Innocence Questioned
Part 5
News of Taless'naverine's mark had spread through Miscarcand like wildfire.
No one, not even the king, had received such a branding and he was not one to be upstaged. Ordinarily he would have simply signed her death warrant and washed his hands of the matter, but the situation was far from ordinary.
Firstly she was the daughter of Jamin Iscario; his own high slave master who was a powerful man in his own right, and having many powerful allies within the slave guild was now a potential threat.
There were other problems plaguing him, the growing schism that started from within the slaves' guild was quickly polarizing opinion within the court itself, Nobles had come to blows over their differing opinions. Was she sent by the Oblivion lords to wrest power from the king? Was this a message or warning or a sigh of impending doom perhaps, some went so far as to pronounce Taless'naverine as the physical manifestation of all Daedra and even the kings on seers were at a loss to interpret the sigils across her back, she was a mystery, a deeply disturbing mystery.
For now the king merely watched and waited, quietly moving his pieces into play, waiting eagerly for any attempt on his throne.
Taless'naverine awoke to the sound of soft singing, a lullaby she had always heard from her father as a child. Smiling, she looked to see her father sitting across form her, his eyes closed in concentration as if trying to remember the words.
"Good morning father" she said, her voice strained and hoarse, he looked up and smiled ending his recital. "Good evening Lessa", he corrected. "How are you feeling?"
She had to think about it for a moment, her memories of the events were vague, like a faded dream, until she sat up in her bed.
Taless'naverine cried out as pain shot up the length of her back sending her crashing down onto the bed, her knuckles white as she gripped the sheets.
"Easy Lessa, you must be still", her father rushed to her bedside easing her back down. "The marks are still fresh, and it will be quite some time before there fully healed, you must rest and for the time being remain indoors, where it's safe".
"Safe?" Taless'naverine looked up at her father suddenly confused, "I passed the test didn't I?"
"Yes, yes you did Lessa" he sighed, returning to the chair looking suddenly very tired, Taless'naverine was suddenly aware that she may have been discovered.
"Father, what's the matter?" She eased her herself carefully onto her side, wincing as pain threatened her again. "Has something gone wrong?" she asked trying to keep the rising concern from her voice.
"You completed the blooding Lessa as I had no doubt you would, my concern and in fact many people's, would be the mark you've received, you are the first of our kind to receive one such as this and nobody knows what to make of it, not even the king". He trailed off looking suddenly distant, "Lessa the king wants to view you, before the court. He intends to validate your mark personally". She was about to protest, but seeing the look in the fathers' eyes convinced her otherwise.
"The decision is made Lessa", he continued as his daughter sank back onto her bed quietly muttering obscenities. "Believe me this may soon be the least of your problems".
"I don't see how father", she answered more harshly than intended. "Being paraded about like a piece of meat before the lords of the land sounds as bad as it gets".
"Really", his laugh was as chilling as it was devoid of humour. "All I will say for now Daughter is to be on your guard and trust absolutely nobody".
With that Jamin left, closing the door quietly behind him leaving Taless'naverine feeling as if she had jumped from the proverbial torture cage into the acid pit.
The tower in which the king held court was a wondrous piece of architecture. It was the slightly smaller, but no less grand twin of the great spire in the holy temple city; it was a tribute to Ayleid artisans and a statement of the king's absolute authority.
Around the white marble tower nearly a dozen small black sentry crystals hovered lazily, their presence alone was enough to deter any would be attack.
Inside was no less impressive; the silver veined marble walls to the high domed ceiling above the circular throne chamber throbbed with pent up energies, they were supported in turn by sixteen high arched columns each of which were etched with glowing Daedric runes and displayed coats of arms, great house banners, tapestries and the many and spoils of war hanging from trophy racks.
Despite the splendour there was seating for only one. The ornate gold and marble throne stood on a raised dais where the King of Miscarcand looked down upon his assembling lords.
Today he would finally meet this girl that had been causing such a commotion, but for the time being he pressed on with other more pressing matters concerning his realm, savouring the moment when he would finally come face to face with this little upstart.
Taless'naverine had spent most of the day with her stomach in knots. Trying to summon up the courage to face the king was becoming increasingly difficult as the hours passed; she was becoming agitated and perhaps more than a little frightened.
As the servants fussed about her, preparing her hair and attire Taless'naverine thoughts turned to her father who was due to accompany her to audience but not yet arrived and the thought of being paraded around as some kind of object of curiosity disgusted her to the core.
"Pigs, all of them". She muttered.
Taless'naverine winced as the comb snagged a knot. "Apologies milady".
"That's quite alright Ingrid", she smiled weakly, much to the servants relief. "I was thinking of wearing it down loose anyway".
She looked confused for a moment, "Milady is that not against protocol? Surly the king will be angered", she quickly cast her eyes down fearing she'd overstepped her place, but the Ayleid merely laughed. Standing Taless'naverine pulled out the pins that held her hair letting it cascade over her shoulder and back.
Looking into her mirror, she couldn't help but smile at her small act of rebellion. "I certainly hope so. Inform my father if of when he returns that I intend to go to before the king unescorted. Now, return to your duties", the servants curtsied leaving Taless'naverine alone with her reflection.
The grand double doors swung silently opened before Taless'naverine, dressed in a simple white robe before the lords of the realm.
She was terrified, terrified and elated all at once
Raising her chin she regarded the assembled lords briefly, steeling herself, the young woman ignored the protests and cries of outrage at her breach of etiquette and forged her way through them, to stand before the king.
Standing above her, adorned with his finest ornate golden armour, a bloody red silken robes and a cape of white lion fur, a simple circlet of silver that sat upon his brow glowed a faint blue, the king looked down at the girl with a wrath and contempt that was almost palpable threatening to strip Taless'naverine of what little determination she had.
"Your hair requires attention", he remarked coldly.
The entire chamber went silent as the king left the dais striding towards the white robed woman who, despite the fear rolling off of her refused to lower her eyes in subservience.
He stood before her, dark eyes staring into her blue grey. "This insult will not be forgotten child", he warned. When Taless'naverine said nothing in response he continued, voice raised for al to hear, "Taless'naverine Iscario, you have summoned here to display your sigillum. In your own time please", he added sarcastically.
Gritting her teeth, Taless'naverine turned her back to the king, loosened her robe and let it drop to the floor, ignoring the gawking nobles whispered, comments and juvenile sniggers.
The king took his time examining the mark, his fingers tracing down her back and breath upon her neck made her want to retch.
Taless'naverine felt a sudden burning sensation down her spine.
"What is this"! The king gasped, suddenly crying out in agony and staggered away from her, Taless'naverine turned and was horrified to see the king fall backwards, his eyes were gushing blood.
All about her cries of alarm erupted and nobles rushed to the aid of the king, but were halted in their tracks as a dozen heavily armed and armoured dremora burst into existence around him in a protective circle, mercilessly cutting down anybody who got to close to their lord, it was pandemonium.
Taless'naverine stood there stunned as chaos reigning around her, it was almost like a dream with noble lords and ladies, dressed in all their finery, with all their power scrabbling over each other to flee the massacre, only to be reduced to bloody chunks of meat and magic blasted ruin over the pristine marble floor.
She was jolted from her daze as, out of nowhere a hooded person grabbed her arm, before she even protest Taless'naverine was engulfed in white light.
"What in Dagon's name were you thinking?" Shalinva raged, pacing back and forth, "have you any idea just how long we spent preparing this operation, how many people died? All for nothing!"
The two of them had appeared in Taless'naverine's bed chamber where she had collapsed in a disoriented heap on the floor.
"Are you even listening? Lessa, what happened in there?" She demanded.
"I don't know damn it!" Taless'naverine cried, "his eyes just bled, he was looking at my mark and". She trailed off; shivering as the shock of her ordeal set in she stood and quickly dressed.
Shalinva went to the window, quickly peering through the curtains. "We've got a problem sweet cake, I used my last portal scroll pulling your naked ass out of that mess, and if the palace guards aint already on their way, they soon will be".
An explosion shattered the window, hurling debris across the room and Shalinva screamed as a shard of glass tore through her left leg.
"Come on, I know a way out of the city". Hauling the injured woman to her feet, Taless'naverine fled the devastated room.
Explosions more distant this time rattled the windows as the pair hurried through the upper gallery; a bright flash caught their attention. Looking out of the window they saw the city burning. "By all that is holy," Shalinva whispered.
There was a battle raging in the skies above Miscarcand, mages belonging to the royal guard, the slave guild and other houses were dancing and weaving around in an intricate and deadly display, pitched against each other in a unrestrained orgy of destruction as they unleashed lightning and fire tracing across the smoke laden sky and into the other and buildings below bursting them open, littering the congested streets with fiery death.
Tearing themselves away, the pair made their way through the estate into the underground levels where Taless'naverine directed her companion into a small room stacked high with wine bottles, she pulled on one of them.
"Yeah yeah, not bad smart ass". Shalinva chuckled as a section of wall swung inwards to reveal a dark tunnel. Smiling smugly, Taless'naverine summoned a small glow sphere before leading the way.
The devastating civil conflict in Miscarcand continued for nearly three days reducing large sections of the city into burnt out graveyards and was only brought to an end by the intervention of the high temple Aurorans and a decree of martial law, three days late for the hundreds of people killed.
The temple Inquisitors declared that the conflict had been sparked by the assassination of the high king and brutal murder of half the court by unknown assailants, with political tensions at breaking point, the great houses were quick to point the blame at their nearest rival, most of them had been annihilated, even the powerful slavers guild had been left in ruin.
The few nobles to survive the conflict were stripped of their titles and transported to the high temple for further interrogation until a successor king is chosen and enthroned.
Of a certain white haired woman who had allegedly met with the king near the time of his death, there is no mention.
Blimey guvna, that took a bitta doin.