Upon stepping into the castle's courtyard, some of the Cards thought they had been cruelly placed back into the forests of Moonshadow. On closer inspection, this collection of trees and bushes and some lesser fauna as well was surrounded by the golden walls of the castle.
The six passed through the trees - one more literally than the others - to the door of the main hall on the other side.
The door swung open to reveal a large hallway leading up to a throne at the far wall. On this throne sat a beautiful Chimer woman, not a Dunmer as they are now, but a Chimer. She wore an elegant deep purple dress and the Dunmer's original pale pink flesh.
Isaiah, Ryan, Sumika, Eyana, and Jaime dropped to their knees. Makenna looked at them as if they were superstitious morons, regardless of the Daedric Prince seated before them.
"Get on your knees stupid!" Isaiah barked.
Makenna slowly, as if mockingly, lowered himself.
"You need not kneel Isaiah," Azura said gently.
Isaiah began to stand. Makenna followed.
"I said Isaiah!" Azura raised her voice forcing him to his knees as the castle, and perhaps all of Moonshadow, shuttered. Isaiah scowled his mage.
"What do you need Isaiah?" Azura questioned the Imperial, her gentle yet powerful tone returned.
Isaiah started by explaining what had happened in the past week and the situation with Alfonso. "We are planning on just passing through," he said, "but one of mine needs help with a golem."
"I will send some of my servants to assist your friend," Azura told him, "despite you not planning on visiting me."
The others thought it strange for a Daedric Prince to joke with a mortal.
Sumika burst in, "May I accompany them?"
"You may," Azura responded promptly. "I may even have a gift or two for you if you wish."
"For me my lady?" Sumika queried in surprise. "It would be my honor."
"Good," the daedra responded. "Now, Isaiah, I would like to speak to you in private."
Azura stepped through a door to the side of her throne and Isaiah followed.
"You know you can no longer lead them," Azura told him once they were out of earshot of the others.
"But I still do not understand why my lady," Isaiah said to her with a look of discomfort.
"Talos was the king of men, not gods, only Akatosh may lead the Nine," Azura said to him as gently as ever. "While we do not like the Aedra, only they may lead us out of the darkness to come."
"I understand my lady.." Isaiah replied dejectedly.
"Now, I do not want that servant of Sithis in my realm," Azura said to Isaiah. "Lead him out immediately."
"Jaime is no longer in the Dark Brotherhood," Isaiah told her confused.
Azura scowled. "I thought you would have figured it out by now," she taunted him. "I wasn't referring to the Breton."
Realization struck Isaiah with a force that made him sick. "I see…" he muttered finally. "We will be on our way immediately then…" Isaiah began to walk away.
"Goodbye…" Azura said suffering slightly from the mortal emotion regret.
Isaiah nodded his head in farewell.