Chapter 21: Lady Boyle's Ball

Corvo held his daughter's hand as she exited the railcar. Eulalia chirped on her shoulder, a brilliant living gem. Emily was clothed in a garment that had not been seen in the fashions of the Isles for the last fifty years- a skirt of thick blue cloth that reached her ankles with a tall waist with three wide bands fastened with buttons of gold. She moved in it with remarkable grace, and Corvo was forcibly reminded of Jessamine.

"Your mother would be proud of you," he murmured to Emily. She smiled briefly at him before returning her attention to the grand house before them.

"Let us see how the night goes," she said, heading off to the door of the Boyle mansion.

They entered and were greeted merrily by Esma Boyle, a glass of wine held in her manicured hand.

"Empress Emily!" she cried, dipping into a bow before giving her a look over. "You outfit is stunning!"

Emily smiled demurely. "The Royal Tailor wanted to try something different. It is surprisingly comfortable."

Esma took her arm, a twinkle in her eye. "Well, it certainly looks very fine! Come now, myself and our guests would like to welcome you back and properly thank you for getting rid of Delilah."

Corvo followed the two women as Emily was pulled by Esma into the ballroom, the older women chatting about the different guests.

"…the new High Overseer brought a strange woman and two Oracular Sisters, very strange indeed!"

They entered the ballroom, catching the attention off everyone in it. There was a sea of familiar noble faces; to Corvo's surprise, Greta and Elanor were among the familiar faces. They were standing next to an olive-skinned Sister and an unfamiliar Overseer with brown hair, tanned skin, and eyes like chips of ice. Ah, that must be Pavel Chopin, the new High Overseer.

The chatter in the room quieted as Esma lead Emily to an ornately carved chair, and bade her to sit. She took the seat, somewhat confused. Corvo stood at her side, noting that everyone present had a glass. Esma took a couple steps back, and then held her glass aloft.

"To Empress Emily," she toasted. "For serving her people well! Long may she reign!"

"Long may she reign!" the toast echoed throughout the room.

Emily accepted their words with dignity and grace, but Corvo could tell she was caught off guard by such praise.

"Now that the guest of honor is here, I bid you all to make merry!" Esme declared.

There were multiple cheers, and the ballroom broke out in noise again. A well-dressed servant came over to them, bearing a platter of wines. Emily took one while Corvo declined.

"I take it that the High Overseer does not know about Elanor?" he murmured to Emily, who chose to remain seated.

"Actually, I am sure he is fully aware of what Elanor is," she replied with a sip. "The Sisters came to me seeking my protection if Chopin decided to burn them; Owen told them they should seek Elanor's protection."

Corvo frowned. "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday, just after I got Eulalia," Emily stroked the little bird, which looked content on her shoulder.

Corvo tried to contain his discontent. The Outsider always seemed to put him on his back foot, particularly now that he decided to favor Emily and occupy as much of her time as possible. Frankly he was surprised the Void deity was not with them, whispering secrets about the guests in their ears.

"Empress!"

Corvo turned to see Anton Sokolov approaching him, a smile on his face. Emily smiled back.

"Sokolov! It is good to see you again. I thought you were returning to Tyvia."

The old man offered an almost sheepish smile. "I decided to stick around Dunwall for a short while before I say my final goodbye."

"Goodbye!" Eulalia warbled. Sokolov noticed the bird and then suddenly stared at it harder.

"Is that a Pandyssian Parrot on your shoulder?" he asked, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses.

"Why, yes," Emily replied, a little surprised. "I suppose you saw a lot of them on your expedition to the great continent."

"Actually, no," Sokolov replied, peering closely at Eulalia. "I saw them for trade at one of the rare markets we encountered, and the merchant recommended them as pets. It was a great regret of mine that I did not obtain one then, so I requested one to be brought to me for a handsome price. I was asked to pick it up yesterday, but when I arrived it was found that it had mysteriously disappeared."

"And there is no way that there could be another Pandyssian Parrot for sale?" Emily asked, her voice both hopeful and sheepish.

Sokolov shook his head. "I never published that part of my expedition report- some would have found the marketplace to be upsetting, so only that bird is known to me and the natives of Pandyssia. How did you get it?"

Corvo suddenly knew how Emily got that parrot- the Outsider had outright stolen it. He bet that the little shit had deliberately not mentioned how he got it, and Emily was too enchanted by the bird to ask. Poor Sokolov! The Outsider seemed to delight in picking on him.

"I got Eulalia as a gift yesterday," Emily replied sheepishly. "I am terribly sorry that I took her from you!"

Sokolov gave her a grandfatherly smile. "It is alright, she seems to have taken to you very nicely."

"Eulalia!" the little bird flew over to Sokolov and perched on his arm. The famed inventor gently pat the little blue bird and she twittered happily before darting back to Emily.

"Perhaps I could get myself a nice wolfhound," he said with a laugh. He turned to Corvo and smiled. "Give Megan Foster my best."

Sokolov wandered away. Emily stared out into the middle distance, looking rather upset.

"I might to have to have a little talk with someone," she murmured, tapping her finger on the wood of the armrest.

Corvo smiled. He could not agree more.

Wandering around riverbanks was a mistake. Now that the charming shrine was off-limits, the Outsider decided to visit one close to the Distillery District. With confidence born of four thousand years of invulnerability, he decided it would not be a problem to wander around the neighborhood first before dropping in. After all, he was the Outsider; who would dare harm him?

Well, apparently a group of particularly sadistic and bloodthirsty Rateaters would.

He came to only find he was chained by his wrists and hanging just so that he had to stand on his toes to keep the manacles from cutting into his hands. The room was dark if not for a narrow sliver of yellow light coming from a barred window in the door. His jacket and shirt were missing.

"You stupid, stupid person!" he spat at himself. The back of his head throbbed, a parting gift of the pipe that knocked him out. If only he actually thought to look at his surroundings, to act like the street kid he used to be rather the god he was now.

The Outsider dissolved, free of the manacles. He rubbed his wrists, his anger growing. He had told Emily he was not a fighter, but so rarely did his Marked use their gifts for anything but fighting. He had the same abilities, and more. The Outsider was itching for a fight.

It did not take much to find the group who had captured him- they were huddled in a circle next to the shrine he was planning on visiting when he was so rudely captured. He watched them from the shadows as they sharpened flaying knives, huddled around a lamp. A pile of half-finished bonecharms rested at the shrine. The Outsider walked over and picked one up, attempting to discern its eventual purpose. It pulsed and hummed in his grasp, and the Void murmured.

"Blink," the word fell softly from his lips, drawing the attention of the Rateaters.

"Fuck, the witch escaped!" cried one. Without hesitation, another pulled out a pistol and shot at him.

The Outsider barely registered the burning sting as the bullet struck his ribs. With great relish he bent that man's hand and unloaded the pistol into that scarred face. One lunged at him, the blade of his knife gleaming in the purple light. The Outsider dodged, thrusting his hand forward to strike the Rateater in chest. His palm struck the hard flesh, and rocky spires from the Void burst out of the man's back. There was another sting in his upper thigh, the remaining Rateaters were screaming for backup, cursing at him. The Outsider smirked. The Void hummed and crooned loudly in his ears; practically screaming encouragement.

"I heard you like eating rats," he sneered before summoning a whole swarm of them. The gang members screamed as the rats tore into them. Unfortunately he was unable to bask in his revenge because a furious women Blinked in right next to him and landed a punch on his face.

His vision swam a brief moment and blood filled his mouth. The women reached out, intending to put him in a chokehold. With speed he did not know he had he grabbed the woman by the jaw and slammed his fist into her chest, producing more spires that went through her body.

"Get him away from the shrine!" screamed another voice.

The Void hissed at him. He had his revenge, he was free. It was time to leave.

Just at that moment four Rateaters Blinked into existence before him and seized him. The Outsider tried to dissolve out of their grasp, but before he could succeed the world shifted and next thing he knew they were in a dim, metal-walled room.

Immediately he felt drained- there were cuts all over his body, the bullet wounds continuously leaked blood. The Outsider knew they were on a boat, and all he wanted to do was get back to the safe room and lick his wounds. The Rateaters dropped him, their faces twisted with a mixture of anger and smug pride.

"You thought you could escape us you witch!" one spat, kicking him in the ribs.

"I am not a witch," he hissed, pouring his magic throughout the boat. Just thirteen nautical miles out was a pod of whales that would happily smash this boat to bits. He could feel the Void inside him licking at his bones, coloring his frame. One of the Rateaters pissed himself in fear.

The Outsider dissolved them all, and threw themselves out towards the whales. But as he did so, an overwhelming, painful force started pulling at him. Instead of landing out in the open ocean, the ship and its occupants were tugged to the estate district.

Greta thought things were going well. The food was amazing, the dancing was a delight, the conversations remained light, and Elanor charmed everyone who approached her. She finally was able to approach Emily just after the meal, with Marzia tagging along.

"Empress, you look lovely!" she greeted. Emily smiled widely at her.

"Greta, it is a pleasure to see you here! Who is your Sister?"

Marzia stared at Emily with wide eyes, her shyness suddenly overtaking her. Greta gently pushed her forward.

"This is Marzia Cabrini," she introduced. "Marzia, this is Empress Emily Kaldwin."

Marzia curtseyed deeply, her eyes adverted down. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Empress!" she squeaked.

Emily smiled affectionately, and the little blue bird on her shoulder warbled. But before they could start chatting, a little bell rang, calling for their attention.

Esme stood at the other side of the room next to High Overseer Chopin and Elanor, holding aloft the little bell. She smiled upon seeing she had got their attention.

"Elanor here would like to perform a song for our pleasure," she announced. "and I have heard she has quite the voice!"

Elanor beamed and bowed. The High Overseer took the music box from his pocket. Out of the corner of her eye Greta saw Emily tense and hide her left hand in the folds of skirt. A flicker of concern ignited within her, but she brushed it away.

The music box started to play, and Elanor started to sing. Once again the sheer beauty of the song stole the air from Greta's lungs; everyone looked quite taken with the song, including Emily. She felt calm again, at peace with the beauty of the music.

Then Elanor hit a note and Greta felt the air vibrate as if someone had plucked a taut string. She looked around, locking eyes with Mariza first, then Emily. Worry flickered on their faces, but everyone else was unconcerned. Were they the only ones that noticed?

The air vibrated again, and Greta felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She looked at Elanor and saw she too was worried, but continued singing anyway.

The room suddenly filled with a brilliant light, followed moments later by a loud crash. Greta closed her eyes against the bright flash, jumping in surprise at the sound of metal hitting stone and wood splintering. When the light died down, Greta was surprised to see Elanor, the High Overseer, and Esma standing next to her.

"That," Elanor said, breaking the tense silence. "Is not supposed to be there."

Right where the trio used to be standing, protruding from the wall, was a beaten-up riverboat.