Lightning arced across the sky, the screams of dragons echoing through the thunder. The clouds churned as the children of Akatosh fought each other above the temple. On the ramparts, magicians and soldiers fought. Green and Iron armor pitted against tan robes. A group of swordsmen scattered to avoid a falling drake, it’s blood melting the snow in a hiss of steam.
“Mid Vur Shaan!” A man shouted, his robes flowing long over his armor. A crown sat upon his head, a staff in his hand. The soldiers nearby looked to him with hope, their weapons glowing with power at his words. “Onward men! Destroy these heathens!” His troops obeyed, taking the fight to the magicians with newfound vigor. A roar echoed above as a smooth scaled dragon lowered down to land on the arches of stone.
“So they send you, Vahlok. ‘Guardian’… Pathetic. Would you protect them from your masters? The pitiful souls that serve the cult so blindly do not benefit from one who bows to the dragons.” The words came from a figure atop the beast’s neck, wearing tan robes and a grotesque mask. Vahlok scowled up at him.
“I can serve them better with the dragons willing to hear me than by risking their lives to destroy them. As a priest, I can bring their words to the council. I can use my powers to aid them, and I can offer tribute to keep the dragons from their homes. That is more than can be said of you, Miraak!”
Miraak slid to the ground, drawing a sword from his belt. “You will not hear me then?”
“There are no words in Dov, Mer, or the tongues of men that can sway me to your side, traitor.”
Miraak chuckled, lowering his blade. “Gol Hah Dov!” The words bombarded Vahlok, bringing him to his knees. He struggled for a moment, fighting back to his feet. His eyes flashed in fury.
“Zu’u fen ni!” [1] The words cut through the magic of Miraak’s shout, sending the tendrils of power scattering over the temple floor. “Ven Gaar Nos!”
The storm above them began to turn, a cyclone descending to envelope the pair of them. The dragons battling above had to fly away, the winds tearing them too high, coating their wings with deadly frost. In the eye of the maelstrom the priests fought, staff parrying sword, ward dispersing flames. The storm roped them off, lighting strikes climbing down the whirlwind of debris. “Lok Golz Yol!” Miraak dodged the strike of the staff, backing away. The terrified roars of the dragons made Vahlok look to the sky.
The sky burned, flaming boulders soaring down to the battlefield. One of the dragons was hit, its wing falling limp as it crashed to the ground. Some of the dragons chose to flee, making for the south as fast as they could. Those that remained turned their attention to the two priests below. Vahlok cast a ball of flame at Miraak, the spell setting the hem of his robes on fire. “You will stop! You have led too many astray with your false guidance. You had such promise, why did you betray me?”
Miraak ripped off his mask, face young and full of spite. “Because I have a new master who is greater than you, Morokei, or any of the Sonaak. Next to him, your teachings are nothing!” Miraak reached skyward his body glowing with a pale green aura. One of the bolts of lightning sprung to his hand, morphing into an emerald gout of power. It struck a dragon, bringing the wyrm to the earth beside them. Vahlok watched in horror as the creature flailed in the throes of death. As the priest turned to fight, he was caught off guard. Miraak stood, weapon abandoned, his arms wide as if submitting. He made to step forward when it started.
The dragon’s body burst to flame, wisps of power rising from it to wrap around Miraak. The young priest went rigid. His eyes burned with fiery light as his face twisted to a wretched smile. “Geh! Dii suleyk kosnis gahrot!” [2]
Vahlok watched in dismay as the youth absorbed the power, his face sweating as the light faded. Miraak staggered, laughing in a way that chilled the blood. “Bormahu spaan dovah…” [3] Vahlok gripped his staff, his fear taking second seat to his fear for his people. “Miraak, you have twisted yourself, becoming a monster that threatens both the Dov and men alike. Surrender now.” His tone softened. “We need not be enemies, friend. Abandon this pursuit.”
Miraak looked crazed. He took in his breath for a thu’um. Vahlok did the same, the world trembling at their feet. Time itself cried out as they both shouted in unison. “Fus Ro Dah!”
As the shouts collided, all of Nirn felt the tremor. All went quiet as the sound sundered the ears of mortals and dragons equally. Such was the power of the thu’ums that the earth began to crack. From the temple they could see it. Miles away, the mountains and plains shattered. It felt as if the land had been torn up, being thrown into the sky. The sea rushed in, filling the void that had been left as dragons flew in a last ditch effort to save themselves.
Vahlok raised his staff, the light from it’s gem spreading to cover the new island that soared through the sky. The flight did not last long, the mass of stone and soil crashing to land in the sea. The wave spread outward, the shell of magic all that kept the island from being wiped clean. Vahlok fell to the stones beneath him, gasping for breath as the world settled around them.
Miraak had fallen too. He held his arm, the limb bleeding from the bone that skewed from it. He struggled to his feet. Vahlok drew himself up with his staff. He summoned all his strength, glaring at the young priest, the traitor. “Krii Lun Aus!”
Just as the words left his lips, A dark, writhing mass enveloped his foe. When the thu’um struck, there was nothing save dirt, bones, and dead dragons. Vahlok cried to the heavens, the clouds beginning to rain tears that bared the agony of the world. The magician could feel the aching of the land as he spat to the sky. “I will watch for you, coward! If I must wait until the breaking of time, I will be there to stop you again!”
Translated Lines:
1 ) I will not!
2 ) Yes! My power cannot be taken!
3 ) Akatosh protect me…
Mapes Fiction Publication 