The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin-Akavir And Beyond-Chapter Three

                                                                Chapter Three

     Iriisii: "Are you ready to tell me everything you know?"

     Tsaesci: "Yes. There is not much, but maybe you can fill in what I do not know. This I know as hearsay, from the mouths of others who said they were there when it was discussed and later when ...it happened."

     Iriisii: "Start at the beginning, please. And leave nothing out, the littlest thing could be important and so save your life."

     Tsaesci: "It was not the Royals who first called for your death, but rather two who came to them, seeking their aid in that venture. They were different from any we had seen before, even as our wise ones called for caution and attempted to dissuade our Royals from hearing them. If only they had been persuaded to send them onward."

     Iriisii: "Describe them to me."

     Tsaesci: "They were two, one was an elder one, clad completely in robes, even his eyes were covered. The other a young man, able to pass as human, but bearing some traits of an Elder race only a few of us even knew existed. He guided the Elder, acted as his translator, for his speech was unintelligible to us."

     Iriisii: "This may be important, did you ever hear the elder one speak to the young man? And if he did, what did his speech sound like, what did it resemble?"

     Tsaesci: "The one who told me this story, said it sounded guttural, like his throat could not make our sounds anymore. The younger man passed the elders words saying that their 'visionaries' had been given glimpses of their future and that if they were to survive what was coming for them they had to kill it while it was yet young, before it grew into its power. They said that even 'He', 'who they worshiped in the deeps' would not survive. This is why they came to us. That the one they needed to kill was near to Akavir."

     Iriisii: "Do you have any idea of who that would be that they worshipped in the deeps? Some kind of aquatic deity, perhaps? And why did they come to Akavir instead of directly to where the one they wanted killed lived?"

     Tsaesci: "They said that we were 'kin' to them and asked our help."

     Iriisii: "Kin? Strange, for I do not see you as kin to them. There must be more that we do not know. Did they say specifically who they wanted killed and where this person lived?"

     Tsaesci: "It gets cloudy here, they never specifically said, but it was thought their target could be one of two possibilities. Killing either one would save them, for it was if these two would meet that their death was inevitable."

     Iriisii: "So it was said that 'I' was one of these two? And so who was the other?"

     Tsaesci: "Her name was never spoken, only that one they whispered of as 'Dagon' wanted this done."

     Iriisii goes cold and silent as she remembers that name from a particularly blasphemous book she ran across in a deserted library on one of her previous adventures in one of the more 'out of the way' places, one that struck her as 'haunted' by nameless entities. For there was another name in that book called the 'Pnakotic Manuscripts', a  name associated with what that book called, 'Father Dagon', that of 'Mother Hydra'. The pair having offspring known as 'Deep Ones'. And they she has met before, but for now she will keep this to herself until she is more certain."

     Iriisii: "Continue."

     Tsaesci: "They were not pleased at their request being turned down. The 'elder' was most vocal about it, even though almost nothing he said could be understood. The translator would say nothing of what the 'elder' said. But a glimpse of the elder's face was seen and I was told of what was seen. His face...was 'batrachian' in nature."

     Iriisii: "That word, can you elaborate?"

     Tsaesci: "Some think 'fishlike' but that is wrong, 'amphibian' is closer, 'froglike' is closer still. But 'froglike' as they would have been in prehistory, when 'monsters' walked the worlds. You do not jeer, or laugh, you know something of what I speak of."

     Iriisii: "There was a time when more than one timeline existed here each moving with the other, but each a little different than its brother. Akatosh had them merged together, bringing about a single timeline. What is not known is that this Realm of Mundus was not alone in suffering parallel temporal branching's. So too did other Realms outside of Mundus, and they gave rise to some of the most horrific and terrorizing inhabitants within those timelines. Unfortunately they were not dealt with as cleanly as the ones here were.

     Some of those inhabitants were scattered among other Realms, giving rise to the tales of monsters. Make no mistake in thinking I am making light of them, for I am not. They are still out there...I can say no more of it for now. Just know that I believe you, and that those you describe came here from one of those places. What bothers me about their coming is that anything of us here in Mundus would pose an existential threat to them. That will bear looking into. But what of the second possibility, who or what were they speaking of?"

     Tsaesci: "That I cannot speak of for I do not have strong evidence. What I can say is that deep in our past, it was decided that one of our race was of such a threat that 'she' was hunted by all in authority. The reasons were never given out, never revealed, questions never answered. Even saying her name was considered a crime serious enough to warrant summary execution. All trace, all mention direct and indirect were destroyed in the records. All physical likenesses were defaced from pillars, stele, frescoes, all carvings were burned along with those who possessed them. 

     A very dangerous kind of hunter was commissioned to find and kill her. One that was called a 'Miko'. A magically skilled hunter, able to track prey anywhere they went. They were said to never fail in the hunt. The price paid nearly bankrupted the treasury, but it was thought to be that there was no other way to deal with her. For the 'Miko' would not stop the hunt no matter how much time passed. The only other thing said was that to this day the 'Miko' is still hunting, our Royals told this to the elder and his reaction was not expected."

     Iriisii: "What did he do?"

     Tsaesci: "He took possession of the oldest daughter of our 'Court', told all in the throne room that if the one or the other was not killed and undisputable evidence of the done deed delivered by the 'Dark Moon' setting in the middle of the day...the princess would be given over to this 'Dagon', to be mated with him, and their offspring to sit the throne of the Tsaesci."

     Iriisii: "I have read of a very few, who worshipped aquatic deities. They would be born looking like their mortal race, and then as they matured they would change, taking on the attributes of their 'other' parent. Eventually they would have to take to the seas to live under the surface, there they would gather in cyclopean cities where those who came before them lived. In the darkness, worshipping unknown, unknowable gods, whose names are sometimes told in the barest of whispers, or written of in the most blasphemous of tomes. All sanity sacrificed on altars that have never seen the light of day. For they reside in the murky depths where the 'light' is forbidden to shine and the only comfort found is in the cold, wet, darkness.

     And my previous words to you now ring true even more than they did before, 'the survival of your people resides with me'. I believe I know who the 'other' target was as well as why this 'Miko' could not find them. I will likely have to deal with this 'Miko', as I am about to go in search of this 'other' myself although for very different purposes. I am aware of what the 'Mother' of the 'Sinister Seven' did as to the matter of 'evidence of the killing'. What you may not know is that she deceived you all."

     The Tsaesci prisoner looks at Iriisii, visible horror on his face.

     Iriisii: "I take it the elder did not return the princess when the 'evidence' was delivered?"

     Tsaesci: "No, he did not. He said it was not sufficient, that only the head of either would be proof enough."

     Iriisii: "But he has not given the princess to Dagon as yet?"

     Tsaesci: "Not that we are aware of. The deadline has not yet been passed, although it does approach."

     Iriisii: "The other assassination attempts, specifically the ones on my child and my mate. Who is responsible for those?"

     Tsaesci: "Once the deception was recognized, and the trail in your homeland went 'cold'. The net had to be cast further to find you. The stories of you that trickled to the Royals, made them seek verification that you were the one that the 'Sinister Seven' should have killed."

     Iriisii: "And then they discovered what she truly did with me, and knew that simply going up against me straight up would not succeed."

     Tsaesci: "Indeed. At first they thought if they could remove the reason for you to stay in Cyrodiil, it might be possible to deal with you in your wanderings. We living here, tried to make our voices known that this would only make you more determined to find and destroy those behind such an attempt. Whether they went through with it, or someone else who desired your removal attempted it and sought to divert responsibility, I have no knowledge or idea of it."

     Iriisii: "Who else desired my removal enough to try not only to do it but to place blame on someone else who had already tried and failed? Hmm, I can think of a few, but I would rather know the true ones behind it before I vent my wrath on them."

     Tsaesci: "If it please the Empress, it may be possible to find out. We few living here, have found that under your rule, we have a much more desirable life than we would have back in Akavir. Thus we would utilize our contacts made over the years as we moved from place to place until reaching here, to find out whatever we can. We only ask not to be returned to Akavir. We have been gone long enough that we could never disperse the cloud of suspicion that would hang over our heads. Rather it would in all due time, result in our heads being taken. You can be stern, even ruthless when need be, but you are also fair to those who seek only to live peacefully in your Empire."

     Iriisii: "I will allow you to wait here, while I speak to those on my Council of Advisors about what you have told me and what you offer me. I will take heed of what they say, and weight it accordingly, but the decision will be mine to make, not theirs. And as you have said, I will be fair about it."

     Iriisii rises, makes her way to the door, walks out into the corridor and speaks to those hidden to watch the proceedings.

     Iriisii: "Double the guard around the city, especially around the children, and around the prisoner. I want no harm to come to him until I say otherwise, no one else is allowed to cross me in this. I will decide his fate and the others with him. Tell Lord Chancellor Blackwell that I wish to first speak with him alone about what has been said here before I convene my Council of Advisors. I will be in my private Chapel and will await him there."

     And so she proceeds to the one place she knows she can be open, forthright, say anything she wishes and knows it will not leave the confines of that place. Her private Chapel, where she goes to the 'Nine' of matters of importance to her, both high and low. It is located in a seemingly unused wing of the palace. Seemingly because the doors to it are always locked and checked at every guard rotation. She accesses it through a different path that takes her through the walls similar to the ones she used to eavesdrop on some of the guest rooms as well as the old royal quarters when Ariel Sethius was Emperor.

     She enters the Chapel with its personal shrines that she had made to the 'Nine' with her own hands. The braziers are lit and the room is warm, indicating to her that the 'Nine' know she is there and are listening to what she has to say. She wonders if this may be one of those rare occasions when they send their 'messenger' priest to advise her. She smiles at the thought, for she has long since discovered just who he really is. As well that he likes to play the deception as well.

     She goes to the pillows before the shrines and kneels before them, bows her head, and quiets her mind. Opening her soul to her Gods, to hear what they think of what she has found out and what direction she wishes to take this in. She is still kneeling when Blackwell is ushered into the private chapel and the door is quietly shut behind him. He can feel the atmosphere within the chapel is quire different from outside even as it seems 'charged' with energy. He slowly turns around to look at everything then as he turns back to Iriisii he is shocked to see a priest standing there beside her that was not there just seconds ago.

     He takes a strong step toward them when the priest looks at him and inexplicably he stops dead in his tracks. He wants to continue on but his body just will not obey his commands. The priest looks to Iriisii and Blackwell can see his face softening toward her. He thinks he can detect some features they may share in common, when the priest comments to him.

     Priest: "You are quite observant, Lord Chancellor. It is a skill that makes you quite valuable to her, one she relies upon greatly."

     Blackwell: "Just who are you? You are certainly no priest that I am aware of!"

     Priest: "I am definitely no priest you are aware of. But what is the true definition of a priest. A man who wears robes and calls himself a priest, or someone who gladly does the will of the Gods, even if that is but to deliver messages. Although I do a lot more than carry messages, when it concerns the Empress, I am glad to do even the most menial of tasks. But as to who I am, you would not believe me if I told you. Yet, I wonder if you would believe if she were to tell you. Shall I call her attention to you and let us see?"

     Blackwell: "No, I am willing to wait until she is done, before inserting myself into whatever she has asked me here for."

     Priest: "As am I, Lord Blackwell. She is worth waiting for is she not? The first in a very long time to put the Empire and its needs, its peoples needs before her own. Who is willing after shedding blood for it, weeping a river of tears for it, willing to let go of the power of the throne and give it to another, because she feels it is the best thing for the Empire."

     Even though Lord Blackwell does not know this priest, this man, still he agrees wholeheartedly with his assessment of Iriisii.

     Blackwell: "You seem to know her well."

     The priest gives a soft sigh, ""Not nearly as well as I would have liked, but I will forever cherish the little time I had. Sometimes the sacrifices we are called to make are the greatest when they involve family, loved ones, children."

     He shakes his head from side to side, "But what was done had to be done, there is no denying that."

     Blackwell: "How long did you have with her before you were called away?"

     Priest: "Eighteen years, far too short a time before we were forced to part."

     Blackwell: "I cannot say I know how you felt, for I have had no children of my own."

     Priest: "Would the pain of parting be any less? Maybe, but to have had the time I had with her, I would do it all again without question, without hesitation. When the time comes that she must leave us and go onward, perhaps you will see me once more. Then we may share a table at the Foaming Flask and talk over our memories of her. My time is fleeting and I must go soon, too soon if you ask me, but it is not up to me. Take care of her if you would, like she were your own, and maybe one day you too will be rewarded with knowing a child of yours may follow in her footsteps."

     Blackwell in a rare moment of candor, "I will do as I must, for the Empire is my child, for now anyway. But she is this Empire's mother, for she took what was but a broken shell, cast aside, worthless. Took it inside herself, shared her soul with it, shed her blood for it, cried for it when it was hurt, cheered for it when it was happy, taught it that it had value, and loved it when it stumbled. Never has it been stronger, than it is now under her guidance, even as she fights to see it grow even greater. And I have been blessed greater than anyone else to see this happen, to see it rise from its own ashes like a phoenix, ready to spread its wings and fly once more. So yes I will care for her until she must go, because without her, none of us would be here, now at this moment."

     Priest: "Before I go, let me say this. Let no one say you are less than a man because you do not draw a sword and fight. You fight just as hard, just as bravely, just in a different way, according to your strengths. The Gods see this, know this, and approve of this. And they will not forget you and the sacrifices you have given."

     Iriisii starts to move, Blackwell's attention is drawn to her, and the priest vanishes. Blackwell turns to where the priest was standing.

     Blackwell: "He is gone! Vanished into thin air!"

     Iriisii: "Who vanished?"

     Blackwell: "The priest! He was standing right there close to you. We were talking of our observances of you and the Empire. You moved and I turned my eyes away for a second and he was gone! He spoke of only knowing you for eighteen years before the two of you parted ways. Who was he?"

     Iriisii stops to think and put the pieces together.

     Iriisii: "Did he say who he was?"

     Blackwell: "No, he said I would not believe him, but that I might if you told me who he was."

     Iriisii: "Now I know who he was, and I think he had the right of it. You would not have believed him if he told you."

     Blackwell: "Who was he?"

     Iriisii: "I have met him twice before now, first when Rigmor, Casius, Sorella and I were following the road between Skyrim and Hammerfell. We had stopped at the waterfalls along the Brenna River. I remember there was a shrine to Mara there that had been recently tended. Rigmor was bathing in the river while I guarded her. The priest appeared and began talking to me about Rigmor's future, about how Akatosh had bargained on her behalf, that she would survive Kintyra's birth. Of course, Rigmor could not see him, he was there just for me.

     The second time was in Bruma. I had gone to the Cathedral of Akatosh to pray for Rigmor. I was seeking reassurance for her fate. He talked to me then, telling me that Rigmor had nothing to fear, counselling me to trust in the Gods, that they would help me bear the burden if I would but allow them to help. It took me some time to put the pieces together as to just who he was. I am only sorry that I could not have spoke to him before he left."

     Blackwell: "Then who was he?"

     Iriisii: "He was Tiber Septim, called Talos, the Ninth Divine, my birth Father."

     Blackwell goes pale as it sinks in who he was speaking with as he would any other person.

     Iriisii: "You need not worry about the things the two of you spoke about. He approves of you and the way you have performed your duties for the 'good of the Empire and its Empress'. Now as to why I asked for you to come here. First we will not be eavesdropped, so we can be truthful with each other. There is far more to this situation than I first thought, but I am closer to several of the answers that I have sought. The problem is where this is going. Who else is involved. It is reaching into areas I hand hoped never to experience, but I guess the path I tread does not go only to where there are fragrant meadows of mountain flowers in spring. Soon I think I must tread into the Maw of Darkness, into places of my past that I had hoped left behind forever. The Tsaesci Royals were not behind any of the assassination attempts on me or on Kintyra."

     Blackwell: "Then do we know who was?"

     Iriisii: "I do not have a name, in all reality, the individuals may not have names as we have them."

     Blackwell: "I am not going to like this, am I?"

     Iriisii: "No, but you do not have to go and delve into this, I do. I know you heard a lot of what I spoke to the prisoner about. The question is just where are the two who came to the Royals asking for their assistance? If I can find them and the Royal Daughter taken as hostage, before they give her over to Dagon. Then we stand a good chance of sorting this all out in our favor. I intend to offer our services to the Tsaesci Royals to retrieve their daughter, the payment of which will be inclusion into the Empire."

     Blackwell: "First, why did they attempt to invade Tamriel?"

     Iriisii: "More than one reason, but the main one involves the hostage daughter. If she is given to Dagon, he will mate with her and bring about offspring that can compete with the current Royals for the throne of Akavir. If they do manage to get it, things will be much worse than when the Tsaesci tried it. What they hoped to do was one, to deliver my head for this elder to release the daughter and return to this Dagon with my head. Two, to establish a new homeland before the Kamal and Ka Po-Tun go at each other in a 'winner take all' battle. Whichever one wins would likely finish off the Tsaesci and lay claim to Akavir. Then we have to figure out what our role in this mess would be.

     If the Tsaesci are wiped out, we have to deal with the winner. I would hope if it came to that, we could negotiate, but it would depend on who won, and other events involving this Xan'ith Kerak. If she is friendly to us and the Kamal beat the Ka Po-Tun, then we are good as it would stand. If the Ka Po-Tun won, we might have to fight him and then wonder about the Tang Mo. But anyway, we need to find this Xan'ith Kerak. It seems the Sinister Seven was sent after me because they could not find her. The contract was for either of us, whichever could be found. And the one sent after her is still around if what I was told is accurate. In any event I need information on the assassin. All I know is the she is called by a title rather than a name, and it is 'Miko'. I do not know what it means or what race birthed her, even if they still exist any more. She may well be the last of her kind."

     Blackwell: "I cannot wrap my head around this reversal about the Tsaesci."

     Iriisii: "I understand, really I do. This is a case of 'the devil we know versus the devil we do not'. If I can bring the Tsaesci into the Empire, then we can watch and control their activities with regard to everyone else. If these others take control, we could be fighting them for a while to come and then have to help protect the Tang Mo, Ka Po-Tun, and Kamal from the 'others'. Bringing both Tsaesci and Kamal into the Empire will pressure both the Tang Mo and the Ka Po-Tun to join as well or be left with the short end of the stick.

     In any event, we have to start here with someone, and need at least two of them to bring the other two to the bargaining table. And at the same time, find out how these 'others' came here and shut that door!"

     Blackwell: "Where do you want to start?"

     Iriisii: "With the Royals, in a show of overwhelming force. If I show them what I can bring to bear with just those I am willing to take, they will have to decide who they fear more. And if I 'sweeten the pot' with a protection pact that can ensure their survival as a race. That is better than anything anyone else is going to offer them. And they already know what I did to their army, I need to show them that I can be compassionate if I am allowed.

     Provided that works out well, I will go on to where my village was destroyed and see what awaits me. There is other business I need to deal with while there. I intend to drop by the Blade Dancer's Temple and arrange for some of them to come back to Tamriel with me and accelerate the training of our troops. I have no idea who they may end up facing before this is all said and done, but I want them at their best."

     Blackwell: "You will get no argument from me about that, and none from the troops either. They know what you have done to further their skills and the others are clamoring for the chance now that they too have seen it. I take it once that is underway, you will see to the Kamal and this Xan'ith Kerak?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I hope she can fill in the rest of the blanks in what I see and understand. Then we will see what we need to do with this Miko, the Ka Po-Tun, the Tang Mo, and the Kamali."

     Blackwell: "What are you going to use for this 'show of force'?"

     Iriisii smiles, "Why, dragons, of course. I intend to show them such a force of them that they will never even consider turning against us ever again."

     Blackwell: "This I understand and agree with. Let us get started."

     They step outside of the private chapel to find...Tendril Sethri, waiting, almost wringing his hands in agitation.

     Iriisii: "I should have known, all right, tell me what you have been sent to tell me."

     Sethri: "My apologies, your Majesty, but you have rightly stirred up a hornet's nest of epic size. Oblivion, Aetherius, and practically everyone else, even most of those in the 'void', are buzzing about what you are going to do. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, are climbing all over themselves to get behind you in whatever you are about to do. My mistress says, she has never seen the like of this, not even when the Gods gathered to determine Nirn's fate way back. She has tried to see into the 'twilight' but she will not say what it is that is stirring up things. She will only say that everything concerning Nirn's future is resting on what you will do. She asks that you be careful and not jump to the first conclusion that comes to you. Look behind everything you see at what is driving it, then make your choices. And once they are made, do not back down from them, no matter who asks you to, do not do it. She could not stress that enough."

     Iriisii: "Sethri? Are you all right? I have never seen you in this state of mind before."

     Sethri: "And there has never been this kind of consensus before, not in anything that has gone before. Whatever is stirring out there has everyone in a tizzy, and as they look around, they see you are the only one who sees it and is working to do something about it. I have no idea what it is, but the way it is affecting everyone is making its way to me as well."

     Iriisii: "Then I guess I need to push this ahead even faster that I had anticipated. All right, Sethri, I hope I do not regret this, but I need you to help guard the children. I have to take Rigmor, Byrsael, Illyria, and Rose with me, oh and I intend to take Lilith as well. There may well be others coming, some I am anticipating, others, well we shall see who shows up on our doorstep. Lord Chancellor, bring the Empire to a war footing, but no one goes anywhere unless 'I' say so. I want to speak to my mates in the War room, then I will speak to all my advisors in the throne room."

     Blackwell: "At once, your Majesty!"

     Iriisii: "Sethri, come with me."

     Sethri: "Yes, your Majesty."

     As they walk toward the 'War' room, "Sethri, tell me what you know of all of this that you do not want anyone else but me to hear."

     Sethri: "You have grown sharper these last few years."

     Iriisii: "And you keep trying to dodge the question. How many times do I have to tell you that I will not cut your throat just because I do not like your message."

     Sethri: "I am sorry, your Majesty, old habits die hard."

     Iriisii: "Now that I can agree with you on. Now that we are on the same page, spill it."

     Sethri: "Some, my mistress included, are concerned with some that you may be called upon to make deals with."

     Iriisii stops and looks at Sethri, "You mean like Hermaeus Mora, Mehrunes Dagon, Molag Bal, Mephala, Namira, Boethiah, etc.?"

     Sethri: "Yes, your Majesty. It is..."

     Iriisii: "Sethri, you can pass this back to those concerned. I am the 'Champion of the Balance', that includes both sides of the coin. I cannot be Champion of one side and not the other, that is not how it works. But in spite of all of that, I make the decisions involved in my duty to the 'Balance'. It does not mean that I will wholeheartedly jump into bed with the ones I mentioned before and kiss their slimy asses. I will do as I see needs to be done to maintain the 'Balance'. I may use some or all of those previously mentioned to do this, but that does not mean that I will give them free reign to rampage across Nirn and Mundus. They will do what I say, when I say it, and no more than I say or I will find someone else to do it. If they do not like it, they can go back to their corner of Oblivion and whine, moan, groan, bitch, till it is all over and done with. Then have to live with that they could have had a part in it but chose not to. And they will know that the ones who did have a part will hold it over those who did not till the stars grow cold."

     Sethri laughing, "That would serve them right!"

     Iriisii: "Indeed it would, so I expect they will listen to me, and do what I tell them to do, even if it is only for this particular situation. Because, just between you and me, I have someone in mind that would do whatever I needed done and every last one of them can go back to Oblivion and wait it out on the sideline. And this one I would use, I trust implicitly. And no, I am not going to give out a name, you might know it, you might not. I do not want anyone to know unless it comes to it. Then and only then will I call out to the one I would name."

     Sethri: "I understand, your Majesty. Better to catch anyone sneaking around your back if they do not know who would replace them. And if that one has your trust, that is a really big motivation to keep them secret until you really need them."

     Iriisii: "I am glad you approve Sethri, I really am. Now to beard this lion in its den, follow me."

     They walk into the 'War' room and everyone's eyes turn toward her and are riveted by who was with her.

     Iriisii: "Yes, he found me. And brought me interesting news. News we need to talk about before speaking to my entire advisor assembly. It seems that the source behind our current problems is moving. Moving in a way that has caught the attention of everyone in Oblivion, Aetherius, the Void, and now they are putting their differences with me aside and moving to back me in this. I think you can understand how this could alarm some, so I am going to tell all of you what I have sent to those in Oblivion, Aetherius, the Void. I am the 'Champion of the Balance', that means I am Champion to those on both sides of the coin, not just one side.

     But it also means that it is my voice that says what we will do, when we will do it, how we will do it. If any object or do not want to play by my rules, they can go home and sit this out. But it also means that when it is over, it will be remembered who stayed, who fought, who bled, who died, and who went home and watched from afar. And those memories will last for eternity. I do not expect many of those I could name to show up in person, at least not right away. They will send representatives to plot, plan, lead their respective troops, and they will all take my orders.

     I intend to take all of you with me, and probably a good number more. We are going by dragonback, and a bigger mass of dragons has never been seen flying the 'Skies of Keisal' before. We will show the Tsaesci and everyone else there what they will face should they come for us. I will show them my mailed fist on one side, and my outstretched hand on the other, it will be their choice which one they take. The rest of my Council of Advisors wait for us in the throne room. With the visitors I expect, we will not have room otherwise. Now let us go together, as one."

     They move around her, but give enough room that they can move without falling over each other. As they go on toward the throne room the guards they pass come to attention and salute them. When they reach the throne room the guards simply open the doors so they do not have to stop, but continue on inside. The chairs and tables are lined up as best they can be, Iriisii walks to a spot where she can see all and be seen by all.

     It is then she sees someone she had not expected to be here. She rushes over to the older woman and kneels with head bowed to her. Blackwell sees this and wonders what is going on, who is this, why is the Empress kneeling with head bowed to this older woman. As he moves to reach Iriisii, Rigmor who knows who the woman is and her relationship to Iriisii, intercepts Blackwell.

     Rigmor: "No, do not do this for you will regret it in the end."

     Blackwell: "Do you know who she is?"

     Rigmor: "Yes, I do. She is Sharra, Matriarch of the Temple of the Blade Dancers, and Iriisii's adopted grandmother. It was she who took her into her own family after she escaped from the Sinister Seven. How they kept her hidden for so long is still a mystery. But without her involvement, there is no way Iriisii would have ever left her homeland for Skyrim alive. That she is here shows not only how strong their information network is, but the high regard she still holds for Iriisii. I can see she brought only the best of those who serve the Temple with her, and if I am not missing the mark, most of those with her are from the School Iriisii founded before she left. And they are considered to be the best the Temple has ever trained. A company of these 'monks' are worth an entire Legion even of our soldiers."

     Blackwell: "They are that good?"

     Rigmor: "Iriisii blended what she was taught by her Grandfather, the Sinister Seven, and from the Temple itself, and created the 'School of Beautiful Death'. There are no more deadly, more sought after warriors than those that come from that School. It is said that anything they touch becomes a deadly weapon in their hands, and if nothing is within touch, they themselves can become deadly weapons. If they have come to join us in our war, the balance has just shifted into our favor."

     Sharra leans over and touches Iriisii on her shoulders.

     Sharra: "You do not have to kneel and bow to me, Granddaughter, especially here in the seat of your power."

     Iriisii: "It is of no burden to show my love and respect for you, Grandmother."

     Sharra: "Ah, but if only those passed could be here to see what you have accomplished."

     Iriisii smiles and makes a gesture to the young eyes peering down from the circular balcony above. Aleytys touches Darius and draws him away with her to the back stairway and down to thrones. As they come out, a couple of the guards flank them on either side and escort them to their mother. Iriisii picks up Darius in her arms.

     Iriisii as she places an arm around Aleytys, "Grandmother, may I present to you, your great granddaughter Aleytys, Aleytys, this is Sharra, Matriarch of the Temple of the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers, and my adopted Grandmother."

     Aleytys half kneels and bows to Sharra, I am honored to finally meet you, Great Grandmother. Mother has spoken so highly of you that I feel I already know you."

     Sharra: "And I sense so much of your mother within you, if at any time you should so wish, we would welcome you to the Temple and seek to find what skills you would like to hone to a razor's edge as your mother did with so many."

     Aleytys: "If I can convince her to let me come to the Temple rather than High Hrothgar, I would indeed like to do just that."

     Sharra looks to Iriisii: "High Hrothgar?"

     Aleytys: "Aleytys is half dragon, and has their skills with the Thu'um. Even so I am hesitant to place her with the Greybeards as I do not agree with the 'Way of the Voice' that they teach, yet I know of no others that can teach her to control and hone her 'voice' and talent with the Rotmulaag. I would do so myself if it were not for the incessant demands of ruling an Empire."

     Sharra: "Leave that to me, I am certain we can find a way. And who is this you hold, I sense something familiar about him."

     Iriisii: "Grandmother,  may I present to you, my son, Darius. I was given him to bear just after I dealt with the 'Man of Glass', a most puissant and dangerous demonkind. The Gods, whose Realms he would tread through sowing pain, and torment, came together and gifted me with him. You sense the familiar about him, because he bears the soul of my previous son of that name, who you also knew."

     Sharra: "How could this be? I know what happened in that cave that day."

     Iriisii: "Yes, I know. I came back later for the blades when I felt the call to find them. I fought and conquered them, but could not gain the release of any of the souls trapped within. It was only when I used them to bind the 'Man of Glass', split his unholy soul in twain, each sword taking one half, and then in order to hold him within, they released all the other souls held captive."

     Sharra: "Released...then they all went free?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I witnessed it as did my companions on that journey. The Naiads who lived on the surface, guarding the entrance into the mountain, later told me they could hear the 'Song of Freedom' the souls sang as they left the mountain and each found their 'Path to the Afterlife'. I have since been told that ours were given the chance to go through the Final Gate, into the Great Beyond, where they are beyond any possible repercussion should any entity attempt it."

     Sharra: "That is welcome news to hear, that they are no longer trapped and lost but that they found their way home. You have done more in the time you were with us and since you were given no choice but to leave than any other of our people, even those scattered amongst the rest of Existence. But we have felt the undercurrents of what is happening here on Nirn and in areas close by. We have searched for and found some scraps of information concerning this Xan'ith Kerak that you seek. And the legendary 'Miko' that hunts her.

     We have found among our scraps a clue to possibly why the 'Mother' deliberately sought you out and once having found you, took you captive rather than kill you. When you have a private moment, I will share that clue with you. It is not something that should be made open to all, but you are wound in its coils and thus need the information within."

     Iriisii: "What you are saying is changing the patterns of the information I already have. Opening some trails of thought, while closing others. But those I anticipate being deeply involved in the beginning and in its course, that trail remains strong. There is much moving and jostling for position, even as my own path opens possibilities that I have previously never considered. I have received missives of support from some I have never thought of in any capacity other than that of enemy, and anticipate more to come. But you do not have to worry, I have put forth my requirements to accept their help, and I will not waver from them. They will have to follow my rules in this or go home and watch from the side. For even if I must be Champion of the Balance, and represent both sides of the coin, I can do so according to my rules, just so that both sides are represented equally. I have one on my side, although of the 'Dark', I trust her implicitly. And if I ask, she will do anything I would ask of her. And she knows I will never abuse her over this."

     Sharra: "I know of who you speak, and so I will keep silent and not reveal her name. It was a matter that caused great consternation among certain quarters, but once all we have found out has been seen to bear fruit. And your path becomes even yet stronger in its direction and what it will ask of you. This one and yourself are what the 'Path' desires for you both to show to all who have eyes to see, just what the truth of the 'Balance' is, and why it is so important that it chose the two of you to lead its followers."

     Iriisii notices Darius trying to look off into a quiet, shadowy corner of the throne room. She glances at Aleytys to see she too is looking in that direction, just not being obvious about it. She glances back to Sharra and gestures if she would take Darius from her. As Sharra extends her hands, Darius gladly lets Iriisii shift him over to her. She then gestures to the figures of Geralt and Glorianna who has just walked up to the balcony looking down. Geralt moves to where the stair down is, Triss following. Iriisii puts a hand on Aleytys shoulder and mind speaks to her.

     Iriisii: 'Aleytys, I have called Geralt and Triss to come and get you and your brother to take you two back upstairs. Glorianna is also up there and they will be your guards. I have a good idea who is over in those shadows but I am not completely certain. I will be careful though as I investigate this.'

     Aleytys: 'Yes, do be careful, mother. Whoever it is, they are unfamiliar to me. There are a few others also unfamiliar who are watching the one. Take my other mothers with you and some of the 'Dancers'. You should ask Blackwell to get anyone else not able to fight out of here and to a safe place. I feel Snowdevil coming to wind himself around you. Since you have shared the 'Grey' with him, he has become very strong and powerful. Others are beginning to ask questions about it. So far I have played dumb about it. Take care.'

     Iriisii: 'I will, I love you and all your siblings. Be my guard of last resort for them, and make me proud.'

     Aleytys straightens up, 'I will, my mother, never fear about that.'

     Iriisii sees Geralt and Triss stepping up.

     Iriisii: "Take Aleytys and Darius back to the other children, then stay and guard them with Glorianna. I have no idea what is about to happen but best to anticipate the worst. I feel Letho along the edges of the room making his way to where a couple of others are watching what may happen. Also I feel additional help on the way, so if I stall things, that is why, to give the extra help time to arrive. Now go, Rigmor and the others are moving this way, and I need to get Blackwell to lead those who cannot fight out of here before things get bloody."

     Geralt: "Don't worry, nothing is going to happen to the children."

     Iriisii: "I know, you have my complete trust and confidence. Grandmother."

     Sharra: "Unexpected visitors, I see."

     She gestures to some of the members who came with her. Five step out toward Iriisii.

     Sharra: "These are the best from your School. Take them with you. I will send some with your Lord Chancellor to guard the noncombatants. The rest I will distribute around the room where they can help."

     Iriisii: "Thank you all for this, I will remember. If you need weapons, behind the curtain between the Thrones is a chest with some in it. Take what you wish and use them well. They are among the best I have forged so far."

     She begins to turn toward the shadowy area, when she feels another she has felt before.

     Iriisii: "Lady Mephala, to what do I once again have the pleasure of your company?"

     Mephala: "Your tongue has indeed grown more experienced since last we spoke. I know somewhat of who you go to face, who has dared to come uninvited into your stronghold."

     Iriisii: "What is it that I am in need of knowing and am certain it is something that has escaped me?"

     Mephala: "This is much better than being at odds with you, but to business. That which draws your attention to the shadows is but a 'test' placed there to see if you would be a better opponent than the one still hidden from her sight. She wonders if by taking you the other will come forth and give her the opportunity for a double payday."

     Iriisii: "She has already taken payment for the one she hunts. Has someone else sweetened her deal and sent her to come for me? Someone I perhaps know, someone in truth that I pity rather than hate?"

     Mephala: "Oh, that is so good! I know of whom you speak so of, but no, he does not have the backbone to do that. At least not after what you did to him just a few years ago, a blink of the eye to one such as he is. No, another who has a grudge against you, twice have you met on the battlefield and twice has your presence spelled his ignominious defeat, and yet even 'he' cannot see that strings direct his actions. Still you must deal with them one at a time, pulling back the strings that direct them, even though they will not be endeared to you for the revelation. This one will attempt to ensnare you in a vision of battle unending, strong is her magic, and few have the strength to pierce the veil. But the key to defeat her vision is to know that it is more than a vision, more than a memory. It partakes of both and adds in reality.      Make no mistake, what you will face is real, lives will be sundered, souls sent screaming into the darkest hells, for only then can what you do reach her. She will escape you, but you will come from this stronger, feared more than you ever have before, and the name of Iriisii Dovahkiin, Dragon of War, will run before you, calling the demon hordes to worship at your feet. Make of them what you wish, they will become whatever you desire, as more come to your War Banner, their clawed feet, hooved legs, armored bodies, will cause the battlefields they cross in your name to quake and shake with tremors as they pass. Take them as your due, for you will need them before the end comes. I must go now, but I will be near should you need me."

     She feels her feet move step by step, as Mephala's presence fades. And she girds herself for what is ahead of her, as the shadows grow longer and deeper. Snowdevil wakes from the drawing on her skin, his mist form seeps out from her armor and he winds himself around her till he lays his head on her shoulder looking ahead to see what she approaches. Then she hears her dragonsoul asking to join Snowdevil and enhance her armor.

     Iriisii: 'You can do this?"

     First Dragon: 'I have not done so before, but seeing how Snowdevil has managed it, I see how to do so. It will add immeasurably to your story, as the Dragon of War, to have dragons act as your personal armor. Not to mention that you can direct us as weapons, either in the form we have while wrapped around you or you can send us out to our full size to fight for you, carry you on our backs, the possibilities are staggering. And of course both of us can still talk to you.'

     Iriisii: "Do it!"

     Those near her, hear her words and wonder what she means. Then they see a second dragon come misting out from the joints of her armor to join Snowdevil in concealing her in this ghostly form. Rigmor figures out first who the second dragon is.

     Rigmor: "I had no idea he could do that?!"

     Byrsael: "Who could do what?"

     Rigmor: "The second dragon covering her like armor with Snowdevil. He is her Dragonsoul! I do not know how he is doing this, but this goes beyond anything we know is possible!"

     Iriisii's brother horsemen draw their weapons and begin striking them against their armor, soon others begin and they all find the rhythm, their steps join in timing. For a fleeting second, Iriisii is given a glimpse of something possible now. She is marching toward a battlefield, demons following behind her, and spread out to her sides. Her dragons are wrapped around her, their heads lifted up above hers as they look out at the almost unending army at her back. The voices, ranging from guttural growls to almost perfect toned, all chanting 'War', 'War', 'War', We go to War, with the Dragon of War!' Their steps in time with the cadence of the chant, the ground shaking as they move forward. And then they see who they came to fight, another demon army, at least ten times their number, but she is not scared, she knows in every fibre of her being that they are going to win.

     The other army is now within range, but their commanders are pulling them back, waiting until they recieve word to loose their forces. She looks out at the overwhelming numbers, and she knows what she must do to even the odds a bit. She steps out alone and begins to pace toward the other side, still some distance away. As her feet walk upon the fiery stone that is the ground here, the sizzling of flesh contacting the glowing stone can be heard. But her steps are slow and steady. She feels nothing, for any burns and wounds are healed as soon as they are formed. She spreads wide her arms, her head gazing up into this hellscape sky, and she 'calls'.

     Zu'u bel nau faal love Zu'u hold fah dii Desidarius     (I call on the love I hold for my Desidarius)

     Ko ek name Zu'u laan wa bel faal bells                  (In her name I want to summon the bells)

     Faal Vul Gaaf Bells do Hell                             (The Dark Ghost Bells of Hell)  

     Ziistmaas nust ring nun lovaas fah zu'u                 (May they ring their song for me)

     Ahrk kriin dii hokoronne ol zu'u naak nun sille         (And slay my enemies as I eat their souls.)

     A ghostly bell of hellfire forms between her arms, then flies up and out and as it begins to fly above the army it begins to toll its song.

More and more of them fly from her arms to settle above the army. The dark song sending many of these hapless demons crazed until they attack their brothers. They claw, and bite, shove their claws into the closest body, and pull out their entrails, the ones not immediately killed draw their weapons and defend themselves killing the crazed ones. But there are more and more bells being pushed out, reaching more and more, deeper and deeper into the army. Each one that fell, she took their soul, ate it, used it, molded it into another bell and pushed it out. As much as the army tries it cannot get itself moving until Iriisii lets the spell fade and sounds the attack for her own army to begin the slaughter.

     She leads them, driving into the enemy first, her dragons lashing out with fang and breath, tearing demons apart, using hellfire, deadly frost, ripping their souls out of their bodies, and Iriisii's blades singing their own dirge of death. On and on it goes, until she rips through to the emptiness where the enemy army ends. She moves a bit more forward, turns to look at the carnage that was wrought here, dead demon bodies, whole and parts, stinking, burning in the flames they fell in as they died. And then the vision fades, the heat becomes coolness, the stink of burning bodies is replaced by the smell of burning torches. The fighters with her stop and realize it was all in their minds, but she knows it was real for all of that. If they had died in that vision, they would be dead coming out of it.

     Then she hears the fading voice in her mind, 'this is not over. We will meet again, and I will be better prepared. You have not seen the worst that I can do, but you will, I promise you, you will.' And then the voice is gone. Somehow she hears Desidarius voice in her head. 'Well played my love, well played indeed. You did what you had to do, took how she set things up for you to lose, then turned it around and took the battle to her. Know that the armies that faced each other were real. And you took a lesser force and decimated a much larger one. He who I once served before meeting you, won this battle with you at the head. He sends his regards and his eternal thanks, for the army you defeated was coming for him and his.

     Now he is secure in his domain, for none will dare attack knowing what was done here could next time be them. He is not one to fight just for the blood and enjoyment. He would have preferred to be left alone. But we all know that is not how things are done here in the Darkest Hells. You have caused a period of peace to break out, for none who remain know if they attacked another if they would face you across the battlefield once more. Know that I await the time when we can be together again, I am learning as you are, why the Great Balance chose us. But I am not complaining, because in the end I will have you, and you will have me, and that is good enough.'