Chapter 19

Chapter 19

     I wandered through the corridors of Shadow Cave, or so we now called our retreat. 

     The first time I had entered these ruins, draugr and skeevers had infested the hallways.  Now we had killed all the threats, at least those on this side of the puzzle door.  Whatever was on the other size probably couldn't get through if we couldn't, so we had left it alone.

     It had taken a few weeks to make the cave habitable.  Burning all the rotting bodies and even clearing out the smell of draugr had taken quite a while.  Now, though, bright torches graced every hall, tapestries and carpets gave the place a homey feel, and new rooms had been outfitted for sleeping, eating, planning, and practicing. 

     New thieves came in each day to join our ranks, and our guild was once more on the rise.  No more did we rob only the dead, and our symbol was starting to be known in Skyrim.

     I had helped us achieve this.  I had borne the Summerset Shadows along on my shoulders, sharing the burden only with the two thieves whom the Thieves' Guild had missed.  Everything was falling into place, everything was happening precisely according to plan.

     So why wasn't I happier?

     The moment I had spent months and months planning had been executed perfectly and without a hitch, and we now had the means to take our revenge on the murderers who had nearly killed us off.

     I should be happy right now.  No, I should be thrilled and empowered with the taste of victory.  But mostly I was just tired and sick of this whole affair. 

     For a long time, anger had been the fuel to the fire inside me that wanted to consume the Thieves' Guild.  Now that anger had cooled down and the more logical side of me had taken over. 

     What the Guild had done had really been exactly what Kisvar said, business.  When I had confronted him in the snow, I had wanted- I had wanted him to say that he had enjoyed destroying the Summerset Shadows.  That he had enjoyed storming our cave, taking our possessions, and slaughtering every single one of our members.  Instead he had calmly presented a perfectly rational argument in the face of my vengeful anger.

     Before I had met Kisvar, I had pretty much considered him a common bandit.  I had imagined... well, a confrontational, overconfident male jerk who would do or say anything for what he wanted, pretty much.  In reality, Kisvar wasn't like that at all.  He cared just as much for his guild and friends as I cared for mine, and that I could understand even if I didn't agree with his actions. 

     It had taken me a while to worm Kisvar's whole story out of him, but once I had....  By the Divines, he hadn't had it easy.  Kisvar had killed Alduin the World Eater, a task which must have taken no little preparation and difficulty, and now this Miraak was threatening the world once again. 

     And this presented me with another dilemma.  I had no reason to believe that Kisvar was lying when he told me about Miraak, and the old dragon we had found in the Howling Cave had pretty much confirmed everything to me.  If, if, all this was true, then we were about to torture and kill the only person who might be able to save the world from a threat bigger than any it had faced before. 

     A few months ago I wouldn't have cared about all this even if Kisvar had been the Emperor of Tamriel.  But now that I had actually met the man and knew what he had done for Skyrim- and even what he had done for me, by letting me into the Thieves' Guild- things were different.

     I kicked a small rock violently, sending it bouncing back into the shadows like a mudcrab scuttling into a stream. 

     I hadn't told Areldil that Kisvar was Dragonborn, and nor was I planning to.  Why?  Why wouldn't I tell Areldil that Kisvar had powers that could potentially break him out of his cell?  After all, he had killed my friends, my family!  Denying him any possible avenue of escape should be my first priority. 

     By the gods, how I wanted to hate Kisvar.  I had never wanted to hate someone more in my life.  If only I could, things would be so much easier. 

     But the truth was, the Summerset Shadows had doomed themselves.  Going into that job, Linwe had known that the dead target was a relative of an important client of Thieves' Guild.  He had decided that the job was worth the risk and given the go-ahead. 

     I had gotten this far by telling myself that I needed revenge, that the Guildmaster of the Thieves' Guild could get me that vengeance, and that my vendetta was right and necessary.  Now that I held it almost in my hands, however, I realized that I had never actually needed revenge at all and that this vendetta was childish and unnecessary. 

     Sighing heavily, I sat down at a small round table with a single chair and glared broodingly at an empty platter someone had left.  Whatever I felt now didn't matter, anyway.  There was no room in Skyrim for two guilds, so one was going to have to deal with the other.  Mine might as well be the one that came out on top.

     I could give myself all the pep talks I wanted, but in the end I still felt like the basest of traitors.  I couldn't even think of any arguments to justify myself anymore.

     Suddenly I felt too dirty to even sit still, so I got up and followed the convoluted paths to the mouth of the cave.  Bright sunlight and the nickering of horses greeted me, and I strode to the stables and stroked the nose of my own horse affectionately.  I had missed my girl, but I hadn't wanted to look too well-to-do when I had met up with the Thieves' Guild, so....

     Nirnroot pushed her forehead into my palm and I smiled, momentarily forgetting all my troubles.

     The next moment I pushed myself away from the stalls, all happiness washed out of me as I saw Gormlaith poke her head over the next stall to see what was going on.  Cursing the horse as if all this was her fault I headed back into the cave, unable to stand the warm and bright sunlight and homely face of my mare.  I didn't feel like I deserved to be happy.

     I spent another hour aimlessly roaming the series of caves, avoiding everyone I met whom I thought might stop to talk to me.  If one more person congratulates me, I swore, I'm going to completely lose it and just start punching.  Everyone here knew who I was and what I had set out to do, and they also knew that I was Areldil's right hand.  To get in favor with me was to get in favor with the leader of the Summerset Shadows, so of course they were lining up to congratulate me.  They just didn't realize that there was nothing that I wanted less right now. 

     My footsteps came to a halt as I nearly ran into the puzzle door that marked the last chamber of the ruins.  I stared absentmindedly at it, wondering what lay on the other side.  With a sudden strong curiosity I felt at the lock, recalling the book I had read on these doors years ago.  Something about a claw.... 

     I bent my head down low to better see the dim rock floor and walked all about the corridor, searching for something that looked like a claw.  Of course I found nothing, as many Summerset Shadows had come to gawk at the door and would have seen something so strange before.  It was a shame....  I really wanted to know what was on the other side of that door now.

     Giving it one last glance, I turned to go back into the main caves and nearly smacked face first into someone.  I steadied myself and looked up.  "Areldil.  What brings you down here?"

     "You, Aetra."  He smiled at me, and I shivered a little internally in spite of myself.  He had that effect on people. 

     "Well, you found me.  What do you need?" I asked, in no mood to bandy words. 

     He looked mildly surprised.  "I would think the question would be what do you need, Aetra."

     "What?"  Okay, now I was thoroughly confused.

     "I thought you might want to help with our... guest," he stated blandly.

     A cold shudder ran down my spine.  I knew perfectly well what help meant, and I was not going to be a part of this.  I opened my mouth to say so, but Areldil cut me off.

     "Of course, I couldn't deny you the chance to be sure your hard work is not all in vain.  Naturally you must want to be there at the end, since you helped start all this."

     And now he had me neatly trapped.  It was almost like he knew what I myself had just realized earlier: that I now believed I was in the wrong.  He was forcing me into this, because now I could not easily say no without giving a really good reason.  Since I had no jobs to do, places to be, or even just sleep to catch up on, I had no way out of this without looking like a traitor who was losing faith in our cause.

     And no one likes traitors, I thought with a pang.  I didn't want to be a traitor to two different factions. 

     I arranged my face into something that hopefully didn't show my entire thought process.  "Certainly, sir.  Thank you."

     "Of course," he said again, smiling that same smile.  "You'll meet Nevius in the main hall in a quarter of an hour.  And Aetra?"

     I had been turning away, afraid I couldn't keep up my front much longer, but I turned around again to look into his eyes.

     "Thank you for helping me to avenge my father," he said, a note of sincerity in his voice. 

     I nodded and left, unable to do more.  Areldil trusted me, with his life and those of the Summerset Shadows, and here I was doubting our whole purpose.  But Kisvar trusted you too, a nagging little voice prodded in the back of my head.  "Trusted me?" I snorted aloud.  Kisvar hadn't really trusted me, but he had been getting to that point.  Now he was more likely to put an arrow though my eye than trust me ever again.

     My heart sank lower and lower with each step I took toward the main hall.  Ways to escape this flashed through my mind, each scenario more improbable than the last.

     In what felt like seconds I arrived at my destination, feet dragging so badly I probably looked like I had a severe limp.  Nevius, an oafish brute of a Dark Elf, was already standing there impatiently with one hand on Kisvar's shoulder.  I hesitated in the doorway for nearly an extra minute before finally coming into the room.  "Finally!" Nevius growled.  "What took you so long?"

     I was hoping I could get by without speaking.  Kisvar hadn't seen me yet; he was staring at the ground.  I couldn't avoid the direct question, though, so I plastered the most serene expression I could manage on my face and answered, "I got held up talking to Areldil."

     As I had expected, Kisvar looked up.  What I hadn't expected, or at least not been entirely prepared for, was the glance of pure, sizzling hate he directed at me.  I mean... I know I tricked him and then betrayed him, but if looks could kill I'd be nothing but a pile of ashes right now.  Then I remember Mercer Frey and how much Kisvar and the rest of the Thieves' Guild hated him and guessed that Kisvar now saw me as just another traitor like Mercer.

     "Well, let's get moving," Nevius said, completely oblivious to everything. 

     I let him lead and just followed down the corridors.  Since he was setting the pace and I couldn't shuffle along like before, we reached the torture chamber in an extremely short time. 

     Two guards opened the door and shut it behind us again, moving to stand inside as well.  The torturer rubbed his hands in anticipation, looking happier than I had seen him in months.  I finally got up the courage to glance sideways at Kisvar and almost froze. 

     His eyes were darting every which way, not in a fearful way, but rather in a cunning evaluation.  Being an expert planner myself, I could always tell when someone had something up their sleeve, and I should have known anyway that Kisvar wouldn't go down without a fight.

     Then and there I decided that whatever plan he had worked out, I was going to do whatever I could to help. 

     "Is this the prisoner?" the torturer asked.

     "This is the fabled Guildmaster of the Thieves' Guild, yes.  Not for much longer, eh, though?" he sneered.

     In that instant, as Nevius relaxed his guard slightly as he spoke, Kisvar twisted out of his grip.  Nevius let out bull-like roar of anger and snatched at his arm, but Kisvar spun around a column in the center of the room and somehow dropped his cuffs at the same time.  The torturer rushed him with arms outstretched but ended up overshooting his much quicker target and running almost into the Dunmer. 

     This maneuver neatly put all Kisvar's opposition on one side of the room with him on the other, and suddenly I realized what he meant to do and dove out of the way.

     A blast of rippling black energy swept outward in a circular motion as Kisvar used the three Words he had learned from the dragon.  The swirling vortex of darkness struck the thieves and flung them back against the walls and furniture.  As it passed just over my back a cold shiver ran up my spine.  Something about the energy felt...wrong.  Almost like... like it wasn't meant to be in this world.

     I raised my head when I was sure it was over and stared around me, eyes opening wider and wider in astonishment and more than a little fear.  Every single thief that had been standing when the Shout struck them was splayed unmoving on the ground in the various contorted positions that they had fallen in.  There was no blood, no burns, they were just... dead.

     Kisvar himself had dropped to one knee, holding his head in both hands

     I wasn't sure whether to run away before he saw me and tried to kill me or do something to help.

     Fortunately he decided for me.  "Why are you still alive?" he demanded, standing up.

     "Um... I ducked?" 

     He made a disgusted noise and looted a sword off one of the dead guards as I eyed him warily.

     "Where's my stuff?" he asked abruptly.

     "What?" I asked, taken off guard.

     "Where.  Is.  My.  Stuff?" he asked again in a voice that was more of a growl.  "If you regret being an evil little traitor at all you'll tell me where my sword and other things are."

     "What makes you think I regret anything?" I asked with fake coolness.

     He snorted.  "You're kidding.  Guilt was written so clearly on your face as you came in here that it almost spelled the word."

     I gave up the false bravado.  "Fine.  It's in the armory, near the entrance to the cave."

     "Great.  Now get out of my sight."  Kisvar raised his sword.

     "Do you know where the entrance is? Or even what direction it's in?" I asked.  He remained silent.  "I didn't think so.  Look, this isn't how I meant for things to turn out, and if I can help you get out, I will."  That was only a little stretch....  I mean, yes, this was what I had meant to happen, but I hadn't meant to suddenly lose conviction in....  Whatever.

     "I don't want, need, or in any way require your help," he stated flatly. 

     "Fine.  Go find the armory by yourself," I snapped.  He had good reason to be angry with me, but this was ridiculous.  I could help him, for gods' sake.  "I know where Gormlaith is, too," I coaxed, although if he found the entrance he couldn't possibly miss seeing the stables.

     He held the sword up for a second longer, then lowered it with a growl of annoyance.  "The second we get out of this cave I never want to see you again," he warned me.

     That hurt a little bit, much as I deserved it.  "Very well.  Let's go."  I led the way out of the room, listening intently.  I looked back once to see if Kisvar was following and nearly missed the quiet patter of leather boots coming down the passageway.  Ducking into a doorway, I hoped Kisvar had found somewhere to hide as well.  Since the footsteps died away down the hall without incident I assumed he had.  Continuing on, I took the route I knew was least likely to have thieves along it. 

     We made it to the armory before the sounds of voices angrily shouting back and forth broke out behind us.  Kisvar buckled his armor and pouches back on while I kept watch, nervously looking down the corridor. 

     I turned around at the ring of steel.  Kisvar held his Daedric sword up and tested the balance, making sure the weapon wasn't damaged. 

     "Let's go," I snapped impatiently.

     He glared at me but followed without sheathing the sword.   

     I broke into a sweat, hoping fervently that no one was at the stables right now.  The guards patrolled the entrance farther up.  I knew the thieves here.  They were all good people, and if at all possible I wanted to get out of here without any bloodshed.  Kisvar on the other hand, probably wanted nothing more than bloodshed right now.

     To my slight surprise the stables were clear.  With no time to saddle them, we vaulted onto our horses and urged them down the path.  "Up ahead is a bottleneck leading out of this gorge.  There are two guards, one on each side on watch towers to either side of the path.  If we gallop straight through we should be fine," I shouted over the wind.  He didn't answer, but he did nudge Gormlaith slightly to speed her up.

     As we neared the bottleneck entrance my heart beat faster and faster, keeping time with Nirnroot's hoof beats.

     No arrows rained down from above, no voices shouted for us to halt, in fact, nothing at all happened as we swept through the entrance.  Then I realized the alarm must not have reached the lookouts yet, and they may not have seen Kisvar before.  All they saw was me and another rider heading out of the hideout on a job or something. 

     If only I wasn't busy riding for my life, I would go and correct that lapse right now.

     Ten minutes of riding and even the hill the cave was set into was out of sight in the thick trees behind us.  Ten more and we slowed the horses down to a trot.  Ten more passed with no sound of pursuit, but I didn't relax.

     We had gotten out, but was I any safer?

Utterly unedited xD  I hope it isn't full of stupid mistakes.

What did you all think of the POV switchup?