Serene of Cyrodiil, chapter 7, Comfort is given, Justice is taken... Options

[minque]

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If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Nicolo Machiavelli


Chapter 7, "Comfort is given, Justice is taken"

After spending a week in the good custody of Lloros Sarano I was back in Sarethi Manor again. Athyn, who had visited me every day while I was in the Temple, was ecstatic at having me back. I was worried about him; he had had too many traumatic things happen to him during the last six months, and now he seemed more exhausted and worn out than ever. In fact what he needed mostly now, and I too, for all that it mattered, was a vacation, a break from the normal struggle. I promised myself that when all this was over with we’d go…somewhere…that was, if I survived…

The prophecy by Sinnamu Mirpal was very clear to me, and it was also confirmed by the recent attempt on my life, because I knew very well who was responsible for that; the amulet I ripped off my would-be assassin was familiar; it belonged to the Venim family. I doubted Bolvyn himself was the one who tried to kill me, but whoever it was, it was on his orders, of that I was certain.

So all I had to do was to challenge Bolvyn Venim to a duel and then end his life, at the Arena in Vivec…?

Of course it was not that simple! I had to ponder a lot how I should let Justice be taken. I had to take active part in the government of House Redoran, to be able to get to know where the loyalties were. I had to know the standpoint of the other councilors and also raise their disposition to me.

Thorough planning was crucial here; otherwise I would be the one who would bite the dust. I also needed to train my sword-skill. I hadn’t used my Katana for a long time and I knew I had to be beyond simply good if I was to defeat a man like the Archmaster. I didn’t even consider another way of fighting him; a duel at the Arena witnessed by the Nobles of my House would be the only honorable way of dealing with this matter.

I discussed my plans with Athyn; naturally he tried to talk me out of it!

“Serene, I don’t like the thought of you being decapitated by Bolvyn Venim, In fact I don’t like the thought of you being decapitated at all. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you!” he said, holding me close to him. “Why not let Sethyas do the fighting instead? He’s very skilled and…and he is a man! Besides, I know you do not like to take lives, even if taking this life would be justified.”

I took his face between my hands, kissed him deeply and sighed;

“I was convinced you would be the first one to stand behind me in this! I’ve told you about the prophecy of Sinnamu Mirpal…I’ve told you about my weird dream…and you know I am protected by Azura! You, Athyn Sarethi, the sun of my life, I love you more than you will ever know, and I beg you to support me now! The life of Bolvyn Venim will be taken by a woman, not a man, and that woman…will be me!”

Tears burned behind my eyelids as I once more kissed him. I was aware of his fear to loose someone dear to him and also the fear of acts of reprisal from the Venim family. But I couldn’t let that stop me; I had to do this once and for all or I’d never get peace at heart again.

Before he made an attempt to answer me I told him about a book Drulene Falen once showed me, “The Hope of the Redoran”. I actually never read the book but Drulene had told me what it was about.

“You for one should know that some things just have to be done,” I said, “If you hadn’t defeated your cousin back then, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.”

Athyn hesitated for quite some time before answering me. I could see in his face he’d given in to me, that he’d stand by my side all the way…This was of great comfort to me.

“I’ll go with you to Fort Buckmoth,” he said, sounding defeated and tired. “You will have to go through thorough training before you can even think of challenging the Archmaster, because that’s exactly what you’re going to do, right?”

I nodded and he continued;

“Since you are familiar with that confounded book, I think you know the name of the lady who used to train me when I was young? Shardie was the very best trainer to be found. She and I got on very well together and it is because of her that I have the position I have now…But you know all that.” Athyn paused, getting out a bottle of brandy and two glasses.

“We will need some fortification I think,” he said and offered me a glass. We tasted the beverage and he continued;

“Shardie has a daughter, named Shardie-Lee, who now is a master-trainer at Fort Buckmoth. She’s known as just Shardie and she is the one who I’d like to train you. Then you will have the best there is!” Athyn gently stroke my chin. “I care so much for you my love; I do not want to loose you.”

“We’ll be off to Fort Buckmoth, first thing tomorrow,” Athyn concluded. “So let’s spend this evening as nicely as we can, shall we?”

We had far too much brandy, far too much good food and maybe far too much love, but I still remember that evening as maybe the last evening that I still was somewhat innocent.

My head was aching and I could hardly stand the bright sunshine the following morning as Athyn and I were heading towards Fort Buckmoth. He, too, obviously suffered from last night’s events because he walked by my side silently with his head somewhat down. The sun was warm and I was drenched in sweat under my full Imperial Armor. Athyn had to take off his robe and carry it; the heat, or maybe last night, took its tribute out of him, and his face was a tad more grayish than usual, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead and he had to stop a few times to regain strength. I was carrying a small satchel with a few shirts and an extra pair of trousers together with my usual herbs and plants; nothing much really but it felt as heavy as if I’d had stones in it.

We found Shardie-Lee sitting in the shadows in a corner of the courtyard when we arrived, her brown skin glistened with perspiration and she was drinking from a large jug. Four young soldiers were scattered on the ground, totally exhausted, apparently from the hard training.

When Athyn presented himself and me her eyes widened; “I’ve heard about you, Serjo Sarethi, from my mother!” she exclaimed with a smile, “Nice to finally get the opportunity to meet you!”

I let Athyn do the talking, for my stomach was in uproar and I merely felt like vomiting; the heat and last night affected me severely. I sat down in the shadows, taking a sip of water, thinking ruefully that I’d have big trouble getting to my feet again…armor is just not meant to wear sitting down…

[minque]

Ok...at last! Hopefully I´m over the "WB" and will be able to keep this story running again! Now we´re getting a bit forward in this update..but we aren´t really "there" yet are we? But be patient, dear readers, especially one of you,, We´ll get down to business pretty soon...

Now here it is, enjoy!

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The following three months were an endless round of sweat, pain and above all…food! I never was a big eater, and thus I was rather slim, almost skinny according to some, like Sethyas Velas. Now Shardie-Lee was determined to make me into a bundle of muscles, to improve my chances to defeat my sworn enemy.

I had to eat at least five times a day, more if possible. All I can say is that it was an ordeal; I struggled to down the big chunks of guar-meat together with stewed ash-yam, saltrice and boiled Kwama-eggs that were put in front of me at each meal.

I did nothing but eat the first two weeks, there was no use in training muscles that were non-existent, as Shardie said. Slowly I gained weight and my strength improved. My training-program was intensified by time. An average day could be as follows:

Wake-up call at 6 am, then running a special trail that was set up for me around the Fort, for over an hour. Breakfast, lots of protein and vegetables. Athletics-training for three hours, until my arms and legs were hurting, and then lunch….lots of food of course!

In the afternoon I had swords-training, first with one of the dummies, then with Shardie herself or one of her better pupils. After dinner I had some free time, but by then I was so exhausted that I normally fell asleep. Before going to bed at 9 pm I had to take another shot on the running-trail.

Normally a program like this is too hard, but in my case it had to be done quickly. I couldn’t let the Archmaster bully my family more than necessary, so I just had to rush things.

Athyn did not visit me at all during this time. He said he wouldn’t do it, because he might try to talk me out of it, and he wouldn’t distract me. Now Sethyas, on the other hand, paid regular visits to follow up my progress. He didn’t speak much during his visits, just told me how things were going back home and watched my swords-training, a thing I really didn’t like; he made me nervous and thus caused me to make unnecessary mistakes.

One afternoon I decided I’d had enough. I simply threw my katana on the ground in the middle of a series of thrusts at the dummy and stepped right over to Sethyas where he was standing by the wall.

“Get off my back, Seth! You make me nervous watching me like this! Please do not interfere with my training anymore, I beg you!”

Sethyas looked at me with a faint smile on his face, and then he gently wiped a trickle of sweat from my cheek.

“Easy now, Renie, you’re doing well! I’m just here to see that you’re ok; Athyn worries about you and want me to watch over you.”

That condescending answer made me even angrier; I was a grown woman who had had my share of harsh life, and I did not need any kind of baby-sitter, not even one of my beloved one’s lackeys.

“Do not call me that! For you I’m Serene, nothing else!” I yelled at him, then I took a deep breath, knowing I shouldn’t really let this get to me. Although I loved Athyn, I could not allow myself to be distracted; I needed to focus on the goal of my training… There would be time for other things if I survived- if I did not… I just could not think about that.

“I’m sorry Seth, I’m just very high strung at the moment and I have to admit I’m scared to death of the forthcoming duel.”

“Excellent! Then you may even make it! If you hadn’t been scared I would have been worried, and ok, apology accepted.” Sethyas answered

He then saluted me and went away. I had problems focussing the rest of that afternoon and Shardie wasn’t satisfied at all with me.

One day, as I was slashing and thrusting with my katana at the dummy as I usually did every morning after breakfast a somewhat familiar voice spoke from behind me.

“Why not give me a match? As far as I remember you’re pretty good with that monster of a sword.”

I swirled around and found myself face to face with Telemachos, the guard who I had gotten to know really well at the Imperial Prison back in Cyrodiil. I panted, and sweat was running down my spine, but I was really glad to see him. In fact I never thought I’d ever see him again.

“Telemachos! What are you doing here?” Not the politest way to greet an old friend, but I was too astonished to find the right words.

“I could ask you the same, dear Serene,” Telemachos laughed and gave me a big hug, “That is if I didn’t know….which I do! I’m here to give you special training, sweetie.”

Telemachos gave me special training indeed, and I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this if he hadn’t shown up at Fort Buckmoth that cloudy morning.

Life had been rather prosperous for him during the years since we both were at the Imperial Prison, and he told me his story that very evening;

“At the time of your mysterious release, the Emperor took a deep interest in the Prison, and especially in us guards. I think, but this is only my thoughts, that he suspected a kind of threat to his life. Anyway, I gather you know about your former fellow-prisoner Sonya? She was enrolled by the Emperor approximately at that same time…and so was I. I’ve served in the Emperor’s secret army since then, and now I was sent for to conclude your training, since it’s important that you win your forthcoming battle. The Emperor really has an interest in you, and I don’t know if that’s bad or good…for you that is! He feels he has invested too much in you to see you killed in a duel. It’s a cold-blooded sort of mathematics, but he is an Emperor, after all.”

I didn’t comment on this; I was too used to the fact that everybody else seemed to know the purpose of my missions and tasks, except me. Then again I was glad to have Telemachos around; I felt I could trust him.

I told him about my life after the release and he listened carefully. At some times during my story he nodded as if my words confirmed something he already knew, such as the Talos Cult-plot for instance.

When Telemachos took care of my training, I improved my skills enormously. After an additional month I was strong, skilled and self-confident; I would go back to Ald´ruhn and challenge Archmaster Bolvyn Venim to a duel of life and death…and I was sure to win this duel, not exclusively due to my physical strength and skills, for I got a sign, on the very day of my departure from Fort Buckmoth I got a sign…but when I stood in the archway of the Fort, my satchel on my back, looking at the grey stone walls…I was scared to death…