Chapter Two: Crime and Punishment[
Ria lay still in the bed, seeking to find a refuge in sleep. In the darkness, she could hear Ernand's breathing, and the occasional clang of his sword as he moved it about. The single candle that was set above the bed's headboard, gave off just enough light to make out the silhouette of her guardian. But that was all the candle could do. Ria had never been afraid of the dark before, not even in her childhood. As a child-prodigy to a powerful magician, she had studied the things that went bump in the night, and had learned not to fear them. But the feeling she had now was different. Tharn was no ghoul or goblin that mothers use to frighten their children, no, he was all too real.
Turning over to face the ceiling, she pulled the coverlets up over her chin. Feeling drowsy, she finally found sleep, and a mottled dream of dark colors and foreboding.
*
"Ria, wake up." Ernand shook Ria Silmane's shoulder, "The sun is high." Ria groaned as she turned to face away from him, muttering foul words under her breath. Laughing in spite of himself, he shook her again, "While I'm ecstatic to finally get you in my bed, there are more important things to take care today than sleeping." The combination of humor, and the reminder of the dangers that she faced, forced Ria's eyes open.
"What time is it," she asked in a groggy voice, "Is it past noon?"
Ernand sat down on the bed next to her, "No, the dial says it's just past nine. I sent a servant down for some food, and he should be back soon, so I suggest you get dressed. There is a long day ahead of you."
Casting Ernand a look to turn around, Ria flung the sheets off of her and rolled out of the bed. Walking on the tip of her toes on the cold, stone floor, she rummaged around until she found the clothes she had been wearing last night. In the chaos that had been last night, she had chosen to wear garments more suitable for a farmer than the imperious Imperial Battle Mage. Pulling the shirt down over her chest, she began to fumble with the chausses. The buckled was stuck, and she was so absorbed in releasing it that she failed to notice one of Ernand's servants enter into the chamber with a cart of food.
"Ria," Ernand put his hand over hers, "A shirt will satisfy the demands of decency for now." Dropping the chausses, Ria consented to having Ernand lead her over to the table where the servant was busy laying out utensils, plates, and napkins. Pulling out a chair, the councilor seated the half-clothed sorceress before stepping back to confer with his servant. "Thank you, Gaston. That will be all; I will serve Lady Silmane myself."
"Of course, your Grace." The servant stepped back, bowed, and then left the chamber, leaving Ernand and Ria alone again. An awkward silence developed when Ernand sat in the chair across from Ria. They avoided each others eyes, seeking to busy themselves with heaping food onto their plates. Using his knife, the councilor deftly sliced a sugar-glazed pasty into nine pieces, finding a sort of perverse amusement in cutting the delicacy into the number of the Divines.
"You know, Ria, I always knew that one way or another, you'd wind up in my bed," a humorless grin passed his lips, "Though it would have fulfilled all my dreams if I had been in it!"
Ria slammed her knife and fork onto the table, and glared at Ernand. "Now is not the time for lewd jokes, Lochlainn!"
"There you go with that name business again."
The Imperial Battle Mage began to shake, and her face turned a deep red. It was painfully apparent to Ernand that he had taken the joking to far. He had learned from his old tutors that it was not proper to make fun of anything when a person was loaded with stress, for even the slightest thing could provide the last thing needed to finally break the person's will. "Ria...."
"Lochlainn....You..." Ria got no further. Her face blanched, and tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. Finally overcome, the sorceress collapsed her face into her hands and began to weep. For herself, for the Empire, and especially for his Majesty, Emperor Uriel Septim VII. She blamed herself for not spotting Tharn's trickery before now, and lamented the fact that he had had almost nine years to secure his grip on the Imperial Throne. "Lochlainn," she sobbed, "Lochlainn, what am I going to do?"
Ernand leapt out of his chair and kneeled next to his friend. Of course, he had no idea for a course of action anymore than Ria did. It wasn't uncommon for members of the Elder Council to denounce an Emperor, in fact, that had happened numerous times in the past. But Ernand couldn't figure out how he could warn the council of the imposter. He couldn't very well walk in and proclaim,
"The Emperor is a bad man! He has been using funds for stupid reasons! Oh, and by the way, he's actually Jagar Tharn in disguise!" No, the young man knew for certain that that course of action would never work. He would be laughed out of the council, his career in shambles, then likely meet a bloody end from one of the assassins that Tharn no doubt had at his beck and call.
"Lochlainn," Ria looked up, tears streaking her face, "I'm so...so sorry that I got you involved in this. You came here to further your career, and all I have done to help you is get you entangled in the Gods only know what."
"Eh," Ernand shrugged, "Council is boring anyway. This is much more fun." Ria laughed, or sobbed, he wasn't really sure, at his comment. "I think you should finish your breakfast and then I'll escort you back to the Palace. I think, for a little while, you should act like nothing has happened. Continue to serve that apostate as if he were your Emperor, and we'll come up with a plan later."
"Alright, if you think that is best." Ria wiped her eyes with a napkin and, under Ernand's watchful gaze, finished her meal. After refreshing herself and getting dressed, she followed the councilor out of the room and down to the first floor. Rounding up his guard and having horses saddled, he helped Ria to mount a horse. Swinging up into his own, he signaled for his men to move. They winded through the streets of the Elven Gardens, and then on into the Palace Garth, where Ernand and his men left Ria Silmane.
*
Ernand yawned loudly, earning him a prod in the ribs from his fellow councilor. “Pay attention, Leoriane,” he whispered fiercely, “You’re an Elder Councilor now, not a school-boy wanting to escape his lessons.”
“I think school would be more interesting than this,” Ernand joked, “I thought the council had been convened to discuss a resolution to the war? I didn’t know we would be discussing funding for a backwater legion in Morrowind.”
“It’s important. What if the Akaviri want revenge for our invasion years ago? They would come from the east, and Morrowind would be their first target. They already invaded it once! I know not much about that land, but if they could defeat Emperor Uriel V, may the gods assoil him, then we need all the defenses we can muster.”
“And this has nothing to do with the anti-Imperial sentiment that seems so prevalent in the land of the Dunmer?” Along with his question, Ernand motioned towards the delegates and councilors from that frontier province. On their faces they were deep scowls, and their eyes burned with hatred. “Seems to me,” Ernand said and shrugged, leaning back in his seat, “That we’re just exasperating things by sending more troops in.”
“But how can we enforce Imperial Law without the might of the Legion behind it?”
“I don’t know.” Ernand shrugged again, “But it seems to me that if we keep ramming Imperial culture down their throats, the Dunmer might decide to do something drastic.”
Unable to reach a consensus on the matter, Ernand and his fellow councilor watched as Chancellor Ocato ruled in favor of a surge of more soldiers into Morrowind. The Dunmer delegates ranted, cursed, and spat upon the ground. Their outrage was so great, that they even slipped into their own tongue.
Leaning over to the councilor he had been speaking to before, Ernand asked, “What does N’wah mean?”
This time it was his turn to shrug. “I’m not sure. I know it’s not something good though.”
“Ah, so normal council language then?”
The councilor glowered at Ernand, who grinned back unrepentantly.
“You had best learn to check your tongue in the future, Leoriane, it could get you into trouble.”
*
Ria had freshened herself up and dressed into more suitable clothing. She had been forced to fend off questions of her whereabouts the night before from her attendants, especially from Marina. Until that day, the Imperial Battle Mage hadn't known that her shy attendant also had spirit. When she finally broke and told them she had been visiting Councilor Ernand Leoriane, the girl's face had blanched, then turned beet-red. Turning on her heel, she had watched the young girl storm out of the chamber. This surprised all the women, for they hadn't known that Marina could get angry.
The afternoon passed without event.
Twilight had settled over the Imperial City just as Ria finished copying a report from a Legion general regarding the most recent outbreak of battles along the Hammerfell-Skyrim border. Knowing that the Emperor would be expecting these reports, she took them and stuck them into a folder. Getting up, she left her office and entered into the foyer. "Agnes," she addressed the old woman who was her secretary, "I'm going to go deliver these reports to his Majesty. Then I'll return home. You can leave now if you wish to."
"Of course, Lady Silmane."
The halls of the palace were empty except for a few patrolling guards. The echoes of her footsteps reverberated through the corridors, making it seem like she was being followed. Casting a look over her shoulder, she saw nothing. Speeding up despite this, she eventually reached the steps that led to the Emperor's quarters. As she was mounting them, she felt someone grasp her shoulder. Acting quickly, she flung the folder down and brought her hands up to cast a spell. But when the light from the torches lining the stairwell shone upon her assailants face, she brought them down. Before her, stood the short form of the Imperial Palace's resident Dunmer prince, Helseth.
"Gods, you scarred me half to death, Helseth." When the young Dunmer made no move to speak, Ria smiled and asked, "What are you doing about the halls at this hour? Where is your mother?"
"She is upstairs," he responded in the gruff voice of the Dunmer, "I'm waiting for her here. I'm sorry I frightened you."
Ria laughed, "Don't worry about that, Helseth. May I ask why Barenziah is above?"
"We're leaving tonight. My lady mother says we're going to go spend some time in the country side."
"You are very lucky. If you will excuse me, Helseth, I have to go see his Majesty." Bidding the Dunmer prince farewell, Ria mounted the steps. When she was halfway up, she almost collided with the Lady Barenziah. She looked flustered, her grey skin slightly dark than normal. She didn't stop to talk, but when Ria attempted to move by her, she whispered
He used the Staff of Chaos. A chill went down the spine of the sorceress as she watched the Dunmer queen hurry down the stairs. Swallowing, Ria turned back and climbed the stairs to the top. When she entered into the Emperor's Chamber, her eyes had to adjust to the darkness. "Your Majesty? Are you here?"
"Yes, come in, Ria," came Uriel's voice from out of the darkness, "We have some things to discuss I take it?"
"Yes, your Majesty. I have some reports here from the border-"
"Now, now," Uriel interrupted her, "I know that's not why you're here!" She heard the Emperor snap his fingers and then all the candles and torches sparked and lit the room. There, sitting in a plush chair was a man that Ria once thought dead, the former Imperial Battle Mage, Jagar Tharn. "You look surprised, Ria," he still insisted on speaking with Uriel's voice, "But I don't think it's because you just found this out. No....You weren't expecting this reckoning so soon, were you?"
Ria shook her head. Swallowing with difficulty, she asked, "What have you done with the Emperor, Tharn? Did you kill him?"
"Think you that I am a fool? No, he and that bumbling Warhaft are somewhere safe and alive. I very well couldn't risk the Elder Council being warned by the Amulet of Kings, now could I?" Tharn stood from the chair and crossed to a table. There, he picked up a flagon of wine and poured two glasses. Taking these, he moved over to Ria, who stood frozen with her back to the door. Thrusting one of the glasses into her hand, he drained his own. "Now, what was it you wanted to tell me about the border?"
"Um...The truce has been broken." Ria didn't know what game her adversary was playing, but she felt the distinct feeling that whatever it was, he held all the cards. "Skyrim has led another foray into Hammerfell, and General Romulus says then even some of our soldiers have been involved in the-" Her voice was cut off when Tharn, moving unnaturally fast, grabbed her by the throat. She tried to escape, but any protests she could have made were being drained away, as was her very life.
"Yes, the legions are involved in the fighting, and soon all of Tamriel will erupt in war, no doubt. This empire will crumble, but I will still hold all the power." Tharn laughed when Ria tried to speak, gagging instead. "You've been wondering why I have been sending out parties to find artifacts, yes? The person who holds the means of power, has the power." Tharn's hand began to glow an ugly purple, and Ria's skin began to grey. "You've were a fine apprentice, Ria, and an excellent adjunct to me. But now it must come to an end. As for that friend of yours, that councilor from High Rock, he will be blamed for your death, and I'll have no choice but to bring him to trial. My agents are already hunting him down. Well," Tharn gave her one last grin, "I guess this is goodbye." His eyes hardened and the light around his hand grew brighter.
Her last thought before death was
At least the villainous monologue is over. Ria Silmane was no more.
*
While discussion regarding the War of Bend’r-Mahk had been on the agenda for the day, the arguments about the Legion in Morrowind had dragged on far longer than it should have. The councilors of Morrowind had refused to back down on the issue, and that only served to make the problem worse. A stray Nord comment regarding an ancient rivalry had been taken as a mortal insult, and a majority of Morrowind’s delegates had to be removed from the Grand Solar.
Since the topic of the war was unable to be got to, the council had convened, Ocato making sure that all the councilors would be their tomorrow to discuss the troubling news from Hammerfell.
Ernand had taken the chance to call on Ria. When he entered the office, he kept getting looks from his friend’s attendants. When he caught Marina, the girl that had served him the day before, looking at him, Ernand had tried to ask where Ria was. However, the Breton girl just burst into tears and ran from him.
Ernand stood rooted in the middle of the antechamber for a few moments, thinking out loud, “Well that was odd. What did I do?”
“Oh, she’s just besotted with you,” Ernand turned his head to look at Ria’s aged secretary, “But since you’re seeing Lady Silmane, Marina knows she has no chance.”
Ernand quirked an eyebrow. “Huh? Seeing? I don’t what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, don’t be coy, young man.” The old woman grinned and winked at him, “I may be old, but I know a tryst in the middle of the night when I see one.”
The cogs in Ernand brain finally started turning, and when they did his eyes widened in shock. “Oh. Oh! Ok, I get you. Um—So,” Ernand pulled on the collar of his robe, “Is it hot in here to you? Anyway, um….Do you know where she is?”
“She’s meeting with the Emperor right now. She may be awhile. I’ll tell her you stopped by.” To Ernand, it felt like his knees had turned to butter as he stepped out of the Imperial Battle Mage office, with the elderly secretary’s eyes twinkling behind him.
*
Night had fallen on the Imperial City.
The outhouse smelled rancid, but Ernand had little choice but to use it. The manor he was living in lacked a privy chamber, something he would have to remedy soon. After wiping and rearranging his clothes, he flung open the outhouse door and stepped out into the cold night. There, standing not five feet from the little structure stood two men. One held a club, and the other a rope. Lacking any weapon himself, Ernand could only use his voice to alert his guards, but he never got the chance.
His assailants moved quickly, clubbing him over the head and knocking him out. Quietly, they tied him up and carried him off.
**