Far Shores Part II

Cyrodiil was a strange place indeed. Her guide had docked the ship in Anvil and proceeded into an inn, obviously not wanting anything more to do with her. Cidna didn't know if he knew exactly what she had done to her sister, but he had said nothing and avoided talking to her as soon as they were on land.

After buying supplies with some of the sailor's strange coin, she was glad to head out of the bustling port-city and into a calm enough woodland area. Withdrawing the map from her pack, she spread it over a rock. She had moved away from the main road, enough not to be interrupted, but not far enough to be out of ear-shot.

Her map was detailed enough to get her on her way. She was currently in a region called the Gold Coast, in which were two main settlements, the first being Anvil and the second further along the road to the east named Kvatch. It looked as if the name of the latter city had been erased from the map and written back there again, but she had not the time to wonder as too why such a thing may have happened.

She knew that her mission was clear. She needed to obtain an artefact with power enough to rival even that of Orden. Once she had it, the spell she would then cast was sure to tear the veil once more, allowing her master to renew his war against a world that had not yet recovered from his first charge. This item was known as the Amulet of Kings; a royal ruby set into a gold chain. Only a member of the Royal Line was able to wear it and use its powers, but there was not limitation on the magic another to cast over it.

According to the Lore she had read, the Amulet of Kings had passed from the hands of the last emperor, a priest named Martin, as he used its power to defend all of Tamriel from an invasion from Oblivion. Now, it was held in the Royal Palace, kept under the watchful eye of the new governing council. They used its power to keep order, though none knew how they were able too, considering that they lacked the royal blood.

So, if the amulet was at the palace, and the palace was in the heart of the imperial city, that was where she was headed. The eastern road would pass the city of Kvatch and then the city of Skingrad before turning north and then east once more across the bridge to the imperial city gates.

Cidna rolled up the map. It would be a long journey, but she had seen some horses in a stable by the gates. However, she doubted she had enough coins to buy one and letting her power levels be known wouldn't be wise.

Thus, the great sorceress decided to walk.

It was only after an hour or so of walking that Cidna was certain someone was watching her. She could hear the odd foot fell from beyond the edges of the rode, and the occasional shadow would drift across the edge of her sight. She had her mind link with her han as she walked, ready to use it should she come under threat.

Her journey went unchanged for at least twenty minutes further before the strike came. Knives came at her through the trees, whistling as the air itself parted to let the blades through.