Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

[21] FROM THE MEMORY STONE OF MAKELA LEKI
[21] From The Memory Stone of Makela Leki
From The Memory Stone of Makela Leki
This is a faithful reproduction of the thoughts recorded in Makela Leki's memory stone, found
in the Bankorai pass, in the year of reckoning 1E 973. Seven years before the fall of Orsinium
due to the combined efforts of the armies of Daggerfall, Sentinel, and the Order of Diagna.
Almost all of this is in the first person, as Makela was unfamiliar with the protocols and
scholarly formalities of recording herself into a memory stone. None the less, her heroism and
heroic deeds live on, her memories fresh in the stone for all to feel and hear.
* * *
" .. . muuu uhh, I wonder if this will really work?"
"The Mages guild took me for 25,000 gold crowns if it doesn't. Imagine? This stone will
record my thoughts? What did they say? Just unwrap it from the silver foil and leather bag
and as soon as it touches my flesh it will begin to record.
"Ahhhh, the pain, I must block it out, no one would want to hold my stone and hear my
thoughts if I let it record my pain. Thank the Ebonarm and the training I received in The Hall
of the Virtues of War. I CAN block out this pain. Ummm just, ah, there, it's walled off.
"Yes I can still see it there just beyond my consciousness lurking like a hungry wolf - a wolf
that will soon consume me. I see also my inevitable death from these damned wounds. No
potions left, the healing crystal and ring are used up, and me, with not even magic enough to
light a candle. Oh but the gods did give me other gifts, the gift of sword singing, the thrill of
battle, Frandar Hunding's Book of Circles, THE WAY OF THE SWORD. Ah but then that is
my story, I get ahead of myself.
I am Makela Leki a warrior, a sword-singer, a second level Ansei. In my cradle I could form
the Shehai, the spirit sword - The mystical blade, mine formed of pure thought serpents
intertwined with vines of roses to form the blade, as beautiful as ...
Ah, but I'm about to tell you all about that, to tell you my story, a story of valiant battle, of my
loves, of my wars, of. of betrayal and of this last glorious victory. To tell you of how I came
to this distant lonely pass me and five companions, to fight these men and monsters to defeat
the army that would fall on my people like cowards in the night, but again I get ahead of
myself.
I am a simple warrior. I grew up as a Maiden of the Spirit Blade. As early as I can remember I
wanted to be a Singer, to feel the hunger of the blade in my hands, to feel it come alive and
take my enemies. I am told our people were artisans and poets long ago in our desert homes.
Here in new home now known as Hammerfell, many of us have returned to those ancient
ways, but to me there is but ONE WAY. THE WAY of the SWORD.
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