One Night with the Emperor

Chapter Thirteen – Entering Paradise

"Abiyomi?" Somebody shook me gently.

"Hu-what?" I struggled to open my eyes.

Baurus stood over me. "Martin says the ritual is about completed."

I sat up. Ritual? What ritual? Stupid sleep spell after effects.

Oh. Sleep spell. That's right. Martin's binding himself to that book. Or maybe he's already bound himself to it. One of the two.

Either way, I have to go to Paradise. Too bad it isn't really a paradise. Real paradise would be anywhere alone with Martin, without the end of the world hanging over our heads.

"You're good," I muttered to Baurus. "I got this."

He nodded and left.

I paced the room, going through a few warm-ups, forcing myself to wake up. Martin gave me a stronger dose of sleep magic than I expected. My goodness.

While I slept, somebody brought up all of my stuff. I pulled my armor on, and strapped my sword to my side. My pack sat on a table. I sifted through it, taking a mental inventory.

Once I felt ready, I went down to the main hall. Martin looked up from the Mysterium Xarxes as I approached. He stood next to a huge circle of runes and such drawn on the floor in front of the fireplace. The Great Welkynd Stone and the Great Sigil Stone hovered midair on opposite sides of the circle. Azura's Star sat on the ground in the center of the circle. I assumed the scraping of Tiber Septim's blood was in there somewhere.

"Do you have everything you need?" Martin asked me. "The portal will close behind you. I can't keep it open. You going through will consume the items."

He tried to appear fine, to be strong for me. But his voice and his eyes betrayed his pain. Nobody knew what I would encounter in Paradise. I already defied death five times. Would my luck run out this time?

I walked up to him. Wrapped my arms around his middle. Buried my face into his neck. He put the book down. Crushed me to him. Buried his face into my shoulder.

We stood like that for a few minutes. I didn't want to let go. Martin didn't either. We had no choice.

"Yes, I think I have everything." I said.

"Good." Martin cleared his throat. "Mankar Camoran is the anchor to Paradise, much like the sigil stones are for Oblivion gates. Remove him from the picture and Paradise will collapse."

I nodded. "Well, as The Hero of Kvatch and with my swordsmanship mastery, I'm off to save the world and all that."

Martin tried to smile and failed. "You forget. You're the Savior of Bruma now."

"That's right. How could I forget about my promotion?"

He simply looked at me with sorrowful eyes.

"Oh, Martin." I sighed and pressed my lips to his.

We separated a few moments later. Martin touched his forehead to mine. "Be careful."

"I'll try." I stepped back. His hands fell limply to his sides. "Open the portal."

Martin picked up the Mysterium Xarxes. He spoke a sentence in some language I didn't understand. His fist extended toward the circle as he spoke. At the last word, he opened his hand. Lightening shot between the items in the circle for an instant. Swirling, shimmering purple consumed the items and grew, filling the bonds of the circle. It flared red.

"Martin," I said. "I love you."

His eyes met mine. "I love you too."

I jumped into the portal.

My feet hit stone. Even though my eyes were closed, I had to shield them from sudden light. Behind me, I felt the portal wink out of existence.

"I know this sounds cheesy, but don't feel like you're alone. Wherever you go, you carry my heart with you. So be careful."

I smiled at the memory. His brown hair framing his face. Those blue eyes boring into mine. The intense emotion those eyes held for me and me alone.

Taking a breath, I opened my eyes. Shock nearly overtook me. I blinked a few times, just to be sure. The image didn't quiver.

A beautiful forest surrounded me. Complete with plants and flowers of all kinds. The only thing missing was birdsong. Or any animals, really.

I spun slowly around. The only way out from the little grove I stood in was by a broken stone path. Would it lead me to Camoran? Or could he change the landscape at will and leave me wandering in an endless forest forever?

Well, only one way to find out. I jogged down the path, continuing to survey my surroundings. Aside from the plants, there was no sign of life anywhere.

The familiar cackle of a scamp proved me wrong. I whirled around. A fireball whizzed past my head. My sword flashed in the sunlight. The scamp's head fell from its body with a wet sucking sound.

At the very least, that explained the lack of wildlife. If it managed to survive the fireballs, the stench would kill it. Nothing but scamps could survive that stench for long.

I continued down the path, eyes, ears, and nostrils open for any other signs of daedric life.

"So, the cat's-paw of the Septims arrives at last." A voice said.

I whirled around, sword at the ready. Nothing, nobody. Not close enough to sound that clear. And… I recognized that voice. But from where?

"You didn't think you could take me unawares, here of all places?"

Oh. Mankar Camoran. Probably talking directly to my mind. How annoying.

"In the Paradise I created?"

I tuned him out. Listened to the rustle and chinks of my armor. My footsteps as metal hit stone and dirt. The cackle of scamps, the crackle of atronachs, trumpeting of clannfear, roar of daedroths. Thuds against my shield. The wet sucking of severed limbs.

Finally, he stopped talking. I sighed relief. He likes the sound of his own voice way too much.

Around another bend. Killed another daedra. And found– a human? He looked ragged and frightened.

"Who… who are you?" He asked, shrinking back from me. "You don't belong here."

I glanced around. No other life forms of any kind nearby. "You're right. I don't belong here."

"Are… are you the one? Will you free us from this nightmare?"

"Nightmare?"

"The daedra! They… they torture us! Until we die! Then we resurrect and it happens all over again!"

Found the evil hidden under this pretty exterior. The trumpet of a clannfear interrupted us. With a squeak, the man began to tremble. I spun. Steeled myself. The clannfear hit my shield. Bounced off. My sword slashed up. Chopped off its arm. Cleaved halfway through its torso. Yanked my sword out.

When I turned back around, the man was gone. Probably ran off while I fought the clannfear. Oh well.

I continued down the path. More daedra fell to my sword. Other humans, elves, and beastkin glared at me or cowered at the sight of me. I ignored them. They neither hindered nor helped me.

The path ended at a huge chasm that separated this side from a cave in the mountain on the other. Of course, the only way across was by a bridge guarded by a dremora. I wondered when I would start to see some of them. All of the daedra so far had been minor ones.

The dremora approached me without drawing its weapon. "You destroyed the Sigil Tower at Ganonah. My kin say you fought well."

How did they speak with their mouths turned down in such a permanent frown? "Ganonah? I've never heard of it."

His eyebrows lowered even more at my comment. I didn't know that was possible. Still, I irked him. That was the goal.

"Our clan sacked your city of Kvatch… a fitting task fit for scamps." My hand tightened on my blade at his comment. "Your swift retribution earned you much respect among my people. We had not expected that a mortal would act with such resolution and honor. It is no dishonor for us to speak."

Dishonor? Honestly, I hadn't even though of that. I would just rather not talk to a dremora. "What do you want, then?"

"There is but one way out of the Savage Garden. I guard that path and the key. You will travel that path, and it will bring me honor to defeat you. But you shamed my kin at Ganonah. To bring you into my service… that would also bring me honor. So I offer you a choice. Would you confront me in battle? Or offer me service?"

Service? I didn't like the sound of that. "I have some questions."

He glowered even deeper at me. "You are impertinent, mortal. I did not offer to answer questions."

I backed up a few steps. Spread my arms out wide. "Fine. Just try and kill me."

He laughed. Charged. I kept my arms out. The distance between us closed. His sword raised high. My shield met his sword. Feinted low with my sword. His feet slid back. I smashed the corner of my shield into his face. He staggered back a step. I leaned forward. Stood. Slid my blade into a gap in his armor. Stabbed his heart.

"How's that for honor?" I tilted my wrist sideways. His body slid off of my katana.

Okay, he said he guarded the key. But is it an actual key, or did he use the word metaphorically? Kneeling next to him, I searched his body. All he carried were three potions and a pair of wristbands. Could the wristbands be the key? Maybe just carrying them would be key enough.

"How little you understand!"

I jumped to my feet. Spun around. Nobody.

"You cannot stop Lord Dagon."

How lovely. Mankar Camoran speaking into my mind again. I sighed.

"The Principalities have sparkled as gems–"

And tuned out. If I wanted to listen to a raving madman, I would have actually joined the Mythic Dawn. Or found one of Sheogorath's followers.

I walked across the bridge. Pushed open the door I found in the cave. The cave continued, but filled with water up to about my ankles. A cluster of humans and elves huddled together in the water.

They all shouted versions of "You can't stop Lord Dagon!" and glowered at me. Friendly bunch. I ignored them and pushed through. Their calls echoed to me as I followed the cave.

Only one bend and I came to a door with glowing runes. No obvious handles. I pushed on it. Nothing happened. Sliding off my gauntlets, I felt along it, searching for a hidden switch or latch. Still nothing.

Was this the door that needed the key? I pulled the wristbands from my pack. The door didn't respond. So I touched the bands to the door. Again, nothing.

Fine.

I pulled the wristbands on. They shuddered. Tightened to my skin. Cast a reddish-black glow over me.

I tried to tug them off. They wouldn't budge. Icy fear crept up my spine. Oh, no. What did I just do?

Maybe it's supposed to do that. I wiggled my fingers and tapped my fingertips together. Everything still worked. Gently, I touched my palms to the door. Both the wristbands and the door glowed red. I pushed. The door gave way.