Chapter 10: The Countess of Chorrol

I rode Patch at a walking pace, while Baurus strode beside us. We made for Chorrol, to talk to Countess Arriana Valga, to inform her about what had befallen Weynon Priory overnight, and to explain to her about what needed to be done with regards to Oblivion gates. Jauffre had handed Baurus a small bag of Septims as we'd departed, telling him to buy another horse at the Chorrol stables.

I had never been to Chorrol before, though I had met the widowed Countess at her daughter Alessia's wedding in Leyawiin, when I had been fourteen. I remembered Alessia's wedding well; it had been a dour affair, and followed by a cheerless reception at Castle Leyawiin after the lengthy ceremony. I had thought then about how strange it was, that it seemed as though both Count Caro, and his new bride, did not wish to celebrate anything.

Would my wedding to Ebel be so grim, I had wondered after that occasion? After enduring the Caro's nuptials, I had been determined to find a way to love Ebel before our own wedding, or at the very least for us to come to some understanding, even if I did not love him. Perhaps it had been then, when I had consciously made the effort to spend more time with my future husband, that the gossips had started assuming we had not waited to consummate our union. Perhaps that was why the assassins had targeted me, when they had targeted the rest of the Septim family. Perhaps they needed to be certain I was not carrying another Septim.

The thought made me flush, both in embarrassment and anger at the City gossips. They had clearly not known Ebel, so full of duty, and honour. He had never, in all our time together, tried to take advantage of me. He had shown me respect, but he had treated me like a child. The closest we had ever been was when he had kissed me on the hand when we had first met, when I had been ten, and he, twenty-two. We had been surrounded by bodyguards and with my mother and his older brothers at the time.

It does not matter now, I reminded myself again. There was only one Septim left in Cyrodiil, now, and he was full of despair at his position, losing his faith in the Divines, and had been ordered into indefinite exile by Jauffre.

The memory of Martin taking my hand, turning me back to face him and pressing his forehead to mine was fresh in my thoughts, and I swallowed, remembering how my heart had raced; how breathless his touch had made me feel as his Candlelight spell had extinguished and left us alone in the dark woods together. If Baurus had not called out, what might have happened? If he was not a priest, what would he have done, I wondered? If I had been bolder, what would I have done? For that matter, what did I want to happen? I barely knew him.

Baurus brought me back to my senses with a question as we neared the stable yard in Chorrol.

"Do you think we should make for the Castle now, my Lady?" he asked. "Or is it too early?"

I looked at the horizon, seeing that the sun was about to rise. This time yesterday, I thought idly, Martin and I had just left Skingrad.

I glanced away from the sunrise and dismounted. Baurus hurried to my side to help me down.

I shook my head at him. "I can manage, thank you," I told him.

Baurus' mouth formed a thin line. "Yes, my Lady. You seem to have managed much, despite the odds, since leaving the Tower, if you'll forgive me for saying so."

He took Patch's reigns, and we walked the final approach to the stables side-by-side.

"Baurus, please," I said in a lowered voice. "You do not need to be so formal. Someone may overhear you."

"I apologise," he said, still just as formally.

"Please, you have nothing to apologise for," I insisted, searching for a change in topic. "I think we should secure you a horse now," I told him. "It would be just our luck if we went to the Countess first, to return and find that the stable master had sold his last horse an hour earlier."

I had meant the latter in jest, trying to lighten Baurus' mood, but he replied just as seriously as before. "I agree. And the sooner we can start moving back toward the Imperial City, the faster I will find the Amulet."

I whirled around to face him. "You're going after the Amulet?" I asked hurriedly.

Baurus nodded, his brows crossing. "I thought Jauffre had explained."

I huffed, turning back to the stable, and opening the gate, so Baurus could walk Patch inside. "He mustn't have thought it relevant," I managed lightly. "What about the other cities? Should we not at least head to Bruma on our way?"

My mind raced. Maybe I would be searching for the Amulet with him. Maybe I would still be the one to give Martin the Amulet of Kings, as the Emperor had bade me.

Baurus lead Patch through, and I closed the gate behind us. "Jauffre's instructions were..." he hesitated, as he glanced at me.

"Yes?" I asked eagerly.

"We're to talk to the Countess, then make for the Imperial City," he told me. "Once there, while you are speaking to the Chancellor, who is managing things in the City while there is no Emperor, I will begin searching for signs of what became of the Amulet."

I nodded, though I felt a stab of fear at the thought of returning to the White-Gold Tower so soon. "I see. Where do you plan on beginning your search?"

Baurus seemed relieved about something, and spoke easier now. "Most of our contacts in the City are still loyal to us. They are good at seeing things that most do not. I will start with them."

I was more curious as Baurus and I walked up to the stable master's house. "You must tell me if there is any way I can assist you with the search," I told him.

Baurus remained quiet at this, and I wondered if there was more to his orders than he was telling me.

–

Once we'd secured a horse for Baurus and walked into Chorrol, I asked Baurus if we might stop by an Inn first, so I could freshen up. The Countess would of course admit me, as a member of the Cyrodiil aristocracy, but she would not appreciate it if I stormed into her Court reeking of horse and smoke and blood.

I could see this annoyed Baurus, but I insisted that such things were important to Countess Valga, and that she might be easier to convince if we took some time to make sure we were presentable. Baurus agreed with me begrudgingly; I could hear the strain in his voice. I wondered what he would say to me if he wasn't so determined to remain formal.

We secured two rooms at the Oak and Crosier in Fountain Gate, which I paid four times the asking price for. I asked the publican, a Khajit woman who introduced herself as Talasma, for her discretion, and if she would mind bringing us some food and having bathing water brought at once.

I could see that the publican was insanely curious by our appearance, and my request, but she merely pocketed the money and agreed, asking if we had bags at the stable to retrieve.

"No, thank you," I answered her moving toward the stairs, where I assumed the rooms were. "We shall not be staying the night."

This seemed to make her more curious, but Talasma nodded in reply, and stepped past Baurus and I, leading us to my room. She told us that Baurus' room was across the hall, and that she would see to our food and bathing water at once.

Baurus was tight-lipped and obviously frustrated, as he paced over to the bookshelf in my hired room, then shifted to the wardrobe, and then the window, searching.

I regarded him, as I hurriedly threw off my cloak, then sat to pull off my boots. "Speak your mind, Baurus."

Baurus turned to me, shaking his head. "I must not, my Lady," he said, still tight lipped. "I understand why we are doing this. I just wish we did not have to."

I sighed. "I know," I said regretfully. "It sounds petty and pointless, when there is so much at stake," I agreed.

"Exactly," Baurus said in a rush of breath.

"But I know these people," I added quietly. "If we want them to listen to, and believe us - believe in Martin," I eased myself off the bed, and walked to the dressing table, "we will have to make them comfortable," I told him calmly as I sat in front of the mirror, and untied my hair.

Baurus said nothing, but I heard him shifting about, and saw him take a seat by the door in the reflection of the dresser mirror. He looked distinctly uncomfortable.

There was a brush on the dresser, and I ran it through my curls and grimaced, wondering when I would next get to wash my hair. "Countess Valga loves cleanliness, and propriety," I continued, flicking him a glance. "You do not have to do anything when we are in audience, but stand by my side," I said, turning around to him.

Baurus seemed stiff, with his hands resting on his knees, and his back straight. "Perhaps that would be best, my Lady."

I nodded to him, then turned back to the dresser, wondering what I could possibly do with my hair. Caroline usually did it for me.

"Why don't you go relax in your room for a while?" I asked Baurus, "I shan't be too long."

I saw the reflection of Baurus shake his head. "Sorry, my Lady, but I swore that I would not let you out of my sight, until you were under the protection of High Chancellor Ocato, in the City."

Jauffre made him swear that, I wondered?

"That would have been good to know before I paid for your room," I told his reflection wryly. "What else did Jauffre swear you to do?" I asked, trying to sound light. I looped the red ribbon that had been holding my hair up around my neck, tying it at the nape so it formed a wide headband, so I could clean my face properly when the water arrived.

"He-" Baurus began, but stopped when there was a knock at the door. Baurus rose, half-unsheathing his blade, as he strode to answer it.

"It will just be the water, Baurus," I told him. "Maybe the food."

An assassin doesn't knock, I wanted to add.

It was Talasma, carrying a platter laden with tea things, fruit, cooked eggs, cold meats and toasted bread. After her, another, younger male Khajit followed, with a pail of water sloshing under each arm. Baurus let them pass, sheathing his sword pointedly as his eyes followed the nervous-looking male Khajit.

After I'd thanked Talasma with a few more Septims in her paw, and she and her assistant had left, I squared Baurus with a hard look, and spoke as soon as he'd locked the door.

"Did Jauffre command you to stay by my side while I bathed?" I asked him pointedly.

Baurus flushed, and stammered, "Of course not, my Lady!"

I nodded to the door, hoping he would understand without any further – frankly embarrassing – hints. I was used to having servants and bodyguards in the room while I bathed, but they had always been female.

Baurus looked torn, and asked me to wait a moment, as he hurried to the window again, and checked that it was latched. My eyes followed his progress as he paced the whole room, twice, telling myself that I should be grateful for his diligence. I did not want another assassin sneaking up on me in a room again, for I doubted I would be as lucky as I had been the last time.

When he moved to the door to leave, I thanked him.

He nodded out of respect. "I will stand by the door, and none shall pass. Call me when you are ready. And please, my Lady," he added. "Be quick."

I was. I undressed hastily and scrubbed myself down, wondering if there was time to call for a merchant to bring me a dress, as I glanced at my slightly dirty riding gear.

There was not, I decided. The riding gear had some spots on it, from the ash of the fires that had consumed Weynon Priory, but they were still fine, upper-class garments, that would be acceptable to the Countess. Perhaps they would work in my favour, and impress on her our need for haste, and the importance of my message.

After I had scrubbed myself clean with warm water and a washcloth, I threw my underclothes, the trousers and green tunic back on, and let Baurus back into the room. Then I rubbed at a few spots on the green doublet, while I asked him to polish the riding boots, and insisted that he have something to eat while he could, as I would likely be fed up at the Castle.

When we were done I pulled the boots and doublet back on, making sure that my father's ring on my mother's gold chain was positioned prominently around my neck. I was glad that I had brought it, now. Whipping the red ribbon from my hair, I let the curls fall free, and ran my wet fingers through them swiftly, to define them a little. Finally, Baurus and I gathered all of our extra things from the room, like my cloak and bow, which he carried, and we left the Inn.

–

My audience with Countess Valga was a formal affair that lasted far longer than it needed to. Baurus was silent during the entire ordeal, though I could tell he was frustrated by the urgency I caught in his expression every now and then. He had been relieved of his burdens, including his Blades katana, by a guard in dark chain mail with the blue-backed, white tree of Chorrol on his breast, and he hovered by my side wherever I was lead, like a giant, silent, surly ghost.

The Countess had recognised me of course, by name and by appearance – though her eyes had flickered to my hair for a moment when I had first arrived. After the formal greeting and some talk of the tragedies at the Priory the previous night and the Imperial City the past week, our discussion inevitably turned to how I had escaped the City, and why I was in Chorrol now.

I had a speech half-formed in my mind already, but I had to be careful. None of the nobles knew about Martin yet and there was no guarantee that they would support his claim to the throne, dragonfires or not. It would have been simpler if he had been with me, as his manner, and similarities to Uriel Septim, would have convinced them, but that was not to be. I had to convince them to believe in him, as I believed in him.

I put down my half-empty cup of tea, and made sure I was still sitting straight (I was), smoothing my hands into my lap. "Countess Valga," I spoke formally. She was a class above me, so I was required to call her by her title. "My visit to you today was requested of me by the late Emperor himself," I revealed. "For I was escaping with him when he was taken by the assassins, and he explained his will to me."

The Countess' hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, my dear child."

I bowed my head a little, acknowledging the sympathy in her voice. "The Emperor bade me, as he handed me the Amulet of Kings, to complete two tasks for him," I continued. "One was to find the last Septim; a man who had been kept hidden at his request," I chose my words carefully, trying to insinuate that the Emperor had hidden Martin out of foresight of these events, not of illegitimacy.

"There is...Uriel and Caula had another child?" the Countess looked genuinely confused.

I made sure I didn't outwardly react, though I wanted to wince, since she'd asked the very question I had been hoping she would not. "The last Septim living in Tamriel was borne to another woman, Countess," I said quietly, but steadily, "several years after the Empress' death," I had determined earlier.

I saw Countess Valga quirk her eyebrow at this.

At least I had her full attention now, I supposed.

I pushed on, hurriedly. "As well as locating his only remaining son," I continued, hoping I had not lost her, "the late Emperor asked me to find a way to close the portals to the deadlands that would open across Tamriel, as long as there was no Septim on the throne wearing the Amulet of Kings to keep the dragonfires that protect us alight."

"Portals," the Countess mused. "Yes, I have heard of what happened, in Kvatch," she said. "Are you telling me that more of these gateways will open, until this illegitimate heir is on the throne?" she crossed her brow, but looked more concerned than angry.

I nodded. "Yes," I was relieved that the prim and proper Countess seemed to see into the heart of the matter, "but there is hope yet," I added.

"The Hero of Kvatch?" she asked quickly, sitting a little straighter.

I baulked, wondering how she had come to know that name.

The Countess continued while I recovered. "The papers say that she is a fierce and shining leader, who ran into the Oblivion gate laying siege to Kvatch without a second thought, and not only closed the portal, but also saved Kvatchian guards who had been trapped in there!" she exclaimed, laying a hand on my arm, her voice tittering with laughter. "Oh, Sarina dear, can you imagine such a thing? It sounds like a bard's tale."

I swallowed and agreed with her, then picked up my tea cup. My hands were shaking slightly as I wondered how to proceed, and considered whether or not I could use this mythology developing around what had happened in Kvatch to aid Martin's cause. I was sure I could. I had to try.

"It is the truth," I spoke quietly, deciding. "The Hero of Kvatch is real."

The Countess looked intrigued. "Have you met her?" she asked, then took a sip of tea and waited for me to continue.

I nodded, meeting her gaze levelly. "She is me. I walked into the Oblivion gate at Kvatch, and closed it, as the late Emperor foretold."

The Countess hesitated, before she laughed, a little uneasily this time. "Lady Passero," she started in a warning tone, placing her tea cup back on the saucer on the table between us. It was the first time, since our formal greeting, that she had called me by my title instead of my first name. "I understand that you jest, though I do not know what you hope to achieve by doing so. Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because it is the truth," I said in a lowered voice. "There were guards assisting me," I added, for I realised that nobody would believe I had taken on Oblivion alone, "and had it not been for them I would surely have perished. But it is the truth. The Hero of Kvatch is real, and she is sitting before you," I gained some confidence. "I closed the Oblivion gate, and I am here today to tell you how to do it, so your guards may close any that threaten our realm in your county."

The Countess was wide-eyed by the time I had finished, and I heard Baurus shifting behind me. I wondered at how he was reacting, but kept my eyes trained on the Countess.

This was the first he'd heard about what had really happened in Kvatch, too, I supposed. I hoped that whatever face Baurus was wearing, it did not carry too much doubt, because the Countess would have a hard enough time believing me as it was.

I drew our conversation back to the incident at Weynon Priory, and how the Amulet of Kings had been stolen during the attack. I told her about Jauffre's research; how the only way to hold off Mehrunes Dagon was to keep closing the gates, and to not let a Great Gate form. I told her that the Blades had secured the heir in a secret location, so that he may be kept alive while the search for the Amulet was carried out.

When she asked what Martin was like, I told her all I knew of him; how he had studied as a priest of Akatosh, and of how his resemblance to the Emperor and his sons was so profound, and his manner so strong and kind, with wisdom beyond his years, that there was no doubt in my mind of who he was.

I talked and talked, and she listened.

–

"Do you think she believed you, my Lady?" Baurus asked me.

We were riding along the road to the Imperial City, with Chorrol and Weynon Priory behind us when Baurus broke his silence about the audience with the Countess.

I sighed. "I hope so. I don't know," I confessed. "Do you?"

"Do I believe you?" he confirmed.

I nodded. If he didn't believe me, given his inclusion in and inside knowledge of most of the events that had passed, how was anyone else supposed to?

He paused. "I do," he nodded. "But, my Lady," he added hurriedly. "Why did you step into an Oblivion gate? And - how could they have let you?"

"How could who have let me?" I asked, crossing my brows.

"The Captain. The guards. Anybody?" he answered, looking out to the horizon.

I cast my eyes to the road ahead, too, then; the White-Gold Tower was visible, like a hazy mirage, in the distance.

"You are no warrior," Baurus added in a mutter.

I shrugged a little. "No. But it's what happened. There was no other way to reach Martin," I explained plainly. "And I knew that if he was lost..." I faltered. "Then...all was lost."

Baurus stayed quiet at this.

"I did have another guard with me, as I said," I restarted. "I found a few inside the deadlands, battling daedra," I didn't really want to remember those hours in Oblivion, but I wanted Baurus to understand what had happened.

"And all you did was remove a stone from its setting?" he asked unsurely. He had, of course, heard my explanation to the Countess, as I'd explained how to close the Gate so she could inform her Guard. "That's all it took to collapse it? How did you escape?"

"I don't know," I said honestly, thinking that of course, it hadn't been that easy. "The hard part was finding the Sigil stone. It was locked away and protected, high in a dark tower surrounded by searing lava, and these patrolling lizard-ish daedra, and Dremora," I told him, wishing that I knew what to call the lizard-things. "When I removed the Sigil stone, everything turned white," I revealed. "I woke two days later, in the Chapel, with Martin by my side healing me," I shrugged. "I don't exactly know what happened."

Baurus let out a long, sighing breath. "My Lady, that is quite a tale."

"I know," I shook my head, laughing a little at myself, to dispel the sombre memories Oblivion dredged up. "I can hardly believe what really happened. Or that the Emperor's words were so...literal," I added, knowing that this would be something that Baurus would believe, even if he believed only part of my story.

"It is no wonder that an assassin was sent after you," he concluded, and I whirled my head around to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

Baurus hesitated, seeing my look, but then said, "It stands to reason that the Oblivion Gates, and the red-robed assassins, are connected," he began. "It is clear that they are not Dark Brotherhood, as the assassin's guild is never so...obvious. If it's this group of assassin's desire to open Oblivion gates throughout Cyrodiil," he shrugged, "and then you come along and close them..." he trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

My mind raced. I had assumed that the assassin had been after me because I had been Ebel's betrothed; not because I had closed an Oblivion gate, the thought hadn't crossed my mind. And, Baurus was right about something else; the far more crucial matter. The assassins, and the Oblivion gates, had to be connected.

"Who would want to open Oblivion gates?" I asked Baurus, aghast.

He shrugged again. "A daedric cult might?"

Of course. The pieces of the assassination puzzle clunked into place alongside what we already knew about the Oblivion gates. The only people who would want to merge Mundus and Oblivion would be...Mehrunes Dagon worshippers.

"Is that who you think stole the Amulet?" I asked. "Cultists?"

Baurus nodded. "That is what I intend on asking my contacts first, in the City," he said. "Now, my Lady, do you think we might ride a little faster?" he asked. "I hope to reach the City before the sun sets."

I nodded, and kicked my heels into Patch to quicken her pace. Baurus matched that pace and we leaned over the horses, making haste for the City that I had escaped out of only a few days earlier.

Whether any of our speculation was true or not; whether Mehrunes Dagon cultists really had the Amulet or not, it was somewhere to start looking. Perhaps the Amulet wasn't lost to us forever.