FVN Chapter 332: Chapter LVIII: Escalation
Chapter 332: Chapter LVIII: Escalation
Chapter 332: Chapter LVIII: Escalation
"Well... that put a damper on things." Torygg's awkward hiss broke the silence as our select group commandeered one of the palace's private rooms.
"They had to be properly informed." Minthara shrugs from her seat close to my own "And it isn't like they were about to go celebrating anyway." Her flippant expression morphs into a scowl "The undead made sure of that."
Tullius' newly regrown fingers twitched as phantom pains flared "As useful as a celebration would have been, getting ready to resist the dragons takes priority." His frown lessens as the pain slowly leaves him, and he turns to me "Forgive me my childish hope but how certain are you this was not an isolated incident?"
Before I can answer Minthara does so for me "It is in the very nature of dragons to conquer and dominate, and Skyrim is covered in dozens of burial mounds holding their bodies and souls imprisoned." She scowls "Bodies and souls Alduin is more than capable of bringing back to life."
"Quite." I nod as I put out a cigar "Even if they lacked an overarching plan they would start conquering territories independently after a while simply because that is what they do."
Tullius sighs in acceptance and leans back, allowing some of the tension to leave him but not enough to fall asleep on the spot.
Torygg on the other hand forces a smirk "Lucky us then that Akatosh saw fit to send a hero to aid us in these dark times."
"Yes." Minthara drawls "How incredibly lucky."
The young ruler winces at her tone and a moment later inclines his head "Apologies, I cannot even begin to imagine the weight this places on your shoulders."
She lets out a mirthless chuckle at that, directing a light glare my way "If only it all ended there."
I raise a mildly surprised eyebrow "You want to do this now?"
"Do what now?" Torygg blinks in confusion.
"Might as well get it over with." Minthara exhales and looks to Torygg with some hesitation "I am not... just a Dragonborn." She pauses to consider her words "I am also the last living descendant of Martin Septim."
A cup clatters onto the stone floor, spilling all of its untouched contents as Torygg stares at her blankly, his eyes searching her for any deceit before slowly turning to me. Seeing my lack of denial he slowly turns to Tullius, and as he notes the Imperial's complete and utter lack of surprise the panic that started to rise within him receded slowly.
"Just to be certain..." The poor man voices as he focuses back on Minthara "You are not telling me this to ask for my aid in taking the throne?"
Minthara gives him an amused at the question look but it is Tullius who answers "His Imperial Majesty has already named Lady Septim as his heir, even if it is meant to remain secret for some time yet."
"Of course." Torygg chuckles mirthlessly before directing a look of exasperated horror my way "How deeply do your schemes run, Reyvin?"
"The world dances upon the webs I weave." I drawl amusedly as a certain dagger is balanced atop my index finger, a peal of ethereal laughter echoing both close and distant only audible to myself.
He rolls his eyes "Of course." But just as he was about to relax himself his posture suddenly stiffens "Wait... If you were already aware of her heritage, why did you not use it to stop the war?" His gaze hardens "Ulfric's entire issue could have been solved in mere moments... Are my people's lives so worthless to you that you would write them off so easily?"
Before he can descend into a tirade, stuck considering what ifs as he was, I scoff "Is your trust in me so shallow Torygg? Really?"
"Trust?" He repeats "You ask for trust when you keep something like this secret from me? I consider you one of my greatest friends but even I am left wondering just what else are you keeping secret."
I could sense his frustration, the tiny part of whim that considered him to be the only one to have control over any situation in his kingdom slowly bubbling to the surface as the revelations of today joined the loss of yesterday "It would have made no difference Torygg." I say patiently "Ulfric would have found some kind of excuse."
A poor choice that was "No difference?!" He barks, slamming his fist on an armrest "And how is that your sole decision to make?!" He scowls "So eager you are to talk of trust yet you only demand it be given to you while giving none yourself!"
"And what would you have me do?!" I snap back, my annoyance flaring for a moment "Declare it all to the world when neither it or she were ready for it?"
"If it would stop my people from butchering each other." He hisses, already regretting his next words "Then yes."
"She would have been assassinated within the day." I scoff, earning a nod of agreement from Tullius, the silent Imperial too tired to join our little spat.
will be careful." Valerica Volkihar embraced her daughter, whispering her worries into her ear as the whole court observed in silence.
Rolling her eyes at the treatment, Serana still managed a contented smile "It is not I who should be afraid." She said, eyes flaring with deep seeded power, a crumpled letter sitting forgotten within her grasp.
All over Skyrim more such messages arrived to their destinations, warriors of renown
sharpened their blades, clans armed their retinues and court magi gleefully examined the keys and activation codes for the hidden stockpiles of arms and automatons placed in preparation for what was to come.
And yet, as massive black wings cut through the clouds, making a covering of their own much less pleasant than what was once in its path, one would have to wonder... would all of it come
even close to being enough?
(Reyvin's POV, days later)
As the priestess of Azura finished her funeral prayer and the crowd dispersed I finally allowed
the carefully neutral expression of solemnity to leave me and joined the group waiting to the
side.
"All of you are prepared then?" I asked Minthara and her party.
"As we will ever be." Marco grins, completely uncaring for the long days of suffering he was
about to be subjected to.
Junia, Lydia, and the Blades duo also voiced their agreement, though much less enthusiastically.
"So much for that vacation, eh?" Minthara pretends to mock.
I shrug "We can rest when we are dead I suppose." I turn and signal for them to follow "Come
on then, I have a wayshrine close to Morthal that you can u-" Before I could say another word or take another step a feeling of dread filled the air.
Most of us were left unshaken but I could some among the crowd looking around in surprise
and terror, and then, as if that itself was not enough a familiar voice broke the air speaking from every direction both far and near, even as I detected its source to be half a province away. "Mortal worms... defiant slaves... ignorant wretches... Betrayers all! Hear my voice and tremble! My army shall descend from the skies and my words shall shatter your walls! Bow your feeble heads in supplication and beg for mercy for the time of your pitiful kingdoms has come! Bow, for I have come! BOW! FOR AL DU IN HAS COME!" The voice still rung in my ears as it kept echoing over and over and over again, finally it stopped a full minute later and my eyes met with Minthara's as we both echoed out a perfectly
synchronized ""Fuck""
AL DU IN Destroyer Devourer Master
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