Prologue
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
After waving goodbye to Theodyne, Neville turned and made for the local tavern. Upon arriving, he noticed almost immediately the one whom he was to deliver the message. He stood at the bar alone drinking a tall mug of ale. He was dressed from head to toe in leather armor that was dyed as black as a starless night. As he approached the man he felt a bit of a guilt for selling out his childhood friend, but he owed a lot of money to a lot of very powerful people in Tamriel and the reward weighed heavier than his guilt. Standing before the hired mercenary he felt more than intimidated, he was almost shaking with fear. He had heard stories of this man and if even half of them were true he were able to kill every man in this tavern without so much as breaking a sweat. The man looked up from the bar as he spoke to Neville.
"If you have something for me speak up now, it makes me suspicious when people stare too hard. And considering I've been drinking, I might tend to act....irrationally."
As Neville tried to speak, he began stuttering and this made the man grow impatient.
"I said speak!" the man ordered.
"He rides west towards Daggerfall by way of Wayrest sir." Nevill stammered.
The man finished his drink and set down his mug, and as he passed by, he produced a small pouch of gold coins from inside his cloak and tossed them to Neville.
This was how Sarin made his living these days. He would find anyone and bring them back dead or alive, whatever you wished, so long as you had the right amount of coin to pay for his services that is. And his services did not come cheap by any means. He mostly did secret killings for kings, working in the shadows. But a week ago he was approached by an individual that wanted a man killed and he offered more coin than he could refuse. Enough so that he could stop killing for good and live out the rest of his days in peace, something he wished to do very much. It was not that did not like killing, it didn't bother him much at all really. But he was growing tired of it.....
As Mordynak watched, he could not believe his eyes. He tried to convince himself he had not seen Theodyne do what he had just done. Necromancy was considered by their order to be one of the most heinous crimes one could commit. And he was using it, and quite proficiently. It were almost as if Theodyne had been practicing necromancy for years. He raised his staff high in the air, "Throw down your weapons Theodyne or I shall strike you down now!"
Theodyne not wanting to harm Mordynak, or more likely be harmed by him, threw down his arms and pleaded for forgiveness. "Mordynak please, I can explain this!" he cried.
Feeling pleased that Theodyne was going to make thigns easy on the both of them, he began to bind Theodyne's hands. As Mordynak bound Theodyne's hands he instructed him, "You will return with me to the council and you will stand trial for this. What you have done here today is not mine to forgive. You shall plead your case to Alator. He will be the one to decide what is to become of you."
"Mordynak hear me! I have to..."
"Quiet!" Mordynak interrupted. His heart and mind were conflicted with emotion. While he was relieved to have found Theodyne alive and well, he was heartbroken to have witnessed such a crime against their order. "We will return at once to Daggerfall and you and your crimes shall go before the council. Do you understand?"
Theodyne bowed his head in shame and answered that he understood. By the laws of The Council of Arcanea, Mordynak techinically had grounds to kill him on the spot, and if he wanted to return Theodyne alive to stand trial, he wouldn't argue the matter.
As Theodyne mounted his horse with Mordynak's help, an arrow passed by his face so close he could feel the wind against his cheek. He turned in time to notice Sarin notching another arrow and he kicked his horse in the hips so hard, it begain running at a pace that Theodyne almost fell to the ground. Mordynak turned and saw the assassin replacing his arrow into his quiver. As he strung his bow around his back, he came forth from the bushes drawing his sword. Mordynak acted quickly in summoning a fearsome Daedroth between them. The devilish looking creature towered over Sarin and let out a fearsome scream. As he opened his mouth, Sarin could see the many sharp teeth that looked like rows of tiny swords, saliva dripping from it's jaws. A small grin crept upon Sarin's face as he took a defensive stance and gripped his sword in both hands.
"Well come on then beast." he said nonchalantly.
And the Daedroth took one step towards Sarin, swiping at him with it's large, razor sharp claws. Sarin quickly dodged the attack slicing the Daedroth's knee dropping it to leg. As the Daedroth rose again it let out another terrifying roar and charged Sarin.
As he battled the ferocious creature Mordynak mounted his horse and sped off after Theodyne and was quickly on his heels. Riding side by side with Theodyne he reached out and grabbed the reins of his horse. "I will bring you back!" he shouted.
"And I will not fight you Mordynak, you have my word." he yelled back.
"Who was that?" Mordyank asked.
"I do not know, but I do not think it is the last time we will see him." Theodyne answered.
As Sarin ran his sword through the bottom of the Daedroth's jaw, his sword pierced through the top of the creature's skull. The Daedroth fell dead at his feet and burst into flame and quickly turned to ashes. Sarin sheathed his sword just in time to see a dust cloud from the two horses speeding away settle to the ground. He was not expecting things to go the way they did, but he would not be swayed. He was promised payment upon completing his assignment and he was not about to walk away from things now.......
Part 10