\u201cNow, I believe Lord Harkon wishes to speak to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be on my way, then.\u201d\u00a0 He half-bowed and turned to leave, shooting a wink and slight smile at Brynjolf.\u00a0 They made their way out of the room where the Chalice was held, and he leaned in closer to Brynjolf.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll keep our eyes on him,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAye. I don\u2019t trust him any more than I trust Harkon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I expect that Vingalmo and Orthjolf are not the only ones who long for the throne. But, my dearest, they will be disappointed. Do you know who is going to end up in that throne?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brynjolf raised an eyebrow and smirked.\u00a0 \u201cI think I do.\u00a0 Perhaps both at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andante laughed, took in a deep breath, and stretched out his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cYou are the most deliciously evil thing when you let yourself be, loverboy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brynjolf performed a perfect imitation of Andante\u2019s half-bow.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m taking lessons from one of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHa! You don\u2019t fool me.\u00a0 You\u2019ve always been like this.\u00a0 You just hide it exceptionally well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brynjolf chuckled, but didn\u2019t make any attempt to deny the truth of his observation.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/3-1-21-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
They made their way around the back end of the castle to a room that clearly served not only as a lounge but also as a torture chamber.\u00a0 There were several racks and a long table, all splattered with a great deal of blood.\u00a0 At the far side was a fireplace, its crackling fire throwing comforting heat well out into the otherwise cold stone room. Before the fire, in an ornate throne upholstered in crimson and gold, sat Lord Harkon.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of the throne,\u201d Brynjolf whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n
Andante smiled, and wondered what exactly it was that he\u2019d seen, looking at Harkon before, that had excited him so much, why the voice inside him had been so insistent.\u00a0 Harkon was ancient. He was still attractive, certainly, but as Andante peered at him he could see the lines, the wear that even immortality could not disguise. He cast another quick sideways glance at Brynjolf, caught his breath, and marveled, yet again, at how just the sight of the man had the power to raise his heart up into his throat.<\/p>\n
It is a beautiful throne. And it is a beautiful castle.\u00a0 And it will be mine, Harkon. And I will give it to Brynjolf. He will be beautiful in it.<\/em><\/p>\n Harkon looked up at him, his eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanted to speak to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did,\u201d he replied.\u00a0 \u201cWhen I told you I was grateful for my daughter\u2019s safe return, I told the truth. But I did not tell you everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante laughed.\u00a0 \u201cWhy am I not surprised? It would have been foolish of you if you had and I would expect someone of your stature and experience not to be foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n Harkon\u2019s expression barely changed, but Andante thought he saw the tiniest flicker of amusement in his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u00a0 Strong instincts and a cunning mind will serve you as well as blade, spell, or claw.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s been my experience, yes.\u201d \u00a0Amusing indeed. He also knows how alike we are. <\/em><\/p>\n Harkon nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAs you know, vampires are powerful, but we have limits. Our great enemy is the sun, and until recently it\u2019s an enemy we\u2019ve had no way to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Not directly. We can mitigate its effects, though. Surely you know this?<\/em><\/p>\n Harkon continued speaking. It seemed to Andante as though he was almost speaking to himself, or to the room, as though it was unimportant whether a single other soul heard his words. He spoke as though he was unaffected by the amount of raw power represented in that one small space, filled as it was by three Vampire Lords.<\/p>\n \u201cFor centuries I searched for an answer to this problem.\u00a0 I found an old prophecy written by a Moth Priest \u2013 those scholars who read the Elder Scrolls.\u00a0 The prophecy tells of a time in which vampires will gain power over the sun and will no longer fear its tyranny.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante could nearly taste the greed in Harkon\u2019s voice. No longer fear the sun?<\/em> What would stop any of us then? The entire world would be ours for the taking. I begin to understand what drives this man. He would almost have to be consumed with the idea to want to become involved with something as odd as the Moth Priests.<\/em><\/p>\n The Moth Priests were one of a number of cults devoted to an animal totem \u2013 in this case, Ancestor Moths.\u00a0 Many cults in Tamriel worshipped their ancestors in some way but Moth priests were special in that they also trained their entire lifetimes to study the Elder Scrolls, an activity that could drive a person mad without the proper preparation and which would, eventually and inevitably, render him blind with enough readings.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the secret to unraveling that prophecy is written in Serana\u2019s Elder Scroll. I have ordered the court to assemble. I have a new task for us all to carry out, and that includes you.\u00a0 Come now, and hear my proclamation.\u201d\u00a0 Harkon rose and walked down from his lounge, past Brynjolf, and to the left past a balcony where, curiously, Serana was waiting.\u00a0 Andante stared at her, but she didn\u2019t speak, and her eyes told him nothing at all.<\/p>\n Harkon stepped to the rail and addressed his court, his voice ringing out into the vaulted chamber.<\/p>\n \u201cScions of the night! Hear my words! The prophesied time is at last upon us. Soon we will claim dominion over the sun itself, and forge a new realm of eternal darkness.\u00a0 Now that I have reclaimed one of my Elder Scrolls, we must find a Moth Priest to read it.\u201d<\/p>\n One of \u201cmy\u201d Elder Scrolls, is it? After your daughter guarded it safely for how many hundreds of years? <\/em><\/p>\n Andante only half listened to the rest of Harkon\u2019s speech, looking instead at the stiff expression on Serana\u2019s face.\u00a0 I would have just used her as a tool, myself, but I\u2019m not her father.\u00a0 I can only imagine that she must feel a bit\u2026 <\/em>But he couldn\u2019t put words to it, had no benchmark against which to compare the feeling, couldn\u2019t remember having had a father in spite of knowing he must have had one.<\/p>\n It seemed that Harkon had spread rumors, trying to draw one of the priests to Skyrim, and he was sending them all out to search for just such a person.\u00a0 He went on at length and ended with a great shout:\u00a0 \u201cThis is my command!\u201d<\/p>\n Her father had no sooner left the balcony than Serana stepped forward, suggesting to Andante that they go to the College of Winterhold.\u00a0 It had an enormous library that might well attract a scholar like a Moth Priest. He was just about to thank her for the suggestion and counter with his own when she spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that I think of it,\u201d she said, \u201cI\u2019m going to come along with you. I\u2019ve been really wanting to get out and explore a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh gods no. Please no.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you know about Elder Scrolls?\u201d he asked, trying desperately to think of something he could say to dissuade her from coming along.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, about the same as anyone,\u201d she said. \u201cWhich is not much.\u00a0 Turns out you don\u2019t learn that much about a thing simply by sleeping with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante couldn\u2019t help himself.\u00a0 He laughed. \u00a0And Brynjolf, who had come to stand beside Serana, chuckled as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you trying to imply that you want to learn more about me, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Serana smirked.\u00a0 \u201cNot at this rate, no.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf broke into his hearty laugh. Andante looked at him and grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then we\u2019re in agreement.\u00a0 Alright, then. Let\u2019s go see whether we might find this priest.\u00a0 We can stop at my house in Solitude and take the boat to Dawnstar. That\u2019ll make the trip to Winterhold a little shorter.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re closest to Dragon Bridge here; let\u2019s go there first.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take more than a few moments for them to run into trouble once they had landed at the jetty near Northwatch Keep. A group of three Dawnguard hunters came running down the finger of land on which the keep rested, and attacked with everything they had. \u00a0But there were three substantial vampires working against them.\u00a0 For a moment, Andante again pondered transforming to his Lord form, but then thought better of it.<\/p>\n We\u2019re too close to the keep. Vampire Lords will attract Thalmor and they like to fight with fire.<\/em><\/p>\n As it turned out he didn\u2019t need to. Serana attacked with frost clouds and ice spikes, and revived the first hunter who fell; he rose and set to on his former fellows and fought well until one of them took him down.\u00a0 Andante fired arrows as quickly as he could draw, and Brynjolf waded into the hunters with his sword and shield, taunting and bashing, laughing and skewering. Between them, it didn\u2019t take long to rid themselves of the threat.<\/p>\n \u201cWord spreads quickly, it seems,\u201d Andante said to the others. \u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019m high on their popularity list after failing to return to Fort Dawnguard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wonder if they know what else you did,\u201d Brynjolf muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, but the last thing I want is to alert our friends there to what is walking by their keep at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Brynjolf said. \u201cTwo Vampire Lords and \u2013 well, lass, I\u2019m not sure what to call you aside from powerful. At any rate I\u2019m certain they\u2019d be none too pleased, and the last I heard, those Thalmor are nasty.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante felt a shudder run up his spine.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s what I understand, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Serana muttered. \u201cLet\u2019s just get going, shall we? It\u2019s so bright out here.\u201d<\/p>\n They worked their way over the crest of Haafingar\u2019s central ridge and down to the little settlement of Dragon Bridge.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to check in here before we go all the way to Solitude,\u201d Brynjolf said, mounting the steps to the inn. \u201cHarkon was right.\u00a0 Innkeepers usually have lots of information, and I happen to know this one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you indeed?\u201d Andante grinned. \u201cWell it\u2019s a good idea anyway. You try the inn. We\u2019ll see what we can find out here.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante spoke to several townspeople who hadn\u2019t seen anything. He looked back at the inn to see Brynjolf emerge, shaking his head.\u00a0 He was just about to round up Serana and get them started back up the road to Solitude when her voice caught his attention. \u00a0He turned to find her engrossed in conversation with an unlikely party.<\/p>\n A young boy walking down the road had introduced himself to Serana. Clearly smitten, he sparkled and smiled and, when she asked him about Moth Priests, tried to impress her by saying that he\u2019d seen an old man walking through town just a short time earlier.<\/p>\n \u201cHe headed across the bridge,\u201d the boy said. \u201cNot very long ago. You could probably catch him if you didn\u2019t wait long.\u201d<\/p>\n Serana smiled and Andante nodded; but Brynjolf, who had approached quietly, murmured \u201cThank you, lad. That was very helpful,\u201d and slipped a coin into the boy\u2019s hand.\u00a0 The child\u2019s eyes got round.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, mister!\u201d he yelped, then turned and ran toward the inn.<\/p>\n They started trotting south toward the bridge.\u00a0 \u201cFeeling generous, were you?\u201d Andante asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always pay for your information, lad. I thought you knew that.\u00a0 He\u2019s just a boy but he gave us more than the innkeeper did.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t much money but it\u2019ll be enough to buy him a sweet roll or something.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded. \u201cI did know that, but sometimes I forget.\u00a0 That\u2019s why you\u2019re the best, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf grinned.\u00a0 \u201cAt some things, yes. \u00a0At others\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Serana pointed ahead as they reached the apex of the bridge.\u00a0 \u201cI hate to interrupt your love fest, boys, but that doesn\u2019t look good.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead of them, a wagon had been overturned, its horse and an Imperial guard, as well as a vampire, slaughtered in the middle of the road.<\/p>\n \u201cIt definitely doesn\u2019t,\u201d Andante agreed, kneeling to check the vampire\u2019s pockets. Inside them was a note from Malkus, another of Harkon\u2019s high-ranking vampires. \u201cHere we go.\u00a0 This one was ordered to ambush these people and take the moth priest to a place called Forbear\u2019s Holdout. Apparently Malkus\u2019 people got here before we did.\u00a0 Do you know where this place is, either of you?\u201d<\/p>\n Serana shook her head. \u201cI\u2019ve been, well, asleep for long enough that place names have changed several times.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante nodded.\u00a0 \u201cTrue.\u00a0 Bryn?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI know it\u2019s nearby, but not exactly where. It really doesn\u2019t matter, though.\u00a0 Look down the road.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to a large splatter of blood not far away from them.\u00a0 There was a trail of it leading farther down the road and to the left where a side road branched off.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m slow today, I see.\u00a0 Good catch, loverboy.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Serana sighed. \u201cLoverboy,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let it worry you, lass,\u201d Brynjolf told her.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s mostly harmless.\u201d<\/p>\n The blood trail led them to a narrow opening in the mountainside, and into a tunnel.\u00a0 As soon as they entered Andante could hear a noise, a humming and hissing, that got louder as they passed through the darkened tunnel and stepped out onto a platform much like the one he\u2019d seen in Dimhollow Crypt. From it, they overlooked a large cavern through which flowed a substantial stream, forming a natural moat for the stone structure on the opposite side.\u00a0 A stone-cobbled path ran from the platform down into the open spaces, bridging the river and running along its opposite edge to that structure.<\/p>\n Andante could see an archway beyond which must be stairs leading up to a higher platform holding the source of the sound they\u2019d been hearing.\u00a0 There was a large magical construct, a shimmering cylinder of power containing something that he could not see, its energy creating the humming noise.\u00a0 He could see people pacing back and forth between the magical barrier and the edge of the platform.\u00a0 He turned to Brynjolf and Serana and pointed at it; they both nodded and stepped down onto the path.<\/p>\n In spite of their nearly silent approach the Dawnguard\u2019s dogs, robust Huskies, spotted them and attacked immediately. Andante took one down with his bow and Brynjolf slashed the other. \u00a0Beyond the archway were several of the Dawnguard.\u00a0 The first who rushed at them must not have been expecting any sort of interference, as he had no weapons drawn and posed no threat with just hand-to-hand combat.\u00a0 The second and third Dawnguard, though, grabbed their weapons before attacking. Serana took out a man firing silver-tipped bolts from a crossbow and Brynjolf chased a woman with a sword all the way across the bridge before finally finishing her.<\/p>\n Andante left them to it and worked his way further into the building and up to the second level, creeping silently onto the platform where the magical barrier roared. It emanated from a circle, set with curved half-arches and short barricades carved with glowing curves and striations, much like the ones around Falion\u2019s conjuration circle near Morthal.\u00a0 Vampire coffins lined the wall behind the magical construct and gargoyles perched along the banister.<\/p>\n \u201cThose vampires put up a hell of a fight,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice came from the opposite site of the magical construct.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think they turned him?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante forced himself to suppress a snort. They wouldn\u2019t have him in a cage if they had turned him, idiot<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d a deep male voice replied.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe. Won\u2019t know until we get him out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we do that?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante crept around the outside of the circle to where he had a good view of the two Dawnguard.\u00a0 The man suddenly looked up and drew his sword.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n Damn, I thought I was hidden.<\/em><\/p>\n He was ready to berate himself for having been caught, but the man ran right past him back down toward where Serana and Brynjolf were entering the area.\u00a0 Andante grinned to himself.\u00a0 Alright. One for me to deal with and neither of them have seen me.\u00a0 I\u2019m the best.<\/em><\/p>\n He froze the woman solid with a Shout.\u00a0 She fell over, revealing the corpse of a vampire in Volkihar armor \u2013 an Orc, much to his surprise.\u00a0 As far as he knew, there was only one Orc among Harkon\u2019s court.<\/p>\n \u201cWell damn, Malkus.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t have expected you would fall,\u201d he murmured. \u201cAnd where are all the rest of your people?\u201d<\/p>\n He checked Malkus\u2019 corpse and found an odd stone, shaped like an inverted teardrop and resembling the stones that contained the magical construct.\u00a0 He swept it into his pocket, turned, and helped Brynjolf and Serana finish off the two Dawnguard.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright,\u201d he said, straightening to look around.\u00a0 \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf pointed to a small platform above them.\u00a0 \u201cUp there? It looks like the same sort of markings.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante trotted up the short ramp to a platform that overlooked the magical cave.\u00a0 There, at its edge, was a cylindrical device with a central, conical depression.\u00a0 He looked down at Brynjolf and grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat shall we bet that this stone will shut it down?\u201d\u00a0 He slipped the stone out of his pocket and into the receptacle, and rotated it clockwise.\u00a0 Once the grinding of the stones ceased the magical barrier vanished.\u00a0 There was a man standing in the center of the arched stones.<\/p>\n \u201cI serve my master\u2019s will,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cBut my master is dead, and his enemies will pay.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis master?\u201d Andante asked Serana and Brynjolf.\u00a0 \u201cDo you suppose Malkus managed to enthrall him before the Dawnguard killed him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine who else he would be talking about,\u201d Brynjolf muttered.<\/p>\n The stones that had formed the skeleton of the magical barrier sank down into the platform, grinding loudly.\u00a0 Below them, the priest drew a sword and brandished it about wildly.<\/p>\n \u201cUgh. Damn it,\u201d Serana muttered from behind Andante.\u00a0 She reanimated one of the dead Dawnguard, who moved to stop the priest.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave me be!\u201d the priest shouted.<\/p>\n Andante ran to him and blocked his exit.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think I\u2019ll help you, you are mistaken,\u201d the man said quietly.\u00a0 He was calm and unafraid, non-combative, and yet it was clear that he would offer no assistance of his own accord.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll bet old Malkus did manage to enthrall him.\u00a0 Well that should make my job easier.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think I can change your mind about that,\u201d Andante said, grinning and casting his calming spell on the man.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not afraid of you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you to be afraid<\/em> of me, good sir.\u00a0 Just stand here for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stepped around behind him and fed, briefly.\u00a0 The priest turned to face him; his eyes grew wide.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the Divines!\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s as if my eyes have been opened.\u00a0 I am blinded by the light of your majesty.\u00a0 I\u2026 I must obey you.\u00a0 What would you have of me, Master?\u201d<\/p>\n Andante felt odd for a moment.\u00a0 He\u2019d created thralls before, temporary companions destined to be travelling food and nothing more.\u00a0 None of them had ever spoken to him of majesty; but in his mind he heard Of course. Of course I\u2019m majestic. <\/em>He blinked several times, then nodded. \u201cI want you to travel to Castle Volkihar.\u00a0 I will meet you there.\u201d<\/p>\n They gave the priest, who identified himself as Dexion Evicus, directions to the castle. He agreed to leave at once, and scurried out of the cavern.\u00a0 Andante turned to Brynjolf.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a thing I hadn\u2019t shown you before.\u00a0 I now have an obedient thrall who is blinded by my majesty. Isn\u2019t that lovely? You can do that as well.\u00a0 As can Serana, I have no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Serana harrumphed.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t have much need of such things, normally. Father keeps the castle well stocked, as you saw. I don\u2019t know how long I was locked away but things haven\u2019t changed much in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n And they won\u2019t in the future, either. <\/em>Andante grinned at her.<\/p>\n __<\/p>\n Andante walked down the aisle between Harkon\u2019s feasting tables, listening to the greedy sounds of vampires sipping from goblets of blood and lapping the marrow from bones.\u00a0 He nodded to Dexion as he passed, and nodded to Garan Marethi, then approached Harkon and half-bowed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell done,\u201d Harkon greeted him.\u00a0 \u201cSomehow I knew it would be you who would find our Moth Priest.\u201d<\/p>\n I could almost believe that he means that.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt was hardly just me,\u201d Andante said, shrugging.\u00a0 \u201cMalkus had him well contained before his unfortunate demise. At any rate, I\u2019ve made the priest my thrall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I see that.\u00a0 I trust his capture was not too difficult a task?\u201d<\/p>\n He almost seems friendly.\u00a0 I wonder what he wants now.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe Dawnguard were there before us. Brynjolf found their location and I wouldn\u2019t have survived the Dawnguard without Serana, so you have all of us to thank. But we managed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could have been there to hear the sounds of their screams,\u201d Harkon said, not-quite smiling.\u00a0 \u201cWell. Your thrall awaits, and we have given him the Elder Scroll.\u00a0 Command him to read it, and let us hear the words of prophecy together.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, indeed. Let me command my thrall. Mine.<\/em><\/p>\n Andante turned to walk slowly back to the Moth Priest, exquisitely aware of all the eyes on him as he went. To hear the reading of an Elder Scroll was to be near timeless power.\u00a0 Once again he felt almost as though he was watching himself, from outside himself, as if someone else was in control of his body. He was practically breathless by the time he reached Dexion.<\/p>\n \u201cMaster,\u201d Dexion said, raising his hands and casting his eyes downward.\u00a0 \u201cI have done as you asked and travelled here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well done,\u201d he found himself saying. \u201cThank you for obeying my wishes.\u00a0 I have a new task for you now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. What is it that you need me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou must read an Elder Scroll for us.\u00a0 We need to know what it says.\u201d<\/p>\n Dexion put his hands on his hips; his expression came as close as Andante had seen to a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cAh yes. The Elder Scroll.\u00a0 I admit, I am looking forward to this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs well you might. So are we. By all means, please begin. I am eager to hear your words.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Master,\u201d Dexion said, pulling the scroll out into reading position in front of him.\u00a0 His voice filled the room.\u00a0 \u201cNow, if everyone would please be quiet. I must concentrate.\u201d<\/p>\n The room went silent, even the death hounds ceasing their roaming and the tick-ticking of their claws on stone.<\/p>\n \u201cI see a vision before me. An image of a great bow.\u201d His brow furrowed, and then relaxed. \u00a0\u201cI know this weapon; it is Auriel\u2019s Bow. \u00a0Now a voice\u2026whispers, saying: \u2018Among the night\u2019s children a dread lord will arise, in an age of strife when dragons return to the realms of men. Darkness will mingle with light and the night and the day will be as one.\u2019\u00a0 The voice fades, and the words begin to shimmer, and distort. But wait! There is more here. The secret of the bow\u2019s power is written elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Once again he frowned. \u201cI think there is more to the prophecy, written in other scrolls.\u00a0 Yes \u2013 I see them now. One contains the ancient secrets of the dragons, and the other speaks of the potency of ancient blood.\u201d<\/p>\n Dexion paused, took a deep breath.\u00a0 \u201cMy vision darkens, and I see no more. To know the complete prophecy we must have the other two scrolls.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante stood staring into space. He heard the voice inside him laughing.\u00a0 He turned, slowly, and walked back down the length of the hall yet again, half-hearing the insults the members of Harkon\u2019s court cast at each other disguised in cultured tones.<\/p>\n Harkon met his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was\u2026 not as useful as I would have liked.\u00a0 Even so, you did well.\u201d<\/p>\n Andante smiled. \u201cDo you know where the other scrolls are?\u201d\u00a0 I require the other two scrolls, Harkon.\u00a0 Where are they?<\/em><\/p>\n Harkon\u2019s lip curled into something that was not quite a sneer, not quite a snarl.<\/p>\n \u201cMy traitor wife stole one of them away and then disappeared. As for the other, the last that I heard it was lost in the bowels of a Dwemer ruin. It seems our work is not yet done. But I have waited this long, and we are so very close now. I can wait a bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned and left the room. Andante watched him leave, and smirked.<\/p>\n \u201cOur\u201d work, Harkon? \u201cWe\u201d are so close? Clearly, you expect me to find the other scrolls. You do not understand the person you have chosen to do your work, or his companions. <\/em><\/p>\n He turned to find Brynjolf standing at the other end of the hall, and smiled at him. An excitement, a feeling, a voice from deep inside him clamored to be heard.<\/p>\n Perhaps \u201cwe\u201d is the correct word after all.\u00a0 Just not the \u201cwe\u201d you mean, Harkon.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cA Dread Lord, in a time of strife, when dragons return to the realms of man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You think that refers to you, don\u2019t you, Harkon. But you are wrong.\u00a0 You are dead wrong. I was a creature of the dark long before you gave me your blood, long before I was a vampire in the first place. I will be the one who sits in this throne, in this castle. I will mingle the night and the day.<\/em><\/p>\n I will be that dread lord.<\/em><\/p>\n And I shall have my revenge.<\/em><\/p>\n Garan Marethi and Serana were both reading quietly in the small room where Marethi had first spoken to them about heading out to fill the Bloodstone Chalice.\u00a0 Andante met Serana\u2019s eyes as he and Brynjolf entered the study, but said nothing. \u00a0She looked at Brynjolf closely, and squinted, as though she recognized that something was … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/3-1-21-2.png\")
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