Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24510587-20190809175639/@comment-5543592-20190809235513

"Not so strange." Svieva said, she turned away, a distant look in her eyes. "Have you ever wanted to be a king, Graicus?  We could visit my father after this is finished, take back from him what is mine.  You would look good in a crown."

She didn't speak a moment.

"Or perhaps we could go south.  I have always wanted to see Summerset."

As the respective couples filed off for the night, Sir Nohaden'Cade, the Augur of Justice, Knight of Wayrest, Sermonizer of the Order of the Hour, knelt on a hilltop over looking the Lake of Rumare. He placed his helmet next to him and produced the elven sword he had acquired in the ruins. He held it across his lap, balancing it in reverent hands.

Justus trotted over and lowered his head to sniff the blade. It must've smelled tasty because he licked it, ruining Cade's moment.

"Not now, Justus." Cade said, pushing the horse away with his shoulder. "I must pray."

The stallion snorted derisively and trotted off to go graze some where else.

"Hear me, Father Time." Cade began, looking up towards the night sky. Far from the city, the stars were bright, each crisp and distinct  "I am but a humble knight, proud to serve in your name.  Whenever I have prayed, it has only been to give your due thanks.  Never I have I asked for something.

"But this night, under these stars, I beseech one thing from you, o'Great Dragon of Time's Sands.  Protect us.  For on the morrow we fight not for ourselves, but for all of Tamriel, for all of your world."

Cade held his arms up, offering the sword to the sky. "Please, graitious, winged lord.  Bless this sword!  So that it may do great Justice in your name!  Please!  I would desire nothing more, I would ask for no less, nay, I would ask for nothing else!"

Nothing happened. The stars continued their placcid, uncaring existence.

There was a low, dry chuckling behind Cade. He turned to look over his shoulder. The little Redguard was standing not far off.

"Look at you." Daireg snickered, shaking his head as he approached. "A joke, if there ever was one.  An idiot, if the gods never created a more stupid specimen.  You pray wrong, and you beg poorly."

Cade frowned, realizing he was being insulted, but Daireg spoke too fast and too confidently for Cade to summon up a good defense.

"Do not mock me, sir." He said after a moment or two of organizing his thoughts. "I do not appreciate it."

"No you wouldn't.  I don't you appreciate much with a mind so dull." Daireg came to stop over the kneeling Cade. The smile gradually fell from his face.

"But then..." He shook his head. "What is there truly to appreciate in life?  You pray to the wrong gods, worm.  I misspeak.  The wrong God.  Witness."

Daireg extended a hand and touched it to the blade of Cade's offered sword. Nothing happened. And then, the Redguard pressed a hand to the sword dangling from his own hip.

Cade yelped, and had to shut his eyes from the sudden, brilliant glow. The sword grew brighter and brighter, so bright it hurt his eyes through even his shut lids.

"Gah!" Cade cried. "What is this?"

"Divinity.  Not something you would recognize, even could you lay eyes upon it."

"It hurts!"

"As it should."

The light began to recede, and Cade hesitantly squinted his eyes open. The sword in his hands was dull. It was as it was.

The Redguard stood above him, cool blue eyes staring out of a hard face. Cade doubted this man had ever laughed at a good joke.

"The corpse that was Leki finds you worthy." Daireg said. "One half of Satakal is at your command.  And you have been privy to my one benevolent act of the century, even if it is not of my own choice."

"I do not understand what you mean."

"You couldn't." Daireg snickered. "But my work is done.  Go back to your groveling.  I must rest." He retreated down the hill, with Cade staring after him, and he faded into the forest. Justus came trotting back over to investigate the source of the scalding light.

"That little Redguard is very strange, Justus." Cade said, turning to look at the horse. "But I believe he made my sword magic!"