Elder Scrolls Mara Novels & Stories

“The first thing we must do is trace your lineage and find your family’s grimoire. A witch is nothing without her grimoire, her cauldron, and her potions. So tell me, Elara, who is your real mother?” Elara’s brow furrowed at the question, not understanding what she meant by real mother. She thought to herself that Andy was real and her mother, so was Stella only asking for her mother’s name. Finding the way in which her mentor worded the question strange, she answered with confidence. “Andy Viseron is my mommy—mother.” Elara blushed, hoping the woman didn’t her age when she called her mother mommy.

She simply stared at everyone cold and detached. Aria snarled again, her voice shaking as she fought to keep herself in check. “You dare open your mouth to call the gift bestowed on me by the goddess witchcraft? Look me in the eye and say it again. I dare you.” But Mara just exhaled sharply, almost like a hiss. Then she shrugged, as if brushing off dirt, and turned her back on us heading for the door. “I don’t have your time now Aria, when I do, the whole of Northwoods and BlueCrest won’t contain us.”

“This vintage doesn’t give room for you to make mistakes.” “I’ll do my best,” I answer, and tip the bottle slowly so the thread of wine climbs the crystal without a splash. His eyes flick up at my tone, amusement ghosting there, and then he’s done with me. I prefer it when he’s done with me. Evelara snickers softly behind her hand. “So serious,” she says to the woman beside her. “It’s adorable when the wild ones try to be proper.” The woman, Elder Mara, glances at me curiously. “They can be taught,” she says. “If one is patient enough and firm.”

“But we have to go.” Mara reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of cloth. “Take this. It’s a map drawn by my grandfather, who knew these lands better than anyone. It shows the hidden paths, the places where you can find water and shelter, and where the patrols usually go. It won’t keep you safe forever, but it might help.” Elara took it carefully. “Thank you. This means a lot.” “And take this too,” Mara said, handing over a small pouch. “Dried meat, bread, and herbs that will help if you get hurt or tired. You’ll need it.”

“Not using rogues. Not using Aria.” Darius took her hand. “Then we end it. Now.” Elara nodded. “We end it.” --- *War Room – 10:00 AM* The table was covered in maps again, but this time the red X was over House Veyr’s estate, 40 miles east. Mira was there, awake and grim. Elias and Aria were in the corner, 17 and 12, listening. They weren’t being sent away this time. “Lord Marrow has been a problem since before I took the throne,” Elara said. “He wanted it. He thinks I’m too soft, too tied to Darius, too willing to protect ‘outsiders’.”

But the pull inside me was growing stronger, whispering that the truth was out there, tangled in the shadows of the forest, waiting. A voice called softly through the trees. “Elena.” Mara stepped into the clearing, her dark eyes unreadable beneath the thinning sunlight. She moved with the quiet grace of a wolf herself, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed the seriousness behind her calm. “What is it?” I asked, standing and brushing dirt from my jeans. She hesitated, then said, “The elders are worried.” I frowned. “Worried about what?” Mara took a deep breath. “About the curse.”

my eyes widened. "I was young," Mara said. "Younger than you are now. And I watched a Veyrith woman stand in the middle of everything they sent against her and not fall." Her voice was completely even. "She didn't fight back. She just stood. And then she walked into the forest and she did not come back." I stared at her. "Who was she?" I asked. Mara held my gaze for one long, steady moment. "Her name," Mara said quietly, "was Aelindra Hale."

Elara whispered, “Julian had people.” Halden’s jaw flexed. “Or someone picked up his playbook.” The unit’s speaker crackled. “Mara Kells is a valuable component.” Mara flinched violently, hands curling despite the zip ties. “See?” she sobbed. “See—” Elara grabbed Mara’s face gently, forcing eye contact. “Mara. Listen to me. That patch—if I remove it—will it hurt you?” Mara swallowed, eyes glossy. “I don’t know. But please. I can’t—”

She carried authority the way Kael carried power effortlessly. “About time you returned,” the woman said to Kael. Then her gaze moved back to Elara. “So this is her.” Kael’s tone hardened slightly. “This is Mara. My Beta.” Mara crossed the distance slowly, circling Elara once in open assessment. Elara resisted the urge to stiffen. “She’s smaller than I expected,” Mara said. “I can hear you,” Elara replied. Mara’s lips twitched. “Good. That means you’re not fragile.”