The cold season on Morthal had aready begun. A morning blizzard quenched the warmth out of the people in the estate of Martessi Silen. He was successful as an imperial investor and a business partner of the East Empire Company which gave him the opportunity to own a property in Morthal. It was the largest estate he ever had. The property had a large keep with hundreds of hectares in size. He could’ve bought the mountain that shadowed his estate but following the advice of his family, he decided to lay low for now. Especially after being told that he may attract people that don’t like foreigners taking the place when they were still tense about the Civil War. He decided to take one step at a time.

He was looking through his beautiful and expensive glass window, awaiting the arrival of the final guests. Today he was a host for another meeting between powerful and dangerous players in Tamriel politics.

With his growing reputation and influence over the years, he became well known even on the underground world for his involvement on illegal slave trade, drug, smuggling and selling weapons. His property then became a hub for secrets deals, meetings and trade. What he didn’t expect was how it would become the den of degeneracy and deviants. One of his connections was a secret order of assassins that were formerly based on High Rock. He would use them to take out his competition and rivals in exchange for favor. And three months ago, they came to collect. They asked to use his property to keep a prisoner they had captured. Since then, it had cost him a lot to hire tight lipped mercenaries and servants while guarding the prisoner. After his digging, it seemed that the woman they captured was a Champion of Namira. Which made him understand after seeing that the woman herself was not fed for months already yet, she showed no changes on her body except the hunger to eat anyone her eyes sat upon.

And now, thankfully this favor would soon come to an end. He would be receiving the grandmaster of the assassins to retrieve their prize. Most of the guests were already inside the keep. But still, all of them could feel the freezing winter outside.

“Is the woman safely contained?” he asked his butler.

“Yes master. But I don’t even know if the chains that we is enough though.”

“I spent a lot on those chains from a mage trader, it won’t be a problem as long as she is always guarded- wait, double her guards just in case.”

The butler nodded and walked out then a voice entered his ear.

“It’s freezing. Couldn’t we wear something with thicker padding?” a Redguard female dressed to display her feminine traits, shivered as she asked him.

He sighed and turned to his servants that awaited them at the back.

“Get us two coats.” The two Breton servants bowed and exited the room.

As both closed the door and went down the stairs, they saw two children in rich clothes, staring daggers at each other at the center of the hall. Then immediately ran to the other hall where other guests were staying. The servants went to the dressing room and got two coats from their masters.

They went back and arrived at the room where a male servant got there first, panting and seemingly worried about something. Their master, Martessi was sighing heavily and was about to turn towards the exit when he was stopped by the woman beside him.

“I’ll handle this.” The redguard woman handed the glass of wine to the two servants then went downstairs. She was followed by a large Nord.

Shouts and yell was heard inside the hall. Upon entering, she saw the crowd cheering on two children fighting on top of the long table. The glassware and plates were all broken on the floor, obviously caused by the culprits standing above the furniture. She could see that onlookers were only interested in watching the fight for their own amusement that no one bothered to stop the conflict. Or just didn’t bother to think about it at all for being too busy on their own personal pleasure business.

On a large seat on the corner were two vampires sucking a woman which she noticed was wearing a servant clothes. Beside them was a khajiit brute moaning as he pounds an imperial woman on her back as she held to the bottle of mead while in pleasure. And two men, sitting on the armchair, were licking the deformed face of an orc while his right hand was ravaging something between a woman’s leg as she was moaning in bliss. A guy kissing another guy. A woman riding an argonian. A werewolf was having sex with a woman while he was being whipped by another man. There’s almost next to impossible in counting the degeneracy of her colleagues that was dyeing the hall. Trying to contain her rage, she went to the female wood elf that’s having sex with an imperial woman. The rest were just fueling the fight on the top of the long table.

“How…no, nevermind. Why you aren’t stopping them?” she asked the elf but the elf just kept moaning in pleasure instead of answering her. “Damnit Ary, I’m talking to you! Get off of him and answer me.”

She pulled the elf from the nord and was tempted to punch her in the gut but still managed to contain the urge.

“Wha-what? You always loves to interrupt good things! What is it now?” the wood elf complained.

“What the fuck!!” she yelled at them which causes the entire people in the hall to turn towards her. Her anger exploded at their attitude on the situation. She was greatly disappointed at how they can’t even try to control themselves on the same day that their client was going to arrive. “Why isn’t someone stopping them?!”

She pointed at the two children trying to kill each other while destroying the well prepared halls to welcome the guests. The crowd however just went back to their business with a grin and proceeded to enjoy the spectacle.

“Haaa...chill Dex.” The high elf tried to calm her down by patting her shoulder. “The client was late. You have to give them some entertainment while waiting… or else… they’re all gonna burst like those two.”

She pointed her glass to the two children. As Dex turned, the wood elf quickly drag the imperial woman she was with earlier and exited the room.

“How about I rip your throat? That way, there would be fewer competition for me.” The boy grinned with poison, with the girl smiling back in answer.

“Show, not talk.” She replied and sent a kick at his head. A small blade unsheathe from her sole. Then in response, the boy transformed his arm into something huge with monstrous appearance and claws. He slapped her kick and tried to catch her feet, but she twisted her body and used the top of the table as a platform to attack again with another foot in split second. With another small blade protruding from her shoe, she precisely went for his unguarded neck.

But before it could result to anything, they were both sent away by an intruding force. Creating only two craters on the expensive wall of the hall.

“Do both of you not know what is the meaning of the word ‘behave’? Or should I teach you literally?” the redguard looked down on the two, as they just realized what happened. A trace of green hue from her hands could still be seen. Both tried to move but found their body not listening.

“He started it!” she yelled at the boy, turning her head as it was the only thing that she could move. “He actually made the guards angry!”

“It was her fault! She killed one of the guards!!” the boy yelled back.

“I didn’t expect her to die like that! By the way you’re the one who provoke her first!” she shrugged.

Dex immediately realized that they were referring to the guards that were assigned on watching over the prisoner. She don’t feel bad to the guard that got killed as she just considered it as a casualty on the job. But what she can’t stand was the two making trouble that would just give her more bothersome tasks in this cold season.

“She was an idiot orc! What did you expect?! The only thing that’s good about her is in killing and munching dirt! You did it because you know how other orcs would respond!” he scolded her.

“I did not!” she argued.

“Did too!”

“Did not!”

“ENOUGH! You better behave now as the client will arrive shortly. I will talk with the two of you about this later” She pinched her forehead in pain. It was already a headache in controlling these people from killing each other. Now she had to clean up and replace the guards. Then she sent out a telepathic message to one of her trusted associates.

“Can’t we just kill her by ourselves?” the boy asked before she could even speak to the other end.

“Yeah, yeah. She is our bounty anyways so we should be the one to carry the execution.” The girl added, making some watery eyes as if begging.

“No.” She replied with a glare, as if telling the two children a last warning to shut up. “Nala, can you send some cleaners on the dungeon? Yeah, that one with the Red Guard girl who looked like she had not been fed for months. Yeah white hair, that’s her. Just send Bronn and the rest there. Thanks.” She sighed after cutting the connection.

A giant nord went towards them, took both children on each of his arms and bashed both of her heads together. Causing the two to scream in pain.

“Bad.” He just said a single word before bashing their heads together again.

“Oh, could you get them to the room next door? I don’t want to have our client see two paralyze children on the floor.” she said. The nord just nodded and exited the hall with the two children in tow. She don’t want to undo the spell especially on the possibility of having them rampage later on the presence of their employer.

This was not the first time that it happened in her group. Especially when the most insane and murderous people in Tamriel was gathered together in same place. When they smell blood, they would never stop even if she made it concrete that they were not allowed to kill until they receive instructions and payment from a client. She would’ve preferred using Morag Tong instead of her unit. But knowing them, they would probably complain or even worse, take the kill and cause conflict with the Morag Tong instead.

Then she heard a galloping sounds and rolling wheels from outside. She hurriedly went to the front window glass and saw the client exiting from his elaborate and overly decorated carriage. It was an old mer. But despite his obvious age even from afar, anyone could see the power and strength he exudes as he walk with pride and discipline. The escorts was wearing thick coats and fur armor, but she could see that they were not just mercenaries. The glint of glass weapons on their waists and backs was enough proof. Then he was followed by several hooded figures towards the mansion while his escorts awaited and guard outside. She immediately went to the door and prepared others.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Lord Elvyen. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” She bowed as he entered the mansion. Other people followed suit.

“Lord Elvyen welcome!” Martessi Silen arrived just in time to receive their important guest.

“It’s been a very cold long ride. I am still not used to the North’s freezing climate.” Despite that, he took off his coat and handed it to one of his followers and went straight to a chair that’s been prepared for him inside. A maidservant gave him a glass of wine which he took and drank. “That’s more like it.”

He sighed as he let his tired body rest then turned to Dex.

“How was the prisoner?”

“She’s still in the dungeons, fully guarded.” she replied.

“Good.”

“What do we need her for grandmaster?” She asked.

Elvyen was silent for several seconds, sipping his warm wine. Then he replied.

“To be honest, I don’t actually know…”

“Huh…” Dex was just speechless.

“We lost many people when we accidentally encountered her. But I’ve got some notion that we could use her during our relocation to Valenwood later.” He asked the servant for another cup. Then turned to Martessi.

“There are two things that you all should know.” He explained. “First is that, with the other masters we planned to relocate our base into Valenwood next month. But as what the master of the house probably told you, I lost my influence and connections to the smugglers after the Blackbriars took out the pirates to patrol the ship routes in that province. ”

“Ye-yes… it’s really a bother.” Martessi Silen wiped his perspiring face with a towel. He started sweating after the mention of Blackbriars.

Then they were interrupted by a panting guard, out of breaths.

“Master Silen!” a guard came running towards them, yelling in panic. “We have two intruders at the gates!”

“Call the others!” Dex immediately sent out one of the servants inside. Then seconds later, her group appeared in windows, doors and the balcony above. She was about to send her orders to the rest when she sensed two people walking down the main path of the property until they reached the lit torches near the entrance.

It was a red haired man with Breton features and a brown haired woman, munching on something. Another strange thing was that they were carrying large baskets on their backs, full of cooked venison and meat.

A voice called out to one of them.

“Martessi Silen… How curious to see you here in Skyrim.” the red haired man said with an amused tone.

“L-Lord M-Mortred?” Martessi Silen spoke in trembling voice.

“You know him?” Dex asked.

“Martessi Silen is a former acquaintance of mine in the world of business.” Mortred answered his stead. “I will not apologize for disturbing your evening but I have information that my esteemed colleague is currently imprisoned in your estate.”

“Imprisoned Colleague? Are you referring to-” Martessi trembled in hearing that Mortred was an acquaintance to their prisoner.

“Yes the woman in your dungeons. I know that she is prone to trouble, dine-and-dash, and criminal activities but I don’t know what she did to be treated that way so if she ever killed or destroyed any assets of properties you owned, I am willing to pay, double the worth of the damages and reparations.” Mortred interrupted before she could finish her question making it obvious that he won’t negotiate and was in a hurry. “I need her alive for now... not that anything could kill her anyway…”

But Elvyen interrupted and questioned Mortred.

“Who are you to intrude into our property and make such selfish demands?”

“I am Mortred, the current babysitter of that big eater.” He bowed in greetings. Then he turned to Fang. “This is my companion, Fang. Also a big eater. By the way, where did you get those berries?”

Fang just silently pushed a berry into his mouth then munching on more.

“Still… even with such offer, we can only decline.” Elvyen said, raising his hand in a signal to prepare.

“Can I at least know why you need her or what she did to you?” He asked, seemingly not caring for the increased hostility.

“No.” Elvyen quickly replied.

“So the negotiations have failed…” Mortred sighed.

“N-no but-” Martessi Silen was about to insert himself to fix the tense air between the parties but was drowned by a loud command.

“Kill the intruders!” Elvyen yelled.

In response, all of the people that’s standing on the sides grinned from ear to ear, then disappeared in a blink.

“I am happy to oblige a very bloody battle with all of you but I am in a hurry… so–” Mortred sighed again, casting one of his most powerful abilities. Then with in a blink, everything around him slowed down to almost a halt. He then crumpled the space around their bodies, enough to knock them all out. He did this one by one, leisurely walking towards each of them. Then as he resumed the time and space again, bodies started falling. All of them had broken bones, ribs, teeth, gums, skull and limbs that caused them to faint due to damage but not enough to kill them.

Martessi was the only one left standing whom he purposely left out, which gave him a terrifying spectacle as the only thing he saw was the disappearance of the assassins to attack Mortred, then their bodies limping on the ground in an instant. In his great horror and fear, went to the corner of the entrance and cowered in tears.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” he repeatedly says as he refused to even look at the approaching Mortred and Fang.

“Martessi, I have questions-”

“They’re on my study! Please! I’m sorry! T-they had important documents there! I’m sorry! Please forgive me! I’m sorry!”

Seeing that Martessi was already hopeless to be interrogated, he decided to proceed on his real objective.

“Fang, bar any entrance or exit and secret passages underground to prevent anyone from escaping.” Mortred said which Fang immediately abided as she kneeled on the ground and struck the earth with her open palms several times. With everything secured, he also added. “Oh yeah, could you also make sure that they won’t escape? We may need them later.”

Fang granted his request as she also conjured a shell of solid rock that encased each of the knocked assassins. And followed Mortred inside the mansion. The servants who took shelter inside was found also cowering in the floors as they passed. Mortred then cast another spell that detects and see through walls and ground to sense living auras. And he found one on the deepest part of the mansion. Not wanting to use the stairs, he looked at Fang smiling awkwardly. Fang was confused at first then understood what he meant. Mortred sent her the location of their target telepathically. Then Fang licked both of her hands, made a ripping motion that looked like she wanted to split air into two, instead, the ground gave way and opened a giant hole enough for a human to slide through. Fang jumped into the hole she dug first and followed by Mortred.

And like where he sensed her earlier, they resurfaced exactly on the cell where they kept his colleague. Fang already took care of the guards that were stationed in the place, knocking every single of them out. Some of them were buried in the walls, while others were literally buried alive with only their foot sprouting. Then he frowned and sighed as he saw the state of the prison cell. Her entire body almost covered in chains. The only thing that made it seem like they were restraining someone was her opened blank eyes. She was Aura, one of the Thirteen and also one of the most dangerous of them.

“Idiots… they didn’t even feed her.” But he knew that he can’t blame them, anyone with the right mind who encountered Aura without knowing what she was should do the same. She was not human even if she looked like a redguard woman with white hair. In fact, Mortred himself doesn’t even know what to call her. She could survive without eating but it would also complicate things if she ever got out after years of hunger. He then remembered how the Dawnguards that were sent to subjugate her when she first appeared were all massacred… or in the correct word, eaten. It was only with his direct intervention that they were able to subdue her and Marah’ Ziah took her in as she was also interested on her biology and origins.

With training and discipline, they were able to make her act like a normal human being, make small dialogues and even teach her to become a mage. This was only to divert half of her hunger into consuming spells instead to satiate herself. Thankfully, magicka was almost infinite so they had no problem in supplying her needs. And they also got to know of how she thinks and her motivations to food that made it easier to handle her and her hunger. Many people who knew of her existence would always question Mortred’s actions in letting Aura join their expeditions that may risk the other crew. Mortred trusted no one except Marah’ Ziah in keeping Aura. But due to Marah’ Ziah’s harsh training and discipline methods, Aura hated Marah’ Ziah that she chose to accompany Mortred most of the times.

She was more like a hungry puppy than a child. He thought as he remembered how she would cling to him.

Aura hated Marah’ Ziah so much that she was the only one yet who broke out of Marah’ Ziah’s pocket realm by herself. That event almost forced Mortred to stop time and space of the entire world. He later considered killing her as she was a liability than an asset after her escape.

If only death was possible for her. He grumbled in his thoughts.

And later, they only lost contact with each other when he went underground but not before leaving Aura in static hibernation, a counter spell he created to control her just in case he have to leave her. He left her sleeping body underneath the seas of Hammerfell. He just didn’t expect that the redguards would start in their salvaging operations five years later on their seas.

Mortred was just thankful that she didn’t eat through the chains that were covering her mouth.

“Aura.” As he mentioned her name, her eyes immediately returned and stared at him. But as something that she wanted to devour. “Yes, yes I apologized for being late.”

He cut some of the chains that held her mouth, which immediately tried to bite him. He was able to dodge and handed a piece of meat he got from the basket instead, which her jaws just greedily devoured. He scratched his head and realized that this will take more time as he cannot let her out yet until she was full. And he would have to keep feeding her until she did. Fang helped also in feeding her with the berries and fruits she got earlier.

“Fang could you take care of her for me… just for now, as I have to investigate something about this peculiar group.” he asked.

Fang nodded and he went to the upper floors until he reached the room that was obviously the personal study of the owner. He said on the chair and rummaged the documents that were well arranged on the table. Then he saw a black book that upon reading, he realized was some kind of report or journal of the person named Dex. He found out that they were the assassins that were involved in the assassination of the Emperor.

And he also read the lines on the last moments of the man. She narrated how it was their most boring contract they ever had. They didn’t even have to kill any guards as the Emperor was like standing on a silver platter for them, unguarded and alone on the balcony. They could’ve just use a cover to push him over the ledge to make it look like he killed himself but their employer strictly said to make it obvious that it was an assassination attempt.

They accepted the payment with conflicted feelings that it seemed too good to be true that it all happened without a hitch. So she noted the name of their employer for future investigation.

Mortred was shocked when he read the name. It was something he didn’t expect to see.

Herrias Glambelt

He closed the book and pinched his forehead as if trying to take everything in smoothly. He decided to cool himself off in the balcony behind him.

“I actually forgot that you are an ass and will always be. You really loved to leave your burden to me. You… fucking idiot.” he said, gazing in the dark sky. He sighed and took a bottle of mead that was on top of the ledge and drank. It was still full, giving him comfort from being reminded of the stupidity of his former friend.

He tried to change the gloomy atmosphere by contacting another person and to divert his thoughts. Then he cast a spell.

“Arlene, so how was your side?” he asked the vampire.

“I will meet the agents in the border, it seemed they were successful in taking him in. Already on my way.” she replied.

“Thanks, contact me once again if you need something.”

He then cut off the contact and went back inside. He sat on the chair and casted another spell.

“Maven. Are you free right now?” he asked.

“If it is important, then this isn’t secure.” Maven grumbled.

“Don’t worry, I’ll cast something else. Where are you now?”

“In my bedroom in Riften. Are you going to cast a portal?” she asked and was about to prepare to welcome him when he stopped her.

“No, just wait.” He cut off his contact with Maven and conjured a new spell that he created recently. It created a moving image where she could see him sitting in a study while Maven was standing in her lingerie, hidden poorly by her robes.