A Daedra's Minion

Chapter 3

The Nord and Imperial made their way through the vast frozen land of Skyrim. They had been travelling for a few days, tracking Vigilant movement and intercepting couriers, but to no avail. The sun began to dip in the sky heralding the night. Celestra seemed more content as the sun began to set. Sylvi kept silent as she sat on a high branch overlooking a Vigilant camp. She closed her eyes and sighed, the cold air biting at her skin. Her joints ached from the cold and just begged for the warmth of a fire. She and Celestra had tracked down the Vigilants to a small camp halfway between Dawnstar and Whiterun. While tailing the small Vigilant group nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The Vigilants went from town to town checking for rumors of the undead and unholy. The only major event that happened was the Vigilants purified a local ruin where Draugr had been spotted. Celestra and Sylvi had grown tired after tailing them for a few days with less and less proof that the Vigilants could be planning anything against The Daedra and Oblivion. She opened her eyes as she felt a presence beside her that pulled her from her thoughts. Without even looking she knew who it was.

Far below Celestra looked up and smirked as a figure appeared on a branch below Sylvi. The person was small for his race, but tall enough to speak to her face to face while standing on the branch. She watched the duo talk for a moment before flexing her frozen fingers. She decided that she would look for a sheltered area to make a fire. Sylvi had become more agitated than usual from the cold and it was starting to affect her focus. Celestra couldn't blame the Imperial. After travelling in the cold for a number of days and having to deal with a snow storm she felt her own focus waning. A fire would give them a chance to relax and recover their senses.

***

Sylvi sighed quietly, her breath forming a cloud in front of her, "Got any tips?"

"Open your eyes." Clavicus stated as if it was obvious.

"Anything else?" Sylvi asked as she bit back an annoyed tone.

"One thing..." His eyes took on a dark look, "Do not chase after the Vigilants after you help Karliah. Do I make myself clear?"

Sylvi sat up, "Karliah? Where is she? What happened?"

"Do you understand?" Clavicus asked, a frown on his face as Sylvi ignored his question.

She leaned close and hissed, "Tell me what has happened to her."

Clavicus rolled his eyes before nodding at a passing courrier who wore the robes of the Vigilants of Stendarr. Sylvi turned to look at the courier far below before making a hasty climb down the tree, ignoring the Daedra as he vanished.

Sylvi leapt upon the courier before he reached the camp. As they tumbled down a slope she grabbed a dagger from its pouch on her hip and drove it into the unfortunate courrier's chest. She waited until the courier went still before rummaging through their pockets for a note or anything to explain what had happened. She furrowed her brow as she pulled out a single piece of paper and looked it over. Her eyes went wide as she ran up the slope and over to where Celestra was making a small fire. The Nord looked up as Sylvi rushed over, the smile fading from her face as she caught the murderous look in the Imperial's eyes. 

Celestra stood up, "What's wrong?"

Sylvi shoved the note into Celestra's hand before turning, "We leave now. If you aren't following me in ten seconds I am leaving you behind."

Celestra would have chewed the Imperial out for using such a tone with her, but the look in Sylvi's eyes told her something was seriously wrong. She opened the note and skimmed the paper, the more she read the dark her eyes became and the more she clenched her fangs. She ran up beside Sylvi and grabbed her arm, "Get on Shadowmere." She nodded at the horse a short distance away hidden amongst the trees, "I know a shortcut to the Sepulcher."