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Fall from High Rock	By : mistressarachnia Category: +A through F > Elder Scrolls - Morrowind Views: 4940 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Elder Scrolls universe belongs to Bethesda. Alyssa Elbert belongs to me. I make no money from writing about her adventures.

Chapter List
- 39
- 40
- 41
Chapter 40: Tel
Fyr

�Your friend Berwen is a little��
Malcus started, settling back on the grass.
�Crazy?� offered Alyssa,
rearranging her robes to sit close by.
�Yeah� crazy.� Really, Alyssa, what
was so bad about things back west?� You had your sister�s guild, you had your
friends in Balmora� how in Oblivion did you wind up way out here?� Malcus
asked.� They had been traveling all day, and needed to set up camp for the
night.� Seeing no nearby caves, Malcus suggested that they camp out under the
stars.� Alyssa was a bit nervous at the prospect, but had readily agreed.�
After all� she was with Malcus now.
�I� I guess I just wanted something
more.� The Mages Guild out here isn�t like the Arcane University.� I feel like
I�m not progressing in my studies as much as I ought to be.� So... House
Telvanni is exciting, really,� Alyssa offered.� Malcus sighed.
�It�s going to get you into trouble
you know.� I�ve never met a Telvanni with any morals,� Malcus said.� Alyssa
could only stare at him.� He didn�t look like he was dying� not to her anyway.
�They�re just�� Alyssa started.�
She stopped, letting out a large sigh.� It was no use.� Even she couldn�t
talk.� Malcus had come to visit her, and she had nearly let him be killed for
it.� And all because he was a man.
�Listen, Alyssa� the reality is
that I�m not going to be around to protect you any more.� I�m worried about
you.� I would feel a lot better about it if you were� at least going in some
direction that made me THINK you had a chance of being safe,� Malcus explained.�
Alyssa giggled.
�Well where could be safer for a
woman than Tel Mora?� Alyssa replied with a grin.� Malcus sighed.
�Crazy and immoral knows no gender,
Alyssa,� he replied, turning his head away from her.
�But they take care of me there!�
Alyssa protested.� Malcus snorted.
�It isn�t healthy and you know it,�
he replied.� Alyssa bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears.
�You just say that because you�re a
man!� she finally exclaimed.� Malcus laughed softly.
�And I suppose it doesn�t bother
you at all that you are murdering innocent people down in those dungeons just
because they are male?� Have I really scarred you that badly?� he replied, �I
suppose I and my kind are ultimately to blame for the existence of such a
place.� Very well.� I am in no position to talk.�
�Malcus!� I didn�t go to Tel Mora
because of you!� It�s just� well, like you said, all the other Telvanni masters
are crazy and Mistress Dratha is so kind and wise.� I am learning so much from
her, and it IS safe!� I mean� not for you maybe� but for me it is.�
�What are you hiding from Alyssa?�
Back at the house, before we kissed and I was taken away� you said some
things�� Malcus asked, his voice growing softer.� Alyssa gulped.� She explained
the situation with Tiram, feeling her eyes well with tears.� Malcus turned his
head and smiled at her.
�That was a rotten thing for anyone
to do to you.� I am only sorry for you.� I would vow revenge for you but� I
doubt I would be able to make it back to Vivec by the time the disease
progressed.� It�s rapid, from what everyone says.�
�How do you even know you have it?�
Does it hurt?� asked Alyssa.
�Yes, it hurts,� Malcus whispered,
�But the knowledge of what will happen later, and my inability to stop it�
those things hurt more.� I was cursed.� I could feel it instantly.�
�I�m sorry� I wish� I listened to
you earlier�� Alyssa said, feeling tears come to her eyes.
�It�s alright.� We lost a little
time is all.� And the fact that you were able to break me out of there again
speaks to considerable determination and skill.� I�m impressed.� You�ve come a
long way,� Malcus smiled.
�Well, it was mostly Berwen�s
doing,� Alyssa confessed.
�I doubt Berwen cared whether I
lived or died,� Malcus retorted, �No, it was you.�
�But I�m the one who got you thrown
into the dungeon in the first place.� I mean, if I hadn�t kissed you, then��
Alyssa started, tears rolling down her cheeks.
�You were drunk and emotional.� And
what�s one prison to another?� Isn�t that where we are headed?� Another
Telvanni master with a dungeon and experimental test subjects?� Malcus sighed.�
Alyssa gulped.
�I don�t have any better plans��
she confessed, �And Berwen mentioned that this wizard is trying to cure the
disease.� Perhaps he can cure you as well.�
�I wouldn�t get your hopes up
Alyssa.� But really, just having this time to share with you is enough for me.�
I haven�t done much water walking before,� he replied with a sad smile.
�I�ve never heard of this wizard.�
Maybe he isn�t like the others?� Alyssa suggested.� Malcus laughed softly.
�I doubt it but� we�ll see.� It is
better than nothing, as you say, and I cannot think of another alternative
myself.� Being locked in a dungeon is no worse than locking myself in a cave,
really,� Malcus sighed.
�You�re going to live!� Alyssa
cried, �Stop talking like this!�
�I�m going to die, Alyssa.� I don�t
like it any more than you do, but you would do better to accept it.� But it
would give me great pleasure to think of you as happy and safe,� he replied,
�You accepted me as dead once, it seems.� I know you can do it again.� I�m just
sorry I had to walk in and ruin your happiness.�
�I don�t WANT you to die!� Alyssa
cried.
�You have someone else already, you
said.� Just� you know� don�t hate me too much for everything when I�m gone.� I
really do love you,� Malcus replied.
�I don�t love Anarenen as much as I
love you!� Alyssa cried.� Malcus laughed.
�A part of me is glad to hear it,�
he winked, �But the other hopes that he will take good care of you after I
cannot do so.� I�ve been a terrible lover as it is.� We had hardly any time
together and every time we were together� well, it seems bad luck follows us
like a plague.� I�m only happy I got to spend what little time I had with
you.�� Alyssa continued to cry, watching him smile sadly in the moonlight.� A
single tear ran down his cheek.� She had worried something like this might
happen, but now that she knew it had� well, she found herself completely
unprepared for it.
�Alright, I can�t stand it
anymore.� Do you have any more of those blight resistance potions?� Malcus
asked.� Alyssa nodded, still sobbing.� With shaking hands, she fished one out
of her bag, tipping her head back and drinking the entire contents at once.�
Malcus laughed softly as she tossed it aside, crawling over to him eagerly.
�I love you,� she whispered,
settling in close to his arm.
�I love you too,� he replied,
running his hands softly along her face as he felt her warm breath and wet
tears against him.� Gods� he was going to miss living�
~*~
�I think this is it,� Alyssa
replied, feeling her heart sink.� There was a tower here, and this is where the
map lead but� it meant their journey was at an end.� How much time did they
have left?� They walked up to the round doorway, and Alyssa held her breath as
she opened the door, unsure what she would find behind it.
�Visitors?� Oh hello!� Welcome to
Tel Fyr!� a friendly voice sounded.� There was a white-haired Dunmer woman
cooking something over a fire in a room near the entrance.� She wiped off her
hands, setting the pot aside.
�My name is Beyte.� What brings you
here?�� Beyte asked.� Alyssa started to open her mouth to speak, but suddenly
burst into tears, turning back towards Malcus.
�Ahh�� Beyte replied
sympathetically, �So I take it you aren�t just here to plunder the dungeon.�
Probably a good thing really � it�s a bigger risk than its worth.� I take it
that one or both of you has the divine disease, is that right?�
�I do,� Malcus replied, holding
Alyssa close in his arms as she wept.
�Hmm.� Just you?� Careful then,
it�s quite contagious,� she warned.� Alyssa continued sobbing.
�She�s taken a blight resistance
potion � a strong one,� Malcus continued.� Beyte nodded.
�Good thing, or you�d both be
infected.� We�re all immune here now, after� hmm� well anyway, the corprusarium
is just down the hall.� You�ll see another room like this one where my sister
Delte does most of her paperwork and supply management for the inmates,� Beyte
continued, pointing with her spoon, �The food�s good, or so I�ve been told.� I
do most of the cooking around here, so if you have any requests, let me know.�
�Thank you,� Malcus replied,
dragging Alyssa down the hall.
�Don�t mention it.� Sorry about the
disease and all.� It�s always sad when new inmates arrive, but at least you�ll
be treated well here,� Beyte replied, turning back to her cooking.� Malcus and
Alyssa walked down the hall, Alyssa still clinging to Malcus� arm.� Another
Dunmer woman with dark hair and colorful skin markings was seated, reading over
some scrolls.
�The corprusarium is straight
through that golden doorway,� she said, pointing with her quill without looking
up.� She appeared too engrossed in whatever it was she was doing to really pay
them much mind.
�Thank you,� Malcus replied again,
opening the doorway to a dark underground tunnel.� He took a deep breath and
stepped inside, dragging Alyssa with him.
�Come now, this place doesn�t seem
so bad,� Malcus assured her, �Perhaps your friend heard correctly.�� Just then
he stopped, glaring at the sight before him.� And Argonian stood at the
entrance, looking back.
�You didn�t mention anything about
slaves here, Alyssa, but I suppose I should have known.� I doubt there are any
Telvanni alive who do not own slaves,� Malcus glared.� The Argonian watched
him, hissing softly.� Malcus turned to go.
�I would rather die a thousand
lonely deaths than watch one innocent being suffer.� I can�t stay here,� Malcus
said.� Suddenly the Argonian burst out laughing� or at least, a loud hissing
sound that Alyssa assumed was laughter.
�I am Vistha-Kai,� he replied,
�Warden and friend of Divayth Fyr.� I thank you for your concern, but my master
freed me long ago from his service.� I stayed out of loyalty and respect for my
former master but now I stay for friendship.� You will find that Divayth Fyr is
not your typical Telvanni wizard.� �Both Malcus and Alyssa stared at him,
clearly stunned.
�I apologize if I have offended
you,� Malcus replied.� The Argonian bowed slightly.
�No apology is necessary muthsera.�
You are welcome here.� Fyr�s only rule is that you do not harm the inmates.� I
am here to enforce that rule,� Vistha-Kai replied.
�That means� he really does care
about the people in here?� Alyssa asked, feeling slightly surprised in spite of
herself.
�Indeed.� Master Fyr cares for all
those who suffer from the divine disease.� They are people, like you and I.�
Bloated, deformed, and demented, perhaps, but still people,� Vistha-Kai
explained.
�I suppose� this is where I stay
then,� Malcus replied, still holding Alyssa in his arms.� She shook her head,
pressing against him.
�I won�t leave you here!� she
exclaimed.� Malcus sighed.
�I would rather you remember me as
I was.� In a few more days or so� well, you might not recognize me at all.� And
I may not recognize you,� Malcus explained sadly, his heard breaking as he felt
her sob against his chest.
�Yes, forgetfulness and dementia
are just a few of the unfortunate effects of the disease,� Vishna-Kai agreed,
�But you will be well cared for here until the end.� Uupse takes care of the
inmates.� You may visit her and speak with her as you please � perhaps it will
make you both more comfortable.� She is inside the second chamber, to the left
of the large tunnel.�
�Thank you, I will do that,� Malcus
replied, looking down at Alyssa.� He could hear the grotesque squishing noises
from beyond the gate, and he knew the sight would not be pleasant for Alyssa.�
Still, he doubted he could pry her off him just yet.� Perhaps seeing what the
disease would do first hand might dissuade her from staying longer.
�How long will that potion last?�
Malcus asked her.
�Long enough,� Alyssa replied, �We
have hours.�� Malcus nodded, pulling her inside quickly and hurrying down the
corridor to the next door, trying to ignore the deranged beasts as they turned
to attack him.� Alyssa stared at them in horror, but kept close by Malcus� side
as he opened the second door and raced through the chambers, nearly running
down the stony caverns.� Suddenly they came to a large clearing, with a rug,
some chests and drawers, and other living equipment.� There was a Dunmer woman
there with red hair, talking to a strange bloated thing with spider-like legs.�
Alyssa gasped as Malcus pulled her forward.
�Oh!� said the woman, looking up,
�You�re new!�� She smiled at them warmly.� Metal clinked against stone in an
eerie pattern as the huge bloated spider-like creature turned around.� It was�
a man of some sort.� Alyssa could not tear her eyes from him, feeling suddenly
horrified.
�I�m Uupse, and this is Yagrum Bagarn,�
the woman smiled, gesturing towards the bloated creature.� Alyssa gulped.� It
had a name?
�I take it you aren�t just here to
visit an old dwarf?� Yagrum laughed, his belly shaking.� His laughter broke
when he began coughing.� He looked up apologetically.� Alyssa�s jaw dropped.�
Did he just say� dwarf?
�Pity, but Fyr is a good caretaker,�
the dwarf continued, �Not that it makes up for having this damned disease.� Ah
well.�
�Yagrum has been feeling a bit
depressed lately, but perhaps a bit of company might cheer him up,� Uupse
smiled, �It would be good for all of you to get to know one another.�� Alyssa
still could only stare.
�I�m the only one with the
disease.� She�s in perfect health,� Malcus replied, nodding towards Alyssa.
�Oh, poor things!� I hate it when I
see lovers separated like this.� I�m terribly sorry.� But you don�t want to
catch the disease, dear� you really don�t,� Uupse said, looking at Alyssa
sadly, �We�ll take good care of him here for you, alright?�� Alyssa gasped,
clinging to Malcus tighter.
�But I heard� that Fyr might have a
cure?� Alyssa cried, half mumbling as she pressed her face into Malcus� chest.
�He�s been working on one for
centuries but� so far it hasn�t been overly successful,� Uupse admitted sadly,
�But if anyone can do it, he can.� He�s probably the most kindhearted wizard in
the mundus� not that there was a lot of competition for the position of
�kindest wizard,� mind you.�� Malcus laughed.
�No, there certainly is not,� he
admitted.� Yagrum sighed, his legs clicking as he turned back to some boots he
was tinkering with.� The sound caught Alyssa�s attention and she looked at him.
�Did he say he was a dwarf?� Alyssa
asked, between cries.
�The last living dwarf, or so he
likes to fancy himself,� Uupse winked.� Yagrum turned back with a smile,
nodding at her.
�But dwarves are extinct,� Alyssa
asked incredulously.� Malcus ran his hands down her hair as she spoke, inhaling
the warm scent of her body.
�Aye, that they are,� Yagrum
replied sadly, �I was on the outer planes when they vanished and thus appear to
have been spared their fate.� But fate is a cruel mistress, and now my
remaining days are spent here, bloated and falling apart until the divine
disease finally claims me as her victim.�� Alyssa stared at him, her eyes wide
even as tears fell from her eyes.
�I was once a Master Crafter in the
service of the chief Tonal Architect, Lord Kagrenac.� But all that is long
since past.� If you ever come across anyone in your travels who might life to
visit with an old dwarf, please tell them about me,� Yagrum sighed.� Alyssa
blinked, still unable to stop from staring.
�My sister Edwinna is a Dwemer
researcher,� she finally told him.
�Ah, well I hope she is as brave as
you are, then.� The corprusarium scares most away,� Yagrum smiled, a hint of
hope glimmering in his eye.
�And her� research partner Baladas
Demnevanni�� Alyssa continued, feeling a mixture of pity and excitement at
having met such an individual.� Yagrum shot her a sad smile.
�Baladas has not visited here in
centuries.� I suppose he feels I have nothing useful left to offer him,� Yagrum
replied sadly.� At this, Alyssa blinked.� Baladas knew about Yagrum?� Of
course, it made sense� Fyr was Telvanni and so was Baladas but� she found it
difficult to believe that Baladas would not have made been more excited about
Yagrum�s existence.
�I am sure that is not the case,�
Alyssa assured, feeling slightly unsure herself.� She never could read
Baladas.� Yagrum laughed softly.
�You are a sweet girl.� I hope you
visit again,� Yagrum smiled.
�No,� replied Malcus, �I mean, I
would be more than happy to talk to you myself but� Alyssa� you MUST leave me
here.� You can see that I will be well cared for, right?�� At this, Alyssa
burst into a new round of tears.� Uupse sighed, looking at them both sadly.
�This never gets any easier,� she
replied, �I hate seeing people in love separated.�
�Alyssa� come on� I�ll walk you
back to the door but then� you�ve got to leave me here, ok?� Malcus insisted,
�We can�t draw this out forever.�
�I would rather die of corprus than
leave you!� Alyssa cried, hugging him closer.
�You will make my suffering that
much more if I know I am responsible for your death as well.� Imagine that you
were me� would you want me to suffer and die just to be with you?� How can you
ask me to do the same to you?� Come on,� he said, picking Alyssa up and
carrying her back towards the doorway when she refused to move.� He set her
down gently at the entrance, nodding to Vishna-Kai.
�I love you Alyssa.� I will always
love you.� And you will always be here with me in my heart, mind, and soul.�
But for now, I need you to be brave and strong,� he told her.� Alyssa held him
tight, not wanting ever to let go.
�Take care of yourself Alyssa.� For
both of us.� I love you,� he said, kissing her softly as he gently pried her
arms from around his waist.
�I love you too,� she whispered,
gazing up at him longingly.� He smiled at her for a moment, and she closed her
eyes, afraid the tears would never stop.� She opened them, reaching out for her
lover.� But he was gone.
�NO!� she called, into empty air.�
Vishna-Kai hissed, putting his arm on her shoulder.
�He will be well cared for,� he
assured, looking on the girl with genuine pity.� No.� This couldn�t be it.� It
just� couldn�t.� She turned, running from the corprusarium into the halls of
Tel Fyr.� Delte barely looked up from her work, but she heard Betye call from
her kitchen, �Hey, are you alright?�� She paid her no mind, continuing up the
halls.� Where was this wizard, this so-called kindest wizard in the Mundus?�
She wanted to speak with him herself.� She came to another door and opened it.�
There were luxurious rooms and chambers, but no one was there.� She noticed a
tower shaft overhead and levitated up.
�What?� Are you here to bother an
ancient wizard with some silly emotional story?� a cold voice sounded from
behind her.� Alyssa spun around and found herself face to face with a
stern-looking dark-haired Dunmer woman.� She gulped.
�It�s just that� my lover has
corprus and�� Alyssa started.
�Hmph.� Well that figures.� We do
run the only Corprusarium on the Mundus, after all.� So what do you think makes
your story and different than all the others?� the woman continued.� Alyssa
cried, feeling suddenly both selfish and foolish.� Most of the victims down
there probably had families and loved ones� but she just couldn�t give up.
�He can�t die!� It wasn�t fair!� He
didn�t even believe in those silly Nerevarine prophesies!� Alyssa cried, �He
doesn�t deserve this!�
�Alphe, are you tormenting our
guests again?� a deep voice asked.
�Of course I�m not.� But we can�t
stop our research for every silly girl who comes in here crying that her lover
has corprus,� Alphe answered, �I mean, come on.� Show a little respect for an
ancient wizard already.� What makes you think he won�t zap you where you stand
just for interrupting his work?�� Alyssa buried her hands, wishing she could
get out of this place as quickly as possible.
�Eh, let her come in here,� the
voice continued, �It�ll only take a minute.� Not that it�ll probably make her
feel any better.�
�Fine,� Alphe replied, storming off
the other direction.� Alyssa stood to see a white haired wizard standing before
her, looking down on her sternly.
�So your lover caught the divine
disease wandering about attempting to fulfill the Nerevarine prophesies, eh?�
Interesting.� Did you know that Corprus makes you immune to all other
diseases?� The Nerevarine is supposed to be immune to disease.� Its often made
me laugh over the years � perhaps I have the Nerevarine himself down in my
dungeons.� The great Nerevarine: a fat, bloated, corprus monster.� Ha ha ha!��
the wizard smiled, returning to his work, �Did he ever think of that one, eh?�
Perhaps it�s all part of the prophesy!� Now THAT would be ironic.�
�But� Malcus doesn�t even believe
the prophesies himself,� Alyssa admitted.� This mer must be Fyr.� He raised his
eyebrow.
�Too bad.� It would have been
amusing.� Yagrum is getting so depressing these days, and most of the others
are already deranged beyond recognition.� It would have made for some
interesting conversations,� Fyr grinned.
�Is Yagrum really� a dwarf?� Alyssa
asked.� Fyr laughed.
�I�m sure he told you that
himself.� He tells everyone.� Poor fellow.� Whole race destroyed while he was
on vacation � bet that was a bit of a shock when he got back.� Heh heh heh,�
Fyr grinned, �He�s terribly interesting though, when you can get him to discuss
something other than his own misery and solitude.�
�Yes� my sister Edwinna Elbert is a
Dwemer researcher, and so is her partner Baladas Demnevanni,� Alyssa replied.�
Fyr raised an eyebrow.
�Baladas is still alive and researching
then?� Well, of course if he�s alive he�s still researching.� That�s all he
ever did.� Read and ask questions.� Back in the day he used to be quite the
upstart in Great House Telvanni, if you can believe that.� Trekking through
Dwemer ruins, exploring hidden passageways� had all the girls wild for him.�
It�s too bad he hasn�t been back here in a while, although I guess it�s
understandable,� Fyr sighed, �But a research partnership!� With a woman, no
less.� Good for him.� It�s about time that mer picked up a hobby or two.�
Myself, I�ve got four.� Gives me great comfort in my old age.� Heh.�� Alyssa
just stared at him in confusion.� She remembered Berwen saying that Fyr kept
cloned slaves, but she hadn�t seen any.� She shook off the thought.
�I heard in Tel Mora that you might
have a cure for corprus?� Alyssa asked hopefully, biting her tongue.
�Cure?� No.� Nope.� Sorry to
disappoint you.� I have something I�ve been working on for a while, but it
hasn�t been successful so far.� Killed everyone I�ve used it on.� Of course,
they weren�t the Nerevarine.� Maybe it�d work on your Malcus.� Heh heh heh,�
Fyr chuckled.� Alyssa stared at him in horror.
�No!� No, um� I would feel more
comfortable if it were perfected first,� Alyssa replied hastily.� Fyr laughed.
�Suit yourself.� But it�s all I�ve
got at the moment.� Barring accidents, if all goes well, corprus victims
are immortal... at least their bodies are. And even those are bloated
beyond recognition most of the time.� Personally, I�m tempted to try it out.�
But� I�ll keep at it and see what I can do, eh?� he smiled.
�Thank you,� replied Alyssa, still
full of despair.� She wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to regain some aura
of dignity.
�So, Tel Mora, eh?� Bet Mistress
Dratha wasn�t much help � she�s a decent researcher, but she�d slip you a
poison if she knew you were going to give it to a man, and call it good
medicine.� Ha ha ha!�
�Yes, I never did understand why
she hates men so much,� Alyssa confessed.
�Because we�re inferior.� Didn�t
she tell you that herself?� That�s why I only clone women � I need them to
think and do my research for me.� Or that�s what she told me at least.� Ha ha
ha!� Fyr laughed, clearly amused.� Alyssa didn�t see what was so funny.
�I heard they were slaves?� Alyssa
asked, feeling uneasy.
�Oh, I�m sure you�ve met my
daughters by now: Alphe, Beyte, Delte, and Uupse.� We�re just one big happy
family � which drives Dratha absolutely batty.� Ha ha ha!� Fyr laughed.
�So she always hated men?� Alyssa
asked.
�I take it you work for her?� Fyr
grinned.� Alyssa nodded.
�What kind of work does she have
you do?� he asked.
�Well, I help her with her
necromancy projects.� I didn�t like cutting up the bodies so much, but I don�t
mind polishing the skulls.� And she has some interesting theories involving
porphyric hemophilia� I think she�s trying to add the regenerative properties
of corprus into the mixture too.� For healing.� I think she mentioned something
about healing the mind?� I�m supposed to bring some potions over to Tel Branora
after this.� Well� I should be there right now� she doesn�t know I made a
detour,� Alyssa confessed.� Fyr nodded sympathetically.
�A sad story, that.� I see she
still hasn�t gotten over it.� Although I confess I fear what might have
happened if Therana had been successful in her bid for power.� I almost like
her better now, as it is,� Fyr told her, taking a seat nearby and gesturing for
Alyssa to do the same, �She�s loony, but she�s fun.�
�What happened?� asked Alyssa,
suddenly curious.
�Well let�s see now� Once there was
a powerful Telvanni sorceress named Dratha, who fell in love with her own
Mouth.� It happens rather more often than one would imagine.� Dratha�s Mouth
was powerful and beautiful, and had lovers of both sexes, but found a kindred
spirit in Dratha. �Her skills in the art of destruction were unparalleled and
she rose quickly through the ranks.� The rest of the council was afraid to
oppose her.� Her name was Therana, and soon she was a councilor in her own
right, performing deadly experiments far away from prying eyes where slaves
could be easily imported from House Dres on the mainland.� Through all of this
she remained Dratha�s devoted lover. The two women plotted against the
so-called male dominated hegemony of the Telvanni council, convinced that they
could overthrow it.� Alas, Dratha convinced Therana to confront Archmagister
Uvirith in his own tower.� She nearly destroyed him, or so I am told, but
Uvirith had connections amongst the daedra and tricks which had best not be
named.� He was also known to be an expert in torture.� You see� he did not just
kill Therana for opposing him.� This would be far too simple, and he knew that
were she to die Dratha would soon concentrate her energies on raising another
in her stead.� He completely mind-flayed the young wizardess and thus took care
of both the women at once.� Therana was rendered insane, yet remained too
powerful for anyone to successfully overthrow.� Dratha was both horrified and
heartbroken, and swore she would not rest until she found a way to undo the
damage Uvirith had caused.� And so I see she is still at it, even after all
these centuries,� Fyr smiled, �She has found a way to extend her life, and that
of Therana, but she has yet to find a cure to Therana�s insanity.� Ah, true
love!�
Alyssa�s eyes widened.� That was�
horrible�� She felt terrible for Dratha.� No wonder she hated men�
�I remember she told me once that
Uvirith�s Grave was the most beautiful place in Tamriel,� Alyssa whispered,
�Because it meant that Soryn Uvirith was dead.� Now I see why.�� Fyr laughed.
�May people seem to hold that
view.� The irony about that one is� well, I can�t say for sure, but I knew
Soryn for years � since he was a little boy, in fact.� His self-destruction was
too complete, too convenient to have happened by chance.� There has been no
word of him since but� I�ll tell you a little secret� I often suspect that
Uvirith is not really dead.� Not here, certainly, in an outer plane, perhaps
but� ah, what�s the point?� All of the evidence says that he is dead, so why
should I say differently?� Perhaps I am becoming senile.� Wouldn�t surprise
me.� It�d be about time, really.� Heh,� Fyr grinned.� Alyssa stared at him in
shock.
�I�ll take care of your man for you
�till the end, don�t you worry,� Fyr winked, turning back to his work, �It was
nice chatting with you� I didn�t catch your name?�
�Alyssa.�
�Alyssa, yes.� Anyway, say hello to
Baladas for me.� Best not mention my name in the presence of Dratha though, heh
heh heh,� Fyr chuckled, opening a book.
�Thank you,� Alyssa replied, her
legs shaking as she turned to levitate down the tower.� She waved goodbye to
Beyte as she left, then headed out the door into the open air.� The air was
cool and the seabreeze danced playfully across her skin in the midafternoon
light but� Alyssa could not enjoy any of it.
Because this time� she was alone.
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Fall from High Rock