Chapter 5: We're Off to See the Wizard
She blinked at him. "Seriously?"
"Yes. Why were you looking for me?"
"I need you to come with me to Weynon Priory outside of Chorrol." he looked confused. "You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?
"Martin, Uriel Septim was your father. You are the last remaining son and heir of Emperor. And now you must come with me to Weynon Priory." He looked in her eyes. He looked uncertain, and very confused. "I've come all this way and put my life on hold and on the line to fulfill your father's last request. Please don't tell me no now!"
He looked away, "Oh gods. You think Uriel Septim is my father? My father was a farmer." He looked out of the tent at the encampment. All the people celebrated the victory over the Daedra, unaware of the two of them. "You have the wrong man."
"They came here for you." That made his face pale, "You can stop this from happening to any more people. Take up your role as the Emperor. Please. We need you."
" I think... You might be telling the truth." she sighed with relief. "For the world, huh?"
"Yes. For all of Tamriel."
"I will go with you to Weynon Priory. Though I still think you have the wrong guy."
"That's what I said when I signed onto this." She said with a chuckle. "I was a prisoner in the Imperial City dungeons." He laughed, "What's so funny?"
"The thought of you in prison. You are a kind hearted soul. I can't imagine you doing something to get arrested!"
"Hey I was stealing from your Da. I almost got away with it but the guard woke up."
"The gods have always had a strange sense of humor." they grinned at each other, "When shall we leave? As soon as you regain your strength?"
She thought a moment, "That will do I guess. You're safe and for now that's all that counts."
That made him flush scarlet. She missed this early warning sign completely as she looked at the encampment from the safety of the tent. "What was that...?" she wondered aloud, thinking back at the surge of power and light.
Martin stared at her, "What was what?"
"When I came out of the gate, there was this moment when I felt... I don't know. I just felt so full. I was... Glowing."
"I remember that. I- They thought you were a goddess for a moment. Mara herself to be truthful. I think it may have been a god's power but it was still you."
"Akatosh." She said with a glare. "I don't like to be used." that she said to the skies. In case he happened to hear. "They say I'm his chosen. But what about my choice."
"You chose to come right?"
Tsamusa glared at him, "Do not help their cause. I only agreed because-" She stopped and looked away. "Because of those crazy old men." She frowned when she thought of the late emperor. Then Baurus' image flashed in her mind for a moment. "I think I'm feeling better now."
"How did you get here?"
"On foot. That's probably the way we'll have to get back. A straight shot through the woods and hills to Chorrol."
He sighed, "I don't like it but I'll go that way. If it is truly quickest."
"We also avoid highwaymen and possible assassins. I don't know if they know about you but I don't think Kvatch was targeted just for kicks."
"Kvatch was attacked because of me."
"Let's not take our chances with it and avoid the main roads."
He frowned, "You know my name. It seems unfair that I don't know your's."
"Was there a question in there?" That made him grin again. "Tsamusa. And yes I know it's Khajiit."
He smiled, "It suits you. How did you come about such a name?"
She looked at him, consideringly. Oh, why not, "I'll tell you on the way."
In an hour they were almost out of sight of Kvatch walking quickly but sparingly towards Chorrol to the north. As they walked Tsamusa talked of her past. "I wandered into a community of Khajiit near the Elsweyr boarder called Boarder Watch. I remember very little. I was only three. I know my mother was a Breton and my father was a Bosmer. I also know they traveled a lot and that they were killed in an attack. I don't remember them dying but I remember the attack. I later learned it was vampires."
"How is it then that you ended up a thief."
"S'krivva, a Khajiit, took me in. She was like a older sister to me, we moved to Bravil. She tried to get me to join the Thieves Guild. I wanted to honor my mother's memory and join the Mages Guild. "
"Why didn't you?"
"Turns out, as a mage, I lacked talent. I'm bad at remembering spells."
"But you said you were half Breton."
"Born under the wrong sign, is what I suppose. Damn Tower. I learned a few low level lightning and invisibility spells. I really only had a knack for unlocking doors."
"What happened after that?"
"When I was fifteen I tried to join at the Bravil branch of the Guild. I was turned away and that made me angry. So, using a ghost I'd summoned with a scroll to distract the members, I snuck up into the chambers of the Kud-Ei, the branch leader, and stole her prized pendant. The Pendant of Mara. Suppose to make you more liked by others. Helps with haggling, I'll tell you that." She pulled it out from under her leather armor.
His face went grave, "So that's why people like you so much."
"The charm has faded but I've always been well liked and never really needed it. It got ridiculous after a while and I was happy the enchantment wore off. Nowadays, most men like me right away, but there's always that one in ten chance that the guy will fall in love with me. I just started my ten again back when I met Savlian." Martin had turned red. But she was looking off into the forest. "Fifty five."
"Fifty five what?"
"Men who have fallen in love with me over the years. It's because I'm a oddity is what I think."
"What happened at the Mages Guild when they found out about the necklace?"
"Well, next day I strolled into the Guild displaying it proudly. I was invited to join after that. Kud-Ei thought it was funny and inventive. She'd never been robbed before as a proof of abilities. But I changed my mind. I'd gotten a real thrill out of my little heist. I tried to give the necklace back, but Kud-Ei insisted I keep it. Said it had an extra boast of luck. The other charm was a cover. I think she knew I decided I'd join the Thieves Guild."
"Quite a switch."
"I was good at sneaking around and picking locks. Not many lawful professions require such skills. I learned how I was to join through S'krivva and I moved to the Imperial City. I pasted the initial test and after a year I was in the highest rank-"
"The Gray Foxes right hand."
She shouldn't even be telling him about this but... It helped the time go by, "Sort of. I helped him get back to his normal life. Being the Gray Fox use to come at a terrible price. No one could know who you really were. It was the price you paid to Nocturnal."
"How did you help him?"
"I broke in to the Imperial Palace and stole an Elder Scroll from the library." The look of shock on his face made her grin broadly. "I told you I was up there in the ranks. I'm GOOD."
"What happened next?" He asked intently.
"You really like my story."
"It's fascinating to me."
She shook her head, "Anyway, we got a new Gray Fox, and I was being courted by one of the members of my rank but I was unhappy with my... Situation and left the guild. I went traveling. Ended up in Cheydinhal at some point. There I met a real nice guy and he joined me in my travels. He was a very good friend." That was the best way she could put it. Her heart ached at the thought.
"What happened to him?"
She swallowed the lump in her throat, "We had to part." She was staring ahead, a grave look crossed her face. "Then I returned to the guild. Took over my duties once again and... That's how I ended up meeting your Da." That made her smile, "I had never met such a man before. So kind and ready to meet his destiny. I wish I was as brave as him. I almost ran scared when I saw that gate."
"I never knew him. I only knew of him, and not of him being my father."
"He was trying to protect you. He knew you'd be in danger someday. He saw me too. He must have been able to see the future somehow."
"He must have." He said uncertainly.
"What is it?"
"Lately, I can't remember my dreams. All I know is that they are of something truly terrifying. Do you think it could be...?" He trailed off. Neither wanted to talk about the gate and what it meant for the future. He shook off the topic, "Why did you tell me all that? About the Thieves Guild and your friend?"
She thought about it and shrugged, "I guess I figured, since you're going to be emperor and all. You'd be a good ally. I mean wouldn't you like to be friends with the bane of your guards existence?"
"I guess I see the practicality in that. What friends with you makes me friends with the guild?"
"Basically. We know more about your empire than probably any of your scouts."
"How is that?"
"Beggars. The poor. How many people do you know watch what they say around one? They're invisible to most people. They're also the sneakiest people I know. They can travel unnoticed and never need weapons in the wilderness or on the roads. Highwayman don't even bother with the homeless. They're to poor. We take care of these 'Invisibles' in exchange for the information they give."
"How kind of you. Take care of someone for your own gain." His voice was laden with heavy sarcasm.
"It was their idea. They didn't have anything to give in return. They're prideful if they're anything." She stopped, "Well that's MY life story. What about you?"
He chuckled, "Not nearly as colorful as your's. I lived a quiet priest's life in Kvatch until night before last. I apparently never knew my parents. I thought the farmer who raised me was my Da. I was wrong. " she nodded. "But I liked Kvatch. I traveled to Skingrad once. That's the farthest away from home I'd ever been."
Her eyes went wide, "Not even the Imperial City!" he shook his head. "Well, your about to become a bit more worldly, that's for sure."
They reached the Black Road by the next morning, "A slight miss calculation. If we follow this we'll make it to the Priory before breakfast!" She was so hungry. They'd only found a single edible thing, an apple, on the way. The trip had taken longer because Martin wasn't particularly fast and he didn't have the stamina. They kept having to rest. She was losing her strength now, and only the thought of food made her go faster. However when she got to the Priory, it was anything but a rest stop.