Chapter II
Find a new hill, become a king!
It has been three months since King Lysandus of the Kingdom of Daggerfall entered Whitefort on horseback. Lord Mogref greeted him at the gates with his entire retinue. He thanked him for his support and told him that every man, woman, and child was grateful for their help, as were they. Then he kneeled and spoke the vow of vassalage. His council, especially lords Uthar and Perore and the commander of the knights, Perastir, looked uneasy but accepted the situation for the time being. On that day, near Betony's shark flag, the green and red emblem of the dragon could also be seen.
Daggerfall's navies immediately went to work. A vessel was constantly patrolling the waters around the island and reported any sightings of pirate ships. Then, with a fury worthy of the most powerful Breton navy, the royal fleet arrived, cutting the waves in two as it sailed to crush the marauders. A true armada, the ships had a red dragon on their sails and scorpions installed on deck from which it mercilessly launched its massive spears on its victims. After a month, the pirates fled immediately when they saw the small vessel that made the rounds on Betony. Soon it became clear that the navy could not be bypassed. Under the command of Bridwell and Gothryd, the navy stormed the most well-known pirate strongholds along Daggerfall's coast. After being shamed like this, the pirates left for the island of Balfiera, to reorganize and regroup.
But Mogref and Lysandus did not know that. The former was happy beyond words. Barely three months ago he worried about the survival chances of his kingdom. All that suffering was now gone in almost an instant. Merchants began flooding into Betony again, the island's men were no longer required to always bear arms and fear for their women and children. With the help of Daggerfall, the ports were enlarged and placed under the joint rule of Uthar and Perore. Lysandus knew about their anxieties concerning their lands, so he thought wise to ensure them that he wouldn't displace the old nobility. Uthar and Perore were pleasantly surprised and became loyal to their new king. The new port was full of warehouses filled with foreign goods, a significant portion of which came from Daggerfall. There were even plans to re-open the East Empire Trading Company office there, thus furthering the reach of the trade. All the lands pillaged by the pirates were now being tilled and many animals were being bred again. Lord Mogref's heart was filled with joy. After all, peace and just order were restored, and he was not alone. He trusted that he could find in Lysandus a good friend and ally in time of need.
Speaking of Lysandus, he was contented in the knowledge that he did the right thing. He received a new wave of praise from his allies. The emperor himself wrote to congratulate him on resolving the issue. "With you in the region, I know that the Iliac Bay has a good arbiter and a king embodying all the knightly virtues" he said. Everything was going great for the monarch: he had a strong army, a powerful navy, as many friend as the threads on a Khajiit, a wonderful wife, a wonderful mistress, a capable council, the favor of his emperor, wealth, and a tremendous reputation. But most importantly, he had his honor (almost) intact. What more could a king want? Name it and Lysandus had it. He was thinking about it all while staying in Mogref's palace as his guest. Happiness filled his chest. He went out onto the balcony. The sun was shining brightly, but the balcony had a small cover on it that covered half his face like a funeral veil. Lysandus looked at Whitefort and excitement was all he could feel. He was greatly pleased that all these people were now safe because of him.
But not all people were looking faithfully towards this great achievement. Across the bay, in the Kingdom of Sentinel, King Camaron stood alone in the council chamber. His palace, Samaruik, was a huge citadel that dominated the city of Sentinel. In fact, the entire city was organized around it, with countless buildings surrounding the central plaza. The palace was shaped like a circle, with 8 towers surrounding it. The towers all had a small sphere on top and a massive, oval-shaped body. Samaruik was in fact a dome, erected on a great platform, high and might in the sky. On top of it there was an arrowhead-shaped stone. Inside, upon entering the great door, one was greeted by a slope that led upwards, towards a hall. The hall was not separated by the slope by any walls or doors and in it there were tables full of goblets and platters. This was the place where nobles would meet, greet and share all the news from the kingdom. From the hall, on the right and left sides there were the common rooms and on the on the front there were two separate doors that led to same place: the great interior garden of the palace. This garden had plants and trees of all kinds, from the palm trees of Hammerfell to the elven flowers of the Summerset Isles. Many alchemists and mages came here to observe and study or were hired by the king to care for them. From here, in the right corner of the room, there was a small corridor. The corridor led to a platform placed near a lever. Once the lever activated, the platform went up, like an elevator, to another corridor that led into the great throne room. The thrones themselves were atop a huge pillar that could be climbed by going up some stone stairs in front of it. Around it there were knights belonging to the Knights of the Moon and near the stairs two muscular slaves, almost naked, stood and guarded the pair of kings. Behind the thrones, like in Daggerfall, there was a huge flag of Sentinel, a golden circle on a dark yellow background. Inside the circle there was a white half moon shaped like a face with closed eyes, seeming asleep. On the thrones would normally sit King Camoran and Queen Akorithi, his wife. But not this time. On both sides of the room there were many doors, each leading to a different part of the castle. It is in one such part of the palace that the king was, standing alone in the council's room. The chamber was decorated with several pieces of armor and another flag. In the back there was a round window from which one could see Sentinel clearly.
King Camaron was looking through the window at his city. He was a very strong man, that being plain from the muscles that could easily be seen, even with his armor on. Like most Redguards, he had dark skin and hair, though his age was showing, as stripes of white began to appear on his head. Camaron had his armor on, a black plate of steel and a cloak on his shoulders with fur on its upper back. It was a wonder he had not died of heat. After a few moments, someone knocked at the door. The king turned from the window and walked towards his seat at the table, staying on his feet. He said an "enter!" and he waited. An old man, a Breton, in a green robe entered. Once he realized the king was looking at him, he remained near the door. This was Ahad, the Treasurer. Camaron was looking at him with a severe look. After a few moments of awkward silence, someone knocked at the door again. This time, a younger man, a Redguard, with brown hair and beard, entered. Lord Vhosek, the commander of both the royal guards and the Knights of the Moon, thus being the commander of all Sentinel armies, whispered a short "my lord" and joined the Breton in waiting. After him entered two more men, both Redguards: the first was an older one with a beard and long hair, both having a mix of black and white hair. His name was Lord K'avar and he was currently occupying the position of High Seaman. After him there stood the youngest member of the council. He was as skinny as a stick and had very short hair. Lord Provlith, because that was his name, controlled all his majesty's spies. Now they were all standing up, facing the severe look of the king, who was displeased by their lateness.
The awkward pause was interrupted by the king taking his seat. All the advisors sat at their places and waited. Camaron spoke:
"Treasurer Ahad, I hope you did as I asked and compiled the report on the last three months' economic activity."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Well?"
"It seems that trade overall has known a boom. Many merchants joined us and more goods have flown into the kingdom. Our revenues from import duties have grown as a result. On the other hand, our exports have declined a little, particularly those destined for the northern parts of High Rock. At the same time…"
"That would be enough, thank you. Lord Provlith, what is the current attitude towards Daggerfall in the Bay?"
"Well, it seems, your majesty, that some kingdoms are choosing to pursue closer ties with them. It seems that they are looking for friendship with the dragon."
"And what about us?"
"They don't really mention us, sire."
"Amazing. I think it's about time to address the elephant in the room. All your information is so courtesy of Daggerfall's takeover of Betony. It seems that the opportunistic Lysandus would keep all Iliac Bay hostage with a carrot and a stick. If we behave and kiss his ass enough, he'd give us the breadcrumbs of trade, if not, we'd be relegated to poverty and irrelevance. We must act on this."
"Your majesty" Ahad spoke, "I don't think Lysandus means any of it. To me it seems that these are just unprovoked effects, far from anyone's design."
"Regardless, he is no fool. He'll realize his power and destroy us. You know how Bretons are when it comes to influence and kingdoms. At least you should know, since you are one. I hope your blood doesn't come before your loyalty."
"May the Eight forbid such a thing."
"Good. In any case, I won't be waiting for Daggerfall to come to us and surround our shores with the fleet and invade our land before I act. This act jeopardized the balance in the Bay and it needs to be addressed quickly."
"My lord, but how? How can we convince the dragon to stand down?" Vhosek asked.
Right then, an old scribe entered the room. He walked towards the king and handed him a bunch of papers. He then left with a bow.
"Just in time" said Camaron. "I've requested the palace librarian to search for our historic relations with Betony. It seems he found something we may use."
The king stopped and read the papers. The rest of the advisors were looking uncomfortably at him. The king truly was angry about the new developments in the Bay. After a beat, the king spoke again:
"Here! This is a treaty stating that Betony is part of Sentinel, its traditional holdings. It was signed in the year 210 of the Third Era, with the blessing of the Empire and was never broken. Betony is ours by right. I must confess, I did not think we'd find something this plain, but we did. It is time to press our claim."
"My lord, this treaty is very old and no one acted on it for decades. Not even Lord Mogref remembered it when he called for help. Surely this is a thin justification for our claim? After all, we wouldn't want the Empire to get involved. Shouldn't we search for a better pretext, if war should be our course?" Lord Vhosek opined.
"Oh, give me a break. Bretons tear each other apart to gain a handful of hamlets and they wage wars over who owns a particular forest. Breton kingdoms to the north, those close-minded Clans of Crowns on my south. I'll not be standing by while they chip away at our dear Sentinel."
"And what do you propose we do, sir?" Lord K'avar asked.
"We'll send a letter to Daggerfall, informing them that we were here first and that they must leave."
"Your majesty, it was the people of Betony who asked for help. If we do indeed get the island, what if they don't consent to our rule? They are mostly Bretons after all."
"They would get their protection, they can be assured of that. But legality and tradition do not care for opinions. I can't tolerate them cooperating with Lysandus the Burglar."
"Your majesty, what about the trade? If we win, the reward shall be bountiful, but until then our ships will be shut out of the Betony market. And if we don't win, this might be perpetual. Our people will impoverish." Ahad spoke.
"Are you suggesting that I should accept a bribe in gold and gems for abandoning what is mine?"
"Far from me, my king, but wouldn't we be more powerful if we bide our time?" Ahad changed tactics. It seemed that Camaron was set to pursue war and nothing short of an invasion of Betony would suffice.
"And what, expect our enemy to just stand there and let us build our strength? No, they'd counter us at every turn from a position of strength. We either take our destiny in our own hands or suffer the consequences."
"Is Lysandus our enemy, my lord?" Lord Provlith asked.
King Camaron stopped for a bit. He and Lysandus were friends back during childhood. He spent his summers in Daggerfall, while his friend came over during winter. They explored the surroundings together and dreamt about their times as kings and what great alliance they would forge with each other. Over the years they were both preoccupied with royal matters and eventually saw each other only on formal occasions. Camoran and Lysandus became further apart from each other. While the king of Daggerfall was expanding his reach, his was narrowing. Hammerfell was divided into two cultures, the conservative, traditionalist Crowns and the more cosmopolitan, liberal, Forebearers. Sentinel was a Forebearer Kingdom, as was all of the northern province. These took different sides when the Empire came to invade and the cultural shift was also a political one, both factions being concerned with keeping their respective customs intact. The kingdom was one of the most important, playing a key role in the politics of the alliance. As such, good relations needed to be maintained. Camoran did his best: he wed a Pothago princess, Akorithi and did regular visits to the other kings. In the meantime, Sentinel needed to be careful about the Breton kingdoms across the Iliac Bay, as it was involved in that region as well. All in all, Sentinel was sandwiched between two political realms and needed to do a lot of juggling. This limited king Camoran's ability to influence the Bay as much as he would want. Being this busy meant that he and Lysandus grew further and further apart from each other. Only a few fond memories from a distant past and a few battles fought together against the Nords remained.
"If he so chooses, then he will be. Call a scribe!"
"My lord, is your majesty sure we shouldn't think about this more? After all, we're talking about the potential to start a war!" Vhosek warned.
"He'll submit or I'll destroy him. It is only a simple reality. I can't shut up while he diminishes us. If I speak, which I intend to, I don't plan on shaming Sentinel by backing down after everyone hears my claim."
The scribe came. King Camaron began to dictate:
"Mighty King Lysandus of Daggerfall,
The recent takeover of Betony proves indeed useful and honorable to you, but in your haste to gain an advantage, it seems you forgot about legality and civility. The courier bearing this letter has in his possession a treaty from our archives. This treaty stipulates that Betony is the holding of Sentinel. The contract in question was signed with the consent of the lord of Betony at the time and was blessed by Emperor Uriel Septim IV, in 210 TE. It was never nullified or declared illegitimate; the lords of Betony only chose to not abide by it. In our infinite mercy, we allowed them to govern themselves, but we cannot tolerate a foreigner to call himself protector over the island while this function is not vacant.
This being the case, I urge you and your retinue to give up all claims on Betony and its waters, retreating your soldiers at once. It is only fair and just to do so, after all it was with noble intentions you took this matter into your own hands. In the same spirit of chivalry and nobility I ask you to let it go.
Your truly,
King Camaron of Sentinel"
The scribe approved that he finished writing.
"Take this treaty, transcribe it and send it together with the letter to the court of Daggerfall. Then make copies of it and send it in all High Rock, from Northpoint to Wayrest. All shall know the falsity of Lysandus. Also send it to all Forebearers. They should know I expect their help should this become a war."
The scribe left.
"Lord Provlith, what do your spies tell you about Daggerfall's navies and armies?"
"Sire, it seems their power has waned lately. We don't know if we stay on equal footing, but it is certainly possible to beat them."
"Well then Lord K'avar shall see to it that it is not merely a possibility. Now, if there's nothing else my lords…"
The meeting ended as abruptly as it began. Only Camaron was satisfied, the councilors being terrified at the prospect of war. However, they weren't brave enough to speak to the king about this, especially since he was so set on this. May Arkay protect them from such a thing, they were thinking. It's not like war is a foreign thing in the Iliac Bay, but most of them did not think that Sentinel was up to it. What if Lysandus brought all his allies? Or even worse: what if Wayrest gets involved? Maybe Sentinel can take on Daggerfall, but both at the same time was out of the question.
Those were the thoughts going on through Ahad's mind when he decided to linger a bit longer in the council room.
"Is there anything else, Treasurer Ahad?"
"My lord, should Daggerfall refuse, what would be our course of action?"
"War." King Camaron replied coldly.
Ahad left the room with a bow. For a few moments, the ruler stood in silence, thinking about what was just discussed. During the meeting, though he did not show it, he felt his chest burning. Lysandus had made a daring move and the only reason he wasn't there first is because he tried to be a good king, ensuring his borders and alliances, but couldn't be everywhere at once. Now he had to endure the cowardly whimpering of his retinue, while the enemy was at their doorstep. Camaron could feel tall among them, as he often felt tall at the Crowns' meetings. He had no time for their hesitation. He was going to act, for the sake of Sentinel, of Arkay and himself. Camaron calmed himself down. It was only a matter of patience after all. No matter what his advisors thought, he was going to get Betony either by peace or force.
The king left the room and entered his royal chamber, meeting with his wife, Queen Akorithi. It was late in the day, so the court was closing. The couple met at the basis of the stairs leading up to the throne. The Queen quickly asked:
"How was the meeting, my love?"
"We found a way to claim Betony. It was ours a long time ago and never relinquished. If Lysandus doesn't see it that way, then I'll have to do my kingly duty. I've already sent word to him."
"I see. Is there no other way?"
"No, I fear not. It is simply the way it is. I only wish my council will share my enthusiasm."
"You know that will happen only when either you enter triumphantly in Betony or when you're on the field of battle."
"Indeed. All this pointless talk made me hungry. Let us go to dinner."
The Sentinel royal family did not, as the court of Daggerfall did, dine along their nobles and surrounded by jesters. Rather they opted to eat inside their own quarters, alone. King Camaron stood at the head of the table, with Akorithi on the right side. There were also their children: the oldest of them was their daughter Aubk-i at 15. She was not, however, the heir. That honor fell on Greklith, 8 at this time. Lastly, near Greklith and opposite of the women stood Lhotun, the youngest at only 7 years. The atmosphere was not unlike most family dinners in the Sentinel palace: amiable, yet stern and official.
"Mother, have you heard that lord Raifa was injured? People say he got it from a nighttime visit to one of his farms."
"Lord Raifa always enjoyed a good fight" the queen scoffed. "You know, when he was your age all he wanted to do was to practice with a sword. Now he has a castle at his disposal to do so. Why go on a farm for this?"
"Why, mother, to profit. You see, lady Tarabar said that he is a robber baron."
"My child, how could you speak of such things? He might be a nutcase, but that would be treason against the crown!"
"And it would be as treasonous of lady Tarabar not to report that at once to me" Camaron intervened.
"Father, it's just gossip. Besides, lord Raifa is a cousin once-removed of Lady Tarabar."
"Law should be thicker than blood." The king stated.
"Why don't you ask them to come to dinner, father? You'd be surprised at how much you can get out with only a sharp tongue."
"Sharp tongue is a woman's weapon. Mine is the sword and the sceptre."
"Dear," Akorithi told her daughter, "your father has no need to mingle with those petty barons and counts. We revere the gods because they are greater than us. They are there to lead and judge, not to squabble. And the best kings follow in the footsteps of the gods. A god that mingles is merely a Daedra of Oblivion."
"Yes, mother, I know the theory, my maids taught me this already." Aubk-i said annoyed. "I'm just saying we can have a little fun once in a while".
"Father, wh'ts a 'obber baron?" the young Lhotun interrupted, his mouth being filled by potatoes.
"Lhotun! Don't talk with your mouth full, that's not to mention minding your courtesy!" Akorithi said.
"Quite alright, dear. A robber baron" the king began, emphasizing the words, "is a type of lord that does bad things to his people for his own profit. In that he betrays our sacred duty to take care of our folk."
"So he's a villain"
"Yes, a villain. Now that you understand this, remember to not speak with your mouth full, it is very rude to your betters. And when you ask questions, you will address them in a manner befitting of a Prince of the Crown. No short forms or skipping letters. Understood?"
"Yes, father. I will speak properly."
"…And?"
Lhotun looked at him with a puzzled look. Suddenly he remembered: he bowed his head as courtesy demanded of him.
"Do you want me to inquire further into this matter, father?" Aubki-i asked.
"If you hear anything more about that, I expect to do your duty and report it to me."
"And if I do not?"
"Then you'd better hope I don't find out about it." Camaron replied shortly.
If there ever was a spy in the room, he would be forgiven to think that this comment created tension. But far from it. Such remarks were common in the royal household. The king expected his children to do their duty to the realm, which meant doing their duty to him. He was a king first and a father second. He knew it, his wife knew it and his children knew it. As such, the silence that followed was not one of tension, but one of order, an order based on king Camaron's undisputed authority. Everything was firmly put into place around him.
Akorithi was the first to break the silence:
"My love, what of the Betony business? We hardly spoke of it."
"Ah, that nuisance. It is ours by right and Lysandus decided to overstep his authority. He'll either admit his mistake or face our full might."
"Must all disputes end in war?" his daughter asked.
"Of course not. If the Dragon brings this upon himself, it is not in my power to stop him."
"Father, you could let Betony go. It's a little, empty island on a distant shore, what difference does it make if we hold it or not?"
"It is not a matter of convenience. It is a simple, unchanging law of nature: whatever a king cannot defend is not his. If anyone comes near his domain, he must be ready to assert his control or he won't be a king for much longer. Lysandus threatens to rip my kingdom apart. I offer him a chance to rethink his decision. Pay attention to this, Greklith, for one day this will be your duty to uphold. A king must secure his rule. No enemy may undermine him, no army may smite his authority. He is his kingdom's strength. He must be. A ruler lives for the sake of his domain, his people. Should Sentinel for instance fall under one of our enemies, our people will suffer. He has a sacred duty to them. If you show weakness, they'll smell blood in the water and like sharks will come to take a bite. If Daggerfall comes and takes what is ours it is my obligation as king to defend it."
"Father, Betony isn't ours. What claim have we to it? Weren't pirates threating it just three months ago and we stayed and did nothing? Weren't they chipping away at our land? Even Cybiades, which is uninhabited, was defended better by our ships."
"We found a treaty that states that this island is part of our holdings. It is indeed old, but nonetheless valid. Even the then-Emperor confirmed it. Forgetting it does not make it invalid."
"But father, what of our lack of help? Isn't it a king's duty to help his own?"
"Lord Mogref never called us."
"This is ridiculous. If such a treaty wouldn't have been found you would've stayed quiet? Or would've found another pretext? Do you think people don't know that this is what you wanted? The court's been buzzing since Lysandus set foot on the island and you try to fool us!"
"Aubk-i!" her mother cried.
"If that were the case", Camaron replied, "then indeed I would have struck a deal with Daggerfall. It is not for you to question my resolve, neither is it for the nobles. You'd do well to remember that."
"You'd send young men to their bloody deaths only for the sake of your pride? If you truly care about the kingdom, call this off and save them! Or you'd rather play the part of the robber baron you claim to hate?"
"You forget yourself, Aubk-i!" Camaron shouted.
"And what? Are you going to dispose of me like you did with…"
"AUBK-I!" This time both parents shouted at her. They were both to their feet, irradiating an aura of shock and furry.
"You are confined to your room until midday tomorrow with no meals! And if I see you gossiping at court in the evenings next week, you'll stay in your room until you learn your lesson or until you've become half your size! You'll behave in a proper manner, as befitting of a daughter of the king!"
Aubk-i stood up with tears in her eyes. She was burning with anger at her father. She left the table furiously, walking loudly to the door. Right after she left the room, Camaron put his hand on her back. He told her with a cold calmness, as if he talked about a cause-and-effect relationship:
"If you ever mention that matter in front of the boys again, I'll make sure you never do so a third time. That I promise you."
Aubk-i shed a tear and left without saying another word. She proceeded to cry herself to sleep.
The rest of the dinner ended without any other conflict. After it ended, the family went to their bedchambers. While Camaron was cleaning himself, Akorithi stood on the bed, crying. This is how her husband found her.
"What's wrong?" he asked concerningly. The moments while he was alone with his wife were the only ones in which he allowed himself to show emotion.
"Arthago, our poor Arthago…"
"Shhh…We had to. We did what we could for our people."
Thus ended the day for the Sentinel royal family.
A week later, a gulf away, in the middle of the day, Lysandus was walking around the gardens in Castle Daggerfall. His friars were preparing a feast for tonight, in honor of restoring peace to Betony. He was eagerly waiting for Medora, hoping to spend some beautiful moments in the company of his mistress, surrounded by flowers. However, instead of Medora, a servant entered the garden.
"Your highness, the representatives of Wayrest arrived. Lord Woodborne is here on behalf of King Eadwyre."
"It is good that they arrived, but why tell me this? Let the servants know so that they might take good care of them."
"Your majesty, lord Woodborne has requested to speak to you right away. He mentioned that he would prefer it to be alone."
"Alright then, send him here."
After a few moments, in the gardens entered lord Woodborne of Wayrest. He was a blonde Breton man with no beard and a round face, dressed in a black tunic with golden buttons, wearing black boots and a longsword in a dark scabbard. On the sword's hilt there was engraved a small rose, the symbol of Wayrest. He was commander of the kingdom's military and Elysana, daughter of the king, was his betrothed. He moved towards Lysandus joyfully, with a big smile on his face.
"Your Highness!"
"Welcome, lord Woodborne! I trust your trip was pleasant."
"Quite so, your highness. Rather uneventful in a good way. Merry weather and wind delivered us right to your doorstep."
"And in time, too. The feast will be tonight, I assure you. I realize now, we've last seen each other at the funeral of Prince Klaius."
"I believe so. Dreadful day. He was a good friend and a skilled warrior. Not to mention your father-in-law."
"I suppose one could call him good and skilled." A shadow of disgust could be felt in Lysandus' voice. "In any case, I am glad you have come."
"I am glad to be here, your majesty. Having friends in troubled times is a good thing, although I have heard that you had a hand in bringing the troubled times to an end."
"If you mean the matter in Betony, then I believe our involvement changed things for the better. After all, we couldn't let pirates run free."
"Quite right. It is a sad thing for a kingdom to be in crisis, especially a Breton one. One might be forgiven to think that drastic action should be employed to resolve such matters before they escalate. Such an implosion might prove fatal to even the most powerful of palaces. You can imagine my sadness then, being forced to inform you that my dear Wayrest is still mired in the same squabbles as the ones that dominated our politics back when we saw each other last."
"You mean the matter of succession?"
"Indeed, I do. I trust you know lord Castellion?"
"Is he not Wayrest's Treasurer?"
"He is. And a very important member on our council. It has recently come to my attention that he seeks Elysana's hand in marriage and will use any methods to achieve that end. It seems, even supporting Helseth to the throne is on the table, should she not marry her."
"That is certainly interesting, my dear lord, but I fail to see why should I concern myself with this. I already made my position clear to you multiple times."
"So I take it that you have not changed your opinion?"
"No, I have not. You're a valued ally, lord Woodborne, and a guest of honor in my house. But this business in Wayrest is not mine. If king Eadwyre and Queen Barenziah see fit that Helseth should become king, I can hardly intervene. It is in their right to do so, my rights do not allow me to step over theirs. My commitment would just be some empty words, devoid of meaning. I am truly sorry. I am prepared to support you in other matters and other ways."
"I understand, your highness. You see, Queen Barenziah and her daughter, Morgaiah, have gotten more aggressive over time. When king Eadwyre dies and one of us ascends the throne you could find either a proud coldness or a friend with open gates."
"I hope it will be the latter and not the former. Until that day comes, let us enjoy these roses."
"A good bit of advice, your highness. I too one day hope to enjoy a rose."
Woodborne said those last words with an ironic twist to them. In truth, he was as mad as a cliffracer. He was getting more and more desperate by the day and all Lysandus could give him was apathy and courtly friendliness. And roses. He came asking for steel and got roses.
The feast was something to behold. Jesters, minstrels, nobles from all over High Rock, beautiful ladies, and plenty of knights. Five boars were hunted and now filled the tables, fruits of all kinds, some twenty wheels of cheese, as much wine as one could drink, sweetrolls, mead from Skyrim and Colovian brandy were on full display. Lysandus and his retinue were presiding over the scene, with their guests at their side. Minstrels were filling the room and at every door there stood a knight, fully armoured and bearing the Daggerfall dragon on his chest. Near each one, there was a Battlemage, dressed in armor with a cloak on his head. The only person missing was Nulfaga, the Dowager Queen. The current Queen, Mynisera, was exchanging pleasantries with lady Doriana of Anticlere, while Gothryd inquired Bridwell about Betony:
"I have heard that our navies will patrol the area for quite a while more. I would say that is the right choice, those pirates will certainly try to regroup."
"Now now, my prince, mind your words, you wouldn't want our Wayresti friend to know all our secrets, would you?" Bridwell replied jokingly.
"Now, lord Bridwell, you wouldn't believe me so dishonorable that I would reveal the secrets of my host"
"Just so. Besides, I'm sure you'd get along very well. After all, you both control your kingdoms' militaries. It is quite fitting that you should collaborate. Lord Woodborne here has a lot of experience defending his kingdoms from orcs."
"Truly, prince Gothryd, you are too kind. It is the Knights of the Rose of Wayrest that carry the burden."
"Both brave and modest!" Gothryd said. Bridwell had a funny look on his face.
"That is quite impressive, lord Woodborne. Tell me however, is Orsinium still sending its own to your villages?"
"Yes, unfortunately. These orcs are as persistent as they are barbaric. No matter how many we kill, they keep coming."
"Terrible beasts." Gothryd opined.
"That certainly is a problem, my lord." Bridwell said. "I am hopeful that your visit here may prove useful to you in this matter. And I hope that I might learn something as well when I come to Wayrest to celebrate your victory over Orsinium."
The smile disappeared on Woodborne's face. He understood. He replied:
"Well, lord Bridwell, I shall be personally ensure that your wish will come true. In fact, I would even give you a kingly head. If the gods are good, that head would be that of Gortwog himself. That barbaric swine has its days numbered, anyhow."
The king was listening to the whole conversation and tried to hide his disgust. He couldn't appreciate this blatant prejudice. Lysandus frowned and remained so. Medora was observing the scene and thought to talk. But before she could say anything, a messenger bearing the crest of Sentinel entered the room and approached the table accompanied by a guard.
"Forgive the interruption my lord, but this courier said he has a message from King Camaron of Sentinel. He was instructed that the letter is only for your eyes and ears and that it is of utmost urgency."
Lysandus rose with a surprised look on his face. He asked for the letter and calmly read it. A small glimpse of shock and fear traversed his face. Knowing that he should not alarm his people, especially with foreign dignitaries nearby, he decided to simply thank him and assemble the council later.
"What was it about, father?"
"We shall keep council later, Gothryd. There you'll find out."
Lysandus was not the same from that night on. He looked worried and confused. When someone addressed him he forced himself into the most formal and unconvincing smile possible. Medora and Mynisera were confused and worried, while Gothryd was anxious and angry that his father wouldn't just tell him. Lord Woodborne was very attentive and suspicious. He looked like a tiger waiting to pounce, aware of everything going around him, so as to not lose a potential advantage.
The songs and general merriness of the evening ringed hollow for all at the table.
Uriel Septim VII, Emperor of Tamriel, was going up the stairs of Cloud Ruler Temple. Not long ago, he left the Imperial City and took the road to the north, in secret, along with the Chancellor of the Elder Council, Ocato. The Temple was in fact the headquarters of the Blades, the secret guards and intelligence service of the Emperor. From the outside, the temple looked abandoned and ruined, with closed gates that none can move. This perception is false however, Cloud Ruler Temple being a fortress in which the members of the Blades live in a military fashion. The temple was located near the Jerall Mountains, that separate Skyrim from Cyrodiil, the Imperial Province. Standing atop a steep hill, the temple provided a good view of all lands surrounding it, including the nearby city of Bruma. The fortress had two towers and walls in the front that connected to a huge block of finely cut stone. Atop it was the actual temple, accessible via the staircases standing directly behind the gates. This stronghold of the Blades had a main hall and two wings, eastern and western.
Upon the Emperor's arrival, the Blades greeted him lining up with drawn swords from each side of the staircases to the entrance in the main hall. There stood a tall, strong, beardless man, with a military haircut and dressed in armor.
"Your majesty. We are honored to have you visit us. We are yours to command." The man said and kneeled.
"Rise, Great Knight of the Blades. I am pleased to hear that you have completed your task. We have come to see and celebrate the fruits of your labor."
"Yes, your majesty. If it pleases you, follow me."
They entered the main hall. Two Blades moved a bookshelf for them, revealing a secret passage. They then accessed a small tunnel, while the other Blades closed the bookshelf behind them. The walked for about 10 minutes, after which Chancellor Ocato observed:
"We must be under the mountains here, mustn't we, my liege?"
"Indeed. For maximum safety, Emperor Pelagius I thought it wise to hide it as much as possible." Uriel replied.
Finally, they arrived at a huge chamber, cut directly into the mountain. The chamber was several hundred feet in depth, and the Emperor, Great Knight and Chancellor at the bottom. On its ceiling there could be seen some holes, presumably for light and air, but otherwise the room of completely inaccessible from the outside. In the middle of the room, it was plain to see why such a vast space was needed. There stood a huge machine, a robot one can call it. It was made of Dwemer metal, golden in color, and it stood on its feet, going up almost to the ceiling. A giant of metal, it followed the structure of a man or mer, but for the head. He had a beard and helmet that boasted a palette-like shape, similar to a peacock's tail. Its eyes and mouth were small, barely visible. It had an armor, with a hole in its chest, all of Dwarven golden metal. Around it there were scales of wood erected, with Blades supervising the work. Truly a sight to behold.
"So, Ocato, what do you think?"
Ocato was in awe. He was shocked and barely able to speak. In his whole life, even as one of the most accomplished mages of his generation, he had never seen such a thing. All the wonders of the Arcane University, with its crystals, staffs, breakthrough experiments and numerous tomes going back to the First Era, couldn't compare. Surprise was the only thing that he had on his face. Pulling himself together, he could reluctantly utter three words:
"Wh…What…is this?"
"This, my friend, is the culmination of centuries of work and the fulfillment of every emperor's ambition. The Blades have been working since Tiber Septim himself to rebuild this. I present to you, now completed, Tiber Septim's secret weapon, the Defeater of the Summerset Isles, the Great Numidium!"
"It can't be! The Numidium was lost!"
"Not lost. Shattered." The Great Knight intervened. "You see, after our Empire's founder acquired the Numidium from Morrowind, who took it from its creators, the Dwemer, he attacked the Summerset Isles and succeeded, after which this mighty weapon vanished. That much is known to everyone. What is less known is how that happened. You see, it is not clear what exactly happened on that day, not even to us. What we do know is that an undead wizard, possibly an ancient Elven lich, fought the Numidium and shattered it in all directions. Numidium's pieces were scattered throughout Tamriel and there was no sign of the undead wizard. Since then, the Blades have been hard at work trying to rebuild this magnificent Brass God. Every Emperor contributed in some capacity. This room was built in the reigns of Tiber Septim and Pelagius I. Then, the other emperors slowly found the pieces and luckily now it is done."
"Why wasn't I told of this? I could have helped with my magic."
"Well, Ocato, no Chancellor ever knew of this matter. You see, before Tiber Septim attacked Summerset Isles, his Chancellor, Zurin Arctus, attempted to sabotage his plans. Of course, he was stopped, but no emperor ever revealed this secret to any other battlemage, out of fear of betrayal."
"But your Majesty, why tell me now then?"
"Well, I received word that Numidium is completed. Well, almost completed, as it became clear a while ago. You see that whole in his chest?"
"Yes"
"There are two things that we miss. Back in the day, there stood a powerful gem of godly power that powered the Numidium. This gem was called The Mantella. However, it was lost in the scattering. We looked everywhere and couldn't find it. And I don't want anyone else to complete this work. We need your help to find it. It is said to be an item of magical power, godly in nature. If you reach hard enough through magic, you can sense it. We need it. Think about it, Chancellor Ocato. All of Tamriel is under our Empire, but squabbles and minor conflicts still take place. Jagar Tharn has butchered what little stability we had. Clearly, our control is not enough to calm the warmongering lords. With this weapon, none would oppose us. We can finally bring lasting and total peace in Tamriel and crush anyone who would rebel. Do this, and we can complete Tiber Septim's vision for an orderly, peaceful Tamriel in which all prosper and injustice is adequately punished."
"If my lord commands me so, I will do it, though not without second thoughts. What is the other thing we need?"
"A special item called the Totem of Tiber Septim. It effectively controls Numidium. But this is for later, the Mantella is the priority."
"I see. Your Majesty, you know I am at your disposal. I shall be looking for this very gem if it please you, but I'm afraid this would require weaking the barriers between us and Aetherius."
"What's this about?" the Great Knight asked.
"I see you haven't been paying attention in your classes, Great Knight" Ocato said with a severe tone. "Our world is separated by the realm of the gods, Aetherius, by magical barriers. Until we die, we can only get a glimpse of it through the stars. If the Mantella is a gem of godly power, then it is a good chance that either it went there, or it is hidden very well through a 'cloud' of magical power. In order to have a chance of sensing it, I would need to temporarily weaken these barriers."
"Is there a risk?"
"Yes, actually. If I do this, there is a chance that other mages would feel it and get a glance at what we are trying to do. But they will not know we are behind it. But this chance is small. It would need to be a very powerful mage, attuned to the arcane arts. Even then, it might be the case that only if one is actively pursuing magical secrets. The difference such a weakening would entail would be subtle enough to avoid detection."
"Then it is worth it! Do so immediately and we will find the key to eternal peace."
"At once, my lord. I'll need a secluded room."
"Follow me, Chancellor" the Great Knight replied.