20demayo Chapter 210: Chapter XIV: The Nick of Time
Chapter 210: Chapter XIV: The Nick of Time
Chapter 210: Chapter XIV: The Nick of Time
(Reyvin's POV, on route to Helgen Pass)
The wind whips around me as Scorch cuts through the air at full speed, leaving behind a trail of fire, the massive flaming bird purposefully showing off to the black blur following behind us with contemptuous ease.
Those wings that were usually tacked on to the form of a vampire lord making them look like some kind of skinned chicken were apparently far less decorative in the case of a Daughter of Coldharbour.
I shook my head at the memory of the amused look Serana gave me when I asked her if she was fine with flying on Scorch and she simply sprouted large bat-like wings while raising an eyebrow.
It would seem that me being a know it all had earned me a bit of sass from the resident immortal.
I could only hope that Harkon didn't get that little bit of powerup as killing his ass while he flew at such speeds would be annoying even with copious use of precognition.
As we flew by High Hrothgar I felt a new set of eyes focus its gaze on me, the feeling of a mountain staring down at me was anything but pleasant but I knew that I was in no real danger as the moment I looked at the source of the gaze I was met with the sight of an utterly massive grey-scaled dragon calmly sitting atop the mountain and looking at us with a mix of curiosity and concern.
My eyes widened at just how large he was, as he stood at at least twice the size of Vulthuryol.
Understanding the reason for his concern, namely me spreading word of his sighting, I offered him a formal bow (still flying at full speed of course) and spoke "Drem*."
It was no true shout but I made sure to focus all of my intentions into the word and that was seemingly enough as the ancient dragon let out a hum that somehow reached my ears and closed his eyes, seemingly returning to his rest.
We resumed our flight in silence until we came close to the fortified town of Helgen and set down a good distance from its stone walls.
The moment we did so I heard Serana take in a deep calming breath, breaking her cold facade for but a moment "Is that what I think it was?" She asked in perfect monotone but I could still feel her distress.
"If your thoughts were "Damn is that Paarthurnax the one who taught man to use the voice and face the World Eater?!" Then yeah it is exactly what you thought it was." I quip without a hint of concern in my voice, still calmly walking toward the town.
I feel her eyes bore into my back for a moment before she composes herself and catches up with me "Why do I feel this is not the most ridiculous thing I will hear you say?"
I look at her with a raised eyebrow and an amused smirk "Because you have good sense?"
She shakes her head, the tiniest of tugs pulling at the edge of her lips.
Some posturing, shouting, and browbeating later we once more took to the skies, our reinforcements already mobilizing behind us.
"That sure is a lot of n'wahs" A now shrunken Scorch mutters from my shoulder.
"Yup." I say with a pop "I am genuinely impressed that the garrison is still standing."
"Not for very long" Serana interjects and points to the rapidly splitting rocky blockade and the rather powerful feeling mage doing said splitting.
"Hmmm..." My eyes narrow and I focus on the enemy mage, a moment later I learn what I need and mutter "Shatter-shield." I furrow my brows "Ulfric is definitely going all out with this one if he sent one of his best mages forward."
"So just a more powerful n'wah?" Scorch tilts his head and then shrugs "Does he burn tho?"
I give him a blank look "He is a war veteran that could stand against genuine Altmer magi, underestimating him is plain stupid."
"I believe we have no more time to chat." Serana interjects once more "The path is already open."
"Not yet." I say, my clairvoyance already working on creating a perfect timing. "He is already charging a spell, why hesitate?" she asks with genuine confusion.
A grin nearly splits my face as I summon my complete armor and step atop a rapidly expanding firebird "Presentation." I state as if the word explained everything and within the same moment Scorch plunges toward the wide wooden wall of the legionary fort, and right into the path of the giant blizzard.
Deciding to keep some of my aces hidden I summon my glaive and channel a blast of solar flame at the wave of ice, hitting it dead in the center and harmlessly shattering it in all directions.
Before anyone can blink I unsummon Scorch and stand atop the wooden wall, the somewhat familiar looking orc looking at me with a mix of fear and relief. One rapid identification later I greet the apparent new Quaestor "Sup?"
I see him slowly mutter 'sup? what?' before he wakes up from whatever confusion I caused and offers a crisp salute "Sir, Quaestor Zarok and current commander of this position reporting for duty."
"Greetings Quaestor" I ramp down the 'spooky' effects of my mask "Get your men ready, I will try and push the rebels back but be prepared just in case they still decide to press on."
He nods and I look to Serana who simply tilts her head "I will stay here and look for any overt traps."
"Very well" I accept her reasoning and finally look back to the Stormcloaks. The rebels had moved back a bit, making sure to keep distance between each other, while their mage was speaking to a tall blonde wearing light armor.
I leave the headquarters followed by the excited Quartermaster, leaving behind a bunch of
suddenly hopeful officers.
Their determined expressions bringing a satisfied smile to my face.
"So is this what war is like?" Serana asks as the two of us sit atop the central tower. The sun
had long since fallen and I had just finished healing the last of the wounded legionaries back
to full strength.
"I had expected more... excitement." She settles on the word.
"Never seen one before princess?" I ask with only mild amounts of sarcasm, and ignoring her mild glare I shrug "Most of it is just positioning, logistics, and minor skirmishes. Anything bigger is usually what decides the conflict but for that to happen a lot of things need to click
first."
"I've read about it in the castle." She explains after a bit of silence "I just never expected it to be so... tiresome."
"To think war was so monotonous it tired even those not living." I quip and pretend to shiver
"How terrifying."
"You are awfully fearless for someone standing so close." Serana lazily points out.
I shrug "It is a gift." Suddenly I see movement in the back of my mind and my whole demeanor shifts "Stay here."
I tell her and use the darkness of the night to shadow walk in front of the fort.
Just in time for a whole company of dark cloak wearing Stormcloaks to emerge from within
the breach, a far greater number of magi standing among them. "Well, well,well." I greet a specific robe-bound man among them with crossed arms "How
nice of you to visit Shatter-shield."
He grits his teeth in frustration at being discovered so quickly but like a true veteran he immediately barks out "Move on without me, I will face him alone."
Much to his suspicion I do not try and stop them and merely stand there staring at him, and as
the final rebel passes by me he grunts "I did not think you would be so arrogant." He unsheathes his hammer and bangs it against his shield "It will be your downfall."
I chuckle darkly at his words "Oh I do not worry, something far worse than I waits atop that
wall." I do a lazy twirl with my glaive, further irritating the old Nord by refusing to elaborate,
and point my weapon at him "You however, I will enjoy pulling apart."
"Bold words." He states and we stare each other down.
And then as if in agreement we unleash our full power and start blasting each other with every
intention of utterly destroying our opponent.
A/n: *Drem peace
I hath a burning desire for stone!
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