Chapter IV
Lucan was walking along a surprisingly scenic road, towards yet another Imperial Charter Town, a place called Pelagiad. Lucan was actually starting to want to see some true Dunmer areas, but he couldn't complain, Pelagiad was bound to stock his favourite Imperial Ales. The village had been built by retired Empire Legionnaires, as they grew in number shops and a tavern sprung up. Finally, a fort was constructed to guard the roads and the nearby Dunmer Plantations of Great House Hlaalu. The good news was that it was only a short half a day walk north from Seyda Neen. Lucan appreciated getting out of that swampy village. The countryside was not like he had imagined Vvardenfell, famed for ash storms dominating mountains. Instead, this region was covered in rolling green hills and various exotic plant lives. Lucan was once again following his order and meeting with his contact, handler and superior, in a tavern in Pelagiad. It was the same man he had met in Ebonheart at the start of his assignment and no doubt a man he would continue to see more of as the case developed.
Lucan strolled into the town, which was built on either side of a single road, the Imperial Fort dominating the nearby skyline. He immediately saw the tavern, called the Halfway Tavern, and headed on in. It was quiet inside, perhaps why his superior had chosen this location for the meeting? Nevertheless, Lucan spotted the man he needed to see and took a seat next to him at a table in the corner of the tavern.
"Good to see you again Lucan," the man said as Lucan joined him at the table.
"Likewise Sir," Lucan replied politely.
"Please, we both know my name – Caius Cosades – so call me Caius."
Lucan nodded, feeling slightly stupid. It was always hard to tell with the various superiors he had served under what they would prefer to be called. At least Caius was honest thought Lucan. Despite this, Lucan was hard pressed to think too highly of Caius Cosades, especially when compared to some of the Grand Spymaster's back in Cyrodill. Caius, in comparison, was shabby, unshaven and his grey hair balding. The old Imperial looked more like a beggar than the most senior member of the Empire's intelligence agency in Vvardenfell. Lucan felt bad for thinking this of his senior, but he had a hard time shaking the preconception.
"So run me through what you've got so far from your little trip to Seyda Neen," said Caius, taking a large drink from his tankard.
Lucan proceeded to inform Caius of his findings, including the suspicious activities of the guard who had come ashore and the possibility of a planned escape – maybe involving outside help from pirates. When he was finished Caius slammed his tankard down at the same time and thought for a moment.
"From the sounds of it, we don't have much solid evidence to act on just yet, aside from this guard which you talk about. Other than that, this just confirms that things went as normal in Seyda Neen," Caius said after a while.
"I do have another theory," Lucan said, probably a little too quietly. Caius looked at him with genuine interest.
"Well, the prisoner who was released to Seyda Neen. I am not a fool; I have guessed that he is important to the Empire," Lucan began. Caius' eyes narrowed and Lucan knew what was coming next.
"As I mentioned previously, our friend released in Seyda Neen is of no relevance. His details are on a need to know basis."
"With all respect Sir… Caius, if we accept that this prisoner was valuable, then it is possible that others knew of his importance. As such, we cannot rule out the possibility that the remaining prisoner – who was due to be taken to Ebonheart – was mistaken for this other, important prisoner," Lucan explained.
"I see where you are going with this and the theory makes sense. I suppose there is little harm in shedding some light for you. This prison trip was indeed important to the Empire. The prisoner released in Seyda Neen is of the utmost importance. He was sent under normal guard as a hope that no one would twig the ship was carrying anyone important. People would just see a regular prison ship, making its rounds. The second prisoner was a decoy. After all, he was being sent to Ebonheart, a far more important location than the swamp of Seyda Neen, don't you agree?"
Lucan suddenly felt exhausted; he wished that he had been told also this before he had started his investigation.
"So if this prisoner aboard a now missing ship is just a decoy, surely the Empire's plan has worked and there is no need for the Blades to investigate?" Lucan asked, puzzled.
"Whilst that is true, things went well and the first prisoner is safe, the fact remains that an Imperial ship is missing, with potentially over a dozen of the Empire's sailors missing as well, or worse – killed. That certainly warrants an investigation on our part. But more importantly, this second prisoner is now also being touted as important to the Empire's cause here in Morrowind," Caius said.
"You can't be serious? You're telling me we had an important prisoner, and by sheer coincidence another very important prisoner aboard the same vessel, one of which you willingly used as a decoy?!" Lucan said, exasperated. Caius looked at Lucan intensely, Lucan immediately realised that he had stepped far across the line. But then Caius laughed and said,
"I didn't think you had it in you boy! Here I was thinking I was dealing with a standard Blade who had never stepped a foot outside Cyrodill, I guess you've got passion in you after all," Caius exclaimed.
Lucan was relieved, he certainly had passion, but he couldn't face telling the Grand Spymaster that this was actually his first time outside of Cyrodill.
"I see our dilemma now. We need that prisoner back because it turns out he is also important after all," Lucan summarised.
"You've hit the nail on the head, so we'd better get started. This case is one of two which is extremely important to the Empire, so I am reassigning all available Blades to help us out," Caius said rapidly.
"What's the other case?" Lucan quipped quickly before Caius could continue.
"More important than this one, so you don't need to know," Caius replied, faster.
Lucan grinned,
"What's our next move then?"
"Well I was going to have you meet with a fellow Blade to work together on this case, but… circumstances have changed," said Caius, Lucan couldn't help but notice the hint of sorrow in his voice has he trailed off.
"What do you mean?" asked Lucan delicately.
"A fellow blade, Vala Celata, was murdered recently whilst on an assignment. Killed by a damn assassin," Caius said regretfully.
Lucan felt a heavy weight pulling at his heart, the death of a fellow Blade was always hard to take, even more so considering that he would now be running the investigation alone once more.
"But all hope is not lost, although our numbers are few here in Vvardenfell, there is one outside of the Blades who is going to be helping you. A mage even!" Caius replied, more cheerfully.
"Well that is some good news," agreed Lucan, "What's his name?"
"Azuk Gro-Durolg," Caius said, a grin on his face.
"But that's an Orc name… you don't mean to say?"
"An Orc Mage," said Caius pre-emptively, "You don't see one of those every day."