Of Eagles and Dragons, The Children of Kyne, Vol. IV Options

[Kane]

Act I

Prologue (4E 230)
Emperor Titus Mede II is dead. Convicted of Treasonous Sedition against the Empire and a Vassal State, the Elder Council cast his Writ of Execution with a unanimous vote on Loredas, the 1st of Last Seed, in the Two-hundred thirtieth year of the Fourth Era. The High Chancellor Anilay Cato was chosen to oversee the day-to-day administration of the crumbling Mede Dynasty, and the former head of state himself was hung from the gallows on Green Empire Way in the Imperial City for all to see.

It was a time of uncertainty in Cyrodiil, for there was yet to be a clear successor to the Ruby Throne, and rumors of Colovian and Nibenese warlords arming up to seize power for themselves were beginning to circulate among the populace. Many citizens of the Heartland secretly wished the Dragonborn king of Skyrim would lay claim by birthright, but so far there had been little news from the northern kingdom.

And with a patience born of long life, the Thalmor diplomats were content to watch quietly from their Embassy while their handlers ruled the Third Aldmeri Dominion with an iron fist. Altmer agents moved about in the shadows to sow discord and discontent wherever possible and worked tirelessly to keep the Empire from once again rising to prominence.

-----

Queen Penolore of the Summerset Isles strolled through the botanical gardens of Alinor with her royal retainer in tow. The ultimate ruler of the Aldmeri Dominion, Penolore reigns supreme over the Altmer of her homeland, the Bosmer of Valenwood, and the Khajiiti of Elswyr with an unrelenting grip. The Thalmor operate solely under her command, bringing order to her subjects and extending her reach over the rest of Tamriel. But on this day, she felt only contempt for the ineptness of the organization’s recent failures in combating the rise of a new alliance of power to the north.

The shrill fops in her retainer had followed her from the palace, prattling on endlessly about matters far beneath her station in a constant bid to curry favor with the monarch. Seeking a measure of peace and quiet, she finally had enough of the bickering for one day. Penolore came to a halt and raised a hand in warning.

“Shut up. All of you will shut up now or I shall have you thrown from the highest tower of my palace. Begone from here if you value your meaningless existences.�

They fell silent in deference to their queen and filed out of the gardens as quickly as possible. Not a single one of them were keen to be present for her wrath should it need to be unleashed upon whichever poor soul tarried. Only a single Altmer remained, clad in the traditional dark robes of the Thalmor.

“Have you more to say, Lisotel? I would have thought your inability to carry out even a single assassination of those miserable whelps to the north would have stayed your sharp tongue. Tell me what value you could possibly still offer your queen when others have been flayed alive for failures of a far less magnitude than your own.�

“I only offer news that our agents deemed relevant, milady.�

“Very well. Spit it out and remove yourself from my sight.�

Magistrate Lisotel hesitated for the briefest of seconds. It would have to be today of all days that he was assigned to her retinue, and a message from Solitude should arrive to their headquarters by carrier eagle. Penolore was already in a foul temper after his Thalmor compatriots failed to squash another uprising in Anequina, and now he was poised to deliver more unwelcome news to the surly queen.

“It is with great regret that our field agents in Skyrim report the return of the High King’s son to the Blue Palace. He apparently was spotted in the city yesterday morning in the company of an unknown Breton woman. Where he had gone or what he was up to over the last thirteen months is still a mystery, but we fear his arrival and reintegration with the royal family will push the king to finally issue a claim to the Ruby Throne.�

The queen had stooped down to examine a budding rose stem while Lisotel spoke and she snipped it free cleanly from the stalk with her pruning shears as the words tumbled from the Magistrate’s overworked mouth. It slipped free of her grasp, fell to the floor, and Penolore ground it to a pulp with the heel of her boot.

“Tell me, Lisotel, have we not discussed the merits of tending to one’s garden on many previous occasions? See how easily that is done? Pruning an errant growth is a simple task that is abundantly important in maintaining a healthy growth; one of which I know your Order is easily capable of facilitating. I am granting you a second chance to do as I have ordered. Should you fail once again, the citizens of Alinor shall bear witness to your entrails displayed upon the ruins of Crystal-Like-Law. Return to me when the task is completed, and not one second sooner.�

Bowing his head graciously, Magistrate Lisotel took leave of the queen. Penolore continued to care for the overgrown rose shrub, snipping off stray stems with malicious intent.

-----

“What news from Chorrol, Brother Cassian?�

“High Chancellor,� greeted the courier. “Brother Indus’ scouts report little movement from the camps deep in the Great Forest. If they have anything planned, it will likely not be for some time. Indus suspects they are having trouble recruiting loyal men for the cause. Of course, this would all be a lot easier to verify if we are given leeway to operate more independently.�

Anilay Cato set down his quill and pushed aside the letter he’d been penning. This wasn’t the first time Cassian had made a similar remark, and the chancellor was beginning to grow weary of reminding the man just how delicate the situation in Cyrodiil really was. A stronger hand may be required soon.

“This again? We’ve been over it many times already, Brother Cassian. I’m giving you the most resources I can without drawing scrutiny from the elves. If they discover the Blades have secretly been reformed, the Dominion will bring war to our doorstep immediately. Do what you can with what I have given you and let’s not speak of this again. There are plenty of other men who would love to be in your position.�

Brother Cassian recognized his dismissal and saluted smartly as he turned to leave. Anilay continued to stare absentmindedly at the door long after it had closed behind his captain. He again found himself wondering if reforming the Blades had been a wise move on the council’s part. The endgame of the it made sense to all involved, but Anilay felt the interim risk was too high, and he’d unsuccessfully pushed to have the vote temporarily stayed.

“Too late now,� he said to no one in particular. And with a heavy sigh, he returned to his unfinished letter.

There was another knock on the door and it took all of his restraint to not fling the quill at it and berate whomever deigned to bother him again. “Come in!�

An elderly Breton woman with long gray hair tied back in a ponytail, poked her through the partially opened door and saluted. “Is this a bad time, sir?�
“No, no, come on in, Delphine,� said Anilay. “Forgive my exasperated tone, I just got done reminding Cassian of our straits and I fear that I shall never finish this correspondence.� He rolled up the parchment and set it aside until the next day. “What can I do for you?�

“I’d like to request something of you.� Delphine entered the study and took the recently vacated seat across from the High Chancellor. After she settled in, Anilay gestured for her to continue. “Might I be sent back north to Skyrim? I know the High King from our time together during the Dragon Crisis, and I may be able to get a better read on his intentions than some of our other agents have.�

“Oh, really? But as I understand it, your time working together did not end well, no? As I recall, he asserted his authority as Dragonborn over you and walked away from your efforts to rebuild the order. What makes you think he’ll let you into his court after all these years?�

Delphine frowned. She hadn’t expected Anilay to be so well versed on her prior dealings as a rogue Blade in Skyrim. Truth be told, her efforts to kickstart the Blades, along with Esbern, in Sky Haven Temple had crumbled to dust after Kirin Windborne had walked away from them. Further recruiting efforts failed, and the wizened lore-keeper succumbed to illness not five years later. For her part, Delphine had faded into obscurity as a farmhand in the western Reach.

“Heard about that, did you? Well, you’re right in that there’s no guarantee, but I don’t know what else I can offer the Blades, sir. I’m old and my days of fighting are long since passed. This at least feels like something meaningful I can contribute.�

“I see,� replied Anilay. “And would you be up for such a journey, Delphine? Autumn is settling in over Skyrim and our men at Cloud Ruler have reported the Pale Pass is already under several feet of snow. It will not be easy going.�

“I’ll manage.�

The High Chancellor studied her for a moment and then he grabbed a new roll of parchment and dipped his quill in fresh ink. He scribbled away while Delphine waited patiently for his decision, wondering where fate would take her next. She had been so hesitant when the rumors of former Blades officers being brought back into the fold were swirling, and it wasn’t until Brother Cassian himself had tracked her down to a small plantation near Karthwasten that she allowed herself to believe they were true. The reality didn’t truly set in for her until she was assigned a room at Weynon Priory, on the outskirts of Chorrol, and asked to advise the younger Captains leading this new iteration of the fabled organization.

Anilay finished writing his new orders, signed, and stamped the bottom with an Imperial Seal before wrapping it up and handing it to Delphine. “Deliver this to Brother Cassian and return to Cloud Ruler with him to begin your preparations.�

“Thank you, sir,� said Delphine. “I’ll keep in touch.�

“A bit of advice, if I may?�

“Sir?�

The chancellor dug around in his desk for few seconds until he found the dossier he was seeking. Flipping it open, Anilay slid out a sketching of Cain Windborne and handed it to the waiting Breton. “If the High King offers resistance, try speaking to his son. I’ve met the man personally and he’s wise, clever, and kind to a fault. Not to say that his father is an ignorant old man, but sometimes younger eyes see things differently. I’ve gathered that Cain is back home in Solitude after being abroad following the death of his fiancé.�

Delphine bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement. Everyone in Skyrim had heard about his loss, and people across the province had mourned for the young woman from Stonehills. There were even gossiping commoners in the taverns at night saying she had been pregnant at the time, but that was never officially confirmed by the High King’s court. If It were true, Delphine didn’t fault him at all for taking some time away, even if his whereabouts were a mystery.

“I’ll keep that in mind, sir.�

“Excellent. Take care on your trip, and dress warmly. I expect a letter by carrier bird as soon as you get settled in at Solitude. You’re dismissed, Delphine.�

Anilay watched her depart and then he glanced back over at his unfinished letter. Deciding it could wait until the morning, the chancellor left his office in search of a strong drink to end the day with. He wasn’t entirely convinced allowing Delphine to intrude on the High King’s court was a good idea, but he’d expected answers from Kirin Windborne for some time now, and was rewarded with nothing.

If another week passes like this I shall have to contact Cain myself. Perhaps the man would be willing to visit me in person.

The White-Gold Tower still bustled with activity in the evening hours, and so Anilay elected to don his commoner clothes and seek a drink at Luther Broad’s, instead.


This post has been edited by Kane: Jun 26 2025, 03:16 PM

[Kane]

Thanks, Acadian! Life has been busy or we'd be further along by now, but there will be plenty of fun to come!

Chapter I �" Palatial Life


The city of Solitude bustled with activity in the morning hours. Shopkeepers propped open their doors to let the cool air in while vendor stalls in the market filled their baskets with the freshest produce harvested from farms resting just outside the towering stone walls of Skyrim’s capital. Children ran amok down the stretching cobblestone lanes, and the clanging of hammer on steel echoed through the stonework as the smithy tirelessly worked his forge.

Bards practiced under the warm sun bathing the courtyard of their historic college in a yellow glow, voices singing airily for all to hear while instrumentalists pounded on booming drums and plucked at twangy lutes. The Blue Palace, home of the High King and his family, stood proudly atop the great arch spanning over the inlet and port far below. The throne room and his court were empty, and would stay that way until mid-morning, when the various Thanes and advisors would begin to trickle in.

Deep within its expansive walls, Kirin Windborne shook his head bemusedly as he took a seat at the breakfast table with his loving wife and queen, Lydia. Across from him sat his daughters, Linneá and Serana, with their young elven child, Salihn.

“G’morning, da,� smiled Linneá, “why the silly look?�

Kirin poured himself a mug of coffee and helped himself to a plate of fruit, after which he answered his daughter’s question with a light chuckle. “Cain’s back, if you didn’t already know. Ran right past me earlier in some sort of tizzy, and I haven’t seen him since.�

Lydia handed her husband a napkin and pointed at the bit of melon clinging to his beard. He wiped it away and continued eating heartily while she filled him in on their son’s late-night arrival with the still mysterious to them Gwyndala Louvain. “The girls were just telling me he arrived with Gwyn sometime last night. Or early this morning, seeing as she is apparently still sleeping. But Cain was down here once already to talk about something that Linn refused to share with me thus far.�

Linneá made a big show of feigning indifference while she helped herself to more bacon, and topped off the glass of freshly-squeeze apple juice her daughter was drinking from. On Salihn’s opposite side, Serana rolled her eyes and nudged her wife’s thoughts playfully.

Must you always tease them, love? Cain hasn’t been home for good in over a year �" why pretend like you don’t know what’s going on?

I just want to give him some time. You and I both know he went back to that room in a different frame of mind. What if we barge in on them getting… you know…

Point taken.

“I’m sure they’ll be back down soon, mum,� said Linneá. “Gwyn won’t sleep forever and they’re probably both hungry. Cain only came by before to let us know they were back.�

Lydia stole a glance at her husband to see if he was buying that either. The quick wink in response was all she needed. “Nice try, Linn, but your father and I have both told you in the past that you’re a terrible liar.� She turned back to Kirin. “Finish your coffee so that we can go see our son. He and Gwyn need a proper welcoming.�

“Just let them sleep, mum,� said Linneá. “They’ve only managed to squeeze in a couple of hours before the storms woke Cain up. It’s going to be a long day for him already, no need to make it worse.�

Breakfast continued on amicably for the next ten minutes until Lydia quietly excused herself from the table with a steaming mug of tea in hand. The long stone corridors were beginning to come alive as the morning hours churned onwards. Palatial staff bustled about in the throes of their daily chores to keep the halls and rooms her family’s home clean and cared for while a light patrol of guards made their rounds.

Coming to a stop, Lydia took a cautious sip from her piping hot tea and raised her fist to knock on the door to Cain’s bedroom. Her balled fist hovered inches away from the wooden door when she heard a faint snoring sound escaping the room. Lydia instead lowered her hand to the wrought iron door knob and gave it a gentle turn while nudging open the door with her shoulder. Peering through the gap, she nearly gasped aloud at the sight of Cain and Gwyn sharing his bed, rolled tightly up against each other and fast asleep.

The door closed with a light click of the latch, and Lydia darted back down to the small dining room where she had left the others. The girls had left with Salihn, so she took the seat right next to her husband again.

“Back already, Lyds? I thought you had gone to sit in the greenhouse with your tea.�

“Nope. I wanted to see Cain, despite Linn’s warning,� she said. “Although it turned okay, I think I’ll heed her advice the next time she’s being cagey.�

“Oh? I take it he was still asleep then?�

“He was. And Ms. Gwyndala is sharing the bed with him.�

Kirin snorted into his coffee out of sheer surprise and began to cough heavily while Lydia thumped him on the back a few times. It took several attempts at blowing his nose into a kerchief before the hot drink cleared his sinuses and he was able to respond. “Well, that certainly is interesting!� he mused. “It was obvious they were good friends but I wonder how it led to this?�

“I’m curious, too,� said Lydia. “But I guess we should just be grateful Cain is happy again. He certainly has come a long way since our impromptu visit to Gwyn’s home.�

She took a minute to dab at her eyes with a different kerchief than the one her husband had balled up and thrown on the table. Seeing Anska again that morning had been difficult for everyone, especially Lydia. The guilt over Anska’s death was something that she had grappled with for a long time in the aftermath of that awful day, even though Cain had not blamed her one bit. Had she been armed, Lydia couldn’t help but wonder of things would have turned out differently.

“Aye, that he has,� agreed Kirin. “I’m sure they’ll come see us when they wake up, and you can ask them all about it. I need to get to the throne room, dear. Will you be attending court this morning?�

“Nah, not right now,� said Lydia. “I might join you later, but I think I’ll go talk to the girls for a bit. They definitely know more about what’s going on than we do.�

-----

A small group of petitioners waited patiently in the Blue Palace vestibule for an audience with the High King. Some were commoners, others were more well-off shopkeepers or tavern minders, and some were wealthy landowners. They spoke quietly amongst themselves while waiting for the steward, a stout Nord man named Grist, to beckon them upstairs at the appropriate time. Another elderly Nord woman waited anxiously at the foot of the stairs, practically bobbing on her heels, and was the first up the stairs when the group was called upon.

Kirin Windborne did his best to remove the pained expression on his face when Bryling hurried up the stairs to make sure she was first in line. Brelyna Maryon, the court wizard loaned to the palace for the next ten days, sighed at the former Thane’s appearance and wished she had been sent the week after instead. Thankfully, the king took it upon himself to address the woman first.

“What can we do for you, Bryling?� asked Kirin.

“Thank you for seeing me, my lord,� said Bryling. “I’ve come to request more guards at Rockwallow, until such a time that Stonehills is rebuilt. The progress being made in the village is excellent but I still worry for the safety of my miners. Rumors of nearby bandit clans continue to circulate and I’m �"“

“If I may,� Brelyna interjected. Kirin held up a hand to quiet Bryling and nodded at his wizard. “Thank you, sire.� The tall dark elf turned her attention back to the old woman, red eyes gleaming in the anticipation of shutting this nuisance down. “Bryling, this is the third time you’ve made this request in the last two months and my scrying has yet to turn up anything of note.� Bryling scowled and opened her mouth to retort but the wizard cut her off. “I’m not finished. As I said, nothing has been revealed, and we even dispatched an exploratory commission two weeks ago that included the king’s own daughters. No traces of bandits were found. None at all.�

“Brelyna’s right,� said Kirin. “Stonehills has plenty of guards as it is, and there is no threat from anything other than local wildlife, Bryling. Return home and if you come to me with this request again you’ll be summarily dismissed from the palace grounds.�

The old woman’s face was a mask of cold fury, but she spun on her heel and left in a huff while the next petitioner stepped up. Brelyna watched her leave with a satisfied smirk on her face and then turned her attention back to the remaining rabble waiting before the throne.

It promised to be a long morning.

-----

“How long has this been going on?� asked Lydia.

The rain had blown through in a hurry leaving behind clear skies and deep puddles all across the flagged stone walkways of Solitude, including the Blue Palace gardens. Lydia sat around a small table in those very gardens with her daughters and had begun grilling them about Cain and Gwyn. Linneá and Serana had been hoping for a peaceful morning to practice a few new spells they were mastering, but it looked like gossip would be the order of the day instead.

“This one’s all yours, love.�

“Gee, thanks, Elle,� replied Serana. “To answer your question, mum, it’s been ‘going on’ since about two hours ago.�

“That’s it? Just since this morning?�

“Pretty much, yeah. Gwyn has been down bad for Cain for several months now, but he only put two and two together this morning. Linn tried to warn you off earlier in case they were, um, exploring new things about each other, but it sounds more like they just took the opportunity to relax peacefully.�

“Several months?� said Lydia. “And how long have you two known that about her?�

“Ana picked up on it the night before everything came to a head. I’m sure that Gwyn’s feelings only deepened after Cain was finally able to move on and heal. In the span of a few hours, she went from not having a chance in hell, to her dreams coming true. And based on her usual bluntness, I’m surprised she didn’t try to jump his bones sooner, if I’m being honest. But I guess Gwyn must’ve wanted Cain to get there on his own.�

Lydia stewed on these revelations for a few minutes and came to the same conclusion her daughters had reached early that same morning. She found herself smiling inwardly at the prospect of Cain being back to his old self, and part of her relished what she knew would be a challenge: getting to know the diminutive Breton he’d returned with and who had helped him through so much.

“If he’s happy, then that’s all that matters,� Lydia concluded. “However, I think it’s time to go rouse them from their slumber. Care to join me?�

“Uh, not sure that’s a good idea,� said Serana. “Gwyn’s not afraid to tell anyone one off for doing something she doesn’t like. Including the High Queen of Skyrim.�

“Exactly,� grinned Lydia. “Figuring her out is a going to be a lot of fun, don’t you think?�

“Count me out, mum,� said Linneá. “I’d be lying if I said Gwyn doesn’t scare me a tiny bit. I don’t think she’s afraid of anyone, and she definitely doesn’t take [censored] from them either.�

It was with a dramatic sigh that Lydia left them to it and headed back inside the palace walls. The living quarters weren’t far away from the gardens, and so she soon stood outside of Cain’s bedroom door once again. This time, it was slightly ajar already and when she pushed it further open there was nothing to greet her but an empty room.

Figuring they were after something to eat, Lydia headed for the dining room where they had all eaten breakfast earlier in the day and this time she was rewarded by hearing a playful banter before she even set foot through the doorway. Cain and Gwyndala had managed to procure a small mountain of leftover breakfast food from the kitchen staff and had piled it on the table in front of them.

“Ah, there you two are! Linn tells me you got in late last night? I’m glad you’re finally home, Cain, and Gwyn you of course are also welcomed with open arms!�

Her wayward son, home at last after thirteen long months abroad rose from his chair and hugged Lydia tightly to himself. “Thanks, mum. It feels good to be back. Can you sit with us?�

“Of course, I can!� smiled Lydia. “Wouldn’t have been seeking you out otherwise.� She sat down across from the two of them and poured herself a glass of water while Gwyn watched her with something approaching a look of impatience. “So, then,� continued Lydia, “How have you two been? Oh, and I wanted to ask you about -�

“About checking in on us a little bit ago?� finished Gwyn. “Yes, I saw you. I was content, not sleeping. And yes, we’re together.� After a pause, she added: “Finally. That good enough for you?�

Lydia frowned at her terse response. She hadn’t forgotten their brief time together outside of Gwyn’s cabin when the woman had referred to herself as a bitch, but she was beginning to wonder how much of that was a front and how long it would take for someone other than Cain to crack that shell. And whether or not she wanted to start right now.

“I see,� said Lydia, deciding it would indeed be now. “Look, Ms. Louvain, I’m a very tolerant woman but I’ll ask that you show me some amount of respect while we’re within these walls. I’m Cain’s mother, first foremost, but I am also the High Queen, even if I don’t enjoy bandying that about. I won’t presume to know what in your life has made you so harsh when dealing with others but if you cannot find a way to be something approaching pleasant to myself, and to Cain’s father and sisters, then you’ll find that your stay here will be very short.� Having said her piece, Lydia smiled sweetly at Cain. “It’s nice to have you back, dear. I’m going to see if your father needs help with court this morning. Come see us later if you can.�

She strode gracefully from the dining room without so much as a fleeting glance backwards and headed up to the throne room to join her husband’s side.

-----

The line of petitioners had dwindled but not cleared out entirely when Lydia climbed the vestibule stairs, crossed the hall, and took her seat next to Kirin.

“There you are, dear,� he said. The he lowered his voice and smiled gratefully at her. “You’re timing is perfect �" can you handle the next one? I need a break to grab a drink. We started off on poor footing with another visit from Bryling.�

“Bryling again? Small wonder you didn’t send the rest of them packing after that.�

“Brelyna handled her or I might have. Back in a minute.�

Kirin excused himself while Lydia beckoned forth a timid looking Imperial man carrying what looked to be a burlap sack full of rotting tubers. The queen groaned quietly and plastered what she hoped was a welcoming smile across her features as the man began to ramble about varmints and poor fertilizer quality. Further relief from what she knew would yet be a long morning came with the timely arrival of Linneá and Serana, who were just cresting the stairs when they caught sight of the odorous bag. Lydia had to restrain herself from laughing while her precocious daughter took the sack from the farmer, summoned a chest at her feet, and shoved it inside to save everyone present from the rank smell.

If the man was offended, he didn’t show it. Instead he turned his attention to Kirin, who had just return to his seat on the throne. He argued with the king for a few moments more before enough placating words were spoken. The farmer then began to demand his potatoes back from Linneá, but she refused to let the smell back into the palace air and was about to take the man to task when a single step forward from Grist was enough to dispel any remaining notion of combativeness.

Kirin sighed heavily and longed for an excuse to end court early, but a valid one had yet to present itself. At least until a few minutes later when he noticed Cain and Gwyn trying to slide past the remaining queued citizens and take a seat next to the girls. “Cain!� he shouted. “And Gwyn, welcome!� His face lit up with excitement at seeing them and Kirin wasted no time in ending the court session early. “I’m afraid that’s all I can manage for today, folks! If you didn’t get an audience this morning, leave your name with Brelyna and you’ll be first in line tomorrow!�

“Husband, there were only a handful left,� said Lydia. “You couldn’t have spoken to them today?�

“No,� he said, decisively. “We’re all here for a change, and it’s time to celebrate that with a hearty lunch. C’mon, we’ll have head to my study and make an impromptu trip back home to Elysium. I’m sure Kyne would love to join us, and we did promise to visit her more.�