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

[Kane]

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.

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“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.

[Kane]

Chapter VII – Revelations


“We’re leaving, Cain. Now! I don’t care where the [censored] you take me but I am not staying here one second longer!�

Gwyn was angrier than Cain had seen her in a very long time. She was nearly panting from the rage coursing through her, and red magicka sparked unbidden in the palms of her hands. The door she had just burst through began to open once again and Gwyn’s hand automatically flung a telekinesis spell at it, forcing the door to slam shut. Another spell flew at it within seconds and sealed it against physical entry.

“I said NOW goddamn it!�

The shock faded and Cain got to his feet with Kirin just behind him. “What’s happened, Gwyn?� he asked. “We were having such nice day!�

“[censored] your ‘nice day’,� she spat. “It’s over. Get me out of here now or I will do it myself and you’ll never [censored] see me again.�

“Gwyn, wait – “

She reached out and grabbed his hand at the same time the sealed door behind Gwyn disappeared from existence. Kyne stood in the gap between the walls, radiating a strange glow that settled over the entire estate. Gwyn grew even more furious at the Divine’s arrival and attempted to recall herself and Cain back to High Rock, but the spell fizzled out and they remained where they stood.

The tiny Breton’s hand flew from Cain’s own and she stormed over to where Kyne stood. “Let me out of this place right now!� she demanded. “I don’t care who the [censored] you are – you have no right to hold me here against my will!�

Now the door at the front of the house opened, and Linneá hurried through it alone and joined them in the den. Lydia slid in behind Kyne next, her face torn in distress.

“Gwyn, please, don’t leave us,� pleaded Lydia. “Kyne was just – “

“I’m not interested in how you plan on justifying what this bitch tried to do to me,� snapped Gwyn. The hurt she saw on Lydia’s face softened Gwyn for a moment and she found herself apologizing from the guilt of lashing out. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I really was enjoying our talk. I promise I’m not angry with you.� She turned her attention back to Kyne and raised her arms out to the side, palms upturned and swirling with crimson magicka, and her voice dripped with cold venom. “But if you don’t let me out of this place I will tear away whatever divine matter clings to your bones.�

Up until this point, Kyne’s expression had been one of placid neutrality. But faced with the fearless woman Cain knew lurked beneath the waves, the goddess looked hesitant for the briefest of seconds. And then she waved her hand at Gwyn, snuffing out the readied magick in her hands.

“I’d ask that you allow me to apologize before you leave,� pleaded Kyne. “And then you may do whatever you wish – “

“I’M NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR GODDAMN APOLOGIES!� shouted Gwyn. “I DON’T GIVE A [censored] WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ME!�

Cain was stunned by what was unfolding in front of him. He never suspected things would go so poorly and had been delighted that Gwyn accepted Kyne and Lydia’s earlier offer to take a walk with them. Something unexpected had obviously happened but he knew where his place was: at her side.

“Talk to me, Gwyn,� he said. “What the hell is going on here? Come on, we can go downstairs and talk about it.�

“No. I’m not moving from this spot unless it’s to leave this house.�

Linneá also came to their side to try and abate Gwyn’s temper. “Cain’s right, let’s just go to another room for a bit, yeah? If we know what happened, maybe we can help, dear.�

“Don’t ‘dear’ me, Linn. How’d you even know to come back here anyway? Did that bitch tell you what she did or were you just eavesdropping from afar? Do you even realize how [censored] up it is that you people think that sort of thing is okay?�

“Gwyn, I honestly have no idea what’s happened. Kyne simply reached out and said things took a turn and that Ana and I might be needed – and she’ll be along as soon as she gets Salihn settled in back home.�

For the first time since her abrupt return, Cain finally had an inkling of what was going on. Something Gwyn just said to Linneá made his stomach churn unpleasantly and he began to suspect that Kyne may have grossly overstepped a boundary. The goddess likely didn’t anticipate that Cain would have taught Gwyn a thing or two about protecting herself from unwanted intrusions of the mind.

He placed himself in between Gwyn and Kyne, and stared icily at the goddess. “What have you done, Kyne? Were you after answers that she wasn’t ready to give you? Could you not have just waited, or even confided any questions you had with me instead?�

Behind him, Linneá gasped and joined Cain’s side. “Tell me you didn’t, mum. Please tell me you would not have done something like that!�

“Oh, she [censored] did it,� snarled Gwyn. “Or at least she tried to. Something tells me your mum didn’t expect I could push back so forcefully.�
Since Gwyn’s return, Kirin had been idling awkwardly near the fireplace. Now he went to his wife’s side and steered her into one of the comfy armchairs that he and Cain had occupied recently and promised her they would get to the bottom of this. Then he stepped between the others and vied for Kyne’s attention.

“Is what they’re saying true, mum? Did you try to parse Miss Louvain’s mind without her knowing?�

Kyne nodded shamefully to the dismay of everyone present. “It was a mistake and I want nothing more than to correct it,� she sighed. “I know I never should have tried it but I sensed a darkness that wasn’t placeable. Gwyndala is a lovely, if a bit quiet, young woman, and I couldn’t make sense of what I was feeling from her. I just had to know…“

“Know what?� demanded Kirin.

“That’s Gwyn’s business, and none of yours,� chimed a furious Cain. His anger had risen to match Gwyn’s over what he was hearing. “You had no right to snoop like that, Kyne! If she had felt you should know about her past, then she would tell you herself when the time came.�

“I’m sorry, children, I truly am. But I can’t just sit idly by in the face of the unknown. I tried to get Gwyndala to tell me of her own accord but she masterfully deflected my attempts while conversing with Lydia and I.�

“STOP TALKING ABOUT ME LIKE I’M NOT EVEN HERE!� screamed Gwyn in frustration. “IT’S SO [censored] IGNORANT!�

The Windbornes flinched under the brunt of her explosive outburst. Even Kyne took a step back while the others shuffled nervously around Cain and Gwyn. She understood that they were trying to defend her, but none of that mattered to Gwyn in that moment. The immortal being standing between her and the freedom of the outside world had done something unforgivable.

“She’s right,� said Cain, coming back to his senses. “And we’re done here. For a while, at least. Mum, Dad, I’m sorry but Gwyn and I are leaving. No one should have betrayed her trust like that, least of all the one being who claims to love us beyond measure. I’ll check back in a couple of weeks – “

The front door opened again, and this time it was Serana who rushed in and joined them at the back of the house. She glanced around at the scene in alarm and wisely chose to sit down with Lydia rather than inject herself into the tense situation playing out nearby.

“Great, someone else to take pity on me,� Gwyn laughed mirthlessly. “I just want to [censored] leave before I lose my mind. Is that so much to ask?� Her hands were opening and closing mechanically, her anger nowhere near abating.

Cain shook his head in disbelief. He’d never imagined something like this would happen. His return home with Gwyn by his side should have been a meaningful step forward, away from the dark year that was behind him. Now, he didn’t know what would happen. All he did know was that Gwyn had every right to be as angry as she was. As angry as they both were. Cain laced his fingers though Gwyn’s and his ire rose even more when he felt her hand shaking from the emotional turmoil. He looked down into her eyes and saw something breaking in them. He was right – it was time for them to go.

Sensing his intent, his sister raised a pointed finger at them. “Not just yet, you two,� warned Linneá. “We’re getting to the bottom of this. Mum, I love you dearly, but what the [censored] possessed you to do such a thing? Cain is absolutely right: if you had concerns, then you should have spoken to him first.�

“I don’t need anyone’s approval when it pertains to matters of my house,� said Kyne. “If Gwyndala wants to live here with Cain, as she has already indicated, then there cannot be any secrets. I just needed to understand – “

“Understand what!?� Linneá interrupted, half shouting at Kyne. “And since when has our word not been good enough? Cain, Ana, and myself have all come to accept Gwyn for who she is. Why can’t you? What is so godsdamned important for you to know that you would try to invade her privacy!?�

Cain felt Gwyn’s hand clamp tightly down on his own. He caught her eye again and knew at once that it was too late. The dam was breaking. And not of her own volition. Before she could stop herself, Gwyn inhaled a painful breath and the words began to tumble out in a torrent of tears and sobs that brought everything to a screeching, utterly silent halt.

“She just had to know all about my mother selling my thirteen-year-old body to every piggish brute in the town where I grew up. Had to know all about how I was raped and assaulted endlessly for over two years, until I’d had enough, and learned how to defend myself. About how the trauma of it all ruined even the simplest of destruction spells to the point where I killed my own mother just trying to get away from the three disgusting scumbags who tried to violate me all at once. And how I was alone in misery for so long afterwards. And how I still struggle to deal with it to this day.�

Gwyn finished speaking the words she’d only ever said to one other person, and buried herself in that person’s chest, sobbing inconsolably. Despite this, Cain consoled her as best he could, stroking her dark hair in the noiseless vacuum that followed some of the most horrifying things his family had ever heard. The silence inside was so pressing that the cacophony of nature outside Elysium Estate might as well have been in the room with them.

Only one person present knew what to say or do.

Cain hadn’t even felt her approach, but then there was Serana’s hand on his shoulder and he heard the gentle words issue forth. “Come downstairs with me, Gwyn. You and I have a lot to talk about.� Gwyn no longer possessed the strength to protest. All fight had fled from her. She made no sign of agreement or otherwise, but allowed Serana to steer her away nonetheless. They disappeared down the nearby stone steps and were gone from the den.

Kirin and Lydia stood nearby, unsure at first of what to say or do. Then his mother dried her eyes on the back of her hand and pierced the veil of quiet: “Cain… I’m so sorry. She should never have had to go through that. I… um. D-did you know?�

“I did,� said Cain. “I’m the only one that did, and it’s why she trusted me so implicitly. And it’s why I fight so hard to protect her.� The Redguard rounded on the mortified goddess who still lurked by the formless hole where a door once stood. “How dare you. How… how could you… of all the...� Cain shook with rage and found that his anger with Kyne had grown beyond words. He couldn’t elucidate anything he was feeling, other than the deepening worry of the effect this would have on Gwyn. In the end, he settled for her absence. “You need to go. Now.�

“Cain, please, I - “

“Mum, I think you should listen to him,� said Kirin. He’d moved from Lydia’s side and approached Kyne with a confused look on his face. “This has been an, er, trying afternoon and I think all of us need some space.�

The goddess had a look of protest on her face, and she tried to garner Linneá’s attention. But Cain’s sister was having none of it. She shook her head vehemently and stormed off towards her old bedroom. “Yes, I believe you are right,� she sighed. Her eyes landed on Cain’s and the sadness in them seemed to chip at his resolve ever so slightly. “Cain, words can’t express how truly sorry I am. I’ll keep my distance until you say otherwise.�

Kyne vanished in a flash of light, her mysterious magicks following suit. The door reappeared and the dampening field over the estate evaporated, and all was normal once again, save for the alluvion of grief for Gwyndala Louvain that overwhelmed everyone’s thoughts.