"Your what?"

Kiir didn't answer. Her eyes was locked on her father, as if waiting for him to disappear. He looked so much older, so much more drawn. He was still the only Thalmor in the room with a beard. Some things never change. The hair around the edges of his face had started to turn white... had it been like that before she left? Kiir honestly couldn't remember. She watched her father move to join Elenwen in the hallway.

Elenwen smiled. "I didn't think you'd make it."

"I was in the area and knew I would never hear the end of it if I didn't stop by."

Hearing his voice sent chills down Kiir's spine.

"In the area?"

Kiir's father's face grew grim, but only for a fleeting second. "Thalmor business. We can discuss it later in... different company."

"Of course." Elenwen gestured and they both moved further from the door.

"Kiir."

Kiir's head snapped back to meet eyes with Vingalmo. She blinked. "What?"

"Your father is a High Councilor?" Vingalmo raised a brow. "You didn't think that was something we should consider?"

"I never thought he'd be here," Kiir mumbled. Her voice came out a small whisper. "I never thought I'd see him again."

Vingalmo clicked his tongue. "You stay here, I'm going to go talk to them."

Kiir frowned. "What do you mean stay here? That's my father, don't you think-"

"Him being your father is exactly why you're staying here," Vingalmo interrupted. "Speak to a few of the guests, see what you can get out of them, but we don't need your father ruining the purpose of this trip."

"I-" Kiir bit her lip. To be honest, she wasn't even sure she wanted to speak to her father. Even just being around him again had shaken her. She might not be able to hold her composure. "Alright."

Vingalmo nodded. He turned and slipped into the crowd.

Kiir could hear Elenwen cry a greeting 'Ah! Vingalmo!' before she turned and drifted back to where the bar was. Taking a seat, Kiir figured she could listen in on some of the passive conversation and perhaps pick up on something important, but her mind could not get off the image of her father.

I never got a chance to say goodbye. Kiir's mind repeated that line over and over. Did he miss her? What did he even know of her leaving? Had her mother told him? Kiir shuddered at the thought of her father knowing what she'd done. Perhaps it was for the best that he was left in the dark. Maybe then he could one day move past it all. Move past his failure of a daughter.

Kiir placed a hand to her forehead. She hadn't come here to relive everything she'd wanted to leave behind. She had truly started to think of Skyrim as a possible home and now here she was, homesick for a place she could never return to.

"Can I get you anything?"

Kiir looked up.

A bosmer man offered her a weak smile, nodding towards the empty bar in front of her. "It is a party after all."

"Right, ah..." Kiir let her eyes lazily drift over the brightly colored bottles stacked behind the shelf. She pointed to the tall, green bottle. "That one."

"The Silver Creek? Not a fan of strong drink then?"

Kiir shook her head.

The bosmer chuckled. He poured Kiir a glass and slid it over to her. "Then I'd say Skyrim isn't the place for you. Don't think I've found a place with heartier drink."

Where is the place for me? Kiir thanked him for the glass, bringing it to her lips. It tasted just as she remembered it did. As if she needed any more reminders of home.

"So how long are you here for?" The bosmer continued. "In Skyrim, I mean."

"I've... been here for a while, actually." Kiir turned her head to see Vingalmo still deep in conversation with Elenwen and her father. "My fiance lives here."

"One of the officers?"

"Former."

"I see." The bosmer's face quirked a little and he nodded. "Then I guess-"

"Malborn!"

Kiir nearly jumped out of her skin as a Redguard man swung himself into the bar counter. He knocked his empty mug with his knuckles. "So how 'bouts you give your old friend another fill?"

Malborn's face soured. "I don't think Elenwen-"

"Oh fuck Elenwen!" The Redguard shouted far too loud. "What 'dya have drink for if not to drink?"

Kiir leaned away from the man, catching the eye of a few of the other guests who were equally as stunned.

Malborn looked to Kiir, then grabbed the Redguard's glass and filled it to the brim with a dark brown liquid.

He hadn't so much as set it down when the Redguard had the glass to his lips, downing near half the glass in a single swing. "You're a swell guy, Malborn!"

Kiir sighed as the man departed. She hadn't realized she was gripping her own glass tight enough for her knuckles to turn white. She looked to Malborn. "I thought this was a Thalmor affair. Why is there a Redguard here?"

"Politics," Malborn replied. He shook his head. "After the whole mess in Hammerfell, the Dominion is trying to mend bridges."

"Hammerfell?" Kiir raised a brow. She knew that Valenwood and Elsweyr and joined the Dominion, but had Hammerfall come to join them as well? "Are they part of the Dominion now?"

Malborn choked. "What? Gods no! I'm talking about the war. Where the Redguards beat the Dominion out of Hammerfell? You don't know about this?"

Kiir was reluctant to affirm that she did not, in fact, know anything about the war. She'd heard bits and pieces over the months and it seemed to more she learned, the less she liked it. "I know the Thalmor were here but in Hammerfell?"

"Yes. But they lost and are now trying to play nice. Stay the line. And Razelan there is the head of a very important trade company. Though you wouldn't know it looking at him."

Kiir turned to follow where Malborn was looking, immediately spotting Razelan. He wore a grin from ear to ear - he was enjoying himself. His voice was loud enough to be heard where Kiir sat.

"Elenwen has been... more than accommodating."

Malborn groaned. "Oh no..."

The Altmer he'd been speaking quirked a bow and replied, though Kiir couldn't seem to hear him.

Razelan laughed. "It would be terribly rude of me to share something intimate."

Kiir eyes drifted to Elenwen, still stood by Kiir's father. Her brows were drawn low and she looked about ready to kill.

Kiir could feel herself shrink and she wasn't even part of the spectacle.

Suddenly, as Elenwen started forward, Kiir's father put a hand on her shoulder and slipped out in front of Razelan. He cast a spell, effectively freezing the Redguard's feet to his spot. If Kiir hadn't been watching, she might not have noticed it at all. She held her breath. What is he doing?

Razelan pinwheeled his arms to try and steady himself, and the Altmer he'd been in conversation with drew back. Kiir's father caught him by his collar. There was a flash of red and Razelan's face contorted into one that looked like pain.

Fear. Her father had just cast Fear. Kiir looked to Vingalmo who looked just as surprised as she did.

When Kiir's father finally spoke, it was in a low voice. It couldn't be made out over the murmur of the crowd, who themselves seemed utterly oblivious to what was happening.

"No, I..." Razelan's voice warbled.

Kiir's father pulled his face closer to Razelan's. His eyes were dark.

Kiir had never seen him this angry. She didn't think he could ever get this angry.

Razelan struggled to pull backwards, his voice now too quiet to make out.

In a single move, Kiir's father dropped the ice spell at Razelan's feet and let go of his collar, letting him drop to the floor. He humphed, brushing off his hands, before returning again to Elenwen.

Kiir saw Vingalmo slip through the crowd and make a beeline for her. He didn't waste a moment, leaning in close to her face. "Follow me."

What in the world? Kiir nodded and looked to Malborn, quickly thanking him again for the drink.

He eyed the glass. "You're not going to finish it?"

Before she could over think it, Kiir tipped the rest of the glass and downed it all in a single swig. A smile pulled at the edges of Malborn's lips as Kiir turned to follow Vingalmo to the back corner of the room.

Vingalmo's face was tight and his frown was deep.

Kiir slid into place next to him. "What the hell just happened?"

"It surprised me, too. Typically Thalmor keep from being so..."

"My father would never-" Kiir cut herself off. She let her eyes drift over to where her father was stood, having gone back to talking with Elenwen. He had returned to normal, but Kiir could not get the look in his eyes out of her mind. Razelan had taken a spot on one of the benches, head in his hands. My father... would never... "Why would he do that?"

Vingalmo was paused a moment. "He's a High Councilor, Kiir. He's not going to let something like that slide."

"But that..." Kiir shook her head. "Razelan was just joking..." Her thoughts and emotions were all jumbled up and messy. Probably some from the drink and some from her father. She drew in a deep breath. She was here with a purpose. Father or not she had a job to do. Kiir looked back up to Vingalmo. "What did they say? Elenwen and him?"

"Things are worse than I thought."

"How could things be worse?"

"They think the Dragonborn is an Altmer."

Kiir's mouth went dry. "Shit."

"And Elenwen is convinced that the Dragonborn is working with the Stormcloaks to bring back the dragons. She worries if they don't stop them in time, the dragons will be turned on the Isles."

"What!" Kiir could feel a slurry of panic begin in her stomach. "That's ridiculous!"

"There's also the Blades," Vingalmo continued. "There are at least two confirmed surviving Blades. Delphine and Esbern. It's believed they're working for the Dragonborn."

"Hal daemori!"

Vingalmo smiled. "I'm assuming you picked that up from your father."

"What?"

"He used that a few times in our conversation."

Kiir had a fleeting moment of nostalgia, but she quickly shook it off. "So we need to find these Blades before my father does."

"I think that's the best course of action."

"And the horn?"

Vingalmo shook his head. "Nothing. But I'm thinking the Blades might have something to do with it. Elenwen said Delphine had stolen some stone tablet from Whiterun. I don't think it's a stretch to think she stole the Horn as well."

Kiir hummed. "Where would we even start looking?"

"We can reconvene with Tukara and Driem outside. I don't see a reason to stay."

Kiir eyes, again, drifted to her father. "Perhaps we can stay just a little while longer?"

"I think the Illusion magic is beginning to fade and I'd rather you not be here when it does."

Kiir put a hand to her face. She hummed. "Alight, let's-"

Suddenly, the sound of a woman's scream chilled the room to silence.

There was someone on the floor, a shattered wine glass near his body.

Kiir quickly scanned the room for her father, seeing him beginning to draw closer to the mer on the floor. She drew a small breath of relief. Elenwen was pushing through the crowd. People began to shift nervously and move towards the door. Kiir took a step forward, but Vingalmo stopped her.

"Now's the time to go. Come on."

As if on cue, Elewen suddenly stood up straight, raising her hands and pointing to the front doors. "Close the doors! No one leaves!"

That sent the crowd into a frenzy.

"What do you mean no one leaves!"

"You can't hold us here!"

"This is ridiculous."

Vingalmo's grip on Kiir's arm tightened.

Kiir's own stomach twisted itself into a knot. She turned back, seeing that the door to the kitchen was open. She nudged Vingalmo. "The kitchen should have outside access."

"Then go."

"You're not coming?"

Vingalmo shook his head, stealing a glance over his shoulder. "I leave just after an event like this? No, I'll say you weren't feeling well and left just before."

The shouting in the lobby was growing to a climax. Kiir resisted the urge to turn and see what was happening. Her breathing quickened. "Where are Driem and Tukara going to be?"

"Around," Vingalmo answered. He nodded towards the kitchen. "We're losing our window. Go."

Kiir nodded and turned before her anxious mind could argue with her. Her hands were shaking and her shoulder ached. She slipped into the kitchen, but stopped just over the threshold to look back once more into the lobby. She watched Vingalmo crouched beside the fallen man. Kiir looked up and saw her father, there eyes meeting for just a moment. Kiir thought she saw a flash of recognition on his face, but she turned before she had gotten a good look.

The kitchen was empty, save for Malborn. He was stood at on of the pantry shelves, absently inspecting the containers. He caught Kiir's eyes as she skittered into the kitchen.

Kiir stayed silent. There was only one door, other than the entryway back into the main lobby. She moved towards it, keeping a wary eye on Malborn as he watched her.

"Such an unceremonious exit."

Kiir's hand rested on the door's handle. "Too crowded out in the lobby."

"Of course." Malborn drew close. "Stairway to the courtyard in at the end of the hall. Door on the right."

That was the last thing Kiir expected for him to say. "Why-"

Malborn shook his head, pointing to the other end of the kitchen. "I'd hustle if I were you."

Kiir nodded. The doorway in the kitchen led to a darkened hallway, the doors likely to the rest of the Embassy's offices. Kiir paused for just a moment, long enough to cast an Invisibility spell. Better safe than sorry. The area was eerily quiet and Kiir's ears rang from the sudden shift in volume. She strained to hear any oncoming footsteps or the rattle of glass armor.

The hallway felt small and claustrophobic. Kiir was jogging, trying to keep her breathing as quiet as possible. Delphine. Esbern. Blades. Perhaps if she focused on something other than the narrow hallway-

Kiir reached the end of the hall and yanked open the door, relieved to see that it did lead to a staircase. She wasn't sure what Malborn would have gained from lying, but was she ever grateful he chose not to.

Breathing in the chilly winter air, Kiir slipped outside. She was silently thankful that she had opted to keep her cloak on. She could make out the entrance area, but it looked to be swarming with Justicars. Kiir's heart leapt into her throat and she pressed herself against the brick wall that ran around the perimeter. She wouldn't be leaving the way she came - she'd have to get over the battlement.

There was a set of stairs a ways ahead and Kiir beelined. She scampered up and paused at the top. Where was she even going? Vingalmo had only said Tukara and Driem would be 'around', but that could be anywhere. She would have to-

"Freeze!"

Kiir's breath hitched. She turned just in time to see a Justicar racing across the courtyard. He didn't see her. He couldn't see her! There was no-

The fireball that came flying through the air cleared up any doubt.

"They're over here!"

Kiir ducked, hearing the fireball explode on the bricks above her head. Not missing a beat, she grabbed ahold of the edge of battlement and pulled herself up. Her shoulder screamed. Kiir was sure that she'd feel her back light alfame at any moment. The drop was far longer than she had anticipated and Kiir landed hard on the sloped ground. The snow thankfully cushioned most of her fall, but her ankles still screamed as she tumbled onto the ground. She pushed herself back onto her feet, racing into the trees. She ran until the Embassy had disappeared behind the foliage and brush, her lungs were on fire.

When Kiir finally drew to a stop, she wasn't quite sure where she was. She turned around. "Tukara? Driem?"

The only reply was the sharp tweeting of the winter birds.

Kiir started to dispel her invisibility spell, but she thought better of the idea. She could feel her weight of the invisibility spell starting to weigh on her, but there was no telling if the Justicar would follow her out here. She couldn't risk it, not yet. There was enough snow on the ground that he could follow her footsteps if he tried. She needed to move.

Whether from the threat of pursuit or the temperature, Kiir shivered. She pulled her cloak closer around her shoulders.

Kiir started a wide path back to where the carriages were. She prayed that the driver that had taken Vingalmo and her to the Embassy had decided to stick around.

Luckily, Kiir quickly spotted the carriage as she exited the trees. Unfortunately, just like the entrance, the entire place was filled with Thalmor officers and soldiers. Kiir didn't see Tukara or Driem anywhere.

One of the officers pointed to the trees and Kiir's heart thundered.

Her invisibility spell was getting difficult to maintain and there was no question the illusion magic on her face had waned to a point where it was no longer useful. Kiir needed to move and fast. She dipped back into the trees and went around the back of the Embassy, careful to try and leave as few footprints as possible.

She came upon a trail that, as far as Kiir could tell, moved away from the Embassy. It had carriage marks in it so it must've been well travelled. She ran alongside it, finally dropping her invisibility. Kiir hadn't paid much attention to where the carriage had been going - even though she'd stared out the window for a majority of the ride, the most she could do was note which sides looked familiar.

My bag is still in the carriage. Kiir paused. It only had a few of her things - drawings and some clothes - but she would feel better if she had it on her back. Maybe I should wait for someone. Maybe Driem or Tukara or Vingalmo-

The sound of galloping horses pushed Kiir back into the treeline. She bent over, looking out past the brush as a group of three Thalmor raced up the trail.

There would be no waiting. Opting to stay in the trees this time, Kiir followed the road as much as she could. Perhaps she could make it to Solitude before nightfall.