Darkness Calls, The story of a Bravil assassin Options

[Winter Wolf]

Hi folks!!

I have finally gotten around to posting here at Chorrol. This story first appeared at the unnameable forum but I only managed to post the first chapter before the site fell head first off the cliff.

Hope you enjoy and dont forget to shout out any nitpicks you see.


**


CHAPTER 1 –


A Bravil watchman moved along the rampart in the gathering dark, his footsteps sounding on the wooden landing. Flickering light from the wall sconce danced across his heavy armor and surcoat, outlining a face that was crowded under lines of tiredness. Leaning over the railing he glanced downwards.

The dilapidated shacks of the town below pushed upwards through the dark like a set of broken teeth, the jagged eaves clashing against each other in the impoverished silence. The watchman’s eyes scanned the backdrop for any sign of alarm, but few signs of movement could be found.

A moment later a shadow detached from the left hand wall and another guard appeared beside the rail.

“Well met, my friend, how goes it?” he asked.

“Four bells and all is well,” the first man replied and stifled a yawn.

The replacement guard nodded. “Yes, it does seem as quiet as a church mouse out there. But as we know, that always the most dangerous time of all. The town may look like a slumbering animal, but the heartbeat is still ticking.”

“Yes, do keep a sharp eye out,” he noted, glad to be moving away slowly.

“Sleep tight, darling.”


**

The night was warm and humid. Tucked within their beds most of the citizens tossed fitfully in their sleep. It was the moment just before dawn when dark dreams gave way to the memories of youth, sweet impressions that spoke of a former time. Outside the mullioned casement footsteps could be heard, the sound mingling with the faint, snatched cries of the stall sellers that drifted across from the other side of town. The air was heavy with expectation, panting like a giant hound.

A figure headed down a quiet lane. Soft light teased across his pointed ears and dark outfit. It framed a neatly folded letter that poked surreptitiously out of one tiny pocket.

In part it read:

Oh beloved assassin of the Dark Brotherhood, let us, the ruling council, grant you this most important mission. We have word that the old fool, Adamus Phillida, has finally taken up his residence at the City Watch barracks in the southern town of Leyawiin.

The pest of the Brotherhood has made the one fatal mistake of thinking that we would ever forget his past. Fate has now delivered him into our dark loving embrace, an opportunity that we cannot let slip by.

Dear brother, we need you to pay him a visit and make sure that his new home also becomes his permanent place of retirement.

Your loving benefactor-
The ruling council of the Black Hand.

Aradroth smiled to himself. It felt good to be wanted again. Clutched like a greedy piglet to the teat he could feel the warm milk of the Night Mother running down his lips and throat, a gluttonous thrill that was paramount to death in its intensity. Her loving bulk provided all the sustenance that he needed, a clan love that would forever define who he was and leave the cretin world around him living in a bland, colorless land of emptiness.

Opening the front gate he stepped outside.

A member of the Bravil watch stood at the far end of the front bridge. Clad in sooty armor turned dark by the cloaking shadows of morning, he reminded Aradroth of that futile blockade that sheltered upon the edge of Kvatch.

As a man accustomed to studying the fortification and defence of people he was paid to kill, the small assassin was always mystified by the false assumption that the cutting of the bridge ropes would protect and seal off the town from the waiting horde of Mehrunes Dagon. Just how many people did the foolish Count of Bravil think would be able to slip unannounced through the secret tunnel to the tower of Fathis Aren? And how many would die under the harsh conditions of a siege?

The Bravil guardsman did not notice the assassin until it was too late. Spinning around his gloved hand came to a belated rest on the pommel of his steel long sword.

“Oh Aradroth, it’s you,” the guard said in shock, his heart beating rapidly inside his steel chest. “I didn’t realize that you were there.”

The Bosmer assassin stood silent and cold, a contrast to the humidity around him. Small and slight; his gray eyes shone with a feverish light from the shadows of his black hood.

“Sorry Gladius,” he replied, his voice soft and raspy, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The meandering eyes of the guardsman looked the assassin up and down.

“Are you out on a morning hunt, sir?” he asked, putting his hand out.

Aradroth shook his head. “No, not this time,” he answered, slipping two septims into the guard’s hand. “I am taking a little trip to Skingrad.”

“Are you there on business or do you have family or friends?” he asked curiously, pocketing the coins.

“I have enrolled myself into therapy,” came back the simple reply.

The guard’s eyes blinked. “Sorry?”

“I am hooking up with Else-Godhater and a few others. We are doing a seminar on ‘Righting past wrongs.’ I have decided that it is important to open up on those deep and personal issues. It revitalizes the spirit when you learn to love again.”

Confusion spread across the guardsman’s face. His mouth opened and closed like a fish. “Are you having trouble, sir?”

The assassin smiled. “I don’t know. I feel isolated and disconnected. Like something is not quite right.”

“Well that is great that you are doing something about it. I have always felt that the step to join the Bravil watch was the most important one I ever took.”

Aradroth paused. “Yeah, I suppose you are right. I envy that sense of connection you seem to have around you with every little thing. Especially the way someone has committed a crime on the other side of Cyrodiil, yet you still are able to pinpoint them exactly. It must be some form of clairvoyance.”

The guard seemed taken aback. “Have you noticed that? I have always thought that it was our commitment to duty that made us rise above the call of duty.”

The assassin headed away. “Yeah, maybe you are right. That is the reason I am joining therapy. I am hoping to regain my balance with the world again.” With a smirk he added, “Who knows? When I am finished I might end up looking just like you.”

“Well, good luck with that endeavour, my friend,” Gladius called out in blissful ignorance at the retreating figure.

Aradroth turned. “Care to place a wager on that?”


**


The road that headed to Leyawiin stretched out of sight as it weaved through the southern forests like a muddy snake.

His mind was still thinking cynically pleasing thoughts about the mediocrity in the world when he realized that something was wrong. Cursing bitterly for allowing himself to become sidetracked, his slate gray eyes quickly swept the sides of the grubby track.

The green foliage and tall swampy reeds around him looked normal enough, but something teased at the tattered edge of his senses, something indescribable. From his neck a salty bead of sweat slowly trickled downwards, running its meandering way over the lined folds of skin. As it hit his leather collar he realized what it was.

The landscape was quiet. Not a bird or insect could be heard.

The tall reeds on the left hand side suddenly exploded with movement and a large shape charged into the clearing. Brown and very large, the creature swiped at the Dark Brotherhood member with a fearsome claw.

Scampering backwards the assassin fell onto his rump, pain lancing his left hip where he struck a rock. His bow disappeared off to the side.

Towering over him the creature was massive, standing over seven feet tall, with a dark snout and coarse, bristling fur.

Fear spurred the prone elf to action at the next moment and the Bosmer opened his palm. Magic light coursed down the inside of his forearm, the magicka flowing like a river of light. The blue veins rippled down his fingers.

“Guulosh Torr,” he cried, and a purplish-black shape materialized to his right hand side.

The bear’s caramel eyes blinked in confusion and it paused in its attack. The coin of fate that spun with a decreasing speed finally caught a reflection of two opponents that hung suspended in time. Slowly, beyond thought, control or even reason, the creature’s eyes turned and focused on the skeletal guardian.

The relieved assassin watched as the bear charged forward with a speed that defied its tremendous bulk and a vicious paw smacked into the undead. Taking the impact on its steel shield, the skeleton was thrown backward through the air, bits of bone from his shied arm flying in all directions. He landed far off to the side.

“Damn it,” muttered Aradroth as he rose quickly to his feet. Tiny spatters of mud were kicked up as he moved.

Reaching under his cloak he withdrew Cat’s Eye from its scabbard. Glowing runes danced up and down the hilt of the sword as it emerged into the morning air. The weight of the weapon felt reassuring in his grasp, a pull of energy that went deep down into his core.

Stepping forward the morning light ran along the elven designed hilt as it swung downwards. The sword bit hard and chunks of fur and blood disappeared past the edge of his vision. The next moment the shock enchantment of the weapon mauled just as hard, the assassin struggling to hold on as the sword coveted the gore and death of his adversary.

Roaring in horror the creature flung its broad head around and droplets of blood coated the assassin in a ghastly, decadent wine. A moment later a retaliatory claw smashed into the assassin’s leather shield. The impact threw Aradroth bouncing onto the road.

Spinning around him the world turned in crazy circles, a hundred stars dancing back and forth before his eyes.

Not again! he thought haphazardly as he looked down at the mud. Gritting against the pain Aradroth charged back to his feet and renewed the attack. From the other side of the road the Skeleton Guardian clanked over to aid him from the rear.

A minute later the booming sound of Azura’s Star resounded in his ears as the mountain of fur crashed to the ground.

Aradroth collapsed onto one knee beside it.

Breathing in ragged gasps he glanced across at the bear and then down at the abject state of his dark travelling cloak in disgust.

“Oh bull dust.....” he muttered.

On the other side of the road the skeletal axeman brought its remaining arm wide apart and hissed loudly. Aradroth could not tell if it made a victorious or mocking sound.

“Don’t you start,” he warned, pulling himself slowly to his feet.

The skeleton hissed at him again.

This post has been edited by Winter Wolf: Mar 29 2010, 04:52 PM

[Winter Wolf]

Haute ecole rider-
Thanks for the support of the POV changes. Reading it back I don't really like the switch to the town gates, and probably should have used Aradroth as he was running towards the gate. Oh well, too late now.
Your suggestion to use 'post' was spot on. Thanks!

Sub Rosa -
Nothing can hold back the rise of feminine power! If USA women are anything like the Aussie women then the battle is already lost. It is time for me to hide under the bedcovers.
Cheers!


Acadian-
Thanks for spotting the nits. In most cases they happen because I use the Shift F7 thesaurus and change a word. Then I forget to go back and SLOWLY read the sentence. It is always the end of the word that traps me. Please shout out any that you see. I highly value your Phantom eyes.

Olen-
Thanks for dropping in. Dar Jee is very important to help break up the story. If it was all assassin and killing then everybody would soon get bored, including me. Slapstick style does go hand in hand with Dar Jee. I love him to death.

Destri Melarg-
Thanks for the comments on Aradroth. You are beginning to like him? Oh dear!! No, seriously that is great. If I wrote him as a evil boy then the readers would not connect, and if I wrote him as totally cold and dispassionate then the readers would quickly grow bored. Hopefully I can find a middle playground for him.


**


CHAPTER 6 –


The light danced in a crazy circle from a distance close by.

It was a small bulb of flickering fire and its looping motion meant that the eye had a hard time trying to fix its exact location. He suspected that it swung from a chain attached to the ceiling. But he wasn’t quite sure. He felt nauseated every time he looked at it.

The problem was compounded by his inability to look elsewhere. The shadows that cloaked the outside perimeter were darker than the void of Sithis. Pressing in from every side they threatened to squash him with their soundless roar.

Who would have thought that the quiet could be so loud?

The thought circled around his head. It felt worse than the light.

The throbbing pressure in his skull indicated that he was lying on his back. Testing his position he moved his arms out to the side and regrettably felt the restricting clinking of solid chain beneath his tired body.

He sighed.

So it wasn’t a dream after all.

Rolling slightly to the left he found that at least he was able to relive the painful ache in his ribs. Licking his lips he tried to seize upon it. Small and insignificant, sometimes it was the small things in life that were able to keep one going.

At least he hoped so.

He sighed deeply and lowered his head back down.

A noise sounded somewhere beyond the dark. At first he thought that it was the wind. It was low and keening, like the anxious draught that flitted up the inside of a fireplace. It set him on edge. Then he realized that there was something more to the sound. It was a scratching noise that seemed to be coming closer.

Rats. He tried to pinpoint the sound. It came from somewhere off to right and sent a chill up his spine. He knew that a pair of glowing, red eyes and vicious sharp claws were crawling over stone as they reached methodically towards him.

He was suddenly scared. All over his shattered body he could now feel his broken bones. Each one seemed to be floating loose within his frame, clashing against each other like dueling sabres.

His mind cried out in horror. What had happened to him? Where was he?

Unable to control anything else except the wandering of his mind he gave in to the pain. The minutes became hours as the world around him fell back through the veil of his consciousness. All of the sounds around him grew fainter within his memory and then completely faded away, becoming just an echo of an echo. Then he was all alone, floating down a gloomy and deserted hall of shadows.

Ghosts flittered to each side, but eventually even they were gone too.

The silence was complete, absolute, a bottomless dark well that threatened to engulf him forever. As strange as it seemed he actually longed for that. Anything was better than the land of nothingness he now resided in. It was as if he had entered a strange limbo, caught between the land of the living and that of the dead. But toward which end was he moving?

Footsteps suddenly sounded from beyond the dark. They came closer, full of the promise of unsolicited and unspeakable death, steps that spoke of the journey to the grave.

Turning his head he peeked open his one eye cautiously. The light from above blazed deeply into his retina, and he quickly shut it again.

A voice sounded. It slipped softly through the dark like a carpet snake.

“I do hope you are feeling better, my little friend. It would be a sad regret if you died before our lovely party concluded,” it said.

He creaked open his eye again. The speaker had blocked out the light. The person before him was broad shouldered and very tall. The distinct outline of the Leyawiin watch uniform blazed around the edge of the light.

Opening his mouth the Argonian prisoner tried to speak. Nothing came out.

The voice leaned closer.

“I am sick of you playing these games. Unless you wish to experience another torture day like yesterday then I suggest you start giving me my answers now.”

Dar Jee rolled his head to the side. Tears of anguish slid down the steps of his scales.

His mouth opened and only a croak came out.

The interrogator slammed a mailed fist into the side of his head.

“I want a name, damn it!” the man screamed.

Putrid breath washed over Dar Jee like the briny tang of a Black Marsh bog.

“I repeat. What is the name of the assassin?”

“I don’t know,” Dar Jee softly croaked.

The fist smashed him again. It rocked him over to the side.

“Stop!” a voice called out. It was unmistakably female. Yet in this time and place it felt alien and unworldly. Dar Jee could imagine it had floated across from the plane of Aetherius.

“Decentius!” the voice said, much closer this time. “I said ‘Stop’.”

The large figure beside the rack pulled away. “Don’t you dare pull rank on me. I am close to the truth this time.”

“Go, now,” the female voice commanded. “You had your time yesterday.”

Footsteps sounded in rapid succession on the cold stone floor and a string of curses followed the person as they departed. A door slammed somewhere in the dark.

Dar Jee waited. His lizard tongue pushed out through his set of razor sharp teeth. Regrettably he could not pick up the scent of any water close by.

The silence had stretched out to a full minute before the woman spoke.

“I hope you realize that I am fully within my powers to have you executed?”

“Then why don’t you?” Dar Jee croaked.

The woman laughed. The sound grated on his sore ears. Her voice was magnanimous and proud.

“Because my lizard friend, if I did that, there would be a riot on the streets. Forty-five witnesses have come forward to testify that they saw the assassin strike your horse and send it into a panic. By all reports you had nothing to do with it.”

A faint smile played upon the features of the Argonian.

“Of course, I don’t believe a word of it,” she commented.

A moment later he heard the sound of a chair being dragged across the stone floor. The woman sat down.

Dar Jee peeked open his one good eye. The familiar face of Caelia Draconis, captain of the Leyawiin guard, appeared within the light. Her hands were resting behind her head.

“Witnesses have also said that the crime was committed by a black cloaked necromancer. That of course is a smoke screen to throw off our trail. So, as you can see, we are both in a pickle jar. I have no assassin and you have no future. Personally I prefer my side, because it is only a matter of time before the elf is caught. You; however, will never have any freedom ever again unless you start co-operating.”

Time stretched out like a ribbon as Dar Jee considered his alternatives.

“What do you want to know?” he asked.

“Simple. What is the name of the assassin?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then where did he come from?”

A pause.

“North,” he answered.

“Good Dar Jee! Now we are getting somewhere. And what is the name of this north place?”

The Argonian licked his lips. “It is a place called Nayon Camp. He has a site there.”

Getting to her steel mailed feet Caelia Draconis patted him on the edge of his broken arm.

“Thank you Dar Jee. See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Footsteps sounded as the woman departed. She paused at the door.

“I do intend to send my head hunters out to this site you indicated. Oh, and if they find nothing there, let it be known that I do promise to let Decentius have his full way with you.”

The woman laughed. “And please do not try to run away while I am gone.”

This post has been edited by Winter Wolf: Jul 24 2010, 07:49 AM