Dance of the ja-Kha'jay.
By Lakyan.
Chapter 2 – Fragmentation
"What do you mean, we can't kill him?" Nhad-hatta shouted.
"Exactly that your holiness. We just can not kill him." J'manna cowered beneath his master's rage.
"And why is that?" The Mane asked.
"He is the heir to the Dragon throne." J'manna told him.
"Hrrargh!" Nhad-hatta threw a cup at J'manna, who easily dodged it. "Why must the ja-
kha'jay torment me!"
"Incidentally, the mother named the child after the moon-strings."
"The Lunar Lattice taunts me even more! Who is the mother?"
"The Hero of Kvatch, M'rassi." J'manna said.
"Great." Nhad-hatta rolled his eyes.
"The father of the child was none other than Martin Septim. He and M'rassi ended the Oblivion Crisis." J'manna informed him.
Nhad-hatta thought to himself, of how Elsweyr was affected. The gates had opened up all over the province. The tribes in the desert had fended off the daedra reasonably well, due to their combat experience. The settled peoples had fared rather poorly, though the City Guard had killed many daedra, it was a blessing from Alkosh himself when the gates vanished. The whole Empire had rejoiced once the invasion ended, but before long people had realized the Empire had no Emperor. Nhad-hatta had considered announcing Elsweyr's independency, but had not acted on the decision. Now it seemed there was an heir, but that heir was a rival to the Mane's power. His head was beginning to hurt from thinking about it.
"-Holiness?" J'manna asked, breaking Nhad-hatta from his reverie.
"What!" the Mane asked, braids rustling softly.
"What do you want me to do?" J'manna asked.
Nhad-hatta thought to himself for a moment. "I want you to deliver the word to the rest of the guard. Tell them the borders of Elsweyr are now closed, and that they are to patrol every inch of the border. You are to get a new Senche, ride to the Imperial City, and inform them that the Elsweyr Confederacy is no longer a part of the Empire."
"Yes your Holiness." J'manna bowed and left.
"Ocato, it's beautiful!" M'rassi exclaimed when High Chancellor Ocato let her into the Imperial suite at the top of White Gold Tower.
"Of course it's beautiful, did you think the royal family would live in anything less?" Ocato said, opening up some blue velvet curtains.
Midday sun poured into the room, and everything lit up even more. The room was lavishly decorated with paintings and tapestries on the walls. There were plush rugs, and ornate furniture, and this was just the entranceway. There were five doors leading of the main room. Ocato unlocked the center door. The next room was even more extravagant than the last. There was a magnificent four post bed, complete with a red velvet duvet. A cozy sofa sat against one wall, and a plush rug lay in front of the fire place. Exotic plants from all provinces were arranged around the room, including sugarcane from southern Elsweyr. There was even a painting of her brother Ra'jissan casting Dagoth Ur from Red Mountain. M'rassi chuckled at the picture, as the painter had given him great big bulgy muscles, which, last time she saw her brother, he didn't have. Ocato saw her laughing at the picture.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"I've spotted a picture of my brother. I think his wife Ahnassi painted it." M'rassi pointed at the signature.
"She's very good. Anyway, this is the Emperor's room, but I think you should be able to sleep in here. This would have been Martin's room, had he survived…" Ocato trailed off.
M'rassi looked thoughtful, remembering the last time she had seen Martin alive, when he'd banished Mehrunes Dagon back into Oblivion.
"Your thinking of that last night, aren't you?" Ocato asked.
M'rassi nodded slowly.
"I know it must be difficult, loosing someone you loved. I lost both my wife and child during the crisis, though I did not know until after you had left with Jauffre and Baurus. I mourned them, and have moved on. I still have a long life ahead, and I do not want to spend that time mourning my loss…"
"I know Ocato," M'rassi wrapped her arm around him, careful not to crush her child between them. "But every time I look at Ja-Kha'jay, I see his father. And it reminds me of everything I lost when I lost Martin. But I'm glad to have a friend like you…" she said.
"I know… There are some matters which I must attend to down in the Council Chambers. I shall be back up here soon, if there's anything you need." Ocato returned the embrace.
"Thank you Ocato." M'rassi replied.
"And I'll see you later, your Highness." Ocato waggled his finger in front of Ja-Kha'jay's face. This elicited a smile from the child. Ocato smiled at M'rassi and left the room.
J'manna walked into the Elder Council Chamber, for the second time in a month. Half the Council stood up and ordered the guards, but the High Chancellor overruled them.
"What do you want now?" Ocato asked the Khajiit, obvious he had something on his mind to tell his fellow council members.
"I come with a decree from the Mane of Elsweyr." J'manna bowed low.
"Go on." Ocato urged, but a sense of dread was growing, like cold porridge in his gut.
J'manna unrolled a scroll, and started reading. "On behalf of the Elsweyr Confederacy, I, Nhad-hatta, Mane of Elsweyr, announce the withdrawal of the Elsweyr Confederacy from the Empire. This comes after a period of strain between the two provinces, and in light of recent events, including the Oblivion Crisis, and the banning of the Mane removing his competition-"
"What is this?" A Khajiit councilor stood, outraged.
Ocato silenced him with a raised hand.
"The Mane has decided to take back control of the Elsweyr Confederacy for her own good heath, and no longer be a slave of the Empire. The Mane hereby recalls all Khajiit members of the Council. The Mane also demands all of the ancient Elsweyr lands back, including the western side of the Niben River mouth. If the Elder Council will not oblige, then we will take it by force." J'manna bowed low, rolled up the scroll and placed it on the Council Table.
"You banned the Mane from his traditional practice?" The Khajiit council member glared at Ocato. "How else do you think the Mane maintains peace within the Confederacy? There cannot be another Mane, it is unthinkable!"
The table erupted into a cacophony of angry shouts, growls, accusations and the like.
"Quiet." Ocato shouted, and the room fell deathly silent.
"There is a reason for banning the Mane from the removal of his competition in this instance. In future he will not be banned. The new Mane, born only a month ago, is the next Dragon born!" Ocato said slowly, and with barely concealed anger.
All the councilors stood up and a right shouting match ensued. The Dark Elves, as well as all the other mer, refused to accept that a lowly Khajiit would be the heir to the Dragon Throne. The Khajiiti representatives' jaws dropped and they said nothing, stunned at the revelation. Every one of every race began to shout at each other.
"Enough!" Ocato shouted at the top of his Altmer lungs. "The child is not a full blood Khajiit! His father was none other than Martin Septim, or have you forgotten, conveniently, that he and the Hero of Kvatch were lovers! He truly is of Septim Blood! And if anyone disputes that simple fact, he or she may leave. NOW!" Ocato shouted.
Almost half the council stood up.
"If Elsweyr is leaving, then on behalf of King Helseth, Morrowind will establish itself as its own country!" The Dunmer councilor spat on the table. He and all the other Dunmer left, grumbling on their way out.
"Ocato, as an Altmer, you are young yet and you have shown the impurity of your blood, by accepting this half-breed infant as the future Emperor. The Aldmeri Dominion will also leave this travesty of an Empire." An aged Altmer said calmly. She and all the other High Elves on the council left, trailing their Wood Elf subordinates behind them.
Ocato sighed; the Wood Elves had no choice but to follow their High Elven rulers. The Aldmeri Dominion had been on the fence since Tiber Septim had founded this Empire, and now, not only had they just confirmed they had actually been part of the Empire, but had also withdrawn their fragile allegiance. Ocato gazed at the councilors that remained. They were all staring at him, wondering what they should do. Ocato took a deep breath.
"Guard, go upstairs and fetch the Hero of Kvatch. And bring her son too." Ocato said.
Soon M'rassi walked into the chamber cautiously. She cradled her son close, shooting J'manna a suspicious look, and wondering why half the council was missing. She had heard shouting earlier, but could not make out anything from the muffled words.
Ocato waved her over to him, and took her son from her, giving her an 'everything will be alright' look.
"Behold! This is Ja-Kha'jay Septim." Ocato help the infant for everyone to see.
The room was silent, save the baby's gurgles. The child mane had thickened and the tail tuft better defined. M'rassi passed Ocato an object which had been hidden in her robes. Ocato juggled the baby and object in his hands, and held up the new Amulet of Kings. The gold glinted, and the diamond caught the light, and shone brightly.
"For the some months now, the Emperor's Blades had been forging a new Amulet of Kings from the diamond gifted to M'rassi by the dying Martin. This Amulet has blessed the child, identifying him as the heir to the throne." Ocato stated.
"Prove it." A large Orc man told him. The rest of the councilors murmured in agreement.
Ocato placed the Amulet around the child's neck. It began to grow with a pale red light.
"Point proven. The Orc people have no province of their own," the Orc glanced at the Bretons. "But we will accept this child as future Emperor. His mother and father are both highly regarded for their honour by my people."
"Indeed, for her deeds, the Hero of Kvatch retains great status within Elsweyr. However the Mane's decision has overruled us, and we must return. If it were truly up to us, Elsweyr would remain a part of the Empire." The Khajiit councilor said. "What is your name Hero of Kvatch?"
"M'rassi." She answered.
"Your title is inappropriate. Perhaps 'Ri' might be better for the mother of this particular child. In a way you are the Clan Mother of the Fourth Age." M'rassi nodded at the new title. "We shall go now. We council members will watch in secret, and we shall see how Ja-Kha'jay shapes this fragmented Empire once he comes into power. J'manna will say nothing of this to the Mane, lest the Brothers of Darkness find him." With that threat the Khajiit councilors left, but J'manna didn't follow.
The Nord, Breton, Redguard and Argonian council members each gave their own reasons for remaining with the Empire. Men ought to stick together was the reasoning behind High Rock, Hammerfell, and Skyrim to stay. The Argonians of the Black Marsh lacked a proper government and had grown too dependent on Imperial rule to form one of their own. Slowly all of the councilors left, leaving Ocato, J'manna and the newly named Ri'rassi.
"What else do you need J'manna?"
J'manna remained silent, shifting his weight from foot to foot. His tail flicked in irritation.
"I-I have some information which will prove useful to you." He sighed at last.
"A change of heart?" Ocato asked.
"I disagree with the means by which the Mane is planning to take control of Elsweyr's ancient boundaries. He will enlist the help of the Renrijra Krin, a band of guerillas which has been tormenting the Count of Leyawiin. They have not allied themselves with the Mane before, but this time the Mane has a similar goal, and the coin to make it a reality."
"Why are you telling us this?" Ri'rassi asked.
"My brother lives in Leyawiin, and I fear what will happen to them if the Mane gets his way." J'manna said.
"The Mane will kill you when he learns of your disloyalty." Ocato stated the fact.
"I know. I'm not going to give him the chance." J'manna said sadly, and was engulfed in a fire ball.
Ocato and Ri'rassi hurled ice spells at the man to douse the flames, but they were too late. J'manna was dead. The stench of scorched fur and flesh filled the room. Ri'rassi knelt and said a quick Khajiiti prayer over him. Ocato stared in horror before motioning the guards over to remove the body.
"What am I going to do?" Ocato sighed, an arm draped lazily over his face.
"I don't know. You have more experience than me at running an Empire." Ri'rassi answered.
"I know, but during the war on Mehrunes Dagon, you and Martin were doing all you could to stop it. All I did was run the Empire like nothing had happened, while hoping like hell some miracle came along to stop it. Some High Chancellor I am…I can't even hold the Empire in one piece." Ocato sighed deeply.
"Still, you did a fantastic job during the Oblivion Crisis. All the mer have left the Empire, as well as the Khajiit. But we still have all the races of men, and the Argonians. Surely we can do something with this many people?" Ri'rassi asked.
"Yes, but what remains of the Empire is not ready for war. Many people in all provinces were killed during Dagon's invasion. It would take months to train and mobilize an army. Hammerfell has no standing army, and in all the other provinces the ranks have been decimated by the daedra. The only advantage we could possibly have is that the same thing has happened to their armies. Elsweyr has declared war, based on its demand for its territories back. Morrowind probably will as well. The Aldmeri Dominion might too, but they are sensible. They will not attack until the Empire has been defeated by the armies of Elsweyr and Morrowind. Or until we have driven them back. Either way, our ranks will be vulnerable after such an onslaught." Ocato explained, having rolled out a large map of Tamriel on a large table nearby.
"Why would the Dunmer attack first? I don't really see King Helseth and Mane Nhad-hatta getting along well." Ri'rassi told Ocato, while beginning to nurse Ja-Kha'jay.
"The Dark Elves are rash, and prone to ill decisions. Helseth will only ally with the Mane long enough to secure Cyrodiil. But House Redoran will object, as they have their hands full with the Nords, who have been harassing Blacklight for years. The Houses have long bickered and fought between themselves, but under Helseth, they may unite for this venture into war. The Queen Mother, Barenziah might defend Cyrodiil, as she has had ties with the Septim Dynasty for the last five-hundred years. As for the Mane Nhad-hatta, he also will not stay allied to Helseth. Once Cyrodiil has fallen into their hands, the Mane will turn his eye on Valenwood, whose true border has been long disputed." Ocato explained.
"We have one chance at keeping the Houses of Morrowind bickering. My brother, the Nerevarine. He is the War leader of three of the five Dunmer Houses, and they may try to use him against us. However, Ra'jissan also has the fealty of the native Dunmer Tribes." Ri'rassi told him.
"He did well for an 'outlander' but the Nerevarine has gone to Akavir, though I don't know for what purposes." Ocato replied.
"Shortly before I gave birth, I sent a letter for him and Ahnassi to return to Cyrodiil. I have no idea if they got it, or if they have even left Akavir." Ri'rassi said.
"Well we must do something until he gets here, and if he does not come, then we must do something anyway. There are many matters which need taken care of. I shall send for Jauffre in the morning. Do you have many trusted friends? Anyone who could be of use during the upcoming war?" Ocato asked her.
Ri'rassi thought to herself for a minute. "Modryn Oreyn, my second-in-command at the fighter's guild, Raminus Polus at the Arcane University. Also Sir Mazoga from Leyawiin, make sure the messenger shows her proper respect. Send for Rythe Lythandas from Cheydinhal too."
"Isn't he a painter?" Ocato asked.
"Yes, I need him for another reason, one that does not concern the upcoming war. Tell him to bring his favourite brush." Ri'rassi looked thoughtful.
"Ja-Kha'jay looks to have fallen asleep." Ocato said changing the subject.
Ri'rassi smiled down at her son. She carefully moved him to a cradle, which a servant had retrieved from storage.
"It is getting late." Ri'rassi stroked the soft fur on Ja-Kha'jay's face.
"Yes it is. I shall speak with the Council tomorrow morning. There are some things that need clarifying. I shall see you after then." Ocato got up to leave. He made it almost to the door when Ri'rassi spoke.
"Ocato?" She almost whispered.
"Yes?" He turned back.
Ri'rassi looked panicked. Her ears were laid back, and her tail dragged low. The fur on the back of her neck was raised.
"Can you stay? Despite facing Mehrunes Dagon himself, I still fear the Dark Brotherhood." She whispered.
"This building is the most secure building in all Tamriel, but for you, I will stay." Ocato said.
"Thank you." Ri'rassi said.
"Your welcome." Ocato said, and then he turned and left to get some blankets for the sofa.