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 3 - Kragenmoor (continued)

"Ow!" Rinori protested as a servant girl harshly brushed the knots from her hair, "Is all this really necessary?"

"You're going to a ball," Venyn answered without the slightest hint of compassion, "Of course it's necessary."

"Well, I didn't ask for this writ, now did I?"

"Well it's yours, and you're going to be a pretty little Redoran noblewoman for a night."

Rinori sighed, but it was cut short by a wince as another knot was viciously pulled out. Venyn laughed and exited the room. A few long minutes later, her hair was done, but there was still more work to do. Or rather, for the servant to do while Rinori sat stupidly. Over the next few hours, her face was painted, her arms and ears were adorned with jewelry, and she was put in the most uncomfortable and utterly flamboyant dress she could have imagined.

"You'd think a dress this big would be less tight," she said to the servant.

"You'd think a girl this big would be less whiny," the servant retorted.

She had no answer for that, so sat back and sulked silently while the rest of the preparations were finished.

"All done," the servant announced, holding up a small mirror in front of Rinori, "What do you think?"

She had no time to reply, as Venyn returned just then to see the progress. "She didn't give you too much trouble did she?" he asked the servant.

The girl smiled mischievously, "She was an angel,"

Rinori glared at the girl, not amused at all by being referred to in the third person while sitting right there. "So when does this ball start, Venyn?"

Before Venyn could answer, another figure entered the room, an old, thin, balding man leaning on his walking stick. He looked to both Venyn and the servant girl.

"Leave," was all he said to them. Ornos rarely said more than two words to Venyn. The fire was evident in Venyn's eyes, but he wouldn't dare cross the old seer. Both obliged without a word.

"And close the door," the old mer added. Again, he was obeyed without question. Rinori hated being caught in the middle of those two's feud, and it was becoming almost a daily occurrence.

"Rinori," Ornos began, "I judged too soon the other night, and I am sorry."

Rinori raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I understand what you did, now. All I saw that night in my visions was what you didn't do, not what you did. You sent him south, to Andrethis. Tell me why."

"Well...I...um..." she hesitated, "I know you told me to keep an eye on him, but I had to report the matter of Gils. I know he hasn't made it to Andrethis yet, and I planned on beating him to Mournhold, where he said he was going."

Ornos eyed her suspiciously, "What else?"

"Nothing." Her answer did nothing to cure that look in Ornos' eyes. She thought she might melt under that gaze.

"You're keeping something from me."

Now it was Rinori's turn to take the upper hand, so she answered with a smug grin, "How does it feel?"

Ornos smiled in amusement, "Fair enough, girl. Fair enough. You did well, despite what I said earlier; the web can still be spun, it will merely have a different weave. When your responsibility to Venyn is complete tonight, return to me. You have a new assignment."

Ornos left, and Rinori could see through the open doorway that Venyn was waiting patiently outside. She rolled her eyes when the two passed each other without a word or a glance.

"Your nobleman will be ready for his last dance soon," Venyn announced as he reentered, "I hope you'll be a good partner."

This post has been edited by Dantrag: Jul 4 2009, 06:01 AM