Imprisoned in Cyrodiil (Chapter 31)

Two weeks ago, somewhere in Cyrodiil

Pov Unkown

I stared at the cold, damp walls of my prison cell, feeling the chill seep into my bones. The dim light that filtered in through the small, barred window barely illuminated the space and made the shadows dance. My breath came out in shallow puffs, and I could almost taste the musky air on my tongue.

"Hey you," called a voice from a dunmer man from the cell across from me. his voice was rough and grating, like the sound of nails scratching against stone. "What's your name?"

"Lyra," I responded tiredly, curling up tighter on the hail-covered floor.

"Ah... Lyra. that's a pretty name for such a sad little girl. " The voice of the man seemed to be mocking me, making me feel annoyed. I had thought back to how I ended up here earlier today, I had been searching for any news about my little sister Arnovia. It was a dumb idea to come to Cyrodiil, I had convinced her we could make a living here. Things just hadn't been working out at High Rock, Those annoying lords made it difficult for me to find work cause I had turned down their son. With mother and father having died two winters ago, it had just been me and her.

As I placed my head onto my arms, I couldn't help but worry about her. By the divines, I hoped she was still alive. I had been bothering the ship captain that had brought us to Cyrodiil. We had ended up taking the long route as it was the only one I could afford with what little Septions we had left. we had traveled past Skyrim and had been near Morrowind when the storm had struck. The caption had called all hands to help bale the water. It was too stormy to see well. The rain and wind had made it difficult to tell where everyone was, and the only light around was when lightning striked in the sky.

One moment, Arnovia was helping me, and the next, I heard something fall into the water. She was gone, I shouted for her but no reply came. I couldn't swim like she did. It was always something that she used to tease me about.

" Hey girl, don't ignore me," shouted the bosmor. Turning my head to look at him as i rose from the hay pile and walked to my cell gate. " How about you shut your mouth and leave me be?" I said as my hands gripped the bars of my cell door."

" Oh, you think you're so tough, well, you're nothing but a stuck up harlot" He said while laughing." Well, lets see how tough you are when the guards come to have there way with you," he cackled, suddenly I could hear the faint sounds of voices moving closer from above the stairs to my right. "your not leaving this place until your a used up dead whore. That's right your going to die here Imperial, your not leaving until they throw your body into the lake.

"Hey, you hear that," he said with glee, " The guards are coming, They coming for you, he he he he" laughing as he backed away from his cell door and moved to the back of his cell.

"Baurus! Lock that door behind you" a woman's voice ordered.

Shit was this really going to happen, I moved back into my cell looking for anything to use as a weapon. Oblivion if I was going to let them do anything to me.

"Yessir" a male voice answered back.

The sound of footsteps sounded some seemed to be wearing heavy armor as the metal clacked on the stone steps.

"My sons.... They're dead. Aren't they?" an elderly male voice said.

"We don't know that sire, the message only said they were attacked." the woman that had ordered before spoke.

"No, they're dead. I know it." The old man said as they came into view.

"My job right now is to get you to safety," The woman said as she turned her head toward my cell.

"What's this prisoner doing here?" she turned to ask one of the two armored men near her while pointing at me. "This cell is supposed to be off limits"

"Usual mixup with the watch. I..."

"Never mind that, Get the gate open." She ordered

"Stay where you are prisoner" she ordered as I was standing at the back of the cell.

As one of the armored men walked in he kept his eye on me as the others entered the cell.

"You.... I've seen you..." the old man said as he stopped in front of me.

"Let me get a good look at your face" His eyes scanned me over. "You are the one from my dreams...." He seemed to pause as I could see his shoulders drop a bit. "Then the stars were right, and this is the day. God's give me strength" He muttered.

"Wh.. what are you talking about?" was this old man going crazy? As I looked him over his fancy clothing meant he was a noble of some kind, but what really grabbed my attention was the large red jeweled necklaces hanging around his neck.

"Assains attacked my son's and I am next. My blades are leading me out of the city. By chance, the escape route leads through your cell."

"Wait who are you?"

"I am your emperor, Uriel Septim." And as he said that title I tried to bow but was stopped by him as he placed a hand on my shoulder. " You are a citizen of Tamriel and will serve her in your own way, I have seen it".

"But I am in jail for committing no crime" I couldn't help but say as I looked pleadingly into his eyes, the eyes of the Emperor.

"Perhaps the god's have placed you here so we could meet. As for what you have done... it does not matter. That is not what you will be remembered for."

Maybe asking someone like him, who seemed somewhat wise wouldn't hurt. "What should I do?" I hated to admit it but I was lost now that my sister was gone.

"For now come with me," he said as his guards had a mixture of looks.

He turned one more time to look at me. " I haven't asked your name" he paused as he stared at me.

"My name is Lyra Olo," I said as he nodded and the guards pressed a stone on the wall and a passage opened. As they walked down the path I couldn't help but stand there. They had disappeared down the dark tunnel as I looked around I saw that Dunmer looking at me. I Gave him a grin as I walked into the tunnel and followed after the Emperor.

A faint, eerie glow illuminated the passage ahead of me, casting long shadows across the damp stone walls. The sounds of activity grew louder, and I could hear distant shouts, swords clashing, and the unmistakable crackle of magic.

Well at least I knew how to use the Flare spell, I thought as I rushed towards the sound. The guards were fighting against heavily armored people. And as one had broken through and was rushing the emperor I flinging my flare spell at them. It slammed into their chest as their armor vanished and a red-robed person fell to the floor dead.

I had placed myself in front of the emperor and watched as one of the Blades was killed. It was the only woman in the group but the other two managed to kill the rest of the attackers.

"How could they have been waiting for us here?"

"Don't know but it's too late to turn back now"

"Don't worry sire. We will get you out of here."

"They won't be the first to underestimate the blades. I'll take point" A Blade said while opening an iron gate blocking a door.

As the emperor and the blades passed through the door the other blade looked at me and locked the iron gate. "You stay here" he commanded and walked away through the door.

Shit, what was I going to do now. I thought as the way to my side fell apart and a rat came crawling through, as it lunged at me I Flinged another flare spell at it and killed it. Well, at least I had a path to follow now. But before that, I turned to Seacher the bodies of the dead. Grabbing the Blades, sword as well, and a few potions that those attackers had. One Lesser healing potion and one lesser Magic potion.

It seemed they were using magic to create their weapons and armor. And that armor the blade women had wouldn't fit me. The other blade member had a short sword, it was something I was used to using so I removed it and wrapped the sword belt around my hips.

Turning towards the broken wall I walked through it. There was a second rat up a bit more, Well it was time to try out this weird blade. Rushing forward the rat noticed me and tried to bite me, but as it did I slashed down and split it in two.

Wow was this thing sharp, I tested my grip on it in one hand and then two. "So it's like a bastard sword...." Sliding it back into its scabbard that I had tied around my hip as well. If anything I could sell it for some septims if I needed to. The room of the cave opened up a bit, there was a crate to my right and a well to my left. As I checked around the well had a broken bow and rotten arrows near it. "Shame I could have used that" I muttered

There was also a skeleton wearing old rusted iron armor, damn we even seemed to be the same size too. But no way in oblivion I'd wear the clothes of a skeleton. It even had parts rusted away. Oh lock picks, I placed the three I found into my shirt pocket.

And as I noticed a wooden door I made my way towards it. Crouching down near a dead green body. Goblins. Looting its body, I took An iron key and two more lock picks.

Taking a breath I opened the door and walked through. Closing the door behind me and locking it. If there were more of those people that had attacked us before I didn't want them following me.

I strained my ears, my heart pounding in my chest. And then I heard the faintest of something moving around up ahead.

As I moved forward I saw a group of rats rushing at me as I drew my blade, ready to attack. They ran past me, Which confused me until I heard it, groaning and stumbling. I could feel a chill run up my back as the hairs on my arms stood. Turning my head with fear as from the corner of the path ahead a zombie came into view. I let out a blood-curdling scream that pierced the air and echoed through the cave.

At that moment I flinged as many Flare spells as my magic allowed. Burning that thing as its flesh charred and turned black. My hands were trembling as I reached for the lesser magica potion and drank it.

"By the divine, undead," I said with a trembling voice. Let's hope there were no more.