Day 1: Graveyard Hours

2012-02-19T08:20:00.002+11:00

I heard a ruckus heading towardmy cell. Guards were coming and, boy, they were a noisy lot.

I was soon greeted by a posse ofthree armed guards in full steel armor engraved with a dragon crest to theirbreast plates. They wore burnished helmets so only their eyes, noses and mouthswere visible. Long swords, with hilts bearing the jade symbol of a dragon,rested in sheathes against their hips. Their utility belts supported thetypical potion and small goods satchels to endure a short dungeon crawl.

They were escorting an elderlyman adorned in a lavish crimson - gold gilded gown with a feather bow for acollar and gold trimmed boots covering his feet. It was the ruby-eye, diamondamulet around his neck that piqued my interest and made me question, “Whatdidn't fit with this picture?” Was he a VIP criminal of sorts? Was I to sharetime with him? How privileged.

“We're all clear, just need topass through this cell and… What the? Who put this prisoner here?”

I raised my brows upon hearingone of the guards was a female. She was stocky, of average height and stoodwith a firm stance. I would never have guessed.

The female guard shouted at theother guards for answers. One of them stuttered a response, which she dismissedin seconds with an abrupt flick of her hand.

“It's called a prison cell,” Ianswered for them. “Guards put people in here when they do naughty things.”

I chuckled at their threats ofrunning me threw with their swords if I spoke another word.

“Open this cell!” She ordered herguards. The guards jumped at her command.

I was ordered to the back of mycell, which I complied both amused and curious by this unexpected party.

They marched inside with theirnoisy boots. The two guards kept a close watch on me as they waited for thewoman guard to do something to the cell wall. She fiddled with a combination ofbricks whilst muttering an incantation. I was delighted to see the bricks separate to form an archway and the start of a dank tunnel. A way out!

“Let's go,” she ordered andyelled one last threat for me to stay behind as she entered the tunnel. One ofthe other guards prompted the elderly man to follow him as he had his comrademade their way in. The elderly man paused at the archway to take a good look atme.

“I've seen you before in mydreams of late.” His voice was polite and calm.

“Please, would you mind steppinginto the moonlight so I may see your face clearly?”

He asked nicely so I complied.His grey eyes became animated. He offered me a warm smile.

“Yes! Your face will shine withthe glory of Akatosh in the dark days to come.”

“Excuse me?” I raised a quirkybrow to his comment.

“No details are afforded to mebut I see destiny weaving a tight web around you. You are going to be importantfor Tamriel's survival. Crucial in fact, this much I know.”

What the hell was the old mantalking about? Who was this guy? Mara have mercy, I was stuck in a cell with anut-job!

“Listen old man, you're talkingnuts. No offense. I may have done some questionable things in my life butnothing to warrant my imprisonment with someone like you.”

“You dare address the Emperorwith disrespect?” One of the guards cursed as he stepped into view with hissword raised and ready to strike me down.

The old man ordered the guard tosheath his sword. The guard reluctantly complied.

“She didn't know Baurus, asexpected,” the Emperor said as he stepped closer toward me.

I stared into his eyes that weremade dark by the adverse reflection of the moonlight, and sensed an unnervingcalmness. Like the times experienced before a chaotic storm.

“What is your name child?”

I peered harder into his eyes.What was he trying to prove? What was he running from? My mind started doing aroll call of the many aliases (Penny Pickle, Dora Dogs, Martha Mooner...) I hadinvented over the years.

“Seria Loren,” I ended up sayingand wanting to kick myself for blurting out my true name.

The Emperor nodded his headsomewhat pleased with my answer.

“A powerful name indeed and one Ibelieve aptly fitted for these times.”

“Aptly fitted for what?”

The Emperor regarded me carefullybefore he said what he was running from. It seems the guards escorting him werehis personal bodyguards called the Blades. They had received news of his sons'assassinations and were attempting to smuggle him out of the city to a safehaven somewhere up the Jerall Mountains.

“I know I won't make the journey.Not many people have the privilege to see their moment of death before itarrives. I am one so privileged. I know when the hour of my death will be.”

“That doesn't bother you?”

“I've lived a full life, some ofwhich I could have probably done better. Still, nothing I can regret. I amready to go. There is just one task left for me and a very important one.”

“Sire, we must be moving,” Baurusinterrupted, winding up our conversation.

“Of course, lead the way Baurus,”the Emperor said.

“Serial Loren, you will join usfor a while?”

I frowned, baffled by the turn ofevents.

“I'm a prisoner.”

“Not anymore. I pardon you forwhatever crimes brought you here. Baurus will bear witness to my testimony.”

The Blade grunted his approvalreluctantly.

“That will do me. Besides, I havenothing else on my schedule. Lead the way.”

I winked at the Blade as heunlocked my shackles with little care and shoved a torch in my hand.

“Take this and shut up. You tryto run or make a noise - I will stab your bony butt. I'm deadly with a blade.”

“I'm sure you are,” I teased andgave his butt a firm pat as I pushed passed him. I heard his sword slip in andout of its sheath. No doubt he was tempted to stab me but was not keen todisobey his Emperor.

“Don't dally!” He hissed and slapped me on the butt with the flat side of his sword. As much as I wanted to snap back, I bit my lip and assumed the lead with my torch held high to guide the way.

Day 1: Jail & Introductions

2012-02-19T08:16:00.000+11:00

Me, in jail! Absolutely ridiculous!

The gall of the guards drugging me out so they could toss my ass into the slammer like I was a two-bit crooked Khajiit for crying out loud!

The diamond-ruby amulet had fallen to the ground! Seriously, it did! Give or take a few jingles.

Okay, so maybe I'm a bit out of touch with my pickpocketing skills. The fat, over-done-up, Publican wasn't going to miss it anyway. For Mara's sake, hasn't the Crown heard about sharing the love?

I must admit, the one good thing about being incarcerated is having the time to do nothing special. In fact, it's the perfect opportunity to find use for the Bound Journal that stinky, tarty Merchant had passed off to me instead of the 50 gold I was promised for escorting his caravan safely to Chorrol. I suppose, if your going to spend some time in a stinking-mould-infested cell, you mind as well find something of a hobby. The good thing about this Journal, I don't need ink. I write with my finger and, magically, the thoughts I want to express find themselves inked onto the page. Neat.

So what should I write first?

TES Loren

Day 1: Graveyard Hours

Day 1: Jail & Introductions