CHAPTER ELEVEN
The man led us through the gates, but the soldiers stayed outside, no doubt protecting the city from intruders. Inside the city, soldiers were everywhere, all ready just in case the Mythic Dawn decided to attack, or so I assumed. I didn’t see any citizens mulling about, but that was because they were likely hiding in their homes from the potential invasion.
“My name is Dion; I am the Captain of the City Guard. And what are your names?” The guard captain asked us this question while we made our way through the crowded streets filled with war-ready soldiers.
“My name is Rayden. This here is Martin and Alf,” I replied, motioning towards my two companions.
“Well, I’ll go ahead and apologize for getting in your face out there,” Dion said to Martin. “With Mankar and his men so close I assumed you were on their side.”
“There is no need for apologies, Captain, it’s quite understandable.”
Then Dion went on to explain where he was taking us. “We’re heading for the castle, where you will speak to Count Janus Hassildor immediately and show him that amulet. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come into the possession of that?” Dion said pointing to Martin’s pocket where the amulet was resting. Martin nodded at me, because it was I who found it in the first place.
“I was walking through the prison sewers when I saw Uriel Septim and several Blades fighting with Mythic Dawn cultists. There was also a prisoner as well but he died, along with the Blades and Emperor Septim,” I said.
“You mean you were actually there when it all happened? You actually saw Uriel Septim die?” Dion asked bewildered.
“Yes, I saw one a cultist run his sword into Uriel’s chest. There were at least three of them. There was nothing I could have done to save him.”
“Don’t blame yourself, I understand the situation. You did a brave and wondrous task but just getting out alive with the amulet in hand.”
We arrived at the Castle doors and we entered inside, where again, many soldiers were lined up, this time around the Count himself. Hassildor was talking with a soldier, seemingly one with importance. The soldier was probably an officer of some kind.
“Excuse me, my lord, but I think these three have something of interest to you,” Dion said to the Count.
The Count stopped talking to the guard and turned his attention Dion and the rest of us. The entire room quieted down considerably, as all present was curious to see who we were and what we were doing in their city.
“Yes, Dion, what is it that you need? Who are these three you have with you?” Count Hassildor asked.
“My Lord, these three have brought us the Amulet of Kings.”
The room erupted into loud whispering and finger pointing. Count Hassildor’s eyebrows raised and the guard next to him scoffed rather loudly, and then whispered something into the Count’s right ear.
“Can I see the amulet,” said the Count.
Martin brought the amulet from his pocket and handed it to me. Apparently I was going to show it to the Count. Then Dion motioned for me to follow him and I did. We walked up to the throne and I handed Count Hassildor the amulet. He took it in his hands and examined it closely for a few seconds, and then said to me, “You and your two friends need to follow me to my chambers, immediately.”
I waved for Alf and Martin to follow me. The guard next to the Count said to Dion, “Return to your post Dion. You are no longer needed here.” The guard, who I noticed was an Imperial, spoke to Dion very rudely, as if Dion was under him somehow.
“Yes, sir,” Dion grumbled, and then returned to the outside.
Martin, Alf, and I followed Hassildor and the Imperial guard as they led us up a flight of stairs and eventually into an expensively decorated room, the Count’s chambers. The guard closed the door and Hassildor took a seat at a desk, where the guard then walked over and stood by his side.
“Where did you find this?” Hassildor asked while holding up the amulet.
I told the Count my story, and at first I thought he was going to claim my statements false, just Ormellius Goldwine had done. But, fortunately, I was wrong about that. The Count did believe me and actually thanked me for coming.
“You three have done a wise thing by bringing this amulet to me, and for this you have my thanks. I would not trust any other Count or Countess myself. Well, perhaps Narina Carvain of Chorrol, but even she can have a conniving mind at times, although for the most part I think she means well. But, now that you are here, what is there to do? Mankar obviously wants this amulet, but he does not know its possessor, does he?”
I shook my head no.
“Good, then we still have time to plan, but unfortunately I am not sure what we are planning for. Mankar wants this amulet destroyed so that he can clear the threat of another heir to the throne, but that puzzles me greatly. There are no other heirs.”
Right then I looked back at Martin, who nodded at me. He knew what had to be done.
“My Lord, my name is Martin Septim, son of Uriel Septim. I am the last heir.”
Hassildor was stunned and at a loss for words, just as the guard was as well. He looked at the guard, then back at us.
“Preposterous…there’s no way,” Hassildor gasped. “Are you serious? Are you really claiming to be of the Septim bloodline?”
Martin walked up to the Count and requested the amulet. When handed to him, Martin wrapped the amulet around neck, and followed next was a bright display of lights that lit up the room. Martin had proven his point most effectively.
“I don’t believe it. You really are the heir to the throne. This is magnificent, stupendous! Don’t you know what this means?” Hassildor had jumped from his seat and was wild with giddy happiness. “You are the future Emperor of Cyrodiil! Once Mankar and his minions are forever defeated you shall take your seat as the rightful leader of the country!”
The Count’s envisions were certainly high for Martin, but unfortunately he didn’t seem to agree with Hassildor. “My Lord, I do not wish to be Emperor. I only want peace for Cyrodiil, nothing more.”
“But you have an opportunity to become what most only dream of! The Septim bloodline has lasted for many years, and now you want to end it yourself? Surely you just haven’t thought about it yet, maybe if…”
“No,” Martin said sternly, “I have thought about it for the past several days. I do not want to be Emperor. That is enough of that, please.”
He seemed agitated, but Hassildor grudgingly dropped the subject. “Very, well, I see you are blinded by what honor should be passed to you. But I see you want no part in that, and so because of this I shall hold my tongue, my now at least. But, what to do with this amulet…”
“We must defeat Mankar and his troops, my lord. I don’t see any other way,” the guard said.
“Yes, Danus, but we need more men. The army of the Mythic Dawn is much larger than ours. They control over half the country for crying out loud!”
“Your honor, Mankar is now heading for Kvatch. My friend here, Alf, heard this with his own ears. And as you saw with the passing of the Mythic Dawn shortly ago, this is true. He is going to attack Kvatch. You should send your army to aid the city. Defeat Mankar and this war will end. But if you do not send your army, another city will be destroyed and we will be that much closer from defeat.”
Hassildor pondered my small speech for a few seconds, and then gave word to his guard, “Danus, assemble the troops. We leave in one hour for Kvatch.”
The guard left the room and it just the four of us left.
“Preparations will be set and the army will be on its way in no time. Of course, out of the thirty-five hundred men at my disposal, I will keep one thousand just in case the city is attacked.
“Yes, sir, I am glad to see you are wiser than that of the Count of Kvatch,” Martin said. “And I suppose we are now under your command, so what shall we do to help?”
“Can the three of you fight?”
Alf and I nodded.
“Very well, it is decided then. You two shall join my troops in battle. As for you Martin, you will stay here with me. I was not going to send you to battle anyhow. Not with your importance.”
“Yes, my lord,” Martin said.
I was a bit surprised that Hassildor would decide so fast on sending his troops to battle, but I guess I shouldn’t complain. The Count then instructed us to meet with Dion, who would lead the back half of the troops on the battlefield. Danus, the guard who was with Hassildor, would lead the front line. When Alf and I arrived outside where the guards were lining up, Dion was instructing them on what to expect once the fighting started. When Alf and I arrived he greeted us warmly.
“Great, I’m glad to have you two fighting with us! We shall stay in the back of the lines, away from the first wave of Mythic Dawn troops. But don’t worry, we’ll get our action!”
Dion was ready for the battle, which was good thing. Confidence was an excellent tool. I asked Dion to speak with Alf and me in private, and so we walked away where only the three of us could hear each other.
“Who is that?” I asked, pointing to Danus, who was talking with his troops.
“That’s Danus Artellian, Captain of the Castle Guard. He totes his rank around arrogantly. I’ve come to despise him, even if he’s a valiant warrior.”
“Skills in battle sometimes lead to a big head,” I said. “It’s unfortunate he has to act that way. I saw how you treated you in the throne room.”
“He treats me so low, just because I’m the City Captain and he’s the Castle Captain. I realize his sole role his mainly protecting the Count and leading the Count’s personal bodyguard unit, which is obviously important, but he shouldn’t act the way does. It doesn’t matter thought, I’ve come to get used to it.”
Dion then walked over to his men and said a few more words before Danus walked over to inform us we would be leaving shortly. Then he walked over to Alf and I.
“I just wanted you know I do not want you with me on this mission. I can lead my men perfectly without the help of a lowly Bosmer and a dumb oaf of a Nord. You’re lucky Count Hassildor wishes for you to come. Otherwise your sorry lives would have stay here in the city,” he turned and walked away.
I was very surprised to see Danus act this way. Here we were, risking our own lives to help him and his men, and he didn’t even appreciate it.
“I don’t appreciate your tone, Captain. We’re only trying to help you and your men. There’s really no reason to cop an attitude with us,” I yelled at him.
He immediately turned back around and walked right up to me. He was of course taller than me since I’m a Bosmer, and he looked down upon me while I looked up. But I showed no fear.
“You pathetic Bosmer, you think I care what you say or do? Well I could care less about you or your dumb friend. Just make sure to stay out of my way on the battlefield,” and said and walked off for the last time.
“What a jerk, isn’t he, Woody?”
“Yes, Alf, he certainly is. We’ll have to keep a watch on him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d attack us by “accident”.”
“Aye, lad. That I will do.”
“I’m sorry you two had to witness his wraith as well,” Dion said, smiling just a bit.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve dealt with others like him before. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
On to the next chapter
The man led us through the gates, but the soldiers stayed outside, no doubt protecting the city from intruders. Inside the city, soldiers were everywhere, all ready just in case the Mythic Dawn decided to attack, or so I assumed. I didn’t see any citizens mulling about, but that was because they were likely hiding in their homes from the potential invasion.
“My name is Dion; I am the Captain of the City Guard. And what are your names?” The guard captain asked us this question while we made our way through the crowded streets filled with war-ready soldiers.
“My name is Rayden. This here is Martin and Alf,” I replied, motioning towards my two companions.
“Well, I’ll go ahead and apologize for getting in your face out there,” Dion said to Martin. “With Mankar and his men so close I assumed you were on their side.”
“There is no need for apologies, Captain, it’s quite understandable.”
Then Dion went on to explain where he was taking us. “We’re heading for the castle, where you will speak to Count Janus Hassildor immediately and show him that amulet. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come into the possession of that?” Dion said pointing to Martin’s pocket where the amulet was resting. Martin nodded at me, because it was I who found it in the first place.
“I was walking through the prison sewers when I saw Uriel Septim and several Blades fighting with Mythic Dawn cultists. There was also a prisoner as well but he died, along with the Blades and Emperor Septim,” I said.
“You mean you were actually there when it all happened? You actually saw Uriel Septim die?” Dion asked bewildered.
“Yes, I saw one a cultist run his sword into Uriel’s chest. There were at least three of them. There was nothing I could have done to save him.”
“Don’t blame yourself, I understand the situation. You did a brave and wondrous task but just getting out alive with the amulet in hand.”
We arrived at the Castle doors and we entered inside, where again, many soldiers were lined up, this time around the Count himself. Hassildor was talking with a soldier, seemingly one with importance. The soldier was probably an officer of some kind.
“Excuse me, my lord, but I think these three have something of interest to you,” Dion said to the Count.
The Count stopped talking to the guard and turned his attention Dion and the rest of us. The entire room quieted down considerably, as all present was curious to see who we were and what we were doing in their city.
“Yes, Dion, what is it that you need? Who are these three you have with you?” Count Hassildor asked.
“My Lord, these three have brought us the Amulet of Kings.”
The room erupted into loud whispering and finger pointing. Count Hassildor’s eyebrows raised and the guard next to him scoffed rather loudly, and then whispered something into the Count’s right ear.
“Can I see the amulet,” said the Count.
Martin brought the amulet from his pocket and handed it to me. Apparently I was going to show it to the Count. Then Dion motioned for me to follow him and I did. We walked up to the throne and I handed Count Hassildor the amulet. He took it in his hands and examined it closely for a few seconds, and then said to me, “You and your two friends need to follow me to my chambers, immediately.”
I waved for Alf and Martin to follow me. The guard next to the Count said to Dion, “Return to your post Dion. You are no longer needed here.” The guard, who I noticed was an Imperial, spoke to Dion very rudely, as if Dion was under him somehow.
“Yes, sir,” Dion grumbled, and then returned to the outside.
Martin, Alf, and I followed Hassildor and the Imperial guard as they led us up a flight of stairs and eventually into an expensively decorated room, the Count’s chambers. The guard closed the door and Hassildor took a seat at a desk, where the guard then walked over and stood by his side.
“Where did you find this?” Hassildor asked while holding up the amulet.
I told the Count my story, and at first I thought he was going to claim my statements false, just Ormellius Goldwine had done. But, fortunately, I was wrong about that. The Count did believe me and actually thanked me for coming.
“You three have done a wise thing by bringing this amulet to me, and for this you have my thanks. I would not trust any other Count or Countess myself. Well, perhaps Narina Carvain of Chorrol, but even she can have a conniving mind at times, although for the most part I think she means well. But, now that you are here, what is there to do? Mankar obviously wants this amulet, but he does not know its possessor, does he?”
I shook my head no.
“Good, then we still have time to plan, but unfortunately I am not sure what we are planning for. Mankar wants this amulet destroyed so that he can clear the threat of another heir to the throne, but that puzzles me greatly. There are no other heirs.”
Right then I looked back at Martin, who nodded at me. He knew what had to be done.
“My Lord, my name is Martin Septim, son of Uriel Septim. I am the last heir.”
Hassildor was stunned and at a loss for words, just as the guard was as well. He looked at the guard, then back at us.
“Preposterous…there’s no way,” Hassildor gasped. “Are you serious? Are you really claiming to be of the Septim bloodline?”
Martin walked up to the Count and requested the amulet. When handed to him, Martin wrapped the amulet around neck, and followed next was a bright display of lights that lit up the room. Martin had proven his point most effectively.
“I don’t believe it. You really are the heir to the throne. This is magnificent, stupendous! Don’t you know what this means?” Hassildor had jumped from his seat and was wild with giddy happiness. “You are the future Emperor of Cyrodiil! Once Mankar and his minions are forever defeated you shall take your seat as the rightful leader of the country!”
The Count’s envisions were certainly high for Martin, but unfortunately he didn’t seem to agree with Hassildor. “My Lord, I do not wish to be Emperor. I only want peace for Cyrodiil, nothing more.”
“But you have an opportunity to become what most only dream of! The Septim bloodline has lasted for many years, and now you want to end it yourself? Surely you just haven’t thought about it yet, maybe if…”
“No,” Martin said sternly, “I have thought about it for the past several days. I do not want to be Emperor. That is enough of that, please.”
He seemed agitated, but Hassildor grudgingly dropped the subject. “Very, well, I see you are blinded by what honor should be passed to you. But I see you want no part in that, and so because of this I shall hold my tongue, my now at least. But, what to do with this amulet…”
“We must defeat Mankar and his troops, my lord. I don’t see any other way,” the guard said.
“Yes, Danus, but we need more men. The army of the Mythic Dawn is much larger than ours. They control over half the country for crying out loud!”
“Your honor, Mankar is now heading for Kvatch. My friend here, Alf, heard this with his own ears. And as you saw with the passing of the Mythic Dawn shortly ago, this is true. He is going to attack Kvatch. You should send your army to aid the city. Defeat Mankar and this war will end. But if you do not send your army, another city will be destroyed and we will be that much closer from defeat.”
Hassildor pondered my small speech for a few seconds, and then gave word to his guard, “Danus, assemble the troops. We leave in one hour for Kvatch.”
The guard left the room and it just the four of us left.
“Preparations will be set and the army will be on its way in no time. Of course, out of the thirty-five hundred men at my disposal, I will keep one thousand just in case the city is attacked.
“Yes, sir, I am glad to see you are wiser than that of the Count of Kvatch,” Martin said. “And I suppose we are now under your command, so what shall we do to help?”
“Can the three of you fight?”
Alf and I nodded.
“Very well, it is decided then. You two shall join my troops in battle. As for you Martin, you will stay here with me. I was not going to send you to battle anyhow. Not with your importance.”
“Yes, my lord,” Martin said.
I was a bit surprised that Hassildor would decide so fast on sending his troops to battle, but I guess I shouldn’t complain. The Count then instructed us to meet with Dion, who would lead the back half of the troops on the battlefield. Danus, the guard who was with Hassildor, would lead the front line. When Alf and I arrived outside where the guards were lining up, Dion was instructing them on what to expect once the fighting started. When Alf and I arrived he greeted us warmly.
“Great, I’m glad to have you two fighting with us! We shall stay in the back of the lines, away from the first wave of Mythic Dawn troops. But don’t worry, we’ll get our action!”
Dion was ready for the battle, which was good thing. Confidence was an excellent tool. I asked Dion to speak with Alf and me in private, and so we walked away where only the three of us could hear each other.
“Who is that?” I asked, pointing to Danus, who was talking with his troops.
“That’s Danus Artellian, Captain of the Castle Guard. He totes his rank around arrogantly. I’ve come to despise him, even if he’s a valiant warrior.”
“Skills in battle sometimes lead to a big head,” I said. “It’s unfortunate he has to act that way. I saw how you treated you in the throne room.”
“He treats me so low, just because I’m the City Captain and he’s the Castle Captain. I realize his sole role his mainly protecting the Count and leading the Count’s personal bodyguard unit, which is obviously important, but he shouldn’t act the way does. It doesn’t matter thought, I’ve come to get used to it.”
Dion then walked over to his men and said a few more words before Danus walked over to inform us we would be leaving shortly. Then he walked over to Alf and I.
“I just wanted you know I do not want you with me on this mission. I can lead my men perfectly without the help of a lowly Bosmer and a dumb oaf of a Nord. You’re lucky Count Hassildor wishes for you to come. Otherwise your sorry lives would have stay here in the city,” he turned and walked away.
I was very surprised to see Danus act this way. Here we were, risking our own lives to help him and his men, and he didn’t even appreciate it.
“I don’t appreciate your tone, Captain. We’re only trying to help you and your men. There’s really no reason to cop an attitude with us,” I yelled at him.
He immediately turned back around and walked right up to me. He was of course taller than me since I’m a Bosmer, and he looked down upon me while I looked up. But I showed no fear.
“You pathetic Bosmer, you think I care what you say or do? Well I could care less about you or your dumb friend. Just make sure to stay out of my way on the battlefield,” and said and walked off for the last time.
“What a jerk, isn’t he, Woody?”
“Yes, Alf, he certainly is. We’ll have to keep a watch on him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d attack us by “accident”.”
“Aye, lad. That I will do.”
“I’m sorry you two had to witness his wraith as well,” Dion said, smiling just a bit.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve dealt with others like him before. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
On to the next chapter