A Nord's Tale

Sanyue smiled as she walked down the twisting path from Kvatch. The painted mare that Prior Maborel had given her was waiting for her at the bottom, pawing the ground and snuffling in impatience. She patted the horse on the neck, smiling when the animal nuzzled into her touch. "Were you worried," she asked her, nodding when she only got a blast of air out of her nose. "Yea, so was I. Come on, girl. I'm sure there's some hay or oats with your name on them in the camp."

The sky continued to empty itself on the refugee camp. Most of the people had retreated into their tents for the night. Others were wandering around in a daze. When Sanyue finely got back to the camp, she found one such person standing outside, staring blindly out into the darkness. Even in the midst of despair, Martin's features reminded Sanyue so much of the Emperor. Even knowing the man for the grand total of a few hours, she had come to respect and admire him. Seeing the same look on his son's face as he had when he had first entered her cell made Sanyue's eyes sting.

The priest paid no mind to the cold, driving rain that seemed determined to beat him into the dirt. His robes were soaked through and his hair was plastered to his face. The mare whinnied at her side, breaking what ever spell was over the priest. He turned his head to regard her with subdued curiosity. He seemed wholly surprised when she stopped in front of him. "I heard about how you helped the Guard drive the Daedra back. Well done." Even his careful and even voice reminded her of the late Emperor. Even having just met him, Sanyue felt an overwhelming urge to protect him.

"Come with me. You are in danger." She had no idea why she was so forward with this priest of Akatosh. Perhaps it was as many have said, that when the Gods work, they don't mess around.

Martin turned to regard her fully, taking a step back. "Danger, you say? You came here to tell me this?" His eyes hardened, narrowing as though he thought this all an ill timed joke. "Explain yourself or leave me alone. There are many other's here who actually need your help."

"You are Martin, right? The priest?" Sanyue thought it would have been funny to some deranged god if she were actually speaking to someone who only looked like the Emperor and not his son.

"Yes, I am a priest," he ground that word out as though it were something disgusting on the bottom of his shoe. "Do you need a priest? I don't think I'll be much help to you." He turned from her, his eyes finding the darkness again. "I'm having trouble understanding the gods right now. If all this is part of some divine plan," he gestured in the direction of the still burning city of Kvatch. "I'm not sure I want anything to do with it."

"There is a plan," Sanyue had no idea where her words were coming from, but she just let them flow. "We're part of it." Were they really, now?

"What plan," Martin started to look worried as he eyed her suspiciously. "What are you talking about? I prayed to Akatosh all through that terrible night, but no help came. Only more Daedra. What can you possibly know that could help me make any sense of this?"

"You are Uriel Septim's son." It was as simple as it was ludicrous. Any other person at any other time would have brushed her off as crazy or even as someone who wanted to start trouble for the throne. Trouble was, this was not any place and this was certainly not any time.

"Emperor Uriel Septim?" He looked incredulous now, his eyebrows high on his forehead. "You think the Emperor is my father?" Martin shook his head. "No, you must have the wrong man. I am a priest of Akatosh. My father was a farmer."

"The Daedra came here for you." Sanyue knew she had struck a nerve the moment the words left her mouth. His brows knitted together as he regarded her with more hostility than any priest should posess.

"An entire city destroyed just to get at me? Why? ...because I am the Emperor's son," His voice cracked. Sanyue could not imagine what this must be like for him. He had to watch the city he grew up in burn to the ground and here she was telling him that it was because of him. She had no right to do this to this gentle priest. But she also knew that if she left him to his life, he would be hounded where ever he went and more would die because she failed to protect him.

"Why would I lie to you?"

"I don't know." He was looking at her with that same far away look that made it seem as though he could see her soul laid bare. "It's strange... I think you might actually be telling the truth." His eyes sharpened, looking directly at her. "What does this mean? What do you want from me?"

"Come with me to Weynon Priory." Sanyue held out her hand more as a symbolic gesture than asking him to take her hand. She needed him to trust her.

"You destroyed the Oblivion Gate, they say." He was looking down at her offered hand, then slowly into her eyes again. "You gave them hope. You helped them drive the Daedra back." Sanyue's cheeks heated slightly as she cleared her throat. "Yes." He took her hand, more to seal his promise than anything else. "I'll come with you to Weynon Priory and hear what Jauffre has to say. Lead on."

Sanyue tried to keep from sighing in relief as their hands shook on the deal. She was about to get on her horse when she remembered the ordeal that Martin had gone through, and stepped aside. "No. It would be improper for me to ride while you walk."

"I insist," Sanyue brooked no room for argument as she handed the reigns to Martin. Besides, if there were bandits or more Daedra on the road Martin would need a quick means of escape while she kept them from following. Some part of her felt guilty for not letting Martin sleep, however she was not sure if she would want to close her eyes after everything she had gone through either. She started off at a brisk pace toward the north-east. The rain continued to beat down on them for nearly half their journey to Chorrol.

---

Sanyue sighed in relief as they approached the priory. The sun was directly over head, however the air felt quite pleasant with a gentle breeze to dispel any lingering heat. Martin was still stoically silent on the painted mare, his head having lolled forward in his exhaustion. She kept her pace slow to accommodate his rest. It would not do to have the Emperor's son fall off of his horse so soon after being found. The scent of roasted chicken was on the breeze. Though there was another smell that set the hair on her neck standing on end. The smell was a familiar one with her time in Oblivion. It was the smell of roasting flesh.

As they broke over the hill, Sanyue could see smoke coming from the fields. Eranor, the Dunmer field hand was running from the smoke, his apron stained with blood. "Help!" His cry startled Martin who jerked his head up, cursing as he saw the state of the priory. "You must help! They're killing everyone in the priory!" Sanyue watched as Prior Maborel, the friar who had given her his horse backed up with his hands raised. She recognized the armored assassin as he drove his sword through the unarmed friar, his body crumpling to the ground.

"Hold on. Tell me what happened," she tried to keep Eranor from raising his voice too much, hoping that the assassins had not noticed that one of their targets had escaped.

"I don't know! I think their right behind me! Prior Maborel is dead!" Sanyue felt that any luck of not being spotted was dashed when Eranor's panicked voice carried over to the assassin who had just killed Maborel.

"Who attacked the priory."

"I don't know! I was in the sheepfold when they attacked! I heard the Prior talking to someone, looked around the corner to see who it was." The assassin was cleaning his blade off on Maborel's clothes, seemingly in no hurry to dispatch his new prey. This worried Sanyue greatly. "They looked like travelers, ordinary. Suddenly, weapons appeared in their hands and they struck the Prior down before he could move! They saw me watching, and I ran!"

Sanyue nodded. So the assassins had attacked just before they arrived. She felt the same shiver run through her spine as she had in her cell. Fate, it seemed, was busy. "Where's Jauffree? Is he safe?"

Eranor shook his head. "I don't know. In the chapel, praying, I think. You must help us." Eranor looked behind him as the assassin charged.

"Can you handle a blade, Martin," Sanyue asked as Martin slid from the mare's back.

"I am no warrior," he took the offered short-sword and tested its weight. "but I can hold my own." Sanyue nodded as she withdrew her own sword and charged straight for the assassin. The mystic armor they wore was not enough for her's and Martin's combined attacks and the handful that had challenged them were laid on the ground, armor fading with their deaths. Martin offered a quick prayer for each as they sprinted toward the chapel, Sanyue wrenching the doors open.

Jauffre was being backed into a corner as three assassins came at him. He may have been an expert swordsman, however age and inactivity had taken their toll and it was all he could do to drive their blows away from his body. Sanyue charged and caught the closest assassin in the chest with her sword, completing the kill by taking his head off. Martin, apparently had something of an aversion to killing, however when he had to make the choice, their life or his; he chose his own life. The prior and the priest took down their respective opponents with relative ease, Jauffre's heavy breathing almost deafening after the crash of swords.

"Your back!" Jauffre sheathed his sword, clapping Sanyue on the shoulder. "Thank Talos!" He took a deep breath as he straightened up to his full height. "They attacked without warning. I was praying," he gestured to the altar, "when I heard Prior Maborel shout. I had just time to arm myself." Jauffre's eyes widened. "The Amulet of Kings! I fear that was the target of this attack. I kept it in a secret room in Weynon House. We need to go see if it is safe."

Sanyue nodded and gestured for Martin to follow them. He seemed somewhat conflicted as they spoke over the bodies of their assailants. Though as Jauffre ran through the courtyard in his monks robes and sword held high, the image struck her as oddly funny, though she dared not laugh. Not when Martin seemed ready to empty his stomach. As Jauffre wrenched open the doors to Weynon House, Sanyue felt her heart sink. Two monks were lying dead in the foyer, both probably having been disturbed while reading. They quickly climbed the stairs, Jauffre turning into his office and toward a portion of the wall she had not noticed on her first visit.

It looked like who ever had broken in knew exactly what they were looking for and where it was. It was an eerie feeling to Sanyue, having an enemy who knew where their every little secret was. Jauffre stopped cold when he saw the smashed chest on the far side of the secret room. "They've taken it!" It was the first time she had heard real panic in his voice. "The Amulet of Kings is gone! The enemy has defeated us at every turn!"

Sanyue put her hand on Martin's arm. "I found Martin. He is safe." Jauffre seemed to just now notice Martin's presence. Even he was momentarily taken aback by his uncanny resemblance to his father.

"So it has not all gone against us. Thank Talos for that." He sighed. "We gained Uriel's heir, but lost the Amulet of Kings." He knew very well that they would be in much more trouble now if it were the opposite. He clapped Martin on the shoulder as though to apologize for the rapid course of events. "Martin can not stay here. We have driven them off, but they will be back once they learn of Martin's survival. Which they will."

"Where will Martin be safe?" Any other time and Martin would have taken offense to be spoken of as though he were not present. But the two speaking seemed to know more about the situation than he did, so he let the matter lie.

"Nowhere is truly safe against the power arrayed against us. But we must play for time, at least," Jauffre turned and walked off stroking his chin as he thought. "Cloud Ruler Temple, I think." He came back to face them. "The hidden fortress of the Blades in the mountains near Bruma. A few men could hold it against an army." It seemed appealing to Sanyue as she nodded in agreement. She had never seen the temple and only heard of it in rumor. However, it was said to have held its own since the founding of the Empire and it would be good for Martin to get his bearings. "We should leave at once."

Sanyue nodded, looking to Martin who nodded as well. Even though Jauffre told them to hurry, his steps were slow, as though he did not want to leave this place. Sanyue felt it a disgrace that they could not properly bury the bodies of the friars who had died, however Martin's safety was of much greater importance. Once outside, Sanyue found that Maborel's mare was munching on oats in a feed bag while they were talking. She smiled and patted the painted mare on the neck and she brought her muzzle out to nudge her affectionately. There were two more horses in the stables and the priest and the prior each chose one and mounted. Martin looked only marginally uncomfortable in the saddle, but he held his silence.

Sanyue waited until the two were situated and began to slowly trot down the opposite way they had come in. She looked around at the destruction and offered a silent prayer for what seemed like the third time that day for those lost as they headed into the forest towards Bruma.