Blood of the Kyn, Volume I Options

[Dantrag]

Well, after some unfinished stories and a long hiatus, I'm back in this territory of the forums. Not that anyone should care. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my latest creation.

Prologue

It was a dark night, and the rain fell in sheets over the town of Cheydinhal. Unbeknownst to the gate guards, a cloaked, shadowy figure climbed the stone wall on the other side. He sat perched on the wall for several seconds before jumping to the ground below, using the loud pitter-patter of the rain to cover the sound. Swiftly and silently he ran, clutching a package tightly wrapped in a gray cloth. He reached his destination in a matter of seconds, and after lifting the grate up, he descended into the darkness of a well.

He was welcomed at arrow point.

"I need to speak with Vicente," he said in an otherwordly voice from the shadows of his cowl. He turned his side to the woman in front of him, shielding his cargo should she decide to fire.

The archer, who was a Bosmer woman dressed in the typical black leather armor and hood of the Dark Brotherhood, fumbled for a response. Before she could give one, a hand from behind rested on her shoulder. Taleandril looked to see that it was Vicente Valtieri himself, the oldest member of their specific chapter of the Dark Brotherhood, due to his vampiric nature.

"Don't worry, Taleandril, I'm expecting company," Vicente said reassuringly. Taleandril gave the visitor one last glare before going about her business.

"Let us go somewhere more private," the vampire suggested, leading the way through the dark, damp corridors until they reached Vicente's quarters. There was no door or any other typical way of creating privacy, but the other assassins seemed to respect the vampire's space and gave him a wide berth. There was not a soul near enough to overhear anything that might be said.

"Kyzra, old friend! What brings you from Oblivion?"

"Trouble," Kyzra replied, removing his soaking wet cloak, revealing his black and red skin, horns, and armor that marked him as a powerful Dremora. He sat down at the small table across from the vampire assassin.

Vicente gave him a questioning glare. Anything Kyzra believed to be trouble must be dangerous indeed. The two of them had been through much together, though most of it had been a hundred years or more ago, and Vicente could not remember a time when the Kynmarcher had feared anything.

"I have disgraced the clan and insulted Lord Dagon himself. I will not live long, I assure you. Even my own armies have abandoned me, and my most trusted Kynreeve has taken my rank and title."

The vampire stood angrily, "You would bring an entire Dremora fiefdom here? Endanger me and my brothers and sisters?"

"You owe me!" Kyzra shouted, his booming Dremora voice echoing througout the halls. Just then, the bundle he carried made a sound. It cried loudly. Vicente's rage was put to a halt as he wrapped his mind around this new development.

"It is my son," Kyzra explained, "Half Dremora, half dunmer. I want you to take him; I cannot bear for him to die for my mistakes."

"That was your disgrace, then? A dunmer woman?" Vicente asked, sitting back down.

"She was only the half of it," Kyzra replied cryptically, "Will you take him?"

Vicente nodded, taking the infant from the Dremora Lord, "I will warn you, I am no parent."

"As long as he lives, Vampire, I do not care how you raise him. Just promise me one thing."

"If it is within my power."

"Never tell him my name, never speak of me."

Vicente nodded in silent understanding. Kyzra stood and began to exit.

"What is his name?" Vicente called after him.

Kyzra paused for a short moment, as if he had never thought of the answer to that question. "Azyrek," he finally said, "Azyrek."

He left the hideout without another word. Azyrek cried all night long.

[Dantrag]

Chapter 1 - A Bloody Message (continued)

"Welcome, Murderer," Vicente greeted as Azyrek descended the ladder that served as an entrance to the Sanctuary, "It is my honor to officially welcome you to the family."

The vampire did not have to ask if the task was completed; Azyrek had been told emphatically not to return until it was.

Azyrek didn't know how to respond, so he gave a weak, "Thank you."

Vicente chuckled, "Come with me to my quarters, Azyrek."

The half-blood followed without a word, and they both sat across from each other, separated by a small wooden table. Vicente couldn't help but be reminded of that night sixteen years ago when Azyrek's father sat in that same seat and gave his final request.

"What am I here for?" Azyrek asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

Vicente shook his head, "No, you've done nothing wrong Azyrek. Quite the opposite, actually. You see, you have been given a special assignment directly from the Listener."

"If it's directly from him, why doesn't he give it to me himself?"

"Don't be silly, child. The Listener deals directly with the Night Mother. She whispers her secrets and her directions to him alone. He has no time to spare speaking with Murderers. You have caught the Night Mother's interest, though, and that should be honor enough. Due to your unusual...heritage, you aren't suitable for assignments that would require more than just simple stealth complete. You are unique. Recognizable. Most would just as soon run from you as speak to-"

"I get it, damn! People don't like to have any sort of dealings with a dremora," Azyrek interrupted, obviously annoyed by the direction Vicente's words were taking.

"Yes, yes, sorry. Anyway, the obvious advantages of having a half dremora in our ranks cannot be ignored. Despite the obvious physical and magickal benefits, there is another. That same recognizable uniqueness I was talking about before I was interrupted could have the potential to strike fear in the hearts of our enemies. You, Azyrek, have been chosen by the Night Mother to be our main weapon in our fight against the Morag Tong."

"I don't get it," he said, "How does being a half-breed make me more able to kill Morag Tong agents?"

"It doesn't necessarily make you more able to do the actual killing, but it will make a much more profound statement to the Morag Tong. To use the Night Mother's words, you are sending them a "bloody message." Imagine the fear you will create in the hearts and minds of those agents! A Dark Brotherhood assassin with daedra blood running through his veins, whose only purpose is to eradicate the Tong. You will become more than just a thorn in their side; most likely a spear."

"Where do I start?" he asked, combining this new information with the letter he had personally received from the Morag Tong.

"Rest now, for at nightfall a horse will be readied for you outside the city gates. You will ride east to Morrowind from there. That is all I can tell you; further instructions will be given to you upon your departure."

A few minutes later, Azyrek lay in his bed, trying to get some rest as Vicente suggested. He found it hard to sleep, however, as he wondered which guild had sent the bloodier message. He was supposed to bring fear to them, but they were one step ahead; Azyrek was already scared of them.

This post has been edited by Dantrag: May 15 2008, 06:58 AM