27th of Last Seed, 3E 433

Emperor Uriel Septim sighed as he leaned back in his seat. He barely felt the bumps from the rocks as his carriage traversed on the road north of the Imperial City. He looked out the window and saw two of his Blade bodyguards. Captain Renault, the Breton leading the small group, was speaking to a Redguard, Baurus. Uriel didn't know the man well, he was a junior member of the order, only joining a few weeks ago, but he did seem eager to carry out his duty.

The energy of youth, something Uriel missed dearly. Perhaps his time had come. 87 years, 65 of which were spent on the throne. He kept the Empire together, even after the Imperial Simulacrum nearly threatened to tear it all apart as old grudges resurfaced. Generals and kings knelt at his command. But he was far too old to continue this.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as the carriage suddenly came to a stop. Renault barked an order to Glenroy, the third Blade in his entourage, with a cross look on her face. He pulled open the window on the door.

"Is there a problem, Renault?" Uriel inquired.

Renault's face softened as she turned around. "Nothing, your grace, but the driver seemed to have taken a wrong turn. Towards Chorrol, it seems. It'd take us to Weynon Priory but it's too open and I'd have preferred to avoid the delay." She crossed her arms and rubbed her forehead. "I swear, that man must be hitting the skooma."

Uriel came to his defense immediately. "You're too hard on the man."

"With respect, m'lord, but we have to get to Cloud Ruler as soon as possible and we're wasting time and sitting around out in the open."

It wasn't the first time Uriel's personal carriage driver, Vantus Vatinius, had gotten lost. Renault constantly insisted that he be replaced, but Uriel found his company enjoyable enough, despite being a bumbler.

"Someone must have switched one of the signs around," Glenroy shouted. Uriel remembered seeing the sign pointing towards Bruma early in the journey, and he could see the nearby road sign that pointed in the opposite direction.

Renault craned her neck and scanned the trees, expecting assassin's to rush out of the woods and ambush the group. "Sir, please close the window, we can't risk losing you."

"I've already seen my death, Renault, I am not afraid to face it. You're only delaying the inevitable and putting yourselves at risk," Uriel said flatly, not showing any fear in his voice at the thought of his death.

Renault looked back and smirked. "If we worried about our own safety, we wouldn't be here, my lord." Uriel had a warm smile at the woman's loyalty.

It only lasted a moment. Uriel's smile faded as specks of blood splattered on his wrinkled face. The tip of an arrow was jutting out of Renault's neck, her eyes wide as she coughed up blood and collapsed to her knees.

"Dammit, we've been ambushed! Glenroy, the captain is down, protect the other side of the carriage!" Baurus drew his katana, the light of the midday sun glinting off of the steel of the blade. He raised his shield in front of him, blocking two more arrows. An assassin, armed with a mace and red and black armor rushed towards him. Baurus was able to easily dispatch him, blocking a blow from the mace and thrusting his sword through a gap under the left arm. The armor and mace dissipated in an orange mist as the assassin was shoved back and fell in a wet heap, gurgling. Bound weapons and armor. They seemed to have at least some knowledge of Conjuration.

Without thinking, Baurus angled his sword and sliced the neck of another assassin, blood spraying forth from the wound. They were easily eliminated.

Uriel closed the window and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping away the blood from his face. He clenched his fists, feeling helpless as a mere two Blades were stuck fighting off what seemed like a small army of untrained but suicidally devoted assassins. He could hear the screams of assassins being cut down by the Blades, conjured weapons crashing against shields and steel swords cutting through flesh.

Minutes passed as the battle raged. It seemed to be nearing its end as the sound grew quieter. Either the Blades were killed and the assassins would find him in the carriage, or the Blades managed to fight them off. Uriel hoped it was the latter. His sons, Captain Renault, and likely Vantus. Too many good people had died, and for what? To protect an old man who only had a few years left anyway, at best?

Uriel nearly jumped as he heard the latch on the door on his left open. Tightening his grip on his dagger, he readied himself. As the door opened, he could see the masked figure of one of the assassins. Uriel raised his dagger, attempting to defend himself, only to find his arm held in a tight grip. The assassin pulled out his own dagger.

Uriel gasped as he felt the cold steel plunged into his chest, followed by the warmth of his own blood spilling onto his robes, staining the white fur with red. The assassin pulled the blade out and stood triumphantly over him. "Mehrunes Dagon's glory be praised!" he yelled, reaching out for the Amulet of Kings as it hung from Uriel's neck, only for a katana blade to slice through the assassin's neck, dissipating the armor as he collapsed onto the ground, his head rolling nearby as a pool of blood formed around his neck.

Baurus stood before his emperor, battered and bloodied, gritting his teeth as the adrenaline passed. It took a moment for him to realize that Uriel was wounded.

"No, no! Glenroy!" No response. "Glenroy, we need your help!" Still no response. Baurus sprinted around to the other side, only to run back.

"Where is Glenroy," Uriel asked, wheezing.

"He's...he's dead, sir."

"And Vantus?"

"He's dead too, sir. I think he killed at about the same time as the captain. Dammit!" Baurus slammed his fist against the carriage in frustration. "We need to find a healer. There was a tavern a few minutes from here, I-I can carry you there, sir, there has to be someone who can help you there!"

"Baurus...please, take the Amulet and-"

Baurus cut him off. "I'm not about to leave you, sir! Not while there's still a chance!"

Uriel could see there was no way to convince the Redguard otherwise, and reluctantly held out an arm, his hand grasping Baurus' shoulder while his other hand was still grasped around the wound. He knew that this was most likely fatal, the tell-tale tingle of poison began coursing through his veins. It seemed to be a slow-acting poison, possibly a safeguard if the assassins were only able to land a wounding blow on him, so there was still time.

Baurus helped him out of the carriage and on to his feet. Uriel chose to walk, with an arm slung around Baurus' shoulder. He looked over, and sorrow filled his heart as he saw Renault slumped over against the wheel, blood spilling from her neck. She was as much a daughter to him as a bodyguard. He had Baurus help him move to her body, and he removed her helmet, revealing her auburn hair. He closed her eyes, as his heart weighed heavy within him.

He saw his death in his dreams. And he saw a crisis on the horizon that threatened to destroy Tamriel and perhaps Nirn. But there was something just before that which gave him hope for the future. He still had one son who could end it, but there were another four who would be the key to finding his son, who would stand beside him. He didn't know who they were, and only vaguely remembered their faces.

What he did know was that there was hope. A glimmer, perhaps, but it was a bright glimmer. And that he would find them soon.