Our journey to the south east of Skingrad was peaceful, serene even in comparison to our previous journeys throughout Cyrodiil. Within a few hours of saddling up Ultin and Trygve we had left the roads and Imperial highways and had vanished into the rolling depths of the West Weald. The map that Janus had provided us was worth more than our collective weights in gold as not only did it show us exactly where to find the Priory, but also the routes leading towards it. The trade routes that had once cut through the region towards Elsweyr may not have been utilised for nearly two hundred years, but they still existed in their own way.

  Tiber Septim and his reformed Legions had transformed the lands in more ways than one. Routes between cities were fortified, messenger posts constructed every few kilometres, aqueducts built to supply thousands with fresh water but it was the roads where the Legion had truly excelled. Cutting them from the very soil and creating a bed of smaller stones, layers of progressively larger stones would be placed in turn to create a true road. No matter the climate, whether it was a Skyrim Blizzard, a Blackmarsh monsoon or a Hammerfell dust storm, the Imperial Highways would stand firm and allow traffic in even the worst conditions. As a result, these roads left scars on the world, and even after falling into disuse they could still be seen cutting their way through the forests and hillside, tracing the trade arteries of the Empire even as they became overgrown.

  This one particular road, despite the fact that the cobblestones were hidden under layers of grass was visible by the way it ensured that no trees grew upon it. We had followed it for the two days, seeing little else in the way of civilisation besides the odd farmhouse or hunters cabin. It was remote and isolated, but the map and the knowledge of what to look for ensured that we soon caught glimpses of a small collection of buildings on top of every hill we climbed.

  "So you believe the Drow are Ayleids?" I said simply, feeling Trygve's enormous bulk as he made his way down the slight slope between the enormous pines rearing up into the sky.

  "That's my theory at least." Viconia's hair was fluttering in the breeze, choosing for once to leave her circlet off her forehead due to the somewhat warmer temperatures of the region. "There are far too many similarities to be mere coincidence and the fact that Ayleidoon and Drow are so similar only confirms it for me. Whether it is written or spoken, I can understand Ayleid and there are significant similarities between the two cultures."

  As was our habit we filled in our time travelling deep in conversation, and even though I was listening intently I was still keeping an eye and ear on our surroundings. This far from towns and cities ensured that there was any number of animals and beasts and we had already come across signs that everything from wolves to trolls were lurking within the region.

  "Similarities?"

  "The penchant for slavery for one. Daedra worshipping and architectural tastes as others. Every Drow city I have ever seen have been built in rings or otherwise in the shape of a wheel. Menzoberranzan especially is built in circles around Lloth's temple. It is the same for every Ayleid city or ruin I have seen or heard about. On top of this, the more that I have been reading the more I am realising just how much about my people I didn't know or understand. Where did we originally get our slave populations from? A large number of the slave population may consist of Kuo-toa, svirfneblin, and the odd fomorian or two but what about the large numbers of humans? Or goblins for that matter? Even the Illithids have an enormous population of humans they use for breeding more of their kind but humans are obviously not off the Underdark."

  "So you think that the Ayleids, or a group of them entered the Underdark somehow?"

  "I almost know that they did. The question is when? Or better still, why?"

  "Religious persecution?"

  Riding alongside me on Ultrin's enormous body she shrugged, flicking her hair over a shoulder and out of her face. "It's the most likely cause. Everything I have read points to the entire Ayleid race either being exterminated by the Alessian Empire or being driven into Valenwood and Highrock. Nonungalo proved that they dug just as deep into the ground as they built into the sky, so I find it very believable that a city or two had found a way into the depths."

  "Is there any way to be certain?"

  She shook her head simply. "No. The only being I suspect who knows the truth is Lloth. The Drow have no recorded histories as such, and the ones that we do have all point towards Lloth being the creator-of-all-things. It's a maddening feeling as though the answers lay just out of my grasp."

  the collection of buildings we had been riding towards finally came into view through the surrounding vegetation and pines and were revealed to be little more than ruins. built very much like many of the messenger posts and coaching inns scattered through Cyrodiil, it a less a collection of buildings as it was a single walled structure built around a central courtyard. The ancient doors in the archway that doubled as a gatehouse lay in the dirt, their hinges long since rusted and broken by time. every window we could see was either cracked or covered with mould and dirt, blocking sight within the buildings.

  The courtyard itself was overgrown and filled with weeds, the tiny garden within the centre now playing host to an enormous oak that had burst free and dug its roots into the cobblestones. If it wasn't for the strange solidness to the ground we could have easily believed that the courtyard was dirt and soil, but in places the paving was visible.

  To the right immediately as we entered was a spired building that was unmistakably a chapel or tiny church, and to our left was a collection of stables and a tiny roofed smithy and smelter. The bellows were rotten, the forge long since having felt the heat of a flame and the tiny smelter was broken and appeared to have gained the attention of scavengers. The stables themselves were ruined, the roofs mostly broken and collapsed in on themselves.

  The central building on the far side of the courtyard towered over the others. Three stories with a heavily sloped roof allowing for an attic, it was by far the tallest building in the region. It had the appearance of a home, but a well-fortified one at that. All the windows within the building were thin and slitted, allowing them to be opened for light and fresh air, but also doubling as arrow slits to allow those within to defend from attackers.

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  "This looks like it could be it." I said simply, tugging on Trygve's reins and sliding from the saddle. As I spared a glance behind me I saw how Viconia was on edge, her eyes slowly and carefully studying everything within sight.

  She saw my expression of concern and shrugged. "There's a magicka here. Dormant but detectable."

  "Dangerous?"

  Her snort was not lost on me. "All magicka is dangerous, but this seems benign. For the moment."

  "So don't kick anything shiny or suspicious looking." I added, seeing the way her mouth curled at my sarcasm.

  "I'm serious Kaius. There is considerable magicka here. I've never felt the like."

  "It might explain why this place is in such good condition." Carefully, moving over and tying Trygve's reins to a post hanging from the dilapidated stables I felt out with my mind and could feel a niggling sensation in the back of it. There was certainly something about the ruins that felt strange.

  Dismounting from Ultrin, she too tied his saddles to a nearby post and looked about. "It's too well looked after to be just magicka. My guess would be that someone has lived here recently. Although why they would live is such a hovel is beyond me."

  "Far away from cities, free from taxes and levies and without a boot of the nobility on your throat? Many people would and choose to live in places like this."

  "Sounds like this was the sort of place you would have been found if you didn't get caught."

  I couldn't help but laugh at her tone as I looked about the stables, poking my head into each but seeing little more than piles of dirt and the crawling forms of dead roots, creepers and mosses throughout. "It would have been, and I would problably still find myself in such a place. It would be peaceful living away from the towns and cities like this. I never intended on doing so alone though."

  "A family? A tiny herd of children scampering about? And perhaps some dull-minded wench with cow like eyes and boobs for better suckling infants?"

  "For a moment there it sounded as though you were making an offer."

  Stepping over to the remains of the smithy and smelter, I could see where someone in the past years had turned the forge into a cooking fire, as everything that was of value had long since been stolen or scavenged. Viconia moved alongside me, looking about with distaste.

  "You might want to retire to some shack in the middle of nowhere, but that life is not for me."

  "What would you like then?"

  She shrugged, tucking her hair back over her shoulders. "A castle at a minimum, preferably a palace with as many servants as possible. I don't ever intend on living a future where I have to cook my own food, let alone have to hunt or harvest it."

  "Takes all the fun out of it." I replied simply. "The best meals are the ones you earn for yourself."

  Moving across the courtyard, we made our way to the other side where an obvious spire rose that doubled as a belltower as well as a tiny watch post. The doors to this particular building were more intact where someone had attempted to right them months or years before, and they creaked threateningly as we shifted them aside.

  "Do you desire children?"

  The question took me aback as we entered what was undoubtedly a small chapel and Viconia rolled her eyes as I turned to her. "That is not a suggestion or a request wael, merely a curiosity on my part."

  "Not right now at least." I replied truthfully.

  "But it is something that you wish in your future."

  "It was. I don't think it is something I can achieve anymore."

  Her question went unspoken as I moved further into the room, looking at the collection of stone pillars set in even spaces along the walls. "Have you ever heard of any vampiric children or offspring?"

  She shook her head.

  "Neither have I and in a few books I have read there had been... let's say experiments to determine whether vampires can breed."

  "Sounds like there have been a few surfacers who have had fascinations befitting the Underdark."

  "That might be the case, but as far as anyone has been able to determine vampires cannot bear children, nor can they impregnate mortals or each other."

  The silence that fell between us dragged out and I watched as she moved across to one of the walls, reaching up and wiping away the accumulated grime and dust of the ages away from a painted mosaic. "It has come to mind a handful of times over the past months how despite our, enthusiasm that nothing has eventuated."

  Stepping back she looked over the words that had been revealed, mouthing them to herself and scrunching her face with the effort. "Non furta... furtum facies... non erit..."

  I caught the glance she gave me out of the corner of her eye and I stepped forward, squinting to read the letters. "Non furtum facies, non erit mundus cum tetigerit vos. Never steal, or you will be punished."

  "A warning?"

  I couldn't help but laugh. "In its own way. It's one of the Ten commands of the Nine Divines. Zenithar's to be exact. Work hard, and you will be rewarded. Spend wisely, and you will be comfortable. Never steal, or you will be punished."

  "Finally, one of your gods with a worthy commandment. I think I prefer this to Be kind and generous to the people of Tamriel."

  "Not a fan of the god of Mercy?"

  "Mercy gets you killed. or leaves an enemy alive to stab you in the spine later." Turning away from the writing and looking at the nine stone pedestals evenly spaced through the tiny chapel, Viconia sighed. "It truly is simpler in the Underdark. Kill or be killed. Live or die. No real concerns on mortality or morality. I can honestly say that I have never desired much else beyond my station and these past months I haven't been in the position to contemplate a future, but children or not, spending it with you would prove satisfactory at least."

  "Satisfactory?"

  There was no way that I could doubt the carefree swing of her hips as she moved past, or the way that her fingers trailed up along one shoulder, caressed my jaw in passing and continued on with the merest flick of her wrist. "Of course. We certainly wouldn't find ourselves living in a shack. Banish such notions from your head lest I seek out some rich old count to seduce."

  "As you wish. Madame DeVir." I said with a mocking bow and I couldn't help but grin at the expression on her face. It was dark but there was humour behind the cold expression.

  Moving into the central building we soon began seeing more signs that the building had been occupied in recent history. It had been abandoned for a considerable time though, creepers, vines, moss and fungi grew in places throughout, windows were broken and various animals, birds and vermin had made their homes throughout. A colony of bats seemed to have taken up residence in the attic, and bird nests could be seen on almost every perch or support beam. Some were old and falling apart, others were so new that the tiniest cheeping could be heard from their occupants as a new generation were being reared.

  A pair of beds on the second floor had been crudely constructed from local trees, stuffed with mattresses made of straw and vegetation and pillows of plucked feathers. A cooking fire had been made in the enormous hearth on the ground floor that had been filled in with fallen soot and feathers from the birds' nest built in the chimney. Everywhere we looked we could see signs of where one or more people had tried to repair or maintain the building. It was obviously built to contain several individuals; a dozen or more at least but time, scavengers and nature itself had eroded and destroyed most of the contents.

  "It is increasingly likely that this is the priory that we seek." I said simply, seeing Viconia's nod in agreement as she gracefully moved down one of the staircases to the second floor.

  "A mouldering ruin it may be, but that magicka is still here."

  "Can you tell where it is coming from?"

  Her expression told me exactly what she thought of me for even questioning her abilities in such a way. "Of course. Beneath the ground, under the courtyard."

  "A basement."

  "Your words wael. Not mine"