"We are exactly where she said." Fahtlen seemed uneasy. Something wasn't right. Either it was his innate horse sense feeling as if something bad was about to happen, or he was just paranoid from not finding the priory where Sabine had said. "Are you sure you heard her correctly?"
"Yes, yes. She said to turn directly east from the oak tree and head straight on until we reached the priory." He dismounted Fahlten, wanting to walk alongside him. He walked a few feet ahead of Fahlten, leading him on. "Perhaps we just haven't gone far eno…" Kenrick fell flat on his arse. Fahlten suddenly stopped. The hysterical laughing of the horse to anyone else would have been hilarious, but at the moment Kenrick found it irritating.
"Oww!" he howled. "What in the wor…" He cocked his head to the side while standing up. Outstretching his hand, he tried feeling for whatever it was he had walked into.
Suddenly his hand made contact with the "object". An invisible wall blocked their way, and as he touched it, gentle ripples strode off from his fingers, like that of dropping a pebble into a lake. If the sun sank any lower into the sky, they would have never even been able to "see" it. Though, with on look they could tell it was obviously supernatural. No being in all of Tamriel could possibly create such a powerful barrier… could they? No way could it have been manmade, nor likely was it of Mer origin.
Walking with one hand to the wall, and another in front of him, he little by little inched his way around the perimeter of the object. "You don't think this could be it... do you?"
"I don't know, Kenrick." Fahlten looked out to the forest around them. "But I've got this feeling… like we're being watched with eyes unseen," he went to a whisper, "listened to by unwarranted ears."
"Preposterous!" Kenrick snapped. "You think something, or someone, is watching us?"
"Well, this wall certainly doesn't make me feel any better."
"Quit your belly-aching, this wall is bound to be the priory… if I can ever find an entrance that is." He had been tracking the length of the wall for about ten minutes. Though, no sign showed that whatever it was had any sort of gate, or grating, or any permeable entrance for that matter.
"Maybe there's a secret word to open it, whatever it is." Fahlten neighed, nudged him, and repeated it again.
"Like what? Friend of the Blades. Or Long live the Emperor. Or how about this, Close Shut the Jaws of Oblivion." He tried his best to imitate the emperor, which actually wasn't a bad attempt, and then chuckled for a moment. "You see, there's nothing here." However, he looked to the wall, and it already looked a clearear. Stone walls surrounded the priory.
"What did I tell you?" Fahlten smirked and walked up next to him.
Kenrick stood up to the wall, and looked hard at it, already he could see something swiftly moving towards his position. A faint sound came through the wall, like the barking of hounds… vicious hounds – hounds with large incisors – hounds with strongly averted appetites for human flesh, and horse flesh too!
The wall looking more and more whole started to become clearer at each passing moment. And in not too long a time, they stood before a large metal gate. Two vicious canines guarded the entrance, directly inside the gate. Their teeth bared, and menacing growls threatened the unfamiliar scents. Good thing for them though the gate was shut tight. They looked from left to right, to try and see what the wall consisted of. It appeared to them, at first, to be made entirely of leaves, but as the magic of the wall wore off more, they discovered that it was made to become "invisible" by changing to whatever its background looked like. Always it changed as the constant movement of one's head went to any direction. They tried to see if it worked as such – and it did!
"Wow" Kenrick gasped. "This wall is amazing. Fahlten, do you see this?"
"Oh yes, I see it alright. A wall covered in magical properties to fool prying eyes. A most clever invention – or a most divine invention. Either way works for me."
They couldn't do much with the dogs just sitting there, waiting to attack them... the intruders. But with just their luck a way would be provided. For a balding man walked outside and asked, "Who goes there? Be you friend or foe? Be you friend of the emperor" he said menacingly, "or ally to the assassin's?"
For sure this was the place, Kenrick said, "We are friend to the emperor. Try and slay us now if you be enemy against our king."
"Bold choice of words, young man" his tone changed to a subtler form, almost neutral as if.
"Is this the priory with whom Jauffre resides in?" Kenrick furiously glared at the man.
"Aye, but what business do you have here. You don't look like a friend of his; for he is sure he has never seen the likes of you." His words trailed off as he inspected the stallion standing next to the boy. "But you," he said, "are familiar. Speak now, beast of Mhlanc."
"It is good to see you, old friend." The two smiled at each other. Kenrick just stood there, confused as to what was going on.
"You know this man? He spoke against the emperor!" Kenrick flew his arms in the air in exasperation with the horse.
Fahlten looked to him, "Only to fool intruders, of course. You did a brave thing then, standing for what you believe in. Perhaps a little naïve, but very brave indeed." Kenrick wasn't sure whether or not to take it as a compliment.
"Come in, friends of the emperor. We have much to discuss." The balding man led them further inside.
A precious stable was off to the left, where Fahlten slept for the time being and was treated as if royalty. He received nothing less than the finest hay and the choicest oats by the stable master, Eronor, a kind and gentle Dunmer with nothing more in mind then tending to his work. "Join him, Kenrick" Fahtlen said with a mouth full of oats. "He has much wisdom. You would be wise to heed his council." Kenrick nodded.
The inner priory was decorated with outfitting for travelers and various supplies – if they could find the place that is – and offered much to anyone seeking wisdom within. Bookcases higher than any Kenrick had seen lined the eastern wall. Past history of the empire, anonymous books on the lore of other cultures, even various books on how to fight and use magic. It all interested Kenrick. However, he would have to wait for a later time when he could finally relax from traveling. Indeed, now was not the time for idle thought. Kenrick had a mission, and nearly had it completed. All he needed to do was talk to Jauffre. The balding man sat down at his desk up the stairs and to the right. At the top of the stairs and to the left were many beds for weary travelers.
"Join me," said the man offering a chair sitting before the desk, "You appear to have urgent news."
Kenrick nodded. "I bring word of the emperor, and…"
"You know something of the emperor's death" he was cut off sharply.
"Well, yes" replied Kenrick. "I was there when he died."
The bald man glared at him. "You had better explain yourself, young man."
"I would, if you'd allow me to." Kenrick made sure he had permission to speak further without being ridiculed. "The emperor sent me to find Jauffre. Do you know where he is?"
"Why yes. He is I and I am he. Jauffre, servant of the Nine Divines." Jauffre still continued to glare, but lessened the intensity of it. "What did the emperor need me for. Obviously there is some sort of special message he had for me… make out with it!"
Kenrick pulled from his pack the Amulet of Kings. "He sent this with me to give to you."
"The Amulet of Kings" gasped Jauffre. "Uriel sent you with this to find me? Why you?"
"I don't know why he chose me. The death of Uriel has brought me deeper into this dilemma ever since he led me out of the prisons."
"Ah, so you're the escapee I've heard talk about."
Kenrick nodded. "He told me to bring it to you, so that the only heir left to the throne could relight the Dragon Fires – whatever they are. Does this have anything to do with Oblivion? Is it true that those Dragon Fire things keep the hell gates at bay?"
"What do you mean?" Jauffre was concerned with the news.
"Well, when Uriel died, he told me to close shut the Jaws of Oblivion."
"This is a mystery to me, Kenrick. Only the strange fate of Uriel could have brought you here to me asking these questions. Apparently Uriel perceived some threat from the plains of Oblivion. His words must refer to them and the demonic ruler, Mehrunes Dagon, the Prince of Destruction."
"He mentioned that to me as well. The part about some Prince of Destruction."
"Then it is as I feared. You must hurry to Kvatch, Martin is Uriel's lost son and he lives there as a priest. If the enemy learns of him, all hope will be lost."
"Wait, Kvatch you say?" A look of horror streaked across Kenrick face. His stomach churned many times before he finally regained himself.
"Yes. Why? What has happened?" Jauffre sternly gazed into Kenrick's eyes.
"On my way to Bruma, to inquire your location from the blades at Cloud Ruler, I heard a guard from Kvatch say that his city was under attack by the forces of Oblivion."
"How long ago was this" Jauffre demanded.
"From now it has nearly been a week."
"May the gods have mercy on Kvatch," Jauffre rubbed his forhead. "You must get to Kvatch, dear child. Martin is the only heir left to the throne. You must save him. Though traveling at night will not do you any good, especially in this immense forest where you are bound to be lost in no time. Rest here for the night, but it is urgent that in the morning you ride as quickly as Fahtlen shall carry."
Kenrick sighed and went to the bedding adjacent Jauffre's quarters. For the next day started a new and completely terrifying experience for him. In the days to come, Kenrick would face his most fearsome adventure yet – ridding Cyrodiil of the Oblivion invasion!
On the fourth morning the moons faded behind the horizon and the rising sun showered the country side of Cyrodiil in warmth, although, Kenrick felt no such comfort. Only demise seemed to filter his mind, scattering any thought of relief he tried to grasp hold of. Kenrick knew after the death of his father that things would be different. But now he was on a quest to rescue another life form. How could he possibly help any other being when he failed in protecting even his own family?
Trying to soothe the unrelenting images of death, Kenrick focused on the wind rushing past his face as Falhten quickly sped onward. Breathing in the sweet aromas carried on the summer-filled air, Kenrick found a peace in the serenities of nature. He wished freedom had come to him so naturally like the wild deer scattering as Fahlten pressed on. But Kenrick seemed to be trapped within uncontrollable circumstances, unable to escape his "destiny". He remembered back to when the Emperor had given him the Amulet – it seemed forever ago. And the Emperor's words, "Close shut the Jaws of Oblivion".
For many hours Kenrick pondered the recent circumstances befallen upon him. 'How can I be the one to defeat this Oblivion threat? I'm no one of consequence. But the Emperor gave me orders… in the last moment of his life. I must obey his dying wish.'
Falthen suddenly halted and looked back to Kenrick.
"Why have we stopped?" inquired Kenrick.
"Look forward, young master" Fahlten replied, pointing west.
"How far have you taken us?" gasped Kenrick, seeing the mighty city of Skingrad. Great stone walls surrounded the grand municipality. Aged gray buildings lined the narrow network of streets winding through and around the area. Spanning several hundred feet, a wide ditch of sorts ran perpendicular, from east to west, with two bridges connecting both halves of Skingrad to one. In the south east the prodigious castle sat on a high rise with a long bridge connecting it to the mainland. Standing tall, the castle protectively overlooked the city in whole, providing comfort to all onlookers – civilians and travelers alike.
"Not I, but the gods'" Fahlten said joyously. "They must be on our side, for we have made a rushed one week journey in less than four days." The exhausted horse trotted now, regaining much of his needed energy.
As daylight waned into dusk, Kenrick and Fahlten settled in Skingrad for the night, praying all the while for Kvatch to still be standing by the time they arrived. Only one more day's travel stood between them and the city in peril.