Chapter Ten: The Prophecy

It took almost half an hour for Merlac to walk past the cantons to the southern part of Vivec, to the temple island. Though the two ministry buildings were almost as high as the common cantons, Merlac was able to see the gigantic palace behind it. Hundreds of steps led to a small doorway in the top of the palace, barely viewable by naked eye. Merlac wished one day he could be allowed to visit that great building. As he was moving his look towards the top of the distant building, Merlac was scared to death. (Once again)

About three hundred feet above the roof of the ministry of truth, literally floated an enormous rock. There were no scaffolds or anything, so the thing had to be there with some kind of magic. Wooden platforms hung around it, and as Merlac looked carefully, he noticed couple of ordinators patrolling there.

"It's the ministry of Truth.", said a female voice behind him.

Merlac turned around to see the speaker. She was a beautiful, long hair, woman, about the same age as Merlac himself. Her white hair glittered in the sunlight and her smile made Merlac's legs go numb.

"Err… hi", managed Merlac reply.

The girl giggled.

"Hi, I'm Mehra, Mehra Milo.", she smiled.

"Oh… Milo you said? Then you must be the one who I was ment to meet here?"

The girl nodded.

"Caius told me you would come. Merlac I presume? You're even cuter than I thought."

"Err… well… thanks", Merlac stuttered and felt his face redden.

"I'm a librarian in the ministry of wisdom, the building behind me."

For a few seconds Merlac just stared her, until he realised how stupid it looked.

"Umm… so Mehra, why is the ministry of… err…"

"Truth. And please, all my friends call me Milo, I heard it's cuter name", grinned Milo.

"Oh… so Milo, why is it up there?"

"The ministry of truth is the courthouse of Vvardenfell, and it also serves as a prison. Some people say that nobody has ever escaped from there, but I don't believe that. Though I have never been there… but I heard it's filled with ordinators."

"Sounds not-so-nice place."

The girl smiled to Merlac again.

"Please, follow me. I have the documents Caius asked for in the libary."

Milo led them inside the ministry of wisdom and as they walked along the stone corridors, she talked with whispers.

"All members of the ministry work under the command of the temple, and the temple considers the Nerevar prophecy lies and fairytales, and thinks the sixth house had been destroyed long time ago. That is why I need to be very careful, as I believe in the prophecy myself."

"What is this prophecy all about?", asked Merlac.

"What? Caius hasn't told you? Anything?!", Milo stopped and stared Merlac in disbelief.

Merlac looked away feeling uneasy. Caius indeed hadn't told him much about anything. He only knew who this Nerevar was in the history of Morrowind, but that was all.

"Master hasn't told me much, so could you please tell me what's going on?"

"I'm… I'm sorry Merlac, but I'm not the right person to tell you something this serious. You really need to talk with Caius, tell him I urged him to tell you.", Milo said sounding apologetic.

They had arrived to wooden door, labelled as "Libary", and they stepped in. It was a rather big room, full of bookshelves. Milo greeted some other woman librarians and led Merlac to the other end of the room. Merlac also noticed two ordinators standing in the corner.

"What are those doing in here? What can happen in a libra…."

"Shh!", hissed Milo. "They told us they are here for our safety, but that is rubbish. They are here because they are watching me."

"You?"

"Yes, me."

Milo drew a big, dusty book from the shelf, looked around in case somebody was watching, and then opened the book carefully. The book was hollow and inside it was a small scroll of paper and a smaller book.

"I have written into this scroll the information about the Dissident Priests for Caius. Give it and this book to Caius, and don't let anyone see these."

"Sure", said Merlac and put the book and the scroll into his small backpack. "What is the book about?"

Milo looked around again, starting to look startled and lowered her voice even more.

"It is a book called the Progress of Truth. It is the last remaining copy of the book about the Nerevar prophecy. Take it to Caius, and be careful. As long as you remain free, there is hope. In case I'm caught by the Ordinators, I will leave a note with code word "amaya" into my room in here. Now go back to Caius and don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Sure… but what are you goin…", he started, but went quiet as he noticed the ordinator standing next to him.

"By the order of high inquisitor, you, Merha Milo, are hereby taken to the ministry of truth for a questioning.", the ordinator said with unemotional voice.

Merlac saw the hopeless look on Milo's face. The word "go" appeared on her lips. Merlac hesitated for a second, and then left. As he looked back from the library's door, he saw two ordinators put handcuffs to Milo.

Merlac's thoughts were messy, as he walked, almost ran to the other end of Vivec. They had taken Milo to the ministry of truth, Caius must be told, he would know what to do. Ignoring the people he hit while running, Merlac ran even faster. As he reached the beach he immediately took a silt strider back to Balmora.

When in Balmora, Merlac ran straight to Caius's house ignoring the people who greeted him. He didn't stop until he reached the house and rushed in. The house was empty.

Merlac looked around feeling desperate. There was no time, he had to find Caius. He was just about to leave the house, as he noticed a piece of paper in the table. As Merlac took it into his hands, he saw it was not addressed to him, but Caius himself. He was not allowed to read his master's letters but seeing his name in the paper caught his attention.

Spymaster Caius Cosades

Knight of the Imperial Order of Blades

Director of Imperial Intelligence in Vvardenfell District, Eastern Provinces

I have the honor to acquaint you with his Majesty's wishes concerning , an individual of no rank or consequence.

Merlac has been released from prison by his Majesty's authority and sent to you with this missive. Merlac is to be entered as a Novice in the Imperial Order of the Blades, and is to serve under your absolute authority as you shall see fit, except insofar as his Majesty's particular wishes are concerned.

His Majesty's particular wishes are as follows.

A local superstition holds that an orphan and outcast, a youth born on a certain day to uncertain parents, shall unite all the tribes of the Dunmer, drive out the invaders of Morrowind, and shall reestablish the ancient laws and customs of the Dark Elven nations. This orphan and outcast is called in legend the "Nerevarine," and is supposed to be a reincarnation of the long-dead Chimer/Dunmer General and First Councilor, Lord Indoril Nerevar.

Melrac has the appearance of meeting the conditions of this local superstition. Therefore it is his Majesty's desire that shall, insofar as is possible, satisfy the conditions of this ancient prophecy, and shall become the Nerevarine.

Though this prophecy is indeed only an ancient local superstition, his Majesty has taken counsel on this matter with his most expert informants and confidants, and his Majesty is persuaded that the prophecy is genuine and significant, either in its entirety, or in its several parts, and he earnestly demands you treat this matter with the utmost seriousness.

Certain aspects of this ancient superstition are described at the end of this document, and further materials will be forthcoming by courier at the earliest occasion. It will, of course, be necessary that you acquaint yourself better with the details of this ancient superstition from your local sources. Since this matter intimately concerns , it is expected that you will employ him to gather information on this subject. His Majesty has taken a great personal interest in the legends and prophecies of the Nerevarine, and eagerly awaits your reports.

I have the honor to be, Sir, your most Humble and Obedient Servant,

Glabrio Bellienus

Personal Secretary to the Emperor

For few minutes Merlac just stared at the paper. Then he read it again and again. It all started to make sense. Caius's strange tasks, his abilities with magic, everything. Even Milo's words. Milo! Merlac dropped the letter back to the table as he remembered why he had been in such a hurry. Merlac turned around to go looking for Caius, but the spymaster was already standing in the doorway, looking at him with serious look on his face. No smile, no grin, nothing.