Count Only The Happy Hours

Part 1: VI

"Nothing's wrong," Nerevar quickly assured. "In fact, everything's going very well. It's just...very hard." He rubbed his face with a long sigh, then stayed very silent and still. After a few moments, even Sil looked up from his work, a small frown of his own mirroring Vivec's. But they both stayed quiet, waiting for Nerevar to take the lead on whatever soon-to-be-had conversation was hanging darkly over the three of them.

Finally, Neht drew his head up, taking a breath as he looked over the two of them. "In three days," he said slowly, eyes reflecting the fire as he met each of the younger mer's gaze, "we're going to do something incredibly dangerous. And I need you both to do exactly as you're ordered. This time, it is a matter of life and death ."

Despite the seriousness of what Nerevar was saying, Vivec couldn't help but feel a flare of petulance in his chest. So it hadn't been bad luck keeping him from the majority of the strategizing; he'd been excluded , no doubt dismissed as a troublesome youth even with all his work. But, righteous though he was sure his anger was, now wasn't the time. So he merely nodded, and Sil did the same.

Another pause, this time with Nerevar shutting his eyes. When he opened them, the hesitance melted from his face, replaced with a look of steely determination.

"We're declaring war on the Nords," he said, "by burning Hofstaag to the ground."

Silence followed, only broken by the now-foreboding crackling of the flames between them. The air was terribly still, and Vivec, for once, was left without any idea of what to say. On one hand, it was drastic and so very, very risky. On the other...action was the only language the Nords seemed to speak, and a small part of him roared in anticipation of sending such a damning message.

"What about the mer?"

Both Nerevar and Vivec were started by Sil's question. His thin jaw was set firmly, expression sharpened even further by the flames throwing his face into harsh relief. Nerevar was the first to shake himself out of his reverie.

"I...don't know what you mean, Seht," he said. "But our for–"

"Not them. The mer in Hofstaag, the ones in the slums." Sil's voice was clear above the flames, and his eyes bore into Nerevar with challenge . "If we burn down Hofstaag, they're in danger, too."

Vivec had traveled with Nerevar for quite some time now. Sil probably wouldn't notice, but there was the slightest twitch in Neht's mouth; he'd thought of this as well. The question of sin suddenly made much more sense. There was clear deliberation in his face before he finally looked away.

"Azura will protect them," he said, voice firm and confident. Vivec almost believed him, but he knew the words for what they really were: a prayer, not an assurance.

"But they'll have no idea," Sil shot back. "We have to get in before, warn them of what will happen."

"There isn't time," Nerevar said, voice tightening as his frown deepened. "We'll risk showing our hand. This has to be a surprise, and done with no warning."

"But Chimer will die!"

"And many, many more will die if we're caught," Nerevar snapped, voice low. "In war, Sil, you have to think about the greater good. Even if it means doing terrible things to bring that greater good around."

Vivec expected Sil to be cowed by Nerevar's chiding, but he saw another argument about to bubble out of the boy's mouth. Quickly, he rested his hand on Sil's shoulder, squeezing it in a silent Shut up as he looked to Nerevar. " We ," he said, punctuating the word with a hard look at Sil, "understand, Neht. We'll be waiting for instruction, and we'll follow them to the word."