Kalur was surprised! His father was here, spying on them all this time?
"Father?!" Kalur exclaimed. "What in Oblivion are you doing here?!"
"Nice to see you too, my son..." Argok said, heavy on the sarcasm. "What a heartwarming way to greet your own family after all these years."
Kalur scowled. "I would hardly call spying on me and the Blades a "Greeting" father..."
"It was necessary." Argok replied. "I saw you since you arrived in Whiterun, and since I didn't know who you were with at the time, I chose to keep my distance until I felt I was ready to meet with you. The Brotherhood's unexpected arrival put a hinder on that, though. Then I had to chase you halfway across Skyrim, to this place. Now, would you kindly instruct this brute of an Orc and his Dark Elf friend to release me?"
"I don't know." Kalur said, thinking. "For all I know, you could be a Thalmor spy..."
"He certainly might be!" Ta'liq said, rinsing out his eyes with a bucket of water. "That powder you threw in my eyes better not leave me blind, old lizard!"
"It was just old, dry dirt. Don't throw a hissy fit, Kitty kat." Argok sneered. "As for me being a spy, really? Check my belongings. They would no doubt leave me with an order to fulfill. You could even have your mage check my belongings for enchantments she may find suspicious."
Kalur turned to Dulian. "Can you?"
"No problem." Dulian said. "Golamus, you can go through his pack, I'll check his weapons and accessories."
# # # # #
After a rigorous inspection of Argok's belongings, they could not find anything amiss. There was no Thalmor orders, no unusual enchantments, nothing.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." Dulian said.
"I couldn't find any Thalmor orders in his letters. The only letters he has are sealed, along with some sort of package..." Golamus said.
"So why are you here, father?" Kalur asked. "Because I doubt this is more than a simple reunion."
"That is part of it, yes. But the main reason I am here, is to deliver a message for him." Argok pointed a finger at Dovah. "That sealed letter is for you. It is from Emperor Titus Meade II."
Dovah was immediately concerned. He had a bad feeling in his gut. "Why? Has something happened to the Emperor?!" He exclaimed.
"Read the letter." Argok simply stated.
Dovah then took the letter, sealed by red candle wax and opened it. He started reading out loud.
"Dear Dovah Ravencroft,
"Yes, I know you are the former Listener that was contracted to kill me. If you are reading this, I have unfortunately been killed by your headmistress in an attempt to save herself from destruction at the hands of Commander Maro, who had once he had found out his son had been killed by you, now intends to wipe out your Former "Family…"
"In this letter, I must inform you, I also know of your heritage as a descendant of Tiber Septim himself." Dovah paused at that word. "...It was found years ago, in the hall of records in an ancient section, dated back to the reign of Tiber Septim, as emperor of Tamriel. It was locked away, never meant to be found, until I discovered it.
"It spoke of a Nord woman he had met during his conquest of the Reach, and how he had separated himself from her so she and her child could have a normal life, as he loved this woman to no end. He did not want her to be burdened to be the wife of Talos of Atmora, seeing how well known he was.
"I had my mages trace their bloodlines back, through the years, and it led back to you. A prisoner captured on the border of Skyrim, The now former Listener of the Dark Brotherhood itself. As such, I have sent out a proclamation that you shall be crowned Emperor of Tamirel in my stead…." Dovah paused for a moment, taking in all the information in with shaking hands. "….I know this may come of a great shock to you, however it is necessary that you as the one whom bears the dragon blood, take the throne.
"My plan to drive the Thalmor back to Summerset Isle and out of Tamriel requires an heir free of the burden of hatred that I have garnered by the signing of the White Gold Concordat and having the legal blood right to the Imperial Throne, thanks to your possession of the Dragon's Blood of Tiber Septim's line. Now I must give you my farewell, and my wish of the best of luck to you, young Emperor. I regret that I have no more time to advise you in the way of ruling, but I feel through your actions that you will do very well in your new role as Emperor of Tamriel. The messenger who delivers this letter will have my Imperial signet ring with him in an unassuming package to reinforce your claim. Farewell, and may the Nine be with you.
With Best Wishes,
Titus Meade II.
P.S. : As a favor I ask of you, do have Amaund Motierre executed after all this is said and done, as he is the one who put out the contract on me and nearly destroyed all my plans, and Tamirel in the process."
The shock hit Dovah like a steel war-hammer to the gut. He stumbled back into one of the chairs in the Temple, completely dumbfounded by this news. Kalur was also slammed by this news, as was everyone in the temple. There was a long, dreadful silence.
"...By the nine. All this time, I was not only guarding the last Dragonborn, but the rightful emperor of Tamriel?! It never even occurred to me!" Delphine exclaimed.
"What do we do now?" Golamus asked.
Dovah spoke up after a few minutes that seemed to last for an eternity. "...Delphine. Go to my quarters, and look in my personal chest. Get me the third Dossier, the one that is in the same cover as yours and Esbern's. It will be in one of my packs that I brought." He handed her the key to the chest with shaking hands.
Delphine did so without question.
"What is that?" Kalur asked, once the Dossier was in Dovah's hands.
Dovah opened the Dossier, and said the words that would affect their path.
"It is information on a Traitorous enemy."