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]

At dawn I took a bath, a long hot bath to regain focus and concentration on that fateful day. It was the day I, Serene Catraso, would make a statement that would change the lives of many, especially my own. It also was the day I would challenge a man to a duel for the death. I had taken men’s lives before, but not in this way, not by my own will and decision. But then I thought about what Sinnamu Mirpal told me when I spent time with the Ahemmusa, after my cowardly escape from Domesea’s funeral;

“You are a healer, my child, and you know that sometimes, when you perform a healing, you must cut away a diseased part so that the body as a whole can heal and become strong again. If the diseased limb or organ is not removed, the corruption will spread and kill the patient.”
She looked at me closely to see if I was following her. Seeing my frown of concentration, she continued,

“You will have to perform- a healing, an amputation…so that the body can become strong again.”

Yes I was a healer, and I had to commence the healing today! It would start with me challenging Archmaster Venim.

After the bath I rubbed my entire body with an ointment scented with Gold Kanet and Heather, and I even went outside Under Skar for a while to let my long hair dry in the chilly morning breeze. Refreshed but not entirely in the best mood I went back. I tiptoed into the grand bedroom only to see my beloved Athyn sleeping deeply on his side of the magnificent bed we had installed recently. I sneaked into bed and gently kissed him. He didn’t awake but was immediately aware of me being there, for he turned around and put his arms tightly around me. I cuddled up close to him, felt his breath on my neck. I closed my eyes, just for a minute…

“Hey my love, wake up, will you? Don’t cry, I’m here; I’ll be by your side, don’t worry,” Athyn’s soft voice murmured in my ear, and I tried to look at him but my eyes were wet and swollen; they simply did not open.

Had I been crying in my sleep or what?

“Leave it be, you don’t have to see me to realize what I’m going to do with you now,” Athyn laughed.

No, that was true, I didn’t have to see to experience the following half hour…

After another bath, not so long and not so hot, I felt better and headed for the kitchen. Athyn was preparing one of those hearty breakfasts he had usually prepared ever since I moved in with him. He had developed an urge to feed me, thinking I was far too skinny and needed excess nourishment, at least three or four times a day. The smell from the kitchen was tempting, kwama-egg omelet, fresh bread, vegetables, and a stew containing I don’t know what but it looked good! Unfortunately my appetite was very poor that strange morning.

I tried the best I could to eat, but from the look on Athyn’s face it was far too little.

“Serene, please eat some more! You’ll develop a terrible fatigue during the meeting if you don’t eat, you might faint when you…. when you have to…do that. …Thing.”

I nodded; I wasn’t in the mood for any sort of argument, and so I just smiled and took another piece of bread.

The council meeting was to be held at the great Council-hall in the centre of Under Skar. I wanted to look as impressive as I could, mostly to improve my self-esteem but also to show off a little bit.

The house was rather quiet; I remember seeing Salyn, and Varvur. Also Vendrela was present, since she came into my chambers just as I was pondering how to arrange my hair.

“Here, let me help you,” she said. And in a few minutes she created an impressive construction with it on top of my head. I looked in the mirror, and what I saw scared me;
A tall skinny woman in a complicated dress, deadly pale and with dark shadows under her eyes, eyes still a bit swollen. I turned away in dismay. Was this the Hope of the Redoran?

Just before we left for the meeting, Athyn came up to me. He had something in his hand…

“I want you to have this now,” he said, putting a necklace around my pale neck. It was a magnificent piece of handicraft, a thin golden chain with a huge red stone in a complicated mounting. There was something inscribed at its backside…but I couldn’t read it just then. It was purely beautiful and I couldn’t utter a word; there was this heavy lump in my throat.

“Actually I meant to give it to you on our wedding day, but I think you need it now!” Athyn stroked my chin. “It belonged to my mother. She was a mage, so it has some magical properties, which can be useful for you.”

The red stone glistened in the flickering lights from the lanterns in the hallway as we left Sarethi Manor. I shivered, not from cold, but from the tension inside me.

“I do hope Seth will make it in time,” Athyn sighed as we walked. I was a bit startled when he mentioned Sethyas and I hoped it didn’t show.

“He went to Vivec this morning, to see Ilmeni,” he said. “Naturally he needed her; they haven’t seen each other for quite some time now.”

“So they are engaged, are they?” I asked, feeling a bit awkward.

“Oh yes! They are soon to get married after what Seth said last week. He really deserves a good wife and Ilmeni really is a nice woman. She’s the daughter of Duke Dren by the way; did you know that?”

I smiled in return and nodded.

As we entered the Council Hall, Neminda bade us welcome. She squeezed my hand very hard, whispering encouraging words in my ears. Apparently almost everybody knew of the importance of this meeting. I could only hope the Archmaster didn’t.

A minor commotion occurred and the cause was the arrival of Sethyas Velas and Ilmeni Dren. Seth pulled back his hood and caught my gaze; immediately I blushed.

Damn it Renie, focus! What happened last night is something we have to deal with at another time. I’m here by your side, and so are all the Redoran Councilors. Show us what you’re made of, and save us all!

Suddenly I was completely calm. There were other thoughts from Sethyas Velas that I read at that time…. And the sum of it was the total calmness and concentration I felt then.

Neminda looked at us and bid us enter the hall where the meeting was to be. The other councilors were already there except for the Archmaster. All of them seemed uneasy save Mistress Brara Morvayn. She gave us a hearty smile and blinked conspiratorially at me. When she spotted my necklace her eyes widened but she said nothing. I was seated between Athyn and Sethyas. I should have felt secure, but the truth was I was terrified.

The entrance of Archmaster Bolvyn Venim was as spectacular as the mer himself. He banged the doors open and in he came flanked by at least four women clinging to his arms like grapes. One of them was Fathasa Llethri!

I gave Garisa a quick glance; he didn’t look up but his clenched fists turned white. I took a deep breath…

Don’t! It’s not time yet!

I looked at Seth, whose voice was in my mind. He did not look back. Just watched the scene with empty gaze.

“Ahhhh fellow councilors!” Bellowed Venim with a laugh. “You’re already assembled, but why so grumpy? It’s a lovely day and I have some new ideas which I’ll take the opportunity to discuss with you, since you saw fit to call for this extra meeting.” The last words were for Athyn.

As he turned to sneer at my beloved, his gaze froze; he had spotted me and he looked sternly at me somewhere beneath my chin. Then he turned to his accompanying ladies with some effort;

“Ladies! Leave us, this is nothing for women, go away and I’ll get back to you all later.” He waved his hands at the women as if he couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.

“Athyn Sarethi! You deliberately brought that Outlander here! At our council meeting? That’s preposterous, get her out immediately! “ He shouted peevishly.

“She stays!! And so do I,” Sethyas rose from his chair. My heart beat faster; I touched my Ahemmusa sacred tattoo and felt the heat of it. Then I let go of the necklace Athyn had given me and that I’d been holding in my hand until now. The magnificent stone glistened in the light and Bolvyn Venim gave out a new cry of anger.

“Whaaaa!!!! It’s The Red Star!!!! On an Outlander! You can’t be serious, old man, it’s…it’s…”

“A sacred Redoran treasure, I know! But it’s also a Sarethi Family Heirloom; it belonged to my mother and is inherited by the leading lady in the family, which Serene is going to be,” Athyn said dryly.

“I absolutely forbid that. If you do this it will be your fall, Athyn Sarethi! I will kill you with my bare hands.”

I made to rise, but Sethyas grabbed my arm and held me back.

No!! Stay calm. Not yet, for Nirn’s sake.

“Gentlemer, please! We shall not argue about some fancy jewelry here, we have more important matters to attend to, such as the future of The Redoran Community,” Sethyas said loudly.

“Ah yes! I visited Suran last week and they have a really enchanting business there, which I think would be very nice to have here in Ald’ruhn,” Venim sounded almost cheerful.

“I was not referring to some Suran-business, I was referring to the state of our Great House and its lack of proper leadership, and also the Naming of Trey of High Rock as our Hortator,” Sethyas turned to the other councilors who nodded in approval.

“You already have a sort of that business going on in your very house,” Garisa Llethri muttered quietly.

Bolvyn Venim turned dark red with blistering anger; he rose to his feet slowly, looking at one and each of us sitting around the table.

“It’s completely out of the question!” he bellowed. “That Breton is NOT going to be our Hortator, as long as I’m the true leader of House Redoran and I decide that he shall not be Hortator.”

NOW!

I still don’t remember whether Seth actually said the word or merely thought it, but a strange cold calmness filled me and I in my turn rose to my feet, and touching my tattoo and the red stone between my breasts I slowly approached the Archmaster. I heard a faint whimper, maybe from Athyn, but I just proceeded until I stood face to face with him.

“Then there’s no choice,” my voice was crystal clear. “I hereby challenge you, Bolvyn Venim to a duel to the death. Meet me at the Arena in Vivec, when Masser and Secunda are in the third quarter.” As a confirmation of my challenge I took off one of my gloves and slapped him in the face.

The silence after my declaration was complete.

I really did it. Oh yes I did it, and may Azura protect me.