(Nyxalinth)
Red and Blackie favoured me with twin leers as they moved forward to claim me. If I said I wasn't at all afraid, friends, well, I'd be lying. I knew what they'd do with me, and I also realised that they would have plenty of time to work their wicked will on me if I didn't have my timing exactly right. I sent silent prayers to both Nocturnal and the Great Lord that I did, then smiled wickedly at the brothers.
"You change your tune quickly, sweet one," Blackie purred. He trailed his slender fingers lightly over my throat, then down into the top of the silken robes I wore. I didn't hold back the gasp I made--it would add to my performance.
"One might think that you were up to something," Red breathed in my ear. He nipped at it, getting his point across quite well.
"Well," I said softly. "Let's just say...I know where I need to be, boys. I belong with Lord Vex...and you."
"What of Zerith?" Blackie asked me. He unfastened on of the tiny diamond buttons holding my robe closed. It terrified me to think that my modesty was armoured by a turquoise silk robe. Where was a suit of Daedric plate mail when you needed it?
I shrugged, 'accidentally' pushing my bosom against Blackie's hands. "What of him? Besides, what makes you think he'd want me anymore?" I wrapped an arm around both of their necks. "And why not have a little...get together before they come storming in here?"
With those words, I wrapped my fingers into their long hair...
...and forcefully gave them a meeting of the minds.
While the brothers were howling in agony and clutching their foreheads, I dove into Red's shadow...
...seconds later, I appeared next to the table, and the torch holder. Quickly, I scooped it up, whirled, and swung.
Apparently, either the god or the Daedra Princess heard my prayers, for the torch holder caught Blackie square in the shoulder. He screamed in agony, clutching his shattered limb, then his legs gave out and he collapsed, moaning.
Maybe you wonder why I waited all this time to strike against them...
I did it because I knew in my heart that Zerith had gone to meet his fate at Emerald Vex's hands. And I wanted everyone to know that whether they were victorious or not, I went down fighting as well.
Pain exploded in my own shoulder. I cried out, the torch holder dropping from my nerveless hand--my shoulder had been dislocated. I turned to see Red, a look of feral hate in his stormcloud eyes. He scooped up the torch holder and brandished it at me. "Bitch!" he hissed. "You will pay for striking my brother!"
He swung again, catching my collarbone and shattering it. Had I not dodged, he would have smashed it into my face instead.
Weaponless but not defenceless, I formed my good hand into a claw and raked my nails down the side of his face. It took all of my will to do so--the pain from my collarbone was excruciating. Red screeched, howling vile and obscene threats of my punishment to come.
The world swirled and became a grey vortex, swallowing me up. The last thing I heard was Kriella calling to me, but I couldn't make out the words. Then the door burst open, just as the darkness enfolded me in ebony wings.
The scream could be heard half-way across the palace and Kriella shuddered when she heard it. It was Blackie's voice and it clearly told of great pain. What was happening? Were they too late? She sprinted down the corridor, silently sending Tenaka a message to tell of what was happening. She looked around and saw the other three members of her party close behind her. A look of concern was on Rathine's face - he was worried about the Shadow Walker.
They soon reached a heavy oak door that was clearly Nyx's bedchamber. Another scream was heard from within - this time Nyx's voice. The Dreadmaster ran into the door, levelling her shoulder at the weaker side, but it did not budge. "Rathine, Betrayal!" she shouted. "Open that!" The Dremora and the man nodded and stepped back whilst Kriella moved out of their path. The two of them ran at the door as one and it visibly shook. They stepped back and ran again - this time a crack could be heard. A third time and a crack could be seen running up the heavy oak. A fourth and the door shattered, falling from its hinges. The group ran in, Kriella calling out to Nyx that they were there and desperately praying that they were not too late.
Kriella looked at the scene in horror. Nyx was lying on the floor, seemingly unconscious, with a vicious bruise on her shoulder showing where her collarbone had clearly been injured. Judging by the shape of her shoulder, it was probably broken. Red stood over her, wielding a dangerous looking candle holder - his face showed pure hatred for the Shadow Walker. At the moment he cared not about his orders from Emerald Vex - he wanted to kill Nyx. Blackie was rising to his feet, his injury seemingly forgotten, or if not, at least ignored.
Kriella did not need to give orders - everybody acted instinctively. Rathine and Alyssa ran over to Nyx, the Dremora to prepare the ritual that would save her soul - but also, Kriella could tell to protect her with his life should it become necessary - and the Soverian to nurse her as best she could. Betrayal grasped his pole-arm and advanced towards the recovering Blackie. Kriella drew her twin Daedric Katanas and went towards Red. This time there would be no escape for the Spider Daedra - they would die.
***
Rathine nestled Nyx's head in his lap as Alyssa tended to her shoulder. Quietly he whispered to her that all would be well, that what he was about to do would not hurt. He knew that she could not hear him, but he did not care. Nyx looked so vulnerable, lying there. He did not know what he felt towards the Shadow Walker, but he knew that he had felt it for no others in his long life, Daedra or mortal. At first it had been simple desire, but he knew that it had long ago passed onto something else.
He drew the Emerald Soul Gem from his pocket and held it to Nyx's brow. He quietly whispered the words that were needed for the gem to extract her soul without killing her. It was difficult, but he had practised the ritual many times since Imago Storm had given him the Gem. He did not want it to go wrong.
Finally, he finished and gave Alyssa a look that clearly told her to move away. She did so and a green light came from the gem, directed towards Nyx's chest. The light pulsed as it drew the Shadow Walker's soul into its deep green interior. At long last, the light faded and disappeared. Alyssa went back to tending Nyx's wounds, but Rathine simply sat, cradling the gem to his breast. The gem was now Nyx, and he would protect it with his life.
***
Betrayal looked at the Spider Daedra. He was glad that Kriella had moved towards the healthy one, leaving the injured brother for him. He knew instinctively that this would be a much harder battle than the one with Vex's Chosen outside the palace, or even against the Morphoids. But he had to beat it, or if not, at least keep it busy until Kriella could come and help him.
Blackie was unarmed, which gave a definite advantage to Betrayal who used his pole-arm to keep himself outside of the Daedra's reach. Blackie lashed out with his fist, but could not get inside the long reach of the pole-arm. Even injured, however, he had the advantage of speed. He could still scuttle around faster than the man he faced.
Betrayal backed off slightly and then ran towards the Daedra, his weapon aimed at its head, but Blackie saw the move coming and stepped back, stood on his four back legs and sprayed the weapon with his silk. Then began a tug-of-war between Betrayal and Blackie for the pole-arm. Betrayal could see that he would not be able to pull against the strength of the Spider's silk unless he could somehow cut it, and so he let go of the weapon. Blackie flew back, surprised that the man had given in so easily, and landed on his shoulder. The Spider Daedra let out a scream as renewed pain shot through him. Betrayal drew a small Mithril tanto and approached the screaming Daedra. Quietly, he pushed the blade into Red's chest. The Daedra screamed and then evaporated into a blue glow as it disappeared into the Darkness. Betrayal sat and looked around him. He would just get his breath back and then help Kriella if it was necessary.
***
Kriella and Red circled slowly. The two had met once before, and Red held almost as much hate for the Dreadmaster as he did for the Shadow Walker. Kriella rushed in, seeking to throw the Daedra off guard, but Red was ready for her, using the candle holder as a shield to block one sword as he pushed against the arm that held the second. For the first time, Kriella noticed the vicious lines running down the side of his face. There were deep scratches running down, but also water. Kriella was shocked to realise that Red was quietly weeping for his brother. The two of them exchanged blows again, but Kriella could not get within the Spider's defences.
The Dreadmaster heard the scream from Blackie and risked the time it took to glance over. She saw that Betrayal was about to finish him off, but Red saw it too. He moved away from the Dreadmaster to protect his brother, but Kriella dove between them, receiving a blow to her ribs from the candle holder as reward. It was not as hard as it could have been for Red was distracted, and her Ebony armour took away some of the force, but she could tell that a rib had cracked. She had stopped the Daedra for long enough though. She glanced over and saw Blackie disappear into the Darkness. Red howled.
Kriella stood, dropping one of her blades to hold her hand against her injured side and looked at the Spider Daedra that was openly weeping now, and running towards Betrayal who had not yet seen him. The Dreadmaster called out, "Stop, foul creature and join your brother!" Red stopped in his run and looked towards the Dreadmaster, realising that the immediate danger was there and that revenge would have to wait. He slowly approached Kriella.
"That is far enough, creature of the night. I will send you to the Darkness!" Kriella concentrated for a moment, and struggled past the resistance she felt in her mind. The resistance fell and she completed the command. She concentrated on the entrance to the palace and fixed an image of it in her mind. Behind Red, the dark outline of a Window appeared. As it stretched out, it moved ever closer to the Spider Daedra. Until it finally touched him. The divine strength of the Window cut into his back, but Kriella's blade kept him from moving forward. The Window cut into him, ever deeper. The pain was so great that he could not even scream. Kriella herself doubled over with the agony. It was nowhere near what Red was feeling, but still, it was more than anything she had ever felt. She had known that killing with a Window would exact a price, but she had not known that it would be such pain. Blood rushed from his mouth and nose as his lungs were cut open. Finally he screamed, and disappeared, to join his brother in the Darkness.
Kriella slowly recovered and then looked around. Betrayal had a look of awe on his face - he had not realised that the Window could be used as a weapon. Rathine had not noticed, so intent was he on keeping the gem safe. Alyssa was still tending to Nyx's body. Kriella quickly used her magic to heal her rib and then picked up her blade from where it had fallen. "Come, Rathine," she called. "We have work to do. Betrayal, Alyssa, protect Nyxalinth's body." Her words said, she ran through the Window that had moments before killed Blackie. Rathine stood and followed her.
Tenaka gazed at the corridor before him. Zerith was quite correct - this passage was definitely trapped. In fact, it was literally filled with traps. From end to end and from floor to ceiling. Balefire walked around the corner to stand next to his brother and then Skudge arrived. "Not safe!" said Skudge, pointing at the corridor before them. Tenaka barely suppressed a grin.
First along the corridor were the customary spikes moving in and out of the walls - both walls, naturally. After this came axes that hung from the ceiling and swung from side to side. Next the spikes were repeated, but from the ceiling and floor instead of the walls. At that point, the corridor went around a corner, but from the sounds that could be heard, there was more just around it.
"An interesting dilemma," said Tenaka. "Who wishes to try their hand at this Hall of Death first? Zerith? Brother?"
"Can you not simply open one of your Windows to the far side, brother?" asked Balefire.
"Nay, brother. For one, I cannot see the end of the corridor and I have never been there, and for another, it at all possible I would prefer not to use Windows in case Vex should notice and try to combat me again. As you probably noticed earlier, his interference proved troublesome."
"Troublesome?" said Zerith incredulously. "You have a remarkable gift for understatement!" The rest of the group smiled - they had had longer to get used to Tenaka’s unusual sense of humour.
"So there are no volunteers then?" said Tenaka. "Then I guess it shall have to be me. Wish me luck." Skudge pulled at the Dreadlord’s arm, trying to stop him. "Nay, friend," said Tenaka to the Scamp. "This is too dangerous for one such as yourself yet. Wait here a moment, and you can come through anon." Skudge let go and returned to the rest of the group.
Tenaka approached the first trap - the horizontal spikes. He stood before them for a moment to accustom himself to the necessary timing and then stepped through the first set. After each set, he paused for a few moments and then went as soon as he believed it safe. As he ran through the penultimate set, he tripped on a crack in the floor and stumbled forwards. The group held their collective breaths for an instant, until Tenaka righted himself, just before the spike attached him to the wall. The Dreadlord turned to face the party and, smiling, let out his own breath. Again, Zerith was amazed that he was so calm after such a close call.
Next were the swinging blades. Tenaka knelt down and looked along the floor. There was no room for him to crawl under them. He would have to rely on timing again. Life was always so inconvenient. Again, progress was slow, and then, suddenly, as he was about half way through, Kriella’s voice sounded in his mind. They were about to enter Nyx’s chambers where, apparently, a combat had already started. He quickly banished her voice from his head - he needed to concentrate. The remainder of the section passed without mishap.
He next came to the other set of spikes - the vertical ones. Looking at these he saw that they were staggered so that the place he would have to stand on whilst waiting for one to move was also the spot where the previous one would impale him. He would have to time it so that he could run through. Watching the timing for a moment, he realised that he would have to sprint. He estimated the distance at about 150 metres. It was a long time since he had sprinted, and even longer since he had tried it in full plate armour, but he would have to try. He counted down to himself, three, two, one, and then ran.
At the distance of 150 metres he had not seen the tripwire that lay across the corridor between the two of the last few spikes. At full speed he ran into it, tripping and ending up sprawled on the floor - right on top of the final spike! He felt it pushing up against his stomach and quickly cast a levitation spell on himself. The strength of his cuirass allowed the spike to gently push him up when he was lightened by the magic, and when the spike returned to the floor, he stood and moved away.
He looked around the corner and smiled. Despite his first thoughts, there were no traps in this second section of the corridor. He beckoned for the next man to come through and Balefire stepped up to the first trap. Tenaka watched for a moment until he could ascertain that the Warmage did not require help. Silently he contacted Kriella. She told him of the events in Nyx’s bedchamber and of what she planned to do next. He smiled at the thought of her plan. He turned back to the corridor and saw that Balefire was through and that Zerith had begun. The two Ebonheart brothers watched.
"An interesting place Vex keeps, eh Brother?" said Tenaka.
"Aye. Full of fun and frolics."
"Lady Daedrasbane is now safe, by the way. Whilst I was traversing the Hall, Kriella and Betrayal killed Red and Blackie. She is now within the Soul Gem. All that is left is to kill Vex."
"Zerith shall be pleased to hear this, no doubt. Ah, Zerith, you have finished." Balefire told Zerith that Nyx was safe. Zerith visibly grew more relaxed, and his face even broke into a smile when he heard of the demise of Red and Blackie. Just then they all remembered something as one and turned to look at the far end of the corridor. Skudge was still standing there.
"Surely the Scamp cannot negotiate this fiendly Hall," said Balefire.
"I could open a Window," said Tenaka, "but I would prefer it if we could find another way."
"I can think of nothing," answered Zerith.
Tenaka concentrated and was about to open the Window, when suddenly the traps stopped. The spikes stopped within the walls and the axes drew themselves up into the ceiling. Even the trip wire went slack. Skudge skipped down the corridor, completely unperturbed by the memory of what it had been only a moment ago.
"What did you do?" asked Balefire.
"Skudge try tell," replied the Scamp. "But you no listen."
"What did you do, Skudge?" asked Tenaka.
"Skudge find switch. Switch turn off traps."
The three men laughed out loud and Zerith slapped Skudge on the shoulder. They continued on down the once Hall of Death.
As he moved warily down the corridor, Balefire smiled at Skudge. "Never again, comrade, shall I underestimate you. That was well done, and you have reminded me that size does not mean everything. I salute you, fellow warrior."
Skudge briefly grinned with pride at the compliment, but his expression quickly became serious again. "Skudge smart. Skudge tough, too. But Vex not be beat by switch."
The imp looked up at the big Warmage, his eyes measuring the mercenary's huge, muscular frame, taking in the gleam of his Daedric armour, the flowing flame-like nimbus on his bared claymore's razor-keen edges, and the dimly glowing runes on the staff strapped across his massive back. His sensitive ears twitched at the evil-sounding keening emanating from the staff. His gaze lingered on the dusky, scarred face and the smouldering crimson eyes.
"You big, and tough." He looked around at Tenaka and Zerith, taking in their grim martial miens. "They tough, too. Maybe you can beat Vex. Just maybe. Know soon."
(Emerald Vex)
"So...it begins."
"Beg pardon, My Count?"
I recognised the speaker as Icerax, the commander of my Frost Daedra. I'd had to promise them much to bring them from their frigid mountain home to what was to them the sweltering heat of my palace. Even though I'd chilled my throne room until everything wore a glaze of frost, they were still uncomfortable. But they served, for to disobey me would mean their demise.
Besides, I was known to also keep my promises of reward.
I sighed. "I was but thinking aloud, Icerax. Red and Blackie wait to ambush the so called heroes. We wait here to deal with the others." I grinned in the darkness--magical darkness that could only be dispelled, not lit from within. "They might make it past the Hall of Death...but my--"
Suddenly an ear splitting scream of agony reached my ears. At first,
my dark heart rejoiced. Most likely the traps had claimed a victim, and I sincerely hoped it would be Balefire. Or his brother, or both. Pompous taunts in stereo were not my idea of entertaining. Then I knew...the scream had come from Blackie.
"Oh, my friends," I breathed softly as I heard Red's wail of anguish and loss. My heart clenched in remorse, for I knew it to be their death screams. "You will both be avenged."
I rose lithely from the seat I'd been idly lounging in. Suddenly, a great shuddering agony took hold of me. Gritting my teeth against a cry of my own, I collapsed back, panting.
"Your Grace, are you unwell?"
"I--I am fine," I said wearily. "But the bond between myself and Nyxalinth has been torn asunder." Tears squeezed from my eyes, but I forced them back. Even in the unpenetrable darkness, I would not weep before her would be saviours.
I pulled off my helm--it resembled the head of some demonic feline beast of prey, huge emeralds for eyes--and set it aside. I rubbed my temples, then at my eyes. I was getting a dire headache, which only exacerbated my vile mood. I finished, then replaced the helm upon my head, drawing the visor down. If they could see in this gloom, they would only see my blazing green eyes.
There was a catch in my voice as I growled, "If my beloved has perished, they will suffer for this all the more!"
I drew my orcish Dai Katana, grinning evilly. Even in the dark, I was certain that my grin was as sharp and cruel as my blade.
Kriella and Rathine ran through the Window without looking back. Nyx would be safe. She was sure that Betrayal and Alyssa could protect her body, and Rathine would kill any who endangered her soul. The Window closed behind the Dremora and the two of them ran out of the palace.
"Can you trace that army of Morphoids?" Kriella asked.
"Why would you want to find an army of Morphoids that recently made a serious attempt to injure us quite severely?"
"Because it was not, in my opinion, a very serious attempt. Now, can you do it?"
"Yes, but what makes you think that they were not trying to kill us?"
"Because they didn't succeed. Do you remember the Morphoid back at the Porcupine?" She took his nod as confirmation. "It took all three of us to kill it. This time, they outnumbered us three to one - at least - and yet none of us were even injured."
"You have a point. They went north. Would you like to lead the way?"
"You do it. You can follow them easier than I can and time is of the essence."
***
The two of them approached the Morphoid camp on their bellies. Kriella was now in the lead since the camp had been sighted and she had decided
that stealth was called for. Rathine had complained about crawling around in the dust, but Kriella had had only to mention that this act could save Nyx's life for him to comply. The camp was quite large, and even now, the Morphoids outnumbered the small band of adventurers that had journeyed to Oblivion to rescue Nyxalinth. The Morphoids were sitting around fires, complaining about losing to such a small party - they clearly believed that the battle had not been lost when their leader had called the retreat. The leader in question was nowhere to be found. Kriella's gaze drifted around the camp until she saw what she was
looking for. A large Command Tent stood at the opposite end of the camp. No doubt the leader could be found there.
Kriella motioned for Rathine to come back a little way and then outlined her plan. He nodded and then returned to watching the camp. Kriella crept around to the rear of the Command Tent. When she arrived, she raised herself slightly and looked around. The tent entrance was guarded by a couple of Morphoids. She raised her hand and waited for Rathine to repeat the gesture. The plan was in motion.
Rathine stood, and in full view of the camp began to cast a spell. He was being very dramatic about it with arms circling all over the place, and little by little the camp started to take notice of him. They then started to notice the spell he was preparing and began to shout and scream. They ran over to him, determined to cut him down before the spell could be completed. The two guards outside of the tent followed their comrades. Rathine let the spell go and one by one, all of the creatures around him began to grow and become other creatures. After a few moments, and dozen small insects had grown to resemble himself. They
had not his mind and simply ran around confusing the Morphoids, but the basic polymorph spell had been enough to distract the army away. Kriella opened a Window and Rathine ran through it to appear at her side. The Morphoids ran around killing the numerous copies of the Dremora.
The two of them, Dreadmaster and Dremora, crept around to the front of the tent and entered. Inside, sleeping on a pallet, was the female Daedra who had led the Morphoids. Kriella nodded to Rathine and the Dremora kicked her gently. She awoke with a start, but Kriella was between her and her weapons and armour. She stared indignantly at the Dreadmaster, fully expecting and prepared for death.
"I am Dreadmaster Kriella Khan," said Kriella. "It is my belief that you are dissatisfied with your employment with Emerald Vex. I think it is time you did something about it."
Betrayal laughed quietly from the window he was sitting in, watching the proceedings taking place to the north of the castle. Alyssa glanced up, a puzzled look on her face.
"What, pray tell, could be funny about the situation we are in?" She asked, puzzlement showing in her voice.
"My vision must be playing tricks on me." Betrayal replied, climbing down from the window seat. "I could have sworn I saw seven or eight Rathines running around in a battle in an encampment to the north" he related with a chuckle. Alyssa shook her head, a smile on her face.
"Were they doing well?" she asked, the smile remaining.
"No. They were losing quite badly" Betrayal replied, a morose look displacing his smile.
*****************Elsewhere******************
"Damn them. Damn them for what they did to my lieutenants!" Emerald Vex swore viciously, clenching his fists and dispelling the scrying globe in which he had just witnessed the deaths of Red and Blackie. His fists clenched at his side, Vex turned from the small altar he kept for his spellcasting, and strode back to his throne. Seating himself, he rested his chin on one gauntleted fist, staring into the darkness as if he could drill his way to Betrayal or Kriella by sheer force of will.
a sudden chill accompanied by the sound of footsteps announced the arrival of Icerax, simultaneous with the arrival of a page, running fast and out of breath. Icerax stood by the throne, eyeing the page with a cold, calculating look. Vex merely ignored him.
"Lord, the automatic traps in the approach hall have been shut off!" The page gasped. Vex turned with the ponderous slowness of an animated statue, angling his head at the page, suddenly exuding an aura of menace and anger.
"Very well. Hasten forth to the barracks, and tell whoever is senior there to rally all the troops. Array them in the receiving chambers, with a reserve inside the throne room." Vex stated, his voice flat, and without emotion. The page nodded, took one deep breath, and turned, running back the way he came.
"If they have managed to defeat one of your more sophisticated defences, Milord, what makes you think a meagre regiment of.. humans... could hope to stop them?" Icerax said, stepping forth to watch the retreating page. Vex turned again, directing his gave at the ice-blue figure.
"I expect they won't have a chance" Vex said, a grin flickering about his lips. "But they may delay that pompous oaf and his equally irritating brother long enough for me to turn the tide.." Vex's grin settled into a full-fledged smile. "Especially if they've brought that weak-minded scamp with them." Vex chortled quietly, his good humour restored. Icerax turned from the retreating page and considered the jovial Vex.
"Your good humour would indicate that you have some plan already in motion regarding the heroic brothers, which are the prime threats to yourself." Icerax said contemplatively. "With my knowledge of the situation, this leaves two other problems, namely the Soul Gem with Nyx's soul in it, and Nyx's body. From your scrying, you've revealed that the body is being guarded by two relatively inexperienced warriors, while the gem is held by a pair of more experienced warriors, who are approaching a camp of your forces, just beyond your walls." Icerax sated, laying out the tactical situation. The forces beyond your walls should be sufficient to stop two warriors, so that can be handled by instructing them to retrieve the soul gem undamaged." The Frost Daedra suggested, his eyes tracing out paths against the darkness surrounding him and Vex. Vex nodded, his eyes glowing a vibrant green against the contours of his helmet.
"and what of the body, Icerax? it's but the work of a moment to tell Lishara to bring me the soul gem after she's defeated those two." Vex stated grandly, gesturing. "Done." Now, I have to decide how to obtain Nyxalinth's luscious body.. " Vex trailed off, a frown on his face.
"Almost all of your forces are already committed, Lord Vex." Icerax commented "The next step would be to summon something to aid you."
Vex considered for a minute, his chin resting on his fist, looking for all the world like a piece of sculpture: Mad Warlord, pondering. Icerax stood by, impassively, as still as the glaciers themselves.
"I know of just the creature." Vex said suddenly. "Icerax, fetch me spellcasting implements, suitable for a summoning." Vex ordered, rising to his feet. "I believe you'll find this creature appropriate."
Skudge stared in stunned wonderment at his fallen comrades. One moment, they had been walking down the corridor. the next, they had all collapsed in a heap.
At first, Skudge had been terrified that the greenish gas had killed them all. Then he'd heard strange noises, like breathing, but louder--Balefire loudest of all. "They not dead!" the Scamp exclaimed, "they sleeping!"
Back at Battlespire, Skudge had watched over Nyx as she'd slept--once in the soul Cairn, then next time in Shade Perilous. The Shadow Walker had made similar noises, and she'd made them almost as loudly.
After some consideration, Skudge decided to awaken Balefire. The Warmage was the biggest and strongest, and, it seemed, very smart. Not mention he's making the most noise, Skudge thought, grinning.
The scamp tried shaking the big dark elf awake. This was followed by yelling in his ear, and when this failed to produce results, the scamp poked him with his steel tipped spear. The Warmage merely rolled over, grunting irritably, "Damn me, M'Lady, you are *still* not satisfied?" then he was snoring once more.
Skudge growled many rude words he'd heard Nyx using before. This called for dire measures. The scamp knelt at Balefire's side, bent over, and bit him hard on the...ear with is sharp little teeth.
The dark elf sat bolt upright, letting loose a yell that Skudge was sure could be heard all the way to Shade Perilous, and perhaps Geddon as well. "You awake!" Skudge cheered.
"Who would not be?" snarled the dark elf. "You bit me!"
The Scamp was all but hopping with impatience. "Come on Balefire, make magicka, wake up others!"
The dark elf scowled, rubbing his sore ear. "I'm Tenaka, not Balefire."
Skudge grinned. "Sorry. All dark elves look same to me."
Lishara had been having a most pleasant dream.
Emerald Vex had discarded that silly twit who'd occupied his attention so much lately, and had returned to her side. Now she was in his bed once more, once again his lover.
"I have a task for you, my dear Lishara," Vex purred at her. He fondled her in the way he knew she liked best. Lyshara sighed happily.
"Anything, my Lord Vex," she whispered, then nipped at his lips. "Just don't stop what you are doing!"
The Daedra Count chuckled--the same chuckle that had often turned Nyx's resolve to water. Lishara shivered in delight.
"Rathine and Kriella are coming for you, my dear black hearted bitch." He rolled himself atop her--she gasped in delight. "And Rathine has something I want." He slipped himself inside her, grinning cruelly at her cry.
"Any--anything, M"lord!"
"Rathine has a gem...a priceless emerald. It was once mine." He began to move slowly back and forth. Lishara moaned. "I want it back--sentimental reasons, of course." He gracefully rolled onto his back, Lishara rising above him.
"Of course." A guttural moan.
Vex moved faster, faster still. Just as Lishara was near ecstasy, he pushed her from him roughly.
"Aiiye! M'lord! What-"
Vex grinned down at her as she lay on his floor. "What are you waiting for? Bring me the gem, and we will conclude our business."
Her body burning with unfulfilled passion, Lishara rose to her feet.
"At once, M'lord. At once."
Lishara, now awakened from her dream, could barely contain her glee as she saw Kriella and Rathine staring down at her. She covered her smirk with a look of fierce indignation.
"No, I am not at all happy with him," she growled in answer to Kriella's question. She raked a hand over her black curls, tucking them behind one of her spiralling horns. "I was his lover, until that milksop wench caught his eye! Damn her to all Darkness forever!"
Rathine's eyes narrowed. "The milksop you refer to is the wench who defeated Mehrunes Dagon. I have no doubt that she could easily destroy you as well."
"Strange...she can defeat a Daedra Prince, but cannot defeat Vex?"
Lishara's eyes narrowed in return. "Have any of you great heroes stopped to consider that maybe she wants to be here? He's a superb lover, you know." The Morphoid commander leered at Kriella. "You should give him a try, love."
Suddenly Lishara found herself choking and strangling in the iron grip of the Dreadmaster as she was lifted from the floor by her throat. "I would suggest that you leave Nyx out of this," Kriella said calmly. The Daedra in her grasp clawed at her gloved hands, but to no avail. "I would destroy you, but that we need you." She released Lishara, who gagged and choked a moment more.
Lishara was not the brightest Daedra in Oblivion, but she wasn't wholly stupid, either. "What do you want me, for? Are you not afraid that I would betray you?" Her gaze slipped to Rathine as she tried to divine just where he might have hidden that gem. Smiling coldly, Rathine crossed his arms over his chest. "Your behaviour has give you away, my dear. You could have easily taken us, yet you ordered a retreat. Obviously, you are as angered with your lord--if not more so--than you are with Nyx."
Kriella looked up, startled. Once again, the Dremora had used the diminutive of Nyxalinth's name. His violet eyes nearly shone in the dim tent.
Lishara shrugged. "Yes. I would like to repay him for dumping me over. I suppose the girl is not at fault. But what care does a Dremora have for a mortal?" Suddenly she smirked. "Ahh, yes. I see it. You are in love with her!
*********Meanwhile*******
Alyssa sat by Nyx's side, stroking the half elf's hair gently. The Shadow Walker would definitely have a scar on her collarbone from where the shards of the bone had pierced her skin. Alyssa had been able to heal most of it, but the bone was no longer shattered, merely snapped now.
She'd never seen such a colour in her life--Nyx's hair was a light, silvery brown. 'Like autumn leaves in the moonlight,' she mused. She could see why the woman was so sought after. While Nyx wasn't beautiful in the conventional sense, she was quite striking. Her eyes were drawn to the jewels Nyx wore at her throat, ears, and fingers. A fortune in blue and white diamonds sparkled on her prone form. With Betrayal's help, she'd moved the woman back onto the rumpled bed. Now she lay there, looking for all the world like a fairy tale princess waiting to be kissed.
Betrayal's chuckle brought her back to reality. "Maybe if you ask her very nicely when she wakes up, she'll give you some of her jewellery."
Alyssa grinned. "It's quite lovely. He's given her more jewels than I could ever hope to find in a lifetime."
"Well, Zerith has said he loves her in his own twisted way. Vex, that is. Well, for all we know, Zerith could be twisted too, but I doubt it."
Alyssa giggled. "Shh!" Betrayal hissed suddenly. "I hear something."
At first, she heard nothing. Then, a familiar sound came to her ears, the sound of scuttling legs....
Betrayal looked about nervously, readying his weapon. That sound resembled the clacking of a giant spider, but it was getting louder, and had already gotten louder than a normal spider. A glance at Alyssa told a strange tale. She had risen from her kneeling position alongside Nyx's healing body (courtesy of a regeneration spell), and was moving from spot to spot on the stone walls, tracing her hands delicately along them. She stopped suddenly, and turned to Betrayal.
"It's going to come through here!" She said excitedly. Betrayal nodded, and walked across the room to her, striding through the patch of moonlight cast by the window, which she had avoided. Resting in a loose fighting stance, Betrayal considered the spot of wall that Alyssa had stepped to one side of. It didn't look different from any other wall, but the sound did appear to be emanating from that area. As Betrayal centred himself to draw forth as much magicka as possible for his initial assault, he heard the tapping of the spider turn into a cracking, as the wall started to give way.
The crumbling wall fell into pieces in a large hole, approximately head high for Betrayal, almost as wide and tall as his Dai-katana. The hole emitted a frigid breeze, which spun around the room, magically leaving snow in it's wake. The snowy wind also blew out the lamps, casting the room into a dark gloom. The hole was rapidly widening, and the creature making it could soon be seen, even in the near-darkness of the room. A spider loomed within the darkness of the room, It's spindly legs and it's bristle-covered body glowing with a weak blue light, accenting the creatures facets. Around the spider, apparently formed from ice, were hundreds of smaller spiders, scrambling towards the room at high speed.
Betrayal shouted, jumping back, and let loose a fireball spell, melting and throwing back many of the tiny ice spiders. The giant spider let loose a high-pitched, keening cry, and struck forward with one of it's spindly legs, throwing Betrayal across the room, sending his polearm flying. Alyssa screamed and struck at the spider, her staff hitting it in a rapid pattern of blows, the Magical fire she had summoned piercing through the thing's side. The spider keened again, and the remnants of the earlier horde of mini-spiders ran forward, scrambling towards the female warrior. Alyssa screamed again, a scream of rage as she stabbed downwards, crushing the tiny spiders. However, this left her guard open, and a Swipe from the giant spider sent her flying across the room, landing in a heap on the wide windowsill. The screamed in pain, writhing, and began to change. Betrayal, for his part, was back on his feet, and leapt across the room, his axe
swinging in a powerful overhand strike. The strike severed one of the limbs of the spider, and the limb shattered as it impacted the ground.
The spider rotated slightly, it's baleful eyes fixed on Betrayal, and brought another one of it's legs to bear. Betrayal readied his axe, when an ear-splitting roar filled the room. A green dragon stood along one wall, it's back bent and it's wings furled tightly. Even so, it's bulk filled most of the considerable size of the room. The dragon roared again, it's neck stretched out in front of it, it's jaws open wide. Betrayal, for his part, dived behind the bed, where he figured, not only could he protect Nyx's body, but he would probably be a lot less noticeable by Alyssa's draconic senses. A good thing, he figured, in the middle of a heated battle.
Betrayal heard a keening, as the spider attacked this more powerful foe. A short roar from the dragon answered it, soon followed by a sound of shattering ice. Silence reached Betrayal's ears then, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing. He poked his head up over the bed, and saw the draconic form of Alyssa, her sides heaving and panting, as she crouched over the pile of ice shards on the floor, many of which could be recognised as spider parts. Betrayal noticed the bulk of the dragon still bathed in moonlight. Drawing at straws, Betrayal squeezed between the dragon and the wall, drawing a confused look from Alyssa. Leaping up onto the wide windowsill, Betrayal reached out the window, closing the shutters. As the carved shutters closed off all view of the outside world, Betrayal heard a moan from behind him. Looking back, he saw Alyssa writhing her way back into her human form, a grimace on her face as she finally reformed into her human shape.
A very curvy, naked, human shape. Betrayal noted this, and, blushing, ran to the bed, pulling off a blanket. Handing it to Alyssa, Betrayal helped her over to the bed, and sat her down on it. Still shaking, she nodded her thanks at him.
"What about Nyx?" she said, a tremor in her voice. Betrayal jumped up from off of the bed where he had sat, and ran back behind it to check on her.
"She's fine." he said, lifting the motionless figure and placing it onto the bed. "And the regeneration spell has finished healing her shoulder."
Alyssa nodded. "Hopefully, Vex won't have any more monsters to throw at us." She whispered, leaning to one side. "'Cause I don't wanna be woken up
for another batlmpph.. " She trailed off, falling to her side and reflexively curling up on the large, soft bed, fast asleep. Betrayal grinned, covered her with another of the many blankets, checked on Nyx, and returned to his seat in the windowsill, cracking it open enough to see the goings-on in the camp below.