Chapter 10

Ykalon, War Tent

A restricted meeting was taking place, composed of only the Emperor, the Crown Prince (in his position as General of the expeditionary centuries) and the Imperial Battlemage.

"Let's summarize the situation so far," Ivan started.

"Of the teams we've sent, only Captain Caranya's has reached their objective. Countess Myui alongside the city of Italica have been secured. Unexpectedly, the eldest Imperial Princess was also "acquired" as a result. In fact from what I've been told, she was directly saved by one of our own during the battle," Hector explained.

The Emperor smiled. "Remind me to reward them. Truly, we are blessed."

Basil continued. "Last time we heard, Captain Alexios' team was within the Kingdom of Elbe when they were attacked, they however successfully squashed the Daedra band. Same as Commander Sejanus. Captain Eveline was near the Capital when all of this happened. She noted a lack of any noticeable military force on the way. Nothing unusual from the other scouting teams, though they did mention the Flame Dragon."

"Very well, that was what we knew then, what of the current situation?" the Emperor asked while looking at Hector.

"I was able to get more detailed reports once things calmed down and… some are rather interesting I would say."

"Go on," Ivan told him.

"About the Flame Dragon, it was Captain Caranya's group that encountered him first. Turns out the beast had just burned an entire village. They found one survivor, a teenage girl hiding in a well."

Basil shook his head. "Merciful Stendarr…"

"They buried the bodies and took her in. She pointed them towards a village, "mannish" this time. They evacuated to Italica after they learned about the Dragon."

The Emperor nodded. "Good thinking, cooperating with the locals to earn their trust."

"That's where it becomes interesting. On the way there, they encountered something called an "Apostle". Some kind of local demigod acting as a messenger from one of the local deities."

"The same that opened the Rift?" Basil asked.

Hector shook his head. "Not exactly. Another one. This Apostle, Rory Mercury, surprisingly befriended the team. She also seems to suffer a typical case of eternal youth stasis growth. Which might explain her… eccentric personality."

"Eternal youth stasis growth?"

"It's simple, it's a case when someone who hasn't reached its full maturity is hit by a condition that prevents aging, like vampirism. From the report I have, she has the body of a young teenage girl but is actually way past nine centuries old," the Imperial Battlemage explained.

"Ignoring that, you say she befriended them just like that?" The Emperor asked.

"Apparently yes. I can't fully explain it but as I said she's quite eccentric. She didn't develop any ill-will upon learning about the team's extra-planar origins."

"What about the culprit behind the Rift's opening? Did she say anything about it?"

Hector shook his head negatively. "Aside from that she does seem to know her… nothing."

"Anything else?"

"Yes. Captain Erik Bjornson's team heard of rumors of a strange plague. They encountered refugees fleeing from it. Now, Captain Za'kir of Border Watch's group … they encountered a few daedra here and here as they came closer to the…" he looked at his map, "Romaria Mountains. Not numerous or organized but still a plague."

"Did we learn where they came from?"

"Not yet. During the battle of Italica however, they were commanded by the leader of a bandit army. We will know more after his interrogation through Necromancy. Interestingly, we have a confirmation from the Apostle that Daedra had never set foot in their world," Hector answered.

"Interesting, indeed," Ivan added, "since it means their appearance happened at the same time as the Rift. I don't know about you two but I call that suspicious."

"The Rift is within Mundus, it should be impossible for any Daedra to manipulate it."

" Keyword being "should"," Basil noted.

"Precisely. Any report coming from that interrogation will be prioritized. Was that all?" the Emperor asked.

"Pretty much. We now know a bit more about the races from the other side. Alongside those "Men" and their "Goblin-ken" we can add multiple Beast-races with animal parts, some we have already seen here."

"Yes, like that rabbit woman bodyguard of Lady Sartorius', " the Emperor added.

"Catfolk similar to Ohmes/Ohmes-rahts, more Suthay and Cathay like people, Wolf-folk, snake-haired folk… the list goes on for part-animal folk. They don't seem to have a clear homeland. They are found everywhere"

"What about the Elves you mentioned?" the Prince asked.

"Right. Two types of Elves have been encountered. Pale skinned ones, like the girl that was rescued, and a few brown-skinned ones with white hair. The latter are called Dark Elves apparently. They seem mostly rural and keep to themselves. They probably have even less of a connection with Mer than us with the "mannish" Falmartians."

"That really intrigues me, " Ivan said as he rubbed his chin, "once things settle down I'd like to see it investigated. But back to Imperial business . The situation has changed with the Daedra appearance. Have we received any news from the Imperial City?"

"Several Councilors have already returned to their home provinces. The Elder Council is now working in limited sessions," Hector informed him.

"What about Commander Pious Augustus?" Basil asked. "We haven't heard of him in a while."

The Imperial Battlemage waved his concerns. "I wouldn't worry about it. Pious is very resourceful. If something had happened to him, he would have found a way to alert us. He is probably still searching for the plane. That task might take days."

Ivan suddenly grasped his amulet. "I just remembered… today is Sundas. There was going to be a special celebration at the Cathedral."

"A shame we cannot be there," the Prince added.

"Quite so."

Imperial City, Temple District

After the sacrifice of Martin Septim and his subsequent petrification into a giant statue of Akatosh in its center, the Temple of the One had been rendered unusable. Some had rejoiced and seen it as the fall of the last remnant of the hated Alessian Order.

The Temple however had already begun to be replaced before that by another church for more regular attendance. Those events had only hastened its fate.

As a result and under the Medes, the church had been turned into an imposing Cathedral intended as the new seat of Cyrodiil's Patriarchate. It had been one of the few monuments left untouched during the sacking of the Great War, with Dominion officers unwilling to damage the place of worship, allowing inhabitants to take refuge in it.

Today was mass day and a large part (if not all) of the City's population was attending the service.

The inside of the building was decorated with depictions of various religious events, from the Creation of Mundus to the Alessian rebellion and the Founding of the First Empire. A few stained glass windows and murals showed the Divines in their foreign aspects, such as a Cat-Dragon for Alkosh.

The cupola itself represented a young woman, her hair styled into two braids, wearing ancient heartlander clothes with a bull horns headdress and broken chains on her wrists, a halo indicating her sainthood. She was raising her hands as a red jewel descended from Heaven.

A white armored Knight with a red diamond on his chestplate, a man with a bull helmet and winged armor, several Nord warriors, men and women in rags and even a few Ayleids (recognizable by their feathered clothing) were kneeling before her.

The inscription under the scene was reading : Al-Esh Alma-Par-Essi, crowned Paravant Queen-ut-Cyrod as she receives the Chim-el Adabal *

Iszara and Liliah were at the first rank, immediately recognizable by their clothes. A dark-haired teenage girl and a young boy of mixed features, Princess Theodora and Prince Nicolai, the youngest children of the Imperial couple, were standing next to their mothers. A few bodyguards surrounded them though they were unarmed as weapons were forbidden inside. And few were foolish enough to disrespect the Divines.

Facing them was an old man in priestly white and golden long robe with a long scarf where the symbol of each Divine had been embroidered. He was carrying a staff adorned with an hourglass. This was his holiness Leo the Ninth, Patriarch of Cyrodiil and Bishop of the Nine.

Currently, the liturgy was being sung as it was custom by the chanters of Akatosh. The crowd was silent, listening to the holy chant.

Iszara blinked, she was certain she saw his holiness cry.

The song ended and the Patriarch advanced to speak. "Brothers and Sisters, although my heart is pleased to see so many of you today in this house of worship, the absence of some cannot be ignored." His gaze landed briefly on the Imperial family. "I'm sure you already know why. As we speak, our beloved ruler, his son and countless faithful are putting their lives on the line once again to defend Tamriel from unknown horrors. Our prayers shall accompany them, wherever they are."

He paused, scanning the faithful. "I can already see some of you wanting answers, wanting to know why the Divines allowed such acts to take place. Do they not care about us? To those I say this : this is another Test. Just as our Faith was tested under the White-Gold Concordat, we are being tested now. Life is a series of tests laid down by the Gods, the nature of which can vary, what matters is how we rise up to them. After all, didn't our dear Alessia go through multiple trials of her own before freeing her people? What better way to prove our devotion. Our Emperor and his soldiers are following Talos' command : defend the people of Tamriel. Ours is clear, as Father Akatosh says : Serve and obey your Emperor. Study the Covenants. Worship the Nine, do your duty, and heed the commands of the saints and priests. "

An Argonian priestess advanced near the altar, where a book was open. "Reading of the Adabal-a, on Saint Alessia youth.

Men were given over to the lifting of stones, and the draining of the fields, and the upkeep of temple and road; or to become art-tortures for strange pleasures, as in the wailing wheels of Vindasel and the gut-gardens of Sercen; and flesh-sculpture, which was everywhere among the slaves of the Ayleids in those days; or, worse, the realms of the Fire King Hadhuul, where the begetting of drugs drawn from the admixture of daedrons into living hosts let one inhale new visions of torment, and children were set aflame for nighttime tiger sport."

The reading finished, Leo continued his sermon. "But Alessia was ultimately rewarded, the Sorcerer-Kings were cast down and the Men of Cyrod free at last. In truth I say it to you, our hour of Darkness shall pass as it did before. Our Faith will be rewarded. So shall it be."

"So shall it be."

The mass went on with the Patriarch and the priests accompanying him blessing the Crowd.

Eventually the celebration ended and the Imperial family exited the Cathedral.

"Do you think Father and Basil are well, Mother? I miss them." the young Nicolai asked.

"I believe so. They probably just miss us too," the Empress answered.

"Could we go visit them?"

"Nicolai, you know a war camp is no place for children," his sister told him.

The child almost pouted. "That's unfair! I'd like to command armies and fight the enemies of Tamriel too!"

Liliah smiled. "You have the spirit, I'll give you that. Just wait till you're a bit older, I might have a few things to teach you."

Iszara sent her a look whose meaning translated to don't encourage him.

Nicolai eyes glinted as he looked at his sister in law. "Thank you big sis!"

"Nicolai! Not outside the private quarters. In public you'll address Liliah by her name or Princess-consort," his mother reprimanded him.

The child grumbled something about "stupid rules".

"Empress Iszara!" a voice suddenly exclaimed.

The Empress turned to see the Easterner Councilwoman who had been of great help during the meeting a few days ago approaching.

"My Empress, Princess-consort Liliah, Princess Theodora and Prince Nicolai," she greeted as she bowed.

"Councilor Mei, a pleasure to see you," Iszara said. She took a moment to admire the Councilor's outfit.

Mei had traded the trademark white toga of the Elder Council for one of those long silk robes common in the Nibenay Basin, a hanfu. Her long black hair was secured behind her head with a golden comb.

"Likewise your Highness. How did you find his Holiness' sermon?"

"Very appropriate, we must keep our Faith. Though I wish the Gods would stop testing us like that," the Empress answered.

"It is the way things are, Empress," Liliah said. "His Holiness is right, life is a test."

"I'd prefer to see it as a gift." The Redguard woman turned back to Mei. "I imagine you were not here just to talk about the mass, Councilor?"

The Nibenese nodded. "Yes. I wanted to inform you about my decision, given the current events, to leave the Imperial City."

Iszara frowned. "You were of great assistance during the last crisis session. Are you sure?"

"Yes. Most Councilors have already left and those that stayed should be enough. My other duties require my presence."

"You're not leaving for your estate in the Nibenay Basin?" the Empress asked, surprised.

"Oh no. I'm afraid I am just trading my toga for my Battlemage officer armor," Mei answered with a smile.

Liliah looked envious. "Did something come up? Is there a shortage of soldiers?"

"Nothing of the sort, thankfully. I kept in close contact with some of my colleagues and, after a bit of thinking, I've made the decision to depart. I think some of my skills may be useful there."

"Can I come with you?" the young Prince asked.

"Prince Nicolai Henri Lucius Mede! What did I say about your manners?" The Empress exclaimed to her youngest child.

Nicolai crawled behind her sister at his mother outburst. "Sorry Mother, I won't do it again."

"You better, young Prince."

Mei smiled at the scene. "Don't be too harsh, your Highness, it's in his blood. His Brother, his Father, even both of his Grandfathers."

Iszara sighed. "I know. But what is an Empress if a mother first? A mother of hundreds of millions of people. And a mother has to protect her children."

"The feeling is mutual, I assure you."

Ykalon, civilian prisoners camp

"Catch me if you can!" a childish voice yelled.

A young boy was running followed by a girl a few years older.

"Julius, I swear by Hardy I'll get you!"

"Please, master Julius and mistress Flavia don't get too far! You know we can't leave the camp enclosure!" Violet, their mother's rabbit-woman servant, exclaimed.

"This situation has lasted enough! Lady Livia, we demand that you do something about it!"

A group of young women had assembled before the tent of the Sartorius Matriarch. They were led by a fair haired beauty.

"I understand your concern but we must be patient," Livia said calmly.

"You assured us our husbands were still alive, though prisoners. We want to see them!" the leader exclaimed.

"Don't be ridiculous, lady Octavia! You know full well that, though as guests we may be treated, we are still prisoners."

"Oh really?" Octavia started questioning in a suspicious tone. "Some maybe, but for a prisoner you spend a lot of time outside the camp. Some would think you are not considered a prisoner."

A roar of dissatisfaction followed the sentence.

"Are you trying to imply something here?" Livia retorted.

"Me? Only that you are allowed to go as you please and we are not. It's not as we could threaten armed guards. But maybe you can explain this to us?"

Livia bit her lip in anger. "How dare you! I have done everything in my power to find out what happened to your husbands and if they even are alive! I even took time to give you news of their well being! I am the reason we are so well-treated here! And yet you dare accuse me of plotting behind your back? Know that all I have done, I have done it for all of us. But maybe you would like to take my place in the negotiations?"

Octavia and her supporters shut up.

"It's a no I take it?"

Another young woman approached, a baby in her arms. "Forgive them, Lady Sartorius. We have all been on edge lately. Some more than others."

Livia sighed. "I know Lady Calia." She looked briefly at Octavia. "But this doesn't excuse everything. You don't even know if your husband is alive at all. You had more reason to complain than anyone. Yet you didn't."

"I know that complaining is a luxury our jailors allow us. If they were more like the Empire… none of us could protest. I am content with my fate as of now."

Octavia and her followers paled even more before bowing to Livia and going back to their tents.

Livia breathed. "I have to thank you for this timely intervention, my dear."

"It is us who should be all thanking you. You've done a lot for us."

"I sincerely doubt they would have harmed us. Still, no ransom for returning the prisoners… those are very generous terms," Livia said.

Calia looked surprised. "No ransom? Do they not want compensation?"

For those who can afford it anyway, she thought bitterly.

"I believe they do. But they don't intend to make families pay. The Empire however…"

"I see." Her baby began to get restless. "Excuse me, Lady Livia, duty calls."

As she began to walk away, she turned around briefly. "About my husband…"

"I'll see to it, do not worry." Livia assured her. "If he's among the prisoners I'll find him."

She didn't mention what would happen if he wasn't there but that was obvious to everyone.

"That is all I ask."

Livia watched as she entered her tent. Her gaze wandered on her children, still playing their games and oblivious to the world around them. She envied them, being able to be so carefree.

Her heart sank. She had been searching for a while now, there was probably little hope to find Antonius alive.

"Lady Sartorius!"

She turned around to see Colt Formal walking towards her.

She acknowledged him with a smile. "Count Formal. Do you have news from Italica? You seem in a good mood."

"Indeed. Will you walk with me?"

"So, what were the news, Count?"

They had exited the civilian area and were currently wandering on the camp's borders. The soldiers they encountered didn't mind them as they knew about the two Falmartians' "status".

"The soldiers sent there have acknowledged my Myui as the ruler of the city. They've been fully cooperating with her. From what I've been told they set up a hospital and are trying to fix the damages occurred during the attack."

"Good news, indeed," Livia said. "Do you know how the city and its inhabitants are faring?"

"It could have been a lot worse. At least from the creatures they described that took part in the attack. No one was killed. Apparently the enemy wanted the people alive."

She frowned. "Slavery?"

"Perhaps"

"And what about the Princess?" she added.

He stopped. "I… don't know. She lives and they haven't taken her prisoner."

"Knowing her, she'll try to plot something. Politically I mean. She was always quite capable for a woman."

He almost laughed. "Don't be so modest. Only a fool would dismiss his wife's advice in such areas. My late Severina was always of great counsel. Had she been a man, no doubt she would have ended up as a Senator."

He suddenly raised his gaze at the sky, looking melancholic.

"Did you manage to learn something? About the Legatus?" He finally asked.

"No…"

"I'm sorry," he said in a sincere tone.

"I haven't finished identifying all remaining prisoners. Maybe he's among them."

They stayed quiet for a moment. As they were looking at the landscapes before them, they ended up staring at a strange structure far away.

It looked like the tallest tower they had ever seen, easily touching the sky.

"We call it Ada-Mantia."

They jumped out at the sudden voice and turned around. "Crown Prince Basil!" They immediately bowed. "Forgive us your Highness, we were lost in thought."

The young man smiled. "I should be the one to apologize. I didn't mean to startle you."He said, joining the Falmartians.

"As I was saying, Ada-Mantia is its name, though most people simply call it the Adamantine Tower, from the metal it's made of, or the Direnni Tower, from the name of its current owners."

"Your people built it?" Livia asked.

It wasn't the first time she was seeing the Tower and she had been pondering the question for a while.

The Prince shook his head, still smiling. "Oh no, we didn't. Ada-Mantia is older even than the first incarnation of the Empire which was around…" he paused, thinking, "a bit over four thousand years ago? Even by then the Tower was already millennia old."

The two extra-Nirnians' eyes widened. Falmart had no records dating from that far in the past.

"Then who…?" Colt started.

"The Gods" Basil answered. "Right after the end of Creation. They built the Tower, had a meeting called "Convention" and the one who submitted the idea in the first place got his heart ripped off and thrown away."

The answer horrified them. How could a God have his heart ripped off?

"But why?" Livia asked. "What did he do to deserve it?"

Basil turned his gaze from the Tower to them, his smile widening. "Now that is an excellent question, my lady. In fact it has been the source of theological debates that have been raging for millennia. The answer would depend from whom you are asking. Although my mother's people's account would differ a bit from the most widely accepted version.."

"So the Tower… does it have magical power?" the Count wondered.

"Well… if by "magical" you mean "can it alter the fabric of reality?", yes it can. Though that's not like this…" he showed a ball of light in his fist, "magic."

"You're a mage!" The Saderans exclaimed.

"More like I picked a few things. Anyway, to address your question, I'm sure you remember what happened before the battle? The Gate wasn't working, right?"

"It was you?!" they said with stupefaction.

"In a way, yes. The current tenants of the Tower, the clan Direnni, have been inhabiting it for millennia. They knew a few tricks to contain the Rift."

"Millennia-old family? How can it be possible?" Colt asked.

"They're Mer, I mean Elves, and great sorcerers. I guess that helps."

Livia deadpanned. "Yes, I suppose, if we see things like that." In a way she could see similarities with the Apostles.

"I'm afraid I have to go. I have an important meeting to attend in a few minutes and I need to prepare myself," Basil informed them. "Enjoy your walk."

"Thank you, your Majesty," they answered.

As they watched him depart, Livia asked, "What do you make of him?"

"The Prince?" Colt questioned, "I haven't talked much with him. He isn't built like his father that's for sure."

"No he isn't," Livia confirmed. Basil had stopped as a group of soldiers saluted him. They talked, even seeming like exchanging pleasantries. "But he does seem to have a good relationship with soldiers like him, as well as being a leader of men."

"So like the Imperial Prince Zorzal then?"

Livia's face hardened.

"That's what I heard at least… I never met him," Colt justified himself.

"No you didn't, obviously. He is nothing like him." She took a deep breath. "Do you know what was the first thing the Prince did when he got back from his victories upon the warrior bunnies? He paraded his new "pet", their former Queen, everywhere… like he always does with other sex slaves. Gleefully. Violet would have suffered the same fate with one of his men if Antonius and I hadn't taken pity on her."

The Count paled. "By Emroy, I heard what had happened from the ones I took in but I never thought the Prince himself revelled in it."

"Let me tell you this, if I was given the "chance" of having my Flavia marry him I would refuse. I don't want that… animal near her."

"As a father I can only agree. I had no idea… and what are the Emperor's thoughts on the matter? And the Senate?" Colt questioned her.

"Zorzal is despised and it should come as no surprise for me to tell you that Imperial Prince Diabo and even Princess Piña are preferred as successors," she answered.

"The Princess too? But she's a woman…"

The Sartorius Matriarch frowned. "And? Didn't you just say women were as capable as men?"

"What I meant to say my lady, is that while you and I might agree on this, many more do not." Colt said.

Livia pointed to the soldiers around them. "Here they have women occupying the same positions as men."

"But do you think the Senate would listen to her and be willing to imitate these people they would call barbarians?"

"If the situation would present itself… maybe," Livia smirked.

As Basil headed towards his tent, something caught his eye. He stopped to look at it.

Not far from there, a young female orc in a wheelchair was busying herself with strange machines. A repurposed Dwemer Centurion was keeping watch on her.

What is she doing here? I thought she was ordered to stay behind with her master.

He stared at her a bit before continuing his walk.

As he entered his tent, he began to search among his belongings.

Suddenly sensing something, Basil reached instinctively for his sword and turned around, parrying a blow coming from behind.

An assassin fully clothed in dark armor had appeared in the middle of the tent. They brandished a Dunmeri-styled saber.

The two opponents circled each other. Basil's assailant struck first. Reacting faster, the Prince deflected the blow and counter-attacked, trying to disarm his opponent. The stranger was able to parry back.

A deadly dance began. Basil enjoyed every second of it. His opponent was quite skilled and he wasn't in possession of his shield. Still, he had learned a few things in swordplay when he went to visit his maternal grandfather. He had immediately recognized the style of his adversary and knew how to counter it.

The Prince drew his attacker into a series of quick exchanges. He managed to bait the would-be assassin into defending the wrong side only to attack from the other and disarm them. Then, he grabbed them by the waist, pulled them close before throwing away their helmet and… kissing her.

As they finally separated, the lack of helmet revealed an upset Liliah.

"Hello to you too my love," Basil said in a mocking tone.

She didn't answer, glaring at him.

He playfully kissed her right cheek, "Come on, you'll do better next time."

"How did you guess it was me?" she finally asked.

"Well," he grabbed her saber, "the sword, the fighting style and…" he pointed to the tent's entrance where two guards saluted them, "the fact that my guards let you enter."

Her eyes widened. "How did you see me?"

One of them bowed. "Princess, the tent is stuffed with enchantments made by the Shadow Legion to allow us to know who enters it."

She grumbled. "Guess I underestimated the anti-assassin safeguards."

Basil dismissed the guards before pulling his wife close. "See? I'm perfectly safe. You didn't need to worry so much."

"Asshole," she muttered.

"Heh, you may have failed at one of Mephala's domains, you can still succeed at the other," the Prince said in a suggestive tone.

Two burning red eyes persuaded him to not continue on this path.

"Incredible! I was missing you and decided to surprise you and all you can think is making snarky comments at my expense!" She smiled and kissed him back. "Never change."

"Not a chance," he answered between two kisses.

They finally broke off after a few minutes.

"Tell me, how did you come?" Basil asked.

"Councilor Mei informed us this morning she was leaving the Capital to rejoin the Legion at Ykalon, and I decided to accompany her. We picked up a young disabled orc girl with us."

He nodded. "Yes, Ghorshka gra-Urzoga, I saw her on my way here. So what was that about the Councilor? Did we ask for her presence?"

"No. She said she decided it herself. She did not tell her exact motives."

Hector was currently reading one of the latest reports sent from the other side.

"Imperial Battlemage! Someone is looking for you!" a soldier warned.

He raised his eyes from what he was reading. "Send them in."

A figure in the black armor of the Shadow Legion and with a purple helmet crest and cloak entered. As she took off her helmet, the face of Councilor Mei became visible, her long hair now tied in a bun.

"Leave us," Hector ordered the soldier.

He bowed and exited the tent.

"Councilor Mei!" the Imperial Battlemage greeted her pleasantly, "what a pleasant surprise. I don't remember sending for you. Why did you leave the Imperial City?"

Mei face hardened. "I'll be straight to the point, Hector. Where is my daughter?"

Oh.

So it was about that.

"On deployment. On the other side of the Rift."

Mei crossed the distance separating them. "How could you?"

"Mei, listen…" he started.

"You knew the trauma she went through and you still sent her!" she accused him.

"Jing is not your little girl anymore! She's a grown woman capable of making her own decisions!" Hector retorted.

"You're her uncle! You should have talked her out of it!"

Technically great-something-uncle, but he wasn't going to argue on that.

"As a matter of fact I did. Right before we mobilized our forces here. She came to see me, asking to join them. I told her she could stay but she insisted, and I respected her choice."

She calmed down, regaining her breath. " Whom did you send her with?"

"Captain Caranya of Argos, Nightblade Black-Scales of Daggerfall and Battlemage Cyrus of Argos."

Her gaze widened. "Cyrus? The boy is there too?"

Hector frowned. "You know him?"

"I know them all, they were part of the same group of friends back at the Arcane University. I had the occasion of meeting them when Jing organized a few… parties in some of our estates. They are such sweeties, all of them," she fondly remembered. "He volunteered?"

"Yes and before you say anything I did talk to him. Both in my place as his superior officer and because of what he did for her. To no avail."

He handed her one of the reports he had been reading. "Here, I finished that one a while ago and since you're here you might as well read it. Also it's a good thing you came. Caranya's group secured a Princess from the people on the other side. Given your experience as Councilor… maybe you could act as our official diplomat. The acting commander, Sejanus, isn't much into that."

"You sent Sejanus there?" she asked, incredulous.

"You would have preferred Pious?"

She smiled. "I see."

As she began to leave, she turned back. "Hector? Please forgive my outburst from before. It's just that… the mother in me was talking."

"Mei…" he sighed, "considering what happened, I understand. You know I do care about her."

"I know."

War Tent, later

Hector had donned his armor of Chancellor while Ivan was wearing his Imperial Dragon Armor with his usual helmet. Basil and Liliah had joined them, respectively in his Imperial General's amor and her Redoran armor.

"Liliah? You're here?" the Emperor asked, surprised.

"I wasn't going to wait for my husband to come home, so I decided to join him. That's not a problem, isn't it?"

Ivan smirked. "Not all, I'm glad you're here."

"Let us start," Hector said as his eyes glowed.

Several ghostly figures began to appear, one next to the Emperor, the others circling them. Iszara's form materialized beside her husband while the others revealed the rulers of every current Imperial Province, save those of High Rock.

Wearing the Jagged Crown and flanked by his ever faithful huscarl Irileth, Skyrim High King Balgruuf the Greater.

Dressed in traditional orcish armor, Gortwog the Third, King of Orsinium.

Elsweyr was represented by three leaders, the Mane, a young female Cathay born in Cyrodiil named Tsavi. Then the King of Anequina, Do'Azrid, a large Cathay-Raht dressed in his Kingdom's traditional armor, and his counterpart from Pellitine, a small Bosmer-looking Ohmes wearing richly decorated khajiiti clothes, Tishi.

Morrowind had only sent one sitting High Councilor from the Grand Council, Aldos Arethi from House Redoran.

"Telvanni didn't care so they sent no one. House Sadras is too weak to matter. House Indoril stands by House Redoran since they lost all their political influence with the fall of Tribunal and the creation of the New Temple. As for House Dres, between their damaged southern holdings and the new Imperial-Redoran alliance, they can't really oppose them. Did I get everything right?" Basil whispered to his wife.

"Well done. There may be yet hope when you'll have to navigate through their net of intrigues one day," she answered him.

Hammerfell was represented by its current Crown High King and Iszara's father, Kemal of Hegathe.

Much like their feline neighbors, Valenwood had three representatives. Their Queen, Andoriel Camoran, was flanked by a savage looking female Bosmer as tall as Basil on one side and a more gentle-looking male Bosmer on the other. This was the dreaded Green Lady and her husband the Silvenar, representatives of the land and its people.

"Greetings to you all," began Ivan, "I'm pleased to see you could answer the call."

"We are in a hurry to take the fight to Tamriel's enemies, King of Kings!" Gortwog answered as he brandished the two-handed axe he carried.

The Emperor smiled. "Nothing would please me more than to fight by your side my friend, though I'm afraid the situation is more complex than ever."

" So we've heard, your Imperial Majesty," Aldos said. "We were led to believe during the last meeting of the Elder Council that it was under control."

"It is," Hector continued. "The Gate holding the Rift is now completely under our control and we can close it and open at our will. We can even open portals between Nirn and the world on the other side."

"I sense a "but" coming," Balgruuf commented.

"Indeed. Two days ago, we sent several small teams of Battlemages to scout the other side and secure key objectives to defeat the enemy on the other side and force them to the negotiating table."

"What happened to them?" the High King asked with concern.

"They are well and still alive," Ivan reassured him. "No. The problem is what they encountered : Daedra."

A sudden cacophony filled the Tent.

"Daedra! I need to ready my warriors! They won't get us like during the Oblivion Crisis!"

"The only reason we won last time was because of a Divine intervention! No mortal weapons can save us if they can invade!"

"Then let's just destroy this Rift and…"

"Calm down, please!" the Emperor exclaimed.

The rulers suddenly fell silent.

"As I was saying, they encountered Daedra. Pockets of lesser Daedra. They were able to defeat them all so far."

"From the reports we got, it seems those Daedra don't have a particular allegiance to any Prince, especially those we are all, without a doubt, thinking about. In fact one of such groups was encountered cooperating with local bandits," Hector added.

"So the locals are good at summoning Daedra?" Kemal questioned.

"Negative," the Imperial Battlemage shook his head, "we know from a reliable source they never heard of them before. This was their first time."

"This one is intrigued but he doesn't understand," the King of Pellitine intervened. "If this counter-invasion plan is such a bother why not simply destroy the Gate?"

"Ah but we did. But it didn't get rid of the Rift between the worlds."

"Rift that was opened by one of their Gods if I'm remembering correctly," Andoriel continued.

"Exactly. But she seems to have lost control over it."

"So it's a she? And what do you mean by "lost control"?" the Bosmer monarch asked.

"We're investigating that, and the presence of the Daedra."

"Are we sure no Power from Oblivion is behind it?" Do'Azrid said.

"Certain. Not even the Princes could act so blatantly."

The Dunmer Councilor nodded. "True, Mundus is protected as we speak and that would be violating every Covenant protecting it. So they cannot be the culprits. Of course the question then is who?"

"Well, we already know one of the culprits, didn't we? That means that Goddess wasn't alone when she opened the Rift, someone did it on the other side," Iszara deduced.

"Probably. But any conclusions at this stage are premature," Hector concluded.

"Of course, however, there is another matter at hand," Andoriel said. She faced Ivan. "Your Imperial Majesty, I'm worried about the impact of moving so many men across the continent. There is a cost to that."

What is she getting at?, Ivan asked himself.

"You're not forgetting the accords between Valenwood,Elsweyr and the Ruby Throne? About the monetary help to rebuild the Provinces."

Several of the monarchs began to get agitated.

"Unbelievable! We are talking about saving Tamriel and all you care is gold? I'd like you to remember my people and I put ourselves on the line to save the continent from being enslaved by a new Dragon Cult!" Balgruuf yelled in anger.

"This one would agree with the Camoran Queen. Elsweyr is in need of gold to be rebuilt," Tishi said.

"Does this one want these claws on his face?" Do'Azrid threatened. "Pellitine has made more than enough money with the Moon Sugar trade now being legal."

"Please, let's not fight among ourselves now," the young Mane tried to calm them.

A bestial roar was suddenly heard, paralyzing almost all of the representatives with fear.

The source of it revealed the Green Lady, showing her sharpened fangs in a threatening gesture. It was enough to calm everyone.

"What I was trying to say before being interrupted is that I'm the first absolute ruler of Valenwood since the Reman conquest. I've made a lot of enemies among the Bosmeri nobility. Of course for now, I enjoy popular support, but what would happen were the people not receive their help? They would be angry, manipulable, prone to a revolt," Andoriel explained.

"Crushing a popular revolt is the last thing I want to do," the Emperor said. "It would destroy what legitimacy I managed to win. That said, my Queen, when I sign a deal I always make a point to respect it. You will have your gold."

Andoriel smiled. "I know. But there is a better alternative, although you may have already considered it. The other side, it must have resources, right? Resources precious enough that would be worth tons of septims. You could sign a peace deal and include these as reparations. That way everyone gets what they want. After all, if the enemy has to deal with Daedra incursion, the war is already won, isn't it?"

"Mmm… yes, good point. Was there anything else?"

"Nothing, only that the fate of Tamriel may stay in your hands," she said.

The other rulers nodded, satisfied.

"Then let's end this meeting, we will transmit any important information to you." Hector cut the connection with all of them, save Iszara.

"I'll be running the Empire as usual," she said, "alone since Liliah abandoned me."

"I said I wanted to go back on the field, I'm enjoying it before it's too late," her daughter in law answered.

"Then do try to have fun dear, all of you." She vanished.

"I'll show Liliah the rest of the camp then," Basil informed.

The couple left the Emperor and the Imperial Battlemage alone in the tent.

"So," Ivan began, "how was it for you when you became Grandfather?"

Hector stared at him quietly.

"Oh don't give me that look. We were all thinking about it."

* Al-Esh : one of the many names of Alessia

Alma-Par-Essi : Mother of Man, its corruption is rumored to have given "Empress"

Paravant : "first of its kind"

Queen-ut-Cyrod : Queen of Cyrodiil

Chim-el Adabal : Amulet of Kings

(On Morihaus, in-universe it has been deemed heretical at some point to link him to the Minotaurs, he was also rumored to be a shapeshifter which is why he is represented here as a Man rather than a winged bull, people wouldn't accept it)