Here is a sneak peak of The Book of Noxaura - Guardian Defender of Cyrodiil - Chapter 1.
1st of Hearthfire
"It has been many years since I was here last." Aric said. "It was then that I was taken prisoner and transported to Helgen."
"That was your penultimate visit, surely." I answered. "You most recent visit was when you discovered the checkpoint the Thalmor had erected.
"Discovered is one way to describe it." Jordis said. "They killed every renegade Thalmor and Imperial manning the illicit outpost that opposed them. Rikke said their bodies, what remained of them, were scattered far and wide."
"Those soldiers appear to be of the official variety." Lucia said, nodding in the direction of the four men wearing the armor of Imperial Legionnaires.
"They have at least cleared the bodies from the roadway." Aric said. "It would be impassable else."
One of the Imperial soldiers stood in the road and raised his hand to halt our progress.
"State your name and business for seeking entry into Cyrodiil." The soldier said.
"I am Aric, Thane of Haafingar, Hjaalmarch, Whiterun, The Reach, The Pale, Eastmarch, and Winterhold, where I am also Archmage at the College that shares that name." Aric said. "This is the Reverend Mother Noxaura, High Priestess and Custos Urbi of Skyrim. We travel to Chorrol to return these two youths to their homes in that city."
"Custos what?" the guard asked Aric.
"You may say Prefect in place of those two words if you prefer, brave sir." I said. "It is simply a title."
"Yes." Aric said, "but it is a title given you by order of the Emperor himself, and due a measure of respect."
By the measure of respect that the guards within earshot showed, they agreed.
"Here is a letter of transit from General Rikke." Aric said as he handed the man a document.
"I will take that." Said the younger Imperial, who could only be an officer by the almost gaudiness of his armor.
"Milord, Reverend Mother." The officer said as he handed back the document after reading it. "Welcome to Cyrodiil. May I ask how these two young men are so far from their home?"
"They were kidnapped from their homes by bandits, sir." I said. "We freed them some months ago, awaiting a time when we could return them to their mothers' bosoms."
Two of the border post guards exchanged a look.
"What is the matter?" Aric asked them.
"They are not the first children to be taken from their villages." The officer said. "Traders and travelers entering Skyrim from Cyrodiil occasionally make similar reports."
"Lucien and Adrian say it is a common occurrence in their village." I said.
Lucien and Adrian were following the entire conversation from the wagon that Lucien was driving, a wagon that held our tents and supplies. Each nodded his head quickly in affirmation.
"They look to be not worse for wear." The officer said.
"If by that phrase, sir, you mean that they were ripped from their homes, marched from Chorrol to Skyrim, nearly died, and required nigh on four months to recover, then I agree with you." I said in pitch and tone that Mother Pevel would have entirely approved of.
"Forgive me, Reverend Mother." The officer said. "I did not mean to offend."
"You may return yourself to my good graces, sir, if you inform us of the conditions of the roads on the other side of that formidable looking gate and allow us to proceed." I said.
"The road, as far down as we can see, is well maintained, your Grace." The officer said.
"Divines bless you and protect you, sir; you and your entire company." I said.
"Thank you, your Grace." He replied as the others made reverential gestures.
"You have not yet described how you came to be taken prisoner at the border crossing between Skyrim and Cyrodiil." I said.
"The Thane is well known for his enigmatic tendencies." Rigel said, which drew a combination laugh and nod from Jordis.
"Tell us, Father." Lucia said. "We have already heard how your journey to Helgen ended that day. You lose nothing by recounting how it began."
"There is little to recount." Aric said, "At least there is little I remember."
"You may start by telling us why it was that you had chosen to abandon the land that is now your home." I said.
"You are too harsh, madam." He replied. "You cut me to the quick."
"Spare me your complaining, sir." I said, my smile and laugh matching his. "My father was a master. You miss the mark wildly with your poor attempt to deny me."
"Very well, madam." Aric replied. "If you must know, I was making a pilgrimage to Sancre Tor, the final resting place of St. Alessia. It had been my custom to visit her, to ask her pardon for my behavior upon learning my heritage."
"Any man, when given that news, would have found it difficult to maintain the perspective from his former life." I said. "You may recall my reaction was less than ideal."
"You are kind." Aric said. "But my guilt is not so easily erased."
"We now know what brought you to the border." Runa said. "How were you captured?"
"I cannot imagine any force strong enough to subdue you." Lucia said.
"It required no force at all." Aric said. "According to others who were there at the time, who were also seeking to cross into Cyrodiil, I simply fell out of my saddle onto the roadway and did not move."
"Like your illness after defeating the dragon?" Lucia asked.
"I do not know." Aric said. "There was no reason for it. I had not absorbed a dragon soul recently; and if I had do so they had not yet begun to affect me in that manner."
"A spell?" I asked, "a poison?"
"I have no answers, my love." Aric said to me. "I awoke in a cart bound for Helgen and the block. The dragon attacked, and I was freed. I had not yet regained my strength, and barely survived. It was some time before I was fully recovered."
Lucien and Adrian had not taken their eyes from Aric once the words dragon soul had been uttered and did not so much as blink as he gave his brief description of the dragon attack on the village that had until recently been their home.
They had both benefited greatly from their stay in Helgen, and from the care they had received from the blacksmith and his wife. It was difficult to recognize the dirty, abused, half-starved youths that had been rescued by Aric and myself after they had been kidnapped and force to join a group of bandits. In the five months since I had seen them last, they had both grown, both in height and in bulk, and each had developed arms that spoke plainly to anyone with eyes how they had spent their days, days that had included more than blacksmithing.
"They requested the training, Milord." The captain of the guard in Helgen said to Aric. "And we didn't see how it could hurt."
"We both agreed, milord." Lucien said. "We won't be victims to the gangs again. And since we can't rely on anyone else to protect us, we have to do it ourselves."
"The Thane will not object, young sirs." I said. "Since you are both but a few years younger than his own son, who he began training when he was seven."
"Seven!" Adrian said.
"And I myself said virtually the same words you just uttered after my all too frequent encounters with violence and took similar steps to learn to defend myself." I said. "But the Thane will also tell you that his children never left his sight, or the sight of their mother, until they were some years older than you are now."
"And be warned that carrying a weapon is a grave responsibility." Aric said. "You will be viewed differently by your family and neighbors, and any harm you do, even when it is in defense of the helpless and completely justified, will weigh upon your conscience."
"We know that already milord." Lucien said.
"I know you do." Aric said.
"They sit proudly on the wagon seat, wearing their chain shirts and their imperial swords." I said to Aric as we made our way south into Cyrodiil. "They are much changed since we met them first, or even when we saw them last."
"They have begun to shed their guilt at what they were forced to do during their coerced enlistment as brigands." Aric said. "And they have also begun to realize that their lives need not be confined to their small village, unless it is by their choice."
"Helgen would welcome them back gladly." I said. "The blacksmith and his wife will miss them terribly."
"Had they been but a few years older they might have stayed." Aric said. "They may choose to return when they are older, if their absence would not be too much of a burden on their families."
"I often think of the strength that was required for my mother to send me away with Mother Pevel." I said. "Lydia spoke of how hard it was watching her children ride away in a wagon, bound for Solitude."
"It was painful for everyone involved." Aric said. "If certain things had been different, we could have remained in Whiterun, or all of us could have moved to Solitude. But there are some duties that cannot be so easily shaken off. In the end, we found an accommodation."
"An accommodation that had Lydia wear out the road between Whiterun and Solitude." I said with a laugh.
"Whiterun and Solitude took great pains to insure that the road was always repaired." Aric laughed in return.
It was past midday as we slowly navigated our wagon down the twisting road out of what Aric informed me were the Jerall Mountains when Jordis and Rigel stopped at the head of our small column. Jordis donned her helm as Rigel rode back to Aric, who sat on his horse next to me.
"There are several men leading what appears to be a column of children of various age up the road." Rigel said, "The children all appear to be bound by the hands."
Aric and I had been riding in front of the wagon, Lucia and Runa had taken the rearmost position. Lucien and Adrian had both heard Rigel's report.
"That is how we were taken to Skyrim, Milord." Lucien said. "We were with others from other villages. Nels picked us two from the group and paid for us."
"This is slavery, pure and simple." I said, making no attempt to hide my anger.
"It has been some time since I was last in Cyrodiil." Aric said, "but not long enough for this sort of practice to be considered acceptable, whatever the reason."
"They stopped when the saw Jordis and me." Rigel said.
Aric turned to me.
"Please stay with the wagon." He said. "I will investigate further."
"You know me well enough to know that you waste time and words with instructions of that nature sir." I said.
"You do not yet have experience fighting from the saddle, madam." He replied. "And I would not have any of us dismount in these hills."
"I know little of the arts of war, sir." I said, "But I know enough to know that these inclined, twisting roads are no place for a calvary charge. I have no intention of dismounting, but I will have firsthand knowledge of what transpires here. We may inquire together, or I will race you for the honor of priority."
"You are more at risk in the event of a race, madam." Aric said. "I therefore have little choice but to request the pleasure of your company in my investigation."
"You are too kind sir." I answered.
"Stay with the boys and the wagon." Aric said to his daughters.
"Once again, we are left with the baggage!" Runa yelled from behind us.
We rounded the next turn in the road to find a standoff in progress. Jordis sat on her horse, a faceless warrior in shining plate. Farther down the road stood five men in patchwork armor, holding an assortment of weapons, eight children ranging in age stood between them, bound by their hands, and huddling together against the chill that seemed to increase the further south we traveled.
"Will they hurt those children rather than lose their merchandise?" I asked.
"That depends on the type of brigands they are, and how threatened they feel." Aric said.
"The appear to feel significantly more threatened now." Jordis said.
"I will see these children unharmed and returned to their families." I said. "This is work for a Priestess, not a warrior."
"You are both of those things, sister." Jordis said.
"But that is not common knowledge." I said with a smile. "My modified robe hides my armor well. They will only see a priestess who has come to parlay."
"The last parlay you attended ended badly." Jordis said.
"It is too much a risk for you to take." Aric said.
"Do you not trust me, sir?" I asked. "I have faced much longer odds."
"She is correct, honored Thane." Rigel said.
"I know what you mean when you use that tone to say Honored Thane." Aric said. "Your secret code is not so impenetrable as you might think."
"We have many codes, honored Thane." Jordis said, "never fear."
"Again, the tone is clearly present." Aric said. "Gods."
His last word was in response to me stepping down from my saddle and walking towards the group of men and children.
"Good afternoon, sirs." I said, as I stopped a short distance away and looked at the men. "Good afternoon children." I said to the children. "We appear to block each other's progress, yours heading up into the hills, and our heading down. My name is Noxaura, a Priestess of the Maetreum of Cybele. May I be of any assistance?"
"Yes." The foremost man said. "You can get out of our way. We have business."
"There is no business to be had in the direction you walk, sir, unless it is with us." I said as I heard footsteps behind me. "We are the only travelers on the road ahead of you. Perhaps you should conclude your business here and save yourself the additional walking?"
At least some of the men appeared to consider my suggestion as more than reasonable. But not their leader.
"Our business isn't with you. Stand aside." He said.
The way he held his weapon closer to the girl nearest him did not require explanation. But he was alone in that motion. The other men had not moved.
"Very well, sir." I said, "You may have it your way."
I took a step back and began to turn as though I was stepping aside. My spell paralyzing him was therefore hidden from him for a moment. By his reaction I could have spared myself the added theater.
The four men scattered, fleeing down the embankment.
"Come children! Come!" I said as I ushered them away from the paralyzed man, and out of the path of the running horses that were riding down the road in pursuit of the four fleeing men.
Jordis and Rigel disappeared around the bend in the road, but their horses' hooves could still be heard.
Aric walked up to the paralyzed man and simple stared at him.
"Do you think his accomplices will be captured?" I asked
"This road turns back upon itself too frequently." He said. "They can run straight down the mountain, while Jordis and Rigel must follow the road."
I had begun to untie the children almost immediately. It took only a few minutes to complete the process, at which point Aric put the rope to a better use.
"They cannot have been fed for quite some time." I said as I watched the children eat from the supplies we have brought. Our tents and bedrolls had been arranged for their comfort and they were all soon fed and sound asleep, one mass of children under blankets on the slow journey back to their families.
"I apologize for my momentary lapse in judgement." Aric said. "You were, as usual, correct. A Priestess was what was called for. You saved those children from harm."
"You are very sweet to say so." I said as I looked at his beautiful face. "You would have found a way to accomplish the task as well."
"Who is being sweet now?" He asked me.
"Milord?" Lucien said.
"What is it Lucien?" Aric asked.
"Adrian and I think we recognize one of them girls." He said. "It's hard to tell for sure, and I don't want to wake her to ask, but we think her name is Ellne, and that she came from Chorrol."
"How long since you saw her last?" I asked Lucien.
"I don't know, Reverend Mother." He answered. "It was some time before we were both taken."
"You have been away for nine months." Aric said. "And your appearance has also changed a good deal."
"We will sort out who it is that sleeps in our wagon, and where to return them to, once we reach Bruma." I said. "I highly doubt that they will awaken before then."
We were an odd assortment of travelers as we arrived well after dark and passed through the main gate at the city of Bruma.
"The dejected man walking behind, and tied to, our wagon is a kidnapper and slave trader." Aric said to the guard before the man had begun to ask us to state our business. "He had four accomplices that escaped our grasp. We freed these children from their captors and must arrange for their safe return to their families."
There were two guards and a sergeant at the main gate, and none of them, it seemed, had regained the power of speech or the wit to know what to say.
"My name is Noxaura, gentlemen, a Priestess of the Maetreum of Cybele." I said. "It is to the Mother House we travel, and it is there that we will take these children, who are now in my custody and under my care."
"we need the list of everyone in your party, your Grace." The sergeant said. "Names and titles."
"We will be here quite some time, sergeant, if the man at my side were required to recite all of his titles." I said with a smile. "Will the title of Archmage of the College of Winterhold suffice?"
"Yes, your Grace." He said.
"Her Grace's list of titles also grows long." Aric said as he returned my smile. "Will the titles of High Priestess of, and Imperial Prefect to Skyrim suffice?"
The three men virtually stood to attention at the words that Aric spoke.
"My apologies, your Grace." The sergeant said. "I was not informed of your arrival."
"And these are his housecarls Jordis and Rigel, and his daughters Lucia and Runa. The two young warriors driving the wagon are Lucien and Adrian, who are also being returned home. And we have, by my count, eight nameless children that must be cataloged."
"My apologies for detaining you and your party, Prefect." The sergeant said. "We are under strict orders from the Countess."
"It is of no consequence, sir." I said. "You would do me a service by taking this retch from us and keeping him in custody. Mother Cybele forgive me for my unkind words and thoughts where he is concerned."
The sergeant motioned to the men who moved to retrieve the brigand.
"The rope that restrains him now is the rope that he used to bind these sleeping children." Aric said. "It is a fitting punishment that her wear it as long as the children did, along with whatever chains his jailers and his sins have apportioned to him."
"Yes, Archmage." The sergeant said.
"Turn right once you pass through the gate, Lucien, and then straight to that rather large building at the end of the road." I said.
The Mother House was right where I had left it.