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<\/p>\n\u201cHer name is Sayma Sendu,\u201d Brynjolf grumbled.<\/p>\n
The ghost glanced up at him, seemingly unconcerned, but did not acknowledge Brynjolf\u2019s statement.\u00a0 He returned his gaze to Sayma.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are Dagnell at-Dadarh, and you have come to me at last.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sayma stared. Hearing this man\u2019s voice in her head for so long had been strange enough, but now to actually see him \u2013 or at least to see his shade \u2013 was overwhelming.\u00a0 It took her several long moments to find words.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Sayma.\u00a0 I was Dagnell, once, but I have changed.\u201d\u00a0 She waved a hand at her face. \u201cMy name. My looks. Even my voice. I have changed. I began anew. I am Sayma now. And you are\u2026 my grandfather?\u201d<\/p>\n
The burly man smiled. \u201cIt matters not what you call yourself. Your brother Dardeh asked the same question and I will say to you as I said to him: there are many sons. We have great power. And when men stand in our way, we kill them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I am not a son. I am a daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jine chuckled. \u201cOf a long line of those with power. You have the power in you as well, or you would not be here.\u201d He waved his hand toward the canyon that led to his home, and beyond. \u201cYou would not have been given the vision, heard the call to come through the Halls of the West, if not for that power that lives within you.\u201d He peered up at her. \u201cYou know that to be the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brynjolf was standing behind her, and chose that moment to chime in. \u201cHe\u2019s right, lass. Didn\u2019t you tell me they all called you Dragonborn? There\u2019s got to be something to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sayma stared at Jine, and then turned to do the same to Brynjolf. \u201cI\u2019m telling you, I\u2019m not Dragonborn. I am of the same line as Dardeh, though.\u201d She turned back to Jine and frowned. \u201cBut what does that have to do with the here and now? We\u2019re not in Stros M\u2019Kai. Dar\u2019s only been there once, looking for me. He grew up in the Reach, raised as a Nord, and never knew our father until his shade started bothering us both to kill Ulfric Stormcloak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jine nodded. \u201cAnd you must end it. That is why you are here. Just as the First Serpent shed its skin to create a new one, you have shed yours to begin anew. And you,\u201d he added, glancing past her at Brynjolf. \u201cYou have your own skin to shed, as you already have shed one. You must end it, all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t understand what you\u2019re telling me,\u201d Sayma said, struggling to grasp his meaning. \u201cI don\u2019t know about the world snakes. Just a bit. Mother and Father died before I was old enough to be taught such things. I don\u2019t really understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jine shook his head. \u201cSpeak to Dardeh. Think on it.\u00a0 But for now, look inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
I have no idea what is going on. End what? Why am I here? What has this forgotten corner of Hammerfell got to do with anything, especially my father? <\/em>\u00a0She wanted to argue further but Jine shook his head as though he could hear her thoughts. She sighed and pushed the door to the small house open.<\/p>\n Inside, the place was unremarkable. It looked like her house in Ben Erai, or the homes in the formerly cursed city outside Sadraaka\u2019s tomb. One thing drew the eye, though.\u00a0 On the narrow bed near the window was an intact skeleton, lying supine as if resting comfortably.\u00a0 It was as though whatever person this was had simply passed quietly, a very long time ago.<\/p>\n Sayma crossed the small space to lean down and examine the bones. There was nothing special about the skeleton that she could see, but she was careful not to disturb it.\u00a0 On the far side of the bed, a chest was tucked up under the window; when she tried to lift its lid she found it locked.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf stared at it for a moment, a hand on his chin.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you find a key, lass? Back in that temple?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh! So I did. I wonder.\u201d\u00a0 She rifled through her pockets and her pack until the heavy, oddly-shaped key was in her hand. Comparing its business end to the shape of the lock before her she thought they looked similar; and when she tried it, the mechanism clicked obediently and the chest\u2019s lid rose.\u00a0 Inside was a dusty but intact set of armor, in the style of the warriors of the Alik\u2019r.\u00a0 It hummed with some magic.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me see that,\u201d Brynjolf said, taking the armor from her and closing his eyes as he held it.\u00a0 A small smile crossed his lips. \u201cFire protection,\u201d he pronounced, nodding. \u201cIt feels the same as my ring. This would have been useful back when\u2026 well, never mind. It\u2019s yours now.\u201d\u00a0 He handed the garment back to Sayma.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on, Bryn.\u00a0 He called us here to find this armor?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf shook his head. \u201cNo, no. It\u2019s more than that. You and Dardeh have something in common that has to be ended. And apparently so do I. What do you suppose he means? Unless\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She watched as his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cUnless what?\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf turned away from her and shook his head. \u201cMaybe it has something to do with our fathers. Dadarh and Brunulvr. And putting things right, like we did in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Sayma peered at him for a long moment, turning the thought over in her mind. It felt right, somehow, and yet it wasn\u2019t a complete answer. \u201cI\u2019m not sure. Let\u2019s go see what he has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n Jine was calmly munching on a piece of spectral bread when they returned to the porch. He rose to face her.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found the armor. And those bones\u2026 is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n It was clear that Jine had been a powerful man. He was massive in build, and wore armor that showed his huge muscles and broad chest to their full advantage. Sayma could imagine him striking fear into all comers during his life. And yet now, standing before her as a ghost, he looked sad.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. When the city was cursed I came here, to escape the fate of the others. And yet I died as well. I have been waiting to be put to rest since that day.\u201d He stared at her, his glowing eyes piercing. \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n What is this? I\u2019m so confused. <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m trying to find the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal. It\u2019s supposed to be here, somewhere, and yet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd yet you passed the entrance to its resting place at least three times without seeing it,\u201d Jine answered dryly. \u201cWell then, you must go. It is north of here, the entrance to the oasis you seek. South of the cursed city, and the dead forest. You must wear your amulet. And you must go alone.\u201d He glanced at Brynjolf. \u201cThis man may not accompany you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait just a moment,\u201d Brynjolf started.<\/p>\n Jine shook his head. \u201cShe must go alone. And when she is done, when the Cowl is secured, when you have done what you must, bring the son of my son here to me. It is time to finish it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it that we need to finish, Jine?\u201d Sayma asked as she descended the short stairs to stand before the house. \u201cI need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou must put us\u2026 to rest\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The voice grew thinner as he spoke.\u00a0 Sayma glanced at Brynjolf and then jumped; for in the brief moment in which she\u2019d been looking at him, Jine had disappeared, leaving behind only a few wisps of cold mist.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019d he go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Brynjolf said. \u201cHe just faded away.\u00a0 Now what\u2019s this about you going alone to fetch the Cowl? I can\u2019t let you go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Sayma thought hard.\u00a0 Lady Syloria had told her that she needed the Amulet to reach the oasis, and there was only one amulet. And while Brynjolf had succeeded in walking near her, at the cheetah\u2019s lair, there was no guarantee that they would be able to keep in proximity in the unknown that was before her.<\/p>\n \u201cBryn, no.\u00a0 I have to go alone.\u00a0 If it was important enough for one of my ancestors to pull me here, to tell me that\u2026 It\u2019s what Lady Syloria back in Ben Erai told me, too.\u00a0 It had to have been a fluke that you made it through the lair with me.\u00a0 I can\u2019t risk it. Or you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSayma.\u201d\u00a0 Brynjolf frowned, his eyes flashing. \u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Bryn,\u201d she cut him off, and reached for his hands. \u201cPlease. This is something I have to do. I\u2019m doing it for you, and for Dynjyl \u2013 and for me. I have to resolve this. Whatever it is that Jine wants doesn\u2019t change all that. Let me do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Brynjolf sighed. \u201cI don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know you don\u2019t,\u201d she said, squeezing his hands and smiling. \u201cYou want to take care of things.\u00a0 But I came all the way here by myself, before. Trust me, Bryn. I can handle it. I\u2019m the Listener and before that I was\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuildmaster. I know. And things can still go sideways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey can, but they won\u2019t. I promise.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019m making a promise that I have no way to know whether I can keep. I hope I won\u2019t regret that. <\/em>She reached into her pocket and pulled out the key to her home in Ben Erai. \u201cHere. Go back to Ben Erai. Wait for me at the house.\u00a0 I promise I\u2019ll be back just as soon as I can.\u00a0 And if I\u2019m not back, talk to Arenar Esdrecus. He can open the portal so that you can go back to Falkreath.\u201d<\/p>\n He stared at her, intently.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t decipher what it was she was seeing in his eyes other than concern, but it was strong and it burned every bit as brightly as the golden light from his vampiric eyes had done.<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, lass,\u201d he said finally, his tone quiet and calm. \u201cI don\u2019t want to lose anyone else. I\u2019ll be waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n She waited for several heartbeats, to see whether he would add anything else, do anything else; but all that he did was drop her hands and nod. She smiled back at him, weakly. I thought that maybe, after that moment in the crypt\u2026 Oh well. I can\u2019t blame him. There\u2019s too much water beneath the bridge for us, I fear. At least he doesn\u2019t hate me.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlright. I\u2019m off. Take care, Brynjolf.\u201d<\/p>\n Without waiting for a reply she dashed down the canyon floor, back up the steep slope and into the desert. The storm was still swirling, but it was lighter, the winds not as fierce, the sand not scouring her face as she went.\u00a0 Her stomach clenched as she went, the combined disappointment at having to leave Brynjolf behind and anxiety over what she might find ahead churning into a toxic mix in her mind and body.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to do this. He\u2019s waiting for me to get this Cowl, and then we\u2019re going to go free Dynjyl.\u00a0 And I will have had some measure of revenge on myself for being so stupid as to have left them all in the first place.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n What does Jine mean by \u201cfinish it,\u201d I wonder? Are Dardeh and I supposed to complete Father\u2019s last contract after all? That doesn\u2019t seem right. And what does that have to do with Bryn?\u00a0 It makes no sense.<\/em><\/p>\n After some time running north, Sayma spotted something that she hadn\u2019t seen the previous time they had passed this area.\u00a0 There was a narrow crevice in the rocky hillside, and at its entrance was a burning brazier, resting atop at least four layers of dark stone brick.<\/p>\n How did we not see this? No wonder Jine was a bit sarcastic about it.<\/em><\/p>\n She slipped into the opening beyond the brazier and found herself in a deep but narrow canyon with another stone building at its end. Its exterior looked much like Al Shedim; it was built into the canyon walls, and in its center was a wooden panel holding a metal gate.\u00a0 It was locked tight.<\/p>\n Alright, this is where I use the key we found in Al Shedim, right? Let\u2019s try.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n The gate opened obediently with a turn of the key, which Sayma found somewhat surprising.\u00a0 It could easily have been clogged shut by eons of blowing sand.\u00a0 Perhaps there was some magic at play, though, some additional trick Caio Umbranox had set up as part of his scheme to protect the Cowl.<\/p>\n She opened the gate and slipped through, expecting to be in some kind of large building; but the wall holding the gate was just that, a simple wall. Beyond it was another long, narrow canyon stretching out before her.\u00a0 More braziers marked the way forward, some on the canyon floor and others planted high above, on ledges.<\/p>\n After some time Sayma saw the unmistakable shapes of desert palms in the mid-distance, blowing in the sandstorm. \u00a0Spears of green foliage began appearing, their roots holding fast through the drifting sands around them.\u00a0 It was definitely an oasis before her, a large one and likely very beautiful judging by what she could see through the sandstorm.\u00a0 She also sensed life around her.\u00a0 She panicked for a moment, hopping up onto a ridge of dark rock while she scrambled to put the Amulet of Friends of Ancestral Cheetahs on.\u00a0 Once secure in the knowledge that she would not be ripped to shreds by the animals she could sense but not see, she dropped back down onto the path and continued, around the lip of stone she\u2019d climbed, under a natural archway, and along the sudden sharp descent of the path the braziers marked.<\/p>\n It went on for what seemed like an eternity, this path, and it narrowed and dropped further with each step until Sayma wondered whether she would ever reach the destination.\u00a0 Finally, at what looked like a dead end in the black rock, she turned to her right and saw the smallest passage through it, barely wide enough for two people to pass.\u00a0 She moved forward through it and saw what she\u2019d come to find.<\/p>\n The sides of the rocks fell away and the space opened into an enormous oasis.\u00a0 There were blooming succulents, and palms, and green and gold ground cover in abundance \u2013 and there were in fact cheetahs.\u00a0 Sayma\u2019s heart pounded; she knew to trust the Amulet, because it had worked before, but still the unknown made her fear the worst. The cheetahs were indifferent to her passage, though.\u00a0 She was scanning the area, and turned to the left to find herself nose-to-nose with two of them.\u00a0 The larger of them sniffed her and strolled away, unimpressed.<\/p>\n There were a great many of the cheetahs, lounging about in what was likely a beautiful setting.\u00a0 Too bad this damnable sandstorm won\u2019t stop. I\u2019d love to see what this place looks like in the sun. <\/em>\u00a0It would have been far too easy to get lost in this meandering place if not for the trail of braziers which led her through the floor of the oasis, around corners and under trees, and finally uphill once more to another tall, familiar structure. Its walls were so enormous that nobody could possibly scale them, or the sheer rock faces into which they were set.\u00a0 There was one unusual feature, though: in the center of the wall was a white panel with a relief in the shape of the Empire\u2019s dragon symbol.<\/p>\n This is it. This is the gate that Syloria told me wouldn\u2019t open without the Amulet. It has to be.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n As she neared it, the panel slowly ground into motion, dropping into a slot in the rock beneath.\u00a0 On the other side of it was a dark, narrow, short opening into the stone, a cavern entrance like so many others she had seen before.\u00a0 The path through this mountain was narrow, but lanterns had been mounted to illuminate it.\u00a0 Still, Sayma drew her swords and crept forward carefully, not knowing what she might encounter.<\/p>\n She was so carefully watching her steps for hidden traps that she almost fell off the ledge, and had to windmill her arms to keep from dropping over the edge.<\/p>\n The path opened up into an enormous, open space, deep and dark but moist, smelling of growing things and water, with an opening to the sky above a huge, pyramidal building.\u00a0 A series of dirt ramps hugged the side of the cavern, leading down into its floor, and Sayma made her careful way down them to approach the building.<\/p>\n It was beautiful, she thought.\u00a0 It was as lovely as the ancient Alik\u2019r temple they\u2019d found on the other side of the desert, and as massive as Al Shedim, combining elements of both styles.\u00a0 There were flowing waterfalls, and open gazebos, and flourishing gardens; and in the center she found a fountain with a bust of the Gray Fox atop it.\u00a0 As she turned to glare at it, she saw beyond it another gate like the one above, with the dragon symbol embedded into its face.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a crypt. A tomb.\u00a0 This is where the hero of Cyrodiil is actually buried. That\u2019s what Syloria was talking about. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n She approached the building and just as it had outside, the gate lowered.<\/p>\n Inside, the tomb was spectacular.\u00a0 The hallway, a narrow ramp descending into the base of the building, was tall and built of highly polished sandstone, well-lit with glimmering magical spheres, and gleaming.\u00a0 It was clean \u2013 pristine, almost \u2013 and silent.\u00a0 Sayma was glad for her light, muffled armor, for it would have seemed criminal to break the peace of this place with the squeaking of heavy arms.\u00a0 It was like the Halls of the West, she thought as she walked through the first room and toward a second hallway, at the end of which she could see the familiar form of a statue of Nocturnal, arms spread and beckoning her forward.<\/p>\n Nocturnal stood in the center of a beautiful room with paintings on either side, depicting places Sayma did not recognize.\u00a0 She stopped and gazed up at Nocturnal for a moment, then knelt before the statue and raised her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve come as you asked,\u201d she murmured. \u201cI will retrieve the Cowl and bring it back to you, and I hope you will hold up your end of the bargain. For me, and for Brynjolf, who has fought as hard as I have to see this done.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no reply.\u00a0 Not that I expected one, not here; but I want to make sure she knows I am doing what she wanted. <\/em><\/p>\n She continued into the structure. It was clear that there would be no mummies, no spiders, no surprises in this place. Along each wall were paintings, and as she walked she recognized an Ayleid ruin, a church somewhere in Cyrodiil, and faces that she thought might be from the time of the Hero of Cyrodiil.\u00a0 This was a building of honor, not of trial.<\/p>\n A staircase led to another long hallway.\u00a0 Halfway down it , the sandstone changed from the familiar beige to a pinkish hue. She broke into a trot.\u00a0 It\u2019s the heart of the building. I\u2019m getting closer. <\/em>Around a corner she went and emerged into an enormous chamber, multiple stories tall, with a curved wall at its far end and a green-carpeted runway leading to it.\u00a0\u00a0 Up a short set of stairs was a low table with a bust of the Gray Fox, and a flawless diamond in the center.<\/p>\n Sayma frowned at the diamond.\u00a0 It wanted to be taken.\u00a0 She turned and looked around for traps, unexpected observers, and saw nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you better than this. What\u2019s the trick?\u201d she said to the bust.<\/p>\n Unleash the thief in you.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOh I see,\u201d she said, grinning.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t just take <\/em>the diamond, I have to steal it. Clever. But I know better than to argue with you at this point.\u201d\u00a0 She scouted around the edges of the curved wall, to be certain there were no obvious traps, and then returned to the table and crouched before it, as she would to steal it if there were others watching.\u00a0 She waited until her breathing had quieted and it was utterly silent, and then reached out and plucked the gem from its resting place.<\/p>\n Behind the table, two sections of the curved wall raised slowly into the ceiling.\u00a0 Beyond them was a circular room, beautifully appointed. Rows of benches radiated out from the center of the room, as though it was a lecture hall or audience chamber. To her left was a freestanding panel with an aqua circular decoration inset; in the center a platform held a short post with a magical light atop it; and on the right was the most impressive thing of all.\u00a0 An enormous sarcophagus, polished and gleaming, with red banners on either end, was inscribed with the words \u201cChampion of Cyrodiil.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere he is,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n Beneath the main inscription was a recitation of the Champion\u2019s great deeds, and while Sayma was not well versed in the history of Cyrodiil she couldn\u2019t help but feel a tingle of awe run up her spine.\u00a0 Two low tables before the sarcophagus held a katana and a shield.\u00a0 The thief in her said \u201ctake them\u201d for a moment, but only for a moment; for she was here for the Cowl, not for armor.<\/p>\n \u201cBut where is it? And how do I get out of here?\u201d<\/p>\n She turned and looked back toward the center of the room.\u00a0 Just before her was a platform, extending part of the way into the amphitheater; and at its end was a table holding a simple long bow. \u00a0She walked to it, slowly, her brow furrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cA bow? For what?\u201d<\/p>\n It dawned on her as she raised her eyes and saw the bright aqua circle in the panel on the far side of the space.\u00a0 It was a target.\u00a0 And what had both Seviana and Syloria told her? The Arrow of Extrication was key to getting her out of the space she\u2019d gotten herself into.\u00a0\u00a0It took Sayma a few moments to locate the arrow in amongst all the other ammunition she carried, but she pulled it out and fitted it to her bow.<\/p>\n This, I can do. If nothing else I am an excellent archer. Let\u2019s hope it gets me somewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n She took careful aim at the target, and shot the arrow.<\/p>\n There was a massive explosion.<\/p>\n \u201cCHEESE!\u201d a voice boomed, filling the space. \u201cFor everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n Dozens of small magical explosions filled the domed space and from them dropped full, yellow wheels of cheese, as well as large slices of cheese.\u00a0 They fell onto the floor, bouncing as they landed and rolling under the benches and into the aisles.<\/p>\n Sayma stood with her mouth open.<\/p>\n And her stomach growled.<\/p>\n While snatching up a couple of the goat cheese slices and nibbling on one, she realized that the central post had disappeared but a doorway opposite the one from which she had entered had opened onto what seemed a beautiful, blue sky.\u00a0 She ran toward it, stopping just short when she saw a boat hovering in midair.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t right.<\/em><\/p>\n There was a long, carpeted platform extending out into the air, and there were a great many more boats floating in the sky around it. The clouds were tinged the same pink as the stone structure around her, but the landscape beyond the structure was green, and lush, and looked to Sayma like what she had briefly observed in Cyrodiil once before. \u00a0She moved to one of the windows and saw the Imperial City outside, its tall spire reaching toward the stars, and shook her head for there was no possibility that she was floating just above the center of Cyrodiil.<\/p>\n At the end of the platform, surrounded by piles of cheese, was a figure she knew from legend; a slight man, gray-haired, dressed in an absurd multicolored outfit of purple and pink and black, just slightly less ridiculous than Cicero\u2019s jester outfit.\u00a0 She slowed and approached him.<\/p>\n \u201cSheogorath?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA mortal!\u201d he said. \u201cMy mortal. What are ye doin\u2019 here, mortal, when I\u2019ve given ye things to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m, uh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes? Speaking to me? I\u2019m he. And he\u2019s me. And others, as well. Or they were. Weren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n This is going to be a trial all its own, isn\u2019t it? Just as well Brynjolf isn\u2019t with me. He\u2019d never be able to hold his tongue.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here for the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal, used by the Champion of Cyrodiil. I was told it was here and I don\u2019t intend to leave without it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheogorath tossed his head back and laughed. \u201cThe Champion of Cyrodiil? Wonderful! Time for a celebration! Cheese for everyone!\u201d\u00a0 He started dancing around in a circle. \u201cWait, scratch that. Cheese for no one!\u201d<\/p>\n My gods. He\u2019s worse than Cicero, and I would never have imagined such a thing was possible!<\/em><\/p>\n Later, when Sayma had been, and done, and returned, she decided that not a thing that transpired after the cheese had really happened.\u00a0 It couldn\u2019t have. It was too strange. It involved Sheogorath, and a ghost who said he was the Champion of Cyrodiil, and she wasn\u2019t entirely certain that there hadn\u2019t been something strange slipped into that cheese she\u2019d eaten. The ghost, she thought, confirmed that she was only seeing an illusion of Cyrodiil.\u00a0 When he offered to tell her his life\u2019s story she cut him short and asked to be taken to the Cowl.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important. There\u2019s someone waiting for me. More than one someone, in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. The time for talking has ended. Come.\u201d<\/p>\n He led her back into the great domed amphitheater and into a yellow sandstone corridor she had not seen before.\u00a0 Up a ramp they walked, and into a room with a round portal at its far end.<\/p>\n \u201cGo through this portal,\u201d he said. \u201cIt will take you to a place forgotten by all, maybe even by the gods. It will take you to a place inaccessible from the rest of the world. There you will find the Gray Cowl.\u201d<\/p>\n The ghost shimmered, and Sheogorath reappeared, going on about nonsense, and Haskill, and the Cowl, and Sayma had the impression that Sheogorath himself had left the Cowl in the place she was about to go to retrieve it.\u00a0 He said something about being the Champion himself.\u00a0 Then he said \u201cFarewell, Dragonborn. May Nocturnal guide you,\u201d and disappeared.<\/p>\n It had to have been the cheese. The last time her head had felt so muddled was the night Brynjolf told her about Gulum-Ei.<\/p>\n But the portal was shining with a green light. She walked forward and stepped through it.<\/p>\n Beyond the portal was a cave \u2013 deep, but open to the sky, with a single, narrow path leading away from it. She moved along its narrow, winding way and gasped as it emptied into a space unlike anything she\u2019d seen before.<\/p>\n It was ancient, made of dark, chiseled stone, an enclosed courtyard full of structures that she recognized as being of Akaviri design.\u00a0 Vivid scarlet lanterns swung from delicate archways; stately trees with rich green foliage and pink blossoms ringed the area. \u00a0Beyond, she could see steep, craggy mountains that were not those of any part of Tamriel she had ever visited.\u00a0 In the very center of the courtyard was a gazebo, larger and of a much different design than those she\u2019d found in the desert but of similar importance; in its center was a pillar holding a large, ornate, egg-shaped vessel. She opened the vessel, slowly, and reached inside.<\/p>\n There it was. The Cowl.\u00a0 It was an unremarkable thing, a dingy gray hood with purple Daedric symbols in a line down its nose ridge.\u00a0 It did not seem a garment that should have warranted the extent to which two hundred years of effort had gone into protecting it.\u00a0 It did not seem a thing that Nocturnal \u2013 the Nocturnal Sayma knew \u2013 would have desired so fiercely that she would be willing to extend herself on behalf of a human spirit that was not even one of her own followers.<\/p>\n But there it was, in her hand, at last.<\/p>\n Sayma walked to the edge of the courtyard and stood quietly, looking out over the exquisite vista beyond the walls, and breathed deeply.\u00a0 For the first time in a very long time she felt at peace.<\/p>\n And then a smile broke across her face.\u00a0 It was time to free Dynjyl.<\/p>\n \u201cHer name is Sayma Sendu,\u201d Brynjolf grumbled. The ghost glanced up at him, seemingly unconcerned, but did not acknowledge Brynjolf\u2019s statement.\u00a0 He returned his gaze to Sayma. \u201cYou are Dagnell at-Dadarh, and you have come to me at last.\u201d Sayma stared. Hearing this man\u2019s voice in her head for so long had been strange enough, … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baakay.com\/FanFic\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/4-1-22-2.png\")
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<\/p>\nPart I: Sayma Sendu<\/a><\/div>\nPrevious<\/a> \/ Next<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"