Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

[30.8] KING EDWARD VIII
Aliera smiled a terrible smile. Her dark hair swung free about her shoulders and she seemed
to glow. "You will not beat this woman, baron, but if you do, then you go free. You are mine
alone tonight. Swear it all, by Zenithar! If he haps to kill me, my ghost will hound him to his
grave and beyond." She sounded rather pleased at the prospect. Edward began to shiver.
"By Zenithar!"
The baron laughed, "I don't believe you, but one last female for my collection then. Are you
so wearied of her, elf?"
"Are you so afraid of her that you'd rather face me instead?" Somewhere deep in his mind
Edward realized that the elf was right. Despite the baron's bravado, he was afraid of Aliera.
Edward hadn't sworn with the others. He clutched his staff tightly but his feet seemed rooted
to the floor.
The baron laughed again and swung a mighty blow at Aliera in answer, but it deflected
harmlessly off her shield. His eyes widened as he realized she was spell shielded. Aliera
danced aside and cut his arm. She was nimble, but he managed to land many blows. If her
shield went...Edward did not finish the thought.
But he was leaving himself somewhat open in the hope of wearing her shield down and she
was scoring hits against his limbs. She kept her blows low, trying to cost him the use of his
legs and drain him of blood. All the while she taunted him about his manhood, saying she
would geld him ere he died. A great blow knocked her back; her shield flashed and was gone.
The baron raised his axe high to cleave her skull with a single blow. Her arm drew back and
she threw her slender short sword straight into her enemy's eye. He dropped the axe and fell
screaming to his knees, hands clawing at his face. Aliera stepped forward and thrust the sword
home, piercing deep within the brain. The body fell over, twitching and jerking.
"Well fought, wife!"
"I had a master trainer, and a better armorer!" Aliera laughed, then she threw back her head
and shouted wordlessly in triumph, raising her arms, fists clenched.
"That you did!" Moraelyn grabbed Silk in a rough hug and kissed her noisily. "It's a neat trick
you taught her, Silk."
"I'll thank you to cease flirting with my trainer, husband!" Aliera said, wiping her slender
adamantium blade carefully.
"Me flirt? Not while thy blood's up, and thy shield's still charged. I'm just thanking her. I'll
kiss I'ric too when next I see him."
"Is he truly dead?" Caron had clung to Beech throughout the fight with her eyes closed. Now
she regarded Aliera with Awe, Edward thought was the right word. Edward felt something of
the same, although it was akin to horror.
"Dead enough," Aliera said, regarding the still faintly twitching form, with satisfaction. The
girl drew closer, then knelt beside him. She picked up a stone and smashed it into the face
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