Blindness

A collaborative effort by Deunan and Hawkings.

Secrets part II.

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S'rah sat silently in front of both Noki and Xochi, her sister had left hours ago to embark on this quest she spoke so darkly about.
Kyakta left right after they returned to Noki's home, where they slept for the night and now S'rah knew she had to explain to them what was bothering both herself and Kyakitash.

They had reached the end of the day, after enjoying their day, they all knew S'rah was to unload what troubled her and her sister so.

Xochi was very curious, her race had a natural curiosity that they were able to hide well, but meant they were very good at being discrete about getting information, Xochi was no exception.

Noki was only interested because it caught Xochi's attention and that becomes harder and harder to do the more things Xochi reads and learns.

With a sigh, S'rah began.
"Xochi, you won't know this man, but everyone else in all Tamriel will and some of the neighboring lands will. Noki included of course." She said first, to set it off.

"S'rah was arrested time after time, she stole for me, fought for me, and above all protected me after we arrived in Cyrodill, but only three years ago, her arrests became for frequent and much longer. She was arrested late last year, she was... released only a few days ago." S'rah bared her fangs.
"You say that as if it's a bad thing." Xochi pointed out.
"Oh no, no, no, no! I just mean, she wasn't really released..." S'rah rubbed the back of her neck, running her clawed hand through her short hair.
"She broke out you mean?" Noki asked.
"No! It was a chance encounter as she said, but to him, she said he thought it was meant to be. Babbling on about this chosen one, that it's her, that he's seen her face in his dreams, then he said this is the would die. Said her path was a different one then his and that it was no coincidence that they meet." S'rah babbled on herself.
Noki shook her hands to get S'rah to stop babbling. "Who S'rah? Who?" Noki calmed her.

"You're not going to like this, or believe it. Neither did I believe it until she showed me it. I don't have it with me of course, but that's what Kyakta's out doing now..." S'rah sighed.
"That man is Emperor Uriel Septim." The second S'rah spoke the name Noki's eyes widened and she closed all the doors and windows.

"That's absurd." Noki said, sitting down.
"It is, but my sister is carrying the real Amulet of the Kings. I know it is, I tried it on, I tried it on other people, just to prove it to her that it was fake. It kept unlatching itself and falling off. It's the real thing Noki, the Emperor himself gave it to her, right before he died. I must admit, the aura it gives off is incredible." S'rah explained.
Noki had a concerned expression. "Isn't that a bit... suspicious S'rah?" Noki asked.
"Kyakta didn't kill if that's what you're implying Noki." S'rah replied.
Noki sighed, taking a moment to try and compromise with herself. "Maybe, I don't know. It's suspicious, that's all." Noki finished.

"It is, I admit to that. But there were three Blades with the Emperor and two died, the third gave her a key to escape, she still has the key... keys." S'rah explained. "She may have killed the Blades and stole the keys!" Noki argued.
"Kyakta's a good fighter and a good person. No matter how vicious she seems at times, she's a good person, she'd never do it. She couldn't bring herself to do it." S'rah tried to sway her.
"You may be right S'rah, maybe I don't know Kyakitash well enough to judge, so I won't. She may not open up to me, but I will not judge her." Noki rubbed her face. "Please though, keep me in the loop. I do like to know what's going to happen to our home." Noki smiled faintly.
"Of course Noki, and you too Xochi." S'rah patted Noki's shoulder.

"So... Kyakta has the Amulet of the Kings, correct? What is she to do with it?" Xochi asked.
"She has to take it to someone very important, there's a priory outside Chorrol. There's a man there who will receive the Amulet. After that, I don't know. That may all be Kyakta's task." S'rah shrugged.

"In any case, there is something more important." S'rah sighed heavily.
"What could be more important then this?" Noki asked, reading S'rah's expression.
"Two things. One, the Emperor said to find the heir, that means there's another son or daughter we know nothing of, in which case Tamriel ways can be preserved, but the other is even more important. He said shortly before he died, that Kyakta needed to close shut the jaws of Oblivion. We don't know exactly what that means, but whatever it is, it doesn't sound good." S'rah finished.
"Jaws of Oblivion? Is Cyrodill or Tamriel to fall?" Noki shook her head with a scared expression.
"Oblivion is a realm, the very realm of the Deadric God of Destruction. As you already know, is Mehrunes Dagon. Whatever this Oblivion really is, either it be for Tamriel to fall to war or to fall into the clutches of Mehrunes, we don't know, that's what she's trying to find out though."
"Oblivion?! The realm of destruction!? People go there and never come back! Tortured for thousands of years and then their corpses are hung on display! What does Oblivion have to do with the Emperor?!" Noki shot up from her seat.
S'rah held Noki's arms tightly. "We don't know! We don't even know if that is what he meant, one way or another, we will find out and we will fix this." S'rah sat Noki back down, patted her back then poured her tea.

"I apologize. I am quite devoted to Tamriel, I may not have been born wealthy, but I do live here and I do live happily." Noki calmed down.
"No need to apologize Noki, I freaked out way more when Kyakta told me then you did! Honestly I'm surprised you're not freaking out now... Heh, makes me look bad." S'rah ran her hand through her hair nervously.

"Fine then. She's taking the Amulet to a priest?" Noki drank her tea.
"I guess. The Emperor said to deliver it to a man named Jauffre, apparently he'll know what to do." Kyakta sat back down, leaning over and putting her hands on her face.

Xochi sat quietly, cleaning up the conversation so it actually makes sense to her.

S'rah was telling them that the Amulet of Kings is to be taken to a Priory outside Chorrol, where this priest; Jauffre, will receive it and tell Kyakta what else she must do to restore the Cyrodill throne.

Noki freaked out, S'rah calmed her, then S'rah became tired and was relaxing in her chair.
Neither asked this very important question, they may be thinking of it, but they didn't mention it.

"What will Jauffre tell Kyakitash?" Xochi chimed in.

S'rah lifted her head, the tips of her fingers were pulling down on her face, making a long, sad, tired look.

"I hope he'll say that she's got more to do." S'rah said, shocking Noki.
Noki laughed nervously. "Hope? Hope?! Why would you hope something like that?! This is dangerous!" Noki argued once more.
"I know that. I know. I just... know... that if there's any one in all the world that would be saving us, out of everybody I trust Kyakta to do it the most. I know her to start things and finish them, completely."

Noki grinned faintly with an approving nod.
"I understand S'rah. I don't know her, like I said I won't judge her now. I'll be sure to help in anyway I can though." Noki turned from an unsure grin to a full friendly, comforting smile.
"Thanks Noki and Xochi, for listening without freaking out." S'rah laughed, "Yeah, it's so strange to hear this." Noki laughed with S'rah.

S'rah sighed a heavy breath of relief, a faint smile showed how truly tired of the situation she really was, but also how proud she really felt. Her sister had become a part of something so large that no one could have ever imagined or even dreamed of being part of, it's so important it changes the way they will live. The way Noki will, Xochi, Nero, Chanda, Luka, Cyrodill, Morrowind, Tamriel, and even herself.

Finally, sweet relaxation came in and they all could rest without any twirling thoughts of Jauffre or Kyakitash, they finally just relaxed.

Meanwhile...

Kyakta, with a deep growl, sliced down the last Deadra and entered the last room, the Count's chambers.

With a sigh, Kyakta came across the half crushed body of the Count. She closed her eyes and kneeled next to him, taking his ring and searching the room.
After all, he is a Count, he will have some nice, expencive items for Kyakta to pick up.

Once done, Kyakta jogged back out of the room, down the halls, leaping over the dead, crushed bodies of the Deadric enemies that came into her path.

She opened the large doors to come into the throne room, once on the other side of the throne, Kyakta spotted the group she came with.

"Captain!" She cried, jumping down the destroyed stairs.
"Kyakitash!... The Count, he's not with you. He's dead then?" The Captain asked sadly.
Out of breath, Kyakta bend over leaning on her knees. "Afraid so... Captain... However... got you his ring... The Deadra didn't get him... if that... means anything to... you." She panted.
"It does Kyakitash, it really does." He sighed and took off his Kvatch uniform cuirass. "Here, take this. It seems I won't be needing it any longer." He folded it and gave it to the recovering Kyakitash, who took it standing as straight as possible.

He touched her shoulder which instantly made Kyakta realize the true extent of her injuries.
"OOooooowwrrr!" She roared, jumping back from the Captain's touch. He flinched himself. "Quick men, get her help!" The Captain ordered, the guards who were about to act on the order were stopped by Kyakta's clawed hand.
"No! No this hunter is fine. Just a bruise."

"You're bleeding!" One guard argued.
"This hunter is fine." She repeated, growling, the guards backed a step away.
"Fine then, you are fine. Can we at least give you shelter?" The Captain asked, holding his hand out.
Kyakta shook her head. "This way I learn to avoid the pain next time." She straightened her back out and stood upright, rotating her right shoulder.
"Good as new." She grinned.

"Very well, bring Kyakitash her horse." The Captain ordered and one guard ran off outside.
"Appreciated Captain. Good luck." She bowed. "And to you. We owe you so much more then we could ever repay. Thank you, if you ever need anything, the people of Kvatch will be more then happy to accompany you in whatever way you desire." He bowed back.
Kyakta nodded and left the castle, to the heir who awaited outside the city now.

"Leaving now." She stated as her horse trotted up to him.
"But what about the-" "Leaving. Now." She demanded, Martin Septim stood and gulped.

Hesitantly he accepted her hand and was helped onto the horse behind Kyakitash and they galloped off, away from Kvatch.