NABC Chapter 126: Chapter LXVII: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 1)
Chapter 126: Chapter LXVII: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 1)
Chapter 126: Chapter LXVII: Putting Them To The Sword (Part 1)
I raise a hand and enhance my voice lightly "Hold!"
The entire column stills and Rikke rides up to me "What is going on?"
I look around at what must be some kind of curse slowly surrounding us and note it is coming from two directions "It appears we are being cursed." I mutter.
Her eyes widen but she is not shaken and immediately asks "Do you have countermeasures?" Her mind no doubt brainstorming potential solutions as we speak.
"Give me a moment." I say and focus on the feeling the cursed Magicka gave out, it was far too spread out to do any great damage but the effects on the normal soldiery and our supplies would still be disastrous if it were allowed to persist.
The best counter easily made itself known to me, yet some part of me was still reluctant to attempt to replicate Meridia's magic. Still, needs must and all that.
I focus on remembering the feeling of casting spells with the aid of Dawnbreaker and after making sure I could replicate at least a fragment of it, let out a burst of positively charged Magicka around me, pushing the curses back. The curse stills for a moment and much to my annoyance continues crawling toward us.
A small crowd seems to have gathered around me as I open my eyes, before anyone can ask questions I look to my retainer "Davos, take the guildsmen and Sybille with you and find and kill the witch that way" I point to the north.
They all nod quickly, Sybille looking especially happy to stretch her legs, and move out.
"Twins, Minthara, Marco, you will go south with the spellswords and deal with the other one" Rikke frowns as I command her men, but after gleaming from my eyes that I was very sure of what I am doing she nods and they all set off.
"Scorch"
*Pop* "Yes pops?"
"Go to the other end of the column and make sure that the curse doesn't attach to anyone."
"The weird mist thing?" he tilts his head as he stands atop my horse's own.
"Yes, the weird mist thing" I sigh.
He bobs his head and flies off.
"I am guessing you must remain here?" Rikke asks.
"If you don't want all our food turned to literal excrement yes." I frown as I keep pushing a constant wave of Magicka.
"I will inform the King" She says and rides off.
This is getting uncomfortable, those buggers better hurry up.
(General POV, Northern position)
A Forsworn witch stands above a gutted Nord woman and chants a prayer.
The high priestess had informed her that the Nords were here to blaspheme against their Lady and destroy their way of life, the fanaticism with which she offers another sacrifice to Namira only increases as she remembers the priestess' sacred words.
Her guardians shift uncomfortably, obviously not being used to the presence of their great Lady. It was a shame that proper guards couldn't be arranged, but the priestess assured her the dumb Nords wouldn't even find out they were being cursed, so all she could do is praise her goddess and hope the priestess was right.
As the thought enters her mind a shiver runs down her spine, almost as a premonition. She looks at her guards and notices them all relaxed.
'Must have just been the nerves of youth. Yes, the priestess told me it happens to everyone, I am not a coward!'
Just as she finishes reassuring herself a series of metallic clicks resounds from within the forest and all her guards fall as one, each having at least two bolts, one in the neck and the other in the heart.
She attempts to get up, yet the moment she does so she hears a shuffling sound behind her and before she can turn pain assaults her abdomen. She looks down in fear and cries out as she sees a clawed hand ripping through her stomach.
"Well, aren't you just a treat" she hears a seductive purr to her left and shivers, then pain assaults her neck and all is darkness.
Sybille tosses her victim onto the ground and absentmindedly sets the entire site on fire.
The supremely masked leader of the Dunmer approaches her "Has the ritual been neutralized ma'am?" showing a complete lack of care for the vampire's bloodied hands and mouth. After all, they were paid to kill, not to care.
Sybille looks around and nods to herself "I don't detect any more Magicka being tainted, so that should be all."
"How come you didn't notice the curse?" Davos walks out of the woods and asks.
Sybille scoffs "Reyvin's perception is ridiculous even by Archmage standards." she looks at the assembled Dunmer "Who are you lot anyways? Reyvin never informed me he was running a group of assassins."
Davos chuckles "If he was why would he?"
Before Sybille can grant Davos the Darwin award he had just earned, the boss interjects "We are but faithful pilgrims following the great endeavor, nothing more."
the girl as they lay her on the ground and signal for me to remain near her head.
Bor, without a hint of emotion on his face says "We need you to cut out the burned flesh so we
can heal the eyes."
I shiver in disgust "I..."
Brienne stares at me, her gaze completely serious "You are the only one present that can do
this, we could try normal blades but we are as likely to kill her." The girls brother whimpers as
he hears this.
My hands shake as I kneel down next to her.
"Come on, Reyvin wouldn't bother with someone who couldn't do at least this much." Bor says in a lightly teasing tone, alleviating some of my nervousness.
I take a deep breath as I gather my courage and get to work, I am forced to cast my magic gently yet precisely, my focus fully on the girl's mangled face as I am forced to watch her flesh peel of her face and the remnants of her eyes get detached from their ruined sockets. "That is enough" Bor says firmly and pushes me away. The twins both channel an immense
amount of restoration magic into the girl and her face visibly reforms into a healthy and
normal state.
"Wheew" Bor whistles "That was draining."
The girls brother embraces her while sobbing uncontrollably.
"How are the two of you so powerful?" I can't help but ask the twins as I barely stop my hands
from shaking.
Bor chuckles and Brienne explains "It is mostly due to Reyvin, the entirety of our year was
pushed by his example to be our best selves." She giggles "He might be completely mad, but he has his good sides."
I blink "Is the college really that good?"
This time Bor answers as he urges one of the spellswords to guide the Nords away while the
rest burn the ritual site to ash "Reyvin is a good mage of that there is no doubt, he is not an Archmage however so he cannot teach you everything. At the college there is a Master for every school, ready to teach you all you are willing to learn."
"Most of them are also completely insane." Brienne adds helpfully, a mischievous glint in
her eyes.
Figures. I roll my eyes at my inevitable fate "So why would he not send me there instead of wasting his own time?"
Bor shrugs "Either he doesn't care to or he is waiting for the next group year to start when the
snows fall. Either way I can see you will do quite well if and when he sends you, your wind magic will likely make old Tolfdir jump in joy."
Before I can question them on the college any further the Questor approaches us and looks at
Bor "Everything is in order here, we should move out before the camp starts suspecting our possible defeat."
"No chance of that since Reyvin has likely detected the lack of curse" Bor waves him off "But you are right that we should get moving."
We all form up and march back to the army, my mind brimming with possibilities the entire
way there.
Writing For-sworn
Writing For-stone?
Coincidence? I think not.
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