Memories of a Clockmaker

Chapter 5

The gears and cogs turned and crancked as they moved in a perfect flow of motions, running as smoothly as water flowing down a calm river in a steady pace. Sil carefully placed the dynamo core into the power station. It clicked loudly as it fastened into position, the dynamo core flaming up with a bright red light spinning at a steady pace.

The Dwemer spider came to life suddenly, its legs lifting its body up at a rapid speed. The gears twisted and turned. Sil gasped in excitement, looking at the spider with large, blue eyes as happy as a Chimer boy who got his first Nix-Hound. But the dynamo core started to whirl faster and faster.

"No, no!" Sil blurted out as he tried to adjust the measurments of the energy distribution, but it was to no avail.

A loud crunch of gears comming to a full stop all of a sudden filled the room and the Dwemer spider collapsed on itself.

Sil sighed and examined his notes again. Working with a theoretical heart of the world wasn't the most easy task.

The black soul gem inside the socked was grinded to small pieces, a heap of dust covering the table. For some reason the black soul didn't seem to handle the power correctly. While a large Dwemer Centurion would be handled by a greater soul gem a black couldn't even power an upgraded spider.

"What if I.. "

Sil grabbed quil, ink and paper and started writing.

[IC]Soul burn. Great, black, none work. No soul gems. Imbude the soul directly into the metal, special tools will be needed.

The idea made sense, yet how he would do it he had no clue. Tools to tap into the power of souls, how on Nirn would that be possible?

Just as he started calculating his work was disturbed by a knock on the door.

"What is it?" Sil called out, frowning as he saw one of the Dwemer Tonal Architects walked in.

"My Lord, King Dumac has arrived and ge requets your precense."

Sil sighed and left the worktable behind him. It seemed like his time studying the Dwemer works was done and his time as a councillor to the Hortator began again. It is as it must be.

King Dumac was quite a large man, broad shouldered and barrel chested. He sat in a simple metal chair in simple Dwemer robes, clean shaven, long black hair with golden rings woven through it, a thin, golden circlet resting upon his brow.

The King smiled as Sil entered, Voryn already seated at the table.

"Lord Sotha Sil," the King said as he rose out of his chair. "I have heard you kept Lord Kagrenac quite busy the past few days."

Sil gave a bow with his head, a sign of respect to the Dwemer king.

"You could say he kept me quite busy as well, your grace. I've learned a lot in the past few days." Sil aknowledged as he took a seat at the table.

"Kagrenac has been reading your notes. He tells me you are the smartest sepcimen of your race he has ever encountered, and your work has helped the Dwemer race and their technology immensely. For this I thank you." Dumac spoke in a warm voice as he settled back into his seat, looking at Sil with curious eyes.

"We haven't even nearly completed the project yet, but I am glad that I could have been of some help. While our research is an interesting subject I'm affraid we have more urgent matters that require our attention."

"Yes, that we have my Lords. Why has Indoril Nerevar send you to my hall?" Dumak asked with a curious voice, his fingers playing with a strand of his hair.

"Lord Indoril Nerevar has been named Hortator of the Chimeri people," Voryn Dagoth explained. "When the Chimer stand united we want to make alliances with neighbouring race-."

"You want to chase the Nords over the mountains back to Skyrim." Dumac interrupted. "Overthrow the Empire of man, a free Resdayn ruled by Mer, yet you cannot do this alone. Either that or you want to know how to make Chaurus Steak. Guar gets a bit boring after a while, I do agree."

Both Sil and Voryn stared at Dumac in silence. Venomous as a snake that one.

"Yes," Voryn continued as he leaned forward, "we will need to band together if we have any hope of defeating them. We-"

"The Dwemeri people haven't been conquered by the Nords. When they made the attempt we chased them out of our cities, if needed we will do so again. The Nordic occupation of your people is not our problem, Lord Dagoth." Dumac interrupted in a cool voice.

Voryn sat back in his chair, letting out a sigh. His eyes were cast down, no reply would come from him anymore.

"If I remember my histories correctly," Sil said in a calm voice, "The Nords managed to take almost every Dwemer holding in Skyrim. While the Nords might not know it, the history books written by my people suggest that the re-taking of those holdings cost many lives for the Dwemer. What do you think will happen when the Nords have a new High King, your grace? Do you truly believe the race of man will sit by idly, staring at your holdings set in the middle of their Empire?"

Dumac sat still in his chair, his lips sealed together for a long time before he broke the silence.

"The Dwemer people will endure, as we always have. Mer will outlast man, lord Sotha Sil. Any proper Mer at least."

Sil ignored the insult as he continued. "While the Mer have a longer lifespan than the young races of man this doesn't work in our advantage during times of war. Men breed at a much faster rate than the Mer. When their soldiers die they are replaced almost instantly. Must I remind you of the Falmer of Mereth? I think not, considering that your people's personal slave race is making war at you as we speak. I heard the most disturbing tales, your grace. Most of Blackreach supposedly has fallen to the twisted beings that were once the Snow Elves of Mereth, but of course such tales don't hold much truth to them. Not with the Dwemer people defending their holdings, what could some Falmer slaves do to you? Now the Nords do have the Dragon tongue at their side, but of course the Dwemer can hold them off without aid."

Dumac stared at Sil with cool eyes, if he was annoyed at all he hid it well.

"I.. The Dwemer people have had some... problems with our settlements in Skyrim. If the Nords would strike at us in the years to come that would be... unfortunate."

Dumac stood up from his chair.

"Gentleman, thank you for coming. You have given me and my Council a lot to think about. Inform Lord Indoril Nerevar he will receive word from me within a fortnight. I wish you good travels."

After the formalities Sil and Voryn were escorted out of the Dwemer City. Sil opened up a portal with relative ease and went through with Voryn following him on his heels.

On their return to Resdayn Sil continued his training sessions with Nerevar and Vivec. Much to his annoyance the latter one hadn't been practicing on his own during Sil's absence.

Voryn voiced his concern about the Dwemer alliance to Nerevar and the Tribunal, yet Sil didn't worry too much about it. Dumac was not a stupid Mer, he would do the right thing. He needed the Chimer as much as the Chimer needed the Dwemer.

After a forthright had passed Nerevar called Sil to his personal chambers.

"Read this." Nerevar ordered as he handed Sil a piece of parchment. As ordered, Sil started reading.

[IC]To the most esteemed Hortator Indoril Nerevar,

[IC]After your envoy's left our holdings the Dwemer people have been discussing day and night. You will be glad to know that even under heavy opposition of the idea of an alliance between our people we managed to get enough support to make it happen. Sadly Clan Rourken won't be joining our alliance and have decided to go into exile. May you come across the Rourken clan trespassing through your holdings we would be happy to see them dealt with. I and the most esteemed members of my Council will visit Mourning Hold soon to discuss the terms of our alliance. We request the presence of Lord Sotha Sil for the negotiations.

In the name of my people,

High King Dumac, King of the Resdayn and Skyrim Dwemer clans.

By the word I wind the gears.