Edward peered out of the opening in the wall, the drop wasn't more then a few feet. He dropped down, followed by Saronim. From their right they heard voices coming from an open room, the floor they were standing on dropping off to make a ledge, it sounded like the guards. Saronim crept slowly to the ledge, leaving his torch at the far wall, and held his breath. Edward stood beside him watching for any movement at the other side.

"We should find a defensible spot and protect the emperor until help arrives." Yes, it was a guard, Saronim recognized it as the Imperial one.

"Help? What makes you think help will get here before more of those bastards? We need to get the Emperor out of here." That was the Redguard.

Edward tapped Saronim's shoulder, directing his attention to the ledge on the opposite side of the room, glints of dark metal and shades of red visible in the dark light. Saronim shook his head at him, though Edward didn't see. snapping his fingers a thin arc of lighting few across the room, making one of the assassins grunt out in pain, shuddering lightly as it leaned against the wall.

Beneath, the Imperial guard looked up, seeing the assassins. He drew his blade calling behind him to the Redguard, "Here they come!"

Edward quickly jumped down from the ledge, leaving Saronim before he could object. Saronim watched as he rushed to the first assassin, raising his hand to it's face making it grunt in pain as a thin white mist covered the assassin's mask.

Saronim shook his head and sighed, then jumped down and joined in with Edward, ensuring the assassins kept away from his back as Edward went on blindly. Thin arcs of lightning going in several different directions.

The guards took on two of the three as Edward took down the third, rising up and looking at the emperor as he brushed off his cuirass.

As the last assassin fell Saronim let out a deep breath, and started to slide his iron blade back into it's sheath.

"Damnit, it's those prisoners again! Kill them, they might be working for the assassins!" The Imperial guard started toward Edward with his sword raised, Saronim rushed in front of Edward drawing his blade and holding it in a guarding position, locking eyes with the guard as he stood in front of them.

"No.." It was the Emperor's voice, his hand raised, "they are not one of them. They can help us, they must help us…"

The guard glared at Saronim then put his katana away, turning to take point again, "As you wish Sire…"

Edward stood beside Saronim as the Emperor stepped toward them, "They cannot understand why I trust you. They've not seen what I've seen…"

Saronim and Edward glanced at each other momentarily, then back at Uriel.

"How can I explain?" The Emperor looked at both their faces for a moment.

"Listen, you know the Nine? How they guide our fates with an invisible hand?"

Uriel first looked at Edward who lost his cold stare at him long enough to reply, "I know of the Nine and the Daedra."

Uriel's gaze turned toward Saronim, who looked away, silent.

The Emperor closed his eyes then looked at both Edward and Saronim, "I've served the Nine all my days, and I chart my course by the cycles of the heavens. The skies are marked by numberless sparks, each a fire, and every one a sign. I know these stars well, and I wonder… which star marked your births?"

Uriel first looked at Edward, who thought for a moment then answered, "The Mage."

Then he looked to Saronim, "The Thief."

Uriel sighed and closed his eyes , the weight of his words apparent, "The signs I read show the end of my path. My death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.

Edward stepped forward, "What about me?" Saronim glanced at him then to Uriel, the question being voiced for him as well.

The Emperor's expressions seamed slightly more labored, but he then looked at them with what felt like just the slightest bit of hope, "Your stars are not mine. Today, the Mage shall light your way down the paths of destiny… and the Thief shall guide your steps along it…"

Saronim thought for a moment, "Can you see our fate?"

Uriel's expression grew more somber before he began to speak, "My dreams grant me no opinions of success. Their compass ventures not beyond the doors of death. But in your faces, I behold the sun's bright companions. The dawn of Akatosh's bright glory may banish the coming darkness… With such hope, and the promise of your aid, my heart must be satisfied…"

Saronim's eyes never left Uriel's as he spoke, "Aren't you afraid to die?"

The Emperor's face wasn't as grim as Saronim had thought it would be as he answered, "No trophies of my triumphs will proceed me, but I have lived well, and my ghost shall rest easy. Men are but flesh and blood. They know their doom, but not the hour. In this I am blessed to see the hour of my death… To face my apportioned fate, then fall…"

Edward crossed his arms, uninterested in what revelations this particular man had, "Where are we going?"

Uriel looked at Edward, "I go to my grave, a tongue shriller then all the music calls me… You shall follow me yet for a while, then we must part."

Saronim turned as the Redguard acknowledged him, "Hey there. Name's Baurus, you may as well make yourself useful. Carry that torch and stick close."

Saronim nodded and allowed him to pass. Edward followed in front of Saronim as they passed a doorway and continued down the hallway behind that. To the right was a stairway, this path took a left into the lower portion of the room where they were ambushed by more assassins.

The next chamber was aligned with columns, only a few steps into the room and yet another assassin jumped from the shadows, Saronim was the first to draw his blade as Edward's fingers arched electricity back into his palm. Saronim rushed to the assassin, sliding his blade between the plates straight through it's shoulder. He then slashed downward making the assassin cry out before Edward's spell managed to slam straight into his chest, toppling the assassin backwards, dead.

Saronim and Edward turned to the Emperor and his guards, Baurus sliding his blade out of another assassin's chest before continuing to the door nearby.

"Hold up, I don't like this… Let me take a look…" The Imperial guard raised his hand as Saronim closed the door behind them. The guard walked down a small case of stairs and through a stone walkway. Saronim and Edward stood near the doorway, glancing to different parts of the room.

The guard raised his hand again and motioned for them to follow, muttering something. The four of them followed down the stairs and through the walkway, turning right and stopping at a gate.

"Damnit!" cried the Imperial, "The gate's barred from the other side, a trap!"

Baurus glanced to everyone's left, "What about that side passage back there?"

"Worth a try, let's go!" The Imperial and Baurus drew their blades as everyone went through the doorway.

Upon stepping in the side passage Baurus looked back and forth, the room not covering more then twenty square feet, "It's a dead-end. What's your call sir?"

Saronim and Edward looked behind, through the doorway as a gate rose from the floor, where the walkway was. The Imperial had heard it too, "They're behind us! Wait here sire."

Baurus turned to Saronim, "Wait here with the Emperor, guard him with your life." He then looked to Edward, "You're coming with us, we'll need help here."

The Imperial, Baurus, and Edward left through the doorway and stood, ready for anything. The air was colder then Edward had remembered, every sound echoed as sweat started to form on the faces of the guards. Suddenly, from the ceiling a grating fell, landing hard enough to shatter the stone floor. Just behind it, flashes of dark red and glinting dark metal. The Imperial took a deep breath, "For the blades, and the Emperor!"

The sounds of battle came in through the doorway to Saronim and the Emperor. Saronim stood blade ready for the event of an assassin getting past the guards and Edward.

Uriel Septim placed his hand on Saronim's shoulder, "I can go no further. The one from my dreams must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings!" His voice sounded urgent, almost desperate as his eyes pierced into Saronim's, "Take the Amulet. Give it to Jauffre. He alone knows where to find my last son." Saronim stood, confused, almost as if he couldn't move, "Find him, and close shut the jaws… of Oblivion…" The Emperor took his hand from Saronim's shoulder, his palm faintly glowing as he took off his amulet and placed it in Saronim's hand. Saronim's eyes widened as the wall behind Uriel rose, an assassin stepping into the light. Saronim started to raise his blade, but couldn't, he couldn't move. All he could do was look at the scene that played out. The Emperor rose his head and closed his eyes as the assassin jumped behind him, sinking his dagger deep into his back. Uriel gave barely a sound as his body slumped forward, crimson bubbling up from a hole in the back of his robes. The assassin stepped slowly toward Saronim as he stood, "Stranger… you chose a bad day to take up the Septim cause…" As he raised his dagger toward Saronim, Baurus rushed into the room, knocking the weapon from his hand. Then, tilting his blade so that it was parallel to the assassins arm, he slashed upward, neatly slicing the assassins head off. Edward walked in and looked down to the Emperor's dead body, crossing his arms in front of him.

"We've failed, I've failed… The Blades are sworn to protect the Emperor, and now he and all his heirs are… dead…" Baurus closed his eyes as he stood over Uriel's body, Saronim stared at his hand, remembering how it glowed when he'd taken it off his shoulder.

Baurus looked to Saronim, "The Amulet, where's the Amulet of Kings? It wasn't on the Emperor's body." Saronim looked to him and showed the amulet, "The Emperor gave it to me."

Baurus looked at Saronim hard, "Strange. He saw something in you. Trusted you." His look softened, "The say it's the Dragon Blood that flows through the veins of every Septim. They see more then lesser men. The Amulet of Kings is a sacred symbol of the Empire. Most people think of the Red Dragon Crown, but that's just jewelry. The Amulet has power. Only a true heir of the Blood can wear it they say. He must have given it to you for a reason. Did he say why?"

Saronim put the Amulet around his wrist, tying it loosely, "I must take it to Jauffre."

Baurus seamed surprised, "Jauffre? He said that? Why?"

"There is another heir."

Baurus crossed his arms, "Nothing I ever heard about. But Jauffre would be the one to know. He's the Grandmaster of my Order. Although you may not think so to meet him. He lives quietly as a monk at Weynon Priory, near the city of Chorrol."

"How do I get there?" Saronim paced slowly, his mind racing.

"First you need to get out of here. Through that door must be the entrance to the sewers, past the locked gate. That's where we were heading. It's a secret way out of the Imperial City. Or it was supposed to be secret. Here. You'll need this key for the last door into the sewers."

Edward stood up more, "The sewers?"

"There are rats and goblins down there… but from what I've seen of you two. I'm guessing you're an experienced Swordsman and… Mage. Am I right?" Baurus put his hand to his chin.

Saronim and Edward both nodded.

"I thought so. A few rats and goblins won't give you any trouble."

"After the sewers, then what?" Saronim looked down the passageway the assassin had come in by.

"You must get the amulet to Jauffre. Take no chances, but proceed to Weynon Priory immediately. Got it?"

Saronim nodded, "Yes, I understand."

"Good. The Emperor's trust was well-placed."

"What about you? What will you do?" Saronim looked back at Baurus.

"I'll stay here to guard the Emperor's body, and make sure no one follows you. You'd better get moving. May Talos guide you." Baurus looked down at Saronim's free hand, "By the way, thanks for recovering Renault's sword. I'll see that it's given a place of honor in the halls of the Blades."

Saronim handed the katana to Baurus and was handed a key ring. He then started down the corridor, Edward following as they made their way to the door Baurus had mentioned. Saronim looked down and unlocked the door, noticing that there were two keys on the ring, he then looked to his cuffs. Saronim smiled as the wrist irons fell to the floor, and dashed to the manhole nearby, Edward already opening it.

Inside the sewers, it was damp and warm. Almost every piece of stone was covered in a thick grease-like layer as Edward and Saronim walked down the stairs. Making short work of a few goblins and rats, they went up a flight of stairs and across a small bridge-like structure, opening a gate at the other side. Following the path, Saronim looked to Edward as they walked.

"So… Morrow, have you ever been in Cyrodil?"

Edward looked to him as they walked, "Yes, though I don't remember any particular events in such. Thanks to those damned cuffs I was in…"

"Ahh, have you ever been near this, Chorrol?" Saronim looked at a rat, walking around them as it made it's way into the sewers.

"Like I said, I don't remember. Oh, and before I forget Saronim, my friends call me Edward." Saronim looked at Edward, smiling a little.

"Alright… Edward" Saronim looked in front of them, the light at the end of the tunnel just barely there, beckoning for them to come closer as the both of them started sprinting toward it.

Edward's freedom was finally, after so many years, in reach.