I found myself becoming increasingly interested in training and learning my new skills and abilities just that little bit more with every passing day. Under the tutelage of the Blades I knew I was growing even more lethal with a sword until I could my own against some of the best within the Empire. It was at the point where Belisarius and I began to spar again that one of the newest recruits to the order came hurriedly from the interior of the Great Hall and approached the training square.

  “Viconia, Kaius. The Grandmaster requests your presence.”

  I narrowly parried a strike from Belisarius’ blade centimetres from my throat and he nodded in the recruit’s direction. “Best you don’t keep the old man waiting.” He said simply, sheathing his sword in the same liquid movement that I doubted I could ever match.

  Viconia disentangled herself from her own practice session, leaving her sparring partners to continue on against each other and making our way up the short steps towards the oaken doorway. We had spent little time together since our arrival but there was still that strange layer of familiarity between us from the few weeks as travelling companions.

  We entered the hall and made our way quickly through the carved hallways to the officers’ quarters and where Jauffre made his study. The pile of messages and written sheets of parchment were strewn across the desk that he was habitually seated behind. Every so often one of the recruits would be seen with armfuls as they went to dispose of the irrelevant in the fireplace. From this simply decorated room Jauffre commanded the entire espionage network of the Empire, the sprawling spiders web of information that began with his quill and inkpot and lead to the handful of spymasters in each province. Each spymaster commanded a small force of Blades and each Blade would have their own tiny network of informants, spies and snitches in every walk of life and at every level of power. As I looked at the old, weary looking Grandmaster I doubted that there wasn’t a single spoken or written word throughout the Empire that didn’t find itself reported to a member of the order. From the lowest beggar to the mightiest Lord there was nothing that happened in Tamriel without finding itself on a report to one of the Emperor’s soldier-spies.

  He looked up as we entered, the muffled sound of our armour barely echoing in carved stone rooms. It looked as though he had barely slept since our rapid journey from the priory but his mind was no less sharp for that.

  “Ah. Grab a seat you two.” He motioned to the several seats that were placed seemingly at random throughout his office. A barely slept in bed lay pressed to the far wall but other than it, the desk and the chairs there was nothing in the room other than piles of written parchment. “I have news regarding our mutual enemies.”

  Our attention was immediately gained and we took up seats facing him. Wordlessly Martin appeared in the doorway and took up a seat as well against the wall, a pair of books that he had obviously been studying in his hands.

  “We have finally managed to track those responsible not only for the death of the Emperor and his sons, but also for the attack on the Priory and the destruction of Kvatch.”

  Seeing that he had both our undivided attentions he continued, shuffling a few of the sheets out of the way and leaning back in his chair. “They call themselves the Mythic Dawn and they are a cult who worships Mehrunes Dagon.”

  “Mehrunes Dagon?” Viconia asked, and we all realised that she was unfamiliar of the gods and demons of the surface world.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “The Daedric Prince of destruction, bloodshed and betrayal. You both have been to his realm when you closed that portal and as far as what we can tell these cultists are seeking to turn all of Mundus into the same. So you better than anyone understands what fate lays in store for us if they manage to succeed.”

  I swore under my breath. “But how in Oblivion’s name do they hope to achieve something like that?”

  Martin spoke up this time, looking almost as tired as Jauffre and I realised that he had been working just as hard as the aged spy. “By killing the Emperor and stopping the Dragonfires burning for the first time in history.”

  “That sounds absurdly simple.”

  There was a sigh from Martin and he rubbed his eyes. “Unfortunately in theory it is. In practice though you would have to kill the entire line of the Emperors and ensure that a coronation couldn’t take place to relight the Dragonfires. With the loss of the Amulet of Kings there is no way that the ritual could work, even if myself or some other suitable leader could be found.”

  “The Amulet of Kings,” He continued. “is old. Exceedingly old. Saint Alessia was granted it by Akatosh who, as the legends and stories go placed a piece of his soul and bound it together with hers to forge the central stone. Since then the blood and soul of every reigning Emperor is apparently bound in the Amulet and strengthens not only the covenant between men and Akatosh, but also strengthens the barriers between our world and the realm of Oblivion.”

  “So this bond is now broken with no way to renew it unless we can find the Amulet.”

  “Exactly. On top of that it is the only thing at this time that could stop the Empire from fracturing apart and war breaking out. Only those of Septim Blood or suitable to rule can wear the Amulet and as such only someone wearing the Amulet will be able to be unanimously recognised by the Elder Council. That we believe is the only way to stop their squabbling long enough to stop wars between the provinces.”

  “So how does this assist in these daedra worshippers in bringing about the end of the world?” Viconia’s interest was flashing behind her eyes now and I felt uncomfortable with the way she seemed entranced at the darker side of magicka.

  “The barriers are already weakening, gradually decaying from the level they have been reinforced to over the past millennia. Oblivion Portals such as the ones that destroyed Kvatch have been known to be possible, but never for anything longer than a few minutes at most. With the barrier decaying conjurers are going to be able to summon creatures for longer, and soon even the most ill-prepared mage is going to be able to conjure the worst Oblivion has to offer without the slightest effort. Kvatch is going to be the beginning and little more than an introduction to the horrors that await us.”

  I violently spat a curse and Jauffre nodded with agreement.

  “How long are we looking at before all hell literally breaks loose?”

  Jauffre and Martin shared a glance that did nothing to sate the growing fear in my belly. “About eighteen months. Two years at the very most.” Martin eventually replied. “Once the barriers are broken, the creatures of Oblivion will flood into this world and Mundus will simply become part of that accursed realm.”

  “So we find the Amulet, get you to the Temple of the One and relight the Dragonfires to save the world?”

  “You make it sound overly simple but yes, that’s the general plan.”

  Viconia and I shared a look and I could see the burning hunger of the awaiting challenge in her gaze. “Where do we come into all this? We’re not spies and I’ve never been good at unravelling mysteries.”

  “Lucky for you, you don’t have to worry about investigating these cultists. The entire might of the Blades is currently searching for them wherever they may try to hide and thankfully we have been given our best lead in the Imperial City. Young Baurus; the survivor of the Emperor’s bodyguards has managed to unearth a cell of them operating within the City and has requested help in dealing with them as well as tracking down their primary base of operations.”

  “And you need us to help him find them?”

  Jauffre’s head shook. “I’m not sending you there to investigate… I’m sending you to exterminate. Normally I would rely on the Imperial Watch or the Legion for these sort of activities but without the support of the Elder Council my authority is hindered. There are too few of us to spare in this initial phase but once you have burned out the cult within the Imperial City I will be able to send a handful of Blades to assist you in dealing with their main lair.”