Her husband was lost.
The last time the Argonian had seen her emerald scaled partner, he had been heading out to a nearby Nordic ruin, Blacknight Barrow. He was somewhat of an adventurer, and forever in the mindset that some fortune was just waiting to be unearthed.
He left on Sundas morning, with the promise to be back by sunrise the next day. It was now Turdas afternoon, and Kal had not returned.
Sick of sitting around anxiously, Va-Rai decide she needed to take action.
She travelled the short distance from her dwelling to the town, and entered the local inn. Though not busy, there were several customers present.
The Argonian assessed them all with her large reptilian eyes. She was looking for someone who looked like they could handle themselves.
"Excuse me. I'm wondering if you could help me?"
The slim male Breton whom she addressed gave Va-Rai a glance.
"Oh yes? With what?" He enquired.
"My husband is missing. He hasn't returned from Blacknight Barrow. I fear deeply for his well-being and need someone who can help me look for him. I am ill-equipped for exploring old ruins; I need someone who can hold a blade."
The man nodded.
"I'm interested. How much gold are you offering?"
Va-Rai hesitated.
"I don't have much. This is everything I have." She patted a small bag that hung across her body, the sound of coin chinking inside.
The man stood up.
"Let's go then."
Va-Rai and her new companion, Malus, began the journey towards Blacknight Barrow.
The sun was low in the sky when they arrived.
"Are you sure you want to go in?"
Va-Rai nodded.
"Yes. He's my husband."
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Loredas.
Va-Rai sat in her kitchen. Though her eyes stared blankly at a pot she stirred, her mind was far away.
She needed to find someone else. Kal had still not returned, and Malus...
Her plan was the same as before. The inn.
Again, her focus was on an adventurer, warrior, or mercenary. Again, she spotted a suitable candidate.
The pitch was the same. The blade-for-hire, this time a female Nord, was offered the same unclaimed money the Breton had been due.
Once more, the two journeyed to the Barrow. This time, however, Va-Rai stopped near the entrance.
"I...I don't think I can go in this time. Last time I...I saw something. Something...unnatural."
The Nord's brow furrowed.
"Hmm. Well, whatever it is, I'll be on guard."
She grabbed her waraxe and gave a nod of confidence to Va-Rai before heading inside.
-----------------------
Middas.
She could not wait any longer. She must bring back her husband.
Another inn, a different tavern, surely there must be someone strong enough to let life return from that cursed Barrow.
Once again, a warrior heard her plight, and saw her coin, and agreed to follow in the footsteps of those before them.
Va-Rai dare not mention those that had disappeared on previous visits to the Nordic structure; to do so would surely fuel an unwillingness to assist.
At the Barrow, she uttered "Good luck" before her Redguard adventurer, Ataf, stepped into the depths.
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Blacknight Barrow lived up to its name. One lone, lit torch hung from a wall atop a set of steps, leading down to an ominous blackness.
Ataf picked up the burning torch, causing his steel mace to shimmer in the flickering light.
The Barrow was eerily silent. His eyes roved the corridors cautiously, his ears now so alert that he would surely hear the tiny footsteps of a mouse, should it scuttle by.
So far there was no sign of anything; no bodies, beasts, people, nothing.
Ataf passed another glowing torch, thankful of the extra light to lessen the gloom.
Several metres up ahead, the Redguard's attention was brought towards the ground.
A dark stain of red marked the grey stone floor.
He could see that the stain smeared away from his current position, continuing further down the corridor until the torchlight could no longer illuminate further.
He began to follow the trail. Clearly made by blood, the Redguard held fast to his mace.
A noise behind him made him spin round. For a second his eyes saw something approach his head before the light of the torch faded from his vision.
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The soft glow of blue flame flickered from five bowls positioned around a stone table.
The cold light caught the moisture that glistened from a fresh heart being held high in the air.
Upon the table lay a body. A lifeless Argonian, his skin and scales rotting, his eyes white and clouded.
"I have another for you, my love. This one...this one is good. Bigger than the last, just as fresh, just as strong and full of life for you, my darling Kal."
Va-Rai chanted words, words that could not be understood by most. The blue flames rose, bursting into the air as she dropped the recently beating heart into a bowl filled with various magical ingredients.
She chanted more, her body swaying from side to side rhythmically, her tail moving in synch as the magic took hold.
The blue flames lessened.
Va-Rai looked down at her love, her eyes hopeful, still just as hopeful as all the other times.
"My darling?"
Her breath quivered. A moment earlier filled with optimism, her yellow eyes now filled with woe.
How could it fail so many times? So many hearts, so many deaths. To have so much faith each time she performed the ritual, to see all the warriors, one after another, enter this fateful Barrow. Malus, the Nord, Ataf, and so many others before them. To each time look into her love's ever fading eyes, to see his physical form decay in front of her. To each time be met with such pain, such disappointing sorrow; each time was like seeing his death over and over again.
Va-Rai sighed deeply and blinked away the tears.
"Next time, my love. I promise."
She stroked her husband's cheek gently.
"Next time."
