Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

166 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
Magicka if given a chance to. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that they have been
magically charged somehow - perhaps this happened long ago, but the charge has somehow
remained."
Moraelyn asked, "Would the amulet affect its wearer, or would he be immune?"
"Maybe a blocking spell could be developed, and then cast, to shield the wearer from the
effects of the substance."
Moraelyn then asked, "But Akatosh, getting back to our earlier discussions - what do you
think of the speculations concerning the connections between the gods and goddesses, Daedra
and Magicka?"
Akatosh replied, "I think that there are many truths that we do not know, and perhaps there
are some truths that we are not meant to know."
Moraelyn asked with a smile, "All right then, I've always wanted to know this - considering
the shape of your mouth and teeth, how do dragons manage to speak the humanoid languages
so clearly?"
Akatosh paused, and then carefully responded, "Why, in much the same way that we can fly,
even though our wings are not naturally strong enough to support such heavy torsos."
"Speaking of dragon flight and sunsets..." Mith said, rising to his feet and squinting into the
red-gold eastern sky, "We have a vistor, Dragon Lord. That's not a bird."
Akatosh's head came up and he too scanned the sky. Tension grew in him, and one by one the
Companions rose, watching as the distant dot grew nearer and resolved itself into the largest
dragon they'd seen yet.
"Ma-Tylda!" Akatosh exclaimed, "She deigns to bestow her presence on us!" His wings lifted
and unfurled, and the Companions broke and ran for cover as he took flight. The two dragons
wheeled through the sky, spouting great gouts of flame against the purpling sky.
"They're fighting," Edward cried, "what does it mean. Who is Ma-Tylda?"
"I don't know who she is, son," Moraelyn replied, "but they do not fight. You behold a dragon
greeting ceremony." The pair alit beyond a rock outcropping out of sight.
"Should we go greet the stranger, too?" Edward asked.
"Nay," Mith said. "They'll let us know if our presence is wanted -- look, even the other
dragons stay away." It was true. Dragon heads had poked from the caverns to witness the
event, but none of them had taken wing, and now they were retreating to their hoards within.
The Companions ambled back into the meadow together and built a fire as a chill wind had
sprung up. The elves sang an evening hymn to the stars, deftly weaving the dark elf version
with the wood elf form. Aliera added her voice to theirs, but Mats and Edward and Silk and
Ssa'ass sat listening silently. They couldn't manage elven music of this kind. Geoffrey had a
particularly clear sweet voice, Edward thought.