Chapter 16
- Location
- Texas
Chapter 16
Tirdas, the 2nd of Evening Star, Year 201 of the 4th Era
Tirdas, the 2nd of Evening Star, Year 201 of the 4th Era
Life went on; that was a lesson Daenerys had learned already. The wheel turned. You either kept pace or were ground beneath it. The bastards who had tried to rape her were dead. She wasn't like Vigga or Jarl Korir, always dwelling on the wrongs of the past. She moved forward.
She told Brelyna almost everything, even more than she had told the arch-mage, Mirabelle, and Faralda. She only held back that she Shouted. She poured out the details, the words they had spoken, and the cruel way they planned her rape. In the retelling, what bothered her the most was what a fool she had been. She had gone along with being imprisoned so meekly. She should have known better. She had dealt with the likes of Cersei Lannister and the masters of Meereen. Why had she expected to be imprisoned with respect, like a noblewoman? Korir had made has lack of respect for mages very clear.
"You couldn't have known," consoled Brelyna. "You hear of that happening in prison, but only in places like the Cidhna Mines where they put away people to forget about them. At worst you were guilty of making threats and dueling inside the city. Nords do that all the time. Usually, you are released after a few days being locked up for such things. I was worried for you, but not as worried as I should have been. I was afriad you would be starved, beaten, or left in an unheated cell. I'm sorry, I didn't know that your danger was that grave."
For a Dunmer that was a downright optimistic view of the world. "I think it happens more than you believe. Men think with their cocks at the best of times. Most men will force a woman if they think they can get away with it. I've seen it happen before during war and wherever slavery is legal. That doesn't make it right."
Brelyna's eyes got wide. "Where have you been that slavery is legal? Since Helseth Hlaalu outlawed slavery in Morrowind it has been illegal everywhere in the Empire."
Daenerys started to give her usual line, 'I prefer not to talk about it,' but Brelyna deserved better. Brelyna had become too close to her to simply brush off like that. "Maybe I'll tell you someday, Brelyna, but not today."
Brelyna nodded. "I have my own secrets, that I may share someday as well." She paused for a moment brow creased in thought. "Not today. There is a time and a place for secrets. Still, they were warriors in the service of the jarl. They should have upheld the law, not broken it. They should be better than that."
"They should have, but they didn't. Whoever is on top always takes and hurts those on the bottom. Sometimes the wheel turns. The one on top falls, another rises, but still those on bottom suffer." For a moment the memory of the burning of King's Landing returned. Instead of breaking the wheel, she had become the wheel herself. She shook her head and sighed. "You're right. The guards should have been better. People should be better. It's a cruel world. Not that excuses the cruelty. I'm glad those bastards are dead. I hope they all suffer in Oblivion. Is there a Daedra Prince of Rape?"
"Yes, Molag Bal, the Prince of Domination is also called the King of Rape."
"Good. I hope he claimed their souls." Although if their souls were damned, what awaited her in the afterlife?
.oOo.
Daenerys was certain that Brelyna didn't spread any gossip, but it was obvious that word had gotten out. When she returned to classes the after taking a rest day, conversations stopped, and people stopped to stare whenever she walked in. Once she sat down, conversation would restart in quiet whispers. It wasn't surprising. Her friends had already made it public that she had been arrested for defending herself. They couldn't hide that she had returned to classes, or that Faralda had taken her as an apprentice. That she was still required to supervise her charges would be enough to start rumors by itself. Normally, senior novitiates supervised the initiates. Apprentices still had duties, but they were assigned by their master.
Sofja approached her during an afternoon practice in the Hall of the Elements that day while she was practicing using the Frost spell. She could cast it readily now, but it was still more difficult to channel her anger into a Seeming than to use her knowledge of a Shout. The Nord girl approached but stood out of the way of the icy spray of cold flowing from her hand. Casually, Sofija crossed her arms and leaned against a column waiting to be acknowledged. This was unusual behavior for Sofija. Afternoon practices were loosely supervised. Students could practice whatever spells they wished, as long as there was a Master Wizard present and they watched their aim. Some students spent most of their practice time in conversation and gossip, but not Sofja. Despite her hostile attitude she trained hard, mostly with Conjuration. Sofja could cast Bound Dagger and had been trying and failing to cast Bound Sword. While Sofija was one of her charges, Sofija had never come to her for help before, nor was she one to gossip.
"Hello, Sofija." Daenerys cut off the flow of Frost with satisfaction. She held up a hand. "I'll be with you in a moment." She closed her eyes and took in deep cleansing breaths and exhaled her anger. It was a relaxation exercise that had become important now that she was casting Frost and using anger as a Seeming. After several breaths she felt better. She opened her eyes. "Thank you. Now, can I help you with something?"
Sofija uncrossed her arms and nodded. "I'm not sure if you're aware, but those few of us who follow the spellsword path meet in a training hall on the third floor on some afternoons for exercises and weapons practice. Adept Malak leads the sessions. I heard about the duel, and I thought you might want to join us."
Daenerys wondered why she had never heard of the sessions or a training hall before. For that matter she had never heard of spellswords before. "What is the difference between a spellsword and a battlemage?"
Sofija scowled. "I forget you're an outlander sometimes. A battlemage is almost always a master of Destruction and often Conjuration as well. They may wear heavy armor, but it is highly enchanted. They almost never engage their foes hand-to-hand. They blast them from a distance. The armor is to protect them from arrows and from the spells of other mages. A spellsword, on the other hand, is the perfect balance between magic and combat. Spellswords wade right into melee, a sword in one hand and a spell in the other."
"I guess that explains why they teach us to cast spells like Bound Dagger and Bound Sword then. I thought they were rather useless. If you don't know how to use a weapon, then conjuring one does you little good."
Sofija shook her head. "That's not entirely it. Spellswords often use conjured weapons. There are some advanced techniques that make them even more powerful, but a powerfully enchanted blade is superior to any conjured one. Being a spellsword is more than just conjuring weapons. It's a way of life."
Daenerys had never heard Sofija so passionate about anything. She barely spoke most of the time. She wasn't sure what to make of the offer. Back on Planetos she had never sought to gain skill with weapons. Learning to wield a sword took years, and she had commanded trained and dangerous warriors. She shouldn't need a weapon for her duel. However, she had been warned that her opponent would likely be very heavily armored. What if he survived her Shout? Also, she was beginning to wonder if the College was really the place for her. She had proved that she had the capability of learning magic based on a Seeming, but it was slow going. Learning Shouts from word walls would be faster, but that meant exploring Nord barrows. If she was going to be exploring crypts full of the dead, being able to use a weapon was a wise idea. Draugr didn't pause their attacks while you rested to recover magicka.
"I'm not very good at weapons," Daenerys admitted. "Nor am a warrior maid like you, but I am interested."
Sofija frowned. "If you're not skilled with weapons, how do you plan to survive the duel? You know you can't use magic, don't you? It's not honorable. They'll kill you."
"Leave that to me." Daenerys smiled. If it was good enough for Ulfric, it was good enough for her. "I'm going to win, but it wouldn't hurt to know how to use a weapon, and not just for the duel."
Sofija shook her head. "You're confident. You must have a plan. You're not going to tell me, are you?"
Daenerys just smiled.
"I hope you know what you're doing. I want to see you gut whatever champion they put up to defend those cowards."
"I can promise that you won't be disappointed. So… where and when does this spellsword practice happen?"
.oOo.
The training room was easy enough to find. She had even walked past the door showing one hand holding a sword and another hand casting a spell without even noticing it. When she opened the door, the training room turned out to be a mostly empty classroom. Along one wall stood weapon racks filled with various melee weapons: swords, axes, hammers, knives and such. Some circles were painted upon the floor and there were the students.
Instead of a score of young boys working hard under the eyes of old warriors there was only Adept Malak and four pupils. Five, if she included herself. In addition to Sofija, she recognized one of the others as Thedyn, a dark-haired Nord that was one of Onmund's charges. The other two were new to her, so probably apprentices, a blonde Breton lass and a brown-haired Bosmer. The two of them had matching facepaint and appeared to be a couple.
Adept Malak was a young and powerfully built Redguard. He wore traditional Redguard clothing in browns and oranges with a turban hiding his hair. He greeted her with a smile showing lots of perfectly white teeth. "Daenerys Targaryen." He bowed formally. "I am glad you have chosen to join us this day."
"Thank you for teaching us." She bowed in return. What had she gotten herself into?
"We start," said Malak. "By stretching as always. I will guide you today. The rest of you, no slacking. I'm still watching."
Malak showed her how to stretch every part of her body. He seemed most focused on the arms and legs, but he kept emphasizing that it was important to stretch all the muscles. "Flexibility, agility, skill. These are more important than brute strength for a spellsword."
After the stretching they ran sprints back and forth across the room. That was followed by odd exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, squats. She was tired and drenched in sweat long before he even allowed to pick up a wooden sword. She hadn't managed to keep up with the exercises, but she hadn't quit. Malak set his students to practicing against each other while he walked her step by step through the basics – how to stand, how to hold a sword, how to slash, and how to thrust. He made her repeat those moves again and again and again. She hadn't even known there was a right and wrong way to stand.
"Alright, rest a bit. I'm going to check on the others." Marak started circulating around the room as the others continued to fight mock duels. The Bosmer and Breton fought with conjured blades, but both Thedyn and Sofija used real steel. Marak critiqued, complemented, and corrected their form.
Daenerys watched the students square off. Did she really want to take part in this? She was awful even compared to all of them. Was the time spent learning to stick another person with a sharp bit of metal really time well spent? She wanted to say no, that she could just rely upon Shouting and magic, but it might save her life in the duel. She was also still planning to explore Nord barrows in search of word walls someday. She would never be a master of the sword, but having some skill would help her survive.
"Keep practicing," said Malak. "Daenerys. You've had enough time watching. Join me in the circle and come at me."
What followed was embarrassing. She tried to stab and slash the way he had shown her, but she didn't even come close to touching him once. Sometimes Malak stepped aside. Sometimes he blocked. Most embarrassing were the times he just stood there and watched as her swing went wild. After every failed attack, he said the same word, "Again." It was a simple word. He didn't say it harshly or mockingly, but she got sick of hearing it. She tried over and over and never touched him.
After she tripped and fell on her face, he finally called a halt to everything. "Enough. Go sit down." He raised his voice. "Everyone, time to stretch again."
Adept Malak led them through more stretches at the end of class, and then dismissed everyone. "Good workout, everyone. Elistan, would you mind healing anyone who needs it, please?"
"I can and I will," agreed the Bosmer.
Daenerys cursed herself for not thinking of that. Rather than waiting she used Healing on herself. She only had a few bruises, and they healed easily. Healing also took some of the aches in her limbs, but didn't cure the exhaustion.
Malak approached her as the rest of the class started to leave. "Daenerys, you've obviously never done this before, but you never gave up. You have promise. Is this something you are going to stick with?"
She had promise? She had been awful. "I don't know if you heard, but I have a duel coming up. I shouldn't need a weapon, but I would like to know enough by then not to stab myself." Also practicing just how close she could let an enemy approach would help her time her Shout. However, in the long term? "If I do something, I want to do it right. Will I ever be good just exercising and practicing a couple of hours a few afternoons a week?"
Malak shook his head. "No, but you might be able to defend yourself. Real warriors spend hours practicing every day and it takes years to build skills. When is this duel? You're not going to pick up how to use a weapon in just a few hours."
"A week, maybe two. The date isn't set you. Having a sword is more of a back-up plan."
He shrugged. "You could join us for morning sessions as well, but even then, you won't see much progress for a week or so. If you somehow survive a duel with no skill in weapons, you would still be well-served to attend every practice."
Daenerys glanced over at Sofija who was listening with interest. Somehow morning sessions hadn't been brought up during her little introduction. "When are the morning sessions?"
"During the sixth hour every morning except Sundas. I might be able to give you a couple of extra weapons, but you just won't learn much in a couple of weeks. It just isn't enough time."
"Don't worry." If she needed to use a sword at all, it would be to finish off a severely injured opponent. "I'll come to the morning sessions as well. After the duel, I'll decide whether I want to continue or not."
.oOo.
Daenerys was surprised when Faralda asked that they meet in her office instead of the Destruction training room. She had never been to her office before. It was very much like her, strictly organized and regimented, a place for every book and item, and everything in its place.
"Please, be seated." Faralda beckoned her to a seat before her desk. It was made of a dark wood, polished and lacquered until it shone. Faralda didn't sit down, but instead she went to a tea service set in its own alcove. She poured out two cups of a dark brown liquid that was obviously hot from the wisps of steam coming off the cups. She then added a small amount of honey to each cup and stirred. "Calen tea. It's merish and very hard to come by here in Skyrim. I save it for special occasions." She returned to her desk sitting a cup in front of Daenerys before sitting herself. "Such as when I take a new apprentice."
Daenerys took a cautious sip. For some it might be too hot to drink, but she savored the heat. The flavor was almost too strong, but the honey made it tolerable. "It's interesting. I think I could learn to like it."
Faralda nodded approvingly. "It does make a pleasant change from beer, wine, and mead. Now, to business. While I rushed things by making you my apprentice, I don't regret it one bit. You have the makings of an excellent mage. Setting aside your ability to cast spells based off Shouting, you have successfully cast two spells based off Seemings with only a little over a month of instruction. Granted you were in an extremely stressful situation, which does speed learning, but it is still remarkable progress."
"Thank you. I also gather that you made the offer to protect me, and I appreciate that as well. Even though I don't understand how it protected me."
"The bylaws of the College are old and cannot be readily ignored even by the Archmage. A novitiate can be expelled by the archmage alone. For an apprentice to be expelled, both the apprentice's master and the archmage must agree to expel the student. It was not complete protection. Archmage Savos could have stripped me of my title and fired me first. That happened recently to the previous Master of Conjuration. Maybe you heard of the incident?"
"I did," agreed Daenerys. "Something involving a Daedric artifact, Azura's Star?"
"I see the school rumor chain is still effective. Yes, Azura's Star was involved. A student died and several more left when Malyn Varen was removed from his post."
"I heard the student was sacrificed, yet he was allowed to leave. He wasn't handed over to the jarl for murder was he?"
"No, no he was not." Faralda frowned. "I don't think he should have been handed to the jarl. It would have set a bad precedent. That the student was ritually killed is beyond doubt. The problem was there was no proof that Malyn Varen was the one who performed the sacrifice. The archmage was more interested in covering things up and protecting the College's reputation than finding the culprit. Instead, he expelled all involved."
"So, where did they go? Are they just out there somewhere in Skyrim sacrificing people and giving mages a bad name?"
"Unfortunately, that is likely the case. At any rate we have drifted off the topic. While circumstances rushed my decision, I would have made an offer to you as soon as I thought it wouldn't turn heads. There are several things I want to discuss, and we'll get to them, but first…" Faralda's expression softened with concern. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. I have been through worse. They're dead. I'm alive. The archmage isn't handing me over to the jarl, and I'm going to make Jarl Korir choke on his decision."
"The duel?" Faralda frowned. "He won't be happy to lose his champion… Ah, I see. You'll win by Shouting and he won't be able to say a word because Ulfric Stormcloak won his duel the same way."
"Only in part." She sipped her tea and smiled. "Trust me, you'll see."
"I hope you're right. You know that you don't have to do this. We can find another way. You can win by Shouting, but if you Shout too soon or too late, you can lose."
"I know." She shrugged. "I won't miss. Those who attacked me paid. The jarl hasn't yet, but he will. It will change things, but I am no rabbit. I will hide behind a pair of floppy ears no more."
Faralda's brow furrowed. "And are you going to reveal how Shouts are connected to your casting? Do you want the Thalmor learning that?"
"There is a difference between not hiding what I am and revealing all my secrets. The secret of casting spells based on shouts remains between us."
"Good. Next question. Now that you can cast spells using a Seeming, do you have any insights on how it is different basing them on Shouts?"
"The spells I cast based on Shouts are easier to get started, but once started the rest is the same. She cast around for a way to explain it. "Suppose you had a cart you needed to get downhill, but you didn't have a horse. You strain and push until, finally, you move it a few feet. Then it rolls downhill. That's using a Seeming. With a Shout, you just tell the horse to giddy-up."
Faralda nodded. "I'm not surprised. I rather expected as much after all our conversations, but until you could cast magic both ways, we couldn't be certain. So, not only is Shout-based magic less harmful to the caster's sanity, but also easier to cast." Faralda sipped at her tea for a moment. "That's good for you, and for everyone if it can be taught." She abruptly set her tea down. "What do you want, Daenerys? We were partners before. Now you're also my apprentice. Do you want to learn Destruction magic under my tutelage?"
"I think that I would rather we remain partners. Coming here to the College wasn't a mistake. I learned about Seemings, and now I know my magic is different. That's important. However, I think I would be better served to search out word walls and pursue my own Shout-based magic. However, I'm not ready to explore Nord barrows on my own yet, and I can't afford to hire bodyguards."
"Partners?" The corners of Faralda's mouth turned up just a little. "I'd like to remain partners, even if you're my apprentice now. I'm afraid that my research into Shouting has reached a dead end. There are three roads forward. One, I let you shout directly at me, but I am not suicidal. Two, we seek out the Greybeards. And three, we seek out word walls, and I see if I can learn their lesson. I propose that I change my research to locating word walls. In spring I will take a sabbatical from the College, and we seek them out together."
Daenerys smiled broadly. "I like this plan, but two mages alone in Nord barrow? We'll need guards. I'll contribute what I have, but it isn't much."
"I think it will be easier to hire guards than you might think with a Mistress of Destruction coming along. Unfortunately teaching at the College pays more in prestige and research opportunities than gold. I could probably afford enough to pay for two good mercenaries. However, I hope we can recruit from the College. Most apprentices choose to leave once the College once they make adept. A few more mages to join us would make things even safer.
"How about Adept Malak? He's a spellsword. I've started attending his lessons."
"Have you indeed?" Faralda shrugged. "Perhaps, but I doubt he'll leave. He has been here for several years. I'm not sure if he simply prefers to teach, or if he is hoping to join the faculty. However, you might look into some of his students. Since you're in his class, why not sound them out?"
Daenerys nodded. "I'll give it a try. I will start by getting to know them better. No one is going anywhere for a few months."
"True. Now, let's talk about your magical education. I agree that Shout-based magic is your best long-term plan. However, we're snowed in for a while yet. So, let's talk about what spells you should focus on to help us both survive better while exploring Nord barrows."
.oOo.
As Daenerys entered the Restoration classroom, she waved goodbye to Brelyna and went to sit with her charges. She noticed immediately that something was wrong. The dynamics of the group had changed. Sofija sat leaning back in her chair, arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Tailour sat beside her looking a bit queasy. Matilda and Enja set together and a little apart from the other two.
Enja quickly looked away when she spotted Daenerys entering and spoke to Matilda. "Really, noble? Who does she think she's fooling? I looked it up in Noble Houses of the Empire. There is no such house. Never has been. She can't even speak properly. She's making it all up." Her words were pitched loud enough to carry to half the room.
The room grew suddenly quiet and Daenerys knew that she had to respond. Enja had chosen her ground purposefully. Enja was the favorite pupil of the Mistress of Restoration, so Daenerys couldn't simply slap her charge across the face, no matter how tempting a response that might be. "I never claimed to be from the Empire, child." She kept her response calm and at a normal tone, even knowing the whole room was straining to listen.
"Oh, so where are you from? Could it be the Aldmeri Domion?" She made a fake gasp and brought one hand to her cheek. "But you're not an elf! Oh, perhaps you're an escaped slave from Akavir… but they killed all the humans and slaves aren't nobles. Did you know that it is a crime to pretend to be noble when you aren't? The punishment for breaking that law is death."
"An Imperial law, I'm sure," replied Daenerys. "And we're not under Imperial law right now, are we? We're at the College of Winterhold. By ancient custom I can leave my past behind if I choose. Also, by ancient custom you are my charge, and I have certain punishments I can assign as needed. You are on scullery duty starting now until Saturnalia is over." That was about as severe a punishment as she could lay on the girl, but Enja was being publicly disrespectful. What had she expected to achieve?
"Now, now," interjected Collette. "I agree she was disrespectful, but you did breach the custom yourself in claiming noble birth. Two weeks including Saturnalia day seems excessive. As this is my classroom, I have the final say in here. One week of scullery duty will suffice."
Daenerys held Collette's gaze for a brief moment. She didn't glare but the steel behind her eyes caused the Mistress of Restoration to falter. "I make no claims. I am Daenerys the Unburnt, of the House Targaryen. Our words are 'Fire and Blood' and we bear a three-headed red dragon as our symbol. I come from no lands that you know of, and I intend on leaving my past behind." The more she spoke, the firmer her voice became. "I suggest you... educate your student. Lest she insults someone less forgiving than I."
Collette paled but nodded in agreement. She clapped her hands. "Very well. I apologize for my words and on Enja's behalf. Now, let us move on to meditation."
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