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There had been too many close calls though. Viconia had been left with a black eye as a trio of "unknown assailants’ assaulted her as she walked through the camp one night. No one had been identified or punished and the Duke’s official statement was that it was some of the men-at-arms who were responsible, not to ment... |
The incident with Viconia aside, their intrigues were subtle and while there was considerable intimidation and friction between his followers and the Order of the Nine it was steadily growing worse. Tents and personal items would be damaged, men and women would be accosted during the dark hours and every day the fresh... |
"Sir Desin," Carodus’ voice snapped my mind back inside of my body and I lowered my arms from where I was stretching out the aches as best I could. "Do you have any words for the cohort?" |
"Cohort’ was a bit of a stretch as the number of men-at-arms was well over the Legion "standard’ of a hundred legionaries, not including the two or three dozen knights with us. I did nod however, shaking my arms out and stepping forward to face them all. |
"An excellent turnout this morning and I hope that you all can see some improvements in yourselves since last week. Today will be formations training in full armour. Don’t dawdle and don’t forget anything because I don’t feel like doing another fifty squat thrusts, I’m looking at you Murir." |
The tall Altmer, wearing the faded heraldry of the Host of the Horn on his chest gave an embarrassed smile but didn’t have the breath to reply. There was some amused laughter from among the group as it was something of a running joke how the High Elf seemed entirely capable of losing his head if not for the way it was... |
Unfortunately, the cavalry wasn’t as coherent and other than the knights who had followed me from Leyawiin and the likes of Avita who had joined up before the Duke’s arrival there were distinct groups. Many of the Host of the Horn and especially Baron Jaseton’s knights avoided any of the training like it would infect ... |
Out of the corner of my eye I could see the familiar shape of Sepula hovering close enough to show that he was seeking me out, but far enough away that he wasn’t getting directly involved and I held back a sigh. He and his services had been almost entirely claimed by the Duke and while I knew that the scribe held no l... |
"Centurion Carodus, thank you for this morning’s session. I will see you all for training." |
Turning and stepping away as Carodus began directing them all in the direction of Brellin and his assistants I dragged a rough spun length of fabric I was utilising as a towel and wiped the sweat from my face as best as I could. Without the vampire’s assistance during such sessions I always found myself struggling to ... |
"Why did I choose to do this again?" |
Chuckling, I bent over and felt all the twinges of my back and shoulders at the motion as I dragged my waterskin from the dew soaked ground. "Because you are a glutton of punishment?" |
Patting herself in the face with her own towel, an eyebrow curved and she lightly snatched the waterskin from my hands. "That man could be an excellent torturer." |
"Don’t give him any ideas." Looking over, I saw Alexi striding over as best as he could, trying not to show how he was favouring both legs at the same time and bringing over a small collection of vials from the direction of Brellin and the healers. All of the Knights of the Nine, with the exception of Detane and the l... |
"Once I reach Carodus’ age, if I have a tenth of his level of fitness I will be happy." |
"Good luck with that." I replied to him, taking one of the potion vials with a nod of thanks. "He’s being doing this sort of thing longer than we have been alive." |
"He’s a damned sadist." Alexi’s humour was contagious even though my mood was darkening with the approach of Sepula. "How many squat thrusts did we do? I lost count." |
"Six sets of thirty. That’s not including the same number of pushups, situps, squats, leg raises..." Removing the cork stopped from the vial and ensuring that I didn’t smell the potion I upended it and swallowed as quickly as I could. Despite my best efforts the bitter taste still felt like a punch to the mouth. "Ugh,... |
Drinking his own vial with a similar reaction, Alexi coughed a little and replaced the cork in his vial. "At least they work, and Brellin really seems to know what he’s doing." |
Appearing in front of us, Sepula looked between Alexi and Viconia before settling his gaze onto me. As always he seemed to have an expression of intense boredom and indifference but his body language was anything but. "Sorry to interrupt Sir Desin, but I have been given a task to pass onto you." |
"What eternal glory and praise will Kaius get for this momentous task?" Alexi asked, his scarred cheek twitching in amusement. |
As he always did, Sepula never seemed to know how to respond to Alexi and instead chose to ignore him. This in itself only seemed to encourage Alexi to try harder with his jokes and sarcasm around the scribe in the undying attempts to get the administrator to relax for once. |
"Yesterday’s audit of the priory supplies has identified discrepancies and Duke de’Leorion has granted you the responsibility of handling the situation." |
"Great. What’s gone missing?" |
"It’s uncertain." The strange energy within Sepula was making me feel uneasy as he was undoubtedly nervous and trying not to show it. "He has tasked you and several others to undertake a fresh audit today and identify the missing items so that his knights can retrieve them." |
"Well, have fun with that Kaius." Slapping me on the shoulder and plucking my empty vial of healing potion out of my grasp, Alexi laughed with a grin now entirely consuming his face. "Sounds marvellously entertaining and I will be sad to miss it." |
"I’m sorry to say, Sir Vanevius but you are one of the individuals the Duke has ordered to assist." |
Alexi’s expression was similar to a punctured waterskin and he deflated just as easily. "Wonderful, we’re honorary quartermasters." |
Not moving his attentions from me, Sepula ignored Alexi’s good humoured complaints and Viconia’s brooding presence by my side. "I have already taken the liberty of gathering a few individuals to assist you all. They will be waiting for you in the priory stockpile." |
"How soon is the Duke expecting us to start checking everything?" |
"As soon as possible." The gravity of his words was not missed and I nodded before he turned and began shuffling away. |
"This is a farce." Viconia muttered as soon as Sepula was far enough away. "No matter what is missing, de’Leorion will just use this as an excuse to acquire whatever they want from everyone." |
"Every day they come up with something new and at least they are ensuring that things aren’t boring." Unsuccessfully trying to rinse the taste of the potion with a mouthful of water, Alexi spat on the ground and wiped his mouth. "And I had such high hopes for the day." |
Wiping my face and head from the fresh beads of sweat covering my flesh, I sighed and shrugged. "I wouldn’t worry about getting too comfortable for the morning. I’m probably not even going to bother to get changed." |
"This will piss of some of the Duke’s entourage in their oh-so-pretty clothes they wear all the time." Alexi’s grin was contagious and he twirled himself about as though he was a debutante attending her first ball. "Let them see what a real man looks like." |
Unable to resist, Viconia grin was as comforting as finding oneself with a hungry lioness. "If that’s the case, I guess I better go and find one. Perhaps Falid will be willing to assist?" |
Pressing his hand to his chest, Alexi’s expression changed to one of fake hurt and insult. "Oh. You wound me so deeply Vicky." |
"If you recover from such a grievous wound to your pride Lex," I laughed, draining the rest of my water skin and knuckling my mouth on the back of a fist that tasted entirely of salt and earth. "We actually have work to do." |
It didn’t take long to gather a few things and despite what we had discussed we changed into fresher clothing. The priory had been almost entirely off limits for most individuals since the Duke’s arrival and it had taken less than three days of constant work, including the nights for the carpenters and masons from the... |
There was no doubt in my mind that he was stamping his authority into the region and using the Relics to advance himself politically throughout the Empire. Whoever held claim over the Relics was a political force to be reckoned with and would have the full support of the Church of the Nine behind them. Rumours were al... |
While no longer sweating when we passed by the pair of Horn Knights guarding the front doors, we were severely underdressed in comparison. The servants and attending knights in the Priory were dressed in full opulence, their armour polished to a mirror shine and their clothes worth more than what most legionaries woul... |
"This looks wonderful." Alexi muttered as we stepped into what was now the main stockpile for the Knights of the Nine. |
The room that Viconia and I had stayed for several days while I healed from my fight against the Ghosts had been cleaned out, renovated and was now almost entirely filled with crates, boxes and storage racks containing everything needed for such a military organisation. Sheets of spare chainmail, armoured plates, quiv... |
We weren’t the first to arrive in the storeroom and I gave a half smile at the sight of Sepula waiting for us with a young man with the complexion of a Redguard. He was possibly only a few years younger than myself but I couldn’t help but see the nervousness that suddenly gripped him tight as he laid eyes on us. It wa... |
"I’m thinking that we are going to have to work on your subtlety, Sepula." |
"Sorry Sir. Subterfuge is not amongst my skillsets." |
Walking close behind me, Alexi glanced between me and the rest of us, frowning as he did so. "Am I missing something?" |
"We’re not down here to count nails." Viconia added for Alexi’s benefit and the expression of understanding spread before he turned and ensured the door to the ground level was closed. |
"I must apologise for the deceit. I convinced the Duke that the supplies needed to be checked and it didn’t take much for his to agree to have you all responsible for such a task. It was the only way that I could think of to get you all somewhere quiet." |
"To do what exactly?" Viconia asked, her voice growing cold as she glanced around, ever wary for ambushes and hidden blades in the dark. |
Gesturing to the young man standing alongside him, Sepula grimaced nervously and nodded. "This is Lathon. He has information that you all need to hear." |
Obviously feeling our sudden interest and scrutiny, the Redguard swallowed nervously and tried to clear his throat. "Um... Yes... My name is Lathon Nermion. I am... was, a squire in in the Order of Iron." |
"You’re one of the Duke’s men." I stated flatly, seeing the shaky nod as response. |
"What information do you have for us?" |
His eyes were darting about, moving between all of us and glancing at the door leading to the rest of the priory as though he expected a horde of enemies to burst in. "I know about the Sword, and the truth behind how the Duke gained it." |
"Besides that the Sword is corrupted or cursed?" Viconia asked, and Lathon stared at her with an expression akin to confusion and shock. |
"I don’t know about that madame, but I know that he wasn’t the one who retrieved it. It was Sir Roderic Menius; my charge who originally reclaimed the Sword and the Greaves." |
Alexi was staring at the squire and his scrutiny was hardening his face. "Where is your sire now?" |
"He’s... he’s dead. He died shortly after retrieving the relics." |
"Right..." Rubbing at my face I could feel my annoying building at the same rate as my instincts that the squire’s knowledge was of high importance. "Take a breath and calm your nerves. You’re safe with us." |
"Okay..." Taking deep breaths, Lathon wringed his hands while trying desperately not to keep staring at the door or the floor between us all. his attempts to calm himself was soon proved to be fruitless as there was suddenly an obvious drop in temperature throughout the room that left all of our breaths misting the ai... |
Lathon and Sepula were looking about in alarm and only Viconia and myself were showing no signs of distress as the temperature continued to plummet and mist began to form from the walls and floor. It was coiling and smoking through the cracks and the ancient mortar, but a vast majority of it was obviously billowing an... |
"Good morning Kaius." Echoed a faint, but audible voice as a new figure appeared from the steaming stonework, thin trails of ethereal ectoplasm streaming away as the ghost stepped through the wall. |
"Good morning to you too Amiel. You definitely know how to make an entrance." |
The long dead knight commander smiled and nodded a further greeting to Viconia and Alexi, looking between us and the other two still living individuals who were backing away as quickly as they could. Sepula and Lathon were entirely on the verge of panic at the appearance of the long dead knight, and their fears were c... |
Alexi, to his credit handled the appearance of several ghosts from the wall rather well. While he had dropped his hand to his sword purely by reflex, he was composed enough to see that Viconia and I were not alarmed in the slightest and tried his best to relax. |
"We apologise for startling you all, but this may be the only opportunity for us all to speak and we too are interested in hearing what the squire says." Amiel’s face, while transparent and a hollow reflection of mortality was friendly as he nodded to Sepula and Lathon. "There are also things we all need to discuss." |
"This is definitely good for getting the blood pumping." Muttered Alexi, carefully removing his hand from his sword and trying his best to remain calm as he gestured to Viconia and myself. "Does this count as a usual situation for you two?" |
"You’d be surprised." Viconia replied, her eyes narrowing. "Why do I get the feeling that there is more to all this than we think?" |
"Because there is." Sir Torolf voice was a growl and the Nordic ghost rolled his shoulders as though preparing for a fight. "This young lad knows part of the story." |
Lathon was shaking now, seeing and feeling the attention of several ghosts and ourselves and now obviously reconsidering his choices that had led him to such a situation. "I don’t know much. I just know that the Duke didn’t retrieve the sword on his own." |
"Start from the beginning." Sir Amiel stepped forward and sat on top of one of the many crates within the room and the other dead Knights of the Nine also made themselves comfortable. My attention however was drawn to the fact that there was no longer just eight of them, as they had been joined by a ninth ghost that I... |
"Right..." Gripping his hands tight in an effort to stop them from shaking, Lathon tried and failed to move surreptitiously away from the ghosts as best as he could and cleared his throat again. "Sir Roderic was too old to continue his service in the Order of Iron and so as his last duty he took me along on a journey ... |
"You met near Chorrol?" I asked simply, drawing his attention away from the ghosts sitting and leaning as they listened intently to him. "How long ago was this?" |
"Three months ago." He shook himself as though he had been unable to decide whether he needed to shiver or not. "We briefly stayed in Chorrol, everyone tried to lift the gauntlets but failed and then something... happened." |
He gestured openly with his hands. "I... I don’t know exactly what, but Sir Roderic and some of the others received a vison while praying in the cathedral. Whatever they saw it seemed to excite them, and they all agreed that the Gods had shown them the location of the Sword and the Greaves. Some of the Host of the Hor... |
Viconia and I shared a glance that didn’t go unnoticed by Lathon and the others. Especially Sepula who was still looking as pale as the ghosts themselves while pressing himself into the far wall. "We know a bit about receiving visions ourselves." I added in response to their unasked question. |
"It took us just over a week but between everyone who had the vison we came across an old manor house. It was little more than a crumbling ruin but Sir Roderic and the others seemed excited." |
"The Vlindrel Estate." Sighed the ninth ghost. |
"They all knew exactly where to go." Lathon continued, his words suddenly pouring from his mouth in a rush. "It was only a few hundred metres away and nestled into the side of a hill but after some careful digging and removal of vegetation we found a tomb and managed to force our way inside." |
His shakes grew worse for a moment while he continued to try to keep himself calm but the story was flowing from him now. "Sir Roderic led the way, and besides the two of us there were over a dozen knights following. The Duke, Baron Jaseton, Sir Wirile and a handful of each of their knights entered the tomb, but half ... |
"It was wielding the Sword?" |
Lathon nodded. "I haven’t seen anything like it. Sir Roderic was a great warrior and extremely skilled but he could barely hold it off let alone win against such a creature. It had killed four of the Duke’s knights as though they were as skilled as children." |
"What did the Duke and others do?" |
At Alexi’s question Lathon merely shrugged. "The Duke fled. So did Baron Jaseton. Only Sir Wirile stayed behind with two of the Horn knights but they didn’t go to Sir Roderic’s aid. In the end it was up to us to defeat it." |
"But you won obviously." |
His nod this time was slow and sad. "We did, but Sir Roderic was wounded. The Sword could cut through his plate and had opened up a deep wound on his side. He managed to retrieve both it and the greaves from the tomb where the thing had come from." |
"So how did he die?" |
"I... I don’t know for certain." There was no mistaking the plea for help in his eyes and the hints of tears in the corners. "After we left the tomb, the Duke declared that Sir Roderic would be renowned throughout Tamriel for his deeds and success and ordered his surgeons to care for him. The wound was terrible, one o... |
A cold sweat made itself felt down my spine that had nothing to do with the barrows chill in the storeroom and I knew that all the others felt the same way. "You think the Duke had your sire murdered?" |
Lathon nodded, before thinking better of it and shaking his head instead. "I don’t know sir. I have no proof and nothing more than a hunch. I believe that he had a hand involved in Sir Roderic’s death and I can’t bring myself to believe that he would have died from such a wound. He was an experienced knight, and had g... |
"That’s because he didn’t." Growled the unidentified ghost and our eyes were drawn to him. "Sir Roderic Menius was killed by Cedricer Wirile at the behest of Duke de’Leorion." |
Sir Amiel saw our expressions of shock and curiosity and gestured between us all. "I apologise for not introducing you all earlier but you needed to hear the Squire’s story first. This is Sir Berich Vlindrel." |
"The knights of the Nine are whole again." I muttered, staring pointedly at Sir Amiel. "You do realise that this raises even more questions than before." |
All of the ghosts nodded, and Sir Berich stepped forward to face us. He was shorter than Amiel and myself but was extremely well built for his size. Like the other ghostly knights, he was dressed in all the finery of the order with gleaming steel plate, polished chainmail and a tabard bearing the red diamond proudly o... |
"Yes, my presence here is definitely an oddity, and one that warrants explanation. The explanations will also answer a lot of other questions that you do not yet know you have." |
"How is the sword corrupted?" Viconia said, ignoring everything else and thrusting to one of the important hearts of the matter. |
"Partially because of my actions and deeds while I was still among the living." He said flatly, returning her cold stare with one of his own. Unlike some of his long dead comrades, Sir Berich was bareheaded and his hair hung down over his ears, framing a sharp boned face that was distinctly Colovian. "You have heard m... |
Making a short, sharp gesture at Lathon, Sir Berich’s expression softened and he appeared to be struggling with guilt. "The creature that he described was in fact my corpse, twisted and corrupted by the curse bound into the Sword of Arkay and the weight of my sins." |
The uncomfortable silence was short as he seemed to sag, a sad smile creasing his face as he looked between us all. "For close to two hundred years I have lain within my family’s mausoleum, trapped within the decayed remnants of my mortal form where the sword’s corruption soaked me to the core. But, thanks to this you... |
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