Chapter 3 lese majeste

Entering the temple of Auri-El ,the battlereeve couldn't deny the truth. Steward Eminwe was already lying on the ground, taking her last breaths when confirming the betrayal of the watch captain. She whispered a last warning and pointed to the balcony before life left the dying body.

And there she was, the bitch Astanya, leaning on the higher balcony shouting out her words. "Our "Queen has betrayed us. I wanted her head. I'll settle for yours! "

Deri decided she won't get any head, instead of that, she was going loose her own for all trouble and pulling herself into something she never wanted to be part of.

On the signal: "Kill them!" appeared several night blades and sorcs,all members of this ominous grouping, which named itself Veiled Inheritance. They were hard to fight but with united forces, Deri and the altmer could defeat them, as the leader cowardly watched while the minions died one after another in the axes-combo and spells of the brave resisters.

"It's not over yet, Battlereeve! " Astanya shouted from the top, she drew her sword and jumped down to face the vestige and her companion. "The Dominion won't last. The Veiled Inheritance will see to that! " she angrily shot towards the battlereeve who countered.

"The Dominion will last long after your corpse cools! Now come here and face your death!"

The final fight was quick and pretty unspectacular, the watch captain couldn't face both enemies at the same time, also her abilities in proper using the weapon seemed a little bit rusty, the vestige noticed quickly, so Deri spared the healing ability of her staff this time and used her most aggressive and powerful destruction spells to finish the annoyed bitch.

The watch captain crashed to the ground and life faded out of the elven body.

Urcelmo let out a deep breath, looking at the dead in front then faced the vestige. "That was close. The queen is a capable woman but she must be wary. This could have gone worse..., no idea what would happen to our dominion..."

Deri simply nodded in approval, she didn't had any idea about this Veiled Inheritance or the political on goings across this country, but she got the impression this wasn't a first try of killing this young queen.

He patted the shoulder of the vestige. "Well done citizen. You did a great service to our beloved queen."

Deri sighed inside, she had heard words like this too often from Emeric and the blue-bloods whenever she cleaned up a mess. But she couldn't negate the bravery and the obvious care the altmer carried for his monarch. Also he seemed to be confident about this dominion.

"We need to report back to the Queen. Let's get out of here. " he continued.

…

They just left the temple to meet the waiting queen, eager to get information about the case. The battle marks both took during the session in temple left no doubt, but the young woman bluntly asked. "Well? What did my protectors find?

She addressed the vestige not the battlereeve, so Deri stepped forward and answered "The plot was real. We fought Astanya and the assassins.." she said in neutral tone "... and won."

The queen cursed and turned around, clenched her fist and muttered."Astanya. I can't believe it. No doubt.." she shot a glimpse to the Deri's new brother-in-arms.

"... Urcelmo now you will triple your watch." the battlereeve only nodded in response to the monarch.
The young woman addressed the vestige again, asking in disbelief. "She was truly an agent of the Veiled Inheritance?" This Ayrenn didn't want to believe the obvious truth.
"Yes, your... majesty. She said you had betrayed the... your own people.." Deri finally stammered.

Damn in what Situation am I here? I should leave the hot ground asab...none of my business...

This Ayrenn didn't noticed her unease, she got more angrier and become furious, shouting loud. " Betrayal? She turns against her people, after years of service? And she spoke of my betrayal? " and looked at the vestige, who couldn't answer anything. Deri remained silent to the rhetorical question, let the self-dialogue continue.
Ayrenn mumbled to herself, stepped back and forth, nobody dared to say a word or to cough while the altmer monarch gave a try to get in control of her anger. The guards and rest of spiky-ears, particularly the royals still hunkered bored in the back, sipping whine and waited until Ayrenn proclaim her conclusion. ""She, obviously, could not be trusted. Never ever!"

Now her voice become soft again and she addressed the vestige. " But you... you have proven your worth." and pointed towards Deri.

"What do you mean?" Deri directly shot back confused.

The queen explained. "The marines are blunt instruments. A queen must have a lighter touch." she seemed to admit to herself then she instructed her protectors to retreat and give both some privacy. Apparently she didn't want the following to be heard in public.
Her voice got even quieter when speaking along. "You've met Razum-dar, first in the Eyes of the Queen.." she started.

The cat? ..yeah I owed him my release...

Eyes of the Queen must be the super-top-secret institution he mentioned, Deri concluded while waiting for Ayrenn to go on.
"Would you join him? Become an elite agent, for the good of the Dominion?" the young altmer monarch asked with serious eyes.

What? No! ..

Deri locked eyes with Ayrenn, meeting those piercing crystal blue orbs with rage and fear, both together before she replied in diplomatic tone. "Apologies your majesty...I cannot take this offer."
Ayrenn's face turned cross instantly, the brave altmer become stiff and furious. "You dare to refuse the honor your Queen is willing to grant you?"

You are not my queen spiky-ears

"This is an act of offense!" the queen declared visible sore.

I am not willing to serve you or another again..No bounds anymore...

But the vestige needed a good excuse before the queen decided to behead or send her to prison again. Deri thought a moment then tried to speak wisely. "Your majesty. I am bound to the ideals and neutral status of the mage guild... I am going to break my vow when joining your service."

Not the best but a start...

Ayrenn shot her another nasty look, putting hands on her hips. "When your queen is giving you a honor like this you better take it! she sulkily hissed.

Oh shit... spiky-ears cannot accept a no...

Now the former pretty-nice elf totally altered into a usual superior, overbearing altmer, Deri determined. The whole setting now, was not planned and had gone completely wrong since she set a feet onto this island. She should never have tried to help or to do anything in this city despite following her true mission to meet the promised contact at the mage guild. Standing here, face to face to an enemy of her alliance, getting asked to serve for the fiend, not forgetting the danger of being identified as what she was, namely one of Emeric's champions, could only be an evil irony of fate. She had to get her ass out of this mess as soon as possible. Even better get out of this city quickly before anything worse could happen. Deri expected another outburst of her counterpart, she felt more uncomfortable the longer the queen starred at her, obviously not understanding how the vestige could decline this offer.

Ayrenn took her time to deal with the rejection, grimaced and pierced Deri's green eyes with her intimidating glance. The battle of eyes last a few seconds, the vestige didn't break the contact, stayed resolute until the young elven queen finished the game of strength, speaking calmer than a moment before. "You revealed the plot today, killed the assassins... and that's the reason I'm letting you leave with this impertinence for now..."

Deri let out a redeeming sigh, Ayrenn only said: "Get out of my view...citizen!" then turned back to her guards and the impatient royals.