Chapter 2 New horizons

The vestige or "Derisande" as she has named herself for cover was standing on deck watching the approaching haven of Vulkhel Guard with qualms. Her journey with a ship from stormhaven, pretending to deliver a message to the guild in the town, where her uncertain journey would start now had been quite joyful. But now seeing the guards and for her all almost freaky elves working at the port made her shiver several times. The company on board, all mixed in race and led by this kajiit captain Jimila had been funny and enjoyable. The captain only asked too much questions when she was drunk in the nights, singing strange songs about cities and current altmeri monarchs. Despite that, they had been cool and open minded, they had nice conversations where the vestige lied like a trooper to protect herself, but perhaps it was just because they belong to the rough sea and the ordinary folk, not interested in politics. Those figures across the dock, called the first Auridon Marines aka the royal guards according to her intel, made a different expression towards "Derisande".

Vanus had given her a pass to cross the uncomfortable questions usually asked by the guards when new customers arrived the islands and "Deri" -she decided it would be a great nick for herself- hoped she could easily cross this obstacle as visible Breton-born woman.

"Hey... You are part of the mage guild? " The altmer guard firmly asked by inspection of the tall young woman, when the vestige tried to climb the huge stairs towards the upper city.

..Shit...Caught

Deri turned around, nodding towards the female altmer, who looked like a woman who doesn't tolerate any objections in her position. As it seemed, she was a high rank Altmer, wearing a shining half golden elf-armor, covered with several embroideries on the front plate. She appeared strong and resolute, her hair bound to a ponytail and certainly not the woman to argue with. She introduced herself as. "I am Watch Captain Astanya, citizen!" examining Deri more precisely.

Luckily the vestige wore a long black mage robe to remain undercover, not pulling more attention to her person as necessary. Deri usually was a fan of heavy armor despite of her huge use and amount of magic. She had decided that it would be better in combat to have more resistances to live longer than dying in light armor with unused magic resources as an idiot. Once a trip to cyrodiil confirmed her decision. Of course having no soul gave her some benefit and also made the question for a proper armor some kind of joke, but the feeling was simply better.

If she wore her usual outfit now, the in-her-eyes freaky elves would had caught her by setting a feed on the island immediately. So until now the covering has worked well.

"Come here.." Astanya waved a hand, pointing Deri to come closer." "In the name of the Queen, I order you to assist the security measures for the visit of her majesty!" the elf continued in commanding tone.

Visit? The queen is here? Damn I just want to go to the guild and meet my contact...

"Uh yeah sure..." Deri quickly answered submissively, she didn't want to cause any trouble or become suspicious.

Astanya pointed towards the stockroom near the port. "Go to Advisor Norion and make yourself useful, citizen!"

Deri didn't understand but responded as good girl. "Yes of course." then she hurried to leave the area as soon as possible. Turning around the corner she took a deep breath, checking the situation, realizing...

Oh shit cant pass the stairs to market as long that blond bitch is blocking the way...

So she decided to pay a visit to this guy named Norion, playing the stupid servant as usual, then she could pass the stairs to upper town easily. Just a quick job before reaching the goal.

Perfect plan...smart girl

A few minutes later she found the snooty elf in front of the stockrooms, telling her he was not talking to ordinary people until she signified herself as sent by Captain Astanya. This information suddenly changed the mood of the intolerable elf and made him send Deri into one of the stocks to look after a bulgar who supposedly was about to steal deployment plans.

This wasn't what the breton champion had expected but she groaned once then entered the stock to end up this mission quickly.

…...

Later

Deri found herself in a cell when she recovered consciousness. Everything had gone so wrong. The quick job turned out to be a huge conspiracy against the this Queen Ayrenn. There was poison, there were plans and Deri was caught with everything by this bitch called Astanya who declared her as the traitor despite she sent Deri to get all the fucking stuff. Also this poor elf named Fasion, she had tried to help with good intentions was lying next to her in this dark and dirty cell. She felt guilty for him.

To hell with you...fucking elves!...

She should never have come here. What had Vanus in his mind when he suggested her to go to this freaky place? To become a prisoner, being accused as a traitor?

Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a Khajiit, standing in front of the cell. She recognized the figure, she had seen him several times in the town when she was running around Vulkhel Guard to be a gopher for arrogant elves. Did he follow her all the time, was he an agent? Was her cover already down?

Luckily the mysterious cat told her to be a friend of the deceased Fasion, also a member of a super-top-secret organization, which name Deri forgot instantly because of being really really angry about the fact of being captured and jailed. "Razum-Rar" or whatever he called himself, claimed to be one of the "best bros" of this Ayrenn and promised to free her when she agreed to warn the queen of a planed assassination. Of course Deri approved to the terms but still wondering why the alleged "bro" couldn't go himself.

When Deri finally left the prison she was tempted to break her promise and directly go to the building of the mage guild, it would be the safest decision but the increased guards blocking all main entrances to her target forced her re-think and led to the conclusion that she was honorable enough to keep her promises. So she went to this contact mentioned by the cat to get an official uniform of the royal guards keeping up safety for the royal visit.

Deri was aware that this decision could be the dumbest one she ever made and also put her in an unnecessary danger when the elves found out about her true identity, but strangely she ignored all the concerns.

...

Wearing the disguise allowed her to her to pass all checkpoints quickly and soon she neared the group of blue-bloods located in front of the temple. The were highly protected by some elite soldiers, letting no one approach nearer than 10 feet. Deri's movement were immediately noticed by a tall Altmer suited in heaven golden armor with several dominion marks on his chest. He seemed to be the leader and ordered a strong: "Stop! Don't come nearer soldier!" while his companions prepare for the worst.

Deri instantly quit her walk, looking at the group of apparently royals in his back, trying to make out this Queen Ayrenn to deliver her the important message. There was a lot of nobility, no doubt, altmer ladies dressed in precious and luxuriously velvet gowns, a few mer in elaborated crafted elf-armor, shining and reflecting the sun at this afternoon. The whole group gave the impression of a forced and bored fellowship Deri recognized when one of the females yawned and another took a sip from the whine. There were apparently waiting for something to happen.

Damn it..I hate blue-bloods...but who is the queen?

Then she saw her, realizing the only woman not wearing a decadent long dress was this tall, blond young woman with some kind of crown made of eagle feathers. No exaggerated pomp gold or jewelry, just a simple small blue glowing stone in the middle above her forehead. She even had a sword which totally shattered the picture and expectations of the vestige. Deri starred at her face, her glimpse was proud and intimidating...

"Hey you! I'm talking to you Soldier!" took Deri back to reality, in the meantime the leader had made his way to her and waited for an explanation to justify her sudden appearance, ready to strike her any moment she acted wrong.

Deri wanted to be quick so she said. " I'm just here to warn the queen of an assassination..."

But the altmer simply started to laugh before she could tell more...

Stupid elf...

The Battlereeve Urcelmo, as he turned out to be, made her whole mission a joke, telling all measures had been taken and preparations were at its best so nothing could ever happen to his beloved Queen.

Deri got angry, she only wanted to help and those arrogant spiky-ears won't listen to her. But she should put some more efforts into the case, she had promised it to the cat and she knew they wont be prepared for it. The corruption and infiltration must had reached also the higher ranks and the court as this Razum-Dar had told her.

She could make it easy and leave and let things happen. She knew her king would be happy to hear when one of his enemies, notably the "elven-witch" or the "teenager" as he called her often, died, but the vestige didn't came to murder anyone, she was fed up with being a henchman for the power-mad kings and queens of this world. She came "to see, learn and get a part of the big picture" as Vanus would say in this moment.

So she gave a last try when mentioning Razum-Dar to clarify the importance of her intentions.

Mentioning the name of the cat caused an effect she didn't expected, the young queen left the group of royals and approached her and the battlereeve quickly.

" A moment, Urcelmo. I would hear what this one has to say." the tall and also pretty -Deri had to admit from being near- elf said with growing interest, she gave a look at Deri making the vestige abort her face to pretend looking at the lovely birds passing by the top of temple.

Urcelmo tried to downplay the whole case by explaining. " Queen Ayrenn, I fear for your safety. Please disregard what was said just..."

But the young woman didn't tolerate a no and insisted harshly. "Razum-dar was mentioned. He acts on my behalf. If you won't investigate, I will."

Looking at the resoluteness and the firm expression of this young altmer woman, Deri recognized she meant what she said. Deri was surprised to see this royal spiky-ears was willing to get her hands dirty by doing it herself.

The Battlereeve gave in. "Apologies, my queen. As you will..."