The next day...
Kalur awoke in one of the chambers of Castle Dour, yawning. He got up out of bed, and went through his morning routine. He walked by Babette in the hallway.
"So, I hear you and Dulian are a thing now." Babette grinned.
Kalur immediately got defensive. "Who… what are you talking about?"
Babette just continued grinning. "Let's just say a little birdie told me. Tell me, did you go all out with tongues?"
Kalur looked shocked. "What?! No! We simply talked about our feeling, I mean… This isn't a conversation for children!"
Babette smiled. "Technically, I've been alive for over 200 years. I simply only look like a twelve-year old, so it is perfectly valid for me to speak of adult matters..."
"Well, you… I mean, what… Why must you be so impossibly infuriating?!" Kalur threw up his hands. "You known very well what is going on here!"
"Oh, that I do." Babette said with a curtsy. "Don't think of it too much, though. I have to find some way to keep entertained."
"Why must you act like such a child?" Kalur questioned with a facepalm.
"Well, I have to keep in practice." She smiled. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to go get some beauty sleep. It is daylight after all." With that, she walked off.
Kalur rolled his eyes as he got ready to walk away. "Cheeky vampire..."
"Oh, don't worry. That's just standard Babette." Dovah said behind Kalur, startling him. "So, what's this I hear about you and Dulian becoming a couple?"
"Oh, by the hist!" Kalur exclaimed, looking at the ceiling. "Is this suddenly town news?!"
"Unfortunately, I just walked in and heard the whole thing. So only me and Babette know. Just hope I don't tell anyone..."
Kalur looked at Dovah in the eye. "You wouldn't…"
"Oh, come on! I'm not that cruel." Dovah smiled. "That's Babette's job."
Kalur looked over down the hallway. "Yeah, you can say that again..."
With that, Kalur went to the mess hall to get something for breakfast while Dovah went to talk with Delphine and General Tullius about their friend in the dungeon.
# # # # #
Dovah walked into the room as he saw Delphine and General Tullius standing on opposite sides of the war table.
"So what do we do with the Khajiit assassin and her pet?" Tullius asked.
"Good question. I'm still thinking on it." Delphine said. She then noticed Dovah enter the room. She bowed her head in respect. "Emperor Dovah."
"At ease, Delphine." Dovah said.
"Well, you are going to be Dragonborn Emperor. You are going to have to get used to the formalities that come with sitting on the Ruby Throne." Delphine said.
Dovah sighed. "Is this really necessary?"
"Yes." Tullius answered. "Your majesty. Speaking of which, we need to get you dressed into something more fitting to your role. With all due respect, the studded leather doesn't exactly fit your status as Emperor."
"By the way, Dovah… What should we do with your would-be assassins? What is your opinion?" Delphine asked.
Dovah thought for a moment, as Taliq walked in from the hallway.
General Tullius sighed. "Dovah, don't you think you should tell your friend here that this is a private meeting between the Emperor and his advisers?"
"With all due respect General Tullius, Taliq is one of my advisers." Dovah said. "So, what is your opinion Taliq?"
Taliq paused. "...I'm not sure. Maybe there is a way we could convince her to defect..."
"Defect?!" Delphine scoffed. "Impossible! Not even in the early days of the Great War could we convince an agent to defect!"
"Give me some time. I am a Khajiit. I believe I can find a way to convince her." Taliq said, almost begging. "Please? Wasn't there enough life lost during that war?"
Delphine sighed. "My Emperor, what would you suggest?"
Dovah scratched his beard, thinking. "What both of you say is true. There has been a lot of life lost in that war, yet she did try to kill me… She could be useful if she can be convinced to defect. Very well, Taliq. I'll give you two months to convince her of the truth. That is all I can give you. After that, my hands are tied."
Taliq gulped unconsciously. "...Very well. I will do my best to make her see the truth." He immediately left for the dungeon.
Meanwhile, in the Castle courtyard Kalur was in weapons training with Krog. Seeing how he was a former Companion, he had a lot of knowledge of arms, and was teaching Kalur some of that knowledge.
"That's it." Krog encouraged Kalur as he thrust and parried with a wooden spear. "Keep your form, you have the right footwork and the right stance. You're almost a natural."
"Thanks." Kalur said as he continued to practice. Krog watched him for a while, then got an idea to help Kalur sharpen his technique.
"How about we have a bit of a sparring match, Kalur?" Krog asked, getting a wooden greatsword from a weapons rack.
"Wait… Now?" Kalur asked with a look of surprise.
"Why not?" Krog said. "I'll go easy on you. Besides, it would help refine your skills. Best two out of three."
Kalur sighed. "Alright. Let's do this, then." He readied his stance.
Krog placed both hands on the hilt of his sword as he got into his stance. "Alright. Begin!"
Krog then ran forward, trying to close the gap. Kalur then thrust his spear forward, keeping Krog at a distance as he forced Krog to back away. Kalur then pivoted around, bringing the end of the spear towards Krog's ankles. Krog, in response, jumped over it and performed a downward swing at Kalur's face. Kalur swiftly brought up the spear, and blocked the blow with the haft of the spear! They were now deadlocked, both weapons pressing against each other!
Kalur then thrust forward, breaking the deadlock, and pivoted around again, bringing the blunt end of the spear to Krog's head! They both stopped at that point, and Kalur tapped the side of Krog's head with the blunt end of the spear.
"Alright. Point for you." Krog said. "Now, let's go to round two. I'll go a bit harder on you."
They then backed away from each other and resumed their stances. Kalur thrust his spear forward, aiming at Krog's chest plate! Krog in response brought up his sword and blocked with the flat edge of it, knocking the spear point away to his left! Kalur had to hold on tight to the spear to avoid dropping it!
Noticing that Krog came in immediately with his counterattack, a mid-section slash! Kalur tried to jump back, but the sword tore part of his tunic! Normally he could have jumped back in time, but the spear added extra weight which slowed him down to a degree. Just a tad, but enough to give Krog the edge! And Krog was wearing Iron Armor!
"One for me." Krog said. "Sorry about your tunic. We need to get you some proper armor."
"Don't worry about it." Kalur replied. "Final round. I assume you're not going to hold anything back this time?"
"Correct." They each took their places again. They circled around each other at first, looking for a possible opening to attack. Krog made a quick sidestep to the right, attacking with a down diagonal slash! Kalur caught the sword with the haft of his spear, then tried to make a counterattack with the spear point before Krog could break off! Krog then ducked down, dodging the spear to his left and came back up with an upward slash, knocking the spear clean out of Kalur's grip! He then pointed the sword at Kalur's face!
"Looks like this one is mine." Krog said, lowering the practice sword. "A few tips: make sure to never let your enemy get close. If they do get close, it will make your job of defense much harder. Also, be careful with cheap shots. When you make your attack, make sure there is no way for your opponent to counter. Otherwise, you'll lose your weapon, and subsequently your life. If you feel like it, combine your magic with your spear attacks. Stoneflesh, and Flames or Sparks would be good. Now come on. Let's see if we can make you some armor. Those magician robes won't be able to protect much except for your modesty."
"Agreed." Kalur said. With that, the went off towards the local blacksmith.
Meanwhile, in the dungeons of Castle Dour…
Taliq walked back into the dungeons, a tray of hot smoked salmon, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and a freshly-baked sweet roll. In the other hand and a gift bag in the other. He walked up to M'irra's cell. She simply turned her head slowly away from him on sight. She looked tired, hungry and desperate.
"I guess this one doesn't want to finish this food..." He said. "I guess I'll just have to toss it away..."
"Wait!" M'irra spoke, shuffling up to the front of the cell. "...May I have it?"
Taliq looked at M'irra. "Of course." He carefully slid the tray through the slot. M'irra took the tray, her hands shaky and set it on the ground. She started to eat hungrily, yet she didn't eat ravenously. She wanted to savor this meal.
"So, have the guards been treating you well?" Taliq asked.
"Well enough." M'irra said. "Why does this one commence in small talk with Khajiit? What is this one's game?"
Taliq shrugged. "Just wishing to be friendly. We are still Khajiit. We are still kin, despite the sides we are on."
M'irra mulled it over for a bit. "...Khajiit thanks this one for the food."
Taliq smiled. "My pleasure, kitten."
M'irra chuckled at that statement. "Khajiit knows this one is just trying to butter her up."
It was Taliq's turn to chuckle. "Well, Taliq does have something that might change your mind about the Thalmor." He got out a book from the bag he was holding. It was a small journal from a Blades agent from the Great War! "I got this from the Blades' grandmaster. Take a look." He opened the book, and held it near the bars so she could read.
The facts in the journal horrified M'irra. "...According to this report, the saviors used Alyeid magic to… to..." She sat back against one of the walls, speechless. "...This would explain why the sa… the Thalmor would know how to reverse the Void Nights! Why they wanted the Blades exterminated… Every last man, woman and child..." She brought her knees up to her chest against a wall of the cell, and started to cry. "They used Khajiit… Khajiit killed so many innocent people… For nothing except to hide the lies of those truly guilty… Khajiit cannot atone for this!" M'irra started to sob, going into hysterics.
"Guard! Open the cell door!" Taliq called. A guard came forward, and opened the cell, keeping an eye on M'irra. Taliq walked in, and knelt down, holding her close, trying to comfort her.
"Kitten… You were brainwashed. The truth was hidden from you. In any other circumstance, this one might have done the same. How could you have known?" Taliq said.
M'irra then threw her arms around Taliq, crying on his shoulder.
"You can atone for this. Join our group. Dovah, as Emperor, can unite Tamriel and drive the Thalmor back to the isles. But we can't do this by ourselves. We need your help." Taliq said.
M'irra then looked up at Taliq. "What about Sinvassa?" She asked, pointing at the Alfiq spy.
"That is his choice." Taliq said. They both looked over to the cage holding Sinvassa. He stood there for a moment. He then nodded to them with a meow.
"I guess he's on board too." Taliq said. "We are going to need you both. I will have to let the Emperor know of your decision, and have you officially released."