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Delphine's POV:

After speaking all night long, Delphine left the dragonking to sleep for a few hours. Esbern had left hours ago, as he was the oldest of the trio and needed the sleep. Ugh I can't wait to get this armor off. Rae had found a way to create some Dragonscale armor and still forge it to where it looked like the Akaviri armor of old, but gods did it ever get heavy after 14 hours of wearing it. As Delphine looked, she saw the sun beginning to rise. Okay, I'll be sure and sleep about an hour. Delphine went through the winding corridors of Castle Dour. The High King had expanded the castle adding a wing just for the Dragonguard, a large tower called the dragon fang now. In it held almost 150 Dragonguard, the most that the King wanted in the city. "Too many guards will make the city think we are now a Military state, a dictatorship, and we are not that, we are not the empire." Always about we must not become the empire. Delphine didn't agree with her king on that, they should become the empire, not THIS empire, but the empire of Tiber Septim, the last great dragonborn. All in good time. . . were the last thoughts of Delphine before sleep overtook her, sweet, sweet sleep.

Rae's POV:

Two days had passed, each one least eventful then the last. Gods I miss being an adventurer the drangonking thought as he walked the corridors of HIS castle to the council chamber. Third one this week. All the man inside wanted to do is go for a horseback ride maybe go check and see how Bryn was doing running the guild, or maybe see what Babette and Nazir were up to, or even just see Arngeir and speak with Parthurnaax. Gods even the clothes were easier. Today the king had on red silk robes with gold dragons on it with golden silk slippers, and the Aetherium Crown placed on his head. However, the king knew that Skyrim wouldn't rule itself. On his plate today, the High King had 30 issues to deal with today, and only five are at all interesting. The king walked in and once again the king was the last to arrive. "Well, let's get this over with," He said as he entered the chamber. The council members jumped in surprise; the high king was almost never heard when he came into the room. It's what made me such a damn good thief, the king thought as he sat down.

"Preparations are going well, forces are marching to the forts as commanded from the interior parts of the province, and Rikke has 10,000 infantry 5,000 archers, and 5,000 battlemages are ready to go. They are awaiting her arrival within the week to march on Sancre Tor. Korir has his 7,500 infantry, 2,000 archers and 500 battle mages and have already began to march on Cloud Ruler Temple. They should be there in about 4 days," Said Ulfric, Galmar standing behind him on his right Ulfric's Lapdog through and through, Rae thought analyzing the men's stature and demeanor.

"Very good Ulfric. Karliah, any news from High Rock or Cyrodiil?"

"None from your other province your highness. However, there is news from Cyrodiil. It seems the Elder Council grew tired of Ruling and decided to name Attribus Mede Emperor."

"Emperor of what? The Empire is just Cyrodiil now, let the boy have his little throne," Said Ulfric. Ever the thinker.

"That would be fine, Jarl Ulfric, except that the 'Emperor' is now saying that he plans to bring two legions here himself and take back Skyrim and High Rock."

Damn. The boy has pushed my plans forward quicker than I would have liked. "I will not stand Idly by and watch some Mede whelp tear apart all that WE have built." Rae said "For too long these false emperors of the Mede Dynasty have run the Empire into the ground. NO MORE! I will claim the Ruby Throne, and WE, the humans of Tamriel will send Mede and his elven masters to the hells they spawned from!" Cheers roared from the council chamber, even Karliah who had her fist raised in the air. "Maven, we'll be needing some serious coin for this. I think 4 million drakes."

"Of course, . . . Emperor."

"Good, Ulfric. How many soldiers do we have adding in my 5,000 Dragonguard?"
"Just about 225,000 men Emperor. 158,000 Infantry, 18,000 archers, and 18,000 Battle Mages. We can also call on our allies and get another 75,000 Infantry 50,000 Archers and 25,000 mages. So, we should be able to give us an army of about 380,000 men."

"Karliah how many troops do the legions have?"

"We have them estimated at about 350,000, but with each legion of only 35,000 and 4 of the legions tangled up in Valenwood, we have to deal with 210,000."

"Just to be sure, I'll pay for all the Orc and Redguard mercenaries I can. Which should be about another 50,000. We should hopefully outnumber them 2:1." I state assessing the situation quickly.

"I like those odds," said Galmar, whose brashness what beginning to get on the High King's nerves, when Ulfric goes, so does he.

"Very well. Nirya you and I will make portals today after lunch. Ulfric, you and Galmar will go to Windhelm and raise our forces from the east. I will do so here in the west. Hopefully Rikke can take Sancre Tor within the year, and Korir will take Cloud Ruler within a few months, and we will have two forward bases of operations. Everyone except Maven, Karliah, Delphine, and Delvin leave us."

"Of course, Emperor." Stated the rest and the walked out of the room, though Ulfric looked disheartened by not being invited to the post council meeting. As he heard the footsteps fade, Rae walked out and looked at the surroundings, secretly using mana to make sure no one was trying to lurk.

As he walked back in, shut and locked the door, Rae then relaxed somewhat. He was with the people he trusted. "You all are here because you know everything about me. Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, the whole bit. So, we can make the back-door prep needed. Karliah and Delvin, reach out to your contacts in the Guild in Cyrodiil, see if you can arrange a meeting with their Guild Master. Maven contact Nazir and Babette. Tell them to go to the place where we first met. They will know what I mean. I have some jobs for them. Also, Delvin, send word to Bryn, I need to see him. Tell him to be discreet. His merchant disguise should suffice. Maven you and Nirya will stay here to rule in my place. Nirya is so you have a way to contact me. I will leave 150 Dragonguard here to protect you. Delphine, send word to the College, and tell Tolfdir I need him and the other master magi to come out of the shadows and to help me crush the usurper."

"Of course, Emperor." They all clamored at once.

"Good now I will be going to eat lunch before making some portals for my commanders to go East."

After sending the oafs of to the Eastern half of the province, the High King went to his chambers and drew a set of runes that were of a portal, but not of the arcane kind. They were much older. Daedric and dark. As he finished, he walked out the door and spoke to the guard. "Please get Karliah and tell Maven I will be back tomorrow; she's is in charge."

"Yes Emperor."

About thirty minutes later, Karliah came in through the servant's entrance, in her nightingale armor. Rae turned and with no surprise reading on his face, but within he secretly jumped.

"How did you know?" He asked, knowing that she knew as well.

"I figured if you are going to be the ruler of Tamriel, it wouldn't do for your patron be the one of thieves. So, I prepped for the journey and waited for your word."

"Well are you ready?

"Of course, Rae, whenever you are."

Summoning that magic inside of him, the pair of comrades stepped inside the circle, and the runes came to life enveloping the two in utter shadow and the blackness of the void.