Threads Beneath Markarth

4E 201 | Late Sun's Dusk | Ninety Days Since Arrival

Noctis left Markarth after another dragon sighting.

A few days later, Tsukihana and Katana carried the cipher into Understone Keep. Turning left from the main hall brought them into an excavation chamber dominated by a newly revealed Dwarven entrance.

Calcelmo stood among maps and tools, attempting to work while Remiel asked questions faster than he could resent them.

"Did the ring rotate before the earthquake?"

"Yes."

"Did you apply external magicka?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I enjoy having a ceiling."

Remiel saw Tsukihana and waved. "You're alive!"

Calcelmo turned at the mention of two destroyed Colossi and looked as if someone had burned a library.

Beside the maps stood a Redguard woman in layered black and deep green mage attire threaded with gold. Thick braids and curls framed amber eyes that studied Tsukihana and Katana with immediate, amused intelligence.

Katana asked who she was.

The woman stepped forward with a smirk and extended one hand.

"Raya. Dear friend of Remiel, scholar, mage, occasional voice of reason, and apparently sarcastic at times. Who are you two?"

"Tsukihana Kurogane."

"Black iron," Raya translated. "A name meant for steel."

"Katana."

Raya waited for more and received none.

Tsukihana placed the ritual pages before Calcelmo. He identified a second spell hidden within the first. Raya's Threadborn vision revealed golden paths of magic between the runes.

"The cipher is collecting residual energy," she said. "Fear, blood, magicka, the dragon's resistance, the failed binding."

The visible ritual had never been designed to control the dragon.

It had been bait for whatever answered.

The newly exposed Dwarven door began to glow.

Circular rings rotated. At the center appeared the symbol of the Seven Calamities.

The doors opened.

Cold air poured from the darkness.

Somewhere below, something drew a blade.