Seed? Hogithum, the summoning day of Azura? Be careful pursuing your destiny though; if the Temple would find out, they’d most surely hunt you down and imprison you as a heretic - or worse.’

I was speechless. For a while I remained silent, in turn looking at Athyn and Zerina.
All the pieces of a puzzle were suddenly falling into place, like they had been there all along, waiting for the right sequence.
Now, the realisation dawned to me the Emperor had been right and what I had thought to be true in the past turned out not to be as certain as I had previously assumed.
Some of Zerina’s words about choices spun my head, especially the sentence:’some destined for greatness’, now held more significance than I - or she - could have ever anticipated.
I was to rise up to the greatness thrust upon me - or fail and die in the process.
Just like in my nightmares.

I was hailed into House Redoran as a lost son, even though I officially wasn’t a Sarethi at all. To Athyn, that made no difference; in heart, mind and soul I was a Sarethi. That made me a Redoran through and through, he said convincedly and wouldn’t hear otherwise. That night, a banquet was organised for all of House Redoran’s members wishing to attend. Of course, Zerina was welcome too.
For a while, all problems ahead of me were ignored as we carelessly laughed, ate and drank to our hearts’ content deep into the small hours.

***

Zerina’s previous encounter with too much drinking had taught her a valuable lesson. The next morning she was completely clearheaded and tauntingly scorned me for not being as fresh as her. Varvur - Athyn’s son, in whom I had immediately taken a liking - and I had continued drinking and talking long after she had excused herself so it was my turn to be out of my usual self. I stayed in bed in the guest-room overthinking my next course of action. Diving into the next Sixth House base was out of the question; the debacle the last time I tried that was reason enough to refrain from that for a while. Artifact-hunting had been a good start but I was sure my skills were lacking - not to mention my self-confidence that had been severely dented.
Maybe by now, General Darius in Gnisis had some jobs for me. Several weeks, he had said. Weeks had turned to months, if I waited any longer they might consider I had deserted. I made a mental note I also still needed to look up the mysterious Ashlanders, something I was actually really looking forward to. From what I gathered, the Ashlanders were a proud and honourable people - my kind of people.

I am better late than never I hope. As others have stated, seeing the transition from Rales-the-Adventurer to Rales the Neveraine was wonderful to read. This is a very important part of the story, where we see Rales finally learning who he really is, and what is ahead of him. A daunting proposition!

Out of all the stories I am seeing the second time around here, I think I am having the most fun re-reading Rales.

I liked how you turned Rales's world upside down with the revelation that he was adopted into the Sarethi fold, not born as he had thought all his life. That is pretty earth-shaking for him. I also found it funny that this time it is Rales's turn to have the hangover. Smart Zerina!

Ahhhh.....now then this is interesting! Rales being the adopted son of Athyn's niece! (Didn't know Athyn even hed a niece!, question is is she the daughter of Athyn's sister or brother????)

Anyway I really enjoy this and desperately want to hear more....

Oh my some ideas come to my mind reading this

This chapter does not lose anything in the re-read - it is very powerfully done!

Thank you all for the kind words

@Minque: I don't know. Athyn had a brother but he was killed in that duel right? To be honest, I made it all up so it might be clashing with the lore. I couldn't really find much about the Sarethi family-tree.

My goodness you have come so far since you began this story on the other forum. Your skill has grown most impressively. This is wonderful to read. I don't understand the Morrowind stuff (as you know), so Rales is my guide. I did enjoy the way you refined things this time around as far as elven procreation - makes perfect sense given their longevity - otherwise the world would be overrun by elves instead of those pesky humans.

Thanks Acadian. I appreciate it!

Chapter 4: Conspiracy

Day 236

Zerina happily agreed with my proposition to visit Gnisis - she could visit her mother while I looked up the general in the meantime - and afterwards continue with looking up the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe after I did my duty for the Legion.
I left Zerina and her mother just after tea; the reunion of the two women was rather emotional. I figured I’d best let them to it while I prepared myself to travel to the Malach Tradehouse where general Darius resided.
My intention was to travel light. I took some potions, some food, my armour, a bedroll and Wretched with me. A tent wasn’t going to be necessary; the Legion provided a roof over the head for any legionnaire in need of one. Besides, the Vabdas house was just outside Gnisis, maybe spending the night in the Legion barracks wasn’t going to be necessary. In fact; I was counting on it.

‘Ah, trooper Sarethi, how nice of you to finally drop by,’ Darius said, his voice filled with sarcasm.
‘Please excuse me Sir, I was badly wounded and haven’t been able to report in earlier.’
‘Yes, well, I have a mission you might like. I think it’s just the thing for you.
I’d like you to find a missing tax-collector. From what I’ve heard, you’ve had some experience in that area in Seyda Neen.’
‘You’ve heard of that, Sir?’
Darius smirked. ‘Oh yes, Socucius wouldn’t stop talking about the heroic Dunmer solving his problem. Anyway; Ragash was last seen heading to Arvs Drelen, the wizard’s tower at the edge of town to collect the taxes. The owner, Baladas Demnevanni is a bit of an eccentric Telvanni mage. Be careful what you say to him. Now, off with you.’

The general had been right, the Telvanni wizard was indeed eccentric. Throughout his tower, several, non hostile, Daedra were posted. They followed my every step but took no effort in obstructing me. I was certain things would be different had I drawn Wretched. They appeared to be docile but the flame of rage was easily identifiable in their eyes. I wondered what power the wizard held over the Daedra for them to be restrained like that.

When I mentioned the tax-collector a thoughtful expression appeared on Baladas’ wrinkled face.
‘To be quite honest, I have no idea where she is, I had her thrown in the dungeons somewhere downstairs. You can take her when you find her but unstand this; I refuse to pay taxes to those… those- Imperial usurpers. I have been here long before those savages ever heard of Morrowind and I will still be here when their precious Empire has fallen and their bones have turned to dust. Promise me the Legion - or anyone else from the Empire for that matter - won’t bother me again and I’ll even give you the key. Now, leave me!’
This was not the time to disagree and possibly agitate the wizard. I was in no position to argue with a several thousand year old mage, he’d probably turn in me into a Scrib before I could say “Kwama”. I simply nodded, promised to belay the message to my superiors and took the key he held out.

Ragash gra-Shuzgub, the orcish tax-collector, couldn’t believe it when I finally found her cell in the dungeons and opened her cell-door.
‘You are here to set me free?’ she asked me wide-eyed. You’re not going to kill me?’
‘Kill you?’ I frowned. ‘Now, why would I want to do that? General Darius has sent me to get you out of here. I must insist on you not bothering Baladas again though. That was the condition of your release. No more tax-collectors at his door, I promised him.’
‘I won’t.’ Ragash shook her head frantically. It was obvious she was terrified of the ancient Telvanni wizard.
‘Let’s get back to Gnisis,’ I suggested. She was more than eager to leave the wizard’s tower, never to return.

In short words I told the general what Baladas Demnevanni had instructed me to. Darius wasn’t too happy with the news but wouldn’t risk losing any of his men to the whims of an eccentric wizard. He joked to just raise all the other taxes to compensate.
‘While you’re at it, I have something else for you to investigate. Recently, weaponsupplies have been mysteriously disappearing. I also noticed the morale has been steadily declining. I have a feeling something is wrong within our ranks. See if you can find out where those supplies have gone and why a lot of men seem unhappy. It wouldn’t surprise me if these two things are related. You are dismissed trooper.’

General Darius hadn’t exaggerated, the morale of the legionnaires in Gnisis was far below standard. Most soldiers wouldn’t even talk about it during the day and grumpily told me to leave them alone. It’s a known fact alcohol tends to loosen lips. I too was well aware of this and conveniently used this knowledge at night in the tavern. I pretended to get hammered along with the rest of my collegues but as soon as my target of interrogation looked the other way I poured some of my drink away into a plantpot and meanwhile pretended to guzzle it down. I just hoped Scathecrow plants liked Sujamma or it would show in the morning. Acting almost as drunk as most of the men I managed to scratch the surface of what was going on in the Gnisis Legion. Rumours of a conspiracy spread through the ranks like a disease. No wonder morale was low, no one dared to trust one-another. Unfortunately, all I got the first night were rumours of the conspiracy. What the conspiracy was about no one knew or dared disclosing. Rather disappointed I, keeping up my act of being sloshed, swayed back to the Vabdas residence.

Tricky Rales!!! Great Write!

Great stuff, I like this one a lot. It's just so morrowind

I'm really looking forward to Rales meeting the ashlanders once he's done in Gnisis...

Ah, one little quest complete only to be assigned another. Just keep Zerina away from the booze, ok?

A pleasure to read, Remko!

Another fun Rales update!

It’s a known fact alcohol tends to loosen lips.
Quoted for Truth! and not just lips either...

Thank you guys
Sorry for the lack of updates lately but spring has made its entrance so I've been pre-occupied with outdoor activities


Day 238

‘A conspiracy you say?’ Darius said the following morning while scratching his chin. ‘That’s most concerning news. Any idea what the conspiracy is about?’
‘No Sir. Nobody will say anything when sober and when drunk all I got were the frayed ends. I was hoping you might have some insight in that, Sir. You’ve known the men far longer than I have. Has anyone been acting suspiciously recently?’
‘I wish I knew my men as well as I’d like trooper. However; now you mention it, last week Uritius Maro was reported by Optio Bologro. According to the drillmaster, Maro was snooping around in the store-room. Maro’s excuse was that he had lost his ring but I nor the drillmaster has ever seen him wearing any kind of jewelry. I guess that could be considered suspicious, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘Highly suspicious, Sir’
‘Well, then what are you standing around here for? Get to work, Sarethi!’

The following nights I followed the same strategy. If I wanted the Gnisis legionnaires - all of them - to trust me I had to become one of them rather than just one of the Legion. I made no progress the second and the third night. All I got was pretty much the same as in the first; some vague remarks but no names. Fearing my collegues would see through my façade, the fourth night I let go of some of my caution with drinking. Rather than acting I drank myself into a nice buzz along with the men. I also lost a pretty coin with playing cards. They were playing a game I didn’t really know but joined anyway. If there was a better way to get sympathy and building some camaraderie than buying drinks, it’s with losing most of your gold on a cardgame.
Let’s say I had a lot of sympathy that night.

Day 242

It had been a strange night. I actually managed to get a conversation going with Maro - one of the suspects - but I couldn’t entirely remember the following day. According to Zerina I came swaying, or rather; nearly crawling home. Apparently I was too far gone to even realise I had first draped myself over the dinner table when she urged me to go to sleep. Then on the stairs, then on the floor and finally crashed on the bed.
What I did remember was that Maro had been complaining that his associate - the usage of that particular word caught my undivided attention - had been too careless lately and almost spoilt their future activity. He wouldn’t eloborate on “activity” saying he didn’t trust me. I guess that was more or less my last coherent thought that night: ‘you don’t trust me enough yet’. I figured I needed another night to gain enough trust.

Playing cards and getting utterly hammered together with the men proved its usefulness. The fourth night I was spontanuously invited to join the game - no doubt to rob me of my coins - and had a huge mug of ale pressed into my hand.
My stomach warned me to take it easy on the booze that night but I repressed it. I was sure this would be the night I’d find out Maro’s associate and the activity they had been planning on.
After the second mug my stomach didn’t protest anymore. while I was getting to the third I noticed Maro and what I presumed to be his associate - a fellow legionnaire - talking in a secluded corner of the tavern. Inconspicuously I my made my way over to them in the hope catching some of the discussion. I was in luck; even though I only a caught a fragment of their conversation, three words stuck out like a Nord in Valenwood. Uriel, strike and the third one: Vvardenfell.
You didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what they might mean together. They were planning to assassinate the Emperor during his visit to Vvardenfell!
I was certain Darius would be happy I had found out the conspiracy but I also knew I was going to need some hard evidence to back up the most serious accusations.

Day 243

Darius had already given me a location where I should start my hunt for evidence, the storeroom.
I had just started my rummage through the goods when I encountered Maro’s associate, Arius Lurician. He asked me what I was looking for, I quickly made up a story I was looking for something to sell because I had lost most of my money with the card-games. He smiled and promised to teach me a little of the game. ‘Not too much though,’ he laughed, ‘or I can’t win from you anymore.’
I promised to look him up in the tavern when I had some more coin to bet with

Luckily, he had to report to Optio so he couldn’t stay, so I had some time to continue looking undisturbedly. Below some sacks of flour I found a secret entrance to what appeared to be a shrine with a small, locked box on top. My instinct told me that what-ever was in that box, held the key to what the conspiracy was about. Picking locks, however, isn’t something I was very good at. I didn’t have the patience - nor the time - to learn.
I used Wretched’s tip to violently pry open the box and took the note from it. The conspirators would notice the box had been broken open but it didn’t really matter anymore.
The note held all the evidence I needed. All it said was that they needed to strike quickly when Uriel Septim was in Vvardenfell. Exactly what Maro and Arius’ had been discussing about in the tavern. I guess they weren’t conscripted for their intelligence. There was only one sentence for traitors and conspirators.
I had an eery feeling I already knew who was going to be their executioner.

***

As I climbed the stairs from the shrine a sudden bone-chilling thought almost made me shiver physically. Playing cards and having a drink with these two legionnaires had indicated they weren’t the sharpest tools; someone with a lot more influence must be behind the conspiracy. What did two lowly legionnaires have to gain from murdering the Emperor? Except a quick death by the executioner’s blade obviously, there was nothing I could think of. Gold? Not likely. Religious or political fanatics rarely care about monetary gains. There had to be something else.

A better question was: who would have something to gain with the Emperor’s death?
It was doubtful the two pawns would have any idea, if someone really was behind it, he or she wouldn’t be so stupid to enlighten the expandable soldiers and possibly ruin their devious scheme. Which the two legionnaires already had, even with their lack of knowledge of the big picture.
An even worse scenario appeared before my mind’s eye, even though they probably wouldn’t know anything substantial, they still had to be interrogated. I knew the questioning wouldn’t be pretty, I just hoped Darius wouldn’t order me to wring out what litle knowledge the two conspirators had. The general had already shoved an executioner’s task into my shoes before, if he ordered me to torture these two guys, I’d refuse. I hadn’t joined the Legion for such horrendous, yet sometimes recognisably necessary, measures.

‘Found any clues?’
‘Yes Sir. You’re not going to like this though. It seems two soldiers were conspiring to assassinate the Emperor. I’ve found a hidden shrine below the store-room dedicated to this purpose.’
‘What?’ he bellowed in disbelief. ‘Are you sure about that?’
I nodded and gave him the evidence I found in the shrine. ‘To be quite honest Sir, I don’t believe they are the master-mind behind it all. I’ve played cards and talked with these guys and really doubt they’d be smart enough to even plan such a conspiracy. I think someone or something, possibly a powerful person, is behind it all.’
‘Any idea who that could be?’
‘No Sir. At least, not yet.’
‘Hmmmm..’ the general hummed thoughtfully. ‘Do you think Maro or Lurician would know?’
I furrowed my brow. ‘Not likely Sir.’
‘I guess you’re right Sarethi. If there really is someone behind it - we’ll asume it’s a someone rather than a something for now - the soldiers would probably act on a need-to-know basis only.’
‘That’s what I was thinking too Sir.’
‘We’ll need to question them to-’
‘Before you continue Sir,’ I interrupted him. ‘I refuse to act as a torturer. I’m a soldier, not an executioner.’
‘Your conscience flatters you; I was in fact planning on ordering you to do so. You’ve never let me down and have been most effective in your tasks. I’ll find someone else but don’t you ever refuse an order again!’
‘I won’t Sir,’ I replied while shaking my head.
‘As long as it’s an honourable order, right trooper? We’ll need to find another reason to promote you soon. I can do with officers with their head screwed on the right way. Interested?’
I spread my eyes wide. Me, an officer? It did appeal to me, as an officer I would have possibilities to change things, to improve the Legion for the Legion.
‘Can I think about it, Sir?’
General Darius nodded and dismissed me. ‘Don’t take too long though, I have lots of other contenders,’ he winked.
Glad to able to get out of the job of having to violently interrogate my former collegues, I hurried back to the Vabdas residence. If I’d hurry, I could just make it in time for lunch.

Zerina commented I was back early and asked me what was wrong. I could never hide anything from her, my face was an open book to her.
I sighed deep. ‘Two of my collegues in the Legion were found conspiring against the Emperor. General Darius asked me to…. euuhmm… interrogate them.’
‘You mean torture, right? And you refused I guess?’
I didn’t even have to say it, the answer was apparent in my eyes.
‘So, now what? Were you discharged?’
‘No. Actually; I was offered a promotion to officer, I’m not sure I really want that kind of responsibility though.’
‘I think you’d be an excellent officer. You have a kind and just heart as well as a well-founded sense of honour and respect.’
I hugged and kissed her, as usual she had hit the right spot. My mind was made up, I’d accept the promotion.

This chapter is as good as I remember it - it highlights Rales's ethical boundaries very effectively. A quick, clean execution is all right (not necessarily good, but sometimes necessary, right?), but torturing for information is not. The fact that Zerina could see the effects of these ethical quandaries on Rales's face is yet another clue to the depth of their relationship.

From the drunk investigation (including losing at cards) to the discovery of the plot and the location of the evidence, to the moral discussion with Darius and coming home to the lovely Zerina, this is one of my favorite chapters.

Ahh the talos cult plot! oh I liked that a lot playing it. Very nicely depicted here, I think Serene dealt with those guys....in chapter 3....

Very good job!

And who would think that drunken gambling would get one promoted in the Legion? Only Rales could pull that one off! (well, I suppose thwarting a plot against the Emperor might have had something to do with it as well... )

I love Rales inner dialogue in this one, it gives insight into the workings of his mind. Zerina pushing his career forward, lol - That leaves a strong impression, I remembered it from my first read!

Chapter 5: Urshilaku

Day 250

General Darius was most pleased I had accepted the promotion. He gave me some insignia to fasten to my armour to indicate my rank. Unfortunately, there were no more jobs for an officer in Gnisis. Frald the White in Ebonheart might have some imporatant work for me, he informed me.
General Darius also told me the two conspirators had been dealt with appropriately. Like we had surmised, they hadn’t known anything worthwhile. Maro had gurgled some incoherent words just before drawing his last breath; ‘Dawn is breaking’. I wished the words held some meaning to me but they were nothing more than a dead end.

I didn’t inquire further, I didn’t really wanted to know anyway. At least their blood wasn’t on my hands. I felt guilty about their deaths none-the-less, even though it had been inevitable.
I just couldn’t shake the irrational feeling I had been the one who had exposed them and was to blame for their untimely deaths. Without me they would be still alive, I lied to myself in spite of the circumstances. The remark by Darius that their pain hadn’t endured for long because they hadn’t known anything was some comfort. They died quickly and painless, Darius assured me. I think that summarised what the legion stood for; we did what needed to be done but ultimately were merciful.

Since Ebonheart was on the entire other end of Vvardenfell; Gnisis being north-west and Ebonheart south-west, I decided to visit the Urshilaku Ashlander tribe first.
There was no quick way of getting there, we would need to walk east from Gnisis along-side the shoreline untill we reached a Daedric shrine. From there it was only a short trek east-north-east to find the Urshilaku camp, the rich Ashlander in Ald’ruhn had told me weeks earlier.
I wished I had thought of that little fact before before leaving Balmora. All of our camping-gear was still in the Hlaalo manor in Balmora so it would be necessary to travel back and forth.

Zerina suggested buying new gear but no-one in Gnisis had these kind of special things for sale. It was only a small miner village with little to no shops.
We took the Stiltstrider to Ald’ruhn and bought teleportation service from the Mages Guild. We arrived in Balmora in the dead of night. Rather than immediately collecting our gear and traveling back to Gnisis, we decided to spend the night in our own comfortable bed.
After a hearty breakfast - the nightly exercise had left us both famished - we leisurely collected our gear, I donned my armour, checked bowstrings and set off to Gnisis and the Ashlander camp.



Day 253

Even though we were on a mission, the journey east was a joyful one. Much to Zerina’s delight, our path kept us close to water at all times, meaning every night after having set up camp she could wash her hair. Of course she insisted I’d clean up myself too. The water was most refreshing, if bitter cold but she didn’t seem to notice. I emerged shivering all over, didn’t waste any time to get dressed and huddled at the roaring campfire. Being nearby the water had another advantage; there were plenty of mudcrabs around I could make my “Rales special” out of. I selected a medium sized ones - the bigger ones tasted more leathery and more bitter than the smaller ones - and tied it down until it was ready to cook. I found out they taste best as fresh as possible, much like fish.

When I had told her about my specialty, Zerina was sceptical. ‘How can a filthy Mudcrab taste good when it spends most of his life wading through mud?’ she had wondered but her sceptisism had vanished as snow for the sun when I gave her a small part of the soft, pinkish meat. ‘You know,’ she had commented after having swallowed it. ‘it would taste even better with some herbs and some vegetables on the side.’
With a large stone I cracked the shell of the crab to get to the rest of the meat and divided it over our plates.

A purple and red hue accompanied the sun to its nightly slumber as the twin moons rose. With my arm around her shoulders and her arm wrapped around my waist we quietly sat on a flat rock and marvelled at the gorgeous sunset.
‘How easy would it be to leave everything behind, build a small hut and spend the rest of our lives in quiet solitude? Maybe raise some children?’ I contemplated. It was like Zerina had read my mind. She looked at me briefly and smiled. ‘Shall we just forget the world and remain here?’
I let out a chuckle. ‘I was just thinking the exact same thing. But we both know we can’t- well, I can’t,’ I said with my face showing no amusement anymore about that wry realisation.
She nodded and kissed me on my cheek. ‘I know dear,’ she sighed melancholically. ‘But it’s nice to think about it, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, yes it is,’ I mumbled.
‘Let’s go to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day again,’ Zerina suggested, her eyes glowing.
‘But- but it’s still early.’ I countered, although I very well knew what she had meant.
‘So?’ she laughed.
I followed her into our tent with a boyish grin on my face.

***

‘Rales,’ Zerina elbowed me in the middle of the night, ‘there’s something skulking about, outside our tent.’
I lifted my head and reluctantly forced my sleep-ridden eyes to open. ‘A mudcrab?’
‘No, it’s bigger. I think it’s about Guar-sized.’
‘Make breakfast out of it then,’ I suggested while yawning, rubbed my eyes and put my head back on the pillow.’
‘I’m not dressed,’ she said with a small voice. The kind of voice I recognised she used to get me to do something. Not that I could ever refuse her anything.
‘Neither am I,’ I retorted. I could feel Zerina’s eyes almost piercing a hole in my back. I knew there was no escape out of it; I quickly put on my trousers, grabbed Wretched and set foot outside onto the cold, damp grass. Winter was making its entry, I shivered in the cold night air. Around our tent the grass had been flattened by what I made out to be two pairs of paw-tracks from two bi-pedal creatures, possibly Kagouti. I revived a smouldering branch from the camp-fire back to a flaming torch and checked out the tracks. Whatever it had been, it was obviously gone now. Two pairs of fresh paw tracks led south, away from our tent towards the inlands. Shrugging I returned to the tent and gratefully crouched back into the warm sleeping bag.
‘The critters were probably looking for the crab remains. Didn’t you bury them?’ I quietly asked Zerina but she was already fast asleep.
I gently brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and went back to sleep as well.

Although the nightmares were less intense than they had been before, they were never far off. Maybe it was because they had returned for the umpteenth time they didn’t scare me anymore or perhaps because I had taken a resolve to it, fortifying my mental state. After I got back to sleep, again Dagoth Ur haunted my dreams, trying to undermine my determination. I realised this was more than a dream, he was trying to pry a reflection of reality the way he saw it, into my mind and he tried to convince me of it being the absolute truth. In stead of being the victim, I used the dreams to learn about him. It was quite obvious he was delirious, tainted with corruption. His down-fall was a warning to me, absolute power absolutely corrupts. I vowed not to make the same mistake as he had. My resolve must have severed a crucial link between me and him; after that particular night the dreams didn’t return. Or he had given up but I thought that be to be rather unlikely.

"Greet the new day!" Okay, I couldn't resist, not after writing the Dagon Shrine scene!

Good way to put military necessity. Sometimes the unpleasant job has to be done. Ugh.

I loved this very quiet and tasteful reference to a very private aspect of Rales's and Zerina's relationship. It made me smile!

I've only recently started cooking because I enjoy it, not because I have to. And it's amazing what flavors I can come up with!

Classic!

Very interesting! Most people can't control their dreams (I can sometimes - I can make my dreams tell stories!). It also works to move the plotline forward in the story without being contrived.

I like it broken into days this way! It gives the feel of a journal!

Your inclusion of the 'Rales special' is great, it highlights how much he has changed since he arrived on morrowind. Great stuff, you also do a great job of showing his strength of character in refusing the execution order (an a variety of other ways). Makes me wonder how he'll get on with the Urshilaku.


Good call. Still the idea of Kagouti prowling round your tent isn't a nice one.

Thanks you all for reading and commenting

Day 260

Several days later, we arrived at the Urshilaku camp. We had no idea what to expect but at least I had expected it to be bigger. About ten tents made from what looked like flexible wooden sticks, covered by Guar hides were congregated in a circle.
Some Ashlanders were speaking to one-another in a dialect Zerina nor I could understand. Hassour had told me the Ashlanders rejected the ways of the Great House Dunmer and were still true to saint Veloth’s teaching. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant but they looked at us suspiciously. I hadn’t forgotten Hassour’s words to bring thoughtful gifts. Along the way I had dug up several Trama roots and had taken several Kwama eggs to please the natives. Together with the gold I had brought I was sure I could get the information I needed.

‘What do you want, Outlander?’ the Ashlander I had hailed, asked me grumpily.
Being forthright seemed the right thing to do, I didn’t want to insult the tribesmen by lying. ‘My name is Rales Sarethi and I want to talk.’
‘So, talk Outlander.'
Hassour had told me about this aspect of Ashlanders. If an Ashlander said “talk” he meant the appropriate thing to do was to give them a thoughtful gift first. I dug up a Trama root from my bag and bowed from my waist ever so slightly, just enough to show respect.
‘Please, accept this little gift from a humble Outlander,’ I said.
‘A Trama root? I was feeling a bit hungry actually, thank you for this gift Rales Sarethi. You show respect for our customs, that is good. My name is Hainab, what can I do for you?’ His mood had cleared up considerably.
‘I would like to see your wise-woman,’ I replied.
Hainab shook his head. ‘No-one is allowed to speak to our wise-woman before our Ashkhan, Sul-Matuul, grants permission. You will need to ask his Gulukhan Zabamund first though. His yurt is next to the Ashkhan’s,’ he said and pointed at the two biggest tents.
I thanked Hainab and headed off to Zabamund’s yurt.

***

‘State your purpose, or leave Outlander,’ the man I presumed to be Zabamund, ordered me.
‘Honourable Gulukhan, I would like to speak to you,’ I said and offered him a thoughtful gift.
‘You do me honour. I’m not too proud to accept a gift. I prefer, what you call a…. euhm…’, he thought a moment finding the correct word. ‘….a bribe, yes?’, he said and took the gold I handed him. ‘Talk Outlander. Speak with respect and I will listen.’
‘I am here to talk to your wise-woman and your Ashkhan about the Nerevarine prophecies.’ With this, I drew Zabamund’s undivided attention, he had been intermittently sizing up Zerina and meanwhile licking his lips. ‘What do the prophecies mean to you?’ he asked me.
I sighed deeply, both in annoyance of his rude behaviour towards Zerina - I wondered if he realised she wasn’t my slave - but also because of the heavy burden the words were, I was about to speak. ‘I believe I fulfill the prophecies and would like to learn more.’

His eyes spread wide in disbelief. ‘The Nerevarine prophecies are not for Outlanders. Who are you that we should trust you? Why should I even allow you to talk to our wise-woman and our esteemed Ashkhan?’ he scornfully asked me.
I told him my name and everything I had learned and had experienced the last few months.
‘That is very concerning news and not to be taken lightly. I’ll admit, you know more than I thought you would. I'm sure Sul Matuul needs to hear this as some of it was unknown to us. Very well, follow me. I’ll introduce you to our Ashkhan, Sul Matuul. He will not appreciate being disturbed, but I’ll take that chance. Follow me Rales Sarethi. She,’ he gestured with his head to Zerina, ‘must stay outside.’ Halfway in his yurt, he suddenly stopped. ‘One more thing; do not speak until spoken to when we are in the Ashkhan’s yurt. Understood?’

‘Zabamund, what is that…. that Outlander doing in my yurt? Explain yourself!’
‘Khan, this Outlander claims to fulfill the Nerevarine prophecies and would speak to you and to Nibani,’ he replied while bowing to his chieftain.
‘Then speak Outlander. If Zabamund thinks it is important enough to disturb me, I will listen to what you have to say.’
I bowed deeply to the Ashkhan like Zabamund had and again I told everything that happened the last few months. The dreams Dagoth Ur had tormented me with, the attack on me in my house, I even informed him about the Moon-and-Star tale from my youth Athyn had told me. The Ashkhan seemed impressed with my knowledge but was still doubtful about my intentions.

‘Let me see if I get this straight. You, an Outlander,’ he emphasised the word “outlander”, ’think you fulfill the Nerevarine prophecies. You wish to be tested to see if you truly are the Nerevarine. However; no outlander may join the Nerevarine cult. Perhaps if you were a Clanfriend - an adopted member of the Ashlander tribes. I have an initiation rite in mind. If you pass this rite, I will adopt you as a Clanfriend of the Ashlanders. Only then then will I submit you to Nibani, our wise woman, to test you. Do you accept this trial?’

It seemed I had little choice but to accept Sul Matuul’s challenge. It was either that or go home. ‘Alright,’ I said while nodding slowly. ‘I will accept your trial. Tell me what I have to do and it will be done.’
‘I like your determination Outlander. To be accepted as a Clanfriend I need you to retrieve a weapon from our sacred burial chambers. Defeat the wraith of Sul Senipul - my father - and bring back his bow. Do this and I will accept you into our tribe as a Clanfriend. The Urshilaku burial ground is half a day’s walk south-east of our camp. I will give you a little advice. Go well prepared, many dangers lurk in the dark cravesses of the tomb.’
The Ashkhan made it very clear the conversation was over and that I was to leave his yurt. I wasted no time to get back outside. I wondered how the Ashlanders could stand the smell in their yurt. A mix of old leather, the smoky smell of the cookingfire and a scent I didn’t recognise, probably from some herbs the Ashlanders smoke, in the yurt made breathing hardly bearable.

‘He wants you to destroy his father’s wraith and take the bow back to the camp?’ Zerina exasperated after I told her what happened in the Ashkhan’s yurt. ‘They are an odd bunch aren’t they? Did you see how Zabamund was licking his lips? To be honest, I found them rather rude,’ she commented while slowly shaking her head.
I shrugged. ‘I suppose he thought you were my slave. Don’t forget, the Ashlanders are accustomed to having slaves. Besides that, they’re a secluded people with little to no interaction with others outside their tribe.’
‘I know,’ Zerina replied. ‘But I still think he was rather rude.’
‘Give them time, dear. I am quite sure when we come back they won’t be as rude to a Clanfriend and his companion.’
‘I guess,’ she said but it was clear she was still sceptical.

I was thinking cannibalism or inbreeding, but I have never played the game, ROFL !! Great Write Remko!

Actually, based on what I've read about the Ashlanders, they strike me as being very similar to the nomadic steppe tribes found in southern Siberia and Mongolia. Hail, Genghis Khan!

One nit: I think you meant to spell it intermittently.

I'm finding the different interpretations of the Ashlanders very fascinating! Much like the different historical interpretations of the steppe tribes (from ancient Greeks through the Romans to the Chinese and nineteenth century explorers).

I enjoyed reading this installment again!

Time for Rales to go play in the Ashlander tomb!

Another fun installment. The way that Rales had to speak to one person in order to speak to another person in order to speak to another person and do something for him so he can speak to another person later reminds me of a bureaucracy. All the more so since he had to bribe everyone as he worked his way through the chain!

Sul Matuul’s directions proved vital in finding the Urshilaku burial grounds. The entire region was dotted by sharp rocks and rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. The tomb’s entry was entirely obscured by rockfaces and only a small path led to it, a path we had almost overlooked. I imagined it would be possible to wander around in circles for days without even noticing, everything looked the same.
The sun had set when we arrived at the entrance of the burial grounds. After having walked most of the day, we decided to make camp for the night and enter the tomb after a well-deserved rest. I put up the tent while Zerina went hunting. She proudly returned with a small Guar, dragging it by its legs.
Together we cut it in usable pieces and cooked it above a camp-fire. After dinner I buried the un-usable remains of it a little distance away from our tent so we wouldn’t be disturbed by scavengers during the night.

The moment we opened the door to the tomb, I could clearly see this one was very different from the Great House Ancestral tombs I had crawled through. First of all; it was huge. Far bigger than any tomb I’ve seen before. The second thing that was different was that it was guarded by lots and lots of skeletal remains wielding silver two-handed swords. I had faced skeletons before but those weren’t as formidable as the ones here. I ducked underneath the first swing - thanking the gods I was only wearing light armour, otherwise I would have been too slow - and brought Wretched up in a vertical movement, through its jaw and into the skeleton’s skull. As I tore Wretched back, the skull remained stuck on the tip of my sword. If it hadn’t been for two more skeletons approaching menacingly, I probably would have been amused.

‘Zerina!’ I bellowed commandingly. ‘Disappear!’ The heat of battle had taken over. Tact was positioned in a spot in the back of my mind and replaced by pragmatism. She didn’t question me for a moment. I heard her mumble the spell I taught her to focus a caster’s willpower into a magically charged artifact to activate it. When she moved, I could just make out her outlines but as soon as she stopped, those outlines faded and she blended into the surrounding entirely, rendering her practically invisible. No wonder the Emperor had named it the Ring of Surroundings.

‘What are these things?’ Zerina muttered just before I engaged the second skeleton, hoping the third one wasn’t clever enough to attack me in the back but then realised I had someone covering the rear - something I wasn’t used to.
Holding my sword with both hands I just managed to block the overhead chop from the second guardian. For things that had no muscles or tissue they were incredibly powerful, the block sent a painful tremble through my arms, shoulders and back. I spun to the left, away from the blade to the skeleton’s flank, sank on one knee and slashed at its legs, severing them just above the knees.

***

‘Blast the other one!’ I barked and turned away from the legless skeleton, assuming I was done with it. Suddenly a burning sensation in my right leg made me howl in agony. Even with the most of its legs missing, the skeleton attacked me and had managed to swipe his blade across the calf of my leg, cutting deep into it.
Angered, I stamped my boot onto the silver claymore and used the pommel of my blade to bash in its skull. After four rapid blows it shattered and the skeletal remains went limp. I remember grimacing in wicked amusement and hobbling over to the battle between Zerina and the third Skeletal Guardian as fast as I could. I had to clench my teeth with each step to refrain me from screaming.
By the time I had closed the gap between the third skeleton and Zerina, she had disintegrated the animated corpse, its bones scattered in a six foot radius.

‘You okay?’ I asked her. ‘You did better than I did, that S'wit almost cut off my leg,’ I cursed exaggeratedly.
Blood was pouring from the wound into my boot, forming a small puddle that sloshed every time I took a painful step.
‘I’m fine. We’ll have to domething about that leg of yours unless you prefer Black Rot,’ Zerina commented. ‘Take off your boot and greaves.’
‘Yes ma’am,’ I winked and stripped. The trousers I was wearing were soaked with blood and were already starting to crust up into the wound.
‘Dagger,’ she demanded while holding out her hand. With the dagger I gave her she cut away the trousers around the wound. ‘This is going to hurt,’ she said matter-of-factly and ripped the piece of cloth from the wound in a single motion. She wasn’t kidding, that really hurt. Immediately she tended to the open gash that was now pouring out bucketloads of blood, I could feel it draining away and severely weakening me with every passing second.

Her hands glowed up and a warm, soothing tingle spread through my leg. Soon after, the gaping wound was reduced to a thin, white line on my leg and the pain dissipated. As I rose to my feet, my head spun and I instantly collapsed into a heap on the cold ground. I realised the bloodloss had weakened me more than I had thought. Several hours passed before I was able to stand up and stay upright but I was in no real condition to fight anything. Obviously, I didn’t plan on returning to the Urshilaku empty-handed, I had come this far, I wasn’t going to give up now.
I dug up some food - An orcish legionnaire had taught me eating red meat helps the body replenish its blood - handed Zerina an apple and thoughtfully chewed on a chunk of the Guar we had left from dinner the night before.

They ain't dead until they're good and dead! It's obvious Rales hasn't watched enough slasher flicks to know that fundamental rule! Ow, ow, ow!

The healing process later in the chapter reads much better this time around.

Again, I enjoyed reading this story a second time. I'm noticing new things this time around that I didn't notice the first time, which to me is the mark of a good story. Definitely well worth reading twice!

H.e.r. is right, this reads much more smoothly than the first time. The battle with the second skeleton most especially so.

I winced with Rales when Zerina pulled the pant leg out of his wound! Youch! Well done there too!

I've only made very tiny changes. Is it because it's the second time around you read it that it seems smoother?

‘Why didn’t I think of that before?’ I thought while I was swallowing the last bite of the meat. I took my mortar and pestle, some ingredients and a small empty vial from my bag. After grinding an ash-yam to a brown sludge, I added a small part of Dreugh wax. The mix turned darkish purple while I mingled the two ingredients and turned violet when I poured some water into it.
From experience I knew the combination of these two would fortify my strength to compensate for my weakened state. It wouldn’t last very long but long enough to finish the mission - I hoped.

After I had transferred the concoction from the mortar into the vial I swirled the liquid around. The colour and viscosity weren’t entirely what I had in mind. ‘If only I could distill it someway,’ I surmised. Distilling it would increase the effect two-fold but I hadn’t brought my other equipment, only the most basic one.
‘I do have a way of distilling it!’ I exclaimed happily. I gathered some of the skeletons’ femurs and made a stand to rest the vial on. I had to be careful with the vial, it was very fragile, heating it too far would shatter the glass and ruin my potion but if I didn’t get it hot enough, the heating process would be an utter waste of time.

***

With extreme caution I stacked some dry wood and thin bones underneath the vial and carefully ignited it with a weak fire-spell - about the best I could do. After about half an hour of boiling I was content with the colour and viscosity, extinguished the fire and allowed the potion to slowly cool down. The smell was as bad as the taste but I could feel energy and strength surging through my body. I was ready to face what was ahead. I woke up Zerina, she had dozed off while I was making the potion, and together we proceeded further into the tomb.

‘Remember when I said I was going to need an edge to defeat the Sixth House and Dagoth Ur?’
‘Yes, I do. You mentioned you didn’t believe just a sharp sword wasn’t going to be enough?’ Zerina replied with her head slightly tilted. I couldn’t get over how attractive that made her look - even more so than usual.
I swallowed a lump in my throat and nodded. ‘Exactly. I finally figured out what that edge is going to be. It’s been there all the time. Alchemy!’ I said exuberantly. ‘With the right preparation and potions I should stand a chance - a fairly decent one actually. Especially with you by my side. We make a good team, don’t you think?’

She smiled and kissed me. ‘That we do. Now, let’s focus on keeping that rat from gnawing on our ankles.’
‘Rat? What rat?’
Before I had time to spin around to skewer the rat, forks of lightning flew from Zerina’s fingertips to a point several feet behind me. The smell of burned fur and scorched rat-meat assaulted my nostrils. The awful smell reminded me harshly of how close it had been in the Sixth House base. I shuddered when I realised I could have ended up the same, as a burned out corpse on the ground.
‘Ah, that rat,’ I commented dryly, despite my unnerving thoughts, when I sullenly peered down upon the the smouldering and spasming remains of a now very dead rat.

At the end of a corridor we encountered a mouldy wooden door leading to a huge hall that was entirely submerged. Apparently it had been flooded ages ago, the rocks were green with moss and algea. In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake, but I slipped on the second and ended up in the murky water with a big splash. At least Zerina thought it was amusing seeing me wet all over - and all of our gear. Elegantly she floated across the lake while I was forced to swim. The only way of getting on the dry again was on the far end of the lake. Zerina asked me if I needed her to levitate me out of the lake, barely containing her laughter, but I was already wet.
I suggested it would be better to save her magical energy. She agreed, reluctantly of course.

‘Look out!’ Zerina screamed. I was tending to our wet gear on a rockface and was just pouring water from my boots when a sudden flash, a ray of light reflected on a metal surface - a silver sword - caught my eye. In a reflex I dropped on my stomach and rolled away. With a clang the claymore impacted on the ground where my head had been mere seconds earlier. I rolled farther away out of reach of the skeletal guardian and scrambled to my feet. Much to my disgrace, I had been too pre-occupied loudly cursing the slippery stones and my own clumsiness to notice his approach. Instinctively, I reached for my sword but grabbed into thin air. My sword was still lying on the rockface, next to the rest of our gear. I had taken it off to get rid of the water in its sheath, something I now regretted to my core. ‘Never leave your sword behind, S’wit,’ I angrily reprimanded myself and darted away from another swing.

I always liked the burial caverns, there was a good dungeon and your description of it works well, the healing was well written as was his use of a potion. It's fun to read and is very reminiscent of the game.

I liked how you protrayed the ashlanders too.

Great stuff:)

Maybe it was just because of being the second time around after all. I did look back at the original on the Beth forums and you are right. They are much the same.

Once again I really enjoyed your description of Rales' expensively purchased alchemical skills, especially his home-made calcinator (I remember all the training he paid for early on).

‘Rat? What rat?’
This gave me such a good laugh!

Look, a video of Rales in the lake!

nits:
In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake but I slipped on the second and ended up in the lake with a big splash.
You have the word lake twice in the same sentence here. It is rather long as well, and could do with a comma in the middle. Maybe something like this:
In an effort to keep our feet dry we hopped onto stepping stones that led to other side of the lake, but I slipped on the second and ended up in the water with a big splash.

Sometimes all it takes are very tiny changes (such as using one word for another) to make something so much smoother and better. That's the difference between illustrations and art . . .

Another good write. I liked how you explained how a rattling skeleton can "sneak" up on our Rales.

And the interaction about the rat was chuckle-worthy, as well as Zerina's comment about levitating an already wet Rales the rest of the way across the lake.

Like SubRosa, I love the dry humor Rales brings to his narrative.

Finally caught up again. Very nice development over the last five updates of the relationship between Rales and Zerina. You do simply a marvelous job with that. He 'bellows' commandingly for her to disappear, and she does. She sticks out her hand and states 'dagger' and he instantly places it in her hand. Much love, trust and mutual respect so very evident in their actions.

I thought you already fixed that in the ...other place? Anyway, great write!!!!

@mALX: You're right, I adressed the problem with the "sneaky" skeleton in that other place.
Speaking of which; anyone still visit it? I feel kinda sorry I utterly abamdoned the RP we had going but I think it wasn't going anywhere anymore anyway.


‘Get down!’
I obeyed without question or hesitation. A wave of heat passed me overhead. The firespell fully encapsuled the skeleton, effectively blinding it. I raced back to where I had left Wretched and ripped it from its scabbard. There was no time to don my cuirass or greaves, I had to face the walking boneyard un-armoured.
Our swords collided in a rain of sparks, neither of us budging an inch.
For a time, what seemed like ages, we stood in a stalemate, our swords sliding against each other but never broke contact. One second I had the overhand and the skeleton had to back off but my bare feet slipped on the wet rocks. Rather than losing my balance, I let my self fall to my back on purpose and prepared to block the inevitable pending attack.

The attack never came. The skeleton was floating just out of reach. ‘What the..,’ I started cursing but then I heard Zerina chuckling and saw that her hands were glowing.
‘Finish him off already, will you?’ she said with a smile.
‘Gladly milady,’ I replied with a bow and hacked into the only parts I could reach, its legs. After several blows the skeleton crashed down, launching fractured bones all over the place. I couldn’t help but snickering, which I regretted the very same moment. A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark. Something I hadn’t noticed earlier due to the rush of battle. I rubbed the sore spot when a sharp pain seared through my body. ‘That’s all I need, a sodding broken rib.’ I cursed through my clenched teeth.

Another healing session with Zerina later and I was as good as new. I had indeed fractured a rib in the fall but luckily it hadn’t damaged or punctured one of my lungs. Wary for more guardians we continued our search for the wraith of Sul Senipul.
We did find more rats, one was careless enough to come close enough for me to step onto its head. I took great satisfaction in squashing it with the heel of my boot. With a resounding crack, its skull caved in and made a red mess underneath my boot in a slowly expanding pool of blood. The other ones were either taken care of by Zerina or skewered by several feet of cold ebony.

Behind another mouldy door we stepped into an even bigger room where we had to fight more undead and other vermin. After having dispatched several more skeletons my left arm was burning with fatigue. Sul Matuul had warned us to go well prepared. I had imagined we were but it appeared I had thought wrong. There were no useful potions left in my bag and I had not stocked up on ingredients to replenish my supply, most of our food had gotten wet - which had forced us to throw most of it away - all in all, we were in trouble. Even Zerina looked exhausted despite her rest earlier.
A change of tactic was needed; there was no way we could fight every single gaurdian and live to tell the tale.

Our new strategy was to run through the rest of the tomb, ignoring the un-important guardians and grabbing whatever useful goods we’d come across until we would find the wraith. If it hadn’t been for my lovely Zerina, I would probably have fallen in battle then and there. She cast a levitation spell on both of us allowing us to float upwards in the hall, avoiding all the remaining skeletal guardians patrolling the rooms.
I suspected we now were in the main hall of the tomb. A gigantic natural pillar towered in the middle of the hall with a foot wide path - if you could even call it a path - around the pillar, led upwards to several minor side rooms. When I took a closer look, I could see more moss and algea, indicating the winding path was probably as slippery as the stepping stones I had fallen off. Since we had no idea where the wraith would be, we had to check every single room. Zerina suggested splitting up so we could cover more ground quicker but I - I wouldn’t have said it to anyone else - countered with saying we needed each other all the way if we were to survive this deathtrap. Truth was; I was certain I needed her more than she needed me, if only to get me to the top without falling to my death on the risky trail.

Entering the most upper side-room Zerina and I clasped our hands on our ears. A terribly loud and high-pitched screech, one I had never heard before, almost made our ears bleed.
Zerina hastily tore a strip from her dress and tied it around her ears just to get rid of the awful sound. Since I had no dress to tear a strip from to do the same, she tore off another - according to her, the dress was ruined anyway - and gave it to me.
It helped filter out the most of the noise, just enough so we could pinpoint its point of origin. Just around the corner a nearly transparant, ghostlike creature attacked. The good thing about it was that the cursed racket finally stopped as it lunged at Zerina with a rusty sabre.

It appeared to me the wraith was attracted to mages. My efforts of distracting it were practically futile, my sword just passed through the ethereal creature without doing any damage whatsoever.
For a brief moment, the apparition stopped its approach on Zerina, granting her enough respite to activate a shield spell. The wraith’s reaction confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed attracted to mages because as soon as Zerina cast the spell, it again completely ignored me and re-directed its full attention on the mage.
‘I’ll be all right. Just keep those skeletons from my back!’ she shouted while she blasted the wraith with one spell after another, floating just out its sword’s reach.

This time the two skeletal guardians rushing in, their swords raised high, didn’t surprise me. I sidestepped to my right as the first one brought its sword down in a wide arc over its head. I used the opening in its defence to slash off its head in a single side-swipe. The ebony sliced through the neckbone effortlessly. The second skeleton raced passed me towards Zerina and the wraith. Still holding my sword with both hands - I was too tired to wield it with only my left hand - I went into pursuit but soon realised I wouldn’t catch up on it in time. I couldn’t allow it to reach my girl, she still had her hands full combatting the ferocious wraith. I feared Zerina would be overwhelmed if I wouldn’t do something to even the odds.

Another cliffhanger.

And more of Zerina's ability comes out, who is she... how does she know so much. It's a good hook drawing me on. And I want to see more of the ashlanders once he gets the bow.

I liked Reles standing on the rat, it was entertainingly gory.

Loved this chapter even more the second time through. As Olen said, it really plays up the growing partnership between Rales and Zerina - she is proving to be quite the sidekick here!

I did pick up a couple of nits: In the first, a space is missing between each and other - it should read each other. This happens again later in the story, when Zerina was suggesting splitting up to search the rooms.

The other is one that confuses even native English speakers: It is such a common colloquialism in the English language that many people spell it alright, but the correct way to write it is as two words, all right.

Overall your writing is as refreshing as ever, with Rales's combination of a macho sense of duty and honor with a humble acknowledgement of Zerina's feminine superiority in certain matters. His tongue in cheek narrative is wonderful and never fails to bring a smile to my face as I read this.

Exciting! and a cliffhanger ending! Been taking lessons from treydog I see.



I was going to mention how Rales was proving to be quite a sidekick!

Seriously though, MoRS really takes off once Zerina is added to the mix. Her presence brings out something extra in the storytelling.


nits:
A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark on my back.
You have the word "back" twice in the same sentence here. I think you can just lose the last three words of the sentence.
A rock had lodged itself into my back when I had dropped onto the ground, leaving a bruised and most painful mark.


we needed eachother
Looks like each and other are quite inseparable here, even as Rales and Zerina are...


I sidestepped to my right as the first one brought its sword down in a wide arch over its head
I am thinking you wanted arc there.