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I looked at him directly and gave a smile of my own. "Viconia and I have been on the path of the Relics for the past weeks. We have been successful in retrieving the Helm and the Boots, as well as the Cuirass in the old Priory of the Nine." |
At hearing this he immediately gained suspicion and looked at Alexi and I very carefully, seeking for falsehood and becoming satisfied when he found none. "Pelinal’s relics are becoming whole once more. The hour of Umaril’s return truly is at hand." |
"That is what we believe." Seeing the expression on his face I shook my head and cut him off before he could ask the obvious question. "and no, Pelinal’s heir is not among us as far as we know. We were all hoping to find the Divine Crusader on our journey to recover the Relics." |
"Speak for yourself." Alexi chuckled at my back. "Who’s to say that it isn’t yours truly?" |
"There’s not enough space in the armour for the sheer breadth of your ego, and I thought holy warriors were supposed to be humble?" |
"I can be humble." The amount of sarcasm and the fake pout was obvious and we both grinned at each other briefly while I made a show of rolling my eyes. |
Turning back to Thedret, I saw the annoyance on his features at Alexi’s and my banter. It was obvious that we were a far cry from the Knights that he was used to travelling with in his own journeys. "Sir Henrik Fenrahrson died defending this place, and while he was one of the Knights of the Nine he died wearing the He... |
Thedret nodded. "This is true. The Fort will not give up its secrets easily." |
"Can you tell us how to retrieve the shield?" |
The long silence that fell between us was unmistakeable and I knew that he was thinking over all the times the Bandits had tortured or otherwise interrogated him during his imprisonment and how a new group were asking him for the same thing. he didn’t know us anymore than we knew him and his hesitation was all too app... |
"I will help you retrieve the Shield." He said finally, slowly drawing his words out and staring at us intently. "But the Shield will remain in the care of a Knight Mentor until whoever is worthy to wield it is found." |
"Excellent. How do we get the shield?" |
"It would be easier to show than tell you." |
True to his word, Thedret rose to his feet and together the three of us left the makeshift infirmary and made our way into the central keep of the fort. It was a fairly crude but sturdy structure, standing tall enough that the roof was at least two or three metres above the outer parapets but being little more than si... |
In the far end of the keep’s interior, opposite the only entrance was a collection of stairs that vanished into the murky depths under the fort and it was clear that shortly after reaching the level below the tiny corridor branched off in two directions. Standing at the top of the stairs I had a very uncomfortable fee... |
"I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that wherever that leads, its heavily trapped the entire way." I said simply, giving Thedret a quick look as he took note of each of the statues in the keep. |
"Hundreds of metres of tunnels and passages covering three hectares arranaged into a labyrinth. And yes, you are correct. There are dozens of traps ranging from the usual darts and triggered bolt mechanisms, spear traps and pitfalls and after all this time some of those passages will be flooded." |
"Good thing that we don’t have to go down there then." |
Both Alexi and Tredret looked at me, the first with an expression of puzzlement and the latter with an increasing amount of shock. |
"How do you know?" |
I shrugged at Alexi. "Viconia and I learned more than just where this place is at the Priory of the Nine. Like that the Shield isn’t in the depths of the fort but within the main keep itself." |
"You are correct Sir Desin." Thedret said simply, gesturing to the statues. "The Fort was designed to safeguard the Shield but traps and physical defences can been circumvented and destroyed with time. The true defence is that those seeking the shield requires wisdom to find and claim it." |
Gesturing to each of the satutes in turn he looked over them all and smiled sadly. "I was one of fourteen sent from the Order of Julianos to retrieve the Shield. After the attacks on the Church the Grand Masters decreed that the time had come to recover the relics to face Umaril and so they sent us." |
"Us?" Alexi asked. |
"Master Georeph, Commander Ametecou, and a dozen of the finest Knights in the Order." |
It didn’t take a vampire’s senses to see the sadness that infected him and I moved a little closer. "So what happened to you all?" |
"The Black Bows ambushed us a few days travel north of here. We had heard reports of bandits in the area but we didn’t take heed too much. Is there anywhere in Tamriel that is free of bandits? Master Georeph assured us that there was nothing in the region that could stand against fourteen Knights Mentor and he was par... |
Moving from statue to statue I saw the way that he was specifically walking, counting the steps between each one and obviously calculating something in his mind. "Half of us died then and there. Anyaene and Veribertton were knocked into the water and never resurfaced and Paureus got attacked by a shoal of fish attract... |
"The bastards got greedy." Alexi said and Thedret nodded. |
"Originally they planned on ransoming us back to the Order but after they discovered the maps we were carrying they began asking us questions. It didn’t take long before Greagious took a personal interest and they started torturing us. Tutcon was the first to relent and tell them how the shield was here and after that... |
I saw how he counted the steps towards the centre of the statues and scuff a mark into the dirt covered floor with a boot. "They killed you one by one to get the others to talk?" |
"It didn’t really work for them though. We might have told them that the Shield was here but none of us told them how to retrieve it." echoing darkly in the shadowed interior, Thedret’s laugh was as bitter as his expression. "They believed that we had come in such numbers to breach the traps and never thought that the... |
"How’d you survive though?" |
"Me?" again he took another measured set of paces from another one of the statues and made another mark with his boot. "I’m a trained healer. When they caught me healing one of the others after one of their interrogations they realised that I was worth more to them all alive than dead. The others... the others didn’t ... |
The collection of scuff marks made a rough hexagon seemingly in a random portion of the floor and he stepped backwards from it with a wave of his hands. "Well, this is where the Shield lies." |
"How certain are you?" I asked, moving over and taking note of the position of the marking. |
"As certain as I can be." His voice became cold as he looked over the two of us. "What will you do once you have the Shield?" |
Standing with the scuffed stonework at my feet, I couldn’t help but feel trepidation that yet another of the relics were almost in our grasp. "Get out of these damnable marshes first and foremost. After that? There’s still the other relics that need to be found." |
Despite first appearances and the fact that we no longer had to contend with hundreds of metres of trap strewn halls, retrieving the Shield of the Crusader was neither quick nor easy. The rest of the fort may have been an elaborate ruse but the original builders ensured nothing was left to chance. For the rest of the a... |
The size of the steel box and the complete and utter lack of ornamentation did little to allay our growing fears that Thedret and the Knights Mentor were mistaken but after cracking the seals and prying it open we all fell silent. Locked away for two centuries and buried the entire time, the Shield like the other Reli... |
Little more than a buckler designed to be strapped to the arm and the wrist rather than held, it was a far cry from the enormous Legion tower shields that I was used to. Fashioned into the shape of a diamond with the points cut away, it was less than my forearm wide, but twice a long in height. While there was no doub... |
After staying our third night in the area we departed the fort in a group exponentially larger than the one we had arrived in. The remaining Black Bows were loaded into a collection of barges that had arrived from some of the other nearby Argonian villages as the word of our success spread. For the most part they didn... |
The local villages had also sent handfuls of their population to assist, and while many were no healthier than the first we had encountered their assistance in herding our prisoners was invaluable. They also greatly assisted our journey back to the larger settlements which ensured that after a short two-day journey we... |
Much to Viconia’s amusement, the bounties we received for the remaining bandits was surprisingly considerable once the authorities were convinced of their identities and any attempts to cheat or swindle us were dealt with. When we left the township and our collection of grateful guides from the liberated villages we d... |
The return journey was very much the same as our journey to Blackmarsh although there was much more resting than before. All of our injuries had ensured that we were able to do little more than rest, recuperate and see to our arms and armour that had taken just as much of a battering as we had. Much would have to wait... |
Word of our success had proven to be much faster than the river carrack we returned on, once again proving that the messenger posts continued their service in spreading news at a breakneck pace. When we finally moored onto Leyawiin’s docks an enormous crowd was rapidly building, kept at bay only by the cohort’s worth ... |
Our reception was also very similar, as every member or individual affiliated with the Order in any way was there in person to welcome us back and I was mildly amused to see that there was no fanfare or the like awaiting us. Just a sea of grinning faces until someone started clapping and left the entire lodge shaking ... |
Sir Ramauld was standing at the end of the great hall, a smile splitting his enormous beard and being flanked by his two remaining Knight-Captains Sir Niseus and Madame B’ivin. For a moment I almost stopped in place, as the way the applause and cheering was threating my calm was suddenly compounded as I realised that ... |
"You all know how to make an entrance." Sir Ramauld said, raising his voice to allow it to carry over the thundering noise filling the stallion lodge. |
I barely had time to brace myself before the enormous Nordic Knight grasped my hand tightly in a bone crushing grip that lasted barely a second before he moved to the others in our group. One by one he gripped everyone by the hand and his example led to us being swamped by his Knight Captains, the Count and the other ... |
"Well, at least it appears that you both have learned how to share glory." The noise had died off as we finished receiving the personal congratulations, which allowed Count Caro’s voice to carry across the hundreds pressing in around us. For a few seconds there was a ripple of amusement throughout the crowd as our gro... |
"When I knighted you both," He continued, delight written across every line of his face as he addressed Viconia and myself. "I did so to honour your accomplishments, not to challenge you to outdo them." |
"What can I say my lord? We like testing ourselves." |
Breaking into a massive grin, he turned and looked at one particular individual in the centre of our party with the priceless relic in his hands. Thedret had willing followed us on the journey but he had refused to let the Shield out of his sight and care beyond the briefest of moments. Now dressed in partially reclai... |
"All of your deeds are now beyond legendary, and you all have accomplished what most have considered impossible. Leyawiin, Cyrodiil, the Empire, and even I owe you all immensely for what you have done." Slowly he looked over us all, seeing the way that we stood there filled with pride by clearly showing the hardships ... |
Alexi nodded. "It is true my Lord. Greagious was slain by my own hand and his lieutenants were killed by Kaius. The rest are either dead or in captivity." |
For the briefest of moments all of the years that Count Caro lived landed heavily on his shoulders but there was satisfaction in the way that he slumped. "I..." he began, pausing and physically correcting himself. "My family, thanks you all for what you have done. We are in your debt sir Knights." |
The young Countess moved over towards her husband and I couldn’t help but notice the way that her hand flowed down his arm briefly before entwining their fingers together. It was a simple, regal motion that on the surface appeared to be a formality but I could see the way that the older Count took solace in his second... |
The dark pall lasted for the briefest of moments before the Count crushed any trace of it aside with well-practiced ease. His grin grew even larger until I was beginning to wonder whether his lips would split from the effort. "The Black Bows finally destroyed for good, and another of Pelinal’s relics reclaimed in the ... |
Feeling a sudden stab of trepidation right into the depths of my stomach, I tried not to show any of my unease and returned his smile with one of my own. "I haven’t been alone in my successes my Lord, I have had considerable help." |
"Oh, I can see that." His gaze briefly flickered to the others standing by my side and the way that Viconia surreptitiously moved closer to be by my side in a facsimile of him and the Countess. There was no way I could not notice the way he had to look up to meet Mazoga’s and Falid’s gazes the second before he raised ... |
"My Lord, I..." |
"Oh for Shar’s sake Kaius," Viconia said at my side. "You retrieved the Boots on your own and have been part of retrieving three other relics. You’re the only one who meets the criteria." |
Count Caro nodded both to me and Viconia and my quick glance to the others in the party let me see that none of them were going to come to my rescue. It was galling that I could face off against daedric horrors, vampires and other assorted monsters infesting the lands without hesitation but finding myself the centre o... |
The scroll was unfurled in the Count’s hands and the courtier stepped forward and offered the tiny box to myself. It was large enough to sit comfortably in the palm of a hand but as I took it off the man and opened it I saw that inside was an immaculately made signet ring. |
"I took it upon myself to commission Leyawiin’s finest jeweller on your behalf even before the Council’s decree was formalised. With this ring and my authority, I declare you; Sir Kaius Trebanus Desin, as Knight Commander of the Order of the Nine." |
Again the thunderous applause shook the air and could be felt through the very stones under our boots as I took the offered ring and Count Caro made a show of reading the scroll authorising my new rank and title. At that point I was far too overwhelmed to think or listen to what he was formally announcing, instead tak... |
Despite its size, the weight of authority attached to such a simple piece of jewellery made my hand and arm feel as solid and heavy as lead. I had never envisioned myself being the commander of any number of men beyond being a Praefect in the Legion, and if I had been honest with myself, during the weeks since Viconia... |
Sir Ramauld didn’t have a congratulatory handshake for me this time and instead I found myself smothered in a momentary warrior’s embrace and receiving a pat on the back that threatened to crack ribs. If he could have found a way to smile even more he would have done so, and as the noise once again died down he was no... |
"We are equals now Kaius, but you will not truly be a Commander until you have Knights to lead. Thankfully for you I have already assisted you in this regard and several of the White Stallion have offered to swear fealty to you." There was another rolling wave of amusement from the assembled crowd at his proclamation ... |
Both Viconia, the rest of the party and I were astounded to look upon the three ranks of Knights standing proudly in their white surcoats and tabards and the band of Men-at-Arms standing behind them. Thirty of some of the most experienced looking Knights of the White Stallion had already made the decision to leave the... |
"I give you all my thanks. I..." words utterly failed me and I shrugged helplessly at the crowd around me, seeing little more than a sea of expectant gazes and smiling faces. "Thank you." |
"They are ready to take their oaths of Service to you and the Nine," Sir Ramauld continued. "Along with anyone else you deem suitable or willing to join. No doubt there is going to be quite a number seeking to join the Order once word spreads." |
"I can think of a few already that might be interested." I said, turning my own gaze to the handful who had fought and bled by Viconia’s and my side in our quest to retrieve the shield. |
"I will swear the oath." Viconia said by my side, and I managed to keep the grimace of amusement off my face at the tone she had expertly hidden in her words. I knew her better than to think that she was doing so out of some misplaced piety or belief, even if she was capable of truly putting herself into someone’s els... |
There was a moment of unspoken questioning between Sir Ramauld and Alexi as they caught each other’s gaze and after some initial hesitation Alexi stepped forward as well. "I’ll join the Order of the Nine." |
As the other two Knights within our party, Thedret and Falid were smiling but as I looked over them they shook their heads in alternative ways. |
"My Oaths to Talos are binding Sir Desin." Falid rumbled. "I will continue on this journey alongside you but as a Black Knight." |
"Thedret?" I asked the youngest Knight of our travelling band. |
With his hands still grasping the shield tightly as though he expected someone to come and steal it at a moment’s notice, the dark skinned Breton shook his head. "My place is with the Shield but you can rely on my support, and potentially that of the Knight’s Mentor." |
Weebam-Na and Bejeen shook their heads so hard I was almost expecting them to fly off their shoulders. "Oh no. There isn’t enough gold in the world to get us to become Knights." Weebam-Na hissed like a pot coming to boil and chittered in his own strange laugh through a fang filled maw. "Although if you ever need guide... |
My laugh was echoed by a majority of our group but as always there was one individual who managed to make every occasion look as appetising as chewing on a mouthful of lemon. When my gaze fixed on Detane he sneered with the same venomous potency, somehow appearing as though he had just spat at my feet without actually... |
"I swore that you had my sword Sir Desin but there is no authority in the world capable of granting me Knighthood." For the briefest of heartbeats there was a momentary waver in his voice and expression so minute that I struggled to identify it. "Therefore I must decline your offer." |
"Very well." Turning to the final and last member of the group I saw how Mazoga seemed more interested in the stained glass window that took up most of the wall on the far side of the hall than he occurrences within it. I wondered just how much of the situation she had been following which somehow amused me. "Mazoga?" |
"Eh?" she started at her name and blushed as she realised that I and everyone else present had focused their attentions exclusively on her. "What?" |
"I will not beholden you to any oaths of joining in service to the Nine, but there is something that is now within my power to grant you." I nodded to the floor in front of her as the slow realisation dawned across her face. "You have shown the attributes worthy of honouring beyond those in battle, and it will be fitt... |
Her mouth fell open but she dropped to her armoured knee so hard and so fast that I and some of the nearby servants winced at the anticipation of repairing broken tiles from the impact. Slowly I cast my gaze over the other Knights who had proclaimed their desire to join the Order of the Nine and in a shuffling mass th... |
During the months since our pilgrimage along the wayshrines from Anvil to Cloud Ruler I had read extensively about the Knights of the Nine and as I stood in the Stallion Lodge a particular collection of words entered my mind. It was a collection that had featured heavily through all the books and treatise regarding th... |
"I give my body, heart and soul to the covenant of the Nine." I began, standing before Mazoga’s kneeling form and trying my best to force the nervous tremor from my voice. Any potential issues with such a statement with Mazoga was non-existent as she had proven that unlike most orcs, she was not a follower of Malacath... |
"No plea of help shall find me wanting." Raising my voice so that it carried through the entire hall, I couldn’t help but feel a tingling surge of excitement as I spoke the oath of the Nine. Possibly the last time the Oath was spoken aloud was when Sir Amiel and the original Knights still lived and breathed. "No obsta... |
"This is your oath." Mazoga’s eyes rose up to meet mine from where she was kneeling as I drew Sunchild, tapping it on one shoulder and then the other before lightly drawing it across her cheek. In comparison to the dozens of other scars, including the enormous one from eyebrow to behind the ear it would have been unno... |
The entire weight of every stone within the Lodge’s construction seemed to weigh down on me as I looked over the kneeling Knights, trying my best not to smirk at the way that Alexi winked at me when I looked at where he was waiting on one knee. "Rise as Knights of the Nine!" |
My exclamation elicited an enormous, ground shaking roar from ever man, mer, woman and beastfolk within the great hall as the ancient Order was reborn but only Mazoga remained on one knee. She was too shocked, too stunned to do anything and for a moment I feared that the situation might make her fall over; something t... |
Offering the stunned Orc my hand, she looked at it questioningly while still looking faint. "Rise a Knight... Madame Mazoga." |
Taking my offered hand with an enormous green paw that fully encompassed everything below my wrist, she rose to her full impressive height as the cheering once again dwindled away. "I think that I’d prefer "Sir’ instead of Madame." She said to a rolling wave of honest laughter. |
With the formalities aside and the full weight of realisation and the exhaustion of our quest into Blackmarsh began eating into our flesh. Even as the hall roared in appreciation and Sir Ramauld ordered the laying of a feast that appeared to have been weeks in the making the members of our party splintered away for wh... |
When Viconia and I finally returned from our room, now dressed in our spare travelling clothes and the dust and muck of the week long return journey from Blackmarsh scrubbed from our flesh the feast was in full swing. A handful of squires, Men-at-Arms and servants with the appropriate talent had managed to procure a m... |
Detane was the first to vanish, disappearing like smoke in the breeze and without anyone other than ourselves to take note. The hulking form of Mazoga had also vanished but in a different way, as her sheer size and personality ensured that she could be found without the need for eyes. Judging by the cheers and chantin... |
As for the gigantic Black Knight, he had temporarily situated himself on a table nearest the kitchens after removing a majority of his armour. In quantities that in any normal being would have appeared gluttonous, if not weighing a third or half of their bodyweight he was consuming the food needed to restore his physi... |
Alexi was barely visible in the crush of nobility and courtiers that had followed the Count and Countess to the Lodge, his expression as his eyes met mine was almost pleading in an amused way. Unsurprisingly the young Baronettess Fulcalius was also present despite his best attempts to send her on her way back to her f... |
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