The Blades

They reached Weynon Priory at nightfall. The place looked deserted from afar. Jean suddenly held his bow out in front of them, preventing them from moving forward.

"Something's wrong," he said, standing still as he looked over the priory, then over his shoulder. "Something's... off."

One of the priory shepherds came sprinting towards them through the darkness, alone. "Help! You must help!" he shouted as he drew nearer. "They... they're killing everyone at Weynon Priory!"

"Slow down. What happened?" Jean asked. Anna Marie drew her sword. Amelie and Martin both primed spells, ready to fight on a moment's notice.

"I don't know!" Eronor panicked. "The, the Prior is dead, I think they're right behind me!"

"Who?" Jean asked, immediately turning around with an arrow at the ready in the event they had been surrounded.

"I don't know, they looked like travelers, ordinary. They cut the Prior down before he could move! They saw me, and I ran," Eronor explained, nearly hyperventilating as he did.

"Where's Jauffre?" Anna Marie asked.

"In the Chapel, praying, I think. You must help—!"

"Get down!" Anna Marie shoved the shepherd aside, bashing a man in red robes back with her shield. "Run, we can handle this!"

The shepherd obeyed, scrambling out of sight.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Jean said. "Amelie Rose, get Martin to the Chapel, make sure he and Jauffre are safe."

Amelie closed her eyes, struggling again with things she could not remember. "Jauffre's—"

"Old! Tonsure! Monk!" Jean shouted, loosing an arrow into the darkness. "Go!"

"Right!" Amelie conjured up a shield of magicka, staying close to Martin. "Come with me!"

Martin followed blindly, firing flames over his shoulder at random to keep back the invaders. She threw open the doors to the Chapel, ushering Martin inside.

"JAUFFRE?" she shouted. "JAUFFRE!"

"Amelie?"

Jauffre was upstairs in the Chapel, there were sounds of a fight. Amelie and Martin ran up the stairs to find Jauffre, fighting off more of the robed figures.

"Amelie! You're back! Thank Talos!" Jauffre said, running one of them through with his sword.

"Yes, what happened here?" Amelie asked.

Jean appeared out of nowhere, seizing a robed figure that had been creeping up on her and Martin and slicing his neck. He tossed the body aside, keeping the bloody knife at the ready. "Gods' sakes, watch your back. Is that all of them?" he asked.

"Possibly. I hope so," Amelie breathed, staring in shock at the pool of blood the attacker now lay in.

"Martin, is he...? Is this him?" Jauffre asked, looking Martin over. Amelie snapped out of her shock, and nodded.

"Yes, this is him," she said. "He is safe, but I get the impression that the longer we stay here, the less safe it becomes."

"I agree, Martin cannot stay here," Jauffre said quickly. "They will be back when they learn of Martin's survival."

"Which they will," Jean said dismally. Anna Marie entered the Chapel at last, her sword still at the ready.

"Is everyone ok?" she asked, mounting the stairs. "All in one piece, still?"

"Yes—"

"Good!" she chimed, smiling brightly. "Good. That wasn't so bad."

"The Amulet," Jauffre said suddenly. "We must see if the Amulet is safe!"

"You don't have it?" Jean asked.

"It is in a safe place, but I fear the Amulet was the target of this attack," Jauffre said. "We must ensure its safety!"

The party followed Jauffre back to his study in the priory house. He ransacked the desk and drawers, growing more panicked with each passing unsuccessful second.

"They've taken it," Jauffre said finally. "The Amulet of Kings is gone. The enemy has defeated us at every turn."

Jean let his head fall back against the wall. "Great."

"But Martin is safe," Anna Marie pointed out. "All is not lost yet."

Jauffre paused, taking a deep breath. "True, it has not all gone against us. Thank Talos for that," he said. "We have lost the Amulet of Kings, but we have gained Uriel's heir."

"What do we do now?" Jean asked.

"We must ensure Martin's safety," Amelie said at once. "We cannot stay here. Where will he be safe?"

"Nowhere is truly safe from the power arrayed against us," Jauffre said. "But we must play for time, at least. Cloud Ruler Temple, I think. The secret fortress of the Blades, in the mountains north of Bruma," Jauffre explained. "A few men can hold it against an army."

"Sounds wonderful," Anna Marie said.

"We ought to set out as soon as possible. If we leave now, we should reach Bruma by morning," said Jean. "We can come up with a real plan once we get there."

Jauffre nodded. "We can take Prior Maborel's horses from the stable. He... won't be needing them anymore."

"Let's go," Jean said, taking charge. "Amelie Rose, you stick with Jauffre and Martin. Anna Marie, you and I will cover the flanks and keep watch for incoming enemies."

Anna Marie nodded. "Torches?"

"None," Amelie said, searching through her bag. Jean checked his own, and also came up empty. "I have a few Nighteye potions, though. Not enough for everyone, though."

"Give them to Anna Marie, Martin, and Jauffre," Jean said. "I'll be ok."

"Nonsense—"

"I'll be ok," Jean insisted. "You know a spell, don't you?"

"Er... Yes. Basic, but it'll do," Amelie confirmed.

"Jauffre, where are the horses?" Jean asked, turning his attention to the Grandmaster as they left the priory.

Martin's head was spinning. So much was happening, and he got the impression he only vaguely understood it all. As far as he knew, this was only the tip of the crisis iceberg.

"My lord?" Amelie asked as they followed Jauffre towards the stables. "You have been awfully quiet. What do you think?"

Martin had to stop and think. "I... I don't know what to think. This is certainly the last thing I ever expected to happen. A few days ago I was just a priest. I still am just a priest!" he pointed out.

Jauffre shook his head. "Martin. Sire. I brought you to Kvatch from the hands of the Emperor himself. You are his heir, you must believe that."

Martin opened his mouth, but could not think of a reply.

Amelie smiled wryly. "Do not worry yourself too much. We are here to keep you safe, no matter who you are."


The ride towards Cloud Ruler Temple was rushed, if quiet. Martin kept his eye trained on Jauffre's horse in front of them, the only sounds coming from the horse's hooves, the constant clanking that he knew to be armor, and the occasional soft whooshing sound that accompanied Amelie's spellcasting. Luckily for them, they didn't encounter any problems to the scale of what had happened in Weynon Priory. In the back of his mind, Martin wondered whether or not that was due to Jean's watchful eye and skill in archery.

As the sun rose over the mountains, Martin realized that sometime during the earliest morning hours, they had passed Bruma. They were making their way up a winding mountain path.

"We are nearly there," Jauffre said, preempting his question. "Just up here. Amelie, you can tell Jean and Anna Marie to stand down, we should have no problem this far up."

Amelie shot off a small bolt of lightning off to both sides. A few moments later, Jean and Anna Marie rode up to them.

"Figured we had to be close," Jean said, looking tired. "Glad of it, too."

"Same," Anna Marie said, yawning. "Riding is fun, but I could do with a nap..."

"How are you holding up, my lord?" Amelie asked, also looking exhausted.

"Well. I think I'll be glad to get inside, too," he said honestly. They dismounted their horses before a great stone gate, walling in a veritable fortress in the mountains. Martin could see someone patrolling at the top of the wall, keeping a watchful eye for whatever the Blades considered enemies.

A fully armored Blade opened the gate to greet them. "Grandmaster, is this...?"

"Yes, Cyrus," Jauffre said wearily, gesturing towards Martin. "This is the Emperor's heir, Martin Septim."

Cyrus, wide-eyed, turned to Martin, and bowed. "My lord, welcome to Cloud Ruler Temple."

"Th-The honor is mine," Martin said quickly.

"Come, Martin. Your Blades are waiting to greet you," Jauffre said, leading them up a flight of stone steps.

Cloud Ruler Temple was, it seemed, completely inhabited by men and women in full armor. Martin got the impression that they had been training for just such a time as this.

As they reached the top of the steps, the Blades fell into line, lining the path with heavy silver armor. The three siblings hung back at the head of the stairs as Jauffre led Martin through as the Blades all raised their swords.

"Hail Dragon born, hail Martin Septim, hail!"

For what felt like the first time in years, Martin spoke up, nervously addressing the crowd. "Jauffre, all of you, I know you all expect me to be Emperor. I'll do my best, but this is all new to me." He felt uneasy knots tie in his stomach, looking back at the men and women who served the Empire. Who now served him, he supposed. "I'm not used to giving speeches, but I want you to know that I appreciate your welcome here."

Apparently satisfied with this, the Blades dispersed, returning to their duties. Amelie, Jean, and Anna Marie were conversing quietly with each other as they came up the path. Jean spoke tiredly, an uneasy frown on his face. Anna Marie said something with a smile, causing only Amelie's expression to lighten as she responded.

"...we have no time for that now," she said. Jean nodded, arms crossed.

"Not much of a speech, was it?" Martin asked as they approached, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

"You did wonderfully," Amelie said, smiling wearily.

"I hardly mean to sound ungrateful," Martin said quickly. "I just... this is not what I am used to."

"We get it," Anna Marie said. "Don't worry."

"We've got bigger things to worry about," Jean reminded him.

"I agree. It is imperative that we recover the Amulet of Kings as soon as possible," Martin said.

"This is true," Jauffre said, joining the group. "I have a bit of news in that regard. I feel much safer discussing this sort of thing now that we've arrived here."

"Oh? What?" Jean asked. Amelie smacked his arm with the back of her hand.

"Manners, Jean," she said.

"Now's not the time for that nonsense," Jean sighed, earning himself another whack.

"A Blade by the name of Baurus is in the Imperial City, gathering what information he can about the group responsible for the Emperor's assassination," Jauffre said.

Amelie's eyes lit up. "Baurus. I know Baurus."

"Do you?" Jean asked warily.

"We've met."

"You have? Perhaps we shall send you out to meet with him, then," Jauffre said.

"We'll figure it out," Anna Marie said, stretching. "No worries. For now, though, I think we could all use some rest."

"Before you go off, I have a question for the three of you," Jauffre said quickly. "You have all proven yourselves loyal servants of the Empire, as worthy as any of the Blades to stand by Martin's side during this crisis. As the Grandmaster of the Blades, I would be honored to accept you into our order. Will you join us?"

Amelie looked to Jean, as did Anna Marie. Jean shrugged.

"Why not. Might as well," Jean said.

"All right. Me too," Anna Marie said earnestly.

"I agree," Amelie said. "Though I fear I will not be of much use with a sword."

"Not to worry," Jauffre said. "We are honored to have you just the same."

They made their way into the Great Hall, still conversing.

"I'll go to the Imperial City to meet with Baurus," Amelie said. "What will the two of you do in the meantime?"

"I'll go with you," Jean said immediately.

"Nonsense, Jean, I can handle a trip to the city myself," Amelie protested.

"What if you can't?" Jean asked quietly.

"I think at least one of us needs to stay behind," Amelie said pointedly.

Jean sighed, considering this. "True. Someone should always be here at Cloud Ruler in case something happens."

"There's dozens of Blades here, what could possibly happen?" Anna Marie asked.

"Jauffre is the Grandmaster, and Weynon Priory was raided right in front of him," Jean said. "With the sort of power we're up against, I think the fewer chances we take, the better."

"I have been meaning to go to the City anyway," Amelie said. "Finally, I can stop by the Arcane University."

Jean rolled his eyes at the dreamy look on her face, smiling all the same. "Amelie Rose, we're not out of the woods yet. Please, don't forget we're on a mission here."

Amelie snapped out of her reverie. "I know. I know, I will not forget."

"Can I go with you?" Anna Marie asked. "The Fighters Guild has been needing help lately. I can see what I can do as far as the Imperial City is concerned."

"All right, then," Amelie said. "Jean, will you be all right staying behind?"

"You seem to think I'll be causing trouble," Jean said mischievously. Anna Marie and Amelie both smacked him.

"Be good," Amelie said sternly.

"I will, I will. Relax, go read your books and study," Jean said, a note of sarcasm in his voice. Amelie smiled.

"Mission first. Then University."

"As long as you're there... can you let Fathis know where I am?" Jean asked quietly. Amelie frowned. "Dunmer. Elven Gardens."

"Right."

"Just let him know I'm out of commission for a while, he doesn't need to know why."

"I see. Of course."

"All right. Get some rest then. You too," Jean added to Martin as they made their way out.