Chapter 407: Chapter XXVII: Pursuing Traitors

Chapter 407: Chapter XXVII: Pursuing Traitors



(Alor's POV)

The spasming body of the rebel leader hit the ground one last time as I finally got the information I needed, some minor sparks of electricity still sparking atop his twitching body from time to time.

Feeling thoroughly drained on an emotional level I turn to the Paladin "Have the traitor prepared for transport, that power he used in the end was doubtless of Daedric origins and the lord will probably find that curious at least."

Before Anondor could have some of the Sworn Mer comply, what looked to be a leader among the deceased Count's elite guard stepped forward "Hold on" He outright growled at me "This bastards needs to be executed, not given a new chance at life!"

Taking in a tired breath I look down at the man "Captain." At least I hoped he was one, the Cyrodiilics rarely gave out such ornate armor to lower ranks. Seeing as he did not correct me I went on "I assure you that we only want him for any information he may have, he will not enjoy his time with us."

"Be that as it may." The Captain shakes his head "Justice needs to be served and the people need to see it." He leans forward and speaks a bit more quietly "Also my men would riot if you tried that."

Unfortunate.

"He speaks the truth young Alor." Hassildor speaks as he rides up to the two of us, his mount's barding covered in splotches of blood here and there "You would be doing the entire city a disservice by trying to take him away."

"Thank you sir." The Captain immediately saluted him, visibly relieved.

"Very well." I try not to grumble "I would still like a bit of time with him before his execution and access to any private residence he may have."

"Stretching the law a bit there, but I do suppose he does deserve it." Hassildor chuckles with a tinge of morbidity in his tone, the Captain looking like he wants to protest again but relenting as he sees me get a bit of support.

He turns to the Captain "You may take command of my mercenaries, use them to pacify the city but take heed to spare as many of the rebels as possible. They were but pawns in all this and I would not have my city bereft of its people."

"Your city?" The soldier frowns, his tone half confused and half threatening.

Hassildor just scoffs at this lightly "Our primary task was to investigate Ferontius' actions and the rumors of the state of his domain, seeing as he has failed to the point of open rebellion he would have been removed no matter his survival. I have been named his replacement by imperial decree should that ever happen."

The Captain outright scowls at this but seeing as both his Count and his heir presumptive were quite dead at this point he has no real way of protesting the change "Very well sir, so long as the decree is in order I will make sure there are no issues."

"That is quite heartening to hear" Hassildor chuckles joyfully, even as screams of the wounded still fill the air, he claps his hands as if he had just remembered something and looks back down to the soldier "I never quite got your name my good man?"

"Captain Gregorios." The soldier salutes.

"Excellent." Hassildor grins "You may call me Janus Hassildor II, we will have much to discuss once the city is brought to order."

We both ride away from the baffled man just in time for Paladin Anondor to return from securing the rebel leader "Scribe." He calls me by my unofficial title "The wounded have been taken care of, we can move on whenever you give the order."

"Casualties?" I ask immediately.

"One lost of our ranks and about a dozen Fighters Guild mercenaries." He responds promptly "An unlucky stab to the throat got one of our less careful warriors."

"Unfortunate but unavoidable." I say even as my guts churn, something within told me I was the reason behind their deaths even as I knew intellectually that that was not the case. Still, I could battle with my own emotions later, there was work to be done.

"The young fool said our mutual enemies are holed up within my castle." Hassildor speaks up after a moment "I remember an old secret passage between the chapel and the castle basement, we could use it to sneak in."

"We can only hope the passage remains." I mutter "How many men should we take?"

"How trustworthy are your subordinates?" He whispers loud enough for me to hear over the rain, his eyes flashing with hidden power.

"They will not say a word." I assure him.

"Good." He nods "Take thirty, have the rest join the mercenaries and guards in pacifying the city."

I hesitate for a moment, that was a rather low number to storm a keep but at the same time I had an old vampire on my side and my magic was not weak by any means "Very well." I nod after a bit and we both start giving out orders.

The delay was inevitable but we finally got moving after a few minutes, part of me thoroughly regretting the fact I had to leave my centurion behind.

The narrow tunnel between the temple and castle was paradoxically silent and noisy at the same time, no one spoke a word but the sound of metal boots hitting stone was echoing inside of my head as if someone took a drum to my ears.

Our column soon approached the other end, Hassildor and Anondor standing at the front of our group as the most powerful being the first to reach it.

Without the barest hint of hesitation, Hassildor stepped forward, his hands elongating into shadowy claws as he grabbed onto both sides of the thoroughly locked and enchanted doors.

The protections inscribed upon it held up only for a few seconds before a loud cracking noise reverberated throughout the tunnel and the door was ripped out, hinges and some of the stone surrounding it included.

"We must move swiftly." Hassildor hissed out, his form looking far more bestial than usual "Half the castle has no doubt been alerted by now."

"Very well." I grumble "Next time be sure to alert us first."

"Here is to hoping we get the opportunity to work together again then." He grins and offers me a faux salute.

Shaking my head I snap my fingers, signaling the warriors of the house to follow him and we begin our ascent into the castle.

The first guards fall without putting up a fight, Hassildor was far less willing to hide his true nature now and his form practically blurred through the halls of his once home, the steel plate the guards wore folding like so much parchment as the threw them into the walls or ripped their limbs off in swift and brutal movements.

by a thrown object, none of them dying but a good few definitely getting injured heavily in an

instant.

The dust cleared to reveal the bestial form of Hassildor standing atop a heavily breathing Aloncius.

"My old friend" He spoke rapidly and with great difficulty "Have merc-"

His throat was promptly ripped out in one swift motion, his eyes following just a moment later as Hassildor's other hand ripped off the top of his skull. The still berserk vampire roared as he threw the mix of bone and brain at the wall, his fury seemingly only growing by the

minute.

My force had already reformed by this point, all of us readying whatever flames we could summon to ourselves or our weapons in preparations for what came next.

Only for the beast to slowly start turning back into the man, Hasslidor's usual form returning

as his eyes stopped glowing with mindless fury, replaced with a far more controlled form of what my lord would call 'Absolutely fucking livid.'

"Apologies for that, my friends." Hassildor spoke after a moment "The very idea of the

bastard desecrating my-" He shook his head "Never mind, we should move swiftly, lest my fears are proven correct."

I give the command for my people to ensure no one is injured and after three minutes of regrowing limbs and setting bones we are on the move once again.

Soon we descend into the depths of the ancient castle, only a few of the remaining guards

having the distinct lack of brainpower necessary to try striking against us. Much to my relief, their idiocy was not enough to slay any more of my men.

Soon we stand in front of a recently un-warded stone pathway, crystalline growths of glass covering much of the way and an ominous air slowly overtaking the area.

"What is this?" Hassilor practically hisses, visibly holding himself back from just charging on

inside.

"It looks to be an infestation of energy." Anondor wisely points out "Though I am unsure as

to its nature." "Daedric without a doubt." I voice, drawing their gazes "I do not know which Prince is involved but there is a certain buzz to the energies of Oblivion."

Hassildor frowns "Should we follow? I know that merely existing within such energies is no

suicide but it is still a risk."

"I will consult someone far wiser than myself." I say after a moment and summon my OrbTM

[A-lore: My lord, we are currently following the enemy to the vaults of Castle Skingrad but

they seem to be overtaken by odd glass-like growths of crystal. They look to be Daedric in origin but I cannot reliably confirm, your command?] Only a few dozen seconds passed before I got my response.

[Big D: I do not know exactly what may be influencing the crystals which is quite concerning

in its own right, I will probably have to consult the book for any potential information but I doubt that is of much use to you right now. Be exceedingly careful as you descend and retreat the moment you feel threatened beyond your capability to survive, the lives of you and your

men are far more important than ending the Dark Brotherhood for good.]

I hesitate a moment before asking [A-lore: And what if something dangerous is afoot?] The implication of more Daedric schemes being rather obvious to the both of us.

[Big D: Judge at your own discretion, should things appear to be getting out of hand smash

your OrbTM and I will come as swiftly as I am able.] [A-lore: Very well, my lord. We will not let you down.]

Sighing to myself I unsummon my OrbTM and speak "We are to advance with caution, Lord Dagoth is prepared to intervene should things turn problematic."

"So he doesn't know either?" Hassildor laughs though not mockingly "Very well then, into

the depths." As I take my first step into the great underground vault I cannot help but frown as I hear what

I think is glass grinding against itself. Let us hope this is something we are able to deal with,

it wouldn't do for my lord to do every single thing on his own.

Into the depths you go once more.

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